856 
tHE TROPICAL AGEICtJLTURlST. [June 1, 1900, 
FOOD rKODUCTS OF ZANZIBAR. 
SWKET POTATOES. 
We projjose to review, shortly, the food producta 
gtown iu these islands by the natives in a seiies of 
articles which will naturally extend over some tirne 
bedtiuse of the difficulty of coUectinf; reliable infor- 
iriatlon and aleo because we are, as far as possible, 
endeavouring to sunplement the information by ex- 
perience which can only be obtained by actually 
Rrowiig the crops themselves. Experience should 
extend over many years in order that the effects 
of seasons and different modes, of planting may be 
studied. Natives are remarkably ignorant about their 
crops. Even the more intelligent of the ovir^rHcers 
who have been planting sweet potatoes for 40 years 
are unable to inform you upon all points concern- 
ing the cultivation of the plant and sometimes 
cannot, even identify all the varieties. Consequently 
many witnesses have to ba examined and each and 
has a slightly different tale to tell. We do not, 
therefore, claim that these articles are by any 
liieans exhaustive. 
Sweet Potatoes, T lazi sing. Kiazi, Ilatatn{Arnbic}, 
Ipomcea batatas, belong to the natural order ConvoUiila- 
cere. The " potato " is the turberous root or trubercle, 
sometimes also called tuber, but a tuber is, strictly 
speaking, a swoolen rootstock or underground stem 
usually beset with eyes or buds. The ordinary 
European potato is a tuber. The distinction is 
observed in the different modes of planting. The 
European potato is propagated by planting a whole 
or a portion of the tuber, sometimes called a " set " 
but this method would be slow and uncertain in 
the case of the sweet potatoe because the "tuber" 
being a root contains, no nsrmal buds. Hence slips 
or cuttings of the stem are planted. 
Natives plant sweet potatoes at all times of the 
year when rain serves though the principal season 
is the maailca or big rains in April and May. The 
earth is moulded up into long tortuous beds, two 
to three feet high and three to four feet wide and 
the cuttings crov/ded indiscriminately all over the 
surface. They rapidly strike and creep all over the 
beds, completely hiding the soil. In two to five 
jiionths, according to the variety and season, the 
crop is ready to dig. Free sandy soils are preferred 
and showery weather. If very dry weather follows 
planting little or no crop will be produced. When 
digging the potatoes the natives may frequently be 
observed sticking in the tops again behind them for 
a second crop and in well made beds this process 
might be repeated several times. No mancre is ever 
applied for this or any other crop as natives do not 
seem to understand its use, and often the same ground 
is planted year after year. Hence large crops of pota- 
toes are seldom obtained, probably not more than two 
or three tons to the acre. 
Varieties of Sweet Potatoes 
Small 1. Viazi Kirihani red 
, 2. 1, Kiiidolo hungala, white 
Large 3. i, Kindolo, white 
4. ,, Kwata, white 
5. „ Kioata red. 
1. ViAM KiMHANi. This seems to be the com- 
monest variety. It grows in about 3 months, or less. 
The potatoes are 4 to 8 inches long 1-3 inches 
thick. They are not held in much culinary esteem 
aa they cook watery but are planted because they 
are rapid growers and can get along with compara- 
tively little rain. The stem is green and branch- 
ing leaf ; 3i inches by 3J inches, lobed, sinuate on 
the margin, base reiuform as iu all the varieties, 
apex acuminate ; petiole of leaf (i-7 inches long, Viazi 
Kirihani bears muny flowers which are white at the 
top and pink at the base. 
2. ViAiii KiNDOLA UDNOALA. A stouter plant than 
the last; leaf about the seme size but ."j-? in. lobed; 
nodes of the stem, upper part of petiole and ribs 
B( tUe f^ft''!' of the leaf purple J petiole 7-8 inches 
long, This variety also cooks watery, but is a rapid 
grovfer with plenty of rain. The potato is white and 
truncate. 
3. Viazi Kindolo. This is the slenderest plant 
of them all; leaf small, deeply cleft, 5 lobe-^, appex 
acute ; purple coloured about the nodes, petiole and 
ribs, Potato grows to the size of a man's arm and cooks 
dry and flowery. Both this and the two following 
varieties take five months to mature and require more 
rain than Kirihani. 
4. Viazi Kwata la punda. White, plant in appear- 
ance, and size resembling Bungala. Leaf entire, not 
lobed, margin slightly sinuate apes acuminate; pro- 
minences coloured as before but to a slightly greater 
extent as for instance the whole instead of extremities 
of the petiole. Potato white, lar;^er than that of any 
other variety, growing to the size of a man's leg. It 
also cooks well. 
5. Viazi Kwata la i'Unda. Eed, the largest of 
the plants ; stems as thick as a man's little finger ; 
petiole 8 inches long, stout; leaf 5 in. by 5 iu. entice, 
slightly sinuate, apex acuminate ; none of the parts 
coloured. This is the best cooking variety and the 
potatoes grow to a considerable size. 
Neither the varieties of Kwata bear many flowers 
while each of the other three have a good show. The 
Kivata are sometimes ijlanted on the flat as they 
require a lot of moisture. Natives of Zanzibar trace 
theii origin to the Mtoui district. 
Little forethought seems to be bestowed upon the 
choice of varieties though a preference seems to pre- 
vail for the smaller quick growing. Sweet potatoes 
are displayed for sale in the markets all the year 
round in little heaps of one to two pounds weight, 
each heap selling for one or two pice, according to 
the supply. They occupy only a secondary place in 
the economy of the hottsehold ranking in this respect 
with the pulses and grams. Cassava and rice are 
much more important food staples. Sweet potatoes 
are boiled with salt and sometimes mixed with 
coconut, sugar or syrup. — The Shamba. 
Ceylon Coconut Oil.— The only important .sale 
has been one hundred tons for May-July sliip 
nient at 5'45c. There is only a liniited demand for 
spot f;ood 5 700 to 5 75e, as to quantity and .seller. 
— Oil, Paint and Drug Bejiorter. 
The New '' Code " fob P>,ukal Education — We 
have so many times urged the importance of differ- 
entiating between town and country in matters 
educational, that we have every reagon to be pleased 
at the changes that the " Code " just brought out 
by the Education Department renders possible, 
Henceforth the course of instruction to be given in 
all elementary schools is to be suitable to the 
circumstances of the children and the neighbourhood. 
This means, of course, that in rural districts a 
knowledge of Nature bearing upon the culture of 
plants and the raising of stock will be imparted. 
Except in particular cases, the teacher will not be 
tempted to teach those special subjects which will 
bring him in extra grants in the easiest way. The 
grant will be one technically called " a block grant," 
made upon the ef&ciency of the school generally, 
whatever the subjects taught. Lessons on " common 
things " which in the country obviously will largely 
be "object-lessons from Nature," are to be given 
in the higher and lower standards alike, and a new 
course of household management has been devised 
fdr girls. Among the subjects on which special grants 
may still be obtained are manual instruction and 
gardening, and the school-garden may even yet 
become universal, in spite of the Schoolmaster's 
sneers at the Agricultural Education Commitee, and 
the latter, knowing full well that all its wishes cannot 
be fulfilled at once, "hails with the greatest satis- 
faction the provisions of the new day-school Code," 
which we might add are due in a great measure to 
the energy displayed in the formation and worlj of 
that still youthful body.— G^rtoecs' CJnvmle, 
