THE SUGAR CAXE. 



CHAPTER XV. 



SUGAE, COFFEE, CACAO, COCA. 



Progress of the Sugar Cane throughout the Tropical Zone — The Tahitian Sugar 

 Cane — The enemies of the Sugar Cane — The Sugar-harvest — The Coffee Tree — 

 Its cultivation and enemies — The Cacao Tree and the Vanilla— The Coca 

 Plant — Wonderful strengthening Effects of Coca, and fatal consequences of its 

 Abuse. 



SUGtAE is undoubtedly one of the most valuable products of 

 the vegetable world, and may be said with truth to be only 

 surpassed in importance by the nourishing meal of the cereals, 

 or the textile fibres of the cotton-plant. Our garden fruit owes 

 its agreeable taste to the sugar which the ripening sun developes 

 in its juices. The sap of many a plant — the palm, the birch, 

 the maple, the American agave — is rendered useful to man by 



