65 



Canna Lutea. Ait. (yellow variety. ) precisely the same as 

 preceding, except in colour of flower. 



Marauta Arundinacea. I^inn. (arrowroot.) A herbaceous 

 plant with tuberous root. Stems from two to three feet high. 

 Leaves large, shining, more lanceolate than arrow-shaped. 

 Flowers white in pairs. The plant is raised from portions of 

 the root-like rhizome or tuber planted in April, which attains 

 full size by the following February. The starch, known as 

 arrowroot, is obtained from the tubers, which are first washed 

 and peeled, then is rasped by a revolving grater, is passed 

 through sieves to separate the fibre, and the pulp cleansed by 

 repeated washings. The moisture is finally pressed out and 

 the snow-white, flaky cake is broken up, dried and bleached in 

 the sun. Bermuda arrowroot is unrivalled in quality, but of 

 late years the trade had dwindled until recently taken up by 

 the late W. T. James Esq., who manufactured it on a large 

 acale, with the latest improved machinery, employing a large 

 staff of workers at Bellevue. 



Maranta or Canna Edulis. Ivinn. (tois les mois. ) Is very 

 similar in growth and manufacture, but the demand for it has 

 died out. It is chiefly grown on St George's and St. David's 

 islands. 



Zingiber Officinale. Rose, (ginger.) This is grown occasion- 

 ally in a few gardens but not sufiBciently to be an article of 

 commerce. 



Alpinia Nutans. Rose, (shell plant, wild ginger. ) A very 

 pretty broad-leaved plant about four feet high. Leaves long 

 narrow and not unlike the gladiolus. Flowers in elegant ter- 

 minal nodding racemes, not unlike shells, of a whitish pink. 

 Confined to gardens. 



Musa Paradisiaca. Linn, (plantain.) A plant eight to ten 

 feet high, with graceful, palm-like appearance. Leaves para- 

 llel-veined four to five feet long, and one foot wide, often 

 shredded by heavy winds. The flower is dark brown, tulip- 

 shaped, dropping over, at the base of which heavy clusters of 

 bunches of fruit hang in whorls, containing fifty to one hundr- 

 ed plantains. The whole plant presents an appearance of a 

 tropical growth. 



