IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUGAR CANE. 121 
and the following were the results using sulphate of 
ammonia and nitrate of soda as sources of nitrogen 
respectively :— 
Nitrate of soda 27°4 tons of canes per acre, 
Sulphate of ammonia 29'9 % - 2 
Over ten crops—1886 to 1895 both inclusive—the 
average yield with 60 lbs. of nitrogen as sulphate of 
ammonia was 30 tons per acre, and with an equiva- 
lent amount of nitrate of soda, 295 tons. 
During the five crops 1891-1895 the fields without 
manure yielded an average of 23°2 tons per acre, those 
with mixed minerals one of 25°4, whilst the average 
yield of all the fields receiving nitrogen was 29'6 tons. 
With some difficulty I have drawn up from the reports 
the following, which gives the results of those experiments 
which have been repeated each year without material 
alteration in the proportions of the manures applied :— 
No manure ‘ 23 tons of canes per acre. 
Mixed minerals pd ye » os 
Sulphate of ammonia, 40 lbs. Nitrogen 29.2 ,, & 2 
3 is 60 lbs. “ ere oe i . 
Nitrate of soda, 60 lbs Nitrogen 3164"), P. he 
From 1887 to 1890 the plots manured only with nitro- 
gen and potash salts yielded 31°6 tons of canes per 
acre per annum, these with phosphates in addition 33°9 
tons. From 1891 to 1895 the plots without phosphates 
yielded 29'2 tons, those With 30°8 tons. About 2 cwts, 
of a 36 per cent. superphosphate per acre proved the 
most successful quantity to apply from 1887 to 1890, 
while, during the later years, 3 cwts. per acre gave the 
best results. But during the perioc from 1891-1896, 
slag phosphates applied in somewhat varying quantities 
gave an average increased yield of 2°5 tons of canes per 
Q 
