Uba, noun

/ˈuːbə/
Origin:
See quotation 1905.
historical
A hardy variety of sugar cane cultivated extensively in KwaZulu-Natal from the 1880s to the mid-20th century. Also attributive.
Note:
Introduced from India by sugar-farmer and businessman Daniel de Pass.
1905 Pearson & Pardy in Flint & Gilchrist Science in S. Afr. 431They have..been supplanted by a variety called Uba — a name, it is said, formed of the only three letters remaining legible on a damaged label attached to the variety on its first arrival in the country.
1937 Handbk for Farmers (Dept of Agric. & Forestry) II. 691From the beginning of the century until a few years ago, there was practically only one variety grown, e.g. [sic] Uba. This cane was introduced from India in 1884–85 and was found to be eminently suited to the somewhat erratic climate and soil conditions of the Natal sugar belt...Uba did not prove an ideal milling cane, its crushing costs being high...Efforts have been made to introduce suitable varieties with the aim of gradually replacing Uba.
1957 Handbk for Farmers (Dept of Agric.) 268For many years the only cane that could profitably be cultivated was the Uba variety, which was resistant to the diseases of cane known in South Africa. This cane is now rarely cultivated.
1971 M. Arkin in Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. III. 646From India he (sc. Daniel de Pass) introduced the disease-resistant Uba variety of cane.
A hardy variety of sugar cane cultivated extensively in KwaZulu-Natal from the 1880s to the mid-20th century. Also attributive.
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