THE SUGAR CANE. 211 



tity of mature cane, an object that can only be secured by 

 its thorough and exclusive cultivation on the field. 



The land should be deeply broken up with a two or four 

 horse plow. If light or sandy, it may be plowed flat ; but 

 if stiff, or too much inclined to wet, it should be thrown into 

 beds. Great advantages have generally followed the use 

 of the subsoil plow, when run a foot below the bottom of 

 the turning furrow, and immediately under the rows to be 

 occupied by the cane. This is the more important, as no 

 opportunity will again occur for breaking up this portion 

 of the field, till the plant is renewed. The plowing may 

 be done at any convenient time between October and March ; 

 but on plantations where the harvesting and grinding are 

 going forward, it is seldom the plows can be started before 

 the last of December, or early in January. The plowing 

 should never long precede the planting, unless in stiff soils, 

 which need the meliorating influence of the atmosphere to 

 crumble the massive clods ; nor in these, beyond the period 

 necessary to effect this object. A fine bed of well-pulver- 

 ized earth is thus secured for the plants to root in, and afford 

 its nourishment to the young shoots. 



Planting. This may be done any time between Octo- 

 ber and April. There is a greater certainty of a good crop 

 if in the ground by the first of March. The occupations of 

 harvesting, grinding, plowing, &e., will usually postpone the 

 commencement of planting till January. On the land pre- 

 viously well plowed, open a wide furrow with the fluke or 

 double mold-board plow. Clean this out with the hoe of a 

 uniform width, by the removal of any clods that may have 

 fallen in after the plow. With the increased width now 

 usually adopted by the best planters, not less than three 

 parallel seed stalks should be planted. These ought to be 

 precisely in line, and at least four inches apart ; and it is 

 better to place them so that the eyes may shoot out horizon- 

 tally, and thus come up at the same time and on opposite 

 sides of the stalk. Cover with sufficient earth to prevent 

 freezing from any weather that may follow. On the ap- 

 proach of spring, remove the earth to the depth of one or 

 two inches. Light spring frosts will not otherwise injure 

 the cane, than to cut down the young shoots, and thus de- 

 lay the growth till new leaves appear. The danger is in re- 

 moving so much of the earth as to expqse the roots to 

 freezing. 



Cultivating. Throughout most of Louisiana, the cane 



