Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-14

is almost two months, We have lost but a
single man; he was attacked with bilious
fever, and that he might have more comior-
table quarters, was removed to the hospital
at Ferna ndina. After being lauded few
DAYS his disease assumed malignant cha
"a cter, which carried him of during our WIS.,
it to St Augustine.
{" cannot conclude without acknowledge
ing the polite attention we received from
the inhabitants OF St. Mary's; while laying
before that place." Dem. Press.
baltimore, July 10.
FROM THE AMERICAN FARMER.
ARRACACltA,
II vegetable Of South America, superior
to the Irish Potato, 0rhich 1T resembles.
We are endeavouring to collect the
best information we can, respecting veg.
etable called ArracacLa, said to be a ma
tive of South America, and to be more
valuable than the Irish Pc; alto, which it
resembles. We propose to place the re-
suit of our enquiries into the hands of
some of our public spirited merchants,
trading to that country, in the hope of in
Producing the vegetable into our own. A
letter was addressed to Dr. Mitchell on
the subject, expecting, from his universal
knowledge, and his amicaDle relations, g.
scientific correspondence with all quarters
of the world, to derive the desired partic-
ulars of information The Doctor refer
red us to Mr.. Robinson, as person most
likely to satisfy our wish, and from very
interesting letter received from MIR. Rob-
inson on some other subjects, we extract
what relates to this We add what we
find on the same topic in that valuable
work of DR.. Mease's, "The Archives of
Useful knowledge" and we entreat the
attention of our merchants to the subject
BY some of their captains or supercar-
goes these vegetables might be had, and
they themselves may acquire the best of
all renown, that which springs from doing
solid good to their country. The object
in view would be the more readily attain
ed, if some of the editors in the sea port
towns would have the goodness to copy
this.
Extract from Mr.. d. w. Bobinson's
Letter.
Iregret that cannot answer satisfac
torily your enquiry respecting the ARA
cacba of South America, further than that
have several times eaten a root produ-
ced in G~atimata, which is not merely
substitute for the yam and potato, but in
my opinion far superior to either. | do
not remember the Indian or Spanish
name for the root in question, but it was
represented to me as an indigenous pro-
duction of Guatimala, and has been tran
splanted to the province of Oaraca in
Mexico, where it thrives as well as in it's
native regions. 1t is ABOUT two or three
pounds weight, but is said to have been
produced as large as to weigh ten pounds.
| have seen it Of various colors, particu-
larly purple and violet, but the white is
most preferred by the Creoles-it is az
mealy as the finest Irish Potato, and con.
tains think more nutritive qualities
have heard some extraordinary statements
of the quantity of this root raised in a
fanega OF ground, but one fact is certain
that it produces return to the planter
or farmer, far greater than any thing
known in South America
lconceive it an object of such impor
lance as to justify your adopting every
practicable means to get it introduced in
to the United States, and am in homes
that before long an intercourse will he
opened for trade to Guatimala, which
will enable you to effect the point.
But think that if you were to address
some intelligent individuals at Havana
you could obtain precise information on
the subject, because there is considera-
BILE intercourse between Guatimala and
Havana.
There is an infinite variety Of produc-
tons, vegetable and animal, in South A.
merica and Mexico, that have hitherto
been scarcely noticed, and which opens an
interesting rield for the scrutiny of the
naturalist and philosopher-how many
indigenous productions of those vast re-
gions may be transplanted to other coun-
tries, and there flourish in the same man.
ner as the potato and tobacco plant has
done?
Neu- York, May le, 1921.
Extracted from the Archives of Useful
knowledge, Vol 2, page e9S.
TO MERCHANTS TRADING TO THE SPAN
ISL MAIN
The merchants who trade to Caracas
and other parts of the Spanish Main, are
requested to endeavor, to introduce into