2 



more than treble that of roots left hnt for one summer, and it is also con- 

 sidered that they are improved in quality. 



A plantation of this root is like a permanent Magazine of food, to be 

 dug up fresh for use whenever occasion may require, and perpetuated 

 at small expense. The Chinese Agricultural books state that it is cxilti- 

 vated everywhere throughout that vast Empire. They have as many 

 varieties as we have of the Common Potato, and its culture is as general,, 

 if not more so, than that vegetable is cultivated with us. It forms in 

 that country the alimentary basis, on which, together with rice, that 

 vast population is sustained ; it being not only used in its natural state,, 

 boiled or roasted, but also supplying the meal or flour for general use. 

 The snow-white variety is the most esteemed, and it is this which the- 

 French Consul sent home, and which we now possess. 



In the Spring of 1853, the largest plantation in France contained but 

 seven hundred roots, yet, such is the ease and rapidity of its propagation 

 and increase, that it is already becoming most remarkably disseminated; 

 Its growth is very rapid, and it seems suited to any climate and to any 

 soil, although a sandy l^am or sandy soil has been deemed preferable in : 

 Europe, where their sun-heat is so much less powerful than with us. It 

 has been tested here in sandy and in stiff loam, and grew vigorously in : 

 both ; and from analogy it is more than probable that it will do well in 

 humid soils. It may here be deemed worthy of note, that, in addition to 

 the great similarity in the genera and species natural to China and North 

 America, one of our most common native plants (also a vine) is the Dios- j 

 eorea villosa, found in great plenty in hedge-rows and on the borders of 

 ravines, from Canada to Carolina, and everywhere called " Wild Yam ;" | 

 and that another species is found growing very abundantly in Virginia 

 and Carolina. It is therefore only placing the Dioscorea Batatas among 

 its relatives and congeners, when we introduce it to the American soil. ] 



One very peculiar character of this plant is, that its roots run perpen- 

 dicularly into the earth, thereby greatly enlarging its capacity to pro- 

 duce the greatest possible crops from a given space of ground. It has 

 been calculated in the French publications from the experiments there 

 made, that an acre will, in six months, produce 86,000 pounds, and in 

 eighteen months, 120,000 pounds. 



It possesses another great advantage: — the roots when placed in a 

 cellar remain firm and perfect, as well as free from sprouts, and they can 

 be kept out of the ground a year, without injury or deterioration of thei] 

 alimentary qualities, and this property renders them invaluable for use ir 

 long sea voyages, and especially as a preventive of scurvy. 



We deem this plant much better adapted to cold than to hot climates 

 as it has been proven that the greatest increase in the size of the root 

 takes place during the coldest period of our Season — the Autumna 



