— 
The Natural Firflory of Jamaica. vers 
rather fibrous {weet juicy Pith. The Leaves, by their Foot-Stalks, or under 
parts, inclofe the Calamus or Internodia, and are broad, ofa lively yellowith 
green colour, flriated, and like the others of this kind, or thofe of Dovax. 
At the top of the Stalk comes the Panicle, which is about two or three 
Foot long, being branch’d from the bottom to the top, into many Spikes or 
Branches about a Foot long, each of which is fubdivided into fmaller 
Twigs, which are jointed, eafily broken, having at every Joint alternatively 
the Stamina and Seed, whichare very fmall, and a great quantity of Down, 
or Zomentum, after the manner of other the Canes, only in this the Zomentum 
{ticks to the outfide of the Locuffe, as at their Bafe, whereas in the others’tis 
containd within them. 
Sugar making is fo commonly known, and its Refining, that I fhall fay 
nothing of it, fave that Sugar is the Juice of the Cane boild into a Salt by the 
help of what the Sugar-Makers call Temper. 
I tried to Boil the Sugar-Cane Juice, without any mixture, to Sugar, but 
it would not coagulate, kern, or granulate into the form of Sugar, becaufe it 
wanted what they, in the making Sugar, call Temper, which is made of an 
infufion of Wood-Athes and Quick-Lime, and which muft differ in quan- 
tity according to the Soil in which the Canes grow. 
Thefe Canes are planted in all the Lowlands of this Ifland, and never mifs 
to thrive if placed where there is Rain, and the Soil richand moitt. They 
feldom thrive or are good if planted on Hills, or in thofe Valleys where 
Rain feldom falls. Martyr tells us that, when he wrote, the Sugar-Canes 
in /ifpaniola thrive extremely, growing as big as ones Wrift, high as a Man, 
and putting twenty or thirty Stalks from the fame Root, whereas thofe of 
Falentia had only five or fix, fo that in the year 1518. there were twenty 
eight Sugar-Works there. 
XIV. Arundo maxima folio dentato. Cat. p. 32. Rofeayx de Bouton, p. 32 ? 
The*wild Cane. 
This rifes co fifteen Foot high, it has a Stemor Culmus, about the thick- 
nefs of ones Arm; being hollow, hard, and haying very frequent Joints, at 
every Joint having a Partition or Déaphragme, it is covered with a Clay 
coloured Skin, and remainders of the dry Leaves: it has at the Joints 
very long, narrow, fmall, dark green Leaves, like others of the Reeds, 
being very thick fet with Indentures, or Prickles on its Margin, making it 
rough downwards. At fome.of the Joints, now and then, come out Branches 
two or three Footlong, be fet with leffer Leaves than the former ; and fome- 
times there are Tufts of f{maller, and narrower Leaves come out together at 
the top, making a large Bunch, and upon the top of it isa Joint as {mall as 
ones Finger, f{traight, Clay coloured, f{mooth, and full of Pith, holding a 
two Foot long chaflie or downy Panicle, (like other of the Reeds,) whereof 
all the Spikes look one way. 
It grows on all fides of the Rio Cobre, and in Marfhy Grounds. 
The Cane, fplit, is made ufe of for Laths, and to make up the walls or 
fides of Houfes with Mortar. : 
_ The tender tops of thefe Canes are cut into tranfyerfé flices pickled, and 
made ufe of as other Pickles, asthe Bambo’s in Ea/t-Zndia are with affa fetida, 
Salt, Vinegar, and Garlick Pickle. 
Marcgrave {ays it was made ule of in Brafile, when made hollow, viz. 
clear'd of its Diaphragmes, to.carry water for Travellers. 
I am apt to belicve Marcgrave defcribed this twice in his third Page, 
under the name of Fataboca, and immediately after under the name of Uyba. 
For this Plant, moft part of the year, hasno Panicle, and then appears as 
the Fataboca, having {everal Branches with Tufts of fmall Leaves, but no 
Sf Panicle, 
