Vol. VIII. No. 192. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



275 



ity of a constant and careful watch for tlieir appearance, 

 and the remed'es that are useful for the purpose of 

 coping with tiiem. In the last connexion, it has only 

 been possible to give a general outline in an article 

 like the present one. For particulars, reference is 

 made to the publications of the Department that have 

 already been cited. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Sugar in Java. 



The annual report of the experiment station for 

 the Java sugar industry for 1908 (Jaarvershuj vdii 

 Jict Froefdation voor de Java-Siukcrindestrie, 1908) 

 has been received. The following notes are taken 

 from an abstract of it kindly supplied by Mr. J. Lely, 

 Chemist at the Antigua Sugar Factory. 



}\Ienlion is made of the .sudden djing-out of sugar cane 

 in several cases, and the plienomenon is attributed, in most 

 instances, to the high concentration of salts in the soil water, 

 ammonium sulphate, even, showing an abnormally high per- 

 centage, la connexion with soil conditions also, a warning 

 is given to the effect that phosphatic manures should not bs 

 us .id for sugar-cane unless chemical analysis has shown that 

 its employment is necessary, for actual harm may result 

 from this and expense is incurrsd in purchasing a useless 

 manure. [This is interesting in viev»' of the results that have 

 been obtained with phosphates in manurial experiments with 

 sugar-cane in the West Indies.] For the same reason, 

 manuring with filter press cake is not leconimended on most 

 soils. The use of potash manures is always advised against, 

 on accoimt of the fact that it is an exceptional circumstance 

 to find too little of this constituent [ircscnt for the plant's 

 needs. 



The question of the advisability of removing the tra.sh 

 from canes is considered. It has been found ex[)cdlent to 

 strip the lower, dead leaves, as their prcPence on the cane 

 interferes with the production of roots when it is earthed up. 

 Trashing high u)) has never been found to be' of any advan- 

 tage, except in the matter of helping to prevent the spread- 

 ing of cane fires. As regards the methods of planting 

 canes, it has been found, on certain estates, that grow- 

 ing them in rows -f feet apart gives a greatly increased 

 yield. 



A description is given of a new method for the extrac- 

 tion of soils for the purpose of chemical analysis which has 

 been brought forward by Profes.sor Mitscherlich. In this, 

 a solution of carbon dioxide in water is used, and special 

 ap[>aratus is required in the process. Experiments on the 

 hygroscopic properties of sugars have shown that, in the case 

 of the higher grades, a saturation of the atmosphere of 80 

 does not cause any change. Above this, they absorb water ; 

 below it, they become drier. 



Other subjects of experiment that are dealt with are 

 investigations into the use of ' blankit ' as compared with 

 that of sulphur dioxide for decolourizing purposes, and the 

 heating value of the megass from different varieties of cane. 

 With regard to the tir.st, it was found that the results from 

 careful sulphuring are as good as those from the employment 

 of blankit, with the additional advantages of lower cost and 

 no loss of sugar. Observations on the Ijehaviour of megass 



in the furnace went to .show that that from some varieties of 

 canes possessed a greater heating power than other kinds, 

 chiefly on account of its higher fibre content. This was often 

 conjoined with the fact that the juice from the cane supplying 

 that megass required less heat per ton of cane to evaporate 

 it, thus leading to an increased economy. 



The report concludes with a short biography of H. C. 

 Prin.sen Geerligs, who has finally left Java after seventeen 

 years of most successful work. Special emphasis is laid upon 

 his efforts to^^■ard the improvement of central factory methods, 

 and the good value of the many publications from his hands. 

 His great work has been to luring his superior intelligence 

 and practical insight to bear upon the sugar industry, and 

 thus to place it on a rational basis. 



EFFECTS OF APPLICATIONS OF CALCIUM 



CYANAMIDE TO SOILS. 



The following note on a widely published paper, 

 by A. Jliintz and P. Nottin, on the effects of applica- 

 tions of calcium cyanamide to soils is taken from an 

 abstract in the Experiment Station Reeord of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture for June 

 1909:- 



Comi)arative tests of the rate of nitrification of calcium 

 cynamide, ammonium sulphate, blood, and roasted leather are 

 reported, showing that, taking the rate of nitrification of 

 sul[ihate of ammonia during five months a:. 100. that of 

 calcium cyanamide was 88, dried blood 6G, and roasted 

 leather 26. When, as in these experiments, the cyanamide 

 was employed in amounts 10 to 20 times greater than those 

 ordinarily used in practice, the nitrifying organisms were 

 paralysed at first and even a small amount of dentiification 

 occurred, but in a short time the organisms apparently 

 adapted themselves to the mediam and normal nitrification 

 was restored. This retardation is due to the cyanamide and 

 not to the excess of caustic lime present. Amounts of the 

 material furnishing 3.j'7 It), of nitrogen per acre may be 

 applied without any retardation of nitrification. Very large 

 anioitnts may be applied to humus soils in a very active state 

 of nitrification without retarding this proceess, and still 

 larger amounts may be used (sixty times that employed in 

 intensive culture) if added in successive applications extend- 

 ing over a considerable iieriod (four months). 



Comparative field tests on different kinds of soil confirm 

 in general the laboratory results. In only one case vs'ere 

 unfavourable results obtained in the application of the 

 cyanamide at the time of planting. Nevertheless, &s 

 a precautionary measure, it is advised to apply the material 

 .shortly in advance of planting. The cyanamide was applied 

 in amounts furnisliing 3.5'70 lb. of nitrogen per acre in March 

 and April on wheat and oats, and in amounts furnishing 

 41 '95 lb. of nitrogen per acre on grapes and natural grass 

 lands. In damp weather there was no injury from such 

 application. In dry weather the grain and grass were 

 slifhtly burned, but soon recovered from the bad ett'ects, and 

 the final yield was not reduced. The authors advise, 

 liowever, that the cyanamide should not be api'lied as a top- 

 dres.sing except in wet weather. 



The general conclusion from these investigations is that 

 calcium cyanamide is substantially analogous to sulphate of 

 ammonia as a fertilizer. 



