18 THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 
interesting investigations on this head. We must 
remember, however, that the Chinese and Japanese 
synonyms of the Holcus saccharatus are not yet clearly 
established by botanists and orientalists. Nevertheless 
it seems certain that under the name of Avbi the 
Japanese designate several species of the sorgho; that 
the Holeus sorghum corresponds to 7a (T'si) of the 
Chinese, and that xe (Chu) is probably a Holcus sac- 
charatus. 
ITS EXHIBITION AT THE FAIR AT MOSCOW. 
We have a further evidence of the fact that it 1s cul- 
tivated in China in an article which we find in the 
journal “ L’Utile et !Agréable,” in its number for the 
month of April, 1855. The writer says at Shanghae the 
plant is cultivated under the name of the North China 
Sugar Cane. The Chinese Tartars value it exceedingly ; 
and at the Great Exposition at Moscow, in the year 1852, 
some of the stalks of this same species of sorgho were ex- 
hibited under the title ‘‘ Preciewx Gaoutlam de la Chine.” 
FIRST APPEARANCE IN EUROPE. 
Its first appearance in Europe dates back no further 
than the year 1851, at which time the Count de 
Montigny, being at that time Consul of France at 
Shanghae, in China, sent, in compliance with official 
request, to the Geographical Society of Paris, a collec- 
tion of plants and seeds which he found in China, and 
which he thought would succeed in his own country. 
