November 27, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
201 
A. Ralu, having much experience in chemistry, as 
connected with distillation, and possessing extensive 
relations with the West Indies (Martinique), has taken 
out patents :—(1) for utilising as a commercial and 
industrial substance sweet Potatos as Yams, by means 
of desiccation and conversion into flour ; and (2) for 
distilling alcohol from the above flour. 
The sweet Potato at present cultivated in Jamaica is 
mostly intermingled with other plants in the provision 
grounds of the negroes. Hardly any is cultivated by 
Europeans. Ho definite area is returned as exclusively 
devoted to this cultivation, and no returns of yield per 
acre are available from authentic sources. A negro in 
the same ground will have Yam (Dioscorea), corn 
(Maize), sugar cane, and possibly, also, two or three 
other plants, such as Bananas, Plantains, Cocos 
(Colocasia). Sweet Potatos thrive best in rich friable 
soil free from clay. At the foot of the Linguanea hills, 
and, indeed, in most localities with the soil indicated 
above, they are found to thrive. They are easily 
Those who have not the means of forcing it in a house 
or frame, usually adopt the old plan of covering the 
crowns with pots, and then the whole with fermenting 
material. This, I believe, is still the most common way 
of forcing it, but I prefer forcing it in pots or boxes in 
the Mushroom house, or in pits or frames—in fact, 
anywhere where a moist temperature of 55° to 60° can 
be maintained, of course always keeping it in darkness. 
By so doing, the number of crowns requiring to be 
forced annually will have to be grown during each 
summer. 
This can easily be done by saving the cuttings of the 
roots each season, the strongest and straightest pieces 
being, of course, the best; cuttings should be made 
5 ins. or 6 ins. in length, with the tops cut straight 
across, and then covered over in a warm border, where 
they will form eyes by the spring. A well-manured 
piece of ground will be most essential to their making 
good strong crowns for the next season’s work. About 
March they may be planted out in rows 2 ft. apart, and 
being placed in a cold shed or frame, or plunged out of 
doors in leaves. 
If bottom-heat can be obtained, the pots may be 
plunged, as I find it quickens the growth, thereby 
rendering the young shoots more tender. Some place 
it in stoves, and cover it over with an empty pot 
which answers as well; in fact, it will do anywhere 
where the temperature can be maintained. Sea Kale 
can be had in six weeks from the time of starting in 
the temperature named, and a succession can easily be 
maintained provided enough crowns are at command. 
This method of forcing I prefer to the old plan, as I 
think the trouble is less, and the knowledge of the 
number of crowns you have renders the task of keeping 
up a succession much easier. 
Sea Kale can easily be raised from seed, and the best 
month for sowing is March ; but I think the crowns 
are longer in coming to maturity than by the cutting 
process. Those, however, who adopt the plan of sowing 
seed must give the plants particular attention when 
Cycas undulata. 
propagated by slips, or portions of the stem planted in 
rows or in hills. The roots come to maturity in three 
or four months, and the cultivation is continued by 
covering up the stems when digging up the more 
perfect roots for use. The crop comes in practically all 
the year round. There is no regular season for it, and 
hence it can be best harvested by examining the state 
of the roots, and taking out those that are found 
perfectly ripe. The crop may be gathered at least 
three or four times in the year, but as to the amount 
or value of each cropping no data are immediately 
available. 
-- 
CULTURE OP THE SEA KALE. 
Probably no other vegetable is so welcome, or more 
appreciated during the winter months than Sea Kale. 
It may be had by all who have a small plot of ground 
to devote to its culture, and the little attention it 
requires during the summer months renders its culti¬ 
vation quite easy, even to the greatest novice. There 
are, however, various methods of forcing it, thereby 
rendering its cultivation different in some respects, 
cuttings that have more than one crown appearing 
may have all surplus ones removed, leaving, of course, 
the strongest aud most prominent, the object being to 
insure one good strong crown. Care must be taken in 
planting not to bury the crowns too deep, the slightest 
covering only being necessary ; and nothing more is 
needed during the summer than to keep the plants 
clear of weeds, and to remove any surplus crowns. 
Where beds are to be made, and there is no place at 
command to force in, the crowns will require to be 
placed three or four in a bunch, to allow the pots to be 
placed over them ; and I would advise those who have 
the opportunity to make the beds outside the garden 
walls, in any back ground, as they are so apt to give 
the garden an untidy appearance, especially in windy 
weather and if leaves are used. At forcing time the 
crowns may be all dug up, provided the foliage be 
decayed, and the roots trimmed in and placed thickly 
in 12-in. pots or boxes, saving all cuttings, as before 
advised. Any rough soil may be used, old potting soil 
being as good as anything, just covering the crowns ; a 
good watering may be given, and as many as are 
wanted may be placed inside for forcing, the others 
small, and assist them in dry tveather with water ; but 
when they have made a good start, no more attention 
will be needed than that before advised—viz., to keep 
clear of weeds. — Wales. 
-->X<~- 
CYCAS UNDULATA. 
Among the whole of the elegant fine-foliaged green¬ 
house plants grown for conservatory or indoor de¬ 
coration, few can compare in beauty, durability and 
usefulness with that excellent introduction of Mr. 
B. S. Williams’, Cycas undulata, which has now been in 
cultivation sufficiently long to prove that it is not only 
one of the most handsome, but also most distinct of 
Cycads. As will be seen by reference to the accom¬ 
panying illustration, it differs from Cycas circinalis and 
other members of the genus in its broader and more 
elegant growth, and more particularly in the wavy 
margins of the leaflets, which suggested the specific 
name of the plant. C. undulata is of easy cultivation, 
thriving well in any ordinary warm conservatory or 
. plant house, and will grow almost as well in a hall or 
other comfortable apartment, if well looked after. 
