《天工开物·上篇·甘嗜》
种植荻蔗的方法是，在初冬将要下霜之前将荻蔗砍倒，去掉头和尾，埋在泥土里，在第二年 雨水 节气的前五六天，趁天气晴朗时将荻蔗挖出，剥掉外面的叶鞘，砍成五六寸长一段，以每段都要留有两个节为准，把它们密排在地上，稍微盖上少量土，让它们像鱼鳞似的头尾相枕。
凡种荻蔗，冬初霜将至将蔗斫伐，去杪与根，埋藏土内。雨水前五六日，天色晴明即开出，去外壳，斫断约五六寸，以两个节为率。密布地上，微以土掩之，头尾相枕，若鱼鳞然。
The method for cultivating reed sugarcane is, before the first frost in early winter, cut down the reed sugarcane, remove the head and tail, and bury it in the earth. Before the Rainwater solar term the next year and while the weather is fine, dig up the reed sugarcane, peel off the outer sheaths, cut it into pieces about 5 or 6 cun long, with each piece having two segments, arrange them densely on the ground, cover them with a little earth and place them head to tail like fish scales.