§ 68. Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what results have been achieved by the State Research Station, Mauritius, in respect of the improvement of sugar cane.
Mr. DugdaleI would refer my hon. Friend to the article entitled "Sugar Cane Research in Mauritius" which was published in "Nature" of 3rd February, 1951. The most important achievement of the Sugar Cane Research Station has been breeding and distributing an improved variety of cane, M.134/32, which is now grown on over 90 per cent. of the total cane area and has been largely responsible for the record crops of recent years. Good work has also been done on such matters as the survey of the soils of the cane belt, the investigation of the nutritional status of cane and of the role of fertilisers, and pest and weed control.