456 
CASSAVA  BREAD. 
For  the  preparation  of  the  above-enumerated  articles,  at 
least  250,000  pounds  of  the  roots,  etc.,  are  required. 
The  sales  of  the  crude,  bruised,  and  powdered  roots,  barks, 
etc.,  we  estimate  at  310,000  pounds,  making  an  aggregate  of 
560,000  pounds,  sold  and  manufactured  in  this  city  during 
the  year;  the  average  value  of  which  can  not  be  less  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  giving  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  persons,  who  are  engaged  in  the  collection,  dry- 
ing, and  manufacture  of  these  home  productions. 
The  cities  of  Pittsburgh,  Louisville  and  St.  Louis,  are  also 
largely  engaged  in  this  business  ;  and  in  addition,  a  very  con- 
siderable amount  of  the  roots,  barks,  etc.,  are  shipped  from  the 
various  smaller  points  :  and  we  think  we  may  safely  say,  that 
there  are  not  less  than  one  million  pounds  of  these  indigenous 
medicinal  agents  disposed  of  annually. 
This  comparatively  new,  but  valuable  and  interesting  branch 
of  trade,  is  so  rapidly  increasing,  as  to  lead  many  to  fear  that 
unless  cultivation  is  resorted  to,  the  country,  extensive  as  it  is, 
will,  in  a  very  few  years,  fail  to  supply  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
some  of  the  articles,  to  answer  the  demand. — The  Druggist , 
Cincinnati,  June  15,  1860. 
CASSAVA  BREAD,  PREPARED  FROM  THE  ROOT  OF  CASSAVA 
PLANT. 
Janiplia  Manihot.  (Euphorbiacece.^ 
By  Mr.  F.  A.  Davson. 
There  are  two  distinct  varieties  of  the  cassava  plant — the 
bitter  and  the  sweet.  The  root  of  the  bitter  cassava  is  large 
and  tuberous,  abounding  in  a  milky  juice.  It  can  with  difficul- 
ty be  distinguished  in  appearance  from  the  root  of  the  sweet 
cassava  ;  it  does  not,  however,  possess  that  tough,  fibrous,  and 
woody  filament  contained  in  the  heart  of  the  sweet  cassava  root. 
The  sweet  cassava  root,  although  resembling  that  of  the  bitter 
in  external  appearance,  unlike  the  latter,  is  not  poisonous. 
The  plant  of  the  sweet  variety  grows  to  about  the  altitude  of 
four  feet,  the  length  of  the  root  is  about  a  foot,  it  is  seven  or 
eight  inches  in  circumference,  and  of  a  lightish-brown  hue. 
The  plant  of  the  bitter  cassava  is  generally  six  feet  in  height. 
