The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-24
Sugar Cane Culture
and Syrup Making
BY c. K. McoUARRIE.

The sugar cane is one of the Oldest
farm crops in this state Of which we
have any record. It dates from the
earliest settlement of the country on
the East Coast The Jesuit fathers
imported the seed cane from the West
Indies, where it had been extensively
grown as early as the year 1913. It
was first brought over by Columbus,
on his second voyage in 1893. But he
methods of growing the crop and the
extraction of the juice for syrup MAX
ing have not been much improved up
on by the general farmer in all the
years since then. This explains the
lack of popularity of this crop as a
money maker. With proper cultural
methods and the use of improved mills
and evaporators. sugar cane can be
made one of the most profitable crops
that any of our farmers can grow. 1t
is suitable for all sections of our state,
as it thrives under proper treatment
on all kinds of soil, from our thin
black jack land to our heavy ham
mocks. After a number of years OF
practical experience with this crop,
our preference is for high pine lands
with a red clay subsoil.
Soil Preparation.
In the natural course of crop rota-
ton, sugar cane should follow q sweet
potato crop, which has been literally
fortified with stable manure. This
would put a great amount of humus
in the SOIL and this is necessary III
growing a cane crop. Failing to get
this rotation, the next best would be
to grow velvet beans as a preceding
crop, and have them graZed off by live
stock. But whatever rotation We
practice, and on whatever kind of sol
we grow sugar cane, we should take
cares that the soil is put in the best
condition possible by deep blowing and
thorough pulverization. On old land
that has been in cultivation for q
number of years, we should use sub
soiler in addition to deep blowing By
either a turning or disc plow. This
subsoiler should Immediately follow
the other pillow in the same furrow
using two teams at the same time
Above all, we should see that our land
is clear of stumps; for one cannot con-
land, because improved tools cannO'
be used. If one has to use the Ole
ANTICIPATED tools, he is not earning the
wages he would weer he to use mod
ern implements. Along this line
would like to remark that, as a class
farmers never figure the wages per day
they are earning when making a crop
which ought to be the one thing that
they should have in view. And an
other point they overlook is the most
profitable crops 20 grow
For instance. it is 8 we'll known fact
that one acre Of a good crop OF sugar
cane yielding about four hundred gal
Ions of syrup (Which is below tbs
average) will put more money in the
farmers pocket land with less thar
one-fourth the labor than will fifteer
acres of cotton. even if sold at ter
cents a pound and producing the aver
age crop of 200 pounds of lint to tho
acre.
The land intended for sugar cans
! should be plowed late in the fall, ana
all decayed vegetable matter left over
from previous crops pIowed under t
form the necessary humus. This pillow
ing should be completed before The
! first of January. If washing rain:
should occur through January ant
February, soil that IS deeply ploweC
+ will not be affected by them; but. at
ter these rains, if a dry period should
come, the crust on the land should bt
broken by running a cultivator OF
weeder over ii, so as to form a sol
mulch and prevent evaporation Of sol
moisture, and also to aerate the soil
Some of our most progressive farmer:
SOW rye on land intended for cane, anl
| this acts as a winter cover crop. Thil
practiGN - S2scis&kz recommends