434 FIELD CROPS 



erally used in plowing, as the work is too heavy for horises. 

 Quite frequently, however, large mules are used in prepar- 

 ing the land and cultivating the crop. The demand for the 

 largest and best mules on the sugar plantations is so great 

 that they are commonly known on the market as "sugar 

 mules." After the plowing is done, good surface tillage is 

 given till planting time. Stable manure is the best fertilizer, 

 but it is not often available in large quantities. As most of 

 the potash and phosphorus removed by the crop is returned 

 in the ashes and waste from the sugar mills, nitrogen is the 

 only element of fertility which it is necessary to purchase in 

 quantity. Sugar, the only product removed, is composed of 

 carbon and water, hence it takes nothing from the land. 

 Nitrogen is lost in the burning of the stalks and leaves. 



594. Planting. Sugar cane is planted by laying the 

 stalks in furrows from 4 to 6 feet apart. If the seed canes are 

 in good condition, 2 feet apart in the row is thick enough to 

 plant the pieces of stalks to obtain a good stand ; if its con- 

 dition is poor, thicker planting is necessary. The ordinary 

 method is to lay the cane horizontally in the fmTow and 

 cover it with a small plow or cultivator. Sometimes the crop 

 is planted in hills by sticking the sections of stalks diagon- 

 ally into the ground with the upper end slightly above the 

 surface, while, if particularly quick germination is wanted, 

 they are planted upright with the buds above the surface. 



595. Cultivation. Sugar cane is cultivated frequently 

 to keep it clean of weeds and to insure rapid growth. As it is 

 not planted in check rows, it is usually necessary to do some 

 hand hoeing to remove the weeds within the rows. The 

 cultivator used is usually of the toothed or shovel type, 

 though in recent years disk cultivators have come into 

 favor in some sections. Cultivation is continued till the 

 ground between the rows is entirely shaded by the crop. 



596. Harvesting. The total sugar content of the stalk 

 increases up to a certain stage of ripeness, which can only 



