THE HUSBANDRY OF THE CANE. 



Width of Row. In general it is the fertility of the soil that deter- 

 mines the most economical width of row ; in very fertile soil, the rows are placed 

 comparatively far apart to allow freedom of growth to the luxuriant crop, and 

 conversely as the soil becomes less productive a narrow row gives more economical 

 results. In practice the cane rows are from three to seven feet wide ; in Cuba, 

 according to Eeynoso, the standard width is 1-70 metre (=5 ft. 6 in.\ the 

 rows being the same distance apart. Eoname gives the average width of the 

 cane row in Guadeloupe as 1'30 to 1'50 metre (=4 ft. 2 in. to 4 ft. 9 in.). 

 The most economical width of row was the subject of inquiry at Audubon 

 Park, where it was found that the narrower the row the greater was the purity 

 of the juice and the yield of cane, but that in very narrow rows the increased 

 yield of cane was barely sufficient to pay for the extra amount of cane required 

 to plant up a field with narrow rows. Stubbs 2 suggests that that width of row 

 which best admits of proper cultivation should be selected, and following on 

 this argument, five-foot rows have been adopted at Audubon Park. 



Source of Seed Cane. In most districts it is the young immature 

 top of the cane that forms the source of seed ; the use of this is defensible 

 on the grounds that this part contains little sugar, but much nitrogenous bodies 

 and salts destined as food material in the early stages of growth ; also the 

 accumulated experience of planters generally points to this part of the cane 

 furnishing the better seed. In Cuba, however, it is usual to employ the whole 

 cane. In the Hawaiian Islands, many planters consider Mas make the best 

 seed. Cane in those islands often stands long periods after flowering ; the eyes 

 at the upper joints sprout and grow to a considerable size forming a very 

 short jointed woody piece of cane, locally called a lala. 



Where the harvest of one crop and the planting of the next proceeds 

 simultaneously, no difficulty in obtaining seed is experienced ; when, however, 

 planting and harvest fall in different seasons it is often necessary to draw 

 down canes of age six months and upwards dependent on climatic influences so 

 as to obtain seed. 



In Louisiana, where it is necessary to carry over seed from the harvest 

 towards the end of the year to the time of spring planting, seed cane is 

 preserved buried in the ground (windrowing) ; or protected from the weather in 

 matelas. In Java, the system of cane nurseries (bibit gardens) distinct from the 

 plantations is in extended use ; some planters there grow cane solely for the 

 purpose of selling seed ; these nurseries are often situated in the mountains as- 

 it has been found that such seed afforded some protection against sereh. A 

 peculiar method in use in Ganjam is thus described by Subra Rao 3 . In July 

 seed cane is planted in a seed bed, so close as to leave no space between the 

 cuttings which are of three joints each. In the middle of August the cuttings 

 which have now sprouted are transplanted to a nursery about five times the size 

 of the seed bed ; the nursery is laid out in furrows about eighteen inches apart. 



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