The first joint requires 4-5 months for its entire growth, and, during this time, 15-20 joints spring from it in succession. When the leaves of the first two or three joints have died away, there are then 12-15 leaves at top. In its natural state, the cane has at this stage cornpleted its growtb, and arrived at the usual period of its flowering; if it blooms, the principle of life and generation passes entirely to the development of the parts of fructification. At this time, the joints which spring forth are deprived of their bud, and the sap-vessels, nith which they were supplied, pass into the leaf ; whence it happens that, as the number of these vessels is con stantly diminishing, the joints in a similar proportion become longer, and their rind thinner. The last joint, which is called the " arrow," is 4-5 ft. long ; it is terminated by a panicle of stenle flowers 18-20 in. high. If the period of flowering is delayed by cultivation, the principle of life passes to the generation of new joints, and this continues till the sap-vessels of the stole become woody, and do not afford a passage to the juices. Under cultivation, very few oanes flower at all ; exceptions occur on some soils, when the canes are planted early, and their vigorous growth is ddenly checked.
Range.—The sugar-cane has a wide range, succeeding iu almost all tropical and sub-tropical countries, and reacbing an elevation above sea-level amounting to 4000 ft. in the S. Pacific, and 5000-6000 ft in Mexico and S. America. It is cultivated in many parts of the level country in India and China as far as 30° or 31° N. lat. Its exact geographical range may be more conveniently studied in the section on Production and Commerce.
Climate.—The sugar-cane thrives best in a warm moist clirnate, with moderate intervals of hot dry weather, tempered by refreshing sca-breezes. Its most luxurious development oeeurs on islands and sea-coasts, leading to the supposition that the saline partielee conveyed to it by the winds are beneficial ; but perhaps the exuberance of the plant in such situations is due to the moisture which accompanies the sea-breezee, even in the hottest and driest weather. The cane attains its greatest perfection within the tropics: cold in any degree opposes its growth and development, hence it can be cultivated but little in Europe. A singular change in the nature of the juice is occasioned by frost. While the frost continues, the low temperature prevents fermentation setting in ; but should a thaw intervene, viscous fermentation takes place, and will prevent the crystallization of the juice if subsequently concentrated. In the npper districts of India, frost frequently does great harm to the cane crops. Rain at the proper season is equally necessary for cane-culture, though it may be to a great extent repla,ced by irrig,ation ; but rain when the canes are maturing, if in great quantity, may do much mischief. As the canes are approaching maturity, 2-3 months of hot and fairly dry weather are exceedingly beneficial, bringing the juice to the highest degree of sweetness, and assuring a large yield of fine sugar ; slight showers at long intervals serve to maintain the vigour of the plant without appreciably weakening the juice. In
the case of vegetation being renewed by raine after a drought, if it oceur in a locality where froet is not to be feared, it will sometimes be advantageous to leave the canes ou the ground much later than usual, as the juice will gradually become much richer than it can be immediately after rain.
Should an alternation of sunshine and rain be followed by long-continued drought, the growth of the plante will be checked, and tht re will be a dieposition to arrow. If cut now, the juice will be of good quality, but deficient in quantity, owing to the small size of the canes. When a drought sets in only a short time before commencing to reap the crop, tho effeet is eminently beneficial, causing an inepissation of the saccharine contents of the cells by the evaporation of their water. But if the drought should continue beyond the time necessary to produce the effects just mentioned, the stems assume a red and scorched appearance, and not unfrequently eplit ; the canes then are said to be " burnt." The juice is reduced iu quantity, and its quality is altered. In extreme cases, it is strongly acid, but it varies much in this respect. Frost will also cause canes to buret.
Soi/.—Decomposed granite in the Straits Settlements affords really desirable land for sugar culture, being, well fertilized by a proportion of decayed vegetable matter. In both E. and W. Indies, there abounds a kind of soil called " brick-mould," which is considered most advantageous for sugar-planting. It is a mixture of sand and clay, in such proportions that air and water can penetrate to some depth with facility, thus constituting a mail which ean he worked with 0aSe. Its property of retaining moisture, evim in the hottest season, ie remarkable; while in heavy rains, the water eseopes quickly where drains exist. Deep black moulde are lees suitable for cane-culture, tending to produce exuberant plants, rather than a rieh and plentiful juice. Some of the very best sugar is produced on limestone sone, though they do not promise great fertility. In the Straits Settlements, Demerant, Louisiana, aud other plaets, it often occurs that lands are strongly im pregnated with saline matter, which eauses the cane to grow most luxuriantly, but affects the juice (and consequently the sugar made from it) very prejudicially. Where salt i8 present in the land, as froin the overflowing of tides, the course to be pursued is, after banking out the tide and pro perly draining, to plaut Indian corn, Guiuea corn, or Guinea gra.ss for 2-3 years, until the saline matters have become in a degree exhausted ; canes may then be planted withont fear.