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of cane, the two principal considerations that should guide 

 one in the selection of a site are: (i) Is the land close to 

 water from which it can be easily irrigated ? (2) Is the land 

 above inundation level and easily drained and yet level. Some 

 red soils of Burdwan, Birbhum and Kandi Sub-division of 

 Murshidabad, though very light, are highly valued for growing 

 sugar-cane. Probably they contain a high proportion of phos- 

 phorus. Phosphates are greatly valued for manuring sugar- 

 cane wherever European and American planters have taken 

 to growing this crop. A very large proportion of the bones 

 collected for export in India, goes to the sugar-cane plantations 

 of Mauritius. If our cultivators will not use bones, they can 

 at least prevent their being collected and taken away from 

 their fields and from village golgothas. They do some good 

 even when they lie about in the fields in a neglected condition. 

 A. phosphatic mineral called apatite has been discovered as a 

 bye-product of mica mines in the Koderma forest of Hazari- 

 bagh. This mineral powdered up is being sold by Messrs. 

 Ewing & Co. of Calcutta at Rs. 3 a maund. It is quite worth 

 this price for the sugar-cane crop. Applied once in 5 years at 

 the rate of 10 maunds per acre, it should keep up the supply of 

 phosphates which is so essential for this crop. Of course, the 

 effect of such an insoluble manure as apatite, even when it is 

 used in a powdered state, must always remain imperceptible, 

 unless an invigorating manure, such as Sulphate of ammonia 

 or Saltpetre, is used also ; but as an improver of the soil for 

 the sugar-cane crop, apatite is of the highest value, unless 

 analysis shows the soil to be already very rich in phosphates, 

 s.ay containing '05 to i per cent, of phosphates. If a soil 

 contains less than '05 per cent, of phosphates and if such soil 

 is, used for growing sugar-cane, it will be benefited by the occa- 

 sional application of bone-dust or apatite. Even those hardy 

 varieties ol sugar-cane that can stand drought and inundation 

 for which any soil seems to answer, ought to have 

 ic manure applied to them in addition to cattle- 



