(xanthosoma caracu, x. atrovirens and x. nigrum), ancient root

Philippines because the tubers were larger, more
mealy and mucilaginous and the people preferred
the taste (13). In Venezuela, cocoyam production
in 1960 was double that of 1937 and totaled 70,000
metric tons. Half the crop was produced in the
State of Sucre (1). Coursey writes that the cur
rent rapid shift from taro to cocoyams in Africa
(14) is apparently because the cocoyam is more
suitable for manufacturing the popular food prod
uct, fufu, a paste formerly made of yams (Dios-
corea spp.) (19). The tubers and leaves form a
major part of the diet of the people of Gabon (5).
Speaking of Ghana, Karikari says: "Generally,
cocoyams are not grown on a large scale. However,
they are of immense importance and in every
farm, garden or smallholding this crop is grown.
The total acreage and annual production are there
fore considerable . . . Because of its excellent
storage quality, it is the one most often used as a
travelling food by local people. When famine
threatens, as it often does, cocoyam is the crop
which is most frequently sought for to alleviate
the situation. In fact, when people talk of famine
in this country they refer primarily to a shortage
of cocoyams." (31).
In a consumer survey in Puerto Rico (1949-
50), the majority of families preferred cocoyams
over yams, sweet potatoes, plantains and green
bananas (28). There is presently a shortage of
cocoyams in Puerto Rico where the price has
risen from 5tf per lb. in 1931 to 25tf in 1972. In
the 1964-5 season, the Puerto Rican crop amounted
to 17,700 tons valued at $2,620,000, mostly for
domestic consumption with a small export to the
United States (4).
Propagation
The plant top ("head" or maman) (56) may be
used as planting material, or the underground
MORTON: COCOYAMS
stem (primary corm), whole (25) or cut into
pieces, each piece with about 4 eyes (29). The
primary corm has been found to give better,
quicker growth and higher yields than the secon
dary corms, or tubers, which are sometimes em
ployed (2, 23). The top should be set lower in the
ground than it was originally—about 32 to 40 in.
deep—an(j its leaves are trimmed (53). Corms or
pieces should be set 3 to 5 in. below the surface.
A. atrovirens may be propagated from offshoots or
by rootstock division (29). A. jacquinii is grown
from suckers (58). Requirement of tops per hec
tare may be 8,000 to 10,000 (17) or 10,000 to
15,000 (53) depending on spacing.
Culture
Cocoyams thrive up to an altitude of 5,000 ft.
in tropical and near-tropical zones (29). For best
growth, the soil should be porous, rich in humus.
In Florida, plantings have been successful on lowlying
marl but good crops have also been obtained
on scarified oolitic limestone (7). The plant has
a high moisture requirement but needs less water
than taro and better drainage.
Spacing of 4 x 4 ft. has been recommended in
good soil; 3 ft. x 3 ft. in poor soil. In Puerto
Rican tests, a population of 7,260 plants per acre
produced 75% more than 4,840 per acre and the
yield increased with density up to 14,520 plants
per acre (2). However, in Nigeria, Enyi reports
that increasing spacing to 5 ft. x 5 ft. stepped up
the yield, particularly when secondary corms were
used as setts (23).
Ideal planting time is said to be generally in
Fig. 7. Xanthosoma jacquinii at the Fairchild Tropical
Garden, Miami, Fla. This stout-stemmed species is favored
as an ornamental and is important for pig feed in Puerto
Rico.
—Photo by Julia Morton.
89