HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



14? 



washed to remove all earthy particles, after the roots 

 have been rubbed off. The washing may be performed 

 either by hand or in a cylinder revolving in water, 

 according to the extent of the plantation. The bulbs 

 should be immediately reduced to pulp by hand or 

 horse-power grater, or by pounding in a large wooden 

 mortar. The pulp is thrown into a quantity of clear 

 water and thoroughly agitated, when the fibre may be 

 gathered and removed. After the starch has settled 

 the water is drawn off, more water is added, the resi- 

 duum is thoroughly disturbed, and the whole strained 

 through a sieve to remo ve any pieces of fibre remaining, 

 and it is allowed to settle as before. This operation is 

 again repeated if it is intended to prepare a fine article. 

 The arrowroot is then spread out on clean white cloths 

 to dry in the sun, and when quite dry is ready for 

 packing. 



The plant is of easy cultivation, and the chief ex- 

 pense is incurred in the manufacture. Its profitable 

 production, therefore, depends upon the extent to which 

 machinery and horse-power may be made available to 

 economise manual labor ; and to this point we would 

 particularly direct the attention of growers, as upon it 

 depends our ability to compete for the supply of all 

 the civilized world. 



TOBACCO. 



A light rich soil is best suited for this plant — -land 

 which would produce potatoes and turnips in perfection. 

 It must be free of water, and, if not rich, it should be 

 well manured with thoroughly decomposed manure. 



In August, having prepared a suitable bed, mix 

 the seed with six times the quantity of sand, scatter 

 it evenly over the bed, and cover it slightly with a 

 little sand sprinkled or sifted over it. A little pro- 

 tection should be given in case of late frosts. When 

 the plants have so far advanced as to have leaves four 



