Vol. VIII. Xo. 193 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



293 



REPORT OF THE SUGAR-CANE EXPERI- 

 MENTS COMMITTEE, BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 

 BRITISH GUI AX A, IQOS. 



This deals with the results of the cultivation of varieties 

 of canes on sugar i)lantations in British fluiana during the 

 two crops of the year ended December 1908. The informa- 

 tion included in the report is obtained from the results 

 placed at the disposal of the Board by thirty-plantations on 

 which variety trials were being made. It has reference to 

 the yields of commercial sugar from the different varieties of 

 cane ; the distribution of the varieties between the estates 

 whose results were available, together with a comparison of 

 their yields : the differences in yields resulting from those 

 in soil and meteorological conditions : a comparison of the 

 yields in the earlier and later months of the year : details of 

 the data of results obtained on areas of not less than 20 acres 

 on any estate : similar information to that which has been 

 detailed, for the years 1901 to 190.S ; opinions as to the 

 milling qualities and the fuel value of the megass of the 

 different varieties ; and information in regard to the suit- 

 ability of different varieties to different soils, as well as to the 

 signs of deterioration that are becoming evident in some 

 cases. 



In regard to the results from the thirty-five plantations, 

 it is shown that the Bourbon cane occupies by far the greater 

 acreage, followed by D.62.5, D.109, and B.208. The returns 

 showing the true average yield of commercial sugar in tons 

 per acre for each variety place B..37(j at the head, followed 

 by Green Transparent (Selangor), D.G2.5 and B.208. 0.625, 

 Bourbon and D.109 lead easily in the matter of the number 

 of plantations from which reports are made concerning them, 

 and of these D.625 has .shown the largest number of 

 instances of highest and second yields. On the different 

 estates, as regards the yields of tons of commercial sugar per 

 acre, D.62.'5 is always among the tirst three, D.145 among 

 the first five, and D.109, B.147, B.208 and Bourbon among 

 the fir.st six, varieties. D.62.5 showed least variation in yield 

 under wet and dry conditions, closely followed by D.109. 



It is pointed out that the variety D.109, which 

 appears to be rapidly falling off' in its general yield.s, gave 

 the highest one for the year as regards areas of over 20 acres : 

 this was from plant canes. In the same connexion, B.208 

 (ratoons) and 1).625 (ratoons) came next, while the lowest 

 minima were scored by the former of the.se and by Bourbon 

 (plants). In the details that are given of the means of the 

 figures obtained in the juice analysis of each variety in 

 regard to which report of five or more trials were received, 

 E. 14 7 shows the juice with the highest sucrose content and 

 purity, for plants, and B.20S, similarly, for ratoons. 



Turning nor/ to the results for the period 1904-8, the 

 largest yields of commercial sugar per acre for that time have 

 been given by D.625, D.145 and B.208 in this order. 

 Similarly, for the period 1901-8, D.G25, D.145 and D.109 

 head the list for plants and for ratoons. Opinions of the plant- 

 ers as to milling qualities and the fuel value of the megass 

 vary greatly as usual, but Bourbon, Green Transparent, 



B.376 and D.4,399 appear to be best as regards the former, 

 and the first and last mentioned canes, together with B.41, 

 best in respect to the latter, quality. The highest sucrose 

 content and quotient of iiurity of the juice, for the years 1904-8, 

 have been shown by B.208, D.74 ( four years only) and I). 95. 

 The following statements are made toward the conclusion 

 of the report : ' The experiments indicate that many varieties 

 of sugar-cane can be relied upon in British Guiana to give 

 yields of sugar in (juantities eijual to or greater than those 

 obtained from the Bourbon, f,ud that several varieties possess 

 well-marked ratooning (jualities. D.625 and D.145 can be 

 safely recommended for trial on relatively heavy lands, B.208 

 is especially suited for lighter soils, and B. .376 and D.4,399 

 appear to be worthy of more extended trials. Certain 

 varieties — the AVhite Transparent and its seedling progeny, 

 D.74, D.9.5, D.109, D.11.5, D.116 and D.117— .show 

 marked signs of falling off' in their yields, especially where 

 grown as ratoon canes, and the Committee feel that their 

 cultivation .should not be continued except on lands which 

 have proved very suitable to their growth. D.109 showed 

 on many plantations signs of falling off' in its yields, especially 

 where grown as 2nd and as older ratoons, although on some 

 it gave ver}' satisfactory results as plant canes. The falling 

 oft' in the yields of certain of the varieties noticed in this 

 colony is similar to experience reported from elsewhere with 

 varieties of sugar-cane which have been raised from seed. 

 The Committee recognize that it is a very important factor, 

 and it is receiving their close attention.' 



A NEW FIBRE MACHINE. 



A description of a new machine for decorticating 

 and scutching is given in the Natal Agricultural 

 Journal for June 1909. It has been named the 

 ' World's Decorticator ', and is gaid to be capable of 

 dealing with ^4 r/j^r*' (dagger) Sansevieria (bow-string 

 hemp), pine-apple, banana, Fhormiutn tenax (New 

 Zealand i\ax\ and other fibres, while it is said that 

 satisfactory trials have been made with ramie and 

 jute. 



According to the prospectus, it is a combined crushing 

 and combing machine, and is so simple in its action that 

 any one can attend to, and work it, without jirevious 

 knowledge of the operation of decorticating. By this 

 system, the leaves and stems have their fibres extracted in 

 one operation, and the combs are automatically and continu- 

 ously cleaned during tne time the machine is working. Up 

 to the present time, a boating action has been employed ia 

 nearly all the machines used for separating the fibrous parts 

 of leaves and stems from the pulpy and woody matter in 

 which they are embedded. In carrying out this beating 

 action, blades are emploj'ed which have to be set very 

 accurately to work against a plate or cushion, and owing t<t 

 the fact that this great accuracy is required, it is necessary 

 to have a skilled workman to set and attend to the working 

 of the machine in order to avoid waste, for if the blades are 

 set too closely the fibre is chipped and destroyed, while if 

 the blades are set too far apart, the work of cleaning the 

 fibre is not properly done. Furthermore, it is necessary to 

 have considerable power to drive the machines now on the 

 market, some requiring as much as 60 horse-power. With 

 the hand-power ' AVorld's ' machine, it is said, ' two ordinary 

 native labourers can produce upwards of SO lb. to 100 lb. of 

 clean fibre per day, whereas by the usual hand-beating 

 a native can do only about 3 lb. per day '. The machine is 

 sold by the Worlds Fibres Machinery Corporation, Ltd., 

 16, Finsbury Circus, London, E.C. 



