S AC C H ARUM, a genus of - plants of the natural order Panicacese and section Saccharete. There are many species of the genus, all growing in warm countries, and those better known may be thus enumerated:— S. canaliculatum, Boxb., of Bengal. S. cylindricum, Roxb., Ajmir.
S. fuscum, Box/9„ Ajmir.
S. munja, Roxb., Hindustan, Sind.
S. officinarum, Linn., E. Indies, China, IV. Indies, Africa.
S. procerurn, Roxb., Bengal.
S. sera, Roxb., Bengal.
S. semi-decumbens, Roxb. Bengal. S. Sinense, Roxb. China, 'India.
S. spontaneurn, S. Asia. S. violaceura, Tussac,'Polynesia.
Some of the species, owing to the silex in their cuticle, are so durable that they are employed in India for thatching, such as S. canaliculatum, S. cylindricum, and S. spontaneum, which also make good mats. The natives of Bengal make their pens of the narrow stems of S. semi decumbens, S. sara, and S. fuscum. The last, as well as the culms of S. procerum, are also used for screens and other economical purposes. S. oflicinarum is the sugar-cane, from which is pro duced a large quantity of the sugar used by man. It is a native of the south and west of Asia, and was introduced by the Saracens into the south of Europe. It has several varieties, of which one is the— Saccharum commune, or native cane of West g S. purpureum, Kajuli, of Bengal. 2, S. giganteum, Khuloa, of Bengal. • a S. Tahitense, Otaheite cane.
Two other species yielding sugar ire— Saccharum violaceum, Tussac, said to be iden tical with the Otaheite cane.
Saccharum Sinense, Roxb., cultivated in China. Saccharum cylindricurn, Roxb.
Saguerus cylindrica, Horse's tail grass.
Oola, HIND. I Baroom biss, . . . TEL.
Grows on the Ajmir plains, and flowers early in the rains ; also all over Bengal.—Roxb. p. 234. Saccharum fuscum, Roxb.
Khori . . . . BENG. I Ishwalika, . . . SANSK. Pati k'ori, . . . „ Kandu rellu gaddi, . TEL.
Grows in Bengal. Natives make their pens of its culms, and also use it for screens and light fences. The best dark-colotn.ed reeds with which the natives write are made from this species.
Saccharum munja, I?oxb.
Sur-pata, . . . HIND. I Sirki, . . . . SIND.
Surr, SIND. I Ponika, Munja gaddi, TEL.
This grass grows throughout India, but in the Panjab it covers immense tracts of inundated lands, and forms the chief difficulty of the agri culturist, as it rapidly encroaches on the cultiva tion. 'Ropes made from its sheathing petiole are
possessed of great tenacity, and used as rigging in all the vessels above Sukkur, also as tow-ropes for tying up cattle, for drawing water, and for tying on the buckets of Persian wells. The twine made from it is used for the bottoms of bedsteads. The plant grows at Benares, all over Oudh, and in Northern Circars • is common at Ajmir in the valleys, and very abundant, along with 'S. pro - cerum, near Jeypore. The best munj rope is made from the floral leaves of thiti plant, and the best sirki rope from the culms. The plant is distinguished from S. procerum by its inferior height, the fineness of the culm, and narrowness of the leaves. Two-inch ropes, often 50 fathoms in length, are made of its fibres, being sufficient for dragging the largest 1200-mania' boats up the Indus, and consequently against the hill force of the stream, even round projecting points. Tho rope is light, bears without injury alternate exposure to 1s-et and to subsequent drying. Plants growing beyond the range of the over ilowings of the river, or of tho influence of the tides, are best. The upper leaves, about a foot or so in length, are preferred and collected. They aro made up into bundles, and aro kept for use. When required for twisting into rope, they are first moistened in water, then, two men sitting opposite to each, other, take one of these moist bundles and beat it alternately with mallets, until the loose cellulai are separated from the fibrous parts. These are then ready for twisting into the ropes which aro so extensively employed on the Indus. A continuation of the same process, or i the employinent of the dlienki, would afford a very ample supply of half-stuff for paper-makers, and at a cheap rate. If the rope is not occasion ally wetted, and allowed to become too dry, it easily breaks when used. The prepared fibre costs two rupees per maund. It was latterly being exported from Kurachee, and brings i5 to i8 per ton.—Roxb.; Volgi ; Irvine, p. 175.