6 MANUAL FOR SUGAR GROWERS. 



substance known as cellulose. In the interior of 

 each living cell is a little mass of jelly-like sub- 

 stance known as protoplasm ; this is a substance of 

 the greatest importance, for it is the source of all 

 the vital functions of the plant, which plant may 

 be compared to a large barracks, each cell being a 

 little room, the inhabitant of each room being the 

 living protoplasm. All growth, all production of 

 useful substances, depend on the life and changes 

 taking place in the protoj^lasm. To support life 

 and to maintain growth, food of course is necessary, 

 so the protoplasmic contents of the cells must be 

 fed. The food consists of mineral matter with 

 nitrogen compounds brought up from the root, 

 together T\dth comjDounds containing much carbon 

 obtained from the leaves. The functions of the 

 roots and leaves will be shortly explained. 



The usual method of propagating the sugar-cane 

 is by planting short lengths of the stem or cane, the 

 upper portion or top being usually selected for this 

 purpose, "^'hen placed in moist soil a number of 

 roots make their appearance from the double row 

 of marks arranged just above each joint, and a new 

 stem or cane grows from each bud, or eye. 



The Boot. — The sugar-cane has no main root, but 

 like all grasses possesses a great number of fine 

 rootlets ; these spread to a great distance and to 



pounds — in wliicli hydrogen and oxygen exist in the same propor- 

 tion as in water, namely, two equivalents of hydrogen to one of oxy- 

 gen — are called carbo-hydrates. Cane-sugar, Ci2H.220n, glucose, 

 CeHis-Oe, starch, CeHioOs, and a vast number of other substances, 

 are carbo hydrates. 



