VIISI'I'.I.I.ANKOI 8 CHOPS. 61.'} 



this subject of varieties is apparent from the statement lately made by a 

 well-informed man that at the present time some fifty or sixty varieties are 

 being grown on our rivers. Saving regard to the fact that soil and 

 climatic conditions under which sugar cane is grown in New South Wales 

 might roughly be divided into say half-a-dozen groups, in respect of each of 

 which perhaps, one or two varieties could he named as most suitable, it 

 would appear that less than a dozen varieties would be ample for all 

 ordinary requirements. 



It is not so much new varieties that are needed as an ampler knowledge 

 of the comparative usefulness of existing varieties, together with systematic 

 testing of any others that seem likely to be useful here. 



New Guinea JS'o. 16. — This is the variety that is perhaps most extensively 

 grown in New South Wales. It occupies nearly J^O per cent, of the area on 

 the Clarence, is second in favour with growers on the Richmond, and is also 

 --own on a fair area on the Tweed. 



It is a purple cane, fairly erect, and of leafy habit, throwing a lot of flag, 

 which tends to keep down weeds ; not a high-testing cane, but a good 

 cropper, standing dry weather well and responding at once to rain ; a slow 

 grower the first year, and therefore properly a two-year cane; "arrows" in 

 certain years on the Tweed. In at least one case in the past season the 

 yield was estimated at 70 tons per acre. New Guinea No. 16 cannot be 

 recommended for rich land on account of its rank growth and poor quality, but 

 it is specially adapted to light and medium soils, and to land that has been 

 under cultivation for a number of years. 



Badila. — On the Clarence one-tenth of the area under cane is planted with 

 this variety ; on the tweed it is largely grown on account of its preference 

 for wet conditions, and on the Richmond it also has many partisans, being 

 specially adapted for new rich land and for well cultivated land of good 

 quality. Notwithstanding its somewhat delicate character and its liking for 

 moisture, it crops well in a dry season, and at all times responds well to good 

 cultivation methods. Reing of a spreading and leafy habit, it is a good frost- 

 resister. The sugar-content of the cane is high, and the yields at times as 

 much as 40 and 50 tons per acre ; during the past season at least one crop of 

 approximately 70 tons per acre was found. 



Mahona. — This variety was at one time very popular, but latterly it has 

 been attacked by fungus pests, and the area under it is now much smaller 

 than in years gone by. It seems particularly liable to leaf scald/ a disease 

 that has lately made its appearance on the Richmond, and that in some 

 instances has wiped out whole crops. There are plenty of healthy crops of 

 .Mahona yet, however, on the Richmond, and it is quite possible to save it if 

 good methods are adopted and if diseased crops are avoided for seeding 

 purposes. It occupies 40 to 50 per cent, of the cane-lands on that river, 

 being highly adapted to the heavy land between the river and the sea. Apart 

 from its liability to disease, its greatest faults are its soft skin (which makes 

 it liable to the attacks of rats), and a disposition for a percentage of the 

 canes to lodge and to be snapped off when the ground is being cultivated. It 

 is a quick grower, and most likely of all to provide a crop at one year, and it 

 is useful as a jjood cow cane. 



Malabar. — This is an old-time favorite that has long ago been given upon 

 the Clarence, but that does particularly well on indifferently drained areas 

 on the Richmond. It is a very erect, strong, grower, with a strong, broad 

 leaf that affords plenty of protection to the cane, and it is generally so 



