UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 486 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
March 19, 1917 
SUGAR-CANE CULTURE 
FOR SIRUP PRODUCTION IN THE 
UNITED STATES 
By 
P. A. YODER, Sugar-Cane Technologist, Office of 
Sugar-Beet Investigations 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Introduction 1 
Geographic Limits of the Sugar-Cane In- 
dustry in the United States 2 
The Nature of the Sugar-Cane Plant and 
Methods of Propagation ...... 3 
Varieties of Sugar Cane 5 
Soil Requirements 10 
Mammal Requirements 11 
Time and Manner of Application of 
Fertilizers 14 
Crop Rotation 15 
Preparation of the Land 15 
Planting 16 
Cultivating the Cane 21 
Harvesting 24 
Yield of Cane, Sugar, and Sirup .... 27 
Storing Cane for Planting 29 
Insect Pests and Diseases of Cane . . 31 
Some Business Considerations in Con- 
nection with the Sugar-Cane and Sirup 
Industry 33 
Utilisation of By-Products 43 
WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1917 
