eng = ONE 2 I ie 
CH A: PT Rea’: 
ORIGIN AND SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE CHINESE 
SUGAR CANE. 
INQUIRIES into the early history of the Chinese Sugar 
Cane, disclose the fact that we are indebted for this new 
addition to our agricultural riches, (as for the ordinary 
sugar cane,) to that mysterious country whose name it 
bears, and whose agricultural products are only by slow 
degrees being placed in the possession of the civilized 
nations of the world. When we consider the jealous 
exclusion of foreigners, the difficulty of pursuing investi- 
gations into either the literature, manners, customs, or 
statistics of China, and the comparatively late date at 
which any communication has been opened with it, there 
will be little cause for wonder that the plant concerning 
which our investigations are about to be made, should 
have but just been placed within the reach of the 
American farmer. Nor can we consider the objection as 
valid, that if it really be rich in a product which at the 
present day bears a high commercial value, we should 
certainly have been made acquainted with it before ; for 
our past experience with Chinese productions certainly 
warrants the belief, that not only may the Sorgho be 
[15] 
