SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM. 



"He is called tlie 'elephant' (JiatJii). He throws tlie bits of cane into the furrow 

 "immediately behind the second plough at intervals of about a foot. Behind the 

 "'elephant' comes a second man, called the 'crow' {kawd), to pick up the bits which 

 " have not fallen into the furrow, and to put them in properly. There is occasionally 

 "a third man, called the 'donkey' {gadha) who accompanies the 'elephant' with a 

 " basket of cuttings and supplies them as they are wanted. It is considered a very 

 " favorable omen if a man on horseback comes into the field when the sowing is going 

 "on. After the sowing is completed all who have been engaged in the work repair 

 " to the house of the cultivator of the field and are treated to a good meal." The assist- 

 ance or at least encouragement of half the village is a common result of this latter 

 custom. 



The cuttings are covered with earth by a third plough following the sower, and, 

 since the rows should be at least a foot apart, it is usual to strike two or three blank 

 furrows between the one in which the seed has fallen and the one next sown. The 

 amount of seed used per acre is about 20,000 cuttings, which represent some 3,000 to 

 5,000 canes. 



Cane is occasionally ratooned, i.e., allowed to spring up from the roots of a previous 

 crop, in which case the juice is said to be richer than in the first year, but only \ to f rds 

 as much in quantity. 



On a comparatively small area cane can, as has already been noticed, be grown 

 without irrigation at all, and over a great portion of Eohilkhand the ground often con- 

 tains sufficient natural moisture in February to enable sowing to take place without a 

 previous watering. But as a general rule this previous watering is required, and between 

 sowing time and the commencement of the rains waterings are necessary, which vary in 

 number from three or four in the Meerut Division, to eight in the drier Districts of the 

 lower Doab. Occasionally a watering is given in October or November if the rains have 

 ceased early. It may be mentioned that khari water, i.e., water impregnated with nitrates, 

 is harmful to cane, seriously aff"ecting the quality of the juice. In the few localities where 

 cane is grown in Bundelkhand, a practice f called joa/fw) prevails of economizing water 

 by covering the ground to a depth of 6 inches with grass and leaves, so as to prevent 

 the rapid evaporation of moisture. 



Two weedings are generally given, but they play an unimportant part compared 

 with the frequent hoeings which are an essential feature in cane cultivation. The hoeing 

 is performed with a small pickaxe, the earth between the rows of canes being thoroughly 

 stirred to the depth of 6 or 9 inches. The first hoeing should take place when the 

 young shoots appear above ground, and from that time to the commencement of the rains 

 it should be hoed at least three times. When the rains have once set in the crop may 

 be left to shift for itself, and will efiFectually stifle any weeds which may attempt to com- 

 pete with it. 



Cane cutting nominally commences with the Deothan festival, which falls on a date 

 varying in the solar calendar, but generally about the beginning of November. But 

 practically it is generally delayed till a month later, and the cultivator has completely 

 finished his rabi sowings. The delay is an advantage in one respect, since the juice of 

 canes cut early in the season, though more abundant, is much less rich in crystallizable 



