THE SUGAR CANE. 213 



serves as a drain for the surplus rains. Many intelligent 

 planters run a large subsoil plow two or three times be- 

 tween the rows, which serves to loosen the soil for the 

 greater extension of the roots, and this also more effectually 

 drains the land. Throughout the operation of cultivating, 

 after the ratoons have been barred off in the spring, care 

 should be observed to avoid cutting or breaking the roots. 

 This caution is applicable to all plants, but especially to the 

 cane, which requires all the aid from its roots to mature be- 

 fore the approach of cold weather. 



Deep plowing, both in breaking up and in cultivating, is 

 essential to good sugar crops, on all lands that have long 

 been subject to tillage. On the alluvial lands of the Missis- 

 sippi, fresh upturned soil, exposed to the surface for the first 

 time, always brings with it new supplies of food for the 

 plants ; and the more perfect and general the pulverization 

 of the soil, the greater is the space afforded for a range 

 to the roots. Good implements and good" plowmen are essen- 

 tial preliminaries to a good sugar crop. 



Harvesting. In the West Indies and most other foreign 

 States where grown, the cane fully ripens. This is true, 

 al&o, with some of that on Tampa Bay, Florida, the cultiva- 

 tion of which has recently been considerably extended. 

 But in Louisiana, the cane never fully matures. It begins 

 to ripen at the foot of the stalks in August or September, 

 and advances upwards at the rate of about six inches per 

 week. The proper period for cutting, would be just previ- 

 ous to the heavy or black frosts (freezes they are generally 

 called) ; but as it requires several weeks to secure the crop, 

 much of which would be liable to great injury if left beyond 

 the proper period, the harvesting is generally commenced 

 by the middle of October, and steadily followed up till com- 

 pleted. This is done by striking off the top (unripened 

 stalks), then stripping the leaves by a single downward 

 stroke of the knife on either side, and another blow severs 

 one or more stalks at the foot. The cane is then thrown 

 into carts and hauled to the mill, where it should at once 

 be ground, boiled, granulated and put up for market. 



The moment of interference with the natural condition of 

 the plant, is the signal for breaking up its normal or healthy 

 condition, and sending its elements rapidly forward on a 

 new career of change. The exquisitely-arranged crystals 

 of sugar, which may be seen with the microscope, closely 

 wedged in their appropriate cells within the silicious rind of 



