" Some Enemies of our Cane-fields.^' 109 



The cane cultivated here, itself a grass, {Saccharum 

 officinarumjy is of the variety Bourbon, so called from 

 the place from whence it was introduced. It is said to 

 have improved in size and richness of juice in the West 

 Indies. Hitherto this cane has held its own in this 

 country, and has seemed in every way the most suitable. 



Experiments in planting canes from seeds, show how- 

 ever that not only heavier weights of cane but corres- 

 pondingly richer juice, can be got from other varieties 

 obtained in this way. At the Botanical Gardens, very 

 interesting and valuable experiments are being con- 

 duced by Mr. Jenman and Prof. HARRISON, and it is 

 only a matter of time to ascertain whether these new 

 canes will retain their chara6ler when propagated from 

 the tops of the parent plant. 



When the canes are reaped from the land, weeds and 

 grasses quickly appear, and unless chopped out before 

 they get a good hold, they bear seed and spread rapidly 

 their growth covering the ground, their roots binding 

 the soil, and absorbing a large portion of the manure 

 intended for the canes. 



This entails frequent weedings at a time when labour 

 is scarce from competition. In light soils aback in nor- 

 mal seasons the principal weeds and grasses to be met 

 with are a milky thistle (Emilia sonchifolia) the silver 

 fern (Gymno^ramma CalomelanosJ , another common 

 fern which is always found in light soils, Blechnum 

 serrulatum^ several light grasses such as Panicum laxum^ 

 Leptochloa vitgata, Digitaria scti^era^ Lecrsia hexandra 

 and sometimes on sand reefs, Anatherium bicorne. 

 Bitter tally, (Mikania Amara), from which the Creoles 

 conco6t a remedy for pains, runs over the canes and can 



