240 TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. Saccharum, 
cuneate, crenulate, fleshy scales, which occupy the two pos- 
terior sides of the germ, opposite to the two valves of the 
corol, = 
- Obs, This new species, for such it appears to me, was in-. 
troduced from China into the Botanic garden, at the close of 
the year 1796, in hope of finding it insome respects better 
than the common cane cultivated over India, | It promises: 
considerable advantage ; particularly from its being so solid, 
and hard, as to resist the forceps of the white ants, and the 
teeth of the jackal, two great enemies to’ our East Indian 
sugar plantations. At the same time it bears drought mach 
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 said 
to yield juice of a richer quality, ss ap 
This seems to be the sort employed over China for making 
their sugars, as appears from the following’ extract of a letter 
fron Mr, A. Duncan, surgeon to the factory at Canton, to 
Richard Hall, Esq. President, &c. of the Select Committee, 
dated Canton 26th October, 1796, which accompanied plants 
of this cane from China; explaining the mode of neler 
and manufacturing the sugar in the province of Canton.) 
“ Sugar canes, A first sand second sort are cultivated in 
the province of Canton; the former being small, compact. 
and highly saccharine, is manufactured into:sugar, whereas” 
- the latter, being of a larger size, and. looser fexture, is gene ae 
rally cut* into joints, and ‘eat’ = the aire ets 
gently heated, ee Site ie 
“ The culture of sugar ‘canes commences: ioe the middle: 
of March or begiming of April, in proportion to the tempe-" 
rature of the weather, when a good, light, sandy soil is” 
thrown up into beds of about four feet diameter leaving i-’ 
termediate spaces of one and a half, which*serve as:draims’ 
and passes for the husbandmen, A pompaneneee human 
