Saccharum officinarum, Linn., Sugar-cane. Kusseh-us-sukr, . ARAB. Kamand, Paunda, PANJ. Muddar, Jend ? . ,, Nai-aukr, . . . PERS. U'k, Ik, Ak'h, . BENG. Ko, SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Uk'lt, Ukyo, . . „ Itchutunda, . . SANSR.
Kyan , BERM. Ikshu, Pundra, . „ Kan-chi, . . CIIIN. Rusala, . . . . „ Ghah, . . . Rum. Tubu, . . . . Tao. Tau, . of Ftonss Istaxn. Karimbu, . . . TAM. Us, U'ch, Ghannn, IDND. Cheruku, . . . TEL.
Khuloa, Kajuli, . „ Kanupulu cheruku, „ Turo, . ICTAN of BORNEO. Aru, Lavu,. . • JP Tabu, . MsLay of Java. Potti, Tella, . • l 9 Karimba, . . MALEAL. Ani - Kranupula To, alsaQuEsas, TAHITI'. kranuga, . . . „ This species of the sugnr-cane is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, and to have spread from there to other countries, into Africa, the south of Europe, the Canaries, N. and S. America, and the West Indies. A considerable portion of the sugar of commerce is manufactured from this species, but the S. violaceuin is now extensively cultivated, and in the tropics the juices of the palmym and pluenix palms are also largely con verted into sugar. In Europe, from beet-root.
The sugar-eane was introduced by the Saracens into the south of Europe, but the period is not well ascertained. Gibbon says they introduced it into Sicily soon aft,er they got possession of the island. About the year 1420, it was much cultivated by the Portuguese in Madeira. In 1503 we read of sugar being in3ported from the Canaries, and in 1506 sugar-canes were carried thence to Hispaniola in the West Indies. But besides the Indian cane, auother, and a much more prolific kind, that of Otalleite, was intro duced into the West Indies about 1794 ; and about the same Hine, or in 1796, the China sugar cane was introduced into India. The Chinese and Indians seem both, therefore, to have had dis tinct plants from which they could extract sugar ; and, RS history shows, they did so at very early 1 periods. The Otaheite sugar-cane has been intro duced from the Mauritius into India, and rapidly spread through the country. It is no doubt the same species that was introduced into the West Indies in 1794. It ia probably the Canne de Ilitite
of Tussac, or S. violaceuni. S. offieinaruni, in tho United States, is profitably cultivated up to lat. 32° N.; in China, to 30° N. ; in Japan, up to 36° N. The yield in Japan of raw sugar is 3300 lbs.
acre.—Roxb. ; Voigt.
&cellar= procerum, Rosb.
Sirkunda, . . . HIND. I Barkers, Sirld, . lump.
Grows 20 feet high in India, and is very abund ant everywhere on the sandy ridges and plaint. In November, when in full flower, it is highly ornaniental. The leaf (sarpat) is used for thatch ; the lower part of the stein (sentha, also sir kunda) is used for screens (cliik) and low stools (mondlia); the upper and tapering portion of the stein (sirki) is made into fans, mats, sieves, and for thatch, and to cover carts in the rainy season ; the sheaths (munj) are dried and beaten, and made into twine and ropes ; the flower, tied in bunches, is the house broom. The floral leaves are made into munj,' separating the fibres by beating the leaves ; this is very much used to niake string and rope.—Roxb. p. 243 ; Irvine.
Saccharum sara, Roxb., Pen reed.
Shur, Sura, Sar, . HIND. Gundra, . SANSIC., TEL. Sara, Oundra, . „ Sarut, . SUTLEJ, RAVT.
Sarar, . „ Kanda, . . „ Sarkara, . . . „ Kura, Karre, „ Jhund, . . . . PAN.r. Sacha, Darga, TR.-INDus.
Common in the plains of India. Its culms aro finer and stronger than thos.e of S. procernm, and when obtainable are used t,o make arrows of in pre ference to the other species; it is also used for the common kalm' or reed pen with which in India Arabia, Persian, and other characters are writthn ; it is said to be beaten into a rude fibro and then twisted into a rope. Mr. Henly inforrned Dr. Royle that the pen-reed grass is employed as a tow-line by the boatmen about Allahabad and Mirsapore, and esteemed there for strength and durability, even when _exposed to the action of water.—Roxb. ; Irvine ; Voigt ; Saechartun serni-decumbens, Roxb.
Khori, Khurce, . BENO. I Tat, Neje, . . . HIND. The Grass—Mora, Prism I The Culm—Kelik, HIND.