202 



Increase in yield of Sugar. — The preat aim in all experiments with 

 cane is to increase the yield of sugar ; it is satisfactory to find that 

 several of the seedling canes are very promising in this respect. 



It is understood from one proprietor that from 5 acres planted with 

 u D. No. 95 " he reaped 23 tons whereas with the Mt. Blanc variety 

 which was the cane hitherto planted on the estate, he only got at the 

 rate of 2 tons per acre, that is to say, that with the same area and the 

 same expenditure, he hopes that when the whole of the estate is planted 

 with D. No. 95 more than double the amount of sugar will be pro- 

 duced. 



At the Conference held at Barbados in January, Dr. Morris called 

 the attention of those present to a remarkable seedling cane that had 

 originated in Barbados, known as " B. 147." Mr. Bovell, Superinten- 

 dent of the Botanic Station, who raised this seedling, states : — "This 

 cane has been under cultivation here for the past five years, and it has 

 during that time given an average yield of nearly half a ton of available 

 sugar per acre over the Cal donian Queen, which comes next, and more 

 than three quarters of a ton more than the Bourbon." Mr. Bovell 

 recommends this cane for the " black soil " districts of Barbados. The 

 following are Mr. Bovell's figures: — 



Name of Libs, per gallon. Libs, per gallon. Libs, of Sugar ► 



Cane. Sucrose. Glucose. per acre. 



B. 147 1*794 -114 7,190 



Caledonian Queen 1*980 -041 6,137 



Bourbon 1*775 *086 5,210 



According to Mr. Bowrey's analysis, the seedling D. No. 95 yields 

 at Hope nearly half as much more as the Caledonian Qaeen ; but the 

 direct comparison between the two seedling canes is a matter for future 

 analysis. 



Through Dr. Morris's kind offices, I was enabled to purchase 200 

 tops of cane B. 147 from the proprietor of an estate where it was 

 grown somewhat extensively, and brought them back for experimental 

 growing in Hope Gardens. It was found unfortunately that a very 

 large proportion were riddled with the borer, these were burnt, but the 

 remaindei were planted and promise well. 



Analysis of Cane at Hope. Mr. Bowrey, Government Chemist* 

 had analysed shortly before his death a good number of the canes under 

 cultivation at Hope Gardens*. His successor, Mr. Francis Watts, 

 recommended as a preliminary to|undertaking work on the Hope canes, 

 that a row, one chain in length, of each variety should be planted out, 

 with the intention of analysing them when ripe. 



Analysis of Canes on Estates. It is evident from the Reports pub- 

 lished in the Bulletin from time to time of different varieties of canes 

 grown for experiment by Messrs. Kemp, Webb, Shirley, and Craig, 

 that it is important for every Sugar Planter to experiment for himself 

 with various canes until he finds out certainly the variety which yields 



• Bulletin, Oct. and Nov., 1897. 



