, 1891-05-16
NEW VARIETIES OF CANE.
Louisiana Planter and Sugar MonpJactursr.(

Louisiana ItdnteT ana sugar udnYdCtuTST'F
We have been much interested in the new
varieties of sugar cane which have recently
been grown at the Sugar Experiment Station
1t is not a little remarkable that $40 years
have passed since sugar cane was first import
ed into Louisiana, and seventy-fve years since
the ribbon cane was introduced, and it is only
at the present time that q systematic attempt
is made to collect new varieties Of cane at
home and abroad. and to grow them, and to Sc
lect better varieties, if possible, than those
we now have.
1t would naturally be supposed that Louisi~
ana as a great sugar producing country would
long ago have tested all procurable new varie-
ties. 1t is evident that there are two sides to
the sugar industry the agricultural side, and
the manufacturing side. It is not easy to say
which side has greater relative Importance.
There are sugar producing countries where
the agricultural side is wretched and where
the manufacturing side is excellent.
There are other sugar producing countries
where the quality Of the cane is remarkable
and where the manufacture is wretched.
1t is evident tina. the sugar industry llmPs
in both of these cases. 1t can progress rapid
w only when both sides or lines of work are
we'll carried on.
Cane growers have only to observe that the
great development of the beet sugar industry
is due to two causes acting ConJontIy-lm-
proved quality Of the beets or the raw material
and improved manufacture. 1t is useless to
enquire which is more essential in cane sugar
manufacture-improved quality of cane or I'M
proved manufacture. 1t is necessary to act
as the beet growers do, and that is, improve
conformity. the raw material and the manu-
facture.
Improved varieties or new and superior Va
rieties are means to improve the quality OF the
raw material. Improved agriculture is anoth-
er way to improve it. Mr.. Clinton Town
send. in his very valuable report of the
last campaign at Palo Alto, has appropriate
" referred to the necessity Of COZ sidering the
agriculture as we'll as the manufacture. There
are those who believe that the progress and
the prosperity Of the sorghum sugar industry
depend more upon procuring superior new va
%rieties, or upon developing improved varieties
and upon more careful agriculture, than upon
new processes in manufacture.
We have already said that Louisiana has
apparently been long contented with It's pre-
sent varieties Of sugar cane, and that 1t mas
long delayed a thorough hunt for new and SUI
perior varieties.
But the world moves faster now IMAM IL ul0
FIVE wears ago. The earth can now be traveSs'
ed in a few days. There are few lnace"s-
sible regions and ony superior form for ami
NAL life, any superior variety Of plant, any
valuable mineral, is quickly known to the
rest Of the world.
There has never, perhaps, been a time when
so many new varieties of sugar cane could be
SO readily procured from foreign countries
There has, perhaps, never been a time %hen SO
many new varieties could be produced from
cane seed as the present time, and there has
never been a time when new and superior
sugar yielding varieties were SO much needeo
or would be SO warmly welcomed as now.
We all know that sugar cane can never cap
ture the markets of the world if it can not COM
pete in yield of sugar. Study must be gwen
to the varieties of sugar cane, to the SOIL, 70
drainage. to fertilizers. There must be science
in the pillow, and skill in the hoe and improve
ment everywhere, from the planting OF TINS
cane to the selling of the sugar.