CULTURE OF THE OXALIS CRENATA. 
87 
and planted out in the first week in April, in drills running North 
and South, two feet and a half distance from each other, and the sets 
two feet asunder. Manure or rich ground is not required : the poorer 
the soil the better, as they will be very luxuriant the first five or six 
years. 
Prepare the ground by digging it deep and breaking it fine; lay 
the set at the above specified distance, flat on the surface of the ground, 
and cover it two inches thick with fine dry sand; from this the pro¬ 
cess is the same as with potatoes: earth up with poor, dry earth, 
mixed with lime rubbish, such as Sorrel of every species seems to 
flourish in. 
As soon as the blossoms have all fallen off, it is necessary to check 
the growth of the plants, in order to promote the swelling of the tubers. 
This is performed by taking the stems in the hands, turning them 
gently round two or three times, and fastening them in this position 
with bits of branches to keep them off the ground for fear of rotting, 
as well as to keep them from breaking, in case of high winds. 
At present, they are not an early vegetable, but will become ear¬ 
lier in the course of five or six years. As soon as the stems begin 
to decay, they are fit to dig, and should be put by for use in some 
dry shed, and covered with straw or mats to keep the wind from them. 
The best way to cook them is, to put them into boiling water; and 
when they become a little soft, pour off the water and place some 
hot cinders near the lid of the saucepan, which will thoroughly do 
them, rendering them dry and mealy. My opinion of them is, that 
they will soon become a very useful vegetable, but I do not agree 
with the remarks in the Horticultural Register, that they will super¬ 
sede the potatoe. 
Product of six plants.41bs. 8oz. 
Weight of largest Tuber.0 1 
Weight of twelve largest Tubers.0 8 
N.B. Mr. Young’s observation, that the O. crenata, is not likely 
to supersede the potatoe is a very just one. 1920 grains of the root 
were ground up, and the farina carefully extracted ; the produce was 
only30grains, while that from the same quantity of tolerably good pota¬ 
toes amounted to 240 grains. This will show its inferiority as an article 
of food, as compared with the potatoe.— R. P. — Ir. F. and G. Mag. 
