AEROWROOT. 



347 



bulbs, and this percentage would give one-tbird of a ton (worth about 

 131.) of starch per acre. The refuse is excellent far manure. 



In selecting the land and site of operations, it is obvious that the 

 close neighbourhood of a good stream of water must be secured. 



Much less capital is required for the manufacture of arrowroot 

 than for that of any other article of tropical produce. No more is 

 necessary than such as will just provide a residence for the planter, 

 the simple buildings and machinery for the factory, the implements 

 of husbandry, and food and wages for the labourers during the plant- 

 ing, manuring, and manufacture of the crop. One hundred acres of land 

 should be purchased, at from lOOZ. to 200Z. A rude dwelling and out- 

 buildings may be erected for 70Z. or 80Z. ; machinery and manu- 

 facturing appliances, 751. ; implements of husbandry and oxen, 120Z. ; 

 wages and food of eight Kafir labourers for a year, 961. ; cost of 

 living for the planter and his family until the return begins to come 

 in, from 120Z. to 150Z. Taken altogether, a handy, industrious, and 

 thrifty man may reckon upon making good his standing with arrow- 

 root, if he starts with a capital of about 6001. 



The Cape Colony and Natal — especially the latter — have given 

 much attention to arrowroot production. Maranta arundinacea is the 

 species grown. In Natal, in 1864, from 226 acres, the quantity 

 obtained was 2347 cwts. It is chiefly in the counties of Durban, 

 Victoria, and Tugela that the cultivation centres, but the quantity 

 varies considerably, for 61 acres in Tugela yielded 1220 cwts. ; 66 

 acres in Victoria, 639 cwts. ; and 98 acres in Durban, 488 cwts. In 

 1870 there were 386 acres under arrowroot. 



The following figures of the exports will show the progress made 

 in production in this colony : — 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 





cwts. 



£ 





cwts. 



£ 



1856 



818 



1,827 



1866 



2,804 



5,744 



3857 



1,397 



3,136 



1867 



4,305 



9,139 



1858 



2,218 



5,464 



18G8 



3,201 



5,501 



1859 



6,366 



13,336 



1869 



3,042 



4,684 



1860 



3,679 



6,680 

 4,685 



1870 



3,323 



4,696 



1861 



2,436 



1871 



2,722 



3,858 



1862 



983 



1,547 



1872 



3,633 



5,647 



1863 



1,437 



2,801 



1873 



1,076 



1,485 



1864 



1,015 



2,843 



1874 



1,206 



2,226 



1865 



2,150 



3,943 









India. — The Maranta arundinacea was introduced into India about 

 1840 by Mr. Elphinstone, and is now cultivated in many districts, 

 especially in the Madras presidency. 



M. Lepine, chemist, of Pondicherry, states that he has obtained of 

 fecula from the roots after 12 months' growth, 16 per cent. ; 14 months', 

 15; 15 months', 14; 16 months', 12; 17 months', 11 ; and 19 months', 10 

 per cent. The fecula is obtained from the underground shoots, which 

 are white, fleshy, about 9 inches long by 1^ to 2 inches in diameter. 

 They contain nearly 20 per cent, of fecula, but by the rude processes 



