NITRATE ON SUGAR CANE. 

 What It Did for an Acre of Sugar Cane in Porto Rico, 



Abstract from Facts About Sugar, September 7, 1918. 



(The results of an interesting experiment conducted at Central 

 Aguirre, Porto Rico, during the season 1917-18, to check up the relative 

 values of Nitrate of Soda, of Acid Phosphate, and of a mixture of the 

 two, as fertilizer for sugar cane, are described in the following article. 

 The accompanying illustrations and table show the striking results 

 obtained from the use of the Nitrate. — Ed.) 



An Instructive Demonstration. 



A recent experiment conducted at Margarita field, 

 Hacienda Carmen of Central Aguirre, Porto Rico, 

 forcibly brings out the gain in sugar yield, with the 

 accompanying higher financial return resulting, 

 when Nitrate of Soda and acid phosphate were used, 

 compared with the returns when acid phosphate was 

 used alone. 



The test was made to determine the relative effi- 

 ciency of acid phosphate — which is the main con- 

 stituent of the ordinary brands of mixed fertilizer — 

 as compared with Nitrate of Soda. 



The cane was grown on adjoining one-acre plots. 

 Applications of the fertilizer materials were made on 

 July 23, 1917, and the cane was cut on May 27, 1918. 

 On one plot 400 pounds of acid phosphate was ap- 

 plied; on the second 400 pounds each of acid phos- 

 phate and Nitrate of Soda; on a third. Nitrate of Soda 

 alone, and on the fourth, a check plot, no fertilizer 

 was used. The results obtained are shown in the 

 following table : 



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