9 



the experiments made by himself and others, and their results, he declares it to be of the 

 most hardy character, " mie plante rmtiquedans toute la force du terme.'" 



And (he SHys) when we Lake into consideration the vertical extension of this root, and 

 the diminutive size and shortness of the lutet nl radicals, which seldom extend beyond 

 three or four inc'ies, togeUier with the visiorous giowLh of its shoots and their profuse foli- 

 age, (the latter clearly denoiin"; that it receives tlie jrreatest portion of its nutriment from 

 the atmosphere) we shall conclude thnt at a distance of eiaht to nine inches asunder in each 

 direction the plnnts will have asi'flicient spwcefor their normal development. This is the 

 distance he recommends for adopi ion and also that the tubers or pieces of root be planted 

 in bedscomprisins; il'vee parallel vows, with a twelve inch walk between the beds and he 

 has made his plantations in the open ground at the middle of April. The lesults of three 

 plantations grown under his direction Irom pieces of root 134^ to ]| inches in diameter 

 were eminently successful. The roots, three days after digging them, weighed 8 to 14 

 ounces each, the whole quantity averaging 10}4 ounces, and some which were grown from 

 whole roots weighed from 2)i( to 2^^ ]M)uuds each. An acre planted 9 inches apart, aver- 

 aging the crop at 10 ounces each, would yield more than 48,000 pounds, (about 700 bush- 

 els) and although this is a calculation based on good culture, he considers that under any 

 circumstances the crop will be much greater than that of the Common Potato. When, 

 moreover, Ave take into further consideration the vertical growth of this root in its imme- 

 diate connection with the mRgnitude of the crop, we cannot fail to arrive at the conclusion 

 that with deep culture it will greatly exceed the product of that species, and some idea of 

 the relative crops produced by vertical roots miiy be derived from the results of the beet 

 and carrot culture, although neither of these attain to the average length of the Chinese 

 Potato. 



During its present scarcity, this root might be further increased by seeds, but unfortu- 

 nately one sex only of the plant was received from the French Consul at Shanghae, and 

 consequently no seeds can be produced. Its propagation has therefore necessarily to be 

 confined solely to the increase by tubers and sections of the root. 



As the quantity each person may cultivate the coming season will necessarily be limit- 

 ed, we would urge that extra attention be paid to preparing the ground. In order thereby 

 to enlarge the crop. We would therefore recommend that the ground be trenched and 

 rendered mellow to the depth of three feet, and that decomposed stable manure be inter- 

 mingled throughout and down to the very base. 



In regard to propagation, as 130 tubers and sections of root may be considered a reasona- 

 ble crop from one, it follows that 100 tubers multiplied for two years, will yield 169,01)0, 

 which at $3 per 100, would amount to $5000, and at only $1,50 per 100, to $2500 ; and as not 

 only our own extensive country, but every country in Europe, is to be supplied, the price for 

 several years will necessarily be speculative. 



Professor Decaisne further remarks : *' The hardihood and nutritive qualities of this new 

 I alimentary root are all that can be desired, and I do not think there exists any serious ob- 

 j lection to its use in our domestic economy, The results of all our investigations fully prove 

 1 that the course of culture may be varied according to the different localities, and that no 

 ! serious impediments exist to its general culture, even with the very simple implements used 

 i in Chinese agriculture ; and it is very certain that we possess greatly superior and more pow- 

 i erful implements for mellowing the soil to a convenient depth. There is a striking analogy 

 ; between the culture of the Dioscorea and the Sweet Potato, in regard to the soil best suited 

 I and to their both being vines forming tubers from the joints. One great point which for 

 ; ?ight or nine years has agitated the public mind is now fully set at rest,which is, that no one 

 I af the plants which have'been hitherto announced as a probable substitute for the Common 

 I Potato can enter into any comparison with the Dioscorea batatas. We all can recall to 

 i aiind the infatuation which has existed (in Europe) in regard to the Psoralea esculents, 

 i ,lie Ulluco, Apios tuberosa, Tropceolum tuberosum, Arracacha, Helianthus tuberosua, 

 ! Fritillaria imperialis, and also the Sweet Potato, so productive in warm climates, but yet 

 ■ io difficult in its preservation, that it is still cultivated as a garden plant, and has never, 

 n this country, (France) been extended to field culture. 



" In addition, we must not fail to take into consideration the domestication, (not the 

 laturalization.) which of itself is a laborious task, exacting centuries of care and culture. 

 I \. 7rild plant, even the most promising in its character and appearance, will resist for a 

 " time every tendency to domestication, however rational and persevering may be our 

 rts ; and it will be remembered that whenever our agriculture has been enriched by 

 introduction of a new vegetable u7at7i Art« ^>ro7n^wy rej^aid the care we have he- 

 " fd ripon it, that vegetable has invariably been one which had been previoudy do- 



■ ^Heated for centuries in its native couvtry. This has been the case with Indian Corn, 

 ill Cotton p'ant, the Common Potato, Opuntia, Rice, Coffee, and others, and as abso- 



• iy so as if the period for all domestications had passed, and that man should now 

 ne his wants within the circle that he has occupied for thousands of years. The 

 > I alizntion of plants, although incomparably easier than domestication, is still much 

 - irequent than is generally supposed. 

 • The Chinese Potato has already fulfilled every condition required of it It has been 



■ niesticated from time immemorial : it is perfectly hardy in our climate, (Paris, 48 deg. 

 J min.,) and has even so proven to the very shores of the Rhine ; its root is very lerge. 



