43 



These canes average lower in sucrose aud purity, but are at the 

 same time decidedly larger than those examined in any other district. 

 The high glucose and low fiber of some of them might lead to the 

 belief that they had been cut too soon, but such could hardly have 

 been the case, as they were practically all at least twelve months old, 

 and, as a rule, were taken from fields which were at the time being 

 cut for grinding. Without doubt the time of year had some influence 

 in this respect, however, as La Carlota was the first district \isited, 

 and the above analyses were made during the months of January and 

 February, rather early in the grinding season, the average throughout 

 the year would probably result a little better. Nqs. 6, 18, and 19 are 

 more typical of the higher lands, while the other samples represent the 

 central and lower portion of the district. 



Number 6, taken from a small experimental plot at La Granja, was analyzed 

 more for purpose of comparison with other varieties of cane growing in the same 

 field than as illustrating results ordinarily obtained here. These other varieties 

 of cane will be discussed in a separate paragraph. Numbers 10 and 12 are from 

 the soils numbered 5 and 6, respectively, and, coming as they do from the same 

 field, certainly indicate a marked difference due to variation in the quality of the 

 soil; number 12, from the so-called "best" portion of the field, in reality being 

 much better from the standpoint of the local sugar boiler, as its juice is decidedly 

 purer and richer in sucrose, but, taking into consideration the increased weight 

 of number 10, there is really verj' little choice between the two in point of avail- 

 able sugar. 



Numbers 14 and 15 illustrate the difference in quality of cane grown in clay 

 and in a sandy soil, it being the consensus of opinion among planters in general 

 that under normal conditions the former produces cane of superior quality, but 

 rather small in size, while that yielded by the latter is inclined to be poorer in 

 sucrose, although if given an abundant supply of water it often attains a luxuriant 

 growth. In this particular instance the cane from the sandy soil is not only 

 poorer in sucrose, but is smaller as well, the latter feature being an exception to 

 the general rule. 



In numbers 16 and 17 we have another instance of a rich soil producing a 

 larger cane, but one comparatively low in sucrose and purity, while a neighboring 

 field of much less fertility yields a richer, although smaller, crop. The physical 

 difference in the soils from which these canes were taken, as stated above, un- 

 doubtedly does its share toward changing the composition of the cane. 



In numbers 17 and 18, practically no difference can be detected between cane 

 grown in a rich and in a decidedly poorer soil. 



BINALBAGAN-TSABELA. 



Theoretically, this is contiguous to the Pontevedra district, and may 

 be reached from there by a trail passing over the foothills and south 

 through La Castellana, from which place the town of Isabela is distant 

 in an air line only about 12 kilometers. Practically, owing to poor 

 roads and lack of transportation facilities, considerable time and ex- 

 pense is saved by returning to Iloilo for a fresh start, and from there 

 proceeding by lorcha directly to the town of Binalbagan, the sail down 

 from Iloilo requiring from ^ eight to twelve hours, during the northeast 



