SUGAR-CANE 513 



is its almost exclusive use in countries where the warm 

 seasons are long, as in Louisiana, Hawaii, and Cuba. In 

 those regions where the climate is warm enough for the 

 growing of sugar-cane, but where fall frosts occur too early 

 for the plant to reach the degree of maturity necessary for 

 profitable sugar-making, this plant is used for the produc- 

 tion of sirup. Since, in the United States, sugar-cane can 

 be grown for sirup over an area considerably larger than 

 that suitable for profitable sugar production, a larger num- 

 ber of farmers are probably engaged in growing this plant 

 for sirup than for sugar. However, the average sirup 

 maker grows but a few acres at most, while in the sugar- 

 belt, single plantations include hundreds or even thou- 

 sands of acres of cane. 



Sirup is the product obtained by boiling the juice from 

 the cane. Molasses is a by-product in the manufacture 

 of sugar, and, in its unadulterated form, much less exten- 

 sively used on the table than is sirup. Blackstrap is the 

 name of a very inferior grade of molasses, chiefly valuable 

 as food for live-stock. 



The chief difficulty in extending the market for sirup 

 lies in the fact that there is such a wide variation in the 

 quality of sirup made by different farmers. Certain im- 

 provements in the methods of making sirup as shown in 

 later paragraphs would result in a more uniform product 

 and in an increased demand. 



498. By-products. The tops and green leaves of sugar- 

 cane make a satisfactory food for live-stock. The crushed 

 stalks, called " bagasse," are seldom utilized in the pine- 

 belt, but they are used as fuel in the sugar houses. From 

 this material also paper has been successfully made. 



2L 



