YAM (CHINESE) 



757 



may expect to meet with some which are thicker than the wrist 

 towards the end and weigh over two pounds each. Smaller ones 

 also are usually found which are better for planting. Instead of 

 planting them at once in the open ground, they may first be potted 

 about the beginning of March, and planted out about May 15th. 

 The crop then comes in earlier, and is also heavier. 



Many attempts have been made to raise a variety of Yam with 

 shorter roots which would not penetrate so far into the ground. 

 These attempts cannot be said to have entirely failed ; on the 

 contrary, they have succeeded too well, as varieties have been 

 raised with nearly round rhizomes, clustered around the neck of 

 the plant, but of such feeble growth that the season's yield only 

 represented three times the weight of the rhizomes which were 

 planted. A productive variety of Yam with short roots still 

 remains to be discovered, and perhaps may be found amongst the 

 numerous varieties lately imported from Japan, and which arc now 

 being experimented on in France. The rhizomes are eaten like 

 Potatoes, boiled, fried, and prepared in various ways. 



