264 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



braces the stalk to the next joint above its 

 insertion before it expands; from hence to 

 the point it is three or four feet in length, 

 according to the vigour of the plant ; there 

 is a deep whitish furrow or hollowed midrib, 

 which is broad and prominent on the under 

 side ; the edges are thin, and armed with 

 small sharp teeth, which are scarcely to be 

 discerned by the naked eye, but will cut the 

 skin of a tender hand, if drawn along it. 

 The flowers are produced in pinnacles at the 

 top of the stalks ; they are from two to three 

 feet long, and are composed of many spikes ; 

 these have long down inclosing the flowers, 

 so as to hide them from the sight. The seed 

 is oblong, pointed, and ripens in the valves of 

 the flower. 



Lunan says, in his Hortus Jamaicensis, 

 " There are several varieties of this valuable 

 plant; but the cultivation of all has been for 

 some years past greatly neglected, to make 

 room for the introduction of the Bourbon or 

 Otaheite cane, which was brought here in 

 the year 1796, and has since been generally 

 cultivated. This cane is of a much larger 

 size than any other, the joints frequently 

 measuring eight or nine inches, and of a pro- 

 portionate thickness — the common cane sel- 



