The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-16
BEDDING SEED CANE.
BY c. K. McQuarrie


The loss in sugar cane seed owing
to faulty methods of bedding is in
some cases thirty to forty per cent or
the total amount bedded This loss is
much too high. 1t can be largely pre-
vented by exercising the necessary
care when bedding the cane for seed.
The Time to Save Seed Cane.
The bedding of seed cane should be
delayed as late as possible so as to get
it near the dormant stage. At the
same time. weather conditions must
be watched, so that no frost may in
lure the buds and render the seed
cane of poor quality for planting in
the spring.
If the season has been deficient in
rainfall, it is advisable to wait until
a good rain occurs. Bedding should
be begun Immediately after. Cane
with the boot filed with water when
bedded keeps best If bedded when
dry, dry rot is apt to be much in evil
dence when the bed is opened up.
Location of Bed.
It is desirable to have the bed as
near the growing cane as possible, to
save time in putting it in place. A
location with a gentle slope is prefer
able. Ample drainage is needed to
prevent standing water in rainy
weather. No preparation Is necessary
except to see that the ground is
should not be more than six feet wide
If several thousand canes are bedded
several beds may be made to save
carrying the cane long distances.
Selection of Seed Cane.
Cane selected for seed should be OF
thrifty nature. with well matureo
buds, and joints of medium length
Cane with too long joints is not de-
sirable as 1t gives an uneven stand
unless thickly planted. Cane with toe
short joints is apt to be of low vitality
No canes should be bedded from any
field where red rot is suspected Oh
known to be present. If the seed Sc
| lected is of the same years planting
the cane can be cut close to the ROO
with a cane knife or sharp hoe. Il
last years stubble is used, 1t is bes1
to dig it and bed with the roots at
| tached.
Methods of Laying Down the Seee
Cane.
The cane should be put in ever
layers not more than three or foul
canes deep, making it thicker in the
middle than at the sides so as to avoid
| water standing in the bed in rainy
weather. Each layer should be placed
about ten inches forward of the pre-
vious one, with the foliage COVERING
| the joints of the preceding layer
Some care should be exercised in Thu
1
| streaks in the bed, which will maxi
hollows to hold rain when the bed set
| ties. Cut cane should have the butt
| touching the soil when put in place
Dug cane will have the roots on II
and in the opinion of some grower
| keeps better in the bed than cut cane
/ We have always failed to find an.
| difference in keeping qualities between
the two methods when the butts o
the cut cane were touching the groun'
| in the bed.
| Covering the Bed.
After the cane is laid down, tn
| bed should be covered immediatel
| with about two inches of soil as pro
lection against frost. A strip of ful
length of the bed along the middl
should be left open for ventilation 70
a few weeks, but covered up befor
i severe weather : occurs. A couple Q
burrows made with a heavy p1oN
should be thrown to the sides to ia
cilitate drainage, and provision shoul
be made to let the water in these fur
rows run off in rainy weather.