C2 THE GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



the old variety ; it yields a quarter more juice, 

 and a larger and more solid mass of wood for 

 fuel. It seems, however, that the East Indian 

 sugar-cane is still more productive than that 

 from Tahiti ; for, in Bengal, the produce is 

 twice as great as in Havannah, while the wages 

 of the Indian are only one-third the cost of 

 maintaining a slave. 



The process for making raw sugar is briefly 

 as follows The leaves having been stripped 

 off by machinery, the stems are passed between 

 'powerful rollers, which crush them so as to 

 express the juice, which, being collected as it 

 flows, is then evaporated by successive boilings, 

 the crushed canes being used as fuel ; it is then 

 clarified, and finally crystallized. From this 

 the uncrystallizable sugar, called molasses, or 

 treacle, is then drained, and the remainder, 

 namely, raw sugar, being packed in hogsheads, is 

 ready for exportation. Very large quantities of 

 spirits (rum) are also distilled from the crushed 

 canes, and from the molasses. The quantity 

 of raw sugar imported into this country, in. 

 1848, was 6,871,468 cwts. ; but a considerable 

 quantity, after having been refined and made 

 into lump sugar, is exported. The quantity 

 of molasses, or treacle, imported during the 

 same period, was 517,721 cwts. ; and of rum, 

 6,859,340 gallons. 



A striking feature among the plants of this 

 zone is the ginger tribe, ScitamineoBj the rich 

 and glowing colours of their flowers and floral 

 leaves rendering them objects of great beauty. 



