AjpRit I, IS84-1 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



1i1 



number of times to be Btripped, etc., I think, is a question 

 of ilifl'ereuce of locality rather than of difference of 

 opinion as to any one locality. Different localities use 

 different cultivation. On high lands, or where the soil is 

 poor, or where there is no irrigation nor much rainfall, it 

 is the custom to plant very early in the season, and some- 

 times let it have a two years', or even three years' growth. 



" But where the soil is rich, and "iirigation is carried 

 on, it is safe to plant later in the season, and sometimes a 

 yield of 5 tons is obtained from a fifteen months' growth. 



" In this district planters have rather come to the con- 

 clusion that it does not pay to cultivate rattoons. That 

 where the supply of water is limited it is better to put it 

 into plant cane, "which will yield 4 or 5 tons to the acre than 

 on rattoons which will yield on an average only 2 tons or 

 less per acre. 



" I think it is generally thought best to plant as early 

 as possible, without the cane tasseling, in the November 

 following ; to use the best seed obtainable, and keep the 

 weeds out. Irrigate every ten days if you have water 

 enough, and strip it from one to three times, according to 

 locality. 



" In this district the planters give their cane all one 

 stripping, and, if possible, a second. But I have noticed 

 that if the first is done when the cane is from 4 to 6 

 feet long — that is pretty late — it does not matter so much 

 about the second stripping. When the cane is planted late 

 on rich soil, and irrisated where the climate is dry, and 

 has a quick growth, I think a second stripping is almost 

 unnecessary, especially if the stripping is done pretty late. 

 "Where the cane grows quickly, the joints are all long, and 

 there are consequently fewer leaves than where the cane 

 is short-jointed. In marshy places, however, and where the 

 rats are troublesome, or where there is much of the borer, 

 the cane should be stripped oftener. This remark applies 

 also to districts where the cane grows slowly. 



" I think it is generally conceded that it is best to plow 

 land before planting, and where the soil is heavy, or there 

 is much mauienie grass, to give it two or three plowings. 

 There arc localities, however, where it seems scarcely m - 

 cessary to plow before furrowing out. 



" Of the crop just taken off on this plantation, and which 

 yielded about oj tons per acre, not an acre was plowed be- 

 fore furrowing out. It was, however, virgin soil. 



" The year previous, I planted a field without plowing, 

 which had been planted once before, and the yield was 

 very poor — about 2^ tons per acre. I think the soil was not 

 worn out, but the former planting and irrigation had 

 hardened the soil, 1 think the localities where it is safe 

 to plant without xilowing are very few ; and that in no 

 place is it safe where the land has had a preWous planting 

 and irrigating. I feel a hesitancy in writing on the sub- 

 ject of cultivation, for it is one with which nearly all the 

 members of the fompany will hear your report read arc 

 as familiar as I am ; and it is a subject, as I remarked 

 above, of difference of locality." 



Mr. AV. H. Bailey, of WaiUiku, Maui, writes : — " I find 

 the best way of applying bone meal, which I have used 

 on about thirty acre;^, is to place it in pits at the side 

 of the hills of young cane. I think the Lahaina cane 

 deteriorates if no not cut before July. . Plowing rattoons 

 has the best effect if done after the cane is 2 or 3 feet 

 high." 



Mr. O. 0. Kennedy, of Waiaka plantation, writes : — 

 "Our best time to plant is May, June, and July. We 

 phuit continuous rows of seed, plow our land twice, and 

 get it in good order ; then fuiTow it with the large hall 

 fmrow plow." 



A suggestion has been made in one of our local papers 

 about c.aue-planting. which it may be well to insert here — 

 that the whole stalks of cane be dropped in the furrow, 

 then with a sharp oo, or other implement, cut the stalks 

 into the usual lengths of seeds, say four to six eyes each. 

 This will give continues rows of seed, does away with 

 much of the hard lahor of handling it, and the consequent 

 breaking of the eyes. We have not seen any planting 

 done in this way, but would recommend its trial, as it 

 seems to have some advantages over that usually practized. 

 In districts where cane-tops can be secured at the planting 

 season, we consider these as the best, most reliable, and 

 ccononiical of any. Tops, however, can only be had when 

 liiiivestiug ; and as planting follows harvesting in most 

 districts, stalks have_to he used from necessity, lalas, or 



branches, should not be used for seed. Their continue, 

 use will result in reduced crops, and it should be the objec 

 of every planter to improve the quahty of his cane by 

 planting the best seed obtainable. 



Your Committee have endeavored to ascertain the exact 

 yield of sugar on each island for the past crop, with the 

 number of acres actu.ally harvested, but, up to this date, 

 have not been able to complete the table. They stiU hope 

 eto acomphsh it before the publication of this report. — 

 cecdstfuUy sumitlited. H. M. WniTXEr, Chainnan. 



EXPEKIMENTAL CULTIVATION OF INDIA. 



RUBBER AND CINCHONA PLANTS IN THE 



WYNAAD. 



We have received from the Madras GoTernnicnt 

 papers recording the results of certain experiments 

 entrusted to Mr. T. J. Ferguson of Messrs. Hinde 

 & Co., Calcutta. Major Campbell Walker, the head 

 of the Madras Forest Department, reporting on the 

 results up to December 18S3, stated :— 

 .. I inspected the Ciiic/ioiiaa and LamJoJpliias in the Man- 

 antoddy garden at the commencement of last month. 



The former, which were chiefly Ca/isai/a, were received, 

 as Mr. Morgan reports, in anything hut good condition, 

 and had to be planted out in very heavy rain, tlie con- 

 tinuance of which appears to have been unfavorable, as 

 very few survive auti those are not in a healthy condition. 



The Landolphia JloriOji, of whicli twelve plants were 

 purchased by the Uistiict forest officer from Mesors. Hiude 

 i; Co., a year ago at E2 each, were at first kept in largo 

 bamboo pots, in which they made no growth. See- 

 ing fliis, they were put out in the open, but the ninewliich 

 remain alive are sickly and do not appear likely to suc- 

 ceed at Manantoddy. Ko Ij/ecacuanha jilants were re- 

 ceived, though the Curator, Government Parks and Gard- 

 ens (Mr. Jamieson,) had promised to send them. 



Mr. Ferguson reports so fully on the condition of the 

 CasliUou, Ulrica, and Cinclioiius received by/ him on Gov- 

 ernment account, and on the Laiidolphiiis, which are his 

 private property, that it appears unnecessary to supple- 

 ment his letter, especially as I have not seen the pilants. 

 It will be observed that his experience with the Lati- 

 dolphiaa is similar to ours at Manantoddy and Nilambiu-, 

 but thut ** a few plants retained under shade promise 

 better and show a xjecuhar growth." The Cnstilloa and 

 Mevca jjlauts received from Ceylon are, on the whole, 

 healthy, and Mr. Ferguson proposed ( 3rd October) to com- 

 mence I'ropagating from them shortly. 



Tlie Board and Goveniraent will gather from the above 

 abstract and the copies of letters forwarded that the cx- 

 Xjerimeuts have not gone beyond the initiatory stage and 

 that no planting out in the sites originally selected has 

 been attempted, the main reason for which having been 

 want of plants. 



No expense beyond the carnage of the seedlings to 

 CaUcut, the R2t for twelve Ltaido/p/iias and their carri- 

 age to Mau.antoddy has been incurred. 



The Collector now reports that Mr. Ferguson wishes 

 to hand the experiments over to the 'forest dej)artmcnt, 

 but is still wilhng to provide land, if required, and it 

 is suggested that a forciiig-house and nursery will be re- 

 quired a Calicut and that 15 acres may be opened out 

 in the Chenat Nair forests near Palghat, which is now 

 in process of settlement as a " reserved forest." 

 Major Walker then goes on to shew, that the Forest 

 Department could not undertake the experiments 

 without neglecting other duties. Mr. Ferguson's re- 

 port, dated 3rd October 1S83, was as follows : — 



I received from Ceylon six young plants of Caslil/oir, 

 each about 4 to 6 inches high. Five of them have come 

 forward remarkably well and measure as follows : — 



(1) o' 3" high, C branches, foliage lu.xuriaut. 



(2) 3' 3" do. 2 do. do. 



(3) 2' 6" do. 2 do. do. 



^i^ ] 2' 0" do. no do. do. 



(■■') ) 



(ti) 10" do. sickly and stunted. 



I hoj)e very soon to commence propagafiug from tlia 



