The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-09-28
FARMERS COLUMN.
NEGLECTED VEGETABLES.
From the Rural New Yorke

Tho wears, end in some instances cen
turtles, required to popularize the mos
common vegetable cultivated shoulc
teach US lesson in regard to the intro
duction of new species and varieties Il
REQUIRED two centuries to teach the
masses in Europe and America how tt
cultivate and make use of the tomato
and almost as long a time to discover the
value of the potato. Indifference, pre-
iudice and ignorance combined are al
ways opp ,sed to new things OF any KIND.
It matters not in what form they come,
there are sure to be scores OF doubters, 1t
no worse, who stand ready to decry in
novations upon old paths.
The general intelligence of Americans
renders them, in part, an exception to
the rule, and it is quite likely that in
some instances they are little too hasty
in catching at new things, but upon the
whole they come out on the right side,
and this shows progress. There is, how
ever, one prevailing fauls among our cul-
tivators OF the soil, and it IS this,-theY
soon give up a thing unless there is a
large margin for profit. Experimenting
for experiments sake, or to gain knowl
edge in relation TO plant or the best
system of culture, does not suit them
consequently failures are often the result
of non persIstency, instead of the worth
lessness of the thing in hand. We have
seen this in our vegetable gardens more
conspicuouslV than elsewhere, and even
at this day there are numbers of valuab BE
roots almost entirely unknown to "ul
people We will mention two Whicl
appear to be worthy of attention.
Tuberou8 BOOTED Vetch-( LDteyrus tu6er
OSuS.)
This plant grows with slender, strag
Cling, turning stem, three to four fee
high. Tue flowers resemble the pea, anf
of q deep rose color. The edible iubcr
are produced at at the ends of the roots
They are obloDg in shape and two o
three inches in length and an incn il
diameter The inside is white but ut
rather firm texture and resembles uu
boiled peas, but when cooked 1t has
flavor somewhat similar to ;the chestnu'
Each plant produces from twenty t
forty of these tubers. The adVan'ag
this plant has over the common potato
in the value OF the vine, which is gre d.
ly eaten by cattle. Tubers planted Il
spring will give fine crop in autum an
may be stored for winter use the SAINT
our common potato. The Lathyr~
tuber0yu8 has been cultivated in port n
of Europe for Il number of years, ami
is well worthy of the attention of en-
agriculturisIs
Apios Tu6erosa.
This is another neglected tuberol
rooted plant, belonging to the same f.jj
lily as the tuberous rooted yetCh
grows wild 10 nearly every low swan
from the Atlantic coast to the RI x
Mountains Il is a beautiful, sler
climbing vine. bearing racemes of brow
ish purple flowers. It's subterraGa,
stems produce long strings OF farlnace II
tubers, one or two inches long and a;5
inch or more IN diameter. The plan
succeeds best in low, moist ground, -.
we are not aware that any conslderal.
number of experiments have been mad
to improve it, or learn whether it y.
thrive uader cultivation IN high, Or
souls. Without doubt few general, IA
of seedlings ouly would be necessary I
produce a valuable esculent from IN
al present, neglected tuber. It is q
tainly hardy. vigorous and product y
besides possessing valuable nutri y
qualities.