298 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Sabal serrulata, Roemer and Scliultes. 



South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The stem grows to 8 feet 

 high ; particularly well adapted for sea-coasts. The leaves can be 

 used for cabbage-tree hats and other purposes for which palm-leaves 

 are sought. This fibrous spongy parts of the stem serve as brushes. 



Sabal umbraculifera, Martins. 



West India. Attains, according to Grisebach, a height of 80 feet, 

 or, according to others, even over 100 feet. Though naturally a 

 tropical Savannah-Palm, it has proved even hardier than the Orange. 

 At Hyeres it withstood a temperature of 22 F. (Bonnet). Another 

 equally tall Antillan-Palm is S. glaucescens (Loddiges). 



Sabbatia angularis, Pursh. 



North-East America. This biennial pretty herb is lauded as a sub- 

 stitute for gentian by American physicians, and might with other 

 congeners be grown in medicinal gardens, though its naturalisation 

 would not be desirable, as stock avoid the bitter gentianaceous 

 plants. 



Saccharum officinarum, Linne.* 



The Sugar-Cane. India, China, South Sea Islands, not indi- 

 genous in any part of America or Australia. Sugar-cane 

 having been cultivated in Spain and other countries on the Medi- 

 terranean Sea, it will be worthy of further trial at what distance 

 from the equator and at what elevations in other parts of the globe 

 sugar from cane can be produced to advantage. In the United 

 States the profitable culture of cane ceases at 32 north latitude ; 

 in Japan it is carried on with advantage up to 36 north latitude, 

 and even further northward (General Capron) ; the average yield 

 there of raw sugar is 3,300 Ibs. per acre ; in China it extends only 

 to 30 north latitude. In the last-mentioned country the culture 

 of the sugar-cane dates from the remotest antiquity ; moreover, we 

 have from thence a particular kind (S. Sinense, Roxb.), which is 

 hardier and bears drought better than the ordinary cane; this kind 

 needs renewal only every second or third year, and ripens in seven 

 months, if planted early in spring, but if planted in autumn and 

 left standing for fully a year the return of sugar is larger. Moderate 

 vicinity to the sea is favourable for the growth of canes. Prolific 

 yields have been secured in East Australia as far south as 28. 

 The multiplication of all sorts of sugar-cane is usually effected from 

 top-cuttings, but this cannot be carried on from the same original 

 stock for an indefinite period without deterioration ; and as seeds 

 hardly ever ripen on the canes, new plants must from time to time 

 be brought from a distance. Thus, New Caledonia has latterly 

 supplied its wild-growing splendid varieties for replanting many 



