250 



as much of the eyes or shoots of the cane upper- 

 most as you can, then cover them with manure 

 and soil ; beds should next be formed to retain 

 water, having four pits in each bed, leaving 

 passages for watering them. The cutting should 

 be watered every third day during hot weather, 

 and the field should always be kept in a moist 

 state." (Trans. Agri-Hort. Soc., VIII., 43.J 



Near Benares, the sets require, after planting, 

 from four to six waterings until the rains com- 

 mence, and as many hoeings to loosen the surface, 

 which becomes caked after every watering. In 

 Bengal the moister nature of the soil renders 

 these operations generally unnecessary. 



After Culture. In Mysore, the surface of the 

 earth, in the hollows of which the sets are planted, is 

 stirred with a stick as soon as the shoots appear, and 

 a little dung is added. The following month the 

 daily watering is continued, and then the entire field 

 is hoed, a cavity being made round each stool, and 

 a little dung added. In the third month water is 

 given every second day : at its close, if the canes 

 are luxuriant, the ground is again dug ; but if 

 poorly, the watering is continued during the fourth 

 month, before digging. At this time the earth 

 is drawn up about the plant, so as to leave the 

 hollows between the rows at right-angles with 

 the trenches. No more water is supplied, but the 

 trenches between the beds are kept full for three 



