MEMORANDA CONCERNING THE MELLOCA. 



69 



was frosty. At the end of May the Melloca plants were turned 

 out into an open quarter. They were planted in rows 3 feet 

 apart, and at the distance of 2 feet in the rows. They were par- 

 tially earthed up in July, and additionally in August. On the 

 19th of October, according to the recommendation of M. Masson, 

 a number of the rows were earthed up, so as to cover the whole 

 of the plants. An innumerable quantity of tubers was in conse- 

 quence formed on the buried stems, but many had only acquired 

 the size of peas when it was necessary to dig up the crop, owing 

 to the severe frost which set in on the 26th of November, the 

 thermometer being then 14° below freezing. 



" The produce of tubers from one row 34 feet long by 3 feet 

 wide, and for which plants raised from cuttings were employed, 

 was 8& lbs., being at the rate of 1210 lbs. per acre. The pro- 

 duce of an adjoining row, in which the plants were those raised 

 from sets, was 16 lbs., which is at the rate of 2277^ lbs. per acre, 

 or 1 ton 37^ lbs. It therefore appears, that, like the potato, the 

 plants fed by the old tubers are much more productive, in tubers, 

 than those made from cuttings. But a far greater produce will 

 doubtless be obtained when plants can be allowed to grow from 

 tubers without being cut back, as the above were repeatedly, for 

 the purpose of furnishing cuttings. Some of the tubers were 

 nearly as large as those of the ash-leaved kidney potato, and 

 bore considerable resemblance to them in appearance. The later 

 formation of tubers are generally round. 



" The Melloca is hardier than the potato. Seven degrees of 

 frost completely killed the potato tops ; but the Melloca with- 

 stood this degree of cold, on the 17th November, tolerably well. 

 In Devonshire, Cornwall, and many parts of Ireland it would 

 probably continue growing all the winter. It prefers sandy 

 soil. When highly manured, the plants were found to be less 

 healthy." 



In addition to these statements I think it right to say that there 

 is little probability of this plant becoming useful as a garden 

 esculent. Its produce will probably be found large when it is 

 cultivated in the manner which the experience already gained 

 shows to be necessary to it ; namely, when planted in the begin- 

 ning of March, the little tubers being used for sets, earthed up 

 in July, and harvested in November. But although the produce 

 of the Melloca may repay the grower by its abundance, especially 

 as it appears to prefer poor, sandy land to a richer soil, yet its 

 bad quality will, I fear, render it uneatable by man. The leaves 

 and tubers are no doubt nutritive, but so full of an insipid or 

 somewhat earthy slime, that, whether as spinach or as boiled 

 tubers, it will never be received at the table of persons of 

 taste. It is, however, highly deserving of trial by farmers, 



