WORMWOOD 



755 



high, rough, and branching ; leaves numerous, small, very much 

 divided, and a gray colour, especially underneath ; flowers green, 

 not at all striking, borne 

 in clusters at the ends of 

 the branches ; seed gray, 

 very small. Its germi- 

 nating power lasts for four 

 years on an average. 



Culture. — Worm- 

 wood may be multiplied 

 either from seed or from 

 cuttings or divisions of 

 the roots. If planted in 

 a somewhat sheltered 

 position, the plants will 

 be less likely to suffer in 

 very severe winters. They 

 require no other care, and 

 will continue productive 

 for ten years or longer. 



Uses. — The leaves 

 are sometimes used for 

 flavouring, but the plant 

 is chiefly employed in 

 liqueurs. 



Wormwood. 



the manufacture of various kinds of 



YAM (CHINESE) 



Dioscorea Batatas^ Dene. Dioscoreacece. 



French, Tgname de la Chine. German, Chinesische Yam. Spanish, Name, Igname. 



Native of China. — Perennial. — The Yam was introduced into 

 France in 1848, through the agency of M. de Montigny, the 

 French Consul at Shanghai. It is a perfectly hardy plant, with 

 annual, twining, smooth, green or violet-coloured stems, from 6 to 

 nearly 10 ft. long. Leaves opposite, heart-shaped, with a rather 

 long point, of a dark green colour, and very glossy on the upper 

 surface ; flowers dioecious, very small, white, growing in clusters 

 from the axils of the leaves, and generally barren. Sometimes, 

 instead of flowers, small tubers or bulblets are produced, from 

 which the plants may be propagated. The stems trail along the 

 ground, if they do not find some support on which they can climb. 

 In climbing, they twine from right to left. From the neck of 

 the root issue rhizomes of great length, which, as they descend into 

 the ground, become swollen into somewhat of a club shape. The 

 flesh is slightly milky, and very floury w^hen cooked. The rhizomes 



