60 COMMERCIAL BOTANY. 



suitable children's food, considering that it contains over 40 

 per cent, of nutritious matters soluble in-pure water." Chest- 

 nut flour is now an article of commerce in this country. 



We cannot .dismiss the subject of food products without 

 a brief reference to the continued increase in the imports 

 and consumption of SUGAR. It is not within our province 

 to follow the grievances of sugar planters, the question of 

 bounties, and the fluctuations of the market ; suffice it to 

 say that when sugar can be bought retail at twopence per 

 pound, it is truly within the reach of all. Though much of 

 the sugar brought to this country is still furnished by the 

 SUGAR CANE (Saccharum offlcinaruni) (see Frontispiece), and 

 is derived from the East and West Indies, Mauritius, and 

 Brazil, the BEETROOT (Beta vulgaris) has become a formid- 

 able rival to the cane in consequence of the very great im- 

 provements that have been effected in the processes of 

 claiifying and crystallisation, by which means the sugar is 

 scarcely to be detected by an ordinaiy observer from cane- 

 sugar. The cultivation of beet for sugar-making has been 

 attempted several times in this country, but always on such 

 a small scale that no practical result has ever come of it. 

 When it was first introduced is not clear, but in 1837 a 

 beetroot-sugar refinery was established at Chelsea, and 

 many acres of land in and around Wandsworth and other 

 parts of the suburbs of London were put under beet culti- 

 vation. It did not, however, succeed, and most of the land 

 is now covered with houses. Beetroot culture has since 

 been tried in Essex and other counties, as well as in Ire- 

 land, but without success. The supplies of beet for sugar- 

 making purposes are chiefly obtained from Germany, 

 France, Belgium, Holland, Austria, and Russia. 



A very interesting subject in connection with the sugar- 

 cane has been brought to light at Kew, and published in 

 the Kew Bulletin for December, 1888, and October, 1889. 

 The plant having been so long under cultivation, its native 



