THE CUBA REVIEW 21 



hectare (126 lbs. per acre). The fertiUzer was thrown by hand and lightly covered afterwards 

 with a small share plough. The plot was then cultivated with the large four-share cultivator 

 (shares pointing outwards), and some dirt was thrown to the cane with the six-disc machine. 

 This cultivation was repeated at the end of January, save that the four-share machine only 

 passed once. The cultivation of the plot was concluded about the middle of February by 

 passing once with a five-tooth harrow drawn by one mule. The cane was harvested in the 

 middle of July, 1912. 



In August, 1911, there wag no rain, and in September only 10mm. As it was also impossible 

 to irrigate the cane in these months owing to lack of water, the thinner tops planted naturally 

 dried up to a large extent. There is no doubt that had we been able to irrigate, or had more 

 rain fallen during the months mentioned, a much better germination from the tops would have 

 been secured. Naturally, the whole canes did not dry so easily, owing to the smaller surface 

 exposed to evaporation and to the hardness of the lower epidermis. 



Table I gives the result of the harvest. 



TABLE I 



Harvest of Plant Cane 



Kg. of cane Average weight 

 Lot planted with per hectare per stalk, kg. 



Cane tops 21,371 .52 



Ordinary cane 29,066 .57 



The results of the first year were not very favorable to the new sj'stem of obtaining seed. 

 Nevertheless, for the reasons mentioned above (the dryness of the season following the planting), 

 and to avoid forming too hasty an opinion in the matter, we decided to extend the experiment 

 to ratoon cane. 



As ratoon cane, the lots received the following treatment : 



26th September, 1912. The cane was off-barred by passing a share plough twice down the 

 middles and once at each side of the row close to the cane. No spade work was done. 



5th October, 1912. The lots were irrigated. 



1st November, 1912. The lots were irrigated. 

 6th November, 1912. The cane was fertihzed in the same manner as during the previous 

 year. 



22nd November, 1912. The large four-share (pointing inwards) cultivator was passed 

 twice down the middles. 



12th December, 1912. Dirt was thrown to the rows by the large six-disc machine. 



24th December, 1912. The rows were weeded by spades. 



26th December, 1912. The middles were cultivated with the large four-share cultivator 

 (shares pointing outwards), and as the middles were very weedy, a share plough was also passed 

 twice. 



4th January, 1913. Dirt was tlu-owu to the rows with the six-disc machine, and the four- 

 share cultivator was passed once down the middles. 



22nd January, 1913. The lots were irrigated. 



24th June, 1913. The cane was harvested. 



The following table gives the results of the second year's harvest: 



TABLE II 



Rendement of First Year Ratoon Cane 



Kg. of canes Lbs. per Average wght. 



Lot planted with per hectare acre of stalk, kg. Lbs. 



Cane tops 46,200 41,150 0.79 1 .74 



Ordinary canes 47, 104 41,955 . 73 1 . 60 



We find in this table that the production of both lots was greatly increased, and that the 

 tops gave nearly as much cane as the other lot, with a higher average weight per stalk. These 

 results have mspired us to continue the experiment, planting the cane in August instead of 

 early in July, and we hope to be able to irrigate whenever necessary. 



The result of this second series of experiments will be published in due course. 



It seems, at least, that this question merits every con-sideration, and we would advise 

 planters to conduct investigations in their own fields, so that a definite conclusion may be 

 arrived at. Frequently from such investigations of seemingly small importance results of 

 much benefit to the whole inidstrv are obtained. — International Sugar Journal. 



