deciduous, with the apparent exception of certain varieties whose 

 leaves adhere to the stalk after tliey have become dry. There is a 

 bud at each node at the place of attachment of the leaf-sheath. The 

 inflorescence is a many-flowered panicle. The spiklets are one-flow- 

 ered, in pairs on an articulate rachis and are enveloped in long, silky 

 hairs. 



The cane, in common with many other grasses, is propagated by 

 the development of rhizomes from underground buds, by the growth 

 of buds of the stems when they come in contact with the moist soil, 

 and by means of true seed. A stool of cane may be large or small, 

 and may reproduce itself by rhizomes a greater or fewer number of 

 years, depending on the tenacity of the variety and fertility of the 

 soil. 



The most important differences for purposes of identification are 

 variations in the parts of the stalk. Differences in floral parts can- 

 not well be used, because many varieties do not blossom, and because 

 the period of flowering lasts only a few weeks. The stalk is the part 

 of commercial importance and it is often desired to identify varieties 

 by the stalk alone. However, the characters of the leaf are sometimes 

 distinctive and may be used in identifying standing cane. More or 

 less distinct differences are seen in the two parts of the leaf, the 

 leaf-blade and the leaf-sheath. 



The Stalk. — Stallcs of different ages are usually found in a single 

 stool, due to the fact that the buds from which they develop do not 

 all start at the same time.* As stalks change in appearance towards 

 maturity, neither very young stalks, nor those completely mature 

 are most typical of a variety. The appearance of the stalk is also 

 affected by its state of vigor, due to soil or climatic conditions. For 

 example, a prolonged drought causes the internodes to grow short, 

 whereas favorable moisture conditions produce long internodes and 

 larger and plumper buds. A stalk of cane is composed of nodes, 

 internodes, and buds, and these parts show characteristics which aid 

 in distinguishing one variety from another. 



The Internode varies in average length, diameter, and shape, being 

 often nearly round, l)ut frequently more or less flattened, sometimes 

 tumid, and sometimes constricted, or larger on one side or at one end 

 than at the other. In many varieties the internodes are more or less 

 distinctly furrowed on one side, tln^ furrow varying in length, deptli, 

 and width. 



* The cane has a tendency to mature most rapidly in the fall and winter. The blos- 

 soming period is in November and December, and after blooming it comes to maturity 

 more quickly, unless the occurrence of heavy rains retards ripening; but new stalks may 

 appear at different times during the growth of the cane, and therefore the state of maturity 

 of any stalk depends largely on its age. 



120 



