3.  The white variety, which grows in swampy, lands, is light colored, and grows to a great height.  Its juice is more watery, and yields a weaker sugar than the Cadjoolee.  However, as much of Bengal consists of low grounds, and as the upland canes are liable to suffer from drought, it may be advisable to encourage the cultivation of it, should the sugar it produces be approved, though in a less degree than other sugars, in order to guard against the effects of dry seasons.  Experience alone can determine how far the idea of encouraging this sort may answer.

Besides the foregoing, several kinds are now known to the Indian planter.  One of them, the China sugar cane, was considered by Dr. Roxburgh to be a distinct species, and distinguished by him as Saccharum sinensis.  It was introduced into India in 1796, by Earl Cornwallis, as being superior to the native kinds.  It is characterised by a hardness which effectually resists most of the country rude mills; but this hardness is importantly beneficial, inasmuch as that it withstands the attack of the white ants, hogs, and jackals, which destroy annually a large portion of the common cane.[18] Dr. Buchanan found that four kinds are known in Mysore.  Two of these are evidently the purple and white generally known; but as this is not distinctly stated, I have retained the form in which he notices them. Restali, the native sugar of the Mysore, can only be planted in the last two weeks of March and two first of April.  It completes its growth in twelve months, and does not survive for a second crop.  Its cultivation has been superseded by the other.

Putta-putti.—­This was introduced from Arcot, during the reign of Hyder Ali.  It is the only one from which the natives can extract sugar; it also produces the best Bella or Jaggery.  It can be planted at the same season as the other, as well as at the end of July and beginning of August.  It is fourteen months in completing its growth; but the stools produce a second crop, like the ratoons of the West Indies, which ripen in twelve months.

Maracabo, Cuttaycabo.—­These two are very small, seldom exceeding half an inch in diameter; yet in some districts of Mysore, 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 Otaheite and Bourbon.  Hindostan 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 superiority 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,[19] 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 weather.