Vol. X. No. 236. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



147 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



WEST INDIAN SUGAR-CANE .^SEED- 

 LINGS IN QUEENSLAND. 



The Annual Report of the Burmu of Su-i/iir Fxperidient 

 Stations, Queensland, for 1910, contains information con- 

 cerning several varieties of West Indian cane seedlings that 

 are under trial in that State. 



Among the Barbados seedlings, at the Mackay Central 

 Sugar Experiment Station, B. 147 is stated to be a promising 

 cane, and to appear healthier and stronger than the other 

 seedlings under trial. Tables containing details of analysis 

 and field observations show that this cane takes a high 

 place in regard to richness of juice and yield per acre. 

 Other canes showing promise in the same trials are Mauritius 

 Malagache, Q. 2 and (^ 5. In the districts south of Mackay, 

 B. 20S has given fair promise in a few localities, but has 

 been generally regarded as rather delicate in constitu- 

 tion; in some parts, however, it has yielded remarkably good 

 results. 



A fair number of trials has been made with D 1 1 3.5, 

 and south of Mackay it has been found to give good results, 

 both as plant cane and ratoons. It is stated, in fact, to 

 have a good reputation in the southern districts, quite GO to 

 SO per cent, of the cane grown around I'.undaberg being of 

 this variety, which is known there under the names D. 11 and 

 Frost Ilesister. It is also mentioned specially from other 

 districts of the same locality. Another Demerara cane, name- 

 ly D.14S3j is stated to be highly s[ioken of in the same 

 part of Queensland. 



Besults similar to the above do not appear to have beun 

 obtained with T.60 — the only Trinidad seedling mentioned 

 as being under trial — as it does not seem to flourish in the 

 districts south of ilackay. In the north, however, this cane is 

 exhibiting much greater promise, and i-i stated to have caused 

 great surprise when its behaviour was compared witli that 

 shown by it in other places. It appears to be particularly 

 suited to the drier soils that are found north of Mackay: and 

 under irrigation, it has been found to form a good, u|)riglit, 

 thick cane, ■which is quiekly coming into greater favour 

 among growers. Its development is comparatively slow, but 

 the crop produced is healthy, and canes 1 2 feet long and 

 more than G.', inches in circumference have been obtained 



It is of interest that, in some parts outside Mackay, 

 canes were observed to show symptoms of disease similar to 

 the West Indian root disease, particularly where the same 

 soil had supported the Piose Bamboo and Striped Singapore 

 for many years. Dr. Cf'b[>, lately of the Hawaiian Sugar 

 E.xperiment Station, thinks however, that there is some con- 

 nexion between this disease and the fungus known as the 

 coral stinkhorn {Fhallns sp.), and this view is given support 

 by the observation that the characteristic spore-bearing stage 

 of the fungus has been very p'entiful in some parts where the 

 disease has occurred. 



Information as to the distribution of sugar-cane varieties 

 in Queensland is given, toward the end of the report. Among 

 the seedlings introduced during 1910 were included 

 Earbado.s, Demeraia and Trinidad varieties. The condition in 

 which many of these were received made it uncertain whether 

 they would be germinated successfully; the trials with those 

 that survive will be watched, however, with interest. 



THE SUGAR-Ci^LNE IN SPAIN. 



An article in the Journal d'Af/ricultuir Tropicale for 

 December 1910 shows that about 2.5,000 tons of cane sugar, 

 and 75,000 tons of beet sugar, were jiroduced in Spain in 

 1909 From this article the following further information 

 is taken. 



Cane cultivation is carried on in the south of Andalusia, 

 along the coast from Gibraltar to Alineria, In this belt, which 

 is .sheltered on the north by a mountain chain, the best soil 

 is found near the mouths of the rivers. 



The average temperature during summer is about 79°F., 

 and during winter about .55°F. Although the thermometer 

 may fall nearly as low as freezing point, the ordinary frosts 

 are not sufficiently severe to kill the cane plants. The rainy 

 season extends from October to April. After this period, it 

 is necessary to provide means of irrigating the canes twice 

 a month during the whole of the dry season. 



Cuttings are planted in the period between ^larch and 

 April, and the cultivation consists of such ploughing and 

 weeding as the growth of the canes will admit. Some culti- 

 vators do not reap a crop until after two years, but it has 

 been shown that this practice is to be recommended only 

 when, after being in the ground twelve months, the canes 

 remain poor in growth. Under other conditions, it is prefer- 

 able to cut the crop after ten or eleven months of growth. 



Where the cultivation is annual, the opportunity is 

 afibrded for the convenient manuring of the plantation, and 

 for giving the soil the necessary attention. 



The jield of cane varies from 8 to IR tons per acre. It 

 is considered to be poor when it is below 8 tons, and very 

 satisfactory when it reaches 14 tons. The return of sugar 

 from the cane is 10 [jcr cent., on an average. 



AVhere the culUvation is good, the cane remains in the 

 land for four years, and sometimes longer, without replanting, 

 and under such conditions, adequate aiiplications are made of 

 both natural and aitificial manures. 



A DEVICE FOR UNLOADING CANE 

 TRUCKS. 



A note on a device for removing sugar-cane from loaded 

 trucks and placing it on the cane carrier has been received 

 from Mr. H. A. Ti-mpany, B Sc , Superintendent of Agricul- 

 ture, .'\ntigua. An arrangement of the kind has been recently 

 erected at the Sugar Factory at Gunthorpes in that island, 

 and it is to this that the following description has particular 

 reference. 



The device consists of a series of rakes placed on an end- 

 less band, which is made to revolve slowly over the trucks 

 containing the cane. As the level of the canes becomes lower 

 in a truck that is being emptied, the band is depressed, so 

 that a continuous removal of the cane is obtained, the move- 

 ment of the band, up and down, being effected by means of 

 a windlass operated by one workman. The rakes are guided 

 in a slotted frame, and an arrangement for counterbalancing 

 them is provided in the shape of weights hung on wire cables. 



Jlr. Tem|)any states that the appliance is giving much 

 satisfaction. It provides a means of securing readily a con- 

 tinuous feed of cane of any thickness, within reasonable limits, 

 that may be desired, and at the same time effects a consider- 

 able saving of labour. 



