12 FARMERS' BULLETIN. 



the front as the most prolific and profitable sugar region in the world, 

 have not, so far as can be ascertained, been planted in these Islands. * 



Exhaustive tests have definitely established the fact that the upper 

 two or three feet of the cane the part least valuable at the mills is 

 well suited to seed purposes, and that no sugar 'deterioration has occurred 

 from its long-continued use. These tops can be all used, except the 

 extreme tips, which are sometimes inclined to "arrow/' 



PLANTING. 



As soon as the ground is prepared a shallow furrow or trench is opened, 

 down the center of the bed with a double-mold-board plow, and the cane 

 laid down in the trench, the end of one piece touching the next through- 

 out the whole row. It is the custom, here and in Hawaii, to cut the cane 

 into single nodes a few inches long, and drop them at close intervals in 

 the furrow. Such a practice undoubtedly assures a stand from every 

 joint, but if the land has been brought to a fine condition of tilth, and the 

 whole of the cane is in intimate Contact with the soil, every joint in the 

 piece should break into bud. It will also be seen that the process is more 

 expeditious and labor saving. 



Previous to planting, the seed cane should be soaked for two hours in 

 lime water of the strength of 2 pounds of slaked lime to 1 gallon of water. 

 This is recommended for the destruction of the eggs of pernicious insects, 

 but in every instance a rigid scrutiny of the seed cane should always be 

 made, and any piece that has been attacked by borers should be rejected. 

 As a remedial measure, I would place more faith in a soaking of the cane 

 in well diluted carbolic acid ; but, in view of the fact that the lime dress- 

 ing furnishes at once to the young plant an always-to-be-desired and 

 necessary element of fertility, this time-honored custom of all countries 

 may be generally adopted. 



In this country the trench for planting may be shallow, and the soil 

 covered back with a light plow or disc harrow. Where irrigation is not 

 to follow, or where rainfall is so great that the water-carrying capacity of 

 the middles is apt to be overtaxed, all subsequent plowing or tillage 

 should be towards the cane row, with the end in view of having it always 

 above water. 



AFTER-TREATMENT. 



The cane, when planted, if followed by good rains or by irrigation, 

 should begin to sprout within a week of the time it is wetted down, and 

 this is the time when the progressive farmer has recourse to the so-called 

 mineral fertilizers for the increase of crop and the maintenance of soil 



1 Through the commendable enterprise of Capt. G. P. Ahern, Chief of the Fores- 

 try Bureau, an importation of these Hawaiian canes was recently made to this 

 country, and efforts will be made, by their rapid propagation, and further intro- 

 ductions, to effect future distributions of the same to planters. F. L. S. 



