The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-08
THE ChssAVA ROOT.
A Tuber That Could Re Grown with
Profit hepeaboutS.

A Tuber That Could Be Grown with
Profit hereabouts.
Much inquiry is being made about the cas-
sava root which is now being extensively
grown in Florida, and which it has been sug-
gested would be profitable crop in Southern
California. The name cassaya IS more properly
applied to the meal, and bead made from it,
obtained from tho roots of several species OF
the genus manihot, plants which grow in the
West Indies, South America and Aries. Three
species are described by botanists One Of
these, known as the little cassava is ipdigen-
GUS to Brazil and cultivated in other parts OF
South America 1t is shrub six to eight feet
high, with a large tubeIous root which some
times weighs 80 pounds. This root contains
large proportion OF starch, associated with
poisonous milky juice, containing bydrocyanic
acid and e. bitter acrid principle. The other
two species do not possess this poisonous juice.
All are used alike for the preparation of the
mesI. The root is we'll washed, then scraped
or grated o pulp and this, when OF the pols-
onous kind, Is thoroughly pressed in order TO
remove the juice. The pulp Is then dried in
the sun aud prepared for food by being mixed
with water and bsked ike flour in large thin
cakes. These are a coarse, cheap kind OF bread,
much used by the negroes and poor whites.
It's nourishing qualities consist in the starch,
of which 1t is principally comprised. The eX-
pressed jules also furnishes very delicste and
nearly pure starch, when left 10 stand for some
time. This starch, after being well washed
and then dried forms the tapioea OF commerce,
sometimes called Brazilian aErowroot.
But it is chiefly al feed forsock that the cas-
sava root is grown in Florida, and which wou
max e it valuable to the agriculturist of South
ern California correspondent Of the Florida
Time Union wItte7 as follQws regarding this
root:
'Probsbly the easiest grown and, on the
whole the most profitable crop is the cssEsva.
Wish an Application of 50 worth of stable
nure, between five and 10 tons of roots cal be
raised per acre per annun, which at the least
calculation is vostn $3.50 rs feed for any kind
of stock, and though yet hsve only ex peri
mentsd with 1T en- u small scale, think can
safely say that more than $500 worth of hogs
can be raised end fattened on the prodnct of an
acre of csssava. All kinds of animals, horses
cows, hogs chickens. and especially children,
eat it ravenously The reason / have not had
more experience In feSding it is that my exper-
imental patch Lest year was consumed mostly
by the family, Some writer's have said it was
coarse and not good Tor food, but only small
part Of the butt end OF the sweet rasssva is
woody, the rest being as crisp &c an II sh potato
until IL is over year old; but il VIII remain in
the ground and grow year after year.
"Cassava shonid be planted four feet APP 1T,
fertilized in the hill and cultivated ike corn.
Although Gus ava is to Africa what cNfn is to
the Mississippi valley. or the potato to Ireland
and although IL grows hele ike I'd and
will take the place of pota 'oeH, and bA half our
bTeid three fourths horse and COW feed
and all our hogs need. from pigs to pork still
we continue to send TO the ice-bound regions
OF the north for our bread and meat, butter and
many other articles tho. could be easily pro.
ducso Mt home"
The chamber of commerce refers parties de-
string caesava seed for ex perimental PURPOSES
to Reasuie Bros, Oneca. Fla.