Sugar-Cane 273 



In Hawaii and other parts of the tropics, planting is 

 done from March to September, the cane beginning to 

 ripen a year from the next December. The period of 

 harvest extends from January to the latter part of July 

 or August. It is, therefore, necessary to have double the 

 amount of land that is to be harvested each year, since 

 practically two years are consumed in the planting, grow- 

 ing, and harvesting of a crop . . 



The growth of a vigorous crop of sugar-cane resembles 

 that of a jungle, Plate XXXI. After the stalks become 

 heavy with sugar, they sag into all shapes. Stalks that 

 are twenty-four feet long may become so prostrate that 

 they seem to be only ten or twelve feet high. Some 

 varieties retain their upright growth much better than 

 others. 



HARVESTING 



The cane is cut near the ground with heavy knives and 

 at the same time the top is cut off and the stalk cut into 

 convenient lengths. In many sections, before cutting is 

 begun, the field is set on fire in order to rid the plants of 

 leaves ; in other places the leaves are stripped off. The 

 cane is taken to the mills either on railroads or wagons 

 similar to those shown in Plate XXXII or carried by 

 water through flumes. Where railroads are used, paths 

 are cut through the fields about 150 feet apart, and rails 

 laid through these. In loading the cane on the cars, a 

 strap is bound around as large a load as a man wishes to 

 carry, and the load is placed on his back and is carried 

 up an inclined plank to the car. Since fire kills the buds, 

 the plants that are to be used for seed are not burned. 



