Vol. IV. No. 81. 



THE AGEICULTUEAL NEWS. 



ur 



carried out at Barbados during the crop pjriod 

 1904-C :— 



AREA AND NUMBER OF EXPEKIMENTS. 



Tlie total area under exiieriiiiental sugar-canes for this 

 period is estimated at 81 acres, and there are in all 9,994 

 varieties of seedling canes and exjieiimental jilots under 

 growth. 



These experiments arrange themselves under the 

 following heads : — 



(1) 'I'lie raising of improved varieties of sugar-cane 

 from seed and by chemical selection of the cane plants. 



(2) The improvement of the yield of present varieties 

 by improvement in the methods of cultivation and manuring. 



SEEDLISG CANES. 



These experiments are a continuation, with modifications, 

 of the work carried on since 1899. It consists in raising 

 large numbers of new varieties from seed and in subjecting 

 each to a careful and systematic study in the field and 

 laboratory. 



This study divides itself into raising the varieties and 

 studying them in successive stages of cultivation, during 

 which the unfavourable varieties are eliminated and the 

 favourable varieties are propagated in gradually increasing 

 quantities, studying them first on an experimental and, 

 finally, on an estate scale in the various districts of the 

 island. 



The first stage of seedling canes is now being grown for 

 the first time this season with limited irrigation, and it is 

 anticipated that the process of elimination and selection will 

 thereby be greatly accelerated. 



For the first time also the artificial cross-fertilization of 

 known and highly favourable varieties of seedling canes has 

 been successfully accomplished by direct pollination of 

 emasculated flowers. It has only been possible in this first 

 attempt (carried out in October to December 1901) to save 

 four seedlings, but it is hoped that means will be found to 

 carry out this process on a comparati\'ely large scale in 

 October 190.5. In this way, both parents of each seedling- 

 will be known and will be selected with reference to their 

 specially fa^ouralile characters. 



During 1901, 8,000 seedlings were rals:^d from seed and 

 ■will be reaped and individually studied during the period 

 under record. In the second stage 1,166 seedling varieties 

 will be reaped and analysed ; 497 varieties will be similarly 

 studied in the third stage, and 221 plots of later stages of 

 selected seedlings grown in plots in all the typical districts 

 of the island will be reaped, and analysed. 



These .seedlings are distributed over twelve estates and 

 cover an area of about 40 acres. 



CHEMICAL SELECTION. 



There are two plots of chemical selection canes in ' Pear 

 Tree ' field at Waterford, where they are grown with irriga- 

 tion, covering an acre of '1.5 acres. The canes will be reaped 

 and a proportion individually analysed in continuation of the 

 attempt to improve the richness of the cane by repeated 

 replanting from the richest individuals. 



MANURIAL EXPERIMENTS. 



There are 111 small manurial plots of plant and ratoon 

 canes covering an area of 15 acres, and twenty-four large 

 manurial plots (1 acre each) covering an area of 24 acres. 

 These are distributed over seven typical estates. 



OTHER EXPERIMENTS. 



A series of experiments in the germicidal treatment of 

 cane plants will be reported upon during this period. The 

 object of the experiment is to ascertain the effect of such 



treatment, carried out with the object of preventing the- 

 dccess of fungoid diseases to the young plants, upon the 

 proportion of 'seedcanes ' that germinate and the condition 

 of the resulting young jilants. 



SUMMARY OE PLOTS ANIJ AREAS. 



Smaller manurial plots ... Ill with area of 14-7 acres. 



Large manurial plots ... 24 „ ,, ,, 239 ,, 



Selected seedlings, plants ... 1.35 ,, ,, ,, 9'2 ,, 



do. do. ratoons ... 86 „ ,, ,, 56 „ 



New seedlings, etc., 23lants .. . 411 „ „ „ 13-5 „ 



do. ratoons ... 86 ,, „ ,, 4'3 ,, 



Chemical selections ... 2 ,, „ ,, '15 „ 



Seedlings of 1st. year ... 1,166 „ „ „ 80 „ 



Seedlings in pots ... 8,000 (in pots) 



Total 



10,021 Total. 



79-35 



Enzymes in Sugar-cane. 



The following review of an article by C A. Browne 

 in fScience, on ' The formation of toxic products by 

 vegetable enzymes,' is taken from the Experiment 

 Station Record : — 



In the course of experiments with sugar-cane the author 

 reports having frequently observed that cane which had 

 been sterilized by steaming suffered a more rapid 

 deterioration through attacks of molds and bacteria than raw 

 cane. Further it has been observed that juice from the 

 upper green portion of the living cane is more resistant to 

 fermentation than juice from the riper joints further down. 

 The juice from the top of the cane undergoes a rapid 

 darkening after [iressing, while that from the middle and 

 bottom exhibits such a change to a much less degree, and 

 the juice from steamed cane exhibits no change in coloration 

 whatever. 



The change in colour is attributed to the action of the 

 oxidizing enzymes, and that such bodies do occur in the 

 sugar-cane is readily shown. From the association of the 

 coloration phenomena with resistance to fermentation, it is 

 concluded that the dark-coloured oxidation products produced 

 by enzymes maj' have a toxic or germicidal action. That 

 they do possess this characteristic is shown by experiments 

 which are described at some length. 



CARRIACOU. 



A Cottagers' Show. 



According to the Grenada Cltronicle, Mr. Whitfield 

 Smith, the Commissioner of Carriacou, is organizing, 

 a Cottagers' Show to be held in November next. It is- 

 stated : — 



This move is deserving of all the support and encourage- 

 ment possible. We learn from a notice which is being 

 circulated in Carriacou that at the, proposed show the 

 Government will offer money prizes for the best exhibits of 

 stock, vegetables, and fruit, and products manufactured in 

 the island, the prizes being intended only for the holders of 

 not more than 10 acres of land. His Excellency the 

 Governor has expressed his intention to be present to open 

 the show and distribute the prizes. We are informed that 

 great interest is being shown by the people of Carriacou in 

 this movemen'-, anl the occasion already promises to be an 

 unqualified success. 



