SUGARCANE VARIETY P.O.J. 2878 IN PUERTO RICO 37 
Five gran-cultura fields, 4 to 11 acres, of P.O.J. 2878 were compared 
with adjoining fields of B.H. 10(12). All fields were lowlands under 
irrigation. A 12-8-4 fertilizer was applied at the rate of 400 pounds 
per acre at 6 weeks after planting, and ammonium sulphate at the 
rate of 400 pounds per acre 6 weeks later; at 5 months ammonium 
sulphate was again applied at the rate of 400 pounds per acre. Fields 
8 and 22 received only the first application. In general, the sucrose 
content was lower for P.O.J. 2878. In field 8 of Hacienda Altura, 
P.O.J. 2878 gave a sugar in cane of only 8.45 percent. In the other 4 
fields, P.O.J. 2878 either compared well with B.H. 10(12) in sucrose 
content or more than compensated for lower sucrose content by a 
higher cane production. The superiority in cane production was 
especially marked at Hacienda Florida, Mercado, where P.O.J. 2878 
produced 99 tons of cane per acre and 10.34 tons of sugar per acre as 
opposed to 75.9 tons of cane and 9.19 tons of sugar for B.H. 10(12). 
The average cane production on 5 fields of P.O.J. 2878 in gran 
cultura was 86.14 tons per acre, or nearly 17 tons more than from 
adjoining fields of B.H. 10(12). The average sugar production for 
P.O.J. 2878 was 8.7 tons per acre, or nearly 1 ton more than for B.H. 
10(12). 
At Central Mercedita, Ponce, in the 1932 grinding season, a gran- 
cultura field trial of P.O.J. 2878 was made in comparison with B.H. 
10(12) on heavy clay soil under irrigation. The 20.5 acres of P.O.J. 
2878 averaged 81.85 tons of cane per acre and 9.339 tons of sugar per 
acre as opposed to 75.06 tons of cane and 8.26 tons of sugar for B.H. 
10(12). P.O.J. 2878 ripened earlier than did B.H. 10(12). The sugar 
yield for P.O.J. 2878 was 11.4 percent, whereas that for B.H. 10(12) 
was only 11 percent. This preliminary result is encouraging. Cen- 
tral Mercedita has certain fields with an alkaline soil where B.H. 
10(12) is practically a failure, and P.O.J. 2878 makes a good growth. 
A variety trial should be conducted here for a more accurate compar- 
ison of P.O.J. 2878 and B.H. 10(12). 
On 9.58 acres of irrigated prima vera at Central Fortuna, P.O.J. 
2878 averaged 40.6 tons of cane per acre, nearly 9 tons more than did 
5.2 acres of B.H. 10(12) in the same field which averaged 31.79 tons. 
Although time of harvest was normal, March 28, and the canes were 
14 months old, P.O.J. 2878 gave a low purity, 78.9 percent, as opposed 
to a purity of 82.8 percent for B.H. 10(12). The harvesting and 
transportation to Central Guanica from the field of P.O.J. 2878 of 8.89 
extra tons of cane per acre should be considered; the extra cost of 
these operations was $12.80 per acre, almost enough to offset the 
difference in sugar production. The soil was a friable type in which 
P.O.J. 2878 has seldom given a high sucrose content. 
UPROOTING AS A STORM RISK WITH P.O.J. 2878 
Because it is not anchored very securely by its root system in the 
first crop and also because of its very erect growth habit, P.O.J. 2878 
was thought to be less able to withstand the force of the wind than 
were other varieties. In 1930 a few uprooted stools of P.O.J. 2878 
were observed in the propagation plats at Mayaguez and at Hormi- 
gueros. Several centrals began to limit its extension because of the 
