130 



same original stock for an indefinite period without deteriora- 

 tion ; and as seeds hardly ever ripen on the canes, new 

 plants must from time to time be brought from the distance. 

 Thus New Caledonia has latterly supplied its wild-growing 

 splendid varieties for replanting many sugar-fields in 

 Mauritius. The Bourbon variety is praised as one of the 

 richest for sugar: the Batavian variety (S. violaceum, 

 Tussac) is content with less fertile soil. Many other 

 varieties are known. Excessive rains produce a rank luxu- 

 riance of the canes on expense of the saccharine principle. 

 Rich manuring is necessary to attain good crops, unless in 

 the best of virgin soil. The lower leaves of the stem must 

 successively be removed, also superabundant suckers, to 

 promote the growth upwards, and to provide ventilation and 

 light. Out of the remnants of Sugar-cane Molasses, Eum 

 and Taffia can be prepared. The average yield of Sugar 

 varies from 1 ton 6 cwt. to 3 tons for the acre. For fuller 

 information the valuable local work of Mr. A. McKay, 

 " The Sugar-cane in Australia," should be consulted. The 

 stately S. spontaneum, L., which extends from India to 

 Egypt, is available for scenic culture. It attains a height 

 of 15 feet. Other tall kinds of Saccharum occur in South 

 Asia. 



Sagittaria lancifolia, L. 



From Virginia to the Antilles. This very handsome aquatic 

 plant can doubless be utilized like the following species. It 

 attains a height of 5 feet. 



Sagittaria obtusa, Muehlenberg. (S. latifolia, Willd.) 



North America, where it replaces the closely allied S. sagit- 

 tifolia. A few other conspicuous species are worthy of 

 introduction. 



Sagittaria sagittifolia, L. 



Europe, North and Middle Asia, east to Japan. One of the 

 most showy of all hardy water-plants ; still not alone on that 

 account deserving naturalization, but also because its root is 

 edible. If once established this plant maintains its ground 

 well, and might occupy spots neither arable nor otherwise 

 utilized. 



