Vol. VII. No. i; 



THE AGllICULTUUAL NEWS. 



371 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Seedling Canes at Jamaica. 



A second report of the Sugiir-caiiu Experiment 

 Station at Jam;iica, which was started in 1904, has 

 jdst been issued by the Hon. H. H. Cousins, M.A., 

 Ishmd Chemist. This report covers the work done 

 Ixiih in the field and the laboratory during the two 

 crop seasons of 190(i and 1907. It includes the results 

 so far obtained in ininiirial trials, as well as in the 

 tests with different varieties of cane under trial at the 

 ■ Station and on estates. Particulais are also given of 

 investigations carried out in connexion with the 

 Jamaica rum industry. For the purpose of estate 

 trials with seedling ami other canes, tops have been 

 distributed to a number of estates in different parts of 

 the island. In the ]iast two years these estates 

 numbered twenty-four, but reliable returns were 

 obtained from only seven estates in 1906 and nine 

 in 1907. Based on these returns, the outstand- 

 ing results of these estate trials as given in Mr. Cousins' 

 report are as follows : — 



Seedling B. 208 lias, on the whole, proved itself the 

 best variety yet tested oil an estate scale in Januiica. It has 

 given gratifying re.sults on light soils under irrigation or on 

 heavy cane lands and in the mountain cultivations of the 

 Deasantry. So marked arc the good qualities of this cane 

 that 83,000 toi)S of this variety, out of a total of about 

 90,000 tops distributed by the Station in 1907, have been 

 . supi)licd to the estates. Although B. "208 does not give so 

 rich a juice in Jamaica as it doe.s in Barbados, it gives a l>ig 

 vield of cane, and its sturdy, upright habit, is a feature that 

 marks it out as peculiarly litted for cultivation under 

 irrigation. 



15. 147 has been tried faii'ly extensively by estates and 

 found, as a rule, a cane of somewhat ' tricky 'character. It 

 has, however, so deep-rooting a habit of growth, that it has 

 shown itself a splendid cane ou the heavier soils of Trelawny 

 and outclassed all other canes in a season of trying drought. 

 The glucose ratio of the juice is apt to be high, but on an 

 ■estate making a good rum this can hardly be con.sidered as 

 a matter for regret when the piice fif musi'ovado sugar is as 

 low as it is at present. 



1). 95 has proved itself a good cane, particularly on light 

 .^oils with irrigation. Until we received the new seedling 

 IV 1,529, which has the sweete.st and most concentrated juice 

 of any variety ever tested in Jamaica, 1). 95 has always 

 headed all other caues in the richness and ijuality of its juice. 

 Some estates have found D. 95 a useful variety for giving 

 -ripe canes at the beginning of crop owing to its early 

 uialuration. It is, however, rather a delicate cane and is 

 sadly liable to leaf-rust on some soils, and is ijuite incapable 

 ' of resisting any stagnation of .soil-water. The so-called' D. 95 ' 

 canes of AHiion e.state that achieved such excellent results 

 on that e.state ha\ e pioved on trial at Hope to be D. 99 and 

 D. 1 ■55 — the former a green cane, the latter a red one. To 

 the latter variety, D. 135, and not to the real D. 95, mu.st be 

 attributed the fine return of 3 tons of sugar per acre obtained 



by Albion estate in I'JOl, to which reference has often b.-eu 

 made in Jamaica. 



Of new canes, D. 625 and D. 1,438 are of decided prom- 

 ise and are receiving attention for estate trials. It is disap- 

 pointing to find, however, that the severe drought of 1907 has 

 shown that I). 025 is ijuite unable to wdtlistand such adverse 

 conditions. 



The White Transparent is a better cane than the old 

 Black cane ot Trelawny or the Itibbon cane. It gives juice 

 of good quality, yields a good proportion of tops, and ratoon.s- 

 v.'ell. Its defects are a liability to lodge, and an agriculturd 

 yield that is ca[)al:ile of Ijeing inqM-oved on by selected 

 seedling canes. 



Selections from our own Jamaica seedlings are now being- 

 tested on estates. At the Central Station, they outclass alB 

 other canes in clean, vigorous growth, and, if their early 

 l>romise be maintained, should afford valuable canes for 

 estate use. The severe drought through which we have passed 

 during the present year 1907, has shown that some of our 

 own seedlings have extraordinary vigour and power of resis- 

 tance to dry weather. 



Developing Cane-sugar Industry in Natal. 



Sugar-eane cultivation has been carried on in the- 

 coast districts of Natal for the past twenty-five years, 

 although until ten or fifteen years ago the methods- 

 employed were very primitive. Considerable improve- 

 ments have of late been introduced, and the sugar- 

 producing industry has grown to be one of importance. 

 Practically the only variety of cane planted is that 

 known as the 'Yuba' or ' Uba,' which is also- 

 successiully cultivated in Madeira. . It has not; done 

 so well in Mauritius or Louisiana. The ' Yuba ' is des- 

 cribed as a deep-rooted, green, woody cane of great- 

 vitality. 



The area in Natal that was jilanted with sugar-cane- 

 under European management, was 40,022 acres in 1906. 

 There are no native plantings of any consequence. The 

 entire coast district of the colony is stated to be suited to- 

 cane culture, as the soil is fertile and the rainfall sufficient. 

 At least two crops of ratoons are grown, in addition tfi the 

 plant cane croi>. The cane grows to a medium size, and the 

 average yield of sugar per acre from all the lands harvested 

 was 1-7 tons. On the best-conducted plantations the yield 

 is somewhat greater. A good deal of molasses and .syrup- 

 is manufactured from the Natal cane crop, in addition to- 

 sugar. 



The methods of cane cultivation practised are being 

 rapidly improved, according to the United States Consul at 

 Durban ; modern mills and a completely equipped refinerjr 

 are taking the place of the out-of-date plants on several 

 pro[>ertie.s, while all the old plantations are being improved^ 

 and new machinery substituted for that formerly used. 



The Consul estimates the total amount of capital invested, 

 in the Natal sugar industry at .f7, 300,000, of whicb 

 iJ2, 750,000 represent the value of machinery and plant. 

 The proportion of foreign capital in the industry is quite 

 small. The great bulk of the machinery in the factories- 

 is British-made. 



Practically all the work on the Natal plantations is done 

 by indentured Indians, since white labour is too expensive 

 The total number of persons of all races employed in the 

 cane mills and plantations in 1906 was 7,565. Of these, 

 only 203 were white. 



