By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



243 



and Professor Willdenow states, that when dressed, " sa- 

 porem haud ingratum habent." M. De Candolle, how- 

 ever, does not give a very tempting account of their edible 

 properties ; but the opinion in France, of their merit, was 

 such, that they were regularly introduced into the Catalogue 

 of the Plantes Potageres in the Bon Jardinier, for 1817. I 

 have tasted them ; the old tubers are very hard, but the 

 young ones are more tender, when boiled ; they have a weak 

 aromatic flavour, something resembling ginger, which is 

 stronger in the coat than in the substance of the root ; with- 

 out this, they would be perfectly insipid, and I do not believe, 

 that even the advantages of a good sauce, would make them 

 sufficiently palatable to be used, except as a matter of curi- 

 osity. 



VOL. III. 



