11 



confusedly and without proper distinction, a circumstance calculated to lead to many fnturo 

 disappointments. Tiiose who will recur to pages G9 to 74 c f the publication referred to 

 will find ample delineations. These he has accompanied by a caution against the confusion 

 which exists in France, and which is now being extended to our own country by importa- 

 tions of both the species. It appears that Mr. de Montigny, French Consul at IShandiac 

 in accordance with the instructions from his Government to seek out the most appropriate' 

 substitute for the Common Potato, which had become so subject to various maladies, insti- 

 tuted a thorough investigation of the quahties of the numerous varieties of the Dioscorea 

 batatas, and after this research, he transmitted to the National Museum of Agriculture at 

 Paris the Imj^erial Rice-whiie variety, as far surpassing all others in e.xcellence, re- 

 markable for iis snow-white flesh, and for yielding a beautiful, pure white flour. Being 

 determined at the outset to make our experiments on a sure basis, we adopted such meas- 

 ures as secured to us the highly approved variety referred to, and the results of our own 

 culture have fully proved the accuracy of the roots we received, whose color and general 

 excellencies have been already described. Wm. K. PllINCE 



LICORICE— Additional Remarks. 



To the information already given, I will add that the more loose and permeable the 

 soil may be naturally, or as the result of deep cultivation, even to the depth of two or three 

 feet, the more abundant will be the crop. The roots penetrate to a great depth, taking 

 complete possession of the soil ; and the deeper the ground is opened for the purpose of re- 

 moving the crop, the more vigorous and abundant will be the succeeding one— as is pretty 

 nearly the case in removing a crop of horse-radish. No other cultivation is given to it than 

 the removal of the crop thus spontaneously produced, unless to grow small vegetables in 

 the intervening spaces the first and second years. By the third year there will be little or 

 no unoccupied space for such purpose. In England the Licorice is sold almost wholly in 

 its fresh natural state, to the brewers, distillers, druggists, and other consumers. In Langue- 

 doc, and other parts of France, as well as In Spain and Sicily, it is found growing naturally, 

 and the crop is mostly manufactured into the Licorice-paste of commerce, and a moderate 

 portion only is dried and bound into bales of a suitable size for export. The juice is very 

 abundant, and is greater in proportion to the depth at which the root is grown, it is express- 

 ed from the roots much in the same way that oil is from olives. They are first washed per- 

 fectly clean ; then crushed in an olive mill ; then boiled four or five hours ; next pressed 

 in an olive-press, and the juice thus extracted is slowly boiled in an iron vessel until it at- 

 tains the proper consistency. 



The annual importation of the dry root to the United States varies from eight hundred 

 thousand to a million of pounds ; and of the licorice-paste there is annually imported about 

 three milhons of pounds. The price has been steadily advancing during the past five years, 

 notwithstanding the annual increase of the importations. This has doubtless arisen from' 

 its more general application, as well as from the increase of those manufactories which 

 have usually consumed it. The dry root now sells at 7 cents, and the paste at frcm 14^ to 

 24 cents per pound. That from Sicily commands 14^ to 17 cents; and the Calabrian, 

 which comes in large rolls, 21 to 24 cents. An imitation Calabrian is also imported, which 

 sells at 17 to 20 cents. A great quantity is imported from Spain, and that from Alicant 

 ranks among the very best. I have been unable to find any statement of the product per 

 acre of the dry or paste-liquorice, but it would seem that the fact of an abundant crop fron> 

 so vigorous a plant is everywhere deemed a natural and Inevitable result. 



PRICES. 



Chinesr Potato, or Dioscorea Batatas. — Imperial Rice-wnue variety^ 

 the very superior one selected by Mr. de Montigny, from above 50 varie- 

 ties, and transmitted by him to the French Institute. Genuine, sound Tu- 

 bers, of American growth. Five for $5. Twelve for f 10. Hundred for $8S. 

 Packed in sealed Tin cases, in which they can be safely sent by express. 

 The imported tubers are frequently imperfect, as only the poorest are 

 sent to this country. "We will supply Dry Tubers till April 25, in cans, 

 and fine Plants, growing vigorously, in pots, till May 20, in parcels of 

 %% and §12, packed in boxes ; after which the price will be doubled. 

 These can be securely packed to go any distance. As the number we can 

 lispose of is limited, we shall record the orders which are accompanied 

 Dy remittances, in the rotation in which they are received, to the extent 

 w^e can supply, and forward them immediately, or retain them subject to 

 )rder to be sent later, and the surplus remittances will be promptly re- 

 turned to the applicants. Tubers can be sent per mail, at small expense. 



