SUGAR. 413 



tial to the growth of the crop. Chemical fertilizers such as lime, gypsum, and the super 

 phosphates are used with good effect, but animal manures, or those containing a large pro 

 portion of nitrogen, when too liberally applied, are thought to produce plants, the juices of 

 which are less rich in sugar, and contain more impurities than the former. When stable 

 manure is used, it should be well fermented, either before its application, or by being plowed 

 in a sufficiently long time before planting the cuttings, in order to admit of its becoming per 

 fectly decomposed in the soil. All fertilizers used should be well worked into the soil with 

 the harrow or cultivator. 



The propagation of the cane is effected by cuttings; the cuttings for the purpose being 

 produced by planting the seed. The seed is of necessity imported, since it does not become 

 perfectly ripe in the sugar-producing belt of this country. It is obtained principally from 

 Otaheite. It is of the utmost importance that the propagation, either by cuttings or seed, 

 should be from the very best cane. Such cane should be not only the best varieties that can 

 be obtained, but the strongest and most healthy plants of such varieties. Any neglect or 

 carelessness in this respect will affect very materially the quality and yield of the crop, and 

 may thus cause a serious loss to the planter. 



The cuttings for planting are taken from the main stalks, and are generally from fifteen 

 to twenty inches in length. They are planted in trenches or drills, and so placed that the 

 eyes, which are on the opposite sides of alternate joints, should be on the sides. These stalks 

 are placed quite near each other in the row, so as to furnish plants when grown that will be 

 from six to eight inches apart. Sometimes a double row of stalks are planted, but, unless the 

 trenches be sufficiently far apart, the plants will be liable to be crowded. The stalks are cov 

 ered to the depth of from two to three inches of soil. Agricultural implements for covering 

 and pressing the soil upon the cuttings are a great saving of time and labor. 



The planting may be either in the spring or fall. Different varieties should not be 

 planted together or near each other, as there is a great tendency to mix in this species of 

 plants, which is an injury to the product, pure varieties being the most desirable. The shoots 

 which the cuttings send up will be large enough to cut in from ten to fourteen months after 

 planting. After cutting, a new growth of shoots will spring up from the roots called &quot; rat- 

 toons,&quot; which produce the next crop, and so on; this process being repeated to the extent 

 that a single planting will supply cane for several years. In Louisiana, on account of con 

 stant deterioration, it is necessary to re-plant from cuttings every t,hird or fourth year, one- 

 fourth of the land devoted to sugar-culture being employed for the propagation of the cuttings 

 from which the cane on the other three-fourths is grown. 



In the &quot;West Indies, one planting will last from five to ten years, while in some sections 

 it has been known to supply cane for nearly twenty years before the old roots died out. Such 

 cases are, however, rare. The cane will flower in from twelve to twenty months after plant 

 ing. The cuttings should always be planted in rows at a sufficient distance apart to admit of 

 space for growth and cultivation. The cultivator should be used frequently in order to keep 

 out the weeds and grass, and to promote the growth of the cane by keeping the surface 

 mellow. The last cultivation given before harvesting is generally in the early part of June. 

 At this time, the soil is brought up around the roots and stalks of the plants, to the depth of 

 from three to four inches. It is then left to ripen. 



The sugar-cane beetle is the most destructive enemy of this product known. The borer 

 is also quite destructive in some sections. Various methods have been employed to extermi 

 nate these pests, but none have proved very effectual. 



Harvesting. The cane commences to ripen at the bottom of the stalk, the ripening 

 process extending upwards at the rate of about one inch per day. When sufficiently ripe for 

 harvesting, which will be indicated by its appearance, the tops of the plants are first cut down 

 as far as the leaves are dry. The leaves are then all pulled off from the stalk while standing 

 in the field, the stalks cut close to the ground, and taken at once to the sugar-mill. 



