Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-07
Cultivation of Amber Cane.

Prof. ". A. Henry, Wis. Experimental Farm.
The slow growing young cane plant
cannot bear as rough treatment in it's
early days as can its relative, Indian
corn, yet with proper preparation of
the soil, the cultivation can be carried
on with the same tools and in about
the same manner as with tn plant
The work of cultivation should begin
before the yeung plants appear above
ground, and the first tool that she uld
be used is some kind of a light harrow.
That used on the Experimental Farm
was a flexible harrow, which work ed
very satisfactorily indeed. A cheap
harrow which will do excellent work at
this time can be made, with little in
senuity, out of brush. In using har-
row, the teeth should be set so as to
loosen only the sur ace soil with no
t ndency 60 dig into it. The use of the
harrow should be continued until the
cane can be easily tended with a two
horse cultivator. We found that in
some places plants would be covered
up with earth by the harrow; it il then
necessary to uncover with hoe; but
if the harrow works as it should, the
use of the hoe is a very small matter
compared with that required by the
ordinary methods. | know that TO
many farmers the use of the harrow in
the cane field will seem impossible, but
the same idea prevailed years ago when
it was pronounced useful in the corn
field. l will say to Unheliev RS now as
was said then, CRY it,"
/ am informed by Prof. Thompson
that on the farm of the University of
Nebraska, where some sixty acres oil
cane were grown last season, the field
was dragged across the rows when the
plants were from tour to six inches
high. Several farmers report the sue.
cessful use of this tool, some dragging
the field as many as four times. OIL
course the harrow will occasionally
tear out cane plant, but this should
be anticipated by extra seed at plant
ing time.
| would not be understood as recon-
mending the use OF a great, heavy drag
on rough piece of land planted.to |
cane, but urge that by proper prepare
ton of the soil before planting, by use
of the horse planter and some kind OF |
light running harrow, the cost ofrais-
ing crop of cane can be reduced fifty !
per cent, over the methods now com |
monty practiced.
Since have recommended planting |
a considerable larger amount of seed |
than would be needed if all were to |
come to perfection, so now / recon- |
mend that as soon as the plants are |
three or four inches high, Just after o |
thorough narrowing, hands be sent
through with hoes and put the field to |
rights, uncovering where the harrow |
pas carried on too much earth and |
thinning out where there are too many |
plants, also removing those weeds that |
have so far escaped destruction. If
the conditions are favorable end the |
work has been well done. the field will |
not need such laboriOus hoeing at this |
time rs Cane usually requires.
With good stand of clean cane at |
six inches IN height, the remainder Of |
the cultivation is almost nothing. The |
is in the very beginning and |
| cannot emphasize TOO strongly the |
Of studying carefully the |
hest methods to be used at this time |
A Siberian traveller, who knew that
glass Is very expensive in the Arctic |
region, was much surprised at what he /