XV ARROWROOT 279 



found growing wild in tropical America and the West Indies. 

 The name arrowroot is derived from the fact that the Origin of 

 rhizomes were used by the Indians as an appHcation to ^ "^"^'^' 

 wounds inflicted by poisoned arrows ; and, even now in 

 Dominica the starch and the pounded tubers are used by the 

 people to make poultices for the healing of wounds and 

 ulcers. The plant is cultivated extensively in Bermuda and 

 St. Vincent, as well as in the East Indies and Natal. 

 Bermuda arrowroot is considered the best, and it fetches a Bermuda 

 much higher price in the home markets than any other kind, '^hrb^sT^^ 

 and this superiority is " attributed to the extreme care and ''^'"'^• 

 cleanliness exercised in the different processes of manu- its^tu°peHor 

 facture." It is probable, however, that soil and climate and quality, 

 more especially an abundant supply of clear spring water 

 have a good deal to do with the matter, for arrowroot is 

 grown to a large extent in St. Vincent, and on some of the St. Vincent 

 estates in that island greater care and cleanliness cannot ^"°^^''°° • 

 be observed, and yet St. Vincent arrowroot is much less 

 valuable than the Bermuda product. 



Soil AND Climate.— A light loamy well drained soil is The best 

 the best for the cultivation. If the soil be too wet the 

 rhizomes will rot off ; and, if it be of a clayey nature, they 

 will not develop properly, and there will be much difficulty 

 in digging them up when they are mature. The plant will Climate. 

 grow very well on lands near to the sea ; and, as it does not 

 attain to a greater height than three feet, strong winds do 

 not affect it injuriously. The richer the land, the greater 

 will be the returns ; and, if successive crops be taken off the 

 same soil, manuring will become necessary. As much water A good 

 is required in the manufacture of the starch, the cultivation of^aler 

 should be established only in the neighbourhood of a stream essential. 

 or a spring of good clear water. Arrowroot will grow from Elevation, 

 the coast line up to elevations of several thousand feet above 

 the sea, but the returns are larger in the lowlands, and 

 largest in the rich valleys situated at elevations of two or 

 three hundred feet. The crops arc "less affected by vicissi- 



