85 



NATIVE VARIETIES OF CASSAVA. 



The trial of our selected native varieties is being continued and 

 the results of 22 varieties after 12 months growth have been ob- 

 tained. 



The highest place is taken by " Luana Sweet" with over 10,000 

 lbs. starch per acre while Duff House, Black Bunch of Keys, Brown 

 Stick, Blue Top, Bobby Hanson and Black Bitter Long Leaf Blue 

 Bud, come fairly close together. The variety that led at 12 

 months in 1 906 is now 8th on the list, although it gave slightly 

 greater returns than on the previous occasion. Despite a season 

 of most abnormal rainfall these native varieties have yielded a 

 return that can only be called amazing. These results indicate 

 that cassava can surmount seasonal disadvantages and give an 

 enormous yield of starch under very unfavourable conditions. 



Speaking of the attempts made by planters to grow cassava on 

 a large scale, one fault must be strongly emphasised in their 

 method of cultivation. In any soil but a light, free draining 

 medium, cassava must be grown on raised hills or ridges and 

 adequate drainage is absolutely necessary. The tubers rot at 

 once after heavy rains unless free drainage is secured. 



There is no longer any doubt as to the great possibilities of 

 cassava as a starch producer in Jamaica and the Starch Industry 

 is one that should receive the serious attention of capitalists and 

 planters alike. 



Table VI sumarises the results obtained with the 22 varieties 

 of native cassava. An inspection of the specific gravity figures 

 leads to the conclusion that the variations between different 

 varieties are suchlthat it would not be possible accurately to assess 

 the starch value of miscellaneous deliveries of tubers at a factory 

 by the use of the cassava balance. 



Prepai at ion of Cattle Food. 



Experiments are being made as to the drying of the cassava 

 bitty or refuse from the starch manufacture and its conversion 

 into a useful feeding meal by incorporation with one-third of its 

 weight of guango pods. The results already obtained indicate 



