The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1902-07-01
Scientific
Cane-GroWin0
In HalUaii.
AOA

rows. In laying out a field to be
planted in sugar cane the first
step is to make survey of the
area and to determineits contour.
The notes of the survey will show
the direction in which the cane
burrows shall be constructed, and
also show where the laterals
which feed the burrows should
be located. On uneven ground
the burrows are curved in order
that the grade may be kept
uniform. If the field is relative.
ly level land in locations where
sugar cane is likely to be grown
the burrows are dug straight
through the field. The most
level field, however, usually has
a dominant decline in some di-
rection which is usually deter
mined by the general formation
of the lands of the region. The
Hawaiian Islands are of volcanic
origin, and hence the generalslop
Oh the land is from the craters to
the sea. The country IS noun
famous in the neighborhood of
the volcanoes. The slopes be-
come flatter as lower levels are
reached, until the decline appar-
emily disappears in the lands bor-
dering OH the sea coast. d. The
latter have been deposited by
streams running from higher
lands. In spite of the fat ap.
pearance of these low lands they
generally have a decline toward
the sea- which is not only efficient
to make the distribution of water
a simple matter but also to effect
the discharge of underground
water. This however is not al
ways the case, the writer having
Sc veral tracts in mind where the
gr ounG cannot find discharge
owing to its surface being slight
ly above the level of high tide.
Volume of the Application
Schuyler and Allardt, in treating
of this subject under the condi.
tons of the Hawaiian Islands
state that sit seems to be gener-
ally understood by all planters
that the depth of each watering
j. e., the volume of each applica-
ton, shall be at the least an aver
age of 3 inches or 4 inches over
the whole surface OF the ground"
The same authors quote one of
their witnesses as saying, ell
600 cubic feet per acre every
seven days will produce the very
bestresultsin growing sugar cane.
That volume is equal to 315 inch.
es of water over the whole ground
per weekly application. Another
example from the same author
ity give "10,S9O cubic feet per
acre to each watering every sew
en- days. This volume is equal
to an application of 3 inches of
water over the whole ground once
a week.
Concerning the value placed
upon the rainfall, Schuyler and
Allardt say: 1.-The rain may at
times exceed the quantity ap.
piled artiticially, but irrigation is
performed the same as usual,
Notwithstanding, in order that
there shall be no break in the
continuity of the waterings."
Mode of Application. The two
chief systems of applying irriga-
ton water have already been
spoken of: First by flooding and
second, by furrow application.
Two methods of applying water
by the system of burrows have
also been considered. For the
present purpose we return tothe
system OF a main ditch which feeds
the laterals, which in turn feed
the burrows, the burrows being
laid out at right angles to the lat
erals, which are drawn parallel
with the natural slope of the land
or with the water flow. The sec
ton of furrow between the later
ais is assumed to be 30 feet in
length, each lateral watering IS