Cultivation of Sugar and Cotton in the East Indies [pp. 511-543]

SYSTEMS OF SUGAR CULTURE IN THE EAST.
cane would suffer by it, so that they reckon these drains indispensably necessary, and upon their being well contrived depends in a great
measure their future hopes of profit. Immediately after the field is
trenched, the canes are all propped: this is an operation I do not
remember to have seen mentioned by any writer on this subject, and
is probably peculiar to these parts. It is done as follows:
'-The canes are now about three feet high, and generally from
three to six from each set that has taken root from what we may
call the stool. The lower leaves of each cane are first carefully
wrapt up around it, so as to cover it completely in every part; a
small strong bamboo (or two) eight or ten feet long, is then stuck
into the earth in the middle of each stool, and the canes thereof tied
to it. This secures them in an erect position, and gives the air free
access round every part. As the canes advance in size, they continue
wrapping them round with the lower leaves as they begin to wither,
and to tie them to the prop bamboos higher up; during which time,
if the weather is wet, they keep the drains open, and if a drought
prevails they water them occasionally from the river, cleaning and
loosening the ground every five or six weeks. Tying the leaves so
carefully round every part of the canes, they say, prevents them from
cracking or splitting by the heat of the sun, helps to render the juice
richer, and prevents their branching out round the sides. It is certain
you never see a branchy cane here."
In Dinajpoor, in about a month after planting, "the young plants
are two or three inches high; the earth is then raised from the
cuttings by means of a spade, and the dry leaves by which they are
surrounded are removed. For a day or two they remain exposed to
the air, and are then manured with ashes and oilcake, and covered
with earth. Weeds must be removed as they spring; and when the
plants are about a cubit and a half high, the field must be plowed.
When they have grown a cubit higher, which is between the 13th of
June and the 14th of July, they are tied together in bundles of three
or four, by wrapping them round with their own leaves. This is
done partly to prevent them from being laid down by the wind, and
partly to prevent them from being eaten by jackals. During the
next month three or four of these bunches are tied together; and
about the end of September, when the canes grow rank, they are
supported by bamboo stakes driven in the ground. They are cut
between the middle of December and the end of March."
If the canes grow too vigorously, developing a superabundance of
leaves, it is a good practice to remove those which are decayed, that
the stems may be exposed fully to the sun. In the West Indies, this
is called trashing the canes. It requires discretion; for in dry soils
or seasons, or if the leaves are removed before sufficently dead, more
injury than benefit will be occasioned.
Harvesting.-The season in which the canes become ripe in various
districts has already been noticed when considering their cultivation.
In addition I may state, that in the Rajahmundry Circar, about the
mouth of the Godavery, Dr. Roxburgh states, "that in January and
February the canes begin to be ready to cut, which is about nine
months from the time of planting. This operation is the same as in
other sugar countries-of course I need not describe it. Their
523