THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 47 



ripe, we concluded to test the sweetness of the 

 stalk ; so, cutting a moderate-sized cane, and 

 peeling its hard outside coat, we found a solid 

 pith of about three fourths of an inch in diame- 

 ter, and crisp, brittle, and an exceedingly sweet 

 and pleasant flavor, wholly and entirely unlike 

 anything of the corn-stalk family that we had 

 ever tasted. It was, in fact, ready-made candy; 

 and as soon as the younger members of the 

 family and the negroes got the taste of it, we 

 were obliged to interdict its further use, in order 

 to save seed. When the latter were fully ripe, 

 we cut off the heads and saved them carefully, 

 noticing, with some surprise, that the leaves or 

 blades of fodder were still as fresh, green, and 

 succulent, as ever. The stalks were then cut off 

 near the ground, and fed, leaves and all, to our 

 horses, mules, and milch cows, all of which eat 

 of it with the greatest apparent relish and 

 avidity. Considering that crop disposed of for 

 the season, we paid no more attention to the 

 stubble, or stumps, until we happened to notice 

 that, millet-like, they were shooting out anew, 

 and pushing cm for a second growth. This 

 growth we watched with some interest, until the 

 first frost checked it ; at which time, the stalks 

 were six feet high, full of broad and juicy leaves, 

 5 



