6 



for harvesting in three or four months, later plantings can be made to keep 

 up a succession; the best crops often been reaped from the September 

 and October plantings. The tubers of sweet potatoes vary in size, 

 shape and flavour ; the principal kinds are the red and the white. 



Beans can be grown on the sides of potato or yam banks as they 

 ripen early and do not interfere with the main crop. 



TANNIAS. 

 Tannias thrive and yield best on rich hillside land in a moist situation. 

 They do not do well on a wet and stiff clay. On sandy river banks, 

 when not too dry and poor, they yield a good crop. Tannias will not 

 grow under shade. Of the many varieties the "Mock" is the most 

 useful au'i prolific. 



When grown on suitable virgin soil the tannia plant does not need 

 much cultivation ; keep free from weeds and earth up at each weeding 

 is, as a rule, sufficient to develop a profitable crop. When the conditions 

 of soil and climate are not of the best then thorough cultivation of the 

 soil is essential : draining, forking and manuring. The application of an 

 over abiindance of pen manure should be guarded against, as luxuriance 

 of foliage is unduly encouraged and a short crop results. Ashes are a 

 very good manure for tannias. 



When the ground is prepared the tannias are lined off at distances of 

 4 feet by 4 feet in good and fair soil, in a poorer one 3 feet by 3 feet. 

 Planting should be started at the end of the dry season or during any dry 

 spell even in the wet season. The tannia heads may be used a.s plants or 

 the stem part which grows above ground and is popularly known as the 

 " Maman " tannia may be cut up into sections of a few inches and used 

 as plants. Care should be taken to plant the " skin " part downwards — 

 the cut surface uppermost — placing the cutting in a gently, sloping 

 position, especiall}' in a wet season, is advantageous as it prevents rotting. 



Keep the tannia field free of weeds and earth up at repeated intervals. 

 The full amount of earthing up if done all at once tends to develop 

 elongated tannias of little value. After six months a first portion of the 

 crop of each plant may be reaped ; in no case should the plant be 

 uprooted. In reaping the soil around the plant is removed in disconnected 

 sections and the tannias in those sections, that are sufficiently mature, 

 are pinched off. The plant is again earthed-np and some mulch, if 

 procurable, put around the plant. This periodic reaping can be done at 

 intervals of three months for eighteen months. When treated in this 

 way all the roots ai'e not destroyed and the set back to growth is just 

 sufficient to discourage luxuriance of foliage and to encourage the 

 development of the vegetable or tannia. 



DASHEENS. 



The Dasheen prefers a wet soil and will not do well on a dry loose 

 one. On the stiff' clays of the vega lands one dasheen plant will yie 

 up to 20 lb. of foodstuff. 



Running water will not do it harm but stagnant water must be 

 drained off. 



