24 



590. -WHAT IS THE BOURBON CANE? 



.Many people will probably be surprised at this question, a> 

 probably few will be ready To admit that there is any doubt on 

 the matter. 



During the experiments in raising seedling canes at St. Clair 

 however: we took for a standard a sample of "'Bourbon," plants of which 

 were selected and presented to the Department by the late Mr. J. 8. 

 Wilson of Aranguez estate. For several years the analysis of this cane 

 showed results below that of the regular yield of Bourbon canes on 

 estates in other parts of the Island, and it was therefore considered 

 questionable whether there was complete identity between the 

 "" Bourbon" as grown on different estates or not. 



With a view of testing this point I secured plants of the " Bourbon*' 

 grown on one of the Colonial Company's estates, through the kindness 

 of 1'. Abel. Esq.. the Attorney of the Company. 



The difference between the appearance of the two canes, and the. 

 results of their analysis is equally striking. In the former the colour 

 of the cane is essentially distinct, the Colonial Company's cane being a 

 much brighter and cleaner yellow than the Aranguez cane. The habit. 

 weight per acre and yield of sugar are also strongly in contrast. 



The analytical results are briefly as follows : — 



Bourbon." 



per cent, [percent. 

 Sucrose. iGlucose. 



lbs. per 



gallon 



Sucrose. 



lbs. per 



gallon 



Glucose. 



Estimated 



sugar, tons 



per acre. 



Specific 

 gravity. 



Colonial Company's 1714 125 C849 "125 315 1078 



cane 



Aranguez 



... 15-45 T4<i 1-656 '140 



•38 



1072 



Caledonian Queen ... 18'09 0-50 1-&53 



•05(1 



411 



1079 



S.'a.soii 

 May 

 1903. 



In previous years the result of the Aranguez yield was similar, 

 but the estimated yield of sugar for 1903, must not be taken to be 

 an accurate one for this variety as it happens to be based upon the. 

 returns of an experimental plot, planted in a particular manner, 

 which allowed one cane to take advantage of another. Caledonian 

 Queen and Bourbon were planted in alternate rows, a suggestion of an 

 experienced planter ; the result being, that the former overgrew the 

 latter. The result is seen in the fad that while the Caledonian is 

 over-average, as to weight per acre, the Bourbon is much under 

 average. The Caledonian < v )ueen practically overgrew and robbed 

 tl e Bourbon of its nutriment to such a degree that 1 estimate the area 

 on which the calculations should have been based, should have been 

 increased by ,'„th and the area upon which the Bourbon was grown, 

 decreased by the same amount (i.e.) Although on the field ^'„th of 

 each cane was planted, yet in reality the ground occupied by each was. 

 Caledonian Queen 1 , „th>. Bourbon ,'„ tb. an adjustment which will 

 make a considerable difference in the estimate of value v\' the canes 

 as >hown in the analytical return- The Caledonian Queen gave a yield 

 .side by side with the Bourbon as seen in table 



