V SUGAR CANE 137 



until the canes grow up and shade the soil, when the weeds Frequent 

 will no longer give trouble. In some of the West Indian J^quired! 

 Islands, such as Barbados for instance, the "farm" or 

 " garden " system of weeding has been adopted with great The garden 

 success. A portion of the cane field is given out to labourers 

 who receive regular pay for keeping the land absolutely 

 free from weeds. In places where this system has been 

 established, it is found that the weeds do not after a time 

 give very much trouble, for their constant eradication pre- 

 vents seeding and tends to kill them out. Some planters Light 



, ploughing 



plough lightly between the rows after the canes have made between the 

 some little growth, and this acts beneficially by loosening S.^^"^" 

 the soil, and by exposing some of its under surfaces to the 

 fertilising action of air and sunlight. 



From October to January is generally considered the best Planting 



J J o J seasons. 



time for planting canes in the West Indies, but no general 



rule can be laid down, as climate and local circumstances 



must be taken into account. In October, the canes throw 



out flowering stems, called arrows, and these are long Arrowing. 



terminal shoots bearing pyramidal tufts of mauve-coloured, 



downy blossoms. The flowers are sometimes collected and 



used in the stead of feathers for pillows. 



As the cane grows, the lower leaves wither and dry up Trashing 

 and usually remain attached to the stem. In dry weather, sary in dry 

 the dead leaves, called trash, must be left alone, but on rich ^^^^^^her. 

 soil and in wet weather they will interfere so much with the 

 circulation of air amongst the vegetation and in the ripen- 

 ing of the canes that it becomes the duty of the planter to 

 have them separated from the canes and strewn on the 

 ground over the roots. This is termed trashmg, and by 

 leaving the trash at the roots of the canes it will rot and 

 form excellent manure. 



At the time of " arrowing " or flowering, the canes are The matu- 

 poor and weak, the juice being watery and deficient in sugar, canes! 

 But the flowers do not form seed— save in exceptional cases, 

 and the plants soon recover from the exertions they have 

 put forth in flowering. Canes are usually ripe and fit for 



