SUGARCANE VARIETY P.O.J. 2878 IN PUERTO RICO 45 
The storm risk due to uprooting with P.O.J. 2878 is, in general, no 
greater than with other varieties. The low sucrose in P.O.J. 2878, 
resulting from the development of numerous water suckers on gran 
cultura that has been blown over, is more serious than is the rotting 
and dying of cane resulting from uprooting. The storm risk is 
reduced by close spacing and by planting deep in furrows, or by 
growing P.O.J. 2878 as a primavera or as a late gran-cultura crop. 
P.O.J. 2878 canes become thinner in ratoons, but the proportion 
of reduction is not much greater than for B.H. 10(12) canes. A radical 
reduction in cultivation costs of first ratoons may be secured through 
the use of P.O.J. 2878. This more than offsets the disadvantage of 
thinner canes. Where mosaic and drought resistance and ability to 
ratoon repeatedly are important, as at Centrals Coloso, Pagan, and 
Eureka, and in the San German Valley, P.O.J. 2878 is one of the best 
varieties and is rapidly replacing both P.O.J. 2725 and B.H. 10(12). 
The tendency, in the districts of Aguirre, Pagan, and Isabela, of 
P.O.J. 2878 to arrow profusely, even in primavera plantings, is more 
than offset by its rapid growth, prolific stooling habit, and high cane 
production. Unlike P.O.J. 2725, P.O.J. 2878 arrows about Novem- 
ber 15, and growth is not interrupted early enough to cause a serious 
reduction in primavera or first ratoons. 
Ketarded defecation will not give serious trouble unless P.O.J. 
2878 is planted extensively on the poorly drained lowlands and on 
friable alluvial soils to which it is not adapted. 
Advantages of P.O.J. 2878 are prolific stooling habit; rapid growth; 
high cane production; drought resistance; resistance to mosaic; 
ease of harvest, due to erect growth, and the free shedding of the 
leaves; ability to recover after being flooded; and ratooning power. 
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