OF AGRICULTURE. 149 



the frosts and sun. It is well to preserve an excess 

 of seed cane, as continued and severe spring frosts 

 may cut down and destroy so many young shoots as 

 to leave a bad stand, unless partially replanted. Many 

 assert the cane will keep better by being cut soon 

 after a rain, so as to be bedded with the sap vessels 

 full, and that dry rot follows when cut after a 

 drought. Some planters, however, allow it to lie on 

 the ground and wilt for two or three days after 

 cutting, and assert when thus treated, the cane keeps 

 equally well. Corn which is intended for grinding is 

 often thus secured when severe frosts are anticipated. 

 It requires additional labor to top and trim it when 

 thus harvested, but a good yield of sugar is in that 

 way secured, which might otherwise be lost. 



PREPARATION FOR PLANTING. 



Where the land is fresh, it is invariably light, and 

 full of vegetable matter. Shallow plowing, and wide 

 distances between the rows, are then justified. The 

 cane grows luxuriantly in such soils, and when there 

 is a deficiency of warm weather to mature fully, 

 room is required to allow a free circulation of air, 

 and the full benefit of the sun, to ripen it before the 

 approach of frost. From seven to ten feet is near 

 enough for the rows, but these should contain from 

 two to three continuous lines of good plant cane. 

 Where the land is very fertile, wide rows, if well 

 cultivated, will produce an equal quantity, as if 

 planted closer, and there is much less expense and 

 labor in planting and cultivating the crop. 



Land that has been long in cultivation may be 

 planted nearer, but if rich, as it ought always to be, 



