He prefaced it by a short sketch of the knowledge which the ancients had of this plant, of its introduction into Europe, and from thence into the American Islands. He endeavoured to shew, from Spanish authorities, that very soon after the discovery of America, the Spaniards carried the sugar-cane, among other useful plants, with them to the West Indies, and sedulously cultivated it; and he considered the speculations of Labat and Lafitau, on the supposed American origin of the cane, as very inconclusive.