NOTES ON ECONOMIC PLANTS. 305 



CAYENNE PEPPER {Capsicum annua m). — No pepper from 

 this plant seems to be made in the Straits, but chillies of all 

 kinds grow freely. The value of chillies is about 45 shillings per 

 hhd. in London. 



CHINESE CASSIA [Cinnamomum cassia ).— The plants ot 

 this, introduced from Hongkong in 1884, have grown with re- 

 markable rapidity and are now large pyramidal bushes of 25 

 feet in height, but the substitution of Ceylon Cinnamon 

 leaves for those of this Cassia will probably put an end to its 

 cultivation, which has never been very profitable. 



ROOTS AND CULINARY VEGETABLES. 



TAPIOCA (Jatropha manihot). — The rise in the price of 

 Tapioca flour has stimulated planting afresh. The estates 

 lately closed are getting into working order again. 



Of Tapioca, there are many varieties; so far I have been 

 able to secure the following : — Red and white Brazilian, Sin- 

 gapore, and Mauritius. These are all in cultivation here, and 

 the time they take to mature is about as follows : — Brazilian, 

 nine months ; Singapore, fifteen months ; and Mauritius, 

 eighteen months. 



Arrow-root [Maranta arundinacea) grows perfectly in 

 the Experimental Nursery. It is not much cultivated here 

 except by Cottagers for home consumption, but the produce 

 is said to be very superior in quality. 



Kumar A (Ipomoea chrysorrhiza). — This is a new vegetable 

 received from the Royal Gardens Kew, and has grown with 

 remarkable vigour. The tubers have grown to a fair size at 

 date, but the crop is not yet ripe. I have no doubt that it will 

 realize its high reputation as a vegetable and prove a most 

 beneficial acquisition. 



ARRACACHA ESCULENTA. — Native of New Grenada and 

 said to be an excellent vegetable. The plants received from 

 Ceylon have all failed. 



Amons: the more common Eurooean vegetables which have 

 been found on trial to grow well are the following, which 



