24 



BULLETIN 465, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PROPAGATION. 



The delta potato undoubtedly can be propagated from seed,, 

 but, all things considered, transplanting the tubers is probably much 

 the better method. This insures a large percentage of success, the 

 plants will be larger, and as thej^ will produce other tubers the first 

 year they are much more valuable. Extraordinary precautions to 

 prevent drying are not necessar}-, but the tubers should be kept cool 

 and well exposed to the air to prevent heating or fermentation. 



To plant, embed the tubers in mud bottom where the water is not 

 more than a foot deep, preferably not more than 6 inches. It is better 

 to err on the shallow side. The plant will grow thriftily on soil never 

 covered by water but which has plenty of moisture. In such situa- 

 tions, however, the tubers are not available to ducks unless over- 



Fig. 22. — Range of delta potato. 



flowed in winter. The delta potato is not injured by a slight 

 quantity of salt in the soil. The plant is probably hardy anywhere in 

 the southern half of the United States and may prove to be so farther 

 north. 



WAPATO. 



VALUE AS DUCK FOOD. 



The tubers of the wapato (Sagittaria latifolia and S. arifolia) have 

 been known to white men as an important food for wild fowl since 

 the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-6. These 

 famous explorers state that in the Columbia River valley large num- 

 bers of ducks, geese, and swans occur where this plant is abundant 



