502 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



horse cultivators. Here there is no need to use the hoe 

 to remove the surplus soil, for on sandy land this can be 

 done with a harrow before the young plants appear. Fre- 

 quent cultivations and occasional hoeings are given up to 

 the time when the cane affords shade enough to keep down 

 weeds and grass. After the first one or two cultivations, 

 the depth should be shallow. On well-drained soils in the 

 pine-belt, there is not the same necessity as in the sugar- 

 belt for making the beds high. 



In Louisiana when a crop is grown from the stubble, the 

 dried tops and leaves of the preceding crop are burned 

 in winter; the first tilling then consists in loosening the 

 soil with the " stubble digger." Previous to this, any 

 stubble on which the upper eyes have been injured is cut 

 off below the surface of the ground by the " stubble 

 shaver." Fertilizer is applied in a furrow near the line 

 of stubble, and the soil is then thrown back towards the 

 row. 



Dr. W. C. Stubbs thus describes the usual steps in the culti- 

 vation of sugar-cane in Louisiana : " As soon as a stand is secured 

 in either plant or stubble cane, the dirt is returned and the mid- 

 dles split out with a two-horse plow and the latter then sent to 

 the tool-room, to remain until the next season. The first culti- 

 vation is made by straddling the cane with the disk cultivator, 

 using three unequal disks, running them very shallow and throw- 

 ing very little dirt to the cane. The middle or diamond culti- 

 vator follows, working completely the middle of the row. In 

 this operation, both mules walk between the cane. 



" The next cultivation is made in the same way, or if the cane 

 has grown considerably and requires more dirt, the three unequal 

 disks are removed and two or three of equal size are substituted. 

 These disks can be dished to throw much or little dirt. Having 

 displaced the three unequal disks with those of equal size, the 



