169 7 
Coleus rotundifolius (Menthaceae) , 54321. From Mount 
Silinda, Southern Rhodesia. Tubers presented by Mr. 
W. L. Thompson. "Tubers which serve as food for the 
natives of this district, and of which we often par- 
take. The native name is 'Zwldata.' The tubers, may be 
described as a substitute for Irish potatoes. We find 
that they are excellent prepared in the same way as 
creamed potatoes. They are not very mealy but could 
scarcely be called watery. If they could be induced 
to grow to a larger size, with increase rather than 
decrease" of other good qualities, they might be very 
useful. I think they are quite prolific yielders . They 
require quite a long season to mature and I presume 
that, if these reach you in condition to grow, it would 
be necessary to start them in a greenhouse. The tubers 
send out sprouts much as do sweet potatoes." (Thomp- 
son. ) 
Dioseorea eseulenta (Dioscoreaceae) , 54309. Yam. 
From Suva, Fiji Islands. Tubers presented by Mr. C. H. 
Knowles, Director of Agriculture. "A smooth-skinned, 
white-fleshed yam, - somewhat moist when cooked, but 
of good flavor." (R. A. Young.) 
This small yam, the 'Kawai,' Is certainly worth 
the attention of anyone who has facilities for culti- 
vating a small area of food plants. Since It is In- 
digenous to Fiji, the natives have long recognized its 
value as a food, and it is cultivated In most if not 
all of the Fiji Islands. It is cultivated in parts 
of India and Burma. In the latter it is said to be 
found wild. 
The stem of this creeper is round and full of 
prickles. It is propagated by planting, the small tu- 
bers or roots, which, like the old ones, are oblong, 
of brownish color outside and a pure white within. 
When cooked, the skin falls off like the bark of a 
birch tree. The root is very farinaceous , and when well 
cooked looks like fine mealy potato, although of su- 
perior whiteness. The taste recalls that of the Ar- 
racacha of South America. There is a slight d*egree of 
sweetness about it which is very agreeable to the pal- 
ate. 
The 'Kawai' can be grown In districts too wet for 
the finer varieties of the yam and it is not attacked 
by the leaf fungus Gloeosporium pestis which attacks yams, 
particularly the better varieties, and is very severe 
In wet years. Good land is necessary for a good crop, 
and it must be well drained. 
