HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



145 



the beds to be thrown up in ridges, and the sets 

 planted along the top, to save the trouble of such deep 

 digging ; but in dry seasons this might endanger the 

 crop. The whole yarn is covered with eyes, and may 

 be cut up into " sets," and not the crown only, as is 

 generally supposed. 



THE DIOSCOREA BATATES, or CHINESE YAM. 



The botanic name is here made most prominent, as 

 it is by that this useful tuber is most generally known. 

 This plant is a native of Japan and China, producing 

 long slender tubers about two feet long, which are 

 esteemed by many persons as superior to the common 

 yam. The tuber may be cut up into small pieces for 

 planting, as the exterior is set all over with eyes or 

 buds. The sets should be laid by in a warm place to 

 start the buds, and while they are progressing the 

 ground should be prepared for their reception. The 

 soil should be very rich or highly-manured sandy or 

 fibry loam, and is recommended to be thrown up in 

 ridges eighteen inches apart, along the top of each of 

 which the sets are planted six inches apart and four 

 inches deep. The tops soon cover the soil and smother 

 the weeds, and, being planted upon ridges, will be found 

 to greatly facilitate the digging. 



THE CASSAVA-(Jatropha Manihot). 



An evergreen shrub from South America, growing 

 to the height of three to five feet ; tubers somewhat re- 

 sembling parsnips in size and shape are produced at 

 the root in great abundance, from which the cassava 

 flour is manufactured in the most primitive manner. 



The cassava is also made from other varieties of the 

 jatropha, but the Jatropha Manihot is more generally 

 cultivated for that purpose in consequence of the tubers 

 being free from a tough fibre which passes through the 



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