52 CHAPTER IV 



1870 to 1900 as the Louzier it was the dominant cane of Mauritius. From 

 1854 up to 1914 it was the only cane grown on the irrigated plantations of the 

 Hawaiian Islands, but began to fail about 1910. Up to the last century it 

 was cultivated in Java and it has been a standard cane in Brazil 



The various names attached to this variety (or verj^ closelv allied varieties) 

 are :■ — 



Otaheite, Bourbon, Louzier, Portii, Tibboo Leeut, Keni-Keni, Cuban, Bamboo 

 II, China II, Colony, Lahaina, Singapore, White Mexican, Solera, Ardjuno, Cafia 

 blanca, Cayenne (in Brazil), Cana verde' de Jujuy and Bambu blanca (in Argentina). 



CowgilP2 has given the following detailed technical description : — 



" Otaheite. — Habit, erect to reclining. Length, medium. Diameter, medium 

 to large. Shape of stalk, curved. Colour, greenish-yellow, a glaucous ring on the 

 lower half of the node. Internodes varying much in shape ; typically rather 

 tumid, but sometimes with sides straight, and when tumid most so on the side 

 opposite to the one which bears the bud ; somewhat flattened, usually more or 

 less staggered ; furrows, medium to shallow. Nodes, medium size, longest on the 

 bud side ; leaf-scar set more or less oblique, and projecting somewhat prominently 

 from beneath the bud ; the portion above the leaf-scar about the same diametei 

 as the internode above, except when the latter is tumid ; the depressed ring, 

 forming the portion below shallow ; rudimentary roots in two or three rows. 

 Buds typically sub-elliptical to ovate in outline, but varying in size and in relative 

 length and width ; apex, semi-elliptical to acute ; margin, narrow and conforming 

 to the shape of the bud ; no prominent lobes ; sometimes hairy on, and bearded 

 near, the apex. Foliage, medium abundant, light green in colour. Leaf of medium 

 width and length, tapering into a long and fine point. Leaf sheath rather flattened 

 at the throat ; auricles medium to large, often long and acute, pointed on one or 

 both sides of the stalk ; ligule medium length, with the upper edge depressed in 

 the centre. Vestiture of leaf sheath : many setae which are stiff and not closely 

 appressed. Vestiture of throat of sheath : a small amount of medium or of fine 

 hairs on or adjacent to the auricles. Most important distinguishing features : 

 shape of the buds and of the internodes." 



Very recently, and after the above section was in the printers' hands, 

 Fawcett^^ in Argentina analysed certain canes of this type in Argentina. 

 He finds that the Lahaina (presumabl}/ an authentic and recent importation 

 from Hawaii) is identical with the local Bambu blanca, and very close to 

 the Cafia verde de Jujuy, but distinct from the Cayenne of Brazil (for the 

 origin of which v. sup.) and the local Louzier. These observations are to be 

 correlated with the subject matter of this section, dealing with the introduc- 

 tion of the Otaheite canes and the differences of opinion which have existed 

 now for over 100 years. The influence of sporting in so far as regards the 

 morphological distinction observed, their permanence, the adventitious 

 presence of self-sown self-fertilized seedlings closely resembling the parent, 

 all bear on this matter, as well as the distinction between and definition of 

 the terms " variety," " group," " type," etc., etc. ; and indeed when the 

 writer equates Otaheite, Cayenne, etc., he only strictly says that a cane 

 from Otaheite travelled via Mauritius, the West Indies, and Cayenne to 

 Brazil, where it received the name of the district whence introduced. 



Still later, the writer obtained access to Burlamaqui's " Monographia 

 de Canna de Assucar," 1862. He there distinctly notes the existence in 

 Brazil of a green, a yellow, and a striped Otaheite. The bearing of this 

 observation of record on the above section specially, and on the subject 

 matter of this chapter generally, will be apparent. 



The Batavian, Java, or Cheribon Canes. — ^The earliest reference to 

 varieties of canes in Java, or indeed anywhere, is to be found in Rumpf's 



