Il8 PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE 



machinery. In the Philippines, cane is usually planted 

 much more closely than this. 



Selection of Cane Seed. The cane used for "seed " should 

 be selected from the most productive plants, and should 

 always be the first year's growth from the planted cane. 

 Because many planters do not select their " seed," their 

 cane is not as good after a few years as at first. Any 

 good cane will degenerate unless the seed-cane is carefully 

 chosen. 



Cultivation. The young leaves appear above the 

 ground within two weeks after planting, and it may be 

 necessary to cultivate immediately. The amount of later 

 cultivation needed by cane depends altogether on the 

 conditions. Of course, the ground must be kept reason- 

 ably soft and free from weeds. In most places it is suffi- 

 cient if the cane is well cultivated twice within the first 

 three or four months. 



Irrigation. The need of irrigation is likewise depend- 

 ent on conditions. As a general rule it pays to irrigate 

 cane wherever the annual rainfall is less than 2 meters, 

 and also wherever the rainfall is not well distributed 

 through the growing season. Although growing cane 

 needs water constantly, it cannot endure standing water 

 about its roots. In many places the same ground which 

 is irrigated must also be well drained. The irrigating 

 canals and drainage ditches may also be used to float the 

 cut stems on boats or rafts to the mill. 



Maturing Cane. When growth is practically done, and 

 the cane is maturing, the soil should become dry, both 



