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manutaotire. of sugar on the large estates in British Guiana are 
opinion on the subject, that the economic maximum under 
present conditions has practically been attained. 
30. The clay soils of British Guiana are excellently suited for 
sugar-cane cultivation. They are, according to Professor Harrison, 
ich in potash, which is the 50% constituent likely to be first 
exhausted by continuous cane cultivation. Under the present 
system of agriculture in British Guiana, probably from 25 to 30 
per cent. of the nitrogen in the cane, 66 per cent. of the potash, 
and 45 per cent. of the alge erep acid are returned to the soil by 
the tops and dry leav There spitaineth air little chance of the 
diately available nitrogen, which is w and cheaply supplied in 
the form either of sulphate of ammonia or of nitrate of soda. 
31. As regards the system of manuring adopted in the colony, 
the sub-committee appointed by the Planters’ Association states : 
“ During the last 15 years, systematic and extensive series of 
m ed, in th and the G 
“ botanist and chemist more recently ; besides -e and inde- 
“ pendent experiments on nearly every estate in the colony, and 
“ the system of manuring adopted has been, i in the main, based on 
“ the results of these experiments.” 
32. The fungus disease in canes, so prevalent in ap of the 
West India Islands, has latterly been observed also in British 
Guiana. In October and November 1895, large areas were affected 
on the east and west coasts of Demerara, in the Essequebo Islands, 
and on the coast of Essequebo. The estates on the banks of the 
rivers had not suffered, whilst those in Berbice had apparently 
escaped. On some estates the loss due to disease was estimated 
at 10 to 20 per cent. On one estate (Leonora) in 1896, “ there was 
a heavy crop of canes, found to be poor in sig when gro nd, 
“owing to the presence of Pies 
was at the rate of 1°81 tons per acre, while patente (1893) it 
had been as high as 2:14 tons per acre. The planters acting upon 
the technical advice afforded by the Government botanist and the 
Govern analyst have adopted precautionary measures, and the 
disease is apparently not spreading at the present time. 
33. In conelusion, it may be assumed that as regards the general 
suitability of the soil for the cultivation of sugar cane, as regards 
the methods of cultivation and manuring pursued during the last 
high position as compared with other -g 
Nevertheless, it is evident that with aois prices the margin o 
profit is reduced to a minimum. here the soil is exceptionally 
good, and with a succession of good seasons, the best equipped | 
factories may still survive, but no provision can be made for 
bad seasons or other unfavourable conditions, and the outlook 
for the colony as a whole cannot be regarded as promising. 
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