The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-19

such situations can be used for orna-
mental purposes in place Of caladiuma.
On good rich soil dasheens reach Q
height Of six feet and upward and
planted in rows four feet apart and
rows yield enormous crops OF tubers.
In the early spring the young shoots
ran be- cooked like asparagus and are
considered 10y some to make q good
substitute for that vegetable. The
tubers are richer In food value than
either the Irish or sweet potato and
can be cooked In various ways. A
special bulletin on cooking the dasheen
has been issued by the Agricultural
Department at Washington and 10 sent
free on application.
John Dunbar. assistant superinten.
dent of city parks. Rochester. N. T.. At
q dasheen dinner held at the Roches.
ter Chamber of Commerce gave the
following interesting facts in the
course OF his address:
The food supply for the multiplying
peoples Of the earth is q question that
ously considered. The higher cost Of
living. because Of the higher prices
of the necessary articles for the
Of subsistence during recent years. IL
no doubt forcing this question very
seriously upon the minds Of thought
ful men and women. We must never
forget that the whole human family
is mainly dependent upon the plant or
vegetable kingdom for its principal
food supply. and there would be a
frightful catastrophe II We could pos
eibly conceive OF any portion Of the
earth'A surface where a part Of its
human population was suddenly de-
pr!ved Of its usual share of the food
products OF the vegetable kingdom.
Three closely related species Of
tulernus rooted plants known as yau-
tias. taros and dasheens have formed
important articles Of food in the Ma.
lay Archipelago. China and Japan for
centuries. possibly for thousands OF
years. The ornamental plant Grown
In gardens and known botanically as
Caladium escuientum elephants earl
Is n very close relative to the dasheen,
end any one not familiar with the
dasheen can form n good idea Of Its
character II habit from the ele.
plants ear. and as a matter Of fact
the General conditions Of growth are
similar for both.
The dasheen forms a 'uherlike root.
usually known MS a CORN. from the
summit OF which the leaves are pro-
duccd This CORN has a number Of
latent eyes M buds from which tuhers
are produced during active growth.
Both corms and tubers are very
rourishing. and Robert a. Young Of
the Bureau OF Plant Industry In a
bulletin published last year on the
dasheen states that they contain 80
per cent. more protein and starch than
the potato
The attempts to cultivate the
dasheen in this country 80 far have
been mostly confined to the Southern
States. The United States Govern
m-nt experts appear to have the I'M
preston that there is not much hope
for the successful cultivation OF the
ashcen north Of the Carol!nas. Re.
ports seem to show that in the South
they can raise from 400 to 400 bushels
10 the acre.
The dasheen OF course In a tropical
Plant. When In growth Il needs
ahnndanc" OF heat and moisture for
the best development. From five 10
SIX months are required Of good favor
able weather conditions to develop
good sized tubers. The question IL
are the conditions favorable for the
growth of the dashecn as far north ms
New York State" Where frosts are