The sugar industry in the island of Negros,

84

locality, so that the "lacsa"19 is often used as a unit for land lmeasure,
meaning in this case the area in which 10,000 cane seeds have been
planted or might h1ave been planted, and varying according to locality
from one-third to one-half of a hectare.
The cane tops are thrust. into the ground in a slanting direction at the bottom
of the furrows, then packed around with loose dirt so that only a few centimeters
project above the surface. This work is, as a rule, performed by men, each man
having a boy assistant, who hands him seed from a basket as it is needed. In a
few localities women and children plant as well as prepare the seed. Sometimles,
more especially in dry years and toward the end of the season, tops are planted
in pairs instead of singly, with the idea that if one fails to sprout the other will
in all probability succeed. In using this method the distance between rows and
between seed in the same row is correspondingly increased, so that very rarely
will the number of plants il a hectare exceed 30,000. On the east coast of Negros,
where drought is sometimes to be feared, cane is often planted by means of tlle
"gajo" or "vara," a sharpened stick frequently provided witl a sharp-pointed iron
cap, which is thrust into the ground in a slanting direction to a depth of some 40
centimeters, forming a hole into lwhich the seed cane is pushed, after withdrawing the planting instrument. The advantage claimed for this method of planting
is that the seed is buried deeper in the ground and consequently withstands dry
weather better than when planted by other methods, so that sprouting is surer, and
although the young sprout is somewhat later in making its appearance above
ground, its root system has by this time become so well developed that a strong
growth is ensured. In the district of Bais, especially, this system of planting is
much used. There the cane is often planted in squares instead of in running rows.
Two canes are set at each of the four corners of a square inI such a way that a
space of about 1 meter is left between each pair of cane seeds; thus approximately
2,000 seeds are planted in each hectare of land. Cane planted in this way, it
is stated, can be kept free from weeds by cross plowing without danger of injuring
the young plants, whereas the system of planting in rows permits of subsequent
plowing in one direction only, and the cane rows themselves must be kept clean.
at considerable expense, with the hoe. On the other hand is the disadvantage, at
least with plant cane, that planting in squares probably produces a lesser number
of individual canes to the hectare, and, leaving a greater area of land unoccupied,
incurs more expense for plowing, since not only is there more space to be kept
free from weeds, but a longer time must elapse before the field of cane "closes
up" and by its own shade prevents further weed growth. It would appear that
planting in rows probably yields a heavier first crop, but that where several years
of ratoons are desired the square system might be given the preference, as subsequent ratoons thus have more room to spread without choking up the rows and
making plowing between the young cane impossible.
CULTURAL OPERATIONS AFTER PLANTING.
The amount of labor expended on the young cane during its growth
depends of course very much upon local conditions as to weather, soil.
etc., and upon the resources of the individual planter. The following
notes apply more especially to the methods followed in.the district
'9 A native word meaning "teln thousand."