340 



STAECH-PEODUCIJ^G PLAI>TS. 



tion, I have no doubt that ten tons of cassava could easily be 

 grown, and if it yielded 25 per cent, of starch, it would be a re- 

 turn of 2|- tons, or of £62 10s. per acre, reckoned at the price of 

 potato starch. 



Of the yield of the plantain we possess much more acciu-ate 

 information. A new plantain walk in this colony (British Gruiana) 

 will yield 450 bunches, of 50 lbs. each, of which, as nearly as pos- 

 sible, 50 per cent, will be of core, containing 17 percent, of starch, 

 thus producing 17 cwt. of starch per acre. But an old plantain 

 walk, even when free from disease, could not be reckoned to yield 

 more than half this quantity, namely, 8 J cwt. per acre. Considering 

 the value that is set on the plantain as an article of food, and the 

 difficulties incident to the process of making starch from it, it 

 is by no means probable that it will ever be used as a source from 

 which to obtain starch. 



Of the quantity of arrowroot that can be grown per acre, I 

 have been able (continues Dr. Shier) to procure no information ; 

 but from the price it commands in the market, the facility with 

 which it can be grown, and the ease with which the process of 

 separating the starch can be carried od, it deserves a fair trial here. 

 To cultivate it to advantage it ought to be done on thorough- 

 drained and well-tilled land, planted at the proper season, and 

 not dug till ripe and in dry weather. 



Of the Tons les mois, I have only been able to procure a single 

 plant, for which I am indebted to the kindness of the Hon. 

 John CroaL As the root was immature, it would be unfair to 

 deduce from the quantity of starch obtained, the per centage gene- 

 rally contained by the plant. Its immaturity was also indicated 

 by the globules being smaller than in the specimen obtained from 

 G-renada ; in other respects, however, such as the tenacity of its 

 jell}^, it stands highest. It is altogether one of the most promising 

 starch-producing plants, and obviously deserves a careful trial. 

 It is a plant that expends a good deal of matter in maturing a 

 considerable quantity of dense and bulky seeds, but as it pro- 

 pagates both by root and seed, it is probable that, as a root-crop, 

 it would be highly advantageous to procui-e a variety that does 

 not flower. 



Both the tannia and the sweet potato can be readily grown, and 

 the produce per acre is large ; but from the foregoing tables it 

 would appear that there are other plants whose starch is likely 

 to be held in greater estimation. 



Difficulties attendant on tlie process of preparing starch. — Were 

 the manufacture of superior starch to be carried out in this colony 

 (British Gruiana) on a large scale and profitably, recourse would re- 

 quire to be had to all the well-known means of economising labor. In 

 the cultivation as much as possible would require to be done by cat- 

 tle and implement labor, and this would be the easier to accomplish, 

 inasmuch as, to grow roots to great advantage, the land would 

 require to be thorough drained. When the produce was brought 

 to the buildings, machinery similar to what is already in use in 



