Sugar-Cane 273 
In Hawaii and other parts of the tropics, planting is 
done from March to September, the cane beginning to 
ripen a year from the next December. The period of 
harvest extends from January to the latter part of July 
or August. It is, therefore, necessary to have double the 
amount of land that is to be harvested each year, since 
practically two years are consumed in the planting, grow- 
ing, and harvesting of a crop. . 
The growth of a vigorous crop of sugar-cane resembles 
that of a jungle, Plate XXXI. After the stalks become 
heavy with sugar, they sag into all shapes. Stalks that 
are twenty-four feet long may become so prostrate that 
they seem to be only ten or twelve feet high. Some 
varieties retain their upright growth much better than 
others. , 
HARVESTING 
The cane is cut near the ground with heavy knives and 
at the same time the top is cut off and the stalk cut into 
convenient lengths. In many sections, before cutting is 
begun, the field is set on fire in order to rid the plants of 
leaves; in other places the leaves are stripped off. The 
cane is taken to the mills either on railroads or wagons 
similar to those shown in Plate XXXII or carried by 
water through flumes. Where railroads are used, paths 
are cut through the fields about 150 feet apart, and rails 
laid through these. In loading the cane on the cars, a 
strap is bound around as large a load as a man wishes to 
carry, and the load is placed on his back and is carried 
up an inclined plank to the car. Since fire kills the buds, 
the plants that are to be used for seed are not burned. 
T 
