PRODUCTION OF SUGAR CANE 457 



contain, and from which sugar and molasses are made. 

 Sugar cane has long been cultivated in tropical countries, 

 and until quite recent years was the principal source- of 

 sugar. It is probably a native of southeastern Asia or some 

 of the adjacent islands. 



600. Sugar Content. The sweet or saccharine matter is 

 confined to the stalks and is greatest near the middle, 

 decreasing at the ends, but more particularly near the top. 

 For this reason it is most profitable to save the upper portions 

 of the stalks for replanting, though sometimes the whole 

 cane is used. The saccharine content and the purity of the 

 juice depend on the soil, the climate, and many other factors. 

 The stalks consist of fiber and juice. A large proportion of 

 fiber naturally means a low sugar content, hence stalks with 

 short joints are undesirable because of the extra fiber they 

 contain. Dry seasons also lower the sugar content because 

 the joints are shorter and the juice more scanty. In order 

 to insure a plentiful supply of water, the crop is quite com- 

 monly irrigated. 



601. Countries Which Produce Sugar Cane. The pro- 

 duction of sugar cane is confined entirely to tropical and semi- 

 tropical regions, as the crop requires a long, hot season with 

 plenty of moisture for its best growth. The world's pro- 

 duction of cane sugar averaged about 7,743,000 long tons of 

 2,240 pounds each for the five years from 1906 to 1910. 

 Of this enormous quantity, Asia produced nearly half, or 

 3,500,000 tons. The leading Asiatic countries in sugar pro- 

 duction are British India with 2,070,000 tons, and Java 

 with 1,157,000 tons. North America ranks next to Asia 

 in production with 3,002,000 tons, of which Cuba produced 

 more than half, or 1,522,000 tons. The production of the 

 continental United States averaged only 322,000 tons; 

 Hawaii produced about 456,000 tons, and Porto Rico, 256,000 



