1916] FIELD CROPS. 231 



Experiments were conducted to determine the best system of treating 

 ratoons. Ttie different treatments included leaving the trash on the ground 

 and allowing the cane to volunteer, burying the trash between the rows, 

 shifting the trash in every other space between the rows and cultivating the 

 cleared spaces, and burning the trash and opening the middles with plow 

 and subsoiler to a depth of from 16 to 18 in. Under the conditions of a severe 

 drought, leaving the trash gave the best results, but the preceding year, when 

 conditions were normal, burning the trash and giving deep cultivation, which 

 is the station method, proved most profitable. It is concluded from the results 

 that plowing under trash in the ratoons does not pay. 



The results of a variety test showed that Q 813 ranked first in sugar con- 

 tent followed by Q 990 and Q 137. Experiments with canes from the Queens- 

 land Acclimatization Society were continued and the second ratoon crop was 

 harvested. Badila Seedling and Hybrid No. 1 gave the highest percentage of 

 pure, obtainable cane sugar. 



Different cultural methods compared resulted in the highest total yield of 

 plant crop of 1914 and the first ratoon crop of 1915 on the plat giving shallow 

 cultivation with broad hoes and on the one cultivated with a light drill harrow 

 fitted with straight sharp tines. In a test to determine whether cane sets cut 

 from arrowed canes have a prejudicial effect on tlie germination and subse- 

 quent yield, it was found that the cane from arrowed cane sets not only pro- 

 duced a greater stand of cane but also a greater yield. 



Analytical tests to determine the commercial value of a number of gen- 

 erally grown varieties showed that HQ 426 and Badila gave much better 

 yields of pure obtainable cane sugar than Goru, Cheribon, Malabar, and 

 Otamite. Early or late planting apparently had no effect on the average 

 sugar content of Cheribon, Malabar, and Otamite, while in the other three 

 varieties the late planting gave better average analyses. In a second test 

 HQ 426 and Badila also ranked first. 



The Mackay station laboratory reported tables of analyses showing the 

 quantities of lime, potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen removed in crops of 

 cane of the weight grown. It was shown that more potash is removed than 

 nitrogen, lime, and phosphoric acid. 



At the Southern Sugar Experiment Station at Bundaberg, planting cane in 

 rows 5, 6, or 7 ft. apart showed that the closer planting produced the better 

 yields. It was further found that planting tops only gave much better 

 results than planting middles or bottoms and middles. The results of cultural 

 tests were in favor of subsoiling but tlie cost was too high to be profitable. 

 Cane volunteered through trash, owing to a dry season, gave the largest 

 margin of profit, but this method is not advised as under normal conditions 

 cultivation usually gives much better results. Analyses of burnt canes indi- 

 cated that the cane did not depreciate to any extent during the first 48 hours, 

 after which the glucose content began to increase rapidly until the tenth 

 day, when it had increased almost twenty times as much as in the original. 

 The loss in weight of cane and in the purity of the juice was also consid- 

 erable. 



Planting sprouted cane cuttings, J. Schuit (Arch. Suikerindus. Nederland. 

 Indie, 23 {1915), No. 12, pp. 4^1-466; Meded. Proefstat. Java-Suikerindus., 5 

 (1915), No. 5, pp. 178-182). — This article describes the method of planting 

 sugar cane with cuttings in whicli the buds have made some growth, as dis- 

 tinguished from the usual method of using cuttings in which the buds have not 

 yet started. Directions are given for the production of cuttings and for 

 handling, treating, and planting them. 



