SUGAR-CANE 403 



in the pine-belt region east of Louisiana and north of 

 Florida, the plants do not endure the winter and annual 

 planting is necessary. 



499. Roots. — The root-system of sugar-cane is fibrous 

 and is confined largely to the upper portion of the soil'. 

 Where the water-table is not near the siu-face a few of the 

 roots penetrate the soil to a depth of, several feet. No 

 single prominent tap-root is produced. The roots, spring 

 from the joints of the underground nodes of the stem. 

 A band of transparent dots surrounds the stem at each 

 node. It is from these dots on the underground stem that 

 the true roots arise. As a rule the roots branch but little. 



The root^systein of sugar-cane is especially susceptible 

 to injury by nematodes and fungous pests. The ravages 

 of the nematodes make entrances through which the fungi 

 enter. To avoid these injuries, sugar-cane should not he 

 grown continuously on the same land. 



In addition to the roots which spring from^the under- 

 ground nodes, the lower nodes of the above-ground stem 

 are usually well supplied with incipient roots. Most of 

 these roots enter the ground and function actively in 

 promoting the growth of the plant. 



500. The leaves. — The leaves of sugar-cane are 

 broad and range in length from two to three feet. Each 

 leaf possesses a central mid-rib somewhat similar to that 

 in the corn leaf. The lower part of the leaf (the sheath) 

 folds around the stem and serves to protect the bud or eye 

 which is borne at the node. As the stem matures the leaf- 

 sheaths fall away from the stem. The faUing of a leaf- 

 sheath indicates the maturity of ;the internode next below 

 this leaf. 



501. Inflorescence. — ■ In tropical countries most varie- 

 ties of sugar-cane "arrow" or throw out a dense silky 



