[ 477 ] 



be made for poisoning rats if the crop is to be secured un- 

 damaged and undiminished. 



766. Of other drought-resisting root-crops, may be men- 

 tioned the 61, yams and a bulbous vine grown at Kalimpang 

 called Ish-kosh. The 61 of Bolepur, Santragachi and Geon- 

 khali are famous. Of yams may be mentioned an African 

 yam which is grown at the Sibpur Farm and which is almost 

 as good as potatoes. The elephant's foot yam of Malabar 

 is also famous. The leaves of Ish-kosh are eaten by cattle 

 while the edible roots sometimes weigh i to 2 maunds from 

 under each vine. 



CHAPTER LXXIX. 



ARROW-ROOT. 



^ .' _ fr , ,,. r . f . , 



^PHE arrow-root is extracted from the bulbs of various 

 plants : -(i) The common Bermudas arrow-root is 

 obtained from Maranta arundinacea. This is the common 

 arrow-root which we have seen growing at Alipur and in 

 some Jail gardens. The plant grows 2 to 3 ft. in height ; 

 the flowers and the tubers are white. (2) The Brazilian 

 arrow-root extracted from Cassava roots which we have 

 already described. (3) There is another variety of arrow-root 

 grown chiefly in Queensland from a Canna, the flowers of 

 which are beautiful bright scarlet not unlike Indian shot 

 flower. The plants of Canna edulis grow 8 to 9 feet in 

 height and from a single stool 15 to 20 stalks come up, 

 each stalk bearing a big bulb. Go to So Ibs. of bulb are 

 often extracted from a single stool. The starch or arrow- 

 root extracted from this plant is known as tous-les-mois, Rich 



