, 1915-07-17

but they also tend to make the roots of plants
afterwards cultivated-in this case sugar
canes-follow the way thus prepared, and
quickly grow down into deeper layers, from
which they can procure moisture and nutri-
ment, and the sugar-cane thereby attains q
greater resisting power against dry weather.
Evaporation of tue moisture can be pre-
vented by the upper layer Of soil being kept
loose.
Manual and animal labour can be substi-
tuted by the use of mechanical power for
the cultivation of the soil (Notor p'oughs
e'c.) Us we'll rs by the rotation of other crops
with the sugar-cane which require less la
bour.
AS regards the lack of plant food it is
probable that the crop in many places is
wholly dependent on this, for there is no
doubt, that in general, q one-,ided manage
ment, exhausting the soil, has been employed
in The Danish West Iudies. and the result Of
this must here, as everywhere else, be q fall
ing off OF the yield, which in connection with
other unfortunate circumstances can become
so great, that the result will become quite
Improbable.
If we take it for granted, that lime and
mngnesia are not wanting III tue soil, which
a. regards to the lime should be examined
by a chemical test, it would be advisable to
ascertain by means Of small experiments on
the fields whether there is sufficient nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash for q profitable
yield of sugar-cane, cotton, etc.
In case it should be found, which is pro-
bHble, that the crops in u large degree could
be increased by applying phosphoric acid
and potash, provided IL sufficient quantity Of
nitrogen has been added, an application of
phosphoric acid and potash in the form of
commercial manure, will on account of the
cheapness of the article no doubt prove to
be very remunerative.
But probably nitrogen will especially prove
tosbe necessary, and as nitrogen is very ex-
pensive to buy as commercial manure, it has
been essayed to procure nitrogen from the
air by planting a leguminous plant for green
dressing, and this method has also been Ie-
commended for the Danish West Indies.
There is no doubt, that the yield Of sugar
canes could be greatly increased by a judi
cious cultivation of green manuring, but a
better result ecOnOn .cally could certainly be
attained by cultIvating alfalfa for the feeding
of cattle as in this case we not only have
the same advantages as those obtained by
green manuring, but besides this we can
raise a large quantity of exceedingly nour-
ishiug and wholesome fodder, and remedy
the irregularity Of the rainfall, aud lastly we
save labour.
Ihe alfalta Is q perennial plant ana a great
accumulator of nitrogen, with a very deep
striking root system, and is therefore capa-
BILE Of resisting very dry weather after it
has once been properly established.
In comparison with the sugar-cane, its
cultivation requires little attention. The
alfalfa ought to be sowed in rows with q
distance between them of IL to IA inches,
so that there is space enough to cultivate
between the rows.
AS mentioned before, under favourable
circumstances, sugar-cane can give such a
good profit. that with the good soil of st.
Croix and by the rotating of crops, proper
treatment OF the soil and ample manure, we
could easily hope for a large increase of the
total production of sugar, even if a consider
able part of the acreage is used for alfalfa;
and by the restriction of the acreage of cane,
much work could be saved willie a valuable
crop of alfalfa will be reaped, which could
be used for the production OF meat Oh dairy
products.
At the same time q large amount of pen
manure will be procured, and besides its d.
rect effect of nourishing the plants, it will
increase the productiveness of the soil more
and more. if continually used in the cane
pieces.