THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 19 



yards. Its stems are straight and smooth, having 

 leaves somewhat flexous and falling over, greatly 

 resembling Indian corn in appearance, but is more 

 elegant in form. It is generally cultivated in hills 

 containing eight or ten stalks each, which bear at 

 their tops a conical panicle of dense flowers, green 

 at first, but changing into violet shades, and, 

 finally, into dark purple at maturity. In France 

 it is an annual, where its cultivation and period 

 of growth correspond to those of Indian corn ; 

 but, from observations made by M. Vilmorin, 

 it is conjectured that, from the vigor and fulness 

 of the lower part of the stalks in autumn, by 

 protecting them during the winter, they would 

 produce new plants the following spring. If 

 cultivated in our Southern States, it is probable 

 that the roots would send forth new shoots in 

 spring, without protection, in the same manner 

 as its supposed congener, the Dourah corn. At 

 the North, the maturity of the seed probably 

 would be more certain if planted in some shel- 

 tered situation ; but, if the object of cultivating be 

 for the extracting of sugar, or for fodder for ani- 

 mals, an open culture would be sufficient, where 

 the soil is rich and light, and somewhat warm. 

 According to the experiments of M. Ponsart, the 

 seeds vegetate better when but slightly covered 



