348  The  Genus  Psoralea.  {Amju0i^i8P89.arm' 
m 
out  to  gather  their  crop  of  tipsinah ;  formerly  they  used  a  strong 
pointed  stick  to  pry  the  tuber  out ;  now  they  use  a  small  iron  bar,  one 
end  of  which  is  beaten  into  a  narrow  blade.  The- tuber,  cut  into 
slices  and  dried,  can  be  kept  for  several  years  without  deterioration. 
In  this  state  it  is  found  in  the  tents  of  the  Sioux  Indians,  and  for- 
merly constituted  an  important  ingredient  of  their  winter  food.  Eaten 
raw  it  has  a  very  palatable  farinaceous  flavor.  The  Indian  children, 
when  cutting  teeth,  are  given  pieces  of  it  to  chew,  with  apparent  ben- 
efit ;  they  are  treated  in  the  same  manner,  and  likewise  with  good  re- 
sult, when  suffering  from  bowel  complaints.  I  am  told  by  an  old  sett- 
ler that  on  several  occasions,  when  making  long  marches  without  wa- 
ter, he  successfully  appeased  the  sharp  pangs  of  thirst  by  keeping 
pieces  of  it  in  his  mouth,  their  effect,  doubtless,  being  to  stimulate  the 
salivary  glands.  The  Indians  generally  eat  this  root  cooked,  and  as 
they  appreciate  the  advantages  of  a  mixed  pot-au-feu,  boil  it  with 
tripe,  fattened  pup,  or  other  choice  nitrogenous  food. 
"  Although  the  prairie  turnip  is  mostly  found  on  high  prairies,  it 
does  not  follow  that  it  prefers  a  sandy,  barren  soil ;  on  the  contrary,  I 
have  observed  that  it  thrives  best  in  deep  and  fertile  soil,  if,  at  the 
same  time,  dry  and  porous ;  under  such  conditions  the  root  attains  its 
maximum  development.  I  have  hardly  any  doubt  that  under  patient 
cultivation  for  a  few  seasons  it  could  be  improved,  perhaps  to  an  ex- 
tent that  would  make  such  cultivation  profitable,  and  supply  our  mar- 
ket with  another  toothsome,  wholesome  and  nutritious  vegetable." 
Dr.  Havard  had  sent  some  of  the  root  to  Mr.  Clifford  Richardson 
for  analysis,  which  was  completed  last  year,  but  has  never  been  pub- 
lished, and  was  kindly  furnished  by  him  for  publication  with  this  pa- 
per.   Mr.  Richardson's  results  are  as  follows : 
Water   949 
Ash   174 
Oil  (with  petroleum  ether)   '37 
Resinous  substances  (with  ether)   '35 
Sugar  (with  80  per  cent,  alcohol)   4'77 
Sweet  substance  (soluble  in  water)   1'14 
Starch  (by  difference)     69-60 
Globulin   1'04 
Albumin  soluble  in  water   1  02 
Albumin  insoluble  in  water   6*10 
Non-albuminoid  nitrogenous  matter   '90 
Fibre  =   348 
100-00 
