MANIOC OR CASSAVA.

Dozerdust, Volume 1, Issue 22, 13 November 1943, Page 6

MANIOC OR CASSAVA.

POPULAR KATiyJS FQOB. MNIOC. is a plant of great baiue which Mth the Yam is the basis of the native’s larder. II; is very nourishing and rich in starch which the digestive processes turn into' glucose#' The extent to which it is used by the natives shows that the introduction of the plant into the country lias boon a great benefit to the native who X’Qliu on it for himself ©nd his stock# • ; » IT is a sturdy plant, giving no difficulty in the choice of soil, thriving and cropping heavily in mineralised soil, which does nut lend itself to cultiv« atlon* The roots remain in the soil x fox’ months without any ill effects, re.vi d the soil is heal thy# to. r two years in the ground the roots harden and become stringy. The life ■ o " the plant is. seldom more than two years# $ » j THBRS are altogether eighty varieties of the manic©, or cassava, as it is called, only two of which are grown in How Caledonia: the White Ta pa no so Manioc whioh has a green stem and many branches and •lb an early cropping variety. The planting is simple. On the second ploughing a cutting about four or five inches long is dropped in the ' furrow belli nd the plough, the work* iing of the plough covering them sufficiently. Cnee the stalks up, which they do rapidly, they are earthed up.. They ere planted two to three eV apart in rows o si mi liar distance apart. The rapid growth and large leaves so cover the earth that it is impossible fore woods to grow. s * : TH& second variety of manioc found on the island is known as Bitter / Manioc which was introduced for industrial purposes, but was never dev- ; eloped. This plant contains pci 3 - onus properties which make it dangerous for man and beast alike. The , poison is destroyed by cooking® It is said that even the White mahios , which is harass, if fed to animals for several months’, develops a form of eiclcnossa lit The plant exhausts ths ceil, much more than any other agricultural product; it is never grown more than once 'every three years, and after hhe first year, the ground is usually manured for, say ' a com crop. The usual yds Id is, from twelve to twenty tons per sere*