Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/797

YAM as New England, and is very common south- ward ; it grows in thickets, running over bushes, and is conspicuous in the autumn by its large clusters of pods, which are much in request for skeletonizing and for winter bouquets ; though called D. mllosa, the plant is usually nearly smooth, or at most the leaves are slightly downy below. The leaves, com- monly alternate, are sometimes opposite, and even in fours, heart-shaped at base, conspicu- ously pointed at the apex, and with 9 to 11 strong ribs ; flowers greenish yellow. On ac- . count of its pleasing, dense foliage, this is sometimes cultivated to cover low screens and arbors. The yams cultivated in tropical coun- tries, and occasionally as a curiosity in the southern states, all form very large, thick, tuberous roots, differing in size, shape, and color ; they sometimes weigh 30 or 40 Ibs., and are irregular shapeless masses, or turnip- shaped and 3 ft. or more long ; some are white and others purplish throughout, and the skin is of various shades from whitish to nearly black. There are many varieties, derived from D. sativa, D. alata, Z>. aculeata, and several others, all natives of the East Indies ; having been long cultivated in the West Indies and South America, some have become naturalized in those countries, in which there are also several native species. The roots contain a large amount of starch, about 25 per cent, in some, but they are rather coarse, and are not generally esteemed by Europeans ; they are eaten either roasted or boiled, and a meal is prepared from them for use in puddings and . cakes. Occasionally the roots are imported, chiefly as an attractive curiosity at the West India fruit stores. When the rot, about 1845, threatened the ex- termination of the pota- to, a general search was made for some edible tuber or root that would serve as a substitute ; among those proposed, none were more prom- inent than the Chinese yam (D. batatas^ or D. Japonica of some), which had been long in cul- tivation in China and Japan, and which was YANCEY 769 Chinese Tarn (Dioscoraea batatas). introduced into Europe by the French consul at Shanghai, and soon after was brought to this country, where for a while it created much interest. It forms a long club-shaped root, 2 ft. or more long, and largest at the lower end; the vines run from 10 to 20 ft. in length, and have rich, dark green, heart- shaped leaves, in the axils of which are pro- duced bulblets smaller than an ordinary pea, from which, or from cuttings of the upper portion of the root, the plant is propagated. The root is remarkably white within, rather mucilaginous, and when cooked is much es- teemed by many, but, lacking the dry starchy character of the potato, not likely to be gen- erally popular ; it is boiled, roasted, or fried. The great obstacle to its general cultivation is the difficulty of taking the crop ; the depth to which the roots go perpendicularly downward makes the digging of them very expensive ; their shape, being largest below, renders it impossible to pull them, and their extreme brittleness makes it exceedingly difficult to extract them without breaking. The plant is perfectly hardy, and the roots remain in the ground during the severest winters -without injury. Its cultivation is now confined to amateurs who are willing to be at the trouble of digging the roots, and it is sometimes seen growing as an ornamental vine; animals are .fond of the herbage, and it has been proposed in France to grow it as a forage plant, sowing the bulblets broadcast. A variety or species, Decaisne's yam (D. Decaisneana), has been recently introduced into France ; its roots are inferior in quality to the preceding, and not so large as an ordinary potato. YAMASKA, a S. county of Quebec, Canada, on the S. bank of the St. Lawrence, where it ex- pands into Lake St. Peter ; area, 261 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 16,317, of whom 15,800 were of French origin or descent. It is drained by the Nicolet river, and by the St. Francis and Ya- maska, which here empty into the St. Law- rence. Capital, St. Francois. YAMHILL, a N. W. county of Oregon, bound- ed E. by the Willamette river, bordering W. on the Coast mountains, and intersected by the Yamhill river ; area, 750 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 5,012 ; in 1875, 5,447. The surface is un- dulating, and the soil, particularly in the east, fertile. It is traversed by the Oregon Central railroad. The chief productions in 1870 were 374898 bushels of wheat, 219,939 of oats, 11 627 of barley, 31,610 of potatoes, 65,100 lb. of 'wool, 103,162 of butter, and 7,261 tons of hay. There were 4,202 horses, 6,100 cattle, 18,851 sheep, and 13,602 swine; 8 flour mills, and 4 saw mills. Capital, Lafayette. YANCEY, a N. W. county of North Carolina, bordering on Tennessee, and bounded N. by the Nolichucky river; area, about 600 sq. m.; pop in 1870, 5,909, of whom 308 were colored. The surface is mountainous, and lies between Iron mountain and the Blue Ridge. Mt. Mitch- ell in the S. E. part, is about 6,500 ft. above