Artificial Manures for Sugar Canes. 139 
it by experiments. Having gone on with these for ten 
years, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible 
to arrive at any definite judgment from experiments made 
with the means at the disposal of most managers. Sys- 
tematic experiments are being carried out on estates in 
the colony owned by a large company, and it is said 
that valuable facts have already been arrived at, but, of 
course, these are private property. To show the value 
of such experiments, I think I may state that they 
are said to point to two important conclusions, viz., that 
the usual manner of applying lime to our fields is not the 
best, and that the application of manures in certain years 
of the rotation of the cane crop is a mistake. Carefully 
conducted trials would enable planters to decide what 
kind of manure is likely to be most remunerative if it is 
proved that any are. Theie is no doubt that, at present, 
we are, to a considerable extent, groping in the dark. 
It is well known what great benefits have accrued to 
the farmers in Scotland from scientific experiments with 
manures, conducted by qualified persons, employed by 
Agricultural Societies. Although individual companies 
or proprietors with large interests can afford to in- 
vestigate for themselves, owners of smaller properties 
cannot. No doubt all the estates' proprietors would be 
glad to share the cost of a thorough investigation of the 
matter, but, unfortunately, they are not united in a so- 
ciety in the colony that could deal with such a matter. If 
the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society would 
take the matter up, it would be certain to carry it to a 
successful conclusion, and add a great benefit to those 
it has already conferred on the colony. 
The Hon. William Russell kindly put the services 
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