The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-04-17
Sugar Growing in Florida.

iatlon to tho cultivation OF the cane in Florida
Several of our farmers last year were very
successful in their experiments, and their
small sspatchcs" astonishcd the "nativcs" We
believe the cultivation of the "Rbbou Cane"
In our County could be made very profitable.
Mr.. Bricklc, if we are not mistaken, told us that
from one fourth of an acre planted in "Ribbon
Cane" he barrclled one hundred gallons of
syrup, of a very fine quality, the latter wo can
vouch, as we were the recipients Of few gallons.
Mr. Bricklc could readily have sold his whole
crop for one dollar and fifteen cents per gallon.
Cane can be raised on pine land, heavily cow
pcnned, with profit in Orangeburg County.
"The best landsatlap 20 sugar in East Flori-
da are the high unduat..,g hammocks of the in
terror found in large bodies in Marion county.
They are high and sclfdraincd and are con-
sidered inexhaustable because of their lime.
mari and phosphate formations, and will pro-
duce, on first quality hammocks 1000 pounds
Of srtfar to the acre annually, for six years
consecutivcly, from one proper planting and
cutting off from the ground for the mill 1t
Is estimated to be worth SIS per acre to clear
off the land and fence ready for the plow 1t
would, perhaps. be good idea to plant the
first year in rice, which would, with great Ger
tainty, produce from forty to fifty bushels of
rough rice per acre, even upon these elevated
lands, so positively certain arc our continuous
tropical rains i'll this latitude during the latter
summer months. Cane is an expensive crop
to plant therefore it is of primary Importance
to preserve its continuity of growth for
number of years. TO accomplish this impor-
tant end, two rules are to be observed viz:
Plant very deep anl cut very low when send
ing to the mill. The process of planting is as
follows
If on new ground lag of the rows six feet
apart with stccl-cdgc coulter, made sharp so
as to cutoff all mediums sized roots thcu fol-
low with aistrons half shovel bull-tungue plow,
throwing the soil from the centre furrow or
mark. Hoes aud axes may follow so as to en-
sure a-bcd for the canes, six to eight inches
below the general level of the field Into
these deep trenches lay two canes side by side
and cut them into Sections of ten or twelve
inches, as~they lie, with some sharp instru-
ment; then cover with two light iurrows
about as deep and no deeper than corn'is cov-
cred. This done, the cultivation is as follows:
Work out the middlcs as soon as convenient
as deep as possible, ridging up into tho center
and away from the cane row, SO as to keep it
below the general level of tho soil The SO
cond blowing is reversed throw tho soil to-
ward the cane row, but net upon it. 1t must
be borne in mind that to preserve the rattoon
stand, thecane row should be kept low, as long
us possible. A third plowins and hoeing will
be quite sufficient amount of culture the first
year planting. Then comes the cutting in
November for the mill This is IL very i'm.
portant operation, requiring care, so as to pre-
serve the ration stand. 1t should be cut very
low to the ground itself, and horizontally.
with sharp instrument; better to cut little
underground than above it, and be sure to cut
with sharp instrument, so not to fray the
stubble which would catch and retain moisture
from dews and rain, and thus produce fermcn-
tation in the roots, condition absolutely fatal
to the stand.
The canes of full growth arc from eight to
twelve feet high, and heavy with juice. The
cultivation for the second and subsequent
years of this same stand is similar The first
plowing should be from the cane so as to pre-
serve its depressed condition OH the ground as
long as possible These instructions will
answer for old as well as new ground, with a
difference only in plows, all adapted to the
different state OF things in old and in new
ground. The cultivation in old and new
ground in the second and subsequent years
should begin as early as possible. Draw off
or rake off, from every alternate or third row
the debris of the cane, tops, blades, &C., and
when SO cleared off, plow very thoroughly,
upon the cane, and then rake back ali the
tops, &C., upon the space plowod, thus mulch
ing it completely in its own waste, and obviat
ing the necessity for any further cultivation of
that row for the season, and at the same time
returning large portion Of the plant to the
soil which grew it. Cane planted cultivated