YAMS 
107 
Africa ; indeed those who have been many years in that 
Colony inform me they prefer the Sweet Potato to our 
common form. The growths of the Yam and Sweet 
Potatoes are so distinct in different countries that it 
would serve no useful purpose to describe them at 
length. As a cultivated root I do not think the plant will 
ever become a success in this country. The roots, or as 
they should be more properly termed the rhizomes, are full 
of starch and juice, and these differ from the Potato as they 
go downwards in the soil perpendicularly often to the 
depth of a yard if the soil is loose, and these plants in 
suitable soil, when left to themselves, spread over the 
ground and readily take root. The leaves of the plant 
have been described as not unlike Byrony ; the flowers 
are very small, and a pale yellow, produced in small 
racemes at the axils of the leaves, and the roots may 
be said to be club shaped of different colours — mostly 
dark or fawn colour. The flesh is white and milky. 
In China these roots have peculiar names, and the people 
use them largely as food ; indeed as largely as the Potato 
is used in this country. For seed purposes the smallest 
tubers are preserved through the winter in pits well 
lined with protecting material and covered over. In spring 
they are taken out and sprouted by being placed close to- 
gether in well-prepared soil. They then produce their 
trailing stems, and these, when strong enough, are made 
into cuttings, and planted in ridges they soon root in 
moist weather and form tubers ; fresh stems also appear, 
but these are removed as they rob the tuber. There are 
several varieties of Chinese Yams, but they are of no 
value in this country. The variety noted above is very 
common in China, and this thrives so well that a 
trench lo to 15 feet long will often produce enough 
roots to keep one man a whole year ; that is, there is 
sufficient produce or roots for consumption for that 
period. The plants^ are also increased by cutting in 
