MANUAL FOR SUGAR GROWERS. 47 



drill, makes a hole by thrusting the bar into the 

 ground, then places a plant-top in the hole in such 

 a manner that the head of the piece planted is just 

 below the level of the ground, and then covers the 

 whole by an adroit movement of the foot. In about 

 seven to fourteen days the eyes or buds burst into 

 leaf, and growth above ground fairly sets in ; but be- 

 fore this the rootlets have commenced to grow from 

 the double row of dot -like markings to be seen 

 above each joint, thus the young plant obtains a 

 supply of moisture and plant-food quite as soon as 

 active transpiration and growth take place. 



Various experimenters have recorded observa- 

 tions on the results of planting various parts of the 

 cane, and also of selecting large or in other respects 

 fine tops for planting. The results obtained do not 

 appear to be definite ; so far as the author's experi- 

 ence goes it would seem that any sound, healthy 

 " top," which has not arrowed or flowered, is suita- 

 ble for planting, and that it will reproduce the vari- 

 ety of cane from which it arose, with all its pecu- 

 liarities, including the saccharine richness, etc. 



When the young plants have just begun to spring 

 is the most favourable time to apply manures con- 

 taining potash and phosphates. It seems best, to the 

 author, to apply at this time a mixture of sulphate 

 of potash and superphosphate of lime, with lime, 

 marl, or ashes, if the soil is at all deficient in lime. 

 The quantities to be employed will vary with the 

 soil, but generally two hundredweight of super- 

 phosphate and one-half to one liundredAveight of 

 sulphate of potash per acre will be found useful 



