22 SoEGHUM Hand Book. 



PLANTING. 



The amount of seed required is two to three pounds to the acre ; if well 

 distributed two pounds are enough. Owing to the importance of securing 

 a good stand at first planting, it is desirable to plant twice as much Seed as 

 would be needed should all grow. In_ sections where cane is liable to injury 

 by frost in the fall, planting should be done as soon as the ground is. 

 thoroughly warm. The ground should be thoroughly prepared. The' 

 planting may be done in hills or in drills, as with corn. Some cane growers 

 advocate hills, others drills. It is claimed that with cane planted in hills 

 the weeds are more easily kept down, through the cross cultivation ; also, 

 that the cane will stand up better against the wind. 



Plant say two pounds to the-acre if in hills, and three pounds if in drills. 

 Plant ten to twelve seeds to the hill, and at the second hoeing, or say 

 when the plant is six inches high, thin out to five to six stalks. The seed 

 should be covered thinly. If planted early, one-half inch, or even less, is 

 deep enough ; for if covered more than that, and the ground should become 

 cold aiid wet, the seed will rot. If, however, the seed is planted late, when 

 the ground is warm and comparatively dry, it should be covered say three- 

 fourths to one inch, and the earth pressed firmly about the seed. If more 

 than say six stalks are left to stand in a hill, the yield will not be so large, 

 nor the quality so good. Some advocate soaking the seed in warm water, 

 or even on sprouting the seed before planting ; but this is of questionable 

 value, since in case the weather should prove unfavorable, there would be 

 far more danger of losing the crop. We incline to the opinion that it is best 

 to plant the seed in the ordinary condition (having of course previously 

 thoroughly tested it, as recommended above). 



CULTIVATION. 



As soon as the plants come up destroy the weeds, and keep clean 

 until ready for the plow. It is especially important to give the plants every 

 assistance in the early stages of its growth. It is a slow grower at first, and 

 if left alone will soon be choked by weeds. This is really the time to make 

 the crop; /. e., the first period of its growth. As soon as the rows can be 

 followed stir the soil about the hills. After it has grown to 12 inches 

 care should be taken not to disturb the roots. When 2^ to 3 feet 

 high it may be turned out, as it is then able to take care of itself, and 

 further plowing would only do damage, by cutting the roots and injuring the 

 Stalks. 



It is desirable to prevent suckers from growing if possible. It is, how- 

 ever, doubtful whether the evil they do is entirely remedied by removing 

 them after they once appear. The best thing is to avoid or remove the con- 

 ditions that give rise to them. These conditions are undoubtedly super- 

 fluous wealth of soil, coupled with excess of moisture, causing an exuberance 

 of vegetable growth The most natural mode of remedying the evil pro- 



