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“Tf it be requisite to raise from seed, a seed-plot must be prepared 
and care taken that there is no lack of watering ; aA young plants 
must also be thinned out where very crowded. nit is time for 
pn ate the seedlings no more plants should be ash up than 
‘ can be planted within the time, and mee should be put meanwhile into 
‘ water so that the roots are kept wet and thus unite better with the 
soil. The proper temperature is ve of the cool zone at a height of 
2, 
nes sowing or planting can be done és: any time, the Kae being kept 
well mai, watered, and earthed up like garden plants. If three 
months after planting they are tied up like endive, the shoots become 
blanched and can be employed as salad or be stewed. 
“The ordinary use which we make of the Arracacha, which we call 
also Apio, is to boil it or use it for forced meats or fritters. This root 
yields a large quantity of starch, and is preferred to “ sulu ” for the 
sustenance of invalids. Tt is in season at the fourth month. 
“ The Arracacha requires a black soil, light and deep, which favours 
the Retirement of the roots. To propagate it, it is cut in pieces, 
each with an eye or bud, and these are planted separately. After three 
or four months’ growth the roots are sufficiently developed for use 
in the kitchen ; if left in the ground for a longer period they acquire 
greater volume without depreciation. of flayour. 
“ The colour is white yellow or purple, but these variations do not affect 
the quality. The Arracacha which is most esteemed is produced in 
tt a small town situated two leagues north of Santa Fé de 
Bogota. 
“ The Arracachas, like potatoes, do not thrive in very warm localities, 
in such places they form much leafage, but the roots are poor and 
insipid ; in temperate regions the produce is Ted but increases 
considerably in the al parts of Columbia, i in which the medium 
temperature is 58° to 60° Fahr., equal to 12° Réau and 15° 
Centigrade. a ~ “ther that the root devel te and acquires the 
m ou 
“ The Mic is nee ia slightly sweet ; the odour is peculiar, to 
me people very pleasant but very repugnant to others. Amongst 
animals rg repugnance to the smell is not remarke on the 
contrary, it appears to be exceedingly agreeable to them and to excite 
their Sede since e erian they smell it they show a lively desire 
eat, a r it with avidity and eagerly seek it. ve 
observed that dite can consume large quantities of the Arracacha 
‘in their daily ration of food without, in a single case, the least repug- 
nance being remarked. 
“Tn connection ‘sles the importation of Se os cattle, the Arracacha 
K of all plants the most valuable, since n the transits from Hon 
to Bogota it is the forage which they eet with the greatest ayigite 
and that which enables them ame soonest to recover from the 
condition |in which they arrive. During the first months, wh hilst 
they are becoming aiiinsticed, the Arracacha is almost the only food 
