24 BULLETIX 486, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. . 
HARVESTING. 
TTith the coming of cool nights and moderately cool days, which is 
usually in October, the cane matures rapidly, i. e., stores up sugar in 
the stalk. With suitable cool weather, the cane may be in condition 
to commence grinding by the latter part of October. Farmers in the 
sirup sections with but small crops to dispose of prefer to wait till 
near the middle of November. In southern Florida, where winter 
frosts are rare, they can afford to wait till December before com- 
mencing to grind. The later in the fall or winter the cane is har- 
vested, provided it is not damaged by frost, the bigger the yield of 
cane and the higher the sugar content; therefore the better for the 
manufacture of either sugar or sirup. However, a slight degree of 
immaturity is not so objectionable for sirup making as for sugar 
manufacture. The immature cane, while containing less sucrose 
(common sugar), contains more of the reducing sugars, which lessen 
the tendency of sirup to granulate when boiled thick, a desirable 
property. It thus comes about that 
the sugar-cane industry for sirup 
making is carried to somewhat 
higher latitudes, i. e., colder cli- 
mates, than for sugar manufacture. 
If, however, the cane is too im- 
mature, the sirup can not be made 
sufficiently clear and light colored 
and has an objectionably strong, 
bitter flavor. 
The operation of harvesting (fig. 
used on large sugar-cane plantations. 19) consists of stripping the leaves 
off the stalk, topping the cane, cutting off at the bottom, drop- 
ping it in bundles, loading, and hauling to the mill. The stripping, 
topping, and cutting of the cane are usually accomplished by hand with 
a cane knife. This implement has a small hook at the tip of the back 
of the blade (fig. 13. 6) that helps in raking or beating off the leaves 
with the back of the knife. About two strokes clown the sides of the 
stalk will remove the leaves if the stalk stands straight. If it has 
been lodged by a storm and has consequently grown crooked, as is 
frequently the case with the old home varieties, it is more troublesome 
to strip off the leaves. Thus in the stripping, and in the further 
handling also, there is a decided advantage in growing varieties of 
rigid, erect characteristics, such as the D 74, which do not readily 
lodge. Some planters prefer to strip the cane a few weeks in advance 
of the actual harvesting, thinking thereby to hasten maturity. This. 
however, is of doubtful value except to get that much of the work 
disposed of before the busy harvesting time comes. The practices 
Fig. 11. — A type of 2-horse disk cultivator 
