Vol. VIII. No. 183. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



141 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



Seasonal Notes. 

 Mav. 



1st Fortnight. 

 The effects of mulching young canes with trash 

 is a subject that deserves careful attention. Students 

 should observe these effects, and note the difference 

 between young canes that have been trashed, and those 

 which have not been so treated. The effect of mulching 

 the more advanced canes, should any trashing be done 

 later in the season, is also a matter for observation. 



' The question of the amount of tillage, that may with 

 advantage be given to ratoon canes is an important one. 

 Students should discuss this matter, and wherever 

 possible, make a point of comparing the relative effects 

 of surface tillage, carried out to produce a dust mulch 

 •1 or 2 inches deep, and deep cultivation of the soil, 



■undertaken after the young canes have started to grow. 

 Students on cotton estates should take the oppor- 

 tunity, when ginning is in progress, to get to understand 



-clearly the structure and working of the gin. Observe 

 how it is set, and the chief points that must receive 

 attention if the machine is to be kept in good working 



■order. At the end of the season, the quantity of lint 



that has been gathered per acre from the different 



fields shohld be noted, and an effort made to ascertain 



the causes which have resulted in differences of yield. 



Now that the Easter cacao crop has been nearly 



. all gathered, many points in connexion with the sanita- 

 tion of the plantations need attention. Dead branches 



■will have to be cut out, pruning done where required, 

 and suckers removed. All wounds tnust be treated 

 with the tar and resin oil mixture. Note under what 



• conditions it is advisable to prune Hghtly, and when 

 more heavy pruning is advantageous to the trees. 



Keep a sharp look-out for scale insects and other 

 pests on lime trees. In this connexion look up 

 Pamphlet No. 5 in the series issued by this Depart- 

 ment. 



Fields planted in corn in November or December 

 last will now have been reaped. A look-out should be 

 4cept for weevils in stored corn. Ascertain the yield 



■ of grain reaped, and see how this compares with the 

 return obtained in other countries. 



Questions for Candid^ates. 



PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.' 



(1) What is meant by ' assiinilatioQ ' of plant food? 



(2) Enumerate the principal characteristics of a 



soil. 



{V 



fertile 



(0) AVhat is grafting, and why is it possible to graft 

 <licotyIedonous, and not monocotyledouous plants ? Indicate 

 bricHy the chief ditl'erences between these two groups of plants. 



INTERMEDIATE QUESTION.S. 



(1) How can root disease {M(ir(i»)iiius) be detected in 

 ,ratoon canes, and what are the remedies ,i§pggested.? 



,.,,,,, (2) Which variety of cane do you consider best suited 

 tO: your district, and why? Describe brieifly its characters. 

 (.'5) Discuss the various shade trees for cacao, and state 

 for what localities you recommend them. 



TOBACCO CULTIVATION IN CUBA. 



The methods of raising tobacco, and the prices 

 paid for lal:>our on tobacco estates in Cuba, have been 

 investigated by the United S,tates Consul at Havana, 

 and are reported upon in de'&iil in the Consular and 

 Trade Reports for FebruaTy last, issued from 

 Washington. 



The chief tobacco-growing districts of Cuba are in the 

 provinces of Havana and Pinar del Rio, and it is here that 

 the best quality leaf is grown. Of late years the cost of 

 production has largely increased, owing to the greater demand 

 for labour in connexion with other industries. 



The Consul takes as the basis of his estimate an area 

 equal to an English acre, and gives the details of expenditure 

 necessary to produce the tobacco from the young plant to the 

 leaf in bale, both when sun-grown, and when raised under 

 shade provided by cheese cloth. By far the greater part of 

 the Cuban tobacco is raised in the open without shade of any 

 kind. Generally speaking, the shade-grown tobacco is for 

 wrappers of cigars, and that raised in the open (the less 

 expensive process) serves for filler purposes. 



The following statement of expense is given for produc- 

 ing an acre of tobacco in the open : — 



Sun-grown (<J2Jen) Tobacco. 



Ploughing, 20 days' wages at $1-20 124-00 



Planting, 10 „ „ „ „ 12-00 



Supplying, 3 „ „ „ „ 3-60 



Hoeing (3 times) 21 days' ,, ,, ... ... 2-5-20 



Other cultivation expenses (estimated), such as 



topping, pulling off suckers, etc. ... ... 1.5-00 



Gathering crop, 15 days' wages at . $120 ... 1800 

 Labour in curing house (perhaps 2 days' wages) 3-00 



Packing labour (unskilled) 8 bales at 16-00 ... 48-00 



Total, Spanish currency .. 

 Total, American currency 



$148-80 

 1129-40 



In order to reduce the Spanish figures to their equiva- 

 lent in American currency, it is neces.sary to make a deduction 

 of about 1 3 per cent. It will h^ seen, therefore, that the 

 average price given for labour on tlie Cuban tobacco planta- 

 tions amounts to about $1-05 per day. This labour must be 

 regarded as more or less skilled. The sum of f 24^00 (Spanish) 

 for ploughing an acre of land may seem an expensive item, 

 but it should be pointed out that under this heading are 

 really included all the operations of cultivation, and it may 

 really involve several ploughings of the land, which is tho- 

 roughly prepared before planting. 



The expenses of growing the crop under shade are far 

 greater, and are placed at an average of $3 28 20 per acre. 

 When shade is provided, a somewhat higher yield is usually 

 obtained — about 10 bales per acre, and the value of the 

 product is, of course, considerably greater. The figures which 

 have been quoted do not represent the total cost of production. 

 In addition to the items enumerated, the cost of supervision, 

 depreciation of plant and implements, etc., must be taken into 

 account. It is mentioned that the total time occupied in the 

 production of tobacco from seed to bale is about six months. 

 The average price realized per (bale (150 lb.) of Cuban 

 tobacco is not far from $60, and the best qualities command 

 prices of from $70 to nearly $100 1 per bale. On the whole, 

 therefore, the industry would appear to be highly profitable. 



