404 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



panicle at the top of the plant when twelve to thirteen 

 months old, and reach maturity .some three months later. 

 The flowers are borne in small spikelets, which are sur- 

 rounded by long silky hairs. Until recent years it was 

 thought that the flowers of sugar-cane were always in- 

 fertile. In recent years, however, scientists have succeeded 

 in rearing seedling canes. A very small percentage of the 

 seed produced in a panicle is fertile and the germinating 

 power of these fertile seed decreases rapidly after maturity 

 so that at the end of a few weeks it is often wholly 

 lost. 



As a rule sugar-cane does not arrow and produce seed 

 in the United States. In exceptionally mild winters seed 

 may be produced in the extreme southern parishes of 

 Louisiana and in southern Florida. 



502. The stem. — The industrial value of sugar-cane 

 is so intimately associated with the structure of the stems 

 and the amount and nature of the juice that a knowledge 

 of these essential features is especially important. 



The stems are large, cylindrical, and distinctly jointed. 

 The length of the internodes varies in different varieties 

 and is decreased by any condition unfavorable to the 

 normal development of the plant. The internodes are 

 relatively short at the base of the stem and gradually 

 increase in length toward the upper part. 



At each joint on the stem, and occurring alternately on 

 opposite sides, is a bud about the size of half a pea. It is 

 from these buds that the next crop grows when the canes 

 are planted. 



The color of the sugar-cane stem varies in different 

 varieties. Purple, striped purple and white, and green are 

 among the most common colors. Many other colors 

 occur, especially in varieties grown in tropical countries. 



