[Syrupmakers] Thinning out of sugar cane?

[Richard Harrison]

This is one of the reasons that I don't grow that species of cane. It grows too thick, multiplies too much and usually makes smaller diameter stalks. I don't know what your intention is for using it, but if you want sugar or syrup, I would suggest switching to a larger stalked variety that doesn't multiply so well. If you want it for livestock, it is great! I got rid of all varieties of that species for my particular use.         Regards,         Richard Harrison, NW FL  (I have kin S of Houston)

      From: Richard Hash <richard.hash at gmail.com>
 To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net 
 Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 4:58 PM
 Subject: [Syrupmakers] Thinning out of sugar cane?
   
This question is for sugar cane, not sure if it is relevant for sorghum or not.  I'm about 20 miles south of Houston, TX, growing an unknown variety of some Asian green cane. This is all hand-harvested with a machete, no mechanization at all.
The question is - should I be thinning the sprouts out? At the end of each year I cut all stalks down flush with the ground, and then even more sprouts back the next spring.  This is unfertilized, unirrigated, untended, I basically just ignore the whole patch until November. But my sprout-back rate is getting ridiculous and even though it sounds labor intensive, I'm wondering if I should be thinning things out. I can't even get to the "interior" stalks without cutting down everything on the "outside" down first.
Here is a photo of the current clump from what was a single stalk 5 years ago - see https://goo.gl/photos/Ysg4QneD838QRUv58And here is this years growth from just two stalks from last year only - see https://goo.gl/photos/Ysg4QneD838QRUv58
I have had one agricultural extension agent tell me "definitely without a doubt you will ruin your yield without thinning them out", but I thought I would see what kind of experiences other people have had....
Thanks,-- 
--/Richard
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