The cuttings, when in the holee or trenches, are covered with a thin layer (say li-2i in.) of earth. They thus lie sheltered from direet sun-heat at the bottom of a more or leas deep hole, which forms a receptacle for moisture. The time for planting is governed by the character of the local seasons ; no absolute rule oau he laid down for it.
Moulding and Banking.—In about a fortnight, young sprouts push themselves up through the covering of earth ; these are immediately " moulded " round with some of the soil still remaining from the hole or trench. This is repeated at intervaLs, as the plant grows, till the hole or trench is filled up, and further till the stem of the cane is "banked up " for a certain distance, to favour its retaining an erect position.
Weeding and Trashilv.—Simultaneously with the moulding and banking, the land should be thoroughly weeded with a hoe. As the plants progress, " trashing " also becomes necessary. This consists in removing from the stein every dry and fading leaf. In rich land, it requires to be frequently resorted to during the wct season, but may be done at longer intervals when the rains are over. Constant trashing admits to the plants that abundance of light and air which is essential to the production of a heavy crop of sugar. Graen living leavea must on no account be removed. Equally demanding removal when too numerous, are the suckers thrown up by the roots; in Louisiana, however, they are encouraged. Both leaves and suckers should be buried in trenches between the cane rows, and covered with a thin coating of earth ; there they decay, and form excellent manure for the growing crop.
Ratooning.—The first crop from newly-planted cuttings is called " plant " canes ; when these have been cut, the stole or "stool " sends up another growth of canes, which are termed " ratoons." The first crop of ratoons is designated " first ratoons," and so on progressively. Ratoons annually diminish in length of joint and circumference ; but they are 'eaid to yield richer juice and finer sugar. On some soils, it is found best to depend chiefly on ratoons. A very general practice is to plant a proportion (4) of the land in annual succession. The stoles remain in the ground,
and vacancies are filled up as they occur. By constant ratooning, the produce of sugar per acre, if not equal to that from plant canes, yields, perhaps, in the long run, quite as much profit to the grower, if the relative proportions of the labour and expense attending the two methods be considered. As soon as the canes are cut, the land intended for ratoons requires attention. The trash should be buried with other manure about the roots of the plants, the earth around being well loosened and cleared of all weeds, before the rains set in. The number of ratoons depends much on the productiveness of the soil. A good rule in most cases is to replant when ratoons give only 1-li hhds. of sugar per acre.
In some countries, as Bengal, good ratoons are never met with. First ratoons may be allowed, but white ants swarm in the old roots, and do mischief to the growing canes ; whereas when planted yearly, or every 2nd year, the stirring which the land receives drives them away. In replanting, the old roots should be burnt, and the cuttings planted between the rows of the former crop.
Harvesting.—When the canes are ripe and ready for the harvest, they are cut with hatchets as close to the stole as possible ; thus new vigour is given to the ratoons that are to spring from the old root. The top is discarded ; it may perhaps suffice to cut off only one joint with the top, from canes grown on very dry soils; but otherwise, two should be cut, for if they are immature, their juice will injure the sugar, instead of augmenting its quantity. All leaves are also stripped off; rat-eaten or otherwise damaged canes should be thrown out.
The caues, being cut, are tied into bundles for the convenience of taking them to the mill. On the mountains, they are carried by mules ; in some parts, the bundles are rolled down the steep places, or shot down wooden spouts ; in the plains, they arc conveyed in carts, drawn by oxen, mules, or road engines, to enclosures near the mills ; in Guiana, by flat-bottomed punts on canals which intersect the plantations for this purpose ; wire-rope tramways have also been used to a limited extent.