PREPARATION  OF  STARCH  FROM  CASSAVA. 
271 
appears  to  derive  its  constituents  from  the  atmosphere,  or  com- 
posed, like  sugar,  of  carbon,  hydrogen,  and  oxygen,  you  may  grow 
and  re-grow,  with  change,  of  course,  or  some  rest,  or  a  slight 
manuring,  on  the  same  lands,  ad  infinitum.  In  fact,  everybody 
feels  that  land  is  always  lit  for  cassava,  however  unfit  it  may  have 
become  for  other  productions. 
Fourthly. — This  is  a  very  accommodating  crop.  The  roots 
ripen  and  are  fit  to  be  manufactured,  or  remain  and  grow,  and 
again  ripen,  and  again  remain  and  grow.  Although  there  is  not 
a  positive  certainty  as  to  the  exact  time,  for  the  changes  from 
rain  to  dry  weather  are  uncertain,  still  there  is  a  choice  of  a  whole 
year  or  more  for  the  grower.  If  the  roots  be  not  dug  when  they 
become  dry  and  mealy,  they  soon  acquire  what  is  termed  a 
''fresh  spring," — that  is,  the  roots  become  somewhat  watery, 
and  enlarge,  and  then  ripen.  This  goes  on  from  the  age  of  about 
ten  months  to  more  than  two  years.  I  do  not  know  from  experi- 
ence beyond  twenty-four  months,  but  it  is  evident  to  me  that  it 
is  not  the  limit,  or  anything  like  it.  All  the  while  the  roots  have 
been  enlarging,  so  that  there  has  been,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  no 
loss  from  delay.  I  have  known  a  field  of  cassava  cut  down  to 
near  the  roots  in  a  most  ruthless  way  by  a  lazy  fellow  who  de- 
sired a  field  of  corn  and  would  not  prepare  fresh  land.  I  have 
seen  the  crop  of  corn,  and  the  crop  of  cassava  again,  covering 
by  vigorous  stems  and  leaves  the  ground,  and,  after  a  while,  the 
ripe  crop  of  cassava.  Of  course,  this  system  is  the  acme  of  lazi- 
ness, and  to  be  wholly  condemned,  but,  nevertheless,  the  fact 
stands  forth,  as  a  proof  of  the  extreme  hardihood  and  wonder- 
folly-accommodating  nature  of  the  cassava  crop. 
Fifthly. — Quantity,  as  I  have  proved,  or  sought  to  prove,  is, 
as  other  root  crops,  very  large.  I  need  not,  therefore,  enlarge 
on  this  head,  but  pass  on  to  manufacture. 
There  again  the  cassava  says,  "Try  me — try  me:  you  will 
find  me,  in  parts,  and  in  whole,  a  crop  worth  your  best  care  and 
attention."    On  this  head  I  observe, — 
First. — Each  root  has  to  be  washed,  and  the  cuticle  must  be 
taken  off.  The  plain  surface  of  the  root  makes  the  washing 
easy;  the  soft  nature  of  the  substance  renders  the  skinning  pro- 
cess as  easy  as  easy  can  be.  The  comparison  in  favor  of  cassava, 
as  against  arrowroot,  is  in  both  cases  fully  as  three  to  one  in 
favor  of  cassava. 
