74 MANUAL FOR SUGAR GROWERS. 



Sulphate of iron sliould be purchased in fine 

 crystals or powder, and should be applied as a top- 

 dressing in quantities not exceeding one hundred- 

 weight per acre. Many sugar soils are deficient in 

 soluble iron ; under this circumstance the use of 

 sulphate of iron is likely to prove beneficial. 



No attempt is made here to discuss those manures 

 not likely to be met with in the West Indies. In 

 districts where manufacturing operations and the like 

 are carried on, various waste products are obtained 

 which are often of value as manure, but too bulky to 

 admit of shipment to a distance ; hence they are not 

 referred to here. Nor is any attempt made to com- 

 pare or contrast the merits of the many manures 

 specially compounded for sugar soils ; most of these 

 are composed of mixtures of the various substances 

 herein referred to, and as a rule are skilfully pre- 

 pared and of good money value. 



It is important to remember that artificial manures 

 can only exert their full action on soils in good con- 

 dition. To apply artificial or chemical manures to 

 land in bad condition is a most wasteful proceeding, 

 and one likely to lead to results discouraging to the 

 experimenter and to the discredit of scientific manur- 

 ing generally. Again, it must be remembered that 

 artificial manures must be used in such a manner as 

 will pay ; it is quite possible — nay, easy — to employ 

 these manures in excess, and thus to spend more 

 money on the manure than the increase of the crop 

 will pay for. Artificial manures are in most cases ab- 

 solutely necessary. They are costly, hence their use 

 calls for the exercise of a considerable amount of skill. 



