XV THE TANIA 293 



detached, leaving a few inches of the lower part of the leaf- 

 stalks. These heads are then planted, and soon a number 

 of plants bud forth from the top of the head, and produce a 

 crop of tanias. The heads may be kept some time before 

 planting without suffering any harm, and thus they may be 

 carried to long distances. The land should be well ploughed Distances. 

 up, and harrowed, and the heads set in the ground at dis- 

 tances of from three to four feet from each other. Or, the 

 land may be lined off, and small holes prepared, in the usual 

 way, for the reception of the plants. Weeds must be kept 

 down by hoeing between the rows, and the soil should be 

 stirred up at the same time. Tanias are often planted as Tanias as 

 shade for young cacao plants, their large, cool, succulent ^ ^ «p*"5 

 leaves — which give off an abundance of watery vapour — 

 affording an excellent shade for, and providing grateful 

 moisture to the cacao seedlings. 



Crops. — Tanias may be planted all the year round, except The plant- 

 in very dry weather, but the usual planting season extends '"^ reason. 

 from September to May, and the crops may be reaped with- 

 in from nine to twelve months. One advantage of tania cul- 

 tivation is that the tubers may be allowed to remain in the 

 ground, without deterioration, for a considerable time after 

 they are ripe, so that they can be dug up as they are required. 

 In good land the returns are large, one head often producing Returns, 

 enough plants to yield nearly a bushel of tanias. Altogether The value of 

 Colocasia esculenta may be reckoned amongst the mostvalu- ^^e plant, 

 able of the food plants of the West Indies. Its tubers, as 

 we have seen, are an important article of diet, its young 

 leaves form a good green vegetable, its mature leaves make 

 excellent fodder, and the whole plant — like a careful nurse — 

 protects from adverse influences the tender seedlings of 

 cacao, spice, and other such trees that help to build up the 

 prosperity of the country in which they are extensively cul- 

 tivated. 



