FIELD ( Koi'S, 639 



(levelopiiHMit of such sng:ir luvts than in Un- dry matter of the loaves of nor- 

 mally developed mature sugar beets. 



Beet sugar, Z. C. Elkin (Bui: of the Census [U. .S.J, Manfis. tOOo, pt. 3, 

 Pli. J^J-JJJ). — Statistics for the manufacture of beet sugar as rei)orted in the 

 censuses of 1880, 1900, and 1905, with the percentages of increase from 1900 to 

 T.Mj.'j. are reported and historical notes on the industry ai-e given. According to 



summary presented in tabular form the number of establishments in 1905 

 was 51. the caiiital invested $r.,-..!i2:i.4n9, and the value of products $24,393,794. 

 l>ata on the industry in the different States are given in tables. 



Experiments with seedling' and other canes in the Leeward Islands in 

 1906-7, F. Watts i;t al. ihiip. Drpt. A(/i: West Indies Pamphlet r,0. If)07, 

 pp. 53). — A summary is here given of the results of experiments with varieties 

 of sugar cane carried on in Antigua and St. Kitts during 1900-7. The work was 

 conducted on 8 estates in each island for the purpose of finding varieties likely 

 to increase the outi)ut of sugar and showing greater resistance to insect pests 

 and plant diseases. 



In Antigua good results as plant canes were obtained with Sealy Seedling, 

 D 109, I) ()25. H 2()S, and B IHC. As rattoons, Sealy Seedling. B 150, B 376, 

 and D 109 gave the best results in the order named. B 208 did not seem to 

 commend itself as a rattoon cane on much of the sugar land. 



In St. Kitts, B 208, D 116, and Sealy Seedling gave the best results as plant 

 canes. B 208 and D 116 also stood first and second, respectively, in average 

 yield for the past 7 years. As rattoons these same two canes ranked first the 

 past sea.son. being followe^l by Mont Blanc and D 74. Sealy Seedling occupied 

 twelfth place in average results among the rattoons in 1906-7. 



In Antigua 26.2 per cent of the total sugar acreage of the island is now 

 (levfited to the newer varieties, while in St. Kitts the newer canes already occupy 

 VI per cent of a total of 7,516 acres. 



Manurial experiments with sugar cane in the Leeward Islands in 1906-7, 

 F. Watts kt al. (Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies Pamphlet </. PJOfi, pp. //J). — Ex- 

 lieriments have been started on rattoon canes following plant canes which have 

 HH-eived no commercial fertilizers. These tests are known as the new series, 

 while the old series consists of experiments in progress on rattoon canes follow- 

 ing plant canes which have received commercial fertilizers. 



In the nitrogen series of tests the most remunerative returns were secured 

 where 40 lbs. of nitrogen per acre was given in the form of nitrate of soda and 

 used in conjunction with potash and phosphate. Without the use of potash antl 

 l>ho8phate the nitrogenous fertilizers also proved profitable. The use of dried 

 lilood was unsatisfactory. This season sui)erphosphate afforded better results 

 than basic jihospliate, but even in this form it did not appear remunerative. The 

 use of moderate (piaiitities of potash i)rove(l beneficial, and small dressings of 

 20 ll)s. of potash |)er acre were as satisfactory as larger d(»ses. The use of guano 

 gave an insufficient increase in the crop to cover the exi)ense of its apiilication. 



The average results in the old series of experiments during 7 years are re- 

 garded as showing fairly conclusively that in Antigua and St. Kills nitrogen is 

 of the greatest value to the rattoon crop and thj(t the requirements are met by 

 the use of front 2 to 2J cwt. of sulphate of anunonia per acre or from 2i to 3* 

 cwt. of nitrate of soda given in one application; that potash is doubtfully re- 

 munerative and if used should not exceed in quantity 20 lbs. per acre, and that 

 phosphates are not profitable. These statements presuppose that when the land 

 was prepannl for plant canes it was manured with about 20 tons per acre of 

 goo<l barnyard Mianun> or its e(|uivalent. 



74921— No. 7—09 4 



