660 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



time in order that a good stand may be secured. When the cane ia 

 large enough, the middle may be broken out, throwing a good bed 

 to the cane, and leaving a clean, clear middle furrow to facilitate 

 drainage during the spring rains. While the cane needs a large 

 amount of water for full development, it can not, as stated above, 

 endure standing sub-soil water in actual contact with the roots. It 

 is the practice with many farmers to use the turning plow for cul- 

 tivation from this time on to laying by, or last working. For small 

 acreage, sweeps may be used to advantage when cultivators are not 

 already on hand. Of course, the season will exert some influence on 

 the manner of cultivation. It is necessary to keep in mind that in 

 the cultivation of cane, a good bed should be maintained, up to the 

 latter part of the season at least ; and that frequent and shallow cul- 

 tivation greatly retards the escape of moisture from the ground. Be 

 careful to see that the ground is in good mechanical condition, and 

 not too dry, at the time of planting. From first to last, during the 

 time of cultivation, the soil should be kept in good tilth. Cane 

 should not be planted in the fall when the ground is too dry, since 

 "dry rot" is liable to occur; and it needs good drainage rather than 

 rich land; but a large crop can not be obtained except on fertile 

 land. About four tons of stripped cane will be required to plant one 

 acre. 



When Shall the Cane Be Cutf It is desirable, of course, to 

 allow the cane to stand as long as possible and still escape a killing 

 frost. For syrup manufacture, cane which has had its tops killed 

 by a light frost may still be used ; although it will be more difficult 

 to clarify. And if the cane is cut and moved under a shed, it will 

 keep for weeks unless caught by a freeze. Plant-cane, which is cut 

 too early in order to work off a late crop, leaves a stubble which is 

 liable to sprout the same fall, and thus injure the stand of the next 

 year's crop. It is therefore, best to cut the oldest stubble first, leav- 

 ing the plant-cane stubble until the last. 



Yield of Cane and Sirup to Acre. The richer the land, other 

 things being equal, the heavier, of course, the yield of cane ; but it is 

 not so rich in sugar, and usually yields a juice which is more diffi- 

 cult to clarify. Cane contains about 90 per cent of juice ; but only 

 78 to 85 per cent of this is extracted by even the best and latest im- 

 proved sugar mills. A small syrup mill would not extract more than 

 60 to 65 per cent. A ton of cane may be expected to yield from 16 

 to 20 gallons of finished syrup; say an average of 18 gallons, and 

 25 tons of cane per acre, making 450 gallons of syrup, which, at 25 

 cents a gallon, ought to yield a very handsome profit to the farmer. 



The Manufacture of the Sirup. This may be done in the most 

 primitive way. In fact nothing more is required than what is 

 known as a "sorghum mill." This consists of three small iron roll- 

 ers with a crank to which a wooden lever is attached, pulled by one 

 or two horses; and in addition to the rollers, an evaporating pan, 

 which can be mounted in a crude way on masonry over a furnace. 

 This simple outfit is too well known to need description. But the 

 best grade of sirup can not be made in this way for the following 



