Vol. XV. No. 365. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



131 



scientific habifc of mind exercised by conscious eftbrt. 

 Far greater results will follow when the habit becomes 

 automatic and unconscious. This condition can readily 

 be created by quite moderate work in the elementary 

 stages in the education of children, and that without 

 expensive and terrifying efforts at teaching science. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Use of Nitrogenous Manures for Cane in 



Louisiana. — Figures of some inteie.st are published in the 

 Louisiana Planter for March 18, to show (1) the relative 

 value of different nitrogenous manures, and (2) the value of 

 calcium cyanamide and calcium nitrate compared with sulph- 

 ate of ammonia and nitrate of so<ia. Detailed results of 

 the experiments are not given, so that the results cannot be 

 studied critically: it would seem, liowever, that sulphate of 

 ammonia has given best results, followed by dried blood, 

 cotton seed meal, fish scrap, nitrate of soda and tankage. 

 As regards the two new manures, calcium cyanamide and 

 calcium nitrate, the mean of two years is as follows: cal- 

 cium cyanamide gave 25-94 tons cane per acre, calcium 

 nitrate, 29' 27, and the control plot 21-77. In another table 

 calcium cyanamide gave better results than calcium nitrate. 

 These results are interesting, in view of the fact that experi- 

 ments in the Leeward Islands have shown calcium cyanamide 

 to possess little value as a manure for sugar-cane. 



British Sugar Consumption.— The Royal Com- 

 mission on sugar supplies in the United Kingdom, according 

 to the International Sugar Journal, have decided to import 

 from 20 to 25 per cent, less sugar during the current year 

 owing to the present great shortage of shipping tonnage, it 

 being held that other articles of import must have precedence 

 in the available ships. It is not proposed at present to 

 raise the retail price to any appreciable extent, so it is left to 

 the public to practise the requisite economy. The Interna- 

 tional Sugar Journal thinks that in view of the high 

 standard of wages now prevailing, the general public will 

 not be likely to reduce their consumption, in which case 

 the Commission will be forced eventually to raise prices to 

 a much higher level, or issue sugar tickets something on the 

 principle of the food cards in Germany. The Journal referred 

 to suggests that some restriction should be placed upon the 

 utilization of such large quantities of sugar for the manufac- 

 ture of confectionery, particularly that sort commonly classed 

 as 'sweets'. These articles are decidedly indulgencies if not 

 luxuries, and it would seem only reasonable that a reduction 

 in consumption of this class of confectionery should take 

 place. In this connexion it should be remembered that any 

 restrictions might affect the West Indies, not only as regards 

 sugar, but also as regards cacao and the various essential oils 

 used in the manufacture of confectionery. 



which has been placed by him before the Board of Agriculture 

 of that Colony, with a view to increasing the introduction'of 

 motor implements for economising labour in the production 

 of sugar. Enquiries have been made in Great Britain^ 

 Canada, and the LTnited States as to what motor implements- 

 might prove satisfactory for the Colony. Replies have not 

 yet been received from Canada and the United States, but 

 the English Board of Agriculture recommend the Wylee' 

 Motor Plough as being likely to prove suitable to the condi- 

 tions of the Colony, and reasonable in price to warrant 

 experimental trial on the average estate. 



The Director of Agriculture suggests to the Board, that 

 the Governor should be asked to offer the following induce- 

 ments for estates introducing motor implements: (1) a premium 

 of Bs 750 for the first motor implement which successfully 

 performs in a satisfactory manner cultural work in the sugar- 

 cane fields of the Colony; (2) a premium of Rs. 750 for the 

 first motor implement running on industrial alcohol in the 

 Colony, which successfully performs in a satisfactory manner 

 cultural work in sugar-cane fields of the Colony. 



The statement of particulars then goes on to refer to- 

 a report of the Director of Agriculture of St. Croix, D.W.I., 

 on motor ploughing trials in that Colony in 1914. These 

 particulars have been published already in the Agricultural 

 News. 



In connexion with motor implements, it might be added 

 that in the Louisiana Planter for March 18, 1916, reference 

 is made to a new develojiment in transportation on sugar 

 estates, namely, the employment of a new Bullock tractor 

 together with a train of five cars. This motor train requires 

 no .specially prepared track, and the motor develops 60 h.p.,. 

 drawing 6-7 tons of cane in each of the five cars. 



Motor Implements in Mauritius and Cuba.— 

 "We have received from the Director of Agriculture, 

 Mauritius, a statement of particulars respecting motor ploughs 



Influence of the War on the Sugar Industry. — 

 In his article on the influence of the war on the sugar industry,, 

 published in the Internatioual Stigar Joutnal, Dr. H. C. 

 Prinsen Geerligs says that not in a single country has sugar 

 been lacking, and generally, the price in the countries of 

 production has not risen appreciably. As regards the present 

 position in Germany, it is stated that the human consumption 

 is larger than usual, owing to the enormous demands of the 

 Armies. Germany has reduced her planting of beetroots by 

 one- third. The import of sugar, it is believed, may be 

 obtained without difliculty from Austria. 



A very useful article on the sugar industry and the war 

 containing a large number of valuable statistics, is to be found 

 in the Dutch publication Archief voor de Suikerindustrie in 

 Nederlandsch- Indie, for January 1916. 



While making refere'ice to conditions in Germany, 

 atte'ition may be called to some observations on the depre- 

 ciation of the mark appearing in Dr. Geerligs' European 

 news letter dated Amsterdam, February 9, and published in 

 the Louisiana Planter for March 18. The currency of the 

 mark has fallen in every neutral capital ; in Amsterdam it 

 has dropped to about two-thirds of the gold equivalent, so 

 a Dutch merchant ordering German goods quoted in marks, 

 as is the rule, only pays 40 guildercents for one mark instead 

 of 59 as is the case in ordinary times. On the other hand, 

 the German merchant buying sugar or vegetables in Holland 

 pays for the guilder 250 marks, instead of 1-70 as he used 

 to do. Efforts to restore the currency of the mark by tho 

 Germans are thought by Dr. Geerligs as not likely to be 

 successful. 



