502 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



horse cultivators. Here there is no need to use the hoe 

 to remove the surplus soil, for on sandy land this can be 

 done with a harrow Ijeforc the young plants appear. Fre- 

 cjucnt cultivations and occasional hoeings are given up to 

 the time wlien the cane affords shade enough to keep dowii 

 weeds and grass. After' the first one or two cultivations, 

 the depth should be shallow. On well-drained soils in the 

 pine-belt, there is not the same necessity as in the sugar- 

 belt for making the beds high. 



In Louisiana when a crop is grown from the stubble, the 

 dried tops and leaves of the preceding crop are burned 

 in winter ; the first tilling then consists in loosening the 

 soil with the "stubble digger." Previous to this, any 

 stubble on which the upper ej'^es have been injured is cut 

 off below the surface of the ground Ijy the " stubble 

 shaver." Fertihzer is apphed in a furrow near the line 

 of stublDle, and the soil is then thrown back towards the 

 row. 



Dr. W. C. Stubbs thus describes the usual steps in the culti- 

 vation of sugar-cane in Louisiana : " As soon as a stand is secured 

 in either plant or stublile cane, the dirt is returned and the mid- 

 dles split out with a two-horse plow and the latter then sent to 

 the tool-room, to remain until the ne.xt season. The first culti- 

 vation is made by straddling the cane mth the disk eulti^-ator, 

 using three unequal disks, running them very sliallow and throw- 

 ing \'ery little dirt to the cane. The middle or diamond culti- 

 vator follows, working completely the middle of the row. In 

 this operation, both mules walk between the cane. 



" The next cultivation is made in the same way, or if the cane 

 has grown considerably and requires more dirt, the three unequal 

 disks are removed and two or three of equal size are substituted. 

 These disks ean be dished to throw much or little dirt. Having, 

 displaced the three unequal disks with those of equal size, the 



