CANE SUGAR. 



Cuban Soils. The soils of Cuba upon which the cane is grown are 

 divided by F. S. Earle 13 into three classes, and are thus described by him : 



The Red Lands. These are found mainly in Havana and Matanzas Provinces, 

 but they occur also in eastern Pinar del Rio and in certain areas near the coast in 

 the three eastern provinces. This red soil has many peculiar qualities. It is very 

 sticky when wet and is heavy and difficult to cultivate, and yet it allows water to 

 pass through it as readily as through the lightest sand. Within a few hours after 

 a heavy shower, if the sun shines, the surface will "begin to dry, and it will be 

 possible to run ploughs and cultivators. There is no subsoil, as the red surface soil 

 extends down practically unchanged to the bed rock, which is always a cavernous 

 limestone pierced with numerous subterranean passages which provide a perfect 

 natural under-drainage. There are very few streams or rivers in the red lands, as 

 the rain water sinks so readily into the soil and is carried off by these underground 

 passages, finally finding a vent in great springs, many of which come out in the 

 bottom of the sea, forming the spots of fresh water which are known to occur along 

 certain parts of the Cuban coast. This remarkable natural drainage makes these 

 soils easy to cultivate during the rainy season, but for the same reason they become 

 too dry for most crops during the winter, except where artificially watered. 

 Irrigation on a large scale will always be difficult on these lands, on account of lack 

 of available streams, and because so much water will soak away in the canals and 

 ditches that a large head will be required in order to cover a comparatively small 

 area,. 



Taking everything into consideration, these lands are probably the most satis- 

 factory on the island for sugar production. With good management and with 

 favourable seasons the best black lands will yield somewhat heavier crops ; and it is 

 claimed by some that the cane from black lands is somewhat richer in sucrose ; but 

 the crop on the red lands is always certain ; never being injured by excessive rains, 

 and it is always possible to give sufficiently frequent tillage to keep down the weeds. 

 The cultivation is cheaper also, as no expensive drainage ditches are needed, and no 

 ridging up of the rows is required, level culture being best for these lands. The 

 red soil is well supplied with the mineral elements of fertility, and, on account of 

 its depth, it stands successive cropping for many years. No soils respond better to 

 the use of fertilizers, and none can be built up more quickly by the growth of 

 leguminous crops for green manuring. 



Black Soils with a White Calcareous Subsoil. These occupy large areas in the hill 

 regions in the northern and central parts of Havana and Matanzas Provinces. 

 Similar soils occur also in the eastern provinces, usually where the country is more 

 or less rolling. "When first cleared such lands are very fertile, but their hilly 

 character subjects them to constant loss from washing during heavy rains. Their 

 durability depends upon the original thickness of the top soil, and on the steepness 

 of the hills and the consequent degree of loss from washing. These soils are fairly 

 permeable to water, but not nearly so much so as the red soils. On account of their 

 more retentive character they cannot be cultivated so quickly after rains, nor, on 

 the other hand, do they suffer so quickly from drought during the dry season. 

 Ditching is seldom necessary except sometimes on the lower portions; the uneven 

 surface usually affords drainage, and it can be aided by slightly ridging up the rows 

 during cultivation. On the steeper and more broken of these lands, much of the 

 loss from washing could be avoided by terracing or running the rows in irregular 

 circles following the contour lines, as is done so universally in cotton fields on the 

 broken hill lands of the Southern United States. These irregular, crooked rows 

 seem unsightly and awkward to those who are not accustomed to them, but when 

 properly laid out they are very effective in preventing loss from washing. 



Black Lands with impervious Clay Subsoil. The black lands that are underlaid 

 with a stiff impervious clay present some of the most difficult problems to the sugar 

 planter. They are naturally very fertile, and, when conditions are favourable, they 

 yield maximum crops. But most of these lands are quite level, and the subsoil 



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