56 ■ CHAPTER IV 



a difference still obtains between the varieties now cultivated under those 

 names. The island of Tanna lies very close to that of New Caledonia, and 

 this may account for their presence in both islands, and for the double name. 



All these varieties are verj^ stout canes with internodes short in proportion 

 to length ; the percentage of fibre lies between 13 per cent, and 14 per cent., 

 and the percentage of sugar seldom rises above 14 per cent. Under the 

 most favourable conditions of cultivation they are distinctly inferior to the 

 Otaheite and Batavian canes but succeed under climatic conditions un- 

 favourable to these. They are deep-rooting and hence drought-resistant, 

 and are also of a fungus-resistant type. Their high percentage of fibre 

 makes a crusher or other device necessary for successful milling, and their 

 bagasse is of such a nature as to steam well. 



Owincj to their later period of introduction, the contusion in nomenclature 

 found with the older varieties is not so intense ; the sjmonyms found are : — 



Light-Coloured Variety. — White Tanna (Mauritius), Yellow Caledonia (Hawaii), 

 Malabar (Fiji), Daniel Dupont (Clarence River district of Australia), 

 Striped Variety. — -Striped Tanna, Big Ribbon, Maillard.* 

 Dark-Coloured Variety. — Black Tanna. 



These three varieties are shown in Figs. V, VI, VII (pages 44, 48, 53), 

 which were prepared from Mauritius-grown canes. The following description 

 is due to Cowgill^*' : 



" Yellow Caledonia. — Habit, erect. Length, long. Diameter, above medium. 

 Shape of stalk, straight. Colour, greenish-yellow, tinged with red on the upper 

 internodes and where exposed to the sun ; with fine dark-coloured cracks in the 

 epidermis ; more or less glaucous on the lower part of the node. Internodes, long 

 and quite uniform ; typically straight-sided, but sometimes slightly constricted 

 and sometimes slightly sub-conical ; no furrow. Nodes, rather large ; the portion 

 above the leaf-scar long and about the same diameter as the internodes ; about 

 four rows of rudimentary roots ; leaf -scar projecting prominently from beneath the 

 bud. Buds, usually small but uniform, about as broad as long, typically ovate to 

 sub-elliptical in outline, plump and with a margin narrow but uniform as to width, 

 and following the shape of the bud ; scales, of fine texture ; bearded at the tip 

 and sometimes pubescent on the sides. Foliage, abundant, green leaves inclined 

 to adhere to the stalk rather far down, but the dry leaves are shed ; medium dark 

 in colour. Leaf broad, long, tapering medium abruptly into a point. Leaf sheath, 

 large in circumference at the throat, colour light green with sometimes a pinkish 

 tinge ; auricles, small ; ligule, medium length, with the upper edge depressed 

 in the centre. Vestiture of leaf sheath, a few setae in a line on the back. Vestiture 

 of throat of sheath, short hairs on the auricles, adjacent edges and face of the base 

 of the leaf, and sometimes back of the ligule ; also sometimes finely pubescent on 

 the base of the leaf. Most important distinguishing characters, colour, cracks in 

 the epidermis, and form of the internodes." 



The Salangore Cane. — This cane has a very pecuhar history. Wray** 

 writing in 1848 from experience in the Straits Settlements, describes it as 

 the finest in the world, and to his description is to be attributed the long 

 sustained interest in this variety. The most general experience on this 

 cane is however thus given by Harrison : — " Some of us will doubtless 

 recollect the time when Mr. A. would plant a few acres of Salangore cane in 

 the hopes of getting better field returns and richer cane juice ; how these 

 Salangores in some years flourished and raised hopes of heavy returns of 

 sugar, how in others they unaccountably languished ; but how, whether 

 they flourished or languished, one thing invariably characterized them — 

 miserably poor juice and consequent loss of money." 



*In the previous eriition " Guingham " was given as a synonym of this cane; this term, due to a once 

 popular striped cotton fabric, was applied to the striped Java as early as 1800 in Jamaica. There has been some 

 confusion, however, and in some references the name seems to refer to the striped Otaheite. The term " False 

 Guingham " also appears and may refer to either of these canes. 



