SUGAR-CANE CULTURE FOR SIRUP PRODUCTION. 15 



to apply in the furrow at the time of planting 000 to 1,000 pounds of 

 mixed fertilizer of a formula similar to the 8-2-3 formula before 

 mentioned, then about the middle of May to give a side application of 

 about two-thirds that amount of a similar mixture, and finally at the 

 " laying by " of the crop to give a top-dressing of 100 to 200 pounds of 

 Chile saltpeter. Many prefer to apply less of the mixed fertilizer 

 at the time of planting and more later. It would doubtless be better 

 for the cane if the same amount were divided into smaller quanti- 

 ties and applied more frequently, but this is generally considered 

 to involve more expense than the gains justify. 



CROP ROTATION. 



The fertilizer requirements depend very largely upon the crop pre- 

 ceding the cane. A very good practice is to precede the cane with 

 a crop of corn and cowpeas, plowing the latter under. It is still 

 better if this is done for two successive years. The common rota- 

 tion on the sugar plantations in Louisiana has been one year of corn 

 and cowpeas, followed by two years of sugar cane from one plant- 

 ing. With the growing interest in stock raising, some planters dur- 

 ing the last few years have changed their system to a 4-year rotation, 

 with two successive years of corn and cowpeas, plowing under the 

 peas each time, then two years of cane. The results obtained were 

 exceedingly encouraging, half of the plantation }'ielding almost 

 or quite as much cane as previously two-thirds of the plantation did 

 with a 3-year rotation. 



In the principal sirup-producing sections, unlike the sugar plan- 

 tations, the farmer can usually select a location for his cane patch 

 that had a specially favorable treatment. Thus, for small patches a 

 favorite practice is to shift the cowpen area from year to year and 

 plow up the old area to plant in sugar cane. Very good results are 

 obtained by manuring very heavily a field to put into sweet potatoes; 

 then in the succeeding year planting it in cane. To obtain the 

 requisite amount of . manure, the cane bagasse (also called pomace 

 or mash) is put in liberal quantities into the stables or corrals, to be 

 worked up into manure, and then, after it has had about a year to 

 rot, it is applied to the sweet-potato ground. 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND. 



Not much need be said in regard to preparing the land that might 

 not be said with equal propriety for any other crop. It is desirable 

 to plow considerably in advance of the planting time, especially for 

 spring planting, and then to cultivate well before planting. Grown 

 on a clay soil with compact subsoil, cane is especially responsive to 



