Chinese Cinnamon Vines (Dioscorea 
Batatas). 
by a. T. COOKE, HYDE PARK, NEW YORK. 
These interesting vines were first 
brought to the United States about the 
year 1870. They came from China, that 
far-away land of wonder and mystery, 
but where the Chinese first found them 
is not known. The name, “cinnamon,” 
was given to them on account of the 
odor of the bloom, which is similar to 
that of cinnamon. The fragrance is 
remarkable and too delightful to de- 
scribe. When my vines are in bloom 
my neighbors a full quarter of a mile 
away note their sweet perfume. 
When first introduced to this country 
the tubers sold for ten dollars each, 
and it was then believed that as in 
China they could be profitably grown 
for food, and would rival if not sup- 
plant the potato. Such has not been 
the case, one objection being the diffi- 
culty of digging them. However if in 
time the potato fails to produce seed 
balls and seed and finally deteriorates 
and vanishes, as some scientists pre- 
dict, then perhaps cinnamon vine tubers 
will take its place and help feed the 
world. One strong factor in their favor 
is that cinnamon vines have no insect 
enemies whatever. In my fifty years’ 
experience, growing millions of them, 
I never saw a rotten tuber or any blight 
or disease of any sort among them. 
The tubers grow straight down, the 
big end at the bottom, and in rich soil 
often attain a length of twenty inches 
or more the first season. In old vines 
of five or ten years the tubers attain 
enormous pro p or t i o n s . 
A curious fact about the tubers, and 
one not generally known, is that new 
ones are formed every year from the 
old tubers, the old being absorbed in 
the new and larger growth. 
One of the accompanying illustra- 
tions shows the shape of a typical tuber, 
and the other one of my vine-covered 
walks ten years after planting. I was 
one of the pioneer growers and have 
grown them continually since. They are 
unquestionably the most beautiful and 
attractive of all climbers. They are sell- 
ing today faster than ever before. Only 
the highest merit can account for their 
ever increasing popularity. If given 
support they climb thirty or forty 
feet, branching profusely, and are 
covered with pretty, heart-shaped, 
glossy leaves that turn to a golden yel- 
low in the fall. The wealth of tiny 
white bloom with its exquisite perfume 
