SEMI-TROPICAL CROPS. 



89 



to have many places adapted for cane cultivation. The 

 range to which it succeeds inland is not great seldom 

 further than 30 miles from the sea ; the 

 nearer the sea, as a rule, the better the 

 crop, providing always that the land is 

 suitable. Experience has shown that 

 cane likes a moderately, but not too rich, 

 soil ; both stiff land and sandy loams 

 answer ; it requires perfect drainage, a 

 humid atmosphere, and rainfall of 50 

 inches or more. Many varieties of cane 

 are grown, and they differ much in hardi- 

 ness ; a few withstand a moderate attack 

 of frost, say a visit of temperature 

 ranging between 30 and 35 during the 

 night for a week or so. The author 

 $rtx has grown cane for years in the Sydney 

 district the hardy Creole variety, brought 

 Cane. by him from Louisiana, U.S.A. But even 

 the hardiest canes do best as sugar-yielders when the 

 thermometer keeps above 40 during the winter season. 

 Convenience of communication by water and land is 

 essential towards working cane successfully. It is a 

 heavy crop (ranging between 25 and 60 tons to the acre), 

 and carriage is a serious item. 



The Land for Cane. Soil with over 10 per cent, of 

 vegetable matter is necessary. The land should not be flat, 

 nor very broken. Around the former frosts gather, water 

 lodges about the roots, and artificial drainage is difficult. 

 In the latter, the cost of working is increased in proportion 

 to the difficulty of employing horse-labor, and the soil is 

 washed into ruts by heavy rains. The mode of preparing 

 land for corn is suitable for cane. The ploughing should 

 be deep, 10 inches at least ; to reach which heavy colonial 

 ploughs of iron are used, with teams of 10 or 12 bullocks, 

 or 6 horses. Bullocks are best for new land, where roots 

 have to be encountered in the first deep ploughing. After 

 harrowing, rolling, cross-ploughing, &c., until the soil is 

 made fine (absolutely necessary for cane), furrows are run 

 out with ridging or double ploughs. The furrows should 



