Vol. IX. No. 205. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



75 



carried out at the station at Dodds. These continue to indi- 

 cate the response of the sugar-cane to the use of nitrogenous 

 manures, and the fact that the application of phosphates has 

 resulted in a decrease, rather than an increa.se, in the yield. 



HEEDLIXG CAXES AXD MAM RIAL EXI'Elil- 

 MEXTS A T JIA RBA DOS, lunT'.i. Issued by the Imperial 

 Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies. 



Pamphlet Xo. ()2 of the series published by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture has been recently issued under 

 this title. It contain.^, in a concise form, the results of the 

 experiments that are described at length in the Ileport on the 

 results of the cultivation of seedling and other canes, together 

 with manurial experiments with sugar-cane, carried on at the 

 experiment stations at Harbados, cluring 1907-9, which is 

 soon to be published. 



The matters dealt with first are the mode in which the 

 experiments are carried out, together with an explanation of 

 terms used in the text: the charactei-s shown by the seedling 

 canes in the field and in the factory: a description of the 

 stations at which the experiments are conducted; and an 

 account of the climatic conditions which obtained during the 

 season under review. This introductory information is follow- 

 ed by a .section which deals with the more important results 

 that have been obtained with the varieties cultivated. After 

 an explanation has been given to the effect that these re-sults 

 only afford the means of drawing temporary conclusions from 

 one year's work, it is shown that the best returns, on the 

 black soils, have been obtained with B.3,i)l.'>, followed by 

 B.6,3j<1, and 1>.6,450, though, in justice to the last mention- 

 ed cane, it is explained that it would probably have occupied 

 an even better position, but for the fact that it met with 

 untoward conditions on several of the stations on which it 

 ■was grown. A similar analysis of the results given on the 

 red .soils presents B.208, B.3,40.5 and B,.l.-H2, in order of 

 merit, as regards yield of sucrose from pUnts. As plants 

 and first and second ratoon.s, on these soils, the order is 

 B.37t5, B.3,390 and B.3,412. 



Tables are given for the purjiose of demonstrating the 

 above results, as well as to put forward the returns that have 

 been obtained during the past five years. In the latter 

 connexion, on the black soils, the first place is taken by 

 B.6,204, which however has been grown for four years only, 

 followed by B.6,4.50, B..3,747 and B.5,3.i:5. On the red 

 soils, the order is B.3,40.5, B.3,412 and B.3,390: but, as plants 

 and first ratoons on these soils, B.3,412 occujiies tlie first 

 position, followed by B.3,390 and B.3,40."). in succession. 



The next section gives detailed information in regard to 

 the selected varieties for 1909. This is followed by an 

 exhaustive treatment of the subject of the conditions and 

 results relating to the different varieties, on the various 

 experimental stations, grown as plants and ratoons. The 

 subject is dealt with mainly by the aid of tables, and as it is 

 concerned with the individual behaviour of canes on different 

 stations, no generalizations can be put forward. Each part 

 of the tables requires to be studied in its particular appli- 

 cation. Interesting information as to the incidence of root 

 disea.se {Marasmhis stin-Imri), during different years, is given. 



The remainder of the pami>hlct is concerned with the 

 results of the usual manurial experiments that have been 



SEEDLING AND OTHER VAXES IX THE 

 LEEWARD ISLAXDS. lUoS-'j. Issued by the Imperial 

 Conimi-ssioner of Agriculture for the West Indies.' 



This is the title of Pamphlet Xo. 63 of the series 

 published by the Imperial Department of Agriculture. It 

 presents, in a concise form, the results of experiments, 

 conducted in Antigua and St. Kitts with seedling canes, 

 which are dealt with at length in the Official Report on 

 Sugar-Cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands (Part I, 

 1908-9), soon to be issued. 



The first matter to claim attention is the mode in which 

 the experiments are carried out: this is followed by a table 

 giving, in a concise manner, the chief characters of the canes 

 with which the investigations were made. The rest of the 

 publication may be divided into four parts: those dealing 

 directly with Antigua and St. Kitts, respectively, and two 

 appendixes, the first relating to the area under cultivation in 

 cane varieties at a large number of estates, in both island.s, and 

 the second to the average yields from each experiment station, 

 in the two islands, during the past eight years. 



The great increa.se that has taken place in the number 

 of seedling canes available for experiment has cau.sed twenty- 

 six of the most promising of tlie newer Demerara and 

 liarbados varieties to be included in the investigations at all 

 stations in Antigua, in addition to sixteen of the varieties that 

 have proved their value in the i>ast. The .scheme of experimen- 

 tation has therefore been modified, .so that the trials are no 

 longer conducted in duplicate, in order to give room for their 

 extended scope, and the result is that, for this island, 

 particulars are given of the yields obtained with forty-two 

 varieties, at eight stations, on single plots. In .St. Kitts, 

 the number of stations was the same as in Antigua, while 

 that of the varieties was twenty-three. 



In the case of Antigua, a discussion is given of the 

 relation between the effect of the root disease and the past 

 history of any given stool of canes as regards soil conditions. 

 In the matter of disease, too, it is mentioned that the rind 

 disease (Trirhosp/iocri'i socc/uiri) has produced rotten cane, to 

 a small extent, on some of the experiment stations. 



In the appendix which deals wth the areas of the 

 different kinds of sugar-cane under cultivation on the majority 

 of the estates, it is shown that Sealy Seedling, in Antigua, 

 has given the largest increase, although White Transparent, 

 including all its related varieties, holds the premier position, 

 but with a decrease in acreage from that of the preceding 

 season. This decrease has been taking place during several 

 years, and it will probably be greater in the future, as the 

 proved susceptibility of this cane to root disease causes it to 

 be replaced by newer varieties. The cane mostly grown in 

 St. Kitts is B. 147, and the statement is made in regard to 

 it; ' There is a growing tendency to regard this cane as 

 particularly well suited to the fertile lands supplied with 

 a good rainfall..., but as not .so well adapted to the drier 

 conditions. . .of the i-sland.' 



The .second appendix should prove specially useful to 

 the planter, as it assists him to make a direct application of 

 the results obtained at the experiment station where the 

 conditions are most nearly similar to those of his estate, and 

 thus to choose those canes for cultivation that are likely to 

 give him the best yields. 



