fem 
& 
r 
* y 
W[ 
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iff 
The great Reed or Cane is not vfed in phyficke,but is efteemed to make dears for W-ea tiers, 
ftmdry forts of pipes, as alfo to light candles that ftand before Images, and to make hedges and 
pales, as vve do of laths and fuch like; and alfo to make certainediuifions in lliips toduiidc the 
Tweet oranges from the fovvre, the pomecitron and lemmons likcwife in funder, and many other 
purpofes. 
Chap. 31. Of Sugar fane. 
The defcription. 
k_A rundo Saccharin*. 
SugarCane. 
1 OVgar Cane is a pleafant and profitable Reed, hauing long ftalkes feucn or eight foot 
high, ioynted or kneed like vnto the great Canc ; the leaues come forth of eueric 
joyntoneuery fide of the ftalke one, like vnto wings, long, narrow, and fharpe poin- 
ted. The Cane it felfe, or ftalke is not hollow as other Canes or Reeds are, but full, and ifutfed 
with a fpongeous fubftance in rafte exceeding fiveet. The root is great and long, creeping along 
within the vpper cruft of the earth, which is likcwife fiveet and pleafant, but Idle hard or woody 
than other Canes or Reeds • from the which there doth (hoot forth manyyong liens, which are 
cutaway from the maine or mother plant, becaufethey fhould not draw away the nourifhmcnt 
from the old ftocke, and fo get vnto them felues a little moifture,o.relfe fome fubftance not much 
worth, and caufe the ftocke tobe barren, and themfelues little the better ; which (hoots do ferue 
for plants to fet abroad for encrcafe. 
The place. 
The Sugar Cane grovveth in many parts of Eu- 
rope at this day, as in Spaine, Portugal, Olbia, and 
inProucnce. It groweth alfo in Barbaric, generally 
almoft euery where in the Canarie Iflands, and in 
thofe of Madera, in the Eaft and Weft Indies , and 
many otheT places. My felfe did plant fome (boots 
thereof in my garden, and fome in Flanders did the 
like : but the coldnefie of our cly mate made an end 
ofmine,and I thinkc the Flemings will haue the like 
profit of their labour. 
The time. 
This Cane is planted at any time of the veare in 
thofe hot countries where it doth naturally grow, by 
reafon they feare no fro'fts to hurt the yong lboots at 
their firft planting. 
«j The names. 
The Latines haue called this plant Artmdo Saccha- 
rin*, with this additament,/«i/t.i,becaufe it was firft; 
knowne or brought from India. Of fome it is called 
Calamus Saccharatus : in Englifh Sugar Cane : in 
Dutch ^tiptcfeemeDt, 
C Thcnature andvertucs . 
The Sugar or juice of this Reed is ofa temperate 
qualitic; it driethand cleanfeth the ftomacke, ma- 
keth finooth the roughnefle of the bred and lungs, 
cleareth the voice, and putteth away hoarfenefle, the 
cough, and all fotircneffe and bitternefle,as Ifaac faith 
in Dictis. 
5[ Thevfe. 
Of the iuyee of this Reed is made themoft pleafant and profitable fiveet, called Sugar, where- 
of is made infiniteconfeftions,confedtures, fyrups, and fuch like, as alfo preferuing and con- 
feruing of fundry fruits, herbes, and flowers, as Rofes, Violets, Rofemary flowers, and. fuch like, 
which ftill retaine with them the name of Sugar, as Sugar Rofet, Sugar violet, Stc. The which 
to write of would require a peculiarvolume,and not pertinent vnto this hiftorie, for that it is not 
my purpofetomakeofmybookeaConfc&ionarie, a Sugar Bakers furnace, a Gentlewomans 
preferuing pan, nor yet an Apothecaries fhop or Difpenfatorie ; but onely to touch the chiefeft 
matter that I purpoled to handle in the beginning, that is, the nature, properties, and deferiptions 
ofplants. Notwithstanding I thinkc it not amiffc tp fhew vnto you the ordering oftbefereeds 
when 
