THE SAA-GAA-BAN, OR APIOS TUBEROSA. 



147 



ance as is seen at c, d ; the upper part, d, acquiring a more 

 woody texture, and throwing up stems and leaves, or emitting 

 other underground shoots. At what rate this swelling process 

 advances, or how many years the largest tubers which have come 

 under examination may have been in acquiring their size, I do 

 not know ; certainly two years, at c, or more, and probably 

 several in such cases as a. 



When examined microscopically, the tubers are found to con- 

 sist principally of a mass of large oval, very thick-sided cells, 

 filled with starch, among which are scattered irregularly in the 

 centre several woody bundles, composed of strangulated porous 

 vessels of considerable size, very irregular and unequal laticiferous 

 vessels, also much strangulated, and a few spiral vessels. Near 

 the circumference, just within the bark, these bundles are ar- 

 ranged in distant narrow plates, forming short rays, and offering 

 indistinct traces of concentric zones (e). A considerable quan- 

 tity of truncated prismatical raphides is found among the cellular 

 tissue ; and around the central bundles of woody tissue are series 

 of prosenchymatous cells, which seem chiefly to contain gum. 



In a raw state the tubers taste like earthnuts, or perhaps 

 between an earthnut and an acorn. When boiled they are firm, 

 sweetish, of a dirty yellow colour, and in texture and flavour 

 may be compared to a mixture of sweet chesnuts and parsnip. 



The possibility of cultivating this plant requires no proof. 

 It has been for more than two centuries in Europe ; fine speci- 

 mens were exhibited at a meeting of this Society in January 

 last, by Mr. E. A. Hamp, gardener to James Thorne, Esq. 

 of South Lambeth ; and those from which the accompanying 

 drawing was taken have been growing in the Society's Garden 

 for twenty years. 



The points for cultivators to ascertain obviously are — 



1. Whether a sufficient weight of the tubers can be obtained 

 to render the plant profitable. 



2. Whether that weight can be obtained quickly enough. 



3. Whether the quality is such as will render it acceptable as 

 human food. 



Upon these points, which can best be determined by expe- 

 rience, I can only offer conjectures, and they are not favour- 

 able. The land which the plant requires must be so good, 

 that any crop which is taken from it must rank among the best 

 and most profitable. The best, the Saa-gaa-ban cannot be con- 

 sidered under any circumstances ; the profit is doubtful. I am 

 not at present aware that tubers of any size can be obtained 

 before the second year ; but it is quite possible that skilful culti- 

 vation may render this more easy of attainment than is supposed. 

 It seems obvious, however, that if two seasons should prove ne- 



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