306 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



OexoBBR 4. 1919 



The Kxperiment Stations have carried out a 

 number of trials also, in regard to the raising of 

 new varieties. This work has been largely carried on 

 in Antigua. One of these new varieties, A. 9, has given 

 exceptionally good returns tor two year,^. Tested 

 against ' Hen and Chickens, ' whif.h has given consis- 

 tently good results for fifteen yt irs, A.!* gave about 

 ;{,000 tt>. of tubei-s mire per acre than the control 

 ▼ariety Such a result ought to be of the greatest 

 interest to growers. 



Another line of experimentation in Antigua has 

 been the selection of cuttings frooi the largest indi- 

 vidual plants. Four years' trials have shown that this 

 selection cannot be relied upon to give increased yields : 

 in other words, the results though negative are definite, 

 and therefore valuable. 



lo is to be regretted, however, that the majority 

 of growers take lictle interest in this accumulated 

 information. To them all .sweet potatoes are more or 

 less the same. 



This lack of interest is largely the result of 

 inadequate education. Much could be done in the 

 elementary and secondary schools by means of variety 

 plots in school gardens to infuse interest in the 

 subject. It should be possible also t) give class 

 in9tructii>n in the results contained in the Depart- 

 mental Reports. The movement could be further 

 assisted in a general way by the newspapers. These 

 might issue from time to time articles calling public 

 attention to what is beiny done at the local 

 experiment stations. 



While it should be appreciated that the Experi- 

 ment Stations have carried out useful work, there are 

 certain points in regard to it which call for criticism. 

 In the first place there seems to be a consider.ible 

 amount of uncertainty as to the exact identity of some 

 varieties We cannot be sure that plants of a variety 

 referred to under the same name in two different 

 islands arc really identical. Planting material of 

 known varieties might be labelled .md distributed from 

 ow; cenf.rn to the different islands for each season's 

 experiments. 



Again, it would bt; mucii easier i,o judge the 

 respective merits of (iifferent varieties if the daily oi- 

 weekly rainfall received during the growing period 

 wa.'^ reconied, along with the record of the yields 

 obtained. This is very necessary if we wish to compare 

 the same variety growing in different places. Cooking 

 qualities should also h; stated. 



As far as possible, the size of all plots in sweet 

 potato experiments should be made uniform in size 

 and equ.al in number. In some reports the size of 

 the plots and the dates of planting and reaping are 

 omitted. These should always be inserted. A note 

 on soil conditions and planting distance should be 

 included as well. 



The production of sweet potatoes might be stimu- 

 lated if it were possible to carry out successful ' 

 experiments on the matter of storage. As is well 

 known, the sweet potato unlike the yam, will not 

 keep for any length of time. It might be possible 

 to select good keeping varieties, or it might be possible 

 to discover a way of treating the tubers so as to 

 prevent the deterioration that occurs in the ordinary 

 way. , 



The central marketing of sweet potatoes is 

 restricted by this difficulty of storage. If it could be 

 evercome, it should be possible to establish in many 

 places a concern similar to the Onion Growers' Associa- 

 tion in Antigua. If this were achieved, the cultivation ' 

 of the best varieties would be s imulated, for the depot, ; 

 having to grade its produce, would in buying, diff'er- 

 entiate between good and poor qualities. ' 



SUGAR INDUSTRr. 



A BIG CUBAN ASSOCIATION. 



Cuba IS already the chief controlling factor in 

 the cane-sugar world. Her position is likely to be- 

 come Still stronger, if the folluwiiig movement, reported 

 in the Louisiana, Planter, proves successful: — 



With the ided of organizing an association which will 

 include all elements directly or iudirecdy interested in cane 

 growing and .sugar-cane production in Cuba, which will give 

 the necessary encouragement and aid to any and all move- 

 ments to slreDyihen and make as independent as pcssible 

 the sugar pioducer.s and cane growers of the island, and 

 wliii^h will ejiable the IJubin producers, wi.o supply more 

 sugar than any other group in the world, to have the deciding 

 voice in I he control of the sugar market as is their right, a 

 number of sugar producers met early in the week and drew 

 up plans for an 'Asociacion de Hicendados y Uo onos de 

 Cuba' (Association of Sugar I'roducers and Cane Growers 

 of Cuba). 



The complete plan.s have been published in the local 

 paper.'!. Summarizing ihem, the a.ssociation is to be 

 composed of tWD clatses of members. The first class is to 

 include the sugar producers and cane growers, and the 

 second, the admirii.strators of the centrals, cheiuista, 

 engineers, .sugar brokrr.s, soller.s of .sugar factory ecjuipment, 

 or agricultural e(piipment, and any others who may be 

 directly or indirectly interested in the betterment of sugar- 

 productiou in Cuba. 



The main ofUce of the association is to be iu Havana. 

 The minagement will be under the control of twenty live 

 meinbT.i, who are lo be repro.sentatives of all producers and 

 cane growers who are member.s of the as.sociation (and we 



