CONTENTS. ix 
CHAPTER VIII. 
THE RELATIVE VALUE OF DIFFERENT SOILS IN SUGAR PRODUCTION 
The Soil not merely a Repository of the Mineral Food of Plants 
—Theory alone not a safe Guide in estimating the Value 
of Soils for different Purposes—Texture and Physical Prop- 
erties of Soils—The Peculiar Qualities, physical and chem- 
ical, of Lands which Experience has proved to be the best 
adapted to this Cane—The ‘‘Bluff Lands” of the Missouri 
and Mississippi Valleys—Sugar Production in the West and 
in Louisiana—Soils of the Ohio Terraces . : - aj. G2 
CHAPTER IX. 
THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE. 
The Limits of the Distribution of Species defined by Climate— 
Sub-tropical Character of the Middle and Western States 
during the Summer Months—The Limits within which Sor- 
ghum may be profitably grown defined—The Summer Iso- 
therm of 70° Fahr.—The Summer Line of 72° Fahr. proba- 
bly the Northern Limit of the District within which ee 
may be most successfully produced . 68 
CHAPTER X. 
MEANS BY WHICH THE MATURITY OF CANE MAY BE HASTENED. 
Special Means by which Early Ripening may be secured—In- 
attention of Planters to this Subject—The Period of Growth 
may be abbreviated to advantage by the practice of the 
System of Planting and Culture previously recommended— 
Selection of the Earliest ripened Seeds from the most Highly- 
developed Plants—Early Planting—Sprouting of Seed — 
Drainage of Land—Use of Lime—Upland Soil and Southern 
Exposure of the Surface—Direction of the Cane Rows— 
Importance of attention to these Particulars. , ty h 
CHAPTER XI. 
THE ‘‘TILLERING’’ OF SORGHUM. 
Influence of the Side Shoots, or ‘‘Suckers,”’ upon the Saccha- 
rine Products of the Plant—Opposite Opinions of experi- 
enced Planters as to the Nature 4nd Value of the Lateral 
Shoots harmonized—Their Growth under perfect Contral— 
They are not an Abnormal Growth, but are perfectly analo- 
gous to the Tillers of Wheat—The Tillering Process common 
to many of the Grasses, and a wise provision for their In- 
crease—Under what Conditions the Growth of the Be ce 
Tillers should be encouraged : : - ay f 
