A PRIMER ON THE CULTIVATION OF SUGAR CANE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Upon most modern estates the manufacture of sugar is carried on in 

 connection with the growing of the cane, but this is not always the case, 

 and cane growing alone may be profitably followed by those who have no 

 milling plant, but who must deliver their crop to the nearest crushing 

 mill. 1 The conditions for profitable returns are exceptionally favorable 

 upon these Islands; the climate can not be surpassed, the cane soils are 

 unequalled, there is abundant water supply, the facilities for transporta- 

 tion by water are unusually good, while the difficulties of land transpor- 

 tation will be quickly overcome by the successful planter. It must be the 

 aim of the cane grower to produce upon a given area the maximum of 

 both tonnage and quality in order to secure the greatest profit. This can 

 only result from a judicious selection of land, both as to location and soil, 

 a careful selection of the most productive varieties of cane, and the 

 highest class of tillage and management of the growing crop. 



LOCATION OF FARM. 



The essential feature for the consideration of the grower who does not 

 design to crush the cane himself lies in the accessibility of his farm to a 

 mill. The measure of this accessibility will be determined entirely by 

 the cost of transportation, which will depend on the condition of existing 

 roads; the cost of construction of new ones, or of tramways; or the 

 availability of waterways for more distant carriage. This last in these 

 Islands is so valuable a means of transportation that it can be utilized for 

 the extension of cane growing into regions that otherwise could not be 

 made available. 



Most modern sugar mills are now equipped with unloading facilities, 

 and by the aid of special labor-saving contrivances effect the discharge of 

 cars, carts, and boat loads of cane with remarkable ease and celerity. 

 These are all contributory factors to "accessibility" and are, therefore, 

 mentioned in this connection. 



The next feature that commands attention in the selection of a sugar 

 cane farm is the suitability of the soil for the designated purpose. It 

 has been contended that sugar cane can be made profit-paying upon any 



x This is the general practice in New South Wales, where the numerous holdings 

 are, as a rule, small in area. The cane is purchased from the planters, principally 

 by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, whose various crushing mills and refin- 

 eries are fitted with machinery of the most modern character. 



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