HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 81 
writers who treat us to such novelties as neiv "Wheat," made from ^gilops, 
and new "Sugar Cane," from Holcus, are very remiss, in my humble 
opinion, in not following up their discoveries, by conclusive demonstrations 
of the real facts of the cases stated, and the true character of the plants 
indicated. Naturalists, now-a-days, like to have some reliable evidence of 
what they are asked to believe ; and clear, definite statements, concerning 
all alleged novelties. 
February 14, 1855. W. D. 
CALADIUM ESCULENTUM. 
A paragraph, extracted from a Texan paper, is now going the rounds of 
the newspapers, from which we learn that three specimens of the Tanyer 
have been brought from the Sandwich Islands to Texas. This plant is the 
Caladium esculentum of authors, and has been extensively cultivated in 
Georgia and Carolina, since the first settlement of those States. It was 
introduced from the English West India Islands, where it is known by the 
name of Eddo. We are probably indebted to Africa for this esculent root. 
Both the above names are its appellation in different African languages. 
Some tribes of Negroes likewise call it Jabavi. It is rather remarkable that 
any one, inhabiting the southern portions of our country, should be so 
ignorant as not to know that this common vegetable could be procured close 
at hand, without the trouble of bringing from a distance of some thousands 
of miles. 
As for its value as an esculent, the most that can be said for it is, that it 
is a very poor substitute for the Potato. There is, however, considerable 
difference in the quality of the roots, some being dry and mealy, others, of 
finer texture, are very mucilaginous ; of the first, the white ones are far 
preferable to the purple. The young shoots, or rather buds, that is to say, 
the portion of involuted and blanched leaves that can be procured from 
them, shortly after they first sprout from the earth, when dressed like 
Asparagus, form probably the most delicious vegetable that can be eaten. 
The French formerly cultivated it, for this purpose, in Hayti, and their 
other American possessions, under the name of Chou caraibe, or Carribean 
Cabbage. 
I know of no plant that will produce more to the acre than this, particu- 
larly if left in the ground for two years, when the whole soil appears to 
become one solid mass of roots. It thrives best in a moist situation. 
6 LeC. 
