8 



SUPPLEMENT TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 

 ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE CHINESE POTATO. 



In now presenting the fourth edition of 8000 copies to the public, the previous 6000 hav- 

 ing been exhausted in five weeks, I deem it a duty to add some farther comments in a 

 way that may be useful. 



I have taken pains to inform myself fully in regard to the Dioscorea batatas, or Chinese 

 Potato, both in relation to its alimentary position In China and Japan, and to its appropri- 

 ateness for adoption by our country ; andthe morel have investigated, the more astonished 

 T have become, at its indisputable claims over every other esculent we possess, and at 

 finding that the half, and more than the half, of its remarkable and useful properties re- 

 mained to be told. The surprise so often expressed, as to how food was attainable by the 

 ■ one-third of the inhabitants of the globe, concentrated within the limits of the Chinese Em- 

 pire, may now find its elucidation. On consulting several Chinese Agricultural works, 

 which have been republished in theFrench language, I find the Dioscorea batatas to be there- 

 in a subject of extensive and general comment. It is there stated that its culture is universal, 

 and extends over every portion of that vast country. And it is further declared to be a 

 grand resource of the nation — "wwe gmnde ressource naiionale;'^ and that the abundance 

 of its crops, their excellence in quality, and the universal consumption, have rendered it 

 the alimentary basis (together with Kice) of that immensely populous empire. It is eaten 

 boiled, roasted, and even in a raw state. It is also dried and ground into the meal or flour 

 everywhere in use throughout that country, and is admirably adapted to the manufacture 

 of superior starch. Indeed, it would appear to occupy, in an alimentary point of TieM-. 

 the whole space which in our country is occupied by both the Common Potato and by 

 Indian Corn. The varieties there cultivated are very numerous, the skin and flesh being 

 of different shades, varyint, in consistency and flavor ; and one variety is highly 

 esteemed for its medicinal properties. 



In five Chinese works which I have consulted, I have found the following statements: 

 The Imperial Rice-white variety (the one we possess) when well cultivated in a soil that has 

 been trenched and rendered permeable to the depth of five feet, will produce on a space of 

 ground 10 feet long and 3 feet broad, sufficient food to support a man throughout a year, 

 it would thus appear that this vertical root enables them to make up by deep culture of 

 the soil, whatever deficiency exists in that country superficially towards the maintenance 

 of its excessive population. The only kind of manure recommended is that of cattle and 

 horses, well decomposed; and poudrette is specially objected to by every Avriter ; though 

 we doubt not that Guano might be thus appropriated. In their directions for general cul- 

 ture, they state that the ground is usually mellowed to the depth of 2^ feet, but that 3 feet 

 is preferable ; and that the manure should be plowed or trenched in as deeply as possible. 

 The sections of root, each having one or more eyes, should be planted four inches deep: 

 and this planting takes place in China the first week in April. When treated in this way, 

 the plants will grow vigorously, and will not fail to yield an abundant crop. Some culti- 

 vators allow the stalks to trail on the ground in like manner as our Sweet Potato ; but oth- 

 ers, as soon as the stalks have attained sufficient growth, place poles for them to run upon, 

 which they quickly entwine. In the autumn, before the ground becomes frozen, they dig 

 up sufficient of the large roots, and place them in a cellar for winter use ; and the small roots 

 and tubers are put in a cellar and mixed with sand, or are buried in a hole in tlie open 

 ground, intermixed with sand, as the reserve for spring planting. Such portion of the crop 

 as is not -wanted for use or sale during the winter, may be left in the ground; and can be 

 extracted in the spring, if desired, or left to grow through the second season, when the crop • 

 will be increased threefold over the weight of the first summer's growth. "What strikes 

 one's mind at once as giving preeminent importance to this root, is the fact, that it is in a 

 condition for use at all seasons of the year, and may be dug up fresh every day from spring 

 to autumn. In order to settle the question of its perfect tiardihood in our climate, we 

 have left twenty hills standing out the present winter, during which the mercury has been 

 10 degrees below zero, and which has been altogether the severest season known in this ■ 

 ^latitude for 70 years. Probably we have here no record of one of greater severity. Now - 

 I apprehend that when the earth is frozen to the entire depth of any plant within it, the 

 hardihood of that plant is tested quite as effectually with the mercury at 10 deg. below ; 

 zero as at 40 deg. below that point. The effect of the cold upon the plant must be the ! 

 same, and the only relative question must be as to its long continuance. i 



A sandy, permeable soil is spoken of as the most suitable to it, and it is very generally | 

 ,:grown on hill sides, which are terraced for that purpose, and which, being the least suitable 'i 

 for other productions, are selected from economical considerations. 



Professor Decaisne of the Paris Institute, remarks in the " Revue Rorticole,'" that from 

 the epoch of the introduction of this root in 1S50 it has continued to excite the lively atten- 

 tion of agriculturalists by the various excellent properties it combines ; and in announcing | 



