84 



locality, so that the '^acsa"" is often used as a unit for land measure, 

 meaning in this case the area in which 10,000 cane seeds have been 

 planted or might have been planted, and varying according to locality 

 from one-third to one-half of a hectare. 



The cane tops are thrust into the ground in a slanting direction at the bottom 

 of the furrows, then packed around with loose dirt so that only a few centimeters 

 project above the surface. This work is, as a rule, performed by men, each man 

 having a boy assistant, who hands him seed from a basket as it is needed. In a 

 few localities women and children plant as well as prepare the seed. Sometimes, 

 more especially in dry years and toward the end of the season, tops are planted 

 in pairs instead of singly, with the idea that if one fails to sprout the other will 

 in all probability succeed. In using this method the distance between rows and 

 between seed in the same row is corresijondingly increased, so that very rarely 

 will the number of plants in a hectare exceed 30,000. On the east coast of Negros, 

 where drought is sometimes to be feared, cane is often planted by means of the 

 "gajo" or "vara," a sharpened stick frequently provided with a sharp-pointed iron 

 cap, which is thrust into the ground in a slanting direction to a depth of some 40 

 centimeters, forming a hole into which the seed cane is pushed, after withdraw- 

 ing the planting instrument. The advantage claimed for this method of planting 

 is that the seed is buried deeper in the ground and consequently withstands dry 

 weather better than when planted by other methods, so that sprouting is surer, and 

 although the young sprout is somewhat later in making its appearance above 

 ground, its root system has by this time become so well developed that a strong 

 growth is ensured. In the district of Bais, especially, this system of planting is 

 much used. There the cane is often planted in squares instead of in running rows. 

 Two canes are set at each of the four corners of a square in such a way that a 

 space of about 1 meter is left between each pair of cane seeds; thus approximately 

 2,000 seeds are planted in each hectare of land. Cane planted in this way, it 

 is stated, can be kept free from weeds by cross plowing without danger of injuring 

 the young plants, whereas the system of planting in rows permits of subsequent 

 plowing in one direction only, and the cane rows themselves must be kept clean, 

 at considerable expense, with the hoe. On the other hand is the disadvantage, at 

 least with plant cane, that planting in squares probably produces a lesser number 

 of individual canes to the hectare, and, leaving a greater area of land unoccupied, 

 incurs more expense for plowing, since not only is there more space to be kept 

 free from weeds, but a longer time must elapse before the field of cane "closes 

 up" and by its own shade prevents further weed growth. It would appear that 

 planting in rows probably yields a heavier first crop, but that where several years 

 of ratoons are desired the square system might be given the preference, as sub- 

 sequent ratoons thus have more room to spread without choking up the rows and 

 making plowing between the young cane impossible. 



CULTURAL OPERATIONS AFTER PLAKTING. 



The amount of labor expended on the young cane during its growth 

 depends of course very much upon local conditions as to weather, soil, 

 etc., and upon the resources of the individual planter. The following 

 notes apply more especially to tlje methods followed in the disti'irt 



^° A native word meaning "ten thousand." 



