variety can differ materially as to the percentage of its nitrogenous and mineral 

 constituents. 



The relative development of the leaves and stalk, as shown by this work, is modi- 

 fied chiefly through climatic and soil conditions and it is pointed out that as the 

 different parts of the plant may show different percentages of the various elements, 

 a variation in the chemical composition of the same variety may occur during two 

 different seasons. It is concluded that as physical and chemical changes in the soil 

 are continually taking place the growth of the cane as well as its chemical composi- 

 tion may be modified from one season to another. 



Manurial and other experiments with sugar cane, J. P. d' Albuquerque 

 and J. R. Bovell (RjjL Agr. Work, Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies, 1902-1904, pt. 1, pp. 

 4-47). — A summary of the results of experiments carried on at Dodds Botanic Station 

 and at five plantations in different typical localities of the island. 



The soil at Dodds was of low fertility, being deficient in the mineral constituents 

 of plant food. The plat receiving 20 tons of barnyard manure per acre gave a yield 

 of 27.9 tons of cane, and the one receiving 40 tons 32.4 tons of cane. The use of phos- 

 phoric acid and potash in addition to the barnyard manure diminished the yield by 4 

 tons. The results indicated that from 60 to 80 lbs. of nitrogen in the form of nitrate 

 of soda or sulphate of ammonia, and from 80 to 100 lbs. of potash applied early 

 reduced the richness and purity of the juice, and that the combination of commer- 

 cial fertilizers and barnyard manure gave canes yielding a slightly larger percentage 

 of juice. 



The soil on the Foursquare plantation contained an abundance of available phos- 

 phoric anhydrid. The average yield of plats receiving 35 tons of barnyard manure 

 per acre was 28.7 tons of cane, and the results in general showed that on this field 

 the use of commercial fertilizers in addition to 35 tons of barnyard manure per acre 

 was not advisable for a plant cane crop. 



The experiments at Hopewell plantation were conducted on an exceptionally rich 

 clay soil. An application of 60 lbs. of nitrogen as sulphate of ammonia produced an 

 increase of 3 J tons of cane, while when given with phosphoric acid and potash the 

 increase was 5 tons and when the quantity of nitrogen was reduced to 40 lbs. , 6 J 

 tons. On another field a similar series of experiments was conducted with a ratoon 

 crop. Here the best results were obtained where 50 lbs. of potash was given in 

 January and 40 lbs. of nitrogen as sulphate of ammonia in June to plant canes, fol- 

 lowed by 80 lbs. of nitrogen as nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia to ratoon s. 

 This soil was rich in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and received before" the canes 

 were planted 40 tons of barnyard manure per acre. 



On a series of one-acre plats the results showed that where 35 tons of barnyard 

 manure was used the application of sulphate of ammonia in quantities of 200 to 400 

 lbs. gave increased yields amounting to from 1 to 7 tons of cane and that the use of 

 superphosphate did not affect the yield, w T hile an application of 250 lbs. of basic slag 

 per acre gave an increase of 1| tons of cane. Where 30 tons of barnyard manure 

 was used per acre an application of 100 lbs. of sulphate of potash in addition to nitro- 

 gen and phosphate gave an increase of about 2J tons. 



Experiments with varieties of sug-ar cane, J. P. d' Albuquerque and J. R. 

 Bovell {Rpt. Agr. Work, Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies, 1902-1904, pt. 2, pp. 57).— The 

 experiments here reported were conducted at Dodds Botanic Station and at 17 differ- 

 ent plantations. In the black soil estates the best results as plant canes were obtained 

 with B 1529, which gave a large yield and a rich juice. On the red soils B 208 stood 

 first and B 1529 second. B 208 stands first in average yield for 4 years on both black 

 and red soils. It is reported that plants and ratoons of this cane on red soils were 

 about 12 per cent higher than those of the White Transparent variety. B 147, while 

 giving markedly good results in 1 or 2 districts, did not appear to ratoon well on the 

 red soils. 



