692 GRAMINEM 



The asTi of bamboo stems has been analysed by Hammer- 

 bacher with the following results : SiO^, 28'264 ; CaO, 

 4-481 ; MgO, 6-569 ; K'^0, 34-217 ; Na^O, 12-765 ; CI, 2-062 ; 

 SO^ 10-705; Ferric phosphate, 0-037=99-100, The >h is 

 rich in silica and alkaliss poor in alkaline earths. The propor- 

 tion of alkalis is about the same as in the ashes of ordinary 

 roots. [Liebif/s Annalen^ clxxvi., 87.) 



Commerce, — Bombay apj^ears to have inherited the ancient 

 trade in Tabashir which formerly centered in Thana. The raw 

 article is, however, now obtained from Singapore, and is 

 probably the produce of Java and other islands of the Eastern 

 Archipelago. The Indian bamboos being under the pi'otection 

 of the Forest Department prevents their being destroyed to 

 obtain Tabashir, besides they are of much more value for other 

 purposes. The Bombay trade in this article is now the 



Mahometan 



which 



s sells in bulk at 



Rs. 2-10 per lb. He also sells a selected quality at Bs. 4 

 per lb., and an inferior quality at Re. 1-4. The method of 

 calcination is a trade secret. After it has been calcined, 

 Tabashir is placed in water, whicli it absorbs and increases 

 greatly in weight, becoming cold to the touch ; this fact is 

 pointed out to the purchaser as a proof of its cooling qualities. 

 The water is retained by the drug for a long time. 



SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM, T^inn. 



¥\g.— Wood i- ilk, t. 266; Tmsac, Fl. Anfii/e^, I, U. 23—25 ; 



BentL and Trim., t. 298. Sugar-cane [Eng.\ Canne a sucre 

 {Fr.). 



Hab. — India. Cultivated in all warm climates. The 

 juice and root. 



VernacMlar.—tWi, Ganna {Hind.), Ak {Bemj.), Us {Mar.), 

 She'radi (G^?t;.), Karumbu {Tarn.), Cheruku {Tel), Karimpa 

 {2IaL), Khabbu {Can.). 



