PREFACE. 



Several years ago the Director of the Bureau of Science realized the 

 necessity of making an extended and thorough study of the sugar cane 

 produced in the Philippine Islands, the nature of the soils as disclosed 

 by chemical and physical examination, the area planted and the area 

 available for sugar production. It was deemed necessary at the same 

 time to tsudy the existing methods of isolating the sugar and shipping it 

 to the market in order to determine the benefits which might accrue from 

 improved methods of grinding and evaporating. The necessity for this 

 work was emphasized in the Annual Eeport of the Bureau of Science for 

 the year 1908, and it was proposed to establish a staff which would employ 

 at least three men for a sufficient length of time to complete the investiga- 

 tions; the undertaking including assistance from other Bureaus in the 

 preparation of topographic maps. However, the Government did not 

 believe itself in a position to inaugurate so extensive a piece of work at 

 that time. Therefore, it was decided to do as much as possible with the 

 laboratory force available to us, and in view of the fact that the Island 

 of Negros produces the greatest amount of sugar for any given area in 

 the Philippine Islands, it was deemed expedient to concentrate our 

 efforts on that region. Mr. Herbert S. Walker, of the chemical labo- 

 ratory, was detailed for this duty, he being stationed in Negros during the 

 entire sugar campaign of 1908 and 1909 and, in addition, giving to the 

 subject the attention necessary to complete the work as far as it was 

 possible for one man so to do. He carried with him a portable chemical 

 laboratory and hand miU and established his laboratory on the various 

 haciendas in the island. The information which he was able to obtain 

 was therefore gained at first hand. The soil analyses and such other 

 chemical work as could not be performed on the spot were done at the 

 central laboratory in Manila by Messrs. L. A. Salinger, E. E. Williams, 

 and Wallace E. Pratt, the first two being of the division of chemistry 

 and the latter of the division of mines of the Bureau of Science. The 

 work which is published in the following monograph speaks for itself. 

 Much remains to be done, even after considering the thorough and ex- 

 haustive report which has been made, especially in the direction of a 

 study of fertilizers on the spot and in the introduction of other varieties 

 of cane which would be available in case of accident to the present types 



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