142 WALL'S M A N U A L 



C H A P T E K XIX. 



SORGHUM CANES. 



The soil and geographical range of the Chinese 

 sugar cane, corresponds nearly with that of Indian 

 corn, and it thrives with great luxuriance in rich, 

 bottom lands, or in moist, loamy soils, well manured. 

 It will produce a fine crop on dry sandy, or gravely 

 soils, too poor to give good crops of other plants. 

 On the latter class of soils, however, it has proved 

 more profitable to the cultivator, where there had 

 been applied a moderate quantity of guano, super- 

 phosphate of lime, and plaster. Say, fifty pounds of 

 Peruvian guano, fifty pounds of superphosphate, and 

 one hundred pounds of plaster. 



This plant endures cold much better than corn, 

 and, resists without injury, slight frosts in the fall. 

 It will also stand excessive drought. In Virginia, 

 and other Southern States, it will ripen its seeds in 

 October, when planted by the 20th of June. At the 

 extreme South, it may be planted from January to 

 July. 



The cost of culture of this plant, does not differ 

 essentialy from that of Indian corn. The seeds 

 require to be planted at different distances apart, 

 according to the strength of the soil. On light, 

 moderately rich land, it succeeds best when sown in 

 rows or drills, three feet apart, with the plants a foot 

 assunder in the drill; but 011 rich land, it has been 

 found preferable to have the drills four or five feet 

 assunder. If cultivated exclusively for fodder, and 

 to be cut green for stock, the seed may be sown 



