170 



siraAE.- 



pleting its growth ; but tlie stools produce a second crop, like the 

 ratoons of the West Indies, which ripen in twelve months. 



Maracabo, Ciittaijcoho. — These two are very small, seldom ex- 

 ceeding half an inch in diameter ; yet in some districts of Mj^sore, 

 as about Colar, the last-named is the variety usually cultivated ; 

 but this arises from its requiring less water than the larger 

 varieties. 



The best varieties are those introduced from the Islands of Ota- 

 heite and Bourbon. Hindostaii is indebted for their introduction 

 to Captain Sleeman, who brought them hither from the Mauritius 

 in 1827. He committed them to Dr. Wallich, under whose care, 

 at the Botanic Garden, they have flourished, and been the source 

 from whence the benefit has been generally diffused. Their supe- 

 riority over those which have been usually cultivated by the natives 

 has been completely established. The largest of the Hindostan 

 canes, ripe and trimmed ready for the mill, has never been found 

 to exceed five pounds ; but it is not uncommon for an Otaheite 

 cane,* under similar circumstances, to weigh seven pounds. The 

 extra weight arises proportionately from an increased secretion of 

 superior sap. The sugar is more abundant, granulates more readily, 

 and has less scum. Other superior qualities are, that the canes 

 ripen earlier, and are less injured by the occurrence of protracted 

 dry w^eather. 



Of the history of the sugar cane a popular tradition obtains 

 amongst the nati ves, that, in very ancient times, a vessel belonging 

 to their country chanced by accident to leave one of her crew, 

 under a desperate fit of sickness, at a desert island, at a conside- 

 rable distance in the Eastern Seas, and that, returning by the same 

 route, curiosity prompted them to inquire after the fate of their 

 companion, when, to their utter astonishment, the man pre- 

 sented himself to their view, completely recovered from his sick- 

 ness, and even in a state of more than comm^on health. With 

 anxiety they inquired for the physic he had so successfully applied, 

 and were conducted by him to the sugar cane, on which he ac- 

 quainted them he had solely subsisted from the time of their 

 departure. Attracted by such powerful recommendation, every 

 care and attention was bestowed, we may suppose, to convey such 

 an invaluable acquisition to their own lands, where the soil and 

 clunate have mutually since contributed to its present prosperity. 



Boil. — The soil best suiting the sugar cane is aluminous rather 

 than the contrary, tenacious without being heavy, readily allowing 

 excessive moisture to drain away, yet not light. One gentleman, 

 Mr. Ballard, has endeavoured to make this point clear by describ- 



* Many are of opinion, fnat althongh the juice of this cane is larger in quan- 

 tity, yet that it contains less sugar. There is some sense in the reason they 

 assign, which is, that in the Mauritius and elsewhere it has the full time of 

 twelve or fourteen months allowed for its coming to maturity — whereas the 

 agriculture of India, and especially in Bengal, only allows it eight or nine 

 months, which, though ample to mature the smaller country canes, ia not suffi- 

 cient for the Otaheite. 



