412 Tr E AT I SE on 
Canna melUa , C<efalpin. Viba & Tacomurel , 
This Cane or Reed arifes from a thick fibrous Root, 
to be eight or nine Feet high, and is two, three, 
or four Inches thick, according to the Goodnefs of 
the Soil in which it grows, and full of a white, fun- 
gous, juicy fweet Pith. It is moftly of a green Co- 
lour tending to yellow, but at the Joints becomes 
yellow, white, and fometimes blackifh. At each 
of the Jouits, which are about four Fingers breadth 
afunder, grow two narrow Leaves of a yellowifh 
green Colour, and two Cubits long or more j and 
the Top of the Reed, which is furnifhed with many 
Leaves, produces a divided Panicle, two or three 
Feet in length. It grows fpontaneoufly in the In - 
dies y the Canary Ifiands, and the hot Parts of Ame- 
rica. In the Province of Rio de la Plata , we are 
told by Pifo , that Sugar-Canes grow up of their 
own Accord to the Height of Trees, and that Cryf- 
tals of Sugar exude from them by the Heat of the 
Sun. 
In many other Parts of America it is planted, by 
laying oblong Pieces of it in parallel Furrows made 
in the Earth, and covering them. Thefe Pieces 
mull have every one a Joint, for from each Joint 
fprings forth a new Cane, which in eight, ten, or 
twelve Months from the planting, according to the 
Nature of the Soil, acquires a proper Magnitude to 
yield Sugar. 
The Method of making Sugar is this. When 
the Canes are ripe, they are cut off near the Root 
and in a Joint, then are cleared of their Leaves, 
made up into Bundles, and carried to a Mill. The 
Mill is compofed of three heavy Axles made of 
folid Wood, Handing eredf, and bound with Iron 
Hoops. Betwixt thefe Axles which touch upon 
one another, and are turned about with great Force, 
either by Water or Horfes, the Canes are continu- 
