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BULLETIN 486, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



borers in the stalks, the practice in fall planting is to put into the 

 furrow about two lines (fig. 9) or "two lines and a lap," and in spring 

 planting somewhat more, even up to three or four lines if the cane 

 is in bad condition. In tropical countries, where the new growing 

 season follows immediately upon the harvesting and planting time 

 and the cane consequently need not lie dormant in the furrow or in 

 storage through the winter months subjected to disease, it is common 

 practice to plant only the tops of the stalks, which are less valuable 

 for sugar manufacture and yet are quicker to start growing than the 

 older, more mature parts of the stalks. It is still an open question 

 whether or not some system of top planting could not also be used 

 to advantage in our sugar-cane localities. Rootstock planting is 

 sometimes resorted to, but with rootstocks alone the uncertainty in 

 the germination is too great to assure a regular stand. 



Fig. 8.- — Planting sugar cane in Georgia. 



About 3 to 4 tons of cane are usually stated as the requirement to 

 plant an acre in Louisiana, where the whole stalks without rootstocks 

 are used. In the States farther east, with a smaller acreage, it is cus- 

 tomary to quote plant cane in actual numbers of stalks, with some 

 definite length stated or implied as the average length, and upon the 

 basis of such counts commercial transactions with seed cane are 

 made. Prices are then quoted per 1,000 stalks. To plant an acre in 

 4^-foot rows, with a single complete line of stalks, 9,680 linear feet 

 of plant material are required, or 2,420 stalks averaging 4 feet in 

 length ; and this may be taken as an average quantity of moderately 

 good cane to plant. Such stalks, including the rootstocks, may be 

 expected to weigh about 3 pounds apiece : hence, the weight of plant 

 cane required is 7.260 pounds, or 3§- tons. Stalks without root- 



