Abstract

On my way down the East-coast of Africa I visited the experiment station of the South African Sugar Association at Mount Edgecombe. and I thus had an opportunity of learning something about the re search work heing done on sugarcane in the Union. In the course of my stay at Durban I also saw, in a general way. the agricultural condi- tions prevailing in the main sugar-cane growing area in Natal.. It will be remembered that the Uba cane, which is the only variety grown on any scale in South Africa, was imported some years ago from Northern India, and my visit was of interest in providing an opportunity of seeing the conditions under which this Indian cane has become acclimatised and grown almost to the exclusion of all others. Recently a number of Coimbatore seedlings, which are closely related to the class of cane to which Uha belongs. have been under trial, one of which has already been released for cultivation, and although it is rather early to say how far these seedlings are likely to replace Uba. there is every reason to believe that the work at Coimbatore will be of great value to the industry in South Africa.

Keywords: