ARROWKOOT. 



347 



root ground (if you have nothing else), but be sure to cut it up 

 before it ripens corn, or it will injure your arrowroot crop ; or you 

 may plant a few melon seeds over it, and you will have a fine crop 

 of iruit. 



In 1845 I planted, in the months of January and February, a 

 quarter of an acre of good land, in arrowroot and onions. 



The expense and profit stand as follow : 



EXPENSE. 



To digging the ground . , . 



Planting arrowroot .... 



Twelve load of sea-weed, at Is. 



Rotten manure for onions, 10 loads, at 2s. 



One bottle onion seed 



Sowing onion seed and keeping the plants clean 



Planting out onions 



Cleaning onions after set out . 



Tops and making baskets . 



Pulling, cutting, and basketing 



Carting and shipping 



Digging arrowroot . . . 



Clear profit on quarter acre 



33 



By onions sold 

 By arrowroot 



This is at the rate of 90 15s, clear profit per acre, which 

 is more than double the worth of the land. I have not named 

 the arrowroot plants, because I have planted my land with them 

 again, but they might be fairly put to the credit of the account. 

 The above statement shows what may be done with good land 

 and good management ; but even if a man can only clear 10 

 on an acre of land, he ought not to grumble. 



Dr. Ure gives a most interesting and lucid account of the mode 

 of manufacture in the island of St. Vincent, where the plant is 

 now cultivated with great success, and the root manufactured in 

 a superior manner. 



It grows there to the height of about three feet, and it sends 

 down its tap root from twelve to eighteen inches into the ground. 

 Its maturity is known by the flagging and falling down of the 

 leaves, an event which takes place when the plant is from ten to 

 twelve months' old. The roots being dug up with the hoe, are 

 transported to the washing-house, where they are thoroughly freed 

 from all adhering earth, and next taken individually into the hand 

 and deprived, by a knife, of every portion of their skins, while 

 every unsound part is cut away. This process must be performed 

 with great nicety, for the cuticle contains a resinous matter, which 



