M1S( l.l.l.AM.ol 6 CROPS. 609 



the result of successive plantings with little regard for the characters that 

 should be perpetuated, and for those thai should be eliminated oi controlled. 

 "Run out" is not an essential of the industry, and a recognition of this 

 might yet Bee some excelleul old varieties that growers are inclined to bemoan 

 coming into favour again. 



Intercultivation. 



The working of the land under a young cane crop is generally on the Lines 

 of Hat cultivation in the earlier stages the objects being (1) to prevenl the loss 

 of moisture and ('_') to control weed growth. Cane-farmers appear to be well 

 aware of the value of a loose surface as a means of conserving soil moisture, 

 and aKo to realise that the quantity of plant-food available in the soil at any 

 one time is limited, and that if weeds are allowed to take an ample supply 

 for themselves, then the inure valuable cane plant is deprived of essentials to 

 its development 



The harrow is usually employed while the plants are still small, successive 

 workings filling in the plant furrow until the crop becomes too tall to be 

 treated in this way. A Planet Jr. horse-hoe, fitted with narrow tines for 

 scarifying purposes is used by many as the plants grow. A few farmers even 

 open up the ground on either side of the plants when they are two or three 

 weeks above ground, leave it so for a few hours — perhaps for a day- — and 

 then break the middles, thus throwing the soil hack upon the plants. The 

 effecl is no doubt to aerate and warm up the soil while yet it is possible to get 

 close to the plants ; later on as the roots spread this would be impossible. 



For later cultivating operations, the disc cultivator seems to be favoured 

 by many farmers. It is largely used on the coast by maize-growers, having 

 a raised frame that enables it to be used until the crop has attained a 

 height of 3 feet 6 inches; this frame can be lowered and the discs reversed 

 to convert the implement into a disc harrow. With this or some similar 

 implement the rows are inter-cultivated and the drills hilled up, the work 

 being continued as long as possible, especially in a dry season. Where 

 square planting permits, intercultivation is carried out first in one direction 

 and then the other : in drill planting this is impossible and the hard con- 

 dition into which the soil gets where the implements cannot reach is one of 

 the great disadvantages of that method. Hand chipping is no doubt possible, 

 but it is a very laborious and costly matter, and the drill-planter must 

 satisfy himself by going as close as he can without damaging the plants. 

 Presently the cane covers the ground completely and further cultivation is 

 unnecessary. 



Stripping and Cutting. 



Trashing or stripping, which consists of the removal of the dead or dying 

 leaves as the cane grows up, is an operation that is variously regarded. Its 

 effect is to expose the cane to the maturing influences of light and air, and 

 on the whole there seems to be reason to consider that the effect is t«> 

 increase the sugar content. On the other hand, injudicious and careless 

 Stripping is very liable to leave wounds through which fungus diseases may 

 obtain an entrance. Dr. Cobb made the remark that " when cane is stripped, 

 care should- be taken not to remove any of the leaves that have a Living 

 connection with the stalk, as this results in wounds that are likely to admit 

 disease It is better to remove too little than too much ! " 



The operation of trashing is practised by very few on the Richmond, but 

 on the Clarence the majority of farmers attach some impoitance to it. As 

 already stated there are those who specially value it as a means of ensuring 



t 547! '7 i 



