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A FORUNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

VOLUME IX.

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1910.

LIBRARY
NEW YORK
BOTANICA
GARDEN.
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES,

London : Messrs, Dunau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. Barbados: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, BripGETown

Xf ae
airy aes .
ToS

ERRATA IN VOLUME 1X.

Page 26, column 1, for Rh yncophorus read ‘Rhynchophorus’.
, Al, last paragraph, delete ‘and Jamaica .
, 42, column 1, for Papilio demolens read ‘Papilio demoleus’.
, 42, legend, for Figure 19, read ‘ Figure 5’.
» 47, column 2, for Margaropus annulatas read ‘Margaropus annulatus
, 57, column 1, for Hevea braziliensis read ‘Hevea brasiliensis’.
,, 85, column 2, paragraph 7, line 2, delete ‘ not’.
, 89, column 1, for Hevea brazilensis read ‘Hevea brasiliensis’.
» 94, columns | and 2, for Chitredineae read ‘ Chytridineae ’.
, 107, column 2, last paragraph. for successful read ‘sucressive ’.
,, 122, column 2, last paragraph, for mistle read ‘ missel ’. ;
, 127, column 1, for Vol. VIII, p. 200, read ‘ Vol. VIII, p. 411’.
Pages 127 and 175, column 1, for Sphaerostilbe flavidym. read Sphaerostilbe flavida’.
Page 170, column 2, for Sarchophaga trivittata read ‘Sarcophaga trivittata’.
Pages 187. column 2, and 194, column 2, footnote, for Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, read
‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society’.
Page 207, column 1, last paragraph for 1s. 4d. per tb. for small and medium, and 1s. 2d., read ‘ $d. per tb. for
small and medium, and 3d’.
» 274, column 2, for Libor Exoticorum, read ‘Liber exoticorum’.
, 313, column 2, line 2, for No. 4,451, read ‘No. 4,511’.
» 314, column 2, last paragraph, for quality read ‘qualities’.
, 335, column 1, for Lasiodiplodia theobroma, read ‘Lasiodeplodiu theobromae’.
» 347, column 2, for Heliothrips rubrocintus, read ‘Heliothrips rubrocinctus’.
, 350, column 2, for Penicillium anisotliae, read ‘Penicillium anisopliae’.
, 354, column 1, line 16, for change read ‘charge.’
» 398, column 1, for Andropogon Sorghum, var. vulgare, read ‘Andropogon Sorghum, var. vulgaris’.

‘SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1910.

Vol. IX. No. 201.]

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

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MeL ees ee oc TaD:

The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its
available plant food.

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.

Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

For free literature and special information on Tropical Agriculture address to :
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Wor lx. No: 201.

CONTENTS.

PAGE. PAGE.

Agricultural Shows ... ... 14|Jequié Rubber, Exploita-
Arbor Day in Antigua... 7| inOeNOees oo Goa cage tS)

Broom Corn in Antigua... 9) Live Stock, Mutual Insur-
Cotton Growingin Ceylon... 8) ance: Offe-smecies. --o L
Cotton Notes :— |Market Reports ... ... 16

Cotton Industry of Medicinal Extracts from
Uganda, The ... ... ... 6| plants Fem is--) 8s
West Indian Cotton ... 6|New Velvet Bean, A... ... 9

Department News 7 | Nitrification in Soils and in
Effects of Carbonates upon SOLULLOUS EEE meen yen
Nitrification, The... ... 9| Notes and Comments 7
Ben oae Notes Breeding and Care of _
ee F ai Tyeenees lero Fowls cess ser ee eee D
Poh iy dara hae peree® Rice in British Guiana ... 15

of Garden Plants ... 11), rp. cp fee
Gleanings) sn) s,s. 12) Bubber, Trend: Green C
Ground Nut Experiments Manuriteiiee 0s le
in Montserrat 4!Students’ Corner ... ... 13

Implemental Tillage for Sugar-cane, Root Disease
St. Vincent... ... ... 3 (0)? SER costa cee nD
Insect Notes :— Sugar Industry in China... 9
Insect Pests in 1909 ... 10; West Indian Products... 15

The Mutual Insurance of
Live Stock.

2N several European countries, especially in
dS? Holland, the insurance of live stock among
OZ: a4 small proprietors, on a mutual basis, has
attained a great importance. This is not only the case
in those countries whose products are mainly agricul-
tural, for the system is widely adopted in a manufac-
turing country such as England, in some parts of which,
it has been in existence for many years. Evidence of
this is given ina recently issued Leaflet (No. 221) of
the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, which states
that, in 1905, the number of pig clubs, alone, in
England was at least 1,021; it also shows that clubs
for the mutual insurance of live stock have existed
in that country since the year 1807, though it is

BARBADOS, JANUARY 8, 1910.

tolerably certain that unregistered societies had already
been formed for some time. As has just been mentioned,
Holland, of European countries, is the one in which the
system has been most largely adopted; it has also
attained large proportions in Denmark, Norway and
France (see Agricultural News, Vol. VII, pp. 302, 383),
At the present time, efforts are being made to introduce
it into South Africa.

It would appear that there is room for the intro-
duction of such a system into some of tne West Indian
Islands, such as Barbados, with its large peasant
population, and St. Vincent, where the Land Settle-
ment Scheme is fostering the increase in the number
of small proprietors. These are merely taken as special
cases. ‘here is little doubt that various causes are
contributing toward the increase in numbers of the
peasant proprietor in several West Indian Islands, one
of them being the adoption of central factory methods
of sugar-making. In view of these facts, 1t may not
be out of place to give an account of the system, and to
make suggestions in connexion with it, using as a basis
the information contained in the Leaflet mentioned
above.

The establishment of a society for the insurance of
live stock may be brought about by mutual agreement,
without registration, but this, in England, may be effect-
ed, if it is desired, through the Friendly Societies Act,
1896. The fact that such a society has been registered
in this way does not forma guarantee of its solvency; the
cireumstance that it has to frame certain rules, in order
to comply with the provisions of the Act, assists,
however, in its good management, and provides a certain
amount of useful control over its operations.

In drafting rules for the conduct of such a society,
careful consideration of the following points is required:
liability of the members, the extent of its working area,
the amounts of compensation, the case of compensation

bo

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. January 8, 1910.

after compulsory slaughter, the employment of a veteri-
nary surgeon, precautions to prevent the spread of
disease, method of raising funds, and the investment of
reserve funds.

In the case of registered societies, the liability of
each member, in respect of amounts to be paid by it, is
usually unlimited. Ip this instance, insurances are only
taken out for comparatively small amounts, and large
risks, such as valuable pedigree stock, are not accepted.
In any case, it is desirable that the maximum amounts
to be paid should be specified in the rules.

Tt seems best that the area covered by each society
should be comparatively small, especially in thickly
populated districts. In this way, the chance that all
the members will be acquainted with one another is
increased, and a useful check to fraud is supplied.
Other considerations ate that the duties of inspection,
valuing and marking will not be so large as to be
onerous, and that the responsible work, especially in
connexion with administration, may be done by those
who are willing to accept an honorary position. An
objection to the confining of the work of any on2
society to a small areais that, in the event of a large
mortality among the stock of its members, owing to an
epidemic, it may not be possible to afford help when it
is most needed. his contingency may be avoided by
reducing the amount of compensation payable to
a proportion consistent with the state of the funds, by
a levy on the members, or by reinsurance. In relation
to the West Indies, it is safe to say that serious
epidemics among stock are comparatively rare, so that
the circumstances just detailed are not likely to occur.

In the matter of compensation, as regards such
animals as cows, the amount of this is often paid at
the rate of three quarters of the full value, though
a limit of £10 is sometimes made. Pigs are often
paid for at the full value. The valuation of animals
on which compensation may have to be paid is
made either on the reception of a report of
illness, or on registration under the society’s rules.
The latter would appear to be the better pro-
cedure, especially as the former method entails the
risk of infection being carried by the members
of the valuing committee, and the valuation of an
animal on registration helps to prevent the exercise of
certain forms of fraud. In where the
animal is valued after it has fallen ill, it becomes the
property of the society directly its value has been
appraised, and its condition seen by the committee.

In the compulsory slaughter, where
a certain sum is paid to the owner of the animal by
the authority responsible for the order for its destruc-

many Cases,

case of

tion, the society would only be liable for the difference
if any, between the amount thus paid and that for
which insurance was made. The existence of such an
arrangement 1s -specially beneficial, as it enables the
society to insist upon the speedy notification of disease
to the authority, where this is required, and the rules
should be drawn up in such a way as to enable compen-
sation to be refused, in the event of the lack of such
notification.

The employment cf a veterinary surgeon, in case
of illness, is asually in the hands of each member of
the society, and there is no limitation of his choice in
the matter. It is the rule of some societies, however,
to pay the fees of the surgeon, subject to permission
for his employment being obtained from the committee
of the society. It would probably be a convenient plan
to arrange for treatment of the animals belonging to
the members, in return for a fixed fee in each case. The
precautions to be taken against infection have already
been dealt with incidentally.

For raising funds, there is commonly an entrance
fee, and a fixed annual subscription for each animal.
The objection to this system is that the premiums paid
are not proportionate to the value insured. A remedy
may be found by valuing the animal on registration,
and exacting a premium proportionate to its worth,
and by annual revaluation. If this led to the accumu-
lation of a large reserve fund, the scale of premiums
could be rearranged so as to make them smaller. In
the matter of reserve funds, the rules of the society
should make it compulsory that money not immediately
required, or that for meeting the ordinary, additive
liabilities, shall be lodged to its credit ina savings,
or other, bank.

In the West Indies, at first, any movements in
this direction would be small in extent, and care would
be required in order to ensure that the management
was in the hands of reputable persons. It would seem
most expedient that those who would be responsible
for the custody and administration of funds should
hold honorary positions in the society; the work could
suitably be done by a clergyman or minister in the
district. It would possibly be best, under the special
conditions, for all animals that are reported to be in ill
health to become the property of the society, for
treatment and disposal as it may think fit: this would
tend to ensure the absence of intentional neglect, and
would protect the society against its results. In any
case, the careful adoption of the system on a small scale
would probably lead to its subsequent enlargement,
with suitable modifications, and would help to ensure
prosperity in the area of its operation.

Vou. IX. No. 201.

IMPLEMENTAL TILLAGE FOR
ST. VINCENT.

Agricultural conditions in Sc. Vineent have recent-
ly given rise to an interest in implemental tillage and,
as a result of a desire, on the part of those concerned,
to gain information in connexion with the matter, the
Agricultural Instructor (Mr. G. Fraser) was sent to
Antigua, where this form of cultivation has been
employed on a fairly large scale for some time. in order
that he may be in a position to give advice and instruc-
tion in the subject. Mr. Fraser’s report has been duly
made and published in the St. Vincent Government
Gazette. Apart from its intrinsic interest, the circum-
stance cf his visit has a value which it derives from
the fact of its being an illustration of the ready provis-
ion of assistance to one colony by another, under the
direction of the Department of Agriculture. It should
be mentioned that, in forwarding the report, his Hon-
our the Administrator of St. Vincent requested that,
in the event of its being used in any way in the
publications of the Department, expression should be
made of the acknowledgement, on the part of the
Government, of the courtesy of Mr. H. A. Tempany,
the Superintendent of Agriculture of the Leeward
Islands, and of those planters who gave assistance in the
matter. The gist of Mr. Fraser's report is as follows :—

Mr. Fraser, who was accompanied by a labourer sent
by Mr. G. R. Corea, left St. Vincent on August 2, and
arrived in Antigua on August 4. On his arrival, Mr. Tem-
pany obtained an interview with his Excellency the Acting
Governor for him, to whom he stated the object of
his visit, and who kindly offered to assist him in every
possible way. Subsequently, Mr. Fraser was introduced to
Mr. I. E. Dyett and Mr. Walrond of Fitches Creek Estate,
who promised to give him every facility for gaining a practical
knowledge of the implements, their use and their working.

In preparing land for cane or for cotton, it is first close-
ploughed, and then harrowed once or twice in different
directions. After the land has been lined off, the banks are
thrown up by means of a single mould-board plough which
runs along each side of the line in opposite ways. The
furrows are cleaned out and the bank raised by using
a double mould-board plough, called a ‘ middle burster ’; then
the banks are shaped by an ‘ Orleans’ dise cultivator, and if
they are still uneven, a ‘ gee-whiz’ cultivator is run along
the sides of them.

For cane-planting a shallow trench is run along the top
of the banks by means of a double mould-board plough, the
canes being subsequently covered by a plough or cultivator;
another method is to harrow over the banks after the cane
has been planted in the furrow. In planting cotton,
a Georgia single stock plough is run along the top of the
banks, and is followed by an Avery Union corn and cotton
seed drill,

The first weeding is done with the Planet Junior horse
hoe, followed by an ‘orchard’ harrow: subsequent weedings
are performed in the same way, with the addition that the
sides of the banks are cleaned with a ‘gee-whiz’ cultivator.
Weeding by hand has still to be done along the track line of
the plants. Banks which become broken down badly are
moulded up by means of an ‘Orleans’ dise cultivator. In dry
weather, when the soil becomes hard, it is broken up by
means of a ‘comet’ cultivator.

Corn is planted like cotton, but green dressings are
usually sown with it on each side of the banks, and only one

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Co

cultivation is given, that is by means of the hoe. After the
corn has been reaped, the green dressings and the corn stalks
are thrown into the furrow and ploughed in. After this, the
land is again prepared for cane.

For drainage purposes in Antigua, cross drains every 20
or 30 feet are run with a double mould-board plough, after
the land has been prepared. ‘he main drains are made by
hand labour, and have to be constantly cleaned.

The implements employed are described below. Before
they are used, it is necessary to break up the land by meaus
of a plough. Any type of light iron plough with a high
beam, such as the ‘South African Kagle’ plough, made by
Messrs. Ransomes, Sons and Jefferies, is suitable.

No. 2 U-BAR STEEL FRAME LEVER HARROW.— This is
a harrow with bars made of U-shaped steel to which are
attached 60 teeth, 30 on each section. The teeth are adjusted
to the slant required, whether for releasing trash, for pulver-
izing the soil, or for smoothing, by means of levers. The
length of the teeth is also adjustable. The machine is drawn
by two mules or oxen.

No. 2 CUBAN DOUBLE MOULD-BOARD FLUKE.—This is
made by Messrs. B. F. Avery and Sons, Louisville, Ken-
tucky, and is specially used for cane and cotton banking and
trench cleaning. The width of the mould-board can be
regulated to give the distance required between the banks,
It is drawn by two oxen.

No. 1 SINGLE PLOUGH sTocK.—This is a light imple-
ment which is drawn by one mule, and is used for opening
a furrow on the top of the banks.

ORLEANS DISC CULTIVATOR.—This is used to complete
the banking of lands for cane, cotton, ete., and for moulding
up the young plants. It is also useful for the cultivation of
ratoon canes before they have become 3 feet high. The
implement has 3 dises attached to each lever, which can be
adjusted at different angles, and both low and high axles aro
supplied to suit the height of the plants. It is drawn by
two mules.

COMET CULTIVATOR.—This is used for breaking up hard
soil and for moulding up plants. Like the one just mention-
ed it straddles the banks, but has shovels in the place of
discs. It is specially suited for hillside work and for rough
ground, as it possesses an arrangement of springs to minimize
shocks, and has not to carry the driver. It requires two mules.

No. 9 PLANET JUNIOR HORSE HOE.—This is very use-
ful for weeding purposes, when the growth is not heavy;
though it can be readily adjusted to carry out several differ-
ent operations. It is drawn by one mule.

No. G ‘orcHarD’ HARROW, 14-roorH.—In this, the
width and depth of the work can be regulated. It is chiefly
used for cleaning and pulverizing the soil after it has been
worked by the other cultivators above mentioned. It requires
one mule,

“GEE-WHIZ’ CULTIVATOR.—This is a combination
spring tooth, side, and V-harrow, and is adapted to almost
any kind of cultivation. It is drawn by one mule.

No. 16 AveRY’s UNION coRN DRILL.—This is very
useful for sowing cotton seed and Indian corn. With the
exception of the handles, it is made entirely of steel and
iron; it is strong, and is drawn by one mule walking on the
top of the bank.

Mr. Fraser left Antigua on August 25. He concludes
his report by expressing his indebtedness to those in Antigua
who so kindly did everything possible to help him to gain
the necessary information and experience, particularly
Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Mr. I. E. Dyett and Mr. L, C.
Walrond, of Fitches Creek Estate, and Mr. Sidney Smith of
Blubber Valley and Yorkes Estate.

4 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 8, 1910.

WEST INDIAN FRUIT.

GROUND NUT EXPERIMENTS IN
MONTSERRAT.

In the last issue of the Agricultural News, an
account was given of recent experiments with ground
nuts in Dominica and St. Kitts. The following are
the results of somewhat similar experiments which
have been conducted in Montserrat during the last
season. The area of each of the plots was as follows:
Carolina Running and Spanish, s,-acre; Gambia,
gp-acre; local variety .\;-acre:—

Variety. Unlimed plot.
Ib, per acre.

Limed plot.
Tb. per acre.

Carolina Running 2,320 2,740
Spanish 1,320 1,440
Gambia 1,740 2,340
Local variety 286 325

The whole section received a dressing of cotton seed
meal at the rate of 600 Ib. per acre.

he figures represent the actual weight of the nuts after
they had been dried for one week in the sun; this is not the
weight of the marketable nuts, as it was afterwards dis-
covered that they continued to lose weight for some time
after the records had been made. Calculations on the weight
before and after completely drying would seem to show that
a fairly true estimate of the actual returns may be obtained
by deducting one quarter of the quantity given above, in
each case.

As regards the different varieties, the tests are not truly
comparative, as the Gambia was planted a fortnight later
than the Carolina Running and the Spanish, and the local
variety a fortnight later than the Gambia. This is an
important consideration in view of the fungus disease
(Uredo arachadis) which attacks the plants. There is little
doubt that this disease shortens the life of the ground nut
in Montserrat considerably, but it is noticed that, if old
plants having the disease are not growing in the vicinity, it
does not develop to a serious extent until the growth of the
ground nut is fairly well advanced. This is probably the
reason why the local variety gave such poor returns in the
above trial, for it was to leeward of the other plots, and con-
sequently the fungus attacked it early.

The time for reaching maturity was 3} months for the
Spanish variety, and 4 months for the others.

In comparing the results of these trials with those of
other seasons, it is to be observed that the returns of the
imported American varieties have much improved; the
quality of the nuts, however, leaves something to be desired.
The shells of the Carolina Running still remain large, but

the kernels do not fill them nearly so well as they did
in the case of the pods which were first received for planting.
The Spanish variety seems to have become reduced in size,
and the pods are not as large as those which were first
obtained.

It is useful to note that the pods of the Gambia and
Spanish varieties adhere well to the stems, allowing the
plants to be pulled out of the ground with the fruits still
attached. On the other hand, those of the Carolina Running
require to be dug, and the Buco hand cultivator has been
found to be a very useful tool for this work.

In considering the results, it is probable that the
improved yield is in a great measure due to favourable
weather conditions.

NITRIFICATION IN SOILS AND IN
SOLUTIONS.

In the Lxperiment Station Record of the United
States Department of Agriculture, Vol. XXI, No. 2, an
account 1s given of the conclusions which have been
reached in an investigation of the process by which
nitrogen is made available in soils and in solutions
(nitrification). From this it appears that investiga-
tions in this direction, in which solutions are used, do
not give results that are immediately applicable in the
case of soils.

(1) Many soils which can nitrify ammonium sulphate
and cotton seed meal mixed with them, fail to nitrify
ammonium sulphate and cotton seed meal when used as the
inoculating material for solutions, such as those of Omelianski
Wiley and Ashby.

(2) Nitrification is absent or very slight, in saturated
soils.

(3) Nitrification in some soils proceeds as fast as
ammonification, conyerting the ammonia to nitrate as fast as
it is rendered available by the ammonifying organisms.

(4) Nitrification in extract of soil is, in some instances,
very slight as compared with nitrification in the soil itself.

(5) Nitrification in soils increases in intensity with
the amount of inoculating material used.

(6) Some nitrifying soils do not nitrify when placed in
solutions, even though a very large amount of inoculating
material is used.

(7) Nitrifying organisms
better in solutions than in soils,

(8) Tests in solutions are not adequate to indicate the
nitrifying vigour of a soil.

from sewer beds nitrified

Vou. IX:. No, 201.

BREEDING AND CARE OF FOWLS.

The Experimental Farms Reports of the Domin-
ion of Canada for the year ending March 31, 1909, has
been recently issued as an appendix to the Report of
the Minister of Agriculture. In the section which
deals with the work of the Poultry Manager, some mis-
taken impressions of poultry keepers are corrected in
a useful manner. The points which have special refer-
ence to conditions in the West Indies are given here:—

An erroneous impression on the part of many poultry
keepers is, that having secured a prolific egg-laying strain of
fowl, no effort is necessary to perpetuate the excellence of
that strain. Experience has clearly shown that continued
careful and skilled breeding is necessary to retain or develop
prolific egg-laying characteristics. The term prolific is not
used as referring to those phenomenal egg-layers with records
of 200 to 210 eggs per year each—rare specimens of which
are sometimes exploited—but to refer to hens, from which,
by selection, we may obtain an average of from 100 to 120
eggs each per year. It may be claimed that many fowls,
under ordinary conditions, lay that number of eggs. But
the experience gained in many years, by breeding from
layers selected by trap-nest tests, does not verify that asser-
tion. ‘There is reason to believe that, in numerous cases, the
number of eggs laid by a specially good hen or two in a pen
have been noted and the laying qualitics of the remainder
have been rated as of the same exceptional merit.

The remark may be frequently heard, from an enthusi-
astic but inexperienced poultryman, ‘I have a hen which I
believe lays an egg every day.’ But-what about the merits
of the other fowls in the same pen! The impression convey-
ed is that all the other inmates of the pen are equally
extraordinary layers. The trap-nest, with its mechanically
correct record, is the surest means of proving which are the
best, the worst and the indifferent layers. Only fowls of one
of the varieties which have been shown to be good layers of
large eggs, as well as of correct market type, should be
selected, and these should be carefully mated before being
placed in the breeding pen. It is of paramount importance
that the male bird, mated with the selected layers, should
also come from a family of proved prolific layers, as other-
wise there might be retrograde rather than progressive
infiuence. Careless or haphazard mating of old, young or
untried birds is not likely to result in success.

In establishing a strain of prolific layers of large eggs—
ir combination with good market type—the following breeds
may be suggested, viz.: for eggs and flesh, select one of the
best utility types, such as Barred Plymouth Rocks, White
Wyandottes, or Buff Orpingtons. For eggs only, a choice
‘may be made of any of the following: White Leghorns,
Black Minoreas, Andalusians or Black Hamburgs. A rule
‘important to observers is that none but the best layers among
the varieties named should be chosen. Where it is possible
‘to make a selection by trap-nests, such fowls should be pre-
‘ferred. Too much care cannot be taken in selecting a cock

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 5

bird to head the breeding-pen. The mistake is frequently
made of purchasing a cock bird -derived from a family of
inferior layers to mate with heris of proved merit. Such
action is surely detrimental. bole it is absolutely unavoid-
able, pullets should not be used to breed from. They are
really undeveloped fowls, and no’ such immature specimen
should be found in a breeding-pen,

A second erroneous impression—especially common
among the farming community—is that any sort of building
is good enough for the housing of poultry. Asa result of
this impression, poultry houses dilapidated, lice-infested, ill-
ventilated, unclean and improperly furnished are sometimes
met with. It is hardly necessary to remark that in such
cases the birds are unprofitable. Poultry houses are now
made which are easy and cheap of construction, while cf the
most approved patterns.

THE ROOT DISHASH OF SUGAR-CANE.

At the next general meeting of the Agricultural
and Commercial Society, Antigua, to be held on
January 14, 1910, it is intended that the chief subject
for discussion shall be Root Disease of Sugar-cane in
Antigua, and the best methods of suppressing it.
Previous to this meeting, a circular containing a series.
of questions has been issned to sugar planters in the
island, by the Superintendent of Agriculture for the
Leeward Islands (Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc.), with
a request for answers, in order that information which
will form a useful basis for discussion may be available
at the meeting. As these questions are of more than
local interest, they are given below :—

(1) Have you observed that root disease of sugar-cane
is prevalent on the estate under your charge. If so, to what
extent ?

(2) Do you consider that it has increased in extent
during the past few years ?

(3) Which do you consider most attacked, plants or
ratoons ¢

(4) Have you noticed that the disease is more prevalent
on any one type of soil?

(5) Have you noticed whether any form of treatment of
the soil or otherwise has resulted in either an increase or
decrease of the disease ?

(6) Have you noticed whether any particular varieties

of cane are attacked worse than others ? If so, what are they ?

(7) Have you noticed whether any particular varieties
are attacked less than others? If so, what are they ?

(8) If you have not definitely recognized root diséase of
sugar-cane, have you observed any appearance of retarded or
insufficient development of canes under circumstances which
would appear favourable to growth ?

(9) Have you noticed any decrease in the prevalence of
root disease as a result of rotations of (a) cotton, (b) green
dressings, (c) provision crops, (d) fallow ?

(10) Have you noticed any increased spread of the
disease as a result of the use of pen manure containing
material infected with the disease ?

(11) Do you consider that root disease of sugar-cane at

‘the present time is a serious menace to the sugar industry of

the island ?
(12) Are there any other facts which you have noticed,
which have a bearing on the question ?

6 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. January 8, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date December 20, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

About 40 bales Barbados Sea Island cotton have been
sold since our last report, ;chiefly at 18d., with one superior
lot at 19d.

The market is firm for Sea Island descriptions, owing to
the high price ruling for Egyptian; had it not been for the
firmness of the latter growth, we think Sea Islands would
have ruled rather easier.

Sea Islands are undoubtedly relatively cheaper, but
there are very few consumers who can substitute them for
the best Egyptian.

The report of Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland
for December 6, was as follows:—

Since our last report, about 20 bales of Barbados Sea
Island cotton have been sold at 174d., and 10 bales Nevis
at 163d.

Sea Island cotton is rather easier in price in Charleston
and Savannah. The best Floridas can be obtained at about
151d. to 16d.; on the other hand, Egyptian cotton has risen
very considerably, which makes all descriptions of Sea Islands
look comparatively reasonable.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending December 1S, is as follows:—

The sales this week consisted of 250 bales of cotton, the
poorest in stock, at 30c., for England, and a crop lot of 15
bales Extra Extra at 52c., for France. Otherwise the market
was quiet and unchanged, with factors continuing to hold for
their prices, viz.: Fine 33c., Fully Fine 35c., Extra Fine 37c.
But as there is no inquiry in the market at these prices, to
effect sales they wlll probably in time have to lower their
views.

THE COTTON INDUSTRY OF UGANDA.

The following account of the state of the cotton
industry in Uganda is abstracted from a report by the
late Governor (Sir H. Hesketh Bel!, K.C.M.G.), which
has been issued as Colonial Reports—Miscellaneous,
No. 62:—

The steady growth of the industry is clearly shown by
the table of exports given, below.

If the jarge quantity of unginned cotton that has been
exported from Uganda to be treated in British East Africa
had been ginned locally, the figures showing the value of the
Protectorate’s exports would be considerably increased.

&
worth 236
» 1,089
Pe Os292

19045,
1905-6,
1906-7,
1907-8,

9 tons ginned cotton

43 tons ginned cotton

175 tons ginned cotton

645 tons ginned and 213 tons
unginned cotton

512 tons ginned and 640 tons
unginned cotton 5, 41,223

Up to the middle of 1907, there seemed to be no cause
for anything but congratulation as regards the progress of
the cotton industry in Uganda. It soon became apparent,
however, that all was not as it should be. On August 2,
1907, the Chairman of the British Cotton Growing Associ-
ation addressed a letter to the Colonial Office drawing
attention to the possibility of serious deterioration in the
quality of Uganda cotton. He pointed out that the depreci-
ation in the value of Indian cotton had been mainly due to
the mixture of varieties, and doubted whether adequate
measures were being taken in Uganda to guard against
similar results. On my return to Uganda in November 1907,
I made careful enquiry into the points raised by the Chairman
of the British Cotton Growing Association, and found that
the eventuality to which he had drawn attention was already
declaring itself. Competition among local buyers had become
so keen that almost any kind or quality of raw cotton was
being purchased. The natives found that dirty, and even
badly stained, produce was worth money, and their natural
indolence speedily took advantage of the fact. Unsatisfactory
reports began to be received from Manchester as to the
quality of the cotton that was coming from Uganda, and
prices began to fall.

3ut the most serious charge that began to be made
against Uganda cotton was the reproach of ‘mixture’. The
distribution of all the different varieties of seed that had
marked the early and experimental stages of the industry
was beginning to have effect. The cotton that was coming
to market was found to be of all sorts and descriptions. Bales
of ginned lint contained American, Egyptian, Peruvian and
various other varieties all hopelessly mixed up. Short staples
and long staples were being ginned together in a reckless
manner, and it was evident that the causes which were
responsible for the depreciated value of Indian-grown cotton
were beginning to have full play in Uganda. It soon became
apparent that the industry which had been marked by such
phenomenal progress was in danger of a serious check, if
not of ruin.

In November 1907, as a result of careful enquiry into the
situation, I invited all the principal parties who were locally
interested in cotton to meet me in conference, so that reason-
able measures might be devised for the protection of the
industry. It was unanimously agreed that the situation
demanded strong and immediate action. I venture here to

» 49,690
1908-9,

Von. IX; No: 201.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. il

insert some paragraphs from the despatch which I addressed
to the Earl of Elgin on December 30, 1907, in which
my recommendations were conveyed. fHere the abstract
follows. |

The views thus expressed met with the approval of the
Farl of Elgin, and steps were at once tdken to carry them
out. An Ordinance, entitled ‘The Uganda Cotton Ordinance,
1908’, was enacted in March, under which the Governor was
given power to make Rules for maintairting and improving
the quality of cotton in the Protectorate. =

Thanks to the energy shown by the various District
Officers, by the Officer who has been temporarily in charge
of the Cotton Department, and by the Cotton Inspector, the
main objects of the Rules made under the Ordinance of 1908
have been effected to a degree which we hardly hoped for.
The chiefs have given such loyal assistance in the eradication
of all undesirable kinds of cotton that it is now comparatively
difficult to find a single plant that is not ‘American Upland’.

Insect pests are beginning to present a serious menace
to the cotton industry, and Rule 4 has been specially framed
to meet the situation. It has been abundantly proved that
old cotton plants, if allowed to remain more than one year in
the ground, become the host of vast numbers of noxious
insects. It has therefore been ordered that all cotton plants
more than 12 months old shall be destroyed by their owners.

It was only to be expected that the interference which
the Administration considered it necessary to exercise in
regard to the conditions under which cotton was alone to be
grown would have some restrictive effect on the output, and
it was feared at one time that the 1908-9 crop would show
a distressing reduction, as compared with that of the preceding
year. The ruthless uprooting of all cotton plants that were
not of the authorized variety would naturally entail the loss
of a lot of lint which would otherwise come to market, while
the stringent regulations governing the issue of seed might
be expected to restrict the area of new cultivations. I am
thankful to be able to state that the check was almost trifling.
The desire to grow cotton, on the part of the natives, is
already so firmly established in the country that the stringent
regulations appear to have had no discouraging effect. The
exports of cotton during the year 1908-9 amounted to over
500 tons of ginned, and about 650 tons of unginned cotton,
and it is expected that the crop of the coming season will
show a considerable increase over those figures.

ARBOR DAY IN ANTIGUA.

Arbor Day was again celebrated in town and country in
1909, as has been the custom in former years. In St. John’s
and the country districts, with the exception of St. Paul’s,
the ceremony as usual took place on November 9; in
St. Paul’s parish, for reasons which appear below, the
celebration was held on Saturday November 6.

In St. John’s the celebration took place at 8.15 a.m.
when, immediately after the conclusion of the inspection of
the local forces, his Excellency W. Douglas Young, C.M.G.,
‘planted a white-wood tree in the Victoria Park, on the site
where the old bandstand formerly stood, the representatives

of the various bodies taking part and the general public
having previously assembled at this point.

After planting the tree, his Excellency made a few
brief remarks relative to the day and its objects; the
representatives of the various bodies concerned then dispersed
to their respective stations and planted trees.

In St. James, the celebration took place at 9 a.m. when,
amid a large gathering of people, a number of mahogany

trees were planted on the east side of the path leading from
the south gate of the churchyard to the Church. The organi-
zation of the celebration was carried out by the Rev. '.
Streater. N

In St. Luke’s district, 6 shade trees were distributed by
Mr. Ernest Dew, and were planted by peasants in different
parts of it.

In addition to ail these, a number of trees were planted
by private residents in St. John’s on Arbor Day.

In St. George’s parish four mahogany and two eucalyp-
tus trees were planted by the school children at St. Mark’s,
Twelve eucalyptus trees were also planted on the lands of
the Antigua Sugar Factory.

Arbor Day was celebrated in All Saints’ parish on
November 9, as usual. At 7.30 -a.m., the church and school
bells were rung, and the scholars, teachers and other
parishioners assembled in the schoolroom at 8 a.m.

The prayers for the King and the Royal Family were
read and the National Anthem sung, after which a short
address on the objects of Arbor Day was given; then followed
patriotic songs by the school children, and subsequently
trees were planted.

In St. Philip’s parish, 6 royal palms were planted
opposite St. Phihp’s Church. At St. Stephen’s, 3 royal
palms and 3 cocoa-nuts were planted. Jn both cases the
planting was done by the children, of the elementary schools.

As the observation of Arbor Day had been in abeyance in
St. Paul’s parish for several years, it was thought desirable to
mark its revival by a special celebration. For this purpose, it
was decided to hold it on November 6, instead of on Novem-
ber 9,in order to permit of persons being present who might not
otherwise have been able to do so. The celebration commenced
at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and, in addition to the acting
Chairman, the Rey. Rh. H. Jones, and the representatives of
the local bodies who joined in the planting, Major Ledeatt
and a detachment of the Mounted Infantry of the Antigua
Defence Force, Mr. Tempany (acting Chairman of the Central
Committee), Mr. Martin, Inspector of Schools, and Mr. F. S.
Bishop were present. The proceedings commenced with
a short service in St. Paul’s Church and, after a short address
had been given, in the grounds of St. Paul’s Rectory, on the
objects of Arbor Day, trees were planted by the represen-
tatives of the districts and by some of the visitors. The
arrangements for the celebration were carried out by the
Rev. R. H. Jones who, on account of the indisposition of
Mr. W. E. L. Odlum, acted as Chairman of the St. Paul’s
Committee.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados for Antigua by the \S.S. ‘Dahome’, on the
5th instant, for the purpose of accompanying a small
party of planters and others from Barbados, who are
visiting Antigua in order to gain information concerning
the equipment and working of the sugar factories in
that island, and to enquire into the methods of imple-
mental tillage employed there, as well as generally to
promote the interchange of views between the agricul-
turists of the two colonies. Dr. Watts will also make
visits, In connexion with agricultural matters, to such
other islands as it may be possible, during the journey,
and, in addition, will visit St. Kitts, probably returning
to Barbados by the S.S. ‘Oruro’ on the 23rd instant,

(2)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. January 8, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados, ;

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Avents, and not to
the Department. |

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,

2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.
Ty x rn
ale Wh

Agricultural g
Vou. 1X. SATURDAY, JANUARY §&, 1910. No. 201.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial of this issue gives information
concerning the mutual insurance of live stock, together
with hints in connexion with the formation of societies
for that purpose.

An interesting and instructive report on the
subject of implemental tillage, especially in connexion
with conditions in Antigua and St. Vincent, is
abstracted on page 3.

In this number, on page 4, and in the last
(No. 200) on page 404, accounts of recent experimerts
with ground nuts in Montserrat, and in Dominica and
St. Kitts, respectively, are given.

Some errors that are often made in respect to
poultry keeping are pointed out in an article on page 5,

An interesting account of the present state of the
cotton industry in Uganda is given on page 6. Atten-
tion is drawn to the importance which is attached
there to the avoidance of mixed cultivation of ditferent
varieties, and to the destruction of old cotton.

The Insect Notes in this issue form a summary of
information in respect to the pests that came under
the special notice of the Department in the year 1909.
See page 10.

An account of remedial measures for fungoid pests
of garden plants appears on page 11.

Medicinal Extracts from Plants.

The results ‘of researches which were undertaken
for the purpose of finding the reason why extracts from
fresh plants havé a ditferent physiological action from
those of dried plants have recently been presented to
PAcadémie de Médicine. The investigators have been
able to demonstrate that many of the active principles,
if not all, are associated in plants in a special way
which gives rise to their particular physiological
action. The result of the researches has been to
establish the nianufacture of plant products which
have exactly the same medicinal action as the fresh
extracts from the plants. An interesting example
of such a product is ‘ Kolatine’, obtained from the kola
nut.

rr >

The Exploitation of Jequie Rubber.

The production of Jequié Manicoba rubber (from
Manihot dichotoma) 1s chiefly in the hands of the
Jequié Rubber Syndicate, Ltd., which owns estates, in
the district of Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, having an area
of about 80,000: acres, 690 of which are at present
planted in Manahot dichotoma. The number of trees
in the cultivated acreage and cleared forest is said to
be about 420,000; in addition to these, 400,000 matured
trees and 500,000 saplings will probably be rendered
accessible when the forest growth is cleared away. It
is proposed to clear further, in the immediate future,
5,000 acres, on which trees to the number of 1,500,009
will be planted; in addition to this, there is a large area
of forest where the rubber trees do not grow in large
abundance. The syndicate is well capitalized.

According to the India-Rubber Journal, tree
specimens of Manihot dichotoma, which have been
recently received in London, gave a fair amount of
latex. In addition, samples of the rubber were found
to be first-classin quality, the purity comparing very
favourably with rubber from plantations in the East.

2? —____
Cotton Growing in Ceylon.

Progress Report No. XLVI (October 1909) of the
Ceylon Agricultural Society states that the want of
good seed has been one of the drawbacks in the encour-
agement of cotton cultivation in that island, and with
a view to meeting it, the Society has ordered a large
quantity of both SeaIsland and Egyptian seed. Half
a ton of selected Sea Island seed has been received from
the British Cotton Growing Association. Local difficul-
ties have arisen in the matter of ginning, but satisfac-
tory arrangements are likely to be made, with the co-
operation of the British Cotton Growing Association.

Encouraging reports in respect to cotton growing
have been received from the Eastern Province; and,
with the arrival of good seed, a fresh effort will be made
to interest the northern cultivators in the industry.
It appears that the conditions in the Jaffna Peninsula
are particularly favourable, and that cotton might well
take a place there in the rotation of crops. One of the
greatest drawbacks to the industry at present is that
there are no local firms who purchase cotton.

Vout. IX. No. 201.

A New Velvet Bean. :

According to the Philippine Agricultural News,
No. 1, unsatisfactory results have been obtained in the
Philippines, so far, with trials of the velvet bean. The
Philippine Bureau of Agriculture has, however, discov-
ered, and brought into cultivation, a wild and hitherto
undescribed velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens, var. Lyone.
In the experimental cultivation it has reached the third
generation, and various improvements are taking place,
among these being the reduction of the wood in the
main stem, and increasing palatabiljty of the seed.
It is stated that the plant is superior to the velvet
bean (Mucuna pruriens, var. utilis),

Broom Corn in Antigua.

The annual report on the Botanic Station and
Experiment Plots, Antigua, for the year ending March
1909, gives information concerning experiments that
were condreted with broom corn during that time.
Two ,);-acre plots were planted, one on June 10 and
the other on November 4. These were harvested on
September 25 and February 18, respectively. The
seeds on one-half of the first plot were sown like those
of guinea corn, that is, on 4-foot banks, the plants being
2 feet apart, with five to eight plants in a hole; in the
other half, the plants were 9 inches apart, with five to
eight plants in the hole, in rows 18 inches apart. The
returns from these halves of the plot were 53 Ib. and
60 tb. of dried broom corn, respectively.

In the second ,,-acre plot, the plants were 6 inches
apart in rows 18 inches distant from one another.
From this plot 115 tb. of dried broom corn was obtained.

A consideration of these results shows that the
yields obtained from the closer planting are not much
larger than those where it was wider. A finer corn,
however, is obtained from the closer planting, so that
it is suggested that the distance 18 inches by 9 inches
is the most suitable one for adoption.

+S

The Effects of Carbonates upon Nitrification.

It is well understood that by nitrification is
meant the formation of nitrates from organic nitrogen
in the soil, the first products being ammonium com-
pounds, then nitrites, and finally nitrates, the whole
process having for its cause the action of bacteria.
Stated shortly, the advantages of nitrification are as
follows: (1) nitrogen available to plants is formed,
(2) nitrogen is prevented from being lost through
decomposition, (3) nitrogen which exists in the soil in
a state useless for plants is made useful for them. It
is obvious that, as this action is due to micro-organisms,
the best way to render it as efficient as possible will be
to stimulate the action of those organisms. It has
been found that the rate of nitrification is dependent
on the temperature, the supply of oxygen, the supply
of moisture, the presence of carbonates, and the
presence or absence of an excess of organic matter.

In connexion with the fourth of these, namely the
presence of carbonates, exhaustive investigations have

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 9

recently been undertaken atythe Georgia Experi-
ment Station. The result has been to show, firstly,
that nitrification is dependent on the amount of
carbonate present; secondly, that of the carbonates
magnesium carbonate has the greatest effect in stimu-
lating the growth and action of nitrifying organsims;
thirdly, that the nitrifying organisms of the soil do
not depend to any appreciable) extent on the carbon
dioxide of the air for their supply of carbon.

The Chinese Sugar Industry.

In former years, Swatow was the chief centre of
the Chinese sugar-manufactnriig industry, and large
quantities of the product were exported to England in
sailing vessels. The demand is now, however, confined
to ports on the Yangtze-kiang, where the crude sugar
is still preferred to the refined article. The decrease in
production is shown by the fact that in 1899, the export
of sugar from Swatow was more than 111,000 tons,
while in 1908, it was only a little over 48,000 tons.

There are no large estates in these districts, but
each farmer has a small amount of cane which he
cultivates in the old way that is indigenous to the
country. The result has been that, in spite of the
fertility of the soil and the cheapness of the labour, the
product, (according to the Monthly Trade and
Consular Reports) has been displaced by that of the
Hong Kong refineries, which deal with sugar produced
on modern lines in the Dutch colonies.

on

Forestry in Trinidad and Tobago.

The annual report of the Forest Officer for
Trinidad and Tobago, for 1908-9, shows that the work
of demarcation done during that year in Trinidad
completes the southern boundary of the forest reserve,
with the exception of a length of about 224 miles, As
the boundary line, for the greater part, is at an eleva-
tion of 1,000 feet, it leaves out of the reserve the
larger part of the valley where the best land is situa-
ted, while on the other hand it includes the large
spurs where the land is generally poor. These large
spurs are of great value as wind-breaks for the
cultivation in the valley, and the forest reserve on
them aids in the conservation of water.

In the plantations, the chief trees employed are
cedar, Cyp (Cordia sp.) and mahogany. It is reported
that cedar seedlings sown in 1907-8 averaged 12 to 15
inches in height, at the end of a year, while that of
some was over 3 feet. With reference to record work,
several plans of the reserve have been prepared on
a small scale for field use with the boundary records,
and will be lithographed.

The returns of the revenue for the year show that
this was £1,609, which is an increase of £80 on that of
last year. It is considered unlikely that any great
increase in revenue will take place, since large areas of
forest lands are being sold annually and rendered
accessible by new roads, owing to the fact that timber
is sold from these at lower rates than those fixed for
timber from Crown Lands.

10 THE AGRICULIURAL NEWS.

January 8, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

INSECT PESTS IN 1909.

It has not been the custom to issue an annual
report on insect pests in the West Indies, and on the
entomological work of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture. It may be of interest, however, briefly to
summarize the more serious occurrences of pests during
the past year.

or suGAR-CANE. No serious attacks of sugar-cane
pests have been reported in the Lesser Antilles during the
year, except the occurrence of the root borer (Diaprepes
abbreviatus) over a comparatively small area in Barbados,
which may be regarded as important. The district in
which the root borer attack is being experienced has suffered
severely from drought for several years, and planters seem to
think that the present attack is more severe in consequence.

The attack first becomes apparent in the head row of
the fields, seemingly without regard to the windward or
leeward aspects. When it becomes obvious that the stool is
attacked, the canes are already in a dying condition and
beyond recovery. As has already been stated, the affected
stools in the head rows die first, and those further in the fields
later. The attack, in several instances, has begun on the
side next to where cotton was grown last season. This may
be accounted for by the fact that the adult weevil some-
times feeds on the leaves | of cotton. The remedial measures
which are being put into force include the digging out of
the infested stools, and forking and liming the hole in order
to kill any grubs that may have been left in the ground
when the stools were taken out. The stumps which are
removed are taken to a rocky spot in a pasture, and stacked
or bedded. After each load has been thrown on to the stack,
a dressing of lime is broadcasted over the surface. Many
grubs will be carried with the stumps, but it is expected
that ants, birds, lizards and toads will capture such a large
proportion of them that very few, if any, will survive and
get back to the same field to provide for another generation
of root borers. Experiments with vaporite and carbon bisul-
phide have been planned, and will be carried out. An
interesting and valuable paper on the root borer appeared in
the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. TV, p. 37.

In British Guiana, the larger moth borer (Castnia licus)
has again been reported. In 1904-5, this pest was stated
to be doing damage at plantation Enmore, and it now
appears to have spread to other estates in the vicinity. Many
remedies have been tried, including several recommended by
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, but none of them
seem to have been entirely successful. The practice most
generally adopted is that of catching the adult insect with nets.
The adult isa large, day-flying moth, measuring 3 inches
across the wings. The caterpillars tunnel lengthwise through
the cane for some 24 to 30 inches above ground, and through
the underground portions of the stool, so that, in addition to
causing a direct loss of a large amount of sugar, the insect
makes it impossible to grow ratoons.

or corron. During the season 1908-9, the cotton
worm (Aletia argillacea) was very abundant, and cotton-
growers were obliged to use large quantities of Paris green.
During the present season 1909-10, very little trouble has
been experienced with this pest in any of the cotton-growing
islands, and the expenditure for Paris green has been reduced
to a minimum. No serious trouble seems to have been
caused by the flower bud maggot or the leaf-blister mite.

OF LIMES. Scale insects continued to attack limes, but
no severe outbreak has occurred during the year. The study
of the natural enemies of scale insects has been carried on,
large amounts of material having been collected and forward-
ed to the Head Office. From examination of this material,
it has been found that parasitic fungi are abundant, and
are probably very useful in keeping certain species (perhaps
all) of sale insectsin check. Insect parasites of scales are
also present in several of the islands, and they assist as well
in keeping this pest under control.

OF ORANGES. In 1907-8 and 1908-9, a small caterpillar
was reported from one estate in Dominica 2s attacking
oranges, and it was stated that the pest seemed likely to
become seriously important. The insect has not made its
appearance during the present season (1909-10), and it is to
be hoped that its natural enemies have assumed control of it.

or GUAVAS. It has been suggested that the fruit fly,
or guava maggot, of Dominica attacks oranges as well as
guavas. The maggots of this fly were fonnd in guavas
shipped to Bermuda, and were identified as Anastrepha
acidusa, (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 93.) In
October 1908, the. Curator of the Dominica Botanie Station
forwarded to the Head Office a crate of oranges, guavas, and
mangos, which were suspected of being infested by the fruit
fly. From the guavas, a number of specimens of Anastrepha,
probably A. acidusa, were reared, but none could be obtained
from the oranges; or from the mangos. Another crate of
oranges forwarded in November gave the same results, The
present situation is this: guavas are attacked by a fruit fly,
Anastrepha acidusa, in Dominica. Oranges are often injured
in such away that they rot, and many are lost in this manner,
but so far, no fruit fly has been proved to be the cause of
the injury.

or CACAO. During the past year, no reports have been
received of serious insect attacks on cacao. <A beetle appear-
ed in St. Vincent, and caused a certain amount of injury to
the leaves of young plants, but did not assume the aspect of
a serious pest.

OF SWEET POTATOS. The scarabee, or jacobs, of the sweet
potato (Cryptorhynchus batatae) has been a very serious pest
in Barbados during the past season. A series of experiments
that was carriel out gave no definite results, and another
one has been started, which will be completed during 1910.

or corN. Toward the end of 1908, it was reported
from Nevis that the varieties of Sorghum which produce the
grain in dense leads were attacked by the larva of a small
moth which lives at this stage among the ripening grain.
This is not an easy pest to control, for there is some difficulty
in getting any arsenical poison a sufficient distance into the
head of developing grains to kill the small caterpillar, and as
the damage is done before the grain is ripe, nothing can be
gained by cutting the crop early.

In addition to the Insect Notes which have appeared in
each number of the Agricultural News, the following papers
dealing with the insects in the West Indies have been issued
during the year:—

The Aleyrodidae of Barbados, West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. IX, p. 345.

Millions and Mosquitos, West Indian Bulletin, Vol. UX,
p- 382.

The Flower Bud Maggot of Cotton, West Indian Bulletin,
Wools xs pal

The Scarabee of the Sweet Potato, West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. X, p. 180.

Millions and Mosquitos, Pamphlet Series, No. 55,

Insect Pests of Cacao, Pamphlet Series, No. 58.

Vor, IX, No. 201.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. li

FUNGUS NOTES.

SOME FUNGOID DISEASES OF GARDEN
PLANTS. |

It is hoped that the following getieral remarks, on
the methods of treating some of the diseases of garden
plants, may prove of value to those who are interested
in the enltivation of flowering plants, ‘palms and other
ornamental plants.

All fungoid diseases of garden plants may be classified
under the three foJlowing heads :— :

1. Root diseases.

2. Leaf and green stem diseases.

3. Diseases of hard woody stems.

Each of these classes of disease has its own general
methods of treatment.

ROOT DISEASES. ‘The external symptoms of root disease
usually bear a close resemblance to those shown when a plant
is suffering from drought. If the disease spreads slowly, the
lower leaves are seen to wilt, dry up at\ their edges, and
finally fall off; gradually more and more of the leaves
fall in this way, until none are left,’ and the plant
is dead. If, however, the disease spredds quickly, the
symptoms are somewhat different. One ‘morning it may
be observed that all the leaves of the plant look soft and
limp, as if it had not been watered. On the next day, some
of the lower leaves are beginning to dry up, and all of them
are considerably wilted; by the next after, the plant is dead.
Tt is a simple matter to determine whether the plant is really
suffering from drought or from a root disease; for if the
wilting is due to drought, the plant will recover on being
watered, but if the roots are diseased, watering will be with-
out effect. On pulling up a plant that has died of a root
disease, the roots are often seen to be covered with a fine
white web, which is the mycelium, or vegetative portion, of the
fungus causing it. This web will spread in the soil from the
diseased plant to its healthy neighbours, but there will be no
signs of this until the formerly healthy plants are themselves
so badly attacked that nothing can be done to save them.

In nearly all the West Indian islands, a particularly
destructive root fungus occurs, which destroys Aroids,
Antirrhinums, Tomatos and several other plants.

When a root disease is seen to have attacked one plant
in a bed, that plant should be immediately taken up and
burnt, and the soil round it carefully dressed with lime at
the rate of 4-Ib. to the square foot, a little lime should also be
sprinkled round the roots of neighbouring plants. If any of
these last show signs of disease, they should be at once
removed and burnt, and the soil again treated with lime.
When a bed becomes thoroughly infected with a root
fungus, the safest method of getting rid of the latter is to
remove and burn all the plants in the bed, dress the whole
bed with lime at the rate of }-Ib. to the square foot, and
allow it to remain empty for about two months before
replanting. Even then, it is advisable to put into the bed
plants different from those which were growing there before.

If a group of plants in a hedge is seen to have died
from the effects of a root trouble, all the plants should be
taken up and burnt, and the whole spot surrounded with
a trench about 18 inches deep and 2 feet wide. This
trench should include one or two healthy plants at either
end of the diseased patch. The soil from the trench should
be thrown into the diseased area. This area should then be
treated with lime as above, and, after six months, fresh
plants might be planted.

LEAF AND GREEN STEM DISEASES. These parts of
plants are often affected with spots of various kinds, rusts,
and mildew, all of which are due to different fungi.
Examples of these are: Canna leaf rust, due to a fungus,
Uredo cannae, which appears a small orange-coloured
spots on the leaves; leaf disease of palms, due to Graphiola
phoenicis, which forms small, black,- cylindrical, reproductive
bodies on both sides of the leaves;, rose and grape-vine mil-
dews, which give the leaves and tips of the branches a silvery
white appearance, due to the presence of a white fungus
mycelium, which eventually kills the attacked portions, and
which may do very considerable damage.

In the case of rusts and leaf spots, and the palm-leaf
disease, the plants may be sprayed with a solution of potas-
sium sulphide (liver of sulphur), made by dissolving }-Ib. of
this substance in a quart of hot water, and then making the
volume up with water to 24 gallons. If preferred, a solution
of potassium permanganate, or Condy’s fluid, may be used
asa spray; the solution should be of a light rose colour.
Before applying the spray, it would be advisable to remove
all badly diseased or dying leaves, and to collect all fallen
leaves and burn them.

In the case of mildews, the diseased parts should be cut
off and burnt, and all fallen leaves'swept up with care and
destroyed. The healthy parts of the plants should then be
carefully dusted with a mixture of lime and flowers of
sulphur. To make this, two parts’ by volume of flowers of
sulphur should be mixed with one part of fine, air-slaked
line. The mixture may be applied by shaking it through
a coarse muslin bag. It is advisable to do this when the
plants are a little wet.

I

Seedlings that are being grown in boxes are often affected
with a disease known as ‘damping off’, especially if the soil
in the box is kept a little too moist. This is due to a fungus
which spreads along the surface of the soil and attacks the
seedlings at the level of the ground, causing them to wilt,
fall over, and finally dry up. To prevent this, the dead
seedlings should be taken out, and the remainder sprayed
with a solution of liver of sulphur, made in the manner
described above.

DISEASES OF WoopY STEMS. Many different forms of
fungi can attack the bark and wood of plants, forming
cankered areas, splits in the bark, hardened, darkened
patches in the bark, or decay of the wood. ‘Their fructifica-
tions may be of almost any shape and colour: black, red, yeilow
and brown are the commonest. Often, they look like black
erusts or are very minute and require a hand lens before they
can be clearly made out. But though the fructifications are
often small and inconspicuous, the effects of the disease upon
the host plant are, unfortunately, usually only too obvious.
The only means of preventing the spread of this form of
disease is by removing the diseased portions with a sharp
knife, taking care to excise at the same time some of the
apparently healthy tissue surrounding them, and afterwards
to cover the wounds with tar,

In this short sketch, no attempt has been made
to deal with two other important sourees of disease,
namely insects and physiological causes, such as
unsuitable soil, or climate, too much or too little
sunshine, and the like. Kven the causes actually dealt
with have been treated very shortly, but it is hoped
that enough has been said to afford assistance to those
interested in the methods of dealing with the fungoid
diseases of garden plants.

12 THE AGRICULTURAL

GLEANINGS.

The amount of cacao exported from Trinidad during
November last was 4,112,711 tb. The total shipments from
January 1 to the end of November, 1909, were 45,480,098 tb.
In 1908, they were 39,790,047 tb. for the same period.

We have to acknowledge the receipt, from Messrs.
Sandbach, Parker & Co., Georgetown, Demerara, of a map
of the colony, together with useful statistical information in
connexion with the latter.

The number of pine-apples exported from the Azores to
London and Hamburg during 1908 was 1,155,888. In 1907
and 1906 the numbers were 1,306,658 and 1,281,487, respec-
tively. The average price received for each fruit was 1s. 5d.
(Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4,239 Annual Series.)

Statistics show that, during 1908, there was an increase
of 8°3 per cent. in the number of mills engaged in the pro-
duction of lumber in the United States. At the same time,
there was a decrease of 7,031,785,000 feet, or 17-5 per cent.,
in the total quantity of the output. The largest manufac-
ture of lumber takes place in the State of Washington.

B. Remmers and Sons, of the Bourse, Philadelphia,
U.S.A., announce that they have made a special study of the
requirements of machines for making starch from the cassava
and yucca roots, and that they can supply apparatus for the
purpose. This includes root-washers, graters, re-grinders, and
starch-refining centrifugals.

From a trade paper published in the United States, it
is gathered that conditions in the broom corn market there,
during November last, were steady, with a tendency to
upward prices. In most parts of the Western territory,
prices were higher than they had ever been before, so that
growers are greatly encouraged, and will probably largely
increase their acreage in’ 1910.

The interest that is being taken in the production of
new and useful varieties of plants was recently illustrated by
Professor R. Biffen at a meeting of the Cambridge and Isle
of Ely Chamber of Agriculture. He stated that, in the effort
to improve british barley, 250 distinct types had been experi-
mented with by the University and Agricultural Department,
including varieties from such distant places as China, Tibet,
Australia and California. The aim of the experiments was
to obtain a barley which should combine good cropping
capacity, quality, and stiffness of the straw. So far, the
first two characteristics had been combined, but the third had
still to be obtained.

NEWS. January, 8, 1910.

A report that has just been issued by the Italian
Secretary of Agriculture shows that, in connexion with
reafforestation, 122,000 acres of Government land has been
planted in trees, of which 69,000 acres was planted in 1507
alone. The amount spent in this connexion during that
year was about £400,000, and there now remains only about
36,000 acres of Government land to be planted.

A communication received from the Colonial Secretary
of Grenada states that the certificates awarded to Messrs,
J. T. Gairy and ©. A. O. Phillips, who were successful in
passing the Intermediate Examination in Practical Agri-
culture held there in November, were publicly presented to
them by his Excellency the Governor at a meeting of the
Legislative Council on the 17th December last.

The Hawaiian Planters’ Monthly for October 1909
gives a recipe for stencil ink suitable for marking sugar-bags,
It is made by dissolving i Ib of glue in 1 gallon of hot water,
and then stirring in 1 tb. of lamp black. This makes a semi-
solid stock, which may be diluted for use with a suitable
quantity of hot water. The ink made in this way is cheap,
dries very quickly, is practically indelible, and will not smear.

The report -on the Botanic Station and Experiment
Plots in Antigua, for the month of November, shows that
the following plants, seeds, etc., were sent out during the
month: cane plants 19,000, sweet potato cuttings 4,330,
limes 2,900, onions 2,200, hay-grass (Andropogon caricosus)
600, cocca-nuts 565, mahogany 104, shade trees 55, royal
palms 45, eucalyptus 25, grafted mangos 6, miscellaneous
economic plants 36, decorative plants 11.

The average output of olive oil from Asia Minor, includ-
ing the chief neighbouring islands is about 164 million gallons
a year. In very good years, this quantity increases to about
25% million gallons. Usually, not more than 20 to 25 per
cent. of oil is exported; the best qualities go to France and
Italy. The crop of 1909 appears to have been a failure in
almost all olive-producing countries, and the yield from the
Levant is not expected to exceed one-half of an average
production. (Journal of the British Chamber of Commerce,
Smyrna, April 1909.)

The West India Conunvittee Circular for December 7,
1909, states that,Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Sir Daniel Morris,.
and Mr. H. R. Cowell, with Mr. R. H. Me Carthy, their
technical adviser, will leave in the S.S. ‘ Oceanic’ on the 16th
instant for New,York, on their way to Jamaica, where they
expect to arrive in the R.M.S. ‘Clyde’ on January 27, and to
meet the Canadian members of the Royal Commission, the
Hon. W. 8. Fielding and the Hon. William Paterson. After
hearing evidence in Jamaica, they will proceed to Barbados in
the R.M.S. ‘ Berbice’, arriving there on February 14.

At the close of the International Congress of Tropical
Agriculture and Colonial development, which was held in
Paris in 1905, an International Association was founded,
having for its principal object the organization of such
Congresses in the future. It is now proposed by the Inter-
national Association to hold a second Congress at Brussels
in May 1910. The local arrangements at Brussels will be
made in co-operation with the Belgian Association for the
study of Tropical Agriculture; the International Botanical
Congress will also meet at Brussels at the same time, and
will take part in the proceedings.

Vor; IX. No. 201. THE

b]
STUDENTS’ CORNER.
JANUARY.
First PeErtop.
Seasonal Notes. ;

Now that cotton-picking is in progress, a good oppor-
tunity is afforded for studying the fruit)and seeds of the
plant, and the lint which is yielded by it. Collect a number
of bolls, at various stages of opening, and*compare them with
the unopened bolls that you have examined already. In con-
nexion with the development of the bolls, what action has the
cotton flower bud maggot, which causes tlie serious reduction
in yield that follows attacks by this pest?©Find out whether
the lint grows out from the fruit-covering or from the seeds,
and compare its development with that of the pulp in an
orange. In young, unopened bolls, the lint contains liquid
matter, How is this withdrawn when thé boll ripens, and
what effect has this withdrawal in connexion with a useful,
characteristic property of the lint! Study the effect of
disease on the bolls, cutting them through in order to find
out what, if anything, is happening to thé lint. (See Agri-
cultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 290 and references there given.)
Distinguish between fungoid and bacterial diseases of cotton.
It often happens that cotton plants suddenly commence to
drop bolls in large numbers, while the reason for the cireum-
stance cannot be traced to the action of any definite pest.
State broadly how a cause may be assigned for this boll-

-dropping. i

With reference to the yield of lint, comparisons should
be made in the matter of the amounts that are obtained from
different pickings. Does the first or subsequent pickings give
the largest amount! Is there any difference in the quality
of the product from different pickings? The amounts of lint
from the different fields should be carefully recorded, and the
differences in quaiity, if very marked, should be noted. These
facts should be brought into relation with the history and
state of the soil and the crops in the fields; in this way, useful
information will be obtained with respect to the following
points, among others: the best soils for cotton; the effects of
cultivation and the use of the different manures; the impor-
tance of good drainage; the necessity for the removal of old

-eotton plants, after picking; the results from the use of
different strains of seed (where these have been employed),
as regards yield, quality, and resistance to disease; the
relation between yield of lint and the extent to which attack
by diseases and pests has taken place.

It is convenient to draw attention here to the way in
which what has been stated in the last paragraph illustrates
the necessity for constant observation and recording of results,
if the observer is to be put into possession of facts that are
really useful. If observation has been neglected at almost
any stage, or if the results have been imperfectly recorded,
their proper interpretation may be rendered impossible, or at
least, made incomplete. It must not be thought that work
-of this kind can only be carried out with such a crop as
cotton; those who are not directly interested in this crop can
make similar observations, with similar precautions, in
the case of the one with which they have special concern.
It so happens that cotton is a particularly useful plant for such
work, chiefly because both the quantity and the quality of
the produce that is required from it can be easily determined.

Those students who are interested in cotton are
reminded that they should now obtain practice in judging
lint by pulling it from the seed in the way mentioned in the
West Indian Bulletin, Vol. VII, pp. 162, 163; practical

-assistance in this matter may be obtained from the officers

I

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 13

of the Botanic Stations.

Remember that cotton for shipment must be carefully
graded; that is to say the produce from various pickings must
not be mixed, and that all stained’ cotton must be carefully
kept separate from the rest. Information on this subject
is contained on page 374 of Volumé VII of the Agricultural
News. if

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Why is it desirable to saak sugar-cane cuttings in
Bordeaux mixture /

(2) What are the principal objects of pruning? Com-
pare the results of frequent light, and occasional heavy, prun-
ing of a cacao tree.

(3) What nitrogenous manures are chiefly used for
ratoon canes? State whence their nitrogen is derived.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) How is water retained in soil, and how does the
method of its retention admit of the simultaneous presence
of air and water? !

(2) What do you understand by the rotation of crops ¢
What useful purposes are served thereby ?

(3) Give an account of the uses that can be made of
cotton seed.

RUBBER TREES AND GREEN MANURING.

A circular has recently been issued, by the Diree-
tor of Agriculture, Nyasaland, dealing with green
manuring in the tropics. The following passage from
this circular, having relation to the subject in connexion
with rubber, is of special interest :-—

It has been proved that the flow of latex from a rubber
tree is affected by endosmotic pressure, which practically
means the amount of water in the plant roots. It is the
practice to tap rubber in the early morning and evening, and
to discontinue during the heat of mid-day and early after-
noon. During the heat of the day much water is evaporated by
the leaves, and latex flows slowly, but in the early morning and
evening water wishes to enter by the root quicker than it is
evaporated, with the result that there is an internal pressure
which helps the flow of latex; therefore it is practical to
assume that there is an intimate connexion between the
presence of water in the surface soil surrounding the roots,
and the flow of latex from the rubber tree. For half the
year in Nyasaland there is no rain, and daily the sun is
strong enough to evaporate water from the plants and from
the soil. The question arises, where does this water come
from! The answer is, from the lower’ layers or subsoil, by
rising to the surface in the form of water vapour and water
liquid (capillarity). In the surface soil of a clean-weeded
estate the water during the day is principally in the form of
water vapour, the water being vaporized to a considerable
depth by the direct, overhead rays of the tropical sun. In
the surface soil of an estate growing a green manure crop,
there is a large proportion of the water in the liquid form, as
the covering of vegetation reduces the temperature of the
surface soil, and prevents the direct penetration of the sun’s
rays. Therefore, when rubber is ‘growing surrounded with
vegetation, its roots have actual access to liquid water through
the greater part of the day. If we examine the same soils
during the dry season after the green manure crop is dead,
we still find more moisture in the latter, as the dead remains
of the green manure crop absorb and retain water more firmly
than ordinary soil, but deliver it freely to the rubber roots,
although rot as freely as to the atmosphere.

14 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 8, 1910.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

An account is given below of three agricultural
shows that have recently been held. These were the
Antigua Agricultural Show held on December 2, the
Lancaster Agricultural Exhibition (Barbados), on
December 8, and the Barbados Annual Agricultural
and Industrial Exhibition, on December 22.

ANTIGUA.

The Antigua Agricultural Show was held at Buxton
Grove grounds on Thurstay, December 2. This is the
ninth show which has been held in Antigua, the first having
faken place in December 1900. It was opened by his
Excellency Sir E. Bickham Sweet-Escott, K.C.M.G., who was
received by the Committee of the Agricultural Society and
the Superintendent of Agriculture.

His Excellency declared the show open and said that he
felt it his duty to congratulate all who had worked to make
it a successful one. The exhibits sent to the show this year
were not as numerous as they have been in former years,
although the number of entries made was quite up to the
standard of previous shows; the heavy rains which fell for
some days before December 2, may, in some measure,
account for the difficulty experienced in sending exhibits.

The feature on this occasion was the excellence of the
mules and oxen exhibited; there were a greater number of
exhibits in the classes for; live stock than in any previous
show, but the quality of the small stock left something to be
desired.

The school exhibits were again well to the front, the
display of plants grown in boxes or pots being particularly
good. The cup presented by the late Sir C. C. Knollys, for
school exhibits, was won this year by Spring Gardens School;
seven schools competed for this cup.

The sugar-cane exhibits were very fair. At the present
time the cotton industry ‘in Antigua is suffering from the
set-back resulting from the previous unfavourable seasons, and
the area under cultivation has been much reduced in conse-
quence; moreover, the date of the show prevented exhibits of
cotton from being sent by some estates, since it had not come
into bearing everywhere. Nevertheless exhibits were sent in
from all the estates which possessed bearing cotton, and the
samples shown were all of excellent quality.

The fruit and vegetable section was disappointing, the
exhibits being numerically small, though of fair quality.
December does not appear to be as suitable for a good
display of fruit and vegetables as a month later in the season,
such as February.

The exhibits of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
attracted considerable attention. Among these were a collec-
tion of green dressing plants, showing bush and seeds; stools
of different varieties of cane, more especially those which
have been newly introduced; specimens of rocks, illustrating
the general geological formation of Antigua and the types of
soils formed from them, Types of cotton and mounted
specimens of the flower bud maggot, and of other plant
diseases were shown, each exhibit being provided with
a short descriptive label.

His Excellency Sir Bickham Sweet-Escott has presented
a challenge.cup which will b@awarded each year for excellence
in exhibits of live stock. ;

Financially, the show has been a success, and sincere
thanks are tendered to the authorities at Buxton Grove, and
to the judges and exhibitors who have helped to bring the

Agricultural Show to a successful issue.

BARBADOS; LANCASTER SHOW,

The annual logal exhibition for produce and stock of
peasant proprietors, and tenants on sugar estates was held at
Lancaster plantation, St. James's parish, under the auspices
of the Department of Agriculture and the Barbados Agri-
cultural Society. For the purposes of the show, the yard and
boiling-house of the plantation were placed at the disposaf
of the Department, by the proprietor, Mr. J. H. Wilkinson,
and the attorney, Mr. G. C. Edghill; the manager, Mr. Man-
deville, also rendered valuable assistance.

The number and variety of the exhibits were not as great
as those of former local shows; this was due to the fact that
Lancaster is not situated centrally in respect of the populous.
villages in the country, so that the exhibits were not as widely
representative as is usually the case. Considered, however,
from a local point of view, they were generally good.

Of the cattle, the first prize in this class was gained by:
a half bred Zebu ox. The sheep and goats formed a good
exhibit; most of the latter were of the Toggenburg breed,
imported by the Imperial Department of Agriculture. The
exhibits of poultry were, for the greater part, only fair. Of
the vegetables, good lots of sweet potatos were shown; the
yams and eddos were of fair quality. The fruit made a notice-
able display, and its quality compared well with that of former
years, A fair staadard was reached by the garden produce;
at present this is mot allowed to include ornamental plants,
so that these were absent from among the exhibits.

The exhibits from the elementary schools did not by
any means compare well with those of former years, thongh
they gave evidence of a creditable amount of care in some
few cases. The comparative inferiority appears to have beer
due to the difficulty of taking the produce to be shown to the
place of exhibition, and it has been suggested that some
assistance should be given in the matter, in future.

At the close of the exhibition, the prizes were distribu-
ted by his Excellency Sir Gilbert Carter, K C.M.G., who-
described the show as a very creditable one, urging at the
same time, that nevertheless, more care in the preparation
and presentation of the products was required, as the readier
sale and possibly better price obtained would well repay the
small amount of extra trouble entailed. Dr. Francis
Watts, C.M.G., on behalf of the Committee, thanked his.
Excellency for being present and for distributing the prizes,
and also returned thanks to all who had given assistance.
In doing so, Dr. Watts pointed out that the dependence on the
peasant of those im the West Indies for articles of use in every-
day life was by no means completely recognized, and that the
holding of agricultural shows had one of its greatest sources of
importance in the opportunities that it gave for teaching the
peasant how to improve and market his produce. He also-
referred to the use of school gardens in attaining these
ends and in fostering the agricultural habit of mind. Dr.
Watts gave a special warning in regard to the fruit industry,
pointing out the, serious results that were likely to accrue
from the neglect to adopt measures against the spread of
scale insects.

BARBADOS 1909.

This is wider in its scope than the ordinary agricultural
show, as it includes a large number of industrial exhibits.
which are not the outcome of agricultural practice. As,
however, space and prizes are given for the produce of the
latter, a short mention of the exhibition is made here.

The exhibition was held at the old Ordnance Stores,
kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by Captain
Owen, the Superintendent of the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company. For various reasons, the attendance was not as
good as in former years.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION,

SVOn. Xs UNO; 201.

In the horticultural section, the exhibits showed improve-
ment on those of last year, both in number and quality.
‘The show of fruits and vegetables was especially good, chiefly
owing to the favourable growing weather that has been
experienced; in this section there were chiefly in evidence
yams, sweet potatos, eddos, pumpkins, cucumbers, various
peas and beans, ground nuts, Indian"and Guinea corn,
ginger, lettuce, cabbages, citrus fruits and sorrel. The canes
shown were not as good as might have been expected.

The show of horses was snenten thah that of last year;
the exhibits of cattle and goats were numerous, and generally

good. The poultry, rabbits and hares “shown were quite
below the average. Pigeons and ducks, however, showed
improvement.

Space does not admit of a description'of the more purely
industrial section of the show, several of the exhibits in which

were of a specially interesting and useful eharacter.
t

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. L. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug Pe spice market
for the month of November :—

During the early part of November the markets were
for the most part firmer in tone than they had been for some
time previously, but in the week ending on the 20th business
was less brisk, and the news of the storm and floods in the
West Indies had an immediate disquieting effect on several
of the products of the islands; a week later, namely at the
close of the month, the threatened doom of the Budget had
a further disturbing effect upon the markets generally.

The following are the details specially referring to West
Indian products.

GINGER.

No Jamaica was brought forward during the month, but
at the last auction on the 24th it was stated that the crop
was late in arriving, and in consequence, together with the
serious reports of the floods, holders are asking advanced
rates. In other sorts, at the first spice sale on the 3rd of the
month, as many as 900 packages of Cochin and Calicut were
offered, and 500 sold, 54s. being paid for unsorted native
cut, 43s. for good, bold rough Calicut, and 35s. 6d. for small
shrivelled, brown Calicut. In the following week, 140 bags
of washed, rough Cochin were offered, and bought in at 40s.
per ewt.; and on the 24th 280 bags of Calicut were offered,
and 80 sold without reserve at 41s. 6:/. for fair bright, rather
lean; 45s. was wanted for good, bright, washed Cochin.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO,

In nutmegs, there has been no change since last
month’s report. At the second spice auction on the 10th,
as many as 318 packages of West Indian were disposed
of at previous rates. Mace has shown an advance in
price, some 80 packages of West Indian were disposed
of at the auction on the 10th, and realized the fol-
lowing prices; fair to good palish Is. 8d. to 1s. 10d., fair
reddish ls. 6d. to ls. 7d., dark red 1s. 5d. to 1s. 6d. and
broken Is. to ls. 3d. At the last sale on the 24th, prices for
the better qualities were slightly higher; good pale fetched
2s, fair pale and reddish 1s. 8d. to 1s. 9d., fair red Is 6d.
to ls. 7d. and fair to good 1s. 3d. to 1s. 6d. Pimento was
quiet; at the beginning of the month 17 bags of greyish

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 15

found buyers at 2}d. to 21d. on the 10th 88 bags were
offered and bought i in at 23: of the 17th, 351 bags were
offered and a few only disposed of at 23d., 23d. being
demanded in most cases on accownt of the disastrous news
from Jamaica. There was none fered at the last auction on
the 24th.

Little or no interest has se taken
throughout the month.

in arrowroot

SARS APARILLA,

There was no great demand; for this article during the
month; the following are the details in reference to it. At
the first auction on the 4th there was no grey Jamaica
offered; but for 8 bales of native Jamaica, out of 24
brought forward, the prices realized were, 10d. to 11d. per Ib.
for fair to good red, and 9d. for yellowish dull mixed. The
other offerings were 36 bales of Guatemala and 14 bales of
Honduras, all of which were bought in. A fortnight later
the offerings were 41 bales of grey Jamaica, 6 ‘of Lima-
Jamaica and 10 of native Jamaica. The whole of the grey
Jamaica was disposed of at the following rates: for Soy
coarse and rough to good fibrous Is. Ge to ls. 2d., and
ordinary rough Is. per lb. The 6 bales of Lima- Jamaica of
roughish quality were sold at from 11d. to 1s. per Ib. One
bale out of the ten of native Jamaica found a buyer at 8d.
per lb., the remainder being bought in at from 9d. to 11d.
per ib.

KOLA, CASSIA FISTULA,

LIME JUICE, TAMARINDS, ETC.

At auction on the 4th 42 packages of kola were offered.
For 15 bags of sea-damaged Ceylon 24d. to 33d. per Ib. was
paid, and 2 bags of West Indian’ sold at 3d. per Ib. At
the same sale, 4 casesof West Indian Cassia Fistula were
offered, all of which sold at 16s. per ewt. for partially dry
pods. In lime juice there has been but little demand; the
quotation at the end of the month for concentrated West
Indian was £17, and for raw West Indian 10d. to 1s. per
gallon. Seventeen barrels of tamarinds were brought for-
ward at the first auction in the month, and 10 of fair
Antigua were sold without reserve in bond at 10s. 6d. per
ewt. Some sales of West Indian distilled oil of limes have
been effected at ls. 5d. per tb. and it has been stated that
hand pressed oil is worth 6s. A statement has been made
during the month that there is a demand for cashew nuts,
but at the end of the month 24 cases were brought forward
and the whole bought in at 60s.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated December 23, 1909, gives
information as follows :—

The weather during the fortnight has been very wet,
and considerable damage has been done to paddy remaining
uncut.

Milling has been suspended in all factories other than
those that employ artificial driers,

Shipment to West Indian islands amounted to 3,800
bags during the fortnight.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. ea for good export

quality :—

Nominally 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per bag of 180 bb. gross,
Fi 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. Ne LOde Ibe,

London,—THEe West

16 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JANUARY 8, 1910.

MARKET, REPORTS.

Inpta ComMItTreEE CIRCULAR,
December 7, 1909; Messrs. E. A. bE Pass & Co.,
December 10, 1909.

Arrowroot—l fd. to 33d.

Batata—sSheet, 2/63 ; block, 2/14 per th.

Brgs-wax—&7 lis. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 62/- per ewt.; Grenada, 50/- to
56/- per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/6 to 54/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 41/-.

Corra—West Indian, £25 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, 183d.; Floridas, 153d. to 16d.; St.
Croix West Indian, no quotation.

Frouit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Quiet ; common to good common, 45/- to 49/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 50/- to 54/-; good
bright to fine, 55/- to 65/-.

Honety—26/- to 33/-.

Istvetass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 8d. to 1/2 per gallon; ccncentrated,
£17 10s. ; Otto of limes, 5/9 to 6/-.

Loewoon—No quotations.

Macre—Steady.

Nourmecs—(Quiet.

Prrento—Common, 2,%,d.; fair, 28d.; good, 24d. per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 7/8, fine soft, 7/-; tne Peru,
7/63 per tb.

Rum—Jaunaica, 2/7 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/5 to 17/6; Muscovado, 13/3 to 15/3;
Syrup, 13/3 to 15/3; Molasses, no quotations.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., January 3, 1910;

Messrs. T. 8S. Garraway & Co., January 3,
1910.

ARRowROoT—Sb. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 th.

Cacao—$10°50'to $12°00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-Nuts—S14°00.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10:00 to $11:00 per
100 thb., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 per 100 tb., unsaleable.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $48:00;
Sulphate of ammonia, $75-00 per ton.

Mo .assrs—No quotations.

Onions—Strings, $3-00 to $5:00 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprir—$7'75 per bag of 210 th.; Canada, $3-40 per
bag of 120 tb.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1:90 to $2:17 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $4°33 to $4°75 (180 tb.); Patna, $3-80 ;
Rangoon, $3°00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Winrine & Ricurer, December

34; Messrs. SANDBACH, PARKER & Co., December
23, 1909.

ARRowRootT—St. Vincent

Messrs. SAND-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

Messrs. WIETING

ARTICLES. & RicHrer.

$8 50 per 200 tb.,.
market dull

$8°25 to $850
per 200 th.

Baxtata—Venezuelablock| 32c¢. per tb. Prohibited
Demerara sheet) 48c. per th. | None

Cacao—Native \11e. to 12c. per Th.| _12c. per tb.

Cassava— No quotation

New York,—Messrs. Gmurspre Bros. & Co., December An
$108 |
Cassava StTaRcH— No quotation

10, 1909.

Cacao—Caracas, Ile. to 12c. ; Grenada, Ile. to 11}c. ;
Trinidad, 11}e. to 11jc. ; Jamaica, 94c. to 104c. per tb.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $31:00 to $33-00; culls,
$16-00 to $1700; Trinidad, select, $28-00 to $30-U0 ;
culls, $15°00 to $16°00 per M.

$6-00 to $6°50 per
| barrel of 196 th.
Sales—scarce |
| $12 to $16 per M. $16 perM.,peelead
and selected
CorrEE—Creole 12c. to 13c. per tb.) 12c. to 13c. per tb.
Jamaica and Rio! 134c.to 132c. per th.

Cocoa-NuTS—

CorreE—Jamaica, ordinary, 8c. to 9c.; good ordinary,
up to 9c.; and washed, from 10c. to 11e. per tb.

GriycrrR—lle. to 14e. per th.

Goat Sxixs—Jamaica, 62}c.; Parbados, 55c.; St. Thomas,
St. Croix, St sitts, 50c. per tb.; Antigua, 52c.,
dry flint.

Grave Fruir—$1‘50 to $2:25 per hox.

Limes—Dominica, $5°50 to $6°50 per barrel.

Mace—32c. to 36c. per tb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 9e. per tb.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°25 to $1°50 per box.

Pimento—4{e. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°3l4ce.
89°, 3°8lic.; Molasses, 89°,
duty paid.

per Ib.; Muscovados,
3'd65c. per th., all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpoy, Grant & Co., December

24, 1909.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°40 to $11°65 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $11°25 to $11°60.

Cocoa-Nur O1.—90e. per Imperial gallon, cask meluded.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 10c. to 10}c. per tb.

Copra—$4°15 per 100 th.

Dust—$4°25 per 2-buskel bag.

Ontons—$3°75 to $4-00 per 106 th.

Pras, Sprir—$6'75 to $7-00 per bag.

Potatos—English, $1°70 to $1°75 per 100 tb.

Ricre—Yellow, . $5:10 to $5:15;. White, $5:00 to $5-10
per bag.

Scear—American crushed, $5°10 to $5:20 per 100 tb.

Libenan
DHat—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mozuasses—Yellow
Oxtons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Poratos—Noya Szotia

Lisben
Poratros-Sweet, Barbados
Ricr—Ballam

Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams—White

Buck
ScGar—Dark crystals

Yellow
White
Molasses

Timber —Greenheart
Wallaba shingles

3 Cordwood

10c. per th.

$4:05 to $4°10 per |

bag of 168 th.
$5°50 to $5°75
$1°68 per barrel
22c. to 25c.

4c. to 4fc. per th.
$6°50 to $6°60 per

bag (210 tb.)
$4-00 to $4°25
20c. to 48e. per
bunch
$2°50
No quotation
$144 per bag
No quotation
$4:00 to $4:10
$2°40 per pag
$2-40
$2°88 per bag
$2°55 to $2-75
$2°90 to $3-00
$3°70 to $3°80
$2-00
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00
per ton

|

14c. per th.
10c. per tb.

$4:10 per bag of

168 th.

No quotation
No puotation
$6°50 per bag
( 210 th.)
$4°50

$300
No quotation

$4-75
$4:00 to $4°30:

$2°55
$2°80 to $3:00
$3°60 to $3°80
$200 Lo $2°30
32c. to 55ce. per
ewb. foot
$350 te $550
per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly. Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d,

Volumes IT, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d.

Volume IX. Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4. Price 6d. each number. Post free, 8d.

Volume X. No. 1. Flower-bud Maggot of Cotton ; Bourbon Cane in Antigua ; Bourbon and other Varieties of Cane
in Barbados ; Soils of Nevis ; Cotton Selection in the Leeward Islands ; Leguminous Crops and Soil
Inoculation. No. 2. Central Factories; The Underground System of the Sugar-cane; The Cotton
Industry in the West: Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment of Orchard Soils in Cultivation
in the West Indies ; Phe Scarabee of the Sweet Potato. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-two. Most of these are still available and can be supplied.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. perannum. Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Adz
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

)

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vineent: Mr. L. 8. Mosevey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. BowEn & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: THE EpucationaL Suppry Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Brmpcewarer, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tur ‘Dary Curonicie’ Orrice,Georgetown. Antigua: Mr. S. D. Matoneg, St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THe Biste AND Book Suppry AceEncy, Basseterro,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough. Nevis: Mr. S. D. Matong, Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Srores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.
b t=]

Lashes! are mere

FOR SALE. JUS? ISSUED. |
Zen WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

LIBERIAN COFFEE HAND MACHINERY.

Second hand, but in working . order—including
jOne Gordon’s ‘India’ Pulper, One Gordon’s (Smeets)

Peeler and Polisher, One Gordon’s Winnower. (Vol. X, No. 2.)
{Cost £30: price £16: f.o.b. Castries, St. Lucia. Containing papers on Central Factories; The Under-
: ALSO, QUITE NEW, ground System of the Sugar-cane ; The Cotton Industry in
the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment

. ? ¢ ~ s 9 -
ee ee ene Paging 2 iaeeyprice: £12 of Orchard Soils in Cultivation in the West Indies ; The

Apply to:-—
Sweet Potato.
GEO, S. HUDSON, Scarabee of the Sweet Potato
Errard Estate, To be obtained from all agents for the
Dennery, sale of the Department’s publications. Price

St. Lucia. 6d.; post free, 8d.

Vor. IX. No. 201. THE AGRICULTURAL NERS. January 8, 1910.
THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE
oo PASE een ae

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—tor sugarcane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure .
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

1909. (MISCELLANEOUS) D. NO. 4.,THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
In the Supreme Court of the Leeward Islands, FACTORY, LIMITED.

PRESIDENCY OF ANTIGUA.

IN THE MATTER OF ‘the Title by Registration Acts BRIDGETOWN.

1886-1906’, AND IN THE MATTER OF lands of Richard == See

Henry Kortright Dyett, as Trustee known as ‘ MoRRIS COTTON SE BK D.

LOOBY’S’ or ‘WILLOUGHBY BAY’ ESTATE and ‘BODKINS’ : F

movie, AND IN THE MATTER of a Sah Wha ae Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and

land in favour of Felix Thornely Cobbold and Herbert #FOM the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of

St. George Cobbold. Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt

THIS IS TO GIVE NOTICE that there will be sold inJattention.

one lot lot by PUBLIC AUCTION on Monday the 7th day Spa ff
of February, 1910, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, at the SULPHATE OF COPPER.— We stock this}
Registry of the Supreme Court in the City of St. John in [@Tticle, and all orders received will be promptly }
the Island of Antigua ALL THOSE valuable Sugar Planta-|executed.
tions or Estates known respectively as ‘ MORRIS LOOBY’S’
or ‘WILLOUGHBY BAY’ and ‘BODKINS’ situate in FOR SALE.
the Parish of St. Paul in the said Island, all as the same are
delineated and described in the plans annexed to the Certifi-
cates of Title of the same respectively dated the 9th day of
June, 1909, Register Book F. folios 28 and 29 of the Regist-
er of Titles of the said Island in favour of Richard Henr m IN TN Y
Kortright Dyett as Trastee, Registered Proprietor teraoe A COTTON GINNING PLAN I.
and also all things accessory to the said lands which are set|Consisting of 3 Asa Lees Single Action Macarthy

On account of death, there is offered for Sale,

down in the Inventory innexed to the Act of Seizure. Gins, Spiral Seed Conductor, 50 feet long, and One}
Dated this 11th day of November, 1909. Crossley Brothe:s’ Oil Engine, 74 B.H. Power, besides}
(Sgd.) R. WH. KORTRIGHT D¥ a tr Gin spares, all only very little used; at a low figure,
tegistrar.
Messrs. McDONALD & DOUGLASS, |. ° For perticulars apply to

ae ames ss pahe Antigua, B.W.L Executors of the Estate of Tuomas Hewirr, Decd.}

(Solicitors haviag carriage of the sale.) Christiansted, St. Croix, D,W.I.
I
i.) =

Pr ated at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

fy 1.

<5

Zs
Ze
Al
\ A

Vol. IX. No. 202.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1910. [One penny. —

THE ROYAL MAIL
: STEAM PACKET COMPANY
®@ ® @ @ (ROYAL CHARTER, dated 1839)

REGULAR SERVICES

Brazil & the West Indies Morocco Mediterranean
River Plate Spanish Main (via Gibraltar) Ports, Ceylon
via Spain and Central America Canary Islands Australia, New
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Touring Facilities to all Parts

Head Office: Illustrated

18 Pamphlets sent
MOORGATE on Application
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LONDON, E.c.

Cruises de
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STRAITS
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Short Tours

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GUAYA," 10,537 Tons,

OFFICES: OFFICES:
BARBADOS. TRINIDAD. COLON. 264 Reconquista, 31 R. des Capellistas, Calle del Arenal 16,
JAMAICA. ST. THOMAS. RIO DE JANEIRO. B. AYRES. LISBON. MADRID

180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

| available plant food.

Paris Green! Paris Green!

Warranted and Guaranteed Strictly Pure, and to be of
the Standard of Purity required by, and made in
conformity with, the requirements of

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

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Guaranteed to be absolutely pure by the manufacturers. Used extensively throughout the British West Indies, and sold
by all high-class merchants and dealers. Consumers are cautioned against worthless substitutes, and should always see
that the packages bear the name of the manufacturers :—

MORRIS HERRMANN & CO,,
NEW YORK, U.S.A.

Makers o

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ARSENATE OF LEAD

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[178.]

AP Veins ay

MAINTAIN THE YIERD. |

The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.
Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

For free literature and special information on Tropical Agriculture address to:
GERMAN KALI WORKS.

30 Empedrado,
Box 1,007, Havana, Cuba.

=,

sa! yah
SAY

od
?

mm PORBNIGHILY VREVIEW LIBRAR
OF THE NEw Y‘
r - BOT ANIC
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, GARDE
Vor. IX. No. 202 BARBADOS, JANUARY 22, 1910. Price 1d,
and a certain amount of chemically produced food
CONTENTS. for the roots of the plants which flourished jn it, so
long did experiments, which had been devised: for the
purpose of determining the conditions under which the
) airs - 5 :
PAGE. PaGE. soil would best fulfil the purpose of producing good
Agriculture in Elementary _ | Gleanings 28 plants in profitable quantities, give results which
: Schools, — aes 3 “4 | Insect Notes :— were in conflict with the expectations derived from,
Balance of Life in the Soil 17 | ImsentPests of@econnts OG x 3 a 4 s r
Cacao, Fermentation of ...°2 ae ah eo = the theories of the time. It is only since the recogni-
ioe S Waeld GF 31 | Manihot Dichotoma, Varia- : 4 3 : 2)
eearante, Yield Se cdr tea bility in... ws. ws . 25, tion of the soil as the home of countless, quickly living,
Jolonia n SILOM, facsn accra nes aS oe ee 26 : woe >
Gatton sNotes = Market Reports %2 beings that an adequate means of explaining the behav-
‘4 - 99 | Naw 1 " or . , I 5
St a oe : cotton Cates Nee = or BS Barer se a iour of plants in it, under varying conditions, has been
1e Sixth Internationa Notes anc omments 2 2 O 45 ig
Cotton Congress ... ... 22|Pine Trees for the Tropics 23 Supplied. Even now, there is much to be done, for
paeenced Oland Woollen ae Brae uate’ for Butter- = investigations in connexion with such a complex of
anutactures Boa Age 743) aking Bee cvs ese & ote . : A
Goursses of Reading in Rice in British Guiana ... 31 living and dead matter in speedy change as exists in
ay oe su ths Seas 27 | poe ber on ue Gold Coast ae the soil require time and much taking of pains before.
Exhibitions Branch of the Students’ Jorner as 2 4 : 3 a ‘
Board of Trade, The ... 24| 1. tndustry <_ explanation and practical application of their results
aeons for Milk Pro- sal IReMEN ane Sunes can be reached.
c oO =. . eee aed ‘ i
j : Rie ll Trade Laboratory - 19 = Shy: :
Habre ae in India ... ... ah West Indian Seedling The great bulk of the soil is composed of particles,
ungus Notes :— | Pe eG nif cep : . : :
Fungi Attacking Insects 30 Canes in Florida ... ... 19 large and small, which owing to their shapes cannot
German Kast Africa, Bio- _ | Trade between Canadaand —— egmpletely fill the space, so that the interstices
p J I
logical Institute ... ... 25) the West Indies ... ... 29

The Balance of Life in the Soil.

I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.

he generation has passed since it was discov-
ANS) ed that one of the chief causes of fertility
2% in the soil, namely the formation of
nitrates, is the outcome of a vital process, and this
discovery was the beginning of investigations which
have led gradually to a recognition of the importance
to the agriculturist of the minute living beings which
inhabit the soil. As long as the soil was regarded
merely as a medium which provided water, air, support

between them provide room for air and water, while’
their surfaces also supply a means of holding this
liquid, and are inhabited by the minute living beings’
to which special attention is being given at present.
Of the particles themselves, those which are composed
of mineral matter undergo change which is compara-
tively slow; those which are organic in nature, however,
alter quickly, especially at the temperature of the
tropics, some of the changes being chemical in nature,
while others are the outcome of the activity of the
living organisms.
to the agriculturist of these two kinds of particles, that
of the former must not be underrated,in view of their use
as a source of slowly available plant food and of the fact
that it is their nature which often helps to determine
the amount of acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

In comparing the direct importance

18 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 22, 1910.

A careful consideration of the history of a given
area of soil makes it evident that it is in a constant
state of change. In some respects it is undergoing
a loss of actual matter, in others a gain of material is
being made. As regards the first, water is always
leaving it, through evaporation and transpiration by
plants, as well as through drainage and percolation,
the latter cireumstances leading to a loss of soluble
matter, in addition, while where the rainfall is heavy,
there isa likelihood of a loss of bulk taking -place
through the washing away of the smaller, lighter
particles.
added those of the action of denitrifying and, in
many cases, putrefactive organisms, whereby nitrogen,
carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are removed. Loss also
takes place to a certain extent by the removal of such
parts of plants as are carried away by the wind or by
animals: by the former in connexion with the distribu-
tion of seed, and by the latter through accident, or
purposely, for the provision of food, clothing, ete.

To these more mechanical causes of loss are

Considering again a definite area of soil, one of
the chief sources of addition is, of course, the water
which falls as rain, bringing with it tne gases which it
has dissolved during its journey through the atmo-
sphere: through the air also arrive particles of matter
and portions of plants which have been carried by the
wind from other areas of soil. From below, it receives
increments of matter by the weathering of the subsoil
and underlying rocks. The carbon and much of the
oxygen which are supplied in the remains of the plants
that have lived and died upon it are an addition
from the air. Nitrogen is added by the nitrogen-fixing
bacteria and by those which live m symbiosis with
leguminous plants. Lastly, matter is added to the soil
by animals, either accidentally, or (as in the case of
man) for the purpose of increasing the yield of the
crops which grow on it.

An appreciation of these facts will lead to an
understanding of the phenomena which are exhibited
by the soil when it is subjected to different kinds of
treatment. One of these, which has lately aroused
particular interest, is sterilization, whereby the soil
is placed under such conditions that the forms of
life in it are partially or completely destroyed; it
1s now proposed to give more definite attention to
this. A first effect of sterilization to be noticed was
the increased fertility of the soil which followed it—
a circumstance originally observed by Oberlin, when
using carbon disulphide as a remedy against the
phylloxera of the grape. Since then, investigations
have been conducted with other sterilizing agents such
as benzene, ether, chloroform, toluene and phenol, as

well as in experiments where heat was employed; in
the last connexion, Russell and Darbishire, in England,
carried out an exhaustive series of trials by which they
showed that heated soil will produce a yield twice as
great as that from unheated soils, and that the effect
of the heating will declare itself during four subsequent
crops. Withont such researches, the broad fact that
soil which has been heated gives larger crops has long
been evident to those who have observed plants grow-
ing on the sites where weeds have been burnt, or where
charcoal pits have been made. It is not, however,
a simple matter to provide an adequate explanation of
the circumstance.

In the attempt to do this, various theories have
been put forward; they may be divided into those which
advance direct action of the disinfecting influence on
the soil as the cause of the phenomenon, and those which
attempt to explain it through its effect on the organisms
in it. In the first division are included those of Moritz
and Scharpe, and Pickering. The former endeavour to
explain the action of carbon disulphide, in the connex-
ion, by stating that this substance becomes changed
into bodies suitable for plant food, in the soil—an
occurrence which is very unlikely to take -place, in
consideration of the stability of that compound and of
tlie small likelihood that it can be decomposed by
bacteria. Pickering (see Agricultural News, Vol.
VIII, p. 281) only goes as far as to draw a-comparison
between the action of disinfectants and that of heat in
increasing the amount of the soluble organic matter in
the soil.

Other explanations, as has been stated, have for
their basis the alteration of the conditions in the soil
as regards the micro-organisms which it contains.
Hiltner and Stérmer arrived at the conclusion that
partial disinfection of the soil upsets the balance of
bacterial life in it, with the effect that improved con-
ditions arise on account of the resulting increase in
numbers of the beneficial varieties of bacteria. Koch
has suggested that the change is due to stimulation of
bacterial growth, in the case of disinfectants, by the
traces of those bodies which remain in the soil after
their use, basing his theory on the well-known fact
that poisonous compounds, in small quantities, often
act as stimulants. Loew explains that, as the walls of
dead cells permit the passage of all kinds of dissolved
matter, owing to the destruction of the lining of
protoplasm, the contents of the dead organisms pass
out into the soil, thus enriching it chiefly with
nitrogenous compounds and potassium phosphate,
the process being aided by the property possessed by
certain bacteria of producing enzymes (ferments) which

Vot. IX.. No. 202.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 19

can dissolve the remains of those organisms. It is
difficult to see, however, how sufficient plant food could
be added to the soil, in this way, to account for the
extent to which its fertility has been changed.

The latest attempt at explanation of the effect
of the partial sterilization of svils also belongs to the
category in which account is taken of the action of
the disinfecting material or influence in altering the
conditions under which micro-organisms exist in them.
It has been made by Russell and Hutchinson, of the
Rothamsted laboratories, and like that of Hiltner and
Stirmer, it has for its basis the effect of the change
which takes place in the balance of life in the soil, but
in a different way. As, however, in view of its interest
and importance, it deserves discussion at some length,
its consideration is deferred for the next number of the
Agricultural News. =

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE NEW YORK SUGAR TRADE
LABORATORY.

The following information concerning the New
York Sugar Trade Laboratory is taken from a paper
read recently before the Louisiana Sugar Planters’
Association. It illustrates the way in which a satis-
factory arrangement between buyer and seller, for test-
ing sugars, can be arrived at, the matter being simpli-
fied, of course, by the fact that both are situated in the
same country:—

In the commercial testing of ray sugars for purposes of
valuation, as in any other procedure that permits variations
within a general method, the most satistactory results are
obtained by the adoption of a single set of impartial rules
and by strict adherence thereto.

Up to some two years ago the methods employed in the
commercial sampling and testing of sugars entering this
country were regulated by the individual buyers and sellers.
Tn consequence, varying results were obtained and there was
found much trouble in arriving at satisfactory average tests
as bases of settlements. A number of the larger buyers and
sellers of raw sugars located at the ports of New York,
Philadelphia, Boston, New Orleans, Montreal and Halifax,
realizing the advantages of uniformity in sampling and test-
ing, decided to establish a central testing Jaboratory at New
York, where their sugars might be polarized.

Sampling may be done as the sugars are taken from on
board ship, or the sugar may be placed in store and sampled
when taken thence.

To secure samples, the representatives of buyer and seller
alternately sample the packages and deposit their separate
samples in a common receptacle. When the desired number
of packages has been sampled, the accun:ulated sugar is
thoroughly mixed before the final or net sample is taken. In
some cases it is necessary to reduce the lumps by crushing,
then to return this crushed portion to the gross sample.

Six tin cans of about 1 Ib. capacity are filled to the
top, closed and sealed by the samplers for both buyer and
seller. Two of these eans go to the buyer, two to the seller,
and two to the trade laboratory. The buyer submits his

sample to an independent commercial chemist, while the
seller submits his sample to another chemist. he trade
laboratory makes its test and renders its report of test to
both buyer and seller.

The three reports are compared and the average of the
two most closely agreeing is taken as the true test. The
third is thrown out.

The samples are mixed twice daily and sent to the
laboratory. For purposes of identification, on each sample
is pasted a label showing the name of the ship, time and
place of sampling, mark, number of packages in the mark
and in the sample, and buyer and seller. This information is
recorded upon the books of the laboratory. One of the two
cans received is stored for reference, and the other given
a daily serial number and analyzed. Before analysis the
sugar is emptied upon a clean, dry sheet of plate glass, and
thoroughly mixed. Any Jumps are crushed by means of
a porcelain roller and again incorporated into the sample.
Pieces of bags, baskets, mats, etc., that is foreign substances
obviously not belonging to the sugar samples, are picked out
by hand and discarded.

The work of polarization is then performed independ-
ently by two analysts, upon separate portions, and with
entirely different apparatus. The method employed is
that recommended by the International Committee for
Unification of Methods of Sugar Analysis. The two results.
thus obtained are compared, and if found to agree within 0-2
per cent. they are averaged, and this average is recorded and
reported as the Trade Laboratory’s test. If the two results
be further apart than 0-2 per cent. the sample is re-tested before
it is reported.

The laboratory was established as a matter of experi-
ment, but the satisfaction which has been given practically
assures the permanence of the scheme.

WEST INDIAN SEEDLING CANES
IN FLORIDA.

The following report on several seedling canes
which were sent by the local Department of Agricul-
ture, Barbados, to the Agricultural Experiment Station
of the University of Florida has been furnished by
Mr. John Belling, B.Sc., Assistant in Horticulture at
that Station :—

On November 29, we tested the juice of five of the
sugar-canes you kindly sent us. Though, on account of dry
weather, we could not plant them out until as late as the end
of May and June, yet B.208, though not quite ripe, has
yielded a higher polariscope reading than any cane with an
equal period of growth has ever done in Florida, to my knowl-
edge. A reading of 15 is reckoned high here. 6.208
stools well, and has stood the severe drought this autumn
better, in my opinion, than B.3,412, B.3,405, or B.3,390.
These three canes were unripe, but will have a long growing
season and a fair test next year. B.147 was, of course, quite
soft and unripe. b.3,412 may be good for syrup-making,
and perhaps B.147, too, B.376 was slow to germinate and
could not be tested.

Cane. 3rix. Polariscope reading
(Schmidt «& Haensch),
B. 208 19°61 17:3
B. 3,390 18°37 14:5
B. 3,405 17-47 13:1
B, 3,412 17-57 12:3
B. 147 16:07 11:0

On the whole, it seems probable that more than one of:
the new canes may be an acquisition.

20 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JaNnvARY 22, 1910.

7
SAIS

WEST INDIAN FRUIT.

THE COLONIAL FRUIT SHOW.

The thirteenth exhibition of colonial-grown fruit and
British bottled fruits was opened by Princess Louise, Duchess
of Argyll, who was accompanied by the Duke of Argyll, on
December 1, 1909, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hall,
St. Vincent Square, Westminster.

The West Indian colonies were represented through the
Permanent Exhibition Committees of Trinidad, Dominica
and Montserrat, and by several] private agencies; the arrange-
ments in this section were entrusted to Mr. Algernon E.
Aspinall, and Mr. W. G. Freeman gave valuable assistance.
It was stated by Sir Trevor Lawrence, who hoped that such
exhibitions would promote friendly rivalry between the
colonies, that this exhibition was much superior to any of
those which had been held before.

The Duke of Argyll, in replying to a vote of thanks
to Princess Louise for opening the show, dwelt upon the
advantages that were afforded by cold storage, in the transit
of fruit from the colonies.

The exhibits from Trinidad not only included fresh,
crystallized and preserved fruits, but specimens preserved in
formalin, as well, in order to permit of the exhibition of
fruits which were out of season, as well as those in season,
(See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 404.)

The exhibit from Dominica was unfortunately smaller
than was intended owing to the miscarriage of some of the
crates and cases. One of the main objects of the Committee
was, of course, to further the popularity of limes, and to
aid in this, each visitor was presented with samples
of the fruit in a bag which was conspicuously labelled
‘Dominica Limes’. Besides the Permanent Exhibition
Committee, the exhibitors in this section were the Dominica

Fruit Growers’ Association, the Botanic Station, and
the proprietors of the following estates: Ancaster Park,
Carholme, Everton, Wall House, Malgretout, Shawford,

Corona, Castle Comfort, Pointe Mulatre and Bramhall.

The exhibit from Montserrat included Sea Island cotton,
preserves shown by the Montserrat Preserving Company, lime
oils, papain, ete. A photograph of the produce of the island
which had been offered for the acceptance of Her Majesty
the Queen created much interest. (See Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII, p. 393.)

Among the private exhibitors at the show were the
West Indian Produce Association, the Jamaica Agency, and
the Roseau Valley Fruit Company.

The West Indian awards were as follows :—

Gold Medals.—The Permanent Exhibition Committee
of Trinidad (fruits and vegetables). The Permanent Exhibi-
tion Committee of Trinidad (preserves). The West Indian

Produce Association (fruits and vegetables).

Silver Gilt Knightian Medals.—The Permanent Exhibi-
tion Committee of Dominica (fruits and vegetables). The
Dominica Botanie Station (citrus fruits). The Jamaica
Agency (fruits and vegetables).

Silver Knightian Medals.—The Permanent Exhibition
Committee of Montserrat (fruits and vegetables). Wall
House Estate, Dominica (limes).

Silver Banksian Medals.—Mr. J. G. De Gannes, Trini-
dad (King oranges); Messrs, Gordon Grant & Co., Trinidad
(limes, and cocoa-nuts); Mr. J. G. Hains, Trinidad (cocoa-
nuts); Roseau Valley Fruit Co. (jams ete., and fresh fruits).

Bronze Banksian Medals.—The St. Aroment Estate,
Dominica (oranges); Everton Estate, Dominica (oranges);
Corona Estate, Dominica (navel oranges); Carholme Estate,
Dominica (limes); Mr. J. J. Browne (cocoa-nuts),

PURE STARTERS FOR BUTTER-MAKING.

One of the most important factors in determining the
quality of butter and cheese is the ‘starter’ which is used to
ripen the cream from which butter is to be made, or to
hasten the acid fermentation of the milk for cheese-making.
A starter is a quantity of milk in which acid-forming
bacteria have grown until the milk contains large numbers of
them. The addition of the starter seeds the milk or cream
with great numbers of bacteria which are in a_ healthy
condition and which by their growth cause the acid fermenta-
tion to progress rapidly and in a more definite manner than
without the addition of the starter.

The factor that has the greatest influence in determining
the quality of the butter or cheese to be made from a given
quantity of milk is undoubtedly the quality of the milk
itself. The quality of the milk depends upon the conditions
under which it is produced on the farms, and on subsequent
handling. It is impossible to make good butter or fine
cheese from dirty milk; that is from milk having a high
degree of acidity, or abnormal odours or tastes. The
improvement of the milk supply can only occur through
a change in methods on the farms. The cheese and butter
maker can act only in an indirect manner by educating the
farmer in better methods of producing and handling the
milk and cream.

It is evident that the flavour of the butter will depend
on the kind of substances formed during the acid fermenta-
tion of the cream, or during the ripening of the starter. If
all the bacteria present are of kinds that produce no
substance that will impart to the butter an objectionable
flavour, the product will be good. If a part of the bacteria

Vor. 1X. No. 202.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS; 21

causing the acid fermentation is of kinds that produce
undesirable subtances, the flavour of the butter will Le
injured in proportion to the number of these forms as
compared with the kinds that produce only desirable
substances.° The more the butter-maker is able to control
the kind of acid-forming bacteria that is to grow in the
cream, the greater control he will have over the flavour of
the product. Modern methods of butter-making seek to
give the maker this control, through the use of fresh, sweet
cream; the pasteurization of cream, and through the use of
pure culture starters.

In the propagation of starters, daily crops of bacteria
are grown. The crop itself is invisible, but the changes
which it produces in the soil—the milk in which it is grow-
ing—are very evident. The starter-maker is not handling
so much milk—so much non-living material -—but something
in which there are living things—the bacteria—and unless
proper conditions are provided for their growth, successful
results cannot be expected. Good seed, favourable soil,
temperature and moisture conditions are essential in growing
any of our ordinary plants. Favourable conditions are just
as essential in growing successful crops of bacteria, which
are plants so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.

The starters prepared by the various commercial labora-
tories are known as ‘commercial’ or ‘ pure culture’ starters
They contain, as arule, but a single kind of acid-producing
organism. ‘The starter-manufacturer has separated this form
from all other kinds by methods that are easily carried out
in the bacteriological laboratory. The bacteria isolated have
been tested under practical conditions and found to possess
the qualities that an acid-forming organism must have in
order to make it a desirable one to use under practical
conditions.

The package of starter which is purchased by the
butter-maker is the pure seed. If the butter-maker considers
it advisable to go to the expense of purchasing good, pure
seed, it is surely advisable to devote the necessary time and
labour in keeping the seed pure and in good condition. In
order to do this the maker must pay attention to the follow-
ing points :-—

1. He must keep all other kinds of bacteria out of his
starters, especially all other acid-forming bacteria; in other
words, he must prevent the contamination of the starters.

2. He must pay attention to the soil in which his
crops of bacteria are to be grown; that is to the selection of
the milk to be used for starter-making purposes.

3. He must pay attention to the weather conditions, or
to the temperature at which the starters are to be kept.

4, He must pay attention to the harvesting of the crop,
that is to the time at which the starter is in the best con-
dition for use.

By the term ‘ mother starter’ is meant the small amount
of starter that is to be added to the milk in the starter can,
so as to prepare the quantity needed for addition to the
cream, or to the milk for cheese-making.

In the past, the mother starter was usually a small
amount that had been saved when the starter can was
emptied. After the can had been cleaned, and filled with
skim milk, which was then heated and cooled, the quantity
of the starter saved was added to the milk in the starter can.
More recently, many butter-makers have propagated their
mother starters in a small way, entirely separate from the
large starter prepared in the starter can. There are so many
advantages in this method that it should be adopted by every
maker. It enables him to meet the conditions necessary
to keep his starters in a good state, with the least work
and trouble.

A glass vessel should be used for the propagation of the
mother starters, as such a vessel is smooth and impervious.
One can easily see whether it is clean, and can note the
condition of the starter as a whole much better than in
a vessel with opaque walls, such as a jug. Gas bubbles are
visible; it can be seen whether the starter is curdled, and
whether whey is present; all of which give the maker informa-
tion as to the quality of the starter. The vessel should be
provided with a cover in order to prevent contamination from
the air. The milk to be used for the mother starters should
be of the best quality—as sweet and fresh, and free from all
objectionable odours and tastes as it is possible to secure.

The milk selected will contain acid-forming bacteria, and
unless these are destroyed they will grow along with those in
the starter purchased, and the result will be a mixed or
impure starter. In order to avoid this, milk is placed in the
bottles in which the starters are to be made, the tumbler
covers are placed in position, and the whole is heated, in
order to destroy the acid-forming bacteria in the milk, The
bottles should have been perfectly cleaned.

The following isa summary of a day’s work in the
preparation of a starter> —

(1) Clean the bottles, tumblers and spoons.

(2) Fill bottles with selected whole milk.

(3) Place a spoon in each bottle and cover each bottle
with a tumbler.

(4) Heat long enough, so that the milk shall be heated
to 180° to 195° F., for 15 minutes.

(5) Cool at once to the temperature at which starters
are to be kept. ;

(6) As soon as cooled, inoculate. If the inoculation is
to be made froma commercial starter, add the entire contents
of the package. If the inoculation is to be made from a pre-
viously prepared starter, add an amount that experience has
shown will ripen the starter in the desired time at the
temperature to be used.

(7) Keep inoculated starters at constant temperature
until ripe. If they are not to be used at once, when ripe,
cool as much as possible and keep cold until they are used,

(8) Pour a small amount of the ripened starter into
a cup. Examine by tasting, smelling, and determining the
acidity.

(9) If the starter is satisfactory, inoculate a fresh
bottle of milk from it, not from the cup.

(10) Never place a pipette, a thermometer, or any
other object in a bottle of starter.

(11) Do not examine the bottle of starter directly,
Always pour some into a separate vessel.

(12) Always keep the bottles of starters covered.

(13) Remember that you are attempting to grow
crops of lactic acid bacteria, and that unless favourable
conditions are maintained, the crop will not be a success.

(14) Remember that every effort must be used to
keep all other kinds of bacteria out of the starters. (From
Bulletin 181 of the University of Wisconsin Agricultural
Experiment Station.)

Yield of Cocoa-nuts.—A good cocoa-nut tree should
yield an average of one hundred nuts per year, and under
favourable conditions two hundred have been obtained.
Taking the whole island of Porto Rico, however, a return of
sixty-five nuts per tree is probably about the average figure
obtained, and no doubt conditions are very similar in the
British West Indian islands. This low return indicates the
general want of care and attention from which the industry
is suffering. (Fhe Porto Rico Horticultural News.) -

bo
bo

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. January 22, 1910.

ia
a mt SS

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date January 3, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 60 bags of West Indian Sea
Island cotton have been sold: chiefly Barbados and St. Kitts
at 184d., with a few of the latter at 19d.

Prices are generally about 3d. per tb. dearer and there is
a good demand at present rates, though at 193d to 20d.
American Sea Island is offering in quantity, without much
business passing.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending January 1, is as follows:—

The sales were officially reported this week as only 250
bales, composed of cotton more or less off in preparation, such
as factors were willing to dispose of at 50c., and such lots of
Fine and Fully Fine as could be secured outside of the
Exchange at 32 to 34c. The Exchange are continuing to
hold for their prices, viz: Fine 33c., Fully Fine 35c., and Extra
Fine 37c. The crop lots are held at 40c., and upwards, but
with no inquiry as yet for them.

THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL COTTON
CONGRESS.

A voluminous report has just been issued, of the
Sixth International Congress of Delegated Representa-
‘tives of Master Cotton Spinners’ and Manufacturers’
Associations. A brief summary of the contents of this
report has been furnished by the Chairman (Mr. C. W.
Macara) of the Committee of the International Federa-
tion of Master Cotton Spinners’ and Manufacturers’
Associations, from which the following extracts are
taken:—

The Sixth International Cotton Congress was held in
Milan last May, and was attended by delegates from the
principal cotton-using countries in Europe, Asia and America.
In addition to the records of the debates, there are included
in the report many valuable papers contributed by delegates
from the countries represented, which wil! prove of the
greatest interest to everyone engaged in the cotton trade.

Prior to the Congress in Milan, meetings of the Com-
mittee of the International Cotton Federation were held in
Rome, and the visit to that city was the occasion of the first
joint conference with the members of the Permanent Com-
mittee of the International Institute of Agriculture. At that

Conference a remarkable address, explanatory of the work of
the International Institute of Agriculture, was delivered by
Count Faina, its President, and this address is included in
the report. About four years ago, this Institute was initiated
by the King of Italy. The building in which the work is
carried on was erected at His Majesty’s personal cost, and
was formally opened last year. The Committee of the
International Cotton Federation has taken an active interest
in the promotion of the Institute from its inception, and has,
through its members, done much to enlist the support of the
governments of the countries they represent, in contributing
to the annual cost of carrying on the work of the Institute.

At present the attention of the Permanent Committee
of the International Institute of Agriculture is being specially
devoted to the two important staples—wheat and cotton.
Great difficulties in establishing a uniform method of contri-
buting data have been encountered, but when these are
overcome, the reliability of the information which will
emanate from the Institute cannot fail to be of the greatest
service to mankind.

The International Cotton Federation, which, as is well
known, was established in 1904, to deal with the crisis of
that year, has since been working to bring the cotton
interests of the world into line.

The two international organizations work along similar
lines, and a close bond of sympathy unites them in their
work, Along with the statistical returns of the annual
consumption of cotton, and of the half-yearly returns of the
raw material in spinners’ hands, which have been issued for
some years by the International Cotton Federation, there
will be published, in time, statistics collected by the Inter-
national Institute of Agriculture giving authentic informa-
tion on the condition, growth and supply of cotton and
other textile staples in all parts of the world.

Among the other matters dealt with by the Inter-
national Cotton Federation may be cited the following: the
expansion of the present cotton fields, and the opening up of
new ones in any part of the world in which this can be done
with success, and thus to broaden the area of supply; the more
scientific cultivation of the raw material; improvements in
the ginning, baling, warehousing and transport of cotton,
especially American cotton, by which large savings can be
effected; the international standardization of grades of cotton;
reforms in the marketing of cotton (a new net-weight
contract has been formulated and adopted): schemes for the
regulation of the supply of the raw material, and for dealing
with temporary overproduction of manufactures; mill fire
insurance problems; and the perfecting of organization both
national and international.

Finally, the International Cotton Federation is responsi-
ble for the present organized short time running, throughout

Vou. IX. No. 202:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 23

Europe, of mills using American cotton. Wild speculation
in the raw material has completely upset confidence, resulting
in areduced demand from the great markets of the world at
a time when there is overproduction of manufactures and
general trade depression. These conditions together make
organized curtailment of production an absolute necessity,
and it would be suicidal to abandon this policy until the
industry is brought into sounder and healthier conditions.

PINE TREES FOR THE TROPICS.

A valuable official report on the forests of British
East Africa has just been issued. Among the many
subjects with which it deals, that of the pines which
are suitable for growing in tropical climates is of
present interest, especially in view of the etforts that
are being made toward reafforestation in some of the
West Indian islands:—

The pines have their greatest development in cold
countries; they mark the limits of tree vegetation going
towards the North Pole. They are abundant, and show no
loss of vigour in extra-tropical countries, both at high and
low levels; the pines of the Mediterranean region and the
pines of the Himalayas, of Yunan, and of Central America
demonstrate this. But pines do more. They extend into
tropical climates, pure and simple; witness the pine forests of
Mergui, of Cuba and of the Philippines; while in Timor they
are well into the southern hemisphere, though still in the
tropics. When started by man in the extra-tropies of the
southern hemisphere they grow with vigour, and at several
points in South Africa have become completely naturalized.
On Table Mountain and in the Cape Peninsula the intro-
duced pines, Pinus Pinaster and P. Pinea, have been natura-
lized for about 200 years.

How far the artificial cultivation of pines in an entirely
tropical climate could be attempted with success has not yet
been proved; and in a country like British East Africa,
which has both a tropical coast and extra-tropical highlands,
pine-planting should be pushed forward with vigour on the
highlands, but for the present tentatively and experimentally
only on the coast. There is a demand for firewood at
Mombasa, and this could probably be best met by planting
Casuarina equisetifolia, as mentioned elsewhere in this report.
Nevertheless, as regards tropical pines, it should be borne in
mind, that some of them have hard, heavy timbers, suitable
for use in the tropics, while the demand for firewood would
absorb the otherwise waste wood in the slabs, tops and
branches. Some of the tropical pines are no doubt as heavy
and full of resin as some extra-tropical pines. Pinus canar-
zensis has, in its heart-wood, a timber so full of resin, that it
is almost imperishable, and weighs 60Ib. to the cubic foot.
Such a pine would furnish an ideal firewood for the Uganda
railway. %

‘The tropical pines that have been described and recog-
nized as good species are the following nine (M. Masters.) :—

Pinus Merkusti, of Tenassarim and the Burmese

lowlands.
Khasya, of the Burmese lowlands, and extend-
ing to 10,000 feet elevation.
insularis, of the Philippines and Timor.
occidentalis, of the West Indies.
oocarpoides, of the Mexican coast lands.

”

peace, \ of Cuba and the Isle of Pines.
5, terthrocarpa, J
» bahamensis,

massoniana, of tropical China.

FEEDING COWS FOR MILK PRODUCTION.

Every cow has two limits with regard to feeding.
Firstly there is a limit of capacity; that is, the total amount
of feed the cow can possibly eat. Secondly, there is a limit
to the amount of feed eaten that can be made use of in keep-
ing up the energies of the body, and in producing milk. All
food supplies between these two limits are worse than wasted;
because they not only give no return whatever, but once in
the stomach, it requires extra work for the cow to rid herself
of the excess; thus using time when she could otherwise be
at rest. On the other hand, when .we consider that about
60 per cent. of the food eaten goes to carry on the workings
of the different parts of the animal body, and that only the
remaining 40 per cent. is available for milk production, we
see how necessary it is, in order that the cow should do her
best work, that the food should be just enough to reach the
limit where economical production stops. This limit varies
with every cow. For, perhaps, no two cows fed the same
amount will both give the most economical returns. One
of the cows, if fed a few more poundsa day, would give
larger returns, but this might not be the case with the other.
Hence there may be a considerable waste in feeding for milk.

This brings us to an important point. The dairyman
should keep a complete record of each cow in his herd,
including both a feed record and a milk record. Then, only,
is he in a position to find the standing of each cow, and to
tell which cows are profitable and which are unprofitable.
Then, only, can he know how much feed he can afford to give
to each cow to make the highest profit. In connexion with
these facts, tests have been conducted with cotton seed meal,
cocoa-nut meal, sorghum silage and sweet potatos. For the
test with cocoanut meal and cotton seed meal, four cows
were selected from the dairy herd and divided into two lots
in such a way that the period of lactation in each lot would
be as nearly comparable as possible. The feeding-time was
divided into three equal periods of twenty-one days each,
with seven days’ preliminary feeding before each of these
periods, so as to change the feeding gradually. Each lot
received the same amount of bran and shorts, but the cotton
seed meal and the cocoa-nut meal were not fed in equal, but
in approximately equivalent, rations, which were calculated
from the results of the chemical analysis, so as to contain
equal amounts of protein. The conditions of the test with
sorghum silage and sweet potatos were the same as given
above, except that six cows were selected from the herd
instead of four. The first test was undertaken to ascertain
which of the two manufactured feeds it would be most
profitable to employ as a milk-producer, at current prices.
The second was to ascertain which of the two home-
grown feeds it would be best to use as a milk-producer,
taking into consideration the cost of growing them. The
first test was conducted during July, August and September;
the second during January, February and March. The
results were as follows:—

1. One pound of cotton seed meal was found to be
equal to nearly 2 tb. of cocoanut meal for milk production.

2. Cocoa-nut meal is only equally profitable, as a feed
for milk production, at about half the price of cotton seed
meal.

3. One hundred pounds of sweet potatos were found to
be equal, for milk production, to 160 tb. of sorghum silage,

4. Sweet potatos are only as profitable as sorghum
silage, for milk production, at about one and a half times the
price of the latter. (From Bulletin 99 of the Florida Experi-
ment Station.)

24 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 22, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
Specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados,

All applications for Copies of the ‘Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural jews
Vou.

IX. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1910. No. 202.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The Balance of Life in the Soil is partially consid-
ered in the editorial of the present number. The
subject will be further dealt with, in an editorial manner,
in the next issue of the Agricultural News.

An account of the way in which West Indian
seedling canes that are being grown in Florida compare
with those that are common there is given on page 19,

The interests of the West Indies at the recent
Colonial Fruit Show are dealt with on page 20.

An article on page 23 contains matter which is
interesting in connexion with the subject of reafforest-
ation in the West Indies.

The Insect Notes, on page 26, have for their
subject The Insect Pests of Cocoa-nuts. Acknowledge-
ment is made to the United States Department of
Agriculture for permission to use the blocks for Figs.
2 and 4.

The property which some fungi possess, of attack-
ing and destroying living insects, is of increasing
importance in view of their possible use in controlling
some of those which do injury to plants. Much
information in connexion with the matter, in so far as
it relates to scale insects, has already been given. An
account of the entomogenous fungi of other insects
than these appears under the heading of Fungus Notes,
on page 30.

An interesting report on the fibre plants of India
is abstracted on page 31.

The Fermentation of Cacao.

In view of the large amount of interest that is
being excited by this subject at the present time, the
followmng facts which have been elucidated by Dr. A.
Schulte, from experiments conducted by him in the
Cameroons, are here placed on record. L’ Agronomie
Tropicale (Vol. I, No. 10) states that this investigator
divides the process of fermentation of cacao into two
parts: (1) alcholicand acetic fermentation; (2) oxidation;
and he considers that the production of good cacao
depends on the way in which these operations are execut-
ed. During the first part, the pulp is separated from its
seed, and, as the seed coat softens, a favourable chance
is given for oxidation. This is the most important
stage in the fermentation, and it depends for its success
on the temperature. When oxidation has taken place
under the best conditions, a white efflorescence is formed
on the beans, and it should be continued until the
greater number of the beans have become of a brown
colour; 1f the operation is prolonged until all the beans
have become brown, the taste and aroma are weakened.
The time which is necessary for this oxidation can
only be determined by experience; it varies according
to the kind of cacao, the place where it is grown and
the time of collecting the frnit.

mt + rm

The Exhibitions Branch of the Board of Trade.

A new Department of the Board of Trade has
been formed for the purpose of assisting British exhibi-
tors at International Exhibitions in the placing of their
exhibits in advantageous positions, and in effecting
various economies 1n connexion with this. The forma-
tion of this Department has been brought about through
the discontent of manufacturers with the character of
International Exhibitions in general, with the manage-
ment of former British sections, and with the results
of exhibiting. The Department has been placed under
the direction of Mr. U. F. Wintour, the British Com-
missioner General. The effect of its assistance will be
that, instead of every exhibition being treated as
a separate problem of organization, the work will be
done by a permanent department, whose duty is the
care of British interests in such matters.

The first work of the Department will be to afford
assistance in connexion with the International Exhi-
bition to be held in Brussels from May to October of
this year. In pursuance of this, a prominent space
having an area of 203,410 square feet has been obtained
for the British exhibits.

One of the advantages of the existence of such an
organization is the fact that, as all the work is being
done through one department, the exhibitor has been
enabled to know beforehand exactly what his venture
will cost him, and makes it possible for a uniform
scheme of decoration to be applied to the British
section. Other advantages are the provision of cheap
printing facilities, and of a suite of rooms for exhibit-
ors’ agents, in connexion with which there will be
a reference library, a staff of interpreters, and-all the
necessary equipment for the transaction of business,
correspondence, ete.

Vor LX. No; 202:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

to
ot

Variability in Manihot Dichotoma.

Experiments which are being conducted at the
Peradenyia Experiment Station, Ceylon, with this
plant show that one of its characteristics is the great
variability in vegetative characters. According to the
Tropical Agriculturist of November 1909, observations
on one-year old trees show that some of the leaves may
almost be mistaken, on the one hand, for those of
Manihot Glaziovii, while or the other hand, the leaf
lobes of some are much longer and narrower, and
possess a deeply wavy outline. Again, the seed
capsules on some trees are nearly smooth (much like
those of M. Glaziovii,) but larger, while on others, the
capsules possess high crinkled ridges or wings. There
is, however, no possible chance of confusing one
with the other, because those trees which resemble the
Ceara rubber in the shape of the leaves usually differ
greatly in regard to the capsules, and vice versa.

One great interest of this variability is that it
indicates the likelihood of a similar diversity in the
yields of latex from the trees of the different kinds,
and definite experiments will probably be undertaken
for the purpose of gaining information in connexion
with this.

New Test for Sucrose and Other Sugars in
Condensation Water, etc.

The following abstract, taken from the Znterna-
tional Sugar Journal of November 1909 (Vol. XI,
No. 131), gives information concerning a new test for
Sucrose and other sugars in condensation water, ete.

The method employed is as follows: 1 cc. of
a 5 per cent. solution of ammonium molybdate, and
2c.c. of the hquid under examination are introduced
into a test-tube; 10-12 cc. of sulphuric acid are then
carefully poured down the side of the inclined tube
into the mixture.

In the presence of more than 0:0005 grams of
sugar, a blue ring will appear in less than 20 minutes
at the point where the aqueous mixture and the
sulphuric acid meet. In solutions containing less than
this amount, or, if no coloration is indicated, the upper
layer of liquid should be heated to boiling point, when
the blue ring will develop in less than 30 minutes, if
only 0:00002 grams of sugar be present.

The reaction is thus seen to be very delicate. It
may be employed for the purpose of differentiation
between sugars.

Rubber on the Gold Coast.

According to the report of the Agricultural Depart-
ment of the Gold Coast for 1908, the rubber at present
exported from that colony is the product of several
kinds of latex, the most important of which is that of
Funtumia elastica. The jungle vine (Landolphia
owuriensis) also furnishes a good deal of ball rubber.
The quality of most of the Gold Coast rubber is poor,
owing to the ignorance’on the part of the natives of
improved methods of preparation, and their habit of

collecting and mixing several different kinds of latex,
whether they produce good rubber or not. Attempts are
being made by the Department of Agriculture to effect
improvement in this respect, for it has now been clearly
demonstrated that rubber, which is second only to the
finest Para in quality, can be made from the latex of
Funtumia elastica. The jungle vine appears to be of
slow growth, and not snitable for cultivation. Another
indigent rubber tree which is worthy of mention is
Ficus Vogelii, which produces ‘ Memlekw’ rubber. The
latter, as at present obtained, is of a very poor quality,
but there are indications that it can be improved, and
this appears to be worth doing, as the trees yield
a large quantity of latex. The product is somewhat
like balata, and may probably be used for the same
purposes,

Cotton Seed Oil and Woollen Manufactures.

In the Huddersfield District of the West Riding
of Yorkshire, the chief industry is the manufacture of
woollens and worsteds. Tor this, a large quantity of
soap is used for the purposes of scouring, in order to
remove perspiration, wool fat and mineral substances
from raw wool, as well as oil from manufactured yarns
and pieces. For making the svap, a large amount of
cotton seed oil is employed, much of which comes from
the United States; in addition, oil from seed crushed
at Hull is used. Other uses for cotton seed oil in the
same district are those of cooking, and of adulterating
food substances and machine oils.

In connexion with the use of cotton seed oil for
the woollen industry, the Monthly Consular and
Trade Reports states that one firm in Huddersfield
finds it profitable to run steam-driven wagons provided
with large tanks to Hull for the purpose of trans-
porting oil to its soap works, where 140 tons of soft
soap are manufactured weekly.

EE

The Biological and Agricultural Institute ot

German East Africa.

The Biological and Agricultural Institute of
German East Africa is situated on the top of a hill
about 3,000 feet above sea-level, at Amani in East
Usambara, and is under the charge of a director,
assisted by a staff of chemists, botanists, etc; its
experimental plantations spread over the slopes of the
surrounding heights, and range in altitude from 1,300
to 3,000 feet.

Its chief object is the development of the agricul-
tural resources of the country, by means of practical
experiments, through the selection of such plants, seeds,
etc., as are the most suitable, and by ascertaining the
best and most economical methods of cultivation and
treatment, and wherever possible to introduce the cul-
tivation of exotic trees.

For the use of planters and others, who may desire
to benefit by the experience gained at this institution,
there isa guest-house with an extensive library attached
to it, and the institute regularly publishes official
pamphlets. There are also two planters’ associations
with their headquarters at Tanga and Dar-es-Salaam,

in the country,

26 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. January 22, 1910.

INSECT NOTES The best method for destroying this insect depends on

taking advantage of the preference of the adult female to

Sto Gee deposit eggs on dead palm stems, rather than on, or in, living

INSECT PESTS OF COCOA-NOUTS. trees, and on pieces of the stems of palm trees lying on the
Cocoanut cultivation is of considerable importance in ground under the growing cocoa-nuts. The adult beetles are

the West Indies, and this importance seems likely to increase. attracted to these pieces, and by frequent examinations, many
During the past few years, large areas have been might be captured. If the pieces are left for a short time
planted in cocoa-nuts, and as these young plantations are (four to five weeks), the eggs will be deposited, and the young
liable to be visited to a greater or less degree by insect pests, beetle grubs will be feeding inside, and the pieces, with the

it may not be without RU mm TEE grubs inside, may be
interest to the readers REE a ; destroyed in the most
of the Agricultural News 2 convenient manner. It is:
to have a_ list of the a bad practice, however,
known pests, with sug- to have any parts of
gestions for their control. palm trees lying about on

the ground in cocoanut
groves long enough for
the beetles to complete
their life cycle and
emerge to carry on the
attack.

Cocoa-nuts are attack-
ed by three classes of
insect pests: scale insects,
white fly, ete., which suck
the juice from the leaves;
caterpillars which eat the
leaves;and borers which
tunnel into the stems and _ //-
leaves.In the West Indies, CI
a small white seale, which
oceurs in enormous num-
bers closely packed to-
gether on the under side
of the leaf, is perhaps the
most general in its distri-
bution and the most by a large caterpillar,
severe in its effect on 3 which is the larva of
the tree, of all the cocoa- Fie. 2. Cocoa-nor WHITE Fy. a lepidopterous insect,
nut pests. Thisis the Bourbon scale (Aspidiotus that has been identified as Brassolis sophorae.
destructor, Fig. 1). The cocoa-nut white fly (Aley- This insect has been known for several years,
rodicus cocois, Fig. 2) is a very severe pest. and in certain instances, the damgae resulting from
Schomburek in his History of Barbados ascribes its attacks has been severe.

‘ The British Guiana Gazette of July 28, 1909,

the loss of the cocoa-nut trees in Barbados to this
‘contained a report on this insect by Mr. F. A.

white fly, at least in very large part; it is a much
more severe pest in Barbados than in other Stockdale, B.A., Government Botanist and Assistant
West Indian islands. The Bourbon scale, and Director of Agriculture, in which a general account
any other scale that might attack cocoa-nuts of its appearance and manner of attack are given,
may be checked by spraying with the oily and suggestions are made for the control of it.
washes recommended for scales of this kind,and «a Fag The caterpillars, when full-grown, are about
these would also be useful for the white fly. In “AQ. 22 inches in length. They rest and feed in large
Cuba, the Bourbon scale is controlled by a natural Fic. 3. WEEVIL Borer colonies, and make nests by tying leaflets together
enemy in the form of a small ladybird. Attempts OF SUGAR-CANE, with silk, which they spin for the purpose; as many
to introduce into as several hundred
these islands this caterpillars may rest
beneficial insect ina single nest, from
have, so far, not which they come
been successful. out at night to
The large palm feed. i a
weevil (Rhyncopho- The remedy sug-
rus palmarum) is gested is the very
an occasional pest in simple one of cut-
most localities where ting out the nests
cocoanuts are and killing the
grown. caterpillars. A boy
This is a large or man is sent up
weevil orsnout beetle the tree to cut down
about 2 inches long, leaves on which
the larvae of which nests can be seen,
tunnel into the while a man below
stems of the cocoa- crushes each nest,
auts. as it falls, with
Fic. 1. Bourson Aspipiorus. Fie. 4. (a) Granary, (d) Rick WEEVILS. a wooden rammer,

The larger moth borer,
Castnia licus, is reported
* asattackingcocoa-nut and
other palms in "rinidad,
anda closely related spec-
les, C.daedalus,as attack-
ing cocoa-nuts inSurinam.

In British Guiana,
cocoa-nuts are attacked

vy rf

\ aia f
f \ i

WoranlN., No. 202!

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 27

This seems to be an effectual method. Arsenate of lead
may be used as a spray for this pest, in case spraying is
adopted as a remedial measure.

In the Lxperiment Station Record for November 1909,
p. 561, it is mentioned that Drassolis isthmia occurred in
1906 in such numbers in the Panama Canal Zone as to
defoliate the cocoa-nut trees on the Isthmus and necessitate
their being cut down. The caterpillars feed at night and
remain in the nest during the day. The practice of cutting
down the nests is said to be an easier method of control than
spraying with arsenate of lead. A dipterous parasite 1s
said to help in its control.

In arecent number of the Jowrnal of Lconomic Ento-
mology, Vol. II, i909, p. 220, an article on insects affecting
the cocoa-nut trees in the Society Islands mentions several
pests which occur in the West Indies, as well as certain ones
which do not. The Bourbon scale is mentioned as the most
severe pest, while Glover's scale (Wyti/aspis glovert) is often
abundant onthe bases of the older leaves, where it is not
supposed to cause much injury to the trees. It is also said
to be heavily parasitized. Mytilaspis gloveri is not recorded
on palms in the West Indies. It is a near relative of Jyti/-
. aspis citricola, and these two species have been found on
citrus plants.

Two other scale insects are reported as being abundant
on the cocoa-nut, one of them being held more or less in
check by a small hymenopterous parasite. Two beetles are
recorded, also, which bore into the base of the leaves. One of
these (Sphenophorus obscurus) is related to the weevil borer of
the cane (S. seviceus, Fig. 3); and the other Calandra tahatten-
sis is similar to our C, granaria (Fig. 4)—a small insect
which lives on stored corn and other grain.

In the Society Islands, the leaves of the cocoa-nut are
attacked by the larva of a small moth, which often occurs
in large numbers, eating away the lower surface of the
deaf, which dies as a result. Another small moth may prove
to be a serious pest on accourt of the larval habit of eating
the male flower-buds, as soon as the spathe opens. The flow-
ers are often also attacked by two small beetles which feed
upon the pollen. In some instances, practically all the pollen
in the spike is destroyed.

THE COURSES OF READING IN
Sila EES:

A communication from the Honorary Secretary of the
St. Kitts Agricultural and Commercial Society (Mr. F. R.
Shepherd) states that, at the meeting of that Society held on
December 7, 1909, Mr, G. G. Auchinleck, B.Se., read
a short account of the work that has been done in that
island in connexion with the courses of reading of the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, at the same time offer-
ing advice as regards the help that might be given to
candidates by the managers in charge of the estates on
which they worked. Mr. Auchinleck congratulated St.
Kitts on the success that had been attained so far, in the
examinations of the Department, by the candidates from
that island, but hoped, at the same time, that the number of
these would be greatly increased in the future.

On the conclusion of Mr. Auchinleck’s paper, the follow-
ing resolution was passed unanimously by the meeting:—

‘That this meeting of the St. Kitts Agricultural and
Commercial Society desires to congratulate Mr. G. G. Auchin-
leck, B.Se., Science Master at the Grammar School, on his
promotion to a wider sphere of work, and to record its
appreciation of the manner in which Mr. Auchinleck has
identified himself with the agricultural interests of the
“community during his term of office here.’

AGRICULTURE IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS, TRINIDAD.

_ _ The following extracts showing the progress that
is being made in the teaching of practical agriculture,
together with nature study, in the. lrinidad elementary
schools, are taken from the Annual Report of the
Inspector of Schools of that colony, for 1908-9:—

Practical agriculture is now taught in nearly all boys’ or
mixed schools of the colony. Omitting nineteen purely girls’
schools, three infant schools and nine others whose head
teachers, being women, naturally attract a preponderance of
girls among the pupils. of the remaining 219 schools that
were examined during the year, only eleven did not present
this subject. There were therefore 210 schools examined
in agriculture, as against 203 in 1907-8; of these, sixty-three
obtained the highest award ‘Very Good’—the number for the
year before being sixty-seven. Thus, while there was a slight
increase in the number of schools examined, there was
apparently a little falling off as regards results. Here again,
I would point out that the standard of efficiency is being
gradually raised. Mere gardening, as generally understood
in the colony, is good enough in its way, but we must have
a higher aim in our schools. To know under what conditions
to sow, plant and reap vegetables for consumption is
important (and the annual local shows prove that a fair
proportion of teachers are doing remarkably well in this
direction), but for educational purposes it does not suffice;
there is much more to be done, and it is being done by many
earnest teachers. In several schools, pupils are allowed to
conduct simple experiments in plant culture; compost heaps
are formed, nursery work iscarried on. In some that I have
in mind, seed germination is taught in the best possible way
by means of a bean or grain of corn in a glass or bottle of
water, which if kept on a shelf or table in the schoolroom,
where it can be always under observation, forms a continuous
object-lesson. Then there is the kindred subject of nature
study, which must form a part of agricultural teaching. It
opens up a wide but most interesting field that the intelli-
gent teacher will not fail to turn to account. With the
services of the Agricultural Instructors now added to this
Department, I trust to be able, in my next report, to show
a real advance.

Successful local shows were held during the month of
November 1908, andin January and February of 1909, at
Princes Town, Port-of-Spain, Arima, San Fernando and
Scarborough, but, unfortunately, those at the first and last
named places were sadly marred by unpropitious weather.
The exhibits at the various centres were, with one exception,
more numerous and of better quality than in the previous
year. The exception was at San Fernando, where the falling
off in respect of both quantity and quality was somewhat
marked, though probably the change of date at short notice
may bein a measure accountable for it. Before each of the
Trinidad shows, the principal school gardens near the respect-
ive centres were inspected by Mr. Adam Collens, of the
Education Office, who has had some training in agricultural
work. At all the shows, the display of flowering annuals was
most disappointing, and it is really a pity that more effort
is not made in this direction. The surroundings of many af
our schools leave much to be desired, and the cultivation of
flowers, whether in pots or beds, would not only help to
brighten the scene, but would set an example which would
doubtless be followed in due time by the peasantry in, the
neighbourhood. Gah

sada

be
wm

GLEANINGS.

The distribution of plants, ete., from the Antigua
Botanic Station and Experiment Plots for December last was
as follows: cane plants 98,350, sweet potato cuttings 1,400,
hay grass (Andropogon caricosus) 350, limes 200, cocoa-nuts
50, eucalyptus 47, palms 8, miscellaneous seeds 50 packets.

The Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4,380,
Annual Series, states that it is interesting to note that the
ABC of Cotton Planting, published by the Imperial Depart-
ment of Agriculture, has been translated into the French
language, and published by the local Government in the
official journal.

A remarkable development in the cultivation of sisal
(Agave rigida, var. sisalana) has taken place in German East
Africa. This is shown by the fact that the export has risen
from 421 tons (value £16,205), in 1905, to 1,820 tons (value
£67,408) and 2,830 tons (value £108,084), in 1906 and
1907, respectively.

The amount of cotton exported from the Nyasaland
Protectorate during the year ended March 31, 1909, was
756,120 tb., of a value of £28,355. For the period 1907-8
the similar figures were 403,486 tb. and £13,999. The chief
varieties grown are Upland and Egyptian. (Colonial
Reports—Annual, No. 619.)

Particulars have been received from J. G. Childs & Co.,
Ltd., Hawthorn Road, Willesden Green, London, N.W., of
air motors which are manufactured by this firm for providing
electricity for such purposes as lighting, cooking, ventilating,
charging accumulators for electrically driven vehicles, working
lifts, irrigating and pumping, ete.

A curious application of the telephone has recently been
made, that is, as an aid to the destruction of white ants. The
modification employed for this purpose consists of a_ steel
tube having a microphone at the upper part. Its use is to
detect the places where the nests are present, and it is said
to be effective within a range of 15 to 18 yards.

Dr. Olsson-Seffer has recently described two new Mexi-
can rubber plants. One of these is Jatropha wrens, which
yields a product similar to balata, the method of collection
being to cut off the branches and extract the rubber from
them. The other ‘plant’ really consists of three species of
Plumeria, from which the latex is obtained in a similar way.

A statement that has been made by H.M. Consul at
Seville tends to show that the Seville sour orange crop of
1909 will be somewhat below the average in both quantity
and general quality. Although the crop was below the average
last year, considerable quantities remained unsold at the end
of the season, even though the trade at Messina had been
anterrupted.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 1910.

JANUARY 22,

A report on the trade and navigation on the port of
Havre (Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4,323, Annual
Series) shows that the imports of American cotton into
France through this port in 1908 were 941,943 bales,
against 827,240 bales in 1907. The imports of Indian
cotton have fallen to 23,000 bales; this is on account of the
reduced crop and high prices in India.

The syndicate appointed to consider the steps to be taken
for the erection of a building for the Department of Agri-
culture of the University of Cambridge reports that the
erection of the building is now practically completed, and
that the fittings sanctioned are in a forward state. The
syndicate anticipates that the building will be ready for
occupation by the Department for the Lent term of the
present year. (Nature, December 2, 1909.)

The report of the Director of Agriculture of the Fede-
rated Malay States (to which reference has already been
made in the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 349) contains
information that the sensitive plant (JJvmosa pudica) is in
many ways the most suitable plant that has yet been tried
for cover in rubber plantations. The chief objection to it is
the presence of thorns on its stems, which cause injury to
coolies when they are walking through it.

A company called the Colonial Fibre Planting and
Trading Company, Ltd., has been formed to acquire: (1) the
fibre plantations, factories, etc., owned by Pita, Ltd., in the
island of West Caicos; (2) the rest of the cultivable land of
the island (about 600 acres), on lease from the Crown, for
twenty-one years from July 1907, with the option of a renewal
for a further twenty-one years. This places the company
practically in occupation of the whole island. The capital is
£100,000, in £1 shares.

A remedy for intestinal parasites in goats and sheep is
given in the Jowrnal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society,
October 1909, as follows: Take dry tobacco leaves or stems
and grind them to a fine powder. Mix 1 tb. of this powder
with an equal amount of fine salt, and place it where the
animals may have constant access to it. After a week, increase
the quantity of tobacco, making the proportion 2 parts of
tobacco to 1 of salt. This mixture, while harmless to the
animals, kills all intestinal parasites.

The members of the Committee which has been appointed
by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to give advice on
medical and sanitary questions connected with the British
Colonies and Protectorates in Tropical Africa are the follow-
ing:—Mr. H. J. Read, C.M.G. (Chairman); Sir Patrick
Manson, K.C.M.G., F.R.S.; Sir Rubert Boyce, F.R.S.;
Mr. C. Strachey; Mr. W. T. Prout, C.M.G.; Dr. T. Thomson,
C.M.G.; Professor W. J. Simpson, C.M.G.; Dr. J. K. Fowler.
The Secretary to the Committee is Mr. A. Fiddian, of the
Coionial Office.

The report of the Agricultural Instructor, Nevis, for
December 1909, states that, although the area under cotton
this season, in Neyis, is less than that of the 1908-9 crop, it
is certain that very much more cotton will be reaped. All
the ginneries are now very busy, and facilities are provided
for the local purchase of cotton. It is also stated that, from
the seedling canes grown in the nursery plots at the Station,
over 8,000 plants of eleven varieties have been distributed to.
planters for trial in different parts of the island, and that
there are several thousand more still available for distribu~
tion.

2m

Vor, IX: No. 202.

THE AGRICULTURAL . NEWS. 39

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

JANUARY.
Seconp Pertop.
Seasonal Notes.

An eXamination of lime trees for scale insects will
disclose the fact that the latter are not all of one kind; that
is, they do not all belong to one species. Make a careful
examination of the different kinds, in order to discover their
chief characteristics, and to be able to distinguish between
them. Pamphlets Nos. 7 and 22, published by the Depart-
ment, contain descriptions which will assist in doing this.
A still more careful examination of the scales will most
probably disclose the presence of a fungus mycelium on and
near some of them; an endeavour should be made to trace
the fact that the mycelium often spreads out from underneath
the scale, in each case. Why is the mycelium found there,
and what interesting bearing has its presence on the problem
of controlling scale insects! For descriptions of fungi pos-
sessing mycelia which behave in this way, see Agricultural
News, Vol. VIII, p. 299.

These observations may well be extended to other plants,
wild as well as cultivated, when it will be found that any
given scale insect” usually has more than one host plant.
Careful note should be made of the different hosts in each
ease, and, if possible, the extent to which parasitization
by fungi takes place; in this way, information’ of general
value will be obtained.

Where lime trees show signs of being unhealthy, even
though they are not being attacked by scale insects, an
explanation of their appearance may be probably found
in the presence of root disease. What are the chief ways
in which root disease may seriously interfere with the
functions of a rect! In the case of healthy trees, observe
that the upper layers of the soil are occupied by a tangle of
roots. What does this suggest, in connexion with the
methods of cultivation for limes? A careful examination of
‘trees that have been recently pruned will show that this
plant has a much smaller tendency to gumming, after prun-
ing, than is the case with other citrus trees. Note that roots
that have been injured by the hoe have the power, like the
‘stem, of developing a tissue which heals the wounds. What
part of the root is most concerned in the production of this
tissue !

Interesting observations on the rate of development of
the fruit of the lime may be made by marking some of the
flowers, when they appear, by means of a piece of tape, or
string, tied near them, and measuring the size of the fruit
from time to time during its growth.

Make a study of the plant, or plants, which are used as
wind-breaks for limes or cacao in your neighbourhood.
‘Observe the effects of such shelters on the spread of scale
insects. How do wind-breaks assist, to some extent, in the
conservation of moisture in the soil of the area which
they shelter? What other advantages result from their
employment !

In the cane fields, where a new crop has just been put
in, evidence will be given, at the present time, of the extent
to which cuttings which have failed to grow have to be
replaced. Note what treatment, if any, is being given
to the fields in which young canes are growing? Where
this is possible, a good opportunity of studying the
making and use of drains, in the light of theoretical knowl-
edge, will be afforded. Make observations on the manuring
and mulching of the fields at this period. What uses have

certain manures, in addition’ to that of the provision of
plant food?

A useful exercise is afforded, at this stage, by carefully
taking up a young cane’ plant, together with the cutting or
‘top’ from which it has sprung, and comparing it with an
actually germinating seed. With what parts of the seed may
(1) the ‘ rind’ of the cane, (2) the sugar in it, be roughly
compared? The plant growing from the seed is a new
individual, while in the case of the cane plant, the latter is
merely formed by the branching of a portion of the plant
from which the cutting or ‘top* was taken. How is this
difference, in the case of the plant growing from the seed,
brought about! What bearing have these facts on (1) varia-
tion in the sugar-cane, (2) its attack by fungus diseases!

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) How do leguminous plants enrich the soil ?

(2) What signs would you look for when determining
if a cacao tree was suffering from canker of the bark ?

_ (3) State the best means of drying and keeping
onions,
INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Discuss the reasons for removing the ‘mother
plant ’ of the sugar-cane.

(2) What is anthrax! Describe the measures adopted
to prevent its spread.

(3) Give the characters ‘that should be shown by
a good, marketable type of cotton. By what means may
such a type be produced ?

TRADE BETWEEN CANADA AND
THE WEST INDIES.

In Antigua, on the 12th instant, a conference
between visitors having interests in connexion with
planting in Barbados (see Agricultural News, Vol.
IX, p. 7) and delegates from the Agricultural and
Commercial Societies of Antigua and St. Kitts, was
opened by his Excellency the Governor. Among
other matters, the subject of reciprocal trade relations
with Canada was discussed, and the following resolu-
tions were adopted unanimously :—

1. That the concessions empowering Canadian refiners
to import sugar from non-preferential countries on preferen-
tial terms nullify the benefit of preferential treatment to the
British West Indies.

2. That prices paid in Canada for muscovado sugar
from the British West Indies are below the world’s parity of
prices, and show no evidence of preferential treatment.

5. That it being understood that, there exists a Board,
appointed by the Canadian Government, dealing with the
manner in which contracts by State-aided railways are carried
out in relation to the commercial public, this meeting thinks
it desirable that similar systems be adopted in connexion with
any subsidized line of steamship and telegraph.

4, That it is desirable that a Trade Commissioner for
the whole of the British West Indies be appointed to foster
the sale of West Indian products in Canada,

5. That it is desirable that an improved and regular
service of fast steamers, having adequate passenger accom-
modation, should be installed between Canada and the
British West Indies.

6. That the views expressed by the representatives of
Barbados, Antigua, and St. Kitts are in substantial agree-
ment, and present a uniform story for the Royal Commission,

30 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JANUARY 22, 1910»

FUNGUS NOTES.

FUNGI ATTACKING INSECTS.

Several articles have appeared in the recent numbers of
the Agricultural News, in which reference has been made to
the fungoid parasites of scale insects; but many other insects,
belonging to widely different groups, are liable to be attacked
by fungi,and it is thought that a brief account of some of these

parasites, and of the insects attacked,:may. prove of interest. ©

Flies are often attacked bya species of Hmpusa. Infected
flies are frequently found on windows in a moribund condi-
tion. After death, the flies remain sticking to the glass, their
bodies becoming dry and mummified, owing to the presence
of a mass of fungal hyphae within them. At a later stage,
the hyphae grow out from the body over the glass, and may
form a white ring around it. The fungus is of general
oceurrence, and, in some seasons, large numbers of flies are
killed by it. A closely allied fungus, belonging to the genus
Entomophthora, has been found on spiders in Trinidad.
Mucor exitiosus, like Empusa and Entomophthora, one of the
lower fungi, has been considered to be the cause of a disease
of locusts that is of wide-spread occurrence in South Africa;
attempts to employ this fungus for controlling this pest have
unfortunately met with but little success, and it is suggested
that the disease is in reality mainly due to some other fungus,
possibly Hmpusa grylli, which sometimes causes an epidemic
among grasshoppers in the United States and other parts of
the world. Grasshoppers attacked by Himpusa grylli show
a tendency to craw] upwards, usually on the stalks of plants,
and cling tightly after. death. The fungus also attacks cer-
tain caterpillars which exhibit the same symptoms when
diseased. Cultures of this fungus have been used in the
United States as a means of artificial infection, and in some
cases they were very successful; a few insects were caught,
dipped in the cultures, and then permitted to go free
among the rest. Other members of the group Entomoph-
thoreae are to be found attacking gnats, midges, certain
mosquitos and scale insects.

Grasshoppers in the Argentine Republic are also
attacked by a species of Sporotrichum (S. globuliferum).
The dead insects are to be found in cool, damp places,
such as the roots of grasses. The fungus is the same
as that which kills chinch bugs in North America. The
species of this group form a white or creamy mycelium, which
eventually covers the infected insect, and then produces
masses of spores, giving it a powdery appearance. The
spores are borne on short, simple or branched conidiophores
which arise as lateral outgrowths of the main hyphae.
They are very small, usually more or less oval, and quite
colourless. They may occur singly on the conidiophores, or
may be grouped into heads, owing to the spores which have
been formed adhering laterally to the conidiophores and to
one another, as they are pushed aside by the next younger
spore. White grubs, wasps, ants, aphids and scale insects,
particularly those of the genus Lecaniwm, besides grasshop-
pers and chinch bugs, are attacked by members of this genus,
to which the shield scale fungus of these islands may possibly
belong. (See Agricu/tural News, Vol. VIII, p. 299.)

Some of the species of Sporotrichum very closely
resemble the simplest conidial stage in the life-history of the
genus Cordyceps, whose members attack all kinds of insects,
as the Jarva, the perfect insect, and probably as the pupa.
The fungi form a white or coloured mycelium in the insect,
which eventually covers the surface in many cases, and there
produces the first spore form, resembling that of a Spovo-
Yrichum. This spore form, however, varies considerably in

the different species, and may have simple conidiophores-
producing single spores or heads of spores, or branched
conidiophores sometimes bearing chains of spores, so that
the fructifications closely resemble those of the genus
Penicillium; the colour is also very variable. The next
stage in the life history is the formation of the Jsaria
fructification This consists of an upright, conical or cylin-
drical body, usually somewhat pointed, formed by the close
interweaving of the hyphae; the whole of its surface is-
covered with conidiophores bearing small conidia. The shape-
of the conidiophores varies, as also does the colour of the-
whole fructification. Finally, the perfect or ascigerous stage
is formed. The stalk of the Jsa/a fructification thickens,
and aspherical or cylindrical top is formed in which the-
perithecia are more or less sunken. The asci contained in
the perithecia produce eight long filamentous spores, which
frequently break up into numerous much smaller spores, and
these are extruded as a fine dust. wh Ij

The fungus is often found on dead caterpillars. These
keep their original shape, but become filled with the
mycelium of the fungus, which forms a sclerotium inside the
skin, From this the fructifications arise, either directly, as
the Cordyceps stage, or more generally with the intervention
of the Jsaria condition. Some species form the perfect
fructification rarely, and only arrive at the Zsaria stage, and
some are most generally found in the first conidial form, only,

The insects attacked are very various, the most general
being caterpillars both of moths and butterflies. The Jsaria
stage of Cordycéps Barberi is recorded as a useful parasite on
the larva of the moth~borer of the sugar-cane, Diatraca
saccharalis, in Martinique and elsewhere. (Agricultural
News, Vol. II, p. 135; Vol. VI, p. 3.) Another species is of
common occurrence on the large Lecaniums. A specimen
of the perfect stage of a sphinx moth, probably Anceryx
fasciata, is recorded as being attacked by Jsaria sphingum,
whose mycelium is of a yellowish colour. (Agrieultural News,
Vol. V, p. 138.)

Recently, specimens of the “Jack Spaniard’, Polistes
annularis, and of a cotton stainer, Dysdercus sp., were
received from Mrs. Patterson in St. Vincent. These showed
a cream-coloured, cottony mycelium between the scales of the
insects, accompanied by grey /sw77a fructifications of some
species of Cordyceps. The occurrence of this fungus on the
cotton stainer is of interest, but it seems unlikely that it will
be possible to make use of it from a practical point of view.

Another genus of fungi is known to attack insects,
namely Botrytis. One species, B. Lassiana, occurs on sill
worms. Another, B. eriophyes, Mass., has recently been
describedas occurring on the blackcurrant mite, Yriophyes ribis.
(Journal of Econonvie Biology, Vol. IV, No. 1.) The fungus
produces sterile, creeping hyphae, septate and vaguely branched.
On these arise erect fertile hyphae bearing at intervals clusters
of from three to six whorled conidiophores. Each conidio-
phore is acutely pointed at the tip and bears a single, erect,
hyaline conidium. The fungus may be either parasitic on the
mites or saprophytic on decaying leaves. It is of interest
because the black currant mite is allied to the leaf-blister
mite of cotton, Hriophyes gossypii, and it is possible that it
might be successfully introduced into these islands. It is
also possible that the same, or some other fungus occurs-
naturally here on the leaf-blister mite, but has been over-
looked up to the present.

Any further observations with regard to the occurrence
of different species of entomogenous fungi, particularly of
the genus Cordyceps, would be of considerable value, and
a request is made by the Department for useful information
and specimens, from those who are interested in the subject.

Vor. IX.” No. 202.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 3st

a —

FIBRE PLANTS IN INDIA.

The following are extracts from an important
report which appears in the Ayricultural Journal of
India, Vol. IV, Part 4. It was drawn up by a Com-
mittee, for the information of the Board of Agriculture,
in 1908, eriticized by the Board, and then slightly
amplified by the Committee on the basis of information
obtained by the Inspector General of Agriculture from
the Directors of Agriculture of the various provinces:—

The Committee limited consideration to particular crops:

(1) Ryots’ (peasant’s) crops—jute, Wiliseus cannabinus,
Crotalaria juncea, and cocoa-nut.

(2) Capitalists’ crops—rhea, Agave, pine-apple, Sanse-
vieria and flax.

(3) Fibres worth experimental attention, ¢.g., plantain,
Malachra and Sida.

suTe.—At present, the cultivation of jute is practically
confined to Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam. In both
of these provinces, it is one of the most important crops, and
its cultivation increased rapidly, owing to high prices, until
1907. During the last two years, however, there has been
a diminution of between 30 and 40 per cent. in the area
under jute, caused, partly by low prices, due to bad trade
and to overproduction, and partly, by the great rise in the
price of rice produced by famine conditions in Bengal and in
other parts of India.

HIBISCUS CANNABINUS.—This plant is cultivated in
many parts of India as a mixed crop, but rarely as a pure
crop, except on the east coast of Madras, and, to some
extent, in the jute-growing districts of Bengal. It grows
excellently on well-drained land in a wet climate, such as
may be found in the jute districts; but is capable also of
thriving under conditions which would not suit jute without
irrigation. In the last fact lies the importance of the plant.

CROTALARIA JUNCEA.—The fibre of this crop does not
compete with jute as does that of Hibiscus cannabinus; but in
market value it is superior to both. Sunn-hemp can best be
grown in districts of moderate rainfall, and therefore does not
compete with rice. {t is, in some parts of India, frequently
grown as a green manure crop before rice, and in others as
a second crop in the same year after early rice, for fibre. This
rotation is advantageous, because sunn is a leguminous crop,
It is chiefly grown as a ‘harif (rainy season) crop for fibre,
but also to a considerable extent as a green manure crop.

COCOA-NUT FIBRE.—The cocoa-nut palm is grown in all
the coast districts of India, but to the largest extent in the
‘southern portion of the Bombay Presidency and in Madras.
In the Malabar Coast districts, the coir industry is a very
large one, amounting to many lakhs of rupees per annum.
In Bengal it is plentiful in the lower Gangetic basin; but it
-exists practically only in garden cultivation: there are no
large plantations. The cocoa-nut palm is grown on a large
scale in Bakarganj and Noakhali in Eastern Bengal and
Assam, but the fibre is never extracted.

PLANTAIN FIBRE.—There are possibilities of a useful
industry in plantain fibre. In many parts of India, the
plantain is common in every garden; and in Bengal, Assam,
the Bombay and Malabar Coasts, the Delta tracts of Madras
and in parts of Burma, whole groves of plantains are quite
common. The fibre of the plant which produces good fruit
in India is usually, however, far inferior to that of Musa
textilis—also a plantain—which is the source of Manila
hemp. Moreover, the amount of fibre obtainable from
a plantain in India is very small. It remains to be proved
that a plantain fibre industry in India is a commercial
possibility.

stpA.--Species of Sida are quite common jungle plants
in most parts of India; but in order to attain the length
necessary for a fibre plant, the crop must be grown on well-
drained land, either in a moist climate or under irrigation.
Experiments under these conditions have been giving promis-
ing results. It is, however, necessary to overcome certain
difficulties before recommending the crop for general cultiva-
tion.

AGAVE AND RHEA.— For the purpose of this note, Agave
and rhea (ramie) may be taken together. The conditions of
soil and climate suitable for these crops are now fairly
definitely known. It used to be thought that Agave would
grow and thrive on any soil and under any conditions of
climate. Jt has, indeed, been stated that the poorer the
land, the better Agave will thrive; but experience indicates
that both Agave and rhea require good land for rapid
growth. For the latter, also, a fairly heavy rainfall is
required. Althongh it is possible to extract both Agave
and rhea fibre by hand, the products obtained are usually
inferior to those procured “by machinery. Therefore, possi-
bly, the cultivation of these plants should for some time,
be continued by capitalists who can afford to pay for expen-
Sive fibre extractors. Rhea has been extensively cultivated
on the estates of indigo planters in Behar, but has not proved
a profitable crop. Both Agave and rhea require some years’
growth before they give any considerable yield of fibre—
a fact which discourages the ordinary ryot from attempting
their cultivation.

FIBRE FROM PINE-APPLE AND SANSEVIERIA,—The extrac-
tion of fibre from pine-apple is not likely to become an exten-
sive enterprise in any part of India. Sansevieria has been
repeatedly tried by planters in Assam, but without paying
results. It is possible that fibre can be profitably obtained
from the pine-apple in Southern India.

FLAX.—Flax as a fibre crop is not yet produced on
a commercial scale in India; but extensive experiments were
begun in Bengal about four years ago, and are still in
progress. They will, when complete, probably indicate that
fibre of good quality can be profitably produced from this
crop in several parts of India.

MALACHRA CAPITATA.—The Bengal Agricultural Depart-
ment tried Malachra capitata (‘monkey bush’, in parts of the
West Indies) at Cuttack, but gave it up as hopeless after
two years’ trial. Similarly, experiments conducted at the
Rajshahi Experiment Station in Eastern Bengal and Assam
indicated that its cultivation is not likely to be profitable.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated January 7, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

The weather during the fortnight has been somewhat
showery, and not too favourable for the drying of the cereals
by the small farmers under their primitive methods.

Deliveries to town have not been as large as might have
been expected, but this can be chiefly attributed to the
holidays.

Shipments to the islands during the fortnight amount
to 1,800 bags, being deliveries on account of existing con
tracts. Additional export sales have been made, and the
demand appears good.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. Demerara, for good expoxt
quality :-—

Nominally 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per bag of 180 bb. gross,

15s. 6d. to 16s. Gd. ,, 5, »,.164 Ib. -,,

32 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

1910."

JANUARY 22,

MARKET “REPORTS.

London,—Txe West Ixpita ComirreE CrrcuLar,
January 4, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pe Pass & Co.,
December 24, 1909. 4

Arrowrkoot—Quiet, 1d. to 33d.

Batata—Sheet, 2/7 ; block, 2/3 per tb.

Bers-wax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 62/- per ewt. ; Grenada, 48,6 to
54/6 per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/6 to 54/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 38/- to 120/-.

Corra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, 183d.; Floridas,
Croix West Indian, no quotation.

Froir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 45/- to 49/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 50/- to 54/-; good
bright to fine, 55/- to 65/-.

Honey—No quotations.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Ling Juice—Raw, no quotations ; cencentrated, £18 5s. ;
Otto of limes, 5/9 to 6/-.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—(Quiet.

Nutmecs—Quiet.

Porento—Common, 2,°,d.; fair, 22d.; good, 24d. per th.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 7/7, fine soft, 7/0}; tine Peru,
7/6 per th.

Rum—Jainaica, 2/7 to 5/-.

Sucsar—Crystals, 16/- to 17/3, Muscovado, 13/- to 14/-;
Syrup, 13/3 to 13/6; Molasses, no quotations.

no quotations; St.

New York,—Messrs. Gittesrie Bros. & Co., January
Talo lo:

Cacao—Caracas, lljc. to 12c. ; Grenada, Ile. to 11}c. ;
Trinidad, 113c. to 12c.; Jamaica, 95c. to 104c. per th.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $24°00 to $25-00; culls,
$1500; , Trinidad, select, $24:00 to $25-00; culls,
$15°00 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, 8jc.; good ordinary, 9c. to
94e.; and washed, up to lle. per th.

Giycrr—10jc. to 13c. per Tb.

Goat Skrss—Jamaica, 63c.; Parbados, 52c. to 55c¢.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St sitts, 50c. to 51e. per tb.;
Antigua, 52c. to 55e., dry flint.

Grave Frurr—$1°75 to $3°00 per Lox.

Luies—$3°75 per barrel.

Mace—34e. to 38e. per th.

NurmrEcs—110’s, 9fe. per Th.

Orances—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4{c. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°52c.; Molasses,

duty paid

4:02c. per 1b.; Muscovados,
89°, 3'27c. per ib., all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., January
8, 1910.

Cacao—Ve2nezuelan, $11°75 per fanega; Trinidad, $11-25
to $1160.

Cocoa-Nuv Or—80c. per Imperial gallon, cask meluded.

Correre—Venezuelan, 10c. to 10}c. per fb.

Corra—$4°25 per 100 tb.

DuHat—$4°40 per 2-buskel bag.

Ontons—$4°‘00 per 106 th.

Peas, Sprit—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Potaros—English, 51°70 to $1°75 per 100 th.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°S0 to $4:90; White, $5°00 to $5-10
per bag.

Svcar—American crushed, 35°10 to $5°20 per 100 ht.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., January 15, 1910;
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., January 17,
1910.

ArrowrooTt—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$10-00 to $11-00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-Nuts—$14°00.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10-00 to $11-00 per
100 th., scarce. ;

Hay—$1°20 per 100 tb.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65-00 ; Cacao manure, $48-00 $,
Sulphate of ammonia, $75-00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—Bunched, $4°50 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6-50 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada, $3-40 per
bag of 120 th.

Potaros—Nova Scotia, $1:75 to $2°17 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°20 to $4°75 (180 tb.); Patna, $3-80 ;
Rangoon, $3-00 per 100 th.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wretinc & Ricnrer, December
24, 1909; Messrs. SanpBacH, Parker & Co.
9

January 7, 1910.

| Messrs. Sanp-_
| BACH, PARKER
& Co.

| Messrs. W1ETING

ARTICLES, | & RicHtTer.

Arrowroor—St. Vincent) $825 to $859
| per 200 th. |
Barara—Venezuelablock| 32c. per tb. | Prohibited
Demerara sheet, 48c. per ib. | None
Cacao—Native Ile. to 12c. per tb.'10c. to 11e. per th.
Cassava— $108 | No quotation
CASSAVA STARCH— $600 to $6°50 per, No quotation
| barrel of 196 tb, | :
Sales—scarce |
| $12 to $16 per M. $16 per M., peeled
| and selected
Correr—Creole ,12c. to 13¢ per tb.|12c. to 13¢. per fb.
Jamaica and Rio|133c.to 13%c.per tb.) 14e. per tb.
Liberian 10c. per th. 10c. per tb.
Duat— | 34:05 to $4°10 per|$4-10 per bag of
bag of 168 th. | 168 th.
Green Dhal $5°50 to $5°75
Eppos— | $1°68 per barrel
Mczasses— Yellow ll 22cm oc:
Oxtons—Teneriffe “aH
Madeira | 4c. to 43c. per tb. |
Pras—Split $6°50 to $6°60 per

$8 50 per 200 Ib.,.
market dull

Cocoa-NuTS—

No quotation
No quotation
36°50 per bag

| bag (210i%t.) (210 th.)
Marseilles $4-00 to $4°25 $450
PLANTAINS— 20c. to 48c. per —_
bunch |
Poratos—Noya Szotia $250 | $3-00 to $3-50-

Lisben
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados)
Rice—Paliam

No quotation
$144 per bag
No quotation $4°75

| $400 to $4°30:

No quotation

Creole $400 to $4:10
TaNNIAS— $2°40 per bag |
Yams— White $240 ated
Buck $2°88 per bag
Sucar—Dark crystals $2°55. to $2°75 $2°55
Yellow $2°90 to $3-00 $2°80 to $3:00
White 33°70 to $380 | $3-60 to $3-80
Molasses $2-00 | $2:00 to $2°30 |
Trser — Greenheart 82c. to 5dc. per | 32c. ty 55c. per
cub. foot eub. foot
Wallaba shingles) $3°50 to $:75 $3°50 te $5°50
per M. per M.
3» Cordwood, $180 to $2-00 No quotation
per ton

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a AYE see

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IN THE MATTER OF ‘the Title by Registration Acts

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known as ‘CLAREMONT’ ESTATE, ‘PARRY’S’ ESTATE and CO J 1 ON SE K I).

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Cobbold and Herbert St. George Cobbold. . =
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ary, 1910, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, at the Registry of the z
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Island; LOT 2. All those Estates known as ‘PARRY’S and R A Ls E x
‘THE DIAMOND)’ situate in the parish of St. Peter in the said
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The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its
| available plant food.

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.
Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

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ws. ( BOTANICAL

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. caroen.
Vou. IX. No. 203. BARBADOS, FEBRUARY 5, 1910. Price 1d.
CONTENTS ject, the consideration of whose labours, in view of their

import-nce, was reserved for this number.
a In these experiments, the soil was treated in four
PAGE. Ae ways, all of which resulted in partial or complete
Balance of Life in the Soil go eect Notes = Peat sterilization. In the first two, partial sterilization was
r She 3¢ The Sweet Potato Weevi 2 x 2 : £ :
ee eee Pantano te Waands, Inseet "Beste ... 42 effected by heating the soil to a temperature of 98° C.,,
from... +. 36/Implemental Tillage in ,. or by adding 4 per cent. of toluene, which was allowed
Been ae aie Ss re Seat: Bice e.. 13 to escape at the end of three days by spreading out the
ay-cay of 4 am, =) é S\ ees ;

Notes and Comments ... 40
Orange Oil, Sweet, in Italy 41
Phosphates, Loss of from
SOUS... Vad catto
Poultry Notes :—
Rheumatic Troubles of

Change of Habits by Birds 41)
Characteristics of Manicoba
Rubber Trees .. ... 40
Cotton Notes :—
Cotton-Growing in China 38
West Indian Cotton ... 38

= = Poultry .-. Same. «.- 43
Cotton Waste, Uses of ... 40 Sporobolus Indicus ... ... 46
Baperoment News |Students’ Corner ... ... 40
Euphorbia Latex for Pre- | Sugar Industry :— |
venting Corrosion ... 41) Seedling Canes in Porto _
Fungus Notes :— IRUCG ee. eee y= OO
Cacao Diseases in Suri- | Tapioca, Manufacture of in
nam ecaanttty ixgasx 46 Malay States... ... 40
Gleanings ... ... ... «.. 44|Tickand Disease, The . 47
Green Dressings in Antigua | West Indian Products ... 47
and Dominica... ... ... 37

| Wild Ipecacuanha, The... 38

The Balance of Life in the Soil,

Il. THE EFFECTS OF STERILIZATION,

‘HE general considerations which were given

- in the last number of the Agricultural News

in relation to the state of the soil, and to the

changes which may constantly take place in it, led to
a discussion of the effects that are obtained when the
soil is subjected to influences which interfere with the
balance between the different forms of living matter
by which it is inhabited. ‘The work of various investi-
gators was shortly mentioned, including that of Russell
and Hutchinson, the latest experimenters on the sub-

soilina thin layer. According to the third method,
the toluene was allowed to remain in the soil during
fhe whole of the experimental period. As a fourth
variation, a few experiments were made with soils that
had been completely sterilized by being heated to
a temperature of 125° C. A control was supplied by
a fifth series of experiments, in which the soil was not
treated. The soils, after treatment, were moistened and
kept for definite periods in bottles closed by cotton
wool, at the temperature of the laboratory. It may be
mentioned that the sterilizing agent employed in two
of the series of experiments—toluene liquid
hydrocarbon, very similar to benzene in its constitution
and properties, which exists in light coal-tar oil, and is
obtained when balsam of tolu, wood, and some other
organic bodies are distilled. Like many similar substan-
ces it is very destructive to life of every kind.

is a

The first result obtained in the experiments was
that ‘the increased productiveness of partially sterilized
soils is due to an increase in the amount of «ammonia
present’. Considering the partially sterilized soils, it
was found that, at the end of twenty-four days, the
soil that had been heated to 98° C. showed the greatest
increase in the amount of ammonia present; the
soil that had been treated with toluene, which had
subsequently been allowed to evaporate, came next; then
the soil from which it had not been allowed to escape;
while in the case of the untreated soil, the increase in

34 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fepruary 5, 1910.

the ammonia content was insignificant in comparison,
Other effects of partial sterilization were found to be
an increase in the rate of production of unstable nitro-
gen compounds, and the destruction of nitrifying
organisms. In this case, there is a difference
between the action of heat’ and that of toluene, for in
the latter instance, they thrive once more, on being
re-introduced, while in the former they do not. It
seems that, in the heating of the soil, some substance
has been formed which is inimical to the existence of
the nitrifying organisms: it may be the same body as
was found by Pickering* to interfere with the germina-
tion of seeds, under the same circumstances,

The next step in the investigations was to dis-
cover the cause of the increase in the amount of
ammonia. Two suggestions to account for this arise:
(1) that some agency is present which causes increased
production, (2) that some agent which continually con-
sumes the ammonia under ordinary conditions, has been
removed by the treatment. In the latter connexion,
nitrifying bacteria do not enter into the question, as they
have been proved to be completely destroyed by the
sterilization. That the ammonia is consumed by any
other agency was disproved by adding small quantities of
ammonium salts and recovering them unaltered, except
for a small proportion that had been converted into nit-
rates owing to the action of re-introduced nitrifying
organisms. ‘The results obtained led to the adoption of
the first conclusion, namely that actual production
accounted for the greater amount of ammonia that was
present, with the additional inference that this was
owing to the action of bacteria in hastening the
decomposition of substances in the soil.

The question then arose as to why the bacteria
should produce ammonia at an increased rate, after
partial sterilization. Russell and Hutchinson confirm-
ed Hiltner and Stirmer’s discovery that bacteria
multiply more quickly and reach much greater numbers
after that treatment. The rate of increase was
determined, and this was found to be paralleled by the
rate of increase of ammonia, thus giving rise to the
inference, already stated, that the greater production of
ammonia was due to the action of bacteria.

A detailed examination of this conclusion showed
that there was no evidence that the kinds of bacteria
which continue to exist after the treatment are stimu-
lated to greater action by it—an explanation which, as
has been stated already, is due to Koch—but that the
contrary is actually the case, for certain forms that were
isolated from the soil treated with toluene all showed

5)

Agricultural News, Vol! VIII, p. 281.

Jess activity than those of the same kind from the
untreated sol. Nor was Hiltner and Stirmer’s sugges-
tion, to which reference has already been made, that
the increased activity was due to a change in the type
of bacteria that was present in the greatest numbers,
upheld. The simple conclusion was reached: ‘the
increased ammonia production in the partially sterilized

soil is due to the increased numbers of the bacteria.’

As this is the case, there must be some factor
present in ordinary, untreated soils which limits the
rate at which bacteria are produced, but which is
removed by the action of toluene or heat. That this
factor is not bacterial was shown by adding a filtered
soil extract te a treated soil, when there was an
increase of bacterial action, whereas if untreated soil was
added to treated soil, there was no increase of such
action, but rather a decrease. Thus the limiting factor
must be something in the untreated soil which could
not pass through the filter that was used for the soil
extract. It seems that this factor is not a toxin, as
has been suggested by Whitney and others, for this
would affect the nitrifying bacteria most, as they are
more sensitive than those which produce ammonia, yet
nitrates accumulate in untreated soils.

The conclusion is reached that the limiting factor
is a living organism or organisms, for, as was stated in
the last paragraph, when untreated svil was added to
the treated soil, the bacterial activity, and therefore
the rate of production of ammonia, was promptly
diminished. The further inference is made that the
organism is probably large in comparison with bacteria,
for it is only the soil, and not the filtered extract of the
ordinary soil, that can produce the effect under consid-
eration. Examination of the two kinds of soil showed
that no large organisms were presentan that which had
been heated; in the soil treated with toluene, the larger
organisms were also absent, only small ciliated infusoria
being found: while all these organisms were present in
untreated soil. As the large organisms are about one
thousand times the size of bacteria, it is easy to under-
stand that they are serious competitors with the latter,
even apart from the fact that they probably effect
actual destruction of the bacteria.

The work of these investigators, then, appears to
show that the number of bacteria in the soil is limited
by the presence of comparatively large, competing and
destructive organisms, and that the increased fertility
of soils that have been partially sterilized, is due to
the killing of these, and the consequent increase in the
rate of production of bacteria, with the concomitant
increase in the rate of formation of ammonia.

Vor. Lx. (No. 203:

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

SEEDLING CANES IN PORTO RICO.

The following facts in connexion with the sugar-
cane varieties most commonly grown in Porto Rico are
taken from a recent paper by Dr. D. W. May, the
Special Agent in Charge of the Porto Rico Agricultural
Experiment Station :—

The three most common varieties now grown in Porto
Rico are the Crystallina, the Otaheite, or White, and the
Rayado, or Striped. One variety will prove best in one
locality, and prevail, while in other sections another will do
best. Again, it is often found advisable to change the
variety on a certain piece of land. It appears fhat not only
does the rotation of the crop prove advisable, but that often
a change in the variety will prove of advantage.

Two lesser known varieties in Porto Rico are the Penang,
and Conangerie, or French, cane. The former grows well in
very heavy wet lands, and the latter is very free from disease.
The French cane is said to have been introduced from
Mauritius during a time when disease was rampant, in the
seventies. Neither of these two canes is in the first class as
sugar producers,

The Experiment Station and Guanica Central are grow-
ing new varieties of cane from the seed in the arrow.
Several thousand of these have already been produced, but
sufficient time has not elapsed to test them thoroughly as
sugar producers. In the meantime, a number of seedling
canes produced and tested by the British stations have been
under trial. A few comments on these will doubtless prove
interesting:

A great many cuttings from thes canes have been sent
to planters in different sections of Porto Rico, and have been
very favourably received. On the whole, they have proved
superior to the old varieties, not only in showing increased
sugar production, but in general hardiness and freedom
from disease.

The laboratory tests, while of course, inconclusive, have
shown a fair average increase in sucrose over the old
varieties. Some mill tests made by the Guanica Central also
showed very favourably for the seedling canes.

At the Experiment Station the following canes have
given excellent results: DOS Dsl, B84 andl 3dp.
As resistant to drought, T.77, D.117, B.347 and B.3,289
have done well on the south side.

On the east end of the island, the preliminary tests of
seedling canes have been very satisfactory. So far as tested,
they are ranked as follows: T.77, B.3,259, B.317, D.117,
D.95.

In Louisiana, D.74 is highly considered. In Porto
Rico, however, while very sweet, this cane does not grow
large enough, as it ripens early.

It is well suited to a short-growing season like that in
Louisiana. Guaniea Central, on the south side of Porto Rico,
has now several hundred acres of seedling canes growing.
The following results obtained there are of interest and
value:—

Ponce District, canes planted 5} feet by 5} feet,
Oct., 1907; harvested Dec. 22 and 23, 1908. All varieties
fertilized, irrigated and cultivated alike. Weights taken at
mill: —

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 35

Tons per Sucrose,

Cane. acre. per cent. Purity.
Otaheite........:., 56°38 12°7 80-9
TE Tides oot eee ne CORES 151 83-0
DAW 5 15-4 83-2
D.95 15°8 87:3
B.1,753 12°8 78:5
Crystallina......... 13-4 79:3
D.74 176 88-4
W. Bamboo 13°2 78
Tibboo Merd......43°46 13°6 83°3

Hacienda Monserrate, canes planted 53 feet by 54 feet,
Sept. 25, 1907; harvested Dec. 29, 1908. All varieties
fertilized and cultivated alike :—

Tons: per
Cane. acre

Wihite: Bamboow--sscosasan ne ose 64°66
LE WW iicamacsteca siscaacneceaa tine cais's sic-ses 64-60
Dawe Aid cnmate aan ctanacicctst wen aie cacaniod see shas 60°24
MibpoowWerdsen sss eacenacckeses aces. 52:51
DD) att derwaares aaercemtinne<seysnlarsiecane onic 60-48
DD Rviikecmeeeeey. een acmectee ctincames asec se) 4a
HAE nee ee: sarin as Acoso 12°85

IMPLEMENTAL TILLAGE IN
ST. VINCENT.

In the last number but oneof the Agricultural News,
an abstract of the report of the Agricultural Instructor
for St. Vincent, on his visit to Antigua in connexion with
implemental tillage was given. Since that report was
made, implements for the purpose have been imported
into the island, and trials have been made with them,
as appears from the following account, which is taken
from the St. Vincent Sentry of the 7th instant :—

At the invitation of his Honour the Administrator,
a large party of planters, and others, were present at a most
interesting, and instructive, demonstration in implemental
tillage at Arnos Vale Estate on Wednesday last. Among
those present, besides the Administrator, and the local
Officers of the Agricultural Department, were his Honour
the Chief Justice, the Hon’bles J. B. Kernaham, C. J.
Simmons and D. A. MeDonald; Messrs, A. Smith,
W. C. Hutchinson, J. A. Robinson, Alex. Fraser,
G. Robertson, J. Punnett and F. Corea.

The work already done on the 9-acre experiment plot
was inspected first of all. This field had been put in banked
cultivation solely by the different implements recently obtain-
ed by the Imperial Department of Agriculture. Those pres-
ent expressed themselves very favourably on the results
obtained. After the plot had been examined. the following
implements were used on an adjoining plot of land which had
been close-ploughed:—U-bar harrow, VCuban double mould-
board fluke, Orleans dise cultivator, and union corn drill or
cotton planter.

These implements clearly demonstrated the method of
preparing lands for cane and cotton, and showed how quickly
and thoroughly the work was done.

Towards the close of the afternoon the Planet Junior
horse-hoe, and crchard harrow were used in a field of plant
canes, and here again, the value of implements for weeding
and moulding the young plants was clearly seen.

We understood that already, asa result of the experi-
ment, several implements are being ordered at an early date
by planters for trial on their estates.

36 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Fepruary 5, 1910.

ES
TA

PRODUCTS OBTAINED FROM CACAO.

The three cacao products known to commerce are: cacao
butter, cacao powder, and cake chocolate, the manufacture of
chocolate requiring skill and knowledge in special degree.
The butter is merely the oil or grease of the kernel, usually
extracted by pressure, and leaving a residue still containing
a certain amount of vegetable fat, which, being ground as
will be explained later, is used in making the beverage
commonly known as cocoa. When chocolate is intended to
be produced, the carefully cleaned kernels are crushed into
a mass, flavoured and manipulated according to many methods,
and then, after an addition of pure cacao butter has been
made to the natural content of the mass, it is pressed into
small cakes, and sold.

The cacao bean is composed, by weight, of 8S per cent.
of kernel and husk and 12 per cent. of shell. The shells and
husks are treated chemically in Holland for the production
of a low-grade butter, the reduction being effected by ether
or benzene. The kernel, which contains 50 to 55 per cent.
of oii, was formerly treated, when the extraction of butter
was contemplated, by boiling, roasting and crushing in ten
times its weight of water; the oil then rising to the surface
was decanted, and the residue pressed mechanically for the
elimination of such butter as it still contained. This method
has been abandoned, and the kernels, freed from their envel-
opes, are now ground to a mass, brought to a temperature of
from 60° to 70° ©., placed in coarse linen sacks, and
finally pressed in steam-heated machines. After this first
application of pressure the cacao cake contains from 20 to 35
per cent. of fat; it is then ground and re-pressed until not
more than 15 per cent. of the fatty matter remains. The oil
or grease which has been extracted is called ‘cacao butter’,
which is used chietly by chocolate manufacturers, and, in
smaller quantities, in the soap, perfumery, and pharmacen-
tical industries, in which, owing to its neutral qualities, it is
especially valuable.

Fresh cacao butter is yellowish white, but if exposed to
light, it becomes entirely white, and possesses a mild odour
of the cacao and a sweet and agreeable taste. Both taste and
odour are eliminated by boiling the fat with absolute alcohol,
and in this condition it keeps a long time without becoming
rancid. It is firm in consistency and melts at from 32° to
35° C., according to quality. Its density varies from 0°890
to 0900 at 15° C. It is very soluble in ether, acetic ether,
chloroform and essence of turpentine. It is sometimes
adulterated with a mixture of stearin, paraftin, and beef fat.
If it is mixed with fatty oils it melts at a temperature of less
than 25° C., and if it is mixed with paraftin and beef fat it

melts at a temperature in excess of 35° C. If pure, the point
of fusion should not be less than 25° nor more than 30° C.

The butter having now been withdrawn from the mass
there remains an oily cake, which is ground to a fine powder,
and commands a very wide sale. The powder is usually pre-
pared, according to the Dutch method, by the addition of
a solution of chemically pure potash. Less frequentiy, soda is
used instead, or perhaps a solution of ammonium carbonate.
In ordinary practice, the raw beans with their shell might be
expected to yield from 40 to 45 per cent. of their weight in
butter, and 30 per cent. of cacao powder. (VWonthly
Consular and Trade reports, October 1909.)

THE DRAINING OF CACAO LAND.

The following information in connexion with the
draining of cacao land is taken from ‘the series of
aruicles on cacao, by Mr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., that are
appearing in the West India Committee Circular.
Abstracts from these articles have also appeared in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, pp. 260, 292 and 340.

In draining, as in pruning and road-making, only general
principles can be laid down, All land, of course, requires
draining of some kind or other, but no one can give definite
instructions for draining an area until it is understood what
amount of drainage that particular area requires. Land
situated at alow level will, of course, require much more
attention to rid it of superabundant water than will hillside
land, and each area must therefore be treated according to
its own requirements.

The object of drainage is to rid a cacao estate of stag-
nant or superabundant moisture. Flood waters from a river,
so long as they do not cover an estate for too long a period,
do but little practical harm; indeed, in some districts they
are looked upon as doing a large amount of good by bringing
down, and depositing upon the surface, a certain amount of
manurial constituents.

Drains made in any kind of cultivation should always
be V-shaped, with a narrow bottom. The practice of
making drains with upright sides, which fall in and choke
the drain, cannot be too strongly condemned, and can in no
case be recommended; and the depth and width of the drains
should be regulated by the circumstances of soil and situation.
They should never be made straight in coming downhill, as
when so made, the wash becomes enormous, especially if the
decent approaches an angle of one in twenty; but in flat land
the straighter they are made the better.

Won EX No: 203:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 37

The site for a plantation should always be selected
where there isa good natural main outlet for drainage waters.

‘Under draining’ with pipe, rubble or a bush base is,
I consider, utterly useless in cacao cultivation, as it stands to
reason that such drains must very early be filled by the roots
of the trees (both cacao and shade trees), and that the action
of the drains after the first few months will be stopped by
the roots finding their way into them in search of moisture.
The theory is good, but the practice is quite unsound with
regard to cacao, It is different in lands on which cereal
crops are annually cultivated, for there the roots seldom or
never reach to the drains during the period of growth, and
consequently, the drains themselves work from year to year
without let or. hindrance; but the principle cannot be
effectively applied on cacao estates. The planter should
therefore trust entirely to his surface drainage, and make that
system do the work to the best advantage.

GREEN DRESSINGS IN ANTIGUA
AND DOMINICA.

The following is an account of experiments and
observations that have been conducted and made in
connexion with green dressings in Antigua and Domin-
ica by the Curator of the Botanic Station, in the former
island, and by the Assistant Curator, in Dominica :—

ANTIGUA.

At the present time, in Antigua, the problem is to find
out what kind of dressing should be grown. The ideal plant
for this purpose would be a quick-growing, ins2ct- and disease-
resisting leguminous plant. It is of importance that a quickly
growing crop should be sought, for in some cases the time
between the planting of the dressing and the final preparation
of the land for the planting of sugar-cane is not great, often
not more than three or four months. On some of the larger
estates, however, a certain proportion of the land is rested for
nine to twelve months. When the term of fallow is for such
a period the importance of using a quickly growing dressing is
not so great. It is evident, however, that if such a practice
were to be adopted in all cases, it would be a great factor in
minimizing the severity of the attacks of pests of the sugar-
cane, probably more especially those of a fungoid nature,
which are of vital importance.

A point that is sometimes not taken into account is that
the quantity of green material yielded by a dressing does not
represent the amount of solid material returned to the soil.
It is well known that the greater part of the weight of
a plant is made up of water. The following figures, which
give an approximate idea as to the amount of moisture
contained in some plants used for this purpose, may therefore
be of interest :—

Loss after drying in air,

per cent.
Woolly pyrol 76:3
Barbuda bean (eh5)
Ground nut (fle
Lima beam 73°5
Soy bean 316

All the above, with the exception of the soy bean, were
weighed five days after cutting, the soy bean being weighed
seven days afterwards. The great difference between the
amount of water contained in the soy bean, when compared
with that of the others, is explained by the numerous seeds
formed by this plant.

It was thought that it might be interesting if the lengths
of the roots of the different plants used for green dressings
were taken. It is known that the roots of plants which use
different layers of soil for the obtaining of their plant food

flourish better when grown together than when grown with
those which utilize the same layer for this purpose; it is thus
probable that deeply rooting plants would be of value in
placing at the disposal of the subsequent crop, plant food in
an assimilable form, which otherwise would not be within its
reach. This would perhaps be the case when the subsequent
crop is one similar to the sugar-cane, most of the roots of
which form a dense mass in the top 4 or 5 inches of soil.

Measurements of the main roots which were actually
made gave the following results: —

Days after Length of root,

planting. inches.

Java Crotalaria (Crotalaria

striata) 240 194
Barbuda bean (Phaseolus he

lunatus) 66 16
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) 80 13}
Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) 66 13h
Woolly pyrol (Phaseolus Mungo) 66 114
Ground nut (Arachis hypogaea) 66 si

The approximate areas of land in different green dress-
ings in Antigua, during 1909, are given in the following
table. The Jarger figures must not be taken as representing
the crops most popular in Antigua for the purpose in
question, but as showing to a great extent the amount of
seed available for planting purposes, at the time of sowing.
This is especially so in the case of the soy bean.

Area, acres.

Pigeon pea (Cajanus indicus) 199

Soy bean (Glycine hispida) 1384
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) 132
Barbuda bean (Phaseolus lunatus) 112
Woolly pyrol (Phaseolus Mungo) 42
Wina (7eramnus parviflora) 4
Miscellaneous leguminous plants 7

- non-leguminous plants (Ps

Total 641}

DOMINICA.

Early in May of this year, a few seeds of Canavalia
yladiata were received at the Agricultural School, to be
grown for comparison with the horse bean, C. ensiformis.

The seeds in both cases were sown in rows on the flat,
4 feet apart each way. The horse beans germinated in six
days; C. gladiata took twelve days. A few weeks later, the
difference in habit of growth was very marked: the horse
beans were very compact, about 8 inches high, bearing seven
large compound leaves to every 12 inches of stem. C. gladv-
ata, en the other hand, had long twining stems bearing
two leaves on 3 feet of stem, the leaves being much smaller
than those of the horse bean.

Ten weeks after sowing, the horse bean was in flower, and
five of the best plants were uprooted and carefully weighed.
They were then put to dry in the shade for three weeks and
again weighed; at this time the plants of C. gladiata were
creeping slowly, and giving growth to many lateral shoots.

Four weeks later, the last-named plants were in flower;
they had an average spread of 3 feet. Five of the best
plants were uprooted, weighed, dried and reweighed.

There was no difference in the weight of each set of five
plants. They both weighed, when green, 10 tb.—an average
of 2 Ib. per plant, and both lost on drying, 6 b.

It would appear that if the green dressing is required as
a catch crop, the horse bean is more useful. If, however,
the time the crop occupies the land is of little or no conse-
quence, and if the chief object is to keep down weeds, then
C. gladiata would probably be found to be serviceable.

38 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Fepsruary 5, 1910.

> <f

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date January 17, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 70 bales of West Indian Sea
Tsland cotton have been sold at firm prices. The sales include
Barbados 18d. to 194d., Montserrat 18}d., and superior
St. Kitts at 20d.

During the last day or two there has been a tendency to
press sales of American Island cotton, and cotton is being
offered from Charleston at about 1d. per tb. decline from
previous pretensions.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending January 15, is as follows:—

The market remained quiet again throughout the week,
with factors still holding at last quotations, viz: Fine 33c.,
Fully Fine 35c., Extra Fine 37c. The Exchange reported
sales of 150 bales, which consisted principally of cotton more
or less off in preparation, at 30c.

COTTON-GROWING IN CHINA.

The cultivation and manufacture of cotton is one of the
most important industries of China. It is generally conceded
that the area devoted to the cultivation of cotton is only
exceeded by that planted in silk and tea. The country
adjacent to Shanghai is the principal cotton-producing district
in China for bulk and grade, the staple being about 25:5
millimetres (0°93 inch) in length. Hankow and Ningpo are
also important centres, but the quality is inferior to that
grown in the Shanghai district, the staple measuring only
about 20 millimetres (0°78 inch).

Of the cotton exported, Japan takes about 90 per cent.
The native staple, being short and unsuited to the machines
in use in American mills, is not expected to compete with
the American product for spinning. It is, however, well
adapted for filling and short-end work, such as the manufac-
ture of rugs, carpets, curtains, etc., and this is the market it
is hoped to secnre. That exported to Great Britain, Germany
and Italy is used, principally for such work, and there is an
increasing demand for it in those countries. The total exports
of raw cotton in 1907 amounted to 131,707,731 tb., valued
at $13,398,192, against 85,780,750 Ib., valued at $6,724,250
in 1908. ‘The Chinese customs valued the haikwan tael at
79 cents in 1907, and at 65 cents in 1908, which accounts
for a proportionate share in the decreased value for 1908.

Most of the cotton is grown on small farms of 5 to 7
acres. ‘The whole family engages itself in the cultivation,
and works as many as twelve hours a day. If the work
exceeds the capacity of the family, coolies are hired at 16c.
per day. The implements used in the cultivation are of a
rude type. The wooden frame plough, with an iron blade, is
drawn by cows and buffalos. The hoe used corresponds to
the American adze. The method used in raising water for
irrigation is by a pump consisting of a string of cups, some-
times operated by animals. A rude sickle is used for cutting.
Transportation about the fields is done on human backs, while
the haul to the market is performed by wheelbarrow. Small
ditches, fed by creeks, surround the fields for irrigation, The
ground is broken twice a year, in spring and autumn. The
plants grow to 6 or 7 feet in height, and the crop is gathered
in September or October. About 60 per cent. of the cotton
is manufactured by a native process. In the treaty ports,
most of the cotton is sold to foreign manufacturers. (Monthly
Consular and Trade Reports, November 1909.)

The Wild Ipecacuanha.

The late Mr. PL. Simmons, in his work on drugs,
states that the root of wild ipecacuanha (Asclepias curassavica)
comes from the West Indies and Tropical America, It is
known as wild or bastard ipecac, and is used by the negroes
as an emetic and purgative. From another source we learn
that it abounds in the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, W. L.,
where it is largely used as a medicine. Both the root and
the expressed juice are emetic. Dr. Grain has found in
Asclepias curassavica a glucoside, asclepiadin, which he
believes to be a pure form of asclepiadin of Harnack and the
asclepin of Fenenlle, and closely to resemble emetine in its
physiological action, but to beso unstable as to be of no
practical value. Wild ipecac similar in character to the
present consignment has occasionally been offered in auction,
and has usually been sold as ‘roots’, at a few pence per
pound, as nobody appears to have gone to the expense of
having it analysed. That this wild ipecac is abundant needs
no proof, but on account of its pale colour it is not so readily
adaptable for the purposes of adulteration as some of the
other spurious ipecacs. That it will eventually be used for
this purpose goes without saying. In a consignment, an
overland sample was sent in the first instance, and this was
submitted to a broker, who pronounced the article to be
‘roots’ of no medicinal value. For this expression of opinion
the broker was taken to task, it being remarked from Pernam-
buco that London knew nothing about the article, which
as a fact was largely prescribed by doctors among the natives
in South America. (The Chemist and Druggist, Vol. LXV,
p. 733.)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 39

THE BOOK OF THE GOAT.

Tone = aon By
H. S. Holmes Pegler. LZ. Upcott Gill, London.

The matter contained in this work was first published as
a series of articles, in Zhe Bazaar, Exchange and Mart.
The author, who it may be mentioned, is the Honorary
Secretary of the British Goat Society, was induced in the first
instance to publish his experience on account of the large
number of queries concerning goat-keeping that were con-
tinually received by the above-mentioned journal. After
the material had run through two editions in bock form,
it was decided to revise it and bring it up to date for a third
edition. This was done in 1885. Since then, a marked
advance in goat-keeping has taken place, and the general
literature on the snbject has been considerably enlarged, so
that it has become expedient to issue another edition (the
fourth), and it is in the form of this that the book is at
present under consideration.

Although the contents of the volume are not actually
arranged in sections, they can be classified in order under the
following heads: introduction (Chapter I); origin of the goat,
and its varieties (Chapters IL to IX); selection, breeding and
rearing of goats (Chapters X to XV); the products and uses
of the goat (Chapters XVI to XXIII); the goat at shows
(Chapter XXIV); the British Goat Society (Chapter XXV);
goats and disease (Chapters XXVI, XXVII); the removal
and prevention of growth of horns (Chapter XXVIII). It is
completed by the inclusion of a good index,

Taking these sections in order, the introduction makes
suggestions for the more frequent keeping of goats by cotta-
gers in England, and for the larger use of goats’ milk. Atten-
tion is draw n to an interesting table which shows that, accord-
ing to statistics. Spain is the largest goat-keeping country in
Enrope, while Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Greece and
Austria come next, in order.

In the section which deals with the origin of the goat
and its varieties, the first chapter (Chapter II) gives an
interesting account of the early history of that animal, both
from the geological and archaeological points of view. The
succeeding chapters, having for their subject the varieties
of the goat, contain carefully presented particulars of the char-
acters of these, and the usefulness of the matter is increased
by the inclusion of a number of good illustrations,

The chapters on selection, breeding and rearing treat of
these important subjects in a very thorough manner. The
contents are well arranged under sub-headings, and are pre-
sented with the certainty of one who is an authority in
respect of the matter with which he isdealing. The sections
on the buying of goats, the selection of br eeds, housing,
pasturing and feeding are worthy of special attention.

The greater part of the information given in connexion
with the products yielded by the goat is naturally concerned
with the milk. Careful attention is given to the subject of
milking, and several interesting facts are adduced in rela-
tion to the milk yield of the goat. In comparing goat’s
milk with that from the cow, several points that are to the
advantage of the former are brought forward, and it seems

that the popularity of this would be much increased if the
product were more often presented with more attention to
cleanliness and care in milking. The other products that
ire considered are butter, cheese, flesh, hair, skins, horns and
suet, and the way in which the facts concerning these are
dealt with makes interesting reading.

Of the remainder of the book, that part which treats of
the goat at shows is of the greatest interest to readers in the
West Indies. The subject is presented both from the side of
the exhibitor, and of the organizers of shows, and the
portion which goes into the question of judging should be
specially useful.

The book itself is produced in a handy and attractive
form, and its contents form mattet that can be read easily
and with pleasure. The illustrations are good, and, altogether,
the work can be recommended for perusal by all who are
actively interested in the rearing of goats.

THE ILLUSTRATED POULTRY RECORD. Edited
by E. T. Brown. Brown, Dobson d&: Co., Ltd., London.

As was stated in the introductory amtinle of the first
number, this is the first sixpenny monthly journal, connected
with the poultry industry, to be published in England. The
article went on further to say that the first aim of the journal

‘to help that industry along its upward path’, and that it
will be imperial in its sympathies ‘in that poultry- breeding
throughout the British Empire will always occupy a promi-
nent place’,

Some idea of the scope of the journal is given by
a consideration of its table of contents. After the introduc-
tory article and an account of the chief happenings of the
month in the poultry world, there follows an interesting
and useful series of leading articles, each written by a special-
ist in the subject with which it deals. Following an
illustrated section which strikes a personal note in regard to
some of those who are well known among persons specially
interested in poultry in England, there are articles which
treat of exhibitions, hints for amateurs, educational matters,
poultry production, and marketing. The next sections are
devoted to colonial news and foreign notes, and the journal
is completed by four other sections which include hygiene
and disease, clubs and societies, notes from correspondents,
and an interesting supplement.

Most of the articles have a general interest to poultry
keepers, no matter in what part of the world they may be
read, for many of the main principles of poultry-raising have
a world-wide application. They will be all the more accept-
able in that they are written in a broad spirit and that they
contain nothing that is merely dogmatic. The section in
which colonial news appears has its special interest, and there
would seem to be room for widening the scope of this by
the provision of a larger number of direct contributions from
the colonies themselves.

Accounts have appeared, from time to time, of the
organization and working of the better known poultry clubs,
and the descriptions of them are of interest. Added to this is
the fact that such descriptions would be of great use inthe
event of its being deemed expedient to adopt similar organi-
zations in the West Indies, and they contain matter for
encouragement in that they often show what were the small
beginnings from which many of those bodies sprung.

The way in which the journal is produced should be
a source of satisfaction, both to those who have the work of
its preparation and to those for whom it is designed, The
size of its pages permits of the use of a readable type, and the
quality of the paper on which it is printed gives the best
facilities for the production of its many good illustrations.

40 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Avents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
Qs. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dlews
1x. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY a 1910. No. 203.

VoL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

As was promised in the last issue, the subject of
the Balance of Life in the Soil is continued in this
number. The theme is concluded, in the editorial, in
a broad way, which relates to the interests of the
agriculturist.

An account of results that have been obtained in
Porto Rico with seedling canes from the British West
Indies, is given on page 35.

Accounts of interesting experiments with green
dressings in Antigua and Dominica appear on page 37.

The Insect Notes, on page 42, contain two
articles—one on the insect pests of Uganda, where
a comparison with those in the West Indies is given,
and the other supplying interesting information in
connexion with the sweet potato weevil (Cylas formi-
carius). Acknowledgement is made to the United
Stiates Department of Agriculture for permission to
use the block for Fig. 5.

The Fungus Notes (page 46) appear under the
heading Cacao Diseases in Surinam. In the article,
the expediency of the completion of the work in con-
nexion with the correlation of some of the diseases of
cacao is indicated.

A note on a grass (Sporobolus indicus) that is
fairly common in the West Indies is given on page 46.

Frsruary 5, 1910.

Manufacture of Tapiocain the Malay States.

Tapioev is stated to be produced in the Malay
States from cassava starch in the following manner.
The starch, while still wet, is made into small round
pellets by pressing, rolling and shaking it, and forcing
it through asieve on to apiece of cloth which is
kept in constant movement. ‘The pellets then fall on
to an iron plate, which is also kept shaking, and is heated
to a temperature of about 100°C. The heat causes
a partial conversion of the starch into dextrin, and
swells the pellets, which becomes gelatinous in appear-
ance. The product is called pearl tapioca. Pellets
1:15 millimetres in diameter form ‘seed tapioca’; 3
millimetres in diameter, ‘medium pearl’; 5 millimetres,
‘bullet pearl’.

The amount of tapioca exported from the Feder-
ated Malay States during 1907 was 45,600 tons, of
a value of about £720,000,

Uses of Cotton Waste.

Two kinds of material are included under the
name of cotton waste; one of these is a thread waste
which is used by those in charge of machinery and_ for
packing purposes, and the other is a soft waste which
is generally re-spun. ‘The latter is often worked up into
yarns which are used in the manufacture of cotton, or
cotton and woollen, goods. Additional uses for this kind
of waste are for making wadding, for upholstering
purposes and for the manufacture of smokeless powder.
‘To a much smaller extent it is used in cotton-tipped
cigarettes.

In addition to that in the waste proper, a large
trade is done in cotton linters, as well as. in cotton
pickings; these are composed of pieces of cotton which
become detached in sampling and transportation, and
which are sold at prices about 10 per cent. less than
those of ordinary cotton.

Characteristics of Manicoba Rubber Trees.

In the last issue of the Agricultural News, a note
was given on the variability that is shown by the Jequié
rubber tree (Manihot dichotoma). In the Agricultural
Bulletin of the Federated Malay States, November
1909, the main characteristics of this species, as well as
those of the Remanso Manic¢oba rubber tree (Manihot
piauhyensis), are given, ‘The leaves of the former are
from 3-to 5-lobed, pale green on the under surface,
with ribs of greenish white; the contrast of the ribs
with the leaf is sufficiently well marked to render the
species easy of identification. The height of the tree
is said to become about 30 feet, and its diameter about
2 feet, when it reaches full maturity. he leaves of
Manihot piauhyensis are 3-to 5-partite, that is to say
the divisions between the parts are very deep; they are
ofa darker green colour than those of the former
species. he ribs on the under side of the leaf are of
a purplish colour, The plant is a small tree reaching
a height of 6 to 16 feet.

A third species of rubber-yielding Manihot has
been mentioned recently, namely the S,. Francisco
Manicoba (Manihot heptaphylla). It is said to yield
rubber of good quality.

Vor. IX. No. 203.

The Cay-cay of Annam.

An account of the cay-cay of Annam (Jrvingia
Oliveri) is contained in a report of the Director of
Agriculture, Forests and Commerce on the work of the
experiment stations and botanic gardens of Indo-China
for the year 1908. It states that investigations under-
taken at the Agricultural and Industrial Laboratory of
Saigon have shown that the kernels of the seeds of
Irvingia Oliveri contain about 56 per cent. of a fatty
matter which is edible and capable of replacing the oil
obtained from copra in all its uses.

It appears, however, from several enquiries that
this plant is not suitable for artificial planting, as infor-
mation furnished by the Forestry Service of Cochin-
China shows that the average crop produced by an
adult tree only amounts to about 220th. of fruit which
contains about 45 th. of seeds. ‘The latter only contain
about 18 to 20 per cent. of their weight of kernels, and
the weight of useful matter is thus not more than 9b.
per tree.

On a basis of an extraction of 50 per cent., one
tree could thus only furnish about 44 tb. of fatty
matter. The cultivation of this plant, under these
conditions, is not recommended, especially as its growth
is slow, and it does not produce useful crops before the
age of ten years. Another consideration is that, owing
to the great ramification of the principal branches, no
more than forty trees can be planted on each acre.

ee ee
Euphorbia Latex for Preventing Corrosion.

In Newman’s Metallic Structwres an account is
given of the use of the milky juice of the Euphorbias
(spurges) for preventing corrosion. It is stated that it
is only in comparatively recent years that the preserv-
ing qualities of Euphorbia latex have been made use
of in engineering structures, and then only occasion-
ally. A description is further given of the way in
which this property was discovered. It appears that,
during a surveying expedition in Natal, it was noticed
that, when Euphorbia plants were cut by the clearing
knives, the juice formed a layer on them which could
only be removed with great difficulty. Further experi-
ments with pieces of iron that had come into contact
with the juice showed that these did not rust, and that
when they were immersed in sea water, at Durban,
they remained free from barnacles and were not affect-
ed by any form of marine life. In Natal, laths coated
with Euphorbia latex, together with those which had
not been so treated, were thrust into nests of the white
ant (Zermes bellicosus); after twenty-four hours, the
treated laths were found to be unaffected, while those
which had not come into contact with the juice were
- completely riddled by the insect. It is further stated
that timber coated with Kuphorbia latex remained
untouched by the sea worm, Teredo navalis, and
mention is made of the employment of the juice in
making paint.

_ Since this, according to the Agricultural Journal
of the Cape of Good Hope, as a result of enqniries on
the part of the Somerset East Chamber of Commerce,
it has been ascertained that the above statements
regarding the preserving properties of the juice are

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 41

correct, and that, although owing to its gummy nature
it is no longer used 1n paints, it is employed by makers
of compositions for ships’ bottoms, and an attempt is
being made to create an export trade in the article
from Cape Colony.

Change of Habits by Birds.

Interesting notes on this subject appear in the
Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad
and Tobago tor November 1909. It has long been
observed that the habits of birds living in islands
differ materially from those of birds from the same
species which live on continents, and these differences
are specially noticeable among insect-eating birds. An
example is the carpenter bird, which is one of the
woodpeckers, and therefore essentially an insect feeder;
this has a close relative, the ‘sap sucker’, which feeds
on the sap exuding from holes made by it in the trunks
of trees. This habit of feeding seems to have been
comparatively recently acquired, for one species, the
yellowbellied sap sucker (Sphyropicus varius) is
known to capture and devour such insects as may come
within its reach,

The ditferences shown are probably due to the
fact that the supplies of food are more likely to suffer
a temporary interruption on islands than on conti-
nents, because the insect fauna of islands is
generally comparatively poor, and because much more
serious damage may be effected in islands by high
winds and storms. It is quite probable, in such
circumstances, that some of the birds will adopt, at
any rate temporarily, the habit of eating kinds of food
to which they have not been accustomed, but which
may be sufficiently palatable to be edible. For
example, a woodpecker searching for food among cacao
trees and probably attempting to extract an insect
from a cacao pod might easily be supposed to develop
a sufficient taste for the pulp of the cacao bean to
employ this as food during times of shortage of supply.

———EE a ———_—
Orange Oil in Italy and Jamaica.

In Italy, after the Messina earthquake, it became
speedily known that a very large part of the stocks
of orange oil at that place and at Reggio had been
destroyed, and it was thought that, as a consequence,
there would be a great scarcity of sweet orange oil, and
that prices would advance. Actually, the tendency of
the market has been the opposite to this, and prices
have been steadily falling. In the Semi-Annual Report
issued by Messrs. Schimmel & Co. in October last, it is ~
stated that careful investigations, undertaken for the
purpose of finding an explanation of the circumstance,
made it evident that a considerable industry in the
manufacture of new oil had gradually arisen. The cause
of this was that, owing to the repeated destruction of
the railway track, the use of the line, as soon as it
was repaired, for carrying supplies into the distressed
regions, and the conversion of railway cars into
dwellings for the destitute survivors, the export of
oranges from Calabria was stopped, so that growers
employed their fruit im the manufacture of essential
oil, thus giving rise to a new source of supply.

42 THE AGRICULTURAL

INSECT NOTES.

UGANDA INSECT PESTS.

An interesting leaflet by Mr. C. C. Gowdey, B.Sc.,
recently received, gives a brief account of certain insect
pests in Uganda, and as many of the crops there are similar
to West Indian crops, readers of the Agricultural News
may be interested in the following notes.

Cotton in Uganda is attacked by the larva of Prodenia
littoralis in the same way as by the cotton worm (Alabama
[ Aletia] aryillacea) in the West Indies, and the same remedies
are used to control it. One of the cut worms in the West
Indies is related to the cotton caterpillar (Prodenia littor-
alis).

The Uganda boll worm of cotton is the same as the
Egyptian species (Harias insu/ana), although this is not the
species known in the West Indies as the boll worm; its
hibits are identical, and the measures for its control would
be similar.

The cotton stainer (Dysdercus nigrofasciatus) is closely
related to the cotton stainers of the West Indies; it
attacks the plant in the same way and would be controlled by
the same means. The same species of Aphis, or plant louse,
as that known commonly in this part of the world attacks
cotton in Uganda

Mr. Gowdey states that, althongh he has not been
able to find the*boll-weevil (Anthonomus grandis) in Uganda,
he has been informed that it occurs there.

The citrus trees of Uganda are attacked by several
of the same species of scale insects as those in the West
Indies, and in addition, oranges are affected by the
larva of a large butterfly (Papilio demolens) which feeds
on the leaves. In Cuba and Porto Rico, two species
of Papilio ave known e
to attack oranges in
this way, but these insects
are not on record as
pests in the Lesser Antil-
les. The cacao thrips
(Heliothrips [ Physopus |
rubrocinctus) occurs as
a pest of cacaoin Uganda,
as well as tke black Ny
scale (Lecanium nigrunc). F
The latter occurs in the/
West Indies on hibiscus,
cotton and other plants.

It was a very severe
pest on cotton in Barbados

for some three or four
years; but is at present
very well controlled by its parasite, Zalophothrix mirum.
Lecanium nigrum is not recorded as occuring on cacao in the
West Indies.

Two beetles attack the leaves of the cacao; but no men-
tion is made of a boring insect like our Stevrastoma depressun.
Tobacco is also attacked by two leaf-eating caterpillars. One
of them is Prodenia littoralis, the cotton caterpillar of
Uganda, and the other is Protoparce carolina, one of the
tobacco-eating hawk moths known in this part of the world.
Cut worms are also among the tobacco pests of Uganda.

Coffee is attacked by two species of scale insects,
Lecanium nigrum and Aspidiotus sp., and by a beetle which
lays its eggs in the developing flower. The grub feeds in
the coffee bean, and pupates in the tunnel formed by its

Fie. 19. Sweer Poraro Wegvin. (Cylasformicarius.)

NEWS. Fesruary 5, 1910,
feeding. Attacked coffee beans have a shrivelled appear-

ance, and are unfit for consumption.

Funtumia rubber is attacked by Lecaniwm viride, which
was a serious coffee pest in Ceylon, and which during the
past few years has been much in evidence as a pest of limes
in the West Indies. Castilloa rubber is attacked by a long-
horned borer (Inesidia leprosa) which, in Egypt, is a borer of
the woman’s tongue tree (Albizzia Lebbek). The sweet
potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) occurs as a pest in Uganda,
and a sweet potato caterpillar is mentioned, which feeds on
the leaves. The name is not given but it may be nearly
related to our West Indian potato hawk moth (Protoparce
cingulata). Palms in Uganda are attacked by many of the
same species of scale insects as in the West Indies and by
a weevil, Rhyncophorus phoenicis, which is similar to the
West Indian Rhyncophorus palmarum.

Many of the miscellaneous pests are the same in Uganda
as in the West Indies, or are very nearly related. Among
these are grasshoppers, plant-lice, mole crickets, scale insects,
flea beetles, and the pests of domestic animals, ete.

The white ants (Termites) are more abundant and more
destructive in Uganda than in these small, and compara-
tively dry islands. Not only do they attack the dry wood in
buildings, ete., and the dead wood in trees, but kill Jiving
trees. Many of the African termites are builders and
their enormous mounds or nests are conspicuous features
of the landscape.

The Sweet Potato Weevil. (Cylas formicarius.)

Specimens of asmall beetle were recently received at
the Head Oftice of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
from British Guiana, and were believed to be Cylas formicar-
cus, a pest of sweet pota-
tos. This sweet potato
weevil was mentioned in
the article on the scarabee
#) of the sweet potato in the

M. West Indian Bulletin,
B Vol. X, No. 2, where the
gy statement was made that
the insect was known
as a pest in the South-
ern United States and
Jamaica. A few of the
British Guiana speci-
mens were sent to Pro-
fessor W. Newell, Secre-
tary of the Louisiana
State crop pest commis-
sion, who states that they
are the sweet potato weevil, C. formcarius, as believed, and
that it has been recorded as being found in Barbados.

The sweet potato weevil which is abundant in Barbados
is the scarabee (Cryptorhynchus batatae),and since the estab-
lishment of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, Cy/as
formicarius has never been reported in any of the Lesser
Antilles

It might be stated that Cy/as formicarius occurs in
many far-distant parts of the world, in addition to the
American localities already mentioned. One of these far-
distant localities is mentioned in the preceding article on
this page, Uganda Insect Pests, where it is stated that
Cylus formicarvus occurs as a pest of sweet potatos in
that country.

Vou. IX. No. 203.

THE LOSS OF PHOSPHATES FROM SOILS.

Asis well known, the Joss from the soil of those
compounds which form the source of the phosphorus
required by plants is constantly taking place. At the
Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of
Wisconsin, investigations are being made for the pur-
pose of determining the extent to which this
occurs under various methods of farming. So far, the
eonditions under which trials have been made are those
of exhaustive cropping and of heavy manuring; an
account of these may be found in Research Bulletin
No. 2, of the above-mentioned Station.

The importance of a careful study of the loss of phos-
phates under cropping conditions cannot be overestimated.
Unlike nitrogen, this element cannot be collected from an
inexhaustible supply, and unlike potash, it is being constant-
ly removed from the soil in ways which are impossible to
prevent, with the present conditions of farm practice. Phos-
phorus is used in the growth of the grain and is sold from
the farm. That portion of grain which goes into human
food is probably lost beyond recovery, and that which goes
into cattle feed is very frequently lost because of carelessness
in handling manure.

EFFECT OF EXHAUSTIVE CROPPING. Nine pairs of samples
have been studied from fields which have been very largely
exhausted by forty to sixty years of cropping in grain or corn,
with little or no manure. It is evident that the loss of phos-
phoric anhydride, under conditions of constant cropping
and no return, is largely caused by the removal of the
crops, and this may amount to 30 per cent. of the
total quantity contained originally in the soil.

EFFECT OF HEAVY MANURING. The custom of using large
amounts of manure on tobacco lands raises the question as to
whether or not the soil retains the essential elements so
applied in excess of that taken by the crop. This problem is
one which cannot be settled by a few isolated experimental
plots which have been under control for a long period of
years, since the retention of these elements by the soil will
undoubtedly vary with its different characters. It seemed,
therefore, highly desirable to study this matter on a consider-
able number of fields where the practice of heavy manuring
has been followed for a long period of years. Determina-
tions have been made on sixteen fields, chiefly in Dane and
Rock counties.

Of the sixteen fields, nine show a decrease, on analysis;
six an increase, while one has remained constant. The
average of the sixteen fields indicates a loss of 64 per cent.
of that contained in the original virgin soil. It is evident,
therefore, that in spite of the large additions of phosphoric
anhydride in manure, there has been no increase in the soil
itself, although the decrease is not so great as in the case of
the exhausted soils.

When the amount of phosphoric anhydride added in
manure is compared with that removed by crops, it is seen
that, on the average, almost five times as much phosphoric
anhydride has been added in manure as removed by crops.

The conclusions reached are as follows:—

(1) Crops from 9 exhausted fields account for 80 per cent.
of the phosphoric anhydride lost from the soil of those fields.

(2) Crops from sixteen heavily manured fields account
for 19 per cent. of the phosphoric anhydride lost from the
soils of those fields.

(3) Heavy applications of manure in tobacco-cropping
result in an enormous loss of phosphoric anhydride. In the
sixteen fields examined this loss is equal to the total amount
originally present in the soil.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 43

POULTRY NOTES.

RHEUMATIC TROUBLES OF POULTRY.

The common title that is given to all cases of poultry
losing the use of their legs is ‘cramp’, but this is not an
accurate description, because there are various forms of leg
trouble, and they do not all arise from the same cause. It
is generally supposed that all cases of inability to stand arise
from the same cause, that is to say, damp; but this is not the
ease. Fowls suffer mainly from four forms of muscular leg
trouble. There is first of all cramp, as applied to chickens
and ducklings. Now this may be due to damp, insanitary
surroundings, but it may also be due to physical weakness
arising from constitutional debility, and it is most commonly
seen amongst chickens and ducklings hatched in the winte
time when the egg germs are not so strong as they are at
other times, and the cure for this is to adopt such a course
of feeding as will strengthen the limbs and enable the frame
to grow up strong. Should the trouble, however, arise from
damp, then the cramp is rheumatic in its origin, and should
be treated by warmth and by the use of some stimulating
liniment. A great many of these cases of cramp amongst
chickens and ducklings are due to their being kept on brick
floors. It is no uncommon thing to find a farmer keeping
ducks in a pigsty paved with a brick floor, which is of course
about the worst possible thing for them. Such a floor should
be covered with boards, and on the top of the boards should
be put 2 or 3 inches of peat moss litter or dust, and
then they would be perfectly warm and dry, and there need
be no fear of cramp. Similarly with chickens, cramp often
results from cold, damp floors, and it is far better to let
chickens sleep on the bare ground than to put them to sleep
on a cold brick floor, with perhaps a little straw littered
over it.

Coming now to rheumatic trouble in older poultry, of
course rheumatism is one of the recognized complaints to
which poultry are liable, and if it is allowed to go on long
enough it will degenerate into gout, because rheumatism is
really due to a certain condition of the blood, which is
induced by a particular course of feeding, and is encouraged
by damp, unhealthy surroundings; and then the acids which
form in the blood as a result are liable to concentrate
themselves in the joints, and you get swollen joints in birds,
just as youdo in human beings. Asa rule, however, the
life of a fowl is not long enough to enable it to become gouty.
Rheumatism, however, is fairly common, and the way to treat
it is to use a stimulating preparation such as hartshorn and
oil, or turpentine liniment or something of that kind, to the
shank of the leg, and to give the bird a dose of quinine or some
similar tonic. But there is one form of leg weakness which
is not rheumatic, and which only affects laying hens,
particularly young hens during their first season. This is
what is known as ovarian cramp, and it is a muscular
affection caused by the strain of laying, which seems to
deprive them of the use of their legs. A young hen will
often be found squatting down on the nest unable to move
after laying, and if she be lifted off she will flutter across the
yard, and seem to have lost controi over her legs. All she
needs is to have alittle rest fora few hours, when these
symptoms will disappear; but it is a wise plan in such a case
to keep the bird on short rations in order, if possible, to check
the development of eggs, because it is obviously desirable that
laying should cease until the muscles have recovered their
normal condition, (Farmer and Stock Breeder.)

44 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

The amount of cotton produced in Togo, French West
Africa, in 1908, was 423 tons, as compared with 301 tons in
1907.

Unginned and ginned cotton to the value of £6,670
and £7,117, respectively, were shipped from the Uganda
Protectorate during the quarter ending September 30, 1909.

The quantity of copra exported from Java during 1908
was nearly 95,000 tons, which is the largest amount since
1905. The quality is stated to have been generally poor,
and prices fluctuated considerably, the lowest being 13s. 4d.,
and the highest £1 3s. 4d. per picul (136 1b.).

It is stated in the Report on the Agricultural Depart-
ment of the Gold Coast for 1908 that that Department had
introduced improved varieties of sugar-cane from the West
Indies, and that these varieties appeared to do fully as well
as any of the native ones.

A text-book entitled Practical School Gardening, by
P. Elford and Samuel Heaton, has just been issued by the
Clarendon Press, at the price of two shillings. It contains
a highly suggestive chapter on ‘Discovery Lessons’, the
contents of which are of general interest in relation to nature
teaching.

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture has
been recently constituted at the Manchester University. The
final examination for this degree includes the following
subjects: agriculture and estate management, engineering and
surveying, agricultural chemistry, botany and zoology,
geology, economies, and agricultural law.

The Annual Report of the Comptroller of Customs, British
Guiana, for 1908-9, shows that the value of the total exports
of the colony for that period was $10,100,047; this is an
increase of $1,884,639, or 18°6 per cent., compared with
that of the previous year. Seventy percent. of the total
exports was formed by sugar, rum, molasses and cattle food.

An attempt is being made in St. Helena to develop
a fibre industry, and the year 1908 was the first period at
which the fibre exported actually affected the trade returns.
The output of fibre and tow during the year attained a value
of £3,557. The fibre produced is that of New Zealand flax
(Phormium tenar).

A review has been received of a booklet entitled
Sanitary Methods in Dairies and Cowsheds, by A. Melhuish,
which is published by Messrs. Newton, Chambers & Co.,
Ltd., Thorneliffe, near Sheftield. The review would appear
to show that the information contained in the work is
specially applicable to cases where dairying is practised on
a small scale

Frsruary 5, 1910.

According to the Board of Trade Journal for November
25, 1909, 3,533,067 bales of cotton wer? imported into the
United Kingdom during 1909, to November 18. Of this
quantity 6,173 bales came from the British West Indies.

The report of the Curator of the Botanic Station, Mont-
serrat, for November 1909, shows that work in connexion
with cotton selection has been done at Dagenham, Richmond,
Bethel and Brodricks, as well as on the plots at Grove
Station. The number of plants selected was 15 at Dagenham,
16 at Bethel, 11 at Richmond and 6 at Brodricks, in addition
to 70 plants in the plots at the Botanic Station.

The Annual Report of the Immigration Agent-General,
British Guiana, gives interesting figures showing the develop-
of the local rice industry that has been rendered practicable
by the immigration of East Indians. The amount of
rice imported annually, twenty years ago, was about 40 or
50 million pounds. During 1908, only 2 million ponnds
was imported, while there was an export of 7 million
pounds.

An account of a new use for the Nicaraguan shade tree
(Glirierdia maculata) is given in No, 61 of the Bulletin of
Agricultural Information, Trinidad, It consists in cutting
off such parts of the branches as may have grown sufliciently
to extend below those of the cacao trees which it protects,
and using them as a mulch. Such material should form a
valuable addition to the matter that is available for mulching
in cacao orchards.

A paper in the Comptes Rendus del’ Académie des Sciences,
Paris, No. 148, shows that superphosphates, when used as
manure in spring or autumn, rapidly become less easily
assimilated, owing to the formation of basic phosphates.
In soils rich in humus, however, the process does not take
place to the same extent, because part of the phosphoric acid
is fixed by the organic matter. Experiments conducted by
the author show that the best results were obtained by mix-
ing the superphosphate with an organie manure previous to
its application,

During 1908, cotton to the value of £15,000 was
exported from Porto Rico. The amount of cotton grown
was double that of the preceding year chiefly on account of
the freedom of the crop from caterpillars. Similarly, the
value of the year’s export of pineapples was more than
double that of 1907; it reached £56,454. There was
a large decrease in that of coffee, amounting to £80,920.
This is due to the removal of protection from this product,
and its consequent competition on level terms with that from
Brazil.

The Second International Food Congress, which was
held in Paris during last October, was devoted to obtaining
definitions of the operations which may be permitted in the
manufacture of substances intended for consumption as food.
Much attention was given to cocoa and chocolate, and there
was a great difference of opinion between small and large
producers as to the use of alkalis in preparing cocoa. It was
finally resolved that the use of alkalis should be tolerated in
cocoa manufacture for the present, but that a decision should
be obtained eventually from an International Commission
on the subject.

Vor. IX. No. 203. THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 45

STUDENTS CORNER.

FEBRUARY.

Frrst PrErriop.

Seasonal Notes.

Where cacao is being grown, read up the subject of
cacao grafting; in doing this, reference should be made to
Pamphlet No. 61 of the Department, entitled Zhe Grafting
of Cacao, as well as to what has appeared from time to time
in the other publications; special mention may be made of
the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. VII, p. 137, and of the Agri-
cultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 313. Satisfy yourself that
certain advantages are gained, in regard to special plants, by
the practice of grafting, and make yourself familiar with the
circumstances in which these advantages consist. Consider
what part of the stem hasan intimate use in connexion with
grafting, and try to give a reason why this operation cannot be
practised with certain plants, and why, where it is possible, this
is only the case where the plants are of either the same kind
or closely related to one another. What effects may be
shown by grafting (1) on the stock, (2) on the scion? In
suitable weather, make actual practice of grafting, where it is
possible for this to be done. What is the essential difference
between grafting and budding, and why is the former recom-
mended for some plants and the latter for others? What are
the chief causes of unsuccessful grafting and budding !

In some of the cotton fields, it may be noticed that
many of the leaves fall before their time, leaving the plants
with many bolls that are still to open. An examination of
such leaves will probably disclose the fact that the mycelium
of a fungus is present on the under side of the leaf; the
presence of this fungus is possibly the cause of its premature
falling. In what ways may the fungus be enabled to gain
access to the interior of the leaf! What is most likely to
become of the fungus after the leaf is dead! Study the life-
history of the fungi, and obtain a clear account of those
which attack the different parts of the cotton plant. (Pam-
phlet 45, ABC of Cotton Planting; West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. IV, p. 255; Vol. V, p. 178; Vol. VI, p.417; Vol. IX,
p. 216; Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, pp. 251, 267 and 283.)
In regard to the leaf-blister mite, it should be noticed that,
where there has been an early attack by this pest, the chances
of obtaining a second crop of cotton are lessened, as the
plants become badly infested by it.

An examination should be made of the seed yielded by
any particular cotton plant. It will be found that this
exhibits great uniformity, so that it is natural to conclude
that the lint borne by the plant is of uniform quality. This
consistency in the matter of quality of yield makes the
examination of cotton from different plants a simple under-
taking, as the quality of the bulk can be determined from
investigations of a few normal lint-bearing seeds.

Now that the cotton plants are in bearing, an oppor-
tunity is afforded for making observations as to what is
the most useful and convenient type of plant, in regard to
shape. It will be seen that a large proportion of the plants
suffer a loss of yield through the development of low-lying,
spreading branches, the bolls on which decay through being
subjected to the unfavourable conditions on or near the
ground. It is thus explained why, in seed selection, some
account is taken of the shape of the plants which have been
chosen to give the seed for examination. Note that the
bolls borne by different plants show variation in size. This

variation is sometimes sufficiently great to make one type
require fifty more bolls than another in order to provide
a quantity of cotton weighing a pound. Examine the lint
from bolls from various sizes; it will be found that small bolls
do not necessarily contain seeds yielding short lint. An
interesting observation may be made, where both selected
and unselected cotton are grown, by examining seed from the
two kinds in order to determine the proportion of clean black
seeds in each case.

In places where a large number of cane cuttings that
have been planted have failed to sprout, dig up several of
them and ascertain, as far as possible, the cause of death.
Make observations, also, with a view to determining if the
cuttings were pushed to the bottom of the hole in which they
were planted. If the cuttings in different fields have been
treated differently before planting—that is to say if some
have been treated with Bordeaux mixture and some with
lime-water—make counts for the purpose of finding the per-
centages of failure in the two cases. A sufficient number of
observations of this kind should give useful information as to
the relative efficiency of the two methods of disinfection.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Give a short account of the structure of the foot of
the horse.

(2) Describe carefully the true stem of arrowroot and of
ginger.

(3) Give a careful description, with sketches, of the
growth of a cane ‘top’ or of a cane cutting.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) What do you understand by mulching? Describe
several methods of mulching, and state what advantages are
derived from the operation.

(2) State what varieties of cacao are recognized by you.
Which variety is most suitable for the district in which you
live, aud why!

(3) How would you cultivate the soil in an old lime
orchard?!

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture return-
ed from an official visit to the Northern Islands, by
the SS. ‘Oruro’, on January 30, 1910. During part
of the time, Dr. Watts accompanied the party of
planters and others from Barbados who were visiting
Antigua in order to gain information concerning the
equipment and working of the sugar factories in that
island, and to enquire into methods of implemental
tillage, as well as for other purposes connected with the
interests of agriculture.

Mr. Austin H. Kirby, B.A., of St. John’s College,
Cambridge, Agricultural and Science Master, Antigua,
has been approved by the Secretary of State for the
Colonies for the appointment of Scientific Assistant on
the Staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture in
the West Indies, in succession to Mr. W. Biffen, B.Sc.,
who has resigned on account of ill health.

46 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fepruary 5, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

CACAO DISEASES IN SURINAM.

Two extremely interesting bulletins, numbers 20 and 21
have recently been issued by the Department of Agriculture
in Surinam, dealing with diseases of cacao in that colony.
The main results are summarized in English, and it is from
the summaries that the following notes have been taken.

CANKER OR RED ROT DISEASE. The external symptoms
of this disease agree very closely with those described for the
stem and branch diseases of a similar nature which occur in
Ceylon, Java, the Antilles and the Cameroons. Consequently
it seems probable that the disease is the same in all these
countries. Mr. A. E. van Hall finds that the disease in
Surinam is due to a new species of Spearta, which has been
named Spicarza colorans, and that a species of Vectria, very
probably Veetria striatospora, which is frequently found on
diseased trees, is only a harmless saprophyte, and cannot be
regarded as being in any way the cause of the disease. This
is a conclusion of considerable interest to cacao growers in the
West Indies, as the canker disease found here has always
been attributed to two species of Vectria—Nectria theobromae,
and Calonectria flavida. But, as Mr. van Hall remarks, the
parasitic nature of these fungi is not yet certain, and their
life-histories have not been fully worked out. The disease in
Ceylon and also in the Cameroons has always been attributed
to species of Vectria, but in both cases conclusive evidence is
wanting; it is therefore extremely probable that all these
fungi are only saprophytes, and that the true cause in
each case is really the fungus Spicaria colorans to which
the disease is due in Surinam. This last fungus produces
spores of a Fusarium form, as well as the Spicaria form; but
no perithecia, or any other higher form of fructification were
ever formed in the artificial cultures. After carefully sifting
the evidence, Mr. van Hall comes to the further conclusion:
‘Up till now, there are no data which prove, or even make it
likely that the canker disease may attack the pods’, though,
as will probably be remembered, species of Vectria have been
reported as causing pod diseases in Ceylon and elsewhere.
These conclusions serve to indicate very clearly that the true
cause of ‘canker’ disease of cacao in these islands, and the full
life-histories of the fungi Vectria theobromae, and Calonectria
flavida are points which still require very thorough and
critical investigation. The same is true of the diseases of
cacao pods. One other point of interest also arises in this
connexion. Owing to the semi-saprophytic character of the
fungi belonging to the genus JVectria, it has always been
thought that canker disease originated in wounds inflicted on
the bark. Should, however, the disease prove to be due to
Spicaria colorans, aS in Surinam, there seems to be no
special reason why infection may not prove to be direct,
which would probably render the disease more difticult to
prevent, though it would not alter the remedial measures
which should be adopted, once it has obtained a footing.

DIE-BACK AND BROWN Rov. These two diseases are
caused by the same fungus, which appears to be Diplodia
cacaoicola, the fungus responsible for the same diseases in
these islands. It was originally thought that the Surinam
disease was due to an allied genus, Chaetodiplodia, which
was separated from that of Diplodia on the ground that its
pyenidia were hairy while those of Diplodia were smooth.
This difference, however, was found to be due entirely to
surrounding conditions and was not constant, for which
reason Messrs. van Hall and Drost suggest that the former
genus should be annulled. On some branches and pods the

pycnidia appear in groups. This is a constant feature of the
stem form of the disease in these islands, and is the character
upon which the genus Lasiodiplodia was separated from
Diplodia, This character also was found not to be constant in
Surinam, and the Mycologist to this Department has
observed the same thing to be true of specimens from these
islands. In consequence, it is suggested that the genus
Lasiodiplodia must also be abolished.

It is further worthy of note that, for the same reason,
the two fungi Diplodia cocaoicola, causing die-back and
brown rot diseases, and that alluded to in the publications of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture as Lasiodiplodia sp.,
should be regarded as one and the same fungus. Infection
experiments have not been undertaken here yet to prove this,
but the conclusion seems fairly reliable and has been sug-
gested independently by two French mycologists—Messrs
Griffon and Maublane. These observers, however, suggest
a different system of nomenclature, so that at present the
ultimate name of this fungus is in doubt.

It is found in Surinam that the die-back disease only
affects trees that are in a leafless, or nearly leafless condition,
owing to thrips, wind effects, or sudden removal of shade. In
fact, as has been recognized here, the fungus is only a facul-
tative parasite. It does not attack healthy pods, either, but
only those that have been injured, or affected by other fungi,
In this connexion, evidence is accumulating which tends to
show that several other fungi are possibly responsible for pod
diseases in the first instance; that is, they are capable of
attacking injured pods directly, and after the pods have been
weakened in this way, the brown rot fungus can obtain
ahold. It is possible that two or three species of Colleto-
trichum may be responsible for this direct attack, as mem-
bers of this genus are often found on cacao pods, and many
of the species are known to be vigorous parasites on several
different plants; an example is that causing cotton anthra-
cose, and another causing the witches’ broom disease of
cacao in Surinam,

The remedial measures suggested are practically identi-
cal with those recommended for the same disease by the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, and need not be
repeated here.

Some of the points mentioned above are of a distinctly
new nature and tend to overthrow some of the generally
accepted ideas in connexion with cacao diseases. It is.
a peculiar fact that, in spite of at least ten years’ work on
the subject in many parts of the tropical world, really
reliable and critical information on the identification and
life-histories of the fungi causing disease of cacao is only
now coming to hand. Even now, much work, particularly
on pod diseases and on the possible alternative host plants
otf Diplodia cacaoicola still remains to be done.

Sporobolus Indicus.

This grass is known in most of the British West Indian
islands as ‘hair grass’ or ‘bed grass.’ In Martinique, it is called
‘cabouya’; this name is also given there to Sporobolus Jacque-
montii. In Guadeloupe, both S. indicus and S. Jacquemontit
are known as ‘mabouge,’ while the former has the additional
name ‘malefoin.’

S. indicus is a widely distributed plant. It grows well
in dry places, and when young, forms good forage for sheep
and horses.

S. Jacquemontii is very closely related to S. indicus,
It is not as widely distributed, however, seeming to be con-
fined to Jamaica, Hayti and the French Islands. It has the
same natural habitat as S. zndicus, but is not as abundant.

Von. IX. No. 203:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. AG

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. L. Jackson, A.LS., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market
for the month of December :—

Throughout the month of December, as is generally the
case, the markets have shown the usual dullness, buyers
being interested only in purchases to meet their immediate
wants, and this dullness has been accentuated by the approach
of the Christmas holidays, and the unsettled condition of the
country consequent upon the advent of the general election,
which in the present instance, at the time of writing, is having
a more than ordinary disorganizing effect. In the drug market
the two articles that have attracted the most attention of
late, have been glycerine and Cascara Sagrada. The enormous
rise in the price of the first is said to be due to the great
demand at present existing for it in the manufacture of
dynamite, which is now so generally used for blasting pur-
poses, in the place of gunpowder. Cascara, however, is
beginning to show an easier tone. The following are the
details relating to West Indian produce :—

GINGER,

At the spice sale on the first of the month, 154 barrels
of Jamaica were offered, but none sold, the whole consign-
ment being bought in; 309 packages of Cochin and Calicut
were also offered without reserve, and 100 sold at 81s. for
rather small cut, an intermediate quality fetching 67s., and
small native 52s.; 56s. to 37s. was paid for partlean, brown
rough Calicut. In the following week there was no Jamaica
offered, but there was a good supply of Cochin, amounting to
235 bags of washed rough, all of which was bought in at42s. 6d.
perewt. Japan was represented by 374 bags, the wholeof which
was disposed of without reserve at 32s. 6d. to 33s, per ewt for
wormy limed. About 30 cases of good brown Colicut were
sold privately. At the auction on the 15th, the only offerings
were 304 bags of limed Japan, the whole being sold without
reserve, one lot of fair to good fetching 36s. 6d. to 37s. 67.,
and another lot 38s. per ewt. There were no further quota-
tions during the month.

MACE AND PIMENTO.

At the spice sale on the Ist of the month,.72 packages
of West Indian mace were sold at the following rates: fair to
good pale Is. 9d. to 2s. 3d., paleand reddish 1s. 7d. to
1s. 8d., fair red 1s, 6d, to 1s. 7d., and pickings 1s. 3d. No
change in this article has been made during the rest of the
month. Pimento has received but little attention. At the
first spice sale none was offered, but it was stated that 24d.
per tb. was the price paid privately. A week later 51 bags
were brought forward, and the whole bought in at the price
already quoted.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the first drug auction on the 2nd of the month, the
supplies were limited, with no demand. There was no Grey
Jamaica offered; the offerings being as follows: native Jamaica
26 bales, Lima-Jamaica 6 bales, Guatemala 32 bales,
Honduras 10 bales.. For the 26 bales of native
Jamaica 10d. to 1s. per Ib. were the prices at which they were
held; for the 6 bales of Lima-Jamaica Is., Guatemala 9d.,

and Honduras Is. 4d. per tb. A week later it was reported
that 13 bales of grey Jamaica had arrived, but no
further business was done in this article.
KOLA, TAMARINDS, LIME JUICE, ETC.

At the first sale 11 packages of kola were offered, and
5 sold; for 2 bags of small West Indian 2?d. per tb. was
paid, and 1 Lag of good washed realized 3d. per Ib. At the
same sale Tamarinds were brought forward in considerable
quantity, 16s. per ewt., in bond, being asked for Barbados, and
it was stated that higher prices were to be expected. This
same price, however, was again quoted at the auction on the
15th, while the price of Antigua was 12s. to 14s. per ewt., in
bond, and 11s. 6d. for East Indian. On December 8, con-
centrated West Indian Lime juice was reported ‘firm, with
buyers at £17’. At the end of the month 236 packages of
lime juice was reported to have arrived from Dominica, but
there was very little demand for it, the quoted prices being
from 11d. to 1s. per gallon. The same steamer brought 28
packages of oil of lime, the market price of which at the time
is ls. 6d. per tb.

THE TICK AND DISEASE.

The November issue of the Annals of Tropical
Medicine and Parasitology contains the reports of
the twenty-first expedition of the Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine. This expedition was made to
Jamaica, by Professor R. Newstead and Dr. W. T.
Prout, and the reports deal fully with the blood-
sucking arthropoda generally. The conclusions arrived
at concerning the relation of ticks to disease are as
follows: —

1. That the tick responsible for the transmission of Texas
fever is the so-called Texas fever tick (Jfurgaropus an nulatas,
var. australis), though experimental proof is needed to
confirm this in the island of Jamaica. 2. That ticks are
most abundant during the dry season. 3. That ticks are
dispersed from place to place chiefly by the host to which
they are peculiar. 4. That rain, or temporary flooding with
water does not destroy ticks or their eggs. 5. That
a relatively large number of young ticks will hatch, and
possibly survive, for longer periods in dirty pastures than in
pastures which are free from weeds and scrub. 6. That
ticks cannot survive indefinitely and reproduce their species
without access to a host. 7. That all natural enemies of
ticks should be encouraged in every possible way, and that
fowls should be kept in all cattle pens. &. That in all cases
where it is practicable, the burning of pastures should not be
carried out until the eighth week after the removal of all stock.
9. That tick-infested animals should be thoroughly sprayed
or dipped regularly at intervals of five to eight weeks, or at
less intervals if found necessary; local applications being of
little use in the destruction of cattle ticks, though useful in
destroying those species which infest the natural cavities of
the horse and mule. 10. That the effort to destroy the ticks
must be a united one; no half measures will serve: all must
participate in the work. 11. That the evidence of those pen-
keepers who have constantly waged war against this pest is
that ticks, on their respective estates, are not nearly as
troublesome as formerly. 12. That. the island Government
remove the duty from all materials used in spraying and
dipping cattle. g

|

London,—Tue

~~
loo

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Freruary 5, 1910.

MARKET: REPORTS.

West Inpria ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,
January 18, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pE Pass & Co.,
January 7, 1910.

Arrowroot—No quotations.

Batata—Sheet, 2/7 ; block, 2/3 per th.

Begs-wax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 65/- per ewt. ; Grenada, 48/- to
54/- per cwt.; Jamaica, 47/- to 52/-.

Corrre—Jamaica, 38/- to 120/-.

Corpra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, 183d.; Floridas, no quotations; St.
Croix West Indian, no quotation.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Grxcer—Common to good common, 45/- to 49/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 50/- to 54/-; good
bright to fine, 55/- to 65/-.

Honrty—No quotations.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, no quotations; cencentrated, £18 to
£18 10s.; Otto of limes, 5/9 to 6/-.

Loe woop—No quotations.

Mace—(uiet.

Nurmecs—No quotations.

Pimento—Common, 2jd.; fair, 2,5,d.; good, 2d. per th.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 7/6, fine soft, 7/1; tine Peru,
7/43 per th.

Rum—Jainaica, 2/7 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/- to 18/3; Muscovado, 13/3 to 15/-;
Syrup, 13/6 to 14/6; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gituesrie Bros. & Co., January

i, LILO!

Cacao—Caracas, Iljc. to 12c. ; Grenada, 1lc. to 11}c. ;
Trinidad, 115c. to 12c.; Jamaica, 9$c. to 10}c. per th.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $24°00 to $25°00; culls,
$15°00; ,Trinidad, select, $24:00 to $25-00; culls,
$15-00 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, 8{c.; good ordinary, 9c. to
94¢.; and washed, up to lle. per ib.

Gincrer—10 fc. to 13c. per tb.

Goar Sxins—Jamaica, 63c.; Parbados, 52c. to 55c.;
Thomas, St. Croix, St sitts, 50c. to 5le.
Antigua, 52c. to 55ce., dry flint.

Grape Fruir—$1°‘75 to $3:00 per Lox.

Limes—$3°75 per barrel.

Mace—3d4e. to 38c. per tb.

Nurmrecs—110’s, 9c. per tb.

Orances—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4je. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°52c.; Molasses,
duty paid,

St.
per Ib.;

4°02c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3:27c. per tb., all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., January

22, 1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°40 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°50
to $11°75.

Cocoa-NuT Or—90c. per Imperial gallon, cask included.

Correre—Venezuelan, 10}c. per tb.

Corra—$4°50 per 100 th.

Duat—$4°40 per 2-buskel bag.

Oxtons—83°75 to $4:00 per 106 th.

Pras, Sprir—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Potaros—English, $1-80 to $1:90 per 100 tb.

Rick—Yellow, $5:00 to $510; White, $5°00 to $510
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5:20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., January 31, 1910;

Messrs. T.
1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°60 to $3-75 per 100 th,

Cacao—$10-00 to $10°50 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-NuTS—$14:00.

CorrrE—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10-00 to $11-00 per
100. tb., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 per 100 th., dull.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $6500; Cacao manure, $4800;
Sulphate of ammonia, $75°00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—Bunched, $5-00 per 100 Tb.

Pras, Sprit—$6-25 to $6°50 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1°60 to $2717 per 160 th.

Ricr—Ballam, $420 to $4°60 (180 tb.); Patna, $3-80 $
Rangoon, $300 per 100 th.

S. Garraway & Co., January 31,

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wrerrnc & Ricurer, December
24, 1909; Messrs. SaANpDBACH, Parker & Co.,
January 21, 1910.

ARTICLES.

ARRowRooT—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

CassaAvA—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NuTS—

CorrrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Libenan
DHat—

Green Dhal
Eppos —
Mezasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Poratros—Novya Scotia
Lisben
Poraros—Sweet, Barbados
RiceE—Ballam
Creole
TANNTAS—
Yams—White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

Messrs. WIiEtING
& RicutTer.

$8°25 to $8-50
per 200 th.
32c, per Tb,
48c. per th.
Ile. to 12c. per th.
$1-08
$6-00 to $6°50 per
| barrel of 196 th.
| Sales—scarce
| $12 to $16 per M.}

|12c. to 13¢ per tb.
|13$c.to 134c. per th.
10e. per th.
$405 to $4°10 per
bag of 168 tb.
$5°50 to $5°75
$1°68 per barrel
22c. to 2dc.

4c. to 43c. per th.
$6°50 to $6-60 per
bag (210 tb.)
$4:00 to $4°25
20c. to 48e. per
bunch
$2°50
No quotation
$1:44 per bag
No quotation
$4-0U to $4:10
$2°40 per bag
$240
$2°88 per bag
$2°55 to $2-75
$2°90 to $3-00
$3°70 to $3°80
$2:00
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00

per ton

Messrs. SAND-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.
$850 per 200 tb.,
market dull
Prohibited
None
10c. to 11e. per th..
No quotation
No quotation

$16 per M.,peeled
and selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
15c. per th.
10c. per tb.
$4:25 per bag of
168 th.

No quotation
No quotation
$6°50 per bag
(210 tb.)
$4-50

$3°50
No quotation

$4°75
$400 to $430

$2°60
$2°80 to $3-00
$360 to $3°80
$200 to $2°30
32c. to 55c. per
cub. fo0t
$3°50 tc $5°50
per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d,

Volumes IT, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIIL and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume X. No. 1. Flower-bud Maggot of Cotton ; Bourbon Cane in Antigua ; Bourbon and other Varieties of Cane
in Barbados ; Soils of Nevis ; Cotton Selection in the Leeward Islands ; Leguminous ,Crops and Soil
Inoculation. No. 2. Central Factories; The Underground System of the Sugar-cane; The Cotton
Industry in the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment of Orchard Soils in Cultivation
in the West Indies ; The Scarabee of the Sweet Potato. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-two. Most of these are still available and can be supplied.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. perannum. Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents All
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. 8S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. BowEn & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica : THE EpucatronaL Suppry Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. 2. H. BrmpGewarer, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tue ‘Darty Curonicue’Orrice,Georgetown. Antigua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHsty & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Toe Brste anp Book Surpry AcEncy, Basscterro.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLAGEMANN, Scarborough. Nevis :. Mr. 8S. D. Matong, Charlestown.

‘Grenada : ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

FOR SALE.” — FOR SALE.

{LIBERIAN COFFEE HAND MACHINERY. | Four thousand five hundred (4 500)
. )

Second hand, but in working order—including
One Gordon’s ‘India’ Pulper, One Gordon’s (Smeet’s) Washington Navel

Peeler and Polisher, One Gordon’s Winnower.
{Cost £30: price £16: f.o.b. Castries, St. Lucia.

Peele BUDDED ORANGE PLANTS.
|i ‘Always Ready’ Gasoline Engine, 2 H.P,, price £13. Local price 6d. each, delivered Roseau.
Apply to:-— EXporT PRICE 1s, EACH, F.0.B, RosEau, Dominica.
GEO, 8. HUDSON, Apply to:— :

Errard Estate, A. G. S. DAVENPORT,

Dennery, Bramhall Estate,

St. Lucia. Dominica,

Vout. IX. No. 203. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Fesrvary 5, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

2 JASE Bee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorfi’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorfi’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

1909. (MISCELLANEOUS) D. No. 4. |THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
In the Supreme Court of the Leeward Islands, FACTORY, LIMITED. _
PRESIDENCY OF ANTIGUA.
IN THE MATTER OF ‘the Title by Registration Acts BRIDGETOWN.

1886-1906’, AND IN THE MATTER OF lands of Richard x

Henry Kortright Dyett, as Trustee known as ‘morris COTTON S K K D.

LOOBY’S’ or ‘WILLOUGHBY BAY’ ESTATE and ‘BODKINS’ C ;
ESTATE, AND IN THE MATTER of a mortgage of the said Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and

land in favour of Felix Thornely Cobbold and Herbert irom the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of
St. George Cobbold. ¥ Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt
THIS IS TO GIVE NOTICE that there will be sold in jattention.

one lot lot by PUBLIC AUCTION on Monday the 7th day Se aee
of February, 1910, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, at the SULPHATE O)a COPPER.—We stock this}
Registry of the Supreme Court in the City of St. John in article, and all orders received will be promptly
the Island of Antigua ALL THOSE valuable Sugar Planta- executed.
tions or Estates known respectively as ‘ MORRIS LOOBY’S ’ ——- SS
or ‘WILLOUGHBY BAY’ and ‘BODKINS?’ situate in FOR SALE
the Parish of St. Paul in the said Island, all as the same are .
delineated and described in the plans annexed to the Certifi-
cates of Title of the same respectively dated the 9th day of
June, 1909, Register Book F. folios 28 and 29 of the Regist-
er of Titles of the said Island in favour of Richard Henry ATNNIN yf
Kortright Dyett as Trustee, Registered Proprietor eee A COTTON GINNING PLAN I

and also all things accessory to the said lands which are set Consisting of 8 Asa Lees Single Action Macarthy

On account of -death, there is offered for Sale,}

down in the Inventory annexed to the Act of Seizure. Gins, Spiral Seed Conductor, 50 feet long, and One
Dated this 11th day of November, 1909. Crossley Brothers’ Oil Engine, 74 B.H. Power, besides
(Sgd.) It. H. KORTRIGHT D\ aa Gin spares, all only very little used; at a low figure,
tegistrar. :
Messrs. McDONALD & DOUGLASS, For particulars apply to
43, Church Street, Ex f the ist: eT Emin
St. John’s, Antigua, B.W.L xecutors of the Estate of THomMas Hewitt, Decd.}
(Solicitors having carriage of the sale.) Christiansted, St. Croix, D.W.I. |
es
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MAINTAIN ‘THE YIELD. |

The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its
available plant food.

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Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Von. IX. No. 204.

CONTENTS.
PAGE. PAGE
Antigua, Recent Conference Market Reports ... ... ... 64
in) cl) we ce ees cee 62') Notes and ‘Comments ..- 56
Availability of Phosphates Orange Oils in Jamaica ... o6
in Acid Soils, The ... 56! Passage of Heat through
Brazil Rubber Industry, Soils, Lhe See. s.. 61
The State of ... ... 50/Rice in British Guiana... 63
Cassava Farine for Feeding Rubbers and Fibres in Fiji 57
Young Calves ... 57| Seed Improvement, Impor
Co-operation Between the tance Of... Bebe s) een DY
Planter and his Advisers 49| Students’ Corner ... ... 61

Sugar Industry :—

Sugar Cultivation in Peru 51
Sugar in Bordeaux Mixture 5d
Tapping of Assam Rubber

Trees, The! Beeps (c2004
Trade Within the Empire... 56
United States, Rice-Grow-

Cotton Notes :—

West Indian Cotton ... 54

Uses for Cotton Seed Oil 54
Fungus Notes :-—

The ‘Smut’ Fungi ... 59
Gleanings ... ... .-. --- 60
Grenada Handbook, The ... 57
Guide Book to St. Vincent, TON) (-... Maco cest OO

‘Mie ... oc. «se ese oY! Vanilla-Growing, Prospects
Insect Notes :— Ol dee. os.) ee S ise
The Root Borer of Sugar- | Witches’ Brooms of Cacao,

cane . 58| The Development of... 47

Co-operation Between the Planter

and his Advisers.

TU Se WO causes have operated chiefly in bringing
about the existence of agricultural depart-
ments; they may be described as the
ameliorative and the protective. The first has its
origin in the recognition of the possibility of effecting
changes in the soil and in the plant that would result
in the production of greater yields, either because these
had become small on account of the exhaustion of the
soil, or because circumstances arose which necessitated

BARBADOS, FEBRUARY 19 1910.

Price ld.

of it, if the
particular cultivation was to continue to be profitable.

a greater output from a given area
The second has arisen in a more sudden, and often

a more tragic, way. A

until it

pest has appeared, has
estab-
brought about

specialist has

not been observed has become well

lished, and its depredations have

then the
been called in to devise methods to combat it: in other

serious loss, and trained
words, to cure the patient after the symptoms have
become so alarming as to threaten his speedy decease.
This aspect of affairs, by now, should have become
a thing of the past, and it is the purpose of the present
article to indicate the way in which such a desirable
condition can be brought into existence.

The broad uses of an agricultural department are
sufficiently shown by the two considerations that have
just been brought forward. Its functions are essentially
advisory, in the light of experimentation and the right
application of the knowledge of the way in which
have their existence. It
possess the means of making accurate observations,

natural occurrences must
and of amplifying the results of academic research in
such a way as to render them of practical utility. For
these objects, any means by which its field of view can
be extended, and through which the results of its work
can be more efficiently recorded, is of the greatest value.
It is evident that the best means to this end is supplied
by the intelligent co-operation of those whom its work
most nearly concerns—the members of the planting

body.

The directions in which the energies of an agri-
cultural department are expended are influenced by
both external and internal stimuli. Of these, the
former are the most important, for they bring about
a reaction to surrounding conditions which cannot have
any other result than to put into train work that is of

50 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fesruary 19, 1910.

the most directly useful nature. Not less useful is that
which is originated by the internal observations
and experience of the department: indeed, such efforts
are more than expedient. There is, however, a grave
chance that, owing to want of co-operation on the part
of the planter, this self-originated work may bear too
great a proportion to the total amount of effort that is
expended, with the result that the attitude of those for
whom the department exists is likely to become one of
apathy rather than sympathy. Thus does the efficiency
of the work of the trained investigator depend primarily
upon the readiness of the planter to give assistance of
a nature that he.alone can supply.

This lack of helpful suggestion from without is
mainly responsible for the over-development of one
phase of the duties of an agricultural advisory. body;
this phase is connected with its function of warning
those for whom it exists against the adoption of methods
that may result in harm, or against pests and diseases
that show signs of being likely to effect damage. It is
this which causes the oft-reiterated warnings of such
a body almost to develop the quality of mere scares,
in the mind of the planter, who gains an instinct to
prevent himself from being affected by those very
fears which should have been his, as an outcome of his
own observations, and the realization of the presence of
the enemy within his gates. The existence of such
a condition shows that the advisers of the practical
agriculturist are doing work of a kind which they
should rarely be called upon to effect; they are stimula-
ting the planter toward performing his part in the
co-operation that should always exist between them
and him, in order that he may ask for, and act upon,
the advice which they are more than ready to give.

This attitude of the practical agriculturist is due
partly to the fact of his having become accustomed to
the presence of the efforts and labours of a department
which is continually interesting itself in the current of
agricultural affairs. This is not the sole cause, how-
ever. A dangerous, wide-spread fallacy exists, to the
effect that the work of such an organization can be
completed after a few years—that, after it has reduced
the number of such pests as are amenable to that
process until they are no longer dangerous, or at any
rate, has devised means by which they may be kept in
check whenever they show a tendency to assume serious
proportions, and after it has laid down similar general
rules for all the other branches of agricultural practice,
the reasons for its continuation exist no longer, and its
disbandment should be a matter of course. A little
consideration will show that the very nature of the
work that has just been shortly outlined precludes the

possibility of its final completion, and that there will
be always new pest-problems and the periodical occur-
rences of old ones, new crops,new methods and new agri-
cultural practices which will require the regulating
and co-ordinating influence of an advisory department.

Enough has been said to demonstrate how neces-
sary and how valued is co-operation between the practi-
cal agriculturist and those whose chief duty is to give
him advice and help. The next step is to indicate in
what directions,and in what ways, that co-operation can
be most usefully conducted. The first matter in regard
to which the two may meet on common ground is that
of observation. Here, the opportunities of the person
whose work ‘is continually performed on the estate are
often superior to those of the experimenters whose duty
it is to give him every assistance. The recognition,
by the former, of such observation as part of his
daily activity, and of the expediency of communi-
cating its results, as speedily as may be, to those whe
are working for him, will do much toward increasing
the efficiency of that co-operation which is so desirable

A second indispensable means to the same end
must be a readiness on the part of the planter to adopt
the measures that are advised in the special circum-
stances of the problem that is before him. It may be
that these, as at first suggested, are of a preliminary
nature, and intended more to indicate what modifi-
cations of a general method are required for the partic-
ular case which has presented itself, than to have the
character of finality. This means that he must be
ready to assist in work that is, for a time, of a purely
experimental nature. Instances are not wanting, as is
well shown by the contents of many of the reports of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, that such work
has often been, and is being, readily done, to the benefit
ofthe planter, and for the assistance of his advisers.
What is wanted is the extension of this phase of co-oper-
ation, so that the benefit may be enlarged and the
effectiveness, of the work of the Department may be
increased.

A third link in the bond of co-operation is the
existence of a readiness, on the part of the agriculturist
in receipt of advice, to communicate results. It often
happens that, when a suggested course of treatment
has met with success, the very state of satisfaction that
has arisen from this circumstance has been the means
of causing the remedy to be forgotten, to the loss both
of the planting community and of its advisers, Another
matter of omission is that, even where a certain amount
of information as to results is given, this is often of
a very inadequate nature, in that it merely indi-
cates whether a certain course of action has been

Vor. IX.. No. 204.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 51

successful, or otherwise: no idea is given as to the effect
of any attendant circumstances in bringing about
a modification of the conditions under which it was
supposed to have its influence. Thus much of the
interest of the investigation is lost, and valuable infor-
mation as to its relation to the special circumstances
is rendered unavailable.

If these three phases in the co-operation between
the planter and those whose work is undertaken in his
interest are to be developed to the stage of their largest
efficiency, they must not be evident solely in the times
of fear induced by the presence of untoward conditions.
They must become matters in the daily routine of
estate work. Only then will that co-operation be of the
greatest individual and collective value.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

SUGAR CULTIVATION IN PERU.

A paper on this subject has recently been commun-
icated to the Journal d Agriculture Tropicale by
M. César Broggi, the Director of the Sugar Station at
Lima. In view of its general interest in sugar-growing
countries, the following abstract of it has been made:—

It is only within the last forty years that the sugar
industry has undergone a real development in Peru—a growth
which was assisted by the good prices that were received for
sugar in 1890. At present, the following products are
obtained from the juice of the cane: (1) sugar for export;
(2) white sugar for local use; (3) ‘chancacas’, or moist
sugars in prismatic lumps, of several qualities; (+) alcohol
and rum, by distillation; (5) a native drink called ‘chicha’.
The larger part of the sugar that is made is exported.

The cane is cultivated in the warmest parts of the coun-
try: near the coast in the sheltered valleys of the Sierra and in
the midst of the mountainous region. The climate of the chief
sugar-growing districts is almost temperate, and kept equable
by constant winds, so that, in any given place, it does not de-
pend much on the latitude.

The largest sugar works are situated in the district of
Chicama, where some of them have an output of about
16,000 tons of sugar for export per annum. According to
official statistics, the output of sugar from Peru, in 1907,
was 108,403 tons. The amount consumed in the country
itself was 21,068 tons, which brings the total production for
the year to 129,471 tons, a quantity which does not include
8,897 tons of ‘chancaca’ utilized on the spot. Of alcohol,
176,000 gallons was distilled, of which 23,848 was exported.
There are practically no importations of alcohol into Peru.
The area devoted to cane-growing is 22,000 acres. It would
appear that the exports of these products increased largely
during 1908, though there are no figures available to
demonstrate this fact.

For the purpose of preparing the soil, Fowler’s steam
ploughs, with four shares, are employed throughout the coast
region. They are always followed by a harrow, and the soil
is pulverized by means of a roller. After ploughing, the
trenches for planting and for irrigation and drainage are
opened. In order to simplify this part of the work, the land
is divided into sections about 300 by 150 feet in area,
separated by roads 12 to 25 feet wide, between which are
laid out paths 9 to 15 feet wide. The lines of the trenches

are traced by means of a small wooden ploughs, at a distance
apart of 3 to 5 feet, according to the estate on which the culti-
vation is being carried out; for the purpose of deepening
these, a double mould-board plough, or ‘eajon’, is used.
The large drainage trenches run parallel to the roads, while
the irrigation canals take the direction of the paths. These
are made hy means of the ‘campa’, which is a kind of
shovel drawn by oxen; this serves also to make the smaller
trenches which occur at every third, fifth or tenth row,
according to the slope of the land and the local enstom.

The planting material most generally consists of nothing
but cane tops, or ‘cogollos’, which are chosen from the
healthiest canes when they are being cut. In putting these
in, care is taken to allow the upper part to project from the
soil—a precaution that would not be required in the case of
cuttings. The length of the tops employed for this purpose
is about 16 inches. At the ends of the different sections
of each row, two additional cane tops are planted, for the
purpose of supplying dead holes at the end of the ‘spring’.

The first weeding is done when the plants attain a height
of about 1 foot; the rest succeed at irregular intervals, at
such times as the weeds tend to overrun the land. The canes
are moulded up, about five months after planting, by means
of the ‘cajon’, described above, and advantage of this opera-
tion is often taken to make an application of manure. The
latter generally consists of guano, together with the ash of
the megass, or with sulphate of potash. The dressing is
completed with lime and nitrate of soda, or potash; so far,
green manuring is practised but little.

The cane fields on the coast lands are irrigated by means
of canals containing a supply of water drawn from the rivers
which flow from the Andes. In the winter season, only
a certain amount of water is available for each planter, as
the supply is limited during this part of the year. With
rare exceptions, the amount of water at command during the
summer is greater, and some of this could be saved for use
during the drier season by the erection of expensive reserv-
oirs. On the other hand, it is the want of water that
prevents the extension of the cultivation. The application
of water is effected by infiltration, submersion, or by means
of weirs, according to the slope of the land. Some of the
wetter soils are only irrigated once during the season, while
for the drier ones, the operation is repeated as many as
twenty-four times, the average number of irrigations not
being more than five. Schemes for the improvement of the
irrigation system are under consideration. The wet soils are
drained by means of open trenches and, during the last two
or three years, a commencement has been made with the
adoption of pipe drains.

The periods of growth are: for plants, twenty to twenty-
four months; for ratoons sixteen to twenty months. The
canes are generally allowed to ratoon four or five times; in
exceptional cases, tenth, twelfth, or even fifteenth ratoons are
grown. Climatic conditions are such that the cane may be
harvested at any time of the year; the rule is, however, to
cease cutting for one or two months during the year, in order
to provide time for necessary repairs to the sugar works.
A native can cut four or five tons of cane per day.

The plant itself is subject to few diseases. Rats have
not yet become the scourge that they —are in several
tropical countries. Among. insects, borers are capable of
doing much harm, but are effectively controlled by the selec-
tion of unattacked tops for planting.

It may be said, finally, that continual progress is being
made by the sugar industry of Peru, and that’ this progress
is materially assisted by the society of planters known.as
the ‘ Union Azucarera’.

52 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fresruary 19, 1910.

WEST INDIAN FROBIT.

THE PROSPECTS OF VANILLA-GROWING.

Enquiries have recently been received by the Imperial
Department of Agriculture as to the prospects of vanilla-
growing in the West Indies, and the advisability of the exten-

sion of its cultivation. An increased demand has arisen in
certain of the markets; by some, the reason for this is stated
to be the recent passing of a pure food law in the United
States. The chief competitor with vanilla is vanillin, which
is artificially produced from eugenol, a constituent of oil of
cloves. The pure food law, to which reference has just been
made, makes it imperative, in relation to vanilla, that all
packages containing artificial vanillin shall have a declaration
to that effect on the wrapper or label, and it is explained in
some quarters, that this has decreased the sale of this product
in favour of that of vanilla. The Department has obtained
definite opinions in regard to the prospects in the vanilla
markets of London and New York; before giving these, it will
be convenient to review the general position.

The following were the prices of vanilla on the London
Market (Messrs. Dalton & Young) in July, September and
November, 1909, as given in the Journal d Agriculture
Tropicale:—

SEYCHELLES.

Description July. September. | November.
Fine (long) 12/- to 15/- Ae

Fair 10/6 10/- to 11/- aa
Fair to good 8/- tollj/- 9/6 to12/- 11/- to 15/-
Red and split 7/- to 8/- 10/6 to 11/6
MAURITIUS.

Description.

Good 12/- to 15/-

Fair (loug) 10/- to 10/6

Ordinary (long) 8/3 to Y/-

Fair to good 9/- to 11/6

7/6 to 8/9
8/6 to 9/-

Ordinary (short)
Fair (short)

The remarks* in connexion with the above were as
follows:
July 1909.—‘Demend good.’ (Journal d’ Agriculture

Tropicale, No. 97.)

September.—‘ Only 108 boxes were offered. There has,
however, een a large demand for the article, and the prices
realized are higher by 6d. to 2s. per tb. than those of last
month.’ (Journal @ Agriculture Tropicale, No. S95)

November.—‘ There was an extremely poor supply,
amounting to 138 boxes. The demand was good, and the
whole lot was sold at ls. 6d. to 2s. 6d. above the ordinary
prices.’ (Journal PT Agriculture Tropicale, No. 101.)

An interesting article entitled ‘ La Vanille des Colonies

Frangaises et la Vanilline Chemique’ appears in J’ Agriculture
Pratique des Pays Chauds for October 1909. In this, it is
pointed out that, next to Mexico, the French colonies have
become the most important exporters of vanilla. The pro-
duction of this substance is, however, becoming a matter of
greater difficulty year by year, owing to the lowering of
prices that has been brought about by the competition of the
artificial product, vanillin.

The following table, showing the quantity of vanilla
exported from the French colonies, as well as from other parts
of the world, in 1901, 1904, and 1908, is taken from the
article mentioned: —

1901, 1904, 1908,
Source. kilos. kilos. kilos.
Tahiti 92,398 134,405 173,411
Madagascar TOY 9,289 57,285
Martinique 226 317 1,806
May en its depen- ! 1.364 76,094 69,867
Guadeloupe 2,591 8,657 30,954
Mexico (July to June) 25,588 98,334 108,071
Seychelles 71,899 41,072 24,776
The re-exports from France to various countries are also
given; from this information, the following is abstracted: —
1901, 1904, 1908,
Exported to kilos. kilos. kilos.
England His 69,783* 37,971
United States 113,015 249.793 259,620
Germany 40,200 71,900 90,3007
Italy 4,500 7,20u 78,961
Austria-Hungary 10,700 16,800 24,200
Belgium 4,110 6,893 7,436

Taken altogether, the figures show that the general pro-
duction and consumption of vanilla are decidedly increasing.

Toward the end of the article, the following statement is
made: ‘Up to the present, the Jarge quantities of vanilla
produced in the different countries—quantities which have
varied between 500 and 600 tons per annum—have always
found buyers.. Overproduction, in the true sense of the word,
has thus not taken place, since there are not at present large
stocks in hand. But it may be stated definitely, that there is,
on one hand, a too abundant production of vanilla, and, on
the other hand, this is concurring with a large manufacture
of vanillin. This forms an explanation of the low prices that
have just been under consideration.

Reference is made to the American Pure Food Law,
‘which compels the makers of commodities fer consumption
*In 1905.
tIn 1907,

Vot. IX. .No. 204.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

or
ee)

to indicate, ina plain manner, whether their products are
perfumed with vanilla or vanillin.’ ‘

It is interesting to note, in passing, that the following
measures are proposed for the purpose of. putting prices in the
French vanilla market on the most satisfactory basis:—

(1) A tax of 416 francs per kilogramme (about £7 10s.
per Ib.) on vanillin. xk

(2) Application of the adulteration laws to vanillin.

(3) Reduction of the areas cultivated in vanilla in the
different countries where it is produced.

he last recommendation is of special imterest, in view
of any proposal to extend the production of vanilla in the
Wert Indies.

Evidence as to the increased productiom of vanilla is
also given in the Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4,243,
Annual Series, Report for the Year 1908 on the Trade of

Réunion. Here it is stated that the quantities produced in
recent years were as follows:—

Year. Kilos.

1906-7 35,588

1907-8 48,865

1908-9 70,000

It is further stated that, of the last crop, 44 tons was
exported up to February 26, 1909, when prices varied
between 6s. 4d. and 9s. per Ib, for first quality, and 3s. 2d.
and 4s, 9d. for inferior quality. The final opinion given is:
‘there has been a great overproduction of vanilla during the
last five or six years, and prices are likely to go still lower
as new plantations come into bearing.’

The ‘Semi-Annual Report’ of Schimmel & Co., dated
October, 1909; has the following:

The French Government has received a memorial con-
taining 2,500 signatures, from vanilla planters in the French
colonies, urging the imposition of a suflicient excise duty
upon vanillin to enable the vanilla-producers, who describe
themselves as struggling for their existence, to compete
successfully with the artificial scent. As a result of this
step, it is intended to ask the French Parliament to sanction
an increase in the import duty on vanillin to 15 franes per
kilo (5s. 5d. per tb.), in addition to an excise duty of 60 franes
per kilo (£1 Is. 8d. per tb.). Six colonial Deputies, chiefly
from Réunion, are agitating with great zeal for the adoption
of the proposal, and it will be a matter of great interest to
watch whether it will be carried into law, or whether the
French industries which consume vanillin will successfully
oppose a scheme under which, in future, they would be
deprived of the advantage of being able to employ the most
important odoriferous substance.

The report of Messrs. John Hadden & Co., Salisbury
Square, E.C., for September 1909 (given in the Agricultural
Builetin of the Federated Malay States), mentions that the
offerings of vanilla met a good demand; fine black sold
particularly well, and even foxy red and split had improved
‘in value.

A general consideration of the above figures and facts
would appear to show that the only immediate danger of
overproduction of vanilla exists in the French colonies; this
is probably because nearly all the vanilla produced by them
is marketed in France. The demand in the other markets
seems to be fair to good.

As was stated above, enquiries were made in London and
New York by the Department, with a view to ascertaining the
‘position in those markets. In replying to the first, Mr. J. R.
Jackson, F.L.S., sends a copy of a letter received by him
from a Mincing Lane expert, to whom he applied for informa-
tion, which runs as follows: ‘The quantities of vanillas now
offered on the London market are considerably less than was

the case some years ago, and there is a good demand, at
increasing values, for all that can be brought forwird, so
that I am inclined to think that considerably increased
supplies would find a ready market at full rates. Of course
the quality should approach that of the Bourbon [Réunion }
or Seychelles varieties, and not be of the coarser type, such
as Tahitis. If your friends could supply the right grades
of vanillas, I have no doubt they would meet a ready sale,
and at remunerative prices, and we might’again see London
the chief market for vanillas. In spite ofthe ever increasing
demand for the synthetic vanillin crystals, the beans still
hold their own.’ d

The enquiry in New York was made from Messrs.
Gillespie Bros. & Co. Part of the letter of reply from this
firm stands as follows:—

‘We have interviewed the principal broker in vanillas,
and also one of the largest users. Neither of them is
inclined to attribute the present high price of vanillas
entirely to the Pure Food Act,.but rather to short crops
and an increasing demand. The Pure Food Law has
probably had some effect, but articles such as vanillin, which
is a synthetic vanilla, is being used in as large quantities as
ever, and its sale is not prohibited so long as the packages
are clearly marked Vanillin.

‘The broker advises us that there is always a ready sale
for vanilla of good quality, but was unwilling to name any
price as being obtainable for an article or quality with which
he was not entirely familiar. He laid great stress upon the
fact that the value of vanillas depended almost entirely upon
the curing and packing, but, on the whole, was inclined to
encourage planters to go in for the cultivation.

‘The consumer, on the other hand, is not in favour of
attempting to grow vanillas on a large scale in the West
Indies. He says that he has himself several times tried to
work up the trade in two or three of the islands, and that
his experience is that there is not sufficient labour, or cheap
enough labour, to enable the article to compete with the
products of other countries. He admits that, on present
prices, the vanilla could be grown with good profit in the
West Indies, as prices are two or three times as high as
were obtainable three years ago, but in his opinion there will
be a large crop next year, and prices will adjust themselves.
He points out that it takes three years before the vines will
bear, and that as the present high prices have now been in
force for two or three years, the older planters in the other
islands, who planted immediately, have now got large new
plantations just about to commence bearing, and it is for this
reason that he expects a decline in the market.

‘This particular buyer obtains practically all of his
supplies from France, and tells us that, whereas in former
days he used to be able to buy in London to good advantage,
the fact that the Bourbon [Réunion] Island vanilla has to go
to France, has resulted in making the French market more
important than the London market, and that the Seychelles
vanilla is now going there in consequence. In that market
he is now paying from 36 to 40 francs per tb. for vanillas
which, three years ago, he bought for 12 to 15 franes per hb.
We mention these high figures to show you the impossi-
bility of giving you any actual idea of probable prices, for
we have seen vanillas here which are not quoted at more
than $2°50 per tb. They are, of course, not Bourbon or
Mexican vanillas, and are not well dried or well packed.’

These considerations serve to show the conditions
in the different markets, and must be taken into account
before, in any particular instance, the matter is discussed in
relation to the agricultural aspect. They should be helpful in
giving some idea of the purely commercial tenor of the subject.

54 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fesruary 19, 1910,

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date January 31, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

A good business has been done in West Indian Sea
Island cotton since our last report, and about 330 bags have
been sold.

The sales are chiefly comprised of Montserrat and Nevis
183d. to 19d., St. Kitts 18d. to 20d., St. Vincent 20d. to
21d., Anguiila 184d, with a few Barbados at 19d. to 20d.

Prices are fairly steady, but we notice that Carolina
cotton is offering at rather easier rates from Charlestown,
Fully Fine being now quoted at 173d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending January 29, is as follows:—

There was some demand throughout the week, on a basis
of Fine 32c., and Fully Fine to Fine, off in preparation, at
30c., resulting in the above sales. The buying was partly
for export, but principally on account of the northern mills.

The factors continue to hold for the following prices,
viz., Extra Fine 35c., Fully Fine 34c., Fine 32c., but they
show more disposition to sell, and would probably make some
concession in price to dispose of quantity, having a large
stock on hand.

There is a Jimited demand for planters’ crop lots, which
resulted in the sale of one small crop at 57e.

USES FOR COTTON SEED OIL.

The following extracts are taken from a paper
published in the United States under the name Cotton-
seed Oil Magazine. They show that cotton seed oil is
continually becoming of greater importance, and that
the number of possible uses for this product has by no
means been exhausted.

It is well known that by far the larger part of all the
salad oil sold in this country to-day is made from cotton seed
oil. Cotton seed oil enters largely into medicinal preparations,
and, in fact, wherever an edible oil is used, it is almost sure
to be cotton seed oil. It is replacing lard to a remark-

able extent for cooking and baking, not only in the
large wholesale establis:ments, but in our homes and

kitchens as well. Probably the most promising field for
cotton seed oil is the oleomargarine industry, provided that
that industry could free itself from the effects of adverse
legislation.

According to statistics, the output of cotton seed oil for
last year in this country was 1,200,000 barrels, for domestic

consumption.
even equal to that of the Principality of Holland, which
has a population of a little over two million people, it would
have required, on the present basis of formulae for making
oleomargarine, 2,370,000 barrels to supply the domestic

Had our consumption of oleomargarine been

demand for oleomargarine aione, to say nothing of that
for other purposes, which now takes probably about 1,000,000
barrels.

The writer was recently approached by a party in the
East, who claims to have discovered a process of refining
cotton seed oils, rendering them sweet and palatable, at what
he states is a much lower cost than is possible with present
methods. The information leads me to state, for the benefit
of the cotton seed oil chemists, that if they could produce an
oil which would-be absolutely neutral in taste and smell, they
would find a much larger market for this oil than they now do.

In the manufacture of oleomargarine, for instance, about
30 per cent. of cotton seed oil is used, and the only reason
why more of it is not employed is that that is the largest
amount that the product will stand without the oil disclosing
itself, on account of the peculiar taste, which it seems hard
to remove. For the manufacture of oleomargarine, a pure
neutral oil is essential, and when this is discovered or pro-
duced, it will find a ready sale. Another item which may be
ef value to the cotton seed oil chemist is that if he could
produce an edible oil without destroying the crude colour,
or if he could make it of a red gold tint, it would open up an
entirely new market, and would bring a good price.

It is well known that, at present, the refining of cotton-
seed oil removes its colour, together with the objectionable
taste; but if this taste could be removed and the colour left,
I believe we should have a product which would revolutionize
the industry of oleomargarine making, which industry is
rapidly increasing, and will increase still faster whenever it
can get the proper materials to produce it.

The Tapping of Assam Rubber Trees.

For the purpose of tapping Assam rubber, or Rambong
trees (cus elastica), the use of a rotary pricker, in which
the pins are such a distance apart that the latex which runs
from the puncture joins that from those adjoining, isa more
practical way of extracting the latex than the making of a cut
with a knife. If the rubber which flows from the various
punctures is pulled off directly it has coagulated, it will be
found that the flow will occur again, and a second erépelike
film of coagulated latex can be pulled off. The absence of
wounds prevents the attacks of borers, and the trees can be
again pricked after a short time has elapsed. When the flow
from the puncture is too great to allow it to coagulate, and it
runs down, it can be caught at the base of the tree.
(India-Rubber Journal, September 1909.)

Vor. IX. No. 204.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

or
i

THE STATE OF THE BRAZIL RUBBER
INDUSTRY.

The exports of Brazilian rubber for the year ending
June 30, 1909, were almost exactly the sameas those for the
year ending June 30, 1907, and yet the value in the past year
was about 120 per cent. of the value of the crop in 1906-7, and
about 187 per cent. of the value of the exports in 1907-5. The
entries in Brazil, as measured by those at Para, were 38,003
tons in 1906-7; 36,650 tons in 1907-8; and 38,065 tons in
1908-9. Of the shipments for the past year, 19,200 tons
were for Europe, and 19,050 tons for the United States, the
stock on hand therefore having been drawn upon to some
extent. The visible supply of Para rubber at the beginning
of the present season is placed at 3,132 tons, as compared
with 4,634 tons at the same time the year before.

The value of the rubber shipped during the past year
shows prices for the product which have been without
precedent, the range of prices in the past two years being
greater than that shown by a similar product in the same
time within modern commercial history. In February 1908,
rubber was quoted at about 66 cents per lb. In July 1909,
before the crop season closed, prices were $2°10 per bb.
High prices have been charged for the rubber since last
November, but the prices did not go above $1°50 per Ib.
until the last two months of the year. It seems to be
generally agreed that prices will remain high during the
current season. In the first place, it is understood that
certain interests have combined to maintain the price. In
a general way, also, with products like rubber, which at
present depends more or less.npon supplies from: forest
sources, it requires about a year to readjust supplies to
demand, after there has been an over-supply anda reaction
which led to an under-supply. While there is a prospect of
high prices for the immediate future, and probably for the
‘current crop season, such high prices will doubtless stimulate
production and lead to a reaction in the other direction,
which is likely to bring very low prices another season.

The chief element in the situation, however, which is
likely not only to lead to lower prices, but also is reasonably
certain to bring about regularity in supplies, and therefore
amore permanent range of prices, is the plantation rubber sup-
ply. The supply of rubber from plantations in the Far East
during the current yearis placed at 4,000 tons, by practically
all authorities.. The actual acreage in _rubber planta-
tions in the East, at present, is placed at from 520,000 to
600,000 acres. The rubber production from such plantations,
as they come into bearing, is placed generally at about 1 ton
of rubber to 10 acres of plantation. The immediate supply
from this souree—a supply to be fully realized in the course
of three or four seasons—will unquestionably reach from
60,000 to 70,000 tons, or substantially the equivalent of the
present world supply.

If the demand for rabber increases at the present rate,
the world ought to be consuming in, say 1914, about 105,000
tons. What the total world production will be at that time
is of course problematical, but it looks as though plantations
would be producing more than enough to supply the world’s
markets. This supply will be reasonably regular, will be
based upon a known cost price, and it is quite evident that
there will be no occasion for the immense variations in price

which have characterized the rubber market for the past two
years, in a way not only to cause many losses to manufac-
turers, but also to embarass them in manufacturing for
a market even near at hand.

The probability that plantation rubber will soon domi-
nate the rubber market of the world as far as quantity is
concerned, is commencing to be appreciated in Brazil, but as
yet, few steps have been taken to avoid possible results in
this line. Several of the State executives, in annual messages,
have called the attention of their rubber-producers to the
situation and its unfavourable possibilities, but practically no
action has been taken with a view to combat plantation
rubber on a plantation basis. It seems probable that
instead of rubber groves being planted in Brazil, and the
rubber tree being cultivated as it is grown in the Far
East, the only result of the plantation movement in Brazil
will be that new rubber forests will be opened up, and that
the rubber business will be managed upon a more modern
and less wasteful plan. (Monthly Consular and Trade
Reports, December 1909.)

SUGAR IN BORDEAUX MIXTURE.

The Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXT, p. 151,
contains abstracts of two papers on the making of
Bordeaux mixture. In one of these, it is recommended
that the copper sulphate solution be gently poured into
the milk of lime, as this causes settling to take place
much more slowly than when the mixture is made in
any other way. It is further stated that the addition
of sugar has a similar result, so that when stock solu-
tions are used, it is of distinct advantage to employ that
substance. The other paper deals with investigations
in which varying quantities of sugar were added to the *
mixture, in glass cylinders, the amount of precipitation
in the latter being afterwards measured day by day,
when it was found that the rate at which the sediment
collected was greatly lessened by the addition of sugar.

A further development of the idea is contained in
an article in the Cuba Review for November last,
which is as follows:—

*Cucasa’, a soluble saccharate of copper with lime, is said
to be coming into use in Europe in place of Bordeaux mixture.
The new product yields a solution of copper that has all the
fungicidal properties of Bordeanx mixture, but with the
added advantages, it is claimed, of affording a clear solution
in any dilution, and of keeping comparatively long. Being
clear, it does not clog the nozzle of the spraying machine;
furthermore, much less of it need be used than of the
Bordeaux mixture. It is also uniformly alkaline, and there
can be therefore no copper sulphate preseat to injure the
foliage.

When sprayed on the trees, the thin layer of the solution
is readily changed by the atmosphere, as in the case of Bor-
deaux mixture, into the insoluble film of copper compound
that has the specific power to kill fungi. This film, owing to
its thinness, has the advantage of interfering all the less with
the important functions of the foliage, and.also of sticking very
close—a property which was found in one ease to last for three
months, after one spraying. Cucasa consists of molecular
proportions of copper sulphate, slaked lime and cane sugar,
thus being distinguished from other copper and sugar solu-
tions by the proportions in which the constituents are present
in order to produce a clear, alkaline, fungicidal solution. Its
inventor is Dr, C. Rumm, of Stuttgart, Germany,

56 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Fesruary 19, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be’ addressed to the Ayvents, and not to
the Department.

‘

Local Ayentx: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulan &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found onpage 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s, 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

; op ;
Agricultural dlews
Vou. 1X. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1910. No. 204.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The editorial deals with the subject of the relation
between the practical agriculturist and those whose
duty it is to advise him. It is intended to point out
how co-operation between the planter and the agri-
cultural department can add materially to the efficiency
of the work of the latter.

Under the heading Sugar Industry, on page 51,
a description is given of the way in which sugar
cultivation is carried on in Peru.

The article on pages 52 and 53, which deals with
the position of vanilla in the principal markets for that
product, shows that this plant, generally speaking, is
quite unsuited to be a main crop.

A suggestive article on the uses of cotton seed oil,
especially of the refined product, is extracted on page
54.

The Insect Notes in this issue (page 58) deal with
the root borer of the sugar-cane, and with two other pests
that are somewhat similar in a few respects. Special
attention is drawn to the. remedial measures for the
root borer.

The Fungus,Notes, on page 59, have for their
subject the more important ‘smut’ fungi in the West
Indies.

A general account of the Conference on Agri-
cultural Matters that was recently held in Antigua,
appears on page 62.

Orange Oils in Jamaica.

A recent report by Messrs. Schimmel & Co., on
orange oils from Jamaica that have been examined by
that firm, states that all the samples had a good odour,
and that those which were pressed from sweet fruit also
agreed in their contents (apart from a slightly smaller
residue of evaporation) with Italian oils. On the
other hand, the two samples of bitter oil were somewhat
lighter, and showed a higher optical rotation than is
usually the case. It is suggested that the cause of this.
lies in their source of production, but that it is not
unlikely that insufficient care has been taken in selecting
fruit for pressing, for the variations referred to may be
obtained by the addition of sweet to bitter oil.

Trade Within the Empire.

The forty-sixth statistical abstract for the British
colonies, possessions and protectorates, issued by the
Board of Trade, contains interesting figures, which
indicate the extent of the development of those parts
of the British Empire during the last fifteen years.
They show unmistakably the great and increasing
importance 6f the colonial market. During the time
under review, the total value of the trade in this has
more than doubled, having risen from £346,000,000
to £696,000,000 ‘The United Kingdom’s share of
this total is still greater than that of all foreign
countries combined, but the trade of the colonies with
those countries is increasing much more rapidly than
that with the United Kingdom. This is shown by the
fact that, while since 1904 colonial trade with the
Mother Country has increased by £138,390,000, that
with foreign countries has risen by £154,172,000.

In regard to area and population, the latest returns
show that the former, exclusive of the area of the United
Kingdom, is 11,211,000 square miles, with a population
of 343,748,000 in 1901. In 189i the population of the
Empire was, similarly, 307,483,000—an increase of over
36,000,000 in ten years.

>

The Availability of Phosphates in Acid Soils.

‘The second Research Bulletin, issued by the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station,
contains the results of work that has been taken up in
continuation of previous investigations at that station,
which indicated that acid soils usually stand in require-
ment of phosphatic manures. The new work shows
that acid soils are usually lacking in available phos-
phates, fora higher percentage of their total phosphoric
acid 1s united with iron and aluminium, and a lower
percentage with calcium, than is the case with soils
that are not acid; though this does not mean that the
latter soils may not be lacking in available phosphates
from some other cause. Results have been obtained
which suggest that humic phosphorus may be unavail-
able to plants.

Another conclusion of general interest that was
obtained was that 4-normal nitric acid is an excellent
indicator of the needs of a soil in relation to phos-
phates: this is due to the fact that it indicates the
amount of calcium phosphate in soils.

Vou. IX. No. 204.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 57

‘The Guide Book to St. Vincent.’

A small guide book to St. Vincent has just been
compiled by the Hon. Mrs. C. Gideon Murray, wife of
his Honour the Administrator; it is sold at the price
of threepence. It chiefly contains short descriptions
of various interesting features of the island, together
with infurmation, in regard to the prices of hire of
vehicles, and those of various articles of purchase, that
should be of great use to the visitor or tuurist.

Sn

Rubbers and Fibres in Fiji.

A report on agriculture in Fiji for the year 1908
has recently been received. It shows that satisfactory
results have been obtained with Para rubber (Hevea
braziliensis), Assam rubber (Ficus elastica), and
with West African rubber (Funtumia elastica),
but not with Castilloa elasticu. Ceara rubber
trees (Manihot Glaziovii) were planted, but were
speedily blown down, and this variety has not been
replanted. It is also stated that two specimens of
two native rubber-producing trees (Alsfonia sp.)
were planted in December 1908. The chief difticulty
with this plant is that, when the bark is cut in the
usual manner, the latex will not flow, so that, to obtain
the rubber, the leaves are broken off, and the latex
which runs from the broken surfaces is allowed to
collect on them. Subsequently, the partially coagula-
ted latex from a large number of the leaves is made
to adhere by working with the hands. ‘Trials are also
being made with Jeguié (Manihot dichotoma) Manigoba
rubber and with Remanso (Manihot piawhyensis)
Manicoba rubber.

As regards fibres, experiments are being made
with sisal hemp, bow-string hemp (Sansevieria sp.),
Manila hemp (Musa tevtilis), and ramie (Boel imeria
mnivea and B. nivea, var. tenacissima). All these
were successful, except those with the bow-string hemp,
and samples of the fibres received very good reports
from the Imperial Institute.

The Development of Witches’ Brooms of Cacao.

An interesting article appears in the Proceedings
of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago,
which contains useful information on this subject. It
is pointed out that the chief distinguishing character
of witches’ broom is what is known as hypertrophy, that
is growth in directions which are not followed under
conditions of normal development. ‘his hypertrophy
generally consists in the fact that the twigs in witches’
brooms are generally from two to six times as thick as
normal ones. Witches’ brooms develop from both
terminal and axillary buds of ordinary branches, from
the terminal buds of suckers, from that of young stems
which have not yet branched, and from buds situated
on the trunks and older branches. which would nor-
mally become fruiting branches.

It is explained that the phenomenon known as
‘growing through the witches’ broom’ is caused by
a partial infection of the bud, which does not extend
to its tip, so that the apex develops normally, while the
“broom ’ is produced below it.

The characteristics of the hardened pods which are

a symptom of the presence of the disease are (1) the
hard consistency of the affected area ; (2) the hump
which is found on young and half-grown pods ; (3) the
hypertrophy of the stalk : (4) the * black spot ’ seen on
pods that «re nearly ripe.

‘Star blooms’, which result from the production of
a great number of crowded blossoms on individual
stalks, or from lateral ramification of an enlarged fruit-
ing branch, are really fruiting branches in which are
exhibited symptoms of hypertrophy, together with an
abnormally strong tendency to branching.

EE a ————_—_

The ‘Grenada Handbook’ for 1910.
A copy of the ‘Grenada Handbook’ for 1910 has

just been received, through the Colonial Secretary of

that island. In this, which is the fifteenth yearly issue,
the standard of usefulness of the publication has been
maintained. The bulk of it consists of seven parts, the
contents of each of which are as follows: Part Ih
almanac and chronicle of events; Part II, descrip-,
tive and historical sketch of the colony: Part III,
information relating to the Government, ecclesiastical
lists, members of boards, etc., persons licensed to prac-
tise and follow various professions and callings: Part IV,
institutions, schools, clubs and insurance companies;
Part V, postal, licence and tax information; Part VI,
financial matters, meteorvlogical statistics, flora and
fauna, the dependencies of the colony, sessions of the
supreme and magistrates’ courts, money, weights,
measures, and other, tables: Part VII, general and
local directory. The book is indexed, and contains
an illustration of the new jetty at Carriacou as
a frontispiece.

>

Cassava Farine for Feeding Young Calves.

L Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds for
November 1909, contains an article in which work is
reviewed that has been lately communicated to the
French National Society of Agriculture, in connexion
with the feeding of young calves on food containing
cassava farine in the place of potato starch. The
experiments were not only made by investigators well
versed in the question of cattle-feeding, but also by
small holders who, for the greater part, had never
attempted artificial nourishment on skimmed milk.
The results were quite satisfactory, and the calves
prepared for the butcher appeared to be very little
different from those which were raised upon skimmed
milk mixed with potato starch. As for the latter food,
the economy ettected, in the feeding, over that of those
which had been brought up on milk alone was consider-
able. It reached, in fact, 45 centimes for each kilo-
gramme (about 2d. per tb.) of the live weight, for animals
weighing 90 kilogrammes.

Cassava farine has marked advantages over potato
starch. For one thing, the latter becomes hard and
lumpy on cooling; the cassava mixture, on the contrary,
naturally forms a liquid and is easily incorporated with
the milk, making it easier of digestion. It is possible
to mix as much as 50 to 70 grammes of cassava farine
with each litre of milk; that is 1 oz. to 1} oz. per pint.

ou
Oo

INSECT NOTES.

THE ROOT BORER OF SUGAR-CANE.
(Diaprepes abbreviatus.)

Within the past three or four months, the appearance of
the sugar-cane plants in certain parts of Barbados has indi-
cated the presence of the root borer, and when these affected
canes have been dug up, the root borer grubs have been found
at work in the underground portions of the plants.

LIFE-HIsTorY. The Rev. N. B. Watson, F.E.5., worked out the
life-history of this insect and published, in the West Indian
Bulletin (see Vol. IV, p. 37), a very interesting and instruct-
ive paper entitled:‘The Root Borer of the Sugar-cane’. In
this paper, which’ was issued early in 1903, it was stated that
the length of time occupied in the life-cycle of the root borer
is about 357 days, divided as follows: egg 10 days, larva
312 days, pupa 15 days, imago 20 days. During the last
20 days, the mating and egg-laying occur. It is also
stated that the principal food plants of the root borer
larvae are sugar-cane, sweet potato, imphee, ground nut, and,
Guinea corn. oot borer larvae have also been found in
the main root of bread-and-cheese (Pithecolobium Unguis-catt)
and among the roots of young palms. The plants which the
root borer does not attack much, if at all, are ochro, cassava,
yams, eddos, woolly pyrol, pigeon pea, bonavist, rouncival, and
beans generally.

Since the publication of this paper, cotton
has come to be the most important of all the
minor crops on many estates, some of which
are in the districts where root borer is most
abundant, and since no report has come to
hand of damage to that plant by this insect, it
would seem that ‘cotton might be added to
the list of plants not seriously attacked.

SIMILAR PESTS. There are three species
of beetles, whose larvae are often confused,
which are found in or about canes. Two
of these are weevils. Sphenophorus sericeus (Fig. 6) is the weevil
borer, which in its larval stage attacks canes above-ground and
tunnels in them, always
above-ground. Diaprepes
abbreviatus (Fig. 7) is the
root borer which, in the
larval stage, tunnels the
underground portion of the
cane and eats the roots.
The third of these insects
is the hard-back (Ligyrus
tumulosus, Fig. 8), which
lives in the ground and
nearly always feeds on dead
or decaying vegetable mat-
ter. This grub has three pairs of slender legs, and is thus
distinguished from both the others, which have no legs.
As has been already stated, one of these always attacks
the cane above ground, and the other under the ground;
they may be further distinguished by the presence, in the
weevil borer, of a large hump, or abdominal distention. The
accompanying illustrations will make these differences clear.

NATURE OF DAMAGE. The damage to the cane by the
root borer results from the destruction of a very large
portion, sometimes practically all, of its underground stem
system. The injury to the fibrous roots is not so complete
and not seen as plainly. The effect of the demolition of
this underground stem system is that the connexion between

Fie.

7. Roor Borer.

THE AGRICULTURAL

Fie. 6. Wervin Borer.

NEWS. Frsruary 19, 1910.

roots and leaves is cut off, and the plants die for want of
water, as this cannot be transmitted to the above-ground
portions of the plant, even though the roots are able to col-
lect it. The appearance of canes dying from the attack of the
root borer is very much like that of canes dying from root
fungus (Marasmius) or from drought

HISTORY OF PRESENT ATTACK, ‘The present attack was
first noticed in’ Barbados during December last, in full-grown
canes, then ripening. A few stools at the edges of the fields
were seen to be ina dying condition, and then, as the attacked
canes gradually succumbed, the number of dying stools was
seen to be greatly increased; finally, at the beginning of the
present month, a field of plant canes, in which the young
shoots ware about one foot in height, was discovered to be
infested, and inany of the young sprouts were dying. In the
case of the young plant canes, it was found that the cuttings
which had been planted, and from which the shoots were
springing, were tunnelied through and through, all the stored
up food for the shoots having been consumed. As many as
four grubs have been found in one cane cutting.

RUMEDIES. In dealing with fields of young canes badly
attacked by root borer, the most profitable course will prob-
ably be to fork or plough up the canes, and destroy in this
way as many of the grubs as possible. Carbon disulphide
may be found useful in dealing with attacks of root borer in
young canes if the attack is not very serious, and if it can be
taken at its earliest appearance. Experiments are necessary
in order to demonstrate the usefulness of this material, and
the expense of its application in field work.

PREVENTION. The most satisfactory
- method of dealing with root borer will be
one that includes estate practice calculated to
reduce its numbers.
The full-grown canes which are at
the present time being attacked are now
ripening, and will be cut and milled within
the next two or three months. Planters
shonld make every effort to have all cane
stumps in infested fields dug out at the
earliest possible moment after the canes have
been removed. If a supply of labourers is available, the stumps
should be headed out and thrown into stacks, with plenty of
lime. If it is not possible to have the stumps removed
from the field, they should be dug up and chopped open
with two or three cuts
of the hoe, and left on
the ground. In any event,
the bottom of the holes
should be forked and limed,
so as to thoroughly dry out
any grubs or pupae that
may be left behind when
the stumps are dug out.
The breaking up of the
stumps will expose the
grubs to drying and to the attacks of ants, birds, lizards and
toads; it seems likely that very few of the borers in
the cane stumps dug out in this way, and in the holes
forked and limed as has been recommended, will ever
arrive at maturity. It will be found that attacked canes
are very easy to dig, in comparison with healthy ones.
This is not .an expensive practice, and ought to become
a part of the routine work on every estate.

On estates where ratooning is practised, the stumps
should be dug as soon as the ratoon crop has been taken off.
If fields which were intended for ratooning are badly,
attacked, it will probably be found most profitable to dig
the stumps, as suggested above, and to omit ratooning

Fic. 8. Grup of HE HARD-BACK.

Von, Ux. No: 304;

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

fora season. However, it is for the owner or attorney to
decide whether the profit from one crop of ratoons shall be
lost, or whether the root borer shall be allowed to live out
its life-cycle and emerge in such numbers as to infest the
entire estate, and possibly cause the loss of the entire crop.

It has already been stated that the stumps should be dug
out immediately after the canes are cut, and this-point should
be repeated!y emphasized, as it is of the utmost importance.

Jt might be laid down as a rule that all the cane stumps
on infested estates, and in infested districts, should be dug out
before the first of July in each year. If this were done,
the attacks of root borer and root fungus would be greatly
reduced.

To guard further against attacks of root borer, a rotation
of crops should be established, so that sugar-cane, sweet
potatos, imphee, Guinea corn and ground nuts should never
follow each other immediately, on the same ground, or any of
them be planted two seasons successine/y in the same fields.
The rotation should provide that canes or potatos should be
followed by a crop, such as cotton, cassava, woolly pyrol and
yams, which is not seriously attacked by root borer.

suMMARY. The root borer is a serious pest, but
it can be controlled by estate practice, which includes,
firstly, the digging of the stumps, forking and
the holes from which they have been dug, - immediately
after the canes have been cut; and secondly, a rotation
of crops which provides that the favourite food plants
of the root borer, such as cane and sweet potato, do not
follow each other on the same land.

Root fungus (Marasnvius), which is very abundant in the
West Indies at the present time, and which is always
associated with root borer, would be very effectually checked
by the treatment suggested for the root borer.

The careful carrying out of these recommendations must
result in reducing the numbers of the root borer to such an
extent that its presence in cultivated fields will not be noticed,
and the damage done by root fungus will be greatly reduced
at the same time.

The Importance of Seed Improvement.

The report of the American Breeders’ Association for
1908 has recently appeared. Among its contents is an
article by the Chairman of the Committee on Pure Bred
Seed and Plant Business of that Association, in which some

interesting points appear. It has been found that, in
connexion with work of promoting grain and vegetable

contests, practically the entire benefit comes, firstly, from
the improvement which results from commencing with better
seed, and from the very careful selection of seed grown on
the home farm; secondly, from the education which the
grower receives through being brought into contact with
progressive farmers and breeders, and seeing what has been
accomplished already. A practically perfect sample of corn,
for instance, exhibited at a show or fair, in competition,
shows those who are interested that improvement is possible.
The stock-feeder, too, who goes to a show and sees a useful,
meaty animal that is quite different from the type with
which he has always been familiar, has received an illustra-
tion of what can be done by following the principles of
selection, in breeding.

The article is concluded by a contribution from another
member of the committee, which states: ‘Iam satisfied
that every farmer could improve his grain at least twenty-
five per cent. by hand-picking enough grains for a single acre
and growing his own seed, and the lesson he will have will
de of great benefit to him in general farming.’

liming

59

THE ‘SMUT FUNGI.
These fungi belong to the group Ustilagineae, and
cause well-known diseases of various species of the grass

family (Gramineae), more especially of the different cereal

crops. The mycelium grows through the-tissues of the host
plant, between the cells, and gives rise to small outgrowths

known as haustoria, which penetrate the cells and obtain
food from them for the fungus. In this condition, the fungus
affords no outward manifestation of its presence in the host
plant. When about to produce spores, however, masses of
mycelium are formed in the young parts of the host, very
frequently in the ovary, and large abnormal swellings are
produced in the portions so affected. These swellings are first
of a whitish colour but, after a time, they become dark-
greenish, or brownish- black. This is due to the formation of
numerous spherical dark-brown or black spores under the
outer tissues of the host plant and within the hyphae of the
fungus. When these spores are ripe, the tissues of the host
gre usually burst, and the Spores escape as a black dust.
“When one of these spores germinates it may either form
a mycelial tube directly, or it may give rise to a four-celled
tube known as a promycelium, from each cell of which
conidia may arise. The formation of conidia may continue
for some time, and further, each conidium, if it falls on some
source of food-supply such as portions of manure or decaying
pieces of the original host plant, may in many cases bud off
further spores, in the manner of yeast. The first-formed dark
spores do not usually germinate at once, but remain in the
soil from the autumn in which they are formed until the
following spring, and then germinate, thus infecting the
suceeding crops.

In the West Indies, Indian corn or Maize (Zea Mais)
is occasionally attacked by one of these fungi (Ustilago May-
dis). The disease has never been of any serious importance,
though occasional instances of.it are fairly common. In the
United States, very considerable losses are sometimes caused
by it. The disease appears as whitish swollen galls on all
parts of the plant, especially on the cobs. These galls may
attain the size of a man’s fist. Eventually, they turn green-
ish-black, and burst, setting free a mass of dark-brown spores.
The spores are spherical, and covered with delicate spines.

Grain from cobs infected in this way should not be fed
to animals for two reasons. In the first place it is very
injurious when given in any considerable quantity; in the
second, spores which have passed through an animal and
are returned to the land infect fresh plants more easily than
those which have merely been lying on the ground. Fresh
pen manure encourages the spread of the disease even when
uninfected.

The best remedy is to burn or bury infected plants
before the galls burst. Seed from near infected plants should
never be sown,

Sugar-cane is occasionally attacked by one of these
fungi (Ustilayo sacchari); the disease is fortunately rare in
the West Indies. The plants are usually affected at the
growing apex of the stem, and exhibit a long whip-like
process, often several feet in length and much curved on
itself. This process is at first covered by a silvery white
sheath, but it eventually turns black, owing to the formation
of numerous brown, smooth-walled spores, which are
liberated py the bursting of the sheath. Diseased canes
give rise to fairly numerous secondary shoots from their
lower portions, which become affected, and the whole stool is
rendered useless.

60 THE

{n the St. Lucia Gazette for the 22nd ultimo, there is
published a list of plants, with prices, that will be on sale at
the Botanic Station during the present year. For exported
plants, the sale prices will be 50 per cent. higher than those
given in the list.

Notification has been made that the next International
Rubber and Allied Trade Exhibition will be held at Olympia,
in May or June 1911. For further particulars, application
should be made to the organizing manager, Mr. Staines
Manders, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 300, attention
was drawn to the fact that plans were being made for the
establishment of an English scheme for producing beet sugar
in Lincolnshire. It is now stated that these have failed, but
there are hopes of a revival of them in the near future.

The Colonial Report for jamaica, 1908-9 (No. 626)
contains the following statement: The standard of teaching
in the primary schools appears to be gradually improving, and
much greater attention is being given to elementary science,
agricultural teaching, and manual training, than formerly.

An ofticial announcement has recently been made that
an exhibition to be known as the Grand Exhibition of Japan
will be held in Tokio from April 1 to October 31, 1912. The
exhibition will cover an area of about 292 acres, and all
foreign Governments and peoples are invited to take part in it.

The following points of a good sample of broom corn are
given inthe Rhodesian Agricultural Journal for December,
1909: length of fibre not less than 14 inches; length of butt,
not more than 4 inches. The fibre should not be coarse or
stiff; it should be tough and flexible, not brittle; the colour
should be pale with a green tint throughout.

The report of the Curator of the Botanic Station, Mont-
serrat, for December 1909, shows that the following was the
distribution from-that station for the month. Plants: limes
1,000, papaw 1,000, cacao 175, ornamental 40; cuttings:
sweet potatos 4,300, sugar-cane 2,485, Gliricadia
300, cassava 100, ornamental 450.

macrlata

The largest spinning mill of the Chemnitz district is
exhibiting fabrics made from caravonica cotton and silk
cotton (kapok). It was at the instigation of the manager
of this mill that careful experiments in manufacturing
fabrics from these two fibres were made in Germany, and
the results have been more than satisfactory. The fibres
seem to flourish in the German African colonies, and produe-
tion on a large scale is being attempted.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Frsruary 19, 1910.

An interesting article on hurricanes and hurricane relief,
by his Honour F. H. Watkins, I.S.O , appears in the Colonial
Office Journai for January 1910. In connexion with this,
reference may be made to the editorial in Vol. VIII, No. 188,
of the Ayricultural News, as well as to the footnote on page
230 of the succeeding number. i

Estimates by the District Officers give the area under
cotton in the Province of Eastern Bengal and Assam, for
1909-10 as 97,700 acres against 97,200 acres for the prev-
ious year. Owing to unfavourable weather conditions, it
is expected that the outturn will not exceed two-thirds
of last year’s crop; and accordingly, it is estimated at 14,600
bales of clean cotton.

On the .22nd ultimo, premiums amounting to £25,
which were granted by the St. Lucia Agricultural Society,
were distributed to 19 petty proprietors and peasants, for
cotton growing. In the unavoidable absence of the Hon.
E. J. Cameron, C.M.G., Administrator, the presentations were
made by the Acting Administrator, the Hon. A. De Freitas.

According to the Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4386, Annual Series, the export of sesamum seed from China,
during 1908, was 2,133,851 ewt., as compared with 874,657
ewt. in 1907, and the production for 1909 will probably
exceed that of 1908. Large quantities of the seed are
exported direct to Europe, where it is said to be used for
making the finest Iucea oil.

Bulletin No. 138 of the University of Illinois Agri-
cultural Experiment Station, entitled Pasteurization as
«a Factor in Making butter from Cieam Skimmed on the
Farm, has just been issued. As a summary of several inter-
esting conclusions, it is stated that pasteurization does
not improve the quality of butter made from sour cream
obtained on the farm.

The Bulletin of Agricultural Information, Trinidad,
No. 61, New Series, gives a recipe for an emulsion to be used
for plant diseases, which is due to Professor Carmody. It is
called kerosene-lysol emulsion, and consists of: kerosene 6
volumes, lysol 2 volumes, water 100 volumes. It is stated
that this solution, on account of the germicidal properties of
the lysol, is fully equal to a 10-per cent. kerosene emulsion,
and that in some cases it would have to be further diluted
before use.

In order to encourage the exportation of fruit from
3razil to Europe, the Government of that Republic has
decided to insist that ships with ‘ packet priveleges ’ must be
supplied with cold storage room for frnits and other perish-
able agricultural products. For the same purpose, prizes
have been instituted by the Government which will be award-
ed to any one who can prove to the Minister of Agriculture
that he has exported the largest quantity of fruit, in good
condition, within a period of eight months from the date of
the issue of the decree, provided that the quantity exported
is not less than 50 tons.

Vou. IX. No. 204. THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 61

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

FEBRUARY.
First Perron.
Seasonal Notes.

On cacao estates, the produce of the early pickings will
have completed the process of curing. Samples of cacao
should be taken at different stages of this, with the
view of observing, as far as possible, the changes which it
undergoes successively. As the result of many investigations,
it is generally agreed that the quality of the product is more
dependent upon that of the beans employed than on any
circumstance of the curing. In any case, cacao is improved
by fermentation, and this is generally practised, comparatively
little cacao that has been merely dried being in demand.
Note that the chief objects of the curing are to cause changes
in the pulp which will enable the cacao to be kept without
deterioration; to cause it to acquire a flavour; and to give the
beans a good ‘break’. What is the use of the last-named
quality! ‘Two explanations are sometimes given as to what
really takes place, that is of importance, when cacao is
fermented. In one, this is held to be the termination of the
life of the bean; in the other, it is said to be ‘ malting’, that
is the partial germination of the seed, which is subsequently
stopped by the rise of temperature. Neither of these seems
to be correct, for the first may be effected by mere drying,
when the characteristic properties consequent on fermentation
are never obtained; while, in the case of the latter, a good
product may be procured in the absence of any germination
whatever. In fermentation, as a matter of fact, the most
important circumstance seems to be that absorption takes
place through the testa, while the latter remains intact; any
rupture of the testa is likely to result in the admission of
fungi, with a conseqnent deterioration in the value of the
product. What methods are in vogue for drying cacao /
Describe any form of apparatus, that you may know of,
which is used for effecting this. What is meant by ‘claying’
cacao! Are there any advantages that are possessed by
clayed cacao which are not found in the case of cacao that
has not been so treated! In both fermentation and drying,
extreme cleanliness should be observed. What is the chief
reason for this! In the preparation of cacao, what is the
purpose of trampling! Take note of the way in which the
product is packed for shipment.

In the case of lime trees, discuss the advisability of prun-
ing. All dead wood that has been removed should be burnt.
Why is this! What tissues are most active in healing wounds in
the stems of trees! Particular care should be exercised in
order to make sure that all cut surfaces have been tarred, or
covered with some similar antiseptic substance. Resin oil has
been suggested for the purpose: where this is used, it should
be mixed with an amount of tar or lamp-black sufficient to
make it show a distinct dark colour when spread over
a surface; otherwise, it will be difficult to distinguish between
the treated and the untreated wounds, and some may be
neglected as a result. What is the object of the application
of such substances to cut surfaces!

For what purposes may pruning be employed! Describe
carefully how a large branch should be removed from a tree.
Why should care be taken to avoid any tearing of the bark’
Where, in relation to the main stem, should thé eut be made,
and why! What are the advantages of making it straight
across the branch, instead of in an oblique direction! Care-
fully ascertain what are the effects of pruning upon the part
of the plant which remains, (See Pamphlet No. 52 of the
Department Series.)

At present, the root borer of the sugar-cane is attracting
a certain amount of special attention. Study the life-history
of this pest, and ascertain exactly in what way it does injury.
What other plants is it known to attack, and what impor-
tance has this consideration in the matter of the rotation of
crops! Distinguish between this pest and the weevil borer,
and consider the life-history of the latter in a similar way to
that given above for the root borer. Remember, however,
that in doing all this, where the insects exist; careful observa-
tions in the field are necessary, and may result in the
discovery of useful and important facts.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.
(1) By what agencies, natural aud artificial, is the
nitrogen of the air made available for plants as food?

(2) What advantages and disadvantages are likely to
result from allowing lime trees to become covered with the
Bengal bean /

(3) How is lime applied to the soil! What are the usual
circumstances and uses of such application!

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) Give a method of eradicating a dangerous weed,
such as ‘Devil’s grass’, from cotton fields.

(2) Mention, broadly, the composition of the juice of
the ripe sugar-cane. How does that from the unripe cane
chiefly differ from this/

(3) How is the nitrogen in sulphate of ammonia con-
verted into nitrate nitrogen, in the soil!

THE PASSAGE OF HEAT THROUGH
SOILS.

The following are some of the conclusions reached
in regard to this subject, in Bulletin No. 59 of the
Bureau of soils, United States Department of Agri-
culture:—

The transfer of heat from one soil particle to another is
influenced by the fluid filling the space between them, and of
course, this transfer is more easily effected when the fluid is
a good conductor of heat. In addition to the heat conduc-
tivity of the fluid, another factor has to be considered, that is
the resistance to the heat transfer which is found at the
boundary between the substances in contact. This ‘ transfer
resistance’, or its reciprocal, ‘transfer conductivity’, is of sufti-
cient magnitude to enter into thermal calculations. If the
fluid be in motion, there will be developed a resistance to
the transfer of heat, which has been shown to vary approxi-
mately with the square root of the velocity of the fluid.

Heat will pass from a grain of soil to soil water one
hundred and fifty times more easily than from a grain of soil
to soil atmosphere. This comparison seems to poini out one
reason why an air-dry soil shows such a low heat conduc-
tivity. The rapid circulation of the soil atmosphere as eddy
currents within the minute spaces between the soil grain
would, however, decrease the transfer resistance very greatly.
Such eddy currents are inevitably set up, as the hot soil
atmosphere on one side of a soil cavity expands and moves
up, and is replaced by the colder gases.

The increase in heat conductivity of a soil produced by
wetting it is thus entirely due to the better contact between
the soil grains thus produced, since the soil material has, in
continuous massive condition, a much higher heat conductivity
than water.

A soil conducts heat best and most quickly with a moist-
ure content near that recognized as the optimum.

62 THE AGRICULTURAL

THE RECENT CONFERENCE IN ANTIGUA
CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL
MATTERS.

A report has just been issued by those who recently went
from Barbados to Antigua, in order to enquire into the work-
ing of central sugar factories and the system of implemental
tillage that is in vogue there, as well as to confer on other
agricultural matters. (See Ayrieu/tural News, Vol. IX, p. 7.)
This report has been employed in compiling the following
information.

The members of the expedition were:—the Hon. Francis
Watts, C.M.G., D.Sc., the Imperial Commissioner of Agri-
culture for the West Indies: the Hon. I. J. Clarke, C.M.G.,M.A.,
M.C.P., President of the Agricultural Society and Speaker
of the House of Assembly; Messrs. J. R. Bovell, L8.O.,
F.L.S., F.C.S., Superintendent of Agriculture; S.S. Robinson,
M.U.P.; F. W. Greaves, J.P.;E. L. Skeete, B.A4.; Jos. Connell;
D. G. Simpson and Dr. E. G. Pilgrim.

On Wednesday, January 5, the members of the exped-
ition embarked on board the SS. ‘Dahome’ en route for
Aritigua, via St. Lucia and Dominica. St. Lucia was reached
at 7 a.m., on the morning of the 6th. On their arrival, the
members were met by Mr. J. C. Moore, the Agricultural
Superintendent. Directly afterwards, the Hon E. J.
Cameron, C.M.G., the Administrator of St. Lucia, very kindly
came on board to confer with the Commissioner of Agriculture
as to the plans for the day, so as to facilitate as far as
possible the arrangements for this. The members visited
the Botanic Station, and then were taken by means of
the Government launch, placed at their disposal by the
Hon. E. J. Cameron, to the Cul-de-Sac sugar factory, to which
they were accompanied by Messrs. G. Graf and J. Devoeux,
Directors, being subsequently met by the Hon. E. G. Bennett,
K.C., Managing Director, and Mr. L. Springer, manager of
the estate. After inspecting the factory and cultivation, they
embarked on the SS. ‘Vahome’, which, through the courtesy
of Captain Gorst, had come to meet them.

Dominica was reached at daylight on Friday, January 7.
Here they were met by Mr. Joseph Jones, the Curator of the

Sotanie Station, and Mr. Lambert Bell. The members visited
the Botanic Garden, Experiment Station and Agricultural
School; the Bath lime estate, through the courtesy of Mr. H. A.
Frampton; and lime and cacao cultivations in the Roseau
Valley. On their arrival at Antigua, the members of the
party were met by the Reception Committee that had been
appointed by the Agricultural and Commercial Society to
receive them. That afternoon, the members of the expedi-
tion were received by his Excellency the Governor and Lady
Sweet-Escott, and afetrwards they visited the Botanic Garden,
and the sugar-cane, cotton, and other plots at the Experi-
ment Station at Skerretts. On this day, Messrs. F. hk.
Shepherd, A. D. C. Adamson, and A. Davis, who had been
appointed by the Agricultural Society of St. Kitts to visit
Antigua, arrived by the R.M.S. ‘Esk’ from that island.

After breakfast on Monday, January 10, the members
were taken by rail to Gunthorpes Central Factory where they
were met by Mr. and Mrs. E. Moody Stuart, a number of
the local planters, and others. After inspecting the factory,
the members of the expedition were entertained at luncheon
by Mr. Moody Stuart, assisted by the staff. After luncheon,
they visited the reservoir that had recently been made
for storing water for the use of the factory, and from
there they went to Fitches Creek, an estate on which imple-
mental cultivation based on the Louisiana system is carried
out. From Fitches Creek they proceeded to Millars estate,
the property of the Hon. J. J. Camacho, where they were

NEWS. Fepruary 19, 1910.

kindly and hospitably entertained by Mrs. Camacho.

On the morning of Tuesday, January 11, the members
of the expedition first visited Belmont estate, where they were
shown over the buildings by Messrs. E. and J. Dew, one of
whom is the manager and the other the engineer. At this
estate, there is installed what is known as the Santa Cruz
system of sugar manufacture, owing to its having been first
adopted in that island. From Belmont, the party pro-
ceeded, at the invitation of Mr. A. St. G. Spooner, to
Bendals to inspect the factory and cultivation on that
estate. After. going over the factory and the stock-
pens, where fine imported donkeys, a jack and a jenny, and
native-bred mules were seen, the members were kindly enter-
tained at luncheon by Mrs. Spooner. After luncheon, the
party was taken to inspect the cultivation on the estate,
From Bendals, the members went to the Blubber Valley estate
where they were met by Mr. T. E. Peters, the proprietor, and
Mr. 8. B. Smith, the manager. On this estate, the Santa
Cruz system of sugar manufacture has also been installed.
After inspecting the factory, the members were taken up the
Christian Valley to view the scenery. On their return, they
were hospitably entertained by Mr. Peters, at Jolly Hill.

On Wednesday, January 12, the members of the expe-
dition from Barbados and St. Kitts-Nevis, met in conference:
in the Council Chamber at the Court House, a number of the
members of the Agricultural and Commercial Society of
Antigua. The members present at the Conference, in
addition to those from Barbados, mentioned above, were :
from St. Kitts, Messrs. F. R. Shepherd, A. D. C. Adamson
and A. Davis; from Antigua, Hon. J. J. Camacho, Hon.
R. L. Warneford, Messrs. A. St. George Spooner, H. A.
Tempany, T. E. Peters, R. Bryson, N. Scott Johnson, R. S.
D. Goodwin, Joseph T. Dew, Ernest Dew, J. C. Walrond,
L. 8. Cranstoun, J. D. Harper, Major W. H. Ledeatt, Messrs.
I. E. Dyett, J. J. Roden, H. J. Hall, A. H. Stamers, Robert
Goodwin, C. Griffin, J. B. Smith, Stephen R. Mendes, Robert
W. Dobson, L. I. Henzell, W. G. Richardson, G. A.
Macandrew, D. N. Rannie and EK. Moody Stuart, with
Messrs. J. D. Walland R. H. Malone as Honorary Secretaries.

The Conference was opened by his Excelleney the
Governor, Sir E. Bickham Sweet-Escott, K.C.M.G., who
extended a hearty welcome to the visitors from Barbados on.
behalf of the several Presidencies of the colony. He would,
however, before they proceed to business, like, he said, to-
emphasize the distinctly unofficial character of the gathering,
and he was sure his friends from Barbados would be at
one with him in the view that they had no authority
from the Barbados Government to discuss. matters of
common interest, and although he, as Governor, was very
glad to be present and welcome them, it did not imply any
ofticial character in the proceedings of the Conference itself,
After mentioning the subjects of central factories, trade
reciprocity with Canada, and the werk of the Royal Com-
mission at present holding sessions in connexion with the
latter, his Excellency once more extended, on behalf of the
Presidencies of Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis, a most hearty
welcome to their friends from Barbados, and expressed the
hope that the result of their visit to the island would be the
establishment of closer relations of all kinds between the two
ancient possessions of the Crown.

Dr. Watts replied, thanking his Excellency, on behalf
of those who..had accompanied him from Barbados, and of
those who had joined him in Antigua, for the welcome
extended to them, and emphasizing the unofficial nature of
the meeting. He also thanked the Antigua Reception
Committee, in the same way, as well as the planters who had
enabled the visitors to view the work, etc., on their estates,

Von. Lx. No, 204:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 63

z

and concluded with a short résumé of the objects of the
expedition.

The Hon. F. J. Clarke, on behalf of the visitors,
especially of his friends from Parbados, thanked his
Excellency and the people of Antigua for their cordial
welcome, and the great kindness and hospitality that had
been shown them. Poe

The Governor then left the meeting, and the chair was
taken by Dr. Watts. Mr. F. R. Shepherd and Mr. H. A.
Tempany read memoranda in connexion with the subject
under discussion, which had been drawn up by the Agri-
cultural Societies of St. Kitts and Antigua respectively.
Mr. Bovell explained the position in Barbados, and, finally,
gertain resolutions were passed unanimously by the conference.
For these, see Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 29.

After the resolutions had been passed, the visitors were
entertained at a luncheon by the Antigua members of the
Conference, at which the Governor presided. ~ In the after-
‘noon they were taken to Friar’s Hill, the property of the
Hon. J. J. Camacho, to see the Santa Cruz system of sugar
manufacture that is installed there, and to view the surround-
ing country. While at Friar’s Hill, the visitors were hospitably
entertained by Mr. Harper, the manager of the estate.

On Thursday morning, January 13, the members were
taken by rail to North Sound estate, where they saw in
operation the various ploughs, cultivators, ete., that are
used in what is known as the Louisiana system of cultivation.

On leaving North Sound, the ia was taken to Mont-
pelier estate, where it was met by Mr. A. St. G. Spooner.
‘At this estate, the Santa Cruz system was iu full working,
erushing and evaporating the juice from the remains of
canes from which cuttings had been taken for replanting
the estate. From Montpelier the party proceeded to Parham
New Work whence, atter inspecting the sugar factory which is
also based on the Santa Cruz system, they went to Parham
Hill, the residence of the Hon. J. F. Foote, at which they
were kindly entertainel by Mrs. Foote. In the evening, the
members of the expedition were entertained at dinner by
his Excellency the Governor and Lady Sweet-Escott.

On Friday, January 14, at 10 o’clock, the visitors from
Barbados and St. Kitts-Nevis met in conference the repre-
‘sentatives of the Antigua Agricultural and Commercial
Society, when the following papers were read and discussed:
(1) ‘Five years working of the Antigua Sugar Factory’, by
Mr. L. I. Henzell. (2) ‘Muscovado Sugar Making by Steam
Boiling’, by Mr. A. St. G. Spooner. (3), ‘Implemental
Cultivation’, by Messrs. E. Moody Stuart and I. E, Dyett.
(4) ‘Systems of Agricultural Education’, by Dr. F. Watts.
(5) The Introduction of Insectivorous Birds’, by Mr. G. Moody
Stuart’.

The papers read will be published in the West Indian
Bulletin.

In the afternoon, a general meeting of the Agricultural
-and Commercial Society was held in the Conncil Chamber,
under the presidency of his Excellency the Governor, when
the subject of the root disease of the sugar-cane was discussed.

The members of the expedition were to have left Antigua
by the Pickford & Black SS. ‘Sobo’, on Saturday, January 15;
but owing to the non-arrival of that vessel until Monday; the
17th, they were unable to embark for their return journey
‘to Barbados until the afternoon of that day.

In conclusion, the members of the expedition place on
record their appreciation of the great kindness and courtesy
extended to them by the Agricultural and Commercial
Society and the people of Antigua, as well as by those in
St. Lucia and Dominica who were good enough to receive them
and make their visit to those islands interesting and enjoyable,

RICE-GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES.

The following information is obtained from an
article in the Rice Belt Journal, in which is summar-
ized the information given in the final report of the
Bureau of Statistics of the United States Department
of Agriculture, issued on December 20, 1909:—

In area, Louisiana leads with 375,000 acres; Texas follows
with 291,000 and Arkansas comes next with 28,000; South
Carolina has 18,000 acres, Georgia 4,200, Florida and
Mississippi 1,000 each, and North Carolina 425 acres. In
this connexion it is worthy of note that the greatest increase
next year will be along the Mississippi river and in Arkansas,
where considerable development is taking place. The greatest
increase will be in eastern Louisiana, and there are prospects of
considerable increase in the State of Mississippi, while Arkan-
sas may safely be expected, according to the well-informed,
to double its present acreage. There will be an increase in
St. Landry parish, Louisiana, but in the parishes of Acadia,
Caleasieu and Vermilion, a material decrease is certain,
although 10,000 acres of new land will be put in by the
United Irrigation and Rice Milling Company, which is extend-
ing its canals. The total acreage of rice in the United States is
placed at 720,000—a reduction of 11,000 from the preliminary
estimate, and an increase over that of last year of 65,000.

In yield per acre, Arkansas leads with an ayerage of
40 bushels; Alabama follows with 35, and Texas comes
next with 34; Louisiana is two-tenths of a bushel behind
Texas, its production being 33°8 bushels per acre; North
Carolina averages 30°2 and Mississippi 30 bushels, while
South Carolina produces only 25°6 bushels to the acre, on
an average, and Florida follows with still lower average.

The average price per bushel of rough rice on December 1
was 79:4c. The price of South Carolina rice led at 9le.
Arkansas rice followed at 90c. and Georgia and North
Carolina rice came next at 87 and 85c., respeetively. Florida,
Alabama and Mississippi rice brought 80c. and the two
great rice-producing states of Louisiana and Texas followed
in the order named; Louisiana rice brought 79, and Texas
rice, 78: The total farm value of the rice crop of 1909, on
December 1, 1909, is placed at $19,541,000.

The Department's figures as to acreage and production
in Louisiana and Texas are largely based on reports received
frorm the farmers, mills and warehouses, and are generally
accepted as being reliable. Figures on other points are
doubtless correct, although the quoted prices for rice may be
a trifle higher than those actually paid.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated February 4, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

The weather during the fortnight has continued wet,
and as a consequence, milling has been very much interrupted.

Prices have remained firm, and with light deliveries to
town, we expect price to advance. -

Shipments to the islands during the fortnight amounted
to 3,784 bags.

We quote to-day, f.o.b, Demerara, for good export
quality :-—

Nominally 16s. 9d. to 17s. 9d. per bag of 180 tb. gross,

15s. 9d. to l6e. 9d. 5" 432 1645Ib, = , 5

London,—Txe Wersr Inp1a

64 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET REPORTS.

CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR,
February 1, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
January 7, 1910.

ARROWROOT— No quotations.

Barata—Sheet, 2/65 ; block, 2/15 per tb.

Brgs-wax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/6 to 62/- per cwt. ; Grenada, 48/- to
53/- per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/- to 52/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 38/- to 120/-.

Corpra—West Indian, £26 to £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, 17}d.; Floridas, no quotations; St.
Croix West Indian, no quotation.

Frouit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 45/- to 49/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 50/- to 54/-; good
bright to fine, 55/- to 65/-.

Honey—No quotations.

IstncLass—No quotations

Lime Jurce—Raw, 10d. to 1/-;
£18 10s.; Otto of limes, 6/-.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Mace—Quiet.

Nurmecs—Stéady.

Pimento—Common, 2jd.; fair, 2,%d.; good, 22d. per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 7/10, fine soft, 7/7; tine Peru,
7/9 per tb.

Rum—Jaunaica, 2/7 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/- to 18/3; Muscovado, 13/3 to 15/-;
Syrup, 13/9 to 14/9; Molasses, no quotations.

cencentrated, £18 to

New York,—Messrs. Gittusrre Bros. & Co., January

2) LILO:

Cacao—Caracas, 1] jc. to 12ic. ; Grenada, lle. to 11ie. ;
Trinidad, 11gc. to 11fe. ; Jamaica, 9#c. to 104c. per tb.

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $26°00 to $27-00; culls,
$17-00 to $18°00; Trinidad, select, $25°00 to $26-00 ;
culls, $15°00 to $1600 per M.

Corrrre—Jamaica, ordinary, 8fc. to 9ce.; good ordinary,
9ic. to 9$e.; and washed, up to lldc. per ib.

Gincer—9$c. to 11 3c. per th.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 64c.; Barbados, 55c. to 574c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St Kitts, 51c. to 53c. per tb.;
Antigua, 55c. to 574e., dry flint.

Grave Frourr—$1°50 to $2°50 per box.

Limes—$4:00 to $4°50 per barrel.

Macre—3d4e. to 37c. per th.

Nourmecs—110’s, 10c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°25 to $1°50 par box.

Pimento—4ge. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°08c. per 1b.; Muscovados,

89°, 3°58c.; Molasses, 89°, 3:33c. per tb, all
duty paid.
Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., February

5, 1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°50 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°50
to $12-00.

Cocoa-Nur Orz—$1°00 per Imperial gallon, cask included.

Corrre—Vecnezuelan, 103c. per tb.

Copra—$4°50 per 100 th.

Duat—$4°20 to $4°30 per 2-bushel bag.

Oxtons—$3'50 to $3°75 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprir—$7-00 to $7°25 per bag.

Poraros—English, $1°30 to $1°60 per 100 tb.

Ricr—Yellow, $5:00 to $5°10; White, $5°00 to $d:10
per bag.

Svcar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5:20 per 100 ft.

Frsruary 19, 1910.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., February 14, 1910;

Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., February 14,

1910.

ARROWROOT—St. Vincent, $3°60 to $3°7

Cacao—$10-00 to $1050 per 100 th.

Cocoa-Nuts—$14°00.

CoFFEE
100 th., searce.

Hav—S1°20 per 100 tb., dull.

Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10

® per 100 th.

00 to $11-00 per

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Cacao manure, $4800;
Sulphate of ammonia, $75°00 per ton.

Morasses—No quotations.
Ontons—Bunched, $4°50 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6°25 to $6°50 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,

$5°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poraros—Nova Scotia, $1°75 to $2-00 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $4°20 to $4°60 (180 tb.
Rangoon, $3-00 per 100 tb.
Sucar—No quotations.

); Patna, $3-80 ;

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, December

24, 1909; Messrs. SanpBacn,
February 4, 1910.

PARKER & Co.,

| =
Messrs. WIEtTING

ARTICLES. & Ricurer.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent! $8°25 to $8:50
per 200 th.
Batata—Venezuelablock) 32c, per th.

Demerara sheet) 48c. per fb.
Cacao—Native jlle. to 12c. per th.
Cassava— $1-08

Cassava SrarcH— | $6-00 to $6°50 per
_ barrel of 196 th.
| _ Sales—scarce
| $12 to $16 per M.
CorrrE—Creole | 12c. to 13¢ per tb.
Jamaica and Rio 13$e.to 13 4c. per th.
Liberian | 10c. per th.
| $4:05 to $4°10 per
bag of 168 th.
$3°50 to $5°75
$1°68 per barrel
22c. to 25c.

Cocoa-NuTS—

DHat—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mcrasses—Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte

Madeira
Pras—Split

bag (2101b.)

Marseilles $4°00 to $4-25
PLANTAINS— 20c. to 48c. per
bunch
Poratos—Novya Scotia $2-50

4c. to 43c. per tb. |
$6°50 to $6-60 per!

Lisben No quotation
Poraros-Sweet, Barbados) $1:44 per bag
Rice—Ballam | No quotation

Creole $400 to $4-10
TANNIAS— $2°40 per bag
Yams—White 52°40

Buck $2°88 per bag

Sue ar—-Dark crystals

$2°55 to $2°75

Yellow $2°90 to $3-00
White $3°70 to $3°80

Molasses $2-00
Timber —Greenheart 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
Wallaba shingles) $3°50 to $5-75
per M.
», Cordwood| $1°80 to $2:00
per ton

| Messrs. Sanp-

BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$8 ‘50 per 200 tb.,

| market dull

| Prohibited

None

'10c. to 11e. per th.

| No quotation

| No quotation

|

'$16 per M., peeled
and selected
|12c. to 13e. per tb.
4c. to 14he. perth.
10c. per th.
34-00 to $4°75 per
bag of 168 tb.

| No quotation
No quotation
$6°50 per bag
( 210 tb.)
$4°50

|

| $3-50

| No quotation
$4-75

$3°60 to $3 SU

$2-60

$2°80 to $3-00
$3°60 to $3°80
$2°00 ts $2°30
32c. to 5de. per
| eub. foot
| $3°50 te $550

per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’.

A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d,

Volumes IJ, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete.

and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

(III, 2; IV, 3;

Volume X, No. 1. Flower-bud Maggot of Cotton ; Bourbon Cane in Antigua ; Bourbon and other Varieties of Cane

in Barbados ; Soils of Nevis ; Cotton Selection in the Leeward Islands ;
No. 2. Central Factories; The Underground System of the Sugar-cane; The Cotto1
3 > y 5 >

Inoculation.

Leguminous Crops and Soil

Industry in the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment of Orchard Soils in Cultivation

in the West Indies ; The Scarabee of the Sweet Potato.

Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.
The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the

present time is sixty-two.

Sucar Inpustry.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados
in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.;
in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.;
in 1904, No. 32, price 4d.

Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados,
in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.;
in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d. ;
in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d.

Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands,
in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20 price 2d.;
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33 price 4d.;
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.;
in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.

Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands,
in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.:
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.;
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.: in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.

ScaLe [Nsects.
$eale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. No. 7, price 44d.;
Part II., No. 22, price 4d.
GENERAL.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, 2nd. Edition (Revised),
price 4d.

Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

(14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

(15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

(16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

(17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

(18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.

(25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

(28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

(34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies.

(35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks.

(37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

(38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.

(41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.

(43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-mea on West Indian Planta-
tions. Price 2d.

(45) A BC of Cotton Planting.
Price 6d.

(52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition.

(53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.

(54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.
Price 4d.

(55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

(58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

(60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them.

(G1) The Grafting of Cacao.

Price 2a.
Price 5d.

New and Enlarged Edition.

Price 4d.

Price 4d.
Price 4d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of 3d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., 1d. for those

marked 4d., and 14d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, and 59.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’

contains extracts

from official correspondence and from progress ana

other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in

Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘ Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the

local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d.

2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum.

—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s.

The subscription price, including postage, is

Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents

All

applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W.

Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown.

Jamaica: THe Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King
Street, Kingston. :

British Guiana: Tur ‘Datiy CHRonicLe’ Orrice, Georgetown.

Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough.

Grenada: ‘Tur Storrs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. LAwReENcE, Botanic Station.
Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BrrpGewater, Roseau,
Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station,

Antiqua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s,

St. Kitts: THe Brste and Book Suprpty AGENcy, Basseterre.
Nevis: Mr. S. D. Matong, Charlestown,

Vou. IX. No, 204.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Frsruary 19, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

a WAGE snes

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street,

London, E.C.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

FOR SALE.

thousand five hundred
Washington Navel
BUDDED ORANGE PLANTS.

Local price 6d. each, delivered Roseau.
Export PRICE 1s. EACH, F.0.B. Roseau, Dominica.

Apply to:—

Four

A. G. S. DAVENPORT,
Bramhall Estate,
Dominica.

(4,500)

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED.

BRIDGETOWN,
COTTON SEED.

Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and}
from the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of}
Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt

attention.

SULPHATE OF COPPER.—We stock this
article, and all orders received will be promptly
executed. ;

FOR SALE.
LIBERIAN COFFEE HAND MACHINERY.
Second hand, but in working order—including
One Gordon’s ‘India’ Pulper, One Gordon’s (Smeet’s)
Peeler and Polisher, One Gordon’s Winnower.
Cost £30: price £16: f.o.b. Castries, St. Lucia.
ALSO, QUITE NEW,
1 ‘Always Ready’ Gasoline Engine, 2

Apply to:.—

HP; price £13)

GEO. S. HUDSON,
Errard Estate,
Dennery,
St. Lucia.

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vol. xX; No.5)

Containing papers on Central Factories; The Under-
ground System of the Sugar-cane ; The Cotton Industry in
the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment
of Orchard Soils in Cultivation in the West Indies ; The
Scarabee of the Sweet Potato.

To be obtained from all agents for the
sale of the Department’s publications. Price}:
6d.; post free, 87.

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Vol. 1X. No. 205.]

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Guaranteed to be absolutely pure by the manufacturers. Used extensively throughout the British West Indies, and sold
by all high-class merchants and dealers. Consumers are cautioned against worthless substitutes, and should always see

| that the packages bear the name of the manufacturers :—

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[178.]

MAINTAIN@T HE -YREeED.

SS es EE ES BITES Re ae ee ee

The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its
available plant food.

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.

Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

For free literature and special information on Tropical Agriculture address to :
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iy)

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LIBRABR

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE NEW Yo
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, cance
Vou. IX. No. 205. i BARBADOS, MARCH 5, 1910. ean

rally applicable to all of them. The increase of
CONTENTS. population, for one matter, had made it necessary that
—— the things required for the daily life should be produced
vn a large scale, by the aid of machinery, rather than
PAGE. PaGE.

Agricultural Edueation, The Insect Notes :—

by individual craftsmen, and the cheapening of the
products of the new mode of manufacture, together

-roblem of 35 ‘arbon Bi ide, Part I 7 : wate. oe oi .
as ge ee ere on ere ee Farol i with the improved conditions of living, had again
* Yearly Examination of 71 Notes and Comments ... 72 reacted by bringing about a state of affairs that further
Aleohol in the Philippines, Onions in Antigua... 67 favoured the tendency for the population of a country

1 Pipe Calabash, South African 73
5 Publications of Imperial
Department of Agri-
culture .... ‘cue eee 0
Rice in British Guiana ... 79
73
‘

Production of ... ... 7
‘

Book Shelf ...

Cotton Notes :—
Cotton Seed Selection in
the United States ... 70

‘ie a ais ]
West Indian Cotton ... (AU re ea

Sisal in Mauritius
Corner

to increase at a greater rate than that which had ever
obtained before. Competition became keen, and it was
seen that education must no longer be simply a matter
of general preparation for living as an adult, and of the

Department News... ..- 77 |G car Industry :_ provision of means for incnleating the principles of
Fibre Plant, An African ... 72|)~ 3. it hepa : y
Epidemic Sugar-cane Dis-

Fibre Plant, The Perini ... 69

Fungus Notes :—
The Chief Groups of Fungi,

eases of the Past ... 67
Swiss Milk Goats zs
Trade between Canada and

discipline, but that it must be conducted, for each indi-
vidual, in a manner which had definite relation to that
part of the world’s work to which his energies would

Part I. . 78 the West Indies... ... 69 ee eae Bari So A
Gleanings 76 West Indian Products 79 be devoted ultimately.

Ground Nut, Useful Facts
Regarding the... ... 68

West Indian Seedling Canes
in Queensland

The Problem of Agricultural

Edueation.

I. THe EsseNrTIALS OF EDUCATION,

NE of the greatest advances in educational
) J) matters was made when it was realized that
Hy the conditions of life had so changed, and the
work that had to be done every day for the people of
acountry had become so specialized, that it was no
longer feasible to educate its inhabitants according to
one broad plan, the methods of which should be gene-

cS)

The first effect of the realization of this fact has
been to cause much stress to be laid on that side
of education which has for its object the production of
technical efficiency. ‘There has been, in fact, too great
a tendency to give instruction, and to leave out most
of that which includes the essentials of true educatior.
The result has been the production of schemes which
went little further than to devise means for imparting
knowledge, so that, ir relation to all that is meant by
education, no real advance was made on the old system.
Under the former conditions, the individual attained to
a wider experience, and little interference was made
with the chances for his later specialization, while the
new method limited him from the first, and did less to
provide him with the means of liberally enjoying his
leisure. Another result has been that whatever has
had relation to the more mechanical arts and crafts has

been fostered, to the comparative neglect, until

66 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 5, 1910.

recent years, of the claim of the agriculturist to be
fitted in the best possible way for the work which is to
be his through life. Perhaps this late recognition of
such a claim is not without its advantages, for it has
come at a time when it is continually realized to
a greater degree that mere instruction is not education,
and that the aim of those who have the framing of
schemes for education in their hands should not be the
training of individuals to be merely capable of doing
a certain thing in a certain way. Such schemes should,
on the contrary, bring out the mental energies of those
individuals, so that they may be able to appreciate
the true inward meaning of what they are taught, and
to attain that mental independence which will lead to
critical consideration of the work of others, while giving
them the capacity usefully to extend the scope of their
own.

The West Indies share with all other tropical
countries the circumstance that their interests are
essentially agricultural. Their usefulness to the rest
of the world must lie in the fact that they possess the
conditions which enable them to produce, for the non-
tropical zones, indispensable articles of food, clothing
and shelter. It must therefore be patent that the
education of the inhabitants of this part of the world
must have special reference to the interests of agri-
culture. This caunot mean that the standard of that
education should be inferior to that of the dweller in coun-
tries where the chief occupation is the treatment of raw
material, so that it may become more directly applicable
to the uses of man. The agriculturist, as a matter of
fact, has the means of true education closer to hand
than the follower of any other kind of occupation. He
is face to face with the direct results of the forces of
nature. He is met with the responsibility of attaining
a state of mind that can devise means of gaining
a knowledge of those forces which will enable him to
direct them in such a way as to be of the greatest
value to mankind. Finally, to this end, he is
provided with opportunities of observation and experi-
ment which are without equal as a means of broaden-
ing his mental sympathies, and thus giving him the
manner of true education. With these advantages,
there should be no difficulty in making agricultnral
teaching and practice as efficient as those of any other
branch of knowledge. It will supply a mental training
that will produce the individual who takes a living
interest and pride in his work, the more so as it pro-
vides him with a means of realizing that he is no longer
the slave of routine, but the possessor of powers to
originate and modify methods of procedure in ways
which form the reflection of his own personality.

just described.

There are three broadly differing sets of cireum-
stances under which instruction, either of an agri-
cultural nature, or leadiag to this, must be given.
These obtain in the primary school, in the secondary
school, and, in the case where an agricultural training is
continued after the pupil has reached an age when
there is no longer any necessity for him to be subject
to school discipline. In the primary school, the teach-
ing will never be of a directly agricultural character,
it will, rather, be of the essence of nature study, in
order that the most useful and immediately applicable
means of education may be employed, and that the
mind of the pupil may become of use to him in the
work that he will be called upon to do when he leaves
school. The idea of nature study will obtain, as well,
in the secondary school, but its scope will be widened,
and it will show a closer connexion with the require-
ments of practical agriculture. In the case of
i boy who goes on from this stage to the next,
there is always, in a proper scheme of agricultural
education, a transition period, during which he
is still subject to disciplinary measures, while at the
same time, he is given more freedom of action,
and his work becomes of a more practical nature. It is
at this stage that a cadetship at a Botanic Station, or,
where this is provided, and where it is intended to take
up the more advanced branches of agriculture, a course
at an Agricultural College, becomes of use.

The third set of circumstances under which edu-
cation in agricultural matters is received, is that which
obtains while the recipient is actively engaged in the
work of a practical agriculturist. This is nota time
that has its distinct limit, like that of the conditions
It extends just as long as the agricul-’
tural work is being done. In other words, those who
gain their livelihood from the soil require, more than
any others, to be always ready to learn, and to seek
opportunities by which their knowledge may be made
greater. With the present progress in agriculture, it
is very necessary that such individuals shall begin the
acquisition of such knowledge under as favourable
conditions as possible—that they shall be set in the
right way, so that no time may be lost, and that their
efforts to gain knowledge shall have the merit and use
of orderliness. It is easily seen, in this connexion, that
the Courses of Reading in Practical Agriculture, of the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, have been devised
for this very purpose. The steady pursuit of these will
make it evident why the education of the practical
agriculturist is never regarded as being finished, and
why active sympathy with the work of his advisers is
necessary to his best welfare.

Won. tx. No, 205:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 67

SUGAR INDUSTRY,

EPIDEMIC SUGAR-CANE DISEASES
OF THE PAST.

H. C. Prinsen Geerligs gives an account, in the Jnter-
national Sugar Journal for January of this year, of notable
epidemics of diseases affecting the sugar-cane that have shown
themselves in past years. He first draws attention to the
passing, through disease, of the Bourbon cane in the West
Indies—a matter which, it may be mentioned, has recent
attention in an article by H. A. Tempany in the West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. X, No. 1—and then suggests that, in addition
to the adoption of the remedial measures recommended for
checking those diseases, the fact that diseases possess cycies of
activity may eventually léad to the resumption of the culti-
vation of this cane on a large scale. The account then goes
on to treat of past epidemics of various pests, and forms the
basis of the following information in connexion with them.

Records show that, as early as the year 1502, caterpillars
of one or more kinds became such a serious pest of the sugar-
cane in Madeira as to make it necessary to import sugar into
that island, whereas it had formerly possessed a considerable
export trade. A few years later, sugar was exported again,
so that the insect or insects responsible for the damage must
have soon ceased to exist in abnormal numbers.

The sugar-cane in Mauritius and Réunion was attacked
to a serious extent in the year 1841 by a fungoid disease, and
the matter became so important, in regard to the welfare of
the islands, that canes were imported from Ceylon, with the
hope that a variety resistant to the disease would be obtained.
On their arrival, the canes were found to be infested with
moth borer, and were ordered to be burnt; a few must have
escaped destruction, however, as after that date, this insect
pest was found in Mauritius. No further effort was made
to introduce disease-resistant canes, and, notwithstanding
this, the disease became much less severe, and two years
afterwards the crops became healthy once more. It is sug-
gested that, probably, some of the varieties cultivated in
Mauritius were immune to the disease, while the others were
very liable to its attacks, so that the power of the former to
survive led it to take the place of the susceptible varieties.

In Java, during the year 1882, the cane variety which
had, so far, sutticed in every way was attacked by a mysterious
disease which threatened to exterminate it. The origin of
this disease was never traced, but it was proved to be trans-
missible by means of cuttings. The disease spread through-
out the island in a direction from west to east, but decreased
in virulence as the area affected by it became largeryso that the
attack was most serious in the first year. Al] ordinary direct
remedies for combating it failed, and it was finally controlled
by the careful use of sound cane tops for planting, by the
introduction of new varieties of cane, and by the raising of
fresh ones. Later, in 1900, some estates in Java were
attacked by a funggid disease, which was very promptly
stamped out by adopting the policy of selecting for planting
cane varieties that were resistant to it.

The rise of sudden epidemics may be explained, in some
cases, by the fact that saprophytic fungi exist which become
parasitic, for reasons that are not plain to be discovered,
and then appear as very serious pests in relation te some
variety or varieties of cane. The explanation of the sudden
increase in the degree of parasitism shown in such cases may
be either that the virulence of the fungus increases, or that

the power of resistance of the affected varieties has
decreased. In any case, it has often been noticed that
a good cane variety has suddenly been seriously affected,
while others remained quite untouched, and then that, after
some time, the disease had died out. This last circumstance
is interesting, but it is evident that planters cannot afford to
wait for such an event; they must take measures which will
be quickly effective in supplying them with good crops, and
may do so by replacing the oid varieties by new ones.

These considerations show that it is dangerous for any
sugar-growing area to possess only one variety of cane. Not
only, when that variety is seriously attacked, is time required
for its replacement, but the planters are subjected to the dan-
ger of the hurried importation of canes which may bring new
pests with them to a place where the natural parasites of these
do not exist. This forms an argument on behalf of the policy
of having varieties in reserve, which will be on hand for the
purpose of replacing those that have become diseased, at the
earliest possible opportunity.

ONIONS IN ANTIGUA.

The following report on the condition of the onion
industry in Antigua has been received from Mr. T. Jack-
son, Curator of the botanic Station in that island:—

During the last few years, the Area of land planted in
onions in Antigua has varied very slightly. For the present
year (1909-10) it is about 58 acres. This area is larger by
8 acres and 6 acres than those of last year and the year before,
respectively. During the present season, the crop has been
particularly free from insect pests, and at the time of writing
looks promising. The following table gives some figures that
may be of interest: —

Year. Seed imported, Area, No. of crates Value.
tb. acres, exported. £ s. d.
1907-8 1814 52 3,505 850 11 0
1908-9 138 50 689° - 220 0 0
1909-10 181 58 :

The great difference between the exportations for 1907-8
and 1908-9, without a corresponding decrease in the area
cultivated, must not be taken as indicating a reduced return
per acre, for the crop during 1908-9 was normal; the probable
explanation is that the greater part of the latter crop was
sold locally, while most of the onions produced in 1907-8
were exported,

The annual acreage under onions could be increased
considerably in Antigua. They are grown asa catch crop
with sugar-cane, and, under these conditions, when the land
is cultivated early, they interfere very little with the routine
work connected with the main crop.

On one estate in 1908, two plants matured seeds, the
parents originating from seed planted that season. This is
the second time that this somewhat peculiar incident has
occurred in Antigua. (See Reports on the Botanic Station,
Experiment Plots and Agricultural Education, Antigua,
1906-7, p. 39.) On the first occasion the seeds germinated,
but the plants did not mature. At the present time, however,
a fair number of healthy young plants, raised from this seed,
are growing in the island.

In a later communication, Mr. Jackson states that
six plants from the above-mentioned locally raised seed
are forming fruit during this season, and suggests the
possibility of the further transmission of the peculiarity
of producing seed in one season to the progeny of these
plants, so that annual varieties of the onion may be
obtained ultimately.

68 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 5, 1910.

NSS

WEST INDIAN ERUIT.

USEFUL FACTS REGARDING THE
GROUND NUT.

Useful information in connexion with the ground
nut has appeared from time to time in the Agri-
cultural News, more recently in Vol. VIII, pp. 187,
206, 245, 315,372 and 404, and Vol. IX, p.4. An oppor-
tunity to supplement this has been afforded by the
publication of Bulletin No. 21 of the Station Agrono-
mique of Mauritius, from which the following informa-
tion is taken. Special attention is directed to the
tables, which should prove useful both to the grower of
the plant, and to those by whom it is exploited
commercially.

The suitability of the ground nut for a principal crop is
doubtful, in many instances, but it may be cultivated as
a catch crop with the certainty that it will be profitable.
Under ordinary conditions, when it is grown on exhausted
soil, with the aid of labour hired for the purpose—that is to
say, under circumstances in which its produce has to pay all
the expenses in connexion with its cultivation—the gains can
be, at least, only contingent. It is more especially suited to
be grown in this way on small holdings, where the family of
the proprietor can give the plant attention during such times
as its labour is not required for other purposes.

This is not so when it isemployed as a catch crop, for in
this case, part of its ,roduce is not required to pay the rent
of the land, as that p:rtion of the latter on which it grows
would not otherwise be ccenpied. To this is added another
consideration, namely that, in its absence, such land would
have to be kept clean, and in good condition, whereas once
the ground nut plant had attained a reasonable development,
it would cover the earth and prevent the growth of weeds.
Cultivated in this way, the only special attention that it
would require would be the preparation of the soil, the sow-
ing of the seed, and the gathering of the fruits, and even
these special attentions would improve the texture of the soil
and favour the growth of the principal crop. Not the smallest
among the benefits derived from its cultivation would be the
enrichment of the soil in nitrogen, for it possesses the power
to effect this, in common with all other leguminous plants.
It is evident that, when the crop of ground nuts is harvested,
part of this nitrogen, together with mineral matter that it
has obtained from the soil, will be removed; but all these
constituents will be restored to the soil, for the greater part,
if the leaves and stems are returned as a green dressing, and
there will be the further benefit in that its condition will
be improved by the added vegetable matter.

Considering, now, the chief product of the ground nut,
namely its oil, it is of great advantage if this can be used to
supply a local market. If this is to be done, means for
expressing the oil must be provided in, or near to, the districts
where it is grown, in order that the former may be fresh, and
thus not possessing the rancidity that it acquires on keeping,
and which would render it unacceptable for local consump-
tion. In this way, a better price would be obtained, for
exported oil becomes rancid, and is then only fit for indus-
trial purposes such as Inbrication, the manufacture of soap, ete.

_ In considering the prodnets of the ground nut, the cake
which remains after the expression of the oil must not be
forgotten. ‘This is among the best of similar foods for stock,
especially for feeding cows with a view to the production of
milk. Where it is produced locally in quantity, its price
varies with the amount that is on hand to be sold, and, weight
for weight, it has a food value that is greater than that of the
ground nut itself. Its commercial value serves to lower the
expenses of the expression of the oil, and tends to make the
cultivation of the plant itself more remunerative. In Europe,
ground nut cake, together with linseed cake, obtains higher
prices than all similar produets.

Ordinary ground nuts, such as are sold by retail, have
the composition shown in the following table. (In this and
subsequent tables, the term albuminoids is used im a broad
way, to include all nitrogenous substances, and starch, simi-
larly, to mean digestible carbohydrates. ): -

Percentage Percentage composition of
composition. unshelled nuts.
Seeds. Shells. In seeds. In shells. Entire
pods.
Water 634 9°80 5°03 2°26 7-29
Fibre 5:00 63°70 B85 14°72 18°57
Fats and oils 47°90 0-70 36°84 0-16 37-00
Starch 11°62 19°59 8:92 4:53 13°45
Albuminoids 26°54 3°81 20-41 0:83 21°29
Ash 240 2:40 185 0°55 2-40

76°90 25:10
In the above example, the unshelled nuts contained
76°90 per cent. of seeds. This proportion varies from 73 or 74
to 75 or 80 per cent.; 75 per cent. may be considered to be
an average proportion. This figure is the one that is usually
employed commercially, in order to, estimate the quantity of
seeds that will be provided by a given weight of unshelled nuts.

The mineral matter of the seeds is characterized by
a high content of phosphoric acid and potash; more than two-

Von. IX. No. 205.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 69

thirds of the total ash is composed of these substances. Both
silica and iron oxide, as well as alumina, are found in con-
siderable amounts in the shells, but these are mainly present
in the soil which adheres to them; the proportions in which
they actually occur in the shells themselves are small.

With particular reference to the oil content, analyses
made at Marseilles have given 42 to 45 per cent. for Mozam-
bique nuts, and 37 to 38 per cent. for those from Bombay.
Analyses conducted at the station with five samples of
Mauritius ground nuts have given the following average
percentages of oil: shelled nuts 44°56 per cent., unshelled
nuts 34°26 per cent.

In the matter of the extraction of the oil, a percentage
of 28 to 32 is obtained in Europe, after three separate
pressings, one of which is conducted with the aid of heat.
The following table gives particulars as to the percentage
composition of four samples of the cake left after pressing.
Samples 1 and 2 were Mauritius cakes, pressed hot; sample
3 was a cake from the same source, pressed cold; sample
4 wasa cake left after extraction by pressure with heat, in
Europe: —

No: 1. No: 2: ih ae No. 4
Water 15°20 13:26 14:40 11°50
Fibre 8:05 8°35 4°34 5°20
Fats and oils 8:08 7°90 17°80 7°30
Starch 20°42 22-51 19°20 24°10
Albuminoids 40°31 40°12 38°00 47-00
Ash 794 7°86 6°26 4°90
Nitrogen 6°45 6°42 6-08 752

As regards the vegetative part of the plant, analyses of
the stalks gave the results shown in the following table.
Sample 1 was taken from plants grown between rows of
sugar-cane; these gave about }-ton of vegetable matter per
acre. Sample 2 was obtained from plants grown in the
open; these yielded about 5 tons of vegetable matter per
acre. In the former case, the stalks were half dry and the
leaves had all fallen; in the latter, the stalks had not dried
to such an extent and still bore the greater part of their
leaves: —

Percentage composition. Percentage after drying.

Nose No, 2. No. 1. No. 2.
Water 69°40 75°50 aids Cis
Fibre 14:37 9°82 46°97 40-10
Fats and oils 0°41 0:42 35 USGS}
Sugar si 1:22 ee 5:00
Starch 9-13 8°33 29-80 33°64
Albuminoids 2°41 2-44. 78S 10°25
Ash 4°28 JT 14:00 9:28
Nitrogen 0:39 0°39 1:26 1°64

Trade Between Canada and the West Indies.

Ata special general meeting of the Agricultural and
Commercial Society of Grenada, held on the 4th ultimo, the
following resolutions were passed: (1) That in the opinion of
the Grenada Agricultural and Commercial Society, it is
highly desirable that better trade relations with Canada
should be established, and that an indispensable first step to
encourage such better relations is the provision of satisfactory
steam communication. (2) That the Grenada Agricultural and
Commercial Society is prepared sympathetically to consider
any preferential arrangements which may be proposed by the
Government of Canada.

THE

PERINI FIBRE PLANT.

Accounts of the industrial importance, and of the
botanical attinities of the Perini Fibre Plant (Hibiscus
radiatus) have appeared already in the Agricultural
News, Vol. VIII, pp. 235 and 375. Through the cour-
tesy of H.M. Consul General for Brazil, a copy of
a pamphlet relating to this plant, published in 1905,
has been received. From this, the following informa-
tion regarding its cultivation is extracted :—

Although the best time for sowing is November, plant-
ing can be done at any time of the year. At whatever time
the sowing takes place, however, when the time for gathering
the erop arrives, the plants should be cut about 4 inches
above the soil, and the stumps will readily shoot again and
allow of a second, and even a third crop, being gathered in
one year.

To attain this end, the plantation should be divided
thus :— (1) A smaller crop merely for seeds. (2) A large
plantation for industrial purposes.

For the first, the land should be prepared in September
to October, and the sowing done in November. Naturally,
for an extensive cultivation, ploughs will be required, and the
beds must be properly measured and prepared, twenty-five
seeds being sown to the square metre. The plant thus has space
to grow freely. Great care must be observed to keep the seed-
beds clean, and to avoid cress-fertilization with useless weeds,
so aoundant in this country, This is absolutely necessary, if
the seed obtained is to give the best possible results. Four
months later, the first seeds should be gathered by hand,
and the crop of the second flowering is left to dry on the
plant. No part of this crop need be lost, but the fibre
extracted after flowering is naturally coarser than if gathered
previously.

For a large crop destined for industrial and textile pur-
poses, machinery must be employed. In the first year, the
ploughing and preparation of the land represent a considerable
expense. Three operations are commonly necessary, clear-
ing the brush-wood and trees, ete.; digging up the roots and
draining; sowing, in November, 2 grammes of seed per square
metre, equivalent to 100 seeds per square metre.

The plant grows rapidly, with only one stem, not having
space to branch out. The stem will reach 3 or 4 metres high.
The facts of placing the plants close together, and of starving
them, are all in favour of the quality of the fibre, which
is thus produced much finer and of a silky appearance.

It should be cut before flowering, that is in February,
or 90 to 100 days after sowing. During this short period, the
plant attains a height of at least 3 metres. Thus we have
a harvest in February, another in June and another in
October—when it will be necessary to dig up the roots and
plough and prepare the land for the new sowing in Novem-
ber.

In a letter forwarding the pamphlet, H.M. Consul
General says that the most conflicting statements
have been made from time to time as to the potential
value and local production of the plant, and that it is
not being grown locally to any extent. He states further
that, according to well informed sources, its cultivation
in Brazil has not been very successful, so far.

70 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 5, 1910.

: KS
ues ;

(Se) @
WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date February 14, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 300 bales of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, including Barbados 173d. to
20d., St. Kitts 18d. to 20d., Montserrat 17}d. to 19d., Nevis
18d., St. Croix 183d., and St. Vincent 20.

Prices are firm, and are likely to remain so, owing to the
high prices ruling for Egyptian cotton, the crop of which has
been a failure this year.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending February 11, is as follows:—

There was only a moderate demand throughout the week,
which was limited to Fine and Fully Fine, off in preparation,
at 30c., Stained and Tinged at 28c., and deep Stains at 27c.,
resulting in sales of 300 bales in all, which are being shipped
to Savannah and warehoused there.

However, since the Exchange report, large sales have
been made of Fully Fine and Extra Vine, at some concession
from previous asking prices, the buying being for export.

We will give details in our next report.

COTTON SEED SELECTION IN THE
UNITED STATES.

Cotton-growers are by this time familiar with the
methods of cotton seed selection that have been advised
for adoption in the West Indies. The following extracts
from a leaflet, just issued by the Bureau of Plant
Industry of the United States Department of Agri-
culture. and entitled Distribution of Seed-Cotton in
7910, will serve to show that these methods are similar
to those in vogue in that country, and to give some
points of further interest in connexion with the matter.
Among these, the planting of seed from selected plants
in what are termed ‘progeny rows’ appears to be
specially useful:—

Two methods of cotton seed selection have been used
in the past—‘ mass selection’ and ‘individual selection’. In
the first, the planter picks enough of his best plants to
furnish seed for his next year’s planting. This may be done
by his most experienced picker, or by the planter himself,
and the amount of seed-cotton thus selected is sufticient to
be ginned at the ordinary customs gin. The gains by this
method are ample to pay for the expenses incurred, and in the

p aS by
11) OTTON OTES. hth
eon Neh

hands of an exceptional man, may give very good results; but
they are not so sure, or so rapid, as those by individual selection.

In individual selection, the planter takes greater care in
selecting his plants, and instead of picking all the selections
together, he numbers each plant by a tag, and picks the seed-
cotton into a bag numbered correspondingly.

This seed is planted in separate rows during the next year.
The plot selected for this work should be as uniform as poss-
ible, and of high fertility. The seed will have to be sown by
hand. It is not necessary to delint it, but it is well
to immerse the seed-cotton in water, just before planting. If
half a lock of this wet cotten is dropped every 2 feet in the
row, and covered with an inch or two of loose soil with the
feet, and then trodden upon, a good stand is almost certain.
These rows should be given the same numbers as the parent
plants, and are called * progeny rows’.

The reason for planting in progeny rows is that not all
good cotton stalks have the power to transmit their
qualities to their progeny. In other words, a good stalk may
be so by inheritance, or it may be really very ordinary, owing
its good qualities to some advantage in soil, fertilizer, or
cultivation, which neighbouring plants have failed to get.
Probably no one ever becomes well enough acquainted with
cotton to be able to recognize this distinction in any given.
case.

A surprise is in store for the man who plants, in progeny
rows, the twenty-five best plants he can find, this surprise
consisting, firstly, in the apparent uniformity of the plants
in each row; and, secondly, in the wide variation between
those in adjacent rows. By this means, one is enabled to-
discard all the progeny of those plants which failin any
character. Without progeny rows, it is impossible to elimin-
ate these undesirable plants so thoroughly.

To select for productiveness, plants which have given
a larger yield than their neighbours, without any
evident advantage as to soil, space or fertilizer, should be
chosen. The poorest part of the field is just as good for this
selection as the best, except that, among the stunted plants
on poor soil, the individual differences do not usually show so
plainly as where the cotton plants have made a better growth.
The cotton stalk which has ripened eight bolls, while the neigh-
bouring stalks, with the same apparent opportunity, ripened
five, is as much to be selected for productivity as the one hav-
ing forty bolls among plants bearing twenty-five.

In making selections for greater length of lint, it is well
to have a comb on which a 23-inch scale, divided into
sixteenths, is marked. The lint is combed out on the seeds,
and enough is then pulled off to be measured on the scale.
The lint should be of uniform length all over the seed.
Sometimes the lint is shorter on the pointed end, which
defect is important, as it makes more waste in the pro-
cess of spinning,

Vou. IX. No. 205.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 71

The percentage of lint cannot be accurately determined,
for individual plants, without scales which are fairly delicate
in adjustment. Variation in percentage of lint may be judged
with sufficient accuracy by noting the density and complete-
ness of the covering of the seed. If the yield of seed-cotton
is the same, of course, the variety with a higher percentage
of lint is more valuable.

HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION OF
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS.

The following are the general reports of the exami-
ner (Mr. F. W. South, B.A.) on the recent half-yearly
examination of the pupils at the Agricultural Schools
in Dominica, St. Vincent and St. Lucia:—

DOMINICA AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL,

Twenty boys sat for this examination. Of these, four
were seniors, fourteen juniors, and two were new boys. ‘The
average percentages of marks obtained were as follows:
Seniors 68, juniors 50, new boys 42. The standard of the
work of the seniors is satisfactory, but the new boys and
juniors show considerable falling off since the last examina-
tion. Paul was the best of the seniors, and there were several
fair papers among the juniors.

All the subjects were rather weak, but the following
require special and very careful attention: Geography, Arith-
metic, among the juniors, English Grammar and Composition,
Spelling and Writing. The use of sub-heads, and of very
short and simple sentences might improve the Grammar and
Composition. It would be advisable, from the point of view
of general neatness, not to allow the boys to use red ink, nor
to underline the headings on their papers too freely. Plenty of
room should be allowed for each question, and the answers
to them should not be separated by ink lines. It is only
necessary to leave a space of a line or two on the paper.
If these points are attended to, the general appearance of the
papers will be considerably improved,

SP. VINCENT AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.

Nineteen boys sat for this examination. Of these, four
were seniors, eight juniors, and seven were new boys. The
average percentages of marks obtained were as follows:
Seniors 80; juniors 58; new boys 52. The seniors again did
well, though all these averages are below those obtained in
the last examination, especially in the case of the juniors,
where the falling off is rather marked. Derrick was the best
of the seniors, and Doddrige Davis of the juniors, while Otto
Haines and Bradshaw also did fairly well in this class.
Howard Denbar’s work was very poor, and he will require
the most careful attention.

Some good papers were shown in all subjects. Any
special weaknesses are mentioned in the detailed reports.
Chemistry and Botany show room for improvement, and
Arithmetic also, in the case of the juniors; among the seniors,
this subject was very good. The Composition was not so
good as that of the last time, and the Spelling of the new
boys requires attention. The papers were very neat, but
none of the boys put their class or the name of the school at
the head of them

Though there is some falling off in the results, as com-
pared with those of the last examination, it is clear that the
pupils are receiving very careful attention, and are being
trained in good methods.

ST, LUCIA AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL,

Fifteen boys sat for this examination. Of these, one
was a senior, eight were juniors, and six were new boys. The

average percentages of marks obtained were as_ follows:
Seniors 78. juniors 75, new boys 69. These results were
quite satisfactory, and show a slight improvement on those
of last time. Moise, Munrose and Mason did well among
the juniors, and Angier, of the new boys.

The standard in all the subjects was very fair, with the
exception of that of the new boys’ Dictation, Composition
among the juniors, and Geography throughout. Arithmetic
and Agriculture were the best subjects; the former, in
particular, was very good. The writing was good, and the
papers neat, but diagrams and maps still require attention.
English Grammar and Spelling show considerable improve-
ment,

In general, the results are very satisfactory, and show
that the pupils are receiving accurate and careful instruction.

THE PRODUCTION OF ALCOHOL IN THE
PHILIPPINES.

Besides rice, Indian corn and sugar-cane, the available
sources from which alcohol can be manufactured in this
archipelago are the sap of many palms and the cassava.
At present, nearly all the alcohol produced comes from the
bled sap (‘tuba’) of the Nipa and other palms. Alcohol from the
Nipa has a disagreeable odour, which is somewhat difficult to
remove, but for industrial purposes this would be of no con-
sequence. A description of this palm (Mpa fruticans,
Wurmb.) may be found in many places. It is a species
widely distributed all the way from India to Malaya, in
Northern Australia. and Polynesia. A very detailed study,
of the culture and bleeding of this plant has been published
by Ayala & Co.

The production of tuba from a mature tree usually
increases during the first fifty to sixty days after tapping,
and decreases during twenty-five to thirty days more. If
tuba is drawn for a longer period, the tree will die. The tuba
from mature stems is white, has an aromatic odour, and is
sweet. That from palms having less mature fruit is bluish
and less sweet, and, therefore, has less fermentative value. The
average yield per tree fluctuates from 3-litre to 3 litres per
day, .with a total of from 30 to 40 litres (sp. gr. 1-07 to 1:08
at 15°). The juice contains approximately 12 per cent. of
fermentable material, which is largely saccharose. Thirty-two
to 34 litres of tuba will usually produce 1 litre of pure aleohol.
In the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga, where the price
of the molasses residues from sugar-cane is low, these are
mixed with the tuba before fermentation, when the mixture
is said to give a larger yield of alcohol than would be obtained
from the two, if they were fermented separately.

Alcohol is removed from the fermented tuba by distilla-
tion. The method used in the provinces produces a distillate
containing about 50 per cent. of alcohol. By redistilling
a sufficient number of times, a 95-per cent. alcohol might be
produced, but the process would be very expensive; therefore,
the erude alcohol is shipped to the large distilleries in Manila,
where it can be refined more economically. In the Jatter,
the process is continuous; the vapours pass through several
stills, and are cooled just sufticiently to condense them in
each one, until the proper purity is reached. It will, therefore,
be seen that after an alcohol once passes the crude 50-per
cent. stage, a purity of 95 per cent. can be produced with
very little more expense per proof litre than for that cf one
of lower grade. . The economy of the purer form is obvious.

The manufacture of alcohol from tuba is rather expen-
sive, and it is doubtful if the process could be greatly
cheapened. (Philippine Agricultural Review, November
1909.)

sal

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 5, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural slews

1X.

Vou. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1910. No.

205.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

In this number, the editorial deals with the
problem of agricultural education in a general manner.
The. subject will be continued, in a more detailed way,
in the next number of the Agricultural News.

An abstract of an interesting article on epidemics
of disease of sugar-cane that have taken place in the
past appears on page 67.

Useful facts regarding the ground nut will be
found on page 68. They are intended to supplement the
information that has been recently given already
concerning this plant.

A note on the Perini fibre plant is presented on
page 69.

The general report on the recent examination of
the Agricultural Schools in Dominica, St. Vincent and
St. Lucia appears on page 71.

The first of two articles on carbon bisulphide that
will appear under the heading Insect Notes is given
on page 74.

The article under Fungus Notes (page 78) is the
first of a series that it is intended to publish, on the
chief groups of fungi. These should be read in connex-
ion with those on the life-history of the fungi, that
have appeared already.

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

Pamphlet No. 62 of the Department Series has
recently been issued. It contains an account of the
experiments with seedling canes, and of the experi-
ments in the manuring of canes, conducted in Barba-
dos during 1907-9. — A review of this pamphlet is given
on page 75.

A review is also given, on the same page, of the
latest pamphlet to be published in that Series (No. 63).
This deals with the experiments that have been con-
ducted with seedlings and other canes in the Leeward
Islands, during 1908-9.

These pamphlets can be obtained of all agents for
the sale of the publications of the Department; price
6d., post free 74d.

West Indian Seedling Canes in Queensland.

The ninth Annual Report of the Bureau of
Sugar HKapervment Stations, Queensland, has just
been received through the Secretary of State for the
Colonies. Among the experiments of which results are
recorded is a number which were conducted with the
ten best varieties of sugar-cane from different coun-
tries, in order to determine their respective agricultural
and commercial values. Among these, T. 60 holds
a fairly high place, being fourth on the list. On
irrigated land, with mixed manures, this gave 149 tons
of cane per acre, for four crops. On similar land with
no manure, the yield was 147° tons for the same
number of crops. The similar figures for land not
under irrigation were 126 tons and 124°7 tons.

B. 208 has, in general, shown a tendency to become
diseased, but will be given a further trial, “owing to
the splendid recurd this cane has in some parts of
Queensland, and also in its own country, the West
Indies. Among the canes which are to take part in
new experiments that have recently been initiated is
B. 147.

An account is given of the behaviour of various
kinds of cane in the presence of a gumming disease
which is said to be due to Bacteriwim vascularum.
Among West Indian canes. D. 95 has shown itself
susceptible to it: while, although in the trials made
with D. 74 and ‘TT. 202, no gum was found, all the
canes died.

a

An African Fibre Plant.

In the Kew Bulletin, 1906, p. 397, mention is made
of an African fibre plant, Gomphocarpus semilunatus,
under the name Asclepias semilunata, stating that
samples of the fibre of this plant had’ been received,
and forwarded to the Imperial Institute for examina-
tion. The results of the examination, which are con-
tained in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, Vol,
3, p. 316, showed that the fibre was of good quality, but
that there were indications that it may not be very
durable, and it is suggested that improvement may be
effected by careful preparation.

Vout. IX. No. 205.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 73

Further information concerning this plant 1s con-
tained in the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits
and Federated Malay States for December last. In
a description which is given of the plant, it is stated
that the stem is straight and unbranched, which is an
important matter in a fibre plant. The diameter of
the stem is about }-inch, and it bears numerous lanceo-
late leaves. ‘The flowers, which are white with a grey-
violet corona, are borne in bunches near the top of the
stem. The suggestion is made that the plant would
do well in regions where other similar fibre plants show
a tendency to form branches low down on the stem.
In cultivation, it requires to be sown in good, open soil,
and may be cut in about six months. Fibre, recently
sent from Uganda, was valued at £35 a ton, so that
this would make it appear that the plant is worth the
attention of those interested in fibres.

rr +

Sisal in Mauritius.

The Rapport Annuelde la Station Agronomique
de UVIle Maurice, 1906-7, states that, in this island
about 40 tons of sisal leaves (Agave rigida, var.
sisalana) are required to produce 1 ton of dried fibre.
The plant is grown by the owners of the decorticating
factories; this is partly because production of the
plant by others is discouraged by the circumstance
that the price paid for the leaves remains the same,
whatever the market conditions may be. It is
suggested that the manufacturers shoild otfer intending
cultivators a price which is remunerative. and pro-
‘portional to the state of the market for the fibre. This
will probably have the result of extending the culti-
vation, of causing greater care to be taken in growing
the plant, and of reducing the expenses in connexion
with the separation of the fibre.

ha

The South African Pipe Calabash.

References to the gourd (Lagenaria vulyaris)
which produces the fruit used in making the calabash
pipe have been made several times in the Agricultural
News, and trials with seeds of this plant from South
Africa have been conducted by the Department. The
plant itself is a native of all tropical countries, and has
been introduced into the Southern United States.

Circular No. 41 of the United States Bureau of
Plant Industry, dealing with this plant and the manu-
facture of pipes from it, has been recently issued. In
this, the reason for the high prices that have to be
paid for these pipes is given by saying that the
crook of the calabash naturally varies in shape, so that
each mouthpiece must be made to fit it, and each
lining of meerschaum, or of plaster of Paris, must be
specially adapted. The discovery of the use of the
calabash as a pipe bowl is attributed to the Boers.

In growing the vine for the sake of its fruits,
according to this circular, it should be allowed to trail
over the ground, and it seems to induce a more perfect
neck if the gourds are made to stand up, when half
grown, so that they rest on their larger ends; care is
required in doing this. It was not found that the

ability to acquire a crooked neck is an inherited »

quality. The gourds should not be picked green, but
must be left as long as possible on the vines, in order
that they may become thoroughly hard. The plants
thrive well in rich soil, especially if this is composed of
a loam containing plenty of organic matter, which has
received a dressing of well rotted pen, or stable, manure.

In the circular referred to, a method is yiven for
causing the neck of the calabash to assume any requir-
ed shape. This consists in carefully laying the young
gourd, before its neck has hardened, on a board, and caus-
ing it to assume the required shape by means of pegs
thrust into holes that have been pierced in the board
very close together. As the fruit grows, the pegs
will require to be reset in such a way as to cause the
attainment of the desired shape.

It is stated that the prices paid for the fruits by
the manufacturer are very low, and that the demand
is limited; so that the raising of the gourd on a large
scale is not advised.

+ _—_

Swiss Milk Goats.

The efforts that have been made in Europe to
improve the goat for milking purposes have met with
such success that the matter deserves general atten-
tion. The Transvaal Agricultural Journal, Vol.
VII, No. 29, states that the best milking goats are the
Swiss Saanen breed, the ewes of which are now report-
ed to yield at least a thousand bottles a year, that ‘is at
the rate of six or eight bottles of milk a day. It goes
on to draw attention to the fact that goat’s milk may be
prevented from possessing the smell which so quickly
distinguishes it trom that of the cow by stabling the
ram at a distance from it, and mentions that goats of
this breed navurally require more care than is usually
viven to the commoner varieties of this animal, if it is
desired to obtain a large quantity of milk from them.

Passages are quoted from a report of the Director
of the Stud Farm, Hessen, Germany, which states that
ewes of this race if well developed, are ready for
breeding purposes at the age of six months. The
inilking of the ewe is suspended for four to six weeks
before the kids are born, to the benefit of both the
mother and her offspring. After the birth of the latter,
the ewe should be provided with good grazing, or with
hay, but should be prevented (as for goats in general)
from drinking too much cold water. The milk produe-
tion is greatly increased if bran is fed.

An average analysis of the milk from 100 goats is
given, and is compared with the average analysis of
cows’ milk, in Germany. his shows that goat’s milk
is considerably richer in fat (4°78 per cent. against 3:40
per cent.) and proteids (4.29 per cent. against 3°50 per
cent.) than that of the cow; while it is slightly poorer
in milk sugar (446 per cent. against 4°60 per cent.).

In order to improve the breed of goats in Holland,
the Netherlands Department of Agriculture has
recently imported animals of the Saanen race. These
were not obtained directly from Switzerland, but from
Hessen, where pure breeding of the race has been
conducted for many years.

It would appear that this breed of goats may
possibly be worthy of attention in the West Indies.

74

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Maren 5, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

CARBON BISULPHIDE.
PARAL:

Mention has frequently been made, in the publications
of this Department, of carbon bisulphide and its use,
particularly as an insecticide. In the Agricultural News,
Vol. I, p. 140, there is to be found a brief article dealing
with this substance, and in more recent publications it has
been mentioned in connexion with various experiments that
have been carried out.

An objection that has always been raised to the use of
carbon bisulphide in the: West Indies is the diftticulty of
obtaining it, since from its volatile and inflammable character,
most transportation companies do not like to carry it, and
also because the only form in which this material is supplied
is a comparatively pure product sold by the druggists. ~ At
the present time, however, supplies can be obtained at fairly
reasonable cost, as. will be shown later in this article.

One of the most complete publications setting forth the
uses, properties and history of carbon bisulphide is Parmers’
Bulletin No. 145, of the United States Department of Agri-
culture, issued in 1902. Johnson’s /uwmigation Methods
(1902) also contains a very comprehensive chapter, on
fumigation by carbon bisulphide.

PROPERTIES. Carbon bisulphide is a colourless, heavy
liquid, which is prepared on a large scale by passing the
fumes of burning sulphur over red-hot charcoal, and condens-
ing the resulting vapours to liquid form by cooling. This
liquid is one-fourth heavier than water; it is very volatile,
evaporating freely when exposed to the air. The rapidity of
evaporation is proportionate to the extent of the exposed
surface, as well as to the temperature and the amount of
movement of the atmosphere above; evaporation in
partially closed vessels may be vrevented’ by covering the
carbon bisulphide with a layer of water: The water being’
lighter, floats on the surface of the carbon bisulphide, in the
same way that kerosene floats on the surface of water.

The vapour of carbon bisulphide is 2°63 times heavier
than air. It diffuses quite rapidly through the air, but
its tendency is to penetrate downwards faster than upwards,
and this characteristic of the gas has an important bearing
on its use in certain conditions.

In the general use of carbon bisulphide.as an ‘insecti-”
cide, there is no fear of injurious effect to the operator, if ordi-
nary care is taken. If considerable quantities of the vapour :
were to be inhaled for a long time, serious results would follow:
A greater danger is that of explosion. Carbon bisulphide
vapour is very inflammable, and in an atmosphere impregna-
ted with this, an explosion may easily be brought about by
the slightest spark, or even by a rather warm surface, and
the greatest care should be taken that no fire or flame, even
of a pipe or cigar or cigarette, is brought into contact with
this vapour. The risk attending the use of carbon bisulphide
is not greater than that attending the use of gasoline, in many
ways.

Carbon bisulphide was first used as an insecticide in
1856-7 in killing weevils and their eggs in grain, and later, in
1559, it was employed in the control of phylloxera on the grape
vines of southern France. By 1873, over 200,000 acres of
vines were receiving annual treatment with carbon bisulphide.
Since that time, it has come to be very generally used in
connexion with certain kinds of pests.

MODE OF APPLICATION. From the fact that success in
the use of carbon bisulphide depends on the ability of the
user to confine the vapour, this substance has its greatest
utility in connexion with those insects which live in the
ground, and in stored grains and other products. As a means
of control of those insects which attack stored vegetable pro
duets, carbon bisulphide has been found extremely useful in
fumigating mills, granaries and warehouses, and it has
a further application for the fumigation of foodstuffs, books,
clothing, ete., in households. In fumigating mills and similar
buildings, 1 lb. of carbon bisulphide to every 1,000 eubic feet
of space is the amount generally used. In employing it for the
purpose. it is necessary to apply the vapour at the top of the
bin or box in which the materials are to be fumigated, and
in the case of buildings or rooms, the carbon bisulphide
should be exposed as high above the floor as possible. Shallow
tins, or plates, are suitable for exposing the liquid, since the
evaporation is very rapid, in proportion to the increased-
surface, and at least 1 syuare foot of evaporating surface
should be caleulated for every 25 square feet of floor space.
The building that is being fumigated should be closed, if
possible, for twenty-four hours, and no one should enter it,
or bring into the immediate neighbourhood of it, any fire or
flame of any kind. In fumigating material in boxes, bins,
barrels, or other comparatively small containers, carbon bisul-
phide should be exposed ina shallow dish at the top. The
carbor bisulphide should be used at the same rate, namely,
1 tb. per 1,000 cubic feet, as is already suggested for the
fumigation of buildings. A suitable proportion is i tb. to 100
bushels of grain. This is a somewhat stronger dose than
1 th. to 1,000 enbie feet, but it does not injure the germi- -
nating power of seeds, even at that strength.

For the destruction of ants, carbon bisulphide has been:
snecessfully used, by pouring into the nest 1 or 2 oz. of
the liquid, in several doses. This can be accomplished by
making holes with an iron stake, or a stick, and when the
carbon bisulphide has been poured in, securely closing the
holes. In the same way, it may be used, at the rate of | oz.
per square yard, for the control of grubs and mole crickets
in soils; it has also been successfully employed in the treat-
ment of root maggots attacking garden plants, and of
burrowing animals, such as squirrels, gophers, woodchucks,
moles, mice, ete.

cost. Carbon bisulphide may be obtained from several
makers. It is sold by Edward R. Taylor, Penn Yan, New
York, U.S.A., under the trade name of ‘Fuma’. This brand
is prepared specially for use in fumigating, and its price is
very reasonable. ‘The Imperial Department of Agriculture
has recently received a trial shipment, and Messrs. Knight
& Co., General Druggists, Barbados, have a supply on order
which should be available soon. Druggists generally carry in’
stock limited supplies of carbon bisulphide in small tins, but
in this form the cost is rather high for fumigation, on a large
scale, the retail price being something like ls. 6d. to 2s,
per Ib. ‘Fuma’ carbon bisulphide, on the other hand, costs
only about 10e. per tb., with containers (which are screw-
capped iron drums), carriage, and duty, extra. These extras,
with the profits of the local dealer, will increase the cost very
materially; but, even then, Fuma carbon bisulphide ought tobe
available for use in the West Indies ata price sufficiently low °
to warrant its employment ona large scale, if experiments
show that beneficial results follow its use. ;

As is stated above, the objection has often been made
that steamship companies did not like to handle such inflam-
mable material, but there seems to be no great difficulty at
the present time; at any rate, recent orders were filled
yery promptly.

ViotinEX.. Nos 205.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. "5

SEEDLING CANES AND MANURIAL EXPERI-
MENT'S AT BARBADOS, 1907-9, Issued by the Imperial
Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies.

Pamphlet No. 62 of the series published by the Imperial
Department of Agriculture has been recently issued under
this title. It contains, in a concise form, the results of the
experiments that are described at length in the Report on the
results of the cultivation of seedling and other canes, together
with manurial experiments with sugar-cane, carried on at the
experiment stations at Barbados, during 1907-9, which is
soon to be published.

The matters dealt with first are the mode in which the
experiments are carried out, together with an explanation of
terms used in the text; the characters shown by the seedling
canes in the field and in the factory; a description of the
stations at which the experiments are conducted; and an
account of the climatic conditions which obtained during the
season under review. ‘This introductory information is follow-
ed by a section which deals with the more important results
that have been cbtained with the varieties cultivated. After
an explanation has been given to the effect that these results
only attord the means of drawing temporary conclusions from
one year’s work, it is shown that the best returns, on the
black soils, have been obtained with B.3,013, followed by
B.6,381, and 5.6,450, though, in justice to the last mention-
ed cane, it is explained that it would probably have occupied
an even better position, but for the fact that it met with
untoward conditions on several of the stations on which it
was grown. A similar analysis of the results given on the
red soils presents B.208, B.3,405 and B.3,412, in order of
merit, as regards yield of sucrose from plants. As plarts
and first and second ratoons, on these soils, the order is
B.376, B.3,390 and B.3,412.

Tables are given for the purpose of demonstrating the
above results, as well as to put forward the returns that have
been obtained during the past five years. In the latter
connexion, on the black soils, the first place is taken by
B.6,204, which however has been grown for four years only,
followed by B.6,450, B.3,747 and B.5,355. On the red
soils, the order is B.3,405, B.3,412 and B.3,390; but, as plants
and first ratoons on.these soils, B.3,412 occupies the first
position, followed by b.3,390 and B.3,405, in succession.

The next section gives detailed information in regard to
the selected varieties for 1909. This is followed by an
exhaustive treatment of the subject of the conditions and
results relating to the different varieties, on the various
experimental stations, grown as plants and ratcons. The
subject is dealt with mainly by the aid of tables, and as it is
concerned with the individual behaviour of canes on different
stations, no generalizations can be put forward. Each part
of the tables requires to be studied in its particular appli-
cation. Interesting information as to the incidence of root
disease (Varasmius sacchari), during different years, is given.

The remainder of the pamphlet is concerned with the
results of the usual manurial experiments that have been

carried out at the station at Dodds. These continue to indi-
cate the response of the sugar-cane to the use of nitrogenous
manures, and the fact that the application of phosphates has
resulted in a decrease, rather than an increase, in the yield.

SHEDLING AND OTHER CANES IN THE
LEEWARD ISLANDS, 1908-9. Issued by the Imperial
Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies.

This is the title of Pamphlet No. 63 of the series
published by the Imperial Department of Agriculture. It
presents, in a concise form, the results of experiments,
conducted in Antigua and St. Kitts with seedling canes,
which are dealt with at length in the Official Report on
Sugar-Cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands (Part I,
1908-9), soon to be issued.

The first matter to claim attention is the mode in which
the experiments are carried out; this is followed by a table
giving, in a concise manner, the chief characters of the eanes
with which the investigations were made. The rest of the
publication may be divided into four parts: those dealing
directly with Antigua and St. Kitts, respectively, and two
appendixes, the first relating to the area under cultivation in
cane varieties at a large number of estates, in both islands, and
the second to the average yields from each experiment station,
in the two islands, during the past eight years.

The great increase that has taken place in the number
of seedling canes available for experiment has caused twenty-
six of the most promising of the newer Demerara and
Barbados varieties to be included in the investigations at all
stations in Antigua, in addition to sixteen of the varieties that
have proved their value in the past. The scheme of experimen-
tation has therefore been modified, so that the trials are no
longer conducted in duplicate, in order to give room for their
extended scope, and the result is that, for this island,
particulars are given of the yields obtained with forty-two
varieties, at eight stations, on single plots. In St. Kitts,
the number of stations was the same as in Antigua, while
that of the varieties was twenty-three.

In the case of Antigua, « discussion is given of the
relation between the effect of the root disease and the past
history of any given stool of canes as regards soil conditions.
In the matter of disease, too, it is mentioned that the rind
disease (T’richosphzeria saccharz) has produced rotten cane, to
a small extent, on some of the experiment stations.

In the appendix which deals with the areas of the
different kinds of sugar-cane under cultivation on the majority
of the estates, it is shown that Sealy Seedling, in Antigua,.
has given the largest increase, although White Transparent,
including all its related varieties, holds the premier position,.
but with a decrease in acreage from that of the preceding
season. This decrease has been taking place during several
years, and it will probably be greater in the future, as the
proved susceptibility of this cane to root disease causes it to
be replaced by newer varieties. The cane mostly grown in
St. Kitts is B.147, and the statement is made in regard to
it: ‘There is a growing tendency to regard this cane as
particularly well suited to the fertile lands supplied with
a good rainfall..., but as not so well adapted to the drier
conditions...of the island.’

The second appendix should prove specially useful to
the planter, as it assists him to make a direct application of
the results obtained at the experiment station where the
conditions are most nearly similar to those of his estate, and
thus to choose those canes for cultivation that are likely to
give him the best yields.

76 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

GLEANINGS.

On account of unfavourable weather conditions in Cuba,
it is estimated that the sugar crop will be between 1,400,000
tons and 1,600,000 tons; thus the output will not exceed that
of the previous season.

An estimate of the Egyptian cotton crop for the season
1909-10 gives it as about 544 million pounds, from 1,600,000
acres, valued at £22,000,000. In the preceding season, the
similar figures were, approximately, 678 million pounds,

1,600,000 acres and £20,000,000.

Messrs. C. J. Dams & Co., of 121 Newgate Street,
London, E.C., have recently brought out glass cups for
rubber collection. These are of different registered patterns
and sizes, in white and dark green glass, and are adapted for
collecting either at the base of the tree, or on the trunk.

The number of bales of cotton imported into the United
Kingdom during the fifty-two weeks ended December 30,
1909, was 4,200,742. This included 6,358 bales of British
West Indian, 12,715 bales of British West African, 11,702
bales of British East African, and 326 bales of Foreign East
African, cotton. (Board of Trade Journal, January 6, 1910.)

According to the Manchester Courier the quantities of
West Indian bananas sent during 1909 to Manchester,
Bristol and Southampton, were 1,937,548 bunches, 1,955,001
bunches, and 122,231 bunches, respectively. Of Canary
bananas, during the same period, Liverpool received 1,715,000
bunches, and London 1,441,956 bunches.

At the ceremonies which took place in connexion with the
celebration, at Bray, of Arbor Day in Ireland, on November
6 last, his Exceliency Lord Aberdeen laid special stress on
the need for more extensive tree-growing in Ireland, and
insisted on the advantages to be gained from the planting of
both ornamental and economic trees.

An advance prospectus has been received of the Man-
chester Industrial. Exhibition, which is to be held in the
Manchester Exhikition Buildings from May 12, 1910, to
June 25, 1910, inclusive. Inquiries concerning this should
be made to: The Organizers, The International Trade
Exhibitions, Ltd., Broad Street House, London, E.C.

The increase in the home consumption of dairy products
in Canada is beginning to cause a lessening in the quantity
of these that is exported. This is shown by the fact that the
values of such exports in 1908 was £3,955,696, while in 1909
it was £3,721,199. In the former year, as compared with
1907, there was a decline of £484,299, and with 1906 of
£1,695, 267, in the value.

Mareu 5, 1910.

According to the West India Committee Circular, at the
Colonial Fruit Show recentiy held in London, the campaign
for popularizing limes, initiated by the Dominica Permanent
Exhibition Committee, was furthered by the presentation, to
each visitor, of samples of the fruit in bags on which the
words Dominica Limes appeared conspicuously in bold letters,
a unique advertisement of the product being thus obtained.

It is stated that tnere are very good prospects for
a cotton industry in the Soudan; but that it has not been deve-
loped for lack of means of transport. Schemes are on foot for
the removal of this difticulty; these consist of the actual con-
struction of a short line from Khartoum toward El Obeid,
and the proposed making of a railway between Khartoum and
Massowah. Both of these will open up a very fertile country.

A Committee, called the Jamaica Standing Committee,
has just been formed for the purpose of reporting to the West
India Committee on Jamaican affairs. It includes Mr. E. A.
de Pass (Chairman), Mr. C. A. Campbell, Mr. C. Gurney,
Mr. H. Crum Ewing, Mr. W. Faweett, Mr. William Gillespie,
Mr. N. Maleolmson, Mr. G. Moody-Stuart, Mr. H. A Trotter,
and Mr. Algernon E. Aspinall (Secretary), with power to add
to its number.

At a meeting of the Dominica Agricultural and Com-
mercial Society, held on December 50, 1909, it was resolved
that, in all documents issued in future by the Society, the
fruit of the lime tree be termed Limes; the oil made by dis-
tillation be termed Essential Oil of Limes; the oil made by the
écuelle process be termed Otto of Limes; and further that the
Society use every effort to get this improved nomenclature
generally adopted.

The India-Rubber World gives information concerning
Buphorbia lactiflua, a rubber shrub discovered by the
botanical section of the Chili National Museum. It is stated
that the claim is made that a very good quality of rubber can
be obtained from the shrub. The plant is much scattered,
and dificult of access in many places, but it is said that it
could easily be cultivated, and a company has been formed
or the purpose of exploiting it.

In the Monthly bulletin of the French Chamber of
Commerce at Rio de Janeiro, it is stated that a large indus-
try exists in Paraguay, for the production of essence of ‘ petit
grain’ from the oil yielded by bitter orange leaves, by
distillation. It is simply and cheaply produced in a number
of small factories, the ontput being in the proportion of 1 tb.
of the essence from 300 tb. of orange leaves. The essence,
which obtains a price of lls. to 12s. 6d. per tb. at Asuncion,
is used as a basis for a large number of perfumes.

An Ordinance has recently been passed in St. Vincent,
entitled: An Ordinance to further regulate the purchase of
Cotton and to amend ‘The Agricultural Products Protection
Ordinance 1906’. It provides for the appointment of
inspectors of cotton; the examination of cotton land by these;
the regulation of sales of quantities,ef cotton not exceeding
1,000 tb.; the making of rules for regulating the purchase of
cotton by the Government Ginnery; the rendering of annual
returns of areas planted in cotton to the Treasurer; and for
penalties for offences against the Ordinance.

Vou. IX. No. 205.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

|
=~]

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

MARCH,

Firsr

PERIOD.

Seasonal Notes.

Where several varieties of sugar-cane have been planted,
a useful opportunity will have been afforded, by this time, of
observing their relative value as regards the production of
plants from cuttings. Make observations of the more obvious
characters of each kind, with the object of discovering if the
yariation in the power to form new plants has any relation to
differences that are to be seen in those characters. Discuss
the relation that the power quickly to form good, healthy
plants bears to the ability to survive drought. Where it is
possible, make observations and drawings, for the purpose of
gaining an accurate idea of the ways in which growth takes
place after the canes have been cut from a stool that is left
to form ratoons. Reference to the West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. X, No. 2, pp. 117-21, will be of assistance in gaining
information in regard to this matter.

Note the way in which Bordeaux mixture is made.
How may it be easily ascertained whether a sample of this
mixture has been properly made or not! Is there any danger
in using badly prepared Bordeaux mixture for disinfecting
sugar-cane cuttings? If so, why! Consider whether an
improvement on the methodsin vogue for treating cuttings
with this mixture could be devised, such as in the construction
of wire baskets which would facilitate the wetting and
removal of the cuttings. (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII,
p- 315.) Have any other methods been employed for the
treatment of cane cuttings before planting! Describe any
that you know of, and compare their efficiency, in the matter
of disinfection, with that of the use of Bordeaux mixture.
(See West Indian Bulletin, Voi. V, p. 99, VI, p. 48.)

What is the essential difference between a cane cutting
and a cane ‘top’? Why is the latter generally used as a food
for stock instead of being ground in the mill? Cut through
a piece of sugar-cane, in the direction of its length, so as to
include one or two of the nodes. What is the appearance of
the vascular bundles, and why are these strictures called by
that name! In what part of the cane does the juice contain-
ing the sugar exist chiefly! Carefully trace the course of the
vascular bundles and ascertain what becomes of them when
they reach a node. In what part of the cane are new bundles
formed?! Why is it that the sugar-cane is harder in the outer
than in the inner part? Compare the cane, in this respect,
with the stem of a dicotyledon.

In regard to cotton, make observations in connexion
with the effect of the time of planting. on the severity of the
attacks of the ftower-bud maggot, and compare the date of the
appearance of this pest during the present season with that
of former ones. Make a careful review of the causes that
may be effectual in bringing it about that the insect is much

more prevalent in some seasons than in others. What is the
definite circumstance in its life-history that causes it to lessen
the yield from the cotton plant? What other plant or piants
does it infest, and how may it be found in them? Where
does*the insect pass its pupal stage /

In places where cotton has been planted as a catch crop
with cane, it will now have been turned in. Where it is
being employed as a stage in a rotation, and where a second
picking is being obtained, a careful watch for leaf-blister
mite must be kept, and all atfected leaves should be picked
off and burnt, preferably as near as possible to the place
where they have grown. Why is it unwise to carry material
infested with leaf-blister mite any greater distance than is
necessary, even if bags are used for the purpose? To what
kinds of animals is the leaf-blister mite most nearly related
(See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 346.)

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) What is meant by humus ?
crops!

(2) Name the special arrangements that may be required
in growing a plant possessing tendrils. What parts of a plant
may be changed in such a way as to enable them to perform
the function of tendrils /

(3) Describe a suitable agricultural rotation where the
staple crop is cotton.

How is it beneficial to

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) Describe the symptoms that are shown by a cane
suffering from rind fungus,

(2) Give an account of the chief characters of a good
sample of molasses.

(3) Draw a map of the island in which you live, show-
ing the position of the different kinds of soil that exist there.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados by the SS. ‘ Balantia’, on February 22, 1910,
for the purpose of accompanying the members of the
Royal Commission appointed to enquire into trade
relations between Canada and the West Indies.
Dr. Watts returned to Barbados on the 28th ultimo.

Mr. V. M. Weil, B.Sc. (Lond.), has been appointed,
by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Assistant
to the Government Analyst and Agricultural Chemist
for the Leeward Islands, in connexion with the Imperial
Department of Agricuiture for the West Indies.

Mr. Weil arrived in Barbados, on his way to
Antigua, by the SS. ‘Oruba’, on the Ist instant.

Mr. W. R. Dunlop has been appointed, by the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the post of
Agricultural and Science Master at the St. Kitts
Grammar School, in connexion with the Imperial
Department of Agriculture. i

Mr. Dunlop arrived in St. Kitts, to take up the
duties of his appointment, on February 19, 1910.

78 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 5, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIEF GROUPS OF

PAR Wel.

FUNGI:-

The following series of articles is intended to give
a short account of the chief groups of fungi, and of the
characters (both those as seen by the naked eye and
those as. viewed under the microscope) by means
of which they are separated from one another. Any
points of interest that occur in the life-cycle of mem-
bers of the ditterent groups will also be described.
The series should be read in conjunction with the three
articles on fungi published in the Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII. pp. 251, 267 and 283. It is hoped that they
will be of general interest and also of assistance to
those taking the Courses of Reading, as helping to throw
light on the true nature of a fungus, on the different
forms under which these plants may appear, and on
the various types of injury they may inflict upon the
higher plants. The groups will be taken in the order
of the relative complexity of their reproductive arrange-
ments; the simplest forms being treated first and the
more complex ones later, particularly as this is con-
sidered to be the order of their evolutionary develop-
ment. They will be dealt with broadly, and no
reference will be made to the characters separating
families, genera, or species, as this would prevent the
subject trom being treated in a sufficiently simple
manner. ‘Typical fungi illustrating the characters of
any group will be selected as far us possible from those
well known in the West Indies, either as causing
diseases of crops with which many are acquainted, or
as being of some economic usefulness to the planter,
for example, the fungus parasites of insects.

Before turning to the fungi themselves, it may be of
assistance if some idea is given of what is understood by the
words species, genera, natural order and cohort.

The starting point for all systems of classification of
any description of objects is always the individual. Thus,
among plants, the first thing noticed is always a collection of
individuals, each of which differs from the other to a greater
or less extent. On further careful examination, it becomes
clear that some of these plants resemble each other
more than any other of the plants examined. Such
a group of plants is known as a Species. It now becomes
necessary to consider on what ground this resemblance is
based. On looking at one plant, it may become clear that it
is somewhat similar to individuals of another kind, in the
way that the Hibiscus resembles the cotton plant. The
question is: In what ways is this similar to the cotton plant /
Careful examination shows that, though the flowers are of
a different colour, yet each has the same number of petals,
and the other parts of the flower are alike in each, and of the
same number in each. Further, both plants are of a bushy
habit, although the leaves are different. Thus on the sum
of various characters exhibited by each, there are more points
of resemblance than of difference, and consequently the
plants may be said to be related to one another fairly closely.
The resemblance is somewhat similar to that often shown
between the different members of the same family in the human
race. The idea underlying a natural system of classification
is to bring together into the same species those plants

which are related in the same way as the various members
of a human family are related, all of whom had the same
ancestors. In speaking of human relationships, it is often
said that the members of a certain family have one, or possibly
two, features that are characteristic, as for example the eyes,
the mouth, or even the voice. In considering plants, it is
often found that two plants whose general appearance is
very different have flowers and fruits that are very similar.

As in observing the relationships of human beings,
greater importance is often attached to similarity of eyes and
voices or any two similar features than to the numerous
dissimilarities, so in the case of plants greater importance
is often attached to similarities in the flowers and fruit than
to dissimilarities’ of general habit. With plants, this
may be done without involving much danger of classing
together those which are not really related, for a reason that
may be given as follows. The flowers and fruit of a plant
are its reproductive organs, and consequently are not engaged
in obtaining food for the plant. Now, while the conditions
of temperature, moisture, food supply and so on, under which
a plant lives, may have a very considerable effect on those
parts that are concerned with obtaining its food, they
will not have so immediate an effect on its reproductive
organs.

Consequently, plants which are fairly closely related may
show very considerable differences in their vegetative parts,
that is in the parts engaged in obtaining their food, while
they still exhibit a very close resemblance in their reproduc-
tive parts. As a result of this, the classification of all plants
rests mainly on the characters of those organs by which they
reproduce themselves.

To return to the definition of species, it is now evident
that a group of plants which resemble one another more
closely in the sum of their characters, more especially those of
their reproductive organs, more than any one of them
resembles any other plant in these characters, may be said
to form a species.

Similarly, any group of species, each of which resembles
the others more closely than it does any other species, forms
a Genus; and similar groups of genera form a Natural Order
or Family. Groups of similar families form Cohorts, which
are the main subdivisions of the great primary divisions of
the plant kingdom.

In the case of the fungi, just as has been shown for
flowering plants, the characters of the reproductive organs
are those on which the classification is most especially based,
as in many cases the mycelia, or vegetative parts, even of
widely different groups, are so similar as to be almost indis-
tinguishable.

Broadly speaking, there are two different types of repro-
duction in the fungi. In the first, a special portion of the
plant body is prepared and separated off for the purpose of
increasing the numbers of the plant. Such a portion is known
as a conidium, or spore, and is capable of germinating again
very quickly, if it is placed under conditions suitable to the
growth of the fungus, suchas a sufficient and acceptable food
supply, plenty of moisture and a suitable temperature. Such
spores are merely parts of the plants from which they were
cut off, and the plants that grow from them resemble the
parent in all respects. As has been pointed out before, these
spores are produced in immense quantities when all the
external conditions are suitable to the fungus, and are those
to which an epidemic of any disease is due. Fungi belonging
to very different species, or even genera, may produce spores
of this kind, which are very similar in appearance, conse-
quently such spores are mainly of secondary importance in
classification.

Vou. IX. No. 205.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 79

Nearly all the groups of fungi also produce another type
of spore; this is usually formed by means of a sexual process,
and is especially adapted for tiding over unfavourable circum-
stances; that is, its main purpose is to ensure the continuation
of the species in time. With this end in view, it is usually
supplied with a thick outer skin, often covered with ridges
or spines, and with a reserve supply of food in the form of
starch, sugar, or, more frequently, oil. As the fungi (like
other plants) have developed during the course of ages, the
special apparatus for the production and protection of these
spores has become more and more complex, partly, no doubt,
owing to the many changes in external conditions to which
they have been subjected; at the same time, the sexual process
by which the spores were formed has become simplified, and in
some instances, appears to have died out altogether. Never-
theless, the characters of these spores, and the complexity of
the organs formed for their production and protection when
young, are the principal characters upon which the fungi are
classified. For whereas the asexual spores are more generally
borne on exposed portions of the mycelium, without any
protection, the sexual spores in the higher groups are always
borne on, or in, some special form of organ which protects them
when young. The full meaning of this will, it is hoped,
become clearer in the light of the articles which are to follow.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON

MARKET.

Mr. J. L. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market
for the month of January :—

The beginning of the new year, like the close of the old
one, always brings with it a disruption of business in the
produce markets generally, and the commencement of the
present year his been no exception to the rule, but, on the
contrary, besides the ordinary extension of the holidays into
the first week in January, and the annual stock-taking opera-
tions, the Parliamentary elections have absorbed a good part
of the month, with the inevitable result of the disorganization
of business generally. Notwithstanding all this, there has
been a steady under-current of increasing trade, which it is
hoped may be maintained. The only products that have
received special attention during the month are glycerine
and Buchu, the former of which is advancing by leaps and
bounds, and the latter, not only being very scarce, but having
risen steadily in price from 73d. to 10d. per tb. early in the
past year, and ls. 6d. to 2s. at its close. Nothing, however,
has occurred of any special note in connexion with West
Indian products, as the following details will show: —

GINGER.

At the first spice sale on the 5th there were no offerings
of Jamaica, but about 500 packages of Cochin and Calicut,
partly comprised of unsorted native cut, were brought forward
and bought in at 55s, to 55s. per ewt. Washed rough Cochin
and rough brown Calicut were also offered and bought in,
the first at 43s. and the second at 42s. Some 200 bags of
fair limed Japanese were sold without reserve, at 38s. 6d.
per cwt. In the following week no ginger of any kind was
brought forward, but on the 25th, 44s. per ewt. was paid for
300 bags of washed Cochin, while rough Calicut fetched 48s.,
and native cut 56s. 6¢. Japanese realized 40s. ~

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

At the first auction, West Indian nutmegs, to the extent
of 428 packages, were offered, about 400 of which, of inferior
quality, were disposed of at a decline of 1s. 4d. to 1s. 2d. per
Ib. on previous rates. The supply of good sound nuts was
stated to be small. At the same sale 53 packages of West
Indian mace realized from ls. 7d. to ls. 9d. per tb. for fair
palish to pale, fair to good reddish fetching 1s. 6d. to ls. 7d.,
and broken Is. 3d. to 1s. 4d. On the 25th the demand was
very limited with lower prices, namely West Indian red
1s. 7d., and broken 1s. 2d. to 1s. 3d. In pimento there has
been very little doing during the month. At the auction on
the 12th, 83 bags were offered and the whole of it bought in
at 24d. per tb, Again, on the 25th, the whole of the offer-
ings, amounting to 44 hags, were bought in at the previous
rates.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the first drug auction on the 13th, sarsaparilla was
in good supply, the offerings amounting to 45 bales of grey
Jamaica, 15 bales of native Jamaica, 62 bales of Guatemala,
13 bales of Honduras, and & of Mexican. ‘The whole of the
grey Jamaica were sold at the following rates: good fibrous
1s, 2d, fair 1s. 1d., common rough 1s. Five bales of native
Jamaica sold at 11d. per tb. for fair red, while 8 other
bales were bought in at ls. Common chumpy Mexican was
bought in at 4d. to 44. per tb., while another lot of Mexican
in rolls, and freed from chumps, fetched 74d.

CANELLA ALBA, CASSIA FISTULA, LIME JUICE, TAMARINDS, ETC.

Of Canella bark, it is stated that good quality continues
scarce, but that prices vary from 59s. to 60s. per ewt. Some 55
packages of Cassia Fistula arrived from Hamburg at the end
of the month, but not in time to be included in this month’s
report. Concentrated West Indian lime juice was reported,
at the beginning of the month, as firm at £18 5s. At the
same period some small sales of Antigua tamarinds were
made at 12s. 6d. per ewt., and for Barbados 16s. was the price
asked. In the middle of the month, fair West Indian kola
realized 2}d. to 3d. per tb, for 11 bags, and for 3 bags of fair
bright halves 23d. per tb. was paid, and 14d. per tb. for
small dark and part mouldy. E

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated February 18, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

Since our last advices, dated 4th inst, the weather has
continued unfavourable to milling operations, and deliveries
to town have been delayed.

Exports have been large (4,695 bags) but prices are only
moderately firm; stocks of paddy are considerably reduced,
and once the growers have disposed of surplus stock, higher
prices must ensue.

In the meantime, quotations are as last advised. with
a firm tone.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. Demerara, for good export
quality :—

Nominally 16s. 9d. to 17s. 9d. per bag of 180 bb. gross.
Lds. Id. to 16s. 9d. ,, .,,% 45,164 Ib. 5,

80 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 5, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS:

London,—TxHe West Inpta CommMiTTEE CrecuLaRr,
February 15, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pr Pass & Co.,
February 4, 1910.

ArrowRoot—l 4d. to 3}.

Batata—Sheet, 2/7 ; block, 2/15 per tb.

BrrEs-wax—£7.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/6 to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/- to
53/6 per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/- to 52/-.

Corrre—Jamaica, 39/- to 59/-.

Corpra—West Indian, £25 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; St. Croix West Indian, 183d.

Frouit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincerR—Common to good common, 49/- to 52/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honey—No quotations.

Istnctass—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 10d. to 1/-;
of limes, 5/9 to 6/-.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Quiet.

Nourmzecs—Steady.

Purventro—Common, 24d.; fair, 2,%d.; good, 23d. per th.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 8/23, fine soft, 7/104; tine Peru,
8/1 per tb.

Rum—Jainaica, 2/4 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/3 to 18/9; Muscovado, 13/3 to 15/3
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

ceencentrated, £18; Otto

New York,—Messrs. Gittespre Bros. & Co., February
4, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 11 jc. to 12g¢. ; Grenada, 11$c. to 11%c. ;
Trinidad, 11}c. to 12c.; Jamaica, 9c. to 10}c. per th.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $27°00 to $2800 ; culls,
$17-00 to $18°00 ; Trinidad, select, $25-00 to $26-00;
culls, $16-00 to $17-00 per M.

Corrrre—Jamaica, ordinary, Sje. to 9c.; good ordinary,
9te. to 9$c.; and washed, up to lle. per th.

Gixcer—9{c. to 10{c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, no quotations; Barbados, 55c. to
57c.; St. Thomas, St. Croix, St Kitts, 51e. to 53c.
per tb.; Antigua, 55e. to 57c., dry flint.

Grave Fruit—$1‘50 to $2°25 per box.

Lures—$4-00 to $5:00 per barrel.

Macre—384c. to 37c. per tb.

Nourmecs—110’s, 10c. per th.

OrancEs—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4jc. per fb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4:-174c. per 1lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3:°675c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°424c. per tb., all
duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpoy, Grant & Co., February
19; 190;

Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°65 per fanega; Trinidad, $1150
to $12-00.

Cocoa-NuT Or1—%6c. per Imperial gallon.

Corrrr—Venezuelan, 103c. per th.

Copra—$4‘75 per 100 tb.

Dxat—$4-20 to $4°30 per 2-bushel bag.

OnNIONS—$3°75 per 100 1b.

Pras, Sprir—$6-75 to $7-00 per bag.

Poratos—English, $120 to $1-60 per 100 th.

Rick—Yellow, $5:00 to $3°10; White, $5°00 to $3°10
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5:20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., February 28, 1910;
Messrs. T. 8. Garraway & Co., February 28,
1910.

Arrowroor—St. Vincent, $3°60 to $3°75 per 100 th.

Cacao—$10-00 to $10°50 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-nutTs—$14 00.

CorrrE—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°00 to $11-00 per
100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1-20 per 100 tb., dull.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Cacao manure, $48-00;
Sulphate of ammonia, $75°00 per ton.

Mo rasses—No quotations.

Ontons—Bunched, $3°50 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6"20 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°50 per bag of 120 tb.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1°80 to $2-00 per 160 th.

Ricr—Ballam, $4°38 to $4°50 (180 tb.); Patna, $3°80 ;
Rangoon, $3°00 per 100 th.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wiertinc & Ricutrr, February
19, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacn, Parker & Co.,
February 18, 1910.

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

| Messrs. Wrettne |

ARTICLES. & Ricurer. |

ARRowRootT—Sb. Vincent)

$800 to $825
per 200 th.

$800 to $8-25 per
| 200 tb., market

dull
Batata—Venezuelablock,) 32c. per tb. Prohibited
Demerara sheet| 48c. per tb. None

Cacao—Native \l1e. to 12c. per th.|10c. to 11e. per th.

Cassava— | $1-08 No quotation
Cassava STaRCH— | $600 per barrel of No quotation
196 th.

Cocoa-NuTS— | $12 to $16 per M. ‘$16 per.M. , peeled:

| and selected
Correr—Creole 12c. to 13¢ per th. 12c. to 13e. per th.
Jamaica and Rio 14c. to 143c. per th. 14c. to 144e. perth.
Liberian 10c. per th. | 10ce. per tb.
Duat— $4°40 to $4°50 per $4°50 to $4:65 per
bag of 168 tb. | bag of 168 th.
Green Dhal

none rs
Eppos— $2°16 per barrel ——
Morasses— Yellow none

Oxtons—Tenerifte —— |
Madeira
Peas—Split

No quotation
No quotation
$6°50 per bag.
(210 tb.)

($6°45 to $6°50 per
bag (210tb.)

Marseilles $3°50 | $3°50 to $4:25
PLantains— 20c. to 60c. per | —
bunch
Poratos—Nova Szotia $2°75. $2-75

Lisben
Poraros—Sweet, Barbados,
Rice—Ballam

No quotation
$1°32 per bag
No quotation

No quotation

$4-75

Creole | $4:00 to $4:20 $3°50 to 34-0
Tannrias— $1°92 per pag —.
Yams—White $2-16 | eee

Buck $2°16 per bag | —.
Suear—-Dark crystals $2°65 to $2°85 $260

Yellow $3°00 to $325 | $2-80 to $3:00
White $379 to $380 | $3°60 to $3-80
Molasses $2°00 te $2-25 $2-00 ts $2°30
Timber —Greenheart 32c. to 5c. per 32e. to 5bc. per
| cub. foot | cub. fs0t
Wallaba shingles $3°50 to $5°75 | $3°50 te $3°50
per M. | per M.
s» Cordwood $1°80 to $2:00 No quotation
per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly: Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d,

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and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.) '

Volume X. No. 1. Flower-bud Maggot of Cotton ; Bourbon Cane in Antigua ; Bourbon and other Varieties of Cane
in Barbados ; Soils of Nevis ; Cotton Selection in the Leeward Islands ; Leguminous Crops and Soil
Inoculation. No. 2. Central Factories; The Underground System of the Sugar-cane;~The Cotton
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The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
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present time is sixty-three. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

(14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.
(15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.
(16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.
(17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. “Price 4d.

Suecar Inpustry.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados
in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.;
in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.;

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d. }

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (84) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.

Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20 price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
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in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (48) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-mea on West Indian Planta-

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Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands,

in 1902-3, No. 30. price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.:
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GENERAL.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, 2nd. Edition (Revised),
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(52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition.

(53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.

(54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,
Price 4d.

(55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

(58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

(60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them.

(61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

Price 4d.

Price 4d,

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‘The
The

‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.
‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts

from official correspondence and from progress and

other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in

Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the

local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d.

2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum.
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s.
longer be supplied complete.

The subscription price, including postage, is

Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Ail

applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W.

Barbados : Messrs. BowEn & Sons, Bridgetown.

Jamaica : THE EpucatTionaL Suppty Company, 16, King
Street, Kingston.

British Guiana: Tue ‘DAtLy CHRONICLE’ OFrFIcE, Georgetown.

Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHaty & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. PuacEemann, Scarborough.

St. Vincent: Mr. L. 8S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. LAWRENCE, Botanic Station.
Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Bripcewater, Roseau,
Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.

Antigua: Mr. 8. D. Matonz, St. John’s.

St. Kitts: Tue Brsue AND Book SuppLty AGENCY, Basseterre,
Nevis: Mr. S. D. Matonz, Charlestown.

Grenada ‘Tue Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou, IX, No. 205. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Marcu 5, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

SE AST

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Gundorte Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FOR _SALE. FACTORY, LIMITED. ;
Four thousand. five hundred (4,500) BRIDGETOWN,
Washington Navel COTTON SEED.

5 U } FD if A A N C F PLA Hi a S t Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and

i: } abies, from the Islands. THRMS, Cash on delivery of
Local ee 6d. each, delivered Roseau. Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt
Export prIcE 1s, EACH, F.0.B. Roseau, Domryieca,

attention.
Apply to:— : i a ee ee
A. GS. DAVENPORT, SULPHATE OF COPPER.—We stock this}
Bramhall Estate, article, and all orders received will be promptly

Dominica. f|executed.

FOR SALE. )i| sUst issue,
LIBERIAN Corren HaNDMacHivery| WEST INDIAN BULLETIN,

Secend hand, but in working order—including

One Gordon’s ‘India’ Pulper, One Gordon’s (Smeet’s) @WoliX, No: 2
Peeler and Polisher, One Gordon's Winnower. Containing papers on Central Factories; The Under-
Cost £30: price £16: f.o.b. Castries, St. Lucia. ground System of the Sugar-cane ; The Cotton Industry in
ALSO, QUITE NEW, the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment
1 ‘Always Ready’ Gasoline Engine, 2 H.P., price £13Jof Orchard Soils in Cultivation in the West Indies ; The

Apply to: — CR 1H N, Scarabee of the Sweet Potato.
tae he ee nerere To be obtained from all agents for the
eatery: sale of the Department’s publications. Price
St. Lucia. 6d.: post free, 8d.

: —= a ——

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Vol. 1X. No. 206.]

R.M.S.P.

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|

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

|

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction, and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Experiment Plots, St. Lucia, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-9,

Agriculture.

BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-
ment Veterinary Surgeon, St Vincent, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9.

Annual! Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station. Economic Experiments, and Agricultural Instruction; also on
Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola. Virgin Islands, 1908-9,

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-
tions.

MAINTAIN THE YIELD. }

SE

The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its
available plant food.

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.
Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

For free literature and special information on Tropical Agriculture address to:
GERMAN KALI WORKS.

30 Empedrado,
Box 1,097, Havana, Cuba

— eee eee

al

a

Leader ts

| y wae \ AMR
, i C x / j a} >

\ ay" . or 4)
4 af \ at ™, G
we : ; a” Ks x
‘ 5. Zi j ) AA\S mnt 4, “(4 RA
| - A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW Bake
BOTANI
OF THE GARD!
=
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.
Vou. IX. No: 206. BARBADOS, MARCH 19, 1910. Price ld.
CONTENTS.
indicate, generally, the plan according to which the
more advanced work should be conducted. This plan
PAGE. PaGE. js continuous throughont all the stages, and consists,
Renan atidncatt : Market’ Reports 9; broadly, in the circumstance that the mind should
Agricultura pducation mn | Market Ikeports «.. ss. s33 a ae eas 5 fs yee
i esteen Bengal and |x tee and Comments ... 88 Tecelve training with the aid of the exhibition of facts
ASSUM .22 are see one 3) Nutmeg Industry, State of in a concrete, rather than an abstract, form.
Agricultural Education, The J tia! eee Solas
Problem of .... ... oO ' re 1 _
Book Shelf... ... .-c =. 91/Palm Oil, Qualities of ... 88 ; ; :
Breeding, Broad, Importanee | Poultry Notes aus - It is evident that the pupil leaving the elementary
of i a 85 te oe Pinsent "school differs most largely from all others in the fact
Cotton Notes :— rylications oO 1 a Ste Siar Ns i 5 5
Pie penation of Land for — Department of Agri that he ceases to be the recipient of information given
ie ale a ee of Ri pee cae <. in an organized manner at an early age. Thus, only
Fest an Cotton ... 86) Rice in British Guiana... 59 ou ; : ” : 2
iepartment a ... .-. 93} Rubber, ‘Tackiness’in ... 89 a comparatively short time is at the disposal of his
Forest Policy in Hawaii ... 87 | Silk Booed asia Cattle og; teachers for the purpose of giving him the mental
cus Notes :— H OOt x . Reviews wed ‘Sri ; 4 2 £ y 7
a een eeerodah oF ange Small Holders on Cattle training which will best fit him to fill the position to
Part ID... ooo 04 Farms ... +. se ++ SY he ocenpied by him ultimately. The very shortness of
Gleanings wee vee eee 92 Stock Importation, Bonuses : : a v P v
Tiabdennkes (> Se .. «. .. 89 this time makes itall the more important that the
Carbon Bisulphide, Part II 90 pete: Costice ++ 3 oreatest care shall be exercised in the matter of
Manuring with Lime and Sugar Industry of Mauritius 83 ane ERG ia Sith! aoe s
Maanesi _ 95 West Indian Fruit ... ... 8t educating him according to the most efficient methods.

The Problem of Agricultural

Edueation.
Il. THe MEANS or Epvucation.

) SN the last article on this subject the chief

g attention was given to the more advanced

stage of agricultural education. In the present
one, 1ts elementary, or primary, stage will be dealt with
more particularly. The importance of this does not only
arise from the fact that it is concerned naturally with
a larger number of those who are in receipt of educa-
tion, but from the circumstance that its methods should

This does not mean that any attempt should be made
in the direction of equipping him as fully as possible
a knowledge technical subject. An
will be to present the correct
interpretation by means of the following considerations.

with of some

endeavour made

A clear view of the position is given in a statement
by oue who could speak with authority concerning the
professional side of education—the late Bishop Creigh-
ton: ‘Ifa boy is going to be educated till eighteen, it
does not matter that his knowledge should be in
But if his education
ends at thirteen or fourteen it is necessary that he
should understand then why and what he was taught.’
It is to be noticed that, in this statement, importance
is not given to the fact of being taught or to the kind

a very confused state at fourteen.

82 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

of teaching, but to that of wnderstanding the matters
that the educational system brings forward. The
work of the educationalist is to find the best means to
bring about this state of understanding.

In July of last year, a Conference on Rural
Education was held in England. At this, teachers and
those who have the planning of methods of education
in their hands met together for the purpose of finding
the way in which the education of pupils in elementary
schools could be brought into line with their needs
when they leave such schools. It was agreed that the
ordinary curriculum which takes such pupils through
their course does not fit them sufficiently for the work
in which they are engaged afterwards; in short, that
they leave school without understanding why or what
they have been taught. Those who were present at the
conference sought from their own experience a means
to modify or enlarge the system so that it may become
more adequate to do this, and it is a notable fact that
the teachers unanimously testified to the value of manual
work as a method of education.

If such a form of education is to meet successfully
the demands that will be placed upon it, two important
requireménts must be filled by it. These have their
effect, respectively, during school life and in the work
that the pupil must take up afterwards. In the first
connexion it must possess the criterion of giving the
understanding of which mention has just been made.
In the second, it must effect something toward fitting
the pupil for the service which will be demanded from
him in order that he may make a living. The search
for the best means of education can be made, then, in
the light of these two criteria.

The experience of teachers tends further, every day,
+o show that subjects, as for instance arithmetic, can
be more easily understood by children if they are
taught by means of actual, every-day measurements
than if the attempt is made to impart ideas of such
subjects merely with the aid of abstract quantities.
The setting of the meaningless ‘sum’ in which there
is little concrete aid to the imagination merely leads
to the learning of a ‘rule’. Even when this rule has
been ‘learnt’, nothing has been done to impart that
elasticity of mind to the pupil which will enable him
to appreciate an example for the working of which it

ay have to be varied in an intelligent manner.
What is worse, it is more than possible that he will leave
school devoid of the ability to make use of it in the
very instances when it is required by him to give
assistance. This suggests that his work in school

Marcu 19, 1910.

should be arranged as nearly as possible to give
a picture of what his working life will be when he
leaves it. Itis thus seen that the attempt to find
a way in which to arrange the work in school to the
best educational purpose has led naturally to the
discovery of a means of making that work of a kind
which will be the most useful when the scholastic
education has come to an end.

It has been pointed out already that education in
the West Indies, in any stage, must have an agricul-
tural trend if it is to fulfil its purpose in the best
manner. It is therefore requisite to find out how
this may be given to it. For some time, now,
the school garden has been recognized as a valuable
means for the purpose. There has also been recog-
nition of the fact that it must not be used merely
to teach agriculture, There must be a much wider
appreciation of its possibilities for assisting in the
educatior of the pupil, if it is intended to do its
work properly. Every opportunity should be empley-
ed for the purpose of intimately connecting the
work of the schoo] garden with that of the ordinary
subjects of the curriculum. As many of these subjects
as possible should begin in the garden, and be followed
up with all the aid that can be obtained from it.

An illustration has been given already of the way
in which nature study, with the aid of the school garden,
can assist the teacher. Many others might be presented.
Under the old system, the teaching of composition
required great pains on the part of the teacher, and
yet, few left school with anything like an adequate
knowledge of it. Now, the pupil willingly writes up
his gardening note book, because he is dealing with
something that affects him personally; at the same
time, he gains a lasting power to write clearly and
strongly. The old reading lesson, with its uninteresting
subjects, listlessness and inattention, has given place to
one in which the pupil reads, and asks questions, about
things that are actually before him, and which
come into intimate relationship with his daily life.
This is why, in many cases, he is found reading books
and journals whose purpose is to assist him to get the
best out of his work. He is beginning to undertand
why and what he is taught.

Such considerations enable it to be seen that, in
all stages, the kind of education required is the one
which leads out to the matters of daily life. The
means for the provision of this are supplied by the
concrete example and by the mental experience that is
derived trom the exercise of the powers of observation.

Von. IX. No. 206.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 83

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE SUGAR INDUSTRY OF MAURITIUS.

The following extracts are taken from an inter-
esting article on the sugar industry of Mauritius, which
has appeared recently in the Jnternational Sugar
Journal :—

HIstorY. Of recent times the sugar industry of Mauri-
tius has undergone many ups and downs of fortune; it has
passed through years of great stress, the causes of which have
been various, viz: keen competition of bounty fed beet sugar
in the Indian markets, with the attendant low prices, cattle
plagues, droughts and cyclones, which brought the industry
at times to the verge of ruin.

These hard times mentioned above have led to many
estates, or rather factories, being closed. The small factories
as a rule were costly to work; the yield of sugar per ton of
cane was low, owing to poor milling power and antiquated
methods of manufacture. The cane from these estates, when
the mills had been closed, was sent to other factories to be
milled at either a fixed price per ton of cane delivered on the
balances, or in exchange for so many pounds of sugar agreed
upon between the parties. The system of payment, depend-
ent on the quality of the cane, is in force in a few instances
where the quantity of cane delivered is large. All the
balances for canes are checked by Government officials at
frequent intervals.

In many ways, the closing of small and inefficient factor-
ies benefited the industry in general; the larger and better
situated factories Were able to increase their tonnage of cane
milled, work longer hours, improve their machinery, with an
assured supply of cane, and at the same time reduce their
operating expenses per ton of sugar made; thus their efficiency
was improved all round.

In the face of the adverse circumstances mentioned at
the beginning of this article, all the remaining factories were
forced to improve their machinery and reduce their working
expenses, if they wished to continue to live in the struggle for
existence that was going on.

FACTORIES. The larger factories are in charge of their
own chemists, and others, of a chemist who pays two or three
visits a week, but it is desirable that every usine should have
its own resident chemist, as continuous supervision is very
necessary. It may be here mentioned that all steam boilers
in or about a factory, as well as those of locomotives and
traction engines, have to be periodically examined by inspect-
ors appointed by the Colonial Government.

The whole of the bagasse from the mills is burnt in the
green state, in step-grate furnaces under various types of
cylindrical and water tube boilers. The majority of factories
burn considerable quantities of filao wood (Casuarina equi-
setyfolia), and blue gum (Hucalyptus glolulus), all grown in
the country.

CARRIAGE OF CANE. Up to the present, no mechanical
unloading devices have been installed at the cane carriers, all
canes being unloaded from the wagons by hand. There would
be considerable difficulties to be overcome if they were intro-
duced, owing to the present diversity of the means of supply,
cane being delivered by Government railway, traction engines,
and tramway wagons and carts.

: In the year 1902, in addition to a poor crop, caused by
the damage done by two severe cyclones in the month of
February (resulting in a reduction of over 30 per cent. of
cane available), trypanosomiasis, a formidable cattle disease

locally called ‘surra’, broke out about the middle of the year,
just at the beginning of crop time, and threatened to swamp
the whole industry. It was only with great difficulty and
much exertion that the crop was carried, men being employed
to haul the carts, while the cane in a few inaccessible fields
on some estates was left standing. The whole stock of draft
animals became infected and died off very rapidly, and by the
end of the year 1902, the island was practically denuded of
all animal transport, very little mechanical transport being
then-in operation in the island, and the disease carrying off
mules, horses and oxen indiscriminately. Application was
again made to the Colonial, Government for assistance,
and after some delay, a loan called the ‘Mechanical Transport
Loan’ was granted. On the completion of the necessary
preliminaries, such as rate of interest, terms of repayment
and security offered, ete., orders were immediately placed in
Europe for the supply of tramways, locomotives, traction
engines, etc., and the work of preparation by the estates for
the new means of transport was energetically pushed forward,
pending the receipt of the material ordered. Before every-
thing had arrived and been put in working order, the crop
had begun, but soon everything was working well and the
cane successfully harvested,

cLIMATE. The climate is an excellent one for cane-grow-
ing. The island is situated in Lat, 19° 58 South, Long. 57°
East. There are no great variations in temperature through-
out the year, the average is 75°F. The rainfall is good,
the average for the last twenty-five years for the whole island
works out at 75 inches, but estates on the windward side of the
island, south-east and east, receive considerably above that
figure, especially those some distance from the seaboard. The
greater part of the total falls from December to Apri,. Rather
more than two-thirds of the total quantity falls in those
months. Unfortunately, the island is liable to be visited by
severe cyclones during the season December to March, inclusive,
which sometimes do enormous damage in breaking down the
cane and wrecking buildings. ‘There is an admirable system
of warnings issued by the observatory, and posted up at the
railway stations, when a cyclone is approaching, so that the
inhabitants have time to make their preparations.

soit. The soil varies considerably in different districts of
the island. In some it is free, open, and of good depth,
without rocks or large boulders, and suitable for the plough.
Ploughs were once used, but have been discarded, the now
universal hoe having taken their place. In other districts
the land is full of rocks and stones, and of shallow depth,
necessitating a good deal of crowbar work when preparing
it for planting.

The extinction of all the draft animals has had a very
serious effect in the increased quantity and cost of artificial
fertilizers that have to be used. All the sewage and refuse
from the villages is sent to the manure works of the estates,
and used in the fields, as well as a considerable quantity of
molasses.

CULTIVATION. The usual practice is to cut the cane
three times—plants, first and second ratoons. The planting is
almost entirely tops—few cuttings are put in. The tops are
selected with great care from the most vigorous varieties, the

sig Tanna, black, white, and striped, being the principal kind,
and giving the best results, but various other sorts are used.
The tops are carefully examined for signs of disease, washed
in lime water, and then planted in holes about 15 inches x
8 inches x 6 inches to 9 inches deep, about a foot apart in
rows, 3 feet to 4 feet centres, the practice varying slightly on
different estates.

Irrigation is in use in few cases, but not on a very
extensive scale.

84 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcu 19, 1910.

THE STATE OF THE NUTMEG
INDUSTRY.

The Imperial Department of Agriculture has
recently received enquiries as to the prospects of dis-
posing of the essential and expressed oils of nutmeg at
remunerative rates. In response to these, informa-
tion has been obtained which is of more general
value, and the bulk of 1t is therefore published here.

Firstly, as regards the demand for West Indian nutmegs
in the United States of America, the position is summarized
in the following article which appeared in the Spice Mili for
November 1908, p. 677 :—

Although the ordinary consumer in this country [U.S.A.]
never heard of, or purchased, British West Indies nutmegs
under their name, still those articles are being sold to them,
mixed up with Singapore nutmegs. Owing to the small
demand in the United States for the British West Indies
nutmegs, because of their inferior quality, the importations
are exceedingly light, amounting to about 2,000 barrels per
annum. The nutmegs are shipped principally from Grenada
(which island is the heaviest producer of the entire group of
the British West Indies) to London, England. There they
are graded as to size, and mixed with Singapore nutmegs,
and then shipped to this market and sold under the
trade name of Singapore nutmegs. The import market value
ef British West Indies nutmegs is from 10 to 20 per cent.
below the import price of Singapore nutmegs, according to
size and quality.

The total production of nutmegs in the Britis& West
Indies is so small that it is not taken into consideration in the
preparation of statistics here or abroad. Not until the qual-
ity of British West Indies nutmegs is improved by cultivation
can they be sold under their real name.

Attention is also drawn to a translation of an<article
bearing on the subject generally, from De [ndische Mercuur,
which appears in the next number of the Spice Will (Decem-

ber 1908, pp. 749-50). The chief conclusions, due to
Dr. Treub, Director of the Botanic Gardens, Buitenzorg,

Java, reached in this, are :—

(1) That the price obtained for nutmegs has been declin-
ing, with large fluctuations, for many years. This is. shown
in the following table, which gives the prices, per }-kilo,

obtained in Amsterdam for 110’s to 115’s, in cents, for Banda

nutmegs, since 1898 :—

Highest. Lowest. Average,
1898 95 80 86
1899 84 735 sl
1900 80 80 ie)
1901 65 57 60
1902 78 55 64
1903 86 76 Sl
1904 63 50 55
1905 50 45 46
1906 5D 435 48
1907 3 36 39
(2) Itis difficult to trace the real cause of the lower

prices. It is not entirely due to overproduction, as is shown
by the following table, giving the total export (from official
statistics) during the same years, from the Dutch East Indies,
which are the principal producers of the article :-—

Klos.
1898-9 1,889,772
1899-1900 2,670,451
1900-1 2,861,518
1901-2 2,991,072
1902-3 2,840,304
1903-4 2,686,399
1904-5 3,389,804
1905-6 2,793,090

(3) It is suggested that the fall in value of the product
is due toa smaller demand, consequent on a decreased con-
sumption per capita.

(4) In considering any possible effects of increased
production, the exports from Java cannot have had much
influence on the result. This is shown by the table below,
compiled from the statistics of the Handelsvereeniging
(Commercial Society) of Batavia, Java, which shows the
share of that island in the total export from the Dutch East

Indies. It should be compared with the table that has just
been given :—
Kilos.

1902 99,000

1903 $2,375

1904 199,200

1905 174,200

1906 182,200

1907 147,500

(5) As far as nutmeg tallow (or nutmeg soap) is con-
cerned, it appears that this is only used in the drug trade and,
to a certain extent, in the manufacture of perfumery. It is
not likely that the fall in price of this, in harmooy with that
of nutmegs, would Jeid to such an increased demand as to

Von. 1X. No. 206.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

Se
or

react in the direction of raising the market value of the
nutmegs.

(6) The field for nutmegs as a spice is much larger than
that as a material for the oil. Even if. the nutmeg tallow
(obtained from the oil) could be used on a larger scale, for
manufacturing soap, the price paid would be toolow to make
it profitable to grow nutmegs.

(7) In view of the fact that the demand for nutmegs is
not greater, and that there does not seem to be any prospect
of its increase, Dr. Trenb recommends that growers in Java
should not enlarge the area under cultivation, but that they
should replace the ylant by another crop, as soon as possible.

In their Semi-Annual Report, dated October 1909,
Messrs. Schimmel & Co. say:—

Nutmeg oil remains unchanged at low prices. There
has been no lack of cheap nutmegs suitable for distilling,
and occasionally exquisite material could be found at ridicu-
lously low prices. All those interested in the article are
advised, when requiring latge parcels, to ask us for special
quotations.

To return to the nutmeg itself, an account is given, in
the Revue des Cultures Coloniales, Vol. XIV, pp. 343-4, of
the way in which it is prepared for export at Djati Roengge,
Java, from which the following is translated: —

The preparation of the crop for export is very simple.
The mace is carefully removed from the ‘seed’, in order to
prevent the growth of moulds, and then the latter is washed
in brine. Drying is conducted in sunshine, or by means of
a drier, as quickly as possible. The nuts, separated from the
shell, are rolled in slaked lime and then packed in cases, the
interior of which is coated with lime; these cases measure
45 x 45 x 45 centimetres (1 foot 6 inches each way), and are
each capable of holding 60 kilogrammes (about 132 Ib.) of
nutmegs. The mace is packed in unlimed cases, which are
lined with paper. These measure 61 x61 x 61 centimttres
(about 2 feet 0} inch each way), and each also holds about 60
kilogrammes. These measurements are the ones preferred by
the importers at Amsterdam. The cases are strengthened
by means of iron bands or iron wire. The treatment of the
nuts with lime is for the purpose of preserving them from
a boring beetle called ‘boeback’. At Banda, they are some-
times srroked for the same purpose, though this does not
appear to be necessary. The natmegs are graded into nine
kinds, and the mace into four kinds.

In dealing with the question as to the advisability of
expressing the oil (fat) from the nuts for shipment, careful
experiments are required for the purpose of ascertaining what
proportion of the oil can be extracted. To approach the
question theoretically, on consulting various authorities, it
was found that the average proportion of oil that can be
expressed from the powdered nuts, with the aid of heat, is
about 25 per cent. of the weight of the material pressed.
A barrel of nutmegs weighs approximately 165 ib, so that
this quantity would yield about 41 tb. of oil. As far as the
essential oil is concerned, according to Gildemeister and
Hoffmann’s Volatile Oils, the amount of oil obtained by
distilling nutmegs varies from 8 to 15 per cent. of the weight
of the material taken. Allowing a simple average of 10 per
cent., this would give 16} tb. of essential oil from 1 barrel
of nuts.

In considering, however, the advisability of placing
the oils on the market, the chief matter of serious
import is that, as is shown above, there is only a very
limited demand for either of them,

THE IMPORTANCE OF BROAD BREED-
; ING IN CORN.

Part IV of Bulletin No. 141. of the Bureau of Plant
Industry of the United States of America has been recently
issued under the above title. Its contents are of much
interest to all those who are engaged in attempts t6 improve
corn by breeding and selection. The special importance
which attaches to it is that it points out, in an unmistakable
manner, the dangers of attempting to improve corn by
narrow breeding. Corn is not a plant which, like wheat, is
close-hred under natural conditions; on the contrary, its
floral arrangements are such as will give almost the best
chance for cross-fertilization. Again, uniformity of variety
is not a requisite in the case of corn, as it is in those of the
sugar-beet or tobacco. Finally, if narrow breeding is
conducted with it, the unnatural mode of reproduction will
cause deterioration of the seed—the very part of the plant
that gives it a value. Breeding on narrow lines must
therefore be avoided in all attempts to etfect an improvement
in corn.

In the bulletin to which reference is made, particulars
are given as to a way in which broad breeding in corn may
be carried out simply and easily. These may be tabulated
as follows :—

(1) For the purpose of obtaining hybrid seed, plant two
distinct varieties in alternate rows and detassel the plants of
one of the varieties.

(2) Use the seed from the detasselled variety for the next
year’s general planting.

(3) Keep the seed from the different cobs of the variety
that was not detasselled separate.

(4) Make selections from this seed (3) for the purpose
of supplying the breeding-plot for the next two crops.

(5) Obtain a stock of pure seed of the other variety
(that is the variety that was not detasselled at first), in the
next crop, by detasselling it.

It is seen that, in this way, pure stocks of seed of the
two varieties may be maintained. During every crop, there
would be obtained: (1) a stock of hybrid seed for the general
planting of the next year, (2) a stock of pure seed of one of
the varieties for planting in the breeding plots during the
next two crops.

The same result may be obtained approximately by
planting in the way described above and detasselling each of
the varieties in different halves of the field. In this method,
however, the crossing that takes place is not under such rigid
control, so that it is not recommended for adoption in
definite breeding experiments.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated March 4, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

The weather during the last part of the fortnight has
been very wet, and as a consequence, deliveries of rice to town
have been reduced.

Prices have remained firm, and we look for higher prices
in the near future.

Shipments to West Indian islands during the fortnight
amounted to 4,593 bags.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. Demerara, for good export
quality :—

Nominally 16s. 9d. to 17s. 9d. per bag of 180 bb. gross,

Wig Oa tO UGE Ids. 5, shy LOd 1D

86 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 19, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date February 28, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

During the past fortnight West Indian Sea Islands have
been in good request, and prices are hardening.

The sales amount to about 150 bales, and consist of
Montserrat 184d. to 19d., Barbados 1$d. to 193d., St. Kitts
18d. to 20d., Nevis 19d. to 20d., Tobago and Anguilla at 19d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending February 19, is as follows:—

During the past week the factors showed more disposition
to sell, and consented to make some concession in price, pro-
vided they could sell largely, as the planters were desirous of
disposing of the cotton, so as to settle their accounts, and to
make preparation for the planting of the next crop. This
resulted in the above large sales on a basis of Fully Fine
32c., Extra Fine 33c., the buying being principally for export.
Besides, several planters’ crop lots have been sold for France
at prices ranging from 34 to 37c. The unsold stock is now
reduced to about 1,500 bales, of which about 1,000 bales are
planters’ crop lots held at 40 to 50c.

THE PREPARATION OF LAND FOR
COTTON PLANTING.

It should be a well recognized fact, by now, that all old
cotton must be removed from the land as early as possible, if
the best approach to immunity from pests, in succeeding
crops, is to be obtained. To leave the old cotton in the field
until just before the new crop is planted is a mistaken policy,
as it has been well proved that such action does not effect
much in minimizing the risks of infection of the succeeding
plants. (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 312.) “A good
method for destroying old cotton is given in the Agricultural
News, Vol. VIII, p. 166. It consists in pulling up alternate
lots of six rews in extent, leaving them to dry for a few days,
and then taking out the cotton that is left; the green and the
dry stems are then burnt together.

On land where it is intended to plant cotton again, for
the next season, there isa further reason for the early removal
of the old plants. This consists in the fact that they must
be out of the way if the land is to be properly prepared for
sowing the next crop. Such preparation would advantageously

include the growing and burial of a green dressing crop. In
any case, the soil should be thoroughly well cultivated, and
should receive a dressing of a suitable manure.

In connexion with the question as to what manure is
suitable for the purpose, advice on this subject has often
been given by the Department. Experiments that have been
conducted for the purpose of ascertaining the special manu-
rial requirements of cotton in the West Indies have not, so
far, given any definite results; it would appear that the
different manurial constituents that should be supplied to
this plant were present already, in the proper proportions, at
the time of its recent introduction, and there is little or
nothing to indicate the exhaustion of these. There are, how-
ever, two important considerations which will make it evident
that the application of manure, or green dressings, is advis-
able. The first of these is that, if the soil is to be kept in
a good state of tilth, it must be supplied with a certain
amount of organic matter. The second consideration is that
manuring is nat practised for the benefit alone, of the
immediately succeeding crop, but that it has a further object,
namely, to keep up the fertility of the soil in a general way;
so that the estate on which it is practised may be prevented
from ‘running down’. These facts lead to the conclusion
that land which is intended for cotton should receive a dress-
ing of pen manure before tillage operations are commenced.

The amount of tillage required will naturally depend
upon the nature of the last crop that was removed from the
land. If this was sugar-cane (especially ratoons) or a crop
like corr, much more cultivation will be required than for
cotton following ground provisions, such as yams and sweet
potatos, the reason being that the harvesting of the latter
kind of crop entails, in itself, a certain amount of tillage.

Where the amount of organic manure that is available
for application is limited, the employment of artificial
manures is necessary. For particulars as to the quantities
of these that should be used, see the Agricultural News,
Vol. 1V, p. 182, and Pamphlet No. 45, of the Department
Series, entitled A BC of Cotton Planting (enlarged edition),

The conditions that govern the methods of tillage and
manuring will vary in different places, so that the manner of
effecting these can only be indicated in a general way. Past
experience, however, seems to allow little doubt to exist as to
one matter of advice. Land must be ready for planting in,
the month of June, and if, during that month, or soon after
its end, there is not sufficient rain to warrant the sowing of
seed, it is advisable to give up the attempt to raise cotton
during that season, and to replace it by some other suitable-
crop.

Vou. IX. No. 206.

FEEDING POULTRY WITH CORN.

The following article, which deals with the effect
of feeding an excess of corti (maize) to poultry, is repro-
duced, in the Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural
Society from Farm, Field and Fireside :—

A very common mistake made by poultry keepers is that
of feeding their birds on too much corn (maize). Too much
muize is not good for fowls, as it brings on liver disease sooner
than anything we know. It makes the bird too fat inter-
nally, and also makes blood too fast. Fowls that are fed
liberally upon it are lined with yellow fat, especially in the
abdomen, sometimes to the thickness of half an inch. The
consequence of all this is that the egg organs become so weak
that the hens lay eggs without shells. These are not the
worst effects of feeding on maize, as birds that are so treated
are generally in a weak condition, and so they are susceptible
to many other affections and diseases, especially cold and
roup. It is not always liver disease that actually kills them,
but in consequence of the derangement of that organ, the
birds get into such a state that diseases soon lay hold upon
them and overcome them, because they are too weak to with-
stand the ravages of the disease.

In some instances where we have found cases of roup
that have proved to be incurable, we have seen, on examina-
tion, that the liver was diseased, being full of tuberculous
matter and with white spots upon it. Sometimes these spots are
only as large as a pin’s head. In most cases where roup has
not yielded to treatment, we have found this tuberculons
liver existing, and, in some instances, tumour, the growth of
which the maize is very likely to stimulate. In cases
where only ordinary scrofula is coming on, tuberculous
substance forms, at first, in small yellow spots, and these
grow rapidly, so that in a very short time they are
a quarter of an inch through, and the liver is more than three
times the ordinary size. We have weighed a liver of from
9 to 11 oz., the normal weight being from 2 to 2? oz. Another
cause of a great deal of liver disease is inbreeding. More
fowls die of this disease than the others put together.

Insufficiency of small grit, feeding on Indian corn, in-
breeding, and bad ventilation are the four greatest foes to
success in poultry yards. We have known instances where
farmers have used maize for years together, and it has had
such a bad effect upon the progeny that scarcely a chicken of
all that were hatched lived. They died, many of them, when
from four to six days old, some living until they were from
three to six weeks old.

Poultry keepers use maize (corn) because it is a cheap
food, and fowls seem to prefer it to any other, but they have
to pay very dearly for their fancy, and only the bare, sad
facts will convince them of the danger of using too much.
A little corn for a change does not hurt the fowls, especially
in the cold weather, but as a regular diet it should never
be used.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

o/s}
-~!

In commenting on this, the Journal of the
Jamaica Agricultural Society points out that the
particular corn to which reference is made is American
corn, which contains a larger proportion of starch than
the ordinary West Indian varieties. After mentioning
that a constant diet of the latter, even, will not give
the best results, it suggests that, where it is difficult
to get other food for poultry than corn, the latter should
be parched, and fed in that state for three or four days
at a time.

~ FOREST POLICY IN HAWAIL.

There are in Hawaii two main classes of forest land,
which, for the sake of convenience, have been termed the
‘water-bearing forest’ and the ‘commercial forest’. The
water-bearing forest is situated for the most part in the
windward districts, and covers the watersheds and catchment
basins of the streams that are needed for irrigation, power
development and other economic uses. The chief value of
this forest is that it protects the headwaters of these streams.
Its most important product is water, and the treatment
indicated for it is therefore the one which will best serve to
produce the largest quantity of water.

This class of native Hawaiian forest belongs to what is
known as the ‘rain-forest’ type, common in the tropics. To
render to the full its beneficial service asa conservator of
water, it is essential that the forest cover be kept strictly
intact; for, owing to its character and composition, the
Hawaiian forest is easily damaged by the inroads of cattle
and other enemies. The method of management best adapted
to secure the result desired with this class of forest is to keep
it as a ‘protection forest’, from which men and animals are
strictly excluded. Only by so managing it, can it be made
to yield permanently the largest share of its most valuable
product— water. All but one of the sixteen forest reserves
so far set apart are in the water-bearing forest class. _They
are therefore to be considered and treated as_ protection
forests.

The other main class of Hawaiian forest—the commercial
forest-- is found for the most part in the districts on the
leeward side of the island of Hawaii, where, from the nature
of the topography, and the remarkable porosity of rock and
soil, there are no permanent running streams, and only occa-
sional springs. In such districts it is obvious that the
protection of watersheds does not figure. Consequently, the
chief value of the commercial forest lies in the wood and
timber which it can be made to produce. Fortunately, over
a considerable portion of the commercial forest, reproduction
can be secured through natural means, so that successive
crops of valuable timber can be obtained, provided the forests
are managed in accordance with the dictates of practical
forestry.

Important as the commercial forest is, it should be clearly
borne in mind that, in Hawaii, the water-bearing forest is far
and away the more important of the two classes, and that
wherever it (the water-bearing forest) occurs, it should,
because of its relation to the economic development of the
territory, not only be carefully protected, but so managed
that it may be of the greatest use possible. (From the Report
of the Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry,
Hawaii, 1908.)

88 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 19, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,

post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural stews

Von. IX.

SATURDAY, -MARCH 19, 1910. No. 206.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

In the editorial, the consideration of the Problem
of Agricultural Education is continued, special attention
being paid to the means by which such education
should be given.

Information as to the state of the nutmeg industry
and the feasibility of putting nutmeg oils on the market
is presented on pages 84 and 85.

Special attention is drawn to the article, on page
85, entitled The Importance of Broad Breeding in Corn.
It is of particular interest to those who are working
with the object of obtaining improved varieties of-corn,

A general account of the preparation of land for
cotton-planting appears on page S86.

The Insect Notes, on page 90, contain the con-
cluding article on Carbon Bisulphide, thus completing
the account that has been given in two articles.

On page 94 appears the second part of the series
of articles that are being given under the heading
Fungus Notes, entitled The Chief Groups of Fungi. It
should be stated that Figs. 9 and 10 are reproduced
after Woronine, and Figs. 11 and 12 after de Bary.

Interesting conclusions regarding the manuring of
land with lime and magesia are given on page 95,

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

The third number of Vol. X, of the West Indian
Bulletin is now being issued. This is largely taken up
with matters relating to the diseases of plants. The
first article, which is by H. A. Ballou, B.Se., deals with
Legislation that Exists in the West Indies for the Con-
trol of Pests and Diseases on Imported Plants; the
second, by C. K. Bancroft, B.A., has for its subject The
Chief Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in
the West Indies. This article is illustrated by a plate
showing Sphaerostilbe flavidum, Massee, and is follow-
ed by a short paper on Manurial Experiments with
Cotton in the Leeward Islands, by H. A. Tempany, B.Sc.
In the next article, which is by A. H. Kirby, B.A,
information is given concerning the Rainfall of Nevis
and Antigua. As a last article, the subject-matter is
reproduced of a leaflet, recently issued by the Depart-
ment, containing a revised syllabus of the Courses of
Reading and Examinations in Practical Agriculture.

There is also being issued Pamphlet No. 64 of the
Department series. entitled Manurial Kxperiments
with Sugar-Cane in the Leeward Islands, 1908-9.

The West Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, No. 3, and
Pamphlet No. 64, may be obtained of all agents for the
sale of the publications of the Department, Price 6d.,
post free 8/., and price 4d., post tree 5d., respectively.

The Qualities of Palm Oil.

An article in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute,
Vol. VII, p. 388, states that Palm Oil (from Llaeis
guineensis), when freshly obtained by the natives, is
a pleasant-smelling and yellow-coloured fat, which is
often an article of food among Europeans living in
West Africa. Owing to the little care that is taken in
the preparation of the large quantities of oil that are
exported, as well as to the time taken for its transport,
it arrives on the European market ina very rancid
condition. The chief impurities in the exported oil are
water, sand, red clay and banana flour. If on reaching
England, the amount of water and sand exceeds 2 per
cent. of the bulk, an allowance for ‘dirt’ is made by the
seller.

The consistence of the oil varies, according to its
source, from that of butter (Lagos oils) to that of tallow
(Congo oil); the colour of the various kinds of oil ranges
from orange-yellow (Lagos) to dirty dark red (Congo),
or even grey and brown (Saltpond and Dixcove). This
variation in colour is due to local ditferences in methods
of preparation, and other causes. The nature of the
colouring matter has not been determined; it slowly
disappears on exposure to air. The oil is bleached, on
the manufacturing scale, by heating it to 150° C,, and
passing air through it, or by means of bichromate of
potash and hydrochloric acid.

The above information refers to the oil obtained
from the fruits. Oil is also extracted from the
kernels. in Europe, by expression, or treatment with
solvents. It is also prepared on a small scale, according
to crude methods, by the natives of West Africa, but
this oil is not exported.

VoL. IX. No. 206. THE

Bonuses for Stock Importation, St. Vincent.

A notice has been issued recently in St. Vincent
to the effect that, in order to improve the breed of
island ponies, the Government will award a bonus of
£10 per head to importers of a limited number of
suitable brood mares, after February 14, 1910.

The following are the conditions which must be
complied with for the granting of the bonus: (1) tke
mare must pass an inspection, three months after
arrival, by the Government Veterinary Surgeon,
whose certificate as to its fully meeting require-
ments must be obtained; (2) the mares must be 142
hands, or over, not more than six years old, and from
a thoroughbred stock: (3) the number of mares for
which a bonus will be paid is four: no person
can obtain a bonus for more than one mare: (4) those
desiring to importa brood mare to compete for the
bonus should notify their intention to the Govern-
ment Veterinary Snrgeon before, and on, the arrival
of the animal in the Colony: in the event of the
receipt of more than four applications, these will be
dealt with in order; (5) the recipient of a bonus must
have the animal, on whose account it is paid, vaccinated,
and must undertake that it shall not be exported for
at least three years.

rr

*‘Tackiness’ in Rubber.

An article appears in Le Caoutchoue et Gutta
Percha, for September 1909, on the tackiness of
different kinds of rubber. For the purpose of
determining this, an examination was made of a large
number of rubbers in the Musée d'Histoire Natureile,
Ecole Superieure de Pharmacie de Paris, and the
Jardin Coloniale de Nogent-sur-Marne. It was found
that the rubbers which were most unlikely to become
tacky were Hevew brazilensis and H. guianensis,
In regard to these, specimens collected in 1867, even,
were in good condition. ‘Sernamby’ rubber, from
Peru and Guiana was quite tacky, especially where it
touched the glass vessel in which it was kept. With
other rubbers, tackiness was shown as follows: Ceara,
all samples tacky, except three: Kuphorbia Intisy
(Madagascar), all except two; Casfilloa elastica, all
samples; Ficus elastica (balls of scrap), all samples;
Ficus proliva (New Caledonia), one sample out of five
less tacky than a ball of scrap of F. albinervis
(Réunion): Cryptostegia madagascariensis, none
tacky; Marsdenia verrucosa and Hancornia speciosa,
both tacky: of the Landolphias, 1. Heudelotii was the
best of fourteen species which were examined; Masear-
enhasia lisianthiflora and M. lonaijlora were not
tacky; Funtumia elastica, Willugiheia firma, Bedy-
santhera rosea, Micrechites napeensis, Nylinabaria
Reynaud, Partheniwm argentatum (Guayule),
Lobelia elastica and Landolphia [Vahea] senegalensis
were all tacky.

It is suggested in the article that the tackiness of
rubber depends, to a certain degree, on the methods
employed for its coagulation,

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 89

Small Holders on Cattle Farms.

In Nevis, arrangements have been made by
Colonel the Hon. R. Stapleton Cotton for work-
ing several estates as a cattle farm, and at the
same time to provide holdings on those estates
for small proprietors. ‘The area of land available
for this is about 50 acres, which will be let in
-acre and 1 acre plots, for growing sugar-cane, pro-
visions, or cotton. <A rent of 10s. per acre is payable
in advance, by each holder, on July 1 of every year,
and until this rentis paid, no one will be allowed to
commence cultivation. Before planting the land, occu-
piers must apply pen manure; as much of this as is
required may be obtained from the Proprietor’s cattle
pen. In regard to the growing of sugar-cane, this will
not be permitted to ratoon more than twice. Vegetable
matter, such as cane tops, trash and vines, must not be
removed, but consumed on the land. Finally, room
will be provided on the estate for occupiers to tether
animals belonging to them, and this privilege is
restricted to such occupiers.

Elementary Agricultural Education in Eastern
Bengal and Assam.

A copy of the Report on the Operations of the
Department of Agriculture of Eastern Bengal and
Assam, for the year ending June 30,1909, has been
received recently. It states, in regard to schemes for
imparting agricultural instruction in elementary schools,
that the Government of India has ruled that definite
agricultural instruction is to form no part of the curri-
culm of these schools, but that what is wanted is the
encouragement of the pupils to study plant life. After
emphasizing the necessity of the possession of a small
garden by each elementary school, it goes on to say
that such a garden would not be used for the purpose
of imparting definite agricultural knowledge, but simply
to illustrate the various phenomena of plant life. To
this end, the Director of Public Instruction is endeay-
ouring to obtain sites for gardens to be used in connex-
ion with both elementary and training schools. One of
the duties of the Department of Public Instruction is
to provide courses of nature study for the head-masters
of training schools, and a preliminary step will be made
in this direction by the training of a selected officer
so that he may be capable of taking classes in
nature study. So far, the scheme is only at its
commencement, for the Local Government is in corres-
pondence with the Government of India in relation
to this subject, and it still remains to be decided what.
shall be the precise nature of the training that the
selected‘officer shall undergo in order that he may be
fitted to give information to others that will enable
them to conduct nature study lessons. .

Itis interesting to note that in India, as well as
in the West Indies, nature study, rather than definite
agricultural teaching, is regarded as being most fitted
for elementary schools.

90 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcu 19, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

CARBON BISULPHIDE.
Parr II.

USE AS AN INSECTICIDE. On account of its peculiar pro-
perties, carbon bisulphide has only a limited application in the
control of insect pests on plants. It may, however, be used
for the destruction of borers in the trunks of trees, by inject-
ing small quantities of it into the tunnels of those insects.
Care should be taken, however, to distinguish tunnels from
which the insects have already escaped, since it would merely
be a waste of material to apply carbon bisulphide to such
holes. Any clean, round hole in a tree infested by borers
will probably be found to be the opening through which the
adult insect has made its escape. Tunnels in which grubs
are still to be found can be distinguished by the quantity of
chips and excrement, and sometimes the gummy exudations,
which indicate the position of their mouths. The intro-
duction of a small quantity of carbon bisulphide into these
tunnels wiil cause the death of the grub within, especially
if the opening is immediately closed with wet clay, grafting
wax or similar material, An ordinary machinist’s oiler with
a spring bottom will be found very useful for applying carbon
bisulphide to borers in trees.

yAnother application for the control of insect pests
is as follows: Small plants attacked by scale insects,
plant lice and similar insects, can be covered over by tight
boxes in which carbon bisulphide may be evaporated. ‘The
most convenient method of use is by means of a small
opening at the top of the box or tent used for this purpose,
through which the dose of carbon bisulphide is poured on to
absorbent cotton or similar material, and the hole then stop-
ped with a cork. Ifa box 10 or 12 inches in diameter be
used, a dose of 1 or 2 teaspoonsfuls of carbon bisulphide will
be found sufficient. The covers should be left over the
plants for three quarters of an hour to an hour, and if
the amount of the dose is carefully calculated, the insects
will be killed without injury to the plants.

Seeds which are being kept for planting may he treated
in the same way, using a box, or receptacle, of convenient
size, and carefully estimating the amount of material to
be used. In the case of clothes moths and other insects
which attack stored woollens, furs, feathers, ete., these may
be killed by storing these goods in a tight box or chest
with an opening in the top similar to the one just described,
through which carbon bisulphide may be poured, the hole
being then closed by means of a cork. This will be found
very efficient in protecting from attack all the articles men-
tioned, and such a chest or box may even be used for the
fumigation of books, papers, food stuffs and all things that
are liable to similar attack.

In using carbon bisulphide in the soil, it should be borne
in mind that the direct contact of this material with the
roots of plants is sometimes injurious, but when it is
applied in comparatively small doses at a little distance
from the plant, there is generally no ill effect. It has
also been shown that it has no ill effect on the germina-
tion of seeds which have been fumigated, when the dose has
been approximately twice as great as has already been men-

tioned. Perfectly pure carbon bisulphide does not stain laces,
or any fine fabrics if it comes into contact with them; but the
ordinary commercial material is not pure, and care should be
taken not to spillit, when delicate clothing is being fumigated.
Food stuffs are not injured, and the extreme volatility of the
vapour ensures that a short period of thorough ventilation
will serve to remove all disagreeable taste and odour.

{In Farmers’ Bulletin No. 145, of the United States
Department of Agriculture, from which the foregoing is
largely an extract, it is stated that, as a general rule, crops
grown upon soil treated with carbon bisulphide are very good,
and a short paragraph is devoted to speculation as to the
cause of this favourable condition. Figures are given to show
the considerable increase in the products from fields of cornand
potatos treated with this substance, and it is mentioned that in
a series of experiments with corn, oats, beets, potatos
and clover, much the same results were obtained; but
the marked increase was in the case of the clover. It was
found that the vapour was not detrimental to the bacteria
causing nodules upon the roots of this legume, but rather
seemed to favour their multiplication. Furthermore, it was
found, upon these same plots, that the beneficial influence of
the treatment was quite apparent the following year, though
less marked than the first year. These observations are of
considerable interest in the light of more recent investigations.
The editorials in two recent numbers of the Agricultural News
(Vol. IX, Nos. 202 and 203) have been entitled “he Balance
of Life in the Soil’, and have contained explanations of the
results obtained by partial sterilization of the soil. The
effects of soil sterilization have been calculated mostly
in connexion with the abundance of soil bacteria, and the
relation of the destruction of the beneficial bacteria to that
of the injurious forms of protozoan and bacterial life. Carbon
bisulphide is mentioned in these as one of the mate-
rials experimented with, and the beneficial effect derived from
its use is believed to be the result of the partial sterilization
produced by its action in the soil. In Antigua, experiments
are now being carried out on two plots to determine
the effect of carbon bisulphide in the soil, on the growth
and yield of sugar-canes, and this substance has been experi-
mented with, also,in Porto Rico and in other parts of the world.

Nematode worms are abundant in most, if not all,
tropical soils, and are very likely responsible for more injury
to plants than bas generally been ascribed to them. The use
of carbon bisulphide will probably greatly reduce the numbers
of these minute animals, and experiments should show how
great the injury from them has been.

Interesting information as to the employment of carbon
bisulphide for the purpose cf controlling the banana weevil
borer (Sphenophorus sordidus) is given in the Report on Agri-
culture in Fiji, 1908. At first, attempts were made to free
banana fields from the pest by applying tobacco refuse, soot
and lime, gas lime, or the refuse from acetylene generators,
but these were not successful. As is stated in the report, the
treatment must be such as will kill the pests that are present
in the suckers intended for planting, as well as those that are
living in the old, growing ones, and such as will be capable of
being employed in keeping the established plants free from the
insects. The vapour of carbon bisulphide was observed to be
most suitable for the purpose. It was found that the treat-
ment of the suckers could be carried out quite easily in
barrels, tanks or punts, or even.in stacks ina room. In the
case of the barrels, tanks or punts, the insecticide was applied
in the way that has been indicated already in these articles;
in that where the planting material had been piled into
stacks, the latter were covered with heavy tarpaulins, and the
treatment was then carried out in the usual manner.

Vol, Dx. =NO: 2

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 91

MANURIAL EXPERIMENTS WITH SUGAR
CANE IN THE LEEWARD ISLANDS, 1908-9.

Issued by the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for the
West Indies.

In the last number of the Agricultural News, a review
was made of Pamphlet No. 63 of the series published by the
Imyerial Department of Agriculture, entitled Seedling and
other Canes in the Leeward Islands, 1908-9, The pamphlet
complementary to this (No. 64), dealing with the corresponding
manurial experiments, is just being issued, so that a complete
account, in pamphlet form, of the experiments with sugar-
cane in the Leeward Islands, during 1907-8, is now available.

Asis usual, the first part of the pamphlet is devoted
to a description of the manurial treatment given to the canes,
as well as of the rainfall and local conditions at the various
experiment stations. The trials consisted, as in for-
mer years, of the twelve-fold repetition of thirty-three
experiments with manures in different combinations. During
the preceding season, a change was made, however, in the
direction of substituting ratoon canes that had not received
manure as plants for those which had succeeded plants which
had been manured. The reason for this change is the
desire to ascertain, by comparison with the results of former
experiments, what effect manure, applied to the cane as
plants, has on the ratoons which succeed. The experiments
under the new plan have not been continued sufficiently long
to give definite results, but there seems to be a probability
that some manures, at least, that have been applied to plant
canes have a residual action on the succeeding ratoons.

The results of the ordinary manurial experiments are
presented in two tables, one of which contains the mean
yields of twelve plots for the period under report (1908-9) and
the other the mean yields of fifty-seven plots for five years.
In addition, information relating to the profit and loss on
manuring is given in each case. Both tables are illustra-
ted by diagrams which give their chief contents at a glance.

In the report on similar experiments for 1907-8, a dis-
cussion on the tillage of ratoon canes was given, and in order
to gain information in connexion with the matter, a series of
experiments was devised during the season with which the
pamphlet deals. The first results of these have just been
obtained, but repetition toa fairly large extent is required
before definite conclusions can be given, and it is therefore
intended to effect this.

Other new work is concerned with the use of molasses
for increasing the fertility of soil on which sugar-cane is
grown. An interesting account is given of the experiments
that have been initiated in connexion with this matter, and
they have shown themselves to be of sufticient value to be
continued during future seasons. It would seem that the
beneficial effect of the molasses on the soil is not due so much
to the manurial value of its mineral contents as to the stimu-

lating action of its presence on the nitrogen-fixing organism
Azotobacter chroococcum. The question of the advisability of
treating the land with molasses is, of course, intimately con-
nected With that of its value as a marketable product and, as
is pointed out in the pamphlet, exhausted vacuum pan
molasses is much more Jikely than muscovado molasses to be
used for the purpose. :

As regards the action of the molasses in increasing the
yield of sugar-cane, more particularly, it is shown by means
of a table that this increase was obtained at all except one
out of the five stations where experiments were made, but,
as has been indicated, further trials are required before
definite information can be gained.

COMMON WEEDS OF THE FARM AND GARDEN.
By Harold C. Long, B.Se., and John Percival, M.A., F.L.S.
Smith, Elder & Co., London.

The object of this book is to give detailed information in
regard to the weeds that are found mainly in farms and
gardens in the British Isles, and to suggest means by which
they may be kept in check in the best manner. Its contents
fall naturally into eight sections, as follows: (1) general
information as to the nature, effects, and classes of weeds
(Chapters I and II); (2) general preventive and remedial
measures for weeds (Chapter III); (3) information in relation
to special weeds and their habitat (Chapters IV, V, and VI);
(4) parasitic and poisonous plants (Chapters VII and VIII);
(5) weeds in localities other than pasture and arable land
(Chapters IX and X); (6) the principles of seed-testing
(Chapter XI); (7) bibliography; and (8) appendixes containing:
(a) illustrations of weed seeds, (b) a list of weeds and poisonous
plants, (c) legislation in regard to weeds, (d) birds and weeds,
(e) recognition of the importance of seed-testing.

The above list serves to show that the subject is dealt
with in a thorough manner. A perusal of the book
confirms this opinion, and demonstrates the fact that British
agriculturists are placed in possession of information, by it,
that should be of the greatest use to them. In the West
Indies, the chief interest will be taken in those parts of the
work where the subject is treated in the most general
manner, that is to say, with reference to the list given
above: sections (1), (2), (6), (7), and appendixes (c) and
(e). That the subject is treated fairly is shown by the
circumstance that the usefulness, as well as the harmfulness,
of weeds is given its due recognition. The preventive and
remedial measures against weeds would seem worthy of wider
trial, under West Indian conditions, than has so far been
given to them. ‘The principles of seed-testing are now well-
known in this part of the world; attention may, however, be
drawn to a useful form of seed-tester, made of porous ware,
of which a description is given. The bibliography is broadly
comprehensive, and contains references to more than one
hundred and forty works, pamphlets or periodicals in which
information relating specially to weeds may be found. As
regards the account of the legislation enforcing the destruc-
tion of noxious weeds in the chief agricultural countries of the
world, this is given in a concise and useful manner, as is that,
also, on the recognition of the importance of seed-testing.

In addition to three plates presenting illustrations of
nearly eighty different seeds of weeds, the book contains
more than one hundred reproductions of photographs and
sketches. The index is good, and the volume, altogether,
forms a useful model of what such a work should be.

92, THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcu 19, 1910.

GLEANINGS.

In the February number of the London Magazine, there
appears an interesting illustrated article, by Mr. J. R. Jack-
son, A.L.S., on tobacco-growing in Jamaica.

During December 1909, the value of the sugar imported
into the United States was $2,400,000; in December 1908, it
was $2,100,000. Similarly, the figures for the complete

The principal export of Venezuela—cotfee—reached
a weight of 6,784 metric tons during 1908; in the previous
year it was 8,315 metric tons. The similar figures for cacao
were 5,700, and 7,059, metric tons.

The exports of sugar and copra from Fiji, daring 1908,
were respectively, 66,149 tons, of a value of £647,306, and
12,931 tons, valued at £154,488. The similar quantities
and values for the preceding year were 66,597 tons and
£602,820, and 11,290 tons and £182,788.

At the end of 1908, there were in Servia 282 attiliated
Raiffeisen banks, with 9,082 members, of which 8,161 were
peasants. At the end of 1908, 12,960 loans had been
advanced, of which 7,352 were between £4 and £12. (The
Cyprus Journal, January 1910.)

A company has been registered recently for the purpose
of carrying on the business of cultivators of coffee, cacao,
rubber and other produce in Trinidad. Another object of the
company is to acquire the commercial interests of the late
Mr. Louis Bert de Lamarre, in Barbados and Trinidad.

Last month’s issue of an American trade journal states
that there does not seem to be any weakening in the: broom
corn position since January; prices have an upward tendency,
though the change is not great. It appears that, on all
accounts, the price of broom corn of the present crop will be
high, and that the product will be scarce.

The results of the Intermediate Examination held in
connexion with the Courses of Reading, on November 1 and
2, 1909, which were given in the Agricultural News, Vol.
VIII, p. 381, may be now completed by the statement that
R. W. Niles, of St. Lucia, obtained a First Class certificate,
with Cacao and Cotton as special satisfactory subjects.

The distrioution from the Antigua Botanic Station,
during the month of January 1910, was as follows: cane
plants 26,415, sweet potato cuttings 22,000, limes 1,400,
cecoa-nuts 258, Eucalyptus 44, Casuarina 43, grafted mango 1,
miscellaneous economic plants 24, miscellaneous decorative
plants 53, miscellaneous cuttings 150, broom corn seed 100 Ib.,
miscellaneous seeds 9 packets and 1 bag.

Paris green is essentially copper aceto-arsenite and, if
pure, should have the following equivalent composition:
arsenious oxide 58°65 per cent., copper oxide 31°29 per cent.,
acetic acid 10°06 per cent. In seventeen samples examined
at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations, the
arsenions oxide was from 2 to + per cent., and the copper
oxide from 1 to 4 per cent., below these proportions.

The Report on the Progress of Agriculture 1m India, tor
1907-9, states that further trials with tree cottons have con-
firmed the opinion that they will never enter into regular
cultivation in India. Most of the experiments with them
have failed, and have been abandoned since March 1909.
A small amount of suecess has, however, been obtained in
some parts of India, but it is said that the place of tree
cotton as a field crop in Indian agriculture is very limited.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 284, it was
stated that a reward of £5,000 had been offered for a good
method of exterminating the white ant (Z'ermes Gestroz) in
the Federated Malay States. It has been announced recently,
in the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated
Malay States, that after careful consideration of the applica-
tions by the committee appointed to adjudicate, it was
decided that none of the remedies suggested were suitable
for the reward, and that this has now been withdrawn finally.

Goods were exported from the colony of British Guiana,
during 1908-9, to the value of £2,104,176; the value of those
produced and manufactured locally was £1,958,509. During
the preceding period, the values‘were, similarly, £1,711,543
and £1,545,303. Sugar and its by-products continue to be
the main article of export, representing during the period
1908-9, 75 per cent. of the total produce. The sugar crop
reached 115,212 tons;in 1907-8 it was 100,737 tons. The
area under sugar-cane was 71,310 acres, as against 70,986
acres in 1907-8. (Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 632.)

The correct botanical nomenclature of the plants yielding
commercial cottons has provided much subject for controversy.
A recent paper communicated by F. Fletcher to the
Cairo Scientific Journal (November 1909) discusses the
botany and origin of American Upland cotton. Evidence is
adduced for the opinion that this well-known plant does not
show the characters indicated by Miller’s type of the species
hirsutum, but conforms to the description and drawings issued
by Tenore for Gossypium siamense, The author states that
G. religiosum of Linnaeus also refers to the Upland plant,
but gives reasons for disregarding this specific name in favour
of the former. (Nature, February 3, 1910.)

According to the India Rubber World, an estimate by
the firm of Messrs. Dick, Brothers & Co., of New York, places
the annual sale of cotton duck for use in rubber belting and
all kinds of rubber hose at 50 million yards. It is also
estimated that the annual demand for cotton for use in motor
car construction is 325,000 bales, of which 290,000 are used
for making the cotton duck basis for the tyres, the remainder
being chiefly employed in the manufacture of artificial leather
cushions and seats. Reference is also made to the use of
cotton in manufacturing the material for insulating electric
wires. It should be stated that Sea Island cotton is
especially suited for these purposes, as for all others where
strength of fibre is a particular requirement.

Voz. IX. No. 206. THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 93

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

MARCH.

Seconp, Psrrop.

Seasonal Notes.

The observations that should have been conducted
recently on the sugar-cane in the field will have shown that
some varieties of cane ripen earlier than others, and notes
should have been made of the behaviour of different kinds,
in this respect. By what indication is it known whether
a cane is ripe, or not, and howis the state, as regards ripeness,
determined? Opportunities are now being given for making
notes on the milling qualities of canes. On what properties of
the cane do these depend! Of what importance, in relation
to the manufacture of sugar, is the milling quality of a cane!

One of the chief essentials of the best sugar-making is
cleanliness. In order that this may be obtained, care should
have been taken that the boiling-house is kept clean, that
puncheons and coolers are free from all dirt or refuse from
the process of sugar-making, and that all unnecessary cracks
and crevices in these should be filled. What is the reason
for this, and what results are likely to accrue through the
presence of dirt in the boiling-house and in packages!

In muscovado boiling-houses, in some cases, syrup will
be manufactured instead of sugar. What is the difference
between boiling juice to syrup, and boiling it to sugar!
What is meant by the statement that, in order to prevent the
crystallization of sugar from juice that is being heated
(evaporated), a certain amount of inversion must take place!

Where onions are grown, note should be made of the
way in which the crop is harvested and prepared for ship-
ment. Why should onions be allowed to dry before they are
shipped? Study the methods that are employed for packing
onions. Why is it advisable that a package should be made
that is neat as well as strong. What is meant by grading
onions! Observe that only those onions should be exported
that are of a size suitable to the market on which they are
placed.

Consider the question of the more frequent employment
of onions as a rotation crop. Discuss the advisability of
planting onions where a dry season has prevented the early
sowing of cotton seed.

Summarize the reasons for giving shade to plants, and
discuss the question of providing shade for cacao. What are
the effects of too much shade, on a plant! How are fungi
enabled to flourish in the absence of light, and what does
this fact suggest in relation to the matter of preserving the
health of plants!

Lime plants in nurseries will require attention at the
present time. If they are suffering from drought, the sur-
face of the soil should be worked up to a fine, loose muich.
What is the precise way in which this lessens the rate at
which water is lost from the soil by evaporation? The soil
in the nurseries should be well drained, in order that the
water from heavy showers of rain that may fall may run off
easily, and not leave the soil waterlogged. As is well known,
seedlings in a soil that is too» wet suffer from ‘damping off,
which is a disease due to a definite fungus. If this disease
has already attacked the seedlings, a large proportion of them
may be saved by spraying them with Bordeaux mixture.
(See Reports ov the Botanic Station, Agriculturai School, and
Experiment Plots, St. Lucia, 1908-9, p. 15.)

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1).Why, in preparing a cutting of a plant, is the
portion that is used cut across diagonally, and why are some
of the leaves removed!

(2) In what does the value of cotton seed
a manure, consist? How is it used as manure?

(3) Describe the functions of roots.

tneal as

~ INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) How is the air-space in a soil related to the fineness
of the particles? ;

(2) Give a sketch of the life-history of the moth borer
of the sugar-cane, and state what steps may be taken to con-
trol this pest.

(3) What manures are necessary or desirable for lime
trees! State the quantities in which they should be used.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados on Tuesday, March 15, by the R.M.S. ‘ Esk’,
on au official visit to St. Lucia. Dr. Watts will probably
return to Barbados by the same steamer on the 22nd
instant.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Se., Entomologist on the statf
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left for
Montserrat by the SS.‘Ocamo’ on March 5, for the
purpose of making investigations in connexion with
insect pests in that island. :

Mr. F. W. South, B.A., Mycologist on the statf of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, also left for
Montserrat at the same time, for the purpose of making
investigations in connexion with insect and_ plant
diseases there.

Messrs. Ballou and South returned to Barbados,
by the SS, ‘Oruro’, on March 17.

Silk Cotton Seed as a Cattle Food.

Experiments are mentioned, in the Philippine Agri-
cultural Review for August, 1909, which have been conducted
with the seed of the silk cotton, or kapok, tree (Lriodendron
anfractuosum), with the abject of comparing the value of cake
made from this seed with that of cotton seed cake, as a cattle

food. ‘The results of analysis were as follows:—
Silk cotton Cotton seed
seed cake, cake,
. per cent, per cent.
Water 13:28 12:00
Albuminoids 26°34 20°62
Fat 5°82 6:36
Digestible carbohydrates 119-92 35°02
Fibre -- 28°12 20°36
Ash 6°52 564

The analysis also showed that the ash of the silk cotton
seeds contained 20°6 per cent. of phosphoric acid (as P,O,)
and 24°6 per cent. of potash (K.O).

The results are interesting, as faras they go, but require
to be supplemented by actual feeding trials.

94 THE, AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcu 19, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIEF GROUPS
Parr IL.

THE SIMPLEST FORM OF PLANT LIFE. All the processes of
life are invariably connected with a peculiar colourless, jelly-
like substance of a very complicated structure, and containing
very many different chemical compounds. This substance is
known as protoplasm. Generally, a small portion of this,
which is even of a more complicated nature than the rest,
is separated from it, and is denser. It is usually spherical
in shape, and is known as the nucleus. The nucleus is that
part which controls all the different physical and chemical
processes which take place in the rest of the protoplasm.
Many of the simplest forms of life, therefore, consist of a more
or less shapeless mass of the jelly-like substance of a very
minute size, which contains one or more nticlei. Such forms
of life are most frequently met with
in waier, as there they are less
exposed to sudden changes of tem- 7 °?

Fig. 9. Zoospores oF
Olpidium brassicae.

OF FUNGI.

perature, or to any danger of
drought, or of encountering strong
solutions of chemical substances,
which might injure the proto-
plasm. Frequently, these minute liv-
ing bodies are of a definite egg-
shape, and have attached to their sharper end one or more
very fine, thread-like outgrowths. Such a thread is known
as acilium. It possesses the power of independent move-
ment, and by lashing about in the water
enables the organism to swim, in this
way giving it a better chance of obtain-
ing its food. If, to such an organism
as the one just described, the green
colouring substance known as chlorophyll
is added, we obtain the very simplest
form of plant known. Such a plant is
complete in itself, and can obtain all its
food-supplies from the chemical substan-
ces dissolved in the water in which it
lives. It swims about for some time,
until it attains a certain size, after which
it divides longitudinally down the mid-
dle into two plants, each containing
a nucleus formed from the original one,
together with half of the original protop-
lasm and chlorophyll.

Now the fungi, as is well known,
are plants which have lost the power of
forming their own chlorophyll, and
consequently they cannot obtain carbon
from carbon dioxide gas. Thus they
must get it trom other organistas,
either dead or alive. If sucha simple
form of plant as has been described
above were deprived of its chlorophyll, it would be the
simplest possible form of fungus. Now, if this fungus had
to live in the interior of some vther plant, the naked~proto-
plasm might be exposed to harmful chemical substances given
off by the host plant. ‘To guard against this, it covers itself
with a firm outer coat, or wall, which is very resistant to
such substances. These fungi, consisting of a cell wall,
protoplasm, and a nucleys, and nothing further, are found
among the members of the group Chitredineae. Some

Fig. 11. Ascus
witH ASCOSPORES.

of these fungi live in the cells of various higher plants,
and cause a considerable amount of damage to them; for
example, Olpidium brassicae, which causes a disease of young
eabbages. The full life-history of the fungus is as follows:
It consists of a naked mass of protoplasm, with a nucleus and
one whip-lhke outgrowth, or cilium, attached to its pointed
end. Itswims about in a drop of water on the surface of
the cabbage, and eventually bores its way into the tissues,
becomes spherical, and covers itself with a cell wall. It
grows, and finally produces a long tube, which penetrates to
the surface of the host plant, and projects into any drops of
water that there may be on the surface. Meanwhile, the con-
tents of the spherical portion have divided up into numerous
minute, free-swimming bodies or zoospores (Fig. 9), each
exactly like the first stage of the origmal plant. The central,
spherical portion of the parent
fungus, in which the zoospores
were formed, is known as a
sporangium (Fig. 10). The
zoospores are discharged through
the neck, swim about as before,
and finally penetrate the host
plant again and repeat the life-
cycle.

The next step in the develop-
ment of the fungi from the
simplest forms, is the formation
of long fine threads, which pene-
trate the substratum in search
of food. These threads are usually without cross walls in
the simplest forms, but possess them in the more elaburate
ones. Each thread is known as a hypha, and the whole
system of them as the mycelium. The
reproductive organs are only borne on

certain parts of these threads.

? The more elementary fungi require
moisture for their reproductive purposes,
and in this way show their relationship with
the more primitive form of plant which
lived in water. In the course of ages,
however, these reproductive methods be-
came very much altered, so as to enable the
plants to live more conveniently on land,
and to reproauce themselves independently
of the presence of moisture. How this came
about will be shown in discussing the var-
ious groups.

THE MAIN GROUPS OF FUNGI. The
fungi are divided into four main groups,
chiefly in accordance with the characters
of their reproductive organs. These groups.
are as follows:—

THe PHycomycetes.—The veyetative
mycelium of the members of this group
never forms a compact mass, but usually
branches in the tissues of the plant or

Fic. 10, Sporanctum oF

Olpidium brassicae.

Fie. 12. Bastp-

1uM, WITH animal upon which these fungi generally
sporrpIA. live. Some of them exist saprophytically

on decaying substances, but the majority are

parasites. There are two forms of reproduction: the first by

means of conidia, which germinate either by dividing up to
form free-swimming spores, or zoospores, as described for the
Chitredineae, or by producing a mycelial tube direct; the
second by means of thick-walled, resting spores produced as
the result of a sexual process.

Tue Ascomycetes..—In this group, the mycelium may
be either entirely buried in the substratum, or may forny

Vou. IX. No. 206.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 95

a compact mass known asa stroma. The kinds of reproduction
may be numerous, but can usually be divided into two classes.
Tn the first class are conidia of various forms, borne on the
ends of hyphae, often themselves arranged in some special
manner, but almost always freely exposed to the air and not
contained in any special receptacle. In the second class of
reproduction, there is one constant feature, the presence of
an ascus, or elongated sac, which cortains generally eight,
sometimes four, ascospores (Fig. 11). These asci were almost
certainly all produced as the outcome of a sexual process in the
earlier forms, but many fungi have now entirely lost this sexual
process. The asci are found free in the simplest forms,
but in the more elaborate ones they are either produced in
a closed box, or perithecium, or in a mass on the surface of
an expanded disc, which is often rolled up into a closed body
when young, but which opens and exposes the mass of
asci when ripe.

Tue Bastpromyceres.—This group is characterized by
the presence of a special cell, or 4as/dium, on which the
reproductive bodies, or sporidia, are borne. This special cell
may, in the simpler forms, be divided up by cross walls, and
then each compartment produces one or more sporidia. In
the higher forms it is non-septate, and produces two, or
more, generally four, sporidia borne on short stalks, which
project from the upper surface of the basidium (Fig. 12). The
basidia are generally produced on some form of fruit-body,
either exposed, as in the toadstools, or enclosed in a bag or
sac, as in the puff balls.

Tue Funai Imperrecrit.—In this group are very many
species of fungi, which, so far as is known, can only repro-
duce themselves by some form of conidial fructification,
Many of them have been shown in recent years to be only
the conidial stage of an ascomycetous fungus, and there is no
doubt that some form of higher fructification will be found
for many more of them, as our knowledge of these plants
increases ; but at present, they have to be given separate
names for purposes of classification.

These, then, are the four main divisions of the fungi.
More detailed information of the various groups will be given
jn the subsequent articles.

MANURING WITH LIME AND MAGNESIA.

Experiments on manuring with lime and magnesia
have been conducted in recent years at the Porto Rico
Agricultural Experiment Station. The following are
some of the results, both theoretical and based on the
experiments, as set forth in Circular No. 10 of that
station:—

(1) It is always an unfavourable condition when the
magnesia content of a soil is essentially higher than the lime
content. For many plants it is also unfavourable when the
lime content is more than three times as high as the magnesia
content.

(2) Since, by the application of farmyard manure,
sufficient lime and magnesia are supplied in easily available
form, the original lime-magnesia ratio in the soil does not
play such a significant part as in the case of mineral manuring
where potash, phosphates and nitrogen are added.

(3) Most kinds of cereals develop best when the lime
content is equal to the magnesia. content, or does not exceed
this proportion.

(4) Leguminous plants, and probably many others,
require relatively more lime than do cereals, the lime-magnesia
ratio being here more favourable.

(5) Plants, like tobacco and the grape, which can exclude
an excess of absorbed lime from further physiological influence
by precipitation as calcium oxalate in the cells of the leaves
and stem, can also show a very favourable development in
such cases where the lime content of the soil exceeds the
magnesia content by more than three-fold. However, there
is a limit in this respect, since the regulative powers of the
plants are imperfect.

(6) An application of pure limestone on poor sandy soils
has often caused a decreased harvest, to the surprise of
the owner. It may be safely assumed that in such-cases,
the magnesia content of the soil was far below the lime
content, and that an increase of lime rendered, therefore, the
ratio of lime to magnesia still -‘more unfavourable than it was.

(7) From a practical point of view, the ratio of 2 parts
of lime to 1 part of magnesia in the soil would be the most
desirable, since this approaches on the one side the best

‘ratio of lime to magnesia, for cereals, -and on the other, the

best for the leguminous plants.

(8) The lime-magnesia ratios mentioned thus far, hold
good for the condition where both bases are present in. the
same state of availability. If, however, the one should be
present ina water-soluble form, and the other in a form not
soluble in water, then the ratio entering the root would of
course differ from the ratio present in the soil, the former
being capable of rapid absorption by the plant, the other not.
This point is especially important when manuring is
considered. -

(9) Some care has to be exercised in manuring with
magnesium sulphate. Clayey and loamy soils can be treated
at first with 200 to 500 kilos. per hectare (176 to 440 Ib.
per acre), eventually with more; but on sandy soils such large
doses would not be advisable, partly because the sulphate may
be lost again by leaching. Smaller doses, applied annually,
are preferable. The most effective form of application is
a top dressing with dilute solutions.

(10) Im eases of an excess of magnesia over lime in
a soil, it will be of great advantage to apply the nitrogen in

the form of calcium nitrate, or us the so-called lime nitregen

(calcium cyanamide), since in this way a special manuring
with lime may be avoided. When calcium nitrate or lime
nitrogen is applied on soils too rich in lime, then magnesium
sulphateshould be applied in conjunction with it.

(11) When heavy clay or loam soils have to be loosened
by liming, the ratio of lime to magnesia in the soil should be
considered. Accordingly, pure limestone should be applied
when the magnesia content-in the soil ‘is higher than that of
the lime, while magnesian limestone should be used if the
reverse is the case. Thus at the same time, the soil is loosen-
ed and the ratio of lime to magnesia improved. i

(i2) It is also necessary to consider the ratio of lime to
magnesia when correcting the acid or alkaline reaction,

Soils of alkaline reaction should receive gypsum for neutraliza-

tion, if the magnesia content is higher than that of the lime,
and magnesium sulphate when the magnesia content is too
far below that of the lime.

(i3) It may happen that loosening a heavy clay soil, or
neutralizing the acidity of a soil will have a much more
powerful influence on the productiveness than the correction
of the ratio of lime to magnesia, but this is no reason why an
additional advantage should not be secured when those evils
are remedied, _

96 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcr 19, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

London,—Txe West Ixpia CommirTee Crecurar,
March 1, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
February 4, 1910.

Arrowroor—léi/. to 33d.

Bartata—Sheet, 2/7 ; block, 2/2} per tb.

Bres-wax— £7.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/6 to 62/- per ewt. ; Grenada, 49/6 to
55/- per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/- to 52/-.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 39/- to 59/-.

Corra—West Indian, £25 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; St. Croix West Indian, no quotation.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—Common to good common, 49/- to 652/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honey—No quotations.

IstycLass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 10d. to 1/-; cencentrated, £18 to
£18 5s.; Otto of limes, 5/9 to 6/-.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Quiet.

Nutmecs—Steady.

Pinento—Common, 23d.; fair, 2,%d.; good, 22d. per tb.

Rupser—Para, fine hard, 8/9, fine soft, 8/6; fne Peru,
8/74 per tb.

Rum—Jainaica, 2/4 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/3 tu 18/9; Muscovado, 13/3 to 15/5;
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Guespiz Bros. & Co., February
18, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 11ljc. to 12jc. ; Grenada, 114e. to 11fe. ;
Trinidad, 1ldc. to 12c.; Jamaica, 9fc. to 10$c. per tb.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $27°00 to $28°00; culls,
$17:00 to $18°00; Trinidad, select, $25-00 to $2600 ;
culls, $16:00 to $17:00 per M.

Corrre—Jamaica, ordinary, %c. to 93c.; good ordinary,
9kc. to 10c.; and washed, up to 1l3e. per ib.

Grycer—9tc. to 13c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, no quotations; Parbados, 49c. to
50c.; St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. sSitts, 47¢. to 49e.
per tb.; Antigua, 4%c. to 50c., dry flint.

Grave Fruir—$3 00 to $4:00 per box.

Limes—$5-00 to $5°50 per barrel.

Macre—382e. to 36c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8}c. per tb.

OrancEes—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4jc. to 4gc. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°20c. per ib.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°70c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°45c. per th. all
duty paid,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., March 5,
1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°40 per fanega; Trinidad, $11-90
to $12°15.

Cocoa-Nur Or—88ce. per Imperial gallon.

CorreE—Vcnezuelan, 103c. per fb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 tb.

DxHat—$4°40 per 2-bushel bag.

Oxtons—$3°75 per 100 1b.

Peas, Sprit—$6-75 to $7-00 per bag.

Poratos—English, $100 to $1°50 per 100 fb.
Rice—Yellow, $4°80 to $4°90; White, $5°00 to $5°10
per bag. ;
Svear—American crushed, $5'10 to $5°20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., March 15, 1910;

Messrs. T. S. Garraway March 15,

1910.

Arrownoot—St. Vincent, 55°60 to $5°75 per 100 tb.

& Co.,

Cacao—$10°50 to $11°00 per 100 Tr.

Cocoa-Nuts—$14 00.

Corrree—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°00 to $11:00 per
100 th., scarce.

Hay—S$1°20 per 100 th., dull.

Manvres—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $48-00;
Sulphate of ammonia, $75°00 per ton.

Mo.asses—No quotations.

Ontons—Bunched, $2°50 to $3:50 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$6'20 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1°80 to $2-75 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $433 to $4°60 (180 tb.); Patna, $3-80;
Rangoon, $3:00 per 100 th.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, March
BH UDG 2
March 4, 1910.

Messrs. SaNnpDBACH, ParkKER & Co.

>

Messrs. Wietinc | Messrs. Sanp-
& Ricater. | PACH ParKER
& Co.
2h ———————
Arrowroot—St. Vincent) $80) to $825 $8 00 to $825 per
| per 200 th. | 200 tb., market

ARTICLES.

| dull
BaratTa— Venezuela block 32e. per tb. Prohibited
Demerara sheet 48c. per tb. None

Cacao—Native
Cassava—

Cassava STaARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole

Jamaica and Rio

Liberian
Drat—

Green Dhal

Eppos—

Mcrasses—Yellow
Oxtons—Teneriffe
Madeira

Peas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Poratros—Nova Scotia

Lisben

Poratos—Sweet, Barbados

Rice—Pallam
Creole

TANNTAS—

Yams—Wh:te
Buck

SuGar—-Dark crystals

Yellow
White
Molasses

Timeer —Greenheart
Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

96e.
196 th.

$12 to $16 per M.

| 12c. to 13¢ per tb.
14e. to 14$c. per tb. 14$c. tol4ze. perth

bag (210ib.)
$3°50
20c. to 60c. per
bunch
$2-75
No quotation
$1°32 per bag
No suotation
$400 to $420
$2°16 per bag
$2-16
$2°16 per bag
$2°65 to $2°85
$300 to $3°25
33°75 to $3°80
$2°00 te $2°25
32c. to 5d¢. per
cub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

per barrel of

|

|

Lc. to 12c. per tb. 10c. to 11e. per tb.
$600

No quotation
No quotation

$16 perM., peeled

and selected

12e to 13c. per fb.

10c. per th. 10c. per Ib.
| $4°75 per bag of $4-60 per bag of

168 tb. 168 tb.
None ——
$2°40 per barrel —--
None —

— | No quotation

4c. per tb. | No quotation

$645 to $6°50 per, $6°50 per bag

( 210 th.)

| $3°50 to $4:25

$2-60
No quotation

$4-75
$3°50 to 34-00

None
None

$3°60 to $3°80

none
32¢. to 5dc. per
eub. foot
3°30 te $5°50
per M.
No quotation

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Vou. IX, No, 206. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. . Marcu 19, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

J ACRES =

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown,

D> THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FOR = ALE. FACTORY, LIMITED.
Four thousand five hundred (4,900) BRIDGETOWN.
Washington Navel COTTON SEED.

B U D H) FD 0 Ri A N ¢ E p LA N TS : Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and

5 sale from the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of
Local price Gd. each, delivered Roseau. Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt
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IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vor. IX. No. 207.

BARBADOS,

CONTENTS.

PAGE PAGE.

Agricultural Shows, Dem- Mangos, A Method of

onstrations at ... . 105 Propagating . 104
Bees and Foul Brood ... 103) ap iet Reports... .. .-. 112
*Bichet’ on Cacao... ... 105 Ricthods of Memwenne
Ceara Rubber Trees, Yield , Mens 99

of Latex from’... ... 107 pe. i
Copra_ from Cocoa-nuts, Mexican Vegetable Waxes,

Voelditofme. secs. <2. OL KO! «sca. eeteee ee LOE
Cotton Notes :— Mistletoe, Methods for Get-

British Cotton-Growing 102 ting Rid of, . 103
Production and Consump- 9 Notes and Comments ... 104
JMOR of Co*ton anaes 102 Rubber, Palo Amarillo ... 109
West Indian Cotton .-. 102) Rubber Plants, Rates cf
Fertilizing Influence of Geet oF 103

Sunlight, The 107 > ae

Fungus Notes :— Shield Budding for the
The Chief Groups of Mango : ae OO
Fungi, Part IIL ... ... 110) Students’ Corner... 5 Of)

Germination of Seeds,

Tanilla i » Seychelles 105
Cees AO Vanilla in the Seychelle )

Gleanings ... 108 Way in which Plants Take
Insect Notes: - up Nitrogen, A... ... 97
Lady-Birds .ud Weevil West Indian Products... 111
IBOLETS wireepies= ... 106! Why Plants areGreen ... 101
2 : ) Sn hee) ee
A Way in Which Plants Take up
Nitrogen.

T has been long recognized that the food of

both plants and animals must inciude bodies
Z s that contain nitrogen if they are to continue
their existence. In balanciny aration for an animal,
or in deciding upon the manurial treatment for a plant,
the chief attention is given to those bodies, in the ration
or the manure, which contain nitrogen. In order to
flourish, the animal must have a sufticieut supply of
proteids, and the plant must be given an adequate

amount of nitrogenous food.

APRIL 2, 1910. Price ld.

There is, however, a difference in the complexity of
the nitrogenous compounds that are supplied in the two
cases. The animal derives all its energy from that
which is given up when simpler substances are formed
from the complex bodies that have been absorbed into
its system: therefore it can only make use of compounds
that have been built up already by the expenditure of
energy.
energy from an external souree—the light of the sun—
and it can use this energy in the formation of complex
bodies these
are used for the purpose of providing energy, by
their breaking down, in the inner parts of the plant, to
which the light of the sun cannot penetrate, or they
are absorbed by animals, for which they perform a simi-
lar function.

The plant, on the other hand, can derive its

from simpler ones. Subsequently,

The plant brings external energy to bear
upon the task of building; the animal makes use of that
energy when the structure falls.

It is a matter of common knowledge among agricul-
turists that plants absorb nitrogen directly through
their roots, as nitrates, and that leguminous plants have
an additional power to live in symbiosis with bacteria
inhabiting nodules on their roots, which render the
nitrogen of the air quickly available to them. Little
attention has been given, in practice, to a third way in
which plants take in nitrogen, namely in the form of
The purpose of the present article
is to draw attention to this method, and to indicate
applications of it that may possibly be made in practice,

salts of ammonia,

The general opinion has been, in the past, that
salts of ammonia, such as ammonium sulphate, sould
not be absorbed directly by plants in amounts such as
would be useful to them. The common idea was that
all the sulphate of ammonia applied as manure must

98 THE AGRICULTURAL

be converted, first into nitrites and then into nitrates,
by the nitrous and nitric nitrifying organisms, respect-
ively. It has now been ascertained definitely that this is
not invariably the case, for part of the sulphate of ammo-
nia can be absorbed directly. Thus it is not correct to
say absolutely that this manure is less available than
nitrate of soda. It acts more slowly because that part
which is used by plants is not all absorbed directly, but
some of it is converted into nitrates before it is taken
in by them.

A great deal of work has been done in connexion
with the matter in the past, and several particular
conclusions have been obtained. It has been shown
that ammonium salts are absorbed as readily as
nitrates, by beans and maize. Other experiments
have demonstrated that ammonium salts can be utilized
directly by certain grasses, and that some plants can
thrive in the absence of nitrates. In the last case,
however, it was not conclusively shown that the only
source of nitrogen was salts of ammonia.

The most recent investigations in connexion with
the subject have been conducted by Hutchinson and
Miller, of the Rothamsted Experiment Station, an
account of whose work appears in the Journal of
Agricultural Science, Vol. 3, Part 2. These experi-
menters raised sterile seedlings from sterile seeds and
grew them in various sterilized sand and water
cultures. The need for the conduct of the experiment
under sterile conditions is easily understood when the
importance is realized of eliminating those organisms
which can assist in the oxidation of ammonium salts to
nitrates. The trials were made with wheat grown in
sand, wheat grown in water cultures, and peas grown
in water cultures. The cultures, of course, contained
those substances that are necessary to the growth of
plants and, in each set of experiments. differed chiefly
from one another in the presence or absence of chalk,
nitrifying organisms, ammonium sulphate or nitrates.
The results of the experiments showed (1) that
ammonium sulphate is absorbed directly by wheat and
peas, (2) that, under the conditions of the experi-
ment, peas thrive equally well whether they are
supplied with ammonium salts or nitrates, (3) that
wheat grows best when supplied with nitrates.

A general summary of this work will make its
importance all the more evident. It shows that plants
of various kinds can grow in anormal manner when
ammonium salts are supplied to them under conditions
which preclude the possibility of the formation of
nitrates. Further, some plants grow equally well when
they are supplied either with ammonium salts or

NEWS. Aprit 2, 1910.

nitrates, as a source of nitrogen, but a number of these
appear to have a preference for nitrates.

The investigations do not make it certain that
ammonium salts are ever capable of producing better
results than those which are obtained from the
use of nitrates. Nevertheless, there are indications
that the replacement of nitrates by them may
result in better yields. There are facts to show
that some plants prefer ammonium salts to nitrates for
early growth, but that nitrates are more suitable for
their later development.

Attention has already been drawn to the power
possessed by plants to build up more complex sub-
stances from simpler ones. In the case of nitrogenous
bodies, an early step in the process is the formation of
compounds called amides, such as asparagin. From
the amides, either directly or indirectly, the complex
food-substances called proteids are made, and, from the
proteids, protoplasm is derived. In the present con-
nexion, the formation of amides is the important
consideration. These are more readily produced from
ammonium salts than from nitrates. It often happens
that plants well supplied with nitrates cease to absorb
them to any great extent after a time, because of the
degree to which they have accumulated in the tissues.
This is not the case with ammonium salts, for these
will be quickly converted into amides, and thence into
proteids, after they have been absorbed. It is therefore
to be expected that plants fed on ammonium salts will
contain a distinctly higher percentage of nitrogen than
those supplied with nitrates, and the work of Hutchinson
and Miller shows this to be actually the case. Vhe fact
is also of interest that, as has been stated above, many
plants prefer ammonium salts to nitrates when they are
young. It would seem that the reason for this, again,
is the circumstance that amides, and therefore proteids,
are formed more easily from ammonium salts than from
nitrates, so that, with the former bodies, the nutrition
of the young plant is carried on in a more speedy and
efficient manner.

A similar explanation would seem to be capable
of application to the question as to why leguminous
plants usually contain a higher percentage of nitrogen
than plants of other kinds. The nitrogen that is hand-
ed on to them from the air by the bacteria in their
root nodules is probably in a state of combination such
that amides and proteids are easily formed. In any
case, the conclusion of value is that the efficiency of
the assimilation of nitrogen by plants in general may
be increased by employing ammonium salts as well as
nitrates, when it is desired to add to their nitrogenous
food.

Vou. IX. No.’ 207.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 99

It is too early to indicate very definitely the
practical application of the facts that have been
demonstrated. The following general, tentative con-
clusions, however, affect directly the work of the
planter: (1) that the growth of young plants may
be stimulated by means of freshly applied ammo-
nium sulphate; (2) that, unless the land is very poor
in nitrogen, there is little need for an interval to
elapse between the application of ammonium salts to
the soil and the growing of the crop, for they are immed-
iately available, toa fair extent; (3) that ammonium
salts applied after the plant is well established will
do immediate good to a certain degree; (4) that where
plants are required to assimilate a large amount of
nitrogen, it seems likely that applications of ammonium
salts, together with nitrates, would be beneficial.

METHODS OF MEASURING TREES.

The following discussion on the methods of
measuring trees appeared in the Zndian Forester,
Viole avemNon I (November 1909). It is of more
particular interest in view of the increasing attention
that is being given, in the West Indies, to matters
connected with forestry and rubber production :—

There are two systems ordinarily in vogue [in India and
Burma] for the classification of trees; one by girth classes,
and the other by diameter classes. or the former, classes
of 18-inch periods are usually adopted, and for the latter,
classes of 6-inch periods. Thus for girth classes, it is usual
to speak of trees measuring less than 1} feet in girth, at
breast height, as V class trees; those above 1} feet and up to
3 feet as IV class; those above 3 feet and up to 44 feet as
III class; those above 4} feet and up to 6 feet as ‘II class,
and those above 6 feet in girth asI class. It is equally
common, when reference a made to trees classified by
diameter measurements, to speak of trees up to 6 inches in
diameter, at breast height, as V class trees; trees above 6
inches and up to 1 foot in diameter as IV class; trees above
1 foot and up to 1} feet as III class; trees above 1} feet and
up to 2 feet in diameter as II class; and trees above 2 feet in
diameter as I class.

It thus comes about, that I class trees are loosely refer-
red to as being either above 6 feet in girth or above 2 feet in
diameter, as if these measurements were synonymous.

Again, the classes mentioned above have practically
become, throughout India, standard classes of measurement,
and it only remains for it to be decided whether girth classes
or diameter classes are to be adopted for the future.

It is therefore, we consider, most advisable that definite
standard classes should be fixed so that it will always be
known what is meant by a I class tree, II class, and so on.
In our opinion, girth classes are the most suitable, for the
sections of trees are seldom cireular, and it isa matter of
some difficulty to ascertain the exact average diameter of
a tree, whereas the exact girth can always be easily ascer-
tained. By this we do not mean that all measurements of trees
for marking, ete., should be done by tape. It is easy to have
callipers graduated to correspond to the diameters of the 18-
inches girth classes, and it is usual in practice, when using

callipers, to measure each tree in two directions at right angles.
We have found it quite accurate, if it is shown that a tree,
measured in both directions, falls to the same, to record it as
belonging to that class; but when the measurement in one
direction locates a tree in one class, and in the other direc-
tion in another class; we found that the simplest way to decide
the right class was by girth measurement with a tape. We
recommend that the girth classes given above be now officially
adopted as standard classes, so that in future, there will be no
doubt as to what is meant by a I class tree, II class, and so
on; and as these classes are already generally known and used,
it would be simpler to adopt them than to lay down a revised
scale of classes altogether.

Of course, we recognize the fact that, for many working-
plans and other purposes, the standard classes would not be
sufficient, as it is often necessary to discriminate between the
sizes of trees above 6 feet in girth, and to differentiate in more
detail between smaller trees. For the latter, subdivisons of
the standard classes will generally suftice, but for all other
divisions from the standard classes, we recommend the
adoption of letters to indicate that the class referred to is
a special one, Thus, in cases where a minimum exploitable
size of above 7} girth is adopted, the class above 7} feet in
girth might conveniently be termed M class, meaning
mature, or by any other appropriate letter. Any officer
coming across the mention of an M class tree for the first
time, would at once enquire what it meant, and no confusion
would arise.

The question as to the height at which the girth
measurements should be taken is more complicated, for on
account of some species developing large buttresses, they
cannot be measured at the usual breast height, which is
generally taken to be 4} feet above the ground. For
practical purposes, it will probably be sufficient for the
girths to be taken as they are now at breast height, where
there are no buttresses, and as near above that as the
buttresses will allow, if there are no buttresses, except when
the buttressed portion is utilized, in which case a correcting
factor might possibly be adopted. This matter is one on
which some enquiry is necessary before standard rules can be
decided on.

The Cause of the Germination of Seeds.

It is a matter of common observation that a stage exists,
in all vegetable life, when the vital activities seem to be
suspended. In most of the plants with which thera is
a common familiarity, this stage belongs to the seed. There
is a period of dormancy, followed by what is called
germination.

This period probably had its origin in the necessity for
the provision of a form of protection during a time when the
plant was surrounded by untoward conditions, as in winter.
or in the dry season. The end of the resting period, as it
may be called, came when those conditions were succeeded
by others which were favourakle. There is the additional
consideration that time and opportunity had also been
afforded for the wide separation of the embryo plant from its
parent, or parents; provision was made for the distribution
of the species.

These matters naturally lead to the question which asks
what it is within the seed that causes an awakening of life to
take advantage of the favourable conditions that occur once
again. The answer given by the most careful investigations
that have been undertaken up to the present is, that the
cause is provided by the ability of the protoplasm in the
seed to respond to its surroundings.

100

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 2, 1910.

WEST INDIAN FRUIT.

SHIELD BUDDING FOR THE MANGO.

In Bulletin No. 20 of the Hawaiian Agricultural
Experiment Station, an account is given of the means
by which shield budding may be employed in the case
of the mango, and the advantages of the method suggest

that itis worthy of trialin the West Indies. An
illustrated account of the propagation of the mango
by patch budding was given in the Agricultural
News, Vol. III, p. 283. In order to facilitate experi-
ments in shield budding by those who are interested
in the subject, the following information has been taken
from the bulletin to which reference is made:—

The proposed method is new only in its modifications
and in its application to the mango. It is merely shield
budding with an inverted T adapted to the peculiarities of
the mango. Shield budding is probably one of the oldest,
and certainly the most widely practised, of all methods of
budding. Ordinary shield budding had been tried on the
mango long ago, following the general practice in the selection
of bud-wood and stock that governs in the shield budding of
citrus fruits, peach, or plum. In this case young bud-wood was
used with the leaf still attached, and it was inserted in young
wood. It soon became apparent, however, that this method
would not work successfully, and it was abandoned, giving
place to the patch bud, which was practised with more
mature bud-wood and stock. The present method consists in
using wood of the same maturity as in patch budding,
but adopts the similar device for bringing the bud shield into
contact with the stock, and may be known as shield budding
with an inverted T incision.

THE stock. Budding by this method has been success-
fully performed on stocks from an inch to 3 inches in
diameter. What the limitations are, on either side of these
dimensions, is not known at present. Wood of this size, in
seedling trees, may be from two to five years old. It is essen-
tial that the stocks be in a thrifty condition and, still more
important, that they should be in ‘flush’, If not in this
condition, the bark will not readily separate from the stock.
Tt has been found that the best time is when the terminal buds
are just opening. Unless the trees are watched carefully, they
will pass this stage before the flush is observed. When the
young, brown leaves have appeared, it is often too late to
bud, and the operation must be postponed until the next flush.

THE BUD-woop. The bud-wood which has been most
successfully used is that which has lost most of its leaves,
and is turning brown er grey in colour. Such wood is usually
about an inch in diameter. It is not necessary in this method
of budding that the bud-wood should be in a flushing condi-

tion, although it may be an advantage to have it so. It
should, however, be healthy wood of normal growth.

PREPARATION OF THE STOCK. The incisions should be
rade in the stock about 6 inches in length. At the lower
end of this make an incision at right angles to it, with the
knife edge pointing upwards at an angle of about 45
degrees with the stock, thus making a curved incision. Insert
the sharpened end of the handle of the budding-knife beneath
the bark at the junction of these incisions, and push it gently
upward, raising the bark so as to make a place for the bud.
It is not necessary to push the handle far, but, by gently
prying, the bark may be separated from the stock, if the latter
is in proper condition, without injuring the delicate cells
against which the bud shield is to be placed.

PREPARATION OF THE BUD-Woop. The bud is now to
be removed from the bud-wood. Witha rather heavier knife
than is generally used for budding, in the right hand, and the
bud-wood held firmly in the left, place the blade against the
bud-wood with a very slight inclination, and cut so as to make
as flat a surface as possibie under the bud shield. This bud
shield should be about 3 to 34 inches long, with the bud in
the centre. The small portion of wood, which will thus be
taken off with the bud shield, may be removed if it slips
readily. If not, it should be left in place. The lower end
of the shield is then taken between the thumb and finger, and
gently inserted in the incision prepared for it, pushing it up
until it is held firmly in place by the surrounding bark.

TYING AND WRAPPING. The stock must then be tied
with rattia cr some other soft, but strong, tying material, so
as to prevent drying out. The cut surfaces below the actual
bud are usually covered with grafting wax, and the whole is
then wrapped with a waxed cotton bandage, beginning at the
lower part and winding spirally to the top, exposing only the
actual bud. This method of wrapping protects the bud and
the wound from the access of water. The bud is shaded by
a short piece of bandage hung over it and held in place by
being laid under the upper strands of the spirally wound
bandage.

SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT. In about three or four weeks,
if the bud remains green, the stock should be lopped at
a point about 7 inches above the bud. Care should be taken,
in thus cutting the stock partly off, to avoid splitting down-
ward. It should be made to split upward into that portion
of the stock which is to be destroyed. This lopping will
serve to force the bud into growth. Many other buds, on
the sides of the stock, will start into growth before the new
one. These must all be cut off. It has not been found
necessary to remove the tying and wrapping material until

Vou. 1X. No. 207.

THE AGRICULTURAL.

NEWS. 101

the bud has made two flushes, and often it is not necessary
at all, since the raftia usually decays beneath the waxed cloth,
and the latter naturally expands with the growth of the
stock. When the bud has started into growth, the top of the
tree may be completely cut off and destroyed. The stump
remaining above the bud may be cut off with a sloping cut
close to the bud, after the latter has made three or four
flushes.

ADVANTAGES OF THE MeTHOD. It has been found that
buds can be set quite rapidly by this method. {n the exper-
ience of the writer, five or six buds could be set, by this
means, to one by the patch bud method. Speed may be
increased also by the use of unskilled labour in the tying and
binding operations. The operator can set the bud and pass
on to the next without any danger of its getting out of place
before the helper, who immediately follows, ties it.

Perhaps the most important advantage in this method of
budding lies in the fact that it may be used successfully when
the bud-wood is not in an active growing condition. The
most tedious part of patch budding is in removing the bud,
and frequently in doing so it will be broken. Further, it is
often impossible to get bud-wood of a desired variety in
active condition when the stocks are ready to be operated
upon.

The method may be applied most advantageously to
seedling trees in orchard form when they have become large
enough to be operated upon, when the buds should be set
only a few inches above the ground. It may also be used in
top-working old trees to new varieties.

WHY PLANTS ARE GREEN.

An endeavour has been made recentiy by Professor
Stahl to account for the fact that the higher, as well as many
of the lower, plants are green. It is well known that the
green colour of such plants is due to the possession by them
of a colouring matter called chlorophyll, and the object
of the enquiry has been to find out why this should possess
that colour rather than any other. Starting from the fact
that ordinary white light is composed of the primary colours—
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet—that is
the colours of the spectrum, it is easy to understand that
chlorophyll owes its greenness to the fact that it absorbs
much of the light at the red and blue ends of the spectrum,
and rejects the green. This absorption of the red and blue
rays can be simply demonstrated by allowing light of either
of those colours to fall on the green parts of a plant, when
they appear almost black.

- ‘The light that is absorbed by a green plant is, of course,
used as the source of energy by means of which it builds up
the more complex compounds, required in its life-processes,
from simple ones. or this purvose, the red and orange rays
are used chiefly. The work of Stahl and other investigators
shows that the energy from the blue end of the spectrum is
also employed in the same way. All these useful rays would
be absorbed equally well if the leaves were black or grey.
Why is it, then, that they are green? In other words, why is
it that the trouble is taken to exclude most of those rays from
the leaf that are not required to enable it to carry on its work!

In order to assist in obtaining an answer to this
question, reference is made to the seaweeds. The red
seaweeds contain a red colouring matter which surrounds,
and gives rise to, the green colouring matter (chloro-
‘phyll) that is present in their cells. It may be proved
that they possess chlorophyll by placing them in hot
‘water, when they become green. A question immediately
arises as to why such seaweeds possess a red, as well as a green,

colouring matter. It is solved by reference.to the fact that
these plants usually live in deep water. The colour of water
is blué, that is to say, if white light passes through a sufti-
cient depth of it, only the blue rays will remain unabsorbed,
The -result of this is to cause the light which reaches a plant
of red seaweed, growing in its usual habitat, to contain
a very small proportion of the orange and red rays. These
are, however, the very rays that are absorbed by the chloro-
phyll for the purpose of providing energy in order that food
may be manufactured for the uses of the plant, and the fact
of the small amount of these kinds of I'ght makes it exped-
ient that means shall be provided by which the rays that are
present in greater proportion shall be utilized in this manu-
facture. This is where the use of the red pigment is found.
It absorbs some of the blue and green light, and thus
provides additional energy for the needs of the plant. Such
absorption is rendered possible by the fact that the colour of
this pigment (red) is complementary to that of the surround-
ing water (blue).

The application of these facts has now to be made to
chlorophyll in plants which live under ordinary, atmospheric
conditions. Chlorophyll actually consists of two pigments—
a blue-green one, which absorbs specially red and orange
rays, and a yellow-orange pigment, which acts in the same
way toward blue rays. The light which reaches a plant is of
two kinds: that which falls uvon it directly from the sun,
and that which only reaches it after reflection from surround-

ing bodies—diffused light. In the former, the red and
orange rays are present in the greatest proportion; in

diffused light, they are not found to the same extent, and
there is more blue light. But from what has just been said,
these are absorbed by the blue-green and the orange-red
pigment, respectively. Thus the presence of the first-mamed
pigment is to enable the plant to take advantage of direct
sunlight, and of the orange-red pigment to enable it to make
the best use of diffused sunlight.

The colour of jeaves, then, is not black or grey, even
though in this case they would absorb the largest amount of
energy for the purpose that they have to fulfil in the
economy of the plant. The reason is that, with such colours,
the amount of light absorbed would be sutticiently large to
cause injury to the protoplasm that they contain. They are
green because they cortain pigments that enable the right
kinds and quantity of light to be absorbed, whether this is
received directly from the sun or after reflection from surround-
ing objects.

Yield of Copra from Cocoa-nuts.

An account of trials that were carried out at the Experi-
ment Station, Peradeniya, Ceylon, in order to find out what
percentage of copra could be obtained from cocoa-nuts is
given in the Tropical Agriculturist for January 1910. The
nuts employed were generally small, and, for the purpose of
the investigation, 10,000 of them were taken. The results
of the experiments were as follows :—

tb. per cent.
Weight of nuts 1,284°5 (100:0)
Fe water in nuts ... 163°5 12-7
a shells 376° 28°6
a kernels 753-5 58-7

From the kernels, the weight of dry copra obtained was
337-5 tb.; that is to say, the kernels yielded 44°8 per cent. of
their weight in copra. In the same way, the weight of the
dry copra was 26°3 per cent. of that of the nuts.

This is expressed differently by saying that 1 ton of

‘eocoanuts may be expected to yield 1,315 Ib. of kernels,

from which 689 Ib. of copra will be obtained,

102

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Apri 2; 1910:

é . \COTTON NOTES./_,
SOR NTS

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date March 14, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, a good business has been done in
West Indian Sea Island cotton, and about 800 bags have
been sold at about 1d. per tb. advance.

The sales include St. Vincent 19d. to 234d., St. Lucia
19d., St. Kitts 18d. to 207., St. Croix 18d. to 203d., Nevis
19d. to 20d., Montserrat 17d. to 19d., Barbados 18d. to 21d.,
and Anguilla 19d. to 203d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending March 11, 1s as follows:—

There continues a good demand for the planters’ crop
lots, resulting in sales of about 250 bales at 40c. to 50c., the
buying being for export. The unsold stock now is reduced
to about 500 to 600 bales, consisting very largely of planters’
crop Jots held at 45c. to 50c., and for which there isa demand,
but at prices somewhat below the views of the factors. How-
ever, the present outlook is that the entire unsold stock will
be disposed of very soon.

BRITISH COTTON-GROWING.

The following information was given, at a recent
general meeting of the British Cotton Growing
Association, in regard to cotton-growing in the British
Empire :—

wrest AFRICA. The purchases of cotton in Lagos for
the year 1909 amount to 12,065 bales, as compared with
5,410 bales for 1908, and 8,456 bales for 1907. The quality
of the cotton has greatly improved, and there has recently
been a brisk demand for West African cotton, and all last
year’s crop has now been disposed of. The new crop, which
should commence to come in about the middle of January,
is apparently late this year, but the first shipments are
expected to reach Liverpool early in March.

uGANDA. Arrangements are being made by which
seed-cotton is to be selected by the Superintendent of
Agriculture at the ginneries, and ginned separately, and the
seed so selected to be returned to the Cotton Department for
planting purposes. It is pointed out that, owing to the
changeable ciimate in Uganda, and the fact that many
producers are still most ignorant of the proper methods of

S

picking and handling cotton, itis impossible to prevent
a certain amount of inferior cotton coming into market,
but it wou'd be unwise to prohibit the sale of seed-cotton,
which has probably been brought from a_ considerable
distance, and represents the best which the native is at
present capable of growing. The Government officials are
of opinion that it will be at least two years before the
results of the present efforts will show in the quality of the
cotton. It was considered that a great deal of credit was
due to the Agricultural Department for the efforts now
being made to improve the quality of the cotton.

NYASSALAND. Letters were read from various planters
stating that the results during the past season have been most
satisfactory, and very good prices are being realized for the
cotton. The lack of adequate ocean transport facilities has
been a great drawback to the development of the cotton-grow-
ing industry, both in Nyassaland and in Uganda, and great
satisfaction was expressed that arrangements have now
been made for the Union Castle Line of steamers to run
a monthly service round the Cape to Mombassa, serving all
the East African ports on the way. This service should be
a very great help in assisting the development of cotton
growing.

RHODESIA. It was reported that, in co-operation with the
British South Africa Company, the Association has sent out
an Agricultural Expert to Northern Rhodesia, to ascertain the
possibilities of the country for cotton growing.

The President mentioned that the Chairman of the
British South Africa Company was most favourably inclined
towards cotton cultivation in Rhodesia, and was in that
country at the present time on a visit of inspection, and was
going to make enquiries on the spot as to the possibilities of
a large and immediate development of cotton-growing there.

THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
OF COTTON.

At a recent meeting of the shareholders of the Man-
chester Ship Canal Company, the Chairman (Mr. Bythell)
gave some interesting figures as to the world’s production
of cotton and its requirements. The immense expansion
of the area under cotton cultivation in the United States
during the last forty years is not generally recognized.
In 1874-5, there was a crop of 3,833,000 bales, and the
average price of the standard quality of middling American
at Liverpool was 767d. Ten years later, the season’s crop
was 5,669,000 bales, and the price 5°76d.,—an increase in
production of 47-9 per cent., and a decrease in price of 24:9
per cent. Ten years later again, the crop was 9,893,000 bales,

Vout. IX. No. 207.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 103

and the price had fallen to 3-41d.,—an increase in production
of 74:5 per cent., with the price 40°8 per cent. lower. Pro-
duction had then apparently, for the time being, overtaken the
consuming power. In 1904-5, the season's crop was 13,557,000
bales, and the price 4:93d. Ascompared with 1894-5 there
had been an increase of 37:03 in production, but the price
was 44°6 per cent. higher. The great increase in the world’s
spindles is shown in the following figures :_ 1870, 58 millions;
1881, 75 millions; 1885, 81 millons; 1895, 94 million; 1905,
113 millions; 1909, 129 millions. This year, it is to be
feared, the American crop will not exceed 11 million bales,
and may well be less. (‘Ihe Journal of the Royal Society of
Arts, February 25, 1910.)

METHODS FOR GETTING RID OF
MISTLETOE.

A short note on the mistletoes of the West Indies
appeared in the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 345, and
a means of getting rid of this pest was indicated in a general
way. In Bulletin No. 166 of the United States Department
of Agriculture, entitled Whe Mistletoe Pest in the South West,
the subject is dealt with in a thorough manner. Much of the
information that is given does not go beyond the usual methods
that are employed for the eradication of mistletoe, but several
interesting facts are brought forward which render the contents
of the bulletin worthy of notice.

Where small branches are infested, the pest will be
effectually removed by the careful cutting away of these at
a few inches below the place where the parasite is attacking.
The difficulty that presents itself, in employing this method,
is that of reaching the higher branches. This may be over-
come by the employment of that form of pruning shears in
which the instrument for cutting is attached to the end of
a long pole and worked from below by means of a strong cord.
Tt is important that, however the cutting may be effected, it
should be done cleanly; there should be nothing in the nature
of tearing or breaking of the branches.

In cases where the infestation has taken place more
Jargely, a great deal may be done toward keeping the mistletoe
under control by continually removing the sprouts at fairly
frequent intervals. The removal of the mistletoe may be
effected by the employment of a hook at the end of a pole, by
means of which it is broken from the branches. The work will
be more efficient if a pruning hook is used instead of an ordin-
ary one, as by means of this, the parasite can be cut off close to
the surface of the branch on which it is growing, so that many
of the undeveloped buds will be destroyed. This method of
treatment has an advantage in that it reduces the chances for
fruits and seeds to be formed, and so lessens the extent to
which the pest may be disseminated. The best time for the
removal of the mistletoe in this manner will be naturally dur-
ing the period of the year when the rainfall is lowest, that is
when the number of leaves on the tree gives the greatest
chance for the parasite to be seen. Care would be required
in order that the bark of the tree may be wounded as little as

ossible by the hook, and where this had been done the
injured surface would have to be coated with tar.

An account is given, in the bulletin mentioned, of
attempts that were made to prevent the re-appearance of the
mistletoe after it had been cut from deeply infested branches.
In each case, the mistletoe was shaved off close to the bark,
and large branches were smeared or painted with : (1) a strong
wood preservative called carbolineum, (2) asphalt paint, (3)
laundry soap. In each case, part of the treated surface was
wrapped closely in coarse canvas, while the other part was

left unwrapped. The results were as follows :--

Substance used. Appearance of Mistletoe.

On wrapped part.

None None
In following season None, while wrapped
Not delayed

Carbolineum
Asphalt paint
Laundry soap

” 2

No injury to the branches resulted from the treatment.
It would thus appear that applications of a strong preservative
like carbolineum will kiil mistletoe, without injuring the
branch on which it grows, and that milder preparations, such
as asphalt paint, coal tar and white lead, may be used for the
purpose of checking the development of young mistletoe
shoots, while, by the additional precaution of wrapping the
branch, the parasite may be ultimately killed.

The removal of large areas of tissue, in the ease of much
infested branches, is also dealt with. It is suggested that,
wherever wounds of any kind have been made for the purpose
of removing mistletoe, the cut surfaces should be treated with
a solution consisting of | part of corrosive sublimate in 1,000
parts of water (that is to say, 1 oz. of corrosive sublimate in
7 gallons of water, as is used for disinfecting cotton seed),
or with one containing 1 tb. of cepper sulphate in 5 gallons
of water, before the protective dressing is applied.

RATES CF GROWTH OF RUBBER PLANTS.

In the Annual Administration Report (1908-9) of the
Government Botanie Gardens and Parks, the Nilgiris
(Government of Madras), particulars of the rate of growth of
various plants are given. Among these are statistics, relating
to the growth of various rubber trees, in the Botanic
Garden at Kuller, of which a part is extracted below. In
the report itself, particulars for six dates are presented, but
only three of these have been taken—those for the beginning,
the middle (approximately) and the end of the period of
observation. In the following table, figures are given for the
height (a), the girth at 1 foot from the ground (b), and the
girth at 4 feet from the ground (¢):—

MEASUREMENTS.

Kind. May 6, March 26, May 4,
1904. 1907. 1909.

feet inches feet inches feet inches
(a 21 10 32 0 38 11
Average Ceara;b 1 6 2 104 3 OF
le 1 33 2 63 S05

in i
Pare rom (519 5,0 Lal 0
swialieee lc 0 13h 1 53 2 3
29 €

Para (from {2 “0 - at g a ae
large seed) le 0 Bt Tet al 2 37
le WS (5 By 0) 40 4
Para (typical);}b 0 6} jl 43) 2 23
le 0 43 es 1 7
(2 18 0 Bs} Si “Hb al
Earai(good “/5) 0 64 1 2k leet
latex-yielding) | , 0 5° 0 111 i 86
a (a 12 0 25 0 33° «6
ae Nes DMN oc. 1 104 4-0
(Heer) 3c, a 2 10
ie 13 6 28) 4 36 10
West African;b 1 2 il 8) 2 It
0 5} T 32 Tit

c
* Top injured

104

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural

Worse nlxe

Stews
1910. No.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 207.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial of the present number reviews recent
work that has been done in connexion with the direct
absorption of sulphate of ammonia by green plants,
and deals with the practical bearing of the matter.

Some suggestions for the adoption of uniform
methods for measuring trees are given on page 99.

Special attention is drawn to the account, on page
100, of a way in which shield budding may Be utilized
in the case of the mango. A note on a method of
propag: ating this plant alee occurs on page 104,

An account of the most recent views as to why
plants are green 1S given on page 101.

The Insect Notes, on page 106, are written with
the object of ending some of the confusion that exists
in relation to the kind of insects to which the common
name ‘ lady-bird’ is applicable.

Interesting information in connexion. with the
fertilizing iafldence of sunlight on soils is given on
page 107. The article should be read in connexion
with the editorials of Ene issues of the Agricultural
News dated January 22, and February 5, 1910.

The third part of the series of articles that are
being given under the heading Fungus Notes, entitled
The Chief Groups of Fungi, appears on page 110. In
this, Fig. 17 is reproc luced after Hartig, Fig. 18 after
Sachs, and Fig. 19 after de Bary.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aprit 2, 1910.

A Method of Propagating Mangos.

In connexion with an article which appears in this
number of the Agricultural News, on shield budding
for the mango, it is worthy of note that an account of
another method for the propagation of this plant appears
in the Porto Rico Horticultural News for February
last. It consists in preparing one year old branches
the mango in the way that this is done for the same
purpose in the case of carnations; that is,a tongue 3
inches in length is cut in the wood, and a small stone is
inserted in order to keep the tongue away from the
branch. All that remains to be done after this is to bury
the cut part of the branch in soil, in a bamboo pot,
which is kept watered. In experiments conducted by
the writer, after ninety-six days, two out of six branches
had formed roots and were cut from the parent plant.
It is stated that a claim is made to the effect that trees
propagated by this method yield fruit more quickly
than by any other.

Two Mexican Vegetable Waxes.

In Tropical Life for February 1910, two vegeta-
ble waxes from Mexico are described by Dr. P. Olsson-
Setfer. The first of these is known as Jalapa Myrtle
Wax, and is derived from Myrica jalapensis; in
Mexico, the tree which produces the wax is called
Arbol de la Cera. It is used chiefly and extensively for
the manufacture of wax candles; these burn slowly,
give little smoke and emit an agreeable balsamic
odour, but do not give a very strong light. In addition
to being employed in making candles, the wax is used
as a medicine. The crude product, as usually prepared,
is green or almost black in colour, and more brittle
than beeswax, is obtained from the fruit by ex-
traction with boiling water. It is intended to employ
it commercially for making candles and soap.

The second product of a similar nature is known
as Candelilla Wax, and is derived from the candelilla
plant (Huphorbia anti-syphilitica), which often grows
together with the Guayule rubber plant (Partheniwm
argentatuim), but occurs in much larger quantities.
It has been used for some time by the Indians of
Northern Mexico for candle-making, but has obtained
more general industrial importance recently. The
crude wax is greyish in colour, owing to the large
amount of clay that is mixed with it. This clay is
derived from the fine dust that generally covers desert
plants. It resembles closely the Carnauba, or Ceara,
wax of commerce (from the palm Copernicia cerifera).
The wax is obtained from the dried plant by boiling it
in water, or by steaming.

Among the commercial uses that candelilla wax
appears to possess are: the manufacture of candles (in
conjunction with commercial stearic acid and paraffin);
as an ingredient of ointments, pills, and other pharma-
ceutical “products: for making phonograph records; as
an insulating agent in connexion with electrical work.
It has been tried experimentally, with success, in shoe
polishes, floor polishes, wax varnishes, lubricants,
leather-dressing and waterproofing materials. In short,
it may be said that, generally speaking, it isa good
substitute for carnauba wax.

Vou. IX. No. 207.

Bees and Foul Brood.

An interesting correspondence between the Board
of Management of the Jamaica Agricultural Society
and Messrs. A. I. Root of Indiana, U.S.A., as to the
possibility of the introduction of foul brood into the
West Indies through the importation of queen bees
from the United States, is given in the Journal of the
Jamaica Agricultural Society for February 1910. It
is stated, on behalf of the firm mentioned, that there is
no likelihood of such infection being carried by a queen
bee, even if this was obtained from a badly infected
colony. It has never been shown that either European
or American foul brood has been communicated through
the queen bee. A precaution to be observed in connexion
with such importation is advised, however. This
consists in re-caging the bee, immediately on its
delivery, with fresh food and a new escort. The
reason why this precaution is recommended is that
foul brood may be carried in the food in the queen-
cage, as the germs of the disease will live in the honey.

In consequence of this, it was resolved by the
Board of Management to ask the Government of
Jamaica to prohibit the importation of bees, used hives
or used combs, an exception being made, in the case of
the first, to the effect that importation of queen bees
may be permitted on condition that the importer
intimates previously his desire to effect this to the
Director of Agriculture, to whom the imported queens
should be addressed, and who would destroy the old
escort and food, and provide fresh supplies of these.

—_———EED ee
‘Bichet’ on Cacao.

Asample of the growth on cacao known as ‘bichet ,
in Grenada; has been received from Mr. G. G. Auchin-
leck, B.Sc., Agricultural Superintendent in that island.
In forwarding this, Mr. Auchinleck states that it may be
described as the result of the rapid subdivision of the
roots of cacao near the surface, under a leaf mulch, so
that the minute rootlets seize upon partly decayed
leaves, twigs, etc.,and give rise toa mass of inter-
tangled fibres.

The name ‘bichet’ is employed in the patois of
the island for the growth, and is probably derived from
a similar dialect word meaning ‘sieve , owing to the
rough resemblance of the structure to the meshes of
a sieve.

The development of bichet is looked upon as
a proof of lack of care, for it only occurs where a mulch
lies undisturbed for long periods. The growth is healthy,
as it indicates that food is being rapidly absorbed
by the plant from which it springs. Any advantage in
this direction appears, however, to be outweighed by
the fact that, during drought, the very possession of it
by a tree results in markedly bad effects.

Mr. Auchinleck states, further, that the growths of
bichet are usually cut away deliberately, in view of the
harm that they are supposed to effect. The subject is
of interest, in view of the success that has been obtain-
ed in Dominica by actually applying mulches of grass
and leaves to cacao, and it would be valuable to know
if there is any connexion between the roots in bichet

€

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

105

and the useful roots that are developed more deeply
when mulching of the kind practised in Voininica 1s
employed.

— FS

Demonstrations at Agricultural Shows.

Attention was drawn, in the last number of the
Agricultural News, to information in connexion with
agricultural education contained in the Report on the
Operations of the Department of Agriculture, Eastern
Bengal and Assam, for the year ending June 30,
1909. An additional interesting feature of this
report is the accounts of agricultural shows that
were held with the assistance of that Department.
At these, an important part of the proceedings
seems to have been demonstrations with various
agricultural implements and machines, new to the
district, such as maize crushers, maize shellers, wheel
hoes and spraying machines. These were shown at
work on the show ground, and attracted the attention
of a.large number of peasant cultivators. For the
purpose of demonstrating the methods of spraying
Bordeaux mixture, a crop of potatos had been planted
on the show ground some time before the show
itself was held.

It would seem that similar demonstrations might
profitably take a larger place than they occupy, at
present, at agricultural shows held in the West Indies.

$$$
Vanilla in the Seychelles.

Information concerning the markets for vanilla was
given recently in the Agricultural News (Vol. IX,
p. 52). Additional facts are contained in the Bulletin
of the Imperial Institute, Vol. VII, No. 4, with
especial reference to the state of the vanilla-growing
industry in the Seychelles. According to this, the crop
of the spice in i908 amounted to 24°75 tons, as against
66°5 tons in 1907, the cause of the decline being the
weakening of the plants after the heavy yield of the
preceding season. The best of the Seychelles vanilla is
said to be sold in France: the reason for this is that the
market for the finer kinds is better there than in the
United Kingdom. The price of vanilla does not show
any improvement, as artificial vanillin continues to com-
pete with it more severely than ever. For this reason,
experiments in manuring, etc., have been instituted in
recent years, in order to find means of lowering the cost
of production. So far, the results have shown that the
application of ground limestone, or of nitrate of soda,
gives an increase in the yield of pods, and that the
latter manure tends to prolong the period during which
the plants are in bearing. Plants grown in a mixture
of fern roots and soil gave better returns than those
planted in ordinary soil, probably because the roots of
the ferns are rich in lime. It has been found advan-
tageous to grow the plants under shade.

Manurial experiments and analyses of the ash
ofthe plants have shown that the most important
manurial constituents for vanilla are lime, soda and
phosphates; potash and magnesia are less important.
Investigations as to the effect of each of these con-
stituents are now being made. if

106

INSECT NOTES.

LADY-BIRDS AND WEEVIL BORERS.

The Jady-birds and weevils belong to two groups of the
beetles, or Coleoptera: the lady-birds to the family Coccinel-
lidae, and the weevils to the sub-order Rhyncophora. They
are very distinct in appearance, as well as in habit, and the
members of one group can easily be told from those of the
other. :

The weevils (Rhyncophora) have the head prolonged into
a beak or snout, and from this peculiar structure they have
been called the snout beetles or bill-bugs. In the case of
some cf the weevils, the snout is long and slender, and in
others short and broad. In all cases the mandibles are
situated at the tip of the beak. The lady-birds (Coccinellidae)
are generally rather hemispherical in shape, the wing-covers
being much curved and rounded; the head is very small, and
the thorax is much smaller than the abdomen, though larger
than the head.

Fig. 13 shows two lady-birds, (a) the
spotted lady-bird, Wegilla maculata, and
(b) the red lady-bird, Cycloneda san-
guinea. Megilla maculata is_ slightly
elongated, pinkish red in colour, with
black spots, and rather flat. The red lady- &
bird is much more hemispherical; the
small head and thorax are black, the thorax
with a whitish marking; the arched and
rounded wing-covers are blood-red.

These are common insects in the West

Fie. 13. (a)

THE AGRICULTURAL

000°
ae

Megilla maculata.

NEWS. Aprit 2, 1910.

them worthy of notice on the part of the agriculturist,
and he should distinguish them at sight from all other
insects. There are several species found commonly in
the West Indies, and in every country there are indigenous
ones which prey on the native forms of scales and plant
lice, generally keeping them in check, except for occasional
outbreaks. An interesting and valuable example of this is
to be found in the case of an Australian scale insect and its
associated Jady-bird. The scale insect-—the fluted scale
(Icerya purchasi)—was introduced into California about
1865. By the year 1886, it had become a most serious pest
of oranges. In 1889, the natural lady-bird enemy (Novius
cardinalis) of this scale was imported from Australia into
California; in a very short time it brought the fluted scale under
complete control, and for a number of years has prevented
the scale from developing in sufficient numbers to become
a serious pest.

The weevils (Rhyncophora) are very different in structure
and in habit from the Coccinellidae. They are all plant

feeders, and some of them are among the worst enemies
of cultivated plants.

ss Two serious pests belonging to this

af group are borers of sugar-cane—the root

- borer (Diaprepes abbreviatus—Agri-

; cultural News, Vol. 1X, p.58, Fig.7) and the

L-° ~ weevil borer (Sphenophorus sericeus—Agri-

; ~ cultural News, Vol. LX, p. 58, Fig. 6). The

oe larva of the former of these lives in the

underground portion of the cane, while that

of the latter is found in the stem above

ground. In the West Indies, the mistake

Indies, and ought to be well known to (b) Cycloneda sanguinea. (c) EGcs or is made of calling one or both of these

every agriculturist. They are often to
be found in fields of cotton, corn and
potatos, and sometimes in cane-fields. They also occur in
lime trees, pigeon peas and, in fact, on any trees or plants
infested by plant lice, scales and similar insects. These

Fie. 14. Lace Wry anp Lapy-sirp. (a) Eces, (b)
Larva or Lace Wine; (c) Larva or Lapy-pirp.

two lady-birds are not active enemies of scale insects, although
they feed upon them to some extent. The most energetic lady-
bird enemies of scale insects are very small. There will
often be found, on scale-infested limes and guavas,
dark blue, brownish, or blackish lady-birds about
the size of a pin’s head. These are very
active, and if watched carefully, may be seen
to capture and devour the young of scale insects,
and even to force their way under the scale-cover-
ing of the adult in order to yet at the insect
itself. The larva of a lady-bnrd is shown at Fig. 14
(c), and the eggs are represented at Fig. 13 (c).

The family Coccinellidae includes, with very
few exceptions, beneficial insects. Their habit

of feeding exclusively on the worst kinds of insect Fys. 16. Roor Borer.

pests—scale insects and plant

LApby-BIRD.

pests ‘lady-birds’. This leads to great
misunderstanding, for only the beneficial
insects of the family Coccinellidae should be known as
ladybirds. In all other parts of the world where English is
spoken, this is the custom; and it is convenient to be able to
make use of the : term in accordance
with general usage. It has happened,
before now, that articles which have
appeared in the __ Agricultural News
have been misun- . derstood by readers
in the West Indies, because they have
thought that the word‘ lady-bird ’
was used in con- nexion with insects
that they know to be injurious.

Every reader of the Agricultural
News ought to make an effort
never to apply the name lady-bird to
any insect except Fic. 15. Werevit Bor- those which,as has
been already ex- prorSucar-cang, plained, have the
habit of feeding on otherinsects. Atthe
same time it will ke of great value if all the insects which
have the front of the head prolonged into a snout or beak
could be spoken of, and thought of, as weevils, and the
term weevil could always be made to mean
a serious, or at least troublesome, pest.

Two weevils of ordinary occurrence in these
islands have already been mentioned and are figured
on this page. The granary and rice weevils, which
infest stored grains and food stuffs, figured in the
Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 26, Figs. 4 (a) and (d),
are also of common oceurrence’in the West Indies.

The fiddler beetle (Pracpodes vittatus) is
a weevil, the larva of which isa serious pest of
orange trees in Jamaica, where it attacks the
roots and causes the death of the tree. The

i m r if:

Weg
|

lice—renders (Diaprepes abbreviatus.) orange root grub of Porto Rico is Diaprepes

Von: IX. No. 207.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

107

spengleri, also a serious pest. The shot borer of the cane
(Xyleborus perforans) also belongs to this group.

In the United States, the Mexican cotton boll weevil
occurs as the greatest enemy of cotton that is known, and it
may perhaps rank as the most serious pest ever known to
Agriculture.

A sufficient number of examples has been given to show
that all weevils are undesirable insects. It is hoped that
readers of the Agricultural News will realize the importance
of distinguishing between the injurious and the beneficial
insects mentioned.

THE FERTILIZING INFLUENCE OF
SUNLIGHT.

The following extracts are taken from a letter in
Nature, of February 17, 1910, signed by A. Howard
(Iinperial Economic Botanist, India: sometime Mycolo-
gist to the Imperial Department of Agriculture fur the
West Indies). ‘They are of special interest in relation
to the articles that appeared recently in the dAgri-
cultural News, Vol. IX, Nos. 202 and 203, entitled
«Tne Balance of Life in the Soil’:—

The past history of agricultural science furnishes several
examples of belated explanations of the utility of practices,
the value of which has long become a tradition among practi-
cal men. ‘The explanation of the valne of leguminous crops
in agriculture is a good example. While the recognition of
the rdle of these crops in increasing the nitrogen-supp!y in
the soil has done much to improve agriculture in new
countries, it has only served to provide a scientific approval
of the cultural practices of ancient civilizations, such as that
of India, where from time immemorial it has been the custom
to grow leguminous crops in the rotation, and also as cone of
the constituents of the mixed crops cultivated in many parts
of the country.

Agricultural science has recently provided another
explanation of an ancient Indian practice. In the Journal
of Agricultural Science of October Jast, Drs. Russell and
Hutchinson have found that partial sterilization of the soil
by heating, or by poisons, leads to an increase in the supply
of nitrogenous compounds and to increased fertility. These
investigators state that partial sterilization of the soil kills off
the phagocytes which live on bacteria, and also large organ-
isms inimical in other ways to bacteria. At the same time
the soil bacteria are killed off, but the spores remain, which
germinate, and rapidly multiply when the soil is moistened.
The new bacterial cultures increase at an enormous rate, and
the resulting nitrogenous plant food becomes so great that
plant growth is greatly stimulated. The authors then go on
to state (p. 120): “There is reason to suppose, therefore, that
the large destructive and competing organisms will be found
of common occurrence in ordinary soils, checking the benefi-
cial bacteria and limiting fertility, An important practical
problem arises: Is it possible to suppress them in ordinary
field soils by any economical and practical process?’

The practice among many of the best cultivators in the
Indo-Gangetic plain furnishes a most emphatic affirmative
to the above question. It has been the practice of the
ryots for centuries past. to expose the alluvial soils of the
plains of India to the intense heat and light of the Indian
hot weather in April and May. The beneficial result on. the

succeeding crop is extraordinary, and has all the effect of
a nitrogenous manuring. It is much more than probable that
the result of this weathering is a partial sterilization of the
soil, and that Nussell and Hutchinson’s explanation is the
correct one. [xcept in market-garden crops near the cities,
and in crops like sugar-eane and tobacco, manures are but
little used in India. The growth of Jeguminous crops and
the weathering of the soil during the hot season appear to
be sufficient to kecp up the fertility. More nitrogenous
manure would, no doubt, be an advantage, but a great deal
could be done by the cultivators themselves in weathering
the soil during the hot weather in a more efficient manner
than at present... .

..-In collaboration with Mr. H. M. Leake, Economic
Botanist to the Government of the United Provinces, we have
in progress a series of experiments in which the practical
effect of weathering during the hot months, on both the yield
and quality of wheat is being ascertained.

YIELD OF LATEX FROM YOUNG CEARA
RUBBER TREES.

Some investigations that were made in connexion with
this subject are described in Bulletin 19 of the Hawaii Agri-
cultural Experiment Station, entitled Lxperiments in Tapping
Ceara Rubber Trees. The first trial was made with eighty trees,
which averaged 13} inches in circumference at 3 feet from
the ground, and were 25 feet in height; the first branches
were at 10 feet from the ground. The trees were tapped by
means of one vertical cut each day, and nearly thirty-seven hours
of labour were required for tapping them, collecting the latex,
and obtaining, by coagulation, 1} Ib. of dry rubber. It was
found that four ordinary Japanese labourers, who had had no
previous experience of the work, could tap eighty trees in
a period which varied between seventeen and forty minutes.

In asecond lot of trees, which numbered 160 in this
case, two vertical cuts were made instead of one, and it only
required forty hours of labour to tap the trees, collect the latex,
and obtain 74 lb. of rubber, of which 2 tb. was scrap. The
experiment showed that, with the prices which obtained for
rubber at the end of 1909, when two vertical cuts were made
daily, profitable returns were obtained from two-year-old
trees. It has to be considered that the labour of tapping
small trees is greater than that of dealing in the same way
with large ones, and that the yield of latex is much lower, so
that, with the same amount of labour, more rubber would
have been obtained from older trees.

It was found, during the experiments, that one labourer
can tap about fifty trees in an hour, while the latex produced
by the work of two such labourers can be collected by one.
Subsequent experiments with mature Ceara rubber trees
have shown that about 4-oz. of dry rubber may be obtained
as a daily yield from each tree. This leads to the conclusion
that three men should be able to obtain rubber from mature
trees at the rate of about 1b. per hour.

In the matter of the relation between the size of the tree
and the amount of tapping that can be effected, it was found
that the area of bark on plants 4 inches in diameter will
permit of tapping, with one vertical cut daily, for two suc-
cessful weeks, or with two vertical cuts, every day, for one
week. Larger trees would, of course, permit of the collection
of latex for a much longer period.

GLEANINGS.

The Board of Trade Journal for February 1910, states
that the cacao crop of the Gold Coast for 1909 aimoun-
ted to 45,277,606 ib. The similar amount for 1908 was
28,545,910 Db.

According to the Lowistana Planter for February 1910,
the beet sugar production for continental Europe, is
6,270,000 tons, of which Germany produces 2,050,000 tons,
while Austria follows with 1,275,000 tons. Russia is third
with an estimated output of 1,175,000 tons.

Agriculture is rapidly progressing in the Argentine
Republic as is shown by comparing the cultivated area in
1895 with that of 1908: in 1895 the area under cultiva-
tion was 4,892,005 hectares (12,230,013 acres) in 1908 it
was 15,830,563 hectares (39,576,408 acres).

The total trade of British Honduras for 1908 amounted
to $4,878,522; the value of the imports was 32,676,723; and
of the exports $2,201,799. During the preceding period,

exports showing an S
$261,000 on imports, and a decrease of 59,237 on exports.

Cocoa-nut plantations in British Honduras have been,
and continue to be, very profitable. Cecao does well, and is
indigenous in the Colony. The rubber plantations are too
young for it to be possible to judge of the results; but,
except where the drought followed too closely after planting,
the trees have done well. (Colonia! Reports—Annual,
No. 631.)

Tn a lecture on Egyptian cotton-growing delivered before
the Cairo Scientific Society, it was stated that the country is
waterlogged, causing a decrease in cotton production last
season to 550,000,000 tb., from an advance estimate of
700,060,000 tb. As an example of the decreased production,
it is cited that the best land on the state domains seven years
ago is now the worst.

Rubber planters in Deli, Sumatra, have agreed to
establish an experiment station there for the purpose of invest-
igating the methods for controlling the diseases that attack
rubber trees. The work of the stativn will be directed by
a botanist learned in biology, who will enter upon his duties
after gaining experience in Ceylon, the Straits Settlements
and Java. The number of esiates which the scheme will
affect is about eighty, occupying an area of approximately
30,000 acres, and each of these will subscribe toward the
expenses of the work, in amounts proportional to its area.
(The Straits Times, December 3, 1909.)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aprit 2, 1910.

The Colonial Reports—Annual No. 630 contains informa-
tion that, notwithstanding the partial failure of the cotton
crop for 1908, the total exports trom the Western Province
of Nigeria during the year under review was 6,965,536 bb. of
a value of £147,000, made up as follows: cotton (including
seed) £55,000; maize £52,000; and cacao £40,000.

An abstract of a paper in the Lrperiment Station Record,
Vol. XXI, No. 2, of the United States Department of
Agriculture, shows that napthalene may be used with success
for the purpose of protecting grafts and cuttings from the
attacks ef the larvae of insects. It isalso stated that
Vaporite has given good results when employed for that
purpose.

The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station
Report for 1908 gives particulars of a chemical investigation
of the soils of two adjoining fields, which were of the same
origin, bnt which had received different treatment, so that
their productiveness was not the same. The results showed
that the less productive soil contained a smaller amount of
plant food, lost moisture more easily, and was more in need
of an application of lime than the more productive one.

In the Agricultural News for October 30, last, it was
stated that the rice crop of that year, in Japan, was
expected to reach 54,300,000 ‘koku’, which is equivalent to
about 95,000,000 bags of 180 tb. It is now reported by
H. M. Commercial Attaché at Yokohama that the actual,
official figures for that crop are 52,423,979 ‘koku’ (about
91,500,000 bags of 180 tb.). Although this is lower than
the official estimate, the crop was a record one.

A note on Spiroholus indicus and Spirobolus Jacque-
monti: (hair grass; bed grass) appeared on page 46 of the
current volume of the Ayricultural News. In reference to
this, Mr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., has kindly supplied the
additional information that these grasses are known as ‘ hay
grass’ in Jamaica and Trinidad. This must not be confused
with the hay grass that has been accidentally introduced into
Antigua, which is Andropogon caricosus.

Dealing with the experiments with sugar-cane conducted
at the Samalkota station of the Madras Department of
Agriculture, the Zeport on the Progress of Agriculture in
India for 1907-9 states: ‘Among new varieties, the Barbados
seedlings B. 208 gave a very good analysis.’ In relation to
manurial experiments with sugar-cane, the same report states
that farmyard manure and castor cake have, as before, given
the best results. Increased outputs of canes have been obtained
by adding bone dust to the castor cake, and ammonium
sulphate to both farmyard manure and the cake.

According to the (Giornale div Sicilia, 7,005 tons of
citrate of lime have been deposited in the warehouses of the
Sicilian Green Fruit Chamber (see Agricultural News, Vol.
VIII, p. 377) since October 25, 1908, when a new export
tax came into operation; of this quantity, 500 tons was
carried over from the preceding season. Up to June 30,
1909, 1,500 tons of the amount deposited had been sold at
481 lire per cask, or 157 lire per 100 kilograms (6°8d. per
tb.). In December last, a further quantity of 1,547 tons
was sold at the same price, less a discount of 4 per cent.
Thus 3,958 tons then remained in stock. It is estimated
that the production during the current season will be 4,500
tons.

Vor. IX.,No. 207. THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 109

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

APRIL.
First
Seasonal Notes.

Among the pests that attack the sugar-cane most com-
monly isthe moth borer (Diatraea saccharalis). Opportun-
ties will probably be afforded at the present time for the
study of this insect. ‘Take note of the damage that it does
to the sugar-cane and find out exactly in what way this
interferes with the life-processes of the plant. In what
stage of the insect’s existence is it directly harmful! Why
is it that this and similar pests are much more in evi-
dence during some seasons than in others! In what ways
may this be helped to become a pest through the neglect to
remove the débris of plants other than sugar-cane? Informa-
tion concerning the moth borer of sugarcane may be found
in the following places, among others: Agricultural News,
Vols. I, pp. 3 and 50;II, p. 65; IV, p. 106; VI, p. 3, and VII,
p- 90: West Indian Bulletin, Vol. 1, p. 327 (where the insect
is well illustrated, in all its different stages); II, p. 41; VI,
p. 38; Lectures to Sugar Planters, No. V1; Pamphlet No. 1
of the Department Series. A useful experiment is afforded by
collecting some of the eggs (where are they usually laid?) and
putting them into a glass jar, which is closed afterwards by
tying a piece of muslin over the mouth. Note that some of
the eggs yield caterpillars of the moth, while from others
a small hymenopterous insect escapes. Account for the
latter fact. Introduce several of these insects into a similar
jar containing eggs of the moth borer that have been recently
laid, and make notes of what you observe during the next
few days.

In the Students’ Corner of the issue for December il,
1909, reference was made to the selection of cotton plants in
the field for the purpose of obtaining good seed for the next
crop, and the method of effecting this selection was outlined
broadly. In the case of a plant like Sea Island cotton, in
which self-fertilization takes place to a large extent, it is the
best plan, in any given locality, to obtain the seed for future
planting either from one plant or from plants that are as close-
ly related as possible. This method of selection gives plants
which show very little variation from one another. The
continuation of the method is likely to result in the acquire-
ment of plants that are very constant in most of their
characters, at any rate, unless they are grown in a_ locality
other than that in which they originated. Even under these
conditions of rigid selection, it is found that the plants will
vary among themselves in several respects, bat little attention
need be paid to this, if constant effort is given to the matter
of obtaining the best lint.

Where opportunities are afforded, the student should make
himself familiar with the way in which sugar is manufac-
tured in his district; if possible, he should gain an insight into
other methods of manufacture, in order that he may be able
to institute comparisons between them. The chief object of
such comparisons will be to gain a knowledge of the advan-
tages and disadvantages of each system, and of the ways in
which the different methods of procedure affect the products
that are obtained. Which of the processes is the best for the
production of marketable molasses?! How does the manufac-
ture of sugar by steam boiling (the St. Croix method) reduce
the loss of sucrose as compared with that where the muscovado
method is employed! What is ‘maceration’, and how is the
extent to which this may be effected related to the expendi-
ture on fuel?

> PRIOD.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What uses for weeds are there in agriculture?

(2) Describe any form of plough with which you are
familiar, mentioning the special uses of its different parts.

(3) What is meant by the physical properties of a soil!
Illustrate your answer by reference to a clay soil and
a sandy soil.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) Give the reasons for burying the cacao pods that
remain after picking.

(2) Describe the different stages in the manufacture of
sugar by any method of which you know.

(3) Write an account of the principal manures that are
used for providing phosphorus, and say how each of them is
obtained

PALO AMARILLO RUBBER.

Notes on Palo Amarillo rubber (BLuphorbia fulva,
Stapf) have appeared in the Agricultural News, Vol.
VI, p. 313, and Vol. VII, p. 396. The additional
information which is given below is taken from the
Kew Bulletin, No. 9, 1909, p. 392:—

Some particulars regarding this plant as a new source of
rubber appeared in the Kew Bulletin, No. 7, 1907, p. 294.
The following supplementary information upon the subject is
gathered from an illustrated article on ‘The Rubber Plants
of Mexico,’ by Dr. H. H. Rusby, in Zorreya, Vol. IX, No. 9,
September 1909.

From this paper it appears that the Palo Amarillo will
not grow upon the alluvial plains of Mexico, but only on the
rocky hillsides where the drainage is good. The bark is
described as being thick and succulent, at first smooth and
of alight yellowish-green colour. That of the trunk and
large branches soon excoriates in large, very thin, papery,
translucent sheets ef an orange-yellow, or orange red, colour,
which impart to the tree a shaggy appearance, and a colour
that has given the trunk its vernacular name ‘ palo amarillo’,
or yellow trunk.

The flowers appear in January or thereabout, before the
appearance of the new leaves, and the fruits mature in June
and July.

As soon as the bark is wounded, a milky juice exudes,
which is very irritant, and capable of producing violent
inflammation of the eyes if it enters them, as it is quite liable
to do in spattering, when the tree is cut.

The great value of this tree as a rubber producer lies in
its abundance over large areas, and the proximity of the trees
to one another, facilitating collection of the milk, as well as
the ease with which it can be propagated, and the rapidity
of its growth.

All that is necessary for propagation is to thrust the
newly cut branches into the soil, where they practically all
grow. From them the tree reaches its full size in from five to
seven years. These considerations appear to incline Dr. Rusby
to the opinion that, if all other sources of rubber were to fail,
this one could probably supply the world’s entire require-
ments.

The properties of the ‘ palo amarillo’ rubber are peculiar.
Taken by itself, it is of only medium quality, but mixed in
suitable proportion with other varieties, especially with Para
rubber, it markedly improves them.

110

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Apri 2, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIEF GROUPS OF FUNGI.
Part III.

In the last article, a short account was given of the four
main groups into which the fungi are divided. It now
remains to discuss these groups and some of their more impor-
tant subdivisions in somewhat greater detail. ‘This will be
the object of the remaining articles of the series.

Tue Paycomyceres. The group of fungi which contains
the most primitive forms is that referred to in the last article
as the Phycomycetes. It is subdivided into two main
branches : the Oomycetes and the Zygomycetes. The distinc-
tive characters of these are as follows. In the Oomycetes,
asexual reproduction is by means of sporangia producing free-
swimming zoospores, as described in the case of the Chytridi-
neae*, or the contents of a sporanginm may grow out at once
and form a germ tube. Sexual reproduction is by means of
two specialized organs usually formed on short lateral branch-
es of the hyphae. The female organ is known as the
oogonium, or egg-forming organ; the male as the antheridium.
(Fig. 17.)

In the Zygo-
mycetes, asexual
reproduction is
by means of
small non-motile
spores produced,
usually in large
numbers, in a
sporangium. The
other form of re-
production gene-
rally takes place
by means of two
similar hyphae, which are not sexually differentiated as far as
can be seen outwardly. The tips of these two hyphae fuse,
(become intimately joined together, the walls between them
being absorbed) and a spore is produced at the point of fusion.
Such a very simple form of the fertilizing process is known as
Conjugation. (Fig. 19 )

The Oomyceres.—As an example of the
life-history of one of the Oomycetes, that of
Phytophthora omnivora may be described.
This fungus causes the black rot disease of
cacao pods. The mycelium grows in the
tissues of the host, and produces short
external hyphae at right angles to the sur-
face: each of these is usually once or twice-
branched, and the branches bear terminal
large, pear-shaped, conidia. The conidia,
when ripe, are distributed by the wind, and
when they alight on the surface of another
host plant under favourable conditions,
germinate, and either form numerous
zoospores, each possessing a single cilium,
or produce several germ tubes which penetrate into the

Fic.

DUCTION OF Phytophthora omnivora.
(a) Antheridium. (0) Oogonium.

17. (1) Conor, (2) SexuaL RepRo-

Fic. 18. SporANn-

GIUM OF Jucor
nucedo, WITH
CoLUMELLA.

host plant and form a mycelium directly. This shows
that the conidium is really a transformed zoosporan-
gium, or organ for producing zoospores. The zoospores,

after swimming for some time in any moisture that there
may be on the host plant, come to rest and also. produce
one or several germ tubes, as described for the conidia, from
which the mycelium is formed. Occasionally, a conidium

*This word was misspelt in the last article, owing to
a typographical error. Bias

may give rise to only one short hypha, with a small lateral
branch, which then bears two terminal secondary conidia
similar to the original one.

Sexual reproduction takes place inside the tissues of the
host. A short branch grows out from one of the hyphae of
the mycelium and becomes very much swollen at the end. The
swollen end then becomes separated from the hypha which
carries it, by a cross wall. This swollen end is the oogonium,
and contains the female portion of the sexnal spore. (Fig 17,0.)
While this is being formed, another lateral hypha arises near
the first, andits tip is also cut off by a wall, though it does not
swell up as the oogonium does. ‘This is the male organ, or
antheridium. (Fig. 17,a.) The tip of the antheridium fuses with
the side of the oogonium, and its contents pass into the oogo-
nium and fertilize the egg. After fertilization, the egg cell
surrounds itself with a strong thick wall and remains lying
inside the old wall of the oogonium. These sexual spores
are only hberated by the decay of the tissues of the host
plant; this leaves them lying free on the surface of the soil.
They are able to germinate and reinfect another host plant as
much as four years after their original formation. On germina-
tion, they form one or more short hyphae, which almost imme-
diately produce conidia at their tips. This, then, is the life-
history of Phytophthora omnivora, and that of most of the
Oomycetes is very similar. The group includes many well-
known parasites, as for example, Pythium de Baryanum,
which causes the damping oft of many seedlings, the grape
mildew (Plasmopora viticola) and many others. It presents,
moreover, a series of gradational forms, from the most ele-
mentary, as instanced in the Chytridineae, to much more
elaborate ones, such as Phytophthora, and other members
of the cohort Peronosporineae.

V4, The zYGoMYCETES.—

As an illustration of
( the life-history of one

of the Zygomycetes,

that of the Mucorsmay

Ae be described. These
fungi are mostly sa-
prophytes, living on
— many different sub-

AN

stances. The mycclium
} closely resembles that

i= 7 of the Oomycetes, but

x ji Ll the reproductive ar-

1 SS > (a rangements are some-
3 what different. In the

asexual stage, erect
Fic. 19. SraGEs IN THE ConJUNCTION hyphae are produced
oF Mucor stolonizer. at right angles to the
underlying tissue (sub-
stratum). These become swollen at the end, and the swollen ,
portion is cut off by a wall. forming the spore-producing
organ, or sporangium. The wall then swells upward into the -
hollow of the sporangium, and give rise to a central portion,
called the columella. (Fig. 18.) The contents of the sporan-
gium divide up to produce numerous minute spherical spores,
which are liberated by the bursting of the sporangium wall,
and are then distributed by the wird.

The other kind of spore is formed as follows: The tips of
two neighbouring hyphae become somewhat swollen, and each
is cut off by a cross wall. They eventually touch one another
and fuse at the point of contact, and their protoplasmic
contents unite; in this way a simple form of fertilization
is brought about. (Fig. 19.) The spore, consisting of the
two swollen ends of the hyphae, becomes surrounded with
a thick wall, and is isolated by the decay of the original _

Vor. IX. No: 207.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 111

hyphae from which it was produced. This group mostly
contains saprophytes, in the cohort Mucorineae, but the other
cohort included in the group, namely the Entomophthorineae,
comprises several species of fungi of considerable usefulness
from an economic point of view, as they are parasitic on
several different insects, and under favourable conditions can
keep them well in check. The same is probably true of one
or two species of the genus JJucor, though these are not so
numerous, or of so much use, as the species of Hmpusa and
Entomophthora, in the group Entomophthorineae.

It may be of interest in passing to note that the charac-
ters, on which the families contained in the cohorts mentioned,
are separated from one another, are mainly modifications in
the appearance of the sexual organs, taken in connexion with
the form of the asexual fructifications, such as the amount of
branching of the conidiophores, the shape of the conidia, the
presence or absence of a columella in the Mucorineae, and simi-
lar characters. The species in the various groups are usually
separated by much smaller differences, one of the most impor-
tant being the size of the conidia, or of the spores, as the case
amay be.

This, then, concludes the description of the most primitive
group of fungi, the Phycomycetes, whose forms show every
stage of the development of sexual reproduction, from the
conjugation of two similar cells to that of two sexually dis-
tinct organs, and also the adaptation of the fungi to a land
habit by the suppression of the earlier motile zoospores and the
alteration of the zoosporangium into a conidium germinating
directly, as is shown in Phytophthora omnivora, or in a differ-
ent direction, by the alteration of the zoospores into non-
motile air-borne spores, which is what would appear to have
occurred in the development of the Mucorineae. In the next
article, the numerous higher forms of fungi included in the
group Ascomycetes will be discussed.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS,

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. L. Jackson, A.LS., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market
for the month of February :—

The anticipated improvement in business in products
which find their centre in Mincing Lane, has not been borne
out during the month of February. The drug and spice
markets have been fairly well supplied, both in quantity and
variety, without any special attention being given to any
individual product. India rubber has attracted the greatest
amount of attention in consequence of the enormous advance
in price, which at the time of writing is quoted at 9s. 10d.
per lb. for Fine Malay Plantation Sheet; so many and so
varied are the companies now being floated in every part of
the world where rubber yielding-plants are found native, or
-can possibly be made to grow, that the result must end in
some failures.

The following are the details connected with West Indian
produce :—

GINGER,

At the auction on the 2nd of the month, no offerings of
ginger were made, but it was reported that private sales had
been effected at firmer prices, fair washed Cochin realizing
46s, and Calient 47s. 6d., 57s. 6d. being the price quoted for

native cut. At the following week’s auction, on the 9th,
ginger again was not offered, but private business was done
with Cochin at slightly advanced rates. At the third spice
auction on the 16th, there was again no ginger brought
forward, but in the concluding week, about 70 packages of
Jamaica were offered and all bought in. It was reported
that sales had been effected privately in Liverpool, of 70 tons
of Sierra Leone, at prices from 38s. 6d. to 39s.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

At the first spice auction on the 2nd of the month,
some 300 packages of West Indian nutmegs were offered and
disposed of at 1s. 4d. to 1s. 2d. per ib. lower than previous
rates. On the 24th, 30 packages, only, of West Indian were
brought forward, part of which was sold at from 33d. to 54d.,
according to size and quality. In mace the market opened
on the 2nd of the month with a firm tone, when 58 packages
of West Indian were disposed of at the following rates :—
fair good to palish ls. 8d. to ls. 9d., and fair red 1s. 7d.
A quantity of good pale flat Java was offered, and bought
in at 2s. 6d., and pale reddish curly at 2s. A week later, 4
packages of West Indian were offered, and sold at slightly
advanced prices, ls. 8d. being. paid for fair red, 1s. 7d. for
good pickings, and ls. 4d. for broken. Pimento has attract-
ed but little attention during the month. At the first spice
auction on the second of the month, 34 bags of fair were
sold at 24d., which price remained steady through the rest
of the month.

ARROW ROOT,

At the first spice auction, arrowroot was represented by
231 barrels of St. Vincent, and 10 half-barrels of Bermuda.
All were -oughtin, the St. Vincent at 2d. to 23d. per tb, and
the Bermuda at 2s. 2d. per Ib. On the 23rd, 100 barrels
of good manufacturing St. Vincent were offered and bought
in at 2d. per Ib.
SARSAPARILLA.

At the beginning of the month there was but little
demand for this article. At the drug auction on the 10th,
some 22 bales of Lima Jamaica were brought forward, the
whole of which was bought in at from ls. to 1s. 1d. per hb.,
for common rough to fair. Native Jamaica was represented
by 25 bales, 6 only of which found buyers at from 10d. to
11d. per tb. for dull yellowish to fair red. For 11 bales of
Mixed Guatemala and Mexican, 7d. per tb. was offered and
refused; 5 bales of Honduras were also offered and bought
in. On the 24th, the offerings consisted of 26 bales
of grey Jamaica, all of which were disposed of at the follow-
ing prices: ls. 2d. to ls. 3d. for fair, part coarse to good
fibrous, and ls. ld. for ordinary. Nine bales of native
Jamaica were also offered and 7 sold at 10d. to 11d. for fair
red.

ANNATTO, CANELLA ALBA, CASSIA FISTULA, OIL OF LIME, ETC,

At the beginning of the month, 35 bags of fair bright
Ceylon annatto seed found buyers at 24d. per ib.; 9 casks
of Canella alba bark were also brought forward, and 4
sold at 42s. 6d. per ewt. A consigment of fair fresh pods of
Cassia Fistula from Java was also offered but not sold, 14s.
being offered and refused; 15s. was the price asked. One box
of hand-pressed Dominica Oil of Litae, and 1 of good distilled
St. Lucia, were offered at the last sale of the month. The
former sold at 5s. per tb., and-the latter at 1s. 6d. Chillies
have been in good demand. At one auction in the middle
of the month, 131 bags of Nyasaland were sold at 45s. to 46s.
for fair to good bright, 43s. for fair red, and 39s. 6d. to 40s,
for mixed. Ma 4

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit, 2;°1910.

MARKET :REPORTS.

London,—TxHe West Inxprta ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,
March 15, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
March 4, 1910.

ARRowRooT—No quotations.

Batata—Sheet, 2/9 ; block, 2/64 per tb.

BeEEs-wax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/6 to 63/- per ewt. ; Grenada, 49/6 to
55/- per ewt.; Jamaica, 48/- to 53/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 37/- to 65/-.

Corra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Cotron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; St. Croix West Indian, 18d. to 203d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, d0/- to 53/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honety—24)- to 32/-.

IsmycLtass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 10d. to 1/1; cencentrated, £18 5s. to
£18 10s.; Otto of limes, 5/9.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—1/7 to 1/9.

Nutmecs—Steady.

Pimento—Common, 21d.; fair, 24d.; good, 22d. per tb.

Russer—Pazra, fine hard, 10/4, fine soft, 10/2; fine Peru,
10/2 per tb.

Roum—Jainaica, 2/3 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/- to 20/-; Muscovado, 14/5 to 15/9;
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gmuuespre Bros. & Co., March
4, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, lldc. to 12c. ; Grenada, 11zc. to 11fe. ;
Trinidad, 11}c. to 12}c. ; Jamaica, 9#c. to 104c. per th.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $28°00 to $29°00 culls,
$18°00; Trinidad, select, $26°00 to $28:00; culls,
317:00 per M.

CorrEE—Jamaica, ordinary, $c. to 93c.; good ordinary,
9$c. to 9$c.; and washed, up to 11}c. per ib.

Gincer—9hc. to 13c. per tb.

Goat Skivs—Jamaica, no quotations; Parbados, 45c. to
48c.; St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 42c. to 45c.
per lb.; Antigua, 45c. to 48c., dry flint.

Grare Fruit—$3°25 to $3°50 per box.

Limes—No quotations.

Mace—282e. to 36c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8$e. per Th.

OraNGES—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4ie. to 44c. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°39c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°89c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°64c. per ib., all
duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., March 19,
1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°30 per fanega; Trinidad, $12-00
to $12-25.

Cocoa-Nuv O11—92ce. per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Vecnezuelan, 10{c. per tb.

Corra—$4°80 per 100 th.

Dxuat—$4-40 per 2-bushel: bag.

Ontons—$3°50 per 100 lb.

Peas, Sprit—$6°75 to $7:00 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1:00 to $1°50 per 100 th.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°75 to $490; White, $5°00 to $5°10
per bag.

Svcar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5°20 per 100 fb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., March 26, 1910;

Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., March 29,

1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3-75 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$10°50 to $12-00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NuTs—$14 00.

CorrrE—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°00 to $11-00 per
100 th., searce.

Hay—S$1°20 per 100 th., dull.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $48-00;
Sulphate of ammonia, $75°00 per ton.

Motrasses—No quotations.

Onxtons—Bunched, $2°50 to $3°50 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprir—S$6°20 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tbh.; Canada,
$3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poratos—Novya Scotia, $2°00 to $2°75 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°33 to $4°60 (180 th.); Patna, $3°80;
Rangoon, $3-00 per 100 th.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wiermsc & Ricutrer, March
19, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacnH, Parker & Co.,
March 18, 1910.

Messrs. SAND-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

Messrs. WIETING |

ARTICLES. & RIcHTEr. |

Arrowroot—Sbt. Vincent

$800 to $8°25

$8 00 to $8-25 per

|
|
|

|
| per 200 th. | 200 tb., market
| dull
Batata—Venezuelablock) 32c, per Ib. | Prohibited
Demerara sheet) 48c. per tb. None
Cacao—Native \1le. to 12c. per tb.|10c. to 11e. per tb.
Cassava— 96e. * No quotation

Cassava STARCH— $6:00 per barrel of
196 th. |
| $12 to $16 per M. $16 per'M.,peeled
| and selected
CorrrE—Creole 12c. to 13¢ per tb. 12c. to 13c. per th.
Jamaica and Rio 14c. to 143. per th. 144c. tol4 fc. perth
Liberian | , 10c. per tb. |. 10c. per ib.
| $4:°75 per bag of $4-65 to $4-75 per
168 tb. bag of 168 tb.
Green Dhal | $5°75 --—
Eppos— | $144 per barrel |

No quotation

Cocoa-NuTS—

DHAL—

Mctasses—Yellow None

Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira

Peas—Split

No quotation
No quotation
$6°50 per bag
(210 th.)

'$6-45 to $6-50 per|
bag (210 tb.)

Marseilles $3-50 $3°50 to $4°25
PLANTAINS— 20c. to 60c. per —
bunch

b225 to $2°50 |
No quotation
$144 per bag |
No suotation |

Poratros—Noya Szotia
Lisbcn

Poratos—Sweet, Barbados,

Rrce—Pallam

$240
No quotation

4-75

Creole $4:00 to $4:20 $3°S0 to $4:0uU
TANNIAS— $1°92 per bag
Yams—Whi:te $192 ——
Buck $216 per bag
Suc ar—-Dark crystals $3°00 to $3°10 None
Yellow $3°25 None
White $3°75 to $3-80 $3-60 to $3°80
Molasses $2°00 te $2°25 none

TimserR —Greenheart 32c. to bdc. per | 32c. to 5d5c. per

eub. foot eub. fot
Wallaba shingles) $3°50 to $5°75 $3°50 te $5°50
per M. per M.
5, Cordwood $1:80 to $2:00 No quotation
per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free, 1s. 2d,

Volumes IT, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (ILI, 2; IV, 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume X. No. 1. No. 2. Central Factories; The Underground System of the Sugar-cane; The Cotton
Industry in the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment of Orchard Soils in Cultivation
in the West Indies; The Scarabee of the Sweet Potato. No. 3. Legislation in the West Indies for
controlling Diseases on Imported Plants; Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies;
Manurial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of
Reading and Examinations in Practical Agriculture. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures. the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation, The number isszed up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sucar Inpustry. (14) Serew Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d. __

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d. .

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d,

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20 price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.

in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33 price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.

in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-mea on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d. tions. Price 2d. ¢ <
No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting. New and Enlarged Edition.
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

(52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition.
(53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.

in 1902-3, No. 30. price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.: Price 4d.

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.;

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d. ;
No. 64, price 4d.
Scare Insects.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. No. 7, price 4d.-
Part II., No. 22, price 4d.
GENERAL.

(54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,
Price 4d.

(55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

(58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

(60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them.

(61)-The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

Price 4d.

(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of }d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
marked 4d., and 14d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62 and 63.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress and
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies,

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. perannum. Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents All
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutav & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School,
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station,
Jamaica: Toe Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Brincewarer, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tur ‘Datty CHRoniciE’Orrice, Georgetown. Antigua: Mr. S. D. Matone, St. John’s.
Trinidad - Messrs. Muir-MarsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THE Brste AND Book Suprty AGENCY, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L, Puacemann, Scarborough. Nevis: Mr. S. D. Matonez, Charlestown.

Grenada; ‘THE STorEs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vor. IX. No. 207.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aprit 2, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

BS So al 5s

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

' London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

FOR mee LE.
thousand five hundred (4,500)
Washington Navel

BUDDED ORANGE PLANTS.

Local price 6d. each, delivered Roseau.
Export PRICE 1s. EACH, F.0.8, Rosgau, DomInica.

Apply to:—

Four

A. G. S. DAVENPORT,
Bramhall Estate,
Dominica.

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED.

BRIDGETOWN,
COTTON SEED.
Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and
from the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of
Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt
attention.

SULPHATE OF COPPER.—We stock this
article, and all orders received will be promptly
executed.

WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vol. X. No. 2)

Containing papers on Central Factories; The Under-

ground System of the Sugar-cane ; The Cotton Industry in

the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment
of Orchard Soils in Cultivation in the West Indies ; The

Scarabee of the Sweet Potato,

To be obtained from all agents for the

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETI.

(Vol. X, No. 3.)

Containing papers on Legislation in the West Indies
for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants; Fungi Causing
Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial
Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; Rainfall
of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations
in Practical Agriculture.

To be obtained from all agents for the

sale of the Department’s publication. Price!sale of the Department’s publications. Price

67.; post free, 8d.

6d.; post free, 8d.

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

ell

Vol. 1X. No. 298]

R.M.S.P.

YAY LZ

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1910.

THE ROYAL MAIL
STEAM PACKET COMPANY

‘ROYAL CHARTER, dated 1839)

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STRAITS
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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Imperial Department of
| Agriculture.

BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction. and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9,
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-

| ment Veterinary Surgeon, St Vincent, 1908-9. 5

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Experiment Plots, St. Iucia, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-9. : ;

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station. Economic Experiments, and Agricultural Instruction; also on
Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola. Virgin Islands, 1908-9.

| To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-
tions.

PSE = al 80 Tig

| Soe MAINTAIN *THE -YERED:

The problem in Cane Culture is how to maintain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its
available plant food.

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.
Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

For free literature and special information on Tropical Agriculture address to :
GERMAN KALI WORKS.

30 Empedrado,
Box 1,007, Havana, Cuba

—— eee err! ree ree a

See

rca

aa

A Sea ReOHTLY. REVIEW |

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST

Vou. IX. No.

208. BARBADOS,
CONTENTS.
PaGE. PaGE.
Agricultural Schools, scthir Bread ...aeeea es. LD
Prizes Awarded at ... 120) Leeward Islands, Annual
Articles Used on Estates, Colonial Report on,
Care of, .. 127 | 1908-9... 121
3irds, Introduction of Mangos, Methods of Cc aus-
Useful, 113 ing Early Fruiting in 117
Book Shelf 123 | Market Reports ... ... ... 128
Conon ES : , Notes and Comments ... 120
Cotton Grop in Antigua 118 pens Manifactieean
3 = 7 aper, Manufacture of,
Cotton Exports from the . Pp. 9
- é . from the Bamboo ... 121
W SE Indies tee 118 Propagat ion of the Avocado
West Indian Cotton ... 118 wee. ;
rere : : Réary) 2... ance hese LG
Dominica, Rainfallin ... 121 . ae ae on Be
Te ae Eee ae Rice in British Guiana ... 125
periment Gardens in ae Ranberl A New "490
Coylom: jes. --- oan ° | RubberTrees, C omposition
Fungus Notes :— pe 19
The Chief Groups of a! a en
Fungi, Part IV ... ... 126 | Students’ Corner... 125
Garlic Shrub, The ... ... 120 | Sugar-Cane, New M: whine e
Gleanings ... ... 124 for Cultivating... ... 117
Insect Notes : |Sugar Px -oduction in the

United States, Cost of 115
Toggenburg Goat in Barba-
ly,

The Flower-Bud M: agge ot
of Cotton, «:. \'.. » 122
The Screw Worm ... 122 | dos, The

The Introduction of Useful Birds.

(0 account is required of the reasons why it
is deemed expedient, in many cases, to effect
the introduction of birds into agricultural
Patiries or districts. Certain birds have become

notable on account of their insectivorous habits,
and the desire has arisen to introduce them into
countries where they do not already exist. Great

care is required in deciding whether the presence
of such birds in a new country will eventually
be of advantage to it, and the question naturally
opens up the subject of the protection of the useful
birds that are native to that country. This protection

APRIL 16,

Price ld.

1910.

may be extended to certain birds on account of the
desire to conserve rare and interesting species, or
because of reasons of sentiment, or, as is more usually
the case, in order that the destruction of useful birds
may be checked. The last form of protection is more
necessary now, than it has ever been in the past, because
of the continual increase in the area of land that is
being taken up for cultivation, in most agricultural
countries, and the consequent lessening of the number
of places where the birds can find their natural homes.

The subject of the protection of the birds already
existent in a country deserves further consideration, as
it fitly brings up that of the introduction of birds. It
must be remembered that the provision of such protec-
tion acts in two ways: it not only conserves the birds
in favour of which it is effected, but it leads to the
greater destruction of the unprotected ones. Among
the latter, there may be species that are useful, from the
point of view of their insectivorous qualities, but which
are destructive in other ways, as for example, the chicken
hawk, in the West Indies. It would seem advisable,
therefore, in the case of such birds, not to offer boun-
ties for their destruction, but to trust to the fact that
they are not protected, to keep their numbers within
reasonable bounds. Among small birds, too, care is
required in making exceptions to the provisions of
a protection ordinance, for valuable ones may be con-
tinually destroyed and the fact not be discovered,
owing to the small difference that exists, to the
uneducated observer, between these and certain of the
harmful kinds.

Enough has been said, in a general way, to
indicate the importance that the protection of native
birds bears, when any scheme for the introduction
of foreign species is being considered. There is,

LIBRA
NEW \

INDIES. cic

114

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Arrit 16, 1910.

however, another, particular view of the case which
has its origin in the dangers that attend the
making of such introductions. These are sufficiently
serious, as will be shown later, and their existence
leads back to the original question of what can be
done, in the case of a given country to conserve the
useful birds that are already found there.

In arriving at a conclusion as to the expediency of
obtaining a species from another country to do the
work of keeping down insects, the first attention will
be given to its behaviour in its native land. It will
naturally haye had attention drawn to it by the good
that is effected by it, but this view must not obscure
the need for thorough investigation of its habits, in
order that the presence of any untoward traits in its
character, which might develop under changed condi-
tions, may be discovered. One of the greatest of such
changed circumstances will be that, most probably, its
natural enemies will be absent from the country to
which it is taken, with the result that the increase in
numbers that is permitted will necessitate a change in
the nature of the food, and the bird may develop fruit-
eating or grain-eating habits to such an extent as to
become a pest to agriculturists. It is in this connexion
that the importance seems to be indicated of the
possession by ail colonies of stringent laws regulating
the introduction of animals of every kind, so that this
would only take place, in the case of any given species,
after thorough consideration of its advisability, under
the advantages of expert assistance.

he greatest care is required in examining both
native and introduced birds for the purpose of deter-
mining if they possess feeding habits which will
be of benefit to the agriculturist. Such an investiga-
tion, if it is to give trustworthy results, must not be
confined to one season of the year or to one set of
climatic and local conditions. Observations have shown
that birds of various kinds show more adaptability to
different foods than is generally recognized, and that
if they are driven by stress of circumstances to adopt
a vegetable diet, they do not necessarily continue such
feeding habits when the restoration of normal condi-
tions takes place. The adverse conditions may be
temporary for climatological reasons, or permanent,
from local causes, and it is manifestly unfair to
make about the feeding habits of
a species until it has been examined under as
wide a variety of conditions in time and space as
is possible. A fair investigation of this description
wili probably show, in many cases, that the ability of
a bird to subsist on vegetable food for a time is a char-

conclusions

acteristic in its favour, rather than against it, for it
merely takes a temporary toll from the agriculturist,
in order that it may survive to do the work that he
expects of it, in the future. A fuller recognition of
these facts would probably end much of the conflicting
evidence that is obtained when enquiries as to the
usefulness or otherwise of a given species are made,

After due attention has been paid to all these
considerations, it may be decided that it is expedient
to assist the useful native birds in the work of the
destruction of insects by bringing in others which have
similar feeding habits. This decision calls, again, for
caution, in another way. The insect population of
an island is subject to large fluctuations—a fact that
is brought home to every agriculturist, sometimes in
an unpleasant manner. ‘There is also the fact that the
food-supply per head is reduced by the advent of the
new-comers. ‘The possibility has therefore to be faced
that, owing to the competition arising from the reduced
amount of food, the native birds of the island, which
once served a useful purpose, will be driven to subsist
to an increasing extent on fruit and other agricultural
products, and may in the end do more damage than
the insects which it was desired to control,

The facts that have been brought forward will
serve to show that great risk attends the introduction
of new species of birds into a country, and that it is
difficult to gauge the ultimate effects that

may
result from their presence.

This leads to the sug-
gestion of another precaution, namely, that these birds
should, if possible, possess a period in their life-history
during which their habits are such that they can be
destroyed with comparative ease; for instance, the pur-
pose will be served if the nests are made in accessible
positions, so that either the breeding birds, the eggs or
the nestlings may be taken. It+may be argued that
the existence of this very circumstance will operate
against the acclimatization of the bird, owing to the
chance that it gives for its destruction by enemies,
This is actually the case, but the proper regulation of
the conditions under which it is introduced should
enable it to reach such numbers as to prevent the
possibility of its extermination in that way.

From past experience in the West Indies, it
appears that the establishment of a species of bird in
a new habitat is by no means a simple matter, and
several failures have been recorded. In the light of
this, it would seem that, especially in the case of grega-
rious birds, they should be imported in large numbers;
that several importations, at fairly short intervals,
should be made; and that there should be provision for

Vor. IX. No. 208.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 115

feeding and looking after the birds for some little time
subsequent to their arrival.

The broad conclusion that is reached after all these
considerations is that caution is required at every
stage of the work connected with the introduction of
new species of birds into a conntry. It appears as if
the risks might be minimized in the West Indies by
effecting interchanges between the different islands,
instead of obtaining importations from other parts of
the world, but there is no certainty in the matter.
Every effort should be made to ascertain what can be
done by the protection of already existing useful birds.
In gaining information concerning the feeding habits
of these, as well as of others that it may be proposed to
introduce, care should be taken that what is obtained
applies to normal conditions. Finally, where birds are
introduced, the work should be conducted in a method-
ical manner, in order that the best chance of survival
may be given, and the most reliable information may
be available as to the effect of their presence in their
new habitat.

THE COST OF SUGAR PRODUCTION
IN THE UNITED STATES.

The following is taken from an article by G. T.
Surface, Assistant Professor of Geography, Shettield
Scientific School, Yale University, which appeared in
the Annals of the American Academy of Political
and Social Science, January 1910 :—

The cost of sugar production naturally varies for <itfer-
ent years, and in different Jocalities for the same year. The
reserve of seed-cane represents a heavy initial cost, since
a minimum of 3 tons per acre is required, or about one-
fifth of the average crop. This could be milled at less cost
than the ‘windrowing’ for winter preservation, so at
present mill prices it represents an outlay of $12 to
$16. In 1899, 3,870 farms in Louisiana, on which cane
was the chief source of income, reported that the
expenditures for labour and fertilizers amounted to 45
per cent. of the gross income. On the liberal estimate of
16 tons per acre and $4 per ton, the average cost of
the labour and fertilizers was $28-80 per acre, leaving
$35°20 to cover cost of sowing, risks, rental or interest
charges, repairs, horse power and profits. The risk from
storm losses is great, since the cane belt is in the zone of our
most violent coastal storms. The total loss to the sugar-cane
crop of Louisiana from the storm of September 20, 1909, is
estimated at 2°89 per cent. ($650,000) by Professor H. P.
Agee, of the State Experimental Station. The losses in the
Mississippi and Yazoo delta districts varied from 10 to
20 per cent.,and in Texas from 11 to 25 per cent. The
shallow rooting of cane and the weight and the brittleness
of the stalk make destructive not only windstorms but
heavy or continued rains.

The cost of labour has so increased during the past two
decades that the industry would have declined but for the
economies inaugurated in the different stages of production.

From 1890 to 1900, the cost of unskilled farm labour in the
cane-growing States increased from 20 to 30 per cent., while
the price of granulated sugar declined from 6°3c. per hb.
(1890) to 53c. From 1900 to 1909 wages increased more
than 20 per cent., and granulated sugar declined from
d°3c. to 4°68c. per Ib. According to the statement of con-
servative planters, the cost of producing raw cane sugar
somewhat exceeds 2}c. per lb., and under the present econ-
omic conditions, a reasonable profit cannot be realized unless
the factory price averages 2c. to 34c. per tb. for the different
grades of raw sugar. The cost of factory equipment is esti-
mated at $250 for each ton of cane which can be milled per
day; that is, a factory of 2,000 tons daily capacity would cost
$500,000.

EXPERIMENTAL GARDENS IN CEYLON.

The following details of a scheme for the provision
of experimental and model gardens in Ceylor, that
has been drawn up by the Ceylon Board of Agri-
culture, are given in the Tropical Agriculturist for
January, 1910:—

(1) The Ceylon Board of Agricrlture is prepared to
make grants-in-aid to local Societies for the establishment
and maintenance of experimental gardens for the next five
years, commencing from July 1, 1910.

(2) Applications for such grants-in-aid will be received
by the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture up to March 31,
1910. These applications will be considered by the Advisory
Committee on Model and Experimental Gardens.

(3) It is proposed for the present to subsidize one
garden in each province.

(4) The parent society will give in the first year an
initial grant not exceeding Rs. 1,000 for the starting of
a garden, and an upkeep grant not exceeding Rs. 200 per
annum for five years, on condition that the local Society will
contribute sums not less than those granted. These sums
may be exceeded in the case of certain provinces should funds
become available through failure of the scheme in others.

(5) Gardens established under this scheme should not as
a rule be less than 5 acres, but in no case will any site less
than 3 acres in extent be allowed. They must be within easy
reach of some public road, and the sites must be approved by
the parent Society.

(6) The land should either be purchased outright or
leased for a period of not less than five years, and be available
for the sole use of the garden.

(7) The funds contributed by the local Society for the
working of the garden should be deposited with the Govern-
ment Agent of the province, either in a lump sum annually
or in instalments; and the Society’s grant will be similarly
deposited with the Government Agent, on intimation being
received of the deposit of the local Society’s contribution,

(8) The garden will be under the supervision and control
of the parent Society, and cultivation and experiments will
be conducted according to a scheme to be drawn up by the
Advisory Committee.

(9) Proper accounts of all expenditure, with receipts,
should be kept on an approved system by the local Societies,
anda copy of such accounts forwarded to the parent Society
half-yearly. The books shall be open to the inspection of
officers of the parent Society.

(10) The local Society should be properly represented,
and controlled by a local board, with the Government Agent
of the province, or the Assistant Government Agent of the
District, as its Chairman,

116

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Apri 16, 1910.

WEST INDIAN FRUIT:

THE PROPAGATION OF THE AVOCADO
PEAR.

The following account of a method for propagating
the avocado pear is taken from the Bulletin of the
Department of Agriculture, Bahamas, Vol. IV, No.
4:—

As in the early days of the orange industry, the bud-
ding of citrus fruits was thought to be very difficult, so the
budding of the avocado was at first considered a complicated
operation, but the difficulties are rapidly being cleared away,
as experience is accumulated, and by experiments. The
writer has frequently succeeded in getting an average of 75
per cent. of buds to develop into trees. The general impression
is that the avocado is difficult to transplant, and, budded trees
being expensive, those buying trees prefer to purchase them
established in boxes or pots. ‘To meet this demand, the seed
is placed in the pot and allowed to develop until it is ready
to bud; or the seed is planted in a nursery in rows 3} to 44
feet apart, 6 to 8 inches apart in the row, where the trees
grow until they are budded and ready for the market, when
they are taken out of the nursery and planted in pots or
boxes, where they remain until they are well established; this
will take from four to six weeks.

The method of budding is the same as that employed
in the budding of citrus fruits. Many complaints have been
made that the buds do not take, or that they do not start
readily. This is due, not to an inherent difficulty in the
budding of the avocado, but rather to the inexperience of
the performer, either in budding, or, more frequently,
in the selection of bud-wood. Only large, well-developed
buds should be inserted, and these should be rather larger
than citrus buds-—certainly not less than {-inch in length and
preferably 1 inch, as small buds are frequently grown over,
where the stock is in a vigorous condition, as it should be. In
experiments, it has been found that tender wood is preferable
to older wood, and even soft and tender tops, inserted as
spring buds, have been used with perfect success. Where old
and hardened wood is employed, the buds frequently drop,
making a ‘blind bud’. For wrapping the buds waxed cloth is
preferable to string, as it affords the bud better protection
from injury and water. The buds should be inserted during
the spring and early summer, and not later than August. Two
weeks from the date of budding, they have taken, and the

trees are ready to be lopped. The trees should now be examined
every two weeks, the wild sprouts rubbed off, and when the
buds have made a growth of 8 to 12 inches, the stock may
be trimmed back to the bud. It frequently occurs at this
period that a fungus, Colletotrichum sp., enters the wound and
kills the bud. The loss of buds may be diminished by cover-
ing the cut with grafting wax, to prevent the entrance of the
fungus,

The discoyery of the feasibility of budding the avocado
being very recent, only a few varieties have been distributed.
Of these, the best known are the Trapp, a variety fruiting
until Christmas, and commanding a fancy price because
of its lateness. The Pollock, which bears a pear-shaped
fruit, is known mainly for the size of the latter, which has
been recorded as weighing 4 tb; it has a fine flavour.

Anyone in possession of large unproductive avocados
can easily convert them into paying trees by cutting them
down about 3 or 4 feet above ground and budding the sprouts,
which will soon make a start. For home use, any fruit of
good quality will answer the purpose. In budding for
a commercial orchard, it should be kept in mind that the
very early and late varieties command the highest price.
Other desirable points are: (1) prolificness; (2) smooth,
thick and leathery skin; (3) a fruit of good keeping quali-
ties; (4) the possession of seeds which fill the middle of the
fruit, as a loose seed bruises the flesh, while the fruit is in
transit; (5) a small seed.

The best material for making grafting or budding tape
is cheap cotton cloth which will tear easily. Rip up the
cloth in strips of desired widths, say 6 or 7 inches, and
roll these tightly on stout iron wire as long as the width of
the cotton strips. Several strips may be rolled on until the
roll is 1 inch in diameter; tie a string around the roll at
each end to prevent unrolling while being boiled in the wax.
A good wax is made by boiling together 2 Ib. of beeswax,
2 Tb. of resin, and }-lb of good lard; when the mixture is boil-
ing, put in the rolls of cloth and let them remain for fifteen
minutes; take them out, and allow to cool before putting
away. The iron wire is more desirable than sticks of
wood, as the weight of the wire keeps the roll below the
surface of the boiling mass. Another advantage in using the
wire is, that if the wooden sticks are not quite dry, the water
as it is converted to steam will cause the contents to boil over.

Vou. 1X. No. 208.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

17

METHODS OF CAUSING EARLY FRUIT-
ING IN MANGOS.

On page 228 of the last volume (No. VIII) of the
Agricultural News, a reference is made to a way in which
mango plants may be caused to bear much earlier than is the
case normally, in order that the quality of the fruit that they
will yield may be determined. It is stated there that
Mr. Joseph Jones, the Curator of the Botanic Station,
Dominica, had called attention to the fact; that the shock
caused to the plants by grafting and heading back would in
some cases induce the stock to bear fruit when only twenty
months old. Others have found that, similarly, twisting the
top of the stems of mango seedlings, slightly damaging them,
or binding them, will cause early fruiting, and give an oppor-
tunity for determining the value of their produce.

The illustration on this page (Fig. 20)
has been reproduced from a photograph
of a grafted mango plant, sent by
Mr. Jones. It shows a mango stock,
that has been used for grafting purposes,
bearing a well-developed fruit, although
its age was only about twenty months.

THE TOGGENBURG GOAT
IN BARBADOS.

The pure bred Toggenburg goats
‘Bruce’ and ‘ Pauline’ were imported
into Barbados, from England, by
Sir Daniel Morris. This breed comes
from the Toggenburg Valley in Canton
St. Galle, Switzerland, from which place
the ancestors of the above pair were
originally derived. Their markings are
quite distinctive, being slaty chocolate
in colour, with white or cream stripes
on either side of the face and ears, round
the tail, and below the knees. These
markings seem to be a dominant charac-
ter, as even kids only one-eighth bred
are often perfectly marked. On the other
hand, although both Bruce and Pauline
were polled, most of their progeny, both
pure and grades, have horns. In their
native valley, a horned specimen is
rarely seen, because kids with horns are
generally killed and eaten. Their milk,
Jike that of all Swiss breeds, is deficient in butter-fat; a given
quantity is still, however, equal to twice the quantity of
cows’ milk for domestic purposes.

Fic. 20. Srock or
BEARING FRUIT
Montus

This breed has been described by some authorities as
‘The Aristocrats of the Goat Family’. Their chief character-
istics are their great leanness, and persistence in giving
milk for a long period. Some of them, after travelling about
the Continent, were shipped from Antwerp to Canada, then
after three days by rail reached their destination, and con-
tinued to give milk, though they were never milked during
their long travels. They seldom breed more often than once
a year, usually having two kids. Some of the half-bred
daughters of Bruce have given milk for a very long time.
One who won the first prize at the Agricultural Show in
1908, giving nearly 1 gallon of milk, returned in 1909 and
won second prizes, then giving 4 pints a day, fourteen
months after kidding. Another gave 1} pints, 19 months

after having her first litter, being then six weeks in kid. The
quantity a ewe gives, six. months after kidding, she will
generally keep up for an almost unlimited time.

Wallace, the son of the above pair of goats, is at present
on service in Bridgetown; he is a very handsome specimen,
and typical of the breed. Dr, Francis Watts has very kindly
undertaken to import a few more of this breed direct from
Switzerland, and a ram is expected for a local syndicate in
a short time, the others being on order for the other West
Indian Islands.

Toggenburgs have been in much greater demand here than
either the Anglo-Nubians or Indians (Punjab), both for local
use and shipment; but owners of particularly good ewes are not
tempted to part with them at any price. The Jocal value of
a fair half-bred ewe is from $12 to $24, but for a really good
animal, owners would probably refuse 2 to 3 times the latter
price. In comparison with the cost of
importing a pure bred goat (which
may not turn out as good amilker),
these prices are low. Authorities assert
that any breed of goats can be made
into good milkers by selection, and
this the natives of the Toggenburg
Valley have been doing from time
immemorial, breeding only from the
longest and heaviest milkers, The
result is that not only do these goats
give a large quantity of milk, but they
can continue to do so longer than any
other breed. It is for this reason that
the Toggenburg breed is the favourite as
a family milk goat, not only here, but
in England, the West Indies generally,
and many parts of the Continent and
the United States. (The Barbados
Standard, March 19, 1910.)

A New Machine for Cultivat-
ing Sugar-cane.

In view of the increased interest
that is being taken in mechanical
tillage in the West Indies, the
following extract from a letter to
the Secretary of the Interior, Philip-
pine Islands, which appears in the
Philippine Agricultural Review,
is given here :—

GRAFTED MANGO

Wuex Twenty

OLD.

About June 1, I received a cultivator for sugar-cane—
a rolling barrel and 300-metre cable which, attached to my
traction engine, I have been using for cultivating my sugar
plantations. This appliance is 3} feet wide, and can easily
pass between the rows of cane. It has five spokes, or arms,
with five small teeth, which, without any difficulty, penetrate
the soil from 15 to 18 inches. As it is a single machine, it
needs to be drawn across the field by an animal. In order
to solve this difficulty, I contemplate ordering another
cultivator of this kind, and will then attach a cultivator to
each end of the cable, so that, as one comes across the field,
the other may go, and in this manner it will be possible to do
ahout .50 to 60 per cent. more work . with little more
expense. The sugar plantations worked with this cultivator
appear to do better than the others, thanks to these imple-
ments, and in spite of the many difficulties which have
harassed us.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aprm 16, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date March 24, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, a good business has been done in
West Indian Sea Island cotton, at hardening rates for all
qualities.

About 450 bales have been sold, chiefly Montserrat at
18d. to 21d.; Barbados 20d. to 21d., with a few superior
bales at 22d. and 23d.; St. Kitts 153d. to 21d.; Anguilla
203d. to 21d.; Tobago 21d.; Barbuda 20d.; Antigua 20d. to
21d., with a few supertine bales at 23d.; St. Vincent 22d. to
24d., and 2 very choice bags at 26d.

Cable advices from Egypt state that the weather is
unfavourable for planting.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending March 19, is as follows:—

There was a good demand this week for export, resuit-
ing in the sale of a number ef planters’ crop lots of Extra
Fine, aggregating 225 bales, at prices ranging from 45c.
to 50c. The unsold stock is now very much reduced, and
consists of planters’ crop lots, held at 40c., 50c., and 60c.

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE
WEST INDIES.

The following tables give the exports of cotton from the
West Indies for the quarter ending September 30, 1909, the
quarter ending December 31, 1909, and for the year 1909,
respectively. It will be seen that the figures in the last
table refer to the civil, not to the crop, year:-—

QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1909.

Origin. Number of Weight, Estimated value,
bales. lb. £ s. d.
Antigua 32 7,100 384 11 8
Barbados 320 155,103 Ao tDs 3 0
Grenada 85 25,564 990 15 9
Montserrat aes er ae ase
St. Kitts 3 600 32 10 0
Nevis 13 3,070 166 5 10
Anguilla 1 200 10 16 8
St. Vincent 464 14,912 780 18 4
cade) 15 2,011 (none given)

Tobago Jf
Virgin Islands
Demerara

Jamaica 33 GOS4uu 02340 «be ane
Total 5464 214,594 (10,355 I$)

All this cotton was sent to the United Kingdom, with
the exception of 18 bales (8,746 tb.), of an estimated value of
£437 6s., which was shipped from Barbados to the United
States.

QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1909.

Origin. Number of Weight, Estimated value,
bales. ib. £. Sods
Antigua 58 ae ae na 0K
Barbados 285 137,569 6,878 9 0
Grenada 10 3,360 2311 0 0
Montserrat Zi 62,494 4,296 9 3
St. Kitts 284 96,226 6,816 OQ
Nevis 80 21,978 1,556 15 6
Anguiila 34 6,800 48] 13 4
St. Vincent 38 13,670 968 5 10
Trinidad |
Tobago |
Virgin Islands
Demerara : ae ose boc 506
Jamaica 3 160 8 0 0
Total 905 342,257 21,236 13 if

All this cotton was sent to the United Kingdom, with
the exception of 8 bales (3,584 tb.), of an estimated value of
£179 4s., which was shipped from Barbados to the United

States. All the cotton exported was Sea Island.
JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1909.

Quarter Number of Weight, Estimated value.
ending— bales. ib. £ s. d
March 31 2,5324 887,896 47,744 7 7
June 30 2,4793 797,542 35,109 17 8
September 30 5463 214,594 10,355 16 9
December 31 905 342,257 21,236 13 1
Total for 1909 6,463} 2,242,289 114,446 15 1

THE COTTON CROP IN ANTIGUA.

A report on the cotton crop of Antigua for the season
1909-10 has been received from Mr, H. A. Tempany, B.Sc.,
Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands.
According to this, the area planted in cotton in that island
was 253 acres. ‘The general tendency was to plant cotton
earlier than has been the case in the past, so that most of the
seed was sown before the middle of August, 1909. The
germination of the seed was fairly good, on the whole, and
the seedlings grew moderately well, although they were
checked by dry weather to a certain extent. There were no
very serious insect attacks. From experience in recent seasons,

Vor. IX. No. 208.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 119

it is natural that the flower-bud maggot causes greater appre-
hension to cotton-growers in Antigua than any other insect
pest. The gist of Mr. Tempany’s observations in connexion
with the maggot is given in the Insect Notes of this issue of
the Agricultural News, together with further information by
the Entomologist to the Department. The fact of greatest
importance in connexion with the matter is that the best
means for combating this pest is provided by early planting.
The matter has been dealt with quite recently in the Ayricul-
tural News (Vol. IX, p. 86), and may be resolved by saying
that the sowing of cotton should be done as early as possible
after the end of May, given suflicient rainfall to ensure
successful germination and a good stand of plants, and if this
condition has not been fulfilled by the end of July, the idea
of growing cotton must be abandoned, and its place taken by
some other suitable crop, or crops.

The yields of cotton have varied to a large extent on
different estates; they have been most generally affected by
the degree to which the attacks of the flower-bud maggot
have taken place in the different districts. The best yield, so
far, has been obtained at Crumpland, an estate in the north-
eastern part of the island, where there has been a return of
nearly 1 bale (230 ib.) to the acre. The amount of cotton
that had been ginned in the island up to March 18 was 104
bales of 230 Ib. weight, and there was material in store for
making 11 bales more, so that the amount of lint that had
been picked, up to that date, was 115 bales. It is possible,
according to Mr. Tempany’s estimate, that under the most
favourable circumstances, 150 bales will have been shipped
by the end of the season. If this forecast is realized, the
yield of lint per acre will have been 136 tb. This is a much
greater return than any of those of the last three crops,
which were as follows :—

Year. Lint, tb.
1906-7 100°5
1907-8 73-0
1908-9 566

This is a subject for encouragement, and would seem to
show the wisdom of early planting. The matter is summed
up in the report from which the above information is obtain-
ed, by the expression of the probability that the future of the
cotton industry in Antigua will depend, to an extent, in the
districts where the flower-bud maggot is present, on the
ability to obtain a profitable first picking before the middle
of December.

COMPOSITION OF THE LATEX OF SOME
RUBBER TREES.

Analytical notes of rubber plants that are growing
in the Botanical Gardens, Singapore, are given in the
Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated
Malay States for February, 1910. The information that
appears in relation to Para rubber trees (Hevea brasili-
ensis), a West African rubber vine (Landolphia
Heudelotii), and Ceara rubber (Manihot Glaziovii)
is reproduced below:—

HEVEA BRASILIENSIS. The latex was obtained from one
32-year old tree, tapped at 6°30 a.m. No water was added
to the latex, and the formalin used was carefully measured,
so that the amount of latex is known. In the figures given
below, this formalin has been corrected for; thus they refer
to pure latex.

The total yield from this tree at one tapping was 27
a oz. of latex. It was thick, white, and of very agreeable
odour.

The coagulum obtained by use of acetic acid was
analyzed, and the amounts of several of the other constituents ©
determined. The dry rubber has the following composition:—

Per cent.
Rubber 98°14
Resin 1°86

Albumens were not determined (as they should be for
strictly accurate results). Their amount is small, compared
to the total, and the usual acetone extraction gives figures
that are near enough to the truth for all ordinary purposes.

The analysis of the latex is:—

Per cent. Per cent.
Rubber 35°55
Coagulum 36°29 + Resin 0:67
Ash 0:07
Serum solids 2°63 eee ae acs
Water 61:08 Water 61:08

The solids soluble in water (tannins, colouring matters,
pentosres, gums, sugars of the inosite group, etc.) form a
brown, sweet-smelling mass of an extremely hygroscopic nature.

The strength and appearance of the rubber were very fine.

The proportion of 36 per cent. coagulable matter in the
latex is very high for Para, and is in accordance with the
rule that the percentage of rubber in a latex increases as the
tree gets older.

LANDOLPHIA HEUDELOTI. The specimen examined was
a bush in the Botanical Gardens, growing in an inferior clay
soil. It was only a few feet in height, with a diameter of
about 2 inches on some of the branches, the basal stem being
larger.

The latex ran very slowly from transverse cuts, and
coagulated rapidly. The rubber was obtained by picking
the clots from the cuts, and was handsome and strong.
The analysis of the dry rubber is -—

Per cent.
Rubber 89°50
Resin 10°50

The dry rubber is of a clear light brown colour, not
tacky, and very strong and elastic. Compared to Willughbeia
rubber, it has a better colour, and the resin content is less.
It is, therefore, a better rubber, as far as can be judged with-
out vulcanization tests.

MANIHOT GLAZIOVU. The specimen examined was taken
from a large tree in the Botanical Gardens, Singapore. The
bark was quite unlike that of most rubber plants, having
a very thin outer layer. This came away from the tree very
readily when the knife was used, and a large surface of it was
stripped back. On this exposed place, a herring-bone tap
was made, the plant was re-tapped again on the following day,
and again two days later. The latex tubes are very near the
outer surface of the inner bark, and these few successive tap-
pings did not increase the flow of latex to any appreciable
extent.

Unlike that of Hevea brasiliensis, the latex coagulated
quickly in the cut, so that the flow ceased almost immediately;
in fact, it was quite impossible to collect it in cups for this
reason. The rubber was obtained by stripping it from the
cuts. It hada very disagreeable herb-like odour. Analysis
gave the following figures, calculated to dry weight :—

Per cent.
Rubber 90°44
Resin 6°83
Ash 2d

The rubber is fine and tough, tougher than plantation
Para, and very light straw yellow in colour, The ash could,
of course, be reduced to a negligible amount by washing.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 16, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all

specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies ‘of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,

post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dews

Vout. IX. SATURDAY, APRIL 16,

1910. No.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

208.

Contents of Present Issue.

In view of the fact that the subject of the
introduction of useful birds is being given some
attention inthe West Indies at the present time, this
matter is discussed in the editorial.

Useful information relating to the propagation of
the avocado pear (Persea. gratissima) appears on page
116.

On page 117, suggestions are made for utilizing
the influence of injury in producing the early fruiting
of mango plants for the purpose of ascertaining the
value of seedlings while they are still young. In
connexion with these, an illustration (Fig. 20) is given
of a mango stock that bore fruit when it was twenty
months old.

Information concerning the composition of the
later of various rubber plants is presented on page 119.

The Insect Notes of this issue (page 122) have
relation to the flower-bud maggot of cotton, and to the
screw worm.

The fourth part of the series of articles that are
being given under the head of Fungus Notes, entitled
The Chief Groups of Fungi, appears on page 126, and
has for its subject the Ascomycetes. Fig. 22 is
reproduced after Millardet.

Interesting facts are brought forward in the
information relating to the care of minor articles used
on estates, on page 127.

A New Rubber.

It is reported by H. M. Consul at Loanda,
Portuguese West Africa, that rnbber is being prepared
there by the natives, from Carpodinus gracilis by
stripping the bark, and beating it while it is immersed
in water. Carpodinus gracilis (Kew Bulletin, 1898,
p. 303) belongs to the same natural order as the plant
(milk-withe) that gives Forsteronia rubber in Jamaica
(Forsteronia floribunda), and the ‘ Maecwarrie-balli’
(F. gracilis) of British Guiana. Rubber has been
known to be given by species of Carpodinus, for
several years.

> $$

Prizes Awarded at the Agricultural Schools.

On page 71 of the current volume of the Agricul-
tural News, the results of the half-yearly examination
of the Agricultural Schools in Dominica, St. Vincent
and St. Lucia, held in December last, were given.

As is usual at the second half-yearly examination
of the year, prizes of books were awarded on the results.
Of these, the senior prize, for the boy who gains the
highest marks of those in the senior classes of all three
schools, was won by D. Derrick, of St. Vincent Agri-
cultural Schoo]. This is the fifth time in succession:
that this prize has been won by a pupil at that school.
Prizes are given for the best junior boy in each of the
schools; these, were awarded as follows: Dominica,
E. Butler; St. Vincent, D. Davis; St. Lucia, G. Moise.

Prizes in the practical part of the curriculum; that
is for work in the garden plots and in the field, are also
given in the case of each school. ‘Those for the best
work in the garden were gained as fullows: Dominica,
W. J. Lewis; St. Vincent, D. Derrick; St. Lucia,
R. Mason. For work in the field, the awards were to
N. Abraham, D. Derrick and B. Monrose, in the same
order of schools.

The Garlic Shrub.

A note on the garlic shrub (Bignonia alliacea)
has been received from Mr. Joseph Jones, Curator of
the Botanic Garden and Experiment Station, Dominica,
in which he states that a specimen of this plant in the
Garden has recently flowered. This was originally
received from a planter in the Windward District of
Dominica, who stated that it was grown by the
peasants at La Plaine and that the leaves were used by’
them as a substitute for garlic (Alliwm sativwm).
Mr. Jones states further that the plant appears to have
been brought to La Plaine from Martinique, and
describes it as possessing a climbing habit and showy
flowers; these are pale-purple in colour, on opening, but
become white in a few hours.

The plant is a native of Guiana and the West
Indies; it is known as the garlic shrub because the
leaves and branches, when bruised, emit a powerful:
odour of garlic. The leaves are divided, with elliptical,
leathery leaflets, and the stem is square,

Duss (Flore Phanérogamique des Antilles Fran--
caises) gives the common nome for the plant in Marti-
nique as ‘ bignone a Iail’ (garlic Bignonia), and ‘states

Vou. IX. No. 208.

that if was cultivated in the Botanic warden at
St. Pierre in that island. Grisebach, in the Flora of
the British West Indian Islands, describes the plant
under the synonym Adenocalymna alliacea, which
should be, properly, A. alliaceum.

oD OO

Annual Colonial Report on the Leeward Islands,
1908-9.

This is issued as No. 629 of the Colonial Reports—
Annual. It may be said, at once, that the report
shows that a decided increase in the prosperity of the
colony, especially of tke chief Presidency—Antigua—
is taking place. This is illustrated in many of the
statistics given, but more especially by the fact that
the exports of the colony, which hada valué of £399,208
in 1906, increased to £516,861 in 1907, and £517,467
in 1908. Another noticeable fact in this connexion is
thas the internal trade between the presidencies shows
an increase over that of the preceding year, its value
being £20,843, as against £17,434 for the year 1907—
an increase of nearly 20 per cent,

The sugar crop was smaller than it had been since
1905, being 23,572 tons, as against 28,419 and 25,571
tons for 1907 and 1906, respectively. This is attributed
chiefly to the heavy rains of September 1906, which
prevented the land from being prepared adequately for
the next crops, and gave conditions that were favour-
able for the development of the root disease—a question
that is dealt with in Part I of the Report on Sugar-
Cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands, and in
Pamphlet No. 63 of the Department Series.

The two central sugar factories in Antigua made,
between them, 5,595 tons of grey crystal sugar, and
purchased 6,766 tons of peasant-grown cane. At the Gun-
thorpes central factory, it took 9:17 tons of cane to make
1 ton of sugar. The use of megass furnaces and steam-
heated pans for making muscovado sugar has been
extended, and there are now seven estates on which
this method is employed. The demand for Antigua
muscovado molasses was much greater than usual, dur-
ing the year, and high prices were realized for it.

In comparison with the set-back that cotton grow-
ing has received in Antigua, the industry in St. Kitts
may be considered to be generally satisfactory. The
yield in Montserrat has decreased, owing to bad
weather. The expansion of the industry in the Virgin
Islands was maintained. The lime industry of Domi-
nica underwent a considerable advance, and that of
Montserrat continues to show a steady development.
Interest in lime-growing is increasing in Antigua,
St. Kitts, Nevis and the Virgin Islands. The export
of cacao from Dominica has decreased; trials with this
plant in the more sheltered mountain valleys of
St. Kitts and Nevis are being made. There are signs
that the cocoa-nut industry may become important in
Antigua and Nevis. In nearly all the presidencies,
a small quantity of onions is grown.

In drawing attention to this report, mention should
be made of two useful maps of the Colony, by which it
is completed.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Rainfall in Dominica.

The rainfall returns of Dominica for 1909 show
that over 200 inches were registered at five stations:
Gleau Manioc(258°82 inches), Lancashire(24.8-90 inches),
Castle Bruce (242'10 inches), Saltoun (23987 inches),
Corlet (217°33 inches). Gleau Manioc thus continues
to maintain its position of last year, as the station
receiving the highest rainfall; in that year the precipi-
tation was 23618 inches. In 1907 this station was
second on the list, with 227-25 inches, Lancashire being
first with 247-59 inches.

Although Batalie had had the smallest amount
of rain, of all stations, for the two previous years, its
place was taken, in 1909, by Bath, which received
61:72 inches, while the precipitation at Batalie itself
was 66°66 inches—a great increase on the amounts for
1908 and 1907, which were 36°87 and 4026 inches,
respectively. These figures show that there has been
a large increase in the rainfall, even at those stations
where it is usually low.

The mean rainfall at 34 stations was 137°36 inches:
this is about 30 inches more than those of 1908 and
1907 (106:21 and 108°51 inches, respectively). After
1906, it decreased by about 20 inches, and remained
steady for the next two years; it has now exceeded that
of 1906 by 10 inches.

SS
Manufacture of Paper from the Bamboo in
Japan.

The American Consul at Tamsui, Japan, reports
that very satisfactory experiments have been conduct-
ed recently, near Kobé, by a company which has been
formed for the purpose of manufacturing paper from
bamboo pulp. An area of 8,000 acres of bamboo forest,
in Formosa, has been leased perpetually to this
company, and a factory is being erected near Kagi
which will be capable of dealing with 300 tons of
bamboo pulp a month: the capacity of this factory may
be readily enlarged, so as to make it double its output.

The Chinese have made paper from the bamboo
for many generations, but their primitive methods have
only permitted them to employ the shoots for the pur-
pose. The company will, on the other hand, make use
of both the young and old parts of the plant. The
quick growth of the bamboo will prevent the question
of the supply of raw material from ever becoming
serious. So far, the paper has been made by mix-
ing wood pulp with that of the bamboo, in varying pro-
portions; the process of preparing the paper from
bamboo pulp alone is too expensive, at present, compared
with making it from wood pulp. The final object is,
however, to use a pure bamboo pulp.

In its broad ontline, the process of mannfacture of
the pulp is as follows. The bamboo, chopped into
pieces | or 2 inches in size, is heated in a digester with
calcium sulphite. The resulting product is then washed
in water, bleached and washed again. Jfinally, the wet
pulp is pressed, by means of a machine, into the form
of web, dried with the aid of steam, and rolled or cut
into sheets. This dry pulp will then be manufactured
into news and book paper at the mills at Kobé in Japan,

THE AGRICULIURAL NEWS.

Aprit 16, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

THE FLOWER-EUD MAGGOT OF COTTON.

The Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward
Islands, Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Se., has forwarded to the
Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture a brief account of the
occurrence of the Hower-bud maggot in Antigua, during the
cotton season of 199-10.

The attacks of the fHower-bud maggot in 1909-10 were
remarkable for the manner of their distribution in the island,
occurring as they did in several instances on limestone soils,
but not at all on those of a volcanic origin. It is also to be
noted that none of these attacks prevented the production of
fair crops of cotton, and Mr. Tempany remarks that the yield
per acre is decidedly larger than the yields of the past three
years. None of the direct remedial measures that were
experimented with gave results. The investigation to find
whether cotton could be infested from privet (Clerodendron
aculeatum) was without result, because no infested privet
could be discovered during the season. In those fields
where experiments were laid out with insecticides and
fertilizers, the flower-bud maggot did not make its appear-
ance at all, and so there were no results to be recorded.
Early planting seems to have been of the greatest value
in preventing the attacks of the flower-bud maggot. This
practice has been strongly recommended each year since
the pest appeared, for in each attack the most serious injury
has been done in November and December. This may have
been because the seasonal and climatic conditions which are
most favourable to the rapid increase of the insects happened
to coincide with the period when there was the greatest
number of flower buds in a condition suitable for attack.
The flower-bud maggot may not become a serious pest, under
two conditions: (1) that cotton is planted early—say
in May or June; (2) that the weather conditions later in the
year are such that the insect does not appear until a sufficient
number of buds has developed to ensure a good first picking.
The conclusion to be arrived at from past experience seems to
be that the future of the cotton industry in Antigua depends
on the ability of the planters to get seed planted early, in
order that the flowers to make the first picking may be sufli-
ciently advanced not to be liable to attack when the condi-
tions become most favourable for the insect. This favourable
season seems to be between the middle of November and the
middle of December, and it is likely that any buds that
open before that time will escape the attack.

THE SCREW WORM.

In 1902, the screw worm, which is the larva of a fly
‘Compsomyia macellaria) was so abundant in the island of
St. Lucia, in 1901-2, as to be a serious pest, and a pamphlet
was published by this Department (Pamphlet Series, No. 14),
giving an account of the appearance and habits of the insect
and of the remedies to be used against it. The screw worm
develops into a fly similar in appearance to the bluebottle fly;
it is about the size of the house fly, or a little larger, of
a metallic blue or green colour, and it is marked on the dorsal
surface of the thorax with three dark longitudinal lines, ex-
tending from behind the head to between the wings.

The egg is white, cigar-shaped, and several of them are
generally glued together ina bundle, when laid. They are
larger than the eggs of the house fly. They hatch in one to
forty-eight hours. The maggot is a white, footless worm-like
creature, tapering almost to a point in front, and ending

bluntly behind. At the hinder end, there are two dark
spots—-the openings of the breathing apparatus, which are
placed in this way in order to allow the maggots to bury
themselves in the flesh of an animal, and still to breathe
the outer air. The full grown maggot is from }$-to {-inch
in length. This stage lasts from seven to ten days. The
pupa is brownish in colour, oval in shape, seed-like in
appearance, and about 4-inch in length. The pupal condition
lasts from fourteen to twenty-one days, after which the fly
appears. The screw worm is of importance from its habit of
infesting wounds and open sores on domestic animals. The
female fly lays its eggs in these places, and the maggot feeds
on the flesh, thus increasing the depth of the sores. Such
infested wounds and sores, left without care and attention,
are very likely to cause the death of the animal.

In treating the wounds attacked by the screw worm, two
objects are to'be aimed at: the removal of the maggots, and
the disinfection of the wound. The sooner that treatment can
be commenced after the wound is made, the better the chances
for successful results. The first step in dealing with these
attacks is thorough cleansing of the wound by washing with
clean water, which should be warm, if possible; the next is
the removal of any maggots that can be seen; finally, a suitable
dressing is applied. An examination should be made after
about 12 hours, for the removal of dead maggots and the
renewal of the dressing, in order to promote healing and to
prevent blood poisoning.

There are several good dressings which may be used for
the purpose. Equal parts of carbolic acid and sweet oil may
be applied to the wound to kill the maggots, and as a disin-
fectant. Carbolic acid alone, applied carefully, or Jeyes’ fluid,
may be used for the same purpose. Tar is useful for covering
fresh wounds and cuts, to prevent the access of the flies, or
for keeping flies away from wounds which have had the
maggots removed and have been dressed, Fish oil is also
useful as a repellant for the flies.

A short time ago, a correspondent in Barbados sent
a flying fish attacked by maggots to the Head Office of this
Department. The maggots were found in the flesh of the
fish, which was firm and healthy, within a few hours after
ib was caught; they were nearly full grown, and must have
been four or five days old. Specimens were sent to the
United States National Museum, where they were identified
as: ‘ Probably Chrysomyia, not the screw worm (C.macellaria)
but closely allied thereto.’ This is an interesting case of
parasitism, and it is difficult to understand how the fly—the
parent of the maggots—found opportunity to deposit eggs in
or on the body of the fish. It might be possible that the
eggs were laid in the bait, which is prepared on shore, and
that the maggots, being swallowed by the fish, were able to
penetrate into the fleshy parts and live and grow there.

The group of flies to which the screw worm belongs is
of wide distribution, and its members, at times, become very
abundant. The screw worm fly has been classified in at least
three different genera (Compsomyia, Lucilia and Chrysomyia)
and under some twenty-seven different specific names. It
attacks ordinarily all domestic animals, and there are species
which are found on various wild animals; cases are on record,
even, of attacks on human beings, a large proportion of which
proved fatal. The range of hosts is even greater than this, for,
in addition to the case of a related insect attacking the flying
fish, which has been mentioned above, larvae of a species of
Lucilia have been found in living and newly dead toads, and
one of the bluebottle flies (Zucilia caesa) has been observed
depositing eggs in a living nestling of the mistle thrush that
had fallen from the nest.

Vou. IX. - No. 208.

HESS 5%

S=ins

SS —— 4 imi oe ee
6 = ft
SI SH

THE WEST INDIES. GENERAL INFORMA-
TION FOR INTENDING SETTLERS. Issued by the
Emigrants’ Information Office.

This is one of the valuable series of hand-books issued
from the Emigrants’ Information Office, 31, Broadway,
Westminster, S.W. (whence it may be obtained at the price
of 6d.), which have for their purpose the supplying of useful
had trustworthy information respecting emigration, chiefly
to the British Colonies.

The first fifteen pages of the book are devoted to giving
information concerning the West Indies in a very general
manner. ‘This relates to areas, population, climate, postal
matters, telegraphs, railways, steamers and fares, products,
customs, money, education, hospitals, openings for emigrants,
professional employment, commercial travellers, permission to
practise medicine, hints to emigrants, cost of living. This
part is followed by paragraphs having reference to the West
Indian Royal Commission of 1896 and the Imperial Depart-
ment of Agriculture. The bulk of the book is then concern-
ed with detailed information with respect to the different
parts of the West Indies. This is given in a very thorough
manner, and in a sufficiently interesting way to appeal to the
ordinary seeker after information, and not only to the
emigrant. The book should be of interest and use to
yisitors to the West Indies, as it contains matters
of knowledge that will concern them directly, more
especially in the form of paragraphs containing hints for
visitors. As regards settlers, a piece of advice that is given
to these in the Leeward Islands section applies equally well
to most of the remaining part of the West Indies. It runs:
‘The settler who wishes to invest money and cultivate his
own land should make no investment until he has lived for
some little time in the island which he selects; indeed, it
would prove of material assistance to him if he were
to spend a year or so actually working as an overseer in
a business similar to that in which he proposes to invest. In
this way he would learn the habits of the people with whom
he has to work, and would have opportunities of studying his
future plans.’

A fair map, which, however, is too small to present the
smaller islands on a scale by which their sizes may be com-
pared, is included. The work concludes with a good list of
publications on the British West Indies, together with infor-
mation concerning the latest Blue Book Reports.

REPORT ON THE LANDS AND
DEPARTMENT, BRITISH GUIANA, 1908-9.
by the Authority of His Excellency the Governor.

In reviewing this report, a copy of which has just been
received, the chief attention will be given to the facts that are
of more general interest. It shows, first of all, that the area in
sugar-cane cultivation in British Guiana has decreased since the
previous year, being 69,296 acres, as against 70,896 acres in
1907-8, the diminution of the area being chiefly due to the
abandonment of Plantation Vergenoegen. That of rice culti-
vation has largely increased, and is now estimated at 37,000

MINES
Printed

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 123

acres. On the tract of 7,000 acres of land in the rear of Bartica
Village, granted for experiments in the cultivation of sisal
hemp, work has been pursued actively, and by the end of
August of last year, 550 acres of the forest had been cleared,
and stacked ready for burning, but the latter has been much
impeded, owing to heavy rains; planting has also been
delayed through the difficulty of obtaining material.
Notwithstanding this, some 500 acres had been put in by the
end of the year, and the plants are in a flourishing condition;
counting on the young plants in the nurseries and others
that were expected to arrive soon, it was estimated that the
planting of the 500 acres would be completed by the end of
the next dry season. In this area, catch crops from selected
seed, some ground provisions, and on an area of 10 acres,
fruit trees obtained from Florida, have been planted. As
regards limes, the operations of the Demerara Development
Company, Limited, at Agatash, have made steady progress.
Up to November 1, 1909, 355 acres of the forest had been
felled, and 308 acres of this area cleared. In this cleared
land, 163% acres had been planted in limes with 27,712
plants, and there were 138,000 seedlings in the nurseries.
In addition, 650 Para rubber plants and 50 of Sapiwm
Jenmani were established.

The output of timber for the year was 511,000 cubic
feet; of this 191,409 cubic feet was exported, as against
232,670 cubic feet shipped last year. The amount cut
included 448,223 cubic feet of greenheart and 48,546 cubic
feet of crabwood. It is stated that the cutting of the latter
timber is likely to become an important industry, and that
several saw-mills have been erected for the purpose of turning
out crabwood boards, which have been largely used instead of
the imported white pine. Experiments are being carried out for
the purpose of finding the best method of curing the wood,
and confidence is expressed in the expectation that, when an
economical and efficient means of doing this has been devised,
large quanties of crabwood will be exported.

A record was made in the preceding year in the output
of balata, which amounted to 981,720 tb. This was exceeded,
however, during the year under report, reaching 1,100,390 tb,
Jn connexion with this industry, it is stated that licence-
holders continue to experience great difficulty in controlling
adequately the operations of their labourers, and it is hoped
that more stringent legislation against defaulters, and the
centralization of control about to be secured by the amalgam-
ation of the several interests, will cause an amelioration of
present conditions.

The rubber industry has evoked much practical interest,
and the work at the Government Experiment Stations has
been pursued actively; valuable data in connexion with the
yield from the native rubber tree (Sapiwm Jenmani) are
about to be obtained.

In addition to this tree, Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis),
Lagos rubber (funtumia elastica)and Central American rubber
(Castilloa elastica) are being cultivated in the experimental
fields, at the Botanic Gardens, and investigations in connexion
with pruning are being carried out. The Forestry Officer has
also made trials of methods of preparing rubber, with success.
The proprietors of sugar estates, and others, continue to evince
an interest in the cultivation of rubber-producing trees, so
that several thousand seedlings of Para rubber, raised at
the Botanic Gardens, have found a ready sale, while large
quantities of the seed of this plant have been imported pri-
vately. There is also an increased interest in the native
rubber tree (Sapiwm Jenmanz), and this has been planted
largely in different parts of the colony. The work of the
British Guiana and Rubber Corporation is being prosecuted
vigorously. The amount of rubber exported during the year
was 5,751 tb.

124

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 16, 1910.

Experiments conducted at one of the Cuban experiment
stations in raising sweet potatos from cuttings of the vine,
and from pieces of the potatos themselves, have shown that
plots planted according to the latter method may give a crop
three and a half times as great as those planted with cuttings.

Four lectures on the Cause and Prevention of Tropical
Disease have been delivered by Dr. C. W. Daniels, Director
of the London School of Tropical Medicine, to employés of
firms connected with the tropics. These lectures will probab-
ly be published later in pamphlet form for general information.

The amount of cotton exported from Uganda during the
period April to December 31, 1909, was 1,167,376 Ib., of
a total value of £29,001. The similar figures for the same
period of 1908 were 1,126,272 tb., and £29,559. It will thus
be seen that the export of cotton from Uganda is increasing.

With reference to the information that was given in the
last number of the Agricultural News, p. 104, in relation to
the candelilla plant, it should be stated that a description of
this plant and of its products is given in Diplomatic and
Consular Reports, No. 4,215, Annual Series. In this report,
the plant is described under the name Pedilanthus pavonis.

The usefulness of the little fish known as ‘ Millions’
(Girardinus poeciloides) as a destroyer of mosquito larvae has
been proved at Carriacou. It is said that since they have
been introduced in that island, and placed in the swamps and
ponds adjoining the town, there has been a very perceptible
diminution in the numbers of mosquitos which used to render
Hillsborough almost uninhabitable at certain seasons in the
year. (The St. Vincent Sentry.)

The imports of sugar and molasses into the United
States from foreign countries for the year ending December
51, 1909, reached 1,908,000 short tons, of which 1,625,000
fons came from Cuba. Practically no beet sugars were
imported from Europe this season. Java was the next largest
shipper of sugar to that country, sending 157,000 short tons
during the year 1909. (The Lowistana Planter and Sugar
Manufacturer, March 12, 1910.)

Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Superintendent of Agriculture
for the Leeward Islands, writes to say that an iguana lizard,
about 3 feet 6 inches in length, has been recently captured at
Cades Bay, Antigua. The animal was brought to St. John’s
and exhibited at the Botanic Station, for some days, as well
as before the Agricultural and Commercial Society. It was
subsequently liberated at Wallings. This is the first recorded
instance of an iguana lizard being seen in Antigua since about
1900, when one was found in the district of which mention
has just been made.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 271, mention
was made of an Indian plant, under the name of ‘ Dainchu’
(Sesbania aculeata). The Report on the Progress of Agri-
culture in India, 1907-9, recently issued, makes mention of
this plant under the name of ‘ Dhaincha’, and states that, in
experiments where it has been tried as a green manure, it
has been found to grow vigorously and also to increase the
yield of leaf in tea.

The Annual Report on the Experimental Work of the
Dharwar |India] Agricultural Station, 1908-9, states that, for
the improvement of Guinea corn, general selection of good
sound heads has. been conducted for several years on the
threshing floor with very satisfactory results. The improve-
ment of the appearance of the crop in the field, and of the
returns per acre, have shown the influence of the employment
of good seed, and there is a brisk demand for this on the
part of cultivators.

Investigations have been recently carried out in Queens-
land in connexion with the supposed poisoning of cattle by
means of the wild passion flower vine (Passzflora alba) which
grows there. These have shown that poisoning does actually
take place when this vine is eaten by stock, but that this
action is of acumulative nature. The discovery is of interest
in connexion with the question as to whether cattle in the
West Indies are poisoned by the wild ipecacuanha (Asclepias
curassavica), t0 which reference has been made in the Agr?-
cultural News, Vol. VIII, pp. 222, 261, 363 and 415,

A preliminary forecast of the oil-seed crop of Eastern
Bengal for 1909-10 has been issued by the Department of
Agriculture for Eastern Bengal and Assam. This shows
that the most important oil crops there are rape, sesame and
linseed, while castor and other oil seeds are also grown. It
appears that the season has been a favourable one, so far,
on the whole, for all these crops, and increases in yield from
the areas planted are expected. The area sown in rape is
estimated to be 1,234,500 acres, as compared with 1,195,300
acres in the previous season; the similar figures for linseed
are 85,100 and 86,000 acres.

Enquiry has been made of the Department as to where
threshing machines for ground nuts may be obtained. For
general information, it may be stated that the Ellis Cham-
pion Grain and Pea nut Thresher, sold by George C. Burgess,
P.O. Box 182, Petersburg, Va., U.S.A., appears to be useful
for the purpose. It is claimed that this machine separates
the nuts from the vine en the same principle as grain is
threshed from straw, and that the nuts come from the machine
cleaned, ready for market, while the vines are broken up and
put into condition for feeding purposes. The machines are
made in three sizes, which require engines of 4 h.p., 6 h.p.,
and § h.p. to drive them.

With reference to the statement in the article entitled
‘Tmplemental Tillage for St. Vincent’, which appeared on
page 3 of the current volume of the Agricultural News, and
which contained the chief matters in the report made by
Mr. G. Fraser, Agricultural Instructor, St. Vincent, on his
visit to Antigua in connexion with the subject, Mr. I. E. Dyett,
of Fitches Creek Estate, Antigua, has kindly pointed out that
the statement in paragraph 4 of that article: ‘For cane
planting a shallow trench is run along the top of the banks
by means of a double mould-board plough’ is not quite accu-
rate, for the furrow in question always runs as deep as the
water furrow, and often reaches a depth of 12 to 14 inches.

Von. IX. No. 208.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 12:

ct

J
STUDENTS’ CORNER,
APRIL.

SEcoND PErtop.,
Seasonal Notes.

A careful examination of old cotton should be made for
the purpose of finding out what pests are attacking it, and
the extent of the attack in the case of each. One of the most
easily seen among these is the black scale, which is often
present to a large degree. Careful observations on the cover-
ing of these scales will reveal the presence of a small hole in
it, and on separating the scale from the branch, it will be
seen that, instead of the soft tissue of an insect, a small
quantity of dried remains is present. This means that the
scale insect has been attacked by a parasite which, after feed-
ing upon it and causing its death, escaped through the
hole that is seen in the covering. Further observations in
connexion with this matter may be made in the following
way. A freshly-plucked branch on which living scale insects
are present is placed in a bottle or jar which has been cleaned
and dried carefully; the bottle or jar is then closed by means
of a piece of thin calico, which is placed over its mouth
and tied by a string passing round the neck. After a day
or two, at least two differeat kinds of small flying insects
will probably be seen on the inner surface of the vessel.
Although these are very small as compared with the most
commonly observed insects, they are plainly different in size.
The larger one is the male of the scale insect, while the
smaller one is the adult stage (imago) of the parasite. What
is the importance of this, and similar parasites, to the agri-
culturist? What would you expect to be the result, in
relation to scale insect attack, if conditions arose which
caused a large reduction in the numbers of the parasite ?
What facts, in relation to the advisability of destroying scale
insects in a wholesale manner, does the consideration of the
work of such parasites suggest!

Seale insects do not only find enemies in certain other
insects; they are preyed upon to a useful extent by fungi
which grow into their soft tissues, under the covering scale,
and cause their death. From their importance in providing
a means for controlling such insects, these fungi have become
of great interest, and all who are concerned with agricultural
subjects should make careful observations on them and send
the results of these to the Department of Agriculture in the
island in which they live, being very careful to forward, at
the same time, the material on which their observations have
been made. Such work will be of the greatest value to
agriculturists, and of assistance to their advisers. For infor-
mation in connexion with this subject, see Agricultwral
News, Vol. II, pp. 216 and 232; Vol. V, p. 42; Vol. VIII,
pp. 186, 202, 299 and 411.

Provide yourself with information concerning other
methods of control of scale insects, paying special attention
to Bengal beans in this connexion. While these matters, in
relation to scale insects and fungi, are under discussion,
a useful opportunity will be given for considering the relation
between such insects and black blight. (See Agricultwral
News, Vol. VII, p. 161.)

As the Easter crop of cacao is now being gathered, it will
be expedient to make an examination, where different varieties
are grown, for the purpose of determining the chief useful
characteristics of these. In doing this, the following points
will be mainly considered: vigour of growth; yield of pods;
number of beans in each pod; resistance to disease; power to
recover from disease after having been treated for it. What
measures are employed in cacao plantations against wood ants
and rats, respectively ?

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) Give, shortly, as many uses of the soil to plants as
you can,

(2) State definitely what is meant by plant food. What
are the chief kinds of plant food ?

(3) Why is it that, although soils contain enough plant
food to grow many crops, it is necessary to apply manure if
a reasonable yield is to be obtained !

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Describe the root borer of the sugar-cane, and its
method of attacking that plant.

(2) What changes are likely to occur in farmyard
manure, on storage! How are these changes affected by the
conditions under which the storage takes place ?

(3) Give an account of the chief methods that are
employed in the breeding of corn (maize) for improvement
in yield.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated April 1, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

The weather during the fortnight has been fairly dry,
and reaping of short crop has been progressing favourably.

Deliveries of rice to town have been steady, and prices
have remained firm.

Shipments to the West Indian islands during the fort-
night amounted to 5,079 bags.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. Demerara, for good export
quality :-—

Nominally 16s. 9d. to 17s. 9d. per bag of 180 tb. gross.

1s, Sato les, 9d." ,, ,, end

Kafir Bread.— In far-off South Africa, in the land of
the Kafir and the Zulu, is found a group of plants, belonging
to the Cycas family, known to the botanist as Hncephalartos—
a name derived from the Greek and meaning ‘bread within
the head’, alluding to the farinaceous pith within the stem of
these plants, which is used as a food by the natives of that
region. They are said to bury the stems in the ground and
allow them to remain there for several months; the mucila-
ginous centre is then taken out and dried, and made into
cakes like bread. On account of this use of it for food the
name of ‘Kafir-bread’ has been bestowed upon the plants, and
especially upon that species known as Encephalartos caffer.
The name ‘Kafir’, meaning an unbeliever, was applied by the
Mohammedans of Eastern Africa to the negroes of that region
because of their refusal to accept the faith of Mohammed.
Besides the living species, one fossil species is known.

The Kafir bread plants, of which there are about twelve
species, are found only in Africa, mainly in the southern
parts, with one or two species extending into the tropical
portions. They finally develop a long, stout cylindrical stem
sometimes 6 to 10 feet tall, though in a young state this is
in the form of a hemispherical body-——a condition in which
they are usually found in cultivation, for they are of very
slow growth and require years to attain any size. From the
apex of the stem arises a crown of pinnate leaves, in some
species forming objects of great beauty and decorative value.
(Journal of the New York Botanic Garden, Vol. X,
No. 120.)

126

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIEF GROUPS OF FUNGI.
Part IV.

Tur Ascomycetes. The next group of fungi to be
tonsidered is the Ascomycetes. These fungi all possess
a mycelium which is divided up by transverse walls, and they
are characterized by the formation of a sac, or ascus, in which
a definite number of spores, usually eight,is borne. The whole
group may roughly be divided up into the following sub-
groups:— ;

Protoascineae.
Protodiscineae.
Helvellineae.
Discomycetes.
Tuberineae.
Plectascineae.
Pyrenomycetes.

This division is a more or less rough one, and
in fact, there are so many classifications of the
Ascomycetes on different lines that it is a matter
of some difficulty to choose between them.

As has been stated previously, the bulk of the
evidence which has accumulated during recent
years would tend to show that the asci were origin-
ally formed as the outcome of a sexual process.
In some genera, an organ correspond to the oogonium
of the Oomycetes, and another similar to the antheri-
dium in the same group, have been found to exist,
and in some cases an actual fertilization process
is known to oceur. In many genera, however, the
process has become obsolete, or modified in one way
or another, so that it differs considerably from its
original form, The scope of this article does not
permit of a further discussion of this question,
which is one of very great complexity.

The PROTOASCINEAE and PROTODISCINEAE. In_ these
groups, the asci are produced over the whole mycelium,
or sometimes from a special part of it, but are not
enclosed in a particular form of covering, consequently
there is no very definite fruit-body by
which the members of the groups can
be recognized, as the asci are in most
cases borne free on the surface of the
host-plant. These fungi often cause
various malformations of the host, such
as witches’ brooms of many trees, especi-
ally in the temperate zone, leaf curl, leaf
blisters, and malformations of fruits, with
which the genera Hxoascus and Tuphrina
are so frequently associated. The asci
are usually short and more or less cylin-
drical. They are produced from hyphae
growing in the outermost wall of the
epidermis of the host, known as the
cuticle. They grow out at right angles
to the surface of the host, bursting the
cuticle as they develop. The fungi
known as yeasts belong to the first of these groups.

In all the other members of the Ascomycetes, the asci
are borne on definite fructifications, either open when ripe,
so that the asci are freely exposed to the air (apothecia), or
in the form of closed, often spherical, masses, which decay
and so liberate the spores (cleistothecia), or’ in boxes with
some definite method of opening by means of a lid or a pore

Fie. 22.
(a) Tissues of Host, (b) Stroma of
Fungus, (c) Tissue Producing Asci.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aprit 16, 1910.

Fic. 21. ScLERo- .
TINTIA FUCKEL-
IANA.
(Apothecia open.)

Cin |

MyriANciIum

at the top (perithecia). Both the apothecia and perithecia
are often carried on some form of stalk or supporting arrange-
ment built up from the hyphae of the fungus, or, in some
cases, are borne on, or sunken in, a special mass of closely
woven hyphae known as a stroma. In other cases, the
fructifications are originally sunken in the host plant and
only break out on the surface when ripe or nearly so.

The HELVELLINDAE. In this group, the fructifications
are usually erect and fleshy, though they may be of various
forms. They are generally lobed, or wrinkled, and bear the
asci all over their upper surfaces. Some of the species are
edible, as for instance, some in the genus Morchella (morel).
Others are suspected of being parasites.

The piscomyceres. This group of fungi is character-
ized by having its asci produced in fructifications known as
apothecia, mentioned above. The fructifications are more or
less cup-shaped when ripe, and either borne on a stalk of
sterile interwoven hyphae, orare sessile on the underlying
substance (substratum); the asci are borne over the whole of
the hollow upper surface, and at right angles to it. Between
the asci are numerous free hyphae, often somewhat
swollen at the end. These are known as hairs, or
paraphyses. The asci and paraphyses often give the
inner surface of the cup a smooth or somewhat gelati-
nous appearance. When young, the apothecia are
closed, and consist of an outer covering layer of
closely woven, sterile hyphae, from which the paraphyses
spring, and an inner layer of special hyphae from which
the asei are produced. The fructifications, when young,
may be immersed in the substratum, but become free
when ripe, and open out to form the cup-shaped struc-
ture already described. The group is further subdivided
by the characters of the apothecia—whether immersed
in the substratum when young, or free from the start;
whether sessile or stalked, black or coloured, and similar
points. The spores are usually forcibly extruded
from the asci by the mutual pressure of the asci and
paraphyses. They may be of different shapes, from
oval to linear, one- or more-celled, colourless or coloured,
transparent or opaque; and such characters serve to differ-
entiate genera and species. This group does not contain any
parasites very well known in the West Indies; Fig. 21 shows
the stalked apothecium of Sclerotinia
fuckeliana with the hollow cup at the
top. The apothecia have grown out
from a hard mass of fungus mycelium
known as a sclerotiwne.

The TUBERINEAE. The fructifica-
tions are closed, or nearly so, and con
sist of a more or less solid mass of tissue,
often penetrated by channels in which
the asci are produced. The spores are
liberated by the rotting of the ascus.
The channels in the closed fruits often
lead in the direction of a portion of the
surface, only covered by a very thin layer
of tissue, which breaks down and _liber-
ates the spores. In some cases, the
fructifications are open entirely; in others,
very thick layers surround the whole
cleistothecium. These characters serve to subdivide the
group, The asci are usually only 4-spored, and the spores
are often spiny. All the fructifications are borne under
ground, some of them being edible and known as truftles.

The PLECTASCINEAE. In this group, the fructification
is again a cleistothecium, very minute in size, and consisting
of a mass of tissue, in which are hollows where the asci are

Hy

{|
4]

DuRIAEI.

Vor. EX, No, 208:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 127

a OO OO

produced; each ascus is often separated from the others by
a mass of soft tissue, or the asci are formed in irregular lines.
The fructification may be of a fairly soft, fleshy consistency,
and coloured, or black and hard outside, though softer and
colourless within. This group includes the black fungus
parasitic on scale insects (Myriangium Duriaei), and the
genus JJe/iola, one of the black blight fungi. Fig. 22 shows
part of the stroma and fructification of Myriangium Duriaei,
as seen in longitudinal section: (a) represents the tissue of
the branch on which the fungus is growing; (b) the black,
hard stroma; (c) the transparent white tissue from which the
asci—whose position is represented by the circular spaces —
are produced.

The pyrenomyceres. Here the fructifications are peri-
thecia, or hollow boxes, in which the asci and paraphyses are
produced. They may be superficial, or immersed in the sub-
stratum, borne simply on, or in, a stroma; they may be of
different colours and different consistency. The asci usually
contain eight spores, which are unicellular or multicellular,
coloured or colourless, and of many different shapes. All
these characters are of value in subdividing the groups. For
instance, in the Perisporiales, the perithecia open with a lid,
or simply decay. In the Hypocreales, Sphaeriales and
Dothideales the spores are extruded, when ripe, through
a pore at the top of the perithecium.

In the Hypocreales, the perithecia, and stroma when
present, are fleshy and coloured. In the Sphaeriales, they are
black and hard, either scattered and superficial, or grouped in
a stroma. In the Dothideales, the perithecia are simply
hollow spaces in the black stroma. To these groups belong
many common parasites in these islands. For example, the
various species of Vectria causing diseases of cacao belong to
the Hypocreales. The fungus causing rind disease of the
sugar-cane, T'richosphaeria sacchari, is a member of the
Sphaeriales; Sphaerostilbe coccophila, the red-headed fungus,
and Ophionectria coccicola, the white-headed fungus of scale
insects, are included in the Hypccreales, and there are several
other examples.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 200, a figure is
given of Sphaerostilbe flavidum, atypical member of the
Hypocreales. In this plate, Fig. 5 represents a cluster of the
perithecia of the fungus, with the conidial form of fruit as
well. The perithecia are shown further magnified in Fig 6.
They are bright-red in colour, while the conidial fruits are
yellow and semi-transparent. Fig. 7 shows an ascus with
eight bicellular ascospores.

This concludes the discussion of the different groups
of the Ascomycetes. Some further remarks on the other spore
forms found among them will appear in the next number of
the Agricultural News.

CARE OF MINOR ARTICLES USED ON
ESTATES.

The Bureau of Plant Industry of the United
States Department of Agriculture has just issued
a circular (No. 44) entitled Minor Articles of Farm
Equipment. Although the conditions for which it
was written are different from those in the West
Indies, several of the points dealt with in it are
important in relation to general agricultural practice,
and these have been extracted, in view of their interest
and suggestiveness.

Among the losses in farming to which, because of their
apparent unimportance, little attention has been directed, is

the waste which occurs through a general lack of compre-
hension as to the extent and value cf the minor articles
which are necessary to the smooth running of a farm. This
waste is exhibited in extra expense through the purchase of
unnecessary tools and materials; in the loss of time and dis-
counts in buying numerous articles, singly or in small lots; in
the loss, theft, and rapid depreciation of items of equipment
considered too insignificant to require systematic care; and in
the losses in many directions, through the lack, or the
misplacement, of equipment at times when it is urgently
needed.

The total cost of the miscellaneous articles is usually
much higher than the estimates given by farmers and writers
on agricultural subjects, but owing to the great number of
small purchases made, this fact is seldom realized except by
the few who have made careful inventories at stated intervals.
Ignorance of this leads farmers in general to neglect an
extremely valuable portion of their equipment, and it would
probably be found that the decrease in value of the small
articles is much more rapid than that of the major items, for
which an annual rate of depreciation of 7-3 per cent. has
been established. The low estimates regarding this part of
the equipment also prove disappointing to the manager of
a new farming venture, who finds it necessary to make an
increased outlay on this account, attended by a readjustment
of his plans.

The importance of having a good working equipment in
small articles, and the absolute necessity of caring for it, are
matters which should be apparent to the thoughtful farmer
and need not be dwelt upon further. The waste of time in
making numerous special trips for small articles is also appar-
ent, particularly when it is considered that many of these
occur in the busiest seasons. This could be avoided to a large '
extent by taking an inventory during a slack period, and
replacing all missing items at the first opportunity.

The nature of the minor equipment will be determined
largely by the character of the farm enterprises, and by the
proximity of repair and shopping facilities; while its extent
may be governed by the size of the farm, the number of
workmen, and the financial circumstances of the proprietor.
Perhaps both the nature and the extent of the minor equip-
ment will be influenced most by the farmer’s attitude in
regard to small economies, and by his ability to use tools to
the best advantage.

To the owner of a farm who has had no occasion from
time to time to collect his miscellaneous equipment and to
take account of its extent, the advisability is suggested of
taking an annual inventory of the small, as well as of the
large, equipment, in order to keep track of his investment,
The practice of taking an annual inventory, even of the larger
pieces of machinery, is not as common as it should be, and in
many cases where an invoice is taken, the ‘small stuff’ is lumped
in one item. During the process of taking the inventories
used in compiling this circular, the owner almost invariably
expressed astonishment at the extent to which his capital
was invested in miscellaneous minor articles.

To sum up, few farmers realize the extent of their invest-
ment in small items of equipment, or the time and incon-
venience involved in buying numerous articles, singly or in
small] lots. Before planning the farm equipment, due con-
sideration should be given to the necessary outlay for minor
items and, where possible, the latter should be secured at one
purchase, thereby saving time and, usually, money. The
purchase of these articles in such a manner will mean a total
expenditure sufficient to impress the farmer with the need
for their systematic care.

London,—Tue

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpoy, Grant & Co., April 2

bo
io 2

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. — Aprit 16, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

West Inpia) COMMITTEE
March 29, 1910; Messrs. E. A.
March 18, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1g. to 24d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/3 ; block, 3/- per th.

BrEgs-wax—47 10s. to £7 17s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/6 to 63/- per ewt. ; Grenada, 50/- to
55/6 per ewt.; Jamaica, 48/- to 53/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 41/- to 54/6.

Corra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; St. Croix West Indian, no quotations.

Frouir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 50/- to 53/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honty—24/- to 25/-.

IstyeLass—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 10d. to 1/-; concentrated, £18 15s. to
£18 17s. 6d.; Otto of limes, 5/9.

Logwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nutmecs—(uiet.

Pimento—Common, 2}d.; fair, 2}d.; good, 23d. per th.

Rugsser—Para, fine hard, 10/5, fine soft, 10/5; tine Peru,
10/3 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/3 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 19/- to 20/3; Muscovado, 15/- to 16/3;
Syrup, 14/- to 16/6; Molasses, no quotations.

CIRCULAR,
DE Pass & Co.,

New York,—Messrs. Giutzsprze Bros. & Co., March
18, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, I1jc. to 12}c. ; Grenada, 11fc. to 12c. ;
Trinidad, 11 jc. to 12}c. ; Jamaica, 10}c. to 114¢. per tb.

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $30°00 to $32-00; culls,
$18°00; Trinidad, select, $28:00 to $30°00; culls,
$1800 per M.

Corrre—Jamaica, ordinary, 9c. to 9}c.; good ordinary,
9$c. to 10c.; and washed, up to 114c. per tb.

GincerR—9c. to 13c. per tb.

Goat Sxkins—Jamaica, 52c.; Barbados, 45c. to 47c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 42c. to 48c. per tb.;
Antigua, 45c. to 47c., dry flint.

Grape Frouir—$2°25 to $3°50 per box.

Limes—$6°00 to $7°00.

Macre—382e. to 36c. per th.

Nurmrcs—110’s, 9}c. per tb.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°00.

Pimento—4ic. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°86c.;
duty paid.

4°36c. per Ib.; Muscovados,
Molasses, 89°, 3:6lc. per tb., all

’

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°15 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°90
to $12°15.

Cocoa-NuT O1r—93c. per Imperial gallon.

CorrerE—Venezuelan, 10$c. per tb.

Copra—$4°40 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4°40 per 2-bushel bag.

Onrons—%3°25 to $3°50 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprir—$6°75 to $7:00 per bag.

Potatos—English, $1:00 to $1°50 per 100 th.

Ricr—Yellow, $4:50 to $4:°60; White, $5°00 to $5:10
per bag.

Svucar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5°20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., April 11, 1910;

Messrs. T. 8. Garraway & Co., April 11, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., April 4, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3°75 per 100 th.
Cacao—$11-00 to $12°50 per 100 th.
Cocoa-nuts—$14°00.

Corrrr—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10-00 to $11:00 per
100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 to $1:25 per 100 tb., dull.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65:00; Cacao
manure, $42°00 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,
$70-00 to $75:00 per ton.

Morasses—No quotations.

Ontons—Bunched, $2°00 to $3°50 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprir—$6-20 to $6°75 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°60 per bag of 120 th.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $2°40 to $2°80 per 160 th.

RiceE—Ballam, $4°33 to $4°60 (180 tb.); Patna, $3-80 ;
Rangoon, $3:00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations,

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wiermnc & RicutER, April
2, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacH, ParKER & Co.,

April 1, 1910.

ARTICLES.

ArrowRroot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHat—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mo.asses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneritte

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Poratros—Novya Szotia
Lisbon
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam
Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
SuGar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timper—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

Messrs. WIETING
& RicHTer.

$8:09 to $8-25
per 200 tb.

32c. per Ib.
48c. per tb.
1c. to 12c. per tb.
96c.
$600 per barrel of
196 th.
$12 to $16 per M.

12c. to 13c. per th.
4c. to 14$c. per tb.
10c. per tb.
$425 to $4°50 per
bag of 168 tb.
$5°75
$1°44 per barrel
None
$6°45 to $6°50 per
bag (210tb.)
$3°50
20c. to 60c. per
bunch
$2°25
No quotation
$1°32 per bag
No quotation
$4:00 to $4:20
$1°80 per bag
$2-28
$2°28 per bag
$3°10 to $3°15
$3°60 to $3°70
$4:00
$250
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75
per M.

», Cordwood| $1°80 to $2:00

per ton

Messrs. SAND-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$800 to $8°25 per
200 tb., market
dull
Prohibited
None
10c. to 11c. per th.
No quotation
No quotation

$16 per|M., peeled
and selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
14 $c. to 15c. perth.
10c. per tb.
$4°50 to $4°65 per
bag of 168 Tb.

No quotation
No quotation
$6°50 per bag
(210 tb.)
$3°50 to $4:25

$2°25
No quotation
$4-75
$3°70 to 34-00

None
$3°70
$3°80 to $4:00
None
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°50 te $5°50
per M.

No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture

FOR THE WEST INDIES.

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Suear Inpustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.
in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

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in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d. ;
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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
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Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
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Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetry, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station,
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Vor. IX. No. 208. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Arrit 16, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

PED ee A =) a

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

FOR SALE. =

- FACTORY, LIMITED.
Four thousand five hundred (4,500) BRIDGETOWN.

Washington Navel | COTTON SEED.
BUDDED ORANGE. PLANTS... | |Parchases Siizbest cums es ee

Local price Gd. each, delivered Roseau. Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt

Export prIcE 1s. EACH, F.0.B. RosEAu, Dominica,

attention.
Apply to:— k 2-4 +20

A. G. S. DAVENPORT, SULPHATE OF COPPER.—We stock this
Bramhall Estate, article, and all orders received will be promptly

Dominica, |executed.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN. | 77S? sue |

5
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. X. No. 2.)
Containing papers on Central Iactories ; The Under- (Vol. X, No. 3.) este

ground System of the Sugar-cane ; The Cotton Industry in Containing papers on Legislation in the West Indies
for Controlling Diseases Plants; Fungi Causing
the West Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment ADK 2 EN gpa ee Te spe ae Causing

Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial |
of Orchard Soils in Cultivation in the West Indies ; The] Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; Rainfall |
of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations

Scarabee of the Sweet Potato. SSeS :
in Practical Agriculture.

To be obtained from all agents for the To be obtained from all agents for the
sale of the Departmeni’s publication. Price!sale of the Department’s publications. Price|
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‘Vol. IX. No. 209.) SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1910.

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Imperial Department of
Agriculture.
BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botauic Station, Agricultural Instruction, and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-
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Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Experiment Plots, St. Lucia, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9,

| Annual Report on the Botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-9, —

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1968-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station. Economic Experiments, and Agricultural Instruction; also on
Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola. Virgin Islands, 1908-9,

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-

tions.

| MAINTAIN; THE YIED:

Be TN LEDS INTS RUN REI ahs har eae

The problem in Cane Culture is how to main
available plant food.

The solution to the problem is proper tillage and rational fertilizing.
Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen in proper proportion always pay when applied to well tilled soil.

For free literature and special information on Tropical Agriculture address to:
GERMAN KALI WORKS.

30 Empedrado,
Box 1,007, Havana, Cuba

a

tain the yield. Continued cropping exhausts the soil of all its

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW.

OF THE
= =
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.
aEpXe eNO. 200; BARBADOS, APRIL 30, 1910. Price ld,
OL.
CONTENTS a snecessful manner. There is a seasonal cycle of
activities that claims a large amount of the time at
a the disposal of those who are responsible for the conduct
Pagel Pace, of the work of the experiment station.
Agricultural Experiment Index and Title Page 136 5 sales , t :
2 ee The Maochonus Insect Notes : This side of the activity of the station is naturally
Of... 129) Forest Entomology in of great importance. It is the one which enables it to
Book Shelf sri. 19 the United States 138 k hosel pial: 3
Catch Crops for Rubber in SPM OM oe eG ceep most closely in touch with those for whom it
Malaya ... ee ee dle Sugar-Cane Pests 138 exists, and, too often, it is the sole criterion by
Sr. ae Market Reports \44 which the existence of the station is justified. ‘This
5 Se ‘ peor” aime Notes ¢ Co mts: 36 : ‘ ¥ :
Cocoa-nut Palm,Geograph- a Rubber “Aeon foc fact, aided by the circumstance that such work
G Pe Ses hae a oe Preparing ... ... ae 14% is continually in evidence, and constantly demands
Bio) i A 2 UONYO -... Loe Pas ‘es. Scheme for “ ; A ‘ 5
Cotton Notes :— 2 Bee one pe 137 attention, constitutes a source of danger to the effic-
oe ee a 134 | Plough, Use of The ... 139 iency of the labours of those who are engaged there.
st S 29% Rainfall in St. Luci: BUF iar . aa ;
Distance for Planting ae of ne Fr - Routine may demand so much attention that there is
Cotton... eee ay eer a Rubber Supply, The 183 no time left for research,
du ens ivan A Simple Students’ Corner --- 141
Llectre ple gs, = ? 2
athod o 36) Sugar dustry : ra - 4
et aD aoe ‘anes - I'wo practical meanings may be attached to the
The Chief Groups of Louisiana ... ... ... 131 word Research. It may be employed for the purpose of
Fungi, Part V ... 142 Timber, Preservation of ... 137 . faye SSS bop 4 ees
Gleanings... ... 140) West Indian Products 143. «living the idea of careful search, or it may, as its form

The Functions of Agricultural

Experiment Stations.

I. In STIMULATING RESEARCH.

Fe HWS)

DSA a i 4

(QN HE nature of the work that is carried on in
JLagricultural experiment stations necessitates
the existence of a large degree of routine.

This is brought into being chiefly by the constantly
recurring matters that relate to the crops most com-
monly grown, such as sugar, cotton, cacao and limes,
during each season in which they are receiving atten-
tion, in order that they may give their produce in

indicates, connote searching again. Both these aspects
of it are before the scientific investigator and, it may be
added, the second is the more often present with the
agriculturist, chiefly because the practice of agriculture
is so ancient that many of its problems have been
worked out empirically, long ago. What is wanted is
the reason why these problems can be solved in the
way that has been found, in order that such a know-
ledge of them may be obtained as to enable modifica-
tions to be suggested that will improve old methods and
make these applicable, with the necessary changes, to
new conditions.

In answering certain kinds of agricultural questions,
routine and research approach one another in such
a way that one. becomes part of the other. This

NEW Yk
BOTANIL«
GARDEN

130

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 30, 1910.

is especially the case where work is entailed that will
spread over many seasons, such as, for example, the
production of seedling canes, work on Mendelian lines,
The last
forms an instance in which efforts are being made to
reach definite conclusions as to agricultural procedure,
while in the first case the purpose is to produce actual
material that will be used in a definite, practical way.

or the making of manurial experiments.

In other kinds of research, the work connected
with the question under consideration is not of indefin-
ite duration. First among these may be mentioned
the kind which relates to new agricultural problems;
that is to say problems taking their origin from the
discovery of new facts. Here, an explanation of the
facts is not the only matter of importance. A know-
ledge is required of the best way to apply them to exist-
ing conditions, and the attainment of the first will lead
to the realization of the second.

New problems should not be permitted to minim-
ize the importance of those that are already awaiting
solution. In reality, the latter are of the more moment-
ous nature, and it is very probable that their solution
will lead to the disappearance of many of the new ones
that were supposed to have a real existence. To be
carried away from the more exigent matters by the
charm of novelty will not lead to the attainment of the
most useful conclusions.

Among the problems awaiting solution are those
which relate to the discovery of explanations of well-
known facts: brief reference to these has been made
already. he investigations conducted during recent
years have afforded several examples of the making of
such discoveries. The enrichment of land by growing
leguminous crops has been an agricultural practice,
in many parts of the world, for centuries; only recently
has the explanation been provided of the way in which
the improvement takes place. Partial sterilization of
the soil, by substances which put an end to life, by
heat, or by the direct rays of the sun, has long been
known to cause it to give larger yields of the crops
grown upon it, butit is only now that investigators
are able to speak with any degree of certainty as to the
changes that have led to the increased fertility. ‘The
long employed agricultural practice that age has made
a custom has already, in many eases, gained the respect
of the agricultural adviser and, with the aid of his
discoveries, has shown the way to the adoption and
modification of agricultural operations, so that the

position of those who exist by means of them has been
materially improved.

The Jast kind of research that may be considered
derives its importance from the application of its results
over the areas to which these have particular relation.
Its conclusions are of local moment, merely: though
they may depend upon the special application of
a general fact, they are not, themselves, of widespread
value. They are none the less of use to the practical
agriculturist, under the special circumstances, though
their limitations should be clearly indicated,tn order that
they may not be employed under conditions on which
they have no bearirg.

This description of the different kinds of research
to which an experiment station may give its attention
should, incidentally, have demonstrated sutticiently the
necessity of its existence wherever such stations are
found. There are, however, other equally cogent reasons
that have their origin in a consideration of the internal
characteristics of the station. Firstly, there is the
indirect effect of research, even thongh it may
be purely academic, on the mind of the worker,
whereby the clearness of his mental impressions in
regard to ordinary problems is improved, and through
which he gains confidence in his work and in the inter-
pretation of its results. Secondly, if the best kind of
investigator is to be attracted to experiment stations,
he must be given the opportunity to engage in
research. Lastly, the efforts connected with research,
especially that of a more academic kind, act as
a stimulus, both to the worker and his associates, and
prevent their labours from being confined and limited
in such a way as to deprive them of the lively interest
without which they will speedily lose their value.
It is necessary that the plan and purpose of the
investigations should be definite: that the problems
taken up should not be of too large or broad a nature;
and that the number of lines of work should be care-
fully limited.

The investigators at an experiment station, then,
must realize that they are indebted to agricultural
science and to agricultural education, and that it is
part of their duty to contribute to the needs of all
phases of agriculture, in a broad sense, by accompanying
the research of amore obvious nature with that which
They will thus be
influenced to take up lines of work such as may be
discontinued if occasion demands, and will receive in
return that stimulus which will impart a_ living
interest to their labours.

is of an academic character.

Vou; DX.) Ne: 209:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 131

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

SEEDLING SUGAR-CANES IN
LOUISIANA.

The following particnlars of the work of obtaining
seedling canes that had been done in Louisiana, up to
the end of 1908, are taken from an account. given by
the Director of the Experiment Stations of the Louisi-
ana State University, in Vol. V of the reports issued
by the American Breeders’ Association :—

Shortly after the Louisiana sugar station was established,
Harrison and Bovell succeeded in germinating cane seeds in
the West India Islands. Reports of their work have been
given before ‘his association. Cuttings were obtained from all
the promising variations secured by these two botanists, and
plantings were made at the Louisiana sugar station at New
Orleans. ‘Two of the seedlings will be referred to later.

The success attained in germinating the seeds encouraged
Dr. Stubbs to try to germinate cane seed, with the hope that
a seedling would be obtained that would be very fully acclim-
atized to Louisiana conditions. These efforts were uniformly
unsuccessful. After a number of failures in an effort to
germinate seed, Dr. Stubbs concluded that possibly the seeds
were too old, or had been damaged by conditions under which
they were transported from the point of origin to Louisiana.
So he began trying to produce a mature cane that would
tassel and make seed, by protecting the canes during the
winter—thus giving them an extended period of growth.

With the co-operation of the Audubon Park Commission,
a considerable quantity of cane was grown in the horticultural
hall and protected from the fluctuations of the seasen, and
thereby kept growing continuously. These canes grew for
several years, and became so tall that they had to be artific-
ially propped up, but they never came into flower.

To return to the production of seedlings, the Louisiana

station took up the subject again in 1907, and secured the
germination of a few seeds.
In the meanwhile, however, attention had been turned
to the arrows or tassels of the cane stalk, and about 1887
Harrison and Bovell, in Demerara, succeeded in growing
plants from the seed of the cane which had been hitherto
thought unfertile. This was the beginning of a great work,
that has since meant much to the industry. In these seedlings
there is an extreme variation in size, colour, sagar-content
and general habits of growth. Out of a thousand seedlings,
_there will he only a few that will show properties superior to
the mother cane. Among the first canes, propagated in
this manner, which obtained prominence were the Demerara 74
and Demerara 95 of Messrs. Harrison and Bovell. These
canes are grown extensively in Demerara, and have proved,
on introduction to Louisiana, to be especially fitted for the
short growing season, where an early maturing cane is neces-
sary. The acreage of the D. 74, particularly, is being
extensively increased, and the cane is thought of very highly
by most of the planters of the State. Some planters have
observed that the fact of having a Jarge acreage in this cane
has meant, in certain adverse seasons, the difference of
a profit or loss on the crop.

It was not until 1907 that we were able to germinate
cane seed. This was the first time that cane plants were
produced from seed without the tropics.

In the first year the growth is always dwarfed and the
sugar content low, and the plants present no indication
whatever as to what they will ultimately do. These are
harvested, and the entire length of the stalk is planted, as

is ordinarily practised in the industry. From these, full-sized
canes are produced, and it is interesting to note the wide
variation in colour, size, sucrose content and manner of
growth.

There is enough of each cane the second year for analysis,
and some idea can be got as to which are the more desirable
of the seedlings. ‘The third year’s results must be awaited,
however, for conclusive evidence and data as to tonnage.

In 1907, the first year of seedling propagation in
Louisiana, eighty-five plants were produced. ‘These came from
the seed of the following varieties :—

4 from Demerara No. 1,132 14 from Demerara No. 117
2. ,, White Mexican 1 ,, Lahaina

31 ,, Hawaii No. 28 24, Kokea

29 ,, Hawaii No. 83

These seedlings are given arbitrary numbers and will be
termed, Louisiana No. 1, Lonisiana No. 2, ete, for con-
venience in identification. All the stalks were planted in
the fall of 1907, and nearly all produced vigorous growing
canes for the crop of 1908. These results, from the general
appearance of the cane and the analyses of the individual
stalks, are such as to be extremely encouraging for
a continuance of this work, and each of the newly
produced varieties has been planted in sufficient quantity
so that full data can be obtained this coming crop.
It is not safe to say, wt this time, if any of these
canes are superior to those at present grown on the
plantations. but in respect to one or two, viz: L.92 and
L.100, indications are to that effect. L.92 gave over
1 per cent. more sucrose than canes of the standard varieties
grown on the same plot. 100 promises to be a cane of
average sucrose content and extremely heavy tonnage.
Individual stalks of this cane weighed 7 or 8 Ib. (the weight
of an average stalk of cane is 2} to 3 Ib.).

We were more successtul in 1908, and succeeded in
growing about 500 seedlings. These were from seed of the
following varieties :—-

Demerara 95 Trinidad 76

Barbados 208 Hawaii 9

ee eee MSc GE
105 . | Oe en
il > Te eta
189 ot ea
» 204 OL een
7,627

”

It will be interesting to get results from the D. 74
seedlings, as that cane has reached such prominence under
Louisiana conditions. These seedlings were planted in the
open field, earlier than the crop of the previous year, and as
a result, gave hardier stalks witt a higher snerose content.
However, as stated above, cane seedlings are always
dwarfed and imperfect. At the present time, the third crop
of seedling canes is being germinated, and gives promise of
greater success than previous ones; a large assortment of
seed has been obtained from ‘Trinidad, Cuba, Jamaica,
Hawaii, Porto Rico, Antigua and other places.

The West India Comauittee Circular for March 29, gives
an account of experiments that have been conducted at the
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, for the purpose of
testing Molascuit with regard to its value as a milk producer
in cows, ground oats being used for the purpose of compari-
son, The trials showed that the yield of milk, the production
of butter-fat and the flavour of the butter were affected little
by the kind of food given, and that Molaseuit gave as good
results, in the matter of fat production, as ground oats, at
a smaller cost.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 30, 1910.

WEST INDIAN (ERULL:

THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
THE COCOA-NUT PALM.

The following information concerning the geograph-
ical distribution of the cocoa-nut palm is taken from an
article in L’ Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds
for January 1910 :—

The cocoa-nut palm belongs to the tropical zone. Its
place of origin has been fixed by de Candolle to be the Malay
Archipelago, On account of the numerous uses that can be
made of it, its cultivation has received attention fora very
long time and its habitat has extended into many different
regious in which the climate and soil are suited to it. This
is exemplified by the fact that plantations of this palm have
been made to a very large extent on the south coast of the
continent of Asia, as well as in the neighbouring islands.

At the present time, Ceylon appears to be the country
which possesses the largest areas devoted to its cultivation,
and it is there that the greatest use of its produce is made.
Here, too, the industries that are concerned with the prepara-
tion of the products that are obtained from it have reached
a very high degree of-perfection, so much so that it does not
appear to have been surpassed by that in any other region.
In British India this palm occupies an area that is of relat-
ive importance, but one which is nevertheless insutticient to
supply the requirements of local consumption. Certain
places are noted for the quality of the copra that they
produce ; this is the case with Travancore and chiefly in the
region of Cochin-China, on the south-west coast.

The plant is found to a fair degree in the French
settlements in India, but the extent is so small that the
output of the plantations is not a matter of commercial
importance; in fact, a large quantity of the produce is
consumed where it is grown, A small amount of copra is
made in the territory of Mahé, and a little oil in the neigh-
beurhood of Karikal. Besides this, since 1903, a factory for
eocoa-nut butter (cocotine) has been-erected at Pondicherry.

Singapore is a centre from which large quantities of
copra are exported. Cocoa-nut palms are abundant in the
British Settlements on the Malacca Straits, especially around
Singapore and Poulo-Penang. But as a matter of fact these
settlements are large commercial centres, through which pass
enormous quantities of colonial produce. The copra exported
from Singapore comes chiefly from Dutch Borneo, frora Bali
and from the Natuna and Anambas Islands. Numerous cocoa-
nut palms exist in the French possessions in Indo-China,

especially in Cochin-China. The Philippine Islands form
a very important centre for the production of copra.
In the Dutch East Indies, the cocoa-nut palm occupies
an important position on account of the natural fertility
of the soil; its growth there is rapid, and it is cultivated
with little expense.

In the groups of islands scattered throughout that part
of the Pacific ocean which lies in the tropics, the cocoa-nat
palm is generally abundant. Here, near the sea, it forms
veritable forests. This is the case to a notable extent in the
Samoa Islands, where the greatest care is taken, on the estates
under the management of Europeans, to obtain a copra of
excellent quality. In New Caledonia, the cocoa-nut palms
form a long belt on the east coast, between Canala and
Hienghéne. The copra which is produced is sold to a large
extent in the markets of Sydney. In the same way, the
Loyalty Islands produce a large quantity of copra, and the
New Hebrides are suited particularly weli for the growing of
the palm. In the archipelago of Tahiti, cocoa-nut plantations
occupy about two-thirds of the cultivated land. The atolls
of Tuamotou have only been habitable since the cocoa-nut
tree nas been introduced there.

As far as South and Central America and the West
Indies are concerned, the total area of cocoa-nut plantations
is very large. The products of these find their chief outlet
toward the United States, where considerable quantities
of nuts and copra are dealt with. The palm is espec-
ially abundant in the North of South America, in
Venezuela, in Brazil and in the Guianas, in the different
states of Central America, in the Bahamas, in many of
the Antilles, notably Jamaica and Trinidad. In the last-
named island, the manufacture of cocca-nut oil on a large
seale by means of improved methods seems likely to
attain a certain development. Although the cultivation of
the cocoa-nut palm meets with the same success in the French
West Indies as is obtained in the neighbouring countries in
which it occupies a large place, it has extended there but
little, and, except in the case of Guadeloupe, its products are
absorbed by local consumption.

So far, there are few cocoa-nut plantations on the
tropical coasts of Africa, but it has been shown, as a matter
of fact, that there is a very marked movement in favour of
their establishment, on the west as well as on the east coast.
In the Isiands of the Indian Ocean adjacent to the continent
of Africa, cocoanut palms are generally numerous, especially in
the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and in the Seychelles, the

Vor. 1X. .No. 209.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

133

cocoa-nuts from which have an excellent reputation. At one
time, they were equally abundant in the Comoro Islands, but
for several reasons, their number has sensibly diminished
and the export is very small. In Réunion the cocoa-nut
only exists in small cultivations, and as isolated specimens
scattered in gardens: all its produce is consumed locally. The
palm seems to have been introduced into Madagascar at
a fairly remote time. Prudhomme estimates that it would be
difticult to find more than twenty or twenty-five thousand
trees in the island. All the nuts collected are consumed
locally. The administration of Madagascar has made very
great efforts to assist in the development of plantations of
cocoanut palms.

According to Ferguson, the world’s cultivation of cocoa-
nuts covers an area of about 2,800,000 acres, divided as
follows :—

708,175 (about one quarter)
South America 500,000

British India 352,500

Malay States |
Philippines

Straits Settlements |
Java and Sumatra

Ceylon

302,500

252,920

Central America 250,000
Pacific Islands 250,000
East Africa 111,285

Siam and Cochin- \ 5
China oo

West Indies 10,000

THE CONGO COFFEE PLANT.

Information regarding the Coago coffee plant
(Cofiea robusta) is given in Bulletin No. 7 of the
Department of Agriculture, Federated Malay States.
As part of this is of more general interest, it is extracted
below.

Coffea robusta was discovered wild in the Congo region
by Emil Laurent in 1898. The plant was taken up commer-
cially by a Brussels Horticultural firm and named Coffea
robusta by them.

C. robusta differs in many ways from the well-known
CU. liberica. The habit is somewhat different. It grows
more rapidly. An eight-months-old plant is much larger
and has more branches and leaves than a Liberian one-year-
old. The branches of C. robusta are longer and have a ten-
dency to bend down towards the ground, so that the bush is
rather umbrella-shaped. Gormandizers and suckers are fewer
than on C. liberica; the leaves are a lighter green, thinner,
and larger in size.

C.. robusta bears more berries in a cluster than C. /iherica,
often over sixty: they are much smaller, but the beans are
almost as large, as the skin is thinner. On an average, 10
piculs (1331 tb.) of Liberian berry give one picul of market
coffee. On the other hand, only 4 piculs of the berry of
C’. robusta are required for a picul of market coffee. Though
many more berries go to a picul than in the Liberian, the
greater number in a bunch makes the picking, if anything,
cheaper.

Plants about eight months old begin to show flower buds,
but a number of these early flowers may not develop into
berries, and no concern need be felt if they do not, as, unlike
those of Liberian, all later tlowers set.

The plant blossoms the whole year through, and no loss
will occur from ‘windfall’ if berries are collected once
a month. About ten months are required for the berries to

come to maturity; when most of them ina cluster are straw-
coloured they may be picked—as a rule the whole cluster may
be gathered.

In Java it was at first urged against C. robusta that its
fecundity would not continue, but it is now seen that nine-
year-old plants are as vigorous and yielding as much as, or
more than, they did when they were four years old.

The root development of C. robusta is comparatively
rapid and intense. If a young plant is pulled up it will be
found to have a mat of fine rootlets— considerably more than
a Liberian plant of the same size would show. It is easily
understood, then, that it thrives best in a loose clay soil,
somewhat sandy for preference. Practically all our inland
estates have soils which are admirably adapted to it.

In peaty land, experience here has already shown that it
does not thrive, at least where the peat is deep and badly
drained. It behaves just as rubber and other plants do when
they suffer from acidity in the soil, except that C. robusta is
more sensitive than the Para tree. The acidity of such soils
must be removed by good drainage and a liberal application
of lime. The quantity of lime required will vary with the
acidity, which must be tested from time to time. It is now
proved that by such treatment, Para rubber can be made to
thrive, aad no doubt C. robusta would too. Coffea canephora,
which is equally prolific, would probably do better in such land.

THE SOURCES OF THE WORLD'S
RUBBER SUPPLY.

Rubber reaches the home market in almost every possible
shape and colour. In most cases the queer names which one
reads in the market reports are fairly descriptive. Thin pale
crépe, for instance, arrives in long strips, generally about 4
feet long and 8 inches to 12 inches broad. It varies in
thickness from ';- to }-inch, and has a roughish surface,
from which the name ‘crépe’ is derived. This rubber is
pale-yellow in colour, and when held up to the light it is
quite transparent, which proves its purity, and accounts for
the very high price obtainable for this grade, viz., at present
about 10s. 3d. per tb.

The so-called ‘sheet’ rubber is similar to crépe, but
slightly thicker, and not so transparent. It is prepared in
a different manner, and, unlike crépe, must be put through the
washing mills by the manufacturer before-it can be used.

The world’s present sources of supply for crude rubber

are approximately as follows:— Tons.
The river Amazon with its tributaries 39,000
Other districts of Brazil 2,800
The Federated Malay States—Ceylon,
Sumatra, ete., (plantation rubber) 4,600
The Congo Free State and the French Congo 5,600
Portuguese West Africa 2,900
The West Coast of Africa, excluding the
Congo and Portuguese West Africa 9,500
Rangoon, Penang, Borneo, ete., (wild rubber) 1,200
East Coast Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, ete. 800
Mexico, the East Indies, and Central America 1,500
67,909

The fignres given above are necessarily for the most part
estimated, as with the exception of the exports from the
Amazon, no exact records are obtainable of the production of
the various districts, nor is it possible to obtain a complete
record at the different ports of arrival, as statistics of some of
the ports can only be obtained in an unclassified form, and
from other ports no accurate statistics at all are obtainable,
(The Times Weekly Edition, March 18, 1910.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 30; 1910:

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date April 11, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, a good business has been done in
West Indian Sea Island cotton, and the sales amount to
probably about 600 bags, including Montserrat and Nevis
18d. to 21d., St. Kitts 19d. to 213d., Anguilla 20d. to 21d.,
Barbuda 20d., St. Lucia 203 to 214d., St. Croix 20d. to 21d.,
Barbados 21d. to 22d., St. Vincent 22d. to 24d., with a few
odd superior bags at 25d. to 27/., and Stains of various
qualities lld. to 17d. The high relative price obtained for
Stains is entirely owing to the advance in Egyptian.

Egyptian cotton is so dear that the demand for the lower
grades of Sea Island remains brisk, whereas the finer
qualities, which are only used for special trades, are heavy of
sale this season. We expect that the West Indian crop will
be readily absorbed this season, as fast as it arrives.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending April 2, is as follows:—

There has been a limited demand this week, resulting
in sale of 94 bales, consisting of a crop lot, classing Extra
Fine, and such odd bags as remained in stock, classing Fine
to Extra Fine, the buying being for export.

The unsold stock is now reduced to about 250 bales,
consisting very largely of Planters’ Crop lots, held at 40c.,
50c. and 60c.

There is also left on plantation, not yet ginned, about
100 bales, classing Fully Fine.

COTTON IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.

In the Journal d@ Agriculture Tropicale, No. 104
(February 1910), an article appears by M. O. Labroy,
entitled La Culture du Coton aux Antilles Britan-
niques. This contains a good summary of the present
state of the cotton industry in the West Indies, and
parts of it have been extracted, as follows :—

In the light of the fact that the Sea Island cotton, such
as is produced in James and Edisto Islands (South Carolina)
is generally considered to be the outcome of rigorous selection,
conducted among surroundings eminently favourable to its
cultivation, it is evident that it cannot be exploited in any
other region, unless there are indications that the climate and
soil are suitable to a reasonable degree, and unless it is the
object of thorough selection which will render it most fitted
to exist in its new environment, and will maintain the
length of the fibre, its uniformity, strength and fineness, as
well as the length of life and the resistance of the plant to
parasites and storms.

The introduction of new types of cotton, against which
Dr. Francis Watts has signified his opinion, has been equally
criticised in cther cotton-growing countries. M. Gammie
(Agricultural Journal of India, April 1908) has finally shown
that the attempts made for eighty years in British India to
grow American, Egyptian and Bourbon cotton have failed, as
regards the greater number of varieties. Examples equally
convincing may be easily found in tropical Africa, and other
regions, and it is well known that the attempts to grow
Egyptian cotton in Arizona have been far from meeting with
suecess. The question arises as to whether it would be advis-
able to conduct experiments with these same cottons in
Jamaica, in accordance with proposals that have been made
already. (West India Committee Circular, May 11, 1909.)

If it is decided, nevertheless, to effect the introduction of
some variety showing great merit, it is necessary to give it
attention, and to practise selection in relation to it, for three
or four years before even its approximate value in the place
of its adoption can be decided. The crossing of cottons,
which might lead advantageously to the production of new
types, has not yet been the subject of precise observation in
the West Indies; experiments have been made, however, in
the crossing of Sea Island with the native cotton. The
greatest caution is required in the matter of the hybridization
of cottons of different species. O. F. Cook has stown (Bulletin
147, United States Department of Agriculture, entitled
Suppressed and Intensified Characters of Cotton Hybrids)
that the interest of such hybrids remains especially limited
to the first generation.

It is, above all, as a secondary crop, especially to
succeed sugar-cane where fungus diseases have seriously
damaged it, that cotton appears to us to have a certain future
in the West Indies.

DISTANCE FOR PLANTING COTTON.

The following conclusions have been reached, as
the result of experiments that have been carried out at
the Surat (India) Agricultural Station with a view to
determining the best distance at which to plant cotton,
in the rows :—

(1) The spacing of 18 inches between cotton plants is not
sufficient, for the yields of all the plots so spaced have fallen
considerably below those obta‘ned from the plots spaced
at 24 inches, 30 inches and 32 inches apart, and there is
very little to choose between these last three spacings, all
giving about the same results in the present season.

(2) The best results in the case of thinning have been
obtained with a 24-inch interval between consecutive plants.
The plots thinned to this distance have yielded at a rate of
nearly 40 tb. of seed-cotton per acre more than those thinned
at 6 inches, 12 inchesand |8 inches. This result was obtained

Vou. IX. No. 209.

on land rather below than above ‘good condition’, having
yielded a crop of Guinea corn in 1907-8, at the rate of 1,050 tb.
per acre, while the cotton crop in the present season ran from
300 to 350 Ib. of seed-cotton. No manure has been applied
to this land, which came into the possession of the farm only
two years ago. It will be interesting to see if future years’
figures confirm these results.

(3) Generally, there seems to be reason for concluding
that any arrangement of spacing and thinning which admits
of more than 11,060 or 12,000 plants per acre has a prejudic-
ial effect on the yield.

In this connexion, it is interesting to note that the
distance of 2 feet apart in the rows has been found to
be best in similar experiments conducted in St. Kitts.
An account of these will be found in the Report
on the Botanic Station, Economic Experiments and
Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9.

THE USE OF THE PLOUGH.

There is nothing which adds so much to draught as the
weight which the holder puts on to the handles. A man may
hold a plough firmly, and yet add but little to the draught,
and a well-set plough requires this rather than pressure.
A plough that a skilled ploughman cannot set to run easily
on fair land should be broken up, as it is a very expensive
implement to keep. But if one looks over a plough that is
difficult to hold, it is likely that there is one or other of
the nuts that regulates some adjustment that has never
been moved since it came from the works

Where the wheels are depended upon to regulate the
depth of the ploughing, it is very important that they, and
the standards and axle supporting them, are kept plumb true.
Tf any part is bent it should be put right by the blacksmith,
and any temporary derangement be set right by packing with
a wedge to correct it. To set off, the coulter also should be
arranged to assist the running. Where there is a tendency
for the plough to run away from its work, it should be set
a trifle wide to pull it back; but if it runs in, then it should
be set narrower. The coulter can greatly aid when the
plough runs away from its work through the land side of the
point becoming rounded, and having a tendency to follow the
inclination of the curve so formed. The coulter is ordinarily
best set fairly well forward, but on stony grounds it is desir-
able to set it so that a stone does not pitch between it and
the share. By setting a coulter point fairly forward, through its
inclination it runs freely into the softer ground below, so that
the cut is made up the edge, and the hard surface yields
more easily in this way than when it is attacked more verti-
cally. Sharp knives make easy work, blunt knives hard work:
therefore the coulter, which is a knife blade, should be kept
sharp. Sometimes one sees them little more thana round bar,
with 3 or 4 inches flattened and thick to do the eutting—
which is not economical. The nice adjustment of the coulter
is very essential to the easy running of the plough.

The nicer setting of the plough is effected from the head
or forepart of the beam, where there are two moveable parts
—one with a vertical movement, and the other with a lateral.
That with the lateral is known as the head, or T-head, and
that with the vertical as the hake, or sliding head. In the
steering of the plough, it has to be remembered that it is
mainly done by balancing, vsing the bottom of the body as
a pivot. If one wants to make it run more shallow, one
weighs on the handles, and up comes the head. If one
wants it to run to the right, one pushes the handles to the
left, and it pivots round, and so on. The sliding head

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 135

is made with a series of notches, which allow the draught
chain to be adjusted as desired. When the ground is hard
there is a tendency for the share to run upwards, and though
the holder can resist to some extent by pressing the head
down and holding against the tendency, he can be greatly
relieved by allowing the horses to help him. This he does
by altering the height of the dranght point. Remembering
that there is a pivot on which the plough balances, it is obvious
that the higher the point of attachment, the more will the
fore end of the plough be dipped, while the lower, the more
will it be lifted out. The sliding head, therefore, affords
easy correction to other faults which tend against a furrow of
even depth. The draught chain, however, can be made to
assist, for if short, the horses will lift the head, but if long,
they will pull it down. Ordinarily, a short chain suffices, but
on hard ground, a longer chain gives great relief to the
holder, and the plough runs steadier.

The T-head is u continuation of the beam, and is quadrant-
shaped, with pinholes at near intervals: it is used to assist in
controlling lateral swerving of the plough. The pivot action has
again to be regarded, and when it is desired to pull the big wheel
away from the unploughed ground, the sliding head is pushed
to the Jeft, and if it is required to bite the unploughed land,
it is pushed to the right, being held iv place by means of
a pin thrust through holes corresponding in the T-head and
the sliding head. The alteration of the position of the slid-
ing head to the rigid beam is necessary also, because the line
of draught is widely different when horses draw in single line,
when two are abreast, or when three are abreast, as each one
necessitates the draught being more or less on one side or the
other of the line of the beam; accordingly as the centre of the
main whipple-tree is to the line of the beam so must the
sliding head be fixed, and remembering the plough pivots, it
has to be set wider, in opposition to the way it is desired to
turn the head of the plough.

The setting of the breast or mould-board also influences
the run of the plough, as the wider it is opened—that is,
pushed out by the breast stay—the more willit turn the share
point on to the work. With all these means of adjusting, it
looks as though the setting of a plough ought to be a very
simple matter, but the struggling efforts of many ploughmen
give contradiction to this. In fact, to get all these points in
harmony takes a considerable period to learn; moreover, they
are subject to alteration every time different work is done,
and beyond all this is the knowledge which directs the best
type of work to be done for the purpose ahead.

When the plough is properly set, and, of course, still
more so, when ill-set, there is much to do to make it run so
as to give less strain to the horse and man. A furrow set
deeper on the wing side of the share is always heavier in
draught than one set with a level sole or slightly deeper on
the little wheel, because the share cuts clean across when it
is flat; but when the wing is lower than the preceding furrow,
the new furrow has to be torn out. On heavy land, especially,
the line of fracture may continue downwards for a considerable
distance, and instead of a 9-inch furrow, it may break out 13
or 14 inches, bringing up very objectionable subsoil. This
constitutes coarse ploughing. Coarse ploughing is not depend-
ent upon the depth and width of the furrow, but on this
breaking out of the subsoil. s

When one says the plough is balanced with the centre as
a pivot, this must not be taken to mean that there is merely
one spot which acts as a pivot; it is spread over quite a large
portion of the body and breast, as occasion demands, and
experience alone teaches where to apply the adjustments in
connexion with it from time to time. (The Tropical Agricult-
urist, February 1910.)

136

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Apri 30, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

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Specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

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News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
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Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
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will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural ews

Vou. 1X.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1910. No. 209.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial of this issue presents the former of
two articles on the functions of agricultural experiment
stations.

An account of progress that has been made in the
matter of the utilization of seedling sugar-canes in
Louisiana is given on page 131.

The geographical distribution of the cocoa-nut
palm is dealt with on page 132.

The sources from which the rubber supply of the
world is derived are given on page 133. This is
a matter of special interest, in view of the attention
that is being paid to this product at the present time.

An article on page 135 gives useful information
on the use of the plough.

The control of insect pests by means of their
natural parasites is a subject that is gaining a constantly
increasing interest, especially as it 1s now well demon-
strated that this forms a practical means of reducing
the numbers of such pests, in several instances. Work
that has been done in Hawaii, in this connexion, in
relation to sugar-cane is reviewed on page 138.

The Fifth Part of the series of articles that are
being given under the head of Fungus Notes, entitled
The Chief Groups of Fungi, appears on page 142. The
figures are reproduced after Tulasne.

Index and Title Page.

The index and title page of Vol. VIII of the Agri-
cultural News are published as a supplement to the
present issue. This will give the opportunity for the
numbers of that volume to be bound together.

rr tr

Rainfall in St. Lucia.

The rainfall returns of St. Lucia, for 1909, show
that there were four stations which received a precipita-
tion of more than 100 inches. These were: Uplyme
12414; Border 10812; Soucis, 10055; and Park, 100:01
inches. The stations at which a rainfall of near, or less
than, 70 inches was obtained were Riviere Dorée
(59:13), Black Bay (61:79), Retraite (70°57), and Inver-
goil (70°85): in the case of the last station, however,
returns were only made for ten months and nine days,
that is from February 20. The maximum rainfall in
one day was registered at Soucis, namely 432 inches on
October 18: it was here, also, that the number of days
on which rain fell was largest, namely 323. The small-
est number of days on which rain was received, namely
118, was at Black Bay. The average annual rainfall at
Castries for twenty years is 91-09 inches.

A Simple Method of Electroplating.

An account of a method of elecroplating which
seems worthy of notice by reason of its simplicity is
given in a paper by the inventor of the process, pub-
lished in the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts,
for February 4, 1910. ‘The efforts that resulted in the
making of the invention arose from a desire to devise
a process by which any person of ordinary intelligence
could, without any technical training, produce an elec-
trolytic deposit. The chief difficulties in the way of
attaining this object were that it was absolutely
necessary that no heating or baths, or any poisonous
ingredients, such as cyanide of potassium or mercury
should be employed, and that there should not
be a multiplicity of powders or liquids used. The
method consists in the utilization of a mixture of pow-
dered substances, to which its inventor has given the
trade name of ‘Galvanit’, by the aid of which a given
metal is deposited by applying the powder by means of
a rag or brush, and rubbing the object to be coated, in
the presence of moisture. No preliminary treatment
of the surface on which the deposit is placed is
required, other than making it reasonably clean and
bright; the rubbing with a rag or brush cleanses and
polishes the newly deposited surface, while the deposition
of the metal is taking place. In the case of a par-
ticular metal, the corresponding powder has to be used;
the process is not confined to simple metals, but many
alloys, such as brass and gun metal, can be used for
coating suitable surfaces, by its aid. In addition, the
powders can be used for depositing metals on alumin-
ium—an important matter when the difficulty of plat-
ing aluminium in the ordinary way is considered.

The Galvanit tin powder is stated to be of special
use for renewing the tinned surface of cooking utensils;
any domestic servant is capable of accomplishing this

Vou. IX. No. 209.

without any greater expenditure of energy than that
required to scour the vessel that is being treated.

The process permits of the deposition of several
metals one on the top of the other, as for example, tin
on nickel, copper on tin, and so on, without removing
the metal deposited previously. ‘The powders are being
produced on a commercial scale by the Galvanit Manu-
facturing Company.

a

The Preservation of Timber.

Particulars of a process for preserving timber have
been given recently in the Agricultural News (Vol.
VIII, pp. 249, 408). An account of another means for
the same purpose is contained in the Monthly Magaz-
ine of the Incorporated Chamber of Commerce of
Liverpool, for March 1910. This originated in the
discovery that carbolic acid, dissolved in alcohol or oil,
possesses only slight antiseptic properties, while its
great preservative qualities appear when it has been
mixed with water. Another fact that has been demon-
strated is that creosote which has been freed from tar
acids has antiseptic properties equal to those of the
original oil, containing about 10 per cent. of it. ‘These
considerations have given a clue as to the correct treat-
ment of the creosote oil obtained from coal tar. They
indicate that the aim of the manufacturer should be
to extract all the tar acids from the creosote, in order
that the oil and the tar acids should be available separ-
rately for the purpose of preservation.

The main point in the new process is that the tar
acids are combined with lime into a salt which is
soluble in water, so that their efficacy is maintained,

while they are obtained in such a condition that the’

impregnation of timber by them can be easily effected.
The liquid that is obtained by the process has been
given the name of Cresol-Calcium, on account of the
fact that cresol is the chief ingredient among the tar
acids.

It is claimed for the new preservative, that: (1)
it is, at least, as efficacious as any other preservative,
and in several instances considerably more so; (2) the
cost of treating timber is much smaller than in any
other known method, being about 15°5 per cent. of that
of the old way; (3) it can be easily distributed in the
timber in large or small quantities; (4) the preserva-
tion of timber with cresol-calcium can be carried out
in accordance with all known impregnating methods;
(5) all plants already in existence for impregnating
timber can be employed: (6) wood treated by this
method is less inflammable than that impregnated with
creosote, and the timber is very much cleaner to handle;
(7) cresol-calcium can be prepared from tar acids
produced either from kiln-burnt tar or tar oils.

Trials of the method are to be made by the
Swedish State Railway, the Swedish Impregnating
Co., the Forest Service of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, several railway companies in
England and France, and in several British Colonies.
Further particulars of the process may be obtained
from Messrs. Blagden, Waugh & Co., 50 & 51, Lime
Street. London, EC.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 13

-I

Scheme for the Improvement of Pastures.

A scheme for the improvement of pastures in
Antigua has been originated by Colonel the Hon. R.
Stapleton Cotton, which consists, broadly speaking, in
the awarding of prizes for the best kept pastures in the
island. It has met with the approval of the Antigua
Agricultural and Commercial Society, and arrange-
ments have been made by which it will be carried into
effect by the Department of Agriculture, acting in co-
operation with that society.

Three prizes are otfered for competition: the first,
of the value of £21, by Colonel the Hon. R. Stapleton
Cotton; the second, worth £10, by Messrs. Henckell,
du Buisson & Co.; while the value of the third has not
yet been decided. The chief conditions in the compet-
ition are: (1) competing pastures must have been
properly entered fur it: (2) they must not be less than
20 acres in area; (3) they must be free from all ‘ bush’;
(4) one suitable shade plant, preferably the Saman tree
(Pithecolobium Samar), at least, must be planted per
acre, and this must be properly fenced and growing at
the time of judging: (5) pastures must have been used
regularly as such up to that time; (6) in the event of
no pasture of sufficient merit being entered for compet-
ition, the prizes will not be awarded: (7) the appoint-
ment of judges for the competition shall rest with the
Department of Agriculture, acting with the Agricultural
Society, and the final decision, in any matter of dispute,
shall rest with the Imperial Commissioner of Agri-
culture.

re

Use of Charcoal in Fattening Ducks.

The Journal of the Board of Agriculture for last
month gives an account of some experiments that were
carried out in England for the purpose of deciding the
value possessed by charcoal as a means of keeping
ducks in good health that are being fattened in close
confinement. In the experiment, food was employed
which had been shown to be profitable and economic-
al, namely boiled potatos, barley meal, ground oats,
skim milk and tallow greaves. Plenty of grit and
drinking water were supplied. The food was the
same for all the different lots of ducklings under experi-
ment, except that in one case an unlimited amount
of rough charcoal was given, while in another
powdered charcoal was mixed with the food, before it
was moistened, at the rate of one-fifth of charcoal to
four-fifths of the other ingredients.

It was shown by the trials that some form of
charcoal is essential in the process of fattening ducks.
The ducklings were apparently kept healthy by it, and
fattening could be continued with profit for a much
longer period than when the food did not include
charcoal.

As far as the increase in the weight of the ducks
is concerned, the best method of giving the charcoal
appears to be to mix it with the food, but the slight
increase in weight hardly pays for the extra cost en-
tailed in grinding it and iacorporating it with the food.

The charcoal employed in the experiments was
obtained by ‘burning’ wood.

THE

AGRICUL[URAL NEWS.

Aprit 30, 1910.

ED Gy)

Gis NINE SEZ
Cl an a
INSECT NOTES.
NATURAL ENEMIES OF SUGAR-CANE
PESTS.

The control of insect pests by means of their natural
enemies is being attempted on a large scale in many parts of

the world. The largest of these trials is perhaps being made
in connexion with the gypsy moth in massachusetts, while
the results that have been obtained in the control of citrus
pests in California, and of sugar-cane pests in Hawaii, are
sufticiently striking to attract attention. Mention has also
been made in a recent number of the Agricultural News of
the results obtained in Florida by means of the fungoid para-
sites of certain scale insects.

Mr. F. Muir,an entomologist on the staff of the Hawaiian
Sugar Planters’ Experiment Station, has recently visited
islands in the Malay Archipelago in search of parasites of the
sugar-cane borer (Sphenophorus obscurus) for introduction
inte Hawaii. An interesting account of the entire trip has
appeared in the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Monthly, in the
numbers for September and November, 1909. ‘The first of
these was reviewed in the Agricultural News (see Vol. VIII,
p. 393), where it was mentioned that three parasites had been
found. One of these is a Tachinid fly, one a Histerid beetle,
and one a beetle of the family Elateridae.

The Tachinidae are a family of the order Diptera, well
known for their parasitic habits. The Histeridae are beetles
of diverse habits, a few being predaceous, but the greater
number are feeders on decaying and fermenting matter of all
kinds.

The Elateridae are the click-beetles or skip-jacks, whose
larvae, known as wire-worms, for the most part feed on the
roots of plants, and many species are injurious to cultivated
crops. The large fire-flies (Pyrophorus noctiluca), common
in many of the West Indian Islands, also belong to this
family. It is of interest that members of these two families
of beetles should be discovered to be parasitic in habit.

The second part of Mr. Muir’s report gives an account
of his visit to New Guinea (Papua). Here he found the
Sphenophorus borer holding a secondary position as an enemy
of sugar-cane; a very large proportion of the borers collected
were parasitized. The most prominent insect pest of
sugar-cane was a moth borer related to Diatruea which
was not held in check to anything like the same extent as
the Sphenophorus, by its insect parasites.

It should be mentioned that, in the localities where the
parasitized borers were found, sugar-cane is not grown for
the purpose of sugar-making, but rather for eating.
Each native grows a few stools of sugar-cane in his garden,
where it produces seed freely, from which young plants
readily spring. It would thus appear that the sugar-cane
plant grows under the most natural conditions in New
Guinea, and that where these prevail, the plant, the pests,
and the enemies of the pests should all occur under those
circumstances which establish a balance of nature.

Mr. Muir was taken ill in Brisbane and was unable to
accompany his cages containing parasitized borers on the long
journey from Australia to Honolulu, and the parasites

received no attention. As a consequence, none of them
were alive on arrival at Honolulu. Mr. Muir believes
that with the experience he has gained, he will be able on his
next visit to Papua to keep the parasites alive until they
arrive safely in Hawaii.

In addition to the efforts that have been made in Hawaii
to introduce the natural enemies of the pests which occur in
those islands, very stringent laws lave been passed with the
object of preventing the importation of additional pests.

With regard to the danger of importing these into
Hawaii, Mr. Muir writes in his report: ‘When I consider
the numerous species of insects that [ have found living on
sugar-cane in the various places I have visited during the
past three years, some belonging to groups of which we are
quite free at present, any one of which might prove as
destructive asthe leaf hopper or beetle borer, I then fully
recognize the necessity of keeping the strictest supervision
over all imported plants and fruits.’

The investigations in connexion with the sugar-cane borer
in Hawaii should be of interest to sugar planters in the West
Indies, on account of its similarity to the weevil borer in this
part of the world.

In the Hawaiian Islands the sugar-cane borer has been
known as a pest of canes since 1865, and in 1904 the
damage caused by this was estimated at $500,000. The
larva is known es a borer in bananas, the royal palm (palmiste)
and the toddy palm (Orcodoxia regia and Caryota wrens) and
the papaw (Carica Papaya). In the West Indies the weevil
borer (Sphenophorus sericeus) is known to attack sugar-cane
only, while a related species (S. sordzdus) attacks bananas in
certain islands. The attacks of the weevil borer in the West
Indies were much more severe a few years ago than they are
reported to be at present. It is a question as to whether this
has come about as the result of the more universal cultivation
of newer varieties, or from the practice of burning rotten
canes, which is more general now than formerly, or as the
improvement due to the control exercised on the borer by
natural enemies.

Mr. Muir writes that the reintroduction of soft canes
into Fiji from Queensland has been accompanied by an
increase in the severity of the borer attacks. By ‘soft cane’
is probably meant a cane having a soft rind, and the
difference between hard and soft cane may be illustrated by
some of the seedling canes and by the Bourbon.

FOREST ENTOMOLOGY IN THE UNITED
STATES.

The Report of the Entomologist, United States Departe
ment of Agriculture, for 1909, gives information that the
last piece of work of the Bureau during the year was
connected with plans for co-operating with a State entomolog-
ist in making a survey to determine the principal insect
enemies of forest trees, as well as the damage done by them,
an assistant being provided by the State, who will work
under the immediate instructions of the Bureau, subject to
the approval of the State entomologist. By this means,
a field of survey and practical control work will be opened
up, so that any state, by the expenditure of a comparatively
small sum of money may obtain authoritative advice, based
on wide investigation. At the same time, the Bureau will
be in the possession of a valuable means of obtaining
information for subsequent dissemination and of making
practical demonstrations of methods of insect control. Such
work will lead to a more general recognition of the
importance of the subject, and of the measures by which the
damage to forests by insects may be minimized. a

Von, IX. No. 209.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

139

ef

Ss S
THE RAT PROBLEM.

Boelter. John

By -W. BR.
Bale, Sons and Danielson, Limited, London.

The object of this book is sufficiently stated in the intro-
duction: it is to present the case against the rat so complete-
ly as to ensure the passing of a bill through Parliament, on
the lines of the Danish Rat Law, which shall ensure co-operat-

ive effort toward the destruction of this pest. After this,
the objections to the rat are presented in the first three chap-
ters, which deal respectively with the history of the rat, the
economic Josses caused by it, and the part played by it
in the dissemination of disease. Chapter IV deals with the
means for the extermination of rats, and a useful summary of
the conclusions reached is given in Chapter V. Finally,
Chapters VI and VII present an account of various rat laws,
together with a draft of the one proposed for adoption in
England, and a bibliography of the subject.

Employing the subject-matter of the book, it appears
that the position in England, as regards the brown rat, may
be summed up in the following way. This animal seems to
have reached that country from India, in the year 1732, since
when it has exterminated the black rat and become a national
pest. Five factors seem to have contributed to the latter
result : its physical and mental faculties; its great fecundity;
the provision of more food and shelter through the increase
ot the human population; the killing of its natural enemies;
and the lack of co-operation for the purpose of destroying it.
The increase in numbers has become a serious matter,
on account of the damage that is constantly effected
by it, and because of its acting as a carrier of diseases
such as trichinosis and bubonic plague, and the problem
of its destruction has become of national importance. As
‘there is no ideal weans of effecting this destruction, any
method for killing rats is worthy of adoption as long as there
is general co-operation in the matter, and the State should
arrange for this co-operation by the passing of suitable laws
and the provision of funds. In the meantime, something may
be effected by public support of rat-killing clubs organized
by the Incorporated Society for the Destruction of Vermin.

Interesting information is given as to the efficacy of
such of the bacteriological preparations, for the destruction
of rats by injecting them with disease, as have been found
worthy of investigation. Of these, that known as Issat-
schenko’s bacillus has been shown to be fairly effective for
a few generations. The virulence of the disease produced by
the Danysz virus is obtained artificially, and is said to be
unstable; rats become immune to the disease, which has
a further objection in that it is not contagious among them.
‘These facts make it of little practical value, and_ this
characteristic is stated to be shared by the culturesof the Bacil-
lus Danysi known as the Pasteur virus, the Liverpool virus
and the Laroche virus. Ratin, which consists of cultures of
Neumann’s bacillus, is stated to have been very successful,
except in certain isolated areas. Success is also claimed for
the preparation called Raticide, which produces a disease
that is transmitted in a more virulent form to those rats
which have attacked and eaten the ones that were first to

suffer from its effects.
tests which show that
animals.

To return to the book itself, it is evident that it has
been written with a view to gaining the attention of the
ordinary reader, and it is to be feared that too great an effort
has been made to this end, with the result that it is loaded
with a deal of matter that is of very little use in connexion
with the subject. This has caused the inclusion of much, both
as regards text and illustrations, that may have been omitted
with advantage. To this are added the drawbacks that the
figures are not numbered and that there is no index. Neverthe-
less, asis shown above, it contains much that should be of use
to all who are interested in the problem with which it deals,

There are, however, no ofticial feeding
this culture is harmless to other

INCUBATORS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT, by
J. H. Sutelitiee YRUIT CULTURE FOR AMATEURS,
by See be Wright. E. Upcott Gill, London.

These form two of the volumes of a number of practie-
al hand-books that are being brought out by this firm of
publishers; they may be obtained at the price of one shilling.
The first-mentioned is of the greater interest to those living
in the West Indies, as the second is devoted to the considera-
tion ot hardy fruits alone; they will therefore be considered
in the order given above.

Incubators and Their Management was written with the
idea of presenting the information that the author was
desirous of possessing when he first became interested in the
subject of incubation, and it fulfils this purpose successfully.
The first four chapters are devoted to subjects connected
with natural incubation and the development of the chicken
in the egg. Chapters V to X treat very thoroughly of
incubators, and in reading them, there is evidence of a desire
to deal fairly with the different types of apparatus; special
attention might be drawn to the account of a home-made
incubator which is described in Chapter X.. The two last
chapters deal with the artificial rearing of chickens, and egg
testers and egg boxes. The style in which the book is
written is simple, and it is completed by a useful index.

The fact that Fruit Culture for Amateurs is written by
the Superintendent of the Royal Horticultural Gardens,
Wisley, gives an indication of its value, and a perusal of the
work will show that it fulfils the promise of its authorship.
The greater part of it can only be of very general interest,
however, to those in the West Indies: matters which more
closely concern such readers will be found near the end,
where grafting, budding, manuring, storing and preserving
fruit, and its packing and marketing are-dealt with. The
book is written in a pleasant style and, like the one just
reviewed, contains a good index.

TELEGRAPH

THE WEEKLY GARDENING
BOOK. Published by the Proprietors of the Weekly Tele-

graph, London.

Like the two books just reviewed, this is issued at the
price of one shilling. It contains a large amount of informa-
tion, is profusely illustrated, and is well worth the price
asked for it. Although most of the gardening instructions
are naturally of small application in the tropics, the work is
of value to those interested in gardening in the West Indies,
on account of the adequate descriptions of plants, and the
information as to the conditions under which they grow best,
which it gives. Such persons will find it worth obtaining, if
only for the aid to the selection of plants for different
purposes, on pages 191 to 194, and for its useful illustra-
tions.

140

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 30, 1910.

GLEANINGS.

No. 70 of Colonial Reports and Papers— Miscellaneous

has been issued recently. It presents a list of colonial laws
dealing with patents, designs, trade marks, and the marking
of merchandize, and regulations issued thereunder.

Pamphlet No. 96 of the Wellcome Chemical Research
Laboratories has been issued as a reprint of part of the issue
of the Pharmaceutical Journal, dated November 13, 1909.
It deals with the tests for purity of quinine salts.

The Report of the Division of Biology and Horticulture,
1909, of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture,
states that the bee industry in New Zealand is rapidly
expanding, and that it was confidently estimated that the
output of honey and wax during 1909 would be worth at
least £45,000.

The Comptroller-General of Trade and Customs at
Melbourne reports that, during the half-year ended December
1909, 70,795 tb. of cotton was gathered in Australia, all
being produced in Queensland. The total production for
the year amounted to 175,470 th. (The Board of Trade
Journal, March 24, 1910.)

According to the Report on the Proyress or Agriculture
in India for 1907-9, experiments with calcium nitrate and
calcium cyanamide, as manures for wheat and linseed, did
not give very encouraging results. There was a small increase
in yield due to the application of calcium nitrate, but this
was not sufficient in any case to constitute a profitable return.

The Union Coloniale Francaise, which began its colonial
congresses by that in North Africa in 1908, and by that of
the older French colonies in 1909, is continuing its work, and
it has been decided that the congress which will take place at
Paris on October 10 to 15, 1910, will have for its subject the
questions which are of interest with respect to East Africa;
that is to say, on one hand Madagascar and its dependencies,
and on the other hand the Somali Coast (Djiboutil).

It is stated by Mr. Joseph Jones, Curator of the Botanic
Gardens and Experiment Station, Dominica, that the weather
in that island during the three weeks ending March 1, 1910,
was very abnormal for the time of the year. In common with
the rest of the West Indies, very high winds were experienced,
accompanied by heavy rains. The unusual nature of the rain-
fall at the Botanic Gardens during February 1910, is shown
by the fact that it amounted to 11°42 inches for that month,
whereas the mean rainfall for the same period, during sixteen
years, is 2°87 inches. In relation to this matter, it may be
mentioned that a note on the rainfall of Dominica for 1909
appeared in the last issue of the Agricu/tural News.

The area under sugar-cane in Eastern Bengal and Assam
in 1909 is estimated to have been 170,800 acres, as compared
with 177,800 in 1908. The final forecast of the crop, issued
by the Department of Agriculture, gives this as 97 per cent.
of the normal outturn per acre. Taking the latter at 12
tons, this gives a total yield of 198,810 tons, or 14
per cent. more than that of last year. During the year
under report, the quantity of raw sugar produced from date
palms is estimated to have been 53,950 tons.

It is not considered good policy in Mexico to plant
rubber alone. On account of the climatic conditions of the
country, there is a season when the rubber does not provide
labour for all thehands, and for this reason it is ad vantageous
to have other crops on the estate. It is, besides, a matter of
wisdom and foresight not to stake everything on one crop,
however good it may be. Most Mexican rubber plantations,
therefore, have a diversity of crops, such as coffee, cacao,
sugar, fibres and others. (Dr. Pehr Olsson-Seffer in Z’rop-
ical Life, March 1910.)

The Annual Report on the Experimental Work of the
Dherwar (India| Agricultural Station, for 1908-9, states
that the expensive cultivation of potatos in the wet season
in black soil, and the primitive way of making furrows for
planting the potatos by the native method, caused the Depart-
ment to introduce a new improved English double mould-board
plough for such work. On the Experiment Farm this had
been done hitherto by means of a Planet Junior hoe, but it
was found that the double mould-board plough was much
superior to that implement for the purpose.

The results obtained in the science subjects taken by the
candidates at the St. Kitts Grammar School in the Cambridge
Local Examinations held in December last were as follows:
Agricultural Science (Senior), | candidate: ‘good’; Chemistry
(Senior), 1 candidate: ‘good’; Chemistry (Junior), 5 candidates
four ‘good’, 1 ‘pass’; Chemistry (Preliminary), 3 candidates:
‘good ’, ‘moderately good ’, ‘ pass’; Botany (Junior), 3 candi-
dates: 2 ‘moderately good’, 1 ‘pass’. It is thus seen that
there were no failures in any of the papers in Natural Science,
and that of the thirteen papers taken, ten were marked ‘ good”
or ‘moderately good’, and three satisfied the examiners.
Four of the candidates were holders ofagricultural scholarships.

With reference to the Second International Congress of
Tropical Agriculture and Colonial Development to be held at
Brussels on May 20 to 23, 1910, of which an announcement
was made in the Agricultura? News, Voi. IX, p. 12, the
following information has been recently received. The
subscription to the Congress for non-members of the Inter-
national Association of Colonial Agriculture is fixed at 15
francs, for those who desire to receive copies of the Congress
publications, and 10 franes for those who do not. The
subscription for members of the International Association
will be 10 franes, and this will entitle them to receive copies of
all the Congress publications. Subseriptions for the Congress
should be sent to M. Vandervaeren, Ministry of the Interior
and of Agriculture, Brussels, Belgium. It may be stated
that associate membership of the International Association of
Colonial Agriculture may be obtained by payment of an
annual subscription of 15 franes.

Vor. IX: No;209. THE

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

MAY.
First PEertop,
Seasonal Notes.

Lime plots that are in full growth should be well
manured with pen manure. This should be spread evenly
on the soil, after the weeding is completed; it must not be
heaped at the base of the trees. What is the reason of this
in relation to (1) the way in which. the roots grow, (2) the
changes that take place in the manure, (3) the effect on the
soil? All dead branches should be removed from the trees,
placed in heaps, and burnt in an open space. What causes
are there for burning such material? The ash that. is left
may, with advantage, be scattered over the soil in which
the plants are growing. To what does this ash chiefly owe
its value asa manure ! ;

A careful examination of lime trees for epiphytes and
parasitic plants should be made, and these should be removed.
What is the chief difference between an epiphyte and a para-
site, and how may plants of the former kind do damage to
the trees on which they are growing !

It is important that a careful look out for scale insects on
lime trees should be kept. Useful information will be obtained
by making notes on the distribution and spread of these,
attention being given at the same time to the weather condi-
tions, especially in relation to rainfall and the force and direct-
ion of the wind. Opportunities will be available, where Bengal
beans have been planted in lime cultivations, to observe the
effect of these in keeping scale insects in check. Note that those
scale insects that chiefly attack the stem, such as the purple
scale and the snow scale, are rarely followed by black blight,
but that those which are found mainly on the leaves are chiefly
responsible for the encouragement of the growth of this fungus,
examples being the common shield scale and the Lantana bug.
Qbservations on scale insects should not be confined to those
occurring on cultivated plants; the examination of wild plants
will prove of great interest, especially as it may afford some
elue as toa probable way in which the infection of the cultiv-
ated plants may take place. Look for examples of scale
insects attacked by fungi (see Ayricultural News, Vol. VIII,
p. 299; Vol. IX, p. 30).

Provision for green dressing material may be made by
sowing seeds of some suitable plant, such as the horse bean,
when there is sufficient rain to ensure successful germination,
and cutting the plants back to about 4 inches above the
ground as soon as they commence to flower. A new growth
will be speedily obtained, and the ground will be covered in
a few weeks. If such a green dressing is grown in this way and
buried in the soil beneath, what does it add to the soil? What
effects have green dressings on: (1) the physical state of the
soil, (2) the plant food already present in the soil at the time
when they were applied? For what kinds of soil is care
required in the matter of using green dressings, and what are
the circumstances under which the application of these may
result in actual harm? (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII,
pp. 225 and 241.)

Preparations should now be made for dealing with the
June crop of limes. These will consist chiefly in the over-
hauling of the mill, tayches, packages, etc., so that everything
may be in order for the concentration of the juice and its
shipment, and the provision of a sufficient amount of fuel.
Why is lime juice usually concentrated before being shipped!
What other means of preparing the product for export is
employed, and what are its advantages! (See West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. VII, p. 167; Vol. IX, p. 193; and Pamphlet

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

141

No. 53, entitled A BC of Lime Cultivation.)

On cotton estates, where ginning is in progress, the
opportunity should be taken to make observations on the
working of the cotton gin, and to become familiar with the
adjustments that are required by this machine, which, if it is
to do its work properly, requires to be frequently overhauled.
Information in connexion with cotton gins is given in
Pamphlet No. 60 of the Department Series, entitled Cotton
Gins, How to Erect and Work Them.

When the ginning of the present cotton crop has been
completed, it should be possible to ascertain the yields that
have been obtained from the different fields, and the notes
that have been taken during the growing season will afford
a means of gauging the effects of manurial treatment, and of
insect and fungus pests on the produce of the plant. The
information that will be obtained in this way will show the
value of careful and continuous observation.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What are the chief causes of fertility in a soil?

(2) Give an account of the principal ways in which
scale insects are distributed in nature.

(3) What are the chief differences between monocotyl-
edons and dicotyledons, and how are some of these connected
with the possibility of grafting, in relation to a given plant /

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) What are the chief advantages to be obtained by the
early planting of cotton ¢

(2) Under what conditions does the most successful
fermentation of pen manure take place /

(3) Give an account of the trees that may be used for
shading cacao, and indicate the special conditions under
which the use of each of them is advisable.

CATOH CROPS FOR RUBBER IN MALAYA.

The Quarter Century Number of the India Rubber
Journal contains an article on the catch crops that are
employed in cultivations of Para rubber in Malaya. After
explaining that many planters were at first discouraged in the
matter of starting rubber plantations, on account of the fact
that so long a time elapses before the plant becomes remuner-
ative, it shows how some attempted to ameliorate this condi-
tion by the employment of catch crops,

One of the first of these to be used was coffee; in fact
the pioneers of rubber-planting in Malaya were coffee plant-
ers whose rubber trees were, in many cases, grown among
coffee plants. Cassava was shown by the Director of the
Singapore Botanic Gardens to be a suitable crop for the
purpose, chiefly on account of the additional tillage of the
land that its cultivation induced. Sugar-cane has proved to
be valuable in this connexion; an instance is given in the
case, of an estate in Perak, where 2,000 acres of rubber has
been cultivated among canes as a catch crop, partly during
two, and partly during three, years, while the revenue from
the sugar has more than covered the expenditure on the
estate. Bananas have proved valuable, whether the fruit was
exploited or not, for in the latter case, the cultivation is use-
ful in keeping down weeds, and on light land, the texture of
the soil was improved. Indigo has also been employed with
success, as a catch crop.

It is stated that, in order that the full benefit may be
derived from catch crops among rubber, the rows of trees
should be about 30 feet apart, and that there should be
a space of 3 feet on each side of the stems in the row, where
nothing should be allowed to grow.

Apert 30, 1910.

It only remains to be added, before

142 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS
FUNGUS NOTES need be said here.
C concluding the description of the Ascomycetes, that some
—_—— species in this group may have both the first form and one
THE CHIEF GROUPS OF FUNGI.

Parr Vi.

Tue Ascomyceres (continued). In the last number of
the Agricultural News the characters of the chief subdivisions
of this large group of fungi were considered, mainly from the
point of view of the ascus fructifications. It now remains to
make afew general remarks about the other spore forms
belonging to the group. These are very numerous and varied,
and can only be discussed very shortly here; a more elaborate
account of them will be given when con-
sidering the Fungi Imperfecti, to which
many of them were at one time thought
to belong. ‘The conidial spore forms may
roughly be divided into three groups.
Firstly, there ave those in which the
spores are borne freely exposed to the air,
the conidiophores arising directly from the
hyphae of the vegetative mycelium, as
in the mildews and moulds. Secondly,
forms in which the conidiophores arise as
terminal or lateral branches of hyphae,
woven together to form a more or less
definite fructification, as, for example,
the red heads of Sphaerostilbe coccophila
on scale insects, and the Pusariwm stage
of the cacao canker fungi. Thirdly, forms
in which the conidiophores and conidia
are contained in closed fructifications, often
opening by a pore, known as pycnidia,
and closely resembling the perithecia of
the Pyrenomycetes. The simplest form
of conidiophore in the first group is
a lateral or terminal hypha producing
a single spore, which is abstricted and
falls off, after which another is formed.
In some cases, the spores may simply
stick to the sides of the conidiophore,
and then a head of spores, held to-
gether by mucilage, formed. In
other cases the conidia may be produced in
chains, each conidium sticking to the
one immediately behind it. The conidio-
phores may be branched, or given off in whorls, from
three tosix in each whorl, from a hypha
whose tip is also a conidiophore. In other
cases, the end of the hypha may be swollen
and covered with small knobs, or steriy-
mata, from each of which one or achain of
spores is formed. [x- amples of these spore
forms occur, as has been already stated,
among the moulds, such as the common
blue moulds, Penieci/- lium spp. which grow
on jam, bread, and other decaying sub-
stances. The mildews of grapes, cotton and
roses are also conidial stages of ascomycet
ous fungi. Spores produced in this way
are intended to in- Fic. 24. Geri crease the numbers of
a species: while the NarixG Sporn. ascospores which are
usually produced as the food-supply —be-
comes exhausted, are intended to carry on the species until
favourable circumstances again arise, and consequently
often will not germinate until they have passed through
a resting period of some months. With regard to the
other two forms of conidial fructification, notbing further

is

Fic.

Corn.

23. Usrinaco Mayopts.
Swellings on the Stem of Indian

of the other two, in addition to the ascospore stage.
Tue Bastmromyceres. This group of fungi may, for
the purposes of this article, be divided up as fellows:—
Ustilagineae.
Uredinales.
Hymenomycetes.
Gasteromycetes.

In the first two groups, the basidium is divided up into
four cells by transverse septa. Inthe Ustilagineae, each cell
of the basidium gives rise directly to numer-
ous small sporidia, In the Uredinales, how-
ever, each cell of the basidium gives rise
to a lateral sterigma, and each sterigma forms
one sporidium terminally. In the other two
groups, the basidium is unicellular and forms
four terminal sterigmata, from each of which
a sporidium arises. (See Agricultural News,
Vol. IX, p. 94, Fig. 12.)

The ustiracrngar. The members of this
group are the wellknown ‘smut’ fungi of
various crops belonging to the grass family.
A full account of them was given in the Ag77-
cultural News, Vol. LX, p. 59, so that noth-
ing further need be added here. In Fig. 23,
a portion of the stem of Indian corn is repres-
ented, affected by the fungus Ustelago Maydis;
it shows very clearly the characteristic swellings
produced by the fungus. Hig. 24 shows a ger-
minating spore of the same fungus. It has
formed a septate basidium, from three cells of
which sporidia have been produced.

The ureprnates. This group of fungi
is entirely parasitic in habit, and its numb-
ers are often extremely specialized with
regard to the host plants on which they can
live. The whole group has been extensively
investigated and is of great interest, as will,
it is hoped, appear later. One stage of the life-
history forms the ‘rust’ disease of the leaves
of many different plants. The other gives
rise to the ‘cluster cups’, also well-known
signs of disease in many temperate coun-
tries. ‘The actual damage done by
ditterent members of the group
varies very largely. The forms best
known in this part of the West
Indies are: rust of cotton (Uredo
gossypn, Agricultural News, Vols.,
IV, p. 246; V, p. 183; VI, pp. 135,
174) rust of ground nuts (Uvedo
uvachidis; see Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII, pp. 315 and 347), and
rust of cannas (Uredo cannae). In
this stage, the fungi form small
light- or dark-brown areas under
the epidermis of the leaves and green
stems of the host plant. When the
spores are ripe, the epidermis of the
host is broken and the spores are
freely exposed to the air. The
‘cluster cup’ stage is usually more
circular, and often bounded by an
irregular fringe of the whitish torn
epidermis of the host plant. The

Fig. 25. Urbbo LINEARIS.

(a) Three Uredospores.

(b) Germinating Uredo-
spores.

Vor. IX. No. 209.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

143

colour of the spores formed in the cup, and the consequent
colour of the inside of the cup, is usually brown, or reddish-
brown.

These fungi produce, in all, four different types of spore,
though some species may show only two types, or even only
one type. The description of these four types, together with
the difference in the host plants on which they oceur, and one
or two similar points of interest will be described in the next
number of the Ayricultural News.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.LS., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market
for the month of March :—

The general condition of the markets in drugs and spices
during the month of March has been quite of a normal
character, the only exceptions being in cocaine and rubber.
The first article has been disposed of at considerably reduced
rates, due, it is said, to two makers selling at undercutting
prices, which has led to others falling into line-—a result of
the decreasing demand for this drug. Though India rutber
is an article outside the scope of our review, we cannot refrain
from mentioning it, occupying, as it does, an immensé amount
of attention, little, if anything, short of excitement; 11s. 5d.
to 11s. 63d. per tb. being quoted for hard fine Para, at the
time of writing.

GINGER.

The market in this article has been dull throughout the
month, there being but very little demand. No offerings of
Jamaica have been made, and for most other kinds the offerings
have been bought in. At the first spice auction on March 2,
393 packages of Cochin and Calicut were brought forward,
all of which were bought in at firm prices —unsorted Calicut
at 62s., rough brown Calicut at 52s., and good bright washed
Cochin at 52s. A week later the offerings amounted to 180
bags of bold, bright, washed Calicut, and 138 bags of good
plump, washed Cochin. The prices at which they were bought
in were 48s. and 50s., respectively. Again on the 16th, a large
quantity of Cochin and Calicut was offered, the principal
portion of which was disposed of privately; good bright
washed Cochin was bought in at 52s. 6d.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

At the spice auction on the 16th, West Indian nutmegs
were steady, 148 packages were offered, and sold at slightly
increased rates. At the same sale 32 packages of West Indian
mace were disposed of at the following rates—fair pale 2s. 1d.
to 2s. 2d. per tb., palish 1s. 10d., fair red 1s. 8d., to ls. 9d.,
dark red 1s. 6d. to 1s. 7d., and broken 1s. 5d. There was
very little demand for Pimento during the month, a few bags
only being sold at 24d. per ib.

SARSAPARILLA.

The first sale of this drug took place on the 10th, when
there were offered of Lima-Jamaica 25 bales, 6 of which were
sold at 11d. to 1s. per Ib. for fair quality; of native Jamaica
56 bales were offered and 16 sold at prices of 104d. for
fair red and 11d. and 9d. for other qualities. Of 32 bales
of Guatemala character, none were sold, 9d. being the

reserved price. Honduras was represented by 4 bales, all of
which was bought in at 1s. 6d. per tb, while 7 bales (all that
were offered) of coarse Mexican realized from 4d. to 43d.
per lb.

At the auction on the 23rd, the following offerings were
made: Grey Jamaica 2 bales, both of which were disposed
of at ls. 3d. Of native Jamaica, 12 bales were offered and
4 sold, fair red and tawny fetching from 10d. to 11d., and
dull mixed and yellow 84d.; 15 bales of Lima-Jamaica were
offered and bought in, and of 10 bales of Mexican, 3 were
sold at 43d. per Ib.

OIL OF LIME, LIME JUICE, ARROWROOT, TAMARINDS, ETC.

West Indian distilled oil of lime, at the beginning of
the month, realized 1s. 6d. per tb. for good, and 5s. 97. to
6s. for hand pressed, prices which ruled throughout the month.
Of lime juice, concentrated West India fetched £18 5s. at
the beginning of the month, but later advanced to £18 10s.,and
at the close of the monthto £18 15s.; Is. per gallon was the
quotation for good pale raw West Indian juice. Little or no
interest has been shown in arrowroot. About the middle of
the month some 50 barrels of manufacturing St. Vincent
were offered and all bought in at 2d. per tb. At the drug
auction on the 10th, a single barrel of West Indian tamarinds
sold at 5s. per ewt., duty paid. Kast Indian were offered at
lls. 9d. At the same sale, 14 baskets of good Java Cassia
Tistuia were offered and bought in at 20s. per ewt.

A MEANS FOR PREPARING PARA RUBBER.

The Journal d Agriculture Tropicale contains, ina recent
number, an account of a method known as the Purub process
for coagulating the latex of Hevea brasiliensis. Purub is
a contraction of the words ‘pure rubber’, and is an invention
brought out by Dr. Sandmann.

The process consists in the addition of water to the fresh
latex, to which, after a fine cloth has been passed through it,
there is added a solution of Purub of 1 percent. strength, the
mixture being stirred. After this has been allowed to stand
for several hours, the rubber, which has collected on the surface,
is skimmed off, and as much of the water pressed out of it as
possible. Prepared in this way, it is soon ready for dispatch
from the estate.

The active agent in the coagulation is hydrofluoric acid.
This may be replaced by a 10-per cent. solution of hydro-
fluosilicie acid at the rate of 5 c.c. of the solution to each
litre of the raw latex. The acid salts of these acids, such as
potassium and sodium fiuoride, potassium, sodium or zine
silicofluorides, either in the solid state or in solution, may be
employed for the purpose.

The chief advantage of this process is to reduce consider-
ably the amount of impurities in the rubber; these are retained
toa great extent by the settlement of the heavier among them
during the process of coagulation. In addition to this,
hydrofluoric acid, being an antiseptic body, kills all putrefact-
ive germs; rubber prepared by its aid never becomes
viscous. Smoked rubber possesses this characteristic as well,
but the smoking process adds impurities to it, and makes it
black in colour. In the Purub process, this is all avoided,
and there are the additional advantages that it is more
speedy and requires less labour. There are other advantages,
too, in that all injurious organisms are destroyed, even in
the interior of the coagulated mass, and there is no need to
dry the rubber—a fact that is in accordance with Bamber’s
opinion, that rubber is better for a water content of 9 to 10

per cent.

TAd THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 30, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

London,—Tue West Iyxp1a CommitrTee CiRrcuLaR,

April 12, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pe Pass & Co.,
April 1, 1910.

ArrowrooT—t. Vincent, 1 fd. to 33d.

Batata—Sheet, 4/8 ; block, 3/6 per th.

BEgEs-wax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/6 to 63/- per ewt. ; Grenada, 50/- to
55/- per ewt.; Jamaica, 48/- to.53, 6,

Correz—Jamaica, 38/- to 120/-.

Copra—West Indian, £27 17s. 6d. to £28 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; St. Croix West Indian, 20d. to 21d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gixcer—Common to good common, 50/- to 43/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 59/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honrty—No quotations.

IsrycLtass—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 10d. to 1/-; ccncentrated, £18 15s.;
Otto of limes, 5/9.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nurmecs—Steady.

Pimento—Common, 21d.; fair, 24d.; good, 23d. per th.

RupseR—Para, fine hard, 11/9, five soft, 11/8; fine Peru,
11/6 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/3 to 5/-.

Suear—Crystals, 19/3 to 21/- ; Muscovado, 14/9 to 16/3;
Syrup, 14/- to 16, ‘6; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gittespre Bros. & Co., April
1, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 1lic. to 12%c. ; Grenada, 11c. to 12e. ;
Trinidad, 113c. to 12}c. ; Jamaica, 10}e. to 113e. per tb.

Cocoa- nuts— Jamaica, select, $30:°00 to $32:00; culls,
$17-00 to $18°00 ; Trinidad, select, $28-00 to $30- 00;
eulls, $17:00 to $18" 00 per M.

Correre—Jamaica, ordinary, 9c. to 9$c.; good ordinary,
94c. to 10c.; and washed, up to I14c. per tb.

Gincrr—93c. to 13c. per tb.

Goat Sxixs—Jamaica, 52c.; Barbados, 45c. to 47c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 42c. to 43c. per tb.;
Antigua, 45c. to 47c., dry flint.

Grape Fruit—$2°‘25 to $3°50 per box.

Limes—$7-00 to $9-00.

Mace—3vc. to 36c. per tb.

Nutmecs—110's, 93c. to 9c. per tb.

OrancEs—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4te. to 4c. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°36c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°86c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°6lc. per tb, all
duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., April 16,

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°00 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°40
to $11-90.

Cocoa-Nur O1r—94c. per Imperial gallon

CorreE—Venezuelan, 10c. per tb.

Copra—$4°40 per 100 tb.

DxHat—$4°35 to $4°40 per 2-bushel bag.

Ontons—$3'75 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6-E0 to $660 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1°50 to $1°60 per 100 th.

Rick—Yellow, $4:50 to $4:°60; White, $4°75 to $4°80
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5°20 per 100 fb.

Barbados,—Messrs, Leacock & Co.,
Messrs. T, S. Garraway & Co.,

April 25, 1910;
April 25, 1910;

Messrs. James A. Lynon & Co,., April 18, 1910.

ARROownRooT—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3-7

Cacao—$12°00 to $13:00 per 100 th.
Cocoa-NutTs—$14°00.

5 per 100 th.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10-00 to $11:00 per

100 th., scarce.
Hay—$1°20 to $1°25 per 100 tb., dull.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65°00; Cacao
manure, $42:00 to $48:°00; Sulphate of ammonia,

$70-00 to $75:00 per ton.
Mo tasses—No quotations.

Ontons—Bunched, $2°28 to $3 50 per 100 th.
Peas, Spiir—$6-20 to $6°75 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,

$3°45 to $3°60 per bag of 120 tb.

Potatos—Nova Scotia, $2°00 to $2°75 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $4°33 to $4°30 (180 th.
Rangoon, $2°80 to $3:00 per 100 th.
Sucar—No quotations.

); Patna, $3°80 ;

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, April

16, 1910; Messrs. SanpDBaAcH,
April 15, 1910.

PARKER & Co.,

ieohiemeamet [Aopen

Aeraeneee Se een $800 to $8°25

per 200 th.

Barata—Venezuelablock_ 32c. per ib.
Demerara sheet) 48c. per tb.

Messrs. SAND-
| BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$800 to $8-25per
200 tb., market

dull

Prohibited

None

|10c. to 11c. per th.

Cacao—Native |1le. to ie per tb.
CassavA— No quotation
Cassava STaRCH— | $6-00 a eel of, No quotation
196 tb. |
Cocoa-NuTS— | $12 to $16 per M. $16 per'M.,peeled
| and selected
CorrEE—Creole 12c. to 13¢ per fb./12c. to 13c. per th.
Jamaica and Rio|14c. to 14$c. per tb.|14 $c. to 15c. perth,
Liberian | 10e. per th. | 10c. per tb.
DuaLt— $4:25 per bag of | $4:25 per bag of
| 168 tb. 168 tb.
Green Dhal $575 ——
Eppos— | $1:04 per barrel —
Motasses— Yellow None | —=
Ontons—Teneritte | _—— _ No quotation
Madeira — | No quotation
Pras—Split | $640 per bag | $640 per bag
| (210 tb.) ( 210 th. )
Marseilles $3°50 $3°50 to $4°25
PLaNTAINs— | 24e. to 60c. per | —
| bunch
Poratos—Nova Szotia | $1:75 to $2°00 $173 to $2°25
Lisben | No quotation No quotation
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados) $1°44 per bag |
Rick—Ballam | Noouotation | $4°75
Creole | $4:00 to $4°20 $3:70 to $4:0U
TANNIAS— | $144 per bag
Yams—W hite $240 —
Buck | $2°40 per bag |
Sue ar—-Dark crystals $310 to $315 | None
Yellow | $3°60 to $3:70 $370
White $4°00 | $3°80 to $4:00
Molasses |. $2-25 to $2750 . | None
Timber —Greenheart | 32c. to 5dc. per | 32e. to 5dc, per
cub. foot eub.. foot
Wallaba shingles) $3°50 to $5°75 | $3°50 te $5°50
| per M. per M.
5, Cordwood) $1°80 to $2°00 No quotation
} per ton \

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applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: Toe EpucationaL Suprty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripcewaTer, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
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Grenada ; ‘Tue Storrs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vor. IX. No. 209.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 30, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

a a

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers,

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

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London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street,

London, E.C.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown,

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE, BRITISH GUIANAJ THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR.
Salary, $960 per annum rising to $1,200 by $72.

(NOT ON THE FIXED ESTABLISHMENT. )

Applications are invited from candidates for the above post,
who should be between twenty-three and thirty-six years of age.
Knowledge of, and experience in, the growth of tropical products
and of draining operations on low-lying land is of importance.

FACTORY, LIMITED.
BRIDGETOWN,

COTTON SEED.
Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and
from the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of
Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt

Candidates must submit with their applications, details off attention.

their training in Agricultural Science and in practical Agri-
culture accompanied, if feasible, by diplomas from the institu-
tion where trained, or of certificates in Agriculture issued by the
Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, or the
Department of Agriculture of any other tropical country, copies
of satisfactory certificates of health and of character, together
with copies of not more than three testimonials from their pre-
sent and former employers.

2. Duties.—To give instruction in practical horticulture to
farmers and settlers in the various districts of the colony, espe-
cially in connexion with the cultivation of rice, rubber, cacao,
coffee, bananas and citrus fruit, and the care of live stock gene-
rally ; to assist in the inspection of gardens attached to primary
schools and in the examination of their pupils in the elements of
agriculture ; to assist in agricultural experiments and in the
control of the district agricultural stations ; to assist in the nur-
series of the Botanic Gardens; and to perform such other-duties
as may be assigned to him by the Director of the Department.

5. The selected candidate will be required to sign a form of
agreement previous to appointment. :

4. Applications -should be addressed to the Director of
Science and Agriculture on or before May 31, 1910.

J. B. HARRISON,

March 23, 1910.

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' THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

{

ee

ort

Imperial Department of
Agriculture.
BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction, and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-
ment Veterinary Surgeon, St. Vincent, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Experiment Plots, St. Lucia, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1968-9.

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Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola, Virgin Islands, 1908-9,

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-
tions.

PROFVT

does not mean a dollars worth for
ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

gin is small, why not change the method?

Our book on cacao suggests some
new old truths—write for it. We send
it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P,0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30
Havana, Cuba.

AW FORENIGHTLY “REVIEW

OF THE
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.
Vor. IX. No. 210. BARBADOS, MAY 14, 1910. Price ld.
CONTENTS. ways. The first of these has relation to experiments
which are designed to give a purely empirical result;
that is to say, the effort is made to obtain information
PAGE. PAGE. x

Agricultural Conditions in Poultry Notes :—

Carriacou ... ... ... 153} The Breeding and Rea
Agricultural Experiment ing of Turkeys... ... 155
Stations, The Functions To Judge the Age of

of Lites MAB plan gated 2 i Fowl . gee ice 155
Agric "eo ri ary - . ~ .
Agriculture in Prim wy -a|Prize-Holdings Competi

Schools, St. Lucia ... 153 : . aan F
1 ieee 1 re tion im Dominica... 149
Cacao ‘Trees, The Yield : : ee) =

, | Rainfall in Antigua ... ... 152

EPOMp yee test xcs) ssee 148 sy aaa ee
ue ae Recent Congress He!d at
Cotton Notes :— ir -

a = S Mansos; Uhteege--. Loy

Cotton and Climate ... 150) p- 0 - piiee) cee. rm
1 x Rate Sears =, | Rice in British Guiana ... 154
Cotton-Growing in Siam 150 5 : : :
Be oe te ,> : Round Buildings for Agri
Varieties of Cotton Cul- : Rect. me
; : 2 =F cultural Purposes... 153
tivated in Nyasaland 150} « ee ae a ts
i . State Forestry in India ... 153
West Indian Cotton... 150 Ponte omen ny
Departmental Reports ... 154)" a ate SS
Fungus Notes :— Sugar Industry :

The Chief Groups of The Influence of the Struct
Muncie ang Vilivsss ce 158 ure of Sugar-cane on
Gleanings’ sr.) k-. se10 se DG IVE VV or ke sareerscer a 147

Labour Bureau in St. Vin- Ticks, Freeing Pastures

cent abe... coer, ance Jha83 QO ogoce ono pos layy
Lead Chromate as an Tubers of Calathea Allouya 152

Insecticide... ... ... 159| Uses of the Tonka Bean 149
Lemon Grass, A Use for 155] Yields from Ceara Trees
Market Reports ... ... 160 with Different Kinds
Notes and Comments ... 152 of Tapping . 2.2 ... 151

The Functions of Agricultural

Experiment Stations.

Il. In

> N the definite work of an agricultural experi-

PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE.

ment station, besides that connected with

4) sy) : 2
Se es+O research, a consideration of which has already
been given, there
g

gation that are conducted, broadly speaking, in two

are included lines of investi-

as to the nature of the right procedure in any given
matter, while there is no arrangement of the details in
such a way that scientific reasons will be supplied for
The second kind of
investigation includes experiments,in themselves appar-
ently simple, which, while giving results of practical
value, afford at the same time information that has
ause in relation to what-are usually termed purely
scientific Tt does not require any
demonstration that the latter way of experiment is the
more valuable, especially as it leads to greater certainty
in formulating and applying results of general agri-
cultural importance; the tendency is therefore to give

the conclusion which is reached.

considerations.

all investigations a scientific aspect.

Dealing with the work of the experiment station
in a more detailed way, it is generally the case that
a large part of this is taken up with manurial and
tillage experiments. The latter include the introduc-
tion of new methods and machinery in connexion with
cultivation, but this is a matter where a large part of
the investigation should be performed by the planter,
on his own land. Fresh importations, too, will take
place under its direction, in relation to crops, in order
that those who are interested may be given opportuni-
ties of trying new and improved varieties of plants,
while the station itself will devote some of its efforts to
the improvement of those already existing in the area
which is to benefit by its operations. An important
part of the work of many stations is the making of
experiments which are maintained over several years,
and the existence of these gives an argument, among
several others, for the continuance of the form of their

GARDE

146

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910.

labours, as originally adopted, during long periods, and
indicates the great care that should be exercised in the
planning of such institutions.

The success of the educative work of a station is
dependent mainly on its power to keep in close touch
with the practical agriculturist. This is chiefly done
by means of the initiation of lines of experiment that,
of necessity, require his co-operation, and it is here that
the work of sub-stations possesses one of its greatest
values. At these, the planter is afforded an opportun-
ity of viewing closely some of the work that is being
done for him, and it is by means of them that the solution
of detailed, !ocal problems is afforded, although his
advisers will be, at the same time, fully cognisant of
their relation to the broad principles of agricultural
science. Another way in which the planter is reached
is by the publication of results and advice. The
printed matter which is the outcome of this will be
made to present its information in two ways: there
will be the detailed results, together with the deduc-
tions that may be made from them. Experience has
shown that the best plan to follow in such work of
publication is to issue, in addition to the report
which contains particulars of all the work, including
the minutest statistical details of experiment, a short
account which will present the results of the work
briefly and succintly. It is with this object that
a certain proportion of the numbers of the Pamphlet
Series is issued by the Imperial Department of
Agriculture. Where there are several stations whose
efforts are correlated to a large degree, and which
are administered by one authority, it is best that
all such work of publication should be centralized,
with a view to the reduction of the labour and expense
of producing the printed matter, and to giving those
in charge of the stations more time for the attainment
of the definite objects of their labours.

These outward manifestations of the energy that is
being employed in the conduct of an experiment
station are dependent most largely for their efficiency
on the work of its internal organization. There is evi-
denced in this the necessity for the existence of system
in procedure and the observance of regularity. Each
officer should possess definite routine duties, for the
performance of which he is directly responsible, but
should, withal, approach his work in an attitude of
mind which will lead to a readiness to interest himself
actively in any matter that those who direct his
energies may consider to, be one on which he may
fittingly expend them, This precision should arise
naturally from the definiteness of the work which is
being done at the station. Added to this definiteness,

such work should possess well-considered limitations;
there is a danger of making it too comprehensive.
Good, clearly appreciated results in the matters of
greater import are of more value than the somewhat
indefinite ideas which will be the outcome of work
over too wide a field of enquiry.

Particular attention is merited in the matter of
taking and compiling the routine records of a station;
this work should be organized in such a way that its
continuity is assured in what may be almost termed an
automatic manner. Much of it will be attended to by
the younger workers at the station, and it will serve to
increase their interest in the matter if they are put in
the way of acquiring such knowledge as will enable
them to appreciate its usefulness and to arrive at
right interpretations of the information which it
gives. This care to gain the interest of the
younger worker should not, however, be confined to
these atfairs alone, especially now that the experiment
station has fallen into a natural place in the scheme for
the agricultural education of those who will be employed
in a directive capacity on estates; his instruction, in
a sympathetic manner, should form part of the work of
those who direct his energies, and he, himself, should
realize strongly that he has aduty in the direction of
the continual pursuit of such studies as will make him
more efticient.

Returning to the consideration of the experiment
station in a general way, it is fittingly pointed out here
that such an institution is not a model farm. Its aim
is to gain information in regard to the life of plants, and
to the relation of the plant to surrounding influences,
including that of the soil; in this manner its usefulness
is extended as widely as possible, In the same way, it is
not a mere information bureau. One of its duties,
certainly, is to supply answers to questions propounded
by those who are in need of agricultural advice, but
this is not the end and aim of its being. There is
often a need fora broader view of the reason for its
existence, both on the part of those who direct it, and
of those for whom it exists, and the acquirement of this
will lead to its widened efficiency.

In its infancy, the experiment station scheme was
employed in such a way as to be merely of direct practic-
al use to the agriculturist, and this was wise, for such
a policy served to gain his confidence and. often his
support. The time has arrived when this restricted view
must be modified. The aim of those wko manage the
station must be high, and the attitude of such as use it
must be broadly ‘sympathetic. Under these circum-
stances, only, willit progress to the stage of greatest
general utility. 8

Vor. IX. No. 210.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE STRUCTURE
OF SUGAR-CANE ON MILL WORK.

The Experiment Station of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’
Association has recently issued its thirtieth bulletin under the
title of Zhe Influence of the Structure of the Cane on Mill
Work in Sugar Factories, by Noel Deerr, As is stated in the
introduction, this is divided into three parts: a discussion of
the influence of the different juices contained in the cane on
control work; an account of some experiments made with the
object of determining the effect of different methods of
extraction; and a consideration of the cane as being compos-
ed of pith and rind, so that these are regarded as separate
entities when dealing with the results of milling operations.

The first part commences with the consideration of the
inferential method of controlling the weight of cane entering
the factory which is due to Geerligs, namely that the
percentage of sucrose in the cane, divided by the percentage
of sucrose in the first mill juice, gives the constant quotient
0-85, under certain fixed conditions. As the author points
out, it is evident that this can only hold under constant
circumstances of mill pressure and fibre content of the cane:
as the proportion of juice obtained from the cane increases,
and at the same time approaches more nearly the composition
of all the juice contained in the cane, the value tends to
increase; its value will become smaller, on the contrary, with
an increase in the fibre content of the cane. This was
recognized by Geerligs, and attention is drawn to a table
which was constructed by him for the purpose of giving the
various values of this quotient with different. mill pressures
and fibre contents, in the case of the Cheribon cane.
Other investigators found different values for the various
canes that were used under the conditions with which they
had te deal, and this led the author to determine those for
the chief canes employed for sugar-making in Hawaii; these
are given in the bulletin, and it is shown that the quotients
for Hawaiian canes are very similar to those for.the Cheribon
cane. ‘The practical use of the figures obtained is to indicate
that, in factories where the sucrose content of cane is deter-
mined by working back from the sucrose in mixed juice and
that in megass, a low value will show that either the weight
of cane recorded is too high, or that the measurement of the
amount of juice is inaccurate.

In employing his experiments to find the values of the
uotient of which mention has just been made, the author
worked out the ratio between the solids in what he terms the
‘absolute’ juice of the cane and those in the expressed juice.
By the absolute juice, he means ‘everything which is not left
behind on extraction with water’, so that this term includes
protoplasm, together with the ‘colloid water’ of Geerligs, and
the ‘ water other than juice’, as it is described by Dr. Francis
Watts (see West Indian Bulletin, Vol. IX, p. 85); that is to
say, absolute juice comprises the sugar-bearing juice of the
cane, as such, protoplasm, and what is usually understood

by ‘imbibition water, in a botanical sense. Returning
to the relation just referred to—that between the

solids in the absolute juice, as defined, and those in
the expressed juice—it was found that this was far
more constant than the quotient which was first under
consideration, namely, that obtained by dividing the per-
centage of sucrose in the cane by that in the first mill
Juice. This is shown by the fact that, for at least three
varieties of cane, with a fibre content. yarying from 10 per
cent. to 14 per cent., it was found to lie between the values
0°97 and 0°98. The practical development of this is that, if

147

the density of the absolute juice of the cane is known, then,
with the usual results of analysis alone, all the essential
measurements relating to mill control can be expressed in
terms of cane; and if either the weight of cane, of megass, of
mixed juice or of added water has been determined, all the
other quantities can be found. It is not suggested that the
making of direct measurements should be discarded in favour
of an inferential method; but that the latter should form
a means of checking such measurements, and the author pro-
poses, in the light of the determinations made by him, that the
value of the ratio employed for the purpose should be 0-977,
laying stress at the same time on the necessity for accuracy
in the determination of the total solids in the megass, before
reliable results can be obtained.

As has been stated, the second part of the bulletin deals
with the effect of ditterent methcds of extracting juice; the
ditference of these methods consisted in using nine-and twelve-
roller mills, maceration with hot and cold water at different
stages in the milling, returning or not returning the dilute juice,
and the application of increasing extractions. It was found
that the highest extraction was obtained when the water was
added in divided quantities; the result was lowest when its
addition took place before the last mill, and was intermediate
when it was divided before the second and third mills. There
was little difference found, whether the water was hot or cold;
a slight advantage obtaining when it, was hot was probably
due to the slightly greater dilution. The comparison of the
work of a nine-roller and a twelve-roller mill led to the
conclusion that, making allowance for difference in fibre
content, the latter effects extraction from 50 tons of cane per
hour as well as a nine-roller mill dealing with 35 tons in the
same time, with a dilution in the case of the larger mill, of
12 per cent. instead of 34 per cent. It is the author’s opinion
that the matter of chief importance in these trials is the econ-
omy effected in the case of the twelve-roller mill, as a result
of the greater quantity of cane dealt with and the smaller
amount of liquid to be treated, on account of the lessened
diiution. In the last connexion, it was not found that any
approach to equality of final efficiency of work in the two cases
could be obtained by using less water; the effect was rather
to gain very inferior results with the smaller mill.

The object of further work was to ascertain the influence
of high extraction on the purity of the juice; in other words,
to find the effect of expressing increasing quantities of juice
from the cane on the amount of sugar that could be obtained.
The average results of experiments showed that an extraction
of 93°0 may be considered to correspond with a purity of
89:0, and an extraction of 87 with one of 90°6. By inter-
polating values and extending the extraction numbers to 95-0,
a table is obtained in which, while the latter increase by
unity, those representing the purity decrease by 0°2 in the
first, fourth and seventh steps, and by 0°3 in the others.
Thus extractions of 90-0 and 95-0 correspond, respectively, to
purities of 89-8 and 88°5, so that increasing the extraction
from 90 to 95 does not increase the amount of sugar that can
be obtained in the ratio of 95 to 90, but in that ratio
multiplied by the quotient obtained by dividing 88°5 by 89°8.
In other words, the increase in available sugar, calculated
from the extraction alone, would be 5°6 per cent.; it is
actually 4 per cent. The subject is developed by the author,
who, however, in view of the conditions peculiar to any
given factory, does not deal with the financial aspect of high
extraction, but leaves the data brought forward by him to
be worked out on the basis of money units in any special case.

The third part of the bulletin, namely that which treats
of the effect of the structure of the cane on mill work, will be
dealt with in the next number of the Agricultural News.

148

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 14, 1910.

WEST INDIAN FRUIT.

THE YIELD. FROM CACAO TREES.

The following information is taken from the articles
on cacao by J. H. Hart, F.L.S, that are appearing in
the West India Committee Circular. Reference has
been made already to these in the Agricultural News,
Vol. VILE, pp. 260, 292 and 340. In the first case,
the information consisted of a summary of a table in
which the characteristics of the different varieties of
Theobroma Cacao and T. pentagona were given; in the
second, it related to the soils that are most suitable for
the cultivation of cacao; while in the third, an account
of the best methods of manuring, and of the treatment
of the soil, was included.

It should be mentioned that in the table below,
as it was originally given, the yield from each of the
twelve trees on which observations were made was pre-
ser.ted; this has been omitted here.

The yield per tree depends, firstly, upon the character of
the tree, and secondly, upon-the quality of the land in which
it is planted. Some trees naturally yield more than others,
as may be seen in fruit orchards in any part of the world,
the aim of the cultivator being to secure a class which yields
well. How to secure such trees has already been discussed.
That yield can be increased by manuring is certain, where
the condition of the soil is such as to allow it; but to force
trees with too much manuring tends to shorten their period
of existence. The use of sufficient manure is gcod practice;
that ot over-abundance is bad. The yield per 1,000 trees is
probably the best test of the value of estates, especially if the
records have been reliably kept, and the seller is able to give
authentic reference to crops harvested during a period of years.

Trees of the same size, planted side by side, will largely
differ in yield when only seedlings are used. The maximum
yield of some seedlings will not be more than 1| tb. of dry
cacao annually, while others have been known by the writer
to yield as much as 15fb. 3 0z., annually, of dry cacao, and
others have recorded as much as 30 lb. per tree. From this
it has been deduced that, given trees of special character, the
annual crop might be easily increased.

In the Bulletin of the Botanical Department, Trinidad,
April 1907, [ asked the question: What is the possible crop
of «a tree in full bearing? It was also suggested that careful
observations should be made by planters, under which the
nuinber,of pods picked from selected trees should be recorded.
This was taken up by a leading ‘Trinidad planter, and the
following table gives the results obtained :—

Yield of Cacao from Twelve Trees.
Date Harvested. Total number of pods

1907. harvested.
January 3 176
April 2 202

es 24 64
May 23 154
June 24 321
July 22 249
August 27 26
September 24 37
October 22 63
November 12 99
December 3 139

cas i7 307

Year’s total 1,817

1908.

January 3 533

- 9 361
February 20 344

Total 1,238

The table showing a year’s produce from selected trees,
being an actual yield, is strong evidence that progress on the
lines of selection of prolific and disease-resisting kinds will
be the best means of increasing the annual yield, and that
there is a very large margin between the yield per tree here
found and that with which estates are at present credited.
If trees under ordinary culture can produce the yield
of our table, it is surely possible, given well-planted trees
of the same character (produced by budding or grafting),
to increase materially the annual yield, leaving out all refer-
ence to increase by manuring.

The period of growth of a cacao pod from flower to
maturity extends from four and a half to five months, that is,
from the opening of the flower to the ripening of the pod,
but this period may be extended, owing to the facility with
which the ripened pods remain in that state upon the trees,
for some days or even weeks after they have reached full
inaturity. It is not good practice, however, to allow them to
remain too long upon the tree, or the quality of the produce
will suffer considerable deterioration. If they remain much
too long, it will be found that the seeds have begun growth
in the pods, and instead of marketable material, there will be
nothing but a mass of matted roots. If they-commence to

Von., 1X...No., 210.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

149

grow and the radicle or first root pierces the ‘shell’ of the seed,
it leaves an aperture which allows of the entrance of mould
fungi while drying, and thus lowers the value-of-the sample:
The facility with which pods hang for a time upon the trees
without hazarding quality assists generally the economy of
the harvest work.

Yield clearly depends, first, upon the kind of- tree cultiv-
ated; secondly, upon the richness of the soil or the natural
amount of plant food available; thirdly, upon the artificial
supply which may be applied; and last, buat by no means least,
the amount of skill which is brought to bear by the cultivator
in maintaining conditions suitable for the production of large
crops.

There are diverse opinions as to methods to be adopted
for securing this result, among which are first, the abolition
of the use of shade; second, the adoption of seminal selection;
both of which have been recently advocated (1910) in Trinidad.
These points and others more advanced have been fully
discussed in preceding pages, but our suggestions may be
again stated brietly:—

(1) The selection and standardization of certain types of
cacao, and the propagation of these by budding or grafting
‘as in fruit orchards.

(2) The abandonment of propagation by sezd, on account
of the excessive variation that occurs under any method of
seminal or seed selection; that is, the trees cannot be made to
come true from seed.

(3) By better systems of cultivation and preparation.

PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION IN
DOMINICA.

In 1908-9, a Prize-holdings Competition Scheme was
commenced in the La Plaine District of Dominica, when
seven peasant proprietors competed, and three prizes
were awarded. According to a report by the Curator
of the Botanic Garden and Experiment Station, Domin-
ica, this has been followed by a competition in 1909-10,
In this, the number of plots entered was twenty-two, fourteen
being in Class I, which consists of holdings containing
between one and 4 acres of bearing cacao, and eight in
Class II, which includes holdings containing between
100 trees, and such numbers as will’ occupy an area of
1 acre, planted at proper distances apart. The scheme had
been carried out through the assistance of Mr. Alexander
Robinson who had consented to undertake the duties of
local instructor, and the improvements that have been
effected in cacao cultivation in this district are largely due
to Mr. Robinson’s influence, especially in the matter of
bringing about the employment of better methods of plant-
ing, and caring for the trees. The result has been that, at
the present time, pruning is done carefully, attention is
given to drainage, and adequate manuring and mulching are
effected.

The varieties of cacao grown are Forastero and Calaba-
cillo, with various kinds intervening, which have arisen from

the cross breeding of these types. The trees were found to
_ be remarkably free from disease; there was only an uncertain
trace of ‘canker’ or ‘ die-back’; pod diseases were rare, and
there was only one case of root disease. This absence of
disease is due largely to the hardiness of the cacao grown,
and it is suggested that no attempts to “improve the quality
of the product by the introduction of Criollo and Alligator
cacao should be made, but that improvements should be
effected by selecting the best kinds now growing in the

district and grafting them on to hardy stocks. The trees used
for wind belts are Pois-doux (Inga laurina), galba (Calo-
phylum Calaba), Bois dInde(Pimenta acrts), as well as
other native trees. It is intended to introduce the Nicaragua
shade tree (Gliricidia maculata) into those parts of the
district where it will be useful.

The prizes gained are as follows: in Class I, one first,
one second, one third and three fourth prizes: eight persons
shared in them on account. of the fact that there were
two pairs of co-owners. In Class II, there were five prize
winners, one in each of the degrees first second and third, and
two in the fourth.

The names of the prize-winners were:—-Class I, first
prize, Sadoc Laronde; second prize (divided) J. B. Bertrand
and F. W. Bertrand; third prize (divided), Camille Barry and
Duke Barry; fourth prizes, A. Stedman, A. Lawrence, E.
Laudat. Class II, first prize, Emile Lawrence: second prize,
Ernest Eloir; third prize, Robinia Didier; fourth prizes,
William Laronde and Octave Osear.

It may be mentioned that,the object of the competition
is to bring about improvements in the planting and manage-
ment of cacao trees at La Plaine, which is a district occupied
entirely by small land owners whose chief crop is cacao.

USES OF THE TONKA BEAN.

A short account of the Tonka, Tonga, or Tonquin
bean (Dipteryx odorata) appeared in the Agricultwral
News, Vol. V, p. 212. The information which follows
as to its uses is taken from J’ Agriculture Pratique
des Pays Chauds for December 1909 :—

The Tonka bean is employed in considerable quantity in
the United States by makers of tobacco and snuff. The
beans are ground to powder and:mixed with ordinary tobacco.
As this operation is not legal, it is performed secretly, and in
such a way as to prevent the proportions in which the mix-
ture is made from being found out. The makers of vanilla
extract also use it. It is mixed by them with vanilla to
a proportion of 5 to 10 per cent. This mixture, however, is of
mediocre quality, because the odour of the bean almost
disguises the perfume of the vanilla. On account of the Pure
Food Law, the name of this mixture is placed on the market
under the name of ‘Vanilla Compound’. Makers of perfume
also use the Tonka bean in mixtures of which they alone possess
the secret. It is employed especially in the manufacture of
soaps and perfumes known under the name ‘d’Héliotrope
Blanc’. The bean, made into ‘Tincture of Tonka’, finds an
outlet among pastry cooks and confectioners on a large scale,
as a substitute for vanilla, but it is not permissible to apply
the name ‘vanilla’ to such products. Finally, the Tonka
bean, mixed with other ingredients, apparently enters into
the composition of certain whiskies.

As a matter of fact, the use of the Tonka bean, as
a substitute for vanilla, has become illegal in the United
States. Manufacturers are therefore bound to make mention
of its presence in those products which they sold former-
ly under the name of vanilla products in order to attract
custom. In 1907, imports of the bean took place to the
value of $116,102; in 1908 they were worth $10,519. This
diminution in the imports corresponds exactly to the time of
application of the Pure Food Law.

150

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date April 25, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

West Indian Sea Islands have been in moderate request
at steady rates, and the business includes Barbados 17d. to
2214d., Nevis 20d. to 224d., St. Vincent 213d. to 23d.,

Antigua 21d., St. Kitts 20d. to 2!d., and Montserrat 203d

The recent decline in Egyptian cotton may probably
adversely affect the price of Stains and the lower qualities of
West Indian generally, but not the medium and better sorts,

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending April 16, is as follows:—

There has been only a moderate demand below the views
of the factors, therefore the market remains quiet, with
the unsold stock as last reported, consisting principally of
Planters’ crop lots held at 40c., 50c., and 60c.

VARIETIES OF COTTON CULTIVATED IN
NYASALAND.

It has been found from experience that Egyptian
varieties are unsuitable for elevations over 2,500 feet, and
therefore this kind of cotton, which at the advent of cotton
cultivation in the Protectorate was widely spread, is now
practically confined to the estates of the lower and upper
river, and the more favoured districts bordering Lake Nyasa.

Nyasaland Upland is the most extensively cultivated
cotton, and may be described as a long staple Hirsutum
cotton, similar to the long staple varieties grown in the
Mississippi valley. Experiments have been made with Kidney,
Brazilian and Caravonica cottons, with indifferent results, and
trials are being conducted with Allen’s long staple and Griffin.
The latter two varieties show a great tendency to form sports,
but systematic’ selection is being carried out; it is hoped to
develop fixed types of those two high quality cottons.

Selection is very necessary to improve the yield and lint
percentage; the Upland cotton now averages 27 per cent.,
although individual plants selected by the writer give lint
percentages as high as 38, showing the possibility of profit-
able work in this direction. It means much to the grower
when every hundred pounds of seed cotton picked yields the
higher instead of the lower figure. Selection applies not only

to lint percentage, but to all other qualities, such as prolific-
ness, length, strength and quality of lint. The lint percentage
in the Egyptian cottons examined is slightly higher than in
Nyasaland Upland, and the highest percentage for Egyptian
was a sample of native grown cotton from the Port Herald
district, which gave 34°60 per cent. (Leaflet No. 4 of the
Agricultural and Forestry Department, Nyasaland Pro-
tectorate. )

Cotton-Growing in Siam.

The British Vice-Consul at Bangkok reports that the
amount of cotton now grown in Siam is very small, but that
at one time it was probably considerable. Cotton is still pro-
duced in many places on the edge of, and outside, the central
plains, but this is a mere remnant of the industry, which must
have once suppliedthe population with most of its clothing.

Gossypium herbaceum in some variety is grown, and
several other species'!have been noted, especially one grown in
small quantities in the south, the produce of which is used
only in connexion with Mohammedan burial; this last is
probably of Persian or Egyptian origin. Nearly 10,000 piculs
(about 12,000 ewt.) of cotton were exported to Hong Kong in
1908-9, but this was probably tree cotton, and it is not likely
that any annual cotton is exported, except a little overland.

In 1905-6 some experiments in cotton-growing were
begun at Pharapatom, cotton seed from Chiengmai, Korat and
other places, as well as local seed, being used. The greater
part of the seed was bad, but the Korat and local seed germ-
inated and grew. | The experiment was carried far enough
to show that the staple was poor, and that the bolls were
peculiarly liable to attacks from weevils, beetles and other
insect pests. It is probable, however, that cotton could be
successfully grown in those parts of the country which combine
a rich, light soil with dry weather. (The oard of Trade
Journal, January 27, 1910.)

Cotton and Climate.—The following information in
connexion with the effect of climate on cotton appears in the
Report of the Agricultural Research Institute and College, Pusa,
1907-9:—Dnuring April and May, 1907, an extensive enquiry
was made regarding the varieties of cotton and the conditions
under which the cotton crop is grown in Gujerat and Kathia-
war. In Surat and Broach districts, the quality of the cotton
is best in the south, and gradually gets worse as one proceeds
northwards. Navasari has the finest and longest staple, then
comes Surat, and “then Broach. This may be due to the
heavier rainfall and-greater atmospheric humidity at Navasari
(owing to its proximity to the sea), for there is little apparent
difference in the soil.

Vor. IX. No. 210.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 151

THE RECENT CONGRESS HELD AT
MANAOS.

The report of the conclusions reached at the Commercial,
Industrial and Agricultural Congress held at Manaos on
February 22 to 27, 1910, has been received recently. The
Congress was divided into three sections, connected with
commerce, the rubber industry and general agriculture,
respectively. The following is an account of the chief recom-
mendations that were made.

As regards general commerce, it was resolved to recom-
mend that steps should be taken to improve the present
condition of the workers on rubber plantations, especially in
the matter of the reduction of tariff rates on the food con-
sumed by these. In order to ameliorate the state of navigation
and transport, it was resolved to petition the Government
to give grants to encourage the exploration of unknown
rubber-producing areas, as well as to award subsidies to such
steamship companies of Europe and North America as will
cheapen their rates and shorten the time of the voyages. With
the same object, the removal of obstructions in the rivers,
wherever this can be accomplished, was advised, as well as
the exemption by the Federal Government from import duties
of all vessels intended for the purpose of navigating the
Amazon rivers. In order to safeguard the interests of the
rubber industry, it was decided to ask that the Federal
xovernment, together with the Legations in Europe and
America, should urgently intervene in order to influence the
Chambers of Commerce of various rubber-buying countries to
take steps to ensure that rubber from the Amazon valley may
be quoted according to its real origin, in agreement with the
export manifest passed by the responsible authority at the
port of shipment. Finally, various recommendations were
made in connexion with the facilitation of communication
and transport, chiefly in the direction of- the organization of
a model navigation enterprise, the construction of railroads
and the extension of telegraph lines.

As regards the rubber industry more especially, the
following measures were suggested for the purpose of stimulat-
ing the planting of this crop: the establishment of model
plantations; free grants of land for rubber-growing; reduction
of the import tax on rubber; publication of printed circulars
containing advice useful on plantations; the distribution of
planting material of Herea brasiliensis. In order to ensure
the further extension of plantivg, the policy of interplanting
and replanting of the present areas, and the planting of the
open clearings in the forest was recommended. As a means
of determining that further areas may be taken up for the
purpose of rubber production, it was considered advisable
that the Federal Government should advertise largely such
openings as could be obtained for the investment of capital,
and that a uniform low price should be demanded for land
intended for the rubber industry. In the matter of the
kinds of rubber to be employed for the production, it was
considered that Castilloa Wlei should be protected by
special laws, and that the planting of Hevea should be
encouraged in preference to that of all other rubbers,
in view of the fact that more was known concerning this
cultivation than about that of any other kind. The chief
recommendations in the direction of the improvement in the
collection of the latex and the preparation of rubber from it
were as follows: to send an expert to those countries where
Hevea had been successfully exploited, in order to ascertain
the best methods of treatment; to establish model rubber
-cultivations of an educative character, under the management of
competent persons, and having attached to them physiological
and chemical laboratories; to advise the rubber growers to

adopt better methods of coagulation; to ask the respective
governments to grant exemption from import duty to any
modern machinery intended for improving the present methods
of tapping and preparing rubber and allied products in the val-
ley of the Amazon: to condemn coagulation by means of acids
or alum; to request urgently the Federal Governments of the
States of Amazon, Para and Matto-Grosso, and of the neigh-
bouring republics to enact repressive laws against all kinds of
fraud in the manufacture of rubber; to urge the necessity of
the organization of a series of well defined types of the differ-
ent kinds of rubber, in order that classification may be
facilitated.

In the general agricultural section, similar reeommenda-
tions were made for crops other than rubber, and in connexion
with the encouragement of stock-raising. One of these was
that interest should be guaranteed for ten years on capital
realized by national or foreign enterprises for the systematic
planting of Hevea, the Government fixing the number of
these undertakings. The minimum extent of planting in such
undertakings should be 50,000 feet within five years, and
a guarantee of interest would only be for the purpose of
supplementing the rewards granted in accordance with other
recommendations; the reward and guarantee together would
not be more or less than the amount of the stipulated interest.
Finally, it was decided to draw the attention of the Minister
of Agriculture to the necessity of the provision of special
delegates, in view of the great size of the territory, the diffi-
culty of transport, and the time necessary for travelling from
one port to another in the same siate.

YIELDS FROM CEARA TREES WITH
DIFFERENT KINDS OF TAPPING.

In Bulletin No. 19 of the Hawaii Agricultural Experi-
ment Station, entitled Lxperiments in Tapping Ceara Rubber
Trees, to which reference has already been made (see Ayri-
cultural News, Vol. IX, p. 107), an account is given of
experiments which were conducted with a view to ascertain-
ing the difference of yield of latex, when V cuts were em-
ployed, from that obtaining when the cuts were vertical. In
the first trial, ten trees were divided into similar groups of
five. It was found that the time required for making the
different kinds of incision was the same, being about seven
minutes for each group. The trees tapped with a V cut gave
2 oz. of dry rubber; those with the vertical cut gave 6} oz.
The greater yield in the latter case is partly due to the fact
that the length of the incision with vertical cuts is greater
than that with V cuts. The rate at which the latex ran from
the vertical cuts was greater than that from the V cuts; the
amount of serap rubber left behind was about the same in
each case. The healing of the bark took place in the same
time in each case, and there was no difference in the smooth-
ness of the surface of the renewed tissue.

Another experiment was conducted with twenty-five
trees, which were tapped for five days in succession, fourteen
vertical cuts 6 feet in length being made during this time, in
each case. The purpose of this trial was to ascertain if there
is any economy in making more cuts per day, and in this way
using up the bark of the tree ina shorter time. The result
was that no advantage was indicated from the use of four
vertical cuts daily instead of two. The total amount of rubber
obtained from the tree was 12°3 0z., of which 6-2 oz. was
good, dry rubber.

A further experiment with eight trees at the station
gave results again in favour of the vertical cut. These
were not affected by the employment of a water bag to wash
the latex into the pan and to keep the wounds fresh.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910:

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 38 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural jews

Vou. 1X. SATURDAY,

14, 1910. No.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

MAY 210.

Contents of Present Issue.

A second article on the Functions of Agricultural
Experiment Stations forms the editorial of this number.
It deals more especially with the work of these stations
that is directly connected with practical agriculture.

An abstract of part of a bulletin recently issued,
dealing with the effect of the structnre of sugar-cane
on mill work, is given on page 147.

An interesting article on the yield from cacao trees
is extracted on page 148.

On the next page there is an account of a recent
prize-holdings competition, held in Dominica.

An abstract of a translation of the report on the
conclusions reached at the Commercial, Industrial and
Agricultural Congress held recently at Manaos, is given
on page 151.

The Report of the Department of Agriculture,
Trinidad, for 1908-9, is reviewed on page 154.

The series of articles on The Chief Groups of Fungi
is continued as Part VI, on page 158. In this issue,
the consideration of the Uredinales is continued, and
the remaining groups of the Basidiomycetes are dealt
“with. It should be mentioned that Fig. 26 is repro-
duced after Tulasne.

ST TT PT Te a EE

It is with a profound feeling of sorrow and
loss that we place on record the fact that

His Majesty King Edward ViI died at Buck-
ingham Palace on May 6, 1910, at 11.45 p.m.

The sense of bereavement consequent on
this momentous event must be felt equally
deeply by all who owned His Majesty's allegiance,
whether officially or privately.

Rainfall in Antigua.

The returns of the rainfall in Antigua for 1909
show that the greatest precipitation was recorded at
the station on the dam at Wallings reservoir: this was
59°99 inches. Next in order were Big Duers, Wallings
(Hill), Creek Side and Green Castle, with 58:18, 56°25,
54°81 and 54°80, respectively. The smallest rainfall
was registered at Mannings, namely 27°36 inches.
Next above this were Comfort Hall, Collins and Sion
Hill, with 32°87, 35:36 and 36:23, respectively. The
precipitation measured at Codrington Village, Barbuda,
was 42°67 inches.

From a statement in the returns, if appears that
the rainfall of the year may be considered to have been
favourable; it closely approaches the average for the
past thirty-six years. Its distribution has been fairly
good, except for the small precipitation in March and
September.

The greatest rainfall that took placé in twenty-
four hours was 2°41 inches on November 28. The
precipitation for the year was 45:10 inches, which is
0:21 inches below the average for the thirty-six years
from 1874 to 1909.

—oV—_— ——-

Tubers of Calathea Allouya.

Specimens of these tubers have been received
recently from the Curator of the Botanic Garden,
Dominica. In that island, they are known as Tokkee
Tambo, and in Trinidad as Topee Tambou. ‘These
names are evidently a corruption of the French word
Topinambour, meaning Jerusalem artichoke (Helian-
thus tuberosus). In forwarding them, Mr. Jones states
that they occur wild in the forest, on the windward
side of the island, and are grown on the edges of
peasants’ gardens, that is between the garden proper
and the forest, where they are given little attention.

In the Kew Bulletin, No. 70 (1892), p. 244, it is
stated that the root of this plant usually consists of
a large ovate body, to which the tubers are loosely
attached by strong fibres. The colour of the leaves is
pale green: they are somewhat papery in texture, and
are borne on long stalks. The flowers are pure white
and the fruit isa 3-celled capsule containing three seeds.

The tubers are edible, and are boiled and eaten in
the same manner as the ordinary potato. Their taste
resembles somewhat that of the artichoke.

Vou. EX. No: 210: THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 153

State Forestry in India.

An interesting paper on Indian State Forestry, by
the late Inspector General of Forests, has appeared
recently in the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts.
According to this, the forests of British India yielded,
in 1906-7, 4,400,000 tons of timber and fuel, 181,250,000
tons of bamboo, and minor forest produce to the value
of £439,000. In addition, they supplied grazing to 133
million head of cattle, as well as free grants and
concessions of timber, ete.. to the value of £227,000.
The total income was £1,776,000, and the total expend-
iture £937,000. Of the latter sum £66,000 was spent
on roads, bridges and houses: and £115,000 in demarca-
tion, improvement, extension and protection of forests.

Round Buildings for Agricultural Purposes.

Bulletin No. 143 of the University of Illinois
Agricultural Experiment Station has just been issued,
under the title Keonomy of the Round Dairy Barn.
Much that it contains is applicable in a general way,
not to dairy barns only, but to other agricultural
buildings. ‘The chief advantages of round buildings
are their convenience, strength and cheapness. In the
first case, where they are used for cattle-feeding, it is
easier to get the food from a central supply to the cattle,
than it is in the case of a rectangular building. Such
structures are stronger, because the ability of the timber
used in making them to resist compression is taken
advantage of to the greatest degree. There is the
additional fact, which is especially important in countries
liable to hurricanes, that, owing to their circular shape,
all exposed surfaces can withstand wind-pressure better
than flat ones; there is no hold for the wind, such as
that provided by the gable end ofa rectangular building.
In the third connexion, rectangular buildings were
found to cost 34 to 58 per cent. more than round oues,
according to their construction, in material used, with
the same floor area, built of similar stuff.

ri

Agriculture in Primary Schools, St. Lucia.

The Annual Report of the Inspector of Schools on
the Education Department, St. Lucia, 1909, states that
the second annua] examination in agriculture at the
primary schools, under the scheme by which the inspec-
tion of the school gardens is made by the Agricultural
Instructor (see Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 265)
has taken place. In the absence of an Agricultural
Instructor, Mr. R. Niles, Schoolmaster at the Agricul-
tural School, was, with the approval of the Administra-
tor, appointed examiner. Twenty schools were exam-
ined by means of an oral examinatior of about two
hours in each case, partly on the work in the class room
and partly on that in the school garden. The number
of pupils presented for examination was 454, of which
nineteen were girls.

In his report on the examination, the Agricultural
Superintendent suggests that it would be useful, in
relation to the school garden work,-if a book was kept
by the teachers in which details are recorded of the
plants grown, the experiments performed, and the results
obtained, as well as observations of interest that are

made from time to time. He also states that the
examiner's report shows that noticeable progress is
being made in the work throughout the island.

The detailed results obtained at the different schouls
show that, out of the twenty examined, three gained
over 90 per cent. (excellent) of the marks awarded for
agricultural teaching and school garden, two 75 to 90
per cent. (very good), ten 50 to 75 per cent. (good),
three 30 to 50 per cent. (fair), and two under 30 per
cent. (weak and insufticient).

Labour Bureau in St. Vincent.

Toward the end of last year, a Labour Bureau was
established by the Government of St. Vincent for the
purpose of assisting to remove some of the difficulties
that are being experienced in the matter of obtaining
labour in thatisland. For the purpose of carrying out
the scheme, a central office was established at the Police
Station in Kingstown, with district offices at most of
the country stations. he method of working is for
the officers in charge of the district offices to telephone
demands for labour that have been received during the
preceding day: these are summarized at the central
office, and telephoned later to the district offices. In
addition, these demands are kept on record for at least
seven days, by being entered upon a special form, which
is posted at all the offices. Thus a scheme has been
devised by which labourers requiring work may, on
application at the police stations, learn where employ-
ment is to be obtained, or may if they wish, communic-
ate particulars of the kind of work which they require
to the police, thus improving their position as to the
opportunities of obtaining employment.

So far, little advantage has been taken of the
scheme. This is due to initial difficulties, which are
inseparable from such a plan in the West Indies, and
to the fact that there is little or no provision of sleeping
accommodation on estates, for labourers who have come
from a distance.

Se ————

Agricultural Conditions in Carriacou.

The Annual Report of the Commissioner, Carriacou,
for 1909, shows that the work of the Experiment Station
continues to be carriéd out on the same lines as in
previous years. The lime cultivation has reached
a stage at which it is indicated that arrangements
could well be made for the manufacture of citrate of
lime. No new scale insects of a destructive nature
have been observed, but it is stated that the spread of
‘love vine’ (Cuscuta sp.) is taking place to a regret-
table extent, in certain districts of the island.

From the cotton factory, 43,992 tb. of cleaned lint
(1463 bales) was turned out during the year.

The rainfall for 1909 was 65°87 inches; that is 10:43
inches more than the one of 1908, and 32°43 inches in
excess of that for 1907. This is interesting, in connex-
ion with the development of the forest belt along the
central ridge of the island, which has taken place since
the reservation of this area, and it has acted in the
direction of causing the extension of the planting of
ground provisions by the peasantry.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910.

TRINIDAD; REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE, 1908-9.

This report, which was laid before the Legislative Coun-
cil of Trinidad, on March 30, 1910, includes reports on the
Botanical Department, the Goyernment farms, the St. Augus-
tine estate and the Government Laboratory.

In regard to the principal agricultural products of Trini-
dad, the report shows that the values of the chief exports
were as follows: cacao £1,152,285, sugar £462,019, cocoa-
nuts £57,284, bitters £27,194 and copra £16,862. The
quantity of cacao exported was about equal to that of last
year which was tke highest on record. The sugar crop was
below the average, on account of unfavourable climatic condi-
tions, and through the attacks of the frog-hopper and the large
cane borer (Castuia licus). Measures are being taken to deal
with these pests as well as with canker, which is the chief
disease on cacao estates. The progress made with cane-farming
shows that this is continually becoming more firmly established.
The amount paid to farmers for canes was $337,817; this
was at the rate of 52°18 per ton. The quantity of cocoa-nuts
shipped was the greatest on record, being nearly 4 million in
excess of that of last year. The bud rot disease has been
effectively dealt with, and the area under cultivation is being
gradually extended. Cocoanut oil finds a high price locally,
and this keeps the consumption within the colony.

In the matter of the chief fruits grown, namely bananas
and oranges, although large quantities are raised, only
a small proportion of these is exported. The reason for this,
in the case of the bananas, is’ the high cost of handling and
freight, as well as the likelihood of the product been spoiled
during the voyage to its destination. Oranges have a small
export only, on account of the unremunerative prices that are
obtained at times.

Rice is grown, for local use, on an area of about 11,000
acres; this is increasing. In regard to rubber, information
shows that a large number of trees have been planted in
cultivations scattered through Trinidad and Tobago. Castilloa
is the chief kind grown, and a sufficient number of trees
have reached an age for tapping on a fairly extensive scale.

The exports of rubber from the colony have shown large
fluctuations; in 1908-9 they were 2,146 tb., as against 4,444 Ib.
in 1907-8. The cotton industry in Tobago continues to
show progress; though the area of the crop is not large, its
quality is excellent.

The useful effect of agricultural education, which was
introduced into the primary schools in 1900, and into the
secondary institutions in 1905, is already showing itself. It
is recognized, however, that the practical side of this
education is eminently important; and in accordance with
this, proposals are about to be submitted for schemes which
include home reading courses and the creation of labour- and
overseer-apprenticeships. Thirty teachers in elementary
schools received instruction in agriculture by means of
bi-weekly lectures; this subject is one of those which are
compulsory in the annual examination of such teachers. In
the secondary schools, each college takes agricultural science

and chemistry for the Cambridge Senior, and Junior, Local
Examinations, respectively. In the former subject, in the
examination held in December 1908, fifteen out of thirty-one
candidates satisfied the examiners; one with the mark of
Distinction, eight with Good, and six with Moderately
Good. At the same time, in chemistry, eleven candidates
out of thirty-six passed. The percentage of success was
not greater, on account of the fact that for a pass it
is necessary to obtain a requisite number of marks in both
the theoretical and the practical part of the examination,
so that several pupils, though they passed in one part of it,
did not appear on the list of successful candidates.

The Government Farm, which was instituted in 1879
for the primary purpose of ensuring a cheap supply of pure
milk to the Colonial Hospital, appears to have fulfilled this
object successfully. This is also the case with the subsidiary
object of the farm; that is the improvement of the horned
stock of the colony. In this connexion, the best results
have been obtained in the matter of crosses between
the Zebu and the native cow, and in the introduction of the
buffalo as a draft animal. There are indications that the
milking qualities of the stock in the island should receive
special attention with a view to their improvement. At the
Tobago Farm, the best results that have been gained are in
breeding mules, pigs, and poultry, and it is estimated that
the valne of the mules born in Tobago is now about $10,000.

The part of the report which deals with the Royal
Botanic Gardens shows that the crops of rubber and coffee
have made fair progress during the year. Of the former plants,
Puntumia elastica and Hevea brasiliensis, and of the latter,
Coffea robusta, C. excelsa and C. stenophylla, are the chief
species that are grown. The demand and the distribution of
budded citrus and grafted mango plants have been large, and
arrangements are being made for the production of grafted
cacao. :
In Tobago, the cotton ginnery has done satisfactory
work, though an improvement might be effected by the sub-
stitution of an oil engine for producing power, in the place of
the present one At the Botanic Station, the work has been
carried on in accordance with the routine of former years.
The chief attention has bzen given to the encouragement of
the cultivation of useful plants, the production of improved
varieties, the agricultural show, the distribution of plants,
lectures of an educative nature, and assistance with school
gardens.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated April 29, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

The weather during the fortnight has been fairly dry,
and reaping of short crop paddy in most districts will be
finished by next week. Crop being reaped is reported light.

Nice still continues to come to town pretty freely, but
another month should see most factories closed down.

Prices remain firm, and we look for an inerease in the
near future.

Shipments to West Indian Islands during the fortnight
amounted to 5,675 bags.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. Demerara, for’ good export
quahty: —

Noninally 17s. to 18s. per bag of 180 Ib. gross.

16s. to 17s, hb.

” ” ati ”

Voz. IX. No. 210,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

155

POULTRY NOTES.

TRE BREEDING AND REARING OF
TURKEYS.

Leaflet No. 229 of the Board of Agriculture
and Fisheries has just been issned, under the above
title. As if contains much that is of interest in
relation to West Indian conditions, this has been
extracted:—

Although turkeys may be raised on heavy land, the
operation is difficult, particularly in a wet season, and as
a rule they do better on light soils, except in very dry weather,
when there may be some deficiency in the green food. The
best results are obtained upon a rich soil, which is not
absolutely heavy in character.

The natural instinct of adult turkeys is to roost in trees,
but this is not always permissible. Delicacy and disease,
however, are the direct result of badly ventilated or over-
heated sleeping quarters, and a special form of house is
necessary for the proper accommodation of turkeys. Although
some special features are essential, the construction of a suit-
able house is really very simple. In common with all forms
of fowl houses, the floor should be dry and the building rain-
proof and free from draughts. The roof should, if possible,
be thatched. The arrangement of the perches is important;
they should be broad, but not too broad for the birds to grip,
and must run from end to end of the building.

Turkeys always prefer to remain on their perches until
let out in the morning, when it is their habit to fly straight
out and alight on the ground at some distance in front of the
house. For this reason, and to prevent the birds from damag-
ing themselves, the whole of the front of the house must be
made to open with folding doors or gates consisting of strong
frames, hung on hinges and covered with wire netting. It is
only from stock housed in a healthy open-air manner that
a healthy progeny can be expected. An excellent house can
be made of a thatched shed with walls of wattled furze.

Many failures have been primarily due to inbreeding
and the use of immature stock wantingyin stamina, ‘The use
of well-bred and well-grown cocks for mating is of the first
importance, and close breeding should be avoided. Weil-
grown birds for breeding are not necessarily of great size.
An approximation to 20 fb. in the males and 15 lb. in the
females would be suitable weights for ordinary breeding
purposes, other considerations including width of shoulders,
contour of breast, and a medium length of leg. The stock
birds should be preferably from two to three years old, and
from six to eight hens may be run with a vigorous cock,
although a more usual proportion is four or five hens. One
service is usually sufficient for the fertilization of a batch of
eggs, but permanent mating is preferable.

During March, the hens require watching, or they will
choose some out-of-the-way spot in which to nest. It is
advisable to place boxes or barrels on their sides in sheltered
positions, in which the birds may lay. April is the best
hatching month, and it is generally inadvisable to continue
hatching beyond June; but although late birds have insufti-
cient time to come to full maturity, they may be disposed of
as poults. Turkey hens are usually good mothers, but their
eggs may also be hatched under ordinary hens. Artificial
methods of hatching and rearing are not recommended,
though inenbators are frequently used at the time of hatching.
A turkey hen will cover from fifteen to sixteen eggs, and
a large barn-door hen from eight to ten. The period of

incubation is twenty-eight days. The nests should be upon
an earth bottom, and the general arrangement should be
similar to that in the case of ordinary hens’ eggs.

For the purpose of rearing, the principle of the roost
house should, as far as possible, be applied to the ecops, the
doors of which should be wire netted, and covered with
sacking in severe weather if necessary. The birds should be
cooped with their natural or foster mothers upon short turf
in a dry, sheltered position; a rich medium soil is the most
suitable for them. The coops must be moved a short distance
daily toa fresh patch, and the hens allowed out with the
young birds when possible.

TO JUDGE THE AGE OF A FOWL.

In the case of a pullet, the surface under the wings will
always be found interspersed with minute rose-coloured veins,
which are totally absent in birds that are more than twelve
months old. Again, there will be found, with pullets,
a fair supply of long, silky hairs, which disappear directly
the first moult is concluded. In the adult hen, the skin will
be found to be perfectly white, and free from either veins or
hairs; hence it is easy, ata single glance, to estimate
correctly whether a bird is under or over the age that acts as
a line of demarcation between juvenile and adult stock.
Additional evidence is forthcoming in the formation of the
pelvic bones which, ina pullet, are much closer than in the hen
that has passed the pullet age. At two years they are much
wider than at one year, so that birds at this age can be readily
distinguished from those of, say fifteen and eighteen months.
The third point of difference is observable in the shanks and
claws. In the young bird, the skin of the claw is supple, and
the scales are thin and brilliant. The skin gets coarser and
stronger and the scales harder, as the bird grows, and the
nail of the first toe, which does most of the work, gets much
worn. There is also a difference in the eyelids. These
acquire wrinkles as the bird gets older, and there is also
a slightly shrivelled look on the face. This with age,
becomes more and more pronounced. Lastly, there is the
question of wing feathers—the most infallible test of all.
At the conclusion of the first complete moult, which takes
place when the fowl is exactly twelve months old, the
secondaries alter in shape, and bear indisputable evidence as
to the dividing line having been crossed. Although the
surest test of all, this latter can only be ascertained by those
well versed in handling feathered stock, (Farmer and
Grazer.)

A Use for Lemon Grass.

The Journal d’ Agriculture Tropicale, No. 104, contains
an account of a use for lemon grass that is under trial by the
Government of Uganda. This consists in the cultivation of
lemon grass, not merely as a source of essential oil, but as
a prophylactic measure against sleeping sickness, which is
especially prevalent among the natives who live on the shores
of Lake Victoria-Nyanza. This plant, through the vapour of
essential oil which it constantly produces, repels the greater
number of insects, particularly the tse-tse fly (Glossina morsit-
ans), by which the disease is transmitted.

From the account, it appears that the grass is cultivated
as a border, about 300 yards broad, around the margin of the
lake. Grown in this way, it improves the sanitary conditions,
lessens the erosion of the soil, and yields, when cut, a profit-
able amount of oil. It is suggested that this use of the
grass should be extended to other colonies in trepical Africa.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910,

GLEANINGS.

DL Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds gives informa-
tion which shows that the consumption of vanilla in Canada
in 1908, was 15,518 bb.

5)

The exports of rubber from the Para District in February
1910, were as follows: to the United States 5,018,284 kilos.,
Europe 2,481,916 kilos. (Board of Trade Journal, April 7,
1910.)

The date of the International Rubber and Allied Trade
Exhibition to be held at Olympia, to which reference has
already been made on page 60 of the current volume of the
Agricultural Neds, is fixed for June 12 to 28, 1911.

The total amount of guano extracted from the Peruvian
guano deposits in 1909 reached 73,578 tons. Of this quantity
50,378 tons were exported to Europe and the United States,
and the remaining 23,200 tons were devoted to national agri-
cultural purposes. ( Perw To-Day, February 1910.)

The formation of ‘societies for the insurance of live
stock has attained a considerable development in France.
‘According to the latest statistics, there are in existence
6,730 of these societies, representing a capital of £15,400,000,
as against 1,469, possessing a capital of £2,300,000, in 1897.

According to the Louwescana Planter and Sugar Manu-
jacturer for April 2, 1910, the imports of sugar into the
United States, for the seven months ending January 31, were
750,569 short tons, of a total value of 36 million dollars, as
compared with 880,412 short tons valued at 39 million dollars
for the same period the year before.

The Jnternational Sugar Journal for April 1910, states
that the total imports of sugar into the United Kingdom for
the year ended March 1910, were 9,122,118 ewt., valued at
£6,153,970, and the exports, 129,112 ewt, of a value of
£98,817. The corresponding figures for 1909 were 8,431,925
ewt. and £4,701,718, and 135,224 ewt. and £95,025.

According to the London Darly Telegraph of the 5th
ultimo, much inconvenience is being caused in England by
the shortage of bananas. ‘This is chiefly due to the bad
weather that has been experienced recently in Jamaica and
Central America, and the smaller shipments from the Canary

Islands.

Mr. F. C. Bancroft, of Moonshine Plantation, St. George,
Barbados, states that he has for sale four young half-bred
West African rain sheep by ‘Alaki’, one of the rams imported
by the Imperial Department of Agriculture. Two of the sheep
are three months, and the others two months, old. The price
wanted for each is £1.

The exports of cotton by sea from British India to for-
eign countries for the year 1907-8 was 8,562,024 ewt. of
a value of Rs 257,025,196. The similar figures for 1903-4
were 7,931,075 cwt.,-valued at Rs 243,761,464. During the
intervening years, the amonnts were somewhat less than this.
(Quarterly Journal 6 the Department of Agriculture, Bengal,
Janvary 1910.)

The total value “of farm products raised in the United
States in 1909 was about £1,752,000,000 as compared with
£1,555,600;000 for 1908. The chief crops for 1909 were:
corn, 2,772,376,000 bushels, of a value of £330,564,400;
oats, 1,007,353,000cbushels (value £81,634,800) and wheat
737,189,000 bushels (value £146,009,200). (Board of Trade
Journal, No 694.)

The honey and wax industry in Hawaii is valued at
approximately $200,000. About $30,000 worth of honey was
produced during 1907, and $6,000 worth of wax. It is estimat-
ed that the number of colonies of bees at present in the
territory is about 20,000, and it is believed that this
number may be doubled. (Gleanings in Bee Culture, April 1,
1910.)

It is stated invia recent number of the Ayrieultural
Journal of British East Africa that the three decorticating
machines chiefly used in German East Africa are the Mola,
the Finnigan-Zabriski and the Neue Corona. Of these, the
last-mentioned is the most generally used machine, as it can
produce 23 tons of clean fibre per day, while the Finnigan
Zabriski and the Mola can only turn out #-ton and 2 tons,
respectively.

An arrangement has been concluded between the
Governinent of British Honduras and the Western Land
Syndicate of Hull by which it is likely that this colony will
become a larger producer of bananas than has been the case
heretofore. The agreement is that the syndicate gives the
tovernment the land.on its estate which the latter requires
for constructing the Stann Creek Railway, together with
wood and ballast, and_undertakes to cultivate yearly increas-
ing areas, in return for concessions that have veen grant-
ed to it. (Colonial Office Journal, April 1910.)

An account of an experiment which was performed in
connexion with dry farming is given in the Ayricu/tural
Journal of the Cape of Good Hope for March 1910. It
serves to uphold the great benefit that is derived by cultiva-
tion in dry land farming, and to show that the relative amount
of evaporation which takes place in different parts of the
colony is likely to determine as to whether dry land farming
is possible in all parts having the same rainfall. Experience
has already shown that it is quite hkely that a 20-inch rain-
fall in some districts is no better than one of 15 inches,
where the evaporation is relatively lower. ;

Vor. IX. No. 210.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

157

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

MAY.
Seconp Perron.

Seasonal Notes.

At the end of the time during which the caréme crop of
cacao is being gathered, and before the trees begin to flower
for the Christmas crop, the orchards should receive the sani-
tation which wil! have become a matter of yearly routine;
that is to say, they should obtain the treatment for lessen-
ing the likelihood of the attack of the trees by disease, and
by which such parts of the plants as show signs of fungus
infection are removed and destroyed. This treatment will
include the removal of dead branches, the excision of decayed
wood from old wounds, and the subsequent dressing of all cut
surfaces with Bordeaux mixture, followed a few days later by
a covering of tar. What useful purposes are served by the
Bourdeaux mixture and the tar? How are the wounds made
in a cacao plant healed! The use of the knife will not be
found necessary, in the case of the work just mentioned, only;
a careful watch for canker will have to be maintained, and
the diseased areas cut out and. dressed in the way that has
been described.

In the treatment of the soil under cacao, mulches and
special manures should be applied before the commencement
of the heavy rains. Why, in each case is this important?
Remember that a ‘mulch’ in cacao cultivation does not derive
its usefulness mainly from the fact that it assists in the
conservation of the water in the soil, as is generally the case
with such material. It is more than a mere mulch, in the
significance of the term that is accepted usually. It has the
function of keeping the soil in good condition, as well as that
of providing a useful quantity of plant food. This is why it
is often applied in amounts which are much greater than
those which would be required for the first-mentioned
purpose. (See Annual Reports on the Botanic Station, ete.,
Dominica; also the West Indian Bulletin, Vols. II, p. 96;
V, p. 287; VI, pp: 258-62; VII, pp. 201-6; VIII, pp. 131-6;
IX, pp. 138-43 and X, pp. 170-9.)

Careful attention should be paid, during the dry season,
to cacao seedlings in nurseries, in order that the plants may
be in a vigorous condition when they aré planted out at the
commencement of the rains. If a plant has had to struggle
against adverse conditions when it was very young, the likeli-
hood that it will grow to the best advantage when it is
established is lessened. Special care should, therefore, always
be taken in the raising of young plants of all kinds. One of
the chief diseases to which young seedlings are subject is that
known as ‘damping-off’. What is the chief predisposing
cause of this, and how would you proceed, where seedlings
were affected by it, to attempt to preserve as many of them
as possible!

The preparation of land on which it is intended to
establish new cacao cultivation should be taken in hand.
After manuring, in cases where this has been done, the
fields should be lined, and holes prepared for the reception of
the young plants. Give as many reasons as you can why
cacao, as well as other crops, should be planted in such
a way that the stand which is obtained may be as regular and
orderly as possible.

At this time, the wind-breaks and Shade for the trees
should be put in, so that they will have reached a stage at
which they may protect the cacao efficiently at the time when
this work will be required of them. Note that cacao is not

always grown under shade. What precautions must be
observed in choosing the kind of tree that may be employed
for the protection of a given cultivation! The matter of
drainage requires careful attention, especially in the case of the
heavier soils. Describe the kind of drainage that is generally
employed on cacao lands in the West Indies. Why is
drainage a more difficult affair in some places than in others!
What usually happens, when land is not properly drained,
(1) to the plants, (2) to the soil? How may the soil itself
be treated so that the drainage from it is improved !

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) How can you tell if a soil requires to be drained?!

(2) Describe the way in which cotton seed is tested, and
prepared for planting.

(3) What is the number of sets that should be made
from 1 tb. of yams!

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) State the chief cireumstances that would influence
you in choosing an estate for cotton-planting.

(2) Give a description of the best fodder grasses that
grow in the district in which you live.

(3) What are the chief objects sought in raising new
seedling varieties of sugar-cane!

FREEING PASTURES FROM TICKS.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 378, of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, deals with methods of exterminating
the Texas fever tick (Margaropus annulatus). It points out
that, in taking measures for eradicating ticks, it is evident
that.the pest may be attacked in two places, namely, on the
pasture and. on the cattle. The method followed in freeing
pastures may be either direct, in which all cattle, horses and
mules are excluded from pastures until the ticks have died of
starvation; or indirect, in which the animals are allowed to
continue on the infested pasture, and are treated at regular
intervals with oils or other agents destructive to ticks, so
that the engorged females may be prevented from dropping
and reinfesting the pasture. Two methods may be employed
for the purpose of freeing animals of ticks: they may be
treated with a substance that will destroy the ticks that are
on them, or they may be pastured at proper intervals in fields
which are free from ticks, until all those on them have
dropped.

The time which it will take for the ticks in a pasture to
die out, after the infested animals have been removed from
it, varies considerably in different places, chiefly according to
the conditions of climate and weather. Investigations con-
ducted in Alabama show that it varies from five to ten months,
in different parts of the year; farther south, the period is
shorter. As a general rule, the time of infestation is length-
ened by cold and moisture, and shortened by heat and dryness;
other things being equal, high, unshaded land, which is dry,
becomes free of ticks more quickly than land which is low,
shaded and damp.

In the instance under consideration, seed ticks will take
at least twenty days to appear, after engorged females have
been dropped. The chief condition which regulates the time
that is required for all the ticks to drop, after cattle has
been placed on clean land, is the temperature. In Texas, it
was found that the time varies from six weeks in the warmer
months to ten weeks in those which are cooler.

THE AGKLCULTURAL

NEE Wits : May 14, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIEF GROUPS OF FUNGI.
PA VI.

The UREDINALES (continued). In order to present a clear
account of the different stages in the life-history of these
fungi, a description of a particular species, Puccinia
graminis, the black rust.of wheat and other cereal crops, will
be given. The spring condition of this fungus
occurs on the leaves and other parts of the
barberry (Berberts vulgaris), and on allied
species; this is the stage already referred to as
the cluster-cup, or aecidium stage. It consists
of clusters of minute cup-shaped structures
with white, fringed margins'and golden yellow
centres. The yellow colour is due to the forma-
tion of masses of spherical golden-brown
spores, which are produced in chains from
the ends of hyphae arranged in parallel layers
at the bottom of the cups., With this stage
are associated very minute spores known as
spermagonia, Which are abstricted from the
tips of long, fine hyphae produced in flask-
shaped cavities or conceptacles on the under
side of the leaves. According to one theory,
these spermagonia were originally male repro-
ductive cells, but have now lost their function.
This is, howeyer, uncertain, and very little
is really known about them, beyond the fact
that they have practically lost their power of
germination. The ripe aecidiospores are scatt-
ered by the wind, and if they-fall on the surface
of aleaf of wheat or other suitable grass
plant, they germinate; the; germ-tube enters
the leaf through a stoma, grows rapidly and
infects an area around the stoma. The
mycelium then gives rise to wredospores,
borne in a mass, which burst through the
tissues of the host and form rusty brown
streaks on the leaves. The uredospores are
oyal structures, unicellular, brown in colour,
and covered with spines. They germinate
almost immediately, when ripe, putting out
several germ-tubes through pores arranged on

Fig. 26:

rerminating

the central line round
the spore. These spores
can infect other wheat
plants, and their object
is to increase the num-
bers of the fungus dur-
ing any one season. As
the season proceeds, the
rust streaks become
darker in colour, owing
to the formation of the
third spore-stage, the
teleutospores. These are
produced from the same
mycelium as the uredo-
spores, and are at first
often mixed with them,
though later the pus-

tules contain teleuto-

spores only. These

Fic. 27. Roor Disease or SuGar- spores are more or less
CANE. (Marasmius sacchari.) oval in shape, dark

\"
PuccintIA GRAMINIS.

brown in colour and bicellular, with a marked constriction at
the median wall. They have thick walls, and are intended
to carry the fungus through the winter. They either fall to
the ground, or remain, on the withered leaves of the grass, in
the pustules in which they were originally produced. In the
spring, they germinate, each cell giving rise, through a single
pore, to a four-celled basidium, as is shown in Fig. 26. Each
cell of the basidium then produces a short sterigma, on the
top of which the last spore-form, a spordiwm, is borne.
This spore is a hyaline, unicellular, frequently
oval structure, much smaller than the other
sporeforms; it is carried by the wind to the
leaves of the barberry, where it germinates,
enters the leaf, and produces a mycelium giving
rise ‘to the cluster-cups again, thus completing
the lifecycle. The necessity for two different
host’ plants on which to complete the life-cycle
is known as heteroecism. This phenomenon was
first definitely demonstrated by Schooler in
1818, by infecting rye from the barberry,and was
subsequently confirmed by de Bary and others.
It was, however, suspected as early as 1781,
when a law was passed in the State of
Massachusetts, compelling the destruction of
all barberry plants in the neighbourhood of
fields of wheat and rye.

To summarize, there are four spore-stages
in the life-history of most of the Uredinales:
the uredospore, the teleutospore, the sporidium,
and the aecidiospore. Of these, the first two
occur on one host plant, as for example, wheat;
the sporidia are produced from the teleuto-
spores lying on the ground or elsewhere, and
camonly infect a different host plant, as for
example, barberry; from the mycelium so
formed, arise the aecidiospores, which can only
infect the first host. The phenomenon of
heteroecism is general among these fungi, but
is not always necessary, aS some species can
produce all their spore-forms on the same host.

The two remaining groups of the Basidio-
mycétes— the Hymenomycetes and the Gastero-
mycetes— possess one character in common
besides the undivided basidia, for in both the

Teleutospores. basidia are closely packed together, side by side,

to form a definite
layer known as the
hymenium. The
difference between $
the two groups lies
in the fact that, in 9
the Hymenomy- |
cetes, the hymenium §
is exposed from the gag |

rity.

The HYMENOMY-
cerEes. This group?
may be divided

into four subdivis- {

ions :— 9
Agaricaceaé,
Polyporaceae.
Hydnaceae.
Thelephoraceae.

Fie,

28, Parastric WounpD FunNGus,
(Polyporus sp.)

Vou. 1%. No. 210.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

In the Agaricaceae, the fructification is of the type
usually known as a toadstool. On the: under surface of the
umbrella-like expansion are long radiating gills, over the
surface of which is the hymenium. The fructifications
may or may not be stalked, and the stalk may be
central or lateral, but the gills are. a constant feature.
To this group belong Marasmius sacchari, the fungus caus-
ing root disease of sugar-cane (Fig. 27); Marasmins semius-
tus, causing disease of bananas; Schizophyllum commune, which
sometimes attacks cane stems; and all the numerous sapro-
phytic tcadstools.

In the Polyporaceae, the hymenium lines the cavities of
long or short densely packed tubes or shallow depressions
oceurring in a sporophore that frequentlyyprojects from trees,
like a bracket. Several of the genera, especially Polyporus are
wound parasites on different trees (Fig. 28). The sporophores
may sometimes live for as long as fifty years.

In the Hydnaceae, the fructification again projects at
right angles to the tree bearing it, and produces from its
under side numerous acute spines, or warts, or folds, on
which the hymenium is borne. Some members of the genus
Hydnum are parasitic on trees.

In the Thelephoraceae, the hymenium is smooth and
superficial, and the sporophore may have a central stalk, or
may lie flat on the subtratum. To this group belongs the
fungus causing pink disease of cacao (Corticium lilaco-fuscum).
Most of its members are saprophytes.

The members of the Hymenomycetes, in general, contain
comparatively few species recognized as parasites, the majority
being saprophytes on decaying wood, or other vegetable
remains.

The GAsteRoMyceTEs. This group contains very few
parasitic forms, though numerous saprophytes of beautiful
colouring and shape belong to it.

Two families may be shortly mentioned: —

Phalloidaceae.
Lycoperdaceae.

In the Phalloidaceae, the hymenium is borne on a recept-
acle that frequently takes the form of a fine net-work, or
a wrinkled swollen terminal portion hung on a central stalk;
the stalk and receptacle are at first enclosed in a definite skin,
and the fructification is spherical. Later, however, the skin
is broken by the elongation of the stalk, and the net-work,
when present, hangs free at its summit. It is covered
usually with drops of strongly smelling mucilage in which the
spores are contained. The mucilage attracts flies, which
assist in the dispersal of the spores. One species, Phallus
gracilis, also known as Ithyphallus coralloides, and another
Clathrus trilohatus, ave responsible for root diseases of sugar-
cane in Hawaii.

To the family Lycoperdaceae belong the puff bells, which
are closed, more or less spherical, white or yellowish fructifi-
cations, dehiscing by a terminal pore when ripe, and setting
free a mass of dusty spores. In some cases, there is a long
central stalk, as in the Phallaceae, surmounted by a cap
bearing the spores, the whole being enclosed within a definite
skin until these are ripe.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. VII, p. 227, there
appeared a paper by Mr. W. P. Ebbels, of Mapore, Mauritius,
on the use of molasses in increasing the fertility of sugar-
cane lands. An abstract in the Hrperiment Station Record,
Vol. XXI, No. 2, of the United States Department of Agri-
culture, shows that further work has confirmed the results
obtained at first. Experiments in connexion with this matter
are being conducted in Antigua. (See Pamphlet No. 64.)

TB OO PUG TON
LEAD CHROMATE AS AN INSECTICIDE.
The Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, has
recently published a pamphlet in which the use of

lead chromate in the place of arsenical insecticides, is
advocated. ‘The contents of this are as follows :-—

There are grave disadvantages in India in the use of
arsenical poisons as insecticides, and for many reasons we
have endeavoured to find a reliable substitute. Formerly,
Paris green was used in India, ‘as elsewhere, as a standard
application; in 1903, lead arseniate was introduced and
arrangements made for its manufacture and sale. We have
now abandoned lead arseniate in favour of a non-arsenical
preparation, one of many hundreds that have been tested at
Pusa during the last four years. This is lead chromate,
a compound that is poisonous to human beings and cattle,
but which has not the very grave disadvantages attaching to
arsenic. It is cheaper than” lead arseniate, and arrange-
ments have been made for its sale at annas 13 (1s. 1d.) per bb.
in paste or powder, the paste being sold on tts lead chromate
content, and not on its bulk weight. For ordinary uses,
lead chromate is most easily made by dissolving separately,
2 parts by weight of a lead salt, e.g., lead acetate or nitrate,
and 1 of potassium bichromate; the solutions are mixed
and 2 parts of lead chromate precipitated. In this way,
the substance is made in its best form for spraying. The
simplest procedure is to dissolve the lead salt in the spraying
machine, and to dissolve the bichromate separately in a tin
of water, and then to pour it into the spraying machine.

Lead chromate is a heavy, yellow substance, easily
visible upon the plant, which does not burn the foliage,
adheres extremely well in spite of wind and rain, and does
not decompose into compounds that burn the plant. It has
been used on a great variety of crops in the Pusa farm;
leaves sprayed heavily with it have retained it for six weeks
in spite of heavy rain, and the leaf has remained healthy.
Plants can be sprayed with it until they are yellow, and no
harm is done. The substance is not as poisonous as lead
arseniate or Paris green, but is a first rate deterrent to plant-
feeding insects; sprayed plants will not be eaten by insects.

We recommend a strength’of 1 tb.in 64 gallons of water,
as an insecticide on crops that are being attacked, or | tb. in
100 gallons of water asa deterrent upon crops which it is
essential to protect from attack.

Applied at these rates, no harm results to fodder crops,
which can be safely fed to cattle, and unless the spraying is
done very badly and all the lead chromate applied at one
spot, no poisoning effect would follow upon any crop or plant
if eaten afterwards.

For the Knapsack spraying machine, 1 oz. of lead
acetate may be dissolved in the machine, 3-oz. of potassium
bichromate, powdered, dissolved and added; or 13 oz. of paste,
or 1 oz. of dry chromate may be thoroughly rubbed up in
the machine.

Careful trials would be required before it could be

determined if lead chromate is more suited to West
Indian conditions, as an insecticide, than Paris green.

London,—Tse West Ixpia

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon,

160

MARKET REPORTS.

CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR,
April 26, 1910; Messrs. BE. A. pe Pass & Co.,
April 15, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 133d. to 3d.

Batata—Sheet, 4/9; block, 4/- per tb.

Bres-wax— £7 17s. 6d. to £8 2s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/6 to 63/- per cwt. ; Grenada, 50/- to

. 54/6 per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/6 to 53/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 40/- to 55/-.

Copra—West Indian, £28 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; St. Croix West Indian, no quotations.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincrer—Common to good common, 50/- to 53/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 59/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honey—26/- to 32/6.

Isryciass—No quotations.

Lue Juice—Raw, 10d. to 1/1; concentrated, £18 15s.
to £18 17s. 6d.; Otto of limes, 5/9 to 6/-.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nurmecs—Steady.

Porexto—Common, 2id.; fair, 2,%,d.; good, 24d. per th.

Rupper—Para, fine hard, 12/2, fine soft, 12/-; fine Peru,
12/- per ib.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/9 to 29/3, Muscovado, 14/- to 15/6;
Syrup, 13/3 to 15/3 ; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Giuespre Bros. & Co., April
15, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, ll}e. to 12c. ; Grenada, 1ljc. to 115e. ;
Trinidad, 11c.2 to 11£c. ; Jamaica, 10c. to 11e. per tb.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $28°00 to $29°00; culls,
$1600; Trinidad, select, $27:00 to $2800; culls,
$15°00 to $16:00 per M.

CorreE—Jamaica, ordinary, 9c. to 9}c.; good ordinary,
94c. to 10c.; and washed, up to 113c. per th.

GixcER—9e. to 13c. per Ib.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 52c.; Barbados, 47c. to 50c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c. per foes
Antigua, 47c. to 50c., dry flint.

Grave Fruit—$2°00 to $2°75 per box.

Lores—$8-00 to $9:00.

Macre—282c. to 36c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 9c. to 94c. per Tb.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°50 to $2:00.

Pimento—4éc. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°80c.;
duty paid.

4°30c. per lb.; Muscovados,
Molasses, 89°, 3°55c. per ib., all

Grant & Co., April 30,
1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°75 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°25
to $11°75.

Cocoa-NuT O11—9%6c. per Imperial gallon.

Corree—Venezuelan, 10e. per tb.

Copra—$4'60 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4°35 to $440 per 2-bushel bag.

On1ons—$3°50 to $3°75 per 100 1b.

Pras, Sprit—$6°50 to $6°60 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1°75 to $2°00 per 100 tb.

Rice—Yellow, $4°40 to $4:°50; White, $4°70 to $4°80
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $5°10 to $5°20 per 100 tb.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co. May 9, 1910;
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., May 9, 1910;
Messrs. James A, Lyxcn & Co., May 2, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3°75 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$11°50 to $13°00 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-nuts—$14°00.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $9°50 to $11-00 per
100 tb., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 to $1°60 per 100 tb., dull.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65°00; Cacao
manure, $42:00 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,
$7000 to $75°00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Onrons—Bunched, $1°50 to $3:00 per 100 tb.

Pras, Sprit—$6°10 to $6°75 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3-00 to $3°60 per bag of 120 tb.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1°50 to $2°75 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°33 to $4°30 (180 tb.); Patna, $3°80 ;
Rangoon, $2°90 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietmsc & Ricurer, April
30, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacH, Parker & Co.,
April 29, 1910.

ARTICLES.

ArrowRrooT—St. Vincent

Barata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DHat—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLanTarns—

Poratos—Novya Scotia
Lisben
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam
Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TrweEeR —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

Messrs. WIETING |
& RiIcHTEr.

$8-0) to $8-25 | $8-00 to $8-25per

per 200 tb. 200 tb., market
dull

32c. per ib. Prohibited

48c. per tb. None

11c. to 12c. per th.|10c. to11ec. per tb.
$1-20 | No quotation

$6-00 per barrel of No quotation
196 tb. 5

$12 to $16 per M. $16 perM., peeled

| and selected
12c. to 13c._ per tb. 12c. to 13c. per tb.
14c. to 14}c. per tb. 143c. to 15c. perth.

10c. per th. | 10c. per th.
$4°25 per bag of | $4°25 per bag of
168 tb. 168 tb.
$5°75 wa
72c. to 96e. ——
None ——
3ze. to 3ke. 3fe.

—— | No quotation
$640 per bag | $6:40 per bag
(210 th.) ( 210 tb.)

$3°50 | $3°50 to $4°25
12c. to 40c. per ——
bunch |
$1:75 to $2-00 $1°75 to $2-00
No quotation No quotation
$1°68 per bag
No quotation $4°75
$4-00 to $420 $4-00 to 24-20
68c. per bag} —
$240 ——
$2°40 per bag
$3°05 to $3:10 None
$3°60 to $3-70 | $3°70
$400 $3°80 to $4:00
$2°25 to $2°50 | None
32c. to 55c. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot | eub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75 $3°50 te, $d°50
per M. per M.
$1°80 to $200 No quotation
per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free, 1s. 2d

Volumes II, III, IV, V, VI, VII,VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete, - (III, 9; 1V. 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are ont of print.) as Ja

Volume X. No. 1. No. 2. Central Factories; The Underground System of the Sugarcane; The Cotton
Industry in the West ‘Indies ; Observations on Molasses ; The Treatment of Orchard Soils in Cultivation
in the West Indies; The Scarabee of the Sweet Potato. No. 3. Legislation in the West Indies for
controlling Diseases on Imported Plants; Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies;
Manurial Experiments, with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of
Reading and Examinations in Practical Agriculture. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sucar Inpustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.; in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2a,

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d,
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20 price 2d.; (88) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33 price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d. :
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-mea on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d. tions. Price 2d. :
No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting. New and Enlarged Edition,
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d. ;

in 1902-3, No. 30. price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.: (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.;in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,

No. 64, price 4d. Price 4d. : -
Scare Lysects. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [. No. 7, price 4d.- (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. _ Price 4d. ‘
Part II.; No. 22, price 4d. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
GENERAL. (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of 4d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., 1d. for those
marked 4d., and 14d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62 and 63.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. -perannum. Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Ald
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. MosE.ey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowxn & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: Toe Epucationat Suppry Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Brrpcuwater, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. i Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: THE ‘Datty Curontcre’ Orrick, Georgetown. Antigua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s. Bo”
Trinidad: Messrs. Mutr-MarsHatt & Co.,"Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Tue Biste anp Book Suppty AGENCY, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough. Nevis : Mr. S. D. MAtoneg, Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vor, IX. No. 210.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 14, 1910.

THE BES1' MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

ARE SER a

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE, BRITISH GUIANA.

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR.
Salary, $960 per annum rising to $1,200 by $72.
(NOT ON THE FIXED ESTABLISHMENT. )

Applications are mvited from candidates for the above post,
who should be between twenty-three and thirty-six years of age.
Knowledge of, and experience in, the growth of tropical products
and of draining operations on low-lying land is of importance.

Candidates must submit with their applications, details of
their training in Agricultural Science and in practical Agri-
culture accompanied, if feasible, by diplomas from the imstitu-
tion where trained, or of certificatesim Agriculture issued by the
Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, or the
Department of Agriculture of any other tropical country, copies
of satisfactory certificates of health and of character, together’
with copies of not more than three testimonials from their pre-
sent and former employers.

2. Duties.—To give instruction in practical horticulture to
farmers and settlers im the various districts of the colony, espe-
cially in connexion with the cultivation of rice, rubber, cacao,
coffee, bananas and citrus fruit, and the care of live stock gene-
rally ; to assist in the inspection of gardens attached to primary
schools and in the examination of their pupils in the elements of
agriculture ; to assist in agricultural experiments and in the
control of the district agvicultural stations ; to assist in the nur-
series of the Botanic Gardens; and to perform such other duties
as may be assigned to him by the Director of the Department.

3. The selected candidate will be required to sign a form of
agreement previous to appointment.

4, Applications showld be addressed to the Director of
Science and Agriculture on or before May 31, 1910,

J, B. HARRISON,

March 23, 1910. Director of Science and Agriculture.

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED.
BRIDGETOWN,

COTTON SEED.
Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and.
from the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of
Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt
attention.

SULPHATE OF COPPER.—We stock this
article, and all orders received will be promptly
executed.

JUST ISSUED.

WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vol; xX, No. 3.) &

Containing papers on Legislation in the West Ivdies

for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants; Fungi Causing

Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial

Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; Rainfall

of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations
in Practical Agriculture.

To be obtained from all agents for the
sale of the Department’s publications.
6d.; post free, Sd.

Price

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

:
Ys

RY
WS

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[One penny.

THE ROYAL MAIL
: STEAM PACKET COMPANY
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(ROYAL CHARTER, dated 1839)

Vol. IX. No. 211.] SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1910. _

REGULAR SERVICES

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS., _

|

|

}

‘Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-

Annual Report on the Botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-9.
"Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1908-9,
Annual Report on the Botanic Station. Economic Experiments, and Agricultural Instruction; also on

' Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola. Virgin Islands, 1908-9,

“ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

Imperial Department of
. Agriculture.

BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction. and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9,

ment Veterinary Surgeon, St Vincent, 1908-9.
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Experiment Plots, St. Lucia, 1908-9,
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9.

Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-
tions.

PROFIL

does not mean a dollars worth for

gin is small, why not change the method? jf

Our book on cacao suggests some
new old truths—write for it. We send

it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,
Havana, Cuba.

SS

y

NS

SS

Fe

hee
lle te

MT
ay) rasa

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW eae

OF THE BOTANI

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, ane
Vou. IX. No. 211. BARBADOS, MAY 28, 1910. Peee aa
CONTENTS. Thus the term came to have a somewhat loose signific-
ance, as is naturally the case when a word is employed
>. commonly in one more or less specialized relation. It
PAGE. PAGE. is easy to understand, for example, the difficulty of realiz-
Baobab Trees for Storing | Gleanings ... 172 ing that the fungus causing root disease of sugar-cane,

Water eee 169) =
. ‘ 1" a : Insect Notes :—
asic Slag ‘Yow ) ae 5 :
Ba aie ee I - Amount 169 The Black Seale and its

Black Fungus in Mont-

Parasite eyes ns
Leeward Islands Agricul-

B See ee Oe eee re wae tural Department, The 169
onuses to Labourers for I Multivattenan italy 161
Etytnipinrats Se 168 szemon Cultivation in Ltaly bt
Calcium Cyanamide oral, Market Reports 176
Nitrate of Lime, Manganese Salts, Action
Trials with . 169 of, on Growing
Cotton Notes :— Plants, The 169
Bacterial Disease of Cot- ve
= Y 1 : 68
ae, | 0) a a ye Notes and Comments — 16
As ere ag ee Prickly Pear, Destruction
The Coming Cotton-Grow- tiie 173
ing Séason ... ... Lor ae oo) Ree
West Indian Cotton... 166 Be yeavions eC; ts aa
Electrical Discharges, i oR ake . 168
Effect of on Plants... 175) pice Tree, ‘The Tonkin 163
Forestry in New Zealand 169 Stud er ; Coen ae 172
Fowls, The Caponizing of, 171 °°" SUS VOX ee
Fungi in Relation to Agri- Sugir-cane, Influence of
5 5 = . r >
culture, The OL Structureon Mill Work 162

Fungus Notes :—
The Chief Groups of
Fungi, Part VII ...

Trees, An Account of some
| ‘seful

174\\ Weeds, Uses of

The Fungi

in Relation to

Agriculture.

) UCH misapprension has existed for many
S .

years, in the world of agriculture, with re-
gard to the true significance of the term

Fungus. In the early days, when the results of abstract
biological science were first employed in connexion with
practical agriculture from an economic standpoint, there
was often uncertainty, on the part of those in receipt
of advice, as to the place of fungi among living beings.

is actually a relative of the grey fungus so commonly
found on the parts of dead trees.

The fungi form a subdivision of the plant king-

The group consists of several thousand species
of plants, which differ enormously in size, structure and
complexity. They are grouped together for several
reasons, as for example, the similarity of their vegeta-
tive parts, the fact that they are all reproduced by
means of spores, and that all of them, without exception,
have entirely lost the power of forming chlorophyll—
the green colouring matter which occurs in all other
plants, with but few exceptions, and without which
the plant is unable to elaborate its own food-supply
from the carbon dioxide and oxygen contained in the air.
For this reason, the fungi may be looked upon as
a degenerate group of plants, that is, when regarded
from the standpoint of the main path of evolution; in
their own line, however, they have attained very con-
siderable complexity in their reproductive arrangements,
and also show many and varied forms of adaptation to
the manner of life which they have been driven by
different circumstances to adopt. Members of this
large assemblage of plants may be found living
under the most various circumstances of temperature
and moisture, and with widely different sources of food-

supply.

It will now be apparent that a term which is applic-
able to so many and so various forms of plant life can
hardly be expected to possess in reality the narrow
significance indicated in the opening paragraph.

dom.

162

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 28, 1910.

The subject may be further considered at some-
what greater length from a different point of view,
Since the fungi are unable to obtain their own food-
supply from the air, it follows that they must obtain it
The
only organism that can manufacture its own food-supply
from the air is the green plant, so that, clearly, one
possible source of food for the fung: is the bodies of
such plants, either. alive or dead; moreover, since
animals may be regarded as fundamentally depend-
ent on green plants for their food-supply, their dead
or living bodies also offer a possible source of food to
the fungi. These are the only available food-supplies
for these plants.

already manufactured from one or more sources.

As would be naturally expected, all four sources of
food, namely living and dead plants, and living and
dead animals, are utilized by different species of fungi.
Those fungi which live on dead plants or animals, or
on the products of the decay of such, are known as
saprophytes: while those that obtain their food from
living sources are known as parasites. There is an
intermediate class, the facultative parasites, which can
attack some living plants, or can if necessary, live on
dead vegetable matter.

Although these are the more technical divisions of
the fungi, they may be considered ditferently in their
relation to agriculture. In this connexion, there are
three points of importance. Firstly, there is the
damage that they cause: secondly, the advantages that
some of them confer; and lastly, the development of
which these advantages are capable.

Some of the forms that grow on animal and veget-
able products—saprophytes—are a source of annoy-
ance and loss to man, as for example the moulds that
grow on grain, bread, cheese, and other eatables, or
even on cloth and leather. These may, however, be
kept in check without much dittculty. Among the
facultative parasites, many species can attack the roots
of various economic plants, and even if they do not
actually bring about the death of their hosts, they
weaken them to such an extent that the value of the
crop produced is greatly diminished: moreover, their
power of living on decaying remains of these hosts, or
even on those of other plants, renders them extremely
difficult to eradicate, once they have obtained a hold.
Among the class known as parasites are included all
those forms understood by the term Fungus in its more
narrow application. They are undoubtedly a source of
great loss to all those interested in agriculture, and
even when the greater part of the loss can be obviated
by the employment of sound preventive measures,

the carrying out of such measures involves the expendi-

sure of considerable sums of money.

On the other hand, many species are of consider-
able service to man, for several of them help to destroy
old plant and animal remains, and in this way act as
scavengers. They may, for example, live on heaps of
dead leaves, old tree stumps, decaying branches, or any
other accumulations of rubbish. They often possess
the power of secreting enzymes, which can dissolve
various forms of organic matter not otherwise easily
destructible. The products of their action go to
increase the humus content of the soil, often in forms
in which they are available to higher plants as a source
of food. Such fungi must be regarded as useful, both in
their capacity of scavengers, and in their function of
suppliers of humus products to various crops. Other
species can live on harmful fungi, and are useful in this
way, while still others are parasitic on various insects
of economic importance and are, even under natural
conditions, of great importance as a supplementary
means of keeping. such insects under control.

The recognition of this last point is of compara-
tively recent date, and the observations and experiments
that have been carried out so far tend to show that it
is of primary importance in the control of certain insect
pests in tropical and sub-tropical climates. The para-
sitic fungi may be readily encouraged by various means,
and under such circumstances afford a way of con-
trolling such pests, which is very much cheaper, and at
the same time more effective, in many cases, than any
of the artificial methods in common use at the present
time. The employment of parasitic fungi in the control
of various pests 1s at present, comparatively speaking,
in its infancy, but there can be little doubt that, should
this method fulfil in the future the promise held out
by the results of experiments conducted up to the
present time, it will prove of the utmost service to the
practical agriculturist.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE STRUCTURE

OF SUGAR-CANE ON MILL WORK.

The first two parts of Bulletin No. 50 of the Hawaiian
Sugar Planters? Association, which presents the results and
conclusions gained from experiments designed to ascertain
the influence of the structure of the sugar-ecane on control
work, as well as on the extraction of sugar, received conside-
ration in the last number of the Agricultural News. The
third part of the bulletin has relation to the extent to which
the work of mills is affected by the structure of the cane.
Attention is first drawn to the ordinary observation that
increased pressure in the mill results in the production of

Vor. LX,: -No. 211.

inferior juice. For the purpose of the investigation of the
effect of such increased pressure, the cane is regarded as being
divided into rind, nodes and interior pith, not because of any
botanical significance, but for the purpose of introducing
simplicity into the consideration of the subject.

After a brief review of previous work on the structure of
the sugar-cane has been given, the author proceeds to outline
the method of division of the cane which he employed in
practice. The procedure was to saw through the node. on
each side of its widest part, on the outer line of the region
from which the adventitious roots spring, and to strip the
internode, thus separated, of the rind. The rind was not
separated from tie node, so that this portion consisted chiefly
of rind, fibro-vascular bundles and a certain amount of pith.
The different parts obtained in this way were then analysed
in order to find their content of moisture, fibre, solids and
sucrose, the fibre being determined by difference. Using the
varieties Rose Bamboo, Yellow Caledonia and Lahaina, the
figures for the last two being obtained from cane grown in
two different places, the following are the means of the
highest and lowest results obtained: —

Whole cane. Pith. Rind. Node.
Weight, per 100 cane 100-0 68:0 12°7 19°6
Juice, per cent. 86-4 92°5 67-4 79-4
Fibre 3 13°6 76 32°6 20°6
Solids ,, 174 Bah 12:4 14°8
Sucrose ,, 15°6 18-0 88 19
Water rf) 69°3 73°8 545 64:3

The actual figures from which the above means are
calculated were then employed to find others, which are given
ina table. The statistics contained in this. are again used
here in giving the means of the highest and lowest results, as
follows:—

Absolute Pith Rind Node

juice. juice. juice. juice.

Weight, per 100 cane 86-4 63-4 8-2 15°8
Solids, per cent. 198 20°4 18°5 18:2
Sucrose ., 179 19-2 13:1 14:7
Purity 86°6 90-8 68°5 779

As was explained in the article dealing with this
bulletin in the last number of the Agricultural News, the
term ‘absolute juice’ means everything that is not left behind
on extraction with water.

A further use was made of the results obtained, in the
direction of calculating the amount of sucrose contained in
each portion per 100 sucrose of cane. Taking the means of
the outside results. as before, the sucrose, per cent. on sucrose
in cane, is found to be: pith, 77°6; vind, 7:5; node, 14°*s.

Having regard to the purity of the juice in these different
parts of the cane, it was possible to find the distribution of
the available sugar in the cane, so that, taking again the
means of the extreme results, the available sugar, per cent.
on available sugar in cane, is: pith, 81*1;rind, 5°8; node 15-2.

It is pointed out that the results show that the part
which has been considered as node has a composition which
is intermediate between those of the pith and the rind, so
that the cane may be regarded as being made up of a soft,
interior portion composed of a small amount of fibre and
a juice of high purity, and of a hard, outer portion contain-
ing much fibre and a juice of low purity. If, then, the part
which has been called ‘node’ is divided equally between the
pith and the rind, the average composition of the canes
employed in the experiment must be as foilows :—

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

163
Weight, Fibre, Solids, Sucrose, Purity.
per 100 cane. per cent. per cent. per cent.

Whole cane 100:0 13°7 Wel 14'8 site
ss 5, Juice 86°3 bs 3 19°8 Dyce 86-4
Soft part 770 80 18°5 16°7 as
i gp ee uce 0:8 oe 20-2 18°5 90°3
Hard part 23-0 33-0 1233 85 6
- 5, juice 15°5 zh 183 1277 69:1

Following on this, an attempt was made to trace the
changes that took place in these soft and hard parts during
their passage through the mill. In practice, it was naturally
only possible to ettect a rough separation into two parts, one
consisting mostly of pith and one made up chiefly of rind,
and the method did not eliminate the error that must per-
force accrue through the retention of juice from the soft
portion by the rind. Taking, as before, the means of the
extremes, but with three canes grown in four places, in this
instance, the following table may be constructed :—

Expressed juice. Pith megass. Rind megass.

Weight, per 100 cane 67°8 14°6 18:2
Solids, per cent 21:0 13°4 113
Sugar, ,, 5, 19-2 11-2 8:0
Walters. 52-7 50'3
Fibre, ,,; 3 Si 34-9 375
Purity 88-9

The next step was to find the extraction that took place,
from the harder and softer parts of the cane, in its passage
through a train of mills. In this process, the megass had
to be separated by hand into the two representative portions,
so that the division was somewhat imperfect. The following
table shows the results of the analysis that are given, to one
place of decimals :—

‘Rollers in Train 12 12 2} aly he 15
No. of Mill le ae AS) QUEL, NG Vv.
Pith megass—
Weight, per 100 megass 53°3 486 500 48°5 51:3 50:0
Sucrose, per cent. WEES epee. Ba) BAD) aT
Fibre, s 33°6 416 456 46:8 46:9 49-4
Rind megass—
Weight, per 100 megass 46°7 51-4 500 51:5 488 500
Sucrose, per cent. Sale Vili 43a eed ro .6
Fibre, 3 35°2 415 449 45:9 467 486

Whole megass —

Weight, per 100 megass 100-0 100-0 100-0 100:0 100:0 100-0
Sucrose, per cent. 10:3: 4:2) 451 4 So be Roel
Fibre, 16 45:3 46:0 469 49:0

The following methods are suggested for obtaining an
increased amount of sugar from the rind:—

(1) Higher pressures, resulting in the greater rupture of
the rind tissue, and giving at once a higher expression and
a material more suited for the absorption of water.

(2) The obtaining of more effective disintegration of the
rind tissue by the use of knives, shredders, crushers, or
heavily indented rollers.

(3) The application of the maceration water by means
of injectors, as has been suggested recently by Pellet, instead
of by a perforated pipe; or by the use of macerating baths
through which the megass is drawn.

Finally, evidence is adduced to show that the best
results will be obtained by the employment of higher
pressures, and attention is drawn to the fact that the milling
qualities of a cane do not depend merely on its content of
fibre, but on the distribution of this throughout the cane.

164

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 28,1910.

WEST -INDIAN FRUIT.

LEMON CULTIVATION IN ITALY.

The following information concerning the way in
which lemon trees are cultivated in Italy is taken from
Bulletin No. 160 of the Bureau of Plant Industry,
United States Department of Agriculture, entitled
Italian Lemons and Their By-products.

PROPAGATION. There are no extensive nurseries in Italy
where lemon trees are grown as they are in the United States.
The stocks of bitter orange are usually grown by the owners
in small seed beds under the bearing lemon trees. The bitter
orange grows wild in Sicily and in the mountains of
Calabria, and is now used universally as a stock on account
of its resistance to the gum disease, which devastated the
groves of Sicily about thirty years ago, when the trees were
propagated on lemon stocks.

The orange seeds are sown in the spring, ina well pre-
pared bed, and the seedlings are usually transplanted, when
a year old, at a distance apart of 10 inches or a foot, in small
clumps under the bearing trees, or in distinct areas. When
the trees reach a diameter of 1 to 2 inches and a height of
5 to 6 feet, they are transplanted to the garden or grove.
They may or may not have been budded or grafted with the
desired type of lemon before transplanting. The lemon bud
is usually inserted from 2 to 3 feet from the ground, and the
top of the lemon tree is started from 6 to 4 feet from it.
As the trees grow older the lower, shaded branches die and,
as with the apple trees of the Eastern States, the main branches
lose the lower, bearing wood and the trees become increas-
ingly high-headed and spreading. In many of the old groves
in Sicily, the lowest fruit-bearing branches are from 6 to 10
feet from the ground. Many of the closely planted lemon
trees are irregular in form in both trunk and top, the trunks
of many of the trees assuming a crooked, almost tortuous,
outline.

While the lemon trees are young, it is acommon practice
to grow cereals or vegetables between the rows. This crop
may be grown by the owner or by the tenant, or the land
may be sublet to a second or third party for this purpose.

PRUNING. The lemon trees of Italy are not pruned
systematically as they are in California. Pruning in Sicily
means the cutting out of dead wood and the shortening of
the vigorous suckers every year or two, and the opening of
the top when the trees become dense. The object of pruning
is similar to the general practice of pruning orange trees in
California, though it ismuch more roughly done; an axe is often

used in cutting out the wood. No system of pruning has
been developed, the purpose of which is to keep the trees lew-
headed, to modify the density of the tree, to stimulate the
production of new bearing wood, or to modify the growth of
the bearing wood in different parts of the tree The growers
generally believe that the low, dense-headed tree produces
a tender lemon, of poor keeping qualities, and that scale
insects and diseases are much less serious in the trees with the
high, open, spreading form, which admits the air and sunlight
to the greatest extent.

TILLAGE. The tillage of the [talian lemon groves is
practically all done by hand labour; occasionally it may be
done in the larger groves with oxen and a primitive one-
handled plough, though ploughing in the lemon groves in
Italy is a rare operation. The land is generally turned over
from 5 to 10 inches deep with a short, heavy hoe, twice
a year, in February or March, and again in September, and
twice lightly, 3 inches or more deep, in May or June and in
November, to turn under the weeds. ‘The relation of tillage
to the conservation of moisture and to the liberation of plant
food is not understood.

MANURING, The principal manure used in the lemon groves
is composted sheep, goat, or cow manure. Chemical manures
have come into use to a limited extent in recent years.
Sulphate cf ammonia is the principal source of nitrogen, with
nitrate of soda used to a less extent; sulphate of potash and
ashes are used chiefly for potash; and bone meal, slag and
ground rock are among the sources of phosphoric acid.
Artificial manures have been experimented with, in recent
years, “in connexion with cover crops and with organic
manures. Several factories have been organized in Sicily for
the manufacture of artificial manures.

There is no definite system of manuring used by the
Italian lemon growers. There seems to be the same lack of
exact knowledge among the growers as to the manurial
requirements of the trees as there is among the lemon growers
of the United States. There is no agreement as to the kind
of manure or fhe quantity to use, or the time or method of
application. The manure that is advocated most plausibly
is likely to be employed most generally, and different growers
using different kinds are likely to get equally good
results, if the Jand is kept in yood physical condition.
All are agreed that the trees need to be fed liberally, though
they are not fertilized as regularly, or to the extent practised
by the growers of California.

There is a general agreement among the growers that

Vet. 1X. No. 211.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 165

the physical qualities of the soil must be maintained by the
frequent use of manure, or by turning under a cover crop of
weeds. As in California, some of the growers have an
impression that stable manure makes the fruit coarse in
texture and of poorer keeping quality. The manure is applied
generally in the spring, but sometimes in the autumn. It is
dug into the irrigating basin around the tree or into the bottom
of the irrigating furrows. In some groves, the manure
is applied in the basin round the tree every other year,
and.in the years between, further away From the tree
in the bottom of deep furrows, in order to reach the
fine, distant, feeding roots. It is not practicable to discuss
the manuring question further, as there is an endless variation
in the methods of application, and in the quantities of natural
and artificial manure in use. The variation in the quantity
of manure per tree will run from 40 Ib. to 150 tb., and in
chemical manure from 2 tb. to 10 tb., depending on the nature
of the manure, the condition of the trees, and the general
practice of the grower.

THE TONKIN RUBBER TREE.

Information regarding the Tonkin rubber tree. or
teonon (Bleelrodea tonkinensis), was given in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 377. The additional
particulars which are presented below regarding this
plant are taken from Agriculture Pratique des Pays
Chauds for January and February, 1910:—

The flowering of this plant takes place at two periods of
the year—-March to April and August to September; but
these dates vary toa small extent with the latitude. The
fruits appear as small berries, which are green at first, and
become yellow-orange when ripe. At this stage, the fruit
opens in order to free the seed. The plant is reproduced
easily by means of these seeds, but it must be mentioned that
the fruits are much sought after by birds, so that the dissem-
ination of the plant by natural means is diminished to
a great extent. A certain number of seeds are, however, saved
by the fact that the fruits, while still on the branches, open
and drop the seed. An additional method of reproduction is
by means of numerous root buds. It is easily reproduced by
cuttings containing these.

Up to the time of the discovery of this plant, the genus
Bleekrodea included two species: &. insignis, a native of
Borneo, and 4. madagascariensis, a native of Madagascar.
Owing to various circumstances, and in consideration of the
close relationship of teonon to these, it was not thought worth
while to create a new genus.

It was purely by chance that the natives gained an idea
of the value of the latex of B. tonkinensis; their recognition of
this arose from a demand by several firms in Tonkin for rubber.
This caused the latex to be collected in ways which would
produce as much of it as possible with the least trouble. One
of the methods is to make cuts in the lower part of the trunk
and in the bigger branches, to a height of about 10 feet.
A large number of these is made, on account of the idea
that the greater the number of the cuts, the greater
will be the yield of latex. As a matter of fact, the
quantity is lessened by this treatment, because the latex-
bearing vessels are divided to such an extent as to
interfere with its natural flow. Another method, which is
also employed for rubber-yielding lianes, is to strip off large
portions of the bark. Finally, a means which is rougher
than either of these is to cut the plant intoypieces, and to
extract the rubber by holding one end of the portion so

obtained over a slow fire; this causes*the latex to become
mixed with the ordinary juice of the plant.

_ In whatever way it may be obtained, the latex is collect-
ed in small vessels, each made of an internode of the bamboo,
cut to a point at one end in order that the liquid may flow into
them more easily. The pieces of bamboo, with their contents,
are carried to the village, where they are boiled in water. In
this way, pudding-shaped pieces of rubber are obtained,
which, owing to the method by which they are prepared,
contain all the impurities at the middle.

The latex is usually collected before the beginning, and
after the end, of the rainy season. The natives are inclined
to limit their labours to the second period, because they
consider that the yield is greater at this time. There may be
some reason for this opinion, on account of the fact that, at
the end of the rainy season circulation takes place more
rapidly in the plant by reason of its greater water content.
At any rate, it is certain that the plant is extremely sensitive
to seasonal changes, and gives yields which vary greatly
according to the latitude in which it grows. It is certain, too,
that the circumstances of temperature have a well-marked
action on the flow of latex from this tree. Trials appear
to have shown that the most abundant flow is obtained when
the shade temperature is between 24° and 28°C.

The composition of the raw rubber is as follows :—

Per cent.
Water 28°32
Ash 0-62
Rubber 60°76
Resin 3°67
Foreign matters (by difference) 6°63

In this analysis, the amount of true rubber appears
small, but this is due to the large proportion of water in the
specimen examined, on account of the fact that this had only
been made three days before the analysis was undertaken.

USES OF WEEDS.

An article in the Tropical Agricilturist for February,
1910, contains a summary of the uses to which weeds may be
put. These are presented as follows :—

Plants which are weeds under certain circumstances, may
under other circumstances have the following recognized
uses: —

(1) The use as nitrogen plants grown for the purpose of
enriching the soil in this most important element.

(2) As cover plants grown to shade the soil and to
enrich it with added humus, but not necessarily with nitrogen.

(3) Plants grown on steep slopes in order to check wash.

(4) Shade plants and wind-breaks.

(5) Sand-binding plants, which prevent the spread of
shifting sands.

(6) Climbing plants grown for the purpose of smother-
ing particular weeds.

It must not be forgotten that weeds are also indirectly
of use to the agriculturist in that they often serve to give an
indication of the type and quality of the soil on which they
grow, and what is more important, their tendency to appear
after a crop has been planted often ensures that adequate
tillage will be practised for the latter, on account of the
disturbance of the soil that is entailed in removing them.

Weeds are interesting, too, from an historical point of
view, for all plants that are now cultivated are derived from
wild forms that would, in an ordinary way, be regarded as
weeds. Closely connected with this is the fact that many of
them yield useful drugs, and some are even used as food,

166

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 28, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date May 9, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 400 bales of West Indian
Sea Islands have been sold at firm prices.

The sales include about 60 Anguilla, 203d. to 21d.; 20
St. Martin, 203d. to 21d.; 60 Nevis, 194d. to 21d.; 50 Mont-
serrat, 18d. to 20d.; 80 St. Kitts, 20d. to 223d.; 20 Antigua,
20d. to 21d.; 60 Barbuda, 20d.; 25 Virgin Isles, ihe 2X0)
Barbados, 20d. to 21d.; and about 50 Stains from various
Islands at 13d. to 16d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending April 30, is as follows:—

The market is very quiet, with apparently no demand.
The unsold stock is very smali, and consists principally of
Planters’ crop lots held at 38c., 40c., and 450c.

BACTERIAL DISEASE OF COTTON.

During the cotton season of 1909, the attention of the
Mycologist was called to the apparent prevalence of the
disease of cotton bolls throughout practically all the islands
of the Windward and Leeward groups. Notice was first
taken of it in Montserrat, and specimens were forwarded to
the Head Office and examined in October of last year. ‘The
disease appears to be fairly common in Barbados and, accord-
ing to the observations of the Imperial Commissioner, is of
frequent occurrence in Antigua and the majority of the
Leeward Islands. While never assuming the proportions of
an epidemic, it would seem to cause a constant
every year, which may, vary according to the season,
from 2 per cent. to possibly as much as 20 per cent. of the
cotton crop. ‘These figures are, however, very uncertain, as
no experiments have yet been conducted to discover definitely
the extent of the damage done.

loss

The disease appears to be the same as that described by
W. A. Orton, in Farmers’ Bulletin, No. 302, of the United
States Department of Agriculture, as * bacterial blight’, and
attributed by him to Bacterium malvacearun. This organism
appears to be capable of infecting the leaves, young stems
and bolls of cotton. On the leaves, it causes angular leaf
spot—a disease which is of common occurrence on the older
leaves of cotton in the West Indies. On the stem, it takes

the form of black arm; in this, brown, sunken areas of
dead tissue are formed, which eventually nearly circle the
young stems and cause the latter to break off. This form of
the disease is not common in the West Indies. Finally, it
causes dark-brown or nearly black, hard, sunken areas on the
the bolls, which are often cracked in the centre and are
surrounded by a somewhat indefinite line of tissue of a darker
green colour than that of the rest of the boll.

Examination of the Montserrat specimens disclosed two,
types of disease, one of which was probably identical with
that found on cotton bolls in the States and attributed to
Bacterium malvacearun; the other showed several points of
difference, but it is possibly also to be attributed to the same
organism, In the first form, very small, diseased areas appear
on the side near the tip of the bolls; these are brown in: the
centre, and are surrounded by a ring of darker green than the
rest of the boll., In this early stage, sections show that the
dark centre consists of cells full of gummy substances, form-
ing a pocket, filled with bacteria, between themselyes and the
dying epidermis. ‘The sections further suggested that the
bacterium, which is motile in some stages, probably enters
through the stomata when the boll is damp. These areas
extend rapidly, and eventually become hard,dry and cracked,
being bounded by a darker green and somewhat indefinite
iine. When the tip of the boll is attacked, the disease may
extend downwards for a distance of nearly one-third of the
length of the boll all round. At this stage, it resembles
anthracnose, but there is no red line characteristic of the
latter disease. The lint under the spots is often green, and
even when not discoloured,is wrinkled, abnormally glossy,and
very weak. The characters of this lint, though difficult to
describe, are easy to identify, with very little practice. In
addition to damaging the lint, the disease is a source of loss
in two ways: young bolls so attacked fall, and on oider bolls
lesions are formed which prevent them from opening pro-
perly. It may also be mentioned that bolls suffering from
this disease show round, discoloured patches resembling those
of angular leaf spot on the bracts and calices.

The second form of the- disease commences at the
junction of the boll with the stock and spreads upwards and
downwards, stopping the growth at one side of the boll and
causing it to bend over a little on that side. The disease
penetrates to the lint and turns it into a colourless mucilage
on the side attacked, while that on the other appears
healthy. ‘The seeds become abortive on the side attacked,
and, later, show the presence of the the bacteria. The spread
of the disease up the boll from the base is accompanied by
a softness of the outer boll tissue and a somewhat purple
discolouration. Such bolls generally fall; they also show the
discoloured patches on the bracts and calices mentioned in
connexion with the first form of the disease.

Von; Txt Wo, 211.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 167

The probable connexion of this disease with angular
leaf spot is important, as practically no field of cotton is free
from the latter, and it is reasonable to assume that infection
is mainly spread by broken pieces of diseased leaves that
contained the bacteria and are carried by the wind to healthy
parts of other plants. In this case, the best remedy probably
lies in destroying all old cotton as early as is feasible, so as to
give tbe longest possible interval between two successive
plantings of cotton on the same land.

Fungal hyphae have occasionally been found in these
areas in both forms of the disease; but as they are not
always present, it is reasonable to assume that they are only
of a saprophytic nature: and that the bacteria are the real
cause. This is further supported by the fact that there were
indications that the mycelium belonged to a species of

Vusarium, several of which are known to be saprophytic on
diseased portions of the cotton plant.

In the supplement to the Nyasaland Government
Gazette for February 28, 1910, an account is given by
J. S. J. McCall of the effects of this disease in that Protecto-
rate, where the Egyptian variety of cotton has been so
severely damaged as to necessitate its abandonment in
some districts. It was found there that the cotton
was more prone to attack when growing in wet low-
lying hollows, and that it was more profitable to plant in
March or April at the end of the rainy season than in Novem-
ber or December at its commencement; although the crop
sown in March or April does not consist of such large
plants as one put in the commencement of the rainy
season, it was much less prone to attack by bacterial
blight. The writer Jays much emphasis on the speedy
destruction of the old plantsas soon as the crop has been
removed, and also calls attention to the fact that care should
be taken to avoid using seed for planting purposes from
a plantation already infected, and to the advisability of
disinfecting all seed.

Although the disease does not assume such serious pro-
portions in the West Indies, yet it is sufficiently prevalent to
justify further investigations, and it is proposed during the
coming season to institute field experiments with a view to
determining the following points :—

(1) The general prevalence of the disease.

(2) The approximate date of the first attack.

(3) The approximate dates of the period of greatest
prevalence.

(+) The stage of the boll at which it is most prone to
attack.

(5) The connexion between the two forms of the disease.

(6) The effect of climate and soil.

(7) Its relationship, as far as possible, to angular leaf
spot.

For this purpose, it is suggested that three or four fields
of cotton in each island, situated on as many different
types of soil as possible, might be kept under careful
observation throughout the coming season. The points
to be observed are the date of the first appearance of
angular leaf spot and the general weather conditions
prevalent at the time, the date of the first appearance
of the diseased bolls and the approximate age of such bolls,
the general abundance of angular leaf spot and the general
conditions of weather throughout the season. Once the
disease has made its appearance on the bolls, a few trees
might be chosen each month at random in different parts of
each field, and all the bolls from these picked. The percent-
age of total diseased bolls for each field could then be
estimated from the percentage of these in those gathered.

This would give an idea of the prevalence of the disease dur-
ing each month. In addition to this, the diseased bolls
obtained at each picking might be roughly sorted into young,
half-grown and full-grown, and the percentage of each in the
total number of diseased bolls picked might be recorded. This
would show at what stage the bolls were most prone to attack,
taking into account the records throughout the whole crop.

THE COMING OOTTON-GROWING
SEASON.

As the time of planting for the next cotton-growing
season will soon have arrived, it is natural that planters
should be seeking indications that will form a guide in the
matter of deciding upon the area to be devoted to this crop.
The experience that has been gained in the past in cotton-
raising will, in individual cases, go a long way toward
giving the information that will assist in arriving at a decision,
but this mnst be supplemented by a knowledge of the pros-
pects of a good demand for cotton, with reasonadle prices.

Information has been received that, owing to the failure
of the Egyptian crop, and to the scarcity of high-class Upland
eotton,. there has been a considerable increase in price, as
regards good staple cotton, relatively to that of the ordinary
cotton. That an actual increase has taken place is shown by
the lists of prices.obtained throughout the West Indies,
published recently in the Agricultural News. Such a con-
dition leads to the reasonable hope that good prices will
be obtained for West Indian cotton, at any rate in the more
immediate future.

There is justification, under these circumstances, for
advising that a moderate increase in the area under cotton
cultivation in the West Indies should take place. This
increase should, however, be made more especially on estates
where the cultivation is conducted with great care, and where
efforts are made seriously to obtain the best results from it.
It should not result from the taking up of cotton-growing by
those who have had no experience in this industry, for it is
essentially one which requires good practical knowledge and
serious care and trouble. This must be realized, as well, by
those who have gained an intimate acquaintance with the
work which is required for the raising of cotton; otherwise,
the best plan would be for them to abandon all ideas of under-
taking its cultivation

Particulars in connexion with the work that will have to
be conducted on estates before the seed for the coming crop
is sown were recently given on page 86 of the present volume
of the Agricu/tural News, and the necessity for early planting,
especially where there are liable to be attacks of the flower-
bud maggot, was emphasized. Attention may be drawn again
to the great importance of the destruction of old cotton plants
before the new seed is sown. Every cotton planter should
perform his share of this werk, not only in his own interest,
but in that of all those who are engaged in the industry. It
is not sufficient for this to be done immediately before the
seed for the new crop is sown; time should be allowed for
such of the pests as have escaped destruction to be removed
by natural agencies from the land occupied by the plants on
which they were living, for it is conceivable that the disturb-
ance entailed by the preparations for burning the old plants
will assist in distributing the pests in such a way as to enable
them to attack most readily any cotton that is planted soon
after this has taken place. It is hoped that planters will give
this necessary and important part of the routine in cotton
cultivation the thought and attention which it merits.

168

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
8 cimens for naming, should be addressed to the

ommissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados,

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
Qs. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Vor. 1X. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1910. No. 211.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this number treats of the fungi in
a broad and general way. It serves to bring together
the different aspects in which the fungi may be
regarded,

The abstract of the bulletin issued recently by the
Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, dealing with the
effect of the structure of sugar-cane on mill work, which
was commenced in the last issue, is concluded on pages
162 and 163 of this number.

An interesting article on lemon cultivation, as it
is carried out in Italy, is given on page 164.

Special attention is drawn to the articles relating
to cotton, on pages 166 and 167.

The Insect Notes, which appear on page 170, deal
with the black scale (Lecaniwm nigrum) and its
parasite (Zalophothrix/mirum),

An account of some useful trees is given on page
171.

Part VII of the \series of articles on The Chief
Groups of Fungi is presented on pages 174 and 175.
In this, the Fungi Imperfecti are considered. It should
be mentioned that Figs. 29 and 30 are after Griffon
and Maublane, Fig. 31 after van Hall and Fig. 32 after
Massee.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 28, 1910.

Publications of the Imperial Department of Agri-
culture.

Volume X of the West Zndiun Bulletin is now
being completed by the issue of the fourth number.
This opens with a full account of the proceedings at the
Agricultural Conference held in Antigua in January of
this year, which contains the papers read at that con-
ference, namely, Five Years’ Working of the Antigua
Sugar Factory, by L. I. Henzell; Muscovado Sugar-
Making by Steam Boiling, by A. St. G. Spooner; Imple-
mental Cultivation, by G. Moody Stuart; and Systems
of Agricultural Education, by Dr. F. Watts, C.M.G.

This account is succeeded by the following articles:
Notes on Some Cacaos ati the Dominica Botanic Station,
by Joseph Jones; The Root Disease of Sugar-cane in
Antigua, by H. A. Tempary, B.Sc.; The Root Disease
of Sugar-cune in Barbados, compiled from information
received from J. R, Bovell, L.S.O.; and Disinfection of
Imported Plants, by H. A. Ballou, M.Sc.

The first article, namely that dealing with certain
cacaos growing at the Dominica Botanic Station, is
illustrated by means of two plates showing plants of
Alligator cacao (Theobroma pentagona), Tiger cacao
(2. bicolor) and Monkey cacao (7. angustifolia) and
pods of the two first-named species. The article on the
disinfection of imported plants contains useful summar-
ies of information respecting legislation in connexion
with this in the West Indies, and of the methods of
disinfection that should be employed for the different
ways and forms in which plants are imported.

With this number of the West Indian Bulletin,
the index, title page and table of contents of Volume X
are included, so that the separate parts of this may
now be bound together.

Bonuses to Labourers for Permanent Service.

The Antigua Sugar Factory Company has recently
devised a scheme by which bonuses are to be paid as
a reward for permanent and faithful service, to labourers
in its employment. ‘These are of two kinds, ‘cash
bonuses’ and ‘retirement bonuses’, and to qualify for
them, a labourer working for the company must have
been in its service continuously and without a break
for two years, and have performed his duties in
a satisfactory manner; he is then regarded as a ‘ perma-
nent worker’, and his name is enrolled on a list kept
by the company and called the ‘list of permanent
workers’, to be kept there as long as he remains in its
service and works satisfactorily. There are placed to
the credit of every such permanent worker: (1) the
cash bonus, which is a sum equal to 24 per cent. on his
earnings during the year previous to his enrolment; (2)
the retirement bonus, bearing interest in the same way.
The former of these may be drawn out or left with the
company, which pays 5 per cent. on it; the latter can
only be drawn on satisfactory retirement, or at death.

The bonuses are purely of the nature of a gift, and
the scheme cin be terminated by the company at three
months’ notice,

Von., IX. No, 211.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 169

The Leeward Islands Agricultural Department.

In his address at the opening of the session of the
general Legislative Council of the Leeward Islands in
Antigua, on April 5, 1910, his Excellency the Governor,
Sir Bickham Sweet-Escott, K.C.M.G., drew the atten-
tion of the Council to the fact that, under existing
arrangements, the Imperial contribution toward the
support of the Leeward Islands Agricultural Depart-
ment will cease on March 31, 1913.

The reply of the Council to the address contained
the following: ‘ We note that under existing arrange-
ments, the Imperial contribution toward the support of
the Agricultural Department will cease on March 31,
1913; but we earnestly hope that a matter of such vital
importance to the colony will receive the further
consideration of His Majesty’s Government, witha view
to the grant being continued.’ -

Ene
Baobab Trees for Storing Water.

The Kew Bulletin, No. 3, 1910, gives an account
of the way in which the natives of Kordofan, Soudan,
use the trunks of living baobab trees (Adansonia
digitata) for storing water.

For this purpose, in order to prevent the trunk
from splitting when it is hollowed out, the large
branches are first cut off close to it. <A branch is left
on the trunk to serve as a platform, and a hole is cut
in it just above this, through which it is hollowed out.
The water for storing is collected in a shallow basin,
20 to 25 feet in diameter, round the bottom of the tree:
from this, the tree is filled after a storm. The water
stored in this way remains perfectly good until after
the end of the next hot season.

In some trees, this artificial preparation is not
required, as they are naturally hollow, and possess
a hole at the top of the trunk between the branches,
through which the water gains entrance. Much of the
water collected runs down the branches, which act as
gutters. Trees of this kind are called ‘ Lagai’, and are
valued highly by the Arabs.

CO

Forestry in New Zealand.

An abstract of a report, issued by the Department
of Lands and Forestry in New Zealand, which is given
in the Board of Trade Journal for January 27, 1910,
shows that the area in that country still covered with
forest is about 17,074,000 acres, which is a Jittle more
than one-quarter of the total area. An estimate which
is given of the total amount of timber that may be use-
ful for commercial purposes, growing in the Crown and
State forests, and on private and native freehold land,
shows this to be about 33 billion superficial feet. In
the year 1908, the output of sawn timber was nearly
414 million superficial feet.

Up to March 31, 1909, planting for reafforestation
had taken place on 12,175 acres; of this area, 2,709
acres were planted in 1908. It is expected that the
trees grown in this way will produce an appreciable
quantity of timber for milling purposes in fifty to sixty
years from the present time, and that the yield of each
successive year after this will give a further supply.

The Action of Manganese Salts on Growing
Plants.

According to the Journal d’ Agriculture Tropicale
No. 105, 1910, the Bulletin Economique de UIndo-
Chine gives an account of several experiments that
have been carried out at the Tokio University, which
have shown that the salts of manganese in small quant-
ities are capable of affecting the growth of plants, and
that they become rapidly injurious in larger quantities.

The same journal draws attention to work which
has been done in Hawaii, showing that the best soils
for pine-apples are those which contain about 5°61 per
cent. of manganese sesquioxide, while the least suitable
only contain 0°37 of this substance, and in so doing
points out that probably, in the near future, the salts
of manganese will take a general part in manuring.

EE
The Amount of Lime in Basic Slag.

The Annual Report, for 1909, of the Rothamsted
Experimental Station gives an abstract of a paper, in
which the results are presented of an examination of
the amount of free lime contained in basic slag. It
was observed that the proportion of lime in this product
is much smaller than that which is usually considered
to be contained by it. The quantity found was 5:29
per cent. to 1:28 per cent., in freshly ground samples.
The best method for estimating the amount of free lime
in the basic slag was discovered to be one which con-
sisted in extracting the finely ground slag with cold
water free from carbon dioxide, and titrating the extract
obtained. The suggestion is made that, in the early
days of the manufacture of steel by the Bessemer process,
basic slag contained a greater proportion of free lime
than it does at the present day, just as 1t was usually
poorer in phosphoric acid.

Trials with Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate
of Lime.

The Journal of the Board of Agriculture for
March, 1910, contains an article by A. D.. Hall, which
presents the results of experiments designed to com-
pare the manurial effect of calcium cyanamide and
nitrate of lime with one another, and with nitrate
of soda and sulphate of ammonia. In each case the
plots treated with the particular nitrogenous manure
received a dressing of superphosphate of lime, while the
control plots received superphosphate alone. In all
cases, the plots treated with nitrogenous manures
showed a large return; this was chiefly due to the
initial poor condition of the land. In a comparison of
the effects of the nitrogenous manures, it was found
that the variations in the yield caused by them were
within the limit of experimental error, so that the con-
clusion is reached, as regards the Rothamsted soils, that
any of these manures will serve as well as the others,
In a general way, the result of the experiments is to
show that the character of the soil and the relative
price of the manures per unit of nitrogen should be the
chief considerations in deciding which of them should
be employed.

170

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 28, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

THE BLACK SCALE AND ITS PARASITE.

With the re-establishment of the cotton industry in the
West Indies during the past seven or eight years, has come
a tremendous increase in the numbers of certain pests, which
previously for many years were so few as to be insignificant,
or were entirely unknown.

In 1903, the cotton worm made its appearance in enor-
mous numbers in nearly all.the cotton-growing islands; in the
same year the leaf-blister mite caused much loss to cotton
growers in Montserrat, and it soon became known in all the
other islands of the Lesser Antilles, except Barbados.

During the foliowing year, cotton growers in Barbados
suffered much loss from the attacks of the black, or Hibiscus,
scale (Lecanium nigrum), and these continued each year
until 1907-8. This same scale insect has attacked cotton
in other islands, but it does not seem to have been at any
time, in any other place, such a severe pest as it was in
Barbados between the beginning of 1904 and the end of
1907.

Black scale has been a serious pest most often when
old infested cotton has been allowed to remain standing
up to, and after, the time for planting the new crop.
A case in point was noted in an earlier number of the
Agricultural News (see Vol. V, p. 42). An account was
given of the loss occasioned on an estate in Barbados where
old cotton plants were left standing until the young ones
were several weeks old. There were two fields of this young
cotton, one of which, directly to leeward of the old field, was
a total loss; the other, across the wind from it, was nearly
in the same case.

Many other instances have been observed where young
cotton has been infested directly from the old plants left
from the previous season’s crop. In other cases, it has not
been easy to determine exactly where the infestation had its
origin. The black scale, however, has a long list of food
plants some of which might easily serve as a starting point
in the attack on any field.

When the black scale first became a pest, it was noticed
that raany of the insects had the characteristic round holes in
the back which indicated that the parasite had emerged from
them. Several attempts to obtain this parasite were made, and
though the pupal stage was often found, no adults were
procured until August 1907. At this time, Officers of the
Department visited several estates where cotton from the
previous season’s crop was still standing. The owner of one
of these stated that the black scale, though present in con-
siderable numbers, was not a serious pest on that estate. A
short search revealed the presence of a parasite, and it was
found that a large proportion of the scales were parasitized.
Immediately after this, the parasite was found in all parts of
the island, and the black scale, which had been counted by
many planters as the worst pest of cotton, began to be
less serious. The parasite, which was named through the
kindness of Dr. L. O. Howard, by Mr. J. C. Crawford of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, was found to be new to
science. Not only was it a new species, but it represented
also a new genus. It is likely that this parasite (Za/ophothrix
mirum) has been the controlling influence in the spread of
the black scale (Lecanium nigrum) for a long time, for the
scale insect has been present on certain plants and has not
often become such a serious pest as to attract more than
passing notice, until the great imcrease of the area planted
with cotton provided an abundant supply of food and fayour-
able conditions for its rapid development.

On a certain estate in Barbados, the old cotton remain-
ing in the field in August 1907 was literally covered with
black scale, and weeds of several kinds were thickly infested.
This old cotton was removed soon after, but the succeeding crop
was badly infested from these fields. The parasite was found
in this field about this time. In April 1908, fields on this
estate were examined, and it was found that, although the
attack of black scale had been very severe, and many plants
were dead, apparently as a result of this attack, the numbers
of the scale were much.Jess, and a very large proportion of
those remaining were parasitized.

At the present time (May 1910) there are fields of old
cotton on this same estate in which there are no black scales,
and this is true of many similar fields in other parts of the
island. The black scale, which only three years ago was
counted the worst pest of cotton in Barbados, seems to be no
longer a pest.

All attempts to control this insect by spraying were
found to be rather expensive and unsatisfactory, but the
natural method of control has been successful. This consists
of the removal of all old cotton before planting new fields in
the same vicinity; the piling of all such cotton for a few days
to allow for the escape of the parasites then in the scales;
and the introduction of them into fields* infected with
it. The introduction of the parasites is a very simple
matter and consists in collecting scale-infested twigs from
fields where parasites are known to be present, and tying
them to the branches of the cotton plants, where the
infestation is beginning.

Zalophothrix mirum is widely distributed throughout
the West Indies, and by its action has probably prevented the
black scale from becoming a pest in those islands. The greater
amount of uncultivated land and the smaller proportionate
acreage of cotton provided conditions more natural than
those which existed in Barbados, and the pest never had the
opportunity to develop, away from its parasite, to the same
extent.-The introduction of the parasite into fields infested with
black scale was carried out on several estates by Mr. J. R.
Bovell, Superintendent of Agriculture, Barbados, with such
good results that this is now recommended as a matter
of general estate practice. In the same way that planters
apply Paris green when the cotton worm appears, so should
they introduce parasites when black scale does so. On every
estate, a sharp lookout should be kept for the first appearance
of black scale, just as a watch is maintained diligently for
the cotton worm, and twigs from some plant, such as cotton
or Hibiscus, on which black scale occurs, and is parasitized,
should be collected and distributed in the newly infested field.

In addition to the parasite of the black scale, which is
referred to in the preceding article on this page, there are
other beneficial insects which are worthy of mention at this time.

The parasite of the white scale (Chionaspis minor) has
been known for some time, and it exercises such good con-
trol that the white scale rarely becomes a serious pest on
cotton, though it is generally present toward the end of the
season. Several parasites of the cotton worm are known to
occur in the West Indies, and it is probably largely due to
the action of these beneficial insects that there have been no
attacks of this pest in these islands during the season
just past. Among these parasites may be mentioned:
Trichogvamma pretiosa, a parasite of the egg, and Chaleis
annulatus and Sarchophaga trivittata, which attack larvae
and pupae. The predaceous insects have also probably been
of great service in this matter, and among the chief of these
may be mentioned the species of Polvstes, including Jack
Spaniards, wild bees and cow bees.

Vor. EX, « No: 211.

AN ACCOUNT OF SOME USEFUL TREES.

Leatiet No. 1 of 1910, of the Agricultural and Forestry
Department, Nyasaland Protectorate, entitled Some Notes ow
Tree Planting in the Shire Highlands of Nyasaland contains
interesting information concerning several useful trees. The
Eucalypti dealt with iuclude Bucalyptus affinis, acmenoides,
citriodora, longifolia, maculata, paniculata, pilularis, pune-
tata, vostrata, rudis, robusta, saligna, sideroxylon, Smithii,
and tereticornis; all these, except 2. robustaand BF. Smithia,
yield valuable timber. From the leaflet the following par-
ticulars are taken:—

Eucalyptus affinis.—Timber said to be hard and tough,
somewhat greasy to the touch, and very durable.

Eucalyptus acmenvides (White Mahogany).—Very dura-
ble; excellent for posts, piles, girders, etc.; useful for general
building purpcses (Maiden).
~ Bucalyptus citriodora (Lemon-scented Gum).—Used as
an ornamental plant on account of the scent of its foliage.
Difficult to transplant, but grows weli in suitable situations.
Useful for ship-building, paving, railway ties, bridge-build-
ing, carriage-making and for railway coaches (Maiden).

Eucalyptus longifolia (Whoollybutt).—Grows best on
deep alluvial soil. ‘Timber reddish in colour, hard, inter-
locked and very durable. is

Eucalyptus maculata (Spotted Guim).—Timber durable,
and easily split; useful for waggon-work, cart shafts, ship-
building, ete.

Eucalyptus paniculata (White Tronbark).—There are
three other ironbarks besides this species, namely, 2. crebra,
E. siderophloia and E. siderorylon. According to Maiden, Lron-
bark is the strongest and most durable wood of New South
Wales. It is useful wherever great strength is required, for
instance, for railway sleepers, posts, naves, spokes, shafts and
framing, in waggon and carriage building; for large beams in
buildings, especially where these are likely to be subjected to
very great weights.

Eucalyptus pilularis (Blackbutt).—Suitable for orna
mental purposes, as it branches extensively and has a thick
foliage. Useful for house-building, ship-building, as bridge
planking and as wood paving (Maiden).

Bucalyptus punctata (Grey Gum).—Produces heavy
branches when it is widely spaced, so that it is suitable for
making avenues and shelter belts. The timber is useful in
waggon-work and carpentry.

Eucalyptus rostrata (Red Gum).—Can be grown in
many varying situations; the timber from trees on _ hilly
ground is somewhat lighter than that produced in rich soil
with a good rainfall. Specially useful for fencing posts, piles,
railway sleepers, veneers, street paving and parquet flooring.
Withstands the action of the water, the white ant and Teredo
(Gill). The tree has a spreading habit, which makes it well
adapted for avenues and wind-breaks. The wood gives an
excellent fuel.

Eucalyptus rudis.—-When planted widely, it branches
low down on the trunk, and thus makes a useful tree for
avenues and shelter belts. The timber is said to be durable.
— Bucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany).—Only grows
wel! in moist soil or drained swamps. ‘The timber is of little
value. May be planted for the purpose of drying up swamps.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

17}

Eucalyptus saligna (Flooded Gum).—Grows rapidly
in deep soil. The timber possesses creat strength and dura-
bility; it is useful for beams, sleepers, and general building
purposes. The tree produces clean, straight poles.

Bucalyptus sideroxylon (Red Tronbark).—Like the
other ironbarks, this produces a timber of great durability.

Eucalyptus Smithii (Gully Ash).—Only suitable for
ornamental and shelter planting; yields a very good oil. Is
of slow growth.

Eucalyptus tereticornis.—A species closely allied to
#. rostrata, and like this plant it can stand a wide range of
temperature and great variation in sdil. Suitable for planting
in dry localities. Its timber is useful in the same ways as
that of 2. rostrata.

Among the other trees mentioned in the leatlet are the
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria excelsa) and the Kauri Pine
(Dammara australis). The former ofthese is a lofty tree,
which is now widely cultivated in tropical regions. It grows
well on deep, open soil, and yields a timber which is useful
for building purposes and general indoor work. According
to Veitch, the Kauri pine yields resinous products which are
little inferior to the best of those given by the Coniferae.
The same authority states that the timber is straight in grain,
very strong, durable and elastic, and that it can be employed
for every purpose for which timber is in request.

THE CAPONIZING OF FOWLS.

Enquiry has been received recently by the Department
as to the way in which the operation of caponizing fowls
should be conducted, and as to where instruments for the
purpose may be obtained. It may be useful to state that
such instruments may be procured from Messrs. Griftith,
Turner & Co., 205, North Paca Street, Baltimore, Mo., U.S.A.,
at the price of $2°75 or 3-00 (catalogue 23, page 71),
or from Peter Henderson & Co., 35 and 37, Cortlandt Street,
New York, U.S.A. Each set of instruments is accomparied
by a full account of the way in which the operation should
be performed.

The best time for operating is when the birds weigh 14
to 2 Ib., or when they are three to four months old. They
should not be over six months old, on account of the
greater danger, at this age, of injury being done to the sper-
matic artery, by which the fowl will be caused to bleed to death.

In preparing the fowls prior to the operation, it should
be made certain that the intestines are completely empty, in
order that they may be out of the way when the testes
are being removed. This can be done by shutting up the
fowls and keeping food and water from them for twenty-four
to thirty-six hours before the operation. A good light is
required for this, and it is thus advisable that it should be
performed out of doors.

After the operation has been made, the birds should be
provided with shelter, food and water in a closed yard where
they will not be disturbed and where no perches are provided.
Food may be given immediately, and may well consist of
water and soft feed, together with skim milk. The part where
the operation has been performed should be examined from
day to day for about a week, in order to ascertain if air is
collecting beneath the skin; if this is the case, the skin should
be pricked with a clean knife or needle, and the air pressed out.

In feeding capons tor the table, it should be remem-
bered that for several months after caponizing, a growing
ration, that is one containing a large proportion of nitro-
genous food bodies, is required. Good results have been
obtained with a somewhat more fattening ration than that
which should be given to laying hens.

THE

The amount of Egyptian cotton that was exported from
Alexandra to the United States of America during 1909 was
valued at £2,900,000; In 1908, the value was £1,102,000.

At a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society,
it was decided to recommend that an International Horticult-
ural Exhibition should be held in May and June, 1912.

The quantity of cacao shipped from Trinidad during the
months January to April, 1910, was 25,498,039 Ib. The cor-
responding quantities for 1909 and 1908 were 25,101,356 tb.
and 23,558,790 tb., respectively. (Proceedings of the Agri-
cultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago, April 1910.)

It is probable that Mr. Fielding and Mr. Paterson will
join the English members of the Royal Commission on Trade
relations between Canada and the West Indies at the end of
this or next month, when further evidence in connexion with
this subject will be taken in London.

An account of experiments described in Gleanings in Bee
Culture for April 15, 1910, demonstrates the importance of the
supply of water for bees. It was found that half a pint
of clean water could be consumed by a good colony in two
hours and twenty minutes, and that the greatest amount of
water is required during the breeding season.

The Textile Mercury for April 2, 1910, states that it was
reported at a recent general meeting of the French Colonial
Cotton-Growing Association that the cotton produced in the
French colonies or Proteetorates has increased from 164,000
kilos. in 1907, to 238,000 kilos. in 1909; this comes chiefly
from Dahomey and the Soudan. It appears from experiments
that conditions in Senegal are suitable for the cultivation of
the best varieties of Egyptian cotton.

A sample of crushed Guinea corn heads, prepared under
the direction of Mr: A. St. G. Spooner, Antigua, has been
received at the Head Office through Mr. H. A. Tempany,
3.Se., Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands.
According to Mr. Spooner, stock will readily consume the
corn so prepared, even when it contains a certain propor-
tion of the stalks; this is important, in view of the difficulty
of cleaning heads of Guinea corn for the purpose. The
machine used in the operation is called the Imperial Kelly
Duplex Grinding Mill, and is manufactured by the Duplex
Mill and Manufacturing Company, of Springfield, Ohio.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 28, 1910.

The Monthly Consular and Trade Reports for February
1910, contains an account of a method for the utilization of
the ‘mortar’ which is used in the purification of sugar in refin-
eries. The treatment consists in adding slaked lime and pass-
ing carbon dioxide, when potassium carbonate is precipitated
and brings down the organic compounds in the liquid, together
with phosphoric acid. The precipitate is separated by filter-
ing, dried, and used as manure

H. M. Consul-General at Mexico City reports that there
has been a great increase in the last three years in the
production of Guayule rubber in the Republic. The exports
of this product in the year ended June 30, 1909, were valued
at £463,567, as against £125,852 in 1907-8; the exports in
the six months July to December 1909 were valued at
£449,113. The area under the plant is stated to be 30 per
cent. greater during this year than in the year before. (The
Board of Trade Journal, April 14, 1910.)

The Annual Report of the Agricultural Stations, Eastern
3engal and Assam, 1908-9, shows that the following canes,
B.147, B.1753, B.376 and B.208, received from Barbados
in May, 1907, have been grown successfully at Jorhat Agri-
cultural Station. The juice of all the varieties was found to
be rich in sucrose and very low in glucose, but it is stated that
experiments ona larger scale, lasting for several years, are
required before a definite conclusion can be reached as to the
suitability of these canes for the district.

The Report-on the Progress of Agriculture in India, for
1907-9, gives an’ account of the work that is being done in
India in the direction of introducing impreved tillage imple-
ments among the small cultivators in that country. In the
United Provinces, village agencies have been formed, which
are managed by local agents who lend or sell the implements.
Further help is given by the agricultural assistants, who visit
the cultivators, ascertain if the instruments are working
properly, and arrange for repairs. The system appears to
answer satisfactorily.

With reference to the announcements in the Agricultural
News, Vol. IX, pp. 60 and 156, of the forthcoming Inter-
national Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition, it should be
stated that this will be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall,
Islington —not -at Olympia. Information received from the

organizing Manager, Mr. A. Staines Manders, shows
that already, nearly every rubber-growing country in the

world will send exhibits, and that it is advisable, in view
of the demand, that intending exhibitors should secure space
as soon as possible.

The prospectus of an organization called the British
Honduras Rubber Company, Limited, has been issued recently.
According to this, the area at present cultivated by the
Company is about 1,240 acres, which chiefly contains rubber
and cacao; there is in addition, a large area which is cleared
and used for pasture. An estimate states that there are
166,000 trees of Castilloa elastica on the estate, the age of
these being between three and eleven years. More than half
of them are ready to be tapped, and it is thought that they
will give an annual yield of about 144,000 tb. of rubber.
This quantity is expected to increase in future years, as the
fresh plantings attain maturity. It is proposed to plant
annually 50,000 rubber, and an equal number of cacao, trees,

VonsLXs Nos21 1. THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 173

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

JUNE.
First Periop.
Seasonal Notes.

In many cases, where the cane has beéh removed from
fields for the present crop, the underground system will be
allowed to remain in the soil, in order that ratoons may be
obtained in the next season _‘ Tillage of the ratoons is usually
effected. Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages
of such tillage, especially with reference to the structure of
the underground system of the sugar-cane. (See West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. X, pp. 117-21.) Why is trash often spread
over the surface of the-soil in fields of ratoons? Where
the cane stumps are removed in order that the land may be
used for cotton or other crops, observe the condition of these
as regards insect pests, such as the root borer, and in relation
to fungus disease.

The observations made in connexion with the reaping of
the cane will be continued until the end of the crop season,
and a large amount of useful information will be obtained by
conducting them in the mill yard, as the canes come in to be
ground. It is here that indications as to the amount and
kinds of the diseases that are attacking the canes are obtained
most easily. In addition to this, the mill work will be
observed, especially with the object of gaining a knowledge
of the milling qualities of the different varieties of cane
grown on the estate.

Why is cane juice treated with lime! How is the proper
amount of lime for the purpose determined ? In some eases, in
the muscovado process, it is the custom to add a certain pro-
portion of the lime to the liquor in the tayches. Why is this
practice objectionable, and what effect is it likely to produce,
in relation to the taste of the molasses made ?

Before being crushed, all the cane coming into the sugar
works should be weighed, whether this is necessary on
account of the fact that some of it is being purchased from
growers, or not. In this way, much useful information in
cornexion with the efticiency with which the several parts of
the process are being performed will be obtained, and a useful
control on the working will be supplied, so that the necessity
for making such changes as will improve the output of sugar
will be recognized. In the absence of regular weighing,
much unsuspected loss will occur, and its adoption as
a matter of routine will well justify any extra expense that
may be incurred.

When the yams that have been allowed to remain in the
fields have been dug, note should be made of the difference
between these and the ones which were harvested at maturity,
and stored. In planting yams, the sets (cuttings) should be
passed through Bordeaux mixture; they will then germinate
better, and are less likely to be attacked by insect and fungus
pests. Where sets of different sizes are used for planting, the
growth of the plants springing from the larger ones should be
compared with that of the sprouts from those which are
smaller. If pen manure is applied to the soil on which the
yams are grown, a useful experiment is afforded by mixing
the manure with the soil in one part of the area and apply-
ing it around the yams in the other, and noting the
difference in yield from the two areas when they are reaped.

Note that the cotton that is picked latest in the season
contains more stained lint than that which was produced

earlier. Make observations to find out if all cotton staining
is due to the cotton stainer, or if there are other causes of it.
Examine carefully the lint as it comes from the gin, noticing
the nature of the chief foreign substances that are mixed with
1t; consider if any greater care in picking would make such
cotton cleaner. What is the true nature of the small, green
bodies that are generally found entangled in cotton lint? If
possible, examine the seed from plants that have been grown
where seed selection has been carried out regularly, and that
from plants produced where seed selection is not practised.
Notice the variability of the latter seed, especially as regards
size and the amount of fuzz on the individual seeds.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What is the difference between light and heavy
soils? How may heavy soils be made lighter?

(2) Why is the mould-board of a plough curved, and
what is the effect of curves of different extent?

(5) How would you select seed for corn-planting?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Describe the different ways in which sweet potatos
are propagated. Does any of these methods afford special
advantages!

(2) Give an account of as many’ methods as you can,
for propagating the mango,

(3) How would you make a nursery for (a) sugar-cane
seedlings, (b) cacao, (c) limes?

DESTRUCTION OF THE PRICKLY PEAR.

The Cape of Good Hope Department of Agriculture
publishes, in the Agricultural Journal of the Cape of Good
Hope, for March 1910, particulars concerning a mixture,
known as Jansen’s extirpator, which is successful in effect-
ing the destruction of the prickly pear. It is made as
follows: (1) }-Ib. good, finely powdered lime and -t, sulphur
are boiled for half an hour in 1 gallon of water, 1 quart
of water being added to make up for evaporation; (2) $-b.
salt and }-Ib, arsenite of soda are dissolved in 1 gallon of
boiling water: (3) the portions of liquid thus obtained are
mixed together to form the preparation.

The way in which the mixture is used is to make an
incision, with a sharp knife, in one or more of the flat parts
of the plant, according to its size; the cuts should be 2 or
3 inches deep. Where there are no branches, one incision,
only, is required—at the top of the plant. The cut is made
on the upper side of a flat portion of the stem, the knife
being moved to and fro in order to enlarge it. It is then
opened by giving the knife a half twist, and a small stone is
placed in the incision in order to keep it open. The prepara-
tion is stirred well, and a little of it is poured into the
woind from a suitable vessel. The poison travels through
the plant, finally killing it.

Where the prickly pear grows in dense patches, it is
necessary to effect its destruction in several stages. This is
done by treating the plants on the outside of the patch, and
then, when these are dead, applying the preparation to those
which were growing next to them, and so on.

Spraying the mixture is of no ayail. It is not known
yet if the treated plants are poisonous, so that caution should
be exercised where they are likely to be eaten by stock.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 28, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIBE’ GROUPS OF FUNGI.
Part VII.

Tue Fusct Iveerrecti. This is the last group of fungi
to be considered. It contains many genera and species that
vary immensely in form, but which are all characterized by the
possession of conidia only, and by not forming any higher
fructification, such as an ascospore. , Most of them are species
whose life-history has not been completely worked out,
though they are suspected of being stages in that of various
fungi belonging to known or unknown species of the Asco-
mycetes. Of late years, many of them have been more fully
investigated, and in consequence have been removed and
placed in different groups of the Ascomycetes. (See Ag7i-
cultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 142.) The group may be subdi-
vided as follows:—

Sphaeropsidales.
Melanconiales.
Hyphomycetales.
The SPHAEROPSI-
pALEs. These fungi

produce conidia borne
at the tips of slender

conidiophores. The
conidiophores, and
frequently paraphy-

ses, are contained in
pycnidia, which often
closely resemble the
perithecia of the
Pyrenomycetes. Two
of the families in this
cohort may be shortly considered.

In the Sphaerioidaceae, the pycnidia are always black in
colour, and of the consistency of leather or charcoal. They
may be free and superficial on the substratum, immersed in
it, or grouped ona stroma. The conidia may be unicellular
or multicellular, hyaline or dark brown. The minor charac-

Fic. 29. Drpetopia CACAOICOLA.
Longitudinal Section of Pyenidia
and Stroma.

ters, such as the
presence or
absence ofa
stroma, and the
colour of the
spores, serve to
divide the differ-
ent genera from
one another. To
this family be-
long the species
Diplodia cacaoi-
cola, causing die
back and brown
pod of cacao
(Figs.29and30),
Botryodiplodia
sp., causing root
disease of cocoa-
nuts, and one or
two other allied
species of economic importance in these islands.

' In the Nectrioidaceae, the pycnidia are fleshy in con-
sistency, and frequently brightly coloured, never black; they
may be free and superficial on the substratum, or grouped
in a stroma.. The conidia-may be uni- or multicellular,

Bice ole

CoLLETOTRICHUM
Longitudinal Section of a Pustule, showing
Conidiophores, Conidia and Hairs.

LUXIFICUM,

Fic. 32. Fusarrum

hyaline or slightly coloured. To this family belongs the genus
Aschersonia, two species of which are parasites on the white
fly in Florida.

The members of these two families probably represent
stages in the life-history of different members of the Sphaeri-
ales and Hypocreales, respectively, in the Ascomycetes.
(See Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 126.)

The MELANcontaLes. In this cohort, the conidia are pro-
duced on a more or less developed cushion or stroma, beneath
the surface of the substratum. These cushions finally break
through to the surface, in most cases, and form superficial
pustules of spores, often coloured in the mass, as in the genus
Colletotrichum, where they are frequently pink or yellow. The
stroma is generally black, and this gives the fructifications
a black appearance when young. In the case of Colletotrc-
chum falcatum they remain black. In other cases, the
spores are extruded in a tendril and are dark brown,
or black in thé mass, as in the genus Melanconium. The
cohort contains only one family—the Melanconiaceae, but
this embraces several important economic genera. It contains,
for instance, the an-
thracnose fungi of the
genera Colletotrichum
and Gloeosporium,
Colletotrichumgossypii
causes anthracnose of
™ cotton, C. /wrificum,
7, Witches’ broom of cacao
“f) (Fig. 31), and in addi:
z tion several other spe-
~" cies occur on cacao
pods. (See West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. X,p.251.)
C. talcatum causes red
rot of sugar-cane, and
Gloeosporium mus a-
yum, anthracnose of
bananas. The melanco-
nium stage of Z%richo-
sphaeria sacchari—the
rind disease fungus of

30. DrpLopia CACAOICOLA.
Longitudinal Section of a Pycnidium sugar-cane, was also at
showing Conidiophores, Conidia and one time thought to be

Fie

a separate fungus and

included here. Pesta-
lozzia palmarum, which
attacks the leaves of cocoa-
nut palms, is another mem-
ber of this group.

The HYPHOMYCETALES.
These fungi are mainly
superficial, sometimes only
partly so; rarely endopara-
siticoninsects. The hyphae
are often profuse, and bear
free, naked conidia These
are for the most part the
fungi known as mildews
and moulds. The cohort
embraces four families.

In the Mucedinaceae,
the hyphae and conidia are
hyaline, or clear-coloured;
never brown or blackish.
The family is subdivided
on the characters of the
conidiophores and _ the

Paraphyses.

LYCOPERSICL

(1) Diplocladium Stage.
(II) Fusarium Stage.

Vou.. IX. No. 211.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 175

shape of the spores: whether they are borne singly, in
chains, or in heads; if they are one- or more-celled; and
similar characters. Ramularia areola, causing areolate
mildew of cotton, is included in this family, as well as
different genera causing mildews of grapes, roses and many
other plants. Many of them have been shown to be stages
in the life-history of different species of the Ascomycetes.

In the Dematiaceae, the hyphae, or conidia, or both, are
brown or blackish. The genera are separated by characters
similar to those dividing the genera of the Mucedinaceae. The
group includes the genus Cladosporium, one species of which,
C. elegans, causes a well-known disease of the orange; and the
genus Cercospora, of which C. yossypina causes leaf spot of
cotton. his fungus is really a stage in the life-history of
Sphaerella gossypina, an Ascomycete. Other species are
responsible for various leaf spots on coffee, ground nuts, and
sugar-cane. The pine-apple disease fungus of sugar-cane,
Thielaviopsis ethaceticus, is also a member of this family.

In the Stilbaceae, the hyphae are woven together to form
amore or less erect, cylindrical stroma, from which conidio-
phores are produced, either terminally or all over. The
conidia are one- or more-celled, and, together with the stroma,
are frequently coloured. To this family belongs the genus
Isaria, whose species are frequently parasitic on insects;
larvae, pupae and the fully developed insects being attacked;
many of the species are stages in the life-history of members
of the ascomycetous genus Cordyceps. (See Agricultural
News, Vol. 1X, p. 30.) Another genus in this family is that
of Stilbella, of which Stilbella favida has recently been shown
by Massee to be a stage in the life-history of the Ascomycete
Sphaerostilbe flavidum. The conidial stage has long been
known as causing the important coffee disease of the New
World. (Agricu/tural News, Vol. VIL, pp. 395 and 411.)

In the Tuberculariaceae, the hyphae and conidiophores
form a conidial patch or sporodochium, which is usually
disc-shaped or effused, and frequently coloured. The conidia
may be uni- or multicellular, The genus Jusariun is
contained in this family. Fig. 52 shows two stages in the
life-history of Fusarium lycopersici, which causes sleeping
disease of tomatos. Many of its species are stages in
the life-history of different species of Vectria and allied
genera. The genus Jicrocera is also included here. One
species, formerly known as Microcera coccophila, is common in
these islands as the usual form of the red-headed fungus of
scale insects (Sphaerostilhe coccophila), which is closely allied
to the nectrias.

These, then, are the main divisions of the fungi, In order
to present a more concise idea of their relationships, a tabular
diagram will be given in the next number of the Ayricu/twral
News, which is intended to summarize as simply as possible
the main points in the information included in this series of
articles.

The Black Fungus in Montserrat.—Some croton
plants have been received recently from Mr. W. Robson,
Curator of the Montserrat Botanic Station, which showed the
presence of a black fungus resembling, as he pointed out,
Myriangium Duriaei, the parasitic fungus of the snow scale
(Chionaspis citr?), a well-known parasite of the lime. Further
examination revealed the presence on the plants of an allied
insect, Chionaspis Liclavis, on which the fungus was parasitic.
This is of interest, since the scale is one of the burrowing
species, and the occurrence of the fungus upon it has not been
recorded previously in the West Indies. The fungus was,
however, found on the insect by Parkin, in Ceylon, as is
recorded in the Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Pera-
deniya, Ceylon, Vol. III, Part I, p. 32.

THE EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL DIS-
CHARGES ON GROWING PLANTS.

An account of work which has been undertaken by the
Department of Economic Biology, Bristol University, for the
purpose of ascertaining what effect there is, if any, on the
growth of plants, when they are subjected to a silent electric
discharge, is given in the Journal of the Board of Agri-
culture, April 1910. In the trials, it is assumed that benefit
accrues to a plant when a small electric current is passed
through it, so that its yield is increased, and the time which
it takes to obtain maturity is lessened. It is probable that
this really takes place through an increase in the slight
electric current which is always passing through the plant
owing to the fact that the atmosphere above it is at a higher
potential than the plant itself.

At present this is only an assumption, and much more
work will have to be done before decided opinions on the
subject can be gained. The present position of the contro-
versy may be summed up in the words of the article as
follows : it is sufficient to say that electric currents are report-
ed by many observers to have an optimal value for the plant they
are traversing, an optimum which probably is variable for
different plants and for the same plant at different times; and
that up to this optimum, increase in the strength of the
currents leads to increased growths, more rapid germination,
increased storage of food, and so on, but beyond this
strength, the current rather inhibits vital activities and tends
to lower the resultant yield from the plant.

The experiments seem to indicate that more importance
should be attached than is usually the case to the effect of the
current in accelerating the development of the crop. Such
an acceleration would often have the effect of bringing it about
that the crop is gathered under better circumstances than if
it had had to remain until the usual time of harvest. There
is the additional consideration that the existence of such
acceleration denotes that the vitality of the plant has been
raised, and this would have an effect in increasing its power
to resist disease; actual indications of such increase have been
obtained, but they are not conclusive, owing to the conditions
under which the experiment was conducted. Some investi-
gators have stated that they have noticed increased chemical
activity in the electrified plants, especially Pollacci, who has
obtained indications that leaves can manufacture carbohyd-
rates, using the carbon dioxide in the air, when they are
traversed by an electric current, even when there is not
sufficient light for the purpose.

In interpreting the results of work of this kind, regard
must be had not only to the effect of the current on the plant
itself, but also, on the contents of the atmosphere and the soil.
The presence of the electric discharges causes a combination
of the oxygen and nitrogen in the air, so that it is possible
that ultimately, there is a very small continuous addition of
nitrates to the soil in which the plants are growing. It is
also very likely that the current will have its effect on the soil
bacteria, and thus upon the interchange that is taking place
between the soil and the roots of the plant; the knowledge,
however, of this part of the subject is too small for any definite
conclusion to be given.

The results presented at the end of the paper would
appear, in a general way, to indicate that there is a practical
increase in the yields of crops when the growing plants are
submitted continuously to the influence of a high-tension,
silent, electric discharge.

—!
=I
lor)

|

MARKET REPORTS.

London,—Txe West Ixpia
May 10, 1910; Messrs.
April 15, 1910.

Arrowroot—t. Vincent, 1j/. to 33.
Batata—Sheet, 4/8; block, 3/11 to 4/- per tb.
Bres-wax—47 17s. 6/. to £8 2s. Gd.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/6 to 62/- per cwt. ;
54/- per ewt.; Jamaica, 47/6 to 53/6.

Correr—Jamaica, 40/- to 55/-.

Corra—West Indian, £28 J0s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas,
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 18d. to 20d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 40/- to 43/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 59/-; good
bright to fine, ap - ‘to 70/-.

Honey—26,- to 52/6.

IstnGLass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, lld. to 1/-; cencentrated, £18 10s.;
Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nurmecs—Steady.

Pmrrenro—Common, 24d.; fair, 2,%,d.; good, 24d. per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 10/7, fine soft, 10/4; fine Peru,
10/5 per tb.

Ran Tension 2/1 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/6 to 20/6; Muscovado, 14/- to 15/9;
Syrup, 13/3 to 15/3; Molasses, no quotations.

ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,
E. A. DE Pass & Co,

Grenada, 49/- to

no quota-

New York,—Messrs. Gituespre Bros.

29, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 13c. to 13$c. ; Grenada, 10}c. to 11{e. ;
Trinidad, 114. to 12c. ; Jamaica, 10c. to lle. per tb.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26°00; culls,
$15°00; Trinidad, select, $25°00 to $2600; culls,

$15-00 per M.

Correr—Jamaica, ordinary, 9c. to 9}c.; good ordinary,
93c. to 10c.; and washed, up to 114c. per ib.

GincEr—9$e. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxrys—Jamaica, no quntation; Parbados, 47ec. to
50c.; St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 43c. to 4dc.
per th.; Antigua, 47c. to 50c., dry flint.

Grape Fruir—$2-50 to $3:00 per box.

Lres—$8-00 to $9°00.

Mace—29e. to 35c. per th.

NutmEcs—110’s, 9c. to 9c. per Th.

OrancEes—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°25.

Pimento—4ic. to 4gc. per th.

& Co., April

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°30c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°80c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°55c. per tb, all
duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., May 14,

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°50 per fanega; Trinidad, $10°65
to $11°15.

Cocoa-Nut Or—98c. per Imperial gallon.

Correre—Venezuelan, 10}c. per tbh

Corra—$4°60 per 100 th.

Duyat—$4°40 per 2-bushel bag.

Ontons—$2°00 to $220 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6-30 to $6°40 per bag.

Poratos—English, $2-00 per 100 tb.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°35 to $4°40; White, $4°85
per bag.

ScuGar—American crushed,

to $4:-90
$6°20 per 100 ib.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. May 28, 1910.
Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co. May 9, 1910;
Messrs. T, S. Garraway & Co., May 9, 1910;

Messrs. James A. Lynco & Co., May 17, 1910:

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3°75 per 100 th.
Cacao—$11-00 to $13°00 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-NuTs—$14 00.

CorrEz—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $9°50 to $11-00 per

100 tb., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 to $1°60 per 100 tb.,

of soda,

Manures— Nitrate

dull.

$60-00 to

$65°00; Cacao

manure, $42:00 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,

$70-00 to $7500 per ton.
Mo rasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$1°00 to $3-00 per 100 th.
Peas. Sprit—$6-10 to $6°75 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,

$3:-00 to $3°60 per bag of 120 ib.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1: “00 to $2-

75 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°33 to $430 (180 th.) ; Patna, $3°80 ;

Rangoon, $2°90 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wiermsc & Ricurer, May
14, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacH, ParKER & Co.,
May 13, 1910.
| a , _,| Messrs. Sanp-
ARTICLES. ONG Towtan. | Pact, PARKER

ARROWROOT—St. sereenty $809 = 200 th. Fs 00 to $8°25 per

Bivink “Venaaeemblocs|
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NuTS—

CorrEE—Creole

32c. per tb.
78c. per tb.

dull
Prohibited
None

200 th., market
|

‘10e. to Le. per Ib.) 10c. to 11e. per th,

Jamaica and Rio)

Liberian
DxHAaL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Morasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLanTaIns—

Poratros—Noya Szotia
Lisben
PoratTos—Sweet, Barbados|
Rice—Ballam
Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
SuGar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Trweer —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

$1-00

| No quotation

$6: 00 et barrel of No quotation
6 th.

| $12 - 316 per M. S16 perM., peeled

14c per tb.
14$c. per th.
84e. per tb.

| $4-00 per bag of |

168 tb.
$5°75
72. to 96c.
None
3t 2, to Deh

$6° 00 { per bag
(210 tb.)
$3°50
12c. to 48c. per
bunch
$1-75 to $2-00
No quotation
$1°56 per bag
No ouotation
$420 to $4°25
$168 per bag
$2-00
$2°40 per bag
$3:05 to $3°10
$3°70 to $3°80
$4:00
$2°25 to $2°50
32c. to ddc. per
cub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75
per M.

% oleeeeal $1-80 to $2-00

per ton

and selected
12c. to 13c. per th.
144c. to l5c. perth.
10c. per th.
$4°00 per bag of
168 tb.

Be.

No quotation
$6°15 per bag
(210 th.)
$3°50 to $4°25

$1°75 to $2°00
Nal quotation

$4-75
| $4:-20 to $4:°25

None
$3°70

| $3°80 to $400
| None

| d2c. to 5dc. per
| cub. fsot

| $3°50 te $5°50

per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume J. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free, 1s. 2d,

Volumes IT, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (IU, 23 IV, 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume X. No, 1. No. 2. No. 3, Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conference, 1910; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
Botanic Station ; Root Disease of: Sugar-cane in Antigua and in Barbados; Disinfection of Imported
Plants ; Index, etc. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

-PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in, them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Suear Inpusrry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 64d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price dd.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in. 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20 price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33 price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No.46, price 4d.; | (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, Nowd6, price 4d.; tions. Price 2d. :
in 1908-9 No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting. New and Enlarged Edition,
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No.86, price 4d.: (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d. ; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d. Price 4d. :
Scare Iysecrs. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part . No.7, price 4d.- (98) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d. _ :
Part IL., No. 22, price 4d. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
GENERAL. (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d.

The above will be supplied post free'for an additional charge of }d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., 1d. for those
marked 4d., and 14d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62 and 63.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress and
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News ’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, ineluding postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. perannum. Volumes IV, V, VI, and VII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Add
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

; Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosenry, Agricultural School. -
Barbados : Messrs. BowEn & Sons, Bridgetown. . St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: Tok Epucationan Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Brmncewarer, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tur ‘Datry Curonrcie’Orrice,Georgetown. Antigua: Mr. S. D. Matone, St. John’s.
Trinidad: Messrs. Murr-MarsHaty & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts : THE BrstE AND Book Suppiy AGENCY, Basscterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough, Nevis: Mr. S. D. Matonz, Charlestown.

Grenada : ‘THE StorEs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. IX. No. 211.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 28, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

eg a cl a ge

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

Ohlendorfi’s Special Cocoa Ma

nure

Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure

Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
other high-class Fertilizers.

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE, BRITISH GUIANA.

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR.
Salary, $960 per annum rising to $1,200 by $72.
(NOT ON THE FIXED ESTABLISHMENT. )

Applications are invited from candidates for the above post,
who should be between twenty-three and thirty-six years of age.
Knowledge of, and experience in, the growth of tropical products
and of draining operations on low-lying land is of importance.

Candidates must submit with their applications, details of
their training in Agricultural Science and in practical Agri-
culture accompanied, if feasible, by diplomas from the institu-
tion where trained, or of certificates in Agriculture issued by the
Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, or the
Department of Agriculture of any other tropical country, copies
of satisfactory certificates of health and of character, together
with copies of not more than three testimonials from their pre-
sent and former employers.

2. Duties. —To give instruction in practical horticulture to
farmers and settlers in the various districts of the colony, espe-
cially in connexion with the cultivation of rice, rubber, cacao,
coffee, bananas and citrus fruit, and the care of live stock gene-
rally ; to assist in the inspection of gardens attached to primary
schools.and in the examination of their pupils in the elements of
agriculture ; to assist in agricultural experiments and in the
control of the district agricultural stations ; to assist in the nur-
series of the Botanic Gardens; and to perform such other duties

as may be assigned to him by the Director of the Department.}
y s ) I

3. The selected candidate will be required to sign a form of
agreement previous to appointment.
4, Applications should be addressed to the Director of
Science and Agriculture on or before May 31, 1910.
J. B. HARRISON,

March 23, 1910. Director of Science and Agriculture.

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED.
BRIDGETOWN.

COTYON SEED.

| Purchased at highest current Prices, locally and
from the Islands. TERMS, Cash on delivery of
Seed. Consignments made us will have prompt
attention.

SULPHATE OF COPPER.—We stock this
article, and all orders received will be promptly
executed.

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vol. X, No. 4.)

Containing: The Agricultural Conference in Antigua,
1910; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica Botanic Station;
The Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua; the Root Disease
of Sugar-cane in Barbados; Disinfection of Imported Plants;
Title Page, Index and Contents.

To be obtained from all agents for the
sale of the Department’s publications. Price
6d.; post free, Sd.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

~ Vol. 1X. No. 212.)

SATURDAY, JUVE 11, 1910. - [One penny.

THE ROYAL MAIL
STEAM PACKET COMPANY

(ROYAL CHARTER, dated 1839)

SP.

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180

| THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.
— 7

4

_ Agriculture.

BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction. and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-
ment Veterinary Surgeon, St Vincent, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School ani Experiment Plots, St. Lucia, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station. Economic Experiments, and Agricultural Instruction; also on
Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola. Virgin Is'ands, 1908-9.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-
tions. | |

does not mean a dollars worth for
“ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

gin is small, why not change the method?

Our book on cacao suggests som
new old truths—write for it. We send

it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

Won. xs, No: 212:

BARBADOS,

CONTENTS.

PAGE. PAGE.

Agriculture and the Sup- Fungus Notes :—

ply of Labour... ... 177 The Chief Groups of
ae Sette Fungi, Part VIII ... 190
Seeswax, The Purification Fae ied =
s Gleanings ... Meee: --.. 188

OR ees ead tay LOL recat a

Book Shelf eee see wo LOS ny ; = > ] ve
3 : A The Hardback Beetles 186

Bordeaux Mixture, A Quick Wanires SomtiEnfoctelot

Way of Making 181° anures, Some fh ects 0
tao gs Oe ean on the Spee... ... 187
Calathea Allouya, Tubers Market Reports ... ... 192
of ses «+ eee «2 184] Notes and Comments ... 184
Calcium Cyanamide and Renard Road Train, The 185
Nitrate of Lime... ... 185! Rice in British Guiana 187

Camphor Industry, The Rubber Trees and Green
Japanese ... ... ... 184 Manurm@geemees ... 10D

Co-operative Credit So- Seeds, Protection of, from
cieties in India... ... 187 Birds ... Sere c= 60

Students’ Corner ... ... 189
Sugar Industry :
Introduction of Sugar
Canes into Mauritius 179

Cotton Notes :—
Cotton-Growing in

Ambigua” 225) os. 222,182

ee a s cent 182 Sugar Cultivation in
oO Hee . “- « 7
= pee =~ Benga! PME css LTD

Je an C goin 5 Th ates
West Indian Cotton ... 182 Talipot Pali, Tapping The 191

Fruit Cultivation in India 180] West Indian Products ... 191
Agriculture and the Supply of

Labour.

(HE conditions in the West Indies, as in
most tropical are such that
nearly all labour may be considered to be
agricultural. The chief source of wealth is the soil,
and it is to this that man, aided by the changes that
are brought about in it by natural agencies, applies his
energies in order that he may provide himself with the
means of subsistence, and may, in so doing, raise crops
that will find willing purchasers in other countries. In

countries,

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES,

JUNE 11,

Price ld.

1910.

this way, the population is supported, and a requisition
is made upon other lands, whereby the means is pro-
vided for obtaining such articles as cannot be produced
locally.

The consequence of the soil as the origin of the
more necessary of the commodities consumed by man
has been recognized for a long time, but there has
existed, nevertheless, a tendency to underrate the
importance and dignity of the labour by means of which,
only, it can be made to yield the products that are of
especial use to mankind. ‘To this there has been added
the mistaken idea that the duties of the direction of
that labour could be assumed equally well by men
of very different mental attainments, and that nothing
in the way of special training was necessary or expedient,
in order that those duties may be taken up in an
efficient manner. The attitude of true students of the
subject has always been of the opposite nature, for
mention may be made of such early economists as
Vauban, who stated that labour is the foundation of all
wealth, and agriculture the most important species of
labour, and William Petty, who wrote: ‘Labour is the
father and active principle of wealth, lands are the
mother.’

Although this regard for the importance of the
soil to man had an early origin, it was tempered, until
recent years, by the idea that its value as a producer
of crops must, of necessity, decrease continually; that is
to say, the greater the amount of removal of crops from
it, the smaller became its power to yield anew. This
opinion was given an axiomatic value by economists of
the school of J.S. Mill, who formulated the law of
diminishing production from land, which stated that

178

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JUNE 11,1910.

NN Ua nnn eee EE EEEnIE UE EEE UnIEEIEE DEES?

every successive application of capital to cultivation
must be less profitable than the first. If this was
actually true, the logical course arising from it would
be quickly to cease to employ capital for the working
of a given area of cultivated land, after the first few
crops had been taken from it, so that agriculture would
soon consist chiefly in the exploitation of new land.

Practical experience and scientific experiment have
demonstrated the fact that the limits of the ability of
the soil to produce are definitely set by the supply of
light, heat, air and water that is available for it, and
for the plants growing in it. Agricultural research
shows it to be increasingly probable that, until those
limits are reached, the growth of the knowledge gained
in the laboratory and the experiment plot, and the
advance in the skill with which the land is worked, will
tend, by themselves, to bring the cost of production on
so-called worn-out soils down to the level of that on soils
of greater fertility. Thus the time may be reached when
the gains will be the same, whether the labour is being
employed for inferior soils or for those which are
superior, and the return from the capital used will be
as great, near the ultimate point at which it can be
invested usefully, as it is when it consists virtually of
labour alone, applied to newly cultivated soils.

These considerations have reduced the question of
the best use of the soil to one of labour, and the problem
for the agriculturist will be to find the way in which
he can employ most profitably, both from his own point
of view and that of the labourer, the sources that are
at his disposal. This problem will include the task of
discovering the means by which he may be enabled to
have a constant supply of efficient labour at his com-
mand; it will be readily understood that by ‘labour’ is
not meant field labour, alone, but all the means for the
provision of such human energy as is not employed
solely in a directive and administrative capacity.

The question of the supply of labour is not, how-
ever, merely one of the future, as the outcome of the
conditions that have just been described. It isa matter
of the present, in many regions of the world, including
parts of the West Indies. It is evident that one of the
chief causes that may operate in the production of
a shortage of labourers, is the creation of conditions,
in another country, such that high wages are
offered, iu order to attract the worker, with the
result that he yields to the temptation to make
a test of the apparently better conditions in the new
country. He cannot be expected to realize that the
receipt of higher wages does not necessarily bring

about an increase in comfort and material prosperity,
and he does not recognize, while still in his native coun-
try, the value of the many ameliorating circumstances
that enter into his daily life there, the sharing of which
is not dependent on the possession of money. In mak-
ing these statements, the value of emigration to a place
where wages are higher, which arises from the oppor-
tunity to remit sums of money to those who are left
behind, is not ignored. It is evident, however, that
such emigration has a limit of usefulness in this direc-
tion, and that its interference with the provision of an
adequate labour-supply may result in making conditions
less favourable in the country which the emigrant has
left.

In considering what steps should be taken in order
that a constant supply of adequate labour may be
ensured, where there are signs that this might become
no longer available, assistance will be gained from
a proper realization of the obvious fact that the labourer
works solely in order that he may provide himself, and
those who are dependent on him, with the means to
live, together with as many luxuries as he can com-
mand. As time passes, the evidence of any sentiment
of attachment to a particular employer or place is quickly
becoming smaller. These conditions make it natural
that the supply of labour should move in those directions
where it appears that the greatest prices will be paid
for it. This is no longer a local condition, for as has been
considered already, it leads to emigration, and that the
more easily,as means of transport are increased and made
cheaper. The fact of practical value immediately sug-
gested by this is that, if this unsteadiness of labour-
supply is to be remedied, it must be made worth the
labourer’s while to remain where he is being employed;
an appeal must’be made to him through the provision
of additions to his welfare; he must be convinced by
a material argument which he is able to appreciate.

The way in which this argument may be provided
is a matter for trial, and the application of the sugges-
tions arising after experience. It will vary in different
places, and will require modification as conditions change
with time. Efforts toward its discovery are being made
already; one of these, namely the scheme of giving
bonnses for permanent labourers, adopted at the
Antigua Sugar Factory, was described shortly in the
last number of the Agricultural News, and it is of
interest that this has proved itself worthy of extension,
Such endeavours should result in adding the value
of permanency to that of the presence of labour and,
as regards the labourer, should enhance the sense of the
value of his continuous work and of his self-respect.

Vor, IX; No. 212.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

INTRODUCTION OF SUGAR-CANES INTO
MAURITIUS.

A Memorandum of the Introduction of Sugar-cines to
Mauritius has been issued recently by the Mauritius Govern-
ment. It is especially interesting, as it gives some indication
as to the history of the sugar industry in that island.

It appears that the sugar-cane was imported into Mauri-
tius in July, 1650, by the Dutch, from Batavia. At first the
cane juice was only used for making a liquor ealled arrack,
and it was not until 1744 that a sugar mill was erected. In
1816, soon after the British occupation of the island, the
production of sugar had reached 4,000 tons per annum, from
eighty-six mills. The canes chiefly cultivated were the white
canes of Otaheite and Batavia, and the red one of Batavia.
The continual growth of these in the same soil led to their
becoming diseased, and in 1849 a group of planters subscribed
a sum of money for the purpose of obtaining a new kind from
Java. This resulted in the arrival in Mauritius, in 1850, of
over a million cuttings, three varieties of which, namely,
Pellouguet, Diard and Penang, gave entire satisfaction.

At this time, similar importations of cane were made
from Ceylon, even though it was well known that these were
infested with borers. On their arrival, a Committee was
appointed to examine the canes, with the result that they
were ordered to be destroyed. This precaution, however, did
not prevent the introduction of Diatraea striatalis, which
became a sufticiently serious pest for a Committee to be
appointed in 1856 for the purpose of finding means of dealing
with it. The recommendations that were made do not appear
to have been of much avail, for the sugar-cane industry was
saved from ruin in 1858 by the introduction of the Bamboo,
or Batavian cane, and the Guinghan, or violet-striped cane.

In 1864, another enemy of the cane was reported as
doing much damage in the sugar plantations of Réunion, as
well as those of Mauritius. This was one of the Coccidae, called
the ‘pou & poche blanche’ (Pulvinaria gasteralpha, Icery).
This no longer exists in Mauritius, and it is suggested that
its disappearance is due to a parasite.

From 1866 to 1870, new varieties of cane were received
from Java, Trinidad, British Guiana, Queensland, New
Caledonia, Egypt, India, Brazil, the Sandwich Islands,
Réunion and Penang. Between 1862 and 1875, Mr. Lousier,
who was manager of an estate in Mauritius, is said to have
obtained a bud variation from a cane called Mignonne, which
was itself a sport from a cane received from New Caledonia.
It is this variety which is now known as the Lousier, and it
has given rise in turn to the green-striped Lousier and the
red-striped Lousier, from the latter of which the red Lousier
is derived.

After 1877, other canes were introduced, chiefly from
Fiji and the Sandwich Islands. This stage of the introduc-
tion of new canes was ended in 1883. During several of
these years, other canes were received at the Botanic Gardens,
but there is no record of the results which were obtained
with many of these. The chief of the more modern intro-
ductions of canes took place in 1891, 1908 and 1909; among
the last to be obtained were the New Guinea canes, Goro and
Badilla.

None of the above introductions include seedling canes.
The first of these were obtained from Barbados in 1891,
through Kew, but, unfortunately, they all died before they
could be propagated. In 1901, D.145, B.308 and D.130

were received through the Imperial Department of Agriculture
for the West Indies, and propagated until 1905, when cut-
tings were distributed free to planters by the Chamber of
Agriculture It is stated that D.130 has given very favour-
able yields in many localities, chiefly at low altitudes, and
it is now cultivated on a large scale. Other importations of
West Indian seedling canes have been made as follows:
1902, D.95; 1903, B.147; 1905, D.74, D 95, D.109, D.195
and B.208; 1906, D.195, D.74 and B.208; 1909, D.625
and B.147. All these have been propagated for distribution.

SUGAR CULTIVATION IN BENGAL.

An article in the April number of the Jnternational
Sugar Journal deals partly with the state of the sugar indus-
try in Bengal. It shows, first of all, that four kinds of sugar
are chiefly produced in India; these are : (1) white sugar,
which is almost entirely consumed by Europeans; (2) yellow
sugar, which is made by concerns that are generally financed
and controlled by Europeans, and is largely sold in the bazaars;
(3) ‘country’ sugar, which is a fine variety of yellow sugar,
very sweet but very expensive, made by native processes; (4)
gur, which is a native variety of sugar consisting actually of
cane juice evaporated to dryness, and containing 70 to 80
per cent. of sucrose.

The present article, which is to be followed by another,
deals mainly with the making of the yellow sugar (No. 2),
It is pointed out that conditions in India would seem
to indicate that there is a specially good opening for
central factories. The reasons for this are chiefly the follow-
ing: the preference of the natives for goods of Indian
manufacture; the conditions of rainfall and soil, which are
particularly suitable to sugar-cane growing in those parts of
India where sugar is made; the low price of sugar-cane, which
can usually be obtained at 7s. per ton; the good prices that
are offered for molasses; the provision of cheap labour by
a population which is intelligent and hard-working.

The writer shows that there is room for the introduction
of great improvements in the way in which the sugar-cane
industry is carried on in India, and that there has been little
progress in the matter for many years.

The kind of cane that is obtained for crushing is almost
always the small green variety ; this has usually a height of
6 to 9 feet, with a circumference, at the base, of 2 to 3 inches.
Such canes, when their measurementsare 6 feet and 14 inches,
generally contain 12 to 15 per cent. of fibre, and give a juice
having a purity of 78 to 84. The larger canes, such as
Pansahi, are superior to these, sometimes giving a juice of
purity 90 to 94, while the fibre content is 9°5 to 11. Itis
stated that there is little doubt that, with proper means of
irrigation and manuring, better results could be obtained with
the large canes, but the grower in India prefers small cane,
because its production requires little trouble, and it is fairly
free from pests, with the exception of the borer. For planting
purposes, about 2 or 3 ewt. of the canes are placedin a ditch,
covered with earth, and left for three weeks or a month.
Those which have not sprouted by this time are rejected,
while the others are planted at a depth of 3 to 4 inches,
immediately behind the plough. The time of sowing is always
between November and March, during the cold weather, and
the cane continues to live through the dry months of March,
April and May, without irrigation, and begins its full growth
in June, when the rainy season commences. Where weeding
is practised, one is given before the rains and one when they
commence: no more cultivation takes place before the end of
the growing season, in November or December.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. ©

June 11, 1910.

BPRUITS, AND

FRUIT CULTIVATION IN INDIA.

The Second Report on the Fruit Experiments at Pusa,
by A. Howard, M.A., A.R.C.S., F.L.S. (sometime Mycologist
on the staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture),
which forms Bulletin No. 16 of the Agricultural Research
Institute, Pusa, contains an account of experiments that have
been conducted in the treatment of soils under fruit trees. It
points out that little or no attention appears to be paid, at
present, to the tillage of fruit lands in India. in some cases,
the plantations are under grass, in others the surface is almost
entirely neglected, being covered with weeds and grass. Some-
times the trees are planted so closely together that no surface
growth beneath them is possible, while it is a general rule
that vegetables or bananas are generally grown, for profit,
between the young trees. All this results in the production
of fruit trees having a neglected and half-starved appearance.
Tt was in order that information may be obtained, which would
lead to the amelioration of these conditions, that the experi-
ments at Pusa were commenced in 1905.

In each of these experiments, three plots were included,
which received the following treatment: (1) normal cultiva-
tion, (2) no cultivation, but with the removal of weeds, (3)
grassing down.

In the first plot, the tillage is carried out according to
the best methods of England and the United States, so that
the surface is kept free from weeds, the land is well cultivated
in the cold weather, and a loose surface mulch, for the con-
servation of water, is maintained. While the treesare young,
the soil is provided with a green manure by growing a cover
crop of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), which is ploughed in
during the rains.

Weeds are kept out of the uncultivated plot, as far as
possible, but this cannot be done perfectly on account of the
quick growth of the common red weed of the plains (Huphorb-
ia thymifolia), which flourishes under the special conditions.

On the grassed down plot the turf practically consists
solely of Cynodon Dactylon, the ‘devil’s grass’ of the West

Indies. This grass is kept, as far as possible, free from other
plants. It is maintained in aclosely cut condition, by means

of a lawn mower, and the cut grass is allowed to remain on
the surface.

In the cultivation experiment, the normal treatment was
only commenced when the plants were well established. It

FRUIT geREES,

has therefore been in operation only two years, but the results
obtained during this time are of a very definite nature, and
show the value of proper tillage for fruit trees.

In regard to the non-cultivated plot, during the first year
it showed no difference from the cultivated one. There is,
however, a certain amount of difference to be seen at the
present time, more especially in the fact that the foliage of
the trees in the uncultivated plot has a paler green colour
than that in the control plots. It is possible that the effect
of withholding tillage will be more evident as the time of the
experiment extends. ‘lhe interesting observation was made
that, owing to the absence of cultivation, the cost of keeping
these plots free from weeds is aimost as great as that of
cultivating and weeding them in the ordinary way.

The effect of laying the plots down to grass is shown in
a strikingly similar manner in the case of all the trees with
which the experiments were made. The greatest damage
appears to have ‘been done in the case of limes, lemons,
oranges, pumelows, plums, custard apples and Joquats, many
of the trees of which are dead, while the others are in a deplor-
able condition; the untoward effect seems to be especially
shown in the case of the citrus trees. Peaches, guavas and
figs have been atfected to the least extent, though their growth
is considerably checked; their better state may be partly due
to the fact that they were more completely established than
the others before the grassing down was commenced, and
partly to the great vigour of these trees at Pusa. A review
is given of recent work that has been conducted in connexion
with the effect of grass on trees, and the author states that,
in his opinion, the ‘differences between the plots are due to
the fact that there was always more moisture in the soil of
the tilled plots than in that of the grassed down plot, so that
a starvation effect was obtained. Observations are made
on experiments that have been conducted in the United
States, in which good results were obtained when apple trees
were grown in soils covered by a deep mulch.

It is interesting to note, with reference to the experi-
ments that have been conducted at Woburn, by the Duke of
Bedford and 8.U. Pickering, in the matter of the firm plant-
ing of trees (Vinth Report of the Woburn Experimental
Fruit Farm, 1908). have been confirmed by the results of
trials made in this direction at Pusa. It is stated that trees
planted firmly in well moistened earth show an immediate
development of the root system, followed by the growth of
new leaves and of new wood.

Vou. IX No. 212

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 181

THE PURIFICATION OF BEESWAX.

The melting of beeswax can be effected either by using
sun heat, direct fire heat, boiling water, or steam. In a melted
state, beeswax readily separates from such foreign substances
as may be contained in it, and owing to its lower specific
gravity, will float on the surface of the water.

A simple method of rendering beeswax, and one formerly
adopted by bee-keepers in this country | England and elsewhere,
is to extract as much honey as possible from the comb, first
by draining and then by pressure in a press of the ordinary
copying-press type, and finally by melting it in presence of
water, which dissolves out any residual honey which may
cling to the pressed wax. While melted, the wax is strained
through calico to remove solid impurities, and is finally re-
melted over a fire to remove water, after which it is poured
into moulds to set. Care is required in carrying out the final
melting, as burning may occur, and when this happens a dark-
coloured wax of low market value is produced.

Another method, followed by bee-keepers who have not
adopted modern appliances, is to place the comb, after the
honey has been extracted, in a canvas bag, which is kept
below the surface of water, contained in a copper or other
large vessel, by being weighted with stones. If the comb
contains ‘brood ’, it is allowed to soak in water for twenty-
four hours before being placed in the copper, the object being
to fill the dry cocoons with water, which will prevent them from
absorbing the melted wax. The water in the copper is next
heated, and as the wax melts, it passes through the canvas
bag and rises to the surface of the water, leaving behind in
the bag all solid impurities. The bag is taken out of the
copper and squeezed between two pieces of wood to extract
as much wax as possible, and the surface of the melted wax
in the copper is frequently skimmed to remove scum and
otherimpurities. A cloth is then thrown over the vessel, and
the wax and water are allowed to cool as slowly as_ possible.
The wax solidifies into a cake, which can be easily removed from
the water. On the under side of the cake there is usually
a discoloured layer containing impurities, and this is scraped
off and worked up with the next batch of crude wax. The
remainder is broken up into small pieces, re-melted and poured
into moulds to set. Provided that care is taken (1) not to
boil the water too fast or for too longa time, and (2) to prevent
burning during the final melting, this method produces clean
wax of good colour; but if either of these precautions be
neglected it becomes dry and brittle, and of a brownish hue.
The outfit required for the foregoing operations is simple, and
obtainable almost everywhere.

Of the modern appliances for rendering wax, one of the
simplest is the ‘solar wax extractor’, which is in common
use inthe United States, Australia and elsewhere. This
consists of a wooden box with a sloping, double-glazed lid.
Inside the box, and raised some distance from its Hoor, an
inclined tin tray is fixed. The comb is placed on the tray,
the lid tightly closed, and the box exposed: to the sun. The
temperature inside the box rapidly rises, and when it reaches
about 147° F., the wax melts and runs off the sloping tray
into a vessel beneath, leaving impurities behind, caught by
a Wire gauze strainer. This appliance is admirably suited to
warm countries, and wax obtained by its use is of good
quality, and requires no further refining. It is, however, not
suitable for rendering comb containing brood or other
gross impurities. In treating comb of this description, it is
best to extract the wax by one of the methods mentioned
above, and then to clarify it by means of the solar extractor.

Most of the other appliances are provided with a screw press,
by means of which the wax is forced through strainers, after
being melted by means of hot water or steam. (Bulletin of
the Imperial Institute, Vol. VIII, p. 24.)

A QUICK WAY OF MAKING BOR-
DEAUX MIXTURE.

The following extract, from the Agricultural
Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States,
for April 1910, shows how assistance in the quick mak-
ing of Bordeaux mixture in large quantities may be
obtained in a simple way :—

The making of Bordeaux mixture on a large scale from
stock solutions is greatly facilitated if some simple plant be
erected. The erection consists of two elevated platforms.
The higher platform is carried on four 9-feet 6-inches posts,
5 inches by 4 inches, sunk 2 feet 6 inches in the ground and
well rammed. Joists,5 inches by 4 inches, connect the heads of
the posts, into which they are halved. An intermediate
joist is halved into the middle of two opposite joists. The
upper platform is 5 feet square, and consists of 6 inches by
1 inch boarding in the rough, laid to the edges. The
lower platform, which is 6 feet 6 inches square, is similarly
constructed, and is carried on sleepers, 6 feet long and 10
inches by 5 inches, set vertically and sunk 2 feet 6 inches
in the ground and well rammed. The two structures are
bolted together at the two back posts, and where the front
post of the higher platform touches the joist of the lower
platform.

On the higher platform are two 50-gallon dilution
barrels, marked inside at the 50-gallon level, and fitted with
taps. If possible, water should be laid on this higher plat-
form. On the lower platform stands a vat (fitted with a tap)
capable of containing 100 gallons. A short length of hose
(canvas hose is convenient to use) is fitted to the taps of the
dilution barrels and of the 100-gallon vat. The process of
making 100 gallons of Bordeaux mixture is as follows: 8
gallons of the stock solution of milk of lime, and the same
amount of copper sulphate stock solution (or 4 gallons
only, if this has been made of the strength of 2 tb. of
copper sulphate to the gallon of water) are carried up to
the upper platform, and poured separately into the
two dilution barrels, which are then filled with water
up tothe 50-gallon mark. ‘he 50 gallons of milk of lime
thus obtained in one of the barrels are stirred vigorously
for a couple of minutes. A strainer is now placed over
the vat, in such a position as to allow the hose from the
taps of the dilution barrels to project into it. The taps of
the dilution barrels are now turned on, and the contents of
the barrel containing the lime being stirred continuously, the
two 50-gallon barrels empty themselves through the strainer
into the vat, filling it with 100 gallons of Bordeaux mixture.
The whole process can be easily controlled by one man stand-
ing on the higher platform, as with his stirring-pole he can
reach the taps and so regulate the flow if necessary, and also
stir and clear the strainer, should this become clogged. The
Bordeaux mixture is immediately ready for use, and can be
run off from the top of the vat into the spraying machine.
Thus all the labour and waste of time in handling the mixture
are saved; and given some such plant, and stock solutions,
100 gallons of Bordeaux mixture can be prepared in a few
minutes at any time.

2 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JuNE 11, 1910.

'

Tiare

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date May 23, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, West Indian Sea Islands have been
in fair request at steady rates. The sales comprise Barbados,
Antigua, St. Kitts, Montserrat and St. Vincent, at prices
ranging from 16d. to 22d., the former being for Stains.

Late advices from America state that considerable
replanting has taken place in Georgia, of Upland cotton
instead of Sea Island, and we therefore expect that next
season good prices will rule for West Indian.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending May 14, is as follows:—

For the past fortnight the receipts were only 39 bales,
of which 36 bales were common stains, and were sold for
France at 16c. Otherwise the market has been very quiet,
with no demand for the few remaining crop lots, which are
still being nominally held at 38c., 40c. and 50c.

COTTON-GROWING IN ANTIGUA.

A letter from Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Superintend-
ent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands, shows that,
owing to the unfortunate experience with cotton growing in
Antigua, in the past, the area planted in the island during
the last season has been the smallest since cotton has been
grown there (see also Agricultural News, Vol. LX, p. 118).
It is estimated, however, that 150 bales of 230 Ib. each will
be the total output for the past season; this gives a yield of
137 tb. of lint to the acre, which is far in excess of those
obtained during the past few years. Mr. Tempany points out
that, taking into consideration the circumstance that in some
cases the cotton was grown as an intermediate crop between
sugar-cane, and only gave one picking, and that in other
eases the yield, for some unexplained reason, was small, this
general yield gives occasion for a certain amount of satisfaction,
as it tends to indicate that there is a more hopeful outlook
for the industry in Antigua.

The suggestion is made, in view of the fact that cotton
has been the means, during the past tew years, of adding
about £17,000 to the trade of Antigua, and in consideration
of the greatly improved yield obtained during the past
season, further efforts to revive the industry should be made.
This suggestion is supported by the fact that the quality of
the cotton produced recently has been good, excellent prices
and yields having been obtained by at least two growers.
It is of interest that the cotton raised by both of these
growers was produced from selected strains of seed, originated
by the Antigua Agricultural Department, by the method

of selection of suitable plants. It is therefore believed that
these better yields and prices are to a great extent the direct
results of the work that has been performed in the matter of
selection. It is thus suggested that the strains of seed origi-
nated in this way are suited especially to those parts of the
island in which they have been successful. In the case of
the two particular strains which have given the best results,
one has shown itself superior in the limestone districts of the
island, and the other on the heavier volcanic soils, so that
planters will be able to select seed in accordance with the
soil conditions which obtain on their respective estates.

Emphasis is laid on the necessity of the selection of all
cotton seed before planting, in order that the quality of the
product may be maintained. This should be conducted on
the principle of rejecting all seed which is smooth (without
fuzz), or immature, or aborted; that is to say, every seed that
is used for planting should be fully grown, and will possess
a green tuft of fuzz at one end.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the principal enemy
of the cotton plant in Antigua, at the present time, is the
flower-bud maggot (Contarinia gossypii), and that early
planting has done a great deal to lessen the incidence of
this pest. A possible explanation of this circumstance is
provided by the consideration that the warmer weather of
October favours the growth of the parasites of this insect, so
that the yeung buds forming at that time are protected
from its attacks.

SELECTED S11’. VINCENT COTTON SEED.

A notice has been issued by the St. Vincent Agricultural
Department strongly urging cotton growers in that colony
to plant carefully selected and disinfected cotton seed,
only, in order that the good name and quality of St. Vincent
cotton may be maintained.

For the purpose of facilitating the planting of such seed,
the Agricultural Department has made arrangements to
supply it to small growers at cost price, and to treat seed
for them, if this is desired. Under this scheme, the follow-
ing prices are charged: for selected, tested and disinfected
cotton seed, 5e. per tb.; for selecting and disinfecting growers’
own seed, 2c. per tb.; for selecting only, }-c. per tb.; for disin-
fecting only, }-c. per lb. If any seed thus supplied is found
to be unsatisfactory, growers are requested to return it within
fourteen days, for examination.

If growers in any of the other islands require selected
St. Vincent seed, it will be supplied at 6c. per Ib., in addition
to the cost of packing and shipping.

In the event of any applications being received for such
seed from foreign countries, it will probably be obtainable at
a cost of 24c. per Ib.

Von. IX., No. 212:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 183

i eZ

SS SSS |i,

fi SE

Sez)

OUR INSECT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES. By
John B. Smith, D.Se. The J. B. Lippincott Co., 1909, 31-50.

This is an attractive book of some 300 pages, written for
the general reader and well illustrated with coloured plates
and figures in the text. Although written in popular style
and language, this book is of interest to the student as well
as the general reader, and while it includes a statement of
many facts already known, they are presented in such a way
as to make them of interest, and to show them in relation to
other facts in a way that might not be suspected, even by
those who are familiar with them. ‘The titles of the chapters
will serve to give a good indication of the general nature of
the work, and each will be briefly reviewed under its heading.

I. Insects in Their Relation to the Animal Kingdom.
Under this head is discussed the position of insects in the
animal kingdom. The anatomy, physiology and life-history
of insects as well as a brief outline of the classification of the
natural orders are also shortly dealt with.

II. Insects in Their Relation to Plants as Benefactors.
Many insects are beneficial in their relation to plants, among
which are to be included principally those which serve for the
pollination of flowers, which are so arranged as to require
such assistance in the transference of pollen from the anther
to the stigma.

III. Insects in Their Relation to Plants as Destroyers. It
is in this connexion that insects are generally best known, that
is, as pests of plants, and especially of cultivated plants, and
they are more often noticed from the great amount of damage
which they are capable of doing than from any other cause.
In this chapter, the principal orders of insects are considered,
and their liability to oceur as pests is discussed.

1V. Insects in Their Relation to Each Other. In this
chapter is discussed the relation of parasitic and predaceous
insects to those other forms in or on which they prey or feed.
Insects are among the most prolific of all the forms of animal
life, and if it were not for the natural checks which are
exercised on this increase, their numbers would soon be sutti-
cient to devour every green thing on the face of the earth.
It is due to the habits which certain insects possess that this
enormous increase does not occur.

V. Insects in Their Relation to the Animals that Feed
on Them. In this chapter are discussed the various insect-
eating animals, such as birds, toads and reptiles, and
mention is also made of protective colouration and warning
colouration, which are supposed to be of value to those forms
possessing these features, in the matter of protection from
their enemies. This is a very interesting chapter, and contains
the discussion of points not usually considered in dealing with
the subject. For instance, it is often taken for granted that
any insect-eating bird is almost certain to be beneficial, but it
is often overlooked that many of these birds do not discrimi-
nate between injurious and beneficial insects, and that many
insects which are parasitized are eaten.

VI. Insects in Their Relation to Weather and Diseases that
Affect Them. Very few insects are known to occur in all parts of

the world. The amount of moisture, as well as of temperature,
exercises great influence on deciding whether certain insects
can maintain themselves and increase rapidly, some being
well adapted to extremes of dryness, and others to extremes
of moisture. Sudden changes of temperature and sudden
changes in the moisture also affect the conditions of many
insects. Numbers of them are subject to attack by fungoid and
other diseases, especially in climates where there is a sufticient
amount of humidity for these organisms to maintain vigorous
growth. This has been taken advantage of in Florida, where
fungoid diseases have been used for the control of scale
insects on cultivated plants, with good effect.

VII. Insects in Their Relation to Other Animals. Many
insects are parasitic upon other animals, generally as external
parasites. Mosquitos, fleas, lice and bed-bugs attack man,
while many others infest other animals, causing disease and
financial loss, in many instances. The screw-worm, the sheep
bot-fly, and many pests of poultry and other domestic
animals, occur in all parts of the world.

VIII. Insects in Their Relation to Man as Benefactors.
Perhaps the silk worm holds the pre-eminent position in the
matter of direct benefit to mankind. The honey-bee is of
nearly equal benefit, and several other insects are beneficial,
on a smaller scale.

IX. Insects in Their Relation to Man as Carriers of
Disease. In this chapter, insects are considered in what is
perhaps the most important phase of their relationships.
Mosquitos are carriers and transmitters of such diseases as
malaria, filaria, and yellow fever, and other insects of the
order Diptera, which are responsible for the dissemination of
typhoid fever and sleeping sickness, have been responsible
for enormous losses of life, and for preventing the develop-
ment of many districts which are extremely suitable for
agriculture, except for the abundance of these troublesome
pests. As carriers of disease, insects are now known in
a role which was almost unsuspected a generation ago.

X. Insects in Their Relation to the Household. In this
chapter are considered the insects which cause damage and
annoyance in the dwellings of mankind. Some of these are
important because of their attack on the person, and others
because of their attack on furniture, books, fabrics, food-
stuffs, and even on the structure of the buildings themselves.

XI. Insects in Their Relation to the Farmer and Fruit
Grower. In this chapter are considered the various pests which
attack agricultural crops in a general sense. Under absolutely
natural conditions, a balance is quickly established between
the animal life and the vegetation. When, however, man
intervenes and produces, in a given district, plants that are
not indigenous to it, or any of the native plants, in numbers
in excess of those in which they occur naturally, this balance
is upset and insects appear as pests, in adapting themselves
to the altered conditions. Any great increase of the area of
certain kinds of plants has always led to the development of
insect pests and diseases, which it had been necessary for the
agriculturist to combat in order to produce profitable crops.
To estimate the value of the losses caused by the ravages of
insects is rather difficult, but an approximation may be made.
It is stated at the close of this chapter, that the annual loss
due to attacks of insects in the United States alone, may be
estimated at $1,500,000,000 at least.

XII. The War on Insects. The concluding chapter of
the book deals with the methods employed for the control of
insect pests. A brief outline is given of the different kinds
of insecticides which may be used, and directions for prepar-
ing and using certain of the best of each kind. The
matter of farm practice as related to the control of injurious
insects is also considered

184

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JuNE 11, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
ee for naming, should be addressed to the

ommissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: » Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

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Agricultural ews

Vout. IX. SATURDAY, JUNE 11,

1910. No. 212.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

Agriculture and the Supply of Labour forms the
subject of the editorial of the present number.

The article, on page 179, giving an account of the
introductions of sugar-canes into Mauritius, at different
times, presents some indications of the history of the
sugar industry of that colony.

An abstract of an account of interesting work that
is being done in India, in connexion with fruit-growing,
appears on page 180.

A way in which the making of Bordeaux mixture
may be simplified is described on page 181.

The Insect Notes of this issue, which will be found
on page 186, give an account of two common hardback
beetles of the West Indies.

An article dealing with the work of co-operative
credit societies, in India, appears on page 187.

The last of the series of articles on The Chief
Groups of Funyi, which have been appearing as
Fungus Notes, is given in the form of a tabular
diagram, on page 190, where its use is explained, It
should be stated that the yeasts are mentioned, in this,
under their generic name of Saccharomyces.

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

Parts I and II of the Report on Sugar-Cane
Kuperiments im the Leeward Islands, 1908-9, are
now being issued. The conclusions in these formed
the subject-matter of Pamphlets 63 and 64 of the
Department Series.

—— EE ——

Tubers of Calathea Allouya.

With reference to the article on page 152 of the
current volume of the Agricultural News, dealing with
tubers of Calathea Allowya, Mr. W. H. Porter, of
Dominica, gives statements in support of the useful-
ness of these as a vegetable, and has kindly drawn
attention to a passage in the History of the Caribby
Istands, by I. Davis, published in 1666. This passage
is as follows: ‘The Potatoe (sic) is a root much like
the Saligots growing in Gardens, which are called
Topinambous, or Jerusalem Artichokes, but of a much
more excellent taste, and more wholsome (sic). Those
Topinambous or Artichokes, which are now not only
very common, 1n most parts, but cheap, and slighted as
being a treatment for the poorer sort, were heretofore
accounted delicious. Fer in some extraordinary Enter-
tainments made at Paris by the Princes, to entertain
Embassadours (sic), in the Year M.DC.XVI, they were
served up among the most exquisite dishes.’

According to Mr. Porter, and to Mr. Jones,
Curator of the Dominica Botanic Station, the tubers
are known by the name of ‘ topee tambou’ in Dominica,
as well as in Trinidad.

a

The Japanese Camphor Industry.

The Board of Trade Journal for April 7, 1910,
gives an abstract of an article, published in the Nach-
richten fiir Handel und Industrie, which presents
particulars regarding the position of the Japanese
camphor industry. According to this, the Japanese
Camphor Monopoly raised the price of its camphor,
between 1903 and 1907, and caused the production to
increase in Formosa and Japan. In the latter year,
the Japanese sales fell off to a large extent, on account
of competition with artificial German camphor and
Chinese camphor; this is shown by the circumstance
that, while the exports of camphor trom Japan (includ-
ing Formosa), for 1907, were 6,919,194 tb., valued at
£780,925 (taking the Kin at 1°3 tb., and the Yen at
2s. O4d.) those of 1908 were 4,522,135 tb, valued at
£385,253. The result was that the Japanese Camphor
Monopoly was forced to effect a considerable reduction
in the price; but, notwithstanding the fact that the sales
increased so that exports during the first ten months of
1909 were 9,434,727 tb., valued at £644,375, the Mono-
poly has been working ata loss. About 80 per cent.
of the Japanese supply of camphor is obtained from
Formosa, and the cost of production of this tends to
increase, so that it is expected that the Japanese
Monopoly will restrict the rate at which it is produced,
in order to relieve the over-stocked condition, and that
it will then again raise the price of its camphor.

Vor. IX. No. 212.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 185

Rubber ‘Trees and Green Manuring.

An article with this title appeared on page 13 of
the current volume of the Agricultural News. Mr.
R. D. Anstead, B.Sc., late Agricultural Superintendent
in Grenada, under the Imperial Department of Agri-
culture, draws attention to this in the Planters’
Crronicle [India] for March 19, 1910, and gives an
account of an experiment, having connexion with the
same subject, which was carried out by him recently in
South Travancore. In this, two samples of soil were
taken, one from under a very poor covering of Passi-
flora sp., and one from a patch which had been kept
clean weeded, and which was exposed to the sun. Equal
weights of the samples were dried in an oven for five
or six hours, and the weights taken again, when it was
found that, although the Passiflora was of poor growth
and gave a minimum of shade, the soil beneath it con-
tained 11 per cent. more moisture than that of the area
which had been kept clear of weeds.

Mr. Anstead points out that this experiment is
a strong argument in favour of keeping the ground
covered with a growing cover crop, even during the dry
season, at any rate in some kinds of cultivation, and
suggests that leguminous weeds, such as Cassia iiimos-
oides, may well be used in the place of plants like
Passiflora. He also draws attention to the usefulness
of plants grown in this way, in the prevention of the
loss of surface soil by washing during heavy rains.

$$
The Protection of Seeds from Birds.

The German Imperial Biological Institute has
conducted experiments in order to find out the extent
to which seeds may be protected from birds, by impart-
ing to them an unusual colour or an objectionable
taste or smell. A short account of these, given in the
Queensland Agricultural Journal, Vol. XXIV, p. 172,
shows that, as regards colour, the trials were made
with a red colouring matter, Prussian blue and
aniline green, the mixture for treatment being
made with 02 parts of glue dissolved in 8 parts
of water, together with 2:0 parts, 05 to 10 part,
and O'4 part of the colouring matters, respect-
ively; this amount of the mixture was used for 100
parts of seed. It was found that the coloured dressing
did not affect the germinating power of the seed, and
that the blue colour was most useful in keeping the
birds away from it.

In the experiments, where a dressing was used
which would give the seed an unpleasant taste or smell,
it was found that 0°6 part of powdered aloes, with 8
parts of water, to 100 parts of seed, and a 3-per cent.
solution of creolin, in the proportion of 8 parts to 100
parts of seed, were successful in entirely protecting the
latter from the attacks of birds.

The trials showed, incidentally, that the birds
employed in them (rooks and crows) are influenced,
wken searching for food, by colour, taste and smell.

it is suggested that useful experiments on the
same lines, with substances like aloes and creolin,
might be tried by planters in the West Indies when
plants such as maize and Guinea corn are being sown.

Sesbania Aculeata as a Green Manure.

Reference has been made already to the use of
Seshania aculeata as a green manure in India, where it
is known as ‘dhaincha’ (Agricultural News, Vol. VIII,
p. 271; Vol. IX, p. 124). In the Quarterly Journal
of the Department of Agriculture, Bengal, January
1910, the suitability of this plant for green manuring
is emphasized, and it is compared, in this connexion,
with Phaseolus aconitifolius. It is stated that the
plant grows well on poor soil. In an experiment, ground
was prepared for sowing, by means of a hoe, and the
seed was sown broadcast among tea plants; in five
weeks time the seedlings had grown to a height of
1 foot, and were ready to be hoed into the soil. Seed
for a new crop is easily obtained, as the plant forms
this in a most prolific wavy.

>

Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate of Lime.

It is of interest that the results of experiments
with calcium cyanamide and nitrate of lime, recently
conducted at Rothamsted, which were noted shortly on
page 169 of the last number of the Agricultural News,
are paralleled exactly by the conclusions that have had
to be drawn from similar trials lately made at the
Agricultural College, Turin, Italy, a note on which
appears in the Kaperiment Station Record, Vol. XXII,
p. 431. In these, it was found, similarly, that both
calcium cyanamide and nitrate of lime have a manurial
value equal to that of sulphate of ammonia and nitrate
of soda, and the additional interesting observation was
made that granular calcium cyanamide is more conven-
ient to handle than nitrate of soda.

The Renard Road Train.

The Colonial Office Journal for April 1910 gives
an account of a report made of official trials with the
Renard road train, conducted in India. This shows that
the driving of the train is a simple matter, and that the
system of steering ensures that the trailing cars follow
accurately the track of the locomotor and of those in
front, so that the train runs perfectly safely round
corners and through congested traffic. An efficient
system of brakes is provided, by means of which a train
running at a speed of 12 miles an hour may be brought
to a stop within « length of 12 feet, without incon-
venient shock.

A trial was made with a train, loaded with over
14 tons, in which gradients of one in eighteen to one
in twenty-five, and even one in twelve, were success-
fully ascended. In one instance the train was stopped,
and started without difficulty, on a gradient of one in
eleven, ona curve of 12 feet radius. Assistance is given
in work of this kind by the fact that the train can be
run at eight different speeds.

Trials have shown that little damage is done to
the road surface, whether the train is running light, or
is heavily loaded, and the results demonstrate generally,
that such trains are suited to the conditions which
obtain on roads through the larger part of India.

186

INSECT NOTES.

THE HARDBACK BEETLES.

There has been reported recently in Barbados the occur-
rence in unusual numbers of a beetle similar to the ordinary
hardback (Zegyrus tumulosus). For the purposes of distin-
guishing between these two insects in this short article, it
might be well to designate the commoner form as the black
hardback, and the one at present under discussion as the
brown hardback. The black hardback is of fairly common
occurrence and has been mentioned briefly in recent num-
bers of the Agricultural News (see Vol. IX, pp. 58 and 106).
It is frequently to be seen flying to lights at night, when it
makes itself conspicuous by its humming and buzzing and
knocking against ceilings and walls. The larva, or grub, of
this insect lives underground and feeds mostly on decaying
vegetable matter, although it may sometimes eat the small
roots of growing plants. This grub has sometimes been
confused, in the minds of planters and others, with that of
the root borer. The difference between these two has been
explained in the articles mentioned. It may be well to state,
however, that the root borer grub has no legs, and is generally,
if not always, to be found inside the underground portions of
the stool of cane; whereas the grub of the hardback has three
pairs of thin legs, and is always to be found in the soil,
among the roots of plants, or anywhere where there is an
abundance of trash or other organic matter.

It is not supposed that the black hardback is responsible
for any serious damage to growing plants, either in the lar-
val or the adult stage. As has been already stated, the
larva is chiefly a scavenger, living on decaying matter, and
the adult does not appear to feed to any great extent.

The brown hardback, which has been identified as C'yclo-
cephala sp., is generally less abundant than the black
one. During the month of May, in this year, however, this
insect has been reported to occur in large numbers in two
restricted localities in Barbados, as many as 500 to 600
adult beetles having been captured in a single night in each
of these places. Most people in Barbados, and probably in
the other West Indian Islands, are familiar with the appear-
ance of this brown hardback, but very few have perhaps
ever seen more than two or three ata time. They are
attracted, to a small extent at least, to lights, and many
people who have seen them in their houses have regarded
them merely as the young or immature form of the black
hardback. This is, of course, not the case, as the young
form of a beetle is a grub, and when the insect has left the
grub stage, passed through the pupal stage and emerged as
a winged insect, it is adult and of full size, and there is very
little difference in appearance between the individuals of the
same species.

The larva of the brown hardback is not known, and it
may be possible that it is so nearly like the grub of the black
one that the two kinds have not been separated, and on the
other hand, it may be that it occurs in different situations and
under different conditions. It is certain that the larva of the
brown hardback would be found to be an underground grub,
and it may have a habit similar to that of the black hard-
back; it may be entirely injurious through feeding on the
roots of living plants and not on decaying vegetable matter.
The roots of roses and other garden plants are sometimes
attacked by grubs in the soil, and these are called hard-
back grubs, but it may be that investigation will show
that this is the work of the brown bardback and not of the
ordinary black one. .

The attacks of the brown hardback have all been made

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

June 11, 1910,

=

at night, and a careful inspection at any time during the day
does not reveal the presence of these insects, unless the
ground at the base of the plants is carefully searched, also.
These beetles come out in the evening, as it gets dark; but
as daylight approaches, burrow into the soil to a depth of
3 or 4 inches, where they remain in hiding. This habit of
hiding in the soil during the day is common also to the black
hardback. The brown hardback attacks a great variety of
plants, the rose and hibiscus seeming to be principal favour-
ites, and certain kinds of roses seem to be preferred to others,
notably, La France and Maréchal Niel. A visit to these
attacked areas with a light at night reveals the beetles busily
engaged in feeding on the leaves. The mating of the sexes
also occurs at this time and place. The beetles are easily
disturbed and if the plant, or the branch on which they are
clinging, is shaken or jarred, they loosen their hold and drop.

The remedies proposed for the control of these insects
are of three kinds:—

(1) The use of Paris green, in the manner in which it is
employed in the cotton industry, on the leaves of the plants
attacked.

(2) The use of a light-trap, consisting of a lantern
standing or suspended over a tray of water to which a small
amount of kerosene has been added. Any beetles attracted
to the hght will fly against the glass and drop into the water
below, where the kerosene will kill them. This recommende-
tion is only tentative, because it is not known how great an
attraction the light may have for this insect.

(3) Collecting. Where these insects occur in large num-
bers they might be easily shaken, or jarred, off the plant into
a bucket containing water and kerosene.

It is not. known what natural enemies these beetles
may have, but it is expected that the common toad
would be very useful in this connexion, for while this
animal has not been seen feeding on these. hardbacks,
excremental matter has been found consisting largely of
undigested portions of the brown variety, and it is thought
that this shows the work of toads. At the present time
there is no record of injury to crops or plants of economic
importance, but it can be easily understood that insects
which are capable of developing in such numbers as to make
it possible to collect 500 or 600 in a single night in a corner
of a small garden, might become an extremely serious pest if
they should ever occur in proportionate numbers over large
areas. Many of the plants on which these insects feed are
entirely denuded of leaves. This is especially true of certain
roses, and the leaves of other plants have been eaten to
a very considerable extent.

The Agricultural Experiment Station of the University
of Ilhnois published a bulletin (No, 116) in 1907, dealing
with the white grubs and May beetles which occur in that
State. Twelve species of these insects are found there, nine of
which are considered to be injurious, and three are harmless.
One of the injurious species belongs to the same genus as the
brown hardback now under discussion—Cyclocephaia. Two
of the harmless forms known in Illinois belong to the genus
Ligyrus, and are therefore related more nearly to our black
hardback (Ligyrus tunulosus). This bulletin gives many
interesting notes on the life-history of the injurious beetles
and white grubs, all of which belong to the genus
Lachnosterna and, it is stated, require about three years
for the completion of their life-cycle, the greater part of
which is occupied in the larval stage. The pupal and adult
periods, up to the time of egg-laying, probably do not
last more than two or three months. The Jength of the
life-cycle of the Cyclocephalu is not given, but it may be
assumed to be about the same as that of the species of

Worse DX a Noses

THE AGRICULTURAL ‘NEWS,

187

Lachnosterna. It should be stated, however, that where
insects belunging to the same group as the hardbacks are
known as pests, it is usually the larva that causes the damage
ard not the adult, the abundance of the adult generally being
significant of large numbers of the grubs rather than the
actual cause of serious injury to cultivated crops. As the
grubs of these beetles live underground, they are capable of
doing great damage before their presence is detected, and this
is especially true when they feed entirely on the roots of
cultivated plants.

CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT SOCIETIES IN
INDIA.

Attention has been drawn by the author, Mr. C. S. R.
Rao, to an article in the Hindustan Review for November
1909, which deals with the present position of co-operative
credit societies in India. In this, the objects with which the
Government of India began the experiments of co-operative
credit are stated first; they are: (1) to provide cheap capital
to the agriculturist, (2) to release him from his dependence
on the money lender. For these purposes the Co-operative
Credit Societies Act was passed in March 1904, and although
little impression has been made on the great burden of
agricultural indebtedness in India, which has been estimated
to be over 500 million pounds sterling, marked progress has
been made in the experimental stage. Three kinds of
societies are registered under the Act: (1) Central Societies
lending to other Societies, (2) Urban Societies, (3) Rural
Societies. On July 1, 1907, the total working capital of these
was £158,112; at the same date in 1908, it was £293,802.
The scheme has not been followed in the same way in all
parts of India, and the article gives an account of it in its
different modes of application.

It is shown that future progress depends entirely on the
removal of certain disabilities, which are, broadly speaking,
legal, financial and educational. In connexion with the
legal difficulties, a sub-committee was appointed at the last
Conference of Registrars of Co-operative Credit Societies,
held at Simla, for the purpose of dealing with suggested
amendments to the Act. A similar sub-committee, convened
to deal with financial difficulties, came to the conclusion
that too great dependence by the societies on the Govern-
ment should not exist, and passed resolutions in connexion
with the matter to the effect that Government assistance is
justifiable and desirable in the early stages of the movement
and that the Government should aid in the matters of audit
and inspection until such time as the societies themselves
could provide these.

The most important subject which engaged the atten-
tion of the Conference was that of the establishment of
Agricultural Banks for the purpose of helping Co-operative
Credit Societies, and of advancing loans directly to agri-
culturists, at reasonable rates of interest. The ways in
which the place of such agricultural banks is filled at the
present time are described, and it is pointed out that, as the
essential principle of co-operative credit is mutual self-help,
it will only confound the issues if the subject of agricultural
relief is confused with the work of co-operative credit
societies.

In relation to the educational difficulty, that is to the
_dissemination of information relating to the principles of
co-operation, it is shown that this is met in some parts of
India by efforts to interest the teaching staff, and through
this the students, of various educational institutions, In

others, notes on co-operative credit societies have been publish-
ed from time to time in the press. Lastly, the Madras
Government has sanctioned the publication of a quarterly
bulletin which fulfils the object of assisting co-operative
credit societies and of providing information for the use of
societies and persons interested in the movement.

SOME EFFECTS OF MANURES ON
THE SOIL. nah

A paper entitled Some Secondary Actions of
Manures on the Soil, by A. D. Hall, M.A., E.R.S.,
appears in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural
Society of England, Vol. LXX, p. 12. The following
interesting summary is taken from this:—

(1) The long-continued use of sulphate of ammonia on
soils poor in lime results in the soils becoming acid.

(2) The acidity is caused by certain micro-fungi in the
soil, which split up the sulphate of ammonia in order to obtain
the ammonia, and thereby set free sulphuric acid.

(3) The infertility of such soils is due to the way all the
regular bacterial changes in the soil are suspended by the
acidity; instead, fungi permeate the soil and seize upon the
manure.

(4) The remedy, as may be seen upon the Woburn plots,
is the use of sufficient lime to keep the soil neutral.

(5) From the Rothamsted soils, carbonate of lime is being
washed out at the rate of 800 to 1,000 Ib. per acre per annum,
the losses being increased by the use of sulphate of ammonia,
but lessened by dung or nitrate of soda.

(6) Nitrate of soda, when applied to heavy soils in large
quantities, destroys their texture.

(7) Some of the nitrate of seda gets converted into
carbonate of soda by the action of plants and bacteria; and
carbonate of soda, by deflocculating the clay particles, destroys
the tilth.

(8) The best remedies are the use of soot or superphos-
phate; the best preventive is the use of a mixture of nitrate
of soda and sulphate of ammonia, instead of either separately.

(9) Soluble potash manures and common salt may also
injure the tilth of heavy soils through the production of
a little soluble alkali by interaction with carbonate of lime
in the soil. The remedy is to apply such manures in the
winter, or in conjunction with superphosphate.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated May 27, 1910, gives informa-
tion as follows :—

The weather during the early part of the fortnight has
been showery, but the last few days have been very hot.

Very little paddy now remains in growers’ hands, and
most mills have shut down.

Local demand is brisk, and the price is steadily advanc-
ing; and we look for still higher prices shortly. Export to
West Indian Islands during the fortnight amounted to
1,240 bags.

We quote to-day, for good quality Demerara brown
rice;—

Nominally, 19s. 9d. to 20s. 9d. per bag of 180 bb. gross.

17s. to 18s. » mp mp UG op

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JuNE 11, 1910.

The last sugar crop in Natal was the largest which has
yet been known, and amounted to 63,000 tons. It is
estimated that the output for the coming crop will be
nearly 75,000 tons.

The Chemical Trade Journal, Vol. 45, pp. 354 and 364,
contains a brief note of a method, known as Serpek’s process,
for manufacturing aluminium nitride, employing nitrogen of
the air, and using this compound as a manure.

A report by the British Vice-Consul at Puerto Plata
shows that 13,959,047 tb. of cacao was exported during the
year 1909. This is a record quantity, and is probably
accounted for by an increase in the area of cultivation.

The total amount of cotton imported into the United
Kingdom during the quarter ended March 31, 1910, was
744,060 bales. Of this quantity, 2,768 bales were shipped
fromthe British West Indies. (The Doard of Trade Journal,
April 7, 1910.)

The Journal of Hygiene, Vol. IX, No. 2, contains
a paper by W.P. Kaufmann, M.D., in which it is held that
persons employed in starch factories, under conditions which
lead to the inhalation of the starch dust, show a comparative
immunity from respiratory disorders.

H.M. Consul at Newchwang reports that the quantity
of soy bean cake exported from Manchuria during 1909 was
594,000 tons, of which about 90 per cent. went to Japan, and
most of the rest to South China, in which places it is’ used
as a manure for rice and sugar-cane, respectively. Several
shipments to Europe were a failure, giving rise to the general
opinion that it ts impossible for soy bean cake to travel!
through the tropics to Europe in good condition.

Ina paper which appears in the Comptes Rendus de
? Académie des Scvences, Paris, it is claimed to have been demon-
strated that the feces from animals suspected to be ill with
anthrax, and the fecal matter of those that have died from
the disease, will indicate these facts at once by bacterial
examination. The conditions in the intestines favour spore
formation, in which stage the bacillus is resistant to putre-
faction, and anthrax cultures can always be obtained by heat-
ing the fecal matter to 65°C. Under these conditions, the
colonies of the bacillus are the more numerous the later the
examination is made. (The Louisiana Planter and Sugar
Manufacturer, March 26, 1910.)

Information has been received from the Pennsylvania
State College that the National Dairy Show of the United
States introduced a new class into its prize list, in 1909,
which includes cows of any age having official yearly milk
records. The purpose of this was to give the milking capacity
of cows reasonable acknowledgement when being judged in
the ring, and experience at the show has proved that the
adoption of the scheme is justified.

The eighteenth Annual Report (1908-9) of the Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station gives the following infor-
mation in connexion with broom corn. The market demands
a brush of fresh green colour, so that the heads should be free
from stains, and therefore it should be harvested when the
plants are coming into full bloom. If the crop is allowed to
remain after this, and the weather is wet, the heads which
remain inside the leaf sheath will have a tendency to turn red.
Similar damagé may be done through attacks of plant lice,
and through over-ripeness and exposure to the sun.

Experiments that have been performed at the Upper
Shillong [India] Agricultural Station, for the purpose of
comparing the yields of potatos planted with whole and cut
sets, are described in the Annual Report of the Agricul-
tural Stations in Eastern Bengal and Assam, 1908-9. Two
sets of trials, conducted in 1907-8 and 1908-9, have shown
that the yield obtained from cut sets was practically equal to
that from whole sets. It is concluded from these results,
that when there is a shortage of sets, large tubers may be cut
to form two or more sets, without any danger of diminution
in the crop.

In Nature for May 5, 1910, p. 289, an abstract of a paper
which appeared in the March number of 7'errestrial Magnetism
and Atmospherre Electricity is given. In this it is shown that
the magnetic storm which accompanied the eruption of Mont
Pelée on May 18, 1902, was not instantaneous over the whole
earth, but that it originated about 14° west of Mont Pelée
and travelled eastward, with a velocity of about 7,000 miles
per minute, round the entire globe. This discovery has led
to the examination of other records, with the result that it is
now concluded that such storms are not instantaneous over
the whole earth, but generally travel eastward, with a speed
of about 7,000 miles per minute.

A booklet entitled Znswrance against Gales, Cyclones and
Earthquakes, which has been issued recently for Messrs,
Henry Head & Co., Ltd., 27, Cornhill, London, E C., shows
that where contracts have been entered into between growers
of canes and sugar factories, the risk of the factory being
unable to take the cane, owing to any defined cause, can be
covered ; in the event of a claim, underwriters are liable for
the additional costs for having the canes ground elsewhere;
or if a breakdown occurs at a time when it is impossible for
this to be done, they are prepared to pay a total loss on the
acreage which cannot be reaped in consequence of the break-
down of the factory. The booklet contains many other
interesting particulars concerning insurance, that in the West
Indies being specially considered.

Vou. IX. No. 212.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

189

ee ee

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

JUNE.
SeconD PERIOD.
Seasonal Notes.

By this time, the brokers’ reports on the shipments of
cotton from the last crop will have been received. Careful
note of these should be made, and the opinions given concern-
ing the cotton should be compared with the observations made
on the estate earlier in the season. Useful information should
be obtained by endeavouring to ascertain why that shipped
under certain marks has obtained higher prices than other
lots, under similar market conditions. What are the chief
characters of a good type of Sea Island cotton, and on what
circumstances in its production do these depend chiefly?
Explain what is meant by : nep, wasty cotton, stained cotton,
and state on what the presence of these in a sample depends.

Where opportunities for this are given, visits should be
made to places where large quantities of cotton seed are
handled, in order that information in connexion with selee-
tion, testing and disinfection may be obtained. How would
you conduct a fair test of the germinating power of seed that
had. been kept in heaps on the floor of a store-room? - In
what way is harm likely to occur to seed that has been stored
in this manner /

The preparation of land for cotton planting should have
been completed by this time, and the student will be in
possession of notes as to the kind of tillage which the land
has received. He will also have made observations on the
manner in which different manures are applied,and the way in
which the plants that were grown for the purpose of provid-
ing green dressings are employed. (See Agricultural News,
Vols. IV, p. 182 and IX, p. 86; also Pamphlet No. 45 of the
Department Series—4A L C of Cotton Planting, enlarged
edition.)

As dry weather is preferred for the distillation of bay
oil, this will most probably have been completed, in those
islands where it is conducted. Examine the kind of still that
is used for the purpose, and make notes of any improvements
in the process that may suggest themselves to you. What
other plant do you know of, closely related to the bay tree,
which yields a crop that is of commercial importance? Make
a list of as many plants as you can, that bear leaves from
which useful products are obtained by distillation. In what
ways are such products generally employed! Name any
special uses that some of them possess. From what other
parts of plants, besides the leaves, may oils of a nature similar
to that of bay oil be obtained?

Estates on which cacao, coffee, rubber, nutmegs, limes
and similar plants are raised, usually possess a nursery for
the provision of seedlings of such plants as may be required
for establishment in the coming growing season. For such
a-nursery, a good supply of bamboo pots and ordinary,
earthenware pots, as well as seed boxes will have been pre-
pared, in order that the seeds of the plants that it is intended
to raise may be sown as soon as the rains begin. Other
nursery work will consist in seeing that the beds are well
forked, manured and prepared for the reception of the seed-
lings that will have to be transplanted into them. All pots
and boxes should be carefully cleaned, and the manure used
in the beds should be well rotted. Why is it necessary for
these precautions to be taken? When the seedlings are grow-
ing, a close watch should be kept for any signs of disease or
pests; in the event of the appearance of these, if they cannot

be controlled by spraying or other suitable treatment, it is
best to destroy the affected seedlings, preferably by burning.

Nurseries should not be kept merely on those estates
where they are required primarily to provide seedlings for
the establishment of plants of the kind that it is the chief
work of the estate to produce. They have their place on all
estates, even where little besides sugar or cotton is
grown, though they will not be conducted on the same
scale, on such estates, as on properties where crops like
cacao are grown chiefly. The main purpose of such small.
nurseries will be to afford a means ‘of propagating use-
ful plants, such as forest and shade trees. It may not

_ be that these will help directly to increase the revenue from

the estate in any way, but they will have their use in
improving the general conditions that obtain on it, especially
on those parts which are employed for pasturing stock, Every
practical agriculturist should keep a constant watch for the
purpose of discovering trees of any kind, in his neighbour-
hood, that may be of use to him; he should also be on the
alert for any that he may be made cognizant of, either in his
reading, or in conversation with others. If he is in possession
of a well-kept nursery, he will be able to take advantage of
what he has discovered, or learnt, to the betterment of the
conditions of his everyday surroundings.

Reference was made to the subject of mulching cacao, in
this column, on page 157 of this volume of the Agricultural
News. Note that, where special manures are used for cacao,
these are applied at the time of the first rains. Why is this #
What soil constituents are most quickly exhausted by plants
which are grown chiefly for their fruits and seeds? What
are the main differences between the effect on the soil of
growing a crop like cacao and that of raising crops such as
sugar-cane, cotton and ground provisions !

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Why do clayesoils requige more tillage than sandy
soils!

(2) What are contour drains, and where are they used
especially!

(5) State what is meant by an incomplete manure.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) What is understood by root disease of the sugar-
cane! How does this disease affect the plant, and how is it
spread!

(2) Why is sulphate of ammonia used as a manure for
the sugar-cane? In what forms may the nitrogen that it
contains be taken in by the plant?

(3) Give a list of the most troublesome weeds in your
neighbourhood, and state what you consider to be the best
ways of getting rid of them.

Information has been received that the first number of
a new paper, chiefly devoted to sugar interests, hast just been
issued, under the title of ‘The Modern Sugar Planter’. The
founder and publisher of this new weekly paper is A. B, Gil-
more, 512, Camp Street, New Orleans, La., who has been
manager and editor of the Sugar Planters’ Journal for the
past ten years, and whose experience should go far to ensure
its usefulness. A review of the journal will be given in the
next number of the Agricultural News.

190 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE CHIEF GROUPS
PART VIII.

OF FUNGI.

June 11, 1910.

The following tabular diagram contains a summary of the fungi that have been dealt with in
Parts I to VII of this series of articles. It is intended to serve as an assistance to the memory, and as

a partial index to the contents of those articles:—

—CHYTRIDINEAE
(Ze)
4 |_ OoMYCETES——_—
i —PERONOSPORINEAE
oOo
=
S —MUCORINEAE gehts x
Oo y
> |—Zycomyceres— —
= RINEAE ...
-—PROTOASCINEAE
—PROTODISCINEAE ss
—HELVELLINEAE
58 —DISCOMYCETES a
hs —TUBERINEAE
Ww
= —PLECTASCINEAE
=
oO
oO
am
—
|\—-Hypocreales
|
—PYRENOMYCETES ——|
| _—Sphaeriale S
J _|—Dothidiales
SNA GINA ag
- —-——--—- — — Uredinales
“a
wi
=
w
= 5
= | Agaricaceae
=
oS |—HyMENOMYCETES———-———— — = = Ble
a Polyporaceae
ao Hydnaceae
Thelephoraceae
| Phalloidaeeae
—GASTEROMYCETES— ———— | Phalloidaee
| Lycoperdaceae
: : [s phaerioidazeae
—Sphaeropsidales -' P
Nectrioidaceae
= |
o
re
ce —Melanconiales- Melanconiaceae
a. | = mais a
=F)
os | -edinég
al Mucedinaceae
==) |}
c= .
Dematiaceae
'—Hyphomycetales -
Stilbaceae
Tuberculariaceae

lee cannae, Pp. 142.
fF
|

Olpidium brassicae, p. 94.

( Phytophthora omnivora, p. 110.

, Plasmopora viticola, p. 110.
Pythium de Baryanum, p. 110.
Mucor sp., p. 111.

{Empusa spp., p. 111.

| Entomophthora spp., p- 111.

Saccharomyces spp., p. 126.
{ Exoascus spp., p. 126.
\ Taphrina spp., p- 126.
Morchella spp., p. 126.
Sclerotinia fuckeliana, p. 126.

{ Weliola spp., p. 127.

\ Myriangium Duriaer, p. 127
Cordyceps spp. 4, p. 175.
Nectria spp. 54 p- Tie

< Ophionectria coccicola, p. 127.
Sphaerostilbe coccophila, p. 127.
Sphaerostilbe flavidum, p. 127
Trichosphaeria sacchari, p. 127.

Ustilago Maydis, p. 142.
Uvredo gossypii, p: 142.
arachidis, p. 142.

Buccnta graminis, p. 158.
Marasmius sacchari, p. 159.
semiustus, p. 159.

Schiz ophayllum commune, p. 159.

Polyporus spp., p. 159.

Hydnum spp., p- 159.

Corticium lilaco-fuscum, p. 159.
{Phallus gracilis, p. 159.

\ Clathrus trilobatus, p. 159.

{ Diplodia cacaoicola, p. 174.

\ Botryodipiodia sp., p. 174.

Aschersonia spp., p. 174.
Colletotrichum faleatum, peices
4 gossypi, p. 174.

luxificum, p. 174.

) 3)
| Gdocosporinan musarum, p. 174,

| Pestalozzia palmarum, p. VTA,
Ramularia areola, p. 175.
((Giadesnonium elegans, p. 175.

| Cercospora gossypina, p. 175.

Thielaviopsis ethaceticus, p. 175.
Stilbella flavida, Pp. 175.

{ Fusarium Lycopersici, p. 175.

\ Microcera coctorhilan p. 175

Vor. IX. No. 212.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 191

TAPPING THE TALIPOT PALM.

On the completion of the period of its vegetative growth,
the Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) sends up, at the
top of the stem, a single spadix of enormous size. Unlike
the development of the generality of other palm spadices,
that of the Talipot is remarkably.slow. It is said to attain
to a height of 6 feet and a basal girth of from 2 to
3 feet, in not less than two months from the date of its
emergence. At the end of this period, and before the spathe
bursts, the tapper ascends the gigantic stem by means of
light ladders constructed of bamboo. At the top and over the
bases of the leaf stalks, the tapper constructs a platform of
bamboo work immediately around the base of the spadix. This
done, he straightway proceeds to cut away the whole of the
spathe investing the spadix. The latter is now bound round,
at intervals, with long strands of rattan or other stout fibre,
from its base to a height reaching up to his head. The
intervals between the ties vary much, but are not usually
greater than 6 or8 inches. ‘The ties are further tightened
by ramming, like wedges, short lengths of round stick
between them and the spadix. Care is taken, however, to
see that the skin of the smooth tender spadix is not broken,
or bruised. The top of the spadix is then cut with a ‘dah’
(a very sharp, light, thin-bladed knife)—the cut surface being
shaped in the form of a V.

The major portion of the toddy of the Talipot is used in
the manufacture of ‘jaggery’, or ‘gur’. (From the Jndian
Agriculturist, Vol. XXXV, No. 1.)

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of April :-—

The markets during the month of April have been carried
on under quite normal conditions, with regard to supply
and demand. The only products that have attracted special
notice have been buchu leaves, and many of the fixed oils,
such as castor, cocoa-nut, etc. At the end of the month, as much
as 3s. per Ib. was quoted as the normal price for good, round,
green buchu. As an ‘outside’ article, rubber still maintains
a large share of attention, a sudden cessation of buyers being
followed by moderate sales at somewhat lower rates. In West
Indian products the following are the details :—

GINGER.

At the first spice auction on the 6th of the month the
offerings were numerous, but there was no demand. Jamaica
was represented by 334 packages, which were bought in at
53s. to 56s. per ewt. for common; some 830 packages of
Cochin and Calicut were also held at 50s. to 53s. for good to
fine washed. Fair limed Japan and rough brown African
were also offered, and bought in at 45s. A fortnight later,
90 bags of good, ordinary Jamaica were sold at 54s.
per ewt.: 715 bags of Cochin were also offered, 82 of
which were disposed of without reserve; for small, washed
rough, 50s, to 52s, was the reserved price for good, at which
rate it was bought in; bold Calicut of varying qualities was
bought in at prices from 47s. 6d. to 90s. Some 44 bags
of small limed Japan sold at 43s., and part wormy at
38s. per ewt. At the last auction on the 27th, prices had gene-

rally declined, together with the demand, Cochin and Calicut
were represented by the large number of 1,050 packages, out
of which only 170 sold, at a decline of 6d. to 1s. per ewt.
Dullish washed Cochin fetched 45s. 6d., and brown tips 45s.;
55s, and 95s. were the prices at which bold, rough Calicut
and selected Calicut were bought in. Of 431 bags of Japan
offered, the bulk was disposed of without reserve, at from
36s, 6d. to 40s, and 6d. for limed and mouldy. African met
with no buyers, and the offerings were bought in at from
45s. to 46s. per ewt.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO,

At the second spice aucticn en the 13th, 192 packages
of West Indian nutmegs were brought'forward and disposed
of at rates of 1s. 2d. per tb. advance on previous prices for
Jarge size, and 1s. 4d.on the smaller. Throughout the remain-
der of the month there was but very little change. On the
27th, West Indian were represented at the auction by 100
packages, most of which sold at somewhat easier rates. Of
mace there was a steady demand in the earlier part of the
month; on the 13th, 46 packages of West Indian were
offered and disposed of at the following rates: fair palish
ls. 9d. to 1s. 10d., pale and reddish 1s. 7d. to 1s. 8d., dark red
ls. 6d. to 1s. 8d., and broken 1s. 5d. per Ib. A week later
the offerings were exclusively from Penang and Bombay; the
former was represented by 15 cases, all of which were
bought in at ls. 8d. to 1s. 9d. for dull reddish to fair
red. The Bombay consignment consisted of, 27 cases of
wild mace, which found no purchasers. Pimento was in
steady demand through the month. At the first spice auction
on the 6th, of 96 bags offered 50 were sold at 23d. for
fair. A week later, some sales were effected of a few bags,
out of 64 offered, at 24d. per lb., which price was main-
tained till the close of the month.

ARROW ROOT.

This article continues to command a very low figure and
small demand. Some 99 barrels St. Vincent were brought
forward at the first spice auction on the 6th of the month;
65 barrels only were sold at 1{d. per tb. for fair
manufacturing.

SARSAPARILLA,

At the first drug sale on the 7th, Sarsapurilla was repre-
sented by 25 bales of Grey Jamaica, 28 bales of Lima
Jamaica twenty-four of uative Jamaica, eight of Hon-
duras and seven of Mexican. The whole of the Grey Jamaica
was sold, fair grey fetching ls. 2d. to 1s. 3d. per tb. and
coarse ls. ld. The twenty-eight bales of Lima-Jamaica were
all bought in, bids of 104d. being refused. Two bales of the
twenty-four native Jamaica realized 10d. per tb., the remainder
being bought in. Honduras and Mexican met with no buyers,
the reserved price for the latter being 5d. per tb. At the
auction a fortnight later, namely on the 21st, fourteen bales
of Grey Jamaica were offered and 12 sold, 1s. 1d. to 1s. 2d.
being paid for slightly coarse. For eight bales of dull mixed
native Jamaica 2d. per tb. was paid, dull fair red fetching
10d. to 11d,

TAMARINDS AND LIME JUICE.

At auction on the 6th, four barrels of ordinary dry West
Indian Tamarinds were disposed of at 10s. per ewt. On the
20th, fifty packages of fair, but dry West Indian, were brought
forward, and disposed of at from 10s. 3d. to 10s. 9d. per ewt.
At the auction on the 27th, concentrated West Indian lime
juice was quoted at £18 15s. The quotations for fair to good
West Indian raw lime juice was Is. to 1s. 1d. per gallon. At
this sale it was stated that eleven casks of citrate of lime
had arrived from Demerara.

New York,—Messrs.

192

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET REPORTS.

London,—Tse West Inpria ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,

May 24, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
May 13, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1}d. to 34d.

Batata—Sheet, 4/8; block, 3,10 per th.

Beeswax—No quotatzoas.

Cacao—Trinidad, 55/6 to 60/- per ewt.; Grenada, no
quotations, Jamaica, 47/- to 52/6.

CorreE—Jamaica, 40/6 to 62/6.

Copra—West Indian, £28 to £28 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 16d. to 22d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 50/- to 43/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 59/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honey—26/- to 33/-.

Istyctass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 11d. to 1/1; concentrated, £18 10s.
to £18 15s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6 to 5/9,
nominal,

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady, West Indian, 1/7 to 1/11.

Nutmecs—Steady.

Porento—Common, 2}d.; fair, 2,%,d.; good, 2id. per tb.

Rusper—Para, fine hard, 10/5, fine soft, 10/3; tine Peru,
10/3 per tb.

Rum—Jainaica, 2/- to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/- to 18/9; Muscovado, 14/- to 15/;
Syrup, 15/3; Molasses, no quotations.

GittesPIE Bros. & Co., May

13, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 13c. to 13$c. ; Grenada, lle. to 1l{e. ;
Trinidad, 11}c. to 11 3c. ; Jamaica, 10c. to 11c. per tb.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26°00; culls,
$1500; Trinidad, select, $25°00 to $26°00; culls,
$1500 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, 9c. to 9{c.; good ordinary,
9c. to 10c.; and washed, up to lle. per tb.

GincER—9$c. to 10c. per th.

Goat Sxrns—Jamaica, 54c.; Parbados, 47c. to 50c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 45c. to 46c. per tb.;
Antigua, 47c. to 50c., dry flint.

Grape Fruit—$2°50 to $3°50 per box.

Limes—$7°00 to $7°50.

Mace—30c. to 35c. per tb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 83c. per tb.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°50 to $2:00.

Pmuvento—4te. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°80c.;
duty paid.

4°30c. per lb.; Muscovados,
Molasses, 89°, 3°55c. per tb. all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., May 23,

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°25 per fanega; Trinidad, $10°80
to $11°15.

Cocoa-Nut O11—$1'09 per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 10fc. per tb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 tb.

DuaLt—$4°50 to $4°60 per 2-bushel bag.

Oxtons—$2°20 to $2°40 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprir—$6'10 to $6-20 per bag.

Potatos—English, $1°70 to $1:80 per 100 tb.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°35 to $440; White, $4°90 to $5°00
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 th.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co.,
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co.
Messrs. James A. LyncH &

ARROWROOT—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3°7
Cacao—$11°S0 to $12°U0 per 100 tb.
Cocoa-nuTs—$18 ‘00.

June 11; 1910.

June 4, 1910;

puunes/ LOLO):

& Co. May 30, 1910.

5 per 100 th.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $9°50 to $11:00 per

100 tb., scarce.
Hay—S$1-20 to $1°60 per 100 th., dull.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 t
manure, $42°00 to $48°00; Sulph
$70-00 to $75°00 per ton.
Motasses—No quotations.
Ontoxns—$1°00 to $3°50 per 100 Ib.

o $65:00; Cacao
ate of ammonia,

Peas, Serit—$6'00 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,

$345 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poratos—Novya Scotia, $1:00 to $1°68 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°33 to $4:90 (180 tb.
Rangoon, $2°90 to $3-00 per 100 tb.
Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc &
28, 1910; Messrs. SANDBACH,
May 27, 1910.

); Patna, $3°80 ;

Ricutrer, May

ParKER & Co.,

l a
| Messrs. WIETING

ARTICLES. & RicHtTer.

as 2
Arrowroot—St. Vincent) $8-00 per 200 th.

Batata—Venezuelablock| 32c. per tb.
Demerara sheet) 78c. per tb.
Cacao—Native /10c. to 1le. per tb.
Cassava— 84e.
Cassava STaRCcH— | $6°00 per barrel of
196 tb.

Cocoa-NuTS— $12 to $16 per M.

CorrEE—Creole 14c per tb.
Jamaica and Rio, 14$c. per th.
Liberian | 8$c. per tb.

Duatr— '$4:00 to $4°10 per

| bag of 168 tb.
Green Dhal $9°75
Eppos— 60c. to 80e.
Motrasses—Yellow None

Ontons—Teneriffe 32. to 3zc.

Madeira ==
Pras—Split | $6°00 per bag
| (210 tb.)
Marseilles $4-00
PLANTAINS— 12c. to 36e. per
bunch

$1°75 to $2-00
No quotation
$1:44 per bag
No quotation

Poratos—Nova Scotia

Lisben
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados,
Rice—Ballam |

Creole $4°25 to $4°50
TANNIAS— | $1°56 per bag
Yams— White $240

Buck $2°40 per bag
Sucar—-Dark crystals $3:05 to $3°10

Yellow | $3°70 to $3°80
White | $4:00
Molasses $2°25 to $2°50
Timper —Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
Wallaba shingles) $3°50 to $375
per M.
,, Cordwood $1°80 to $2-00
per ton

Messrs. SANnp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$8:00 per 200 tb.,
market dull

Prohibited
None
10e. to 11e. per th.
No quotation
| No quotation
'$16 per M., peeled
and selected
12c. to 13c. per th.
\143c. to dc. perth.
10c. per tb.
$4°10 per bag of
168 tb.

dhe.

No quotation
$610 per bag
(210 tb.)

No quotation

| $1°75 to $2-00
No quotation

$3°70

| $3°80 to $4:00
| None

| 32c. to dde. per

cub. foot
$3°50 te $5°50
per M.
No quotation

es

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d,

Volumes IJ, IIT, Pe, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;
and V, 2 and 5 are out of print.)

Volume X. No. ie No. 2. No. 3, Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manarid Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conferene>, 1910; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
Botanic Station ; Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua and in Barbados ; Disinfection of Imported
Plants ; Index, etc. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summuries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures. the ful] official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sugar INDUSTRY. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia Price 2d.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No; 3, price 2d.;in 1991, No, 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (!7) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4. (18) Recipes for Cooking West [Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados. (25) Ground Nuts in the West Inlies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6:.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d.

=9

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Avvicultural Banks. Price 5d.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Duininica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20 price 2.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4,.No.33 price 4.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6.
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4u.; tions Price 2d.
in 1908-9 No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting New and Enlarged Edition.
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6:1.

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y

Vou. IX. No. 2138

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

—

ae

Jung 11, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES

FOR COLONIAL USE

a AS, i

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

other high-class Fertilizers.

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF'’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agenc

Barbados Agen

FOR SALE.

A MYSORE BUL.L:
(THOROUGHBRED.)

Aged nine (9) years.
Apply to:—
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Antigua,
(212.)

JUST ISSUED.
Report on Experiments Conducted at Antigua
and St. Kitts in the Season 1908-9; containing:

Part |, Experiments with Varieties of
Sugar-cane ;
Part Il, Manurial Experiments.

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Containing: The Agricultural Conference in Antigua,
1910: Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica Botanie Station;

!The Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua; the Root Disease
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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Imperial Department of
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BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction. and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-9.
Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-
ment Veterinary Surgeon, St Vincent, 1908-8,
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| Annual Report on the Botanic Station, kxperiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9.
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‘does not mean a dollar's worth for

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a NN
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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. “.-
Vou. Ex. © No: 213: BARBADOS, JUNE 25, 1910. Price “Fl

CONTENTS.
PAGE. PAGE.
Agriculture in British East Maize, A New, from China 203
Africa ... . .. .-- 203} Market Reports . 208
Bees, To Prevent from Milk Testing, An Aid in 201
Swarming ... . 207 | Notes and Comments - 200

BookShelf... ... ... ... 197
Cattle, Breeders’ Associa-

Powell Wood Process, The 201

: ainfall in St. Luci
tions for Improvement 201 . oto a ee 201
Cotton, Indian, Importation Rice. Efect amimeakine!...1197

into United States ... 200
Cotton Notes :—

Rubber Cultivation in

5 ~ Bolivia | eS 00)
Cot ton Exports from the 1St.. Vincent Agricultural
West Indies ... ... 198 Bieta 199
The British Cotton-Grow- ee ee victicire.
ing Association ca .. 198! Soil, Changes in and its
West Indian Cotton ... 195 Fertility Sy ieee ta
Department News rc ae 19? Soils »Mainte hance of the
Fruit Exportation from Producti . ont
. 7 roductlViby Of... ... silo

INGEN Coe eke te ose LOO, Sirdienitis Conner 205

Fungus Notes :— j [ *
Thread and Iorse-Hair Sugar Industry:

Blights . 206 Production of Seedling
Gleanings ... ... . 204 Canes intJava ... ... 195
Insect Notes :— Vanilla Extract, New Way

The Acarina or Mites, of Preparing .. 200

Part... . 202) West Indian Products ... 207

Changes in the Soil and its
Fertility.

continually to the fact that the soil is in

a state of constant change. Formerly, the
ideas concerning this change were restricted to the
more obvious sources of loss or gain in available plant
food, and these were attributed to purely physical or
chemical causes, brought about by natitral means, alone,
This is no longer the case. Full recognition is being
attained of the great importance and extent of the

action of living organisms in the soil, and there is no
longer the general opinion that the operation of
manuring the soil results simply in the addition of
The

consequence of these matters seems to justify their

plant food in a more or less available condition.

review in the form of a summary.

The conditions which surround any given portion
of soil will, first of all, dtermine if it is to continue to
exist as such. Where the ‘wash’ from rain-storms,
especially on hillsides, will probably be great, the loss is
Plants

possessing strong, binding roots are also used for the

lessened by the construction of contour drains.

same purpose, and have been found especially useful
where the soil is likely to be blown away by wind. The
conservation of the soil by means of plants has, however,
a far wider importance than this. It is a subject which
requires due recognition when the reatforestation of
a district or country is being considered. It was the
want of knowledge of this that led to the destruction
of forests that has taken place in some parts of the
world, in the past, and which has caused all the evils
that have arisen from such destruction.

The importance of the changes in the water con-
tent of the soil These are likely to be
of greater proportionate magnitude than any of the
others, and are of especial consequence to the agri-
culturist because of the necessity of water to the plant.
It suffices to draw attention to the progress that has
been made in the development of tillage methods that
are designed to conserve the water that the soil contains,
for the uses of plants—methods that have turned
semi-arid regions into districts of large agricultural
usefulness.

is evident.

Next to water, the most potent factor in influencing

194

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JUNE 25, 1910.

soil fertility is the content of nitrogen. This fact is well
brought out in a recent paper* by A. D. Hall, M.A.,
F.R.S., Director of the Rothamsted Experiment Station,
which, although it deals with conditions in a country
situated in temperate latitudes, is worthy of special
attention. Here, it is pointed out that the changes in
the amount of nitrogen in the soil are brought about
as follows: by the removal of crops; by the action of
certain bacteria, which break down organic matter and
liberate nitrogen in the free state; by the removal of
nitrogen in drainage waters, as nitrates which have
been formed by bacterial action; by the addition of
nitrogen from the air, through the agency of bacteria
which may live free in the soil, or in symbiosis with
plants, these plants being generally leguminous, as
far as is known; and by the addition of nitrogen
brought down by rain. It is seen that the first
three of these influences tend to decrease the amount
of nitrogen in the soil, while the others conduce to
effect its increase. In considering the latter, the
action of rain is negligible; figures given in the article
show that the average amount of nitrogen added by
rain, at Rothamsted, is only 3:84 tb. per acre, per annum.
One of the chief conclusions reached, in this paper, is
that where no special provision is made for bringing
manure on to the farm, or for increasing the nitrogen
content of the soil by other means, the fertility of the
soil rapidly decreases until a state of equilibrium is
reached, in which the losses of nitrogen are so far
balanced by the gains from bacterial activity that the
soil attains a level of productivity which, though lower
than if was originally, remains practically constant.

Under natural conditions, the amount of phos-
phates in the soil is increased by the weathering of
mineral particles and of the underlying rocks. It is
decreased by the removal of plants and, to a certain
extent, in drainage water. In cultivated soils, this
decrease is likely to be larger, because of the special
removal of crops, as harvest. There is, however, another
cause of the loss of phosphates, to which perhaps, sufti-
cient attention has not been given in the past. Thisis
the application of large quantities of manure; though
the exact manner of this is not yet understood. There
is, therefore, a necessity, when it is designed to subject
land to heavy dressings of manure, to consider the
possible effect on the phosphate content of the soil.

Potash is added to, and taken away from, the soil
in much the same ways as the phosphates; it is, how-
ever, likely to be lost to a greater degree in the drain-
age water. Experiments have shown that, when the

* The Jowrnal of the Bowd of Agriculture, Vol. XVU,
p. 114.

extent to which potash salts are to be added, as manure
is being considered, allowance must be made for the
influence of phosphates on the potash compounds
already existing in the soil. Soluble phosphates have
been found to make these compounds soluble, and there-
fore more available for the use of plants. This effect
has been proved to be increased by small applications
of lime, on account of the liberation of potash brought
about by it; lime in large amounts, however, has the
opposite effect, in that it renders the phosphates
insoluble, and therefore able no longer to act on the
potash compounds.

The amount of lime in the soil is also subject to
Huctuations, though these are not likely to be as great
as those of the constituents that have been dealt with
already. The importance of this substance may be
summed up in its effect in preserving a good state of
tilth, its use in preventing acidity, and the changes
that it produces, in conjunction with other manures.
The loss of this constituent from the soil is increased
by the use of sulphate of ammonia; it is decreased when
pen manure or nitrate of soda is employed.+

There is now left the examination of the conditions
for the best existence of those living inhabitants of the
soil which produce beneficial changes in it. Acidity
and alkalinity have a great influence in determining
what, among these, shall continue to exist and show
the greatest effect. Ina soil which is alkaline to the
ordinary extent, the changes are such as lead to increased
fertility; in acid soils, as is well known, changes take
place which result in a decrease of productiveness, and
the medium becomes unfitted for the support of plants,
Among the chief causes which tend to increase this
acidity are insufficient drainage, together with the
presence of large amounts of organic matter, and the
too great employment of ammonium sulphate as
amanure.t Acidity isa condition that is most likely
to arise in heavy soils containing little lime.

It is a comparatively rare circumstance, however,
that cultivated soils are allowed to become so acid as
to prevent them from bearing adequate crops. The
conditions for the reduction in numbers of the favourable
organisms are far oftener allowed to come into existence
on account of insufficient tillage, or even because of
the careless application of manures. The extent to
which such organisms are present, in comparison with
that of the harmful ones, is dependent upon the state
of tilth, or texture, of the soil, so that a sufficient
argument is provided for the exercise of thorough

+ See Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society of
England, Vol. UXX, p. 12, and Agricultwral News, Vol. LX,
p. 187.

Vor Ex. No: 213:

cultivation. The same consideration shows the necessity
for care and caution in applying manures, at any rate to
soils containing little lime. Nitrate of soda reduces
the condition of snch soils by becoming converted
into carbonate of soda which lowers the power of the
clay particles to form floccules. The remedy for
this is the use of superphosphate; a preventive meas-
ure is to apply some of the nitrogen in the form of
sulphate of ammonia by mixing this with the nitrate
of soda. Common salt and potash manures also cause
injury to the tilth, because they increase the alkalinity
of the soil through the influence of the lime in it. To
prevent this occurrence, where it is necessary, these
manures should be accompanied by superphosphate.*+

The broad, practical interpretation of these facts is
that a properly treated soil will remain productive and
if, as is generally the case, it is expedient to increase
its productivity by the use of artificial manures, the
kinds and quantities of these must be decided by con-
siderations of the extent to which their use will be profit-
able, and of the effects that they are likely to produce,
in relation to the texture of the soil.

PRODUCTION OF SEEDLING CANES
IN JAVA.

The following is a translation of part of an article
which appears in the Journal d’ Agriculture Tropicale,
for January 1910, which is an abstract of a paper pre-
sented by the late J. B. Kobus at the last International
Congress of Applied Chemistry, held in London. The
experiments described were carried out at the East
Java Experiment Station:—

The seed of the cane began to take a position of economic
importance in the Java sugar industry when, following upon
the first researches of Dr. Soltwedel in Java, of Messrs.
Harrison and Boyell in the West Indies, Kobus took up the
systematic work, which rapidly led to practical results,
thanks to the valuable aid which he received from planters
in the island. ;

In 1894, Bouricius succeeded in making the first cross
between the Cheribon and the Morte de Fiji, which under
the name of No. 247, occupied 35 per cent. of the planta-
tions in Java. It was during the course of the same year
that Dr. Wakker, after much patient research, gave an
explanation as to why the greater number of canes were
incapable of being self-fertilized; this was found to be owing
to constitutional defects in the flowers. ~

The two seedling canes that are chiefly found in cultiva-
tion at present, though they have certain advantages, are not
absolutely perfect in type. One, No. 247, is attacked by
Sereh; the other, No. 100, does not grow well on different
kinds of soil. "

Kobus did not at all despair of attaining entirely satis-
factory results, and continued his researches accurately, accord-
ing to a plan which had been drawn up methodically. He tried
to distinguish characters that were more especially marked:
particularly resistance to disease and richness in sugar;

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

195

at the same time he conducted a microscopic examination of
the flowers in order to make certain that the structure of the
central organs was normal. Evidence of the fertility of the
pollen is obtained by the aid of a solution containing iodine.
In order to prevent interference by foreign pollen, the arrows
which are being cros:-pollinated are confined in a cover of fine
gauze. A single arrow is sufficient when self-pollination is
being affected; but it is necessary to bring two arrows together
under the same cover in order to ensure an effective
crossing. In the last case, the female element is furnished,
in preference, by a variety normally possessing sterile pollen—
a phenomenon which is generally shown by canes of high sugar
content. It has been ascertained that the dehiscence of the
stamens of the sugar-cane takes place early in the day, most
often between four and six o’clock, rarely later than nine
o'clock, in the morning, and that the opening of the flowers
may easily continue during five or six days. The drying up
of the male arrow is prevented, during this lapse of time, by
taking care to remove these inflorescences from the cover, for
the purpose of keeping them, with the base of the stalk in
water, until the early hours of the morning. In spite of these
precautions, checks have been experienced, which physiologists
have not yet succeeded in explaining satisfactorily.

The parent canes which are intended to take part in
cross-pollination are submitted, during the preceding year, to
a most rigorous chemical selection, prompted by differences of
10 per cent. in sugar and 20 per cent. in weight which have
been observed between seedlings of the same varieties but
from more or less rich parents.

The method described by M. Kobus is strictly followed
at the East Java Experiment Station, where 16,000 to 32,000
seedlings are raised in this way every year. Unfortunately
the greatest uncertainty exists as to the results, which are
disappointing on most occasions. In the hope of lessening
this considerable loss, the idea arose of sowing the seeds from
successive crossings between four or five different varieties;
the first trials made of this new method brought about greater
suecess than when one crossing was employed.

At the first harvest, the seedling canes are submitted to
a selection which is not less severe than that which took place
before they were obtained. Those are taken out first which
are obviously inferior in appearance; the others are analysed
with a view to planting cuttings of those, only, which have
a completely satisfactory sugar content. In 1907, the minimum
of richness permitted had to correspond toa yield of 4 tons of
sugar to the acre; at the present time, a minimum of 7 tons
is required. Under these conditions, the double test in the field
and in the laboratory only allows the survival, for replantation,
of a feeble proportion, consisting of twenty-five canes in
10,000 seedlings. This average is reduced by two-thirds
during the following year; in the fourth year, the few seedlings
which have succeeded throughout this long series of special
trials are cultivated in the experimental field, together with
the best varieties that have been obtained. Those among
them which undergo the comparison to their advantage are
definitely classed, and propagated in sufficient quantity to
permit of their distribution to those planters who are wishful
to make trial of them.

The systematic application of this eminently scientific and
rational method has saved the sugar industry of Java, on the
eve of its suffering serious damage through several threaten-
ing fungus diseases; it has raised the yield of sugar from
one of 24 tons in 1887 to one of 44 tons in 1908; in a word,
it has contributed to the great development of cane planta-
tions, and to their prosperity. It is believed that these results
are amply sufficient for calling attention to the work accom-
plished by Kobus and his worthy fellow-workers.

196

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

FRUITS ANDY PRUID See es:

FRUIT EXPORTATION FROM NATAL.

A report on the export of citrus and other fruits from
Natal to England, for 1909, has been submitted recently to
the Government by the Commercial Agent for Natal in
London. This appears in the Natal Agricultural Journal
for March 1910, and deals chiefly with the market for the
Naartje or Natal mandarin, in Engiand. It shows that, dur-
ing the season which is reviewed, the amount of this fruit
arriving in London was too great for the demand, and in
connexion with this there was pointed out the fallacy of
believing that because afruit comes from the colonies, a quick
demand in England will necessarily arise. If such fruit arrives
in small quantities and there is a want for it, high prices
will result from the keen competition. If it is imported in
large quantities and in a sound state, it will enter the compet-
ition as a fruit with other varieties that are already on the
market.

The season about which information is given was by no
means favourable, but if is pointed out that this experience
of losses is a usual concomitant of the development of an over-
sea fruit trade, by almost any country. Attention is drawn
to the example of Austraha, where many years of effort were
required before the fruit export industry was placed on its
present successful basis. It is stated that, before this occur-
red, whole cargoes of wasted fruit were destroyed, but the ship-
pers persevered, and by correcting their errors as they became
cognisant of them, gave the country a flourishing industry.
The moral is that, where a fruit-growing industry is being
developed, the producers should not be discouraged, but
should continue their efforts, with the exercise of patience,
a proper regard to the requirements of the home markets and
the scrupulous following of the information they are given in
connexion with the cultivation, picking, packing and market-
ing of the fruit.

PACKING FRUIT. It is recommended that packing for
export be performed on the farm, subject to the control of
Government inspectors, especially over those packers who do
not belong to growers’ or fruit associations.

The best fruits, only, should be exported. The trays
employed for the purpose should not be too large; those used
in Spain are of one count. namely 25s, the size of the fruit
being denoted in millimetres, on the packages. For the Natal
fruit, it is suggested that a tray 12 inches by 12 inches by
24 inches, and a lesser one 9 inches by 9 inches by 21 inches
(outside measurements), containing eighteen or twenty fruits,

would be most suitable to the trade, and this is con-
firmed by the buyers at Covent Garden. The suggestion is
ottered that trials might be made with double-layer trays,
measuring about 4 or 44 inches in depth. The smaller trays
are the most suitable for extending the provincial and subur-
ban demand. Small trays containing eighteen fruits were
quite popular, and the small ‘glove’ box (punnet), containing
ten and twelve fruits also obtained a ready sale, chiefly on
account of the fact that it contained just the amount of fruit
that is required by a person when shopping.

Tt was found that, under the conditions of cold chamber
storage, those fruits travelled best which were contained in
closed trays and boxes. Such packages possess the additional
advantage that, if the fruits in them burst, the juice does not
run down into the other trays and detract from their value
by spoiling the appearance. Whatever the kind of package
that is used, it should be always uniform in size, and the
particularly superior fruits should be wrapped in a special
way, so as to distinguish them from the ordinary ones, A
useful suggestion has been made, by the editor of the Londen
Fruit Grower, that a few of the fruits in the middle of the
tray should be partly unwrapped, in order to show their
quality.

As material for binding the trays and boxes, iron hoop-
iag has shown itself to be not very satisfactory, chiefly on
account of the difficulty of removing it, and the damage
that is done to the packages in effecting the removal,
Strong wire is suggested, as a substitute, for binding the
smaller trays together; or this may be done in the Spanish
way, by placing battens around a large number, and firmly
securing them by a flat straw rope. It is pointed out that
some Jamaica fruit growers employ narrow strips of hide for
the purpose.

It is the conviction of the writer that conveyance in
cool chambers is the only satisfactory method, at any rate for
delicate citrus fruits like the Natal mandarin. During the
season, the temperatures in the cool chamber averaged 36° to
38° F. The variation in the hold was from 55° minimum
to 85 maximum. It was pointed out that the temperature
at which citrus fruit from the West Indies and Florida is
carried, in special chambers, is between 45° and 50°F., and
it was suggested that if similar provision could*be made for
African fruits, much of the handicap in building up the
business would be removed. The opinion is expressed that
the highest cool chamber freight that can-be borne by. citrus
frnits from Natal is 50s. per ton, and a ventilated hold

Vou. IX. No, 213.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 197

freight of 25s. per ton is not considered to be unreasonably
high.

DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF PRUIT. A eareful study of
the matters of distribution and methods of sale of the
exported fruit has led to the following conclusions ;—

(1) In introducing a new fruit, both the auction and priv-
ate salesmen should receive consignments to sell,in order that it
may be properly advertized and that the value may be fairly
tested.

(2) That the best net results will be obtained by private
salesmen, when the regular supplies are not too bulky, and the
fruit is in good condition. Sent in this way, the fruit may
be repacked for sale, whereas if it is put up to auction,
a little waste in one box is likely to cause it to be sold at an
unfair price.

(3) That, while it is undesirable for a monopoly of the
selling to be effected, it is not good policy that consignments
should be split up to too great an extent among salesmen.

(4) That, when a fairly large proportion of the fruit has
been spoiled in transit, it should be put up to auction
immediately.

(5) That, when it appears likely that a new shipment of
fruit will reach appointed private salesmen while part of the
last shipment is still on their hands, the private salesmen’s
weekly supplies should be reduced, and if necessary, the
distribution of the fruit should be hastened by selling it at
auction.

Covent Garden is recommended as the fruit market of
the United Kingdom to which shipments should be mostly
sent. This is because: (1) it forms the best distributing
centre; (2) experiments in trying the English provincial
markets are most easily made from it; (3) it sets the price of
fruit, to some extent, and is followed by the provincial
markets; (4) the concentration of fruit at Covent Garden
avoids the trouble and expense of extra cartage, high railway
carriage, possible damage of fruit from extra handling, and
delays; and the rendering of account sales is facilitated.
Direct services of steamers landing African fruit at Liverpool,
Manchester, Glasgow, Hull or Bristol, would lessen the superi-
ority of Covent Garden in these matters. It is recommended
that, at present, Natal fruit should not be sent to Southamp-
ton, except in such quantities as are certain of a quick sale.
Large lots unloaded at Southampton are generally consigned
to salesmen in the Midlands and the North, who are also the
clients of London salesmen: thus confusion is caused to such
an extent, in some cases, that the fruit is despatched via
London, with the result that the work and expenses are
doubled. The present special use of Southampton would
appear to be the opening up of markets in the West and
South of England. It has not been found, as far as Natal
fruit is concerned, to be a suitable distributing centre for the
large provincial towns.

The report goes on to the consideration of methods of
consigning fruit, and other matters. An account of these
will be given in the next number of the Agricultural News

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados, on Thursday, June 9, by the SS. ‘Ocamo’,
on an official visit to St. Vincent. Dr. Watts returned
to Barbados, by the SS. ‘Oruro’, on Tuesday, the 21st.
instant.

BOOK SHELF,

THE MODERN SUGAR PLANTER. A. B. Gilmore,
512, Camp Street, New Orleans. 32, yearly.

As was announced in the last number of the Agricultural
News, a new weekly journal, devoted chiefly to the interests
of the Louisiana sugar industry, and published under the
above title, is now being issued. The founder and publisher
is A. B. Gilmore, who has recently resigned the position of
manager and editor of the Sugar Planters’ Journal, which
post he has occupied during the past ten years.

The object of the paper is to enable the sugar planter
in Louisiana to keep in touch with the events of interest to
him that are taking place in that State. Judging from the
first number, it should succeed in attaining that object. The
information in this deals with the outlook for the cane crop;
improvements, extensions and alterations in existing sugar-
making plants in the State; sales of plantations, etc.; the
Louisiana Sugar Planters’ Association meetings; matters of
personal interest; and, in addition, there is a section of the
paper, under the title ‘This and That’, which enables matters
not directly bearing on the sugar industry, but which are
nevertheless of interest, to be given attention.

The journal is well printed, on good paper, and should
be of use locally. It does not seem likely to be of as much
interest outside Louisiana; its general use might, however, be
increased, by making abstracts of much of the matter, instead
of printing it in extenso, and by increasing the number of
articles. It fulfils a purpose very like that of the already exist-
ing Sugar Planters’ Journal, and there is the question as to
whether there is room for two such similar papers —a question
which the large and varied interests in such an important
sugar-producing area as Louisiana may probably answer in
the affirmative.

EFFECT OF COOKING RICE.

The followmg account of experiments conducted
to determine the changes that take place when rice is
cooked, is taken from the Agricultural Ledger, 1908-9,
No. 5 :-—

In the preparation of rice for the table, a certain amount
of its nourishing properties is removed in the water in which
it is boiled. A series of experiments was made with four
kinds of rice, in which 20 grains of analysed rice were placed
in 110 c.c. of water and boiled for half an hour until properly
swollen and soft. The water, or ‘conjee’, was thrown away,
and the boiled rices were dried and analysed. Without
quoting the separate figures, the average analyses are given:—

Boiled rice

Original rice. from 100 parts Loss.
of original.

Water 12°74 3°13 o;
Albuminoids 6°92 6°32 0-60
Fat 0:25 0-12 013
Carbohydrates 79:13 72°86 6:27
Fibre 0°34 0-38 he
Ash 0°62 0-51 O11

The boiling, therefore, removes more than half the fat,
over & per cent. of albuminoids, less than 8 per cent of
carbohydrates, and 17°6 per cent. of the ash.

198

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

Lo
wt

JUNE 25, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.
Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,

write as follows, under date June 6, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

About 200 bags of West Indian Sea Island have been
sold since our last report. The sales include St. Croix, Virgin
Islands and a few bags from St. Kitts, Montserrat, Antigua
and Jamaica. Prices range from 20d. to 214d., and Stains
realized 13d. to 154d. The market remains fairly steady.

The reports of the growing crop in Florida and Georgia
are not too satisfactory, and as the fine trade is rather
improving, we think good prices will obtain next season for
West Indian Sea Islands.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending May 28, is as follows:—

The market has continued dull during the past fort-
night, with apparently no demand for the Planters’ crop lots
remaining in stock and on plantation, aggregating upwards
of 200 bales, which are still held at 38c., 40c. and 50c., in
the absence of any demand.

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE
WEST INDIES.

The following table gives the exports of cotton from the
West Indies, for the quarter ending March 31, 1910:—

Number of Weight, Estimated value,

Origin. bales. ib. £ Ss. d.
Antigua 164 36,736 2,689 17 4
Barbados 609 305,946 19,121 12 6
Grenada 36,336 1,775 6 8
Montserrat 156,157 OPT eels 6
St. Kitts 110,171 8,262 16 6
Nevis 79,761 5,982 iT 6
Anguilla 3s 27,800 2,085 0 0
St. Vincent 764 370,369 eles} 0) al@)
Trinidad \ 99 997
Tobago | cats fa.
Virgin Islands 50 11,229 701 16 3
St. Lucia 37 7.400 524 3} 4
Jamaica none

Total 2,9125 Ere) 70,788 0) 5

All this cotton was sent to the United Kingdom, with

the exception of 28 bales (14,147 tb.), of an estimated value

of £884 3s. 9d., which was shipped from Barbados to the

United States. With the exception of 106} bales (51,856 tb.),

of an estimated value of £1,313 6s. 8d., of Marie Galante,
all the cotton shipped was Sea Island.

THE BRITISH COTION-GROWING
ASSCCIATION.

The Fifth Annual Report of the British Cotton-Growing
Association, for the year 1909, a copy of which has been
received recently, points out, after making due acknowledge-
ment of the assistance which has been given in various
ways during the year, that the recent failure of the cotton
crop, both in America and in Egypt, has now presented undeni-
able proof that the very existence of the Lancashire cotton
trade depends on the rapid development of newcotton-growing
areas in other parts of the world. Reference is made to
the inadequate response from Lancashire to the first appeal
of the Association for capital, six years ago, and it is pointed
out that if the recognition of the necessity for the provision
of additional sources of the supply of cotton had been made
at that time, the work of the Association would now have
advanced to such a stage, that all that might have been
necessary at present would be the provision of sufficient capital
for the development of those areas where the trials had
been successful. Notwithstanding this want of means, sufti-
cient progress has been made in certain parts of the world,
especially Nigeria, Uganda, Nyasaland and the West Indies,
to show that it only requires adequate capital for the cotton
industry in these places to be developed largely and rapidly.
The efforts of the Association, however, cannot be confined to
such work, as other countries which can grow good cotton are
awaiting development.

Tn consequence of the serious state of the Lancashire
cotton trade which has arisen on account of the failure of the
American and Egyptian crops, it was decided by the Council,
in September last, to make a further appeal for capital, and
to enter into negotiations for the support of the Federation
of Master Cotton Spinners. A favourable report was made
by a Committee, which was appointed to enquire into the
work of the Association, and into the prospect that additions
to the funds would be justified: and a recommendation was
made that subscriptions should be requested from the cotton
trade, on the following basis:—

Spinners, £2 per 1,000 spindles, spread over five years.
Manufacturers, 1s. per loom, spread over five years.
Operatives, ls. 3d. each.

At the present time, this scheme is receiving ready
support from the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners, from
the North and North East Lancashire Cotton Spinners and
Manufacturers’ Association, as well as from the operatives’
associations.

The experiments which were outlined in 1908, for the
purpose of making trial of cotton seed as a fuel for providing
motive power, have been successful up to the present, and
a plant is working’satisfactorily at Lagos. The trials are to be
extended by the erection of another plant in Kast Africa, and

Vor. IX. No: 213:

further extensions will be made in Northern Nigeria and
Nyasaland. As regards the jrovision, by the Association,
of hydraulic baling presses, four of these are doing good
work in Nigeria, and extensions are being made at Kisumu, on
Lake Victoria, 2nd in Nyasaland. It is proposed to erect
presses in each colony, as soon as the output of cotton
justifies the expenditure, which will be available for use by
all planters, and by means of which freight charges will be
considerably lowered.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the necessity for the
scientific development of agricultural matters, especially of
cotton in the tropical colonies, has been brought continually
before the British Government by the Council of the Associa-
tion. The statement is made that, although the Council
does not pretend to the possession of scientific knowledge, it
is ‘convinced of the absolute necessity of some central
authority, which can advise and direct all who contemplate
the cultivation or development of tropical products, and
which can collect, collate, and disseminate valuable informa-
tion, which is being obtained every day from various parts of
the Empire’. An expression is made of the recognition of
the fact that, owing to the representations of the Council, the
Government has appointed a Scientific Committee fer these
very purposes, but this is regarded merely as a preliminary
step toward the large development of the scheme.

In dealing with the West Indies, the report draws
attention to the fact of the succession of Dr. Francis Watts,
C.M.G., to Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., as Imperial Com-
missioner of Agriculture. Referring to the reduction in
the area of cotton in the West Indies, it is stated that this is
not altogether unsatisfactory, as it has been shown that cotton
cultivation cannot be taken up without serious attention to
its needs, with the result that the industry has been placed
on a sounder basis, which provides hopes of steady extension
year by year. It isalsostated that there is no donbt that the
demand for high-class cotton will cortinue to grow, and the
report goes on to say: ‘it is therefore all the more necessary
to encourage its growth in the few countries where the
eultivation of Sea Island cotton is possible. This is the
more essential, in view of the probability of the boll weevil
reaching the Atlantic States in a very few years. So far, the
only method discovered, of fighting this curse, is by planting
early maturing varieties, so that the crop can be gathered
before the ravages of the boll weevil become serious. Unfort-
unately, most of the early maturing varieties are short in
staple.’

After dealing with West Africa, the Gold Coast and
Lagos, the report states that the production of cotton near
Tllushi, Southern Nigeria, does not advance as rapidly as
could be wished. The quality of the cotton, however, is
excellent, and it is fortunate that the abandonment of this
centre was prevented by a grant of £10,000 per annum from
the Imperial Government, so that the Council has been able
to make arrangements for the continuation of the work in
this district for a further period of three years.

The report goes on to give particulars of the industry in
Northern Nigeria, British East Africa and Uganda. In con-
nexion with the last-mentioned place, it is stated that, owing
to the great competition among cotton buyers, prices are
being paid to the native grower which leave-little margin for
profit to the buyers, so that, ultimately, the price in Uganda
will have te be reduced, with the possibility that the native
producer will cease to plant cotton. The Council suggests
that the best policy, under these and similar conditions, is for

the buyers to fix the highest possible price that can be main- ~

tained over a series of years.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

199

As regards Nyasaland, a most successful year is report-
ed. It appears, however, that in Rhodesia the position is not
entirely satisfactory, and that better results will probably be
obtained, eventually, by encouraging native cultivation, than
by growing plantation cotton.

The report states that the disastrous failure of the
Egyptian crop of 1909 is likely to be a serious matter for the
Lancashire cotton industry, especially as there can be no con-
fidence in an increased production of long-stapled cotton by
the United States, on account of the serious extent to which
the boll weevil is present in that country. Figures are given
to show that the yield of cotton in Egypt is gradually decreas-
ing: for instance, in the quinquennial periods 1896 to 1900,
1901-5, and 1906-10, the respective yields were 5:48, 4°67 and
4:09 kantars per feddan (5-48 kantars per feddan is given as
approximately 490 tb. per acre). Among the reasons that
have been suggested for this are the change from a three-
year to a two-year rotation, and the elevation of the level of
the subsoil water throughout the delta, owing to the raising
of the level of the irrigation canals. The second cause would
operate by bringing about conditions through which the tap
root of the cotton plant quickly reaches a region of the soil
which is stagnant, undrained, and unventilated. If this
supposition is correct, the outlook is very serious, on account
of the time that must elapse before works can be undertaken
to a sufficient extent for the purpose of draining away this
subsoil water The report goes on to point out that
a special commission is making enquiries into the whole
question, and states that the situation is most serious, and
that the position of those employing Egyptian cotton is most
precarious —a circumstance which is shown by the high
prices that have been paid lately for Egyptian cotton, in com-
parison with those for the American product.

ST. VINCENT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At a general meeting of the St. Vincent Agricultural
and Commercial Society, held on the 4th ultimo, attention
was drawn to the facet that, owing to the adoption of imple-
mental tillage on a somewhat large scale in St. Vincent,
difficulty was being experienced in obtaining mules for work-
ing the implements. The importation of mules was almost
out of the question, owing to the high prices that were asked
for them, and a resolution was carried, asking the Government
if it would be prepared to assist the Society, by means of
a substantial bonus, for the importation of a suitable stallion
donkey, in order that mules may be bred in the island.

An important letter from the Administrator was placed
before the meeting, in which reference was made to the fact
that the destruction of old cotton was not general in the
island, and the opinion of the Society was asked as to
whether legislation should be introduced with the object of
enforcing such destruction. In the discussion, the Agricul-
tural Superintendent stated that neither he nor the Cotton
Inspector could, at the present time, insist that any person
should destroy old cotton plants. He made reference to the
pests and diseases which would be lessened in number by the
destruction of the old plants as soon as possible after the crop
had been picked, and to the damage done by cotton stainers,
at the same time urging planters to destroy the native trees
on which these insects live.

After further discussion, it was decided that a special
meeting should be held, for the purpose of giving proper
consideration to the whole question.

200

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JuNeE 25, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural slows

JUNE 25,

Vor. IX. SATURDAY, 1910. No. 213.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial treats of Changes in the Soil and
its Fertility, with special relation to modern ideas of
the interactions and reactions of manures and plant
food already in the soil.

An interesting article on the production of seed-
ling sugar-canes in Java, appears on page 195.

The abstract of part of a recent report on fruit
exportation from Natal, on pages 196 and 197, serves
to show some of the difficulties that have to be met,
when an attempt is being made to build up a fruit
export trade, even on the part of a large country.

The last annual report of the British Cotton-Growing
Association is abstracted on pages 198 and 199.

The Insect Notes (p. 202) contain the first part of
a series of articles on the Acarina, or Mites. These
should be read in conjunction with the articles that
have appeared already, on the life-history of insects and
the orders of insects.

Some particulars of agriculture in British East
Africa appear on page 205.

The Fungus Notes, on page 206, deal with Thread
and Horse-Hair Blights,

A New Way of Preparing Vanilla Extract.

A number of the Spice Mill contains an account
of the preparation of vanilla extract by a new process.
According to the Journal D’ Agriculture Tropicale
for January 1910, this states that a cylindrical heater,
which is provided with special openings and a vapour
jacket is used forthe purpose. The solvent employed
is a mixture consisting of 40 per cent. of alcohol and
60 per cent. of water. The temperature is raised slowly,
and is not permitted to pass above 38°C.

The essence obtained in this way contains a high
proportion of extracted matters, and is of good quality,
even when the pods employed are of inferior kinds,

rr i
Rubber Cultivation in Bolivia.

The Board of Trade Journal for May 19, 1910,
gives information from a volume published recently by
the Under Secretary of State in the Bolivian Ministry
of Commerce and Industry, on the economic and finan-
cial situation in Bolivia. Speaking of rubber, it is
stated that, after Brazil, the most important country in
South America for the production of rubber is Bolivia,
and that this fact is not generally known because that
country possesses no ports, so that the rubber which is
produced there appears in the statistics of Chili, Peru,
Argentina and Brazil. The fact is that there is an
immense territory in the State which is covered with
magnificent forests of Hevea. According to the official
figures, 1,899 tons of rubber, valued at £424,514 were
produced in Bolivia in 1906; 1,802 tons, valued at
£353,655 in 1907; and 1,789 tons, valued at £216,082.
in 1908. It seems that the production of rubber in
Bolivia is hampered to a serious extent by the fact
that the export tax varies considerably in different
parts of the country, its amount being left, apparently,
to the discretion of the individual Customs authorities,

tt ee

Importation of Indian Cotton into the United
States.

The Board.of Trade Journal for April 21, 1910,
gives information from a report by the British Vice-
Consul at Charlestown, on the trade of that district in
1909. This shows that, or account of the unusually
high prices that ruled in the United States for cotton
during the end. of 1909, some of the Carolina cotton
mills imported several hundred bales of cotton from
India, for the purpose of making a trial of this, in com-
petition with that grown in America, It is intended
to continue the experiments with the cotton, which is
of a somewhat shorter staple than the United States
Upland cotton, but is said to be equally white and
smooth. If the trials prove satisfactory (and there
seems to be a certain amount of confidence of this), and
the present high prices for American Upland continue,
it is believed that larger orders will soon be made for
the Indian article.

These facts derive an additional interest from the
statement that this occasion is the first time, in the
history of the mills in the Southern States, that
Indian cotton has been purchased for use in them.

Von. EX. No; 213:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 201

2

An Aid in Milk Testing.

Part of Bulletin No. 195 (February 1910) of the
University of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment
Station, entitled New and Improved Tests of Dairy
Products, deals with the discussion that has taken place
in the past as to whether the fat column in the Babcock
milk test should be read to the top, the bottom, or to
some other point on the meniscus. It is pointed out
that this surface can be made to take the apparent
form of an almost straight line by pouring a few drops
of alcohol into the neck of the test-bottle, after the test
has been made, thus giving a uniform means of making
the reading. At the same time, due consideration is
given to the fact that the aleohol so employed dissolves
some of the fat, and thus introduces an error into the
determination, and it is proposed to avoid this source
of error by saturating the alcohol with fat, before
employing it for the purpose.

For preparing the fat-saturated alcohol, butter-fat,
obtained by pouring otf the fat froma quantity of
melted butter, or by saving that separated in the
cream testing, is employed. About a teaspoonful of
this fat is added to 6 oz. of alcohol, in a bottle, which
is warmed, and shaken until the alcohol is saturated
with fat. For use, this alcohol is removed from the
bottle by means ofa glass tube passing through the
cork, and nearly reaching the bottom of the bottle. In
using such alcohol, the line separating it from the fat
may be made more distinct by gently shaking the test-
bottle at the end of the determination. One of the
chief values of this method is that it makes the readings
obtained, from both wide-necked and narrow-necked
bottles, strictly comparable.

————————EEn +a

Breeders’ Associations for the Improvement of
Cattle.

Owing to the rapid development of dairy farm-
ing in the State of Wisconsin during recent years,
attempts are being made toward the formation of
Breeders’ Associations for the Improvement of Dairy
Cattle. The scheme for the organization of these is
outlined in Bulletin 183 of the Wisconsin University
Agricultural Experiment Station, entitled Community
Breeders’ Associations for Dairy Cattle Improvement.
From this, it appears that thirty-one of these associa-
tions have already been organized in the State.

The bulletin shows that the purpose of such
associations 1s to secure the co-operation of breeeders
in the production of high grades of pure-bred dairy
cattle, so that the community may gain the advantage
of a good reputation as a breeding centre. The mem-
bers can direct their attention along definite lines; their
co-operation enables the demand, which has been created
by co-operative advertising for good animals ofa definite
type, to be supplied: the meetings of the organization
provide a means of keeping the members informed of
the general progress that is being made; and protection
against fraud and contagious diseases 1s more easily
obtained. an

In organizing such an association, a meeting is

usually called, by some one who is interested in the
matter, to which breeders are invited, and for which the
services of a speaker who is capable of bringing forward
the value of such organizations are retained. At. this,
or a subsequent meeting, a constitution and bye-laws
are drawn up, and officers for the working of the organ-
ization are selected, with the result that an association
is formed which can subserve the interests of a definite
district.

re

The Powell Wood Process.

Reference to this process has been made already
in the Agricultural News (Vol. VIII, pp. 249 and 408).
It is stated in the Colonial Office Journal for April
1910, that the claim is made by the railway departments
of Western Australia and Victoria, that the employment
of this process renders the seasoning of timber unnecess-
ary. A description is given of the process, which is
stated to consist in heating green wood in a solution
containing 30 per cent. of molasses. As the boiling
point of this solution is higher than that of water, the
sap in the wood is caused to boil before ebullition takes
place in the solution itself. The result is that this sap
water is driven out of the wood which is being treated,
together with any air it may contain, so that when the
solution is eventually allowed to boil, the latter is
rapidly absorbed; the rate of this absorption is increased
by allowing the solution to boil for a short time, only,
and by letting it cool quickly. The timber which has
been treated in this way is placed in steam-heated
kilns for the purpose of removing superflous moisture,
and a wood is obtained which can resist the attacks of
dry rot and of white ants, the latter of which give consid-
erable trouble in parts of Australia,

aod

Abnormal Rainfall in St. Lucia.

A note has been received from the Agricultural
Superintendent of St. Lucia, which shows that the rain-
fall in that island during last month was abnormal.
The quantity registered at the Botanic Station was
21:95 inches, which, as is pointed out, is the record
monthly rainfall for Castries for the last twenty years,
with the exception of that registered in September,
1898, which was 25°28 inches. It is 15:10 inches above
the average for May, during the same period, and its
quantity has not been approached since May 1897,
when the precipitation was 18:91 inches. This condition
did not apply to Castries and district, only, for heavy
rains have been general over the island, and records
from various parts range from 12°37 inches in the dry
districts, to 27:14 inches in those where the rainfall is
generally high.

The effect of this abnormal rainfall has been to
delay the cultivation of the land; it is stated, in fact,
that such operations as weeding are practically imposs-
ible. The continuation of such weather would be
unfortunate for the cacao industry, in view of the
prejudicial effect on the normal setting and development

"of the pods, and the conditions which it supplies for the

development of pod diseases.

INSECT NOTES.

THE ACARINA OR MITES.
PART I.

The articles which have appeared in the Agricultural
News under the title of Natural History of Insects, and those
which gave accounts of the several orders of insects, were
intended to provide a brief outline of entomology. Mites and
ticks are included by many persons among the insects, and
though they are not true insects, they are closely related. It
is now intended to give brief accounts of certain mites and
ticks, showing how they differ from insects, and giving also
the principal groups into which they are divided.

In order to present a fair idea of the position which the
mites and ticks occupy with relation to nearly eonnected forms,
it will be necessary to review the divisions of the Arthropoda,
and of the Arachnida — that class of the Arthropoda in which
is to be found the order Acarina, to which the mites and ticks
belong.

References to the paperson the Natural History of
Insects, and on the orders of insects, will be found in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 410. It would be well for
readers to refer to tnose articles, since many terms are
explained there which will be used again in this and succeeding
instalments.

The order Acarina includes a great many forms of
insect-like animals which are of interest to the agriculturist.
It is, therefore, proposed to give a brief account of the order
ina manner similar to that in which the true insects have
been discussed.

Tt will be remembered that the arthropods, or jointed-
foot animals, are divided into four classes :—

Class I. Crustacea -— Crabs, Lobsters, ete.

Class II. Arachnida — Spiders, Mites, Ticks, Scorpions, ete.
Class III. Myriapoda — Centipedes, Millipedes, ete.

Class IV. Hexapoda — Insects.

Tur AracHnipa. The class Arachnida, which includes the
mites and ticks, with other forms, is an extensive group. It
is apparently very ancient in its origin, and its present day
forms show much diversity in size, general appearance and
habits.

The members of this class agree, as a whole, in certain
characteristics, chief of which are the absence of antennae,
the absence of compound eyes, and the presence in the adult
of four pairs of walking legs, in all of which points they differ
from the insects. They are never winged, and this is
a further point of difference between them and the true
insects. The Arachnida are air-breathing, the more common
breathing apparatus being the pulmonary sac or lung-book, in
which the respiratory tissue is arranged in plates like the
leaves of a book. In certain forms, there are extended tubes
resembling the tracheae of insects, though probably not
homologous with them. Certain forms also effect respiration
through the surface of the body, withcut any special organ
for the purpose.

The mouth parts vary considerably, but usually consist
of strong, biting mandibles. These are sometimes modified
to form a piercing organ, as in the case of the ticks.

The body regions are more or less fused, the head and
thoracic regions forming a cephalothorax, which bears the
head appendages and the walking legs. The abdominal
region in the spiders and scorpions is distinct, and in the
latter is segmented. In the mites, the abdomen is fused with
the cephalothorax, so that there is no distinct line of separ-
ation of the body into structural regions, though in certain
forms, segments or body rings are distinguishable. The

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JUNE 25, 1910.

nervous system is ventral, and similar to that of insects.

The eyes are simple, or in many parasitic forms they
may be absent. The circulation, also, is similar to that of
insects, including usually a large dorsal vessel. The sexes
are distinct.

The class Arachnida is composed of related orders, a list
of which is as follows :—

Scorpionida Scorpions
Pseudoscorpionida Book Scorpions
Pedipalpi Whip Scorpions
Solpugida

ee). { Harvestmen, or
chalets \ Daddy-long legs
Araneida Spiders
Acarina Mites and Ticks
Linguatulida
Tardigrada

Pyenogonida

SCORPIONIDA. The scorpions are among the oldest, geo-
logicaliy, of all the arthropods. They are at present mostly
to be found in tropical and subtropical countries. They
have a broad cephalothorax, and an abdomen of thirteen
segments, with a sting and poison gland in the last of these.
The abdomen may be seen to be composed of two distine t
regions, the ‘pre-abdomen’ of seven segments, and the ‘post-
abdomen’ of six. The second pair of appendages, the pedi-
palps, are enlarged and chelate, i.e., provided with a pincers-
like strueture. The four pairs of walking legs are about equal
in size. The sting is venomous, and though rarely fatal to
man, is to be regarded as distinctly dangerous.

PSEUDOSCORPIONIDA. The book scorpions are minute
arachnids of very little economic importance. They probably
feed on smal insects under bark of decaying wood, among
old books, etc., where they are generally found.

peEpDIPALPI. ~The whip scorpions inhabit the tropics and
warm regions. They differ from the preceding in the structure
of the pedipalps, which are smaller and less strongly chelate.
The first pair of legs is elongated to form a whip-lash-like
structure. The common form in the West Indies is the tail-
less whip scorpion, in which the abdomen is very short and
flattened.. he bite of the members of this order is said te be
venomous. The more common forms are commonly called
tarantulas or scorpions in some islands.

PHALANGIDA. The harvestmen or daddy-long-legs some-
what resemble spiders. They have small, oval, or rounded
bodies and very long, slender legs. They differ from the
spiders in not having the abdomen attached to the cephalo-
thorax by a stalk, and in not possessing any spinning glands.
They feed upon flies and other insects, and are more abundant
in temperate countries than in the tropics.

ARANEIDA. The spiders are the most conspicuous, and
probably the most widely distributed of the Arachnida. The
body is divided into cephalothorax and abdomen, joined
together by a slender pedicel. The web-spinning habits of
these animals render them conspicuous, and their sagacity
in all that pertains to the capture of their prey has attracted
much attention to their habits. They are useful in that
of capturing insects, and though certain species are con-
sidered venomous, they are not often capable of inflicting
serious wounds on’ man. Lespiration, in the spiders, is by
means of lung-books and tracheal tubes. The spinning glands
are situated near the end of the abdomen.

ACARINA. This order includes the red spiders, poultry
and bird mites, ticks, cheese mites, itch, mange and scab
mites, and the gall! mites. They havé four pairs of walking
legs, as adults, butvoften only three pairs when young. The
mouth parts are formed for biting or piercing, sometimes for

Vor. EX.» No: 213:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

sucking also.
parasitic.

LINGUATULIDA. This group of aberrant acarids consists
of two genera, of only a few species, which in the adult
condition inhabit the nasal cavities and air. passages of dogs
and other carnivora, and in the larval stage are to be found
in the digestive tract of herbivora, especially sheep. The
Linguatulida were long supposed to be tape worms, but they
are now shown to be acarids.

The Tardigrada and the Pyenogonida are orders contain-
ing but few species, which are of no economic importance,
and of such rare occurrence that they need not be considered
further here.

In habit they range from free to strictly

A NEW MAIZE FROM CHINA.

Bulletin No. 161 of the Bureau of Plant Industry,
United States Department of Agriculture, entitled
A New Type of Indian Corn from China, gives an
account of a new variety of maize, obtained recently
from that country, which is summarized there in the
form of the following conclusions :—

The variety of Indian corn here described was intro-
duced from Shanghai, China, and appears to be distinct from
all hitherto known types. The plants possess the following
unique characters :—

(1) Erect leaf blades.--The leaf blades on the upper
part of the plant stand erect instead of being borne ina more
or less horizontal position, as in the ordinary varieties.

(2) Monostichous arrangement of leaf blades.—-In
addition to the erect position of the blades, those on the
upper part of the plant are in many cases all on one side of
the stem.

(3) Silks developed while still inside the leaf sheath.—
Instead of the ear pushing out before the silks appear, thie
silks are produced directly at the base of the leaf blades,
before the young ears emerge.

(4) New type of endosperm.-—The texture of the endos-
perm is unique, and cannot be referred to either the starchy
or horny types common in our cultivated varieties. It
resembles the horny endosperm in Jocation and hardness, but
differs in texture and optical properties.

The early developments of silks and erect leaf blades
combine to produce an adaptation which ensures pollination,
and prevents the silks from drying out. The pollen is blown
against the erect leaf blades, and accumulates in their bases.
The silks are pushed into these accumulations of pollen, and
become pollinated before they are exposed to the air.

Xenia characters in hybrids appear for the most part to
follow Mendel’s laws. Coloured aleurone is dominant to
transparent aleurone; yellow endosperm is dominant to white
endosperm, and horny endosperm is dominant to waxy
endosperm.

The discovery in China of a distinct type of maize has
bearing upon the historical question whether maize was
known in the Orient before the discovery of America. Though
maize undoubtedly originated in America, the nature of the
historical evidence regarding the extensive cultivation of
maize in China in the latter part of the sixteenth century
seems to preclude the idea of very recent introduction, leav-
ing open the possibility that this specialized type of corn has
developed in China. The generally accepted ‘view to the con-
trary is further thrown into doubt by references to its wide-
spread use, and introduction from the West, that occur in
Chinese literature published during the sixteenth century.

303

In explanation, it may be stated that Xenia is the
name given to the process by which pollen, in hybridi-
zation, has an effect on the character of other parts of
a seed, or fruit, than the embryo; for instance, it has been
found that, when ears of a yellow corn are pollinated with
pollen of a maize whose distinctive colour is red, the
resulting ears contain yellowish-red and dark-red grains
as well as grains similar to those of the nornial mother
plant. The colour really resides in the aleurone layer
of the endosperm, that is in the outer layer of cells of
the plant food in the seed, which contain a large
proportion of nitrogenous food-bodies. Anextension of
the statement that Xenia characters in hybrids appear
mostly to follow Mendel’s laws, in relation to the
particular instance that is dealt with above, may be
provided by saying, broadly, that if plants possessing
coloured aleurone, or yellow or horny endosperm are
crossed with those having colourless aleurone, or white
or waxy endosperm, the resulting hybrids will all have
seeds with coloured aleurone, or yellow or horny endos-
perm. (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, pp. 33, 34,
49, and 50.)

AGRICULTURE IN BRITISH BAST
AFRICA.

An interesting letter has been received recently from
Mr. H. Powell, Chief of the Economie Plant Division,
Nairobi, British Mast Africa, who at one time held the post
of Curator of the St. Vincent Botanic Station, under this
Department.

At the time of writing, Mr. Powell was visiting the
Nandi country, which is situated on an extensive plateau,
about 6,000 to 7,000 feet high, near Lake Victoria Nyanza,
and which is healthy and eminently suitable for occupation
by the white races. Here, coffee trees of a type near
Coffea stenophyila are indigneous in the forest, and samples
of the prepared beans have been valued in London, at
41s. 6d. per ewt. These forests are being inspected for the
purpose of ascertaining if the coffee exists in paying quanti-
ties, and as the natives show no disinclination to the work of
collecting the berries, it is probable that an export trade in
wild coffee will be established. The berries are pulped by
means of a small ‘Jamaica’ pulper. Mr. Powell had already
paid a visit to this country, and, with the aid of a forest
officer and the District Commissioner, had taught the natives
how to obtain and coagulate the latex of a species of
Landolphia, which is also indigenous there. The agent for
coagulating the latex is a solution of salt and water, and as
salt is an article of luxury among the natives, they chew the
bits of rubber as they are formed and then place them
together to make a small ‘ biscuit ’, in which shape it is care-
fully dried and exported to England. During last year, the
rubber obtained in this way was worth £5,000 to £6,000.
Other useful crops that are being raised successfully in this
district are wheat and other cereals, and the natives are
making gratifying progress in agriculture.

On the coast of the Protectorate, Ceara rubber and
Sisal hemp are being grown extensively; the latter is also
cultivated in parts of the highlands. The general state of
agriculture is such as to present the likelihood that, in
a year or two, the Protectorate will be completely self-
supporting.

204

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JUNE 25, 1910.

GLEANINGS.

Returns show -that the area of cotton planted in
Barbados during the year 1909 was 4,121 acres. Of this
3,620 acres consisted of newly planted cotton, and 501 acres
of so-called ‘ratoon ’ cotton.

The report by the Agricultural Instructor of Nevis, for
March 1910, states that the yield of cotton has been fairly
satisfactory, and that it is now certain that the area for next
season’s crop will be extended greatly.

The imports of rice into the United States, during the
nine months ending March 31, 1910, were 81,000 short tons;
in a similar period in 1908-9, they were 77,000 short tons.
(The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer, May 28,
1910.)

The amount of rubber exported fromthe Federated Malay
States during the last eleven months of 1909 was 5,442,412 hb.
During the same period in 1908, the amount was
2,762,666 tb., so that the increase for 1909 is 2,679,746 bb.
(LP? Agronomie Tropicale, March 1910.)

Information has been received from Mr. H. A. Tempany,
B.Se., Chairman of the Permanent Exhibition Committee of
Antigua, stating that this committee has decided to forward
a collection of exhibits to the torthcoming exhibition at
Toronto, and a smaller one to that of St. John,

The Uganda Official Gazette publishes rules made
recently under the Uganda Cotton Ordinance, 1908. These

provide for the registration of all cotton hand-gins in the
Protectorate, and for the destruction, supply to the Govern-
ment, export, or disinfection of all seed which comes from
such gins.

The cotton crop of Peru, for 1907, amounted to 15,000
tons, valued at £584,441. This was an advance over that
of the preceding year, and the outlook for 1908 and 1909
was reported to be most favourable. The amount of rubber
exported in 1908 was 2,536 tons, valued at £604,311; in
1907, the exports were valued at £954,582. (Board of
Trade Journal, April 14, 1910.)

A catalogue has been received of the Australian Monkey
Jack, which appears to be very useful in effecting the
removal of the stumps and roots of trees expeditiously and
cheaply. The price of this runs from £5 10s. to £6 10s.,
with double purchase, and £4 10s. to £5 15s., with single
purchase. These are made by a firm whose address, in
England, is 6, Alma Street, Smethwick, Brimingham.

According to a report which has been received from the
Curator of the Montserrat Botanic Station, this year’s cotton
crop in that island is likely to reach more than 200,000 tb.
of lint, though it may not come up to the crop of last year,
which was one of 238,000 tb.; the value will, however, be
greater. The area planted was not more than 1,550 acres, or
700 less than last year.

Enquiries have been made recently in connexion with the
cultivation of bay trees (Pimenta acris) in the island of San
Jan, D.W.1. These have elicited the information that there
is little of the nature of systematic cultivation of bay trees;
the undergrowth is merely cut away, so as to permit the
growth of the young trees that have been sown natnrally.
Trees are, however, planted out systematically, to a certain
extent, on the estate of the Danish Plantations Company and
at estate Lamesure.

The Agricultural Superintendent, St. Vincent, states
that in order to enable the growers of Marie Galante cotton,
in the islands of Canouan and Mayreau, to dispose of their
cotton at a fair price, the Government has sent a sloop to the
first-mentioned island and bought up the small growers’
produce, paying on account a price which was more profitable
than that obtained usually from dealers. A similar scheme
was to be put in operation, in regard to the cotton in
Mayreau.

The Experiment Station Record of the United States
Department of Agriculture, for April 1910, gives an account
of experiments which have been conducted recently in Russia
with plants grown in water and sand cultures. These show
that injury was done to the plants when magnesia was
present, but lime absent; and that the yield became greater
with the increase of the proportion of lime to magnesia.
Loew’s view that each plant has a definite lime-magnesia
ratio, for the best growth, was not confirmed (see Agricultural
News, Vol. IX, p. 95).

The exports of ginned and unginned cotton from Uganda
for 1908-9, were 10,246 ewt. and 12,805 ewt., respectively.
The similar figures for the period 1907-8 were 12,911 ewt.
and 4,263 ewt. According to the Colonial Reports, Annual,
No. 636, which gives the report on Uganda for 1908-9, the
unginned cotton is ginned and baled in the East African
Protectorate, and is exported from Mombasa as ginned cotton.
Taking the loss.in weight of seed-cotton, on being ginned as
two-thirds, the quantity of lint exported from the Uganda
Protectorate during 1908-9 shows an increase of 183 ewt.
over that of the previous year.

The Transvaal Agricultural Journal, for April 1910,
states that valuable research work in connexion with the
breeding of corn has just been completed by the Transvaal
Government Botanist. In this, it has been shown, after five
years’ trial, that maize follows Mendel’s lawin the matter of
the production of hybrids, and an entirely new South African
sugar-corn, comparable to American sweet corn has been
produced. This is important, in view of the difficulty that
has been experienced in growing sweet corn in the Transvaal.
Experiments are now being conducted with the object of
obtaining a variety of Hickory King corn which shall be
characterized by an early ripening habit.

Vou. IX. No. 213.

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

AGE NA
Frrst PEertiop.
Seasonal Notes.

The end of June, or the beginning of July, is a suitable
time for sowing Bengal beans as a green dressing crop, or as
a covering for lime trees, with the object of lessening the
number of scale insects on those which are badly infested.
Wby is the Bengal bean, together with many other plants of
the same kind, expecially suitable for the purpose of pro-
ducing green dressings! What are the special uses of such
dressings, in the soil? To you know of any. way in which
similar provision is made in nature for plants that are to
occupy the soil? Examine carefully, from time to time, lime
trees badly infested with scale insects, and over which Bengal
beans are growing, for the purpose of getting indications, if
possible, of the way, or ways, in which the Bengal beans are
helping to effect a reduction in the numbers of the scale insects.
In order to give assistance in the making of such observations,
the statement is made here that this action of the beans may
or may not be due, wholly or partly to one of the followirg
causes: (1) the improvement of the conditions under which
the fungi attacking the scale insects may grow; (2) the pro-
tection given to the insects that are parasitic on the scale
insects; (3) the possession of some property by the Bengal
bean plant, itself, by which it is enabled to set up condi-
tions which make it difficult, or impossible, for the scale
insects to exist in its near presence. In giving these, there
is no suggestion that the lines of observation should be
confined to them. They are presented merely for the purpose
of indicating the way in which a subject of inquiry that
requires careful investigation may be approached.

As has been indicated already, a careful watch should
be maintained for fungi that are living on scale insects, and
thus helping to reduce their numbers. Useful assistance in
finding and identifying such fungi is given in an article in
the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 299. It must be
remembered, in reading the descriptions presented there, that
the part of the fungus which is most plainly seen, and which
offers the most definite characters for the purpose of identi-
fication is the part often called the fruiting body. Those who
have read carefully the two series of articlesin the Agr?-
cultural News, entitled The Life History of the Fungi and
The Chief Groups of Fungi that have appeared in Vol VIII,
pp. 251, 267 and 283, and in Vol. IX, pp. 78, 94, 110, 126,
142, 158, 174 and 190, will be entirely cognizant of the fact
that this fruiting body is merely the spore-producing part of
the fungus, and not the fungus itself. The real work of
feeding on the attacked scale insects is being done by the
vegetative part of the fungus, or mycelium, which is often
not easily seen by the unaided eye; the fruiting body
possesses importance in that it bears the spores, which
become scattered abroad, and thus spread the fungus. his
difficulty of seeing the mycelium must have account taken
of it when attempts are being made to find out whether,
or not, the scale insects are being attacked by fungi.
It may be, that, although the fruiting body cannot be found,
the fungus is present and doing some of its best work in
destroying the scale insects. The fruiting bodies are, as
a matter of fact, a sign, rather, that the work of the fungus
is nearly done, for they are always most likely to arise, when
the food-supply is getting stnall, or when the conditions are
unfavourable to the fungus in some other way.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 20

oO

__ Cotton seed, for planting, should be selected carefully,
either at the factory where it is bought, or on the estate,
where it has been chosen already from the most likely plants,
In making this selection, the following kinds of seed will be
rejected : (1) all those which have not grown to their full
size and proper shape (that is, aborted seeds): (2) all those
which are smooth and black, and not in possession of a tuft
of green fuzz, See Island cotton seeds that do not possess
this fuzz, to a greater or smaller extent, produce plants that
bear seeds having lint of inferior quality.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) Give some explanation of the fact that, while the
leaves of most plants are green, their flowers are of some
other colour.

(2) How would you perform seed selection for corn
planting !

_ (3) Give an account of the methods for conserving soil
moisture in your district.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) How is the deterioration of cane-sugar, on storage,
brought about! What precantions would obviate this /

(2) Which is the more economical: a basic slag contain-
ing 14 per cent. phosphoric acid, and costing £4 per ton, or
one containing 45 per cent. of phosphoric azid and costing
£5 per ton.

(3) Give an account of the use of chlorophyll in plants.
What is chlorosis !

THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PRODUCT-
IVITY OF SOILS.

The Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States
Department of Agriculture has issued recently, as its
fifty-seventh bulletin, A Study of Crop Yields and
Soil Composition in Relation to Soil Productivity.
This contains the results of investigations conducted
with a large number of the soils of Europe and the
United States, and the following summary of these is
given at the end of the bulletin:—

A careful study of the data which have been presented
appears to justify two conclusions.

(1) That the productivity of the newer agricultura] soils
of the United States and of the older agricultural soils of
Europe, taken as a whole and for a nation, are not declining,
as is popularly supposed. Individual farms deteriorate,
and soils wear out, as they have always done, but, as
a whole, it seems probable that we are producing more crops
per acre than formerly. This is undoubtedly due to many
factors: to better and more intelligent cultivation, more and
better systems of rotation of crops, and, in later years, to
intelligent use of fertilizers—three methods of control in the
hands of every individual farmer. In addition, we must
recognize the increase in farm animals and stock, the improve-
ment in seed by selection and breeding, and the increasing
density in population, which is forcing attention to more
intensive methods.

(2) That, so far as our information goes, there is appar-
ently no significant difference at the present time between
the composition of the older agricultural soils of Europe and
the newer agricultural soils of the United States with respect
to potash, phosphoric acid, lime and magnesia,

206

FUNGUS NOTES.

THREAD AND HORSE-HAIR BLIGHTS.

Thread blights have been known to occur on cacao in
the West Indies since 1905, when they were first found in
Trinidad. They have been observed since, on the same host,
in St. Lucia, Dominica, Tobago and British Guiana. Horse-
hair blight (Marasmius equicrinis) also occurs on cacao in
Trinidad. Earlier references to this subject will be found in
the Agricultural News, Vols. III, p. 281; IV, p. 117 and
VI, p. 237; also in the West Indian Bulletin, Vols. VI,

a

p. 87, and IX, p. 179.

EXTERNAL SYMPTOMS.— An outbreak of the thread blight
disease has been reported recently as occurring on nutmegs
in Grenada. The description of the disease, as given by
Mr. G. G. Auchinleck, B.Sc., Superintendent of Agriculture
in Grenada, is as follows:—

Running up, and closely adherent to, the shoots, could
be seen a thin filament made up of interwoven hyphae, the
filament being generally dark-brown or black, from the
presence of a cementing substance. A branch of the filament
is given off at every petiole, and, on reaching the leaf blade,
ramifies on its undersurface into a network of closely
adpressed silky web. The finer branches of the filament are
almost invariably white. None of the specimens examined
showed fructifications.

The thread bight was somewhat difficult to discover,
owing to the thickness of foliage, but once the symptoms
were discovered, it was found that practically every tree
examined was attacked in a greater or less degree. Infected
leaves were dry and papery, but seldom fell, and as a rule
could only be detached by a sharp jerk. No cases of large
branches having died back were noted, the disease at present
being confined to small twigs and leaves. Numerous cases
were seen of an infected leaf coming in contact with a twig
or leaf of a neighbouring tree, adhering thereto, and finally
becoming closely attached by the growing mycelium; this
atfords an index as to the rapidity with which the disease
might spread, wind or birds acting as distributing agents.

It need only be added that, on the younger twigs and
leaves, the threads are distinctly light-coloured, almost white:
while on the harder parts, where they are older, they are very
dark. On some leaves, soft pads of mycelium may be formed.
These, when young, are of a white, woolly appearance; when
older they become covered with some waxy secretion, as do
the threads, and form small, dark, somewhat waxy lumps here
and there on the leaf. surface, usually on an angle between
two branches of the thread, which is also dark aud waxy in
appearance. i

MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS.—The threads are composed of
long, thick-walled, intertwined hyphae, rarely septate, and
not anastomosing, showing very little branching. These
hyphae become even thicker-walled when old, and their walls
are brown in colour. There are also, in the threads and in
the leaves, much finer-walled hyphae, quite hyaline and
colourless, with numerous septa, freely branching and exhibit-
ing the clamp connexicns said to be characteristic of the
Basidiomycetes. The two forms appear to belong to the
same fungus. The hyphae can penetrate the leaves, and
possibly the buds; they are unable to pierce the bark of woody
twigs, but may possibly penetrate young green ones, though
this was not definitely observed.

GENERAL.—A thread blight fungus, identified by Massee

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JUNE 25, 1910.

as Stilbum nanum (Kew Bulletin, 1898, p. 112), occurs on
tea in India. This is supposed to be capable of spreading up
the plant from the ground by way of the roots, as well as of
attacking it from above. Both the identity of the fungus and
its power of spreading underground are, however, uncertain;
though this Jast point is worthy of attention, and careful
examination should be made of the stems of ail plants
attacked by thread blight, to determine if the brown strands
can be traced back to the roots. The fungus, in India, does not
seem to be quite the same as that in the West Indies, as it
appears from the descriptions to remain white and to form
in some cases a white felt on the leaves. Horse-hair blight,
attributed to Marasmius sarmentosus, also occurs on tea in
India, as well as on jungle plants. (See Watt and Mann,
Pests and Blights of the Tea Plant.)

In Ceylon, a thread blight resembling that found in
India occurs of tea and on nutmegs, as well as on some jungle
plants. It is, however, unidentified. It has been found in
some cases, associated with horse-hair blight on tea, possibly
due to Marasmius sarvmentosus, and with the same blight on
nutmegs, due to Marasmius rotalis. (Petch. Tropical
Agriculturist, Vols. XXVI p. 224, and XXIV, p. 25.)

In Java, and the Dutch Indies generally, another form of
thread blight has been found on tea. ‘This is described by
Bernard (Sulletin du Department de VAgriculture aux
Indes Neerlandaises, Nos. V1, XI and XXIII). It is white,
or delicate pink, easily detachable, and forms a soft pinkish
felt on the underside of the leaves. The pink colour on the
leaves is due to numerous spores formed from free basidia
arising from the hyphae. The fungus has been named
Corticium theae, and is related to Corticium Lilaco-fuscum,
causing pink disease of cacao in the West Indies. Bernard
thinks Corticiwm theae is very nearly related to the fungus
identified as Stadbum nanwn in India; this may be so, but it
certainly differsin many ways from the fungus found on
nutmegs in Grenada. One important point is that the Java
fungus is unable to penetrate the host, even on the leaves.
A fungus, closely allied to Corticiwm theae, occurs on nutmegs
in Java, and according to Zimmermann, another species
of Corticiux: causes thread blight of coffee in the same island.

Examination of specimens of thread blights in the Mycolog-
ical Laboratory at the Head Office of the Department would
appear to indicate that they may be due to different fungi in
different cases; it did, however, seem that the fungus on
nutmegs in Grenada is the same as one of the forms found on
cacao in Trinidad.

The question of the identity of the fungi has been gone
into at some length for this reason. If the mycelium is in
general sterile, infection can only take place from the ground,
as is possibly’ the case with S#t/bwm nanum; or from pieces of
diseased leaves or twigs being brought by the wind or birds
into contact with healthy plants. But if it is due to a species
of Corticium forming spores on the leaves, another serious
source of infection must be taken into consideration. Fructi-
fications will most probably be found on old diseased material,
and should be looked for. They may take the form
of toadstools, as do those of the horse-hair blights, or they
may appear as pink or lilac colouring on the under side of
diseased leaves, if the fungus is a species of Cortietwm.

To summarize, there appear to be several forms of fungi
capable of forming thread blights, some of which belong to
the genus Cortzcium, some probably to other genera, while
others may be related to, or identical with, horse-hair blights
(Marasmius spp). They are of very general distribution
throughout the tropics, and occur on several host plants,
among which may be mentioned, tea, coffee, cacao, nutmegs,

Wore Exc NOs 2/3:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 20

~I

mango, sapodilla, bamboo, pois doux (Znga laurina), immor-
tel, and other shade trees.

REMEDIAL MEASURES.—-All dead leaves and twigs should
be carefully removed by pruning, and burnt. If burning is
impracticable for any reason, they should be very deeply
buried with plenty of lime, in case the fungus is a ground
saprophyte. The harder parts of trees showing the threads
should be carefully washed with lime-sulphur wash, the
fungicide being rubbed into the threads with a brush. If
this involves too great an outlay, severe pruning might be
resorted to, care being taken to determine that there are no
threads on the main trunk. All neighbouring forest trees
should be carefully examined for thread blight, as they might
easily prove a source of infection.

It should be remembered that the disease may become
serious if neglected, but can easily be kept in check if proper
attention is given to it.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of May :—

The calamity that has befallen the nation by the unex-
pected death of King Edward VII has naturally had the effect
of causing a complete stagnation in social and commercial
movements, the nation being plunged not only into outward
mourning but inward grief. Immediately the news became
known, business at the principal commercial centres was at
once suspended, and even at the time of writing, the effect
of the shock has scarcely worn off.

In the drug and spice markets what business has been
conducted has been on a limited scale, and quite of a normal
character.

In individual articles, cocaine has been almost entirely
neglected, while vanilla has fallen 6d. in the tb., and rubber
has dropped about 2s. per tb,

GINGER,

The sales during the month have been slow. At the
first auction on the 4th, the offermgs of Jamaica amounted to
235 packages, all of which were bought in at from 51s. to 64s.
for ordinary small dark to good middling; 264 packages of
Cochin and Calicut were also brought forward, but found no
buyers, 52s. being the price wanted for fair rough washed.
At the auction on the 25th of the month, Jamaica was repre-
sented by 239 barrels, a few only finding purchasers at the
following rates: 65s. for fair bright, 63s. for good middling
and 53s. for good ordinary. A large quantity of Cochin and
Calicut was offered at this sale, and all was bought in at 60s,
for Calicut, 55s. for bright washed; 52s. 6d. for cuttings, and
48s, to 52s. 6d. for rough washed Cochin.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

At the first spice sale on the 4th, slightly advanced
prices were obtained for nutmegs over previous rates, to the
extent of ls. 4d. per Ib. for small and medium, and 1s. 2d. to
ld. for the larger sizes. A week later, firm prices ruled, and
220 packages of West Indian were sold. Mace was disposed
of at the first auction in the month at an advance of ls. 2d.

to ld. per lb. for West Indian, 30 packages being sold at from
Is. 9d. to 1s. 10d. for palish, 1s. Sd. to 1s. 9d. for pale and
reddish, fair red fetching 1s. 7d. to ls. 8d. per lb. A week
later, 72 packages of West Indian were disposed of at 1s. 11d.
for good pale, Is. 8d. to 1s. 9d for fair, 1s. 7d. to 1s. 8d.
for dark red to fair red, and Is. 2d. to ls 6d. per Ib. for
broken. The offerings of pimento at the beginning of the
month amounted to 202 bags, of which only a few were
disposed of at 21d. to 24d.; at the end of the month there was
but little or no change, and a slow demand. Arrowroot has
been in slow demand during the month. At the first spice
auction, out of 420 barrels of St. Vincent offered, only 45 were
sold, at 2d. per Ib. for fair manufacturing. At the same
sale 10 half-barrels of Bermuda were offered and bought in
at 2s. per bb.

SARSAPARILLA,.

At the first drug auction on May 5, sarsaparilla
was represented by 35 bales of Lima-Jamaica, 21 of which
were sold at 1s. 1d. per tb. for fair, and 10d. to 104d. for
rough and chumpy. Of native Jamaica, 26 bales were
brought forward and 7 sold at 10d. to 103d. for dull to fair
red Thirty-eight bales of Guatemala, Mexican character,
were bought in at 84d. per tb. Four bales of Honduras were
also offered and bought in. Genuine Grey Jamaica has been
searce throughout the month, though information was cur-
rent that consignments would arrive in time for the first
auction in June.

TAMARINDS AND LIME JUICE.

With regard to tamarinds, a firm tone prevailed at the
beginning of the month; 124 packages were offered, 64 only
being disposed of, namely, 44 from Antigua realized 12s. per
ewt. for fair pale, in bond, and 20 of fair pale Barbados sold
at from I4s. to 14s. 6d., also in bond. East Indian black
were bought in at 12s. 6d. per ewt. In the middle of the
month it was stated that no concentrated West Indian lime

juice was to be had, but at the close there had been some

arrivals but only on a very small scale, the nominal value
being quoted at about £18 10s. There was a quiet but
steady trade in West Indian raw lime juice at prices from
11d. to 1s. 1d. per gallon.

TO PREVENT BEES FROM SWARMING.

The Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society tor
April 1910 gives hints as to the way in which bees may be
prevented from swarming. The method is to visit every
hive and remove two frames of the sealed brood, substituting
two frames of foundation, being careful at the same time to
leave the queen in the brood nest. This is, of course, tak-
ing for granted that, after the first extraction was made, all
solid frames of honey were removed and brood combs were
given in exchange, in the centre. ‘The brood removed may
be used for making increase, or if this not desired, a super
may be placed on the top, so that an increase will have been
gained from this brood when it hatches out. Such a plan
will prevent increase being made too late in the season, with
the consequent loss, and the extra work of feeding, in order
to prevent desertion.

The use of swarming cells is not advised, as this tends
to cause the bees to swarm all the more. The giving of
room in the day that has just been stated is said to be the
best means of avoiding the evils of swarming.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

208

JUNE 25, 1910.

London,—THE

New York,—Messrs.

MARKET REPORTS.

ComMMITTEE CIRCULAR,

pE Pass & Co.,

West Inpia

7, 1910; Messrs. H. A.
May 27, 1910.

Arrowroot—st. Vincent, lid. to 34d.

Batata—Sheet, 4/3; block, 3/7 per Ib.

Berswax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 60/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/-
to 53/6; Jamaica, 44/- to 52/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 43/- to 57/-.

Corra—West Indian, £27 to £27 5s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 20d. to 213d.

Frurr—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, d0/- to 53/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 59/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honey—31/-.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Live Jurce—Raw, 11d. to 1/1; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£18 15s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9, nominal.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Macre—Steady.

Nurmecs—Quiet.

Pimento—Common, 22d.; fair, 2,3,d.; good, 24d. per tb.

Rupser—Para, fine hard, 9/4, fine soft, 9/3; hme Peru,
9/2 per tb.

Rum—Jainaica, 2/- to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/- to 21/ ; Muscovado, 14/- to 15/;
Syrup, 12/6 to 15/3; Molasses, no quotations.

June

GittesPizE Bros. & Co., May

ZiemelLolO:

Oacao—Caracas, lle. to 1l}c. ; Grenada, 10cZ. to 11fe. ;
Trinidad, llc. to 11sec. ; Jamaica, 94c. to 11e. per th.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26:00; culls,
$15:00 to $16:00 ; Trinidad, select, $25:00 to $26:00 ;

culls, $15°00 to $1600 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, 8ic.; good ordinary, 9c. to
9ic.; and washed, up to 103c. per tb.

Gincer—9$c. to 12}c. per th.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 54c.; Parbados, 49ce. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.;
Antigua, 49c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grave Frurr—$3°50 to $6-00 per box.

Limes—$5°50 to 36°50.

Macr—30e. to 36c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8$e. to 9c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°25 to $1°50.

Pimento—4te. to 4ge. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°27c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3:77c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°55c. per tb, all
duty paid,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., June 11,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°15 to $11°25 per fanega; Trinidad,
$10°90 to $11-20.

Cocoa-NuT Or.—$1:09 per Imperial gallon.

Corrrr—Venezuelan, 10jc. per th.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4°75 to $4°80 per 2-bushel bag.

Ontons—$2°7d to $3°75 per 100 lb.

Pras, Sprit—$6-00 to $6°10 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1°90 to $2:00 per 100 tb.

Rick—Yellow, $4°40 to $445; White, $4:°90 to $500
per bag.

Sucar— American crushed, $6°20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—-Messrs. Leacock & Co., June 21,

HO MOK

Messrs. T, S. Garraway & Co., June 21, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lyxcu & Co., June 13, 1910.
ArrowRoot—St. Vincent, $3°40 to $3°75 per 100 th.

Cacao—S$11-00 to $12
Cocoa-NutTS—$18 00.

VO per 100 Th.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $9°50 to $11-00 per

100 th., scarce.

Hay—8$1°20 to $1°40 per 100 Tb., dull.

Manures—Nitrate

of soda,

$60°00 to

365-00; Cacao

manure, $42:00 to $48-00; Sulphate of ammonia,

$7000 to $75°00

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$1‘00 to $2°50 per 100 Ib.
Peas, Sprir—$6'10 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3:50 per bag of 120 th.
Poratos—Noya Scotia, $100 to $2°40 per 160 th.

Rice

» $3:00 per L100 th.

Sucar—No quotations.

Ballam, $4°58 to $490 (180 tb.); Patna, $3°80 ;
Rangoon, $2°80 te

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & Ricurer, June

11, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacH, PARKER

June 10, 1910.

& Co.,

ARTICLES.

ARRowROoT—St. Vincent)

Batata— Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

CassAva—

Cassava STARCH— |

Cocosa-NuTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio)
Libenan |

DHaL— |

Green Dhal |

EKppos— |

Merassts—Yellow

Ontons—Teneriffe |
Madeira |
Pras—Split |
Marseilles |

PLantTains—

Poratos—Novya Scotia
Lisben
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam
Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
SuGar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles
Cordwood

”

Messrs.

$400.

& Ricuter.

$800 per 200 th.

32c. per tb.
78c. per tb.

51°20

| $6-00 per barrel of

196 th.
$10 to $16 per M.

14c per th.
143c. per th.
83c. per th.

to $4°10 per
of 168 th.
$5°75

SL-O04

None

32. to dtc.

bag

$590 to $6°00 per|

bag (210 tb.)
$4°00
12c. to 60c. per
bunch
$2:25 to $2-40
No quotation
$2°00 per bag
No quotation
$450
$1°68 per bag
None
None
$3°05 to $3-10
$3°70 to $3:80
$4-00
$2°25 to $2-50
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°50 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00
per ton

WIETING |

Messrs. SAnp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.
$800 per 200 th.,
market dull

Prohibited
None

|L0c. to 11e. per th.|10c. to 11c. per tb.

| No quotation

| No quotation

|

‘$16 per M., peeled

and selected

12c. to 15c. per tb.

14hc. to 15c. perth.

| 10c. per tb.

$4°L0 per bag of
168 tb.

3ke.

No quotation
$610 per bag
(210 th.)
No quotation

$250
No quotation

$4-75
$4°50

None
$3°70
$4:00
None

32c. to 55c. per

cub. foot

$3°50 te $5°50

per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos, 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d.

Volumes IT, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2; 1V, 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume X. Ne. 1. No. 2. No. 3, Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manuriul Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conference, 1910; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
Botanie Station ; Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua and in Barbados ; Disinfection of Imported
Plants ; Index, etc. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIBS.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sccar Inpustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.; in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungvid Pests Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d.

Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados,
in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No 44, price 6d.;
in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.;
in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d.

(18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams.
(25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2.2.

(28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 31.
(34) Notes on Ribbit Keeping in the West Indies.
(35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks.

Price 24.

Price 2d.
Price 5d.

Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.
in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No, 20 price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.

(41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6J.

(43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-
tions Price 2d.

(45) A BC of Cotton Planting

in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33 price 4d.;
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.;
in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.;

in 1908-9 No. 63, price 67. New and Enlarged Edition.

Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward [slands,
in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d :
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4/.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.;
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.;
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.

ScaLe Lysects.

Price 6:1.
(52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition.
(53) A B C of Lime Cultivation Price 4d
(54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,
Price 4d.
(55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

Price 4d.

(58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.
(60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them.
(61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [. No. 7, price 4d.-
Part II., No. 22, price 4d.
GENERAL.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4.

The above will be supplied post free for an additionai charge of 4d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., 1d. for those

marked 4d., and 14d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62 and 63.
The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News ’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
‘2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Az
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.
The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: THE Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripcewateR, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. e Montserrat : Mr. W. Ropson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tre ‘Datity CHRONICLE OFFICE, Georgetown. “Antigua; Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHat & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THe Brste AnD Book SuppLty AGENCY, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough. Nevis: Mr. S. D. Matone, Charlestown,

Grenada : ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Price 4d.

Vou. IX. No. 215. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Junu 25, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

A

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

“FOR “SALE, vz LDODITE |
A MYSORE BULL. \ii DO DPITE |
(THOROUGHBRED. ) We always keep a stock of this article on hand.

Aged nine (9) years. Prompt attention paid to orders from neighbouring}

Apply to:— colonies, Special quotations for large quantities.
DR. GABRIEL, THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
tion FACTORY, LIMITED,
(212.) = BRIDGETOWN.
JUST ISSUED. JUST ISSUED. . seer

Report on Experiments Conducted at Antigua

and St. Kitts in the Season 1905-9; contaiming:— " WEST INDIAN BULLET] N.

Part |, Experiments with Varieties of (Vol. X, No. 4)

ar-cane ; Containing: The Agricultural Conference in Antigua,
Sug C 4 : ‘4 1910: Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica Botanic Station;

Part ll, Manurial Experiments. The Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua; the Root Disease

; of Sugar-cane in Bi tarbados; Disinfection of Imported Plants;
To be obtained from all agents for the Title Pag re, Index and Contents.

sale of the Department’s publications. Price, :
(Part 1) 1s; post free 1s. 3d.; (Part II) 6d; post To be obtained from all agents for the

free. 7d. sale of the Department’s publications. Price
\6d.; post free, 8d.

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Vol. 1X. No. 214.] SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1910. [One penny.
—— |
THE ROYAL MAIL
|
| % " STEAM PACKET COMPANY
| ® @ Wat Oe ¢ ROYAL CHARTER, dated 1839)
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JAMAICA. ST. THOMAS, RIO DE JANEIRO. B, AYRES. LISBON. MADRID

180

i
THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Imperial Department of
| Agriculture.

BOTANIC STATION REPORTS.

Annual Report on the Local Department of Agriculture at Barbados, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural Instruction. and Experiment Plots, Grenada, 1908-8,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School, Land Settlement Scheme, and of the Govern-
ment Veterinary Surgeon, St Vincent, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Experiment Plots, St. Imcia, 1908-8.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural School, Dominica, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the botanic Station and Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1908-8,

Annual Report on the Botanic Station, Experiment Plots, and Agricultural Education, Antigua, 1908-9.

Annual Report on the Botanic Station. Economic Experiments, and Agricultural Instruction; also on
Agricultural Education, St. Kitts-Nevis, 1908-9,

Annual Report on the Experiment Station, Tortola. Virgin Isiands, 1908-9.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's publica-
tions.

DOO LA?E
3 ra GF a | if
does not mean a dollars worth for
“ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

gin is small, why not change the methoc?

Our book on cacao suggests some
‘new old truths—write for it. We send

it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P,0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

IZZIE SGOT SF oom
Z NS WELLE 17 '71 7] Gal?
SANT e ie “&
9 ; U
Aa Hs

Of:

SS
An) Q)

V/

7 BS. \
He Bs

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW Tee Lee
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. ~~"
Von. IX. No. 214. BARBADOS, JULY 9, 1910. PRICE “i

CONTENTS.

PAGE. PAGE.

Artificial Production of Germination and Fertility

Nitrates = aly of Pollentiey 3. .:. 223
BuniGrassies ee cee eee eee fal Gleanings’... @eaiises Je. 220
Calcium Cyanamide and | Imperial Expansion, 1902-8 217

Nitrateof Lime... ... 217 | Insect Notes :—

Canadian Exhibitions, 1910 | The Acarina or Mites,

Thom ee hee: |e DOD Part Il Gee. ..2 28
Corn, Relation of Ear Char- Maize, Suitable Manures

acters to Yield ... . 213} for <o eeee ee 21D.

Market Reports 224

Cotton Notes :—

; : | Notes and Commen -» 216
Cotton Growing in the eager : Bis :

Pastures, Care’ of ... ... 223

trench Colonies... 214) pyi7e-Holdings Competi-
Cotton Linters for Paper- Seer a ae 9
Se Ti. eee tion in Grenada Pol kesep Su
West’ Indian Cotton ~.. 214 | F'i2e- Holdings’ Gompeti-
a eto || tion in Jamaica... ... 216

Cuba, Trade and Commerce | Rubber for Manufacture,

of, 1909 215 Preparation hee one) LO
Department News ... 221| Rubber Trees, The Jequie
Departmental Reports ... 219 Manicobagees) -.. ... 2/1
Fruit Exportation from Sey Bean, Indian 213
Natal ... 212|Students’ Corner ... ... 221
Fungus Notes :— West Indian Agricultural
Cacao Canker 222 Conference, 1911... 216

The Canadian Exhibitions, 1910.

S is well known, exhibitions to be held in

the Dominion of Canada, this year, in which
ait the West Indies are interested, will take
place at Toronto, and St. John, New Brunswick. The
former of these opens on August 27, and closes on Sep-
tember 9; that at St. John lasts from September 5 to
15, 1910.

During the past few years, special efforts have
been made in order to give the West Indies adequate

These

some cases

representation at the Canadian Exhibitions.
efforts being continued, and in
augmented, this year, as there is a general recog-
nition of the fact that the the past
will be undone, to a great extent, unless particular
energy 1s put forward, not only in order to keep the
representation of the West Indies up to its former
This

is not the only argument, however, for careful, well con-

are

work of

standard, but to effect an improvement on it.

sidered ard thorough work, on the part of Permanent
Exhibition Committees. It is evident that the hold-
ing of the recent Royal Commission on Trade Rela-
tions between Canada and the West Indies makes it
a matter of great importance that the West Indies
should do as much as possible to show how their
resources can be developed, and that they are willing
to effect what they can toward improving those rela-
tions, In every way.

The second of the two exhibitions, in the order
mentioned above, is what is known as the Dominion
Exhibition. It is national in character, being sup-
ported by means of a large grant from the Dominion
Government every year; and it is held in different
towns, from time to time, in accordance with the idea
of its being a possession of the people of Canada.

Representations at both of these exhibitions, by
means of one exhibit is not feasible, owing to the dates
on which they are to be held—the Dominion Exhibition
opens five days before the closing of the one at Toronto.
This has made it necessary, where it has been decided
to show at both exhibitions, to make arrangements for
the preparation of exhibits in duplicate. The adoption
of this policy would seem to be preferable to the one
by which only one set of exhibits is to be forwarded,

210

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Juv 9, 1910.

that is where the interests of the particular colony, and
the funds at the disposal of its Permanent Exhibition
Committee, are such as to justify the preparation of
two exhibits. Canada is a country of large distances;
and although communication and transport are easy,
Toronto has its special use as an exhibition centre for
the country on the borders of the Great Lakes, including
the City of Ottawa, and Montreal and Quebec, while
St. John is more specially useful in the same way to
the province of which it is the capital, and to Nova
Scotia, Prince Edward Island, with Halifax and Char-
lottetown. The scope of the latter exhibition will,
however, be much wider than this, more particularly
on account of its national nature.

At both of these exhibitions, space will be provided
free to West Indian exhibitors, and the exhibits will be
placed under capable supervision, without any charge
being made for this. As before, Mr. Charles Pickford,
of the firm of Pickford and Black, has undertaken to
receive and arrange exhibits from the West Indies, at
both exhibitions, and the steamers of this firm will con-
vey all material for them free of cost.

As reyards the dates of despatch of this material,
non-perishable exhibits for Toronto should he ready for
shipment by the steamer which leaves British Guiana
on July 21, and arrives at Halifax on or about August
10. Perishable articles for Toronto should be shipped by
the boat which leaves British Guiana on August 4, and
reaches Halifax on August 22.

In continuation, as regards St. John, non-perish-
able articles should be ready to be sent by the boat
which leaves British Guiana on August 4, and arrives
at St. John on August 22. The similar dates in con-
nexion with the despatch of perishable articles for St.
John are August 14 and September 3. It is evident
from this, that the perishable articles for the exhibition
at Toronto should be shipped by the same steamer as
the non-perishable material intended for St. John,

Information in connexion with the packing and
forwarding of exhibits is given in the Agricultural
News, Vol. VII, pp. 145-6. This may be summarized,
as follows: (1) the specimens forwarded should be gen-
uinely commercial samples; (2) liquids, fine powders
such as starch preparations, and sugars, should be put
up in tightly closed glass jars and bottles; (3) samples
of dried products are best enclosed in neat boxes with
sliding, glazed lids; (4) information, as complete as poss-
ible, which may be of use to buyers, should be forwarded
with the samples; (5) decorative material should be sent:
(6) just before they are packed, all bottles, jars, etc.,

containing specimens and samples should be carefully
examined, to see that there is no leakage from them;
(7) all glass containing vessels should be packed espec-
lally carefully= (8) the labels descriptive of the contents
of the bottles and jars should be placed near the bottom
of them, so that the sample which each contains may
be seen clearly; (9) each package and vessel should be
numbered, and a list should be forwarded to Messrs.
Pickford and Black, giving the numbers and correspond-
ing contents; (10) where fresh fruits, ete., to be displayed
in glass bottles, are forwarded, they should be placed in
a 4-per cent. solution of formalin; (11) where possible,
handbooks descriptive of the colony from which the
exhibits are being sent should be forwarded, as well as
pictures and postcards of the colony and its chief indus-
tries; (12) all correspondence concerning exhibits and
exhibiting should be addressed to Messrs. Pickford and
Black, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Up to the present, arrangements are being made
to send exhibits to Canada from Trinidad (showing
methods of production «and manufacture), Barbados,
St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua,
St. Kitts, the Virgin Islands, and British Guiana,
Material will be sent to both exhibitions from Burba-
dos, and this will be done in Antigua, as well.

A revised edition of the illustrated booklet entitled
“The West Indies in Canada’, which has been issued
annually by this Department since 1907 for use at the
Canadian exhibitions, is at present being prepared.
This is descriptive of the conditions and circumstances
of production in the West Indies, and is intended to
assist in arousing further interest in these colonies, on
the part of Canada, as well as to present some idea as to
their resources, and thus to help in giving the abundant
available proofs that the West Indies and Canada are
especially and naturally fitted to provide one another
with commercial products.

Experiments have been carried out recently at the Wash-
ington (United States) Experiment Station, for the purpose
of determining the effect of shading, in regard to various
plants. As a general rule, it was tound that, except in the
case of plants that become very dry on maturing, the presence
of shade greatly increases the inoisture content, as well as the
percentage of ash and crude protein.

In its broad’ effect, shading increases the percentage of
moisture, mineral matter and nitrogenous matter in the plant,
and there is an accompanying decrease in the percentage of
carbohydrates (sugars and starch). This decrease is not,
however, proportionate to the increase of the other constitu-
ents, and is not thought to be due to the smaller amount of
the carbon assimilation, in the shade, but to other physiologi-
cal causes.

Von. IX. No 214.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 211

THE JEQUIE MANICOBA RUBBER
TREE.

The following is taken from a special article, deal-
ing with the Jequié Manicoba rubber tree (Manihot
dichotoma), which appears in the Tropical Agricul-
turist for April 1910:—

During the past year, various owners of Manicoba
rubber land {in Brazil] heve been directing attention to the
culture of this tree. I visited several plantations, ranging
from a few acres to 100 acres in area. I was anxious to
investigate the cultural capabilities of the tree. The owners
of these lands are ignorant of the lines on which this culture
should be initiated. They take it for granted that sticking
the Manigoba seeds or euttings into cleared ground is all that
is necessary, without further attention. One important fac-
tor isin their favour: I refer to the wonderful tenacity of
life and recuperative power pervading this plant. The primi-
tive procedure by which the incipient seedlings and cuttings
are left to take care of themselves with a view to establish-
ing plantations, is antagonistic to the development of the
trees, for nothing is more important than the proper treat-
ment of young plants in the establishment of prospective
great plantations. The result of the preliminary attempts in
question was an aggregation of maltreated plants. In this
connexion it may be noted that about half-a-dozen labourers
only, men who know nothing about rubber cultivation, and
who have nobody to instruct them, perform all the work
appertaining to the upkeep of such plantations, comprising
some 50,000 plants. Of course they have but few weeds to
contend with—an important consideration-—as they are in
general suppressed by the peculiar soil and climatie condi-
tions. I therefore could not help coming to the conclusion,
that if these improvised plantations were placed under my
control, I should replant them throughout. Anybow, it is
important to be able to add that I found two notable excep-
tions to this crude style of planting, one of which is concern-
ed with a few thousand plants, and the other 50,000,
on both of which intelligent methods of planting had
been adopted. These two plantations, from a practical
point of view, were decidedly encouraging. The seeds
and huge cuttings or stumps had been planted only four
months. The seedlings in this time attained a_height
of from 4 to 5 feet, and they were exceedingly healthy and
vigorous. The huge cuttings are procured from the forest,
that is to say, saplings in the forest are cut down and stuck
into the cleared ground to form roots and permanent plants.
These stumps measure from 6 to § feet in length, with both
ends cut off, and in four months the vigorous shoots that
spring from the top are 4 and 5 feet in length; thus there is
a continuity of growth from the sapling to the established tree.

This plant is an invaluable acquisition to rubber culti-
vators. It can be cultivated at a minimum cost, consequent
on its persistent tenacity and vigour, as is exemplified in its
native soil, and because of its other merits, to which I have
drawn attention. Further, it may be stated that the product

of this tree is comparable with particular products cultivated
in the tropics and elsewhere—products that flourish in a great
measure by the restricted cultivation given. That is to say,
when we discover a 1egion pre-eminently adapted for a given
culture, there it yields not only the best produce of its kind,
but also far more economically.

Again, the humble dimensions of the Manicoba tree, I
am convinced, are a factor in its favour, from a cultural point
of view, for it attains a size exactly suited for close planting.
In the great Hevea plantations under cultivation in the East,
close planting is systematically resorted to, with the object of
forcing early crops, which are available from young trees of
limited size; for numbers collectively far more than compensate
for the production of rubber per acre from full grown trees
widely planted. As a matter of fact, big trees are stated in
the East to be an encumbrance.

The number of trees usually planted in the East runs
from 100 to 200 per acre, sometimes more. The number
of Manicoba trees I advocate to be planted on one acre
is 1,200. Lestimate that 1,200 trees per acre (exclusive
of certain returns in the fourth year) will yield 600
of rubber in the fifth year, and at least the same
quantity annually thereafter for a long period of years.
In many rich Manigoba zones, I computed the number of
wild trees at more than 100 peracre, some 25 per cent.
being tappabie trees, and most of the remainder saplings,
the forest growth of which is sluggish as compared with that
of those under cultivation. It may be observed that a wild
tree occasionally yields 1 tb. of rubber at a tapping, but the
average is far less. One of the subsidiary advantages to
accrue from cultivation is that of systematic control of the
cropping by a special staff of workers, for the itinerant col-
lectors of wild rubber cannot always be counted on.

PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION IN
GRENADA.

An appendix to the minutes of the proceedings of
a special general meeting of the Grenada Agricultural and
Commercial Society, held on April 1, 1910, gives a report
on the Prize-Holdings Competition held in the parish of
St. John’s, Grenada, for the year 1909. According to this,
there were thirty-eight entries in three classes : five in Class I,
nine in Class IH and twenty-four in Class II]. The work
done by competitors was as follows: none in Class I, two in
Class IL and fourteen in Class III, so that sixteen competi-
tors worked their holdings for prizes under the scheme.

The first and second prizes were awarded, in Class II, to
Adolphus Baptiste and John Francis, respectively. In Class
ILI, the prizes were given in order as follows: Eliza I
Me.Intyre, Pomelia John, Freeling St. Louis, Rudolph
Louison, Joseph Nahalsingh, Frederick Me.Guire, Sylvester
Jerome, the second and third prizes being divided equally
between the two competitors successful to.this degree.

The results showed that the chief weakness in all the
holdings was in the matter cf pruning; the forking was
excellent, and draining was well done; but the drains them-
selves were not sufficiently deep

The examiners (Messrs. W. M. Malins-Smith and
J. H. Burgess) state that they found two cases where dead
leaves were burnt in the fields, and they drew the attention
of the Agricultural Instructor to the frequency with which the
tarring of dead wood on the trees takes place, in order that
he may warn the peasant proprietors: as to its uselessness.
In the Grand Bay and Concord districts, very little thrips or
black blight was found; there was a good deal of the latter,
however, in the Gouyave valley district.

bo
bo

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Jury 9, 1910.

FRUITS AND

FRUIT EXPORTATION FROM NATAL.

In the last issue of the Agricultural News, a partial
abstract was presented, of a report on the export of citrus
and other fruit from Natal to England, for 1909, which has
been given recently to the Government by the Commercial
Agent for Natal in London. The present article completes
the abstract of this report, which appears in fullin the Vatal
Agricultural Journal for March 1910.

In regard to the question as to whether fruit should be
consigned direct to salesmen, or through general agents, the
opinion is given that where a completely reliable broker is
employed, there is no necessity to requisition the services of
a general agent. The value of the services of the latter is,
however, recognized in the following ways, especially in the
matter of handling large consignments: the quantity of fruit
to be placed on the market at one time can be regulated by
him; he can arrange for fruit to be held in cold storage for
better prices, or for its distribution to other markets; he
can find other salesmen or auctioneers if he thinks that
the interest of shippers can be served better by his doing
this; he serves a useful purpose in providing a handy means
for ordering and shipping the packing material required where
the fruit is grown

The names of the private salesmen, auctioneers and
general agents given in the report are repeated here, without
prejudice to the claims of other firms to be considered:—

LONDON. Messrs. T. J. Pourpart, Covent Garden, W.C.;
George Monro, Ltd., Covent Garden, W.C.; and Charles
Kauttman, Central Avenue, Covent Garden (private sales-
men). Messrs. Garcia, Jacobs & Co., Covent Garden, W.C.;
and Messrs. E. A. O'Kelly & Co., Covent Garden, W.C.;
(auctioneers); Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts & Co, 65, London Wall,
E.C., and Messrs. Perkins & Adamson (general agents).

HAMBURG. Ferdinand Kugelmann, 13, Neueburg (private
agent). August Stier, Hamburg, 8. Fruchthof, working in
conjunction with Messrs. Gustaf, Schonfield & Co., Kaiser
Wiljemstr. 47, Hamburg (auctioneers).

ANTWERP AND ROTTERDAM. Messrs. B. & M. Spiers,
trading as the Netherlands South African Fruit Company,
Leuvenhaven, 38, Rotterdam (agent).

PARIS. Messrs. Omer Decugis et Fils, 57, Rue Saint
Denis, Paris; and M. Hollier, 13, Boulevard Rochechouart,
Paris (agents).

PRUIT BER EES.

With regard to the matter of advertising, the following
is a broad expression of the methods suggested: (1) the distri-
bution of samples of fruit among the principal hotels, cater-
ers and retail fruiterers, throughout the country where it is
to be introduced; (2) the insertion of neatly printed cards,
describing the special qualities of the fruit, in the trays and
boxes in which it is exported; (3) the distribution of attractive
bills, for display in fruiterers’ shops and stores; (4) the insertion
of attractive advertisements in all tbe fruit papers, and the
chief daily papers; (5) the provision of money to be used in
giving illustrated lectures, in the countries to which the fruit
is exported; and (6) exhibits at the Royal Horticultural Hall.

Advice is tendered, in connexion with the export of fruit
during the coming season, and this is presented below, in so
far as it is of interest in the West Indies: —

Prneappies. The best packing material has been found
to be corn husks, which should, above all things, be dry. The
fruit was shipped from the Cape in boxes of three sizes, the
outside measurements of the middle one being 28} x 134 x
5} inches; there were three boxes in each bundle, and the top
one, only, was lidded. It is suggested that, for the Cayenne
pineapple, the box known as the Azores half case, which is
22 inches square and 9 inches deep should be used. The
box recommended for the Queen pine is one which will take
ten and twelve fruits, according to size, allowing for sufficient
packing. Jor pines of a good class, the boxes should be
shipped singly and not bundled together in threes, two of
which are not provided with lids, as this gives the fruit
a ‘cheap’ appearance. During carriage at sea, ventilation
appears to be better than cold storage.

Information is given with regard to the season of ship-
ment of pineapples from other countries. From this it
appears that the Florida pine reaches England between May
and August, and is sold at 9d. to ls. each, at first. The
seasons and prices for the Jamaica pine (bull head variety)
are as follows: January to early in March, 3s.; April,
4s.; April to August, 2s. to 5s. per dozen. Ripley pines
from Jamaica obtain, during March, 4s. to 7s.; April to
end of June, 6s.; July, 5s.; and August, 4s. per dozen.
The bulk of the Azores pines is shipped between October
and May, when an average of 1,500 to 2,000 cases arrive
every ten days. If these are in good condition they
obtain the following average prices : case of twelve Is. 4d.
to Is. 6d.; case of ten, 2s. to 2s, 3d.; case of eight, 2s. 9d.
to 3s, 6d.

Vor. IX. No: 2/4.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

213
———e

The chief requirements of a good pineapple are stated to
be: (1) a bright and even colonr; (2) a fine, single crown,
green and bunchy; (3) absence of specks and bruises: (+)
clean appearance. =

The latest rates for the carriage of pineapples in Eng-
land are given as follows: London to Manchester Aas 20:
London to Liverpool 39s. 4d.; Southampton to Man-
chester 52s. 6d.; Southampton to Liverpool 48s. 7d. per
ton. These rates include the cost of collection and delivery,
within certain prescribed cartage limits, excel in the case of
Liverpool. =

AVocADO PEARS. There is a limited demand for these,
and they must arrive in sound condition. The largest and
greenest fruits obtain the best prices; these range during the
year from 6d. to ls. 3d. for each fruit. Avocado pears
from Madeira are wrapped in tissue paper, for the purpose of
preventing discolouration, and are packed in a box measuring
30 inches x 9 inches x 4 inches, having a division in the
middle, and the sides ventilated to a small extent. Each of
these boxes contains thirty to fifty fruits, according to size,
together with packing material, which consists of dry corn
husks.

CUSTARD APFLES. These must arrive green, packed in
the same way as that for avocado pears, and about the same
prices will be obtained for them. They meet a fair demand
during the winter, but do not keep in summer.

GRANADILLAS. There is a doubtful demand for these,
and the fruit is difficult to carry, even in cool chambers.

EGG PLANT, There is always a limited demand for
this; the shape required is similar to that of the ordinary
(Natal) cucumber, but a little shorter, and straight.

Information is also given in regard to French beans,
tomatos, Cape gooseberries, green ginger, chillies (capsi-
cums), and plums, but there is only an assured market for
the last of these.

The information with regard to preserved fruits shows
that there is an extensive market in Great Britain for
erystallized fruit, and that this would form an opening for get-
ting rid of surplus citrus fruit. There are good prospects
for a finely flavoured pineapple put up in tins, either whole,
in chunks, or in cubes. It is also the Commercial Agent's
opinion that there is a great oppertunity for the introduction
of granadillas and other passion fruits, shipped as pulp, and
put up in attractive jars or tins, with proper instructions as
to the preparation for food.

Indian Soy Bean.—The Jndian Trade Journal for
November 11, 1909, gives information as to the analysis of
fourteen samples of soy beans supplied by the Director of
Agriculture, Bombay, and grown from seed of Japanese origin
at the Manjri Experimental Farm. This shows that the
moisture content varied from 9°90 to 12:06 per cent., while
that of oil fluctuated between 16°44 and 22°48 per cent. The
report on the beans states that eleven of the fourteen samp-
les were distinctly good, and that those showing above 20
per cent. of oil were very good, the latter being better in this
respect than the best Sakura Manchurian beans. For pur-
poses of comparison, it is stated that the average Manchurian
bean contains about 194 per cent. of oil, of which about
6 per cent. is left in the cake. Further information concern-
ing the percentage oil content of beans of different origin is
quoted from the Reporter on Economic Products, India, as
follows: Chinese, 17°60 to 26°18; Japanese, 13°36 to 25°55;
Java, 18°37 to 26:18; grown in Europe, 15:16 to 21°89; grown
in North America 18°42 to 19°52.

THE RELATION OF THE EARCHARACTERS
OF CORN TO YIELD.

An extensive series of experiments, conducted for
the purpose of finding out what characters of the ear
are associated with a high yield from corn, has been
conducted at the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.
These are to be continued indefinitely. A summary of
the preliminary results: are given, in Bulletin 212 of
that station, as follows:—

(1) That the selection of seed ears of less than normal
length, for a given variety or locality, will reduce the yield,
and, if the selection be continuous, gradually shorten the
length of ear.

(2) That shape of ear as regards cylindricity is a matter
of less importance than many other of the prominent ear
characters. While the tapering ears have, upon the average,
ted slightly in yield, the variation is neither important nor
consistent, and more evidence is needed before a pronounce-
ment can be made for either type.

(3) That the continuous selection of seed ears having
1 to 14 inches of bare cob at the tip will increase the
average amount of bare cob at the tip, diminish the total
number of ears heving completely filled tips, and decrease the
yield of shelled corn per acre.

(4) That, so far as indentation of kernels is concerned,
ears comparatively smooth —crease-dented—have proved some-
what superior in yield to the rough-dented ears.

(5) That, conditions of growth being equal, weight of
ear, as made up of slight increases in length, circumference
and amount of density of grain and cob, favours an increase
in yield, and is worthy of consideration in the final selection
of seed corn.

(6) That a knowledge of the previous conditions of
growth is helpful in estimating the value of seed corn. And
further, that seed for use under given conditions would
better be selected under slightly inferior, rather than a very
much superior environment.

(7) That the germination box can hardly be expected
to pick out seed ears of superior hereditary merit. Its work
is completed in atoning, in part, for carelessness in the hand-
ling of seed corn.

(8) That the main crop of corn on every farm should be
planted with varieties known to be productive and acclima-
tized, and that importations of seed corn from a distance
should be confined to a very limited area until, by careful
selection, they have become adapted to local conditions.

(9) That a maximum yield of corn can hardly be secured
under good soil conditions in this State with less than
12,000 plants per acre. This stand may be had with three
plants per hill, in hills 36 inches by 42 inches.

———_

An article in Nature, for May 26, 1910, deals with the
latest work that has been done in connexion with pellagra.
This work is being carried out by a field commission in Italy,
consisting of Dr. Sambon and his assistants, and in pursu-
ance of it, several pellagrous districts in Northern Italy have
been visited for the purpose, among others, of searching the
streams for possible carriers of the disease. Results, so far,
have shown that the disease is not due to maize, as has been
believed by many, but that it is probably carried by one of
the sand flies —Simulium reptans — whose larvae are common-
ly found on the stones and rocks in the streams of the infect-

ed districts.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

Jury 9, 1910.

mr iS

PD @) WH

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date June 20, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report about 200 bags of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold. These are chiefly comprised
of St. Croix, 20d. to 21d.; St. Vincent, 21d. to 24d.; and
a considerable quantity of Superior Stains at 15d. to 16d.

Owing to the recent fall in other growths of cotton,
spinners are showing less disposition to purchase. Crop
advices from America state that the Sea Island crop there is
rather backward, and that rain is needed.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending June 11, is as follows:—

There has been some demand this week on account of
the Northern mills, resulting in sales of two planters’ crop
lots, viz., 100 bales Coosaw, five bales Wave, on private
terms. The factors continue to hold the remaining crops in
stock at 40c. to 50c., thinking that the limited supply left
unsold will be required by the trade before the next crop
comes to market.

COTTON-GROWING IN THE FRENCH
COLONIES.

During the year 1908, the industry made substantial
progress in spite of some unexpected reverses. In Dahomey
and in Senegal and Niger, the season was exceptionally dry,
whilst in Algeria, the crop was considerably reduced by the
attack of locusts. The total production of the colonies
exceeded that of 1907 by only about 7 tons, but there are no
grounds for discouragement, since decided progress was made
everyWhere except in West Africa. The approximate quanti-
ties of ginned cotton produced in 1907 and 1908 are compared
in the following table :—

1907. 1908.
b. tb.
Senegal, and upper Senegal 88,620 40,240

and Niger

Dahomey 201,630 130,170
Algeria 69,950 133,180
Guadeloupe 2,500 39,610
New Caledonia nee 11,020
Réunion 2,090
Madagascar and the Comoro Islands 23,040
Somali Coast 1,100
Tahiti 2,200
Total 362,500 378,650

(The Bulletin of the Impei tal Institute, Vol. VIil, p- 16.)

COTTON LINTERS FOR PAPER-MAKING.

The Moithly Consular and Trade Reports, for
February 1910, gives the following quotation from the
Paper Maker and British Trade Journal concerning
a machine. known as the Minek and deSegundo machine,
which removes completely the linters, or fuzz from the
surface of cotton seed:—

Those who have followed events will have noticed num-
erous patents taken ont with the object of utilizing cotton
for paper-making purposes, and the floating of companies for
this purpose. All attempts have proved failures, with a great
deal of waste of capital, up to the introduction of a complete
dry mechanical separation of the cotton fibre from the rest of
the material. When this came forward a few years ago, we
made a thorough investigation of the process in Germany,
since which time we have had a great deal to do with it. Cotton
seed hulls are now fed continuously, according to the patents
of Minck and de Segundo, to a machine which produces
a complete separation of the cotton. ‘The fibres are auto-
matically plucked, as it were, from the epidermis or shell by
means of rapidly rotating arms of special construction, An
air-blast through the machine draws the fibres away, leaving
the husk to discharge from underneath the machine, free from
cotton and in a condition available for cattle foods.

The ordinary cotton seed hull-, which a few years ago
were regarded as being absolutely useless, became piled up
round the mills until something had to be done to get rid of
them, and to get rid of them they were burned under the
hoilers. As fuel they were only worth a few shillings a ton.
Now, the position is being altered by the methods of dry
inechanical separation. The cotton that can now be com-
pletely separated from the rest of the material becomes a valu-
able material in the manufacture of paper. It can be boiled
and bleached very much in the ordinary way, and used for
the best rag papers, for itis nothing more or Jess than pure,
virgin cotton. It requires little or no beating, as regards
the length of the fibre, for it is already about the right
length. It requires beating, of course, in order to mellow
it down to make it work wet by bruising the fibres under
the roll. In the nature of things, it has a marked tendency
to work very free.

The first-mmentioned publication gives an abstract

of additional information that appeared in the article,
as follows:—

The cotton-seed oil mills sell their cotton-seed meal under
standard guarantees of analysis, such as 55 per cent. protein
and fat, 8 per cent. ammonia, etc, but when the product
they are making runs higher than the minimum guarantee,
they do not get a bonus for this excess. In such cases, most
of the mills, to eut this excess down to their sale minimum

THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 215

guarantee, adulterate the meal with cotton-seed hulls. The
analysis is kept up to the minimum called fori the contract
of sale, but the lint on the bulls that are ptt into the meal
gives it oftentime a fuzzy appearance, which affects its feeding
qualities, and is objectionable to the trade. There are
numerous instances on record in which buyers have asked
a rebate for the lint in the meal. Arbitration committees
have sometimes awarded the buyer an allowance on account
of this excess of lint, although the meal was up to the contract
quality in every other respect.

Some of the Mineck and de Segundo maghines were seen
in an oil mill at Marseilles, but the manager,“considering the
matter quite a secret, would give the writer no detailed
information about them. He admitted, however, that the
machine was a new invention, and that it was a great success.

1

TRADE AND COMMERCE OF CUBA, 1909.

It is stated in No. 4,427, Annual Series of the Diplo-
matic and Consular Reports, which has just been issued, that,
from such data as are at present available, it appears that the
trade of Cuba in 1909 showed signs of steady improve-
ment.

The export of sugar from Cuba in 1909 was 1,431,538
tons of the value of £16,485,440, which is greater than that
of the previous year by nearly £6,000,000, or rather more
than 50 per cent. +s is usually the case, nearly the whole
of this sugar went to the United States; only 10,309 tons
was sent to other countries. This large crop was due to the
excellcnce of the harvest of 19C8 9.

The crop of 1909-10 also promises to be very satisfactory,
and reliable estimates place the yield at 1,700,000 tons; prices
for the earlier part of 1910 are 25 per cent. higher than those
at the same time in 1909. It is stated that European buyers
are trying to secure Cuban sugars, and it is a fact that several
cargoes have been sent already to Europe. This is a new
development, and, while it has a favourable effect on prices,
it puts Cuban manufacturers in possession of an additicnal
market.

In regard to fruits, the pine-apple crop, of 1909 formed
a record, but remunerative prices were not obtained, in
general. This was partly because the United States is the
only accessible market at present, and partly because supplies
reached the market on many occasions when it was already
glutted, owing to the want of organization among fruit
growers in Cuba. The export of pine-apples during 1909 was
1,280,000 crates of 80 tb.; this exceeded that of the previous
year by nearly 250,000 crates.

Little profit was attached to the export of oranges and
other citrus fruits. The reasons for this are supplied by the
fact that the growers are only small producers with little
capital, for the greater part, and that railway and steam-
ship charges are high. In addition, orange-growing in Cuba
is still in the experimental stage, and many errors will have
to be rectified before it can become a profitable industry.

The amount of tobacco produced in 1909 was 494,358
bales of about 120 tb. having an estimated value of
£9,000,000. That produced in 1908 reached 563,059 bales,
so that there is a decrease of 68,701 bales. The value of all
the tobacco exported during 1909 was £6,545,054, as
compared with £6,735,212, in 1908. The state of the
tobacco industry in Cuba has caused much anxiety to planters
and merchants for some years, and a Commission was
appointed in 1909 to inquire into it. This has issued

a report which recommends, chiefly, that there should be
greater care on the part of growers to keep up the high
quality of Cuban tobacco, and to maintain uniformity in the
product.

THE PREPARATION OF RUBBER FOR

MANUFACTURE.

One of the Circulars and Agricultural Journal
of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon (Vol. V, No. 4),
deseribes a visit of Dr. J. C. Willis,Director of the Gar-
dens, to the works of the Continental Rubber Company,
of Hanover. Part of the information given is repro-
duced here: —

The first stage was the cutting up of the rubber, as
received from the market, and in the room where this was
going on many plantation marks were recognized. And here,
Dr. Prinzhorn [the Director] made his first complaint against
plantation rubber, that when it was in blocks, the blocks were
too thick, and had to be eut up. He stated that the blocks
ought not to be more than | inch thick. This is only a small
point, but it is worthy of attention, none the less.

Cut into slices not over an inch thick, the rubber next
went into the large washing and rolling room, which employed
an engine of 1,000 horse-power. Along one side of this room,
were about ten rolling machines, composed each of a large
puir of cylinders, rotating at different speeds in opposite direc-
tions. At the near end of the room, these cylinders were
strongly grooved, and as one went down the room the grooves
became less and less marked, till finally one cylinder, and
then both cylinders, were quite smooth. The rubber began
at the coarsely-grooved cylinders and finished at the smooth
ones, going through each pair in turn. By the crushing and
tearing action of these rollers, which are kept warm, and
between which a stream of water plays, the rubber is com-
pletely worked over, and all impurities are washed away,
while the rubber is rolled into an irregular sheet, full of small
openings, and becoming thinner and finer and more regular
as the material goes through the smoother rollers at the far
end of the room, which, besides being smoother, are also
closer together.

The softer rubbers are washed with cold instead of hot
water; and for the African rubbers, which are almost incred-
ibly dirty, a special machine is used for the first part of the
washing. This is known as the Hollinder (Dutchman), and
is in fact the machine used in paper mills to make the pulp.
It tears the rubber into fine shreds, and passes it along
through a considerable stream of water, the sand and other
impurities falling to the bottom. From the Hollander, the
rubber goes to the later, and smoother, rolling machines,
omitting the passage through the coarser. This cleansing
process, through which all rubbers must go, Dr. Prinzhorn
did not think could be properly carried out upon an estate.

From the last of the washing and rolling machines, the
rubber comes in thin irregular sheets, with numerous small
holes in them. These are carried upstairs to a room not
unlike a tea-withering loft, where they are hung for two or
three days, or until thoroughly dry, in a temperature of about
40°C. or a little less (104°F.), over wires arranged in light
wooden frames, like those of the tea witherers. The poorer
African rubbers were not dried in this room, but in a cooler
room above. Both rooms were fitted with red blinds, to
provide a non-actinic light for the rubber, which is injured
by exposure to bright light—just like a photographic plate,
but in a less marked degree.

THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, JOIN O OO!

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculvure

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, ANG not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 87, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 8 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural

VOT sexe

alews

SATURDAY,

JULY Bh

1910. No. 214.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial deals with the Canadian Exhibitions
which will take place at ‘Toronto and St. John this
year, and gives information with regard to forwarding
exhibits from the West Indies.

On page 211 will be found an article dealing with
the recent Prize-Holdings Competition in Grenada. On
page 216, a similar article concerning that in Jamaica
appears.

An abstract of the latter part of a report on the
exportation of fruit. from Natal, to which attention
was given in the last number of the Agricultural News,
appears on page 212.

Some particulars of the preparation of rubber for
manufacture will be found on page 215.

The Insect Notes (p. 218) contain the second part
of a series of articles on the Acarina or Mites. Fig. 33
is used by permission of the United States Department
of Agriculture.

A review of the Mycologist’s Annual Report to
the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad, for 1909-10, is
given on page 219.

999

ond,

The Fungus Notes, on page deal with the
latest work in connexion with cacao canker.

The West Indian Agricultural Conference,

ORSIE

With theapproval of the Right Honourable the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, and of his Excel-
Jency the Governor of British Guiana, the next West
Indian Agricultural Conference will be held on January
12 to 21, 1911, at Georgetown, British Guiana.

By the courtesy of the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company, it 1s probable that a special steamer will be
provided for the purpose of taking the delegates from
Barbados to Demerara.

At an early date, specific communications will be
addressed tou the varions West Indian Governments,
with referenceto the delegation of representatives to
the Conference.

This preliminary announcement will give reason-
able time for the preparation of papers and items of
interest to be laid before the Conference, and work in
this direction should be begun early.

= ——

Prize-Holdings Competition in Jamaica.

The report on the recent prize-holding competition
in the parish of Trelawny, Jamaica, appears in the
Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society for
May 1910. This shows that the number of holdings
entered was forty, thirty-seven of which were judged,
the others having withdrawn: twenty-one were new
competitors, the others had competed previously. The
new competitors were successful in winning four regular
prizes and one extra prize. Is is stated that, although
the number of entries was not large, it was very grati-
fying to see the amount of interest that was evinced
in the competition,

A great deal of improvement had been made by
all the competttors, in their holdings, several of these
being of a permanent nature, and arising from sugges-
tions that were’made during the occasion of a previous
competition.

It is pointed out that some of the competitors
seem to think that prizes can be won by effecting
a large cleaning up of the holdings just before the
conipetition, forgetting that the real value of the work
consists in steady progress from year to year.

In the first class, more attention was required in
regard to the permanent crop, especially in the matter
of pruning, and thinning generally. The general aver-
age of marks in the second class was below either of
those in the other classes: here, there was a want
shown in the matter of catch crops and live stock.
A fair average of marks was obtained in the third
class, but improvement is required in the growth of
catch crops. I$ is recugnized, however, that the small
area of such holdings is largely responsible for this
circumstance, aS provisions are naturally cultivated
elsewhere. In the result, the competition is stated to
have been an interesting and successful one.

An account of the Prize-Holdings Competition in
the parish of St. John’s, Grenada, for 1909, will be found
on page 211.

Vor. IX. No. 214.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Imperial Expansion, 1902-8.

Information concerning the commercial growth of
the Empire during the period 1902-8 is summarized in
the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts for June 3,
1910. This shows that, during 1902, the total
trade of the British Empire with foreign countries
was £5876,000,000, while in 1908 it -had become
£1,121,000,000. The trade within the Empire, dur-
ing the same period, increased from £297,000,000 to
£377,000,000, so that the augmentation of trade alto-
gether was £325,000,000. 1

The remarkable expansion that has taken place in
the amcunt of commodities produced by the Empire,
during the same period, is pointed out, with the follow-
ing illustrations. The production of coal, in the time
under discussion, expanded from 241,000,000 to
801,000,000 tons: that of iron from 13,879,000 to
16,399,000 tons; that of cotton from 1,099,252,000 tb.
to 1,479,041,000 Ib. The similar increases for wheat
were 410,000,000 to 541.000,000 bushels, and for gold
from £30,000,000 to £53,000,000, in value. The
journal goes on to point ont that these figures, while
they demonstrate the potentialities of the Empire,
give but a faint indication of its ultimate productive-
ness, when the oversea lands are more adequately
peopled, and more fully cultivated.

oo

Artificial Production of Nitrates.

In the Monthly Consular and Trade Reports for
March 1910, information is given, which has been
obtained from various british Consular Reports,
concerning the manufacture of nitrates from the air, in
Norway. These show that, up to now, over a million
pounds sterling has been spent on the works at
Notodden and Svaelgfos, and the power stations which
are being constructed at Rjukan and Vamma. On the
completion of the work, at the end of 1910, a little over
£3,000,000 had been spent. An important point in
connexion with the irdustry is the opportunity which
it has given for the founding of several minor indus-
tries in connexion with the manufacture of nitric acid
and various nitrates for commercial purposes. A point
worthy of notice is that no coal is used in the produc-
tion of these substances, and it is stated authoritatively
that the sale of saltpetre produced in this way will not
be disturbed by competition with Chili saltpetre in
the matter of price, for many years.

The Notodden works, together with the Rjukan
works, when they are completed, will absorb 240,000
horse-power, and produce saltpetre of an export valne
of over £1,000.000. In 1908, the value of nitrates
produced in Norway was about £111,666 and the
expenses of production amounted to £83,750.

At the present time, ocean-going vessels cannot
approach Notodden nearer than Skien, and all goods
have to be carried by lighters between these places.
Plans are being considered for the purpose of widening
and deepening the water-ways, so that ships may be
loaded and unloaded at Notodden.

Bur Grass.

An account of bur grass (Cenchrus echinatus)
appears in the Proceedings of the Agricultural Society
of Trinidad and Tobago for May, 1910. This mentions
that the grasses of the genus Cenchrus are known in
Trinidad as bur grasses, sand burs, sand spurs and cock
spurs. Dealing with the one especially under discus-
sion, the account goes on to point out the injury that
is inflicted on animals when feeding, and even on men
while passing through the grass, through the strong
spines on the burs which enclose the flowers and seeds.
The wounds caused by them appear to be specially
dangerons, as they are likely to cause lock-jaw, unless
great care is exercised in cleansing them, and keeping
them clean. The burs naturally forin the means of
distribution of the seeds, and through them the grass
may be introduced into places that are many miles
away from the areas where it exists already.

_ The grass grows best on dry, sandy or gravelly
soil, but if is also commonly found on roadsides, in
yards, in places where rubbish is deposited, and in
gardens, in the last of which it may become a serious
nuisance, as a weed.

Measures are suggested in the article for the
purpose of the extermination of this plant. ‘These
consist in cutting off the spikes of the plant as soon as
they appear, in order to prevent it from forming seed;
or better, in pulling up the whole plant from the
ground, and making heaps of it, which are allowed to
become dry, and are then burnt.

Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate of Lime.

In the present volume of the Agricultural News,
po. 169 and 185, the results of recent experiments have
been given shortly, which show that calcium cyanamide
and nitrate of lime posses a manurial value which is
almost the same as that of nitrate of soda and sulphate
of ammonia. It is of further interest to note that these
results are supported by experiments that have been
conducted during the years 1905-8, at the Aberdeen
and North of Scotland College of Agriculture. An
account of these is contained in Bulletin 13 of that
College, an abstract of which appears in the Journal of
the Board of Agriculture for May, 1910. According
to this, the trials were conducted on a series of plots
manured with equal amounts of nitrogen, potash and
phosphate, the only difference being in the way that
the nitrogen was supplied, this difference being brought
about by applying it as nitrate of soda, sulphate of
ammonia, nitrate of lime and calcium cyanamide. In
each case, there were two other plots, one with no
manure, and the other with the potash and phosphate,
only. ‘he first acted as a control in the matter of the
soil productivity without manure, the second, similarly,
in relation to its power to yield crops, without added
nitrogen, but with potash and phosphate.

In the result, it is shown that calcium cyanamide
was equal to nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia
for grain crops, while nitrate of lime was rather more
effective, weight for weight, than any of the other nitro-
genous manures, probably because of its power to supply
lime to the soil.

bo
—
(oe)

INSECT NOTES.

THE ACARINA OR MITES.
DAMS Se

Among the species included in the order Acarina are
many forms which are of great importance in connexion with
agriculture, on account of their depredations on both plants
and animals. With the exception of the ticks, the members
of this order are small, so small, in fact, that in many cases
the organism is not seen until after the effect of its presence
is demonstrated. Such pests as red spider, béte rouge, poultry
mite, scab and mange mites, the leaf-blister mite and the
ticks, are examples of this group of animals. ~

As the reader can judge from the few
common names just given, the Acarina have
very diverse habits. ‘There is also a consider-
able variation in structure and habit. In the
mites, generally, the body forms cne closely ~
connected structure, without division into
regions such as the head, thorax, and abdomen
of insects, or the cephalothorax and abdomen
of the Scorpionida.

The adult mites usnally have four pairs
of walking legs, while the newly-hatched have
only three pairs. The eyes are often small, and
may be absent; the stigmata are generally
wanting, and the mouth parts are adapted
for piercing or biting, and sometimes for both
biting and sucking. Certain species are entire-
ly free-living and plant-feeding; others are
parasitic on plants, forming galls on them;
and others again are parasitic on, or in, animals
of various sorts, from man to certain insects.

The Acarina may be divided, for con-
venience, into several families, which are as FU
follows:—

I Trombididae-—____ The spinning mites.

ME 3dellidae — The snouted mites.
ITI. Gamasidae— The poultry mitcs
IV. Ixodidae— The ticks.

V. Orobatidae— The beetle mites.
Wak Tyroglyphidae— The scavenger mites.
VII. Sarcoptidae— —‘ The itch mites.
VIII. Phytoptidae— The gall mites.

The red spiders may be taken as good examples of the
first family of mites. Although called red spiders, they are
variable in colour; the older and more fully fed individuals
seem to have a deeper colour than the younger ones. They
are so small as to be practically invisible. Attention is
generally attracted to them only when the injury which they
do to the plants has progressed far enough to be noticeable.

The red spiders spin a web of very delicate silken threads,
underneath which they live. The females lay rather large eggs,
from which the young hatch in from six to eight days. The
young mite is practically colourless, and has only three pairs
of Jegs. The metamorphosis is gradual, the most marked
change in appearance being the increase in the number of the
legs, the adult mite having four pairs.

The red spider most common in the West Indies is
Tetranychus telarius, which is often to be seen attacking
sweet potatos. The mites live on the under side of the leaves,
where they spin their webs. The drying and yellowing of the
sweet potato leaves is often an indication of the presence of
this pest, and when this condition is observed, examination

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

woos A Rep Sper.
(Magnified.)

JuLty 9, 1910.

reveals the presence of these mites, in all stages of develop-
ment, under and in their webs.

Red spiders flourish best in dry, hot weather, and the
advent of rain often checks an attack of the pest. Sulphur
is a remedy fot mites of all kinds, and may be applied for the
control of red spider as a dust, or as a spray. The more
practical way for field application would probably be the
dry one, for which purpose, the sulphur would best be
mixed with its own weight of slaked lime. Sulphur may be
used as a spray, mixed with water at the rate of loz. to
each gallon, _

Cotton is’ often attacked by a red spider, probably not
the same as that of the potato, but a related species. Roses
also are attacked by red spider.

The Bryebia mite which, in many countries, is a serious

pest on fruit trees, clover and other plants,
Y belongs to this family. When these mites are
, very abundant, they sometimes swarm irto
houses, and cause considerable discomfort to
the inmates.

Another pest well known in the West
Indies for its irritating effect on man is the
larva of a mite, belonging to this family, which
is there called béte rouge. In England, this
mite is called the harvest bug, and in the
southern part of the United States it is often
called chigger. In the West Indies, however,
the term jigger, or chigoe, is applied to one
of the true insects, which is really a_ flea
(Sarcopsylla penetrans).

The parent or adult form of the béte
rouge does not seem to be definitely known,
although it is said to be Zrombidium holosert-
ceum. The harvest mite has been described
as Leptus irritans, but it is now generally
believed that Trombidium and Leptus have
been applied to different stages of the same insect.

The very small, bright-red mites which are often found
on the bodies of grasshoppers and beetles, belong to the
genus Trombidium, and are either the adult form of the béte
rouge, or closely related to it.

In many islands of the West Indies, béte rouge, at certain
seasons of the year, causes very serious inconvenience. The
regular dwellers ina locality where this mite is abundant
seem to become accustomed to its attacks, or at least less
susceptible to them, and to suffer but little, while strangers,
especially visitors from northern climates, may undergo an
extremely disagreeable experience at their first acquaintance
with this pest. Béte rouge is very minute in size, reddish in
colour; it inhabits grass and weeds in open fields, and may
be found often in tennis lawns and other well kept grass.
The animal attacks the ankles and lower limbs of the
victims, and burrows into the skin, where it completely buries
itself, if it is not removed in time. Different persons
recommend different remedies; the favourite applications for
the West Indies seem to be oily or greasy substances, rum, bay
rum and lime juice. Any ointment containing sulphur would
also be useful. It must be remembered, however, that to be
really efficacious, these remedies should be applied as soon as
possible after the attack begins, for if the mites once become
embedded in the skin, the remedies do not reach them, and
the irritation and annoyance caused by the presence of these
foreign bodies is extreme.

Von. IX. No. 214;

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 219

4

NUAL REPORT OF THE MYCOLOGIST, 1909-10.

This report contains much interesting information with
regard to diseases of the principal crops in Trinidad, arrived
at as a result of Mr. Rorev’s first year of work in that island.
The plants dealt with include cacao, sugar-cane, cocoa-nut
palms, and bananas, in addition to several of minor
importance.

The work on cacao consisted of cultural and inoculation
experiments with the black rot fungus (Phytophthora omni-
vora) aud various species of Nectria. As a result of these
experiments, it was shown that cacao canker, as well as
black rot of the pods, is due to the first-mentioned fungus,
and that infection may spread from the pods to the cvshion
and bark, and vice versa. A fuller paper dealing with this
point is to be published later. Some investigation of minor
diseases such as die-back, thread blight and root disease,
was also made, and material suspected of exhibiting the
characters of the witches’ broom disease of Surinam was
carefully examined, with the result that it appears unlikely
that this disease occurs in ‘Trinidad. Careful spraying
experiments on cacao were carried out in September and
December of last year, and in February of this year, as
a result of which Mr. Rorer is able to state that spray-
ing, if thoroughly conducted, pays; for it not only
naturally increases the number of healthy pods, but also
prevents loss of trees from canker, by checking the spread of
the black rot fungus on the pods, and from these to the tree
itself. It also has a beneficial effect in keeping the minor
diseases in check. A paper dealing fully with the results so
far attained is to be issued later, and should prove of great
interest.

As a result of the field examination . of sugar-cane,

Mr. Norer states that the root disease and the blight
are not connected with one another, as one may occur
without the other, though both are sometimes found

in the same field. A fungus, identified by Massee as Septo-
cylindrium suspectum, was found on dead adult frog hoppers
and may prove to be of economic importance if it is capable
of causing disease of living insects. (See Mew Bulletin,
1910, No. 1.)

Bud rot and root disease are the most serious diseases of
cocoa-nuts in Trinidad, though their causes or cause are not
yet definitely determined. It is suspected that some connexion
may exist between them: that both are due ‘possibly to the
same organism. The only method ot dealing with them is
thoroughly to destroy infected trees, and for this purpose
a sum of $375 has been so far expended on work under the
direction of an inspector. Mr. Rorer recommends that the sum
of $500, originally voted, should be voted again, and that the
work should be continued next year, when he also proposes
to make a more thorough investigation of the diseases. Other
cocoa-nut diseases are bleeding disease of the stem, due to
Thiclaviopsis ethaceticus, and leaf disease, in addition to one
known as ‘little leaf disease’, the cause of which is not under-
stood.

Three banana diseases are reported: the Panama disease,
possibly due to a species of Fusarium; the Moko disease, shown
by Mr. Rorer to be bacterial in origin; and a root disease,
caused by a species of Marasmins, which is probably that
known as Warasmius semiustus. ‘

Anthracnose of mangos, due to Gloeosp wiune mangiterae,
was of rather common occurrence. The fungus attacks the
flowers and leaves, as well as the fruit. If this fruit and the
avocado pear are to be grown for export, on any industrial
scale, a policy of thorough spraying will have to be adopted.
Leaf spot disease of cassava, leaf mould of tomatos due to
Cladosporium fulvum, and rose mildew are. also mentioned,
but were controlled on a small scale by spraying. Weak
lime sulphur mixture is recommended for roses, and Bordeaux
mixture for tomatos,

As will be seen, the report contains much valuable
information. Some of it has already appeared in the Bulletin
of the Department of Agriculture, Trinidad, and part of this
will be incorporated into suitable articles under the heading
of Fungus Notes, so as to render more details available to
readers of the Agricultural News. Meanwhile, further results
obtained from continuation of the work already begun,
especially the cacao spraying experiments, will be awaited
with interest.

SUITABLE MANURES FOR MAIZE.

The Bureau of Soils of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture has just issued Bulletin 64, entitled
Fertilizers for Corn Soils, in which the following
summary of conclusions in regard to the subject is
given :—

The experiment stations have reported the results of
6,394 tests with fertilizers on corn soils.

Duplicate control plots show such variations, and the
range of crop increases due to fertilizers is so wide, that
considerable latitude must be allowed in the interpretation
of all results, and quantitative comparisons should not be
given too great weight.

The chances for increased yields, and the actual increases,
are greater with two or three materials mixed, than with
single fertilizers.

Increasing the amount of any single fertilizer from 1 to
10 times does not appear to have any significant effect upon
the increased yield obtained from the smaller amounts, applied
within the limits of the experiments.

From the records, fertilizers appear to have yielded, on
the average, about the same increase in the crop on the more
productive and on the less productive soils.

In the great majority of cases, and on the average, the
increase of product due to the use of fertilizers on corn soils
does not appear to be equal to the cost of the fertilizers used
to produce the increase. The average cost of the fertilizers
used in all experiments was $7°06 per acre, the average
increase in crop was 9°2 bushels of shelled corn worth, at 60
cents per bushel, 85 52 indicating a net average loss of
$1:42 per acre.

It would appear that much yet remains to be determined
as to how fertilizers act, before a rational and economical
fertilizer practice can be worked out.

As these results have been obtained from a large
number of soils, with a considerable range of productivity,
over a number of years, these general conclusions, besides
others of a qualitative value which can be drawn from the
tables, can, in the-absence of any more specific knowledge of
any particular soil, be safely followed as a guide to the
immediate selection of fertilizers for a corn soil,

220

THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Jury 9, 1910.

~ GLEANINGS.

With reference.to the useful series of articles that are
appearing in the West India Committee Circular, entitled
‘Cacao’, by Mr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., it is stated that there isan
intention to publish these in book form, when they are com-
pleted.

Information has been received from Mr. F. Potter of
Goodwill estate, Dominica, that he has certain sugar machin-
ery for sale. Some particulars of this will be found in an
advertisement on page 4 of the cover of this issue of the Agri-
cultural News.

The Antigua Sux of Monday, May 23, gives an account
of an address delivered in that island on May 18, by
Mr. A. St. G. Spooner, of Bendals estate, dealing with the ques-
tion as to whether central factories are beneficial or otherwise,
in relation to Antigua.

The examination results in the School of Agriculture at
Macdonald Colleges (Mc Gul University), published recently,
show that Mr. J. 8. Dash, late of the Barbados Agricultural
Department, took the first place in Class I, General Profi-
ciency, for the First Year Course.

In 1909, the maize exported from South Africa
to England was worth £665,596; in 1908, its value
was £217,718. The conditions for maize-growing in South
Africa should make the importance of this plant in that
country greater year by year.

The report of the Agricultural Instructor, Nevis, for
May 1910, shows that there has been a prolonged drought
in that island, which;-if it continues, will seriously interfere
with the agricultural prospects of the island, and may even
prevent the realization of the sngar crop next year.

The Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad
and Tobago, for May 1910, shows that 7,009,896 tb. of cacao
was shipped from Trinidad during that month. The total
amount exported, from January 1, to the end of May
1910, was 32,507,935 Ib. The similar figures for 1909 and
1908 were 29,618,547 tb. and 26,642,905 tb., respectively.

In the Wonthly Consular and Trade Reports, for March
1910, it is stated that recent experiments in Trinidad have
proved that the wood yielded by pois doux (Inga laurina)
can be used successfully in the manufacture of rum punch-
eons, in competition with imported wood. It is specially
suitable because it does not impart any flavour or colour what-
ever to the liquor in the puncheons. This would seem to
suggest a use for wood of this kind from Dominica, where it
is common.

The output of cocoanut oil in Ceylon for the first
quarter of the present year was 98,514 ewt., against 84,621
ewt., for a like period in 1909. The similar figures for
copra and decorticated nuts were respectively 134,302 ewt.,
and 119,873 ewt., and 4,741,751 tb. against 4,910,586 hb,
(The Zropical Agriculturist, April 1910.)

According to the report of the Agricultural Instructor,
Tortola, for last April, the cotton crop in the Virgin Islands
had been almost completed at that time, and the increasing
interest showed that a much greater area would be sown for
the coming season. A new cane mill has been imported for
the purpose of dealing with peasant canes, which are
bought on a basis of 4 tb. sugar for 100 tb. cane.

In the three great rice-producing States of Brazil, namely
Minas Geraes, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, great progress
has been made in the cultivation of this plant. From 1897 to
1904, the average annual export of rice from the first-
mentioned State to other parts of Brazil was 1,068,228 tb:
in 1905, it had increased to 1,951,494 tb.; and in 1906 and
1907, to 9,069,958 tb. and 18,168,605 tb., respectively. (The
Board of Trade Journal, Jane 2, 1910.)

With reference to the statement on page 182 of this vol-
ume of the Agricultural News, that excellent prices and
yield of cotton have been obtained for the past crop by at
least two growers in Antigua, it is interesting to note that
one of these raised a considerable proportion of the crop
from seed produced at Rooms estate by the late owner,
Mr. J. H. Lee, from plants arising from a single cottor
plant selected by the Local Agricultural Department.

The Turkish Government has appointed a Commission
to consider the question of which parts of the Ottoman
Empire are best suited for cotton-growing. Syria, Mesopo-
tamia and Macedonia, at present, grow a certain amount of
cotton, the latter country producing about 6,500 bales last
year. This quantity is not enough to supply the needs cf
the South Macedonian mills, which, with a total of 51,000
spindles, consumed 11,100 bales. (The Vertile Mercury,
June 4, 1910.)

The Lxperiment Station Record of the United States
Department of Agriculture, for April 1910, p. 438, gives the
result of investigations that have been made on the occur-
rence of phosphrie acid in the leaves of various plants at
different stages of growth. It was found that, generally, the
phosphorus content of the leaves became greatest at the
period of greatest growth, after which there was a steady
decrease until autumn. Red leaves were found to contain
less phosphorus than green ones, from the same plant.

In regard to the forthcoming International Rubber and
Allied Trades Exhibition, mention of which has been in the
Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, pp. 60, 156 and 172, information
has been received from the organizing manager, Mr. A. Staines
Manders, that the Rubber Growers’ Association, London, has
decided to present the committee of the exhibition with three
medals (gold, silver and bronze) for the best exhibits of cer-
tain kinds of crude rubber; full particulars will be published
soon. In addition, the /ndia Rubber Journal (London) is
presenting a shield valued at 100 guineas for the best exhibit
of plantation Para rubber, the conditions of competition for
which will be issued shortly.

Von. IX. No. 214.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, » -

ww
—

JULY.

Srconp PeErRrop.

Seasonal Notes.

At the present time, the cane grower will have his
attention directed more particularly to the subject of ratoons,
as the canes cf last season’s crop will have been taken off, in
most places. Read what is said in the first paragraph of the
Seasonal Notes for the first period of June (Agricultural
News, Vol. IX, p. 173), and either commence or continue the
observations that are indicated there. Ratoon canes do not
usually grow as large as plant canes. Can you suggest any
reason, or reasons, for this! Where it is possible, an inter-
esting investigation may be made, in the following way.
Compare the average amounts of sugar obtained per acre, on
the estate, from plants and first ratoons, and see what rela-
tion the smaller expense, in labour and cultivation, for
ratoons than for canes, bears to the monetary value of the
additional amount of sugar that has been obtained, per acre,
from plant canes. How do the advantages, or disadvantages
of several years of ratooning compare between a large owner,
with plenty of capital, and a small proprietor, with little or
no capital? Discuss the importance of considerations in
regard to loss by disease, in this connexion.

Examine the ground vegetation in lime plantations,
and try to find out if the different kinds of \weeds give any
indication as to the kind or state of the soil beneath them.
Useful indications as to the necessity for better drainage may
be often obtained by making observations of this kind.
Where green dressings have been grown between lime
trees and then buried in the soil, it will most prob-
ably be noticed that the leaves cf these plants are
greener, and that the latter look healthier, altogether, than
where this has not been doue. How may this improvement
be explained! Examine several lime trees, in order to find
out on what part of them the fruit is chiefly borne. It will
generally be found that the healthy trees produce fruit not
only on and near the outside of the tree, that is at and near
the ends of the main branches, but also near the middle of it.

The experience that has been gained, and the obser-
vations made in the past, should have enabled a decision to
have been formed as to the green dressings that are most
suitable for growing in the neighbourhood where the student
lives. Give an account of as many of the following plants
as you can: alfalfa, Barbuda bean, Bengal bean, cow pea, horse
bean, pigeon pea and woolly pyrol, with especial reference to:
(1) time required to grow and form seed; (2) liability to be
attacked by insects; (3) ability to cover the ground; (4).amount
of seed formed; and (5) suitability for being eut and buried.
Which of these are not liable to be attacked by caterpillers,
and what property do those possess, which protects them from
these pests? It is often feund that, when attempts are made
to raise a leguminous crop on a soil where that plant has not
been sown before, it makes very poor growth for the first

few crops, but that by sowing it there several times, it can be
made to flourish, after a time, and produce good harvests.
What explanation is there, of this fact! What indications does
such a consideration give in relation to the usefulness, or other-
wise, of soil inoculation: (1) where a given leguminous plant
has been grown; (2) where this is not the*€ase, and where it is
intended to introduze the plant?

What do you know about the conditions under which
the characters of definite varieties of cotton plants may
change? Discuss the importance of the considerations men-
tioned by you, in relation to the policy of endeavouring to
select, for each island, a strain of cotton which is best
suited to the conditions in that island. Should this principle
be applied in a narrower way, so as to enable strains to be
obtained which are suited particularly to definite districts?
How is selection of this kind performed? What is the
ditference between selection and breeding? Why are the
methods used in breeding cotton quite different from those
that are employed for a plant such as corn (maize)!

In planting yams, eddos and sweet potatos, the varieties
put in should naturally be those which are most suitable to
the district in which they are being grown. Useful informa-
tion, in connexion with this, will be found in many of the

Botanic and Experiment Station Reports that are issued
annually by the Department. When the tubers of yams and
eddos are examined carefully, they are often seen to be
attacked by scale insects, and itis evident that these pests are
causing a certain amount of injury to them. How is this
injury effected? State what treatment should be given to
such infested tubers before they are planted. Mention
other plants that are attacked by scale insects on the parts
that are below the surface of the soil. Give an account of
methods for the control of scale insects that live on the parts
of plants in the ground.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What is meant by a hybrid plant ? Describe a simple
way of obtaining hybrid plants, and state how they arise as
the result of such an operation,

(2) What are (a) nitrate of soda, (b) sulphate of ammo-
nia? What percentage of nitrogen should a commercial
sample of each of these manures contain /

(3) Give an account of the structure of the cotton seed,
and state the ways in which it differs from the seed of the
ground nut, and from a grain of corn.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Describe what you consider to be the best conditions
for the cultivation of limes, giving reasons for your con-
clusions.

(2) What grasses, or mixtures of grasses, are best suited
for each of the following: (a) pastures, (b) the production
of hay ?

(3) What is meant by ‘soil sickness’!
condition be rectified?

How can this

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados on Tuesday, July 5, by the R.MS. ‘ Berbice’,
on an official visit to the Leeward Islands.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Junty 9, 1910:

FUNGUS NOTES.

CACAO CANKER.

The canker disease of cacao has long been known from
all parts of the tropical world where this plant is cultivated,
and many different investigators have attempted to determine
its cause, and to suggest remedial and preventive measures
for combating it. While successful toa very considerable
extent in regard to methods of treatment, none of the
earlier investigators can be said to have definitely determined
the fungus to which the disease ‘is primarily due. At first
sight, it may appear that this last is a point of interest only
to the mycologist, and not of any importance to the practical
man. Actually, this is very far from being the case as, it is
hoped, will be ciearly indicated in the sequel. Apart from
other considerations, the definite determination of the fungus
to which any given disease is due is of practical importance
because, until this has been done, the biology, or life-history,
of that fungus cannot be worked out, and without a thorough
knowledge of its different forms, its general habits, and its
method of attack, the best remedial and preventive measures
cannot be determined. Such a knowledge of the parasite is
also of importance, as it shows at once whether the fungus is
one not known to oceur on any other plants common to the
locality, or even on other parts of the same host plant, or
whether it is identical with some species already well known.

Until very recently, canker of cacao has been attributed to
various species cf Nectria, or closely allied genera, the actual
species varying somewhat with the part of the world from
which the disease was reported. Recently, however, con-
siderable doubt has been thrown on these conclusions by two
or three investigators. Mrs. van Hall, in Surinam, has isolat-
ed a fungus from cankered areas on cacao, to which she gave
the name Sprearia colorans. (Agricultural News, Vol. IX,
p. 46.) This fungus differed from the species of Nectria
usually found associated with it, in that it only produced two
conidial forms of spores, and never gave rise to any perithe-
cial stage. As a result of a critical examination of the liter-
ature of the subject, Mrs. van Hall comes to the conclusion
that in no single instance has it been satisfactorily shown
that canker of cacao is due to a species of Nectria, and con-
sequently these fungi must be regarded as entirely saprophytic
in nature. She admits, however, that the fungus Spicaria
colorans, isolated and investigated by herself, would not
infect healthy trees, even when inserted in wounds. She
suggests nevertheless, that the fungus may only be able to
attack the trees when they are in an unhealthy state.

More recently, Mr. J. B. Rorer, Mycologist to the Board
of Agriculture in Trinidad, has been conducting an investi-
gation of this disease, and a preliminary account of his results
appears in a paper published in the Bulletin of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Trinidad, Vol. IX, No. 64. A more
detailed account is to appear shortly.

Mr. Rorer was led to suspect that canker might be due
to the fungus which causes black rot of the pods, Phytoph-
thora omnivora, and consequently determined to try the
results of inoculating pods and bark with pure cultures of the
fungus. As a result of these experiments, he found that the
fungus could spread backward from the pod, up the stalk,
into the cushion, and cause the typical symptoms of
canker in the bark near the cushion. Inoculations made in
the bark invariably produced the cankered appearance, and
those made: in the bark, about 2 inches, or an inch, from the
pod, resulted in the appearance of black rot on the pod.

These experiments seem to indicate definitely that, in
Trinidad, canker of cacao is due to the same fungus as causes
the black rot of the pods. This is supported by the fact that
Phytophthorasymnivora could always be obtained again from
the infected areas, and from areas affected with canker.
Petch, in Ceylon, has obtained results which support Rorer’s
conclusions, so. that it seems necessary that a thorough
reinvestigation of the disease in all countries where it is
known should be undertaken. Rorer supports Mrs. van
Hall’s conclusions that the species of .Vectrza usually found
on cacao are all. saprophytic, as inoculation experiments with
various species of this genus were all failures. Howard,
however, was able to produce infection, through wounds, with
spores of Vectria theobromac and Calonectria flavida, so that
Xorer’s resultsjcannot be definitely adopted as being true for
the form of canker which occurs in Dominica, Grenada,
St. Lucia and St. Vincent until further experiments to
settle this point have been made.

Some interesting preliminary observations in connexion
with this point have been supplied by Mr. Jones, Curator
of the Botanic Station, Dominica, in reply to enquiries from
the Head Office of the Department. It was noticed that
a plot of grafted Alligator cacao (Zheobroma pentagona) on
the Calabacillo variety as a stock, was especially prone to
attacks of canker, which spread down the scion to the junction
with the stock, after which it rapidly ringed the scion without
attacking the stock. (West Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, p. 341.)
A preliminary examination showed the presence of the usual
Fusarium pustules on the bark, but it seemed possible that
the disease might be due to Phytophthora omnivora, and con-
sequently information with regard to certain points was
requested. The reply revealed the fact that the trees were
from three years to four years and nine months old, and had
borne well. No canker had appeared until the trees began
to bear, and in Mr, Jones’s experience, even the most delicate
varieties of cacao do not become subject to canker until after
they have commenced to fruit. Specimens of diseased
pods from the Alligator cacao trees were forwarded to
the Head Office of the Department for examination,
and were found to be badly infected with the black rot
disease. The disease is stated to be common on tue pods
of Alligator cacao trees suffering from canker, and also
appears on pods of trees which are commencing to bear.
These observations, at any rate, suggest that, as in Trini-
dad, the canker disease on Alligator cacao in Dominica is
due to Phytophthora omnivora. Further observations and
experiments in this connexion will be undertaken as oppor-
tunity offers.

Another point of interest in relation to this disease is
also provided by Mr. Jones: that is, the relative immunity to
the disease of different varieties of cacao. It has been found
that the Criollo and Alligator cacaos are especially prone to
attacks of canker, and, even when the diseased areas are
excised and tarred in the usual way, are unable to recover, or
to form new bark over the wound. Moreover, they are
equally prone to attack either in wet or dry localities. The
Forastero variety is liable to attacks of this disease, but
responds to the usual remedial measures. and the Calabacillo
variety is not known to be affected at all, in Dominica.

Rorer has been lately conducting experiments on spraying
cacao in Trinidad with Bordeaux mixture. An account of
his results will appear in the next number of the Agricultural
News. He came to the conclusion that this treatment was
thoroughly practical and remunerative, and especially to be
advocated, in order to prevent the spread of the black rot
fungus from the pods to the trees, thus reducing the general
prevalence of canker. Should the same fungus be responsible

Vor. EX. No; 214.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

293

ont

for canker in the other West Indian Islands, it is at any rate
evident that every possible means for the suppression of black
rot should be undertaken, and that where the nature of the
ground permits, spraying with Bordeaux mixture on a large
scale may even be found remunerative. Another preventive
measure is to plant only those varieties of cacao which are
reasonably resistent to the disease. These preventive measures,
taken in connexion with the remedial measures already in
practice, should prove capable of reducing the prevalence of
the disease to a minimum Even if canker disease is not
always due to Phytophthora omnivora, but ism reality attri-
butable to Sprcaria cotorans, or some species of Nectria in
certain instances, yet the practicability of spraying with
Bordeaux mixture is worthy of consideration, as it would
certainly tend to reduce canker, in addition to attaining its
main object, namely, the reduction of pod diseases.

GERMINATION AND FERTILITY OF
POLLEN.

The fourth of the Research Bulletins that are
being issued by the University of Wisconsin has the
title Some Conditions which Influence the Germina-
tion and Fertility of Pollen. The following information
is taken from the conclusions that were reached, on the
completion of the work described in the bulletin:—

(1) The germination and subsequent growth of the
pollen tube are very similar to the germination of ordinary
spores, and the growth of the hyphal thread. The changes
taking place in the pollen grain previous to the germination
are undoubtedly similar to those that take place in the germ-
ination of the seed, and the necessary conditions for germina-
tion of the pollen grain are the same, that is, heat, moisture,
oxygen and a suitable medium.

(2) The first noticeable change is the swelling of the
grain, due to the imbibition of water, and the rate of
imbibition depends on the temperature, concentration of the
culture media, and in some cases upon sunshine, The greater
the concentration, the less rapid is the imbibition and germ-
ination. In these experiments, the presence of diastase and
invertase has been confirmed both in the pollen grains and in
the tissues of the style and stigma.

(5) Most pollen grains will germinate in a solution of
cane sugar. The degree of concentration differs with the
different species of plants. It is possible that the degree of
concentration of the medium in which the pollen of different
species are capable of germinating and growing may, to
some extent, be a barrier against promiscuous cross-fertil-
ization in nature and horticultural practice. However,
in most cases, the range is sufficiently great to overcome these
obstacles, if there were not other difficulties in the way.

(4) No definite statement can be made @s to the exact
manner of growth of the pollen tube. ‘lhe movement. of
reserve food from the pollen grain down to the tube was
clearly noticeable, but it cannot be stated whether the fecund-
ating nucleus, which appears at the end of the pollen tube
when it has reached its maximum growth, migrated from the
pollen grain or was in the pollen tube. The lirnitation to the
growth in length of a given species of pollen may- be, and
undoubtedly is, a barrier against cross-pollination of relative
species and varieties.

(5) The vitality of pollen is not seriously: affected by
temperatures raging from 25° to 55°C. in a dry atmosphere.
Temperatures under 25° seriously interfere with the germina-

tion. A temperature from 70° to 80° C., in a saturated
atmosphere, is fatal to the pollen of the peach, apple and
plum. At a temperature’ of 40° to 50°C., ina saturated
atmosphere, the grains burst open on account of the rapid
imbibition of water, and the number of burst grains increased
with the temperature.

(6) Sunshine had little or no effect on the germination
of pollen, or upon the growth of the pollen tube, in most
plants. ‘There was, however, a slight increase in the rate of
growth in favour of sunshine. The germination and growth
of the pollen of the tomato are decidedly retarded by cloudy
weather, and also the anthers of the tomato require a certain
amount of sunshine for the proper development of the
pollen. The same is true in several species of Lilium.

(7) The lack of cultivation and fertility in orchards
greatly injures the production and fertility of pollen.

(5) Pollen may safely be shipped from one part of the
country to another without losing viability or fertility,

(9) Experiments indicate that the length of time
required for the germination is considerably less than is
commonly believed. Two or three bright, warm days, at
the time of full bloom, are sufticient for the setting of the
fruit. The stigmas of the apple are receptive from four to
six days, whether pollinated or not. Continuous rainy
weather for six days would probably result in total failure of
the crop.

(10) The factors which affect the fertility and production
of pollen, over which the orchardist has control, may be briefly
stated as follows: suitable site, location and soil; proper plant-
ing, cultivation, and sufficient amount of plant food; pruning
and spraying; selection of suitable varieties propagated from
bearing trees; and the planting of several varieties which
flower at about the same time, to insure proper fertilization.

(11) The factors over which the orchardist has little or no
control are: freezing temperature, which may kill the pistil
or the pollen, especially before the latter is ripe, or both;
continuous rain during full bloom of the orchard; high
temperature with a large amount of moisture, and absence of
wind, which causes much pollen to burst at the time of ger-
mination; and absence of insects and wind at the time of full
bloom.

The Care of Pastures.—Attention has been given
recently to the condition of pastures, in Eastern New York
and the New England States, by the Bureau of Plant Indus-
try of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the
results of the work that has been done are presented in Circu-
lar No. 49 of that bureau. Some of these are of more gene-
ral interest, and may be given as follows: (1) In the corn belt,
the practice is to build up badly worn land by using it as
a pasture for cattle, whereas the treatment that has been
received by pastures in Eastern New York and the New
England States has caused them to deteriorate greatly; (2)
grazing too early,and too close grazing, are harmful, the latter,
because the plants are left without sufticient leaf surface for
nutrition and because it allows dangerous weeds to become
established; (3) remedial:measures for worn out pastures
consist in: the prevention of over-grazing, the prevention of
too early grazing, manuring, cultivating, re-sowing and the
eradication of weeds.

204 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JuLy 9, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

CoMMITTEE
1B,

London,—Tse West Inpia

June 7, 1910; Messrs.
May 27, 1910.

ARrRowRooT—t. Vincent, 1}. to 33d.
Batata—Sheet, 4/3; block, 3,7 per th.
Brerswax—No quotations.
Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 60/- per
to 53/6, Jamaica, 44/- to 52/6.

CorreE—Jamaica, 43/- to 57/-.

Corra—West Indian, £27 to £27 5s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Isl: und, 20d. to 214d.

Fruir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Grycer—Common to good common, 50/- to 453/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 59/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- ‘to 70/-.

Honty—31)-

Isiy eiass—No quotations.

Lime Jutce—Raw, 11d. to 1/1; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£18 15s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Macre—Steady.

Nutmecs—Quiet.

Purento—Common, 23d.;

Rugsser—Para, fine hard,
9/2 per tb.

Rigi Temaien, 2/- to 5/-.

Suear—Crystals, 18/- to 21/ ; Muscovado, 14/- to 15/;
Syrup, 12/6 to 15/3; Molasses, no quotations.

CiRcULAR,
Pass & Co.,

cwt.; Grenada, 48/-

fair, 2,%,d.; good, 2id. per th.
9/4, fine soft, 9/3; fine Peru,

New York,—Messrs.
10, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, lle. to 1l}c. ; Grenada, 10Zc. to 1l]fe. ;
Trinidad, lle. to 115c. ; Blaninies! 9c, to 10e. per tb.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26°00; culls,
$15°00 to $16:00 ; Trinidad, select, $25-00 to $26°00 ;

culls, $15-00 to $16: 00 per M.

Corrrre—Jamaica, ordinary, 8c. to 8?c.; good ordinary,
9c. to 9$c.; and washed, up to lle. per th

GIncER—9$c. to 123c. per ib.

Goat Sxiys—Jamaica, 55¢.; Barbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grape Frurr—$3-00 to $4:00 per box.

Limes—$5°00 to $6-00.

Mace—29e. to 36}c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 83c. per tb.

OrancEes—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4}c. to 4gc. per tb.

GittesPIE Bros. & Co., June

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°24c. per 1b.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°74c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°49%c. per tb., all
duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., June 25,
1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°40 per fanega; Trinidad, $10-90

to $11°25.

Cocoa-Nut O11—$1°09 per Imperial gallon.
Corrre—Venezuelan, 10#c. per tb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 th.

Duat—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°50 to $3°00 per 100 1b.

Peas, Sprir—$6-00 to $6°10 per bag.
Potatos—English, $1°50 to $1°75 per 100 th.
Ricr—Yellow, $4°45 to $4°50; White, $5-00 per bag.
Svucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 fh.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., July 4, 1910;
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., July 5, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lynew & Co., June 27, 1910.

ARROWROOT—St. Vincent, $3°50 to $3°75 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$11°00 to $12°U0 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NuTs—$18 ‘00.

CorreE—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $9°50 to $11-00 per
100 tb., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 to $1°40 per 100 tb., dull.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65°00; Cacao

manure, $4200 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,
$70-00 to $75°00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2'00 to $2°50 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6'10 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 ib.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $1° ‘92 to $3-00 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°58 to $4-90 (180 tbh.); Patna, $3°80 ;
Rangoon, $2°80 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs.
25, 1910; Messrs.
June 24, 1910.

Wierinc & Ricutrrer, June

SanpBacH, Parker & Co.,,

TS
Messrs. WIETING | ees SanD
& RIcHTErR. | » EARKER

| & Co.

ARTICLES.

$8: 00 per 2 200 tb.,
market dull
Batata—Venezuelablock) 32c. per fb. Prohibited
Demerara sheet} 78c. per tb. | None
Cacao—Native 10c. to 1c. per tb. 10c. to 11e. per fb.
Cassava— 96c. No quotation
Cassava STARCH— $6-00 per barrel of, No quotation

Arrowkoot—St. Vincent) $800 per 200 th.

196 tb.
Cocoa-NUTS— | $10 to $16 per M. $10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
| selected
Corree—Creole | l4c pertb. 12¢ to13c. per tb.
Jamaica and Rio 145c. perth. _|144c. tol5c. perth.
Liberian | 8c. per Tb. 10c. per tb.
Duatr— St 00 to $4:10 per $4:00 to $4" 10 per
| bag of 168 tb. | bag of 168 tb.
Green Dhal $5°25 —
Eppos— | $1:20 —
Mcrasses— Yellow | None |
Ontons—Teneriffe 32. to 3c. | 8c. to 3c.
Madeira = | No quotation
Peas—Split $5°75 to $5°80 per\$5-80,to $5°85 per
| bag (210 tb.) bag (210 tb.)
Marseilles $4-00 | No quotation
PLANTAINS— 12c. to 70c. per
bunch |
Poratos—Nova Scotia $2°50 to $2°75 $2°75
Lisben No quotation | No quotation
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados) $1°68 per bag
Rice—Ballam | No ouotation a
Creole | $5°00 to $550 | $5-00 to $5°50
TaNnNIAS— | $1°68 per bag | —
Yams— White $2°16 ——
Buck $3°50
Sucar—Dark crystals $3:00 to $3:10 | None
Yellow $3°70 to$3°80 | $3°60
White $4:00 $4°00
Molasses | $2-25 to $2°50 | None
Tiber —Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
| cub. foot | cub. fodt
Wallaba shingles) $3°50 to $3°'75 | $3°50 te $5°50
per M. | per M.
5», Cordwood) $1-80 to $200 | No quotation
| per ton |

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos, 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price ls. each. Post free, ls. 2d,

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Volume X, No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of-Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conference, 1910; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
Botanie Station ; Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua and in Barbados; Disinfection of Imported
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PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures. the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sucar Lypustrry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.; in 1901, No, 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price’ 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. — Price 3-1.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price Gd.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.

in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.

in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (48) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.; tions Price 2d.

in 1908-9, No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting New and Enlarged Edition,
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in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d. ; (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A B C of Lime Cultivation Price 4d
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.: in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4dd.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d. Price 4d. ,
: Scar Iysects. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [ No. 7, price 4d.- (88) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.
Part II., No. 22, price 4d. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
GENERAL. (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charye of Sd. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News ” is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued
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longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Adi
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetzy, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. Nt. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: THe Epucationan Suppry Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripcewaTeR, Roseau, |

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: THe ‘Datty Cnronicie’ Orrice,Georgetown. intigua: Mr. S. D. Matone. St. John’s,
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Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough. Vem - Mr. S 1). Martone, Charlestown,

Grenada : ‘Tar Srores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. IX. No. 214. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Shits 5 TING):

THE BEST -MANURES FOR ‘COLONIAL USE

oF AP Ee ogee x

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO :—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

A ES

FOR SALE. va wey POR i
A MYSORE BULL. PODS |

(THOROUGHBRED. )

Aged nine (9) years.

We always keep a i, of this article on hand,

Prompt attention paid to orders from neighbouring

Apply to :— colonies. Special quotations for large quantities.
DR. GABRIEL, THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
Annona FACTORY, LIMITED,

(212.) BRIDGETOWN.

MACHINERY FOR SALE. Jus? issvzb.
ne eeatae Sugar Plant of ine Goodwill Usine, con- WES aT INDIA BULLETIN.

sisting of one 4-ton Vacuum Pan and Engine ; Triple Effet,
Juice Pump, Engine and Mont-jus ; Evaporators ; Subsiding
and other Juice Tanks and Molasses Tanks: Three Centrifu- (Vol. X, No. 4.)
gals with Engine and Molasses Pump; two 12-feet Fletcher's
Multi-tubular Boilers, Steam Chest and other accessories. 1910: Notesion aime @acnos at the Dominica Bos Stat;
All in good working order. Also two iron Molasses Sugar! The Root Di f Sos m h ane Reet
Coolers; one Iron Molasses: Tank (10,000 gals.); and three fs ae Sada dos: ae a eee x oe Disease
1 r ys . : = 0 Sugar-cane ar S5 sin .
Cane Wagon Weighing Machines. [of Sugar.cane tygueescs; Dis ection of Importe ants;
Title Page, Index and Contents.

Containing: The Agricultural Conference in Antigua,

For further particulars, apply to :—

F. POTTER, To be obtained from all agents for the
Goodwill Estate, sale of the Department’s publications. Price
(214) Dominica, W.I. |6d.; post free, 8d.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Vol. IX. No. 215.]

B04

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Pamphlets sent

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

4

FOR SALE.
A DESIRABLE PLANTATION KNOWN AS |

ORANGE VALLEY ESTATE

in the Island of Antigua, B.W.1., 8 miles from principal
town, containing 707 acres, from Sea-Level to 1.200
feet ; 60 acres cleared for Limes, 15 acres planted in
Limes, 700 2-year-old Cocoa-nut trees.

Suitable for Rubber, Cacao, Limes or Stock. Rain-
fall 56 inches per annum. Dwelling house and out
offices, stables, pens, and storeroom; labourers’ cottages.

36 Head of Cattle, 3 small horses.
Indefeasible Certificate of Title and Plan.)

For further particulars apply to : —
Messrs. McDONALD & DOUGLASS,

43, Church Street,

St. John’s,
| Antigua, B.W.I.

SPACE AVAILABLE

rok

ADVERTISEMENTS,

does not mean a dollar's worth for
ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

gin is small, why not change the method?

| Qur book on cacao suggests some
new old truths—write for it. We send

it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P,0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,
Havana, Cuba.

ma FORMNIGHT LY KREVLEW PIBRA!
; NEW Y¢
OF THE
a Fs BOTAN
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, caxoe
Vor. IX. No. 215. BARBADOS, JULY 23, 1910. Prick 1a.
CONTENTS.
and his advisers. It is with the object of indicating
Pigs Pace, 1 What ways this co-operation is specially impor-
tant that the following matters ar
Birds, (Feeding. Habits Taddet Notes a io ae e following matters are brought under
Of. (Wis gatpetes, --- 234, ‘The Acarigamon Mites, LS ESET
Cacao Cultivation in the Part ILI , -- 234 . :
(Siestvvvra (Clans. nals LG Magione Commerce ae When any crop is attacked by disease of a fungoid
cao Pods, Packing and Bs Pame-Sulphus oa ela origin, the nature of such attack may be of two kinds:
ce ERe OE aes use on Leaves either it may be epidemic and destroy, or threaten to

Camphor, Yield of, from
Different Parts of the
Plantes) eee ate yen 288

Cotton-Growing from Cut-
tings and by Budding 232

Market Reports

Notes and Comments

Plant Diseases, Some Con-
siderations in the Treat-

ment of Meee. -.. 220
Cotton Notes :— Plants, Action of Mangan-
Crossing Sea Island and ese Salts on ... ... 232
Native West Indian Prickly Pear, Utilization
Cotton Pe ehis PEI of the ... ae 235
The Prospects of Egypt- Rubber, Varieties of 231
ian Cotron-Growing... 230]St. Vincent Agricultural

Society Sd . 229

West Indian Cotton ... 230 A ee
Sicily, Tradeand Commerce

Department News . 229

= : F ss 7 909 233
Euphorbia Latex for Pre- ; eo I tT Sas
earls versio Bene Students’ Corner... ... 237

venting Corrosion

SZ Wew
7 oops Suear my
Fow’s, Tuberculosis in 7 | pugar Industry

The Manufacture of
Fungus Notes :— White Sugar in Java 227
Cacao Spraying in Trini- | Tobacco Industry in the
dad .- 238 | United States ... 9 ... 233
Gleanings aes . 236) West Indian Products 239

Some Considerations in the
Treatment of Plant Diseases.

NE of the most important considerations
which enter into the treatment of plant

diseases is the relation between the expense
is involves and the return in additional profit which it
is likely to yield. This relation is often dependent
on several factors of a purely local nature, so that the
correct solution of the problem, in any given instarice,
depends on - useful: co-operation between: the. planter

destroy, the whole crop in the course of a short space
of time, or it may cause the steady loss of a certain
percentage of the produce during a long period; that
Is, 16 may be endemic. In the second case, there is
always to be taken into consideration the additional
danger of such diseases becoming suddenly epidemic.

The general nature of the advice given by a plant
pathologist, or mycologist in dealing with disease falls
underthree heads. Firstly, total destruction of the dis-
eased plants: secondly, the application of remedial and
preventive measures to diseased plants or to plants
likely to become diseased; thirdly, permitting the
disease to take its course unchecked. ‘The first two
kinds of advice may be givenin dealing with either
epidemic or endemic diseases. The third is only applic-
able in the case of such endemic diseases as do so little
harm that the expense involved in checking them is not
compensated for by the additional profits obtainable
from the crop.

In the case of the sudden outbreak of an epidemic
on any estate, the best advice that can be given is fre-
quently for the total destruction of the infected plants,
as, although it necessarily involves a certain amount of
loss, yet if the trouble is treated at an early stage, this
loss is not serious in proportion to that which would be
sustained if. the whole crop was destroyed. In this

ease, the sacrifice of a portion of the crop is not only
justified, but often absolutely necessary, in order to
prevent the loss of the whole. Remedial, followed by
preventive measures, or remedial measures alone, can
only be recommended in such a case, when the result of
long experience has proved conclusively that these
measures are adequate to prevent the spread of the
disease.

The treatment of endemic disease is of a different
nature. In this case, there is often little risk of the
total loss of a crop, or even of the loss of so great
a part of it as takes’ away all profit from the grower.
Most frequently, the main object is to reduce the
percentage of loss due to the disease to a minimum,
and thus to increase the profits to the maximum
obtainable in the conditions under consideration. Then
it is that remedial and preventive measures become of
the first importance. Total destruction can be but
rarely recommended, because it certainly involves the
loss of part of the crop, and possibly, that of part of
the capital expended on removing dead trees and on
replanting others which often give no return for five or
six years; moreover endemic diseases are apt to affect,
to a greater or smaller extent, almost every tree or
plant on any plantation where they occur. The posi-
tion of the mycologist in this case would appear to be
a very simple one. In reality this is not so. In recom-
mending remedial and preventive measures, he has
to consider if the expense involved will gain adequate
compensation in the additional profits derivable from
the treatment. If not, then all he can say is that
the existing state of things must be permitted to
continue, and in so doing, he allows the planter to run
the possible risk of the endemic disease becoming
epidemic, and causing the loss of all his plants.

The conditions which determine if the expense
involved in remedial measures is justified by the
additional profits obtained are often governed by the
interaction of numerous, and somewhat delicate, factors.
Such are, for example, the general circumstances of
climate, the fertility of the soil, its suitability to the
crop grown, and the amount of co-operative effort to
reduce the disease that is likely to occur in the neigh-
bourhood under consideration.

In recommending remedial measures, two other
important factors must be taken into account, namely,
the amount of capital available for carrying them out,
and, if carried out, their cumulative effect on the sup-
pression of the disease. Frequently, the execution of
the best remedial measures, in any given case, involves

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Jutv 23, 1910.

the outlay of a certain amount of capital, and where
this is not available, less effective, though frequently
much cheaper, measures must be recommended. Con-
sequently, it often happens that two or three alternative
sets of treatment have to be suggested, while the choice
of that set which is most applicable in any case, is left
to the person whois raising the crop. In some instances,
where there is little or no available capital, as in the
case of small holders, all that can be suggested by the
scientific adviser may be that the disease be permitted to
exact an annual toll, as longas this toll does not involve
all, or the greater portion, of the profits. On the other
hand, those possessed of spare capital should bear in
mind that the investment of it in thorough and reliable
treatment of their crops will often yield a larger
return of interest than the money could ever bring in if it
was invested in ordinary securities, though the risk in-
volved is necessarily somewhat greater. Further, money
thus spent not only increases the yield in any given year,
but, if the treatment is continued, earns as it were
a higher rate of interest each year, until a steady maxi-
mum is reached, owing to the cumulative effect of the
treatment on the suppression of the disease, which sup-
pression continues until the loss due to the disease
reaches the minimum that can be effected by that
treatment under the given circumstances. Now,
it often happens that a grower desires to increase
his annual output of produce, and in order to do so,
invests additional capital in new land; if, however,
he were to invest this capital in carefully carrying
out approved measures for reducing the diseases
of his crop, he would probably find that his yield
would increase to such an extent that the interest
on his capital when expended in this way was
greater than that which he would have obtained had
he invested his money in more land.

It will probably be clear now, that it is not
always an easy matter for the scientific adviser to
make suggestions as to the best treatment for
any given disease. In addition to the technical diff-
culties of his work, many considerations of a very
varied nature must also be taken into account, and
it is in dealing with these that the co-operation of the
practical agriculturist is of the greatest service. Fre-
quently, portions of the diseased material are submitted,
for examination by the pathologist, which are forwarded
almost without any word of explanation. No information
is given with regard to the field characters of the disease,
its extent, and the general conditions which may affect
it; and no hint is afforded as to the amount that
the planter is prepared to expend in controlling it.
When this is the case, the work of the mycologist is

Vou. IX.

No. 215.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 2

Lo
~~

rendered considerably more difficult; and it can hardly
be a matter for wonder that his advice is sometimes not
directly suited to the requirements of the agriculturist.
Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the importance of
forwarding, with all specimens for examination, the full-
est possible account of all cireumstances, however trivial,
that may shed any light on the problem, as in this way
only, can a full and sympathetic understanding of any
given case be arrived at, by his advisers, which will
enable the practical agriculturist to be in receipt of the
best and most carefully considered recommendations.

THE MANUFACTURE OF WHITE SUGAR
IN JAVA.

An article with the above title, by H. C. Prinsen
Geerligs, appears in the International Sugar Journal
for June 1910 (Vol. XII, p. 285). ‘The paper on which
it is based was read at the Paris Congress, and in view
of its interest, it is reproduced here.

The production of white plantation sugar, destined for
direct consumption, has made enormous progress in Java
during the past few years. It was only in 1903 that Java
commenced to export to British India some thousands of tons
of this sugar; but the quantity produced in 1905 was 70,000
tons, and in 1909 it reached 250,000; whilst now, many
factories are adapting their plant for the future manufacture
of the white product.

Java white sugar has already turned out all the German
product on the Indian markets, and to a great extent all the
Austrian sugar. Nevertheless, the production of yellow sugars
has in no way suffered by the export of white, but has even
increased. In 1900, Java produced 700,000 tons of refining
sugar; in 1905, this increased to 900,000 tons, to amount to
1,000,000 tons in the past year. Whilst almost all the
factories have augmented their production, new ones have
also been constructed, with the result that the production of
the island has tripled during the past twenty years. In 1899,
the white sugar produced was only },per cent. of the total
turn-out, but now it has risen to almost 20 per cent. of the
total production.

This white plantation sugar is made without refining,
and without the use of animal charcoal. Since it is to be
consumed in India, it must be free from contamination from
animal matter, this being prohibited by the Hindus by reason
of their religious sentiments. Moreover, this sugar is not
very white, and it is not to be compared to the white product;
but its buyers appreciate it, as its increasing consumption
fully testifies.

' — The first factories taking up the manufacture of white
sugar in Java were specially equipped for the purpose. They
had carbonatation tanks, lime kilns, and indeed all the machin-
ery for clarifying and purifying the juice by the double car-
bonatation process. ‘This method, although it gives a white
sugar of excellent quality, which behaves very well in the
tropics during storage and transportation, is very costly to
make by reason of the expense of the limestone, of the coke,
and of the labour necessary for working the kilns. Further,
since carbonatation makes the juice very bright, it is imposs-
ible to turn out a refining sugar suitable for export to the
United States and to Japan. In these two countries the

Customs duties are higher for a sugar light in colour than
one that is darker, so that the buyer demands a dark sugar
with a high polarization.

These two requirements may be satisfied by clarifying
the juice by ordinary defecation without filtration, but not
by clarifying by double carbonatation with filtration. It would
therefore be necessary to choose the method to be adopted:
whether all the factory is to be equipped for carbonatation,
and white sugar only made; or whether the manufacture of thie
yellow sugar is to be continued, and the factory left as it is.
Some have advocated the purification of the juice by a more
effective method than carbonatation, and have advised the
introduction of improvements in ordinary defecation so as to
allow of the manufacture of a whiter product. Thus the Ran-
son system was tried, and since this did not give the desired
satisfactory results, a number of other processes were taken up.
The majority of these were worked secretly, but they have
gradually been given up, until now the manufacture of sugar
has entirely lost its mysterious aspect.

The method of working at present in vogue in Java is
as follows: The mill juice is tempered in the cold with 15°
Beaumé milk-of-lime at the rate of 5 to 6 litres for every 1,000
litres of the juice; then sulphur oven gases introduced until the
reaction is Just neutral, which point is determined, by phenol-
phthalein paper. This neutralized juice is nem passed
through the juice heaters, where it is heated to botkng point,
then into the defecators. After separating the impurities: by
decantation, the clear juice is conducted to the evaporators,
whilst the subsided mud is sent through the filter-presses, and
the resulting clear liquor united with that in the evaporators.

Then evaporation goes on until a density of 30° Brix is
reached, after which boiling to grain follows, without any
return of after-product. Sometimes the syrup is submitted
to a second sulphuring until it is very slightly acid, but
generally a simple decantation suffices. The masseemite is
machined, without being cooled, in a series of centrifugals.
The crystals obtained are not washed, but are taken out,
mixed with syrup, and machined in a second series of
centrifugals, being this time washed after all the covering
syrup has been spun out. Finally, the sugar is dried by a jet
of dry steam, discharged by the machines, allowed to cool in
the air, sieved, and bagged.

The covering syrup is returned to the syrup tank to be
subsequently drawn with the syrup into the pan. The centri-
fugalled molasses is diluted, sulphured, and boiled to grain;
its massecuite is run into crystallizers-in-motion in which it
is very slowly cooled, being diluted with water if it is not suffi-
ciently limpid. When quite cool, it is centrifugalled without
purging the sugar. The after-product obtained by this
operation is an exhausted molasses, which is rejected; whilst
the sugar, which contains a large amount of adhering
molasses may be treated in different ways. Some sell it as
molasses sugar; while others mix it with first jet massecuite
in crystallizing tanks.

If the sugar obtained does not possess the desired white-
ness, the syrup in the pan may be decolourized by means of
hydrosulphite, and the sugar in the centrifugals be treated
with a little ultramarine, to give it a better appearance.

The quality of the sugar produced by the method
described does not at all differ from that obtained by carbon-
atation ; it is just as white and preserves its colour as well,
but sulphitation has the advantage of great simplicity.

All the plant for the manufacture of raw sugar may be
retained, and it is only necessary to add a sulphur oven, the
requisite piping, and a few centrifugals to make white sugar.
Then, either white sugar or the raw product may be manufac-
tured, according to the conditions obtaining on the market.

228 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Juty 23, 1910.

—-

Wh)

PRUITS AND

PACKING AND TRANSPORTING CACAO
PODS.

The following information as to the best methods
of packing and transporting cacao pods is taken from
the series of articles, entitled Cacao. by J. H Hart,
F.LS., which is appearing in the West India
Committee Circular, the extract in this case being from
pages 247 and 248 of the issue dated May 24, 1910, of
that journal. Matter has been reproduced already,
from these articles, in the Agricultural News, Vol. VIL,
pp. 260, 292 and 340; and Vol. IX, p. 148 :—

Cacao pods (each containing thirty to thirty-five seeds)
can be forwarded long distances safely if sufficient care is used
in picking, curing, and packing. It is, however, not advisable
to send them on journeys longer than fourteen to sixteen
days; they have reached safely in journeys takingas much as
twenty to twenty-five days. but the risk of loss is too great.
It is of essential importance in forwarding pods that they
should not be damaged in the picking. Every one of them
should be hand-picked and not cut or bruised in any way, or
they will not go safely even with the best package, as they
rot as quickly as an apple, when injured. ‘The pods should
be cured or wilted for a day or two in dry air before
packing, and the packing should be carried out so as
to afford ventilation and prevent heating or fermentation.
This can best be done by packing them in shallow,
well ventilated cases, in what is known as ‘wood
wool’, or fine wood shavings, not sufficient, in any case,
to gather heat and induce fermentation. Small quantities
of seeds can also be transmitted by parcel post, in 1 and
2-Ib biscuit tins, the seeds being packed in sterilized
cocoanut refuse, but even these should not be sent except
during warmest weather. The best cases for sending pods are
shallow ones, 30 inches long, 1 foot deep and 18 inches
or 2 feet wide. The ventilation apertures should be pro-
tected to prevent entrance of mice and rats, as the pods
are tempting morsels for these rodents.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that the transport
of cacao plants and seeds is not a specially difficult matter, if
the principles which conduce to safe transport are fully known
and observed. he ordinary planter is, as a rule, too much
engaged in other duties and has too little transportation to
attend to, to warrant the expenditure of time in undertaking

FRUIT .aiREES.

practical work of this kind, and it cannot be expected that he
w:ll possess the experience which will ensure the regular success
obtained by those who have been carrying on such work for
a number of years. As a matter of fact, the transport of
plants is a business or specialty, and the owner, company, or
syndicate requiring seeds sent to long distances, cannot do
better than obtain expert assistance and advice, this being
cheaper in the end, rather than placing their reliance upon
the best intentions of friends who are willing to assist them,
but whose experience is not such as to conduce to a success-
ful issue.

CACAO CULTIVATION IN
COLONIES.

The following is a translation of an article on the
cultivation of cacao in the German colonies, which
appears in LZ’ Agronomique Tropicale for April 1910:—

The economic development of the German colonies, dur-
ing the last few years has been rapidly extended, and is
characterized notably by progress in agriculture in general,
and especially in the growing of cotton, sisal, rubber and
cacao. A recent number of Gordian (No. 14, 1909), gives,
in this connexion, a review of the state of cacao cultivation
in the German colonies, in 1907-8.

CAMEROONS. Here, cacao cultivation is chiefly in the
hands of European companies. Measures have been taken to
lessen the damage caused by a bark-boring beetle. The soil
of the infested plantations was manured with superphosphate,
and with chloride of potash, with the result that the yield
was increased largely.

The first attempt at the cultivation of cacao by the
natives has not been successful, as the Cameroon negro
possesses a natural aversion for all innovations, and is not as
capable of agricultural work as other natives, such as those
of the Gold Coast, for example. The plantations have been
completely abandoned, and are overrun by weeds. Perhaps
a certain amount of improvement will be brought about, how-
ever, especially in the districts of Victoria and Bodiman,
owing to the efforts of officers who give instruction to the
natives, distribute seeds and young plants among them, and
show them how the work should be done. Special attention
has been given recently to teaching careful methods of pre-
paring cacao, so that a product of good quality shall always

THE GERMAN

Vou. IX. No. 215.

be obtained. In 1907-8, the area in cacao, in the Cameroons, was
7,674 hectares (1 hectare=2% acres) of which 5,072 hectares
were producing fully. The crup was 1,174 tons in 1906,
1,587 in 1907 and even more in 1908; the value of the exports
arose from 1,430,750 franes in 1906 to 3,675,000 francs in
1908.

TOGOLAND. In this colony, where the interest of the
natives in it continually increases, the cultivation of cacao
has made great progress. The plantations are almost all
found in the district of MisahGéhe; trials made in the district
of Atakpame have shown definitely that this region is not
suitable for cacao-growing.

The Government of the colony has made great efforts to
encourage this cultivation, in the interest of the natives, by
distributing seeds and young plants. There only exists one
European enterprise in cacao planting in Togoland—a planta-
tion having an area of 90 hectares, which gave a crop of 884
kilos. (1 kilo=2-2 tb.) in 1906, and 2,796 kilos. in 1907.
The annual exports of oacao are increasing. They have been
as follows: 1904, 10,617 kilos. worth 10,920 franes; 1905,
13,106 kilos. worth 11,897 francs; 1906, 28,651 kilos, worth
26,970 franes; 1907, 52,220 kilos. worth 62,410 francs.

samoa. The efforts which have been made already to de-
velop the cultivation of cacao are beginning to have their re-
sults. The plantations extend in area from year to year; in
1907-8 they occupied 1,420 hectares, with 684,032 plants, of
which 280,990 were giving a crop. In spite of unfavourable
weather in the autumn of 1907, the exports arose from 90 to
117 tons; in 1908, the increase has been even more considerable.
Up to the present, the cacao plants have not been attacked
by any disease, and they are consequently strong und vigor-
ous. The plantation companies estimate that the oldest
cultivations can be made to give an average of 510 kilos.
per hectare (=449 Ib, per acre), The natiyes of Samoa do
not show much aptitude for agricultural work in connexion
with which there is any difficulty, so that, in January 1908,
1,000 Chinese coolies were imported for employment on the
plantations.

GERMAN NEW GUINEA. The cultivation of cacao in this
colony is still in its infancy; the area under the plant ic
1907-8 was 163 hectares. The number of trees on the plan-
tations was 78,945, of which only 2,975 were yielding a crop.
The exports in 1908 rose to 465 kilos. The chief enemies of
cacao cultivation in New Guinea are weeds and insects.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., F.LC., F.C.S., Govern-
ment Chemist and Superintendent of Agriculture for
the Leeward Islands, has been granted leave of absence
from the 6th. instant, and left Antigua, for England, on
or about that date. It is probable that Mr. Tempany
will return to the Leeward Islands toward the end of
December next.

Consequent on the above, Mr. F. R. Shepherd,
Agricultural Superintendent, St. Kitts, has been
appointed, with effect from the 6th. instant, to act as
Superintendent of Agriculture in Antigua, with per-
mission to reside in St. Kitts, paying occasional visits
to Antigua and the other Presidencies.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc., Entomologist on the staff
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left Barba-
dos for New York, by the S.S. ‘Cearense’, on July 18,
having been granted four months’ leave of absence.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 999

ST. VINCENT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Agricultural and Commercial Society
or St. Vincent was held on June 17, at which the Imperial
Commissioner of Agriculture was present. After his Honour
the Administrator had introduced Dr. Watts to the meeting,
a discussion took place which had for its subject the necessity
of destroying old cotton plants, as soon after crop as possible,
in order to prevent the spread of various pests, especially the
leaf-blister mite. A thorough exposition of the different
sides of the problem was given by various speakers, in order
to assist as far as possible in arriving ata conclusion as to
the best procedure to be taken.

After the discussion had taken place, the Commissioner
gave an address on this and other subjects, in which he agreed
with what seems to be the general opinion in St. Vincent,
namely, the necessity that old cotton plants should be des-
troyed. Further, he stated that he thought the point had
been reached at which the Government might be approached
with the proposal to consider legislation for the destruction
of old cotton plants, on or before a certain date after the
close of each crop, as a means of coping with the leaf-blister
mite. Dr. Watts also suggested remedies and preventive
means in connexion with other pests that more particularly
affect cotton. In relation to these, he suggested that meetings
of the Agricultural and Commercial Society could be made
especially useful by the discussion of subjects which interested
planters most nearly, such as those relating to the cultivation
of staple products, the methods adopted for the control and
destruction of pests, and the means for obtaining improved
yields. In regard to the arrowroot industry, he thought that
consideration and experiments were required, especially in
connexion with the utilization of waste products from the
process of manufacture. He considered that it was possible
to turn out three or four by-products from arrowroot waste,
and it appeared likely that it could be employed in making
cattle food, more especially by mixing certain of them with
cotton seed meal.

In reference to implemental tillage, and its introduction
into St. Vincent, Dr. Watts acknowledged the courtesy and
actual assistance accorded to the planters of the island by
those of Antigua, pointing out that, by the provision of such
mutual help, the favourable industrial progress of these
colonies would be ensured. He also expressed indebtedness to
Mr. G. R. Corea for the ready and generous way in which the
proposals of the Department had been met by him, and for
the practical help given by him, with implemental tillage, in its
experimental stage in St. Vincent. In conclusion, the Com-
missioner drew attention to the fact that the distinction
which the products of the island had gained showed that
planters were fully alive to the importance of modern and
scientific methods in relation to practical agriculture.

Before the meeting adjourned, Mr. Conrad Simmons
gave an account of his experience in relation to an experiment
devised by him for the purpose of producing a strain of cotton
possessing immunity from leaf-blister mite. The trials
appeared to be of a successful nature, and Dr. Watts stated
that if this proved finally to be the case, the financial value
of the experiment would be very great.

The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the
Commissioner, moved by his Honour the Administrator, and
seconded by Mr. Simmons.

It should be stated that this information is abstracted
from a report of the meeting which appeared in the St. Vincent
Sentry of June 24, 1910.

230

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Jury 23, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date July 1, with reference to
the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

About 200 bags of West Indian Sea Islands have been
been sold since our last report, chiefly St. Vincent cotton, at
22d. to 26d.; the remainder being composed of Barbados and
Antigua at 21d. to 214d.

Owing to the fall in other growths of cotton, spin-
ners of Sea Islands are rather inclined to hold off from the
market, expecting lower prices. Stained West Indian is dis-
tinctly more unsaleable owing to the Egyptian decline, and
considerably lower prices would have to be taken to effect
sales, unless Egyptian cotton improves. Cotton which we
were selling at 14$d. to.15d., we are now only getting 10d.
per tb. offered for.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending July 2, is as follows:—

Since our last report on June 11, the market has
remained dull, with no demand. The stock in Factors’ hands
is now reduced to 53 bales, consisting principally of Planters’
crop lots held at 50c. to55c. There is also still left on plan-
tation around Beaufort about 100 bales classing Fully Fine.

Although the season has practically closed, yet it is
possible that some demand may spring up for the limited
supply left unsold, which may be required by the trade before
the next crop comes to market.

THE PROSPECTS OF EGYPTIAN
COTTON-GROWING.

An abstract of a paper read at the Brussels International
Cotton Congress, by Mr. A. H. Dixon, of Manchester, is
given in the Zexrtile Mercury for June 18, 1910. In this, it
is stated that the tendency of the Lancashire cotton trade is
always toward the consumption of finer grades of raw
material; and that it is therefore important that every endea-
vour should be made to maintain an ample supply of cotton
possessing high qualities. It is pointed out that there has
been recently a comparatively large increase of mills dealing
with Egyptian cotton, but that the cotton crop has not been
increased proportionately.

The account goes on to show that the extension of the
cotton-growing areas in Egypt has been from 977,735
feddans (feddan = 1°05 acre) in 1895-6 to 1,640,415 feddans
in 1908-9, but that the yield is much less at the present
time than it was from 1895 to 1598. In the last-mentioned
years, the production was from 5°38 to 5°8 kantars (kantar =
101°51 tb.) per feddan, whereas that since 1902 has never
been higher than 4°88, while in the years previous to 1909-10

it was as low as 3°80 kantars. The yield last year was even
less, only about 3°3 kantars per feddan, so that the total crop
reached less than 5,000,000 kantars, which, as is pointed out
by Mr. Dixon, is a figure so startling that a retrospect of
nearly twenty years must be taken in order to find such
a small output.

The chief reasons adduced for this decreased yield were
climatic conditions; deterioration of seed; water-logging of
the soil; the over-supply of surface water; cotton worm;
boll worm; deterioration of soil from over cropping; and the
use of artificial manures. A sericus accompaniment of the
decreased output is the deterioration in quality that has taken
place. Mr. Dixon adduces evidence to show that the true
cause of this is deterioration in the quality of the seed, for
the introduction of new seed has always given an increased
production. From general considerations, it appears that the
time during which a new kind of seed can be used is limited
to twenty years.

One cf the-most important matters dealt with in the
paper was the recommendation that steps should be taken to
impress upon the Egyptian Government the necessity of the
provision of a Government Department, whose efforts should
be devoted entirely to the service of agriculture.

CROSSING SEA ISLAND AND NATIVE
WEST INDIAN COTTON.

A communication has been received from Dr. C. E.
Gooding, of Stirling, Barbados, describing experiments which
have been undertaken by him in the direction of procuring
hybrids between Sea Island cotton and the ordinary native
cotton of the perenni:l type. In these, in July 1908, a seed
from a large and-hardy native cotton tree was planted, and the
following January, when the plant was well grown, some of
its fiowers were pollinated with pollen from a good strain of
Sea Island cotton, the procedure being to emasculate and bag
the flowers of the native cotton on the evening preceding
their opening; then to pollinate them from Sea Island flowers,
and finally to bag them for twenty-four hours. All the flowers
thus treated produced healthy bolls, which duly came to
maturity.

When ripe, the seeds from these bolls were divided into
two lots, one of which was planted by itself in April 1909,
and the other, with other cotton seed, under ordinary field
conditions, in the following July. The plants, especially
those sown in April, attained a large size, but this extra
growth had been anticipated, and allowed for, by setting them
much farther apart than Sea Island cotton is usually planted.

The following table gives the particulars and results of
the experiment:—

Voz: IX. No: 215.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 231

2

Time Number Seed- Seed-
of of cotton cotton Remarks.
growth, trees. produced. tree.
months. ft. th.
Early planted | ,. = a) ER bea i2
hybrids i 13 45 Mid 13:99 | Exactly similar
Late panted \ 9} 25 35 1-40| field conditions
hybrids J 2
Sea Island 94 — == RE

As is pointed out in the account of the experiment, the
results show that, under exactly similar conditions, the yield
of hybrid cotton was much higher than that from the ordinary
Sea Island. In terms of weight per acre, it was more than
twice as great, for, working out the results in this way,
Dr. Gooding shows that the number of trees per acre and
the yield of seed-cotton per acre were as follows: early plant-
ed hybrids, 648, and 2,549 tb.; late planted hybrids, 1,210,
and 1,694 tb.; Sea Island, 3,630, and 795 tb:

In order to gain information as to the quality of the
lint, a special report was obtained on the cotton. This
showed that those of the hybrid and Sea Island types were
both practically the same, as the lint was of excellent length,
strength and fineness, and the same price was obtained for
both kinds.

Further experiments are required to show if heavy bear-
ing is a definite property of the strain obtained, or whether it
is due to the stimulus of crossing, and a greater immunity
from disease, of the hybrids.

VARIETIES OF RUBBER.

Creer, SHEET, AND Brscurr Rupser. Rubber reaches
the home market in almost every possible shape and colour.
In most cases, the queer names which one reads in the market
reports are fairly descriptive. Thin pale crépe, for instance,
arrives in long strips, generally about 4 feet long and 8 inches
to 12 inches broad. It varies in thickness from ,'; to 3-inch,
and has a roughish surface from which the name ‘erépe’
is derived. This rubber is pale-yellow in colour, and when
held up to the light it is quite transparent, which proves its
purity, and accounts for the very high price obtainable for
this grade —viz., at present about 10s. 3d. per bb.

The so-called ‘sheet’ rubber is similar to crépe, but
slightly thicker, and not so transparent. It is prepared in
a different manner and, unlike crépe, must be put through
the washing mills by the manufacturer before it can be used.

Hard cure, fine Para is prepared by the native labourers
on the Amazon by dipping a so-called ‘paddle’ in the rubber,
and then holding it in the smoke of a fire, which hardens the
coating of milk on the paddle. The paddle is then dipped
again for a second coating; and again smoked, and so on,
until quite a large ‘biscuit’—generally weighing about }-cwt.
—has been built up. The labourer then takes his knife and
slits the biscuit down one side, in order to remove his paddle,
when he proceeds to make his next biscuit. Rubber thus
prepared is worth to-day about 10s. per ib.

ArricaAN Propucts. From the Congo we get large
supplies of clean, solid, black rubber, coagulated originally in
large blocks, and then cut up into small cubes, in order to allow
it to dry and ripen. We also get from the Congo, rubber in
reddish sausages, collected directly from the tree, the reddish
appearance being caused by small portions of the bark adher-
ing. The value of this Congo rubber varies to-day from 5s. 6d.
to 6s. 9d. per tb.

From the Gold Coast we get. rubber prepared by the
natives merely digging a trough in the earth and running in
the latex, which in time coagulates from the outside and
forms a hard skin, and finally a fairly hard lump throughout;

but this grade holds all the moisture which was originally in
the latex, and asa result, when cut across, such lumps are
found to contain 50 per cent. of their own weight in water.
Notwithstanding this, however, such rubber is to-day worth
about Ss. ld. per tb. This is the so-called ‘Gold Coast
lump’.

On the Ivory Coast, the French Sudan, and in the Sierra
Leone neighbourhood, the product is known as ‘Sierra Leone
Niggers’, or ‘Conakry’. This rubber is in large balls, consist-
ing of strips carefully wound together, varying in size from
that of a good-sized orange to that of a man’s head. This
rolling process is carried out when the strips of rubber are
quite fresh, so that they become one compact, solid ball.
Rubber treated in this way is of a reddish colour, for which
reason these balls are often known as ‘Red Niggers’; they are
worth to-day approximately 6s. per hb.

From the Niger District, we get rubber varying from
small balls of fine, white rubber of excellent quality, known
as ‘White Niger Niggers’, down to a soft, pasty substance
which looks like bad honey and smelis abominably. This is
known as ‘Niger Flake’ and is worth about 1s. 2d. per bb.

These descriptions might be multiplied indefinitely, but
sufficient has been said to show in how many various shapes
raw rubber arrives in the home market, and what a very wide
experience is necessary to judge successfully the relative
values of the different kinds.

One point in connexion with the values of the different
varieties is, however, worth attention—-namely, that values do
not move together. For instance, the price of hard cure, fine
Para may be going up when the price of Red Niggers is
going down, and vice versa; each grade may be said to be
a market to itself. There is, of course, some sort of relative
proportion, but nevertheless each grade practically fluctuates
by itself. The market reports of the auctions recently
show that pale crépe was fetching at the auction as much as
10s. 3}d., while hard cure, fine Para was selling at 9s. 9$d.;
a fortnight before, the respective values were 9s. 7d. and
8s. 10d. per tbh. (From the Agricultural Bulletin of the
Straits and Federated Malay States, May 1910.)

THE FEEDING HABITS OF BIRDS.

An account of a valuable enquiry into the feeding
habits of the rook, which was undertaken in England and
Wales is given in Zhe Journal of the Board of Agriculture
for May, 1910. In all, 631 birds from forty-one counties
were examined, for the purpose of ascertaining the contents
of the stomach.

The supposition that the food of this bird consists main-
ly of certain insects and earthworms was not borne out by
the results of the investigation. Asa matter of fact, there
was surprisingly little animal food in the gizzard; in twelve
months it only averaged 15 per cent. of the total amount.

In addition to that of the specimens during 1909, an
investigation was made of 141 specimens collected in 1908,
as well as of 58 which had been dissected previously. In
the words of the article to which reference has been made,
a summary of the results from these 830 birds showed that
67°5 per cent. of their food consisted of grain, 3°5 per cent.
of seeds, fruit, roots and miscellaneous vegetable matter, 15:0
per cent. of wire worms and other insects, 10°5 per cent. of
earthworms, and 3°5 per cent. of miscellaneous food (eggs,
young game, field mice, ete.). Thus there is ample evidence
to show that, with the present numbers of rooks in Eng-
land and Wales there is a preference for a grain diet, and it
seems that the usefulness of the bird might be increased by
reducing this number.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JuLy 23, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
anu ohee Imperial Department of Agriculture
Barbados,

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
Qs. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dlews
Vou.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this number deals with Some
Considerations in the Treatment of Plant Diseases, with
especial reference to the need of co-operation between
those who desire advice and those whose part it 1s to
give this.

Tx, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1910: No. 215.

An interesting and authoritative article on the
manufacture of white sugar in Java is reproduced on
page 227.

Information in regard to the packing and trans-
portation of cacao pods is presented on page 228.

A description of several of the chief varieties of
rubber, under the names by which they are known in
the market, appears on page 231.

An account of an interesting experiment in cross-
ing Sea Island and native West Indian cotton is given
on page 230.

The Insect Notes, on page 234, contain Part III
of the series of articles on the Acarina or Mites. Ac-
knowledgement is made to the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture for permission to use the block for
Fig. 34.

The Fungus Notes (page 238) give a review of
cacao-spraying experiments that have been conducted
recently in Trinidad.

Growing Cotton from Cuttings and by Budding.

In the Annual Report of the Hawaii Agri-
cultural Experimental Station tor 1909, a short account
is given of experiments in growing cotton from cuttings,
and by budding. The variety of cotton employed was
Caravonica, and it was found that this could be success-
fully propagated by these vegetative methods.

As Sea Island cotton is only grown as an annual,
these trials are not as important, in relation to it, as they
are in connexion with the Caravonica variety. The
feasibility, however, of raising the first-mentioned kind
from cuttings may be worth trying, as it may form
a means, under certain conditions, of conserving
a given strain in a certain district when, for any reason,
circumstances have interfered with the continuation of
its propagation from seed.

+

Euphorbia Latex for Preventing Corrosion.

The Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 41, contained
a note on this subject, and in reference to this, the
following additional information has been kindly
supplied by Mr. J. Burtt-Davy, F.L.S., Agrostologist
and Botanist to the Transvaal Department of Agri-
culture. This shows that the common species of tree
Euphorbia growing along the Natal coast is 2. grandi-
dens; EB. Reinhardtii is also found in Natal and other
parts of South Africa, and a species resembling
BE. Tirucalli of India and East Africa is also met with.
It may be mentioned that the last species is grown in
several of the Botanic Stations in the West Indies.

Mr. Burtt-Davy also states that the latex of
E. antiquorum, and probably other species, is said
to have been used in the Kast Indies and - Morocco,
some years ago, in the manufacture of a paint for iron,
for preserving ships’ bottoms.

ee —

The Action of Manganese Salts on Growing
Plants.

In a note made on this snbject, on page 159 of the
current volume of the Agricultural News, attention
was drawn to the statement, in the Journal d’ Agri-
culture Tropicale, No. 105, 1910, that work had been
done, in Hawaii, showing that the best soils for pine-
apples are those which contain about 5°61 per cent. of
manganese sesquioxide, while the least suitable contain
only 0°37 per cent. of this substance.

Since this, through the courtesy of the Chief of
Insular Stations, of the United States Department of
Agriculture (Mr. Walter H. Evans), information has
been received that the actual facts accord with the
reverse of this statement, as the pine-apple plants
were found to turn yellow and produce no fruit in soil
containing a large amount of manganese.

This information was accompanied by a copy of
Press Bulletin No. 23. of the Hawaii Agricultural
Experiment Station, entitled Zhe Influence of Mangan-
ese on the Growth of Pine-apples, in which the work
to which reference has been made is deseribed. This
shows that, while manganese in small quantities may
act as a stimulant to plant growth, in large amounts
it is extremely injurious.

Vor. IX. No. 215. THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 233

ri

A Lime-Sulphur Wash for Use on Leaves.

An article appears in The Journal of the Board of

Agriculture for June 1910, the object of which 1s
to direct attention to the fact that a wash for use
against certain fungus diseases of plants can be made
by boiling lime and sulphur together, and that this
wash differs from ‘flowers of sulphur’ and ‘liver of
sulphur’, in that it is not easily washed off by rain. The
special mixture that is dealt with was originally pre-
pared and described at the Pennsylvania State College
Agricultural Experiment Station, and an account of it
is given in Bulletin No. 92 of that station. An extract
of the chief contents of this bulletin, showing how the
wash is made and stored, was reproduced inthe Aygri-
cultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 311.

To return to the article first mentioned, which is
written by the Mycologist to the South-Eastern Agri-
cultural College, Wye, Kent, the chief conclusions
reached are as follows: (1) a lime-sulphur wash made
in the way described is effective against several serious
fungus diseases of the apple in England; (2) it is cheap;
(3) it does not readily wash off: (4) the quick deposition
of sulphur which takes place after the wash has been
applied makes it easy to see how thoroughly the spray-
ing has been done. In conclusion, it is pointed out
that Bordeaux mixture is still the best fungicide for
general use against certain diseases of apples, and that
the lime-sulphur wash must not be considered as a sub-
stitute for it, but only as a spray for varieties of apples
which are injured by Bordeaux mixture.

The Yield of Camphor from Different Parts
of the Plant.

Inthe Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p.328, a note
was given on experiments that have been conducted
with camphor in Jamaica and Antigua, and it is point-
ed out there that, in both cases, the younger parts of
the plant gave the largest yields. In connexion with
this, attention may be drawn to experiments that have
been carried out by the Agricultural Department of the
Federated Malay States, an account of which is con-
tained in the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits
and Federated Malay States, Vol. VIII, p. 344.

In these trials, the same conclusion was reached,
in connexion with the amount of camphor that can
be obtained by distillation from different parts of the
plant. In addition, the following interesting conclu-
sions were obtained: (1) that air-drying, unless it is
carried out in direct sunlight, does net reduce the
yield; (2) that, under the conditions of the experiment,
the principal products are camphor, with a small per-
centage of oil: (3) that in the Federated Malay States,
a yield of at least 1 per cent. of camphor, with a small
percentage of oil, may be expected from the prunings
of trees five years old, and probably from trees young-
er than this.

Investigations have also been carried out by the
same Department with the Borneo or Sumatra camphor
iree (Dryobalanops Camphora), from which the valu-
able product known as Borneo camphor is obtained.
This is not a true camphor, but a closely related com-

pound called Borneol. It has not, so far, become an
article of general commerce, but is chiefly used in
various parts of the Kast for ritualistic purposes, and for
embalming.

a

The Tobacco Industry in the United States.

The present status of the tobacco industry in the
United States is defined in Circular No, 48 of the
Bureau of Plant Industry, issued Jast February.
According to this. there are produced in that country
a number of distinct types of tobacco, each of
which possesses definite characteristics which adapt
it to certain particular trade requirements. It
has thus been brought about that the types of leaf
recognized by the trade are obtained from definite
districts, so that the tobacco industry has become
established most firmly in those districts where it has
been carried on the longest. The important result of
this condition is the circumstance that the merits of
a product from a new growing area, or of a new variety,
must be shown unmistakably, before it is accepted, and
even then, it must be identifiable with an already
established type.

SS __

The Trade and Commerce of Sicily, 1909.

No, 4,441 Annual Series, of the Diplomatic and
Consular Reports deals with the trade and commerce
of Sicily for the year 1909. This shows that the
quantity of citrate of lime deposited with the Green
Fruit Chamber (see Agricultural News, Vol. VIII,
p. 377) was 7,500 metric tons (of 2,200 tb.), of which 500
tons was carried over from the previous season. The
amount of concentrated lemon juice deposited during
the same period was 4,039 pipes. During the time
under review, 1,5944 tons of citrate of lime were sold
for about £104,046, while the amount of lemon juice
disposed of was only 32 pipes, of a value of about
£586. Since this time, financial difficulties have caused
the Government to delegate a committee to enquire into
the condition of the chamber and to propose measures
for its reorganization. This action was followed by the
resignation of the Council of the Chamber, and a Royal
Commissioner has been appointed to take over the
administration.

It is estimated that the October to December crop
of citrus fruit, 1909, on which the whole season’s caleu-
lations are based, was about one-quarter less than that
of a normal year and one-third below that of the
preceding similar season. As the new crop of lemons is
below the average, it is predicted that the citrate
produced during the current season will not be more
than about 4,500 tons.

The increase, last year, in the United States
tariffs caused considerable anxiety to producers. It is
not anticipated now, however, that the increased duty
will have any injurious effect on Italy’s trade with the
Eastern States, on account of the fact that the United
States railways have raised their freight rates for
Californian fruit to an extent which compensates for
the effect of the increased tariff.

INSECT NOTES.

THE ACARINA OR MITES.
PART III.

GAMASIDAE. This family includes, among many other
forms, the poultry mites, which in Barbados at least, are com-
monly known as nimbles. This group of mites is character-
ized by the small pincer-like arrangement of the mandibles.
The individuals are very minute in size, and inconspic-
uous in colour. The poultry mite, which may be taken
as an exampie of the family, is Dermanyssus galiinae,
a species of world-wide distribution as a pest of domestic
fowls. The normal colour is light-brown or whitish, but
full-fed individuals are reddish, from the blood with which
they are engorged. These mites hide in the vicinity of
fowl roosts during the day, and come out at night and
attack the fowls. When they occur in enormous numbers, as
sometimes happens, the effect on the poultry is so severe as
to justify including this among the most serious pests of the
poultry yard. They very seriously affect the condition of fully
grown fowls, and have been known even to kill out an entire
brood of newly hatched chicks. Cleanliness is one of the
precautions to be taken against nimbles. The perches should
be made detachable so that
they may be taken out and
carefully washed, and the
house or pen should be clean-
ed by spraying with kerosene
emulsion, or by the use of
lime-wash, kerosene emulsion
probably being the more
effective on account of its
greater penetrating power,
which enables it to get:into
the very small crevices where
the mites are in hiding. _

The houses and perches
may also be kept clean by
the use of boiling water,
kerosene, benzene, or gaso-
lene The free use of lime
is also beneficial, and a good dust bath for the fowls helps
greatly in repelling the attacks of their nightly visitors.
It is of advantage also, where the construction of the house will
permit, to apply coal tar to the ends of the perches, after these
have been cleansed, in such a way that the mites will have to
cross it in order to reach the fowls. As long as the tar
remains soft on the surface, the mites will be unable to get
across. The use of sulphur or tobacco stems in the nests of
sitting hens will also be found valuable, and in each island of
the West Indies certain plants are commonly credited as hay-
ing repellant properties toward mites andother pests. Among
these may be mentioned the leaves and twigs of the wild olive
(Dontia daphnoides) and of a species of Jatropha.

IxopIDAE, This family includes the ticks, the largest
of all the mites. They are of very great importance because
of their parasitic habits and because, in the case of many of
them at least, they are intermediate hosts in the life-history
of parasitic diseases, some of which are very serious in the
case of domestic animals.

The ticks are provided with a very formidable mouth,
well adapted to their piercing and sucking habits. They are
covered with a tough, leathery skin, which in the front part
of the body forms a hard protecting shield; the hinder part of
the body is capable of considerable distention, and fully fed

Fic. 34.

CattLe TICK.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

(Female on left; male on right.)

JuLy 23, 1910.

individuals are much larger on this account than unfed ones,
in the same stage of development.

The cattle tick, or Texas fever tick, is perhaps, in point
of amount of damage done, the most important of all the
ticks. In the Southern States of America, this has
caused losses in the cattle industry estimated at as much as
$40,000,000 per annum. The injury to cattle arising from
this pest is estimated to be of three distinct kinds; firstly, the
tick is a direct parasite, weakening the animal by loss of
blood; secondly, the inflamed areas resulting from tick attacks
often attract the screw worm fly, Chrysomyia macellaria;
and thirdly, it is a carrier of the disease mentioned.
In cases of gross infestation, it has been estimated that as
much as 200 tb. of blood may be drawn from an animal in
the course of a season, but the greatest loss sustained by the
cattle industry is that due to the ravages of the disease,
which results from the presence in the blood of a proto-
zoan parasite, Piroplasma bigeminum, which under natural
conditions, can only be transmitted by the bite of an infected
tick, as far as is known.

Although several species of ticks are liable to be found
feeding on cattle, only one species in each district is known
as the carrier of the parasite causing Texas fever. In the
United States this is Boophilus annulatus, or Margaropus
annulatus (Fig. 34), as it has been called recently. As the
life-history and habits of
this tick have been carefully
studied, it may be taken as
an example of the family.

The cattle tick is red-
dish in colour, somewhat
flattened, becoming greatly
distended when fully fed.
The life-history includes
four distinct stages: the
egg, the larva, the nymph
and the adult. The eggs
arelaid on the ground, where
they hatch after a varying
period of time, according to
temperature, or the extent
to which moisture is present.
The larvae are very small,
active creatures, capable of existing for many days, or
even weeks, without taking food. Immediately on hatching,
these larvae, which in some places are called seed ticks,
and in others grass lice, climb up on grass or weeds, where
they await some passing animal, which would serve as
host. When a suitable animal comes along, they attach
themselves, and almost immediately begin feeding. After
a short time, the larval skin is cast, and the six-legged larva
transforms to the eight-legged nymph, which in its turn
becomes fully fed, and changes into the adult condition.

At this time, the sexes are developed, the males being
somewhat smaller than the females. After mating, the males
soon die, and the females continue feeding until they are fully
fed, in which condition they are many times the original size.
As soon as the female has become fully fed, she releases her
hold and drops to the ground, for the purpose of depositing
eggs, which often number several thousands. The period of
egg-laying marks the end and beginning of one life-cycle.
The length of time occupied by this varies greatly, accord-
ing to climatic conditions, a period of from six to ten
months being required in warm weather, and a much
longer one in the cold season. In certain of the West
Indian islands, it is likely that the dry season has the
effect of retarding the development of ticks in a manner

a

4

aes Sd

A

Vou. IX. No. 215.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 235

similar to the cold weather of temperate regions. Under
normal conditions, the female tick undergoes all its devel-
opment, from the attachment of the seed tick to the
dropping off of the fully fed adult, without leaving the host
animal. That is to say, any given tick only feeds on one host
animal. From this it will be seen that the fever is not
transmitted by the tick which was fed on an infected animal,
but by the seed ticks which hatched from the eggs laid by
an infected adult.

THE UTILIZATION OF THE PRICKLY
PEAR.

The following discussion as to the feasibility of
using the prickly pear in various ways is taken from
an article in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute,
Vol. VIII (1910), p. 43. It will be seen to contain
much information that is of a useful nature: —

In 1908, the remarkable announcement was widely
published that a chemist in Brisbane had discovered valuable
commercial possibilities for the prickly pear, which led him
to conclude that, instead of the plant being ruthlessly
destroyed, its cultivation ought to be encouraged. The
principal claims put forward were (1) that from 1 ton of
prickly pear 7 gallons of alcohol could be prepared at a cyst
not exceeding 3s. 6d. per gallon, whilst the refuse could be
made into a nutritious cattle-food; (2) that the plant yields
an excellent sugar, 2 tons of prickly pear yielding as much
sugar as 3 tons of sugar-cane, and of equal quality; and (3)
that the fibrous nature of the material renders it suitable for
the manufacture of paper, straw-voard and other articles, and
that these could be more cheaply produced from prickly pear
than from any product now used for the purpose.

The suggestion with regard to utilizing the plant for the
manufacture of alcohol is not new. Proposals of this kind
have been made previously in New South Wales, Mexico,
Spain, India, and other countries, but it does not appear that
aleohol has ever been obtained from this source on
a commercial scale. The juice of the fruit contains saccharine
matter, and undergoes spontaneous fermentation; the
alcoholic liquid thus obtained is used by the natives of
Mexico and other countries as a beverage. It seems improb-
able, however, that this liquid could be profitably employed
as a source of alcohol, for the following reasons.

Alcohol of 90 per cent. strength can be manufactured
from cheap materials, such as maize and potatos, at a cost
of from 6d. to 1s. per gallon, depending on the market price
of the raw materials, and other local factors. It is evident,
therefore, that the production of spirit from prickly pear juice
could only be remunerative in a country which had no other
crops available for the purpose, and which had a heavy duty
on imported alcohol. Moreover, the researches of Ulpiani
and Sarcoli, in 1902, have shown that not only would the
manufacture of alcohol from prickly pear juice be unprofit-
able, but also that it is scarcely practicable. These chem-
ists found that the juice of the fruit of the prickly pear con-
tains 12°8 per cent. of sugar, which consists not of sucrose
(or cane-sugar) but of a mixture of glucose and fructose. The
spontaneous fermentation of the juice is due to the action of
a natural yeast which occurs on the fruit, and has been term-
ed Saccharomyces opuntiae. This yeast does not ferment
cane-sugar, but only glucose and fructose. he fermenta-
tion takes place very slowly, and even after a long time the
proportion of alcohol is not equivalent to the amount of
sugars originally present. Added yeast, however, is

rapidly suppressed by S. opuntiae, and it would there-
fore be necessary to kill the latter by sterilizing the juice
before introducing the ordinary yeast. On account of the
expense of sterilization, it is regarded as desirable to find
a yeast capable of producing alcohol rapidly in the presence
of the neutral yeast (S. opuntiae), as only in this way could
the manufacture of alcohol from the juice become practicable.

With regard to the manufacture of sugar from the prick-
ly pear, it is obvious that if the contention of Ulpiani and
Sarcoli, that the juice contains only glucose and fructose is
correct, no cane-sugar could possibly be obtainable.

With reference to the utilization of the prickly pear for
papermaking, experiments at the Imperial Institute have
shown that a pulp can be prepared by the process of heating
the fibre of the plant with caustic alkali under pressure, but
that the product so obtained consists of very short fibres
(about *125-°33 inch long), and would therefore be of compara-
tively low vame. Samples of the fibre of a South American
species (Opuntia Dillenii), which occurs in India, were shown
at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition which was held in Lon-
don in 1586. Paper makers who examined these samples, how-

ever, regarded them as worthless in comparison with
other cheap and plentiful materials. It is probable
that the collection of the raw material would be

a costly operation. Moreover, a little consideration will
show that an immense quantity of the plant would have
to be dealt with in order to produce a comparatively. small
amount of paper pulp. Analyses of various parts of the
prickly pear at different ages in the United States of America
(Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin No. 102, Part 1, United
States Department of Agriculture, 1907) have shown that, on
the average, the fresh plant contains 84°3 per cent. of water
and 2°4 per cent. of ‘erude fibre’. Experiments at the Imperial
Institute have proved that 100 parts of dry prickly pear fibre
yield about 42 parts of dry paperpulp. Hence from 2-4 parts
of the crude fibre about 1 part of the pulp could be obtained.
It is true that the ‘erude fibre’ of the analysis was extracted
by a different process from that used in the preparation of
the fibre employed in the Imperial Institute experiments, but
this would not greatly affect the results arrived at. It is
evident, therefore, that for the manufacture of 1 ton of
paper pulp it would be necessary to cut about 100 tons of
the fresh plant. When to the cost of collecting and handling
this mass of material is added that of the chemicals and
labour required for the extraction of the fibre and its con-
yersion into paper pulp, it seems evident that the project could
not possibly be remunerative, especially as the product is of
low quality, and would not in any case be worth more than
a few pounds per ton.

In conclusion, it appears that the only purpose for which
the prickly pear could be used successfully is as a cattle food.
Opinions with regard to the value of the material for this
purpose are, however, very conflicting, and, at best, it would
constitute a product of somewhat low nutritive value, and
could only be used in conjunction with richer feeding stuffs,
such as wheat bran or cotton seed meal. In the previous
article on this subject (Bulletin, 1908, 6, 314) allusion was
made to the production of a spineless variety of prickly pear
in California. It does not appear safe, however, to encourage
the cultivation of such forms until they have been subjected
to prolonged trials, especially as there is always a danger that
they may revert to the spiny condition. Triais have been
made recently in South Africa with so-called spineless varieties,
which have proved to be not altogether spineless, but are,
nevertheless, regarded as much superior to the ordimary spiny
forms as a feeding-stuff for cattle.

236

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Jury 23, 1910.

GLEANINGS.

A leaflet issued by the Departinent of Agriculture of
Eastern Bengal and Assam, dated May 12, 1910, shows that
the average wholesale price of rice in that part of India has
fallen by about 19 and 29 per cent., as compared with the
prices prevailing at the end of April, in 1909 and 1908,
respectively.

Ordinance No. 4 of 1910, Dominica, has been published
recently. This is known as the Dominica Forests Limited
Acquisition of Lands Ordinance, 1910, and its object is to
empower the Limited Liability Company called ‘Dominica
Forests Limited’ to acquire land for the purposes of its under-
taking.

A report by the Acting Registrar of Imports and Exports
at Singapore shows that the exports of Para rubber from the
Straits Settlements in 1909, amounted to 4,504,433 tb. as
against 3,659,906 tb., in 1908. By far the greatest propor-
tion of this rubber went to the United Kingdom, the amounts
being 3,860,459 Ib. and 3,004,883 Ib.

The quantity of linters produced in the United States
from re-ginning cotton seed of the crop of 1909 amounted to
313,478 bales, as compared with 114,544 bales from that of
1899. Much of this fibre was disposed of at less than le.
per lb. during 1907-8, but it has been in greater demand this
season, the average price returned for it being 3:2c. per bb.
(Sugar Planters’ Journal, June 18, 1910.)

In the Botanical Magazine for June, one of the plants,
Agave Franzosini, which has been introduced into some of
the West Indian Botanic Stations during recent years, is
described. From the information given, it appears that this
plant, which is a native of Mexico or Central America, when
it reaches the flowering stage, produces an inflorescence which
grows to nearly 40 feet, and is in the form of a panicle, having
a diameter of about 10 feet.

According to the Diplomatic and Consular Reports,
No. 4,450, Annual Series, the quantity of vanilla produced in
téunion for the four years 1906-7 to 1909-10 was 35,588,
48,865, 70,000, and 39,500 kilos. The recent over-produc-
tion of vanilla has reduced the amount growing in that
island by about one-half. The prices of vanilla rose very con-
siderably, the best quality being sold at an average rate of
£1 9s. 6d., during last year, as against an average of 18s.,
the year before. The price of the inferior qualities also
increased in proportion, so that it would seem that, not only
in Réunion, but in other vanilla-growing countries, the pro-
duction has been limited purposely during 1909.

An Ordinance to provide against the spreading of ankylos-
tomiasis has been passed recently in Grenada (No. 5, of 1910).
By this, provision is made for the compulsory treatment and
detention of persons infected with the disease: for the giving of
the accommodation necessary in connexion with preventing
its spread; and for the framing, altering and revoking of
regulations against the disease, by the General Board of
Health.

A Committee has been appointed by the President of
the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for the purpose of
advising it on all scientific questions which bear directly on
the improvement of agriculture, and especially as to the
methods to be adopted (a) for promoting agricultural research
in Universities and other scientific schools; (b) for aiding
scientific workers engaged in the study of agricultural pro-
blems; and (c) for ensuring that new scientific discoveries are
utilized for the benefit of agriculturists.

A new process for the purpose of coagulating rubber
latex has been devised by the Elias Pure Rubber Process, Ltd.,
of 7 to 10, St. Mary-at-Hill, London, E.C. In this, a preserv-
ative paste is dissolved in warm water, and added to the latex
as it collects inthe cups. The effect is to keep the latex in
a liquid and unchanged condition, until the successive collec-
tions can be bulked and coagulated all together. The
coagulation is brought aboat by means of another reagent,
which, being in a solid form, can be easily sent out to rubber-
growing districts.

The Monthly Consular and Trade Reports, for April
1910, gives a statistical review of the world’s sugar crop
which shows, in the result, that the production of beet sugar
has steadily grown less during recent years, while that of
cane sugar has increased to such an extent as not only to
cover the shortage in beet sugar, but also to add to the
market a sufficient quantity to supply the world’s demand for
sugar, with a limited surplus, at the end of the season, which
is scarcely sufficient to keep the world supplied for six
weeks.

The (Quinzaine Coloniale (Paris) for May 25, 1910,
states that there is likely to be considerable development in
the rubber industry in Cochin-China. Attempts were made
to cultivate rubber there as far back as 1897 and 1898, but
the matter has only been taken up in real earnest in recent
years. At present, there are about fifteen plantationy contain
ing 650,000 Hevea plants, and though the industry is in its
infancy, it is estimated that, by the end of this year, this
number of plants will be extended to about 1,000,000.
(The board of Trade Journal, June 9, 1910.)

A report by H. M. Acting Consul-General at Rio de
Janeiro states that the Government of the State of Para is
endeavouring to cause means to be taken in order that rubber
planters should start cultivation in regions that are more
easily reached from the coast. This Government also desires
to bring about the existence of regulations which shall fix the
age at which the first tapping shall take place, and the height
that the trees must have reached before they are made to yield
latex. Proposals are also being made for the exploitation of
rubber with Government aid.

Vor. IX. No. 215. THE

STUDENTS’ CORNER, .

AUGUST.
First PErtrop.
Seasonal Notes.

Among the different varieties of cane, some are dificult
to establish; that is to say, they do not grow readily after
they have been planted, and there is a necessity to supply
many of the holes. In what way is this important, in relation
to the working of an estate! Again, the rate of growth,
among different varieties of cane, varies to a considerable
extent. How may use be made of this fact in attempting
to obtain a good stand of cane? Discuss the characters of
different varieties of cane, in this relation,. with especial
reference to 3.147, B.208 and Red Ribbon. Discuss eare-
fully the essential differences between raising a plant from
a sugar-cane cutting and from a cutting of a dicotyledon, such
as the hibiscus.

Observations on cotton stainers should be made (see,
especially, Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 330). At this
time, they will most generally be found in such places as
cotton stores and ginneries, and on other host plants, besides
cotton, such as the silk cotton tree. What kinds of damage
are done by these insects? Describe the best measures
that can be taken against them. A useful experiment in
connexion with these insects may be conducted as follows:
Six dry plates are taken and are placed, over water, on some
suitable form of support, each plate having its own stand. On
each plate, one hundred cotton seeds, taken at random from
a supply of good, undisinfected seed, are placed. Three of
the plates are selected and about twenty cotton stainers are
put on each of them. On the next day but one, these are
removed, and a fresh supply put in their place. The experi-
ment is continued in this way for eleven days, care being
taken that no cotton stainers are able to reach the three
plates on which they were not placed at first, as these are
intended to act as controls. At the end of eleven days, the
seeds in all the plates are washed quickly in water that has
just been boiled and allowed to cool, and are placed in six
different germinators, care being taken that the seeds in the
different lots are kept separate from one another. The
differences in the percentages of germination will indicate
whether or not the insects are in the habit of attacking and
damaging cotton seed, and the results obtained in this way
will be supplemented by careful observations that were made
on the behaviour of the insects, during the course of the
experiment. In addition, on the larger scale, other observa-
tions will show if these insects spread from cotton stores and
ginneries, and (in some cases) if old cotton plants that have
been left in the field, instead of being destroyed, give them
favourable conditions for existence, until the new cotton has
reached a stage at which it is likely to be attacked by them.

When cotton seed is being sown, dig up some of the soil,
from place to place, in the field, in order to ascertain if it
contains the large, fat grubs that are most commonly found
in rotted stable manure and in gardens. Note, as far as you
can, whether these grubs do any damage to the young plants.
To what insect, or insects, do these grubs belong? Are there
any other animal pests in your district that are likely to
attack the part of the cotton plant that is below the surface
of the soil?

Among the observations that may well be made on cotton
seedlings at the present time is that of taking notice as to

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 237
ee eee ee

whether any of them are rotting at the collar; this is espec-
ially to be looked for if the seedlings appear to be wilting and
dying. To what is this rot most likely to be due, and what
conditions are most liable to lead it to attack young plants!

The end of the cacao crop has been reached, and at this
time, the trees are losing their leaves» What are the chief
reasons why trees shed their leaves. In what way is the loss
of the leaves from a plant brought about? The dead leaves
will be collected and, together with other waste vegetable
matter (but not the remains of diseased pods), will be applied
as a mulch to the soil around the trees. What is the primary
use of a mulch! State what a mulch of leaves adds to the soil
which grew the plants on which they were borne. What im-
provement is effected by adding leaves to a soil ?

A careful, practical study should be made of the methods
of budding and graftirg cacao; for an account of the latter,
consult Pamphlet 61 of the Department series, entitled 7'he
Grafting of Cacao. Remember that a proper knowledge of
these subjects cannot possibly be obtained by merely reading
books; actual practical work is necessary before useful acquain-
tance with the methods can be obtained.

Note the usefulness of bedding the soil under nutmeg
trees with dead leaves and, other waste vegetable matter, in
order to prevent the loss of nuts when they are dropping.
What part of the fruit body is (a) the nutmeg, (b) the mace ?

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What is meant by the texture of the soil? Give
methods by which this may be maintained in good condition.

(2) Draw up a scheme showing how the quality of
a piece of land may be judged by the kinds of wild plants
growing on it.

(3) Describe the root hairs and root cap of any plant
that you have examined. What are the uses of these
structures ?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) Discuss the advantages of possessing an analysis of
the artificial manures that are to be used on an estate.

(2) Give a general account of the structure of an ovule.

(3) In what ways will the soil and trees benefit, in an
insufficiently drained cacao orchard, by the deepening of
the drains !

Tuberculosis in Fowls.—According to Bulletin
No. 161 of the California University Experiment Station,
tuberculosis in fowls, a serious pest in Europe, seems to be
rare in America, or at any rate, has not been reported fre-
quently. The bulletin goes on to show that the disease is
distributed, in California, to a sufficient extent to demand the
serious attention of poultry raisers. It is of an insidious
nature, for it fails to attract much attention at any given
time, but takes a steady toll of the flocks, which causes a fair
degree of financial loss in the long run. The disease does not
seem to occur in young chickens, but as far as has been
observed, attacks grown fowls, only.

The remedies suggested are: (1) the destruction of fowls
showing symptoms of the disease; (2) isolation of affected
flocks; (3) disinfection of fowl houses; and (4) the keeping of
pullets away from diseased stock or infected land.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

JuLY 23,1910

FUNGUS NOTES.

CACAO SPRAYING IN TRINIDAD.

In the article on Cacao Canker which appeared in the
last number of the Agricultural News, reference was made to

the results of experiments on cacao spraying, obtained
by J. B. Rorer, M.A., Mycologist to the Board of Agriculture
in Trinidad. As these results may be of some interest to
readers, it is proposed to give a more detailed account of them
in this article, and to mention, in addition, a few other con-
siderations which have to be taken into account when proposing
to extend the treatment to some of the other islands of the
West Indies. A full account of these experiments, written
by Rorer, will be found in he Bulletin of the Department of
Agriculture, Trinidad, Vol. IX, p. 10, and the Annual Report
of the Mycologist to the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad, 1910.

Preliminary experiments were conducted in July, 1909,
at Santa Cruz and Tumpuna to determine the effect of various
strengths of different spraying mixtures on flower buds,
flowers, young fruits and leaves. ‘lhe sprays used were
Bordeaux mixture of two strengths, the first containing
5 Ib. of copper sulphate and 5 tb. of lime to 50 gallons
of water, and the second containing 4 Ih, of copper
sulphate, and 4 tb. of lime to the same volume of water;
in addition, various strengths of a proprietary lime-sulphur
solution were also experimented with. Both strengths of
Bordeaux mixture were found to injure the flower buds,
flowers and tender leaves, but were harmless in the case
of small fruits and older leaves. The same was true of
the lime-sulphur wash when diluted down to 1 part in
25 of water; but when diluted to 1 in 30, it was harmless
to the flower buds and the few flowers that were open at the
time. The injurious effect of the Bordeaux mixture was
probably due, to some extent, to the wet weather.

Foliowing on these preliminary experiments, work on
a Somewhat larger scale was undertaken, for which a block
of 1,000 trees was selected, and divided into two equal parts.
All the trees were of the same age, and the general conditions
of soil, drainage and shade were identical, and, moreover, the
results of a picking made before the spraying was commenced
indicated that the yield of cacao from each plot was practi-
cally the same, and that the relative proportion of black cacao
was identical for each plot. The term ‘black cacao’, used
throughout the experiments, is intended to indicate pods
which have been so»attacked that the beans have been
infected. No attempt was made to differentiate between the
various diseases which were responsible for the black cacao.

Plot 1 was sprayed on September 6 and 21 with Bordeaux
mixture 5-5-50 (as indicated above), while plot 2 was left
unsprayed, as a control. The spraying was done with a barrel
pump, fitted with two 75-foot leads of hose, and bamboo
extension rods 8 feet in length, with double Vermorel nozzles.
The object was to spray each tree thoroughly, including the
leaves, pods, trunk and branches. At the time of spraying,
the trees were covered with young fruits from 1-inch to
3 inches in length, and bore a few older pods. A small
picking was made in September, when the yield from each
plot was found to be the same, as the effect of the spraying

had not yet shown itself. Two main pickings were made, on
November 12 and December 11, when the following results
were obtained: Plot 1 gave a total of 3,219 pods, of which
2,930 were sound and 289 were black, so that the percentage
of black pods was 8°9. The control plot No. 2 gave a total
of 3,104 pods, of which 2,182 were sound and 922 were black,
i.e., 29°7 per cent. of the pods were diseased. An examina-
tion of these figures shows that not only was the percentage
of black pods greatly reduced, but at the same time there
was an increase in the total number of pods obtained
from plot 1, as compared with those obtained from plot
2. As a result of these two factors, the sprayed trees
from plot 1 yielded 189 tb. more good cacao than the
unsprayed trees_on the control plot. Two other pickings
were subsequently made on January 14 and February 15. On
this occasion, plot 1 gave 2,829 pods of which 2,677 were
sound and 152 or 54 per cent. were black. Plot 2 yielded
1,629 pods of which 1,308 were sound and 321 or 19°7 per
cent. were black. The sprayed trees yielded 1,200 more pods
than the control plot, probably because several pods were
saved from fungus attack, when quite small, by the spraying
which had been carried out when they were very young. As
a result of the four pickings, 1,315 more pods were obtained
from plot 1 than from plot 2; 7°3 per cent. of the total
number from the sprayed trees, and 26°3 per cent. from the
control plot, were black. Owing to these two factors, 2,117
more sound pods were picked from plot 1 than from plot 2.

In addition to giving the great increase in yield indicated
by these figures, spraying is beneficial to the trees in other
ways. As was indicated in the article in the last number of
the Agricultural News, Rorer has found that canker in Trini-
dad is due to the fungus, Phytophthora omnivora, which causes
black rot of the pods, and the reduction of the number of
diseased pods due to the spraying, together with the
direct effect of the spraying on the trunks of the trees, would
probably tend to greatly reduce the amount’of canker
on any given plantation. This is a factor of considerable
importance. In addition to this, the spraying reduces several
minor diseases, such as thread blights, anthracnose of the
pods, etc, and keeps the tree free from moss. It would prob-
ably also have a considerable effect on the presence of brown
rot, die back and stem disease, due to Lasiodiplodia theobro-
mae. Another factor that must be taken into consideration is
the cumulative effect of the spraying, as a result of which the
increase in yield would be progressively greater for several
years until a point was reached at which the trees were giving
their maximum yield under the general conditions which
obtained on the plantation.

While calling attention to the interesting results gained
by Rorer, it ismot the purpose of this article to unduly
emphasize the importance of spraying in connexion with cacao
cultivation. In the case of many of the islands of the Lesser
Antilles the general conditions of cultivation, the lie of the
land, and the difficulty of obtaining water, often render the
adoption of this practice almost an impossibility. It should
be remembered also that to obtain the best results, spraying
should not be employed alone, but in conjunction with general
sanitation of cacao plantations; such measures are the
careful burial with lime of the pods, and of all diseased
material, whether pods or twigs, removed when pruning,
together with careful tarring of the wounds thus made.
Under the conditions in which all these methods can be
reasonably employed, it would probably be found that a very
large increase in yield would be obtained which would not
only cover the expense involved in carrying out the remedial
measures, but also ensure a very considerable increase in
profit.

Wor. 1X.) Now 215;

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of June :—

On the general condition of the drug and spice markets
during the month of June, the only remark to be made is that
they have been purely normal, which is the usual state of
things at the close of the half-year, with the accompaniment
of stock-taking, followed by the beginning of the summer
holiday season, until the close of which, little or no change
may be expected. Buchu leaves and rubber still attract much
attention, and demand high prices, but no special interest has
been shown in any West Indian product.

GINGER.

Somewhat lower prices have prevailed, and a declining
demand. At the first spice auction on the Sth of the month,
the offerings were as follows: 363 packages of Jamaica, 300
of Cochin and 384 of limed Japan. The whole of the Jamaica
consignment was bought in at from 54s. to 63s. for good
ordinary and middling. Washed rough Cochin was bought
in at from 48s. to 52s. 6d., while 300 bags of the limed Japan
were sold without reserve at from 37s. 6d. to 38s. per ewt.
On the 22nd, some 700 barrels and bags of ginger were
brought forward, very few of which sold, and those at lower
rates, varying from 50s. to 51s. for common dark, and 54s. to
56s. for good common; 45s. was the reserve price for fair
limed Calicut, and 52s. for small and medium bright washed
Cochin.

NUTMEGS AND MACE,

Steady rates have been maintained throughout the
month in the case of nutmegs. At the spice auction on the
15th, 309 packages of West Indian were sold, out of a total
of 329 offered. At the same auction, 58 packages of West
Indian mace found buyers at the following rates: 1s. 8d. to
1s. 10d. for palish and pale, 1s. 7d. to 1s. 8d. for pale and
reddish, and Is. 6d. to is. 8d. for pale broken. Ordinary
broken realized 1s. 4d. per Tb. On the 29th of the month,
27 packages of West Indian were sold, fair palish fetching
1s. 9d., and good pale 1s. 11d. per Ib.

ARROWROOT.

At the auction on June 1, 42 barrels of St. Vincent
arrowroot, ordinary manufacturing, sold at 1lZd. per tb.
A week later,as many as 718 packages St. Vincent were
offered, and all bought in at from 2d. to 24d. per tb. for fair
to good manufacturing.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the drug auction on the 2nd, Grey Jamaica was
represented by 33 bales, all of which were sold at the follow-
ing rates : for fair, slightly roughish, ls. 2d. to 1s. 3d. per
tb., and damaged 1s. 1d. Twenty-six bales of native Jamaica
were also disposed of, fair red fetching 11d. to 114d., dull red
10d., and 84d. to 9d. for mixed common dull and yellow; 33
bales of Lima-Jamaica, were offered, most of which were dis-
posed of at from 10d. to 11d. per tb. At the auction on the
16th, 7 bales only, of Grey Jamaica were offered, all of which
met with a ready sale, fair sound fetching 1s. 3d: and sea-
damaged 1s. ld. per th. Out of 30 bales of Lima-Jamaica
offered, 3 only were disposed of, at 10d. per Ib. Of Mexican,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

239

4 bales were offered and disposed of without reserve at 4d
per Ib. On the 30th of the month, 4 bales of Grey Jamaica
were brought forward and sold at ls. 2d. per tb. Native
Jamaica was represented by 37 bales, only 10 of which met
with purchasers, fair to good red fetching 104d. to 1s., and
tawny 10}d. per tb.; 30 bales of Lima-Jamaica were
offered and bought in at from 10d. to 11d. per bb.

CASSIA FISTULA, KOLA, TAMARINDS, LIME JUICE.

At the first drug sale, 6 bags of good West Indian Cassia
Fistula pods were sold at 17s. per ewt. One bag of bold
bright West Indian kola nuts, in halves, realized 23d. per tb.
Again, in the middle of the month, 5 bags were sold out of 23
offered, of fair West Indian halves, at 3d. per tb.; 13 bags of
fair Ceylon were also offered and sold at 3d. per Ib. At the
beginning of the month, fair pale Barbados tamarinds were
sold, in bond, at 14s. per ewt., and a fortnight later 34
packages of dry palish St. Kitts were offered, 9 of which sold
at 10s. per cwt., in bond, the remainder being bought in at
12s. 6d. At the last sale in the month, tamarinds were
represented by a large quantity of dark West Indian from
Nevis, a small portion of which sold at 10s. 6d. in bond. In
the beginning of the month, ordinary to good raw West
Indian lime juice realized from 11d. to 1s. 2d. per gallon, at
which price there was a quiet demand.

TRADE AND COMMERCE OF JAVA, 1909.

The trade and commerce of Java for 1909 is dealt with
in No, 434, Annual Series, of the Diplomatic and Consular
Reports, issued in May 1910. This shows that the sugar
crop of 1900 in Java has been a good one, on the whole, and
high prices have been obtained. Although the area under
cultivation was larger than that in 1908, the yield of sugar
per acre was less in 1909 than in that year, on account of the
deterioration in the quality of the juice and a short crop in
Mid Java, caused by continual heavy rains during the early
months of they ear. The most recent returns show that the
area planted in cane for 1910 is about 2°7 per cent. more than
in the year before. It was considered that if favourable
weather was experienced early in 1910, the prospects for the
crop of that year are good.

Statistics for 1909, subject to modification, showed that
the total production of sugar was 1,248,094 tons from 302,065
acres; so that the yield per acre was 4:13 tons. The num-
ber of mills working was 181.

The production of coffee in 1909, was 13,256 tons; for
1910 it was estimated to be 15,421 tons. The exports of
tobacco were fully 200,000 packages less than in 1908,
because of the unfavourable weather.’ The output of rice
during 1909 was 53,100 tons, as against 21,800 in the
previous year. There was a lessening in the exports of
copra, which were 72,000 tons, compared with 94,976 tons
in the previous year. Of oil seeds, the shipments were roughly
as follows: ground nuts 16,000; castor seeds 3,000; kapok
(silk cotton) seeds 12,000 tons.

The report states that the rubber production of Java is
still inconsiderable, and will remain so for some years to
come. Clearing and planting of new ground have been
accomplished to a large extent during 1909, and the
demand for land for rubber cultivation has been strong. An
attempt to ascertain the amount of capital sunk in rubber
estates in Java, Sumatra and Dutch Borneo at the end of
1909 has shown that this is £5,640,000, made up as follows :
British £2,500,000; Dutch £1,500,000; Franco-Belgian
£1,455,000; German £185,000. These figures are, however,
approximate.

240 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Juny 23) 1910.

London,—THE

MAR K Baer PORTS:

West Ixpia ComMiITTEE CIRCULAR,

July 5, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pe Pass & Co.,
1910.

ArRrowRoot—t. Vincent, 1d. to 337.

Batata—Sheet, 4/3; block, 3/24 per th.

Brerswax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 54/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/-
to 53/-; Jamaica, 47/- to 51/6.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 30/- to 90/-.

Corra—West Indian, £26 to £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 21d. to 26d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, d0/- to 52/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honty—26/- to 31/-.

IstnGLass—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 11d. to 1/4; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£18 15s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nutmecs—(uiet.

Prrenro—Common, 2hd.; fair, 2ftd.: good, 2éd. per fb.

Rusper—Para, fine hard, 10/-, fine soft, 9/4}; tine Peru,
9/10 per tb.

Rum—Jaunaica, 1/11 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/- to 19/9; Muscovado, 13/9 to 14/3;

June 24,

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., July 16, 1910;

Messrs. T, S. Garraway & Co., July 19, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lyxncu & Co., July 11, 1910.

ARROWROOT—St. Vincent, $3°50 to $3°75 per 100 th.

Cacao—$10°75 to $11°50 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-NuTS—$18 00.

Corrrr—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $9°50 to $11-00 per
100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1-20 to $1°40 per 100 th., dull.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65-00;
manure, $42°00 to $48°00; Sulphate of
$70:00 to $75°00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°25 to $3:00 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6°10 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Potatos—Nova Scotia, $2°25 to $2°75 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°90 to $5°35 (180 th.); Patna, $3-80 ;
Rangoon, $2°30 to $3-00 per 100 th.

Sucar—No quotations.

Cacao
ammonia,

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, July

9, 1910; Messrs. SanpbacH, Parker & Co.,
July 8, 1910.

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

Messrs. WIETING

ARTICLES. & Ricuter.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent) $8°00 per 200 tb. $8 00 per 200 fb.,

market dull

Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

Batata—Venezuelablock| 32c. per tb. Prohibited
Demerara sheet} 78c. per tb. None
New York,—Messrs. Giutesrre Bros. & Co., June Qacao—Native 10c. to lle. per tb. /10e. to 11e. per th.

24, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, lle. to 1ljc. ; Grenada, 10Zc. to 1lic. ;
Trinidad, 11c. to 115e. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 10e. per Ib.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $26:00; culls, $15:00 to
$1600; Trinidad, select, $2600; culls, $15-00 to

$16°00 per M.

Corrrr—Jamaica, ordinary, 8%c.; good ordinary, 9c.;
and washed, up to 103c. per ib.

Gincer—9$c. to 12}c. per tb.

Goat Sxrns—Jamaica, 55c.; Parbados, 50c. to 52c.;| St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47e. per tb.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grave Fruir—$4-00 to $5:00 per box.

Lutes—$5°50 to $5°75.

Macre—29c. to 36c. per th.

Nutmecs—110’s, 9c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4tc. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°74c.;
duty paid

4°24c. per lb ;

Muscovados,
Molasses, 89°,

3°44c. per th, all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., July 9,
1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $1120 per fanega; Trinidad, $10-90
to $11°25.

Cocoa-Nur Om—$1°11 per Imperial gallon.

Corree—Venezuelan, 10fc. per th.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 tb.

Dxat—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°20 to $2°50 per 100 Ih.

Pras, Sprrit—$6-25 to $6°30 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1°80 to $2°00 per 100 th.

Rick—Yellow, $4°35 to $440; White, $5:00 to $5-10
per bag.

Sucar— American crushed, $6-20 per 100 th,

Cassava—
Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEe—Creole

Jamaica and Rio

Liberian
DHAaL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mo tasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLanrarns—

Poratros—Nova Szotia

Lisben

Potatos—Sweet, Barbados|

Rice—Ballam
Creole

TANNIAS—

Yams— White
Buck

Suear—Dark crystals

Yellow
White
Molasses

Timber — Greenheart
Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

$120 |
$6-00 per barrel of]
196 tb.
$10 to $16 per M.)

l4c per th.
14sec. per th.
8c. per tb.
$3 80. to $4:00 per
bag of 168 tb.
$500
31°32
None
27e. to 3c.
'$5-75 to $5-80 per
bag (210 tb.)
$4-00
12c. to 48c. per
bunch
$2°75 to $3:00
No quotation
$1°80 per bag
| No quotation
$5:00 to $5°50
$1-68 per bag
$2°40
S5°84
$3°00 to $3:05
$3°60 to $3-70
34:00
$2°25 to $2°50
32c. to 5de. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $5°75
per M.
$1-:80 to $2:00

No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
12c to 13c. per fb.
14$c. to 15c. perth.
10c. per tb.
$3°80 per bag of
168 tb.
23c.
No quotation
$5°80 per bag
(210 tb.)
No quotation

$300
No quotation

$3-00 to $5°50

i

$4-00 to $4-25
None
32c. to 5d. per
cub. foot
$3°50 te $550
per M.

per ton

No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free, 1s. 2d.

Volumes IJ, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume X. No, 1. No. 2. No. 3. Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conference, 1910 ; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
Botanic Station ; Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua and in Barbados ; Disinfection of Imported
Plants ; Index, etc. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained im them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures. the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Suear Inpustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d.

’

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d,
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2¢.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

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Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

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Vou. IX. No. 215. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Juty 23, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE
= ASE RH eee
Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

iA ID Op y wir |
FOR SALE. VAPORITE |
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Aged nine (9) years.

Prompt attention prid to orders from neighbouring

Apply to:— colonies. Special quotations for large quantities.
Dk. GABRIEL, THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
Antica | FACTORY, LIMITED,
(212.) : | BRIDGETOWN.

-MACHINERY FOR SALE, sus? issvep. —
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sisting of one 4-ton Vacuum Pan and Engine ; Triple Effet,|
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and one die Tonle pores Tanks; Three Centrifu- (Vol. X, No. 4.)
gals with Engine and Molasses Pump; two 12-feet Fletcher’s : 556 :
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Coolers; one Iron Molasses Tank (10,000 gals.): and three! The Root Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua; the Root Disease
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= ee = i Title Page, Index and Contents.

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

—_

|
|
| A DESIRABLE PLANTATION KNOWN AS |

ORANGE VALLEY ESTATE

in the Island of Antigua, B.W.1., 8 miles from principal!
town, containing 707 acres, from Sea-Level to 1 200
feet: 60 acres cleared for Limes, 15 acres planted in
Limes, 700 2-year-old Cocoa-nut trees.

Suitable for Rubber, Cacao, Limes or Stock. Rain-
fall 56 inches per annum. Dwelling house and out
offices, stables, pens, and storeroom; labourers’ cottages.

36 Head of Catt!e, 3 small horses.
Indefeasible Certificate of Title and Plan.
For further particulars apply to : — |
Messrs. MCDONALD & DOUGLASS,
43, Church Street,

St. John’s, |
Antigua, B.W.I. |

| FORISALE. |

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

does not mean a dollars worth for

ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

gin is small, why not change the method?

Our book on cacao suggests som-
new old truths—write for it. We send

it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,
| Havana, Cuba.

INA Wy
cen

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW
OF THE
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vor. tx. No; 216: BARBADOS, AUGUST 6, 1910. Leas
research. The true nature and extent of this value are

CONTENTS. often imperfectly realized, or indeed ignored, and it is

the purpose of the present article to indicate, to some

extent at least, wherein the existence of this value lies,

PAGE. PAGE.

Diastases in Rubber Latex 249
Forests, Influence of, on
Climate and Floods,
Fungus Notes :—
Recent Work on Diseases

Agricultural Experiment
Stations, The Value of 241

Agricultural Schools, Half-
Yearly Examination of 245

Agriculture in Elementary

248

Schools, Barbados ... 255} of Cocoa-nut Palms ... 254
Brazil, Economie Plant | Gleanings MRR, «enews
SHAD GW Oval! ope Bee 255 | Guava in Mexico, The . 249

British Guiana and the | Insect Notes :—
Canadian Exhibitions 251! The Acarina or
= Oe
: ; =I art [ VogReee iaceh «2. 200
Broom Corn in Antigua 251 | _ Part ve oa
1 . ‘ : = Maize, Methods of Sowing 249
Calcium Cyanamide and i >
=" : Market Reports =
Nitrate of Lime IN , 942
} > al | Notes and Comments ... 248
Cocoa-nuts for Planting,
: = x 5 Paper, Manufacture of
4 Selection of ... ... | from NMepins
Coffees, WestAfrican, Com- lox , ee i
mrative Values of 248 Pine-Apple ,. Eadustry of
eS aces Formosa2%... ... «.. 248
Cotton Notes :— | Students’ Corner 5)
Indian Cotton in the | Sugar Industry ;
United States ... ... 246 Sugar-cant
West Indian Cotton ... 246
Department News

Mites,

The Value of Agricultural
Experiment Stations.
vie TTENTION has been drawn recently * to

the fact that the properly conducted agri-
station derives its

y\\
¥ cultural
value chiefly in two ways: from its use in providing
assistance of more immediate moment to the practi-
cal agriculturist, and from the general results that are
obtained, by its means, through the carrying on of

experiment

*Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, Nos, 209 and 210.

The broad aim of the experiment station is to pro-
vide assistance by means of discovery and acquisition.
The discovery, or the thing acquired, may be of a con-
crete or an abstract nature. That is to say, the work that
is carried on may lead to the recognition of useful
principles in relation to its problems, or to the produc-
tion of actual agricultural apparatus, strains of plants,
ete., which will be beneficial to those whom its labours are
intended to serve. As regards the methods of acquisi-
tion, the knowledge of what is being done at other
stations may have advantage taken of it by the appli-
cation of principles that have been formulated at these,
or the acquirement from them of actual things that
will be of use in the district for which its efforts are
made, such as, again, valuable mechanical aids in agricul-
ture, and new plants. Without an experiment station,
the worth of results obtained by others cannot receive
proper consideration, in reference to the conditions
which obtain in a particular locality, and those who are
resident there have no one to advise them when atten-
tion is being given to proposals to introduce new plants,
machinery, or other substantive means of assistance.

Several ways exist in which the work carried on
at an experiment station may give rise to discoveries
that may or may not be of direct use, but every one of
which has its value sooner or later. The most general
way in which these discoveries are made is as the
result of direct search; they sometimes occur in an
accidental way, while this search is being made. In
other cases, they arise from the reconsideration of old

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Avcusr 6, 1910.

work in the light of that which has been done more
lately. Finally, it is not unimportant that they may
be made through the following of suggestions that have
come into being, through the work that is done at other
stations.

Proper recognition of these matters, and of other
circumstances that have already received consideration
in the articles of which mention has been made, will
make it evident that the experiment station must never
be made a means for the performance of hasty and ill-
considered work, and that such an institution must
never be regarded as a factor of temporary importance
in the agricultural history of a community. Agriculture,
regarded as a science, is new, so that time is required
before its problems will be outlined as definitely, or
the knowledge concerning it made as systematic, as is
the case with the older sciences. It is not sufficient
to give time merely for the discovery of empirical
results, important though these may be in their parti-
cular application; the explanation of them must be
provided, so that they may become a means of adding
to the sum of knowledge that is useful, in the widest
sense.

There are other, more restricted, ways in which it
is made evident that attempts to solve agricultural
problems in periods of time that are insufficient for
their proper study will lead to work of inferior value,
or even to that which is useless. The results of such
labour are, in any case, very likely to be unsatisfactory,
and the knowledge of their application incomplete,
so that if they are to become of value, the work will
have to be revised—a contingency that will make its
cost many times greater than if it had been conducted
with due regard to the planning and care necessary to
give it worth. Where there is undue haste to obtain
and publish results, these are likely to requir2 revision,
and the manner of their publication will leave much to
be desired.

There is thus the great necessity fur patience,
both on the part of the workers in an experiment
station, and on that of planters, whose interests they are
there to serve. This necessity is often furgotten, so
that the lack of recognition of it causes want of interest
in the work, and has even led, in some instances, to
suggestions which, if followed, would have put an end
to the work of the station. It is such an attitude of
mind which hasbeen known to give the idea that all agri-
cultural experiment stations should be of the nature of
model farms, which should only possess one means of
justifying their existence, namely the ability to pro-

duce a balance sheet showing a profit, at the end of
each year of working. What has been said already in
these articles should be sufficient to show that stations
of this kind could not undertake experiments of the
widest and most “useful application, and very little con-
sideration will be necessary to demonstrate that the
method, just outlined, of estimating their usefulness is
utterly fallacious and unfair.

From its very nature, the experiment station
cannot possess its value in virtue, simply, of what
happens within it. Its effect on the agricultural con-
ditions outside of it is obviously the true indication of
its worth. What does it do toward ameliorating those
conditions, even when its influence is being considered
in the narrowest way’ It helps the agriculturist to
save money and to gain it. In the first way, it prevents
him from wasting his substance on useless trials of
expedients for enabling him to continue his work or
make it more profitable: in the second, it suggests and
introduces methods and means for the more successful
pursuance of the agricultural calling. These circum-
stances ofits usefulness cannot appear on the balance
sheet of its working, but they will have their effect in the
increased prosperity of the district which it serves, even
though many of those who share in it may not have
attained to a complete recognition of the true cause of
this increase.

These narrow considerations fall very short of giv-
ing suggestions by which the true value of agricultural
investigation may be gauged. By its aid, discoveries
are made which, in cheapening production or in protect-
ing the ditferent phases of the industry from destruction,
have their value for all time. The power of making
such a discovery is present wherever investigations
of that nature are being carried out, and the possession
of this power gives most of the necessity for its existence
to every station, while the realization of results from it
makes the value of such existence incalculable. Nothing
more need be said in regard to the question as to whether
agriculturists throughout the world, can afford to allow
the number of such stations to be lessened. It will not
become less, if their value is truly recognized. Those
who do recognize it will, on the contrary, desire that the
possibilities of good through them are made increasingly
larger.

It is to be kept in mind that Nature does not
respond to attempts to hasten the giving up of her
secrets. Their slow discovery allows time for the
rejection of mistaken ideas, and therefore for the better
use of them when they are no longer hidden. One of

Vor EX.'- No216.

these—the manner in which leguminous plants obtain
nitrogen from the air—was first investigated reasonably
by Boussinganlt, but it was not made plain until sixty-
three years later. There are others, of equally far-
reaching importance, awaiting discovery; and mankind
cannot afford to stop to count the annual cost of the
attempts to find them out—far less, through impatience,
to decrease the means by which they are brought to
light.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

SUGAR-CANE IN PORTO RICO.

A series of articles by D. W. May, Special Agent
in Charge of the Agricultural Experiment Station,
Porto Rico, on the sugar-cane in that island, is appear-
ing in the Porto Rico Horticultural News. The
following extract is taken from the second article of
the series, given in Vol. III, No. 6, p. 95, of this
journal :—

At the experiment station the following varieties have
given excellent results: D.95, D.117, B.347 and B.1355. As
resistent to drought, T.77, D.117, B.347 and B.3289 have
done well on the south side of the island. At the Central
San Christobal, on the east end of the island, the preliminary
test of the seedling canes has been very satisfactory, and so
far as tested, they are ranked as follows: T.77, B.3,289,
B.347, D.117 and D.95. In Louisiana, D.74 is highly con-
sidered. In Porto Rico, however, while very sweet, this cane
does not grow large, as it ripens early. It is well suited to
a short growing season like that in Louisiana. The Guanica
Centrale, on the south side of Porto Rico, has several hundred
acres of seedling canes growing. The following results
obtained there are of interest and value.

In this district, canes were planted on October 1, 1907,
5} by 5} feet, and harvested on December 22 and 23, 1908.
All varieties were fertilized, irrigated and cultivated alike.

Comparative test of cane at Guanica Centrale: —

Yield a Quo- A Glu-
Variety. per ee ae tient of a cose Fibre.
acre. purity. ratio,
er Per Per
Tons. _Brix. cent. cent. cent.
Otaheite (a) 56°38 15°7 12°7 80:9 2:00 15:8 9:50
eae 6542 18°2 15:1 83:0 1:61 10-7 9-95
D.117 56°45 185 15:4 83-2 1:69 11:0 11-80
D.95 52°77 181 15°38 87:3 1:51 9:6 10-05
B.1753 52°99 16:3 12°83 78:5 189 14:8 12-10
Christalina (b) 52°08 16°9 13-4 79:3 1:79 13:4 9-65
D.74 49°01 19°9 176 884 1:43 §1 10:85
W. Bamboo 47°52''16°9 13:2 78:1 *2-17 16-4 10:70
TibbooMerd 43:46 163 13-6 83:3 179 13-2 10:30

; At Hacienda Montserrate, the following varieties of cane
were planted on September 25, 1907, and harvested on Decem-
ber 28, 1908. All varieties were fertilized and cultivated alike.

(a) Control plot. “Attacked by fungus “disease (Marasmins
sacchari).
(b) Slightly attacked by fungus disease (Murasmins succhari).

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

243

Comparative test of varieties of cane at Hacienda
Montserrate:—

Yieid @&. :' @uog Glu
Variety. per mo a tientof Gla cose Fibre.
4 acre. ae purity. “°S* ratio
Tons. Brix. Fer Ee: EO
cent, cent. cent.
W. Bamboo 64:66 16:9 13:0 76-9 1-85 14:2 106
D.117 64°60 175 15:0 85-7 1-79 11:9 11:0
B.347 60°24 17-8 15:3 85:9 1:96 12:8 9:45
Tibboo Merd 52°51 1671 14:2 88-2 1-72 12] 113

In Louisiana, splendid results have been obtained by the
introduction of D.74 and D.95, two Demerara seedlings. The
Louisiana Station Bulletin, No. 78, gives the history of these
seedling canes, and the results of tests conducted from 1894
to 1903 are reported. In every instance, the two seedlings were
lower in glucose content than the home canes. .A low glucose
content is of great advantage in working the juice. D.74 gave
especially favourable results in this respect. The average on
analysis showed that this seedling contained 1:8 per cent.
more sucrose, and D,95 0-9 per cent. more than the home canes.
D.74 yielded 5°68 tons of cane more per acre than the two
native varieties, while D.95 was about equal to them in cane
production. The financial results are based on a value of 4c.
per tb. for yellow clarified sugar, giving half to the
producer of the cane and half to the manufacturer of the
sugar. On this basis, the crop of plant canes and first year’s
ratoons of D.74 gave an average increase of $39-70 per acre,
and D.95 of $21°81 over the home canes. With» thesplant
canes of the first, secord and third ratoons, the figures-were:
$2628 and $2814 per acre, respectively. The results
obtained in the mill showed a marked superiority of D.74
over the three other canes, although D.95 gave better returns
than the two native sorts. In total extraction, D.7#shewed
an increase of 7-87 per cent., or nearly 1] per cent. in the
juice, over the home canes. A summary of the results gives
an increase of 2°34 per cent. in extraction, and of 40-7 Bb. of
Sugar, per ton of cane ground, in favour of the seedling canes.
Co-operative tests made by twenty-seven planters throughout
the State confirmed the results obtained by the station,
D.74 is more vigorous, a more rapid grower, gives a larger
tonnage, is an erect cane, and on this account is believed to
be more economical in harvesting; ratoons well, if not better
than home canes, gives a larger extraction, and has a larger
sugar content, yielding mcre sugar per ton and giving
a greater tonnage per acre than home canes. The same
remarks, in a less degree, apply to D.95.

At the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Station in 1906, 5,232
seedling canes were grown. Of 279 raised from West Indian
seed imported in 1904, 37 have been sufficiently promising
to merit special testing on the station grounds. ‘Tests of
varieties in 1903 show D.117 at head of list with 333,670 bb,
cane, yielding 43,010 Ib. sugar per acre.

Information has been received concerning the new centre
of shipping and manufacturing activity which is being formed
midway between Grimsby and Hull, by the Great Central
Railway Company, through the establishment of the Port of
Immingham, with special docks, the object being to provide
an additional port on the east coast of England. This is con-
tained in a pamphlet, which may be obtained on application
to the Publicity Department, Great Central Railway, 216,
Marylebone Road, London, N.W.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Auvcust 6, 1910.

PRUITS. AND

SELECTION OF COCOA-NUTS FOR
PLANTING.

A series of articles on the cocoa-nut palm in French
West Africa is appearing in L’ Agriculture Pratique
des Pays Chauds. The following information, dealing
with the selection of nuts for planting, is translated
from part of the instalment which appears in the May
number of this journal:-—

The excellent results that are derived, in the different
branches of agricultural production, from the selection of seed,
are well known. More especially, this gives a means, to a very
large extent, of increasing the yield, improving the quality of
the product, making the plant more resistant to untoward
climatic conditions, and to the attacks of diseases and insects.
Applied in the case of the cocoa-nut, this method has all the
greater interest, because the plant occupies the soil for several
years, and if there is not great care to take every precaution
tor the purpose of obtaining healthy, vigorous and productive
trees, the ill effects of negligence at the commencement will
be repeated every year, and will make themselves felt in
a serious manner.

In regard to this matter, the planter may find himself
in several different sets of circumstances, depending on
whether he is working in a region where cocoa-nuts for sowing
cannot be obtained on the spot, or whether he has at his dis-
pesal plants which can provide him with all that he requires
for sowing purposes.

In the first case, he cannot make a selection, in the
widest sense of the word. He has to be content to effect
a choice among the nuts which he has obtained from regions
which are often distant from him, and he is unable to ascer-
tain for certain, the origin of his planting material.

According to Prudhomme, the greatest precautions must
be taken in this case. The selection should be commenced
by taking all the nuts of which the form and size approach
most nearly to those of the variety which is being planted. If it
is a matter, on the other hand, of a mixture of many kinds,
the qualities of which are only slightly known, it is necessary
first to break several of the nuts, so as to get an idea of the
worth of each kind in connexion with the yield of fresh copra,
in order to be in a position to eliminate those which are of
the least value. In those cases, though these are rare, where
it is not possible to conduct an examination of this kind, the

PRUIT “SR EES:

planter must be contented with reserving for sowing purposes
all the nuts which are of medium size and of regular shape. In
this way, the nuts will have to be examined one by one for
the purpose of ascertaining, by means of the odour, the
appearance, the sbund and the feeling, the degree of maturity
and freshness, and choosing in preference the heaviest fruits,
with a smooth skin and without blemish.

The way in which it may be found out if a nut is ripe
will be indicated later. Traces of mould around the place of
attachment of the stalk show most often that the fruits
have been gathered before becoming matured: such fruits
should not be used.

When the planter is working in a region where the cocoa-
nut palm grows naturally, the first stage in its selection will
have relation to the trees. According to Prudhomme, again,
the nuts which are to be used for sowing should have been
produced by very healthy and vigorous trees, at the middle of
the life-period, that is to say, by those which are about twenty
to twenty-five years old; such trees should be of rapid growth,
producing abundant crops of good quality. In addition to
this, it is advisable to choose for the purpose, as far as
possible, seeds from plants which are ‘growing on a soil
resembling as nearly as possible that of the plantation which
is being made, and to avoid too great differences between the
climate of the locality where the plants have to grow, and
that of the place where the seeds were produced.

It should be added that, in consideration of the ditt-
culties connected with the harvesting of the nuts, the seed
nuts should be collected from plants possessing a short stem.

The second stage will have relation to the nuts produced
by the chosen trees. [t has been indicated above what consider-
tions should be taken as a guide in selecting these. In addition
to what has been said, Prudhomme recommends, in most cases,
a choice, in preference, of nuts possessing a mesocarp which
is only slightly thick, especially in countries where the pro-
duction of coir is not likely to be of any great extent. This
recommendation appears to possess a definite importance,
especially where it is intended to make a plantation on
a poor soil, because the fibrous coverings of the nut take up
a large part of the nutritive material absorbed by the plants.
On lands which are better endowed, this precaution becomes
less indispensabJe, for in every well kept plantation, these
coverings should form a valuable means of making a return

Vou. IX. No. 216.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 245

to the soil, either directly or through the cattle pen; that is
if it is not desired to make an industrial use of them. The
employment of the largest nuts for planting is someétimes
strongiy recommended; it seems in most cases that planters
do not agree with this, thinking that the better plan‘is to
give the preference to nuts of medium size In a general
way, the largest fruits are naturally produced by healthy and
vigorous trees; but the number given is relatively less con-
siderable; in addition, it is not rare to see eocoa-nut plants,
with fruits of medium size, giving a total crop which is larger
than that from a variety having big fruits; for that which
is lost in volume is almost always compensated for largely by
the number of nuts obtained. It has been noticed equally,
that the very large nuts are provided with a very thick coir,
and on the other hand, the nut proper only contains a thin
layer of albumen. These nuts belong more particularly to
the kind that is useful for drinking purposes. They please
the eye but do not always merit the planter’s attention.

An idea of the thickness of the fibrous envelope can be
easily obtained by pushing a knife blade into it.

A final condition of the very first importance that should
be fulfilled by seed cocoa-nuts is that of being perfectly ripe,
but not dry. Prudhomme points out that a means of discov-
ering if the stage of ripeness has been attained is provided by
shaking them. The water, which they still contain in small
quantity, will cause a clear sound w hich is very easily heard,
and which diminishes in intensity on the commencement of
germination. Imperfectly ripened nuts, on being shaken,
yive only a dull sound, which very little experience serves to
distinguish from the former one. Nuts which have arrived
at complete maturity while still on the tree should always be
preferred to those which have been left to ripen in the shade
after having been cut.

Some kinds of nuts, even when ripe, contain a fair
amount of water, and it is necessary to dry them before sowing,
for if they are put into the earth immediately, there isa chance
that they will rot before they germinate. Drying should be
conducted in the shade; exposure to the sun may produce
a partial baking of the kernel, which will interfere with
germination.

HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION OF AGRI-
CULTURAL SCHOOLS.

The following are the general reports of the Exam-
iner (Mr. F. W. South, B.A.) on the recent half-yearly
examinations of the pupils at the Agricultural Schools
in Dominica, St. Vincent and St. Lucia:—

SCHOOL,

Sixteen boys sat for this examination. Of these two
were seniors and fourteen juniors. The average percentages
of marks obtained were as follows: seniors 76°9: juniors 63:2.
The standard of both the seniors and juniors shows consider-
able improvement on last time. Marie was the best senior
and Balthazar the best junior; but Defoe, E. F. Francis and
N. Abraham also did weil.

There was a very marked improvement in the Arith-
metic of the juniors and in the general appearance of the
papers, though attention should still be paid to the points
mentioned in the special report on the junior Dictation papers
and to handwriting and grammar gener: ally. Of the other
subjects, the Chemistry of the seniors leaves room for improve-
ment, and the marks obtained by the juniors in the Geography

DOMINICA AGRICULTURAL

paper were poor, as the paper was of sucha nature as the
boys should have been capable of answering well.

_ On the whole, the result of the examimation was quite
satisfactory, and indicates that the beys are receiving careful
instruction.

sT. VINCENT AGRIGULTURAL S@HOOL.

Twenty boys sat for this examination. Four were seniors,
ten juniors, three new boys and there were three probationers.
The average percentages of marks_obtained were as follows:
seniors 75°5; juniors 61°3; new boys 61°9; probationers 59°8.
With the exception of the seniors, these averages show an
improvement on those obtained at the last examination,
especially in the case of the new boys. The work of the
seniors was not so good as that sent in for the Decem-
ber examination David Derrick was again the best of
the seniors. Floris Simmons also sent in good papers. Of
the juniors, Bradshaw and Davis were practically equal, while
the two Haynes also did fairly well in thisclass. B. Derrick
was the best of the new boys and Wtto Kirby the best pro-
bationer.

English and Spelling were fair in the senior and junior
classes, but somewhat weak in the answers of the new boys
and probationers; the writing throughout was neat, and the
diagrams were good. The Arithmetic of the seniors was
again excellent, and that of the juniors showed very marked
improvement on last time’s result. This subject was also
well done by the new boys and probationers. The Agricul-
ture of the new boys and probationers requires attention and
the same is true of the Botany of the juniors. The Chemstry
paper might have been better answered by both seniors and
juniors, and the Geography of these two classes left room for
improvement. The new boys and probationers, with the
exception of Isaac Phills, displayed an almost complete ignor-
ance of the last-mentioned subject.

On the whole, the results of this examination are satis-
factory, and it is clear that the pupils are receiving very care-
ful attention.

ST. LUCIA AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.

Eleven beys sat for this examination. Of these nine
were seniors and two juniors. The average percentages of
marks obtained were as follows:—seniors 63°3; juniors 43°8.
The result for the seniors was fair, but the two juniors were
very weak throughout. H. Auguste was the best of the
seniors; G. Moise also sent in good papers.

With regard to the English subjects, the Grammar of
the seniors requires attention. The handwriting and general
appearance of the papers were satisfactory. The Arithmetic of
both classes, more especially the juniors, was not nearly so
good as last time, and the Chemistry of both classes was
distinctly weak, The juniors did not appear to have covered
the schedule laid down by Mr. Stockdale. Geography also
requires attention. Greater care should be exercised in
drawing diagrams, which should be of sutticient size to show
clearly the points required. More detailed information with
regard to the different subjects is contained in the separate
reports.

It would appear that the somewhat less satisfactory
results obtained at the examination are in part due to the
very rapid promotion which has been necessary, and are no
reflection on the quality of the teaching that the boys have
received.

46 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aucust 6, 1910.

\COTTON NOTES. /
Wn e

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date July 18, with reference to
the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

A very limited business has been done in West Indian
Sea Island cotton since our last report, chiefly confined to
St. Vincent cotton from 20d. to 24d.

Spinners are withholding from the market and vices
have a downward tendency. We hear, however, that the
American Sea Island crop is not doing so well, and if the
weather does not improve, spinners will enter the marketagain.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Sonthern States, for the week
ending July 2, is as follows:—

Since our last report on June 11, the market has
remained dul], with no demand. The stock in Factors’ hands
is now reduced to 53 bales, consisting principally of Planters’
crop lots, held at 50c. to 55e. There is also still left on plan-
tation around Beaufort about 100 bales of Fully Fine.

Although the season has practically closed, yet it is
possible that some demand may spring up for the limited
supply left unsold, which may be required by the trade before
the next crop comes to market.

INDIAN COTTON IN THE
STATES.

In the current volume of the Agricultural News,
p. 200, a note appeared in relation to the recent 1m por-
tation of cotton into the Southern States, for use im the
mills. The report on which the information was based
is given in Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4.416, Annual Series, from which the following extract
relating to the matter is taken :—

UNITED

Owing to the unusually high prices prevailing in this
country for cotton during the later months of 1909, several
hundred bales of cotton were imported from India by several
of the Carolina cotton mills, to be used as an experiment in
combination with United States-grown cotton. This, it is
stated, is the first time in the history of the southern mills
that Indian-grown cotton has been purchased. The orders
for the above-mentioned cotton were placed by the Townsend
Twine Mills and the Pelzer Cotton Mills, both of South Caro-
lina, and it is understood that other mills in the Piedmont
section of this State have done likewise. Indian cotton is of

a somewhat shorter staple than the domestic-grown Upland
cotton, but it is said t» be equally white and smooth. The
Carolina mill owners are going to experiment with this Indian
cotton, and if it prove satisfactory, as they seem confident it
will, and present high prices for domestic cotton continue, it
is believed larger orders for the Indian article will soon be
placed.

In the present instance, the Indian cotton was bought
f.o.b. at New York at 11dc. (5;4d.) per tb.; the freight from
New York to the Carolina mills was 56c. (2s. 4d.) per 100 bb;
the cotton therefore was laid down at the mills at a cost of
1l$e. (5id.) per tb., while prices for domestic cotton
of equally good grade for mill uses was quoted at l4tc.
(73d.) at the mills at the time the Indian cotton was bought,
with little prospect of any early decline.

Although, as above stated, the importation of Indian-
grown cotton is new here, yet it is well known that the
Souther mills have for a long time imported and used cotton
from Egypt, becottse, for certain purposes, it has been found
to answer as well as the American Sea Island cotton, and
can be obtained at less cost; but the importation of short
cotton by the Southern mills was practically unknown until
the last season.

The fact that the cotton has been brought from India
into the very home of short staple cotton has excited com-
ment and interest in cottor-manufacturing circles, as it opens
a field for speculation as to the effect such importations are
likely to have upon the cotton-growing industry in this and
other countries. The questions naturally arising are: whether
it will further stimulate the production of Indian cotton, and
to what extent: and also whether it will increase present efforts
to find other cotton-growing areas elsewhere. The solution
of the problem will, perhaps, depend largely on whether
present high values for short staple cotton are likely to be
maintained or not for the future, at least so far as Indian
imports of any considerable amount are concerned.

In the Annual Report on the Experimental Work of the
Surat Agricultural Station, India, for 1908-9, particulars of
manurial experiments with cctton and other plants are given.
The trials have been carried on for four years, the manures
being ajplied in the first three of these, on plots measuring
l-acre in area. The results showed, with regard to cotton,
that the yield may be very greatly increased by the use of
farmyard manure and castor cake, as well as by means of
dressings of sodium nitrate and superphosphate. There was
no profit from the increase, however, atter allowance had been
made for the cost of the manure, except in the case of farm-
yard manure, though castor cake, if cheaper, could be used
economically.

Vou. IX. No. 216.

THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
FROM MHBGASS.

In view of suggestions that have been made recent-
ly, in connexion with the manufacture of paper from
sugar-cane fibre, the following extracts from an article
by William Raitt, Chemical Engineer and Fibre Expert,
Bangalore, in the Tropical Agriculturist, Vol. XXXIV,
No. 1, p. 11, are of interest:—

Bagasse or megass, the refuse crushed sugar-canes or chips
from the diffusion batteries, has come into some degree of pro-
minence of late as a possible raw material for paper. It may
therefore be useful to consider, from the collective experience
available, modified or confirmed by oxr own, how far the
hopes held-out regarding it in some quarters are likely to be
justified. The growing scarcity of wood-pulp in Europe and
America is giving occasion for a great amount of research and
experiment with the object of finding a suitable substitute,
‘and while several have been suggested which combine all the
advantages necessary to a commercial as well as a_ technical
success, it is to be feared that an insufficient acquaintance
with the scientific and economic problems evolved, his
resulted in others being brought forward which hold out very
little prospect of practical usefulness.

It may be as well, first to enquire as to what grade or
class of raw material is wanted in supplement of, or in sub-
stitution for, wood-pulp. For this purpose, paper may be
broadly divided into three main grades, corresponding fairly
accurately with the principal divisions of the raw material
market:—

(1) The best qualities of writing paper-—manufactured
almost wholly from linen and cotton rag.

(2) Inferior writing paper, book printing and news
paper—manufactured mainly from wood-pulp,

(3) Coarse unbleached paper, wrapping and packing
paper-—--manufactured from textile wastes, old sacking and
such like materials.

Now the growing demand for a new material arises
solely from No, 2, since rag is now reserved almost exclusively
for No. 1; the supply is quite adequate to the demand, and,
apart from this, no other material is likely to be found which,
at the same cost, combines the necessary requirements of
strength and colour, For No.3, where strength only is required,
the market is also fully supplied, and the steady development
of textile industries, with the resultant continual increase in
the output of wastes, seems likely to keep it so.

The stage at which sugar-cane holds its maximum
saccharine contents appears to coincide with a state of partial
and irregular maturity of the fibre. While the fibres on the
outside, or just under the skin of the cane are firm, long and
of good strength, though somewhat harsh, those from the
interior are short and weak. It therefore presents the most
difficult of problems to the paper maker. Since the chemical
treatment must be uniform, it follows that it must be severe
enough to reduce the outer fibres completely, thereby largely
destroying the inner ones, or it must be mild enough to con-
serve the latter and leave the former only partially resolved
into pulp. In the first case, the yield is largely reduced,
and what remains is expensive to bleach, because the
severity of the treatment has degraded the weaker fibres
‘into insoluble brown compounds, which stain the pulp. In
the latter case, the yield is good, but the product is almost
equally difficult to bleach satisfactorily, because of the
admixture of partially digested outer fibre. The pulp is
consequently full of specks and blotches, unfit for anything
but the commonest bleached paper, and that only in conjunc-
tion with some better and more uniform material,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

247

We do not think, then, that bagasse can be seriously
considered as a candidate for class 2, but there are localities
it which it may find a very profitable entrance into class 3.

Cane-sugar factories are usually situated in localities
where all manufactured good§ have to be imported at
a considerable cosc for freight, and, probably, import
duties also. Where such circumstances exist, together with
a sufficient local demand for unbleached wrapping and packing
papers, or even for the thin unbleached paper so largely used
by the natives of India and elsewhere for correspondence
and accounts, it is quite possible to show that a paper mill
may prove a very prefitable auxiliary to a sugar factory, and
that the bagasse may be worth considerably more for this
purpose than its present fuel value.

A paper mill suitable for this class cf paper, to produce
40 to 50 tons per week, would cost ‘roughly, £20,000.
A conservative estimate of the cost of production, under
average conditions, exclusive of the fuel value of the bagasse
but including repairs, depreciation aud 50 per cent. interest
on cost of plant, amounts to £10 10s. per ton. Under the
conditions above referred to, the product should be worth £15,
leaving £4 10s. as the paper-making value of the 2} tons of
bagasse required to produce it, or say £2 per ton. The cost
of steam coal to replace it in the sugar factory furnaces would
be at the outside, £1 10s. per ton. In calorific effect, a ton of
good steam coal is usually assumed to be equal to 4 tons of
bagasse, so that the full value of the latter cannot exceed
7s. 6d. per ton. Deducting this, there remains an estimated
profit of £1 12s. 6d. per ton of bagasse converted into paper.

THE TICKS OF JAMAICA.

The Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology,
Vol. ILI, p. 21, contains an account of the ticks and other
blood-sucking Arthropoda of Jamaica, by Professor R.
Newstead. From an abstract of this, which is given in the
Experiment Station Record, for May 1910, it appears that
six species of ticks which occur in Jamaica are considered,
all of which, except the fowl tick (Avgas persicus minzatus)
were found by the writer. The cattle tick (Margaropus
annulatus australis) was found to compose 90 to 95 per cent.
of the ticks found, so that it is by far the most abundant in
Jamaica. Particulars are given concerning Ahipicephalus
sanguineus, which attacks dogs, and of the tropical horse tick
(Dermacentor nitens). The second position as regards abund-
ance in the island is taken by Amblyomma cajennense, which
is a great pest toman. Another species of this, A. maculatum,
was collected also, as well as A. diss¢male, which was obtained
from the so-called bull frog (ufo marinus). Even lizards
were fond to be attacked by ticks, a specimen of Apo-
nomma sp. having been taken from one of these animals
(Anolis sp.). A fact of particular interest is that Mysore
cattle show an almost complete immunity from attacks by
ticks; these parasites seem to prefer as hosts, cattle containing
little or no Indian or Spanish blood.

The natural enemies of ticks which are found in Jamaica
are stated to be the savannah blackbird (Qwiscalus crassi-
rostris), which is closely related to the Barbados blackbird
(Q. jfortirostris); the savannah or parrot-billed blackbird
(Crotophaga ant), which is also found in some of the Lesser
Antilles; the domestic fowl, lizards and the bull frog. A
discussion of remedial measures is given, which include the
burning of pastures and the uses of cattle washes and dips.
As has been stated, information is also given concerning other
blood-sucking Arthropoda than ticks.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aucust 6, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Oaumniaioner Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department. R

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
Qs. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural slews

Vor. IX. SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1910. No. 216.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The Value of Agricultural Experiment Stations
forms the subject of the editorial. It is treated with
special reference to the lasting worth of the discoveries
made, and to be made, at such institutions.

Interesting information concerning the sugar-cane
in Porto Rico appears on page 243.

An article, commencing on page 244, gives useful
facts concerning the selection of cocoa-nuts for planting
purposes.

The considerations in the extracts from an article
on the manufacture of paper from megass, given on
page 247, are of present interest.

Part IV of the series of articles on the Acarina or
Mites, appearing under Insect Notes, will be found on
page 250.

Useful information in relation to broom corn is
given on page 251.

On pages 254 and255, the Fungus Notes deal
with the most recent work that has been done in
connexion with the ciseases of cocoa-nut palms.

Comparative Values of West African Coffees.

Lhe Journal & Agriculture Tropicale for last
June yives inforthation obtained from an article in
Teysmannia, for.March 1910, which presents the
results of investigiitions as to the relative value of three
West African coffees, namely Coffea canephora, var.
koutllouensis, OC. excelsa and C. robusta. The sam:
ples examined had been prepared by the wet method,
and the parchment had not been removed, owing to
the want of the apparatus necessary for the purpose.

The account shows that a first trial, made at the
end of November 1909, under the auspices of the
Colonial Bank of Sourabaya, with samples sold locally
by Chinese merchants, showed that the values of the
three coffees in the order mentioned above were
respectively 34 to 35 florins, 37 florins, and 35°50 florins,
per picul.

The following description of the prepared samples
has been given by an Amsterdam broker: Kouillou,
good berry, imperfectly cleaned, which would be better
for the removal of the parchment; taste somewhat
acid, wanting in delicacy; worth 264c. to 27c. Excelsa,
strongly resembles the small variety of Liberian: colour
yellow, skin brown; taste leaves something to be desired;
value 26c. to 263¢. Robusta, berry small, colour uni-
form, taste satisfactory, value 27c. to 27%c.

(Sb RE

The Influence of Forests on Climate and Floods.

The conclusions given in a paper contained in
a report presented to the United States House of
Representatives, on the influence of forests on climate
and floods, are given in the Experiment Station Record
for May 1910 (Vol. XXII, No. 6). ‘These conclusions
show that (1) there is strong evidence that the removal
of forests has had no effect in creating or increasing
droughts in any part of the world; (2) the amount of
raintall controls the rate of forest growth, but the
presence of forests has little or no effect on the
rainfall; (3) rainfall is controiled by conditions that exist
at such altitudes as to preclude the possibility of there
being any effect,on it through the presence or absence
of forest covering, the buildings in villages and cities,
etc.; (4) during the time that accurate observations
have been made in the United States, the rainfall has
not increased or decreased to an extent worthy of con-
sideration; (5) the cause of floods is excessive rainfall;
(6) the area of the upper waters of a river is so small,
compared with the total area of the watershed, that
except locally in mountain streams, the amount of
water flowing will not be sufficient to cause floods, even
if the removal of forests allowed the water to run off
more quickly; as a matter of fact, if the removal of
forests was responsible for general floods over a water-
shed, it would benecessary, in order to prevent this, to
reafforest. the lower levels, which are generally already
taken up for agricultural production; (7) the flow of the
United States rivers is not materially affected by any-
thing but the rainfall; (8) there is no difference between
the present levels of the high and low waters and those
of former years; (9) the frequency and duration of floods
are not greater than they were formerly.

Vou. IX.. No. 216.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

The Pine-Apple Industry of Formosa.

An account of the pine-ajple industry of Tainan,
South Formosa, which is contained in Diplomatic and
Consular Reports, No. 4,460, Annual Series, shows
that this is not in a very hopeful condition. Work, in
fact, was stopped for a time, in 1909. It is supposed
that about 840 acres of and are under cultivation for
the purpose, but because the circumstance that the price
of sugar in Formosa, owing to protection, is from two to
three times that in the United Kingdom, fruit preservers
canuot compete with foreign producers. he export,
to China, of fibre from the leaves, for making grass cloth,
showed a slight increase in 1909.

Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate of Lime.

On pages 169, 185 and 217 of the current volume
of the Agricultural News, notes have been made of
experiments which were undertaken for the purpose of
comparing calcium cyanamide and nitrate of lime, as
manures, with nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia.
Further information in connexion with the subject is
available in the Journal of the Department of Agri-
culture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, Vol.
X, No. 2, which contains an account of an investigation
giving results that agree with those that have
been noticed already: that is to say, that the power of
calcium cyanamide and nitrate of lime to produce
increases of crops is very similar to that of nitrate of
soda and sulphate-of ammonia.

(——

Methods of Sowing Maize.

A comparison of the yields obtained by planting
corn in rows, one kernel to each place, with those
resulting from planting in hills is made in Farmers’
Bulletin, No 400, of the United States Department of
Agriculture, which has been issued récently. It is
pointed ont in this that the advantage of the former
method is that it gives each plant a fairer chance to
develop normally. The latter method possesses the
advantage that the corn can be cross cultivated and
kept free from weeds, and the whole soil surface main-
tained in good condition, by means of mechanical
tillage.

The experiments that are described all showed
that, under different conditions of climate and soil, and
with different varieties of corn, better results were
obtained by planting the corn in hills, the kernels
being spaced 5 inches apart, than by the ordinary
method of dropping them close together in each
hill. This is because planting according to the latter
method results in unnecessary crowding of the stems
and roots, so that the plants are weakened and the
yield is reduced. It is estimated that, in the United
States, the use of seed planters which dropped the
kernels separately, instead of all together would add
50,000,000 bushels of corn to the annual production
of that country.

The Guava in Mexico.

An account of the occurrence of the guava in
Mexico, more especially in the consular district of Vera
Cruz, is given in No. 4,464 of the Annual Series of
the Diplomatic and Consulur Reports. Here, it is
pointed out that this plant is very common throughout
the tropical region, bunt that little or nothing has been
done up to the present to improve it by cultivation.
The wild fruit is small and inferior, but if the surround-
ing vegetation is removed, the trees bearing it will
grow to 15 or 18 feet in height, and the size of the fruit
will increase considerably. ‘The commonest varieties
of the guava in Mexico are the red apple-shaped and
the yellow pear-shaped. Of these, the second is the
larger, and both are heavy bearers, fruit being produced
nearly all the year round. It is suggested that efforts
should be made to obtain the improved fruits ona large
scale by cultivation, and by allowing the trees a proper
supply of light and air.

The Diastases in Rubber Latex.

An article by V. Cayla, in the India-Rubber Jowr-
nal ot May 2, 1910, points out that the only group of
diastases in rubber latex which have been investigated
to any extent is that of the oxydases, and that the only
rubber latex on which any important work in this
connexion has been carried out is that of Hevea
brasiliensis. Even here, conflicting results have been
obtained, most probably because the material used by
different investigators has not been of the same kind,
chiefly on account of the changes that take place in
latex after its removal from the tree.

The work of the author has shown that not only
does the latex of Hevea brasiliensis contain oxydases,
but that all those tested by him in the fresh
state and under indentical conditions, may contain an
oxydase which is capable of undergoing oxidation in
the presence of air (an oxygenase), a peroxidase or
a catalase. The activity of the oxydases usually
results in the formation of an acid; it is therefore likely
that some latices which coagulate in an acid medium
may be caused to do so spontaneously through the
activity of an oxydase.

Investigation has shown that oxydases are not the
only diastases in rubber latex, for some of them have
been found to contain a coagtilating diastase, in the
fresh latex, which acts like rennet. Attempts have been
made to find a diastase in latex which is capable of
digesting the albumen present, but without success so
far, though this is probably more on account of the
delicacy of the investigations than the actual absence
of a diastase.

The conclusion is reached that, as it has been shown
that a coagulating diastase is present in the latex, it
appears possible that the diastases may be, under certain
conditions, able either to cause or assist in the spon-
taneous coagulation of certain rubber latices. This
demonstrates the importance of ascertaining all the
natural processes in the spontaneous coagulation of

latex, in order that a rational means of coagulation may
be found.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aucusr 6, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

THE ACARINA OR MITES.
ART Vi

IXODIDAE (continued). Many remedial measures have
been tried for the control of ticks, and washes and other
applications have been advised for their destruction. In the
West Indies, the practice of picking or scraping ticks from
infested animals is often resorted to, but this method is
attended with serious disadvantages. The construction of
the mouth parts of the ticks gives them such a secure hold
on the skin of the host, that if an attempt is made to pick off
the tick, the body often separates, leaving the head attached.
This is obviously a wrong proceeding, especially if there are
many ticks picked off in this way, for the mouth parts of each
form a point of irritation, even after blood-sucking ceases,
When the ticks are scraped off it also results in serious injury
to the skin of the host, since this practice causes the pro-
duction of a great number of open wounds, which may be
infected by any disease-producing organism, or even by large
insects such as the screw worm.

The use of solutions containing soap, oil, sulphur, or
arsenic has been extensively tried, and they have been
applied by means of a sponge or brush, where only a few
animals have had to be treated, and, by means of dipping
tanks, when used in dealing with large herds. Perhaps the
most satisfactory of all methods for the control of the Texas
fever tick is that known as the ‘ pasture rotation’ system,
which within the last few years has been put into practice by
entomologists in certain ‘of the Southern States. (See Agri-
cultural News, Vol. IX, p. 157.)

The value of this method has been fully demonstrated
by trials on large areas in the cattle districts of Louisiana and
Tennessee. This system is based on an intimate knowledge
of the life-history of the cattle tick in those localities. The
following general outlines will serve to illustrate the principle
involved. This method depends for its success, in the first
place, on the fact that the cattle tick is able to live only on
a suitable host, and secondly that the ticks do not of them-
selves travel far in search of food.

An arrangement is made by means of which the cattle
may be changed from one enclosed pasture area to others, so
that each pasture will be occupied by cattle for a definite
period at a certain time in the life-history of the tick. For
instance, if the animals are removed from the land on which
they have been pastured before the eggs begin to hatch, the
entire herd of cattle should be practically free from ticks, but
in order that the eradication of ticks should be complete, the
herd should be examined later, and removed again to another
tick-free pasture, when there has been sufficient time for the
few ticks which may be on the cattle to have completed their
life-cycle, and to have reached the fully-fed stage.

By having four such enclosures, cattle ought to be ren-
dered tick-free within a year, and by that time the enclosure
which was first used should be free from ticks; for all the larvae
which hatched from the first deposit on this land will have
starved for want of a proper host. The time required for the
eggs to hatch, and the young to die of starvation, varies con-
siderably, and observation would be necessary in special dis-
tricts to establish the exact periods which would give the
desired results of this rotation system. Sufticient time should
also be allowed before stock is returned to any of the pastures
on which this method is being carried out.

In the United States, the time required for the complete
period, from the attachment of the seed tick to the dropping
of the adult, is from twenty-one to fifty-eight days. The time
required for the adults.to commence egg-laying after dropping
ranges from two to forty days, averaging in summer three or
four days. Egg-laying requires six to seventy days, averaging
ten or eleven days in summer. The time required for the
eggs to hatch varies from seventeen to forty-four days in
summer to over one hundred and seventy in the winter season.

In the West Indies, the cattle tick is Margaropus annu-
latus australis, but several other species occur. The gold
tick of Antigua is,Amblyomnia variegatum; this also attacks
cattle. Other species of ticks attack a great variety of hosts,
including even cold-blooded animals, such as toads and lizard’s

The fowl tick (Argas persicus, var. miniatus), which
also occurs in the West Indies, differs in its habits from
the cattle tick. It hides during the day, and feeds on
the fowls at night. It is a large, flat, greyish tick, which
hides in crevices in and about the poultry house, in the same
manner as the nimbles, and consequently the same methods
of preserving the cleanliness of the house as were suggested
for the poultry mites should prove effective in controlling
the fowl tick.

TYROGLYPHIDAE. This family of mites is very impor-
tant from an ecdnomic point of view, and includes a large
number of species. The individuals are very small in size
and inconspicuous in their colour, and as a result, have often
been overlooked. On this account, the injury caused by them
has often been attributed to insects, which happened to ke pres-
ent, and which, because of their larger size, have been more
conspicuous. They breed very rapidly, and thus more than
make up for their small size in the amount of damage which
they are able to do. They attack a great variety of sub-
stances, among which may be mentioned stored foods such as
cheese, flour, sugar, ham, and similar materials; hair in
furniture, mattresses and pillows; many drugs, seeds, bulbs
and roots of plants; and entomological and other museum
specimens.

The mites of this family are soft-bodied, light-coloured,
and without tracheae; there are generally no eyes, and there
is often a distinct suture between the cephalothorax and the
abdomen.

The transformations of the Tyroglyphidae are very
remarkable.’ All the species of mites of this family lay eggs
often of a large size, from which six-legged larvae hatch. At
the first moult, an eight-legged nymph is developed, and the
further transformation may be similar to that in ticks. On
the other hand, a form is sometimes developed which is
known as the Hypopus stage. At one time, mites at this
state of development were supposed to be of a distinct species,
to which the name Hypopus was given. In this, the mite
differs very greatly from the octopod nymph from which
it develops. Its body is hard and chitinous, there is no
mouth orifice, nor distinct mouth parts; the legs are short
and not fitted for walking. On the ventral surface of the
body there is a specially developed area provided with
sucking discs, by means of which the hypopus is able to
attach itself to an insect, or other animal, for the purpose of
being transported to another locality. This stage seems to
be an especial adaptation for the purpose of migration, and is
remarkable, in that the efficiency of this mode of transporta-
tion is eutirely dependent on the movements of some other
creature. If successful im finding a suitable locality, the
hypopus is capable of moulting again to the form of an
eight-legged nymph, which feeds and develops into the adult
condition.

Vor. IX. No, 216.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 2

or
—_

One species of this family is of interest from its connex-
ion with the disease of bulbs, which at one time was a menace
to the cultivation of lilies in Bermuda. It is known as the
Eucharis mite, and its attacks on lily bulbs were followed by
a bacterial disease of a very serious nature,,, Another species,
Pediculoides ventricosus, has recently attracted a con-
siderable amount of attention from the annoyance it has
caused to human beings in certain sections of the United
States. This mite is normally a parasite on a small larva,
which attacks the stems of wheat and other grains. It was
found that persons who slept on beds made from fresh straw
suffered an acute skin affection, which after some difficulty
was traced to the presence and action of this species of mite.
The straw which was used for making the beds harboured
countless numbers of mites which, being deprived of their
natural source of food, attacked the skin of those sleeping on
the beds, producing very disagreeable results.

BROOM CORN IN ANTIGUA.

A short account of the present condition of the broom
corn industry of Antigua has been received from Mr. T.
Jackson, Curator of the Botanic Station. In this, after
reference has been made to the efforts of the Agricultural
Department» to establish the industry there, and to the
resulting trials of the crop that have been made by planters,
information is given to show that, in the latter, the greatest
area planted in broom corn has been about 3 acres, from
which 5,726 tb. of corn was reaped, giving 3,708 Ib.
of seed and 1,758 tb. of heads. These figures show that the
proportion of seed to heads, was very high.

The corn was-made into 9 bales, varying in weight from
161 lb. to 228 tb, which were shipped to Messrs. T. 8.
Simms & Co., Ltd., St. John, N.B., who bought the corn at
The. per bh. A report received from this firm shows that the
corn was too short, none of it being self-working, and that it
possessed an objectionable red colour. The first of these
characteristics can be altered easily, for one of the faults of
broom corn, in Antigua in the past, has been its length, and
the efforts made to rectify this have led to too great
a reduction of it. The second fault cannot be eliminated as
easily, though much may be done by reaping the crop early.
It is pointed out in the account that the results of this trial,
which is probably the first serious one in Antigna, are on the
whole, not discouraging, and that further efforts are likely to
be made in the future.

In regard to the handling of the crop, Mr. Jackson gives
some interesting facts which have arisen in his own experi-
ence. From these, it appears that a simple way of handling
the material, after it has been dried, is to tie it up in bundles,
each about 1 foot in diameter and with all the heads of the
corn on the same side. These bundles are tied in much the
same way as is employed for wheat sheaves. During the
meking of them, the corn should be graded. Care is essential
in these matters in order that it may be fed to the
cleaning machine in the most efficient way possible. In
Antigua, the cleaning machine employed is called the Gales-
bury Broom Corn Scraper. This requires five to seven labour-
ers (women) to attend to it, who feed the machine, carry
the heads to the baling press, and bag and carry away the
seeds. By means of this labour, which was provided by those
who were new to the work. 518 tb. of broom corn was cleaned
in an hour, ‘The chief difficulty in working the machine is
that is it very likely to become choked with seeds; this can
be avoided by not allowing them to collect in the drum in
which the fans revolve.

BRITISH GUIANA AND THE CANADIAN
EXHIBITIONS.

The following information as to the exhibits to be for-
warded to the Canadian Exhibitions by the Permanent
Exhibition Committee of Demerara and others is taken from
the Demerara Daily Chronicle of July 22, 1910:—

SUGAR-CANE PRODUCTS. Grey crystals, yellow crystals,
white crystals, yellow molasses sugar, samples of rum (col-
oured and white), and molascuit, besides lengths of sugar-
canes for decorative purposes.

rice, White rice, brown rice, and paddy, with rice in
the ear, for decoration.

cacao, Cacao beans and cacao pods preserved in spirit.

COFFEE. Liberian and creole. The Robusta variety is
not being sent, as it has not yet become a commercial product.

COCOA-NUTS, ETC. Cocoa-nuts in husk and unhusked,
cocoa-nut meal for cattle feeding, various samples of cocoa-
nut oil, nutmegs, spices, tonka beans, and sowaree nuts,

LIME PRODUCTS. Citrate of lime and green limes are
being sent by the Demerara Development Company, and
green limes are also being sent by Messrs. Sprostons, Ltd.,
while Mr. H. R. W. Greig of Haags Bosche has promised
samples of different kinds of fruit.

BALATA. One sample so far has been prepared, two
more have been promised, and an effort is being made to get
some good sheets of this product.

RUBBER. A biscuit or two of rubber may be sent. Samples
of the colony’s rubber are being kept for the International
Rubber Exhibition in London in 1911, at which, it is hoped,
a representative collection both of rubber and balata will be
exhibited.

TIMBER. To each exhibition a representative collection
of 20 hand samples of different varieties of the colony’s woods
is to be sent, besides logs of greenheart, which are being for-
warded by Messrs. Sprostons, Ltd., and boards of crabwood
by Messrs. Sandbach, Parker & Co.

Samples of locally prepared bitters have been sent by
three different individuals.

For decorative purposes, flowering and fruiting spadices
of cocoa-nuts and other palms are being sent to make the court
as attractive as possible, especially as Mr. C. S. Pickford is
arranging that British Guiana will no longer be merged
among the exhibits of the West Indies, but will have a stall
of its own,

The following have assisted the Committee with exhi-
bits:—-

Messrs. Sandbach, Parker & Co., Messrs. Davson & Co.,
Messrs. Wieting & Richter, Messrs. Curtis, Campbell & Co.,
Messrs. Sprostons, Ltd., the Hon. B. Howell Jones, Mr. M. P.
Camacho, Mr. T. H. Earle, Messrs. d’Aguilar Bros., Messrs,
Booker Bros., McConnell & Co., and the Lands and -Mines
Department.

Information has been received to the effect that the
Liverpool University Institute of Commercial Research in
the Tropics, which was re-organized a year ago, after having
ceased working for a year, has received insufficient financial
support for the continuation of its labours. It is therefore
being wound up finally, as it cannot be continued, under
present conditions. In consequence of the action, the
Jaboratory and all the assets of the Institute have been
taken over by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine,
under the direction of which they will be made use of, in
the future.

bo
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‘THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aveust 6, 1910.

A report by H.M. Consul at Para shows that the quan-
tity of rubber exported from Para, Manaos, Itacoatiara and
Iquitos during May 1910 was 1,643,191 kilos. Of this,
1,373,037 kilos. went to Europe and 270,154 to the United
States.

The Selangor Government Gazette of April 15, 1910,
shows that the weight of cultivated rubber exported from the
Federated Malay States during the three months January to
March of this year was 2,396,586 tb. The amount for the
corresponding period in 1909 was 1,148,269 Ib.

A copy of the revised and enlarged edition of the Tariff
of Rates for the Conveyance of Goods, issued by Neale &
Wilkinson, Ltd., General Foreign Carriers, and Shipping and
Insurance Commission and Steamship Agents, of 32, St. Mary
Axe, London, E.C. has been received recently. This is
entitled the New A B C Tariff of Rates for the Conveyance
of Goods and Parcels to all Parts of the World, and a copy of
it may be had post free on application.

Cotton cultivation in Beira (Mozambique) has proved
very disappointing, notwithstanding the fact that it was
undertaken on a large scale by companies with ample capital,
possessing expert managers, and provided with modern
machinery. One company has abandoned its plantations
altogether; and another, while still continuing to grow cotton
to some extent, now gives more attention to planting maize.
(The Textile Mercury, June 4, 1910.)

The report on the Ibadan (Western Province of Nigeria)
Agricultural Show, 1910, received from the General Man-
ager, shows that the export of cacao from this Province,
during 1909, was 4,276,111 tb., while those of maize and
cotton lint were 10,160 tons and 4,775,947 tb., respectively.
The rate of the agricultural progress of the Province that
is taking place is seen by comparison with the similar
figures for 1902, which were: cacao 385,540 tb., maize 60
tons, cotton lint 12,359 Tb.

An account of a new patent for the separation of rubber
from latex is given in a recent number of the /inancier, and
in the Tropical Agriculturist for April 1910. The separa-
tion is effected by means of a slowly travelling belt charged
with positive electricity, which causes the removal of the
rubber from the latex, so that it clings to the belt, from
which it is collected by scrapers fixed at a certain point.
The exhausted latex can be treated again by passing the belt
through it a second time

The Tropical Agriculturist for May 1910 gives an
extract from the Fiji Times of April 6, pointing out that,
during the recent hurricane which passed over that colony,
sisal hemp plants showed an almost complete resistance to the
strong winds. In a few cases, plants had been partly blown
over, but these were placed upright, and no interference with
their growth appears to have taken place. Some injury was
done by the contact of the leaves of neighbouring plants, and
the Agricultural Department suggests, in consequence, that
these should be placed 10 feet apart, instead of 8 feet, as in
the past.

Evidence showing the recognition of an additional réle
probably played by bacteria is adduced in an abstract of a paper
given in the Hxperiment Station Record for June 1910. From
the work which is described in the article, it is concluded that
bacteria form one of the chief causes of corrosion of steel in
the soil, as analyses of the rust showed that it contained
a large amount of organic matter, and from 1:41 to 3°95 per
cent. of combined sulphur (calculated as sulphur dioxide),
while the steel before corrosion only contains 0:05 per cent.
of sulphur.

H.M. Legation at Buenos Aires reports that the extent of
land under cotton in Argentina is very small in proportion
to the area of land suitable for its cultivation. Experiments
made some years ago showed that the Provinces of Entre
Rios and Corrientes, and the territory of the Chaco are suit-
ed for this industry. Difficulty in obtaining labour, how-
ever, has prevented its progress. It is tnderstood that offi-
cial encouragement is now being given to the industry.
Further experiments made in the Chaco have proved highly
satisfactory. (The Board of Trade Journal, June 9, 1910.)

The Monthly Consuiar and Trade Reports, for May 1910,
gives an account of a method, developed recently in Germany,
for rendering hard waters completely soft. It consists in
rapidly filterimg the water through an artificially made sub-
stance called Permutit, by which the lime, manganese, tron
and magnesium compounds, which make the water hard, as well
as the bacteria it may contain, are, it is claimed, completely
removed. Its use is of special importance in the treatment of
water for employment in boilers, as such water will leave no
inerustation, with the result that cracking will be prevented,
the expense of cleaning reduced, and the cost of making
the steam lessened.

A pamphlet issued by the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, under the title of The Use of Bearing
Reins on Horses, has just been received. In it is quoted the
opinion of the late Professor Pritchard of the Royal Veterinary
College, to the effect that the use of the bearing rein when
tightly applied is painful and irritating to horses, is directly
and indirectly productive of disease when regularly worn, and
by its mechanical action greatly hinders horses from employ-
ing their full strength. For the above reasons—on the plea
of utility as well as of humanity—its use should be discon-
tinued. It is pointed out that this opinicn, supported as it was
when it was given by five other professors and over 500 mem-
bers of the veterinary profession, is an overwhelming con-
demnation of the bearing rein.

Vor. IX. No. 216. THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

bo
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STUDENTS’ CORNER,

AUGUST.
Sreconp PrErrop.
Seasonal Notes.

The time has arrived at which young lime plants may be
moved to the places to be oceupied permanently by them
in the plantation. The holes for the reception of these should
have been made some time previously. Why? If this has not
been done, the soil should be forked, at the positions chosen
for them, within a circle which is from 2 to 3 feet in
diameter, and in places where the rainfall is heavy, some of
it should then be drawn in from the circumference, so that
when the plant is put in, the upper part Of the root system
may be raised slightly above the level of the ground. In
choosing the distances that the holes will be made, from one
another, several considerations will have to be taken into
account, the chief of these being the general conditions of the
island in which the plantation is situated, the nature of the
soil, the slope of the ground and the elevation above sea-level.
Before they are moved to their permanent positions, the plants
will require tobe cut back to some extent. What is the
reason for this! Care will have to be taken that the soil is
well drained, in order that the plants may develop properly,
be free from disease, and give good crops. Discuss the ways
in which the want of good drainage is harmful to plants. It
is best that all material used in mulching should be well rot-
ted. Why is this? During the present season, suckers are
most likely to be produced. What should be done with
these, and why is the procedure adopted? Why are lime
suckers usually found in the wet season, and not during the
dry time of the year! Distinguish between the ‘suckers’ of
the lime tree and those of the banana and pine-apple. What
is the chief use of the latter kinds! Note that the lime crop
‘is commencing, and that the present time formsa good oppor-
tunity for making observations on the pests and diseases of
this plant. Take special account of scale inseets,and make out,
‘as far as you can, the extent to which these are infested by
parasitic fungi, and what are the best conditions for this para-
sitism. Why is it that, although these scale insects can be
parasitized, and destroyed, in this way, they sometimes
increase to such an extent as to become serious pests and to
cause a great amount of loss!

Make a revision of whatever information you have in
your possession concerning other citrus fruits. Note that, in
planting out budded stocks of oranges and grape fruit, a pro-
cedure similar to that for limes is observed. Why is it that,
in wet districts, the soil is left under these so that its highest
part is situated near the collar of the plant, as was described
above in the case of limes?

With the end of the cane-reaping season, attention will
be given to the cultivation and care of ratoons, more
especially. Where these are tilled in different ways, particu-
larly where mechanical tillage is employed, careful note should
be taken of the effect, in the various instances, on the growth
of the canes. The interest of such observations will be all
the greater where the banks are ploughed, in ratoon
‘cultivation.

Opportunities will be afforded for gaining information
in connexion with the application of nitrogenous manures,
such as sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of’soda, and in some

cases, nitrate of lime. How do the effects of calcium cyanam-
ide and nitrate of lime, as manures, compare with those of
sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda? What are the
sources of these manures?

Make careful observations in®éonnexion with the root
disease of the sugar-cane, especially in relation to ratoons.
Such observations will be undertaken with particular refer-
ence to the character of the preceding and the present season;
the previous treatment of the fields; the crops grown in them,
in the immediate past; the present condition of the soil; the
kind of cane growing (plants or ratoons); and the varie-
ties of cane, in connexion with the extent of the attack of the
disease. What do you know about the life-history of the
fungus which produces root disease, and what preventive
measures, if any, are suggested by a consideration of it!

Where the soil is being prepared for onion-sowing, note
how this is done. When the seed has been sown, ants often
give trouble by carrying away a certain amount of it. Where
onions are being grown on a small scale, as in garden beds, or,
for planting out, in boxes, these insects may be kept away by
sprinkling the soil with water containing one tablespoonful
of kerosene to the gallon; the sprinkling should be done just
after the water and the kerosene have been well shaken
together. Watch the germination of the onion seed, and com-
pare it with that of other monocotyledonous seeds, as well as
with that of such dicotyledonous seeds as you have studied.
What parts of the plant does the onion of commerce include?
Explain what is meant by ‘onion sets’. How are they obtained,
and what are the special advantages in using them for the
propagation of the onion? Compare the structure of the
onion with that of other food-storing parts of plants, such as
the tuber and the corm. Discuss the suitability of the onion
as a catch crop with sugar-cane.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) In what ways is the presence of trees in pastures
beneficial Mention any trees, that you know of, which are
suitable for growing in pastures.

(2) State in what way the soil should receive special
attention, before artificial manures are applied to it, giving
reasons for your statement.

(3) Give an account of the ways in which weeds are
capable of injuring cultivated plants.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) What is meant by a ‘beneficial insect”? Give a list
of such insects, and state in what way each of them is bene-
ficial.

(2) Why is it that, although soil is seen to be washed
away by rain, its thickness usually remains fairly constant,
and even increases in some places ?

(3) How do non-leguminons crops, used as green dress-
ings, benefit the soil ?

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture re-
turned to Barbados on Thursday, July 28, by the
SS. ‘Sobo’, from an official visit to the Leeward
Islands,

bo
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THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Avcust 6, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

RECENT WORK ON DISEASES OF
COCOA-NUT PALMS.

The information contained in the following article is
taken from Circulars and Agricultural Journal of the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. 1V, Nos. 22 and 24, on ‘The
Stem Bleeding Disease of the Cocoanut’ and ‘‘The Root
Disease of the Cocoa-nut Palm’, by Pétch, and from two
articles in the Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture,
Trinidad, Vol. 1X, No. 64; the first entitled ‘The Bud Rot of
the Cocoa-nut Palm’, by Rorer, the second ‘Cocoa-nut Palm
Diseases’, by Mr. J. B. Johnson, Assistant Pathologist to the
United States Department of Agriculture. The diseases
described in these papers are three in number, namely, the bud
rot disease, the root disease, and the stem bleeding disease.

BUD ROT DISEASE. According to Rorer and Johnson
it is now almost certain that this well-known disease of
cocoa-nut palms is due to the action of bacteria. The causa-
tive organism has not yet been definitely separated, but evid-
ence accumulated from various parts of the world leaves very
little doubt as to its nature. The disease, as is well known,
occurs in several islands of the West Indies, and one with
very similar characters has been found in various parts of the
East, particularly in India, Ceylon and the Philippines.

In Trinidad bud rot is usually distinguished ‘ by the
yellowing and drooping of the leaves, the falling of the imma-
ture nuts, the wilting and breaking over and browning of the
terminal leaf and the putrid condition of the whole of the
region of the cabbage’, Apparently the disease may com-
mence either in the young central tissues or at the base of the
outer leaves. In the latter case its action is not so rapid as it
is in the former. In Ceylon it would seem that the disease
always commences in the cabbage, and the young erect leaves
become brown and dead, while the outer whor! of leaves is
still apparently healthy. The fact that the disease commences
at the centre and not at the outside is one of the characters
by which it can be separated from the root disease as found
in the latter island. 3

Various methods of dealing with this disease have been
suggested, and it is possible that in very early stages flaming or,
in the case of young plants, the use of Bordeaux mixture may
be found effective in checking it, but in advanced cases
little can be done in the way of remedial measures, and the
safest course to pursue is to promptly and thoroughly destroy
all trees showing advanced symptoms of the disease. In
Trinidad, the Board of Agriculture voted the sum of $500 for
the purpose of destroying diseased trees, and the work was
started on November 30, 1909, under the direct supervision
of an agricultural inspector.

ROOT DISEASE, A root disease of cocoa-nut palms is
reported from both Trinidad and Ceylon, but the accounts
given from the two islands would appear to indicate that
they are not due to the same organism. The Trinidad disease
was described by Stockdale in 1906, and attributed to
a species of Botryodiplodiay A similar disease of cocoanut
palms at Travancore in India is described by Dr. E. J. Butler
and also attributed by him to a species of Botryodiplodia.
The symptoms of root disease in Trinidad, as described by
Stockdale, are somewhat similar to that of the bud rot. It
may be recognized by a yellowing and hanging down of the
leaves, by the disorganized condition of the cortex of the
roots, by the formation of a red ring of discolouration in the
stem, and by the eventual’ death and rotting of the cabbage.
The diseased roots generally contain the mycelium of the

fungus called Botryodiplodia sp. As a result of a critical
examination of the literature, Johnson is of the opinion
that Stockdale’s conclusions were not warranted, and
states that, according to his own observations, the disease
of the roots is of bacterial origin and in all probability due to
the same organism as that causing the bud rot disease, so
that in reality the bud rot and the root diseases of cocoa-nut
palms in Trinidad are identical in origin, Johnson appears
also to be of the opinion that the various forms of bud rot
met with in different parts of the world are identical, and due
to the same organism as is found in Trinidad. Since this
is the case, it is evident that the root disease found in Ceylon
cannot be considered as identical with that in Trinidad, for
Petch proves almost conclusively that the disease is due to
a fungus, Fomes:/uetdus, which belongs to the family of
bracket fungi. The symptoms characterizing the disease in
Ceylon are as follows: (1) The outer leaves wither and droop,
usually remaining for a long time suspended vertically
around the stem; (2) the tree becomes barren owing to the
suppression of the flowering branches; (3) new leaves are
successively smaller, so that the crown becomes a handful of
dark yellowish leaves; (4) finally these small leaves wither
and the bud decays.’ Instances were noted in which the
tree was killed so rapidly that the leaves and terminal bud
dried up before the decaying of the latter had time to
commence. The fungus causing the disease develops in the
outer ring of vascular bundles in the butt of the tree, that
is from the ground level to a distance of about 3 feet
above the ground. The water-conducting cells become
filled with hyphae, and in this way the food supply from
the roots is cut off. The mycelium of the fungus is, in
general, white but the older hyphae are often brownish in
colour, Another fungus, Lastodiplodia theobromae, which is
better known in connexion with the diseases of cacao, was
frequently found to occur in the dead roots of cocoa-nut palms,
but careful investigation showed that it was almost certainly
saprophytic in this case. It may be stated here that the fungus
referred to by Stockdale as Botryodiplodia sp., and found on
dead roots of cocoa-nut palms in Trinidad, is now known to
have been also, in all probability, Lastodiplodia theobromae,
In addition to attacking cocoanut palms, Homes lucidus can
affect bamboos, mango and flamboyant (Poinciana regia), As
noted above, Petch calls attention to the difference between
the symptoms typical of the root disease as found in Ceylon,
and those characteristic of bud rot disease. It may also
be noted that the root disease in Ceylon differs from that
in Trinidad in the absence of the red discolouration of the
stem, and in the fact that the terminal bud is frequently
quite healthy.

In the case of monocotyledonous plants such as the cocoa-
nut palm, there is not much possibility of treating root diseases,
but the following preventive measures are recommended: all
diseased trees should be felled, and the butt, with the last 2 or 3
feet of the stem, burnt. It is not necessary to burn the upper
portions of the tree as these are not infected by the fungus.
When the tree has been felled, a trench at least 2 feet deep
should be dug around the roots, which may then be left in
the soil to decay. There is very little likelihood that these
roots will serve as a source of infection, since the food supply
which they contain is rapidly consumed both by the fungus
causing the disease, and by numerous other saprophytic fungi,
such as Lastodiplodia theobromae, which has already been
alluded to ; when the food supply is exhausted these fungi
will necessarily die of starvation. Lastly, it is advised that
the hole from which the tree has been removed be left open
for at least one year,

STEM BLEEDING DISEASE. The symptoms of this disease

Vor. IX. No. 216.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 255

vary somewhat according to the age and nature of the trees.
In general, cracks appear in the bark from which oozes
a brown viscid liquid that soon turns black and leaves
a dark stain around the hole. On cutting away the cortex
near the hole, it is often found that the tissue has become
soft and watery through decay. In some-eases the outer
layer of tissue falls off, leaving a hole filled with fibres.
Frequently, such are cleaned out by termites, and a white,
smooth hollow is thus made, extending to the so-called
wood. In other cases, spiral cylindrical hollows are formed,
running up and down the inner tissues of the stem, and
in extreme eases the whole tree may be rendered hollow
from the base to within 2 or 3 feet of the terminal bud. This
may happen even when but few bleeding patches are visible
on the outside. Trees so attacked are not necessarily killed,
and the effect of the disease on the crop is so smal] as to be
entirely masked by the much greater influence of differences
in the rainfall from year to year. ‘he limitation of the
disease to the stem of the trees may possibly be due to the
fact that this is the only portion which contains a sufficiently
large percentage of sugar to enable the causative fungus to
thrive. This fungus is Vhielaviopsis ethaceticus, which is
also responsible for a disease of pine-apples and of sugar-canes
in various parts of the tropics. Petch found that it was
unable to live on dried leaves or dried husks of the cocoa-nut;
consequently its spread is not effected by such débris. He
is also of the opinion that there is no danger of increasing
the prevalence of this disease by tue manufacture of coir.
Though this fungus does not appear to damage the trees
materially, yet injured trees are frequently broken by high
winds, and in this way loss is caused. As a consequence,
the following remedial meisures are recommended: the
diseased parts should be eut out completely, and all chips
burnt. This operation is best performed with a chisel and
mallet. Slanting wounds should be made, so that water
may drain away. When the diseased material has been
removed, the surface of the tissues should be carefully
burned with a torch, to dry it, and a coating of tar applied
to the wound. In conclusion, it may be worthy of mention
that lightning, fire and root disease may cause bleeding
patches on the stems of cocoa-nut palms, but these patches
may be distinguished from those caused by Vhielaviopsis
ethaceticus by the facts that they are usually more numerous,
and that the sap which exudes is of a much lighter red-
brown colour, less viscid in nature, and causes a_ rusty
discolouration.

Earlier references to this subject will be found in the
Agricultural News, Vols. IV, pp. 121, 299 and 369; VI,
pp. 75 and 250; and VII, p. 219; and in the West Indian
Bulletin, Vols. VI, p. 307; 1X, p. 361.

ECONOMIC PLANT STUDY IN BRAGIL.

By a recent reorganization of the Brazilian National
Museum, special attention will be given to the study of fibre
plants, insects harmful or beneficial to agriculture, plant
diseases caused by vegetable parasites, ete. The results
should be far-reaching, as many vegetable products growing
in profusion in the country, especially fibre plants, have no
commercial value because of lack ot knowledge as to their
adaptability to industrial uses. f

The Government has resolved that the directors of the
famous botanical gardens of Rio de Janeiro shall assume some
functions delegated to them by the Ministry of Agriculture in
the nature of experimental station work. A department is to
be maintained for the study of plants and trees for commercial
purposes.

In the growing of fruits, to which special attention is to
be devoted, experiments in producing new varieties of native
fruits will be undertaken for the purpose of obtaining hardier
products, which will be suitable for export and transportation
to distant countries. Those in charge of the experimental sta-
tion will receive boys of from twelve*to twenty years of age as
apprentices, to whom a small stipend may be paid. Appren-
tices giving satisfactory service and evidence of special
adaptability to the work will be given opportunity for advan-
cement, and will be recommended to agriculturists who wish
to employ experienced horticulturists on their own account.

A thorough study of fruits commonly raised in Brazil,
carried on along scientific lines, would doubtless mean much
to the fruit industry of the country. Most fruits grown here
now are either not cultivated at all, or if real cultivation is
resorted to, in either case the fruit is much the same as that
growing in a wild state.

Grapes are cultivated in various States on a larger scale
than is any other fruit, but the methods used and the means
of transportation are so costly that the home-grown grape is
searcely able to compete with Spanish and Portuguese fruit
of a similar quality. Oranges, with the same care given to
the fruit in California, could be grown here at a much lower
price than in the United States, and if properly packed and
refrigerated, could be shipped in large quantities to the United
States and to Enrope. ‘The insistent attention which the
Brazilian Government is giving to these matters must
certainly result in a great improvement in conditions as they
now exist in fruit-growing. (Monthly Consular and Trade

Reports, June 1910.)

AGRICULTURE IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS, BARBADOS.

The following information concerning the state of
agricultural instruction in elementary schools in Bar-
bados, is taken from the Report of the Elementary
Schools, 1909, of that colony:—

The interest taken by the children in school garden
cultivation has not declined, although if the number of
exhibits sent to the Agricultural Department should be taken
as the criterion, it would appear so. It is true that the num-
ber of competing schools, and of the exhibits at the Show
held at Lancaster in December of this year were fewer than
the number at the Mount Exhibition in 1908, and the number
sent on some other occasions. But as it has been stated
before, the centre at which the exhibition is held has very
much to do with the rumber of both the juvesile and the
adult peasant exhibits. .There are schools in every district
of the island, but there is not land for school gardens at many
of the schools; and again, all teachers have not the knowledge
required for directing such work. While the exhibition is
always open to the children of the whole island, it is not
possible for the children of distant schools to attend the show
that is many miles off, far less to carry or send the produce.

It is encouraging, however, to observe, that on each occa-
sion some addition is made from the district in which the
exhibition is held to the number of schools which undertake
this subject. The large Boys’ School at St. Silas this year for
the first time showed garden-work, and the quality of the
exhibits from that school was good; it stood second on the
list of schools for a diploma.

Southborongh again took the first place. Greenwich,
although an Infant School, also sent several creditable exhib-
its which won prizes. At the General Exhibition of the
Agricultural Society, the beets and carrots which won the
highest prizes were the products of school gardens,

London.—Tue West

56 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET “REPORTS.

INDIA CrrcuLaR,

July 19, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pz Pass & Co.,
July 8, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, lid. to 2),d.

Batata—Sheet, 4/1; block, 3/2 per th.

Brreswax—4£7 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/-
to 53/-; Jamaica, 46/6 to 51/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 36/6 to 52/-.

Corra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Frvuit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Ginc—ER—Common to good common, 50/- to 52/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 60/- to 70/-.

Honrey—25/- to 31/-.

Istnciass—No quotations.

Live Jurce—Raw, 11d. to 1/2; concentrated, £18 10s.;
Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9 to 6/-, nominal.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Macre—1/6 to 2/-.

Noutmecs—Quiet.

Pimento—Common, 2{d.; fair, 2}d.; good, 22d. per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 10/-, fine soft, 9/2; tine Peru,
9/9 per tb.

Roum—Jamaica, 1/11 to 5/-.

Sugar—Crystals, 17/9 to 19/9; Muscovado, 13/6 to 15/-;
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

CoMMITTEE

Aveust 6, 1910
Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., July 30, 1910;
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., August 2, 1910;

Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., July 25, 1910.

ArRowroot—St. Vincent, $3°30 to $3-75 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$10°75 to $11°50 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-Nuts—$18°00.

Corrrr—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $1000 to $11-00 per
100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 to $1°40 per 100 tb., dull.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65:00; Cacao
manure, $42°00 to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia,
$70:00 to $75-00 per ton.

Morasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°25 to $3-00 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$6:10 to $6°25 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poraros—Nova Scotia, $2°25 to $2°60 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $5°35 (180 th.); Patna, $3°50 to $3-80;
Rangoon, $2°90 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wiermsc & Ricurer, July
23, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacn, Parker & Co,
July 22, 1910.

Messrs. Sanp- |
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

Messrs. WIrTING

ARTICLES. & RicHrer.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent) $8:00 per 200 th.

$800 per 200 th.,
market dull

Barata—Venezuelablock|
Demerara sheet}

32c. per Ib.
78c. per tb.

Prohibited
None

New York,—Messrs. Gimiespre Bros.

8, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, lle. to 1lljc.; Grenada, lle. to 11te. ;
Trinidad, 10c. to 11jc. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 11e. per tb.

& Co, July

Cacao—Native
Cassava—
Cassava STARCH—

|10c. to llc. per th./10c. to 11e. per th,
$1-08 No quotation
$6:00 per barrel of} No quotation
196 tb.
$10 to $16 per M.

Cocoa-NuTS— $10 to $16 per M.,

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $27:°00 to $28-00; culls,
$16°00 to $17°00 ; Trinidad, select, $27-00 to $28-00;
culls, $16°00 to $17-°00 per M.

Corrre—Jamaica, ordinary, 85c. to 83c.; good ordinary,
9c.; and washed, up to 10%c. per tb.

_Gincer—9bc. to 12hc. per th.

“Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 55c.; Barbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c¢., dry flint.

Grape Fruir—$2'75 to $4:00 per box.

LimEes—$4°20 to $6°50.

Mace—30c. to 36c. per tb.

Nutmecs—110’s, 8}c. to 9c. per Th.

Orances—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimentro—43c. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°,
89°, 3°83c.;
duty paid.

4°33c. per Ib.; Muscovados,
Molasses, 89°, 3°58c. per tb., all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., July 23,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11:00 to $11°25 per fanega ; Trinidad,
$10°65 to to $11-00.

Cocoa-Nur O1—$1°11 per Imperial gallon.

Corree—Venezuelan, 103c. per tb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 th.

DHAL—$4°25 to $4-31 ,

Ontons—$1°50 to $2-00 per 100 ib.

Pras, Sprit—$6-00 to $6-20 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1-00 to $1:10 per 100, tb.

Rick—Yellow, $4°35 to $4:40; White, $5:00 to $5-10
per bag.

Sucar— American crushed, $6°20 per 100 tb.

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Libenan
DHAaL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Poraros—Noya Szotia
Lisbon
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
RiceE—Ballam
Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood’

14c per tb.
14$c. per th.
8c. per tb.

$3°-75 to $3°80 per

bag of 168 tb.
$500
$1-20
None

2he. to 2ke.

$5°75 to $5°80 per

bag (210 tb.)
20e. to 40c. per
bunch
$3-00
$1°30 per 70 th.
$1°80 per bag
No quotation
35-00 to $5°50
$3°00 per bag
$2°40
$3°12
$3°00 to $3-05
$3°60 to $3-70
$4:00
$2°25 to $2:50
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

peeled and
selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
14hc. to 15c. perth.
10c. per tb.
$3°80 per bag of
168 tb.

ze. to 2sc.
$5°75 per bag

(210 tb.)

No quotation

$300
No quotation

$5-00 to 35°50

None
$3°70

$4:00 to $4°25
None

32c. to 55c. per

cub. foot

$3°50 te $5°50

per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ere INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientitic Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print.sNos. 2, 3, and 4, in onguaa paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free. 1s. 2d.

Volumes IJ, oe TY, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX: Epcos 2s. each ; Post free 2s, 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;
and V,2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume X. No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manuriil Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conference, 1910 ; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
Botanie Station ; Root. Disease of Sugar-cane in Antigua and in Barbados : Disinfection of Imported
Plants ; Index, ete. Price 6d. each. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SE SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a.simple and popular manner and the infurmation contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a ‘limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sugar L[ypustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (14) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungvid Pests Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. : (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Ricu Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 44.
in 1902- 3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d7.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.; tions Price 2d.
in 1908-9, No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting New and Enlarged Edition.
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.: (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A B C of Lime Cultivation Price 4d
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,

in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d. Price 4d.
ScaLe Insects. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
Scale Insects of EO Lesser Antilles, Part £ ‘No. 7, price 4d.; (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.
Part II., No. 22, price 4d. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
GENERAL. (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.

(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d.
The above will be supplied post free for an additional char. ye of 4d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

Yhe ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact. any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘ Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s, 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the “early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents All
applications for copies are to he addressed to the gees. not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: THE Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Bripcewarer, Roseau.,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tue ‘Datty Curontcie Orrice,Georgetown. dntiwua: Mr. S. D, Matons. St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Muir-MarsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Avitts; Toe BrBuE aNpD Book SuppLty AGEnNcy, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLacemans, Scarborough. Vems- Mr. 8 1D. Matong, Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Srores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. IX. No. 216. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Aucusr 6, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES. FOR COLONIAL USE

ay

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure ~
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

a EE A ee

FOR SALE. bP Pt TE |
A MYSSERE BULL. | \p-i\ reo RT - |
(THOROUGHBRED. )

Aged nine (Q) years.

We always keep a stock of this article on hand,

Prompt attention paid to orders from neighbouring

Apply to:— colonies. Special quotations for large quantities.
DR. GABRIEL ‘THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
Antigua, | FACTORY, LIMITED,
(212.) BRIDGETOWN.
MACHINERY FOR SaLem |
| ‘
The Vacuum Sugar Plant o! of the Goodwill Usine, con-|

sisting of one 4ton Vacuum Pan and Engine ; Triple Effet,

Juice Pump, Engine and Mont-jus : Kvaporators ; Subsiding

and other Juice ‘l’anks and Molasses Tanks; Three Centrifu-|

i , ey one ¢ N 3\\ olasses Pp ): yO 2 -fee a rs 2 —

Gtulttubulas Boilers, Steam Chest: and other accesories] SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS,

All in good working order. Also two iron Molasses Sugar

Coolers; one Iron Mc ‘las sses Tank (10,000 gals.); and three
Cane Wagon Weighing Machines.

For further particulars, apply to :— |

F. POTTER,

Goodwill I state,

(214.) Dominica, W.I. |

A ST SS a

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

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189

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS; —

FOR SALE.

|

A DESIRABLE PLANTATION KNOWN AS

ORANGE -YVAIEEEY ESTATE
jin the Island of Antigua, B.W.1., 8 miles from principal
town, containing 707 acres, from Sea-Level to 1.200
feet : 60 acres cleared for Limes, 15 acres planted in
Limes, 700 2-year-old Cocoa-nut trees.
Suitable for Rubber, Cacao, Limes or Stock. Rain-
fall 5G inches per annum. Dwelling house and out;

offices, stables, pens, and storeroom; labourers’ cottages. SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS,
|

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36 Head of Catt'e, 3 small horses.
Indefeasible Certificate of Title and Plan.

For further particulars apply to : —
Messrs. McDONALD & DOUGLASS,
43, Church Street,
St. John’s,
Antigua, B.W.T!.

does not mean a dollar's worth for
ninety-nine cents expended. If the mar-

gin is small, why not change the method?

Our book on cacao suggests som3
new old truths—write for it. We send

it free.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,
Havana, Cuba.

7h

aA
Feh

he @ ras z SD er : ip
A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW ie
OF THE BOTAN
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, °A*°

VOL 2 LXc Nov Qin BARBADOS, AUGUST 20, 1910. . MEE ld,

CONTENTS ; ; : ;

their produce’ If, again, certain plants show lack of

vigour, ordo not produce reasonably gond crops, what

PAGE. PaGE. must be done in order to restore them to health and

Agricultural Returns of | Insect Notes:—

a proper state of activity, or vitality? It is evident

Canada, 1909... ... 269) The Acarima or Mites, that, given a well established, useful. plant, a partial
Carbon Bisulphide for Kill- Part Wales. --- 200 ; :
iOS ae et wine Gs INiine Rruitsauneencid Con answer to these questions can be obtained by reference
Copra, Preservation of ... 265 tent of ... - 260 to its surroundings; and it may be that a reasonable
Cotton Notes :— Market Reports -. 202 Se - wr ities “1
Gathont Gran ann Notes and Comments _. 264 Consideration of these will supply a clue as to future
Ceylon ... «+. 262) Pine-apples, Effects of Man- procedure for the benefit of the plant.
St. Vincent Southern ures on the Quality of 264
Grenadinesand Carria- | Planting Trees, Methods of 261 é :
cou, Agriculture in ... 262) School Gardens, Sugges Careful advertence to the surroundings of the
Tad ar ‘ 9f9 rons 1 Sp » 262 R =p é = é F -
West Indian Cotton ... 262| tions in Relation to 263 plant is always justified, but there is a danger that it
Damage Done to Crops by Soil Sterilization, Ayparat- ; aa. ‘
Hurricanes es 07410 usfori. .. ... ... 267 Will not be achieved with thoroughness, because the
Poway, seedlings a a = ee a Cake as site continual recognition of its necessity is likely to bring
soulslana ... wom hens Sb attle oods . 204 ‘ 3 y
Department News e960\\Seudents’ Gpenen _ 969 about the loss of the mental view of the plant itself, on
Egg Plant, Budding of 261] Sugar Industry :—_ account of the intentness of the gaze upon its environ-
Essentials for the Growth | Central Sugar Factory nyse 1 :
Bane NIM Meee. Oy for Zuleiina 959 ment. This is partly due to the fact that the ordinary
Forestry at Edinburgh Products from Changes needs of plants are well known. They are not, however,
University... ... .:. 264] in the Glucose in fies ee SE a Pee
Fungus Notes — Hat Molasses ae 959 Sulmcient y present to the mind, in PAMICH ar HES EIOGES)
Die-back Diseases of He- | Uganda, Yield from Ceara to make it unnecessary to recapitulate them, in the
vea, Cacao and Mango 270 | Trees: MGM t-c-0 22. 201 . “fp Bie © taoNe cits 5
Gleanincel &: . 268! West IndiesinCanada.1910 265 light of the special conditions. Thought given to the

The Essentials for the Growth

of Plants.

[S\ HERE is always before the mind of the
practical agriculturist, and of the agricul-
tural investigator, the consideration of the
surroundings of the plant, in relation to their effect
on its life, and to the limitation by them of the possi-
bility of its existence. If plants, ina given instance,
are thriving, how can they be protected from adverse
influences, and more, be made to increase the yield of

plant, in relation to all its possible requirements, will
often prevent the waste of time and money on useless
measures for its improvement, and will generally make
it evident as to what is the best course to adopt in

the definite event.

The importance of obtaining a thorough view of
the ideal surroundings of a plant, in the light of its
needs, will be more readily realized after the following
principles have been considered. The growth of
a plant does not rely upon several independent circum-
stances, any one or more of which may be absent,
provided that the others are present in abundance;
there are, on the contrary, several conditions that must
be satisfied, and the omission or insufficiency of any

to
or
(oa)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aveusr 20, 1910.

one of them will prevent its proper development from
taking place. These conditions are called limiting
factors, because each of them alone is always, and
absolutely, necessary to the growth of the plant. Fur-
ther, as is stated in a recent article * that deals with the
subject, and which may be consulted with advantage,
the factors requisite for the life of a plant mostly act
together throughout its whole existence; they do not
show their influence successively. The result is that the
partial absence of any one of these factors, at any time:
only allows the others to exert their influence to an
amount that is permitted by the degree to which it is
present; while its total absence completely prevents
them from being useful in any way.

It will be well, now, to consider the nature of these
essentials that must be satisfied simultaneously, and
each in its proper degree, before the growth of green
plants can continue. They are, in order of immedi-
ate urgency: (1) the presence of water; (2) a certain
range of temperature; (3) a supply of mineral salts; (4)
the presence of certain kinds of light; (5) air containing
oxygen and carbon dioxide. These will be taken in order.

The necessity of water to plants is that which is
most readily recognized, and the want of this essential
is most quickly shown by them. If it is considered alone
that man is dependent upon the rainfall for this requi-
site, it is easy to regard him as being helpless in its
absence or insufficiency, owing to the failure of the latter.
That this view of the matter is not justified is made
evident from a review of the progress that has taken
place in matters of irrigation, and what is more
important, in that of the treatment of the soil for
the purpose of conserving the amount of moisture that
it contains already. The knowledge that has been
gained concerning surface tillage has opened up, for
the agriculturist, parts of the world that were formerly
considered of too arid a nature ever to be of any use to
him; and it has given him, in places subject to inter-
mittent droughts, a means of saving the water in the
soil, for the uses of his crop, so that he is assured of
some return for his toil, even in circumstances under
which he would have previously despaired. The impor-
tance of the supply of water to plants will be realized
all the more clearly in the apprehension that its insufti-
ciency or absence lessens or destroys the usefulness of
ail the other factors. However rich the soil may be, the
plants in it can only make use of as much of the food
that it contains as is permitted by the proportion to
which their needs for water are satisfied. Artificial

* The Jowrnal of the Department of Agriculture of Victoria,
Vol. VIII, p. 353.

i

manures, in the,absence of sufficient water, are wasted
in a large degree, for the immediate crop. They are,
indeed, directly harmful, in any quantity, for they make
it less easy for the plant to absorb what water is pres-
ent, by stunting the growth of the roots, and by increas-
ing the strength-of the soil water solution, so that the
efficiency of the root hairs in taking it up is seriously
impaired.

Most green plants show distinct preferences in the
matter of temperature; this is the most powerful factor
in regulating the arrangement of the different kinds
over the surface of the earth. In temperate climates,
the distribution of heat or cold throughout the year is
of the greatest importance to the agriculturist. In the
tropics, it only requires consideration in relation to
the possibility of the introduction and acclimatization
of plants: it is always sufficiently high for the needs
of those which are indigenous.

The quantity of mineral salts that is necessary to
plants is very small; where these are present abundant-
ly, however, the plant will make use of much more than
the requisite minimum, with a probable increase in its
development. The concern of the practical agriculturist
is, naturally, most particularly connected with the
knowledge of means to supply the essential amounts of
this kind of plant food. It is a matter of interest
that some mineral constituents, if they are deficient,
can be replaced to some extent by others; examples of
this substitution are magnesium for calcium, and silica
(in cereals) for phosphoric acid; it is assisted to be of
use to the plant, by the power of selection that the
latter possesses—a power which enables it to make the
best of what is at its disposal. Short mention, only, is
required of the fact, that the agriculturist can come to
the assistance of the plant with arrangements for
fallowing, rotation and the employment of artificial
manures.

It isa matter of common knowledge that green
plants require light, though they do not succumb, for
some time, on being deprived of it. The necessity for
light is bound up with that for air, and the two can
be best considered together. A plant deprived of air
would most quickly sutfer for want of oxygen, which is
necessary to it, and which it can use whether light is
present or not. The case is different in regard to
carbon dioxide, for this can only be used with the aid
of light. Underordinary conditions, the former requi-
site is always present, but it is of no use to the plant
unless the right kinds of light are available to assist
in its assimilation. Practical considerations rarely
require to take account of these essentials, but they are

VoL. eixXs © Nor 2ii7,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 259

interesting because, like manures and water, they
supply examples of limiting factors that are mutually
interdependent. ot

The contemplation of these facts, like that of many
others connected with agriculture, serves, for one thing,
to bring forward the importance of, proper tillage.
Without water, food in the soil cannot be used: with-
out proper conditions in the soil, food cannot be
produced and liberated there: without the presence of
this food, the plant cannot make use of the light and air
by which it is surrounded. Proper tillage provides for
the regulation of the first two of these, so that the third
condition, which is always fulfilled, may be employed
by the plant to the best advantage.

It will be evident, now, that the minimum extent
of the presence of any one of the essentials of plant life
causes a minimum employment of the others. ‘This
explains why, often, the supplying of a single factor, to
its proper extent, will cause a large and significant
increase in the crop yielded by a plant, and why, for
the determination of this factor, the most successful
results will be obtained by ‘a thorough and methodical
consideration of its requirements.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

PRODUCTS FROM CHANGES IN THE
GLUCOSE IN MOLASSES.

The most recent numbers of the International
Sugar Journal have contained articles, by H.C. Prinsen
Geerligs, on the products that are formed in molasses
as a result of the decomposition of glucose. The con-
clusions that are reached at the end of the investigation
are given in the July number of that journal, and are
reproduced here.

The results of the experiments detailed seem to be that,
under circumstances that normally occur in cane-sugar fac-
tories, part of the invert sugar of the juice is broken up into
bodies which partly escape in a gaseous'state, and partly
remain in the juices, syrups and molasses. The latter are
but slightly optically active, are liable to further continuous
decomposition, have a dark-brown colour, and possess an
unstable reducing power, which is at any rate much less than
that of a similar weight of invert sugar. It is not yet
ascertained whether any of these decomposition products are
fermentable, but it is certain that at least a part of them
may be encountered in the residuum left behind after complete
fermentation.

The decomposition products are non-volatile, totally
combustible bodies, and therefore are not. found when deter-
mining the water and ash content. Further, they have
a slight rotatory power, which exerts a small influence or. the
sucrose determination by direct polarization, and none at all

on that determination by double polarization by Clerget, so
that they are not included with the sucrose. Their reducing
power is less than that of an equal weight of invert sugar,
and as the amount of that constituent is exclusively ascer-
tained in our analyses by the weight of cuprous oxide precipi-
tated from Fehling’s solution, it is tlear that, although the
percentage of glucose will be found a little too high, yet the
great bulk of the decomposition products escape detection
and determination. They are also soluble in acid alcohol,
and are, accordingly, not found togetaer with the real gummy
matter; further, they are only partly precipitated by basic
lead acetate, and do not show to the full extent in the figure
for the gums ascertained after Peck’s method.

It is thus seen that the decomposition products are not
determined by the usual methods used in the analysis of
molasses, and that these products may be held accountable for
the discrepancy always met with on comparing the sum of
constituents determined individually with the total dry sub-
stance found by dessication.

Our experiments in separating exhausted molasses into
fractions by means of precipitation with alcohol showed
that the unknown organic body behaves just as the sugars.
It collects in the same fractions as sugars do, which leads
us to believe that it plays the same part in the formation
of molasses as does the glucose from which it originates.

At any rate, its amount is in some cases so very great
that it even exceeds that of the unchanged glucose, and when
in those molasses a low purity is accompanied by a very low
glucose content, we are convinced that this is because the
decomposition products of the glucose have taken its place in
the formation of molasses, and that the sum of glucose, and
decomposition products of glucose which have the same
melassigenic power, accounts for the small amount of sucrose
which is combined in an uncrystallizable form in the cane
sugar molasses.

A Central Sugar Factory for Zululand.—The
following report is taken from the Produce Markets’ Review
for July 2, 1910, which reproduces it from a recent number
of the Board of Trade Journal:—

The Imperial Trade Correspondent of Durban reports
that, in connexion with the alienation of Crown Lands in
Zululand, for the purpose of growing sugar (see Board of
Trade Journal of September 3, 1908, p. 489, and previous
notices), the Natal Government is prepared to receive
proposals from persons or companies desirous of erecting
and working a central sugar factory at Umfolozi. There
are approximately 12,000 acres of land at Umfolozi, to be
subdivided into farms varying from 300 to 400 acres
in extent, and the contracts of allotment will require that
from 7} to 15 per cent. of the area of each farm shall be
planted with sugar-cane during the first three years, and that
not less than that area shall be maintained under similar
cultivation for a period of ninety-nine years.

The machinery of the factory must be capable of dealing
with not less than 10,000 tons of sugar in each season. The
scheme may provide for main tramway lines to sugar lands
or to the Natal Government railways, and for branch tram-
ways, upon terms to planters.

The details of the scheme are left to proposers, but it is
suggested that terms for expropriation should be included.

Proposals will be received by the Under Secretary for
Agriculture, Pietermaritzburg, up to July 31.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Auvcust 20, 1910.

FRUITS AND

THE ACID CONTENT OF LIME FRUITS.

A report has been received, through the Curator of the
Dominica Botanic Station, of investigations that have been
made by Mr. G. A. Jones, the Assistant Curator of that
Station for the purpose of ascertaining the circumstances
upon which the acid content of lime fruits depends.

According t» this, it appeare|, when the investigations
were commenced, that variation in acid content might be due
to at least six different causes, acting singly, or, in different
degrees, together. These causes are given as: —

(1) Variation due to individual differences in the char-
acters of trees growing under identical conditions.

(2) Variation due to the variety of lime grown; that is
to say, whether spiny or spineless.

(3) Variation due to rainfall.

(4) % 4) difference in size of fruits
(5) be) bh ” ” 39 soil. F
(6) 5 yy» 3 Methods of cultivation and man-

uring.

So far, only the first four of these have been taken into
consideration, and that independently of one another. In
the experiments, equal volumes of lime juice were extracted,
for making the observations, from the same number of limes
In the following account, the different phases of the investi-
gation will be taken in the order given above.

(1) In connexion with variation due to individual differ-
ences in the characters of trees growing under identical
conditions, limes were taken from the twenty-eight trees in
the spineless lime plot at the station, and the acid content of
the lime juice from each tree was determined. The tests
showed that there was a distinct variation in this among the
different trees, the lowest, being 13°7oz. of citric acid to the
gallon (39°7 gr. per oz.), while the highest was 16°2 oz. to
the gallon (43°2 gr. per oz.); this is is a difference of 2.5 oz
of citric acid to the gallon (3°5 gr. per oz.) between the
richest and poorest juices. It is suggested that these results
may form the basis of attempts to improve the lime, in the
matter of its acid content, vy means of chemical selection.

(2) The ditterence due to the variety of lime grown is
considered from the point of view of analjses made by
Dr. Francis Watts, in Antigua, and recorded in the Annual Ke-
ports on the Dominica Botanic Station, etc., for 1905-6 and
1906-7. These showed that the juice from the spineless variety
has a distinctly higher acid content than that from the ordinary

FRUIT , BREE S.

one, but that this higher acidity only appeared in the case of
those grown at the Dominica Botanic Station; there was little
ditference in favour of spineless limes grown in the coun-
try. It is pointed out that this circumstance suggests that
the increased acidity of the juice frem the spineless limes is
not a fixed character, but is affected by certain definite con-
ditions. ‘

(3) Reference is made to the common opinion that limes
grown in regions of higher rainfall have the weaker juice. In
order to gain definite information in this matter, fruit was
obtained from planters in different districts of the island,
together with information in each case as to the rainfall dur-
ing the preceding five months; that is to say, during the time
that the limes were arriving at maturity. ‘ests of the juice
give the following results:

Rainfall, Citri¢e acid, Citric acid, Citrie acid,

inches. oz. per gal. gr. per oz. oz. per gal.
4 (Average.)

16 to 27 14:1 to 14°8 38°6 to 40:6 14°6

29 39 131% 13:8 359. 37-7 13°5

4272, 112-428 338 ,, 35-0 12-6

These figures indicate that acidity decreases with rain-
fall, and they would probably have been more striking if the
season had not been abnormally wet.

(4) Vhe variation in acid content due to the size of
the individual fruits is closely connected with that due to
yainfall, because an increase in the latter means the produc-
tion of the larger fruits. The limes for this part of the
investigation were received from the estate on which the rain-
fall was 24°4 inches for the period of five months. The smaller
limes yielded a juice containing 14°8 oz. of citric acid to the
gallon (40‘6 gr. to the oz.); that from the large fruits
contained 30°7 oz. to the gallon (37-4 gr. to the oz).
Although the différence is considerably in favour of the
smaller fruits, in considering this result in relation to the
yield of citric acid from an estate, allowance must be made
tor the effect of the heavier rainfall in producing more
vigorous trees with a larger yield of fruits.

A sumirary given at the end of the report shows: (1)
that lime trees grown under the same conditions exhibit
individual variation in the acid content of the juice: (2) the
higher acidity of juice from the spineless variety is not
a constant character; (3) the acid content of lime juice is
affected intimately by the rainfall; (4) the juice from large
limes is weaker than that from small ones.

Von. LX. Nol 217.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 261

METHODS OF PLANTING TREES.

Information in regard to experiments Which have been
conducted at the Woburn Fruit Farm of the Duke of Bedford
for the purpose of ascertaining the effect of planting trees by
various methods was given in the Agricultural News, Vol.
VIII, p. 101. Since this, similar experiments have been
commenced at the Botanic Stations in Antigua, Dominica,
Montserrat, St. Kitts and St. Vincent, and trials are being
started at the present time in St. Lucia. An account of
these, as far as they have been conducted, will appear
in the next volume of the West Indian /ulletin (Vol. XI,
No. 1). In view of their interest, the following additional
information is given, most of which is taken from the Ninth
Report of the Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm, in which
the investigations are described.

In the first few series of experiments at Woburn, the roots
of the trees were forced into holes too small for them, without
being trimmed or spread out: the earth was then thrown into
the hole and stamped down violently. As is pointed out, the
chief effect of this violent stamping is to injure the condition
of the soil; the other effect of the unorthodox planting is
injury to the roots. In all the later trials, these two factors
have been kept separate.

The way in which the trees were planted, with ramming,
is described in the report in the following words: A few fork-
fuls of earth were removed, so as to make a shallow hole; into
this the tree was put, with the roots just as they happened to
come; the earth was shovelled over them, and rammed with
a heavy rammer till the whole was thoroughly puddled, and
shook like a jelly at each stroke. As one of our critics said,
it is planting trees gate-post fashion, and we cannot improve
on his graphic description of the process; certainly any work-
man who had been found planting a tree in that way a few
years ago, would have been promptly dismissed, and the tree
would have been considered as doomed.

The planting was done at various times while the trees
were in the dormant state, and with various conditions of
soils. The trials were carried out at seventeen stations; this
afforded the opportunity for making them in soils of very
different kinds.

As regards the effect of ramming on the length of new
wood formed, it was found that the number of cases where this
produced good results was from four to six-and-a-half times
greater than where its influence appeared to do harm.

Observations on the effect on the stoutness of new wood
formed showed that, of thirty-five pairs of trees that were
examined, there were only four cases where the unrammed
plant made stouter growth than the rammed tree near it.

The effect of ramming on the 10ot formation was that
the roots showed nearly the same excess of growth as the
branches, and photographs are given which show unmistak-
ably the much greater branching of the roots that has taken
place in the rammed trees.

In relation to the effect on the total growth, that is the
increase in weight of the whole tree, plants lifted at the end
of three years showed an average of 114 per cent. in favour
of the rammed trees. Later experiments with bush fruits
have confirmed this, except apparently in‘the case of rasp-
berries; and even with these, a superioiity was shown by the
rammed plants when the suckers from the roots were not
taken into consideration. It is easy to understand that the
hardened condition of the soil interfered with the throwing
up of these suckers.

No definite information is available as yet, as to the effect
on the crops of fruit produced by the trees, for none of them
have been allowed to form fruit during the first and second
seasons, in order that there may be no interference, through
this cause, with the growth. Indications have been obtained,
however, that the period of fruit-bearing arrives earlier in
the case of rammed trees, and that there is a possibility that
these will bear heavier crops. Experiments with bush fruits
showed, at any rate, that no loss of fruit need be feared, as
a consequence of ramming, even during the first few years of
fruit-bearing.

The explanation of the better results that are obtained
by ramming, wher planting, is stated to be that the more
intimate contact of the soil with the roots, resulting from the
process, favours the growth of a larger number of new root-
lets. As regards the effect of ramming on the water content
of the soil, it is thought probable that the alteration in the
amount of this has little influence on the results obtained.

In all experiments of the kind that are conducted, it is
important that allowance should be made for the circumstance
that increased development cannot be expected to show
itself immediately, because this naturally arises as a result
of increased root formation consequent on ramming, and
time must be given for these roots to grow and exert their
functions. It is in this way that a. preliminary period of
decreased growth has been noticed; and this appears to have
a further effect, even for a few further seasons, in retarding
the springing into growth after the dormant season, by
a few days.

A matter of some interest, in relation to the Woburn
Experiments, is contained in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for
July 2, 1910, where a description is given of a visit by
a party, consisting of members of the Council and the
Scientific and Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural
Society, to the Experimental Fruit Farm at Ridgmont, where
some of the trials have been undertaken. This contains the
following passage: So convinced are the experimenters at
Woburn of the lack of necessity for the care usually taken in
planting, and of the good results of ramming, that they will
not tolerate upon the place a cultivator who plants in the
ordinary way.

THE BUDDING OF THE EGG PLANT.

The following note, prepared by Mr. A. J. Brookes,
Officer-in-charge of the Dominica Agricultural School,
has been received through the Curator of the Domin-
ica Botanic Station :—

One of the best cultivated varieties of the egg plant
(Solanum Melongena) is that known as ‘Henderson’s New
York Spineless’. This plant, when grown on its own roots,
will bear an average of eight to ten marketable fruits.

An allied form, Solanum torvum, is to be found growing
wild in most of the West Indian Islands. This common
weed forms an excellent stock upon which the more delicate
variety above mentioned may be grown. If this stock is
budded in the same way as for the orange, the buds will be
found to take more readily than in the case of tongue or cleft
grafting. Plants of the New York Spineless variety, when
treated in this way, bear from twenty to thirty marketable
fruits in a season.

The fruits obtained by the pupils of the Dominica Agri-
cultural School, by carrying out this method of propagation,
sell readily at 2d. each in the local market.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Avucust 20, 1910.

ar 7

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date July 28, with reference to
the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 150 bags of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, at rather easier prices.
They are chiefly comprised of small lots from various islands,
and the prices realized range from 19d. to 21d. ;

Spinners are not inclined to buy until more is known
of the condition of the growing crop in America, and the
remainder of the stock here is rather unsaleable at the
moment, in consequence.

COTTON-GROWING IN CEYLON.

The following information concerning the state of
cotton cultivation in Ceylon is taken from the Report
of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, 1909-10:—

The prospects of cotton cultivation may be said to have
somewhat improved. Trials in different parts of the island
—Chilaw, Hambantota, Madugoda, ete.—tend to show that
Sea Island cotton, if grown at the right season and cultivated
in the proper way, can be successfully raised, and produces
a lint which is infinitely superior to that of any local variety.
Professor Dunston, who, while in Ceylon last March, evinced
great interest in the possibilities of cotton cultivation, was
inclined to think that an improved Upland variety, such as
‘Black Rattler’, should suit local conditions better than any

other. Acting on this advice, the Society has, with the
help of the British Cotton-Growing Association, secured

a consignment of this seed.

The occurrence of areas that refuse to grow any of the
crops successfully raised in other parts of the island, the
opening up of large acreages in cocoa-nuts in the dry districts,
the depression in the tobacco trade as a result of the enhanced
duty on tobacco imported into India, the existence (though
to a limited extent) of a spinning and weaving industry, the
probability of a reliable local agency being shortly established
to act as a medium between the grower and the market, and
lastly, the possibility of successfully growing cotton in suit-
able areas, are all circumstances which favour this cultivation.

The laudable efforts of the British Cotton-Growing
Association to encourage cultivators have, so far, not been
attended with the success they deserved. Had an old
established and well-known firm been chosen as the local
agents of the Association in the first instance, considerable
progress ought by now to have been made. The temporary
suspension of ginning operations, and the want of an agency
to handle the produce, have acted as a serious set-back, while

the extraordinary prosperity of the other agricultural indus-
tries of the island has tended to push any new crop out of
consideration.

AGRICULTURE IN THE ST. VINCENT
SOUTHERN GRENADINES AND
CARRIACOU.

The agricultural conditions in the St. Vincent Southern
Grenadines, namely Canonan, Mayreau and Union Island,
and in Carriacou are deseribed in a report which has been
made recently by Mr. W. N. Sands, Agricultural Super-
intendent of St. Vincent, and this has been made use of in
supplying the following information. In describing these
conditions, the islands will be taken in the order mentioned.

cANOUAN. This island is situated about 25 miles south
of St. Vincent, and is believed to have an area of about 1,700
acres. ‘The soil is fairly fertile and easily worked, and in
seasons of average rainfall a reasonable yield can be obtained
from it. If there is sutticient rain, planting begins in May;
but it is sometimes necessary to postpone it until July or
August. v

The chief crops grown are cotton, Indian corn and
pigeon peas; there is a small stock-raising industry and
a whaling station. For sowing purposes the land is simply
seraped over and holes are chopped in it with a hoe. Manure
is not used, and as cotton is grown as a perennial, often for
many years at a stretch, new seed is only required for sup-
plies or for planting new land. The cotton is grown at 4-foot
distances, in the row and between the rows. Corn forms
intermediate rows, and peas are planted in about every sixth
and around the boundaries of the field. There is great neglect
in the matter of thinning the plants, in most cases, and weed-
ing is only done when it is thought to be necessary. After
the harvest, for the sueceeding crop, the old cotton plants are
cut back to form stalks about 1 foot high. The only
method employed for assisting in the restoration of the fertil-
ity of the land is to allow it to remain as pasture-fallow. This
description of the system of cultivation applies to all the
other islands mentioned.

The type of cotton grown is, as is well known, the
Marie Galante. The plant producing it isa hardy perennial and
gives a coarse lint of quality between that of Upland and of
Egyptian, the percentage of lint to seed-cotton being twenty-
four, and the seed produced being perfectly clean and black.
The output last season, from 218 acres, was 10,660 tb. of lint
—a yield of 48 tb per acre. Another type of plant which
gives a product called ‘silk’ cotton is occasionally grown, but
not to any extent.

Most of the cotton is produced on the metayer system.
During the past season it was sold to the Government

Vou. IX. No. 217.

Central Cotton Ginnery in St. Vincent, for the first time,
and the results appeared to be encouraging to the owners.
The chief pests that were observed to attack cotton were
leaf-blister mite and the snow scale. Though these are said
to do little damage, it is evident that their presence must
result in a lowering of the yield, especially in dry years.

MAYREAU. This has an area of about 600 acres, and the
soil and crop conditions are not unlike tliose of Canouan,
although the former appears to be poorer than that in the
last-mentioned island.

In the last crop of cotton, 5,416 tb. of lint was obtained
from 80 acres, giving a yield of 67°7 tb. per acre. As in
Canouan, the cotton was sold for the first time to the Central
Cotton Ginnery, and the growers appeared to be encouraged
by the results from disposing of it in this way.

Here, too, cultivation is conducted according to the
metayer system.

UNION ISLAND. This is the most southern of the islands
administered from St. Vincent. It is 40 miles distant from
it, and is believed to have an area of about 2,600 acres, but
is probably larger. As is still the case with Canouan and
Mayreau, it was owned privately until recently, when the
Government of St. Vincent purchased it under the Land
Settlement Scheme. The soil appears to be more fertile than
that of Canouan and Mayreau, and is easily worked. No
records of the rainfall have been kept, but judging from those
of the neighbouring island of Carriacou, it appears prob-
able that this is from 50 to 60 inches.

The chief crops grown are Marie Galante cotton, corn
and peas, the cultivation being of the kind described already.

During last season 13,376 Ib. of lint was produced from
320 acres, or an average of 42 tb. per acre, which is a fair
season’s result.

The land has been cultivated hitherto on the metayer
system, but since the acquirement of the island by the
Government, a scheme has been drawn up by which it is
proposed to sell it on easy terms in lots of 2 to 4 acres,
and also to dispose of, by sale, 3 blocks of good land, measur-
ing 50 to 100 acres, in different parts of the island, to be
worked on estate lines. In addition, land will be conserved
as forests reserves.

carriacou. In dealing with this island, the report
gives informaticn which is more directly connected with the
working of the Land Settlement Scheme there. The soil is
derived from limestone and, although it is less quickly affect-
ed by drought, 1t does not seem to be as fertile as that of
Union Island.

The methods of cultivation and the crops raised are simi-
lar to those of the other islands mentioned, but the metayer
system has given place to the selling of land under the Land
Settlement Scheme, as is proposed for Union Island. This
system has met with a large amount of success and the
condition of the people shows signs of a comparatively large
prosperity. The cotton raised is sold to the Central Cotton
sinnery.

Reserves for reafforestation have been made on the Land
Settlement estates and on hillsides and mountains. In these,
the chief seed sown has been that of mahogany.

Other endeavours to effect improvements in the agricul-
tural conditions of Carriacou include the planting of limes
on a fairly large scale on private estates, and the establish-
ment of a small experiment station, by the Commissioner,
Mr. G. Whitfield Smith, which is intended to aid in the
introduction of useful trees and plants, and to provide a means
of demonstrating improved methods of cultivation for limes
and cotton, which are to be the chief crops raised.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 263

SUGGESTIONS IN RELATION TO
SCHOOL GARDENS.

Cireular 746 of the Board of Education, England, has
just been issued, for the pnrpose of making suggestions for
teachers in relation to the subject of school gardening. It is
pointed out that this, when understood rightly, is a branch
of nature study, rather than a professional training for an
industry, and that its practical nature is likely to make it
appeal particularly to the minds of children. The warning is
given against allowing the pursuit of nature study to fall
into its chief danger—the giving of a disconnected series of
object-lessons, which possess neither sustained interest, nor
serve as a means of teaching general principles. A good
suggestion is made as to the use of reference books by pupils,
in order that they may gain the habit of reading for the pur-
pose of acquiring useful knowledge. One of the most valuable
parts of the cireular is a series of questions, which the teach-
er should ack himself periodically, in order that he may have
a means of satisfying himself as to the thoroughness and
efficiency of the gardening work and the garden, as means of
education. These are given here, as many of them apply
usefully to conditions in the West Indies.

(1) Is the position of the garden satisfactory ?

(2) Is the land sufficient in area for serious practical
work !

(3) Are the tools suitable and sufficient in number /

(4) Are the tools properly kept ?

(5) Are the vegetables grown suitable to the district,
and sufficiently various to teach the ordinary operations of
cottage gardening !

(6) Is the system of cropping satisfactory /

(7) Is asufticient quantity and variety of manure used ?

(8) Is fruit culture included /

(9) Are flower culture and bee-keeping included /

(10) Is the gardening time-table satisfactory ?

(11) Does each scholar work from a scale drawing of
the proposed cultivation of his plot made by him beforehand ?

(12) Are the manual operations properly taught !

(13) Is the garden, as a whole, kept in good order ?

(14) Do the scholars make notes of their garden work ?

(15) Is close and accurate observation insisted on ?

(16) Is gardening correlated with nature study /

(17) Is gardening correlated with drawing ?

(18) Is gardening correlated with arithmetic ?

(19) Is gardening correlated with reading and composi-
tion.

(20) Are the first, second, and third years’ courses of
work progressive !

(21) Is the disposition of the produce satisfactory ?

(22) Are seeds ‘saved!

(23) Is competition kept within proper bounds!

(24) Is the instruction adapted for girls?

Of these questions, numbers | to 4, 6, 7 and 10 to 23 are
of special interest in relation to conditions in the West
Indies. Particular value attaches to questions 10 to 20, and
the extent to which the teacher can answer them constantly in
the affirmative, will give him an indication as to the value of
his own work and the degree to which advantage is being
taken of the usefulness of the garden. Every teacher would do
well to keep these questions continually before him; he will thus
be enabled to conduct a useful inspection of his own work, while
he has at his disposal a simple means of discovering and
correcting any deficiencies.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aueusr 20, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
ommissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 87, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,

post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
Qs. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

| Agricultural ews

OO rr'"'-
Vout. IX. SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, .1910. No. 217.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial of the present number deals with The
Essentials for the Growth of Plants, and shows how the
lack or absence of any one of these diminishes or pre-
vents the employment of the others.

The conclusions of interesting articles that have
appeared recently on the products that arise from
changes in the glucose in molasses are givenon page 259,

The subject of the unorthodox methods that are
employed at Woburn, in tree planting, has been men-
tioned already in the Agricultural News (Vol. VIL, p.
101). It is developed further, on page 261.

Recent suggestions that have been given, in
relation to school gardens, are reproduced on page
263. They should be of interest and value to those
teachers who arein the fortunate position of possessing
a schoo] garden as an educational aid, as well as to those
who are intending to acquire one for this purpose.

The Insect Notes (page 266) contain the fifth and
last part of the Acarina or Mites,

Information concerning die-back diseases of Hevea,
Cacao and the Mango forms the subject of the Fungus
Notes, on page 270,

The extract of a report, on page 271, on the damage
done to crops by a recent hurricane, should be of special
interest at the present time.

Forestry at Edinburgh University.

A syllabus: of the forest courses at the University
of Edinburgh has been received, which shows that
this is the only British University which gives
a degree in that subject, at present. This is to be
known as the Degree of B.Sc., in Forestry, and for its
attainment special courses have to be taken up in
Advanced Forestry, Forest Botany, Forest Entomology,
Forest Chemistry, and Forest Engineering with Engin-
eering rawing and Surveying.

The degree courses extend over three academic
years, of which two and one-third years are spent in
residence. Candidates who do not possess a degree in
Science or in Arts, not being an honorary degree, of any
of the Universities of the United Kingdom, are required
to pass a preliminary examination, which includes
English, Mathematics, Latin, and German or French.
After this hasbeen passed, the further work for the
degree may be taken up; this includes a practical
course lasting for six months, which is to be followed,
at present, in Germany, under arrangements made for
students by the University.

A useful circumstance in connexion with this
degree is afforded by the fact that those who possess it
will receive special consideration in the selection of
candidates for the Indian Forest Service, and there is
a possibility that the period of their probation for this
will be shortened.

The Effect of Manures on the Quality of Pine-
Apples.

An abstract of investigations to determine the
effect of manures on the quality of pine-apples, which
are described in the Florida Station Bulletin, No.
101, p. 29, is given in the Haperiment Station Record
for June 1910, p. 641. This states that it was
found that the eating quality of pine-apples, as regards
their sugar and acid content, does not seem tu be
affected by the kind of manure used, although this
may have some influence on their shipping quality.
The sugar content is slightly increased by additions to
the amount of manure, while a very slight decrease of
the acid content takes place concurrently. It was
found, also, that large fruits contained a greater
percentage of sugar than small ones, and that they
were slightly less acid. The largest fruits contained
the juice in which the ratio of reducing sugars to
sucrose was highest. No increase in the nitrogen
content of the fruit was obtained by increasing the
amount of manure.

The average proportions of the different parts
of the fruit, reckoned without the crown, were given
as follows, the number of determinations being
included in brackets: weight of one fruit (65), 966°2
gm.; edible portion (33), 61 per cent. of whole fruit:
available juice (85), 92°8 per cent. of the edible portion;
total solids in whole fruit (66), 15°18 per cent.; nitrogen
(63), 0°064 per cent. of edible portion: citrie acid,
reducing sugars, sucrose and total sugars (100 each),
0-98, 260, 947 and 12:07 per cent. of the juice,
respectively.

Viorel Xi NOs 210,

The West Indies in Canada, 1910.

The booklet, published by the Imperial Depart-
ment of Agriculture, under the title of ‘The West Iudies
in Canada’, has been issued again for use at the Cana-
dian Exhibitions to be held during this month and the
next at Toronto and St. John. This commences with
general statistics relating to the West Indies, together
with a map which is an improvement on that of former
issues, ‘The different parts of the West Indies, and
British Guiana, are then considered particularly, chiefly
under the heads of History, General Description, Indus-
tries and Production, Climate and Sanitary Conditions.
At the end of this section, there are given lists of books
relating to the West Indies and British Guiana, and
information regarding the Steamship Service between
the West Indies and Canada. The last twenty odd
pages of the booklet are devoted to descriptions of the
products of the West Indies and British Guiana, with
ilustrations of some of the chief plants and processes,
printed, for clearness, on art paper.

As has been found in the past, this publication
should be of use in helping to draw attention to the
possible directions in which trade may be increased
between the West Indies and Canada.

ae

Carbon Bisulphide for Killing Weeds.

A recent Press Bulletin issued by the Hawaii
Agricultural Experiment Station deals with experi-
ments which are being undertaken for determining the
efficiency of carbon bisulphide as a weed killer, and an
abstract of this is given in the Natal Agricultural
Journal for May 1910, p. 605. It appears from this
that the amount of carbon bisulphide used in the
experiments varied according to the size of the plant
to be destroyed. Small-stemmed plants; like Crotalaria,
were treated with about a teaspoonful of commercial
carbon bisulphide, which was poured down the stem
from about 6 inches above the ground; larger plants
received increased amounts, up to two teaspoonfuls
for guava bushes having a stem 3 or 4 inches in
diameter, the liquid being poured, as in the ease
of the small plants, on the stem at about 6 inches
above the surface of the soil. It was found that
carbon bisulphide shows no effect on most plants
until a considerable time after application; this period
extended sometimes, in the case of large guavas,
to two or three months. With Crotalaria the plant
dies within four to ten days. Death takes place
suddenly: the treated plants remain green and appear
to be normal until the leaves suddenly turn yellow
and shrivel up, when they die.

Indications were obtained that the cause of death
is a freezing action due to the quick evaporation of the
carbon bisulphide, combined with a poisonous effect.
That the latter is not alone potent was shown by
removing the bark and cambium from the stem of
guava bushes, or by destroying them with sulphuric
acid, when the plants took much longer to die than if
they had been treated with carbon bisulphide in the
way adopted in the experiment.

Attention is drawn to the care that is required in

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 265

avoiding the breathing of the vapour of carbon bisul-
phide when it is used for this and similar purposes. It
has been found that the etfect of the vapour, when it
is breathed, is to cause headache, giddiness, hysterical
excitement, and finally, serious sypmtoms of prostration.
There should be no necessity to repeat the warning as
to using carbon bisulphide under conditions in which
the vapour cannot mix with air in the presence of
a naked flame or a hot surface.

Agricultural Returns of Canada, 1909.

The Monthly Trade and Consular Reports for
June 1910 quotes official final estimates, which show
that the value of all crops in the Dominion of Canada
during 1909 was $532,992,100, which is an increase
over that of 1908 of $100,458,100: the area of land cul-
tivated Jast year was 30,065,556 acres. The largest
output took place in relation to wheat and hay, the
amounts being respectively, 166,744,000 bushels,
valued at $141,320,000, and (estimated) 11,877,100
tons, valued at $132,287,700. The value of the uther
crops produced in any quantity is given as follows: oats
$122,590,00); potatos $36,399,000; barley $25,434,000;
turnips and other root crops $18,197,500; fodder corn
$15,115,000: husking corn $12,760,000; mixed grains
$10,916,000; peas $7,222,000; buckwheat $4,554,000;
Hax 52,761,000; beans $1,881,000: rye $1,254,000; sugar
beets $500,000.

The valnes of the crops produced by the different
provinces were in the following order, beginning with
the highest and excluding British Columbia: Ontario,
Saskatchewan, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Alberta,
New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

um ae

The Preservation of Copra.

A note on methods for preserving copra from
moulds was given in the Agricultural News, Vol.
VIII, p. 297, and experiments were mentioned that
had been conducted at the Paris Colonial Gardens for
effecting this by the use of sulphurous acid. In con-
nexion with these experiments, the Tropical Agricul-
turist (see Vol. XXXIV, p. 379) has made application,
on behalf of a mercantile firm in Colombo, to the Direct-
or of the Paris Colonial Gardens for the purpose of
obtaining further information. This enquiry elicited
the fact that the process is based on the employment of
the apparatus Marot, which is owned by the company
known as Le Coprah, of Paris. It was ascertained,
further, that the treatment is based on the sterilization
of the pulp of the cocoa-nut before it is dried, so that
perfect preservation is obtained, and a copra is produc-
ed which is absolutely white and without trace of
rancidity. It is stated that this gives an added value
to the product of about 2s. or 3s. per cwt. The
machinery is not sold ordinarily by the company, but
licences are granted by it, under certain conditions, to
other companies which have been formed for the pur-
pose of exploiting the processes.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Avcusr 20, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

THE ACARINA OR MITES.
PART V.

SARCOPTIDAE. In this family are included all those
parasitic mites which cause the diseases known as itch, mange
and scab, each species being specially adapted to some par-
ticular host. They live on the surface of the skin, or burrow
into its tissues, and in some cases even infest the quills of feath-
ers. The various forms of itch and inange in the human species
and in horses, dogs and cats, are due to the attacks of these
mites, as are also the scaly leg of fowls, and the very impor-
tant disease known as scab in sheep. Sheep scab (Psoroptes
communis, var. ovis) is perhaps the most important of all the
mites of this family. Its distribution is practically world-
wide, and its control in infected areas requires constant effort.
The mite and its eggs are easily to be seen in the scab of
infected sheep. The adult mites have a rounded body, and
the legs are provided with long hairs or bristles. The eggs
are very minute, glistening, white bodies, which may serve
for the identification of the pest, even though the mites
themselves are not found.

Another form of parasitic mite is to
be found in the follicle mites, Demodev
folliculorum, which live on man and cer-
tain domestic animals. These mites are
worm-like in appearance, and in this they
differ from all those so far considered.

One occurring on pigs gives rise to
a peculiar appearance of the skin, which,
if not recognized as being due toa para-
site of this kind, may cause suspicion as
to the suitability of the flesh for eating
purposes. Except in cases of extreme in-
festation, they are not of great importance;
but those that attack cattle sometimes
become sufficiently abundant to damage
seriously the hides in relation to leather-
making. The entire life-history of these
mites is passed in the hair follicle, but
but the adult probably migrates over the Ree eee
surface of the skin for the purpose of VIG. 39. Bele:
egg-laying. PHYES GOSSYPII.

ERIOPHYIDAE. The Eriophyidae differ in appearance from
the mites of all the other families. They are elongated in
shape, microscopic in size, and present the appearance of
having a cephalothorax and an abdomen, the division being
indicated by a distinct suture. They are provided with two
pairs of legs, the other two pairs normally present in the mites
being represented by stiff hairs or bristies. The general shape
of the body is similar to that of Demodex, from which they
are distinguished by the number of pairs of legs, and their
plant-infesting habits.

The members of this family are parasitic on plants, and
are known as gall mites, or leaf-blister mites, on account of
the peculiar distortions of plant tissues which they produce.
Each species of mite seems to favour some particular host
plant, and to produce its characteristic gall or deformity, by
which it may generally be recognized. In the West Indies,
the most important of these mites is Hriophyes gossypii
(Fig. 35) which attacks cotton. It occurs in all the islands of
the Lesser Antilles, except Barbados, attacking both wild and
cultivated cotton. It has sometimes been such a serious
pest of Sea Island cotton as to destroy entire fields of this
crop.

The adult mite enters the leaf bud of the young cotton-
plant, and when these develop, and the leaves are unfolded,
the characteristic galls (Fig. 36) are seen. These galls are
produced by the irritation caused by the feeding of the mites
on the ventral surface of the leaf. This irritation also
induces a growth of fine hairs within the gall, among which
the mites live.

When the mites are fully developed, they leave the galls
and wander aboutin search of leaf buds in which to establish
new colonies.

The remedial measures at present in use for the control
of the leaf-blister mite are entirely cultural, and consist in
the thorough destruction of all the old cotton two or three
months before planting the new crop. This method, com-
bined with the picking-off of infested leaves as they appear
on the young cotton, has been found to reduce the numbers
of the mite to such an extent as to render it practically
harmless. Sulphur and lime in equal parts, dusted on, the
plants at the time when the mites are migrating from one
part to another, will be found very useful in checking the
increase of this pest.

Other species occurring in the West Indies are Hriophyes
Fucidae which causes the bright-red, felt-like growths on the
leaves of Verminalia Buceras; Eriophyes morrisi which
causes the spheroidal swellings on. the leaves of Acacia
farnesiana and other species; and Eriophyes striatus which
oceurs on Hupatorium odoratum.

This article completes the series dealing with the Acarina,
or Mites, which was commenced in No. 213 of the Agricul-
tural News. As was stated in ihe introduction to Part I, the
object of these articles has been to give definite information
concerning forms of lif> that are popularly regarded as insects,
but which cannot be strictly included among them.

WS It was necessary, in Part I, to recap-
y= itulate the fact that the arthropods, or
¢ X animals with jointed legs, contain four
classes, of which the crabs, the spiders,
the centipedes and the insects form the
broad types; and as the Acarina, or
ag mites, belong to the second of these—the
one containing the spiders—this was
described under its usual name, Arach-
nida, a short account of the different
orders being given.

This cleared the way for the conside-
ration of the Acarina, commenced in
Part II of the series, and after a general description of the
order had been presented, its different families were enumer-
ated, the remainder of the article being taken up by an
account of the Trombididae, or spinning mites, of which
the most interesting are the red spiders, the jigger (or chigoe)
and the béte rouge.

Part III dealt with the Gamasidae and the Ixodidae,
the former of which include the poultry mites, while
the latter family is especially interesting, as it includes
the ticks—the largest among the mites. Special attention has
been given to finding cheap and effective means of getting rid
of ticks. Some of these are indicated in Parts III and IV; and
it may also be stated that particular information relating to
freeing pastures from ticks is given on page 157 of the current
volume of the Agricultural News.

Parts IV and V, the latter of which deals with the im-
portant family Eriophyidae (leaf-blister mites), conclude
a series of articles which, it is hoped, will be found useful in
giving information concerning several groups of pests that
cannot be classed properly as insects.

Fig. 36. SECTION
THROUGH GALL
MADE By Enrto-
PHYES GOSSYPIL.

Vot. IX. No. 217.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 267

SOY MEAL AND CAKE AS CATTLE FCODS.

The Monthly Consular and Trade Reports gives
the following translation of an article on soy meal
and soy cake, which is based on results obtained at
the Central Institute for Agricultural Experiments,
Sweden:—

In connexion with the now concluded experiments with
soy meal and soy cake, in order to find their value as cattle
food, a series of analytical tests has been made regarding
the chemical composition of these fodder stuffs. Similar
analyses, made by the managers of the bureaux of chemistry
located in the parts of the country where the soy feeds have
already come to be extensively used, have also been submitted,
so that the mean figures give the average results trom
analyses of twenty samples. According to these tests, the
average composition of the soy foodstuffs is as follows:—

Soy cake. Soy meal.
Water iia yt 11°56
Raw protein 43°29 45°48
Raw fat 6:10 1-85
Carbohydrates 34:04 35 33
Ash 5°46 5:75
Total 100-00 100-00

Lately, soy-cake meal, sometimes called bean gluten feed,
has also appeared in the market, and differs from ordinary
extracted soy meal in so far that it contains the same percent
age of fat as the soy cake.

By reason of their low percentage of cellulose, which,
according to the tests, varies from 2°67 to 5°27 per cent., the
soy foodstuffs are highly digestible. In this respect, the soy
cake seems to be somewhat better than the soy meal, but in
comparison with other fodder stuffs both rank very high.

When the percentage of water has been low enough,
neither soy cake nor soy meal has undergone any changes
during ‘our to five months’ storage On the other hand, two
samples of meal which contained 15 per cént. of water, and
were kept for some time, got mouldy and showed signs of
decomposition Therefore, buyers should be careful, and see
to it that the moisture does not exceed 13 or 14 per cent.

In the feeding experiments made, it has been shown that
soy cake as well as soy meal are eagerly consumed by neat
cattle, and daily rations as large as 3°53 tb. to 4-4 Ib. have not
caused any unfavourable dietary effects. In this respect, the
soy fodder stuffs seem to have a slightly loosening effect,
comparable to that of good suntlower or ground nut cakes.

Soy cake, as well as soy meal, has higher fodder value
than ordinary sunflower cake, and, through experiments, it
has been found that 0-90 kilo. (kilo. =2°2 tb.) of soy cake, or
0-95 kilo. of soy meal, is, on an average, an equivalent substi-
tute for 1 kilo. of sunflower cake. On the two experimental
farms, the soy cake gave nearly identical results, while the
soy meal, by reason of varying composition;‘gave figures rang-
ing from 0°91 to 0°99 kilo. Counting 0°91 kilo. of suntlower
cake as one fodder unit, the experiments have shown that, for
practical purposes, 0°85 kilo. of soy meal or cake, of usual
composition, can be counted equal to one fodder unit.

With reference to the influence of the soy fodder stuffs
on the percentage of fat in the milk, the results of the experi-
ments are conflicting. Some of them show decrease, others
increase. If we compare the results here with those obtained
in Germany, we are inclined to believe that the soy foodstutts
have some tendency toward lowering the percentage of fat in
the milk produced, still, not in sucha degree as to be of any
practical importance.

No change in the appearance or taste of the milk has been

detected, but the churning tests made in the summer time
have shown that the butter had a pronounced fodder taste
when larger quantities of soy meal or cake were used. There-
fore, at places where the milk is utilized for the production of
butter, the daily ration of soy meal or cake given to each cow
should not exceed }- to }-kilo.

With the limitation required on account of the above-
mentioned unfavourable effect on the taste of the butter, soy
meal and cake may be considered as good foodstuffs for milch
cows, and deserve the farmer’s attention, as they can be
obtained at a price somewhat lower than that for good
ground nut cake, and not appreciably higher than for sun-
flower cake.

AN APPARATUS FOR SOIL
STERILIZATION.

A very effective plant for the sterilization of soil for the
purpose of securing a pure seed bed consists of a shallow pit,
18 inches in depth, floored with bricks. The walls are formed
of 9-inch brickwork, and divided into two compartments by
a singie-brick partition. Each of these compartments has
a capacity of 2 tons, only one being used at a time, so that
whilst one lot of soil is being sterilized the other one is
being filled.

‘Lhe method adopted for the production of the necessary
heat is a simple one. Steam is supplied by means of a small
portable boiler worked at a pressure of between 25 to 30 b.;
{inch piping is led from the boiler to the floor of each pit,
where it is joined to a ‘I-piece, and from the T-piece in each
of the pits six pipes are let into spaces between the brick-
work on the floor, somewhat resembling the prongs of
a large fork. The pipes in the spaces of the brickwork are
lightly covered with sand. They are 8 inches apart, are
plugged at the ends farthest from the boiler, have a fall of
1 inch, and are perforated along one side by ;4--inch holes, 3
inches apart. ‘To carry off the condensed steam, a drain is
provided of ordinary tiles. It runs‘along the whole length
of the pits close to the plugged ends of the steam pipes, is
buried in cinders an inch below the surface, and has a fall of
2 or 3 inches. Two valve taps enable the operator to turn
the steam into the desired compartment.

The soil or other substance to be sterilized is placed in
one of the pits. It is then covered with sacking, and the
steam turned on for a period of about two hours. ‘The sack-
ing prevents the too rapid escape of the steam from the surface,
and raises the whole mass to a higher temperature and in
a shorter time than it would otherwise attain were it left
uncovered. When the upper layers reach a temperature of
212° F., it is allowed to steam for thirty minutes, the
whole operation occupying a period of two and a half hours.
The second compartment having been prepared during the
sterilization of the first one, the steam is cut off from the
latter and turned on to No. 2, and in this manner the steriliz-
ation of the soil proceeds without interruption.

As soon as the soil taken from the sterilizer is sufficient-
ly cool, it is ready as a seed bed. When it is necessary to
sterilize cow or stable manure for the purpose of killing
weeds, etc., it is treated in like manner, but on removal from
the pit it is desirable to spread it out in a layer of 4 inches
to dry it somewhat.

When once a sterilizing plant of this description has
been fixed in position, the operation can be carried out at
little more than the cost of the labour, for it is a convenient
method of disposing of the accumulations of leaves, pieces of
wood, and other refuse. (The Jowrnal of the Departinent of
Agriculture of Victoria, Vol. VIII, p. 366.)

268 THE

GLEANINGS.

At a special meeting of the Montserrat Agricultural

Society, held last month, his Excellency Sir E. Bickham
Sweet-Escott, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Leeward Islands,
consented to become the Patron-President of the Society.

The Mark Lane Express, No. 4,084, p. 11, contains an
article in which attention is drawn to experiments that have
demonstrated that an increase takes place in the efficiency of
superphosphate asa plant food, if it is mixed with well rotted
farmyard manure.

The reports of the Agricultural Instructor, St. Vincent,
for May and June of the present year, show that successful
work is being done in that island in the matter of using
mechanical implements for purposes of cultivation, and that
in parts of the island, the area planted in cotton during this
season has increased.

In connexion with the article on page 101, of the current
volume of the Agricultural News, entitled Why Plants «are
Green, attention ix drawn to an editorial, dealing with the
same subject, in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for January 15,
1910, from which suggestions were taken for the first-
mentioned article.

An account of the Cyclone Tractor, which is being
exploited in Africa by the African Union Transport Company,
Ltd., is contained in the Natal Agricultural Journal for
May 1910, p. 487. From this, it appears that the tractor is
of simple construction and easy to work. The price of
a machine of 25 to 30 h.p., in London, is £425.

A recent report of the Sudan Central Economic Board
states that the area in cotton cultivation in the Blue Nile
Provinces has considerably increased of late, chiefly owing to
high prices and the making of the railway. The Government
is proposing to issue seed to cultivators in order to encourage
the production of cotton by them.

Information received from the Curator of the Montserrat
Botanic Station shyws that a good stand of cotton has been
obtained over the greater part of the island, but that rain
has been required on the windward coast and in the northern
district. The total area of cotton planted is larger than that
of last year, and there 4s increased activity among the small
growers.

The amount of cotton lint exported from the Uganda
Protectorate during the first three months of the present
year was 13,197 cwt., of a value of £37,416; the similar
figures for 1909 were 10,247 cwt. and £30,003. The ungin-
ned cotton exported during the same period amounted to
29,922 ecwt. 12,806 cwt., valued at £22,180 and
£11,229, respectively.

and

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aveust 20, 1910.

The value of the raw sugar imported into the United
Kingdom during the first six months of the present year was
£6.700,375; during the same period last year, it was
£4,258,961. In the first-mentioned period, most of, the
sugar was obtained from Cuba and Germany, while the
value of that imported from the British West Indies, British
Guiana and British Honduras was £784,504

A small booklet containing descriptions of the exhibits
by the Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories at the Japan-
3ritish Exhibition, London, 1910, has been received. This is
especially useful because of the references to the literature
concerning the active principles of plants which it contains,
and on account of the information which is given concerning
the substances that have been isolated from the different parts
of various plants.

A note stating that there was evidence that bacteria
have some etfect in hastening the corrosion of steel in soil
was given on page 252 of the last issue of the Agricultural
ews. In relation to this, information which appears in the
Sugar Beet for July 1910, p. 163, shows that bacteria also
have an action on coal, producing changes, with the libera-
tion of carbon dioxide, which do not occur if the coal is pro-
tected from the action of such organisms.

The board of Trade Journal for June 23, 1910, states
that information has been received from a reliable source,
which shows that’a by-product in the manufacture of terpin-
eol, called Terpinolene, is being used in Catania (Sicily) and
neighbouring districts for the purpose of adulterating essence
of Jemon, orange and bergamot. ‘Terpinolene is said to be
made in Marseilles for this purpose alone; it is entirely harm-
less and cannot be detected in the oil unless the quantity pres-
ent 1s greater than 12 per cent.

The Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies,

while presiding over the eleventh dinner of the Corona Club,
on July 7, stated that, if he were asked to select the Imperial
object to which a large sum of money could most profitably
be devoted, he would name without hesitation the question
of research into the causes of tropical diseases of men,
animals, and in the vegetable kingdom—research, of course,
with a view to discovering means of prevention and cure.
(The London Standard, July 8, 1910.)
The Jamaica Gazette for June 9, 1910, shows that
a proclamation has been made under the Seeds and Plants
Importation Law, 1884 (Jamaica), and A Law in Aid of the
Seeds and Plants Importation Law, 1884 (Jamaica), which
is Law 25 of 1891, by which is prohibited, until further
proclamation, the importation into Jamaica of any banana
plants, suckers, cuttings, or earth, packages or tools having
any connexion with them, coming from all countries of
Central or South America and the island of Trinidad.

Arrangements have been made by which part of the
lawns at the St. Kitts Botanic Station, which were made for
‘use as recreation grounds for properly organized clubs, or for
schools, have been set apart for the use of the Basseterre Lawn
Tennis Club and*the Girls’ High School. This has been done
by rescinding Rule No. 9, Section 5, of the Botanic Garden
Regulations Ordinance 1900 (St. Kitts-Nevis), and by substi-
tuting a rule which allows games to be played, with the per-
mission of the Curator, on such terms and for such fees as
he may from time to time prescribe.

Vor. IX. No. 217.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 269

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

AUGUST.
Turrp Prrtop.
Seasonal Notes.

The disease of cotton known as ‘black arm’ is prevalent
to some extent in the West Indies. In its ordinary manifesta-
tions, it attacks a small area of the stem, or a branch, which
becomes brown in colour, gradually darkens, and finally leads
to the bending over of the stem or branch affected. Exam-
ine cotton fields for evidence of the presence of this disease,
and where it is found, try to discover if there is any
connexion between the prevalence of it and that of black boll
and anthracnose. In Barbados, more especially, it will be
well also, to make observations for the purpose of tracing any
connexion that may possibly exist between the attacks of the
disease and those of the red maggot.

When the cotton plants begin to bear bolls in any
quantity, it may be noticed that a large number of them are
dropped, while they do not show any definite signs of disease.
On the occurrence of this, the presence of the condition
should be considered in relation to the state of health of the
plants, and to the rainfall at the time. The reason why
a plant drops its fruit, though this is still healthy, is
because the amount of nutritive material that is being
made is insufficient for the maturing of the number of
fruits already on it. This interference with nutrition
may arise from a diseased condition of the plant which
prevents food substances from being carried through it prop-
erly, or does not allow the leaves to exert their function of
assimilating carbon to a sufficient extent; or it may be caused
through the effect on the plant of a sudden fall of rain or
a quickly on-coming drought. In the first ease, the plant
must be helped as much as possible by adopting means for
getting rid of the pests. There is no artificial remedy for the
second condition; it is a natural state, and is probably bene-
ficial in the long run; for though the number, of mature bolls
given by the tree will be fewer than if many of them had not
dropped, the tree itself has managed to conserve its strength,
and the fewer bolls that ripen will give better cotton than
would have been received from the many, had they not drop-
ped to some extent.

Yams should be examined carefully for the presence of
a disease, called ‘ blight’ in Barbados, which is probably due
to bacteria. Where it is found, specimens showing symp-
toms of the attack should be forwarded to the chief agricul-
tural officer of the colony, for transmission to the Head
Office and examination by the Mycologist. An interesting
experiment on the yield of yams may be performed by staking
about a hundred holes, so that the aerial stems may climb,
and comparing the yield from these with that from a hundred
neighbouring holes where stakes have not been put in. At
the end of the experiment, it will be of interest to find
reasons for the difference in the weights of tubers given in
the two plots. Compare the structure of the yam tuber with
that of the root of the sweet potato, and of the bulb of the
onion. What is the true nature of the ‘eyes’ on a yam, and
what usually happens to them when it is put into damp soil.

Sweet potatos will soon be put in, for the next crop.
Note whether the cuttings planted are obtained from plants
grown from roots, or from those raised from cuttings. It will
be of interest to plant cuttings of the two kinds, in different
plots under the same conditions, and to weigh carefully the
produce obtained in the two cases. Why is it that, although
the underground part of a sweet potato is not a tuber, it can

be used for the production of new plants? Examine the
different kinds of sweet potatos grown in your district.
Ascertain the local name of each kind, and write a careful
description of it. Such careful descriptions, with local
names, would probably be of great use if they were communi-
cated to thé officers of the Department. ~

Where shade has been provided already, by the growing
of bananas and tanias, the planting of cacao will now be in
train. While this is being done, it is of the utmost impor-
tance to make sure that the drainage is good, as cacao is one
of the first plants to show ill effects from the continual
presence of too much water in the soil. Remember that drains
are almost useless, even when they are sufficient in number,
unless they are deep enough. They have to remove a great
deal of the water that is on its way through the soil, and if
they are wanting in depth, much of this will be able to
pass down to levels from which they cannot remove it. For
what purpose, in cacao cultivation, may drains be used, besides
that of the removal of water?

Mature cacao trees are now flowering for the Christmas
crop. Examine the structure of the cacao flower, and make
observations on it for the purpose of deciding how it is pollin-
ated On what kind of structure, and on what parts of the
plant, are the flowers borne? Discuss the importance of the
exercise of care in picking cacao, in relation to the production
of flowers for the next crop.

In a cacao plantation, the signs that any of the trees are
suffering from the wind are unmistakable, and where they
are seen, no time should be lost in providing effective wind-
breaks. It is at the present season that vacant places in the
plantation should be filled. Care will be required now,
especially, to prevent the spread of wood ants, and the nests
will be poisoned by means of white arsenic, with precautions
against the picking up of the poison by other animals. As
has been indicated already, the grafting of selected varieties
of cacao may now be done. Keep a watch for cacao canker,
and in this connexion read carefully the two recent articles
in the Agricultural News (pp. 222 and 238), which contain
interesting information in relation to this disease.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) State what you consider to be the best method of
manuring tor sweet potatos, giving reasons.

(2) To what special characteristics does farmyard manure
owe its great value?

(3) What are the chief grasses used in your district for
fodder, and how are they respectively affected by dry weather

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) What parts of an ordinary soil have the greatest
influence in retarding the loss of water!

(2) State the symptoms of areolate mildew of etton, and
describe briefly the fungus causing it.

(3) Give as many reasons as you can for pressing down
the surface of the soil after planting seeds.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. W.N. Sands. Agricultural Superintendent of
St. Vincent, left fur Canada, on the 8th instant, for
the purpose of assisting in advancing the interests
of the West Indies at the forthcoming Canadian
Exhibitions at Toronto and St. John, especially in
the matter of extending trade between these colonies
and the Dominion.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Aucust 20, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

DIE-BACK DISEASES OF HEVEA, CACAO
AND MANGO.

The die-back disease of cacao is one that has long been
known in the West Indies, and has been the subject of
several publications, not only from this Department, but
from many parts of the tropical world. Recently, a disease
of Hevea, characterized by symptoms somewhat similar to
those exhibited by cacao, has been described by Petch from
Ceylon, in Vol. IV, No. 23, of the Circulars and Agricultural
Journal of the Royal Botanic Gardens; a similar disease
attacking mangos has been observed in Barbados, and could
probably be found in most of the West Indian islands, especi-
ally on young grafted trees of the more highly developed
varieties. Although the disease upon this last host plant
has not been fully worked out, enough has been seen to make
it worthy of mention here, more especially in the light of
what has recently been fownd to be the case in Hevea
disease in Ceylon. In order to explain the situation clearly,
each disease will be treated separately, commencing with
that on Hevea.

HEVEA BRASILIENSIS. The disease was first investigated
at Peradeniya in 1905, at which time it was essentially
a disease of young trees from one to two years old. During
1909, however, it was found on trees from nine to fourteen
years old, and in some instances these were killed very
rapidly. The symptoms of the disease on young trees are
as follows: a brown patch, which is frequently rather soft, is
formed on the leading green shoot about the middle of its
length. This patch extends over the whole shoot, and the
leaves fall off as the disease reaches them. As the causative
fungus spreads in the tissues, the parts first attacked
dry up and become grey in colour. If the diseased
parts are removed at this stage, very little harm results, as
growth is continued from the uppermost remaining bud; but
if the disease is neglected, the secondary stage sets in, and
the tree dies. The fungus which causes the first stage of
the disease is known as Gloeosporium alborubrum. Its frue-
tifications appear as minute swellings, produced immediately
beneath the epidermis of the dead shoot. These burst at the
top, and thin tendrils of pink or white spores are extruded.
The second stage of the disease is due to Lastodiplodia theo-
bromae, which is better known in Ceylon as otryodiplodia
elasticae, as this is the name under which it was originally
described, in that island. On older trees, the diagnosis of
this disease is a matter of more difficulty than in the
case of the young plants, as the shoot may die off, from
numerous causes. It may, however, be recognized by
the fact that once the second stage has commenced, the
whorls of branches are killed off in succession. In the case
of both young and old trees, the second fungus, Laszodi-
plodia theobromae, can only obtain a hold on the tree
after the leading shoot has been killed by the Gloeosporinm.
Having once obtained a hold as a saprophyte, it can spread
rapidly, and can attack the hard, woody parts which are able
to resist the Gloeosporium. In this way, it brings about the
death of the host, often in a fairly short time.

MANGO. In the Cuba Review, Vol. VIII, No. 5, a short
account is given ofa bloom blight, the symptoms of which are
as follows: as the blossoms open they rot, becoming black
in colour, and finally dry up and fall off, leaving only
the central stalk. This also dries up and turns brown.

The disease, in Cuba, is due to a fungus known as
Gloeosporium mangiferae, and is related to that found on
Hevea. Recently, portions of diseased mango, including
the inflorescence, were examined at the Head Office of
the Department, and it was found that the external symp-
toms were very similar to those just described. When some of
these twigs were kept ina damp chamber, they developed
numerous fructifications of Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and it
seems probable, though this has not been definitely estab-
lished, that the latter fungus was of secondary origin, and
prevented the true cause of the disease from appearing.
Young mango trees are subject to a disease which attacks the
green shoots, causing them to become brown and hard, as in
the case of Hevea; though up to the present, the disease has
not been sufficiently carefully investigated to make it possible
to state definitely at what point the attack commences. One
or two instances of this disease have been noted in Barbados.
In view of the facts mentioned, it seems possible that there
is here a case parallel to that described by Petch, namely that
a Gloeosporium starts the disease, and that if no remedial
measures are undertaken, this is followed by Lastodiplodia
theobromae which can then complete the destruction of the tree.

cacao, ‘Lhe die-back disease on this host plant 1s too
well known to require much detailed description. As far as
is known at present, only one fungus, Lastodiplodia theobi omae,
is concerned with the spread of this disease, and there is no
previous direct attack by any other. In consequence, tt is found
here, that the disease is practically contined to trees, the young
branches of which have been damaged by wind, bad drainage,
unsuitable soil conditions, excessive sunlight and similar causes.
The same was‘also found to be the case in Surinam, by
Mrs. van Halland Mr A. W. Drost. (See Agricultural News,
Vol. IX, p. 46). Once established on dead and dying twigs, the
fungus can spread downwards into the branches and main
stem, and will eventually kill the tree.

The remedial measures in the case of the rubber and
cacao diseases, and probably also in that of young mangos,
are exactly similar. They consist in the careful removal of
diseased twigs and branches, followed by the careful tarring of
the wounds made. In removing large branches, Petch suggests
that three cuts should be made witha saw. The first is made
1 foot from the stem on the under surface of the branch, and
about half through it. The second is made about 3 inches
further from the trunk on the upper surface, and is continued
until the branch breaks off. Finally, the stub must be sawn
off quite close to the stem, by a cut running parallel to the
stem. Before the tar is applied, the ent surface should be
allowed to become as dry as possible, but it should not be
exposed for more than twenty-four hours. All the parts
removed should be burnt. The bloom blight of mangos can be
controlled by two thorough sprayings with Bordeaux mixture
at a fortnight’s,interval. The first should probably be done
just as the flowers are commencing to open.

In conclusion, it may be stated that dying back of twigs
both in Hevea and in cacao may be due to many other
causes besides those mentioned, notably to root disease. In
this case, an examination of the roots and collar will
frequently reveal the true cause of the symptoms observed.
In the case of cacao, die-back due to physical or physiologi-
eal causes can usually be distinguished from that due to
Lasioliplodia, by the fact that the line of demarcation
between healthy and unhealthy tissue in the first case is quite
sharp, while “in the second it is indefinite. It is often
difficult to distinguish between the diseases originally fungoid
in origin and those primarily of a physiological nature; but in
either case, removal of the dead parts, especially if they
become numerous, is the wisest course to adopt.

WOT, Xe No! 2h

DAMAGE TO CROPS BY HURRICANES.

The following interesting information concerning
the damage that may be sutfered, during a hurricane,
by different crops, is contained in a report on the recent
hurricane in Fiji (March 1910). by the Governor, Sir
Everard F. im Thurn, K.C.M.G., issned as Colonial
Reports, Miscellaneous, No, 72:—

Turning now to the subject of growing crops, on which
so much of the prosperity of these islands depends, I will
deal first with crops grown for export, and then with those
grown to supply the natives with food.

With regard to sugar, the cane fields on the Rewa river,
unfortunately very extensive, were alone subject to the full
force of the wind. I am told, on good authority, that the
estimated loss of these will probably amount to about 25 per
cent. The greater part of the Fiji banana crop is grown
within the affected area, and the damage to this has been
very severe. I am told that the value of ‘this crop, as it
stood immediately before the blow, has now been reduced by
50, or perhaps 60, per cent. The crop is an important one
to Europeans engaged in dealing with it, and it is still more
important to the native growers, who have receutly derived
from it the greater part of their ready cash. It is, however, a rap-
idly maturing crop, which will probably recuperate in less than
a year. Cocoa-nuts, or at least those from which copra is
derived, are for the most part grown in parts of the islands
outside the influence of the recent hurricane, with the probable
result that the output for this year will be but little reduced,
though, owing to the destruction of a considerable number
of very young nuts in those parts of the Lau Islands where
the force of the wind was great, the output for next year
may possibly be somewhat more seriously affected. One of
the largest growers of cocoa-nuts told me, however, two days
agu, that he estimated the loss on the copra crop, over the
whole group, as not more than from 2 to 5 per cent. On the
whole, therefore, the loss on the export crops is probably not
very excessive.

It may be well that I should here explain, that india-
rubber, though it has been somewhat extensively planted, and
though the tendency to plant rubber (Para) in Fiji has
latterly shown signs of increase, is nowhere in these islands,
I think, ready for tapping. J had always supposed that the
one danger which would probably attend rubber-growing in
Fiji would be the breaking of these somewhat brittle trees
by hurricane winds. I am glad, therefore, to report, that our
young rubber trees suffered very little on the occasion of the re-
cent blow. The leaves—as was practically the case with all
leaves throughout the storm area—were entirely stripped; but
the branches, probably because of the stripping of the leaves,
and the main stems were very little broken. It is remarkable,
though I am not satisfied that any sequence of cause and
effect is thereby indicated, that almost the only rubber trees
which were much broken were certain trees at the Govern-
ment station at Nasinu which had been ‘topped’ at an early
stage of their growth. This treatment resulted in an increase
in the size of their ‘heads,’ as well as of their stems, and
possibly a correlative greater liability to damage from wind.

The food crops of the natives—I am still referring only
to the storm area—have certainly been .much damaged,
though perhaps not to the extent which is at present
supposed. The most deplorable loss is that of the bread fruit,
a very great crop of which was almost ready for use. Only
afew weeks ago, in riding through a large Fijian village,
I was admiring a heavier crop of this splendid fruit than

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 271

I had ever before seen; but in an an hour or two, the hurri
cane, where it passed, had utterly destroyed both leaves and
fruit of these noble trees. Taro and dalo (Colocasia
esculenta)—1mportant root/crops of the Arum family—were
almost entirely destroyed. But luckily, the yam crop, owing
to the accident of its being matured, was but little damaged,
and will probably help to tide the Fijians of the affected area
over their difficulties

YIELD FROM CEARA TREES IN UGANDA.

The Assistant in the Botanical Forestry and Scien-
tific Department, Uganda, gives the following report,
on the tapping of Ceara rubber trees on a plantation
in that country, which appears in the Official Gazette
of the Uganda Protectorate, June 15, 1910 :—

On April 16 last, I took the girth measurements of
twenty trees at a height of 3 feet; the average girth of these
trees was 19 inches, the largest being 26 inches and the
smallest 16 inches. On the same date | tapped these on the
‘half herring-bone’ system.

Tapping was done to a height of 34 feet, and from the
system adopted, it will be seen that only halt of each tree was
tapped. The trees are approximately two years and nine
months old.

The trees were tapped every alternate evening, between
the hours of 5 and 6,30 p.m., for a period of one month. Each
tree was tapped fifteen times. The flow of latex was encour-
aged by paring and pricking, and wound response was excellent
throughout the experiment.

The quantity of dry rubber obtained is 2 Ib. 5}0z., of
which 1tb. 14$0z. is biscuit rubber, the remainder being com-
posed of the latex, which coagulated in the cuts and was
collected as scrap rubber. The above represents an average
yield of loz. 14dr. per tree for the period, and allowing that
tapping could be done on 180 days per year, this would repre-
sent an annual yield of 1tb. 640z. per tree, which is exceeding-
ly good, considering the growth of the trees, and the fact that
they have been tapped to a height of 3} feet, and that only
one-half of the tree was tapped. A very weak solution of
formalin was added as a preservative, and the latex was
coagulated, in enamel plates, by adding a weak solution of
acetic acid.

A few trees gave much higher yields than others, and
this clearly demonstrates the necessity of selecting seed for
propagation from the trees which yield the largest quantity
of latex.

Demerara Seedlings in Louisiana. —The grow-
ing crop is fortunately composed of -a very large proportion
of the imported seedlings D.74 and D.95. With a good
chance, these varieties of cane make astonishing advances in
their relative condition in some growing seasons: and in the
harvest they very largely exceed the yields of the old home
cane per ton. The superiority of the new canes may go more
than is expected to make up the probable or certain deficiency
in the present crop. But, as we have previously observed,
whatever may be the conditions of work and weather from
now on, this year’s cane crop can never be turned into
a good one. (The Sugar Planters’ Journal, July 2, 1910).

bo

London.—THE

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

“Aucust 20, 1910.

MAR tet SE PORTS:

West Inpra CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR,

August 2, 1910; Messrs. E. A. pz Pass & Co.,
July 22, 1910.

ARRowRooT—St. Vincent, 1d. to 2d.

Batata—Sheet, 4/-; block, 3/2 per th.

Brerswax—£7 10s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/-
to 53/-; Jamaica, 46/6 to 51/6.

Corrre—Jamaica, 43/6 to 51/6.

Copra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Fruir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 49/- to 4d1/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 57/-; good
bright to fine, 59/- to 65/-.

Honey—25/6 to 31/6.

IstneLass—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 11d. to 1/2; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£18 15s.: Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/-, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—1/6 to 2/-.

Nurmecs—Quiet.

Pmurento—Common, 23d.; fair, 2jd.: good, 23d. per th.

RusppeR—Para, fine hard, 9/1, fine soft, 8/9; fine Peru,
9/- per tb.

Rum—Jaimaica, 1/10 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 17/- to 19/-; Muscovado, 13/- to 14/9;

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., August 12, 1910;

Messrs. T, S. Garraway & Co., August 16, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lyncn & Co., August 8, 1910.

ARROWROOT—St. Vincent, $3°30 to $3°75 per 100 th.

Cacao—$11°00 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-NuTS—$18°00.

Corrrr—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10-00 to $11-00 per
100. th., scarce.

Hay—$1-20 to $140 per 100 tb., dull.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 to $65-00; Cacao
manure, $42°00 to $4800; Sulphate of ammonia,
$70-00 to $75:00 per ton.

Mo rasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°25 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Pras, Sprit—$6-00 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 tb. :

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $2°25 to $2°60 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, no quotations; Patna, $3:50 to $3-80 -
Rangoon, $2°90 to $3°00 per 100 th. :

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, August

6, 1910; Messrs. SaNnDBaAcH,
August 5, 1910.

PARKER & Co.,

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

| Messrs. WIETING

ARTICLES. & Ricuter.

ArrowRoor—St. Vincent/$7°50 to $8-00 per) $7°50 to $8 00 per

5 © quotations ; asses, ations. | 200 th. /200 th.. mkt.
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations BArstaeVenceeeieilock| | G28) paca Eee adult
: : Demerara sheet 78ce. per tb. Non
New York,—Messrs. Gruvesrie Bros. & Co, July Q,o,0— Native 10c. to Le. per tb./10c. to tte per tb.
22, 1910: Cassava— 69¢. | No quotation
Cassava StaRcH— $6°00 per barrel of} No quotation
Cacao—Caracas, lle. to llc. ; Grenada, 10}c. to Lle. ; 196 th. |
Trinidad, 11le. to lljc. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 11e. per th. Cocoa-NUTS— | $10 to $16 per M.|$10 to $16 perM..,.
Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, no quotations; culls, no peeled and ‘
quotations ; Trinidad, select, $3200; culls, $18-00 selected

per M.

CorreE—Jamaica, ordinary, 85c. to 8ic.; good ordinary,
9c.; and washed, up to lle. per tb.

Gincer—9c. to 12he. per th.

Goat Sxrins—Jamaica, 5dc.; Barbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per th.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grape Fruit—No quotations.

Lies—$4°50 to $6°00.

Mace—30c. to 36c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8c. to 9c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4{c. to 4gc. per th.

Suecar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°36c. per Ib. ; Muscovados,
89°, 3°86c.; Molasses, 89°, 3:6lc. per tb., all
duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., August 6,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $10°80 to $1100 per fanega ; Trinidad,
$10°65 to to $11:00.

Cocoa-nut O11—$1°14 per Imperial gallon

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 10?c. per tb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4°35 to $4°40.

Ontons—$2°00 to $2°25 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6-00 to $6°10 per bag.

Poraros—English, $1:25 to $2:00 per 100 tb.

RiceE—Yellow, $4740 to $4°45; White, $5°20 to $525
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 fb.

CorrreE—Creole

Jamaica and Rio

Liberian
DHAL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Potatos—Nova Szotia

Lisbon

Poratos—Sweet, Barbados,

Rice—Ballam

14c per tb.
14}c. per th.
| 8c. per tb.
'$3°75 to $3-80 per
bag of 168 th.
34°60
$120
None

| 2ie. to Qe.
$5°50 to $5°60 per
bag (210 th.)
wanted
20c. to 60c. per
bunch
$2-50
|
$168 per bag
No quotation

12c to 13c. per tb.
143c. to 5c. perth.
10c. per th.
$3°75 per bag of
168 tb.

2te. to Qe.
$565 per bag
| (210 tb.)
No quotation

$250
No quotation

Creole | $5:00 to $550 $5-00 to 35°50
TANNIAS— | $1-92 per bag =
Yams— White $3-00 —

Buck $3-60
Suear—Dark crystals $3-00 to $3-05 None

Yellow $3°60 to $3-70 $3°70
White $400 to $410 | $4-00 to $4:25
Molasses $2°25 to $2°50 None
Timber —Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot cub. fs0t
Wallaba shingles) $3°75 to $5°75 $3°50 te $5°50
per M. per M.
», Cordwood| $1°80 to $2-00 No quotation
per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

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Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
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PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
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Sucar Inpustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.
in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.
in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.
in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.
in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; | (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d.
in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price dd.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands. (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
in 1902-5, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; | (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d. ; tions Price 2d.
in 1908 9, No. 63, price Gd. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting New and Enlarged Edition.
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price dd; (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A BC of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.. in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; | (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d. Price 4d.
Scank INsEcts. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d3
Seale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [ No. 7, price 4d; (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.
Part II., No. 22, price 4d. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
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The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of }d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents All
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station,
Jamaica: THE EpucationaL Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. It. H. Brincewa7veEr, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Se Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanie Station.
British Guiana: Tae ‘Datty CHRronicie’OrFice, Georgetown. dntigua: Mr. S. D. Matonz, St. John’s,
Trinidad - Messrs. Mu1r-MarsHatyi & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Tue Biete snp Book Surpty Acency, Basscterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLracemann, Scarborough, Nems: Mr. 8. D. Matone, Charlestown,

Grenada: ‘Tue Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. IX. No. 217. THE ae uae NEWS Aucusr 20, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

ee ed 50) oe

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

¥FOR SALE, VaPORITE!
A MYSORE UN BIE, PEP ORIFE!
(THOROUGHBRED.)

We always keep a Ad of this article on hand,
Aged nine (9) years.

Prompt attention paid to orders from neighbouring

Apply to:— colonies. Special quotations for large quantities.
DR. GABRIEL, THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON]
Acotiema, FACTORY, LIMITED,

(212.) BRIDGETOWN.

“MACHINERE FOR SALE.

The Vacuum Sugar Plant o of the Goodwill Usine, con-
sisting of one 4-ton Vacuum Pan and Engine ; Triple Effet,
Juice Pump, Engine and Mont-jus ; Evaporators ; Subsiding
and other Juice ‘anks and Molasses Tanks: Three Centrifu-

als with Engine and Molasses Pump; two 12-feet Fletcher’s aa 3 7 eR Fea eee
Malti. tubul: ar Boilers, Steam Gee and other accessories. SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS, }
All in good wo rking order. Also two iron Molasses Sugar]

Coolers: one Iron Molasses Tank (10,000 gals.): and three
eee Wagon Weighing Machines.

For further particulars, apply to :—
F. POTTER,
Goodwill Estate,
(214.) Dominica, W.1.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

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| (CANE GUT 8 X 4)
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~f& FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURc FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vor. IX. No. 218.

BARBADOS,

CONTENTS.

PAGE. PAGE.

Agricultural Tours and | Fungus Notes :—

Conferences, The Pur- Two Interesting Fungi
pose and Value of ... 273} in St. Lucia . 286
Pa nana i = 1, . or - 3 :
Banana Fibre, Cloth from 281 Nelcanincs eee, | 240284
Calcium Cyanamide and lmccnhoN utes
Nitrate of Lime 280 a ss a 929
‘ = ee Insecticides ... ... .-. 282
Camphor Trade of North ane :
Z .,| Legume Inoewation, Ex
Formosa, 1909... 20 4c 922
Costa Rica, Banana In Penne n rete
ora: Bp a aaa 2 ~|Market Reports ... ... 258
dustry (0) Rs .. 287 Jarke peed 2
Cotton Notes :— | Notes and Comments 280
Cotton Exports from the |Porto Rico, Trade and
West Indies ves LES Commerce of, 1909 ... 277
West Indian Cotton... 278|St. Vincent Arrowroot
West Indian Cotton Growers’ and Export-
Prices, 1909-10... ets} ers’ Association = 28a
Cyanogenesis in Plants ... 274|Soy Bean Industry, The
Departmental Reports ... 279 Manchurian me AT
Distribution of Cotton Students’ Corner -.- 280
Grown in the United Sunlight, Fertilizing In-
States/rnG asa | snc lesan fluence! Tike. <2.) --. 270
*Earwigs’ Attacking Cot- | Tephrosia Purpurea for
ton ee foes cen ely Keeping down Weeds 281
Fruit in Jamaica . 276| West Indian Products . 287

Purpose and Value of

The

Agricultural ‘Tours

and Conferences.

N articles that have appeared recently *, the
continuous and extended nature of agricul-
= lit 1s
in agriculture, perhaps more than in any other pursuit,
that the knowledge possessed by those whose function

it is to direct or advise must increase continually, if

* Agricultural News, Vol. IX, Nos. 205 and 206.

SEPTEMBER _ 3,

1910. Price ld,

their work is to maintain reasonable standard of

efficiency. This increase of knowledge is rendered all
the more easy to obtain, becanse of the many opportun-
ities that are afforded by the various problems that
are always presenting themselves to the agriculturist
for solution. It is evident that he is not in a position
quickly to solve every one of these by his unaided effort.
He seeks the help of those who are present to advise
him, as well as that which is afforded by the experience
of others.

One of the most modern means that have arisen
for aiding the agriculturist is the Agricultural Tour,
This, in its systematized form, was originally confined
to those whose duties lay in an advisory capacity : offi-
cers of agricultural departments paid visits to countries
other than those by which they were employed, in order
that they may gain the knowledge of the experience of
agriculturists in those countries, at first hand, and that
they may enable those in their own land to benefit by
that experience. This kind of travel continues to be
of the greatest use, and its past success ensures its
larger employment in the future. The scope of the
agricultural tour has not been permitted, however, to
remain circumscribed in this way. It has been extended,
so that not only the agricultural adviser, but the planter
or farmer himself, is being given increased opportunities
to travel, for the purpose of enlarging his agricultural
knowledge and experience.

An interesting description of an agricultural tour
of this kind is contained in Farmers’ Bulletin, No.
117, of the Transvaal Department of Agriculture,
entitled An Agricultural Tour for South African
Farmers. After mentioning some past agricultural tours
that have been made, principally from Scotland, this
publication gives details of one that was undertaken on

274

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SEPTEMBER 3, 1910.

the incentive of Lord Milner, then High Commissioner
for South Africa, tv whom it occurred that much of an
educational value would be gained if some of the farmers
of the Transvaal and Orange Free State could be given
a chance of seeing the ‘ vastness and the richness of the
agricultural resources of the other British Colonies.
A party of seven, consisting of delegates selected from
the prisoners of war at St. Helena, placed in the charge
of an officer of the Imperial Government, and including
the wives of three of the members, was consequently
sent on an agricultural tour through England, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand, for the purpose of
making a study and reports, in connexizn with
the different methods of agriculture and stock farm-
ing in those countries. The tour occupied nine
months, and in that time, the party travelled about
forty-two thousand miles. It was successful, to a certain
extent, but its usefulness was diminished owing to the
unsettled state of the country, the smallness of the
party, and the fact that no lectures were given, or meet-
ings held, on its return. The record of the journey was
published, under the title of Agriculture Within the
Empire, in both English and Dutch, and was widely
circulated and favourably received.

The comparative success of this tour, even though
it was not undertaken under the best circumstances,
has led to the publication of the bulletin from which
this information is taken, with the purpose of suggest-
ing that another, larger delegation of South African
farmers shall be made, for travel and report. The
arrangements for this will be modified in accordance
with past experience, which shows that large deputa-
tions are of more use for the purpose than small ones:
that the time of travel should not extend for more than
three or four months, as a large limit; that the course
of making a thorough investigation of definite problems,
at a few places, is preferable to that of hastening, merely
in order to cover a large amount of ground; and that suth-
cient opportunities should be provided for the relation
and consideration of facts in the knowledge of the mem-
bers themselves.

The usefulness of visits to different agricuitural
centres, with a similar object, has been experienced
already, in the West Indies, through the medium of
the agricultural conferences that have been held
in several islands. The meetings for the exchange
of views, the visits for the purpose of observing
various means and methods in connexion with agri-
culture, and the reports of delegates on their return
from the conferences, as well as the accounts of the pro-
ceedings given in the publications of the Department,

are all matters that pertain immediately to the agri-
cultural tour; and although the conferences include less
that is of the nature of travel, they afford more time
for the immediate study of the problems that arise for
consideration.

It will be well to consider some of the special
advantages that are derived from the making of tours,
and the holding of conferences, of an agricultural
nature. They are particularly effective in the direction
of broadening the views of agriculturists in regard to
the subjects that interest them most nearly. This effect
is assisted mainly by the opportunities that they afford
of exchanging ideas and comparing the results of
experience, and of viewing new machinery and meth-
ods pertaining to agriculture. The occurrence of
the meetings that are held in connexion with them
from time to time acts as a stimulant to interest
in agricultural matters, so that this is prevented from
dropping to a low level. Their chief value would appear,
however, to be derived from the personal character of
the work in connexion with them. Impressions are
received and views are exchanged, directly, by indi-
viduals who personally inform others of what they have
learned, so that there is a more lively interest in the
subjects discussed, and the publications that deal with
them are given an added usefulness.

The principle of atfording agriculturists opportun-
ities fur individual contact with others who possess
similar interests, under different conditions, is under-
going a merited extension. Its adoption, by making and
holding agricultural tours and conferences, has already
become a settled part of ordinary agricultural practice
and administration, and the increased degree to which
this is done only serves to emphasize its usefulness.

CYANOGENESIS IN PLANTS.

The term cyanogenesis has been suggested by Dunstan
and Henry, to describe the production of prussic acid by
plants.

The production of prussic acid by a plant was recorded
for the first time in 1800, by a pharmacist named Bohm, of
Berlin, who obtained it by distilling water which had been in
contact with crushed. bitter almonds. Though prussic acid
was discovered by a Swedish chemist named Scheele in
1782, its poisonous nature was not recognized until 1803,
when Schrader explained the toxicity of bitter almonds as
being due to the production of prussic acid when the almonds
are bruised in contact with water. Even before this time,
instances of the poisonous nature of certain plants, which we
now know to be due to their power of producing prussic acid,
bad been recorded; thus, in the Litor Hroticorum of Clusius,
published at Leyden in 1605, reference is made to the poison-
ous nature of cassava, and the remarkable observation is
recorded that the roots of this plant are more poisonous when

Vou. IX.. No. 218.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 275

the plant is grown under the dry conditions prevailing in
many parts of the mainland of South America, than when it
is cultivated under the moist conditions of certain of the West
Indian Islands. Again, Madden, in a paper communicated to
the Royal Society of London in 1731, drew attention to the
fact that cherry-laurel water, prepared by distilling water in
which bruised cherry-laurel leaves had been macerated, was
poisonous. ‘The latter case was also explained by Schrader
in 1803, as being due to the production of prussic acid. The
cases of bitter almonds and cherry-laurel leaves remained
until about 1851 practically the only known instances ot the
production of prussie acid by plants, but since that year the
formation of this acid has been detected in a very large
number of plants, and in an incomplete list of such plants
recently compiled by Dr. Greshoff, of the Colonial Museum
at Haarlem, about 150 species are enumerated. In most of
these cases, investigators have been content to record the fact
that prussic acid is produced, and the method of its produc-
tion has been definitely ascertained in comparatively few
instances.

In all the plants in which the chemistry of cyanogenesis
has been thoroughly investigated, it has been found that the
prussic acid is liberated when the plant is ground up, either
in its fresh, moist condition, or if it has been previously dried,
when the dried ground plant is placed in water: inevery case
the presence of water is essential. It has also been found
that from all such plants, by appropriate methods, a definite
crystalline compound can be isolated, which is quite stable,
and can be kept for indefinite periods, but which when dis-
solved in water and boiled with dilute acids decomposes and
evolves prussic acid. This same decomposition with the
production of prussic acid, can also be brought about by
various ferments. This may perhaps be conveniently illus-
trated by an example. By extracting bitter almonds with
alcohol, a colourless crystalline substance can be obtained,
which has been named amygdalin. When a solution of the
latter in water is boiled with diluted hydrochloric acid (spirit
of salt), the mixture acquires the well-known odour of essence
of bitter almonds, owing to the fact that prussie acid and ben-
zaldehyde (oil of bitter almonds) are simultaneously produced.
The same decomposition is brought about if ordinary yeast
is added to a solution of amygdalin in water. It may be
assumed, therefore, that this crystalline substance, amygdalin,
is the source of the prussic acid and the oil of bitter
almonds, which are formed when ground bitter almonds are
mixed with water. The agent contained in the bitter almonds
which effects this natural decomposition of amygdalin has
been found to be a special ferment. The latter, like amygdalin,
can be isolated from bitter almonds, and is prepared and sold
under the name emulsin. The proof that the production of
prussic acid in the bitter almond is due to the decomposition
of amygdalin by emulsin, is found in the fact that the addition
of emulsin to amnygdalin, dissolved in water, results in the
almost immediate production of prussic acid and oil of bitter
almonds.

Amygdalin belongs to a well-defined class of substances
known to chemists as glucosides; the latter name indicating
that when they are decomposed in the way already indicated
by acids or ferments, they invariably yield glucose or
a similar saccharine substance, in addition to certain more
specific products such as the prussie acid and oil of bitter
almonds produced in the case of amygdalin. These gluco-
sides may be divided into two classes, according as they do or
do not yield prussic acid on decomposition, and it is convenient
to describe the former class as cyanogenetic glucosides. The
fermentive agents which accompany these glucosides in
plants, and which serve to decompose them, are termed

enzymes or unorganized ferments, the latter name serving to
distinguish them from the organized ferments such as yeast,
mould, ete. Recent researches have shown that enzymes are
widely distributed in plants and animals, and that many of
the functions necessary to life are discharged by them.
A general article on organized ferments and their indus‘rial
application has already been published in the Bulletin 19C5,
3185, to which reference may be made for fuller information.
(From the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, Vol. IV, p. 329.)

THE FERTILIZING INFLUENCE OF
SUNLIGHT.

On page 107 of the current volume of the Agricultural
ews, extracts were given from a letter in Vature of February
17, 1910, signed by A. Howard, Imperial Economic Botanist,
India, in which it was pointed out that the custom of expos-
ing the soil to direct sunlight for some time, which obtains in
parts of India, for the purpose of increasing its fertility, may
possibly have some connexion with the experiments of Russell
and Hutchinson, which have shown that the partial steriliz-
ation of soil may have some effect in increasing its product-
iveness. These experiments were dealt with in the editorials
of Nos. 202 and 203 of the Agricultural News, to which
reference is made.

Following on the letter mentioned, several have been
published subsequently in Natwre which increase the interest
of the subject. In the issue of that journal for March 3, 1910,
E. J. Russell, one of the experimenters referred to above,
supports the view that direct sunlight may have some steriliz-
ing influence which increases the productivity of the soil,
much in the same way as this is done by the action of heat
and antiseptics. This is by reducing the numbers of the
larger soil organisms which feed on the bacteria, so that
the nitrogen-fixing organisms have the best chance to sur-
vive, with the result that they increase largely in numbers,
and their effect in adding nitrogen is much greater than in
unsterilized soil. Further, it is suggested that, as climatic
difficulties interfere with the making of experiments in con-
nexion with the subject, in England, a series of these should
be conducted in India, where circumstances are more favour-
able.

Another letter, in the issue of Nature for March 10, 1910,
makes reference to the increase of soil fertility that is gener-
ally evidenced where waste vegetable matter has been burned,
and this is followed by another, in the issue of March 24,
1910, drawing attention to the larger crops that are obtained
from soil into which steam has been injected for the purpose
of destroying various pests.

Returning to the subject of the fertilizing influence of
sunlight, Vature for April 7, 1910, contains a letter from
F. Fletcher, of the Bombay Agricultural Department, which
suggests that the effect of the sunlight in increasing productive-
ness is due to the destruction of some toxin contained in the
soil. This supposition is dealt with in a letter in the issue of
April 28, 1910, in which Russell refers again to the experi-
ments that have been conducted by himself and Dr. Hutchin-
son, stating that this hypothsesis was the first examined by
them, but that it was found insufficient to explain the
phenomenon. He points out that, as the addition of
a watery extract of untreated soil to soil that has been
partially sterilized by toluene causes a further increase in
fertility and bacterial activity, it is made difficult to
maintain that ordinary soils contain toxic substances which
reduce the number of the bacteria, and that the effects of
sunlight or partial sterilization is to remove these.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SrepreMBER 3, 1910.

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FRUITS AND

FRUIT IN JAMAICA.

The following is an extract taken from the
Annual Report on the Department of Agriculture,
Jamaica, for 1909-10, by the Director of Agriculture,
Mr. H. H. Cousins. M A., which has just been issued. It
is of special interest, as it deals with the growth and
production of the chief fruit plants and fruits in
Jamaica during the time covered by the report. A gener-
al review of the report will be given in the next
number of the Agricultural News.

corre. The floods in November did serious damage to
large areas of coffee in the Blue Mountains, and some estates
suffered severely. It would appear that coffee is rapidly
ceasing to be an estate crop in Jamaica, and that the bulk ot
output is destined to be that of the small cultivators. There
is no ercp that can replace coffee as a money-earning crop in
the drier upland districts of the island, and the Agricultural
Instructors are well advised to encourage the people in these
areas to pay more attention to their coffee. A combination
of a milch cow, fed with cut grass, and a ecttee patch manured
thereby, has been shown to be most effective in improving
and rendering most productive such cultivations.

Some cases of a coffee leaf-disease were brought to my
notice during the year and found to be due to the fungus
Stillum flavidum, Cooke. [Sphaerostille flavida, Massee;
also Stilbella flavida; see Agi icultural News, Vol. VIII,
pp. 292, 395 and 411.] Under normal conditions in
Jamaica, this disease does not appear to be of a dangeious
character, although in Costa Rica and other parts of Central
America serious losses have been reported from the spread of
4h

TIS pest.

BANANAS. The appearance of the banana crop last
October was exceptionally fine, and it was a great disappoint-
ment when the floods in November did such damage to. the
cultivations in the eastern half of the island. The drought
that followed the storm also resulted in a set-back to the
plantations on the south, and the western end of the island,
so that there has been not only a shortage of spring fruit hut
a serious set-back in its quality.

Despite these troubles, the banana industry is progress-
ing steadily in all parts of the island, and the time would
appear but little distant when our exports will exceed 20
million stems per annum.

FRUIT GREES.

The development of the banana industry on tbe stiffer
soils by bold drainage, and the production of profitable crops
in dry districts by intensive culture and heavy mulches, are
features of the recent progress that sur planters have
achieved.

Some recent experiments with manures have confirmed
our former conclusions, that bananas do not require fertilizers,
and that humus, lime and drainage are the chief factors that
are of practical importance to the cultivator of this crop in
Jamaica. If it be remembered that the drain on an acre of Jand,
by the removal of 300 stem of bananas, is less than that of
the crops, of wheat grown at Rothamsted for sixty years on the
same soil without manure, it is not a matter for surprise that
the banana should be so little responsive to chemical fertilizers.

The Jerusalem pea was tested at Hope as a green dress-
ing, and the results were so promising that further trials of
this leguminous plant are being made. Some planters report
that it grows vigorously in the shade of a banana or cacao
walk, and is a remarkable means of choking cut weeds.

The dreaded banana disease is reported to be making
alarming progress in the plantations of Costa Rica.

Frem
information

received, it would appear to be a_ bacterial
diseasc, although an eel worm at the root is also suspected.
No remedial measures have as yet been discovered.

T am of opinion that the banana has been so weakened
by forced vegetative growth and continuous asexual propa-
gation under the conditions obtaining in Costa Rica that the
plant has become unduly susceptible to the disease. TI also
believe that there would be little risk of this disease spread-
ing in Jamaica owing to the greater hardiness of our plants,
and the difference in the conditions of soil and climate.
At the same time, it would only be prudent to prohibit
all importations of banana suckers from foreign countries, lest
the dreaded disease should gain a footing in this island

A ‘scab’ of bananas affecting a large acreage of fruit
proved, on investigation, to be caused by the superficial feed-
ing of grasshoppers on the young fruit. Owing to the
drought, the grasshoppers were compelled to seek food, and
attacked the bananas. ‘he losses due to ‘ rejections’ in this
ease were serious, but the circumstamees’ were abnormal,
ind Ido not regard this trouble as likely to be chronic.

Vou. IX. No. 218.

THE

AGRICULTURAL

Lo
~I
-~I

NEWS,

No other remedy than that of hunting the grasshoppers,

secreted in the young bunches of fruit. can be suggested for _

dealing with this pest. Since one grasshopper can destroy
a bunch worth 2s. 6d., it is obvious that energetic” nieasures
are fully justified. —

cITRUS FRUITS. This industry remains in.a depressed
state, and it appears almost impossible to get_a profitable out-
let for our oranges except in the very early weeks of the
season.

It was suggested during the session in Jamaica of the
Royal Commission on Trade Relations between Canada and
the West Indies, that a useful market for some of our citrus
fruits might be found in Canada, under the favourable cir-
cumstances which the Royal Commission is seeking to bring
about

Experiments on the gases given off by bananas and
oranges, respectively, were carried out at the laboratory.
It was shown that oranges gave off a good deal of carbonic
acid gas when stored in a closed place, as in a sbip’s
hold, but, on the other hand, carbonic acid was proved to be
a wonderful preservative of bananas. It was shown, however,
by direct trial, that the emanations from oranges stored in
a chamber were found to have the effect of bringing about
a premature ripening of bananas, if these gases were passed
through a chamber Jaden with this fruit. The practical
lesson indicated by these experiments is that separate stor-
age is desirable for citrus fruits and bananas, when they are
being transported for long distances by sea.

Open-sided boxes for the escape of orange gases and an
effective cooling of the fruit in the cold chambers also appears
to be a crucial matter which many orange shippers in Jamaica
consistently ignore, with the result that their fruit arrives in
a wasty condition, and financial losses accrue.

MANGOs. The article in the /ulletin on mangos for
export has excited a good deal of interest in the Bombay
variety, and we have had large orders for grafted plants. The
Alphonso, imported by Colonel] Griffith some eighteen years
ago, fruited heavily at Elim in St. Elizabeth this year for the
first time. ‘The fruit was considered excellent. Our own
tree of this variety has been severely root-pruned, but so far
does not show signs of fruiting, and it would appear that this
mango is not suitable for general planting in Jamaica.

We are extending our orchards, and a large number of
trees have been budded during the year, chiefly to Bombay.

cacao. This crop is now receiving serious attention in
all parts of the island where it can be practically grown. The
Agricultural Instructors are attaching due importance to the
pruning and general sanitation of cacao trees, while the De-
partment is sending ont large numbers of plants raised from
selected pods. The red Forastero cacao is in greatest demand
among the large planters. The Crioilo variety that was
enthusiastically recommended by the Instructor for Hanover,
a few years ago, has now been found a shy bearer, and some
disappointment has resulted from the planting of this variety
in that parish.

For endurance and reliability there is no cacao to beat
the common calabash cacao of the peasantry, while the pro-
duce buyers pay the same price forall grades of beans in most
districts where cacao is grown. Iam, therefore, inclined to
the opinion that it is not wise to lay stress on counsels of
perfection as to cacao varieties for small cultivators, and that
the outstanding matters of pruning and general sanitation
call for the chief attention of our cultivators.

TRADE AND COMMERCE OF PORTO RICO,
5 1909.

The following extracts, showing the condition of
the Trade and Commerce of Porto Rico, are taken from
the Diplomatic and Consular Reports, Annual
Series, No. 4433:—

corrEE. The coffee crop showed a decreased yield of
nearly 7,000,000 tb., and steadily decreases every year, as the
hope for a measure of protection for it in the United States,
against the Brazilian production, becomes yearly less and less.

sucar. Although the export of sugar was the largest on
record, there was a decrease in the planting area of 8,868
acres, and in value, of £55,840. This is accounted for by
the drought in the south of the island.

ToBacco. Tobacco, too, decreased in acreage more than
1,000 acres, but the total value of «ll products exported
showed an increase of £48,528.

The total number of cigars manufactured
227,021,365, and in addition, 365,525,563. cigarettes.

Practically all these latter were for home use, as also
were 84,933,265 of the cigars made.

was

corrox, During the year, a decrease was shown, although
it should have been the contrary, as 25 per cent. more acreage
was planted than in the previons year (1908).

The heayy rains of September, October and November
are accountable for the falling-off.

oRANGES The bulk of oranges exported still consists of
so-called ‘wild oranges’, which, however, are not so, but are
thus called to distinguish them from those under cultivation
since citrus fruit-growing was started some eight years ago.

It is impossible to obtain anything except the bulk
record of this industry, but from the export returns, showing
a decreased value of £47,708 during the year, and that
prices were fairly good, it is to be inferred that the year’s
result was not satisfactory.

PINE-APPLES. The pine-apple acreage is increasing
enormously. More than double the amount of fruit was
exported than in 1908, while the output of the canned fruit
increased 25 per cent.

sIsaL. A quantity of sisal plants, bought by the Govern-
ment, were planted upon public land in the vicinity of Yauco,
by way of experiment, which, when sufticiently advanced,
will be submitted to expert treatment, with the view of pro-
nouncing upon the possibilities for a market.

The Manchurian Soy Bean Industry.—A note
in the current volume of the Agricultural News, page 188,
dealing with a report by H.M. Consu lat Newchwang on the
soy bean industry of Manchuria, drew attention to the fact
that several shipments of soy bean cake to Europe had
resulted in failure. More recent reports (Board of Trade
Journal, July 7, 1910, p. 40; July 21, 1910, p. 145) show
that, shipments of the soy bean to Europe, on the contrary,
are increasing, in spite of initial difficulties, the amount being
60,000 tons in 1909, as against 11,000 in 1908. In the past
season, the quantities of beans and bean cake shipped to
Europe, from Vladivostock up to April 9, and from Dairen
up to March 29, were 120,064 tons and 229,430 tons, respect-
ively. In 1908-9, the total export to Europe from these
ports was 410,000 tons, all of which went to the United
Kingdom, except 5,000 or 6,000 tons,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date August 15, with reference to
the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Only a small business has been done in West Indian Sea
Island since our last report, and prices are without change.

The sales include Nevis 19d. to 20d., and St. Croix and
Barbados at 20d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending August 6, is as follows:—

Since our last report, of July 2, the market has contin-
ued dull, with no demand for the 53 bales stock, consisting

of planters’ crops, held at 50c. to 55c. The 100 bales on plan-
tations around Beaufort are still on hand.

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE
WEST INDIES.

The following table gives the exports of cotton from the
West Indies for the quarter ending June 30, 1910 :-—

Number of Weight, Estimated value.
bales. bb. £ qh Gk

Origin.

Antigua 72 16,128 1,209 12 0
Barbados 248 124,066 1546 CoG
Grenada 1,062 319,680 14014 0 0
Montserrat 96 36,370 22k lo 10
St. Kitts 62 24,753 18565 296
Nevis 110 26,759 2,006 18 6
Anguilla 44 8,800 660 0 0
St. Vincent 295 95,400 6,611 3 6
Trinidad 9 4,500 (none given)
‘Tobago S
Virgin Islands 55 11,910 Cir 8 ©
St. Lucia 9 1,770 132 15 0
Total 2 062 670,136 37,649 19 O

All this cotton was sent to the United Kingdom, with
the exception of 8 bales (4,137 b.), of an estimated value of
£255 11s. 3d., which was shipped to the United States from
Barbados. With the exception of 1,151 bales (348,386 hb.),
of an estimated value of £14,992 i4s. 4d. (excluding Trini-
dad), of Marie Galante, all the cotton shipped was Sea Island.

AV

COTTON NOTES-/, 2.
Ww?

The amount and value of cotton exported from the West
indies during the two preceding quarters of the season were:—

Oct. to Dec., 1909 342,257 tb., value
Jan. to Mar., 1910 1,127,142 b.,

£21,236 13s. 1d.
5 L708’ On Ba.

1,469,399 tb.

Total FS £92,024 13s. 6d.

Thus the total amount of cotton exported, so far,
during the present season is 1,469,399 Ib. (3,8174 bales), of
an estimated value of £92,024 13s. 6d., and 670,136 h.
(2,062 bales), of an estimated value at £37,649 19s, making
a total of 2,139,535 fb. (5,879) bales), of an estimated
value of £129,674 12s. 6d.

WEST INDIAN COTTON PRICES, 1909-10.

The following list of outside prices for West Indian Sea
Island cotton, obtained in England during the current crop
season, is taken from Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland’s
fortnightly cotton reports, and is published here for purposes
of reference :—

Date. Price, pence.
1909
October 11 11} to 15}
November 8 16 to 174
November 22 174 :
December 10 161 to 173
December 20 18 to 19
1910

January 3 185 to 19
January 17 18} to 20
January 31 18° to 21
February 14 171 to 20
February 28 18 to 20
March 14 17 to 233
March 24 18 to 26
April 111 ils} qaoy PA7/
April 25 Li toe
May 9 18 to 223
May 23 22 i
June 6 20 to 214
June 20 20 to 24
July 1 21 to 26
July 18 20 to 24
July 28 19 to 21
August 15 19 to 20

Outside prices for Stains, 73d to 17d.

Vout. IX. No. 218.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 279

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENT-

AL AGRICULTURAL WORK OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE, BRIT-
ISH GUIANA, APRIL 1908 TO OCTOBER 1909.

The work described in this report was undertaken, under
the auspices of the Department of Science and Agriculture,
British Guiana, at the Botanic Garden, the Onderneeming
School Farm, the Issorora Rubber Farm (under the general
supervision of the Government Agent of the North Western
District), the rubber and forestry station at Pln. Christian-
burg, Demerara Hiver, and at the Rubber Experiment
Station at Bonasika Reserve. Plans for the establishment
of an experiment station near Marlborough, Pomeroon River,
are being considered by the Government.

In the work in raising canes from seed, much irouble
was experienced at one time through damping off during the
heavy rains; a remedy was found in thoroughly watering the
soil in the seed boxes with a mixture of nitrie acid with
water, containing 2 oz. of the acid in 1 gallon of water, the
soil being treated subsequently with water alone in order to
remove excessive acidity. In January and February 1909,
about 55,000 cuttings of the more valuable seedling canes
were distributed to a few planters. Other promising vari-
eties were planted out for manurial variety experiments, and
these are intended to be used, partly, for making comparison
of the value of calcium cyanamide and calcium nitrate, as
manures, with that of the older nitrogenous manures. The
experiments connected with cane-arrowing and seed-sowing,
in 1908, showed that the seeds of arrows from the Bourbon
variety were the most fertile, followed in order by D.109,
D.145, D.4805, D.147, D.2468 and B.208.

The manurial experiments with nitrogenous manures, in
connexion with sugar-cane, showed that when nitrate of soda
follows sulphate of ammonia, the latter having been used for
some time on unlimed land, a reduction of the increased yield
that had been obtained already was experienced. When the
positions were reversed—sulphate of ammonia following
nitrate of soda—an increased yield was obtained. Similar
results were gained on limed land. The following conclusion
from these trials is made: The results clearly indicate that on
very heavy clay soil, such as that of the Experimental Field,
and under tropical meteorological conditions, the deflocculation
cr puddling caused by long-continued dressings of nitrate
of soda is likely to prove more injurious to the soil
than is the souring action of sulphate of ammonia. The
trials with phosphates are not yet complete, on account of
the numerous comparisons that are required in order to
obtain a definite result. Increases of yield are still usually
obtained from an application of lime, to certain plots, in 1891,
but there are indications that the effects of the liming are
almost exhausted.

As a result of the trials of the new varieties of sugar-
cane, information has been obtained as to the seneral

influence of the female parent on the crop and sugar yields.
These are stated to have no relation to the female ancestry of
the cane. Other interesting results in connexion with the
manurial trials of all the varieties are: that readily available
nitrogen has the most potent effect on the yields; that nitrate
of soda has not been as satisfactory as a manure, as sulphate
of ammonia; that D.1082, D.1119 and D.790 were the
best plants, and D.45, D.1082 and D.755 were the best
first ratoons under the conditions in the Brickdam Field and
the North-West Field, respectively. As before, B.208 has
shown a preference for the lighter soils, while its juice was,
as usual, notably high in sucrose and purity. Tests of
a larger number of the newer varieties, in the experimental
fields, indicated that several of these may become of consider-
able value

Trials with nitro-bacterine specially prepared for use in
connexion with the cultivation of sugar-cane, whether in
plots or pots, showed that no effects were produced by
the use of this preparation,

The continuation of investigations into the composition
of the soil and subsoil waters of the experimental fields con-
firmed the results obtained formerly, namely, thatin the wet
season, a great increase in ammoniacal, and a decrease in
nitric, nitrogen takes ‘place, the comparison being made with
the amounts of these present in the dry season. An experiment
to find the composition of water taken at a depth of 12 feet
below the surface of the soil showed, particularly, that the
proportion of nitrogen present in it, in the form of ammonia
and organic matter, was high when compared with that
present as nitrates. It was decided to make an investigation
for the purpose of finding a probable cause of the low fertility
of the land from which the samples for these experiments
were taken, and the result was to indicate that this lower
fertility was probably due to the extent to which magnesium
salts are present, in comparison with the content of calcium
salts.

Information relating to the quantities of salts, etc.,
contained in the lower layer of the soil, and in the subsoil,
indicates unmistakably the relatively large extent to which
soluble salts useless to plants, and some even poisonous to
them, are present in these, in the experimental fields. An
enquiry into the evaporation of the soil water in air, and in
carbon dioxide, is of some interest. It shows that the presence
of the latter, to its proper extent, in the soil, modifies the
poisonous action of the magnesium salts present in the soil
water, and indicates the great importance of the maintenance
of the supply of humus in tropical soils.

Among the results obtained in the rice experiments are
the following: (1) that applications of sulphate of potash and
lime during 1908 gave increases of yield; (2) that it is necess-
ary to use pure seed paddy if the maximum crop of any one
kind of rice is to be obtained; (3) that on soils such as those
of the Experimental Field, though as yet no advantage of single
planting over multiple planting has been indicated, the
number of plants in a bunch may be reduced to about two or
three without lessening the chances of obtaining a maximum
crop. As regards cotton, accounts of trials with different
varieties, and a report on several indigenous cottons, are
given, and it is stated that Caravonica silk cotton has shown
itself unworthy of adoption for cultivation in British Guiana.

The report concludes with particulars of interesting
experiments with bananas, cacao, coffee, limes and other
fruits, miscellaneous products and rubber, the enumeration
of which the space at disposal does not permit.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SEPTEMBER 3, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Vou. IX.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1910. No. 218.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

In the present number, the editorial deals with
The Purpose and Value of Agricultural Tours and
Conferences, and useful facts are quoted from South
African experience in connexion with the former of
these.

An article given on page 274 presents a general
account of cyanogenesis in plants.

Recent evidence as to the possible fertilizing
influence of sunlight is collected on page 275.

The state of fruit and fruit-growing in Jamaica is
described on page 276, in matter reproduced from
a recent report by the Agricultural Department of
that colony.

The Insect Notes, on page 282, give a general
account of Insecticides.

A summary of recent investigation in connexion
with legume inoculation appears on page 283.

__ On pages 286 and 287, the Fungus Notes deal
with two interesting fungi that are described from
St. Lucia.

Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate of Lime.

Several notes under the above heading have
appeared from time to time in the current volume of the
Agricultural News (see pp. 169, 185,217 and 249).
These have reviewed experiments undertaken in differ-
ent parts of the world for the purpose of comparing the
manurial value of calcium cyanamide and uitrate of
lime with that of nitrate of soda or sulphate of
ammonia, Reference to these notes will show that the
general result of such investigations has been to
indicate that the two first-mentioned manures possess
a very similar manurial value to that of the others.

This conclusion is supported by experiments which
are described in the Report on Field and Pot Culture
Experiments, 1909, of the Woburn Experimental
Statior of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
It is stated in this report that it is evident, in the case
of those experiments from which conclusions were drawn,
that there is little to choose between the four materials
—calcium cyanamide, nitrate of lime, nitrate of soda
and sulphate of ammonia—so far as the efficacy of the
nitrogen contained in them, respectively, is concerned.
The evidence from the trials shows that the differences
in action of these manures do not always tend in the
same direction; nor are they sufficiently regular to indi-
cate that one manure may be preferred to the others,
provided that the nitrogen in each costs approximately
the same amount per unit. It is pointed out that this
circumstance makes it interesting as to what the prices
of these manures will be in the future.

The Camphor Trade of North Formosa, 1909.

The shipments of camphor (which is a Govern-
ment monopoly) from North Formosa, during 190), are
given in the Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4500, Annual Series, as 6,670,660 tb. The profits from
the monopoly were small, on account of the lowering of
the price of camphor in order to drive Foochow and
synthetic camphor from the market.

According to the same authority, 4,795,907 tb. of
camphor oil was produced; all this was shipped to Japan
to be manufactured into camphor, of which a yield of
about 40 per cent. is obtained.

Large tracts of forest abounding in camphor trees
will be opened for collecting during the next few years.
A gradual reduction of the supply of trees in the
settled districts is taking place, but compensation for
this is being obtained by making plantations where the
conditions are suitable. Experiments are being contin-
ued in connexion with the production of camphor from
leaves by distillation, but the investigations have not,
so far, led to anything being attempted in this matter,
on a large scale.

The statement has been made that the Govern-
ment Monopoly Bureau has restricted the output of
camphor and camphor oil for 1910 to 6,670,000 Ib.,
and 7,330,000 tb., respectively. The demand for cam-
phor from Formosa is likely to become greater, on
account of the recent establishment of two celluloid
factories in Japan.

Vou. IX. No. 218.

‘KFarwigs Attacking Cotton.

Specimens of ‘earwigs’ (Forficulidae) have been
received recently at the Head Office of the Departiuent,
from Mr. W. N. Sands, Agricultural Superintendent of
St. Vincent, with the statement that these insects were
causing a certain amount of damage to young cotton in
that island. The harm was brought about by their
eating the young sprouts, under the ground, as soon
as the seed had germinated.

Information has been received subsequently from
Mr. W. H. Patterson, Acting Agricultural Superintend-
ent, St. Vincent, to the effect that the pest appears to
have been controlled, as it was extremely difficult,
recently, to find a single specimen.

The methods employed in this control were to
light fires at night in the fields where the insects were
present to a dangerous degree, and to poison them by
means of cotton seed dressed with Paris green. In the
latter case, the poisoned cotton seed was sown in holes
on one side of the bank, while the ordinary seed put
in for the crop was planted higher on the same bank.

The Distribution of Cotton Grown in the United
States.

The United States Census Bureau has recently
issued a special bulletin on the supply and distribution
of cotton grown in that country. An abstract of this,
contained in the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts
for July 8, 1910, states that the information included
in the bulletin shows that only about one-third of the
cotton grown in the United States is manufactured in
that country; the value of this cotton in 1905, when
made into cotton goods, was £9,000,000. The part of the
raw material used by the European manufacturers is
employed in the production of goods that are, for the
greater part, of a finer quality than those manufactured
in the United States; the value of the goods made from
the average American crop is estimated at £400,000,000.

The report states that, whereas during the year
ended June 30, 1909, manufactured cotton goods to the
value only of £6,300,000 were shipped from the United
States, the imports of such goods reached approximate-
ly £12,500,000 in value. It is pointed out, however, in
the journal to which reference 1s made above, that the
annuai exports of manufactured cotton goods from the
United States vary greatly from year to year, and that
the falling off in them between 1906 and 1909 is due to
a lessening in the shipments to China, which were of
the value of £6,000,000 in 1906, and £1,600,000 in
1909.

The abstract goes on to show that the prospects
of the American cotton crop are reported to be not
as favourable as those in the last few years, as the
United States Department of Agriculture has announ-
ced that there has been a small deterioration of the
plant during the month of June, but that there is no
need for much anxiety at present.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

bo
(9.2)
—

Cloth from Banana Fibre.

An account is contained in the Board of Trade
Journal for July 28, 1910, of an exhibit of banana
cloth that was made at a recent fair in China. It
appears from this that the fibre is manufactured from
banana stalks by the following process. The stalks at
the age of about one year are unrolled and steamed
over water, until they become soft; after this has been
done, the outer skin is removed by means of a scraper,
in which the strips are passed between two blunt
blades. The parts left after the outer skin has been
removed is enclosed in a cloth and partly dried by being
pounded. After this, the fibre is shredded and twisted
into thread which is then weaved

The process is only in the experimental stage at
present, so that the price of the cloth is high, £1 3s. 6d.
being asked fora roll 5 yards long and 1 yard wide.
The claim is made that the cloth shows very good
lasting qualities, and there is a possibility that its
manufacture on a larger scale will lower the price, so
that the product may be enabled to compete with others
for summer wear.

Tephrosia Purpurea for Keeping down Weeds.

A translation of part of an article which appeared
in L’Agronomie Tropicale for September, 1909, deal-
ing with the suitability of Tephrosia purpurea for the
purpose of keeping down weeds in rubber and coffee
cultivations, was given in the Agricultwral News, Vol.
VIII, p. 405. In relation to the use of the plant for
this purpose, an extract from an article which appeared
recently in the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits
and Federated Malay States, is given in the Planters’
Chronicle for June 18, 1910.

The article states that experiments have been con-
ducted for some time for the purpose of finding a plant
which would keep weeds out of rubber plantations, and
at the same time do no harm to the trees. The inves-
tigations showed that Tephrosia purpurea was admir-
ably adapted for the purpose. The seed which had been
presented by Dr. Treub, of Buitenzorg, was planted in
two plots. In the first, one or two seeds were sown to
every square foot; in the second, two seeds were put in,
every few feet, along ridges on either side of the
rubber trees.

In both cases, the Tephrosia has completely
kept down all weeds and, in the second instance, now
forms two solid hedges through which nothing passes.
The method of growing the plant in hedges appears to
have advantages in that a better air circulation is pro-
duced around the roots, and inspection of the plantations
is conducted more easily. Circling the trees with
Tephrosia also has its advantages, especially in the
matter of sowing the plant,

Accounts were kept in order to afford a means of
effecting a comparison between the cost of clean weed-
ing and of the establishment of Tephrosia. These
showed that, over a period of five years, the latter was
about one third of the former.

to
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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

INSECTICIDES.

Dnring the past few years there has been a great increase
in the amount of materials used in the West Indies for the
control of insect pests. This has been partly due to a better
knowledge of the means of controlling pests which were
formerly known, and partly to the revival of the cotton indus-
try, which has brought to notice several not previously recog-
nized.

The proper use of insecticides depends upon a knowledge
of the life-history and structure of the insects to be dealt with.
Insects which have mouth parts suited for biting, may be
controlled by means of stomach poisons, which being eaten
with the food, cause the death of the insect by their poisonous
action. Many soft-bodied insects, on the other hand, and
especially insects which have mouth parts fitted for piercing
the plant tissues and sucking the juices from them, may best
be destroyed by the use of poisons which kill by coming
into contact with the surface of the body.

Insects which bore into the tissues of plants or live
amongst seeds, grain, flour and similar materials may some-
times be destroyed by the use of a fumigant, so applied that
the poisonous fumes or gas will be able to reach the insects
and act upon them. In addition to these substances, which
actually kill the insects, there may also be considered those
which are useful from their action of repelling the insects.
Mosquitos, borers, and many household pests may be dealt
with by this means.

In considering the different kinds of poisons, it may be
well to note in a general way the insects for the control of
which each kind is useful.

STOMACH POISONS. These may be used against all kinds of
leaf-feeding caterpillars, cut worms, mole crickets, cockroaches,
grasshoppers, ants and white ants. For the control of cater-
pillars, a suitable poison may be dusted or sprayed on the
surface of the leaves. Cut worms may be killed by mixing
the poison with an attractive food substance and placing it
where they will find it. The same methed applies to mole
crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, ete.

The most important stomach poisons available for insecti-
cide purposes are those which contain arsenic in one form or
another. The best known of the arsenical poisons in the
West Indies is Paris green, which has been used to such a
large extent in the control of the cotton worm. Other arseni-
cal poisons are London purple, arsenate of lead, arsenite of
lime and white arsenic. Corrosive sublimate, which is
a compouad of mercury and chlorine, is a very powerful
stomach poison; but it is not adapted to general agricultural
use Lecause of its injurious effect on tender plant tissues; it
is the poisonous part of the solution used for the preservation
of books against the attacks of insects. (See Agricultural
News, Vols. I, p. 140; I, p. 42; VI, p. 346; VIII, p. 367.)
Boracic acid may be counted a stomach poison, since it pro-
duces death when eaten by cockroaches; and plaster of Paris
may also be considered urder this head, for it may be mixed
with flour in such a way as to be attractive to cockroaches
and cause their death, when, under the influence of moisture,
it hardens in the digestive tract of the insect.

; Paris green is sold in the form of a very fine powder,
which is ~ compound containing arsenic, copper and acetic acid.
Jt was originally manufactured as a colour, but is now made
on a large scale for insecticide purposes. Paris green may be
used dry, or asa spray. Itis used dry in varying proportions,

mixed with air-slaked lime, flour or other substances; or by
itself. When used as a spray, it is generally employed at the
rate of 1 Ib. to 150 gallons of water. This proportion may
be varied to make the mixture either stronger or weaker,
according to the plants to be sprayed. Paris green in water
sometimes has a burning effect on the leaves of plants, and to
offset this, quicklime should be added to the mixture at the
rate of about 2 tb. of lime to each pound of Paris green.

London purple is similar in its effect to Paris green, and
may be used in the same manner. The proportion of arsenic,
in London purple, is rather smaller than that in Paris green,
and consequently more of the poison would be required.
Used as a spray, London purple will need to be treated in
exactly the same way as Paris green. Arsenate of lead is
generally sold in the form of a heavy paste, which is only
available for use as a spray. It is rather slower in its action
than Paris green or London purple, but does not burn the foli-
age, even of delicate plants, and on this account it may safely
be used even at strengths of 10 to 20 tb. per 100 gallons of
water. Within the past few years, arsenate of lead has been
placed on the market in the form of a powder, which may be
applied dry, as a dust.

Arsenite of lime and white arsenic are more likely to .
burn the leaves of plants than any of the other arsenical
poisons mentioned, and consequently have a somewhat limited
use. They may be employed in the destruction of cut
worms, ants, grasshoppers and termites, in the form of a bait
in which the poison is mixed with some attractive food
substance.

Corrosive sublimate, used as book poison, is prepared by
mixing 1] oz. of this material with 1 oz. of carbolic acid in 2
parts of methylated spirit. The corrosive sublimate enters into
solution, and when the mixture is applied to the surface of
books, especially those in cloth bindings, it gives very good
protection against the attacks of cockroaches and similar
pests.

Boracie acid is used as an insecticide mixed with equal
parts by weight of sweet chocolate, molasses or some similar
substance, for the destruction of cockroaches. ‘This mixture
is not poisonous to cats, dogs and fowls; but is a very efficient
remedy for cockroaches. Plaster of Paris mixed with flour
will also be eaten by cockroaches if placed in their haunts
and, if water is available for the insects to drink, proves
a very good insecticide. ‘The plaster of Paris, moistened by
water, hardens in the digestive tracts of the insects, and in
this manner kills them, as has been explained.

CONTACT POISONS. These are found useful for the con-
trol of scale insects, plant lice, cotton stainers and mosquito
larvae. In the case of the first three of these, it is necessary
that the insecticide should come directly into contact with
the bodies of the insects. Inthe case of mosquito larvae, for
instance, when kerosene is applied to the surface of the water
in which they live, the insects are killed by absorbing the
poison, as well as by suffocation,

Contact poisons usually depend for their insecticidal
properties on the action of the soap, oil or rosin which is con-
tained in them. Kecently, spray mixtures containing lime,
salt or sulphur, or some form of arsenic have also been used.
Kerosene emulsion, whale oil soap and rosin compov.nd are
well-known examples of contact poisons which have been used
in the West Indies with good results. The directions for
preparing them for use may be found in various publications
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture*. The lime, salt
and sulphur mixtures are more especially suitable for use in

*See. Scale Insects of the Leeser Antilles, Pamphlet series

Nos. 14 and 22.

Vor EX.) Nos 28:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 233

temperate climates, where they may be applied during the
season when the trees are dormant, since insecticides of this
class very often cause a considerable amount of injury by
burning the foliage. Contact poisons containing arsenic are
more especially useful in sprays and ips dfor the control of
ticks on cattle and other animals.

FUMIGANTS. The most important of the insecticides which
may be applied in the form of a gas are carbon bisulphide,
hydrocyanic acid and sulphur dioxide. Carbon bisulphide is
specially suited for use against insects infecting seeds, grain,
flour and all kinds of stored household vegetable products. It
is also useful against ants and other underground insects.
Carbon bisulphide is a volatile, inflammable liquid, the
vapour being considerably heavier than air, and it is used by
being introduced into an enclosed space. A general account
of the use of this material appeared in a recent number of
the West Indian Bulletin, and of the Agricultural News.

Hydrocyanic acid gas is produced by the action of sul-
phuric acid on potassium cyanide; it is a colourless, very
poisonous gas, which is especially suited for the destruction
of scale insects on growing trees, nursery stock, ete. It can
only be used, however, in an enclosure, and when it is applied
for the destruction of scale insects on orchard trees, some
form of tent must be employed to retain the gas in contact
with the tree. For the fumigation of nursery stock, it is
employed in air-tight boxes or compartments. It is also very
useful for the fumigation of dwelling houses, mills, store-
houses, etc., in the same way as carbon bisulphide is used.

Sulphur dioxide (fumes of burning sulphur) is very useful,
also, for fumigation in buildings and holds of ships and in simi-
lar cases; it has an advantage over hydrocyanic acid gas in
its greater penetrating power, when used in connexion with
such substances as cotton seed.

Various substances are used for the
insect attacks, because of their
disagreeable taste or odour. Carbolic acid, creosote and
similar preparations are the most common of these.
Timber used for building purposes, which has been treated
with coal tar, creosote, etc., is not readily attacked by
wood ants (termites); and tree borers may often be
deterred from entering the trunks of trees by covering them
with a mixture of lime, or lime and clay, to which car-
bolic acid or creosote has been added. Citronella and other
aromatic oils may be used to repel the attacks of mosquitos;
naphthalene, camphor, lavender and similar materials are
employed to prevent the infestation of woollen fabrics, furs,
feathers, etc., by clothes-moths, beetles and silverfish. In
a similar manner, these substances repel attacks of flesh flies,
when mixed with dressings used for treating wounds on
eattle, horses and other domestic animals.

REPELLENTS.
purpose of preventing

EXPERIMENTS IN LEGUME
INOCULATION.

In the following article, a review is made of experiments
that have been undertaken, in different parts of the world,
with a view to ascertaining the effect of the application of
bacterial cultures for the purpose of increasing the yields of
leguminous plants. The trials were chiefly made with the
preparation known as Nitro-Bacterine.

An abstract of a paper given in the Hxperiment Station
Record of the United States Department of Agriculture, for
April 1910, shows that bacteriological examinations and pot

tests with lupines, conducted at the Stockholm Experiment
Station with nitro-bacterine, indicated that this did not contain
Bacillus radicicola-—the organism that gives rise to nodules
on the roots of legumious plants and enables tehm to make
use of the nitrogen of the air—and that no nodules were
produced on the roots. It is recommended that soil
which is known to contain the required organisms should be
used preferably to either nitragin or nitro-bacterine An
abstract of another paper, on the next piye of the same
publication, dealing with experiments conducted in Ger-
many, shows that both of these inoculating materials
caused an increase in cunnexion with white lupines and sand
peas on calcareous sandy soil, especially where potash and
phosphates had been applied, the nitro-bacterine being more
effective than the nitragin; the action of the latter was
especially feeble on sandy soils deficient in lime.

A letter in the Southern Planter for June 1910, from
the Director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station,
recommends the use of inoculated soil from a field where
legumes of the same kind as those to be grown have been
raised, wherever it is possible to do this. ‘The statement is
further made that the artificial cultures of legume bacteria
are a poor, but sometimes useful, substitute for soil of the
kind described; but that it is probable that the methods of
preparing artificial cultures will be perfected, so that their use
shall be preferable to that of soil, though this is not the case
at the present time.

The Report on Field and Pot Culture Experiments, 1909,
of the Woburn Experimental Station of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society of England, contains information which indicates
that field experiments in which soil that had been treated
with nitro-bacterine was spread upon the halves cf individual
plots in which inoculated seed had been sown in the previous
season, showed that the inoculation either of the seed or of
the added soil had not been beneficial in any way, except that
there was a small increase in yield in the case of Dutch white
clover. Pot experiments conducted in the same connexion
showed a slight increase in most cases where inoculation had
taken place, but this was too small to allow of any clear
deductions being drawn, especially in view of the negative
results obtained in the experiments just described.

Inthe 7'ropical Agriculturist for June 1910, an article
by T. Petch, B.A., B.Sc., Mycologist to the Ceylon Depart-
ment of Agriculture, contains the following statement: Nitro-
bacterine has been tested for two successive years at each of
two agricultural stations in Germany. In addition to the
the usual inoculations and crop tests, a bacteriological analy-
sis of the mixture has been made at the same time by
competent bacteriologists, accustomed to isolating and identi-
fying nodule-forming bacteria. The result of the analysis has
been the same in all cases, viz., that nitro-bacterine does not
contain any nodule-forming bacteria. Similar work has been
done in Italy, with exactly the same result. Nitro-bacterine,
therefore, falls into the same category as Moore’s cultures of
nodule-forming bacteria. The latter were dried on cotton-
wool, and distributed by the United States Department of
Agriculture many years ago, but the distribution was aban-
doned, because it was impossible to preserve the bacteria in
that way, and therefore the cultures were valueless. When
nodule-forming bacteria are dried they die, and for that reason
nitro-bacterine cannot contain any.

These results, and other considerations, would appear to
show that the preparation of cultures for inoculating soil
with legume bacteria has not reached a stage at which
dependence may be placed on such cultures, for this purpose.

bo
ies)
rs

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SEPTEMBER 3, 1910.

GLEANINGS.

It is of interest that several extracts from the Agrv-
cultural News have been published in the form of a supple-
ment to the Uganda Official Gazette, the issue being that of
July 1, 1910.

The report of the Agricultural Instructor, St. Vincent, for
July 1910, shows that the general prospects for cotton-grow-
ing are favourable, and that success continues to be obtained
in the matter of implementa] tillage.

Information has been received that, for the last sugar
crop, the Antigua Sugar Factory at Gunthorpes dealt with
48,319 tons of cane, from which 5,400 tons of sugar was
made, giving an average of 8:95 tons of cane per ton of sugar
made.

A statement in the /ndia Rubber Journal for July 25,
1910, shows that the forthcoming International Rubber
Exhibition (see Agricultural News, Vol. LX, pp. 60, 156, 172
and 220) will be held from June 24 to July 11, 1911, instead
of from June 12 to June 28, 1911.

The Leeward Islands Gazette for August 4, 1910, con-
tains an Order in Council, employing schedule B of Montser-
rat Ordinance, No. 2, 1906, by which it is determined by the
Governor that the insecticide Abol shall be exempt from the
payment of import duty into Montserrat.

The Sugar Beet for July 1910, publishes figures by Otto
Licht, the well-known authority, which show that the con-
sumption of sugar per head during 1908-9 was greatest in
England, Denmark and the United States, the amounts being
41°13, 35°54 and 32°26 kilos., respectively.

Information contained in the report of the Agricultural
Instructor, Nevis, for last July, shows that the drought in
that island was still continuing, and that the cane and cotton
crops were likely to be very short. The rainfall at the
station for the month was 2°80 inches, and the average for
six estates was 2°07 inches.

In Tropical Life for July 1910, p. 139, reference is made
to a paper on the budding of cacao by T. J. Harris, published
by the Jamaica Board of Agriculture in 1904. In this, it was
shown that cacao can be budded by employing a bud with
a square piece of bark, about 2 inches x #-inch thick,
attached to it, which is applied, with the usual precautions, to
the stem of a cacao tree from which a piece of bark, of similar
size has been removed. This is analogous to the method
known as the Patch Budding of Mangos (see Agricultural
News, Vol. VIII, p. 70),

An announcement in the Grenada Government Gazette
for August 3, 1910, states that advertisements for insertion
in the Grenada Handbook for 1911 will be received at the
Colonial Secretary's Office until Friday, September 30. The
rates for advertisement, payable at the Treasury in advance,
are 10s. for a whole page and 7s. 6d. for half a page.

The total deliveries of Cuban sugar, to July 1, 1910,
were 1,689,675 tons, As compared with about 1,400,000 tons
for the previous similar period. Of the 1,305,600 tons
exported from Cuba up to July 1, 1,100,000 tons went to
New York, Phijadelphia and Boston, 118,000 tons to New
Orleans, about 8,000 tons to Canada and 120,000 tons to
England. (The Louiseana Planter, July 23, 1910.)

An announcement has been received of the Tenth Inter
national Geographical Congress to be held at Rome on
October 15 to 22, 1911, under the patronage of His Majesty
the King of Italy. This shows that membership of the
Congress can be obtained by sending £1 to Avv. Felice
Cardon, Treasurer of the Organizing Committee, 102, Via
del Plebiscito, Rome. Persons may become Aggregated
Members on payment of half of the above fee.

According to Nature for June 23, 1910, the Earl of
Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has appointed
a Committee composed of representatives of the Colonial
Office and of the Natural History Branch of the British
Museum, to consider the protection of plumage birds. The
main purpose is to find means of preventing the indiscrimi-
nate slaughter of such birds that is taking place in certain
parts of the Empire,‘as well as to obtain the co-cperation of
all the countries included in it, toward this end.

Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4448, Annual
Series, deals with the trade and Commerce of the Canary
Islands during 1909. This gives a rough estimate of the
whole trade of the islands, stating that the exports may be
valued at £1,200,000, of which amount about £1,000,000 is
made up from fruit and vegetables. The quantity of bananas
shipped during the year showed an increase on that for the
previous year, being 2,782,299 crates. The competition of
buyers made prices favourable to the growers of this fruit.

An account of the recent tour of the Demerara Banana
Commission, given in the Demerara Daily Chronicle Mail
Edition tor July 8, 1910, after an interview with Professor
Harrison, mentions the variety of banana called the Congo
banana, which is stated to be immune from the disease
which attacks the Gros Michel. It is stated in the same
issue that the Commission has instructed the delegates, Pro-
fessor Harrison, Mr. F. A. Stockdale, and Mr. Wood Davis, to
draw up a report giving the results of their enquiries in
Surinam, and embodying the views of the Commission.

A book published recently, under the title of Die Tone,
gives an account of experiments undertaken by the author,
in Austria, for the purpose of determining the cause of the
plastic properties of clay. According to the Experiment
Station Record of the United States Department of Agri-
culture, Vol. XXII, No. 8, p. 712, the investigations which
are described in the book have shown that the treatment
of clay with water brings about the formation of colloid
substances, and it is the presence of these in the clay that
makes it exhibit the property usually known as plasticity.

Vou. IX. No. 218. THE
STUDENTS’ CORNER,
SEPTEMBER.
First Periop.

Seasonal Notes.

At the present time, the land is in preparation for the
planting of sugar-cane in December, and much information
that is of use and interest will be available concerning
methods of tillage and manuring for this crop. In Barbados
for sugar-cane growing, the land is usually either close-
subsoiled, or the upper part of the soil, only, is turned over
by means of a mould-board plough. For planting the cane,
the holes vary in depth: sometimes a shallow hole and then
a stock hole are dug. Methods dittering much in detail are
employed in the various sugar-producing islands. Take
notice of as many of these as you. can, and see how
far their adoption, in any given instance, is correlated
with the conditions of the soil. Chemical manures will
have been applied to the young canes, and opportunities
will have occurred for noticing the comparatively quick
effect of the nitrogenous manures, where the rainfall has
been favourable; this effect is evidenced chiefly by the im-
provement in appearance, and the deepening of the colour, of
those canes that have received the treatment. 1tis probable
that, where both nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia
are employed, the signs of the influence of the former
marure will be visible before those from the action of the
latter. Why is this? (See, in this connexion, Agricultural
News, Vol. IX, pp. 97-9.) The different methods of
application of farmyard manure to land on which sugar-cane
is raised should be studied. Discuss the estate value of this
manure in relation to the previous crop (from which it was
derived), the energy that bas been given by the animals
supplying it, and the food value that it bears for the coming
crop.

Discuss the question of the relationship of rainfall to
manuring. In what ways may the presence of readily soluble
artificial manures in a soil, during drought, do harm to the
plants growing in it?) What kinds of damage may long-con-
tinued applications of (a) nitrate of soda, (b) sulphate of
ammonia, do to « soil, and how may the condition of the soil,
that has been produced in each case, be remedied! Give an
account of as many reasons as you can for applying lime to
soils.

In cases where canes show quickly the effect of dry
weather, whatexamination would you make of them, and
what would probably be found as the cause of their condition!
State what remedies may be applied in the circumstances of
the discovery of the presence of this cause, and indicate how
certain of these are fitted particularly to special cireumstances.

Some of the islands of the West Indies, and especially
certain districts in them, are liable to suffer from a shortage of
fodder during the dry season: this may take place to such an
extent as to cause the loss of cattle through starvation. Give
an account of any methods that may be devised for maintain-
ing the supply of fodder during times when the weather is too
dry for the grass to grow. What circumstances, besides lack
of rainfall, may make it difficult or impossible to grow
a reasonable supply of pasture grass and fodder! Attempts
have been made to produce fodder in some of the West Indian

islands for use in others, where there is a shortage. (See,
more especially, Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 131.) What

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

bho
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is the best time for cutting grass to be made into fodder?
Give reasons,

During the present quarter, opportunities will be avail-
able for effecting repairs to fermenting and curing appliances
on cacao estates, so that this work may be taken up without
delay when the next crop is being gathered. On what
circumstances does the quality of cacao depend chiefly!
Discuss the advisability of introducing delicate varieties of
cacao, giving a superior product, into (a) estate cultivation,
(b) peasant cultivation.

In part of a lime plantation, where the trees had, so far,
appeared to be reasonably healthy, the leaves on the. plants
were seen to turn yellow as soon as they grew to a fair size,
while less power of resistance to disease was shown by these
plants, and, ultimately, several of them died. It was noticed
that the yellowing of the leaves took place to the greatest
extent during the occurrence of periods of heavy rainfall, or
soon after their termination. What was the probable cause
of the ill health of the trees, and what remedies would you
suggest in such a case!

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What are the chief reasons for mulching soils !
Explain what is meant by dry farming.

(2) Why do plants wilt after being transplanted?

(3) What is a weed! How do weeds chiefly interfere
with the growth of cultivated plants ?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) Why is cotton seed meal used as a food for cattle?
Compare the proportions of its chief food constituents with
those in cane tops or grass

(2) Give an account of the chief phosphatic manures.

(3) Compare the action of leguminous and non-legum-
inous crops, when they are used as green dressings.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an outline of a complete scheme of cotton
selection, without definite breeding (crossing). What is the
limit to obtaining improved plants by means of such selection!

(2) Indicate, in a general way, the food requirements of
the different kinds of stock on an estate, in relation to (a)
time of year; (b) kind of work: (c) age of the animals.

(3) Give an account of the records that should be kept
on a good cotton, cacao or lime estate, and indicate the par-
ticular relation of each of these to the commercial results
attained eventually.

The St. Vincent Arrowroot Growers’ and
Exporters’ Association. The issue of the St. Vincent
Sentry for July 29, 1910, states that a meeting of the newly
formed St. Vincent Arrowroot Growers’ and Exporters’
Association, which has been organized for the protection of
the arrowroot industry of that colony, was held on July 23,
1910. This was presided over by his Honour the Adminis-
trator, and its purpose was to consider the adoption of the
rules and constitution of the Association, and to elect
a Committee of Management. In the result, the rules were
adopted, and the following were elected to serve on the
Committee: the Hon. C. J. Simmons (Chairman), the Hon.
J. G. W. Hazell, the Hon. D. A. McDonald, Mr, G. R. Corea,
and Mr. J, E. Sprott (Secretary).

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1910,

FUNGUS NOTES.

TWO INTERESTING FUNGI IN
ST. LUCIA.

A short time ago, two specimens of fungi were forward-
ed to the Head Office by Mr. J.C. Moore, Agricultural Superin-
tendent in St. Lucia. The first occurred on a piece of guava
stem, and in its general appearance was similar to the pink
disease of cacao. The guava stick was being used to sup-
port a cacao branch, but no pink disease was observed on that
tree, though it was evident on another one some little
distance away. The fungus formed smooth, pinkish or butf-
coloured patches, spreading all over the bark of the host.
These patches consisted of closely woven hyphae very
firmly adpressed to the surface upon which they were grow-
ing. As it seemed possible that the fungus might attack
cacao, or might even be the same as Corticiwm lilacino-
fuscum, B. and C. [formerly known, owing to inadvert-
ence, in the publications of this Department, as ‘Cortici-
um lilaco-fuscum’], which is responsible for pink disease,
a portion of the specimen was sent to Kew, where it was
identified as Corticium laeve, Fr. This fungus is a common
saprophyte on dead pieces of the wood and bark of several
trees in England, and occurs in North America, the West
and East Indies, and Australia, as well asin Europe. It
does not seem altogether impossible that it might attack
cacao parasitically, just as Corticium lilacino-fuscum does,
in which case the treatment recommended against the latter
fungus would be found effective in the case of the former
The treatment referred to will be found fully described in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VU, p. 237, and need not be given
here. It suftices to add that, according to Mr. Moore, it is
proving successful in the case of the cacao tree already men-
tioned as being attacked by the pink disease.

Two or three other species of this genus are known to
attack many different economic host plants in various parts
of the tropical world. Since this is the case, a somewhat
more general account of the group may be found of interest.
Tae genus Corticium belongs to the family Thelephoraceae
of the Hymenomycetineae. (See Agricultural News, Vol. IX,
pp- 158, 159 and 190.) The members of the genus have
a waxy or fleshy superficial fructification, closely adpressed to
the substratum, and varying in colour from nearly white to
buff, pink, or rose-red; in some species the margin of the
fructification is somewhat rolled back. The spores are colour-
less, and are borne on typical basidia. These latter are produced
closely packed together at right angles to the surface of the
patch. The spores are thus formed freely in the air, and
can be distributed by wind or other agencies. One species of
this genus, Corticiwm javanicum, Zimm., is reported by Petch
as occurring on Hevea, tea, Cinchona, orange and plum in
Ceylon. (Circulars and Agricultural Journal of the Royal
Fotane Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. IV, No. 21.) On rubber it
usually originates at the fork of a tree, or where several
branches arise together from the main stem. The hyphae
can gradually penetrate the bark and cause it to die,
and split off. The wood is scarcely attacked at all. The
fungus can be removed at an early stage without injury to
the bark, merely by scraping; but later, it completely covers
the circumference of the tree, and the bases of the adjacent
branches. Young stems about two years old are rapidly ringed
and killed, so that the effect of the fungus is to kill the
small lateral branches, and to cause portions of the bark of
the main stem and the larger ones to split off. Young
trees should be cut back below the affected part; in the
case of older trees which are not badly attacked, the

diseased bark should be cut out, and the wound tarred. In
advanced cases of the attack on older trees, the stem must be
cut back as in the case of the younger plants. On tea, the
fungus begins by forming pink incrustations on the younger
branches, which lose their leaves and die back. From Petch’s
account, the disease of Hevea and tea in Ceylon appears to be
of a more serious nature than that of cacao in the West Indies.
In Java, Zimmermann and others have found Corticium
Javanicum, on coffee, ramie, cacao, Cinchona, nutmeg, tea,
Eriodendron, pepper, coca, cinnamon, Cola, Castilloa, Hevea,
dadap, annatto (Biva Orellana), mango and many trees and
shrubs of minor importance. It occurs on Hevea in Southern
India, and is probably the species that is found on ramie and
Strobilanthes in the Strait Settlements, according to Ridley.
Another, Corticium calceum, Fr., has been reported from the
Federated Malay States as causing injury to Hevea almost
identical with that in Ceylon. (Agricultural Bulletin of the
Straits and Federated Malay States, Vols. III, 1s JUG
IV, p. 423; V, p. 69.) Petch suggests that the identification
of the fungus in the Federated Malay States is possibly
incorrect. Lastly, there is another species somewhat differ-
ent in appearance, which causes thread blights in Java. This
is Corticium theae, Bern, which was described in the Agri-
cultural News, Vol. IX, p. 206, so that no further description
need be given here. ‘l'o summarize, the species of this genus
occur as parasites on many plants, including such important
economic trees as mango, nutmeg, tea, coffee, cacao and
rubber, and have been found in the West Indies, Java,
Ceylon, Southern India and the Federated Malay States.

The other fungus mentioned at the beginning of this
article was also forwarded by Mr. Moore. It was growing
on branches of lime, and, according to the information
received, is frequently associated with the death of the parts
affected. This one may be observed wherever limes are
grown in St. Lucia. It forms superficial, violet-grey, waxy
patches, often completely encircling the branch and éovering it
for considerable distances. It is very easily detachable and,
when removed, is seen to be of a dark-brown colour on the
surface next to the substratum. It may be mentioned further
that a moderate number of scale insects, particularly the
purple scale (J/ytilaspis citricola), and the green scale
(Lecanium viride), apparently in a perfectly healthy condi-
tion, may be found on the surface of the branches beneath
the fungus.

The specimen was identified at Kew as Thelephora
pedicellata, Schwein.; the genus is related to Corticium and
included in the same family. Galloway, in the Journal of
Mycology, Vol. VI, p. 113, states that it occurs on pear
branches in Alabama, on oak ((Quercus cocinnea) in New
Jersey, on Palmetto (Sabal Palmetto) in Florida, and on
apple trees in Texas. On all these, it is capable of doing
damage, but will yield readily to treatment. Galloway sug-
gested cutting out all the diseased wood, washing the wounds
with a saturated solution of iron sulphate, and covering
them with shellac or grafting wax. This treatment seems to
be rather unnecessarily drastic; probably the following would
be found effective. Remove and burn all dead branches, and
tar the cut ends; in the case of living branches, paint the
parts attacked with the lime-sulphur mixture recommended
for pink disease of cacao. (For reference see above.) This
should be all that is necessary, as the fungus does not appear
to penetrate the host to any serious extent, and may only
kill the affected parts by suffocating them. The disease does
not seem to be of a very serious nature, as, though appar-
ently fairly wide-spread, it should yield very rapidly to treat-
ment, more especially on account of its very superficial
character.

Vor. IX. No: 218:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

Lo
(74)
~J

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of July :-—

The markets in drugs and spices still continue quite of
an ordinary nature, and this notwithstanding that, at the
time of writing, the holiday season is in its fullness. A few
articles in the market still attract a large share of attention,
such, for instance, as Buchu Jeaves and India rubber. With
regard to the first, the greatest interest was taken at the last
drug sale on July 28, when some very keen bidding took
place over a quantity—in all 6 bales—of round Buchu,
4s. 8d. to 5s. 10d. per th. being paid for fair to good green;
ovals realized 2s. to 2s. 2d. per lb., showing an advance of
1d. per tb. over previous prices. India rubber, at the time of
writing, is having a decided tendency to decline, fine hard
Para being quoted at 8s. 9d., which a fortnight back realized
10s. 6d.

The following are some of the principal details of West
Indian produce:—

GINGER.

The month opened with little or no demand, and at the
first auction no Jamaica was offered; Calicut was represented
by 254 packages, none of which, however, was sold. At the
second auction on the 13th, Jamaica was in steady demand,
130 packages being disposed of at the following rates:
middling 58s., ordinary to good 50s. to 54s., and rhatoon
AGs. to 48s.; 60s. was the price asked for good bold, brown
Calicnt, 90s. for bold cut Calicut, and 65s. for medium cut,
at which prices all the offerings were bought in. No further
change has taken place in this article.

NUTMEGS, MACE, PIMENTO AND ARROWROOT.

At the spice auction on the 20th, nutmegs were repre-
sented by 385 packages of West Indian, most of which
sold at irregular rates. At the same sale, mace was
represented, also, by 50 packages of West Indian, which
sold at the following rates: for good ls. 1ld. to 2s. 1d.,
fair ls. 8d. to 1s. 9d., mixed is. 6d. to ls. 7d. But
very little change has taken place in Pimento during
the month; 24d. was the price paid at the second
auction on the 13th. On the 20th, 58 bags were offered,
and part sold at 24d. to 23d. A week later, a consignment
of over 130 bags was offered, part of which sold at 21d.
per tb. For arrowroot there has been but very little demand:
106 barrels of St. Vincent were brought forward at the
spice auction on the 20th, ard the whole was bought in
at 2d. per hb.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the drug auction on the 14th, sarsaparilla was repre-
sented by 25 bales of grey Jamaica, 23 of Lima-Jamaica,
and 22 of native Jamaica. The whole of the grey
Jamaica was sold at rates from ls. Id. to 1s. 3d., for
qualities varying from inferior rough and chumpy to fair.
Of the LimaJamaica, 7 bales out of 23 offered found
buyers, 103d. per Ib. being paid for 4 bales of ordinary,
somewhat chumpy. Of the 22 bales of native Jamaica, only
9 were sold, 1 fetching 11d. per tb. for fair red, and another
Sd. per lb. for inferior yellow; for the other 7 bales of dull
yellow to good red, 9d. to 103d. per tb. was paid. At the
auction on the 28th, sarsaparilla was again in good supply;
1] bales of genuine grey Jamaica were offered, and all sold at

from ls. 2d. to Ls. 3d. per lb. Native Jamaica was represented
by 26 bales, buyers being found for 6 bales only, 3 of which
realized 10d. per tb. for fair red, and the remaining 3
were sold without reserve at Sd. to 84d. per tb.: 16 bales of
Lima-Jamaica were brought forward, and 4 sold, 2 fetching
93d. per tb. and the remaining 2, 10d. per tb. Three bales
only of Honduras were offered and none sold, 1s. 3d. being
the price asked. For 47 bales of Guatemala character offered,
the whole was bought in at 9d. per ib,

LIME JUICE, OIL OF LIME, TAMARINDS.

At the beginning of the month there was a steady
demand for lime juice, ls. 3d. being paid for good pale. It
was reported that the market had been cleared of cheap and
inferior quantities. At the last auction in the month a bid
of 1s. for pale raw West Indian was refused, 1s. 3d. being the
price asked, The arrivals amounted to 118 packages from
Dominica. For West Indian distilled oil of lime, ls 5d.
to Is. 6d. per tb. was paid towards the end of the
month, 21 packages being reported as having arrived
from Dominica, and later 11 packages of hard pressed West
India were reported, four of which sold at 6s. per tb. Tamar-
inds were in good supply, at the auction on the 13th, as many
as 109 packages being offered; 72 barrels were from Barbados,
39 of which sold at from 12s. to 14s. per ewt. in bond.

In my summary of the markets for the month of
May, published on page 207 of the Agricultural News
for June 25, an error occurred with reference to nut-
megs and mace. Keferring to the advance in the prices
of nutmegs over previous rates, the figures should be
}d. and 3d. per tb, instead of 1s. 4d. to 1s. 2d.; the same
with regard to mace, instead of Is. 2d. to 1d. per th., it
should read 3d. to 1d.

THE BANANA INDUSTRY OF COSTA RICA.

The total export of bananas during 1909 was 9,365,690
bunches, having been a decrease of 69 per cent. from the
quantity exported during 1908.

The following figures serve to illustrate the situation of
the banana industry of Costa Rica, which industry grew up
very rapidly and steadily until 1907, and since then, has
remained more or less stationary as regards area planted: —

Percentage of

increase on export
of the previous Year.

Bunches exported.

1905 7,283,000 + 20-07
1906 8,872,729 +2182
1907 10,165,759 +1457
1908 10,060,009 — 1:04
1909 9,365,690 — 6:90

In July, the export tax, for twenty years to October 29,
1910, was fixed at le. (gold) per bunch exported, by decree of
Congress; this measure, ensuring the industry, as it does,
against any greater or additional taxation, will give confid-
ence to planters, and will enable the United Fruit Company
to enter into contracts with the growers for their fruit; and,
in consequence, the area under bananas is once more being
increased, and some railway extensions are in progress to
carry the produce of the new plantations.

The bananas exported in 1909 were shipped as
follows: to the United States 7,861,861 bunches, and to the
United Kingdom (Bristol) 1,505,829 bunches, making a total
of 9,365,690 bunches. (Dip/omatie and Consular Reports,
Annual Series, No, 4469.)

288 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. SePremBer 3, 1910.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., August 27, 1910;
Messrs. T. 8. Garraway & Co., August 30, 1910;
Messrs. JAMEs A. Lyncu & Co., August 22, 1910,

ARrrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°30 to $3°75 per 100 th.
Cacao—$11:00 to $12-00 per 100 th.
Cocoa-Nuts—$18°00.

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—Tne CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR,
August 16,1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
5, 1910.

West Inp1a

August

Arrowroot—st. Vincent, 14d. to 2d.

Batata—Sheet, 33/-; block, 2/3 per th.

Berswax—£7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/-
to 52/6; Jamaica, 46/- to 52/-.

Correr—Jamaica, 44/- to 51/6.

Copra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Frurt—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 49/- to 51/- per
cwt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 57/-; good
bright to fine, 59/- to 65/-.

Honey—25/- to 30/-.

IsrncLass—No quotations.

Line Juice—Raw, 11d. to 1/2; concentrated, £18 5s. to
£18 10s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/-, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nutmecs—Quiet.

Pimento—Common, 2%d.; fair, 24d.; good, 22d. per tb.

Ruspper—Para, fine hard, 9/6, fine soft, 8/9; fine Peru,
9/- per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/10 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 17/- to 19/-; Muscovado, 13/- to 14/9;
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gitesere Bros. & Co., August

5, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 10$c. to 1ljc. ; Grenada, 10%c. to 10£c. ;
Trinidad, 103c. to lle. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 11c. per th.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $34°00 to $35-00; culls,
$18:°00 to $19°00 ; Trinidad, select, $34-00 to $35°00 ;

culls, $18-00 to $19°00 per M.

Corrre—Jamaica, ordinary, 8jc. to 9c.; good ordinary,
9Zc.; and washed, up to llc. per th.

Gincer—8je. to 11}c. per th.

Goat Sxrins—Jamaica, dd¢e.; Parbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grave Fruit—8d‘00 to $6°00 per box.

Lores—$6°50 to $7-00.

Mace—32e. to 38c. per tb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8}c. to 9c. per tb.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°50 to $3-00 per box.

Pimento—4éc. to 43c. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°36c. per Ib. ;
89°, 3°86c.; Molasses, 89°,
duty paid,

Muscovados,
3'6lc. per tb. all

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., August 20,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $10°75 to $11-00 per fanega ; Trinidad,
$10°65 to to $11-00.

Cocoa-nur O1.—$1°14 per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 103c. per fb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 fb.

Duat—$4°30.

Ontons—$2°25 per 100 1b.

Peas, Sprir—$d-90 to $6:00 per bag.

Poraros—English, $2:00 to $2°25 per 100 th.

Rick—Yellow, $4°70 to $4°80; White, $5-40
per bag.

Sucar— American crushed, $6°20 per 100 fb.

to $5°50

Corree—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10-00 to $11-50 per
100 th., scarce.
Hayv—$1-20 to $1-40 per 100 tb., dull.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda,

$60°00 to $65:00; Cacao

manure, $42°00 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,
$70-00 to $75°00 per ton.

Mo tasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°50 to $3:00 per 100 Tb.

Peas, Serit—$6-00 to $6°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Poratos—Nova Scotia, $3°60 to $400 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, no quotations; Patna, $3°50 to
Rangoon, $2°90 to $3:00 per 100 th.

$3:80 ;

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierrve & RicuteEr,

August

20, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacH, Parker & Co.,
August 19, 1910.

ARTICLES,

Messrs. W1eETING | Messrs. Sanp-
& Ricurer, | BACH, Parker
| & Co.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent|$7°50 to $800 per $7°50 to $8 00 per

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native
Cassava—
Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole

Jamaica and Rio

Liberian
DaaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motassts— Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte

Madeira
Peas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Poratos—Noya Scotia

Lisbon

Poraros-Sweet, Barbados}

Rice—Ballam
Creole

TaNNIAS—

Yams— White
Buck

Sucar—Dark crystals

Yellow

White

Molasses
Timeer — Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

200 th. /200 tb.. mkt. dull
32c, per tb. | Prohibited
78c. per tb. None
|10c. to lle. per th. 10c. to 11e. per tb.

80c. | No quotation
36°00 per barrel of | No quotation

196 Ib. |
$10 to $16 per M. $10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
| selected
14c perth. | 12c. to 13c. per tb.
143c. per th. | 14$c. to15c. perth.
83c. per tb. 10c. per tb.
$3°65 per bag of $3°60 per bag of
168 tb. 168 th.
$4°60 —
$1-20 —--
None —
2c. to Qke. 2te. to ke. -
$5°50 to $5°60 per) $5°65 per bag
bag (210 tb.) (210 tb.)

$4°25

20c. to 60c. per
bunch
None

No quotation

$2°50
== No quotation

$1°68 per bag ——
None

$5-00 to $5°30

| $5-00 to 95°50
$1°92 per bag

$3°00 —
33°36
$2°95 to $3:00 | None
$3°50 to $3-60 $3:70
$4:00 to $4°10 $4:00 to $4°25
$225 to $2°60 | None
32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot cub. foot
$3°75 to $5°75 $3°50 te $5°50
per M. | per M.
$1°80 to $2-00 No quotation
per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’, contains extracts from official correspondence.and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘ Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, includmg postage, is
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Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetry, Agricultural School.
Barbados ; Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: THE EpucationaL Suppry Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Brincewarer, Rosean.

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tar ‘Daity Cutoniciey’ Orrice,Georgetown. <dnizgua: Mr. S. D. Matonz, St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHaty & Co., Port-of-Spain, St. Kitts; THe Biste AnD Boox Suppty Agency, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Pracemann, Scarborough. Nevis: Mr. S..D. Matons, Charlestown.

Grenada: *“THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

218.

Vou. IX. No.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SEPLEMBER 3, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

== ee

hiendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Giuano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ghiendorfi’s
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Special Sugar-cane Manure
Special Cocoa Manure

Ghiendorfi’s Special Cotton Manure

Suiphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANG WORKS.

London Agency:

15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

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colonies Special quotations for large quantities.|

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
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| MACHINERY FOR SALE.

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sisting of one 4-ton Vacuum Pan and Engine ;
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Plant of the Goodwill Usine, con-

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offices, stables, pens, and storeroom; labourers’ cottages.

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For further particulars apply to : —
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Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

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189

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

INCREASE YOUR PROFIT.

No land in the West Indies is yielding
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Improved methods and machinery are
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BARBADOS,

Vou. IX. No. 219. SEPTEMBER 17, 1910. Price ld,
CONTENTS. concerned in that production to be conserved effectively,

The principles of the maintenance of soil produc-

PAGE. Pace, tivity are, however, usually employed in a narrow way

Insect Notes :—
House-Flies and Disease 298

Blackbird of Dominica,
Gwe tl ccsloese

. 297

Book Shelf .. . 299} The Brussels Congress
Canadian Exhibitions, of Entomology ... . 298
Trinidad, St. Vincent | Jaffa Orange, The ... ... 292
and Tortola and the 291| Maintenance of Soil Pro
Cotton Notes :— ductivity, The ... ... 289
Cotton Exports from the Market Reports . 304
Tes ies 294|
‘ West aundies ge BOLO I Notes and Comments ... 296
Cotton-Growing in Para Rubberiainses cl:
Piel Sy ys. )05t OBE OT eee ang
West Indian Cotton... 294]|,, ne Ol Beas cn
5g. | Publications of the
Departmental Reports ... 295 3
25 Ae Imperial Department
Felling Trees, A new of Acriculimee 296
Method for ... ... 297 7 a ot
Fruit Exportation from Rubber Industry of Brazil 297
Natal ... ... ... ... 292|Sesbania Aculeata as a
Fungus Notes :— Green Manure... ... 297
Some Diseases of Rub- Students’ Corner see) SOL
ber Trees, Part I 302|Suygar Trade Laboratory, _
Gleanings ... ... 0 .. 300 New York ... Eh!
Guayule Rubber ... 294} Tradeand Commerce of the
Indian Agriculture, Im- Seychelles, 1909 297
provements in... ... 293] Vanilla, Production of ... 295

The Maintenance of Soil

Productivity.

2N most parts of the world, agricultural
ra » practice has reached the stage of full recog-
ork: an nition, in individual cases, of the necessity of
keeping up the fertility of the soil by approved methods.
An understanding of the needs of the soil has been
gained, so that there is a decreasing tendency to take
whatever this may yield, without treating it in ways
which will prevent its exhaustion. This phase of the
methods of agricultural production is naturally of the
greatest importance, especially as it enables the area

only. bey are considered to relate to matters on
a particular estate, or group of estates, or to the pro-
duction of one given crop. This is insufficient where
the agricultural welfare of a whole district, or colony, is
concerned. Such welfare depends mainly on the level
of the agricultural efficiency of the inhabitants, and
therefore on the extent to which agricnltural methods
suited to the particular conditions are in vogue. Indiv-
idual effort may be of use in limited areas, but in
countries where the means of production are generally
inferior, those areas, alone, will profit by it, and the very
existence of this inferiority will increase the difficulty
of the effort, and lessen the value of its results.

Thismatter possesses a special importance in regard
to districts or colonies which have become noted for
a particularly high grade of some definite commodity,
because of the large area from which this comes, and
on account of the speedy deterioration, and consequent
reproach, that it will suffer in the event of its produc-
tion under less favourable circumstances. A reason is
thus given for the exercise of the greatest care to pre-
vent negligence in the course of this production, and
thus to ensure that the soil, in which the plants grow
that yield the commodity, shall not be made to furnish
this in amounts too great for its capacity, or be per-
mitted to undergo exhaustion on account of neglect.
Once such untoward circumstances are allowed to come
into being, the efforts of individuals to remedy matters
are of little use. There is need for a wide consideration
of affairs, and the adoption of methods which will
improve agricultural conditions in a perfectly general
way.

GARI

290

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

Cee esse = ooq«oqqawo SS SSS

Wherever there is a low level of agricultural
production, owing chiefly to the lack of a proper
general procedure in relation to it, conditions are
rendered doubly unfavourable because of the want ot
means to attract capital.
usnal effect is one of actual repulsion, and it is unlikely

In such cases, indeed, the

that outside money will be available, for helping in the
amelioration of conditions, unless there is evidence ot
the possibility of the adoption of measures which will
lead to a general improvement of the circumstances
surrounding and limiting agricultural production.

Means have therefore to be found which will pre-
vent deterioration, where this is likely to take place; as
well as to arrest it, where it is already known to be in
evidence. The tendency, as a matter of fact, should be
always toward improvement, for in no case has pertec-
tion been attained, and the conscious striving toward
this will have its effect in regulating any inclination
toward lessened efficiency. These means are sufficiently
obvious, and include those of special, as well as of a more
general, application.

The more special methods toward attaining what
may be termed agricultural conservancy have relation
to such matters as the prevention of the loss of soil by
washing during heavy rains, and in other ways, as well
as that of the permanent lessening of the amount of the
more readily available plant food in it. In the latter
connexion, the more general employment of the
rotation of crops, green dressings and artificial manures,
is indicated as a natural remedy. In addition, there is
the keeping of stock in quantities adequate to maintain

the proper relation between the vegetable produce of

the estates, the energy required on these, the main-
tenance of the proper state of fertility of the soil, and
the food-supply of the inhabitants. The far-reaching
importance of the raising of a sufficient amount of stock

in a country is not often realized, and the provision of

means to do this is a difficult problem where the crops
are chiefly of a permanent nature.

The general means toward the end that is being
discussed have reference, like the special ones, firstly, to

the prevention of the washing away of soil at times of

heavy rainfall. They are thus made to include reaffor-
station—a subject whose importance does not require
any argument. A second matter, broad in its applica-
the greater use of waste substances as
manures. Many such products, of large value in
the aggregate, are thrown away or destroyed, when
they could be utilized as stated, even if this en-
tailed a certain amount of preliminary preparation.

tion, 1s

The case of the exportation of edible products, particu-
larly when these are by-products, is somewhat similar,
as the price obtained for them is often not fairly repre-
sentative of their value as foods for stock; the connexion
of their greater use in reference to increased stock-
raising 1s obvious.

The consideration of these general means toward
the maintenance of soil fertility includes, however,
a matter that is becoming of greater importance as time
goes on, aamely the question of diversified agriculture,
This is too large a subject, in its various connexions, to
treat here adequately. It is evident, however, that in
relation to what may be termed the agricultural balance
of a country, there is a certain distribution of the crops
over the land available for them that is the most eftect-
ive in regard to the general economy of production. It
would be difficult, to express it shortly, to know when
the distribution that is most efficient has been obtained,
but much can be done toward its attainment by increas-
ing the number of kinds of crops grown. One result
of this diversification of crops will be to afford a cer-
tain amount of relief to the strain of production by
the soil, as well as to give the best chance of the
mutual provision of many of the materials that are
required in the raising of the different products.

The mention of the most obvious general means
toward the conservation of the resources that are con-
tained in the soil has been left until the last. It is
sufficiently self-evident that this means is included in
education. Much has been done in the past to elucidate
the best methods in connexion with this, and the investi-
gation can be said to have passed the experimental
stage. It now remains to extend the practical appli-
cation of its results,so that, with the spread of agricult-
ural knowledge, there will be brought about a greater
respect for the soil as a producer, and a better apprec-
iation of the inter-dependence of the factors that limit
production.

All the different phases of agricultural production,
in a given community, react on one ‘another, and the
state of the general efficiency has a limiting effect on
the progress of any one of them. ‘This is because this
state of efficiency does much to regulate the extent to
which the fertility of the soil is maintained. The pros-
perity of such a community, therefore, depends on the
value of its inhabitants as agricultural workers, so that,
if this is to be maintained or increased, there must be
a wide recognition of the necessity for general effort
toward improvement.

Vous LX) Noi 2119:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 291

THE NEW YORE SUGAR TRADE
LABORATORY.

With reference to a description of this laboratory
that appeared in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, No.
202, the following notes, prepared by Mr. H. A. Tempany,
B.Sc., Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward

Islands, after a visit to that institution by him, are of

particular interest. They relate more especially to the
details of the methods of sugar-testing, and thus help to
make the account complete:

The normal weight of sugar is weighed out, transferred
to a flask by means of a sugar funnel and dissolved in water,
a shaking machine being used to facilitate solution. Clarifi-
cation is effected by means of basic lead acetate solution,
using the least quantity required to promote clarification.
The laboratory is fitted with a special room in which the
operation of polarizing the samples is performed, the temper-
ature of which can be maintained constantly at 20°C. In
summer, the air is cooled by means of an ammonia refriger-
ating apparatus: in winter it is warmed by means of a radiator.
The temperature is checked by means of an automatic
temperature recorder. After the samples have been dissolved,
they are transferred to this room and allowed to assume
a temperature of 20° C. before making up. When this has
been attained they are made up to 100 metric (true) cubic
centimetres, filtered and polarized, the usual precautions being
adopted to prevent loss by evaporation. The polarimeters
used are specially constructed Schmidt and Hansch instru-
ments, standardized at a temperature of 20° C., fora normal
weight of 26 gm. of sugar dissolved in water, and made up
toa volume of 100 true cubic centimetres; they are of the
half-shadow type, and are illuminated with electric light.
By this means, all necessity for temperature corrections is
avoided, since the samples are made up and polarized at
the temperature of standardization of the polarimeter.

The sugars are bought and sold on the means of the
three tests, namely, that of the brokers’ chemists, that of the
refiners’ chemists, and that of the sugar trade laboratory.

TRINIDAD, ST. VINCENT AND TORTOLA,
AND THE CANADIAN EXHIBITIONS.

The following account of the exhibits sent from
Trinidad appeared in a recent number of the Port-of-
Spain Gazette:-—

One of the principal features of the Trinidad stall will be
the serving up of the pure chocolate manufactured by Messrs.
Cowan & Co., of Canada, from cacao sent by local dealers, to
persons attending the show. The exhibits are arranged in
five sections, the first of which aims at showing the cacao
from its germinating stage to its various products. This
part of the exhibit is made up of material preserved in formal-
deyhde vapour and formalin. Living plants and herbarium
specimens are also included in this section, so are drugs
derived from cacao, such as oil of theobroma and the alkaloid
theobromine. Photographs of cocao in various processes
of curing, and specimens demonstrating the chocolate manu-
facture, have been taken by Mr. Jacobson, and will accompany
the exhibits. Material in this section has been generously
furnished by the Department of Agriculture, Messrs. Gordon,
Grant & Co., Lucien’s Chocolate Factory, L. Krauth, and
rom Valdeora estate, The second section consists of samples

of estate cacao from the principal estates in the colony,
including Soconusco, Ortinola, La Vega, San Antonio,
MeBean, San Remo and La Mascot. Section three coniprises
commercial samples of well-known brands of the golden bean,
viz., Fontabelle. Bell Vue, Dalcimona, Costa Ariba (all from
Gordon, Grant’s). Trinidad planters and superior Venezuela—
Paul H. Scheerer & Co.; La Gloria—George R. Alston & Co.,
Pueblo and San Vincente Lascelles, de Marcado & Co.; fine
plantation and ordinary Trinidad —A. G. Porteous & C3. Ltd.;
Esperanza—-L. J. Bernstein & Co.; dark and light graded —
Cocoa Planters’ Association; Trinidad estates and ordinary—
F. J. Alden. In section four are displayed products of the
Trinidad chocolate mannfacturers, Messrs. A. Soublette,
L. Krauth, and Lucien & Co., who are exhibitors in this see-
tion. The fifth section is devoted to the different varieties
of the Trinidad cacao. In it wili be found those sent by the
Department of Agriculture, some of which have been pre-
served in formalin, and others which are intended to be
shown in a fresh state, in formaldehyde vapour. Some hun-
dred photographs illustrating the cacao industry and views
of the colony itself have also been sent, as well as copies of
Mr. J. H. Hart’s well-known treatise on cacao.

The St. Vincent Sentry gives an account, as follows,
of the exhibits sent from that colony to the Toronto
Exhibition:—

The first instalment of local exhibits for the coming
Canadian Exhibitions was forwarded, under the auspices of
the Permanent Exhibition Committee, by the S.S. ‘Ocamo’.
Mr. W. H. Patterson, of the Agricultural Department, dis-
charging the onerous duties of secretary with his usual zeal,
has succeeded in getting together an admirable collection
of exhibits, representing all the industries of the colony. For
the Toronto Exhibition, which comes off first, from August 27
to September 9, four cases have been despatched, containing
bottled samples of sugar, molasses, starches, cacao, rum, honey,
peas, beans—of which there is also a collection of the wild
varieties for ornamental purposes—preserved fruit and pick-
les. There is also a collection of specimens in boxes. Pretty
samples of our famous Sea Island cotton, and the finest quali-
ties of St. Vincent arrowroot have been despatched among the
exhibits, and relying on the decorative taste of representatives
of Messrs. Pickford & Black, who have undertaken to arrange
the specimens from the West Indies and British Guiana, we ven-
ture the opinion that the St. Vincent table or stand, although
smaller, may be asinteresting andattractive as any in the Colon-
ial Section. There will be yet another opportunity of sending
up perishable exhibits for the St. John’s show, and then some
of our vegetables may be forwarded. We observe, from
a glance at the samples, that Mr. C. J. Simmons is particularly
prominent among the exhibitors. He has taken the trouble
of sending specimens of every variety of produce from his
estates. Such a practical display of interest in the movement
is worthy of commendation, and the whole colony is indebted
to him; for the good that may result from the exhibition
would reflect on St. Vincent in general, and the benefit would
be shared by every local producer of the article for which
a demand has been thereby created.

A communieation received trom Mr. W. C. Fishlock,
Agricultural Instructor for the Virgin Islands, shows
that he has arranged the despatch of samples of the fol-
lowing articles for the Canadian Exhibitions: cacao and
cottee in bottles and bags; sugar, arrowroot, tous-le-mois
starch, concentrated lime juice, preserved limes and rum,
in bottles; cassava cakes; native hats;and Sea Island and
native cotton.

292

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

BRUITS AND

THE JAFFA ORANGE.

The Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States
Department of Agriculture has recently published

Bulletin 180 of its series, which contains an account of

recent agricultural and botanical explorations in Pales-
tine. Among the information given, there occur parti-
culars of the Jaffa orange, and that part of the bulletin
which deals with this is reproduced below:—

All the crops mentioned have been cultivated for cen-
turies in the Orient, but oranges were introduced there at
a relatively recent date.

Hasselquist, a pupil of Linneus, who was the first
naturalist to study Palestine, in the middle of the eighteenth
century, speaks of the beautiful gardens of figs and pome-
granates at Jaffa, but has not a word to say about oranges.
This silence is significant. But at the time of Napoleon’s
Egyptian campaign, at the close of the eighteenth century,
the orange was mentioned among the fruit trees. Chateau-
briand, who travelled in the beginning of the nineteenth
century, also speaks of this fruit. Lamartine, visiting Pales-
tine in October 1832, praises the beauty and quality of the
Jaffa orange, but speaks of having seen the flowers and the
golden fruits at the time of his visit. Now, at this season of
the year it was too late for the trees to have been in bloom
and not late enough for the fruits to be ripe. This and other
errors of observation cause me to doubt the value of the poet’s
description, from the point of view of the naturalist and
agriculturist, although its value as literature is unquestioned.

At any rate, in the second half of the nineteenth century,
the Jaffa orange was known in the markets for its superior
quality. It was exported by sailing vessels all along the
Syrian and Egyptian coasts. Its thick skin made it a good
shipper, and it was carried as far as Constantinople, and into
It was not until 1875, or thereabouts, that it was
exported to England, while to-day Liverpool alone takes about
500,000 to 600,000 cases of the 700,000 or 800,000 that
are annually exported

Greece.

I have not been able to learn the origin of this variety
which is cultivated only at Jaffa. In form, it is very similar
to the Malta orange, and it is possible that it is remotely
descended from that variety; but it is not a blood orange,
despite its marked affinity to that group.

The Jaffa orange is one of the largest, larger even than
the Washington Navel. Its form is obovate, its skin very

PRUIT WRRe ES.

thick, and its fruit seedless. The tree is not spiny, and the
fruit, therefore, is never scarred. Its shipping qualities are
excellent. It is packed with very little care, as compared
with the methods used in California, The cases are thrown
violently into the steamers, and they are often carried for
three weeks without refrigeration, and subjected to the great-
est exiremes of temperature; and yet the oranges reach the
English markets in good condition and command good prices.
It is at least a month from the time they are picked until
they are purchased by the wholesale dealer, and during all
that time they are without cold storage.

Not only is this orange peculiar to Jafia, but peculiar
methods of cultivation and peculiar stocks are there in use.
The Schamouti, as the Jaffa orange is called, is generally
grafted on a special sweet lime, which I have not found either
in Africa (Algeria and Tunis) or in the United States. It is
sometimes, though more rarely, grafted on the bitter orange
(Citrus Aurantium). This is not so well liked, because it
requires more irrigation, and is later in fruiting.

I must add that the Jaffa oranges which I saw in Tunis
and Algeria, and those grown in America and illustrated in
American publications, have very little resemblance to the
real Jaffa orange. They are represented as having seeds,
while the true Jaffa orange is seedless.

Saida, the ancient Sidon, is another centre of orange
production. Many different stocks are used, and several
varieties of oranges are known. Two of these are blood
oranges, one called ‘Damaoui’ (blood) and the other ‘Hutmali’
(meaning ‘ringed’, because it has a ring around the base).
These two varieties are very popular. The ‘Beledi’ (seedling)
is also grown. This commonly yields 3,000 fruits to the tree,
and sometimes as many as 5,000.

Fruit Exportation from Natal.—In connexion
with the articles on the export of fruit from Natal that
appeared in Nos. 213 and 214 of the current volume of the
Agricultural News, it may be noted that the Natal Agri-
cultural Journal for July 1910 states that the hope of
building up a large export of Natal mandarins gives no
promise of speedy realization, and that it is doubtful if the
trade in the fruit will ever attain large proportions. This is
mainly because it reaches the London market at a time when
other fruits are plentiful, so that the prices obtained for it are
often unremunerative.

Vou. IX. No. 219,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 293

IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIAN
AGRICULTURE

The means that are being employed in diticrent
parts of the world for the improvement of agricultural
methods, particularly uuder tropical conditions, cannot
fail to be of interest to agriculturists in the West
Indies.
general points in a booklet entitled Report on the
Introduction of Improvements into Indian Agricul-
ture, issued by the Inspector General of Agriculture in
India, are summarized here :—

The essential difference between Agricultural Depart-
ments in the East and in the West is that the latter have
arisen to meet the spontaneous demands of the cultivators of
the soil, whereas the former have been lately created Ly
a bureaucratic Government anxious to give all the assistance
it can to its agricultural subjects. The demand for improved
agriculture has not in India, except in special cases, come
from the cultivator. | While, therefore, in the West the culti-
vator is naturally in direct touch with the Department of
Agriculture, in India it is necessary for the Department to
put forth every effort, first to ascertain the needs of the culti-
vators and then to demonstrate how they can most effectually
be met. The subject of the present report is a consideration
of the methods by which these ends have been attained, and of
the improvements which have been introduced as a result.

AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS. The formation of local
associations or societies, which have as their object the
improvement of the agriculture in the district, has been one
of the most common methods employed for increasing inter-
est in the subject and bringing the Agricultural Departments
into Immediate touch with the people.

LOCAL DEMONSTRATIONS. It must be recognized that
local demonstration of any improvement it is desired to
introduce, is one of the most, if not the most, effective method
of securing its adoption. Considerable success has, indeed,
been achieved along these lines. In the case of this method,
however, very special adaptation to local conditions is neces-
sary, and it is impossible to lay down any scheme which will
be of general application.

VILLAGE AGENCIES. It has always been a problem of
considerable difticulty, in connexion with the introduction of
new implements, to get such as are of undoubted value
adopted by the cultivators, but the institution of village agen-
cies, as devised in the United Provinces, promises success.
These are managed by local agents, with whom implements
are placed, and from whom they can be hired out or sold.
Before the agency is established, the use of the particular
implement is always demonstrated carefully to cultivators on
the spot. A member of the staff of the Agricultural Department
then visits such agencies from time to time, accompanied by
a mostri, who can repair the implements. He also visits the
cultivators who have adopted them, ascertains whether they
are working satisfactorily, and arranges for such repairs as
are necessary.

VERNACULAR AGRICULTURAL JOURNALS. These have been
established in several parts of India by the Agricultural
Departments.

LEAFLETS AND CIRCULARS. In many countries, one of the
best means of bringing practical agricultural information to
the cultivators of the land has been the issue of leaflets and
circulars couched in popular language. In India, where the
standard of education is lower than in most Western
countries, the value of such publications is more problem-
atical, but they have frequently been used with success.

It is for this reason that some of the chief

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS. ‘These, pro-
vineial or local, have been held in every province in India.
Large provincial shows have been held in Bombay in 1904,
in Caleutta, and in Nagpur in 1908, in connexion with large
industrial exhibitions.

ITINERANT AssISTANTs. In Bombay, some of the senior
assistants of the department have been employed for a num-
ber of years in travelling in the districts, and this method of
introducing improvements, getting in touch with the cultivators,
and finding out the local difficulties has been so successful
that a considerable extension of the system is being made.
Experience has shown that only men specially chosen as being
able to win the confidence of cultivators should be sent.
Further, they are always sent out to tour for definite
purposes and are required to furnish frequent reports as to
the progress they are making. Definiteness of work and
regular supervision are felt to be absolutely essential.

SEED FARMS. Inasmuchas the provision of pure and
improved seed is one of the principal needs of the Indian
cultivator, and as there are no recognized seedsmen in the
country, the Agricultural Department in every province has
felt it its duty to arrange for the provision of such seed, and
this has proved to be one of the best means of getting into
touch with Indian cultivators. Many methods have been
used to obtain such seed for distribution, the method
followed varying with the conditions of the province and of
the class of seed it was desired to supply.

SEED DEPOTS. Even when the department does not grow
seed for distribution, great good can sometimes be done by
opening depdts where superior seed, purchased in other
districts, can be had by cultivators.

COLONIZATION WITH EXPERT CULTIVATORS. In some
parts of India there are groups or castes of cultivators par-
ticularly skilled in some class of agricultural work. The
impurtation of a body of these men into a new area will
generally raise the standard of cultivation in the district to
which there are transferred. The difficulty of getting people
to leave their own district is, however, in India always great,
and so the application of this method is decidedly limited.
But instances of successful colonization of backward tracts in
this manner have occurred, some of them of very far-reaching
effect.

UTILIZATION OF INDIVIDUAL EXPERT CULTIVATORS. While
it is only rarely possible to colonize a backward area with
large numbers of better cultivators, it is frequently compara-
tively easy to induce single men to go to a new tract, as em-
ployés of the Agricultural Department, to show the people the
methods in which they are experts.

TRAINING THE SONS OF CULTIVATORS. An important
departure was made some years ago by starting, at the Nagpur
Agricultural School, a one year’s course in practical agriculture
for training the sons of farmers. The teaching is given in
vernacular, and consists almost wholly of practical work on the
farm with a minimum of lectures and book work. That some
measure of success has been secured in these cases has been
shown by enquiries into the work they have been doing in
the villages after leaving the college.

OFFICIAL CO-OPERATION. There is a large scope for co-
operation between the executive officers of Government and
those of the Agricultural Department. The District Officer
has a close knowledge of his own district, his influence
is great among the people and his appointment as president
of the local agricultural association at once gives dignity and
status to it. His influence is particularly great in connexion
with all matters where co-operative credit is involved, and
these will be more and more important as time goes on.

294

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date August 29, with reference to
the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

No business has been reported in West Indian Sea
Island cotton since our last report.

Though no business is reported, the tendency of prices is
distinctly easier.

The latest accounts from America of the Sea Island
crop are rather more satisfactory.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending August 6, is as follows:—

Since our last report, of July 2, the market has contin-
ued dull, with no demand for the 53 bales stock, consisting
of planters’ crops, held at 50c. to 55c. The 100 bales on
plantations around Beaufort are still on hand.

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE WEST
INDIES.

In the last number of the Agricultural News, a table
was given of the cotton exports from the West Indies for the
quarter ending June 30, 1910, compiled from the statistics
that were then available. Since then, information has been
received from Jamaica to the effect that the amount of cotton
exported from that colony, during the same period, was
26 bales, weighing 10,868 tb., and having a value of £692 14s.
All this was Sea Island cotton, and went to the United
Kingdom.

This makes the total amount of cotton exported from the
West Indies, during the present season, 2,150,403 tb., having
an estimated value of £130,368.

COTTON-GROWING IN MALTA.

The local production of cotton shows a slight improvement,
181,191 ib. having been obtained during the year, as compared
with 175,883 tb. in 1908-9. The acreage under cotton was 793
acres (as against 823 acres in 1908-9); the average yield was
228 fb. of lint per acre, and the average price obtained was
63d. per tb. or 1d. per Ib. more than the price obtained in
1908-9. The quantity of cotton exported from the colony
was 303,861 tb., as against 13,906 hb. in 1908-9, showing an
extraordinary increase of 289,955 tb., which the Inspector of
Agriculture attributes to the fact that a considerable portion
of the stock of previous years was held back in anticipation
of an improvement in the foreign market. The cotton ex-
ported in 1909-10 was all sent to Italy or Germany. (Colonial
Reports—Annual, No. 642.)

GUAYULE RUBBER.

The following information regarding Guayule
rubber is taken from the Kew Bulletin, No. 6, 1910,
pea

An account of this Mexican source of rubber, derived from
Parthenium argentatum, A. Gray, was published in the Kew
Bulletin, 1907, pp. 285-94, with a further note in that for
1908, p. 255. In 1907, some seeds of Parthenium argentatum,
and also of P. incanum—a species sometimes confused with the
rubber-yielding plant (Kew Bulletin, 1907, p. 294)—were
received from the United States Department of Agriculture.
The plants of Guayule raised from these seeds are now about
18 inches high and in flower; the stem is woody below, and
the silvery leaves, 2 inches long, are lanceolate, entire or in
a few cases irregularly lobed or toothed. The plants of
P. incanum have glaucus or silvery hawthorn-like leaves,
and in their crenate lobation differ markedly from the leaves
of P. argentatum, where the lobes are sharply angular.

Through the kind offices of Mr. Reginald Tower, H. M.
Minister, Mexico, two consignments of the seeds of Parthen-
ium argentatum were received at Kew in March and April
of this year. ‘The first consignment was sent to Mr. Tower
by Mr. J. E. Kirkwood of the University of Montana, Mis-
soula, the author of a paper on the ‘ Propagation of Guayule
by Seeds’ in the American Review of Tropical Agriculture,
Vol. I, No. 2, February 1910, pp. 34-43. The second con-
signment of seeds was sent by Mr. Tower from Mr. G. Fleming
of the Hacienda de Cedros, Mazapil, Zacatecas.

The bulk of the seeds so received has been distributed
to Mysore, Baroda, Poona, Lahore, Ceylon (Hakgala), Sudan,
Pretoria, Nairobi, Queensland, Port Darwin, Adelaide, Sydney
and the Antilles.

The germination of the seeds retained at Kew has been
good; the plants raised from the latter sending in April are
now 6 inches high, and bear somewhat silvery, oblanceolate,
slightly lobed leaves, 3 to 4 inches long. The older seedlings
are a foot bigh, the whole plant being covered with a fine
silver-grey tomentum; the leaves are 2 to 5 inches long, nar-
rowly lanceolate, and irregularly lobed with angular acute
or subacute lobes. Some of the plants, which are already
showing flower heads, have been placed in the Succulent
House.

In the Aew Bulletin, 1908, p. 255, a despatch from
H. M. Minister, Mexico, was published, in which the Guayule
rubber industry did not appear to have a very bright future;
a further despatch received from Mr. Tower, early last year,
indicates that the industry is still in a flourishing condition.
The Mexican Rubber Exploitation Company now has a large
Guayule factory established in the State of Coahuila, and with
a new process for the extraction of the rubber they have con-
fidence in the snecessful development of the industry.
According to the statements made by the head of the com-
pany: ‘ Experiments had now satisfied them conclusively that
the Guayule plant reproduces itself naturally and abundantly.
The roots of the shrub extend to a considerable distance in all
directions, and new shoots spring from the roots, growing
satisfactorily even after the parent. shrub has been cut down.
Opinions differ about the life of the plant and as to the suit-
able time for cutting, but the generally accepted view is that
between ten and twenty years must elapse before maturity is
reached and the plant contuins sufficient rubber for commer-
cial purposes,’

Vor. IX, No: 219.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 295

ANNUAL REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1909-10.

JAMAICA: ON THE

General observations by the Director of Agriculture,
at the commencement of this report, contain informa-
tion which shows that a great improvement in the
conditions surrounding the Hope Gardens has been effect-
ed, and that the ornamental side of the work in all the
gardens is being maintained. Another among the several
matters of interest that are mentioned in this part of the
report is the opening of the Farm School in January 1909,
when the applications for admission were so numerous that
a large number of intending students had to be refused, and
the instituticn commenced with its full complement. It is
pointed out that this circumstance serves as a demonstration
of the fact that there is a demand in Jamaica for practical
agricultural education, and that the policy of the provision
of this is justified.

The detailed reports on the Hope and Castleten Gardens,
the Parade Garden, Kingston, the Hiil Gardens, Cinchona,
and the King’s House Gardens, show that the work of the
upkeep of these has been energetically continued, and that
means of improvement have been adopted in all cases. ‘The
distribution of plants from the two first-mentioned gardens
was 153,287 and 20,252. Meteorological statistics are given
for the gardens, with the exception of the last-mentioned
one; they show that the rainfall was respectively, in order,
96°30, 176-69, 69°61 and 189°77 inches. At each of these
places, more or less damage was done by the flood rains
near the beginning of November; fortunately this damage
was of such a nature that it could be repaired easily.

The section of the report on agricultural experiments
shows that large demands have been received for tops of
the seedling canes B.208, B.147 and D.625. Mention is
made of the success and progress of the sugar industry of
Jamaica during the year, as well as of the disorganization
of the rum market, chiefly on account of the increase in
the spirit duties in the United Kingdom. The hope is
expressed that the revival of the sugar industry of the
colony, with the aid of central factories, will increase
the importance of that product among its exports, so
that a stable industry may exist alongside the raising of
the more speculative crops that at present receive the great-
est attention in the island. The part of the report which
treats of the fruit industry was reproduced in the last
number of the Agricultural News (p. 276), to which reference
is made for information concerning this.

Among the matters of interest that appear in the report
of the Travelling Instructors is that of the effective check of
the pod rot disease of cacao by spraying; although this
remedy is stated not to be likely to gain the favour of
planters, on account of the very careful labour that is
required, as well as in some cases, the hilly nature of the
ground on which the plantations are situated. Cacao canker
has been checked by cutting and tarring. Other matters
that have received particular attention in relation to cacao

cultivation have been drainage, the provision of wind-breaks
and the adoption of sanitary measures. In regard to rubber,
more or less success has been attained generally with
Castilloa. The other crops that have received the more
special attention of the agricultural instructors have been
cocoa-nuts, bananas and cacao. Much useful work appears
to have been done in relation to prize-holdings competitions
and agricultural shows.

The educational section of the report proceeds first to give
an interesting account of the Farm School at Hope, to which
reference has been made already. The usual lectures in
elementary science and agriculture were given to the stuednts
at the various training colleges, by the Lecturer in Agri-
cultural Science; the annual course of training in agriculture
was held in January, and was attended by forty-five teachers.

The account of the work at the Stock Farm at Hope shows
that only negligible losses of stock have occurred during the
year. One of the most interesting matters in connexion with
this institution has been the efforts to devise a practical
method for dealing with the tick pestin Jamaica. This
useful piece of work was enabled to be carried out on
account of the presence of Professor Newstead in the island.

The analytical work at the Government Laboratory, in
connexion with the official samples, showed that the watering
and skimming of milk for sale take place to a large extent in
Kingston. Examination of 19 samples of so-called butter
sold in Kingston showed that only one was genuine, the
others being composed of margarine with a large percentage
of foreign fat. All the samples of lard investigated contained
over 50 per cent. of cotton seed oil. The legal requirements
in regard to the flush point of kerosene oil and turpentine
appear to be generally fulfilled. Investigations in respect to
the water-supply of Kingston demonstrated that this was
generally satisfactory. Experiments made to ascertain the
effects of Danysz virus on mungoose showed that this pro-
duced a fatal disease among them, and a similar result was
obtained in trials with rats. The provision of cultures of
pure yeasts to sugar estates has caused very satisfactory
improvement in the attenuations and yields of rum, and this
part of the work appears to be of particular value in connex-
ion with this industry. Finally, it is interesting to note that
the employment of the sugar laboratory by estates has increas-
ed, and is greater than it has been during the last three years.

THE PRODUCTION OF VANILLA.

Mr. J.R. Jackson, F.L.S., has forwarded a note in connex-
ion with the extended cultivation of vanilla that has been tak-
ing place, and its effect on future production. He points out
that, asregards Réunion, the British Consul at that place reports
that the overproduction of recent years has ceased. This is
shown by a consideration of the following figures, which give
the output for the last four seasons: 1906-7, 35,588 kilos.;
1907-8, 48,865 kilos.; 1908-9, 70,000 kilos,; 1909-10, 39,500
kilos. Mr. Jackson states, further, that prices are said to
have risen considerably, so that the average for the best qual-
ity is now 29s. 6d. per kilo., as against one of 18s., last year,
and those of the other qualities have advanced in proportion.
The result is that, as the British Consul points out, several
vanilla-producing countries are limiting the output. Further
information is given by Mr. Jackson, as to prices, at the
vanilla auction in London, at the end of last July: Seychelles,
good long, 14s. per tb.; common split, short, 9s. 9d.; Ceylon,
fair to good, medium, 13s. 6d.; down to inferior qualities,
8s. 9d. to 11s. per bb.

296

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural Jews

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1910. No. 219.

Vou. IX.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial deals with The Maintenance of Soil
Productivity. The subject is treated from a broad
point of view, in connexion with its relation to the
general agricultural prosperity, in any given country.

An interesting note, supplementing the information
that has been given already on the New York Sugar
Trade Laboratory, appears on page 291.

The same page gives particulars of some of the
exhibits that have been sent from the West Indies to
the Canadian exhibitions.

Page 293 contains an account of several of the more
interesting means that are being employed to bring
about improvements in agricultural methods in India.

Two articles appear under the heading Insect
Notes, on page 298. These treat of the recent Brussels
Congress of Entomology, and the connexion between
house-flies and disease.

On page 302, the Fungus Notes contain the first
of a few articles on some of the diseases of rubber trees.

Rubber plants also receive attention, on page 303,
in an article which deals with the tapping of Hevea
brasiliensis.

just being issued.

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

Part J, Vol. XI, of the West Indian Bulletin is
The first paper in this, by Mr. F. W.
South, B.A., Mycologist to the Department, deals with
The Control of Scale Insects in the West Indies by
Means of Fungoid Parasites. ‘The subject is treated in
three parts, of which the first gives a general account
of the fungoid parasites of scale insects, while the sec-
ond and third deal with the distribution of these in the
Lesser Antilles, and throughout the world. The paper
is illustrated by line diagrams showing various stages of
the fungi. The next article is reproduced from the
Twenty Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of
Animal Industry, United States Department of Agri-
culture, and treats of Epizootic Lymphangitis.

The third paper is entitled A New West Indian
Cacao Pod Disease, by Mr. C. K. Bancroft, B.A., and
describes a new fungus (Colletotrichum Cradwickii)
which has been found to attack cacao pods in Jamaica.
A plate containing reproductions of three blocks,
prepared from photographs, serves to illustrate this
paper. Ivis followed by anarticle by Mr. H. A. Ballou,
M.Sce., Entomologist to the Department, in which infor-
mation is given with a view to assisting in dispelling
some of the confusion that exists 1u regard to the names
of scale insects, Mr. Ballou follows this with another
paper entitled Notes on Lime Cultivation, dealing
with experiments carried out in Montserrat, with the
aid of the Montserrat Lime Company.

As has been stated in the Agricultural News,
experiments have been commenced at several of the
3otanic Stations with a view to ascertaining the effect
of planting trees in the West Indies according to the
unorthodox methods in vogue at Woburn, and an
account is given of the stage to which the trials have
attained at several of these stations. This article is
illustrated by three plates, which give a means of com-
paring the growth of the trees, under the different
conditions of planting, in the trials in Dominica, and is
followed by an account of a visit to the Guanica Cent-
ral Sugar Factory, Porto Rico, by Mr. J. R. Bovell,
LS.O., Superintendent of Agriculture, Barbados, and
Mr. H. A. Bovell, Barbados.

The two last papers are by Mr. H. A. Tempany,
B.Sc., Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward
Islands; they give an account of Manurial Experiments
with cotton in the Leeward Islands, and of The Root
Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils. The
first of these describes the continuation of experiments
with cotton in the Leeward Islands, accounts of which
have appeared already in the West Indian Bulletin,
Vols. VI, p. 247; VII, p. 283; and X, p. 269.

In relation to other publications of the Department,
it may be stated that the annual reports on the
Botanic Stations, etc., in St. Lucia and Tortola have

just been issued.

Vou. IX. No. 219.

Trade and Commerce of the Seychelles, 1909.

No. 643 of the Colonial Reports—Annual, shows
that a normal crop of copra, amounting to 2,523 tons
was obtained in the Seychelles during 1909. The pro-
duction of guano was 17,483 tons, ard there were half
a million tons in reserve at the end of the year. The
crop of vanilla was very short, being only 11,267 kilos.,
valued at Rs. 200,345 (£13,000). The quality ot the
cinnamon bark shipped was inferior; its quantity was
1,044 tons, and the export is likely to decrease. The
high prices of copra checked the export of cocoa-nut
oil, so that the amount sent away was only 1,764 hecto-
litres (about 39,000 gallons).

Among the remaining important agricultural pro-
ducts, cacao appears as a decreasing export amounting
to 4,673 kilos., while a new industry, namely the pro-
duction of essential oils from cloves and cinnamon has
led to the shipment of 584 litres of such oils. The
numbers of fruits of coco-de-mer, and of cocoa-nuts,
exported, were 3,802 and 91,907.

Do

A New Method for Felling Trees.

The Journal of the Royal Society of Arts for
August 12, 1910, contains an abstract of an article by
the Berlin correspondent of the London Times which
deals with a simple method that has been invented for
the felling of trees. This consists in cutting the trunks by
the friction of a steel wire about 1 millimetre (,'--inch)
in diameter. Practical tests have shown that a tree
about 20 inches thick can be cut through in six minutes.

The wire is worked to and fro by an electric
motor, which may be actuated by means of a 10 h.p.
petrol motor and dynamo, which are kept outside the
forest. The severing action of the wire 1s derived from
the fact that it becomes hot through friction against
the tree, and actually burns its way through the timber.

The chief advantages of the method are that there
is no need to insert wedges into the cut; the cut may
be made immediately above or below the ground; and
that large tropical trees can be felled by a single oper-
ator, with the absence of any waste of timber.

dina
Sesbania Aculeata as a Green Manure.

Several notes have appeared recently in the Agri-
cultural News (Vol. VIII, pp. 271 and 331; IX, pp. 124
and 185), dealing with Sesbania aculeata asa green
manure. In connexion with these, Mr. R. D. Anstead,
recently Agricultural Superintendent in Grenada, and
now Planting Expert tu the United Planters’ Associa-
tion of Southern India, gives the following information.

Several species of Sesbania are used in India as
a green dressing for tea; among these, is dhaincha
which is S. aculeata. The two species of Sesbania com-
mon in Southern India are SNS. acu/cata, Pers., and NS.
aegyptiaca, Pers., which is being most successfully used
in convexion with tea cultivation in the Wynaad. For
this crop, it is sown just before the monsoon, and after
three or four months, when it 1s about 4 feet high, it is
eut down, and used as a mulch, or is turned into the
-soil. Mr. Anstead states that the roots ofall the species

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

297

are smothered with nodules in dense masses—more so
than in any other plant that he has seen.

It may be mentioned that it was stated in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 271, that S. aculeata
occurs in many islands in the West Indies, and that
a description of it was given. S. aegyptiaca is also
found in this part of the world; it is an under shrub,
with leaves provided with many leaflets, and with
yellow flowers in which the standard is dotted with
purple; the pod is swollen at intervals along its length,
and attains a size of 5 to 7 inches.

As has been suggested before, observations and
experiments with the different species of Sesbania in
the West Indies would be of much interest, especially
in relation to their possible adoption as plants for green
dressings.

rrp —

The Blackbird of Dominica.

This is the same as the tick bird of several of the
West Indian islands (Crotophaga ani); it is quite
ditferent from the blackbird of Barbados (Qwiscalus

fortirostris).

Enquiries have been made recently by Mr.
J. Jones, Curator of the Dominica Botanic Station, as to
whether the blackbird is regarded by planters in that
island as being of any value in reducing the number of
insect pests. It is the general opinion that the bird is
not harmful as it lives largely on grasshoppers and
other insects. In one case, it was stated that the birds
had been observed to pick the ticks from cattle; there
was, however, the more general idea that they do not
remove the ticks, but accompany the cattle because
their movements in the long grass cause the grasshop-
pers to rise, and thus to be easily caught by the birds.

This evidence as to the feeding habits of the Domin-
ica blackbird is supported by the circumstance that
the gizzards of three of them that were shot recently
were found to contain grasshoppers, crickets and
numerous seeds of a native bush.

es

The Rubber Industry of Brazil.
The Board of Trade Journal tor August 4, 1910,

gives information concerning the rubber industry of
Brazil, which has been furnished by H.M. Legation
in that country. This shows that the exports of
rubber, during 1909, amounted to about 39,000 tons,
valued at £18,926,061, while in 1908 they were about
38,206 tons, valued at £11,784,637.

It is supposed that, when rubber commences to be
collected from the territory that has been recently
secured by treaty from Peru, and when the means of
communication have been improved by the Madeira-
Mamore Railway, there will be a large increase in the
production.

Notwithstanding the fact that the supply of rub-
ber in Brazil appears to be almost inexhaustible, the
responsible authorities seem to be fully alive to the
harm that may accrue from the industry by the com-
petition of plantation rubber, and by wasteful methods
of collection. This is shown by the fact that they are
at present encouraging the laying out of plantations,
and are granting various privileges to cultivators.

INSEGT NOTES.

THE BRUSSELS CONGRESS OF
ENTOMOLOGY.

An account of the proceedings of this Congress is con-
tained in the London Zimes of August 10, 1910, from which
the particulars in the following article are taken

The Congress was held from August 1 to 6, and included
a membership of 292, of which sixty-seven representatives
were from British Institutions, or were British private indi-
viduals. The Imperial Department of Agriculture for the
West Indies was represented by its late Commissioner,
Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G.

In relation to the spread of disease by insects, Dr. R.
Blanchard, of Paris, gave a lecture on Medical Entomology,
in which special attention was drawn to the large part played
by insects, especially in the tropics, in the distribution of
disease. he lecturer dealt chiefly with the Anophelinae and
malaria, Stegomyia fasciata and yellow fever, (Glossina spp.
and sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis). In connexion with
the last-mentioned of these, reference was made to the death
of Lieut. Tulloch, of the Army Medical Department, which
was caused by his being attacked by it when engaged in
investigations on it in West Africa. A matter of particular
interest is that definite relationship between these diseases and
the insects which carry them, makes the study of the latter
a subject for inclusion in the realm of practical medicine

Several papers serve to illustrate the intimate connexion
that exists between entomology and agriculture. ‘The first
of these was read by Sir Daniel Morris; it dealt with the
methods that are employed in the West Indies to prevent the
importation of insect pests into the various islands, with
special reference to the legislation in connexion with this. An
account of the work of this kind which has been done will be
found in the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, p. 197. An in-
structive description was given by Dr. G. H. Carpenter, of the
Royal College of Science, Dublin, of the warble fly (Hypoderma
bovis) which lays its eggs on cattle, so that grubs are pro-
duced which enter the flesh and render it unfit for food.
(See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII. p. 170.) The conclusion
reached, so far, was that the washes which have been suggest-
ed for employment against this pest are useless for the purpose
of its control. Dr. R.S. MacDougall, of Edinburgh University,
gave an account of the damage that is done by a small beetle,
Galerucella lineola, to the osier beds in the Midland and
Western Counties of England. Arsenical sprays have been
found effective against this, where the smaller-sized plants
are attacked.

Numerous and interesting papers dealing with subjects
connected with pure entomology included those on ants and
their guests, and mimicry; and an account was given of
a recent Swedish entomological expedition to Kilimandjaro,
the results of which have been many and interesting.

On the last day of the Congress, papers were read on
general subjects. In one of these, Mr. J. N. Howlett, F.E.S.,
of the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa,
described the difficulties of keeping collections of insects in
climates where there are sudden changes of temperature and
humidity, and came to the conclusion that specimens could
only be protected, under such circumstances, from the
damage done by mites and moulds, by continual careful
attention. Dr. H. Skinner, an American delegate, gave
a brief account of the history of entomology in the United
States during the last 100 years, insisting upon the great
value that entomological work had already shown, in refer-
ence to agriculture especially, in that country.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

At the final general meeting, an invitation was given for
the next congress to be held at Oxford, in 1912, and the
acceptance of this was agreed upon.

HOUSE-FLIES AND DISEASE.

A valuable article with the above title appears in
Nature for July 21,1910. This deals, firstly, with the
history of the association of unhealthy conditions with flies,
pointing out thatin 1871, Lord Avebury described flies as
‘winged sponges spreading hither and thither to carry out the
foul behests of contagion’. Before this, it had been shown that
the house-fly and and the blow-fly were capable of transmitting
the anthrax bacillus, and in 1873 the possible dissemination
of cholera by flies was indicated. Laveran showed, in 1880,
that flies were able to carry the infectious discharge from
a disease of the eyes known as conjunctivitis, in Egypt. The
chief progress in the matter has, however, been made since
1886, when the micro-organism causing cholera was obtained
from flies caught in wards where cases of that disease were
being treated. In the same year, the micro-organism of
consumption (tuberculosis) was found in the excreta of flies
from a room which had previously contained a sufferer from
the disease. In 1888, the important observation was made
that the typhoid bacillus was able to pass, in a condition in
which it was capable of producing the disease, through the
digestive organs of the fly.

The article proceeds to a consideration of the incidence
of typhoid and enteric fever during the Spanish-American
and the South African wars, showing that, under the condi-
tions of sanitation of the camps, the spread of these diseases
is easily explained in the light of what is known about the
habits of the house-fly. The observation is made that,
although the insect may be almost sterile, that is free from
micro-organisms, when it emerges from the pupal case, yet it
quickly picks up infectious living matter. Evidence in
support of this is adduced by means of some _ experi-
ments by Gussow, which have not been published so far.
In one of these, thirty colonies comprising six species of
bacteria, and six colonies comprising four species of fungi
were obtained from a single fly, which was caught in the
living room of a house and allowed to walk over the surface
of material on which the organisms could develop. In
another, forty-six colonies comprising eight species of bacteria,
and seven colonies comprising four species of fungi, were
obtained in the same way from a fly caught in the open.
Finally, a\house-fly caught in a household dust-bin yielded
similarly 116 colonies of bacteria comprising eleven species,
some of which were capable of producing disease, and ten
colonies comprising six species of fungi.

The eggs of the house-fly are laid preferably on
horse manure. The likelihood, however, of their being
deposited on almost any kind of filth makes it easy to
see what a potent factor the insects may become in relation
to the transmission of disease. This is of special importance
in view of a recent discovery by Faichne, to the effect that
larvae developed in infected material produce flies which
may carry the typhoid bacilli in their digestive organs, and
that these bacilli may retain their power of causing the
disease for more than three weeks.

The article concludes with an expression of the impor-
tance of flies as factors in the dissemination of disease, and
points out that, although these insects cannot be eradicated
from any given district, yet measures for their control, by
preventing their breeding as far as possible, are quite practi-
cable, and that the usefulness of these is bound to attain
a larger amount of realization in the future.

Vout. IX. No. 219.

Siz Sa
OTE

SD
as

A HANDBOOK OF THE FUNGUS DISEASES OF
WEST INDIAN PLANTS, By Keith Bancroft, B.A.
Geo. Pulman d: Sons, Ltd., London.

This book, as its name indicates, contains, in a small
compass, a short account of each of the diseases of plants
grown in the West Indies, more especially of those which are
of economic importance. The diseases are arranged according
to the systematic classification of the fungi causing them, and
not under the names of the various host plants. This does
not, however, in any way detract from the value of the book
to the practical agriculturist, as a complete index is provided
containing, in addition to the names of the causative fungi,
the popular names of all the host plants, and of the several
diseases to which each is subject. Tn the case of all the more
important of these, the account contains a careful description
of the field symptoms, an outline of the treatment to be
followed, a technical diagnosis of the fungus, and one or
more references to papers dealing with it. A few points of
‘historical interest also appear.

One feature of the introduction is a table showing the
geographical distribution of the principal fungi parasitic on
sugar-cane and cacao. There will also be found in it a short
account of various methods of treatment for disease, and
observations on one or two points requiring attention. The
first of these is in connexion with cacao canker, on which
subject considerable light has been shed by Mr. Rorer, in his
papers in two recent numbers of the Bulletin of the Agricul-
tural Department, Trinidad, Vol. IX, pp. 38 and 79; these
accounts were unfortunately not issued until after Mr, Ban-
croft’s book was printed. A second point is the nomenclature
-of the fungus causing die-back and brown rot of cacao, and
its possible identity with that found on cocoa-nuts and on
Hevea, as well as on several other host plants. After
a general review of the position, Mr. Bancroft has retained
the old name, Diplodia cacaoicola, particularly as it helps
to avoid confusion. The discovery of a Fusarium stage in
its life-history is a matter of interest, as such a form is
-often found on diseased cacao, associated with Diplodia
cacavicola. A third point is the possible identity of Thiela-
viopsis ethaceticus, the pine-apple disease fungus of sugar-cane,
with a stage in the life-history of Trichosphaeria sacchari, the
rind fungus. In connexion with this, it may be pointed out
that the growing opinion appears to be that the former is an
independent organism, though this point cannot be said to be
definitely settled.

It will be noted that, in many wavs, this book closely
resembles a paper by the same author, published in the West
Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, p. 235. There are, however, certain
points of difference. In the first place, the book con-
tains accounts of some of the more important fungi
found on various host plants in other parts of the
tropical world; these are introduced naturally in connexion
either with crops well known in the West Indies, or with
genera of fungi, several of whose species are of wide-spread

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 299

economic importance. The addition of these accounts, and
the six good plates at the end, add considerably to its value
from a mycologist’s point of view. The contents of the
book also differ from the paper referred to, in that another
system of classification has been employed throughout. Among
other, minor, points, it may be mentioned that Mr. Bancroft
attributes angular leaf spot of cotton to physiological causes,
and not to Bacillus malvacearum. It is not easy to under-
stand the reason for this, especially as he unfortunately gives
no references, in this instance. It may also be pointed out
that several authorities in America are inclined to attri-
bute foot rot, or mal-di-gomma, of citrus trees rather to
physiological causes than to Fusarium limonis, as is done in
the work under review. Again, no mention is made of
the difficulties with regard to the bud rot disease of the cocoa-
nut palm, the Indian form attributed by Butler to Pythium
palmivorum being regarded by some authors as probably
identical with that found in the West Indies and with that in
Ceylon. The cause of the disease in the last two places is not
as yet definitely known, but there is a growing tendency to
regard it as of bacterial origin. It is also to be regretted
that Mr. Bancroft did not see fit to include an account of
thread blights on cacao and mangos, or of the well-knewn
root disease of cacao, usually referred to in Trinidad as the
brown root disease; for although the fungi inducing these
are not definitely identified, some account of their appear-
ance would have been useful.

These matters are, however, comparatively unimportant.
On the whole, the book contains a most useful account of
the main fungoid troubles against which agriculturists in the
West Indies have to contend; and everyone engaged in
raising crops on a large scale would do well to possess
a copy.

BRAZIL IN 1910, By J. C. Oakenfull.
by the Author at St. Budeaux, Devonport,

Published

This book, which seems to form a very complete guide to
Brazil, is edited by the Commission of Economic Expansion
of Brazil, Paris. It contains 280 pages of matter, which
deals, in order, with the general natural features of the
country (Chapters I to III); its economic conditions, in
history and at the present time (Chapters IV to VIII);
particulars of its natural history and products, both vege-
table and mineral (Chapters IX to XIX); art and literature
(Chapter XX). The main portion of the book is followed by an
appendix, containing in six parts, information such as will be
of more particular use to the immigrant, and relating to
salaries and cost of living; customs tariffs; details as to
industries and production; bibliography; terms used in
mineralogy; and the arrangements for the reception of
immigrants. It should be understood that this description
of the contents of the volume only forms a very broad out-
line, and that many sub-heads are included under the above
designations, each of which receives thorough treatment.

The most useful part of the book to anyone who may be
studying the conditions in Brazil with a view to taking up
residence in that country is comprised in Chapters VIII to
XVIII, and in the appendix. In this part, as throughout, it
is well produced, with good illustrations; although there are
a few typographical errors, especially in regard to scientific
names. It can be recommended to all who desire to know
anything about Brazil, whether they are thinking of visiting
that country, or not.

300

GLEANINGS.

The condition of the cacao crop in Grenada has been
good, and record yields have been obtained on every estate
during this season. Some pickings were obtained even as
late as last month.

It is announced that the following machinery is at
present for sale in the island of St. Martin: 1 Crossley L.L.
oil engine of 4? h.p., and 1 roller gin, by Platt Bros. Enquiries
in connexion with these should be addressed to Mr. C,
Chittick, Nevis.

A report received from the Superintendent of Agricul-
ture, Bartados, shows that the present cotton crop is making
favourable progress. Caterpillars have appeared in certain
places, but have been promptly kept in check by means of
Paris green and lime.

With reference to a note on p. 268 of the current volume
of the Agricultural News, stating that rain was required for
the cotton crop in the windward districts of Montserrat, it is
of interest that generally good rains have fallen since that
time, so that the crop is promising throughout the island.

An article in Natwre for June 16, 1910, entitled Goats
and Malta Fever, gives an account of this disease, and points
out the special danger in regard to infection that arises from
the fact that goats suffering from it do not give any evidence
of ill-health, nor do they show a body temperature above the
normal.

The HLuxperiment Station Record of the United States
Department of Agriculture makes a note of investigations
undertaken with cassava flour in France, in which a sample
of this, which was sold as a food for animals, was found to
contain 00041 per cent. of hydrocyanic acid—the poisonous
principle of cassava.

Information has been received from St. Kitts that the
growth of the sugar-cane has much improved, during August,
in consequence of the increased rainfall; nevertheless, the crop
is still backward for the time of the year. The condition of
the cotton crop is good everywhere, and cotton from the May
plantings is already being picked on several estates.

It is announced that the following sheep are for
sale in Barbados: the West African ram sheep ‘Alaky’,
imported by the Imperial Department of Agriculture, and
four Barbados ewes, in lamb for that sheep. Enquiries in
connexion with these should be made to Mr. F. C, Bancroft,
Moonshine Hall, St. George, Barbados.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

A copy of the colour chart issued by the French Chrys-
anthemum Society, and described in the Journal of the
Royal Horticultural Socety for March 1910, has been
acquired for the use of this Depa:tment. It should be
especially valuable in connexion with the description of the
parts of plants in relation to classification, or in breeding
experiments.

With reference to past notes in the Agricultural News
(Vol. IX, pp. 188 and 277) concerning the Manchurian soy
bean industry, it is of interest that, according to the Loard
of Trade Journal for August 11, 1910, several important
Japanese firms are considering the feasibility of establishing
a soy bean exchange at Dairen, for the purpose of putting
the trade on a sound basis.

According to a recent advertisement in the Port-of-
Spain Gazette, the Board of Agriculture of Trinidad has
approved of an expenditure of £200 for the encouragement
of good cacao cultivation by peasant proprietors or contract-
ors. For the first year, two centres will be selected for
prizes, and these will be awarded in two classes, namely for
holdings above 5 and not exceeding 10 acres, and for holdings
not exceeding 5 acres in area. In both cases, in the event of
their being earned, five prizes will be given, ranging in value
from £2 10s. to £20.

The Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 640, states that
rubber, cacao, kola nuts, gum copal and ivory continue to be
the principal exports of Ashanti. According to the same
source, the export of ruSber from that country has risen
from 536 tons in 1908 to 1,319 tons in 1909. .The increase
was mainly due to high prices; these ranged from ls. ld. to
2s. 24d. per bb., although the average for the year was as
much as ls. 10d. per tb. This means that the amount
obtained for rubber in 1909 was £270,000, as against
£90,000 for 1908.

It has been stated for general information that there is
for sale, near the seashore at Soufriere, St. Lucia, a sugar-
cane mill, manufactured by John Musgrave, Lancashire,
England, which contains three rollers, 3 feet 3 inches in
length, and having a diameter of 22 inches. The mill is
arranged for operation by water power, and for this purpose
an overshot wheel 27 inches in diameter is provided. All
the fittings are intact and in good order, and include cane
and megass tables. Ofters for the purchase of the mill should
be addressed to the Chief Clerk, Government Office, Castries,
St. Lucia, and the purchase money must be paid before the
mill is removed.

In connexion with the note in the Agricultural News,
p- 220 of the present volume, stating that the India Rubber
Journal was presenting a shield, value 100 guineas, for the
best sample of Plantation Para Rubber shown at the Inter-
national Rubberand Allied Trades Exhibition, 1911, informa-
tion has been received from Mr. A. Staines Manders, organ-
izing manager of the exhibition, as to the rules of the
competition. These show, among other things, that samples
must weigh not less than 10 tb.; they must have been produced
solely upon the property of the exhibitor; and that entries
for the competition must reach the Award Committee of the
Exhibition by the night of May J, 1911.

Vou. IX. No. 219.

STUDENTS CORNER.

THE

SEPTEMBER.

SEeconD PERIOD.

Seasonal Notes.

Leguminous and other plants are being grown, during
the present time, on the land which will be used subsequently
for the cultivation of main crops. Reference has been made
several times to the particular usefulness of leguminous plants,
in this connexion, on account of the property which they
possess of harbouring nodule-forming bacteria that take
nitrogen from the air and hand it on to them in such a form
that they can make use of it. An important fact
necessary to understand, in relation to these minute organ-
isms, is that they usually exist in most soils, but that there
are several varieties of them, each of which acts in conjunction
with a definite plant. This explains why the first few crops
of a Jeguminous plant that has been introduced newly into
a country are often small, even though the conditions of
climate are suited to it. Fortunately, the bacteria, as they
complete several generations in a short time, quickly show
changes in their characteristics when the conditions under
which they are living are altered. In other words, the number
of generations that are necessary for any definite results of
evolution to show themselves are speedily completed, so that
different varieties are soon obtained. This is fortunate, because
it gives a means of providing a suitable variety of nodule-
forming bacteria where new leguminous plants are introduced
where this does not occur already. ‘This means is simply to
grow several crops of the new plant in the same soil, one after
the other, when, if this soil contains any nodule-forming
bacteria at all, there is a likelihood that these will change
their characteristics in such a way as to become useful to the
new plant. The process can be extended eventually, by
scattering some of this soil over other areas where the
plant is to be raised, thus sowing it with the right kind of
bacteria. Attempts have been made, as is well known, to
form cultures of the nodule-forming bacteria, so that they
may be sent where they are required on account of the absence
of the organisms from the soil. By making cultures is meant
getting the bacteria from the nodules on the roots of the
leguminous plants, separating them from other living organ-
isms that may be present, and giving them the best chance
of increasing their numbers by supplying them with suitable
food. This isa comparatively simple matter ; the great diffi-
culty arises when it is attempted to prepare these cultures in
such a way as to enable the bacteria to be sent long distances,
and to arrive still living; no particular success has been
obtained, so far, with such artificial methods of preparation.

Make observations, as far as you can, on the effect on
the succeeding crop of the employment of green dressings.
Give a list of all the ways in which such dressings may be
beneficial to the soil. Discuss the advisability of employing
these where the rainfall is small.

Consider, as far as you can, the direct effect of too great
and too little rainfall on the parts of plants above the ground.
How is the amount of rainfall, during the chief period of
flowering of cacao directly related, for instance, to the number
of pods that will be borne?’ Remember that rainfall has to be
considered not only in reference to the condition of the soil,
but to effects of the kind just mentioned, and to the influeuce
that it has on insect life. The last consideration is especially

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 301

important in relation to cotton. What connexion exists be-
tween the precipitation and the amount of shade to be pro-
vided, where this is necessary! Give an account of the life-
processes of the plant that are bound up intimately with the
matters brought forward by this question.

In going through a cacao plantation, it is noticed that
some of the pods on a few of the trees in a small area show
round, brown patches; in other cases, the brown colouration
has spread all over the surface of the pod; while in the worst
instances, the rind, beans and pulp have been destroyed. What
reason would you give for these appearances of the pods, and
what suggestions would you make, in orderto lessen the chances
that other healthy parts of the plantation shall suffer loss in
a similar way!

Give an account of the life-history of the honey bee,
comparing it ina broad, general way with that of the ant.
What are the chief circumstances to be taken into considera-
tion when the advisability of keeping bees is under notice?

Provide a description of the arrangement of an apiary
to suit the conditions surrounding the place where you live.
Mention any ways in which bees are useful to agriculturists.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) State whether it best to obtain cuttings for planting
sweet potatos from those grown from cuttings or from roots.

(2) Explain why good drainage of the soil is necessary
to the successful growth of crops.

(5) Give as many reasons as you can for propagating
plants by grafting.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Diseuss the advantages and disadvantages of the
presence, to any extent, of stones in a soil.

(2) Mention how the cells of the vegetatively growing
parts of plants are increased in number.

(3) State how observations on a germinating cotton seed
may give indications as to the best conditions for its sowing
on a large scale.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an account of the chief points that merit
consideration when the suitability of a given piece of land for
cacao cultivation is being decided.

(2) In relation to the employment of artificial manures
for maintaining soil fertility, what possible alternatives exist,
and why are they limited in their application 4

(3) Give your idea as to the most advantageous arrange-
ment of the various buildings on a lime plantation producing
concentrated juice in fire-heated pans.

The Jowrnal of the Board of Agriculture for August
1910, p. 412, gives an account of a new type of milk-
preserving machine that was exhibited at the Bordeaux Agri-
cultural Show in May 1910. The principle employed in the
machine is the exposure of the milk tu a very high pressure,
with subseqent pasteurization, so that the fat globules are
crushed and mixed so completely with the water in the milk
that they cannot be separated, and it is consequently impossi-
ble to obtain cream from such milk. Its great advantage,
however, is that it will keep in bottles for an indefinite
length of time.

w
So
to

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

SOME DISEASES OF RUBBER
fie NOU

As mention has been made, in recent numbers of the
Agricultural News, of one or two diseases of Hevea, and as
the cultivation of this plant, as well as of Castilloa, has been
introduced into some of the islands, it is thought that a sum-
mary of the diseases to which rubber trees are subject in the
different parts of the world in which they are grown, more
particularly the far East, may prove of some interest to read-
ers. One peculiarity of the majority of these complaints is
their close similarity to those commonly found affecting cacao.
Not only are the external symptoms much alike on both hosts,
in several cases, but the causative fungi of the disease on each
are often closely related species, even if not actually identical.
There is also a connexion, in one or two cases, particularly
with regard to root disease, between the species of fungi
found on Hevea and those on cocoanut palms; more-
over, some of these on the former host plant also attack tea,
coffee, mangos, and certain other plants of economic
importance.

ROOT DISEASES. Two different important root diseases
affecting rubber plants are known, and one or two others have
been recorded as being occasionally found. To what extent
the minor ones are identifiable with one another or with
known diseases of other host plants is not yet definitely
known, as the fructifications of the causative fungi have not
been found.

The best known root disease is probably that due to
Fomes semitostus, Berk., which occurs in Ceylon and the
Federated Malay States. The fungus belongs to the order
Polyporaceae, of the Hymenomycetineae. Itattacks the main
root, or some of the lateral roots, of trees between the ages of
fifteen months and four years. In some instances in Ceylon,
the first indication of the diseased condition of the roots
was given when the trees were blown down by a high wind;
it was then found that the main root was destroyed, having
been eaten through by white ants, which had followed the
attack of the fungus. Strong lateral roots had been devel-
oped, which served to supply the trees with moisture, but these
were not strong enough to enable them to resist the wind.
More generally, however, the first symptoms are the browning
of the leaves round the edges and at the tips, owing to the
ringing of the main root by the fungus, which thus stops the
water supply. Three days later, the trees are completely
dead. No latex will flow if the stem is wounded, and in some
cases the leaves fall off. More usually, however, the tree is
blown down before this happens, especially if the roots have
been eaten by white ants. The fungus forms a whitish,
cobweb-like felt on the main root, and white strands, or cords,
on the lateral roots; these cords, when older, frequently
become straw-coloured. The roots appear black, the cortex
is soft and rotten, and no latex flows when it is cut. The
wood is discoloured, usually being turned brown. Fructifie-
ations only appear on trees which have been dead some time,
or on jungle stumps. They are of a bracket shape, and occur
just above the ground level; their upper surfaces are orange,
or maroon-coloured, while the under ones are of different
shades of brown, being orange-coloured only when quite young.
The spores of the fungus can, apparently, only germinate on
dead stumps, and it is from these that the rubber trees are
affected. This accounts for the limitations in the age of the
hosts attacked, as, if the roots have not come into contact
with diseased jungle remains before the tree is four years
old, subsequent infection is unlikely, Although the infection

TREES.

always appears to occur in this way, the mycelium from
these stumps is capable of direct parasitism, and does
not require the presence of wounds to enable it to attack
its host. The remedial measures recommended are the
usual treatment for root diseases, combined with the
removal of all decaying stumps and roots from those
areas which are known to be infected. References to this
disease are: Circulars and Agricultural Journal of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. ILI, p. 237; Root
Disease of Hevea Brasiliensis, Petch; Bulletin No. 2. of
the Department of Agriculture of the Federated Malay States,
Gallagher; Ceylon Administration Reports 1905 and 1906,
Petch; Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated
Malay States, Vol III, p. 174, Ridley, with short notes in other
volumes of the same publication. In connexion with this
fungus, it is interesting to note that a white sterile mycelium
has been found to attack the roots of both Hevea and Castilloa
in Java, and that it is described by Dr. Bernard in Bulletin
XII du Département de PAgriculture aux Indes Néerlandaises.

The second important form is that known as brown root
disease. The external symptoms are very similar to those
existing in the case of the first one, but on examining
the attacked parts, it is found that they are surrounded
by a mass of earth and stones so firmly bound on to
them by a fungus mycelium that they cannot be cleaned by
washing. This mass forms a felt of a white or yellow-
brown colour which is apparently fairly characteristic of
the disease. No fructifications have been observed, but the
fungus in Ceylon is believed to be identical with a form
provisionally referred to the genus Hymenochaete, found on
cacao in Samoa, and with that referred to as Sporotrichum sp.
on cacao in Java. It attacks cacao, Hevea, Castilloa, tea,
Caravonica cotton and dadap (2rythrina spp.) in Ceylon,
and also occurs in the Federated Malay States. Petch,
in the Ceylon Administration Reports for 1906, thinks it
identical with a fungus known as /rper flavus, Klotsch, which
attacks coffee, and Ridley describes a fungus which he also
believes to be Jrpex flavus on Hevea, in the Malay States.
(Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay
States, Vol. V,p. 64.) The coffee fungus was known to occur
in the Malay States, and the Hevea disease from the same
locality is very similar; it also resembles a disease attacking
clove trees in Malacca, Jrpex flavus is reported, as well,
from Java, (ueensland, and North America, The remedial
measures against brown root disease are the same as in the
case of Fomes senittostus.

In one instance, a root fungus with a white mycelium
produced fructifications recognized by Petch as Poria vincta,
B. and Br. (Ceylon Administration Reports, 1905). Recently,
a fungus on cacao and Hevea in Apia has been described by
Dr. Funk as //ymenochaete nowia, Henning, and may be
identical with the Ceylon brown root disease, though this is
uncertain. A fungus also identified as Hymenochaete noxia
causes a disease of cacao in West Africa. These two
fungi conclude the list of parasites found on the roots.

To summarize, then, there are two important root diseases
of Hevea. The first is found in Ceylon and in the Federated
Malay States, and is due to Yomes semrtostus, whose mycelium
is characterized by the formation of white or straw-
coloured cords on the lateral roots. The second occurs on
Hevea and Castilloa, in Ceylon and in the Malay States,
and may be designated the brown root disease. It is
characterized by forming a light brown felt of mycelium
mixed up with earth and stones, around the roots attacked.
A fungus similar to J7pex flavus is described from the
Federated Malay States, and is possibly the same as the
brown root disease fungus. Another form, identified as

Vor; IX, No; 219!

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. rs 303

Hymenochaete novia, has been found on rubber and cacao in
Apia, and one known as Porta vincta in Ceylon. An
unidentified white mycelium occurs on Hevea and Castilloa
in Java. Nearly all the forms, but particularly the first two,
commence their growth on old forest stumps, from which
they spread to the cultivated plants.

Before closing this portion of the subject, reference must
be made to a disease of Castilloa trees which oceurs in Ceylon
(Petch. TZropical Agriculturist, Vol. XXVII, p. 86). This
disease resembles the foot rot of orange trees. An open
wound appears at the collar, and extends upwards along the
stem, and downwards over the roots. The disease is due to
a species of Fusarium which appears as small white tufts
issuing from cracks in the apparently healthy bark. It is
encouraged by excessive shade or bad drainage, as is the
orange tree disease, which has also been attributed to
Fusarium sp. The remedial measures are the same as those
usually recommended for foot rot. (See Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII, p. 248.)

This article will be followed by one, in the next number
of the Agricultwral News, in which it is intended to deal
with the diseases occurring on the stem, leaves and fruits of
rubber plants

TAPPING PARA RUBBER TREES.

Bulletin No. 10 of the Department of Agriculture
of the Federated Malay States has been issued recently
under the title of A Lecture on the Para Rubber Tree,
by W. J. Gallagher, M.A., Director of Agriculture.
From this the following extracts are taken:—

BEST KIND OF TAPPING. Tapping one quarter at one
time is certainly the best for the tree. The renewal will be
better, and from actual experience I am inclined to infer the
flow will be better. I do not quite see why one quarter
tapped over one year should not be followed instead of two
quarters tapped over two years. The former has much to
recommend it, and is, I believe, the system of the future. We
know there is a limit to the closeness of cuts, and to the
number which may be put on a tree, and this may, in a three
years’ renewal system, make the single quarter undesirable.

The full herring-bone system is occasionally varied by
tapping three months on one half, resting two; then three on
the other half, followed by two months’ rest, and back again
for three months to the first side tapped. This is undoubtedly
wasteful. Every time a change is made, each cut must be
tapped at least three times before a normal flow of latex begins.
With a tapping force of 300 coolies, this is a loss of 1,800
names in ten months.

MARKING OUT TREES. Unless you have your trees
marked out on a definite system, you can hardly hope to have
good tapping. I still find, on otherwise well managed estates,
that on the same tree, bark of three different ages is being
tapped. At best, this must be slow work, and only a good
coolie can do it well. There is no longer an excuse for a man
to tell you his cuts are the length of the knife apart, and he
expects them to last seven or eight months.

Nobody can say if the system of to-day will be the
system of next year, but this is no reason why you should
not have a system.

The factors to be considered are:—

1. Time for renewal.

2. Number of tapping days per year.

3. Number of cuts to the inch.

The accumulation of experience shows that the first
should be put down at four years. On the one half

herring-bone system one quarter must be finished in one
year, and in 350 or 175 days tapping, according as every day
or alternate day tapping is followed; fifteen days at least
must be allowed for holidays, breakdowns of machinery, rain
and other unforeseen difficulties.

NUMBER OF CUTS TO THE INCH. It is a matter of experi-
ence that more latex per cut is obtained when the coolie does
twenty five cuts to the inch than when he does fifteen, with
the advantages in the former case that there is (a) only three-
fifths of the bark to be renewed for the same tapping period, and
(b) at least 60 per cent. more latex obtained from equal areas.
I believe it will pay better to try to increase the number of
cuts to the inch, rather than to emphasize going in close to the
cambium, though both should of course be done. Twenty
cuts to the inch may be considered as the minimum to be
obtained. Anything less than this indicates, to my mind,
a fault somewhere in management and supervision. Twenty-
three may be considered as average, and twenty-five or over
as very good.

DISTANCES TO PUT CUTS APART, Hence with twenty
cuts to the inch and alternate day tapping on a system in
which only one quarter is completely tapped in one year, the
cuts should be 175 (days)+20 (cuts)=84 inches apart.
That is, the number of tapping days in the period of time
you want the quarter of the tree to last is divided by the
number of cuts you can get into the inch.

If every day tapping is followed, the cuts should be 350
(days) +20 (cuts) = 174 inches apart.

I may say here that a system in which the cuts are 8}
inches apart should not be followed. The cuts will become
dry after a few months tapping.

Where adjacent or opposite quarters are tapped on an
allowance of four years for renewal, the cuts should be: with
alternate day tapping 2 x 175 (days) +20 (cuts) =174 inches
apart, every day tapping 2x330 (days)+20 (cuts)=35
inches apart.

The above distances do not consider ‘resting’; where
a manager decides to ‘rest’, he will have fewer tapping days
in the year, and his cuts will be proportionately closer.

Having decided how far apart the cuts should be, the
next thing is to mark out the tree by vertical lines into
quarters.

The ‘inner’ lines to conduct the latex should not be deeper
or wider than is necessary for their purpose. The outer
guiding lines should be as shallow and as narrow as possible;
they should be just distinct enough to mark clearly the
boundaries of the cuts. When the vertical lines are too deep,
the lateral passage of building material into the area between
the cuts is interfered with. The cuts should be marked off
parallel to each other, and always kept parallel. The tendency
of the coolie to cut away more at the end of the cut next to
the main channel must be repressed. Every cut must be
carried out to end bluntly at the outer edges of the guiding
lines. Too often, the cut is seen to get gradually shallower,
and about ,',-inch is lost at each end, which, when totalled
for a coolie’s daily task, will be found to be equivalent to
two or three trees; and the loss is greater than this, for the
labour of cutting the area is done imperfectly.

The coolie should be provided with a stick on which
inches are marked; he should be made clearly to understand
that the distance of an inch must last him twenty-five days,
or whatever number of cuts to the inch the manager is
content to get.

The information given regarding the tapping of
young trees, distances for planting, thinning out,
topping trees, and pruning, will be reproduced in the
next number of the Agricultural News,

London.—Txe West Inpia

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., September 3

304

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1910.

MARKED REPORTS:

CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR,

August 30,1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
August 19, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1d. to 2J,d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/5; block, 2/6 per th.

Brrswax—£7 5s. to £7 12s 64d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 48/-
to 52/6; Jamaica, 47/- to 52/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 40/- to 92/-.

Copra—West Indian, £27 to £27 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Fruir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincerR—Common to good common, 49/- to 51/- per
cwt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 57/-; good
bright to fine, 59/- to 65/-.

Honry—24/6 to 25/6.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Lime Jurcr—Raw, 1/- to 1/1; concentrated, £18 2s. 6d. to
£18 10s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9 to 6/-,
nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nutmecs—Steady.

Pimento—Common, 24d.; fair, 2}d.; good, 22d. per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 8/3, fine soft, 7/3; tine Peru,
8/- per th.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 17/- to 19/6; Muscovado, 13/- to 15/-;
Syrup, no quotations ; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gintespie Bros. & Co., September

2, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 10$c. to 11ldc. ; Grenada, 10%c. to 11e. ;
Trinidad, 10c. to 1ljc. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 11c. per tb.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $34:00 to $36°00; culls,
$18-00 to $19:00; Trinidad, select, $34-00 to $36:00 ;

culls, $18-00 to $19°00 per M.

Corrrr—Jamaica, ordinary, 10c. to 10jc.; good ordinary,
10fc.; and washed, up to 12c. per tb.

Gincer—8je. to llc. per th.

Goat Skriys—Jamaica, 56c.; Barbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grave Fruit—$3°50 per box.

Limes—$6'00 to $7-00.

Mace—3dc. to 40c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8$c. to 9c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°25 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—4jc. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°424c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°92kc.; Molasses, 89°, 3°674c. per tb, all
duty paid.

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°25 per fanega; Trinidad, $11:00
to $11°25.

Cocoa-Nut O1.—$1°12 per Imperial gallon.

Correr—Venezuelan, 103c. per tb.

Copra—$4°80 per 100 th.

Duat—$4°20 to $4°25.

Ontons—$2°40 to $2°50 per 100 1b.

Peas, Sprir—$d-90 to $6-00 per bag.

Poratos—English, $2-00 to $2'10 per 100 tb.

Rick—Yellow, $4-70 to $4°75; White, $5-25
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 tb.

to $5°30

Barbados,— Messrs. Leacock & Co., September 10, 1910;
Messrs. T, S.Garraway& Co., September 13, 1910;
Messrs. JAMES A. LyncH & Co.,September 5, 1910.

ARROowROOT—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$10°50 to $12°00 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-nutTs—$21:00.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°00 to $11°50 per

100. tb., scarce.
Hay—$1°20 to $1°40

Manvures—Nitrate of soda,

per 100 tb., dull.

$60°00 to 365-00;

Cacao

manure, $42°00 to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia,

$7000 to $75°00 per ton.
Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$2°50 to $3:00 per 100 Th.

Peas, Sprir—$6‘00 to $6°25 per bag

$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.
Poratos—Nova Scotia, $5:00 to $3°2d per 160 tb.
Rice—Ballam, no quotations; Patna, $3°50 to $3°80;

Rangoon, $2:90 to $3:00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotatio

ns.

of 210 tb.; Canada,

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierine & Ricurer, September

3, 1910; Messrs. SANDBACH,
September 2, 1910.

ParKER & Co,

ARTICLES.

ArrowRooT—St. Vincent

Barata—Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

CassavAa—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxraLt—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Potatos—Novya Szotia

Lisben
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
RiceE—Ballam

Creole
TANNIAS—

Yams—Wh:te
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTsER.

$7°50 to $8:00 per
200 th.
32c, per tb.
78c. per tb.
10c. to 1le. per tb.
80c.
None

$10 to $16 per M.

14c per tb.
14$c. per tb.
83c. per tb.
$3°65 per bag of
168 tb.
$4-60
$1°20
None
2ie. to 2ke.
$6°00 per bag
(210 tb.)
$4°25
40c. per bunch
None

$1°80 per bag
None
$500 to $5°20
$1°92 to $2:00
per bag
$3-00
$3-00
$2°80 to $3:00
$3°25 to $3°50
$4:00 to $4°10
$2°25 to $2°60
32c. to 5d5c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $575
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00

per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.
$750 to $800 per
200 tbh.. mkt. dull
Prohibited
None
10c. to 11c. per fh.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
143c. to 15c. perth.
10c. per tb.
$3°70 per bag of
168 tb.
2ke.
$5°75 to $600 per
bag (210 th.)
No quotation

$3:00 to $3-25
No quotation

$5-00 to $5-20

$400 to $4°25
None
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°50 te $5°50
per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

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Vor. IX. No. 219:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Seprember 17, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

2 = A TEU SEi Reese

Ohlendorfi’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorif’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure

Ohlendorff’s

Special Cotton Manure

Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superpiaueeles high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

slag and ail other high-class Fertil

rt

iZers,

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATHE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency:

15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

GOTTON SEED MEAL.

GUTTCN SEEB MEAL,

Recommended by the Imperial Department oi
Agriculture a8 a first class Feeding Stuf for Cattle,’
Special quotations for large qnantities,)

Mules, ete.
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED,

BRIDGETOWN.

F@R SALE,

Bighty (80)

Apply to:—
THE PROPRIETOR,
Woodford Hill Estate,
Dominica, B.W.I.

sheep.

(219.)

MACHINERY FOR SALE.
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All in good working order. Also two iron Molasses Sugar
Coolers; one Iron Molasses Tank (10,000 gals.); and three|
Cane Wagon Weighing Machines.

sisting of one

For further particulars, apply to :—
F. POTTER,
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(214.) Dominica, W.I.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown,

JUST ISSUED.

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IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, “*®?5"
VoL. IX. No. 220. BARBADOS, OCTOBER 1, 1910. Price ld,
CONTENTS. the use of electricity in agriculture is dealt with in
a recent publication*, from which some of the following
PAGE. PAGE. facts are more directly collected.
Cacao, Improvement of by Maize, Manurial Experi-

Selection ... ... ... 308 ments with... ... sco GB) : ;

Cotton Notes :— Market Reports ... ... 320 One of the most obvious ways of using electricity

ton-Growing i ia ¢ Mexico, Tr: mLOOONalo = ; ; : Wee Al ait .

pee Srowingin lake 310 ae ett a ae ‘a i” in the production of plants was suggested after the dis-

Crop, 1909-10 ...... 310]. ( a covery of the are lamp. This consists in stimulating

Waste indian Gott 310 Notes and Comments ... 312 ; S
(EN REE ES one : a Pe the growth by keeping the plants under a very power-
Creasote for Preserving Para Rubber Trees, Tap- tiga : ; ; ; #,

Wits (Posts 319 ping of _ ... 311 ful red light, or, on the contrary, retarding it under
Department News ... ... 397| ping Gultivationof ... ... 308 @ green one, for the more special purposes of horticul-
Departmental Reports ... 315 Rete in Japanioduct 4 a3 - : a eee
Dynamite in Agriculture, Lice 2 eae roduction ae turists. The process is known as radio-culture; it is

7 Es aie of, IU: ese eee eee v . P 2

Wrcautorm-ey es Lol 5 Tus only in the experimental stages at present, and will

Fungus Notes :— St. Lucia and Canadian ts 3 ; s :
Some Diseases of Rub- Exhibitions Pea es OLD probably, as will be shown later, find its widest future
ber Trees, Part II ... 318 | Sponges Collected from the application in conjunction with other means of employ-
Gambia, Agriculture in ... 309 Grenadines. ... .-. 30f ~~ leciateinaino plants
Gleanings ... ... ... ... 316|Students’ Commer ... ... 317 ing, electricity 1 raising plants.
Gold Coast, Agriculture in Sar Industaae

he Northern Territor- See ee eee ; I yas j é aye

the °F 349| Production ‘of Seedling t was long thought that the growth of plants

1es eres age sae , . a > any : - : = : z
ee Canes in Java... .. 307 might be stimulated by the direct application of electric-

A Cotton-Eating Beetle 314] Use of Electricity in Agri ity to the soil in which they are living, and therefore
A Suggested Way to culture, The ... ... 30d : ats ae z
MetactiHell Worms ia ae ee to their roots, This supposition has been verified, more
; ; . Vanilla, Production of, : : c
Cane Fields... ... 314 1909-10 319 especially by the thorough experiments carried out by
Lead Chromate as an Sa

Insecticide... ... ... 314! West Indian Products ... 319

The Use of Electricity in
Agriculture.

HRHE employment of electricity on the farm
; ay f and estate as a form of energy, and the

Bil use, under the same circumstances, of sub-
stances produced by its means, are rapidly increasing
in extent, This is chiefly on account of the ease with
which it may be employed, and because of the cheapness
of its production, especially where there exist natural
sources of energy, such as waterfalls. The extension of

Professor Lemstrém in England, Germany and Sweden.
The method employed is to pass a current through
a wire net stretched above the surface of the ground.
The real effect of this current is to induce another
current, of the opposite kind of electricity, in the soil
beneath the net. Similar experiments are being carried
out by other investigators; an account of one series of
trials in this connexion, namely, that being con-
ducted by the Department of Economic Biology at
Bristol University, was given on page 175 of the present
volume ofthe Agricultural News. Although it was
recognized early that a stimulus to the growth of plants
may be obtained by this means, much more work has

*Farmers’ Bulletin No. 18, of the Department of Agricul-
ture of New South Wales, entitled Hlectricity and Agriculture.

BOTANICA

306

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Ocroper 1, 1910.

Dee _____ noe

to be done before sufficient is known about its applica-
tion and practice to decide upon its economic value.

Where plants are being grown under glass, on
an intensive scale, the plan is feasible of employing
radio-culture in conjunction with the means that has
just been descibed, namely the induction of an
electric current in the soil. An actual system, known
as the Thwaite System of Electro-Culture is under
trial at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In this,
violet light is projected on to the plants from powerful
lamps that may be arranged to send their rays in any
direction; at the same time, an electric current is sent
through the atmosphere and induced in the soil in the
way described above. The plants have, naturally, to be
provided with the proper amount of carbon dioxide and
water, and the stimulus to their growth entails the
insurance of a sufficient quantity of food in the soil by
the use of suitable artificial manures. The dynamo pro-
ducing the electricity 1s ran by means of a suction gas
plant, which also provides the power for driving an elec-
tric machine which yields the electricity for the atmos-
phere andthe soil. Excellent results have been obtain-
ed under this system, the ordinary working expenses of
which are said to be remarkably low

Other methods employing the more direct applica-
tion of electricity to the plant and its environment
include the utilization of the electricity present in the
atmosphere, and the electrification of seed immediately
before it is sown. In the first case, a kind of lightning
conductor is erected in the field, and a network of
wires running through the soil is connected with this,
so that any exchange of electricity between the con-
ductor and the atmosphere causes currents to arise in
For the trials that have
been made in the electrification of seed intended to be

the wires that are in the soil.

sown, the current used was such as may be obtain-
ed from an ordinary medical battery. In the employ-
ment of both of these methods, increased yields have
been obtained; though they have not met with any

extended application, as yet.

The application of electricity for agricultural pur-
poses in less direct ways, such as that of the provision of
energy for transport and for the carrying out of field
operations, is being rapidly extended. The electric
railway, the electric plough and the electric motor are
bound to take an increasingly greater part in agricul-
tural operations, in the future. The last of these is
especially useful, as it can be made to provide a source
of energy for driving all kinds of stationary machinery
on a farin or estate. The efficiency, cleanliness and
easy manipulation of such motors cannot fail to bring

them eventually to a position of the greatest import-
ance in relation to agricultural work.

Among the minor uses of electricity on farms and
on estates are its employment in dairies and for driving
machines used in the household work. More particul-
arly in this relation, the existence of the telephone
must not be forgotten; the utility of this instrument is
being found especially great in the United States,
notably with regard to the transmission of weather
forecasts and storm warnings.

The consideration of the most important indirect
applications of electricity to the uses of plants has been
left to the last. These consist in the manufacture of
nitrogenous manures in which the nitrogen has been
obtained from the atmosphere. The most important of
such substances as is well known, are nitrate of lime, or
nitrogen lime, and calcium cyanamide, or nitrolim. The
necessity for the manufacture of such substances was
most plainly indicated, first, in a presidential address
delivered a few years ago by Sir Wilham Crookes before
the British Association.
familar.

The circumstances of this are
Attention was drawn to the large waste of
the nitrogen that was once in the soil, which is taking
place through the methods in vogue for the disposal of
animal refuse. It was evident that this animal refuse
was originally in the form of plants, and that these
plants had been enabled to grow because they could get
nitrogen from the soil. It required little thought, there-
fore, to show that, unless some means was found to return
this nitrogen to the soil, under conditions in which it
would become available as plant food, or at any rate to
replace the nitrogen in the soil by some inexpensive
means, there was great danger that the supply of this
valuable element would eventually decrease to such an
extent as to diminish seriously the general rate of agri-
cultural production. The manufacture of the manures
mentioned has become a commercial possibilty, owing
to the recognition of these facts, and of the cireumstances
that such natural stores of available nitrogen as the
nitrate beds of Chili must eventually become exhausted.

There is no need, here, to enter into details as
to the manufacture of the substances mentioned—
nitrate of lime and calcium cyanamide; it may be
stated that the first process is described in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VIU, p. 325, while the
production of calcium cyanamide is dealt with in
Vol. VII, p. 398. It will be sufficient to indicate the
way in which electricity is used in making them. In
the first case, itis employed to produce the highly heated
space (or ‘flame’) which causes the oxygen and nitrogen

Vor. IX. No. 220.

in the air to form oxides of nitrogen; these by their
solution in water give nitric acid, which is neutralized
with lime to form calcium nitrate. In the manu-
facture of calcium cyanamide, as well, the electricity is
required to produce heat; actually, it brings calcium
carbide to a temperature at which it is capable of
absorbing nitrogen that has been obtained from the air,
to form the cyanamide. In the latter ease, the special
reason for employing electricity is that it can be
generated cheaply where there is an abundance of
energy supplied by falling water; that is in the neigh-
bourhood of extensive waterfalls.

In what has been said above, there is no attempt
to make mention of all the investigations that are being
undertaken in connexion with the application of elec-
tricity to the uses of the agriculturist. The purpose
has been to summarize the methods of such application,
in a broad way, as a means of increasing interest in
a matter that is becoming of extended importance in
connexion with the production of plants.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

PRODUCTION OF SEEDLING CANES
IN JAVA.

An article dealing with the methods for the production
of seedling canes in Java appeared recently in the Agricul-
tural News (Vol. IX, p. 195), and since this, attention has
been drawn in several publications to the means that are
employed there in such work. In view of the importance of
the matter, an attempt has been made to gain a view of the
conditions surrounding the work of obtaining and cultivating
cane seedlings in that country, as it is evidently necessary to
take account of these in endeavouring to forma true estimate
of the improvements that have arisen solely and directly from
the production and adoption of the seedlings themselves.
Information which will enable this to be done has been kindly
supplied by Mr. J. Lely, Chemist to the Antigua Sugar
Factory, who has spent some years in Java as a Sugar
Chemist; and the chief matters in connexion with the inform-
ation are embodied in this article.

Mr. Lely points out, first ot all, that the general adoption
of the factory system in Java naturally brings it about that
sugar is produced there under mere economical conditions
than in the West Indies, so that the cost of manufacture is
much lower. In regard to the yields of sugar-cane that are
obtained, these are mainly a result of cultivation and irriga-
tion. The difference in the conditions which obtain in Java,
as contrasted with the West Indies, makes it impossible to
form any direct comparison of their respective sugar yields,
on the basis of the influence of seedling canes alone. The
climate of Java is much hotter, with a distinct rainy season,
during which the precipitation amounts to 200 inches of rain,
or sometimes much more. The supply of labour in the Dutch

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 307

colony is better than that in the West Indies, and the labour-
ers are more intelligent, and better agricultural workers.
Again, in Java there is no ratooning of the cane; it is grown
as a strict rotation crop, and the land may be thrown out of
cultivation for several years, for the discouragement of pests
and diseases. One of the chief circumstances, however, that
helps to render the conditions in that island superior to those
in the West Indies, is the extent to which irrigation is
employed. There is added to all these circumstances the fact
that the sugar lands are cultivated by the factories, so that
there is greater economy, efficiency and consistency in working.

It is the general opinion that the richest canes in Java
give the best yields. This is not in accordance with fact, at
present, although it is an ideal which is being aimed at in the
experiment station work conducted there. An additional
point of interest is that the methods of obtaining seedling
canes in Java appear to have much the same value as those
employed for the same purpose in the West Indies. As
a matter of fact, although a far larger number of seedling
canes is produced in the first mentioned country, the percent-
age of these that have to be rejected for inferiority is higher
than that in the West Indies.

These considerations lead to the conclusion that the
improved yields of sugar-cane that are being obtained in
Java at present are as much a matter of improved methods of
cultivation and employment of irrigation as of the pro-
duction of better varieties of sugar-cane. It is certain, in
any case, that the great differences in the conditions of
cultivation and climate in the West Indies will prevent the
yields obtained here from ever becoming as large as they
are in that country.

SPONGES COLLECTED FROM THE
GRENADINES.

His Honour the Administrator of St. Vincent (the Hon.
C. Gideon Murray) has sent, for publication in the Agricultural
News, a list of sponges collected from the Grenadines, and
identified at the Natural History Museum, to which the speci-
mens were forwarded by the Director of the Imperial Insti-
tute, on their receipt from St. Vincent. The list is as
follows: —

Hippospongia canaliculata, var, microtuba, Leudenfeld.

Hippospongia canaliculata, var, elastica, Leudenfeld,

Hippospongia dura, Leudenfeld.

Spinosella sororia (Duchassaing, Michelotti), var.
dilatata, Dendy.

Spinosella maxima, Dendy.

Agelas dispar (Duchassaing, Michelotti).

Hircinia sp.

Stelospongia sp.

A Chalinid sponge.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados by the R.M.S. ‘ Berbice’, for Grenada, on
September 27, for the purpose of conferring with his
Excellency the Governor of the Windward Islands on
agricultural matters connected with that colony. Dr.
Watts is expected to return to Barbados by the R.M.S.
‘Balantia’, on the 4th inst.

308 THE AGRICULTURAL

Ocroser 1, 1910.

PRUITS AND FRUIT GREES:

THE IMPROVEMENT OF CACAO BY
SELECTION.

The Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad
and T'obago for August 1910, contains an interesting paper
by Dr. A. Fredholm, entitled Selection and the Cacao Indus-
try. The purpose of the paper is to point out the necessity
for the adoption of the principle of selection in regard to
planting cacao, if the older centres of production are to regain
and maintain their place in the cacao output of the world.

Dr. Fredholm commences by pointing out the advantages
of seed selection in planting crops, especially the possess-
ion of the certainty as to the kind of plant that will be
obtained from the seed that is put in the ground, and of the
means which is given for obtaining improved strains of plants.
Figures are then brought forward to show that several of the
old areas of cacao production, including those in the West
Indies, are obtaining a decreased share in the amount that is
grown year by year. These are followed by a consideration
of the position of Trinidad. This colony, thirteen years ago,
furnished 22,400,000 tb. of cacao, which was equal to 12°9
per cent. of the whole production; in 1909 its share was 11:3
per cent., with 51,100,000 tb. It is pointed out that this
demonstrates that, although the cacao crop of Trinidad has
more than doubled, yet it has diminished 1°6 per cent., as
regards the world’s output. This means that, if the old per-
centage had been maintained, the cacao industry of Trinidad
would have been worth $795,520 more than it is at present,
reckoning the price of cacao at lle. per hb.

This diminished percentage of production has been shared
by nearly all the old cacao-growing countries. Their share in
the market is being encroached upon by younger and more
vigorous competitors, such as Brazil, Portuguese Africa, Vene-
zuela, San Domingo, British Africa, Cuba and the German
Colonies. Of these, British Africa has made the greatest pro-
gress; its export of cacao has risen from 123,200 tb., or 0°1 per
cent. in 1897, to 52,900,000 tb., or 11°8 per cent. in 1909,
which is an increase of 11°7 per cent. on the world’s production.
This increase on the part of the newer cacao-growing regions
is likely to be maintained, because new plantations are being
made year by year. In connexion with the decreased pro-
duction in older countries, mention is made of the case of
Surinam, where this has been caused by the outbreak of an
epidemic—the witch broom disease; this is chiefly responsible
tor a loss of 4°S per cont. on the world’s production, owing to
atfall from 10,080,000 th. to 4,100,000 tb.

The prediction is made that the first result of the greatly
increasing production in newer cacao-growing countries
will be to change the manner in which cacao is graded. The
use of place names in this connexion will be superseded by that
of the names of the estates which shipped the cacao, as their
produce will be exported under their own marks. It is there-
fore of importance to the West Indian cacao planter to know
the way in which he can improve his cacao in order that he
may be able to compete successfully with the products that
will be shipped from other parts of the world, under the new
system of grading.

The final conclusion reached in the paper is that selec-
tion will have to be adopted for the purpose of improving
West Indian cacao, both in quality and yield. At the present
time, the existence of different strains of trees on the estates
is detracting from the uniformity of the product, and
future labours will be to study these strains in such a way as
to enable the planter to take advantage of the best among
them, so as to obtain stocks and scions of the finest kinds,
with the resulting superiority and uniformity of the product.

THE CULTIVATION OF RICE.

Instructions in regard to suitable methods of cul-
tivating rice in British Guiana have been drawn up and
approved by a Special Committee on Rice Growing,
appointed by the Governor as President of the Board
oft Agriculture. These have been issued recently in the
Official Gazette, and those among them of more general
interest, and relating particularly to the growing of
rice, are reproduced here:—

PREPARATION OF BEDS. Land to be put into rice should
be laid out in beds, with dams 2 to 3 feet wide, and 2 feet
high between. The beds should be carefully levelled, and
arrangements made for drainage, and, if possible, for irriga-
tion. The most satisfactory arrangement is to have the
irrigation trench at the ‘tops’ of the beds, and so tapped that
water can be admitted into any bed independently of the
others by means of small boxed-in ‘kokers’, and a shallow
drain running down the centre of the beds to drain all water
to the ‘bottoms’ of the beds when necessary. In throwing
up the dams between the beds, care must be taken to remove
as little as possible of the surface soil, for the subsoil will
only give small yields, and will rapidly become unproductive.

Vou. IX. No, 220.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

309

Only a thin layer of soil should be removed for making dams,
and it is quite unnecessary to have them more than 2 feet
high.

CULTIVATION. The best land for rice is a loamy clay. It
should be carefully forked or ploughed about a month before
the crop is to be planted, but if the land has already been in
cultivation in rice, it should be prepared at least six weeks
before replanting. This forking or ploughing should be about
6 inches deep, but should not turn up the subsoil to any
great extent. The first part of the land to be cultivated
should be the nursery. This should be situated on the best
lands, as on the careful choice of the nursery plot often
depends the success or failure of the crop. Immediately after
forking, the land chosen for the nursery should be flooded,
levelled and prepared for sowing. The working of the soil,
after forking or ploughing, is usually done with a hoe, or by
means of a primitive form of harrow. Levelling may be
accomplished by dragging a log of wood backwards and for-
wards, or by inverting the harrow and drawing that across
the beds. This preparation should not be to a greater depth
than 4 inches, and the soil should be in a condition of ‘ drift
mud’ before it can be considered to be ina first class condition
for planting.

TIME OF SOWING AND QUANTITY OF SEED REQUIRED.
Sowing of the seed in the nursery should commence late in
March or early in April, and should be completed in the
month of April, if the best results are desired. Only by
planting at this time of the year can maximum crops be
depended upon. The quantity of seed necessary to plant an
acre is calculated to be from 8 to 10 gallons, according to
variety and to its germinating power. It should always be
remembered that sowings in the nursery should be successive.
No more rice should be sown in the nursery than can be
transplanted, when that time arrives, in about a week; for
seedlings in the nursery are generally ready for transplanting
in four weeks from the time of sowing, and are of little use
after six weeks, as they have begun to ‘joint’ at the base. If
5 acres of rice can be transplanted each week by any cultiv-
ator, the maximum he should propose to cultivate should be
25 acres in all, and sowings in the nursery sufficient for
5 acres should be made every week from the commencement
of the sowing to the last week in April.

SOWING OF SEED IN NURSERY. Seed selected for sowing
should be placed in a bag and soaked in a trench for twenty-
four hours. It should then be taken out and placed on dry
land in the shade, and covered down with leaves, etc., for
another twenty-four hours. It should then be thinly broad-
casted in the nursery beds, which should be perfectly level
and moist. No water must be on the surface, however, or
otherwise the seeds will rot. During growth, the surface of
the soil must be kept moist by allowing a small quantity of
water to flow over the beds, or by watering the young seed-
lings with cans. Ducks do not attack germinated seed as
readily as they do hard paddy.

TRANSPLANTING. When the seedlings are about four
weeks old they are ready for transplanting for the general
crop. The plants should be about 12 to 15 inches high at
this time, and should have no ‘joints’ showing at their bases.
The lifting of the plants from the nursery must be carefully
carried out. It is not sufficient to simply pull the plants up.
Before lifting, the soil around the roots should be loosened by
sticking the fingers of both hands down around a quantity of
plants, so that a good ‘double-handful’ can be taken up with
all the mud adhering to their roots. The greater portion of
this mud should then be washed off and the plant put on one
side until about 1,000 washed plants, which are to be made
into a bundle, are obtained. The bundles are then carried to

the fields for the planters and, to save time, they should be
so distributed over the beds that the planters can read-
ily obtain them. The planter undoes the bundles, takes out
a handful of plants, washes off practically all the soil attached
to the roots, screws off the top 3 or 4 inches of the seedlings
and proceeds to transplant. The plants are pushed, two to
three plants ina hole, at distances of from 9 to 12 inches
apart in the soft ‘drift mud’ to a depth of 1 or 2 inches. It
is desirable that when the plants are taken out of the nursery
only the strongest plants should be chosen, the weaklings
being discarded, and it has been found that the best results
are obtained from the Creole variety and with Nos. 75, 3 and
6, when the distances between the holes are not less than 9 or
more than 12 inches.

AFTER CULTIVATION. Plants after transplanting usually
lie flat for a day or two and then commence to stand upright.
In a week, if the land has been carefully prepared they will
have taken root. As soon as a bed has been transplanted,
water, in irrigable areas, should be run on at once and
should not be more than 2 inches deep until the plants have
taken root. Afterwards the irrigation water should be kept
at from 2 to 3 inches as a minimum depth, to 5 to 6 inches
as amaximum. ‘Two weedings should generally be given to
a rice crop after it has been transplanted, during the early
period of its growth.

AGRICULTURE IN GAMBIA.

So long as the ground nut crop continues to thrive and
to give the large return to cultivators and traders that it does
at present, it is difficult to induce the people to take up other
industries seriously.

The issue of 500 tons of seed-nuts by the Government
to the people for planting (mentioned in last year’s Report) is
accountable in a considerable degree for the large increase in
the nuts produced. The above amount was advanced by the
principal firms. The introduction of the Coromandel nut has
met with considerable success.

His Excellency the Governor has obtained through the
late Sir Alfred Jones, Chairman of Messrs. Elder Demp-
ster & Co., a consignment of 34 bushels of soy beans for
experimental purposes. These beans were carefully distrib-
uted to selected chiefs, and their planting and care were care-
fully watched over by the Travelling Commissioners, but the
result has been disappointing, and it appears that the soil is
not favourable to their introduction.

African millet, or koos, continues to be cultivated by the
natives and, as has been shown in the trade section of this
report, its produce this year has been most successful, thus
decreasing the demand for imported rice.

The agricultural schools and farm at Abuko, subsidized
by the Government 2nd managed by the Roman Catholic Mis-
sion, has made great progress, and experiments have been
made in planting cacao, coffee, kola-nuts and other products,
which promise well.

The imported Ayrshire bulls have been carefully housed
and have thriven. They have had some success, but the
natives of the country are very slow in availing themselves of
their services. The number of calves showing an improved
appearance is satisfactory evidence that the cross with the
native cattle will result in a very much improved breed.

Some he-goats were imported from the Canary Islands,
but did not stand the Harmattan wind, and the first consign-
ment succumbed, but it is hoped that their progeny will thrive,
and a further attempt to import and acclimatize them will be
made. (Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 641, p, 12.)

310

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Ocroser 1, 1910.

INDIAN COTTON.

WEST

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date September 12, with refer-
ence to the sales of. West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

A moderate business has been done in West Indian Sea
Islands since our last report, chiefly in Barbados and St.
Croix at 194d. There has also been a sale of St. Vincent
stains at 12d.

The buyers who purchased stained West Indian early in
the season, to take the place of Egyptian, have ceased to use
them, owing to the fall in price of the latter growth, and we
therefore can only depend upon the ordinary Sea Island
buyers, who value them on a distinctly lower basis. It would
be difficult to dispose of them at a considerable decline from
our original valuations.

The Florida market opens at 17d. to 18d., which is about
ld. to 2d. per tb, more than was expected, but we do not
think that the present quotations will be held for long, as the
crop appears to be a fairly satisfactory one.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending September 3, 1s as follows:—

As the crop is reported to be two weeks backward, and
harvesting has been delayed by recent heavy rains, we do not
think that receipts of the new crop will be large enough to
admit of the market opening before the middle of October.

The stock remaining on hand here of old crop cotton is
only 53 bales, consisting of planters’ crop lots, held at 40c.
to 50c. It is quite impossible just now to say at what price
the market will open, but we will, later on, endeavour to
give you some approximate idea of the views of buyers.

COTTON-GROWING IN INDIA.

The Textile Mercury for August 6,1910, gives an
account of the proceedings of a recent deputation to
Lord Morley, at the India Office, the purpose of which
was to urge the desirability of the provision, by the
Indian Government, of every assistance possible toward
the extension and improvement of cotton-growing in
India. Among the delegates was Mr. C. W. Macara, the
President of the International Cotton Federation. The
recommendations finally made by them were as
foll wse—

(a) That, in order to encourage the cultivation of better
qualities of Indian cotton, special attention be devoted to the

selection of seed of the indigenous growths, and that an
increase be made in the number of seed farms.

(b) The engagement of cotton specialists and trained
staff,

(c) The establishment of cotton-buying centres similar
to those of the British Cotton Growing Association in Africa.

(d) An increase in the number of agricultural banks.

(e) The abolition of the export duty on cotton grown in
the Native States.

(f) The introduction of fortnightly ginners’ reports.

THE SEA ISLANDS COTTON CROP, 1909-10.

A report, dated September 3, 1910, received from
Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., Charleston, S.C., in
addition to their ordinary fortnightly report, contains
a statement of the Sea Islands crop for 1909-10, and an
account of the Sea Islands market, during the same
period, the latter of which is reproduced here:—

The crop was late in being marketed, as rains had
retarded the harvesting. Therefore, it was not until the
middle of October that the total receipts amounted to 300
bales. The market opened on October 16, with sales of
400 bales on a basis of Fine 28c., Fully Fine 30c., Extra
Fine 32c.

The factors having disposed of their offerings decided
not to sell further, except at an advance of 2c., which caused
a quiet market until October 30, when they succeeded in
getting the advance asked, selling 1,350 bales on a basis of
Fully Fine 32c. | This demand was principally for export to
England. Having disposed again of all the receipts to date,
the factors were much encouraged and then decided to hold
for a further advance of 3c., over their last sale, being con-
firmed in their views by the active demand for Georgias and
Floridas at advancing prices.

It was not long before some urgent demand admitted of
their selling, on November 6, 750 bales at the full advance
demanded, viz., basis ine 33c., Fully Fine 35c., Extra Fine
3ic. However, with this demand supplied, the market as-
sumed a quieter tone, with the stock accumulating on account
of large receipts. The sales during November, December
and January were confined to the lower grades, viz., Fine
at 32c., and Fine to Fully Fine, off in colour, at 28c. to 30c.,
the buying being for England and the Northern Mills; the
trade generally refused to pay the full prices demanded for
the higher grades. Therefore, the stock continued to increase,
and in February both the planters and factors began to show

Vou. IX. No. 220.

more eagerness to dispose of some of the accumulated stock, in
order to settle their accounts and to make preparations for
the planting of the new crop. Consequently, on February 19,
they consented to sell quantity on a basis of Fully Fine
32c., Extra Fine 33c., which was a sharp decline from pre-
vious asking prices. This resulted in the unprecedented large
sales of 5,000 bales on the above basis, in which were included
a large proportion of planters’ crop lots, the buying being
principally for export to England.

This left unsold only about 1,500 bales of the crop, con-
sisting largely of planters’ crop lots held at 40c. to 50c.
From then on, the market ruled firmer, and the balance of the
crop was disposed of at better prices, with Fully Fine advan-
cing to 35c. to 36c., Extra Fine crop lots 37e. to 40c.

The season came to a close very early, as before the end
of March nearly the entire crop had been disposed of. The
small stock left on hand consists of planters’ crop lots held
at 40c. to 50c., which is above the views of buyers

TAPPING PARA RUBBER TRESS.

Extracts from Bulletin No. 10 of the Department
of Agriculture of the Federated Malay States, dealing
with this subject, and issued by W. J. Gallagher, M.A.,
the late Director of Agriculture, were given in the last
number of the Agricultural News. At the time, it was
stated that the series of extracts then presented would
be followed by a further one in the next number of the
Agricultural News, so that these are given now, as
follows:

TAPPING YOUNG TREES. As far as my experience goes,
the actual removal of latex within reasonable limits, has
no prejudicial effect on young trees; indeed the impression
that such trees increase more rapidly in girth after tapping
can hardly be resisted. There are no figures to show whether
it is harmful or the reverse. I am fairly well convinced that
it is merely quality of tapping which counts. The bark is so
thin on young trees that it requires very careful work not to
wound; the tapping is slow; the yield not big, and there is
more than the usual percentage of scrap. On the other hand,
more cuts to the inch can be done on soft-barked young trees
than on old ones of say nine or ten years old tapped for the
first time.

Young trees, which measure 18 to 20 inches at 3 feet
high, might be tapped as follows. Put on a basal V, 18
inches high, and tap every day. This willlast a year. The
second year put a similar V on the otherside. The third
year begin the one quarter in one year system on either of
the first two quarters tapped, and put on cuts as high as the
girth allows, taking the opposite quarter the fourth year.
I depart here in the first two years from the one quarter in
one year system, because (a) we know that in trees five
or six years old, which have had only one cut put on them,
the renewed bark is thick enough in two years to be tapped
again; (b) the cuts are short and the distance which building
material must move transversely is not so great as in later
years, 2nd (c) the cut on one quarter is too short and the
bark higher up is too thin, if two are put on, to tap without
considerable wounding.

Generally, one cannot say in respect of a young clearing:
Put one V cut on every tree above a certain girth at three
feet high. A number of trees may be large enough for two
or more cuts. Such trees should be tapped on the method of
one quarter in one year. This still maintains the regularity
of the system.

It is scarcely worth while to start tapping unless 65
per cent. of the trees are at least 20 inches and over at 3 feet.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

311

When this is the case, all up to 18 inches may be tapped, and
this will generally amount to 75 per cent. No others should
be taken in, except at intervals of a year. It is quite
common to find planters taking in additional trees almost
every week. This is distinctly unpractical. It interferes
with the coolie’s task, and with the uniformity of the tapping
system.

DISTANCES IN PLANTING. In choosing distances, allow-
ance must be made for fungus, white ants, wind, and
‘weedy’ trees. I estimate that on virgin jungle land, from
15 per cent. to 20 per cent. of the trees originally planted
will have been lost by the time the trees are seven years old.
I recommend 120 to 140 as a reasonable number per acre;
100 is a fair number to have when the trees are seven years
old. Shade is wanted in the first years of tapping, so that
as little direct sunlight as possible may strike the latex on
the cuts and in the cups.

It is better to err on the side of having too many than
too few trees. It is well to start with an excess; and this
would be very advisable if the planter had courage to thin out
in the way he ought.

THINNING OUT. This is an operation requiring attention.
It cannot be left to the care of a native conductor. You
must make your own choice judiciously. It is a waste of time
and money to get over the difficulty by ordering every alter-
nate tree or every second tree, as the case may be, to be cut
out. Poor trees, and those with few branches and leaves, and
over which their neighbours have already met, are those to
cut out. In some cases it may be necessary to cut out three
adjacent trees because they are poor in size.

My present view is that thinning out should be done in
the fifth and eighth years; but the distance the trees have been
planted apart and the growth will modify this Most thinning
T have seen shows a Jack of discrimination.

The roots should be completely taken out and burned,
along with the stem and every branch. The root, if left in
the ground, may encourage both white ants and fungus; and
dead branches and stems above ground may assist the spread
of the branch and stem disease which attacks Para.

TOPPING TREES. There is very little topping done at
the present time, and it is to be strongly discouraged. The
loss from wind when such trees get to five or six years old is
considerable.

Thumb-nail pruning is not quite so bad. Most young
trees, if left alone, will naturally branch, at the latest, at the
end of the second year. This might be brought on earlier by
cutting off all leaves except a few near the tip. _ Personally,
I do not recommend interference intended to cause earlier or
more prolific branching.

PRUNING. This should be commenced as soon as the
trees begin to branch. It goes without saying that no branch
should be allowed to grow below 6 feet in height. I am
inclined to go further and say that a clean stem should be
maintained up to 10 feet high. As I have already said, it is
too much of a demand on tbe tree to tapit completely in four
years toa height of 10 feet, and I do not think much upper
tapping will be done in the future. But it is well to be pre-
pared for eventualities, and bad work below, or other reasons,
may force you to do upper tapping.

I have elsewhere pointed out that a branch must be
sawn off close to the stem. It should be first hacked off any-
how, about 9 or 10 inches from the stem, and the stub then
sawn off neatly and as close as possible to the stem. Tar
should be put on the wound; but it must be applied carefully;
it should be confined to the wound, and not allowed to stream
over the stem. Tar, as most of you know, kills the living
tissue when it covers more than a few inches,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Octoper 1, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price ld. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
Qs. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dlews

SATURDAY, OCTOBER

Vou. IX. 1, 1910. No. 220.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The subject of the editorial in the present number
is The Use of Electricity in Agriculture. It shows that
the employment of electricity in agricultural operations
and production is increasing quickly in extent.

On page 307, an interesting article appears on the
production of seedling canes in Java, a comparison
being given of the conditions in that country, in
relation to agriculture, with those in the West Indies.

An abstract of an interesting article that has
appeared recently on the improvement of cacao by
selection is given on page 308.

On the same page, and on the next one, details as
to the cultivation of rice are presented.

The article on the tapping of Para rubber trees,
which was commenced in the last issue, is concluded
on page 311.

The Insect Notes, on page 314, deal with three
matters that are of present interest.

The second of the articles on some diseases of rub-
ber trees, which are being given under the heading of
Fungns Notes, is presented on page 318.

Creasote for Preserving Gate Posts.

An account of experiments which are being con-
ducted in Antigua for the purpose of investigating the
usefulness of creasote in preserving wooden posts, has
been received from Mr. T. Jackson, Curator of the
Botanic Station.

This shows that, in December 1905, four pitch
pine gate posts were erected at one of the experiment
stations, in each of which two holes were drilled, one of
these being at the top of the post, and covered; the
other was at about 18 inches from the ground level, and
bored at an angle of about 70°. The holes were from
15 to 18 inches deep, and had a diameter of }-inch.
When the posts were planted, the holes were filled
with creasote, and have been kept filled almost con-
tinually since the time of erection.

It is of interest that these posts are still in a per-
fectly sound condition. In order to add to the value
of the experiment, exactly similar posts were erected
in February 1909, but did not receive any kind of
treatment. It will be interesting to compare the
durability of these, in future years, with that shown
by the treated posts planted in 1905.

Agriculture in the Northern Territories of the
Gold Coast.

An interesting account of the trade, agriculture
and industries of the northern territories of the Gold
Coast is given in Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 639,
According to this, the principal articles of export are
live stock, shea butter (from Butyrospermum Parlkii),
dried fish, and general native produce, including maize,
yams and fowls. ‘The largest export of live stock is to
Ashanti, and this trade is increasing, under the encour-
agement of the Commissioners.

The staple industry of the Protectorate is agri-
culture; but the natives, so far, have only cultivated
products such as cotton, maize, Guinea corn, yams,
ground nuts and fibres, to supply the local demand.
Efforts are being made to induce them to grow such
products for export. Cotton is regarded as being the
most important of these, and during the year under
report, the Briti-h Cotton Growing Association sent out
an expert to investigate the possibilities of this crop. In
the result, a favourable report has been received on
Gonja and Daboya cotton, and the opinion is expressed
that American varieties could be raised successfully.

For the purpose of instructing the natives in cot-
ton-growing, and to make trials of other products that
may be raised for export, an agricultural station was
opened at Tamale, in June 1909. It was the intention
shortly to place this in the charge of the late manager
of the British Cotton Growing Association’s stations at
Labolabo. ‘This association is encouraging the growing
of cotton, by natives, by deciding to buy all that is
brought in by them, in accordance with an agreement
made with the Government.

Attempts are being made, by teaching the natives
the principle of selection in breeding, to effect an
improvement in the local breed of cattle.

Vou. IX. No. 220. THE

Trade of Mexico, 1909.

The Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4498 — Annual Series, gives the following information
concerning the products of Mexico, of an agricultural
nature, that were shipped during 1908-9.

The chief agricultural exports are henequen (sisal
hemp) and coffee. Of the former 107,809 tons, value
£2.438,027 was exported, as against 110,746 tons, value
£2,758,224, in 1907-8 As regards coffee, there was an
increase from 21,459 tons, worth £1,081,315, in 1907-8,
to 26,692 tons, worth £1,260,567 in 1908-9.

The shipments of rubber, in 1907-8 amounted to
5,624 tons: this was greater in 1908-9, being 6,015 tons;
at the same time, there was a slight decrease in the
value of the exports. There*was a large increase in the
export of guayule shrubs fur making rubber, namely
from 1,293 tons, valued £125,852 in 1907-8, to 3,022 tons
valued £463,567 in 1908-9. Thus this export became
greater by about 275 per cent.

Fresh fruit from Mexico finds an excellent market
in the UnitedStates,and the amounts exported in 1907-8
(7,239 tons, worth £38,430), increased to 9,351 tons,
worth £49,305, in 1908-9. There was a decrease in all
the following exports: timber, raw tobaceo, dye-woods,
chickpeas and vanilla.

——— ae

A Test for Dirt in Milk.

It is sometimes useful to be in possession of a test
which will show in a simple manner the extent to
which germs are present in milk, especially as the
determination of this gives some indicatioa as to the
amount of care that has been exercired in obtaining
and purveying the milk. In this connexion, a method
of testing, called the Reductase Test, is described in the
Transvaal Agricultural Journal tor July 1910, p. 654.

A description of the reductase test is as follows.
Ten cubie centimetres of the milk to be tested are
shaken well with 4-c.c. of a solution of methylene blue
in a test bottle, or tube, which has been boiled in water.
The air is then excluded by pouring liquid paraffin wax
into the bottle to a thickness of about lem. Finally,
the bottle is placed in water which is kept at a temper-
ature of 45°C. The colour of the methylene blue
gradually disappears, and the longer the time this takes
to happen, the purer is the milk.

The solution of methylene blue is prepared by
dissolving 4-gm. of the pure substance in about 15 cc.
of 96 per cent. alcohol, at a temperature of 70°C. The
blue solution is then cooled and filtered, and water is
added to the liquid which comes through the filter, in
the proportion of 1 part of the hquid to 89 parts of
water.

The test depends upon the fact that the germs in
the milk produce reductase, which has the power of
decolourizing methylene blue: so that the smaller the
amount of germs present, the longer it takes for the
colour to disappear. This explains why air is excluded
while the test is being conducted, for if 1t were not, the
oxygen in it would destroy the reductase that is being
formed by the germs, ane would thus render the test
useless,

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 313

The Production of Rice in Japan, 1909.

The Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4451
Annual Series, shows that the production of rice in
Japan, during 1909 reacned a record, so that the export
figures exceeded 59,000 tons. At the same time,it is prob-
able that the growth of the figures will be still more pro-
nounced in the present year, as much of the 1909 crop
still remained to be shipped on December 31. The large
production was not, however,a great boon to the grow-
ers; many of them complained that a smaller crop
with normal prices would have suited their interests
better. The richer growers have been holding for an
increase in price.

The chief purchaser of the rice was Hawaui, because
of the possession of its large Japanese population. The
amount taken by the United Kingdom was doubled, and
there was a large increase in the exports to France, the
Netherlands and Austria-Hungary.

Tr +

Manurial Experiments with Maize.

One of the subjects treated in Farmers’ Bulletin
No. 107, of the Transvaal Department of Agriculture,
entitled Results of Experiments: Experimental Farm,
Potchefstroom, deals with the conclusions that have
been arrived at after investigations into the manuring
of maize, These are in the nature of a continuous
experiment, which was commenced in 1906. The trials
are in two series, in both of which the treatment of the
plots in order, is as follows: no manure; farmyard man-
ure (8 tons per acre every third year); superphosphate;
superphosphate and sulphate of potash; basic slag;
dissolved bones; bone meal; guano;and no manure. The
only difference between the two seriesis that one receives
applications of nitrate of soda, while the plots in the
other do not obtain this manure.

The experiments are carried out, under the most
equable conditions obtainable, on a brown loam which
is very poor in plant food—both available and unavail-
able—especially as regards nitrogen and phosphoric
acid. The soil also contains insufficient lime.

It was shown, in the result, that the application
of nitrate of soda was not remunerative, and other
experiments confirm this. The explanation of the
circumstance is given as follows: (1) the loss of the
nitrate of soda through the washing caused by heavy
rains, which are common; (2) the rapid conversion of
the soil nitrogen into nitrates: thus artificial appli-
cation of these is not required; (3) the rapidity of travel
of water through the plant during the growing season,
so that, although the soil water contains only small
amounts of salts, enough passes through to provide as
much of these as the plants require.

Potash produced losses which may probably be
explained by its effect on the texture of the soil.

A distinct gain followed the use of phosphates, and
the general advice is given that the farmer should
employ superphosphate and bone meal in the first and
second years, and bone meal alone, afterwards.

314

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocrosper 1, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

A SUGGESTED WAY TO DETECT EEL
WORMS IN CANE FIELDS.

In an article published in the Agricultural News, Vol.
VIII, p. 138, an account is given of the general life-
history of eel worms (nematodes), and special mention is
made of one species, Heterodera radicicola, which attacks
the roots of many different plants throughout the world,
and causes characteristic galls to appear on them. In the
article referred to, the suggestion is made that the roots of
the sugar-cane in the West Indies may be attacked by these
pests, but that the characteristic swellings are not produced.
Cobb, in Bulletin No. 6 of the Division of Pathology and
Physiology of the Experiment Station of the Hawaiian Sugar
Planters’ Association, states that the young roots of the sugar-
cane in Hawaii are attacked by these worms, and that they
exhibit long narrow swellings, in consequence. Although
these swellings are present, they might easily be overlooked;
and besides, when growing under estate conditions, the cane
is not a very easy plant to handle for purposes of observa-
tion of the roots. Consequently, it is suggested that soils
might be tested for the presence of Heterodera radicicola
by the following method.

In several places in the field in which the soil is being
tested for the presence of eel worms, plants should be grown
which are exceptionally prone to attack by the worms, and
which exhibit large and unmistakable galls when they are
affected by them. The remainder of the field may be planted in
cane, in the ordinary way. If the experimental p'ants look
unhealthy, or appear to be dying, they should be removed, and
their roots examined for swellings. In any case, the roots
should be examined when the plants are mature and are dug
up. If galls are present, it will be a sure sign that the soil is
infested with nematodes.

Among plants suitable for the experiment described above
are melons, cucumbers and squashes, more particularly if they
are grown from the imported seed of superior varieties. Ochros
will also serve the purpose.

If experiments of this kind are systematically carried
out, valuable information should be obtained as to the distri-
bution, and frequency of occurrence, of Heterodera radicicola
in the West Indies. The whole question is of interest, as it
is conceivable that the presense of root diseases of sugar-cane,
Indian corn, and even limes, may be dependent to some extent
on attacks by these animals.

A COTTON-EATING BEETLE.

A communication which has been received recently from
Mr. C. Rey, of Anguilla, states that a certain amount of dam-
age is being done to cotton in that island by a small beetle.
The effect of this attack is to delay the maturity of the cotton
crop for two to four weeks, even when no greater damage is
done.

It is probable that the beetle to which reference is made
is the one mentioned as doing damage to cotton, in the Agri-
cultural News, Vols. III, p. 357; IV, p. 266. This is Hopat-
rinus gemellatus, and it has been recognized as a cotton pest,
to some extent, in Anguilla and St. Martins. As is stated in
the second article in the Agricultural News, this insect is
widely distributed throughout the West Indies, having been
reported from Antigua, Guadeloupe, St. Vincent, Grenada,
and Barbados, as well as from the islands already mentioned.

The account goes on to show that growing plants are
rarely affected by the members of the family to which this
beetle belongs; it appears, however, to have acquired the habit
of attacking young cotton plants just below the surface of the
ground, and it is, therefore, important that measures should
be taken for its control, as soon as it appears.

Mr. Rey states, in the communication to which refer-
ence is made above, that he has been making trial of
means to kill the beetles; these have included the employ-
ment of both contact and stomach poisons. The first con-
sisted of carbolic acid solution, | in 24, and kerosene oil
emulsion, 1 in 10, and they were found to be successful.
The method employed is to raise the stone beneath which
the beetles hide during the day, and then to spray them
with the insecticide. The chief objection to this means
of control is the expense in the matter of the provision of
labour. In the trials with a stomach poison, the bait used
was that employed for cut worms (see Agricultural News,
Vol. V, pp. 167 and 182); no definite results have been
obtained, as yet, although some of the beetles have been
killed. Mr. Key thinks that the beetles do not feed
regularly, so that the mixture is required to be effective on
more nights than one; he therefore suggests that on the
second night, the bait, which has become dry in the sun,
should be sprayed with clean water.

It will be of interest if cotton planters in the West
Indies will keep a watch for beetles and weevils attacking
cotton in the field, and will communicate their results, send-
ing specimens at the same time, to the Department.

LEAD CHROMATE AS AN INSECTICIDE.

The contents of a pamphlet, issued by the Agricultural
Research Institute, Pusa, dealing with the use of lead chrom-
ate in the place of arsenial insecticides was given on page
159 of the current volume of the Agricultural News.

Further information as to the experiments which led to
the adoption of this insecticide is given in the Agricultural
Journal of India, Vol. V, p. 138. It appears that objections
had been taken to the use of lead arsenate in India on account
mainly, of its poisonous nature, both in regard to plants and
animals, the fact that it decomposes if it is kept in paste form,
aud of the difficulty of obtaining it. In consequence, careful
trials were made of possible substitutes, and as a result of these
it was found that suck bodies fell into four classes: (1) those
that killed in twenty-four hours; (2) those that killed in
twenty-four to forty; (3) those that killed, on an average, in
from forty to 100 hours; and (4) those that acted irregularly,
or were without effect.

The quality sought in the insecticides were (1) insolu-
bility in water; (2) cheapness; (3) stability, so that compounds
may not be tormed which would poison the leaf. Among
the substances investigated was a dry paint compound called
Lemon Chrome, which is a mixture of gypsum and lead
chromate. The consequence of the discovery of this was that
trials were made with lead chromate, as a result of which it
exhibited a marked superiority over all other substances,
showing the following advantages: (1) it is easily made in
paste form; (2) it is yellow and therefore easily seen; (3) it
is extremely insoluble; (4) it does not usually decompose, but
even if it did, any soluble chromates formed would be less
poisonous than arsenical substances; (5) it is not easily wash-
ed off; (6) it contains no arsenic. The amount of the insecti-
cide (full strength) to fill an ordinary kerosene tin is obtained
by mixing 2 oz. of lead nitrate with 1 oz. of potassium
bichromate. The usual strength is one-half of this.

Vor. IX. No. 220,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 315

ST. LUCIA: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDIC-
AL OFFICER IB. DISTRICT, 1909.

A copy of this report, received from the Colonial Oftice,
shows that the work of this officer, Dr. Lucius Nicholls, has
included interesting investigations in the laboratory with
regard to: (1) rat viruses; (2) the natural enemies of mosqui-
tos and mosquito larvae; (3) the naming and examination
of mosquitos and biting insects; (4) the examination of mor-
bid tissues. In the first of these, the results showed that the
virus was effective if it was exalted, that is to say, increased
in virulence by passing through several rats, end distributed
for iminediate use.

Mention is made of the extent to which ankylostomiasis
occurs in the island; this was shown by the fact that the
worm was found in twenty-three consecutive post-mortem
examinations of adult paupers. The greater part of the
report is, however, taken up by a consideration of mosquito
larvae and their natural enemies, and this will be given
special attention.

It is pointed out, first of all, that Governments with
limited funds cannot be expected to undertake large drainage
and reclamation schemes for the purpose of reducing the
number of mosquitos, and special attention is given to the
usefulness of millions and other enemies of the mosquito in
this connexion. The Anophelinae of St. Lucia are Cella
argyrotarsis and C. albipes, and observations showed that
the larvae of these live chiefly in water where there is
a supply of surface food, contained usually in protected, non-
permanent, unshaded pools, where there is not a continuous
current and where their natural enemies are not present. It
was found that the larvae will not grow unless surface food
is provided.

Experiments with millions (Gvrardinus poeiloides) show-
ed that these could be gradually accustomed to living in iron
tanks, in darkness, in water from brackish swamps, or in water
having temperatures ranging from 55° F. to 101°5° FP.

The natural enemies of millions are stated to be
water-fowl, cray fish and the larger fishes; they are pro-
tected, however, to some extent from these where the water in
which they live is occupied to any degree by vegetation. Other
enemies of mosquito larvae that are mentioned are a small
crustacean of the sub-order Decapoda, and certain dragon fly
larvae.

After an interesting account is given of measures for the
reduction of the number of mosquitos in Anse-la-raye, the
most malarious village in St. Lucia, suggestions are made for
the breeding and distribution of millions locally, and to other
countries. In this connexion, Dr. Nicholls does not appear
to be conversant with the work of the Imperial Department
of Agriculture which has included the successful introduction
of this fish into Guayaquil, and into the Malay States and
Sierra Leone, with the assistance of the Zoological Gardens,
London. (See West Indian Bulletin, Vol. IX, p. 388; Agri-
cultural News, Vol. VILL, pp. 9, 106, 251, 314 and 464;
Pamphlet 55 of the Department Series, entitled MWi//ions and
Mosquitos.) Attention may be also drawn to the effective

manures that have been taken, in relation to local distribution
in Antigua.

A report which deals with much useful work concludes
with a consideration of the effectiveness of the distribution of
quinine, and of the adoption of measures to prevent the accid-
ental provision, through carelessness, of breeding grounds
for mosquitos; and full recognition is given to the great
importance of education in obtaining the general adoption of
measures for the prophylaxis of malaria, as well as of other
tropical diseases.

BAHAMAS: REPORT OF THE BOARD OF
AGRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR 1909.

This report is contained in Vol. V, No. 1, of the Bulletin
of the Department of Agriculture, Bahamas. It shows, first
of all, that progress in the improvement of agriculture is being
maintained in those islands. In considering the general
agricuitural conditions of the colony, it is stated that
the work of the department is hindered, as regards the
Out Islands, by the lack of demonstration farms; although
much good work is being done by means of co-operative
experiments with farmers. The necessity is indicated of the
possession of an agricultural bank, for the purpose of assist-
ing small cultivators.

The total value of the shipments of sisal fibre, which is
the most important product of the colony, was £42,627. In
view of the extended production of this fibre in other paris of
the world, ways are being sought of increasing the number of
its uses. The export of pineapples was worth £22,853; the
market for this fruit, either green or canned, is entirely in
the United States, on account of the inability to compete with
the cheaply produced Singapore pine-apple, in England. Grape
fruits were exported to the value of £1,264, and the ship-
ments of oranges were worth £412, the numbers of the fruits
being respectively, 276,576 and 465,050. The complaint is
made that the citrus industry requires care in the handling
and shipment of its products; and it is stated that more
information is wanted as to possible markets. In the exports
of cotton, an increase of £85 was shown, the total value being
£319. The popularity of this crop in the Out Islands is
increasing, and it is likely that the coming year will see an
extension of the area planted. As regards tobacco, 23,800
cigars, valued at £122, were exported. Among minor pro-
ducts were exports to the following values: tomatos £148,
preserved guavas £97, bananas £67, pumpkins £66, and
onions £48. The production of these is showing a fairly
rapid growth, as increased amounts are being employed for
local consumption.

The chief of the forest products were lignum vitae, with
273 tons, worth £586; Sabica, 95 tons, worth £257; bark
133,156 tb. worth £2,169. In a general way, as regards the
agricultural prospects of the Bahamas, it would appear that
an extension of the demand for sisal is required; the onion
industry does not increase; rubber-growing will not attain
a large importance, because the plants have to be cultivated
there on a small scale; the cotton industry is growing; while,
finally, very much more requires to be done in the direction
of raising corn and ground provisions for local use

An interesting account is given of the work of the experi-
ment station, which included investigations in connexion with
the following crops: arrowroot, onions, broom corn, cassava,
maize, citrus plants, cotton, fodder plants, pine-apples, rubber,
sugar-cane, sweet potatos and tobacco. The report concludes
with a useful account of the agricultural conditions of the
chief among the different islands, from which valuable infor-
mation regarding the Bahamas may be gained.

CaS Ss~
GLEANINGS.

Information has been received as to the amount of sugar
that has been exported from Antigua for the crop season
which has just ended. It appears that this was 12,754 tons.
Of this quantity, 6,411 tons consisted of grey crystals, while
the rest (6,343 tons) was made up of muscovado sugar,

A communication from the Agricultural Superintendent
of St. Kitts-Nevis states that useful falls of rain have been
experienced recently in St. Kitts, with the result that the
condition of the sugar-cane crop has greatly improved. and
that the cotton crop, which suffered no damage, is a promising
one.

An account of the grass Paspalum dilatatum is contained
in Farmers’ Bulletin No. 8, of the Department of Agriculture
of New South Wales. This shows that the tendency of the
roots of this grass to grow deeply into the soil makes it a good
drought resister, so that it is available as a useful food for
stock, even when other kinds of grasses have almost dried up.

The prospectus of a company, to be known as the Beet
Sugar Founders, Ltd., with a capital of £25 000, has been
received recently. The purpose of the company is the estab-
lishment of beet sugar factories in various parts of the
British Isles, and the services of Mr. Sigmund Stein, the
authority on beet sugar manufacture, have been retained for
its use.

A preliminary forecast of the sugar-cane crop of Eastern
Bengal and Assam, dated July 25, 1910, gives the probable
area of sugar-cane for the crop of 1910-11 as 177,700 acres.
This is an increase of 6,100 acres over that of last year, and
is said to be due to favourable weather conditions at the time
of sowing, and the better prices of raw sugar that were pre-
vailing at that period.

Through the courtesy of its inventor, Mr. Oliver Nugent,
a drawing has been received of a new form of hoe. This
differs from the ordinary kind in that the working edge is
serrated, and this is said to add to its efficiency as an agri-
cultural implement. The hoe is manufactured by Messrs.
Elwell & Co., and may be obtained from Messrs. W. Forrest
& Co., Market Street, Antigua.

A report by the Agricultural Instructor, Nevis, for the
month of August shows that, owing to the improved rainfall
during that month, the condition of the cotton crop has
greatly improved, especially where it was planted early, and
that with suitable weather, its future prospects are good.
About 1,300 acres have been planted in cotton in the island,
during the present season; ot these, 760 acres are on estates,
and 540 are under peasant cultivation.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocroper 1, 1910.

An abstract of a paper appears in the Journal of the
Chemical Society, No. 566, p. 1,048, which deals with investig-
ations undertaken for the purpose of studying the formation
of proteids in plants. It is concluded that the nitrogen
absorbed in nitrates enters hydrocyanic acid and amino com-
pounds, on the way to the formation of proteids. This con-
clusion is supported by an experiment in which plants of
Sorghum vulgare were made to utilize asparagin as food.

The conclusion is reached, in the Proceedings of the
Royal Society, No. B. 552, p. 63, that, as regards sleeping
sickness, the insect (Glossina palpalis) which carries the
trypanosome which causes the disease, can retain its ability
to infect human beings for a period of at least two years,
even after the removal of the population from the district,
and the consequent lessening of the chance of its again
taking up the germ of the disease through biting an infected
person.

The Experiment Station Record of the United States
Department of Agriculture for August 1910, p. 119, gives
a short note on a paper which contains the results of experi-
ments in regard to rainfall. In these, observations with
three rain gauges, placed at distances of 4,200 feet from
one another, indicated differences of rainfall which amounted
to a maximum of 68 per cent. of useful precipitation.

The Centralblatt fur Bakteriologie, Vol. LI, p. 455, pre-
sents an account of experiments with the Ratin bacillus, with
a view to finding its proper place among the bacilli. During
the investigations, it was found that Ratin II, which is gener-
ally sold as a culture containing micro-oganisms that will
cause a disease of rats, actually contained no bacteria, but
was largely composed of an extract of squills. (From the
Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXIII, p. 188.)

Reprints Nos. 104 and 105 of the Wellcome Chemical
Research Laboratories, London, deal with the chemical
examination of pumpkin and water melon seeds, respectively.
According to these, analyses of the fatty oils obtamed from
these different seeds showed that the composition was very
similar. Further, physiological experiments demonstrated
that the supposed usefulness of pumpkin seed oil-and resin
for removing intestinal worms has no foundation in fact.

The Taritf Law of Jamaica, 1899, respecting the importa-
tion of articles into Jamaica, has heen amended by a Law,
No. 16 of 1910, dated June 30, 1910. As far as agricultural
requisites are concerned, the new law, which remains in force
until June 1, 1911, admits free of duty all machinery and
engines, as was the case under the old one. It is different,
however, in that wire and staples for fencing, and all iron
required in connexion with roofing, are now admitted free,
instead of being subject to a duty of 16% per cent. on the
value.

Information has been received, from Mr. C. Rey, of
Anguilla, that there are two cotton ginning plants for sale in
that island. ‘he first of these consists of one 5 h.p. Cundall
engine and two Asa Lees gins, the latter being practically new,
having only made 30 bales of cotton last season; the plant
includes line shaft with pulleys, bearings and belting, all in
good order. The second plant is composed of one 7 h.p.
Crossley’s engine and two Asa Lees gins, with line shaft,
pulleys, and bearings, and a baling press. These will be
delivered, packed and f.o.b., on sloop in Anguilla, or Royal
Mail Steamer in St. Kitts.

Vou. IX. No. 220

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

317

ne

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

READING COURSES EXAMINATIONS, 1910.

The examinations in connexion with the Courses of
Reading instituted by the Imperial Department of Agriculture

will begin during the present year as follows: Preliminary—
Monday, October 10, at 9.30 a.m. (except in St. Kitts, where
it will be held on Monday, October 17); Intermediate and
Final—Monday, November 7, at 9.30 a.m. As before, the
Preliminary Examination will consist of a written paper and
an oral examination, and the Intermediate Examination will
include two written papers—one dealing with general subjects
and the other with special crop subjects—together with an
oral examination conducted by members of the planting com-
munity, who have kindly consented to give the Department
the necessary assistance. In both cases, the oral examination
will be held at such a time (or times) as is most convenient.
Three hours will be given for the Preliminary paper, when
nine questions out of thirteen that will be given may be
attempted. For the Intermediate paper, dealing with general
agricultural science, two hours will be allowed for answering
eight questions, which is the greatest number that may be
attempted, out of a choice of twelve.

As this is the first occasion on which there is a likelihood
that any candidates will offer themselves for the Final
Examination, it will be well to consider, at some length, the
scope of this, as well as the way in which the questions should
be viewed by the candidate, in relation to his supplying
answers to them.

It is intended that the Final Examination shall consist
of three parts: a paper on general subjects, a paper on special
subjects, and an oral examination conducted by members of
the planting community; so that it will be similar, in
its broad outlines, to the Intermediate Examination. It
will be very different, however, as regards the way in which
the questions are to be answered. The candidate will be
required to recognize thoroughly the necessity for a broad
treatment of the subjects with which he will have to deal,
with special attention to the knowledge that he has yained
in his practical experience. He is supposed to have learned
already most of the facts of agricultural science that will be
of use to him, during the time that he was passing through
the Preliminary and Intermediate stages, and the purpose of
the Final Examination is to find out if he is capable of
making practical use of these facts, as well as to gain some
idea of his usefulness on an estate of the kind on which
he has received his training. The necessity for keeping
continually before his mind the conditions of the estate
practice with which he has been familiar, and for employing
these in illustrating his answers, is especially important when
he is answering the questions in the paper on general subjects.
The greater the extent to which he can quote examples aris-
ing from the cultivation and preparation of the crops with
which he has been acquainted intimately, the greater will be
the value of his answers. As has been indicated already, he
will find it of much assistance if, while providing those
answers, he keeps well in mind the practices and conditions
of the estates on which he has worked.

In the paper to be set on special subjects, in the
Final Examination, the choice of these subjects will be
guided entirely by that which the candidate made for
the Intermediate Examination. That is to say, for instance,
a candidate who has obtained an Intermediate certificate
showing a satisfactory knowledge, for that stage, of cacao
and lime cultivation, must offer the same crop subjects

(cacao and limes) in the Final Examination, and the same
circumstance applies to sugar, cotton and provision crops,
which must be followed by sugar, cotton and provision crops,
respectively, in the Final Examination. In the matter
of the paper itself, as the knowledge to be shown in
the special subjects will have to be wide and detailed,
a large amount of time will be given for answering the ques-
tions, in order that candidates may have the opportunity of
showing the degree of thoroughness with which they are
capable of dealing with them.

It remains to be pointed out that a commencement of
setting specimen questions, for guidance in connexion with
the Final Examination, was made in the last number but one
of the Agricultural News (No. 218). This will be continued,
and the attention of candidates in the Final stage is specially
directed to such questions, in order that these may serve as
a guide to the kind of tests that they may expect, and that
an opportunity may be afforded of practising the writing of
answers to such questions according to the principles indicated
above. In the present issue, these are as follows:—

(1) What capital and what number of labourers do you
consider to be required for raising cotton on 50 acres ?

(2) Give an account of the extent to which animals are
useful, in relation to one important crop.

(3) What are the general matters to be taken into con-
sideration in packing estate products for export?! Illustrate
your answer by means of facts relating to a crop with which
you are familiar.

USES FOR DYNAMITE IN AGRICULTURE.

Dynamite has been pressed into the service of the agri-
culturist, chiefly on account of its usefulness in providing
a substitute for laborious and expensive digging operations.
The fact that it can be employed in this way is of the great-
est importance in countries where labour is dear, or where it
is imperative that ground should be prepared quickly for
agricultural operations. Among the more common modes of
employment of dynamite in this way are those which include
the removal of tree stumps, the felling of trees, the blasting of
boulders, and the removal of hard-pan, which is the hard
impervious layer that forms beneath certain soils and which,
through preventing proper drainage, causes them to become
water-logged.

The particulars us to the manner in which dynamite is
employed for these purposes are contained in a series of
pamphlets issued by the E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Pow-
der Co., Wilmington, Del., U.S.A. In regard to removing
tree stumps, the method suggested for blasting stumps of the
southern pine may be given as an example. The earth is
taken out underneath one side of the stump, until the main
root is found; an opening 1 foot deep is dug near this, and
a hole 2 inches in diameter is bored into it, at a place 1 foot
below the surface line, and at an angle of 35° to 40°. After
the charge has been inserted and exploded, the stump is
removed to about 2 feet below the surface. In a careful
record which was kept of work of this kind, it was found
that 325 stumps, averaging 28} inches in diameter, were
removed at a cost, including dynamite, fuse, and blasting caps
or electric fuses, of a little more than 18c. per stump. For
felling trees, the method of procedure is similar to that
employed for blasting stumps.

The blasting of large boulders is carried out by drilling
a hole in them from 10 to 20 inches deep, according to the
nature of the rock, and using a charge of | to 2 Ib. of dynap~
ite, after tamping. The removal of hard-pan is ae

means of charges exploded in holes drilled in it, at 1

y
A
A

A

318

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. OcroserR 1, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

SOME DISEASES OF RUBBER ‘'IREES.

PART II.

STEM DISEASES. These, though numerous, are mainly
confined to Hevea, with the exception of that caused by
Corticium javanicum, Zimm., which also occurs on Castilloa
in Java. The principal ones are as follows: —

Ceylon canker, attributed to Nectria diversispora, Petch;
Ceylon bark disease, due to Corticium javanicum, Zimm.;
Malay bark disease, due to Cortictum calceum, Fr.; die back,
due to Gloeosporium alborubrum, Petch, frequently followed
by Botryodiplodia elasticae, Petch, black canker, in the
Dutch East Indies, due to Fusicladium sp.; new bark disease,
in the Malay States, due to Diplodia rapax, Massee; new
stem disease, in the Malay States, due to Hutypa caulivora,
Massee; a branch and stem disease, in the Malay States,
not yet completely worked out, possibly due to Corticzum
javanicum,; horse-hair blight.

All of these occur on Hevea. In addition, a disease of
Funtumia similar to the canker of cacao in Ceylon, has
been reported from Uganda; it is attributed to Mectria
funtumine, Massee. Cortietum javanicwm attacks Castilloa
in Java, and Botryodiplodia elasticae has been found on
certain specimens of the same plant which had previously
been damaged by fire in Ceylon.

Ceylon canker on Hevea was described by Carruthers in
the Circulars and Agricultural Journal of the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. II, p. 446. The disease was discovered
in November 1903, but was not of very wide distribution, so
that the usual remedial measures for canker which were
employed to control it were successful in almost eliminating
it from the island. Though the term canker has been em-
ployed to describe it, no typical open wound is formed. There
are no very definite external characteristics, except that the
bark over the affected spot appears different from that over
healthy tissue. It may be darker in colour, or split in a differ-
ent manner. The diseased tissue below this bark is of a dirty
yellow, or neutral tint, deepening, as the attack proceeds, to
claret colour. No latex will flow from such parts. The causat-
ive fungus usually attacks the lower portions of the stem
and the lower branches, but never occurs on the roots. The
remedial measures consist, as usual, in excising the affected
areas, und tarring the resultant wounds. The disease has
been attributed to a species of Nectria, found on infected bark
by Carruthers. This was also found on dead branches of tea,
and on Hevea fruits by Petch, and named Wectria diversispora,
Petch. The parasitism of the species does not appear to have
been satisfactorily established. (Petch, Annual Report of the
Mycologist, 1905, Cureulars and Agricultural Journal of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. III, p. 281, etc.)

The bark disease due to Cortictum javanicum was
described in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 286, and
need not be further dealt with here, except to add that, in
some instances where the development of the fungus is check-
ed, the wound often becomes surrounded by callus, and in this
Way an appearance is caused which is very similar to that of
canker. It is interesting to note that some authorities con-
sider Corticium lilacino-fuscum, B. and C., as identical with
Corticium javanicum, in which case care should be taken in
these islands to keep pink disease of cacao well in check, for
fear the causative fungus may spread to Hevea, on which
host it seems to be capable of causing considerably more
serious damage than on cacao. References to this disease
may be found in the Agricultural News, loc. cit.; also, Bernard,

Bulletin XII, p. 21, du Département de l’Agriculture aux
Indes Néerlandaises; Zimmermann, JJededeelingen wits Lands-
plantentuin, LXVII, p. 51; and Bulletin de l'Institut
Botanique de Buitenzorg, X, 1901.

The Malay bark fungus, Corticiwm calceum, Fr., is known
as the writing fungus, because the patch formed by it often
splits up in a manner suggestive of hieroglyphics; its general
effect is very similar to that of C. javanicum, as has been
pointed out before (Agricultural News, Vol. LX, p. 286, where
further references are given).

Die-back disease, which occurs in Ceylon, has already
been described in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 270,
and, as it was considered at some length, it need not be further
mentioned here.

The black canker disease in the Dutch East Indies appears
on the branches of trees that have been pruned, and on the
tops of pollarded trunks. Tt is not of very wide distribution,
and should yield readily to treatment. The progress of the
disease is as follows: the leaves wilt, turn yellow, dry up
and fall; the flow of latex rapidly diminishes, and very
soon ceases altogether. A few days later, the tree is dead.
In some cases, however, only the upper parts die, and the
tree puts out branches from below the diseased area. The
bark of the parts attacked splits, and scales off, and between
it and the wood the mycelium of the causative fungus
appears as a blackish down. Among the hyphae of this
mycelium, the brown bicellular conidia of a species of Fusi-
cladium may be found. The hyphae themselves are brown,
septate and branched; after destroying the bark, they
penetrate the young wood and give it a dark colour. As
preventive measures, Dr. Bernard, by whom the disease was
first described, recommends careful tarring of wounds made
in pruning, and filling of the central hollows in the trunks
after pollarding. When the trees are not dead, the whole of
the diseased portion, as indicated by the colour of the wood,
should be removed and burned, and the wounds so made
tarred. (Bernard, Bulletin XII du Département de lAgri-
culture aux Indes Néerlandaises.)

In the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straitsand Federated
Malay States, Vol. VIII, p. 310, an account is given by the
editor, Mr. H. N. Ridley, M.A., of a black fungus occurring
on Hevea in Perak; the disease was also reported a little later
from Selangor (loc. cit., p. 521). The attack commences on
the shoots, which turn black and die, and eventually the
disease spreads to the trunk, and kills the tree. The bark of
the branches aftected shows numerous raised spots, which
eventually split, and reveal the black fructifications of
a fungus. Older branches show large elevated patches, of
a black colour, lcoking as if soot had been thrown on the
tree. The fungus kills the cambium and turns it black, and
the wood soon dies; it is active during the wet season, but
becomes stationary in dry weather. Diseased parts should
be cut back to a point where latex flows healthily, infected
material promptly burned, and the bark below the attacked
areas treated with Bordeaux mixture. It is also suggested
that spraying all trees in an affected district might prove
useful. The fungus was first thought by Ridley to be
a species of Cucurbitaria, but specimens sent to Kew were
identified by Massee as a new species of Diplodia, and
named Diplodia rapax. In making this identification,
Massee remarks that the appearance of the fungus suggests
that it is a stage in the life-history of a Rosellinia. This is
interesting, as a species of Rosellinia has recently been found
on Castilloa stems in Grenada. Dzplodia rapar also occurs
on Hevea in West Africa. (Agricultural Bulletin of the
Straits and Federated Malay States, Vol. VIII, p. 570;
Kew Bulletin, 1910, No. 1, p. 3.)

Vou. IX. No. 220.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 319

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of August :—

August in Mincing Lane, as well as in other business
centres, is always a dull month, on account of the holiday
season. In the absence of buyers there is naturally, but
little inclination to bring forward any large consignments of
new or old products, which by keeping back to a more suit-
able season might result in a much more advantageous
return, Our report, therefore, for the month just passed, will
necessarily be of a meagre description.

GINGER.

At the sale on the 10th there was a steady demand for
Jamaica; 108 packages were disposed of at the following
rates—good bold dullish 65s., fair 60s. to 61s., and good
ordinary 53s. only small sales were made in Cochin and Cali-
cut though about 600 packages were offered, 62s. being paid
for small eut and scraped Cochin. Bold cut was beught in
at 90s., medium at 75s., and small at 60s., while rough brown
Calicut was held at 55s., and washed rough Cochin at 50s.
per cwt. On the 17th the offerings amounted to 155 pack-
ages of Jamaica and 261 of good washed rough Cochin,
none of which found buyers.

NUTMEGS, MACE, AND PIMENTO,

Little or nothing has been done in any of the above
articles; the price of the latter has been from 2}d. to 2d.
per lb., with very little demand.

ARROW ROOT,

At auction on the 17th, 103 barrels of St. Vincent were
offered, the whole of which were bought in at 2d. per hb. for
fair manufacturing; on the other hand, some 21 cases of
Natal were offered, and the whole of it sold at 9}d. per tb.
A week later, 30 half-barrels of Bermuda were offered, but
none sold, 2s. per lb. being the reserved price.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the drug sale on the 11th, sarsaparilla was repre-
sented by 24 bales of Lima-Jamaica, all of which were bought
in at ls. to ls. 3d. per tb., and 13 bales of native Jamaica.
Tt was reported that this kind was so plentiful that there was
but little demand for it, 1 bale only being sold at 9d. per
tb. for dull red. At the auction on the 25th, 14 bales of grey
Jamaica were offered and all disposed of at from ls. 3d. to
1s. 4d. per tb. for fair to good. Two bales fair red native
Jamaica sold at from 10d. to 1ld., and 6 bales of Lima-
Jamaica, ont of 21 offered, realized 10d. per lb. for roughish
quality. A few bales of Guatemala and Mexican mixed were
offered, and -ought in at 8d. per hb.

LIME JUICE, KOLA, ETC.

At the beginning of the month there was but little busi-
ness done in concentrated West Indian lime juice, the quota-
tion for which was £18 10s.; quite at the end of the month,
however, the price had fallen to £18 2s. 6d. Kola nuts were
represented at auction on the 24th by 7 bags of fair West
Indian, which were disposed of at 3d. per tb. The scarcity
of the round Buchu leaves still continues. At the last sale
at the end of the month 6 bales only were offered, the reserved
price of 7s. being obtained tor 1 bale only; an offer of 6s. 8d.

for the rest being refused. Later it was stated that these had
been disposed of at full rates, and for a few other bales
that were anticipated 7s. 6d. would be the price fixed. There
has been a decided decline in rubber. At the time of writing,
hard fine Para is quoted at 7s. 114d. to 8s. Vanilla continues
to command firm prices, with good supplies, Madagascar
74 inches fetching 14s. 6d., and 7 inches 13s. to 13s. 6d.
Seychelles 64 to 7 inches, 13s., and Mauritius somewhat split
and foxy Ils. 6d.

THE PRODUCTION OF VANILLA, 1909-10.

The following particulars concerning the produc-
tion of vanilla during 1909-10 appeared in the Chemist
and Druggist for April 30,1910. It is of interest in
connexion with the note that appeared on the subject
in the last number of the Agricultural News and with
the article on page 52 of the present volume, entitled
The Prospects of Vanilla Growing:—

Mr. Hermann Mayer, senior, sends these statistics of the
1909-10 vanilla-production:

Tons.
Seychelles 10
Bourbon 35
Mexican 70
Comoros, Mayotte, ete. 40
Madagascar and Mossi-Bé 25
Mauritius 2
Ceylon, Java, Fiji, Zanzibar, ete. 10
Guadeloupe and Martinique 15
Tahiti 180
Total (say about) 390

This quantity falls 110 tons short of the 1908-9 crop,
and, as Tahiti shows an increase of 40 tons, the actual
deficiency in the finer qualities totals 150 tons, or 40 per
cent. on the previous year’s yield, which was of full average
extent. Prices during the past twelve months have moved in
accord with the statistical position, showing an improvement
of 30 to 40 per cent. for all varieties except Tahiti; these
have profited by the shortage of all other sorts and maintained
their value, notwithstanding the larger returns. Only
unimportant balances remain in the colonies, and, as new
crops are unlikely to be landed in quantity before November
next, statistically the position appears exceptionally sound.

ST. LUCIA AND THE CANADIAN
EXHIBITIONS.

A letter, in a recent number of the Vovrce of St. Lucia,
shows that the following classes of exhibits were sent to the
Toronto Exhibition, as well as a duplicate set to the Dominion
Exhibition, held at St. John: jellies and jams, crystal-
lized sugar, muscovado sugar, Demerara crystals, centrifugal
molasses, fancy molasses, condiments, Liberian coffee, fruits
in spirits, fruits in formalin, cassava meal and starch, unfer-
mented and prepared cacao, arrowroot, native made brooms,
ropes, swizzle sticks and other useful articles, rum, beeswax,
samples of native furniture woods, cocoa-nuts, decorative
material, including cocoa-nut branches, bamboos and sugar-
canes, together with 10 crates of green limes and 4 crates of
bananas,

320

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Octosrer 1, 1910.

London.—Txe Wrst

MARKET REPORTS.

InpIA CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR

September 13, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
September 2, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1?d. to 2);d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/4; block, 2/6 per tb.

BEEswax—£7 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 52/6 to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 49/-
to 53/-; Jamaica, 48/6 to 53/6.

Corrre—Jamaica, 41/- to 92/-.

Corpra—West Indian, £28 10s. per ton.

Cotron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 193d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 49/- to 51/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 57/-; good
bright to fine, 58/- to 65/-.

Honry—24/- to 31/6.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 10d. to 1/3; concentrated, £18 2s. 6d. to
£18 5s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9, nominal.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nutmecs—Steady.

Pimento—Common, 24d.; fair, 2jd.; good, 2d. per th.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 7/9, fine soft, 7/14; fine Peru,
7/6 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 4/6.

Sucar—Crystals, 17/- to 19/6; Muscovado, 12/9 to 15/-;
Syrup, 13/- to 14/-; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. GiLtesPie Bros. & Co., September

2, 1910.

Uacao—Caracas, 10#c. to 11sec. ; Grenada, 10fc. to L1e. ;
Trinidad, 10#c. to 11je.; Jamaica, 9c. to 11c. per th.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $34:°00 to $36°00; culls,
$18-00 to $19°00 ; Trinidad, select, $34:00 to $36:00 ;

culls, $18°00 to $19-00 per M.

CorreE—Jamaica, ordinary, 10c. to 10jc.; good ordinary,
10%c.; and washed, up to 12c. per tb.

GinceR—8je. to 11e. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 5d6c.; Barbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per th.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grave Frurt—$3°50 per box.

Limes—$6°00 to $7-00.

Macre—35e. to 40c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 8$c. to 9c. per tb.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°25 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—4jc. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°424c. per Ib.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°924c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°675c. per tb, all
duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., September 17,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°75 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°50
to $11°75.

Cocoa-Nut Orr—$1°'12 per Imperial gallon.

CorreE—Venezuelan, 103c. per tb.

Copra—$5°00 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4-00 to $4°10.

Ontons—$2°40 to $2°50 per 100 Ib.

Pras, Sprit—$6-00 to $6°10 per bag.

Poratos—English, $2°00 to $2°10 per 100 tb.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°70 to $4°75; White, $5°10 to $5:20
per bag.

Sucar— American crushed, $6°20 per 100 fb

Barbados,— Messrs, Leacock & Co., September 24, 1910;

Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., September 19, 1910.

ARRowrRooT—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 th.
Cacao—$10°50 to $12-00 per 100 th.
Cocoa-nuts—No quotation.

CorrrE—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $11°50 per

100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1°40 per 100 th., dull.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $60°00 ; Cacao manure, $42-00;
Sulphate of ammonia, $7000 per ton. j
Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$2°50 to $3:00 per 100 tb.
Peas, Sprit—$6'25 to $6°30 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 tb.
Poratos—Nova Scotia, $2°00 to $2°60 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, no quotations; Patna, $3°50 ; Rangoon,

$2°90 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierine & RicuTER, September
17, 1910; Messrs. SANDBACH,

September 16,

1910.

PaRKER & Co,

ARTICLES.

ArrowrooTt—St. Vincent

Barata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STaRcH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHaL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mo tasses— Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte
Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Poratos—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam

Creole

TANNIAS—

Yanus— White
Buck
Suecar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

5, Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTer.

$7°50 to $8:00 per
200 Tb.
32c. per tb.
78c. per tb.
10c. to 1le. per th.

80c.
None

$10 to $16 per M.

14c per tb.
143c. per th.
83c. per th.
$3°65 to $3°75 per
bag of 168 fb.

$4-60

$1-20

None

Qe. to Qke.
$6:00 per ae
(210 tb.)
$4°25
40c. per bunch
$3°25 to $3°50

$144 per bag
one
$5°10
$2°16 to $2°64
per bag
$300
$300
$2°70 to $2-75
$300 to $3°25
$4°00 to $4°10
$2°25 to $2°60
32c. to 5d5c. per

cub. foot
$3°75 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.
$7 50 to $800 per
200 tb... mkt. dull
Prohibited
None
10c. to 11e. per th.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 per M.,
peeled and
selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
14hc. to l5c. perth.

10c. per th.
$3°70 per bag of
168 tb.

2ke.
$5°75 to $6:00 per
bag (210 tb.)
No quotation

$3-00 to $3°25
No quotation

$3°70

$4:00 to $425
None

32c. to 55c. per

cub. foot

$3°50 te $5°50

per M.
No quotation

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

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Volume X. No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. Legislation in the West Indies for Controlling Diseases on Imported Plants;
Fungi Causing Diseases of Cultivated Plants in the West Indies; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; Rainfall of Nevis and Antigua; Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture. No. 4. Antigua Agricultural Conference, 1910; Notes on Some Cacaos at the Dominica
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PAMPHLET SERIBS.

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adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures. the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sucar Inpustry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d,

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4dd.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.; tions. Price 2d.
in 1908 9, No. 63, price 6d. _(45) A BC of Cotton Planting. New and Enlarged Edition.
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.; (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,

in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d. Price 4d.
ScaLe INsects. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [. No. 7, price 4d.; (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.
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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents All
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica; THE EpucationaL Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripGewater, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tue ‘Datty Curonicie Orrice,Georgetown. Antigua: Mr. S. D. Matonz, St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Mutr-W arsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THe Brste AND Book Surpty Asency, Basseterro,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Piracemann, Scarborough. Nevis : Messrs. Howett, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THe Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. IX. No. 220. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS: me 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR, COLONIAL USE

ee el

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLG-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

COTTON SEED MEAL. FOR SALE.
COTTON SEED MEAL,
Recommended by the Imperial Department of highty (80) Sh ee.

Aoriculture as a first class Feeding Stuff for Cattle, Apply to:—
Mules, etc. Special quotations for large quantities, THE PROPRIETOR,
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON Woodford Hill Estate,
FACTORY, LIMITED, = :
‘BRIDGETOWN. | (219.) Dominica, B.W.I.
Q Q T p SiS ae,
&E ‘OR WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
as! Quel XI, “No. Wisc
OWING TO CHANGE OF BLOOD, Containing papers on The Control of Seale Insects in|

the British West Indies by M fF 1 Parasit
THE IMPORTED AFRICAN RAM SHEEP Fe ohe imple. ie Nee wee tate aug oe

Disease; Nomenclature of Scale Insects; Notes on Lime |
ry O R U BA’ x Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Report on a Visit |
to the Guanica Central Sugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manur-}
Offers wiil be received by:— jal Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and
THE MANAGER, The Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils.
Ratho Mill Estate, To be obtained from all agents for the;
St. Vincent. sale of the Department’s publications. Price |
(220. ) (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 23.) |6d.; post free, 8d.

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

INCREASE YOUR PROFIT.

No land in the West Indies is yielding
sugar up to its full capacity.

Improved methods and machinery are
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Our Bulletin on Cane answers some of

the questions; it is free. Write us to-day.

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IMPERIAL

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST

INDIES,

Vox. EX. No. 221.

BARBADOS,

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Ammonia, Direct Produc-
GOW Ole eed.c-cieltsse ees
Arrowroot (New Markets)

330

PAGE.

Green Manures for Wet

Lands:.:; Beep ---. «<- 020
Growth of Knowledge Con-

Ordinance, St. Vincent 329 cerning Soil Fertility 321
Banana Meal 331 | Insect Notes :—

Cacao, Production of, in
1909. nae ocr wos

Cassava in Ceylon, Cultiva-
tion and Uses ...

Concrete Posts on Estates ¢

Cotton Notes :—
Cotton Experiments in
the Transvaal wes
Cotton Exports from
St. Vincent

5 | Potatos Ivish, Material for

Some Pests of Cacao in
Jamaica
Market Reports
Notes and Comments
Oil Seed Crushing Industry
of Marseilles, 1909 ..
Essential, New ... 329

Oils,

}| Paper, Manufacture of

from Megass ... .

Cotton-Growingin Egypt 326 Planting 20 335
East African Cotton 326 | Rice, Manuring of ... ... 328
West Indian Cotton 326| Rubber, Supply of to
Department News ... ... 331) Japan ... Ey ... ... 329
Departmental Reports ... 327 | Students’ Corner oon BSB:
Fungus Notes :-— Turks and Caicos Islands,
Some Diseases of Rub- Trade of 328

ber Trees, Part III ... 3°

Gleanings ...

| Venezuela, Britishin West

Indian Tradewith, 1908 335

The Growth of Knowledge
Concerning Soil Fertility.

=

to the

fertility of the soil.

This matter is naturally of

OCTOBER 15,

first importance to the agriculturist, whether he
obtains his means of subsistence from the soil, or
whether he is in the position of an adviser to those who

*Pages 17, 33, 193 and 289.

Price ld.

1910.

do this.
opening address in the agricultural sub-section of the
British Association, this year, by A. D. Hall, M.A.,F.R.S.,
Chairman of the Sub-section, dealt intimately with

This is probably one of the reasons why the

matters relating to this subject, more especially from
The main points brought
out in this address are of sufficient interest to merit

an historical point of view.
a recapitulation of them here.

It was pointed out, first of all, that the fertility
of the soil was intended to signify the power which
a piece of land possesses of producing crops, under enltiy-
ation. In the seventeenth century, which may be
regarded as the time of the commencement of organized
science, two important questions relating to this were
receiving the attention of certain investigators. These
asked for the causes of the increase in size of plants,
and for knowledge concerning the share which the soil
The
first recorded experiment devised to gain the information
was made by van Helmont; in this,a willow tree weighing
5 tb. was planted in 200 tb. of dried earth, contained in
atub. On weighing the tree, after it had been grow-
ing in the tub for five years, it was found to have
increased to 169 th. 3 oz., while the redried soil only
weighed 2 oz. less than it did at the beginning of the
experiment. The conclusion obtained from the investig-
ations was that been transformed into
the material composing the tree, and this idea
was upheld by Boyle, who grew pumpkins and
cucumbers in weighed earth, and, going further,
distilled the plants that he obtained, thus getting
from them various tars and oils, charcoal and ash.
There were at the same time, however, those who paid
attention to the fact that spring water contains dis-
solved material which might assist in the growth of the

takes, in supplying material for such growth.

water had

plant, but it was not possible, in the state of their
chemical knowledge, to indicate the origin of the car-
bonaceous matter that is added to plants during their
growth.

Experiments dealing with the nutrition of plants
were nevertheless continued, for in 1660, Sir Kenelm
Digby, lecturing before the Society for Promoting
Philosophical Knowledge by Experiment, described
a trial in which the growth of young plants of barley
was increased by watering them with a weak solution
of nitre. Mayow, of the University of Oxtord, went
further and drew attention to the fact that the added
nitre must feed the plants, under such circumstances,
because none of this substance could be extracted from
Others who were interested in the growing of
plants confirmed the observations as to the increased
fertility of the soil to which this salt had been added;
but for various reasons, no more definite knowledge on
the subject was obtained for some time.

soils.

It was not until the nineteenth century, after the
work of Priestley, Lavoisier, de Saussure and others had
shown what is the true composition of the air, that it
was possible to gain any further knowledge as to the
way in which plants feed and grow. Attention was
given at first to the humus in the soil, and it was con-
cluded, from the increased growth of plants in soils rich
in this, that their carbonaceous content was obtained
from it. By about 1840, however, the results of invest-
igations had arrived at a point at which it was possible
to state definitely that the carbon in plants comes
from the air, and the nitrogen and ash from the soil,
It is to Liebig that the agriculturist is indebted for the
general acceptance which was gained by this broad
theory of plant nutrition, as well as for most of the
influence which now makes agricultural chemistry
a matter of exact science.

Fnough was known at this stage to suggest that, as
the supply of material in the air giving the plant its car-
bonaceous matter is inexhaustible, the state and compost-
tion of the soil must be the responsible factors in influenc-
ing the growth of plants. In relation to this, the enor-
mous difference that exists between the amount of plant
food in the soil and that taken out by a crop was first
pointed out by Daubeny, Professor of Botany and
Rural Economy at Oxford, and the real founder of the
It was this invest-
igator who first showed experimentally that any normal
soil ‘contains the material for from fifty to a hundred
field crops’. Considerations of the limit of the growth
of plants, even in the presence of such large amounts
of food, gave rise to the conception of available and

science of agriculture in England.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocroper 15, 1910.

unavailable plant food, and Daubeny attempted to find
a means of gauging the amount of the former by treat-
ing the soil with water containing carbon dioxide. He
did not obtain conclusive results, however, and this has
been the experience of others who have adopted the
same line of experiment. using different acids, such as
citric acid, instead of a solution of carbon dioxide in
water. The reason for this general failure is that such
investigations only determine one factor in soil product-
ivity; there are others*, as is well known, which must
be considered to an even greater degree, in order to
arrive at a true estimate as to its causes.

Other suggestions that have been made, especially
in recent years, for the purpose of explaining the differ-
ences in productivity of soils may be passed over, as
they are at present matters under discussion. It is only
necessary to make mention of the theory put forward
by investigators in the United States to the effect that
infertility of soil arises from the presence of toxic bodies
that have been formed in it already by plants. Daubeny
had given attention to this theory in 1845, when he
produced objections to it that are valid at the present
time. There is the additional objection that, although
sterile soils have been shown to contain certain organic
bodies that may be toxic to plants, there is nothing to
indicate that fertile soils do not contain these in an
equal degree.

It remained for Schlésing and Miintz, Warington,
and Winogradsky, within the last thirty years, to show
that nitrates are produced from organic compounds and
ammonia in the soil by the action of two bacteria,
called usually the nitrifying organisms, neither of
which can complete the work without the presence of
the other. This suggested the importance of thorough
cultivation of the soil, in order that these organisms
may find themselves among the conditions of aeration
and moisture that will conduce to their greatest activity,
and therefore to the quickest formation of nitrates.

The next step in progress was made when if was
discovered by Hellmegel and Wilfarth, in 1886, that
certain bacteria actually assist in the addition of nitrogen
to the soil, by living in the nodules of leguminous plants,
to the latter of which they transfer nitrogen taken from
the air. The importance of this mode of adding nitro-
gen to the soil is too well known to require further
comment in the present connexion.

The results of such investigations drew attention
to the micro-organisms that live in the soil, and their

+ See Agricultural News, Vol. ine p. 257.

Vor. TX. No! 221"

THE FAGRICULTURAL NEWS.

323

study resulted in the discovery of the nitrogen-fixing
organism, Azotobacter, which without the aid of living

plants, and in the presence of an adequate supply of

organic matter, forms a means of directly adding nitrogen
to the soil. In connexion with this, experiments at
Rothamsted have shown that, while soils containing
little organic matter experience a small addition, if any,
to their nitrogen content through direct fixation, those
possessing an adequate amount of organic matter may
have nearly as much as 100 tb. of nitrogen per acre
added to them, yearly.

In face of the dependence which the fertility of
soils was found to show on the presence
organisms, it was hard to explain why the exposure of
soil to conditions, such as heat and various poisons,
which would kill these organisms, always resulted in an
increase of its fertility. It was not until the recent
investigations made by Drs. Russell and Hutchinson at
Rothamsted showed that the soil contains organisms
(protozoa) much larger than bacteria and, curiously
enough, closely related to the white corpuscles in the
blood which enable the body to fight disease; these
organisms feed on the bacteria in the soil. The investig-
ations in connexion with them were given attention
recently in the Agricultural News (Vol. IX, p. 34),
and it only remains to say that they showed that the
effect of the exposure of the soil to moderate heat,
or to certain poisons, was to kill these protozoa, and
thus to give the best chance for the increase in numbers
of the bacteria, in this way enhancing the rate of
nitrogen fixation.

of micro-

The conclusion reached after these considerations
is that the cause of the fertility of the soil cannot be
looked for in one factor alone.
subscribe toit,and the absence, or insufficient presence,
of any one of these will prevent the others from exert-
ing their proper effect. The object of investigations
in connexion with the productivity of soil is to ascertain
the nature of these factors, and to find means of bringing
them under proper control.

Several circumstances

The /inancial Times of June 9, 1910, contains a letter
written with the object of contradicting reports, that have been
put into circulation, to the effect that the trees of Ceara rubber
(Manihot Glaziovi7) only live for a short period, and that they
are not sufficiently hardy to withstand untoward conditions for
any length of time. Figures are given to show that, in
German East Africa, an average of about }-oz. of wet rubber
per tree was obtained from plants three years old, in a dry
season, in a district having a rainfall of 56 inches in the
year. In older plantations, trees from thirteen to nineteen
years old were still producing latex in large quantities, and
even plants that had been attacked by white ants, and had
broken down, grew again and formed new trees.

CONCRETE POSTS ON ESTATES.

In reply to a request from the Imperial Commissioner of
Agriculture, Mr. A. St. G. Spooner, of Bendals estate, Antigua,
has kindly supplied information arising from his experience
in the making of reinforced concrete posts for use on estates,
and relating to the utility of such posts as regards the pur-
poses for which they are required.

After describing his original, unaided attempts to make
such posts, Mr. Spooner draws attention to the fact that the
Pettyjohn Company, of Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A., makes
a portable moulding frame for the purpose of manufacturing
them. This frame is placed on a board, and the concrete
mixture is rammed into it; while it is being filled the rein-
forcing strips are set in the mixture—one about }-inch from
the bottom of the mould, and the other at the same distance
from the top of it. When the mould has been filled with
material, which is tightly rammed, the top of this is smoothed
off with a trowel, the pins which held the reinforcing material
are pulled out, and the whole mould is lifted away from the
conerete by means of handles at each end. The posts are left
undisturbed for a whole day, at least; a better time is two
days; they are then stacked endwise, covered with trash and
allowed to remain moist for a week or two, until they have
hardened thoroughly. The posts that are being made at
present by Mr. Spooner are 6 feet long, and measure 5 x 44
inches at one end, and 5 x 3 inches at the other.

The mixture used in making the concrete is 4 parts of
coarse grit sand, clean and sharp, to 1 part of Atlas cement.
Good posts can also be made with mixtures of finely broken
stone (4-inch cube), sea sand and cement, in the proportion
4:21; but the appearance of these is not as good as that of
the others. In the former mixture, 21} tb. of cement is
required for each post: this is mixed with 1,805 cubic inches
of sand, loosely measured in a box. The mixture occupies
1,350 cubic inches, when rammed into the mould. British
cement is probably better. for the purpose than American
cement, but the latter is cheaper.

Mr. Spooner gives figures showing the cost of making
one post, with cement at 13s. a barrel; these are as follows:—

Pence.
Cement 8°66
Sand (say) 0-50
Labour (by contract) 1:75
Reinforcing material (about) 2°50
Total cost 13-41

Each post thus costs about Ls. 1}d.; this would be reduced
by 14d. if cement was admitted free of duty in Antigua, The
labour required for making the posts is provided by two men
and a boy, and the output per day is from thirty to thirty-
six posts. The mould, however, could turn out about 100
posts per day, if it was kept supplied by the mixture.

The reinforcing material consists of steel strips having
considerable tensile strength, 1} inches wide and ;%- inch
thick, embedded in the posts as described above. The freight
of these and the waste in cutting increase their cost, and
Mr. Spooner suggests that a substitute may be found for them
in the shape of four pieces of stout steel fencing wire, not less
than No. 8 B.W.G., with the ends turned over to prevent
slipping; these would be placed at the corners of each post
about ?-inch from the outside.

In erecting the posts, experience has shown that the
best method is, first of all, to make taut between the strain-
ing posts the wire which they will have to carry, and then
to fasten it to them, by passing a short length of wire
through the holes left in the post, and twisting the ends
tightly round the fence wire, by means of a key.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Ocroper 15, 1910.

PROITS AND RRO aim ES:

THE PRODUCTION GF CACAO IN 1909.

The Journal @ Agriculture Tropicale for July 1910
(No. 109) gives an account of the statistics, published in
Gordian for June 22, of the production and consumption of
cacao in 1909. The following particulars as to the former
of these are taken from that account, commencing with
figures showing the production of cacao in 1908 and 1909,
in tonnes of 1,000 kilos. (2,205 tb.), which may be taken as
being roughly equivalent to the ordinary ton:—

1908. 1909.
Brazil 532,960 33,730
Eeeador 32,120 30,650
San Thomé 28,560 29,620
Trinidad 21,740 23,260
British West Africa 14,260 22,470
Venezuela 16,300 16,890
San Domingo 19,010 14,820
Grenada 5,110 6,360
Ceylon 2,840 3,590
German Colonies 2,740 3,400
Jamaica 2,690 3,210
Hayti 3,150 2,800
Fernando Po 2,270 2,670
Dutch Indies 2,340 2,450
Cuba 860 1,940
Surinam 1,700 1,900
French Colonies 1,420 1,500
St. Lucia 610 700
Belgian Congo 610 700
Dominica 480 500
Costa Rica 340 500
Other countries 1,000 1,000

The article proceeds to point out that several interesting
facts may be gleaned from the tables given in Gordian.
Firstly, there has been an increase in the worid’s production,
or more properly, export, amounting to 10 million kilos. in
1909. In the last decade, 1899-09, the production has moved
from 99,886,649 kilos. to 204,660,000 kilos.; that is to say,
it has more than doubled, implying an average increase
of 10 million kilos. a year.

Brazil retains its position at the head of the different
cacao-producing countries with an excess of about 800
tons over the amount for 1908, which, unfortunately, was
not accompanied by a corresponding increase in the value of

the products; the average price of a kilogram of cacao fell from
959 reis (1 reis=-027d.) in 1908 to 754 reis, in 1909—from
113d. to about 9d. per tb.—entailing a total diminution of
9,500,000 franes (about £375,000). The export from Brazil
is supplied to a great extent by the State of Bahia, which
furnished 28,783,000 kilos. in.1909; this was followed by Para
with about 3,783,000 kilos.

San Thomé continues to increase its crop by more than
a thousand tons, and its product is becoming more appreciated,
being prepared with much more care than that of Brazil and
of Guayaquil.

The very great impetus given to the cultivation of cacao
in British West Africa shows itself by a fresh increase, by
two-thirds, on the crop of the previous year. This large
extension, and the small amount of care that is exercised by
the natives in regard to the establishment and the mainten-
ance of the plants, have not failed to gain the attention of
Mr. H. N. Thompson, Conservator of Forests of Northern Niger-
la, who points out, in «recent report to the Colonial Office, that
itis much to be feared that the cacao plantations that have
been established on the hills rising from the plain are liable
to destruction, in the near future. The vegetation of the
cacao is already losing, in some respects, its character of
persistence; the trees are becoming deciduous, and the
changes that are taking place are so pronounced, that the
Director of Agriculture estimates that, in these places, the
life of the trees will not exceed six or seven years. This is one
of the consequences of excessive deforestation, which is threat-
ening the palm oil industry in the same way.

The increase in the production of the German colonies
is very noticeable. This is from 2,840 to 3,400 tonnes, of
which quantity 2,800 tonnes came from the Cameroons.
(Deutsche Kolonial Zeitung, 1910, p. 379.) Attention may
be also drawn to the slight improvement in conditions in
Surinam, where cacao is far, however, from having regained
the position that it occupied in 1895, before the ravages of
the witch broom disease took place. As regards the French
colonies, production remains much at the same level, or shows
a slight increase.

The world’s consumption of cacao, particularized in the
second table in. the article in Gordian, has increased in
a proportion that is much the same as that of the production,
and the visible stocks, at the end of 1909, were approximately
as follows: France, 20,070 tonnes; England, 9,150; Lisbon,
6,430; other.countries, 34,340 tonnes. Finally, the floating
cargoes figure in the statistics as 20,740 tonnes.

Von. IX. No. 221.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 325

GREEN MANURES FOR WET LANDS.
The Tropical Agricultwrist for March 1910,

p. 258, reproduces the following information, concern-
ing suitable plants for green manures on wet soils, from
the Madras Agricultural Calendar, March 1910:—

sUNN HEMP (Crotalaria juncea). This is perhaps grown
more largely than any other green manure crop. Every year
large areas are grown in the Kistna and Godavari deltas. The
seed is sown just before the paddy is harvested, and the crop is
cut when 4 to 5 feet high. It is cut at about a foot from the
ground, and the stubble is allowed to remain and grow again.
The tops are dried, and make excellent fodder. The sunn hemp,
however, on account of its extraordinarily rapid growth, can
be utilized in many places and under other conditions. In
six weeks the crop will attain a height cf 3 to 4 feet, if the
ground is moist. Thus, on wet land, where water is always
available, or on wet lands where the seed beds are not
prepared until water is available, or again on wet lands under
tanks where the latter have been filled by early rains and
the season for transplanting bas not arrived—under all these
conditions sunn hemp can be grown. On the Tanjore delta
excellent crops can be raised after the receipt of water in the
channels in time to plough in before the seedlings are ready.
Again, the heavy summer rains which last year fell in
many districts filled many tanks which did not expect
their supply till June-July. On the Coimbatore Agri-
cultural Station advantage was taken of this water to grow
an excellent crop of sunn hemp, which was ready to be
ploughed in by the time the seedlings were ready to trans-
plant. On the West Coast also this can be grown with the
April-May rains, and will be ready to plough in by the time
transplanting commences. When grown on only a small scale,
people who try this for the first time are apt to be disappointed,
as the crop is very liable to be eaten by caterpillars; but on
a large scale of 3 to 4 acres, the attack is much less. This
remark applies to nearly all green manure crops. Some
trial fields are often the only green crop in the neighbourhood,
and therefore, are very liable to be attacked by insects; but
when once the practice becomes wide-spread, so do the insects,
and the attack is not so severe.

tnpico (Indigofera tinctoria). This is a very useful
crop to grow for green manure. It is very drought-
resistant, and at the same time will grow on heavy
land even when it is wet, but it will not thrive on land
at all saline. It is now largely grown on the Cauvery
delta. ‘The seed of this crop can be sown at the time of
the harvest of the samba crop. If there is sufficient
moisture in the soi] for germination, the land can be ploughed
and sown as soon as possible after harvest. If it is too dry
or too sticky, the seed can be sown a week or two before the
paddy harvest, provided the water has been drained off. In
the Perambalur taluk there is an excellent practice on tank
lands of sowing Indigo with cumbu (bulrush millet—Pennv-
setum typhoideum) and irrigating from wells. The cumbu,
when ready for harvest, is cut, and the indigo is allowed to
grow, and gives an excellent crop. This is ploughed in at the
time of transplanting the samba crop.

cowGRram (Dolichos sp). This promises to be a very use-
ful green manure crop on the West Coast. It grows quickly,
and is not so liable to insect attacks as sunn hemp. It can
be sown with the April-May rains, and will have grown
sufficiently to plough in by the time transplanting commences
in June-July.

GROUND Nuts (Arachis hypogaea). This also promises
to be a very useful green manure crop on the West Coast,
on single crop lands which are harvested in October. The

land can be ploughed after the paddy harvest, and the seed
sown behind the plough. The crop should give sufficient
nuts to pay for the cultivation expense, while the tops can
be ploughed in. This has been tried most successfully at
the Taliparamba Agricultural Station, and under similar
conditions in the neighbourhood, but it has yet to be proved
whether it will do equally wel! on the lighter and more
exposed lands near the coast, which do not get the nightly
dews which are experienced in the valleys.

DHAINCHA (Seshbania aculeata; see Agricultural News,
Vols. VIII, pp. 271 and 331; IX, pp. 124, 185 and 297).
This plant will prove very useful on lands which are liable to
flooding, or are badly drained or slightly saline. It grows to
a height of 6 to 8 feet, and will continue to grow for several
months. Itcan, however, be ploughed in within four months
if necessary. This should prove very useful in the Cauvery
delta on such lands which are too wet to transplant with the
first crop.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER FROM
MEGASS.

The Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, Vol. VIII,
p- 151, contains an abstract of a paper read by Pro-
fessor P. Carmody, Director of Agriculture, Trinidad, at
the recent International Congress of Tropical Agri-
culture and Colonial Development, at Brussels, on the
manufacture of paper from megass. This abstract is
reproduced below. Reference may be made to another
article dealing with the subject, in the Agricultural
News,Vol. 1X, p. 247.

Attention has been directed at various times to the
possibility of utilizing ‘megasse’, or sugar-cane refuse, for
paper-making, and as long ago as 1839 a process for the pur-
pose was patented. Since that time, little advance has been
made, and the megasse is generally used as fuel for heating
the boilers in the sugar factory. The question was again
brought into prominence when the late Mr. Bert de Lamarre,
of the Tacarigua Factory, Trinidad, announced that he was
able to convert megasse into paper of fairly good marketable
quality. It was found that the crude crushed fibre was too
bulky to permit of its exportation being profitable, and it was
therefore decided either to convert the material into ‘half-stuff’
before shipment, or to manufacture paper from it locally.

A modern well-equipped paper-making machine has
therefore been imported and erected, and has hitherto been
used for carrying out experimental trials. These have shown
that paper of better quality can be obtained by blending the
megasse with other fibrous materials, such as banana leaves
and stems, maize residues, Agave, Hibiscus; bamboo, ‘ bois de
canon’ (Cecropia peltata), sunflower, native grasses, and
other products. The best results have been obtained from
a blend of megasse, bamboo and Para grass.

It is estimated that for every ton of cane sugar produced
there is a ton of fibrous refuse, and hence in Trinidad, there
are 50,000 tons of fibrous material available per annum.
This amount would probably yield 40,000 tons of pulp,
worth at least £200,000. Ifa better class of paper pulp was
prepared, the yield would possibly be reduced to 30,000 tons,
worth £12 per ton, or a total of £360,000; or if the megasse
was blended with bamboo and Para grass, the pulp would be
worth £15 per ton or a total of £450,000. Mauch of the
paper could no doubt be used locally for wrapping purposes.
The utilization of sugar-cane refuse in this manner is regard-
ed as well worthy of consideration by those engaged in the
cane sugar industry.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Octoper 15, 1910.

4
arto iiss

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date September 26, with refer-
ence to the sale of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

West Indian Sea Islands have been rather neglected
since our last report, as buyers are waiting to see the price
at which American Sea Island cotton is likely to rule before
buying freely.

The sales were at first confined to about 40 bales of
stained cotton at 94d. to 12d. per tb. Later 150 bales were
sold; they comprised Jamaica, St. Croix, Anguilla, Virgin
Islands and Barbuda, at 18d. to 183d., and a few Barbados
at 19d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending September 24, is as follows:—

There have been no receipts of the new crop as yet, and
owing to the backwardness of the crop it may be a fortnight
before it commences to come to market.

COTTON-GROWING IN EGYPT.

Mr. Lawrence Balls, the Economic Botanist to the
Khedivial Agricultural Society, has just published an im-
portant statement with reference to the suspected connexion
between the repeated partial failures of the Egyptian cotton
crop and the cumulative water-logging of subsoil. The
present appearance of the Egyptian cotton crop is excellent.
The acreage is unusually large, and the plant promises well.
The Government has prolonged the period of restricted water-
supply to the cultivators, but it is feared that the level of
the water table and the condition of the subsoil are such as
may yet cause a rapid deterioration in the condition of the
plants. In Mr. Ball’s opinion the collapse of the 1909 crop
was principally due to the accumulation of water in the
subsoil, raising the well-level or water table, and so leaving
insufficient soil for healthy root development. <A geologist,
a mathematician, two chemists, an entomologist, an engineer,
several agriculturists, and a cotton expert are all contributing
their special researches in the elucidation of a problem in
economic botany which, in its elaborate simplicity and com-
mercial importance is, says Mr. Balls, almost unique. All
these investigations converge upon one object, namely,
a better understanding of the root system of the cotton plant,
and of the effect produced on the crop by insufticient or
interrupted root development. Mr. Balls points cut that
important changes in the soil brought about by water-logging
year after year must give rise to a residual effect. The
mischief done is cumulative and persistent, and ‘the excessive
water-supply of 1909 may be expected to cause some injury
to the 1910 crop, even though the water-supply in 1910 be

not excessive. In other words, land which has been water-
logged should be expected to go through a period of convalese-
ence, and not to make an immediate recovery when the
water table is lowered.’ It would seem from this that, not-
withstanding the continuing of the rotations a month beyond
their usual time this year, and the present favourable appear-
ance of the crop, the certainty of a bountiful crop is by no
means as yetensured. (The Journal of the Royul Socvety of
Arts, September 2, 1910.)

EAST AFRICAN COTTON.

A special effort is about to be made near the banks of
the river Juba, in East Africa, to grow cotton, and a conces-
sion has been made to a syndicate for this purpose. It is
claimed that the land in question will produce a large quan-
tity of cotton per acre, equal in quality to Egyptian staples.
There are good transport facilities in the neighbourhood of
the selected area, and excellent means of irrigation can be
provided. The Juba is similar to the Nile in overflowing
its banks periodically, and leaving deposits of soil containing
good fertilizing properties. The scheme has not yet been
put into operation, (The 7extile Mercury, September 3, 1910.)

COTTON 'EBXPERIMENTS IN THE
TRANSVAAL.

The first crop of Transvaal cotton has been picked at the
Rusterberg Experimental Farm, and it is stated by Govern-
ment experts that the crop, as compared with a similar variety
grown in the United States, comes out well. The entire crop
was excellent, the initial picking yielding 260 tb. per acre.
Some of the bolls have been publicly exhibited, and described
as being exceptionally fine. The whole experiment shows
that cotton can be produced in the Transvaal equal to, if not
better than, American cotton, and, it is alleged, under plea-
santer climatic conditions than those which prevail in the
States. (The Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, August
26, 1910.)

Cotton Exports from St. Vincent.—The amount
of cotton exported from St. Vincent during the quarter ending
September 30, 1910, was 4 bales, of a weight of 1,440 b.,
and having an estimated value of £114. All this cotton was
Sea Island, and was sent to the United Kingdom.

On the receipt of the returns from the other West Indian
colonies and British Guiana, the details of the total amount
of cotton exported during the quarter mentioned will be
published in the Agricultural News.

Vou. IX. No. 221.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS 327

THE BOTANIC

ON
STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL AND EXPERI
MENT PLOTS, 1909-10.

The financial statement made at the commencement of
this report’shows that the total expenditure in connexion with
the Botanic Station and Special Agricultural Services, during

Sf LUCIA: REPORT

1909-10, was £723 14s. 5d. This sum, which is £60 9s. 2d.
less than that of last year, included £398 3s. 11d. received
from the Imperial Grant-in-aid. The receipts from the sales
of plants, trees and flowers were £30 11s. >

The station has been maintained in good condition,
although the state of the northern part of it is not satis-
factory, because of the flooding of the land from time to time,
and it appears that improvements in the direction of raising
the Jand and walling the drains are required, in order that
this portion of it may become useful.

The extent of the distribution of economic plants from
the nurseries at the Botanic Station and the Agricultural
School continues to increase. ‘lhe share of the latter institu-
tion in this is much greater than that of the former, as i
shown by the fact that, in a total distribution of 77,55
plants, 73,353 were sent out from the Agricultural School.
These figures do not include those relating to the distribution
of seed and cuttings.

The rainfall for the-year was 85°43 inches, the three
wettest months being June, August and October, with 10°20,
13:44 and 10°32 inches, respectively. The highest tempera-
ture measured was 92°, on August 16, while the lowest was
62°0°, on March 2.

During the year, a scheme of prize-holdings competitions
has been introduced into the island, particulars of which are
published as an appendix to the report. Other work of an
educative nature has included the provision of assistance in
relation to the pursuit of nature study in the elementary
schools, and the giving of aid to those taking the examina-
tions held in connexion with the Courses of Reading of the
Imperial Department of Agriculture.

The report includes interesting notes on soil examination,
and on insect pests and fungus diseases, especially in relation
to the control of the former of these. It is hoped that the
information obtained by the carrying out of soil examination
will be of the greatest use, eventually, in giving information
as to the suitability of lands in the different parts of the
island for the growing cf cacao

The expenditure on the Agricultural School, during the
year, was £688 10s. 3d., excluding the emoluments of the
officer in charge. There was a monetary return of £151 8s. 1dd.
from the sale of plants, produce and live stock. ‘The report
on the school shows that satisfactory progress has been made,
and that the discipline and health of the pupils are good.
Three new boys were admitted during the year; ten pupils
were discharged after completing their course of training, and
two as physically unfit.

The report proper concludes with interesting details in
relation to oranges, Para rubber, Central American rubber,
seedling canes, Bengal beans, mangos and cacao, grown on

“Ia”

the experiment plots. As regards the last named crop,
a scheme of experiments in various kinds of cultural treat-
ment has been formulated. The information in regard to
live stock shows that this has filled a position of usefulness
in the island.

Reference has been made already to the appendix con-
taining details of the prize-holdings scheme. There are two
other appendixes, the first of which contains a report on
lectures in elementary agricultural science given by the
Agricultural Superintendent to teachers in the primary
schools; the second presents a report by the Agricultural
Superintendent on the teaching of agriculture in such schools
during 1909. These show that a great deal of assistance is
being given by the Department of Agriculture in St, Lucia
with the teaching of nature study and the principles of agri-
culture in the primary schools.

TORTOLA: REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENT
STATION, 1909-10.

The expenditure at this station during 1909-10 was
£598 Os. 3d., which is an increase of £98 15s. 10d., caused
by the effecting of several improvements and additions to the
station. The sum was provided by the balance brought for-
ward at the end of the preceding period; it included
£14 Os. 5d. decrease in the expenditure from the Imperial
Grant-in-aid. The receipts from the sale of produce, old
stores, and from the rent and sale of land, amounted to
£88 10s.

The improvements and additions at the station related
chiefly to the sugar and cotton industries, and to the water-
supply. As regards the distribution of plants, there was little
demand during the year, notwithstanding the fact that this
is free. The amount of cotton seed sent out from the station
was 957 Ib., sold at 4c. per Ib.

The details given in relation to the experiment plots
show that these were occupied by cotton, sugar-cane, sweet
potatos, cassava, limes, pine-apples, cacao, coffee and arrow-
root. Among the results obtained in these experiments are
the indication of the advisability of the earlier planting of
cotton, and that of the special suitability of the seedlings
B.147, and B.208, under certain circumstances, to condi-
tions in Tortola. There are signs that the export trade in
sweet potatos and limes is increasing; as regards cacao, it
seeins that this may eventually be grown for shipment to
a limited extent. The local demand absorbs, at present, all
the cassava, pine-apples and coffee produced.

The rainfall of the period was exceptional, being 64:12
inches, while the average at the experiment station for the
last nine years was 54°49 inches. The increased annual pre-
cipitation was mainly due to heavy rains in November.

An interesting appendix to the report treats of the
cotton, lime and sugar industries. A check has been received
by the first of these. because of low prices and unfavourable
weather, but this is likely to be only temporary. Limes, as
well as cotton, are purchased by the Government, and an
increase is taking place in the extent to which the former
crop is grown. The increased facilities that have been ob-
tained for the manufacture of sugar are likely to cause
a greater interest to be taken in this product.

The work of the Agricultural Instructor has included
the holding of meetings in connexion with the cotton and
lime industries. Through his efforts, a collection of exhibits
was sent to the Canadian National Exhibition, 1909. The
agricultural interests of the out-districts of Tortola and of the
out-islands have been served directly by means of visits by
this Officer.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Gaaciioner Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Oo., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural News

Vou. IX.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1910. No. 221.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this number deals with The Growth
of Knowledge Concerning Soil Fertility. It presents the
chief matters brought forward in the opening address
given before the Agricultural Sub-section of the British
Association.

An interesting and useful article on the manutac-
ture and employment of concrete posts on estates is
given on page 323.

Page 324 contains the statistics of cacao production
during 1909.

An article on page 325 gives suggestions in rela-
tion to green manures that are suitable for employment
on wet lands. ‘The information contaimed in it should
be of use in certain parts of the West Indies,

The Annual Reports on the Botanic Stations, ete.,
in St. Lucia and Tortola, are reviewed on page 327.

The Insect Notes, on page 330, give extracts from
a paper that has appeared recently, which presents
information concerning several insect pests in Jamaica.
The extracts deal more especially with certain harmful
insects attacking cacao in that colony.

The Fungus Notes contain the concluding part of
the articles that have been appearing on Some Diseases
of Rubber Trees. ‘These articles, together, should form
a useful summary of what is known up to the present
concerning such diseases.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocrosper 15, 1910.

Trade of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Colonial Reports—A nnual, No. 646 is issued as
a report on the Turks and Caicos Islands, for 1909, by the
Commissioner, Mr. F. H. Watkins, L.8.O., lately Commis-
sioner of Montserrat. It shows that the values of imports
and exports during the year were £25,262 and £18,936,
respectively. These are the lowest values on record since
1879. Although increased prices were obtained for the
principal export —salt—the shipments fell from £19,439
to £15,732 in value, the reason for the short crop being
the disastrous hurricane of 1908. The value of the
sisal exported was lower for the same cause, being
£608 as against £1,664 in the previous year. There
was also a decrease in the values of the sponges and
conchs exported; these were £953 and £510, respec-
tively.

—_

The Manuring of Rice.

The Hawaiian Forester and Agriculturist for
July 1910 contains the continuation of a report on rice
and cotton investigations in China and Japan. Atten-
tion is drawn, in this, to the fact that the paddy fields
of Japan, even after centuries of heavy cropping, have
increased in fertility every year, and that this increase
has taken place to the greatest extent in their nitrogen
content. This condition is contrasted with that existing
on Hawaiian rice lands, which are continually becoming
more impoverished, especially in the matter of nitrogen.
It is suggested that the proper means for rectifying
this is the adoption of the Japanese practice of using
green manures, compost, and other organic manures,
together with crop rotation with intertillage, according
to the methods of the Japanese.

Experiments conducted by Japanese investigators
have shown that the use of ammonium sulphate as
a manure on rice soils results in an increase of yield,
though-it is uncertain as to whether this increase . will
continue to be maintained by the employment of that
manure alone. It has certainly been shown, already,
that an extensive use of this produces changes in the
physical condition of the soil, which may be eventually
deleterious

In consequence of the fact that sulphate of am-
monia has continually shown itself to be more readily
available for the rice plant than nitrate of suda, the sug-
gestion has arisen that this plant is capable of assimilat-
ing its nitrogen directly in the form of ammonium
sulphate. Investigations undertaken for the purpose
of gaining certain knowledge on this point have shown
that there are good grounds for the suggestion. Rice
plants have been found to thrive where ammonium
nitrogen was present but where there was complete
absence of nitrate nitrogen. It appears to have been
proved that ammonium nitrogen and organic nitrogen
cannot change into nitrate nitrogen under the conditions
of submerged cultivation, It has been shown, further,
that under such conditions, very little nitrate nitrogen
is actually available for plant nutrition, on account
of the extent to which reversion takes place, and*because
of the loss by leaching. This matter of the direct use

Vor. IX. No. 221.

of nitrogen in ammonium sulphate ly the rice plant
is of much interest in relation to recent work on the
absorption of this substance by plants, by Hutchinson
and Miller, of the Rothamsted Experiment Station.
A general account of this work is contained in the
Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 97, to which reference is
made.

The Supply of Rubber to Japan.

It is pointed out, in Diplomatic and Consular
Reports, No. 4511 Annual Series, that, as is the case
in all other parts of the world, rubber has begun to
attain greater importance in Japan. Up to the
present, purchases have been small, but the fact that
they have increased from 606,728 tb., valued at £59,800,
in 1906, to 1,331,826 th., valued at £150,000, in 1909,
shows that the use of this product for manufacturing
purposes in that country is becoming greater. The
supplies are drawn from the Straits, Dutch Indies,
London and America; they are required chiefly by the
electric wire work companies, but a fairly large amount
of rubber is consumed by rubber factories which chiefly
make rubber tyres, rubber soles for ‘tabi’ (Japanese
socks), and rubber balls. An increased use for tyres
has been brought about owing to their adoption for
jinrikisha in Tokio and Yokohama. Among the com-
panies, there is a well known British one which manu-
factures cycle and other tyres; while there is another
British company which makes rubber goods required
in surgery.

In order to obtain a home supply, experimental
plantations of rubber were made in Formosa a few years
ago, and these tend to show that the prospects of rubber
production in that island are good. Wild rubber exists
there, but its collection is not feasible, on account of
the fact that it grows in the savage districts, so that the
operation 1s rendered difficult and expensive.

Tr

Some New Essential Oils.

The Semi-annual Report of Messrs. Schimmel
& Co., issued last April, contains particulars of three
new essential oils. ‘he first of these is obtained from
the leaves of Cinnamonum Tamala, which is a tree
of medium size common in Southern Asia; it yields
Mutterzimt, Cassia Lignea, or wood cassia. In former
yeurs, the leaves were met with in commerce as Folia
Malabathri, but this is no longer the case, though they
are still] used medicinally in the East Indies. The
essential oil obtained from them is lemon-yellow in
colour, and possesses a clove-like, slightly peppery odour.
The sp. gr. at 15°C. is 1:0257. The oil possesses a high
eugenol content, and is thus allied closely to the ordin-
ary oil from Ceylon cinnamon leaves,

Another oil has been obtained from the leaves of
the guava (Psidium Guava), which, when chewed, are
said to be a remedy for toothache. The oil is of
a lemon-yellow colour, and has a faint aromatic odour.
Its sp. gr. at 15° C. is 0°9157, and it is soluble in about
10 volumes of 90 per cent. alcohol.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

329

A sample of oil was received from the Imperial
Institute which had been prepared in Cyprus from
Mentha silvestris. Its colour is yellow, and it possesses
a faintly mint-like odour; the sp. gr. at 15° C. is 0'9701.
It contains menthol, pulegone and phenol, so that it is
prevented from being used either as peppermint oil, or
as European pennyroyal, or origanum oil.

Cultivation and Uses of Cassava in Ceylon.

The Progress Report of the Ceylon Agricultural
Society, dated August 1, 1910, gives an account of
cassava cultivation in the Jaffna Peninsula. The area
in this crop at present is about 1,000 acres, and the
cultivation is extending. The roots that are obtained
are used as food, in several ways: (1) they are peeled,
sliced into pieces about 24 inches long, boiled with salt
and vaten by the coolies, either with or without cocoa-
nut scrapings; (2) slices made in the way described are
boiled in the water of the cocoa-nut and eaten by the
middle classes in the place of rice and curry; (3) the
roots are peeled and cut into small cubes, then put
with the usual condiments and cocoa-nut milk to form
curry. and the mixture is eaten, with rice, by all classes;
(4) after the roots have been peeled, they are dried in
the sun and converted into flour, which is used for
the purpose of making different kinds of cakes and
simular edibles. It is well known, also, that this flour
is employed as an adulterant for wheat flour, by the
bakers of Jaffna.

These uses for cassava in Ceylon suggest that the
ways of employing the root as food in the West
Indies may be extended.

The Arrowroot (New Markets) Ordivance,
St. Vincent.

At a meeting of the Legislative Council, of
St. Vincent, held on September 27, 1910, an Ordinance
to be known as the Arrowroot (New Markets) Ordin-
ance was introduced and passed.

The framing of the Ordinance has taken place
under the auspices of the St. Vincent Arrowroot Grow-
ers’ and Exporters’ Association (see Agricultural News,
Vol. IX, p. 285), and its purpose is to afford means for
obtaining new markets for St. Vincent arrowroot by
suitable schemes of advertisement. It provides for the
imposition of an additional export tax of 6d. per barrel
on arrowroot. This will be collected at the Treasury in
the usual way, and will form a fund to be employed in
paying for such means of advertisement as may be
deemed fitting by the committee of management of the
Association.

After the passing of the bill, a vote of thanks was
tendered to His Honour the Administrator, to whom
the St. Vincent Arrowroot Growers’ and Exporters’
Association recognized its indebtedness for the com-
mencement of the work which has resulted in the pre-
sent possession of the Ordinance.

330

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Octoser 15, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

SOME PESTS OF CACAO IN JAMAICA.

The following is extracted from an article by
Professor R. Newstead, M.Sc., A.LS., ete , which appears
in the July number of the Journal of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society:—

ANTS DESTROYING THE FLOWERS OF THE CACAO. So far
as one could gather, the most destructive insect pest to the
cacao in Jamaica is a small black ‘fire ant’, apparently
a Myrmicid of the genus Solenopsis. It has been impossible
so far to get this insect identified in this country, but it is in
all probability known to the American entomologists. In its
nest-building habits it resembles the terrestrial species of
Formica and other allied genera found in the British Isles
and in other parts of the world. The nests of the species in
question were, however, generally constructed so that they
were partly protected from the direct rays of the tropical
sun, being sometimes completely overshadowed by the cacao
trees. In the Chapelton district their nests were found
scattered all over the plantations, and the ants were found
foraging about the branches of a very large percentage of the
cacao trees. The nests were often placed close to the trees
on which the ants were found wandering about; but in several
instances these structures were also found on the outskirts of
the plantation, without apparently any regard to the distance
the ants had to travel in order to reach their feeding grounds.

Many of the trees were found swarming with these
insects, but it was some time before one could obtain any clue
to the object of their search. Eventually it was discovered
that they were attracted by the ‘honey dew’ secreted by
small colonies of plant lice (Aphidae), which were feeding
upon the leaves of the cacao, generally speaking, at some
considerable distance from the main stem and_ branches.
In order, apparently, to screen their movements, the ants
constructed for themselves a narrow gallery or covered
way, Jeading from the ground up to a point where the
brenches diverge from the main stem or trunk, or some-
times even to a greater elevation. The gallery was in
all cases formed of pellets of earth, of a very fragile nature
and easily removed. Having reached the main branches of
the cacao under cover the insect sought further protection by
forming larger covered ways among the dead tlowers which
had accumulated in the bifurcations of the branches and also
among the clusters or ‘cushions’ of flowers upon the main
branches. In the latter case the pedicels of the flowers had
apparently been injured in such a way as to prevent them
from falling from the tree, so that they remained in situ,
shrivelled and dry, for indefinite periods, forming excellent
retreats for the ants.

From these shelters, they seemed to be constantly mov-
ing to and fro among the upper.branches of the cacao, seek-
ing for the sweet juice secreted by the aphides. The dead
flower-clusters were easily removed and, although carefully
examined, did not appear to be cemented together by soil or
other substances. At first, one suspected that the flowers
had died from some unknown disease, but after careful investig-
ation one came to the same conclusion as the planter, that
they were destroyed by the ants. This was confirmed by the
fact that the dead ‘eushions’ always occurred upon the
lower portions of the main branches, and that they were
invariably tenanted by these insects. The loss occasioned in
this way was often considerable, and several methods of check-
ing their ravages had heen attempted with, unfortunately,
but little success.

A mixture of lime, kerosene, turpentine, etc., had been
tried as a preventive, but had proved a failure. Gas lime
applied to the earth near the tree was effectual for a time,
but on losing its offensive odour became useless. The system
of grease-banding, in use in the country and elsewhere, was
recommended for the pest, and as both tar and grease were
available it was suggested that this might be used as a sub-
stitute for the proprietary article manufactured for such pur-
poses. The result has not yet been communicated to me,
and I am still in doubt as to whether such a com-
pound will retain its viscosity for a sufticiently long
period in the tropics, and thus act as a_ barrier to
the inroads of the ants. This preparation should be
appled to a strip of grease-proof paper to prevent direct
contact with the bark of the tree.

LARVAE OF A WOOD-BORING BEETLE INJURING THE CACAO
TREE. ‘The larva of a longicorn beetle was tunneling the bark
and wood of cacao trees in the Chapelton district. Its
occurrence was extremely local, and so faras one could gather
was fortunately, not of a serious nature. All the examples
discovered had confined their attacks to the lower portions of
the stem or main branches and always tenanted a spot which
showed evident signs of either previous injury or decay. The
subject requires further investigation, though it is doubtful
whether the insect can, for the present at least, be looked upon
as a serious pest.

As a means of prevention, tar should be applied to the
ends of all freshly eut branches or other wounds produced by
pruning or by other means, as a precautionary measure against
the attacks of this insect.

GIRDLER-WEEVIL OF THE ORANGE AND CACAO (Prepodes
vittatus). A pest of a much more serious nature than the
larva of the longicorn beetle already referred to, is a brilliant-
ly coloured weevil belonging to the Rynchophorus section of
the Coleoptera, The larva of this handsome insect is a very
serious pest to both the orange and cacao, and its methods of
attack are very striking and distinctly characteristic. The
grubs occur, invariably, just below the surface of the ground,
and at a point usually immediately above the junction of the
roots with the main stem of the tree;and they eat away every
portion of the bark, right through the cambium layer, often
completely girdling the stem. Every trace of the bark may
be removed for a distance of 2 inches, so that a complete
broad ring or girdle is formed, resulting in the ultimate death
of the tree. Cacao trees thus attacked sometimes throw out
adventitious roots just above the girdle, and in such cases the
tree may survive for a time, but it rarely, I believe, recovers.

The complete hfe-cycle of this pest has not yet been
fully traced out, but Mr. E. J. Wortley has been successful
in rearing the beetles from larvae taken from the roots of
orange trees. The grub or larva is footless, and whitish in
colour, measuring approximately 1 inch in length when fully
matured. ‘The adults are very handsome insects and are
closely related to the so-called ‘diamond beetles’.

At the present moment, one can say very little regarding
the geographical distribution of this pest outside the island
of Jamaica. ‘There is, so far as one can find, no record of its
occurrence as a pest in the Lesser Antilles, though several’
allied snout-beetles occur in Barbados—the weevil-borers of
the sugar-cane (Sphenophorus sericeus and Diaprepes abbrevi-
atus) and the grain or granary weevil (Calandra oryzae).
In Dominica and Montserrat is the destructive palm weevil
(Rhyncophorus pulmarum); and in Trinidad the banana is
attacked by Spenophorus sordidus.

As to the distribution of the girdler-beetle in Jamaica
one has very little information to rely upon, but it evidently

Vout. IX. No. 221.

occurs in widely separated portions of the island, so that in
all probability it is generally distributed. But it is satisfac-
tory to note that it was not observed in many of the large
cacao plantations and in two extensive orange groves which
T inspected during the months of December and January
(1908-9).

The most effective measure for the prevention of the
attacks of the insect is removal of the surface soil from the
base of the tree trunks, replacing it with loose rock chip-
pings, or small stones. Unfortunately, the injury is often
done before the planter is aware of the presence of the pest.
Plantations of cacao or orange groves found harbouring the
grubs should, therefore, be carefully examined, and if the
infestation is found to be extensive, it may be necessary to
treat all the healthy trees in the way that has been
indicated. Carbon bisulphide, if obtainable in large
quantities and at a cheap rate, would doubtless prove effective
in destroying the grubs.

A layer of gas lime spread round the stem of the trees
might well act as a preventive against the beetles laying their
eggs at the foot of the plants. But even if it were proved
experimentally to be an efficient measure of prevention, it
would be quite impossible to adopt this method in places
which are situated at great distances from the railway.

THE OIL SEED CRUSHING INDUSTRY OF
MARSEILLES, 1909.

The imports during 1909 have been the largest on record
for the previous ten years, viz., 596,156 tons, against 465,049
tons in 1908, and 501,811 tons in 1907. This increase is
chiefly in ground nuts from the Coromandel Coast, from
China and from Africa. Imports of gingelly seed have also
been large—64,087 tons against 41,749 tons in the previous
ear.
The bulk (about seven-eighths) of these imports has been
crushed by local oil mills, and this industry has proved
exceptionally prosperous to crushers, as by reason of the short
output of cotton seed oils in America and the enormous
deficit in the supply of olive oils, chiefly in Spain and Italy,
there was constant demand for Marseilles edible oils, and local
crushers met with a ready and remunerative sale ofall their
production.

The cost price of West African ground nuts in shell
ranged from 22 fr. 50c. to 31 fr. per 100 kilos., and for Bombay
white gingelly or sesame seed from 32 fr. 50c. to 40 fr. per
100 kilos. delivered on the quay at Marseilles. (West African
ground nuts and Bombay sesame seed are the two leading
staples crushed for edible oils.)

In addition to the above-mentioned edible oils, there is
to be noticed the largely increased demand for, and production
of, cocoa-nut oil, used for making butter substitutes. Several
wellknown and reputed brands of this article are largely
made in Marseilles.

Owing to the high value of lard in the United States, and
of kindred butter-oils, local crushers have had difficulty in
satisfying the increased demand for these oils, which have
sold at record prices, and this branch has been a most _profit-
able trade. Large quantities have been exported to the United
Kingdom and to other countries in North Europe. The in-
creased consumption and remunerative prices paid for these
oils have offered inducement for the erection of several
large millsin Hamburg, Lubeck, and also in the United States.

By reason of this large consumption of oils for edible
purposes, it has become difficult to produce a sufficient supply

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 331

of the lower grades of copra oils for the soap mills, and the
result has been a constant rise in the value of copra. Manila
copra rose from 43 fr. 50c. in January to 56 fr. in December
per 100 kilos., c.i.f. Marseilles.

The value of soap oil having risen proportionately, the soap
makers have been placed at a great disadvantage by the
high cost of their raw material, and the soap trade has
been much less profitable than in previous years.

A very notable feature of interest in the oil seed and
crushing industry during the past year has been the
enormous export from Manchuria of soya oil beans, an article
which is entirely new in Europe, and of which 380,000 tons
were exported during the year, mostly to the United King-
dom. Owing to the customs duty of 2 fr. 50c. per 100 kilos.
on these beans imported into France, there is no trade here in
this commodity. Further, these beans containing only about
12 per cent. of oil, are chiefly crushed for the cake, which is
used as a cattle food, and for this business the northern
ports are better placed than Marseilles. (Diplomatic and
Consular Reports, No. 4516 Annual Series.)

BANANA MEAL.

An article in L’/Agronomie Tropicale for May 1910
draws attention to the fact that banana meal, made from the
fruits while they are still green, has attracted an increasing
amount of interest during recent years. Moreover, the price
of the fruit itself has become so low, that it is now available
for the use of the general public. Numerous analyses show
that a ripe banana contains 40-08 per cent. of sucrose, and
27-62 per cent. of glucose. The nutritive value of the banana
is very high; it gives, in energy units, 1 calorie per gram; while,
after drying, it furnishes as much as 2°85 calories. Much
attention has been given recently to the preparation of the
meal. In this, the unripe fruits are ground up, after a pre-
liminary drying.

The chemical composition of the meal is very different
from that of the ripe fruits. While peeled bananas only
contain 1 to 2 per cent. of starch, with 70 per cent. of sugar,
the meal made from the green fruit shows the reverse pro-
portion in these figures, namely, 80 per cent. of starch, with
3 to 4 per cent. of sugar. This shows plainly that, during
the ripening of the banana, there is a large transformation
of starch into sugar.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial. Commissioner of Agriculture returned
to Barbados fromyGrenada, on October 4, by the R.M.S.
‘Balantia’. Dr. Watts left Barbados, by the R.M.S.
‘Berbice’ on October 10, for British Guiana, for the
purpose of conferring with His Excellency the Governor
with regard to the preliminary arrangements for hold-
ing the forthcoming Agricultural Conference in that
colony.

Mr. W. N. Sands, Agricultural Superintendent of
St. Vincent, who recently visited Canada, on behalf of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, for the purpose
of assisting in advancing the interests of the West
Indies at the Canadian Exhibitions at Toronto and St.
John, returned to St. Vincent on the 8th instant.

332

GLEANINGS.

The Agricultural and Commercial Society of St. Kitts is
making arrangements for the holding of an agricultural show
next year. The date on which this will take place will be
probably February 24.

According to a report received from Antigua, sugar-cane
in the island made fairly good growth during September,
compared with that of previous months. The condition of the
cotton crop, so far, is stated to be very fair.

In connexion with the interest that is being evinced at
the present time in relation to agricultural banks, it may be
noted that a leading article on the subject, with special refer-
ence to the West Indies, appears in the August issue of
Tropical Life.

Returns that have been received showing the areas of
cotton being grown at the present time on different estates in
Antigua are interesting, as they indicate that an increase is
taking place in the extent to which this crop is planted there,
and that its cultivation is becoming more wide-spread. The
total area under cotton in Antigua during the present season
is 424 acres.

A report from the Agricultural Superintendent, St. Kitts,
shows that the cane crop in the island is growing well, but
that it is backward for the time of the year. The growth of
cotton in the island is satisfactory, on the whole; it has been
affected in a few places by heavy rain. In a general way, the
rains of last month have caused considerable growth to be
made by all crops.

The report of the Agricultural Instructor, St. Vincent,
for August 1910, shows that most of the crops cultivated on
the Land Settlement estates,and on the private estates visited,
were in good condition. This was especially the case with
cotton. It is stated, however, that there is still room for
improvement on all estates in regard to the use of green
dressings and pen manure.

A report by H.M. Consul at Para shows that the
exports of rubber from Para, Manaos, Iquitos and Itacoatiara
during the crop year 1909-10, which ends on June 30, were
as follows: to Europe 21,882,032 kilos.; to the United States
17,071,443 kilos. This makes a total for the year of
38,953,475 kilos.; the corresponding export for 1908-9 was
38,234,871 kilos.

“THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. OcrogEer 15, 1910.

Nature, for August 25, 1910, states that the Inter-
national Horticultural Exhibition of 1912 will be held in the
grounds attached to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. The area
leased for the purposes of the exhibition is about 20 acres,
and nearly three-quarters of this will be directly available for
the accommodation of the exhibits. The remaining portion
contains many fine specimens of trees.

Xecent issues of the Port-of-Spain Gazette contain an
advertisement by the Department of Agriculture of Trinidad
for an Agricultural Instructor for Tobago. This states that
the appointment will be temporary, and that candidates are
required to supply particulars of the posts previously occupied
by them, and of their training. An essential qualification
for the position is the possession of experience in the working
of a cacao estate.

The Report on the Introduction of Improvements into
Indian Agriculture, extracts of which were given in the
Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 293, was referred to a Com-
mittee of the Board of Agriculture in India, 1910. The
report of this committee, as submitted to and passed by the
Board, has been recently published for general information,
under the title of Second Report on the Introduction of Im-
provements into Indian Agriculture. This publication shows
what progress has been made under the various heads detailed
in the first report.

The Commonwealth Gazette of July 1910 contains copies
of two Proclamations dated June 28, 1910, issued by the
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, under
the Quarantine Act of 1908. These provide for the appoint-
ment of Hawkesbury Farm, in the State of New South
Wales, as a quarantine ground for growing plants imported
into New South Wales, and for the appointment of a specified
area near the township of Palmerston, Port Darwin, as
a quarantine station for plants imported into the northern
territories of the States of South Australia. (The Board of
Trade Journal, August 25, 1910.)

The Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXII, p. 703, con-
tains extracts,from a paper on the stimulation of premature
ripening of fruits by chemical means, which appeared in the
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. XXXII,
p- 208. In this, the conclusion was reached that the apparent
stimulation of the ripening of fruits by chemical means
depends solely on the killing of the protoplasm. Substances
introduced into the fruit kill or stimulate the protoplasm,
release the previously insoluble intracellular enzymes without
rendering them inactive, and thus bring about ripening, if
the fruits have reached the necessary degree of maturity.

The Annual Report on the Dominica Botanic Station,
for 1909-10, which is in the press, contains the following
suggestion concerning the Courses of Reading of the Depart-
ment. It is advised that, under the conditions obtaining in
Dominica, candidates in that island should answer the
questions which appear in the Students’ Corner of the Agrv-
cultural News, and forward them to the Botanic Station,
where they would be corrected, and from which model answers
would be issued, if this is necessary. At the same time,
assistance would be given to candidates, in solving any
difficulties that may have occurred in connexion with their
reading.

Vou. IX. No, 221.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

333

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

OCTOBER.

Seconp PERIOD.
Seasonal Notes.

Notes have been given already in the Students’ Corner,
from time to time, on the preparation of the soil for the
coming sugar-cane crop. This work is now receiving special
attention, and in some places it will present an opportunity
to compare the effects of the different tillage implements on
the soil, especially those of the mould-board plough as con-
trasted with those of the cultivaiors. What is the eventual
difference between the results required from ploughing and
those for which cultivation is employed? What are the
possible kinds of harm from ploughing the heavier soils too
deeply? Those whose knowledge of the subject has reached the
proper stage may well discuss the conditions that are bringing
about the extended employment of implemental tillage in
some parts of the West Indies.

Careful observations, having for their object the ascert-
aining of the extent to which the root disease of sugar-cane
is prevalent, should be made, both on plants and ratoons.
Can you suggest any reason for the fact that, although the
fungus naturally grows best during wet weather, yet its
effects are most readily seen at times when the rainfall is
insufticient? The consideration of disease serves as a reminder
of the care that is required in the selection and prepara-
tion of material for planting. This is preferably raised
specially in a nursery, in which varieties are produced
that show a special power to resist disease. In any case,
cuttings should be treated with Bordeaux mixture. Those
who have not witnessed the making of this useful fungi-
cide should do so, on the first opportunity. or the
purpose of showing the efficiency of this, one or two rows of
cane might be planted with untreated material, when the
time for sowing arrives, so that the germination in these may
be compared with that in the rows of treated cuttings. The
reports issued by the Imperial Department of Agriculture
should be consulted for the purpose of ascertaining, in any
given district, what are the best varieties of cane to plant.

The sugar-cane will have commenced to arrow. Seed
and seedlings are obtained from the arrows, in the following
way. Part of the arrow, before the flowers on it open, is
enclosed in a paper bag, in which it is kept until there has
been time for fruits to form. The arrow and the contents
of the bag are then put on fine earth, contained in boxes or
pots, and covered with a thin layer of soil. This earth
should have been treated previously over a coal or wood fire
for the purpose of destroying any seeds of weeds, and insects
and fungi, that it may contain. The boxes or pots should be
watered carefully; they are generally kept in the shade, in the
West Indies—a procedure that, it is interesting to note, is
very different from that followed in Java. In the latter
country, the seeds (fruits) are sown in boxes, in a heavy,
fertile soil; the boxes are placed in the sun, and the soil is
kept wet. Cane seedlings are usually planted out when they
are about a foot high.

Cotton will have now reached a stage, where it was sown
early, at which indications may be obtainted as to whether it
was planted at proper distances, or not. It is cvident that, on
the heavier soils, the spread of the roots will be smaller than
in the lighter ones, so that it may be planted more closely
together, on the former. Similar considerations, in relation
to the fertility of the soil, will show that there is much less
likelihood of interference taking place among the roots in

poor soil than when the plants are growing in one which is
rich. What bearing has the effect of light soils on the growth
of the roots of this plant, in relation to the comparative
maintenance of the apparent fertility of cotton soils! (See
West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI, p. 68.)

The flowers of cotton form fruits, even if they are
enclosed in a paper bag before they open. What does this
show! Describe the way in which you would cross-pollinate
the flowers of different cotton plants. For what purpose is
such pollination employed? Cut open several cotton bolls of
ditferent ages, and study the development of the lint and the
seeds. How does cotton lint obtain its natural twist? Make
observations on the growing bolls for the purpose of finding
out to what extent diseases of these are present; at the same
time, find out the degree to which the leaves are being
attacked, and see if it is possible to trace any connexion
between the two cases. When the time comes for the select-
ion of plants in the field, great care must be exercised to ensure
that due attention is given to the extent to which these show
the power to resist disease. It is of much importance that
this character is given its proper place in any scheme of
selection.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What elements are lost when vegetable matter is
burned, and which are left behind ?

(2) Why is it that a strong, dry wind will often cause
the ‘scorching’ of the leaves of young plants?

(3) What are the special uses of nitrogen, potassium
and phosphorus, respectively, in relation to the life of the
plant?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) How may insects be classified, in relation to the
ways in which they feed, and how does such a classification
give indications as to the methods to be used for their
control!

(2) What breeds of cattle are chiefly used in the West
Indies for work, for providing milk, and for general purposes ?

(3) Give an account of the employment of temporary
wind-breaks in cotton fields, naming the plants that are most
suitable for forming these.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Discuss the employment, for planting, of grafted
cacao, in the place of cacao raised from seed. What advan-
tages and disadvantages attend the adoption of either course?

(2) Can horses be raised profitably in the district in
which you live? If so, how should the business of raising
them be conducted !

(3) Of what use, to the agriculturist, is the existence
of different varieties of the same plant?!

The Journal d Agriculture Tropicale, No. 108, p.188, states
that the Bulletin de la Société des Agriculteurs Italiens, for
August 15, 1909, makes a note of the possibility of utilizing
the prickly pear for the purpose of destroying mosquito larvae.
The method of use is to throw the fleshy stalks into the water
containing the larvae, where they disintegrate, forming a kind
of mucilage, which rises to the surface. The effect of this
mucilage is said to be similar to that of kerosene, when it is
used for the same purpose: it prevents the larvae from reach-
ing the air, and they are destroyed in fifteen to fifty hours.
The mucilage is also stated to prevent the mosquito from
laying eggs on the water, or at any cate, to stop the develop-
ment of these.

334

FUNGUS NOTES.

SOME DISEASES OF RUBBER TREES.
PART III.

STEM DISEASES (continued). In the Bulletin of the
Straits and Federated Malay States, Vol. 1X, p. 216, a short
account is given of a fungus which was observed on the
trunks of some dead trees of Hevea. It appeared in the form
of black and rather brittle crusts, each measuring ;';- to
ginch in thickness. These burst through the bark some time
after the trees were dead, causing the outer corky layers to
split offin flakes. Specimens were forwarded to Kew for
identification, and in reporting on them, Massee says: ‘The
fungus proves to be an undescribed species of Hutypa, and
will be called #. caulivora. It is probably a true parasite,
judging from what is known tespecting other species of
Eutypa, a constant feature of which is that the fungus per-
sistently remains in a vegetative—and thus aggressive—
condition, so long as its host remains alive, and only comes
to the surface to produce fruit when the host is absolutely
dead. The numerous black streaks, deep in the wood of the
specimen sent, are produced by the mycelium of the fungus,
which in all probability permeated the whole of the wood,
and had been at work for a considerable period of time. Such
a development of mycelium is unknown as a post-mortem
result.’

It is difficult to see what remedial measures can be
recommended, as the fungus gives no indication of its presence
until the tree is dead. Its spread could probably be arrested
by carefully destroying all trees that have died from its
effects. This disease has been dealt with at some length on
account of the fact that another species of the same genus of
fungi, Hutypa erumpens, Massee, has been found of late years
on several different host plants in the West Indies; among
these may be mentioned cacao, nutmeg, Barbados evergreen
(Ficus sp.), and several forest trees. It occurs in Trinidad,
Barbados and Grenada. It is thought to be a wound paras-
ite, and produces symptoms very similar to those caused by
E. caulivora. (See also Kew Bulletin, 1910, p. 251.)

In Bulletin 6 of the Department of Agriculture of the
Federated Malay States, Gallagher described a stem and
branch disease affecting Hevea trees in that country. This
attacks trees varying from three to eight years of age, and
spreads fairly rapidly. On young plants it seldom proves
fatal, but in the case of older ones, it frequently necessitates
their destruction. The trouble is not so far very wide-spread,
although it appeared simultaneously in several different locali-
ties. Corticium Zimmermannir( = Corticium javanicum), has
been found associated with the disease, but has not been
proved to be the cause. The attack usually commences
above the fork, on the stem or lateral branches. The first
sign is the presence of tears of coagulated latex on the part
affected. The upper surface of a diseased branch appears
black and cracked, and has blotches of latex where the
fungus commenced its attack. The branch is soon ringed,
and consequently dies, the leaves at the same time dropping.
Diseased branches and portions of stem should be removed
carefully, and the wound so made, tarred. Young trees in
the neighbourhood of those attacked, should be sprayed with
Bordeaux mixture.

In some instances in Ceylon, in 1905, it was found that
the horse-hair blight spread from tea plants to Hevea trees

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Octoper 15, 1910.

planted among them. The fungus is probably a species of
Marasmius. (See Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 206.)

A canker disease of Funtumia elastica, occurring in
Uganda, is described by Massee in the Kew Bulletin, 1909,
No. 3, p. 147. The trunk is attacked at a height of 4 to 6
feet above the ground, where a small black patch appears
in the bark, which extends until it covers an area of as much
as afoot or more. Later, the bark becomes thick, cracked
and rugged; if the fungus spreads completely round the trunk,
as may happen, the tree is killed. The disease is due
to a new species of Nectria, V. funtwmiae, Massee., and is
similar to the canker of Hevea in Ceylon which was describ-
ed above. Massee considers that the same remedial measures
as are made use of in Ceylon would probably prove effective
in its control. (Agricultural News, Vol. VIL, p. 185.)

FRUIT DISEASES. A blackening and decay of Hevea
fruits was reported by Petch in Ceylon, in 1905 (Circulars
and Agricultural Journal of the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Ceylon, Vol. III, p. 281). The disease was due to a species of
Phytophthora similar to that found on cacao pods in the
West Indies and other parts of the world. The same fungus
was also found on cacao and bread fruit in Ceylon, and
recorded by Petch in the Administration Reports, 1906. In
view of Rorer’s recent work in Trinidad, the possibility is
suggested that the canker of Hevea may be also primarily
due to the same species of Phytophthora. On the rotten
fruits, Vectria diversispora, Sphaeronaema album, Petch, and
Diplodia zebrina, Petch, were found. These, in all probability,
bear the same relation to the disease of Hevea fruits as the
various species of Nectria do to the black rot of cacao pods,
that is, they are saprophytes. In 1906 the disease had
disappeared, mainly owing to the weather conditions. Care-
fui destruction of diseased fruits is recommended as
a preventive measure.

SEEDLING DISEASES. Two important seedling diseases
of Hevea are known, one occurring in Ceylon, and apparent-
ly imported from that island into Borneo; the other, in the
Malay Peninsula. The first is due to the grey blight
fungus, Pestalozzia Guepini, Desm., which also attacks tea. It
occurs on the stems of seedlings at the collar, where it forms
a white ring round the stem, bordered by a narrow red-brown
line. The disease may also occur on the leaves of seedlings,
when it does but little harm, whereas when attacking
the stem it kills the plant. (Circulars and Agricultural
Journal of the Royal Botanie Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. TI,
p. 280; Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated
Malay States, Vol. V, p. 400.)

The seedling disease in Malay is due to a fungus which
attacks the leaves of young nursery plants and may cause very
serious damage. The leaves are deformed, being narrow and
inequilateral, with the nerves irregular, wavy, and ascending
towards the tip. Pale, whitish-orange patches of dead tissue
are scattered over the leaf. These are }- to }-inch across, of
irregular shape, and have a raised edge. Minute black dots
occur on the upper surface of these patches which, according
to Massee, are the fructifications of a species of Cercospora,
though it was at first suggested that the fungus was a member
of the Uredineae. Bordeaux mixture and the careful removal
of diseased leaves would probably be found effective in dealing
with this trouble. (Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and
Federated Malay States, Vols. III, p. 308; and IV, pp. 68 and
271.)

LEAF DISEASES. These diseases are of very little impor-
tance. Helminthosporium heveae, Petch, occurs on the leaves of

Vou. IX. No. 221.

seedlings in Ceylon,and forms small, circular semi-transparent
spots, bordered by a purple-brown line. Codletutrichum heveae,
Petch, and Glocosporium hrunneum, Petch, cause the yellow-
ing and dropping of the first two leaves of seedlings in Ceylon.
Phyllosticta heveae, Zimm., and Gloecosporium elasticae, Cke.
and Mass., also occur in Ceylon and Java. In the Amazon
district, where the tree is native, Phyllachora Hubert, P.Henn.,
Dothidella Ulei, P. Henn., Aposphueria Ulei, P. Henn., Ophio-
bolus heveae, P. Henn., and Parodiella melioloides (Berk.
and C.) Wint., occur on Hevea; all are unimportant, with the
possible exception of the Ophiobolus. Bernard records Pesta/-
ozzia palmarum from the Dutch East Indies. Colletotrichum
ficus and Colletotrichum elusticae occur on the leaves of Ficus
elastica in Java, the former producing lines of raised dots; the
latter, small black-tufted spots.

The following references to literature dealing with
these may be given: Petch, Circulars and Agricultural
Journal of the Royal Botanie Gardens, Ceylon, Vol.
Ill, p. 280; Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and
Federated Malay States, Vol. II, p. 173; P. Hennings, No-
tizhlatt des Kinigl. Botanischen Gartens and Museums zu
Berlin, Vol. IV, p. 133; Bernard, Bulletin XII, du Départe-
ment de |’Agriculture aux Indes Néerlandaises; Koorders and
Zehnter, Bulletin No. 3 of the Algemeen Proefstation of Sala-
tiga, quoted in the Agricultural Journal of the Straits and
Federated Malay States, Vol. V, p. 8.

Further information on the whole subject will be found in
the Agricultural News, Vols. V, p. 362, and VI, p. 318, in
addition to that given in the references already quoted.

This concludes the account of the principal diseases of
rubber trees, as far as the literature obtainable at the Head
Office of the Department will permit. It is noticeable that
very few of them have made their appearance, as yet, in the
West Indies, although cacao is extensively cultivated in most
of the islands into which rubber cultivation has been intro-
duced; the cacao diseases, which are for the most part very
similar to those found in the East, do not appear to have
spread to rubber in the West Indies, as they seem to have
done in Ceylon and elsewhere. A possible exception to this
statement is the fact that a fungus almost exactly similar to,
if not identical with, Lasiodiplodia theobroma, Griffon and
Maublane, has been found on CastiJloa in Trinidad. It is to
be hoped that, if reasonable precautions are taken, this
immunity from disease will be found to continue.

THE DIRECT PRODUCTION OF -
AMMONIA.

The London Times Supplement tor May 18, 1910,
contained the following information concerning the
manufacture of ammonia from its elements—nitrogen
and hydrogen. It is of interest, in that it indicates
a new way of combining nitrogen for use in manures:—

In view of the rapid increase in the demand for fixed
nitrogen, and the steady diminution of the Chile saltpetre
deposits, the manufacture of ammonia from its elements,
nitrogen and hydrogen, would be of enormous industrial
importance, and would be the more advantageous economic-
ally, inasmuch as nitrogen and hydrogen can be obtained at
a cost which only amounts toa fraction of the market price
of ammonia.

The synthetical production of ammonia has, so far, beer
y p

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 335

considered impossible from a technical point of view, the
inertness of nitrogen at low temperatures, and the slight
affinity between that element and hydrogen at high tempera-
tures, seeming to exclude any possibility of practical success.
Dr. F. Haber, Professor at the Carlsruhe Technical High
School, has shown, however, in a series of experiments carried
out with the assistance of M. R. Le Rossignol, that the
direct combination of the two elements can be realized in
such a way as to lend itself to commercial utilization, by the
aid of enormous pressures, far exceeding any so far applied for
technical purposes in connexion with gas reactions. It is true
that, even at a pressure of 200 atmospheres, the combination
of the elements is always incomplete, but the ammonia, as it
is formed, can be removed by the use of a high-pressure circul-
ating system, comprising, in a closed cycle, a reaction vessel,
precipitation vessel, and circulating pump. After being
liquefied by moderate cooling in the precipitation vessel, the
ammonia can be drawn off, the unused amounts of nitrogen
aud hydrogen remaining in the cycle. An apparatus for
laboratory purposes, exhibited by Professor Haber at a recent
lecture, can be continuously worked at a pressure of 185
atmospheres, producing 90 grams of liquid ammonia an hour.

Extensive experiments on the efficiency of various cata-
lysing agents at pressures close to 200 atmospheres have
shown osmium to be an excellent substance for the purpose.
With a mixture of about three volumes of hydrogen, to one of
nitrogen, at a pressure of 175 atmospheres and a temperature
close to 550° C., an output of upwards of 8 per cent. of
ammonia by volume was readily obtained, by the aid of
finely divided osmium. The supply of this element, how-
ever, is small, and accordingly some more abundant catalyst
was sought for. Uranium, which according to the periodic
system, bears a similar relation to the slightly active chrom-
ium as osmium does to iron (which has long been known
to exert a certain catalytic action), was found to be very
suitable.

The results attained seem to prove the commercial
possibilities of the process, and as it is being developed by
the Badische Anilin and Soda Fabrik at Ludwigshafen, the
synthesis of ammonia from its elements at high pressure may
be safely counted among the means on which agriculture can
depend for the supply of nitrogen products.

BRITISH WEST INDIAN TRADE WITH
VENEZUELA, 1908.

From information received at His Majesty’s Legation at
Caracas from the various British West Indian colonies relative
to the trade between them and Venezuela, the following figures
have been taken for the year 1908:—

Imports from Exports to

Venezuela. Venezuela.
£ &
Barbados 61 2,566
British Guiana (1908-9) 420 71
Windward Islands 378 315
Trinidad (1907-8) 424 322* 52,279*

The exports from Venezuela to Demerara consisted of
cattle, and to Trinidad and Grenada, of cacao, balata gum,
cattle and hides. (Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4515 Annual Series.)

* Exclusive of transhipment trade.

London.—THE

36 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET REPORTS.

Inp1a CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR

September 27, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
September 16, 1910.

ArRowrRooT—St. Vincent, 1éd. to 1,44.

Batata—Sheet, 3/3 ; block, 2/3 per tb.

Brerswax—#£7 10s

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/- to 63/- per cwt.; Grenada, 49/6
to 55/-; Jamaica, 48/6 to 52/6.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 42/- to 92/-.

Copra—West Indian, £28 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 49/- to d1/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 57/-; good
bright to fine, 58/- to 65/-.

Honry—24/- to 25/-

IstncLass—No quotations.

Lue Jurce—Raw, 11d. to 1/2; concentrated, £18 2s. 6d. to
£18 15s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/9, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nurmecs—Quiet.

Prrento—Common, 23d.; fair, 2¢d.; good, 2d. per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 7/-, fine soft, 6/9; fine Peru,
6/11 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/7 to 4/6.

Sucar—Crystals, 15/9 to 19/- ; Muscovado, 12/- to 14/6;
Syrup, 10/6 to 13/-; Molasses, no quotations.

West

New York,—Messrs. GintesPie Bros. & Co., September
16, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 1l}c. to 12c. ; Grenada, lc. to 11jec. ;
Trinidad, 11}c. to 11 fc. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 10c. per th.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $34:°00 to $35°00; culls,
$19-00 to $20°00 ; Trinidad, select, $34-00 to $35-00 ;

culls, $19-00 to $20-00 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, 10#c.; good ordinary, 11c.;
and washed, up to 123c. per th.

Gincer—8e. to 12c. per Ib.

Goat Sxkiss—Jamaica, 56c.; Barbados, 52c.; St. Thomas,
St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.; Antigua,
52c., dry flint.

Grare Fruir—$3'50 to $500 per box.

Limes—$5°50 to $650.

Macr—3bce. to 40c. per tb.

Nourmecs—110’s, 9c. to 9fc. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—4,*c. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°36c. per tb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°86c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°61c. per tb., all duty
paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., October 1,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°75 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°50
to $11°75.

Cocoa-Nut O11—$1°10 per Imperial gallon

Corrre—Venezuelan, 10#c. per tb.

Copra—$5°20 per 100 fb.

Duat—$4°00.

Ontons—$3°25 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6-20 to $6°25 per bag.

Poratos—English, $1°70 to $1°80 per 100 fb.

Rice—Yellow, $4°70 to $4°75; White, $4°95 to $5:00
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 fb.

Octoper 15, 1910.

Barbados,— Messrs. Leacock & Co., October 8, 1910;
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., October 10, 1910.

Messrs. JAMES

A. Lyncu & Co., October 3, 1910.

ARROWROOT—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 th.

Cacao—$10°50 to $1
Cocoa-NutTs—$21 ‘00.

2-00 per 100 th.

Corree—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $12°50 per

100 tb., scarce.
Hay—$1°20 to $1°40

Manvures—Nitrate of soda,

per 100 tb., dull.

$60°00 to 3865:00; Cacao

manure, $42°00 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,
$70°00 to $75-00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°50 to $3:00 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprir—$6°10 to $6°30 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°65 per bag of 120 tb.

Potatos—Novya Scoti

a, $2°00 to $3-00 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°80 to $5°00; Patna, $3°50 to $3-80;

Rangoon, $2°90
Sucar—No quotatio

to $3°00 per 100 tb.
ms.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierrxc & RicurErR, October

1,
September 30,

1910; Messrs. SANDBACH,

ParKER & Co,,
1910.

ARTICLES.

Arrowroor—St. Vincent

BatatTa— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

CassaAva—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHAaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mo.asses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Poratos—N ova Scotia

Lisbon
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TnoreER — Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

;, Cordwood

Messrs. Sanp-

Messrs. WIETING |
BACH, PARKER

& RiIcHTer.

& Co.
'$8°00 to $8-25 per! Wanted
200 th., wanted
32c. per tb. Prohibited
78c. per tb. None
10c. to 11e. per tb. 10c. to 11e. per fb.
96c. | No quotation
$6°50 No quotation

$10 to $16 per M. $10 to $16 perM.,

peeled and
selected
14c_ per th. 12c. to 13c. per tb.
143c. per tb. | 143c. to 15c. perth,
8c. per tb. 10c. per tb.
$365 to $3°70 per|$3°70 per bag of
bag of 168 fb. 168 tb.
$4°60 —
$1-08 —-—
None ——
2te. to Zke. 2ke.
$600 per bag |$5°75 to $6-00 per
(210 tb.) bag (210 th.)
$4°50 No quotation
24c. to 40c.
$2°75 $2°75

— No quotation

$1:20 per bag

$4°80 to $4:90 per
175 tb.

$4°80 to $4:90

$5:00 to $5-10 $5-00
$2°28 per bag —
$3°24 a
$3°50
$2°65 to $2°70 None
$3°00 to $3:10 $3°70
$4:00 $4:00 to $4:25
$2°25 to $2°60 None
32c. to 55c. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot cub. foot
$375 to $5°'75 | $3°50 te $5°50
per M. per M.
$1°80 to $2-00 No quotation
per ton

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Vor. IX. No, 221. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. OcropEer 15, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

AS Ea pe

Ohlendori’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Specia! Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorfi’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFP'S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

COTTON SEED MEAL. FOR SALE,
GOTTON SEED MEAL.

Recommended by the Imperial Department of highty (80) Sh CeD,

Agriculture as a first class Feeding Stuff for Cattle, Apply to:—

Mules, etc. Special quotations for large quantities. THE PROPRIETOR,
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON Woodford! Hill Estate.
FACTORY, LIMITED, “ee
BRIDGETOWN. (219.) Dominica, B.W.I. }

ae) CAE | UST ISSUED”
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ee ees et (Vol. XI, No. 1.)
OWING TO CHANGE OF BLOOD, Containing papers on The Control of Scale Insects in

the British West Indies by Means of Fungoid Parasites ;
THE IMPORTED AFRICAN RAM~ SHEEPIgtisotic Uymphengitis, A New West Indian Cuts Pe

s; A New West Indian Cacao Pod

Disease; Nomenclature of Scale Insects; Notes on Lime
oY: O R U BA’ 7 Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Report on a Visit
to the Guanica Central ugar Factory, Porto Nico; Manur-
Offers will be received by:— ial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and
THE MANAGER, The Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils.
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(220.) (See Agricultwral News, Vol. VIII, p. 23.) |6d.? post free, Sd.

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

~ “Vol. IX. No. 222.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1910.

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IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

BARBADOS,

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Gleanings .:.. seen Z
337 | Green Manure, A New ... 3
340 | Insect Notes :—

Agricultural Conference,
1911 Sa atseee aces
Bambarra Ground Nut ...

OCTOBER

Banana Meal wok
Cane-llanting in India ...
Cayman Islands, Agricul-
ture in .
Cotton Notes :—
The Egyptian Cotton
Crop, 1909... ...
West Indian Cotton

345 |
345 |

301 } Nitrate of Soda,

... 342) Ramie
. 342!) Students’ Corner

Frog-Hoppers in Trini-

Market Reports
tion of, 1909-10
| Notes and Comments
Wool

Cid, 5. Nee iy ie

Produe-

Crude OU Emulsion for | Sugar Industry :—

Cattle Ticks . 344) Demerara Seedling
Departinent News -- 349) Canes in Louisiana ... 339
Departmental Reports ... 347 The Influence of Molas-
Beuador, Cacao in ... . 3d1 ses on Soil Fertility... 339
Fungus Notes :-— Trade of Sierre Leone, :

The Disinfection of L199 og 345

Indian Corn Seed . 300} Weed, A Promising ... 345

West Indies and Canadian
Exhibitions, 1910 rts

The Frog-Hopper Fun- __|
gus in Trinidad... 390 |

The Agricultural Conference, 1911.

Cee : : 5
(Sy H E number of agricultural conferences that
have been held, so far, in the West Indies,

taking into account the one which was inter-
rupted, in Jamaica in 1907, is seven. The first took
place in 1899, and they were held annually, until 1903
and 1904, when quarantine difficulties at Barbados and
Trinidad, respectively, led to their suspension. hey
were resumed in 1905, but a proposed meeting of the
kind in Jamaica was rendered impossible, in the next

year, owing to transport diffieulties. In 1907, these

Price ld,

29,

1910.

difficulties were surmounted, and the delegates travelled
to that colony, where however, as has been indicated,
the occurrence of the earthquake made it impossible to
hold more than part of the first meeting. Barbados
was chosen as the place of meeting, in 1908, and since
this occasion, no agricultural conference has been held
in the West Indies.

Arrangements are now in progress for holding the
next West Indian Agricultural Conference from Janu-
In

anticipation of a visit by the Imperial Commissioner

ary 11 to 18, 1911, at Georgetown, British Guiana.

British Guiana in connexion with

the

of Agricuiture to

the preliminary arrangements for Conference,
a Committee was appointed by His Excellency the
Governor of British Guiana, for the purpose of assisting
in making these; from this Committee, a sub-committee
was delegated with the object of obtaining suggestions
in relation to the matter. The visit of the Commis-
sioner was made on October 12, when he arrived in the
Dr. Watts was

afforded an opportunity of conferring with the Com-

colony as the guest of the Governor.

mittee, as well as with others who are more directly
interested in matters appertaining to the Conference,
when it was found that the sub-committee had a very
complete list of suggestions to place before the Com-
mittee. The meeting at which these were brought for-
ward was held on October 14, at the office of Professor
J. B. Harrison, the Director of Science and Agriculture,
British Guiana.

As a result of the deliberations of the committee,
in consultation with the Imperial Commissioner of
Agriculture, a provisional programme has been outlined,
as follows, and submitted by the Commissioner to the

GAR

338

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

OcroBer 29, 1910.

Governor of British Guiana :—

Wednesday, January 11. The members of the Con-
ference, from other colonies, arrive at George-
town by Royal Mail steamer. The Conference
is opened in the Town Hall by His Excellency
the Governor. The Conference remains in session
until the afternoon.

Session of the Conference
during the morning and afternoon.

Thursday, January 12.

Friday, January 13. Session of the Conference
during the morning and afternoon.

Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15.
Excursion to Bartica, Agatash, the Penal Settle-
ment, Onderneeming, Suddie, ete., returning to
Georgetown on the night of the 15th.

Monday, January 16. Session of the Conference
during the morning and afternoon.

Tuesday, January 17. Excursion to Berbice: meet-
ing to be held at New Amsterdam.

Wednesday, January 18. Visit to
Diamond in the morning.
the Conference in the afternoon.

Plantation

Those dele-
gates from the other colonies who may wish to
do so may leave, by Pickford & Black steamer,
in the evening. In this connexion, it may be
mentioned that Messrs. Pickford & Black will
be approached with a view to their making
arrangements for this steamer to call at Grenada
and St. Vincent, for the convenience of the
delegates from those colonies.

The proposal has been made, on behalf of the
Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society, to hold
a Conversazione and President's Reception, on one
evening among the dates given above, to which the
members of the Conference will be invited. It is
hoped that arrangements will be made for two lectures,
illustrated by Jantern pictures, to be given on rubber-
growing. If this plan is found to be feasible, one of
the lectures will be on rubber-growing in the Kastern
Hemisphere, by Dr. Cramer, and the other on rubber-
growing on the Western Continent, by Mr. F. A. Stock-
dale, B.A, F.LS., Assistant Director of Agriculture,
British Guiana. Other collateral meetings, at which
treatment of subjects of interess to the delegates will
be given, are doubtless to be arranged.

At the meeting of the Committee described above,

Closing session of

Professor Harrison announced that free passes over
their lines would be issued to the delegates by the
Demerara Railway Company, and that similar passes
will be given to the delegates by Messrs. Sprostons, Ltd.,
for use on their steamers. He stated, besides this, that
the Demerara Electric Company had offered to place
two cars at the disposal of the Committee, on any
afternoon during the sittings of the Conference, in
order to afford opportunities of viewing Georgetown
and its precincts. There is no doubt that delegates
will give full appreciation to offers of such an accept-
able and helpful nature.

After the business of the meeting had been
completed, the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture
thanked the Committee and sub-committee for the very
thorough and excellent manner in which the prelimin-
ary arrangements for the Conference had been made
by them, and expressed appreciation of the generous
assistance that had been proffered by the various
authorities. In continuation, Dr. Watts explained that
the tact of the holding of several previous conferences
had given sufficient means of indicating their scope
and purposes. heir success in the past had afforded
the best evidence of their utility. After reviewing the
programme of meetings and excursions, the Commis-
sioner explained shortly the reason why the Agricul-
tural Conferences were held in January. It was
simply a matter of the convenience of the delegates who
were actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, especially
in such islands as Barbados, Antigua, and St. Kitts,
where the conditions of the sugar industry made it
very inexpedient that they should leave their work at
apy other time of the year. Finally, in expressing his
appreciation of the programme presented for his eonsid-
eration, Dr. Watts reiterated his thanks to the Com-
mittee and sub-committee, making special reference to
the work of Professor Harrison, as Chairman.

It only remains to be stated that the early prepar-
ation of the papers to be read by the delegates at the
Conference will be of much assistance in carrying out
the labours of organization in connexion with it. It
need hardly be said that those members of the commun-
ity who are interested in agriculture should give the
delegates all the information and aid in their power,
with the object of ensuring that matters of agricultural
interest in the various colonies are fully brought for-
ward. ‘The papers should be presented in as concise
a form as may be*tound expedient, in order that the
time at the disposal of members, during the meetings,
may be made of the greatest possible use.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 339

THE INFLUENCE OF MOLASSES ON
SOIL FERTILITY.

An article appeared in the Agricultural News, Vol. VII,
p. 227, which described the work of Mr. W. P. Ebbels, of
Beau Sejour, Mapou, Mauritius, on the fertilizing influence
of molasses applied to sugar-cane soils.

Asa result of the statements that were made in this
article, it was decided that experiments to test the influence
of molasses on the soil should be undertaken by the Agri-
cultural Department in Antigua. These are described in the
report on Sugar-Cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands,
1908-9, and in Pamphlet 64 of the Department Series. The
investigations are being continued.

A communication has been received recently, from
Mr. Ebbels, in which he refers to the experiments that are
being conducted in Antigua, pointing out, with reference to the
statement that the increases of yield obtained were doubt
fully remunerative at the price at which exhausted molasses
was then selling, that further consideration is required, in
the light of the fact that experience in Mauritius has shown
the effect to continue after the third ratoons. This result
was obtained where the molasses was applied to the land
before planting.

Mr. Ebbels goes on to state that, in 1908 a field of third
ratoon Mauritius Seedling No. 33 was reaped, to part of which
molasses had been applied before the ficld was planted. It
was found that this portion of the field yielded 5 tons of cane
per arpent (1043 acres) more than the part which had
received no molasses, the actual return being 24 tons against
19; although, with the exception of the treatment with
molasses, the manuring and cultivation of the different parts
had been exactly similar. It is pointed out that, though this
was not a carefully conducted field experiment, the difference
in yield seems to be quite sufficient to indicate that the
effects of the molasses had net ceased during the three
previous crops.

These results are supported by the experience of M. P.
Boname, Director of the Station Agronomique, Mauritius.
In the annual report of this station for 1908, a copy of which
was sent by Mr. Ebbels, an account of experiments conducted
at the station in connexion with the matter is given, and a state-
ment is made that the effect of the influence of the molasses
does not appear to be exhausted during the first year, but seems
to make itself felt for some time. The acinal statement is to
the effect that the employment of molasses for manuring the
soil, where no more useful substance is available, is a rational
procedure. Whether the unmistakable results from it are due
to the action of sugar contained in it on'the development of
useful soil bacteria, or to any other cause, it seems that
they are more marked than those which would arise simply
from the fertilizing substances contained in the molasses. In
other words, the results obtained by the application of
molasses to soil are greater than those which could be pro-
duced from the direct application of ordinary manures con-
taining the same quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash
as there is in the molasses.

Attention is drawn by Mr. Ebbels to the fact that the
results of the experiments conducted at the Station Agronom-
ique show that, where molasses was used in addition to
a complete chemical manure, the third ratoons yielded 34
tons of cane in excess of that from the control plot; the
total yield for the four crops was 19 tons greater where
molasses liad been used. Where nitrogen was omitted from
the chemical manure, the yield from the third ratoons, with
molasses, was over 24 tens per arpent in excess of that from
the control plot; for the four crops, in this case, the increase
was 303 tons.

Further information is given to the effect that the use of
molasses, in addition to the ordinary application of chemical
manure, is made in the following way. The molasses is
applied at the rate of 1 litre to each hole, two months
before the canes are planted. This means an application of
about 660 gallons per arpent, taking 3,000 holes per arpent,
and it is stated that this does not seem to incur a very heavy
outlay, for the purpose of obtaining 19 or 20 tons of cane.

The work that is being carried out at the Station Agro-
nomique, Mauritius, in this connexion, will receive further
attention in a future number of the Agricultural News.

DEMERARA SEEDLING
LOUISIANA.

In an article entitled ‘ The Increasing Popularity of the
Demerara Seedlings’, the J/odern Sugar Planter for Sep-
tember 3, 1910, states that, from all sections of the State
where D. 74 is grown, reports are heard that planters intend
to increase the area in this seedling fer the next cane crop.
The reason for this is said to be the fact that this cane was
able to weather the September storm of last year much better
than the several varieties of home cane, even though the
Demerara seedling appeared to have been the most seriously
damaged by the storm. Both as regards tonnage and yield
of sugar, the latter cane dil far better than the home cane,
during the 1909 harvest, and showed better health and
vigour.

CANES IN

It has been the usual practice in Louisiana to plant
D. 74 toward the end of the year. ‘There is a likelihood,
however, that iis planting will be no longer confined to this
season, for instances are on record where this variety, planted
last spring, produced entirely satisfactory stands.

The eane D.95, which has not received as much atten-
tion as D.74, is nevertheless coming more into favour with
planters. Where it bas been planted to any extent, the
general opinion seems to be that it is the equal of D.74, and
that for new lands, it is the Lest cane obtainable. It shares
with D.74 the superiority over home varieties, in the ability
to resist storms.

Other points in favour of D.95 that are mentioned in
the article are: that it resists the effects of inundations by
tide waters better than any other cane; that it shades the
ground nore effectively than D.74; and that it )ields superior
material for spring planting.

The article concludes with the statement that both these
seedlings, ever since their introduction into Louisiana, have
been so carefully watched, and subjected to such careful grow-
ing tests, that their survival and continuance in favour seem
to be sufficient proof of tlcir being worthy cane varicties for
a still further enlargement of arcas in the parishes.

340

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. OcropeR 29, 1910.

——S
eae a
SIA

op

CS

BRUITS AND FRUIT D2MeES:

THE BAMBARRA GROUND NOT.

In Bulletin No. 21 of the Station Agronomique, Mauri-
tius, much attention is given to the Bambarra ground nut
(Voandzeia subterranea), which is known in Mauritius as
*Pistache malgache’, and in Madagascar as‘ Voandzou’. It
is from this bulletin that most of the information contained
in the following article is taken. Interesting facts concerning
the plant may also be found in the Aew Ludlletin, 1906,
pp- 68 and 192; and in Der T'ropenpflanzer, Vol. ILI, p. 169
Short mention was made of it in the Ayricultural News,

Vol. V, p. 276.

orIGIN. In the first of the references that are made
above, to the Kew Bulletin, it is stated that the plant is of
African origin, and that it derives its name of the Bambarra
ground nut from a district on the upper Niger, near Tim-
buctoo This does not give a full idea of its occurrence,
however, for it is cultivated throughout Tropical Africa,
from the Sahara to Natal.

DESCRIPTION. The Mauritius bulletin, to which refer-
ence has been made, states that this plant belongs to the
family of leguminous plants, and that it is thus capable of
making use of the nitrogen of theatmosphere. It is somewhat
similar to the ordinary ground nut (Arachis hypogaea), but its
development of leaves is less abundunt; it affords a smaller
amount of vegetable matter after it has been harvested, and
its cultivation improves the soil to a smaller extent than that
of the ground nut. None the less, it is claimed that the cultiva-
tion of this plant deserves extension, because it is capable of
furnishing useful quantities of nutritious material, and because
the digging of the nuts is conducted in a far easier and
cheaper manner than that of ground nuts.

The two plants possess a similar vegetation, but the
Bambarra ground nut forms its fruits around the principal
stalk, and does not possess trailing branches. It produces
a bunch of upright leaves, and the fruits are developed close
around the stem, at a very small depth in the soil, so that
they may be readily harvested by simply pulling up the
bunch of leaves, when nearly all the nuts come out of the
ground, attached to the stalk. It is thus seen that the
produce of the plant may be quickly collected; the speed of
harvesting is also increased by the circumstance that even
those nuts that are left behind, when the plant is pulled up,
all remain at the same, very small, depth below the soil.

The New Dulletin, 1906, p. 70, states that the fruit is
very like that of the ground nut but that it is shorter, and
usually only contains one seed, at maturity. It possesses
a prominent ridge which forms a further means of disting-
uishing it from the fruit of the ground nut. There is
a faint network of ridges on the sides; the total length of
the pod isabout {-inch. The resemblances to the ground nut
are more superficial than otherwise for it belongs to
a different tribe of the leguminous family, being much more
closely allied to the Haricot bean. Der Vropenflanzer, Vol.
III, p. 170, describes the seeds as being almost spherical and
of very varying, but always very pronounced, colours.

CULTIVATION. Returning to the bulletin that has been
already quoted, this states that the requirements for the
cultivation of the Bambarra ground nut are the same as those
for the ordinary ground nut. It is planted and harvested in
the same seasons; it covers the soil well, and as it only
produces a bunch of upright leaves, it lends itself especially
to cultivation between rows of sugar-cane. For this purpose,
it is sown ia small pockets, between the rows, at a distance
of about 18 inches each way. In sowing, three or four seeds
ave put into each pocket, at a depth of about 1 inch.

The nuts are collected when the leaves commence to dry
up, or this may be done a little sooner if it is desired to
consume them while still green. If they are required to
provide seed, it is preferable to wait for a short time before
harvesting them in order to permit of their ripening com-
pletely in the earth.

yreLDs. The yields obtained from the Bambarra ground
nut are at least equal to, and generally greater than, those
from the ordinary ground nut. When cultivated between
every other cane row, in the way described above, 960 kilos. of
green nuts and 1,120 kilos. of green leaves have been obtained
per arpent (1:043 acres). The undried (green) nuts, when har-
vested thoroughly ripe, only lose 50 per cent. of their weight
on drying; whereas if they are dug a little before they attain
maturity, they give scarcely 40 percent. of dry nuts, —

sroracE. If it-yhas to be kept for any time it is natur-
ally necessary to permit the nut to ripen completely in the
air and to dry it in the same way as this is done for the
ordinary ground nut. It keeps well, when it is dry, and is
not attacked in storage by insects, as far as has been observed
in Mauritius.

Vou. IX. No. 222?

composition. The following is the percentage composi-
tion of the green nuts, the ripe nuts, and of the-entire fruit,
found at the Station Agronomique, Mauritius :— ;

Green. Ripe.
Nuts. Shells. Entire, Nuts. Shells Entire
fruits. fruits.
Water 45°40 17:96 63:36 10:27 2:00 12°27
Ash E28) O18 1-46 3 2eO7y 3:94
Cellulose 2°35 1°23 3°58 4:63 5:23 9°86
Fats 241 0°02 243 5:03 O14 5:17
Sugar and starch 20-49 266 23:15 4680 860 55°40
Albuminoids 567 0°35 6:02 12:04 132 13°36
The following table shows the composition of the leaves.

Although the quantity of them produced is less than that
from the ground nut, they contain a proportionately greater
amount of nitrogenous matter. When they are allowed to
dry, as harvested, their nutritive value is lessened; they form,
however, an excellent manure. In the table, the per-
centage composition of the leaves is given, both on the fresh

and dry matter, and after these have been dried at
L00-> C:—
Ordinary. Dried at 100° C.
Fresh Dry Fresh Dry
leaves. leaves. leaves. leaves.
Water 66°00 10°76 aa fe
Ash 3:02 7°30 917 $19
Cellulose 10°35 42-20 30°43 47-28
Fats 1-45 2°42 4°25 2°71
Sugar and starch 14.63 31-41 46°05 35°20
Albuminoids 4:25 5°91 12°50 6°62

In a general way, if the mineral composition of the two
plants is compared, it is found that, for the same crop from
each, the Bambarra ground nut contains a little less phosphoric
acid than the ordinary one; its content of potash is, however,
rouch greater, so that the former plant is much more exact-
ing in this respect than the latter. Lastly, the nitrogen
content of the ordinary ground nut is greater than that of the
plant which is at present receiving special consideration.

NUTRITIVE VALUE. In the table which follows, the com-
position of the Bambarra ground nut is compared with those
of rice, maize, lentils and cassava, the figures being expressed
as percentages: —

Jambarra
ground nut.

Green. Ripe.
Water 56:90 13°30 11°53 14:40 12°95 59°88
Ash Ivo 3:04 10:78 . 50269 0789
Cellulose 241 4:37 035 550 3:67 1:28
Fats 314 694 048 650 060 019
Sugar and starch 27-40 55°81 79°57 6210 58:06 36°36
Albuminoids 8-42 16:04 7:29 10:00 22:03 1-40

It is an interesting fact that the composition of the
Bambarra ground nut very closely approaches that of an
ordinary, normal food ration. Even alone, it constitutes
a complete food, so that unlike the others, it does not, from
this point of view, require mixing with additional food stuffs,
in order that it may present the chief food-bodies in proper
amounts. Balland was almost the first to point out that the
seeds of this plant form a food of this kind, and such as is
capable of repairing the losses undergone in the animal body,
without the addition of any other kind of nourishment. It
serves as food best when it is not quite ripe; that is to say
when the covering has not become completely dry.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 341

Uses. Most of the uses of the plant have been indicated
already; they include the employment of the nut for food,
both for human beings and stock; the use of the leaves as
fodder; and the provision by them, either when fresh or dry,
of a green manure.

When the seed is cooked before it is ripe, it gives
a starchy, nitrogenous vegetable, which is much liked, possess-
ing as it does a very agreeable taste somewhat like that of
the chestnut. When it is ripe and dry, it may be cooked
in the same way as beans and lentils; it does not contain,
however, as high a percentage of proteids as these foods.
When ground, it yields a very white meal from which excel-
lent broths and soups may be made. Where the fruits are pro-
duced in large numbers they may be used as food for stock;
in this case, the tact that the covering is consumed as well as
the seed gives the product an additional nutritive value.

Seeds of this plant have been obtained by the Depart-
ment from the Station Agronomique, Mauritius, and are now
being distributed for trial among the experiment stations in
the West: Indies.

A NEW GREEN MANURE.

The foregoing article gives an account of a plant that
has been recently introduced for trial in the West Indies.
Seeds of another plant, which is at present claiming a certain
amount of attention in Ceylon, as a green dressing, have
also been obtained by the Department. These belong to the
plant which has been called Boja Medelloa, and they are
supplied by the Superintendent of Telbedde estate, Badulla,
Ceylon. The plant belongs to the leguminous family, and
produces large numbers of small, dark-coloured seeds.

According to the Tropical Agriculturist for February,
1910, p. 181, from which the account of this plant was
obtained originally, it is being strongly recommended as
a green manure for tea and rubber, and the statement is
made that it will be a valuable addition to the available
green manures of Ceylon.

The trials to be made with this plant, as well as with
the one described in the article above, which are to be con-
ducted at the various experiment stations under the Depart-
ment, will be watched with much interest.

THE PRODUCTION OF NITRATE OF
SODA, 1909-10.

The Chilian Nitrate Combination, which formerly regul-
ated the production of nitrate of soda, was dissolved in
1909. Mr. Consul Hudson, in his report on the trade of the
district of Iquique, Chile (/oreign Office Reports, Annual
Series, No. 4510), states that in the first year of free pro-
duction (April 1, 1909, to March 31, 1910) there has been
an increase in the total output of 7,752,325 quintals of 110 b.,
as compared with the output during the last year of the Com-
bination (April 1, 1908, to March 31, 1909); whilst the
world’s consumption in the year 1909 (January 1, to Decem-
ber 31,) shows an increase of 4,559,769 quintals over that of
the previous year. The average price of nitrate for 95 per
cent. f.o.b. was 8s. 74d. per quintal in 1907; in 1908 it was
7s. 64d., while in 1909 it fell to 6s. 104d. per quintal.

The possibility of an immediate renewal of the Uom-
bination appears to be doubtful, although there is an indi-
cation that those who were opposed to it and were the cause
of its non-renewal are now more favourably disposed to some-
thing being done in this direction. If this should be brought
about prices would no doubt rise. (The Journal of the Board
of Agriculture, September 1910.)

342

WEST INDIAN UCOTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date October 11, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 200 bales of West Indian
Sea Islands have been sold, chiefly at about 18d. to 183d.,
with a few St. Vincent at 21d. to 24d., and some Stains at
11d. to 12d.

The American Sea Island market seems to have steadied
for Floridas round about 163d. for the best, but the market
for Islands has not yet opened.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending October 8, is as follows:—

The receipts to date are only 92 bales, against 325 bales
last year. The factors have not yet sampled their receipts,
and do not propose domg so until the coming week. We
are, therefore, unable as yet to give quotations.

THE EGYPTIAN COTTON CROP, 1909.

The following note by Mr. W. H. Cadman, B.Sc.,
F.C.S., dealing with cotton in Egypt during 1909,
appears in Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4554
Annual Series :-—

The past year has been a notable one in the history of
Egyptian agriculture. In spite of favourable climatic condi-
tions and a plentiful supply of water,the cotton crop upon which
the prosperity of Egypt so largely depends, was most unsatis-
factory both in yield and quality. Considerable advance has
been made in investigating the causes of this depreciation.
Tn order to obtain trustworthy data to assist the Commissions
inquiring into the matter, the Government gave instructions
to the Survey Department to make a systematic survey of the
total area planted with cotton during the past season.
A mean value of 1,526,600 feddans was obtained for the area
under cotton in 1909. (Collection of Statistics of Areas
Planted in Cotton in 1909.) There is no indication from the
statistics that land of poor quality is being cropped with
cotton to any considerable extent. The change from triennial
to biennial rotation, which is practised chiefly by the smaller
cultivators, is considered capable of accounting for some of
the decrease in yield. In September 1910, the Alexandria
Produce Association will publish its figures for the total
yield of last year’s cotton crop based on the export figures of
the Customs Administration, after allowing for any cotton
held over from the previous year. There will then be avail-
able for the first time reliable statistics of both yield and area.

The cotton worm and boll worm were responsible for

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Octroser 29, 1910.

much of the damage.
substituting native inspectors for Europeans to supervise the
destruction of the cotton worm was again most unsatisfactory.
In future, experienced Europeans will be reappointed to
organize the campaign against these pests more efficiently.

The experiment, repeated last year, of

The Government intends making every effort within its
power to prevent this valuable possession from further
deterioration. A law has recently been passed requiring all
cotton stalks to be uprooted before the end of December.

During the past year, special attention has been drawn
to the subject of the underground or subsoil water of Egypt,
both by official and non-official publications. Egypt is an
exceptional country, in that the rainfall is seldom taken into
account when agricultural projects are being discussed. In
most countries the rainfall is the prime factor which governs
the agricultural conditions, and, in consequence, endeavours
are made to get rid of the superfluity of water, rather than
to husband a certain limited quantity. ‘It would seem that
a permanent rise of the water-table has been produced by
converting basin lands into perennially watered lands.’ (Note
on Subsoil Water of Egypt, H. T. Ferrar. Cazro Scientific
Journal, Vol. III, No. 28.)

The Survey Department, the Khedivial Agricultural
Society and the State Domains Administration have been
experimentally investigating this matter. The general con-
clusion is that the rise of subsoil water, caused by infiltration
from high level canals, or by over-watering of crops, is another
cause for the deterioration in output and quality of the cotton.
Concisely put, ‘Egypt is becoming water-logged’ (Cotton
Investigations, W. L. Balls. Cazvo Scientific Journal, Vol.
III, No. 29) by the rise in the level of the stagnant water,
which prevents the development of the roots of the plants.
The result is that, while in former years there was little or no
need for drainage, at the present time drainage is urgently
needed to prevent this subsoil water washing up injurious
salts, ruining the bacterial flora, and reducing the effective
depth of soil.

Mr. W. Lawrence Balls, who is in charge of the Egyptian
Mendelian Experiment Station, suggests as a possible remedy
the breeding of early maturity cottons, which will ripen
before the water-table has risen to the plant roots. However
feasible this may be in the future, it will take several years
to obtain a cotton with these characteristics, so that facilities
should be made for all farmers in Egypt to have their lands
drained. Efficient drainage, though very costly, is justified
by the recent loss per acre per annum.

‘Tt is a striking tribute to the fertility of the country
that this loss, almost disregarded till last year, on a single
crop is about as much as the ordinary profits which an
English farmer makes on the same area in an average year.’
(Cotton Investigations, W. L. Balls. Catro Scientific Journal,
Vol. ILI, No. 29.)

Voz. IX. No. 222.

The factors which affect the situation from the side of
supply and demand, with special reference to the position of
the Lancashire cotton industry, have been investigated by
Mr. J. A. Todd, Lecturer on Political Economy, Khedivial
School of Law, Cairo. He states that ‘the falling yield of
recent years has raised the price to a figure which threatens
the special market of Egyptian cotton with serious American
competition. .. For the middle-class fabrics which form a large
part of the trade the manufacturers are being compelled by
the high price of Egyptian to substitute American whenever pos-
sible... . Spinners are beginning to devise machinery to adapt
American cotton to the products for which Egyptian cotton
has always been used... . If by any chance the quality of the
Egyptian crop deteriorates as seriously as the quantity has
done, nothing will save the Egyptian from a fall in price to
something little above that of the American. Egypt can
never reach America in quantity, so that this price means to
Egypt the ruin of her staple industry.’ (Mxtrait de / Egypte
Contemporaine, Tome I, pages 277-86.)

THE WEST INDIES AND THE CANADIAN
EXHIBITIONS, 1910.

Most of the information in the following article, which
presents an account of the recent Canadian Exhibitions, in
their special relation to the West Indies, has been supplied by
Mr. W. N. Sands, the representative of the Imperial Depart-
ment of Agriculture at those exhibitions.

THE TORONTO EXHIBITION. The National Exhibition at
Toronto was open from August 29 to September 10, and was
attended by 800,000 persons. The West Indian court was
placed in the large agricultural hall in the exhibition grounds,
where it occupied the whole of one wing, covering a space of
2,400 feet. It isa matter of interest that the rent of this
space, which was granted free, would have been about £500,
had it been obtained on the terms given to ordinary,
commercial exhibitors. The exhibits from the islands and
British Guiana were placed on a structure built on turned
wooden columns, surmounted by a plain cornice, and painted
white and green. The stands for the exhibits, which were
of different shapes and sizes, suited to the uses for which
they were required, were painted white, and draped with
green burlap. The exhibits were arranged on these in
tiers, as far as possible. Loans of live plants to provide
decorative material were made, to a great extent, by the
Exhibition Authorities, and the rest of this was provided by
some of the colonies, more especially Jamaica. It is not
likely that any great future increase in the amount of such
material provided by the colonies will be possible, on account
of the high cost of its carriage to Canada.

Jamaica sent the largest exhibit; this occupied about
one-third of the court. The main exhibits consisted of
economic plants in flower and fruit; jippijappa hats in all
stages of manufacture, with specimens of the straw from
which they are made, and an example of the growing plant
(Carludovica jamaicensis) which provides this; cigars and
tokacco; sugars, molasses and rum; cacao; coffee; fruits, includ-
ing bananas; spices; curios, including seed work and lace
bark; and a large number of photographie views of the island.

The exhibits from Barbados included chiefly sugars,
molasses and rum; cotton and cotton-seed oil; manjak; yams
and sweet potatos; and photographic views of the island and
of its main industries.

From Antigua there were sent sugars and molasses:
cotton and cotton-seed; lime juice; seed work and other exhib-
its of less importance. Unfortunately, many of the exhibits
from tkis island were spoiled while in transit, owing to the
breakage of packages in the cases,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

345

The island of Montserrat sent chiefly limes, including
samples for distribution; lime juice; otto of limes and distilled
lime oil; preserves; cotton lint and seed-cotton; and lemon
grass oil.

The exhibits from St. Kitts-Nevis and the Virgin Islands
intended for the Toronto Exhibition did not reach their
destination on account of the fact that they were not
labelled adequately. They were therefore sent to the Domin-
ion Exhibition at St. John.

Accounts of the exhibits from Trinidad, St. Vincent and
the Virgin Islands, and from St. Lucia, appeared on pages
291 and 318, respectively, of the current volume of the Agr7-
cultural News, to which reference is made.

Chief among the material sent from British Guiana were
sugars, molasses, molascuit and rum; rices; citrus fruits; cacao;
coffee; green-heart logs and specimen blocks of other timbers
such as mahogany, mora, purple heart; balata; confectionery;
and a large map of the colony.

THE ST. JOHN EXHIBITION. The attendance at the
Dominion Exhibition at St. John was 124,000, and it was
open from September 5 to 15. The West Indian court at
this exhibition occupied a space of 900 square feet on the
upper floor of the main exhibition building. Its arrangement
was somewhat similar to that of the one in Toronto, but it was
not so elaborate and there was much less decorative material.

Barbados, Antigua, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent
and British Guiana sent what were practically duplicate
sets of the exhibits that were forwarded by them to Toronto.
There were, in addition, an exhibit from Dominica, and those
from St. Kitts-Nevis and the Virgin Islands which did not
arrive at Toronto, as has been explained already.

The Dominica exhibits included chiefly limes, lime juice,
otto of limes and distilled oil of lime; other citrus fruits;
mangos; cacao: coffee; spices; starches; and Carib baskets.

The materia] sent from St. Kitts-Nevis was composed
mainly of sugar, molasses and rum; preserves; pickles; and
cotton seed meal and cotton cakes.

Dealing with the exhibitions generally, it may be said
that great interest was evinced at Toronto in the exhibits
from the West Indies, which were considered to form one of
the most instructive features of the exhibition, so that the
court was thronged continually. The various handbooks
that were distributed, including Zhe West Indies in Canada,
7910, published by the Imperial Department of Agriculture,
filled a very useful purpose. On the whole, the exhibition
was eminently successful; while that at St. John, although it
was on a smaller scale, was of considerable interest.

A communication from Messrs. Pickford and Black, to
the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, shows that the
following awards were obtained at the Toronto Exhibition by
the West Indies:—

BARBADOS, Gold Medal and Diploma, Permanent Exhibi-
tion Committee. Diplomas, Mount Gay Plantation, Local
Department of Agriculture and Mr. C. Y. Simpson.

ANTIGUA. Gold Medal and Diploma, Permanent Exhibi-
tion Committee. Diplomas, Antigua Cotton Company, Messrs.
G. W. Bennett, Bryson & Co., Mac.Donalds & Co., and the
Antigua Sugar Factory.

MONTSERRAT. Gold Medal and Diploma,
Exhibition Committee.
Company.

st. LucrtA. Gold Medal and Diploma, Permanent Exhibi-
tion Committee. Diploma, St. Lucia Agricultural Society.

ST. VINCENT. Gold Medal and Diploma, Permanent
Exhibition Committee. Diplomas, Messrs. C. J. Simmons,
H. Hayward, P. F. Huggins, C. A. Hadley, Mc.Monald Bros.,
and J. H. Hazell, Son & Co,

Permanent
Diploma, Montserrat Preserving

344

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Avents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Vou. IX.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1910. No. 222.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this number has reference to the
Agricultural Conference to be held in January 1911.
It gives particulars of a preliminary and_ provisional
scheme which has been outlined in connexion with this
conference.

Under the heading of Sugar Industry, an interest-
ing article on the influence of molasses on soil fertility
is given on page 339,

Pages 340 and 341 present accounts of two inter-
esting plants that have been obtained from Mauritius
and Ceylon, by the Department, for trial in the West
Indies.

An account which deals with the interests of the
West Indies at the recent Canadian Exhibitions is given
on page 343.

The Insect Notes, on page 346, give information as
to recent work that has been conducted in relation to
frog-hoppers in Trinidad.

The annual reports on the Botanic Stations, ete.,
in St. Kitts and Montserrat, are reviewed on page 347.
A review is also given of the report of the Entomologist
to the Trinidad Board of Agriculture, 1909-10.

As has been stated, the frog-hopper in Trinidad
receives attention in the Insect Notes. Facts in rela-
tion to a fungus which is destroying this pest, in that
island, are presented in the Fungus Notes, on page 350.

OcropER 29, 1910.

Crude Oil Emulsion for Cattle Ticks.

Mr. H. Maxwell-Lefroy, M.A. FES. F.Z.S, Im-
perial Entomologist, India, draws attention in the Plant-
ers Chronicle for July 16, 1910, to the use of crude oil
emulsion as a remedy for cattle ticks, emphasizing more
particularly its cheapness.

It is pointed out that, while the treatment of cattle
with Paranaph costs about 2s. per head, annually, that
with crude oil emulsion can be effected by an expendit-
ure of about 2$d. per head per annum.

The greater expense in using the former mixture
is understood, when itis considered that 75 tb. of it con-
tains 50 Ib. of soap, 6 tb. of napthalene, and 13 tb. (2 gal-
lons) of oil, while crude oil emulsion contains 80 pet
cent. of crude oil.

It is evident that this method of treating cattle
for ticks has a special application in reference to
Trinidad and Barbados, where ernde oil occurs naturally.

> eee

Ramie Wool.

The Tropical Agriculturist for August 1910,
p. 108, gives an abstract from the Indian Agriculturist,
Vol. XX XV, No. 4, which describes a new development
in connexion with the ramie plant (Boehmeria nivea).
This consists in the treatment of the fibre, on the fields
where it is grown, in such a way as to produce from the
fibre-yielding bark of the plant a material which is
quite different from any fibre having a similar source,
The product is a soft fibre which has been called ‘ pro-
cessed ramie’, and which may be shipped by the planter
to the manufacturer, who simply passes it through
a carding machine, when ramie ‘wool is obtained, which
felts) and may be spun at once. It has a special value
in that it forms a very good mixture with cotton,
sheep’s wool, ete.

The process for the production of processed ramie
is said to be very simple, so that it can be worked by
the ordinary labour at the command of the planter;
it does not require the use of any chemicals, and the
machinery employed is similar to that used for scutch-
ing.

The material has been exhibited in London, and is
stated to be valuable as a wool, Yarn has been pro-
duced trom it, and this has been woven mixed with
natural wool, wool rags, aud waste wool and flocks. The
cloth obtained is strong and warm, has a good appear-
ance, and may be dyed successfully.

It is estimated that the cost of treating 1 ton of
dried ramie canes would not exceed, in India, 7s. This
does not include the cost of passing them through the
scutching machine, which would amount to about 11s.
per ton. By means of the process, it is claimed, more
ramie is extracted from the cane than can be obtained in
any other way. :

A machine capable of producing 5 ewt. of
processed ramie daily may be obtained for £20; its
action is simply to eliminate the bark, with very small
destruction of the fibre. Enquiries in connexion with
the machines may be made to Mr. Robert G. Orr, 708,
Salisbury House, Fimsbury Circus, London.

‘

Vou. IX. No. 222.

A Promising Weed.

Under this heading, the Agricultural Journal of
India tor April 1910, page 165, gives an account of
Melilotus alba, or wild lucerne, as it is called, on
account of its close resemblance to cultivated lucerne.
This grows, during the dry season, to a height of about
3 feet and is readily eaten both by horses and cattle.
It is therefore recommended as a dry season fodder
crop.

It is thought that Melilotus alba will also prove
to be of much use as green manure. Its value as such
has not yet been completely tested, but it has been
observed to give an increase in the rice crop where it
has been ploughed in, previous to sowing.

The plant is a biennial, and has been found to
grow readily on rice lands which are fairly retentive of
moisture. As it is a weed, it is hardy and can be
raised with a minimum amount of attention. Investi-
gations are in train for the purpose of obtaining further,
more definite information concerning this plant, in rela-
tion to the uses for which it has been devised.

Trade of Sierra Leone, 1909.

Information concerning the following agricultural
exports from Sierra Leone is given in Colonial Reports
Annual, No. 648.

The quantity of kola nuts (which amount to more
than 20 per cent. of the total export) that were shipped
in 1909 was 1,524 tons, value £153,919, as compared
with 1,162 tons, value £108,895 in 1908. The prices
obtained for this product during 1909 were higher than
those of the previous year. The chief use of the nuts
by the natives in the Protectorate is, of course, in rela-
tion to their property as a tonic stimulant: one nut, well
chewed and eaten, will sustain a man for a whole day
without food. There is no intoxicating or reactionary
effect after its use; though its taste is very bitter and
astringent.

There was an increase in the amount of the staple
product of the colony—palm kernels—of 9,176 tons
over the quantity exported in 1908. This increase is
one of 27-2 per cent., and is valued at £149,727. The
enhanced supply of these, as well as of kola nuts, is
caused mainly by the greater facilities for transport and
a wider knowledge of market prices, so that the native
places greater confidence in traders.

The palm oil produced in the Protectorate is meet-
ing a regular and consistent demand. The exports
during 1909, were 851,999 gallons of the value of
£64,273—an increase over the quantity exported in 1908
of 362,362 gallons, of the value of £27,822. The oil is
a staple food throughout the Colony and Protectorate,
and its many domestic uses make it impossible to esti-
mate, even approximately, the quantity that is used for
home consumption.

The export of ginger during the:year amounted to
722 tons, value £14,147, as compared with 637 tons,
value £11,871, shipped in 1908. The opinion is ex-
pressed that the increase in production of this commodity

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 345

should be greater. Prices are low, mainly on azcount
of the rough methods that are employed in the cleaning
and preparation.

The exports of other agricultural products were as
follows: plassava, 675 tons, value £9,859: rice 55,537
bushels, value £10,034: gum copal, 46 tons, value £5,036;
and rubber, 26 tons, value £8,079. There were increases
in the amounts of these, over those of 1908, in all cases
except that of rubber. As regards the last-named
product, it is stated that Sierra Leone is not at present
a rubber-producing country, though there appears to be
no reason why it should not export a larger amount
of the indigenous product.

rr + ee

Cane-Planting in India.

_ An account of experiments with material for plant-
ing sugar-cane is given in the Agricultural Journal
of India, for April 1910, p. 178. The trials originated
partly from the fact that a large number of cuttings,
taken from the middle of the cane (‘ middles’) and plant-
ed in irrigated land, failed to sprout, so that the holes
were supplied with tops which were cut from standing
canes. A few days after the tops had been removed, it
was seen that the buds on the topped canes were swell-
ing, and that they appeared as if they would supply
good planting material. An experiment was made in
order to ascertain if this was the case, when it was
found that a better and earlier stand of cane was obtain-
ed than when ordinary, unsprouted tops, or cuttings
were used.

In relation to this matter, the conclusion is there-
fore reached that, from the point of view of germination,
enttings showing signs of sprouting are preferable to
tops, for planting, the only circumstance in favour of
the latter being the economy effected by their use.

———- —i_-_> -
Banana Meal.

A short article under this title appeared in the last
number of the Agricultural News, the information for
which was taken from L’Agronomie Tropicale for May
1910. In the same paper it is stated that banana meal
has a high value as food, but that the difficulty has
been, in the past, to prepare if in a form in which it
may be used readily as such. Attempts to make bread
from it in the ordinary way have been abandoned. It
has also been mixed with ordinary flour for the same
purpose, but the result has been to obtain loaves
which taste of straw. It is only by making a paste of.
the meal, by submitting it to the action of steam,
under pressure, that bread having an agreeable taste
has been obtained.

It is because of this discovery that various
products obtained from banana meal, and known in
commerce under such names as Bananine, are now
being manufactured in England. Attempts are being
made to introduce similar substances into the con-
tinental markets. In connexion with these, a Swiss firm
has recently produced a banana chocolate which sur-
passes oatmeal chocolate both in respect of the nutrit-
ive value and of the aroma.

346

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

OctosEr 29, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

FROG-HOPPERS IN TRINIDAD.

Considerable interest attaches at present to the damage
inflicted on sugar-cane in Trinidad by insects known as frog-
hoppers. These are generally found associated with a con-
dition of the canes known locally as blight. Extensive
investigations into the life-history and general habits of these
insects have been made recently in Trinidad by Mr. F. W.
Urich, Entomologist to the Board of Agriculture. A paper
dealing with this subject was published in the Bulletin of the
Department of Agriculture, Trinidad, Vol. IX, p. 15, and an
interim report by the same author has been recently issued:
the following article is based upon the information contained
in these.

Frog-hoppers belong to the family Cercopidae, of the
order Hemiptera, sub-order Homoptera. ‘Three species are
known to occur in Trinidad, all members of the genus
Tomaspis, of which the most important would appear to be
Tomaspis postica, Walker, though another species, probably
T. bicincta, is apparently also of fairly general distribu-
tion. These insects are related to the scale insects and
aphids, and are all found attacking living plants, obtaining
their food-supply by sucking the juices, as do the other types
of insects mentioned.

Frog-hoppers have been known to occur for some time
in Trinidad, and several publications on the subject have
been issued from time to time, particularly in the Proceed-
ings of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago.
Full reference to these articles is given in the paper by
Mr. Urich mentioned above. In addition to Trinidad, the
insect is reported as occurring in Central and northern South
America from Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Demerara,
and also probably from British Honduras. Canes which are
affected become stunted in growth, and the leaves become
spotted and eventually die off. The lower leaves become
diseased first, but the upper ones are eventually attacked;
and if the insects are numerous, the damage done may be so
severe that nothing but the bare cane is left standing. In
some instances, when the severity of the insect attack has
been reduced by dry weather, the canes may recover to
a considerable extent.

LIFE-HISTORY. The eggs are deposited in dry cane and
grass sheaths near the ground, or they may be found sticking
to grass stems, just below the surface of the ground. The
egg stage may continue, under favourable circumstances, from
twelve to twenty days, the main requisite for hatching being
a sufficiency of moisture. If the weather is dry, the eggs may
remain dormant for as much as four months. On hatching
out, a nymphal stage follows, which lasts for a period of
thirty-two to forty-two days. In this stage, the insects are
surrounded by a covering made up of bubbles of fluid, and
this gives rise to their popular name of spittle insects. They
attach themselves by means of this froth to the young roots
of cane or of various grasses, notably of the Savannah grass
of Trinidad, Para grass (Panicum muticum) and Razor grass
(Seleria scindens), as well as of various other grasses, and of
some herbaceous plants. They are quite active, and can craw]
about, often changing their position several times, in order to
obtain a fresh food-supply. During this stage, the insects
change their skin four times, the wing pads becoming visible
during the third and fourth stages. Just before changing its
skin for the last time, the nymphascends a grass or cane stalk

to a height of from 1 foot to 2 feet, and undergoes the final
moult in a kind of chamber hollowed in the froth surrounding
it. The adelt insect of Vomaspis postica is about 8 mm. in
length; the head and prothorax are bronze with tawny
bands; the width across the wings varies. On emerging from
the spittle chamber, the adults crawl up the stems of grasses
or canes, and secrete themselves in the axils of the leaves or
in the folds of unrolling leaves. They remain in this position
until dusk, after which they emerge and crawl out and move
about on cane or grass leaves. They may be found
feeding at this time, or taking short leaps frem leaf to leaf
either in search of additional food, or of mates; or they may
be found crawling about the ground. They also feed during
the day, when secreted in the leaves. As the eggs are laid
separately and may take different lengths of time to hatch
out, depending upon the moisture supply of the situation
in which they are laid, it naturally results that the broods
are continuous, and that practically all stages in the life-
history may be found at any time during the year, unless
the weather is exceptionally dry. The insects can tide over
such a period of drought, when in the nymphal stage, by
sheltering under heaps of trash, or on grass growing as
a weed on-cane fields, as well as in cracks in the soil.

METHODS OF CONTROL. Two principal methods have
been employed for reducing the numbers of these insects.
The first consists in destroying them by means of light traps
at night. These traps are made of ordinary hurricane lant-
erns, standing on bricks in common baking pans filled with
oil and water. Each trap is placed on a small mound of earth
about 1 foot high, and several are usually employed in each
field, at intervals of about 50 feet. By the use of forty-
eight traps of this type, as many as 252,559 insects were
captured on one estate in Trinidad, in one night. The second
means of control consists in keeping the fields weeded as
cleanly as possible, until the canes are old enough to keep
down the weeds for themselves. After the field has been
clean weeded and the trash removed, it is found thata careful
application of a contact insecticide, such as kerosene emulsion
produces very good effects, if carefully applied. The mixtures
recommended are kerosene emulsion diluted 1 in 10, kero-
sene lysol emulsion 6 per cent., and cyanide of potassium 1 oz.
to 1 gallon of water. These should be applied by means of
a knapsack sprayer. Each stool of cane must be thoroughly
drenched, and the spray should also be applied to the ground
between the cane rows. The spraying should be repeated at
intervals of three weeks. The best time of the year for
applying the sprays is immediately after the crop and before
the rains commence. It should further be pointed out that
all weeds and trash removed from infected fields should be
burned or deeply buried, and that in serious attacks it may
even be found advisable to strip the canes completely of all
their trash, and to collect this carefully and burn it.

NATURAL ENEMIES. ‘The only natural control of any
consequence which has so far been observed is that of
a fungoid disease which occurs on beth the adults and
the nymphs in Trinidad. Some account of the work
which has been carried on with this fungus in Trinidad
appears elsewhere “in this number of the Agricultural
News, under the heading of Fungus Notes.

In addition to that in the publications mentioned above,
information is given in the Agricultural News, Vol. V, p. 330,
and in the Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trini-
dad and Tobago, Vol. VIII, part 9, the latter of which has just
come to hand. In this, a paper is given by Dr. Gough, who
first discovered the eggs of the frog-hopper, a few days before
this was done by Mr. Urich.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

347

ST. KITTS-NEVIS: REPORT ON THE BOTANIC
STATION, ECONOMIC EXPERIMENTS AND AGRI
CULTURAL INSTRUCTION; ALSO ON AGRICUL-
TURAL EDUCATION, 1909-10.

This report shows that the total expenditure in connex-
ion with the work which it describes was £1,085 18s. 8d., of
which £766 18s. 9d. came from the Imperial Grant-in-aid.
The total receipts from the sale of plants and produce were
£148 7s. The buildings and nurseries at the stations have
been kept in good order. A small laboratory has been equip-
ped at the Grammar School for the use of the agricultural
pupils. The total rainfall at the Botanic Station, St. Kitts for
the period under review, was 42°91 inches; in the previous
year it was 48°10 inches.

Useful work has been done in regard to the fumigation
of imported plants and seed, under the Plant Protection
Ordinance. This forms part of the most important duties
of the Agricultural Superintendent. As in Antigua, the
Cadet System in vogue at the Botanic Station is meeting
with success; the system is followed in much the same way
in the two colonies. The economic and other experiments
carried on in connexion with the Botanic Station, St. Kitts,
included trials with food crops, green dressing plants, broom
corn, tobacco, cotton, limes and varieties of sugar-cane.
A large distribution has been made of the produce from some
of the plants. The part of the report describing these
experiments is rendered all the more interesting by the cir-
cumstance that the results, in many cases, are derived from
investigations extending over several years. The manurial
experiments with cotton continue to indicate that the best
returns from this crop are obtained, in St. Kitts, by good
cultivation, and by the use of farmyard manure to maintain
the condition of the soil. Valuable results are being obtained
with respect to cotton selection; the most aseful of these are
given in detailed tables. A part of the report that is of much
interest deals with the cotton industry of St. Kitts, Nevis
and Anguilla, and with the sugar industry of St. Kitts.

The report on the station in Nevis shows that a large
and useful distribution of plants is taking place, under the
auspices of the Agricultural Department. This distribution
is concerned mainly with the dissemination of good varieties
of sugar-cane. Particulars are given of experiments with
food crops, green dressings and cotton. The rainfall at the
Botanic Station in Nevis was 50°69 inches; this is almost the
same as that for 1908, which was 50°50 inches.

Accounts of the sugar and cotton industries show that,
with regard to the former, the yield of sugar was disappoint-
ing, even though a good rainfall had been received during
the growing season; an experiment is being conducted at
Pinney’s estate for the purpose of ascertaining the varieties
of cane that are most suited to conditions in Nevis. Satis-
factory prices were obtained, during the season, for cotton.

The report of the work of the Agricultural and Science
Master at the St. Kitts Grammar School shows that this is
being continued onthe some lines as those of former years,
and that satisfactory progress is being made,

MONTSERRAT: REPORT ON THE LOTANIC
STATION AND EXPERIMENT PLOTS, 1909-10.

The financial statement at the commencement of this
report shows that the total expenditure during the year was
£615 7s. 1d.; of this sum £567 6s. 2d. was granted trom
Imperial funds. The amount received from the sale of plants
and produce was £27 5s. 65d. Various minor improveinents
have been effected at Grove Station. he station at
Olveston has proved itself unsuitable for the purposes of
agricultural experiments, and has therefore been closed.
There has been a large distribution of plants during the year.
The account of the trials conducted on the experiment plots
shows that much interesting work has been done in regard to
cotton selection—work that is becoming of increasing impor-
tance. Of large importance, too, are the experiments that
are being made in lime cultivation; these receive detailed
attention im the report. The trials on the various experi-
ment plots include those with food crops, lemon grasses, bay
trees and cacao. A general account is given of the commoner
diseases and pests in Montserrat.

Interesting details with respect to the cotton industry
show that the area planted in cotton was about 1,600 acres;
this is 700 acres less than the area in 1908-9. The amount
of lint shipped to the end of June 1910 was 235,021 tb.; the
crop of 1908-9 gave 224,711 lb. The season, on the whole,
was favourable for the crop, and prices ranged from 1s. 7d.
to ls. 10d. per tb.

The rainfall at the Grove Botanic Station during 1908-9
was 76°71 inches.

TRINIDAD: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EN-
VTOMOLOGIST TO THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,
1909-10,

This report shows that most of the attention of the entom-
ologist, since January of this year, has been given to the
study of the frog-hopper (Zomaspis postica). An account of
the work that has been done in relation to this pest is given
in the Insect Notes and Fungus Notes of this number of the
Agricultural News. The other sugar-cane pests that received
attention were the giant moth borer (Castnia licus), the
small moth borer (Diatraea saccharalis and an undeter-
mined species), the striped grass looper (Remigia repanda),
the gru-gru beetle (Rhynchophorus palmarum), and the small
beetle borer (Sphenophorus piceus). Among these, the giant
moth borer was responsible for a large proportion of the
‘dead hearts’, and treatment by cutting out and burning is
recommended. The best means of control for the striped grass
looper was found to be weeding, for when this was done, the
caterpillars were picked from the ground by the savannah
blackbird (Quiscalus crassirostris) and the tick bird (Croto-
phaga ani). Shot borers (Xyleborus perforans) were not
numerous during the year.

The cacao pests dealt with are: the cacao beetle (Stezvas-
toma depressum), the leaf hopper (//orzola arquata), which is
protected by ants when young; and //eéliothrips rubrocintus.

Of the pests of cocoa-nuts, the following received atten-
tion: the bearded weevil (Kiina barbirostris); the gru-gru
beetle (Aynchophorus palmarum); Sphenophorus sp.; Xyleborus
perforans; a rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes sp.); Brassolis
sophorae; and the scale insects I’énsonia stellifera, Aspi-
diotus destructor and Icerya montserratensis.

After making reference to various miscellaneous insects
of interest, the entomologist finally draws attention to the
impo.stance of the despatch of specimens to him, in order
that he may be assisted in his work. )

348

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, OctroBer 29, 1910,

GLEANINGS.

Information has been received from the East Java Sugar-
Cane Experiment Station, Pasoeroean, Java, that Mr. J. E.
van der Stok has been appointed to the post of Director of
that station, in the place of the late Mr. J. D. Kobus.

It is of interest that the distribution of plants from the
Dominica Botanic Station during last month was as follows:
limes 4,150, Para rubber 1,000, cacao 300, budded citrus
plants 70, grafted cacao 40, grafted mangos 9, making a total
distribution, for the month, of 5,569 plants.

It is reported from St. Lucia that the cotton crop made
favourable progress during last month, and that very little
Paris green had been required, so far. There were indica-
tions, however, that the cacao crop was likely to be late. The
planting of limes was continued, to a fair extent.

The Board of Trade Journal for September 15, 1910,
p- 551, shows that the exports of cultivated rubber from the
Federated Malay States during the six months ending June
1910 were 5,276,793 tb.; while for a similar period in 1909
the amount was 2,463,241 Ib. The shipments for June 1910
amounted to 879,675 tb.

The condition of the sugar crop in Barbados is good, on
the whole; although the canes have been kept back to
a certain degree near the sea-coast in Christ Church, through
insufficient rainfall. Cotton sowing was practically completed
by the end of September, and the general prospects of the
new crop may be said to be excellent.

A report by the acting Superintendent of Agriculture
for the Leeward Islands, Mr. F. R. Shepherd, shows that
there is a likelihood that promising results will be obtained
from much of the early planted cotton in Antigua. It
emphasizes the importance of getting cotton fields in that
island, into a state of tilth fit for planting early, so that seed
may be sown immediately on receipt of the first rains.

The report of the Agricultural Instructor, Nevis, for the
month of September, shows that a satisfactory rainfall has
been experienced, with the result that agricultural condi-
tions have improved in the island generally. Complaint is
made, however, that sufficient precautions are not being taken,
by some of the peasantry, in the direction of controlling the
cotton worm, thus causing hardship to those who
exercising care in this matter.

are

The report of the Agricultural Instructor, St. Vincent, for
last month, shows that the cotton being grown on allotments,
under the Land Settlement Scheme, was making good progress
generally. The conditions on private estates were good, and
the cotton was making satisfactory growth on most of these,
so that with a favourable ripening season, good yields should
he obtained. Where implemental tillage has been adopted,
an improvement in the crops was seen, in every case.

Recent issues of the St. Kitts Daily Huxpress have
contained a Government Notice to the effect that, in conse-
quence of the existence, in that colony, of a certain amount of
anxiety in regard to the danger of diseased meat being sold,
the Central Board of Health was taking special measures to
ensure the slaughter of perfectly healthy animals, in the
public market. Precautions were also taken in relation to
the importation of cattle from Nevis, where the disease that
had broken out was abating steadily.

The attempts that are being made to introduce the
Barbados blackbird ((Quiscalus fortirostris) into Antigua
appear to be meeting with success. These have been made
chiefly at Cades Bay, where, according to Miss Johnston,
who has kept them under observation on this estate, there
were two in 1908, eleven in 1909, and seventeen in 1910,
Recently, nine more birds were imported from Barbados,

which on being liberated, immediately joined the existing
flock.

A report received from the Curator of the Botanic
Station, Montserrat, for last month, shows that the cotton
crop in that island had not received any check .so far, and
that, generally, the prospects were good. Bacterial disease
was spreading, but the extent of the damage done by it had
not yet been ascertained. Observations on the cotton grow-
ing on some of the lighter soils indicated that planting had
been too close. The cotton worm was in evidence at the
close of the month, but leaf-blister mite had not become
prevalent, so far.

An account is contained in the Watal Agricultural
Journal tor August’ 1910, page 207, dealing with trials of
various machines for gathering stones. The best machine
appears to be that invented by Messrs. J. and R. Forgan, of
Port Pirie, which gained 83 per cent. of the marks awarded
for the various useful characteristics. At the time of the
tests, the general opinion was that the picking up of the
stones by this machine was better than that done by hand.
The machine passed over large stones and fixed stumps with-
out injury, and it is capable of treating 8 to 10 acres a day,
when worked by a 5-horse team and one man.

An abstract of a paper in the Lxperiment Station Record
of the United States Department of Agriculture, for July
1910, p. 16, shows that natural waters are enabled to free
themselves from bacterial contamination owing to the presence
in them of minute forms of animal life (protozoa), which des-
troy the bacteria much in the same way as this is done by
similar animals in the soil (see Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, pp.
34 and 523). The rate of purification of the water is depend-
ent upon the speed with which the protozoa grow, and this in
turn is directly affected by the activity of the protozoa, which
is influenced chiefly by the amounts of bacterial products in
the water. ;

Vou. IX. No. 222.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 349

NOVEMBER.

First Perron.
Seasonal Notes.

It has heen found advantageous, in planting pine-apple
suckers, to strip off the lower leaves before putting the suckers
into the ground. What difference does this make to the
growth of the roots, and how does it assist in the prevention
of the access of the condition known as ‘tangle root’?
What is the appearance of the roots of a pineapple plant
showing this condition! In what way does it interfere with
the growth of the plant? Describe the appearance of pine-
apples which have been attacked by fungus diseases. Are
there any differences in such appearances which would suggest
to you that pine-apples may sutfer from more than one disease?
If so, what are these differences! What kind of soil is the
best for pine-apples, and why is it that the drainage of that
soil must be effective before the plants will thrive ?

At this time, limes are ripening, and the gathering of
the crop will continue until the end of the year. In order
to facilitate the collection of the fruit, the weeds beneath
the trees should be kept short with a cutlass, or by other
suitable means. Care must be taken, especially at the time
of heavy rains, to keep all drains open. These are the chief
matters that admit of attention, until the harvesting of the
crop is completed. A useful exercise will be provided by
choosing a few trees, in different parts of a plantation, and
making observations on the yields of these. Such observa-
tions will be given an additional value by the making of others,
for the purpose of obtaining suggestions as to the causes of the
variations which will certainly be found to oceur. Make notes
on the size of the fruits produced by trees in different places,
and as before, account, if you can, for the variation. Where
a tree has borne a heavy crop of limes, observe the effect on
its subsequent state, especially as regards its general health.
In relation to pests and diseases generally, take notice of the
trees that are most prone to sutler from these, and try to
supply a reason, or reasons, for the added susceptibility of
them. Find out how long, under ordinary conditions, limes
may remain on the ground without rotting, and ascertain
which part of the fruit first shows signs of decay.

Where Bengal beans are grown over lime trees, make
observations of the following kinds: (1) the effect on the
growth of the trees; (2) the extent to which scale insects
are present; (3) the amount of parasitism of these by fungi.
How could you tell if the cover given by the Bengal beans
was too thick? What possible effects miay be produced by
‘the Bengal beans (1) on the soil; (2) on the air in their vicin-
ity? What relation has the use of Bengal beans in lime
cultivations to the control of weeds!

The production of the Christmas crop of cacao is taking
place at this time, and a commencement of picking will be
made shortly. What precautions are of the greatest import-
ance in gathering cacao pods, and why are these precautions
necessary. What ill effects on the succeeding crop will prob-

ably be caused by careless picking, and how are these
effects brought about! Constant attention is required in
remoying suckers from the trees. What conditions, in
a plant, are the most gencral cause of the production of
suckers, and why are the latter usually removed when they
appear! As has been stated above, for limes, the drains in
cacao plantations require special attention at this time of the
year. Give an account of what is likely to happen (1) fo the
soul, (2) to the plants, where the drains in a plantation are
allowed to become gradually filled up? Why are drains often
employed, in cacao fields, on the sides of hills, even where the
water can get away quickly, without any artificial aid!

On a cacao (or nutmeg) estate, some of the trees may
show irregular dull-black patches, with a rough surface, on
the bark. The patches measure at least an inch across, and
may reach as much as 2 inches. They are the outward
manifestation of a fungus that may eventually cause the death
of the plants that have been attacked. Where this is possi-
ble, look carefully for any signs of the presence of such a fun-
gus. What remedial measures might be suggested, in the
presence of an outbreak of such a disease ?

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Why are limes allowed to fall to the ground before
they are gathered? What is the reason for not adopting
this method for harvesting other citrus fruits ?

(2) Why is it important, in the case of cultivated plants,
to encourage the development of a large rootsystem? State
the ways in which this may be done.

(3) Why does farmyard manure disappear more quickly
when it is buried in sandy soils than when it is treated in the
same way in clay soils?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) What is the value of a good supply of humus in the
soil? What are the chief sources of humus, and how is it
best conserved ?

(2) What treatment should lime trees receive after they
have been weakened through an over-production of fruit 4

(3) Describe a good method of curing and preparing
ginger for shipment.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) What bacteria, of importance to the agriculturist,
are usually found in farmyard manure, and what is their
action |

(2) Diseuss the requirements of one important crop, in
the West Indies, in relation to the provision of shade at any
stage of its growth.

(3) Mention the chief pests of sugar-cane or cacao, and
state what precautions should be taken against them. Give
the approximate cost of any measures recommended to be
employed against one of those you mention.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture returned
to Barbados from British Guiana by the R.M.S. ‘Berbice’
on the 18th instant. As was stated in the last number
ot the Agricultural News, Dr. Watts’s visit to British
Guiana was made for the purpose of conferring with
His Excellency the Governor, as well as with a Com-
mittee that had been appointed by him, with regard
to the preliminary arrangements for holding the furth-
coming Agricultural Conference in that colony.

Ge
Or
i=)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocrober 29, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE DISINFECTION OF INDIAN
CORN SEED.

The prevalence of root disease of Indian corn in Antigua
and other islands, and the fact that isolated cases of smut
of this plant are known to occnr to some extent here and
there every year, led to the idea that it might be advisable
to recommend the disinfection of Indian corn seed before
planting. The method to be employed is identical with that
followed in the case of cotton seed. Experiments were
therefore conducted in the laboratory of the Head Office, to
ascertain if corrosive sublimate solution, in the proportion
of 1 part in 1,000, had any harmful effect on the seeds.

For the first experiment, 600 seeds were counted out in
lots of 100, and treated as follows:—

Lot I was immersed in corrosive sublimate solution, for
forty minutes.

Lot Il was immersed in the solution for twenty-five
minutes.

Lot III was immersed in the solution for twenty minutes.
Fach lot of 100 seeds was then put into a separate germinat-
ing chamber, consisting of a cylindrical glass dish, with
a cover fitting well over its sides, and containing four thick-
nesses of damp blotting paper. Three lots of 100 untreated
seeds were put directly into damp chambers made up as
described al ove. At the end of five days, the germination was
as follows:—

Treated seeds, Untreated seeds,

per cent. per cent.
Lot I 97 74
Lot II 99 73
Lot IIL 935 $2

while at the end of thirteen days, the figures were:—

Treated seeds, Untreated seeds,

per cent. per cent.
Lot I 98 81
Lot II 99 86
Lot HI 98 87

At this point, the experiment was discontinued, as it
showed clearly that not only did the corrosive sublimate
solution have no harmful effect, but it appeared to assist
germination and make it more regular. It was, further, very
noticeable that the treated seeds remained clean, while those
not treated were covered with moulds.

As the control seeds in the former experiment were not
immersed in water before germination for a period equal to
that for which the treated seeds were immersed in the solu-
tion, it is evident that the above results are not strictly com-
parable. Consequently a second experiment was undertaken,
using corrosive sublimate solution of the same strength, the
same number of seeds and the same apparatus. The seeds
were divided into lots of 100, and treated as follows:
Three lots were immersed separately in corrosive sublimate
solution for twenty minutes, and three more in distilled water
for the same time. They were then put up in the germina-
tors, and as before, kept in the dark. At the end of two days,
they had commenced to germinate, the numbers being :—

Treated seeds, Untreated seeds,

per cent. per cent.
Lot I 82 52
Lot II 76 27
Lot Ill 70 38

Three days later the figures were as follows :—
Treated seeds, Untreated seeds,

per cent. per cent.
Lot I 99 83
Lot II 98 60
Lot [I 99 69

As might well be expected from the above figures, the
treated seeds showed no further germination after these first
five days, but the untreated ones continued to germinate,
a few at a time, during the next eighteen days, the total
period of germination being twenty-three days. ‘The final
figures were :—

Untreated seeds,

per cent.
Lot I 98
Lot II 96
Lot III 96

These figures show that not only does the treatment
ensure the germination of a higher percentage of seed, and
possibly reduce the chance of infection by certain fungoid
diseases, but also, that it acts as a direct stimulus to germin-
ation, so that a more even, as well asa more regular, stand
would result from using treated seed, since all the seed
germinates at the same time.

Mr. C. J. Simmons, of St. Vincent, informed this Depart-
ment a short time ago of the fact that treatment of Indian
corn seed in this way is practised on several estates in that
island, with most satisfactory results. This method has
supplanted the older one of immersing the seed in salt water.
The seed is planted while wet, and the somewhat difficult
operation of drying is thus avoided. It is recommended that
the practice be adopted in other islands, as it is almost cer-
tain to prove a decided benefit to the resulting crop.

THE FROG-HOPPER FUNGUS IN TRINIDAD.

In the present number of the Agricultural News, some
account is given of the frog-hopper insect, under the heading
of Insect Notes. As considerable damage is inflicted on the
sugar-cane in Trinidad, owing to the attacks of this pest, the
attention of the Entomologist, Mr. F. W. Urich, and of the
Mycologist, Mr. J. B. Rover, is at present directed to the
discovery of the best means of controlling its increase. It
is mentioned that a fungus is found to occur very fre-
quently on dead specimens of both the adult and the nymphal
stages of the insect. This fungus has been known in Trinidad
for some time, but it is only very recently that systematic
investigation of its life-history, and of its actual parasitism,
has been undertaken. In a recent publication of the Board
of Agriculture, entitled ‘The Frog-hopper Fungus’, a short
account is given by Rorer of the results so far obtained in
these investigations. It is from this paper that the informa-
tion reproduced here has been taken.

There is at present considerable doubt as to the identity
of the fungus. Hart and Collens first stated that it was
a member of the genus Entomophthora, which contains many
entomozenous species; but at a Jater date, specimens sent to
the United States Department of Agriculture were identified
as Oospora destructor, and Penicillium anisotliae. (Agri-
cultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 204.) In 1908, specimens were
sent to Kew, and Massee in the Aew Bulletin, 1910, p. 4,
described the fungus as a new species—Septocylindriwm
suspectum. Rorer states that the fungus in Trinidad
is not a Septocylindrium, and that probably that
described by Massee developed as a saprophyte while
the specimens were in transit. As far as can be deter-
mined at present, the parasite belongs to the Oospora

Vors PX.) Noy 222

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 351

type, no other spore form having as yet been obtained. The
spores are 0°00012-inch long, by 0°00004-inch in diameter, and
cylindrical in shape. They are produced very rapidly in long
chains, and are olive-green in the mass, the number formed
on a Single insect being extremely great.

Various laboratory experiments, conducted with a view
to infecting healthy insects, have all proved successful, while
the control insects have not been affected, so that it has
been shown definitely that the fungus is an active parasite.
Furthermore, 100 stools of cane, badly attacked by frog-
hoppers, were infected with spores of the fungus from
a pure culture, with the result that, five days later, large
numbers of the insects were dead, and showed the fungus all
over their bodies. Asa result of these experiments, Rorer
is of the opinion that the possibility of using this fungus for
controlling the insects is considerable, and attempts to
obtain as large quantities of it, in as pure culture as the
apparatus available will allow, are now being instituted in
Trinidad, with a view to starting field experiments on its
employment for this purpose, on a large scale. ‘The results
of these trials, and of Rorer’s investigations into the life-
history of the fungus, will be awaited with interest, and
should prove valuable not only in Trinidad, but in all those
countries where the frog-hopper is known to exist.

AGRICULTURE IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

Though the soil is shallow, and in many districts the
rocks protrude, the land, generally speaking, is well adopted
to agricultural pursuits, and in former days was made to
yield much more than at present.

The Grand Cayman Branch of the Jamaica Agricultural
Society (founded in 1908) has done much to forward agri-
cultural pursuits on more modern principles, with good results.

Guinea grass on shallow ground, and Parnassia grass on
swampy land, are the principal crops of the island of Grand
Cayman. It is impossible to state how many acres are
devoted to these crops, but not less than 4,000. In some
districts, eschalots, pumpkins, corn, (Guinea corn and maize),
sweet potatos, yams, cassava, bananas, plantains, tomatos,
and other tropical vegetables, are largely cultivated. Mangos,
avocado pears, oranges, and other fruits grow wild, little or
no attention being paid to their cultivation. If there were
any possibility of export to the Southern States, fruit would
undoubtedly be cultivated; but as there is no steamship
communication this is not possible.

Almost every householder has his own lot of land, which
he either allows to grow up in bush, or cultivates for his own
domestic supply, or the raising of cattle and horses. There
being no Jand tax, an owner can either allow his land to run
to waste, or cultivate it as and when he chooses. Many owners
refuse to work their land themselves, or sell, rent, or lease it.
The result is, there are many thousands of acres of land lying
idle.

The following return shows the number of cattle, ete.
on the Island of Grand Cayman at the end of the year
1909 : cattle 1,619, mules 17, horses 293, asses 47.

Pigs and goats, not being taxable, no accurate return
can be given, but it is probable there are over 400 pigs and
150 goats.
lands and West Bay districts, and exported abroad, but there
are no sheep on the island at this date.

The Island of Grand Cayman could with ease support
ten times the stock now in existence if it were all cultivated.

At one time, sheep were largely bred in the new '

Beef sells in the market at 44d. per tb., and mutton and
pork at 6d. per tb.

In the Lesser Cayman there is little agricultural
interest, principally because the land is unsuitable for the
cultivation of ordinary products. In Cayman Brac, a smail
area is devoted to the cultivation of Guinea grass for the
raising of cattle (about 100) and horses (about 20). Sutti-
cient yams and cassava are also grown to meet the local
demand and admit of a small export to Grand Cayman. The
rest of the island of Cayman Brac, and the whole of the
island of Little Cayman, are devoted to cocoa-nut culture.
The cocoanuts are exported, and fetched in 1909, £4
a thousand. The actual crop varies little from year to year
(about 2,000,000) though prices vary. In a dry season the
cocoa-nuts are small and do not fetch the full prices. There
is an export duty of 1s. per thousand.

Formerly, cocoa-nuts were largely grown inGrand Cayman,
but a disease attacking the trees, they practically all died, and
at this date they are probably not more than 2,000 cocoa-nut
trees on the island. The disease spread, and continued,
through the general apathy of the population to stop it.

Sisal grows wild throughout the Dependency, but no
attempt to turn it to use was made until two years ago,
when a few small plantations in Grand Cayman were laid
out. A sample of fibre produced from plants growing wild,
and haad cleaned, was submitted for report, and estimated
at the value of 63c. per lb. The industry, if taken up by
the people, would prove profitable, as it is easily grown and
will thrive on waste land.

Such vegetables as cabbages, turnips, carrots, cucumbers,
lettuces, and radishes grow easily, especially in the winter
months.

Previous to 1838 (the days of slavery), and for a few
years afterwards, many useful and valuable products were
obtained from the land, such as ground nuts and ginger. An
effort is being made to re-establish the cultivation of the
ground nut, and ginger will probably follow. (Colonial
Reports—Miscellaneous, No. 73.)

CACAO IN ECUADOR.

It is shown, in Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4560 Annual Series, that the amount of cacao exported from
that Republic in 1909 was 70,287,004 Ib., of a value of
£1,757,175. This was nearly equal to the quantity exported
in 1908; it was smaller on account of the failure of the crop
in certain districts. As cacao is the principal export of
Ecuador, the lower prices that were obtained in 1909 are
a matter of special concern. ‘The lessening of the value of
this product in the market has arisen from the smaller crops
that were obtained, in 1907, in several parts of the world.
The consequent rise in prices caused the demand to be
lowered, and although these have naturally fallen, subse-
quently, they have not yet acted in the direction of reviving
the demand. These circumstances are assisted by the existence
of stocks in Europe and the United States, which originated
in the large crops that were obtained in 1908 and 1909. The
experience of Ecuador is naturally that of all other cacao-
producing countries.

In the report to which reference is made, it is stated
that a new company has been formed, in London, for the
purpose of developing the Tenguel cacao and rubber estate,
which is said to be of vast extent and capability, and that
other large investments of British capital will be made
shortly.

London.—Tue

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocroper 29, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

Wrst Inpia ComMiITTrEE CIRCULAR

October 11, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
September 16, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1}7d. to 53d.

Batara—Sheet, 3/5 ; block, 2/5 per th.

Brrswax—&£7 10s

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 50/-
to 55/6, Jamaica, 48/6 to 52/6.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 42/- to 92/-.

Corra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, |1&d. to 24d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—Common to good common, 49/- to 51/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 57/-; good
bright to fine, 58/- to 65/-.

Honey—24/- to 25/-

IstneLass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 11d. to 1/2; concentrated, £18 2s. 6d. to
£18 5s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5,9, nominal.

Loawoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nutmecs—(Quiet.

Pmiento—Common, 2id.; fair, 2td.; good, 22d. per th.

Rubter—Para, fine hard, 7/-, fine soft, 6/4; tine Peru,
6/9 per tb.

Rom—Jamaica, 1/7 to 4/6.

Sucar—Crystals, 15/9 to 19/- ; Muscovado, 12/- to 14/6;
Syrup, 10,- to 15/13; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Grutespre Bros. & Co., September
30, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 1l}c. to 12c. ; Grenada, 1ljc. to Ile. ;
Trinidad, 114c. to 11jc. ; Jamaica, 9c. to 1Uc. per th.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $37°00 to $38°00; culls,
$22-00 to $23:00 ; Trinidad, select, $37°00 to $3800 ;

culls, $22°00 to $2300 per M.

Corrre—Jamaica, ordinary, 1le.; good ordinary, 11}c.;
and washed, up to 13c. per Ib.

Gixcer—S8je. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxixss—Jamatca, 56c.; Parbados, 50c. to 52c.; St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, 46c. to 47c. per tb.;
Antigua, 50c. to 52c., dry flint.

Grave Fruir—$4-75 to $5°50 per box.

Lutes—$d-00 to 36°00.

Mace—37e. to 42c. per tb.

Nurmrcs—110’s, 83c. per fb.

Onances—Jamaica, $2°25 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—4e. to 44c. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4:05c. per tb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°55c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per tb., all duty
prid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpox, Grant & Co., October 15

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°75 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°50
to $11°75.

Cocoa-Nut Orz—$1-08 per Imperial gallon.

CorreeE—Venezuelan, 15c. per tb.

Copra—$5-°20 per 100 tb.

DHAL—$3'80.

Ontons— $3°25 per 100 Ib.

Pras, Sprrr—$6°20 to $6°25 per bag.

Poraros—English, $1 80 to $1:90 per 100 th.

Rick—Yellow, $440 to $450; White, $4°80 to $4:90
per bag.

Svear— American crushed, $6°20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., October 21, 1910;
Messrs. T. 8. Garraway & Co., October 24, 1910;
Messrs. JamEs A. Lyncu & Co., October 17, 1910,

ARrRowkooTt—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$11:00 to $1
Cocoa-Nuts—$21:00.

2-00 per 100 th.

Corree—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $12-50 per

100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 per 100 th., dull.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $62-00 ; Cacao manure, $42-00
to $48-00; Sulphate of ammonia, $70:00 to 875-00

per ton.

Morasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°20 to $3°
Peas, SPLIT

90 per 100 tb.

$3°45 to $3°60 per bag of 120 th.
Poratos—Nova Scotia, $2°40 to $35-00 per 160 th.
RiceE—Ballam, $4:90; Patna, $3:50 to $3°80; Rangoon,

$2°90 to $3:00 per 100 th.
Sucar—No quotations.

$6:10 to $6:40 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,

British Guiana.— Messrs. Wrerine & Ricurer, October

15, 1910; Me

ssrs. SANDBACH,

October 14, 1910.

Parker & Co,,

ARTICLES.

AnrrowRroot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block

Demerara sheet)
Cacao—Native
Cassava
Cassava STancH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorFrre—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DHaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mctassts— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Peas—Split

Marseilles
PLaNtTaIns—
Poratos—Nova Scotia

Lisben
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam

Messrs. WIETING
& RicutTer. |

$8-25 per 200 th.,
wanted
32c. per tb.
7Se. per tb.
10c. to lle. per tb.
96e.
$650

$10 to $16 per M.

14c per th.
lic. per Ib.
83c. per th.
$3°65 to $3-70 per|
bag of 168 tb.
$4°25
96c.
None
276. to 3c.
$600 per bag
(210 tb.)
$4°50
20c. to 48c.
$250

$1°20 per bag

|$4°80 to $4-90 per

175 th.

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$825

Prohibited
None
10e. to 11e. per th.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
12c. to 18c. per tb.
ldc. per tb.
10e. per th.
$3°70 per bag of
168 th.

2c.

$9°75 to $600 per
hag (210 tb.)
No quotation

$2°50

No quotation

$4°S0 to $4°90

Creole $5 00 to $5°10 | $5-00 to $5-10
Tanyias— 32°16 per bag —
Yams— White $2°88 ——

Buck $3712
Suc ar—Dark crystals $265 to $2-70 None

Yellow $3:25 $3:70

White $400 $4:00 to $4:25

Molasses $2-25 None

Timber —Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot eub. foot

Wallaba shingles} $3-75 to $3°75 $3°50 te $5°50

per M. per M.
», Cordwood| $1°80 to $2:00 No quotation

per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No. 1. Out of print. Nos, 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price 1s. each. Post free, 1s. 2d.

Volumes II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s, 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;
and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XI. No, 1. Containing papers on The Control of Scale Insects in the British West Indies by Means of
Fungoid Parasites; Epizootic Lymphangitis; A New West Indian Cacao Pod Disease; Nomenclature of
Seale Insects; Notes on Lime Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Report on a Visit to the Guanica
Central Sugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and The
Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils. Price 6d. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures. the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the
present time is sixty-four. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sugar Inpusrry. (14) Screw Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.; (17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados, (25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 6d.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d.; (34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d.

in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d.; No. 66 (in the press). (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands, (37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.

in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.; (38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.

in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.

in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.; (43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-

in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.; tions. Price 2d.
in 1908-9, No. 63, price 6d. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting. New and Enlarged Edition,
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

in 1902-3, No. 30. price 4d.; in 1903-4, No, 36, price 4d.; (52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition. Price 4d.
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; (53) A B C of Lime Cultivation. Price 4d.
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d, Price 4d.
Scate Insects. (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. No. 7, price 4d.; (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.
Part II., No. 22, price 4d. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
GENERAL. (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d. (65) Hints for School Gardens, Fourth Edition. (In the press.)

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of $d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
marked 4d., and 14d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62 and 63.

The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress ana
other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in
Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘ Agricultural News ’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
Qs. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued
—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s. Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no
longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents Al
applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School,
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. LAwRENCE, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: Toe Epucationan Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BrmpGEwarter, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tar ‘Datty CHronicLe’ Orrice,Georgetown. dntigua: Mr. S. D. Mauonz, St. John’s,
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-M arsHA.y & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Tae Breve anp Book Suppiy Agency, Basseterro,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLacEMANN, Scarborough. . Nevis : Messrs. Howx.t, Bros., Charlestown,

Grenada: ‘THE StorEs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. IX. No. 222. THE ACEICUET VEAL NEWS. Octoser 29, 1910.
THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohiendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO :—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

COTTON SEED MEAL.
GOTTEN SEED MEAL.

Recommended by the Imperial Department of
Agriculture as a first class Feeding Stuff for Cattle,

Mules, etc, Special quotations for large quantities,

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED,

FOR SALE.

Kighty (80) Sheep.

THE PROPRIETOR,
Woodford Hill Estate,

BRIDGETOWN. (219.) Dominica, B.W.I.
PF OR GA. LE ‘| JUST ISSUED. a
3 WEST INDIA® BULLETIN.
OWING TO CHANGE OF BLOOD, Containing be fe i ees of Scale Insects in
THE “IMPORTED ATARICAN RAM <SHEEPHisatus 1yccndeame a New Won titediCaas Be

Disease; Nomenclature of Scale Insects; Notes on Lime

‘YORUBA’.

Offers will be received by:—
THE MANAGER,
Ratho Mill Estate,
St. Vincent.

(220.) (See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p- 23.)

Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Report on a Visit
to the Guanica Central Sugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manur-
ial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and
The Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils.

To be obtained from all agents for the

saie of the Department’s publications. Price
6d.; post free, 8d.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

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INGREASE YOUR PROFIT.

No land in the West indies is yielding
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EW
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IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.
IX, No. 223: BARBADOS, NOVEMBER 12, 1910. Price ld.
CONTENTS. the one hand, and the academical scientist on the other.
Midway between these stands the man entrusted with
the care of field experiments, who must be possessed
Pace. Pace. not only of a general knowledge of the nature and value

Agricultural Research, Lime Cultivation, Catch
~ Centralization of ... 353 Crops in
3arium in United States | Market Reports
Soils 6 ae ses 359 | Millions, Enemy of..
Budwood, Florida, Success Nitrogen-Fixing( Irganisms

in West Indies with... 356 | in the Soil, Use of ... 360

Castilloa Cultivation in _| Notes and Comments 360
Jamaica... - 360 paper-Making Material,
Cotton Notes:— Requisites in ... 361
British Cotton- Growing 3 Porto Ric 0, “Sick’ Soils of of 361

Association . --. 008
Cotton in Nyz asaland ... 359 How ae Pane otcun 357
West Indian Cotton ... 358 Ri s
; 7 : Seo | Rice, Rough, for Baadine
Departmental Reports ... 363 Forses andiiiavies 367
Mungus Nee a Ghon Rubber-Tapping Experi-
a) sease 0 acao 2
; 3 eS Ss C ) ... oot
Limes and other Plants 366| ments 12 v& ylon as
mn ae . ga, |sorrel, Useful Variety aii 356
Gambia, Trade of, 1908... 361) 6 365
Gloannus 364 Students’ Corner ... ... 365
Insect Notes :— | Sugar Industry :— ;
Seale Insects and Black | Experiments m Drying __
Blight in Grenada ... 362) Megass sa 35
International Rubber The Analysis of Megass 30D
Exhibition, 1911 . 307 | West Indian Products ... 367

The Centralization of Agricultural
Research.

> GRICULTURE, in the modern sense of the
=)
Ph, term, is a many-sided subject, and requires

many men who have been trained, not only in different
branches of natural science, but also along very different
lines. The two extreme types of men interested in the
advancement of this most important branch of human
knowledge are represented by the practical planter on

MS for its successful advancement the work of

of the different branches of scientific investigation, but
also of the methods and conditions of practical agri-
culture as exhibited in the district to which his work is
intended to be of service.

Now it is part of the nature of scientific research
that the general conclusions at which it arrives are, in
many cases, applicable to practical methods over a very
large area, when once they have been modified to suit
local conditions. the number of indi-
viduals required to investigate the scientific side of any
problem is relatively small, while the number of practical
workers to whom they may be of value is large.
channel by

( Jonsequently,

The
means of which the results obtained in the
laboratory are usually conveyed to the practical workers
in any agricultural district is through the man entrusted
with the conduct of field experiments. The number of
these men must depend either on geographical condi-
tions or on the extent to which land is under cultivation.

The functions of the middle man referred to above
are threefold. In the first place, he must test the value
of laboratory results as applied to the production of
crops under local conditions: though the lines along
which these tests should be made must be indicated by
the scientific investigator who interprets the results.
In the second place, he is required to give advice when
needed to the practical worker, in the light of the knowl-
edge acquired from the tests conducted, so that the
information obtained may be thoroughly disseminated,
Lastly, he may from his experience of local problems
suggest lines of investigation, which would be of value,

JARDE

354

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NovemBER 12, 1910.

_———————————

to be conducted by the appropriate members of the
laboratory staff.

The body of academical scientists is generally
composed of men who have been trained in one of four
special aspects of natural science. They may be con-
cerned with the determination of the composition and
properties of substances employed in agriculture (Agri-
cultural Chemistry); with the study of plants of economic
importance (Botany): with the investigation of the
damage inflicted on crops by animals, particularly
insects (Entomology); or in studying the ways to pre-
vent the loss due to the lower forms of plant life (Mycol-
ogy). The problems which they investigate are sug-

gested in the course of their work, by a study of

the current literature of their subject, or by considera-

tion of the suggestions received from those in change of

field experiments in a large number of different

districts. In the case of the Entomologists and
Mycologists, scientitie investigations may also be

necessitated by the occurrence of an epidemic attack
of some insect pest or fungoid disease. It should,
however, be understood that it is not necessary
for such workers to possess, as part of their equipment,
a detailed knowledge of the conditions of agricultural
practice in any special district; what they need is to be
accurately informed of those conditions, in the places
where their advice is required, in order that they
may be enabled to
the measures that are most suited to those condi-
tions It is here that those who are in charge of
experiment stations possess a particular usefulness
in giving the specialist an accurate idea of the
circumstances in which his knowledge may be applied.
This knowledge is general. It only requires to be
adapted in such a way as to apply to the problem which
is causing uneasiness to those who are engaged in
agricultural pursuits for the purpose of making a living.

It is part of the function of the laboratory statf to
keep itself thoroughly in touch with all the current
literature relating tothe subject of scientific agricul-
ture, as well as to conduct research. This literature
must be correlated and disseminated, through the
medium of definite publications, in a form in which it
is of most service to the practical man. Besides ren-
dering available all the latest results of investigations
made in other parts of the world, the body of scientific
investigators must prepare more technical articles set-
ting forth for the benefit of other similar bodies the
results of its own researches.

The value of co-operative etfurt between the various
types of men concerned with agricultural interests is

recommend the adoption of

well illustrated by the working of such departments as
those in India and the United States. Institutions of
this nature are, broadly speaking, modelled on the
lines already indicated. The scientific staff is sub-
divided into groups of men concerned with the investi-
gation of problems connected with one branch of
science, only. Their results are conveyed through
middle men-.and thus become available to the far-
mer. It is clear that when such a department
requires to enlarge the sphere of its activities to
include a new area, it can do so to the best advantage,
not by increasing the personnel of its scientific staff,
but by adding to the numbers of the middle men
in its employ. A body of specialists whose work is
intended to elucidate problems connected with agri-
culture in India has recently been assembled at the
Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa. The results
obtained by them are published, and so made available
to the various provincial departments and planters’
associations, and the scientific officers of these institu-
tions direct the application of the results to the
conditions of cultivation which exist in their districts.
All such organizations are intended to direct and
economise the energy spent on scientific investiga-
tion, in order that the most satisfactory results may be
obtained for the minimum expenditure of labour,
money and time.

RUBBER-TAPPING EXPERIMENTS IN
CEYLON.

In the Zropreal Ayriculturist for August 1910, p. 98,
a review is given, by Mr. T. Petch, of experiments that are
being made, in tapping Hevea trees, at Henaratgoda, Ceylon.
The purpose of this review was to determine how far former
interpretations of the results were justified.

It will be well to give the chief conclusions reached by
Mr. Petch, in view of their value, as far as they go. These
relate to (1) the yield of rubber from different parts of the
stem; (2) the relative value of ditferent methods of tapping;
and (3) the yield obtainable by tapping at different
intervals,

In regard to the first, it is stated that, as the experiment
stands, it appears to prove that the greatest yield is obtain-
ed by tapping at one-quarter the height of the tree from the
base. The result is interesting, but not final in character,
as it is vitiated by certain circumstances in the experiment,
and by abnormal yields in particular instances.

The trials for determining the relative value of
different methods made it appear that, where trees are being
purposely injured by tapping, in order to thin them out,
herring bone tapping on “oth sides of the tree is better than
the employment of the full spiral.

In relation to the third matter, the final figures would
appear to show that tapping on alternate days yields more
latex than tapping every day; but an analysis of the results
shows that this conclusion, at any rate, is untenable.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWs. 3

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

EXPERIMENTS IN DRYING MEGASS.

The Modern Sugar Planter, for August 27, 1910, states
that Professor E. W. Kerr, of the Engineering Department of
the Louisiana State University, who has made an exhaustive
study of the burning of megass in sugar factories in Louisi-
ana and Cuba, intends to effect an extension of his research
work in connexion with this subject. This extension is in
the direction of the conduct of experiments in drying megass,
for the purpose of determining if this adds to its fuel efficien-
cy. Another object of the work is to find a means of dis-
pensing with the oil fuel that is used in conjunction with
megass, for burning, in many sugar factories in the United
States.

In the experiments, the plan will be to make use of the
waste heat that passes up the chimney with the furnace gases,
for the purpose of drying the megass. The publication to
which reference has just been made states that the drier will
consist of a metal chamber, 19 or 20 feet in height and 5
feet square. ‘Chis will be provided with a hopper, through
which the megass will pass in a continuous stream into the
drier. As it enters the chamber, the megass will fall on tilt-
ing shelves, some of which will have a shaker motion impart-
ed to them. ‘The shelves will be at suitable distances, and
the hot air will pass over them, and through perforations in
them, thus drying the megass. After this has fallen through
the chamber from shelf to shelf, it. will pass through a hopper
at the bottom and be carried to the furnaces in the ordinary
way.

The method of introducing the heat into the drier will
be to drive the waste gases from the furnaces into it by means
of an exhaust fan. he gases will be taken up as they pass
from the furnaces into the chimney.

Tt is stated, finally, in the article that Professor Kerr
expects that at least 25 percent. of the moisture contained in
the megass, as it leaves the mill, will be removed by the dry-
ing process. The opinion is given that, if this percentage of
drying is obtained, the process will be found highly economi-
cal for every sugar factory in Louisiana. ‘It. should be
especially adapted to conditions of sugar manufacture of the
kind which obtains in that State, where the mill feeds are
high, and a large proportion of water is used in maceration:

THE ANALYSIS OF MEGASS.

The following interesting conclusions in regard to
the analysis of bagasse (or megass) have been reached
after work at the Experiment Station of the Hawaiian
Sugar Planters’ Association, which is deseribed in
Bulletin No. 32 of that station, entitled Bagasse
Analysis—Determination of Sugar and Moisture.

It may be added that in the bulletin, a new
method, by which a larger polariscope reading is
obtained, is described, thus giving a means of reducing
the errors from this source. Methods, based on the

results of the investigation, are also suggested for sampl-
ing and for the determination of sugar and moisture
In megass:—

1. The careful sampling is of more importance than any
other part of the process of the analysis of bagasse.

2. No entirely satisfactory method of preserving bagasse
has been found; it had therefore best be analyzed soon atter
it has been collected.

3. The bagasse sample loses cousiderable moisture
during the chopping, which should be taken account of in
weighing samples for analysis.

4. In determining the polarization of bagasse by
digestion in water, the digestion should be continued for an
hour to insure a homogeneous diffusion of the §solution
through the bagasse.

5. No other dextro-rotatory substance than sugar is
extracted or produced from bagasse from Hawaiian cane by
boiling with water.

6. Bagasse cannot be sampled or analyzed accurately
unless finely divided.

7. Two cubic centimetres of a 5-per cent. solution of
sodium carbonate to 50 grams of bagasse was found to be the
most convenient reagent to use in the water for digestion.

8. In digesting bagasse in water the solution should be
mixed occassionaily to insure a homogeneous diffusion.

9. No water should be added to the solution after
digestion.

10. The same results are obtained by water digestion
for one hour, and by extraction with alcohol or water for one
and a half to two hours. ’

11. Bagasse samples dry very much more quickly when
spread out in a thin layer than in thick masses. A 3-inch
layer of bagasse cannot be depended upon to have lost all its
moisture in seven hours at 100°-105°C.

12. Bagasse can be dried safely at 125°C. in three hours.

13. Some samples of bagasse do not lose all their
moisture, when dried in a vacuum at 100°C., in less than
three hours.

An Enemy of ‘Millions’.—Some time ago, several
specimens of an insect predaceous on millions were forwarded
to the Head Office by Mr. G. F. Branch, Agricultura’
Instructor, Grenada, who explained that he had observed
these insects attacking the fish, and eating them.

In the absence of Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc., the Entom-
ologist to the Department, the insects were sent to the
Rev. N. B. Watson, Vicar of St. Martin’s, Barbados, with
a request that he would report anything of interest that he
knew concerning them. Mr. Watson has kindly examined
the specimens, and states that they are. the larvae of
a beetle bélonging to the family Hydrophilidae, the larval
stage of which is active, predaceous and carnivorous, preying”
on all kinds of Small aquatic’ animals, including young
millions.’ It is’ suggested by Mr. Watson that this is only
likely to become an enemy of millions where food is scarce,
and that it may, be removed from water, where the fish are
being raised, by dredging it out with a shallow net sieve, and
taking the larvae out from among the millions by means of
a pair of forceps, while the sieve is just under the surface of
the water.

It may be stated that mention of enemies of millions

found in St. Lucia by Dr. L. Nicholls was made in the Ayre-
cultural News, Vol. IX, p. 315.

356 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NoveMBER 12, 1910.

| |

PRUITS AND BRUPE 2 RE BS:

SUCCESSFUL USE OF FLORIDA BUD-
WOOD IN THE WEST INDIES.

A communication has been received from Mr. J. Jones,
Curator of the Botanic Station, Dominica, which gives
interesting particulars as to the success which has been
obtained at that station in budding superior varieties of
grape-fruit on sour orange stocks,

The budwood was received from Messrs. Reasoner Bros.,
Florida, at the beginning of last June. On its arrival, it
was employed for the purpose of budding, in the way men-
tioned. The following table shows the amount of success
that was obtained ‘in this:

Buds Buds Per-
inserted. which grew. centage.
Marsh’s seedless 49 24 49
Mannville’s improved 31 2 6
Pernambuco 47 2] 44
Royal 9 i 1b
Tresca 19 8 42

The results show that plants of all the varieties that
were imported were secured. As Mr. Jones points out, they
are good, considering that three weeks elapsed between the
time that the budwood left Florida and the time at which it
was worked on to the stocks, in Dominica.

The communication goes on to state that, from a few of
the more advanced plants, budwood is already being taken
for propagation, and that considerable supplies of budding
material should be available, from the plants raised, for dis-
tribution early in next year. It is suggested that, where
such material will be required by Botanic Stations, prepara-
tions should be made now, for the reception of the budwood,
by the provision of a number of sour orange stocks on which
it is to be employed.

It is pointed out, further, that the best method of
importing new varieties of citrus fruits into the West Indies
for propagation is by means of budwood. When the buds are
worked on sour orange stocks of the local kind, better plants
are obtained than when stocks already budded are imported,
This is due to the fact that the conditions under which the
stocks grow, in Florida, are very different from those which
obtain in the West Indies.

A USEFUL VARIETY OF SORREL.

The Yearbook: of the United Sates Department of
Agriculture, for 1909, describes a new variety of red
sorrel (Hibiscus Sabdariffa), the account of which is
reproduced below. Recent information concerning the
sorrel (or roselle) has-been given in the Agricultural
News, Vols. VII, p. 244, and VIII, p. 388:—

The roselle, Zibiscus Sabdarifia, Linn., though native
to the Old World Tropics, has long been sparingly introduced
to the West Indies and elsewhere in tropical America. It
was reported in Jamaica as early as 1707 by Hans Sloane,
who stated that it was planted in most gardens of that
island, where,‘ The capsular leaves are made use of for making
Tarts, Gellies, and Wine, to be used in fevers and hot dis-
tempers, to allay heat and quench thirst.’ In Florida, where
the date of its introduction, though unrecorded, is evidently
recent, it 1s very commonly known as ‘ Jamaica Sorrel’, and
in parts of tropical America, notably the Canal Zone, it bears
this name, indicating the Jamaican channel through which
the species was probably distributed. in the New World.
Notwithstanding its long recognition as a valuable plant in
both the Old and the New Worlds, little attention appears
to have been paid to the development of improved strains
until recently. In fact, so far as known, the Victor is the
first variety or race to be dignified with a varietal name.
This is probably due to the fact that in India, as has been
stated by Wester, the species, though recognized as possessing
edible qualities, has chiefly been grown as a fibre plant rather
than for its edible calices, the portion prized in the American
tropics. As the plant is a tropical annual, requiring at least
six months of warm weather free from frost to bring it up to
the beginning ‘of its harvest period, and about two months
more to. mature its full crop, its chief interest to American
planters will be in southern Florida and frost-free localities
in California, together with Porto Rico, the Canal Zone,
Hawaii and the Philippines. Its luxuriant growth and great
productiveness “may render it sufficiently profitable in some
sections, where frost occurs too early to permit its seed to
ripen, however. It appears not improbable that earlier
maturing varieties: may yet be developed which may be
adapted to a considerable portion of the cotton states.

The Victor was originate] at Miami, Florida, by Mr. P: J.
Wester, Special Agent in the Bureau of Plant Industry.
Having obtained a few plants of the common roselle in 1904

Vout: {1 X.: No:.223:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 357

from Mr. W. A. H. Hobbs, of Cocoa-nut Groye, for planting
in the Subtropical Garden at Miami, Mr. Wester observed
marked variation among them and began selecting seed from
those bearing the largest calices and showing other desirable
characteristics, with the result that in the second generation
of plants (1906), the strain was considered fixed, and has so
continued.

DESCRIPTION. Mr. Wester’s characterization of the Victor
is as follows. The plants of the Victor variety are inclined to
be a trifle more dwarf than the common kind, but the fohage
is similar. The measurements of the calyx of the common
variety are: length 33 mm., diameter 22 mm.; in the im-
proved type the measurements are 49 mm., and 28 mm.,
respectively. The increase in size is thus seen to be rather
more in length than in diameter. Calices of the improved
type have in some instances been 60 mm. long, and 38 mm.,
in diameter. The improved type is also distinct in being
more strongly ribbed longitudinally, and in having the calyx
not so closely adpressed to to the seed pod as in the common
variety. It is frequentiy inclined to be convolute at the
apex.

As a tropical plant yielding a quick return in the form
of a sauce, jam, and jelly-producing fruit, closely resembling
in quality the cranberry of the North, the Victor is worthy
of testing wherever the common roselle has been found to
succeed. To obtain the higest yield of large calices, the seeds
are planted in southern Florida about May 15. The young
seedlings are transplanted to the field when 3 or 4 inches
high, and begin blossoming late in Dctober. The first fruit is
gathered about the middle of November, and shonld be
harvested as rapidly as it reaches suitable size, in order to
ensure continuance of blossoming and fruiting until late in
February.

THE INTERNATIONAL RUBBER #EXHIBI-
MONS 1921.

The Exhibition has received official recognition at the
hands of all the British Government's colonies, and of all
foreign nationalities in which rubber is grown or manufac-
tured. Germany has appointed an influential, official com-
mission, and Holland has done likewise. ‘The names of the
special commissions for Belgium and France will shortly be
published. The manufacturers. of these countries are all
exhibiting largely, while exhibits of crude rubber will be sent
from their colonies. The largest exhibitor of erude rubber
will be Brazil, and that Government proposes to appoint
a special commission. The Brazilian space occupies some
8,0u0 square feet in the Exhibition, and Germany and her
colonies will be next with about 6,000 square feet. The
Netherlands and their colonies will occupy about 5,000
square feet. Ceylon and the Malay States have booked up
some 3,000 feet, while the Gold Coast, Southern India,
British West Indies, Uganda, and British East Africa are all
well to the fore.

Rubber will be exhibited from such distant places as
New Guinea, Queensland, Portuguese East Africa, the Sand-
wich Islands, ete. The largest piece of crude rubber—about
1 ton in weight—comes from Para, Brazil.

The Colonial Office has sent out invitations to all col-
onies inviting delegates to take part in the International Con-
ference of producers and manufacturers, and replies have been
received that most of the countries will be represented by
delegates.

A large number of the rubber companies also are exhibit-
ing separately, and no doubt when the Exhibition is open it

will be, found that the leading producers are individually
represented, apart from the Government exhibits. In the
Manufacturers’ Section, several of the largest manufacturers
of Great Britain and the Continent have booked spaces,
and some of them of considerable dimensions, and there
will be no reason to complain on this’occasion that it is
a crude rubber exhibition only. Rubber machinery will also
have a very important place, some of the exhibits covering an
area of 2,000 square feet. During the Exhibition, it is pro-
posed to have an international dinner instead of a series of
dinners as at the Exhibition of 1908. A meeting will shortly
be called at the London Chamber of Commerce to arrange
all details in connexion with the conferences and other
functions.

His Majesty the King has intimated that he looks for-
ward with pleasure to visiting the Exhibition. (The Jndia-
Rubber Journal, October 3, 1910.)

MATERIAL FOR PLANTING IRISH
POTATOS.

On the quality of the sets planted much of the success
of the potato crop depends. When selecting seed, the utmost
care should be taken to see that the variety is true to type,
and perfectly free from disease. Always make it a point to
obtain seed from a reputable seed merchant or some reliable
grower. For main crops, one or two varieties of sorts that
have been tested and are known to do well in the particular
district on similar soil should be selected.

In the size of the sets planted the practice of different
farmers varies widely, some advocating the use of the whole
tubers, others claiming equally good, and better, results from
cut sets. The danger of partial or entire failure, resulting
from an imperfect stand, is much greater with smali sets, cut
or whole, than with large ones. The small sets are liable to
perish, should the season be unfavourable, either through
excessive moisture or drought. A number of investigators
have noted that large seed pieces—either large cut sets or
whole potatos—afford an earlier crop than very small cut-
tings, and also produce an increased yield. Experiments
carried out in the United States showed that whole tubers 2 to
3 inches in diameter yield more than small whole tubers j-inch
to 1} inches in diameter, and large cut tubers 15 per cent.
more than small cut tubers. The most economical set to use
is one with two or three eyes and a good amount of flesh, and
weighing about 2 to 3 oz. In cutting the sets, medium-sized
tubers should be selected, and cut lengthways and then across.
Many growers cut the tubers into sets containing one, two,
or three eyes, laying greater stress on the number of eyes
than the size of the set; but it is pointed out that, before the
shoot develops its root system. it is dependent on the material
stored up in the set, hence the more abundant this supply is,
the more vigorous the growth of the plant. It is lamentable
to see many farmers retaining and planting, year after year,
the small and frequently much-diseased tubers that are unsale-
able. This practice is not to be commended. A change of
seed, not necessarily of variety, is of the highest importance,
and should be made at least every three years. For prefer-
ence, the seed should be obtained from a cooler climate. Many
ideas prevail as to the relative values of different parts of the
tuber for seed. Some advocate the removal of the stem end,
but experiments have shown that there is no material differ-
ence noticeable in the yield that could be attributed to the
different sets, and that the two ends of the tuber are of equal
value. (/urmers’ Bulletin No. 27, of the New South Wales
Department of Agriculture.)

58 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NoveMBER 12, 1910.

@)

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date October 24, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, only about 100 bales of West
Indian Stained Sea Islands have been sold; the stock now is
practically all sold.

Owing to a storm on the Florida and Georgia coast,
there has been a fear that the American Sea Island crop may
have been damaged in quality, with the result that prices
of the best Floridas have risen from 163d. (at which the
market opened) to 18d., this being the price now ruling; but
should the reported damage not be corroborated, prices may
probably ease. ‘Fully Fine’ Carolina Island is offered
at 194d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W, Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending October 15, is as follows:—

The receipts for the week were 259 bales, against 600
bales last year, and total to date 351 bales, as against 925
bales last year, confirming the lateness of the crop.

The market opened this week, and all offerings were
readily taken at the asking prices, viz,: Extra Fine 37c.,,
Fully Fine 35c., Fine 33c.

Although the exchange reports only 300 bales, the actual
sales were 500 bales. The buying, we think, was chiefly on
speculation, the purchasers being influenced by the advancing
market in Savannah.

The Factors are refusing to sell further until the above
sales are filled, and they have some accumulation of stock;
and unless the market is absolutely quiet for a week or two,
they will ask higher prices.

THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING
ASSOCIATION.

The following account of a recent meeting of the
British Cotton Growing Association is taken from the
Monthly Magazine ot the Liverpool Chamber of
Commerce for September 1910 :-—

The Seventy-ninth Meeting of the Council of the British
Cotton Growing Association was held at the Offices, 15, Cross
Street, Manchester, on Tuesday, September 6. In the
absence of the Earl of Derby, G.C.V.O. (President),
Mr. John E. Newton occupied the chair.

WEST AFRICA, The purchases of cotton in Lagos for
the month of August were 241 bales, as compared with 323
bales for August last year, and 137 bales for 1908. The
purchases since the beginning of .the year amount to 5,469

bales, against 11,489 bales for the same period of last year,
and 5,400 bales for the whole of 1908. The prospects for
cotton-growing during the present season are all that can be
desired, and about 400 tons of cotton seed have already been
given out by the Association, most of which has been
distributed through the Government Agricultural Depart-
ment to native farmers. Large supplies of seed have also
been distributed to native cultivators in Northern and South-
ern Nigeria.

UGANDA. The purchases of cotton in this Protectorate
continue to be most satisfactory, and at the present time the
Association have nearly 3,000 bales either in Liverpool or in
transit. The prospects for the new crop are most favourable,
and it is expected that picking will commence towards the
end of October. During the month of August the Associa-
tion received 1,415 bales of cotton from East Africa.

NYASALAND. The machinery and buildings for the
ginnery at Port Herald have been despatched, and every
effort is being made to have the ginnery ready for this year’s
crop, which begins to come in about this time. The reports
received both from the Government officials and also from
the Association’s representatives with regard to the crop are
most encouraging, and in one district alone, which is situated
near Lake Nyanza, the Association have purchased over 100
tons of seed-cotton grown by the natives.

Considerable satisfaction was expressed that arrange-
ments have now been made with the Union Castle Line for
a direct service of steamers to East Africa through the
Suez Canal. This will greatly benefit the cotton industry in
East Africa and Nyasaland, as the cotton will now reach
Liverpool several weeks earlier than was formerly the case.

RHODESIA. The Council of the Association have now
approved of the arrangements for the development of cotton-
growing in Rhodesia, in conjunction with the British South
Africa Company. Several months ago Mr. Bateson, one
of the Association’s most experienced agriculturists, who
has been in charge of the experimental plantation in
Lagos for some years, was sent to Rhodesia to report
upon the suitabilty of the soil and climate from a cotton-
growing point of view. Mr. Bateson made a careful study
of the conditions in Northern Rhodesia, and was greatly
assisted in his work by the officials of the British South Africa
Company. He reported that there were many large districts
along the railway between Livingstone and Broken Hill,
where the conditions were favourable for cotton-growing.
There are a number of white planters, who, with few excep-
tions, have not been very successful, mainly owing to the lack
of expert assistance. In some cases the land has been badly
selected, and attempts have been made to grow cotton on
sandy and unsuitable soil, and in others the land has been
wrongly tilled. In order that planters may receive the neces-

Vou. IX. No! 223:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

359

III

sary advice and assistance, it has been decided:—

(1) To send out an expert, whose advice will be available
for all farmers in the district.

(2) To open an experimental farm for testing different
varieties of cotton, rotation of crops, fertilizers, etc.,
which would also be a training farm for both
Europeans and natives.

(3) To establish a ginnery with an efficient hydraulic

press, available for all farmers in the district.

It is proposed to commence work with a plantation of
about 200 acres for the first season, which could afterwards
be extended, and by the close of the second season sufficient
data should have been acquired to prove whether cotton
cultivation can be made a commercial success.

The cotton produced in Rhodesia is of a very desirable
quality, and has generally realized about 2d. per Ib. upon the
price of middling American. It has hardly been possible, as
yet, to form a reliable opinion as to the cost of production,
which can only be arrived at by taking the average yield per
acre over a number of years.

COTTON IN NYASALAND.

The Annual Report on the Agricultural and
Forestry Departinent, Nyasaland Protectorate, for
1909-10, gives the following information as to the state
of the cotton industry during that time:—

The cotton industry of Nyasaland is divided into two
sections: (1) The European industry; (2) The native
industry.

European acreage has increased from 6,037 last year to
8,975 for the year under review, and the crop at pres2nt
being harvested covers over 12,000 acres. It will be seen
from the above figures that solid progress is being made, and
Iam happy to report that the quality leaves nothing to be
desired. Nyasaland has obtained the record price of 1s. 23d.
per Ib. for Nyasaland upland. The brokers, reporting on the
upland crop of 1909, consider it to be the finest cotton ever
grown from upland seed, either in America or elsewhere.
Nyasaland upland is now thoroughly acclimatized, and doing
very well at different levels, from 1,000 to 3,000 feet, which
is a remarkably wide range for a single variety. On the lower
levels the growing season is longer, and the yield generally
heavier, but the quality is inferior to highland grown, being
less silky.

Lustre, silkiness and length of staple seem to be inherent
characters of the highland soils, and all classes of cotton
rapidly acquire these characters, after being grown for
a few years in the country. A most gratifying feature is the
increasing yield per acre, and several estates which produced
100 tb. of lint a few years ago are now averaging as high as
165 tb., some gardens yielding over 2 cwt. per acre.

The European Egyptian crop of the Lower River was
a partial failure, due to the ravages of bacterial blight, an
American disease, which has been the cause of considerable
loss for several years. During last season I conducted careful
investigations (Bulletin No. 2 of 1910) regarding this disease
on River-grown Egyptian, and arrived at the following
conelusions:—

1. The disease is most severe in low-lying portions of
estates at or below the level of high river.

2. From wet lands it spreads to better drained soils.

3. Late sown cotton is less liable to attack,

4, Nyasaland upland is practically disease-resistant, even
when grown in wet situations.

Putting this information into practice, owners of planta-
tions on the river were advised only to plant Nyasaland
upland in low-lying portions of their estates, and to plant
Egyptian where soil aeration and drainage left nothing to be
desired. The advice was acted on, and in one district this
year there are nearly 1,000 acres of healthy Nyasaland
upland in place of the same area of dead and dying Egyptian.
The European Egyptian crop, although small, was sold at
prices which compared favourably with Egyptian-grown; and
now the problem of blight has been solved, I trust that the
quality of the crop will improve in future, as there is a con-
siderable shortage in this class of cotton on the market.

The extension of a native cotton industry is of necessity
a slow process, but I have little hesitation in saying that in
a few years the export of native cotton will be the largest
export of the Protectorate.

The future prosperity of Nyasaland as an agricultural
country depends principally on the development of her
native agriculture, and no crop is more suitable than cot-
ton for this purpose. Government has done everything
possible with the means at its disposal to foster this industry,
and I am pleased to report that the money spent has been
well expended. Since the introduction of native cotton cultiva-
tion in Nyasaland by Government it has steadily progressed,
and the crop for the year under review amounted to 220 tons,
an increase of 130 tons on the previous year. The crop now
approaching maturity is favourable, and as the distribution
of seed is practically double that of last year, it is anticipated
there will be as large an additional increase as in the past
season. The quality of the native-grown Nyasaland upland
has always been as good as, if not better than, European-
grown, but the Egyptian crop was very disappointing in
the past, being largely composed of mixed staple. Jast
season, a marked improvement has been brought about by
teaching the natives how to grade, anda large quantity of the
Port Herald native crop obtained 1s. 1d. per tb., one of the
highest prices obtained for Egyptian-grown in the Protecto-
rate. This is simply a case in point to show the necessity
of enlarging the staff of agricultural inspectors to supervise
the native crop. The greatest difficulty encountered is to
induce natives to thin their cotton to two plants at most;
they always wish to leave six to ten plants at one place as
with maize, thinking the larger number of plants will give
the heavier yield. One of the great drawoacks to the native
cotton industry is the distance between some of the cotton
fields and the ginneries, but I am pleased to report that the
British Cotton Growing Association is establishing a gin-
nery at Port Herald, in the largest native cotton centre of the
Protectorate, and trust that they may be encouraged to erect
another near Lake Nyasa, to gin the cotton produced on the
lake.

Barium in United States Soils.—It appears that
barium is a widely disseminated element and is present in
most soils throughout the United States, and in larger quan-
tities, as would be expected, in soils derived from masses
carrying barytic deposits, and in the soils derived from the
rocks of the Rocky Mountains. The soil moisture may be
expected to carry small amounts of barium. In all cases the
felspars of the igneous rocks from which the soil material has
been derived seem to be an original source of the barium of
soils. (Bureau of Soils, United States Department of Agri-
culture, Bulletin No. 72.)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NovemBer 12, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed | to the
Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,

Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Oo., 87, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dlews

eeu
Vou. 1X. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1910. No, 225.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The subject of the editorial in the present issue is
The Centralization of Agricultural Research. It should
serve to indicate the economy and efticiency that are
gained when one scientific staff is employed for the
interests of several subsidiary stations.

Megass receives attention, in two articles on page
355, which deal especially with experiments that are
to be made in drying megass for use in furnaces, and
with methods for the analysis of this by-product in
sugar manufacture.

An article on page 356 gives interesting informa-
tion, which shows that citrus budwood from Florida
may be used with success on West Indian stocks, at
any rate as far as the grape-fruit is concerned.

An account of recent work of the British Cotton-
Growing Association is given on page 358. This had
relation, more especially, to West Africa, Uganda,
Nyasaland and Rhodesia.

The Insect Notes, on page 362, present an interest-
ing article on scale insects and black blight in Grenada.

Page 363 contains reviews of the Annual Reports
on the Botanic Stations, ete, in Antigua and British
Honduras.

The subject of the Fungus Notes on page 366, in
this issue, is the root disease of various plants, more
especially cacao and limes.

The Use of the Nitrogen-Fixing Organisms in
the Soil.

This matter has a particular importance in relation
to the employment of molasses for the purpose of
increasing the fertility of soils—a subject that received
attention in the last number of the Agricultural News.
A short note is given, in The Sugar Beet for October
1910, describmg the outlines of experiments that are
being conducted in connexion with the matter, on soils
used for beet-raising. In these, a solution was prepared
containing glucose 20 grams, potassium phosphate 0°5
grams and calcium carbonate 5 grams, to a litre of water;
this was sterilized, sprinkled with pure cultures of nitro-
gen-fixing organisms, and left at a temperature of 20°C.
fora month. Soil which was sprinkled with material
from such preparations, and then ploughed under, gave
increased crops. ¢

Another more effective method, for inoculating
soils was found to be to saturate several cubic metres
of soil with a 1- to 2-per cent. sugar solution, or with
molasses, and then to spread this on the ground, toge-
ther with cultures of the nitrogen-fixing organisms. It
was found that soils inoculated in this way gave heavier
crops of beet, of a better quality than those grown on
soils that were not so treated.

oe —

Castilloa Cultivation in Jamaica.

The Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society,
for September, 1910, contains an article by. the Hon.
H. H. Cousins, M.A., F.C.S., Director of Agriculture,
in which suggestions are given as to the cultivation of
Castilloa rubber in Jamaica. It is first pointed out
that plants were brought to Jamaica from Kew in
1881, and that a tree from these, growing at the Royal
Gardens, was used for purposes of propagation. This
makes it fairly certain that all trees of Castilloa in
Jamaica, more than fifteen years old, were planted from
material obtained from this tree. Plants have been
subsequently raised from seed obtained from British
Honduras. All these have been shown to be plants of
Castilloa guatemaltica.

An account is given of Costa Rica Castilloa (Cas-
tilloa costaricana), and it is mentioned that, on the
Pacific side of Costa Rica, there exists a drought-
resistant Castilloa possessing olive-green flowers; this
seems to be suitable to conditions in Jamaica, and
will be tried there shortly.

Attention is given to climatic and geographical
conditions which make it appear likely that the first-
mentioned species of Castilloa would be much more
suited for growing in Jamaica than the latter, and
planters are advised to give due regard to these con-
siderations before they employ, in any quantity, Costa
Rican seed in their Castilloa plantations.

The question of the use of Castilloa as a shade
for cacao receives attention, and the opinion is given
that experience is showing that it is not sound prac-
tice to grow Castilloa as a shade for cacao, and that,
this rubber tree should be planted by itself, if the
best results are desired,

Von. IX. No.. 223.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

361

The Trade of Gambia 1909. '

Information concerning the trade of this colony is
given in the Gambia Government Gazette for August 3,
1910. This shows that the exports of the chief
products during 1909 had the following values: ground
nuts £323,231, hides £8,520, palm kernels £3,526, wax
£2,180, rubber £1,550.

The crop of ground nuts was a record one, the
quantity exported being 53,644 tons, as compared
with 31,964 tons in 1908. The commencement of this
trade was on account of the demand for ground nuts
in the United Kingdom and the United States; but the
product is now almost entirely exported to France.
Attempts are being made, however, to increase the
trade with the United Kingdom.

The ‘Sick’ Soils of Porto Rico

It has long been known that certain soils, even
when they are in receipt of a plentiful supply of manure,
gradually lose their power to produce good crops. The
terms ‘sick’ and ‘tired’ have been used to describe
a condition for which satisfactory explanations have
only been found recently. It has been demonstrated
that apparent soil sickness is due either to the presence
of pests, such as eel-worms, on the roots, or to the
existence of conditions in the soil itself which are
inimical to the growth of plants. It is the latter state,
only, that ean be described correctly as soil sickness.

The circumstances of soils in which these conditions
have arisen receive attention in Circular No. 12 of the
Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station, entitled
On the ‘Sick Soils of Porto Rico. It is pointed out,
first of all, in this publication, that sick soils cannot
be made fertile by applications of manure; this is
the chief characteristic which serves to distinguish them
from ‘worn out’ or exhausted soils. A predisposing
cause of sickness is the continual application of organic
manures that have not been previously rotted; common
examples of such manures are, as is stated in the Cir-
cular, tankage, dried blood, cotton seed meal and fresh
pen manure. The use of these, year after year, on the
same soil, cwuses an increase of certain fungi and bac-
teria in it, which feed on the organic matter, and by
fermentation, convert it into formic, acetic, butyric. or
other injurious acids. It is in heavy, badly aerated soils
that these are specially found, and their numbers are
naturally greatest near the surface of dead and living
roots. Not only the harmful acids mentioned are pro-
duced, but poisons of a different nature, such as sulphur-
etted hydrogen, and other, more complex, bodies.

It is a curious fact that the investigations with
sick soils in Porto Rico showed that little damage was
sntfered by them through the action of denitrifying
organisms. The harm was found to be caused by an
unwonted increase in the numbers of the butyric
organism (Clostridium pastorianum). This is a nitro-
gen gatherer; but the good that it might do through
the possession of this property, when it is present in
any numbers, is more than counterbalanced by its

production of butyric acid, so that purtial disinf- ction
by sunlight, or by carbon bisulphide is the remedy
recommended for sick soils.

The Requisites in Paper-Making Material.

___ In an article, dealing with the question of suitable
fibres for paper-making, which appeared in the Paper
Trade Review for March 11, 1910, a list of tests is
given which should be applied to fibrous material, and
to the conditions surrounding its production, in order
that the suitability for the purpose may be determined.
These refer to products that are being raised or em-
ployed in the special connexion, and one of the most
important among them is that the material cannot be
employed in any other economic direction. It must be
reproduced naturally, and not easily exhausted through
regular collection. As regards its production, little
cultivation must be needed, and the time it takes to
attain maturity must have a suitable relation to the
rate of its required supply; in addition, its habit must
be gregarious, and it must occur sufficiently abundantly
to enable the cutting and collection of it to be effected
cheaply. As regards the last matter, it is evident that
it must grow in a locality where labour is cheap.

Finally, as regards the requisites more closely
connected with manufacture, the total quantity avail-
able, within economic collecting distance from the mill,
must be sufficient to produce at least 25,000 tons of
pulp annually, and the material should contain at
least 30 per cent. of cellulose.

Dee

Catch Crops in Lime Cultivation.

Varying results have been obtained, under differ-
ing conditions, when the employment of catch crops
during the first two or three years of the growth of lime
trees has been attempted. It is interesting to note. in
this connexion, the results that have been obtained at
the Onderneeming School Farm, British Guiana; these
are described in the annual report on that institution for
1909-10. The original purpose of the experiment was
to afford a demonstration as to the comparative ease
with which permanent cultivations of limes may be
established, without the entailment of any serious inter-
ference with the crops of ground provisions that are
being raised on the land.

In the experiment, lime seedlings were planted,
three years ago, in a small 2-acre field, plantains and
cassava being grown at the same time. Entirely satis-
factory results were obtained, for the yield from the
food crops was good, and the lime trees made vigorous
growth; so that on the discontinuation of the raising of
the catch crops, a lime field has been obtained which
presents a model appearance.

In continuation of the object-lesson, other areas
are being treated in the same way, the catch crops
being corn, plantains, eddos, tanias and similar plants,
while, where the soil is sandy and less fertile, cocoa-
nuts have been planted at proper distances, and sweet
potatos are being raised at present, as well.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NoveMBer 12, 1910.

INSECT NOTES.

SCALE INSECTS AND BLACE BLIGHT
IN GRENADA.

A paper on this subject, by Mr. G. G. Auchinleck, B.Sc.,
Superintendent of Agriculture, Grenada, was brought up for
discussion at a meeting of the Agricultural and Commercial
Society in that island, in September last. This is of consider-
able interest, as it summarizes much of the latest work that
has been done in Grenada, in this connexion, so that the fol-
lowing abstract of it is presented here.

Consideration was given, first, to the way in which the
fungi obtain their food, and it was shown that this is depend-
ent upon whether they happen to be parasites or saprophytes;
in the former case they obtain nutriment directly from living
plants or animals; in the latter, they feed on dead matter.
The important point is that black blight (Capnodiun sp.)
belongs to the latter class of fungi. The cells of which it is
composed are able to absorb sugary liquids through their
walls and to use them in growing, and producing new cells.
In the special instance, the sugary liquid employed is obtain-
ed from animals. The question for consideration, then, has
to do with the way in which this material is provided. If
this matter is explained, valuable indications are obtained as
to the way in which black blight may be controlled.

The sugary liquid is made up of the excretions of scale
insects and mealy bugs. It is therefore to these animals that
attention must be given, when means are being devised for
combating the pest. Thirteen varieties of such insects have
been found in Grenada, so far, by Mr. Auchinleck, who
exhibited specimens of the most common kinds, as follows:
the mango scale, on mangos, honeysuckle, guavas, cashews
and imported plants; the line scale, on mangos and Strych-
nos; the star scale, on the mango and oleander; Barber's
mealy bug, on cacao; the black scale, on the ‘almond’, pigeon
peas and the star apple; and the red scale, on tamar-
inds. It was pointed out that the last scale presents
a curious characteristic in that it is one of the few
that are commonly found on the upper surface of leaves; the
circumstance is due to the fact that the leaflets of the tamarind
close together at night, and thus cause the upper surfaces to
be more adequately protected from dews than the lower ones.

Ail the insects mentioned belong to the order of the
bugs, or Hemiptera (see Agricultural News, Vol. VII, p. 138).
These possess mouth parts suited for sucking, and the females
are often wingless, and thus cannot travel far. Some of them
are able to give out a sweet liquid in fairly large quantities,
and it is on this that the black blight lives as a saprophyte.
Among animals that make use of this liquid as food are ants,
which do not destroy the insects which produce it, as is some-
times supposed, but seek the secretion for their own uses.

These matters lead to the consideration of the methods
that may be employed for controlling black blight. They
may be divided into (1) artificial methods and (2) natura

methods. Among the former are included the lopping of
infested trees; the entire removal of the leaves by plucking;
the treatment of trees with white lime; spraying with whale
oil soap, kerosene and various oily compounds; the fumigation
of trees: and the dusting of the plants with dry contact
poisons, such as sulphur or Paris green. These are not pre-
sented as being necessarily of a practical nature; they are
suggestive, and are forming the subject of experiments in
Grenada. The following table gives particulars of actual
trials that have been made:—

Treatment. No. of trees. Cost per tree.
Removing leaves 1 6d.
Spraying with kerosene 500 6d.
Fumigating (shrubs) 4 9d,
Dusting with sulphur (four times) 2 Is

a5 », Paris green 4 28
Spraying with whale oil (large trees) 10s.

It should be stated that experiments in lopping and liming
were made with trees, when it was found, in some cases, that
the cost of treatment was entirely covered by the returns from
the sale of the cordwood obtained, even after the cost of the
lime-wash used had been deducted.

An enumeration is made of the chief objections to the
artificial treatment of plants for black blight. They are: the
cost of materials and of labour: the unsightly appearance of
lopped trees; the loss of fruit resulting from heavy pruning;
and the destruction of beneficial insects, together with the
harmful ones. These objections have caused attention to be
turned to natural methods of control, and much work is being
done in this direction, particularly on the part of the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, especially as regards the study of
the natural parasites of scale insects. As a result of this
work, four fungi which destroy scale insects have been recog-
nized in the West Indies (see Agricultural News, Vol. VIII,
pp. 299 and 411), and studies of the life-history of lady-birds
and minute insects, which are the enemies of scale insects, have
been made. As far as Grenada is concerned, two insect para-
sites of the scales have been found, namely lady-birds destroy-
ing the orange mussel scale, and a minute insect which is para-
sitic on the black scale; while of fungi, the red-headed fungus
(Sphaerostilbe coccophila) and the shield scale fungus have
been found.

As the present article is more particularly concerned with
the insect enemies of the scale insects that are followed by
black blight, special attention will be given to these. The
lady-birds are predaceous; this means that they actually devour
the scale insect; and each kind of lady-bird generally feeds on
one kind of scale insect, only. That these useful insects do not
effect more in the reduction of the numbers of scales in Grenada
is probably because they are themselves destroyed to a large
extent by their natural enemies. The insects that are parasitic
on scale insects are so minute as to be hardly visible to the
naked eye. It is the larvae of these that destroy the scale
insects, for their eggs are laid in the bodies of the
latter, and the larvae when hatched proceed to feed on the
scales. It has been recommended by Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc.,
Entomologist to the Department, that use of these flies may
be made by enclosing branches of trees, having infected scales
on them, with muslin bags, and then employing the flies thus
collected to infest other scales.

Mr. Auchinleck’s interesting paper concludes. with
descriptions of the two fungi that have been found to occur
in Grenada, which are parasitic on the scale insect. In
connexion with these, reference may be made to the article
in the Agirieu/tural News quoted above.

Vou. IX. Nou. 223:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 363

ANTIGUA: REPORTS ON THE BOTANIC STA-
TION, EXPERIMENT PLOTS AND AGRICULTURAL
EDUCATION, 1909-10.

The expenditure in connexion with these stations, during
the period under review was £747 3s. 7d., of which £72 2s. 3d.
was spent on Special Services. The difference between these
sums—£675 1s. 4d.—was supplied from Imperial and local
funds, the respective contributions being £401 2s. 5d. and
£273 18s. 1ld. The receipts for the year amounted to £115
18s. 5d., of which £45 3s. 2d. came from the sale of plants
and seeds for minor industries; a large proportion of the
balance was derived from sales of sugar-cane cuttings.

An interesting matter in the report is that the distri-
bution of plants was greater than that recorded at any former
period; it amounted to 180,696, in which number 157,557
sugar-cane cuttings are included. ‘There was, besides this,
a large distribution of seeds of green dressings, food plants,
cotton, soy beans, and others, and of ordinary cuttings such as
those of the sweet potato. The amount of onion seed dis-
tributed was 3224 tb., of which 125} tb. was used in Antigua,
and the remainder in other Presidencies in the Leeward
{slands.

An attempt was made to continue experiments which
have for their object the gaining of information as to the
capacity of the flower-bud maggot of the wild eotfee (Clero-
dendron aculeatum) to attack cotton, and to find out if the
flower-bud maggot of cotton (Contarinia gossypii) is identical
with the former. These failed, because infested buds of the
wild coffee could not be found. Trials were also made for the
purpose of seeing if the leaf-blister mite of Acacia could infest
cotton. These indicated that this was not the case. Other
work in connexion with cotton, at the Botanic Station, has
included the commencement of experiments in the crossing
of different varieties.

An account is given, in the report, of an agricultural
show which was held in St. John’s on December 2, 1909.

The rainfall at the Botanie Station, during 1909-10, was
50:59 inches, as compared with 49:54 inches in the preceding
period.

Useful information is presented in relation to the cotton
industry. This shows that the area planted in Antigua was
252 acres, which produced a return of 37,400 tb., for the
season. Thus the yield was 150 tb. of lint to the acre, which
is good, considering that part of the cotton was grown as an
intermediate crop. The amount of cotton exported from
Barbuda was 22,560 Ib., from 125 acres; so that the whole
export, including the produce of Antigua and Barbuda, was
59,960 Ib. Prices were good during the season, as much as 23d.
per ib. being obtained in some cases. The general prospects of
the cotton industry in Antigua appeared to have decidedly
improved, and it seems that the growing of this plant, in
rotation with cane, is likely to be adopted in the island to
a useful extent in the near future.

Another industry which is showing encouragirg progress
is the production of limes. Evidence of this is given by the
largely increased distribution of lime plants from the station,

which was nearly twice as great as it had been in any preced-
ing year, with the exception of 1907-8. Another industry
which shows signs of growth is the raising of cocoa-nuts;
while the onion industry in Antigua appears to have attained
a stable footing. Steady efforts are being made in order to
increase the interest in the growing of broom corn, which
should become a subsidiary crop of some little importance, in
Antigua.

The most extensive of the experiments conducted at the
stations are those with sugar-cane. These receive detailed
attention in separate reports, issued under the title of Sugar-
cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands.

The trials made at the Skerretts experiment station
mainly included those with provision crops, oil crops, green
dressings and fodder crops. At Scott’s Hill, the station was
used chiefly as a nursery, and for experiments in different
methods of tree-planting. At the former station, work in
cotton selection is being conducted, which should have the
greatest use in relation to the industry concerned with the
raising of this crop.

The report concludes with the usual account of the work
that has been done in the classes held by the Agricultural
and Science Master.

BRITISH HONDURAS:
BOTANIC STATION, 1909.

This report shows that, as in 1907 and 1908, the
weather was most unfavourable to agriculture during the
first half of the year; in the period under review, however,
heavy rains fell toward the end of the time. The total
rainfall at the Botanic Station was 57°99 inches.

Among the various experiments that are being con-
ducted, those with rubber show that Para, Castilloa (which
is indigenous) and Funtumia rubbers are making good
progress, though the growth of the two last-mentioned kinds
is slow. Snecess is being experienced in the trials with rice;
ginger: arrowroot; seedling canes B. 208 and D. 95, received
from the Imperial Department of Agriculture; pine-apples and
the sunflower. Trials with English potatos have not met with
success during the season. Other experiments are concerned
with sesame, onions, limes, cocoa-nuts and oranges; these do
not appear to have become sufficiently advanced, yet, to
give definite results.

Among useful fruit plants with which trials are being
made are the Jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia), bread fruit
(Artocarpus incisa), Malacca apple (Hugenia malaccensis),
myrtle berry (Zugenia edulis), loquat (Hriobotrya japonica),
Mabola (Diospyros Mabola), Carambola (Averrhoa Caram-
bola), genip (Melicocea bijuga); cinnamon (Cinnamomum
zeylanicum), mangos, oranges, gamboge (Garcia sp.), custard
apple (Anona muricata), Colvillea racemosa, and ylang-ylang
(Cananga odorata).

The distribution has included 8,896 plants, which con-
sisted of Para rubber, cocoa-nuts, coffee and ginger, as wellas
ornamental plants. Para rubber seeds are being imported, in
added quantities, from Singapore, for raising plants for future
use.

Among the new and valuable plants imported during
the year were varieties of grapes, oranges, mangos, pecans,
plums and peaches.

Trials were made with leguminous cover crops; they
included Bengal beans, sword beans, Crotalaria striata and
Triphasia sp. All these were successfully raised, a cover
4 feet deep being obtained from the seeds of the first-named
that were planted.

REPORT ON THE

364

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. November 12, 1910,

GLEANINGS.

The Board of Trade Journal for October 6, 1910, shows
that the exports of rubber, of domestic production, from
Ceylon during last, July were 2,254 cwt. The shipments for
the same month of last year amounted to 1,055 ewt.

Tnformation has been received from the Curator of the
Botanic Station, Antigua, as to the state of the cotton crop
in that island, in regard to insect pests. This shows that,
although some attacks by caterpillars had been experienced,
the flower-bud maggot had not appeared, at any rate up to
the end of October.

The Experiment Station Record of the United States
Department of Agriculture, Vol. XXII, No. 8, p. 719, gives
a note of a paper by H. Pellet, in which it is concluded by
the author, from analyses of the deposits in furnaces in which
molasses is burnt, that a loss of potash takes place not only
through the volatilization of potassium sulphide, as has been
suggested, but also because of the volatilization of other potash
salts.

A History of British Mammals, by G. E. H. Barrett-
Hamilton, B.A., M.R.IA., F.Z.S., is being published by
Messrs. Gurney and Jackson, 10, Paternoster Row, London,
E.C. ‘This will be issued in about twenty-four monthly parts,
making three volumes, at the price of 2s. 6d. net, for each
part. The complete work will contain twenty-seven full page
plates in colour, fifty-four in black and white, and upwards
of 250 smaller illustrations.

According to the Grenada Government Gazette (Extra-
ordinary) for October 7, 1910, an order in Council, dated
September 16, 1910, has been made, under the Import Duties
Ordinance, 1905, whereby live stock may be imported into
the island, ‘in cases where the Governor-in-Council is satisfied
upon documentary or other sufficient evidence, that the
importation of any animal or animals is likely to improve the
breed of such animal already in the Colony.’

The Colonial Office Journal for October 1910, p. 140,
states that Messrs. John Downham & Co. have produced
a decorticating machine which, it is claimed, can deal with
120,000 to 150,000 leaves in ten hours, and will extract
97 to 98 per cent. of the available fibre. The machine is
described as being of solid construction, and free from vibra-
tion. The price is £600—the same as that of the ‘World’s
Decorticator’, which was described in the Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII, p. 293. Mention was made of other decorticating
machines in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 156.

A meeting was held at the Head Office of the Depart-
ment, on October 27, 1910, for the purpose of discussing
preliminury matters in connexion with the proposed formation
of a Goat Society in Barbados. At this, arrangements were
made tor holding a larger meeting of those interested in the
matter, and a scheme of subjects for discussion at that meet-
ing was drawn up, following suggestions by the Imperial
Commissioner of Agriculture.

HM. Trade Commissioner for Canada in England (Mr,
R. Grigg) reports that two Commissioners have been appointed
by the Canadian Department of Agriculture for the purpose
of investigating the causes of the decline of sheep-rearing in
Canada, with a view to the adoption of a comprehensive policy
on the part of the Canadian Government, and the undertaking
of definite and extended measures that will be likely to operate
toward the encouragement, improvement and develop-
ment of the industry as a whole. (The Board of Trade
Journal, September 22, 1910.)

The Planters’ Chronicle for June 4, 1910, gives an
address by Mr. R. D. Anstead, B.A., Scientific Officer to the
United Planters’ Association of Southern India, and lately
Superintendent of Agriculture, Grenada, in which he states
that he had seen, in Southern India, plants of Manihot
dichotoma and M. piauhyensis growing successfully ina light
soil, at an elevation cf 5,450 feet, and with an annual rain-
fall of 50 inches. The trees were one year old, and had
attained a height of 6 to 8 feet, with the first branches 3 feet
jrom the ground.

A description is contained, in a recent number of
Teysmannia (Vol. XXI, p. 60) of a new disease of coffee
which resembles, in many respects, Rostrel/a coffeae, except that
it attacks the roots as well as the stem. Careful examination
of the wood of diseased trees showed that the fungus caused
dark-brown areas to be formed on tke wood, beneath the
bark: these latter are likely to appear later as brown or black
spots on the bark. The fact that the disease attacks the roots
makes its contro), by cutting down the trees, impossible. It
can only be eradicated by digging up, and burning, the
affected plants. aaa

During last month, Proclamations were made, in Antigua
and Dominica,’ under the Plants Protection Act, No. 4 of
1897, Antigua, and the Plants Protection Ordinance, 1907,
Dominica, respectively, by which the importation into these
Presidencies of any banana plants, or any material for planting
or articles connected therewith, is prevented from all coun-
tries of Central and South America, and from Trinidad. The
same Proclamations prohibit absolutely the importation into
those Presidencies of all cocoa-nuts, cocoa-nut plants or any
material for planting or articles connected therewith, from
Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and all countries of Central and
South America:

In Sevence, Vol. NNXXI, p. 434, a summary is given of the
results of experiments with Guayule rubber (Partheniwm ar-
gentatum) which was grown under irrigation in Mexico, for two
years. At the end of the time, the irrigated plants had made
eight times as much growth as those which were not irrigated,
but were only found to contain minute quantities of rubber.
Under conditions of drought, however, or when the irrigation
water was withheld, the amount of rubber in such plants
increased; and the conclusion is reached from the trials, that
although rapidly growing Guayule plants may only contain
a small amount ofrubber, this may approach the maximum
in dry seasons.

Vor. IX. No. 223.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 365

oP ! A Sp)
ENTS’ CORNER,
NOVEMBER.
SEcoND PeErtiop.

Seasonal Notes.

The cotton crop will have become sufficiently advanced,
at the present time, to admit of the commencement of selec-
tion in the field. It has been proved completely that selection
cn the basis, merely, of the characters shown by the lint and
seed is insufficient, in the case of cotton, to ensure that the
best types of plants bearing the best kind of product shall be
obtained in the next crop. The planter, or his assistants, must
visit the fields, and must pick out, and mark, the plants that
appear to be most useful for his purpose, in such a way as to
enable the seed-cotton from these to be collected separately, for
the special examination of this that will be conducted later.
For particulars and illustrative examples in connexion with this
selection, reference may be made tothe West Indian Bulletin,
Vols. IV, p. 208; Vl, p. 153; X, p. 79; as ‘well as to the
Agricultural News, Vols. VII, p. 134; VIII, p. 374. It will
be useful, before carrying out such selection for its definite
purpose, for those who are engaged in the work to give
themselves some preliminary practice in the matter. One of
the best ways of doing this is for two or more of those inter-
ested to meet together and afford assistance to one another
in the following way. Fifty plants, growing alongside
each other in one row, are chosen for the purpose of
making the observations. Each observer passes separ-
ately and independently down the row, and carefully
chooses what he considers to be the six best plants, at
the same time making notes of the reasons which lead him to
select those particular plants. He should not mark the
plants selected, or in any way leave signs which may indicate
the objects of his selection; he can most usefully arrange for
identifying them later by noting their numbers, in order,
from one end of the row. After the independent selections
have been made, the plants that have been chosen are visited,
when the observers compare notes, and criticize each other's
reasons for making those selections. It is easy to see that,
under ordinary conditions, the smaller the total number of
plants selected, the more likely is the choice of each of the
observers to be a good one, when he comes to do the serious
work, later. In any case, an exercise of this kind affords
good practice in selection, and will help to prevent the giving
of a disproportionate amount of attention, by any one observ-
er, to some special characteristic of the cotton plant, when
he is making a choice of the best kinds.

Shipments of fruit, in quantity, are now being made
from some of the West Indian islands. As much information
as possible should be gained in connexion with the picking
and curing of fruit for export, as well as in relation to
the grading, wrapping and packing of this product.. What
is meant by the grading of fruit, and why is it necess-
ary that this should be conducted with’ care? Give
an account of the most suitable fruits for export that
are produced in the district in which you live, and

state how each of these should be packed. Mention any
difficulties, of which you have knowledge, that are connected
with the export of fruit from the West Indies.

Parts of sugar-cane fields often consist of soil that has
been placed in depressions such as ponds and water-holes,
for the purpose of filling them up. A matter of
interest is to compare the growth of canes in such places
with the ordinary growth of those in the field. It is
especially the case, where the soil is generally thin, that this
growth will be better than that of the other canes. Consider
the possible reasons for this, in the light of the larger water-
content and thickness of the soil, in such places, and the
chance that the existence of such a circumstance gives for the
greater presence of nitrifying and nitrogen-fixing organisms
there. Discuss the question, also, in view of the possible larger
plant food content of the soil, and in regard to the effect of its
greater thickness, in relation to the growth of roots.

In some parts of the world, molasses is applied, to a fairly
common extent, to soils on which the sugar-cane is grown,
when it is found that increased yields of cane are obtained,
which are out of all proportion to any manurial value that the
molasses may possess. By this is meant that the application,
in the ordinary way, of the same amounts of nitrogen, potash
and phosphoric acid as there are in the molasses, would not have
given anything like the same increase of crop. Is there any way
of accounting for the action of the molasses, and of explain-
ing its influence on the fertility of the soil? If so, describe
it, and state what light the matters that have to be con-
sidered throw on the causes of soil prodtetivity. Information
in connexion with the subject may be found in the last
number of the Agricultural News, and in Vol. VII, p. 227,
ef this publication, as well as in Pamphlet 64 of the Depart-
ment Series, in which a description is given of experiments
that are being carried out in Antigua, in relation to the
matter. Useful collateral information is also contained in
the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. VIII, p. 94.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) What are the chief causes that influence the direc-
tion taken by the roots of plants in the soil!

(2) How is a certain amount of water retained in the
soil, in spite of drainage?

(3) If it became necessary to apply manure to lime
trees at the time of full bearing, what would you use?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) What general objections are there to growing more
than one crop on the same piece of land, at the same time?
Under what conditions is it permissible to do this!

(2) What is the effect of applications of nitrate of soda
to heavy clay soils?! How would you try to remedy the
harm done by such applications?

(3) Give an account of the chief fungus pests of cotton
in your district.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) What useful purposes are served by the taking of
periodical inventories on estates! How would you arrange
for this to be done, under conditions with which you are
familiar?

(2) Give an aecount of the way in which the various
manures are provided, and used, on a sugar estate, including
in your answer: pen manures, artificial manures and green
dressings.

(3) What kinds of ploughs are most suited to the
district in which you are employed, and what circumstances
render them particularly useful in that district!

366
FUNGUS NOTES.

ROOT DISEASE OF CACAO, LIMES,
AND OTHER PLANTS.

The attention of the Mycologist on the staff of the
Department has been called, during the past year, to the
occurrence of root disease of limes in St. Lucia, Dominica,
Montserrat and Antigua, and of cacao more particularly in
St. Lucia. Examination of the varidus specimens of lime
trees sent to the Head Office from the islands mentioned
seems to indicate that the disease is different in symptoms
and origin in different localities. One form, however, which
occurs in Dominica, and possibly also in St. Lucia, appears
to be due to the same fungus as that causing the disease of
cacao. ‘This similarity is manifested, not only in the nature
of the mycelia of the two fungi, but also in their method of
attack. In consequence of this, it is intended to deal with
the disease of these two host plants together, in this article,
and to leave the discussion of the other forms of lime root
disease for some ftture occasion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE. It would seem that the
disease under consideration is the same as one which has long
been known in the West Indies; though certain characters of
the causative fungus, as recently examined, are not very clear-
ly indicated in the former publications on the subject, and
there is consequently a possibility that the two fungi are not
entirely identical. (See West Indian Bulletin, Vol. IX, pp.
167-70, and Pamphlet No. 54 of the Department Series.)
The symptoms of the disease as recently met with are
briefly as follows; Badly attacked specimens, on examin-
ation, are seen to be entirely deprived of their small
lateral roots, and even the principal roots are dead. The
bark of the latter is blackened and shrunken, while the
wood is frequently grey in colour, On the surface of the
diseased roots is a mass of dark-grey or brown fungus myce-
lium, usually covered to some extent by earth. The external
symptoms often extend to the collar, which in some instances
is completely ringed. When this is the case, the tree
is dead. On removing the bark the position once occupied
by the cambium is seen to be filled with white, or yellowish,
fan-shaped strands of mycelium closely adpressed to the bark
on one side, and to the wood on the other. Inside this, the
wood is grey and often exhibits very narrow, longitudinal,
black streaks with a white centre, due to the presence of
narrow cavities lined by the black hyphae of the fungus,
the hyphae inside this lining being white. On the
broken ends of roots, a web of grey or greenish-grey hyphae
develops, which certainly belongs to the same fungus as the
other forms so far mentioned. Inside the dead bark, a black
stroma of the same fungus is often formed, but no fructifi-
cations definitely associated with this disease have as yet
been found. In addition to the mycelium described already,
loosely woven strands of hyphae of a yellow colour may also
be observed on the surface of some of the specimeus. This
ferm appears to agree more accurately than the former with
the descriptions of root disease of cacao published previously in
the West Indian Bulletin. Lastly, bright, pink, Stilbum-like
fructifications, surmounted by a spherical head of white spores
have been found. In one instance, these appeared to be
associated with a flat brown stroma about 3 mm. thick,
but varying considerably in width and length, and occurring
on parts of the collar of the specimen, beneath the bark. It
could not be definitely determined if all these fornis were inde-
pendent, or if they were all manifestations of the same fungus.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NovemBer 12, 1910.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. This fungus has also been
found attacking'the immortel shade tree (Lrythrina velutina)
in addition to limes and cacao, and the pigeon pea (Cajanus
idicus), in St. Lucia. If, as is almost certain, it is the same
as that described previously, the list of host plants is as
follows: cacao, lime, breadfruit, breadnut, mango, pomme
rose, pois-doux, avocado pear, immortel and pigeon pea.
There is also a decided possibility that it is the same as the
fungus attacking the roots of coffee and pois-doux in Guade-
loupe. In many.instances, the fungus originates on decaying
forest stumps left in the plantation; from these it can spread
to cacao or limes. In ether instances, the attack may origin-
ate in shade belts of any of the above-mentioned trees, and
from them spread to cacao. In the case of limes, the attacks
have up to the present been almost entirely confined to isul-
ated trees, occurring here and there, more especially on newly
cleared estates. In such cases, it is usually found that there is
a decaying stump in the neighbourhood of the tree attacked,
from which the fungus has been enabled to spread to the lime
tree. The general experience has been that if such trees are
carefully removed and burned, and the soil around them treated
with lime, no further trouble occurs, and supplies can safely
be put in, six months after the destruction of the tree. In
the case of cacao, the sequence of events is often somewhat
different. The,disease may appear suddenly on three or four
trees at once; in this case it is usually found that the trees
are arranged approximately in a circle around some
source of infection. Under such circumstances, the diseased
trees should be isolated by a trench, and all those badly
attacked should be dug up and burned, the soil being treated
with lime as is mentioned above. Similar measures may be
employed for preventing the spread of the disease along
a wind-break. ;

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISEASE. In many instances,
the primary cause of the disease is, as has been stated already,
the presence of decaying forest stumps in the soil; but this is
not always the case. It would seem that, occasionally,
the fungus is able to attack shade trees directly; though it is
somewhat difficult to understand by what method it is
dispersed, as it never appears to form spores. The only
alternative mode of infection is by means of mycelium spread-
ing through the soil and living on small pieces of decaying
vegetation that happen to be present. When such a mycelium
encounters the living roots of shade trees, more particularly
those of breadfruit and avocado pear, it must be able to
attack them directly and ultimately cause the death of the
trees. There is a very great probability that before this
happens, other trees in the neighbourhood have already
become infected, and this accounts for the subsequent death
of several more trees in the infected area. Consequently,
care should be taken to remove decaying stumps as far as is
practicable, and to choose hardy trees for wind-belts, or
for shade purposes. Another very important consideration
is that of drainage. When trees are growing in a water-logged
soil, or one which is subject to occasional inundations, some
of their roots may be actually drowned, since the water pre-
vents them from obtaining the necessary supply of oxygen.
Such dead roots then serve as sources of food to the fungus,
if it is present, and enable it to develop the additional vigour
necessary for its spread to the living tissues. Trees growing
in unsuitable soil, or in wind-swept situations, are also weak-
ened in vigour, and consequently are less able to resist the
fungus. It has been found, on certain estates in Dominica,
that soil which is unsuitable to cacao can be used for the
cultivation of. limes. The latter are planted between
the cacao trees, and as they grow up, the original crop is
removed, and the limes are left alone. This course would

Vor. EX. No; 223:

probably be found advisable in other islands, where cacao is
in an unhealthy condition owing to the unsuitability of the
soil.

IMPORTANCE OF THE DISEASE. The sudden manner in
which affected trees die often leads to the erroneous con-
clusion that the spread of this fungus is very rapid. In all
probability this is not the case. The trees have usually been
diseased for some time before they die, as death does not
take place until the bark of the main root, or collar, has been
completely ringed. Once this occurs, the trees succumb
rapidly. Taking everything into consideration, it cannot be
said that this disease isa really serious one. The fact that
no spores are formed practically prevents it from ever becom-
ing suddenly epidemic, while the growth of the mycelium
through the soil must necessarily be somewhat slow. Further-
more, it has been demonstrated frequently that it can easily
be controlled by the use of methods that are now a matter
of common knowledge. In fact, if thoroughly concerted
efforts were made in each island, it would be possible to
reduce this disease to such an extent, that only one or two
isolated cases would occur in any year on old estates, and but
few more on estates recently cleared.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.
Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the

following report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of September:—

The month of September has been marked in Mincing
Lane, week by week, by a general improvement in business,
and a distinct upward tendency in prices realized for many
well-known products. The supply of, and demand for, most
things have been equally favourable. None of the articles
that have been specialized, however, were of West Indian
origin, as will be seen from the following details.

GINGER.

Tn this article there has been little or no demand, either
for Jamaica, Cochin or Calicut. In the middle of the month,
some 50 odd barrels of Jamaica were brought forward; but
the whole of them were bought in at 60s. for bold, and 50s.
to 58s. for fair washed. At the end of the month, the quota-
tions for Calicut ranged from 90s. for the best quality, to
45s. for brown tips and cuttings.

NUTMEGS

There has been a steady demand for both these spices.
For nutmegs, the following prices have ruled: 9g. for 58’s;
5id. for 76’s; 54d. for 70’s; and 43d. for 66’s. For large
West Indian, there has been no demand. At the auction on
the 21st, 28 packages of West Indian mace were offered, and
sold at the following rates: ordinary to fair, 1s. 8d. to 1s. 10d.;
red, ls. 7d.; and broken, from Is. 5d. to 1s. 6d. A week
later, West Indian mace commanded somewhat higher prices,
good pale fetching 2s., pale and reddish ls. 9d. to 1s. 10d.,
acd fair to good red Is. 8d. to 1s. 9d. per tb.

ARROWROOT.

AND MACE.

At the auction of the Sth of the month, a large consign-
ment of St. Vincent was brought forward, 800 barrels being
sold at from 1?d. to 2d. per Ib. A week later, arrowroot was
represented at auction by 16 half-barrels of Bermuda and
22 cases Natal, all of which were bought in at 1s. 9d. and
9hd. per Ib., respectively. At the close of the month it was

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 367

stated that sales had been effected privately for as many as

1,200 barrels of St. Vincent, at from 12d. to 145d. per. bb.

SARSAPARILLA,

At the first drug sale of the month, the offerings
amounted to 12 bales of grey Jamaica, 19 bales of native
Jamaica and 25 bales of Honduras. The whole of the grey
Jamaica was disposed of at 1s. 4d. per lb., and 10 bales of the
native Jamaica of ordinary greyish to fair red, found buyers
at from 10d. to 11d. per tb. Six out of the 25 packages of
Honduras sold at 6d. to 63d. per tb., the remaining 19 being
bought in at 9d. per tb. At auction on the 22nd, no grey
Jamaica was offered, but of 24 bales of native Jamaica
brought forward, 10 were sold at from 9d. to 11d. per bb. for
dull to fair red. Ten bales of Lima character, rough and
chumpy, fetched from 11d. to 1s. per tb., and 10 of wormy
Honduras were disposed cf at 64d. per tb.

TAMARINDS, LIME JUICE, AND KOLA.

In the early part of the month tamarinds were repre-
sented by 10 barrels of Antigua, of strong character, which
were sold at 10s. per ewt.; another 10 packages of fair, but
dark, fetched the same price. In the middle of the month,
there were small sales of concentrated West Indian lime juice
at £18 25 6d. On the 22nd, 18 packages of Jamaica kola
were brought forward, and all sold, fair dried realizing from
3}d. to 3hd., the smaller nuts fetching 3d.

ROUGH RICE FOR FEEDING HORSES
- AND MULES.

Experiments dealing with the suitability of rough rice
as a food for horses and mules are described in Bulletin No.
122 of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Louisiana
State University. The trials were made because, while there
is a prevailing impression that rough rice has a harmful
effect upon the digestive organs of animals fed upon it, it is
in employment in South Western Louisiana as a food for
stock. There was the further consideration that, when the
price of other cereal grains used for the purpose is high, and
the cost of rice is low, the intelligent use of this might pro-
vide a cheapened food, where it is obtainable.

An interesting matter was that, when the question of the
crude fibre content of rough rice, as compared with that of
rice bran, was raised, it was found that this is 9°3 per cent.
in the case of the former, while in the latter it is 14-5 per cent.
This gave an additional reason for undertaking experiments
in connexion with the suitability of rough rice as food for
stock.

The test was made with two mules, which were fed on
rations containing gradually increasing proportions of rough
rice, until 8 lb., or a little more than this, was fed to each
of them, every day. The other constituents of the food were
cracked corn, cotton seed meal, blackstrap molasses and
Lespedeza hay. The reason for gradually increasing the
amount of rice, instead of including the full quantity from the
beginning, was to provide a precautionary measure in relation
to its possible harmfulness, and a means of watching the
deleterious effect, if any, during the time of the experiment.

It was found that rough rice, ground, and in a mixed
ration, may be fed with benefit to horses and mules. ‘Vhe
amount of rice per head may be 8 tb. for horses or mules
doing moderately heavy work and having a live weight of
about 1,000 bh. This food ingredient is particularly useful,
where 1t is easily obtainable, at times at which the prices of
cereal foods are high,

London.—THe West InpIA

368

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

November 12, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR

October 25, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
September 30, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 2jd. to 33d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/3 to 3/4; block, 2/4 to 2/5 per tb.

Beeswax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 50/-
to 55/6; Jamaica, 48/6 to 53/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 45/- to 92/-.

Copra—West Indian, £28 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Frouir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 48/- to 50/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 53/- to 56/-;/ good
bright to fine, 58/- to 62/6.

Honey—24,6 to 28/-.

Istnetass—No quotations.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 11d. to 1/2; concentrated, £18 2s. 6d. to
£18 5s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6 to 5/9,
nominal,

Locwoop—No quotations.

Macre—Steady.

Nourmecs—Quiet.

Purentro—Common, 2}d.; fair, 24d.; good, 23d. per th.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 6/0}, fine soft, 5/4; fine Peru,
5/9% per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/7 to 4/6.

Sucar—Crystals, 14'9 to 19/-; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/-;
Syrup, 11/9 to 12/-; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gituzspiz Bros. & Co., October
14, 1910.

Cacao—OCaracas, ll}c. to 12c. ; Grenada, 11gc. to Ile. ;
Trinidad, 114c. to 11c. per tb.; Jamaica, no quotations

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $37°00 to $38-:00; culls,
$22-00 to $2300 ; Trinidad, select, $37:00 to $38-00 ;
culls, $22-00 to $23-00 per M. i.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, 1lc.; good ordinary, 1c.
to 11fe.; and washed, up to 18c. per th.

Gincer—8jc. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—No quotations.

Grape Fruir—N», quotations.

Limges—$4°50 to $5:00.

Macre—35c. to 40c. per th.

Nurmecs—110’s, 9}c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°50 to $3:00 per box.

Pimento—4c. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°90c. per 1tb.; Muscoyados,
89°, 3°40c.; Molasses, 89°, 3:l5c. per tb., all duty
prid,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., October 29,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°5) per fanega; Trinidad, $11-00
to $11°50.

Cocoa-Nut Om—$1°07 per Imperial gallon.

Correr—Venezuelan, 17c. per fb.

Copra—$5:00 per 100 tb.

Dxyat—$33'80.

Ontons—$3°25 to $3°50 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprir—$6°20 to $6°25 per bag.

Potatos—English, $1°50 to $1°70 per 100 tb.

Rice—Yellow, $4°35 to $4°40; White, $4°75 to $4:S0
per bag.

Svucar—American crushed, $6°20 per-100 fb,

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., November 4, 1910;
Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., November 7, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., October 31, 1910.

Arrowroor—st. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 th.
Cacao—$11-00 to $11°50 per 100 th.

Cocoa-nutTs—$22°00.

Corrrr—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $14-00 per

100 tb., scarce.

Hay—$1°20 per 100 th.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65:00 ; Cacao manure, $42:00
to $48-00; Sulphate of ammonia,

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°26 to $3

00 per 100 Th.

70°00 to $75:00

Peas, Sprir—$6°10 to $6°40 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°60 per bag of 120 th.
Poratos—Nova Scotia, $2°40 to $3:00 per 160 tb.
Rice—Ballam, $4°85; Patna, $3°50 to $3°80; Rangoon,
$2°90 to $3-00 per 100 th.
Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wretinc & Ricurer, October
29, 1910; Messrs. SaNDBACH,
October 28, 1910.

PARKER & Co.,

ARTICLES.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent

Barata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STaRCH—

Cocoa-NuUTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHAaL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Poratos—Noya Scotia

Lisben
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados
Rick—Ballam

Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles
Cordwood

”

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHter.

$825 to $9-00 per

200 tbh., wanted
32c. per tb.
78c. per tb.

10c. to 11e. per th.
96e.
$6°50

$10 to $16 per M.

14c. per th.
15c. per th.
8c. per th.
$3°60 to $3-70 per
bag of 168 tb.

$4°25

96ce.

None

3c. to de.
$600 per bag
(210 tb.)
$4°50
20c. to 48c.
2°50

$1°20 per bag |
$4°80 to $4:90 per
175 th.
$4°50 to $500
$240 per bag
$2°88
$2°88
$2-00 to $2°30
$2°80 to $3°25
$4:00
$2°10 to $240
32c. to 5d5c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00
per ton

Messrs. SAanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$8°50

| Prohibited

None

10c. to 11e. per th.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
17c. per tb.
10c. per tb.
$3°60 per bag of
168 tb.

3c. to 3te.
$6°15 per bag,
(210 tb.)
No quotation
$2°50
No quotation
$4°80
$450 to $5-00

None
$2°85 to $3-00
$400 to $425

None
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Vor.- IX. No. 223, THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. NovemsBer 12, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

Seige Se Se Soy

Ohlendorfi’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugarcane and general uce
Ohlendorfi’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ghlendorfi’s Special Cocoa Manure
Oblendorfi’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

Londen Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.O.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

GOTTON SEED MEAL. . hee Stee
GOTTEN SEED MEAL, -
Recommended by the Imperial Department of hig aby (80) Sheep,

Agriculture as a first class Feeding Stuff for Cattle,| Apply to:—
Mules, etc. Special quotations for large quantities. THE PROPRIETOR,
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON| Woedford Hall Bstane
FACTORY, LIMITED, Pines :
BRIDGETOWN. (219.) Dominica, B.W.I.

—— a> MAT JUST ISSUED. cl gical a
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OWING TO CHANGE OF BLOOD, Containing papers on The Control of Scale Insects in

the British West Indies by Means of Fungoid Parasites ;
THE IMPORTED AFRICAN RAM SHEEP Tahcaotie Lynaieetiss x Nowa Weel Tndian Gacab “Ped

Disease; Nomenelature of Scale Insects; Notes on Lime
iy oO R U BA? x Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Neport on a Visit
to the Guanica Central tugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manur-
Offers will be received by:— ial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and
THE MANAGER, The Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils.
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CONTENTS. the soluble nitrogen compounds present, it was suggest-
ed that this toxic body must be organic and soluble,

and perhaps nitrogenous. There was the further consid-

PAGE. PaGE. eration that the results showed that soils, even, which

Actionof Heaton Soils, The 369 | Insect Notes :—
Agricultural Examinations 375 Introduction of the St.
Banana Commission of Vincent ‘Jack Span-

British Guiana ... . 312 iavd’ into Montserrat 378
Book Shelf... .... ... ... 379} The Cowpea Curceulio ... 378
Cacoa-nut Cultivation and | Labour-Saving Contriv-

Copra in Federated ance... saab. O17,
Malay States .. 347 | Leguminous Plants, Wild,
Cotton Notes :— Observations on ... 373

Use and Manufacture of Market Reports 384

Egyptian Cotton ... 374) Notes and Comments ... 376
West Indian Cotton ... 374) Panama, Agricultural Pros-

Cotton-seed Importation pectsiin) ‘Sameer! sore

into West Africa . 383) Rubber, Nandi .. sa) BOGOF
Cotton, World’s Supply of 371) Sierra Leone, Agriculture

Creasote for Preserving in ae 377
Posts... .. .. ... 3¢4|Students’ Corner 381
Department News ... ... 383 | Sugar Industry :—

Sugar-Cane Yields and
Distances of Planting 371
West Indian Products ... 383
Work Under the Food and
Drugs Ordinance, Brit-
ish Guiana, 1909-10 376

Fungus Notes :—
Additional Note on
Pink Diseases ..._ ... 382
Further Observations on
Die-Back Diseases ... 382 |
Gleaningsieeg ess) ssc) tee

The Action of Heat on Soils.

2N a previous number of the Agricultural

¥ News*, a note was given on work that had
tes ay been carried out by 8S. U. Pickering on the
prevention, to some extent, of the germination of seeds
in soils that have been heated. This prevention was
shown to be due to the presence of some poisonous
(toxic) substance. Further, as the degree to which the
rate of germination is lessened is approximately pro-
portional to the amounts of soluble orgunie matter and

* Vol. VIII, p. 281

contain
Lastly,
the work indicated that a similar action to that from

not been heated above 20° to 30° C.

a certain proportion of the poisonous bodies.

have

heating could be obtained from the employment of
sterilizing agents.+

A series of experiments undertaken by the same
investigator for the purpose of determining the nature of
this poisonous substance has been described recentlyt,
The purpose of the first trials was to find out if the
analysis of soil extracts would give trustworthy results,
This was found to be the case,
a fact that is of general importance has been

for the investigation.
and
demonstrated, for it is now known that the extent to
which organic matter is present in soils, at any rate in
those of the kind investigated, gives useful information
as to their nitrogen content.

To return to the determinations 1n connexion with
the changes that occur in soils after being heated, the
heating of the soil was continued for two hours, in closed
vessels, at the selected temperature. Portions of the
soil were then kept in two different ways: firstly, in
open glass pans, water being added from time to time
to keep the soil saturated, and the soil being broken
the conditions
of ordinary cultivation; in the second the
soil, saturated with water as before, was kept in
flasks, contaimimg about 15 ec. of air in addition
to the soil, which were hermetically sealed. Ordinary,

up occasionally, so as to imitate

case,

+ See also Agricultural News, Vol. TX, p. 33.
* See the Jowrnal of Agricultural Science, Vol. ILI, p. 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NovEMBER 26, 1910.

unheated soil, was also kept, under exactly simi-
lar conditions. The temperature at which the soil
was maintained, during keeping, was about 15°C., in
both cases. It was found, in saturating the soils with
water, that those which had been heated required less
for the purpose than those to which this treatment had
not been given. In order to gain an idea of the extent
of possible accidental variations, complete duplicate
experiments were devised; these showed that such varia-
tions were very small. The results obtained indicated
that very definite and complex changes occurred during
the time that the soils were being kept. In the case
of the unheated soils, or those which had not been heat-
ed to any large extent, the soluble matter increased
during the time of heating while, with the more highly
heated ones, it diminished: these changes affected both
the organic and the inorganic matter in the soils. ‘here
was an intermediate condition, ranging between temper-
atures of heating of 50° to 105°C., in which there was
little or no change in composition. Such were the
results obtained in the soils kept in the open pans.

As regards the soils that were kept in sealed flasks,
those which were less heated suffered, as befure, an in-
crease in the soluble matter; but the diminution in this,
that was obtaimed with the highly heated soils in tke
open pans was not experienced. In the second instance
as a matter of fact, the proportion of organic matter
remained almost constant, or even increased slightly;
this was also the case with the organic matter. It is thus
indicated strongly that the lessening of soluble matter
in heated syil exposed to the air is due to oxidation,
while the presence or absence of air has nothing to do
with the increase in the solutle matter that takes place
on keeping the less heated soil. Examination of the
results obtained throughout the course of the experi-
ments shows that, even with the less heated soil, there
is a decrease in the amount of soluble matter during
the first ten days.
in the case cf the more highly heated soils is due to the
fact that these contain a larger proportion of oxidizable
matter.

That this decrease continues longer

In the investigations, attention was given to the
extent to which the reduction of the amount of soluble
matter in a heated soil is effected by the action of bacte-
ria, in addition to atmospheric oxidation. It was
shown that this reduction takes place largely in the
absence of bacteria, even when the soil is not periodic-
ally moistened. A matter of mnterest and importance
to the soil investigator is the demonstration that air-
dried samples of soil change in composition during the
time that they are being stored, previous to analysis.

The last portion of the work was concerned more
directly with the comparison of the results of the examin-
ation of the soils, in the way described, with the ettects
on the germination of seeds. It was found that, in the
ease of the heated soil kept in pans, the decrease in
soluble matter was accompanied by a lessening of the
retardation of the germination of seeds. A further
fact shown was that, though the soluble matter formed
in the highly heated soil prevented germination to
some extent, the soluble matter that is formed gradu-
ally in the less heated soils has no such action. In any
case, as regards the first soils, the effect had entirely
disappeared by the 106th day, even though the ulti-
mate extent of the decrease in soluble matter had nos
been reached. Thus it is shown that not all the soluble
substance formed in the more highly heated soils is of
a toxic nature; but that even after it has disappeared,
much of the soluble matter produced by this heating is
left. indicated that the
amount of retardation of germination was proportional
to the increase in the quantity .of insoluble organic. mat- -
ter; the subsequent experiments, however, d~monstra‘e
that this 1s not always the case.

Former experiments had

Additional observatious were made f r the purpose
of ascertaining if any periodical variation takes place,
in regard to the soluble matter in the soil, under ordin-
ary conditions. These showed that the amount of
organic and inorganic matter decreased thruughout the
earlier part of the year, but increased subsequently,
It is suggested that this may be due, under the con-
ditions of the trial, simply to the effect of rainfall acting
through the exposed soil surrounding that which was
purposely protected for the experiment.

To summarize the more important results of the
work, it is shown that the retarding influence on the
germination of seeds, evidenced by heated soils, is gradu-
ally reduced when these are exposed, moist, to the air,
even when bacterial action is not possible: but that this
is not the case when they are kept moist in the absence
of air. ‘his would indicate that the destruction of the
poisonous substance is due to oxidation. Secondly,
that toxic matter of the kind found in quantity in heated
soil appears to be present in all soils, but that its
amount in those which have not been heated is so small
that itis soon oxidized. Lastly, air-dried soils, whether
they have been heated or not, suffer a reduction in solu-
ble constituents, and in toxic substances where these
were originally present, after being kept for some
months—a reduction closely similar to that shown by
moist soils kept in air for about ten days.

Vou. IX. Mo. 224.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

371

SUGAR-CANE YIELDS AND DISTANCES
OF PLANTING.

The following account of experiments dealing with
the relationship between yields of sugar-cane and
distances of planting, carried out at the Perto Rico
Agricultural Experiment Station, is given in the Porto
Rico Horticultural News, tor August and October
1910:—

In distance of planting cane, the prime object is to
obtain the greatest amount in a given area and with least
cost. A series of experiments was carried out with a total of
eighty-one plots of .5-acre each, for the purpose of determining
the amounts of cane produced when planted 10 by 10 feet,
74 by 7 feet, and 5 by 5 feet. The plantings were made in
series of three plots each adjoining each other. The prepara-
tion was the same in each case and the cultivation similar,
as far as the nature of the planting would permit. The wide
planting necessarily permitted of longer cultivation than the
narrow planting, not only with ploughs but also with hoes. In
estimating the results, it should be borne in mind that the
wider the planting the greater the expense necessary in
bringing the crop to maturity. This is by reason of the fact
that grass and weeds grow longer in wider plantings than in
the narrow ones where the ground is sooner shaded, The
following table shows the results for two years. Each
instance represents the average amount of cane grown on
twenty-seven plots: —

Distance, Yield per acre,
feet. tons.
{10 by 10 32-4
Plants + @% by 7H 370
| 5 by 5 40°7
j10 hy 10 26°0
Ratoons is by 73 30°9
| 5 by 5 33°3
(10 by 10 BS-4
Total for two years 74 by 7 67:9
5 by 5 740

_ It will be seen that in every instance the narrow planting
gave the largest yield, not only for the plant canes, but for
the ratoons.

The following table shows the results of close and wide
planting, where different amounts of manures were applied: —

10 by 10 feet. 7} by 74 feet. 5 by 5 feet.

Ib. tb. th.

Heavy manuring:—

Plants 33,230 39,580 46,025

Ratoons .... 19,750 28,050 33,765
Medium manuring:—-

Plants 30,475 32,145 36,875

Ratoons ... 24,260 30,225 33,580
Light manuring: —

Plants 23,775 28,225 26,990
No manuring: -

Ratoons ... 26,250 25,120 22,520

The cane plant has a comparatively small root system
for the heavy growth above ground. The roots are very much
in a bunch below the plant, and provided there is abundant
plant food present, they do not extend very far. Our
results show that close planting is more profitable, not only
in giving large yields of cane hut economy in cultivation. The

more the ground is shaded, the less tendency there is for the
grass and weeds to grow,

The ditterences in the yield in wide and narrow planting
are greater where heavy manuring is practised. The more
abundant the plant food is in the soil, the closer the cane should
be planted. When the plant food is deficient, the cane plant
must have a wider range for its roots in order to obtain the
elements necessary for its growth. The results of eighty-one
plots in this experiment indicate strongly that, in Porto Rico,
in order to obtain the greatest profit, we should plant close
and fertilize heavily.

At the Caba Experiment Station a number of experiments
were carried on by F. 8. Earle (Estacién Central Agronomica,
Cuba, Bulletin 2) on distance of planting. The usual system
there is to plant in drills about 3 feet apart, with a distance
of 4} to 5 feet between the rows. The soil is prepared and
cultivated the first season, but no further tillage is given. In
the so-called Zayas system, wider planting is followed, usually
9 by 12 feet, and continuous cultivation is given throughout
the year with modern implements. Stable manure is used,
but no commercial fertilizers are applied under this system;
and when harvesting, all canes that are not ripe are allowed
to remain for continued growth ‘The Zayas system proved
to be more costly and to give a smaller crop than the usual
method of planting. Also, leaving the unripened canes proved
unsatisfactory. Nesults obtained by cane planters in other
parts of Cuba showed that the Zayas system does not always
give as good a yield the first year as the usual system. Some
of this is dne to injuries to the roots caused by continuous
cultivation

At the Queensland Sugar Station (Annual Report of
the Bureau of Queensland Sugar Beperiment Stations, 1905-6,
p- 29), cane from rows planted 4 feet apart gave 20 tons per
acre more than cane from rows 7 feet apart. This difference
was gradual between these two distances. The wider the rows
apart, the lower the yield. The cane from rows 4 feet apart
gave 11} tons of sugar per acre, while the cane from the rows
7 feet apart gave 9 tons

The World’s Supply of Cotton. —It appears
from figures submitted by Messrs. Neill Bros. that whereas
last cotton season began with a total supply of cotton (visi-
ble and at the mills) of 5,199,000 bales, this season begins
with only 1,741,000 bales. The difference between these two
quantities represents the excess of consumption over current
supply during the past twelve months, and indicates the need
for an early and large supply of cotton from America this
season. The consumption would, of course, have been greater
if the use of cotton in the past year had not been restricted
by its dearness; but the actual consumption exceeded
12,000,000 bales, anda crop of 14,000,000 bales this year
would cdo no more than restore stocks to their normal level.
But there is no prospect of any such yield. It is too soon to
speak with confidence as to what the yield is likely to be,
but no one looks for a record crop, and it is safe to assume
that the price of cotton will remain high. Last season’s
American cotton crop was 10,610,000 bales. It is note-
worthy that the exports to Great Britain—2,430,000 bales—
were smaller than any during the past ten seasons, and that
the Continent took less than for many years past. Of the
total of the crop, American spinners took no less than 42 per
cent , Great Britain 23 per cent., France 8 per cent., and the
rest of the Continent 26 per cent. (Journal of the Royal
Society of Arts, September 16, 1910.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NovemMBer 26, 1910.

: aay cls

HA Al Al

PRUITS AND BRUIT SORE ES:

THE BANANA COMMISSION OF
BRITISH GUIANA.

The following report of the Commission appointed
by His Excellency the Governor of British Guiana to
consider the question of growing bananas in quantity
in that colony, and the possibility of establishing an
export trade in that fruit, is taken from the Demerara
Daily Chronicle, Mail Edition, for November 11,
1910:—

We, the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency
to inquire into the question of the cultivation of bananas in
this colony, and of the possibility of establishing an export
trade in the product, do respectfully submit to Your Excel-
lency this our report.

“Your Commissioners have held three meetings, and
a delegation of your Commissioners has visited Surinam and
studied the banana industry there existing.

Before the Commission assembled, a careful study was
made of all available documents and records relating to the
Commission which reported on the subject in 1890 and 1895.
It was evident from these that the Commission had no reliable
evidence before it as to the feasibility of the cultivation of
bananas ona commercial scale on the front lands of this
colony, or any data from countries where bananas had been
so cultivated, under similar conditions of soils and climate.

It was therefore decided that, as a banana industry had
been started in Surinam, and was reported to be progressing
satisfactorily, the most reliable way of ascertaining whether
a similar industry could be established and carried on in this
colony on commercially and financially sound lines, would be
by a delegation of your Commissioners visiting that country,
studying the cultural conditions under which the industry
had been established and was being carried on, and making
special inquiries as to the financial aspects of the enterprise
in all their branches, and that decisions as to future proceed-
ings, if any, should be made after the delegation had reported
the results of tie inquiry to your Commissioners.

The Combined Court, at its Annual Session in February,
1910, voted the funds requisite to allow of the visit bemg
made, and your Government having communicated with the
Government of Surinam, and having received from the
Governor of that colony His Excellency’s assurances of his
cordial welcome of the delegates to that colony, and of his
assistance and that of his officers in every way in their power
to aid the delegates in acquiring full information as to the

conditions under which the banana industry is there carried
on, the delegation, consisting of the Chairman, Mr. J. Wood
Davis, F.R., and Mr. F. A. Stockdale, arrived in Surinam on
June 17, and after completing its inquiries, left Paramaribo
on its return to Georgetown on July 1.

The results of the visit of the delegation to Surinam
and the conclusions arrived at by the delegates were
communicated to, and carefully considered by, your Com-
missioners. The report of the delegation to your Commis-
sloners is appended.

Your Commissioners agree with the conclusions of their
delegation as detailed in its report. Experience in Surinam
with the banana industry, practically established there and
financed by the Government of Holland, does not justify
your Commissioners in recommending to Your Excellency
that any steps should be taken by the Government of British
Guiana with the object of starting the cultivation of
bananas in this colony and of establishing an export trade in
the product, while the facts detailed in the report of the
delegates to Surinam lead to the conclusion that there is not
any hope of, or inducement for, the establishment of such an
industry in British Guiana either at present or in the near
future.

All of which is respectfully submitted to Your Excel-
lency:—J. B. Harrison, Chairman; W. J. Robson, G. Garnett,
Francis Dias, J. Wood Davis, F.R., J. Sydney McArthur,
PLR, F. A. Stockdale, John Junor, J. McFarlane Corry,
T. Karle.

The report of the delegation to Surinam appears
as an annex to, the principal report.

THE

CLUSIONS.,

DELEGATION LO SURINAM, SUMMARY AND CON-
The delegation that visited Surinam having
described the industry in the Dutch colony report:—

In conclusion we had to satisfy ourselves whether
a banana industry similar to the one in Surinam could be
established in this colony, or whether we could entertain
hopes, after our experience in the former country, for
a successful industry here. The following are the more
salient points in this connexion:—

Weare fully satisfied that the major part of the readily
available front lands of this colony is not well suited for the
production of bananas on the commercial scale; that it is quite
hopeless to look for their production on such a scale on the
wind-swept abandoned lands of the present sugar estates and
of earlier cultivations; and that the great area of land other-

Vou. IX. No. 224.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 373

wise well suited for banana cultivation, which lies at distances
of from 10 to 30 miles from the coastline cannot be
successfully developed for such purposes in the manner sim-
ilarly situated land is being so cultivated in Surinam. As
already pointed out, no part of this colony possesses the excep-
tional shipping advantages the banana lands of Surinam enjoy.
Those in control of banana plantations would have to
allow themselves not alone to be guided, but to be. autocrat-
ically directed and controlled, by the agent of the purchasing
company. ‘This, we are certain that, unless under stress of
conditions that have not yet occurred in this colony, the plant-
ers and farmers of British Guiana would never consent to.

A banana industry, as has been conclusively proved in
Surinam, can only be carried on where efficient labour is avail-
able and under complete control, and the establishment of such
an industry here would inevitably require extension, according
to its scale, of East Indian immigration.

Banana planters would be completely at the mercy of the
United Fruit Company and their purchasing agencies. The
experience of Surinam with the Gros Michel variety of bananas,
and the fact that the Panama disease is not unknown in
British Guiana, show that they would be compelled to fall back
on the cultivation of the Congo variety. The United Fruit
Company have the monopoly of supplies of suckers of that
kind.

At the outset, we approached the Surinam manager of the
United Fruit Company as to whether his Company would be
prepared to accept bananas from British Guiana, and were
informed that on receipt of lettersin May from this delegation
in regard to our projected visit he had written his principals
in New York who had cabled and subsequently written that
the United Fruit Company was not prepared to consider or to
undertake any more contracts for bananas, as the demand
during the past few years had not been increasing at the same
rate as had the supply. The United Fruit Company owned
large areas of land in Costa Rica and other Central American
Republics, and we were informed by their Surinam manager,
that if any extension of land under banana cultivation was
required, the Company would rather oxtend upon their own
lands than make contracts with any other country or associa-
tion. That this extension was not likely to take place was
impressed upon us, and we were informed -hat the Company
had lately changed very large areas of land which they own
in Cuba from banana cultivation to that of sugar-cane.

We next enquired, as fully as possible, into the opera-
tions of the United Fruit Company with a yiew to ascertain-
ing whether it would be possible to commence the shipment
of bananas independently of that Company. So impressed
were we by the perfectly organized business system of the
United Fruit Company for obtaining their bananas, placing
them upon the market, and meeting any rival banana ship-
ments, that we are firmly convinced that it would be impossible
for this colony to compete against them by an independently
established industry. They practically hold a monopoly of
the banana industry, handling most of the bananas that find
their way into the American and Canadian markets, and con-
trolling practically all the Gros Michel bananas that go to the
United Kingdom and other European countries. Apart from
the consideration of whether bananas could be grown satis-
factorily in this colony, it was patent to us that without
a contract with the United Fruit Company it would not be
possible to market satisfactorily any bananas that we might
produce, and that they were not prepared to offer us any
hope that such a contract would be entered into. In fact
such a contract would be, as we have already indicated, in
direct opposition to the carefully thought out and delib-
erately adopted policy of the United Fruit Company.

The delegation therefore is unable, in the face of the
results of the investigations which have led them to the above
conclusions, to offer to the Commission either any hope of, or
any inducement for, the establishment of a banana industry
in british Guiana either at the present time or in the near
future —J. B. Harrison, J. Wood Davis, F. A. Stockdale.

OBSERVATIONS ON WILD LEGUMINGUS
PLANTS.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 391,
extracts were given from Circular No. 31 of the Bureau
of Plant Industry of the United States Department of
Agriculture, in which observations made in connexion
with the growth and distribution of wild leguminous
plants are described. Since the publication of this
circular, a second one has been issued, which presents
a continuation of the observations described in the first.
This is Cireular No. 70 of the same Bureau, from
which, in view of their general interest, the following
extracts are taken:—

In 1909, frequent examinations were made to determine
whether all the native legumes were nitrogen-gathering.
Practically all the prairie species of the region have been
examined, and nodules have been found in abundance on
every one, although they seem to be much more abundant on
some species than on others. In some cases no nodules were
found on some individuals, but this was probably due to the
difficulty in removing the roots from the soil, rather than to
lack of nodules.

In general, there seems to be many more nodules on
annuals, in proportion to the size of the root, than on peren-
nials. As to the relative quantities of nitrogen gathered by
annuals and perennials, no data have yet been obtained. Some
co-operative work on this line has been begun, but it has not
gone far enough for a report. Some co-operative work was
also attempted in reference to cross-inoculation, to determine
whether the native legumes are capable of inoculating the
soil for clover and alfalfa. This work failed because of bad
conditions in the greenhouse. There is no doubt in the
writer's mind that several of the native legumes are capable
of inoculating our cultivated ones.

Referring to the special habitat of the chief among
the legumes, the circular states:—

The counts in the ditch by the railroad are in marked
contrast to those on the adjoining prairie. These shallow
ditches were lines of white for miles, all filled with silver-
leaved Psoralea. Whether the dominance of Psoralea in the
ditches is due to additional moisture or to the destruction of
the grasses, it is impossible to say, There is some evidence,
however, that the abundance of these legumes in the ditches
is due to the destruction of the grass and the removal of the
soil, exposing the subsoil, which contains less nitrogen, and
so is less favourable to the growth of non-leguminous plants.
In many places on the level land, where the grass has been
killed by stock, stacks, or breaking, Psoralea has come in
thickly. In nearly all the short-grass country, except
where Viera linearis is encountered, the number of legumes
is much less than in the long-grass country; but on the slopes
where the soil is poor, and buffalo grass and grama grass do
not thrive, legumes are plentiful. This suggests that it may
be more the struggle with the grasses than with drought
that keeps down the legumes.

374

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, NoveMBER 26, 1910,

SAW

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date November 7, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

There has been no business reported since our last report
in West Indian Sea Island cotton.

Florida and Carolina Sea Islands remain firm in price,
with a limited business doing.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending November 5, is as follows:—

There was some demand in the market this week, enabling
factors to obtain their asking prices for 400 bales of their
offerings of about 1,000 bales. The sales consisted of 100
bales Fully Fine at 38c., and 300 bales Extra Fine at 40c.
and 41c. As the demand was chiefly for the Extra Fine, and
exceeded the offerings on the market, the 41c, was paid for
100 bales, to enable the buyer to secure the cotton over the
other bids in the market.

The present demand being seemingly satisfied, the market
closed quiet, and should it continue so, these prices may not
be maintained; but this demand has encouraged factors in
their views, and they are continuing to hold: Extra Fine at
41c.,=223d.; Fully Fine at 38c., = 21d.; Fine at 36c., = 20d.

USE AND MANUFACTURE OF EGYPTIAN
COTTON.

An interesting article in the Jowrnal of the Royal
Society of Arts, for October 15, 1910, gives an account of the
main facts relating to Egyptian cotton. It points out, first
of all, that the possibilities of cotton as a crop for Egypt
were originally recognized by the French engineer, Jumel,
who succeeded in interesting Mohamet Ali in the matter,
with the result that quantities of cotton seed were imported
into Egypt. Attention is drawn to the fact that Egyptian
cotton has always been noted for its high quality, being
surpassed only by Sea Island, Georgia and West Indian Sea
Island.

Proceeding, the article points out that the charcteristics
of Egyptian cotton are length and strength of lint, fine soft
quality, silky lustre, and a brown colour in certain varieties,
Like Sea Island cotton, it is used for making many articles
in which strength, with fineness, is required; among these are
typewriter ribbons, aeroplane cloths, sewing cotton and mail
bags. Brown Egyptian cotton is employed for the manufac-
ture of ecru lace curtains and Balbriggan underwear. It is

COTTON NOTES. LE
LLL egy OULU (Ke)

WS,

especially useful for mixing with silk, and for filling sateen,
Indian linen, and similar goods, which possess a brilliamt
surface, on account of its clearness and the ease with which
it takes dyes.

A broad description of the manufacture of cotton shows
it to be divided into three processes, namely spinning, weav-
ing and finishing. The first of these includes successively
cleaning; combing or carding, which makes the fibres parallel
to one another, and removes the short ones; and spinning
proper, by which the cotton is finally drawn out to the
required fineness or ‘count’, and made into yarn. It is in
the carding that Egyptian cotton has always received special
treatment, for this is necessary in order that the yarn may be
fine, strong and uniform.

When the mercerising process was reintroduced, the prices
of Egyptian cotton were raised, owing to the increase in the
demand for the goods made from it. The process consists in
treating the yarn with a warm solution of caustic soda, and
preventing it from shrinking when drying by stretching it
slightly while this is being done. A large amount of the
superiority of Egyptian cotton has been derived from the fact
that it gives a product superior to that from American cotton,
when it is mercerised. The invention, however, of a new pros
cess known as ‘schreinerising’ is likely to take away this
point of superiority, as this can be applied to Egyptian and
American cotton with equal success. Jt consists in passing
the manufactured material between heated steel rollers, having
the surface cut diagonally with fine parallel lines, with the
result that the material gains the appearance of satin.

A table is given in the article by which it is shown, that
as is well known, the exports of cotton from Egypt have been
decreasing. In 1907-8, these amounted to 908,364 bales; in
1908-9, to 897,026; and in 1909-10 to 672,608 bales. The
table is followed hy a short discussion of the causes for this
diminution of output. These are sufficiently familar to those
interested in cotton to make it unnecessary for any description
of them to be given at present. (For recent information in
regard to this matter, see Agricultural News, Vol. IX
pp. 326 and 342.)

As regards Egypt, the article concludes by stating
that a special Cotton Commission has recently had under
consideration remedies for the declining production of the
crop. It is pointed out by this Commission that the drainage
system of the country has not kept pace with the irrigation
system, and the importance is emphasized of the necessity for
obtaining information as to the manurial requirements of the
crop, and as to the best means of selecting seed. Among the
measures suggested in order that this may be brought about
are the foundation of an agronomic station at Cairo and the
declaration is made that the establishment of an agricultural
department for Egypt is absolutely essential.

Vor. IX. No. 224.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS 375

NN

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS IN PANAMA.

The following information concerning some of the
agricultural resources and industries of Panama is taken
from Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4571
Annual Series:—

NATURAL RESOURCES. The development of the country’s
natural resources is a subject to which much attention is
being given, as it is recognized that, as the labour employed
is withdrawn from the canal, the economic condition of the
country will suffer a radical and adverse change, unless in
the meantime increased production from the soil takes place,
to compensate for the cessation of the wages stream from the
United States to pay for constructing the canal. The Republic
of Panama would appear to offer many advantages as a field
for investment. Its freedom from revolutions and internal
disturbances is assured by the interests of the United States
in the canal; it has astable currency, and large areas suitable,
from climate and soil, for the cultivation of nearly all
tropical products and for cattle-raising, and is said to possess
rich mineral and forest wealth. On the other hand, there is
a scarcity of native labour, and the standard rate of wages
for common labour paid by the Canal Commission, viz., about
4s. a day, is higher than that which could he paid by other
employers. Other disadvantages are the difficulty of obtain-
ing a secure title to land, and the absence of means of com-
munication and transportation. It is thus evident that the
opportunities for settlement on a small scale are limited, and
that it is to enterprises which will invest a large amount of
capital in machinery, roads and the importation of labour
that the country must look for profitable development. The
Government is keenly alive to the necessity of furthering
agricultural and mining development, and is ready to welcome
and facilitate the introduction of foreign capital.

CATTLE-RAISING. Cattle-raising is the principal industry
of the country, and the animals are all sent te Panama to be
killed for consumption, It is often recommended that pedigree
animals from abroad should be introduced to improve the local
stock, and the improvement in Argentine stock by the intro-
duction of British breeds is pointed to, but few cattle-raisers
are affluent or far-sighted enough to follow this course. In
1906, the sum of £2,000 was voted by the National Assembly
for the introduction of foreign pedigree stock. The stock
bought was sold at public auction, and the money used to
procure more. At present about £800 is in hand for the
purpose. In connexion with the proposed agricultural experi-
mental station, it has been suggested that the Government
should import high-class animals from abroad and allow
stock-owners their services against a nominal fee. An agri-
cultural fair, the first to be held in the country, will be held
in 1911 at Anton, a town with a population of about 5,500.

TIMBER RESOURCES.—An American company is making
preparations to develop the timber resources of the Bayano
River district. It has secured some 70,000 acres on the
Pacific side of the Cordillera Divide, to which easy access is
given by the Bayano River, the mouth of which is some 28
miles east of the city of Panama. The company has survey-
ed their property, fixed a site for a sawmill town, and
a double-band sawmill of 75,000 feet daily capacity in hard-
woods with the necessary machinery, has been shipped from
the United States, and is now awaiting transportation to the
site. The most important and extensive of the hardwoods
is the espave, and next to that the Spanish cedar. It has
not yet been established whether the native timbers can be
cured for lumber purposes locally, or whether artificial drying
will have to be resorted to.

cocoa-Nuts. The export of cocoa-nuts is growing, and
will probably continue to form one of the country’s staple
exports. The nuts are at present collected only on the Atlantic
coast, but there is no reason why their cultivation should not
be developed on the Pacific coast also. The cocoa-nuts grow
principally on the San Blas coast, about 180 miles east of
Colon, and are shipped to New York and Philadelphia, where
they are shelled by machinery. The production of copra has
not so far attained any importance, as the nuts are of more
value for confectionery and other edible purposes, but cocoa-
nut oil is made by the natives for cooking purposes.

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The third Preliminary Examination, in connexion with
the scheme of Courses of Reading established by the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, was held on October 10, in
Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and
Montserrat, and on October 17, in St. Kitts. Seventeen
candidates, altogether, presented themselves for examination:
three in Antigua, four in Barbados, one in Dominica, two in
Grenada, four in St. Kitts, two in St. Juicia and one in
Montserrat. Of the whole number, four failed to satisfy
the examiners.

The names of the successful candidates are as follows :—
FIRST CLASS, SECOND CLASS.
C. A. Gomes (Antigua) W. H. Hagley (Grenada)
C. A. Field (Barbados) A. L. Stamers (Antigua)
E. H. Barrow (Barbados) G. A. Thomas (St. Lucia)
P. Webster (St. Kitts)
S. W. Howes (Montserrat)
A. L, Woodley (St. Kitts)
THIRD CLASS.
D. O. Cleghorn (St. Kitts)
B. F. Cuffy (Dominica)
B. N. Monrose (St. Lucia)
M. 8. Goodman (Barbados)

The oral examination in the different islands was con-
ducted by:—

Mr. V. M. Weil, B.Sc. Vanti

, T. Jackson J ntigua
, J. R. Bovell, 1.8.0., F.L.S., F.C.S. \ Barb ie
Dr. Longfield Smith if ee ee
Mr. J. Jones \p roe
,, G. A. Jones J HEE
» G. G. Auchinleck, B.Sc. Wemeeer|

,, J. Harbin yet
,, W. Robson \

;, 3. L. ©. Howard, B.A. j Montserrat
, F. R. Shepherd oe

. W. R. Dunlop }St. Kitts
,, J. C. Moore We :
”" C. F: Condell, B.A. pst. Lucia

A proclamation contained in the Grenada Government
Gazette for October 15, 1910, shows that the Forestry Ordi-
nance, 1906, Grenada, will come into operation, and have
the force and effect of law, on and from the first day of
December 1910. The purpose of the Ordinance is to protect
and conserve the forest and water sources of the colony.

376

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all

ereenens for naming, should be addressed to the

ommissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados,

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dlews
Vor. IX. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1910. No. 224.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in the present number is concerned
with the most recent work that has been done in rela-
tion to The Astion of Heat on Soils.

Pages 372 and 375 give information in connexion
with the report that has been issued by the recent
Banana Commission of British Guiana. This throws

light on several questions in relation to the export of

fruit from the West Indies.

An abstract of an interesting article that has
appeared lately, on the use and manufacture of Egypt-
ian cotton, is given on page 374,

On page 375 are presented the results of the recent
preliminary examinations held in connexion with the
Reading Courses of the Department.

The Insect Notes, on page 378, give an account of

the recent introduction of the St. Vincent “Jack Span-
iard’ into Montserrat, as well as a description of the
cowpea cureulhio,

Reviews of two recent publications of interest to
horticulturists and agriculturists are given on page 379,

Page 381 contains the Students’ Corner, in which
an opportunity has been taken to discuss the papers
set at the recent Courses of Re ading preliminary
examinations.

The Fungus Notes, on page 382, are concerned
with further Bbcemaliene on die-back diseases, and
additional notes on the pink diseases of plants.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

NovemMBer 26, 1910.

Work Under the Food and Drugs Ordinance,
British Guiana, 1909-10.

The work under this Ordinance, for the half-year
ended March 1910, is described in a series of official
reports that has just been issued. Those relating to
the colony show that the general rate of adulteration
is 107 per cent., which, though higher than that of
last year, is satisfactorily low. The rate of adulteration
of milk im the colony was 13:1 per cent., which, as is
stated by Professor Harrison, is higher than it should
be; it is, in fact, greater than it has been for the past
two years.

In special relation to the county of Demerara, it is
shown that the number of samples received for analysis
at the Government Laboratory, from the Police Depart-
ment and the Town Superintendent, during the period,
was 690; the percentage of these returned as adulterated
was 103. This does not include the samples of milk,
the number of which was 512. With regard to these,
a percentage adulteration of 18°7 was found—the high-
est rate since 1907. The manner of adulteration, in
fifteen cases, was extracting the fat by skimming, or by
mixing butter-milk with genuine milk.

a + ee

Nandi Rubber.

According to the Aew Bulletin, No. 8, 1910, dried
specimens of a rubber vine (Landolphia ugandensis)
have been received from the Nandi forests in British

East Africa, tegether with information, an abstract of
most of which may be given, as follows.

The plant is a lane, existing in considerable
quantities in the Nandi forests, which are at an eleva-
tion of 6,000 to 7,000 feet. The elevation of these, com-
bined with the presence of very humid conditions, makes
the climate almost temperate. A matter of special
interest is that the rubber from the plant is probably
the only kind occurring naturally, in a climate that is
not tropical, which can be obtained continuously.

The amount of rubber ee from the Nandi
forests is, ordinarily, 7 tons yearly, having a value of
about £2,000 at Mombassa: only about one- “third of the
vines are, however, beg tapped at present. Various
circumstances, such as shortening the time of rest for
the vines, and the making of plantations, should increase
this output to a considerable extent. The average yield
of rubber from each plant is 1 oz.

Tapping is conducted by shaving off slices of bark,
as far down as the cambium layer. ‘The cuts are, how-
ever, often made too deep, causing the death of the
tissue above and below them; making diagonal slits
with a knife would probably be a better method. The
latex has been coagulated with salt, by wetting the
surface of the bark with salt water; by chewing, and by
using the juice of a fruit called Noguk, or Nokok
(probably Flacourtia sp.).

The plant yields an edible fruit which, itself, con-
tains a large proportion of latex.

Vou, IX. No.. 224.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 377

Cocoa-nut Cultivation and Copra in the Feder-
ated Malay States.

The Inspector of Cocoa-nut Plantations of the
Federated Malay States reports that the area devoted
to cocoa-nut-growing in the States during 1909 was
estimated at about 123,815 acres. It is probable that
about two-thirds of the trees are in bearing, and the value
of the whole area is somewhere in the neighbourhood
of 3 million pounds, sterling.

The increase in the acreage during 1909 was 6,618;
of this area, 5,118 acres were planted by natives, and
1,500 by Europeans.

The exports of copra from the Federated Malay
States amounted to 104,469 piculs (1 picul=133} th.);
in 1909 and 1908 they were 71,981 and 49,526 piculs,
respectively.

According to the Board of Trade Journal tor
September 29, 1910, from which these facts are taken,
much of the work that is being carried on in connexion
with the copra industry is directed toward giving infor-
mation to the natives as to the proper method of col-
lecting the nutsand making the copra. It is considered,
broadly speaking, that progress is being made in the
industry, and that there are signs of its further extension.

eae ———__

Creasote tor Preserving Posts.

An account of an experiment which is being con-
ducted in Antigua for the purpose of investigating the
usefulness of creasote as a preservative for gate posts is
contained in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 312,
and in the Annual Report on the Botanic Station, ete.
Antigua, for 1909-10. In relation to the employment
of creasote for similar purposes, a report has been
received, through the Colonial Secretary, Antigua, on the
use of this preparation for preserving telephone posts;
this was made by Mr. J. Mc. Donald, Superintendent of
Telephones in that island.

According to the report, the Telephone Depart-
ment of Antigua first employed creasote poles in 1896,
since when a number has been imported every year, so
that more than 1,000 are in use at the present time.
In 1896 and 1897, 250 of the treated poles were erect-
ed in different parts of the island, and none of these
have been renewed, all being quite sound, with a few
exceptions, although they have been at least thirteen
years in the ground. A few of the poles show signs of
rot, but will last for some years yet, as this does not
appear to affect them to any depth.

The observations have not been continued for
a sufficient length of time to make it possible to give
an opinion as to how many years creasoted poles will
last. Of the whole number in the island, only four
have been renewed so far, and these only after six to
eight years of use. This is sufficient to demonstrate,
in any case, that creasoted poles will last very much
longer than untreated pitch pine poles, as the life of
the latter is only from three to four years.

It is a matter of interest, in regard to cost, that
the creasoted poles, ready tapered, are imported into
Antigua at the price of 585 per 1,000 feet; this is
a little more than twice the cost of the untreated poles.

A Labour-Saving Contrivance.

A description of a simple and cheap contrivance
for carrying liquids short distances is contained in the
Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Victoria
for September 1910, p. 610. It consists of an ordinary
barrel, fitted with an iron handle which is very similar
to that of a garden roller. After being filled, the barrel
with the liquid in it, is easily pulled or pushed by means
of the handle, to the place where the liquid is required..
In the special case that is described, it was used for
conveying skim milk from the separator room to the
piggery. The barrel, of course, needs to be provided
with a vent, preferably on one side, near the rim,

Such a contrivance can easily be cleaned by means
of hot water or steam. It may often be found of use
on estates in the West Indies.

oo
Agriculture in Sierra Leone.

Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 648, to which refer-
ence was made in the last number but one of the
Agricultural News (p. 344), contaims a section describ-
ing the progress of the agricultural development of
Sierra Leone. It is stated that this has been, and still
continues to be, much hampered by the absence of
a properly organized agricultural department; although
the efforts of the Government are succeeding in causing
a greater interest to be taken in agriculture in the
Colony and Protectorate.

Work on some of the experimental farms has proved
to the natives that the practices of deep hoeing and
rotation of crops will enable rice to be grown without
letting the land he fallov--the usual custom. It
has not been followed by any change in the methods of
the natives, and it is expected that some time will
elapse betore this is brought about.

Nurseries for rubber, cacao and gum copal have
been established. The intention is to plant the rubber
out in the forests covering the neighbouring hills, while
plantations of cacao will be formed. Success is already
being obtained with Hevea brasiliensis and Funtumia
elasticd.

Kola plantations have been established in certain
districts, in which the efforts of the Government have
been directed toward the prevention of the too close
planting of the trees. The produce of these is shared
equally between the natives and the Government, the
portion belonging to the latter being employed for the
purpose of extending the cultivation of kola in the
district. The raising of kola seedlings is being encour-
aged by the granting of bonuses.

The area in which ginger is cultivated is increasing.
There are indications that, as regards fruit, a trade with
England might be established.

Progress is being made in the growing of ground
nuts, maize, cacao, coffee and piassava, The attempts of
the Government to increase the area of the cocoa-nut
industry have failed, on account of the prejudice of the
natives against planting more trees.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NovempBer 26, 1910,

INSECT NOTES.

INTRODUCTION OF THE ST.
‘JACK SPANIARD’
MONTSERRAT.

It has been known for some time that the St. Vincent
‘Jack Spaniard ’ (Polistes annularis) is of use in that island
in reducing the numbers of the cotton worm (Alabama
[Aletia] argillacea). Recent references to this matter are
contained in the West Indian Bulletin, Vols. VIII, pp. 360
and 363;and IX, p. 211. The fact that the cotton worm
has caused a large amount of trouble and loss in Montserrat
(as indeed has been the case, from time to time, in the other
islands in the West Indies where cotton is grown), and the
circumstance that this insect is absent from that island, have
caused the question of its introduction to be considered.
Definite measures have been undertaken towards this, and
the insect appears now to be established in Montserrat.
Much of the matter that is contained in the follow-
ing account is taken from reports on the work of intro-
duction that have been received from Mr. W. H. Patterson,
Officer-in-charge of the Agricultural School, St. Vincent, and
from Mr. W. Robson, Curator of the Botanic Station, Mont-
serrat.

Up to October 5, 1910, four consignments of the insect
had been received in Montserrat, from St. Vincent. In the
first two, pupae were sent; while in the last two, the insect
was despatched in the larval stage. In the first case, the nests
were simply fastened flat inside the boxes, and the top was
covered with mosquito gauze. In the second, as the insects
were in the larval stage, an arrangement was made by which
the larvae were kept from falling out of their cells by means
of rows of wire running from side to side through the boxes,
and forming shelves, to which the nests were secured with
soft twine; this gave a chance for the more advanced among
them to pupate. The additional precaution was not required
in the case of the pupae. Here, the pieces of comb containing
sealed brood were fixed securely to the sides of the box by
means of pieces of tape running through holes in the wood,
and fastened on the outside.

All the consignments arrived in Montserrat in excellent
condition. In the case of the first the box was removed,
without being opened, to one of the open sheds at Grove
Station, and fixed by one of its sides to a beam. When the
wire gauze was removed, fifteen perfect insects were found to
have hatched out, and the combs showed the presence of much
unhatched, sealed brood. No immediate disposition to fly
was shown by the adult insects; they appeared to be busily
engaged in work on the comb. In a few days, the number
had increased to fifty; and on August 24, new colonies were
being made in different parts of the shed. By October 4,
sealed brood was seen in the new combs. An observation
of interest was that the shed in which the insects were
liberated is quite open, and also that it contains a large
number of nests of the local Jack Spaniard.

The second consignment was much larger than the first,
and was found to contain about 150 adult insects, upon its
arrival. It was placed in a large open shed at Dagenham,
when the behaviour of the insects resembled closely that
which was observed at Grove. At the time of reporting,
twenty new combs had been formed, some of which contained
sealed brood. The combs in which the insects were imported
have been deserted, in the case of both consignments.

The third and fourth importations of the insect were

VINCENT
INTO

sent to Bethel and Elberton; there are no observations to
place on record concerning these. All the places where the
introductions were made are centres of cotton-growing
districts.

When the report was made, the cotton worm was only
just beginning to appear in quantity in the field, so that
nothing could be said as to any definite attacks on this pest
by the imported insect.

A useful fact, in connexion with the exportation of this
insect, is that a box measuring 15 inches, cube, will hold
about 250 nests, each containing an average of fifteen sealed
cells.

A final matter of interest is that, although Montserrat
possesses a Jack Spaniard of its own, this is smaller and
less striking in appearance than the species from St. Vincent.

THE COWPEA CURCULIO.

A bulletin (No. 85, part VIII) recently issued by the
Bureau of Entomology of the United States Department of
Agriculture, gives a very complete account of the cowpea
curculio (Chalcodermus aeneus, Boh.). The following facts
and suggestions are taken from this bulletin.

This insect is a small snout-beetle or weevil. The
general colour is black with a bronze tinge, the wing covers
and thorax being coarsely punctured. The insect is about
}-inch in length, and is quite robust.

The eggs of the cowpea curculio are deposited in the pod
or in the forming pea itself, in cavities made by the female
beetle by means of the mandibles. The larvae feed inside the
pea, or sometimes between the pea and the pod, and when full
grown they leave the pod to enter the ground for pupation.

The insect is said to be a native of Mexico and the
Southern United States. It is a serious pest in certain local-
ities within its range, where cowpeas are largely grown in
rotation with cotton, for not only is a considerable amount
of damage done to the cowpeas, but the succeeding crop of
cotton may he seriously damaged, or destroyed, by the hiber-
nated beetles. Cotton is not a regular food plant for this
insect, but when it happens that cotton seedlings are available
in fields where large numbers of the cowpea curculio have
hibernated since the cowpea crop of the previous season, it
is forced to eat cotton, as the only available food.

The curculio does not appear to have been recorded as
a pest of cowpeas or cotton in the West Indies, and its habit of
leaving the pod to pupate before the seeds are fully ripe would
seem to render its introduction, in or with seed for planting,
less likely than would be the case with such a pest as the
bean and pea weevils (Lruchus sp.), which pupate within the
seed. The latter are often transported long distances in seed
for planting, and cause enormous damage while the seed is in
storage or in transportation.

The regulations which exist in all the West Indian islands
for dealing with imported plants should be sufficient to pre-
vent any chance introduction of the cowpea curculio, along
with seeds. The pea and bean weevils occur in the West
Indies, but repeated introductions may now be prevented by
careful fumigation with carbon bisulphide, on the importation
of seeds.

If the cowpea curculio should be found to exist ina field
of cowpeas, a remedy would be obtained in picking all the
early pods before they were quite ripe. These would probably
contain the eggs from all the beetles, and the later pods
would be free from attack. It would also be well not to
plant cotton on land which has just previously grown a crop
of cowpeas, in which the curculio has occurred.

Vou: IX. No, 224.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 379

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A HANDBOOK OF TROPICAL GARDENING
ANDPLANTING. By H. F. Macmillan, F.L.S., F.R.H.S.

H. W. Cave & Co., Amen Corner, Colombo, Ceylon. 10s. 6d.

This book, which deals especially with the conditions
surrounding gardening in Ceylon, is the work of the Curator
of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, and this fact
should be sufficient to arouse expectations as to its usefulness
which, it may be said at once, are justified on its perusal.
The matter with which it deals is contained in four sections.
The first of these includes nine chapters, of which six are con-
cerned with the life-history of garden plants, especially in
relation to their surroundings and propagation; the last three
chapters in the section deal more particularly with the cultiva-
tion of such plants for special purposes, and with the
implements that are employed in this. ‘The five chapters of
the second section give an account of tropical and sub-tropical
fruits and vegetables as well as spices of the tropics,
condiments and seasoning herbs. Chapters XV to XXI form
the substance of Section IIT, which gives an account of plants
of special kinds, and for particular situations, whether for
use or for ornament. The remaining chapters, of which there
are eleven, constitute SectionIV. The first two of these deal
with the standard and minor products of Ceylon; miscellan-
eous garden plants, perfume-yielding plants and others which
are useful such as pasture, grazing and fodder plants, receive
attention in the next three chapters. These are followed by
a sunilar number of chapters, which treat of the enemies and
friends of the garden and estate, the former including noxious
weeds, insect_and other animal pests, and fungus diseases.
Finally, three chapters are devoted to the transport, packing
and storing of planting material; various statistics for practi-
cal work; recipes for jams, jellies, ete.; and calendars of gar-
den work for various parts of Ceylon.

In a more detailed way, it may be said that Chapters I to
ILI, dealing with climate, soils, plant life and manures, present
the necessary facts ina concise and handy form. Chapter IV
contains particularly useful information regarding green
manures; while Chapter VI, which is more detailed in the
information it gives, is a well-illustrated account of the different
modes of the propagation of plants. The cultural operations
employed in gardens are necessarily treated without too great
detail, in Chapter VII; while the two succeeding ones contain
information about general gardening work that is particularly
useful to the practical gardener.

In Chapters X to XXVI, an account is presented of
individual kinds of plants in their relation to their particular
purposes. The mode of treatment is thorough, especially in
regard to the number of species concerning which facts are
given, and there is much that is of interest from a purely
botanical standpoint. Unfortunately, however, the presenta-
tion of the matter is somewhat marred through the existence
of several typographical errors in the names of plants. Chapter
XXVII, dealing with the enemies and friends of the garden,
is particularly valuable because of the good account of
methods for the destruction of weeds which it contains. In
that dealing with the insect pests, more particularly (Chapter

XXVIII), a noticeable feature is that it contains a good list
of insecticides. A final matter of more special comment is
that the calendars of work in the garden, in Chapter XXXII,
have been made to apply thoroughly to the conditions in
different parts of Ceylon, and should be particularly useful
in their definite connexions,

The work, which contains about 530 pages and more
than 150 illustrations, is produced in an attractive and useful
manner, and the illustrations are generally good, throughout.
It is rather large in size, however, to be classed as a handbook,
and it seems that the practical gardener, in his everyday
work would find it of much use if he could be provided with
a smaller, abridged edition containing the matter in Section I,
and Chapters XXVII to XXX and XXXII. Copies of this
would be used directly for his outside work, while a copy of
the original edition would be kept on the shelf, for reference.

THE SCIENCE ANDPRACTICE OF MANURING.
By W. Dyke, F.R.H.S. The Lockwood Press, 1 Mitre Court,
Fleet Street, London. 1s.

A copy of a handy booklet, with the above title, has
been received recently. This contains a large amount of use-
ful information in regard to manures, presented in a con-
densed form, and in a manner easy for reference. In twelve
short chapters, particulars are given concerning, firstly, general
matters relating to manures, plants, crops and soils; facts for
the guidance of those who are growing plants, as well as
descriptions of the manures that are commonly in use; the use
of manures in connexion with the raising of plants of special
kinds; and finally, several useful hints in relation to the
employment of manures.

It is of interest to note that the pamphlet does not con-
tain a mere description of manures, with instructions for
their application, as might have been expected. After giving
interesting facts concerning the origin and history of them, it
deals with the needs of plants, more especially in regard to
the supply of these from the soil, and treats of the ways in
which they are affected, either beneficially or adversely,
through manuring The matters considered are illustrated
by very simple examples, which serve their purpose, as far as
is required.

Proceeding further with the manner of presentation of
the facts with which the pamphlet has been designed to deal,
it is noticeable that the scope of the information given is
a reasonable one; there is no attempt to go deeply into
subjects which are of comparative unimportance, in the
special connexion; the effort is rather to give elementary
knowledge that will be of use to all who take part in the
employment of manures, To show that the subject is not
approached from a narrow standpoint, it may be stated that
a chapter is given which deals with the influence of soils on
manuring—a subject which is sometimes neglected by agri-
culturists, when the best and most suitable methods of
manuring are under consideration.

The six chapters that deal in a more definite way with
manures and their particular mode of application give infor-
mation that is naturally of more special use in temperate
countries than in the tropics. They contain facts, neverthe-
less, that should be known to the grower of plants, in every
part of the world.

Among other matters, the last chapter contains a series
of warnings to those by whom manures are commonly
employed. These form a particularly useful part of an inter-
esting booklet, which might well be in the possession of all
those who require the presentation of the commoner facts con-
cerning manures, in a compact form.

380

GLEANINGS.

Cotton picking in St. Vincent is being actively done,
and the Central Cotton Ginnery was opened, to receive seed
cotton, on the first of this month.

It is reported from St. Kitts that the sugar-cane is
growing well, since the receipt of good rains. As regards
cotton picking, satisfactory returns have been received so
far.

The series of articles on the goats of Barbados, which
appeared in the Barbados Standard during the months of April
to November 1910, have been published in book form, with
illustrations from blocks in the possession of the Imperial
Department of Agriculture.

The distribution of plants from the Dominica Botanic
Station during last month included the following: limes 2,800
Para rubber 610, cacao seedlings 325, grafted cacao 18,
vanilla 300. The total distribution for the month was 4,086
plants.

The condition of the sugar-cane crop in Antigua is stated
not to be promising, generally, but good yields are expected
on a few estates. The distribution from the Antigua Botanic
Station during October included 3,882 plants and 10,000
cuttings, most of the latter being sugar-cane.

It is stated, on the authority of the Belgian Legation at
Caracas, that the coming cotton crop of Venezuela will be less
than that of last year, being 600,000 sacks (1 sack = 62 kilos.),
instead of 700,000 sacks. The reason for the lower yield is
given as the sudden arrival of the spring rains, as weli as
drought during the fruiting time.

Arrangements have been made for Dominica to partici-
pate in the London Fruit Exhibition, 1910, to be held from
December 1 to 3 next. They are in the hands of the Per-
manent Exhibition Committee, and exhibits which were
entrusted to the care of this Cemmittee left Dominica by
Royal Mail Steamer on November 13.

A consular report shows that the cotton crop of Hayti,
last year, amounted to 3,615,972 tb. Nearly all of this was
sent to Europe, as the merchants are of opinion that they can
get better prices there than in the United States. The area
under cotton in the Republic becomes larger every year, and
the prospects of the cotton-growing industry are good.

The most recent reports concerning the cotton industry
in Montserrat state that the crop has matured early, and that
most of it will be reaped before the end of December.
Attacks by the cotton worm and a certain amount of boll
dropping have taken place, but there was no evidence of the
presence of the fiower-bud maggot at the time of reporting.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NovemsBer 26, 1910.

An Ordinance to be cited as The Uganda Cotton (Amend-
ment) Ordinance, 1910, has been made recently in that Pro-
tectorate. This is to be read as one with the Uganda Cotton
Ordinance, 1908. Its special purpose is to give the Governor
the power to make rules controlling the purchase and sale of
raw cotton, in addition to the power to make rules, contained
in the Ordinance of 1908.

The British Acting Vice-Consul at Hakodate reports that
a wide area in the north-eastern part of Japanese Sakhalin is
‘tundra’, covered with moss or lichen to a depth of many feet.
A concession for the use of this moss has been granted by the
Government to a Japanese merchant, who proposes to erect
a mill and to manufacture pulp tor paper-making. (The
Board of Trade Journal, September 15, 1910.)

With reference to the announcement on page 364 of the
last number of the Agricultural News, to the effect that
proclamations in connexion with the regulation of the importa-
tion of plants or material, for planting purposes, had been
made recently in Antigua and Dominica, it should be stated
that a similar proclamation was made in St. Lucia, on October
28, 1910, under the third section of the Plants Protection
Ordinance, 1909, of that colony.

The Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology,
Vol. IV, No. 2, contains a paper dealing with the factors in
the transmission and prevention of malaria in the Panama
Canal Zone. The investigations which are described showed
that the mosquitos Cellia albimana and C. tarsimaculata
were the most efficient transmitters of malaria: while it was
found impossible to infect Avribalzagia malefactor with the
disease, (From WVature, September 29, 1910.)

A statement appeared in a recent number of the Agri-
cultural News (No. 220, p. 306), to the effect that the
Thwaite System of Electro-Culture is under trial at the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Information has been since
received, through the courtesy of the Director of the Royal
Botanic Gardens, that this is not the case; but that an
installation of the system has been fitted up at the Gardens of
the Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, London.

The Board‘of Agriculture of Great Britain has issued
a rew order in connexion with anthrax, for the purpose of
obtaining more trustworthy statistics, so that more effective
legislation may be made in regard to this disease. It
enables the veterinary officers of the Board to examine the
evidence submitted, in connexion with the disease, to the local
authorites, as well as to carry out experimental investigations
on their own part, before a decision is made as to the real out-
break causing the disease.

The results of chemical analysis and of determinations of
the water capacity of composite samples of soils from the
sugar districts of Queensland are reported in the Annual
Report of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, Queens-
land, for 1909. As a result of a comparison of the solvent
action of 1 per cent. solutions of aspartic, acetic, citric and
hydrochloric acids, the author states: ‘Maxwell’s aspartic acid
method is considered the most useful, and the one which
approximates most closely in showing the amount of the
necessary elements available for cane crops.’ (Haxperiment
Station Record, August 1910, p. 120.)

Vor. IX. No. 224.

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The results of the recent Preliminary Examinations held
in connexion with the Courses of Reading of the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, in Antigua, Barbados, Dominica,
Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and St. Lucia, appear on
another page of this issue of the Agricultural News. It will
be well to give consideration to the questions that were set,
at all the centres save one, in the written part of the
examination,

The number of questions in this part was thirteen;
of these not more than nine were to be attempted by the
candidates. The questions were as follows:—(1) Give an
outline of the ways in which green plants are dependent
upon gases in the atmosphere. (2) Describe broadly the
composition of the chief kinds of soil, showing how their
physical properties depend upon the proportions of their
principal constituents. (3) Write a description, with dia-
grams, ef the germination of the seed of one kind of plant
belonging to each of the following classes : (a) a garden crop;
(b) a general crop; (c) a permanent crop. (4) Describe any
form of cultivator with which you are acquainted, stating in
what connexions it may be used more particularly. (5) What
are the chief precautions required in keeping farmyard manure,
and why are they necessary? Give an account of any artificial
manure that is employed for the purpose of supplying nitrogen.
(6) Why is the grafting of plants often practised? Write
a description, with sketches, of any kind of grafting with
which you are familiar. (7) Compare the aerial stem of the
sugar-cane with that of a dicotyledon, such as cotton. (8) Give
a description of the flower of a dicotyledon, stating the uses
of its different parts. (9) What methods of cultivation are
employed in connexion with the principal crop in the district
in which you live? What are the uses of cultivation to the
plants for which it is practised ? (10) Describe either (a) the
skeleton of the horse, or (b) the digestive system of the cow,
showing how the one you deal with is suited to the work that
is required of it. (11) Explain five of the following terms :
(a) humus, (b) subsoiling, (¢) exalbuminous seed, (d) legum-
inous plants, (e) cross-pollination, (f) green dressing, (g) chloro-
phyll, (bh) cambium layer, (k) hilum, (1) muscle, giving
examples where this is feasible. (12) Describe, using dia-
grams, the way in which the blood is sent to every part of
the body of an ordinary, warm-blooded animal. (13) Fruits
are classified in various ways. What different kinds of fruits
do you know of? Give examples.

The questions that were answered best, from a general
point of view, were numbers 1, 2, 8, 9, the first part of 10,
and 11. A few very good answers were obtained, however,
to questions 5, 6 and 7. The way of dealing with the remainder,
namely, numbers 3, 4, 12 and 13, was bad, on the part of
nearly all the candidates. It is not possible to furnish an
adequate answer to questions 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 without
the use of diagrams, or sketches. This was recognized by
several of the candidates, in relation to the questions that they
attempted, and some drawings that were creditable for the pur-
pose were furnished by them. Other candidates attempted
these questions without the aid of drawings, thus giving them-
selves the greatest trouble in providing answers, which were
only insufficient in the end.

In dealing with question 1, it was noticeable that most
of the candidates understood that the answer was required to
have relation to the nitrogen in the air, as well as to the
oxygen and carbon dioxide, and useful references were made,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 381

in the first connexion, to the work of the organisms living in
symbiosis with leguminous plants, as well as to that of nitro-
gen-fixing organisms in the soil. The facts required for ques-
tion 2 were fairly well known, in most cases, but they were
expressed in a bookish way, and if any attempt was made to
show how the physical properties of soils depend on the propor-
tions of their principal constituents, it*was generally feeble.
In no case was question 3 done well; with other questions,
it shows the necessity for a greater grasp, on the part of candi-
dates, of theimportance of making their own observations. Some
fair attempts at question 4 were received; it was understood,
however, that this would not be widely answered. Some of
the most thorough answers were those to question 5, especially
in regard to the first part of it. Most of the candidates who
attempted number 6 realized the necessity for the presentation
of drawings, which were executed in a useful manner, in many
cases. The ways of treatment of questions 7 and 8 should
have been very similar. These, again, showed that candidates
are very prone to take facts for granted, instead of constantly
verifying them by their own observations. Fair answers were
obtained to question 9. Nearly all the attempts of question
10 were disappointing; whereas every candidate should have
been able to supply a satisfactory answer. The ground ranged
over in question 11 gave candidates a good choice among the
subjects that had been brought to their notice. No satis-
factory answers to questions 12 and 13 were received. The
attention of candidates is drawn respectively, in connexion
with these, to Fream’s Hlements of Agriculture (seventh
edition, 1910), pp. 359, 360, and to Vature Teaching (second
edition, 1908), p. 230.

Tt was reported, from one centre, that the time given for
answering the questions was too short. As a matter of fact,
ample time was given for this. It is only where candidates,
instead of answering concisely the question proposed, proceed
to give a quantity of information about subjects with which
it does not deal, that sufficient time does not seem to be
allowed. There should be no doubt, once for all, that marks
cannot be given for matter that is not required.

As has been indicated, a special paper had to be given in
one case—that of St. Kitts—on account of the difference in
date of the examination. The questions asked in this are
presented below, for the information of candidates.

(1) What conditions are necessary for the germination of
seeds! How would you show that these are necessary? (2) How
do leaves help to feed the plant! (3) What is meant by the
retentive power of a soil, and how is the possession of this
property by soils important to the agriculturist? (4) Give an
account of three crops that are used as green dressings, stating
how they are employed for the purpose. (5) Write a descrip-
tion of any form of plough that you have seen in use.
(6) Deseribe the operation of budding, and state why it is
useful. (7) Write a short account of each of the manures
that are employed for giving phosphorus to the soil. (8) Dis-
cuss the different uses of roots to plants, illustrating your
answer by means of examples. (9) Why is the soil cultivated?
Describe any method of cultivation with which you are fami-
liar. (10) Explain five of the following terms: (a) cotyledon,
(b) nodule organism, (c) parasite, (d) capillarity, (e) organic
manure, (f) digestion, (g) leaf-bud, (bh) medullary rays, (k)
tuber, (1) loam. (11) Describe any flower, showing how its
different parts are suited to the particular work that is
required of them. (12) Compare the digestive systems of the
horse and the cow, stating the uses of the various parts
through which the food passes. (13) Describe, with the use
of diagrams, the heart of a warm-blooded animal, and
indicate how it performs its work of forcing the blood into
the arteries.

382

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

November 26, 1910.

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON
DIE-BACK DISEASES.

Diplodia rapar, Massee, causes die-back of young
Hevea trees in the Straits and Federated Malay States, as
has been stated in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 318,
where a description of the disease, both on young and older
trees, is given. It may, however, prove of interest if a few
facts in connexion with this fungus are added here, especially
as, for reasons which will be given below, it seems possible
that the information may have some application to cicao.
The additional points of interest are the outcome of observa-
tions conducted in the Straits by Ridley. The account
of them was published in the Agricultural Bulletin of the
Straits and Federated Malay States, Vol. IX, pp. 290, ete.
In the first place, it was found that no spores of the fungus
were produced unless the atmosphere was moist, and that the
parts on which the pyenidia occurred were always guite dead
and, frequently, commencing to dry. Infection experiments,
which could only be conducted on a small scale, led to the
following conclusions. The fungus is unable to attack the
terminal bud directly, but can do so if it is injured in any
way. It can also produce direct infection on young leaves
which are not more than half-grown. After infecting the
damaged terminal bud, the fungus spreads down the stem, in
the cambium, though, if the seedling is healthy, its progress
is eventually checked, apparently by the formation of an
impervious corky layer. The same thing occurs in the case
of the young leaves. These are killed by the fungus, and
fall, being cut off from the plant by means of the usual
absciss layer, which prevents the entry of the fungus into
the tissues of the stem. If the seedling is unhealthy, the
fungus may spread from the terminal bud right down
the cambium, and kill the plant completely in a few
days. When this happens, the most recently affected
parts of the plant do not show any very definite external
signs of disease, but the presence of the parasite in the
eambium is indicated, on examination by a red discolora-
tion of this tissue. Another result of the inoculation
experiments was to show that slight wounds on woody stems
do not serve as an easy means of entry for the fungus, as its
spread from these is very slow, even when it occurs at all. It
must however be borne in mind, that Jarge wounds such as
cuts made in pruning, and small wounds on green twigs
permit the ready entrance of the fungus; and once it has
obtained a strong hold on the cambium of a woody stem or
branch, it spreads rapidly and the plant cannot stay its progress.

The life-history of the fungus occupies about seven days.

That is, infected portions of the attacked plants die
about six days after infection, and under favourable
conditions fructifications make their appearance one or

two days later. The spores from these can germinate
again, on a favourable surface, in twelve hours. The
ultimate fate of the plant on which they germinate depends
on its vigour, and on the part attacked, as has already
been indicated. The tree may be killed out in a few days,
or may be able to throw off the disease.

The fact that the Hevea tree sheds its leaves periodically
is naturally of great assistance to it in preventing any serious

damage from fungus attacks on the leaves; so that this means
of infection is probably not a very serious one, unless the
whole twig on which the leaves are borne is in an unhealthy
state from some other cause.

It was stated above that these observations may possibly
have some bearing on die-back of cacao. The reason for this is
that very possibly Diplodia rapax may prove to be identical
with Botryodiplodia elasticae, Petch, which occurs very fre-
quently on Hevea and other hosts in Ceylon Further,
Botryodiplodia elasticae is almost certainly the same as
Lastodiplodi« thevbromae, Griffon and Maublane, which is the
West Indian die-back fungus of cacao. Consequently,
Diplodia rapar and Lasiodiplodia theobromae may possibly
prove to be one and the same. In support of the theory that
Diplodia rapar is very possibly the same as the Ceylon fungus,
Botryodiplodia elasticae, Ridley puts forward the following
evidence. A fungus attacking Hevea in West Africa was
identified as Diplodia rapar by Massee. Now, no specimens
of this rubber plant have been sent from the Straits to West
Africa, but specimens have been received from Ceylon, and on
one such consignment a fungus, which must have been Botryo-
diplodia elasticae, was found to develop in transit. This fact,
taken in conjunction with the description of the two species,
makes their identity very probable. Now, in Ceylon, die-back of
Hevea is originated by the attacks of Gloeosporium alborubrum
on the young shoots. When the top of a shoot has been
killed, Botryodiplodia elasticae obtains a hold, and completes
the destruction of the tree (Agricultural News, Vol. IX,
p. 270). In the Straits, the attack is originated by Diplotia
rapax itself, without the aid of any species of Gloeosporium,
and the same thing appears to be true with regard to die-
back of cacao here. Consequently, Ridley’s results may well
represent the state of things that obtains in the case of the
origin of the cacao disease. Local experience tends to show
that this is actually so. On cacao, too, the disease certainly
starts on injured young green shoots or terminal buds, as
well as on big wounds. If the trees are ina healthy state, it
is improbable that the fungus will do much harm; while if
they are unhealthy from any cause whatsoever, the disease is
likely to spread rapidly and prove serions, and if it is not
attended to, the tree will die. The necessary remedial meas-
ures are well known, and need not be detailed in this article.
It is generally found that die-back in the West Indies is
particularly prevalent in exposed situations, where the young
shoots are damaged by wind. It may, moreover, be added
that moist conditions and excessive shade favour the spread
of the diseases both on rubber and cacao; while poverty of
the soil or insufficient drainage weakens the trees, and thus
encourages the growth of the fungi in the tissues of their hosts.

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON PINK DISEASES.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 286, mention was
made of a form of fungus closely resembling pink disease of
cacao. This occurred on astem of guava which was used to
support a branch of cacao, and some of the cacao trees in the
neighbourhood were attacked by the true pink disease. Speci-
mens of the branches of the plants so attacked were recently
forwarded to the Head Office, and this enabled a comparison
to be made between the fungus on the guava and that on the
cacao. The conclusion arrived at was that the two species
were probably not identical; that on the guava, Corticiwm
lacve, being probably saprophytic only; the other on cacao
being Cortictwm lilacino-fuscum, which is a partial parasite.

Vor. IX. No, 224.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

383

Further information recently received indicates that the latter
fungus has spread from the cacay to the woody stem of
a pigeon pea plant, whick was growing near. The fungus
originated in a groove on the sheltered side of the stem, and
subsequently spread to a considerable extent. Such a position
as that mentioned would favour the germination of any fungus
spores which might be lodged there by wind or rain, as it
would afford a certain amount of moisture to start with, and
prevent the spores from being blown away by the wind, or dried
up by the wind or sun. The fungus probably commenced its
growth purely as a saprophyte cn any fragments of material
that may have been caught in the groove. Once established, it
could attack the plant itself. Recently, Corticium javanicum
(the pink disease of rubber and other plants) bas been found on
Crotalaria in Southern India, this host having been planted as
a green dressing for rubber. ‘The two cases are of interest but
not exactly parallel, since the fungus on the pigeon pea should
prove easy to control in the usual way. Both fungi grow better
in damp weather, so much so that the rubber fungus dis-
appears during the dry season in Ceylon in many localities,
and only reappears after the south-west monsoon, when fresh
spores are blown on to cultivated plants from the jungle.
Probably forest plants are also the source of infection in the
ase of pink disease in the West Indies.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the
following report on the London drug and spice market
for the month of October:—

The general character of the markets during the month
of October may be summed up in one word—normal, though
exception may perhaps be taken in a few special instances,
but these were mostly in products not affecting the West
Indies. As was expected, the rubber boom has passed, and
prices are now settling down to conditions that prevailed
before the boom was started, and may probably- drop even
lower, with the likelihood of increased imports. Buchu
leaves also continue to attract attention, but of West Indian
produce the market condition was quite an average one.

GINGER.

There has been little or no demand for this article. In
the early part of the month none was brought forward at the
spice auctions, but at the last sale on the 26th, 178 packages
of Jamaica were offered, all of which were bought in together,
with 16 cases of Calicut, at prices ranging from 85s. to 95s.
It was stated that sales had been effected privately for 150
packages of Jamaica.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

The two former, at the earlier auctions, have not been
represented, but on the 26th, 29 packages of West Indian mace
found buyers at the following rates: good pale 2s. id., fair
broken 1s. 10d. to 1s. 1ld., red ls. 9d., and broken 1s. 6d
to ls. 7d. Nutmegs were referred to only as private sales
none being brought forward at auction. Pimento, likewise,
has attracted but little notice; on the 19th, at auction, some
100 bags of greyish were offered, all of which were bought in
at 24d. per tb,

ARROW ROOT,

There has been but very little demand for this article,
but on the 26th, 20 half-barrels of Bermuda and 28 cases of
Natal were offered, all of which were bought in, the first at
ls. 7d., and the last at 92. per Ib.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the first auction on the 6th, the offerings were Lima-
Jamaica 18 bales, native Jamaica 28 bales and Mexican 2
bales; of the first, 16 bales were disposed of at 1s. 4d. per hb.
tor good selected, and Is. for fair. Of the 28 bales of native
Jamaica, + only were disposed of at 634. per tb. for common
dull mixed red and yellow. The 2 bales of Mexican found
no buyers, 10d. per lb. being the reserved price. A fortnight
later the aucticn opened with 21 bales of grey Jamaica, all of
whick found buyers at an advance over previous rates; ls. 6d.
being paid for fair fibrous, and 1s. 2d. for coarse. Native
Jamaica was represented by 25 bales, but only one was dis-
posed of realizing 9d. per Ib. for dull red. Sixteen bales of
Lima-Jamaica were offered and all bought inat 1s. 2d. per tb.
Eight bales, only, of Honduras were brought forward and
none sold, ls. 2d. being the price at which they were held.
Two bales of Guayaquil were offered and sold at 10d. to 104d.
per Ib.

KOLA, LIME JUICE AND OIL OF LIME.

At the beginning of the month kola was reported to be
in demand and scarce. At the first auction 22 bags were
offered, 20 of which were West Indian. ‘he whole were
disposed of, the West Indian realizing 34d., to 3}d. for fair
bright and 23d. for mouldy. A week later, the demand
being continued, 4d. was paid. On the 19th, 21 bags of
Ceylon were offered and bought in at 5d. for fair dried. Two
bags of very wormy fetched 2d. per lb. At the last sale, on
the 26th, West Indian was represented by 10 bags of dried,
which sold at 3d. per Ib. Concentrated West India lime
juice was quoted at the beginning of the month at £18 15s.
and at the close dropped to £18 5s. Of good West Indian
distilled oil of limes the supplies at the beginning of the
month were limited, and prices varied from 1s. 5d. to 1s. 6d.
per Ib. and 5s. 9d. to Gs. for hand-pressed. At the close
of the month there was a slight decline, fair West Indian
distilled slightly rusty being sold at 1s. 4d., and hand-pressed
washed at 5s. 6d. per Ib.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture lefé
Barbados by the 8.S. ‘Oruro’, on November 24,
1910, for St. Lucia, for the purpose of conferring with
His Honour the Administrator on official matters.
Dr. Watts will probably return to Barbados by the
R.MS. ‘ Berbice’, on the 29th instant.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Se., Entomologist on the statt
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, returned to
Barbados on November 12, 1910, after leave of absence
for about four months.

Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Superintendent of
Agriculture for the Leeward Islands, returned to
Antigua on November 24, 1910, after about four
months’ leave of absence,

London.—THeE

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NovemBer 26, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS:

West Inpia COMMITTEE CIRCULAR

November 8, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
October 28, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1} jd. to 3d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/4 ; block, 2/4 per tb.

BrEeswax—&7 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 50/-
to 54/6; Jamaica, 49/- to 54/-.

CorrrrE—Jamaica, 50/- to 120/-.

Copra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Fruir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceER—Common to good common, 48/- to 51/- per
cwt.; low middling to middling, 52/- to 56/-; good
bright to fine, 57/6 to 62/6.

HonEy—No quotations.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Lime JurceE—Raw, lld. to 1/1; concentrated, £18 5s.;
Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6. to 5/9, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

NutmMecs—(Quiet.

Pinento—Common, 2,',d.; fair, 2,%,d.; good, 2,%,d. per tb.

Russper—Para, fine hard, 6/0$, fine soft, 5/2; fine Peru,
5/9 per Tb.

Roum—Jamaica, 1/6 to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 14/6 to 18/6; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/-;
Syrup, 11/3 to 11/6; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gintespre Bros. & Co., October
28, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, lle. to 12c. ; Grenada, 11}c. to Ile. ;
Trinidad, 11ljc. to 11 $c. per tb.; Jamaica, no quotations

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $34:00 to $36-00; culls,
$20-00 to $22°00 ; Trinidad, select, $34°00 to $36:00;
culls, $20-00 to $22°00 per M.

CorrEE—Jamaica, ordinary, lle.; good ordinary,
to 12c.; and washed, up to 13c. per th.

GincEer—9c. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—No quotations.

Grape Fruir—$2°50 per box.

Limes—$5°00 to $5°5U.

Macre—38c. to 42c. per tb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 10jc. per th.

OrancEes—Jamaica, $2°50 to $3°25 per box.

Pimento—s fc. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°80c. per lb.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°30c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°05c. per tb., all duty
prid.

1l$c.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., November 12,

1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°35 per fanega; Trinidad, $10-80
to $11°25.

Cocoa-Nur Or—$1 ‘07 per Imperial gallon.

Corrre—Venezuelan, 17c. per tb.

Copra—$4‘75 per 100 th.

Dxaat—$3'80.

Ontons $3°50 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6°20 to $6°25 per bag.

Potatos—English, $1°70 to $1°80 per 100 th.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°35 to $4°40; White, $4°75
per bag.

Suear—American crushed, $6°2@ per 100 fb.

to $4°80

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co.. November 18, 1910;
Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co., November 21, 1910,
Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., November 14, 1910.

ARRowkooTtT—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$11:00 to $12:00 per 100 ib.

Cocoa-NuTS—$22°00.

CorreE—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $14:00 per

100 th., scarce.

Hay—$1-20 per 100 th.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, 65°00; Cacao manure, $42:00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $70:00 to $75-00

per ton.

Mo .asses—No quotations.
Ontons—$2°50 to $3°50 per 100 th.
Peas, Sprit—$6'10 to $6-40 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.
Potatos—Nova Scotia, $2°25 to $3:00 per 160 tb.
Rice—Ballam, $4°85; Patna, $3°50 to $3°80; Rangoon,
$2°90 to $3°00 per 100 tb.
Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.— Messrs. Wretinc & Ricurer, November
12, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacn,

November 11,

1910.

Parker & Co.,

ARTICLES.

ARrRowkoot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

CassavaA—

CassAVA STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

Corrre—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHaL—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Mo asses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Potatos—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Poratos—Sweet, Barbados

RiceE—Ballam
Creole
TANNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses

Timber —Greenheart
Wallaba shingles
Cordwood

”

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTer.

$8°50 to $9-00 per,

200 th., wanted
32c. per Ib.
78c. per tb.

10c. to 11lc. per th.
96c.
$6°50

$10 to $16 per M.

14c per th.
lic. per tb.
83c. per tb.
$3°60 to $3°70 per
bag of 168 tb.
$4-00
$1°20
None
3e. to 3te.
$600 per bag
(210 th.)
$4°50
20c. to 48c.
$2°50

$1°32 per bag
$4°80 to $4-90 per
175 tb.
$4°50 to $5-00
2-76 per bag
$2°64
$240
$2°10 to $2°15
$2°80 to $325
$4-00
$2°10 to $2°30
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $5°75
per M.
$1°80 to $2-00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$8°50

Prohibited
None
10c. to 11e. per th.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 per M.,
peeled and
selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
17e. per tb.
10c. per tb.
$3°60 to $3-75 per
bag of 168 th.

2#c. to 3kec.
$6°20 per bag,
(210 tb.)
No quotation

$2°50
No quotation
$4°80

$4°35 to $4°75

None
$2°65 to $2°80
$4°00 to $4°25

None
32c. to 55c. per

cub. foot
$3°50 te $5°50

per M.

No quotation

THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’.

A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

Volume I. No, 1. Out of print. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, in original paper covers as issued, price ls. each. Post free. 1s. 2d,

Volumes IJ, II], IV, V, VI, VII, VIIJ, IX and X:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;

and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

2

Volume XI. No, 1. Containing papers on The Control of £cale Insects in the British West Indies by Means of
Fungoid Parasites; Epizootie Lymphangitis:; A New West Indian Cacao Pod Disease: Nomenclature of

Seale Insects; Notes on Lime Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees;

teport on a Visit to the Guanica

Central Sugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manurial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and The

Noot Development of Cotton Plants in Differcnt Soils.

Price Gd. Post free, 8d.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
on sugar-cane and manures, the full official reports of which have only a limited circulation. The number issued up to the

present time is sixty-four.

Sucar Inpustry.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.;
in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.;in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.;
in 1904, No. 32, price 4d.

Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados,
in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44, price 67.;
in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59, price 6d. ;
in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d.; No. 66 (in the press).

Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands,
in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20, price 2d.;
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.;
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46, price 4d.;
in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.;
in 1908.9, No. 63, price 6d.

Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands,
in 1902-3, No. 30 price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.:
in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.;
in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.;
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Scare Insects.

Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [ No. 7, price 4d.;

Part IL, No. 22, price 4d.
GENERAL.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests, (Revised), price 4d.

Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

(14) Serew Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia.
(15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

(16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

(17) General Treatment of Fungoid Pests Price 4d.
(18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yains. Price 2d.
25) Ground Nuts in the West Indies. Price 2d.

(28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

Price 2d.

(34) Notes on Rabbit Keeping in the West Indies. Price 2d,
(35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
(37) Cultivation of Oranges in Dominica. Price 4d.
(38) Cultivation and Curing of Tobacco. Price 4d.

(41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.

(43) Cotton Seed and Cotton-cake-meal on West Indian Planta-
tions. Price 2d.

(45) A BC of Cotton Planting.
Price 6d.

(52) Hints for School Gardens, Revised Edition.

(53) A B C of Lime Cultivation Price 4d.

(54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,
Price 4d.

(55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

(58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

(60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them.

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New and Enlarged Edition,
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Price 4d,

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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts

from official correspondence and from progress ana

other reports; and, in fact, any information indicating what is going on in each colony, and the progress made in

Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

The ‘Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the

loeal agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d.

The subscription price, including postage, is

2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII complete, with title page and index, as issued

—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s.
longer be supplied complete.

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All

applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following have been appointed Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W.

Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown.

Jamaica: THE EpucationaL Suppty Company, 16, King
Street, Kingston.

British Guiana: Tue ‘ Datty CHronicue’ OFFICE, Georgetown,

Trinidad ; Messrs. Muir-MarsHau & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough.

St. Vincent: Mr. L. 8. Mosetey, Agricultural School.

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Dominica : Mr. J. R. H. BrrpGewaver, Roseau.
Montserrat : Mr. W. Rozson, Botanic Station.

Antiqua: Mr. 8. D. Matong, St. John’s.

St. Kitts: THE Breute aNp Boox Suprpty AcENcy, Basscterro,
Nevis ; Messrs. Howe, Bros., Charlestowr,

Grenada : ‘THE Storrs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Ror IX. No. 224. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Novemser 26, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

AEA

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure

Ohlendorfi’s Special Cotton Manure So.
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers,
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: 15, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

GOTTON SEED MEAL. | FOR SALE.
GOTTON SEED MEAL) le ae
Recommended by the Imperial Department of hig bty (80) Sheep :

Agriculture as a first class Feeding Stuff for Cattle, Apply to:—
Mules, etc. Special quotations for large quantities. THE PROPRIETOR,
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON! Woodford’ Bull Beevee!
FACTORY, LIMITED, =
BRIDGET IDGETOWN. (219.) Dominica, B.W.L.}

ee eS ERS

JUST ISSUED. ==
FOR SALE, “West nny suet

SONA OTT , Sa E @iol, XI, Noi)
OWING TO CHANGE OF BLOOD, Containina Alpersion The: Camtclinwecnienine nt eaen

the British West Indies by Meane of Fungoid Parasites:

THE IMPORTED AFRICAN RAM SHEEP aveetie Lymplifadaitis: re Naw aueee Indian Canes eal
Disease; Nomenclature of Scale Insects; Notes Li

iy O RK U BA? s Galication, The Planting of Fruit ee enone Visit

; / to the Guanica Central tugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manur-

Offers will be received by:— ial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and
THE MANAGER The Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils.

Ratho Mill Estate, To be obtained from all agents for the

St. Vincent,)sale of the Department’s publications. Price
(220. ) (See Agricultural News, Vol. VII, p. 23.) |G6d.; post free, 8d.
Pah SR I AN I ee) RB og A

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados.

~
~

\

Z

OG
a
LRN

Wks

Y=

Vol. IX. No. 225.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1910. [One penny.

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’ BARBADOS. TRINIDAD. COLON. 264 Reconquista, 53% 55 Avenida Central, Calle del Arenal 16,
JAMAICA. TOBAGO. CHICAGO. B. AYRES. RIO DE JANEIRO. MADRID
5 re

180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW ae
ae EW YOR
, BOTANIC:
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, caaoan
Vou. IX. No. 225 BARBADOS, DECEMBER 10, 1910. Pricer ld,
tural industry of the State. This is indicated by the
CONTENTS. fact that the value of the exports of such products from
$ Florida, during the last season for which figures are avail-
¢ > raC orilyv lL mill “7% =P]
Pack. ee abl , Was nearly 4g million dollars. Although the rais-
ing of citrus fruit is an industry of secondary importance
Agriculture in Nyasaland, [Gleanings ... cage. 396 ep Wes ies > fact ofi ee =
1909-10 392 | Gold Coast, Agriculture on 389 12 the West Indies, the fact of its existenc sand the exten-
Book Shelf 2c 1220.22. sr 399 | pat Notes sion that is taking place at present, justify the gaining
yaa arate Plant gcg| Plant Bugs Injurious to of information arising from the experience of others,
fobectlo Lo ese «+. OC 1 > >¢ . e -
Cacao in Brazil, 1910-11 392) 7, Coa Propaal aaa 94 whenever the opportunity is available,
Cotton Notes :— atnSO8s pedis) ae ers
: : = : Circumposition ... 388 = me : te 9 ; 2
Prize-HoldingsCompeti- I Che conditions in Florida are of particular interest
tion in Carriacou ... 391} Market Reports ..- 400 a ; z ; 2
The Cotton Industry of | Nature Knowledge and to fruit growers in the West Indies, because the clim-
JRSHH ce cco ees ee CHIY Elementary Hygiene | atic conditions in the two places are generally similar
West Indian Cotton . 390 in British Guiana 393 Blow 7 - ee Aeees ‘ : * .
Gareaan Seeds Tnnnontation re EG orida, unlike California, which is the other great
into West Africa 397 | Rice in British Guiana ... 389 Cltrus-producing region of the United States, has a fairly
Cigar Tobacco Growing in . > : eee - : ; eat . x4: ,
2 Pennsylvania = 399 Soy pcan od Feeding a humid climate, the rainfall being about 54 inches. The
MUTATE oR Gine BK Value o SUI eres aA idan are ere he we
Se a at te ngs Students’ Corer 397 greatest matter of ditference, from an agricultural stand-
Decorticating Machinery 393 | Sugar Industry :— point, 1s 1s possession of an open, permeable soil with

Department News ... ... 399) Central Sugar Factories a Hat surface and a high water table. The methods of
Fruit Trees, Cleansing ... 388 in Louisiana i Beye . . : z
=) 1 - we) c ré : Se 0 ‘ s -he . pay 7
Fungus Notes:— | The Prevention of Seal: eulbey ation und the use of manures in the best orchards
Miscellaneous Fungi ing by Calcium Sul- in Florida are the results of experience extending over
Recently Examined... 398 | phate, in Evaporators 386

The Cultivation of Citrus Plants
in Florida.

URING the time that the Entomologist to
the Department was on leave, recently, in the
United States, a visit was made by him to

Florida for the purpose of making observations on cit-

rus cultivation, especially in regard to the control of

pests in the plantations. The information gained by

him is of particular usefulness, because the growing of

citrus products constitutes the most valuable agricul-

many years, so that they form matters worthy of con-
sideration by every citrus grower who carries on the
work under similar conditions.

The distance of planting of the trees is such that
the branches of different plants are never allowed to
touch The chief reason for this is the
necessity for the provision of room tor working around
the plants, and for spraying and fumigating, the last of
which fairly

one another.

are employed to a large extent in
When
a plantation has been made, no deep tillage is practised
after the roots have taken possession of the ground.
The procedure adopted is to work the surface soil
lightly during the early part of the season. Subse-

quently, weeds are allowed to grow up, undisturbed,

the State, in connexion with citrus culture,

386

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, December 10, 1910.

al

between the trees; or there is the alternative practice of
growing a leguminous cover crop. For the latter pur-
pose, beggar weed (Desmodium sp.) is often sown.
This, it may be mentioned, is closely related to the
plants known as ‘sweetheart’ in the West Indies, which
are commonly found in pastures, where they produce
pods having D-shaped sections which stick to the
clothes and coats of passing animals.

The chief manures employed in citrus culture in
Florida are potash and phosphates, together with lime
when this is required, particularly for the purpose of
correcting acidity of the soil. Applications of nitro-
genous manures are only made sparingly since, as is
well known, the stimulation of the vegetative growth
of plants by such manures encourages the production
of inferior fruit known as ‘ammoniated fruit’, and
the plants make soft, sappy growth. The latter
circumstance is of much importance in relation to
attacks by white fly (Aleyrodes citri), as this pest
always appears to be most prevalent on plants exhibiting
a large amount of soft tissue in their growth. Par-
ticular significance is attached to the matter in Florida,
as white fly is the principal pest of citrus plants in
that State.

The growing of weeds and cover crops in the
orchards is considered to be of much value by the
proprietors, especially because such plants aid in keep-
ing the air of the groves moist. It is in this way that
they aid indirectly in the control of the white fly and
scale insects, because the humid conditions that are
induced form the best medium for the growth of the
parasitic fungi which keep these under control. This
is in addition to the use of such plants in affording
protection to the soil, cover for insect enemies of the
pests, and in the case of the leguminous planis, nitrogen
for the soil.

A point of great difference between conditions in
Florida and those in the West Indies is the extent to
which they are favourable for spraying and fumigating,
in the first mentioned country. This is why these
methods for controlling pests have been adopted there
to a considerable extent. It must not be forgotten,
however, that in many cases in Florida, the maiu
dependence for the control of insect pests is placed on
their naturai fungus enemies, because it is found that
the employment of this means is more satisfactory and
On occasions
when such control is for any reason found insufficient,

spraying materials are employed which are incapable

cheap2r than spraying and fumigation.

of causing injury to the beneficent parasitic fungi, thus
giving these an opportunity to survive, and to become
effective once more in their special connexion. It
seems that a greater use might be made of this principle
of control in the West Indies. As regards the direct
use of the parasitic fungi as a means of keeping insect
pests in check, this has become a matter of commercial
concern, and there are firms in existence whose chief
work is to keep in stock supplies of the useful fungi, and
actually to undertake the labour of disseminating the
spores throughout the orchards. Such a circumstance
is one of the best indications as to the practicability
of the employment of natural control of citrus pests on
a large scale.

A final matter of interest is that experiments which
are being conducted with lime cultivation in Mont-
serrat (see West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI, pp. 1 and
39), as well-ns in other parts of the West Indies, indic-
ate that the methods to be used for the control of
pests and for cultivation by citrus growers in these
islands are likely to be very similar, with modifications in
accordance with the local conditions, to those that are
being carried out in Florida.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE PREVENTION OF SCALING BY CAL-
CIUM SULPHATE, IN EVAPORATORS.
The following extracts dealing with this matter
are taken from Bulletin No. 33 of the Hawaian Sugar
Planters’ Association, in which work done in connexion
with the subject is described:-—

Two methods suggest themselves for correcting the
trouble due to the formation of sulphate scale: the use of
barium salts or sodium carbonate in the juice during clarifica-
tion. ‘The first reatment tremoves the sulphuric acid by
precipitation from the juice as sulphate of barium; but the
wethod is open to grave objections on account of the poison-
ous nature of the salts of barium and the danger of accident-
ally introducing them into products intended for human
consumption. he addition of sodium carbonate, in conjunc-
tion with lime, to a juice may be expected to have one of
t.vo actions. (1) If not enough lime is supplied to the juice to
produce an alkaline or neutrai reaction, much of the phos-
phoric acid would not be removed, although there is sufficient
lime to combine with all the phosphoric acid remaining.
This is due partly to the solubility of phosphate of lime in
sugar and salt solution, but more largely to the increased
solubility of lime phosphate in an acid liquid. If to such
a liquid sufficient sodium carbonate is added to produce alkal-
inity, the lime phosphate would be largely or almost entirely
rendered insoluble and removed from the juice in the clarifier
settlings. (2) If lime is added in sufficient quantity to pro-

Vor; EX.’ Nos9225:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 387

duce the alkalinity necessary for the removal of the larger
proportion of the phosphates, there is always then an excess
of lime sufficient to produce trouble in juices similar to that
under consideration, i.e., the formation of lime sulphate.
When sodium carbonate is added to a solution of the lime
sulphate, a double reaction takes place, calcium carbonate
and sodium sulphate resulting. When juice with lime in
excess for clarification, and a high content of sulphuric acid,
is treated with the sodium carbonate, the insoluble calcium
carbonate will settle out in the clarifiers, only an unimportant
amount being retained in solution in the juice. ‘I'he sodium
sulphate, being very soluble, will continue through the course
of manufacture into the final molasses. Whilst the unneccss-
ary introduction of foreign soluble salts into the juice is
usually to be avoided, it is not thought that sodium sulphate
will have any serious effects. Koehler is quoted as finding
that ‘certain salts, notably sulphate of soda, chloride of
calcium, and sulphate of magnesia, even possess the property
of causing the precipitation of a considerable proportion of
the sugar in solution in the liquid.’

The use of sodium carbonate in addition to lime has
been advised, although not as a corrective for scale.
Geerligs writes: ‘It happens in many cases that cane juice
has an acid reaction, although suttlicient lime has been added
to precipitate all impurities. It is not advisable to evaporate
such acid juices, and they should therefore be neutralized,
which may be effected during, defecation, or afterwards on
elimination of the settled juice. Until a few years ago, lime
was exclusively used for this neutralization, but as lime salts
always cause more trouble during the subsequent operations
than soda salts, soda has been adopted for this purpose. For
purifying purposes lime is, of course, the indispensable
agent.’

The results obtained in the investigations Jead to
the following conclusions:-—

Sodium carbonate clarification is indicated where a juice
contains excessive quantities of sulphuric acid, and tends
to form troublesome incrustations cf calcium sulphate.
Lime should be added to neutrality or faint acidity. and
the juice made akaline by sodium carbonate. ‘This latter
reagent completes the precipitation of the phosphoric acid
and further, depending on the extent to which it is supplied,
removes calcic salts trom the juice. The removal of these
salts lessens the extent of possible scale formation. It has
a further advantage, as much of the trouble found in the
working and handling of low grade products is ascribed to
the presence of lime, and the decomposition products of non-
sugars due to the action of lime at high temperatures.
Amongst others is the froth fermentation of molasses, which
is most frequently found where the juices have been over-
limed. Further, the increase in acidity of the molasses from
successive boilings is due to the decomposition of the lime
glucose compounds, lime glucinate, etc., at high temperatures.

The addition of sodium carbonate will probably increase
the work of the filter presses, but as it will produce a sedi-
ment, which by its nature should permit of easy and complete
washing of the scums, this objection may be only apparent.
The prime objection is the cost of clarification, which will be
materially increased. Whether this increase of cost will be
more than compensated for by the saving in labour, wear and
delays due to incrustations on the tubes of the evaporators is
a question which can be answered only by trial in the mills
presented with this problem.

The general conclusions may be summarized as follows :—

The use of sodium carbonate in addition to lime in clari-
fying juices :-—

—_

(1) Decreases the amount of insoluble ash in the filtered
juice,

(2) Decreases the amount of phosphoric acid.

(3) Decreases the amount of lime.

(4) Increases the amount of mineral matter removed by
filtration, or the equivalent of the work of the filter presses
in factory operations.

(5) In juices of high sulphuric acid content, not enough
lime will be left to form 2 serious lime sulphate scale.

(6) Effects a partial removal of magnesia from the Juice.

(7) Effects a slight increase in organic impurities remov-
ed from the juice.

(5) Improves the working of after products by the
removal of calcium salts.

(9) On account of the cost of the material, the expense
of clarification will be materially increased.

CENTRAL SUGAR FACTORIES
IN LOUISIANA.

Though the number of active sugar houses in the State
has fallen off to a degree where these days it is getting to be
only the fittest that survive in the fight for life, the quantity
of cane disposed of at the lesser number of factories is in no
way reduced, and we see the situation in a much improved
light for the cane grower selling his crops. The planter who
runs his field as a feeder to mills owned by other parties is
finding that not only is he able to command better prices for
his cane than formerly (when the more inefficient sugar houses
were unable to pay what the owners of the economically run
are able to do with cheaper cost of manufacture), but he also
finds that modern facilities for the removal of crops from
field to factory, and the rapidity with which the large mills
dispose of vast quantities of raw material, are benefits such
as the lack of in days past cost many a cane seller the loss
of portions of his crops in oczasional bad harvesting seasons.

To-day, we see in Louisiana about fifty central factories
capable of grinding around 50,000 tons, or over, in a season
of sixty days or less, and some of these have facilities for
handling considerably over that amount. There are, in fact,
at least a dozen of these centrals equal to the disposing of
around 100,000 tons of cane in a season, and abont half that
number are scheduled to pass the mark this season, while of
the remainder upwards of twenty are due to go beyond
50,000 tons. Ranging below these are considerable numbers
which will grind from 30,000 to 40,000 tons, and through
the way affairs are progresssing in the enlargement of equip-
ment in the Louisiana sugar houses, the better fitted and
bigger factories are soon to be even more decided in majority.

The effect of having such manufacturing resources to
rely on has stimulated cane-growing efforts on the part of
numerous land-owners who would not have continued in the
business but for the advantage offered by the central factor-
ies. With the changes that were made in developing great
capacity plants from smailer ones, the cane grower was
encouraged by keener competition for his cane, and had the
advantage offered him of short hauls to place the cane on
either standard or narrow gauge railroad; the greatest advan-
tage, though, rests with the knowledge that the big mill is
ready to take his cane about as fast as he can get it off the
field, and taken altogether, it is obvious that the central
factory system as developed within the past two decades, and
increased to a larger extent within the past ten years, is the
very life and salvation of the Louisiana sugar industry. (The
Modern Sugar Planter, October 22, 1910.)

388

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. December 10, 1910.

a I li M\

PRUIZS AND BRUM “aREES:

PLANT PROTECTION IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA.

Extracts from a report by the Chief Inspector of fruit
and other trees, British Columbia, have been received from
the Agent-General. These deal with the measures that are
taken to prevent the introduction of insects and other pests
into the orchards and gardens of the Province.

The report shows that all trees and plants are inspected
individually, and that the inspection is not confined to
imported nursery stock alone, but is extended to all the local
nurseries. Even selling or shipment of plants is not per-
mitted, until they have been examined by a capable inspector.
During the first four months of the present year, the number
of imported plants inspected was nearly two and three-quarter
million, and there is a likelihood that this number will reach
four million before the end of the year. The fact that this
import exceeds, by 173 per cent., the quantity imported
during any previous year, is a valuable sign of the rapid
development of fruit-growing in British Columbia. Although
the Jabonr involved in inspecting and repacking the
individual plants has been very great, there have been no
complaints of miscarriage.

The essentially useful nature of the work is indicated
by the fact that two colonies of the caterpillars of the gypsy
moth were discovered among the importations, and destroyed.
When it is considered that the existence of this pest, alone,
has caused an expenditure of millions of dollars in the United
States, especially in Massachusetts and the adjoining New
England States, the value of the work that is being done in
preventing the importation of such insects is easily realized.
It is pointed out in the report, in connexion with this matter,
that the knowledge of similar facts and conditions makes it
impossible to afford the taking of the slightest chance of the
introduction of such pests into British Columbia,and that any
delay at the inspecting station, on account of the examination,
which may have been complained of, has been well justified.

The work in connexion with the delivery of plants from
local nurseries has caused the condemnation and destruction
of some 16,000 trees grown in such nurseries, during the
seven months ending April 30, 1910. It is a matter for
encouragement that this system of local nursery inspection is
very popular with fruit growers, who now regard it as a neces-
sary additional protection,

THE PROPAGATION OF MANGOS
BY CIRCUMPOSITION.

A communication has been received from Mr. T. Jackson,
Curator of the Botanic Station, Antigua, which states that
recent attempts to propagate the mango by the ordinary
methods at the Scott’s Hill experiment station in that island
have been failures, because of drought. At the time at
which this work was being done, an attempt was made at the
Botanic Station to propagate the plant by cireumposition.
This was successful.

The procednre was to select shoots, each possessing
a diameter of about }-inch. In working, the cut in these
was made sufficiently deep to enter the cambium. ‘The cut
jart of the stem was then tied up in pieces of split bamboo,
the hollow places being filled with soil. Subsequent atten-
tion merely included an occasional watering of the plants.

It is suggested by Mr. Jackson that this method should
afford a simple way of raising mangos of choice varieties.
It possesses an advantage over grafting by approach, in that
the latter requires the possession of a stock at least two
years old. ‘he further suggestion is made that the better
types of cacao might be propagated in this manner. Experi-
ments in this direction are being carried out at the Botanic
Station.

CLEANSING FRUIT TREES.

We have figures for two important items in connexion
with citrus trees: (1) for washing to clear off white scale,
moss, lichen and all parasites; (2) for picking off young fruit
that comes at the wrong time, and would have retarded the
early crop aimed at.

The hand-washing with lime and sulphur wash, includ-
ing cost of wash, cost about 13d. per tree; picking off the
fruit, which was laborious as the fruit was small, cost about
ld. per tree. December is the time of the year to clean down
the fruit trees. If white scale is present (if there is copious
and continuous rain little scale is seen) use the lime and
sulphur wash; but for moss and lichen, lime wash alone.

Grape fruit and orange trees can be worked to bear in
August and September. Woodashes spread around the
roots—not heaped up against them, if orange trees—will help
them considerably towards bearing large, good-keeping fruit.
(Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture, Bahamas,
Vol SVeeNo 3):

i

Vou. IX. No. 225.

-THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 389

AGRICULTURE ON THE GOLD COAST: ~

GENERAL. The Agricultural Department has done excel-
lent work during the year, and has endeavoured, through
travelling instructors, both European and native, to dissemin-
ate more scientific methods of cultivating and preparing
agricultural and economic products.

The quantity of cacao exported from the colony during
the year amounted to 45,277,606 lb. valued at £755,347,
compared with 28,545,910 tb., valued at £540,821, in the
year 1908.

The cultivation of this product is rapidly extending in
the Eastern and Central Provinces of the colony, and in
Ashanti; but no means exist, at present, of accurately estimat-
ing the area under cultivation. With the very rapid
growth of this industry—which, owing to its being almost
exclusively in the hands of native farmers, has developed on
somewhat primitive lines—have come various insect and
fungoid pests; but many of the farmers, thanks to the energy
of the travelling instructors, are alive to the danger, and are
taking steps to rectify matters. Printed instructions on the
subject, issued in native languages, have been widely dis-
seminated.

The following figures tend to show that improvement
has been made in the quality of Gold Coast cacao:—

1908. 1909.
8: dt s. d.
Trinidad (fine West Indian) 77 0 58 6
Accra (British West African) 60 0 50 0

Average price per ewt:—

Ditterence ie (0) 8 6

The quantity of rubber exported during 1909 was
2,764,190 tb., as compared with 1,773,248 lb., in the previous
year. The systematic cultivation of this product is now
rapidly extending, but the whole of the output is still
obtained from trees and vines (Funtumia and Landolphia)
in the vast undeveloped forests of the interior.

The output of kola continues to show a steady increase,
the export value for the year 1909 being £93,850, and that
for the year 1908, £84,362.

Oil palm products were subjected to various experiments
during the year, and the results have been published in the
Kew Bulletin. The export value of palm kernels shows an
increase of £34,604 on the preceding year, while that of palm
oil shows a decrease of £8,557.

FoREsTRY. The nucleus of a Forestry Department was
formed during the latter part of the year. The conservator,
Mr. Mcleod, arrived in the colony in September, and was
engaged for the remainder of the year in investigating the
principal forest areas with a view to their conservation and
the acquisition of reserves.

PRODUCTS EXAMINED AT THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.
Reports on the following subjects have been furnished to
the Government of the Gold Coast from the Imperial In-
stitute, as the result of investigations conducted in the
Scientific and Technical Department, supplemented when
necessary by technical trials by manufacturers and commer-
cial experts. In many cases, recommendations have been
made as to the further action which is required in the Colony
to develop the production of materials, for which there would
be a satisfactory commercial demand.

Samples of Funtumia rubber in the form of ‘crépe’ and
‘lump’ were examined. The latex was stated to have been
coagulated by the juice of the ‘ Diecha’ vine, which has since
been identified at Kewas Strophanthus Preusii, Eng). et Pax.
The action of this coagulant-is under investigation at the
Imperial Institute.

The crépe rubber was of very fair quality, although the
percentages of resin and insoluble matter were higher than in
some samples of Funtumia rubber from the Gold Coast pre-
viously examined. It was valued at 5s per tb., with fine hard
Para at 5s. 4d. per tb,

The lump rubber, as received, contained an excessive
quantity of moisture, amounting to nearly 50 per cent. by
weight. The partially dried rubber was valued at only
2s. 3d. per Ib., with fine hard Para at 5s. 4d. per Ib. The
commercial value of this rubber was therefore considerably
enhanced by its conversion into crépe.

A series of forty-eight of the principal timbers of
Ashanti, collected by Captain C. H. Armitage, D.S.O., was
examined. The majority of these timbers would be useful
locally for constructional and other purposes, whilst certain
of them resemble mahogany, cedar, and other well-known
woods, and might be suitable for export. Of the latter
group, the following were regarded as the most promis-
ing: Odupan (Khaya sp.), Dubin or Odubin (Khaya
sp.), Krubna or Okumankra (haya sp.), and Krubna
or Akwabohori (Khaya antholica). The report on these
timbers will be published in due course in the Bulletin of
the Imperial Institute.

Three native varieties of cotton from the Gold Coast,
including ‘Volta River’ and ‘Native Green-seed’, were of
good quality and worth 43d. to 54d. per bb., with middling
American at 5°05d. per tb. Another sample, grown near
Akim, and probably a native variety, was rough, somewhat
stained and worth about 6d. per tb., with middling American
at 554d. per tb. A sample from the Ancobra River
represented a good class of cotton, but was much depreciated
in value by the large proportion of stains, which appeared
to have been caused by insect pests in the crop. It was
valued by brokers at about 6d. per tb, with ‘middling’
American cotton at 5°54d. per tb.

A botanical specimen of the ogea or gum copal tree was
identified at Kew as Cyanothyrsus Ogea, Harms. It is
believed that ogea gum is derived from two or three different,
but allied, plants, and endeavours are being made to deter-
mine these.

The kernels of Carapa seeds were valued at £11 5s. per
ton by a firm of oil seed crushers, who offered to take a trial
consignment of 50 tons of the kernels at this price. (Colonial
Reports—Annual, No, 654.)

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated Noyember 25, 1910, gives
information as follows: —

The weather during the fortnight has been very warm
and suitable for reaping and milling, and deliveries of rice to
town have been fairly large. Reaping of paddy in some
districts has been completed, and we expect a shortage on
last year’s crop.

Prices have remained firm, and we look for an advance
shortly.

Shipments to West Indian islands during the fortnight
amounted to 2,000 bags.

We quote to-day, f.o.b. Demerara, for good export
quality :—

Nominally, 19s. to 20s. per bag of 180 tb. gross.

18shto 198.55 ee Ose. os,

390

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, December 10, 1910.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date November 7, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :-—

There has been no business reported since our last report
in West Indian Sea Island cotton.

Florida and Carolina Sea Islands remain firm in price,
with a limited business doing.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending November 12, is as follows:—

The market opened firm with Factors holding for full
previous prices, and sales were made of 200 to 300 bales on
a basis of Extra Fine 40c., Fully Fine 38c.

Toward the end of the week, however, there was
a quieter feeling, resulting in sales of Fully Fine at some
concession, making the total sales of the week 700 bales.

As the advices from the Islands continue unfavourable,
crop estimates are being reduced 10,000 to 11,000 bales.
With only this limited supply in view, the Factors and
Planters are disposed to remain firm in their asking prices.

We quote :—

Extra Fine Islands 40¢. = 22d., c.1.f. & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine ,, 37c. to 38c. = 204d. to 21d. c.if. & 5 per cent.
Fine » 6c. = 20d. c.i.f. & 5 per cent.

THE COTTON INDUSTRY OF PERU.

The following information concerning the cotton
industry of Pera is extracted from Perw To-day, tor
July 1910:—

The possible commercial and industrial importance of
cotton was realized in the fifteenth century, soon after which
it was systematically manufactured in France, with gradual
inclination to other European countries, Pizarro, it is said,
found cotton fabrics in ancient Peruvian tombs, which some
modern archaeologists trace back to civilization antedating
that of the Incas. Peru, to-day, is famed for its cotton, for
the improved production of which extensive irrigation works
have been undertaken in the Departments of Piura, in the
north, and Lima. The labour employed at the plantations
is generally native, being cheap and efficient.

Peruvian cotton is exported in bales, principally to
England and the United States, the annual export averaging
20,000 tons, representing more than $5,000,000.

CULTIVATION. The cultivation of cotton in Peru, accord-
ing to Mr. Gerardo Klinge, the director of the Lima Experi-
mental Station for Cotton, differs essentially from that in the

other cotton areas of the world, owing to the special cultural
and climatic conditions of the country.

The principal cotton-producing districts are near the
coast, and extend between the parallels 6 '30” and 19’ 0”, south
latitude. Most of these districts are occupied by vast desert-
hike valleys, which are irrigated from the rivers flowing from
the Andes into the Pacific. While the methods of irrigation
are not the best, they are simple and adequate, equal in every
respect to the necessities of the fields. This work is done
principally by means of canals, branching from the main rivers,
in which the Peruvian cotton grower has shown to advantage
his skill and understanding.

DISEASES AND PESTS. Inthe treatment of cotton dis-
eases, ani ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cure.
The diseases characteristic of the plant are many, the principal
being: yellow leaf blight, red leat blight, shedding of bolls,
frenching, sore shin, anthracnose, and root rot. Peruvian
cotton, however, is practically free from the attacks of any of
these diseases.

Mr. C. F. H. Townsend, an American expert ‘on plant
life and disease, is at present in Peru. He is making import-
ant studies in the cotton districts. Attached to the United
States Department of Agriculture, he has been temporarily
engaged by the Peruvian Government to study the parasite
that does some damage to the cotton plant in the districts
of Piura. It is said that Mr. Townsend has succeeded in
finding another insect that will destroy the parasite. How-
ever, it will take some time to obtain practical results. So
far, the damage inflicted has not been very great, nor is it
likely that it will extend, though the foresight of the Peruvian
Government for having taken precautions is to be admired.

IRRIGATION, It is only in recent years that irrigation
has been done systematically in the Peruvian cotton districts
around Piura, Prior to 1891, the success of the crops rested
greatly in the periodical rains. In Piura, such rains used to
occur at intervals of seven years, and sufficed to soak the
soil and allow of enormous areas being sown; the crops
requiring no irrigation during the subsequent years. The
last of these was in 1891, and, thenceforward, the construc-
tion of irrigating canals in Piura has rendered cultivation
independent of the rains.

propUCTION. The production of Peruvian cotton per
hectare varies according to the age of the plant. From two
to three years is said to be the best age, and it is estimated
at 750 kilos. of seed-cotton per hectare [660 Ib. per acre],
with a yield of 35 per cent. of lint. The cost of producing
native cotton is placed at 53c. a kilo.

Three classes of cotton are cultivated in Peru: rough
Peruvian; American upland, short staple, a variety intro-
duced and cultivated since the Cival War; and the long
staple varieties of Sea Island and Mitafifi. Of the total
production, however, 65 per cent, is American upland,

Von. IX. No. 225.

321 per cent. is Peruvian, and 2} per cent. is Sea Island and
Mitafifi.

MANUFACTURING. Nearly 90 per cent. of the production
is exported. The remainder finds its way to the local mills.

There are several modernly equipped cotton factories in
Peru, the principal being in the outskirts of Lima, Ica, and
Arequipa. Altogether there are about 1,500 looms, with an
annual consumption of more than two and a half million
kilos.

MARKET. Peruvian cotton is exported largely to
England and the United States, Liverpool being the principal
market, though a large quantity is shipped to New York.
Germany, France, and Japan are also buyers of Peruvian
cotton.

EXPORT VALUE. In 1909, the exports of cotton, and
products derived therefrom, showed a satisfactory increase
over those in the preceding year. In that year, the exports

were as follows: Cotton 47,641,776 th., representing
$6,117,095; seed oil 90,391 tb., $6,235; cotton seed

17,160,660 tb, $78,940; oil cake 9,843,556 tb., $115,200;
or say, an export value of $6,315,470. Allowing for
what was consumed in Peru in the same year, the total value
of the crop did not run far short of $7,000,000, and the area
under cultivation was 50,000 hectares {125,000 acres].

GENERAL. The exceptionally favourable conditions in
1910 have led it to be expected that 25.000 metric tons
of cotton will be exported in the course of this year.

The time is not remote when the various irrigation pro-
ject shall have been perfected by the American engineers now
in the field, and when foreign capital will at last open its eyes
to the wonderful possibilities of cotton cultivation on a large
scale, and with modern methods, in this country, where such
adequate climatic and topographical conditions prevail.

By what has been stated, it will have been made plain
to the reader that the cotton industry of Peru is enjoying
a steady career of progress, and that the country is well on
the way to occupy a prominent place among the great cotton
producers of the world.

PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION IN
CARRIACOU.

The following account of the first prize-holdings
competition held in Carriacou, in August last, 1s
extracted from a report to the Chairman of the Board
of Agriculture, Grenada, by the Judges, who were
Messrs. W. M. Malins-Smith, and G.G. Auchinleck, B.Sc.,
Superintendent of Agriculture, Grenada.

RESULTS OF JUDGING, The actual inspection of hold-
ings was carried out on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th, all
arrangements having been kindly made by Mr. G. Whitfield
Smith. There were very few entries, as the aims of the
scheme were not fully understood by the peasants, but good
holdings were inspected in all the districts of the island, and
it was felt that for the first year an effort should be made to
apportion the prizes so that each district should be represent-
ed and the scheme more widely advertised. In view of the
small number of entries, it was deemed best to depart
somewhat, for this year, from the rules governing the judging,
and we grouped all the holdings into one class; there will
thus be two first, two second, and two third prizes, and the
following list shows the total number of entries, the districts
in which they lie, and the suggested apportionment of the

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS 391
prizes :— es GL
Alfred Dickson Beauséjour _—_ Ist Prize 2 100
Bristol Gabriel ord ,, i ORO
John Robert ms
Alexander Charles _

William Pegus L’Esterre 2nd Prize 10 0

John Antoine Harvel Vale

Peter Placid “ 5 5rd Prize ORO)

Steven Mark Top Hill Qndia. 1 100

David Alfred Grand Bay Ist Prize 2 100
10 OO

After reporting on the general condition of the
prize-holdings, the judges make the following sug-
gestions:—

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE WORK. In the original rules
proposed for governing the prize-holdings in Carriacou, two
classes were suggested, one of which should be judged for
the actual crops on the land, the other for methods of tillage
and condition of premises. In future competitions, we beg to
suggest that there be one class recognized, as was the case
this year, and that the following points be kept in mind by
the judges: — .

(1) Tillage.

(2) Drainage.

(3) General condition of crops.

(4) Best crop on the land.

(5) Separation of the different crops.

(6) Best plot (separate) of ground provisions

(7) Conservation of manures and leaf-mould.

(8) Neatness of premises and purity of drinking water.

We suggest that a new set of rules be formulated and
printed in accordance with these suggestions, together with
a suitable scheme for marking to be used by the judges.

PERIOD OF THE YEAR FOR JUDGING, As the points to be
noted by the judges include both preliminary tillage opera-
tions and final reaping ones, and as it is cbviously impossible
to arrange for two separate visits each year, we suggest that
in future, the judging take place in July to August, as being
a period at which the crops have made fair growth, and yet
some idea of tillage can be formed.

STATUS OF PRIZE WINNERS. As the aims of the scheme
were not fully understood this year, aud as little real competi-
tion resulted, it will be best that prize winners of this year
should not be debarred from winning prizes next year.
Eventually, of course, some condition will have to be imposed
to prevent the winning of the same prize several years in
succession by the same competitor.

Tn closing, we beg to express our sincere appreciation of
the kind manner in which we were received by the Commis-
sioner, Mr. G. Whitfield Smith, the interest he evinced in our
work, and the aid which he lent us in meeting peasants and
visiting their holdings.

Particulars have been received of an International
Horticultural Exhibition (Grande Exposition Internationale
d’Horticulture), to be held in Florence during the first
fortnight of May, 1911, in commemoration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy,
This will inelude a colonial section, dealing with such matters
as horticultural plants and products, methods of packing,
botanical and entomological preparations, and horticultural
publications,

392

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural dlews

Vou. IX.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1910. No. 225.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial has for its subject the Cultivation of
Citrus Fruits in Florida. Facts of a general nature are
presented in it, relating to matters which came more
particularly under the notice of Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc.,
Entomologist to the Department, during his recent
visit to Florida.

On page 386, there are presented extracts trom
a recent bulletin, published in Hawaii, and dealing with
the prevention of scaling by calcium sulphate, in evap-
orators.

An interesting note on recent experience in propa-
gating the mango, in Antigua, is given on page 388.

Page 391 contains an account of a recent prize-
holdings competition held in Carriacou.

The Insect Notes, on page 394, give an account of
plant bugs injurious to cotton bolls.

The interests of Entomology are also served by
a review, on the next page, of Maxwell-Lefroy’s valuable
work dealing with Indian insect life.

The subject of the Fungus Notes (page 398) is
Miscellaneous Fungi Recently Examined. ‘The article
is illustrated by four blocks, the first three of which are
reproduced after Prilliieux, and the last after Duggar.
For convenience, figures 38 and 40 have been placed
on their sides; the subjects with which they deal would
be more correctly represented with the pointed ends of
the illustrations upward,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. December’ 10, 1910.

Cacao in Brazil, 1910-11.

It is reported by H. M. Consul at Bahia that the
quantity of cacao arriving at that port from the interior
ismuch less than that received during last year. In the
past six months, the amount has been 15,198,216 th.;
while during the corresponding period of 1909 it was
23,661,132 tb. The amounts tor the next six months
are estimated at about 33,000,000 tb., so that the total
for 1910-11 should be about 48,180,000 tb., as com-
pared with 63,888,000 tb. during 1909-10—a decrease
of 24 per cent., which is said to be due to unfavourable
weather and a deficiency of labour. According to the
Board of Trade Journal for October 27, 1910, which
gives an abstract of the report, the recent rise of 3d.
on the exchange is causing cacao to be held back, in
the interior, in the hope of a fall. The same report states
thas the general cpinion is that the prospects for next
season are favourable.

Agriculture in Nyasaland, 1909-10.

A review of the agricultural situation in Nyasaland
is given in Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 655, in
which it is stated that it may fairly be said that the
past year has been one of the most satisfactory ever
experienced in the Protectorate. The forward move-
ment, though it relates specially to cotton, is not confined
to that product, but includes other important crops, and
seems to be of a lasting nature.

The speculative nature of the coffee crop in Nyasa-
land is causing it to be discarded gradually in favour
of cotton and tobacco; for this season the total area
was 6,037 acres, of which something more than one
half (3,957 acres) was in bearing. The export was
187,000 tb. less than that of the preceding season,
being 748,410 tb.

A good cotton crop has been harvested, and the
industry is quickly increasing in importance. Particu-
lars as to this were given on page 359 of the current
volume of the Agricultural News, so that there is no
need to enter into these at present.

As regards tea, the limited area within the Pro-
tectorate which is suited to this crop causes it to remain
of minor importance, although, in the degree to which
this product is grown, the prospects are promising.
Experimental plantations have been made on the
southern slopes of Mlanji mountain, where the rainfall
is between 70 and 90 inches, and where there are
at least 20,000 acres suitable for this crop. These
have met with suecess, and though there is a doubt
whether the yield from these estates will be as high
as that on the best plantations in Ceylon, the quality
of the tea is superior to that of low country Ceylon;
the prices obtained last year varied from 5d. to 7d.
per tb. in London. The export for last year was
36,281 tb., which exceeded that of the previous year
by about 12,000 tb.

An exceptionally good tobacco season was experi-
enced, and an average of over 500 tb. of cured tobacco
of uniformly superior quality was obtained on several
estates. This crop is second only to cotton in impor-
tance in Nyasaland. Some idea of this importance may

Vou. IX. No. 225.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 393

be gained from the fact that it covers already 2,368
acres, although its production is a comparatively nev.
industry; while 1,084,757 1b. of cured tobacco was
exported, as compared with 570,102 tbh. for 1908-9.
During the year, a certain amount of good sun-dried
tobacco was produced by natives, and sold for export
to a local firm.

Para rubber can only be cultivated in a restricted
area, in West Nyasa district; here, 600 acres of Para
rubber are being grown successfully. The most suitable
variety for Nyasaland, at present, appears to be Ceara,
which occupies 4,403 acres. The rubber produced is
of satisfactory quality, having realized, in experi-
mental quantities, 8s. 10d. per tb. in London. The
total export of rubber during the year was 27,144 tb.
—an increase of about 11,000 tb.on that of the preceding
year. Notwithstanding the success of Ceara rubber,
the opinion is given that the present doubts as to the
length of lite of the trees and their power to recuperate
do not justify its cultivation on a large scale, so far.
A matter of interest is that rubber has been planted
by natives near sixty-six villages in West Nyasa, from
seed distributed during the year. Of other exports,
the amount of maize was 2,000 tons: this is the
first occasion on which this product has been shipped;
that of chillies was 119,126 tb., which is an increase of
about 72,000 tb. on the shipments of 1908-9.

The number of Eucalyptus and Mlanji cypress
trees (Callitris Whytei) raised from seed for trans-
portation were 200,000 and 165,000, respectively. In
regard to the latter, the native forests supply all the
wood for Government buildings, at a cost of about one-
eighth of that of the imported pitch pine.

Importations of good breeds of cattle are being
made for the purpose of improving the stock in the
Protectorate, which amounts at present to 57,658 head,
of which 46,509 are owned by natives. In this con-
nexion, it is of interest that, given satisfactory markets,
it is possible that Nyasaland may become an important
pastoral country.

~

Nature Knowledge and Elementary Hygiene

in British Guiana.

The report of the Inspector of Schools, British
Guiana, for 1909-10, shows that, although nature teach-
ing is not compulsory in the elementary schools in the
Colony, it is taught in all of these. Blackie’s Tropical
Reader and Nature Teaching are recommended as the
books to be used in connexion with the subject, and
the rule has been made that from April 1, 1910, parts
of the latter publication must be presented for examina-
tion in all standards from the second upward, if a fair
grant is to be earned. Improvements are called for in
the box and pot cultivation carried out in schools which
do not possess gardens. As regards experimental work,
it is expected that some of the apparatus mentioned in
Nature Teaching will be introduced into the schools, in
order to diminish the tendency toward the learning
of facts from the book, without understanding them.
Encouragement is given, as well, to the collection of
natural history specimens and the making of drawings.

Elementary hygiene has now been taught to the
pupils in the three upper classes of the primary schools
for nearly six years. It is stated that there is usually
an intelligent interest in this subject, on the part both
of the teachers and the children; although, as is the case
with the subject just mentioned, there is a great tend-
ency toward the giving of mere book teaching. The
hope is expressed that the eftect of the work which is
being done will be to bring the principles of hygiene
into closer connexion with the matters of the daily life
of the pupils.

During the year 1909-10, lectures on agricultural
science and hygiene were delivered to elementary
taachers, in each of the three counties. The number of
teachers attending these was 102, of whom 54 presented
themselves for examination in the subjects, with the
result that 25 passed in agriculture, 32 in hygiene, and
21 in both subjects. The courses of lectures are given
in two parts, with an interval of about three months
between the parts. In the past, the lectures have been
weekly; they will be given daily, until the completion
of the course, in future, as a matter of general conveni-
ence.

+>

Decorticating Machinery.

References have been made from time to time, in
the Agricultural News, to various fibre machines (see
especially Vols. VIII, p. 293; and IX, p. 156). The
Queensland Agricultural Journal, tor August 1910,
gives information concerning several larger types of
these machines, such for instance as are capable of
cleaning from 40,000 to 150,000 sisal leaves per day of
ten hours, with six men to attend to the machinery.
The examples of these that are mentioned are the
Prieto, the Todd, the Finnigan-Zabriski, and the Ajax
which is of British make. These are not suited to
small plantations, although an instance is given of
a Finnigan-Zabriski machine, which is producing 1 ton
of marketable fibre daily, in use on an estate of
60 acres. The cost of the best machines is as much as
£600, excluding freight and other expenses. They are
also costly in that the power for driving them ranges
from 50 to 70 h.p.

Efforts are being made toward the production of
lower-priced automatic machines. One of the latter is
the Irene No. 51, made by the Prieto Company, which
requires 12 h.p. and which has an output of 20,000 to
30,000 cleaned leaves per day. The cost of this is £300,
f.o.b. London.

The same journal states that, of the British made
machines, the automatic Ajax is stated to be a perfect,
low-priced machine. This does not require more than
15 bhp. as it is single-drum machine, with an
output of about 2,500 to 3,000 leaves per hour. It
weighs 24 tons net, and like the Irene, it 1s suitable for
plantations having an area up to 200 acres; 1t produces
$- to 1 ton of fibre per day, according to the character
of the leaves. The machine is made by the Alma
Machine Works, Liversedge, Yorkshire, and sold by
Messrs. Walter Griffith & Co., 6 Crosby Square,
London.

394

Why \\\

i Ww

PLANT BUGS INJURIOUS TO COTTON
BOLLS.

At different times during the past few years, cotton
growers in the West Indies have observed that a considerable
number of developing bolls have dropped from the plants,
and that others have failed to develop properly, remaining in
a dry and distorted condition attached to the plant, through
the time required for the process of ripening, and often long
after the crop was picked.

The causes of the loss of bolls have been the subject of
investigation from time to time, on the part of the officers of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, in response to
requests from planters, who desired to know what they were,
in order to be able to prevent further loss.

In this connexion, anthracnose, boll rot and black boll
have been investigated, and have been found to be responsible
for at least a portion of the injury.

In a paper on Cotton Stainers (see West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. VII, p. 76), the Entomologist on the Staff of the Imperial
Department of Agriculturestates that it is difficult to say exact-
ly what the nature of the injury to cotton by cotton stainers is,
and that the whole question of the nature and amount of the
injury to the cotton plant, seed and fibre, might well form the
subject of an extended investigation. The writer believes,
however, that cotton stainers injure young cotton bolls by
sucking the sap, and thus lessening the quantity of the yield
of fibre, and perhaps also affecting its quality; that they cause
a certain amount of drying up of the pod; and that they check
the growth of the pod and of the cotton inside it. In addi-
tion to these injuries, the seed is often damaged to such an
extent as to interfere with its power of germination, and
greatly to reduce the amount of oil that may be extracted
from it.

The Burean of Entomology of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture has recently issued a bulletin (No. 86)
entitled Plant Bugs Injurious to Cotton Bolls, by Dr. A. W.
Morrill, in which field observations and laboratory experiments
are shown to indicate a considerably greater injury to cotton
bolls from this cause than has been suspected in the past.
The insects referred to by the term ‘plant bugs’ in this bulletin
include several of the Hemiptera-Heteroptera, among which
are cotton stainers and other species of plant-feeding bugs, of
which near relatives are to be found in all the West Indian
islands.

The West Indian insects which may be regarded as likely
to cause the same kind of injury as those mentioned as plant
bugs in Bulletin 86 are the cotton stainers (Dysdercus spp.),
the green bug (Vezara viridula), the brown bug (Edessa med-
itabunda), the leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus), which
are more or less familiar to cotton planters in these islands.
There are also several others less commonly observed.

Dr. Morrill states that it is always difficult, and some-
times impossible, to determine from the appearance of the

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

DeEcemBER 10, 1910.

outside of the boll, the damage done by the feeding of these
insects. On the inside of the carpels forming the boll, how-
ever, there will be found, in the fresh, growing boll, discoloured
spots surrounded by watery or blister-like, bright-green areas
contrasting distinctly with the light, dull-greenish background.
In many cases, particularly in bolls three-quarters grown, or
more, these blister-like areas increase to a diameter of 4 to
5 mm.; but in other cases, more especially in small, rapidly
growing bolls, a physiological reaction in the form of a _prolif-
eration of tissue takes place, causing slight swellings on the
smooth inner surface of the carpel.

It should be borne in mind that the rostrum so plainly
visible in the plant bugs is not inserted into the plant tissue,
but that it encases the very slender setae, which torm the real
organ fer extracting the juice from plants. These setae make
such a minute puncture that it is practically impossible to
discover this on the outside, or to trace its course through the
carpel. On the inside, the marks or the slight swellings
mentioned above, will often indicate the point at which the
setae came through the carpel and entered the lint- and seed-
mass in the locule. These spots, or swellings, will often be
seen to have definite relation to the location of a stained spot
in the lint, and may generally be found in those bolls which
have failed to open properly, especially on those carpels which
cover locules in which the development has been entirely
arrested, causing shrivelled, distorted bolls.

It is believed by Dr. Morrill that stained cotton is
largely produced by the puncturing of the boll by these plant
bugs, and he does not think that the excrement of stainers or
other insects has much influence in producing stained cotton.

The injuries to the boll which result in dropping,
abortive or distorted development, and stained cotton, have
been observed repeatedly in fields where plant bugs have been
abundant; but in fields and localities where these have been
absent, this form of injury was not noted. The trials in
cages have given the same results: those plants on which
plant bugs were caged produced bolls which showed the
injuries mentioned, while those to which no plant bugs had
access were practically free from such injuries.

A considerable portion of Dr. Morrill’s observations was
made on a plant bug in Mexico known as the conchuela
(Pentatoma ligata, Say.), and he states definitely that, so far
as that insect is concerned, the damage to the cotton is not
the result of the voiding of excrement on the lint and un-
opened bolls, although that is the popular belief in Mexico.

Speaking of the staining of the lint by the stainer (Dys-
dercus), Dr. Morrill mentions observations in Texas to the
effect that this is due to the attack by the stainers: ‘on the
immature bolls, and on the seed at the time of openiag, the
brownish-yellow colour being derived from the injured seed
rather than from the excrement of the bugs.’ The staining
of the cotton is found to be most intense next the seed, and it
has been noticed that sometimes cotton fibres are stained at
their bases, where they are attached to the seed, while toward
their tips, away from the seed, they are free from stain.

The cotton stainer is counted the most serious pest of
cotton in Florida, and it occurs to some extent in adjoining
states.

This brief account of recent observations on the plant
bugs and their injuries to cotton bolls should be an incentive
to West Indian cotton growers to note more carefully the
occurrence of these insects in the cotton fields, with especial
reference to the relative abundance of plant bugs and bolls
injured in the manner indicated, for it is possible that, as
a result, more definite knowledge may be forthcoming, in
regard to the cause of boll-dropping, deformed and unde-
veloped bolls, and stained cotton.

Vor. IX.- No. 225;

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 395

cilia ee
PA ai =

- —_——

INDIAN INSECT LIFE. By H. Maxwell-Lefroy,
M.A., F.ES., F.Z.S., Entomologist, Imperial Department of
Agriculture for India; assisted by F’. M. Howlett, B.A., F.E.S.,
Second Entomologist, Imperial Department of Agriculture
for India. Thacker, Spink, &: Co., Calcutta and Simla.

This large volume is well printed on paper of good quality
and the illustrations are particularly attractive, the full page
plates being coloured reproductions of photographs, while the
text figures are in part from photographs and in part from
drawings.

The book is designated A Manual of Insects of the Plains
(Tropical India), and is intended for the use of all students
of Indian entomology. In the authors’ preface, it is stated
that the work has been prepared from tlie notes, observations
and specimens accumulated during the six years since the
Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa was established, and
that the volume is largely the product of the author’s spare
time and scanty holidays. Acknowledgement is made of the
work of Mr. Howlett, and of the assistance received in the
matter of notes and specimens; there is especial reference in
this connexion to the printing of the coloured plates, which
is, indeed, carried out excellently.

The scheme of classification used in this book divides
the insects into eight orders, as follows: Aptera, Orthoptera,
Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Thysan-
optera, and Diptera. The relative importance of the families is
brought out in the tabulation of the scheme: by the method
of printing, the best known and most important families occur-
ring in India appear in dark-faced type; those families
which are represented by Indian insects, but which are but
little known, appear in ordinary type; while those which are
not known to be represented in the Indian fauna appear in
small italics.

In the consideration of the insects, the economic aspect
of the habits of each species is brought out, where this can
be done; and much valuable information as to the feeding
habits, food-plants or hosts and life-history is given, with
mention in many instances of parasitism and natural enemies.
Paragraphs on collecting give information as to when and
where to collect, and suggest methods which may be found
successful in different situations.

Interspersed throughout the book are chapters on ento-
mological matters of interest to the student and the lay
reader. The subjects of some of these chapters are as follows:
Where Insects Live, Cosmopolitan Insects, Deceptive Colour-
ing, Attraction to Light, Relative Duration of Life, Size of
Insects, Insects and Flowers, Insects as Food, Migration,
How Insects Protect Themselves, Blood-Sucking Insects, and
Song in Insects.

A very useful feature is the index of Indian plants,
where plants mentioned in the text are referred to under the
generic name, and the English and the Indian names in
the case of plants which have both these common names.
This makes it very easy to ascertain the insects which have
been found on plants; while the text states, with regard to

each insect or group of insects, what is known of food-
plants and feeding habits.

The book is very well written, and the technical knowl-
edge and general information are presented in attractive
form. The ordinal and family characters seem to be well
arranged, though there are not as many tabular analytical
keys for aiding in placing insects in their families, as might
be expected.

The work furnishes a broad substantial basis for the
future study of entomology in India, and when it is rememb-
ered that the great amount of labour recorded therein has
been accomplished in a period of six years, the energy and
ability of the authors are realized, and at the same time the
enormous scope of the science of Entomology in India
becomes apparent.

FEEDING VALUE OF SOY BEAN CAKE.

Last winter, experiments with soy bean cake as a concen-
trated food for fattening bullocks were carried out by the East
of Scotland College of Agriculture, on a farm in Forfarshire
and anotherin Fifeshire. The fattening of cattle in winter is
an important business in those counties, and though the chief
materials in the diet are home-grown roots with straw or hay,
cake or meal of some sort is added freely in the last few
months of the fattening process. Linseed cake is the favour-
ite material for the finishing period, but it has become so
dear that a suitable substitute would be welcomed, and it was
because of its possibilities in this direction that the advent of
soy bean cake excited such keen interest. The basal ration in
the experiments consisted in one case of 85 fb. of swedes,
8} tb. of oat straw (which was partially replaced during the
last four weeks with hay), and 4 tb. of Bombay cotton cake,
reduced in the latter half of the experiment to 34 tb. per
head per day; and in the other 100 lb. of swedes, 8 bb. oat
straw, and 4 tb. Bombay cotton cake throughout the whole
period of the experiment. In the first case, the experimental
ingredients were (1) linseed cake, (2) soy bean cake
(6 per cent. of oil): and (3) a specially manufactured com-
pound cake comprising seven-fifteenths soy bean cake,
six-fifteenths soy bean meal, and one-fifteenth each Indian
corn and locust bean meal. The allowance in each case
was 2 tb. per day to begin with, increased gradually to
5 tb. The linseed cake lot grew more than the other groups,
but did not finish so early. Notwithstanding the higher
price, linseed cake gave the largest profit, with the soy
bean cake second. As regards the quality of the meat,
lot three (compound cake) were declared by the butcher to
be superior to lot one (linseed cake); no mention is made
of lot two.

In the second experiment, linseed cake and soy bean cake
were used as before, but the third lot received soy bean cake
containing 11 percent. of oil. In this case, lot two gave clearly
the best result, with lot three (11 percent. of oil) second, and
lot one (linseed cake) third, the difference between one and
two amounting to about 11s. per head. The interesting point
in this experiment is the superior results from 6 per cent. as
compared with 11 per cent.of oil. It would seem that it is the
quality of the soy bean oil rather than the quantity of it that
influences the results, as at both farms the smaller quant-
ity gave the best returns. The general conclusion arrived at
on the basis of these trials, is that soy bean cake is a perfectly
safe food when used with discretion, but that notwithstanding
its high analysis, the ordinary brand at £6 15s. per ton seems
to be a dearer feeding stuff than good linseed cake at £9.
(From The Field, Vol. CXVI, p. 801, October 22, 1910.)

396

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. DercemBer 10, 1910.

GLEANINGS.

It is reported that the first official estimate of the present
rice crop in Japan places it at 48,725,597 koku (1 koku=4-96
bushels). This is a decrease of 7 per cent. from that of last
year, and 0-7 per cent. from the crop of a normal year.

The most recent estimate places the area under cotton
in Eastern Bengal and Assam at 99,300 acres. A favourable
season has been experienced, and a good yield is expected.
The total area under rice, this year, is 11,794,700 acres,
which is 132,200 acres less than that of last year.

The report of the Director of Agriculture of the Feder-
ated Malay States, for 1909, shows that the number of rubber
estates in that colony was 377, the total area of these being
500,431 acres, of which 196,953 acres have been planted up.
The output of rubber during the year was 6,083,493 Ib, as
compared with 3,190,000 tb., in 1908.

According to a recent official return, there are at the
present time about 104,000 acres of land in Korea prepared
for the cultivation of cotton. It is said, however, that the
seed deteriorates, with the result that a fair quality of cotton
can only be produced by importing seed from America every
fourth year. (The Vertile Mercury, October 29, 1910.)

The Chamber of Commerce
1910, states that it is proposed
Exhibition in Winnipeg, in 1914. About £500,000 has been
subscribed already in Winnipeg, for the purpose, and the
Government of the Dominion of Canada has been asked to
contribute a similar sum.

Journal for November
to hold an International

Information has been received that Mr. Fred Kent of
Mount Rich, Grenada, has imported a Castile jack donkey,
slightly over 15 hands in height, about three years old and
strongly built, with the object of entering upon mule breeding
on a fair scale. To the same end, Mr. Kent is now import-
ing three or four large mares from Montevideo.

It is announced, for general information, that Mr. Tom
Manning, of the Pierhead, Barbados, has imported from
England pedigree rabbits of the Flemish Giant breed, the
parents of which have won cups and various prizes at the
Crystal Palace and other shows. The weight of the animals,
when fully grown, averages 16 Ib.

Mr. Edgar Tripp, Secretary of the Agricultural Society
of Trinidad and Tobago, has kindly pointed out that the refer-
ence given in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 346, to
Dr. Gough’s paper on frog-hoppers, in the Proceedings of the
Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tohago, is inaccurate.
This should be to Vol. X, part 9, instead of to Vol. VITI, part
9, of that publication.

A note in the Experiment Station Record for August
1910, p. 153, calls attention to a disease of the ornamental
plant Euphorbia pilulifera, which causes the premature shed-
ding of its leaves. The disease has been shown to be due to
an organism, Leptomonis davidi, n. sp., belonging to the
group Flagellatae which, curiously enough, lives in the latex
of the attacked plants.

The Geographical Journal for last month contains the
interesting statement that Professor de la Torre, of the
University of Havana, has found the remains of a fossil
mammoth, Amblyrhiza, in St. Martin. This discovery is of
the greatest importance, in relation to the study of the past
history of the continent of which the West Indian islands are
supposed to have once formed a part.

The Cyprus Journal, for October 1910, contains a reprint
of parts of the Order in Council No. 276, Cyprus, 1897, by
which the importation of plants, seeds, etc., into that island
is regulated. In relation to certain stated countries, this
affects raw fruits and vegetables, all living parts of plants, all
dry parts of plants, packing material, and hay and straw.
Special regulations are in force in regard to planting material
from countries infected with Phylloxera.

In an address given before the Committee of the African
Trade Section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, on
October 3, 1910, it was pointed out by Sir Rubert Boyce,
F.R.S., that yellow fever has existed in West Africa for many
years, but that it had always been taken for malaria. It was
further stated that the realization of this fact was leading
to the adoption of increasingly energetic measures in connex-
ion with mosquito control in that part of the world.

No. B. 554 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society, pub-
lished recently, contains a paper describing a method by
which the presence of formaldehyde in plants can be detected
even in minute quantities, either combined or free. The
investigations with the aid of this have shown that formalde-
hyde is combined with chlorophyll in green plants, thus
affording a possible explanation as to how the supply of
that substance is obtained for building up sugars in the leaf,

In regard to the forthcoming International Rubber
Exhibition (see Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, pp. 60, 156, 172,
220 and 284), the Jndia-Rubber Journal for October 31,
1910, states, in regard to the shield that is being offered by
the proprietors of this paper (Agricultural News, Vol. IX,
p. 220), that there is no entrance fee for this competition,
and that ample space for exhibits will be provided free. No
more than three entries, by any one producer, are allowed in
the competition, and the samples must weigh not less than
10 bb.

A report from the Superintendent of Agriculture,
Grenada, states that, at the last general meeting of the Agri-
cultural and Commercial Society, a deputation was appointed
to approach His Excellency the Governor with a view to
impressing upon him the advisability of providing facilities
for handling cotton in that island. As a result, information
required in connexion with the erection of a ginnery has been
obtained, with a view to giving these facilities. The present
area of cotton cultivation in Grenada is 40 acres, and such
recent developments should lead to an extension of this.

Vou. IX. No. 225.

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

DECEMBER.

SEconD PeERIopD.

Seasonal Notes.

At this period of the year, in places where lime products
are prepared, opportunities will have been afforded for
making observations in connexion with such preparations.
Note the way in which the fruit is crushed, and the care that
is taken in relation to keeping the mill, tayches and stills in
good order. Where it is possible, the methods of preparing
raw and concentrated juice for export should be compared,
and a careful study made of the manufacture of citrate of
lime. (See, in this connexion, the West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. VIII, p. 167.) What advantages and disadvantages
does the manufacture of citrate of lime possess, when com-
pared with that of concentrated juice? In the latter, how
would you ascertain the loss of citric acid that takes place
during the process? What precautions may be taken for the
purpose of minimizing this loss, as far as possible? How is
the essential oil of limes recovered, when citrate of lime is
made? What do you know of the écuelle process for obtain-
ing lime oil? From which can the largest amount of oil be
obtained—the green fruit, or the ripe? For what purposes
are lime juice, citrate of lime, and lime oil employed in
commerce !

The termination of the hurricane season has made it safe
to undertake the grafting of cacao, and useful, practical
information in connexion with the matter should have been
obtained, by this time. What varieties are best suited to the
conditions with which you are familiar! What objections
exist in regard to the propagation of cacao from seed, under
ordinary conditions? A careful watch must be kept for out-
breaks of diseases in’ cacao'cultivations. Make a list of these,
and place against each its appropriate method of treatment.
What precautions should lhe.taken in regard to wounds made
in cacao trees, either accidentally, or fer any special purpose!
Particular care of cacio that is being established is required
at the present time. A constaat watch on the condition of
this is needed, especially in regard to the provision of the
proper amount of shade; if this is becoming too dense, it
should be thinned, from time to time. What signs would
you expect to be exhibited by a cacao plent in relation to the
existence of (1) too much shade, (2) too little shade? What
circumstances are likely to eccur, if the shade is too dense?
State the differences in principle and practice that exist
between the shading of cacao and that of limes.

Where cocoa-nuts are grown in any quantity, the palms
should be constantly examined for signs of bud-ret, The
chief of these are the drooping of the outer leaves of the
‘cabbage’, insome cases; an unhealthy appearance of these;
the blackening of the flower spikes; and the dropping of the
young fruits. Examination of the central tissue of the crown
shows that this has become largely reduced to a soft, putrid
condition. (See West Jndian Bulletin, Vols. VI, p. 307; IX,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 397

p. 379; and Agricultural News, Vols. IV, pp. 299, 369; VI,
p- 75; VIII, pp. 276 and 373.)

Among the minor industries in the islands,that of onion-
growing has attained to more or less importance, in one or
two cases. How is land prepared for the growth of this crop!
Give an account of the methods that may be empleyed for
planting, as well as of the cultivation to be given during the
time that the plants are developing. Why is it expedient for
the crop to be reaped early? State what yield per acre may
be expected, under the conditions with which you are familiar.
What ways of storing the crop may be adopted, where it is
necessary for this to be done! To what diseases are onions
liable (1) in the field, (2) in storage, and what precautions
may be taken against these! Give an account of the varieties
of onions with which you are familiar. As regards your
district, what size and kind of onion is most suitable (1) for
export, (2) for local use? How are correct methods of plant-
ing related to the production of a good, marketable onion?
Discuss the effects of planting too closely, in relation to this
matter.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) What are the meaning and uses of transpiration in
plants!
(2) Describe and compare the root systems of mono:
cotyledons and dicotyledons.
(3) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of making
up farmyard manure under shelter.
INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Give mention of crops that are likely to benefit by
the visits of bees and other insects at the time of flowering of
the plants, and state the way in which the benefit is received.

(2) Write an account of the best methods for curing and
preparing ginger for shipment.

(3) Draw up a scheme for the classification of different
kinds of fruit, following broad principles.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Describe the means by which the plants are protect-
ed from an excessive loss of water, in the case of one impor-
tant crop.

(2) Write an account of as many plants as you know of
which produce starch in commercial quantities.

(3) Give a description of the methods of selecting maize
for (a) increase of yield, (b) increase of feeding value.

Cotton Seed Importation intoWest Atrica.—
The Board of Trade has received a copy of an Order-in-Coun-
cil (No. 8 of 1910), dated June 10, prohibiting, under the
‘Destructive Pests Ordinance, 1910’, the importation of cotton
seed into the Colony or Protectorate of Southern Nigeria,
except through the Port of Lagos. :

The Order-in-Council further provides that no cotton seed
shall be so imported that has not been disinfected before
shipment, in a manner approved by the Director of Agriculture,
and further, that all cotton seed imported shall be accom-
panied by a certificate to the satisfaction of the Director of
Agriculture, certifying that such disinfection has been duly
and properly carried out.

All cotton seed arriving without a certificate, or which is
not to the satisfaction of the Director of Agriculture, shall
be destroyed or landed at such place as the Director of Agri-
culture may direct, and there disinfected under his supervision,
at the expense of the importer. (The Textile Mercury, Sep-
tember 17, 1910.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

December 10, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

MISCELLANEOUS FUNGI RECENTLY
EXAMINED.

Specimens of three interesting fungi have been received
recently at the Head Office from Mrs. Patterson in St. Vin-
cent. They consisted of smut of Guinea corn (Ustilago
sorghi (Link.) Pass ), leaf spot of beet due to Cercospora
beticola, Sacc., and rust of grape leaves (Uredo vitis, Thiimen).

USTILAGO soRGHI. This fungus attacks
the flowers of several species of the genus
Sorghum, and of cultivated sorghums such
as Guinea corn (Andropogon Sorghum, vay.
vulgare). It occurs in Europe and America
as well as in the West Indies. The parts
affected are the ovary and stamens. The
former becomes swollen and projects some-
what beyond the surrounding glumes or
floral leaves. It takes the form of
a round-ended cylinder, white at the base
and brown from the middle upwards. The
brown colour is due to the fact that the
upper part of the ovary has been trans-
formed into a sac containing a mass of the
spherical brown spores of the fungus.
After these spores are ripe, the wall of
this sac ruptures, and the spores are shed
freely into the air. When this happens, it is found that
there is a tapering cylinder of plant tissue which has grown
upwards along the axis of the ovary from its base. This
cylinder terminates in
a blunt point before it
reaches the top of the sac.
In rare instances, it may be
branched once or twice, and
is then of a somewhat
irregular shape. The stam-
ens, when attacked, are
rendered entirely unrecog-
nizable.

All the florets of any
one head are usually found
to be infected; moreover,
since the ovary is transformed in the manner already
described, it naturally follows that diseased plants produce
no seed. The disease does not, however, appear to be of
any great importance, as no very large number of plants is
usually infected at any one time. For this reason no remedial
measures appear to have been
tried.

When the spores are placed
in a drop of water, they germinate
and give rise to a short tube
or promycelium, which is usually
simple, but may occasionally be
branched. According to Prillieux,
this does not form sporidia, as
is usually the case in members
of this genus (see Agricultural
News, Vol. IX, p. 59), but is
divided up by cross walls into
a few cells. Eventually, the cells
separate from one another, form-
ing short, cylindrical, spore-like
rods, which are capable of germir-

Fic. 37.

Tic. 38. Usrmaco sorGHt.
Columella from the interior of
a diseased ovule.

USTILAGO SORGHI.
Hypertrophied Ovule attacked by the brown border. In some instances, the spots
Fungus.

Fic. 40. CrrcosPpora BETICOLA.
Conidiophores and Conidia.

ating and producing the fungus again. According to
Brefeld, the brown spores will only germinate in a nutri-
tive solution, when they give rise to a promycelium and
small lateral conidia, in the usual way. The first form
of germination is, however, more probably that occurring
under natural conditions, as, in such circumstances, the
spores would not be able to obtain artificial culture media
in which to germinate.

CERCOSPORA BETICOLA. This fungus attacks severa
different varieties of the beet in Europe and America. The
specimens sent were the leaves of the red garden variety which
are usually affected to some extent, though
not as a rule very seriously. In moist
seasons, considerable damage may be in-
flicted on the sugar beet, but usually the
extent of the injury does not necessitate the
adoption of preventive measures. Where
the damage became extensive, spraying
with Bordeaux mixture was found to be
effective.

The disease first appears in the form
of small brown spots, which extend until
they reach a diameter of about }-inch or
more. They then consist of a circular
patch of grey dead tissue, bounded by a red

become numerous, and run into one
another, thus covering a large proportion
of the leaf surface. In bad cases, the leaves blacken and dry
up; as they do so they tend to stand more upright,
and frequently become curled or rolled, thus presenting
a characteristic appearance.

The conidiopheres of the
fungus break through the
% epidermis in tufts, generally
on the under surface of the
leaf. They are short, with
cross walls, often somewhat
knotted at the tip, and of
a brownish colour. Each
bears a single somewhat
needle-shaped conidium. ‘The
conidia are long, multi-
cellular, cylindrical and hya-
line, frequently drawn out into a point at the end. They
germinate very freely, and in a damp year the spots on
the Jeaves increase rapidly. In Germany, the fungus is said
to attack the leaf stalks, bracts and pods, as well as the
leaves, and it seems possible that infection may be carried
by means of spores on the seeds.

Fic. 39. UstILaGo soRGHI.
Spores germinating in water.

uREDOVITIS. This fungus
forms yellow, powdery pustules
on the leaves of grape vines,
usually on the under side. It was
first reported from the United
States of America, where, however,
it did not cause any very serious
damage, and subsequently disap-
peared. In 1879 it appeared in
Jamaica, where it assumed the
form of a serious disease, and

attracted considerable attention
during that and a few subsequent
years.

The fungus
by Massee,

was investigated
who identified it,

Von bx) No: 225%

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 599

and stated that it was the same as Uredo vialae, Lagerh.
It forms pear-shaped or broadly elliptical, warty, orange
spores of a moderate size. These are produced at the ends of
fertile hyphae, which-break through the epidermis in pustules.
The fertile hyphae are accompanied by curved, orange, sterile
hairs. According to Cockerell (Special Publications of the
Institute of Jamaica, No. 3, p. 103), Massee found that the
cluster cup, or aecidial form of the fungus, also cecurred on
the vine. By way of explanation, it may be stated that
most of these rust fungi have four different forms of spores—
aecidiospores, uredospores, teleutospores, and sporidia, the
last arising directly from the germination of the teleutospores.
Frequently the aecidiospores are formed on one host plant,
and when they germinate are only capable of infecting
a different host, on which the uredo- and telentospores are
formed. (See Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, pp. 142 and 158.)
In the case of Uredo vitis, only the uredo- and aecidiospores
are known, and both of these are produced on the vine, so
that it is unlikely that infection is carried to vine leaves from
any other host plant. Cockerell (loc. cit.) calls attention to
an interesting point in connexion with the country from
which this fungus may have come, namely this: whether
it originated in the United States, and spread from there to
the West Indies, or if it existed for some time in the West
Indies, without being noticed, and then spread to the States,
from which it was first reported. In the first case, it would
appear that a fungus, which was fast losing its vitality under
its native conditions, was enabled to regain vigour under the
warmer and damper conditions in these islands; while in the
second, the fungus can never have been very vigorous when
imported into the United States, but was still able to cause
considerable damage in the West Indies. The first alternative
seems the more probable, since the fungus appears to have
lost vigour in the West Indies, of recent years. When remed-
ial measures are required, the following may be recommended.
Where one or two vines ina garden are badly attacked, it
would be advisable to pick off, and burn, dead or badly
infected leaves, and to spray the vines with Bordeaux
mixture. The same precautions would be found useful in
the case of one or two other diseases, such as mildew, which
occasionally attack grape vines in the West Indies.

CIGAR ‘!OBACCO GROWING IN

PENNSYLVANIA.

SEED BEDS. The selected seed is first planted early in
the season in a warm sced bed, and transplanted when the
plants have attained proper maturity, and the soil and weather
have become suitable for their vigorous development.

The seed is usually sown about the first of April.
Tobacco seed is considerably smaller than clover seed, and is
therefore very difficult to distribute cvenly. A convenient
way of sowing is to stir a tablespoonful of seed into a 2-gal-
lon sprinkling can full of water, and then sprinkle the water
evenly upon the bed. An even tablespoonful of seed will sow
about 1 square rod.

Many growers mix the seed with a convenient quantity
of dry woodashes to make a bulky mixture, and then sow the
mixture.

As soon as the seed is sown, the muslin covering is
stretched over the bed and is removed only to water the soil
and to pull the weeds. In dry weather, it is necessary that
the beds be watered at least three or four times a week.
Care must be taken that too much water is not used, since
excessive moisture tends to favour various fungus diseases.

PREPARING THE sort. In order to retain the soil mois-
ture, the tobacco land is ploughed early, and an occasional
harrowing given it up to the planting time. Before planting,
it is cultivated thoroughly, so as to make the soil as
loose and mellow as possible. Stable manure is the
chief fertilizer, horse manure being considered especially
valuable, and this is sometimes ploughed under, and
sometimes applied on the top. Some growers state that
since they have discontinued the use of cow manure and
have used only horse manure, their percentage of ‘calicoed’
tobacco has been less. A common dressing is 10 loads per
acre. The use of commercial fertilizers is increasing, but
they are not used as extensively as in Connecticut. Former-
ly the commercial tobacco fertilizers offered contained potash
in the form of chloride, with the resultant danger of injuring
the burn of the cigar. Now, however, the sulphate is used,
and sometimes the carbonate. Tobacco stems are frequently
bought from the manufacturers and used as a fertilizer.

After the plants have grown to the height of 5 to 6
inches and have developed from five to seven leaves, they
have reached a desirable stage for transplanting. Before the
plants are pulled from the seed beds they should be thorough-
ly watered, in order that the small roots may not be torn off,
and that as much soil as possible may adhere to them.

In drawing the young plants from the beds for trans-
planting, they should be taken up one at a time, and care
should be exercised to see that all diseased and injured plants
are discarded.

TRANSPLANTING. The plants are set out in rows, either
by hand, or with a pianter. They are set from 18 to 30
inches apart in the rows, and the rows are from 36 to 48
inches apart. The distance apart at which the plants are set
depends upon the strength of the soil, and also upon the
variety and character of the tobacco. ‘he plants of the
Pennsylvania broad-leaf tobacco are set from 24 to 30 inches
apart in the rows, and the rows are from 36 to 42 inches
apart.

Some replanting is always necessary, and this is done
by hand, usually at a time when the weather conditions are
favourable for starting plants.

CULTIVATION. The field should be cultivated within eight
or ten days after the plants have been set. Just recently,
there has been placed upon the market a machine known as
the tobacco hoer. This machine is drawn by two horses, and
carries a driver and another man to operate the hoes. It is
a great labour-saving device, and works the soil as thoroughly
as does the hand hoe.

The essential thing in cultivating is to keep a mulch on
the surface of the soil, and hence the cultivation must be
repeated after each rain. The hand hoe is used very exten-
sively, and also to good advantage, since it permits cultivation
closer to the plant than does the ordinary horse-power
machinery. In cultivating tobacco, the soil is always worked
toward the plant, and not away from it. The period of
cultivation ceases when the leaves have become so spread out
that a horse can no longer pass between the rows without
damaging the plants. (From Yarmer’s Bulletin 416 (October
1910), of the United States Department of Agriculture.)

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture return-
ed to Barbados by the R.M.S. ‘Berbice’, on November 29,
1910, from St. Lucia, after a visit to that Presidency
for the purpose of conferring with His Honour the
Administrator on official matters,

400 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. DecEemBer 10, 1910.

MARKED REPORs:

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., December 2, 1910;
Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co., December 3, 1910

Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., November 28, 1910.

London.—THe West Inxpia CommMirreE CrircuLar,

November 8, 1910; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
October 28, 1910.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, 1} jd. to 5d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/4; block, 2/4 per th.

BrEeswax—&£7 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/- to 62/- per ecwt.; Grenada, 50/-
to 54/6; Jamaica, 49/- to 54/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 50/- to 120/-.

Copra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 48/- to 51/- per
ewt.; low middling to middling, 52/- to 56/-; good
bright to fine, 57/6 to 62/6.

Honey—No quotations.

IstycLtass—No quotations.

Line JurceE—Raw, lld. to 1/1; concentrated, £18 5s.;
Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6 to 5/9, nominal.

Loe woop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nourmecs—Quiet.

Pimento—Common, 2}1,d.; fair, 2,3,d.; good, 2,°,d. per th.

Rupeer—Para, fine hard, 6/03, fine soft, 5/2; tne Peru,
5/9 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/6 to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 14/6 to 18/6 ;. Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/-;
Syrup, 11/3 to 11/6; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. GinuesPie Bros. & Co., November

11, 1910.

Cacao—Caracas, 11]jc. to 12c. ; Grenada, 1ljc. to 11de. ;
Trinidad, 114c. to 11c. per th.; Jamaica, no quotations.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $35°00; culls, $20:00;
Trinidad, select, $35°00 ; culls, $20-00 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, ordinary, llje.; good ordinary, 11#c.
to 12c.; and washed, up to 133c. per th.

Gincer—9c. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—No quotations.

Grape Fruit—$2°50 to $3°25 per box.

Limes—$4°50 to $5°00.

Mace—3%c. to 42c. per th.

Noutmecs—110's, 942. to 10c. per tb.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°50 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—3¥c. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°86c. per tb.; Muscovadcs,
89°, 3°36c.; Molasses, 89°, 3:llc. per tb., all duty
paid,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., November 26,
1910.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°25 per fanega; Trinidad, $10°80
to $11°30.

Cocoa-Nut Orz—$1°05 per Imperial gallon.

Corrrr—Venezuelan, 16c. per tb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 tb.

DxAat—$3°70 to $3°75.

Ontons $4:00 to $4:25 per 100 ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6'20 to $6-25 per bag.

Potratos—English, $2:00 to $2:25 per 100 tb.

Rice—Yellow, $4°30 to $4:25; White, $4°70 to $4:75
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 tb,

Arrowrkoot—St. Vincent, $5°75 per 100 fb.
Cacao—$11:00 to $12-00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NuTS—$22°00.

Corrre—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $14°50 per

100 Tb. scarce.

Hay—$1°20 per 100 th.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65:00 ; Cacao manure, $42-00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $70°00 to $75-00

per ton.

Morasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°75 to $3-

50 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6°25 to $6°50 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Potaros—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $3°25 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4:90 to $5°30; Patna, $3°50 to $3-80;

Rangoon, $2°90 to $3°00 per 100 tb.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricuter, November

26, 1910; Messrs. SANDBACH,

November 25,

1910.

Parker & Co,

ARTICLES.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
Dxrar—

Green Dhal
Eppos—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Poratos—Nova Szotia

Lisbon
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
TAnnIAsS—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimBEeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

»» Cordwood

& RIcHTER.

wanted
32c, per tb.
78c. per tb.

96c.
$6°50

14c. per th.
16c. per tb.
9c. per tb.

bag of 168 tb.
$4:00
96c.
None

5e. to be.

bag (210 tb.)
$4°25

20c. to 48c.
$2°30

$1:32 per bag

175 th.
$4°40 to $4°75
$1°92 per bag

$3°00

$240
$2°20 to $2°25
$2°80 to $3:25

$4:00
$2°10 to $2°30
32c. to 5dc. per

cub. foot

$3°50 to $5°75

per M.
$1°80 to $2:00

per ton

Messrs. WIETING

$9-00 per 200 th.,
10c. to 11le. per tb.

$10 to $16 per M.}

$3-80 to $4-00 pe”

$600 to $6°25 per

$4°80 to $4:90 per

Messrs. SAnp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

89-00

Prohibited
None
10c. to 11c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
12c. to 13c. per tb.
163c. per tb.
10c. per tb.
$3°80 to $4.00 per
bag of 168 tb.
6c.
$6°50 per bag,
(210 tb.)
No quotation

$2°30
No quotation

$4°80
$435 to $4-75

None
$2°65 to $2°80
$4°00 to $4°25

None
32c. to 55c. per

cub. foot
$3°50 te $5°50

per M.

No quotation

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THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

ee AS eee

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Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,
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APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
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COTTON SEED MEAL.
GOTTCN SEED MEAL.

Recommended by the Imperial Department of
Agriculture as a first class Feeding Stuff for Cattle,

Mules, etc, Special quotations for large quantities,

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

ee ge ee a. a JUST ISSUED.
FOR SALE, WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vol. XI, No. 1.) 3

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CONTENTS.

PacR. PAGE.

Agricultural - Experiment Guinea Grass Cultivation

Stations in theGerman in India . 413
Colonies ate + 408 | Thikech Notearas
Srussels Exhibition, 1 ek Pactetne West
Agricultural Machin- mecha te AA
ery Y i 415 Indies in 1910 ... 410
y Bins) wewl ciwwe ‘one ‘ smation: bber Ex-
Carcasses, Siinple Method ae uy Ru ber Ex E
; = vibition, 1911 ... 407
of Destroying ... ... 410) 7 BIG imi Soi
= 2 Yen oe yemon Grass Oil in South-
Corn, Value of First Gener- Savane 407
ation Hybrids in . 402) v5, nee , ae) 4716
Gatton Notes Mar Ket c ports see ee )
Aes : Medical Wants Ordinance,
Cotton Experiments in Gevlon 408
the Bahamas --- 406 agen. ow Ape od
= y E ‘ Millions, Natural Enemies
Cotton-Growing in of 405
Greece ..- 406) "Tae a 5
. Soda q Si ) . Od
West Indian Cotton ... 406) Neves and Oya :
Cotton Supply of Japan 408| Poultry Notes :—
Departmental Reports ... 411) Indian Runner Ducks... 415
Dominica Exhibits at the Points of Plymouth
Colonial Fruit Show 405 Rocks. cee . 415
Earthworms in the Soil, Prize-Holdings Competi-
Work of . 401 tion in Jamaica ... 409
Fungus Notes :— Rice in British Guiana ... 411
Summary of Information Rubber in Ceylon ta. 403
Given During the Year 414} Society Islands, Trade of,
Gleamimpayies pes), <<) Ae 1909 . 409
Green Manures in Califor- Students’ Corner ... ... 413
nian Orchards ... . 404) Trees, Ascent of Water in 409

The Work of EHarthworms in
the Soil.

cfs

i INCE the publication, by Darwin in 1881,
Bot Formation of Vegetable Mould through
ee es Wr, the Action of Worms, in which he showed the
importance of the work of earthwornis in forming vege-
table mould in soils, the usefulness of these animals to
the agriculturist, more particularly in colder climates,
has been fully recognized. The work of various inyesti-

gators has indicated that they’ increase the fertility of

the soil through acting as cultivators, and that they
may actually take part in the production of plant food
by decomposing organic matter in the soil more quick-
ly than this can be done by micro-organisms in it. The
first of these effects has been proved conclusively. In
regard to the second there has always been uncertainty.

In order to find out if the presence of earthworms
in the soil increases the rate of decomposition of organ-
ic matter, experiments * have been carried out recently
at the Rothamsted Experiment Station, by E. J. Rus-
sell, and the purpose of this article is to present
the resuits of these. The first step was to repeat the
older work in order to demonstrate the actual fact that
the fertility of the soil is increased where earthworms
are present. For the purpose, plants were grown in
pots, some of which contained earthworms while others
did In the former case, the useful effect of the
presence of the worms was shown by the better appear-
ance of the plants and the higher nitrogen content of
the dry matter from them. An investigation at the
close of the experiment demonstrated that the origin
ef much of the additional nitrogen was that contained
in the worms when they were put into the pots.

not.

In order to make allowance for this effect of worms
in directly adding nitrogen to the soil, in the rest of
the experiments freshly killed worms, equal in weight
to the living ones were put into the control pots. In
the result, it was found that living worms do not
increase the rate of nitrogen formation; as a matter of
fact, the percentage of nitrogen was larger in the plants
that had grown in the pots in which the freshly killed
worms had been placed.

The next stage in the experiments was to find out
if the action of worms is increased in the presence of

* Described in the Journal of Agricultural Science, Septem-
ber 1910, p. 246.

402

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

a high proportion of humus, and for this purpose the
trials were repeated, the difference being in this case
that plant remains were dug into the soil in the pots.
Confirmation of the former result was obtained, namely
that there was no action of the earthworms in causing
an increased rate of provision of plant food. Further
confirmation was obtained by means of trials in which
a rich pasture soil was used.

The work* that has been done at the same labora-
tory with partly sterilized soils led to the extension of
the investigation to include these, with the following
result: ‘It was found that addition of dead worms caused
a small increase in the crop and a larger increase in the
percentages of nitrogen in the dry matter and in the
total nitrogen taken by the plant from the soil.’

As it had been proved, by now, that the nitrogen
content of the soil is not increased through any direct
action of living earthworms in it, attention was once
more directed to the effects which they produce through
their work as cultivators, and in this connexion trials
were made for the purpose of ascertaining the rate at
which nitrates accumulate in soil containing living
As was to be expected, it was found that
where living earthworms had been present, the propor-
tion of nitrate nitrogen at the end of some months was
higher than in the soil which had not had the benefit
of being turned over by the worms.

earthworms.

A further experiment was undertaken, with the
object of finding out the extent to which worms are
effective in mixing a grass mulch with soil. It
showed that the presence or absence of worms made
very little difference in the affair. Another matter
of interest in connexion with the subject was that the
soils used in the experiments were found to contain only
a trace of ammonia; this result is in contradiction to that
of other work, the conclusions from which were probably
vitiated because the soil, when analysed, had been
permitted to contain parts of the bodies of dead worms.

Throughout the investigation, there was no doubt
as to the efficacy of earthworms in opening up the soil
and thus increasing its fertility indirectly. In relation
to this, an experiment is described in which one set of
pots is taken and filled with soil alone; while to
another, worms are added as well as the soil. In the
former case the surface quickly becomes covered with
algae and mosses; in the latter no such growths are
seen, on account of the continual disturbance of the soil
by the worms.

* See Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 33.

DercemBer 24, 1910,

A summary of the conclusions that are reached at
the end of the investigations shows that earthworms do
not appear to have any marked direct effect in hasten-
ing the formation of nitrates in the soil. They certainly
possess a because of the
nitrogen that is given up by their bodies when they
decompose

direct wmanurial value,

It is, however, their action in loosening
the soil, and thus assisting in its proper aeration, that
makes them useful aids to the agriculturist.

THE VALUE OF FIRST GENERATION
HYBRIDS IN CORN.

This is the title of Bulletin 191 of the Bureay of
Plant Industry of the United States of America, which
describes work showing the superiority of the first
generation hybrids of corn over the plants that are
produced from similar parents, and indicates the prac-
tical use that may be made of the existence of this.
Extracts from this bulletin are reproduced as follows:—

The use of first generation hybrids offers one of the most
promising methods of increasing the yield of corn. The evid-
ence that crossing can in general be relied upon to give an
immediate increase of vigour and productiveness appears
conclusive, yet the practice seems never to have been applied
on a commercial scale. The plan of utilizing first generation
hybrids involves the making of the cross anew each year, and
this is readily feasible with corn. Many efforts have been
made to develop hybrid varieties, but the increased vigour
and productiveness that result from hybridization appear to
be confined largely to the first generation, and to disappear
gradually in later generations.

It was indicated more than three decades ago that seed
producel by crossing two varieties of corn could be relied
upon to produce larger crops than the parents, and that this
increase was to a great extent lost in following generations.

At about the time when it was discovered that an increase
in yield and vigour followed the crossing of two varieties, the
attention of investigators was attracted to the possibility of
the improvement of corn through what then appeared the
more scientific methods of selection he latter idea was in
accord with the most advanced ideas of evolution, while the
former appeared as an isolated fact discovered by accident.

It was natural that investigators should follow out what
appeared to be the more logical and scientific method. ‘The
fact that yields could be materially increased by simply
crossing two varieties was lost sight of. Great strides have
been made in the knowledge and possibilities of corn improve-
ment by selection, but until the past few years, the possibility
of utilizing the vigour of first generation hybrids of corn has
remained almost exactly where it was left by the pioneer
experunenters.

Even after the increased vigour of first generation
hybrids became recognized as a general principle, it was not
appreciated that the peculiar habits of the corn plant made
its commercial application to this crop entirely feasible. Corn
is peculiar among the important crop plants in being wind-
pollinated, and in having the male and female flowers on
widely separated parts of the plant. This combination of
characters permits the production of crossed seed in large
quantities, by the simple expedient of planting two varieties
together and removing the tassels from the plants of one

Vor; IX., No. 226.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

403

variety, which then produce only hybrid seed. The impor-
tance of this fundamental difference between the flowering
habits of corn and those of other crops has not been sutticiently
appreciated. Systems of breeding developed for other plants
have deen applied to corn, diverting attention from this more
simple method of improvement, made possible by the peculiar
habits of the plant. The use of the first generation hybrids
will doubtless be found applicable to other crops, but in few
will its utilization be so easily accomplished as with corn.

Comparatively few recent experiments with a direct
bearing on the value of first generation hybrids have been
reported, but all that have been made confirm the earlier
results. ‘Taken in connexion with the experiments to be
reported in the present paper, they establish beyond question
that the vigour of first generaticn corn hybrids is a means of
securing increased production that is capable of very wide
application, As soon as the general public becomes acquainted
with such a simple and inexpensive means of increasing the
yield of this most important crop, a rapid extension of the
practice should follow. The great need is for detailed informa-
tion regarding the particular varietal conditions best adapted
to the different local conditions. At present, the data are so
meagre that experiments must proceed empirically; but the
lack of detailed information should not obscure the impor-
tance of the subject, nor stand in the way of utilizing the
results already accomplished.

Though the possibility of utilizing the vigour of first
generation hybrids is only beginning to be appreciated from
the scientific standpoint, the increased yields that result from
crossing have probably been utilized unconsciously since pre-
historic times. It is a regular custom among many native
American tribes carefully to plant seeds of different varicties
in each hill of corn. This is done for the purpose of increas-
ing the yield. Though the expected increase is usually
associated in the minds of the natives with superstitious
ideas regarding sexuality in the plants, the vigour secured
by such crosses may well have been an important factor in
establishing this custom with primitive tribes.

The value of first generation hybrids is further recognized
in a widespread belief among practical seed growers that the
plants produced by accidental crosses of pure strains are
often exceptionally vigorous.

After describing the work that has been done, so
far, in connexion with the subject, the bulletin proceeds
to the following conclusions:—

The corn plant is naturally cross-fertilized and requires
the stimulus of crossing to produce maximum yields. Meth-
ods of close breeding that can be applied to other crops with
advantage do violence to the nature of the plant, and tend to
reduce the vigour of growth and the yield of grain.

As a result of the peculiar habits of reproduction of the
corn plant, the raising of hybrid seed does not require any
special skill or any large increase of labour. The cost involved
is insignificant in comparison with the increased yields that
are obtained.

No reason is apparent why the vigour of hybrids may
not be regularly utilized to increase the yields of the corn
crop. A refusal to take this factor into account would he
like rejecting the use of commercial fertilizers, or failing to
take advantage of the increase that may be obtained by
selective breeding.

The planting of first generation hybrid seed as a method
of securing a larger crop is to be considered as entirely
distinct from the idea that superior varieties can be bred by
hybridizing or crossing. Crosses between distinct varieties
or strains at once increase the yield, but to maintain this high

me

performance the cross must be made anew each year.

Experiments to determine the value of first generation
hybrids have been made at various times since 1878, but in
an isolated and disconnected manner and usually without any
adequate appreciation of the possibilities of this method as
a regular element of farm practice.

In the literature which has thus far been examined, nine-
teen crosses have been reported. With a single exception, these
hybrids gave larger yields than the average of the parents,
the amount ranging as high as 95 per cent. The series
includes experiments in six different states and embraces
a wide range of varieties.

Similar increases are here reported in crosses between the
members of a new series of types of corn from China, Africa,
and the American tropics, very different from United States
varieties and very unlike among themselves. These experi-
ments show that a very wide application of this principle is
possible.

In addition to increased yields, there is reason to believe
that the increased vigour of first generation hybrids may
become an important factor of adaptation to different condi-
tions of growth. The hybrids appear not to require the
delicate adjustment to local conditions necessary to the proper
performance of pure strains. The utilization of hybrids may
be expected to extend the range of utility of the high-
yielding types beyond the present range of adaptation of such
varieties.

First generation hybrids are a distinct factor in the
problem of securing varieties of corn with adaptations that —
fit them for special conditions. The increased vigour which
these hybrids possess should make possible their growth in
regions where pure strains fail, and should also provide some
measure of disease resistance.

The advantage of crossing distinct varieties is equally
applicable to the improvement of sweet corn, and affords
a measure of protection to those discovering new and valuable
combinations.

RUBBER IN CEYLON.

In 1909, the United Kingdom took a quantity in excess
of the entire exports of 1908. The United States of America
is our next best customer, taking double the quantity she did

in 1908. After deducting Straits rubber sold in the local
market, the total quantity exported was as follows :—
cwt.
1908 7,808
1909 13,621

During the year, prices for rubber reached unprecedented
figures, influenced by a very stong demand anda short supply.
The record prices paid for Ceylon plantation rubber were
9s. 337. per tb. in London, and Rs. 7:20 in Colombo. The
year closed with a quotation at 7s. 74d. for fine hard Para.
The Chamber of Commerce reports :—

‘Further points which deserve special mention are the
general improvement in, and greater regularity of, quality,
which have been noticeable during the year, many estates
(more particularly those making use of crépe machines) having
turned out rubber of such even quality, size, and colour, that
it has become customary to deal in the produce of such
estates on the mark.alone, without samples, which has tended
to greatly facilitate business.

‘ Statistics relating to importing markets show the posi-
tion at the close of the year to be exceptionally satisfactory
from a producer’s point of view, and prospects for 1910
would appear to be all that can be desired.’ (Colonial Re-
ports—Annual, No. 653.)

404

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. DecemBer 24, 1910,

EFRUITS AND) RRUIT. (Rees.

GREEN MANURBES 1N CALIFORNIAN

ORCHARDS.

The following extracts relating to the use of green
manures in orchards, in Califormia, are taken from
Bulletin No. 190 of the Bureau of Plant Industry,
United States Department of Agriculture (October
1910):—

GENERAL. ‘The use of green manure crops for the main-
tenance of soil fertility is one of the oldest of agricultural
practices. In California, such crops have been used in a limit-
ed way for a long time, yet itis only within recent years that
their practical value has become fully recognized. ‘The grow-
ing of these crops has attained its greatest development in the
citrus orchards of the southern part of the State, where they
have been longest used.

For a number of years the Bureau of Plant Industry has
been working to secure better crops for green manuring than
the ones now used, and to aid in the demonstration of the
adaptability of the ones now being grown. The Agricultural
Experiment Station of the University of California has also
done extensive work in demonstrating the value of thevarions
green manure crops in that State.

In California, the work of the Bureau of Plant Industry
has been carried on in co-operation with orchardists and
farmers throughout the various sections, and at the United
States Plant Introduction Garden at Chico, where exten-
sive tests have been made. This work has clearly indicated
the superiority of certain crops over others and their adapta-
tion for varying purposes and conditions.

DESIRABLE CHARACTERS OF A GREEN MANURE. No one
plant possesses all the desirable qualities of an ideal green
manure crop. However, in the various crops used for such
purposes, practically all the desirable qualities are represented,
though varying in degree. The conditions under which a green
manure is to be grown determine to some extent whether
a certain quality is desirable or objectionable, and must be
taken into consideration in selecting the best crop to grow.

A green manure crop should be a legume wherever
possible, in order to obtain the addition of nitrogen to the
soil. It is also necessary that a good growth be made, in
order to have a large quantity of organic matter to turn under
and incorporate with the soil. With good growth should
be a heavy development of nodules on the roots, as this is
believed to indicate great ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen.

The quality of being able to stand trampling with
a minimum of injury is very important where the crop will be
subject to such injury, as in the case in citrus orchards where
the picking of fruit takes place while the green mannre crop
is yet growing. Uprightness and non-twining stems are also
desirable where an ordinary mould-board plough is depended
upon for turning under the crop. However, if a dise
plough is used, or the crop is worked in with an ordinary disc
harrow, this does not make so much difference: and where the
growth is not allowed to become too rank, little difficulty is
experienced in ploughing it under.

The texture of the stem should he such as to decompose
readily Practically all crops, however, if turned:under at
the right staye of growth, decay readily. Thus, the question
of decomposition is one of turning under the crop at the
right time, rather than one of selecting a crop that will decay
readily.

Plat the cost of agreen manure may not be too great, it
is necessary that the price of seed be reasonable as compared
with the results to be obtained

TURNING UNDER GRNEN MANURES. In turning under
a green manure crop the common mould-board plough, the
dise jlough, or the disc harrow is used. In using the first,
a sharp coulter is attached, and where the vine growth is
heavy a chain is also used. Sometimes the land is run over
once with a dise harrow before ploughing. This enables
a heavy growth to be more completely turned under. During
the past few years the dise plough has been very gencrally
used, and for turning under a heavy vine growth it works
more satisfactorily than the mould-board plough.

After ploughing under a green manure crop the land is
harrowed, and as the erop decays cultivation is given. This
at tirst is shallow, so as not to bring the vines to the surface,
but later a deeper cultivation is given.

In sections having a very open soil or a sandy loam, the
disc harrow has been used very successfully in turning under
a green manure crop, The use of this harrow has been taken
up with the idea that fewer surface-feeding roots of the trees
are disturbed by its use than is the case with the plough, for
which reason it is thought by many to be more desirable. In
working a green manure crop into the soil with a dise harrow,
four discings are usually required, each discing,- where the
planting of the orchard will permit, being made at an angle

Vou. 1X, No, 226,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

with the previous one.
does not work so well, and the plough is used almost entirely.

After turning under a green manure, the land is kept
well cultivated the remainder of the year.

For obtaining the best results, a green manure crop
should be turned under early enough in the season to allow
perfect decomposition.

RESULTS OF USING GREEN MANURES. There have been no
definite tests made in California to determine the results in
an increased yield of fruit or improved quality of the same
from the use of green manures. The only evidence available
is that of general observation and the experience of the
orchardists

While orchardists differ to some extent in conclusions,
they generally are favourable to the practice, as its continued
and growing use attests. Careful observations also show the
beneficial results of green manure crops in a more thrifty
appearance of the trees, the improved condition of the soil,
and a better quality of the fruit. The belief is quite gener-
al that the yield also is increased. Orchards in which a few
years ago there were unthrifty trees with yellowish-coloured
leaves, now, after several years’ use of green manure crops,
show a decided improvement in colour and general appear-
ance. The work of the California Experiment Station has
demonstrated that gummosis of citrus trees is brought on by
unfavourable soil conditions, and that in remedying such
conditions green manures serve a very useful purpose.
Orchards in which green manures have been used for a long
time are but little atfected by this disease.

The improved condition of the soil, when green manures
have been used for some time, has been readily noticeable to
those handling an orchard. ‘The heavier soils have become
quite open and friable, and the sandier soils more loamy.
Beneficial results in the conserving of rainfall and the pre-
vention of washing of the soil have also been very apparent.
Most soils that wash badly do so because they are deficient
in organic matter. Green manuring, by the improvement of
the mechanical condition of the soil, not only prevents wash-
ing, but the presence of the growing crop on the land pre-
vents gullying during the rainy season. This is of particular
importance on sloping lands.

DOMINICA EXHIBITS AT THE COLONIAL
FRUIT SHOW.

According to the Dominica Chronicle tor November 26,
1910, 33 packages of exhibits were sent, under the auspices
of the Dominica Permanent Exhibition Committee, on
November 13, 1910, to the Colonial Fruit Show to be held
in London.

Below is a list of the various exhibits and exhibitors:—

Castle Comfort estate, limes; Wall House estate, limes;
Gleau Manioc estate, limes; Everton estate, cacao, nutmegs,
nutmegs in shell with mace, essential oil of limes, limes,
oranges; Sylvania, oranges; Corona, oranges; St. Aroment,
lime juice, essential oil of limes, otto of limes, limes, nutmegs
in shell with mace; Ancaster Park, limes; La Haut, limes;
Permanent Exhibition Committe, limes, shaddocks, oranges,
essential oil of limes; Dominica Fruit Growers’ Association,
limes; Botanic Station, oranges, grape fruit, citron, lemons,
bread nut fruit, bread fruit, nutmeg fruits, nutmegs in shell
with mace, nutmegs, kola nuts.

On the heavier soils, the dise harrow

THE NATURAL ENEMIES OF MILLIONS.

References to the natural enemies of the mosquito-
destroying fish, millions (Girardinus pwciloides), have
been made recently in the dgricultwral News (Vol. 1X,
pp. 315 and 355). Further information in regard tothe
matter has been kindly supplied by Dr. Lucius Nicholls,
of St. Lucia, whose report as medical officer of District
In of that island was reviewed on page 315 of this
volume of the Agricultural News.

As destroyers of mosquito larvae the ‘Millions’ fish when
thoroughly exploited, are proving themselves to be of great
value in anti-malarial work. he correct method of viewing
the natural enemies of these is to consider them with all
circumstances that are adverse to the little fish. For the fact
that some rare water creature occasionlly devours a small fish,
though worthy of mention, may practically be of little or no
moment.

I have performed many experiments with these fish, and
have placed them under a great variety of surroundings.
Circumstances that are detrimental to them may be considered
under two headings: —

(1) Adverse physical conditions.

(2) Natural enemies.

In the first group are included conditions external to
the water, such as, heat, cold and solar radiations, and water
conditions, as brackish water, water in iron tanks, ete. To
a certain extent, fish can be gradually immunized to all these
circumstances except solar radiations. If they are placed
in shallow water with a total absence of shade, the exposure
to the sun by day and the rapid cooling at night invariably
kill them. Fortunately, there are very few natural breeding
places of anophelines in which the fish will be unable to find
ample shelter from the solar rays.

The second part of the subject may be likewise
divided into classes: (1) that concerned with enemies
which destroy sutticiently large numbers to affect their
establishment in the same situation: among these are the
larger fish, mullets, loaches and eels, in large collections of
water, and dragon-fly larvae, which are very common in
tropical countries in small collections of water; secondly, that
having relation to enemies which destroy a few, but practi-
cally never exterminate them: these include water-fowl,
(ducks, cranes,ete. ), crustaceans (crayfish), predaceous neurop-
terous larvae, excluding those of the dragon-fly larvae, and
coleopterous larvae; in the case of the Dytiscidae, the adult
beetles as well as the larvae prey upon the fish. Fortunately,
water beetles are much more common in temperate than in
tropical climates.

Despite this array of natural enemies, millions will
survive in more than 90 per cent. of the surroundings in
which mosquito larvae are found. In many localities, it is
not difficult to get rid of the other inhabitants of the water.

These little fish have not yet received the general research
and attention that they deserve. Anyone working with them,
who will make use of them with thoroughness, and who will
reason upon his successes and failures, will find them an
addition of great value in his work against that terrible
insect pest-—-the mosquito.

406

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. DecemBer 24, 1910.

io —
aim iS

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date November 21, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :-—

In the absence of stock, transactions in West Indian
Sea Islands during the past fortnight have been confined to
a few oddments left over from last season.

American Sea Island cotton remains fairly steady, but
buyers are not eager and are waiting developments.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending December 3, is as follows:—

We have had a quiet market again this week, with only
a moderate demand, resulting in sales of 50 bales full Extra
Fine at A2ke. for France, and some small lots of odd bags
classing Fully Fine at 37c, Extra Fine at 40c. for export to
England. Besides, a crop lot, 8 bales Willow Select, was
sold for France at 50c., aud there are orders in the market
for several more crop lots for France, but at prices below the
views of the planters.

The receipts continue large, so that the unsold stock is
increasing. Although there are orders in the market for the
odd bags seeking execution at lc. decline, Factors still refuse
to make any concession from previous prices, because they
think that the receipts, from now on, will begin to show
a decided falling off, confirming reduced crop estimates.

We have, therefore, only to report, market quiet, prices
unchanged, Factors still holding.

Extra Fine Islands at 40c.=22d. c.i.f. & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine _,, 37c. = 203d
Fine is 35c.=193d. ,,

” ” 2

0 ” or

COTTON EXPERIMENTS IN THE
BAHAMAS.

Two plots of Sea Island cotton were planted at this
station on July 31, 1906, from seed purchased from the
Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies.

Plot No. 1. A small area of 98 square yards in black soil
in the school garden.

Plot No. 2. One-sixteenth of an acre in red or peppery
soil, close to the tobacco-curing house.

The first picking commenced on October 25, and con-

tinued to December 5, when the plants were cut down to
test the quality of cotton from second crop.

During the growth, which was fairly luxuriant, the
plants were not attacked by any insect or other pests, and
the condition of the plants was all that could be desired.
The total weight of seed-cotton reaped from plot No. 2 was
243 Tb, equal to 396 fb per acre.

Samples of the cotton were sent to the British Cotton
Growing Association, Manchester, Mngland, for an opinion as
to quality and value.

The following reply was received :—

Your Jetter of November 21, duly to hand, together
with the samples of Sea Island cotton grown at your Experi-
ment Station. I have now pleasure in handing you copy of
valuation and report from our Expert in Liverpool.

No. 1, value 234. to 24d. per tb. ‘Clean, very bright,
staple extra fine and long.’

No. 2, value 20d. per th, ‘ Wanting in fineness as com-
pared with No. 1; also less fine and lacking in length.’

Just now, Sea island cotton is fetching very high prices,
owing to the partial failure of the American Sea Island crop,
There is no doubt that if you introduce this industry in your
islands it will prove a great (Sgd.) Jno. Atkins,
Secretary. (From the Bulletin of the Depurtment of Agri-
Bahamas, Vol. V, No. 2.)

success.

culture,

COTTON-GROWING IN GREECE.

An interesting and apparently successful experiment has
been made in Thessaly in the cultivation of Egyptian cotton,
with modern machinery and under the direction of an expert
from Egypt. In 1908 about 220 acres were cultivated in
this crop, which produced 210,500 Ib. ‘The area under cultiva-
tion in 1909 was 200 aeres, producing 220,000 tb.; while
this year it is probable that more than 600 acres will be
cultivated. The average price received for Egyptian cotton
is more than double that paid for the Greek domestic
cotton. Experiments have also been made in the cultivation
of cotton grown from American seed, hut only on a small scale,
and with results that are, thus far, inconclusive.

There are thirty-five cotton mills in Greece, equipped with
99,300 spindles and 1,211 looms, and representing a capital
of £800,000. Employment is given to about 5,000 hands.
The total annual product is valued at £420,000. Cotton is
imported into Greece annually to the amount of 8,000 to
10,000 bales, as follows: American, of good middling quality,
2,500 bales; Turkish, 5,000 to 7,000 bales; Egyptian, 500
bales. (The Zextile Mercury, October 1, 1910.)

Vou EX. No; 226:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 407

LEMON GRASS OIL IN SOUTHERN INDIA.

Mr. Werner Reinhart, of the firm of Volkart Bros., of
Winterthur (Switzerland), has had the courtesy to supply us
with full details of the lemon grass oil industry in the south-
ern part of British Jndia. ‘hese particulars (for which we
here return our sincere thanks to the writer) will no doubt
prove of general interest. Mr. Reinhart informs us that leniou
grass (Cymbopogon fleruosus, Stapf) eccurs both in the will
state and as a cultivated plant on the western littoral of
Southern India, from Cape Comorin northwards up to
Malabar. As the grass requires a good deal of muisture, but
does not flourish in places where the rain-water cannot
percolate the soil, the enltures are mostly found on the lower
spurs of the Ghats. The districts which are of the greatest
importance for the distillation of oil are the back country of
Anjengo, the hilly borders of the Periyar River in Travancore,
and the plantation districts of Peermade in Travancore, and
Nellampatty in the State of Cochin. Lemon grass oil is also
distilled on the eastern side of the Ghats, and in the Pani
hills. At the time when the prices of lemon grass oil ruled
high, the production was increased in a senseless manner: but
recently, owing to the reaction in prices following the over-
production, it has been considerably reduced, the principal
undertakings where distilling has been abandoned being the
large plantations, which worked with expensive plant and
dear labour. In some few districts, as for instance in
Wynaad, the low aldehyde content of the oils produced has
also had a discouraging effect upon the production. But the
native peasants are apparently able to make distilling pay,
even at as low a price as 2d. per oz.

The distillation of the oil begins shortly after the com-
mencement of the rainy season; that is to say, about the
beginning of July, and continues according to the course
of the monsoon, which follows the south-west monsoon, until
early in January. But on the West Coast the north-east
monsoon is usually very scanty, and often remains altogether
absent; it is generally necessary to stop distilling early in
January, owing to the drought which then sets in. Lhe eultiva-
tions, that is to say, the dried grass, are then burnt down,
as the ash makes a good manure. In the valleys, that is in
places where artificial irrigation is possible, lemon grass must
give way as early as December to the cultivation of winter
crops, chiefly rice.

Mr. Reinhart furnishes the following description of
a native distilling plant on the Periyar River in the district
of Travancore: —

The plant, which usually remains located in the same
place throughout the year, is invariably covered by a straw
roof resting on bamboo poles; a copper still about 6 feet high
and 3 feet in diameter is erected upon a hearth built of stones
about 1 foot high. There are no special arrangements for
carrying off the smoke, the air having access to the fire from
all sides; the stones composing the hearth are placed upon
one another loosely in the form of a circle. About midway
at the side of the still is an opening which can be closed by
a cover, and through which the grass is charged into the
still and taken out after distilling. The top of the still is
surmounted by a removable helm, from which a copper ris-
mg tube leads to the condensing worm which is placed in
a wooden vat about 6 feet high. Water froma well is led
into the condensing vessel through a wooden gutter. The
receiver is a vessel constructed on the principle of the Floren-
tine flask, with this difference, that it constitutes a shallow
but very wide cylinder without cover. The width of the
receiver supplies a large surface, on which the oil accumu-
lates, and from which it is occasionally removed with a spoon.

The water which distils over at the same time flows away
through a tube which points upwards, projecting close to the
ground at an acute angle. This aromatic water is not, as is
usnally the case, used for distilling fresh quantities of grass,
but is simply allowed to run to waste. lor distilling pur-
poses, the freshly collected grass tops, tied in small bundles, are
fed into the still throngh the opening at the side as well as from
above, until the still is about three-fourths full. About
1,000 bundles, of an aggregate weight of about 700 fb., go to
a charge; water being added to about one fourth of the
height, or about 40 gallons altogether. The opening at the
side is then closed, the helm placed in position, and all the
apertures carefully luted with cow-dung; after this, the fire is
lighted under the still. From five to six hours are required
to distil one charge, which produces a yield of 1 to 1} bottles
of 220z. each. The oil is allowed to remain in the bottles
for some time, in order that any water which has been
removed with it may separate out, and also to allow impuri-
ties, such as copper salts, to be precipitated. It is run into
galvanized drums at the port of shipment. (From the Semz-
Annual Report of Schimmel & Co., October 1910.)

THE INTERNATIONAL RUBBER
EXHIBITION, 1911.

The India Rubber World trophy, offered to stimulate an
interest in improved methods of dealing with the latex of the
Castilloa rubber, and to be awarded at the International
Rubber Exhibition in London next year, is a silver cup of
artistic design and workmanship, 50 inches in height.

conpitions. 1. The cup will be awarded’ for the best
process, method, tool orappliance for extracting the maximum
amount of latex from Castilloa clasticu.

2. Entries may be tools or appliances, accompanied by
full descriptions, or drawings accompanied by descriptions,

3. There wil] be no entrance fee.

4. Tools, appliances, or drawings submitted for competi-
tion will be assembled as one exhibit, known as The India
Rubber World Competition.

5. The cup will be the absolute property of the successful
contestant. It will be presented to the winner or his
accredited representative at the International Rubber Exhibi-
tion Dinner, to be held in London, while the Exhibition is in
progress.

6. The judges have the right to test every tool or
appliance.

7. Tools, appliances, and drawings will be returned to
the owners or representatives at the close of the Exhibition.

8. While the management of the Exhibition will
scrupulously protect the exhibits, they will not be responsible
for loss or damage from any cause.

9. The judges’ decision shall be final, and entries will be
accepted only ov this understanding.

10. All entries must be made to the Award Committee,
International Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition, Limited,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W. C., by Monday night, May 1,
1911. Letters bearing the postmark May 1, will be accepted
as entered at the offices on that date. Entries should be sent
by registered post, or delivered by hand, that a receipt may
be given for them. Exhibits for competition must be sent
direct to the Award Committee, Royal Agricultural Hall,
Islington, London, N., but should not reach that building
before June 15 and not later than June 20. ‘Transportation
must be paid on all exhibits.

The Exhibition opens June 24 and closes July 11.
(From the India Rubber World, November 1, 1910.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

December 24, 1910.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
ommissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All applications for Copies of the ‘ Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Ayents, and not to
the Department.

Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau &
Oo., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents
will be found on page 3 of the cover.

The Agricultural News: Price 1d. per number,
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s. 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural Aews

No. 226.

Vou. IX. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1910.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial presents the results of work that
has been carried out recently in connexion with the
way in which earthworms indirectly increase the fertility
of the soil.

This is followed by an article which gives
extracts from a recent bulletin dealing with the value
of first generation hybrids in corn. ‘The bulletin dis-
cusses work which has shown that the productive power
of such hybrids is greater than that of plants arising
from seed which has been formed by fertilization
between members of the same variety of corn.

An article dealing with the natural enemies of

millions appears on page 405,

An interesting summary, having reference to
insect pests in the West Indies during 1910, forms
the subject of the Insect Notes, on page 419.

Page 411 contains a review of the report on the
Botanic Station, ete., Dominica, for 1910.

The Fungus Notes are comprised of a useful
summary of information that has been given under that
heading during the year that is just ending. This
appears on page 414.

Page 415 contains a note describing a simple
method of destroying the carcasses of animals that have
died from disease. It may be mentioned that the
method of which particulars are given does not apply
in its entirety to the bodies of animals that have died
from anthrax, for in such cases it is not permitted to
remove the entrails.

The Cotton Supply of Japan.

Information is given in Diplomatic and Consular
Reports, No. 4511, Annual Series, which shows that
during 1909, the extersion in the cotton-spinning
industry in Japan caused purchases of raw cotton to be
made in larger quantities. The additional supply was
obtained mainly from India, from which country cotton
to the value of £6,200,000, ont of a quantity having
a total value of £11,000,000, was derived. There
was also an increase in the amount imported from
Egypt, so that this now has a value of more than
£550,000.

Anincreasing amount of cotton is being obtained
by Japan from Corea; the value of the supply from this
country was £11,000 in 1907 and £35,000 in 1909.
There are signs that this increase will be maintained;
for during the first month im the present year, Corea
sent to Japan 1,227 tons of cotton, worth £23,000.

———— eee

Medical Wants Ordinance, Ceylon.

A Medical Wants Ordinance (No.12 of 1910)has been
passed recently in Ceylon, for the purpose of obtaining
power to impose export duties on some of the agricul-
tural products of that country. By this, the Legislative
Council is enabled, by resolution, to make duties on tea,
rubber, coffee, cacao, cardamoms, camphor, pepper
and cinchona, exported from the island. The rates of
duty are to be such as to cover expenses 1 connexion
with the Medical Wants Ordinance for three years,
subject to the deduction of the Government contribu-
tion to the extent of an amount equal to 15 per cent.
of the total expense during the preceding year. When
the Ordinance comes into effect, the present duties of
10c. per ewt. on tea, coffee and cacao under the Medi-
cal Wants Ordinance will no longer be collected.

The duties may be re-imposed for a further
period of three years, and the scope of the Ordinance
may be extended to include agricultural products other
than those mentioned above.

Rebates of the export duties paid by an estate or
group of estates will be granted, if the proprietor has
made provision for the medical treatment of the labour-
ers on such estates, of a nature satisfactory to the
Principal Civil Medical Officer.

NE

Agricultural Experiment Stations in the

German Colonies.

A report on these is given in L’Agronomie Tro-
picale tor August 1910, p. 228. It is shown in this
that the agricultural interests of the Cameroons are
mainly served by a Botanical Garden at Victoria,
The work at this station has been attended with
success, and has been chiefly concerned with the dis-
tribution of plants for use in the colony, the devising of
methods of control against pests and diseases, and the
obtaining of information as to suitable means for
treating the products of the colony, for export. As
regards forestry, the scope of the work has not increased

Vout. IX. No. 226.

to anything like the extent that has been reached by
matters of general agricultural import. ;

In German West Africa, a Biological and Agri-
cultural Institute has been founded at Usambara, for
the purpose of assisting cultivators in agricultural
matters, developing ihe native resources, introducing
new plants, and for making whatever researches are
possible in relation to the plant and animal life of the
colony. As regards forestry, the work is confined to
watching over the forest reserves, and to introducing
new kinds of trees; a staft of seventeen forest officers is
made responsible for this.

As regards Togo, two stations exist, in one of which
experiments are being conducted with over 150 varieties
of useful plants, more especially fruit and forest trees.

In South-west Africa, the work is chiefly concerned
with the raising of live stock, and with forestry. In
German New Guinea, the Botanie Garden at Simpson-
hafen has been dependent largely on that of Berlin for
supplies of plants, with which investigations are being
conducted.

In Samoa and Kiao-Chao, agricultural experiments
are not carried on at present by the Government to any
extent; although in the latter place there is a certain
amount of distribution of plants, under official respon-
sibility.

Se ee

The Ascent of Water in Trees.

Recent work undertaken in Australia in connexion
with the ascent of water in trees is described in the
Annals of Botany, Vol. XXIV, p. 85. The purpose
of this was to gain information as to the rate of trans-
piration, the rate of the ascent of sap, the state of the
conducting tissue during transpiration and the resist-
ance to the flow of water by stems.

The investigations showed that the rate of loss of

water from the leaves is lessened when portions of the
stem on which they are borne are cut off, and placed
in water, as well as in ordinary cases, when the air is
hot and dry. In regard to the first, it was found
that cut trees absorb water at a smaller rate than that
at which this liquid is evaporated by living ones.

The rate of transpiration is also reduced in branch-
es containing air, being much higher than that when
they are saturated with water. The experiments show-
ed that a head of water from two to ten times the
length of the stem may be required in order to bring
about on ordinary amount of transpiration; in fully
saturated stems, however, in which the vessels were
large and long, a head one-tifth the length of the stem
may be sufficient.

The abstract from which these matters are taken
(Experiment Station Record, July 1910, p. 27) states
that an experiment showed that a coloured liquid would
rise slowly in a saturated stem kept in a saturated
atmosphere. If the stem was killed, however, the rite
was somewhat smaller, so that it is indicated: ‘that the
phenomenon is not the result of any vital pumping
action that is not capable of a physical explanation.’
When trees were deprived of their leaves, the rise of
sap was found to be inappreciable; it is only owing to the

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 409

existence of the suction which the leaves exert on the
water in the wood that the pumping action is brought
about.

ae

Trade of the Society Islands, 1909.

It is shown in Diplomatic and Consular Reports,
No. 4502—Annual Series, that the total trade of the
Society Islands for 1909 was £386,556, which is an
increase of £106,029 over that of 1908: the former
value is greater than that of any previous year. Of
the exports, copra came first, with a value of £107,404,
while vanilla was next with £41,331. The chief among
the other agricultural exports were cotton, cocoa-nuts
and oranges, having a value of £4,319, £3,655 and
£2,336. Of such products, an increase has been exper-
ienced with regard to copra, vanilla, oranges, pine-
apples, cotton and cocoa-nuts.

The vaniila industry of the colony has shared in
the recent depression, with the result that the natives
have largely ceased to cultivate the plant, and, what is
more, few ettorts are being made by those who still
grow it toimprove the quality of the product.

—<———n> + ae

Prize-Holdings Competition in Jamaica.

In the issue of the Jumaica Telegraph and
Guardian tor October 22, 1910, an account is given of
a prize-holdings competition that was held recently in the
parish of St. Mary, Jamaica. The judging in the com-
petition took place from September 12 to 20, and from
September 27 to October 10, The number of holdings
entered for competition was forty-seven, as follows:
Class 1, twelve; Class II, thirteen; Class III, twenty-
two. The reasons given for the moderate number of
entries are the exceptionally bad weather conditions
experienced during the season, and the fact that
no cultivator was encouraged to enter the competi-
tion unless he had a reasonable chance of gaining
a prize. This policy has been found worthy of adoption,
because it does not seem that the usefulness of the
competition is increased by the entry of candidates
who are not likely to qualify for a prize; this is on
account of the discouragement consequent on their
failure.

In a general way, the two matters that were
brought most strongly to the notice of the judges were,
firstly, the increased attention that is being given to
cultivation in the districts affected by the competition,
as wellas the greatly improved method of taking care
of the cacao and banana cultivation. The second matter
was the existence of well built cottages in a district
where building materials are acquired only with difti-
culty. In the latter connexion, suggestions are made
for the improvement of the domestic conditions of the
cultivators by an increase in the extent to which stock
is kept by them.

Consideration is being given to a suggestion to
otter prizes during the uext season for the best kept
cacao fields; special attention being paid to the
thoroughness of the measures adopted for treating
canker, and for the general sanitation of the orchards.

410

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

December 24, 1910.

INSECT PESTS IN THE WEST INDIES
IN 1910.

A brief review of the insect pests in the West Indies in
1909 was given in the Agricultwral News for January 8,
1910 (Vol. LX, p. 10). The present account deals in a similar
manner with the occurrence of pests during the year which is
just ending.. The information on which these observations is
based has been furnished by the Agricultural Officers in the
several islands of the Lesser Antilles, in response to a request
by the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture.

OF SUGAR-CANE. No serious attacks of insect pests have
been reported during the past year. The moth borer ( Diatraea
saccharalis) has generally been reported as not causing any
unusual damage, or as not being on the increase. In
St. Kitts, it has attacked a few trial plots of new seedlings,
and in the Virgin Islands it has caused some loss im the
drier districts.

The weevil borer (Sphenophorus sericeus) has been more
abundant in Barbados than for several years past, especially
in heavy clay bottom lands in one of the drier parishes. The
root borer (Diaprepes abbreviatus) has again appeared in

3arbados, but the amount of damage done, and the extent
of the attack, have not been reported.

It is of interest to note that the attacks of termites on
sugar-cane on one estate in St. Kitts have not extended to any
other estate, so far as is known at present, and the badly infest-
ed area, on which two crops of cotton have been grown and
which has since been cultivated in sugar-cane for two years,
seems to be free from this pest. It would appear that by
planting cotton for a few years, the entire infested area
might be rendered free from the termites.

oF coTTton. The cotton worm (Alabama argillacea) has
occurred in very small numbers during the year. In St.
Vincent and in the Virgin Islands, no insecticides were
needed, since the natural enemies of the cotton worm kept
it in check. In Montserrat, this pest appeared in consider-
able numbers in October and November. London purple
was the insecticide chiefly used. It is reported that scorching
of the leaves by the London purple occurred in certain fields.

The cotton stainer (Dysdercus spp.) occurred in Mont-
serrat, in sufficient numbers to cause damage, only in one
district, and not on any of the principal cotton-growing estates.

In St. Vincent, in Nevis and in the Virgin Islands, these
insects were fairly abundant toward the end of the crop
season, but they were kept wellin check, by collecting. In
St. Kitts, it is reported that they show a considerable
decrease in numbers from those of previous years.

Black scale (Saissetia nigra) has not generally been
a pest. In St. Vincent and Montserrat it has been more
noticeable toward the end of the season. In Nevis it has
been observed on one estate.

The white scale (Hemichionaspis minor) has heen
noticeable in certain localities in the Virgin Islands, on
‘Curacoa’ cotton, but not on Sea Island.

The flower-bud maggot (Contarinia gossypii) has not

appeared (except for Montserrat, in one report) outside
Antigua, and no attack is reported in that island during the
present year. The leaf-blister mite (Hriophyes gossypit) has
only occurred in numbers toward the end of the crop, and has
always been more abundant in those localities where the old
cotton has been left standing. The destruction of old cotton
at the end of the season,and the picking and burning of infest-
ed leaves as they appear on the young cotton, seem to be fully
adequate to prevent serious loss from this pest.

The cotton plant louse (ApA7s gossypiz) has been much
less prevalent in Barbados this season than has usually been
the case. ‘This insect is reported as having occurred in
Antigua early in the season, but the attacks were slight.

Cutworms (not identified) caused some damage on one
estate in Nevis, but were easily controlled by the use of
poisoned bait.

Late-planted cotton in St. Kitts and in Nevis suffered
somewhat from a disease or pest which caused the leaves to
curl up and assume a wrinkled appearance. This appears to
be associated with the rapid growth following heavy rains.
The affected plants in St. Kitts were attacked by a small
sucking insect—one of the leaf-hoppers, and in Nevis by
plant lice and mealy-bugs.

OF SWEET poraTos. The attacks of the sweet potato weevil,
scarabee, or jacobs (Cryptorhynchus hatatae) have been
generally less than in recent years, and in Barbados where
the attack has been particularly severe, this is reported to
be especially noticeable. In St. Vincent, it is reported to
occur in nearly all potato fields, being abundant in some
locatities. The sweet potato caterpillar (Protoparce cingulata)
and the red spider (Z'etranychus telurius) have been reported
as occurring in a few localities, but not in sufficient numbers
to cause serious injury.

or cacao. No reports have been received of serious
attacks by cacao pests during the year. The beetle mentioned
in the summary of insect pests in 1909, already referred to,
appears to be Luchnosterna patens.

or Limes. ‘The situation in regard to the attacks of
scale insects is about the same as at the end of 1909. The
attacks continue to be severe in St. Vincent, but in other
islands, though these pests are present, no serious injury from
this cause is reported for the year.

OF RUBBER. Castilloa is reported to be badly attacked
by scale insects in St. Vincent, but in the other islands no
serious occurrence of these pests on rubber is recorded.

OF GREEN DRESSINGS. Attacks of caterpillars on green
dressings have been fairly general during the year, and in
a few instances they have been severe. In Montserrat,
it is reported that the larvae of the woolly pyrol moth
(Phermesia gemmatalis) have severely attacked Bengal beans.
It is advised to establish the crops early in the season, as the
caterpillar does not appear until late in September. It has
been noted that in at least two instances, Bengal beans
covering lime trees have been untouched, while those growing
on the ground between the trees have been entirely destroyed.

Ground nuts and Indian corn have suffered very little
from insect attacks during the year.

It should be observed that no records are given of insect
pests in Grenada or St. Lucia, as the information for these
two islands has not yet reached the Head Office. As no reports
of serious attacks have been received, however, it is safe
to assume that the conditions in these islands are fairly
satisfactory.

The weather in the West Indies during the year has
been, on the whole, favourable for the growth and develop-
ment of crops, and natural enemies seem to have exercised
a very satisfactory degree of control over insect pests.

Vor. IX. No. 226.

DOMINICA: REPORT ON THE
STATION, EXPERIMENT PLOTS AND AGRICUL

BOTANIC

TURAL SCHOOL, 1909-10.

The votes in connexion with the expenditure on the
garden, from local funds during the year, amounted to £860,
of which £810 was actually spent. The grant from Imperial
funds was £615. A sum of £521 7s. 6d. was received from
the sale of plants, cured cacao, fruits and seeds.

The report affords evidence that the garden has been
maintained in good order, and that many plants of much
interest in different parts of the world are being grown suc-
cessfully in it. Success is also being experienced in regard
to the nurseries, which now occupy an area of more than
4 acres. The plants that were sent out during the year
numbered over 79,000, and there were, in addition to these,
quantities of cacao pods, Para rubber seed and vegetable
seeds, as well as seeds of green dressings, fodder plants, Fun-
tumia and Castilloa, Congo coffee, citrus plants, shade trees
and of various palms.

Among the more interesting experiments that are being
conducted in connexion with economic plants, there are those
with spineless limes, grafted citrus plants, Para rubber and
grafted cacao. In regard to the first of these, an investigation
that should be of much eventual interest is being conducted,
with the object of devising a means for the improvement of
the fruit. Useful results are being gained in the direction
of the employment of budwood of citrus varieties from Florida
for use on local stocks; it may be mentioned that an account
of some of the most recent work in connexion with the matter
is contained in the dAyricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 356.
A large amount of aid has been given at the station toward
assisting planters in Dominica to obtain seeds and plants of
Para rubber. Lastly, much interest attaches to the work
with grafted cacao; one of the results of this has been to show
unmistakably that Alligator cacao is unsuited for growing.
under the conditions obtaining in Dominica.

The year under report has been the wettest since 1903,
81:14 inches having been received at the Botanie Station;
this amount is 3°33 inches more than the average for the past
seventeen years. ‘Ihe returns from t&irty-five stations show
that the mean rainfall for the whole island is 136°13 inches.

An innovation has been made during the year by the
appointment of an Assistant Curator, and there are strong
indications already of the usefulness of the work of such an
officer in Dominica. This is particularly in relation to the duties
which take him intocountry districts and bring the Agricultural
Department into closer connexion with the interests of plant-
ers. Other work of the Assistant Curator has included the
making of observations, ete., on scale insects and their natural
enemies. A matter that should prove itself of some use is
that he is always available to give assistance to planters in
relation to the making and testing of concentrated lime juice.

A report is presented by the Curator on the prize-hold-
ings competition held during 1909-10. This is of an
encouraging nature, and shows that by means of such a scheme
the status of peasant cultivation in Dominica can undoubted-
ly be raised.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 411

The condition of the lime industry is good, as is shown
by the fact that the crop for the year was larger by 7,000
barrels than that of the previous year, being actually 284 000.
In regard to citrus products generally, tables are given
which show that the exports of lime products from
Dominica during 1909 were worth £54,931. Those of the
greatest value, in order, were concentrated lime juice (£21,565)
citrate of lime (£11,203), green limes (£9,009), raw lime
juice (£7,232). There was also an increase in the export
of cacao which rose from 9,820 ewt. in 1908 to 10,844 ewt.
in 1909.

4. large section of the report is taken up with a descrip-
tion of the experiments that are being conducted in Dominica
in connexion with the manuring of cacao. In a general way,
it may be said that these continue to uphold the policy of
manuring cacao with organic substances, and of mulching the
soil beneath the trees.

The expeaditure at the Agricultural School was £527
15s. 5d.; last year, it amounted to £505 8s. 10d. A sum of
£17 9s. 1d. was received for the sale of plants, poultry,
goats, honey, etc.

The number of pupils in attendance at the school at the
time when the report was made was 18; four boys had
completed their courses during the year, and were immedi-
ately appointed to positions as overseers on estates in the
island. he results obtained in the half-yearly examinations
have been generally good.

The experiments conducted at the school have had
relation chiefly to ground nuts, cacao, green dressings and
fodder crops. The records show, in relation to ground nuts,
that Spanish and Carolina Running continue to maintain
their superiority over the other kinds, in relation to yield.
The manurial experiments with this plant have been interiered
with by fungus attacks. ‘They are being continued, however,
and serve at the present time to indicate that the liming of
the soil is of benefit to this crop, in Dominica. The work
with rubber includes trials with Para rubber and Castilloa;
the plants of both of these are doing well. Experiments that
are being conducted with fodder crops show that the highest
yield is obtained from Guinea grass, which seems to be
approached most nearly by red Kafir corn and Para grass.

The report concludes with a list of boys trained at the
Agircultural School, in which are given the names, oceupa-
tions and addresses of past pupils. It serves as a useful
indication of the waysin which a boy leaving such a school is
likely to be employed.

Rice in British Guiana.

The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach,
Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of
British Guiana, dated December 9, 1910, gives
information as follows:—

The weather during the fortnight has been fine, and
suitable for reaping and iilling.

Paddy is changing hands rapidly, and the end of the
present month should see very little remaining with growers.

Prices have advanced a little since last report, and we
look for further advances in the near future.

Shipments to West Indian islands during the fortnight
amounted to 1,200 bags.

We quote to-day, f.o.b, Demerara, for good export
quality:—

Nominally, 19s. 3d. to 20s. 3d. per bag of 180 tb. gross.

Ss ddetoplgs. 3d. eee GAS ee

412

GLEANINGS.

A general account of matters in connexion with the past
work of Dr. Francis Watts, C.M.G., the Imperial Commis-
sioner of Agriculture for the West Indies, appears on the
‘Tropical Life Friend’ page, in the issue of that journal for
October 1910.

The Hawaiian Forester and Agriculturist, for November
1910, states that forest products to the value of $51,161 were
shipped from Hawaii to the United States in 1909. The
similar values for 1908 and 1907 were $18,912 and $13,273,
respectively.

Of the total value of Ceylon produce exported during
1909, the products of the cocoa-nut palm represented
22°5 per cent., and tea 56°2 per cent. There is an increase
in the value of the former, among which copra attained
a record export. (Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 653.)

A report received from the Curator of the Botanic
Station, Dominica, shows that the cacao crop of that island is
good, and that the pods are ripening early. As regards the
lime crop, which is nearly completed, it is estimated that the
increase over that of last year will be about 60,000 barrels.

A Consular Report states that the coffee crop for Guate-
mala for 1909-10 amounted to about 650,000 quintals
(1 quintal= 101-4 tb.) of clean coffee, and that prices were
good generally. It is estimated that the 1910-11 crop will
reach about 800,000 quintals, and there are indications at
present that good prices will again be realized.

The Government Gazette of the Union of South Africa, for
October 14, 1910, reports that the Governor-General has
appointed a Commission, to be called the Commerce and
Industries Commission, for the purpose of enquiring into the
conditions of trade and industries, and other matters apper-
taining to these, in South Africa.

According to a report by the Superintendent of Agri-
culture of Barbados, the present cotton crop of that island is
one of the best since the cultivation has been reintroduced, if
not the best. The diseases and pests that have been noted
during the season, so far, are the bacterial disease causing
the symptoms known as black arm and angular leaf spot, and
the red maggot.

An abstract of a recent paper, contained in the Lxperi-
ment Station Record for July 1910, p. 29, in which work is
described in connexion with cyanogenetic glucosides (see
Agricultural News, Vol. LX, p. 274), shows that phaseoluna-
tin—the example of these bodies which occurs in the
Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus)--may be found in the leaves
as well as in the seeds.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Drcemper 24, 1910.

In June last, an Ordinance called the Importation of
Plants (Diseases Prevention) Ordinance, 1910, was passed in
Mauritius. By this, the Governor-in-Council is given power
to restrict, or prohibit by proclamation, the importation of
any articles from any country or state which, in his opinion,
are likely to form a means of introducing any plant disease
into the colony.

The British Acting Consul at Tamsui reports that the
following was the output of the sugar industry in Formosa
during 1909-10: centrifugal sugar 117,797 tons, brown sugar
81,190 tons, inferior grades of raw sugar 2,083 tons, making
a total of 201,000 tons. Of these quantities, the consumption
in Formosa was as follows: centrifugal sugar 2,976 tons,
brown sugar 11,904 tons, inferior grade raw sugar 1,488 tons.

A letter from H. C. Prinsen Geerligs, dated October 5,
1910, in the Louisiana Planter for the 22nd of that month,
states that beetroot has been planted in England during this
year to the extent of 300 acres; the crop from this will be
sent to Holland to be worked up there. This is a useful
procedure, as by its means guidance will be obtained as to
the new factory to be built for the purpose of dealing exelus-
ively with English-grown beet.

In order to encourage the arts and crafts of the Colony,
the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica has
decided to hold a ninth exhibition of objects of artand industry,
in February 1911. The details of the competition show that
the groups in which prizes are to be awarded include the fine
arts, photography by amateurs and professionals, and needle
work; though, if there is need for it, the scope will be increased
to include exhibits under other classifications.

The Report, Htc., of the Education Department, Bar-
bados, for 1909, shows that the interest taken in school
gardening, by the children in elementary schools in the island,
is well maintained. The number of exhibits sent to the
Agricultural Department from such schools has, however,
decreased during the year, the explanation being that the
place where the country agricultural show was held was too
far away from a large number of the schools for it to form
a convenient centre.

The Board of Trade Journal for November 3, 1910,
contains an abstract of a report by H.M. Trade Commissioner
for South Africa, to the effect that a company has been
formed, under the name of the Wartberg Starch Company,
Limited, to manufacture starch, and various starch products
from sweet potatos. The company, which is composed entirely
of growers of sweet potatos, is building a factory in the
Wartberg district capable ef manufacturing 1,000 tons of
starch products annually.

Through the courtesy of Mr. Edgar Tripp, Secretary of
the Agricultural and Commercial Society of Trinidad and
Tobago, information has been received that the following
awards were obtained in respect of the Trinidad exhibits at
the recent exhibition held in Toronto: gold medals, the
Permanent Exhibition Committee, and Messrs. Wilson, Ltd;
silver medal, Mr. Thomas Field; bronze medal, Messrs.
Gordon Grant & Co. These should be added to the list of
awards for the West Indies given on page 343 of the current
volume of the Agricultural News.

Vou. IX. No. 226.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS: > 413

er.

TUDENTS’ CORNER,

DECEMBER.
Tuirpd PERIOD.

Seasonal Notes.

In continuation of what was stated on this page
in connexion with limes, in the last number of the
Agricultural News, attention may be drawn to the use-
fulness of making observations in the field at the time
of harvesting the fruit. Such observations in some places
will show the advantage of cutlassing, over hoeing, in
lime plantations, as the former enables the fruit to be
picked clean. At this time, too, an opportunity is afforded
for making investigations as to the root system of lime trees.
These often show that the roots are confined to a region
extending to 12 inches below the surface of the soil, and, in
the case of healthy plants, that this region is fully occupied
by active rootlets. What information concerning the kind of
cultivation suitable for lime orchards is given as a result of
such investigations! Make notes of any insect pests that you
may have noticed on Bengal beans during the season.

Reference has been made, several times, to the treat-
ment of sugar-cane cuttings with Bordeaux mixture, before
they are planted. With what methods of treatment of cane
cuttings. before planting, are you practically acquainted ¢
State how these may be improved. Among such methods,
in addition to the one just mentioned, there are: soaking in
water, and in lime water; while there is the very neglect-
ful plan of soaking them in puddles that are convenient for
the purpose, in the estate yard. What circumstances are
there that make the last procedure specially dangerous!

At the times when maize is reaped, selection should be
practised fur the purpose of obtaining seed that is capable of
producing good plants for the next crop. In performing the
work of such selection, what matters should receive the chief
attention, (a) in the field, (b) when the examimation of the
ears is being made? From what part of the ears
should the grains that are intended for sowing purposes
be taken? Decide, from your observations on the plants,
whether they are most adapted to cross- or self-pollination.
What conclusion is supplied by your observations, in regard
to planting varieties of maize for the purpose of obtaining
good seed, capable of yielding the most vigorous plants, for
the next crop! In answering this question, the main regard
must be given to the two following circumstances: manner of
pollination, and the comparative vigour of plants obtained
from crossing different varieties and of those arising from
pollination among plants of one variety. How would you
ensure cross pollination between two different varieties of
maize growing in the same field!

Plants in certain parts of a field of maize are observed io
show, especially on the ears, whitish swellings, which inay
become very large; they finally burst, after becoming dark-
green in colour, and a large number of spores escapes from
them. What kinds of damage may result from the presence
of this disease, and what is the best method of preventing it
from spreading, as well as of guarding against future attacks!
(See Agricultural News, Vol. LX, pp. 55 and 142.) Give an
account of any other disease that is known to attack maize.

Write descriptions of the different varieties of ground
nuts with which you are fantiliar, and state’ what advantages
and disadvantages they possess in regard to: (1) time requir-
ed to attain maturity; (2)-ease of harvesting; (3) resistance
to pests and diseases; (4) suitability for local use; (5) suit-
ability for export. .In what ways are fungu’ diseases capable
of causing damage to crops of ground nuts. (See ‘West
Indian Bulletin, Volume X, pp. 246 and 256); information
in connexion with the subject is also given in the Annual
Report on the Botanic Station, etes,..Dominica, 1909-10,
which is to appear shortly. , Gain as much information as
you can concerning the cultivation of the ground nut, its com-
position and its uses. References in this connexion may
be given as follows: Ayricultural News, Vols. VIII, pp. 137,
206, 245, 315, 372 and 404; IX, pp. 4and 68).

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an account of a way of making budding tape.

(2) How would you show that the leaves of living plants |
give off water !

(3) Give a description of the preparation of farmyard
manure.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) What differences would you expect to find between
the fruit of lime trees: (a) growing in dry, sandy soil;
(b) growing in heavy soils, where there is an excess of rainfall?

(2) Give an account of as much of the structure of
a pitch pine board as can be seen with the aid of the
naked eye alone, making references to what you know in
connexion with the structure of the stem of an ordinary
dicotyledonous plant.

(3) State, with illustrations, what is meant by the avail-
able plant food in the soil.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Choose a soil of a type with which you are familiar,
and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of applying
lime to it, with especial reference to (a) the soil itself;
(b) local conditions.

(2) Give an account of the effects of tillage in relation
to (a) the physical condition of the soil, (b) the effects on
the micro-organisms which it contains.

(3) State what should be the chief characteristics of any
fruit, with the cultivation of which you are acquainted, giving
reasons for the advantages attendant upon the possession of
those characteristics.

Advantages of Guinea Grass Cultivation in
India.—(1) It is a most quiek-growing grass, as it yields in
forty-five days, a cutting 6 feet to 8 feet high, weighing 14
tons on the average per acre; (2) it yields the largest quantity
of grass known in a given time from a given area; (3) it is
highly nutritious, and is useful for feeding all kinds of stock;
(4) it is a real perennial, and occupies the ground for at least
a generation without requiring change; (5) it is the least
expensive to grow, with no costly seed bill to start with, no
weeding and very little interculture: (6) it is the best fodder
plant for intensive cultivation as it yields a quantity of fodder
which we cannot hope to get from eight times the area of
juari [Guinea corn, Andropogon sorghum, var, vulgaris] at
double the cost: it isa most hardy and drought-resisting
fodder plant, useful in times of scarcity; (7) it is free from
pests and fungus diseases, to which lucerne and other fodders
are liable; (8) it always yields a good return to a cultivator,
whose object is sale of fodder. (The Agricultural Journal
of India, Vol. V, p. 365.) :

414

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Dercemper 24, 1910.

FUNGUS NOTES.

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION GIVEN
DURING THE YEAR.

A very short summary is given below of the informa-
tion contained in the various articles published under the
heading Fungus Notes in the volume of the Agricu/tural
News that is coneluded by this number. The informa-
tion is divided up, with a view to making the sum-
mary as clear as possible, and references are given in each
case to the pages on which the different subjects have been
discussed.

cacao, Two important publications on cacao canker
have been dealt with during the year. The first, by Mrs.
A. E. van Hall, in Surinam, attributes the disease in that
country to Sprearia colorans, though infection experiments
with the fungus were unsuccessful (p. 46). The second, by
Rorer, in Trinidad, proved that in that island the disease is
due to a species of the genus Phytophthora, which is also res-
ponsible for black rot of the pods (p. 222). This information
is somewhat contradictory; but, at any rate, both authors
agree that all the species of Nectria which have been found
on canker wounds are almost certainly purely saprophytic.
An interesting point of local interest that has been noted is
the susceptibility of the grafted Alligator and Criollo cacaos
to this disease in Dominica (p. 222).

Information on the subject of die-back disease is given
on pp. 46, 270, and 382. It has been shown that the
causative fungus is the same in Surinam as in the West
Indies; and it is almost certain that the allied fungi described
on cacao from ditferent parts of the tropics are in reality
identical with one another, and with that found in these
islands. The present tendency appears to be to adopt the
name Lasiodiplodia theobromae to indicate them all. This
fungus also causes brown rot of cacao pods, and is believed
to be identical with that causing die-back of Hevea in Ceylon,
namely, Botryodiplodia elasticae. Evidence is accumulating
which tends to prove that Lastodiplodia theobromae can live
as a saprophyte on a very large number of other plants, and
can act as a partial parasite on several, under the right con-
ditions. (See p. 254.) Recent investigations, conducted
locally, have indicated that the fungus causing root disease
of cacao may also attack limes. A full list of its hosts, and
an account of its appearance, are given on p. 366. Some
notes on pink disease (Corticiwm lilacino-fuscum) are given
on pp. 286 and 382, where its occurrence on pigeon peas is
also recorded. On p. 238 appears an account of some
experiments conducted in Trinidad by Rorer, to test the effect
of spraying cacao systematically with Bordeaux mixture. The
experiments indicate that this course is highly remunerative.

RUBBER. A general summary of the diseases of rubber
is given on pp. 302, 318 and 334; while a description of
pink disease appears on p. 286, and information on die-back
on pp. 270 and 382. Pink disease, in Ceylon, is due to
Corticium javanicum; the causative fungus in the Straits
Settlements was identified as C’. calceum. It is possible that the
two fungi are identical in Ceylon and in the Straits. Both are
closely related to C. lilacino-fuscum. Die-back, in Ceylon, is
caused by Botryodiplodia elasticue following the attacks of
Gloeosporium alborubrum; in the Straits it is caused by
a fungus which has been identified as Diplodia rapax. There
is evidence to suggest that Diplodia rapax and Botryodip-
lodia elasticue ave the same; and Petch is of the opinion
that the latter is identical with Lasiodiplodia theobromae.
A new fungus, found recently on Hevea, is Butypa caulivora;

its parasitism is, however, somewhat doubtful. It is of
interest, since it is closely related to H. erwmpens—a wound
parasite of trees in the West Indies.

cocoa-NuTs. A short review of some recently published
work on well-known diseases of this host is given on
p. 254; it includes bud rot, root disease and stem bleeding
disease: the two former from Ceylon and Trinidad, the latter
from Ceylon alone. The root disease in Ceylon has been
found by Petch to be due to Homes lucidus, which is often
associated with Sotryodiplodiu elasticae, the last mentioned
being saprophytic on the dead roots. In Trinidad, there seems
to be a possibility that both bud rot and root disease are of
bacterial origin, and due to the same organism; the matter,
however, requires further attention.

LIMES. There appear to be several forms of root disease
attacking this host plant in the islands of St. Lucia, Dominica,
Montserrat and Antigua; one only has been dealt with—that
apparently due to the fungus that causes root disease
of cacao. (See p. 366.) The other forms are still under
investigation. Another fungus, Z'helephora pedicellata, allied
to Corticiwm lilacino-yuscum, has been described as forming
superficial, violet-grey, waxy patches on the branches of limes
in St. Lucia. (See p. 286.) It may be controlled by use of
measures similar to those employed for pink disease of cacao.

ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGI. A general article on this subject
appeared on p. 30. An interesting point contained in it
is the discovery of Botrytis eriophyes as a parasite on the
black cnrrant mite, Hriophyes ribis, in England. This
suggests the possibility that a similar parasite may occur on
the leaf-blister mite of cotton, Hriophyes gossypii, which
could be used as a partial means of control. Metarrhiziwm
anesopliae has been found to occur on the frog-hopper
Tomaspis postica in Trinidad, and Rorer and Urich are at
present engaged in conducting experiments to test its value
as an effective control of these insects (p. 350).

SMUT FUNGI. An account of three members of the group
Ustilagineae, which contains all the fungi causing smuts of
many cereals and other grasses, appears on pp. 59 and

398. These are Usti/ago maydis on Indian corn, Ustilago
sacchari? on sugar-cane, and Ustilago sorghi on various
Sorghums.

CHIEF GROUPS OF FUNGI. A series of eight articles has
been written, giving some idea of the various characters
that serve to mark off the main classes of fungi from one
another, and of the different types of reproductive structures
found among these plants. The series commences on
p. 78, and is continued in the seven following numbers. It
concludes with a tabular diagram on p. 190, summarizing
the information given.

MISCELLANEOUS. Various fungi of local interest have
been described, or referred to, from time to time. The econo-
mic importance of these species is very variable, but the
record of their occurrence, and advice as to their control, were
thought to be of interest to readers for various reasons. One
of these is an unidentified root fungus found on many differ-
ent host plants, including ground nuts, egg plants and
tomatos. It is mentioned on p, 11, and also in Vol. VIII,
p. 347. Thread blight of nutmegs in Grenada is described
on p. 206, and die-back of mangos on p.270. Some
account of leaf spot of beet, due to Cercospora beticola, and
rust of grape vines, caused by Uvedo vitis, is given on
p. 398. Finally, the results of experiments on disinfect-
ing Indian corn seed with corrosive sublimate appear on
p. 350. These show clearly that disinfection has a decid-
edly beneficial effect on germination, since it increases
the percentage of seeds that grow, and also causes them to
germinate more nearly simuitaneously.

Vou. IX. No. 226.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

415

A SIMPLE METHOD OF DESTROYING
DISEASED CARCASSES.

If a horse or bullock has to be cremated, we cannot do
better than follow the plan recommended by General Fred
Smith, whose retirement from the post of Director-General of
the Army Veterinary Corps has just been noted. In India
and in South Africa (where the writer served under him),
a great many animals had to be burned. A trench is dug in
the ground in the form of a cross, 7 feet each way, 15 inches
wide, and 18 inches deep in the centre, but shelving upwards
to the field level. The earth taken out of the trench is
shovelled between the angles, and upon this mound two bars
of iron are rested. An iron hurdle does well, as the weight is
better distributed. Two lengths of railway iron are very good,
and less disposed to bend with the heat, but we have, of course,
to use what we can get, whether it is an old harrow or other
implement, so long as it will give the support. The advan-
tage of this cross trench is that a draught is gained, no
matter in what direction the wind may be blowing. The
thick wood we have gathered is first placed on the structure,
and on this the eviscerated and dismembered trunk is placed;
then more wood, upon which the limbs are put; a further
layer of wood on the top of the limbs serves to receive tke
viscera Straw or shavings with some paraffin will start the
fire if the wood is not sufficiently dry, but a fat animal soon
contributes something to his own cremation. By this method
a beast may be consumed in five or six hours, with a little
stoking, of course, and raking out of the ashes to ensure the
draught inthe trench. As blood or liquids may have been
spilled around the funeral pyre, it is well to spread the hot
ashes over the place. (From the Farmer and Stock Breeder,
November 14, 1910.)

SOME AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AT
THE BRUSSELS EXHIBITION.

The Acting Under Secretary for Agriculture for Natal
has received from the Assistant Secretary to the High Com-
missioner for the Union in London a cutting from The Times
Engineering Supplement for August 24, referring to British
machinery exhibits at the Brussels» Exhibition. Mention is
made of oil tractors, steam ploughs, and threshing machines,
among others; and as the description of the exhibits under
these heads given by 7'he 7'imes will probably prove interesting
to many of our readers, we reproduce the notes below:—

om TRAcToRS. An agricultural tractor, with two cylin-
ders, capable of giving 35 b h.p. and burning paraftin, is to be
seen on Messrs. Marshall's stand. It is fitted with three
speeds, of 2, 4, and 6 miles an hour, with reverse on the
lowest. A still more powerful tractor by the same makers,
suitable for heavy haulage and military purposes, was with-
drawn from the Exhibition at the urgent request of the Natal
Government. It had a four cylinder engine developing 60 b.h.p.
at 750 r.p.m. It carried 115 gallons of paraftinin two tanks
under the frame, and could haul 7 or 8 tons on good average
roads for 80 or 100 miles, without the fuel or water tanks
being replenished.

STEAM PLOUGHS. There are two exhibits of steam plough-
ing engines, representing respectively, the ‘two engine’
and the ‘one engine’ systems. In the former the plough or other
cultivating implement is hauled backwards and forwards by
wire ropes between two engines, which are stationary while the
hauling is in progress, but move forward as each successive por-

tion of the field is finished. The inventors of the system, Messrs.
John Fowler & Co., of Leeds, show a compound engine,
working at a steam pressure of 180 tb. per square inch, which
is suitable for use in connexion with it. In the other or ‘one
engine’ system, the engine travels over the ground, hauling the
plough after it. The cost of the plant for this method is less
than for the other, but its application is restricted by the
fact that the ground must be sufficiently hard and firm to
prevent the engine from sinking in. The engine shown by
Messrs. J. and H. McLaren, Limited, of Leeds, for employ-
ment in this way, is a compound working at 200 Ib. pressure,
and a special widening ring can be attached to the wheels to
enable it to work over land into which it would otherwise
sink. The same firm shows its patent steam plough for
direct traction. There are four furrows, but while one is of
the standard pattern, the other has patent subsoilers, which
enable the ground underneath the ploughing to be stirred
without bringing the subsoil to the surface. (From the
Natal Agricultural Journal, Vol. XV, No. 4-)

POULTRY NOTES.

INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS.

We have recently had a number of enquiries as to
whether the statements made by advertisers as to the laying
proclivity of this breed of ducks are correct, and supported
by satisfactory evidence. We have looked into this matter
for our own information, as, never having kept this breed, we
had no personal knowledge of it. We find that the Rose-
worthy Agricultural College of New South Wales, where egg-
laying contests have been carried on for eight years without
a break, have this to say about the breed. In the contest
going on during 1909, there were fifteen pens of ducks (six
in apen) all Indian Runners but one pen. For the five
months ending September last, the records made run from
399 to 631 eggs. These were all from young ducks, and it
should be remembered that this period is the winter season
in New South Wales. ,fwo years ago, the annual competitions
were supplemented by two-year competitions, part of the
birds in the annual competition being held over fora second
year. ‘There were five pens of ducks in this two-year contest,
all Indian Runners but one. For the five-months of the
second year, these five pens made records of from 430 to 5382
eggs, the records for the seventeen months running from
1,454 to 1,802. Professor Thompson, who has charge
of these competitions, says: ‘Whatever the question is in
regard to hens versus ducks, it appears as though second year
Indian Runners can beat any other variety of poultry.’ (The
Southern Planter, December, 1910.)

Points of Plymouth Rocks.—The chief points
in a Plymouth Rock cockerel are as follows:—Comb: single,
bright-red; body: large, deep, square and medium size, perfectly
straight; face: smooth, bright-red; body: large, deep, square
and compact, with breast broad and deep; thighs: wide apart;
shanks: medium length, stout and strong, free from feathers;
colour: uniform and even throughout; size: large. The weight
of a cockerel fully matured should be 8 Ib. te 11 tbh. (Farm
Life, November 26, 1910.)

416

London.—TuHE

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

DecEMBER 24, 1910.

MARKET REPORTS.

West Inpia CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR
November 22, 1910 ; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co. |
November 25, 1910.

ArRowRooT—St. Vincent, 1} 3d. to 2d.

Ba.tata—Ssheet, 3/6; block, 2/7 per th.

BEEswax—47 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 53/- to 62/- per cwt.; Grenada, 49/6
to 54/-; Jamaica, 47/6 to 53/-.

CorrEe—Jamaica, 59/- to 100/-.

Corra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—Common to good common, 50/- to 53/- per
cwt.; low middling to middling, 54/- to 58/-; good
bright to fine, 59/- to 64/-.

Honry—No quotations.

IstycLtass—No quotations.

Lime JurceE—Raw, 11d. to 1/-; concentrated, £18 5s. to
£18 10s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6, nominal.

Locwoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nourmecs—Quiet.

Pimento—Common, 2}d.; fair, 2id.; good, 22d. per tb.

RupsBer—Para, fine hard, 6/2, tine soft, 5/5; fine Peru,
5/11 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/6 to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 14/- to 18/9; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/6;
Syrup, 9/9; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. GintEsPie Bros. & Co., November
1910.

Uacao—Caracas, 1ljc. to 12c. ; Grenada, 11}c. to 11de. ;
Trinidad, 11{c. to 114c. per tb.; Jamaica, no quotations.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $33°00 to $35°00; culls,
$18-00 to $19°00; Trinidad, select, $32°00 to $34:00 ;
culls, $17 00 to $18°00 per M.

CorreE—Jamaica, ordinary, 125c.; good ordinary, 1l3c. to
134c. per ib.; and washed, no quotations.

GincER—%c. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 56c.; Barbados and Antigua, 50c.
to 52c.; St. Croix, St. Shomas and St. Kitts, 46c.
to 48c. per th.

Grave Fruit—$2°25 to $3°00 per pox.

Limes—$4°50 to $5°50.

Mace—39c. to 42c. per th.

Nourmecs—110's, 9f<. to 10c. per th.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $200 per box.

Pimento—3jec. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°90c. per 1b.; Muscovados,
89°, 3°49c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°ldc. per tb., all duty
prid

25,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., December 10,

1910.
Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°50 per fanega; Trinidad, $11°30
to $11°65.

Cocoa-Nut O11—$1'11 per Imperial gallon

CorrrE—Venezuelan, l6c. per fb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 Th.

DxHat—$3 70.

Ontons $4°25 to $4°50 per 100 Ib.

Peas, Sprit—$6°20 to $6°25 per bag.

Poratos—English, $2°00 to $2°10 per 100 tb.

RiceE—Yellow, $4°30 to $4°35; White, $4:°60 to $4-65
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, $6°20 per 100 tb.

Barbados,—Messrs. Leacock & Co., December 2, 1910;
Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co., December 3, 1910;
Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., November 28, 1910,

Arrowroot—St. Vincent, $3°75 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$11:00 to $1200 per 100 tb.
Cocoa-nutTS—$22°00.

Correr—Jamaica and ordinary Rio, $10°50 to $14°50 per
100 tb. scarce.

Hay—$1°20 per 100 th.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $4200
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $70°00 to $75:00
per ton.

Mo .asses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°75 to $3°50 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$6°25 to $6°50 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°45 to $3°50 per bag of 120 th.

Potatos—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $3-25 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°90 to $5°30; Patna, $3°50 to $3-80;
Rangoon, $2°90 to $3°00 per 100 tt.

Sucar—No quotations.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & Ricutrer, December
10, 1910; Messrs. SanpBacn,
December 9, 1910.

PaRKER & Co,

Messrs. WIETING Messrs. Sanp-

ARTICLES.

s BACH, PARKER
& RIcHTeER. & Co.
Arrowroor—St. Vincent) $9-00 per 200 ib., $9-00
wanted
Baxtata—Venezuelablock; 32c. per tb. Prohibited
Demerara sheet| 78c. per tb. None

Cacao—Native
Cassava—
Cassava STARCH—

10c. to 1le. per tb.|10c. to 11e. per tb.
96c. No quotation
$6°50 No quotation

Cocoa-NuTS—

$10 to $16 per M.|$10 to $16 perM.,

peeled and ~
selected
Corree—Creole 14c_ per tb. 16c. per tb.
Jamaica and Rio 17c. per th. 17c.per th.
Liberian 9c. per tb. 12c. per tb.
DyHAaL— $3°80 to $4:00 per |$3°80 to $4-00 per
bag of 168 tb. bag of 168 tb.
Green Dhal $4-00 as
Eppos— $1-20 —
Motasses— Yellow None es
Ontons—Tenerifie — ——
Madeira 5e. to be. 6e.
Preas—Split $6:00 to 86°25 per| $6°60 to S6-75
bag (210 tb.) |per bag, (210 tb.)
Marseilles $425 No quotation
PLANTAINS— 20c. to 48c.
Poratos—Nova Scotia $2°30 to $2°50 $2°50 to $2°75
Lisbon —— No quotation
Poratos-Sweet, Barbados} $1°68 per bag
Rice—Ballam No quotation $4°80

Creole $4°40 to $4:°75 $4°35 to $4°75
Tannias— $144 per bag
Yams— White $2°40 —
Buck $264
Sucar—Dark crystals $2°20 to $2:25 None
Yellow $2°80 to $3:00 $2°65 to $2°80
White $4:00 $4:00 to $4°25
‘ Molasses $2°10 to $2°30 None
TimeeR—Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot cub. foot
Wallaba shingles} $3°50 to $5°75 $400 to $6°00
per M. per M.
»,5 Cordwood| $1°80 to $2:00 No quotation
per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

—

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture
FOR THE WEST INDIES.

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’. A Quarterly Scientific Journal.

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Volumes IJ, IIT, IN, Vin Vi, VII, Vinny ex and X:—Price 2 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2; IV, 3;
and V ,2 2 and a are out of print.)

Volume XI. No. 1. Containing papers on The Control of Ecale Insects in the British West Indies by Means of
Fungoid Parasites; Epizootie Lymphangitis; A New West Indian Cacao Pod Disease; Nomenclature of
Scale Insects; Notes on Lime Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Report on a Visit to the Guanica
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Sucar Inpustry. (14) Serew Worm in Cattle at St. Lucia. Price 2d.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

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Agricultural matters throughout the West Indies.

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Vou. IX. No. 226. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. December 24, 1910.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

ASRS ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugarcane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Basic Slag and all other high-class Fertilizers.
APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO ay
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, B.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

COTTON SEED MEAL.
GOTTEN SEED MEAL.

Recommended by the imperial Department of
Agriculture as a firsi class Feeding Stuff fer Catile,
Mules, etc. Special quotations for large quantities,
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

“TOST ISSUED:

WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vole, No. 15

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

Containing papers on The Control of Scale Insects in
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Cultivation; The Planting of Fruit Trees; Report on a Visit
to the Guanica Central Sugar Factory, Porto Rico; Manur-
ial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands; and
The Root Development of Cotton Plants in Different Soils.

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Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

417

INDEX.

Agricultural Show, Barbados, 1909, 14.
A. — —, St. Kitts, 332.
— shows, demonstrations at, 105.
—, local, in Trinidad, 27.
— Society of St. Lucia, premiums for
cotton-growing, 60
—, St. Vincent, 199, 229.

A BC of cotton planting, 28, 45. =<
Abol, exemption from duty, 284.
‘Absolute Juice’, definition of, 147.
Acacia farnesiana, Eriophyidae pe
Acarina, description of, 202, 2 18, — tours and conferences, 273.

families of, 218. Agriculture and the supply of labour,
fea content of lime fruits, 260. 177
— soils, availability of phosphates in, 56.,—, classes of workers in, 353.
Acidity of soils, causes of, 194. | in British East Africa, 203.
Action of heat on soils, 369. — Canouan, 262.
Adansonia digitata, 169. — — Cayman Islands, 351.
— Carriacou, 263.

266.
234.

Adenocalymna alliaceum, see Bignonia —

alliacea. — — elementary schools, Barbados, 255.
Africa, British East, rubber production — — —, St. Lucia, 153.

in, 203. — _— , Trinidad, 27.

—, South, export of maize from, 220. — -- Gambian 309.

—, West, importation of cotton seed -— — India, improvements of, 332.

into, 397. — — Mayreau, 263.

African fibre plant, 72. — — Nyasaland, 1909-10, 392.
Agave, cultivation in India, 31. — — Sierra Leone, 377.

— Franzosini, 236. — — the Argentine Republic, 108.

— rigida, var. sisalana in Fiji, 73. — —the Northern ‘Territories of the
Agricultural and Commercial Society, Gold Coast, 312.

Antigua, — — Union Island, Grenadines, 263.
—, Grenada, and Grenadian trade 69. —, fungi in relation to, 161.
Agricultural conditions in Carriacon, —, Indian, improvements in, 293,

153. — onthe Gold Coast, 389.
Agricultural Conference 1911 ,216, 337, —, uses for dynamite in, 317.

349. —, -—of electricity in, 305.

— conservancy, 290. Aid 3 in milk testing, 201.
— Department, Leeward Islands, 169. Air motors, manufacturers of, 28.

departments, uses of, 49.

education, see Education, Agricultural.
examinations, 375.
experiment stations,
of, 146.

—, functions of,
—, in the

| Alcohol in the Philippines, production of,
ke

Alkalis, use in preparing cocoa, 44.

Aluminium nitride as a manure, 188.

Amblyomma cajennense, 247.

— maculatum, 247.

— dissimile, 247.

Amblyrhiza, discovery in St. Martin, 396.

Ammonia, direct production of, 335.

Ammoniated fruit, 386.

Ammonium salts, direct absorption by
plants, 98.

Amygdalin, 275

Anceryx fasciata, disease of, 30.

Andropogon caricosus, 108.

Ankylostomias Ordinance in Grenada,
256.

'Annam, the Cay-cay of, 41.

/ Annatto, 111.

| Annual Colonial ate on

| Islands, 1908-9, 12

|— Exhibition, Peele 1909, 14.

educative work
= 129, 145.
German Colonies,

—, investigations in, 145.
—, value of, 241.
— implements in India, 140.
— industries in the Leeward Islands,
1908-9, 121.
— labour, supply of, 178. |
— machinery at the Brussels Exhibi-|
tion, 415.
Agricultural Products Protection Ordi-.
nance, 1906, St. Vincent, 76.
Agricultural prospects in Panama, 375.
— purposes, round buildings for, 153.
— research, centralization of, 353.
— returns of Canada, 1909, 265.
— Schools, examinations, 71, 245. | Antheridium, definition of, 110.
, prizes awarded at, 120. | Anthrax, method for determining pres-
Agrieuteeral Show, Antigua, 1909, 14. | ence of, 188.

Leeward

Anthrax,
380.

Antigua, Agricultural Show, 1909, 14.

—, arbor day in, 7.

—, area of onions in, 1909-10, 67.

—-, areas of green dressing plants in, 37,

Botanic Station, distribution from,

42,9 28, 92, 363, 380.
—, broom corn in, 9, 251.

—, cotton area in, 1910, BEYF

new Order in Great Britain,

—, — crop in, 118.
—, -— growing in, 182.
—, -— industry in, 363.

—, exports of, 121

—, green dressings in,

—, onions in, 67.

—, output of cotton, 1909-10, 182.

—, pasture improvement competition
int 137.

—, Plant Protection Proclamation,

—, rainfall in, 152, 363.

—-, Conference in, 1910, 62.

, Sugar exports from, 121

— sugar factory, work of, 284.

factories, output of, 1908-9, 121,

—, yields of cotton per acre, 119.

Apothecia, definition of, 126.

Apparatus for soil sterilization, 267.

Arachis hypogaea as green manure, 325,

Arachnida, description of, 202.

Araneida, description of, 202.

Araucaria excelsa, 171.

Arbol de la cera, see Myrica jalapensis.

Arbor day in Antigua, 7,

Argas persicus miniatus, fowl tick, 247,

Argentina, agriculture in, 108.

—, cotton growing in, 252.

Arrowroot Association, St. Vincent, 285,

37.

364

— (New Markets) Ordinance St. Vin-
cent, 329.
— on the London Market, 111, 143,

191), 239; 287, 319, 367, 383:
Articles used on estates, care of, 127.
Artificial manure works in Norway, 217.
— production of nitrates, 217.
Ascent of water in trees, 409.
Ashanti, exports of rubber from, 300.
Asclepias curassavica, suggested poison
ous action of, 124.
—, uses of, 38.
Asclepiadin, 38.
Ascomycetes, 94.
—, description of, 126, 142.
Assam, agricultural eon in, 89.
—, rubber, Rambong, see Ficus elastica,
trees, the fanptng of, 54,
Asphalt paint, use against mistletoe,
103.
Auchinleck, G. G., 27.

Australian monkey jack, 204.

Availability of phosphates in acid soils,
56.

Avocado pear, desirable characteristics of, |
116.

_ , propagation of, 116.

—, exportation of, 213.

Awards, West Indian, at Colonial Fruit
Show, 1909, 20.

Azores, pine-apple exports from, 12.

B.

Bacteria and steel corrosion, 252.
Bahamas, agzicultural prospects of, 315.
—, citrus exports from, 315.
—, cotton experiments in, 406.
— exports from, 315.
' forest products of, 315.
—, minor products of, 315.
—, pine-apple exports from,
—, sisal exports from, 315.
—, tobacco exports from, 315
Bahia, Manihot dichotoma in, 5.
Balance of life in the soil, 17, 33.
Balata output of British Guiana, 123.
Ballou, H. A., 93, 229, 362, 383.
Bambarra ground nut, 340.
Bamboo, manufacture of paper
121.
Banana Commission, British Guiana,
Delegation to Surinam, 284, 372.
— fibre, cloth from, 281.
— industry of Costa Rica,
— meal, 331, 345.
Bananas as a catch crop for rubber, 141.
— in Jamaica, 276. ®
—, West Indian, imports into the United
Kingdom, 1909, 76.
Bananine, 345.
Boabab trees for storing water, 169.
Barbados, agriculture in elementary
schools, 255.
— blackbird, Quiscalus fortirostris,
cotton area in, 204.
—, Goat Society in, 564.
— sugar-cane seedlings in India, 172
_, Toggenburg g goats in, 117.
Barbuda, cotton industry in, 363.
Barium in United States soils, 359.
— salts, use in evaporators, 386.
Barley, improvement of, 12.
Basic slag, lime in, 169.
Basidiomycetes, 95.
—, description of, 142.
Bay tree, sce Pimenta acris.
Bean, new velvet, 9.
Bearing rein, effects of use of, 252.
Bed grass, see Sporobolus indicus.
Bees and foul brood, 105.
—, to prevent from swarming, 207.
Bees, water consumed by, 172
Beeswax, purification of, 181.
Beet-growing in England, 412.
-—— Sugar Founders, Limited, 316.

315.

from,

287.

247.

’

— sugar production in Europe, 108.

418

Beetle,
355.

Belling, J., 19.

Bengal, suyar cultivation in,
218.

Béte rouge,

Bichet, on cacao, 105.
Bignone a Vail, see Bignonia alliacea.

Bignonia alliacea,

120.

hydrophilid attacking millions,

179.

Biological Institute, German East Africa,

25.

Birds, change of habits by, 41.
—, feeding habits of, 251.

, introduction of useful,

—, protection of, 113.

d

—, savannah or parrot bill,

247, 297, 347.

ani,

-— plumage,

113.

284.

—- seeds from, 185.
Blackbird of Dominica, 297.

Crotophaga

Blackbutt, see Eucalyptus pilularis.

Bleekrodea, species of,
— tonkinensis,

165.

165.

Blue gum, see Eucalyptus globulus

Board of

Agriculture

and

Fisheries,

Scientific Committee of, 236.
Board of Trade, Exhibitions Branch of,

24.

Boehmeria nivea, cultivation

3l.

234,

Bonuses for stock importation,
— to labourers for

168.

—— tn JEL
, var. tenacissima, in Fiji, 57.
Boje Medelloa,
Bolivia,

57

341,

rubber cultivation in,
— exports from, 200.
Bontia daphnoides,

wild

Books reviewed :—
A Handbook of the Fungus Diseases of

West Indian Plants, Bancroft,

in India,

200.
olive, use for,

89.

perraanent service,

299.

A Handbook of Tropical Gardening

and Planting, Macmillan,
Brazil in 1910, Oakenfull,

BONO:
299.

Common Weeds of the Farm and Gar-

den,

139.
Incubators
Sutcliffe,

Indian Insect Life,

395,

Manurial Experiments with Sugar-canes |
the Leeward Islands,

in

Je

Long and Percival,
Fruit Culture for Amateurs,

Their

and

139.

91.
Wright,

Management,

Maxwell-Lefroy,

1908-9,

Our Insect Friends and Enemies, Smith,

183.

Report on the Lands and Mines De-

partment,
123.

British Guiana,

1908-9,

The Book of the Goat, Pegler, 39
The Illustrated Poultry Record, Brown,

39.

The Modern Sugar Planter,

Shc

The Rat Problem, Boelter,

139.

. |
Gilmore,

Books reviewed (Concluded):—

The Science and Practice of Manuring,

Dyke, 379.
| The Weekly Telegraph
Book, 139.

The West Indies. General informa-
tion for Intending Settlers. Emi-
grants’ Information Office, 123.

Bordeaux Mixture,

Gardening

a quick way of
making, 181.
== —, references to effect in cane
germination, 77.
— —, sugar in, 55.

Botrytis bassiana on silk worms, 30.
— eriophyes on the black current mite,

Bowstring hemp, see Sansevieria sp.
Boyce, Sir Rubert, 28, 396.

Brazil, cacao in, 1910-11, 392.

—, cultivation of rice in, 220.

—, economic plant study in, 255.

—, encouragement of rubber-growing,

151.
—, rubber exploitation in, 236.
=, — exports from, 252, 297.
=. — industry of, 55, 297.
Breeders’ associations for improvement
of cattle, 201.

Breeding, broad, importance of, 85.
British Columbia, plant protection in,
388.
British Cotton Growing Association, 198,
358.
British East Africa, agriculture in,
British Empire, area of, 56.
-, population of, 56.
-—, trade of, 56.
British Guiana and the Canadian Exhibi-
tions, 251%
—, area of sugar cultivation in,

203.

1293}.

= —, Banana Commission, 284, 372.

== —, cultivation of sisal hemp in,
123.

= —, development of rice industry,
44.

—, exports from, 44, 92,

—, Food and Drugs Ordinance,
1909-10, 376.

-——, nature knowledge and elem-
entary hygiene in, 393.

—, output of balata, 123.

3 Me timber, 123.

—, rice experiments in, 279.

—, Tce ny Won ole Gos oe Sos
125, 154, 187, 279, 389, 411.

—, rubber experiments in, 123.

Bi pes — exports from, 1908-9,
123.

— —, sugar cane area in, 92.

sks —-, — crop of, 92.

at —, — exports from, 92.

British Honduras, development of, 156,
—, distribution of plants, 363.
— Rubber Company Ltd., 172.
—, rubber exploitation in, 172.
— — in, 363.

419

British Honduras,
in, 363

—, trade of, 108.

—, trials with plants, 363.
British West Indian trade with Venezuela,

1908, 335.

Broad breeding, importance of, 85.
Broom Corn in Antigua, 9, 251.

sugar-cane seedlings

— —, desirable characteristics of,
60.

— —, distance for planting, 9.

— —, prices of, 92.

— —, proportion of seeds to heads,
251.

— —, state of eee 12.

— —, yield of, 2

Brussels Congress of Peeaeoes, 298.

— Exhibition, agricultural machinery at,
415.

— International Congress, 12, 140.

Bryobia mite, 218

Budding of egg plant, 261.

Budwood, Florida, success in West Indies
with, 356.

Buildings, round, for agricultural
poses, 153.

Bull frog, ticks on, 247.

Burr grass, see Cenchrus echinatus

Butter, effect of pasteurization of milk
on, 60.

Butter-making, pure starters for, 20.

pur-

C.

Cabouya, see Sporobolus indicus and
8. Jacquemontil.
Cacao, ‘ bitchet ’ on,
—, budding of, 284.
butter, manufacture and uses of, 36

— crop of the Gold Coast, 108.
cultivation in German New Guinea,

229.

105.

Samoa, 229.
the Cameroons,
Togoland, 229.
of witches’ broom,
Dominica, 411.
Ecuador, 351.
Haiti, 188.
Nigeria, Western Prov-

298

aa0.2
—, development 57.
— exports from

vince, 108, 252.
— the Seychelles, 297.
— Trinidad, 12, 172, 220.
—, fermentation of, 24.
— growing, prizes for, 500.
—, improvement of, by selection, 308.
in Brazil, 1910-11; 392.

-— Ecuador, 301.

— Jamaica, 277.
— land, draining of, 36.
Cacao-mulching, references to literature,

157.

Cacao on the Gold Coast, 389.

pods, packing and transporting, 228.

production in various countries, 308.
of in 1909, 324.

—, products obtained from, 36.

some pests of, in Jamaica, 330.

spraying in Trinidad, 238.

trees, yield from, 148.

, ways of i increasing yield, 149.

Caicos and Turks Islands, trade of, 328.

Cajanus indicus, 37, 366.

Calathea Allouya, 152, 184.

Calabash pipe plant, South African, see
Lagenaria vulgaris.

Calabash pipes, growth of fruit for, 73.

Calathea Allouya, 152, 184.

Calcium cyanamide and nitrate of lime,

140, 169. 185, 217, 249, 2&0.
— —, manufacture cf, 307.
— —, manurial value of, - 169

185, 217, 249, 280. {
nitrate, see nitrate of lime.

— sulphate in evaporators, use of, 386.

Californian orchards, green manures in,
404.

Calves, cassava farine for feeding young,
57.

Cambridge University, Department of
Agriculture, 28.

Cameroons, cacao cultivation in, 228,
-—, experiment stations in, 408.
Camphor exports from Japan, 184.
industry, Japanese, 184.
monopoly, Japan, 280
trade of North Formosa,
tree, Borneo, 233.
—, Sumatra, 233.
, yield from different
Vie Wao:
Canada, agricultural returns of,
265.
—, consumption of vanilla, 1908, 156.
—, trade with West Indies, 29, 69.
Canadian dairy products, exports of, 76.
exhibitions, 291.

1909, 280

parts of the |

1909,

— and the West Indies, 1910,
343.

= —, St. Lucia and, 319

-- SOLON 209:

— —, Trinidad, St. Vincent and
Tortola and, 291.

— Royal Commission, 12.

trade and Grenada, 69.

Canary Islands, trade of, 1909, 2 284

Canavalia gladiata, comparison with ©
Peer nmin Biel

Candelilla plant, see Pedilanthus.

— wax, 104.

Cane sugar manufacture, refuse from, 325.

Canella alba, 79, 111.

Canhamo brasiliensis Perini,
radiatus.

Canouan, agriculture in, 262.

Caponizing of fowls, 171.

Carbolineum, use against mistletoe, 103.

Carbon bisulphide, action in killing

plants, 265,

see Hibiscus

Carbon bisulphide, cost of, 74.
—, effect on soils, 18.

— — for killing weeds, 265. *
_ — — ‘sick’ soils, 361. |
— — — weevils, 378.

= —, properties of, 74 3
-- —, use as an insecticide, 74, 90,

378.
Carbonates and nitrification, 9.
Careasses, simple method of destroying,
415.
Carpodinus gracilis, 120.
Carpenter bird, 41.
Carriacou, agriculture in, 153,
—, ‘millions’ in, 124.
—-, output of cotton, 1909, 153.
—, prize-holdings competition in, 391.
Caravonica cotton and kapok, fabrics
from, 60.
Cassava as a catch crop for rubber, 141.
farine for feeding young calves, 57.
flour, hydrocyanic acid in, 300.
in Ceylon, cultivation and uses, 329.
-, methods for cooking, 329.
starch, machinery for, 12.
Cassia Fistula on the London Market,
LOMO Leas os
Castilloa, Costa Rica, see Castilloa costari-
cana.
costaricana, 360.
cultivation in Jamaica, 360,
elastica in Fiji, 57.
guatemaltica, 360.
elastica rubber, tackiness in, 89.
Castor seed production in Java, 239.
Casuarina equisetifolia, 23.
— as fuel in sugar factories, 83.
Catch erops for rubber in Malaya, 141.
— in lime cultivation, 361.
Cattle, breeders’ associations for improve-
ment of, 201.
— farmsand small holdings combined,89.
_ se toed, silk cotton seed as, 93.
—, soy meal and cake as,
— in Nyasaland, 593,
— tick, Margaropus annulatus, var. aus-
tralis, 47, 157, 234, 247.
— ticks, crude oi! emulsion for, 344.
Cay-cay of Annam, see Irvingia Oliveri.
Cayla, V, 249.
Cayman Islands, agriculture in, 351.
Ceara plants, yields from, 323.
— rubber plant, see Manihot Glaziovii.
, tackiness in, 89.
— trees, yield of latex from, 107.
—, yield from, in Uganda,
£m
, yields with different kinds of
pe 151.
Cecropia peltata in paper-making, 325,
Cenchrus echinatus, 217.

Centralization of agricultural research,
Ceylon and the British Cotton Growing
Association, 262.
—, cotton growing in,
-—, cultivation and uses = cassava in, 329,

263.

267.

‘O71.

; 262.

———_—

420

Ceylon, experimental gardens in, 115.
—, exports from, 1909, 412.
— of cocoanut oil, 220.
; Medical Wants Ordinance, 408.
_, ” rubber exports from, 364.
— in, 403.
— tapping experiments in,
Chaetodiplodia g genus, 46.
Charcoal in fattening ducks, use of, 137.
China, cotton-growing in, 38.
—, exports of sesamum seed from,
—, new maize from, 203.
—, sugar industry in, 9.
Cigar tobacco growing in Pennsylvania,
399.
Cinnamon bark,
chelles, 297.
Cinnamonum Tamala, oil from, 329.
Cireumposition, propagation of mangos
by, 388.
Citrate of lime, supply in Italy, 108.
Citrus essences, adulteration of, 268.
exports from the Bahamas, 315,
fruits in Jamaica, 277.
industry in Dominica, 1909, 3, 411.
plants in Florida, cultivation of, 385.
products in Sicily, 233.
Clay, cause of plasticity, 284.
Cleistothecia, definition of, 126.
Climate, cotton and, 150.
Climates and floods, influence of forests
on, 248.
Clostridium pastorianum, 361.
Cloth from banana fibre, 281.
Coagulation of rubber latex, method for,
236.
Coal, action of bacteria on, 268.
Cochin-China, rubber industry of, 236.
Cocoa, use of alkalis in preparing, 44.
Coco-de-mer, exports from the Seychelles;
297.
Cocoa-nut cultivation and copra in Feder-
ated Malay States, 377.
—, of, in India, 31.
export from the Seychelles, 297.
exports from Trinidad, 154.
meal for milk production, 23.
oil, exports from Ceylon, 220.
— the Seychelles, 297.
geographical distribution of,

?

3D4,

60.

export from the Sey-

palm,

132.

Cocoa-nuts, decorticated, export from Cey-
lon, 220.

— for planting, selection of, 244.

, test of ripeness, 245.

—, world’s cultivation of, 133,

—, yield of, 21.

—, copra from, 101.

Coffea canephora, soil for, 133.

, var kouillouesis, 248

excelsa, 248.

liberiea, 133.

robusta, 133, 248.

Coffee as a catch crop for rubber, 141.

— crop of Guatemala, 412.

— exports from Mexico, 313.

— Nyasaland, 392.

Coffee exports from Venezuela, 92.
in Jamaica, 276.

—, Liberian, see Coffea liberica.
—, plant, Congo, 133.
— production in Java,

239.

| Coffees, West African, comparative values |

of, 248.

* Cogollos’, 51

Colonial fibre planting and Trading Com-
pany, Ltd., 28

Colonial Fruit Show, 1909, 20, 76

, 1910, 405.

Colonial laws relating to patents, trade
marks ete., lists of, 140.

Colour chart, 300.

Columella, definition of, 110.

Commerce and Industries Commission,
South Africa, 412.

Committee, Medical and
Africa, 28.

Compensation for insured stock, 2

Concrete posts on estates, 323.

Conferences, agricultural, purpose
value of, 273.

Conference in Antigua, Agricultural, 62.

Congo banana, 284.

Congo coffee plant, see Coffea robusta.

Congress at Manaos, 151.

Conceptacles, definition of, 158.

Co-operation between the planter and his
advisers, 49.

Co-operative credit societies in India, 187.

Copra and cocoanut cultivation in Feder-
ated Malay States, 377.

— experts from Ceylon, 220.

— from Fiji, 92.

—, — — Java, 1908, 44:
from cocoa-nuts, yield of, 101.

—, preservation of, 265.

— production in Java, 239.

Cordia sp., 9.

Cordyceps spp. attacking insects, 30.

Corn, advantages of crossing varieties, 403.

— breeding in the Transvaal, 204.

—., broad breeding in, 85.

Corn drill, Avery’s Union, 3.

—, feeding poultry with, 87.

—, relation of ear characters to yield,

213.

, value of first generation hybrids in,

402.

Corrosion, Euphorbia latex for prevent-
ing, 41, 232.

Costa Rica, banana export tax, 287.

— banana industry of, 287.

Cotton, Colonel Hon. R. 8., 89.

Cotton Congress, Sixth International, 2 22.

—, American, export to Great Britain, 371.

— "and climate; 150.

— area in Antigua, 1910, 332.

— Barbados, 1909, 204.

— Eastern Bengal and

Sanitary, for

and

Assam, 60.

-— Egypt, 230.
Montserrat, 347.
Cotton area in Nevis 1909-10, 1910-11,

28, 316.

Cotton, bacterial disease of, 166.
— bolls, plant bugs injurious to, 394.
—, characteristics of China, 38.
— crop in Antigua, 118.
= mer: Egyptian, 76, 199, 342.
—-, Montserrat, 1910, 204,
Sea Tslands, 1909-10, 310.
— eaitivntin in Beira, 252.
— China, 38.
—,decreased production in Egypt, 108,
326, 342.
—, distance for planting, 134.
— duck, uses in manufactures, 92.
—, East African, 326.
—, Egyptian, exports to the U.S., 172.
—, use and manufacture of, 374.
— export from Bahamas, 315
British Guiana, 156.
Egypt, 374.
— Jamaica, 294.
Nigeria, Western Province,

Nyasaland, 28.

Peru, 590.

Porto Rico, 1908, 44.

— Uganda, 6, 44, 102, 124,
204, 268, ° 358.

— West Indies,1909, 118.

— experiments in the Bahamas, 406.

— Transvaal, 326.
— West Indies, 118, 198.

278, 294.
— ginnery for Grenada, 396.
Cotton Growing Association, British, 198,
358.
— growing, British, 102.
Cotton-growing from cuttings and by
budding, 232.
in Antigua, 182.
Argentina, 252.
Ceylon, 8, 262.
China, 38.
Egypt, 108, 326, 342.
French Colonies, 214.
Greece, 406.
India, a
Malta, 29
Ottoman Empire,
- Siam, 150.
Soudan, 268.
—, prospects of Egyptian,
hybrids, yields from, 231.
— imports into France, 28.
— the United Kingdom, 44,

220,
230.

76, 188.
— in British West Indies, 134.
Corea, 396.

— — Eastern Bengal and Assam,

396.

|— — Egypt, lessened production, 108,

326, 342.
— — Hayti 1909, 380.
— — Montserrat 1910, 204.
— — Nyasaland, 102, 358, 359.
— — Rhodesia, 102, 358.
— — the Grenadines,
Government, 204.
— -— Venezuela, 1910, 380.

purchase by

Cotton in West Africa, 358.

—, Indian, provision to United States,
200, 246.

— planting, preparation of land, 86.

—, production and consumption of, 102.

Cotton industry in Antigua, 363.

— Barbuda, 363.

— of Peru, 390.
— Uganda, 6.
linters for paper-making, 214.
—, production in the U.S., 236.
manurial experiments in India,
246.
—, requirements of, 86.
—, mercerising, 374.
— mixing, Uganda, 6.
—, Nyasaland upland, 150.
old, method of burning, 86.
on the Gold Coast, 389.
Ordinance, Uganda, 6, 380.
output, Antigua, 1909-10, 182.
— of Carriacou, 1909, 153.
— — Peru, 204.
pests in Peru, 390.
— Uganda, 42.
—, references to Departmental pub-
lications, 45.
‘pickings’, nature of, 40.
planting, literature on, 189.
—, preparation of land for,
plants, destruction of old, 7,
, preparation for planting, 86, 167.
— prices and production, 102.

3

86..
299.

oak

— — for Montserrat, 347.

—, production and consumption of, |
102.

— —, French, 172.

—, Australian,
—, Togo, 44.
purchase, regulation of, in St. Vincent,
76.
— purchases in Lagos, 1909, 102.
sales, regulation of, in St. Vincent,
76.
—, schreinerising, 574.
—, Sea Island, characteristics of, 134.
—, — —, special uses for, 92.
— seed cake, composition of, 93.
in Montserrat, 44.
— importation into West Africa,

1909, 140.

397.

— seed meal for milk production,
23.

— — oil and woollen manufactures,
25.

- -— —, output from United
‘States, 1909, 54.

— — —, uses for, 25, 54.

os —., references: to literature, 265.

—— — selection, St. Vincent, 182.

— selection by means of ‘ progeny rows’,
70.

—, silk, composition of seed cake, 93.

— strain immune from leaf blister mite,
229.

— supply of Japan, 408.

— the United States, 236.

Cotton seed, St. Vincent, cost for treating,

182.
—, selection for planting, 205.
—, uses of, 214.

— waste, uses of, 40.

varieties in Nyasaland, 150.

—, West Indian on the Liverpool Market,
6, 22, 38, 54, 70, 86,102, 118, 134,
150, 166, 184, 198, 214, 230, 246,
262, 278, 294, 300, 326, 342, 358,
374, 390, 406.

—, West Indian, prices, 1909-10, 278

—, world’s supply of, 371.

—, yield in Egypt, 230.

—, — per acre in Antigua, 119.

Cottons, tree, in India, 92.

Courses of Reading in St. Kitts,

Cousins, Hon. H. HL, 360.

Cowgram, see Dolichos sp.

Cows, feeding for milk production, 23.

Cramp in poultry, 43.

Creasote for preserving posts, 312, 377

Crépe rubber, definition of, 133.

Cresol-Calcium, 137.

Crops, damage to, by hurricanes, 271.

Crossing Sea Island and Native West

Indian cotton, 230.

Crotalaria Juncea, oil

Crotophaga ani, 247,

Crude oil emulsion

Cryptostegia madagascariensis

tackiness in, 89.

Cuba, exports of pine-apples, 1909, 21

— sugar, 1909, 215.

—, sugar crop of, 1910, 76.

— production in, 284.

27

297, 347.
rubber,

— tobacco production in, 215.

— trade and commerce of, 1909, 215

‘Cucasa’,

Cultivation of Castilloa in Jamaica, 560.

— — sugar-cane, machine for 117.

Cultivator, ‘Comet’, 3.

—, ‘Gee Whiz’, 3.

Cuscuta sp. in Carriacou, 153.

Custard apples, exportation of, 213.

Cyanogenesis in plants, 274.

Cyanogenetic glucosides, 275.

Cyanothyrsus Ogea, 389.

Cyclone tractor, 268.

Cycloneda sanguinea, 106.

Cymbopogon flexuosiis in India, 407.

Cynodon Dactylon, use in orchards, 180.

Cyp, see Cordia sp.

Cyprus, Plant Importation Regulations,
396.

Dee

D.

Dairy products, Canadian, exports of, 76.
Damage done to crops by hurricanes, 271.
Dammara australis, 171.
Decorticating machines, 156, 364,
Dematiaceae, description of, 175.
Demerara, Banana Commission, 284.
— seedling canes in Louisiana, 271,

393,

339,

for cattle ticks, 344. |

Demonstrations at agricultural shows,
105.

Department News, 7, 45,
221, 229, 253, 269, 307,
399.

Departmental Reports, 154, 219,
295, 315, 327, 347, 363, 411.
Dermacentor nitens, horse tick, 247.
Dermanyssus gallinae, poultry mite, 234,

Desmodium spp., use in orchards, 386,

Dhaincha, see Sesbania aculeata.

D’héliotrope blane, 149.

Diastases in rubber latex, 249.

Diatraea saccharalis, references to litera-
ture, 109.

Dipteryx odorata, Tonka bean, 149.

Dise cultivator, Orleans, 3.

Discomycetes, description of, 126.

Disease, ticks and, 47.

Diseases of cocoa-nut palms, recent work
on, 254.

— — plants, endemic, treatment of, 225,

—, epidemic, treatment of, 225,

Disinfection of Indian corn seed, 350.

Distribution of cotton-growing in the
United States, 281.

Dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 247,

Dolichos sp., as a green manure, 325.

Dominica and the London Fruit Exhibi-

77, 93, 19%,
331, 349, 383,

279,

tion, 380.

—, blackbird of, 297.

— Botanic Station, distribution, 348,
380, 411.

, cacao exports from, 411.

—, citrus industry in 1909, 3, 411.

— exhibits at the Colonial Fruit Show,
405.

—, green dressings in, 37.

— Forests, Limited, Ordinance, 1910,
236.

— limes, advertisement of, 76.

—— Plant Protection Proclamation, 364,

—, prize-holdings competitions in, 149,

= reel Min, WM all.

Dothideales, description of,

Draining cacao land, 36.

Drugs and spices on the London Market,
15, 47, 79,111, 148, 191, 207, 239;
287, 319, 367, 383.

Dry farming, experiment in, 156,

Dryobalanops Camphora, 233.

Ducks, Indian Runner, 415.

, use of charcoal in fattening, 137.

Dunlop, W. R, 77.

Dynamite in agriculture, uses for,

Dysdercus sp., disease of, 30.

127.

317.

EB.

Early fruiting in mangos, methods of
causing, 117.
Earthworms in the soil, work of, 401,

Earwigs attacking cotton, 281. |"

: _ —

East African cotton, 326.
Eastern Bengal and Assam, cotton in,
396.
— ses education in, 89.
Ebbels, W. P., 159, 339.
Ecdy ee rosea rubber, tackiness in,
89.

Economie plant study in Brazil, 255
Ecuador, cacao in, 351.
Editorials :-—
A way in which plants take up nitro-
gen, 97.
Action of heat on soils, 369.
Agricultural Conference, 1911, 337.
Agriculture and the sapply of labour
177.
Balance of life in the soil :—
I. General considerations, 17.
Il. Effects of sterilization, 33.
Canadian exhibitions, 1910, 209.
Centralization of agricultural research,
353.

Changes in the soil and its fertility,
193.

Co-operation between the planter and
his advisers, 49.

Cultivation of citrus plants in Florida,

385.

Essentials for the growth of plants,
257.

Functions of agricultural experiment
stations :—

I. In practical agriculture, 145.
II. In stimulating research, 129.
Fungi in relation to agriculture, 161.
Growth of knowledge concerning soil
fertility, 321.
Introduction of useful birds, 113.
Maintenance of soil productivity, 289.
Mutual insurance of live stock, 1.
Problem of agricultural education:—
I. essentials of education, 65.
IL. means of education, 81.

Purpose and value of agricultural tours
and conferences, 275.

Some considerations in the treatment
of plant diseases, 225.

Use of electricity in agriculture, 305.

Value of agricultural experiment sta-
tions, 241.

Work of earthworms in the soil, 401.
Edinburgh University, forestry at, 264.
Education, Agricultural :—

In Eastern Bengal and Assam, 89.

In elementary schools, 81.

In Trinidad, 154.

Problem of, 65, 81.
Eel worms in cane fields,

way to detect, 314.

Effects of carbonates upon nitrification, 9.
- — manures on the quality of

pine apples, 264.

Egg plant, see Solanum Melongena.

Egypt, cotton exports from, 374.

cotton-growing in, 108, 326, 342.

—, decreased cotton production in, 108,
230 342.

suggested

Egypt, export of cotton to U.S., 172
Egyptian cotton crop, 1909, 542.
—, 1909-10, estimate of

76.

-— growing, prospects of, 230,
— , use and manufacture of,
374.
Elateridae, 158.
Electrical discharges, effect on plants, 175.
Electricity in agriculture, use of, 305.
Electro-culture, Thwaite system, 306, 380.
Electroplating, simple method of, 136.
Elias pure rubber process, 236.
Emigration, eftects of, 178.
Empire, trade within the, 56.
Empusa gryli, on grasshoppers, 30.
— sp., on flies, 30.
Encephalartos caffer, 125.
England, beet-growing in, 412.
Entomology, Brussels Congress of, 298.
Entomophthora on spiders, 30.
Eriophyidae, description of, 266.
—, examples of, 266.
Erythrina velutini, disease of,
Essential oils, new, 329.
Essentials for the growth of plants,
Estates, care of articles used on, 127.
Eucalyptus acmenoides, 171.
Ssatinis elie
citriodora, 171.
globulus, fuel in sugar factories, 83.
longifolia, 171.
maculata, 171.
paniculata, 171.
pilularis, 171.
punctata, 171.
robusta, 171.
rostrata, 171.
rudis, 171.
saligna, 171.
sideroxylon, 171.
Smithii, 171.
tereticornis, 171.
Eupatorium odoratum, Eriophyes
266.
Euphorbia anti-syphilitica,
thus pavonis.
antiquorum, 252.
fulva, 109.
grandidens, 232.
latex for preventing corrosion, 41, 252.
jectiflua, rubber from, 76.
pilulifera, 396. ;
Reinhardtii, 232.
thymifolia, 180.
Tirucalli, 232.
Examination of agricultural schools, half-
yearly, 71, 245
— papers, Preliminary, 381.
— results, St. Kitts Grammar School,
140.
—, Preliminary, 375.
Exhibition, International Wubber and
Allied Trades, 1911, 60, 156, 172, 220,
284, 300, 357, 396, 407.
— International and ‘Horticultural, Flor-
ence, 391,

366.

ORY

on,

see Pedilan-

eat

Exhibition, Horticultural, 1912, 172, 332.

-— International, Winnipeg, 316.

— of Art and Industry, Jamaica, 412.

—, Toronto, awards, 343, 412.

Exhibitions Branch of the Board of Trade,
24.

—., British Guiana and the Canadian,
251

Experiment stations, agricultural, value

of, 241.
= —, Cameroons, 408.
— —, German New Guinea, 409.
— —, German South-west Africa,
409.

German West Africa, 409.
, Kiao-Chao, 409.
Samoa, 409.
, Togo, 409.

work of, 241.
Experimental gardens in Ceylon, 115.
Experiments in drying megass, 355.

F.

Fattening ducks, use of charcoal in, 137.

Federated Malay States, cocoanut culti-
vation and copra in, 377.

— — —, rubber in,
348, 396.

Felling trees, new method for,

Fermentation of cacao, 24.

Fertility and changes in the soil, 193.

Fertilizing influence of sunlight, 107,

275.

Fibre-cleaning machines, 156, 364, 393.

— industry in St. Helena, 44.

Fibre plant, an African, 72.

Perini, 69.

—. plants in India, 31.

Fibres in Fiji, 57.

Ficus elastica in Fiji, 57.

—, rate of growth of, 103.

— rubber, tackiness in, 89.

—, tapping of 54.

Ficus prolixa rubber, tackiness in, 89.

Ficus Vogelii, 25.

Fiji, copra from, 92.

—, rubber in, 57.

-—-, sugar export, 92

Filao wood, see Casuarina equisetifolia.

Finnigan-Zabriski decorticating machine,
156.

Flax, New Zealand, see Phormium tenax.

Flies, disease of, 30.

—, Empusa sp. on, 30.

Flooded gum, see Eucalyptus saligna.

Florence International and Horticul-
tural Exhibition, 291.

Florida budwood, success in West Indies

with, 356.

, cultivation of citrus plants in, 585.
West Indian seedling canes in, 19.
Fluke, No 2. Cuban double mould- board,

3.
Flying-fish attacked by maggots,

297.

122.

Food and Drugs Ordinance, British Gui-| Fungus Notes :—

ana, 1909-10, 376.
Forest area in New Zealand,
— lands in Hawaii, 87.
— policy in Hawaii, 87.
— products in India, value of, 153.

— Nyasaland, 393.

—— of Hawaii, £12.

= — the Bahamas, 315.

Forest reserve, demarcation, Trinidad, 9.

—., trees in, Trinidad, 9.

Forests, influence of, on climate and floods,
248.

—, types of, 87.

Forestry at Edinburgh University, 264.

— in India, State, 153.

—= — New Zealand, 169.

— — Trinidad and Tobago, 9.

— on the Gold Coast, 389

Forestry Ordinance, Grenada, 375,

Formaldehyde, detection in plants, 396.

Formosa, pine-apple industry of, 249.

sugar industry, 412.

i120.

169.

Forsteronia floribunda,

— gracilis, 120.

Foul brood, measures against, in Jamaica,
105.

Fowl tick, Argas persicus miniatus, 247.

Fowls, breeding and care of, 5.

—, caponizing of, 171.

—, to judge the age of, 155.

—-, tuberculosis in, 237.

France, live stock insurance in, 156.

Frazer, G., 3, 124.

French colonies, vanilla exports from, 52.

Frog-hoppers, control of, 346.

—, natural enemies of, 546.

—, Septocylindrium suspectum on, 219.

Frost, Henry W. & Co., West Indian Sea
Island cotton, 6, 22, 38, 54, 70, 86,
102, 118, 134, 150, 166, 182, 198, 214,
230, 246, 262; 278, 294, 310, 326, 342,
358, 374, 390, 406.

Fruit agents, in London, 212.

— cultivation in India, 180.

— exports from Mexico, 313.

— exportation from Natal, 196, 212,

292.
in Jamaica, 276.

—, packing of, 196.

—, sale of, in England, 197.

Fruit Show, Colonial, 20, 76, 405.

Fruit trees, cleansing, 388.

Fruits, cause of ripening of, 332

— in Trinidad, 154.

‘“Fuma’, 74.

Functions of agricultural experiment sta-
tions, 145.

Fungi, general description of, 161.

——, identification on scale insects, 205.

Fungi Imperfecti, description of, 95, 174.

Fungi in relation to agriculture, 161.

— on seale insects, references to litera-
ture, 125.

—, practicability of spraying for, 238.

—, tabular summary of, 190-

—-, types of reproduction in, 78.

additional note on pink diseases, 382.

cacao canker, 222.

— diseases in Surinam, 46.

— spraying in Trinidad, 238.

chief groups of fungi, Parts I-VIII,
78, 94, 110, 126, 142, 158, 174, 190.

cocoa-nut palms, recent work on diseases
of, 254

die-back diseases of Hevea, cacao, and
mango, 270

diseases of rubber
III, 302, 318, 334.

disinfection of Indian corn seed, 350.

fungi attacking insects, 30.

frog-hopper fungus in Trinidad, 350.

fungoid diseases of garden plants, 11.

miscellaneous fungi recently examined,
398

observations on die-back diseases, 382.

recent work on diseases of cocoa-nut
palms, 254.

trees, Parts I to

root disease of cacao, limes and other

plants, 366.
smut fungi, 59.
summary of information given during
the year, 414.
thread and horse-hair blights, 206.
two interesting fungi in St. Lucia,
286.
Fungus spores, description of, 78.
Funtumia elastica, 25.
in Fiji, 57.
—- Sierra Leone, 377.
rubber, tackiness in, 89.

G.

Galvanit, 136.
Gamasidae, description of, 234.
Gambia, agriculture in, 309.
—, trade of, 1908, 561.
Garden plants, fungoid diseases of, 11.
Garlic shrub, see Bignonia alliacea.
Gasteromycetes, description of, 158.
Gate posts, creasote for preserving, 312,
377.
Geerligs, H. C. Prinsen, 67, 147, 259, 412.
Genus of plants, definition of, 78.
Geographical Congress, Tenth Interna-
tional, 284.
German colonies, agricultural experiment
stations in, 408.
—, cacao cultivation in, 228.
German East Africa, Biological Institute,
25.
German New Guinea, cacao cultivation in,
229.

—, experiment stations in, 409.

— South-west Africa, experiment stations
in, 409.

— West Africa, experiment stations in,
409.

Germination and fertility of pollen, 225.

— in heated soil, 369.

— of seeds, causes of, 99,

Girardinus poeciloides, 315, 355, 405.
Ginger on the London market, 15, 47, 79,
111, 143, 191, 207, 229, 287, 319, 367,
383.
Gliricidia maculata,
from, 44.
Glossina palpalis and sleeping sickness,
316.
—, sp., repelled by lemon grass, 155.
Goat Society in Barbados, 364.
Goats and Malta fever, 300.
—, Saanen, 73.
— Toggenburg, half-bred, milk yield of,
ji
ane?
Tee
Gold Coast, agriculture in the northern
territories, 312.

mulching material

—, prices in Barbados,

— —, — on, 389.
= —, cacao crop of, 108.
= — — on, 389.

—, cotton on, 389.
—, forestry on, 389.
—, rubber on, 25, 389.
— —, timbers on, 389.
Goods, rates for general conveyance, 252.
Gossypium herbaceum, 150.
Government Farm, Trinidad, 154.
Grafts and cuttings, protection from in-
sects, 108.
Grass in orchards, effect of, 180,
Grasshoppers, diseases of, 30.
Empusa grylli on, 30.
—, Sporotrichum globuliferum on, 30.
Great Britain, anthrax in, 380.
Greece, cotton growing in, 406.
Green dressings in Antigua and Dominica,
37.
Green dressing plants, areas in Antigua,
1909, 37.

—, loss after air drying, 37,
measurements of main

2

root, 37.

—- manure, new, 541.

— plants, requisites in, 221.

—, Sesbania aculeata as a, 297.

— manures, desirable characters of,

— for wet lands, 325.

— in Californian orchards,

—, results of using, 405.

— manuring, for rubber trees, 13,

Grenada and Canadian trade, 69.

—— Ankylostomiasis Ordinance, 236.

—~, cotton ginnery for, 596.

-— Forestry Ordinance, 575.

Grenada Handbook, 57.

Grenada, importation of live stock, 364,

—, mule-breeding in, 396.

—, prize-holdings competition in, 211.

—-, scale insects and black blight in,
362.

Grenadines, purchase of cotton by
ernment, 204.

—,.sponges collected from, 307.

Grey gum, see Eucalyptus punctata, __

Ground nut, amount of vegetable matter

from, 69.

Goy-

424

Ground nut, Bambarra, see Voandzeia sub-
terranea.

?

ter from,

composition of vegetable mat-
69.
experiments in Montserrat, 4.
production in Java, 239,
, references to literature, 413.
, useful facts regarding, 68.

varieties, times of maturity, 4.
Ground nuts, composition of, 68.

, harvesting of, 4.

— ire Gambia, 309.
oil content of, 69.
— extraction from, 69.
prices for, 331.
proportion of seeds in fruit,

suitable ways of growing, 68.
threshing machine for, 124.
, yields of varieties, 4.
Growth of rubber plants, rates of, 103
Guano, output from Peru, 156.
Guava leaves, oil from, 329.
— in Mexico, 249.
Guatemala, coffee crop of, 412
Guayule rubber, 294.
— plant, see
tatum.
—, production of, 172.
— shrubs, exports from Mexico, 313.
Guide book to St. Vincent, 57.
Guinea corn, results of selection, 124
grass cultivation in India, 413.
Gully ash, see Eucalyptus Smithii.
Gum copal, see Cyanothyrsus Ogea.

Parthenium argen-

H.

Hair grass, see Sporobolus indicus.

Hardback beetles, 186.

Hancornia speciosa rubber, tackiness in, 89.

Harrow, No. 2 U-Bar Steel Frame Lever,
3.

—, No. G.

Marte ee.

Hawaii, forest policy in, 87.

— — products of, 412.

—, honey and wax industry in, 156.

Hay grass (Antigua), see Andropogon
caricosus.

‘Orchard’ 3.
228.

— (Jamaica and Trinidad), see
Syorobolan indicus and S. Jacquemontii.
Haiti, cacao exports from, 188.

—, cotton im, 1909, 380.
Hellriegel and Wilfarth, 322.
Helvellineae, description of, 126.
Heterodera radicicola, 314.
Hetercecism, definition of, 158.
Hevea brasiliensis, coagulation of latex,
143.
—, composition of latex, 119.
— in Fiji, 57.
— Sierra Leone, 377,
— rate of growth, 103.
—, tackinessin, 89.
guianensis, tackiness in, 89,

Hibiscus cannabinus, cultivation in India,
31.
— radiatus, 69.
—, growth of, 69.
—, State of fibre
Brazil, 69.
—, time for harvesting crop, 69.
Sabdariffa, 356.
Honey and wax industry in Hawaii, 156.
—, output from New Zeal-
and, 1909, 140.
Horse- ‘hoe, planet Junior No. 9, 3.
— tick, ‘tropical, Dermacentor nitens,
247.
Horses, rough rice for feeding, 367.
House-flies and disease, 298.
Hurricane insurance, 188.
— relief, 60.
Hurricanes, 60.
—, damage done to crops by, 271.
Hutchinson and Miller, 98.
Hydrocyanie acid in cassava flour, 300.
Hygiene, elementary, and nature knowl-
edge in British Guiana, 393.
Hymenium, definition of, 158.
Hymenomycetes, description of, 158.
Hyphomycetales, description of, 174.
Hypocreales, description of, 127.

= industry in

Immingham, Port of, 243.

Imperial Department of Agriculture,
publications of, 72, 88, 168, 184, 296.

Imperial expansion, 1902-8, 217.

Implemental tillage in India, 172.

— St. Vincent, 3, 35, 229

Improvement of seed, importance of, 59.

India, agricultural implements in, 140.
—, cane-planting in, 345.
——, co-operative credit societies in, 187.

—, cultivation of jute in, 31.
—, a — Hibiscus cannabinus,
31.

—, fibre plants in, 31.
—, fruit cultivation in, 180,
—, Guinea grass cultivation in, 413.
—, implemental tillage in, 172.
, State forestry in, 153.
—, sugar exports from, 156.
_, —- produced in, 179.
, timber production in, 153.
, tree-planting experiments in, 180.
value of forest products, 153.
Indian agriculture, improvements in, 293.
Indian corn seed, disinfection of, 350.
Indian cotton, importation of, into Unit-
ed States, 200, 246.
Indian Runner ducks, 415.
Indian soy bean, 213.
-— sugar-cane, 179.

Indigo as a catch crop for rubber, 141.
Indigofera tinctoria, 325.
Indigo, see Indigofera tinctoria.
Inga laurina, pois doux, use of, 220.
Insect Notes :—
acarina or mites, Parts Ito V, 202,
218, 234, 250, 266.
black scale and its parasite, 170.
Brussels Congress of Entomology, 298.
cacao pests in Jamaica, 330.

carbon bisulphide, Parts I and II, 74,
90.

cotton-eating beetle, 314.

cowpea curculio, 378

flower-bud maggot of cotton, 122.

forest entomology in the United

States, 138.

frog-hoppers in Trinidad, 346.

hardback beetles, 186.

house-flies and disease, 298.

insect pests in the West Indies in
1909, 10.

— 1910, 410.

—— of cocoa-nuts, 26.

insecticides, 282.

introduction of the St. Vincent, jack
spaniard into Montserrat, 378.

Jady-birds and weevil borers 106.

lead chromate as an insecticide, 314

natural enemies of sugar-cane pests,
138.

plant bugs injurious to cotton bolls,
394.

root borer of sugar-cane, 58.

scale insects and black
Grenada, 362.

screw worm, 122

sweet potato weevil, 42.

Uganda insect pests, 42,

way to detect eel-worms in cane fields
314.

blight in

Insect Pests :—

Alabama argillacea, cotton worm, 10,
42.

— —, parasites of, 170, 410.

Aleyrodicus cocois, cocoa-nut white fly,
26.

Anastrepha acidusa, fruit fly, 10.

Anophelinae of St. Lucia, 315.

Ants destroying cacao flowers, 330.

Pee gossypii, cotton plant louse,

410.

Arribalzagia malefactor, 380.
Aspidiotus destructor, Bourbon scale,
26, 347.

— sp. on coffee, 42.
Banana weevil borer,
sordidus, 90, 138.

Bean weevil, Bruchus sp, 378.

Bearded weevil, Rhina_ barbirostris,
347.

Beetle attacking cocoa-nut palm, 27.

— on cacao, St. Vincent, 10.

— — cotton, 314.

Black scale, Saissetia nigra, 410.

—, parasite of,

Sphenophorus

Insect Pests (Continued):—

Bourbon seale, Aspidiotus destructor, |
26, 347.

Brassolis isthmia, 27.

—, sophorae, 26, 347.

Brown bug, Edessa meditabunda, 394.

— hard-back, Cyclocephala sp., 186.

Cacao beetle, St. Vincent, 10.

— Steirastoma depressum, 347.

— pests in Trinidad, 547.

— Uganda, 42.

— thrips, Heliothrips rubrocinctus, 42.

Calandra tahaitensis, 27.

Castnia deaedalus, 26.

—— lieus, giant moth borer,
borer, 10, 26, 154, 347.

Caterpillar on oranges, Dominica, 10.

Cellia albimana, 380.

large cane

Chalcodermus aeneus, cowpea curculio,
378.

Chalcis annulatus, 170.

Chionaspis biclavis, Myriangium Dnu-_
riaei on, 175.

— citri, Myriangium Duriaei on,

-— minor, white scale, parasite of, 170.

Chrysomyia macellaria, Compsomyia
macellaria, screw worm, 122, 234.

Citrus pests in Uganda, 42.

Cocoa-nut pests, 26.

— in Trinidad, 347.

— white fly, Aleyrodicus cocois, 26.

——, snout beetle of, 26.

Coffee pests in Uganda, 42.
Compsomyia macellaria, Chrysomyia
macellaria, screw worm, 122, 234.

Conchuela, Pentatoma ligata, 394.

Contarinia gossypii, flower-bud maggot,
363, 410.

Cotton earwig, St. Vincent, 281.

— eating beetle, 314.

— bolls, plant bugs injurious to, 394.

— plant louse, aphis gossypii, 410.

— stainers, Dysdercus, spp., 394, 410.

— worm, Alabama argillacea, 10, 42.

— parasites of, 170, 410.

Cowpea curculio, Chalcodermus aene-
us, 378.

Cryptorhynchus batatae, scarabee,
Jacobs, 10, 42, 410.

Curculio, cowpea, 378.

Cut worms, 410.

ane sp., brown hard-back

186.

Cylas formicarius, sweet potato weevil,
42.

Diaprepes abbreviatus, root borer, 10,
58, 106, 410.

— spengeri, orange root grub, 106.

Diatraea saccharalis, moth borer, 347,
410.

— striatalis, in Mauritius, 179.

Dysdercus nigrofasciatus, 42.

— spp., cotton stainers, 394, 410.

Farias insulana, Uganda boll worm,
42.

lee Pests (Continued.):—

Earwigs on cotton, St. Vincent, 281. |

Edessa meditabunda, brown bug, 394. |

Eriophyes gossypii, leaf- blister mite,
410.

Fiddler beetle, Praepodes vittatus, 106.
Flower-bud maggot, Contarinia gos-

sypil, 363, 410,
Fluted scale insect, Icerya purchasi,
106.

Frog-hopper in Trinidad, 154.

— = Tomaspis bicincta, 346.

— postica, 346.

— * life. history of, 346.

Fruit fly, ‘Anastrepha ac idusa, 10.

Giant moth borer, Castnia licus, 10, |
26, 154, 347.

Girdler weevil, Praepodes vittatus, 106,
330.

Glover's scale,

Green bug, Nezara viridula, 394.

Gru-gru beetle, Rhynchophorus palm-
arum, 347.

Hard-back beetle, Ligyrus tumulosus, |
58, 186.

Heliothrips rubrocinctus,
347.

Hemichionaspis minor,
410.

Hopatrinus gemellatus, 314.

Horiola arquata, leaf hopper, 347.

Icerya montserratensis, 347.

— purchasi, fluted scale insect, 106.

= —, natural enemy of, 106.

Tnesidia reptosa on Albizzia Lebbek, 42.

= - — Castilloa rubber, 42

Jacobs, Cryptorhynchus batatae, 10,
42, 410.

Jigger, Sarcopsylla penetrans, 218.

Lachnosterna patens, 410.

— sp, 186.

Lady-birds, 106.
Large cane borer, see larger moth borer,
Castnia licus.
Larger moth borer,
26, 154, 347.
Leaf-blister mite,
410.

Leaf-footed bug, Leptoglossus phyllo-
pus, 394.

Leaf hopper, Horiola arquata, 347.

Lecanium nigrum, Saissetia nigra,
black scale, parasite of, 170.

— — in West Indies, 410.

— — on cacao in Uganda, 42.

= =—— —— coffee, 42;

— viride on Funtumia rubber, 42.

Leptoglossus phyllopus, leaf-footed bug,
394.

Ligyrus tumulosus, hard-back beetle,
58, 186

Lucilia caesar, bluebottle fly, 122.

Mosquitos in Panama, 380.

Moth attacking cocoa-nut palm, 2
= — Sorghum, Nevis, 10.

Moth borer, Diatraea saccharalis, 347,
410.

thrips, 42,

white scale,

Castnia licus, 10,

Eriophyes gossypii,

Mytiluspis gloveri, 27.

Insect Pests (Continued):—

Moth Borer, larger, Castnia lieus, 10,
26, 154, 347.

Mytilaspis citricola, 27.

— gloveri, Glover's scale, 27.

Nezara viridula, green bug, 394.

Orange caterpillar, Dominica, 10.

— root grub, Diaprepes spengleri, 106.

Oryctes sp., rhinoceros beetle, 347.

Papilio demoleus, 42.

Palm weevil, large,
palmarum, 26.

Pentatoma ligata, Conchuela, 394,

Pea weevil, Bruchus sp., 378.

Plant bugs injurious to cotton bolls,
394.

Praepodes vittatus, fiddler beetle, 106,
330.

Prodenia littoralis in Uganda, 42.

Protoparce carolina in Uganda, 42,

— cingulata, sweet potato caterpillar,
410.

Pulvinaria gasteralpha, 179.

Remigia repanda, striped grass looper,
347.

Rhina barbirostris, bearded weevil, 347.

Rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes, sp., 347.

Rhynechophorus palmarum, gru-gru
beetle, large palm weevil, 26, 347.

-— phoenicis, attacking palms, 42.

Rhyncophora (weevils), 106.

Root borer, Diaprepes abbreviatus,
10, 58, 106, 410.

St. Lucia, Anophelinae of, 315.

Saissetia nigra, Lecanium nigrum,
black scale, 42, 170, 410.

Scale insects, identification of fungi on,
205

— —, fungi on, references to lit-

erature, 129.

— on limes, 10.

Scarabee, Cryptorhynchus batatae, 10,
42, 410.

Screw worm, Chrysomyia macellaria,
Compsomyia macellaria, 122, 234.

Shot borer, Xyleborus perforans, 106,
107, 347.

Small beetle
piceus, 347.

Snout beetle of cocoa-nuts, 26.

= — in the West Indies,

Sorghum moth, Nevis, 10.

Sphenophorus obscurus, enemies of,
27, 138.

— piceus, small beetle borer, 347,

— sericeus, weevil borer, 58, 106,
138, 410.

— sordidus, banana weevil, 90, 138.

Steirastoma depressum, cacao beetle,
42, 347.

Striped grass looper, Remigia repanda,
347.

Sugar-cane root borer, Diaprepes ab-
breviatus, 10, 58, 106, 410.

— pests in Trinidad, 347.

— shot borer, Xyleborus perforans,

10, 347.

Rhynchopborus

borer, Sphenophorus

330.

Insect Pests (Concluded):—
Sweet potato caterpillar,
cingulata, 410.
— weevil, Cryptorhyncus bat-
agate 10, 42, 410.

Sweet potato weevil, Cylas formi-
carius, 42.

Thermesia gemmatalis, woolly pyrol
moth, 410.

Thrips, Heliothrips rubrocinctus, 42,
347.

Tomaspis postica, frog-hopper, 346, |—
347, 350.

— vincta, frog-hopper, 346.

Uganda boll worm, Earias insulana,

42,

— cotton stainer, Dysdercus nigrofas-
ciatus, 42.

— insect pests, 42.

Vinsonia stellifera, 347.

Weevil borers, 106.

— borer, Sphenophorus sericeus,
106, 138, 410.

—, sweet potato, 10, 42, 410.

Weevils (Rhyncophora), 106.

White scale, Hemichionaspis minor,
170, 410.

Wood-boring beetle of cacao, 330.

Woolly pyrol moth, Thermesia gem-
matalis, 410.

Xyleborus perforans, shot borer, 106,
107, 347.

Zalophothrix mirum, 42.

Insect collections, preservation of, 298.
pests, prevention of importation,

58,

298.

io)

—, Uganda, 42.

Insecticide, lead chromate as an, 159.

Insects, contact poisons for, 282.

fumigants for, 283

fungi attacking, 30.

repellents for, 283.

spread of disease by, 298.

stomach poisons for, 282.

West Indian, articles on, 1909, 10.

International Agricultural Association,
12.

— Congress, Brussels, 12, 140.

— Horticultural Exhibition, 1912, 172.

— Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition,
60, 156, 172, 220, 284, 300, 357
396, 407.

Introduction of useful birds, 113.

Inventories, use on estates, 127

Tpecacuanha, wild, see Asclepias curas-
savica.

Trrigation of sugar-cane in Peru, 51.

Irvingia Oliveri, oil from, 41.

Tsaria, fructification of, Cordyceps, 30.

Italy, lemon cultivation in, 164.

manuring in, 164.

—, — propagation in, 164.

pruning in, 164,

tillage in, 164.

—, reafforestation in, 12.

—, sweet orange oil in, 41.

lxodidae, description of, 234.

5)

Protoparce

'Jackson, T.

—, cacao in,

J.

‘Jack Spaniard’,
Jackson, do 18,
endant
207, ¢

30, 378.

West Indian products in
15, 7 Peer a ee ee
239, 287, 319, 367, 383.

, d12, 388.

| Jaffa orange, 292.
|Jalapa myrtle wax, 104.

Jamaica, amendment of tariff law, 316.

, bananas in, 276.

— Botanic Station,
at, 268.

recreation grounds

2707.
—, citrus fruits in, 277
—, coffee in, 276.
—, cotton export from, 294.
, cultivation of Castilloa in, 360.
—, Exhibition of Art and Industry, 412.
, fruit in, 276.
—, mangos in, 277.
, orange oils in, 41, 56.
— Piant Importation Proclamation, 268.
, prize-holdings competitions in, 216,
409.
—, some pests of cacao in, 330.
— Standing Committee, 76.
—, sugar-cane seedlings in, 295.
—, ticks of, 247.
Japan, camphor exports from, 184.
—, cotton supply of, 408.
—, production of rice in, 1909, 313.
—, rice crop of, 1909, 108.
—, rice in, 396.
—, supply of rubber to, 329.
Japanese camphor industry, 184.
Jatropha urens, 28.
Java, castor seed production in, 239.
—, coffee production in, 239.
, copra production in, 239.
—, ground-nut production in, 239.
-, kapok seed production in, 239.
—, manufacture of white sugar in, 227.
, production of seedling canes, 195,
~ 307.
—, rice production in, 239.
-—, rubber in, capital for, 239.
—, sugar production in, 239.
—, trade and commerce of,
Jequié Manicoba rubber,
dichotoma.
Jigger, Sarcopsylla penetrans,
Jones, J., 356.
Jute, cultivation in India, 31.

1909, 239.
see Manihot

218.

Ke

Kafir bread, 125.

— plant, see Eneephalartos caffer.

Kapok and Caravonica cotton, fabrics
from, 60.

— seed production in Java, 239.

Kauri pine, see Dammara australis.

Kerosene-lysol emulsion, 60.

Kiao-Chao, experiment station at, 409.

Kirby, A. o., 45.

Kobus, J. D., 195, 348.

Kola on the London market,
239, 319, 367, 383.

Kolatine, 8.

Korea, cotton in,

15, 47

396.

L.

Labour, agricultural, supply of, 177.

— Bureau in St. Vincent, 153.

Labour-saving contrivance, 377.

Labourers, bonuses to, for permanent
service, 168.

‘Lady-bird’, proper application of term,
106.

— red, see Cycloneda sanguinea.

— spotted, see Megilla maculata.

Lady-birds, 106.

Lagai, 169.
ae ae vulgaris, growing for making
pipes, 73.

Lancaster Show, Barbados, 1909, 14.
Land, preparation of, for cotton planting,

Landolphia Heudolotii,
latex, 119.

— rubber, tackiness in,
owariensis, 25.
senegalensis rubber, tackiness in, 89.
sp., rate of growth of, 105. ©
ugandensis, 376.

Lasiodiplodia genus, characters of, 46.
Latex flow, conditions influencing, 13.
— from rubber trees, composition of,
iG),

—, yleld from Ceara rubber trees, 107.
Laundry soap, use against mistletoe, 103.
Lead chromate as an insecticide, 159, 314.
Leaf spot diseases, treatment for, 11.

composition of

89.

Leaves, lime-sulphur wash for use on,
233.

—, phosphorus content of, 220

Lee, J. H., 220.

Lely, J., 307.
Leeward Islands Agricultural Department,
169.
—, agricultural
1908-9, 121.
—, Annual Colonial Report on,
1908-9, 121.
Legume inoculation, experiments in, 283.
Legumes, special habitat of, 373.
Leguminous plants, wild, observations on,
372
Lemon cultivation in Italy, 164.
grass, use for, 155.
— oil in Southern India, 407.
—, used against Glossina, 155,
manuring in Italy, 164.
propagation in Italy, 164.
pruning in Italy, 164.
Lemon-scented gum, see Eucalyptus cit-
riodora.
Lemon tillage in Italy, 164.

industries in,

—— =

Leptomonis davidi, producing disease,
396.

Live stock in Gambia, 309.

Lime and magnesia, manuring with, 95

— content of soil, how affected, 194.

Lime cultivation, catch crops in, 561.

— fruits, acid content of, 260.
— juice on London market, 15,47,
143, 191, -207, 239, 319, 367, 383.

79

3

Lime-magnesia ratios most suitable in
soils, 95.

Lime products, improved nomenclature
for, 76.

Lime-sulphur wash for use on
233.
Lime, amount of, in basic slag, 169.
Limes, root disease of, 366.
—, scale insects of, 10.
—, variation in acid content, 260.
Linguatulida, description of, 203.
Live stock, importation into Grenada, |
364.
— insurance in France, 16.
—, mutual insurance of, 1.
Liver of sulphur, how made, 11.
Lizard, Iguana, captured in Antigua, 124. |
Lizards, ticks on, 247.
Lobelia elastica rubber, tackiness in,
Locusts, Mucor exitiosus on, 30.
—, disease of, 30.
London Fruit Exhibition, Dominica at,
380.
Louisiana, central sugar factories in, 387.
, Demerara seedling canes in, 271, 339.
me vine, see Cuscuta sp.
Lumber production i in the United States, | |
12.

leaves,

89.

Manila hemp, see Musa textilis.

Mabouge, see Sporobolus indicus and
8. Jacquemontii.

Macara, Co W., 22.

McDonald, J., 377.

Mace on the London Market, 15, 47, 79,
WD ls Lo e207, 2398 287, 319,
367, 383.

Machine, decorticating, 364.

— for cultivating sugar-cane, new, 117.

Machines for gathering stones, 348. |

Maewarrie-balli, see Forsteronia gracilis

Madura or Nicaragua shade tree, see
Gliricidia maculata.

Magnesia, effect on growth of plants, 204.

—, manuring with lime and, 95.

Magnesium carbonate and nitrifying |
organisms, 9. |

Maintenance of soil productivity, 289. |

Maize, a new, from China, 203.

—, advantages of crossing varieties, 403.

—, export from South Africa, 220.

—, exports from Nigeria, Western Pro-
vince, 108, 252. |

|
|

Maize, manurial experiments

| Manure, a new green,

| — with lime and magnesia, 95.

—-, methods of sowing, 249.

—, suitable manures for, 219.

Malachra capitata, cultivation in India, |
SL.

Malay States, manufacture of tapioca in, |

40. |

Malaya, catch crops for rubber in, |
141.
\Malefoin, see Sporobolus indicus.
Malta, cotton-growing in, 294.
— fever and goats, 300.
Manaos, Congress at, 151.
Manchester Industrial Exhibition, 76.
Manchuria, soy bean cake exports, 188. |
os — — export, 331.
Manchurian soy bean industry, 277.
Manganese, action on plants, 169, 232.
Mango, shield budding of, 100.
Mangos, a method of propagating, 104.

— in Jamaica, 277.

—, methods of causing early fruiting in,
117.

—, propagation by circumposition, 388.

Manicoba, Jequi¢, see Manihot dichotoma.

—, Remanso, Manihot piauhyensis.

—- rubber trees, characteristics of, 40.

—, San Francisco, see Manihot hepta- |
phylla

Manihot dichotoma, characteristics of,
40,

S€E

8, |
211.
—, in Fiji, 57.
. in Southern India, 364.

—, rubber from, 8 }

—, variability in, 25.
Glaziovii, composition of latex,

— in Fiji, 57.

—, yield of latex from, 107
heptaphylla, 40.
piauhyensis, 40, 364.

-—, characteristics,

—, in Fiji 57.

119.

40.

Manufacture of paper from bamboo, 121.
megass, 247, 525.
341.

on the quality of

Manures, ettect of,
pine-apples, 264.

—, secondary actions of, 187.

Manuring of rice, 328.

—, rubber trees and green, 13.

ra annulatus, var. australis, 47,
157, 234, 247.

Market Beis 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96,
112, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208,
294, 240, 256, 272, 288, 304, 320,
336, 352, 368, 384, 400, 416.

Marot apparatus, 265.

Marsdenia verrucosa rubber, tackiness in, |
89.

Marseilles, oil seed crushing industry of,
1909, 33i.

Mascarenhasia lisianthiflora rubber, tacki-
ness in, 89.

— longiflora rubber, 89.

Material for planting Irish potatos, 335. |

Mauritius, climate of, 83.

—, introduction of sugar-canes into, 179,
Plant Protection Ordinance, 412.

, sisal an e

—, soil of,
—, sugar-cane 5 aeinodaehion into, 179.
--, sugar industry of, 83.

: West Indian sugar-cane seedlings

179.

in,

Mayreau, agriculture in, 263.
| Measuring trees, methods of, 99.

Medical Wants Ordinance, Ceylon, 408,
Medicinal extracts from plants, 8.
Megass, analysis of, 355.

—-, experiments in drying, 355.

—, manufacture of paper from, 247, 325.

| Megilla maculata, 106.

Melanconiaceae, description of, 174.

Melanconiales, description of, 174.

Melilotus alba, 345.

Memleku rubber, Ficus Vogelii.

Mentha silvestris, oil from, 329.

Mercerising cotton, 374.

Methods of measuring trees, 99.

—planting trees, 261.

- sowing maize, 249.

Mexican vegetable waxes, 104.

Mexico, coffee exports from, 313.

, fruit exports from, 313.

, guava in, 249.

, guayule shrubs, exports of,

—, rubber exports from, 313.

, sisal exports from, 313.

—, trade of, 1909, 515.

Micrechites napeensis rubber, tackiness in,
89.

\licrocera coccophila,
coccophila.

Milk goats, Swiss, 73.

— preserving machine, new, 301.

— production, cocoanut meal for, 23.

—-, cotton seed meal for, 23.

—, feeding cows for, 23.

--, proportion of food used for,

see

315.

see Sphzerostilbe

a 23.
23.

—, sorghum silage for,

—, sweet potatos for,

—, test for dirtin, 313.

— testing, an aid in, 201.

Mill work, influence of
sugar-cane on, 162.

Millions, enemies of, 355, 405.

Millions i in Carriacou, 124,

Mimosa pudica, for cover in rubber plan-
tations, 28.

Mistletoe, methods for
103.

Mites (Acarina), 202, 218, 234, 250, 266.

Mola decorticating machine, 156.

Molascuit for cows, 151.

Molasses in soils, references to literature,
365.

— for increasing fertility, 159.

, influence of, on soil fertility, 339.

—, products from changes in the glu-
cose in, 259.

Monkey bush, see Malachra captiata.

structure of

getting rid of,

|

428

Wie
distribution

Montserrat, black fungus in,
+ Botanic Station,
60.
—, cotton area in, 347.
— crop, 1910, 204.
—, prices for, 347.
— selection in, 44.
—, ground nut experiments in, 4.
—, introduction of the St. Vincent Sack |
spaniard’ into, 378.
Morris, Sir Daniel, 12,

from,

J

298.

‘Mortar’ from refining, use of, 172
Mosquitos, methods for destruction of,
255
DOV,

Moth borer, references to literature, 109.

Mucedinaceae, description of, 174.

Mucor exitiosus on locusts, 30.

— mucedo, 110

— stolonifer, 110

Mucuna pruriens, var. Lyone, 9.

Mulching cacao, references to literature, |
157.

Mule-breeding in Grenada,

Mules, rough rice for feeding,

Musa textilis in Fiji, 57.

Mutual insurance of live stock, 1.

Myrica jalapensis, 104.

Myriangivm Duriaei, snow scale parasite,
127, 175.

396.
367.

N.

Nandi rubber, see Landolphia ugandensis.

Natal, fruit exportation from, 196, 212,
292.

—, sugar crop of 1909-10, 188.

Natural Order, definition of, 7

Nitrate of lime, manurial value of, 185,
217, 249, 280.

—, trials with, 169.

sane of soda and soils, 195, 279.

\= — —, excess in soils, remedy

i torrallOt:

|— —, prices of, 341.

—- — —, production of, 1909-10,
341.

| Nitrates, artificial production of, 217.
Nitrification in soils and in solutions, 4.
—, effects of carbonates and, 9.

| Nitrifying organisms, magnesium carbon-

|

| ate and, 9.

Nitro- ipactouine and sugar-cane, 279.

«

|—, trials of, 283

Nature knowledge and elementary Bye og

giene in British Guiana, 393.
— study for elementary schools, 89.
Nectrioidaceae, description of, 174.

Neue Corona decorticating machine, 156. |

Nugent, O., 316.
Nevis, cotton area in, 1909-10, 28.
, 1910-11, 326.

>
—, rainfall of, 347.
—, small holdings in, 89.
New velvet bean, 9.
way of preparing vanilla extract, 200. |
New York Sugar Trade Laboratory, 19, |
2On
New Zealand, forest area in, 169.
Nicholls, Dr. L., 315, 355.
Nigeria, maize exports from, 108,
, Western, cacao exports from, 252.
—, Gotten exports from, 252.
—, exports from, 108.

— —, maize exports from, 252.

Nipa palm, aleohol from, 71.

Nitrate of lime, 185.

-- -- — and calcium cyanamide, | —

140, 169, 185, 217, 249, 280.
—, experiments with, 140.
—— —, manufacture of, 307.

Nitrogen content of soils, how affected,

alge

Nitrogen-fixing organisms in the soil, use
of, 360.

Nitrogen, way in which plants take up, |
97.

Noguk, 576.

Nokok, 376.

| Norfolk Island pine, see Araucaria excelsa.
| Nort Formosa, camphor trade of, 1909,

280.

Novius cardinalis, 106.
Nutmeg industry, state of, 84.
== oy fia)

— products, demand for,
— soap, 84.

— tallow, 84.

Nutmegs on the London market, 15, 79,
| 210, 143) 1995 207, 2395287, 319, 367,

383.

—, preparation for export,
—, prices of, 84.
—, puede) of, Dutch East Indies, 84.
Java, 84.

, West atten, ‘how sold, 84.

—, * yield of fat and oil from, 85.
Nyasaland, agriculture in 1909-10, 392.
bacterial blight in, 167.
cattle in, 393.
coffee exports from, 392.
cotton exports from, 28.

— in, 102; 358, 359:
forest products in, 393.
rubber in, 393.

tea in, 392.

85.

85.

—-, tobacco in, 392.
varieties of cotton cultivated in,
hi 50.
O.

Odubin, 389.

Odupan, 589.

| Ogea, see Cyanothyrsus Ogea.

Oils, essential, in the Seychelles, 297.
new, 329.

Oil from pumpkin seed, 316.

|

water melon seed, 316,
—, lemon grass, distillation of, 407,

Norway, artificial manure works in, 217. |

| Paris green, composition of;

Oil, lemon grass, in Southern India, 407.
Oil of lime on the London market, 111,
143, 383.
— seed crushing industry of Marseilles,
1909, 331.
traction machinery, 415.
Olive oil, export from Asia Minor, 12.

| Oomycetes, description of, 110.

Onderneeming School Farm,
at, 361.

Onion seed matured in one season, 67.

Onions, area in Antigua, 1909-10, 67

—, exports from Antigua, 67

experiments

Oogonium, 110.
_Oospora destructor, 350.
| Orange, the Jaffa. 292.

oil, sweet, in Italy, 41.
oils in Jamaica, 41, 56.
Orchards, cover crops in, 180.

|-—, effects of grass in, 180.

Organisms, nitrogen-fixing, in the soil,
360.

Ottoman Empire, cotton-growing in, 220.

IP),

Packing and transporting cacao pods,
228.

— of fruit, 197.

Palm oil, impurities in, 88.

— —, qualities of, 88.

| Palo Amarillo rubber, 109.

a 2S — plant, see Euphorbia
fulva.

_ Panama, agricultural prospects in, 375.

| —, mosquitos in, 380

Paper, grades of, 247.

Paper-making, cotton linters for, 214.

—, requisites in, 361.

| Paper, manufacture from bamboo, 121.

=, -— = megass, 247,
325,

| — mills, estimate of cost, 247.

—, material required for, 361.
Para, rubber exports from, 156, 332.
Para rubber, means for preparing, 143.
— plants, resistance to wind, 270.
trees, tapping of, 303, 311.
Parasites, intestinal in goats, remedy, 28.
—- sheep, remedy, 28.
92.
Parrot-billed blackbird, Crotophaga ani,

247, 297, 347.
Parthenium argentatum, 104, 294.

—- rubber, tackiness in, 89.

—, under irrigation, 364.
incanum, 294.
Paspaluin dilatatum, 316.
Passage of heat through soils, 61.
Passiflora alba, poisoning of stock by,

b

124.

Passion flower vine, wild, see Passiflora
alba.

Pasture improvement competition in

Antigua, 137.

Pastures, care of, 22

aa

3.

Pastures, freeing from ticks, 157.
—, scheme for improvement of, 137.
Patent Laws, colonial, list of, 140.
Pear, prickly, utilization of, 235,

Pediculoides ventricosus, 251.

Pedilanthus pavonis, 124, (Euphorbia anti,

syphilitica), 104.
Pedipalpi, description of, 202.
Pellagra, transmission of, 213.
Penicillium anisopliae, 350.
Pennsylvania, cigar tobacco growing in,
399.
Perini fibre plant, see Hibiscus radiatus
Perisporiales, description of, 127.
Perithecia, definition of, 126.
Permutit, 252.
Persea gratissima, budding of, 116.
Peru, cotton export from, 390.
_ — industry of, 390.
— output of, 204.
— pests in, 390.
—, irrigation of sugar-cane in, 51.
—, output of guano, 156.
_, — -— sugar, 51.
— — — rubber, 204
—, sugar-cane area in, 51,
—, sugar consumption in, 51.
— cultivation in, 51.
Pech, T , 206, 254, 455, 270, 286, 302,
318, 334, 354, 414.

J
’
?

Petit grain, production in Paraguay, 76. |

Phalangida, description of, 202.

Phaseolunatin in leaves, 412.

Phaseolus aconitifolius, 185.

Philippines, production of alcohol in, 71.

Phormium tenax in St. Helena, 44.

Phosphate content of soils, how affected,
194.

Phosphates, availability of, in acid soils, |

56.
—, loss from soils, 43.
Phosphorus content of leaves, 220.
Phycomycetes, 94.
—, description of, 110.
Pigeon pea, see Cajanus indicus.
Pimenta acris, 204.
Pimento on the London Market, 15, 47,
79, 111, 143, 191, 207, 287, 319, 383.
Pine-apple exports from Natal, 212.
— — the Azores, 12.
— — Bahamas, 315.
— — Cuba, 1909, 215.
— Porto Rico, 1908,

44.
Pine-apple industry of Formosa, 249.
Pine-apples, cultivation in India for fibre,

31.

—, effect of

264.

Pine trees for the tropics, 23.
Pinus bahamensis, 23.

— canariensis, 23.

-— cubensis, 23.

— insularis, 23.

— Khasya, 23.

— massoniana, 23.

— Merkusii, 23.

manures on quality of,

Pinus occidentalis, 23.
'— oocarpoides, 23.

2

— Pinaster, 23.
— Pinea, 23.

— terthrocarpa, 23.
Pipe calabash, see Lagenaria vulgaris.
Piroplasma bigeminum, 254.

Pistache malgache, see Voandzeia subter- |

ranea.
Plant bugs injurious to cotton bolls, 394.
Plant Diseases :—

Antirrhinums, root disease of, 11, 414. |

Aposphaeria Ulei, 335,

Aroids, root disease of, 11.

Bacterial diseases of cotton, Bacterium
malvacearum, 166.

Bacterium vascularum, 72.

Banana anthracnose, Gloeosporium
musarum, 174. |

Beet leaf spot, Cercospora beticola,

398, 414.
Black blight, Capnodium sp. 175, 362. |
—- canker of Hevea, Fusicladium sp. |

318.

Botryodiplodia elasticae, identity of, |
382, 414.

—_— —, on Castilloa, 518.

-— sp, cocoanut root disease, 174,

Branch and stem disease of Hevea, 318.

Brown root disease of Hevea, 302.

Brown rot of cacao pods, Diplodia
cacaoicola, 46.

Bud rot of cocoa-nuts, 254.

Cacao canker, and various fungi, 46,
999

ass.

cause in Trinidad, 238.
forms of, 222.
-—, orred rot disease, Spicaria
colorans, 46,
— die-back and brown pod,
Diplodia cacaoicola, 46, 174, 270.
— pod black ee Phytophthora om-
nivora, 110, 222, 4]4.
Cajanus indicus, root disease, 366.
Calonectria tlavida and cacao canker, 46. |
Canker of cacao, forms of, 222.
Canna leaf rust, Uredo cannae, 11.
Capnodium spp., black blight, 175, 362.
Cassava leaf spot, 219. |
Castilloa root disease, 303.
Cercospora beticola, beet leat
398, 414.
Ceylon bark disease, Corticium javan-
icum, 286, 318, 334, 383, 414.
— canker, Nectria diversipora, 318,334.

spot,

Cladosporium elegans, orange disease, |

175.
— fulvum, tomato leaf mould, 219.

|
|
|
|

Cocoa-nut bud-rot, 254.

— root disease, Ceylon, Fomes lucidus,
254, 414.

—, Botryodiplodia sp., 174.

— stem bleeding disease, Thielaviop-
sis ethaceticus, 219, 255, 414.

Coffee leaf disease, Stilbum flavidum,
276.

—, new disease of, 364.

Plant diseases (Continued) :-—

Colletotrichum elasticae, 335.

— ficus, 335.

— heveae, 335.

— spp., 46, 174.

Corticium spp., 286,

— caleeum, Malay bark disease, 286,
318, 414.
— javanicum, Ceylon bark
286, 318, 334, 383, 414.
— laeve, saprophytic on guava,
382.

— lilacino-fuscum,
414,

— lilacino-fuscum, pink disease, 286,
382.

— theae, 286.

— —., relations of, 206.

disease,
286,

identity of, 318,

— Zimmermanni, 334

Cotton, areolate mildew, Ramularia
areola, 175

— leaf spot, Sphaerella gossypina,
175.

—, bacterial disease, 166.

Damping off fungus, Pythium de Bary-
anum, 110.

— — of seedlings,
Hale

Die-back, Gloeosporium alborubrum in,
318, 382, 414.

— of cacao, 46, 174, 270.

— — Hevea, Diplodia rapax, 270,
382, 414.

— -— mango, 270.

Diplodia cacaoicola, cacao die-back and
brown pod, 46, 174.

—- me FeDaE: die- back, 270, 318, 382, 414.

—, identity of, 382.

— —, new bark disease (Hevea),
318.

-—— zebrina, 334.

Erythrina velutina, disease of, 366.

Eutypa caulivora, Hevea new stem
disease, 318, 334, 414.

— erumpens, 334, 414.

Exoascus spp, 126.

Ficus elastica, leaf disease, 335.

Fomes lucidus, cocoa-nut root disease,
Ceylon, 254, 414.

— semitostus, rubber root disease,
302.

Funtumia canker, Nectria funtumiae,
318, 334.

Fusarium lycopersici, tomato sleeping
disease, 175

Fusicladium sp., black canker, 318.

Gloeosporium alborubrum, die-back,
318, 382, 414.

— brunneum, 335,

— elasticae, 355.

— mangiferae,
219.

— musarum, banana anthracnose, 174,

Grape leaf rust, Uredo vitis, 398, 414.

— mildew, Plasmopora viticola, 110.

Graphiola phoenicis, palm leaf disease,

treatment of,

318,

mango anthracnose,

430

Plant diseases (Continued ):—

Grey blight, Pestalozzia Guepini, 334.

Ground nut rust, Uredo arachidis, 4.

Guinea corn smut, Ustilago sorghi, 398,
414.

Helminthosporium heveae, 334.

Hevea branch and stem disease, 318

-— brown root disease, 302.

—, die back of, 270, 318, 382, 414.

— diseases, summary, 414.

stem diseases of, 318, 534.

b)

Horse-hair blight, Marasmius equi-
crinis, 206.

=, —, — rotalis (on
nutmegs), 206.

= sarmentosus

(on tea), 206.
Hymenochaete noxia, 302.
Lasiodiplodia theobromae,
414

254, 335,

, identity of, 382, 414

Leaf disease of Ficus elastica, 335.

Maize, smut disease of, 59, 414.

Malay bark disease, Corticium caleeum,
286, 318, 414.

Mango anthracnose,
mangiferae, 219,

—-, bloom blight of, 270.

—, die-back of, 270, 414.

Marasmius equicrinis, horse-hair blight,

206.

Gloeosporium

— rotalis, horse-hair blight (on
nutmegs), 206.
— sarmentosus, horse-hair blight, (on

tea), 206.

— sp. sugar-cane root disease, 5.

Meliola, a black blight fungus, 127,

Mildews, treatment of, 11.

Moko disease of bananas, 219.

Nectria. diversipora, Ceylon
318, 334.

—- funtumiae, Funtumia canker, 318,
334,

— striatospora, a saprophyte, 46.

— theobromae and cacao canker, 46.

New bark disease (Hevea), Diplodia
rapax, 318.

— stem disease (Hevea), Eutypa cauli-
vora, 318, 334, 414.

Nutmegs, thread blight, Grenada,
414,

Olpidium brassicae,
disease, 94.

Ophiobolus heveae, 335. |

Orange disease, Cladosporium elegans,
ini:

Palm leaf disease, Graphiola phoenicis,
11

Panama disease of bananas, 219.

Parodiella melioloides, 335.

Pestalozzia Guepini, grey blight, 334.

— palmarum cocoa-nut leaf disease, 174.

— onrubber, 335.

Phyllwehers Huberi, on Hevea, 335. |

Phy losticta heveae, 335.

Phytophthora Seo,
black rot, 110, 222, 414,

canker,

206,

young cabbage

|
cacao pod |

| Plant diseases (Continued ):—

Pink disease, Corticum laeve, sapro-
phytic on guava, 286, 382.

Plant diseases, considerations in the
treatment of, 225.

Plasmopora viticol
Poria vincta, 303.
Pythium de Barya, am, damping off
fungus, 110.
Ramularia areola,
dew, 175.
Rind disease, Trichosphaeria
19, 1215 174.
Root disease of antirr!inums,
bananas, 219.
cacao, 366, 414. |
- Castilloa, 303.
cocoa-nuts, 254, 414.
limes, 366, 414.
rubber plants, 302, 366,

grape mildew, 110.

co (en areolate mil-

sacchari,

11, 414.

various plants, 366.

sugar-cane, Marasmius

Spee:

tomatos, 11.

Rose mildew, 219.

Rubber fruit diseases, 354.

—- leaf diseases, 334, 335.

— root diseases, Fomes semitostus, etc.,
302, 366, 414.

— seedling diseases, 354.

—— stem diseases, 318, 334.

Rusts, treatment for, 11.

Sphaerella gossypina and Cercospora
gossypina, 175.

Sphaeronaema album, probably sap-
rophytic, 334. |

Sphaerostilbe flavida, 127, 175.

Spicaria colorans, cacao canker, 46, 414.

Stem bleeding of cocoa-nuts, Thiela- |

viopsis ethaceticus, 175, 219, 255, 414. |

— disease of Hevea, 318, 354.

Stilbum nanum, 206.

Stilbum flavidum, coffee leaf disease,
276.

Sngar-cane root disease, Marasmius sp.,
5.

— smut disease, Ustilago sacchari, 59,
414.

Taphrina, 126.

Thelephora pedicellata, on limes, 286,
414

Thielaviopsis ethaceticus, cocoa-nut
stem bleeding disease, 175, 219, 255,
414.

Thread-blight of Ceylon, unidentified,
206.

— on nutmegs, Grenada, 206, 414.

Tomato leaf mould, Cladosporium
fulvum, 219.

— root disease, 11.

— sleeping disease, Fusarium
persici, 175.

lyco-

rind disease,

| Pollen,

Trichospheeria sacchari,
75, 127, 174.
— in

Antigua, 75.

experimental canes,

| Plant diseases (Concluded ):—

Uredo arachidis, ground nut rust, 4.
cannae, canna leaf rust, 11.
Uredo vitis, graye leaf rust, 398, 414.
Ustilago maydlis, maize smut, 59, 142,
414.
-— sacchari, sugar-cane smut, 59, 414.
— sorghi, Guinea corn smut, 398, 414.
Woody stems, diseases of, 11.
Writing fungus, Corticium
286, 318, 414.
Plant TImpor tation Proclamation, Jamaica,
268.
— Importation Regulations, Cyprus, 396
— protection in Australia, 332.
— British Columbia, 388.

caleeum,

| — Protection Ordinance, Mauritius, 412.

— Proclamation, Antigua, 364.

<== = = Dominica, 364.

= —, St. Lucia, 380.

— study, economic, in Brazil, 255.

Plantain, cultivation for fibre in India, 31.

Planter, co-operation with advisers , 49.

Planting trees, methods of, 261.

Plants, action of manganese on, 169, 232.

—, conditions of growth, 258.

—, cyanogenesis in, 274.

—, direct absorption of ammonium salts
by, 98

effect of magnesia on growth

=, — shading, 210.

—, effects of electrical discharges on, 175.

—, essentials for the growth of, 957,

—, formation of proteids in, 316.

, greenness of, 101.

, 204.

-—, medicinal extracts from, 8.

—, needs of, 257.
—, sources of energy in, 97.
trials with in B. Honduras, 363.
—, wild leguminous, observations on, 373.
| Plectascineae, description of, 126.

Plough, ‘South African Eagle’, 3:

—, use of the, 135

Plumeria, a rubber-yielding, 28.
Plymouth Rocks, points of, 415.

Pois doux, see Inga laurina.

Polistes annularis, disease of, 30.

—, transport of, 378.
germination and fertility of, 223.
Porto Rico, cotton exports from, 1908, 44.
—, pine-apple exports from, 1908,

44,

— —, seedling canes in, 35,

— —, ‘sick’ soils of, 361

— = trade and commerce of,
L909) 27:

Posts, creasote for preserving, 377.
Potash content of soil, how affected, 194,

—, loss in furnaces, 364.
Potatos, Irish, materiai for planting,
188, 357.

—, sweet, yields from different ways of
planting, 124.
Poultry, breeds for special purposes, 5.
Poultry mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, 234.
Poultry Notes :—
breeding and care ot fowls, 5,

431

Poultry Notes (Continwed):—
feeding poultry with corn, 87.
Indian Runner ducks, 415.
points of Plymouth Rocks, 415.
rheumatic troubles of poultry, 43.
the breeding and rearing of

keys, 155.
to judge the age of a fowl, 155.

Powell wood process, 201.

Preliminary Examination papers, 381.

Preservation of copra, 265.

— timber, 137, 377.

Prickly pear, alcohol from, 235.

— as acattle food, 235.

—, destruction of, 173.

—, for destroying mosquitos, 333.

—, paper pulp from, 235.

—, utilization of, 235.

Prize-holdings competition, Carriacon, 391.

—, Dominica, 149,

—, Grenada, 211.

—, Jamaica, 216, 409.

Prizes awarded at Agricultural Schools,
120.

Productivity of soils, maintenance of, 205.

Products obtained from cacao, 36.

‘ Progeny rows’ in cotton selection, 70.

Propagating mangos, method of, 104.

Propagation of the avocado pear, 116.

Prospects of vanilla-growing, 52.

Proteids, formation in plants, 316.

Protoascine, description of, 126.

Protodiscinez, description of, 126.

Prussic acid, production by plants, 274.

Pseudoscorpionida, description of, 202.

Publications of the Imperial Department
of Agriculture, 72, 88, 168, 184, 296.

Pumpkin seed, oil from, 316.

Pure Food Law of the U.S. and van-
illa, 149.

Pure starters for butter-making, 20.

Purification of beeswax, 181.

Purub’ process, 143.

Pyenidia, definition of, 142.

Pyenogonida, 203

Pyrenomycetes, description of, 127.

Pyrophorus noctiluca, 138.

tur-

Q.

Queensland, West Indian seedling canes
rh iP

Quinine salts, purity of, 140.

Quiscalus crassirostris, savannah black-
bird, 247, 347.

— fortirostris, introduction into Antigua,
348.

R.

Raiffeisen banks in Servia, 92.

Rain gauges, comparative records of, 316.
Rainfall in Antigua, 152, 363.

— Dominica, 121, 411.

— Nevis, 347.

— St. Lucia, 136, 327.

Rainfall in St. Lucia, abnormal, 201.
— Tortola, 327.

|Rambong, Assam rubber, see Ficus elas- |

tica.
Ramie, rhea, see Boehmeria nivea.
Ramie wool, 344.
Ratin IT, 316.

]

Yeading courses examinations, presenta-

tion of certificates, 12.

Reafforestation in Italy, 12.

ted gum, see Eucalyptus rostrata.

ted-headed fungus, Spherostilbe cocco-

phila, 127, 175, 362.

Red ironbark, see Eucalyptus sideroxylon.
Red spider, Tetranychus telarius, 218.
Reductase test, 313

Xenard road train, 185.

Reproduction in the fungi, types of, 78.

Requisites in paper-making material, 361.
| tesearch and agricultural experiment
| stations, 129.

Réunion, production of vanilla in, 236.

| Rey, C., 314.

Rheumatism in poultry, 43.
_Rhipicephalus sanguineus, dog tick, 247.
| Rhodesia, cotton in, 102, 358.
| Rice, boiled, composition of, 197.
—, composition of, 197.
|— crop of Japan, 1909,108.
|.—, cultivation in Brazil, 220.

—, — of, 308.

—, effect of cooking, 197.

|-— experiments in British Guiana,

— in United States, 63.

— imports into the United States, 4

— in British Guiana, 15, 31, 63,
85, 125, 154, 187, 389, 411.

— in Japan, 313, 396.

—- — Trinidad, 154:

— industry of British Guiana, develop-
ment of, 44.

—, manuring of, 328.

—, prices of in United States 1909, 63.

— production in Java, 239.

--, rough, for feeding horses and mules,
367.

—, yields of, in United States, 63.

Ripening of fruits, cause of, 332,

Rorer, J. B., 222, 238, 254, 350, 414.
Roselle, see Hibiscus Sabdariffa.

Rough rice for feeding horses and mules,
367.

Round buildings
poses, 153.
Royal Commission on Trade Relations
between Canada and the West Indies,

12, 172.

Rubber, a new, 120.

Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition,
1911, 60, 156, 172, 220, 284, 300, 357,
396, 407.

Brazilian, exports of 1909, 55.

prices 1908 and 1909,

for agricultural pur-

*
ras)
55,

?

5 —, visible supply 1910, 55.
— collection, glass cups for, 76

consumption, forecast of, 595.

Rubber cultivation in Bolivia, 200.

— experiment station in Sumatra, 108.
— exploitation in Brazil, 8, 236,

— British Honduras, 172,

363.
— exports from the Federated Malay
States, 204, 252, 348, 396.
— Ashanti, 300.
Bolivia, 200.
Brazil, 252, 297.
British Guiana, 123.
Ceylon, 364.
Mexico, 313.
Para, 156, 332.
Trinidad, 154.
for manufacture, preparation of, 215,
growing, encouragement in Brazil,
151.
-— Guayule, 294.
—, production of, 172.
in Ceylon, 403.
— Fiji, 57.
— Java, capital for,
— Nyasaland, 393.
-— industry of Brazil, 55, 252, 297.
— — Cochin-China, 236.
—, insect pests in Uganda, 42.

= 239.

/— Jequié Manigoba, distance of plant-

ing, 211.
— latex, diastases in, 249.
—, method for coagulating, 236.
—, Nandi, 376.

|— on the Gold Coast, 25, 389.
|— output of Peru, 204.

.|—, Palo Amarillo, 109.

—, Para, means for preparing, 143.

—, —, distances for tapping, 303.

—, —, exports from Strait Settlements,
236.

— plantations, area in the East, 1910, 55.

| —, proper size of blocks, 215.

— plants for Trinidad, 154.
—, rates of growth of, 103.

| — production in British East Africa, 203.

—, separation by electricity, 252.

—, sources of the world’s supply, 133.

— statistics, Federated Malay States,
396.

—, supply of, to Japan, 329.

—, tackiness in, 89.

Rubber-tapping experiments in Ceylon,
354.

— trials in British Guiana, 123.

Rubber tree, the Tonkin, 165.

trees and green manuring, 135, 185.
-—, composition of latex, 119.
—, Jéquie Manigoba, 211.
—, marking, 303.
—, Para, tapping of, 303, 311.
—, some diseases of, 302, 318,

334. .

—, topping of, 311.

—, varieties of, 231.

Rubber-yielding Plumerias, 28.

Russell and Hutchinson, 33, 34, 107,
323.

Russel, E, J., 401.

432

S.

. Helena, fibre industry in, 44.

. Kitts, agricultural show in, 332.

, courses of reading in, 27.
Grammar School, examination
results, 140.

St. Lucia, abnormal rainfall in, 201.

— Agricultural Society,

miums for cotton-growing, 60.

—, agriculture in primary schools,

pre-

153.

— and Canadian Exhibitions, 319

—, Botanic Station, distribution
from, 327

—, Plant Protection Proclamation,
380.

=, raintallim, 136; 32/7;
—, two interesting fungi in, 286.
St. Vincent, Agricultural Products
tection Ordinance, 1906, 76.
— Society, 199, 229.
and the Canadian exhibitions,

291.

= — Arrowroot Growers’ and Ex-
porters’ Association, 285.

= —, — (New Markets) Ordi-
nance, 329.

== —, cost for treating cotton in, 182. |

—, cotton exports from, 326.

—, encouragement of stock im-
provement in, 89.

—, Guide Book to, 57.

—, implemental tillage in, 3, 35,
229:

— ‘jack spaniard’, introduction
into Monserrat, 378.
—~, labour bureau in, 153.
—, selected cotton seed, 182
, shortage of stock in, 199.
Salt for coagulating rubber latex, 203.
Samoa, cacao cultivation in, 229.
—, experiment stations in, 409.
Saanen goats, 73.
Sands, W. N., 269, 331.
Sansevieria, cultivation in India, 31.
— sp. in Fiji, 57.
Sap sucker, yellow bellied,
cus varius.
Sarcophaga trivittata, parasitic on insects,
170.
Sarcoptidee, description of, 266.
Sarsaparilla on the London market, 15, |
47, 79, 111, 143, 191, 207, 239, 287,
319, 367, 383.
Savannah blackbird, Crotophaga ani, 247,
297, 347.
— Quiscalus

see Sphyropi- |

9

4

347.
Scaling, prevention of, in evaporators, by |
calcium sulphate 386.
Schlésing and Miintz, work of, 322.
School gardens, questions concerning
—, suggestions in relation to,
Schools, Agricultural,
ination of, 245,

crassirostris, 247,

, 263.

half-yearly exam-

Schreinerising cotton, 374.

Scorpionida, description of, 202.

Sea Island and native West Indian cot-
ton, crossing of, 250.

Second International Congress of Tropical
Agriculture and Colonial Development,
Brussels, 12, 140.

Seeds, causes of germination, 99.

Seed improvement, importance of, 59.

—, protection of, from birds, 185.

Selection, principles applicd to Guinea
corn, 124.

Sensitive plant, see Mimosa pudica.

Septocylidrium suspectum on frog-hop-
pers, 218, 350.

Sernamby rubber, tackiness of, 89.

Serpek’s process for manufacturing alu-

Pro- |

|— plant and strong winds,

|
|

minium nitride, 188.
|Sesamum seed, exports from China, 60,
—, use for, 60.

Sesbania aculeata as green manure, 124,

185, 297, 325.
— aegyptiaca, 297.
Seychelles, trade and commerce of, 1909,
297.

| —, vanilla in, 105.
Shade, effect on plants, 210.
'— tree Nicaraguan, or
| Gliricidia maculata.
Sheet rubber, oo on of, 133.
Shepherd, F. R., 27
Shield budding for the mango, 100.
Shows, local, in Trinidad, 27
Siam, cotton-growing in, 150.
Sicilian green fruit chamber, 108.
Sicily, citrus products in, 233.
/—, trade and commerce of, 1909,
|* Sick’ soils of Porto Rico, 361.
Sida, cultivation in India, 31.
Sierra Leone, agriculture in, 377.
—, Funtumia elasticia in, 377.

~, Hevea brasiliensis in, 377.
—, trade of, 1909, 345.
Silk cotton, composition of seed cake, 93.
— seed as a cattle food, 93.
— worms, Botrytis bassiana on, 30.
Simmons, C. J., 350.
| Sisal exports from Bahamas, 315.
— German East Africa,
— Mexico, 313.
— fibre, yield from leaves, Mauritius, 73.
|/— hemp, cultivation in British Guiana,
123.

Madura,

see

2, 22

233.

D)

a2

8.

— in Mauritius, 73.

252.

Sleeping sickness and Glossina palpalis,
316.

| Small holdings in Nevis, 89.

‘| Snow scale parasite, LA guhe Duriaei,

175.

| Society Islands, trade of, 1909, 409.

| Sodium carbonate, use in evaporators,
386.

263, | Soil, action of nitrate of soda on, 279.

—, balance of life in, 17, 33. \
—, changes in, and fertility)(123:

— see Agave rigida, var. sisalana. |

| Solar wax extractor,

Soil, fertility, definition of, 321.
—, growth of knowledge
cerning, 321.
—, increased by molasses, 159.
—, loss and gain in, 18.
—, nitrogen-fixing organisms in, use of
360.
— phosphates, loss through cropping, 43,
manuring, 43.
— prodnetivity, maintenance of, 289.
—, some effects of manures on, 187,
— sterilization, apparatus for, 267.
Soils, action of heat on, 369.
—, causes of acidity in, 194,
—, determination of available food
380.
—, earthworms in, work of, 401.
—, effect of carbon disulphide on, 18.
— sterilizing substances on, 18,
=, — toluene on, 33.
—, heated, germination in, 369.
=, —, toxin in, 369.
—, lime content of, how affected, 194.
—, loss of phosphates from, 43.
-—, maintenance of the productivity of,
205.
—, nitrification in, 4.
—, nitrogen content of, how affected,
194.
—, United States, barium in,
—, passage of heat through, 61.
—, phosphate content of, how affected,
194.
, potash content of, how aeceaa 194,
Sp lia Melongena, ege plant, 261,
— torvum, wild egg plant, 261.
181.
Solutions, nitrification in, 4.
Sorghum silage for milk production, 23,
Sorrel, red, see Hibiscus Sabdariffa.
Soudan, cotton industry in, 76.

con

in,

’

359,

|South African calabash pipe plant, sce

Lagenaria vulgaris.
South, F. W., 93
Southern India, lemon grass oil in, 407.
Soy bean cake, exports from Manchuria,
188.

exchange, proposal for, 300.
export from Manchuria, 331.
exports to Europe, 277.
, Indian, 213.

industry, Manchurian, 277.
oil, feeding value of, 395.
—- beans, oil content of, 213.
— meal and cake as cattle foods,
— —, composition of, 267.
Species of plants, definition of, 78
Spermagonia, definition of, 158.
Sphaeriales, description of, 127.
Sphaerioidaceae, description of, 174.
Sphaeropsidales, description of, 174.
Sphaerostilbe coceophila, _ red-headed

fungus, 127, 175, 362.
Sphyropicus varius, as insect eater, 41,
Spiders, Entomophthora sp. on, 30.

eS

267.

| Sponges collected from the Grenadines,

307.

Spooner, A. St. G., 323.

Sporangium, definition of, 94.

Sporidium, definition of, 158.

Sporobolus indicus, 46, 108.

— Jacquemontii, 46, 108.

Sporodochium, definition of, 175.

Sporotrichum globuliferum on grasshop-
pers, 30.

— sp., insects attacked by, 30.

Spotted gum, see Eucalyptus maculata.

Spraying for fungi, practicability of, 238.

Star blooms of cacao, 57.

Starch, machinery for cassava, 12.

State forestry in India, 153.

Steam ploughs, 415.

Stencil ink, recipe for, 12.

Sterigmata, 142.

Sterilizing substances, effects on soils, 18.

Stilbaceae, description of, 175.

Stock importation, bonuses for, 89.

— improvement, encouragement of, St.
Vincent, 89.

—, insured, compensation for, 2.

—-, shortage in St. Vincent, 199.

Stockdale, F. A., 26.

Stones, machines for gathering, 348.

Straits Settlements, export of Para rubber,
236.

Stroma, definition of, 126.

Students’ corner, 13, 29, 45, 61, 77, 93,
109, 125, 141, 157, 173, 189, 205,
221, 237, 253, 269, 285, 301, 317,
333, 349, 365, 381, 397, 413.

Subsoil waters in British Guiana, 279.

Sucrose, new test for, 25.

Sugar and molasses imports into the
United States, 1909, 124.

— beet, production in Europe, 108.

Sugar-cane and nitro-bacterine, 279.

: area in Bengal and Assam, 140.
: — British Guiana, 123.

—, — — Peru, 5).

--- as a catch crop for rubber, 141.

definition of ‘absolute juice,

’

is

147.
—-, depth of furrow for, 124,
—, entering the factory, determina-

tion of weight, 147.

—, extraction from different parts

of, 163.

— fields, detection of eel worms,

514.

—, in Eastern Bengal and Assam,

316.

—, influence of structure on mill

work, 162.

—, introduction

179.

—, irrigation of, in Peru, 51.
—, methods of obtaining more

juice from rind, 163.

—, new machine for cultivating,

117.

—-, produeed in India, 179.
—, products in Peru, 51.
—— juice, influence of high

traction on purity, 147.

into

Mauritius,

ex-

433

Sugar cane mills, comparison of work of, |
147.

planting from sprouted tops, |

345,
— — — in India, 345. |
— — seed, fertility of, 279.
= — seedling B. 147 in St. Kitts, |

75. |
— — — B. 208 in Madras, 108. |

in Queensland, |

12.

, Superiority in Flor-

ida, 19.
— = =D 74, 35,271,339 |
_ — — JD. 95, 271, 339. |
-= — seedlings, attempts to produce,

131.

—, Barbados, in India, 172.
—, best varieties on black
soils, Barbados, 75.

—, — red soils, Bar-
bados, 75.
—, Demerara, in Louisiana,

271. |

— — — for Tortola, 327.

— — — in British Honduras, 363.

— — —, prevention of damping
off, 279

— — —, production in Java, 195, |
307 |

— — -—, West Indian in Flori-
da, 19

— = —, — — Porto Rico, |
35, 243.

— — —, — — Queensland,
72

— — a — — on Gold
Coast, 44.

— — varieties, new, 279.

—- — area in British Guiana, 92.

— — diseases, sudden outbreaks of
67.

—, Indian, 179.

—, value of farmers’ in Trinidad, |
1908-9, 154.

— consumption in Peru, 51.

— per head, 1908-9, 284.

— crop of British Guiana, 92.

—, Cuba, 1910, 76.

—, Natal, 1909-10, 188.

exports, Antigua, 121,

—, British Guiana, 92.

—, Cuba, 1909, 215.

—, Fiji, 92.

—, Java to British India, 227.
— factories, Antigua, output of, 1808-9,
121.

—, Mauritius, fuel in, 83.
— from cane, increased production of,
236.

— date plams in India, 140.
— imports, British Indian, from Java,
227.

-—— into
156, 268.

316.

the United Kingdom,

—- United States, 92, 156. |

— in Bordeaux mixture, 55,

Sugar Industry :

analysis of megass, 355.

central sugar factories in Louisiana,
387.

— - — — “Zululand,
259.

Demerara seedling canes in Louisiana,
339.

epidemic sugar-cane diseases of the
past, 67.

experiments in drying megass, 355.

influence of molasses on soil fertility,

339.

— the structure of sugar-cane

on mill work, 147.

introduction of sugar-canes into Mauri-
tius, 179.

Louisiana,
131.

manufacture of white sugar in Java,
227.

Mauritius sugar industry, 83.

New York Sugar Trade Laboratory,

ee

Porto Rico, sugar cane in, 243.

prevention of scaling by calcium sul-
phate, in evaporators, 386.

production of seedling canes in Java,
195, 307.

products from.changes in the glucose
in molasses, 259.

seedling canes in Porto Rico, 35.

— in Louisiana, 131.

sugar-cane yields and distances of
planting, 371.

— cultivation in Bengal, 179.

-— Peru, 51.
West Indian seedling canes in Florida,

ifs)

Sugar industry in China, 9.

— Formosa, 412.

— output from Peru, 51.

—, polarization of, 291.

—, production in Cuba, 284.

— Java, 239.

— United Sta tes, cost of

seedling sugar-canes in,

115.
— sampling, method of, 19.

Sugar Trade Laboratory, New York,
19, 291,

Sumatra camphor tree, 233.

—, rubber experiment station _in,
108.

Summary of information given during
the year, on fungi, 414.
Sunlight, fertilizing influence of, 107,
275.
Sunn hemp, see Crotalaria juncea.
Superphosphate, mode of application of,

Surinam, cacao diseases in, 46.

Swamp mahogany, see Eucalyptus ro-
busta.

Swarming, prevention of, 207.

| Sweet-Escott, Sir E. B., 268.

Sweet potatos, for milk production, 20,
Swiss milk goats, 73,

434

ane

Tackiness in rubber, 89.

Talipot palm, method of tapping, 191.

Tamarinds on the London ee 15, |
47. 79, 143, 191, 207, 239, 287, 367. |

Tapioca exports from Malay States, 1907,
40.

— manufacture in Malay States,

Tapping Assam rubber trees, 54.

— Para rubber trees, 303.

— the Talipot palm, 191.

Tardigrada, 203.

Tariff Law, Jamaica, amendment of, 316.

Tea in Nyasaland, 392.

Telephone for detecting white ants,

Teleutospore, eA of, 158.

Tempany, H. A., 5, 124, 229, 291, 383.|

40.

28.

Tephrosia purpurea for keeping ‘down
weeds, 281.
Teredo navalis, protection of timber from,
41.
Terminalia Buceras, Eriophyidae on, 266. |
Terpinolene, use for, 268.
Tse-tse fly, see Glossina.
Tetranychus telarins, red spider, 218, 410.
Texas fever tick, see Margaropus annul- |
atus, var. australis. |
Thwaite system of electro-culture, 306,
380. |
Tick, Texas fever, see Margaropus annul |
atus, var. australis. |
— bird, Crotophaga ani, 247, 297, 347. |
Ticks and disease, 47.
|
|
|
|
|

, enemies of, in Jamaica, 247.
—, freeing pastures from, 157. .
measures for destruction of, 47.
of Jamaica, 247.

Timber, output of, British Guiana,

— preservation of, 137, 377.

—, production in India, 153.

Timbers on the Gold Coast, 389.

Tincture of Tonka, 149.

Tobacco exports from the Bahamas, 315. |

— in Nyasaland, 392.

— industry in the United States, 233.

— production in Cuba, 215.

— seeds, methods of planting, 399.

Toggenburg goats in Barbados,-117

Togo, experiment stations in, 409.

—, cacao cultivation in, 229,

Tokkee tambo or topee tambou, see Cal-
athea allouya.

Toluene, effect on soils, 33.

Tomatos, root disease of, 11.

Tonka, Tonga, or Tonquin bean, see Dip-
teryx odorata.

Tonkin rubber, composition of, 165.

Tonquin rubber tree, teonon, see Bleek-
rodea tonkinensis

Topee tambou, or Tokkee tambo, see Cal-
athea allouya.

Tortola, additions to

327.

and the Canadian Exhibitions, 291. |

397

ol. |

5}

Botanic Station,

-, rainfall in,

| —, value of exports, 1908-9,

Tropics, pine trees for,
Tuba,
Tuberculariaceae, description of,
Tuberculosis in fowls, 237.

Tuberineae, description of, 126.
Tubers of Calathea allonya, 152,
Turkeys, breeding and rearing of, 155.
—-, weight for breeding purposes,
Turks and Caicos Islands, trade of,
Typhoid fever and house-flies,
| Tyroglyphidae, description of,

Tortola, sugar-cane seedlings for, 527,
Trade and commerce
1909, 277%.

— the Seychelles, 1909, 297.

— between Canada and the West Indies,

29, 69.

— mark laws, colonial, reference to, 140.

— of British Honduras, 108.

— Canary Islands, 1909, 284.
— Sierra Leone, 1909, 345.
— within the Empire, 56.

Train, Renard road, 185.

| Transvaal, corn breeding in, 204.
| —, cotton experiments in, 326.

Treatment of plant diseases, 225.
Tree cottons in India, 92.

Tree-planting experiments in India, 180.
Tree stumps, apparatus for removing, 204.

Trees, new method for felling, 297.
—, account of some useful, 171.

, ascent of water in, 409.

, effects of ramming, 261.

—, methods of measuring. 99.

— planting, 261.
Trichogramma pretiosa, 170.

Trinidad, agricultural education in, 154.

agricultural shows in, 27.
and the Canadian Exhibitions,

—, cacao exports from, 12, 172, 220.
, cacao-spraying in, 238.
demarcation of forest reserve, 9.
prizes for cacao-growing, 300.

, forest reserve, trees in, 9.

, forestry in, 9.

, frog-hopper fungus in,
-, frog-hoppers in, 345.
—, fruitsin, 154.
Government Farm,

350.

154.

|—, ricein, 154.

, tubber exports from, 154
rubber plants for, 154.
154.
value of farmers’ canes in 1908-9, |
ipa
Tropical Research Institute,
251.
23.
falls
175

184.

298.
250.

U.

Uganda, cotton exports from, 6, 44, 124, |

204.

— in, 6, 102, 358.

U ganda Cotton Ordinance, 7, 204, 380.

Uganda, yield from Ceara trees in,
of Porto Rico, Union Azucarera,

agriculture i in elementary schools, 27. |
291.

awards at the Toronto exhibition, 412. |

Liverpool,

155. |
328. |

271.
51.
| — Coloniale Francaise, 140.
'— Island, Grenadines, agriculture in,
263.
United Kingdom,
| 44,76, 188.
—, sugar imports into, 156, 268.
United States, cost of sugar production
in, 115.
—, cotton seed selection in, 70.
—, distribution of cotton-grow-
ing in, 281.
—, importation of Indian cotton
201, 246.
—, lumber production in, 12.
—, Pure Food Law and yanilla,

cotton imports into,

into,

—, rice-growing in, 63.
soils, barium in, 359.
— sugar imports, 124, 156.
—, tobacco industry in, 233.
Upland cotton, origin of, 92.
Uredospore, definition of, 158.
Uridinales, description of, 142, 158.
Ustilagineae, description of, 142.

| Urich, F. W., 346, 350.

V:

|V cut, yields of rubber from, 151.
| Vahea senegalensis, see Landolphia sene-
galensis.
_Van Helmont’s experiment, 321.
| Van der Stok, J. E., 348.
Vanilla and os Ss. ars Food Law, 149.
Vanilla compound, 149.
—, consumption in Canada, 1908, 156.
—, evidence as to increased production,
53.
— exports from French colonies, 52.
— Seychelles, 297.
— to France, 52.
— extract, new way of preparing, 200.
— growing, prospects of, 52.
—, manures for, 105.
—, prices of, 52.
—, production of, 295, 319.
' — in Réunion, 236.
5 — Seychelles, 105.
;—, State of London market, 1910, 53.
— — New York market, 1910, 53.
—, suggestions for raising prices, 53.
Vaporite as a protection from insects,
108.
Venezuela, British West Indian trade
with, 1908, 335.
coffee exports from,
—, cotton in 1910, 380.
Vertical cuts, yields of rubber from,
| Victor roselle, 356.
Voandzeia subterranea, 340.
Voandzou, see Voandzeia subterranea.

’

92.

by

151.

435

SS eC aS: a iain aee

W.

Warington, Professor, work of, 322.
Water, baobab trees for storing, 169,
— in trees, ascent of, 409.
method of softening, 252.
—, natural purification of, 348.
Water melon seed, oil from, 316.
Watson, Rev. N. B., 355.
Watts, Dr. F., 7, 45, 77, 93, 197, 221,
253, 307, 331, 349, 383, 399, 412.
Waxes, Mexican vegetable, 104,
Weeds, carbon bisulphide for killing, 265.
—, Tephrosia purpurea for killing,
281,
—, uses of, 165.
Weil, V. M., 77.
West Africa, cotton in, 358,
cotton seed importation into,

397.
—, yellow fever in, 396.

West African coffees, comparative values
of, 248.

— — cotton purchases, 102.

West Indian Agricultural Conference,
1911, 216.

West Indian cotton on Liverpool market,
6, 22, 38, 54, 70, 86, 102, 118, 134,
150, 166, 182, 198, 214, 230, 246,
262, 278, 294, 310, 326, 342, 358,
374, 3590, 406.

West Indian cotton prices, 1909-10, 278,

— products on the London

market, 15, 47, 76, 111, 143, 191,

207, 239, 287, 319 367, 383.

West Indian sugar-cane seedlings in
Queensland, 72.

West Indies and Canadian exhibitions,
1910, 343.

— —, cotton exports
198, 278, 294.

West Indies in Canada, 1910, 265,

West Indies, insect pests in, 1910, 410.

—, trade with Canada, 29, 69.

Wet lands, green manures for, 325.

White ants, reward for destruction, 92.

—, useof Euphorbia latex against,

from, 118,

41.
White iron-bark, see Eucalytus paniculata
White mahogany, see Eucalytus acmen-

oides.

Whoollybutt, see Eucalyptus longifolia.

Wild Ipecacuanha, see Asclepias curassa-
vica.

— lucerne, sce Melilotus alba.

— olive, see Bontia daphnoides.

Willughbeia firma rubber, tackiness in,
89.

Wind, resistance of Para rubber trees to,
271.

Winnipeg, International Exhibition, 396.

Winogradsky, work of, 325.

Wire-worms (Elateridae), 138.

Witches’ broom of cacao, development of,
57.

Wolstenholme, C. M., 6, 22, 38, 54, 70,
86, 102, 118, 134, 150, 166, 182, 198,
214, 230, 246, 262, 278, 294, 310,
326, 342, 358, 374, 390, 406.

Wood preserving, Powell process for,
201.

Woollen manufacture, cotton seed oil,
and, 25.
World’s supply of cotton, 371.

x.

Xylinabaria Reynaudi rubber, tackiness
in, 89.

YG

Yellow fever in West Africa, 396.
Yield of cocoa-nuts, 21,

— sugar-cane and distances of
planting, 371.
— from cacao trees, 148,
— Ceara trees in Uganda, 271.
with different

kinds of tapping, 151.

Zz.

Zalophothrix mirum, 170.
Zoosporangium, definition of, 110,
Zoospore, definition of, 94.
Zygomycetes, description of, 110,

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