Vol. VII. No. 173. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



3§7 



mean yield of supfar given per acre, taking all the 

 experiments, both with plant canes and ratoons, into 

 consideration : — ' 



I I Mean return of 



Variety. [Acreage occupied.; 'sugar per acre 



in ton.s. 



2-30 

 1-83 

 1-83 

 1-72 

 1-72 

 1-7l' 

 1-G7 

 1-Gl 

 1-59 

 1-58 

 lo6 

 1-53 

 1-40 

 1-40 

 1 -33 

 117 



It will be .seen that the greatest diversity existed as 

 regards the areas jjlanted with the ditierent varieties of 

 .sugar-cane. Further, while only four experiments are 

 recorded with suine canes (as D. 74 and D. 130, for example), 

 other varieties were under trial in from thirty to over fifty 

 experiments during the year. 



The figures given under the headiin,' 'mean return of 

 sugar per acre ' are not simple averages obtained as the 

 result of dividing the actual total yield of sug.ir given by 

 a particular variety of cane by the acreage planted with 

 this cane, but are arrived at in the following manner : 

 In the ca.se of a given variety, the average yields of .sugar per 

 acre, in every experiment, both with plants and ratoons, 

 carried out with that cane, are taken, and the average of all 

 the.se averages represents the- 'mean return per acre.' 

 Professor Harrison expresses tlie opinion that these mean 

 returns are more reliable guides to the relative general value 

 of the varieties than are the simjile averages. 



A second table given in the report shows the nunilier nf 

 |)lantations on which the different varieties were cultivated 

 during the year, and also indicates the number of ca.ses in 

 which a given cane gave the highest or .second highest yield 

 of .sugar per acre fin tlie plantation. 



I). 109 was planted on twenty-six estates, giving the 

 highest yield in three cases, and the second highest yield on 

 three other estates. The Bourbon, cultivated nn twenty-five 

 estates, gave the best return in only two ca.ses, while it came 

 second in four instances. D. 625 did be.st of all ; it was culti- 

 vated on twenty-four estates, coming out first in ten instances, 

 and giving the second highest return in ten other cases. 

 I). 145 was grown on seventeen plantations, giving the best 

 yield on the estates in three case.s, and coming .second in four 

 instances. B. 208 and B. 147 were cultivated on twelve and 

 on fifteen estates 7-espectively. Both canes were first, as regards 

 return of sugar given, on three estates, and in one instance 

 each they came second. 



The experiments indicate that many varieties of sugar- 

 cane can be relied upon in British (iuiana to give yields of 

 .sugar in ipiantities equal to, or greater than, those obtained 

 from the Bourbon, and that .several varieties possess well- 

 marked ratooning qualities. I). 625 and D. 145 can be 



.safely recommended for trials on relatively heavy lands, while 

 B. 208 does well on lighter soils, and apjiears to be specially 

 suited for tliat class nf land. 



Certain varieties, as ]). 95, ]). 74, D. 78, and the 

 W hite Transparent,— show signs of falling oft' in their yields, 

 and the C^ommittee feel that their cultivation should not be 

 continued excejit on land which has pi-oved very suitable 

 to their giowth. D. 109 .showed .signs of falling ott' in its 

 yield on several plantations, esiiecially where grown as second 

 or third ratoons, although on other estates it gave very satis- 

 factory yields as plant canes. 



A later table in the report gives pai-ticulars of the 

 amounts of sucrose contained in the juice of the ditterent 

 varieties of cane under cultivation. These figures are 

 averages for the past four years, and the sucrose is expressed 

 in pounds iier gallon. Thev are as follows : B 20.-- l-59,stt) - 

 I). 95, 1-592 lb. : I). 74, 1567 lb. ; 1). 116, 1 493 lb. : 1). 145,' 

 1-4(0 III. ; White Transparent, 1452 lb : Bourbon. 1 444 lb. ; 

 I). 7.S. 1-443 lb. ; ,Sealy ,Seedlin^^ 1-442 Iti. ■ ]) 109 1 ■4-11 lb ■ 

 D. 625, 1-414 n.. ; and ]!. 147!" 1413 lb 



AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE EXHIBITIONS 



AT HARRISON COLLEGE, 



BARBADOS. 



In the course of the speech mude by the Princi- 

 pal of Harrisdn College, Barbados (the' Rev, H. A. 

 Daltoii, DL).), at the recent annual distribution of 

 prizes on December 2 last, reference was made to the 

 Agricultural Science Exhibitions, which until recently, 

 have been ,-iwarded bv the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculcnre, and were tenable by pupils at the school. 



Dr. Dalton pointed out that the Agricultural Science 

 cla.ss at Harrison College afforded the most valuable elouien- 

 tai-y scientific training to boys entering the .school in those 

 branches of Agricultui-e which were most important to 

 Barbados and the West Indies generally. In past years the 

 work of the class had been of great benefit to Barbados and 

 certain of the neighbouring colonies, but he was sorry to state 

 that, in consequence of the diminution of the funds at the 

 disposal of the Im|ierial Department of Agriculture, the 

 1 )epartment could no longer continue the Agricultural Science 

 Exhibitions. 



The suspension of this a.ssistance was a great lo.ss to the 

 educational facilities of the island, and he (Dr. Dalton) 

 sincerely hoiked that before long the matter would receive the 

 attention of the Legislatures of this and other colonies, and 

 that grants would be made for the revival of the Agricultural 

 Exhibition.s. 



Electricity and the Growth of Crops. The 



results of ci-rtaiii clec-ti-ii-al cxiici iiiieiits on the growth 

 of agricultural crops were referred to at the late meeting of the 

 British Association by Sir Oliver Lodge, Principal of Birming- 

 ham University. These experiments have been in progress for 

 three years with a number of croji.s, and in the case of wheat, 

 for instance, it w-as found that the electrical treatment resulted 

 in an increased yield of from 30 to 40 per (tent, more grain 

 than would othervvi.se have been obtained. Strawberries and 

 fruit trees also yielded increased crops. Sir Oliver Lodge 

 stated that no dogmatii- explanation could yet be given as to 

 the manner in which the electrification benefited the plant, 

 but the results were beyond doubt, 



