59 



tons su»ar and 213 phns. rum from 245 acres of canes, a yield of 1,923 

 gals, to one ton of sugar, 15 tons of canes to one ton of sugar, 139 gals, 

 to one ton of canes, 9^ tons of canes to a cask of sugar and rum, 1,320 

 gls. to a cask. 



In 1903 we carted 7,113 tons of canes from 308 acres of canes, we 

 made 414 tons sugar and 320 phns. rum, 17 tons of canes to a ton of 

 sugar, 1,348 gals, to a cask of sugar and rum. 



From Commissiofier of Imperial Department of Agriculture for the 

 West Indies to Colonial Secretary, Jamaica. 



I believfi it would be distinctly helpful to the planters if cane farming 

 were generally adopted in Westmoreland and other districts in Jamaica 

 where the conditions are favourable. 



I sut/gest that the Board of Agriculture might take up the subject 

 and endeavour to guide and assist those who are in a position to adopt 

 cane farming as regular part of the routine in connection with sugar 

 planting in the island. 



SOURCES OF NITROGEN TO PLANTS. 



In a paper entitled " Eecherches sur la Synthese des Substances 

 Albuminoides par les Vegetaux," MM. Laurent and Marchal, of the 

 State Agricultural Institute, Gembloux, give a useful re-ume of the 

 sources of nitrogen to plants. In doing so, they point out that 

 during the latter half of the nineteenth century there was a tendency 

 to overL ok the importance of ammoniacal compoun is, and to regard 

 nitrates as the only sourc s of nitrogen to the higher plants. "While 

 nitrates are of chief importance, there are many plants, even colonies 

 of plants, such as forest trees and the vegetation of marshes, that must 

 depend entirely on compounds of ammonia for the supply of nitrogen. 

 The authors describe experiments on cress, white mustard, chicory 

 asparagus, white melilot, Persian lilac, and tobacco, and among other 

 conclusions state that sunlight is necessary for the synthesis of 

 albuminoids in the higher green plants, and probably in all green 

 plants, but that amides are produced in limited quantities in darkness 

 and in parts of the plant which contain no chlorophyll. The lower 

 plants devoid of chlorophyll can manufacture albuminoids in dark- 

 ness, the necessary energy in this case being derived from the decom- 

 position of organic compounds. {Nature.) 



THE ONION. 



Bermuda onions have been most successfully grown in various parts 

 of Jamaica, but only for home consumption. In Antigua an export 

 trade has been established, and efforts are being made by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture to extend the cultivation to the other 

 islands. There is no reason why Jamaica should not participate in 

 the trade. Although the seed is not sown until the autumn, it is ne- 

 cessary to order it from the Canary Islands in the Spring to save the 

 increase in price from 3s. 6d. or 4s. per lb. to 8s. and 10s. per lb. later 

 in the year. Sir D. Morris, Commissioner of the Imperial Depart- 

 ment of Aj^riculture will obtain seed, with that required for the other 

 islands. Information as to cultivation and reports on experiments 

 already made are reprinted below from former Bulletins. 



