14 



merit. This plan't, of which the photograph is given, was 5 feet high. 

 The roots in the soil occupy a more nearly horizontal position than is 

 shown in the figure. The thickened part of the stem to which the roots 

 are attached, represents the cutting from which the plant grew. 



Attempts were also made to grow the cassava in a piece of very wet 

 muck land on the station in which sugar cane would not grow to any 

 advantage. An immense development of tops was secured, some of the 

 plants reaching a height of 10 feet and resembling young trees. The 

 root development was fair, but not commensurately increased with the 

 top growth. Some of the stems were easily 2 inches in diameter. On 

 well-drained muck land I think the crop would be large and profitable. ' 



In sand land the planting should be preceded by the removal of 

 stumps, sprouts, etc., and the soil given a thorough plowing. It is 

 advisable to spread about 300 pounds of fine. raw Florida phosphate 

 floats or about 150 pounds of superphosphate containing 12 per cent 

 available acid, to the acre. This may be applied as a top-dressing and 

 thoroughly worked into the soil by a deep-running cultivator. The 

 rows should be marked out in furrows 3 to 4 inches deep and from 3 J 

 to 4 feet apart. To get a good stand, about double the number of cut- 

 tings required to produce 2,500 hills per acre should.be planted. The 

 excess of plants can be removed by a hoe as soon as vigorous growth is 

 assured, leaving one hill each. 3 or 4 feet. About 150 pounds of kaini.t 

 per acre should be dropped in the hills before planting, together with 

 an equal amount of cotton-seed, meal, or half that amount of Chile salt- 

 peter (nitrate of soda). 



The cultivation should be such as to keep the field free of all weeds 

 and the surface of the soil well stirred. While the plants are young 

 deep cultivation is not objectionable, but as soon as the root system 

 begins to develop, flat superficial culture must be practiced; not to 

 exceed 2 inches in depth. Some cultivators draw the soil to the plant 

 during cultivation so as to form a ridge at the time of laying by. Where 

 nitrate of soda has been used an additional 50 or 75 pounds per acre 

 should be sown broadcast just before the final cultivation. The above 

 method is the one which should be followed for the-poorest kind of sand 

 soils, where a maximum crop is desired. For muck soils, the cotton- 

 seed meal and nitrate of soda should be omitted and about 500 pounds 

 of Florida phosphate floats used per acre. If sand soils are covered with 

 a good layer of muck before the plowing the nitrogenous fertilizers 

 may also be omitted or reduced in quantity. 



In ordinary seasons with the treatment outlined above, a crop of 

 from 4 to 7 tons per acre will be secured. On sand soils containing a 

 little organic matter approaching the hammock variety, a fair yield of 

 from 2 to 4 tons per acre w.ill be secured by good cultivation without 

 fertilizing. 



For seed, the stems of the unfrosted plants are cut into pieces about 

 6 inches in length, care being taken that each piece has two or more 

 eyes. In planting, these pieces may be laid directly down in the fur- 



