78 SUGAR AND SUGAR CANE. 



stalked, drooping, one foot long, elliptical, pointed ; flowers reddish, 

 small, in tufts ; calyx rose colored ; fruit red or yellow. S. A. 



SUGAR CANE, Saccharum officinia- 

 rum C. 3, O. 2. Graminse. sp. 1-14, Ds. 

 6-12 ft from the Arabic Smikar. This 

 grass or reed is not only one of the most 

 important of that great natural family, but 

 one of the most valuable vegetables known 

 to man. The species are found wild and 

 cultivated, and are natives of the East and 

 West Indies and America, growing on the 

 banks of rivers, meadows, &c. It is found 

 abounding in the U. States, South America, 

 the Indies, China, Africa and South Sea 

 Islands, and is now greatly cultivated in 

 a zone ranging from 35 to 40 on each side 

 of the equator. It was probably first culti- 

 vated for its juice in China and the E. In- 

 dies, as the Venitians imported it from thence in 1148. It was after- 

 wards cultivated in Sicily, Crete, Rhodes and Cyprus, and an abun- 

 dance of sugar was made there prior to the discovery of America in 

 1492. It was brought by the Moors from Egypt. The Arabs obtained 

 it from China, and are said to have known how to make it for 800 

 years. The su^ar cane has been cultivated in China from immemo- 

 rial lime, certainly 2000 years before it was known in Europe. Pre- 

 vious to 1416 however it was known only as a medicine in Europe, 

 from all we can learn. It was afterwards cultivated in Spain; and in 

 the 15th century it was introduced into the Canary Islands, thence in- 

 to Madeira, and thence to the Brazils, and afterwards to the W. India 

 Islands. The Dutch commenced making sugar in St. Thomas in 1610, 

 and the English in Barbadoes in 1643, and it was first cultivated in the 

 United States in 1700. 



There are now several varieties cultivated on this continent which 

 are said to have been brought here from Bourbon, Java, &c., all of 

 which have been greatly improved. The old Brazil cane has been en- 

 tirely superceded by a larger variety ripening several weeks sooner. 

 The sus:ar cane is very luxuriant in oUr southern states and often at- 

 tains a height of 20 feet ; but in arid and calcarious soils it does not 

 rise above 6 or 8 feet. It flowers, but does not ripen the seed in 

 this country. Humboldt maintained that the sugar cane is indigenous 

 to America. The varieties here are the African, Otaheitan, West In- 

 dian and Riband, the last ripening several weeks earliest. The cane 

 is raised chiefly on the gulf coast and bayous. 



Sugar. 

 This is undoubtedly one of the most valuable vegetable substances 



