180 
THE CHINESE YAM. 
desired extent, if seed could be obtained, by the selection 
of the shortest roots, continued over a series of genera- 
tions. However, this defect, which would be objection- 
able in field culture, on account of the cost of gathering 
the crop, is, in a garden, no great disadvantage, as it 
ensures that the portion of the ground in which the 
Chinese yam is planted, shall be well trenched over in 
obtaining the roots, and as new ground can be planted 
every year, in time the whole garden may get a thorough 
trenching, and thereby get fertilised by exposure to the 
atmosphere, as well as by the manure which it is con- 
venient to trench into it, at the same time that the crop 
is gathered. 
The largest yam that I have grown was four feet in 
length, fourteen inches in circumference at the thickest 
part, and weighed eleven pounds. I re-planted this root 
whole, and I have not yet examined the root produced this 
season. It suffered, however, from the heat in summer, 
which checked its growth. This one was grown in the 
way practised in the South Sea Islands, where these yams 
are grown in conical mounds of rich earth, four or five 
feet high, the runners being allowed to climb up poles 
placed to support them. The produce of one plant will 
sometimes be a root five or six feet in length, and as 
thick as a man’s body at the thickest part, being a good 
load for a wheelbarrow. One such root will serve a 
family for many weeks, being usually hung up in the 
native huts, and a slice is cut off every day as required. 
The size of tuber most convenient for use, is that which 
is about two inches in diameter. This should be cut in 
lengths of about four inches, and should be first boiled 
and then baked until dry and mealy, when it is really 
delicious, and is preferred by the members of my family 
to almost any other vegetable. I have grown it in the 
