16 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



newly cleared lands between Phanyi and Co-shing, they do not form beds at all, but make small 

 drains and banks, very steep, and changing their direction every few feet, to prevent the wash- 

 ing of the soil by heavy rains. These steep surfaces have the additional protection of many 

 small tree-ferns, often in horizontal rows, which are cultivated with the potatoes. These dark- 

 green spots on the lighter green of the potato-vines present a handsome appearance, and, until 

 a near approach, it is impossible for the stranger to conjecture what the steep hill-side crop 



can be. 



Two distinct varieties of sweet potato are cultivated — a white and a red variety. The quali- 

 ties of these are very variable, depending, no doubt, on the soil and mode of culture. Often 

 they are watery, and small and stringy, and not as good as those of China, nor can the yield 

 per acre be so great; though, from their universal cultivation at this season, they are evidently 

 the principal food of the mass of the people in the winter and spring. From the qualities of 

 these potatoes, one would conclude that they could not be stored in bulk for future use, but 

 would rot very soon ; and this seems to be the case, as they grate them soon after digging, and 

 mix them with a coarse, dry substance, the nature of which could not be ascertained, and dry 

 the mass in balls as large as a hen's egg, when they are stored for future consumption. 



The beans so universally cultivated with the potatoes seem to be very prolific. They are very 

 handsome, fat, and kidney-shaped, with a black elevated ridge in the place of the eye. Some 

 of these were seen in the Kapha market the day before the Lew Chew new year, as well as 

 several varieties of small peas ; among these a delicate pea resembling closely the lady pea of 

 the United States. The small round yellow pea, so much used by the Chinese for sprouting, 

 was also common in the market, as well as some pea-sprouts. 



There are, evidently, three summer crops, but I could find no stubble or any marks indicating 

 their mode of culture. Their green peas are large, and used when green ; and, although the 

 flavor is good, when boiled their color is quite dark, and they are hard and somewhat wrinkled. 

 There are but few pods to each vine, owing to the fact, no doubt, that two crops are cultivated 

 on the soil at once. 



Tbe Lew Chew radish was the most remarkable vegetable seen during our stay. They are 

 very large and very abundant, seen on the poles of many porters, and in piles everywhere in 

 market. Many of these are between two and three feet longhand often more than twelve inches 

 in circumference. They boil them for food, and, when so treated, they resemble very much the 

 common turnip ; and when growing, it is difficult to distinguish their tops from those of the 

 turnip. To raise so long and so large a vegetable, they sub-soil to a great depth, and force 

 their plants with night-soil and liquid manure. 



Their turnips are small and flat, and are pickled in salt and water for future use. They eat 

 them with boiled sweet potatoes and small pickled fish. 



The Lew Chew carrot and parsnip are small and long, and, though well flavored, the yield is 

 too small to make them desirable as a root crop. 



Mustard grows very well, but is not extensively cultivated, as only a few plants were seen, 

 and these in flower. 



The coarse winter-greens, so common in the southeastern portions of China, grow well in 

 Lew Chew, and some were seen even larger and more beautiful than that vegetable, so indis- 

 pensable to the former country. Yet it is not cultivated, generally, over the island, but only 

 around Napha and Tumai. In the same vicinity, the common cabbage may be seen occasionally, 

 but it is not generally cultivated in any part of the island. 



