The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-21
WEAK POINTS
IN SUGAR CANE
CULTIVATION
STRONG PAPER ON VALUED IN
DUsTRY OF FLORIDA-HIGHLY
INTERESTING TO THE FARM
ERs THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
BY c. X. Meouarrie.

In travelling over the state in the
late fall one is forcibly impressed
with the variations in the production
patches (few large fields being in evil
dence) appear yellow and stunted.
Others, with a fair amount Of cane on
the ground, show the results of lack
OF attention during the growing period
and consequently low yield instead
of what should be an average crop.
Upon investigation, We can always
trace back these defects to weak
points in the treatment of the crop in
the earlier stages OF its growth. and
lack Of continued attention in the later
stages.
In most cases low yields are the
consequence of poor methods Of soil
preparation before planting. Few
farmers realize how important 1t is to
break and pulverize the soil well and
deeply, a considerable time before
planting the crop, taking care to break
a little deeper than the last breaking,
blowing under all the aftermath of the
previous crop, and also where posi-
BILE, using a subsoiling plow so as to
omen up the subsoil for aeration and
also to secure sufficient moisture for
the growing crop. They do not realize
that to get maximum yields they must
not only prepare a good seed-bed. but
also a good root-bed for the growing
crop. Few realize that the root system
os crop is what decides the amount
at harvesting time, and that deep
pulverization Of the soil is one Of the
main factors in securing large yield.
A weak point In cane production is
lack Of attention to the quality of the
seed cane used for planting. The
practice Of using last years stubble
can for seed is not good one, as seed
cane of this nature is ill-ripened and
has poorly developed buds, being
largely responsible for the low yields
we commonly find.
A wrong method Of planting is an
other OF the weak points that we want
TO mention. AS a general rule, we find
that the seed is planted shallow and
covered up. The reverse should be the
case. 1t should be planted deep and
covered shallow. Rows for the crop
should be laid off six feet apart and
and opened up about as deep as the
land has been broken. The canes
should be cut to three Joint pieces. laid
in these burrows and covered very
shallow; and as the sprouts begin
growing. these burrows should be
grBduaIly filled UP until the level of
the land is attained. This method Of
cannot be obtained by shallow plant
ing. and enables the crop to with
stand windstorms in the fall, when the
cane 10 top-heavy and liable to be
blown down. The increased growth
Of the root system which follows deep
plcwing insures a heavier yield. be-
cause the roots can get both moisture
and fertility in abundance.
One of the best tools to use in a
cane field Is a weeder. BY working 1t
across the rows In the first workings,
Il gradually fills in the soil in the
burrows until the field is level and
then by running 1t the same way as
the rows more and better work can be
done than with any other tool We
should use one Of the adjustable types,
so that where 1t cannot straddle the
rows It can be run in between. A
weeder will cultivate from ten to f1f-
teen acres of the crop In one day,
against the half of that with any other
tool thus reducing the cost of produc-
ing the crop. When a weeder is not
available. sweeps set to run very shall