May I, 1891 .] 
THE TROPICAL AQRiCULTUREST. 
801 
Cane.” From this article I quote as follows : — 
Past experience and observation has taught that 
oanea planted in virgin soil after the removal of the 
forest growth ^lield an abundant tonnage, with a low 
sncrose content ns compared to those planted in land 
which baa long been under cultivation. Climatic and 
other conditiona cause a variation in saccharine 
strength in the juice of the cane from about 5 per cent, 
to as high as 22 per cent., which has been noted in 
Peru. According to M. Maumen^ (page 80, vol. 2), 
the percentage in the beet ranges from 3 to 18, aud it 
is with the beet as with the cane, a heavy tonnage and 
a high saccharine content are incompatible. The 
quality of the soil is an important factor in the culti- 
vation of the cane and beet, as it is admitted by high 
authority (M, Maumenl) that “ the chemical nature of 
the soil is entirely secondary ; it is above all the phy- 
sical texture and the oorreepauding absorptive powers 
which are of great advantage.” 
Excessive tonnage is produced by an undue amount 
of nitrogen or ammonia in the soil, and such must 
be carefully avoided whatever its source. The 
amount of ammonii in the annual rainfall varies 
much according to lociliti'. Sir J. B. Lawes, of Botham- 
sted, England, found alraofc't e.xactly one part in a 
million of rain, M. Bouasingault in Alsace found £ of 
that amount, and M. Barral nearly 3| parts in a 
million of rain water of Palis, France. This source 
of supply is inadequate for full plant development as 
proved by analysis, and from whence the balance is 
derived by the cereals remains tor science to divulge, 
yet the microbes which are supposed to supply the 
nitrogen in the growth of leguminous plants may in a 
lesser degree promote that of the grasses. In the 
production of grain it has been found that it takes over 
live pounds of ammonia to produce a bushel of wheat, 
and its equivalent of straw. Such valuable data to 
the farmer is had by direct field experiments, and it 
behoves those largely interested in the production of 
sugar to inform themselves as to what quantity of 
ammonia is required to produce a ton of cane, aud the 
amount which can be used per acre, and not decrease 
the subtile element, saccharine, contained therein. 
The importance of field experiments cannot be too 
highly esteemed where it becomes almost imperative 
to produce maximum yields at minimum cost for 
field manipnlatioiiB and manufacture. 
So high a peroentage of sugar as 18 in beets is 
probably due to free applications of citrates. But 
beets seem in danger of destruction by a nema- 
toid worm, as shown in an article from which the 
following is quoted : — 
M.r. George Bureau, editor of the Joiir/tal des Fabri- 
cantsdes Sucre, has favored Tub Planter with a copy of 
his recent pamphlet on the nematode or worm that has 
been found to be the chief cause of the seeming dete- 
rioration of the sugar beet in France aud Germany. 
This worm penetrates into the beet roots, lives on their 
juice, uccomplisheB its metamorphoses there aud multi- 
plies with such frightful rapidity as to promise to 
render beet culture ruinous aud finally impostible. 
For a long while the existence of these paratitea was 
unknown, and it now promises to injure beet culture as 
the phylloxera has the culture of the vine. It was 
thought iu Germany, that the reduced yield of beets 
was caused by the impoverishment of the soil from the 
to) frequent planting of beets in it, and they designated 
this phenomenon as futiyuo betteraviere, or beet sick, 
if we may utilize the analogy of clover sick, a phrase 
frequentlj applied in this country to clover lands 
similarily affected. 
A careful study of these phenomena, made by a 
distinguished German Professor Julius Kuehn, has 
established the iaot that there is no real exhaustion 
of the soil, aud that the beet crops wuro reduced by 
the presence of numerous worms in the small, fibrous 
roots of the beet, and that, their destruction accom- 
plished, the fields resumed their former fertility aud 
gave as abundant yields as ever before. 
The presence of the sereh in the sugar oane of 
Java, aud of the nematode in tho beets of Europe, 
show how insect or fuugoid life is struggling against 
these two great crops, and hero iu Leuisiaua wo are 
sometimes led. to think that we may have exceptional 
Edvautages for ttie production of sugar from tropical 
onne from the fact that our cold winters destroy so 
many of those iosoot enemies that do immense harm 
iu the tropics. 
^ 
WHAT QUINIXE KEQUIRES 
is a Beecham or a Seqimh, who will take it by the 
hand -and lead it forth disguised as the latest elixir 
of life, who will blare forlli its all-curing properties 
with brazeu impuderica and trumpets of brass, who will 
preach it forth as the only perfect pan.'.cea on mountain- 
side, on city-walls, in books, in papers, in all countries, 
and in all tongues. This has been done to a very large 
extent in the United States, with the consequence that 
half the world’s supply is consumed there, although fever 
is not more prevalent than in Europe, nor nearly as 
much so as in Asia or Africa. Until the drug is well 
advertised, it will be driven out of tho field by patent 
medicines, not one quarter as beneficial. It must 
be advertised, but iu tlie meantime we again urge 
on Government to do all that lies in its power — and 
it can do great deal with the help of its hospitals, 
its vaccinators and the headmen of the villagers — to 
make this drug popular throughout the Poniusula — 
Madras Times. 
- - - 
TEA-MAKIXG EXTllAORDIXAKY. 
Mariawatte tea fields with their steady average 
of 1,000 to 1,100 lb. of made tea per annum for 
several years, have accustomed us to great things in 
Ceylon and we hear oaoasionally of fabulous 
quantities of green leaf being pluoked per cooly. 
We have also tho case of the Buanwella estate 
that made 300 lb. of tea per acre in one month 
over a twelve acres field ; and we have beard of a 
well-known Kelani Valley plantation which has given 
over 7,000 lb. made tea per week for as many as 
10 weeks together at a time. But the news we 
have just heard of Bandarapola, Matale — in rather 
dry situation— seems to put all these in the shade, for 
Mr. Fraser has taken iu leaf equal to 10,300 lb. a 
of made tea in one week or at the rate of 35 lb. 
per acre. Well done lower Matale ! We are 
I reminded that long ago it was prophesied by a 
practical, disinterested planter that the long 
valley (or as Highlanders would call it ” Strath ”) 
or rather suooession of valleys from Matale up to 
Ukuwella on to Watagama and why not on to 
Kandy, to Peradeniya, to Gampola and Nawalapitiya, 
would include about the riohest tea growing land 
in the country. 
As for total outturn and crops for the 
island, the pr ophecy made by the same 
planter some years ago of 100 million lb. for 
Ceylon’s exports is not unlikely of realization. 
He would be a bold man in fact who 
would say that we oannot beat India in six to 
seven years’ time, provided there is due en- 
encouragement to extend, continue and keep up 
cultivation. 
— — ^ 
Burma Kuby Mines, — It has always been a matter 
for wonderment that the Burma Ruby Mine shares 
have been freely sold at a discount, when it is 
considered with what great eclat the Uompan y was 
formoa, tho unique eoucession it possesses, and 
tho powerful house under whose auspioes it first 
saw light. The demand for tho shares has been 
rather pronounced lately, on receipt of nows from 
Burma decidedly encouraging to the Company, and 
we oannot but think that the ehareholders who 
hang on will reap a good reward for thei* pains 
and patience.— Cyfo/iU's and, IndUt, 
