SUGAR CANE 



159 



They must be naturally rich or made so by plowing under 

 a crop of cowpeas, velvet beans, or other leguminous 

 plant. 



On lands not very rich, commercial fertilizers are profit- 

 ably applied for the growing of sugar cane. A ferti- 



Courtesy La. Agr. Expt. Station 



FIG. 105. CUTTING SUGAR CANE IN LOUISIANA 



lizer for this crop should be rich in nitrogen, and should 

 usually contain also phosphoric acid and potash. Four 

 hundred to seven hundred pounds or more of a com- 

 plete commercial fertilizer is an ordinary amount for an 

 acre. 



