The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-04-10
From Tie Sell # the .So.fh.
The New Ch;neae Plato.

The European journals arc cxul,ing over
the discovery oi IL new lan,, which, i; in
said, is l." snprI"nt tic r"l.,o. l, is called
the Chinese Yam, and, lis its na:ne imports.
is .f CInrSe origin. IL M. dc Mnutrny.
the French Consul at the p"r, Of Shanghai,
''s''''ss the honor Of introducing this new
's,:uleni to The civilized world. IIs trans
united 1t t" Paris several years ago, where
1t li;'> since l'ccn successfully cultivated, and
Ia now attracting the attention Of .li,,in-
Suisl'',l chemists and I,nricul,nri>,s in that
country. and Throughout Europe. Az xn
article Of food. it is pronounced equal, #
not superior to the potato, whicl. it murL
resembles, and is said to Ic more prolific
ant exempt from The diseases TO which the
l",a'" crop is subject. 1t is prnpagatcd,
like the Irish potato, 10y cuttings, or like tho
sweet potato, by bedding and then trans
planting the shoots, which readily TAX. roo.
and grow with great r,pi.:i,y. Ono Of it's
chief recommendations, in .hc estimation
of those who have tested it in Europe, is its
adaptation 10 poor sanriy lands, which it
principally affects, anl Which pro,.uce alum
dhnt crops OF it. Indeed. j, has already
been l".kcd 10 us II mealls OF r,stoi inn Iu,,ds
otherwise barren ami vniu"srss. lie plant
Is described. in lilc .ii,lilnral division uf
'he Patent Olli,e Report, ;.s i.:.vil,. large
perennial roots. :hc top ends nf which are
rs large as the list. and which taper down
to the siz. Of the finger, descending rerpen-
'iiruiIry /" the depth "f Il yard, it The soil
Is "'>r enough to allow them to do so.-
fhe iia,iim Is annual, rs thick rs II goose
quill. cylindrical, .,twinin! from right to
':tt, tw" yarls III length, uf II vuiiet color,
With small "hi,ish >I'ccks, and when not
mtiticiiiy >upl"'rie'l, 1t trails ON tie ground,
t,king root freely at lhc joints. Monsieur
.le M"n,'gny rcl"rls that it has long leen
III extensive cultivation in China, and that
1t is as generally use,l by the Chinese rs an
article of tovd, as tho potato is by Euro
pcans.
The largest sizc,l .ubcrs are raised bv al-
lowing them to remain in the ground for
tw" years, where they keep sound alnI heal
Thy dn'iny the winter, aud continue To in
rie;'se IN size. After the roots are dug.
they are preserved very mucI, n. We pre-
sei,e the sweet l"tato, ly putting them
III banks and protecting them with dirt and
straw.
The French horticu'tu,is,s, WHO have tes.
ted II uhtil they !'ave fully satisiiv, them.
selves OF Its excellence as an article of food
aud its adaptation to The soil ind climate of
that country, thus sun, up its advantages:
!. Tint in point ofeflavor and nu,riiivs
qualities. II In equaIAto the potato, and in
The "pin ~ Of Professor D.,ni>nr. su,+ri,r
2. That the yield j, greater, while il.
fiee.io'n tron' disease renders the crop moro
certain.
! 8. That 1t will grnw upon sandy, and
wl'at ars usually con.i.lcretl barren s,ib
and tirus affords Nh excei;eHt means Of lurL-
ing waste lands t., profit. s3 ~
&! 4. That it can 10 proliagatel will, e..
ciIity. -
* 8. That it may remain in the ground
several years without degeueraling, Tut o.,
the contrary, it inci cases in size, weight and
hutriment, furnishing at all seasons sf ii,s
year, III alulent within tho reach III cscryy
one." - sss sss5 -
@. Thst VIXEN siiasyasteA, e ,n3x ia nre.
servesl in rellsss or shells, without y4Veta,
ting, for many months afier tte i,otatS Eas
btcoine useIess for foyd,
2. !, l,rcqaites i sliSrter time ia cooking
than the potato ~ pilntss,. lpiiihg Usiag
'sassaeck
- esf,.$ :