SUGAR CANE. 221 



Manuring. — Experiments in Natal show the necessity of 

 liming, 500-800 lbs. per acre at the time of planting is recom- 

 mended on the ordinary soils. G-reen-manuring is necessary 

 where the practice is to burn the trash, but if it is ploughed in 

 the nitrogen requirement is met and the humus content main- 

 tained. Applications of mineral nitrogenous fertilisers have 

 not proved beneticial. Phosphates are usually urgently 

 required, and superphosphate 200 lbs., and bone meal 300 lbs. 

 should be applied at the time of planting, and for the first 

 and second ratoon crops. 



Experiments at Winkel Spruit showed beneficial results 

 from 100 lbs. of potasium chloride when used in conjunction 

 with 120 lbs. of superphosphate. Sawer says : " It is gener- 

 ally agreed that a substantial proportion of the fertilisers 

 intended to be applied for the use of the plant cane should be 

 incorporated with the soil in the furrow at the time of plant- 

 ing ; but one-half of the total dressing of phosphates and 

 potash may, with advantage, be reserved for later application. 

 This is to he done by ploughing a furrow 8 to 9 inches in depth 

 on each side of the cane row, at a distance of about a foot 

 from the stools. The fertilisers, carefully mixed immedi- 

 ately before planting, should be spread at the bottom of the 

 furrow, and a small plough, set to a depth of 5 to 6 inches,, 

 should be used to cover them with a layer of soil. This 

 dressing should be given at the commencement of the spring 

 following on the planting of the cane." 



It is common practice to use the molasses from the cen- 

 trifugals, and the press cake derived from the liming of the 

 juice is returned to the land as manure ; 800 lbs. being used 

 per acre. 



Soil Preparation and Planting. — The usual practice in 

 Natal is to plant every 8 to 12 years, consequently the pre- 

 paration of the soil should be as thorough as is economically 

 possible. If the land is still in the virgin state it should be 

 ploughed sufficiently early to ensure complete decomposition 

 of the natural vegetation. On the larger estates ploughing is 

 done by steam ploughs to a depth of 12 to 20 inches. In many 

 cases, however, ploughs are ox-drawn, and the land is 

 ploughed as deep as possible. Ordinarily, the ground is 

 ploughed, disced, cross-ploughed and harrowed. Furrows are 

 then drawn five feet apart. A practice advocated is to plough 

 6 inches deep ; then re-plough the same furrow to a depth of 



