566 TRANSACTIONS OF TfiE 



These roots penetrate the earth sometimes to the depth of a 

 metre, each plant yielding five or six, but usually only two or 

 three. They do not contain as much farina starch as potatoes — 

 being sixteen per cent, while potato has twenty. It is very 

 nourishing to animals as well as men. It stands cold far better. 

 It has two sexes on distinct plants. Until 3856 we only had the 

 male plants. Hardy has shown us the female and how to use it. 



A few years ago it was in France as rare as a diamond. In 

 1854 it was worth its weight in gold ! In 1855, silver ! In 1856, 

 copper ! In 1857, iron ! Now it sells for about one dollar a 

 hundred pounds weight! Our common potato is worth about 

 forty millions of dollars a year. The potato was called by Vol- 

 taire a "trick of nature," — -colifichet de la nature. In 1630, by 

 a decree of the parliament, of Franche Comte, the potato was pro- 

 hibited as a pernicious substance, causing leprosy. 



When we consider the character of the original potato, we may 

 well feel confidence in some new plant. Clusius, in his history 

 of plants, in 1591, gives drawings of two potatoes, not larger than 

 a small plum; since enlarged to the Rohan. 



The Imperial Society has sent the Dioscorea to all parts of 

 France, to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, England and Spain. 

 China has given it to France; France has given it to Europe ! 



We have imported into France many other kinds of the Igna- 

 mes, viz: The violet one of Linnseus ; the Molucca, or Nummu- 

 laria, of Linnseus; the Cliifort, of Lamarck; the Deltoide, of Wal- 

 lich ; the Giant Igname, of Lamarck; the Bulbifera, of Linnseus; 

 the Aculeata, of the same; the Pentaphylla, (five leaved,) of Am- 

 boyna ; the Helmia Bulbifera, of Kunth ; the Dioscorea Pidding- 

 toni, from New Zealand, which gives round tubers — it has suc- 

 ceeded in Africa. 



GUTTA PERCHA PLANT. 



France has imported into her African colonies, 300 of these 

 precious vegetables, and hopes to succeed in their cultivation. 



The gardens of Messrs. Vilmorin and Andrieux, were already 

 established in 1768, and continue to this day. 



