SUGAR CANE 



FIG, 271. STALK OF SUGAR CANE 



A-B, joints of cane showing roots j B-C, stem 



C-D, leaves 



the harvest has a few 

 leaves at the top only. 

 Under each leaf and 

 on alternate sides of 

 the cane is a bud or 

 " eye " from which 

 the cane is usually 

 propagated. A close 

 examination of the 

 "eye" will reveal 

 rows of "dots," each 

 marking the place 

 from which a root 

 will sprout when the 

 cane is placed in a 

 moist soil. 



In tropical coun- 

 tries the sugar cane 

 at maturity some- 

 times " flowers " or 

 "tassels." These 

 tassels are clusters 

 of silken spikes on 

 large stems, resem- 

 bling very much a 

 plume of pampas 

 grass. Very few of 

 the seeds produced 

 are fertile. This is 

 due doubtless to the 

 fact that the cane 



