19 



purple cane. This appears to have been cultivated in Negi'os for a very 

 long time, as the "oldest inhabitants" at least do not appear to recollect 

 its introduction. It is entirely different from the white or yellow cane 

 common in Luzon, and was quite possibly imported directly to Negros on 

 or about the time of the occupation of the island by the Kecoletos. In 

 appearance it is much like the Louisiana Purple, varying in color ac- 

 cording to the conditions of its gi'owth from a comparatively light red 

 to a very dark purple. As will be sho"s\Ti later, this cane is extremely 

 sensitive to changes in environment and climate, varying greatly in 

 composition in different sections of the island, but its natural tendency 

 is apparently toward a slender, rather small growth, high in sucrose and 

 purity and comparatively low in fiber. Aside from this variety, a few 

 fields of black cane, and some scattered specimens of the white or yellow 

 variety, there is practically no other kind of cane to be met with in 

 Negros. 



CANE DISEASES AND INSECT ENEMIES. 



Up to the present time no serious study has been made of this 

 subject. The planters themselves have no knowledge of any fungus 

 or other disease which has ever attacked the cane, and during my stay 

 in Negros I failed to find any indications of diseased cane which would 

 be apparent to one not a trained plant pathologist. 



The only insect enemy recognized by the planters is the so-called 

 "bucan" or "bugan," a grub resembling the larva of the common coconut 

 beetle except that it is smaller. This has been known in Negros for 

 many years, but is not generally thought to do much damage except 

 in certain localities where many ratoons are raised, where considerable 

 loss is sometimes occasioned by its burrowing into and attacking the 

 underground system of the young ratoons, thus stunting the growth 

 of the plant, if not actually killing it. 



This is now being made the subject of a separate investigation by 

 the botanical and entomological divisions of the Bureau of Science. 



NATIONALITY OF THE PLANTEBS. 



The haciendas of Negros are owned and managed almost exclusively 

 by Spaniards, Spanish mestizos, or native Visayans. Of other nationali- 

 ties there are only a few Swiss, one or two Americans, and occasionally 

 a Chinese mestizo. Spanish is the universal language among the hacen- 

 deros, and is probably in more common use here than in any other part 

 of the Islands. Practically all of the native planters speak Spanish, 

 while only in exceptional cases is one to be found who understands 

 more than a few words of English. 



