SUGARCANE VARIETY P.O.J. 2878 IN PUERTO RICO 43 
as opposed to 3.07 centimeters for the same number in first ra toons, 
which was a reduction in girth of 6 percent. The average for 250 
canes of fall-planted P.O.J. 2878 was 3.05 centimeters, as opposed to 
2.78 centimeters for first ratoons, which was a reduction in girth of 
8.8 percent. Greater differences in reduction in girth might develop 
from repeated ratooning. Although there was little difference 
between the two varieties the reduction in girth is more noticeable 
with P.O.J. 2878 than with B.H. 10(12), as the Javan variety is not 
large girthed even in the first crop, and the same relative loss brings it 
much nearer than B.H. 10(12) to a thin type of cane. 
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF P.O.J. 2878 DURING HARVEST 
Factors influencing harvesting costs include ease of trashing or 
number of clinging leaves and sprouted roots; position of cane, whether 
erect or reclining ; cane girth ; tonnage per acre of a given variety ; and 
hairiness of leaf sheaths. P.O.J. 2878 trashes very freely and develops 
very few sprouted roots. Its canes generally remain erect and rarely 
become tangled as do those of B.H. 10(12). The straightness of the 
canes of P.O.J. 2878 facilitates loading them into carts, and a heavier 
load of these canes can be packed into a given volume than is possible 
with the crooked canes of B.H. 10(12). In many areas in Puerto 
Rico it either equals or exceeds B.H. 10(12) in cane tonnage. In 
determining the price per ton for the cane cutter, the only handicaps 
of P.O.J. 2878 are the smaller cane girth and hairy leaf sheaths. 
Fifty canes of each variety of gran-cultura plantings under irriga- 
tion when measured at Central Mercedita, Ponce, showed that B.H. 
10(12) averaged in girth 3.47 centimeters, P.O.J. 2878, 3.03 centi- 
meters, and Mayaguez 28, 3.4 centimeters. The average cane 
diameter of B.H. 10(12) was one seventh greater than that of P.O.J. 
2878. The erectness of the P.O.J. 2878 canes, however, is thought 
to more than offset inferior cane girth. The erect growth and prolific 
stooling habit of P.O.J. 2878 is illustrated in figure 4. 
For comparison of ease of trashing, 50 canes of each variety in gran 
cultura were observed at Isabela. P.O.J. 2878 averaged 7 clinging 
leaves per cane, or 1 leaf less than the average for B.H. 10(12). 
S.C. 12/4 averaged 11 clinging leaves per cane, whereas P.O.J. 2725 
had as high as 18. 
REDUCED HARVESTING COSTS 
Harvesting costs at Coloso for P.O.J. 2878 are estimated at 10 to 
15 cents less per ton of cane than for the other standard varieties now 
grown. In the Rincon district of Central Coloso, P.O.J. 2878 is 
harvested at 40 percent less than B.H. 10(12). The harvester makes 
fewer motions per given cane weight as less time is consumed in 
harvesting the erect straight canes of P.O.J. 2878 than the reclining 
tangled canes of B.H. 10(12). At Central Eureka harvesting costs 
for P.O.J. 2878 are estimated to be 20 percent less per ton than for 
B.H. 10(12) or for S.C. 12/4. At Central Aguirre P.O.J. 2878 does 
not remain erect and becomes badly tangled owing to the high ton- 
nage induced by adequate irrigation, and somewhat more is paid for 
harvesting it than for B.H. 10(12). Apparently the cane cutters 
near Aguirre emphasize their aversion to hairs on the leaf sheaths. 
P.O.J. 2878 is certainly far easier to harvest than P.O.J. 2725, and, 
except on the Central Aguirre properties, is preferred by cane cutters 
to B.H. 10(12). 
