110 



also some two million tons of sugar are produced per annum. 

 Compare this with the average yield in the Sandwich Islands, 

 where the utmost care is given to the question of fertilizing, with 

 the result that an average yield of nearly five tons of sugar per 

 acre is secured. Quite apart from good management and culti- 

 vation, which may "do much, it is admitted that this splendid result 

 is mainly due to carefully thought out fertilization. And it must 

 be remembered that similar results are obtained, not in one year 

 only but every year, by systematically replacing the plant foods 

 which are removed by the crop. JNIaking all allowances for any 

 climatic advantages Hawaii may possess, there is surely no reason 

 why India and Cuba should not at least double their sugar pro- 

 duction on the land at present under cane. Even so, the yield 

 would only be one-fifth of that of the Sandwich Islands. 



"The sugar crop is only taken as an example because of the 

 extraordinary difference in yield shown between a highly ferti- 

 lized crop, as in Hawaii, and the practically unfertilized crops in 

 India and Cuba. The position is much the same with all crops in 

 the tropics. The wheat crop is. perhaps, the most importawt, and 

 there is no question that much of the immediate anxiety about 

 the world's food supply would be allayed if the vast area under 

 wheat in tropical and sub-tropical countries were so treated as 

 to produce something approaching its real capacity. 



"The problem is not an easy one, for in many cases the supply 

 of pen manure is nothing like sufBcient for the needs of the crop, 

 and it may be thought that the cost of artificials would often be 

 such as to prohibit their use, at any rate with profit to the grower. 

 As a matter of fact, this would not be the case, except in isolated 

 instances, and the grower must be taught the value of these (so- 

 called) artificial plant foods. There are but few places in the 

 world in these days where a demand for such commodities would 

 not be met with a supply. The difftculty is that the grower — be 

 he European or native — is, as a rule, reluctant to make an outlay 

 on manures ; and it is only after months, sometimes years, of 

 patient instruction and demonstration, that the expert's teaching 

 bears fruit. * ''' "" 



"We have observed with much interest the great strides made 

 in Egypt in this direction during the past few years, as evidenced 

 by the largely increased imports of phosphatic and nitrogenous 

 fertilizers since 1908. In that year, for instance, the import of 

 nitrate of soda was 15.000 tons, while in 1912 the figures had 

 risen to over 56,000 tons. This only shows what can be done. 

 even with the conservative native cultivators, if only practical 

 steps are taken to educate them ; and though the way may some- 

 times be long and the difficulties great, we have proof in these 

 figures that the thing is not only possible, l)ut can be successfully 

 accom])]ishcd." 



