New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-11
VTTFRS Fhn,nN THE PEOPLE.
TIFF NEW EscULENT RooT-THE Ih''r'h
OR JAPAN POTATO.

roe,s 70 some learned men. II did not, however, at
tac, their special attention to ts great value and I'M
u,ense importance until the year 1883 when some
highly intelligent botani-ts recognized the great adj
v,naces 10 be derived from lis extensive culture and
devoted themselveso its increase and 10 the develop
nent Of is merits.
Finding this precious roo. to be superior in It's fan
naeeou- properties either Of the species Of the po-
tatc. and that it in no case subject TO decay,
whether in the ground or ont Of it. and was OF 60
hardy character as 10 withstand the severest WE
ter unnjured they have now come to the CONCLUSION
in common with English bOanlsts who have MADE
similar experiments that the DoScorea Basaas des-
tined to supersede the precaous and uncertain culture
Of the ordinary potato, so hdbIe to rot ana 10 oeT
dfseasSs and that the grand desideratum substitute
in itself valuable than the ordinary potato ma
at length been found SO strongly confirmed Is I'M.
opinion in Europe that we find Il supported by al
their leading agricultural and horticultural puoca-
tons and even by The Marx Lane Express, the pm
cipal representative aud eIposltor OF the agcurlsts
Of Great Britain. >, ,,,r.
Roots Of this plant have been produced in Middle
and Northern France, weighing TO 2. To- from tuoers
planted in April and dug IN october.
One grt point OF superiority possessed by II - tha
II NAV remain in the ground two three years, al
yayS euaTging IN size, and equally nutritious ana tx
ceent in flavor. Experiments nave proved that when
the roots are left for eighteen months IN me gfOa9a
the Weld is more than treble that OF oots eit but TOR
one Summer; and also considered that the roofs
are improved IL qualify
In the Spring OF the largest plantation in France
contained tut 100 roots Yet such the ease aud r
pdy of It's propagation and increase that II 10 already
becoming most remarkably disseminated. Its growth
is very rapid and suited to any climate ana 70
any soil although a sandy oam or sandy soil has been
deemed preferable in Europe, where the sunhe 81 Is 20
much less powerful than with u.s. IL has been tested
| in this country in sandy and IN stf loan and grew
vigorously in both and from analogy Il Is more than
probable that il will do well III humid soils. IL may
- 80 pnta hat ~ "a IN
to the great similarity in the genera and specie
natural TO China and North America, of our most
common native plants also vine Is the Dt0ScGrt@
riiosa, found in great plenty IN hedge,rowS ana on
the borders of ravnes, from Canada 10 Carolina and
everywhere called "Wld YAM" and that another
species is found growing very abundantly in Virginia
aud Carolina 1t il therefore only placing the Dosco-
rea Batatas among it, relatives and coDgenes, when
we introduce II TO the American soil.
One very peculiar characteristic of this plant Is that
lis roots run DerpRdicUiarly into the earth, thereby
greatly enargrg It's caFHc TO produce tns greatest
possible crops from given space Of ground IL has
been calculated in the French publications from the
experiments there made that acre Will IN six months
produce So goo pounds and III eighteen months 10000
pounds.
II possesses another great advantage. The roots
when placed in a cellar, remain firm and perfect, a.
well free from sprouts, and they can be Kept out OF
the ground year without injury or deterioration OF
their alimentalv qualities This property renders
them invaluable for in long voyages, and espe-
cialy a preventive of scurvy.
e
than to hot climates it has been proved that the
greatest increase in the size OF the roots take place
during the coolest period Of our season-the Autumnal
months. The roots grown here the past Summer,
when dug at the end of October were found 10 be IN
vigorous state of growth
Notwithstanding the fact that this root, az has been
already stated, may be propagated with great raPdty
sti the demands from al quarters ON tie hrst eut
vators have been rapid and numerous, that has
been found impossible to obtain any considerable
supply for the country, and but limited quantities will
be atanabe the present In fact, many years
must eapse before moderate supplies can be fur
nisl ed to the countries which VIII stve 10
establish s culture.
The manner of cultivation D very simple, and the
same course can be pursued with the sweet potato
l. Is said that the Chinese cultivate it in hills,
do Indian corn and plant but one tuber or piece of
root in each hill, and pow between the roots twice
during the summer to keep them free OF weeds. We
doubt this statement-firs because the Chinese exer
else the utmost economy in the use of the soil and
secondly because the labor of that country y gener
ally manual. If cultivated in hills, we think that
three four pieces should be planted in each; but
would suggest the planting them in double rows, aud
ttey viii then need to be plowed but one way. We
think by adopting this course greater yield may be
obtained from an acre, and at less expense than other
wise. In several of the Wetern States where land
cheap and 10 required aud where the soil is
20 easily tiled it will probably be most advantageous
to cultivate them in single rows, q Is usually done
with the common potato.
Having had opportunities Of testing the quality Of
the DoscoTea the past Autumn grown this country
the following viii serve a brief descriptions
Root fifteen TO twenty-five inches long and two inches
in diameter taperng from the head; the outward ap-
peaanco similar 10 the white variety of the sweet pO
tato; kin thin readily peelng off when cooked; flesh
white, delicatey farinaceOus, with d slight al
moud favor, exceedingly grateful when used in the
same manner the ordinary potato and deemed both
richer in nutrition aud superior in quality. Ii can he
cooked by water or STEAM or roasted, and IN appear
and taste Is ike the finest mcaly varieties OF the
common potato. II requires but ten minutes boiling,
Nlhe he tN.ou mini
This root POSSESSES another great advantageIt pro-
ducos fine, pure, white -four which VII compare adj
vGnGgeously with wheat -four of any country, and IS
equal, if not superior, in nutrimeut.
The introduction u this invaluable vegetable is too
for to know all it, qualities, it having been
tested but for four years in Europe and only Que year
in our own country. Ii may, however, be fairly
assumed that q reget0He Which has for centuries
formed me food If the Immense p0pUkQti0R Of
China and JdpdR-ddODtcd as sach BY nations
gdrdtu u domestic economy, and SO careful and cc0
possessed Of ordinary merits. Such should
sdeI 10 be the character OF this vegetable, combining
a. Il does the circumstance Of immense product, d.
minshed comparative labor. and an adaptation to soils
where scarcely any other root will grow with the adj
dtonal fact Of IL remaining in the ground during the
Winter and for period Of three or more years fur
nishing throughout all fresh wholesome and
nutritious ament for all classes at the cheapest
On the whole may consider ourselves iu-tifrd in
believing and confidently asserting, that the acqus
ton Of this esculent in Europe aud America cOGst
utes IL agriculture equaled only III equaled in
deed II bel by that whch consequent upon the in
PRODUCTION OF The Indian maize of our own continent
The fact Is certainly most astounding tnat have
remained thus long entirely ignorant Of invaluable
a yegetabe-oue which IL destined soon 20 cover
uyriads Of acresand which, but for that great mala
iy, the poato-rot, we should probably be still unae
! IL. II - Z -