[ 406 ] 



for the ravages of the Trichosphceria fungus in European 

 and American cane plantations. The scars formed by trash- 

 ing offer excellent resting places for spores of the fungus, 

 while the enveloping of canes from below upwards with the 

 leaves, as practised in this country, probably offers a great 

 protection not only against the spores of the fungi resting 

 on the canes, but also against the insects laying eggs on the 

 canes. It is also said that tying increases the yield of gur 

 but this point must be established by repeated comparative 

 experiments. From July to October, the canes should be 

 tied twice, and they should be so supported against one an- 

 other during the tying that they may not lodge. 



617. Harvesting. When there is little moisture in the 

 soil, and when the top leaves have begun to wither, the canes 

 should be considered fit for cutting. The practical farmer 

 would also judge from the taste of the canes whether they 

 are sweet enough to be cut. If too much time is wasted in 

 judging whether canes are quite ready for cutting or not, the 

 excessively hot and dry weather may come on during the pro- 

 gress of the harvest operations, and then the yield of juice, and 

 the quality of the gur turned out will be inferior. December 

 to February is the proper season for harvest in canes in Lower 

 Bengal j but if owing to late rains, or late sowing, the plants 

 look quite vigorous and green in December, and if the canes 

 do not taste sweet enough, one must wait a fortnight or per- 

 haps a month before commencing cutting the canes. The 

 canes should be cut with kodalies close to the ground, 

 rather two or three inches under ground. If stumps are 

 allowed to be left on the ground, these send out in the 

 case of ratooned canes, poor shoots which yield a poor 

 return next year. Sometimes from these prominent stumps 

 flower-stalks come out, but owing to their want of strength 

 the arrows cannot come out of them, and they become smut- 

 ted and dried up. This smutting of flower-stalks in the case 

 of the Khari sugar-cane has been observed to do no harm, 



