460 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



largely and minutely into the botany, dietetic habits and domes- 

 tic manners of the Chinese. A few quotations from his work will 

 set the subject of the extent of the use of the Chinese potato as 

 an article of diet at rest. 



" Several species of the aroidese are cultivated for food, among 

 which the caladium, cuculentum, arum esculentum, and indicum 

 are the most common. The tuberous roots of the sagittaria sinen- 

 sis also contain much farinaceous matter, and are much esteemed 

 for food. The roots of these plants, and of the water chesnut are 

 manufactured into a powder resembling arrowroot, much in re- 

 quest among the people." [Vol. 1, p. 278, 



"The Yam is not much raised in China, though its wholesome 

 qualities as an article of food are well understood — its native 

 name being tashu, meaning the great potato." [P. 279. 



This language of Dr. Williams is as explicit on the point in 

 question as could be desired. It pointedly denies the extensive 

 use of the yam as an article of diet ; of course, its extensive cul- 

 ture for food. 



" The same group (musales) to which the yam belongs, fur- 

 nishes the custard apple, one of the few fruits introduced into 

 China frora abroad. * * * xhe plantain, said to stand next 

 to the sago-palm, as producing the greatest amount of wholesome 

 food in proportion to its size, does not furnish the Chinese so 

 great a portion of food as it does the inhabitants of the Archi- 

 pelago of South America, though it is the common summer fruit 

 in Canton." [P. 279. 



" Rice, millet and wheat, furnish most of the cereal food. The 

 first is emphatically the staif of life, and considered indispensa- 

 ble all over the country. * * * Maize, buckwheat, oats and 

 barley are not ground, but the grain is cooked in various ways — 

 alone, or mixed with other dishes. * * * The quantity con- 

 sumed of cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cress and colewort, 

 is enormous. The Chinese have a long list of culinary vegeta- 

 bles, and much of their agriculture consists in raising them. Leg- 

 uminous and cruciferous plants occupy the lai-gest part of the 

 kitchen garden." [P. 423. 



" Carrots, gourds, squashes, cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes, 

 turnips, radishes, brinjals, pumpkins and okras, are among the 

 last of vegetables seen in the streets of Canton. ***** 

 Most of the vegetables raised are inferior to the same articles in 

 the markets of western cities, where science has improved their 

 size and flavor. * * * xhe sweet potato is the most common 



