CULTURE OF SUGAR-CANE. 153 



diameter, and from ten to twenty feet high; leaves long 

 and pointed; flowers small, on a terminal, loose panicle; 

 glumes two, oblong, pointed, equal, concave, with- the 

 base surrounded with woolly hairs ; a perennial, fibrous 

 root. 



The culture of several new varieties of sugar-cane is 

 said to have been introduced into the Southern States, 

 towards the close of the last century, from the islands 

 of Bourbon, Java, and Otaheite. 



The sugar-cane is propagated from cuttings. It was 

 undoubtedly cultivated at a very early date in China 

 and India, from whence it was introduced into Europe. 

 The culture of cane and the making of sugar has be- 

 come an exceedingly important business at the West 

 India Islands, in Louisiana, and adjoining states. 



The top joints of the stalks are selected for cuttings, 

 they being least valuable, and less productive in saccha- 

 rine matter than the lower parts. The plant tillers or 

 sends up several shoots from the same root, like wheat. 



The land, after being properly prepared, is marked 

 out in rows, about four feet apart, and in these rows 

 holes are dug, from six to ten inches deep, about two 

 or three feet apart. The plants require frequent hoeing 

 and cultivation, but not to be renewed from cuttings 

 every year. 



When the canes are ripe, they are cut up, cut into 

 suitable lengths, and tied into bundles to be taken to 

 the mill. Sugar-making requires experience and skill. 



66. ZEA. Maize. 



Spikelets two-flowered ; flowers monoecious, the 

 staminate in terminal panicles ; glumes two ; pales awn- 

 less, obtuse ; the pistillate or fertile spikelets two-flow- 

 ered, with the lower one abortive ; glumes two, obtuse ; 

 pales awnless ; fruit compressed. 



