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"Rough lands, which are worked with difficulty and which are drained by evaporation and filtration with rapidity, are not good for this character of cultivation; and lands situated in ravines, without any drainage, which become flooded frequently, are also bad for cane.

"On the other hand, plain coast lands, cleared, which receive rains or irrigation and retain humidity some time without becoming swamped, are good for this plant; these lands not situated high above the level of the sea, near the coasts, which are flooded by large rivers in extraordinary freshets, but which on account of their natural location and great depth are quickly drained, receive the name of tierras de vega, and are those used for the cultivation of sugar cane everywhere. These lands in general are alluvial lands and are very rich in fertilizing elements.

"Far from the coasts, in the interior of many countries and at altitudes of 2,500 meters above the level of the sea, there are valleys, plains, and plateaus, which also have some merits for the cultivation of sugar cane, such as the tierras de vega, or meadow lands, which are considered the best, the reason being that the lands of the tables and valleys are formed by transportation and carriage.

"The physical composition of the cane lands is very variable; but in alluvial lands it is produced very well, because being relatively a surface plant it does not sink to a great depth, and therefore in other lands it would not secure sufficient space and material, which is only obtained in nutritious or very well cultivated lands."

TIME OF SOWING.

"In the tropical zone, where the temperature is nearly constant during the entire year, the seeds and stalks of the plant may be placed in the earth at any season, with the assurance that in a few days they will sprout in order to fulfill the laws of their destiny in nature. They will mature and die, leaving at the foot numerous ratoons.

"This is the physiological life of the plants which is assisted by nature, giving them every year greater support for their existence, and thus we see the luxurious and exuberant vegetation of the plants which are left to themselves; but this spontaneous development of vegetation is modified by submitting it to rules somewhat fixed when cultivation is in question; when the plants are to fulfill economic functions, then their entire life is subjected to the satisfaction of our requirements; they are planted when it is convenient, and they are torn up when their fruit is in sufficient quantity and of the quality desired for the market.

"This is one of the reasons why it is not immaterial, in tropical vegetation, when the plantings are made; these being annual plants they must, like rice, pass through periods of heavy rains in the same way as tobacco has to have a dry season, and corn a happy medium, etc.

It is clear that in regions of an irregular climate, and among cultivators who do not observe these laws of the plants, the success of the crops. is questionable.

"In so far as the planting of sugar cane is concerned, let us give it a full study, discussing the nature of the plant, the character of the climate, the practices observed in different countries, and the reciprocal relations between these elements, in order to deduce the laws which may serve as a guide to the farmers for the purpose of fixing the season for planting their cane.

"Being protected by the good climate, it appears that among the cultivators of sugar cane, in Porto Rico as in other countries, there is no fixed season for making the plantings, although in all parts there is a preferred period which practice has shown in each locality to be the best, submitting them thus by conviction to the law of relation between the character of the climate and the economic mission of the plant.

"We state below what seasons are observed for the plantings of sugar cane in Porto Rico:

"Large cultivations.-Second half of September, and all of October, November, and December; first half of January. It is cut down in from 14 to 18 months.

"Smaller cultivations.-Second half of January, all of February and March, first half of April, being cut down in from 12 to 14 months. "Spring.-Second half of April, May, first half of June; 12 months. 'Late spring.—First half of June, and all of July and August, first half of September; from 12 to 20 months.

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"In Porto Rico the general planting is that of large cultivation, but some farmers, either because they have hopes of the other plantings, because they have lands which are worked and irrigated, or because they have more than time and people enough, plant also the small cultivation and spring cultivation; on the other hand the late spring cultivation is hardly used by anyone."

REPRODUCTION OF SUGAR CANE.

"The sugar cane is not reproduced by seeds. Its flowers are sterile, and whatever may be the cause, we know that all attempts made to secure the fecundity of the flowers have been in vain, and the experiments we have personally made for the same purpose have had the same negative results.

"There is no way of avoiding it. We are obliged to deprive ourselves of the advantages we would secure if fertile seeds could be obtained.

"Sugar cane not having a natural reproduction, artificial propagation must be used in its cultivation, by means of the germinating points located in every joint.

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