, 1891-05-02


Crossholing.
Crossholmg is the name given to the opera
ton whereby after The holino. the cane row
are subdivided by cross banks into holes Of
sizes to hold from one to two plants. The adj
vaatagcs claimed for this kind Of cultivation,
are the following.
First a greater depth is reached, second The
plant tops axe more evenly distributed and
third the rain is, when falling, prevented from
rushing from the higher places in the cane
row, but is retained in the crossholcs, until
absorbed by the soil.
This kind of cultivation or addition to the
field operations, was III great favour some thirty
orcven twenty years ago and was then consid-
cred as good cultivation, but it had to be done
entirely by manual lahour and as it was thought
that an equally good crop could be obtained
without crossholing, this rather large item in
the expense Of cultivation, was thought could
be spared.
The advantages in the several subsequent
field operations that are gained by careful
dividing and suhdividing the cane rows tcmpts
me to say a few words in favour of crossholing,
especially as ! think | can make it clear to
you, how it can be done without any addition
al expense.
My mode Of operation is the following the
field is, previous to being bankploughed, care
fully divided into squares of 100 feet, q double
peg marks the corners of the squares across
the direction in which | intend the cane banks
to run, l connect the double pegs with as many
single pegs as l intend to make banks. say for
instance, %, which will give cane banks, about
ii feet apart. After the cane banks hive been
raised. ! connect the double pegs again with
single pegs, but this time, in the same di-
rection as the cane banks across the banks,
between every second peg, | run a suitable
implement, for instance an American subsoil
plough, leaving tracks all through the field
and across the banks, at about 9 feet apart.
In afterwards holing the field, these tracks
are left untouched, and can hereafter do tho
same service as was hitherto intended with tho
cross banks.
1t will be seen tn t by tbs mode Of opera
ton, the cane field is divided into cane banks
or in cane rows Of D to every 100 feet, and in
crossholes. of II to lC0 feet the plant tops can
hereafter be distributed, in the crossholes in a
number sufficient to give the desired distance
between plants.
In localities where implements cannot be
so we'll made use Of, the same careful divid-
ing and subdividing can still be applied, but
the lines Of pegs will have to be brought
nearer together, it means there must be more
of the lines. and in holing, or raising tho
canebanks, the tracks, in direction Of tho
lines, across the banks, can be left uptouch-
ed in the same way rs limited in the former
instance.
A canefield carefully laid out after these
directions will, in growing up, present a very
neat appearance, but as neatness, and espe-
cially in the line of cane cultivation, is a
matter of taste only, | consider it a waste of
time to discuss the subject on this merit only,
but I feel convinced, that the many advan-
tages derived from a careful planning off and
laying out Of the cane field, are worth some
consideration, especially as it demands no
extra expense but that embodied in pains taken
and care from the conductor of the estate and
his assistants.
Among the several advantages to be valued
in the carefully divided and subdivided cane
field, [ will mention the following
Gwen and easy distribution of plant tops;
even and easy distribution of fertilizers even
and easy distribution and supervision of la
bourers in case of task the field can be
worked by implements, in both directions.
and the canes can be cut, from any of its
four sides, as it may suit the operator.
The cheapest and best apparatus for lining
off with, is a length of fencing wire, from
which the barbs have been cut off. Make it
in length, 100 feet, between, the two end flags,
and divide these 100 feet in 20-22 or more
parts, as it may suit the cultivation. The
line should not be doubled or ooiled up, but
can be left stretched out at the side of one