SUGAR-CANE CULTURE FOR STRUP PRODUCTION. 



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planting, practice varies. On the basis of ordinary field sanitation 

 it is advisable to trim off the diseased parts and to plant only sound 

 stalks. However, until it is determined whether the diseases in ques- 

 tion are transmitted to any great extent through the plant material, 

 there is some doubt as to the advantage in trimming. 



The rate of planting in the row varies with the time of planting, 

 the width of row, and the size and soundness of the cane. Ordinarily, 

 with rows 4^ feet apart in Georgia and Florida, in spring planting 

 the aim is to get as much as one continuous line of sound cane. If 



Fig. 7. — Some types of implements in common use for cultivating sugar cane on small 

 farms : a, Fertilizer distributor ; h, middle breaker ; c, weeder ; d, common 1-mule 

 stock, with sweep point attached ; e, f, g, scooter points ; h, round shovel point ; 

 i, j, sweep points for stock (d) ; k, spike-tooth cultivator, useful for early culti- 

 vations. 



the cane is partly diseased it is lapped or doubled to make the line 

 of sound cane complete. With good sound cane less than a complete 

 line, as low as two-thirds or three-fourths of a complete line, will 

 ordinarily give a satisfactory stand in 4|-foot rows. Cane has a 

 strong power of adapting itself to the space given it, stooling out 

 when planted thin, so as largely to compensate for thin planting. 

 Therefore, if the plant material is scarce and the available area 

 plentiful, e. g., in the multiplication of a valuable rare variety, it is 

 advantageous to plant quite thin. In Louisiana, with 5i to 6 foot 

 rows and with the cane usually damaged both by diseases and by 



