23 



Crowding process, all the parts of one of the florets, except the stamen «, 

 may be suppressed, or abortive ; a phenomenon, of which it is believed 

 there are many analogous instances, in the economy of vegetation. The 

 seeds are closely invested by the inner chaffy envelope, or paleae, after the 

 manner of Oats, and Barley; and while thus coated are known, in the 

 East, by the name of Padda. They are deprived of this covering by pas- 

 sing them between mill-stones properly adjusted for the purpose, — and 

 are thus prepared for the culinary department, much in the same way that 

 hulled and pearl Barley are manufactured. The albumen, or farina- 

 ceous portion of Rice, is of a remarkably pure white — almost translu- 

 cent ; and of a very bland, nutritious quality. The gluten which it con- 

 tains, enables the Chinese to manufacture from it, various ornamental ar- 

 ticles of great beauty and delicacy. This gluten is also said to be an im- 

 portant ingredient in the preparation of Japan paper. The art of ex- 

 tracting alcohol from the seeds, has been applied to Rice, as well as to the 

 other Cerealitt. The fiery liquor called Arrac — the generic name, in 

 the East, for alcohol — is obtained by distillation from Rice, in conjunc- 

 tion with sugar, or the juice of some species of Palm: and in China, an 

 amber-colored wine is also made from that grain. 



The last member of the Gramineous Tribe, which remains to be noti- 

 ced on this occasion, is the Sugar Cane ( Saccharum Officinarum, L.)» 

 This interesting plant more nearly resembles the Indian Corn — in its 

 structure, and geneial habit* — than any o.f the other grain-bearing Gras- 

 es;- — but unlike them all, its value consists- — not in its Seeds — but 

 in the rich saccharine juice contained in itSj pithy stem. It is found 

 only in warm climates ; and flourishes best in the deep rich soils within 

 the tropics, — or in the lower latitudes of the temperate zones. It is 

 propagated by cuttings of the jointed stem- — planted in rows somewhal 

 after the manner of Indian Corn. The diameter of the culm does not 

 much exceed that of good specimens of Maize, — while it varies, in height, 

 from 8 or 10 to 20 feet, according to the character of the soil. As it is 

 not cultivated for its seeds, it is of course rarely permitted to flower ; but 

 is gathered while the rich juices are yet diffused ^throughout the stem. 

 When these juices have acquired the proper degree of maturity, the culms 

 are crushed between rollers,— -the saccharine liquid is expressed — and 

 conveyed into boilers, for the purpose of driving off, by evaporation, the 

 redundant watery portion. This being done to the proper extent, and the 



*Altliough in the structure of the culm, and general external appear- 

 ance, the Sugar Cane has some resemblance to Indian Corn. — theBo- 

 "•anical characters of the inflorescence are more allied to those of andro- 

 o»on, or what we denominate Indian grass; ana hence it is arranged 

 the subdivision of the grasses, called ANDRoPoaosiEiE. 



