20 
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. 
-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 
4J-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 3f tons. Stalks without root- 
