21 



The actual factory yield is even smaller than would appear from 

 the sucrose content and purity of the juices, because cane from salt land 

 contains more chlorine than that from soil free from chlorides (See 

 tables III to VI), and it is a well known fact that a high salt content 

 in the cane depresses the quantity of available sugar and causes an 

 increase in the amount of molasses obtained. 



CANO DE T1BURONES 



FIRST SERIES OF ANALYSES. 



After the brief review of the literature on the effect of salts upon the 

 growth and composition of the cane, given in the preceding chapters, we 

 shall now take up the specific problem of the marsh soils on the north 

 coast of tnis island. As iias been remarked above, the Cano de Tiburones 

 was choswn for these studies because it is the largest of these marsh 

 areas, being fairly representative of all of them, and also because the 

 work of reclamation w as already in active progress when this investigation 

 was begun, thus requiring immediate attention. Two large canals had 

 already been dug ; one on the north side near the edge of the swamp and 

 running about parallel with its longer axis, and another parallel to the 

 first, but along the south side of the swamp, and toward the hills. Both 

 canals unite at a place some distance from the outlet into the Arecibo 

 River and discharge their drainage waters into this river near its mouth. 



In order to get a general idea of the conditions in the whole district, 

 as far as the salt content of the soils and its influence on the cane is 

 concerned, a number of soil samples (8) were taken by Mr. Ho wells, 

 engineer in charge of irrigation investigations of the Plazuela Sugar 

 Company by which corporation these estates are managed; and at the 

 same time the cane growing in the same places was examined by Mr. J. 

 R.Johnston, Pathologist of this Station. Some more samples were collected 

 by the writer, and these, in combination with those taken by Mr. Howells, 

 comprise pretty well all the soil types of the estate, including the best 

 luam lands down to the marsh itself. The results of this first investigation, 

 which were partly incorporated in a report made jointly by Mr. Johnston 

 and the writer, are discussed on pages 21-31 of this bulletin. 



At many places on the estate a white incrustation may be seen on 

 the surface of the soil which is evidently formed by evaporation of the 

 soil solution. A sample of such an incrustation adhering to the soil was 

 taken in the low lands of "Paja", and analysed with the following 

 results. The air dry substance contained per cent: 



