54 THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



of course, should be drawn out with the super- 

 fluous cane-plants. When of sufficient size, the 

 plants should be suckered down to one cane for 

 each root. In other respects, the successful 

 grower of corn will not be at a loss in the cul- 

 tivation of this plant. I have found a suitable 

 time for planting to be immediately after the 

 corn crop, although excellent results have been 

 obtained by planting as late as the 15th of May, 

 in Cherokee, Gra. It will doubtless be desirable 

 to make several successive plantings, that they 

 may mature gradually, and so give more time 

 for harvesting the crop. The land, in my opin- 

 ion, should be prepared in all respects as for 

 corn. 



''Harvesting. — When the stalk shall have 

 attained its full size, and the seed have passed 

 from the dough stage to a harder texture, the 

 cane may be considered sufficiently mature ; or, 

 if the crop be large, and a deficiency of hands be 

 apprehended, the cane may be cut earlier, and 

 the cuttings continued from time to time, as 

 needed for the press. The fodder should be 

 pulled as for corn ; another set of hands cutting 

 off one half to two feet of the top with the seed, 

 while others cut the cane at the ground and 

 throw it into piles, from whence it is handed to 



