BOOT CEOPS. 



863 



and Western Africa. The yam species are climbing plants, with 

 handsome foliage, of the simplest culture, which succeed well in 

 any light, rich, or sandy soil, and are readily increased by dividing 

 the tuberous roots. The Indian, Barbados, and red yams are 

 planted in the West Indies early in May, and dug early in the 

 January following. If not bruised, they will keep weU packed in 

 ashes, the first nine, and the second and last twelvemonths. The 

 Portuguese and Gruinea yams are planted early in January and 

 dug iu September. Creole yams and Tanias are dug in January. 

 Sweet potatoes from January to March. In most of our colonies 

 large crops of the finest descriptions of yams, cocos, &c., could be 

 obtained, but the planting of ground provisions is too much neg- 

 lected by all classes. Erom the tubers of yams of all sorts, and 

 particularly the buck yam, starch is easily prepared, and of excellent 

 quality. Some varieties of the buck yam are purple-fleshed, often 

 of a very deep tint, approaching to black, and although this is an 

 objection, because it renders more washing necessary, yet even 

 from these the starch is at last obtained perfectly white. 



As an edible root the buck yam, especially when grown in a 

 light soil, is equal to the potato, if not superior to it. It does not, 

 however, keep for any length of time, and therefore could not be 

 exported to Europe, unless the roots were sliced and dried. 



Yams and sweet potatoes thrive well in the northern parts of 

 Australia ; indeed the former are indigenous there, and constitute 

 the chief article of vegetable food used by the natives. The yam 

 was introduced into Sweden, where it succeeded well, and bread, 

 starch, and brandy were made from it, but it prefers a warmer 

 climate. 



Yams are occasionally brought to this country. When cooked, 

 either by roasting or boiling, the root is even more nutritious than 

 the potato, nor is it possessed of any unpalatable flavor, the 

 pecularity being between that of rice and the potato. Dressed in 

 milk, or mashed, they are absolutely a delicacy ; and from the 

 abundance in which they are cultivated in the West Indies and 

 other parts, they promise to become a most economical and 

 nutritious substitute for the potato. 



The yam frequently grows to the enormous size of forty or fifty 

 pounds weight, but in this large state itis coarse-flavored and fibrous. 



An acre of land is capable of producing 4^ tons of yams, and 

 the same quantity of sweet potatoes, within the twelve months, 

 or nine tons per acre for both, being nearly as much as the return 

 obtained at home in the cultivation of potatoes ; and 1 have the 

 authority of all analytical chemists for saying that in point of 

 value, as an article of food, the superiority is as two to one in 

 favor of the tropical roots. 



The kidney-rooted yam (D. pentaphylla), is indigenous to the 

 Polynesian islands, and is sometimes cultivated for its roots. It is 

 cnilQdi hawaii in the Peejee islands. D. hulUfera, a native of the 

 East, is also abundantly naturalised in the Polynesian islands, but 

 is not considered edible. 



