370 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



December 1, 1906. 



B. 1,529, S17'6-i. Taking together the average yields 

 of plants and ratoons, B. 208 gave 4,271 ft. of 

 muscovado sugar per acre, as compared with 4,023 fti. 

 from White Transparent. In this case, the average 

 increase of sugar and its molasses is worth S3'25. 



In red soils the results are more striking. The 

 average yields of muscovado sugar per acre for plant 

 canes were: White Transparent, 4,402 ft.: D. 95, 

 4,972 ft. (increase, 87-41) ; B. 376, 5,296 ft. (increase, 

 Sll-62): B. 208, 5,442 ft. (increase, .«;l3-52) : B. 1,529, 

 6,200 ft. (increase, S23-37) : B. 1,566, 7,451 %. (increase, 

 S39-64). Taking together the average results for 

 plants and ratoons on red soils, we find : White Trans- 

 parent, 4,284 ft.: B. 208, 4,683 ft. (increase, S5-19); 

 D. 95, 4,881 ft. (increase, .?7-76): B. 376, 5,119 ft), 

 (increase, $10-86) : B. 1,566, 6,016 ft. (increase, S22-52). 

 It should be added that seedlings B. 1,529 and 

 B. 1,566 have so far been in cultivation as selected 

 seedlings for only three years and in few plots. 



Among all the promising varieties grown on black 

 soils. White Transparent came out seventy-fifth with 

 6,600 ftj. of saccharose, while there are four varieties 

 that have been cultivated for the same three years, but 

 on fewer plots, that gave over 9,000 ft), of saccharose, 

 worth .$24'91 per acre more than W' hite Transparent. 

 The following are taken froni this list of varieties 

 cultivated during the past two years in black soils : 

 WHiite Transparent, 6,603 ft), of saccharose per acre : 

 B. 147, 7,368 ftx; B. 208, 6,981 ft.: B. 1,529, 8,308 lb.; 

 B. 3,696, 9,499 ft). 



In the red soils, the results, taking plants and 

 ratoons together, are : W'hite Transparent, 12,286 ft).: 

 B. 208, 13,514 ft).: B. 376, 13,707 ft).; D. 95, 13,795 ft).: 

 B. 1,566, 14.643 ft).; B. 3,412, 16,165 ft).; B. 3,390, 

 16,689 ft). These results are given to indicate 

 which are the most promising varieties : the high- 

 numbered varieties will not be recommended for 

 cultivation until they have been further tested. The}' 

 are therefore not available for distribution. 



Dealing with the results for the present year only, 

 the best yields, as plant canes in black soils, were given 

 by D. 9.5, B. 1,529, B. 147, D. 1,438, B. 376, and 

 B. 208, in the order named. In red soils, the varieties, 

 grown as plant canes and ratoons, have come out in the 

 following order: B. 1,566, B. 376, D. 95, B. 208, 

 B. 1,.529. 



On the estate plots, in which seedling canes 

 were compared with White Transparent on a larger 

 scale, varying from ', acre to 5 acres, B. 147 and 

 B. 376 fell short of WHiite Transparent, which gave 



6,084 ft. of muscovado sugar per acre : but B. 208, 

 cultivated as plants on ten black- and red-soil estates, 

 gave, compared with W^'hite Transparent, an increase 

 of 754 lb. of muscovado sugar per acre, worth S9-80. 



Interesting results in connexion with the manurial 

 experiments with sugar-canes were also put before the 

 meeting. These were carried out at Dodd's Botanic 

 Station and on si.x; sugar estates situated in typical 

 parts of the island. 



On the motion of the Hon. Forster M. Alleyne, 

 it was decided to adjourn the meeting for a fortnight 

 in order to give an opportunit)- for a full discussion of 

 the results placed before it by Professor d'Albuquerque 

 and Mr. Bovell, 



RUBBER ON THE IVORY COAST. 



Since 1899 the rubber trade has been growing on 

 the Ivory Coast, and the exports last jear amounted 

 to 1,158 tons, or rather more than was exported from 

 the Gold Coast. 



In an article in the Quarterly Journal of the 

 Institute of Commercial Research in the Tropics 

 (September), Mr. E. Castaing gives the following 

 information in regard to the rubber-producing plants 

 of the Ivory Coast: — 



Rubber i.s very abundant throughout the Ivory Coast. 

 It is produced both by vines and by trees. Of the vines, the 

 most notable are the Lnndoljihia owarieiisis, the Landolphia 

 Hdiddotli, and a Carpodiiius ; among the trees one finds 

 the Manihot Glaziovii or Ceara, the Ficus elastica, the 

 Ilevea brasitietisis, and the Kicksia or Funtumia elastica. 

 The Landolphia is distributed throughout the colony, 

 but is found more particularly in the di.strict of Bondoukou, 

 in Baoule, and in the neighbourhood of Kong. It is 

 Landolphia which yields the best qualities of rubber, more 

 particularly ' Red Niggers.' 



The Carpodimii has been found by M. Chevalier near 

 Bondoukou during a recent tour. It is a vine of 21 to 

 25 feet in height, giving a good rubber. The latex yielded 

 by this vine closely resembles in quality that furnished by 

 Landolphia. 



Manihot Glaiiovii is found at several points of the Ivory 

 Coast, having been introduced into the country. Two 

 tappings made, with a day intervening, by M. Chevalier, on 

 a Ceara seven years old, measuring 30 centimetres diameter 

 at 50 centimetres above the ground, and of about 25 feet in 

 height, yielded 158 grammes of fre.sh rubber, which lost one- 

 Cjuarter of its weight in drying. 



Ileveas v!ere sown in the garden at Dabou about six years 

 ago, and have been distributed in certain parts of the 

 colony which are periodically inundated. These Ilcvcas grow 

 with extraordinary vigour. Some of them measure as much 

 as 44 feet in height, and are already bearing fruit. They 

 have not yet been tapped. 



The Kickxia or Funtumia elastica occurs throughout the 

 greater part of the colony. It is, however, rare above the 

 eighth parallel of latitude, and is not found as far as Bouna. 

 It is from the latex of this tree that the natives prepare the 

 rubbers known under the names ' lump ' and ' ;ake.' 



