7(54 
EXTRACTS—NATURAL HISTORY. 
The Aracacha. —The Arac&cha grows naturally in New Grenada, and other 
parts of Columbia, where it is known under the name ot'Apio, and is considered 
the most useful of all those plants, the roots of which are appropriated to the 
nourishment of man, being superior to the potatoe species, and its flavour more 
agreeable. It is tender and easily cooked, and is found to be so congenial with 
the stomach, that it is recommended as a food most fitly adapted both to the 
convalescent, and those who digest other aliments with difficulty. This plant, 
which grows in those countries w here the temperature rarely rises above 60 deg. 
Fahrenheit has for some time past, attracted the attention of the Horticultural- 
a sts, both in Europe and the United States, and trials have been made with it at 
Montpellier, Geneva, the horticultural establishment at Fromont, and elsewhere. 
At Bogota, where the mean temperature is about 60 degrees, a light soil is selected 
for its cultivation. The roots are planted about fifteen or eighteen inches apart) 
and wffien they appear above ground, they are treated in the same manner as 
potatoes, care being taken to nip oft’ the flowers as they form. In New' Grenada, 
they are six months in coming to perfection .—Rccueil Industrie!. 
Preparation or Caustic Potash. —If one part of carbonate of Potash be 
dissolved in four parts of w’ater, and the solution boiled with slaked lime, the 
potash does not lose the smallest quantity of carbonic acid; it does not become 
caustic, even though lime be added to any extent, or however long the boiling 
may be continued. If however, six parts of water be gradually added to the 
above mixture, it will be found, and without further boiling, that the potash loses 
its carbonic acid gradually; and that after the addition of the last portion of 
water, the potash is perfectly caustic. If the w r ater be added at once, the potash 
becomes very quickly caustic. This peculiarity is explained by the fact, that 
concentrated caustic potash takes carbonic acid from lime. This fact is readily 
proved by boiling pow'ered chalk with concentrated potash, entirely free from 
carbonic acid ; the solution added to muriatic acid, occasions brisk effervescence- 
M. Liebig states, that the carbonate of potash which is to be made caustic, 
should be dissolved in at least ten parts of water.— Ann. de Chini. et de Phys. 
Fondness of Poultry for Pepper. —The Capsicum frutescens, which alone 
affords, when dried and powdered; the genuine Cayenne pepper, is commonly 
known in Jamaica by the name of bird-pepper, or hen-pepper, on account of its 
being so much eaten by birds, and especially by hens and turkeys, which will 
not leave a pod remaining on the bush, that is within their reach, by jumping 
up to them. They are so fond of these pods, as to eat a great number of them 
at a time. These peppers are called Chilies in England. Even the Cayenne 
sold in Jamaica is prepared from several sorts of red capsicums, mixed with the 
C. frutescens; but they are all much inferior in pungency and fine aromatic 
flavour; and persons who would have it genuine arc obliged to prepare it in 
their own families.— Mag. Nat. Hist. 
