MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. (i07 



It is a prime doctrine of cane-growing that you should "plant deep, but 

 <«>\ci- lightly." The apparent contradiction is explained if it is added that 

 a furrow 8 inches deep is opened in the prepared soil, the plant or set is 

 put at the bottom of the furrow, and 2 or 3 inches of soil drawn in, after- 

 eultivation being allowed to till in the furrow as the plant grows. Early 

 in the season the covering may be on the lighter side, but at no time should 

 it be heavier than indicated. 



The opening of the furrow is generally effected with the moUldboard 

 plough, which is used twice (once in each direction), but some farmers use 

 a double mouldboard implement for the purpose. 



The dropping of the sets is usually done by hand, farmers generally pre- 

 ferring that method, on the ground that they can place the sets according to 

 their own desires, and then cover them lightly with a hoe. 



Some importance is attached to the position in which the sets are placed ; 

 it would appear reasonable to expect that with one eye on each Bide as 

 the set lies in the drill the germination would be quicker than where a 

 shoot had to make its way from underneath the set to the surface, but 

 there are many who hold it a matter of indifference, averring that the plant 

 will come through quite as (puck under the latter as the former condition. 



" Get it up quick ; that is the main thing," said one farmer, thus tersely 

 expressing the general opinion that an early and vigorous start is of first 

 importance. 



Good Drainage an Essential. 



Where the ground is apt to be waterlogged or flooded from time to time, 

 some success has been obtained by throwing up ridges and planting the sets 

 along the tops, so that the roots strike downwards to the water, and follow 

 flood-waters down as they subside. 



" Improvement will begin with the observance of two things," said the 

 Colonial Sugar Refining Company's officers at Broadwater mill in a con- 

 versation lately. " The first is the selection of sets from disease-free canes, 

 and the second is good drainage." These gentlemen are in constant contact 

 with the necessity for good drainage, for on the Richmond some of the very 

 best land is the poorest drained, and therefore lightest in yield. There 

 are farmers with whom drainage should be the first consideration of all, but 

 with whom it still occupies a quite indifferent place. 



The Sets to Use. 



The selection of the sets has a most important influence upon the plant. 

 Vigour, stooling habit and freedom from disease, and, of course, adhesion 

 to varietal characters, are elementary considerations ; others might be men- 

 tioned, but if due regard were paid to these there is little room for doubt 

 that sugar cane would be more attractive than it is ever likely to be under 

 present conditions. Here again the experienced North Coast grower gaily 

 acclaims the soundest principles and as gaily goes forward on his own 

 happy-go-lucky lines. One-year old cane of first ratoon crop, or at the least 

 twelve months' cane from a plant crop, is no doubt universally used, and 

 rightly so for there lies healthy vigour and activity. Every grower knows, 

 too, that while the butt shoots provide hardier and stronger plants, they also 

 make slow-growing ones , similarly every grower knows that the top shoots 

 provide the quickest growth, but the tenderest — even the weakest plants. 

 Thus enclosed, the grower proclaims the advisability of using only the 



