The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-31
Oxalis Crenata.

paper was recently read before the London
Society of Arts, received from Baron de Suarce, on
the Oxalis Crenata, specimens of which were exhi-
bited
"The Oxalis Crenata has been known to the
scientific agriculturists of Europe for some years;
1t is tubercle, the culture of which, however, upon
a large scale has been little pracsed. This tuber-
Gle is stated by Baron de Suarce (who has cult
waited about two acres and half of upon his own
estate in the south of France) to possess larger
degree of nutriment than most of the farinaceous
plants which form the basis of human food in our
climate. The total weight of the crop produced
upon two acres and half cultivated by him was
ten tons, from which three tons of -four were OBJ
tanned.
From the stems of the plant, which may be
cut twice year, and can be eaten salad or spl-
mach, ninety gallons of strong acid were obtained,
which, when mixed with three times its bulk of
water, was we'll adapted for drink. The acid if
fermented and brought to an equal degree of acid
ty with vinegar, is superior to the latter when used
for curing preserving meet as does not render
1t hard, or communicate to II a bad flavor.
1.-The -four obtained from the Oxalis Crenata is
superior to that obtained from the potato, maize
buckwheat, as it makes an excellent light bread
when mixed in the proportion Of one-fourth with
corn -four; this is not the with potato, maize,
or buckwheat -four.
"The Baron concluded his paper by expressing
his willingness to make any further communication
to the society the subject they might desire, as
he would consider it great happiness to be en-
abled with the aid of the society, to introduce into
England the culture of tubercle which seems
destined to become source of food for the lower
classes, more precious perhaps than even the po-
tato.
" Ia reply to series of questions, the Baron
stated that the Oxalis Crenaa came originally from
South America-that it is hardy and unaffected by
change of temperature, and grows readily in any
| soils, it being difficult when once introduced to
eradicate it.
"The thanks of the meeting were presented to
the author for his communication "-.4rtisan
RAnwAYs IN SwEpEN.-A railway company has
been formed for the construction Of line in Swe-
den, from Orebro to HUT, distance of ffty-one
miles. The crown Prince is the patron of the
company; Mr.. Skogman, the president of the Board
of Trade, is its charman and amongst the directors
is Mr.. Engstrom, the British Consul at Gotten
burg. On reference to the map, it will be seen that
the country from the city of Stockholm on the Bal
tic, across to Gottenburg, the North Sea, is in
tersected by three lakes, the largest of which is
upwards of eighty miles long, and which, if united
by railway, would render practicable the convey
ance of passengers and produce by steamboats, and
locomotives almost from one sea 10 another The
estimated cost of the line proposed is f270 900.
minimum dividend of four per cent. is 10 be guar
anted by the State Tor hfteen years from the open
ing, accompanied by the following conditions: l. No
liability TO reimburse the Government for the first
ten years and then only out of half the profits, plus
six per cent. g. A title to the line in perpetuity g.
No liability TO state purchase for the next fifty
years, except at a bonus of twenty-five per cent.
beyond valuation of referees, (one-half of them
TO be nominated by the company A. A tariff to
be fixed by referees, (one-haf of them also to be
| nominated by the company s. Cession gratis
of crown lands on the line, Ia very considerable
portion of the line;) Materials the labor of the
crown corps of paupers, convicts, and troops, at
reduced wages; remission Of import duties on sup
plies for the line, and certain exemption from the
ordinary taxation Of the kingdom. g. Extra remu-
neration for the transportation of the pals and
troops Z. The erection Of electric telegraph at
the public expense 8. No liability to caution
money. The line, which will be single one TO
commence with, will pass through the mining dis
trct. and 1t is estimated that the existing local
traffic would pay SIX per cent; but, II would
eventually form part of grand trunk line from
Stockholm TO Gottenburg, distance OF four hun
dred miles, the traffic and profits would be mate
rally increased. On the completion Of the whole
line, the journey between London and the Swe-
dish capital would be reduced from ten days to
sixty or seventy hours, and the route to St. Peters,
burg would also be proportionately abridged. Per-
haps still more important consequence would
be, that the commerce Of Sweden would be rem
dered in great measure independent of the navi-
cation Of the Sound.--.7rtisGn.