Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-06

taste and nutritious qualities, common 'choco-
Iato 'rhs first accounts had oY'fhis he,er,,rc
were received from pr. Eberle. aud Vim. Bar
ton, ESQ OF Lancaster. The latter informed
me he had drunk IL once or twice, and that a
member of his family had breakflstcd upon it,
surprising tito be chocolate without perceiving
the deception
From he information received respecting
the stature. growth, and habit OF the plant
supposed that il was species OF Sorghum tho
ithad becn taken for a species OF Genista by
Dir. Notwithstanding, how ever, that guam
tity OF the plant was growing III a neishbouring
aarien procured afew specimens of IL. to-
setheI wiki quantity ofthe seeds, then suifici-
entity ripe foruse. found the plant belonged
TO the genus HotcuS, but having no books with
me, BY which could ascertain the precise sgc-
cics,i brought tie specimens to the city; and
after caretuliycOmpafing Them with the dc
scTiptions oftho t,iiierent species 81 fo,egS in
Wiiidenows work, fluid that il Is the fioliiS b.
color OF that author, and WAS known TO Linngc-
US.
The method ofmaking the beverage, which
hasa real or fincieJ resemblance to chocolate,
is this :-'fhe seeds, which are tarenacious, to-
gother with the giuuncS or as they Iie common
" calledhuskS which are persistent and black
Gre ground in 4 cOr1mOncOtee-nilf into grains
somewhat smaller ti;sin ground cOiiee. This
coarse farna is then Boiled over Slow fire, with
the addition of 4 sufficient Quautityof milk and
a small piece of butter, until the beverage as
sumcs ii chocolate colour, which ii receives
from the cGloUring matter of the husbs. The
liquor shonldbe then strained through gauze,
sweetened till palatable, and brought TO table
for use.-I have drunk itthus made, except that
twas unstraiucd and though could perceive
nOtaste resembling chocolate, yet 1t was bevc-
rage quite savouryand pleasant.
The plant in question resembles common
broon,-cO,n very much. Its eight o. ten feetin
height--an annual of rapid srowth-and re-
quires no particular care i'll its cultivation
The leaves are long, channelled, nerved, ard
Sheathing the stem. Inc fruit. and OF course,
Al.
born in terminal, close, and compact panicle,
OF an oblong-ovate fornl-in this respect differ
ing widely from Sorghum Sgcchatdtum, OF COM
mon broom, the panicle Of winch IS dIfuse and
spreading. Ii differs also from the broom III
the colour OF the hnsl-S they being in the chO-
colate broom for so Shall call tue plant in
question: for want OF d better name,) of Il deep
shining black colour, and giabrous (; and III the
common broom Of Il reddish-brown blue, and
pubescent sometimes even hairy. The seeds
are white, roundisli, and hard, enclosed in shi-
ming black husks.
Bolcus bicolor, the plant in question, is a na-
tive of Persia, according TO Lerche. II is most
questionable not 4 native of any part Of the
United States, or even of NOrt!1-Amerlca ; tho
Pursh says that Sorghum SQcc6Gratun, which IS
nearly allied 30 II, IS sometimes found wild in
our country.
The seeds vhichproduccdt the specimens now
before the Society, were procured from the
Manor III Lancaster county, where the plant IS
said 10 DC much cultivated, and the bevcrage i
good deal in use. How the Germans of that
settlement became acquainted with the plant,
OF from whence they received the original
seeds, | had n0opportunity OF learning. Should
visit Lancaster in the course ofthe next sum
mer, viii endeayour, by personal enquiries at
the Manor, 10 become possessed OF the knoWl-
edge OF these interesting particulars.
A present have given all the facts concern
ing this vegetable, with which became ac-
quanted. 1t appears 90 me, first That rs the
part iIreadily Sulliyated,is hardy, and pro
duces pientitully-it is worthy of some attenti-
ton, on account of the farna yielded by its
seed. This is sensbly mild and mucilagmous
upon maSticatlon and may consequently prove
extremely nutritious Secondly That, as it
Is proved 10 yield 4 pleasant beverage, with
the addition only OF little butter, to those ar
ticles which are necessary to render coffee
tea, q chocolate palatable--it might, from the
ease with winch Il Is propagated, be rendered,
by being well known, a cheap and nutritious
substitute for tea, coffee, or chocolate, at the
tables Of the country poor, and those residing in
country towns aud villages, where each hut,
however miserable, is generally furnished with
a tolerable sized garden-plot.
l believe that single plant will Weld seed c.
nough to produce, b. second years crop srii-
ficiency OF flower to furnish poor family ofsix
or eight persons one entire year, with good
and nourishing substitute for the meagre ard
unhealthful liquors used by them under the
names of tea and coffee.
do not, however, profess myself at this time
competent to offer more than conjecture OIL
these points. l have made 10 experiments
with the plant Yet, to ascertain the prCporti-
ons OF muclage and faTina contained in the
seeds but have merely thrown thus hastily to-
gether, few tacts and hints, which may per-
haps prove indirectly seTviceable to the poor
and the peasantry.
/ take the liberty of recommending the plant
TO the attention ofsurgeons and commanders of
navy yards, forts, OF barracks, for TO all such
posts a sutiicicncy of ground generally apper-
tans to admit the cultivation of enough 10 sup
ply tie sailors marines, or soldiers, with an oc-
casional meal OF "a grateful, and, / believe, a
heaithfui beverage My experience, both in
the navy and army practice, induces mo to be-
heVc that the def Of seamen, marines and sol
dicTS cannot be too strictly attended TO, in or
der 10 preserve their health and vigour aud
when an opportunity IS presented of furnishing
all those0D shore stations, and ~ barracks, or
garrisOns, with comfortable vegetable diet
Ike the one above. mentioned, aud that too
without any cost, itshould certainly not be Sui-
fefed 10 pass without al least 4 trial
WIZ. L. G. BARTON.
n. 3. Applications fol seeds Of the above
mentioned plant Addressed TO Aaron e. Tuck
or, ~. y. Corresponding Secretary OF the Phil
adelpha JsnndaB Society," aud post paid, Wsd
beattelded to without any charge.
~ The Editors Of Newspapers who are fiY0-
rabie 10 the extension of useful facts, VIII please
give the above communication an insertion
IN their respective papers, for the public
good
,s.1@ssgiisz T'.,ss g sy Ti,s EzssSzss
HTALL GOODS Eyocsaiborovah . Iurtie have re-
ceyed by the dwarf rom London and Ma gaa from
liverpool london sunerine Cloths * CassIlncsc.,
Moeskia toilc.t, aud s',ausOo'sn Fai coelings Pc
i,sse and ladies Cloths, line flinncs; Bate So.
cond Cloths; fiaius kerseys CO'tngsi Fearaos-hts ;
Han Thcks Kcadal Cotons; KOsc Siript and Point
Blankets Floor aud stairs Carpcug Elastic Cords and
Stockingnc'ts: Mems aud Woncns' silk Cotton wors.
tel Lambs wool Ilosicfyj BLACK and Fancy Colour