Lime is used extensively as a manure in nearly all cane-growing regions. It is used in large quan tities in the mill and appears in the by-products, which are applied to the soil, mixed with other ingredients to form fertilizers. Natural lime in the form of limestone is also applied, as is also quick lime. Many tropical soils are sufficiently rich in humus to permit the free use of lime, and its use is beneficial in connection with potash compounds. Recently, a modification of the application of lime has been recommended to counteract the accumu lation of those fungous pests of the cane that inhabit the soil,—the pests that have been called "root-disease." In these cases the lime is applied unslaked, or partially slaked, and is applied only to the bases of the ratocm stubble a few days or weeks before plowing out the latter. The after-cul ture is calculated to spread the lime through the soil, and it then exercises its customary manurial effects in proportion to the perfection of the dis tribution.
Seed and planting.—The rows of cane-stools are usually four to six feet apart, five feet being a common distance. The aim in planting is to pro duce a stool of cane at about every two feet in the row. In the hill-planting system the distances are greater. The planting varies widely in various regions, according to the way the seed is prepared. In some localities great carelessness prevails in the preparation of the seed, so that it is necessary to allow for the failure of a large proportion of the eves. In such cases the planting is nearer together than when the seed is more carefully prepared and gives a better percentage of germination. In any case, it is the general practice to replant all the failures so as to secure as even a stand as possible.
The practice in reference to seed varies from planting whole cane to the planting of a single eye every eighteen inches to two feet. It is most com mon to lay the seed-cane horizontally in a row, with the eyes facing laterally so that in sprouting the shoot from each eye grows at first horizontally and then turns upward. As it is usual to have more than one eye on each cutting or set, this position gives all the eyes the same opportunity. The method gives to the roots on the upper side of the cutting small opportunity to succeed, those on the under side only having a fair opportunity. Another method is to place the cuttings on a slant of about 40°, with the end protruding from the soil. Still another method is to set the cuttings vertically in the soil, with the end protruding, the protruding end, of course, being always the upper end of the cutting. These latter methods are used when the cuttings are grouped in "hills," or when it is desired to secure a specially good or quick germination.
In regions where the cold season is so severe that all the cane has to be cut before winter, the planting is sometimes done in the spring. This
necessitates preserving the cane-stalks over winter. This is done by a process that may be compared to the first stages of ensiling. The stalks with thu leaves left on, are cut and covered in some way so as to keep them cool and moist, but not wet. The stalks are sometimes laid in piles and the trash of the cane used as a cover to keep out the excess of cold and to prevent too rapid evaporation. Another method is to windrow the cane. The stalks, with the leaves on, are laid on the ground between the rows and so arranged that the leaves completely cover the stalks. The rows of stalks thus arranged are covered over by plowing furrows on either side and turning the soil onto the cut cane. The covering is completed by hand. Where the plowing cannot well be done because of dryness, it is cus tomary to complete the operation with rollers so as to pulverize the lumps and compact the soil above the cane-stalks. When this operation is favored by the season, it results in well-preserved seed-cane for the spring-planting. Often, however, owing to the nature of the season, there is a severe loss of seed-cane so treated. These methods all have their advantages and their disadvantages, although the most widely prevailing practice is that first described.
The seed is very lightly covered where irrigation is practiced, the covering being half an inch to one inch. The covering is greater where cane is grown with the natural rainfall, although even here the covering is light. The germination and growth of the seed requires for its best result strong heat, and moisture represented by at least two inches of rainfall per week. In regions where diseases of cane are common, it is best to preserve the cuttings from contact with any trash from the previous crop since trash is liable to contaminate the new crop. As the seed is usually covered by hand, it is possible to do this at a comparatively small cost.
Of late years a practice of treating the cuttings previous to planting is springing up. This is owing to the attacks of a disease that rots the cuttings before they have opportunity to grow, or at least injures them sufficiently seriously to diminish the stand. This treatment consists in covering either the end alone, or the whole surface of the cutting, with some fungicide. Tar is applied to the ends of the cuttings, or Bordeaux mixture of double strength is used to soak the cuttings for a few minutes or a few hours. Such treatments are use less unless the seed itself is carefully selected, for, if the cutting is already diseased, such treatment will not save it from further ravages of the dis ease already established. The treatment simply prevents the rots present in the soil attacking the cuttings as soon as they otherwise would.