BOTANICAL NOTICE AND HISTORY. 201 
actually the Holcus sacchdratus, a perfectly distinct tribe 
of plants, and not a Sorghum at all! 
It is said that seed of this plant was introduced (for 
what purpose is not stated) into England in 1759; but 
seeing the botanical confusion existing on the subject, I 
very firmly disbelieve it, and consider that it was much 
more likely to have been some kind of sorghum, intro- 
duced for the sake of its grain. 
There can be no doubt, however, that Professor Pietro 
Arduino, of Florence, became acquainted with one or 
more sorts of the LHolcus saccharatus, perhaps as early as 
1766; and 1786 he published an account of his experi- 
ments in sugar making from it. It would seem that he 
endeavored to establish its cultivation in Tuscany; but 
for causes which have never been clearly given, he did 
not succeed in doing so. 
From his time, it may be said to have remained in total 
obscurity, (as far as Europe is concerned,) down to the 
year 1854. 
So much has this been the case, that although I have 
been a sugar planter so many years of my life, and 
have, as an author, had to look closely into all informa- 
tion connected with the production of sugar, in both 
ancient and modern times; yet I can truly say, that I 
knew nothing of this plant until I resided in the colony of 
Natal, on the south-east coast of Africa, where it grows 
in abundance. Nor was it until I reached England this 
year, that I could obtain the works of scientific authors, 
from which to learn its botanical character, and what 
efforts had been made, if any, to introduce it to notice. 
It was with the utmost difficulty that I was enabled to 
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