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formed in the node during tlie process of ripening by the condensation of 

 the simple molecules into more complex and less soluble forms of gums 

 and mucilages, and by the union of amides and glucoses in the presence 

 of sulphur compounds, to form albuminoids. As the bud develops, the 

 albuminoids are converted into soluble amides and glucoses, and the 

 gums, mucilages and fibre, into soluble carbohydrates (glucose or dex- 

 trose), which furnish the food for the young plant until it can draw its 

 own sustenance from the soil. In case this storehouse should be ex- 

 hausted before the plant is capable of self-support, it can draw on the 

 reservoir of sucrose, glucose or nitrogenous matter stored in the inter- 

 nodes, as shown by the experiment of Prof. E,oss. The action of fer- 

 ments during germination will readily produce the above transforma- 

 tions and may even convert a part of the fibre into soluble carbohy- 

 drates, thus rendering a portion of this substance available for plant 

 food. The following is the conclusion of a series of investigations 

 made by Dr. J. L. Beeson in the laboratory of this Station. 



" To recapitulate : It has been found in the course of this investi- 

 gation tnat the juice of the nodes of the cane is quite different from 

 that of the internodes, containing markedly less reducing sugars, more 

 " solids not sugars," and more alluminoids bodies ; that the " fibre" of 

 the nodes contains more albuminoids, more insoluble carbohydrates not 

 sugar, which readily pass into reducing sugars ; that as the cane de- 

 teriorates, reducing sugars are formed more rapidly in the nodes than 

 in the internodes. In our opinion these facts can be best explained by 

 the hypothesis previously stated, namely that the physiological func- 

 tion of the node in the cane is similar to that of the seeds in the case 

 of flowering plants — to store food in the region of the eye for the use 

 of the young plant before it has taken sufficient hold of the earth to 

 draw sustenance from the atmosphere and soil. The hypothesis is 

 further confirmed by the fact that the isolated nodes of the cane when 

 planted will germinate and grow to maturity. 



" As already shown, there is a marked difference in the purily co- 

 efficient of the juices from the nodes and internodes. That from the 

 nodes gives an average of 81 per cent, purilj^, while that from the in- 

 ternode an average of 89 per cent, approximo. If a machine could be 

 devised by which the nodes could be separated from the internodes so 

 as to work the juices separately, it would doubtless be profitable. Since 

 the nodes in the samples analysed constituted about 14 to lb per cent, 

 of ' he whole weight of the cane, it would be a great loss to throw them 

 away. vSince the nodes show a much lower purity co-efficient, many 

 short joints on the stalk decrease the puri y of the juice of the whole 

 cane." 



^ PREPARATION OF LAND, PLANTING, ETC. 



Once in three years" a restorative crop is interjected between the 

 cane crops. The rotation being as follows : — First year, plant cane, 

 second year, stubble cane, third year, corn and cow peas. No system 

 of rotation is complete without a leguminous crop, and among the 

 leguminous crops the cow pea occupies the front rank as a rapid soil 

 restorer, frequently accumulating in a few months over 100 pounds 

 nitrogen per acre. An examination of the roots of the cow pea vine 



