The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-12-13
The CASAVA PLANT.

Casava is tropical plant. 1t serv-
ed as the chief article OF diet for the
ahorigines of the West Indian Islands,
Central and South America, and is
served at present three times day
at the tables of the wealthiest, as well
as poorest men of Brazil and other
South American States. The plant
grows luxurantly TO the height of
five or six feet, with many branches
Of dark green, reddish leaf; the main
stalk is covered with nodes from
which the next generation OF plants
is obtained, as in the case with sugar
cane, 1t is planted in hills, four feet
apart each way, for the easier cultiva.
tion and better development of the
plant. Under favorable conditions
the growth is rapid and luxuriant,
but il is the underground roots that
give the plant the real value. The
roots are attached to the main stalk
and are usually from one to three
inches in diameter, and from one to
two feet long, as the result Of one
years growth They consist of white
solid tissue, harder and dryer than
potatoes and contain large quantity
of starch.
Casava hes been cultivated in Flor.
ida for several years now, with highly
satisfactory results both for starch
purposes and stock feeding. 1t thrives
best on moderately fertile sandy soil
and possesses great drought.with.
standing power, very much urpassing
corn in this respect. Dr. Stockbridge,
director OF the Florida experimental
station, makes the statement that to
his personal knowledge casava thrives
as far north as Macon, Ga, and might
be grown to advantage on a large
part Of the CarOlinas, Georgia, Miss.
issippi, Louisiana and Texas, but be.
ing sensitive to frost as much as the
tomato plant is, casava will get Its
full development in sections where
the spring frost ceases with the mid.
die of March. and killing frost does
not occur until after the middle OF
October.
AS to the yield, the experimental
station of Florida gives an average OF
IL tons per acre; this during a very
exceptionally bad season and on the
poorest soil OF the station. Expert
ments carried on soil well cultivated
and supplied with the proper fertil'
izer, the yield was much over twelve
tons per acre, but from my own obser
vatiOn il would be safer to calculate
at the beginning on a yield Of abOu,
six tons per acre.
Casava is distinctly a starch form
ing crop or fat former. When proper
ly used it becomes one OF the mos
economical heat and fat forming artl
cles of food for all classes Of animals
human beings included. Casava pre-
sents marked characteristics OF boil
potatoes and sugar beets, but Gun
tains very much more total food, be
cause Of its greater sOlidity and small
er content OF water. All things con
sidered, casava comes nearer supply
ing a perfect ration for farm stool
than any other concentrated food.
For domestic use, boiled or fried
casava is a most nutritious substitute
for either sweet or Irish potatoes. l
dried by means Of the sun, oven o.
eva porator, and sliced with a rootcut
ter and then reduced to flour b!
grinding, the flour is an extremely nu
tritious and palatable substitute TO
all cereal fiours and meals and ma!
be used either by itself or as an nd
mixture ~ products Of groun'
grains. ~
For stock feed casava possesses
4 lara1 ulnouao Of fat.forming materl
al than Is found in any other stapl
cfo& hut 10 secure the best result
esu,l1 fading. amall ouantitieh Of col