210 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Saccharum officinarum, Liime. 



The Sugar-Cane. India, China, South Sea Islands, not 

 indigenous in any part of America or Australia. Sugar- 

 cane having been cultivated in Spain and other countries on 

 the Mediterranean Sea, it will be worthy of further trial, 

 whether in the warmest parts of our colony under similar 

 climatic conditions sugar from cane can be produced to 

 advantage. Though the plant will live unprotected in. the 

 vicinity of Melbourne, it thrives there not sufficiently for 

 remunerative culture. But it may be otherwise in East 

 Gipps Land or along the Murray River and its lower 

 tributaries. In the United States the profitable culture of 

 cane ceases at 32° north latitude, in China it extends only to 

 the 30° north latitude. In the last-mentioned country the 

 culture of Sugar-cane dates from tlie remotest antiquity; 

 moreover we have from thence a particular kind, S. Sinense 

 (Roxb,), which is hardier and bears drought better than the 

 ordinary cane ; this kind needs renewal only every second or 

 third year, and ripens in seven months, if planted early in 

 spring, but if planted in autumn and left standing for fully a 

 year the return of sugar is larger. Moderate vicinity to the 

 sea is favourable for the gro^vth of canes. Prolific yields 

 have been secured in East Australia as far south as 28°. 

 The multiplication of all sorts of Sugar-cane is usually eflfected 

 from top-cuttings, but this cannot be carried on from the same 

 original stock for an indefinite period without deterioration ; 

 and as seeds hardly ever ripen on the canes, new plants 

 must from time to time be brought from the distance. 

 Thus New Caledonia has latterly supplied its wild-growing 

 splendid varieties for rej^l anting many sugar-fields in 

 Mauritius. The Bourbon variety is praised as one of the 

 richest for sugar : the Batavian variety S. violaceum 

 (Tussac), is content with less fertile soil. Many other 

 varieties are known. Excessive rains produce a rank luxu- 

 riance of the canes at the expense of the saccharine principle. 

 Rich manuring is necessary to attain good crops, unless in 

 the best of virgin soil. The lower leaves of the stem must 

 successively be removed, also superabundant suckers, to 

 promote the growth upwards, and to provide ventilation and 

 light. Out of the remnants of Sugar-cane molasses, rum 

 and taffia can be prepared. The average yield of Sugar 

 varies from 1 ton 6 cwt. to 3 tons for the acre. For fuller 

 information the valuable local work of Mr. A. McKay, 

 "The Sugar-cane in Australia," should be consulted. The 

 stately S. spontaneum (L.), which extends from India to 

 Egypt, is available for scenic culture. It attains a height of 

 j&fteen feet. Other tall kinds of Saccharum occur in South Asia. 



