21 



Sugar. 



§ 1. In the isle of Java different sorts of sugar-cane 

 are cultivated, especially one, known as the black Cheribon- 

 cane which is of a red or brown colour. The natives, however, 

 cultivate preferentially a kind of white cane for the inte- 

 rior market because it develops more amply. At one time 

 the white cane was also used b}^ manufacturers, because 

 it was believed that it was less subject to the prevailing 

 disease, viz. : the ,,sereh", which proved, nevertheless, to 

 be an error. 



With a view to this disease several sorts of sugar- 

 cane have been tried, such as the Madagascar, the Mauritia, 

 the Sandwich, Borneo and New-Zealand, but none of them 

 could resist it. The Fidji-cane is very hardy, but it con- 

 tains but little sugar and therefore is rarely cultivated. 



§ 2. In Java the sugar-cane is cultivated according to 

 two methods, called the ,,broedjoelan" and the „Reynoso" 

 system. For the first-named method the soil is completely 

 tilled and trenches are dug at an equal distance of from 

 three feet (1 ft. = 31 cM.); in these trenches at a distance 



