THE cultivated sugar-canes belong to two main groups : (1) the thin and hardy types of north Indian canes botanically classified under Saccharum Barberi Jesw. and Saccharum sinense Roxb.; and (2) the thick or noble types, Saccharum officinarum. The origin of these noble canes is still obscure, and Barber1 and Jesweit2 were of opinion that it was in the mountainous islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Guinea and Polynesia. It is considered that these types of cane were introduced into India only very recently and are referred to as ‘the introduced canes', while the north Indian canes are held to be indigenous to India and any mention of sugar-cane in India in early historical records or mythological legends is believed to refer only to north Indian canes.