ni 
with the plough, and the surface smoothed by apro vang. The 
plants require a whole year F to m mature, and eco mical P 
it inj 
planted in these alternate rows, which is cut for "rete “ile 
m ; if allowed to mature the main crop would be impaired 
Ya The mode of preparing the fecula from the roots greatly 
influences its value, and the superiority of the Bermuda article is 
attributed to io. extreme care and cleanliness exercised in the 
processes of manufacture. 
*'l'he roots, Won being collected, are washed and their outer 
subsequent treatment can remove. After this process the roots 
are again carefully washed and then crushed between powerful 
rollers, which reduces the whole mass into a pulp ; this is thrown 
into large perforated cylinders, where it is agitated by A ae 
wooden paddles, while a stream of pure water carries off t 
it, in the form of "mias ae the perforated bottom of the 
cylinder, from whence it is conveyed in pipes and passed 
through fine muslin stra into large reservoirs, where it is 
allowed. to settle and the supernatant water drawn o 
* After £g repeatedly washed, it is wowed) to settle for "m 
time, when the surface is skimmed with palette knives of 
German ior in. order to remove any slightly discolougen 
particles which may appear on the top, pated only the 
lower, purer, and denser portion for drying for market. 
“The rollers and cylinders are made of brass per copper, 80 as 
to preserve the purity of the material. 
“The drying is conducted with equal care and cleanliness. 
The substance is spread in flat copper pans and ies 
eovered with white gauze to exclude dust and insects. Thes 
there is any danger from rains or dews. hen thoroughly dry 
itis packed with German-silver shovels into new barrels; these 
are first lined with paper, which is gummed with arrowroot paste. 
“ The barrels are exported on the “decks of vessels under cover ; 
if ba in the hold the arrowroot might be tainted by the 
effluvia of other freight. Such are the processes employed and 
the care bestowed in the preparation of arrowroot in Bermuda.” 
DCL—FAMINE PLANTS IN ZULULAND. 
The > o oeg correspondence communicated to Kew by the 
Secretary of State for the Colonies atfords an interesting account 
of wild plants that were utilised as a main source of food su 
ply by the natives of Zululand quise a recent period of 
scarcity. None of the plants dm ~ ene any special merit 
16781 Dc B3 
