76 FOOD-GRAINS OF INDIA. 



use is frequently followed by the disorders of the alimentary canal, 

 skin, and blood, named above. Local names for such rice are 

 saru (the worst), jagar, singra, and jasuria. Much illness is 

 occasioned, especially amongst the poor, through the eating of 

 rice which has been imperfectly "cleaned;" dyspepsia, diarrhoea, 

 dysentery, and ansemia are thus caused. It must always, how- 

 ever, be remembered that the very best rice has two capital 

 defects, being deficient in potash, phosphoric acid, lime, and 

 other mineral matters, as well as in nitrogenous or flesh- 

 forming matters, that is, albuminoids. This latter defect is best 

 shown by the statement that while a perfect- food should contain 

 less than 5 parts of starch or its equivalent to i part of albu- 

 minoid, rice contains rather more than 10 of the former con- 

 stituent to one of the latter. 



SUGAR-CANE. 

 Saccharum officinarum, L. 



Beng. Ik, Uk, Kushiar, etc. 



North-West Provinces and OitdhIkh, Ukhari. Telugu Cheruku-bodi. 



Sanskrit Ikshu, Rusala, Pundra, Kanguruku. 



This strong cane-stemmed grass grows from 8 to 12 feet 

 high, producing a large feathery plume of flowers. It occurs wild 

 and cultivated throughout tropical and sub-tropical Asia. 



The "sets" or cuttings of one season's canes are planted 

 in January or February in furrows to the number of about 20,000 

 to the acre ; irrigation is employed until the rains begin. 



The sugar-cane grows well on a good loam or light clay. The 

 land needs frequent ploughing and generally a good deal of 

 manure. It has been stated that any considerable quantity of 

 nitrates in the soil or soil-water is prejudicial to this crop ; as 

 a general rule, however, all the larger grasses are greatly bene- 

 fited by small quantities of the nitrates of soda, of lime, or of 

 potash. This crop practically occupies the ground twelve months ; 

 usually it is preceded by a year's fallow. The yield of cut canes 

 is said by Mr. Duthie to vary from 18 to 30 maunds per acre 



