The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

From the American Daily Advertiser.

The merchants who trade to Carracas and other parts of the Spanish Main, are requested to endeavor to introduce into this country, a very valuable South American plant; an account of which, was given by Mr. Vargas, in London, and published in the Annals of Botany, No. 2, p. 400. The popular name in South America is Arracacha, and it is one of the most useful plants in that country. Order Umbelliferae; in its habits it resembles an Apium, and therefore, sometimes called Apio. Its stalk generally divides from the upper part of the root into several stems, thickly beset with large orbicular leaves gashed into several sinuses and supported by large tubular petioles, exceeding a goose quill in thickness. The roots immediately divide into 4 or 5 branches; and each of these, if the soil be light and the weather favorable, will grow to the size, and have nearly the shape of a large cow's horn. This root yields a food which is prepared in the kitchens in the same manner as potatoes. It is extremely grateful to the palate, more close than mealy; it is so tender that it requires little cooking, and so easy of digestion, that it is the common practice of the country to give it to convalescents and persons with weak stomachs, being thought much less flatulent than potatoes. Of its fecula is made starch, and a variety of pastry work; reduced to a pulp this root also enters into the composition of certain fermented liquors, supposed to be very proper to restore the lost tone of the stomach. In the city of Santa Fe, and indeed, in all places of this kingdom, where they can obtain the Arracacha, they are of full as universal use as the potatoes are in England. Its cultivation requires a deep old mould, that will easily yield to the descent of the large vertical roots. It is propagated by cutting the root in pieces, each having an eye or shoot, and by planting these in separate holes. After 3 or 4 months, the roots are of sufficient size and quantity to be used for culinary purposes; but if suffered to remain 6 months in the ground, they will often acquire an immense size, without any detriment to their taste. The color of the root is either white, yellow or purple; but all are of the same quality.-- The most esteemed are those of Lipirons about 10 leagues north of the capital (S. Fe.) Like the potatoe, it does not thrive in the hotter regions of the kingdom, for there the roots do not acquire any size, but throw up a greater number of stems, or at best they will be but small and of indifferent flavor. It thrives best in the elevated regions of the mountains, where the medium heat is between 58 and 60 degrees of Fahrenheit's scale; here it is that these roots grow most luxuriantly, and acquire the most delicious taste. Mr. Vargas believes it peculiar to the province of Carraccas and kingdom of Santa Fe, as he has met with it in no other part of America where he has been, nor is it spoken of by any writer on America, except by Alcedo, who mentions it in a few words at the end of his Diccionario Geografico--Historico de las Indias occidentales o America. It is indeed surprising, that such an useful vegetable should not yet have found a writer to make us acquainted with its history, or a Sir Walter Raleigh, to convey it as a valuable present to other regions, as it might easily be conveyed by seeds or roots.