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MANURIS S'Oil BANANAS, 



The question of Manures for Bananas will soon become a very important and pressing subject for 

 Planters in Jamaica, as the soil will become exhausted through continual cropping except in very favoura- 

 ble situations. 



Experiments are necessary to determine the proper components for special artificial manures for par- 

 ticular soils and also to ascertain the particular months of the year most suitable for the application of dif- 

 ferent manures. 



As soils and climate vary in character, so that the number of hands to a bunch, the length of time 

 a plant takes to produce a bimch, &c., varies in consequence — experiments should not be confined to any 

 one locality, but ought to be carried out in as many different spots as possible. 



This problem is one in which the Government is willing to help planters. 



Experimental stations as advocated by some, would be very costly, as it would be necessary to purchase 

 land, put experienced men ia charge, and supply labour for planting and carrj'ing on the experiments. 



The following is a copy of a letter from Mr. Henry Cork, and the plan suggested by him appears to 

 be simple in character, and promising the best results, for the experiments woiUd be carried out by men 

 experienced in this particular cultivation and keen to note the slightest improvement in the fruit. 



Henry Oork Esq., to Director of Public Gardens. 



10th April, 1893. 



Dear Sir, 



Referring to our conversation on the subject of Banana Manures, I am willing to offer you the fol- 

 lowing facilities for testing them. 



I will place at your disposal 10 acres or less of my growing bananas of different ages on which you 

 could make any experiment either in cultivation or manuring which appeared to you desiiable. I would 

 find all the labour and there would be no expense to the Government beyond the co.st of the manures 

 which you thought desirable to try. This plan would involve less expense to your Department than any 

 other and wovdd be a better test as you would have the use of stock and implements which could not be 

 otherwise available to you. 



A complete account of the cost of the operations and the yield of fruit would be kept for your infor- 

 mation including Rainfall, Temperature, &c. 



I am, &c., 



Henry Cork. 



It has been determined therefore that sufficient manure shall be supplied free to five experienced Ba- 

 nana planters, in situations which may be considered the most favourable for the experiments. Application 

 should be made to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town, P.O. 



Mr. J. J. Bowrey, Government Analyst has been consulted, and the following notes have been drawn 

 up for conducting the experiments. 



It will be seen that the total area to be experimented with is two acres and one square chain. 



The experiments are framed not only to bring out what will give the largest results but also the best 

 results takiug cost of manure into account. 



The Basic Slag should be applied at one time and that as soon as possible. The other manures 

 shoidd be applied in. divided doses 3 or 4 times a year, at intei-\'als, of 2 or 3 or even 4 months — at the small 

 intervals, if it is required to hasten growth so as to have the fruit at some particular time of the year. 

 The planter will know at what time it will be best to give the manures so as to produce the fruit when 

 required. 



These manures should not be applied to the soil before or during heavy rain. 



To secure even distribution, the manures shoidd be mixed with a large bulk of diy powdery earth 

 before they are applied. After being sprinkled the soil should be hoed or lightl}- stirred in some Avay. 



If irrigation is employed care must be taken that the manure is not carried nyfay. 



Except where thorough watering can be carried out mineral manures alone cannot effect much good 

 without organic matter in the soils, hence all Banana trash, stems, &c., ought carefully to be buiied or at 

 least lightly covered with earth. 



The amount of bananas in the soil might be increased by 'growing belts of blackeye peas or cow -beans 

 between tha rows of bananas, cutting them down when the pods are forming, and buiying lightly close 

 round the bananas. By green man m-ing with beans nothiiiy is withdi-awn from the soil, while carbon and 

 nitrogen obtained by the beans from the air are added. 



The place selected should be as level as possible, and the soil uniform in quality. 



Twenty-one plots of one square chain each should be marked off by stakes, and one tenth of the 

 amount of manure mentioned in the table below applied to each plot. 



It will be satisfactory to have the plots duplicated according to the foUowuig plan so that for instance 

 p. K. N. is applied in 1 & la ; a. g. in 2 «& 2a, &c. It would be advisable to have the plot marked 11 

 treated with two tons of cattle manure. 



1 



2 



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la 



2a 



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Ga 



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