Vol. IV. No. 92. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



323 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Manuring Sugar-cane in Hawaii. 



Bulletin No. 1.5 of the Experiment Stations of the 

 Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association contains the 

 results of fertilizer experiments during the vears 

 1897-1905, by Mr. C. F. Echart. The following is 

 a condensed summary of the results of these tests : — 



Lands capable of producing 1 1 tons of sugar to the aci-e 

 ■without fertilization, may be fertilized with profit, climatic 

 conditions and water .^iupply being favourable. 



While soils of high fertility may respond to mixed 

 fertilizers, the percentage of gain is greater as the soils suBer 

 a gradual exhaustion. 



The Hose Bamboo and Lahaiiia varieties of cane did not 

 show the same response to various combinations of fertilizer 

 ingredients. It is indicated that Eose Bamboo requires 

 a larger store of phosphoric acid to draw from than Lahaina 

 for the best results. Lahaina cane resi)onded more to an 

 increased supply of potash in the soil than Rose Bamboo. 



Both Hose Bamboo and Lahaina cane showed a consider- 

 able gain in yields from fertilization with nitrogen. The 

 percentage of this element in the soil on which the tests were 

 carried out was below the average for the islands. 



On a soil containing phosphoric acid (soluble in 

 a 1-per cent, solution of aspartic acid) in quantities which 

 were in large exce.ss of those contained in the average soil, 

 phosphoric acid applied with nitrogen gave yields of Kose 

 Bamboo cane exceeding those obtained when nitrogen was 

 applied alone. Under the same conditions, Lahaina cane 

 gave about the same yields following fertilization with 

 nitrogen as when nitrogen was applied with pho.sphoric acid. 



(_)n a soil containing potash (.soluble in a 1-per cent, 

 .solution of aspartic acid), in quantities comparing closel}' with 

 those of the average island .soil, Bose Bamboo and Lahaina 

 cane gave increased yields when this element was applied 

 with nitrogen. 



The separate ajiiilication of phosphoric acid in soluble 

 foiuis to lands standing high in phosphoric acid may result 

 in a loss of sugar rather than in a gain. It is indicated that 

 the chances of loss are greater with Lahaina cane than with 

 the Bose Bamboo variety in localities where the two varieties 

 wake an equally thrifty growth under normal conditions. 



Separate applications of potash in the form of sulphate 

 of potash may decrease the yields of cane. The danger of 

 loss is ai)parently greater with Lahaina cane than with Bose 

 Bamboo. This refer.s to applications of potassium sulphate 

 to lands under cane. 



The fact that the application of one particular element 

 gives negative results with respect to fertilization does not 

 warrant the assumption that the clement in question may, 

 with profit, be omitted as a eomiionent part of mixed 

 fertilizers. Aiqilied with another element, the gains may be 

 con.~iderably greater than could Ije obtained witli the latter 

 element alone. 



With both varieties the purest and richest juice was 

 obtained from the cane on the unfertilized area. In general, 

 the plots receiving incomplete fertilizers yielded juices of 

 greater imrity than those plots to which the three elements 

 were ajiplied together. 



Cultivation of Sugar in Mexico. 



The following information in regard to the 

 cultivation of sugar in the state of Vera Cruz in Mexico 

 is extracted from the U.S. Monthly Cmh-^vhtr Rciwrts 

 for Jul}-; — 



The state of Vera Cruz has lately developed into an 

 important sugar-iiroducing territory. My report for the 

 fiscal year 1900-1 states that 412 ton's of sugar were 

 exported from A'era Cruz in that year, the United States 

 having taken almost the entire output. In 190-3-4 every sugar 

 estate in the republic was busily engaged in grinding, 

 turning out mainly muscovado and centrifugal of 96", for the 

 English market. The estimate of the production of that year 

 was 1.5,000 tons, while the estimate of the production in 

 1 904-5 is 30,000 tons. 



It is evident that the sugar industry of Mexico has 

 attracted the attention of many persons, for inquiries are 

 frequently received here for information concerning the 

 industry, from the cost of land to the cost of production. 

 I have therefore procured, so far as it lay in my power, what 

 I consider trustworthy data on these points, and give them 

 herewith. 



■Mexican statistics show that in 1904, 38,668 acres were 

 planted in sugar-cane in the state of Vera Cruz. 



The yield of sugar depends upon the location of the 

 plantations. At the higher levels it is not so great as in the 

 hot lands ; 26 to 45 tons of cane per acre in the higher lands 

 would be a fair production. The saccharine matter from 

 this quantity of cane is 65 per cent, of the weight of the 

 cane, and the quantity of white centrifugal sugar produced 

 runs from 71 to 10 jier cent, or over — say, atiout 130 to 

 150 lb. of sugar per ton of cane. 



For the purpose of giving information as conijilete as 

 possible on the planting, cultivation, and cutting of cane, as 

 well as on the results and yield of sugar and aguardiente, 

 I submit the following reports from several well-established 

 sugar estates in this consular district, all owned and 

 managed by Mexicans well versed in the business : — 



Plantation A. — The total number of acres owned by 

 this company is 14,386, valued at $2,700,000, of which 

 2,484 acres are planted with cane. The production during 

 normal years is from 8,000 to 10,000 arrobas, or, say, from 

 200,000 to 250,000 lb. of cane per hectare (2-471 acres). 

 The quantity of sugar produced is equal to about 9 per cent, 

 of the weight of the cane, and the estate has a capacity of 

 7,500 tons of sugar for the season, which is put on board 

 cars at a cost of 2c. per lb. 



Plantation B. — This estate has an area of 1,912'5 acres, 

 of which 714 acres are rented. An area of 714 acres is 

 planted with cane and produces 62 tons of cane per hectare 

 (2'471 acres). The quantity of sugar produced is 225 lb. 

 from every 2,500 lb. of cane, and 70 litres (181 gals.) of 

 aguardiente of 30° from every 2,575 lb. of cane. The total 

 yearly' production of sugar is 175 tons and aguardiente, of 

 30°, 11,690 barrels of 70 litres {l^ gals.) each. The total 

 cost of production of the sugar put down at Vera Cruz is 

 63jc. for 25 lb. There are no other products than those 

 mentioned. 



Plantation C. — This estate has an area of 4,336"6 acres, 

 which are valued at •''^30,000. Of the total acreage, 1,255'5 

 acres are planted with cane, and an equal area is utilized as 

 pasture land. The annual production of cane amoiuits to 75 

 tons jier hectare (2'471 acres), and the yield of sugar 10 per 

 cent, of the cane. The total annual production of sugar io 

 3,750 tons. 



