20 



in cotton seed. The quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash 

 applied on the two plats were practically the same. In this case it 

 appears that nitrogen in the form of cotton seed was more effective 

 than in the form of cotton-seed meal. Additional data, however, 

 would be required before asserting positively that such is the case. 

 In plats Nos. 22 and 23 a comparison is made between the value of 

 potash as kainit and potash as muriate. The data obtained show that 

 there is no difference in the availability of the potash in these two 

 forms. In plat No. 11 a fertilizer was employed in which the phos- 

 phoric acid and potash was supplied from low-grade materials instead 

 of the high grade as used in preparing the normal fertilizer. The 

 result of this one test is not detinitc, but seems to indicate that it is 

 advisable to use a higher grade material. 



EFFECT OF .SOIL AND FERTILIZERS ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CANE. 



The principal effect which the soil has upon the crop is shown in 

 the quantity which is produced. It is well known, however, that the 

 character of the soil also influences to a greater or less extent the 

 chemical composition of the crop. Crops which are grown in a very 

 fertile- soil are usually coarser in texture than those grown in one In- 

 fertile. If, therefore, we are seeking for a particular flavor, taste, or 

 character of product it is to be remembered that the fertility of the 

 soil has an influence of quite a marked character in many of these 

 particulars. If we examine the quantity of sugar contained in the 

 cane grown on plat No. 24 of Field A, we find that the juice of the 

 cane contained 15.72 per cent of sucrose and 0.44 per cent of reducing 

 sugar with a purity of 91.4 per cent. This typical composition of the 

 juice is shown by all the crops on Field A. It is a remarkable show- 

 ing of purity and high sucrose content with a low reducing sugar 

 content. The quantity of sugar in these canes and the purity of their 

 juices compare favorably with the data obtained from sugar canes 

 grown under favorable conditions in the Tropics. In fact, it appears 

 that the purity is, as a rule, higher than that of the juices of tropical 

 sugar canes. The effect of the fertilizer on Field A is not very marked 

 in so far a-> variations in chemical composition are concerned. 



Twelve of the fertilized plats. \ ix, Nos. 1, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 

 20, 21, 22, and 23 have a higher content of sugar than plat No. 24, and 

 the other eleven have a lower sugar content. 



In regard to the purity of the juices, seven of the fertilized plats, 

 vix. Nos. 1, 5, 14, 15, 18, 21, arid 23, have a higher purity than plat 

 No. iM, and the others a lower purity. In this enumeration plat 

 No. 13 is excluded, since the number express! no- the purity a^ recorded 

 is evidently an error and the data are not at hand to ascertain the 

 magnitude of the mistake. 



In regard to reducing Migar, ten plats, vix, Nos. 2, :>* ',. 7, 8, 9, 12, 

 15, 16, and !'.. have a larger amount than plat No. '2-1. Four have 



