CASSAVA 



461 



440. Storing stems or " seed canes " for planting. 



One of the chief difficulties in growing cassava near the 

 northern edge of the region in which it succeeds is that of 

 keeping the canes or stems through the winter without 

 injury to the bud, as the result of cold, excessive dryness, 



FIG. 200. METHOD OF PREPARING BED FOR KEEPING CASSAVA SEED 

 STEMS OVER WINTER. 



or too much moisture. In general, the stems are kept 

 through the winter by bedding them (Fig. 200) somewhat 

 as sugar-cane is bedded. 



The spot selected for a cassava seed-bed should be well drained, 

 and a slight excavation should be made, forming a succession of 

 sloping surfaces.. Two or three layers of stems are laid on this 

 in a nearly horizontal position, the base of each being pressed into 

 close contact with the earth. The covering consists of 3 or 4 

 inches of straw, on top of which is placed at first a layer of about 

 2 inches of soil, which, before very cold weather, is increased to 

 4 inches. 



Another method of storing cassava stems consists in standing 

 the stems upright in a trench, the whole being covered with a 

 thick layer of straw, weighted down with a small amount of 

 earth. Cassava beds should be under a roof, and some growers 

 build a permanent house, inside of which the canes are stood on 

 end and covered as just stated. 



441. Enemies. Cassava has few serious enemies 

 among insects or plant diseases. One of the most trouble- 

 some is " Trenching " (Glceosporium manihot). This fun- 

 gus kills the tips of the branches and then .spreads 



