ToL. VIII Xo. n 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



35 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Supfar Industry at Barbados. 



Although the- cane crop rt-aptd at Barbado.s in 

 1908 was but a small one (yielding 29,410 tons of 

 -sugar, and .50,112 puncheons of molasses), largely owing 

 to the irregular rainfall, yet it is api)arent that estate 

 owners and others in the island have decided confi- 

 dence in the prospects of the sugar industry in the 

 near future. This is evidenced by the ready sale at 

 good prices of a number of estates that came into the 

 market during the past year, and by the expenditure that 

 is being made on many estates in improving machinery, 

 etc. The Barbados Agricultu ral Reportt-r lately referred 

 to these points, and after enumerating the estates 

 that have changed hands in the past year, it gives the 

 following particulars as to improvements on various 

 plantations : — 



IVrhaps a stronger evidence of revived confidence in the 

 sugar industry of Barbados than the purchase of estates 

 is the active steps taken daring the year to improve 

 machinery. A tive-rollcr mill was added to the fine 

 plant at Bulkeley, in time for the crop of the year. 

 At Carrington the ' tiiple ' was used for the first time, 

 fxtensive improvements having been made at the begin- 

 ning of the year. Immediately after the close of the crop, 

 jirrangements were made at Ivendal for remodelling the boil- 

 ing house and for Liying down a new Stilling boiler. The 

 work is now being pushed so that the alteiations may be 

 ready for the eundng crop. Stirling boileis have been put in 

 at the Pine, Biigliton, A|)plewhaite-i, and Easy Hall. The 

 advantages obtained by the use of the centrifugal process 

 are so evident, that in several i>laces wheie the windmill is 

 still used for crushing, oil engines are being set up this season 

 for operating centrifugals. Mount Gay and FLsher Pond are 

 estates where this improvement is being made. 



The trend of oiiinion seems to have set more towards 

 centralization in the manufacture of sugar than at any former 

 period. At Foursquai-e, Piulkeley, Carrington, and Bruce \&]e, 

 a very considerable amount of work was done on the central 

 system. Applewhaites also purchased canes from the small 

 growers around. A Committee of the Legislature has been 

 appointed to consider the question of establishing a Central 

 Factory on cooperative principles ; but its jaoceedings are not 

 yet available to the public. 



Tillage Experiments in Sugar-cane Cultivation. 



In the report, recently issued by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, dealing with the work of 

 .the Agricultural and Botanical Departments of Barba- 

 dos since 189!S, there appears a note containing par- 

 ticulars of some tillage experiments carried out in the 

 cultivation of sugar-cane on Hampton plantation. 



In these experiments a ver}' level field, 61 acres in area 

 was first cut out into ten large strips. Five different pro- 

 cesses of tillage were practised on the fii>t five strips, and 

 these were repeated on the second series ot five strips. 



Plots Nos. 1 and 6 were first subsoiled close. They 



were lined at distances of 6 feet by 6 feet, and cane holes 

 dug. These two strips were cultivated in the usual estate 

 manner, and gave a return at the rate of 1.5'75 tons of cane 

 per acre, which was the highe^t yield obtained in the exjieri- 

 ments. 



The strips Nos. 2 and 7 gave the second highest return, 

 viz., 1.5'.59 tons of cane per acre. These two plots were 

 ploughed flat with a disc plough, turning under farmyard 

 manure 8 inches deep. Cane holes were dug, and the land 

 cultivated by ordinary estate methods. 



Strips Nos. 3 and 8 were first sub.soifed clo.se. Furrows 

 were then opened with a mould-board plough 6 feet apart. 

 Manure was si>read on the banks, and canes planted in the 

 furrows 6 feet apart. The average return was at the rate of 

 14'94 tons of cane per acre. 



t)n strips Nos. .5 and 10, subsoiling was first opened in 

 one direction. Between the cane hole.s, however, the land 

 was left forked. Cultivation was carried on in the usual 

 estate manner. The crop of canes obtained was at the rate 

 of l-f'2 tons per acre. 



The smallest return (at the rate of 13 '2 tons of cane per 

 acre) was obtained on strips 4 and 9. These plots were 

 first ridged with the disc plough, pen manure being turned 

 under 8 inches deep. The canes were then planted in rows 

 at the bottom of the furrow. The land was cultivated with 

 the Diamond cultivator, and trashed as usual. 



It will be observed that an e.xtreme difference of 2' tons 

 of canes per acre occurred between the most favourable and 

 the most unfavourable plots. 



Sugar Industry in Trinidad. 



As a result of the excellent rains experienced ia 

 December, and the frequent showers that fell in the 

 early part of January, fields of young cane in Trinidad 

 have lately presented a much more promising appear- 

 ance than was the case previous to the lainfall.. 

 Planteis are now bn.'sy apjilying pen manure and 

 artitici.als to the crop. Cane re.iping is now in progress 

 on a few estates, the Usine St. Madeleine in Naparima 

 having started crushing about the third week in 

 January. 



.'\n interesting meeting of planters and cane farmers wa.s. 

 held at Prince's Town on Januaiy 12 last, under the presi- 

 dency of the Warden of Savanna Grande, in order to discuss- 

 the prices which should be paid by estate ov>'ners for farmer- 

 grown canes in the conung season. One of the chief speakers 

 on the subject was Mr. H. E. Murray, attorney to the estates 

 of the New Colonial Company. Mr. Murray stated that 

 when sugar fetched 3|c. per lb. in New York, factory owners 

 received only ■5P9.5 per 100 lb., so that at this figure they 

 could only give 8.v. Qd. per ton for farmers" canes. After 

 di.scussion, the following scale of payment, based on the price 

 of sugar on the New York market, was adopted : — 



Price of sugar Price of Farmers' 



per If). cane per ton. 



3|c. or under 8s. Qd. 



3|ijc. to 4c. 9.S. Orf. 



4-fLc. to 4^c. 9s. 3-/. 



4^c. to 4-pyC. 9s. 6f?. 



4ic. to 4|^c. 10s. Qd. 



4|c. to 4ifc. IDs. ()(/. 



.5c. and over 1 Is. Qd. 



On behalf of the farmers present, the Secretary of the 

 Cane Farmers' Association expressed satisfaction with the 

 terms of this scale. 



