Vol. XVI. No, 392. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



141 



SUGAR-CANE EXPERIMENTS IN THE LEE- 

 WARD ISLANDS, 1915-lG. 



The results of these experiments, coijductetl during the 

 season 1915-16, have just been issued by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, in the form 

 of a report dealing (1) with experiments with varieties 

 of sugar-cane, and (2) with manurial experiments with 

 sugar-cane. In regard to methods, the experimental work 

 has consisted of a continuation of that which has been in 

 progress for many years. Only the average results of the 

 diflferent series of trials of each variety of sugar-cane are 

 given in the report; but this information is quite sufficient 

 for general purposes, and as an indication of the general 

 suitability in different parts of the Leeward Islands of one 

 variety over another. Copies of the detailed results from the 

 various experiment stations are forwarded to the individual 

 planters in each district, while the completed records are 

 open for inspection at the offices of the agricultural depart- 

 ments in Antigua and St. Kitts. 



In regard to plant canes grown at Antigua during 191.5-16, 

 B.6308 heads the list with an average return of 32 tons 

 per acre and 5,60i.l lb. of sucrose; it gave juice having an 

 average saccharine richness of 2 01 B). per gallon; 1915-16 

 was the third year in which this cane has done satisfactorily. 

 The results indie \te tint it is well suited to .\ntigna condi- 

 tions. The second place on the list is occupied by B.4596, 

 •which yielded 5,160 fc. of sucrose per acre. The present is 

 the eighth jear in which this variety has been experimentally 

 cultivated, and during the entire period it has given 

 uniformly satisfactory results, both under favourable and 

 unfavourable seasonal conditions. Its continued satisfactory 

 behaviour marks it out as one of the most valuable canes 

 in Antigua, and this opinion is endorsed by planters with 

 whom the variety his already gained considerable popu- 

 larity. Other canes which have given satisfactory results 

 are B.1528, B.3747, B..3922. B.3412, B.6.388, B.4934, 

 and B.6450. 



In regard to the ratoon canes, the lead is taken by 

 B.3747 which, as the mean of seven repetitions, gave an 

 average return of 28 o tons of cane per acre and 4,630 B). of 

 sucrose. It is to be remarked that on the present occasion 

 this variety has come to the front in a striking manner both as 

 a plant and as a ratoon. Other canes which have ratooned 

 satisfactorily are B.3922, B.4596, B.369ti and B.109. These 

 remarks refer to the past year's experiments. The mean 

 returns from each variety grown as a ratoon cane during the 

 past eight years show that B.3922 has come out on top. 

 closely followed by B.4596. The first mentioned cane gave 

 a mean return of 3,270 lb. of sucrose per acre. 



In regard to the experiments with plant canes in 

 St. Kitts, the results for the year under review indicate the 

 premier position of B.4596. Other varieties which have 

 done satisfactorily are D.216, 1).109, D.625, and White 

 Transparent. In regard to ratoon canes in St. Kitts, it is 



of interest to find that the Srst place in the returns for the 

 year under review is occupied by A. 2, which has given an 

 average yield of 35 tons of cane per acre and 7,660 tt). of 

 sucrose per acre. This variety has done considerably better 

 in point of average yields as a ratoon than as a plant. The 

 varieties D.109, White Transparent, Sealy Seedling, B.4596, 

 and D. 1 1 6 have all done fairly well. During the year under 

 review experimental plots were reaped in Nevis, as well as 

 in St. Kitts; the first and second places are occupied in the 

 results by D. 216 and D.llll. The former variety gave 

 the high yield of 41-9 tons of cane per acre and 8,880 &. of 

 sucrose per acre. With such high yields it would look as if 

 cane planting were highly profitable in Nevis, but it must be 

 remembered that this is probably exceptional, beina the result 

 of highly favourable seasonal conditions. Probably the 

 most reliable variety for Nevis is White Transparent 



As already stated, Part II of this report deals with 

 manurial experiments. A general summary of the results 

 achieved in manurial experiments in the Leeward Islands is 

 given in this report, and figures are included to show the 

 results of the new series of experiments introduced three 

 years ago to test the value of artificial manures on plant 

 canes, particularly in the absence of adequate quantities of 

 pen manure. Experiments have also been designed to show 

 the effect of manuring the same land year after year. The 

 general results of the manurial experiments with sugarcane, 

 which have now been conducted in the Leeward Islands for 

 nearly thirty years, are now fairly well known. It has been 

 shown conclusively that where it is possible to supply pen 

 manure at the rate of about 20 tons per acre, the use of arti- 

 ficials is unnecessary and unremunerative with plant canes. 

 With ratoons, however, a dressing of quick-acting nitrogenous 

 manure gives remunerative results, but the extent of the 

 benefit depends largely upon the rainfall and the price of 

 sugar. In a general way, where the season is good and the 

 prices are high, manuring of any crop pays better than under 

 unfavourable conditions. It has been shown that no benefit 

 is to be expected from the application of phosphates and 

 potash particularly the former Experiments have been 

 made with molasses as a manure but the results, as a whole, 

 are not very encouraging. 



Included in the report under review is a return showing 

 the acreage under the different varieties of sugar-cane in 

 Antigua and St. Kitts for the crops of 1916 and 1917. It 

 is rather remarkable that in spite of the experimental results, 

 the largest areas are still occupied by the oldei -introduced 

 seedlings B. 147, Sealy Seedling, and White Tran;-parent. 

 There has. however, bee i a 'considerable decrease i'l the area 

 under Sealy Seedlii'g and White Transparent. There has 

 been a considerable increase in the area under B.6450, 

 B.4596, B.4.507, in Antigua, and D.116 and A 2 in St. Kitts. 

 It is to be noted that some 40 acres are still under Bourbon 

 in Antigua, and over 100 acres were planted during the two 

 years in L"ba cane, which was introduced into Antigua for 

 cultivation in localities unsui'ed to the more susceptible 

 varieties. 



An appendi.x to the report contains a table showing 

 weights given by canes grown in the same fields as the 

 experiment plots canes; also figures showing the exports of 

 susjar from Antigua and St. Kitts in 1916. 



Mr. S. C. Harland, B.Sc, Assistant Superintendent of 

 Agriculture, St. Vincent, passed through Barbados on May 1 

 en rem for Canada on three months leave of absence. 



