pen manure. Sometime- also ashe; ;mi | guano air used. The waste 

 water from washing f] 10 starch contains ;i considerable amount of vego- 

 table matter, and gives good results whore it is run on the fields, hut 

 the extensive application of this is not, practicable. After the starch has 

 settled in the cisterns, the water is run off and more added, the whole is 

 This generally suffices 

 terns arc drained, and 

 the starch is dugout and taken to » mixing box, where it is mixed with 



the separating pans. These are small round galvanised cisterns with 

 smooth perpendiculnr sides. When tilled, the starch milk is stirred 

 round with a round stick until it is in violent circulation. The stick is 

 withdrawn and the cisterns left until morning. The stirring has the 

 effect of separating the starch from any remaining impurities. These, 

 being of less specific gravity, settle last, and therefore on top of the 

 starch. Next morning the water is drained off, and the light impure 

 starch scraped off the surface. If the earlier parts of the process are 

 carelessly done, this separation may have to be repeated before the starch 

 is quite pure. Even should the separation be perfect, re-washing is bene- 

 ficial for further removal of vegetable matter. The impure surface starch 

 contain.- a large proportion of starch entangled in very fine particles of 

 fibre and broken cell walls. Although this can be dried and exported as 

 an inferior starch, it i- generally given to the labourers as a perquisite. 

 It is used in various forms a- flour. 1'ouifrv and pigs are also |e,l with 

 it. Weak caustic soda extracts a colouring matter from it, but also pre- 

 cipitates a yellow sub-tanee, making it vevv difficult to separate the 

 starch from it in a pure state. 



The pure standi in the separators is now taken out in blocks, and 

 placed on trays for about 12 hours to drain and harden. It is then 

 broken into smaller piece-, and taken to the drvinu house, where it is air 



is surrounded, howe\er. with galvanised wire to keep out the small birds 



wooden trays. The wet lumps of starch are placed side by side on the 

 top shelf, where they remain, until l>v the action of the air they crack 

 up and fall through on to the next shelf. In time, the whole falls 

 through the lowest shelf, and is in a fine granular state, ready for 

 packing. It contains from 14 to 17 per cent, of water. In cold, wet 

 weather, the starch dries very slowly, taking sometimes as long as two 

 weeks. During this time, if the starch has been imperfectly purified, or 

 placed too close on the wires, the lump get- -our, and becomes yellowish. 

 Indeed, the whole process must be as rapid as possible. In the settling 

 cisterns especially, if the starch is left in contact with the impure water too 

 long, its whiteness is affected, fermentation having taken place. The crop 

 lasts from < )ctol>er to May. The name "arrowroot" is, I think, derived from 

 the Indian word, Ara-ruta, or " mealy root," but some say that this root 

 has been confounded with the Alpiiiia (iulmiga, which was ealled the 

 arrowroot on account of its bruised roots being used as an antidote to 

 the poieon of the Jatropha Manihot, which was used for poisoning their 

 arrows. I may say that tapioca starch is obtained from this poisonous 

 root. The poison, however, is contained in the juice only, and is 

 destroyed by heat. 



Yield.— Regarding the yield of arrowroot, an acre will produce 

 13,000 to 15,000 lb. of roots, according to the season ; in wet seasons 

 the roots are heavy and moist, and give less starch. A fair average 

 yield is 22 cwt. air-dried starch, with 14 per cent, water, per acre, or 



