98 



it 



lacinulata; altera brevis, ovata, apice tenerrime prolongata, 

 filiforini. " Stamina 3, antheris linear! -oblongis, ochro- 

 leucis; Germe?i ovatum; stylis 2; stigmatibus rubro-fuscis. 

 Semen desideratur." 



Such is the account which my own observations, together 

 with those of Meyer and others, have enabled me to draw 

 out. I have ventured to differ from those who have pre- 

 ceded me, in regarding the calyx as formed of 3 glumes. 

 The description given by Mr. Brown is, " flowers all herma- 

 phrodite; calyx 2 flowered, exterior floret neuter, interior 

 hermaphrodite, 2 valved, minute, embi'aced by the neuter 

 floret." To me it appears preferable, to consider the 3 outer 

 as glumes, since they are similar in texture, appearance, and 

 every other respect, and as they differ so materially from 

 what the distinguished Botanist above cited and all othei's 

 agree in denominating corolla — as constituting the outer 

 floral covering, and the two minute pellucid hypogynous 

 scales as alone entitled to the designation of corolla. I ob- 

 serve that Palisot de Beauvois, in his Agrost. nov. p. 7, 

 considers what has been here styled the innei'most calycine 

 glume, as a one-valved corolla ; and what has been set down 

 as corolla, he has termed a nectary. This is certainly 

 prefei-able to considering the calyx as 2 flowered. 



We now come to make a few remarks on the cultivation 

 of the Cane. 



The original stock of Canes cultivated in these islands was 

 probably brought from Spain. There cannot be a doubt, 

 indeed, but that the Sugar Cane is not indigenous to any part 

 of the New World. We are, it is true, informed by the 

 early voyagers and travellers, that Canes were found growing 

 wild on the banks of the Mississippi, and other rivers of con- 

 tinental America; and Labat mentions that the first French 

 settlers met with them in Martinique, and some of the other 

 islands. It is most probable that they mistook for them 

 some other of the reedy grasses, such as the wild cane, (Arundo 

 sagittata,) or some species of the genus Arundinai'ia — all of 

 which are common on the banks of rivers in these latitudes, 

 and all, by their appearance and manner of flowering, might 



