90 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



be wide 12 inches if possible and deepened by passing a 

 subsoiler or a grubber through after the plough. These 

 cane furrows are from 5i to 7ft. apart, according to the 

 strength of the soil (the stronger, the greater distance 

 necessary), and the description of cane to be planted. In 

 new rooty land that cannot be ploughed conveniently, holes 

 are made with pronged hoes, the spade, crowbar, &c. The 

 distance apart of the holes depends upon the strength of 

 the land and the cane to be planted, in the same way as in 

 furrow-planting. 



Varieties of Cane. Some scores of named sorts of 

 cane are known in Australia, but in their nature and 

 qualities they may be reduced to four, viz., those that are 

 stripped, or ribbon canes ; Bourbon and yellow canes 

 generally ; purple and black canes, which include the 

 Creole ; and Scott's cane or Otaheite. The ribbons are the 

 strongest growers, require the richest soil, and come to 

 maturity in from 16 to 20 months from time of planting. 

 They require space varying from 2|ft. by 6ft. to 4ft. by 

 7ft. for each stole of plants. Yellow and green canes come 

 to maturity earlier than the ribbons, or between 12 and 15 

 months. They are planted from 1ft. by 5^ft. to lift, by 

 6ft., according to the soil. The black canes are still earlier 

 than the green varieties, and are planted at about the same 

 distance apart. 



Planting. Cane planting commences with the true hot 

 weather in September, October. Plants are usually made 

 from the top parts of the canes, consisting of four or six 

 of the top joints, the buds or eyes of which are fully 

 developed or perfect. But any part of the cane (with 

 four to six perfect buds) answers for plants. It is all 

 important that the buds are perfect, and that fermentation 

 has not destroyed the sap. To secure both, the cuttings 

 have to be handled carefully, and planted as soon as 

 possible ; although they can be carried long distances by 

 excluding the air. In planting the sets, the furrows should 

 be laid carefully from four to six inches below the surface, 

 and covered with from two to four inches of soil. The 

 shoots come up in from 12 to 20 days. If longer, the 

 plants should be examined and replaced, if sour or withered. 



