The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-11-13
CHINESE POTATO

Cd1NESE POTATO.
This vegetable, so much discussed. and
which WAS announced to the world by the
French Institute at Paris under the name
OF Dioscorea batatas, is on exhibition from
various contributors, at the Fair of the
American Institute at the Crystal Palace.
The roots arc long and Of pale russet
color; the flesh being of the purcst white.
They are very large, and weigh from II
to % ounces; the growth Of single sea.
son.
AS number Of persona have been cult
waiting this plant during the past summer,
we shall soon be able to decide whether it
IS as valuable as has been represented. A
large cultivator writes to us that "this root
is destined to revolutionizc the alimentary
basis of our country"
VIM. II. Prince, of Flushing, New York,
has $4,000 plants Of this esculcnt under
cultivation, and cntcrtains very sanguine
views respecting its prospective importance
i'll the United States. lie asserts
l. That the Dioscorea Jutatus of De-
caisnc is perfectly hardy during our severest
winters.
2. That it is moro nutritious than any
other esculent we cultivate.
3. That its culture is so easy and simple.
and Its product SO great, that it can be af.
forded incomparaLly cheaper than any
other nutritious vegctable-it having pro-
duccd i'll France at the rate of above eight
hundred bushels per acre.
i. That the combination of every useful
property renders it the greatest vegetable
boon ever granted hy God to man, and that
its introduction to our country is even
more important than that of cotton, and
that i'll twenty years our national statistics
will report the value of the annual crop as
greater than the cotton crop.
Such reliance is placed upon this root in
the Chinese empire, that, according to Mr..
Prince, onc-half the population would per
ish from famine if suddenly deprived of it.
According to the same authority, it will
supersede every other potato, and in meas
uro be substituted for Indian corn and
wheat. 1t is said to make good bread, aud
the roots propagate easily and rapidly
Tho "Rcvue Horticole," published under
the direction of the French Institute. de-
votes 90 pages to this subject, concluding
as follows:
"This csculcnt has now been tested in
every department of France, even to its
more northern limits-the shores of the
Rhine-and it is to be deemed henceforth
incorporated into the agriculture of France"
Journal Of Commerce.
--~s..>
Tile Disadvantages of Deafaess-It is
not often that we hear Of ludicrous incidents
occurring in the presence Of a congregation
assembled for divine worship, but it is never
theless fact that tho gravity Of solemn
churclman is sometimes put to severe
test, as tho following anecdotc related in
our hearing the other day will show. An
elderly clergyman in ncighboring county,
who unfortunately was afflicted with deaf
hess, ofticiated upon certain occasion at
a prayer meeting. The dimness of the
lights prevented him from recognizing with
certainty the features of a Jealous brother
whom lie wished to "lead in prayer" but
taking it for granted that he must be pres
ent. the request was put forth from the pull
pit that brother 4. should pray. Instantly
a large portion Of the congregation, who,
like the worthy pastor, did not know that
brother a. was absent, assumed the attitude
Of prayer. The minister had also knelt,
and prcsuming that brother A. was invo-
king the blessing of Providence, uttered at
brief intervals the usual "Amen." This
ludicrous cont'etemp, was terminated by
one Of the brethren going to the deaf min
lister and apprizing him Of tile absence Of
brother A. 1t is needless to add that q
majority Of the congregation were in no
mood for prayer after witnessing this Incl
dent, On another occasion the same min
ister gave out hymn, and commenced to
sing, while the choir did the same, but to a
different tuno, and thus unintentionally pro-
duced discord where all should have been
harmony.-Rich. Whig
Wonderful Transforn,ation.-Two fair
ladies were roading, the other day, Ryron's
"Prisoner Of Cbillon." That is, one lady
WAS pretending to read it aloud to another
lady. No woman has ever been, now is, or
ever will be capable Of listening without
interrupting. So that at the very com.
mencement, when the reader read the pas
sage
"Nor grew It white
In q single night
As mems have grown from sudden fears'--