SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
crop. 
Teron of many kinds. It has been claimed that the increase in a 
ratoon crop, due to excellent cultivation, rendered possible by burning 
the trash, will more than compensate for the fertilizing ingredients lost 
in burning. 
From the “stools” of cane, as they are called, a succeeding crop 
springs up. ‘These require as careful after-cultivation as a plant crop, 
and it is usual, just after burning the trash, to well work the land with 
the plough. 
It is believed that the best method of securing large yields of ratoon 
cane is to adopt the following procedure:—Immediately the trash is 
burnt, open up the middles of the rows to a depth of 9 inches with the 
swing plough; next subsoil these two furrows so that a further depth 
of 6 inches is thoroughly stirred. Next plough away from the cane 
rows on to the middles, and again follow with the subsoiler. By this 
means, the whole of the ground between the rows has been moved and 
stirred to a depth of 15 inches; and the benefit to the ratoons in thus 
breaking up the hard ground and letting in air and sunlight is difficult 
to over-estimate. Subsequent shallow cultivation with broad hoes 
should now be practised frequently, in the same manner as recommended 
for the plant crop. 
The results obtained at the Experiment Station, due to this method 
of cultivating ratoons, are detailed in the table below :— 
Trash often forms a harbor. for vermin, pests, and fungous 
Yield of Cane per Acre where | Yield of Cane per Acre where 
Crop. ‘the Ground between the Rows | the Ground between the Rows 
was Ploughed and Subsoiled. was only Ploughed to 8 
Inches, 
English tons. i English tons. 
First Ratoons 38°9 | + PARA) 
Second Ratoons “3103 19«2 
' Third Ratoons 20°4 9-91 
These experiments were not fertilized. 
The question of manures has not been touched on, but cane is a 
plant which demands nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus. Hence, mixed 
fertilizers containing these three elements have universally been found 
to yield the best results. Mixtures containing from 7 to 12 per cent. 
of nitrogen in nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, 7 to 10 per 
cent. of potash in sulphate of potash, and 5 to 9 per cent. of phosphoric 
acid in superphosphate are generally the most useful mixtures to apply. 
Sulphate of ammonia appears to be the best form of nitrogen to use in 
the face of the wet season. Nitrate of soda has been found specially 
advantageous in promoting-a quick growth of cane when there is no 
danger of its being leached from the soil. It often shows its effect in 
a week or two, producing a rich dark-green colour in the foliage. 
aces ‘600 
