200 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



SAC 



Mississippi about the year 1751, when some 

 Jesuits brought it from St. Domingo . These Jes- 

 uits settled just above the present site of New 

 Orleans. In 1758 the first sugar-mill was built 

 near that locality by M. Dubreuil on his sugar 

 plantation. That was the commencement of 

 one of the largest and most profitable of Ameri- 

 can industries. The cane is always propagated 

 from cuttings. Many attempts have been made 

 to raise plants from seed, but they have always 

 proved unproductive. It seems strange that 

 the seed should be of no use, when Nature has 

 been so lavish in bestowing it. From cuttings 

 the plants come to maturity in about two 

 months, and a plantation well cared for and 

 properly manured will last a number of years. 

 The successful planter makes plantings nearly 

 every year for a constant succession. For plant- 

 ing, the ground is prepared and marked out the 

 same as for corn, with rows about four feet 

 apart, and the plants two feet apart in the rows. 

 In cultivation the plow and cultivator are almost 

 wholly used in place of the hoe, as formerly was 

 the custom. 



Saccolabium. From saccus, a bag, and Idbium, a 

 lip; in allusion to the bagged labellum of all the 

 species. Linn. Gynandria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidacece. 



An extensive genus of epiphytal Orchids, 

 chiefly natives of India. The "Orchid-Grower's 

 Manual" says: "This genus contains some of 

 the finest Orchids in cultivation. They are 

 very compact in their growth, and are furnished 

 with long, thick, and pendent evergreen foliage. 

 From the axils of the leaves their long, graceful 

 racemes of flowers, which measure from one to 

 two feet in length, are produced. Their habit 

 of growth is the same as that of the Atrides, and 

 they require the same treatment, except that 

 they are grown in baskets suspended near the 

 roof, so they may receive all the light possible, 

 and not too much shade, only enough to pre- 

 serve their foliage from being injured. The 

 various species of this genus mostly inhabit the 

 hottest parts of India, and are found growing 

 on the branches of trees. They are propagated 

 in the same manner as the Strides," 



Sacred Bean. See Ndumbium. 



Sacred Lotus. See Ndumbium. 



Sad Tree. See Nydanlhus. 



Safflower. See Gurthamus tindoria. 



Saffron. See Oroci 



Sage. See Salviu officinalis. 



Sagittaria. Arrow-head. From sagitta, an ar- 

 row ; the leaves of some species resemble an ar- 

 row-head. Linn. Monoecia-Polyandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Alismacea*. 



A genus of handsome green-house and hardy 

 aquatics, with white flowers. Several of the 

 species are common to our marshes, from 

 Maine to Florida. They make beautiful plants 

 for the aquarium or any situation where they 

 can have an abundant supply of water. Some 

 of the more tender varieties have been introduced 

 into the green-house, though rarely 



Sago. See Oreodoxa, JKhaphis flabelliformis, Raohia, 

 and Sagus. 



Sago Palm. See Cycas revdufa. 



Sagus. From Sagu, the Malay name of various 

 Palms. Linn. Moncecia-Hexandria. Nat. Ord. 

 PalmacecK. 



A genus of very beautiful, tall-growing Palms, 

 natives of India and Madagascar. The species 

 furnish a large portion of the Sago of commerce, 

 which is prepared from the soft inner portion of 



SAL 



the trunk. It is obtained by cutting the trunk 

 into pieces about two feet long, the pieces being 

 then split in half, and the soft substance scooped 

 out and pounded in water till the starchy mat- 

 ter separates, when it is drained off with the 

 water, allowed to settle, and afterward purified 

 by washing. These trees produce their flower 

 spikes when about fifteen years old, and the 

 fruit is nearly three years in ripening, after 

 which they die. In order to procure the great- 

 est quantity of Sago, the trees must be cut 

 down immediately after the flower spike makes 

 its appearance. Introduced in 1800. 



Sailor Plant. See Saxifraga sarmeniosa. 



St. A gnes's Flower. See Erinosma. 



St. John's Bread. See Ceratonia. 



St. John's Wort. See Hupericum. 



Salicornia. Glasswort. From sal, salt, and cornu, 

 a horn. Linn. MonandriarHonogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 ChenopodiacecK. 



A genus of succulent plants common to salt 

 marshes in various parts of the globe. They 

 grow from six to ten inches high, and are much 

 branched and jointed. The various species of 

 this genus grow abundantly on the coasts of 

 Northern Africa and Southern Europe, and yield 

 large quantities of soda, which is employed in 

 making both soap and glass. From its use in 

 the latter the genus derives its common English 

 name, Glasswort. The genus is represented in 

 this country by several species, the more com- 

 mon being S. hetbacea, which is considerably 

 used when young for pickling. On the New 

 England coast it is known by the name Samphire. 



Salisburia. Maiden-hair Tree. In honor of 

 Richard A. Salisbury, a distinguished English 

 botanist. Linn. Moncecia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Taxacece. 



This very remarkable tree was formerly called 

 Ginkgo biloba, G/inkgo being its name in Japan. 

 The only species that has been described, and is 

 to be found in collections of ornamental trees, 

 is S. adianlifolia, the leaves resembling in form 

 those of the Maiden-Hair Fern, the botanical 

 name of which is Adiantum. This is one of the 

 most beautiful and peculiar of all hardy exotic 

 trees, and one so entirely different in habit and 

 foliage from all others belonging to this order, 

 that, were it not for the flowers and fruit, it 

 would have been difficult to find its proper po- 

 sition in the vegetable kingdom. Without re- 

 gard to its botanical position, it is beyond ques- 

 tion one of the most beautiful trees under culti- 

 vation. It attains a height of eighty feet, and 

 has a straight trunk, with a pyramidal head. 

 This tree is a native of China and Japan, and 

 was introduced into England in 1754. It is not 

 yet as common in this country as it should be, 

 on account of its price and scarcity, b\at is now 

 being more largely propagated and planted. 

 There is a fine specimen on Mr. Manice's place 

 at Queens, L. I., fully fifty feet high, with a 

 full, symmetrical head. There is also a noble 

 specimen on the old Downing place at New- 

 burgh, supposed to be the largest in the States. 

 It is propagated in this country by layers. As it 

 is dioecious, and there being no male plant in 

 this country, there has been no fruit borne. 

 The fruit is common >in Japan, and is highly es- 

 teemed for its astringent properties, and for the 

 reputation it has of promoting digestion. 



Salix. Willow. From the Celtic sal, near, and 

 lis, water; in allusion to its place of growth. 

 Linn. Dicecia-Diandria. Nat. Ord. tfaliacea:. 

 The Willow is a large and varied genus of de- 



