189 



XL PLANTS CULTIVATED FOR THEIR SUGAR. 



A GREAT variety of plants are either cultivated or admit of 

 cultivation for their sugars. Among them the following may 

 be enumerated. The sap of the birch, sycamore, bamboo, 

 maize, parsnep, cow-parsnep, American aloe, dulse, walnut- 

 tree, cocoanut-tree; from the fruit of the common arbutus, and 

 other sweet tasted fruits; from the various species of the grape; 

 from the roots of the turnip, the carrot and the parsley; from 

 the flower of the Euxine rhodendron, and from the nectary of 

 most other flowers. These have all been tried in Europe, 

 sometimes by way of experiment, but more frequently from 

 necessity. They have, however, given way entirely to the 

 three following named plants, from which alone sugar is now 

 extracted to any considerable amount. 1. The Sugar Cane, 

 Saccharum officinarum. 2. The Sugar Maple, Jlctr sac- 

 charinum. 3. Sugar Beet, Beta cicla et vulgaris. 



I. THE SUGAR CANE. 



THE sugar cane is a native both of the islands and the con- 

 tinent of America,* as well as the East Indies. It was known 

 to the Greeks and Romans. Sugar and the sugar-reed are 

 mentioned in the most ancient records that have been handed 

 down to us first mentioned by PAUL EGINETA, a physician. 

 It was made known by the conquests of ALEXANDER THE 

 GREAT; and STRABO relates that it was found in the East In- 

 dies, three hundred and twenty-five years before the coming 

 of CHRIST. That celebrated Roman farmer, VARRO, a few of 

 whose works on agriculture have been handed down, though 

 greatly mutilated, refers to it sixty-eight years B. C., as a 

 fluid pressed from reeds of a large size, sweeter than honey. 

 It was, no doubt, introduced into Europe during the Crusades 

 expeditions, which, however romantic in their plan, and un- 

 successful in their execution, were productive of great advan- 



* The sugar cane was found growing luxuriantly when COLUMBUS first dis- 

 covered this country. We have the testimony also of PETER MARTYR, in'the 

 third book of his First Decade, written during the second voyage of Colum- 

 bus, 1493, 1495; it appears that the sugar cane was known at that period in 

 Hispaniola. 



