V SUGAR CANE 135 



naturally conclude therefrom, that the sugar-planter, in order 



to increase the returns from his fields, would be extremely 



careful in the selection of his "cane plants "—which are, as 



we have seen, very similar to seeds in their mode of growth. 



But, strange to say, many sugar planters have paid no atten- Care in the 



tion to so important a matter, and they invariably obtain ^^^^ ^^^°^^ 



their plants from " thrown up or exhausted fields." If the ^^^^^^^^ 



sugar planters had taken as much care to improve the quality importance. 



of their canes, as the European and American horticulturists 



have done to improve their fruit trees, by this time the sugar- ^^l^^l^^g^^ 



cane would have been so much improved that its greatly in- agriculture. 



creased yield would have preserved the industry from much 



of the misfortune that has come upon it. 



Planting. — The cuttings are planted in furrows made by Preparing 

 the plough, or in holes dug with the hoe in places where 

 ploughs cannot be used, or where, for some reason or other, 

 their use is rejected. In the latter instance, it is well to pick- 

 axe the holes before the cuttings are planted, so as to loosen 

 the soil for the free entry of the delicate rootlets. The holes Caneholes. 

 are from eight to twelve inches deep, and their size depends 

 on the distances at which the plants are set, and this in its 

 turn depends on the nature of the soil and climate. 

 Formerly the canes used to be planted much closer than is Distances, 

 customary now. Three feet between the rows and two feet 

 apart were common distances, but now in good lands the 

 rows are often seen seven feet apart and the plants six feet 

 from each other in the rows. The average distance in the 

 West Indian Islands, however, is 5 feet by 5 feet. On hill Planting on 

 sides, and m poor sous, their distances may be decreased, 

 and in places where the canes are planted in furrows made 

 by a double mouldboard plough, it is customary to place the 

 cuttings much nearer to each other. 



Two cuttings, or plants, are placed in each hole in a slant- Putting in 



^ ^ I > ir ^hg plants. 



ing direction. They are usually about six inches long ; and, 

 as about an inch is left out of the ground, five inches are 

 buried in the soil. In favourable weather they will send up 



