152 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW- YORK 



4. The lower joints of Indian corn exhibit what may be called 

 buds, in the shape of a small husk or sheath. These, at about 

 the third and fourth joints, give rise to ears of grain, which 

 number from one to two in ordinary soil and culture, while in 

 more favorable conditions they sometimes amount to three or 

 four. The sugar cane has a true bud, in shape and position much 

 like that of fruit trees. These remain latent the first year, they 

 beins; nature's mode of preparation for the growth of the cane 

 when planted as a prostrate cutting, in the soil, the second year. 



5. The sugar cane being perennial, the roots survive the winter 

 in the soil, and vegetate the second year, yielding what, at the 

 south, is called Ratoon Cane. In the tropics we may suppose 

 they do this spontaneously, but in the southern States it is 

 needful to cover the roots to guard them from frost. This ratoon 

 cane is much less vigorous, in the imperfect climate of southern 

 States, than that grown annually from cuttings, which is called 

 jilant cane. 



6. The sugar cane has perfect flowers, that is, with the stamens 

 and pistils in the same flower, like broom corn and the most of 

 common flowers. This flower surmounts the plant in a spiked 

 panicle. The Indian corn has a monoecious flower, that is, one 

 with its staminate organs on the tassel of the plant, while its 

 pistilate organs or silk are in the husk or embryo ear. 



7. The bark or cortex of the sugar cane, and its pith, are 

 much harder than the corresponding portions of the Indian 

 corn, its elaborations being retained in the stalk while those of 

 the Indian corn flow out and form the ear. 



8. Both vary in color of bark, from a light green to a dark 

 purple. The color in both is mainly determined by kind, but is 

 modified by culture also, a rich impulsive culture darkening the 

 color of both, irrespective of sort. 



The foregoing comparative view is imperfect, but sufficient 

 for my purpose, where disease and climatic relations are the 

 main objects of investigation. 



Tke diseases of the Sugar Cane. — I have not myself witnessed 

 the cultivation of this plant, and my knowledge of the facts in 

 the case are mainly drawn from the Transactions of the Patent 



