20 THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 
de Montigny to the Geographical Society of Paris, one 
only, one single seed, germinated in a garden at Toulon ; 
and if by any attack of insects, by injudicious planting 
or manuring, by careless cultivation, or by any one of a 
thousand possible mischances, the pJant springing from 
this seed had been destroyed, France at this day would 
have been without the Chinese Sugar Cane, and it may 
be that the same opportunity would not have been again 
presented for a great number of years. 
TO WHOM IS MOST HONOR DUE? 
Much stress has been laid in the French works upon 
the fact that the Count de Montigny introduced the 
sugar cane into France, and the learned Dr. Turel, Secre- 
tary of the Comice of Toulon—struck with astonishment 
at the wonderful results which the sorgho can give in 
alcoholic products, its vast importance as filling a void 
made by the failure of the grape crop, and the gov- 
ernmental prohibition of the distillation of cereals—even 
goes so far as to claim that to the Count de Mortigny is 
due as much honor as is awarded to Jenner for his glo- 
rious discovery of Vaccination. Without wishing to de- 
tract from the honor due to the illustrious Ambassador, I 
would respectfully urge the fact that, so far as any account 
which we have at present goes, the Count sent the seed 
of the sugar cane as he sent other seeds, because they 
were said by the Chinese to be valuable, and because he 
supposed it possible that their excellences might be re- 
produced, upon experiment, in his own country. The 
gentlemen receiving the package of seeds planted them 
