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[Page 29]
Jamaica with great probability of Success any plant that grows within the Tropicks in Asia. But this is not all that may be urged in favour of this project. Experiments in most cases are preferable to arguments. And of actual Experiments we have such a number as is sufficient to give, not merely a probable but a certain prospect of Success to this Proposal. This I hope will appear from the following recital of Plants, already translated with the greatest Success, from the East to the West Indies.
Catalogue 3.
Plants which have been translated from the East to the West Indies.
1.
Sacharum officinarum. Linn. The Sugar Cane.
Tho' this Plant is become the Staple of America, it is not a Native of any part of the American Continent or Islands, but of the Eastern parts of Asia within the Tropicks.
It has been judged to be indigenous also in the Canaries,and from thence, it was first known to Europeans in the times of the Romans, as may be thought to appear from what Pliny records of Iubas account of the Fortunate Islands.D
It rather seems however, that Paulus Ægineta, who wrote about the year 625, is the first author extant who expressly mentions Suggar. It was at first called Mel Arundenaceum, and came from the East Indies by Arabia into Europe. By the same Rout the Plant appears to have been brought to Europe, and it is certain, was translated from Spain to the West India Islands soon after that discovery.
D. Pliny Lib. 6. Cap. 32.