I can document anything from a book, but it was my understanding that cane came to the Carolinas and VA about the time the dirty Yankees plundered the peaceful South. It came from Cuba or the Bahamas. Surely the pioneers could "depend" or do without since there is no cane in New England and they still work the maple trees. Of course they have sugar in the stores. If you are lucky they even have molasses. I don't know if that wild cane is the same as bear grass or bull rushes. Someone should research sugar cane and its arrival to SW VA. Surely that would earn the "post of the week" award.<G> -eddie On SUGAR & CANE: Daniel Boone bought loaf sugar at a trading post in southwest Virginia. Does anybody know wht "loaf sugar" was? Maybe brown sugar? My great great grandfather had a large sugar maple grove on his farm, with large pans and boiling kettles where he made syrup and sugar..but from the reports I have read concerning the amount he made, I don't believe the pioneers could have depended on maple sugar for their needs..I believe the pioneers probably made molasses which turn into sugar after a while if they are made thick....I helped restock a cane mill a couple of years ago which looked like it was brought over on the Mayflower!! The creeks and other places with "cane" in the names were probably named for the wild cane which grew in low areas when the first Longhunters and explorers came..I don't know if it had syrup juice in it or not..Cattle and horses could eat it.. G. Lee H... ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop Feminism AIN'T ladylike