The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-10-25
The CaSSava Industry.

| sometime since published an ar
ticle on the cassava plant, in which
1 gave, from information derived
from various sources, the enormous
product of the plant, and also an
outline OF the various uses to which
it can be applied, In the article re.
ferred to, I gave an estimate of the
amount of glucose which could be
made from the product of an acre,
and incidentally noticed the starch
and tapieca product. The figures
are so enormous that they startle
practical men, but the fact still re-
mains that from thirty to sixty tons
Of the roots can be produced to the
acre in lands suited to its growth.
The percentage of glucose is not
known. But the Florida housewife
CRATES or macerates one large root
by the most crude and simple of
processes, and washes out of it starch
enough to supply, the family tor d
long time. This starch is not only
vastly superior to corn or wheaton
starch, for the laundry, but also for
all culinary purposes. Then the res
sduum, after the starch is extracted
makes most palatable flour for
bread, cakes and puddlngs, and in
all probability will lake a prominent
place IN commerce when it is once in~
PRODUCED. 1t is | think beyond doubt
that here where the roots grow, by
using them fresh, starch can be pros
duced for one and halt cents per
pound. This would afford large prof.
its on the capital invested. There
was a root at the last State Fair that
measured thirteen feet in length some
ten inches in diameter and a pro-
Queer thinks that even that can be
beaten. 1t is nothing unusual to get
one hundred pounds of roots from
single plant. The roots are like the
potato, firm and easy Of transporta-
ton in bulk, but it Is better to use
or manufacture them fresh from the
ground if kept or handled long be.
fore use they lose largely of their
value, both in starch and saccharine
substance Sometimes the cellular
tissues mould and terment while the
outward appearance remains unchang-
ed. These results are avoided by
manufacturing the roots fresh.
The plant is propagated by cuts
ting up the stalks, dropping the cut
tings in turrow and covering with
a plow. One or two light plowings
and one hoeing will make the crop.
1t can be planted at any season when
the stalks can be had and is fit for
use in six months, but will stand for
two or more years, increasing all the
time. 1t may be dug for use at any
s t1ne as wanted; bat when there is
any frost the stalks will be killed
down and they will not start again
until late in the season. 1t is better
therefore, to cut off all the stalks
about the first ofDecember and plant
them, they will come up In March or
April. AT the same time the roots
start, and then in June or July anoth
er planting may be made and two
crops year may be produced any
where south of the 29th degree Of lat.
itude in the Florida Peninsula.
1t is estimated that the percentage
OF glucose in fresh roots is sixty to
seventy per cent. When the starch
alone Is made the percentage is fifty
to sixty, and the residuum is as vail
liable as corn meal, and may be as
valuable as -four when we'll handled.
In view OF these facts the real value
OF this plant can hardly be estimated.
Facing the product at twenty-five
tons to The acre or half W hat is claim
ed for it, and considering that one
hand can easily till forty acres, the
product OF which is one thouand tons
this at fifteen dollars per ton would
be fifteen thousand dollars. Then
say that six hundred tons of glucose
could be realized at two and a half
cents, or a like number of tons of
stal On at two cents, and we have
tWenty~tonr to thirty thousand dol
lars, and the tapioca or bread part
Of the root equal 10 at least five thous.
and dollars more. Here is field for
speculation and new product likely
to make a revolution equal to that
made by cotton, and an addition to
the worlds commerce That is wholly
Prospective, but gigantic in promise.
=. Magnificent promises sometimes
end III paltry performances. A maenifi-