YoL. XII. No. 280. 



THE AC.RICULTUJ;.4L NEWS. 



21 



considerably more lime and less phosphorus pentoxide and 

 magnesia than when grown on normal .soils. 



During the growth of the fruit relatively small amounts 

 of sugars are stored in it, but within the ^hort period of normal 

 ripening there is a raiid accumulation of sugars in the fruit. 

 Pine-apples gathered green do not develop a normal sngar 

 content in subsequent ripening. The sugars of the fruit are 

 derived from the starch previously stored in the stalk. 



The >tudy of the pine apple shows that it is e.\ceedingly 

 sensitive to adverse physical and chemical conditions in the 

 soil. So far as is known at present, there is no really 

 satisfactory programme by which pine-apples can be grown on 

 highly macganiferous soils. It seems best to use such areas 

 for other crops less sensitive to manganese. The best method 

 of handling pine apples on manganiterous soiLs consists in 

 applying soluble phosphates and planting old stumps instead 

 of suckers. 



AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS IN THE 

 PHILIPPINES, 1911. 



EXPORTS. The export trade for 1911 was valued at 

 £9,289, 020, an increa-e of £824,7-^7. The increase is due 

 to larger exports of sugar to the United States and of copra 

 to Europe. Hemp and cigars show a decline. 



coi'K.v. The year 1911 shows a still further increase in 

 the production of copra and a corresponding decrease in the 

 manufacture of coconut oil for local consumption. As in 

 former years the largest purchaser was France. Increased 

 shipments went to the United Kingdom, United States, 

 Belgium, Spain and Japan. The Netherlands, Me.xico and 

 Hong Kong appeared as new buyers. Germany and Italy 

 both took less. 



The increasing price of the staple has given a great 

 impetus to the in^lustry, and much land is being sought for 

 the purpose of coconut cultivation. The demand, however, 

 still keeps pace with the supply. 



HE-MI'. The export of hemji further declined, being 

 146,206 tons, valued at £3,02-5,0:lG, in 1911, compared to 

 160."j9.j tons, valued at £3,432,3.')S in 1910. The hemp 

 situation is causing serious thought amongst both producers 

 and merchants. Etibrts are being jjiade to improve the 

 quality by introducing better methods of collection and 

 purchase in the provinces. This matter has the attention of 

 the Hemp Association. The United States took consider- 

 ably less than in 1910. Manila hemp, handicapped by the 

 exportation tax, cannot compete with the Mexican sisal. 

 Attempts are now being made to get this tax removed. As 

 regards grade, a certain improvement was shown, but so long 

 as the present prices for low grade continue, little increase in 

 this line can be expected. 



K.viMK. Philippine kapok was for the first time an article 

 of export; the total quantity exported was 119 tons. The 

 United States was the principal buyer at from 32 to 34c. 

 gold per Up., c.i f. Xew York. In time the supply from the 

 I'hilippines should increase. [.More general information 

 regarding kapok or silk cotton was given lecently in the 

 Aiiri'ultural Xtivs, Vol. XI, p. 324 ] 



MAGUEY. The export of this fibre increased over that 

 in 1910. The United Kingdom took an increased quantity, 

 ■while other buyers were France, Germany, the Netherlands, 

 Spain and British India. 



SL'G.VR. The quantity exported was 205,392 tons, the 

 highest since 1896. The largest amount went to the United 

 Stutes. The prices obtained were fair, averaging about 

 C pests -jOc. basis 88 Iloilos to July, wheif the shortage in 



the European beet crop put up values of all sugar, and 

 transactions were made at 9 [lesos for the said grade Iq 

 August. 



The quantity of sugar, however, then held was small, and 

 chieHy in the hands of the export houses and middlemen. 

 Thus the plantets did not derive much benefit from the 

 phenomenal rise in prices. 



Gapital is being attracted to this industry, thus facilitat- 

 ing the establishment of larger sugar centrals. In general the 

 system of cultivation and polarization is still antiquated, and 

 the gradual introduction of modern methods will increase 

 both quality and output. 



The year 1912 crop shows a considerable falling off ia 

 quantity owing to the prolonged drought since last October. 



Toii.vc'co, UNMANi'i AcTiiuEO. The export in this trade 

 increased, the bulk going to Spain as usual. Nearly all 

 European countries, except Austria-Hungary, increased their 

 purchases. 



CIGARS ANO GiGAUETTEs. The trade in cigar-s, while 

 showing an increase over that of 1909, suffered a severe set-back 

 from 1910 The reason is the overstocking of the Americaa 

 market, which is easily the largest buyer. Etlbrts are now 

 being made to advertise the better grades of Philippine cigars 

 in the United States. The Tobacco Association took the 

 matter up, and certain regulations were made as to the size 

 and grades of tobacco to be used for the manufacture of cigars 

 for the United Statrs. 



The trade in cigarettes shows a slight decrease all round 

 with the exception of Hong Kong, which Colony took aa, 

 increased quantity. (DiplotiMtic and Consular Reiwrts^ 

 No. 4997 Annual Series; September 1912.) 



CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM IN THE SOIL. 



The eti'ect of ditleient proportions of lime and magne- 

 sium in soils has for some years received considerable atten- 

 tion fiom the manurial aspect and has been referred to in the 

 Agricultural Xews, Vol. XI, p. 184, among other places. 

 I'.ut it was not until 1910 that Lipman and more recently 

 Kelly began investigations upon the influence of these sub- 

 stances on nitrification and ammonification. The folIowing^ 

 information is obtained from the University of California 

 Publications, Vol. I, No. 3, in which Kelly's work is 

 described. 



The addition of calcium carbonate to 100 grams of 

 the particular soil exi)erimented with, stimulated the ammoni- 

 fication of dried blood that had been previously added, and 

 in the case of nitrification, a 50-per cent, stimulation w^as 

 effected by the addition of 1 gram of the salt to the amount 

 of soil mentioned. 



With magnesium carbonate a pronounced toxic effect 

 was produced. In the ammonification of dried blood a loss 

 occurred compared with the exi)eriments without the use Of 

 carbonates, while in the nitrification experiments, magnesium 

 carbonate completely prevented nitrate formation. No 

 evidence of antagonism between calcium and magnesium 

 carbonates was observed. 



It is pointed out that these remarkable phenomena are 

 not necessarily universal, in fact data appear to have beea 

 already obtained from other soils showing that the effects- 

 described above are unusual; and before generalizations can 

 be made llicre must be further investigation. An interesting 

 exti nsion of the work is the examination, in a similar manneo 

 by the same investigator, of Hawaiian soils, and when tha 

 results have b(!en completed they are likely to prove an impor- 

 tant addition to the pn sent scanty knowledge of biological 

 transformations in tropical soils. 



