620 THE FARMERS HANDBOOK 



development should be encouraged in every possible manner, by having the 

 land in good heart and properly prepared. 



In timbered areas, such as are found in the soft-wood scrubs or in partially 

 cleared areas, it is advisable, after brushing and felling the scrub, to get a 

 clean burn, and then planting can be proceeded with, using the mattock, a 

 specially-constructed grubbing hoe, or an old adze to make the holes to 

 receive the sets. 



On stony headlands or spurs, hand labour has also to be resorted to, and 

 it is surprising how the cane thrives in such situations, provided, of course, 

 that there is reasonable depth and quality of soil. 



Time to Plant. 



Cane can be planted at any time during the spring and summer, from, 

 say, September till January, but it is preferable to have the planting done 

 during the first hot month, usually October. If planted earlier, the some- 

 what cold nature of the soil does not admit of quick sprouting, and the spring 

 showers favour a more rapid weed growth. It must have plenty of heat in 

 order to promote quick growth, for during the early stages the plant 

 is always more or less sluggish. Late plantings do not admit of the plant 

 making enough headway before the cold wintry conditions set in, and 

 being more tender at this stage, it is not able to withstand such adverse 

 conditions as could be borne by an older plant. 



Planting. 



Cane is propagated by " sets." These are portions of the cane containing 

 several eyes or buds. In the choice of sets, due regard should be paid to 

 the selection of well grown stalks having large and well developed buds. 

 There should be at least four sound buds to each " hole." The buds are 

 arranged alternately on the nodes, and the roots of the future plant start 

 out from all round the nodes. During growth these buds are protected by 

 the dead leaves which may not have been removed, but it is not absolutely 

 necessary to remove these at planting time unless it be to examine the buds. 

 Otherwise such leaves afford protection from any injury that may occur in 

 the ordinary handling and planting of the sets. 



The sets should be planted fairly deeply, but only covered with a light 

 layer of fine soil, so that they will get the full amount of heat to start 

 sprouting. As the plants grow, the earth can be gradually drawn in around, 

 and brought to the level of the surrounding soil, which will also smother any 

 weeds at the same time. Shallow planting is not favourable to free stooling; 

 droughty conditions affect the crop more readily, and it is more likely to 

 break down with its own weight, or the effect of winds and storms. Hilling 

 can be carried out to remedy some of these evils in affording the necessary 

 support, but in naturally open or porous soils, or those situated on hillsides, 

 this practice cannot be recommended. 



The distance at which the sets are planted varies with different growers, 

 and a good deal depends upon the situation and fertility of the soil. Close 

 planting tends to develop longer and thinner canes than wide planting, and 

 is of some importance when the product is not chaffed before feeding. In 

 general practice, however, it is found that the best results are obtained by 

 planting the sets 4 feet 6 inches or 5 feet apart each way. 



