SUGAR CANE 155 



The plant changed by climate. Sugar cane, like cotton, 

 first grew in countries warmer than the Southern states. 

 Like cotton also, it has greatly changed its habit of growth 

 as it has been carried northward. In the tropics it con- 

 tinues to grow fifteen months or more before being cut. 



In Louisiana the tops cannot live through the winter, 

 but the stubble and roots remain alive and furnish a supply 

 of shoots for a second and sometimes for a third crop. 

 Planting, therefore, is necessary only every second or third 

 year. Only once in a number of years is planting neces- 

 sary in tropical countries. In the central part of the Gulf 

 states, and farther north, the roots usually do not live 

 through the winter, so that stalks of cane have to be 

 planted every year. 



Varieties of sugar cane. Sugar cane forms seeds in 

 very warm countries, but not in the Southern states. The 

 chief use of these seeds is to start new varieties. Plants 

 grown from seeds are more unlike their parents than are 

 plants grown from buds. When a seedling is better than 

 its parent, it is prized as a new variety and is increased by 

 planting canes (Fig. 103). 



The variety most generally grown is the red or purple 

 cane, so named from the color of the stem. The striped 

 or ribbon cane that is sometimes grown is so named be- 

 cause it is streaked with irregular stripes of white. Green 

 cane is also grown to some extent. Some of the newer 

 varieties introduced by the Louisiana Experiment Station 

 are proving superior to all of the old varieties and are dis- 

 placing them in Louisiana. Japanese cane is one of the 

 hardiest varieties and can be grown for syrup farther north 



