The wood is a good fuel, and yields a large quantity of potash.

If planted in a dry soil, it takes two years to come to perfection, requiring, during that time, one weeding only.

It bears drought well, and never shrivels up, like other plants, when deprived of rain.

When planted in low alluvial soils, and either well supplied with rain or annually flooded, twelve, or even ten months, are sufficient to bring it to maturity.

The root rasped while raw, placed upon a cloth, and rubbed with the hands while water is poured upon it, parts with its starchy glutinous matter, and this, when it settles at the bottom of the vessel, and the water poured off, is placed in the sun till nearly dry, to form tapioca.