SUGAR-CANE CULTURE FOR SIRUP PRODUCTION". 15 
to apply in the furrow at the time of planting 600 to 1,000 pounds of 
mixed fertilizer of a formula similar to the 8-2-3 formula before 
mentioned, then about the middle of May to give a side application of 
about two-thirds that amount of a similar mixture, and finally at the 
" laying by " of the crop to give a top-dressing of 100 to 200 pounds of 
Chile saltpeter. Many prefer to apply less of the mixed fertilizer 
at the time of planting and more later. It would doubtless be better 
for the cane if the same amount were divided into smaller quanti- 
ties, and applied more frequently, but this is generally considered 
to involve more expense than the gains justify. 
CROP ROTATION. 
The fertilizer requirements depend very largely upon the crop pre- 
ceding the cane. A very good practice is to precede the cane with 
a crop of corn and cowpeas, plowing the latter under. It is still 
better if this is done for two successive years. The common rota- 
tion on the sugar plantations in Louisiana has been one year of corn 
and cowpeas, followed by two years of sugar cane from one plant- 
ing. With the growing interest in stock raising, some planters dur- 
ing the last few years have changed their system to a 4-year rotation, 
with two successive years of corn and cowpeas, plowing under the 
peas each time, then two years of cane. The results obtained were 
exceedingly encouraging, half of the plantation yielding almost 
or quite as much cane as previously two-thirds of the plantation did 
with a 3-year rotation. 
In the principal sirup-producing sections, unlike the sugar plan- 
tations, the farmer can usually select a location for his cane patch 
that had a specially favorable treatment. Thus, for small patches a 
favorite practice is to shift the cowpen area from year to year and 
plow up the old area to plant in sugar cane. Very good results are 
obtained by manuring very heavily a field to put into sweet potatoes ; 
then in the succeeding year planting it in cane. To obtain the 
requisite amount of manure, the cane bagasse (also called pomace 
or mash) is put in liberal quantities into the stables or corrals, to be 
worked up into manure, and then, after it has had about a year to 
rot, it is applied to the sweet-potato ground. 
PREPARATION OF THE LAND. 
Not much need be said in regard to preparing the land that might 
not be said with equal propriety for any other crop. It is desirable 
to plow considerably in advance of the planting time, especially for 
spring planting, and then to cultivate -well before planting. Grown 
on a clay soil with compact subsoil, cane is especially responsive to 
