Saccharum. TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. 245 
Obs. This new species, for such it appears to me, was introduced 
from China into the Botanic Garden, at the close of the year 1796, 
in hope of fiuding it in some respects better than the common cane 
cultivated over India. lt promises considerable advantage ; particu- 
lal; from its being so solid, and hard, as to resist the forceps of the 
white ants, and the teeth of the jackall, two great enemies to our 
East iudjan sugar plantations. At the same time it bears drought 
much better than the sorts in general cultivation. , It produces a 
profitable crop even to the third year; while the-common cane of 
India must be renewed every year. It is also — to yield j Juice of 
a licher quality. - ; 
This seems to be the sort sihgloyed à over China t fà midi their 
sugars, as appears from the following extract of alétter from Mr, A, 
Duncan, surgeon to the factory at Canton, to Richard Hall, Esq. 
President, &c. of the Select Committee, dated Canton 96th October, 
1796, which accompanied plants of this cane from China; explain- 
ing the mode of cultivation and manufacturing the pem iu the pro- 
vince of Canton, 
= Sugar canes. A first and second sort are cultivated i in the pro- . 
“vince of Canton ; the former being small, compact and highly Sac- 
* charine, is manufactured into sugar, whereas the latter, being of a 
“larger size, and looser texture, is geuerally cut into joints, aud eat 
Re. the natives, either raw, or gently heated. ui ce. 
— “The culture of sugar canes commences about the aiii of 
“ Marchor beginning of April, in proportion to the temperature of 
“the weather, when a good, light, sandy soil is thrown up into beds 
* of about four feet diameter leaving intermediate spaces of one | 
“and a half, which serve as drains and passes for the husbandmen. 
“ A composition of human manure and wateris thrown overthe beds; 
“after which the tops of sugar canes, fifteen inches long, (the Chi. 
“nese are here economical) are planted in a slanting position, and - 
occasionally watered at sun set, till the young shoots rise a cubit 
a high, when the husk and refuse of the ground nut, or of some oleagi- 
" Dus seeds after the oil is extracted, are well beaten into a' kind of. 
