Vol. IX. No. 221 



THE AOIJICULTURAL NEWS. 



339 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



THE INFLUENCE OF MOLASSffS ON 



SOIL FERTILITY. 



An article appeared in the Agricultural News, Vol. VII, 

 p. 227, which described the work of .Mr. W. P. Ebbels, of 

 Beau Sejour, Mapou, Mauritius, on the fertilizing influence 

 of molasses applied to sugar-cane soils. 



As a result of the statements tli;it were made in this 

 article, it was decided that experiments to test the iuHueiice 

 of molasses on the soil should be undertaken by the Agri- 

 cultural Department in Antigua. These are described in the 

 report on Sugar-Cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands, 

 1908-9, and in I'amphlet 64 of the Department Series. The 

 investigations are being continued. 



A communication has been received recently, from 

 Mr. Ebbels, in whicli he refers to the experiments that are 

 being conducted in Antigua, pointing out, with reference to the 

 statement that the increases of yield olitained were doubt 

 fully remunerative at the price at which exhausted molasses 

 was then selling, that further consideration is required, in 

 the light of the fact that experience in Mauritius has shown 

 the effect to continue after the third ratoons. This result 

 was obtained where the molasses was ai'plied to the. land 

 before p'antiiiL'. 



Mr. Kbbels goes on to state that, in 1908 a field of third 

 ratoon Mauritius Seedling No. .33 was reaped, to part of which 

 molasses had been applied before the field was planted. It 

 was found that this portion of the field yielded 5 tons of cane 

 per arpent (1013 acres) more than the part which had 

 received no molasses, the actual return being 24 tons against 

 19; although, with the exception of the troalment with 

 molasses, the manuring and cultivation of the ditieveiit parts 

 had been exactly similar. It is pointed out that, though this 

 was not a carefully conducted field exi)criment, the difference 

 in yield seems to be i|uito sufficient to indicate that the 

 effects of the molasses had net ceased during the three 

 previous crops. 



These results are supported by the experience of M. I'. 

 Boname, Director of the Station Agronomiijue, ^Mauritius. 

 In the annual report of this station for 190S, a copy of which 

 was sent by Mr. Ebbels, an account of exjicriments conducted 

 at the station in connexion with the matter is given, and a state- 

 ment is made that the effect of the influence of the molasses 

 does not appear to be exhausted during the first year, but seems 

 to make itself felt for some time. The actual statement is to 

 the effect that the employment of molasses for manuring the 

 soil, where no more useful substance is available, is a rational 

 procedure. Whether the unmistakable results from it are due 

 to the action of sugar contained in it on the development of 

 useful soil bacteria, or to any other cause, it seems that 

 they are more marked than those which would arise simply 

 from the fertilizing sul)Stances contained in the molasses. In 

 other words, the results obtained by the application of 

 molasses to .soil are greater than those which could be pro- 

 duced from the direct ajjplication of ordinary manures con- 

 taining the same quantity of nitrogen, iihosphorus and potash 

 as there is in the molas.ses. 



Attention is drawn by Mr. Ebbels to the fact that the 

 results of the experiments conducted at the Station Agronom- 

 ique show that, where molasses was used in addition to 

 a complete chemical manure, the third ratoons yielded 3^ 

 tons of cane in excess of that from the control plot; the 

 total yield for the four crops was 19 tons greater where 

 molasses had been used. Where nitrogen was omitted from 

 the cheniical manure, the yield from the third ratoons, with 

 molasses, was over 2A !■ iis per arpent in excess of that from 

 the control plot; for the four crops, in this case, the increase 

 was 30i tons. 



Further information is given to the effect that the use of 

 molasses, in addition to the ordinary application of chemical 

 manure, is made in the following way. The molasses is 

 applied at the rate of 1 litre to each hole, two months 

 before the canes are planted. This means an application of 

 about 660 gallons per arpent, t.aking 3,000 holes per arpent, 

 and it is stated that this does not seem to incur a very heavy 

 outlay, for the [lurpose of obtaining 19 or 20 tons of cane. 



The work that is being carried out at the Station Agro- 

 nomique. Mauritius, in this connexion, will receive further 

 attention in a future number of the Aoricultural Ketvs. 



DEMERARA SEEDLING CANES IN 

 LOUISIANA. 



In an article entitled ' The Increasing Popularity of the 

 Demerara Seedlings', the Modern Sugar Planter for Sep- 

 tember 3, 1910, states that, from all sections of the State 

 where D. 74 is grown, re])orts are heard that planters intend 

 to increase the area in this seedling for the next cane crop. 

 The reason for this is said to be the fact that this cane was 

 able to weather the September storm of last year much better 

 than the several varieties of home cane, even though the 

 Demerara seedling appeared to have been the most .seriou.sIy 

 damaged by the storm. Both as regards tonnage and yield 

 of sugar, the latter cane did far better than the home cane, 

 during the 1909 harvest, and showed better health and 

 vigour. 



It has been the usual practice in Louisiana to plant 

 D. 74 toward the end of the year. There is a likelihood, 

 however, that its planting will be no longer confined to this 

 season, for instances arc on record where this variet}-, planted 

 last spring, produced entirely satisfactory stands. 



The cine D.9.5, which has not received as nuich atten- 

 tion as D. 74, is novertlieless coming more into favour with 

 planters. Where it has lioen planted to any extent, the 

 general opinion seems to be that it is the equal of D.74, and 

 that for new lands, it is the best cane obtainable. It shares 

 with D.74 the superiority over hom-j varieties, in the ability 

 to resist storms. 



Other points in favour of D.9.T that are mentioned in 

 the article arc: that it resists the effects of inundations by 

 tide waters better than any other cane; that it shades the 

 ground more effectively than D.74; and that it 3 iclJs superior 

 material for spring planting. 



The article concludes with the statement that both these 

 seedlings, ever since their introduction into Louisiann, have 

 been so carefully watched, and subjected to such careful grow- 

 ing tests, that their survival and continuance in favour seem 

 to be sufficient proof of their being worthy cane varie'.ies for 

 a still further enlargement of areas in the parishes. 



