'24 A Rice Substitute. 
the Tirtae of p&tienoe forms the keynote. 
The e^ergrowtDg ooQtaaiptioii of ttpioca in 
Europe and io AmericA a good omen and 
at the preiSDt tioae the only problem coo- 
froatiog growers and maoafactorers is to 
produce it as cheaply po-aible vrithout 
inter fer log of coarse with the large profits 
accraia^ to both grofver and Eoropean 
consumer, We know that the ttiber pro- 
daces meal of the choicest doar thitb can be 
tartied lo so many aieF, cheap alcuhol that 
coald yield additional gains if it mere taro- 
9d to bdtrer aeooaot. 
Referring to tapioca, Mr. Fradhomme, 
the well-ktiowti engiQeer agricaltariat said : 
** Up to the preseat day tapioca oonalitDtes 
one of the principal foed-prodacing plants 
of tlte eqaatorial zunei it has risen in ctr< 
tain regions (Stitaita Settlements, Reanion 
and BrazU) to the rank of an ioduafcrial plant 
for thd prod action of meal and taptooa. lb 
a msirTellotis growth and moreover no 
aickneea and ao iosects are known to affect 
it Bdrionsly ; its having undergooe its pro* 
batlonary period la beyond donbt or qaea- 
tioa being so well-knowa to the oativea in 
vartoaa coantries and one could easily with- 
out mach fear of blundering |>oiQt out the 
soil that suits best, estimate approximately 
ttid output per acre and the time of matu- 
rity, eto. The sclution of tapioca cultiva- 
tion was reached centuries ago aad the 
tuber may be grown oo a jarge.aoale in hob 
countriea providiid snfficienb lahoor be 
available for auoh a purpose. 
Placed in rcBSOoable hands, no fear ougbt 
to be entertained for the saccess of its 
ca1ture« There are other equatorial plants 
equally important but which are insufficient- 
ly known and sometimes cause the greatest 
