AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



has been so long propagated from cuttings ("eyes") that 

 the flowers have lost vigor. The sugar is found in solu- 

 tion in the large pith cells of 

 the cane. At maturity the cane, 

 after being stripped of leaves 

 and topped, is cut at the ground 

 with a cane knife or machete. 



Where grown. Formerly it 

 was thought that sugar cane 

 could be grown only in tropical 

 islands, but it has now been 

 shown that it will grow any- 

 where be- 

 tween 30 

 and 35 north 

 or south of 

 the equa- 

 tor, where suitable soil and an abun- 

 dant water supply (either by rainfall 

 or irrigation) can be obtained. Actual 

 cultivation now extends from Spain, 

 37 north, to New Zealand, 37 south, 

 on both sides of the equator. 



Cane requires an enormous amount 

 of water for its best development, and 

 where the rainfall is deficient, irriga- 

 tion is practiced often with wonder- 

 ful results, as in Hawaii, where upon 



FIG. 272. CROSS SECTION OF 

 CANE MAGNIFIED ABOUT 

 200 TIMES 



P, pith cells ; V, vessels ; S, sieve 

 tubes 



A~ 

 X 



D 



X- 



D 



A 



FIG. 273. STICK OF 



SUGAR CANE 



one estate over eleven tons of sugar A, buds or eyes; B, joint; 

 an acre have been produced. It C ' nodes; Aintemodes 



or joints ; X, semitrans- 



has been found in practice that from parent dots in rows. 



