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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

VOLUME XI. canine

NEW YORK

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1912. EWG Lt
GARDEN.

ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES,

London: Messrs. Dutav & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. Barbados: Tue Apyocate Co., Lrp., Bripcerown.
b 2) q ? 2 >

Page 41,

108,
108,

ERRATA IN VOLUME &I.

column 2, line 12, for Agrtcultwre read ‘ Agriculture’.

column 2, line 18, from bottom, for paeked read ‘packed’.

column 2, paragraph 5, line 1, for Gardener's read ‘ Gardeners’.

column 2, paragraph 5, line 4, for grafting clay wax read ‘ grafting clay or wax’.

marked 112 in No. 260 should be 128.

166,

column 2, line 18 from bottom, for Tholonnii read ‘ Tholoniv’,

column 1, paragraph 1, line 26, for Rivere read ‘Riviere’.

column 1, line 6, for fasciatus read ‘ fasciata’.

column 2, paragraph 4, line 5, for 2,105 tons value £42,755 read ‘ 2,275 tons value £45,543’.
column 1, paragraph 2, line 8, delete bracket after Gazetteer,

column 2, line 7, for Page read ‘ Pape.’

column 1, paragraph 3, line 1, for foreward read ‘ foreword’,

. column 1, line 3 above footnote, for renumerative read ‘ remunerative’.
5, column 1, line 11, for Leptosphaeria read ‘ Leptospora’.

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CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting.
and Budding Cultivation.
Inarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding. Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW Ling
OF THE Sea
AN!
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. = dato,

Vou. XI. No. 253. BARBADOS, JANUARY 6, 1912. Price ld

Coes ment of Agriculture, and much of the information in

this is employed in the following article.
PaGE. PAGE.
It is important to realize at the outset that the
Anthrax Serum for Tlu- | International Rubber and

man Anthrax ... ... 13] Allied Trades Exposi-

colours of soils are not pure colours; they may be best

Avomatic Grass Oils... 0... 4 tion, Third... ... ... 13 described as shades or tints. This arises chiefly from
Ee fe os a the fact that the material which is responsible most
Costa Rica ... F Trishoteeaiecs! sss: 0.5) 4

Cambodia Cotton in M: adra: as Market eae ates |

usually for the colour of soils is ferric oxide, a compound

Camphor, Cultivation of ... Notes and Comments ... 8 which varies itself in colour, and, in the soil, is tinted
Camphor in Formosa, 1910 P; iar Marea :
Cotton Notes :— pad ot on account of the presence of other materials. Many

| Poultry Notes :
The Fattening of Poultry 11

Cotton Cultivation in
Southern Siam ... ... 6|

colours are found in soils, but it is possible to select
a few that are characteristic; in relation to their origin,

Egyptian Cotton Crop ..- 6| Prickly Wear in Making
4 West ary Cotton ... 6 Whitewash, Use of ... 8 they are dependent primarily upon the relative propor-
ungus Notes :— : : . 4 : ; :
eae »Con- | Seaweed us Manure ... .. 3 tions present of white mineral, and organic, matter, and
Experiments on the Con- Seychelles, Exports from I é ? Bgeltos ;
ie ee a Rust of “1910... ... ... ... 14 Of ferric oxide. A convenient classification has for its
roun uts Mes * ne es - : : :
Fustic “Wood, Substitutes. |=?! Men ee er Limit 9g main features white, black, and red, with greyish bet-
GI and Adulterants for ... eH iSoils, @olouy on "3 ween the first two, brownish between the two last, and
eanings ... 2 ai Fp a & . iC : ‘ : aha é Bll <cieee
Gold Coast, Northern “Ter- | Students’ Corner *— yellowish between the red and white. In a general way

Agricultural Examina-
8} tion Results ... ... 13
Sugar from Shredded Cane 3

5 Sugar Imports into the
Insect Notes :— United States ... ... 3
Summary of Information West Indian Products’ ... 15
Given during 1911... 10) Wild Rubber in the Congo 11

ritories, Trade and
Agriculture of ...

Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton,
QO. M., the Late...

The Colour of Soils.

Q possesses an influence as regards the amount
of absorption of the energy of the sun, and often that it
serves as a guide to the condition of th soil with refer-
ence to drainage, to the kind of crops that may be raised
in the soil, and to the proper method of cultivation.
These matters are given attention in Bulletin No. 79
of the Bureau of Soils, of the United States Depart-

whitish or grey soils are not of much agricultural value;
in wet climates they are generally wanting in organic
matter. Soils may also be white from an accumulation
of alkali, and from their containing a high proportion
of gypsum.

It is well recognized that yellowish soils are very
common, and it is generally considered that their colour
is due to the presence of small amounts of ferric oxide,
more or less combined with water, or ‘hydrated’, as it
Wherever agriculture is carried
They often

is usually expressed.
on, black soils are held in high estimation.
contain a high percentage of lime, and their colour is
considered to be due to the formation of black humus
compounds through action between the organic bodies
and the lime present in them; such soils are common;
over calcareous rocks, in the West Indies. As regards
the colour of sandstone and of ordinary soils, the usual
opinion is that this is due to a film of coloured oxides,

2 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 6, 1912.

ee

hydroxides and organic matter, which surrounds the
different particles.

In regard to the interests of the practical agricul-
turist, the colour of a soil may serve as an indication of
the presence of some useful plant food constituent.
Soils which are light in colour and clayey in texture
generally contain greater amounts of potash than those
found in the other kinds: while as has been indicated
an abundance of organic matter is usually present in
black soils. From a theoretical point of view, the
colour of soils is often useful as an indication of their
origin. It has been stated, from the practical espect,
that the capacity of a soil to absorb heat is indi-
cated by its colour, this, however, is not usually of
great importance in the tropics, where the soil is not
often subjected to cooling, to any great degree.

A large amount of investigation as to the causes
of colour in the soil has been made, and the results of
the earlier considerations of the subject are summar-
ized in the Bulletin mentioned, in the following way.
‘Black or blackish soils of different shades owe their
colour to varying amounts of humic or organie sub-
stances formed by the decay, under oxidizing condi-
tions, of the plant and animal tissues left in the soil;
the presence of a considerable proportion of Jime car-
bonate in the soil facilitates such decomposition and is
indicated by a pronounced black colour. Red and yel-
low soils owe their colour principally to a coating of
ferric oxide, more or less hydrated, on the soil grains.
Two theories are extant. According to the first, the
ferric oxide is more highly hydrated in yellow soils
than in red soils. According to the second, the
difference in colour is due to the relative amount of
ferric oxide the soil contains, and there is no essential
difference in the hydration of the ferric oxide in red
and yellow soils, respectively.’

The changes in the iron compounds present in the
soil take place in several ways. Iron sulphides, in the
presence of moisture and oxygen, turn to snlphate,
which is dissolved,and the sulphuric acid, travelling more
quickly through the soil, leaves behind the ferric oxide
which is deposited as a coating on the particles. This
separation of iron from its salts may be demonstrated
readily by filtering solutions of them through thick-
nesses of soil.

Further, the less oxidized iron compounds, known
as ferrous salts,-are much more soluble than the ferric
compounds, especially in water containing carbon
dioxide, and therefore iron is removed by the solution
of these. This removal is aided by the presence of

dissolved organie matter. It might be concluded that
these actions would result in the quick washing away
of the iron compounds ina soil: the ease with which
the ferrous compounds are oxidized, however, to the
almost insoluble ferric compounds causes deposition to
take place quickly where air is present, and the loss of
the iron compounds is thns prevented.

The subject requires further consideration in view
of the circumstance that soluble organic matter, par-
ticularly where there is not free access for air, can
reduce ferric oxide to the ferrous compounds which, it
carbon dioxide is present in solution, are freely carried
away. An interesting demonstration of this may be
seen in red soils, near a root or beneath a leaf, where
the particles have become whitened because of the
reduction of ferric oxide by the organic matter present
in such situations, and the subsequent removal of the
more soluble ferrous compounds.

A review of the work done in connexion with the
subject and the results of more recent investigations
show that the colour of « hydrated ferric oxide is
partly at least determined by the amount of water
combined with it; generally speaking, however, the fact
of the difference in colour between red and yellow soils
arises from a difference in the thickness of the film of
material that colours the particles. Moreover, there
exists another indication that the colour of a soil is not
due alone to the amount of hydration of the iron oxides
present in it, in the circumstance that, though this is
comparatively rare, a red soil may become yellow. This
can be demonstrated’ practically by placing a bright
red soil in a long tube, covering it with an equal
depth of leaf mould, and pouring distilled water
through the tube from day to day; the upper end of
the soil column becomes light-yellow in colour, and
iron compounds are found in the water which has
passed through.

The suggestion is made that red soils have resulted
from the weathering of rocks having a large content of
ferro-magnesian minerals; they may also be formed by
the weathering, during a long time, of soils that origi-
nally contained a smaller proportion of ferric oxide.
The source of yellow soils is probably the acid rocks,
which do not contain much iron oxide, but possess on
the other hand a large proportion of quartz; as has been
indicated, the weathering of these gives eventually
a red soil.

The tacts brought forward indicate sufticiently that
the colour of a soil depends mainly on the amount of

Vor, XI, No;253.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 3

organic matter and ferric oxide that it contains. Fur-
ther, the most probable explanation of the difference in
colour between red and yellow soils is that the parti-
cles of the former are surrounded by a film of ferric
oxide thicker than that which is present on those of
the yellow soils. Lastly, the transportation of ferric
oxide through soils is explained by its reduction to fer-
rous compounds by dissolved organic matter, and remoy-
al of the more soluble ferrous compounds, thus formed,
in water containing carbon dioxide.

SEAWEED AS MANURE.

The following information concerning seaweed as
manure is given in the concluding part of Leaflet
No. 254(August 1911) of the Board of Agriculture
and Fisheries :—

it is difficult to form an estimate of the money value of
seaweed to the farmer. ‘The fertilizing material present in
1 ton of seaweed possessing the average composition would
cost 8s. to i0s, if purchased from a dealer in the form of
a merchantable manure in a finely divided state ready for
putting on to the land. This value is arrived at by allowing
12s. tor each per cent. of nitrogen, 4s. for each per cent. of
potash, and 3s. for each per cent. of phosphoric acid. No
account is taken of the sodium, calcium and magnesium
salts, which on most soils, but especially light soils, would
be distinctly beneficial; nor is any allowance made for
a possible stimulating effect of the iodides present. It does
not, however, follow that seaweed is worth 8s to 10s. a ton
on every farm near the sea coast. The question of avail-
ability of its constituents —i.e., of its decomposition under
various conditions —would have to be ascertained by careful
trials before even a tentative estimate of its money value
could be made.

In farm practice, seaweed more or Jess takes the place of
dung, but there are several important differences. Seaweed
contains no fibre, and, consequently, does not produce the
black, structureless material characteristic of the dung heap;
in decomposing it forms soluble substances which easily wash
away. Jor the same reason it decomposes more completely
than dung. It is even said to facilitate the decomposition
of dung on light soils and in dry districts, but there is no
definite proof of this. A ton of dung and seaweed would
break down in the soil more quickly than a ton of dung
alone, and would therefore have less of a drying effect if put
on late. The freedom of seaweed from weed seeds and from
spores of disease organisms is of considerable advantage on
light soils where weeds are common, or on soils liable to such
diseases as finger-and-toe, the spores of which can hardly be
kept out of dung.

Experiments to test the manurial value of seaweed have
been made at Trondhjem, at the Rhode Island Experiment
Station, and by a few workers in Great Britain. In Hendrick’s
trials, seaweed proved fully as effective as dung, for early
pototoes, so far as quantity of produce was concerned, but it
somewhat retarded ripening. On the ether hand, seaweed
and superphosphate proved better than dung and superphos-
phate. It is, however, on such gross feeding crops as mangolds
and the cabbage tribe that seaweed would be expected to
show its fullest effects.

teference has already been made to the fact that seaweed
decomposes more completely than dung, and is converted into

soluble or gaseous substances. It should therefore not be
allowed to rot in heaps by itself, but should be put straight
on to the land, or, if this is not practicable, mixed with any
dung which will absorb some of the decomposition products.
The value of a heap of seaweed is much lessened by exposure
to rain, but exceptions to this rule may arise in the case of
special garden crops.

Analysis shows that the seaweeds have not all equal value
as manure. The long, broad, leaf-like Laminaria is richer
than Fucus, the common black weed of the rocks. Seaweed
cut or thrown up in the early part of the year is richer than
that obtained late in summer or autumn.

On the other hand, the foreign species gathered with
the seaweed, Zostera, Salicornia, and Glyceria, are distinctly
poorer in composition, and contain a certain amount of fibre
that does not readily decompose. They are therefore of less
fertilizing value, as the practical man has already discovered.
In Jersey, Zostera is gathered from the shallow sandy bays
and heaped up in alternate layers with dung, but it is not
usually applied direct to the land. Very thick, fleshy fronds
of Laminaria may decompose so slowly in the soil, that on
light land they may do some harm, by opening up the soil
and drying it ont.

The high manurial value of seaweed has already been
pointed out. On the basis of the current unit values, the
fertilizing materials in 1 ton of fresh seaweed would, in
a finished manure, cost about 10s., and in i ton of dried sea-
weed about 40s. to 65s. The amount obtainable must be
enormous, and it is worthy of consideration whether it cannot
be more widely utilized than it is at present, especially by
farmers near the coast.

Sugar from Shredded Cane.—At the Wisconsin
Sugar Company at Menomonee Falls, nothing further has
been done with the dried shredded cane received from Cuba
last year. It is still stored up in the sheds of the United
States Sugar Company at Madison, and it is said that it has
not deteriorated in value. The management is planning to im-
prove the facilities to work up the cane as soon as.this year’s
campaign is over, and it is believed that all the obstacles met
heretofore will be overcome, if not entirely, then sufficient to
produce results. (The Cua Review, November 1911.)

Sugar Imports into the United States. —
From the monthly summary to September 30 of the United
States Department of Commerce and Labour, we find that the
imports of sugar into the United States for the nine months
then ending, from foreign countries, including about 100,000
tons, however, from the Philippines, aggregated 1,789,000
short tons, valued at 85 millions of dollars, these standing as
against 1,883,000 short tons during the same period last
year, then valued at 103 millions of dollars. Of these suy urs
1,600,000 tons, valued at 75 millions of dollars, came froin
Cuba, and the year before Cuba sent 1,781,000 short t «us,
valued at 97 millions of dollars. Very little sugar had come
irom Java up to the date given, the same amounting to
103,000 short tons, valued at $4,858,000. We note this
autumn, beet sugars have again made their appearance in the
imports and about 12,000 short tons are reported as having
come in, valued at $593,000. (The Louisiana Planter,
November 25, 1911.)

4 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 6, 1912

TRIAL OF THE LYON BEAN IN
ST. LUCIA.

The following account of an e periment conducted
in St. Lucia with the Lyon bean (Stizolobium niveum)
has been received from Mr. A. J. Brooks, Assistant
Agricultural Superintendent, through Mr. J. C. Moore,
the Agricultural Superintendent :—

Seeds of this bean were obtained from the Florida
Experiment Station by the Imperial Commissioner of Agri-
culture and forwarded to St. Lucia tor trial.

The seed was sown in the field in the usual way, two
beans being sown in cach hole 4 feet apart both ways,
the habit of growth being like the Bengal bean but not
quite so dense. ;

Flowers were formed four months after sowing and the
seed matured four weeks later. ;

At no period did the growth cover in the soil, and Para
and Johnson grass grew through it easily.

Examination of the roots showed but few nodules.

BANANAS AND COFFEE IN COSTA RICA.

BANANAS. The total export of bananas during 1910 was
9,097,285 bunches, having been a decrease of 2°86 per cent.
from the quantity exported during 1909. ‘

The exports of bananas during the last five years have
been as follows: —

Bunches.
1906 £8,872, 729
1907 10,165,759
1908 10,060,009
1909 9,365,690
1910 9,097,285

The total area under bananas at the end of 1910 was
62,500 acres, and new plantations amounting to 3,000 acres
were made during the year.

The United Fruit Company is carrying on extensive
improvements in the cultivation of many of their older planta-
tions.

The bananas exported in 1910 were shipped as follows:-—
Bunches.

8,000,249
1,097,036

Destination.

United States
United Kingdom

Total 9,097,285

correr. The coffee exported during the crop year of
1909-10 amounted to 233,693 bags, of which 59°41 per cent.
was shipped in husk.

The crop was 40,000 bags in excess of that of the
previous year, the increase having been in the provinces of
Heredia and San José; while the crops in the province of
Cartago and on the Atlantic slope were very small, (From
Diplomanc and Consular Reports, No. 4800 Annual
Series, p. 3.)

THE AROMATIC GRASS OILS.

The following is given as an introduction to useful
and important information concerning the aromatic
grass oils, presented in the last issue of the Bulletin of
the Imperial Institute, Vel. IX, No. 3, p. 241. Further
facts will be supplied in the next issue of the Bulletin:—

The designation aromatic grass oils may be conveniently
used to group together the several important volatile oils
derived from members of the genera Cymbopogon, Andro-
pogon and Vetiveria, belonging to the grass order (N.O.Grami-
naceae). The group includes a number of oils which are not
only of very considerable cominereial importance, but have
presented, and indeed still present, problems of great botani-
cal and chemical interest. ‘The principal oils concerned are
the following: —

CITRONELLA OIL, Produced principally in Ceylon and
Java. :

LEMON GRAsS OIL. Distilled chiefly in India, though
important quantities are now being made in Java, Uganda,
the West Indies, and elsewhere.

PALMAROSA oIL. Prepared chiefly in India.

VETIVER orn. Distilled in Réunion, but probably mostly
made from vetiver grass roots imported into Europe from
India, Java and elsewhere.

Wer, XI. No. 253.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

ol

Asa result of the revision of the genera concerned, by
Dr. Stapf at Kew, supplemented to some extent by Mr. J. F.
Jowitt’s work in Ceylon, a number of the botanical problems
connected with the exact determination of the sources of these
oils have been solved, though certain points have not yet
been completely cleared up (compare Aew Bulletin, 1906,
p. 257), and, in particular, as will be shown later, there is
still some difficulty in correlating the botanical classification
of some of the grasses with the chemical composition of the
oils they yield. On the chemical side, perhaps the most
important practical problem is that of finding a satisfactory
means of judging the quality of citronella oil, and fixing
a standard on which this oil should be purchased. This
matter has received much attention in this country recently,
and at the present time an attempt is being made by a group
of experts in London to find a solution of this problem.
(Perfumery and Essential Oui Record, 1911, 2, 172.)

During the last few years a large number of oils belong-
ing to this group have been received at the Imperial Institute
for examination, and the results of this work are of interest
not only as contributing in some measure to the solution of
some of the problems indicated above, but also as affording
information regarding new sources of supply of some of the
oils of this group already known in commerce. In addition,
the oils of a number of Cymbopogon species have been
examined for the first time. The present account is con-
fined to the factors of commercial importance in connexion
with the oils discussed, and for details of scientific impor-
tance readers are referred toa paper on ‘The Aromatic Grass
Oils’, communicated by Dr. S. 8. Pickles, of the Scientific
and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, to the
International Congress of Tropical Agriculture and Colonial
Development, held at Brussels in 1910, and which will be
published shortly in the proceedings of that Congress.

THE CULTIVATION OF CAMPHOR.

The following extracts, presenting details of cam-
phor cultivation, are taken trom the learbool: of the
United States Department of Agriculture, for 1910,
p. 452. Tney refer particularly to conditions !n that coun-
try; but possess an interest, in the West Indies :—

The camphor tree is hardy where the winter tempera-
ture does not fall below 15°F., but even at this tempera-
ture some loss of small branches will occur if the tree continues
to grow until late in the season and has not become com-
pletely dormant before the frost comes. ‘The tree easily
adapts itself to new conditions, and can be grown on a wide
range of soils; in fact, it can be grown on any soils except on
very low land where water stands part of the year. The
maximum growth occurs. however, on a rich, well-drained soil.

For commercial cultivaticn it is probably best to plant
on low-priced sandy land, since in this situation the trees do
well with less cost for cultivation and a smaller initial cost of
land.

PROPAGATION. Camphor can be propagated by seed,
cuttings, and root cuttings, but for commercial purposes the
first method is to be preferred, except in cases of special
varieties having some valuable characteristic which would not
be reproduced by the seed. In propagation by seed great
care should be taken in the selection of the land for the seed
bed. If possible, a rich, well-drained soil which has been
under cultivation in previous years should be found. If this
is not possible, new land can be used; but in either case land
infested with Bermuda grass [Devil’s grass—Cynodon Dacty-
Jon] or maiden cane cannot be used, since the roots of these

grasses will take up the moisture in the soil and prevent the
germination of the seed.

THE SEED AND SEED BED. Too much emphasis cannot
be placed on the preparation of the seed bed, since after the
seeds are planted no cultivation can be given for three months.

In size and shape, camphor seed resembles the common
wild black cherry, consisting of a small stone surrounded by
a fleshy pulp covered with a thin black skin.

The seed bed should be prepared before the seeds are
gathered, and as soon as secured the berries should be planted
fresh with the pulp left on. For convenience in future
handling, the seed should be planted in hills 3} feet by 14
feet, with three seeds to the hill, and covered about 2 inches
deep. This method will require about 24 quarts of seed per
acre and will produce enough trees for setting out 16 acres
of field planting.

cuLTIvATION, The seeds will begin to come up about
three months after planting, but four or five months are
often required for a full stand. The percentage of germina-
tion is very low, and only about one-half the seeds may be
expected to grow. Cultivation should begin as soon as
possible, and as soon asa full stand is obtained the plants
should be thinned to one in a hill and given a good dressing
of high-grade fertilizer.

The first season the plants should make a growth of 12
to 18 inches, with a very large and vigorous root system.
The treatment the second year should be the same, and at
twenty-six months from planting the plants should be from
2 to 3 feet high and well-branched. At this time they are
ready for field setting.

PREPARATION OF LAND FOR PLANTING. ‘lhe land should
be well prepared by deep ploughing early in the fall and
again worked just before the trees are set The trees can be
dug with a tree digger, and should be cut back very
severely. All leaves and small twigs should be removed and
the tree well headed back. The tap root should be cut back
to 12 inches, and all the small laterals removed.

The trees should be set at the depth at which they were
in the seed bed, and a small basin formed by the soil about
them for the reception of water. One application of water
should be given when the trees are set and one or two later
on, as needed, if the rainfall is scanty. No growth will
take place in the roots if dry soil is allowed to remain in
contact with them, but too much water will cause the roots
to sour and die.

The Late Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, O.M.—
It is with much regret that the death 1s recorded of
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, O.M., G.C.S.L, D.C.L., F.RS.,
ete., sometime Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
who is regarded generally as having been the greatest botan-
ist of his time. he larger part of Sir Joseph's scientific
career was occupied in travel, chiefly for the purposes of
botanical exploration; though this was interrupted during the
periods 1855 to 1865 and 1835 to 1885, in which he was
respectively Assistant Director, and Director of Kew (ar
dens, being succeeded in the latter post by his son-in-law,
Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer. Among other places, Sir Jose)l’s
travels took him to the Antarctic and the Southern Seas, the
flimalayas; Palestine, North Africa and the Rocky Moun-
tains. He received the Order of Merit in 1907, on his 90th
birthday.

Sir Joseph Hooker will be remembered in this part of
the world chiefly for the special interest that he took in the
West Indies, particularly during the time that he was at Kew.

6 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

January 6, 1912.

AIIM 7 Oy
a) et \

CONIA OS

« Wy

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date December 18, with reference
to vhe sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Owing to the absence of desirable qualities, no business
in West Indian Sea Islands has been reported since our last
report, with the exception of a few bales of Stains.

We expect the new crop willcommand good prices.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending December 16, is as follows:—

We have had a continuance of the demand, resulting in
the sales quoted, taking such offerings as the factors are
willing to dispose of at prices now current.

The limited supply of bright, sound cotton was sought
after, not being sufficient to satisfy the demand.

The crop is still estimated at 4,500 bales, which, with
1,400 bales brought over from last year, would make an
available supply of 5,900 bales. The sales so far have been
nearly 3,000 bales, so you will note that one half of the total
supply has been disposed of.

The above sales included several crop lots, viz: 67 bales
Jno. J. Mikell; 47 bales, Palmetto Blutf, sold at 40c.; and 15
bales, D.W.E., at 45c.

We quote :—
Extra Fine, 32c.=18d., c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fine to Fully 26c. to 28e.=15d. to 16d. c.i.f. & 5 per cent.

Mines to Hully Hine) ieestos20c. asl04datoids «
off in preparation f 2 2

” ”

Cotton Cultivation in Southern Siam.—
Among the articles of export may be noted an item of 8,983
piculs (about 530 tons) of cotton, valued at £9,615, all con-
signed to Hong Kong. A Japanese syndicate has been inter-
ested in the cultivation of cotton in this district for some
time past. The export, however, does not tend to increase,
and the local exhibits at the recent Exhibition of Agriculture
and Commerce in Bangkok were pronounced to be generally
poor. It is thought that the climate and soil of Southern
Siam should prove suitable for the growing of cotton. The
introduction of superior varieties from other countries may,
perhaps, be productive of good results; the high cost of labour
is, however, a severe handicap to planters. Experiments
have been made with Egyptian cotton, but the results have
not been very satisfactory, the staple turning out little better
than that of local varieties. (The Monthly Magazine of the
Incorporated Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, Novem-

ber 1911.)

THE EGYPTIAN COTTON CROP.

The following interesting account of the Egyptian
cotton crop is taken from the Journal of the Royal
Society of Arts for December 1, 1911:—

Since the publication of an article on Egyptian cotton
in this Journal on October 14, 1910, some more experience
has been gained by those who devote their attention to the
culture of the most important crop in the country of the Nile.
Attention was then drawn to the gradual deterioration of the
crop, which for long has held the highest place in the cotton
market for quality, if not for quantity. The chief causes of
the falling off of the Egyptian crop have been stated by the
experts to be (1) over irrigation; (2) exhaustion of the land;
(3) insufticiency of new; good seed; and (4) the gradual ad-
mixture of the crop with ‘Hindi’ cotton, this being the name
of an undesirable type of cotton with a short, weak fibre, that
injures the high grade of Egyptian varieties by infesting them
with hybrids. [See Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 310.]

In August 1910, a Department of Agriculture was
formed at Cairo, with a suitable staff, to study and deal with
questions that have up till now been referred to the Khedivial
Agricultural Society. The Egyptian crop of 1909-10 was very
poor in quantity, and, owing to the smallness of the supply,
prices were exorbitantly high. The market was already
threatened by American enterprise, for the manufacturers of
the States knew how to produce an imitation of the goods
made with Egyptian cotton, which, if not so satisfactory,
answered many purposes. The Egyptian crop of 1910-11
was so surprisingly good, and reached so high a figure, that
harvest thanksgivings were held in Cairo churckes, and the
experts, who continued to utter warnings, were altogether in
the minority.

The new Department of Agriculture had signified to the
farmers and peasant cultivators that it was quite ready to
offer advice with regard to selection of seed or cultivation,
but the good crop of Jast summer gave such a feeling of
security that the fellah appears to have taken even less care
than usual. In the month of June a severe attack of cotton
worm, a much-dreaded insect pest, made its appearance.
The Agricultural Department organized a special system of
inspection, that was continued throughout the summer.
Although all available means were adopted, the scourge raged
throughout the summer. The only practical remedy was to
kill the coming generation—not so much the already matured
worm, but rather the small house that the pupa forms for
itself, composed of earth and lime, and lined with a kind of
silk. This is very hard, and needs breaking up in order to
get at the pupa within and drown it. The loss by cotton
worm this year is estimated at £5,000,000.

Vou, XI. No, 253.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 7

Simultaneously with the cotton worm plague, came the
news that the United States Department of Agriculture has
been developing the culture of Egyptian cotton in the United
States. [See Agricultural News, Vol. X, pp. 151, 230.]
The only good results on a considerable scale have been
obtained in the Colorado River region, where the cli-
mate and other conditions are similar to those in the Nile
Valley, and are suited to the long staple Egyptian cottun.
Six hundred thousand acres of good land will soon be grow-
ing Egyptian cotton in the Imperial, Yuma, Salt, and Gila
Valleys. A fifth of this acreage could produce the amount
of Egyptian cotton imported each year for the use of New
England mills.

An invention has been perfected for the prevention of
cotton worm—a kiosk in the shape of a trap. A demonstra-
tion was given in June in a field near the Gaffaria Canal, in
the presence of a number of well-known persons. The door
was closed and sealed. When officially opened in the morn-
ing it was found that more than a thousand moths had been
captured during the night. Numbers of eggs were also
found in the kiosk, such as are laid by the cotton worm
upcn the leaves of the plant. Something may certainly be
hoped from the invention; at the same time it will be some
time before it can be placed on the market.

To regulate the use of cotton seed—a matter in which
Egyptian farmers have been very careless—the Agricultural
Department issues circulars to the heads of villages and
government cashiers in the provinces, detailing the manner
in which carefully selected cotton seed will be put on sale at
the markets of the Egyptian Markets Company, and the
facilities to be accorded to farmers in the payment of the
price of such seed. The seed is delivered in sealed sacks.

The most hopeful point in the outlook of the Egyptian
cotton market is that, since the arrival of Lord Kitchener at
the British Agency, the long-discussed plan of draining the
Delta is being putin hand. By this means the subsoil water
resulting from the irrigation, will be drained off. The enor-
mous cost of the undertaking has prevented the Government
from taking up the matter before

A well-known Egyptian, writing to one of the native
papers in Cairo last August, suggested as a remedy for the
deterioration of the crop, that the whole country should be
restrained from planting cotton fora year. He points out
that although the remedy is heroic, the price of cotton would
rise during the years following, owing to the great yield of
the crop on one hand and its superior quality on the other.

The crop of 1911-12 is likely to be unfortunate. The
temperature nearly all through the summer has been rather
below the normal, which was not favourable, the crop
being liable to have its growth checked under these circum-
stances. In upper Egypt the crop suffered from fogs and
blight, and from attacks of boll worm. As the cotton worm
appeared early it attacked chiefly the early bolls which
usually give the best cotton, so that both in quality and
quantity this season’s crop is likely to be inferior to last
“year’s.

In spite of the shortness of the supply, prices are lower
than they have ever been. Mr. James I. Craig, M.A.,
F.RS.E., Director of the Computation Office of the Survey
Department, has lately published some cctton_ statistics.
His general conclusion is: ‘The causes of the decrease in
yield have been largely beyond the control of human agency,
but this does not mean that they will be beyond human con-
trol in the future.’ Some of his conclusions are as follows :
‘The rate of decrease is less in Upper Egypt than in Lower
Egypt, but still the decrease exists there also. Part of the
decrease in the general average yield for all Egypt may be

accounted for by the lower average fertility of Upper Egypt3
extension of cotton cultivation to poorer land in Lower
Egypt may account for some of the decrease, but scarcely
for all. None of these causes, however, will account for
the fluctuations about the fairly steady rate of decrease.
Change of rotation from one of three years to one of
two years may account for some of the decrease, but
scarcely for all . . . The eultivation of cotton is probably
less intensive now than fifteen years ago . . . The value of
the crop per head of the agricultural population has nearly
doubled in fifteen years.’

SUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERANTS
FOR FUSTIO WOOD.

Circular 184, recently issued under the title Pustic
Wood: Its Substitutes and Adulterants, by the
Bureau of Forest Service of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, commences by stating that micro-
scopic study of a large number of samples of so-called
fustic wood, submitted to the Forest Service, has shown
that the substitution exists of several different woods
for true fustic, and that this is adulterated by the
admixture of them, in a chipped or ground condition.
It then proceeds to give the following information :—

True fustic wood which yields the valuable yellow,
brown, and green dyestuffs, conies from the fustic tree
(Chlorephora tinctoria, Gaud. = Maclura tinctoria, D. Don=
Morus tinctoria, L.), a native of the West Indies and tropical
America. The tree is also called old fustic, fustic mulberry,
Cuba wood, yellow wood, and mora. It should not be con-
fused, however, with the true mora (Dimorphandra Afora,
B. and H. = Mora exrcelsa, Benth.) of British Guiana, Vene-
zuela, and part of Central America, the wood of which is
readily distinguished from that of freshly cut fustic by its
reddish-brown colour. The fustic tree attains a height of
from 25 to 50 feet, and a diameter of 2 feet or more. -The
nearly white sap wood is very thin, and the greater portion of
the tree therefore is heart wood, the only part put to commer-
cial use. Freshly cut heart wood is light yellow, but after
exposure to air and light becomes a yellowish brown.
A cubic foot of seasoned wood weighs approximately 50 bb.

Most of the fustic wood used in Europe comes from
South America, while the bulk of that consumed in the United
States comes from Mexico and the British West Indies. The
amount entered at United States ports for immediate con-
sumption during the year ending June 30, 1909, together
with the withdrawals from warehouses for later use, was 2,466
tons, valued at $34,752. The average value per ton for 1909
was $14:09, an increase over that of the previous year of 1°99.

Fustie wood is usually imported in sticks from 2 to 4 feet
long and from 3 to 8 inches in diameter, but appears also in
the form of chips, powder, aqueous extract, and paste or lake.
The greater part of the supply, however, comes on the market
in either chips or large pieces. While it is possible with
a microscope to detect fibres of other woods mixed with
ground fustic, it is often impossible, from the fibres alone,
to identify them, because the distinguishing characters of
the fibres have been obliterated by grinding. It is compara-
tively easy, however, to identify the different woods before
they are powdered or ground into pulp.

After giving illustrated descriptions of woods used
for substitution and adulteration, the Circular con-
cludes with an account of the microscopic structure of
fustic wood.

9

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Oommissioner, 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. XI.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1912. No. 253.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in the present number treats of the
subject of the Colour of Soils. This is dealt with largely
_with reference to its origin, and its significance in prac-
tical agriculture.

Pages 4 and 5 contain, among other matters, an
article giving general information concerning the aro-
matic grass oils.

An interesting note on an unusual manner of
flowering of the papaw plant (Carica Papaya) appears
on page 9.

In this issue, the plan has been followed that was
adopted in regard to the first instalment of Insect Notes
for the year, in the last volume of the Agricultural
News, of giving a summary of the information presented
as Insect Notes during the preceding year. A similar
article appeared under the heading Fungus Notes, in
the last issue.

On page 11 is presented an interesting account of
wild rubber in the Congo. This should be read in con-
nexion with the description of cultivated rubbers in
the Congo, given on page 341 of the last volume of the
Agricultural News.

The Students’ Corner of this issue, on page 13, is
concerned with the presentation of the results obtained
“in the recent examinations, held in connexion with the
Courses of Reading in practical agriculture, of this De-
partment. .

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

January 6, 1912!

The Use of the Prickly ‘Pear in Making
Whitewash.

The use of the sections of the stem—commonly
called leaves—of prickly pear ((/puntia spp.) in making
whitewash is frequently met with in the West Indies.

In regard to this matter, a note contained in
The Colonizer for November 1910, drawing attention
to a similar employment of the prickly pear in Uruguay,
is of sume interest. It is stated that the white colour
of the farm buildings im that State serves for special
attraction, even during the wet season. Bo ay

The mode of employing the ‘leaves’ is stated to
be to slice them, macerate them in water for twenty-
four hours, and then‘to add the lime and mix well, The
endurance of whitewash thus made forms a matter for
particular comment.

Trade and Agriculture of the Gold Coast.

Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 683, contains the
Annual Report for 1910 on the Northern Territories of
the Gold Coast, from which the following particulars
regarding trade and agriculture are taken.

‘One must be possessed of great optimism to be
able to throw out hopes of much export trade from the
Northern Territories, at any rate for some years to
come. ‘fhe great bar to such trade is, of courge, the
existing lack of transport facilities.’

As regards internal trade, this has never been
great, nor—as long as existing conditions continue——is
it likely to improve much. ?he population, at the best
of times barely self-supporting in foodstuffs, is at present
working at a disadvantage, owing to the increasing
calls for labour on account of building, road-making
and transport. The money paid out for labour is of no
great use to the people, who, as regards outside trade,
are peculiarly apathetic. As a matter of fact, it is pro-
bable that most of the silver and copper coinage paid
out is made into ornaments, whilst the cowrie is still
the main currency for the purchase of foodstuffs, that
from time to time appear in the local markets in small
quantities.

At the same time, both the cola and cattle trades
are undoubtedly increasing, as is shown by statistics
given in provincial reports. From these it is found
that no less than 35,722 cattle and 70,213 sheep and
goats entered the Protectorate at Wa, Bawku, and
Navarro during the year under review, while 3,860
cattle and 16,813 sheep and goats passed down coun-
try through Salaga alone. As regards cola, 30,526
loads passed out of the Protectorate to the north
through the same stations, a load as here quoted, being
reckoned at 60 tb. It might be added that the cattle
trade is in the hands of Moshis, Hausas and Fulanis,
none of whom are inhabitants of the country.

‘Although agriculturally inclined, the native’s
methods of tilling the soil are still primitive. Cultiva-
tion of land by the rotation of crops he thoroughly
understands; but, unfortunately, no system of top
dressing is practised. his is a great pity as in every
village and hamlet, particularly where cattle are kept,
tons of excellent manure are wasted yearly.’

Vou. XI. No. 253.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 9

NN

Cambodia Cotton in Madras. ;

It is stated in the Agricultural Journal of India
for October 1911, p. 365, that Cambodia cotton is prob-
ably of the same species as American Upland, resem-
bling it very closely, but being, in the climate of
Madras, much hardier and more vigorous and yielding
a stronger and fuller lint than either newly introduced
American or acclimatized Dharwar American. It
responds readily to irrigation, on account of its possess-
ion of a tapering taproot which branches freely near the
surface of the soil. ‘This protection from drought ren-
ders it possible to manure heavily Cambodia cotton,
and thus to obtain large yields: the same circumstance
explains, however, why it cannot resist prolonged
drought if grown on black cotton soils with the aid of
rain alone.

a —

The Flowers of the Papaw Plant.

It is well known in the West Indies that, although
the male and female flowers of the papaw tree are
usually produced on separate trees, flowers possessing
both characteristics (hermaphrodite flowers) and arising
in female inflorescences, are often found, and that it is
also possible to cause a ‘male’ tree to bear female
flowers and ultimately fruits, by cutting it back.

L’Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds for
October 1911 gives attention to an exceptional case,
where hermaphrodite flowers arose in a male inflores-
cence, ina note which describes a plant in the Jardin
Colonial in Upper Guinea, near Kindia. This plant
bad already borne male flowers, without fruiting, when
suddenly at its full flowering time, it produced long
axillary inflorescences containing gamopetalous flowers
with normally developed stamens and a rudimentary
ovary. At the time of reporting, three fruits had
appeared, each about 4 inches long, and soon after
a young fruit about half as large. One of the fruits
was plucked, and was found to contain numerous nor-
mal ovules. It was not expected, however, that these
would attain a true maturity, as their stalks were
exhibiting a yellowish tint which indicated premature
ripening. a

In presenting the note, mention is also made of the
observation of a similar phenomeuon, aout 1887, by
a French authority and by travellers in Central Africa.

oe

The Lower Limit of Available Soil Moisture.

The Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXV,
p. 214, gives a method, proposed by Messrs. L. J. Briggs
and H. L. Shantz, for determining the lower limit of
available soil moisture. This consists in growing
plants in a small glass pot, evaporation from the soil
surface being prevented by means of a seal of wax
which is melted and poured over the soil surface. In
the case of monocotyledons, this wax seal can be
applied immediately after planting the seeds, and the
seedlings will grow readily through the wax, forming
& perfect seal around the stems. In that of dicoty-

ledons, the wax, which is usually a mixture of parattn
and vaseline having a low melting point and low heat
conductivity, can be melted and poured around the
stems of the seedlings without injury. During growth,
the pots are immersed in a water bath to avoid conden-
sation of the soil moisture on the pot walls. The water in
this bath is stirred constantly to keep the temperature
uniform, and a temperature of about 70° and a relative
humidity of about 85 per cent. are maintained. The
amount of water added to the soil at the beginning de-
pends upon the texture, and will vary from 5 per cent.
for sand to 80 per cent. for clay. As soon as the plants
show unmistakable signs of wilting, the moisture in
the soil in the pots is determined, and this is taken as
a measure of the non-available soil water.

Tests of the method with Kubanka wheat seedlings
indicate that the probable error of the mean of the
determinations from twelve pots or more does not
usually exceed 0:1 per cent. of actual soil moisture,
which is fully comparable to the accuracy with which
the soil itself can be defined through its physical pro-
perties.

In these tests, the mean non-available moisture
was 2°59 per cent. in fine sand, 9°66 per cent. in fine
sandy loam, and 16° per cent. in clay loam. The
method is stated to be particularly adapted to the study
of transpiration.

a

Camphor in Formosa, 1910.

The shipments of camphor, the production of which
is a Government monopoly, from Formosa during 1910,
amounted to 6,486,272 tb; of this 35,072 tb. only was
taken by Japan. According to Diplomatic and Con-
sular Reports, No. 4769 Annual Series, it is stated
that Japanese refiners have to pay an amount which
means Id. per th. more, for crude camphor, than those
in Europe and America, and there has therefore been
a strong movement among consumers in Japan to
induce the Government to sell the article at the same
price in the home and foreign markets. The matter is
of particular importance, as the manufacture of celluloid
has been taken up recently in Japan. An order has
now been issued by the Formosan Government that,
from April 1, 1911, the price of camphor exported to
Europe shall be raised from £7 5s. to £7 10s. per case.

The output of 1910 did not reach the estimate,
which is the same as the quantity authorized to be pro-
duced, namely, 7,706,000 tb. The distillation of cam-
phor from the leaves is still in the experimental stage.

All the camphor oil was sent to Japan for the ex-
traction of its camphor.

The Japanese Government has taken strong mea-
sures for the subjugation of the savages in the interior
of Formosa, and a speedy increase is taking place in the
area of forest land under control. The proportion of
oil to camphor is much higher from the trees in the
south than in the north, and as the new areas are chief-
ly in the north, this is a matter of much importance.

The Government is encouraging the planting of
camphor trees, particularly by the distribution of seed-
lings from its nurseries

10 THE AGRIGULTURAL NEWS.

January 6, 19192.

INSECT NOTES.

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION GIVEN
DURING 1911.

In the Agricultural News for February 4, and 18, 1911
(see Vol. X, pp. 42 and 56), an article appeared entitled
A Summary of Entomological Information in the Agricul-
tural News and West Indian Bulletin during the year 1910.
Similarly, the object of the present paper is to summar-
ize the information relating to Entomological subjects which
has been published in the Agricultwral News, Vol. X, during
Ue

suGAR. On page 122, an account appears of the palm
weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) attacking sugar-cane in
Trinidad, and it is also mentioned that the cocoa-nut moth
(Castnia daedalus) has in one instance at least been known
to attack the sugar-canein British Guiana. The frog-hopper
of the sugar-cane (Z'omaspzs varia, Fabr.) formed the subject
of an article on page 154 where, in a review of Dr. Gough’s
work in Trinidad, it was shown that spraying with kerosene
emulsion and kerosene lysol emulsion is likely to be sue-
cessful. A specially designed spraying nozzle is also mention-
ed in this connexion. ‘Trap lights were also discussed. The
use of the frog-hopper fungus was mentioned as likely to be
of considerable value in connexion with the control of this
pest. Burning the trash in the field destroys many frog-hop-
per eggs.

The sugar-cane borers which are known as pests in Brit-
ish Guiana are mentioned on the same page (154) in a review
of a report by Mr. Quelch. This deals principally with the
giant moth borer (Castnia licus). Mention is made of the
smaller moth borer (Diatrea saccharalis), and it is recorded
‘that three species have been in the past included under one
name. Theseare D. saccharalis, D. canella and D. lineolata.
The burning of trash is believed to drive away and destroy
many parasites and other natural enemies of these pests.
The moth’ borer (D. saccharalis) is a pest of canes in
Louisiana. On' page 170 certain experiments proposed for the
control of this insect in that State by the United States
Department of Agriculture were outlined.

The root borer of sugar-cane (Diaprepes abbreviatus)
occurs as a pest in restricted localities in Barbados. An
account of this insect with figures of the grub and adult
appeared on page 218; in this, the egg was described, and also
the habit of the adults of hiding in the leaves of Indian corn
and other plants, where they may be found and collected.

The occurrence of a new sugar-cane pest in Mauritius
was mentioned on page 314. Thisis an unidentified beetle, the
larva of which feeds on the roots of the sugar-cane, causing

‘serious injury. It is probably an introduced insect more
nearly related to the hard-backs and May beetles than to the
root-borer.

corN. The moth borer, as a pest of Indian corn, was dis-
cussed on page 74, ina review of Circular No. 116 of the
Bureau of Entomology of the United States Department of
Agriculture. This insect is known in the Southern States,
where it is a serious pest, as the larger corn-stalk borer.
coTton. On page 378, in an article entitled Notes on the
Cotton Worm, the unusually severe outbreak of this pest in
the United States is mentioned. It is also recorded that
the cotton worm moth occurred at Philadelphia, Pennsyl-
vania, and Amherst, Massachusetts, in considerable numbers.
The question is raised as to whether these occurrences were
the result of migration, or whether the insect has another food
plant beside cotton on which it can breed north of the cotton
belt. Experiments with cotton stainers in‘Montserrat were

recorded on page 138, and an account of the cotton stainer
of Trinidad, with methods of control, is given on page 394.

OTHER CRops. A fruit fly attacking cacao in Uganda is
recorded on page 26. The mango weevil (Cryptoryhnchus
mangiferae) formed the subject of a brief note on page 58,
and of a somewhat larger one on page 282. The occurrence
of a Cecidomyiid fly on mangoes in St. Vincent was described
on page 10. A note on cocoa-nut pests appeared on page 138,
in which several insects are included in addition to those
previously recorded in the Agricultural News. A note on
page 362 was entitled Some Insect Injuries to Ground Nuts.

POLLINATION. Interesting examples of the part played
by insects in plant fertilization are given in the articles, Insect
Pollination of an Aroid Plant, p. 234; The Pollination of
Yucca Flowers, p. 250; and The Pollination of the Smyrna
Fig, p. 266.

SCALE INSECTS. A note on the green scale (Coceus viridis)
in Ceylon, page 106, and an article on the Locomotion of
Young Scale Insects page 330, contained the only information
published during the year in respect of scale insects, except
two, which had special reference to the control of these insects
by a natural enemy. These articles were entitled To Increase
the Numbers of the Black Scale Parasite ( p. 10), and the
Parasitism of the Black Scale. The black scale (Sazssetia
nigra) has been a seyere pest of cotton, but its parasite,
Zalophothrix mirum,’ has assumed a satisfactory control
over it (p. 202).

INSECT DISEASES. On page 410, an account is given of
a bacterial disease of the grasshopper (Schistocerca pallens)
in Yucatan, where it seems to be of considerable value in
reducing the numbers of the insect, which often occurs as
a pest in that country.

ricks. On page 314, the article Information Concerning
Ticks contains a general account of the injuries and losses
caused by these animal parasites, and also a list of the ticks
recorded from the West Indies, with their distribution as it
is known at present; this shows that much more information
in regard to these pests ought to be available.

GENERAL. Thearticle entitled The House-Fly and Man,
p. 330, reviews the danger to be apprehended from the house-
fly as a disease carrier, and suggests measures for controlling
this insect. The Insect Notes headed An Insect New to the
West Indies record the occurrence of a borer (Bartocera
rubus) in trees, in St. Croix and Trinidad; they appeared on
page 106. Mosquito-destroying fish in Lagos and Uganda
are briefly mentioned on page 346.

On page 218, an article on Entomology in Southern
Nigeria refers to certain insect pests of crops which are the
same as, or similar to, the pests of the same crops in the
West Indies. The account of the control of the Argentine ant,
on page 346, describes the use of poison sugar bait which suc-
cessfully controlled the Argentine ant in a limited district.

The article entitled Some Useful Insecticides, p. 378,
gives formulas for making several preparations which have
been found to be of value in California in the control of the
peach tree borer.

On page 362, Pest Laws in Porto Rico are briefly
outlined. An illustrated article on Peripatus, that interesting
modern representative of the ancient ancestors of insects, is
given on page 186.

A brief account of the organization and work of the En-
tomological Research Committee for Tropical Africa is given
on page 90. The article entitled The Control of Insect Pests,
p. 122, was taken from the first of a series of lectures by
H. Maxwell-Lefroy at the Imperial College of Science and
Technology, while on page 170 there is given an outline- of
the courses in Economic Entomology at this institution.

Vou. XI. No. 253.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 11

POULTRY NOTES.

—

THE FATTENING OF POULTRY.

Some of the following conclusions, reached in
Bulletin 140 of the Bureau of Animal Industry of the
United States Department of Agriculture, entitled
Fattening Poultry, are of interest to poultry keepers
in the West Indies. It should be stated that in experi-
ment A, the stock was of better quality than in B, while
in the food of the latter, oat flour was used instead of
the low-grade wheat flour in A, and a small amount of
tallow was added. Again, in experiment A, the birds
were fed more than once at each meal, the number of
meals per day being three; while in B, two meals were
given daily, with one feed, only, at each. Lastly, the
birds in experiment A were shipped by express, and
those in B, chiefly in live stock cars.

(1) The Plymouth Rock and other varieties of general-
purpose fowls make more economical gains in fattening than
the Mediterranean class, such as Leghorns.

(2) Chickens of the same breed vary greatly in their
ability to put on flesh. This variation may lead to gross error
in drawing conclusions from experiments in feeding poultry
which deal with only a small number of birds.

(3) Muslin or duck cloth can be used to good advan-
tage to replace the windows or part of the walls of feeding
stations.

(4) If a feeding station is properly constructed, good
ventilation can be secured without haying a large open space
in the top of the building, such as a monitor top. Such
buildings can be constructed more cheaply than those with
a large amount of air space, per bird, by using muslin curtains
for the walls.

(5) The use of portable feeding batteries is more easily
adapted to varying conditions, involves less labour, and turns
the birds out in better condition, than the stationary
batteries.

(6) Low-grade wheat flour is a more economical feed
than oat flour in fattening rations for chickens, at the present
prices of grain.

(7) The average person will get better results in fatten-
ing by feeding three times rather than twice daily.

(8) The amount of grain required to produce a pound of
flesh in fattening chickens varied in experiment A from 1°92
to 5°35 tb., with an average of 3°26 tb.; while in experiment
B the amount varied from 1°29 to 8-45. tb, with an average
of 3:26 bb.

The total cost of feed per pound of gain varied from
3°71lce. to 10°37c., and averaged 6°45c. in experiment A, while
in experiment B, the cost varied from 3°15c. to 19°90c., and
averaged 7°74c

The cost of labour for a pound of gain in flesh varied
from 0:88c, to 2°8lc., and averaged 1:40c. in experiment A,
while in experiment B, the cost varied from 1-14c. to 563c.,
and averaged 2°59c.

The cost of both feed and labour to produce a pound of
gain in fattening varied from 4'6lc. to 13:14c., and averaged
7°85c. in experiment A; and it varied from 4'35c. to 27°20c.,
and averaged 10°33c. in experiment Bb.

The average total cost of feed and labour per pound of
gain for all the birds in experiments A and B was 9:09c.;
the average cost of feed alone, 7°10c.

(9) The cheaper gains were made in the shorter feeding
periods (seven or eight days) and by the light chickens.

(10) Hens make poorer gains than chickens in crate
fattening. Fattening hens by this method is profitable only
under certain conditions,

WILD RUBBER IN THE CONGO.

The last volume of the Agricultural News, p. 341,
contained an account of rubber cultivation in the
Congo, taken from The Board of Trade Journal for
August 31,1911. The following information concern-
ing wild rubber, in that State, is extracted from the
same source :—

Among the numerous.,latex-yielding plants to be found
in the vast forest lands of the Congo, the most common are
those mentioned below :—

Landolphia owariensis, which is perhaps the best known
liana, is spread throughout the rubber areas of the country.
It is a vigorous vine, and the result of a test made by a bot-
anist shows that a liana of this species, having a circumfer-
ence of 18 inches at a height of 3 feet above the ground, pro-
duced 31:7 oz, of latex at the first tapping and 1°65 oz. at
the second, thus giving an annual yield of 33°35 oz.

Landolphia Klainei and Clitandra Arnoldiana (=C.
orientalis) are widely scattered throughout the Lower and
Middle Congo, the Kasai, Kwango and the Ubangi. The
former produces an excellent black rubber when the latex is
immersed in boiling water, and experiments with the latter
have yielded good results. ;

Carpodinus gracilis, of which the rhizomes yield a good
quality of rubber.

Landolphia droogymansiana, which attains a great height
and considerable thickness, is best known in the Mayumbe,
where it is worked.

Landolphia Thollonivis best known in the Kasai, It
grows in a sandy soil, and is remarkable for the extraordin-
ary development of the rhizomes, which measure }-inch in
diameter, and are interwoven in large, mesh-like clusters
below the surface.

Carpodinus Gentilii is a liana that attains some 12
inches in cireumference. it is best known in the Bangala,
Uele, and other districts to the north of the Equator.

Wild rubber, in districts in which it has been
worked on an extensive scale, is now becoming scarce
in places. Many of the large rubber zones have been
worked out completely, and the industry is at a stand-
still until the forests shall have had time to recover.
Some of the plants, such as Landolphia Klainei and
Clitandra Arnoldiana, are known to have attained 50 feet
in height and 4 to 5 inches in circumference in four
years, but expert opinion differs too widely to allow of any
estimation of the period of growth of wild rubber, which it
is supposed may be anything between twenty-five and fifty
years. There are, of course, still vast areas of virgin rubber
forest, but these are at remote distances from the present
lines of communication, and are consequently difficult of access
and unprofitable, owing to the lack of means of transport. In
some of the remaining accessible districts, where rubber is
still plentiful, labour difficulties have interfered with the pro-
gress of the industry. Rubber is now cultivated in other
countries by such improved methods as to threaten, in course
of time, to displace the inferior wild product on the market,

12 THE

GLEANINGS.

The Yertile Mercury for October 21, 1911, states that
the Russian cotton crop amounted to about 900,000 bales,
which is a decrease on the quantity of the previous year by
50,000 bales.

It is reported by H. M. Consul at Para that the exports
of rubber from Para, Manaos, Iquitos, and Itacoatiara dur-
ing the crop year ending June 30, 1910-11, were respectively
as follows: 14,976,291, 16,088,277, 2,371,572 and 96,566
kilos., making a total of 33,532,706 kilos.

Informaticn has been supplied by the German Consul
in Santo Domingo, to the Nachrichten fiir Handel und
Industrie, to the effect that the amount of cacao exported
from the Republic in January to June 1911, was 13,200
metric tons. The quantity for the previous similar period
was 11,750 metric tons.

The Chemical Trade Journal, 1911, p. 74, states that
the figures published by the Nitrate Syndicate show that the
production of nitrate of soda in 1910 was larger by 350,253
tons than in 1909, the output being 2,436,182 tons. The
average price in Europe during the former year is estimated
to be about £1 lower than in 1908.

Information from the Agricultural Superintendent
of St. Vincent shows that in November last, 2,000 Para
rubber seeds were received by the Agricultural Depart-
ment, one half of which were sown in the nursery at the
Station and the rest sent to Three Rivers estate. At the
time of reporting, all the seed was germinating well.

An abstract is contained, in the Jowrnal of the Chemical
Society, 1911, p. 430, of a paper which describes experiments
which showed that applications of starch and sucrose to the
soil, each separately at the rate of 1 ton per acre, caused large
decreases in the yield of barley. The treated soil was sub-
jected to examination, and it was found that it contained
a largely increased growth of bacteria and moulds.

At the end of November last it was reported from Mont-
serrat that the prospects for the cotton crop continued to be
good, and that picking would be carried on until a much
later date than that of last year. On some estates, the per-
centage of lint has been low. Flower-bud maggot was
found in several places, and attacks of the cotton worm
have been severe in all parts of the island, the greatest
damage having been done in the northern districts.

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. January 6, 1912.

Particulars have been received of a roller cotton gin,
described as the D.C. Hand Gin, and supplied by Norman
Pain Pearse, 28 Queen Street, London, E.C., to whom appli-
cation should be made for information and prices. This
requires only one person to operate it, and is made in two
sizes, one of .which will deal with 10 to 16 tb. of seed
cotton in’ an hour, while the other gives an output 15 per
cent. greater. The latter is recommended particularly for use
on experiment farms.

The Sea Island cotton crop for 1910-11 was not so big
as the previous year’s. The total number of bales was
87,911, being a reduction of 8,807 on the crop of 1909-10.
The bales were distributed as follows: Great Britain, 16,505
bales; the Continent 6,430; and the United States, 61,125.
This year’s crop has suffered through storm and rain, and
the harvesting, although favoured by good weather, is being
held back through the want of efficient labour. (The
Textile Mercury, October 14, 191 13)

Colonial Reports—Annual, No, 691, shows that there
was an increase in the importation of rice into Hong Kong,
during 1910, over the quantity for the previous similar
period. The total reported imports are stated to have been
4,298,194 tons as against 4,195,968 tons in 1909; though
these figures are not entirely reliable. The increase was
undoubtedly due to the almost total failure of the Chinese
first crops, owing to continuous drought, and to the partial
failure of the second crop in parts of Kwangtung.

The Financial Times states that, according to the Deépéche
Coloniale (Paris), the French Ministry of Colonies proposes
to send a special commission for the purpose of selecting
either Fort-de-France, Martinique, or Point-a-Pitre, Guade-
loupe, as a port of call in connexion with the opening of the
Panama Canal and for the general development of French
influence in the Caribbean Sea. It is considered that Point-
a-Pitre possesses the greatest advantages for the purpose, on
account of the superiority of its harbour, and there is likely
to be the additional inducement that the local authority will
abolish the harbour and pilot dues.

An investigation of the turning back of the water cur-
rent in the sweet potato is described in the New Jersey
Stations Report for 1909, p. 343. The method of experi-
mentation was to grow a piece of the main stem, with a side
branch, in a pot, and then to root the growing vine with its
branches at intervals of 2 feet, in pots, water being subse-
quently supplied to the rooted parts of the branches, but not
to the main stem. Observations showed that the water cur-
rent was turned back from its normal direction, so that the
plant grew from that supplied to the side branches.

The Lxperiment Station Record for June 1911, p. 645,
gives an account of tapping experiments that have been con-
ducted with young trees of Funtumia elastica, at Amani,
German East Africa. The largest yield was obtained with
the quarter-section method of tapping, but it is the opinion
of the author that, in a general way, the herring-bone system
will give the best results. It was found profitable to tap
trees six years old. There was an increase in the quantity
of the latex with the age and diameter of the trees, though
slender trees sometimes gave relatively large yields Attention
is drawn to the fact that some trees give high returns, but do
not sustain them from year to year; so that in selecting seed
it should be taken from plants which yield well continuously.

Vou. XI. No. 253.

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

RESULTS OF AGRICULTURAL
EXAMINATIONS.
The results obtained by candidatés in the last Prelimi-
nary, Intermediate and Final Examinations, held in October

and November last, in connexion with the Courses of Read-
ing of the Imperial Departinent of Agriculture, are as

follows :—
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

Centre. Name. Result.

; fClauzel, W. C. 3rd_ class

pines \Dewel, D. 3. snd Dk,
Domini fAuguste, H. 20d” 4;
PHUNAICH \ Cuffy, G. T. Sidi "5,
Montserrat Ross, R. ord “4,
Antigua Athill, 8. V. Ordin ey,

Seven candidates presented themselves for examination
in this stage, of which six passed, as is shown.

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION,

Centre. Name. Result.
Montserrat Howes, 8S. W. 2nd class
Metin { Gomes, C. A. ord 5,

° \Stamers, A. L. 3rd,

For the Intermediate Examination, four candidates pre-
sented themselves, and as is shown, three passed. Among
these, success was obtained in the special subjects, as follows:
Howes, S. W., Cotton and Limes; Gomes, C. A., Sugar—
General, and Cotton; Stamers, A. L., Sugar—General, and
Provision Crops.

FINAL EXAMINATION.

Centre. Name. Result.
ree (Hallpike, C. J. A. 3rd class
mee \ Shepherd, C. H. 3rd gy

For this stage there were four candidates, and two
passed, in accordance with the particulars given in the above
list. ‘These obtained success in the’ special subjects, as
follows: Hallpike, C. J. A., Sugar—General, and Cotton;
Shepherd, C. H., Sugar—General, and Cotton.

The two candidates who failed in the Final Examination
showed a fair knowledge of the theoretical side of the sub-
jects, and dealt with these in a way’ that would have been
fairly creditable in the Intermediate Examination, but was
not up to the standard required for the Final. The evidences
of their practical ability were also greatly lacking, and
these facts preventedthem from being classed.

; The Local Examiners at the different centres were as
follows: —-

Mr. G. Barnard

», C. R. Kennaway
J. C. Moore
» A.J. Brooks
» J. Jones
» G. A. Jones
The Hon. F. Driver
The Rev. Canon Haines -
Mr. W. Robson
Mr. R. 8. D. Goodwin
3 J.J. Roden
3 H. A. Tempany, B.Sc.
», I. Jackson

St. Lucia

Dominica

— =e

Montserrat

Antigua

ee ee

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 13

Although the percentages of passes obtained by the can-
didates were high, particulaaly in the Preliminary and Inter-
mediate stages, there was no ease where a pre-eminently good
knowledge of the subjects was shown. ‘fhis was apparently

due to the fact that candidates had been mostly content to
pursue their work and studiesionly to such a degree as seemed
necessary for them to attain the pass mark, and to the circum-

stance that they did not answer thoroughly the questions
attempted by them. Creditscannot be given for the Dos-
session of knowledge that is merély implied, and it is recom-
mended that students following the Reading Courses should
try to gain a more intimate acquaintance with the subjects, and
that they should practice the answering of questions in order
that they may acquire the ability to do this in a methodical,
complete and speedy manner.

Anthrax Serum for Human Anthrax.—The
results of the serum treatment of anthrax in veterinary
practice have awakened interest in the specific treatment
of anthrax in human medicine to such an extent that
Sobernheim’s anthrax serum has been used on an increasing
scale as an addition to the older forms of medicinal treatment.
tecently Koelsch has again drawn attention to the value of
this serum. It is best given intravenously in doses of 10 c.c.,
repeated several times. The most conservative local treat-
ment should be used with it. Beyer used pyucyanase for
the local treatment. In the two cases reported by him the
infection occurred in a tannery. One patient had a pustule
on the right cheek. He was given two intravenous injec-
tions, and the pustule was treated locally with pyocyanase.
The case ran an afebrile course and ended in recovery, so that
there was practically no scar to be seen. In the other case
there was fever and oedema extending to the eyelids. The
treatment consisted of three injections of serum, amounting
altogether to 50 c.c., and moist dressings with pyocyanase.
On the fourth day a complication occurred in the form of
erysipelas, starting from the primary lesion. The pustule
healed, but a scar was left which necessitated a plastic
operation.

The serum injections should be commenced as soon
as anthrax is diagnosed. It is therefore advisable, in
vocations in which anthrax infection is known by experience
to be liable to oceur, that serum be kept at hand so that too
much time may not be lost in procuring it. (From E. Merck’s
Annual Report of Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical
Chemistry and Therapeutics, 1910, p. 331.)

The Third International Rubber and Allied
Trades Exposition.—In the last number of the Agriewl-
tural News, p. 412, it was stated that information had been
received by the Commissioner of Agriculture, from the Organ-
izing Manager, Mr. A. Staines Manders, to the effect that
this exposition will be held at the New Grand Central Palace,
46th and 47th Street and Lexington Avenue, New York
City, trom September 23 to October 3, 1912. The Commis-
sioner has since been informed, further, by the Organizing
Manager that, in order to render more information available
concerning the participating countries, planters will be
encouraged to exhibit other products, besides rubber, and
that it will be advisable to have fall information prepared,
in booklet form, for distribution to visitors.

14 THE AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENTS ON THE CONTROL OF
LEAF RUST OF GROUND NUTS.

A leaf rust of ground nuts, due to Uredo arachidis, has
been of common occurrence in the West Indies during recent
years, and has been under more particular observation in the
experiment plots planted with imported American varieties,
in Dominica, Montserrat and St. Kitts. Some account of it
is given in the West Indian bulletin, Vol. IX, pp. 157 and
167. Yr | sangre tS: ue

The disease appears to be more usually confined to the
older leaves, but this is not always the case; while the opin-
ions of different observers throughout the islands as to the
amount of damage due to it have been somewhat conflicting.
The same is true with regard to the effect of control measures
ia reducing its prevalence. In the season of 1909, Mr. W.
Robson, Curator of the Botanic Station, Montserrat, express-
ed the opinion that it undoubtedly affected the yield obtain-
able, by shortening the life of the plants and causing shrink-
of the nuts. In the following year, Mr. A. J. Brooks, then
Master-in-Charge of the Agricultural School, Dominica, con-
ducted experiments to compare the weight of nuts from,
and the number produced by, infected and healthy plants.
He found that the presence of the fungus did not have any
appreciable effect on the values obtained in each case, and
concluded that the damage due to it was negligible. More-
over, he reported that spraying with Bordeaux mixture and
dusting the plants with a mizture of lime and sulphur did
not reduce its spread. But in the same year, Mr. Robson
found that the results obtained by spraying with Bordeaux
mixture supported the theory that the fungus shortens the
life of the plants. His results were based on the general
appearance of the sprayed and unsprayed plots, and
on comparisons of the yields obtained from each. He
found that the sections sprayed remained green for
a longer period than those unsprayed, and that the
fungus appeared on the control plots in some quantity
at a date when it was absent on the sprayed portions.
In the case of each variety grown, the yield of nuts from the
sprayed portion was in excess of that from the control plot.
It should be noted, however, that the fungus appeared eventu-
ally to some extent on the sprayed plots, as well as on the
controls. This is possibly due to the fact that spraying was
commenced at too early a date, or perhaps a third application
was advisable. The plots were planted on July 7, and were
sprayed on August 23 and September 17, while the rust did
not appear at all until the beginning of October; so that
a third application'at the commencement of the month might
have been of service. Mr. Robson found that Bordeaux mix-
ture adhered well, but that an application of lime and sulphur
made on August 23 was washed off by a shower which fell
soon afterwards, (See Reports on the Botanic Station and
Experiment Plots, Montserrat, 1910-1], pp. 12 and 13.)

These results are at variance with those obtained in the
same year in Dominica, but were confirmed to a certain extent
at that time by Mr. F. R. Shepherd, Agricultural Superinten-
dent, St. Kitts, who reported that rust appeared on the plants
in the experiment plots when the vines were maturing, but

NEWS, JANUARY 6, 1912.

that spraying with Bordeaux mixture gave good results. No
evidence is available to show on what basis this statement is
made, so that its valué in this discussion is limited.

In the present season, Mr. Robson repeated the previous
experiments. Ina summary of the results obtained, the fol-
lowing information is given. Rust was prevalent in all the
plots under cultivation at the Botanic Station, Montserrat,
but the Carolina Running variety appeared to suffer most, and
the Gambia least of all. Spraying experiments with Bordeaux
mixture did not yield any definite results; in fact they indi-
cated rather that little or no damage is caused by the fungus.
It was noticed that the actual number of rust pustules on
the sprayed portion was very small as compared with the
number on the unsprayed; but tests of the yield and quality of
the nuts from each set of plots showed no consistent results.
It should be noted, however, that the virulence of the attack
was not nearly so marked as it has been in previous years,
and this may account to some extent for the inconsistent
weights cf nuts recorded from the different plots of sprayed
and unsprayed varieties.

This last piece of evidence appears to be in agreement
with that obtained in Dominica in 1910, and is decidedly at
variance, as regards yield of nuts, with the data recorded in
Montserrat in 1910. It seems possible that the nature of
the season may have some effect on the amount of damage
resulting from the attacks of rust; while another factor is
probably the time of application of the fungicide, as well as
the number of applications made. The evidence available at
present seems to indicate that the damage due to the rust
fungus is so small that applications of fungicides, even when
effective, are not economically justifiable, as the resulting
increase in yield is insuflicient to cover their cost. Further
experiments should, however, be conducted in order that, if
possible, some definite conclusions may be arrived at.

EXPORTS FROM THE SEYCHELLES,
1910.

The following account regarding the exports and
trade prospects in the Seychelles is given in Colonial
Reports—Annual, No. 693, p. 9.

The export of copra has risen steadily, and with improv-
ed methods of cultivation should continue to progress.

The export of soap and other products of the cocoa-nut
palm will only show an increase when there is a considerable
fall in the price of copra, but the quantity of nuts collected
is steadily advancing.

A moderate crop of vanilla was harvested. Vanilla
plantations are being gradually restricted to the higher zones
of the mountains owing to successive dry seasons. With the
legislation in France and the United States restricting artifi-
cial substitutes, there has been a continuance of the remuner-
ative prices of the past two years, and as there is a growing
reluctance on the part of manufacturers to use the artificial
vanillin, there seems no reason why vanilla cultivation should
not continue to form one of the principal industries of the
Colony. Iam aware that this opinion is contrary to that of
a number of experts. When in England in 1907, I was
told by a distinguished man of science, whose researches have
been mainly connected with tropical products, that planta-
tion vanilla was in its death throes. In that year the Sey-
chelles crop realized a million rupees, the price rose steadily
(apart from a temporary drop in 1908) and good prices have
ruled ever since. It is not as if vanilla has to be cultivated
at the expense of less capricious products: the orchid will
grow and thrive where cocoa-nuts and rubber will not. It is

Vor. XI No. 253.

true that the yield fluctuates considerably, but even the
famine harvest of 1909 (11 tons) realized over Rs. 200,000,
and was third in value in the exports for that year.

Calipee has risen to sixth on the list of exports. The
whole of the commodity is absorbed in the United Kingdom.

Tortoise-shell may show a very substantial increase in
future years, as artificial rearing in enclosed areas is being
tried, and the promoters appear confident of success. If the
hawksbill turtle can be reared to maturity, the profit in these
ventures should prove enormous.

Straw plait from the coco-de-mer straw has been tried,
but the venture does not promise well. In any case the
restricted area of the growth of these palms would tell
against any considerable expansion.

The manufacture of rum is likely to cease, as the natives
of Seychelles, though inveterate drinkers of this spirit, show
a decided aversion to the locally manufactured article. The
distillery is no longer working, and the total stock has been
exported by the assignees in the bankruptcy of the firm
which carried on the business. The stock was offered for
sale locally, and the highest tender was at the rate of 5c.
a litre,

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of November 1911:—

The month of November has not been marked by any
great changes, either in prices or demand, since our report
for October. Commencing with a very quiet tone, accompa-
nied, perhaps, with a slight increase in the prices of a few
well-known drugs, there was, in the middle of the month,
a slight drop in the price of Buchu leaves, which have main-

_ tained a high position for some months past. This fall was
said to be due to the prospect of an early arrival of the new
crop of leaves from the Cape. At the auctions in the last
week of the month, aslight improvement was noticeable, both
in the quantities disposed of, and in the prices realized for
drugs generally. No product of the West Indies, however,
calls for any special comment.

GINGER.

At the first auction on the Ist of the month, some 600
bags of Cochin were offered, and 200 bags washed rough sold
at 46s. to 46s. 6d.; slightly wormy realized 44s. Some cases of
Calicut were brought forward, the reserve prices for which were:
bold cut 92s. 6d., and small cut 72s. 6d.; 76 bags of partly
mouldy limed Japan were sold without reserve at 40s. per cwt.
A week later the sales were as follows: out of a total of 401
bags of Cochin brought forward without reserve, only 41 sold
at 69s, 6d. to 70s. for good small; washed rough Cochin was
bought in at 46s. per cwt. At the end of the month, though
the quantities offered were large, the sales were slow, and
most of the offerings were bought in; thus 50 barrels from
Jamaica were bought in at 56s. for small, bright, but wormy;
843 bags and 63 cases Cochin and Calicut were held at 90s.
to 95s. for finest, down to 45s. to 50s. for washed Cochin,

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO,
On the Ist of the month nutmegs were represented by

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 15

89 packages of West Indian, and 102 packages of eastern;
the former were partly sold at the following rates: wormy
and broken 160’s 43d., 124’s to 140’s 43d. The latter,
namely the eastern, were also partly sold, 63’s fetching Is ,
78s 8d. and 95’s 64d. A fortnight later, 88 packages of
West Indian were offered, and» partly sold at the following
prices: 63’s to 69’s 84d. to 9d.,71’s to 75’s 7d. to 8d., 98's
53d. and 112’s 64d. On the 22nd, as many as 411 pack-
ages of West Indian were brought forward and nearly all
sold at prices of }d. to 3d. per tb. advance on previous rates.
On the 15th, West Indian mace fetched from 2s 4d. to
2s. 6d. per tb. and eastern 2s. 2d. to 2s. 6d., and on the
22nd the same prices were realized for the bulk of a consign-
ment of 128 packages of West Indian. Pimento at the first
auction was represented by 50 bags, all of which were
bought in at 2d. per Ib., a price that has been maintained
throughout the month at private sales. At the last auction
on the 29th, 83 barrels of St. Vincent arrowroot were brought
forward, only 20 of which sold at 3d. per tb. for good
manufacturing.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the first drug sale on the 2nd of the month, grey
Jamaica sarsaparilla was represented by 13 bales, all of
which found buyers at Is. 8d. to 1s. 10d. per Ib., 15 bales
of Lima-Jamaica were also brought forward, and 9 sold
at 1s. ld. for fair, and ls. for part coarse; only 3 bales
of native Jamaica were offered and sold, 2 of which,
consisting of yellow and red mixed, realized 10d.
per tb. On the 16th, another consignment of 13 bales of
native Jamaica was offered and all sold, fetching 1s. 10d,
per tb. for fair grey, part slightly roughish; the rest,
sea-damaged, was sold at Is. 6d. per tb. Six bales of
Lima-Jamaica were also offered, but were held at 1s. 2d.,
while 4 bales of native Jamaica, all that were offered,
sold at ls. ld. per tb. for good red, and 10d. per tb. for dull
red. On November 30, grey Jamaica was entirely absent
from auction, Lima-Jamaica and Native Jamaica being the
only kinds offered, and of these only 3 bales of each, all of
which sold at the following prices, Lima-Jamaica, part coarse
ls. 2d. and fair hanks 1s. 3d. per tb. while native Jamaica
realized 1s 1d for good red, 103d. for red and yellow mixed,
and 9d. for dull rea.

KOLA, LIME JUICE, LIME OIL, AND TAMARINDS,

At auction on the Ist of the month, a single bag of kola
from Samoa, mostly in halves, dried, and of a darkish colour,
fetched 3d. per tb. A fortnight later, kola was represented
by 26 bags of Jamaica, all of which sold at from 32d. to 4d,
per Ib. tor fair partly washed, chiefly in bright halves, while
one bag of ordinary dried West Indian halves realized 4d.
per lb. At the end of the month these prices were still main-
tained, 13 bags of West Indian being thus disposed of, while
for good bold bright St. Lucia 4d. was wanted. Some 6 bags
of fair Ceylon, chiefly in halves, were also offered and sold at
334. per tb Lime juice was represented at auction on the
lst of the month by 10 barrels of raw Dominican, which sold
at ls. 3}d. per gallon for fair palish, while 20 hogsheads of
browner kind were bought in at 1s. 2d. per gallon. A fort-
night later, 7 hogsheads of dark to ordinary brown Antigua
were offered and bought in at ls, 4d., and fair at ls. 3d. At
the beginning of the month fair distilled West Indian oil of
lime was sold at Is. 1d. to 1s. 2d. per tb., 5s. 3d. being quoted
for hand pressed. A fortnight later, 1s. 2d. per ib. was paid
for 4 cases of fair West Indian distilled. For Barbados
tamarinds 16s. has been paid in bond, and for Antigua
12s. 6d. to 13s, The former are reported to be scarce.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Ji

London.—Tue

MARKET REPORTS.

West Ixpra ComMirTEE CrrcuLar,

December 19, 1911; Messrs. E. A. Dz Pass & Co.,
lle

December 8

ARRowroot—3$d to 34d.

Batata—sheet, 3/6; block, 2/4 per tb.

Bezrswax—$7 5s. to £7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 60/- to 70/- per cwt.; Grenada, 54/-
to 59/6; Jamaica, 51/- to 58/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 70/- to 120/- per cwt.

Uorpra—West Indian, £25 10s. per ton.

Corton—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations.

Frvuit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 64/- per ewt.

Isr1ncLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotation.

Lime Jutce—Raw, 1/1 to 1/4; concentrated, $18 12s. 6d.
to £19 10s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/3.

Loa woop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Notmecs—Firm.

Pitento—Common, 2,%,d.; fair, 28d.; good, 21}d.; per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/43; fine soft, 4/1; Castilloa,
4/1 per Th.

Rum—dJamnaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 19/6 to 22/6; Muscovado, 15/- to 17/6;
Syrup, 14/- to 18/3 per cwt.; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs. Gittespre Bros. & Co., December

15, 1911.

Cacao—Caracas, 124c. to 12}c.; Grenada, 12c. to 12ic¢.;
Trinidad, 12c. to 123c. per Ib.; Jamaica, 10c. to 12c.
Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $29°00 to $31-00; culls,
$16°00 to $17°00; Trinidad, select, $29-00 to $31-00;

culls, $16°00 to $17-00 per M.

Correr—Jamaica, 14}c. to 1dc. per tb.

Gincer—8jc. to 9c. per ib.

Goat Sxiys—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 480.
to 52c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 46c. to 48c.
per tb.

Gravrr-Fruit—Jamaica, $2°50 to $3:00.

Lines— $3°00 to $4:00.

Mace—S0c. to 54c. per Ib.

Nurmurcs—110’s, 123c.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pintento—22/. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4{c. per 1b.; Muscovados, 89°,

4ic.; Molasses, 89°, 4c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., December 26,

1911.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $1260 per fanega; Trinidad, $12°40,

Cocoa-NuT O11—95c. per Imperial gallon,

Corree—Venezuelan, 17c. per tb.

Copra—$4-25 per 100 th.

DxHat—$4'00 to $4°10.

Ontons—$2 75 to $3:00 per.100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$6°75 to $700 per bag.

Porators—English, $2°50 to $275 per 100 tr.

Rice—Yellow, $4:75 to 4°80; White, $5°75 to $6:00
per bag.

Svoar—American crushed, 10 quotations:

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., December 30

ANUARY 6, 1912.

3

1911; Messrs. T. 8. GArraway & Co., January 1,
1911; Messrs. LEacock & Co., December 22, 1911;
Messrs. E. THorne, Limited, December 5, 1911.

Cacao—$12-00 to $12°50 per 100 th.
Corron SeEp—$26-00 per ton.

Corron Seep O1r—80c. per wine gallon.
Corton Seep Cake Mrat—$24:00 per ton, c.i-f., neigh-

bouring islands.

Hay—$1°5U to $2:00 per 100 tb.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65:00 ; Cacao manure, $42°00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $75:00 to $80:00

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°40 to $3°

50 per 100 tb

Peas, Sprit—$6°75 to $6°80 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°90 to $4°10 per bag of 120 tb.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $250 to $3°25 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $4°90 to $5°30 per 190 ft.;
quotations; Rangoon. no quotations.

Patna, no

Sucar—American granulated, $6°00 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & Ricuter, December

23, 1911; Messrs. Sanpbacn, Parker & Co.,
December 8, 1911.
ARTICLES. Messrs. Wreting | Messrs. Sanp-

ARRowROooT—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
Daat—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasses—Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Peas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Porators—Noya Scotia

Lisbon
Potators—Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tannras—
Yams— White
Buck
Sueéar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimpeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

& RIcuter.

No quotation

70c. per th.

lic. per ib.
72c.

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per th.
18c. to 19c. per tb.
143c. per fb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 ib.
$3°00
$1-20
None

5c. to 6c.
$7°U0 per bag

(210 tb.)

$325

20c. to 40c.
$3°25 to $4:00
$1°68 per bag
No quotation

$5 00
$1-44
$2°88
$3°12
$320
$3°80
$4°75 to $5 00
$3°10 to $3°25
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6°00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

$12°50 per 200 th.

BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$13-00 per 200 tb.

Prohibited
70c.
Ile. per fb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
18c. per fb.
20c.per th.
14c. per th.
$3°75 per bag of
168 Ib.

5c. to 6e.
$7 00 to$7-25 per
bag (210 tb.)
No quotation
$3°50
No quotation

$500 to $5°25
$3°20 to $3 25
$3°75 !

32c. to 55c. pex
cub. foot
$400 to $6-00
per M.
No quotation.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Publications on sale of the Imperial Department of Agriculture

FOR

The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’.

THE WEST

INDIES.

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, 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.)
Volume XI. Nos. 1, 2, 3.

No. 4, containing an account of the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the

West Indies, presented under the following headings: The Imperial Department cf Agriculture in the
West Indies; What Science has done for the West Indies; Chief MattersConcerning Departmental Adminis-
tration; Matters of Indirect Interest; Entomology in the West Indies; A Summary of Ten Years’ Mycologi-
cal Work of the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies; The Work in the Botanic
Stations from Year to Year; General Progress in the West Indies since 1897; Agricultural Education
and Instruction; and Publications issued by the Imperial Department of Agriculture.

PAMPHLET S#HERIBES.

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 seventy.

Sucar Inpustry.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1991, No. 13, price 4d.;
in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902, No. 26, price 4d.;
in 1904, No. 32, price 4d.

Barbados,
price 6d.;
price 6d. ;

Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at
in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44,
in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No, 59,
in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d.; No. 66, price 67.

Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands,
in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20,
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33,
in 1904-5, No. 39, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 46,
in 1906-7, No. 50, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 56, price 4d.
in 1908-9, No. 63, price 6d.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.;
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d.

Scare Insects.

Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. No. 7, price 4d.;

Part II., No. 22, price 4d.
GENERAL.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests (Revised), price 4d.

price 2d.;
price 4d.;
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 3i.

(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 44.
(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 61.

(54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.
Price 4d.

(55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

(58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4:/.

New and Enlarged Edition.

(60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
(61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4/.

(65) Hints for School Gardens, Fouth Edition.

(69) Hints to Settlers in St. Lucia. Price 6d.

(70) Coco-nut Cultivation in the West Indies. Price 6d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of $d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
marked 4d., and 1}d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62, 63, 67, 69 and 70.

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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX complete, with title page and index, asissued

—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s.

longer be supplied complete. The scale of charges for ADVERTISEMENTS may be obtained on application to the Agents

Some numbers of the early volumes are out of print and therefore these volumes can no

All

applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.
The following have been appuinted Agents fer 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: THE ‘DatLy CHRONICLE Orrice. Georgetown.

Trinidad : Messrs. MuirR-MarsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. PracemMann, Scarborough.

St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School.

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. LAWRENCE, Botanic Station.

D minica: Mr. J. R. H. BrrpGewatTerR, Roseau,
Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.

Anagua: Mr. S. D. Matong. St. John’s.

St. Kitts: Toe Brsue anp Book Suppty AGENcy, Basseterre.
J'evis - Messrs. HowELL, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Von. XI. No. 253. CTHH AGHICULTURAL NEVWE. January 6, 1912.
&

a ——————s =

THE BE sT ‘MANURES FOR ‘COLONIAL USE

Onlexndorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano

For Sugar-cane and general use
Ghiendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohiendorff’s Special Cocoa, Manure
Onlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

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

Londo= Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

COTTON SEED. MEAL | ~ ° susT Bescon.
COTTON SEED MEAL, A NEW AND RE-ENLARGED

FOR MANURIAL PURPOSES. EDITION OF
SPECIAL QUOTATIONS FoR LaRceE |NATURE TEACHING.

QUANTITIES.
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON To be obtained from all agents for the

FACTORY, LIMITED, sale of the Department's publications. Price
BRIDGETOWN. 2s.; post free, 2s. 33d.

JUST ISSUED. —
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN. FOR S Al a iF
(Vol. XI, No. 4.) @

Containing an account of the Gnperial Department of Agri-

culture Poe West Indies, presented under the following} PRIME SUMMER YELLOW COTTON

headings: 1e Imperial Department of Agriculture in’ the

West Pees pba Science has done for the West Indies; SEED OLL.

Chief Matte Concerning Depart sala Administration :

Matters of In idixect Interest; Entomology in the West Indies;| In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

A Summary : Te n Vente : Myc olovic: =i Work of the Imperial} on 3

Departinent £ Agriculture for the West Wane The Werk] COTTO N SHED CAKE MEAL.

in the Botanic SPtione frou: Year to Year ; General Progress] = 3

in the West Indies since S97; Agricultural Education and} ERN EST THORNE, LTD.,

ree and Publications issued by the lmperial Depart-| Cotton Seed Oil Mills,

ment of Agricultme Barbados, W.I.
To be arate ori all agents for the sale of the Department's Telegraphic address,

Publications. Price 6d., post free, 94d, (267) Thorurne

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

! SS
19 Vi : ‘

|

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

HAVE YOU OUR NEW BOOK ON CACAO?

IF NOT, WRITE FOR IT TO-DAY. WE SEND IT FREE OF COST. NO CACAO
PLANTER CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT. |

CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting.
and Budding Cultivation.
Tnarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
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BOTANIC
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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.
Vou. XI. No. 254.

CONTENTS.

PaGE. Pace.

Agriculturists and Agricul- Insect’ Notes :—

_ tural Investigation ... 19} Insect Pests in the West

Assimilation of the Nitrogen Indies in 1911... ... 26
of the Air by Fungi... 24| Latex in Plants, Use of ... 17

Cacao and Cotton in the fe Monee Galvan iaies a
Congo ... s+. e+ ++ 25) Martet Reports'.:. +. 0 32

Calcium Cyanamide and Ni- Notes and Comments ... 24

trate of Lime 25 | Nutrition, Newly Described
Carabao, Philippine ... PY Factor in ee she Ge Fe
Copra in the Philippines ... 23] Pencil Cedar... «.. 31
| St. Vincent Handbook, 1911 25

Ootton Notes :— : ’ |} Samoa, Agricultural Condi-
Cotton Production in the | Ronen 25
West Indies, 1910-11... 23 Sorel : a a at Fon
i . 99 | Sorghum, cisoning oO
Egyptian Cotton ... ... 22) Vo eaG the 5 21

Wess . - 99 | ‘
West Indian Cotton ... 22 Students’Corner... ... ... 29

19 | Sugar Industry -—

Department News ‘
SugarfromShredded Cane 19

Dipping Fluids, Changes in

|
the Arsenic ... 25 | Sugar in the Philippines,
Reese estas: |. 1910 es as. 3. 29

POR OUeN Sulphate of Ammonia, Pro-

A Report on Fungus duiékion of 21
Diseases During the lear 2 a CRTs rece oa
zd sehts of Seeds fr Are
Years 1910 and 1911... 30, Wetaht ot See Para 31

Gleanings see eee eee 28] Zedu Cattle, Resistant to
Graft Hybrids «. ... ... 29 Texas Feyer :.. :.. 27

The Use of Latex in Plants.

Ol deration and study of the subject have been
given more attention in recent years, since the advent
of the largely increased interest in rubber-yielding
plants. It seems fair to state, however, that specula-
tions and observations in this connexion have suffered
from the bias engendered by the amount of regard that
has been given to the fact that rubber is obtainable

BARBADOS, JANUARY 20, 1912.

Price ld

from the latex of many plants, under the proper condi-
tions: sufficient attention has not been paid to the
circumstance that several substances other than caout-
chone are yielded by latex. This has probably led to
an incorrect view as to the actual uses and real compo-
sition of the milky juice of plants from which rubber
may be separated.

The matter receives treatment in a broad manner
in an article* by Keith Bancroft, B.A., Mycologist to
the Department of Agriculture of the Federated Malay
States, and it will be well to bring forward a few of the
considerations that are dealt with in this article.

Reference is first made to the fact that many plants
contain substances that are the products of life pro-
cesses, and that neither the use of these to the plants
nor the manner of their formation is at present capable
of being explained. Some of these substances are of
large economic importance, and they are nearly all
poisonous to animal life. The latter property doubtless
gives assistance in the protection of the plant from
animals which may desire to feed upon it, or injure it
in other ways, but it cannot be held definitely that this
is a primary function of the poisonous substances. There
are other matters that are of no use as plant food. which
are not necessarily harmful to animals, but serve to
attract insects; these are useful, in their special way,
but it would be claiming a great deal definitely to assert
that they were formed originally for this particular
purpose.

Returning again to the circumstance that rubber
can be obtained from the latex of many plants, less is

*The Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated
Malay States, September 1911, p. 276.

18 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

probably known of the significance of the presence of
this, or of the substances that produce it, than has been
ascertained regarding the manner of formation and func-
tion of other bodies, such as ethereal oils, resins, colour-
ing matter, alkaloids and glucosides. Latex itself con-
tains, in a watery medium, resins, rubber, oils, tannins,
proteids, sugars, starch, alkaloids, ferments and salts.
It occurs, in plants, in tubes of two kinds, called
laticiferous vessels and laticiferous cells, the former
originating by the joining together of independent
cells and the latter by the special growth ct cells whose
origin is said to be traceable even when the plant is an
embryo contained in the seed. In either case, the
tubes are living cells connected by branches to form
a close network extending throughout the plant.

The interest of these latex tubes is increased fur-
ther when regard is paid to the circumstance that, when
they are present, they are associated in the stems and
leaves with the system of vessels which carries to all its
parts the food that has been manufactured by the
plant. The circumstance of this association, combined
with the fact that, as has been indicated, latex is rich
in substances that are of nutritive value to the plant,
leads to the suggestion that the tubes in which the
latex is carried have their use as a means of conveying
food material from one part of the plant to another.
This suggestion receives support from the fact that,
where latex tubes are well developed, the plant food
carrying tissues that are normally present in ordinary
plants are often much less strongly developed, and
there is the additional circumstance that latex in the
seeds of Euphorbia becomes poorer in food bodies dur-
ing germination, only to gain an increase in these use-
ful substances when the young plant becomes self-
supporting. ‘The argument, for the validity of the sug-
gestion only requires completion by the experimental
assurance that the latex actually travels through the
tissues of the plant; this has been obtained by Schwen-
dener, who has observed the circulation of latex in trans-
parent seedlings of Chelidonium, It is therefore con-
cluded that the tissues carrying latex in plants are
concerned in the conduction of food materials that are
of use in their nutrition.

The latex tubes possess, however, another use.
As has been stated, the milky juice in them also con-
tains substances that cannot be made use of by the
plant, as food. hese are called excretory substances,
or end products, the latter designation being applied
because, as far as is known, they cannot be converted
by the plant into any kind of bodies that may be use-
ful in feeding the organism, Among end products are

January 20, 1912.

included the resins, gum-resins and gum-mucilages,
and their presence in the latex tubes points to the use of
these in serving the function of excretion. It is probable
that, as far as rubber is concerned, this does not
actually exist as such, in the latex; but that it is
formed. during coagulation, from simpler, similar bodies,
Caoutchoue is ‘therefore regarded as an end product;
though the real significance of the fact that it can be
formed in latex is not yet understood. It can only be
stated that the presence of enzymes in the latex,
together with the other substances, is suggestive of the
usefulness to the splant of the possibility that quick
changes may take place in its composition.

Such considerations have reference to the essential
part that latex may play in regard to the physiological
processes that are necessary to the life of the plant. In
dealing with them, it must not be forgotten that the
property of the juice ofa plant to coagulate, when it
has been damaged, is of much assistance toward the
healing of wounds; that the presence of hairs contain-
ing latex, on the leaves nearest to the flowers, serves
sometimes to protect these from hurt by animals; and
that certain of the last are prevented from attacking
many plants, through their possession of a latex con-
taining poisonous substances. It is considered, however,
that these functions are incidental. The real functions
of latex, as has been explained, are regarded as being
nutritive and excretory.

The present position of the subject is summarized,
at the end of the article, as follows. ‘The relation of
the latex to the hfe of the parent possesses far more
than a scientific interest. The recognition of the lati-
ciferous tubes as a means of conducting plastic food
material is of itself of primary importance inasmuch
as such problenis of practical importance as tapping, as
systems of tapping, bark renewal, etc., are closely con-
nected with it, while an accurate knowledge of the sig-
nificance and mode of formation of caoutchouc must be
of considerable value to the practical cultivator.

Information’ received from Dominica shows that the
plant distribution by the Agricultural Department in that
island, during December 1911, comprised 5,807 plants,
including limes 5,825, spineless limes 200, cacao 275, Para
rubber 1,300, sour orange 100, grafted mangoes 13, budded
citrus 12, miscellaneous 12. In Antigua, the following
distribution was made, in the same° month: limes 3,353,
miscellaneous 181, cacao 56, cocoa-nuts 50, cane plants 6,600,

Vou. XI. No. 254.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 19

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

SUGAR FROM SHREDDED CANE.

A note on this appeared in the last issue of the
Agricultural News. ‘lhe following further informa-
tion is contained in the Znternational Sugar Journal
for December 1911:—

Considerable interest has been caused by the announce-
ment made not may months ago (see Jnternational Sugar
Journal, 1911, 160, 219) that a system had been devised for
shredding and drying sugar-cane and then transporting the
dried shreds to a distant mill where the juice could be express-
ed. The particular experiment was carried out on cane grown
in Cuba, and then shipped to a beet sugar factory in Madison,
Wisconsin. We now learn that the trial has proved very
promising, the purity of the juice extracted having been only
slightly inferior to that of the original juice sampled at the
time the cane was shred, The sugar crystallized well, but
attempts to utilize the pulp for making paper were not very
successful. It may, however, be pointed out that the shred-
ders were too small to do much work, so that no concise data
could be drawn therefrom; but as it was resolved to repeat
the experiments this year with better and more powerful
machinery, more will be heard ere long of the process. It is
apparent that this new idea has not yet got beyond the
experimental stage, and that nothing definite as to the techni-
cal—not to mention the financial—aspects of the process is
available. And it may be assumed that the cost of drying
rapidly the shredded cane will be a formidable item in the
total expense. It would, therefore, be as well for other
iuterested parties to wait a more detailed report ere seeking
to embark on a similar experiment.

SUGAR IN THE PHILIPPINES. 1910.

The following particulars regarding the Philip-
pine sugar industry in 1910 are givenjin a report by
H. M. Acting Vice-Consul at Manila, issued as Diplo-
matic and Consular Reports, No. 4810 Annual Series:—

Sugar to the amount of 119,511 tons was exported, to
the value of £1,505,080. This shows an increase in value
but decrease in quality. The explanation of the satisfactory
state of this industry is found in the high prices prevailing
and the increased exportation to the free market of the
United States. The amount sent there fell short of 100,000
tons, or not quite a third of the free trade limit. In view of
the increased activity on sugar estates in 1911 and the large
profits to be obtained, further development of this industry
is assured.

I am indebted to a resident British merchant for the
following:—

The United States markets took the high grade sugars,
only such low sugars as were unsaleable in the United States
going to the China markets.

The falling off in the production was undoubtedly due
in part to the steady decline of the industry on account of
previous low prices, but more particularly to the cattle
disease, which practically wiped out the available animals
for ploughing purposes, ete Planting to meet the better

‘resourceful in surmounting weather difficulties.

demand owing to sugars being admitted into the United
States free of import duty, and the successful means taken to
eliminate cattle disease, have not yet had their effect on
shipments.

There is little doubt but that the removal of the duty
has now had the effect of staving off the steady decline of
the Philippine sugar industry. Low prices and antiquated
methods of planting and milling had made planting become
almost unremunerative. Now the industry has apparently
a bright future before it. American capital has entered the
field, and a large estate in Mindoro is being cultivated on
modern methods, and modern machinery installed. The
native planters are endeavouring to improve their methods
and output, and sugar centrals are being organized which
will greatly improve the quality and increase the quantity of
production. The restriction imposed by the United States
tariff to 300,000 tons allowed to be imported duty free
yearly, however, looms largely before those interested in the
industry, who live in hopes that this restriction may
ultimately be removed.

The labour question, however, still remains a vital one,
and this may seriously affect the progress of the industry,
scarcity of reliable labour being felt all over the islands.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr, P. T. Saunders, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Officer
on the Staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture,
returned to Barbados from St. Lucia, by the S.S.
‘St. Thomas’, on January 10, 1912.

Agriculturists and Agricultural Investiga-
tion.—It is evident (and no slur upon them) that few agri-
culturists, as the term is generally applied, could undertake
work of investigation, and hence a marked difference is at
once seen between those who study and those who practise
agriculture. The practical farmer need not study many of
the subjects which are essential to the scientific expert. He
should, it is true, be able to appreciate them, but for a farmer
to analyse his own soils, and treat the diseases of his own
cattle, or to trouble his mind too much about bacteria or
cryptogams, might easily distract his attention from practi-
cal details. Farming is not, and it is to be hoped it will
never be, one of the ‘learned professions’. In order to be
successful, the farmer must thoroughly understand tillages,
and the ‘management’ of stock. He must know how to deal
with men, and be thoroughly acquainted with all the ins and
outs of marketing. He should be a good judge of stock, and
He requires
keen observing faculties, and is essentially an out-door man.
He should be, in fact, very much what he is as represented
by the best type of farmers, and it is a question whether some
of their qualities might not be sacrificed by attempting to
graft a scholar’s nature upon them. It is also worthy of
remark that the qualities of a first-rate farmer are acquired
in early youth by contact with older men of the same tastes.
Intelligence ought to be fostered by good general education
and reading, but to spend too much time in the laboratory
or the lecture room may implant tastes inimical to the best
conduct of practical business in the field and on the market.
(Extract from a letter in Zhe Field for September 2, 1911,
p. 567.)

20 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. January 20, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES:

MANGO CULTIVATION.

In India, the mango takes the first place among fruits,
and the time when jt is in season is of much importance in
the greater part of that country, both to rich and to poor.
In different States, the value of the fruit and the prices
that are obtainable for it vary to a great extent; where the
.tree is common, it is natural that the prices are the lowest;
but good value is given for imported superior varieties.
It is pointed out in an article on the subject of mango culti-
vation, contained in the Agivcultural Journal of India for
October 1911, p. 405, from which the information in this
article is taken, that very different opinions are held in India
as to whether the production of mangoes is profitable, or not.
Many of the large mango gardens that exist were planted by
rich men, who raised the fruit with the object of obtaining
superior varieties for their own use, rather than production
for profit. In other cases, where the commercial motive has
entered, there has been little care with regard to selection,
either with respect to soils or varieties of the fruit.

In India, all successful mango gardens are found on sites
where the soil is at least 5 feet deep, and moist, with good
drainage. The opinion is not held in that country that the
tree will grow equally well in deep and shallow soils.

Even when the plants are growing in a suitable soil and
under the proper climatic conditions, they are very uncertain
in regard to the bearing of fruit, and forecasts of the crop
are likely to be at fault. Most of the weil-known com-
mercial varieties, in Indias, are usually dependable in this
respect, and can be relied upon to give some yield, at any
rate, every year. The following interesting fact is stated in
the article: ‘If half the number of existing trees were to
bear fruit every year, the local markets would be glutted,
and people would be compelled to find new methods of export-
ing surplus fruit to foreign countries.’ The Alphonse and
the Mul!goba are mentioned specially as shy-bearing trees.
There is a large variation in different parts of India, in the
time of blossoming of the trees, and fruit growers definitely
ascertain this in order that they may make arrangements for
their own advantage.

The greatest enemy, in Jndia, to mango: blossoms is
said to be plant lice (aphids). ‘These insects weaken the
plants when they are blossoming, by sucking the sap, and
cause the formation of a thick viscid substance, on the
flowers, which interferes with pollination, and injures the

growing fruits. It is supposed that heavy rains are useful
in washing away this substance, and recommendations are
made for cleansing the trees by syringing with pure water or
with a mixture of soapsuds and kerosene oil, or by spraying
the trees with weak Bordeaux mixture or iron sulphate,
before the blossoms appear.

When the ditferent varieties of mangoes are grown in
various parts of India, it is found that the quality of the
fruit is infuenced to some extent by the locality, and it is
supposed that most kinds gain their best development in
Hyderabad.

With regard to the watersupply for the trees, it has
been found that the best results are obtained by careful
irrigation on well-drained slopes. It is advised that abun-
dant irrigation should be given to mango plants during the
vigorous time of their growth; that is to say, until they
attain their eighth or tenth year. In order to assist in
obtaining good supplies of fruit from well-grown trees, it is
recommended that, under the special conditions, the whole
of the ground beneath them should be well dug with a pick-
axe and exposed in this state for two months after the rains
are over, as the adoption of this course induces the trees to
form flowers. The soil should be allowed to remain in this
state for about forty days after the time of flowering.
Irrigation in the earlier stages of fruiting often causes
dropping of the fruits.

The special conditions that are considered in the article
lead to the advice that mango trees should be manured with
well-rotted litter, at the time of the rains, once every
two or three years; high manuring is said, however, to cause
the fruit to deteriorate in quality. The safest manure for
mango trees is stated to be leaf mould. Unirrigated ¢rees
should not recefve applications of strong manures after the
rains, as such applications are likely to cause their death.

The Imperial Department of Agriculture is offering
a bonus of £20 ,for the importation of a stallion horse into
Tortola before March 1, 1912. Among the conditions are:
that the Commissioner of Agriculture must be satisfied that
the animal is suited to the purpose for which it is imported;
that the importer must not export the animal from the island
for at least five years; and that during this time he must be
prepared to allow not less than twenty services in a year, for
a fee not exceeding 10s. for each animal.

Von. XI. No. 254.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 21

THE POISONING OF CATTLE BY

SORGHUM. |

The number of deaths among the dairy’ cattle in Queens-
land, in the year 1903, led the Department of Agriculture in
that State toa strict investigation concerning sorghum, with
a view of determining whether the mortality among the cows
was due to any poisonous constituents the plant contained.

It was shown that in some cases fields of sorghum, with
only a dividing fence between, gave entirely different feeding
results, although the sorghum from each field was fed to the
cattle at similar stages of its growth. One herd would be
affected on one side of the fence, while the herd on the other
side, in a field immediately adjacent, thrived on the succulent
fodder. In each field the cows were grazing on young sorghum.

Dr. Maxwell and Mr. J. C. Brunnich, Chemists of the
Queensland Department, undertook to solve the problem,
which seemed at the time to have certain elements of mystery.
It was naturally a puzzling situation to dairy farmers. With-
out definite proof they could not be convinced that the sor-
ghum was responsible for the death of their cattle.

It has been known to science for some years that sorghum
and similar plants, grown in rich soils, were more liable to
contain highly dangerous amounts of hydrocyanie acid —
commonly known as prussic acid—than when grown in soils
poor in nitrogen. It was found that the nature of different
soils very largely governed the amount of those poisonous
properties in the plant. This explained why some cows were
affected through eating sorghum in one field, while those in
an adjoining field, consuming the same class of material, did
well. The changing character of the soii varied the amounts
of prussic acid.

In a specific case it was noticed that one field —in which
cattle were immune —gradually sloped upwards. The analysis
of the soil from this field showed a deficiency in nitrogen.

To test the relation between the incorporation of the
prussic acid in the growing sorghum plant and the ratio of
the nitrogen in the soil, several plantings of sorghum were
made in the Botanic Gardens at Brisbane, in soil composed
almost exclusively of sand. One series of plants was not given
any special manurial assistance, while another series was
manured with nitrate of soda, a manure whose chief element is
nitrogen. This experiment was made in order to see whether
the supply of additional nitrogen to the soil would increase
the amount of prussic acid in the growing plant—nitrogen
being an element of that poison.

Mr. Brunnich made repeated analyses which showed,
with almost: mathematical precision, that the supply of
available nitrogen increases the amount of poison that
sorghum and other plants are capable of making and storing
up within their composition.

Determining the stages in the growth of sorghum when
the poison in it would be at the danger limit, was a very
interesting and valuable phase of the investigation. It was
found by the experiments that sorghum grown in highly rich
nitrogenous soils could not be freely fed to animals with safety
until the plant is preparing to seed.

The sorghum plant—grown under the conditions
described—when very young, and from the age of three up
to seven weeks, contains distinctly dangerous amounts of

prussic acid. After that age the poison rapidly disappears
by decomposition, the nitrogen passing over into other and
strictly nutritious elements of food!” When the flowering
stage is reached, not more than a trace of the poison is
found.

As the growth of the plant does not entirely depend
upon the age or the number of weeks since it was planted,
it is as well to speak of its stages of development. It may
be generally stated that the sorghum plant is not safe for
feeding until it reaches the flowering or seeding stage.

Dr. Maxwell reported that even sorghum, and such
plants as may be known to contain dangerous amounts of
prussic acid, may be judiciously used a green mixture with
dry hay chaff to make the feed tasty to animals. When
diluted in this way, the green sorghum being very carefully
stirred up and mixed with large quantities of the dry feed,
no harm will follow. The dry feed is, in this way, also made
capable of use. (The Agricultural Gazette of New South
Wales, Vol. XXII, p. 967.)

THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHATE
OF AMMONIA.

The report of the Chief Inspector of Alkali Works for
1910 shows that there were 543 works or separate processes
for the manufacture of sulphate of ammonia in England and
Wales, as compared with 536 in 1909 and 526 in 1908, the
number having steadily increased from 449 in 1904. In
Scotland the number of such works was 104. There were
also fifty-seven gas liquor works in England and five in
Scotland.

Sulphate of ammonia is chiefly obtained as a by-product
from coal. When this is treated for the production of coal-
gas or for the manufacture of coke used in iron smelting, an
‘ammoniacal liquor’ results, which forms the raw material
for the manufacture of ammonium salts. The distillation of
the bituminous shales used in the Scotch paraffin industry
also yields a certain amount, and the ammonia produced in
other manufactures in which coal and similar substances are
used, in iron works, from producer gas plants, and from car-
bonizing works, is also collected. The quantity of sulphate
of ammonia produced in the United Kingdom was 367,587
tons in 1910, as compared with 349,143 tons in the previous
year, and 325,228 tons in 1908.

These figures show an increase over the production of
1909 with the exception of thatiniron works, which remained
practically stationary. The supply from coke ovens shows an
increase of nearly 10,000 tons. In 1904 the production in
coke-oven works was only 20,000 tons. The total produc-
tion in 1910 was 368,000 tons, and 284,000 were exported,
so that the balance remaining for home consumption for all
purposes amounted to 84,000 tons, as compared with 85,000
tons in 1909 and 91,000 tons in 1903. The exports of sul-
phate of ammonia are principally to the United States, Japan,
Spain, Java and Italy.

An expansion of ammonia production is anticipated,
owing to the further erection of recovery plants connected
with the manufacture of coke and fuel gas. Recent improve-
ments in design of sulphate of ammonia plant suitable even
for small gas works is likely to add to the total of sulphate
of ammonia production by enabling many small or incon-
venienly situated works to produce sulphate more econom-
ically than heretofore, whilst the recovery of this substance
from peat continues to receive attention, and may prove
a further source of production. (From the Jowrnal of the
Board of Agriculture, Vol. XVIII, p. 767.) y

22 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

January 20, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date December 18, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Owing to the absence of desirable qualities, no business
in West Indian Sea Islands has been reported since our last
report, with the exception of a few bales of Stains.

We expect the new crop will command good prices.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending December 23, is as follows:—

There was sufficient demand throughout the week to
take the limited offerings of all grades, at very steady prices;
so the market closed firm at our last quotations. The
supply of Fully Fine and Extra Fine is very small, the crop
consisting largely of cotton more or less off in preparation.
These lower grades are selling at 18c. and 20c., and look
relatively very cheap in comparison with the prices ruling
for Georgias and Floridas,

Although the United States Census Bureau reports
4,802 bales ginned to December 13, the Factors still think
the total crop will not much exceed 5,000 bales, as the gins
are very generally closed.

We quote :—
Extra Fine Bo. alters
Fine to Fully 26c. to 28¢.=1

Fine to Fully Fine,\1 50. to 20c. = 103d. to 114d.
off in preparation J = 2

e.i.f., & 5 per cent.
5d. to 16d. cif. & 5 per cent.

” ” ”

EGYPTIAN COTTCN.

The following information, which is of interest in
the West Indies, is given concerning Egyptian cotton
in the Lextile Institute Journal, Vol. II, No. 1, p. 57.
It may be explained that the ‘count’ of a cotton is the
number of hanks in 1 tb., a hank being a length of 840
yards of the yarn; it is obtained by dividing the number
of Troy grains in I th. (7,000) by the weight of 1 hank
(840 yards).

The Institute has received an enquiry from the Egyptian
Government relative to the use of Egyptian cotton in Great
Britain, the information being required to serve as a guide
in the course to be adopted for improving the quality of that
cotton.

As was pointed out in the covering letter accompanying
the reply, and as will be readily seen by practical men in the
fine cotton trade, it was not possible, owing to the nature of
the questions asked, to give anything more than approximate
replies, though great care was taken to have these as nearly
in accordance with actual facts and conditions as could poss-
ibly be obtained.

The memorandum is set out in the form of question
and answer, as follows:-—

1. Into what kinds of yarn, or ‘counts’, is Egyptian
cotton spun 4

Generally speaking, from 60’s to 149’s for use in manu-
facturing fine goods. Coarser counts, however, as low as 6’s,
are occasionally spun for special purposes.

2. The comparative values of such yarns with those of
American cottons.

It is difficult to give an answer of any value to this, for
the comparative values vary greatly from time to time. When
Egyptian is dear, the better qualities of American are used
in its place, and often remain in use when Egyptian again
becomes normal in price.

3. What proportion of Egyptian yarn is taken by (a) the
manufacturers of fabrics, (b) the sewing thread spinners, (c)
the exporters /

A fair average would be (a) 45 per cent , (b) 25 per cent.,
(c) 30 per cent.

4. In what class of fabrics is Egyptian yarn wholly or
partially employed ?

Fine goods of high class quality such as ladies’ and
children’s dress goods and underclothing, gents’ shirts, pillow
cases, Jace curtains, thread, embroidery cloths, velvets, hos-
iery, gloves, and waterproof fabrics: also where strength and
smoothness are required, such as cycle and motor tyres,
healds, jacquard” harness, and imitation of horse-hair for
upholstery purposes

5. To what countries is Egyptian yarn exported?
To all countries, but principally to the English-speaking
countries and the wealthier countries of Europe.

Owing to the deterioration of Egyptian cotton, efforts
are continually being made to find other cottons suitable for
the fine fabrics which have hitherto been made almost exclu-
sively of Egyptian. A spinner taking up a special grade
will probably be doing so to meet special demands, and it is
important that lre should have a fairly constant supply of
this grade, so as to be able to cater year after year for the
demands of his customers. The quality of Egyptian cotton
is now so unreliable that he cannot be sure of doing this, and
the result is bad both for the spinner and the Egyptian
producer.

Vor. XI. No, 254.

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE
WEST INDIES, 1910-11.

The following table gives the exports of cotton from the
West Indian colonies mentioned, during the season October,
1910 to September 30, 1911 :—

Colony. Weight in pounds. Estimated value,
£.
Barbados 726,573 42,346
St. Vincent 558,786 3 44,237
Montserrat 404,753 30,362
Nevis 344,395 24,603
St. Kitts 329,322 24,067
Anguilla 148,595 10,207
Antigua 96,992 6,795
Virgin Islands 50,337 3,180
Trinidad and) a 2
Tobago J 6,056 456
Grenada aes 274,224 10,205
Carriacou ;

2,940,033 £196,458

* This colony shipped only 8,643 lb. of Sea Island cotton
lint, valued at £566, the rest being Marie Galante.

This statement is prepared from returns made by the
Customs Authorities in each case.

COPRA IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The Philippine Islands shipped abroad 116,374 metric
tons of copra in the calendar year 1210, and the average
price for the year was about 34c. gold per tb. The price
increased during the year from about 3c. to 4c. gold per lb
in the last quarter.?

The steady growth of the trade is indi¢ated by the fact
that shipments increased from 168,475,499 tb., valued at
$5,461,680, in 1908, to 232,728,116 Ib. valued at $6,657,740,
in 1909, and to 254,156,982 tb., valued at $9,153,951, in
1910 (fiscal years in each case), and that there was an
increase from 113,463 metric tons in the fiscal year to
116,374 metric tons in the calendar year of 1910.

Because of the high price, due chiefly to the extraor-
dinary demand for vegetable oils, and because of the strong
demand generally, there is something of a boom in the
cocoa-nut business in the Islands, and the increase in trade
is having a marked effect, not only on the islands themselves,
but upon shipping in the Far East and other lines of busi-
ness.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CROP. Jn the Philippines the
export of copra is now the second largest element in the
foreign trade, comprising almost a fourth (23 per cent.) of
the whole, and being exceeded only by hemp. Cocoa-nut
planting is being carried on more extensively than ever
before. Six years ago there was a period of high prices,
during which time extensive plantings were made, and these
trees will come into production this year. Indications are
that the export of the product during 1911 will exceed all
previous years in volume, while, owing to the shortage of
other oil-producing crops, the prevailing high prices may
continue for some time.

Naturally, such conditions are leading to a general
expansion of business in all lines connected with cocao-nut
planting and plantation supplies.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 23

GROWTH OF TRADE WITH THE UNITED sTavres. Ex-
ports of copra from the Philippines to the United States
have more than kept pace with the increased imports into
the latter country due to the demand for cocoa-nut oil. The
total of imports of copra into the United States during the
fiscal years 1908, 1909 and 1910 were $481,232, $666,820,
and $762,560, respectively, and the imports thereof from the
Philippines were $213,999, $273,497, and $416,074 respec-
tively.

The increase in imports of copra into the United States
during the three years was about 58 per cent., while the
increase in imports from the Philippines was about 90 per
cent. Nevertheless, most of the product went to France,
mostly to Marseilles, where the great cocoa-nut oil factories
are largely dependent upon the Philippines for their copra
supplies. France took $6,114,324 worth of the product in
the last fiscal year. Germany, particularly Mannheim, takes
an increasing quantity, while Spain maintains a trade long
established. (Daily Consular and Trade Reports.)

MAIZE IN THE UNITED STATES.

The folowing information is summarized in the
Modern Sugar Planter for December 23, 1911. from
an official statement issued by the United States
Census Bureau on December 15 :—

GENERAL SUMMARY. The area of corn harvested increased
from $4,913,673 acres in 1899 to 98,383,033 acres in 1909,
a gain of 3,469,360 acres, or 3°7 per cent. Notwithstanding
this expansion in acreage, there was a decrease in pro-
duction, which fell from 2,666,324,000 bushels in 1899 to
2,552,190,000 bushels in 1909, a decrease of over 100,000,000
bushels, or 4°3 per cent. The average production per acre,
doubtless by reason of temporary weather conditions, fell
from 28:1 bushels to 259 bushels. On the other hand,
the value of the corn crop increased enormously, from
$828,192,000 to $1,438,554,000, a gain of over $600,000,000,
or 73°7 per cent. The average value of corn per bushel thus
advanced from 3le. to over 56c, or about 83 per cent.

The increase in the acreage of corn from 1899 to 1909
was very much less in either of the two preceding decades.
The area in corn rose from 62,568,504 acres in 1879 to
72,087,752 acres in 1889, to 94,913,673 acres in 1899, and
to 98,383,033 acres in 1909. The corn acreage in 1909
exceeded that of 1879 by about 58 per cent. whereas the pop-
ulation of the country during the same period increased
a little over 80 per cent. The production of corn in 1879
was 1,754,592,000 bushels, as compared with 2,552,190,000
bushels in 1909.

DISTRIBUTION OF ACREAGE. Of the total of 98,383,033
acres in corn in 1909 the two North Central divisions con-
tained nearly 2— 21,910,559 acres lying in the Eastern section
and 35,945,297 acres lying in the Western section. About
3 of the area planted in corn is found in the two South Cen-
tral divisions; the South Central States lying east of Missis-
sippi River having an acreage of 11,328,268...... There is
also a considerable acreage, 11,386,984, in the South Atlantic
division, while the four remaining divisions—New England,
Middle Atlantic, Mountain, and Facific-—aggregate only
2,899,858 acres,

24 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all

7 pe ie 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 :
post free 2d.
2s, 2d.

Price ld. per number
Annual subscription payable to Agents:
Post free, 4s. 4d.

2

Agriealtural

Von. XI.

Alews

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1912. Sane 254.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Oontents of Present Issue.

The subject dealt with in the editorial of the
present issue is The Use of Latex in Plants. This gives
attention to considerations other than those arising from
the fact that such latex often contains rubber.

An interesting article on the poisoning of cattle
by sorghum appears on page 21.

On page 23, a table is given which presents informa-
tion concerning the production of cotton in the West
Indies, during the crop season 1910-11.

The Insect Notes will be found on page 26. They
deal with information that has been compiled concern-
ing, the occurrence of insect pestsin the Lesser Antilles
during last year.

The Students’ Corner, on page 29, contains part
of the questions that were set for the recent examina-
tions conducted in connexion with the Courses of
Reading of the Department. The remainder of the
questions will be elven in succeeding numbers of the
Agricultural News

The Fungus Notes are contained on pages 30 and
31. They give a report on the occurrence of fungus
diseases in the Lesser Antilles during the years 1910
and 1911.

An interesting article, affording information con-
cerning the weights of seeds from Para rubber trees, is
presented on page 31.

JANUARY 20, 1912.

Assimilation of the Nitrogen ofthe Air by Fungi.

The Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club for
1911, p. 155, contains an account of trials that were
conducted with Penicillium, Aspergillus niger, Alter-
naria and three species of Fusarium, for the purpose of
determining if mitrogen from the air is fixed by these
funei. The results were negative in all cases, and the
suggestion is made that the different experience of
others who have made trial of the matter has arisen from
errors in the manner of carrying out the work, or from
confusion as to the actual fungi “which formed the sub-
jects of the experimentation. Support is given to the
latter supposition by the circumstance that it appears
that nitro: gen can be fixed by some strains of fungi;
while others that are very similar do not possess the
property.

<y

A Newly Described Factor in Nutrition.

Recent work by investigators has demonstrated the
existence of substances that are contained in the outer
protoplasmic layer of all cells, which are soluble in
organic solvents, much in the same way as fats. Their
presence appears to be necessary to the life-processes
that take place in the protoplasm, and they are par-
ticularly abundant in the nerve tissues. Most of them
contain both phosphorus and nitrogen, but little is
known as to their constitution and properties. They
are termed Lipoids. A note in Nature for Novem-
ber 30, 1911, p. 157, draws attention to information
concerning lipoids which appeared in Part V of the Zeit-
schritt fir Biologie, where it is pointed out that indi-
cations have been obtained that the presence of certain
constituents, in very small quantity, is necessary in
diets in addition to proteids, carbohydrates, fats and
mineral sults. The view of the matter has received
recent support in experiments that have been conducted
with rice in connexion with the disease known as
beri-beri.

In the work described in the latter-mentioned
publication, food was given to mice after it had been
extracted very thoroughly with alcohol and ether; the
result was that the animals ; died, and the indian
was thus obtained that some -essential constituent had
been takex trom the food. Even when mineral salts
and fats (the latter of which had been removed by the
extraction with ether) were added to the treated food,
this was found to be still incapable of supporting
life. On the other hand, however, when the alcohol
and ether were evaporated from the extracted sub-
stances, and the latter were added to the treated food,
the mice to which it was administered continued to live.

It was proved, further, that the essential substance,
or substances, is present in milk, by adding this to food
that had received treatment with alcohol and ether;
then mice were fed successfully on the mixture, and
were still in good condition at the end of six weeks.

Certain of the lipoids haye been obtained in
a pure state, but as has been indicated, little has been
ascertained as to their constitution.

If the conclusions reached so far are supported, the
subject of nutrition will require to be treated in a differ-
ent manner from that which has been adopted in the
past.

Von. XI. No. 254,

Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate of Lime.

Several references to these manures have been
made from time to time (see Agricultural News, Vol.
IX, and Vol. X, pp. 57, 168, 232, 328, and 344). Fur.
ther information concerning them is contained in an
abstract of a paper presented in the Journal of the
Board of Agriculture for July 1911, p. 328.

The manures mentioned were compared experi-
mentally with nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia,
the quantities applied being such that each manure
afforded an equal amount of nitrogen; the crop employ-
ed was oats.

The results obtained were very similar with ail the
manures, though nitrate of lime appeared to cause
a greater formation of grain, while sulphate of ammonia
seemed to bring about an increase in the weight of the
straw.

Agricultural Conditions in Samoa.

A short note on Samoa, contained in the Bulletin
of the Bureaw of Agricultural Intelligence and of
Plant Diseases for June 1911, p. 1213, points out that
the average temperature in this tropical island is
257° C,, with an annual rainfall of 137 to 240
inches, precipitation being received on or about 200
days in the year; the climate is, on the whole, healthy.

The nature of the soil and climate would enable
all tropical products to be raised, but the best success
has been obtained with cacao, cocoa-nuts, and rubber
from Hevea brasiliensis and Ficus elastica. The most
useful products, next in order, are bananas and pine-
apples. Very good timber for use in buildings 1s ob-
tained in the island.

Cattle are raised, and are descended chiefly from
Hereford stock originally obtained from New Zealand.
Horse-breeding is carried out successfully on a small
scale, good stud animals, chiefly of English blood, being
obtained from New Zealand and Australia for the
purpose. Pig-raising also forms a small industry.

rr

Changes in the Arsenic in Dipping Fluids.

The observation has been made recently in the
United States that when arsenical fiuids, used for dip-
ping cattle, are mixed and allowed to stand, a loss of
arsenic from the solution takes place. Enquiry has
been made into the subject, and the results are contain-
ed in Circular 182 of the Bureau of Animal Industry of
that Department.

The investigations have shown that the sodium
arsenite in the fluids is oxidized to sodium arsenate
through the action of bacteria, whose identity has not
been established. The process of oxidation often takes
place quickly, the rate being dependent on the number
of organisms present or being produced.

It is suggested that the bacteria responsible for the
change may gain access to the fluids through the water
used in making the mixtures, through the air, or through
excrementitious or other matter brought in by the
treated cattle.

THE AGRICULTURAL

bo
or

NEWS.

Sutticient information is not yet available for set-
ting a limit to the time which dipping fluids may be
kept. It is advised that, under the circumstances dealt
with, any that have been nixed should not be used
after a few weeks have elapsed, unless there is posi-
tive evidence that there has been no loss of sodium
arsenite.

+

The St. Vincent Handbook, 1911.

A copy of this has been received, through the Agri-
cultural Superintendent, St. Vincent, by the courtesy
of its editor, Mr. Robert M. Anderson. Although it is
not an official publication, the fact that the information
has been obtained from Government and other authentic
records makes this reliable.

In its 342 pages, the book presents a calendar, with
summaries of events; an account of the island itself with
its history, geography and geology; a description of
places of interest; information as to the political consti-
tution, and civil and other establishments of the Colony;
agriculture in St. Vincent; information of the usual
nature concerning postage, duties, fees and other similar
matters; a description of various parts of the island and
of the Grenadines; an account of the various institutions
in St. Vincent; professional and business information;
and concludes with the presentation of other equally
useful matter, followed by an index.

The Handbook is produced in an attractive style,
which makes reference easy; and contains a number of
good illustrations.

Cacao and Cotton in the Congo.

Agricultural matters in the Congo have received
attention recently, in the last volume of the Agricul-
twral News, pp. 341, 344 and 375, and on p. 11 of this
volume. Further details are contained in the Board
of Trade Journal for September 21,1911. Success is
being obtained with cacao, which has been cultivated
experimentally since 1908, in the Mayumbe; the
exports from this district increased from 646 metric
tons in 1908 to 769 metric tons in 1909; it is readily
sold in Antwerp. The area in cacao cultivation is to
be increased with the aid of a railway.

In the district of the Equator, which is supposed
to be better suited for cacao-growing, an important
plantation has been started on a large scale, and atten-
tion is also being given to smaller trials.

The cultivation of cotton by the natives is being
encouraged by the distribution of seed and the supply
of information concerning cultivation; the result has
been, so far, that a small number of villages has profit-
ed by the growing of the crop. The matter is merely
in its initial stages; but further trials are to be made,
especially as it 1s considered that cotton-growing on
a large scale would become a remunerative enterprise.
In order that assistance may be given, the Government
Botanic Stations in the Lower Congo have been
instructed to conduct experiments in cotton-growing,
and for the purpose seeds of the better-known Ameri-
can varieties are being imported.

26 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JANUARY 20, 1912.

INSECT NOTES.

INSECT PESTS IN THE WEST INDIES
IN. 1901.

Brief accounts of the occurrence of insect pests in 1909
and 1910 were given in Vol. IX of the Agricultural News
(see pp. 10 and 410), and it is proposed to present herewith
a similar account for the year 1911.

The information contained in these notes has been
obtained by the same means as that presented in the notes
for 1910; that is, it has been furnished by the Agricultural
Officers in the Windward and Leeward Islands in res-
ponse to a request from the Imperial Commissioner of
Agriculture. The reference to the root borer of the sugar-
cane in Barbados is the result of persoral observation by
the Entomologist on the Staff of the Imperial Department.

A Report on the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases
in the West Indies for the year 1909-10 appeared in the West
Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI, pp. 73-106. This was issued in
January 191], and contained information in regard to pests
and diseases for the period from March 1909 to July 1910.
A similar report covering the period from July 1910 to the
end of December 1911 will appear in a number of the West
Indian Bulletin soon to be issued.

OF SUGAR-CANE. The moth borer (Diatraea saccharalis)
was reported as occurring in all the sugar-growing districts,
but was not more abundant than usual.

The weevil borer (Sphenophorus sericeus) occurred in
unusual numbers in St. Kitts, in connexion with an attack of
termites. This was on the estate where termites have
previously been recorded as attacking sugar-cane, but not in
the same field. It would seem that the fields in which
previous attacks occurred have been freed of these pests by
the planting of cotton for a few years.

The root borer of sugar-cane (Diaprepes abbreviatus)
occurred again as a pest of sugar-cane in Barbados, and
caused a considerable amount of loss on a few estates, in the
crops reaped in the early months of the year. During June
and July, the adults were collected in large numbers; they
were found hiding among the leaves of canes growing on
land where root borer was previously abundant in canes.
This method of collection should produce marked results in
reducing the numbers of larvae in future attacks.

At the end of the year (November and December), with
the advent of a period of dry weather, the evidences of the
presence of the root borer were to be seen in the dead and
dying canes in certain fields within the infested area.

The pink mealy-bug of sugar-cane (Pseudocoecus calceo-
laviae) was rather more abundant in Antigua than usual.
An unidentified caterpillar, which may prove to be the
larva of Thermesia gemmatalis, caused a small amount of
damage by its attacks on the leaves of sugar-cane in Antigua;
slight attacks of grasshoppers (Schistocerca pallens), on young
canes, were reported in that island and in St. Kitts.

or corron. The cotton worm (Alabama argillacea)
continues to be efticiently controlled in St. Vincent by its
natural enemies. This insect has been more abundant in
cther islands during 1911 than in the two previous years,
Montserrat, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis having experienced
repeated, severe attacks. In the Virgin Islands, as in
St. Vincent, natural enemies controlled the cotton worm and
no insecticides were necessary. Cotton stainers occurred in
about the usual amount towards the end of the crop season
in most of the islands. In Montserrat, however, they were
more than usually abundant in one district, while in St. Kitts

it is specially noted that these insects were absent from the
cotton fields. The black scale of cotton (Sazssetia nigra)
rarely occurs in abundance in any of the West Indian
islands at the present time, as it is efticiently controlled
by its parasite Zalophothrix mirum. The white Scale (Hemi-
chionaspis minor) occurred at the end of the cotton season
on old plants, but caused no damage.

The flower-bud maggot (Contarinia gossypii) was re-
ported again from Antigua in the early part of the year, and
in November it made its appearance in Montserrat. This is
the first authentic record of the occurrence of this pest outside
of Antigua. In Montserrat the distribution is general, but the
attack, so for, has not been severe.

The leaf-blister mite (Hriophyes gossypii) did not occur
in serious abundance in 1911, generally, but in Montserrat
and Nevis it was more prevalent than for several years past.

In Grenada the green soldier bug (Nezara viridula) oc-
curred as a pest of cotton in one district, and a hard-back
beetle caused the loss of cotton blossoms on a few plants by
eating into the base of the flowers.

A mealy-bug on the stems of old cotton plants was re-
ported toward the end of the year from Montserrat. This
insect had not caused any serious damage, and seemed to be
well parasitized.

or cacao. Thrips (Heliothrips rubrocinctus) occurred in
Grenada and St. Vincent in sufficient numbers to cause several
severe attacks. In St. Lucia and Dominica they were present,
but only in small numbers.

The cacao beetle (Ste/rastoma depressum) was common
in one district in Grenada, but was not reported from any of
the other islands, No damage was reported from scale insects,
or mealy-bug, on cacao during 1911.

ON Limes. Scale insects on limes and other citrus crops
occurred to about the same extent as in previous years, In
Dominica they were rather less abundant than usual, appar-
ently on account of the efficient control, maintained by natural
enemies, which was due largely to the very favourable weather
conditions which prevailed. In St. Vincent, on the other hand,
the natural enemies of scale insects do not exercise a control-
ling influence, and the attacks of these pests continue to be
troublesome. In St Lucia the rust mite (Phytoptus olei-
vorus) was reported.

OF RUBBER. Castilloa was attacked as usual by mealy-
bugs and scale insects. The common mealy-bug (Pseudo-
coccus citrt) and the Akee fringed scale (Asterolecanium pus-
tulans) are recognized pests of this tree. The habit of Cas-
tilloa of shedding its leaves annually, and the presence of
fungoid parasites of scale insects in the moist localities where
this tree is grown, minimise the effect of these pests, gener-
ally. Castilloa growing in unfavourable situations is liable
to severe attacks. This plant is also annually attacked in
Dominica by a white scale, probably Diaspis sp.

OF SWEET POTATOES. This crop was unusually free
from attacks of Scarabee (Cryptorhynchus batatae). Sporadic
attacks of the sweet potato caterpillar (Protoparce cingulata)
were reported in Antigua and the Virgin Islands.

OF GREEN DRESSINGS. Attacks of leaf-eating caterpil-
lars were experienced in Grenada, St. Vincent, Montserrat
and Antigua. These were generally due to the woolly pyrol
meth (Vhermesia gemmatalis), the larva of which is a well
known pest of these crops. In St. Kitts the horse bean
(Canavalia ensiformis) has been generally adopted by plan-
ters for a green dressing crop, as it seems to be less liable to
attacks by caterpillars than other dressings, A red spider in
Dominica caused some injury to Bengal beans, Jerusalem pea,
and to horse bean in its later stages, and pigeon peas were
injured by a green fly.

Vor. XI. No. 254.

OF GROUND Nuts. In Montserrat the ripening nuts
were attacked by mealy-bug, and in one instance a caterpillar
was reported to be feeding on the leaves.

OF oNnrIoNns. This crop was attacked by caterpillars, in
Montserrat, Antigua and Nevis, in which last island a pois-
oned bait was used with success. Severe attacks of Thrips
were recorded in Montserrat, in several lucalities.

OF INDIAN CoRN. The corn ear worm occurred in some
numbers in several islands. The boll worm (//eliothis
obsoleta) and the corn ear worm (Luphygma frugiperda) are
here included together under the common name of the latter,
Toward the end of the year an attack of Laphygma frugi-
perda and the moth borer of the sugar-cane (Diatraea
succharalis) on Indian corn was reported from Montserrat.

LIVE STOCK.

ZEBU CATTLE RESISTANT TO TEXAS
FEVER.

The Twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of
Animal Industry, recently issued, contains the following,
relative to the immunity of Zebu cattle: —

About thirty years ago a number of the so-called Brah-
man cattle of India was introduced into southern Texas by
A. H. Pierce, a stockman of Pierce, Texas. These animals
were crossed with our domestic cattle, and the resulting
influence on the herds was markedly apparent. One of the
most interesting observations was that their progeny remained
relatively free from ticks while other stock in the same pas-
ture would be literally covered with these pests. The cattle
ticks are present in such enormous quantities in this section
of Texas as to make cattle-raising much less profitable than
it should be. This is due not so much to the fact that
these ticks carry the Texas fever micro-organism as to their
great blood-sucking powers as external” parasites. The
Brahman grade cattle appear likewise to be less affected by
other parasites and pestiferous insects such as mosquitoes,
hornflies, gadflies, ete., and to withstand better the warm,
dry climate and other semitropical conditions present in the
Gulf Coast section of the United States than do the native

, The sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands of the skin
has a peculiar odour which seems to be repugnant to insect
life. ‘The hide, while it may be as thin asin our domestic
animals, still appears to be much tougher and is more diffi-
cult to penetrate with a hypodermic needle. The hair is
-quite short and does not provide favourable shelter for the
_development of ticks. These three factors are probably
responsible for the slight amount of tick molestation which
these animals experience.

Dr. Farrington, Assistant Chief of that Bureau, in com-
menting on that statement, says :—

It has recently been reported to this office that the
descendants of the 1906 importation have proved, and are
proving, fully as resistant to the Texas fever ticks as the
members of the earlier importations, and in consequence
acquire a large growth, and are always in superior condition
and thrift. :

There were thirty-three animals in the importation of
1906, and at the present time half-blood and three quar-
ter-blood descendants in large numbers have been carefully
observed and all have proved very satisfactory in their resist-
ance to infection with Texas fever.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 27

Mr, A. P, Borden, of Pierce, Texas, the leading author-
ity on these importations, says that every year proves more
conclusively the desirability of crosses between the cattle of
India and our common cattle from West Europe as producers
of live-stock products in Texas and the Southwest generally.
(American Breeders’ Magazine, Vol. 11, No. 3, p. 233.)

TH PHILIPPINE CARABAO.

Information is given concerning the Philippine
carabao, or water buttalo,in the Philippine Agricul-
tural Journal for September 1911, and from this the
following extracts are taken :—

The carabao is the most important domestic animal in
the Philippines. Upon these animals the agriculture of the
islands is largely dependent, probably more than 90 per cent.
of the draft work, of all kinds, being performed by them.
They are used in preparing the land for planting, in cultiva-
tion, and in transporting the crops to market. The carabao
cart is the only conveyanve for thousands of families. The
milk, which is of good quality, is used in the Philippines
practically to the exclusion of all other kinds. After their
usefulness as draft animals has passed they are slaughtered,
the meat used for food, and the hides made into leather.

There are in the islands more than 713,121 carabaos.
The numbers are increasing, but not in proportion to the
demand. About 10,000 are imported annually from Indo-
China.

A good many cattle are used, especially for road work
and for sugar-cane cultivation. That the carabaos are infer-
ior to cattle, for most lines of work, is the opinion of many.
However, the prejudice in favour of the carabao is so strong
with the labouring class, that they usually prefer these
animals, The carabao is treated better and given more atten-
tion than any other class of domestic animals in the islands.

The great advantage that the carabao has over the other
draft animals is his ability to work easily in mud, where
cattle would be of little value and a horse would be useless.
This trait is of great importance in this country, as most of
the rice is planted in paddies during the rainy season, and
the land is prepared in a semi-liquid state. For this work
the carabao is the only animal in existence that is at all
satisfactory. The greater strength of the carabao enables
him to haul larger loads than would.be possible for cattle—
an important advantage, as both cattle and carabaos are
usually worked singly with a man in charge of each animal.

In the absence of mud, carabaos are inferior to cattle
as draft animals; they are much slower, are unable to
work as long at a time, cannot perform Jabour in the sun as
well, are more susceptible to disease and do not increase as
rapidly.

The native carabaos are much the same in all parts of
the country and are all draft animals, there being no milking
strains among them, as in India, The local animal is smaller
than those imported from Indo-China, but is superior for
work purposes, being hardier, stronger and more willing.

Though carabaos do not breed as rapidly as cattle, the
period of gestation being longer and the dam usually not
breeding until the calf is weaned, still they increase rapidly
with but little mortality among -the calves. As with other
classes of stock, no care is given to the breeding or the
improvement of these important animals by most of the
people raising them. Though the Philippine carabaos will
compare favourably with those of other countries, much
could be done toward their improvement by selection.

28 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JANUARY 20, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

It is reported by H.M. Legation at Caracas, that the crop
of coffee in Venezuela during the season of 1911 was abun-
dant, and that the high prices that are being obtained will add
materially to the present prosperity of the country.

The second forecast of the cotton crop of Eastern Bengal
and Assam, which amounts to about 0°4 per cent. of the total
area under cotton in India, is the same as that given in the
first estimate, namely, 101,300 acres. The prospects are good,
in some districts, to fair in others.

The importance with which Zephrosia purpurea and the
soy bean are regarded in Ceylon is shown by the fact that,
for the second distribution of seeds during 1911, among mem-
bers of the Agricultural Society, there were obtained 15 cwt.
of the seed of the former and 1 ton of that of the soy bean.

It is announced by the Principal Collector of Customs at
Colombo that an All Ceylon Exhibition will be held in that
island during the present year, under the patronage of the
Governor of the Colony. It is intended that the exhibition
shall include the showing of working machinery, both as
models and in the practical form.

The cotton crop in Russian Central Asia and the Can-
casus is said to be excellent. In the largest portion of the
province of Ferghana the yield is equal to that of last year,
while in Samarkand it is superior. In the Trans-Caspian and
Trans-Caucasian provinces a good yield is expected. (The
Textile Mercury, October 14, 1911, p. 311.)

In connexion with the scheme devised with the assist-
ance of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, for agricul-
tural research in England and Wales (see Agricultural News,
Vol. X, p. 341), the Board has awarded twelve research
scholarships in agricultural science. These are of the annual
value of £150, and are to be held for three years, during
which time the holders will be either trained for research, or
for takiug up the position of agricultural adviser.

According to Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4789 Annual Series, the exports of soy beans from the Port
of Dairen (Kwantung) during 1910 amounted to 342,620
tons; in 1909 and 1908, they were 462,423 and 206,653 tons,
respectively. The similar figures for soy bean cake were
249,921, 306,276 and 201,088 tons. A large increase in the
amount of soy beans sent to Europe has taken place, while
the exports to China have diminished. By far the greatest
quantity of soy bean cake goes to Japan.

A report from Nevis states that, by the end of Novem-
ber, about 50,000 tb. of seed-cotton had been gathered in
the island, from plants established in June. There was a slight
improvement in the condition of the sugar-cane crop, but
more rain was needed. A small quantity of cacao and
vanilla had been reaped at Maddens; of the latter a good
crop was expected. At Pinneys, the cocoa-nuts were bearing
well, and the younger plants were making very good progress.

In the Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelli-
gence and of Plant Diseases for June 1911, there is contained
an abstract of a paper setting forth the results of investiga-
tions relating to the action of manganese sulphate on plants.
The work that has been done leads to the conclusion that
any beneficial action arising from the use of manganese sul-
phate is due to the presence of the sulphuric acid radicle
rather than to the manganese, which actually seems to retard
plant growth, but may be prevented from doing this by using
it with salts of iron,

Particulars of the census of Barbados are published in
a Supplement to the Official Gazette for December 7, 1911.
These show that the population of Barbados on April 2, 1911,
was 171,983, giving a decrease during the last two decades
of 10,323. Statistics are given further which demonstrate
that by natural increase the population should have attained,
during the period mentioned, the number of 221,688. This
is a difference of 49,705, in which the removal of the troops
accounts for 1,080 and the remaining loss of 48,625 is to be
attributed to emigration,

Comptes Rendus de V Académie des Sciences for February
20, 1911, describes experiments which were made for the
purpose of investigating the influence of various organic acids
on the germination of seeds. Where the acids were supplied,
the seedlings obtained were larger than where the seeds were
not in contact with the acid solutions. There was thus actual
assistance in nutrition, and consideration of the results leads
to the conclusion that the aid given to germination by certain
basic substances does not arise from the neutralization of
acids by them, as has been supposed formerly.

Note is made of the Report on the Gold, Diamond
and Forest Industries of British Guiana, 1910-11, issued
in an attractive and useful form by the Institute of
Mines and Forests, of the Colony, at the price of 1s. 6d.
This contains, among other interesting information, the state-
ment that correspondence has taken place between the Secre-
tary of the Institute and the Chairman of the British Cotton
Growing Association with reference to the quality of the cot-
ton grown in the interior of British Guiana by the Abori-
gines, and that several samples, which were favourably report-
ed upon, were sent to the Association.

Attention is drawn, in the Agricultural Journal of the
Union of South Africa for October 1911, p. 395, to a clock
gun for scaring birds and vermin from cultivated lands. It
is automatic in action but simple in construction, and has been
patented by Mr. Charles Millichamp, Presteigne, Radnorshire,
South Wales. It holds nine 16 pin-fire cartridges and can
be set to explode these at intervals lasting from 15 minutes
to 13 hours; it can also be set to fire a shot at any required
time. Supplied with the figure of a man, the gun costs
£2 12s. 6d.; without the figure, its price is 10s. 6d. less.
Special cartrigdes are obtainable at 4s. 3d. for 100, or 11s. 6d.
for a box of 250 cartridges, carriage paid in the British Isles,
All the prices given are those in Great Britain.

Vou. XI. No. 254.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 29

ee oq; Our ses

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The questions set in the recent Examinations, held in
connexion with the Courses of Reading of the Department,
are published below for the information and guidance of
students taking up these Courses.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

(1) Give, with sketches, an account of any dicotyledonous
seed that you have examined, stating the uses to the plant of
the different parts. (2) How do plants absorb water, and
what purposes are fulfilled by the water thus absorbed ?
(3) Write an account of the different types of soil with which
you are acquainted. (4) Describe the structure of any common
leaf. How would you show that changes take place in living
leaves, in the presence of light? (5) State the advantages
that are to be found in a well-drained soil. (6) Give a descrip-
tion, with sketches, of any flower that you have examined,
and show how it is pollinated. (7) What are the different
stages in the germination of (1) any dicotyledonous seed,
(2) any monocotyledonous seed, that you have observed ¢
(8) Explain, giving examples where it is possible, five of the
following terms: (a) parasite, (b) medullary rays, (c) rumin-
ating animal, (d) albuminous seed, (e) composite flower,
(f) stomata, (g) drupe, (h) coulter, (k) tap-root, (1) tilth.
(9) State exactly why leguminous plants are usually preferred
as green dressings. (10) Write an account, illustrated by
diagrams, of any form of cultivator that you have examined.
(11) Enumerate the different processes that take place in the
digestion of food by the cow. (12) Describe the action of the
heart, in warm blooded animals. (13) Give a description,
with sketches, of any method of budding with which you are
acquainted, stating why it is possible to propagate plants by
this means.

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION.

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE.

(1) Give a brief account of the ways in which nitrogen
is (a) artificially supplied, (b) naturally supplied, to plants.
(2) How would you conduct an experiment, with a crop with
which you are familiar, to demonstrate the good effects of
proper tillage? (3) Using any crop with which you have
had practical experience, state how you would raise seedlings
of the plant, in a nursery; and give such particulars as you
can of the changes that are known to take place during the
germination of the seed. (4) Write a description of any
scheme of drainage with which you are familiar. What are
the general objects of draining the soil? (5) Describe the
structure of a leaf as it is seen in a preparation under the
microscope, stating how the different parts take their share
in the work that has to be done by the leaf. (6) Give an

account of the different kinds of soil that are found in your
' district, and show how they derive their preperties irom the
kinds of material of which they are composed. (6) What
are the properties and uses of any one of the artificial
manures that you have seen employed in practice? State for
what purposes the manure is specially utilized. (8) How is
water enabled to travel through plants, and by what means
does it move upwards through the soil? (9) Describe care-
fully the way in which any plant that you may choose as an
illustration is-(a) grafted, or (b) budded, or (ec) raised from
cuttings. (10) Give an account of the skeleton of the horse,
or of the ox, and state in what way it differs from that of
the pig. (11) Give a description of (a) the life-history, (b)
the means of control, of any insect pest with which you are
familiar. (12) How do fungi obtain their food, and how

are they propagated! Give an account of the preparation
and use of some fungicide.

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION.
SPECIAL CROP SUBJECTS.
Sugar Industry,

PART I.—GENERAL. (1) Give a careful description of
any fungus disease of sugar-cane of which you have had
experience, stating the means by which it may be controlled.
(2) How is the land prepared for the sugar-cane crop and
cultivated during its growth, in your district. If possible,
suggest any improvements in the methods employed, giving
reasons for your suggestions. (3) Write an account of the
special characters of three varieties of cane on which you
have made observations, stating which of them is best suited
to the conditions with which you are familiar, and why.
(4) Describe a method of manuring, for sugar-cane, and if
possible give an account of the general results of any experi-
ments that form a guide as to the best manurial treatment
for this crop, in your district. (5) Supply particulars of the
life-history of the weevil borer of the sugar-cane. State the
kind of damage done by this pest, and the measures for its
control. (6) Write a short account of the underground sys-
tem of the sugar-cane. (7) Give particulars concerning some
rotations of crops that are suitable for employment with
sugar-cane, where you have had experience in the growing of
the latter. (8) How issugar-cane planted, and what prelimi-
nary treatment should the planting material receive ?

PART I.—MUSCOVADO SUGAR. (1) Describe the pro-
cess of clarification of cane juice, pointing out what is essen-
tial for securing good clarification. (2) What advantages are de-
rived from the use of steam-heated pans as compared with the
employment of fire-heated pans, for finishing the concentration
of syrup! (3) How is it ascertained when the boiling of the
syrup, in making muscovado sugar, has been carried to
a sufficient degree. (4) Hydrometers, or saccharometers, are
commonly employed in muscovado factories. Discuss their use,

PART III.— VACUUM PAN SUGAR. (1) Describe, in brief
outline, the structure and mode of working of a triple effect
evaporator. (2) Give an account of a satisfactory method of
treating the juice from the time it leaves the mill until it is
ready to be taken into the triple effect. (3) Write a descrip-
tion of a method of producing ‘ second sugar’ from molasses.
(4) What matters are essential to good extraction of juice by
mills? How can you ascertain if the work is satisfactory!

Graft-hybrids.—A résumé of recent researches into
the nature of ‘graft-hybrids’, culminating in the periclinal
and sectorial chimeras obtained by Professor H. Winkler
and E. Heuer, is contributed by Dr. H. Fischer to Vatur-
wissenschaftliche Wochenschrift (September 24). A descrip-
tion is given of the five composite types produced from grafts
of the tomato and common nightshade by making an incision
and so developing a new shoot from the point of union of
scion and stock; and an illustration is supplied of the most
complex combination, where the different branches represent
the species nigrum, Lycopersicum, Koclreuterianum, Gaert-
nerianum, and tubingense. It is also explained how the solu-
tion was evolved by Dr. E. Baur from a study of the arrange-
ment of coloured and colourless areas in the leaves of zonal
pelargoniums. In both phenomena there is a mere juxtaposi-
tion of tissues derived from two original types, so that the
term ‘graft-hybrid’ proves to be a misnomer, and chimera is
accurately applied. (Matwre, November 30, 1911, p. 154.)

30 THE AGRICULTURAL

FUNGUS NOTES.

A REPORT ON FUNGUS DISEASES
DURING THE YEARS 1910 AND 1911.

In the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI, p. 73, appeared
an account of the prevalence of some fungus diseases during
the years 1909-10. This report dealt with observations up
to June 1910, and these were communicated on forms, con-
taining a list of the commoner diseases, sent out from the
Head Office. In order to bring the information up to date
for the forthcoming Agricultural Conference in Trinidad,
similar forms were again sent to the various agricultural
officers in the different islands, with a request that they wonld
fill them in, as before. On this occasion two forms were sup-
plied to each Department. The first related to a period from
June 1910 to March 1911, and the second to one commencing
in April 1911, and closing at the beginning of December of
that year. The first period will be referred to as period A,
and the second as period B. The information thus obtained
is abstracted in this article. A further account of it will be
published in a forthcoming number of the West Indian Bul-
letin, containing papers presented before the Agricultural
Conference. It may be noted that no reports were obtained
from Grenada and St. Lucia for period A.

SUGAR-CANE. The root disease of this crop occurs in all
the islands of the Windward and Leeward groups where
sugar-cane is grown, with the possible exception of the Virgin
Islands, in which its effect, if any, is negligible. In Antigua
it was very noticeable in both periods, particularly in dry
months and on ratoon canes in heavy soils. In St. Kitts it
was more in evidence in period B, which was dry, and it was
noted that the variety B.208 was particularly affected, in
certain districts.

The common rind fungus, Melanconium sacchari, was
not more in evidence than usual during either period. In
St. Vincent it is mainly confined to the Bourbon cane, while
in St. Kitts B.208 is believed to be susceptible to the disease.
In Antigua, in period B, it was common on over-ripe canes,
and on canes attacked by root disease. The distinction bet-
ween this and the red rot is not well recognized in many of
the islands, but a disease was recorded from St. Lucia in
period B which agreed with typical red rot in its symptoms,
while material examined by the Mycologist showed the fruc-
tifications of Colletotyichum falcatum, to which true red rot
is due.

cotton. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gossypii) was fairly
prevalent in the wetter districts of St. Vincent, in period A,
and throughout the island in the wet season of period B.
Reports from Nevis emphasize its occurrence in damp districts
only, while in Montserrat it is not clearly recognized as
a disease of any importance, and is probably of quite rare
occurrence. It was found to be causing some damage on
a field in a newly started cotton cultivation in Grenada. Bac-
terial boll disease, together with angular leaf spot and black
arm-—which are believed to be of similar origin—was fairly
prevalent in St. Vincent and St. Kitts in period A, when its
spread was apparently encouraged by wet weather. This
was noted as occurring in St. Vincent in September and
October, but the dates of the heavy rains are not recorded in
St. Kitts. It was also found in Montserrat to some extent
in the same period, while black arm appeared at the end of
the season. In period B, it caused much damage during the
abnormalty wet season in St. Vincent. In Montserrat,

NEWS. JANUARY 20, 1912.

St. Kitts and Nevis the season was very dry up to the begin-
ning of September, and the various forms of the disease were
not much in evidence. A few cases of angular leaf spot
were seen in St. Kitts, and of this and black arm in Nevis;
but in the latter island no boll disease was noted.

The West Indian leaf mildew was fairly prevalent in
St. Vincent, in October and November 1910; that is in
period A. It was also fairly common in Antigua, while in
Montserrat it was more noticeable than in previous seasons,
and one field which was attacked early in the season was, by
October, rendered leafless; in spite of this, it gave a good
crop. The mildew was not observed at all in Nevis, in
either period, nor in St. Kitts in period B. In St. Vincent,
however, in the latter, it was prevalent after October owing
to the wet weather, while it was also fairly common on fields
of older cotton in Antigua. In Montserrat it was not much
in evidence.

Certain miscellaneous diseases were also reported, of
which the most important, from Montserrat, is a disease of
bolls borne on branches near the ground. The infected tissues
exhibit a soft rot, and a species of Pythium or Phytophthora
occurs on them. The disease is responsible for some loss,
and will receive further investigation.

cacao, Root disease occurred in damp situations in
Grenada, in period B, when it was also found to be fairly
common in St. Lucia. Of the other diseases canker and
black rot of pods, both due to Phytophthora Faberi, are the
most important. In Dominica, canker occurred on delicate
varieties of cacao in both periods, while in the second it was
found to be always associated with pod disease; in St. Kitts,
a few cases that occurred in periods A and B were successfully
treated. Die-back, due to Zhyridaria tarda, is known to
occur throughout St. Lucia, but no special outbreak was
recorded. In all the islands, increased attention to proper
sanitation is resulting in keeping under adequate control both
this disease and brown rot of pods due to the same fungus.
None of the other cacao diseases were at all in evidence,
except that in Grenada an outbreak of thread and horse-hair
blights occurred on nutmegs in one district, and ina few
instances individual cacao trees were infected.

LIMES. Black root disease (fosellinia sp.) occurred on
limes, cacao, and pois doux in sporadic instances, on estates
in the interior of Dominica, while red root disease of limes
(Sphaerostilbe sp.) was also observed to be present in the
same way ina similar locality. These diseases have only
recently been described, so that they are not recorded
previous to period B. (See Agricultural News, Vol. X,
pp. 366 and 382.)

A peculiar form of root disease, sometimes associated
with the presence of the brackets of Momes lucidus, occurred
in Montserrat and, Antigua in both periods, but in the latter
island it was not spreading at all rapidly.

The only other disease noted was Melanose of limes, seen
in Montserrat and Antigua, in period B.

RUBBER-PRODUCING PLANTS. A disease of Hevea seed-
lings appeared in the nurseries of the Dominica Botanic Gar-
dens in period A, and at one time assumed threatening pro-
portions. This was, however, controlled by spraying the plants
with Bordeaux mixture, and by the use of a mixture of lime
and sulphur. The exact cause was not determined. It did not
re-appear in period B.

A disease believed to be identical with the black root
disease of limes, and in any case due to a species of Rosellinia,
was found on young Castilloa trees in Grenada, in period B.
In St. Lucia, one instance of the disease was noted; while in
Dominica it only occurred where Castilloa was grown under
unsuitable conditions, Both these records apply to period B.

Vor. XI No. 254.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 31

GROUND Nuts. The unidentified root disease of this
crop was very little in evidence during either period, thoxgh
the Spanish variety was again attacked, in Nevis, in period
A. The leaf spot due to Cercospora personata was entirely
absent from the experiment plots in Dominica, in period A,
though it had caused serious damage in the previous season.
No experiment plots of ground nuts were grown in this
island, in period B.

Rust (Uredo arachidis) is recorded in Dominica, Mont-
serrat and St. Kitts, in period A, and in Montserrat in period
B. In the latter island spraying experiments with Bordeaux

mixture were conducted on the experiment plots in both -

periods, but the results obtained were somewhat contradic-
tory. (See the last number of the Ayricultural News, p. 14.)
It was noted in period B that the Carolina Running variety
suffered most, and the Gambia least, from this malady.

The only other point of interest in these reports, in
relation to a specific crop, is the decrease, during both periods,
of the root disease of Indian corn in Antigua and St. Kitts.
In the latter Presidency, corn is not grown to any extent, so
that it is a matter of relatively small importance, but in
Antigua the condition was at one time of a serious nature.

The reports close with some account of the prevalence
of mistletoe and love vine, and with information concerning
the weather conditions incident in each island during
the periods dealt with, since these are always of importance
in connexion with the prevalence of plant diseases.

Pencil Cedar.—In a recent letter to the Commissioner
of Agriculture for the West Indies, Mr. J. C. Moore, Agri-
cultural Superintendent for St. Lucia, reports the discovery
of a juniper from the Petit Piton in that island. Some fourteen
years ago he had been informed by Mr. Evelyn, then Chief
Clerk at the Government Office at St. Lucia, that a coniferous
tree was found on the top of this Piton, and that it was the
pencil cedar. It was, however, not until quite recently that
Mr. C. Devaux succeeded in securing specimens from that
almost inaccessible locality. There are, according to him,
only half-a-dozen trees there, and they are stunted by wind.
The altitude of the station where the tree ‘grows is given as
2,460 feet. A fruiting specimen, together with a section of
a branch to show the wood, have been received at Kew from
the Commissioner of Agriculture. The tree proves to be
Juniperus barbadensis, L., a species closely related to J. wir-
gimiana, Li, and J. Lermudiana, L., with both of which it is
frequently confused, as has been pointed out by Professor
Sargent (Sylva of North America, XIV, p. 89, t. 738.) The
area of this tree on the continent is distinctly littoral, extend-
ing on the Atlantic coast from Southern Georgia to about
27° N. lat. in Florida, and on the Gulf coast of Florida from
about 27° N. lat, but it also includes a number of widely
scattered stations in the West Indies, as the Bahamas, San
Domingo, and the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, as well as
St. Lucia. In Barbados it was in existence at least until
1830, when Maycock (Flora Barbadensis, p. 395) recorded it
from there as a ‘by no means common tree’. Since that time
it has not been mentioned as occurring in the island. Jn the
Blue Mountains of Jamaica it is now rare, and ranges from
3,500 to 6,000 feet; in San Domingo it was found at 5,000
feet, and in St. Lucia, as stated above, at 2}460 feet. These
mountain stations evidently represent only the last remains
of a former much wider vertical range in the islands, where,
as in Florida, the tree was much sought for on account of its
highly priced wood. (From Miscellaneous Notes in the A’ew
Bulletin, 191%, p. 377.)

WEIGHTS OF SEEDS FROM PARA
RUBBER TREES.

Accounts were given in the last volume of the Agri-
cultural News,pages 111 and 363,of observations made
by the Grenada Agricultural Department in regard to
the weight of Pararubber seeds. In connexion with the
subject, the following further information appears in an
article by Mr. L. Lewton-Brain, Director of Agriculture
of the Federated Malay States, in the Agricultural
Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States,
November 1911, p. 355 :—

Messrs. Macmillan and Petch state that they find
a large difference between the weight of seed from tapped
and untapped trees, the latter being considerably heavier.
The figures they give are 91 tb., against 78 tb. per 1,000
seeds, a difference of i°3 Ib. or 162 per cent. on the weight of
seeds from tapped trees.

To see whether the difference is-an actual one, and if
so, what it would amount to here, an extensive series of
weighings was carried out. ‘Trees of the same age in the
Experiment Plantation and the Public Gardens, Kuala Lum-

pur, gave an excellent opportunity for comparison. ‘The
following are the actual results :—
Tapped. Untapped.
300 seeds weighed 2°65 hb. 300 seeds weighed 2°93 tb.
300 ” ” 2°69 ” 300 ” ” 2:90 ”
300 ” ” 248 ” 300 ” ” 2°88 ”
300 ” ” 281 ” 300 ” ” 2°76 ”
300 ” ” 2-56 ” 300 ” ” 2°80 ”
300, x 2°42 ,, 300 ,, Fe orale
300. + DOles 300) - ZO;
300, x 2°60 ,, B00) ie 6 Dil ies
300 » 247,, — 300 _,, » 272,
300, ~ 2°59 5, 300 ,, ; ite
300 ” ” 2°34 ” 300 ” ” 2°84 ”
300 ” ” 2°41 ” 300 ” ” 2°73 ”
300 ”? ” 2°50 ” 300 ” 1” 2°74 ”
300, » 231, 300 ,, Ea a es
B00 F544 5990". 7 e300" SAN we am no-BOr,,
300 ;, < 2°53: ;; 300 ¢ ,, a 2°81 ,,
4,800 ,, » 40°39. 4,800 ,, » 44°61 Ib.

Average was 84 Ib. per 1000. | Average was 9°3 per 1000.

It will be noted that not only is the average weight per
1,000 seeds distinctly higher from the untapped trees, but
that only one weighing of seeds from tapped trees gave
a higher total than the lowest weighing of the untapped trees.
The seeds were collected fresh every morning and weighed
immediately. The difference is 0-9 fh. per 1,000 seeds, or
10°7 per cent..—not quite so great as the Ceylon figures. That
this difference is entirely due to the extra weight of the
kernels, the husks remaining nearly constant, is shown by the
following test:.—

Weight of kernels. Weight of shells. Total.
\ 16%. ll oz. 61b.40z. 16 tb. 15202.

Untapped trees)
2,000 J

It will be interesting to see what the difference in germ-
ination between the two sets of seeds will be, after different
periods of storage. A series of experiments is in progress to
test this point, and will be reported on later, when complete,

No. of seeds.
Tapped trees
°?

=

12%. 1} 02, 6%b.4¥0z, 18tb. 6402.

i)
iS)

London.—Tse West Inpia ComMMITTEE

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

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

MARKET REPORTS.

CrrcuLaR,
December 19, 1911; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,

December 8, 1911.

ARROWROOT—33d to 33d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/6; block, 2/4 per tb.

BEEswax—£7 ds. to £7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 60/- to 70/- per ewt.; Grenada, 54/-
to 59/6; Jamaica, 51/- to 58/-.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 70/- to 12U/- per cwt.

Copra—West Indian, £25 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota
tions; West Indian Sea Island, no quotations. . ;___.

Froit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 64/- per cwt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honety—No quotation.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 1/1 to 1/4; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d.
to £19 10s.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/3.

Log woop—No quotations.

Mace— Firm.

Nourmecs—Firm.

Pmrento—Common, 2;%d.; fair, 23d.; good, 213d.; per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/44; fine soft, 4/1; Castilloa,
4/1 per Tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 19/6 to 22/6; Muscovado, 15/- to 17/6;
Syrup, 14/- to 18/3 per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York.—Messrs, Gintespre Bros. & Co., December

15, 1911.

Cacao—Caracas, 12%c. to 123¢.; Grenada, 12c. to 123c.;
Trinidad; 12c. to 123c. per tb.; Jamaica, 10c. to 12c.
Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $29°00 to $31:00; culls,
$16-00 to $17°00; Trinidad, select, $29:00 to $31-00;

culls, $16°00 to $17°00 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 14}c. to 15dc. per tb.

Gincer—S8jec. to 9c. per fo.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 480,
to 52c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 46c. to 48c.
per ib.

Grape-Fruit—Jamaica, $2°50 to $3:00.

Limes—$3°00 to $4:00.

Mace—50c. to 54c. per th.

Noursrcs—110’s, 123c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—22d. per fb

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4ic. per Ib.; Muscovados, 89°,

4ic.; Molasses, 89°, 42c. per tb., all duty paid.

eT

1911.

Oacao— Venezuelan, $12°25 to $12°50 per fanega; Trinidad,
$11°75 to $12°15.

Cocoa-NuT O1L—%5c. per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 16c. per fb.

Copra—$4°25 per 100 th.

Duat—$4'00 to $4°10,

Ontons—$2°75 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sptitr—$6°75 to $700 per bag.

Porators—English, $2°50 to $2°75 per 100 hb.

Rice—Yellow, $4:70 to $4°75; White, $5°75 to $6-00
per bag.

Svear—Ameriecan crushed, no quotations.

JANUARY 20, 1912

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., December 30,
1911; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., January ib
1911; Messrs. Leacock & Co., December 22, 1911;
Messrs. E. Toorne, Limited, December 5, 1911.

Cacao—$12-00 to $12°50 per 100 fb.
Corron Srep—$26°00 per ton.

Corron Seep O1r—50c. per wine gallon.
Corron Seep Cake Mrar—$24-00 per ton, c.i.f., neigh-

bouring islands.

Hay—$1°50 to $2:00 per 100 fb.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Cacao manure, $42-00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $75°00 to $80-00

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$2°40 to $3°50 per 100 th.
Peas, Sprit—$6°75 to $6°80 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°90 to $4°10 per bag of 120 tb.
Potrators—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $3°25 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $4°90 to $5°30 per 190 tb.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $6:00 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricutwr, January

6,

December 8, 1911.

1911; Messrs. SanpBacH, ParKER & Co.,

ARTICLES.

Arrowkroot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHAaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo tasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Porators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Porators—Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimsER—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

» Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RicHter.

$12°50 per 200 fe.

No quotation

70c. per tb.

lic. per tb.
72c.

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per tb.
18c. to 19c. per tb.
13c. per fb.
$3'75 per bag of
168 tb.
$300
$1:20
None
5kc. to 6c.
$7°25 per bag
(210 tb.)
$3°25
20c. to 40c.
$325 to $4:00

$1°68 per bag
No quotation

$500
$1°44
$2°88
$3°12
$3°20
$3°80
$4:°75 to $5'00
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Vou. XI. No. 254; THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. January 20, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

a Neo 1st, ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Suger-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
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APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
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Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

COLTON SEED MEAL. JUST ISSUED,
COTTON SEED MEAL, A NEW AND RE-ENLARGED

FOR MANURIAL PURPOSES. EDITION OF
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QUANTITIES.
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WEST INDIAN BULLETIN. HOR SA I iH
(Vol. XI, No. 4.) °

Containing an account of the (Imperial Department of Agri-

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The [npetial Department PRIME SUMMER YELLOW COTTON

headings: of Agriculture in the

West Indies; What Science has done for the West Indies; SEED OIL.

Chief Matters Concerning Departmental Adwinistration; A ;

Matters of Indirect Interest; Entomology in the West Indies; In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

A Summary of Ten Years’ Mycological Work cf the Imperial aay se on =

Department of Agriculture for the West Indies; The Work COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.

in the Botanic Stations from Year to Year; General Progre-s <j e

in the West Indies since 1897; Agricultural Education and ERNEST THORNE, TAD s

Instruction; and Publications issued by the Imperial Depart- Cotton Seed Oil Mills,

ment of Agriculture. Barbados, W.I.
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Publications. Price 6c, post free, 94d. (267) ‘Thorum.’

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

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CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties. Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
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Stock for Inarching Planting,
and Budding Cultivation.
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Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

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Wor Xl. No: 255;

CONTENTS.
PAGE, PaGF
Agricultural Possibilities in | Gleanings wos MBE usest* ico. 44
Honduras AOR oe 40 Horses, Jibbing 7 nt os 37

2
Agricultural Pupils at the (cae Notes «3

Dominica Botanic Sta- thy he Me lon or Cotton
tion no mee 41 Aphis ... 42
Agriculture in Bolivia Bus 43 | iis Satur of. fhe ache
Agriculture ahora § Ni- a Emitted by Fire-Fiies 42
geria, 1’ Wes 5 CG Legumes, Benefit to Crops
Agriculture, Third Interna- | “from Growing with 39
Beene On ree | Market Reports a
cal... 2 43 Mendelism in Relation to
Antigua: A “Handbook of Seedling Sugar-Canes 33
General Information ... 40 inite ‘ome NOME rine 3
Cotton Notes :— a, Notes and Comments ... 40
Cotton Elan, Arrange- “ Oil fcvm "Lobacceaal. 4. wil
ment o parts 1m ... s*- YO} Oranges Sug rc tent of 36
Westilndion Cotton .. 88i ntti ae
Department News .... -.- 49) Rubber Plantingin Formosa 33

Dominica Lime in England 36
Kucalyptus, Uses of . ... 35) Spraying to Kill Weeds ... 41
Fat, Absorption in Relation Students’ Corner:
to Water-Drinking ... 41| Agricultural Examinations 45
Fungus Notes :— | Sulphur in Soil Quantity
Soft Rot of Coreen 3 in of. a9
Bengal ... . 46 | Trade of Sierre Leone, ‘19l0 43

Mendelism in Relation to Seedling

Sugar-Canes.

————_

4 URING the eleven years which this present
b century has now run, methods of producing

6g new and improved varieties of plants and
feels have undergone an almost complete transform-
ation, owing to the precision and purpose introduced
into them by the application of principles first enun-
ciated by the Abbot Mendel. The success attending the

BARBADOS, FEBRUARY

oe Loe Price 1d,

work that hes been carried out in the case of many
other species of plants and animals has led of late to
the somewhat casual suggestion that the same principle
should be applied to the formation of synthesized sugar-
cane seedlings, produced by crossing parents, each of

which contains one desirable character that is absent
in the other. The characters that have been sug-
gested for combination in this manner in one

strain or group of individuals are: high sucrose con-
tent, heavy tonnage of cane per acre, disease resistance,
fibre content, and the like attributes of economic
importance. The adjective casual has been applied to
this suggestion, because there is reason to think that,
without an ade-

low

in some instances, it has been made
quate understanding of the nature of the characters to
which Mendel’s principles are applicable, and of the
many peculiar difticulties experienced in the case of
the sugar-cane as opposed to that of other plants.

In order to arrive at a reasonable estimate of the
possibility of applying the methods under discussion to
the case of the sugar-cane, some understanding of the
nature of variation, and of its inheritance, is necessary;
this renders possible a clear comprehension of the class
of characters that is likely to show segregation or inher-
itance, and disabuses the mind of misconceptions aris-
ing through incomplete acquaintance with definitions
of some of the terms employed, particularly such
phrases as ‘a pure line’ and ‘breeding true’. Light
may also be shed on this question by a consideration of
the evidence as to the nature of variation in seedling
sugar-canes that is available from previous records;
while even more illuminating is a true comprehension
of the real nature of the very characters with which it
has been proposed to work.

BOTANI
GARB!

34 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Frpruary 3, 1912,

True variation, us opposed to fluctuation, is of two
kinds—continuous and discontinuous; the latter kind
is also known as mutation. Individuals exhibiting
continuous variation show an evenly graded series
lying between two extremes. Those which vary dis-
continuously may be collected into a few well-marked
groups. Individuals may show, in addition to variation,
small changes induced during the development of each
by the external influences to which it has been subject.
Such changes are known as fluctuations. A group of
individuals exhibiting some well-marked character, as
for example tallness, may show small differences, due
to fluctuation, within itself; but so long as the offspring
does not show changes in height that are quite outside
the limits of this fluctuation, that group is said to breed
true, and if the breeding can be continued for several
generations without the appearence of any marked
mutant forms, the line is said to be pure. On the other
hand, when very marked changes in height occur in
the offspring of the first generation, some of the indi-
viduals of the group, if not all, must be regarded as
impure for the character of tallness. Mendels princip-
les apply only to very simple characters such as tallness
or dwarfness, seed characters, flower colour and the
like, when these vary discontinuously; they show what
may be expected to arise when individuals,
true to one character, are crossed with those
breeding true to its opposite, and when the resulting
seedlings are fertilized among themselves.

offspring
breeding

The principles also show how the characters are
distributed, when an individual breeding true to the
presence of one desirable attribute and the absence of
another, is crossed with a second individual showing the
absence of the first and the presence of the second. It
is from such a cross that new forms, breeding true to
both desirable characters, may be synthesized. It may
be stated finally, that continuous variation is believed
to be caused by’a large number of indeterminable fac-
tors, while mutation is probably due to one ora few defi-
nite determinants,and that the inheritance of continuous
variation is different from that of discontinuous, and
‘does not follow Mendel’s laws; while fluctuation is not
inherited at all.

In order to commence Mendelian experiments on
a sound basis, if is necessary to have a knowledge of
‘the nature of the variation in the characters chosen,
‘a certainty of the purity of the parent strains as re-
gards those characters, and a knowledge of the simple
nature of the characters themselves, and of the probable
number of determinants which go to form each; in short,
to possess a satisfactory analytical basis from which to
commence synthesis.

ject to similar cbjections.
in every way, the necessary analytical data are not

In the production of seedling sugar-canes in the
past, it has not been necessary to attach any great im-
portance to an exact knowledge of parentage. In the
earliest work, the parents were sometimes quite un-
known. Later, the female parent was known, but the
male was uncertain; while only recently have canes
been bred, for several generations, whose parent-
age is known on both sides throughout. Naturally,
also, most seedling canes must be regarded as complex
hybrids until definite information is available to con-
tradict thisvassumption. Under such circumstances,
there is naturally no very precise understanding of the
type of variation exhibited by the different characters
of the sugar-cane; furthermore, no strain of canes could
be selected which is known to breed true to any char-
acter desired. ‘Thus the former records cannot supply
two of the items necessary for the analysis postulated,
and at present there is no other source from which the
knowledge could possibly be cbtained.

As regurds the characters themselves. those most
earefully studied and recorded are of purely economic
importance, and a very short consideration will show
that they are either too ill-defined or too complex in
themselves to permit of the expectation that they will
behave as Mendelian units. If, for example, the sucrose
content be considered, it appears possible that it is sub-

ject to continuous variation, though, on the other hand,

certain canes exhibit a fairly constant value for this
quality.
to enable a judgment to be formed as to the actual

It is not, moreover, sufficiently defined

nature of its variation, since errors arise in the inter-
pretation of the chemical analysis upon which it is
based, owing to differences in the ripeness of canes, to
the extent to which they have dried before being
crushed, and to other external causes. Possibly, if the
character were expressed as concentration of sugar in
the sap of the storage cells of any strain when quite
ripe, it might be found to be definite, ana subject to
At present, such a character
is not likely to serve-as a Mendelian unit. Again, ton-
nage of cane per acre may be an effect of the production
of many short canes to the stool, or of a few long shoots,
as well as of intermediate conditions: so that any mathe-
matical valuation of this is not in reality a definite
character at all. Disease resistance is another vague
character, not properly defined or understood, that may
be inversely dependent on sucrose content of juice.
The employment of other economic characters is sub-
Thus it would appear that,

discontinuous variation.

forthcoming.

Vout. XI. No. 255.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 35

eee ——————0eSoSO—s=saesSso ee

Certain botanical characters, which have been to
some extent overlooked in the past,appear to be of a sim-
pler and more definite nature, and to fall into clearly
differentiated groups. Such are the characters of the
nodes, internodes and eye-buds: and there are probably
certain others. It is possible that careful study would re-
veal the nature of variation and inheritance in these; that
this would result in a far better understanding of the
classification of the sugar-cane and in the accumulation
of sufficient knowledge to pave the way fur experiments
with economic characters. These experiments would
first be of an analytical nature, and later might be
directed toward the desired synthetical result.

In view of the points considered above, it will
seem that experiment station workers would be ill-
advised to divert their attention from the present
methods of producing improved varieties of sugar-cane,
and to sacrifice the knowledge and experience gained,
inerely in exchange for haphazard attempts to synthe-
size new strains along Mendelian lines. In the absence
of the necessary analytical data, and in view of the
practical difficulties in the way, such attempts would be
almost certain to be barren of results. The principal
efforts should be directed along the present lines,
though casual experiments in Mendelisin of the nature
of side issues, would not interfere with such efforts and
might lead to valuable information. But if a definite
course of Mendelian investigation is to be undertaken, it
should be carried out by a limited number of suitably
placed, special stations, working along their particular
lines, and unembarrassed by economic considerations.
Their function would be to obtain the necessary analyti-
eal knowledge, possibly by commencing with a study
of the variation and inheritance of botanical characters,
and thence to proceed to the synthesis of economically
valuable strains of sngar-cane.

Rubber-Planting in Formosa.—lermission was
granted last year to a Japanese syndicate to form a rubber
plantation, and some 3,500 acres of waste land in Kagi Pre-
fecture were leased for this purpose. Central American rub-
ber (Castiiloa elastica), Ceara rubber (Mantho+ Gluziovir),
Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), Assam rubber (Ficus elastica)
trees are to be planted, together with bananas, pine apples,
and Jemon trees, while plantations of other trees will be made
to protect the more valuable trees from wind and against fire.
It is expected that the undertaking will be completed in six
years. ; ; ane,

The Government horticultural nurseries near Kagi are
raising large numbers of the above-named trees in a planta-
tion of 25 acres for distribution to the peasants, who will be
encouraged to plant them and taught their proper manage-
ment. (Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No 4769 Annual
Series, p. 12.)

THE USES OF EUCALYPTUS.

These are mostly concerned with the medicinal proper-
ties that are possessed by the oil that can be extracted from
the leaves; as an antiseptic, this is of peculiar use. Advantage
may be taken of a useful summary, of the ways in which
Eucalyptus may be employed, which is given in L’Ayriculture
Pratique des Pays Chauds for November 1911, in which it is
pointed out that, to Baron F. von Miiller, Director of the Bota-
incal Garden of Melbourne, must be attributed not only the
discovery of a large number of species, but the first experi-
ments in the distillation of the leaves. Further, it is to
Bosisto, a chemist of Melbourne, that the extension of the
Eucalyptus oil industry must be credited, as well as the dis-
covery of various uses to which it may be applied.

As far as is known, Lucalyptus amygdalina is the
species that is richest in essential oils, though its rate of
growth is far smaller than that_of 2. globulus The researches
of Bosisto have shown that the species from which the leaves
have most commonly been submitted to distillation give
returns of essential oil in the following order: 2. amygdalina,
E. oleosa, EB. leucorylon, B. goniocalyx, EB. glohulus and
E. obliqua. Of these, as regards Z. globulus, the inferiority
in the yield of oil is compensated for in its vigorous growth
and its abundant foliage. In any case, it is a fact that the
amount that can be obtained from each species depends upon
the season and the locality.

It is a characteristic of 2. rostrata that it flourishes in
inundated lands and in those subjected to sudden, heavy rain-
fall. #. oleosa, on the other hand, is particularly fitted for
cultivation in dry and desert regions.

The article quoted above, which presents this informa-
tion, goes on to say that the researches commenced by Baron
von Miller, and continued by Bosisto and Osborne, have
shown that eucalyptus oil dissolves, among other substances
used for making varnish and such preparations, camphor, pine
resins, mastic, gum Jlemi, sandarac, asphalt, Xanthorrhea
resin, dragon’s blood, benzoin, copal, amber and wax, but not
gutta-percha.

‘The ash obtained from different kinds of Eucalyptus
yields 5 to 27 per cent. of potash. A ton of the leaves of
EL. globulus will give over 10 lb. of pearl ash; while a similar
quantity of the green wood furnishes more than 2 tb, and the
dry wood at least 6 Ib.

In pharmacy, the leaves of Eucalyptus and the oil are
employed in many different ways: for pills, cachets, fumi-
gants, washes, injections, sweets, pastilles, infusions, cigar-
ettes for asthma, oil8, aromatic vinegars, salts, soap, dental
powders and pastes, insecticides, remedies for diseases of silk
worms and bees, protection from mildew, fever remedies,
colds, bronchial affections and those of the throat and lungs,
neuralgia, depression, cholera, vesical catarrh, uraemia, chronie
rheumatism, gout, congestion of the brain and of the lungs,
for protection against mosquitoes, and even for the purpose
of reducing adipose tissue. Lastly, the oil is largely made
use of in perfumery. The matter does not conclude here, for,
as it is pleasingly expressed by Morei, even after filling the
place of a remedy for the greater number of ills, the products
of Eucalyptus may be employed for embalming the bodies of
those who have died because they were ignorant of its benefits.

After mentioning other, similar uses of the oil and resin
of Eucalyptus, the article goes on to state that, although too
much may have been claimed for such products scientific
research has shown that they possess a real value, and that,
particularly, the leaves of 2. globu/us—especially those from
young trees —are endowed with antiseptic properties that are
capable of utilization in many different ways.

36 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, .

Fresruary 3, 1912

> ae

\ A , — SX y
NUS OSSE

FRUITS AND FRUIT. TREES.

THE DOMINICA LIME IN ENGLAND.

Success is attending an experiment designed to secure
for the Dominica lime, one of the fruits grown within the
Empire which is little known in this country, a share of the
popularity enjoyed in the United Kingdon by the lemon. It
is claimed that this product of the West Indies cannot only
be used for every purpose for which the better-known lemon
is employed, but that, weight for weight it contains more
juice. Mr. Algernon E Aspinall, Secretary of the West
India Committee, who with the Exhibition. Committee of
Dominica is responsible for the experiment, informed a Morn-
ing Post representative yesterday that practical results had
undoubtedly been ,achieved by their efforts to secure support
in this country for whit is, next to the banana, the most
important fruit produced in the West Indies on a commer-
cial basis. ‘The West Indian Produce Association’, he said,
“is now importing about 100 boxes every mail, and the
great point gained is that limes are now obtainable on
a commercial basis at Covent Garden. The cultivation of
the lime tree is by far the largest industry of ominica, the
exports of limes and lime products from that island being
five or six times as great as those of Montserrat, which
through judicious advertisement, has been so closely identi-
fied in the public mind with the fruit. The lime is already
well-known and appreciated in America. In 1910 there were
27,427 barrels shipped from Dominica, the bulk going to the
United States. Our efforts are being directed to making that
fruit better known in this country, and thus developing
a trade with one of our colonies. For one thing, we realize
that the United States offers a less safe market than that of
the United Kingdom, for the Americans have practically shut
down the business done in oranges from the British West
Indies by imposing a duty, with a view to protecting their
own orange growers.’

On its merits, Mv. Aspinall considers the Dominica lime
will become more popular in this country. > ‘The future is
decidedly hopeful’, he said. ‘Of course, a few hot summers
like the last will help us enormously. We shall still continue
the experiment of distributing samples of limes, with litera-
ture, in suitable directions, and showing the fruit at exhibi-
tions, and Dominica is now considering proposals submitted
by the West India Committee for advertising the fruit on
a more extensive scale next year.’ Mr. Aspinall mentioned
that the only obstacle met with in popularizing the Dominica
lime had been the complaint that it did not keep so well as

the lemon, but that could be overcome by keeping each lime
wrapped up until it was used. (The Morning Post, Decem-
ber 29, 1911.)

THE SUGAR CONTENT OF ORANGES.

__ An abstract of a paper describing work on this sub-
ject, and appearing in the California Cultivator for
May 18, 1911, is produced here from the Bulletin of
the Bureau pf Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant
Diseases for June 1911, p. 1245 :—

The writer carried out a number of analyses of Valencia
oranges of varying degrees of ripeness, and dividing each into
three parts estimated the amount of acid (as citrie acid),
grape sugar and cane sugar. The work was carried out in
the chemical laboratory of the Bonita High School, Arizona,
on Valencia oranges taken from the neighbouring orchards,

The following results were obtained, per cent.

I. Green.

Stalk end. Middle, Top.

Acid ae 2°49 3°32 Doi

Grape sugar...... 4°16 387 4-00

Cane sugar........ 3°24 4°60 Dry
II. Middle ripe.

INGE seis seosobe 2°41 2°66 2°13

Grape sugar...... 2:62 308 3°30

Cane sugar. ..... 2D4 4°82 5:3
III. Ripe

NOG He ies sa cd tse abs Dia 2°61 2°06

Grape, sugar...... 3°25 3 92 4:5

Cane sugar........ 4:73 5-45 6:02

From thé results it is seen that (1) the acid decreases
with age to a slight extent, with the larger percentage in the
middle portion: consequently to produce a fruit with the
minimum amount of acid, a long narrow shape is required;
(2) the grape sugar (glucose or dextrose) varies slightly in
amount in different parts of the orange, but as this substance
does not add much to the sweetness of the orange, considera-
tion of it maybe neglected; (3) the cane sugar generally
increases throughout the fruit with age, but is more highly
developed in the top (navel end): as a very little of this sugar
serves to increase the sweetness, a development of this end
would ensure a sweeter fruit.

Vou. XI.::No. 255.

20.ent
LIVE STOCK.

JIBBING IN HORSES.

Jibbing isa vice of horses which shows itself in continu-
ous unwillingness of the animal to submit to control; the
horse is obstinate, and this consciously. It not only reduces
the animal’s usefulness, but constitutes a general danger.
The subject is dealt with, in a complete manner, in Veterinary
Pathology, by Friedburger and Frohner. We may distinguish
between absolute and relative jibbing. The former renders
the animal useless for all purposes, but the latter, which is
much commoner, affects only certain kinds of work, such as
rider’s jibbing, carriage jibbing, jibbing in double harness.
The evil is commonest in mares, and particularly in half-wild
breeds.

The cause of jibbing is usually to be found in improper
or brutal treatment of the animal when being broken in, or in
some senseless and cruel punishment, to which influences
high-spirited and well-bred animals are very susceptible.
Malicious teasing and irritation, as well as recovery from
painful skin-injuries, may also give rise to jibbing. Among
temporary causes, ruttishness in mares must be named. How
far heredity or pathological conditions of the brain may con-
duce to jibbing is not well known.

Jibbing may be partly active and partly passive, though
both are often combined. An active jibber may stand still
when at work, and offer resistance to all attempts to urge it
on. It behaves violently in some cases, and may do serious
damage to the carriage or occupants. Saddle-horses try to
throw their rider by bucking, or rearing, or may try to
knock him off against trees, walls, etc. Sometimes, they
throw themselves in their attempts to do so. At such times,
the horse shews great excitement, a fiery eye, palpitation,
trembling, quickened breathing, and sweating. In rarer cases,
there may be perfect mania, so that at last the animal is led
away half stupid, and utterly exhausted. Such animals are
usually good-tempered in the stable.

In passive jibbing, the animal while at work suddenly
stops as though spellbound, backs into the harness, and stops
the vehicle intentionally, and cannot by any means, kind or
severe, be got to move a step forward. It may attempt to
turn back. If allowed to remain quiet for some little time,
it will usually go on of its own accord. If not, it will pro-
bably need to be unharnessed, or allowed to return home.

A horse must not be regarded as jibbing if it refuses to
work when put to unaccustomed or excessive tasks, or because
of illness, or bodily pain such as arises from an uncomfortable
collar or badly-fitting harness. A crupper that is too tight is
a very common cause of kicking, and also of actual jibbing. In
dealing with special cases, jibbing must not be confused with
shying.

Confirmed jibbers are incurable, but in early cases, and
more particularly during the development of the vice, improve-
ment may be obtained by kind treatment and gentle handling,
and above all, by patience, but never by compulsion. In
general, it may be stated that jibbers are incurable, though
many horsemen have their own ideas and practices as regards
the matter. Cases are known in which, for a time at least,
a jibber may Jay aside the vice, in well-accustomed sur-
roundings. f

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 37

It will be seen then, that owners of horses, and more
especially of young horses, should endeavour to supervise
personally the work of their grooms, with particular regard
to the prevention of cruelty and abuse, for it is certain that
by this means fewer horses would be ruined, and also that
not inconsiderable financial loss would be averted.

SOME NOTES ON THE MULE.

As is commonly recognized, the mule is probably the
most generally useful, as a working animal, among the
Equidae. It is capable of great endurance, tolerates thirst
well, and can put up with changes of housing, weather, and
food, about which it is not fastidious. The toughness of the
hide helps to preserve it from galls,

Mules are usually contented, intelligent animals; and
while resenting violence, they appreciate proper handling.
They are particularly free kickers, are often shy with
strangers, and are sensitive in the region of the head; but with
attendants who understand them, they are by no means
troublesome, and are easy to look after and keep in condition.
Being a near relation of the horse, and with a digestive sys-
tem entirely similar, mules may be treated according to all
the general rules for the care of horses, and if equal attention
be paid to their stable management and feeding, they are
much easier to keep in condition when in hard work. In
the West Indies, the general rule is to pen mules, but the
better plan is to keep them in stalls, as by this the animals
are more likely to receive greater individual attention, and
better care generally.

In selecting a mule, the first consideration must be to
find the animal best suited to the purpose for which it is
required. The shape of the back, especially in pack mules
used for carrying cacao, is of supremeimportance. It should
be straight from wither to croup, or inclined to be roach-
backed, rather than hollow. It should be short, well covered
with muscle, and broad and level on the top. A long back
is a weak back, and if hollow and narrow, possesses the
worst shape. The body should be well ribbed up, and
not lacking in girth; while the chest should be deep and
broad between the shoulders. The quarters should be well
developed and muscular. In the pack mule, the strength of
the quarters is of more importance than the shape of the fore-
hand. In moving up and down hill, this necessity for power-
fnl quarters is apparent. The withers are naturally broad
and low and the shoulder looks upright; but the low
wither is not a disadvantage, and the mule is prover-
bially a sure stepper. The neck is straight and short, and
should be strong and muscular. he legs are slender, but
as long as they are short and clean, and straight in
front, no great amount of bone is necessary. Mules are
often cow-hocked behind, but if they are free from disease,
this defect is not a drawbrack. Spavin, however, is a fairly
common cause of unfitness, especially in hilly districts. The
feet generally appear to be boxed in, but they are strong aud.
hard-wearing; the horn is tough, thick, and grows quickly.
As arule, the feet are inclined to grow high at the hee'.,
and this is a matter which requires frequent attentivn.
The age at which mules are fit for work is, as in the case of
the horse, four years; they are more suited for this at five, and
still more so at six, years of age. It is, however, a common
practice to work them when three years old. The teeth of the
mule resemble those of the horse in most particulars, the main
difference being that those of the mule are narrower. The
age may be gauged by exactly the same mirks as are em-
ployed in the case of the horse.

38 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Fesruary 3, 1912: '

WEST

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date December 30, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

INDIAN COTTON.

Since our last report, about 250 bales of West Indian Sea
Islands have been sold, chiefly St. Vincent and Montserrat,
from 173d. to 19d., St. Croix at 15d., and a few St. Vincent
at 20d, —

The market remains steady, in view of the fact that
Carolina Sea Islands are a bad crop this year, both in quantity
and quality.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending December 30, is as follows:—

There was a demand for the limited offerings, which
consisted principally of cotton more or less off in preparation.
The supply of the better grades, Fully Fine and Extra Fine,
is very small, and has been largely disposed of.

The crop has been nearly all marketed, therefore the
receipts from now on will be very small.

There is in stock about 1,000 bales old crop cotton,
which is being held by the owners in expectation of higher
prices later on.

We quote :—
Extra Fine 32¢c.=18d., c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fine to Fully 26c. to 28ce.=15d. to 16d. ¢.i.f. & 5 per cent.

nae Lonlly, Fiscal iee to be = LOO = ee
off in preparation f 2

ARRANGEMENT OF PARTS IN
THE COTTON PLANT.

Bulletin No. 222 of the Bureau of Plant Industry
of the United States Department of Agriculture
has been issued under this title. It contains the
results of a study of the way in which the different
organs of the cotton plant are arranged; for, as is claim-

ed at the commencement of the bulletin: ‘changes of

behaviour that are of serious economic importance may
be brought about by changing the number and arrange-
ment of the parts of the plants, even without altering
the characteristics of the leaves, flowers, or other com-
ponent units of the structure.’ The following is taken
from the conclusions given in the Bulletin :—

The cotton plant has two kinds of branches, differing in
arrangement as well as in other characters. [Fruiting
branches develop laterally from extra-axillary buds at the

side of the axillary buds, which produce the limbs. Extra-
axillary buds may develop into vegetative branches and
replace fruiting branches, but no normal fruiting branches
are produced by axillary buds.

The leaves of the limbs and vegetative branches of the
cotton plant have the same spiral arrangement as those of the
main stem, though the direction of the spiral on the limbs
and vegetative branches may be opposed to that on the main
stalk. Each internode of the fruiting branch is twisted in
the opposite direction from the one preceding, bringing the
leaves to two alternating series along the sides of the branch
and the flowers into an upright position. ;

The involucre of the cotton flower is composed of three
bracts, two of equal size and one smaller. The small bract
is always on the outer or distal side of the flower, toward the
end of the branch. Two bractlets frequently appear on either
side of the small bract in the United States upland varieties,
while in certain Central American types a complete series of
Six is sometimes developed, one on either side of the three
bracts. The teeth of the bracts when twisted follow the
same direction as the overlapping of the petals.

The calyx of the cotton flower has five lobes distinctly
unequal in size, two large, two small, and one intermediate.
One of the small lobes stands opposite the small bract of the
involucre, between two large lobes. The arrangement of the
other lobes varies in relation to that of other parts of the
tlower.

Small tlap-like organs are often inserted between the
calyx and the petals, arranged in alternation with the calyx
lobes. These intra-calicary organs may be considered as
supernumerary calyx lobes, or as representing free stipular
elements of the calyx lobes. In either case, they support the
view that the calyx lobes are homologous with the bracts of
the outer involucre. In other words, the calyx of the cotton
plant may be looked upon as an inner involucre.

The petals of the cotton flower are opposite the lobes of
the staminal column, and overlap inthe same direction as
the stamens'are bent. This direction conforms to the twisting
of the internode of the branch bearing the flower, and is
reversed in the flowers at each succeeding node.

The stamens are arranged on the staminal column in five
vertical rows, about the pistil, opposite the petals, and turn
in the same direction as the overlapping of the petals. The:
paired positions and frequent branching of the stamens sug-
gest the development of the compound staminal column by
the subdivision of a few primitive stamens.

There is a persistent irregularity in the number of car-
pels in the ffowers and fruits of the same plant. The range
of normal variation is from two to four carpels in the Egyptian
cotton, and from three to five carpels in the upland cotton.
When the number is five, the stigmas and carpels alternate
with the petals and the lobes of the staminal column.

Vou; XE No; 255,

————
‘

THE QUANTITY OF SULPHUR IN SOILS.

The Agricultural News of August 5, 1911, centained an
editorial article which pointed out that the importance of sul-
phur in the life of the plant had been under-estimated, chiefly
because the methods of analysis commonly employed do not
‘serve for the detection of the whole of the quantity of that
element that is present; certain proportions are lost during
the manipulations concerned in the investigations, and are
therefore not accounted for in giving the results.

The matter obtains further attention in an article by
P. de Sornay, Assistant Director of the Station Agronomique,
Mauritius, in the Znternational Sugar Journal for September
1911, which describes work devised to show that” the method
that is used for ascertaining the quantity of sulphur, as sul-
phuric acid, in soils, does not succeed in presenting a true
idea of the proportion of the element that is present.

It is first pointed out that, in Mauritius, certain varieties
of sugar-cane take up.a greater amount of sulphuric acid than
of phosphoric acid, from the soil; while in Hawaii the con-
trary condition obtains. In both cases, the sulphuric acid
content of the leaves is about the same. Analyses of rain-
water in Mauritius have shown that this contains an amount
of sulphuric acid that serves to supply over 50 tb. of sulphuric
acid-—equivalent to more than four times as much sodium
sulphate—per acre; so that rain is a by no means unimportant
source of the sulphur required by the cane. Humus contains
a proportion of sulphur which becomes useful to plants by
being oxidized to sulphates, in which form it is absorbed.
The special usefulness of the element for plants is constituted
in the fact that it is necessary for the formation of the im-
portant nitrogenous bodies known as albuminoids.

In methods for estimating sulphur in soils which entail
the use of concentrated nitric acid as a first step, the presence
of iron and aluminium in high proportions is sufficient to
prevent the sulphur compounds from being completely dissol-
ved, so that they are not detected subsequently. When
hydrochloric acid is used, the preliminary solution is more
efficient, owing to the greater solubility of iron and alumin-
ium in that acid. That this condition obtains in practice
was shown by extracting a sample of soil with nitric acid,
and then treating the insoluble residue with hydrochloric acid,
when in all cases it was demonstrated that the employment
of nitric acid had not been sufficient for the solution of the
sulphur. Further, calcination always gave still higher figures
for the sulphur content of the soil, because it causes the
oxidation of the organic sulphur that is present and, in addi-
tion, assists in the dissolving action of the acids that are
employed subsequently. There are losses, however, even
when calcination is used, for the carbon present causes reduc-
tion to sulphides, which are diiven off by heat, and the high
temperature is also sufficient to cause volatilization of the
sulphur contained in some of the organic matter in the soil,
before this can become oxidized, and fixed. -

The researches of the author have led to.the adoption of
a method of determining sulphur in soils, in which the efti-
ciency of calcination is increased by mixing with potassium
nitrate the samples taken, before they are heated, so that
complete oxidation to sulphate is obtained. Cases have been
found, however, in which the use of potassium nitrate in this
way did not result in the detection of sulphur in greater
amounts than those given when it was not employed, and
these occurred chiefly in regard to examples that did not
possess a high humus content.

The advice finally given in regard to the.matter is that,
for the determination of sulphur in soils, calcination should
be carried out after the addition of potassium nitrate, and
that extraction of the calcined mass should be effected with

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 39

hydrochloric acid. Details are presented of the manipulation
required in the adoption of this method.

BENEFIT TO CROPS FROM GROWING
THEM WITH LEGUMES.

Work has been done recently at the Agricultural
Experiment Station of the College of Agriculture,
Cornell University, for the purpose of ascertaining, on
a practical scale, if the growing of leguminous crops
with other plants results in any benefit to the latter,
besides that arising from the addition of nitrogen that
legumes are able to effect with the aid of the nodule
organisms in the roots. A positive answer to the ques-
tion appears to have been obtained, and this is expressed
in the following way, in a summary to Bulletin No. 294
of the Station, dealing with the work :-—

Timothy grown with alfalfa contained a greater percent-
age of protein than did timothy grown alone. The same was
true of timothy grown with red clover.

Oats grown with peas had a higher protein content than
oats grown alone. The yield of the mixed oats and peas,
when cut for hay, was considerably greater than the yield of
oats alone.

The increased value of the non-legume, due to its greater
nitrogen content, when grown with a legume, is of some
economic importance. A method for increasing the protein
content of certain forage crops by growing them with legumes
is thus suggested,

The increased supply of available nitrogen, which these
results indicate to be due to the presence of the legume, must
have a very important influence on the yield of the non-
legume on soils where nitrogen is the limiting factor in the
growth of the crop.

Soil on which alfalfa had grown for five years contained
more nitrates than did soil which had grown timothy for the
same length of time. Sections of these same plants kept bare
of vegetation for the summer gave similar results.

The rate of nitrification of ammonium sulphate was
greater in alfalfa soil than in timothy soil, thus indicating
an influence of the plant on the conditions favouring nitrifi-
cation. The higher protein content of non-legumes growing
with legumes than of the non-legumes growing alone is
probably due to the more active nitrification caused by the
presence of the legume.

The nitrifying power of a soil which grew alfalfa for five
years and which was then kept bare of vegetation for a sum-
mer was greater than that of adjacent plots on which
timothy had been grown for the same length of time, and
which was likewise kept bare for a summer. This indicates
a benefit arising frem the influence of the legume on thie
rate at which nitrification goes on in the soil even after the
crop has been removed.

Alfalfa grown on soil in need of lime contained a higher
percentage of protein when lime was added to the soil than
when none was added. The weed Hrigeron annuus growing
with the alfalfa possessed a higher protein content when
grown on the limed soil. Ammonium sulphate, when added
to the limed and to the unlimed soil, nitrified more rapidly
in the former.

The greater protein content of a non-legume when growa
with a legume on a soil containing sufficient lime, as com-
pared with one deficient in lime, is apparently due to the
more abundant formation of nitrates under these conditions.-

40 THE AGRICULTURAL

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
mmissioner, 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.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial of the present issue deals with the
subject of Mendelism in Relation te Seedling Sugar-
canes. While pointing out the usefulness of the
present method of seedling cane production, it empha-
sizes the fact that any work on strictly Mendelian lines
shonld be carried ont at a few carefully chosen special
centres.

An article on page 35 gives information concerning
many of the uses to which eucalyptus oil is put.

‘Two articles appear under the heading Live Stock,
on page 37, entitled Jibbing in Horses and Some Notes
on the Mule.

Methods of determining the quantity of sulphur
in soils receive attention in an abstract that is pre-
sented on page 39. The work described shows that the
ordinary methods for finding the proportion of sulphur
in soils are likely to give results that are too low, and
suggestions are made for obtaining greater accuracy.

The Insect Notes, on page 42, present articles
dealing with The Melon or Cotton Aphis and The
Nature of the Light Emitted by Fire-flies.

The Students’ Corner continues the presentation
of the questions that were set for the examinations
recently conducted in connexion with the Courses of
Reading of the Department. The matter will be con-
cluded in the next issue of the Agricultural News.

The Soft Rot of Ginger in Bengal forms the sub-
ject of the Fungus Notes, on page 46.

NEWS.

Frsrguary 3, 1912.

Antigua: A Handbook of General Information.

This has been prepared by Mr, H. A. Tempany,
B.Se., F.LC., F.C.S., Government Analyst and Superin-
tendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands. ‘The
beokl t contains forty-nine pages, dealing with the
following matters: a general account and history of
Antigna; information concerning the physical, geologi-
eal, scenic, and meteorological features of the island;
accounts dealing with the population, principal towns.
Government, revenue and expenditure, and industrial
conditions of the Colony. ‘This is followed by informa-
tion treating in a broad manner of the sugar and
cotton industries, and of others of agricultural note. The
handbook concludes with details concerning the natural
resources of Antigua, and of its trade, together with
information under the headings: education, ecclesiasti-
cal, judicial, medical, water-supply, roads, labour, and
stock, concluding with matters relating to municipal,
commercial and social affairs, and to the Department
of Agriculture.

The handbook has been produced in a useful form,
with attractive type, and the inclusion of several very
good illustrations adds to its interest.

a

Agricultural Possibilities in Honduras.

The following information with regard to the agri-
cultural possibilities in Honduras and the crops already
grown is taken trom articles in The Pan-American
Union, pp. 993-1005, June 1911, and The Stateman’s
Yeur-Bool:, 1911, p. 948, abstracted in the Bulletin of
the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant
Diseases, July 1911, p. 1581.

In the centre of the country is a large and
fertile valley 42 miles from north to south and 24
miles from east to west, said to have an elevation
of 1,900 feet. Very little of this land is cultiva-
ted at the present time, though there are occasional
fields on the hill-sides where native products are raised.
With the aid of modern methods of agriculture, the
soil of this district might be induced to yield valuable
crops.

The most important products at the present time
are bananas, cottee and cocoa-nuts, the first- and last-
mentioned being grown along the Atlantic Coast.
Rubber is produced in slowly-increasing quantities;
while sarsvparilla, vanilla, tobacco, maize (for local con-
sumption), oranges, lemons and beans are also grown,
with indigo, rice and wheat in small quantities. Cacao
receives very little attention, though it could be raised
on a large scale and would form a valuable addition to
the other products. Sugar-cane is also cultivated fair-
ly extensively, and manufactured into a native rum, or
Guaro: the manufacture is a Government monopoly.
The country contains a large variety of trees, of which
mahogany and cedar are exported, and it is also rich
in medicinal plants.

Cattle-breeding is carried on extensively, and
about 150,400 acres are under pasture. Cattle and hides
are valuable items on the export list. In addition, dairy
farming is conducted on a small scale. though the chief
product, cheese, is of an inferior quality, and prepared
by grude methods.

Vor, XI, No. 255,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 41

Agricultural Pupils at the Dominica Botanic
Station.

Information has been received from: Mr. J. Jones
Curator of the Botanic Station, Dominica, that, after
notices appearing in the Oficial Gazette and the local
press, nine applications were received at: the Botanic
Station for three vacancies, as pupils under the new
scheme of agricultural instruction (see Agricultural
News, Vol. X, p. 242). On January 3, seven of the
applicants presented themselves for examinatior, and
as a result of this the four following have been selected
as pupils on probation: F. J. Lawrence, La Plaine
(75 per cent.); S. J. Jules, Soufriére, and Y. J. Laronde
La Plaine (70 per cent. each); E. Joseph, Dublane
(65 per cent.)

——

Spraying to Kill Weeds.

Attention is drawn, in Circular No. 102 of the
Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, to the obvious
fact that in spraying for killing weeds the sub-
stances used must be such as will destroy the weeds
without causing injury to the crop that is being grown.
A useful circumstance in connexion with the matter is
that it has been found that the sprays used for weed
destruction injure nearly all crops and weeds possess-
ing broad leaves, while all weeds with narrow leaves
are most likely to escape injury. It follows from this
that such plants as alfalfa and soy bean will be killed
by the substances which destroy broad-leaved weeds,
while sedges and various grass weeds will not be destroy-
ed by spraying with solutions that are not injurious to
the grasses and cereal crops. The matter is briefly sum-
marised by saying that, in Ohio, weed sprays, when
properly adayted, should be available for the destrue-
tson of the larger portion of the pasture and grain
field-infesting weeds, when the methods are rightly and
economically developed.

Among the spray solutions tested, the following
have been found most useful :—

Common salt solution, containing 3 th. of salt to
the gallon of water, applied at the rate of 50 to 75
gallons per acre.

Iron sulphate (copperas) solution, containing ?- to
2 tb. of iron sulphate to the gallon of water; that is
100 tb. of iron sulphate to 52 gallons of water. This is

» employed at the rate of 50 to 75 gallons per acre.

Calcium chloride solution of the same strength as
the salt solution, and used at the same rate.

Sodium arsenite solution, at a strength of 14 tb.
of sodium arsenite to 50 gallons of water. |

Copper sulphate (blue vitriol) solution at a strength
of 8 to 10 tb. in 50 gallons of water; this is applied at
the rate of 40 to 50 gallons per acre.

In commenting on these solutions, the circular
points out, among other matters, that sodium arsenite
is a very active poison and rather dangerous to use,
and that the tests have shown that calcium chloride is
very effective, but appears to be slightly inferior to
common salt. . V5

In dealing with the application of weed sprays, the

circular states: ‘The chemical solutions used as sprays
to kill weeds should be applied, as all other sprays, by
means of suitable spray nozzles, which deposit the so-
lution as a fine mist upon the surface of the leaves of
the plant. One can use almost any good spray pump
which will give good pressure, and direct the spray
nozzles after the manner used in orchards and vine-
yards, or the traction potato sprayers can be so adjusted
as to spray the whole area, instead of the row spaces
only, thus applying the spray more satisfactorily.’

—_————— ES

Oil from Tobacco Seed.

A note in the Journal d Agriculture Tropicale
for November 1911 states that the suggestion is being
made in the United States of America that tobacco
shall be cultivated with the object of obtaining seed
for the production of oil. The oil content of the seed
is about 15 per cent. of its weight; its quality is very
good and it is easily obtained. In its production, after
being bruised, the seeds are mixed with a certain quan-
tity of warm water, and the paste made in this way is
submitted to great pressure. The oil thus expressed
is obtained mixed with impurities, and in order to
eliminate albuminoid matters by coagulation it is
heated gently, when these matters sink to the bottom,
the pure oil being left floating above them.

The growing importance of drying oils renders the
subject of great interest, especially where the seed may
be utilized as a by-product in the production of leaf.
It remains to be seen, however, if the growing of tobacco
for its leaves has any effect on the oil content of the
seeds.

The Absorption of Fat in Relation to Water-
Drinking.

An abstract is made, in the Experiment Station
Record, Vol. XXV, p. 268, of a paper dealing with
recent work that has been conducted for the purpose
of ascertaining the effect of copious and moderate
water-drinking with meals on the absorption of fat by
the human body.

The experiments were made with subjects placed
on a uniform diet, small amounts of water being taken
for the first and last periods of the experiment, the
quantities in the intermediate time being large.

With the large amounts of water, the quantity of
fat absorbed into the system increased; there was
a reduction in the proportion when the amount of water
allowed was halved.

The better digestion and absorption of fat, when
large quantities of water were drunk are attributed to
any or all of the following causes: (1) increased secre-
tion of gastric Juice and of pancreatic juice; (2) increas-
ed acidity of the contents of the small intestine, which
brings about a greater secretion of pancreatic juice
and bile; (3) an increase in peristaltic action; (4) greater
blood pressure, due to rapidly absorbed water; (5) greater
ease in the breaking up of the fat, on account of the
presence of large amounts of water.

42 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT NOTES.

——

THE MELON OR COTTON APHIS.

The University of Nebraska has recently issued a Press
Bulletin (No. 34; June 1911) entitled The Control of the
Melon Aphis (Aphis gossypii, Glover). The following is an
abstract of that bulletin, but as this insect is known in the
West Indies on account of its attacks on the cotton plant
rather than on account of its importance as a pest of melons,
these notes are given a heading which indicates that fact.

The nielon aphis is the most serious pest of melons and
cucumbers in many localities in the United States where
these crops are largely grown. It is recorded as badly’affect-
ing cotton in the Southern States, Mexico, Brazil, South
Africa and Australia, and is probably of tropical origin.

rNsuRY. The loss of crops in Nebraska alone from the
melon aphis aggregates thousands of dollars annually.

This insect possesses sucking mouth parts, by means of
which it punctures the plant tissues and sucks out the sap.
It occurs most generally on the under side of the leaves, which
assume a wrinkled and distorted appearance. The melon aphis
is capable of remarkably rapid reproduction, and the feeding
of the enormous numbers of individuals quickly results in the
death of the leaves, and eventually of the plants.

Aphids secrete a sweetish, sticky substance, known as
honey-dew, which forms a coating on the under side of the
leaves. The cast skins of the insects are held by the honey-
dew, and this results in an appearance which is characteristic
of the attacks of aphids. In the Wect Indies this honey-dew
supports the fungus growth known as black blight.

LIFE-HIsToRY. The life-history of the melon aphis is not
yet known in all its details. In Nebraska, the first aphids to
appear on melons and cucumbers are seen in June; they are
winged females, which have probably flown into the fields from
weeds on which they have spent the winter. Cool, rainy
weather during the spring seems to be especially favourable to
the rapid multiplication of these insects. The over-wintered
females give birth to six to twelve young per day for some
time. The young grow rapidly, and in about eight days become
wingless adults capable of producing another generation of
young ‘The adult insect is a soft bodied, sluggish plant
louse from =4,- to 73-inch in length: the wing expanse of the
winged forms is from 1- to }-inch.

The colour of this insect is variable, the individuals of
any colony often range from a uniform pale green through all
degrees of mottling to a pale yellow or almost black.

conTRoL. The melon aphis is attacked by a large
number of natural enemies, including internal hymenopterous
parasites and several kinds of predaceous insects such as
lady bird beetles and their larvae, and the larvae of Syrphus
flies and lace-wing flies.

Artificial control includes the processes of spraying and
fumigating. In spraying, the under surface of the leaves
must be reached by the spray fluid. For this purpose,
a nozzle extension with a bend near the end to which the
Vermorel nozzle is attached may be made from a short length
of gas pipe. The leaves of melons and cucumbers are tender,
and much force must not be used in applying the spray as
they may Le injired.

Frsecary 8, 1912.

Kerosene’ emulsion and other strong, oily washes are
not recommended for use on these plants, since they often
injure the leaves A mixture of soap and tobacco is prepared
by dissolving 13 tb. of soap in 2 quarts of water and adding an
equal amount of strong tobacco decoction. This is diluted at
the rate of 1 part to 4 parts of water. A commercial product
of tobacco known as Black Leaf Extract is very useful for
this purpose. It is diluted at the rate of 1 part to 50 of
water, and at this strength is effective against the aphis, and
does not injure the tender leaves

Fumigation with carbon bisulphide is useful in dealing
with a limited number of plants. A tight tub, bucket, box
etc. inverted over the plants makes a satisfactory fumigating
chamber in which carbon bisulphide at the rate of 1 teaspoon-
ful per cubic foot of enclosed space may be evaporated.
This treatment will kill the aphis and not injure the plants.
For use on a large scale, cages or tents are recommended.
These are 46 feet in area and about 8 inches to | foot in
height, made of light wooden frames covered with cloth
which may be oiled to render it more impervious, although
good results are obtained even when the oiling is omitted.
The enclosed. plants are fumigated for fifteen minutes, by
means of a commercial tobacco fumigant such as ‘ To-bak-ine’
‘ Nico-fume ’. é

Clean culture is strongly recommended as a means of
reducing the numbers of this pest. All old vines should be
collected and burned as soon as the crop is harvested, and all
weeds in the fields and vicinity should also be destroyed,
since these harbour the aphis during winter.

TRE NATURE OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
BY FIRE-FLIES.

The nature of the light emitted by fire-flies has been the
subject of speculation for many years, and it has generally
been described as phosphorescent, An article in Vature for
November 23, 1911, from which the following notes are ab-
stracted, gives results of experiments in testing the light given
by fire-flies, by means of photographic plates.

The investigators who carried out the experiments, state
that they observed the beautiful green fluorescence of the light
emitted by an insect of the genus Luciola, of the family
Malacodermidae, and were led to enquire whether the light
was of the nature of the X-rays produced in the Crookes tube.

An enquiry was instituted to see how this light affected
photographic plates, especially when media of several sorts
were interposed between the plates and the source of light. The
media tried were wood, dark-brown leather, flesh (mutton) and
black paper. After several trials, it was found that the plates
were atfected.after exposure for two hours through flesh and
black paper, and three hours through leather and wood.

The trials showed further that, as far as its effect on
photegraphic plates is concerned, insect light is similar in
intensity to lamplight, but it also has the important charac-
teristic that this intensity is not varied, even when objects
opaque to ordinary light are interposed between the insect
and the plate. This light is intercepted by glass, in which
respect also it differs from ordinary light.

It is concluded that the light of the fire-fly experimented
with is not phosphorescent. It may, on the other hand, be
premature to conclude that the light rays emitted by the
insect are the same as X-rays, but it may safely be asserted
that they are similar to the X-rays and the ultra violet light,
in that they render certain opaque media transparent, and
are intercepted by glass.

Vor. XI. No. 255.

AGRICULTURE IN BOLIVIA.

The following information respecting the cultivation of
coffee, cacao, and the sugar-cane in Bolivia has been extracted
by the British Vice-Consul at La Paz from the Boletin de la
Officina Nacional de Estadistica:—

The most fertile region of the Republic of Bolivia is the
north-east and the north-west, including a great part of the
Department of La Paz, some portion of Chuquisaca and the
Department of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and the Beni. This
region includes the mountainous zone and also that of the
plains. In the mountainous zone, cut by deep valleys, the
perpetual snow line is at 5,000 metres. The region between
2,500 and 5,000 metres in height is called the ‘ puna’, and
preduces very little. Valleys are met with between 1,600
and 2,500 metres high, and the Yungas, that is, the slopes of
the Cordillera Real where the tributary rivers of the Amazon
spring forth, lies between 800 and 1,600 metres high. In the
valleys and in the Yungas, coffee, cacao, and the sugar-cane
are cultivated

The centre of coffee cultivation is the Yungas provinces of
the La Paz Department, and the coffee grown there is gener-
ally considered to be the best in quality. The province of
Apolobamba of the same Department, and the provinces of
Sara, Velasca, Chiquitos, and the Cordillera, of the Depart-

_ment of Santo Cruz, produce a good second-class coffee. The
product is also cultivated in the Department of Chuquisaca,
but ona very small scale. The production of the Yungas
provinces of La Paz, which is relatively small at present,
could be considerably increased, but the cultivation of cacao
appears to be more in favour with the agriculturists of this
region. Coffee is exported, Chile and the Argentine being
the principal countries of destination.

The production of cacao is much less than that of coffee.
It is chiefly cultivated in the Department of Santa Cruz,
although even there conditions are such that the production
could be increased. The best quality of cacao is that grown
in the province of Apolobamba in the Departnent of La Paz.
This cacao is much appreciated by local connoisseurs, and is
known under the name of ‘Pepita de Misiones’ or ‘Cocoa of
Cavinas’, from the Franciscan Mission, no longer existing,
where it was cultivated. From this spot, which was on the
left bank of the navigable rivier Madidi, all the region be-
came abundantly supplied with cacao plants, some widely
disseminated and others in large groups, which continue up
to the banks of the river Madre de Dios. Being so widely
spread and in such vast quantities, it is in thought that the
production of cacao is one of the most promising future
industries of Bolivia.

The cultivation of the sugar-cane is carried on in the
Department of Santa Cruz, where abundant* quantities are
produced, principally in the provinces of Velasco, Chiquitos,
Cordillera, and Vallegrande. Only a part of this production
is used in the manufacture of sugar, which, notwithstanding
its good quality, cannot compete with foreign imported sugar
in other parts of the country, as it is ‘handicapped too
severely by the cost of transport in the interior of the
Republic.

The sugar-cane is also cultivated to a certain extent in
the province of Azero of the Department of Chuquisaca, the
Yungas of the La Paz Department, and in the provinces of
Mizque, Totora, and Chaparé of the Department of Cocha-
bamba. All this production is employed in the manufacture
of spirits and molasses. (From The Board of Trade Jour-
nal, November 23, 1911, p. 380.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 43

TH# THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE.

As has been stated already, the British section of the
International Association of Tropical Agriculture and Colonial
Development, founded at the close of the first International
Congress of Tropical Agriculture held in Paris in 1905, will
be responsible for the organization of the third Congress to
be held in London in May 1913, and Professor Wyndham
Dunstan, L.L.D., F.R.S., ete., the President, and Dr. Henry,
the Secretary of the British Section, and others, are already
at work making the necessary arrangenienfs. The Association
has its headquarters in Paris, and is governed by an Inter-
national Board, from which an Executive Committee of five
to seven administrators is selected.

The work is mainly devoted tc promoting investigations
into questions of special importance to tropical agriculture, to
publishing the results of these enquiries, and to organizing
International Congresses for the discussion of the problems
of Tropical Agriculture and Colonial Development. Two
Congresses have been held already, and, as is stated above,
it is proposed to hold the third Congress in London in May
1913.

Subscriptions for joining the British Section, £1 per
annum, payable on January 1, of each year, may be paid by
crossed cheque cr money order, to the order of the Secretary,
International Association of Tropical Agriculture and Colon-
ial Development, British Section, and, in the case of money
orders should be drawn on the General Post Office, London.
Letters and subscriptions should be addressed to: The Secre-
tary, British Section, International Association of Tropical
Agriculture and Colonial Development, Imperial Institute,
London, S.W. a

Members of the British Section will. have the privilege
of taking part in the London Congress without further spec-
ial payment. They will also receive all the publications of
the International Association. In addition, the quarterly
Bulletin of the Imperial Institute will be issued to them free
of charge. A reading and writing room will be reserved at
the Imperial Institute for the use of members of the Section
when in London, and members will also be entitled to make
use of the General Library and Reading Rooms of the Imper-
ial Institute. (From 7ropical Life, December 1911.)

TRADE OF SIERRA LEONE, 1910.

Exports are valued, for statistical purposes, at their
initial cost, plus all charges incurred up to actual shipment
on board the exporting vessel, but exclusive of the expenses
of conveyance to the port of destination.

The total exports for the year under review amounted
to £1,249, 367, including specie £199,350, showing an increase
of £267,901 over the value of the exports for the previous

ear.
; This is the first time on record that the value of the
exports of the Colony has reached a million sterling.

The principal items contributing to the increase are:
ginger, kola nuts, palm kernels, and specie; while palm oil.
and, as is to be expected, rice, show a decrease.

The value of the produce and manufactures of the Colony
increased from £529,849, in 1908, to £759,917 in 1909 and
£967,625 in 1910, respectively. (From Colonial Reports—
Annual, No. 694, p. 12.) sé

44 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fesruary 3, 1912.

om
Ze

GLEANINGS.

Information has been received from Mr. R. F. Parkinson,
Honorary Secretary of the Barbados Goat Society, that the
first prize of $10, offered by the Commissioner of Agriculture
in Class III at the Society's Show on December 13, was won
by his goat Chamy.

A report by H. M. Minister at Panama shows that the
exports from the Republic in 1910 reached £364,059; in
1909 and 1908 they were £300,495 and £351,427, respec-
tively. In 1910 the value of the bananas exported was
£189,456, and that of rubber £35,127.

The Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad
and Tobago for December 1911, gives the exports of cacao
from Trinidad during that month as 3,293,651 tb. It is also
shown that the total export of cacao from Trinidad for last
year was 46,790,353 Ib., as compared with 57,839,074 Ib. in
1910, and 51,575,109 tb. in 1909.

The Board of Trade Journal for November 16, 1911,
gives information showing that, up to September 21, 1911,
the exports of rice from Saigon, Indo-China, had reached
about 600,000 tons, and that about 40,000 tons remained
to be shipped on existing contracts. Further shipments than
this are prohibited, on account of the scarcity of rice in the
country.

The Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence
and of Plant Diseases for March 1911 gives an account of
experiments for the purpose of comparing the results from
the inoculation of soil with nitro-bacterine, with nitragin,
and with naturally inoculated soil. Both in a former series,
and in the trials under review, the best results were obtained
from the use of naturally inoculated soil.

According to the Textile Mercury, for November 1911,
the cotton crop of Acapulco, Mexico, in 1910, amounted to
1,830,831 tb. It was smaller than that of the preceding years,
largely on account of the substitution of sesame for cotton in
the section. The production of cotton has decreased for some
years. The raising of sesame seed on a commercial scale
commenced about fifteen years ago.

The British Acting Vice-Consul at Yokohoma reports,
under date November 15, that the loofah crop of Japan this
year amounts to 20,000,000 pieces, as compared with an esti-
mated total last year of 13,000,000 pieces. A stock of
2,000,000 pieces remains over from last year. Owing partly
to increased production and partly to the bad quality of the
loofas grown, the prices, so far, are considerably lower than
those paid last year. , The market cannot yet be regarded as
being in anything like a settled condition.
Tvade Journal, December 28, 1911.)

(The Board of

The exports of copra from the Philippine Islands amount
to more than one quarter of the total production in the
islands. In 1910, they were 115,500 tons; of this. quan-
tity. the United Kingdom took 4,000 tons, France 75,000
and other European countries 32,000 tons. There is
a steady increase in the demand, and the high prices obtain-
able are encouraging the natives to give more attention to
the production of copra in the Philippines.

Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4788 Annual
Series, dealing with tle trade and shipping of Cartagena
during 1910, shows that the chief exports to the United
States were as follows: coffee 5,566 tons, value £161,445;
lumber 4,934 tons, valued at £19,781; ivory nuts 2,102 tons,
valued at £36,891; sugar 1,221 tons, valued at £14,610;
hides 1,092 tons, valued at £89,393; rubber 230 tons, valued
at £63,389; cocoa-nuts 983 tons, value £6,356. ;

A report of a tour made by the Chief Forestry Officer,
Uganda, for the purpose of inspecting the principal estates
in the Chagwe District is contained in the Official Gazette
for November 30, 1911. The Inspector expresses himself as
having been favourably impressed with the growth of Hevea
brasiliensis on most of the estates, saying that this compares
very favourably with the development attained by the tree in
the Federated Malay States. He utters a warning, however,
against the practice of interplanting; such crops as Ceara rub
ber, coffee, cacao and chillies having been employed in this
connexion.

The Ceylon Administration Reports, 1910-11, Part IV,
contains information concerning school gardens, given by the
Superintendent. According to this, the number of school
gardens in the island has increased from 224, in the previous
year, to 246. It seems that some of the best progress is being
made in the Tamil districts, where the schoolboys are described
as born agriculturists. Regret is expressed that, generally,
sufficient emphasis has not been placed on the educational
value of the gardens, in the past; but it is intended that defi-
nite arrangements shall be adopted for: ‘bringing the garden
into closer touch with the routine work of the school.’

In the Scotsman for December 26, 1911, it is stated that
H. M. Legation at Copenhagen reports that a discussion has
been taking place in the Danish press as to the future of the
Islands of St. Thomas’ and’St. Croix, in connexion with the
Panama Canal. The statement is further made that a light-
house is to be erected on the north-west point of St. Croix,
and that a thorough survey is being made of the waters
round St. Thomas, while the harbour is being deepened to
30-32 feet in places where a greater depth is necessary.
The need is expressed for the acquirement of an adequate
floating dock, a wireless telegraph station and ample repairing
facilities for ships and engines.

Information has been obtained by the Board of Trade,
from H. M. Trade Commissioner for Australia, concerning
the production of ramie fibre in the States where it is grown,
namely New South Wales and Queersland, the details having
been furnished in the first instance by the Agricultural
Departments of those States. In the first mentioned State
the crop has only been raised on an experimental scale, not-
withstanding the fact that the Commonwealth Government
encourages fibre-growing by granting a bonus of 10 to 20
per cent. on its market value. The growing of ramie has
existed in (Jueensland for several years, but not to any
extent, chiefly because of the fact that no satisfactory method’
of decortication, where labour is dear, has been devised.

Vor. XI; No. .255,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 45

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The following is the continuation of the questions set
in the recent examinations, held in connexion with the
Courses of Reading of the Department, the first having ap-

peared in the last number of the Agricultural News. They

will be completed in the next number of this journal.

INTERMEDIATE EXaMINATION.—(Concluded.)
SPECIAL CROP SUBJECTS.—(Continued.)

Cacao.

(1) Give an account of the precautions to be taken in
connection with the pruning of cacao trees. (2) Write
a description of the disease known as the black rot of cacao
pods. (3) What arrangements would you make on an estate
for grafting cacao, and at what time of the year is it best for
this to be done? (4) Give particulars of a method of drain-
ing cacao land, under conditions with which you are familiar.
(5) Provide a list of insect pests of cacao that you have obser-
ved, and supply a description of the life history of any one of
them. (6) Describe the proper treatment of young cacao
plants, in anursery. (7) To what processes are cacao ‘ beans’
subjected after removal from the ‘pods’ and what are the
reasons for the various stages of these processes? (8) Give
an account of any good system for the manuring of cacao.

Limes.

(1) Write an account of methods that are suggested for
the control of scale insects on lime trees. (2) Describe the
manner in which lime plants are raised from seed. (3) Give
shortly your experience of any method of lime-erushing that
you have seen employed. (4) How is concentrated lime juice
manufactured, and how is the proper degree of concentration
ascertained? (5) State any precautions that should be obser-
ved in the harvesting of limes for shipment. (6) Give an
account of any good system of manuring lime trees. (7) Write
a description of a» method of laying out a lime planta-
tion. (8) Give particulars of the more general properties of
either essential oil of limes or citrate of lime, stating the use
in commerce of the one with which you deal. »

Cotton. a

(1) Make an examination of the sample of seed cotton
provided, and express the results of the gxamination in
tabularform, (2) Write a general account of any manurial

. experiments with cotton with which you may be acquainted,
stating broadly their results. (3) Give particulars of the
methods of control that are adopted for leaf-blister mite.
(4) State the purposes for which the cotton seed produced
on estates may be utilized. (5) Give an account of a method
of cotton cultivation with which you have bad experience.
(6) Write a description of two fungus diseases of cotton that
you have observed. (7) Describe an example of the case of
the control of one insect by another which preys upon it, the

_ pest in this instance being one found on cottgn. (8) Discuss

the importance of the remoyal and destruction of old cotton
bushes, at the proper time.

Provision’ Crops. :

(1) Give an account with any experiment with a provi-
sion crop that you have observed, or of* which you have
studied the description, stating its object and apparent results.
(2) Write a description of the life-history of an insect pest
of ‘the sweet potato, suggésting -measures for its control;
(3) Give particulars concerning the planting, cultivation and
harvesting of a field of eddoes. (4) Describe the yam plant,
and give particulars of what you consider to be the best
method of cultivation for yams. (5) Supply an account of
any fungus disease of maize, and indicate the precautions
that should be taken in order to prevent its spread. (6) State
the best method of raising onions, undef conditions with
which you are familiar. (7) How would you conduct corn
selection on an estate, in order to obtain an improved product?
(8) What are the chief uses of provision crops, on an estate?

Fryat EXAMINatTIon.
GENERAL SUBJECTS.

A. PRODUCTION OF PLANTS. (1) Givea full account of
the manurial and cultural treatment required previous to,
and during, the growing of any crop with which you are
familiar, stating the reasons for the procedure at the ditferent
stages. (2) Taking any economic plant with which you
have had practical experience, discuss the means by which it
may be protected, as far as possible, from the introduction
and spread of insect pests, under estate conditions. (3) Write
an account of the life-history of a plant that is of com-
mercial importance, describing it carefully at the different
periods of growth.

B. PRODUCTION OF ANIMALS. (1) Give particulars as
to the feeding of any estate animal, under all the conditions
of life and use to which it is ordinarily subjeeted. (2) Write
an account of the means that you consider to be suited
best for the improvement of working stock, in your district.
(3) Give an account of any good type of working animal with
which you have had practical experience.

©. CONSTRUCTION ON ESTATES. Give a description, with
simple drawings, of the interior arrangements of any building
employed directly for agricultural production on an estate.
(2) What information can you give concerning methods for
the preservation of the timber in wooden buildings and posts,
under ordinary conditions in the West Indies. (3) Write an
account of any recent improvement, of which you possess
direct knowledge, in zegard to machinery;employed in con-
nexion with agricultural production.

D. ECONOMICS OF PLANTING. (1) Provide such infor-
mation as you can as to the way in which'the labour-supply,
on an estate, is arranged and managed so as to obtain the
best and most economical use of it. (2) Give particulars as
to the quantity and kind of agricultural implements required
for the work on any estate of ‘a stated size. (3) Supply
details as to the cost of packing, for export, any kind of
agricultural produce with which you are practically familiar,
indicating any circumstances, in connexion with this, that
you consider to be matters of false econonry.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

fhe Imperial Commissioner. of- Agriculture left
Barbados on January 15, 1912, by the R.MS. ‘ Area-
dian’, for Trinidad, in order to give attention to mat-
ters connected with the West Indian Agricultural
Conference commencing on January 23.

46 THE AGRICULTURAL

FUNGUS NOTES.

SOFT ROT O# GINGER IN BENGAL.

This disease affords a useful example of the damage that
may be inflicted by a soil saprophyte when it is able to func-
tion asa facultative parasite upon the underground portions of
living plants; at the same time, the account of its usual source
of origin and general effects shows how practical and purely
empirical methods of cultivation of a crop may be profoundly
influenced by the presence of a disease, of unknown cause,
whose proper treatment has not been fully elucidated. The
information concerning this disease is taken from an article
in the Agricultural Journal of India, Vol. V1, Part II, by
W. McRae, M.A., B.Sc, Supernumerary Mycologist to the
Government of India.

The soil most suitable for the cultivation of ginger is
a light sandy loam or a well drained loam. Usually, ground
is chosen that has remained fallow for three years or more,
and is in consequence generally over-run by grass. When the
crop has been harvested, the field is not again planted in
ginger for a period varying from three to ten years, five years
being acommon tzme. This long interval is said to be necessary
because the crop makes heavy demands on the food content
of the soil, and because it is liable to a disease when planted
more frequently in the same spot. Unoccupied land is
plentiful in that part of Bengal where ginger is grown, so
that there is no need for the rotation which other conditions
would render imperative.

In preparing it for this crop, the land is reduced to a very
fine state of tilth and a most efficient system of drainage is
employed, to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water,
since good drainage is one of the most essential requisites.
The ‘seed’ is planted out in March and by the middle of
August or September, the plants are about 14 feet high.
Then a disease attacks them, and causes the leaves to turn
yellow. Good cultivators recognize this disease and its in-
fectious nature, and pull up the yellow-leaved plants and
throw them into an ontof-the way corner. Removal con-
tinues until the end of September, after which time the
diseased plants are allowed to grow until late in Novem-
ber when they become partially mature. They are then
harvested and sold as spoiled ginger. The main, healthy,
portion of the crop is not taken up until January or
February.

‘The first outward indication of the disease in the
growing crop is a general but slight paleness of the leaves
of a shoot, then the tips of the leaves turn yellow
and this yellowing gradually spreads along the leaf to-

wards the leaf-sheath, often more rapidly along the
margins. Then the leaf tissue dies and becomes scar-

ious from the tip, the dead area gradually extending
towards the leaf-sheath, following in the wake of the yellow
discoloration. The leaves droop and hang down along the
stem, till finally the whole shoot becomes dry and withered.
Meanwhile the collar, that part of the aérial stem between
the place where it arises from the rhizome and where it
emerges from the ground, becomes of a pale, translucent
brown colour, and, by the time the leaves are well yellowed,
it is very watery and soft, so that the whole shoot can easily
be lifted off, breaking away at this point, though not falling
over spontaneously. This soft rot also extends beyond the
collar into the rhizome, The rotting is accelerated by the
combined action of other fungi, and of small eel-worms and

NEWS. FEBRUARY 3, OA

the larvae of flies, which act as secondary agents. Both the
discoloration and softening extend to the whole rhizome,
which gradually rots and disintegrates, forming a loose watery
mass of putrefying tissue, enclosed by the tough rind. The
vascular strands lie isolated inside. The roots attached to
the affected parts also present the same symptoms.’

The disease is attributed to a fungus, Pythiwm gracile,
found by Butler on ginger, in the Bombay Presidency, in 1902,
and also by McRae in Bengal in the case under consideration.
This forms zoosporangia on the outer surface of the substance
on which it lives, and oospores inside the substratum. The
latter arise from the fusion ef the contents of a male organ,
or antheridium, with those of a spherical femaie organ, known
as an oogonium. The fungus has been found to attack certain
green algae in Europe, and is also known to live as a sapro-
phyte on decaying humus in the soil. Both Butler and McRae
found that eelworms were also present on diseased rhizomes
of ginger, in many cases; but in early stages of the disease the
fungus alone occurred. No inoculation experiments have
been conducted, but in view of the regular occurrence of
Pythium gracile alone in early stages of the disease, there can
be little room for doubt that it is the cause.

In many cases, dissection of the plant shows that infec-
tion has come from the plant sets, and this seems to be the
method whereby the disease is usually introduced into the
growing crop. In some cases young buds below the ground,
or just above the surface, were found to be diseased, the
infected portion extending only for a very short distance.
A connexion was also traced between an affected shoot and
an adjacent bud below ground, that had been destroyed by
the disease.

‘It may be noted that the disease appears with the
advent of the rains and becomes epidemic only when the
rains have fairly well set in and the ground is wet. In damp
fields where the soil is stiff and retains water the attack is
always more severe, while on sandy loam the disease does not
usually reach an epidemic stage. When the rainy season is
about at a close, the removal of diseased plants (by the culti-
vators) ceases and any later attacked plants are allowed to
remain in the ground todo what they can before being finally
taken up and sold as inferior quality ginger. The cultivator
has learned by experience that, after the rainy season is over,
there is little tear of the disease spreading much.’ It may be
noted that this habit of leaving infected plants in the field,
and that of pulling off the tops of diseased plants earlier in
the season without taking steps to remove all the infected
rhizome as well, must be largely responsible for the general
occurrence of the disease in the district and for the necessity
of allowing the land to jie fallow for so longa period between
successive crops.

Experiment plots of ginger planted with four vurieties
obtained. from Jamaica, Cochin, Calicut and Bengal have
been maintained annually since 1905-6 at the Experimental
Farm near Rangpur. No ginger is grown in the immediate
neighbourhood. In 1907 all the plots were badly attacked
by disease, but subsequent methods of treatment have suc-
ceeded in eradicating it almost entirely, in that situation.
The remedial measures suggested for the general control of
the disease resulting from the experiments mentioned are as
follows :—

‘1. On harvesting the crop all the rhizomes should be
removed from the ground. Diseased ones ought never to be
left on the ground. They should be collected with as many of
the roots attached as possible and burned or buried deeply in
a place where ginger is not grown. The shoots of diseased
plants should also be gathered and burned.

Vout. XI. No. 255.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 47

‘2. Ginger should not be grown on the same land for at
least three years

‘3. The seed should be got from a place that is free
from disease. Great care should be taken to ensure that the
seed is healthy. Yet it is not always possible to recognize
by the naked eye alone the early stages of disease in a rhizome.
If any of the buds are bad, the whole piece should be suspect-
ed and discarded. “

‘4. Whenever disease occurs in a field, the affected
plants should be dug out whole with the larger roots attached
and should be destroyed by fire. It is not enough to pull
the shoot off by the collar. The rhizome must be got out
too. By breaking the shoots off at the collar or by detaching
the larger roots an opening is given for liberating the infec-
tion into the soil. Infected plants should never be thrown
down in the field to rot but removed to the edge of the field
and burned.

‘5. Water should never be allowed to lie or stagnate in
a ginger field. Air and water should be able to move freely
in the upper layers of soil, surrounding the tubers.’

AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA,
1910.

The area of land cultivated with crops for export is small
compared with the enormous areas under native food crops.
This is amply exemplified by the imports of food stuffs into
the country, the total value of which works out at about 1s.
per head of the population.

Cotton, cacao and maize are the three most important
crops exported.

corron. The cotton harvest has fluctuated considerably
during the last five years. The exports of cetton lint and
seed were 21,604 ewt. and 43,300 ewt., in 1910, as compared
with 43,686 ewt. and 90,971 ewt. in 1909.

The exports of cotton lint during 1910 were 16 per cent.
lower than the average export of this staple during the last
five years. ‘I'lis decrease is attributed by the native grower
to adverse climatic conditions in the shape of a deficient rain-
fall and strong harmattan winds. It is, however, considered
that the area of cotton planted was less than in the preceding
years. More than 400 tons of cotton seeds were distributed,
a quantity sufficient to plant about 36,500 acres of land.

cacao. The cacao industry shows steady improvement;
the exports of this product were 30 per cents greater than
those of the previous year.

The exports of cacao in 1910 amounted tq,6,567,181 hb.;
in 1909 they were 5,019,149 bb.

At present the exports are mainly supplied from the
Western Province, but the farmers in the Eastern Province
are being encouraged to take up cacao cultivation. During
1916, 1,112 cacao fruits were distributed to intending
planters.

MAIZE. Less maize was exported than during any of
the preceding four years. This decrease the farmers likewise
State was due to unfavourable weather obtaining during the
growing season. An enormous amount of damage was,
however, caused by weevils and other grain-eating insects.

Maize amounting to 5,096 tons was exported in 1910;
in the previous year the quantity was 10,163 tons.

RUBBER-TAPPING EXPERIMENTS. Tapping experiments
were conducted by the Agricultural Department on Para rub-
ber trees in three different districts, and on Ceara rubber trees
in two different districts. The trees forming the subject of
the investigations were Hevea brasiliensis and -Manihot Glaz-

vovi, and the best yields were usually obtained with the
former.

ENTOMOLOGY. The Entomologist was able to get a large
portion of his collection of insects named at the South Ken-
sington Museum and these will form the nucleus of the
collection it is proposed to maintain for reference purposes.

AGRICULTURAL SHOW, LAGOs. A most successful Agri-
cultural Show was held in Lagos during December, Sam-
ples of crops from all parts of the Colony and Protectorate
were entered for competition; the friendly rivalry thus engen-
dered must tend to encourage agricultural development.
(Information taken from Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 695,
p. 15.)

rs

RAT DESTRUCTION

The following information regarding this interest-
ing subject is contained in the Annual Report of the
Director of Agriculture, Cyprus, for 1910-11. Some of
the conclusions are similar to those given on page 139
of Vol. IX of the Agricultural News, in a review of
The Rat Problem, by W. R. Boelter.

The rat problem yet remains unsolved: Complaints are
general throughout the carob districts of the damage and loss
caused annually by these rodents, a loss which it is difficult
to estimate but which cannot be inconsiderable. The danger
of the indiscriminate use of the common rat poisons is obvious,
and limits the field of experiment to some three or four
special preparations which are now regarded elsewhere as the
most effective for use on a large scale. No preparation, how-
ever, no matter how excellent, would be employed by the
peasantry unless extremely cheap, and herein lies the greatest
difficulty of all. Danysz Virus, Ratin, bariam carbonate and
Tropical Ratin are all well known and are highly recommend-
ed by their respective supporters whether public bodies or
private individuals.

Danysz Virus is a bacteriological preparation of which
great things were expected, but the hopes raised do not appear
to have been entirely realized. Its virulence is said to be not
very stable, and its effect is therefore uncertain. While hav-
ing the advantage of being harmless to all but rats and mice,
it has the disadvantage that rats which survive the infection
of the virus are rendered immune.

Ratin is also a bacteriological preparation, highly recom-
mended by leading authorities. It has become the Danish
State remedy and is used by the German Government. This
Department has imported small quantities for experimental
purposes for the last three years, but so far it has not been
very successful. It has the drawback of not retaining its
strength beyond three months. After many fruitless enquir-
ies the Department succeeded last year in obtaining from
Munich a small packet of ‘Pain Baryté’, a preparation based
on barium carbonate. It is one of the most recent products
of science for the destruction of rats; but the reports to hand
of the trials made in the island are not very encouraging.
Tropical Ratin, being a poison, is thought to be too expensive
for field use.

A bacteriological preparation causing a fatal epidemic
among those creatures and harmléss to all others, at a price
within the reach of the villagers—if such can be found—is
the great desideratum, and the Department will continue to
experiment with those named and with any new preparations;
but there seems good reason for the belief that the most effec-
tive method, although the most expensive for the Govern-
ment, is that of offering a price per tail.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS

London.—TuHE

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

MARKET.» REPORTS.

West Inpi1a ComMMITTEE CIRCULAR,
January 2, 1912; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,

December 22, 1911.

AkROWROOT—3S4d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/4; block, 2/4 per fh.

Bezswax—&$7 5s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 60/- to 70/- per cwt.; Grenada, 53/-
to 57/6; Jamaica, 50/- to 56/-.

Correr—Jamaica, 73/6 to 82/6 per cwt.

Copra—West Indian, £25 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 14d. to 20d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Foustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 64/- per ewt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Hoxey—No quotation.

Linz Jurce—Kaw, 1/1 to 1/4; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£18 17s. 6d.; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/-.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Macre— Firm.

Normecs—Firm.

Pirento—Common, 2,%d.; fair, 28d.; good, 213d.; per Ib.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/34 fine soft, 4/14; Castilloa,
3/9 per tb.

Rumu—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 19/- to 21/9; Muscovado, 15/- to 17/6;
Syrup, 15/- to 16/6 per ewt.; Molasses, no quotations.

New York.—Messrs. Gituespre Bros. & Co., December

15, 1911

Cacao—Caracas, 124c. to 12}c.; Grenada, 12c. to 12}e ;
Trinidad, 12c. to 12sc. per tb.; Jamaica, 10c. to 12c,
Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $29:00 to $31-00; culls,
$1600 to $17:00; Trinidad, select, $29-00 to $31-00;

culls, $1600 to $17°00 per M.

CorrerE—Jamaica, 14jc. to l5c. per tb.

Grincer— Sc. to 9e. per fo.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 480,
to 52c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 46c. to 48c.
per lb

Gravr-Fruir—Jamaica, $2°50 to $300.

Limzs— $3°00 to $4:00.

Macr—0c. to 54c. per th.

Normecs—110’s, 125c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—227. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 42c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,

4ic.; Molasses, 89°, 42c. per It., all duty paid,

J

1912

Oacao—Venezuelan, $12°25 to $1250 per fanega; Trinidad,
$11°75 to $12°15.

Cocoa-NuT O1r—95c. per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, l6c. per tb.

Copra—$4°25 per 100 th.

Daat—$4:00 to $4°10.

Ontons—$2'75 to $3-00 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6'75 to $7:00 per bag.

Porators—English, $2°50 to $2°75 per 100 fh.

Sere eee $4:70 to $4°75; White, $5°75 to $6°00
per bag.

Scucar—American crushed, no quotations,

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncn & Co., January 13

Frsruary 3, 1912.

3

1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., January 15,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., January 5, 1912;
Messrs. E. THorne, Limited, December 5, 1911,
Cacao—811-00 to $12°50 per 100 th.
Corton SEED—$26°00 per ton.
Corton SEED O1t—50e. per wine gallon,
Corron Seep Cake Meat—$24-00 per ton, c.i.f., neigh-

bouring islands.

Hay—$1°5U to $2-00 per 100 tb.
Manvres—Nitrate of soda, $65:00 ; Cacao manure, $42:00
to $48-00; Sulphate of ammonia,

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$3°50 to $4:00 per 100 tb
Peas. Spritr—$6°75 to $7:00 per bag of 210 th; Canada,
2°75 to $4:10 per bag of 120 th.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $2°75 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°85 to $5°30 per 190 tt.;
quotations; Rangoon. no quotations.

75°00 to $8000

Patna, no

Sucar—American granulated, 36°00 per 100 th.

British Guiana.— Messrs. Wretine & Ricurer, January
6, 1912; Messrs. SanpDBACH, PARKER & Co,
December 8, 1911.

ARTICLES.

ARRoWROOT—St. Vincent

Barata— Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Oassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DHaL—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo tasses— Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte
Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Porators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Porators-Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TisbER—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTeErR.

$12°50 per 200 fr.

No quotation

70c. per tb.

lic. per tb.
72c.

$12 to $16 per M

_ 18c. per th.
18c. to 19c. per th.
13c. per tb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 Ib.
$300
$1-20
None
dc. to 6e.
$7°25 per bag
(210 tb.)
$325
20c. to 40c.
$325 to $490

31°68 per bag
No quotation

$500
$1°44
$2°88
$3°12
$3°2U
$380
$4°75 to $5:00
$2-90 to $310
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to 36:00

per M.
$180 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

$13-00 per 200 tb

Prohibited
70c.
11c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
18c. per tb.
20c.per th.
14c. per th.
$3°75 per bag of
168 th.

5c. to 6c.
$7-00 to $725 per
bag (210 tb.)
No quotation
$300
No quotation

$500 to $5 25

$320 to $3°25
$3°75

32c. to 55c. per
cub. four
$4 00 to $6-00_
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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The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
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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. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
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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 and
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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 appuinted Agents for the saie of tue publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutau & Co., 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School,
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Jamaica: Tue EpucationaL Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripGewater, Roseau.

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
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Grenada: ‘THE Srorgs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. Noge25p.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fresruary 3, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

2 A ae

Onlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guarno—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohiendorif’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

Ohiendorif’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohiendorif’s Special Cotton Manure

Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

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

Londo:

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Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.O.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

VAPORITE!
VAPORITE !!

AND

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE
OTHER ROOT PESTS.

PRICE TIWO(2) CENTS PER POUND.

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

FACTORY, LIMITED,
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JUST ISSUED,

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JUST ISSUED. —
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XI, No. 4.)

Containing an account of the fmperial Department of Agri-

cultme for the Wess Indies, presented under the following}

headings: The Imperial Departinent of Agriculture in the
West Indies; What Science has done for the West Indies;|
Chief Matters Concerning Departmental Administration
Matters of Indirect Interest; Entomology in the West Jndies;|
A Summary of Ten Years’ Mycological Work of the Imperial!
Department of Agriculture for the West Indies; The Werk!
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In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.

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(267)

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

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CONTENTS.
Introduction, Soil,
Varieties, Climate.
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting,
ald Budding Cultivation.
Tnarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. |
:
GERMAN KAL! WORKS, |

P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

_ Havana, Cuba.

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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST Ne:

LIBR

NEY

Vou. XI.

—

No. 256.

CONTENTS.

PAGE, PaGE.

Agricultural Conference, Insect Notes :—

LOS. Ti. ; A keer se) Formalin as a Poison for
Agricultural Pupils, “Dom- the House-Fly ... ... 58
inica, Half-Yearly Ex- The New Zealand Grass

amination ... ... ... 59 Grub datas 32. OO
Ammonium Salts, Utiliza- Mangoes, New, for the
tion of by Green Plants 57 West Indies... ... ... 52
Arsenic in Dipping Fluids, Sark Reports ... 64
Changes in... ... ... 57 Notes and Contests 56
Australian Salt Bushes as Nutrition, Necessity foi
Food for Stock ... 56 Phosphorus in ... ... 55
yas > 1 See i
Cacao Prize mention in Abs pers papper eae re 61
Primidad) Ps. 7 5. 53 $e es
MNaAvIoON OL «.2 ... «-» Ov
C: arom Mi anufacture in Aus- 5g Poisonous Subsets Gn
relia... at >). Nfeeb of Culti-
Citrus Fruit Handling and Eis) ites eet 63
Shipping in Florida ... 52 p eel idines GURBehie | .
11ze- Holdings Compett
Cotton Notes :— . tions in Grenada, 1911 56
British Cotton Growing | p ppher Gultivationin Para.
Association . Peg os Encouragement of 59
West Indian Cotton as. 04 dents? Coren 61
Department News 53 Sugar from Shre dded Cane 59
7 f So ~q Sugar Industry :
Exports from Dominica 9 The Java Sugar Crop... d1
Fungus Notes :— Tobacco in Ceylon, Experi-
Spots on Para Rubber ... 62 ments with ... 260
Gleanings ws ss es 60| West Indian Products ... 63
Goso Vine <.. <.. ... .-. 62!) Yaws, Treatmentor... ... 57

The West Indian Agricultural Conference,
1912.

Te
XI SHE eighth West Indian Agricultural Con-

ference was opened at the Victoria Institute,
AQ Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on January 23.1912,
by His Excellency the Governor, Sir George R. Le Hunt,
G.C.M.G. In his opening address, in welcoming the

BARBADOS, FEBRUARY

Price ld,

A gaa) ie

Delegates from England, from the West Indies, and
from British as well as from Dutch Guiana,
His Excellency referred to the personal pleasure afford-
ed him by the opportunity for renewing past acquaint-
anceships, and while regretting that the time of year

Guiana,

was not such as to show agricultural matters at their
best, in Trinidad, expressed the hope that the conditions
would be such as to afford the most favourable oppor-
tunities of viewing those matters. After reference to
occurrences of local interest,
were invited to take part,
for the success of the Conference,

upon the Commissioner of Agriculture, as President, to

in which the Delegates
and expression of his wishes
His Excellency called

deliver his address

In this address, a review of general matters, leading
up to the time of the Conference, was followed by a more
detailed account of the progress and state of the chief
industries in the West Indies, as well as of the various
schemes that are being carried out with a view to the
encouragement and improvement of agriculture. At the
conclusion of this section, Dr. Watts employed the suc-
ceeding portion of his address in reviewing the progress
that has been made in the last fifteen years, showing the
evolution that had taken place, previous to this period,
from the independently existing botanical and chemi-
cal lines of work to the association between the difter-
ent workers that had come into being, by 1897—the
year of the visit of the West India Royal Commission,
The subsequent Imperial recognition and support of
the work that was being done gave most useful encour-
agement, and led to very important results both as
regaras the widening of the sphere of agricultural
effort the extended diffusion of agricultural
knowledge.

and

Boran;
Gargny

50 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Fesruary h7, 1912,

Proceeding, the President referred to the danger
that exists, on the part of local agricultural organiza-
tions, that they may be led toa desire to emphasize
their importance and independence in the direetion of
bringing about their comparative isolation—a desire
that arises from the very circumstance that they have
been fostered successfully in the past. While admitting
the usefulness of such a tendency, in some directions,
Dr. Watts laid stress upon the necessity for the
existence of some counteracting influence for the pur-
pose of preveriting loss of efficiency and of ensuring
co-operation among agriculturists in different colonies.

The subjects of the address then dealt with the
latest phase in the relationships between agricultural
departments and those whom it is their function to
advise. This is the growth of large agricultural con-
cerns, commercial in nature, in which expert knowledge
regarding special matters passes beyond the scope
of agricultural departments. In regard to those
matters, such corporations will provide for them-
selves, while the agricultural departments will find
their chief work in the direction of making investiga-
tions for the control of pests and diseases and in show-
ing how the results of research may be applied in agri-
cultural practice.

In dealing with these and other similar matters,
Dr. Watts drew special attention to the circumstance
of the continued growth of the interests served by agri-
cultural departments and to the concomitant necessity
for change and adaptation to new conditions. He laid
stress, further, on the responsibility that attaches to
the Executive, where the Government is largely con-
cerned with the administration of such affairs, in the
proper direction of the changes that have to be made,
pointing out that: ‘the immediate assistance and
encouragement of agricultural affairs in their widest
sense have become prominent features in the Govern-
ment administration of the colonies; and that: ‘We
have now reached the period when the study of agri-
cultural needs and difticulties, and the encouragement
of efforts to open new lines of development, must be
regarded as constituting an object of care on the part
of Colonial Governments that is as legitimate for their
attention as the concerns of education, health and pub-
lic order.’

After a vote of thanks to His Excellency for open-
ing the Conference, and to Dr. Watts for his address,
had been proposed and seconded by His Honour
E. J. Cameron, Administrator of St. Lucia, and Pro-
fessor Carmody, Director of Agriculture, Trinidad and

‘Tobago, and after His Excellency had made suitable
acknowledgement, Dr. Watts took charge of the pro-
ceedings ofthe Conference, and called upon Professor
Carmody to read a paper cn Agricultural Progress in
Trinidad and Tobago. In this, it was explained first of
all that the, Trinidad Department of Agriculture was
constituted in November 1908, and in it are included :
(1) the Government Laboratory; (2) the St. Clair
Experiment Station, and the Botanic Gardens in Trini-
dad and Tobago ; (8) the Stock Farms in Trinidad and
Tobago; (4) the experiments at St. Augustine Estate;
(5) the experiments at the River Estate. The other
agricultural authorities in the island are the Board of
Agriculture, the Agricultural Society and the Perma-
nent Exhibition Committee, and the four institutions
control together a yearly expenditure of over £18,000.

The space that is at disposal does not admit of the
presentation of an abstract dealing with every part of
Professor Carmody’s interesting paper. It must suffice
to say that it included an account of agricultural pro-
gress in Trinidad, the present state of the chief agri-
cultural industries, the schemes of experimentation
followed by the Department, and the means of diffusion
of information, by publications or otherwise; it served
to show how closely the agricultural interests of the
colony are served by the Department. At the conclusion
of the paper, and after the making ofseveral necessary
Presidential announcements, the Conference stood
adjourned until the next morning.

Further editorial attention will be given to the
recent Agricultural Conference, in the next issue of the
Agricultural News.

Sakellaridis Cotton.—A new form of cotton has
recently been established in Egypt, which is known by the
name of the discoverer, M. Sakellaridis, who found the plant
about six years ago among a crop of Mitafifi on his estate at
Birket-el-Sab in the Gharbia Province. It is stated that this
cotton matures earlier than Mitafifi, and that it flourishes in
those districts in which Mitafifi is usually grown but which
are unsuitable for Yannovitch. The new variety was grown
in 1910 on a fairly large scale in several places in the Gharbia
and Sharguira Provinces.

A sample of Sakellaridis cotton has been forwarded to
the Imperial Institute by the Director-General of Agriculture
in Egypt, and has been examined with the following results.
The cotton was soft, silky, lustrous, cream-coloured with
a faintly reddish tinge, of good strength, and about 1:4 to 1°7
inches long. It was of excellent quality, being regarded by
experts as superior to the best Egyptian Yannovitch, and was
valued at 144d. per tb. (with ‘fine’ Yannovitch at 132d.
per tb.). The fibre was finer and more silky than that of
Yannovitch, and was slightly paler in colour. (Bulletin of
the Imperial Institute, Vol. IX, p. 288.)

Vor. XI, No. 256.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 51

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE JAVA SUGAR CROP.

An article in the International Sugar Journal for
Jannary 1912, by H. C. Prinsen Geerligs, states that,
although there has been no appreciable increase in the area
planted in cane, in Java, the production of sugar has reached
a record amount, being about 1} million metric tons, as far as
has been estimated at present. The large production was
partly due to the favourable meteorological conditions during
the year. These are enabled to produce their full results in
the season in which they occur, as all the sugar-cane in Java
is freshly planted each year, invariably in irrigated lands.
The existence of irrigation is effective in ensuring a crop, but
there is no doubt that conditions are greatly improved by
a good distribution of rain and sunshine. The rainy season
commenced early, lasted a long time, and kept the cane fresh
during the whole of the grinding season. There was only one
disadvantage, namely that the wet weather caused grinding
operations to be commenced later, and made them longer than
the usual 120 days. Java sugar was therefore comparatively
late in the market.

The total area under cane was 328,000 acres, and the
average output of sugar in the island, over the whole area,
was 4°51 tons per acre. In the results from the different
factories, the sugar extracted per cent. of cane varied
between the limits 8:12 and 12°24 Relating to this matter
the following statement is made: ‘It appears increasingly
probable that the extremely high returns obtained during the
last decade are a consequence of the steady propagation of
the new cane varieties obtained by cross-fertilization of
different cane types.’

Of the many new varieties only two, known as No. 100
and No. 247, appear to have been planted generally. The
former was raised at the Experiment Station, and is best
suited toa light soil; it ripens within a year after planting
and is soft and juicy, without much fibre, so that it does
not supply sufficient megass for working up its juice.
The characteristics of No. 247, which has been raised by
a young planter in the island, are almost opposite in
nature to those of No. 100. It is similar in that it
yields large crops; it grows best in a stiff soil and is
fittest for reaping after fourteen months. It can, how-
ever, stand over for a long time without losing’ its quality,
whereas No. 100 quickly deteriorates after maturity.

An interesting table is given which makes it evident
that the new seedling canes are greatly superior” to the old
Java cane, but this is not the sole cause of the greater return
for: ‘Although it appears that the variety of the cane accounts
for a great deal of the increase in output, this is not exclus-
ively due to the kind of cane; the steady improvements mm
the manuring of the land, the intensive tillage of the. soil,
and, in general, the care bestowed in the treatment of the
canes have also to be given their due credit. A review is
presented of the hearty state of co-operation that exists in

Java between the Experiment Stations and the sugar planters,
and it is stated that the Experiment Stations have been
established again, for a fresh term of five years, at an annual
expenditure of £33,000; in addition, a special branch has
been opened for the purpose of carrying on Mendelian experi-
ments with sugar-cane.

Investigations with mills have shown that the addition
of another mill to a treble crushing plant improves the extrac-
tion greatly, and increases the dryness of the megass from
the last mill to such an extent that its fuel value is greatly
enhanced; this result confirms the work of Deerr, of two
years ago. In extraction by a 14-roller mill (quadruple
crushing), the best way to carry out maceration is to apply
water to the megass coming from the first and second mills
and to bring all the last mill juice in contact with the megass
from the third one.

As has been shown already in the Agricultural News,
the production of white sugar in Java has greatly increased.
In 1900-1 the total amount of sugar imported into British
India from Java was 225,247 ewt., all of which was
raw sugar; while in the year 1910-11 it amounted to
8,798,715 ewt., and of this all was white sugar except
about 200,000 ewt. For the manufacture of white sugar,
at first, carbonatation was always used, but in 1902
sulphitation, by neutralizing over-tempered juice by a cur-
rent of sulphur dioxide, from a sulphur furnace, was
adopted. The differences between the two processes are
pointed out, namely that only part of the juice in sulphita-
tion is filtered, so that it gives a less limpid molasses, and
an inferior crystal as compared with that from carbonatation,
so that the final molasses of the latter can be reduced to a lower
quotient of purity; secondly that the sulphitation process
is more elastic: when raw sugar is obtaining good prices, sul-
phitation cain be dispensed with, whereas carbonatation must
continue; the probability of the existence of the third differ-
ence is expressed that it is imaginary: it consists in the state-
ment that the cost of carbonatation is about 4d. per ewt.
higher than that of sulphitation. It is lik» ly that the actual
greater cost is much lower than this, and the advantages of
working, in carbonatation, make it probable that all factories
producing white sugar will eventually adopt this method.
An account is given of a process in which sulphitation is
combined with carbonatation by sulphitating the clarified
juice to a proper degree of acidity just before it reaches the
evapcrators.

In Java, in making white sugar, it is usual to cure the
sugars twice, instead of washing the crystals in the centrifu-
gals in which they have been freed from the molasses. The
latter method entails the loss of already crystallized sugar,
which eventually finds its way into the molasses. In the
method of double spinning the sugars are cured, as far as pox
sible, in the first centrifugal, without the addition of water.
The next process is to mix the sugar completely with clairce, to
centrifugal it a second time, and wash and steam it until it
becomes completely white. The washings are used partly for
treating new lots of the coloured sugar, aud the excess is kept
out of the molasses by being returned t> the clarified juice
‘Careful investigations have shown that, when working in
the way just described, no further unaccountable loss is suffered
than in making raw sugar. The only requisite is a good size
of pan, ample cooling capacity, a sufficient number of centri-
fugals, and above all good technical knowledge, plenty of
skilled labour, thorough pan boilers, and an efficient control.
It is not sufticient to get good machinery, and a good pre-
scription for working, it is indispensable to have at the same
time the right men to work them.’

or
bo

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Frsruary 17, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

CITRUS FRUIT HANDLING AND SHIPPING
IN FLORIDA.

The investigations of citrus fruit handling and shipping
in Florida were continued during the season 1910-11 on
a broader and more comprehensive scale than has been possi-
ble in previous years. The lines of work included: (1) a com-
parison of fruit picked and handled carefully with ordinary
picking and handling, and a comprehensive study of the effect
of washing; (2) shipping experiments with carefully picked
and packed fruit, and fruit picked and packed in the ordinary
commercial way, part of each lot being packed and shipped as
soon as practicable after picking, and part being delayed
several days before packing and shipping; (3) inspection of
oranges in the fields and packing houses for the determination
of mechanically injured fruit and fruit with long stems, with
demonstrations of the effect of such injuries on the keeping
qualities of the fruit; (4) a determination of the percentages
of ‘stem-end’ decay in oranges shipped to Washington, and
the study of the occurrence of the stem-end rot under different
conditions, including shipping experiments with fruit from
sprayed and nonsprayed sections of experimental groves.

The washing experiments, which were carried on in
thirty-two packing houses, using thirteen different types of
washing machines, showed that an appreciable increase in the
decay was due to the washing treatment. The increase in the
decay was greater in fruit which had received ordinary com-
mercial handling than in the same type of fruit carefully
picked and handled. The results indicate that, where washing
is carried on, a chance for injury followed by decay occurs,
but that where this method of cleaning is necessary to place
the fruit in presentable condition, the decay due to the neces-
sary extra handling may be held at a minimum by care in
handling the fruit in picking and grading, and in manipu-
lating the washing machines.

Shipping experiments, including seventy-nine experi-
mental series shjpped from various points. in Florida to
Washington, D.C., showed 0°6 per cent. of decay in all care-
fully picked and packed fruit, while the fruit from the same
groves, given ordinary commercial picking aad packing, devel-
oped 7 per cent. decay from blue mould. The effect of care-
ful handling continued through a_three-weeks’ market
holding test, the ‘carefully handled fruit after this length of
time showing less than 2 per cent. of decay, while the com-
mercially picked and packed showed more than 14 per cent.

Results of the stem-end rot investigation showed no appa
rent relation between handling and the occurrence of this
disease in transit or on the market Spraying experiments
and the use of different disinfectants in the water used in
washing the fruit yielded indeterminate results.

The inspections to determine the amount of injury being
done in picking and handling covered all the citrus districts
of Florida, and in this work nearly 70,000 oranges were
handled. A cumparison of the work of the picking crews
where the labour was paid by the day and by the box shows
that equal percentages of injuries were made by both, unless
the work is dene under the supervision of a capable foreman.
In some instances the box-paid labourers were found to do as
well or better than those under the day-paid plan, where no
attempt at supervision was made.

The results of these lines of investigation corroborate in
every respect the earlier work of the bureau, both in Califor-
nia and in Florida, and show definitely the relation between
the type of handling given the fruit and the decay in transit
and after arrival in market. The Florida orange, when care-
fully handled, has been shown to have good carrying qualities,
and a notable improvement in the reduction of the losses from
decay has resulted from the bureau work. (Report of the
Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, 1911; United States
Department of Agriculture.)

NEW MANGOES FOR THE WEST
INDIES.

The following has been received from Mr, J. Jones,
Curator of the Botanic Station, Dominica, with refer-
ence to a former article which appeared under this
title :— aI

The Agricultural News of June 10, 1911, p. 180, con-
tains a brief*“article on new mangoes for the West Indies.
In it the statement occurs that arrangements had been made
to ship from ‘the Royal Botanic Gardens, Caleutta, to Domi-
nica, twelve grafted mango plants comprising the following
varieties: Alphonse, Langra, Kheershapottee and Bhadoorea.

The plants were duly shipped to Dominica by way of
Kew Gardens, where the case was opened and the plants
examined. On their arrival at Dominica, it was found that
seven out of the twelve plants had survived, and that all the

Vou. XI. No. 256.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 53

TT F TT OO — — — — — — SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSee

varieties had been secured. The results are given below :—

Alphonse 3 living

Langra 1 ” 2 dead
Kheershapottee 1 * 2 »
hadoorea 2 1

bed ”

4
In addition to the above, two varieties of mangoes im-
ported from Bombay, namely Daramia and Pairi, were pre-
sented to the Gardens by Dr. H. A. A. Nicholls, C.M.G.,
a few months ago (see Agricultural News as above). The
Dominica Botanic Gardens now possess six 6f the leading
kinds of Indian mangoes, from which it is hoped, in due
time, to propagate largely for distribution locally, and to
agricultural establishments in other parts of the world.

CACAO PRIZE COMPETITION
IN TRINIDAD.

A list of the rales in the cacao prize competition,
1912-13, held under the Cocoa Prize Competition
Committee of the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad, has
been received from the Secretary to the Board and is
reproduced below :—

(1) Prizes will be awarded fer good cultivation of cacao.
(2) The prizes will be awarded in two classes : —
Class I: For Peasant Proprietors owning not more
than 16 acres altogether and in one piece.
Class II: For Contractors j
(3) No Peasant Proprietor will be allowed to compete in
Class I unless he or she has 5 acres in bearing cacao,
and no Contractor will be allowed to compete in Class IT
who has less than 3 acres in trees three years old at
the time of entry.
(4) No person can compete in more than one‘€élass.
(5) Prizes will not be awarded unless there are at lesst 50
competitors in each class in each district. ~
(6) Prizes to be given in each district as follows: —

Ist. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th.
Class 1. Peas. Prop. $90 $65 $45 $30 $20 — —
2! Contractors. 85 60 40° 25 %15 $10 $5

”

(7) The two districts in which prizes will be offered for com-
petition in 1912-13 will be :—
(1) St. Anne and Diego Martin.
(2) Savana Grande.
(8) The competition will be for the period April 1, 1912, to
March 31, 1913.
(9) In judging, marks will be given under the following
heads: —

(1) Tillage 50 points
(2) Sanitation of the cacao field and

treatment of diseases a0F .,
(3) General, including crop records, live

stock and any special features 20

”

(10) The method of cultivation and condition of the trees,
together with the circumstances of each cultivation, the
characteristics of the locality and the implements used,
will be considered by the Judges. In judging, the con-
dition of young cultivation, if any, will be taken into
account. ; ,

(11) The Judges may withhold, or alter the value of, any or
all of the prizes if the cultivations entered for competition
are not considered of sufficient merit. a

(12) Due notice will be given before the judging commences,
and the decision of the Judges in all cases will be final.

(13) Application for entry forms will be made to a source to
be chosen by the Committee.

GERMINATION TRIALS OF PARA
RUBBER SEEDS IN ST. LUCIA.

The following account of experiments in the
germination of Para rubber seeds, conducted by
Mr. A. J. Brooks, Assistant Agricultural Superinten-
dent, St. Lucia, has been received from Mr. J. C. Moore,
Agricultura] Superintendent in that island:—

A consignment of Para rubber seeds was recently im-
ported from Singapore, and arrangements were made for
their being raised at the Experiment Station. Seed beds
80 feet long and 5 feet wide were prepared a few weeks pre-
vious to the arrival of the seeds The seeds were sown
2 inches deep, in rows 7 inches apart both ways Trials were
made to ascertain if a high germination could be obtained by
special treatment of the seed previous to sowing. Upon
arrival, the seeds were unpacked, and all mixed together in
one heap to ensure uniformity. The seeds which were found
to be showing signs of germination ‘were removed and sown
separately; these were equal to about 7 per cent. of the total
consignment A similar quantity of seed was then taken, and
the shell of each seed was carefully cracked, and then placed
in a vessel of water and allowed to remain for two hours,
Other seed was then taken and soaked in water for twenty-
four hours without previously having the shell cracked. The
remainder of the seed was sown immediately upon arrival,
without any previous treatment.

From the following table, it will be seen that the seed
soaked for twenty-four hours without cracking gave the best
results: —

Number
sown.

Treatment of seed, Germinated Percentage

successfully. germination

Untreated 1,999 544 Pf ee
ae and soaked zt 511 167 39-5
Soaked 24 hours 4,048 1,616 39°9

Total 7,099 2,713 (38:2

The plants are now two months old, and with one or two
exceptions are growing strongly

In forwarding the account, Mr. Moore states that
70S seeds, taken indiscriminately from the same con-
signment, and sown at the Botanic Station, after being
soaked for fifteen hours, have produced 412 plants, most
of which are now growing well. The difference in the
results obtained, as compared with those in the experi-
ment described above. is attributed to a variation
among the seeds in vitality, when they were packed;
as the manner of packing was uniform throughout,
and the conditions of transit appear to have been
uniform, also.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture. left
Barbados on February 11, 1912, by the S.S. ‘Ocamo’,
for the purpose of making official visits to St. Vincent
and the Northern Islands, in connexion with the agri-
cultural interests of those colonies. Dr. Watts is
expected to return to Barbados on March 16, by the
S.S. ‘Guiana’, and will probably visit St. Lucia while
on the journey. }

54 THEE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Fesruary 17, 1912

a2 AN ENN

Jf

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date January 16, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 150 bales of West Indian Sea
Island cotton have been sold, and prices remain very firm.

The sales are chiefly composed of Montserrat cotton at
18d. to 19d., with a few from other islands at similar prices.
About 10 bales St. Vincent were sold at 21d.

A similar report, dated January 29, is as follows:—

Since our last report, about 100 bales of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, chiefly Montserrat, on the
basis of 18d. for sound quality.

The market remains firm, and good qualities command
firm prices.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending January 20, is as follows:—

There has been a good demand during the week for such
odd bags of Bright Fine up to Extra Fine to be had at
from 26c. to 32c., and also for all the small offerings of off
cotton, for which factors have been able to get lc. to 2c.
advance over previous prices. Consequently factors are firmer
in their prices for all grades. The planters’ crop lots continue
to be neglected. Although nominally held at full prices,
factors would be willing to make concessions to effect sales.
The old crop cotton is still being held off the market, in
expectation of higher prices later.

We quote :—
Extra Fine 32c.=18d., c.if., & 5 per cent.
i Fully) .. . A : %
Hine a : » 26c. to 28c. = 15d. to 16d. c.1.f. & 5 per cent.

Fine to Extra Fine,\,

: : 8 25c.= 103 1
off in preparation J c. to 25c.= 102d. to 144d. ,,

” ”

THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING
ASSOCIATION.

The following account of a recent meeting of the
British Cotton Growing Association has just been
recelved:—

The Ninety-fifth Meeting of the Council of the British
Cotton Growing Association was held at the Offices of the

Association, 15, Cross Street, Manchester, on Tuesday,
January 9. In the absence of the President (The Right
Hon. the Earl of Derby, G.C.V.O., owing to indisposition),
Mr. John E. Newton occupied the Chair.

inpra. Arrangements have been made for the Govern-
ment Agricultural Department to plant 4,000 acres in Sind
under American cotton. This experiment is being watched
with much interest, and should it be successful it will lead to
a considerable increase in the cultivation of longer stapled
cotton in India.

west arricA. At the request of the Government, the
Association is arranging for the importa‘ion of some Cape
wagons, in order to assist in the transport of the cotton to
the Ilorin ginnery, in Northern Nigeria. It is hoped that
this means of transit will solve the difficulty which is experi-
enced in transporting cotton to the ginneries from districts
lying some distance from the railway.

The purchases of cotton in Lagos for last year were
5,408 bales, against 5,626 bales for 1910. The reports of
the growing crop are very satisfictory, and the outlook is, at
the present time, more promising than it has been in any
previous year.

UGANDA. It was reported that last year’s crop in Uganda
amounted to over 19,000 bales, which is by far the largest
quantity of cotton produced in one year in any British colony
up to the present time, and satisfaction was expressed at the
rapid increase in the quantity of cotton which the Association
is now dealing with from the different colonies on the east
side of Africa.

RHODESIS, Mr. Percival, the Association’s Manager in
Nyasaland, bas recently made a tour of inspection in the Fort
Jameson district of North East Rhodesia, and is very hopeful
of the future for cotton iu this district. He states that the
farmers are tackling the labour problem in a most determined
manner by introducing the very latest disc ploughs and
harrows, whilst the transport question is not proving so
serious as it had been anticipated.

NyAsALAND. Although, owing to the unfavourable
climatic conditions during the past season, the yield per acre
has been disappointing, the cotton which is now beginning
to come forward is of good quality, and the prices realized
should reconipense planters to some extent for the shortage
of their crop.

A statement of the position of the Association’s
capital, thatias given, shows that a sum of £25,000
was still required, in order to complete the total
authorized capital of £500,000.

Vou. XI. No. 256.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 55

THE NECESSITY FOR PHOSPHORUS
IN NUTRITION.

The cause, or causes, of such diseases as béri-beri has been
under investigation for some time, and the results of observa-
tion tend in an increasing degree to show that they lie in the
direction of faulty or insufficient nutrition.
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology for August 1, 1911, the
matter is given attention by G. C. E. Simpson, B.A., M.B.,
B.Sc., and E, S. Edie, M.A., B.Sc., from the,laboratories of
Tropical Medicine and of Bio-Chemistry, Liverpool University.
These investigators were asked recently by Professor ltoss to
enquire into ‘the relation of the organic phosphorus coatent
of various diets to diseases of nutrition, particelarly beri-beri.
Shortly after the work had commenced, Schaumann’s mono-
graph on the subject appeared in the Archives for Ship and
Tropical Hygiene, and in this the subject was’ found to have
been dealt with so completely, that the writers of the article
from which this information is taken thought it only neces-
sary to confine their attention to confirming some of the newer
facts, and investigating further some of the matters arising
from Schaumann’s results. The importance of these has led
the writers to devote the greater part of their article to an
abstract of the more important sections of his monograph.

Schaumann commences with an historical review of the
previous theories of the cause of beri-beri, and of the work of
himself and others, which has shown that the disease is not
‘due to specific infection, contamination of food With poisonous
bodies, or to the production of such bodies in the food, and
the article quoted gives a short account of the work of the
various investigators. The matter of importance is that
Schaumann, and Fraser and Stanton, discovered independently
that the influence of food in producing beri-beri in man, or
neuritis in fowls, increases with the decrease of the percentage
of phosphorus in the diet. It was thought by Schaumann
that the principle providing the phosphorus was nucleic acid,
but the work of Grijns did not confirm this supposition,
though a hot water extract of nuclein was found to cause
a slight postponement of death, in neuritic birds.

This portion of Schaumann’s work is followed by a con-
sideration of the theories attributing beri-beri to faulty nutri-
tion, and he points out that Nocht lays special stress on the
fact: ‘it is not a question of defect of the main components
of food stuffs—proteid, carbohydrate and fat—but of some
subtle defect of the less known constituents, enzymes, com-
plements, compound proteids, ete. On Schaumann’s part,
however, there is the tendency to consider“the substance
or substances of importance to be organie compounds
of phosphorus, and his work was outlined with the
object of considering other possible causes, and of investi-
gating the influence of phosphorus compounds, both organic
and inorganic. His first results show that no part is played
by an excess of oxalic acid or other poisonous produets, or
by a deficiency in autolytic enzymes in the food, either in
the production of beri-beri or of polyneuritis in fowls, nor
that the fault in diet is concerned with either deficiency of
proteins or of inorganic salts. He draws-attention to the
fact of the presence of phosphorus, in specially Jarge amounts,
in the organs possessing the most complicated and important
‘functions; he adverts, further, to the circumstance that the
chief organic phosphorus compounds are mostly assimilated by
‘the digestive system as such, without the previous formation
of phosphoric acid, and that man and the higher animals can
‘Store any excess of such compounds, to be draivn upon when
they are supplied insufficiently in the diet.

In the Annals of

These matters are important in the light of the
opinion of Albu and Neuberg that animal life is depend-
ent for the necessary phosphorus compounds, as for pro-
teids and carbohydrates, on the power of plants to build
up these substances from simpler bodies. The earlier
experiments of Schaumann were not strictly conclusive in
the matter of showing the necessity for the provision
of organically combined phosphorus in the diet. Further
trials with pigeons showed, however, that feeding with
polished rice or rice bread, which contain little phosphorus,
always caused the death of the birds, The-condition was not
altered by the inclusion of such substances as dried egy-albu-
men, albumen metaphosphate, calcium glycero-phosphate, and
inorganic salts (with or without phosphates); these are accord-
ingly classed as non-protective substances. The meal or
bran from the outer parts of the rice grain, which is removed
in milling, had the effect of keeping the birds healthy when
it was added to the polished rice and rice meal; it is there-
fore called a protective substance. Other protective sub-
stances are wheat and bran, and dried brewer's yeast. It is
a fact of some interest that all these protective substances
contain similar amounts of phosphorus. Other trials were
made in order to discover what substances could exert
a curative action; among these were yeast nuclein, dried
pressed yeast, the beans of Phaseolus radiatus, dry yellow
peas, and may organic extractives of plants containing phos-
phorus.

As regards the beans mentioned, a_pepsin-hydro-
chlorie acid extract of them was found by Schaumann to be
a powerful curative agent. It is suggested by this investi-
gator that the phosphatic bodies may serve as sonrces of
energy in the nervous system, so that the curative action
depends on their power to cause the central nervous system
to overcome the hindrance of the nerves that have degenerated
during the course of the disease. Researches were made
by Schaumann on other animals than pigeons, and short
accounts of these are given in the article from which this
information is taken.

Among the conclusions reached are that: food stuffs
causing polyneuritis in animals are deficient in phosphorus or
in certain organic compounds of that element; certain sub-
stances can exert a curative action, while others can not;
some substances, rich in organic phosphorus, possess both
a protective and a curative effect; the influence shown hy
organic phosphorus compounds prepared from the natural
protective substances is only moderate and transient; the
protective or curative effect shown is apparently due to the
collective action of several organic compounds of phosphorus,
rather than to any one; the changes undergone in the animal
system by phosphorus and nitrogen, in the food, are very
similar; polyneuritis in animals appears to be due to a lack
in the diet, of certain organic phosphorus compounds, whose
identity has yet to be established.

The article which is being dealt with concludes with
interesting considerations regarding sailing ship beri-beri and
tropical beri-beri, both of which appear to be due to the
same causes as ordinary beri-beri, and a review of the
researches of the writers states that the conclusions frum
these, as far as they have extended, fully agree with those of
Schaumann, They inelude experiments that are of particular
interest at the present time, as showing that pigeons fed on
white meal bread succumbed to the diet, while those given
Standard or wholemeal bread continued to thrive. It is
the purpose of the writers to attempt to isolate the active
principle which appears to contain the phosphorus i in a form
necessary to proper nutrition:

or
for}

THE

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,
28, 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural Hews

=
Vot. XI. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1912. No. 256.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Oontents of Present Issue.

The present number contains the first of a series
of editorial articles, in which it is intended to present
broadly the matters of chief importance that were under
consideration at the recent Agricultural Conference.

Page 51 contains an abstract ofa recent interesting
article, which dealt with the Java sugar crop in 1911.

Information of interest, concerning new varieties
of mangoes that have been introduced successfully into
Dominica, is presented on page 52.

On page 55 will be found an article in which is
put forward the most recent information arising from
investigations as to the necessity for phosphorus in
nutrition. The work that is dealt with has been carried
out chiefly in regard to beri-beri, and neuritis in the
lower animals.

The Insect Notes, on page 58, include two articles.
These have respectively for their subjects the New
Zealand Grass Grub, and Formalin as a Poison for the
House-F ly.

In the Students’ Corner, which appears on page
61, is given the conclusion of the questions set in the
examinations in connexion with the Courses of Reading
of the Department, of last year.

On page 62, the Fungus Notes have for their sub-
ject the latest information available concerning the
causes of the occurrence of spots on Para rubber.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Fesruary 17, 1912.

Australian*Salt Bushes as Food for Stock.

In view of experiments that are being carried out
under the Imperial Department of Agriculture, parti-
cularly by the Agricultural Department of Antigua,
with Australian salt bushes, with relation to their use
as forage, the following infurmation, abstracted from
the Bulletin, of the Imperial Institute, 1911, p. 277,
is of interest,

The plants have become acclimatized in Asia,
America and Africa, where they are highly valued as
auxiliary feed for stock. Most of the plants in the
natural order to which the salt bushes belong (Cheno-
podiaceae) may be used for feeding cattle, but some of
them are to be avoided, because they produce balls of
cotton-like material, during protracted drought.

In a general way, it is considered that the best
kinds of salt bush, when freshly cut, contain the follow-
ing: water, about 75 per cent.: fat, 4 to 6 per cent.;
protein, about 25 per cent.; digestible carbohydrates,
10 per cent.; fibre, 3 to 4 per cent.; ash, 5 to 10 per
cent., of which about one-half is common salt. An
advantage of the inclusion of a high proportion of salt
bushes in the diet of animals has been stated to be
a power to cure them of certain intestinal parasites.
There is the additional advantage that their succulence
renders them particularly useful where water is scarce.

Among the most important species of salt bushes
are Atriplex semibaccuta and A. nummularia. Of
these, the former 1s a perennial which responds readily
to cultivation, and is deeply rooted so that it withstands
drought well. dA. nummularia grows well under
a wide range of conditions: it is more suited to cattle
than to sheep feeding, on account of the fact that it
may grow to a height of as much, even, as 15 feet.

Prize-Holdings Competitions in Grenada, 1911.

The results of these are dealt with in the Minutes
of the Proceedings of the Committee of Management of
the Agricultural and Commercial Society of Grenada,
on the occasion of a meeting held on October 27, 1911;
a copy of the minutes was received recently.

The judges in St. George’s Parish, Messrs. J. B.
Wells and PD. G. Alexander, state that some of the
work was fairly well done, pen manure and artificial
manure being used in most cases. Advice was requir-
ed by the peasants, particularly in regard to cacao-
pruning.

. In St. Mark’s parish the judging was done by
Messrs. W. Malins-Smith and A. H. B. Gall, who state
that the standard of work was very creditable. Visits
by the Agricultural Instructor, during the period of
working, are required, and there should be greater
efforts to obtain entries; while the competitors should
be kept in close touch with the Agricultural and Com-
mercial Society. A certain amount of suspicion as to
the objects of the competitions still exists;.-this should
be dispelled if greater attention is given to the
competitorss iep orios

Messrs. W. H. Mignon and W. H. Alexander, who
judged the holdings in St. Patrick’s parish state thai

Vou. XI. No. - 256.

the draining was very insufficient and faulty; while the
cultivators require instruction as to the proper method
for the application of pen manure. ‘The work of the
Agricultural Instructor in this district has been pro-
ductive of good results, though some indifference exists
on the part of those who worked in the competition on
the last occasion. ° :

In St. Andrew’s parish the results were disappoint-
ing, and did not compare well with those of the
previous years, the chief failures being With those who
have worked previously in the competition. The
judges, Messrs. W. G. Lang and H. H. Preudhomme,
recommend that mountain holdings should be allowed
to compete separately from the others, on account of
the difference in conditions. Especial praise is given
to some of the mountain holdings, which have been
worked excellently, chiefly on account of the assistance
that has been afforded by a neighbouring planter. The
judges continue to urge very strongly that all holdings
should be visited by some of the Sociéty’s officers, as
‘some of the work offered at present is very inferior.

The report on the competitions in St. David’s
‘parish, by Messrs. A. H. B. Gall and D. G. Alexander,
states that the work was very second-rate when com-
pared with that of previous competitions, except in the
‘case of one competitor. The suggestion is made that
the Agricultural Instructor should be provided with an
assistant during part of the year, in order that more
attention may be given to the holdings.

The judges of the competition in St. John’s,
Messrs. S. Parkinson and D. Lang, state that very little
work above the ordinary standard was shown, except
on the part of one competitor. %

ee

The Utilization of Ammonium Salts by Green
Plants.

This matter receives attention in an abstract of
a paper describing work on the subject, contained in
the Lxperiment Station Record, Vol. XXV, p. 223.
The plants employed were grown in sterilized liquid
‘cultures, in sterilized soils of different structure, and in
soils under normal crop conditions.

In liquid cultures where nitrification could not
‘take place, it was found that certain ammonium salts
are directly absorbed for food by green plants: this
result is in accordance with those obtained by other
investigators, which have received attention already in
the Agricultural News. When the ammonium salts
‘are absorbed rapidly, the nutritive liquid becomes acid;
but if an ammonium salt such as ammonium mag-
nesium phosphate, which is only slightly soluble, is
employed, the amount of acidification 1s: much smaller,
and there is the additional advantaged that the rate
‘of the absorption of ammonium is much decreased,
_so that the plant is enabled to use it in the most
thorough manner. The principal conditions affecting
the action of different salts of ammonia, in sterile soils
-where nitrification is excluded, are the power of the
-soil to absorb ammonia and the amount of hme
present.

r

WTHE AGRICULTURAL . NEWS.

Or
So |

It is concluded by the authors that ammonium
sulphate is often wrongly considered to be inferior to
nitrate of soda, as a source of nitrogen, because it is not
employed with sufficient reference to its suitability for
thegparticular soil or crop.

n> + a

Changes in the Arsenic in Dipping Fluids.

This subject was considered in a note’ on page 25
of this volume of the Agricultural News, where it was
stated that investigations conducted in the United
States are said to have shown thatthe oxidation of
sodium arsenite to sodium arsenate, in dipping fiuids,
takes place through the agency of bacteria.

In relation to the same subject, it is of interest
that the Journal of Agricultural Science for October
1911, contains an account of work which shows that the
oxidation of the arsenite takes place chiefly because
of the presence of tar products in the fluids. The in-
vestigations showed that the change takes place especi-
ally quickly where wood tar is used in making up the
mixtures.

The practical outcome of these experiments is
expressed as the necessity for official analysis, at proper
intervals, of arsenical dipping fluids, wherever the use
of these is prescribed legally.

The Treatment of Yaws.

Several notes on work connected with the curative
treatment of yaws are presented on page 86 of the
Experiment Station Record for July 1911. In the
first of these, success is claimed in trials conducted in the
Philippine Islands in which the drug salvarsan, com-
monly known as ‘606’ was employed. In ten to
twenty days the cases presented a. perfectly smooth,
pigmented skin in the areas previously occupied by the
yaws.
The matter is advanced further by work which
is noted from the British Medical Journal, 1911,
p. 360. In this,it was found that the blood serum of
patients who had received Salvarsan was as effective
as the drug, producing an improvement, and again that
this property was shown by the serum of patients that
had themselves received serum. It was demonstrated
further, by control experiments, that the serum from
yaws patients can produce the improvement, and
this only when the patient is under the influence of
salvarsan.

Additional work, conducted in Trinidad by the
author whose conclusions have just been given, and
described in the British Medical Journal, 1911,
p. 618, has supported the fact of the curative action of
serum from patients receiving salvarsan, but has
shown that yaws tubercles in the nostril are not
affected either by the drug or by the serum. Other
conclusions are that a curative effect is exhibited by
the administration of the milk of a goat injected with
salvarsan, and attention is drawn to the only other
organic compounds that are known. to cause benefit
in yaws.

58 THE AGRICULTURAL

THE NEW ZEALAND GRASS GRUB.

The New-Zealand grass grub (Odontria zealandica) is of
great economic importance, both on account of the extreme
abundance of the insect as a pest and of the value of the
grass crop in New Zealand.

The following notes and the brief abstract from the
article on this insect by Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Government
Biologist, which appeared in the Journal of the New Zealand
Department of Agriculture, September 15, 1911, p. 221,
should be of interest to readers of the Agricultural
News, in view of the fact that at the present time much is
being written in different parts of the world about the attacks
of root feeding inseets which are more or less related to the
one now under discussion.

In Barbados, the root borer (Diaprepes abhreviatus)
feeds on the fibrous roots of the sugar-cane, and penetrates the
underground stem system of the plant. A brief account of
this insect, with il{ustrations and references, appeared in the
Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 218.

A new pest of sugar-cane has during the past year made
its appearance in Mauritius, where a severe infestation includ-
ing some 4,000 acres has occurred (see Agricultural News,
Vol. X, p. 314). The new insect, which is not yet identified,
is different from the well-known root feeding grub in that
island, which is Oryctes tarandus.

In Samoa also (see Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 409),
a pest of sugar-cane has recently made its appearance. This
is believed to be a new introduction, and is mentioned as
a rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes sp.).

In the United States, Zigyrus ruyiceps is known as
a pest attacking the rcots of Indian corn, and the May beetles
of the genera Lachnosterna and Cyclocephala are well-known
pests, which attack grasses and sugar-cane, in different local-
ities. With the exception of Diaprepes abhreviatus, the insects
mentioned are all of the same group of beetles. Diaprepes
is a weevil, belonging to the Rhynchophora, while the others
are classed among the Lamellicornia—a large group in
Which the grubs are largely root feeders, and the adults leaf
feeders. The insects mentioned are all pests of related plants,
such as grasses, Indian corn and sugar-cane.

The grass grub is a native of New Zealand. There are
some twelve species of the genus Odontria known to occur
in that island, but of these only O. zealundica has become
a pest.

The adult beetles occur in November and December and
deposit eggs in the ground, a little below the surface. The
eggs hatch in about four weeks, and the grubs feed on the
roots of various grasses, for a period of about six months,
during which timé’they become full-grown. There is some
uncertainty as to whether the pupal stage is entered upon at
once, on the completion of the larval growth, or whether the
grubs remain in the soil for some time before pupating.
The adult beetles are leaf feeders, and often become a serious
pest of fruit trees.

No satisfactory means of control of this pest seems to be
known. The lack of labour in a country where the agricul-
tural practice is extensive rather than intensive renders the
collection by hand of adults and larvae more difficult and

NEWS.. Fresrvary 17, 1912.

expensive than *in those countries where labour is more
plentiful. li

FORMALIN AS A POISON FOR THE
' HOUSE-FLY.

Experiments carried out by Mr. R. I, Smith, B.Sc.,
Entomologist to the North Carolina Experiment Station,
have continued to demonstrate the value of formalin as
a poison to be used in the control of the house-fly (Musca
domestica). The following notes are abstracted from a paper
on this subject which appeared in the Jowrnal of Economic
Entomology for October 1911.

The horse barns and dairy at the North Carolina Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College became infested with
enormous number of flies, during June 1911, and the experi-
ments referred to were undertaken in connexion with the
work of reducing the numbers of these insects. In the milk
room of the dairy the windows and doors were screened, and
a mixture consisting of 1 oz. of formalin (40 per cent. for-
maldehyde) and 16 oz. (1 pint) of fresh milk was exposed in
shallow plates. The flies at once began to feed greedily on
the poisoned milk, and within a few minutes commenced to
die. The poison was exposed to the flies at about 3 o'clock
in one afternoon, and at about 8 am. the next day about
1 pint of flies Was swept up from the floor. This amount
would represent approximately 5,000 individuals. )

The trials of this mixture, and of one in which one half
of the milk was replaced by water, were repeated in the horse
barn and the calf barn at the College and Experiment Station,
where enormous numbers of flies were killed.

The use of the formalin mixtures also resulted in practi-
cally freeing the College mess hall of flies, in two days:

Mr, Smith. records the successful use of this poison
mixture by several others. It is stated, however, that when
this mixture has been used in dwelling houses, it has not
been as successful, except in the case of unscreened kitch-
ens and dining rooms.

Casein Manufacture in Australia.—lIt is re-
ported that a factory will be established at Lismore, in New
South Wales, for the manufacture of casein. While the central
depot, or factory proper, will be at Lismore, receiving depdts
for skimmed milk, or, as they are known in the trade, preci-
pitating stations, will be established wherever a supply of
from 2,000 to 3)000 gallons of skimmed milk can be obtained.
At these stations the casein will be separated from the whey,
and the product obtained forwarded to the head factory for
final treatment. There will be collecting routes from these sta-
tions similar to those in the present system of cream-collecting,
only the skimmed milk will be purchased at the farms, and the
farmers will have no further risk. The whey left after the
casein has been precipitated will be fed to pigs. Farmers
who now feed pigs as the only means of using up the skimmed
milk, and who‘desire to continue pig-breeding, will be able
to buy back supplies of the whey from the precipitating
station, corresponding to the amount of skimmed milk sup-
plied. The prive to be paid farmers will, it is estimated, be
an increase of something like 100 per cent. on the value of
the skimmed milk as pig feed. In other words, where the
skimmed milk i& now worth, say, }d. a gallon, it will be worth
3d. when sold to the casein factory. These figures are not
given as the actual rates, but they serve as an approximate
estimate. (The Chamber of Commerce Journal, November
1911, p. 547.)

Vou, XI. No. 256.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 59

EXPORTS FROM DOMINICA.

The following are the exports from Dominica,
from January 1 to December 31, 1910 and 1911, as
given in the Official Gazette for January 26 1912 :—

1911. 1910.
Bay leaves, cwt. ... se Pa 590 519
Cacao, cwt. aa 10,053. 21,272
Coffee, ,, fs. stn oo 78 26
Citrate of lime, ewt. nr 3 5,926 5,194
Essential oils :—
Lime, ecuelled, gals. ... site 892 1,018
Pe GIStilled: rca dc. Da 5,471 5,761
Orange, gals. ... 3o¢ ane 65 119
Firewood, cords ... wee = 252 235
Fruit, fresh :—
Bananas, bunches 3,413 4,719
Cocoa-nuts... shia ... 402.622 391,044
Limes, barrels ... 34,995 26,269
» boxes 3,177 2,315
Oranges, barrels 983 760
» boxes 1,641 2,487
Fruit Juices :—
Lime, cone’d., gallons ... 131,683 162,878
4) Luray; aa 310,077 203,792
Hardwood, feet ... ' 31,272 23,439
Lime juice cordial, gals. 10,600 6,100
Limes, pickled, barrels 711 779

ENCOURAGEMENT OF RUBBER CULTI-
VATION IN PARA.

The information below, concerning the making of
laws in the State of Parad for the encouragement of
rubber-planting, is taken from the Board of Trade
Journal, for December 28, 1911:—

Adverting to the notice on p. 635 of the Board of Trade
Journal of June 22, 1911, relative to Laws in the State of
Para for the protection and extension of the rubber industry,
H. M. Consul at Para (Mr. G. A. Pogson) reports the enact-
ment of a further Law (No. 1,214, dated Noyember +), pro-
viding for the grant of concessions to national and foreign
companies registered in the State for the cultivation of rub-
ber (Hevea brasiliensis), cacao, nuts, ete.

The privileges offered include grants of public lands up
to 200,000 hectares (about 494,000 acres); redaction of the ex-
port duties and State dues upon the rubber, ete., produced, by
50 per cent. during the first ten years from the date of the
first shipment, decreasing by 10 per cent. for each ten-yearly
period up to fifty years, reduction of State railway rates and
of the freight charges of steamship lines subventioned by the
State; waiving for ten years of the industrial and professional
State and municipal imposts upon the company’s premises.

The concessionaire companies will be obliged, among
other things, to plant not less than 50,000 rubber trees
during the first five years of the concession, and 20,000 trees
annually after that period; to comply, as regards their pro-
duce, with the instructions of the Department of Agriculture;
and to concede to the Government the supervision of the
whole activity of the companies. In case of failure to plant
a minimum of 50,000 rubber trees within the five years, the
concession will become void. :

The State Government will try to obtain from the
‘Federal Government, on behalf of the concessionaires, a sus-
pension of taxation as regards the importation of machinery

and anything else required for the preparation and cultiva-
tion of the soil.

H.M. Consul suggests that British inyestors proposing
to interest themselves in companies formed to obtain con-
cessions under this Law might first of all put themselves in
communication with the British Consulate at Para.

The text and a translation of the Law may be seen by
British traders at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the
Board of Trade, 73 Basinghall Street, London E.C.

HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION OF THE
AGRICULTURAL PUPILS, DOMINICA.

The following is the general report of the Exam-
iner, Mr. F. W. South, B.A., on the half-yearly examin-
ation of the Agricultural Pupils, Dominica, held in
December last :—

In continuation of the course pursued at the previous
examinations, two papers were set on the part of the syllabus
laid down for Preliminary Candidates in the Reading Courses
Examination, commencing: Seeds—their structure and germi-
nation, and concluding with pollination and fertilization.
The questions were of a practical character, or had reference
to points requiring the use of simple powers of observation
only.

Six boys sat for the examination. The best answers
were written by P. Denis who obtained 82°5 per cent. of the
total marks procurable. The average percentage of marks
obtained by all the pupils was 72:1.

The answers to the questions were, on the whole good,
and the standard of knowledge was remarkably uniform.
The boys appear to have a good practical knowledge of agri-
cultural methods, so far as they were exemplified in the
questions, and also a sound understanding of the objects of
these methods. A few points requiring comment are dealt
with in the special reports on each paper.

The results obtained reflect very creditably on the teach-
ing which the boys have received.

Sugar from Shredded Cane.—A bill prohibiting
the exportation of sugar-cane in any form has been intro-
duced into the Cuban Senate, according to advices received at
the State Department on January 9, at Washington.

This is of course aimed at the process for shredding cane
which has been carried on with more or less success for the
last two years at a factory built on the lands of the Nipe Bay
Company at Preston, Oriente Province. Full details of the
work with illustrations of the mill built for shredding the
cane, and of the pith and fibre were printed in the Cuba
Review for May 1911. At that time the mill was under-
going alterations to pursue greater efficiency results. Not
having reached the standard required for permanent and
profitable work, shipments of the product had previously been
sent to Madison, Wisconsin, and chemists from the Preston
mill, who had gone north to witness the extraction of the
sugar from the dried cane, came back somewhat enthusiastic.

Since then nothing much has been done, but within the
last month much discussion of the process has arisen in Cuba,
which has resulted in action by the Senate.

Havana despatches stated that planters were alarmed
and that foreign consuls were investigating in order to report
to their home offices. Some planters said. it was difficult to
estimate results by the new process, but that if successful,
Cuba would become one vast cane field. (The Cula Review,
January 1912, p., 7.)

60 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Fepsruary 17, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

The following were the chief exports from St. Vincent
during December last: arrowroot 348,260 tb., cacao 33,479 b.,
Sea Island cotton 90,625 tb. (253 bales), cotton seed
114,782 hb.

A report by H.M. Consul at ?Manila estimates the sugar
crop of Panay and Negros in the Philippine Islands, for
1911-12, at 125,000 tons as compared with 136,250 tons in
the season 1910-11.

During December 1911, the distribution from the
St. Lucia Botanic Station included 140 cacao plants, 100
lime plants, 5 budded oranges, 1 grafted mango, 36 other

plants, and 52 packets of seeds.

It has been reported by H.M. Consul at Tamsui that the
sugar crop of Formosa was damaged to an extent that is
estimated at about one-third, by two very severe typhoons
which were experienced at the end of August last.

The St. Lucia Gazette for January 20, 1912, contains an
announcement by the Agricultural Superintendent to the
effect that the holdings entered for competition in the Cacao
Prize-holdings Scheme, in the Soufriere district, will be
judged after February 15, 1912.

The distribution from the Antigua Botanic Station
during last month included: 139,864 cane cuttings, 444 cocoa-
nut plants, 840 lime plants, 56 miscellaneous plants, 8,000
sweet potato cuttings, 20 packets of Tephrosia candida seeds,
and 10 packets of miscellaneous seeds.

A meeting of the Permanent Exhibition Committee,
Dominica, was held on January 12, at which it was decided
not to take part in the London Fruit Show to be held in
March next, nor at the International Rubber Exposition, in
New York, on September 23 to October 3, 1912.

The United States Census Bureau at Washington reports
recently that the amount of starch manufactured in that
country during 1909 was 675,938,000 Ib. The value of this
starch, which included all the different kinds that are com-
monly produced in the United States, was about £3,568,000.

The Board of Trade Journal for January 4, 1912, shows
that the imports of cotton into the United Kingdom during
the fifty-two weeks ended December 28 was 4,321,859 bales.
Of this, 486,563 bales were Egyptian, 9,561 British West
Indian, 5,599 British West African, 26,482 British East
African, and 260 bales foreign Fast African.

The: announcement is made that an International
Engineering and, Machinery Exhibition is to be held at
Olympia from October 4 to 26 of this year. Information
concerning this exhibition may be obtained from the Exhibi-
tion Managers, Machine Tool and Engineering Association,
104 High Holborn, W.C.

It is stated-in the Bulletin of the Official Inlelligence
Bureau, Adelaide, that the Treasurer of the State of South
Australia has announced the intention of the Government to
undertake experiments in the growing of sugar beets. These
are to be conducted along the banks of the River Murray,
and it is suggested that-a large area of swamp land shall be
drained for intensive culture.

The report, of the Government Veterinary Surgeon,
St. Vincent, for December last, shows that the returns of
deaths among stock in the island, during the month, indicate
that these amounted to fifty-three. Among them, there were
thirteen instances where the cause of death was not ascer-
tained; but there was no suspicion of the presence of anthrax,
either in the case of these or of any of the other deaths.

In the Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1911, No. B.
565, p. 338, an account is given. of work which has shown
that one of the carriers of sleeping sickness, Glossina palpalis,
may become infected by feeding on natives suffering from
sleeping sickness, whether they were in receipt of treatment
by arsenic and other drugs, or not. Further it was proved
that such insects, under either condition, retain their power
of transmitting the disease.

According .to the Bulletin de UVOffice Colonial, June
1911, p. 204, the east coast of New Caledonia is specially
suited to the cultivation of the cocoa-nut palm. During
recent years this French colony has exported 7,000 tons of
copra per annum, and the conditions suggest that a large
extension of the cocoa-nut industry may well be brought
about. As far as is known, the bud rot of the cocoa-nut
palm does not exist in New Caledonia.

In the Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intellr-
gence and of Plant Diseases for March 1911, an abstract is
given of a paper describing a fibrous plant called Caroa,
which grows in very large quantity in Brazil. The plant is
produced from a bulb, and is of such rapid growth that after
the fibre is removed, it takes but six months to reproduce
a crop from 6 to 8 feet in length. It is stated that rope
made from the fibre has a tensile strength ten times greater
than similar Manila rope. One ton of fibre is obtainable
from 20 tons of the green plant, and a large part of the
wastage is said to be suitable for making paper.

The Commissioner of Agriculture has heen informed by
the Secretary of the British South Africa Company, that the
Board has come to the conclusion that, as the climate and
soil of Rhodesia are particularly suitable for growing oranges
and lemons, the time has arrived when the industry should
be placed under the direction and guidance of an expert in
citrus cultivation.. Enquiries are therefore being mada for
candidates possessing practical knowledge of all the stages of
citrus production, from planting to the packing of the fruit
for export. Communications in regard to the matter should
be addressed to: The Secretary, the British South Africa
Company, 2 London Wall Buildings, E.C.

Vou. XI. No. 256.

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

Frvan Examination.——( Concluded.)
SPECIAL SUBJECTS.
Sugar Industry.

GENERAL. (1) Taking an area of fifty acres of sugar-cane
land, give an account of the expenses of preparing the land
and establishing a crop of plant canes. (2) Give an account
of the use of artificial manures for sugar-cane, under conditions
with which you are familiar, with special reference to the
best times for their application. (3) Write an account of your
experience of root disease of the sugar-cane (Marasmius sp.),
and discuss the measures that have been suggested for its
control. es

MUSCOVADO METHOD, (1) It has been suggested that, in
making muscovado sugar, it may be advantageous to effect
all the evaporation in steam-heated pans. Discuss this
question, stating the advantages or disadvantages of the
method. (2) Describe carefully processes for separating the
molasses from muscovado sugar, and a methdd of storing the
former; more than one method of separation should be de-
scribed, and the merits compared. What precautions are
necessary to obtain molasses of good quality/*(3) What points
are essential to good work in the mill of a muscovado factory,
and how can you ascertain whether the mill is dog good or
bad work? Is it desirable to employ multiple mills, such as
those furnished with five or more rollers, in muscovado fac-
tories! Give reasons for your answer.

VACUUM PAN METHOD, (1) Discuss the advantages pre-
sented by mills possessing eleven and fourteen rollers, over
those having five and eight. How can you best ascertain if
the mills are doing good work? (2) Describe a suitable series
of processes for producing 96° grey crystalssand exhausted
molasses, commencing your description at the point where the
syrup leaves the triple effect. (3) Describe suitable methods
for effecting the clarification of cane juice when making 96°
grey crystals, stating what is essential to good work. What
ill effects may imperfect clarification exert in the subsequent
stages of manufacture! What modification in the method of
clarification would you suggest in the event of having to deal
with ‘ gummy’ juice ! =
Cacao.

(1) Give a description of a method of cultivating cacao,
indicating the times of the year at which thé'various opera-
tions have to be carried out. (2) Write an account of the
principal fungus diseases of cacao, giving the measures for
control in each case. (3) Supply details ofthe quantities
and prices of the machinery and implements required for the
fermentation, curing and preparation of c4tao for market,
on an estate bearing 25 acres of the crop. (Details concern-
ing the necessary buildings are not required. )

©THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 61

Limes.

(1) How is citrate of lime manufactured? What are the
advantages of the exportation of lime juiee produce in this
form! State how it is packed for shipment, and what pre-
cautions are necessary during its carriage. (2) Write
a description of the cultural operations that are carried on
during a year, on a lime estate, stating the object of each.
(3) Give details of the apparatus and machinery required for
crushing, and for the concentration of the juice from, the
fruit usually available from 75 acres of lime trees, under
circumstances with which you are familiar.

Cotton.

(1) Give an account of the arrangements that you would
make on an estate for the picking of the cotton crop and the
preparation of the seed-cotton for ginning. (2) Describe the
methods that may be employed for controlling the black scale
of cotton. (3) Supply details of your acquaintance with the
cultivation of land for cotton, and of its manurial treatment.

Provision Crops.

(1) Describe methods that may be used for the improve-
ment of corn (maize) both by selection and hybridization.
(2) Give a careful description of the life-history and measures
for control of any insect pest of provision crops, with which
you are familiar. (3) What methods of cultivation are
employed in the case of the principal provision crops in your
district? Discuss the use of these crops in connexion with
systems of rotation, under circumstances of which you have
had experience.

Para Rubber Seed Oil.—The subject of the indus-
trial application of the seeds of the Para rubber tree (Hevea
brasiliensis) was dealt with in a previous number of this
Bulletin (1911, 9, 35), when attention was again drawn to
the fact that the seeds yield a liquid drying oil very similar
in properties to linseed oil (see also this-Bulletin, 1903, 1,
156; 1904, 2, 22). An investigation of the constituents of
the oil has since been made by Messrs. Pickles and Hayworth
in the laborarories of the Imperial Institute, and the results
have been communicated to the Society,of Public Analysts
(see Analyst, 1911, 36, 491). The oil used in this investiga-
tion was extracted in this country from the kernels oi unde-
corticated seeds. The kernels yielded 48°8 per cent. of oil,
which was pale-yellow in colour, liquid at- ordinary tempera-
tures, and dried to a hard varnish in about twelve days on
exposure to air. On examination the oil was found to have
the following constants :-—

Specific gravity at 15°/15° C. 0-9239
Acid value 29:9
Saponification value 1856
Iodine value, per cent. 1333
Titer test 33°C
Hehner value, per cent. 96-4
Reichert-Meiss] value 0-5

The composition of the mixed fatty acids was found to
be as follows: saturated (solid) acids 84 per cent., consisting
of stearic acid (m.p. 69° C.) and an acid or mixture of acids
(m.p. 56°5° C.); unsaturated (liquid) acids 86 per cent., con-
sisting of oleic acid 32°6 per cent., linoleic acid 50°9 per cent.
and linolenic acid 2°5 per cent. (Bulletin of the Imperial
Institute, Vol. IX, p. 286.)

62 THE AGRICULTURAL

FUNGUS NOTES.

SPOTS ON PARA RUBBER.

Spots of various kinds on Para rubber, both sheet and
crépe, have been reported from Ceylon, the Malay States and
Borneo. They appear a day or two after the latex has been
coaguiated, or somewhat later, while the rubber is drying. At
first they were thought to be of little economic importance,
as they were of rare occurrence, and were not found on
smoked rubber, which formerly commanded the best price.
Recently, however, the demand for smoked plantation rubber
has decreased, and in the Malay States, at any rate, the
number of cases of spotting has somewhat increased. In
consequence of this, Bancroft has made investigations as to
the cause of the spotting, and his results are published in the
Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay
States, Vol. X, p 318. Previous observations by Brooks on.
the spotting of rubber in Borneo are given in the same publi-
cation, Vol. X, p. 16; while Petch’s notes on the spotting of
Para rubber in Ceylon may be found on pages 248 and 249
of The Physiology and Diseases of Hevea Brasiliensis.

A red or pink spot has been recorded on crépe and sheet
rubber from all three of the localities mentioned above. The
spots appear while the rubber is drying, and vary in size
from small isolated spots to areas 1 inch in diameter, while
in some cases the discoloration is more diffuse. Petch states
that the clear red spots found in Ceylon rubber usually fade
if the rubber is kept for some time, but Bancroft found that
the pink spots recorded in the Malay States did not fade
after five months.

In addition to the pink spots, Bancroft describes blue
and black spots which are limited to definite small areas,
though the black spots may have a radial growth, Petch
described black spots on white, wet biscuits in Ceylon, which
he attributed to bacteria.

Brooks considered that the red spots found on
rubber in Borneo were due to Bacillus prodigiosus, an
organism found in pond and tap water in these coun-
tries, and it seemed possible that this was introduced
when the latex was diluted. Previous to this, the spots on
rubber in Ceylon ‘had been attributed to a fungus, by
Carruthers, and those in the Malay States to an alga, by
Ridley. Petch was unable to find any microorganism in the
red spots, and Baneroft could not find Bacillus prodigiosus
in the red, nor any similar colour-forming bacterium in the
blue spots. He did discover, however, that all three spots—
red, blue and black—are due to fungi. To show this he
cut thin sections of the spots, dissolved out the rubber with
xylol, and found that there was a fungus left, in each case

In the pink spots, this fungus has pink cell walls and
produces structures that appear to be spores, at the tips of
the hyphae. A fungus with hyphae of a dark colour occurs
in the blue spots, and this also gives rise to structures that
seem to be spores. The black spots show the presence of
a fungus with a dark-brown mycelium, which up to the
present appears to be sterile. It would seem that these
black spots are in origin and nature different from those
described by Petch in Ceylon.

The pink colour may be removed, according to Brooks,
by prolonged soaking in methylated spirit, but such solvents
render the rubber tacky. The blue colour does not disap-
pear when the rubber is treated.in this way.

The true origin of the spots in all these cases is a matter
of some importance. If bacteria are responsible for them,
infection probably takes place through the water used for

NEWS. Fesruary 17, 1912;

diluting the latex; but if fungi are the cause, the spots are
more likely to originate from air-borne spores. A more com-
plete understanding of the whole matter is necessary before
very definite remedial measures can be recommended. At
present, Bancroft advises that spotted sheets should be remov-
ed from the drying house and kept apart from those that are
not spotted, while drying should be conducted as rapidly as
is convenient. Petch suggests that collecting cups, pails and
other utensils should be sterilized with boiling water when-
ever damage of this nature appears on rubber, and states
further, that periodical sterilization of utensils might well
form part of the routine of estates. Where smoking is regu-
larly practised, this form of damage does not occur, and pre-
ventive measures,are not necessary.

THE GOGO VINE.

In the Board of Trade Journal, September 14 last, refer-
ence is made to samples of ‘ soap bark’, the prepared bark of
the gogo vine recently received from H. M. Consul at Manila,
with the information that the material is suitable for the
manufacture of soap and hair-washes.

From small specimens of the stem and prepared bark
obtained from the Board of Trade, it has been possible to de-
termine the material as the produce of Hntada scandens. This
is an immense climber cosmopolitan in the tropics, and may
be readily recognized by its spirally twisted stems and huge
pods, which are from 2 to 4 feet long, containing hard, pol-
ished, flat, circular seeds of a chestnut colour. So long ago
as May 1855, the late Mr. T..C. Archer presented to the
Museum a similarly prepared sample of the bark under the
same vernacular name, witha note to the effect that it contains
saponaceous properties, forms a lather with water, and is
much used by Manila ladies for cleaning the hair. The fol-
lowing particulars as to the mode cf preparing the bark and
its local applications are gathered from The Medicinal Plants
of the Philippines, by T. H. Pardo de Tavera, p. 106: ‘ The use
made of the mashed bark of this tree is well known throughout
the Philippines. Cut in strips and beaten thoroughly between
stones, it is sold under the name of “ gogo”; it is macerated in
water, to which it imparts a reddish colour, and forms a sub-
stitute forsoap. The Filipinos use this preparation for bathing,
especially the hair, for which purpose there is no more useful
or simple preparation. It cures pityriasis, and renders the
hair very soft without drying it too much, as is usually the
case with soap, The natives use it in treating the itch,
washing the affected parts with the maceration, and at the
same time briskly rubbing them with the bark; in this way
they remove the crusts that shield the acari. he treatment
is successful in direct proportion to the energy of rubbing....
The maceration of gogo is emetic and purgative; it is used in
the treatment of asthma; it is exceedingly irritating, the
slightest quantity that enters the eye causing severe smarting,
and a slight conjunctivitis for one or two days.’

The seeds, which contain saponin, are stated to be used
by the Nepalese in the preparation of a hair-wash. According
to Watt (Dictionary of Economic Products, India), the most
general use to which the seeds are applied in India is for
crimping linen. The dhobis cut one side of the seed and
scoop out the kernel; then they introduce two fingers into the
cavity, and quitkly stroke the damp linen forwards with its
polished surface, This crimps it beautifully crossways. The
seeds are made oéeasionally into snuff-boxes and other articles,
and are often carried long distances by ocean currents, (From
the Aew Bulletin, 1911, p. 474.)

Von. XI. No. 256.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 63

EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO IN
CEYLON.

Ina report by the late Chairman of the Tobacco Commit-
tee of the Ceylon Agricultural Society (Dr. J. C. Willis, M.A.,
late Director of Agriculture), it is pointed out that the results
of past experiments in tobacco cultivation in Ceylon have
shown conclusively that conditions are suitable for tobacco-
growing and curing, for European consumption, on a large
scale, in that island; and the opinion is given that, with proper
supervision and careful experimentation, a profitable tobacco
industry may be built up in a few years.

The area employed in the experiments, namely 20 acres,
was unfortunately insufficient to give enough tobacco for
proper fermentation, and the product sold at a low price. For
the furtherance of the matter, it will be necessary to com-
mence a long series of experiments with Sumatra and other
tobaccos, in order to find out the best-growing seeds, and the
best methods of cultivation and curing. It is considered that
the yearly amount required for the work, including seed
selection, will be not less than £1,670 for the next four or
five years, or more.

These facts have led the Committee to conclude that it
is not advisable to continue the trials on a commercial scale,
particularly on account of the want of funds on the part of
the Society. It records, however, its sense of the importance
of such investigations, and expresses the hope that experi-
ments in tobacco-growing may be taken up by the new
Department of Agriculture, with the assistance of an expert,
who would train a few officers in order that-they may be in
a position to succeed him, when his contract terminates.

EFFECT OF CULTIVATION ON POISONOUS
SUBSTANCES IN PLANTS.

The note below is reproduced from the Gardeners’
Chronicle for October 28, 1911. It is of interest to read
it in relation to the article entitled The Poisoning of
Cattle by Sorghum, appearing on page 21 of the last
issue of the Agricultural News

It is generally recognized that plants which, in the wild
state, contain poisonous substances of a nitrogenous character,
tend, under the influence of cultivation, to contain a smaller
amount of these toxic principles. Comes, for example, has
stated that if a plant, which, in its wild state, was of thera-
peutic value, be cultivated for several generations on manured
and irrigated soil, it becomes in time quite useless, owing to
the disappearance of the active principles. A familiar example
is afforded by the almond, the prussic-acid-forming glucoside
of which, always present in bitter almonds, has disappeared
from the cultivated sweet almond. Conflicting statements
have been made of late years as to the toxicity of different
varieties of Phaseolus beans, some of which haye been proved
to contain prussie acid in the form of a glucoside. Recently
Messrs. Scurti and Tommasi, of the Rome Agricultural
Chemical Experiment Station, have determined the effect of
nitrogenous fertilizers on Phaseolus vulgaris and P. multi-
Jlorus, collecting and analysing the seeds in each case. Par-
ticular attention was directed to the amount of non-protein
nitrogen, which is taken as a measure of the toxic principle.
The results conclusively show the presence of,a larger propor-
tion of non-protein in the beans from the unmanured plants.
The application of sodium nitrate, for example, reduces the
amount of toxic nitrogen in the seeds to about one-third of
that present in the seeds of similar plants grown on un-
manured soil.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of December 1911:—

The month of December started with a very moderate
amount of business in the matter of drugs, a position not
unexpected, nor likely to increase, as the Christmas holidays
and stock-taking seasons approach. The supplies brought
forward, however, even up to the middle of the month, were
very large. Practically no business was transacted in the
last two weeks of the year, so that our report will, neces-
sarily, be a brief one.

GINGER.

At auction on the 6th of the month there was no de-
mand, and the whole of the offerings were bought in. On the
13th, again, there was no demand; some 200 bags of good,
brown rough Calicut were offered, and bought in at 50s. per
ewt., and 12 cases bold ent at 90s. There was no ginger
offered after this month.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.,

On the 6th of the month, 32 packages of Eastern nutmegs
were brought forward, and the bulk sold at 74d. for 68’s. No
West Indian was offered. Of mace, 25 packages of West
Indian were sold at 2s. 4d. to 2s. 5d. per ib. Again on the
13th a steady sale was made of 66 packages of West Indian,
good pale fetching 2s. 6d. per tb., ordinary to fair 2s. 3d. to
2s. 4d., red 2s. 1d. to 2s. 3d., and broken Js. 11d, to 2s. ld.
There has been but little demand for either pimento or arrow-
root, but at the end of the month small sales of the latter were
effected at 33d. per Ib. for fair manufacturing St. Vincent.

SARSAPARILLA.

In the early part of the month supplies were exceed-
ingly small, and there was a demand for, grey Jamaica and
native Jamaica, both of which were met at auction on the
14th, by the offerings of 16 bales of the first named and 17
bales of the latter; 14 baies of the grey Jamaica met with
purchasers at 1s. 10d. for fair fibrous, and 1s 3d. for ordinary
very coarse; and for 8 bales of the native Jamaica, 1s. per Ib.
was paid for fair red, 11d. for dull red, and 8d. to 93d. for
part slightly damaged yellow; 8 bales of Lima-Jamaica were
also offered, and all sold at 1s. to 1s. 1d. per hb.

TAMARINDS, OIL OF LIME AND LIME JUICE

At the beginning of the month, West Indian tamarinds
were firm and scarce; enquiries were made for Barbados, and
13s. in bond was paid for Antigua. There were fairly large
arrivals of East Indian, one consignment, consisting of 43
casks fair Calcutta, fetching 12s. A fortnight later West
Indian were still reported scarce, Antigua commanding 14s.
and Barbados 17s., in bond. Distilled oil of limes from
Dominica fetched, in the middle of the month, 1s. 2d. per h.,
and for a case of hand pressed, 5s, 1d. was paid, although it
was sald to contain a quantity of orangeil. At the end of
the month, no West Indian distilled oil of dime was to be had
under 1s. 4d. per Ib, West Indian lime juice continues scarce;
ls. 3d. per gallon is demanded for ordinary raw, while for
better qualities 1s. 4d. to 1s. 6d. is asked.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

London.—Tse West Inpia

MARKET REPORTS.

CoMMITTEE
January 16, 1912; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,

January 5, 1912.

CrrcuLaR,

Arrowroot—3$d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/6; block, 2/4 per tb.

Brerswax—&£7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 60/- to 70/- per cwt.; Grenada, 52/-
to 56/6; Jamaica, 49/6 to 56/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 72/6 to 120/- per cwt.

Uopra—West Indian, £26 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 18¢. to 19d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 64/- per ewt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honry—No quotation.

Lime Jurce—Jaw, 1/2 to 1/4; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£1817s. 6d.;Otto of limes (hand pressed), no quotation.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Mace— Firm.

Normecs—Firm.

Pimento—Common, 2,%d.; fair, 23d.; good, 2}}d.; per tb.

Rvusper—Para,; fine hard, 4/53; fine soft, 4/4; Castilloa,
4/2 per ib,

Rousi—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/6 to 20/3; Muscovado, 14 6 to 17/-;
Syrup, 13/9 to 19/- per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

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

26, 1912

Cacao—Caracas, 12c. to 12#c.; Grenada, 1ljc. to 12c.;
Trinidad, 12c. to 125c. per tb.; Jamaica, 10}c. to 113c.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $24:00 to $25°00; culls,
$1500 to $16°00; Trinidad, select, $26:00 to $27-00;
culls, $15°00 to $16°00 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 14c. to 1dc. per Ib.

Gincer—8jc. to 1le. per Ib.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 48c.
to 52c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 46c. to 48c.
per th.

Grape-Fruit—Jamaica, $3'00 to $4°00.

Lintes—$5°00 to $5°30.

Mace—i0c. to 57c. per tb.

Nutmrecs—110’s, 14c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2:25 per box.

Pimento—22d. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°40c. per Ib. ; Muscovados, 89°,

3°90c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°64c. per Ib., all duty_paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpoy, Grant & Co., February 5,

1912.

Oacao— Venezuelan, $1200 to $12°40 per fanega; Trinidad,
$11°75 to $12:00.

Cocoa-nut O11—99c. per Imperial gallon.

Cexrrze—Venezuelan, 15}c. per Tb.

Copra—$4°35 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4°20 to $4°25.

On1ons—$3 50 to $4°50 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprir—$6'90 to $7:00 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°90 to $2:00 per 100 t.

Rice—Yellow, $4:60 to $4°70; White, $6:00 to $6-25
per bag.

Sucar—Ameriean crushed, no quotations

Fesruary 17, 1912.

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., February 10,
1912; Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co., February 12
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., January 19, 1912

ARROWROOT— $6°50 to $700 per L100 th.
Cacao—$11-00 to $12°00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-Nuts-—$16°00.

Hay—$1°50 to $1°80 per 100 tb.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Cacao manure, $42-00

to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$8°00 to $10-00 per 100 tb
Peas, Sprit—$6'75 to $7°00 per bag of 210 th.; Canada
$2°75 to $4°10 per bag of 120 th. :
Porators—Nova Scotia, $200 to $3:00 per 160 tb.
Rice—Ballam, $4°85 to $5°75 per 190 th.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

75°00 to $80-00

Sucar—American granulated, $5°50 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & Ricurer, February

3, 1912; Messrs. SaAnpBACH, ParKER & Co,
February 2, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARrRowRootT—St. Vincent!

BaxatTa— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH —

Cocoa-NUTS—

Corrree—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DHaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Porators—Novya Scotia

Lisbon
Portators-Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tannias—
Yams—White

Buck
Suear—Dark ciystals

Yellow

White

Molasses
TimBeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

>», Cordwood

Messrs. WIsETING
& RIcHTeErR.

No quotation

70c. per th.

18c. per tb.
96c.

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per th.
18c. per tb.
13c. per tb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 ib.
$450
$1-90
None
6c. to Te.
$7°25 per bag
(210 tb.)
20c. to 40c.
$2°75 to $3-00
$1-20 per bag
No quotation

$500
$2°16
$2°16
$300
$3°15 to $3-20
$4°00 to $4:25
$4°80 to $500
$2:90 to $3-00
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6-00
per M.
$1-8U to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

$13-00 per 200 tb

Prohibited
70c.
13$c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
l6c. per tb.
185c.to 19c. pertb,
123c. per th.
$3°80 per bag of
168 tb.

8e.
$7°60 per bag
(210 ib.)
No quotation

$2°75 to $3:°00
No quotation

$500 to $5-25

$3-20
$400 to $4-10

—_

32c. to 5dc. pex
cub. foot

$400 to $6-00

per M. -

No quotation.

a a a aa oe Coa a

THE AGRICULTURAL WEWS.

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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Industry in the Leeward Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special Reference to
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Acconnt of the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the Area Devastated by the
Soufriére of St. Vincent, in 1902-3; Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
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PAMPHLET SERIES.

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adapted to West Indian conditions, They contain, amongst other subjects, summaries of the results of the experiment work
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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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VII, and IX complete, with title page and index, asissued
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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 :—
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Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 256. THE~ os aes NEWS. Pepe uagy 17, 1912.

THE BEST “MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano-—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorif’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superghosphates, high grades,

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

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.O.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

VAPORITE! JUST ISSUED,
VAPORITE! , ypw AND RE-ENLARGED

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE AND)
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PRICE TWO(2) CENTS PER POG, NATURE TEACH I NG.

THR BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

To be obtained from all agents for the
FACTORY, LIMITED, sale of the Department’s publications. Price
BRIDGETOWN. 2s.; post free, 2s. Sid.

70 BE ISSUED SHORTLY. =
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN. HOR SA! Hj
(Vol. XII, No. 1.) °

Containing papers on: Mz tna Experiments with Cotton in|

the Leeward Islands; The Cotton Industry in the Leew: ard| =

He pods, Rubber in Ene Drier eas aos is Pads RE ae PRIME SUMMER YELLOW COTTON
vererence t cua; + tes on Rubber Trees in Domin

ica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An Accouut of SEED OIL.

the Return of Vevetation and the Revival of Ag griculture, in the! 5 i

Area, Devastated by the Soufriere of St. Vi incent, in 1902-3: In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in Yami ia

St. Lucia; The Estimation of Carbonates and of Organic Carbon COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.

in Soils; Lhe Epizootiology of Anthrax; Grafted Cacao at the : r \RN

Dominica Bota ie Station; The Determination of the Water ERNEST THORNE, LTD., ae

Content of Molasses and the Composition of Antigua and Fi Cotton Seed Oil Mills,

St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses; and Title page and Index of Vol. Xi. © Barbados, W.LI.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's Telegraphic address,
Publications. Pricé Gd., post tree, 8d. (267) ‘Thorum.’
————

* Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

[IF NOT, WRITE FOR IT TO-DAY. WE SEND IT FREE OF COST NO CACAO
| PLANTER CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT. |
CONTENTS.
Introduction, Soil,
| Varieties. Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting,
and Budding Cultivation.
| Tnarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) PULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KAL! WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

HAVE YOU OUR NEW BOOK ON CACAO?
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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW Ns

<y/

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. rs
Vor. XI. No. 257. BARBADOS, iia a ee Paice 1d

CONTENTS.

PaGE. PaGE.

Agricultural Conference, Insect Notes :—

1912; IT Santee hues ftceeOd Sugar-Cane Insects of Z
Calgar e yeuamoes ESOL ‘ Steet eee by is
ee ake | Market Repeal c, : a 80

Cotton-Picking Machine Ue fae eee

é ratory Measur nts | 3
Laboratory Measurements Imperial Department

=e eae Gus : en of Agriculture ... ... 72
. | Silk Production in Italy ... 71
Departmental Reports . 69 | Soils, Effect of Soluble Salts
Department News ... ... 75 OD. «a tece sen, WL
Electricity and Animal Pro- | Students’ Corner T7
duction : 73 | Sugar Industry :—

| Demerara Sugar-Canes in
ime
Louisiana ... . 67

Fungus Notes :—
Trade and Agriculture of

The Red Rot Disease of

ne pee ane cg|_. Barbados, 1910-11 77

aOR ‘©! West Indian Products 79
Gleanings eee eee eee 76] West Indian Rubber and
Humus in Soils, Method for Recent Rubber Exhibi-

Determination of 4 BH) CLO See sed TO

The West Indian Agricultural Conference,
1912.

le

Conference in Trinidad, and presented a general account
of the chief proceedings at the opening of the Confer-

ence. It is now proposed to deal broadly with the chief
matters that were elucidated in discussion, on the next
two days, when subjects were taken up that are con-
nected with cacao and sugar,and with plant diseases and
pests, and cocoa-nut, lime, fruit and rice industries.

The discussion in regard to cacao brought forward
the question as to whether spraying with Bordeaux
mixture may be counted upon as a control measure for
any fungus, whether the true cause of the disease is
known or not; and it was affirmed, as the result of ex-
perience, that such spraying is effective, no matter what
the origin of the fungus disease may be. If, however,
as, for instance in the case of cacao canker, the disease
has gained entrance into a plant, Bordeaux mixture can
be of no avail as a remedy; stress may be placed on its
use on the pods, as a preventive measure, because it is
through the pods that canker affects the cacao plant.
As regards the resistance of different varieties of cacue
to this disease, Alligator cacao has been found in Trini-
dad to be particularly susceptible; while in Dominica,
Calabacillo shows a greater immunity than Forastero
cacao. The experience of several of the Delegates in
relation to the occurrence of thrips under different con-
ditions tended to show that the attacks of this pest are
sometimes most severe where there is no shade, and
sometimes where this is provided; it seemed the must
general circumstance, however, that it will probably be
found in the greatest amounts where sunlight has free
access to the plants. Further evidence was brought
forward to the effect that the pest is most likely to be
present, in injurious numbers, in dry seasons, and in
cultivations situated in low-lying lands.

The suggestion was made as to the existence of
natural enemies of thrips, when it was stated that

66 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marca 2, 1912,

these are unknown, so far, in the West Indies. Atten-
tion was, however, drawn to the fact that a parasite of
the pest has been discovered recently, in pear orchards,
in California, the parasitism amounting, in some cases,
to as much as 70 per cent.; this is to be introduced
into the West Indies, by way of Trinidad, and the fact
that the host belongs to the same species of thrips as
is injurions in this part of the world renders it the
more hopeful that it will prove to be asuccessful means
of control. Under present conditions, in the West
Indies, evidence points to the fact that cacao thrips is
best kept in check by the adoption of proper methods
of cultivation and manuring, to the end that the plants
may be maintained in a state of good health.

Discussion relating to grafted cacao led to the
consideration of the possibility and utility of making
crosses between different varieties, in order to obtain
forms possessing the best qualities of various kinds.
It was stated that, in Dominica, hybrids had been
obtained, and that it was intended to proceed further
with the work of crossing. A matter of importance and
utility in this connexion is that, when a desirable type
is obtained in such a manner, it can be quickly perpet-
uated by grafting, with reasonable certainty that
all the new individuals will possess the characteristics
for which that type has been produced. Dealing, fur-
ther, with the natural outcome of such work, namely
the eventual acquirement of plantations containing
trees belonging to one variety, although the advantages
of the possession of uniform cultivations were admitted,
attention was drawn to the greater chance that these
possess of being destroyed by an epidemic of disease, as
compared with that to which a mixed cultivation, possi-
bly containing immune types, is subjected. A further
advantage of mixed cultivations was also suggested,
namely the circumstance that, in these, flowering and
fruit-bearing take place at different periods, in the case
of the various types, so that an economy in the matter
of drying space is effected, because the coming to
maturity of the pods takes place during a lengthened
period.

Another matter connected with cacao cultivation
had relation to the clioice of types for planting under
different conditions. In regard to this, it is obvious
that ‘the question awaiting solution is whether fine
quality of the cacao, productivity of the plants, or
resistance to disease, is the property that it is most
desirable to acquire. A partial answer has been found,
in experience, in the circumstance that some condi-
tions have pointed to the advantage of employing low-

lying lands for raising the commoner and more produc-
tive varieties. From what has been said, however, it
is evident that the aim of future work will be to obtain
forms possessing two, or even all three, of these emi-
nently useful characteristics.

At the session for the discussion of matters relat-
ing to sugar, before the regular business was taken up,
a resolution was brought forward, with the leave of the
President of the, Conference, expressing dismay at the
threatened withdrawal of Great Britain from the
Brussels Sugar Convention, and this was carried with
acclamation. After the reading of papers dealing with
experiments with sugar-cane, one of the first matters
receiving attention was the faci of the inapplicability of
Mendelian principles in the production of varieties, at
the present time. In further discussion, the subject of
the failure of the Bourbon cane came under notice, and
the meeting was reminded that more than one variety
existed, which was included under this name: while the
interesting suggestion was made that the true Bour-
bon had maintained its good properties for so long
a period because it was being reproduced, from time to
time, by seed. In any case, practical evidence was
brought forward that there existed the certainty, in
many instances, that the yield of sugar had not de-
creased, from the old returns, under the cultivation of
seedling canes.

Several papers were read which had relation to
the subject of plant pests and diseases, and the ques-
tion arose as to the possible existence of the danger
that fungi that had been disseminated in districts, for
the purpose of controlling scale insects and other insect
pests, may themselves become dangerous to plants.
No evidence has been found, in any case, to show that
there is such a danger. One of the most interesting
matters that came forward, in relation to such control,
was the degree to which the fungus Cephalosporiwm
lecanii had appeared to lessen the numbers of the mango
shield scale in Grenada: the scale had disappeared from
about three-quarters of the existing trees, since it had
been disseminated from certain districts where it was
doing its work asa parasite, and there is little doubt
that the disappearance is due to the presence of the fun-
gus; thus a cheap and effective method is in operation for
the control of the mango shield scale, in that island. As
was pointed out by the President, this kind of control
of insect pests is a matter of recent development—
a development which marks the existence of new lines
of work, in the West Indies as well as other parts of
the world.

Vor. XI, No, 257.

Among pests that received a considerable amount
of attention, in discussion, were the cotton stainers, and
evidence was adduced to show that, where cotton pick-
ing is completed early, and the plants are removed
some time before the next crop is sown, the numbers
of cotton stainers in the fields are very largely reduced.
This matter is not sufficient, however, to account for
the instances of the sudden disappearance of cotton
stainers, from certain districts, that have taken place
from time to time, and these have not yet received
explanation. Another subject in which interest was
evinced particularly was the parasitism of plant lice by
insects, and it was stated that examples showing such
parasitism had been received, but that actual determin-
ations of the parasites have not yet been made.

At the end of the session, the President drew the
attention of members of the Conference to the booklet
to be issued by the Imperial Department of Agriculture,
entitled Insect Pests of the Lesser Antilles, and pre-
pared by Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sec., Entomologist on the
Staff of the Department, proof copies of which had been
distributed. Much appreciation was expressed by Dele-
gates, of the contents and manner of production, of this
work, and evidence is to hand already that it will prove
eminently useful to agriculturists in the West Indies.

The discussions at the remaining sessions of the
Conference will receive attention in the next number
of the Agricultural News.

DEMERARA SUGAR-CANES IN LOUISIANA.

The sugar planters, field managers and central factory
operatives of the Lower Coast have up to the present season
enjoyed twelve consecutive years of experience in the cultiva-
tion and manufacture into sugar of the Demerara seedling
canes numbers 74 and 95, introduced into this State by
Professor Stubbs, then Director of the Sugar Experiment
Station, some twenty odd years since.

In Plaquemines parish, which produces most of the
sugar made on the banks of the Mississippi River below
New Orleans, both of these two varieties of seedling canes
have proved themselves so very far superior to the former
general type of red and striped ribbon canes, that they have
largely forced the latter out of cultivation, and this season,
on the entire West Bank of Plaquemines parish, the cultiva-
tion of the older variety of cane has been virtually abandoned,
as no seed has been, or will be, put up this season for its per-
petuation.

From the personal observation of the writer of this article,
the virtues of these two new varieties of cane are so nearly
even that it has been difficult to determine which is the more
valuable of the two. The Louisiana Planter has editorially
described the relative advantages of D.74, at such great
length and so often, that it will not be necessary to repeat
them here. But on the Lower Coast, 1).74 is coming to

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 67

be regarded as involving too much risk from storm breakage,
to form the main proportion of a cane crop. It suffered fear-
fully in this section in the storm of September 20, 1909. In
the blow of short duration of the 12th instant, from the north,
with a forty-mile-an-hour velocity, there was again consider-
able damage done to the tall D.74 plant cane by top and stalk
breakage, in some fields such damage being at least a loss of
10 per cent.

With the above-repeated lesson, this greatest disadvan-
tage will probably lead ultimately to a complete discontinu-
ance of the cultivation of D.74 on the Lower Coast, much to
the regret of those who have noted its numerous supericrities
in other respects.

jut the weight of planting and manufacturing opinion
in this special district is that the D.95 will more profitably
replace the diminishing D.74;and the probability is that
D95 wiil in a few years be the exclusive cane in that
part of the sugar belt, unless some superior seedling be
soon imported.

The D.95 requires the same intensive tilth as D.74,
and under similar conditions, with an average rainfall, will
produce, or has produced, a heavier tonnage than ever ob-
tained from D 74, or any other kind of cane grown on the
Lower Coast. Forty-five tons to the acre has been the product
of a field of 60 acres.

As seed it does not keep as well as the D.74, but from
good seed makes as good a stand of plant cane, and very far
better stands of stubble [ratoons|

In storms it is never broken, and rarely blown prostrate,
bowing before the wind to an angle of almost 45 degrees,
and keeping its joints well clear of the ground.

To cane borers, compared to the .74, it is almost
immune.

As a cold resister it is far superior to the striped cane
and about equal to D.74. In the blizzard of Novem-
ber 13, as far up as Belle Alliance, near the head of Bayou
Lafourche, where the minimum temperature was 24 degrees,
much D.95 cane was so little injured as not to be hurt for
seed, as none of the eyes were killed.

The Louisiana Planter has already published several
articles concerning the adaptability of the D.95 cane to the
rank reclaimed marsh and swamp lands of the Lower Coust,
where in the first season’s planting such cane has yielded
more than 180 tb. of sugar to the ton, while striped cane
on such soil would not have given enough sugar the first year
of its planting to pay the cost of its cutting and hauling to
mill.

While the sucrose percentage of D. 95 is very nearly
equal to that of D. 74 under similar conditions and
environment in the beginning and middle of the grinding
campaigns, it is fully equal in the latter half of the season,
and from start to finish much higher than that of the striped
cane.

During this season, in at least two of the four central f.c-
tories of the Lower Coast, the sugar yields have been fairly
satisfactory in the three first weeks of the campaign, having
attained an average from the start of very nearly 160 th. of
sugar to the ton of cane. The fact of this yield having been
well above the general average of the sugar belt is almost
certainly due to the almost exclusive handling of the seedling
canes, D. 95 forming the greater part of the raw material.

In view of the Lower Coast’s justified partiality to the
1).95 cane, perhaps it would be well for the planters of the
sugar belt generally to pay more attention to that com-
paratively neglected seedling, and at least give it a fair trial
in their lower grounds. (From the Lowisiana Planter, Novem
ber 25, 1911.)

68 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Marcu 2, 1912,

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FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

COCOA-NUT FIBRE.

The increased extent to which cocoa-nut plantations have
becn made in Madagascar and the French islands of Oceania,
and the fact that many of the plantations have commenced
to yield the fruit on such a scale that it may be utilized prac-
tically, has led the owners to enquire as to the ways in which
the cocoa-nut may best be exploited on a commercial scale.
In connexion with the matter, L’Hxpansion Coloniale, which
is issued by the Colonial Institute of Marseilles, gives an
account, in its issue for December 1911, of the method of
preparing the fibre (coir) in the part surrounding the kernel,
that is employed in Ceylon, as this is described by M. Lan,
Acting Director of Agriculture and Commerce in Cochin
China.

The article mentions, first of all, the fact that the opera-
tions begin by the retting of the outer layer of the fruits in
stagnant water, in large vessels having a depth of 4 to 5 feet,
a length of about 13 feet, and a breadth equal to the depth;
they remain there for about two days, at the end of which
time they are taken to the combing machines. They are then
split into four or five pieces, by children, and subjected to the
action of cylindrical combs, moved by a crank, and formed
of strong metal points about 14 inches long. In this way,
most of the foreign matters have been removed, after the
pieces have been subjected, on both surfaces, to the action of
four such combs.

The next step in the process is to wash the fibres in tubs
of water, in order to 1.emove the matter that still adheres to
them; and when they are ready, they are dried in the sun,
being spread out.in thin, regular layers for the purpose. The
process of drying requires about a day, unless it rains, when
the fibres have to be sheltered from the wet until the sun
shines again. Drying is aided by frequently moving the
mass, and turning it over.

The dry fibres are then subjected to a further combing,
by hand, the effect being to separate those which are long
from the shorter fibres, The former are used in making
brushes; the latter are employed in the manufacture of rope,
for stuffing mattresses and in making carpets. This comb-
ing is conducted with a contrivance which is fixed to a beam
embedded in the soil, and possesses triangular teeth 10 inches

long and 1} inches apart. The two kinds of fibres obtained
are sent to Hurope, where they are employed for the purposes
to which they are suited.

The annual yield of one tree amounts to 5 or 6 bb. of
commercial fibre. The average price obtained for this is
equivalent to about 12s. 4d. per ewt.

Attention is drawn by M. Lan to the fact that all nuts
do not give fibre of the same quality. The best fibre is
obtained from those that are not quite ripe, the opposite
being the fact in regard to the oil. When the fruit has
ripened, the fibres obtained from it are hard'and difficult to
ret; the fibres from unripe fruits are wanting in strength;
they are at their best at the commencement of ripening.
A useful practice consists in reserving nuts that contain little
oil, for the production of fibre. Nevertheless, the latter, even
when it is of inferior quality, is sufficiently valuable to pay
for the labour that is required for preparing it.

The article concludes with figures from market reports
which indicate that the prices for coir have shown an increas-
ing tendency, and it is considered that they will continue to
show it for some time.

International Exchange by the Smithsonian
Institution.—The report of the Secretary of the Smithso-
nian Institution for the year ending June 30, 1911, shows
that, in the international exchange of publications conducted
by the Institution, the number of packages handled during
the year amounted to 228,698, as compared with 221,625 in
the previous similar period. for carrying on this work, the
amount required was $36,955. The number of packages sent
abroad was. 187,707, and there were received in return
40,991. The apparent disparity between the number receiv-
ed and that sent out may be partly accounted for by the
fact that many returns from other countries are sent by mail,
and not through the exchange service. Another reason is
found in the cireumstance that the term Package often
includes a large number of publications. The figures that
are given show that nearly three-quarters of the work of the
International Exchanges Office of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion has been conducted on behalf of United States govern-
ment establishments.

Vor. Xl. No: ‘257.

ANTIGUA: REPORTS ON THE BOTANIC
STATION, EXPERIMENT PLOTS AND AGRICUL-
TURAL EDUCATION, 1910-11.

Among the additions made at the Botanic Station,
Antigua, during the period under report, has been a seed
house for the reception of seeds and tender seedlings. In
spite of the untoward conditions that were experienced, the
collection of striking species of plants has been maintained,
and it has alsc received several acauisitions.

Further attempts to raise seedling canes were not
successful. Of those produced dwing 1902-3 and 1907-8,
nineteen were planted, in the previous year, on one of the
sugar estates, and of these again two, designated as A.95
and A.149, were chosen for the purpose of inclusion in the
experiments with varieties, During the year under report,
twenty-seven varieties raised in Antigua were planted on
Cassada Garden estate.

The details concerning plant distribution show that the
number of plants sent out, not including sugar-cane and
onion plants, which vary considerably in amount from year
to year, was the largest recorded. It shows that extensive
planting of limes took place during the year, the number
despatched from the station being over 16,000. The distri-
bution of cocoa-nuts was smaller; but this does not indicate
any diminution of interest in the cocoanut industry, for
there was a large number of plants ready for distribution,
and a larger number of seeds on order. In the experi-
ment plots sttached to the Station, there are included
cocoa-nuts, lime seedlings, hybrid cotton, various economic
plants and three grasses, namely Andropogon annulatus,
Paspalum dilatatum and Pennisetum cenchroides. Suecessful
working of the cadet system is reported; this receives atten-
tion, it may be mentioned, in the West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. XII, p. 20.

The area planted in cotton, in Antigua, has continued to
decrease, until in 1909-10 it was 252 acres. The export for the
season, in the island mentioned, was 67,617 Ib. of lint; that
of seed-cotton from Barbuda was 126,386 tb., corresponding
to an estimated amount of 31,596 Ib. of lint. This gives an
average return of lint, over the wkole area, of 177 tb. per
acre. An interesting account is presented, of trials of cotton
varieties possessing lint of shorter staple than that of Sea
Island, on some of the heavier soils in Antigua. The statis-
ties given concerning the lime industry show that this is in
a healthy condition. The onion industry, first taken up
about 1896, is now well established, and of some importance
in the island. Attention has been drawn already to the fact
that interest is being maintained in the cocoa-nut industry.
The Report presents notes in connexion with possible new
subsidiary industries for Antigua. Short mention is made
of the sugar-cane experiments, which receive, as usual, treat-
ment in a special report.

The experiments at Skerretts and Scott’s Hill have been
continued on the lines of previous years, and included trials
with cassava, sweet potatoes, cotton, eddoes and tannias,
broom corn, yams, sesame, various green dressings and
fodders, Indian corn, castor oil, onions, mangoes, insecti-

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 69

cides and hedges. The information concludes with a report
on agricultural education at the Grammar School, to which
is appended a special report by the Agricultural and Science
Master.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: ANNUAL REPORT
ON THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1910-11.

A general summary of this, by Professor P. Carmody,
F.LC., F.C.S., the Director of Agriculture, placed at the be-
ginning of the report, shows that additional experiments are
now being carried on in different parts of the Colony, and
that they include 52 acres of bearing cacao and 35 acres of
sugar-cane. The Cacao Prize Competition for 1911 received
430 entries, and it is expected that its resul‘s will eventually
be valuable. NRubber-tapping experiments have been con-
tinued, and the investigations in Tobago, in connexion with
cacao and rubber, have been resumed actively. In relation
to this island, some of the most interesting work is that which
is being done in the hybridization of cotton, by Mr. T. Thorn-
ton, A.R.C.S.

Note is made of the fact that the export of cacao for the
year ending December 31, 1910, was above the record at-
tained in the previous year, being nearly 58,000,000 ib., as
compared with 51,575,000 tb. Manurial experiments with
cacao are commencing to show that benefit accrues, under the
conditions of the trials, by the addition of manure in cacao
plantations; although, as is stated, the fact that the investi-
gations have only been carried on for a year makes it unwise
to draw any positive conclusions from them. Mention is made
of small plot cacao manurial experiments, in their second
year, the results of which were not ready for publication.
Money has been voted by the Board of Agriculture for the
purpose of carrying out manurial experiments with cacao in
districts of the island where the conditions differ; this fact
has led to the increase in the area of cacao experimentation
mentioned at the beginning of this review.

The conditions were unfavourable to the sugar-cane. The
work of greatest interest in connexion with this has been
carried on in relation to frog-hoppers and Castnia licus, seed-
ling canes, and cane farming. The cultivation of cocoa-nuts is
extending. With reference to rubber, mention is made of the
report made by Mr. H. Smith of Tobago, on his visit to
Mexico and Central America, on behalf of the Board of Agri-
culture; this was reviewed in the Agricultural News, Vol. X,
p. 91. Other matters of chief interest in connexion with
rubber include the representation of the Colony at the recent
International Rubber Exhibition, and the tapping of trees on
estates, by the Department. The information given concern-
ing cotton relates chiefly to ‘I'hornton’s hybrid cotton,

The value of the bananas exported from Trinidad during
last year was nearly £20,000; at the present time the space
required for fortnightly shipments amounts to about 200 tons
of cold storage.

In regard to agricultural education, there are included:
the Cacao Prize Competition scheme, in connexion with which
circulars of instruction are being issued; arrangements in con-
nexion with agricultural inspection and education in Tobago,
and the making of an agricultural reference library at the
Director’s office. The numbers of circulars and bulletins issued
were ten and seven respectively.

At the conclusion of the general summary, the informa-
tion includes the more detailed accounts of the work at the
various institutions and places supported in connexion with
agriculture, namely, the Botanical Department, the River
Estate, the Government Farms, St. Augustine Estate, the
Government Laboratory, Manurial Experiments and Rubber
Tapping Experiments.

70 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Marca 2, 1912.

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Wi.
f

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date February 12, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 100 bales of West Indian Sea
Island cotton have been sold, from various Islands at 18d.
to 20d. and prices are very firm. A few choice St. Vincent
have realized from 22d. to 24d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending February 10, is as follows:—

The sales for the week were 128 bales, consisting of some
crop lots classing Fine to Extra Fine, which were ordered
sold on a basis of quotations, also some odd bags of Fine and
Fully Fine off in preparation.

The planters’ crep lots continue to be held beyond the
views of buyers, also about 400 bales of old crop cotton
brought over from last year.

There is a limited demand for all the offerings which the
Factors are willing to sell at our quotations, the buying being
for England, France and the Northern mills.

We quote viz:—

Extra Fine 32c.=18d., c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
Fine to Fully) 960 to 28c. = 15d, to 16d. c.i.f. & 5 per cent.
Fine J

Fine to Extra Fine, 1 g¢. to 25c.= 104d. to 143d. ,,
off in preparation J 2

” 0

A Cotton-Picking Machine.—Dr. Fischer has
just given the Technical Commission of the German Colonial
Agriculiural Committee reasons for the conclusion that the
Campbell cotton-picking machine has great commercial value.
He states that one machine can easily pick 5,000 hb. of cot-
ton per day, and under favourable conditions as much as
10,000 b., whilst the machine only requires a man and
a youth to work it. After estimating all working costs, and
allowing for depreciation, Dr Fischer estimates that the pick-
ing cost is about 1s. 5d. per ewt. as against 4s. 2d. per ewt.
for hand labour. Dr. Fischer suggests making large-scale
experiments with the machine in the German African colon-
ial cotton fields, but he admits that it may not prove so suit-
able for the class of cotton grown there as in America. The
price of the machine, f.o.b. New York, is put at £1,000, whilst
the weight is about 44 tons. The makers are the Price-
Campbell Cotton Pickers’ Corporation, and they expect to pro-
duce 12,000 machines during the next four years. If the
machine can really do what is claimed for it, its importance
to the cotton industry is demonstrable. (Jowrnal of the Royal
Society of Arts, December 29, 191i, p. 182.)

gh = ZITA ZO sy
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LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS FOR
VALUING COTTON.

Asis pointed ont in an article in L’Agriulture Pratique
des Pays Chauds, for November 1911, the chief commercial
qualities of a sample of cotton are four, namely, length, fine-
ness, strergth and uniformity; of these the last naturally
depends on the others. Further, all these qualities vary in
different crops, in different individuals from the same crop,
in different bolls from the same plant, in different seeds from
the same boll, and in different parts of the same seed. It is,
therefore, necessary that the method of sampling must be
very definite, and must take account of all the variations
that may occur ina normal fashion on one seed, on different
seeds on the same boll, and in different bolls on the same
plant. In employing such methods, it is of no use to make
the observations on commercial samples; it is recognized at
the same time that it is possible, after long practice, to carry
out a quick examination of such samples, trom a commercial
point of view, without using measures of any kind. The
article mentioned proceeds to give details of the ways in
which the various measurements in connexion with cotton
fibre may be made, and from these the following information
is taken.

MEASUREMENT OF AVERAGE LENGTH OF FIBRE. On
a given seed, the fibres at the apex are always longer than
those at the base; the length may also vary from one end of
the seed to the other. Another matter is that, in a given
boll, it is generally the third seed, reckoning from the apex,
that possesses the longest fibres, although there are excep-
tions to this.

In making the measurements, the fibres on the seed
selected are combed by means of a mounted needle, in order
to extend them radially from the seed. If the cotton on
this is regular, two samples are taken by means of forceps,
from the apex of the seed and from the side, and one from
the base; each sample should consist of about thirty fibres,
and all these are measured, and the average length found. If
the cotton is irregular in length, samples representing
the areas in which it is longest and shortest are taken,
and a similar procedure is followed. This entails about
150. measurements of each seed, and as at least three
seeds are examined from each boll, and at least three bolls
at three different levels on the plant, the total number of
measurements in the case of any one plant is a minimum of
4,050. These should be made quickly, and in the interests of
accuracy, it is found better to make a large number of meas-
urements to half a millimetre rather than to take the trouble
of measuring to a tenth of a millimetre.

In the method of Deschamps, for measuring the length
of individual fibres, small pieces of black gummed paper cut
into squares of about 41-inch are employed; a fibre is detached

Vors XI No: 257.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 71

* from the sample by means of a fine pair of forceps, and each
end is fixed to a square of the paper by means of a light,
wet brush, when on drying, the fibre may be straightened
by separating the squares of paper by means of forceps, and
its length measured. A variation of the method is to place
the fibre on a plate of black glass and to stretch it by draw-
ing a wet brush in a straight line over it.

A further method of determining the average length of
the fibres in a small sample pulled from the seed consists in
placing them, carefully combed out, on a piece of thick,
uniform paper and drawing the outline of the space covered
by the straightened fibres; the area of this space depends on
the average length of the fibres, and it may be measured by
cutting out the piece of paper marked by the outline, weigh-
ing it, and comparing its weight with that of a piece of the
paper of known area. The extent to which this method may
be applied is limited; it is only suited for the comparison of
samples of the same origin.

MEASUREMENT OF AVERAGE DIAMETER, OR FINENESS.
This requires a smaller number of observations than that
needed for estimating the average length. As in the case of
the latter quality, the diameter of different fibres varies; most
generally, the largest fibres are found on the seeds at the base
of the boll, much more rarely on those at the middle; while
the finest fibres are found on those at the apex; on the same
seed the fineness usually increases progressively from the base
to the apex. For comparing the fineness of cottons of differ-
ent types, it is sufficient to make the measurements from sain-
ples taken from the middle of the seed; if, on the other hand,
it is required to ascertain the average fineness of a given
erop, the observations must be made on three seeds from each
capsule, the samples being taken from the hase, the middle
and the apex of each, and as they must he conducted on three
bolls at three different levels on each plant from three plants
representative of the crop, the total number of measurements
becomes at least 810.

Experience has shown that the largest diameter of the
fibres is usually at the lower third; a further matter is that
direct measurement of the fibres spread out under the micro-
scope has been found more satisfactory than that of the
sections of the fibre cut and mounted in suitable media.

MEASUREMENT OF STRENGTH. Speaking exactly, the
strength or tenacity of a cotton fibre is measured by the
weight which, suspended at one end of it, is necessary to
cause it to break; the elasticity is measured by the extension
per unit of length which the fibre undergoes before being
broken. ;

For measuring strength, Henri has invented an appa-
ratus consisting essentially of a marked float having at its
upper end a metal stopper, provided with a pair of smal]
forces; the jaws of the forceps are covered with small flat
pieces of cork, in order to prevent the crushing of the fibre
which they hold. The float moves vertically in a calibrated
glass vessel, funnel shaped at the lower part, and provided
with a stop-cock similar to that of a burette. The upper
part of the apparatus comprises essentially a second pair of
forceps like the first, fixed to a copper rod in such a way as
to permit of rotation. This rod is held in horizontal arm,
which may be moved up and down. A piece of blackened
wood is placed behind the upper pair of forceps in order to
facilitate observation on the fibre that is being examined.
For the purpose of determining the elongation of the fibre,
a needle pivoted to one of the uprights holding the apparatus
is fixed, by its shorter length on one side of the pivot, to the
lower pair of forceps. :

In conducting an observation, water is poured into the
vessel, the fibre is fixed in the forceps, and the proper adjust-

ments made. Water is then allowed to run slowly out of the
vessel, in order to cause the float to be partly supported by
the fibre, and when this breaks, the position of the mark on
the float relative to the graduations on'the vessel, as well as
the position of the needle, are noted. After this, by suitable
calculation, the breaking strain and the elasticity of the fibre
are ascertained.

THE EFFECT OF SOLUBLE
SALTS ON SOILS.

The following is a summary, given at the end of
Bulletin No. 82 of the Bureau of Soils of the United
States Department of Agriculture, which deals with
investigations of the effect of soluble salts on the
physical properties of soils :—

From the foregoing experiments and discussion it is
evident that the causes producing a change of structure in
the soil are many and complex.

It has been demonstrated, furthermore, that the addi-
tion of small amounts of soluble salts affects the physical
properties, and therefore the structure of the soil.

Some results obtained are not explained by hitherto
known facts and are apparently not in accord with theories
regarding the action of salt solutions on solid particles.

From the results no predictions can be made regarding
the specific direction or the amount of the action of salts on
particular soils, but it can be asserted positively that there
is a measurable change in the structure of a soil due to the
addition of soluble salts. It is conceivable that there are
causes producing changes other than those which are gener-
ally considered.

The effect of salts is more pronounced in a soil contain-
ing a large percentage of fine soil particles, and this leads to
the conclusion that colloid-like clay particles are aftected
most by soluble salts, and in turn affect most the structure of
the soil.

The actual nature of the condition produced in the
smallest soil particles is not known beyond the fact that
flocculation and deflocculation may be produced.

The photographs of soil layers, in addition to these
effects, show an apparent difference in the grouping cf the
smaller aggregates with reference to the larger soil grains.

The fact that the problems are complex does not detract
from the praccical conclusion that soluble salts, whether they
supply to a soil elements necessary for plant growth or not,
may produce in the soil measurable changes in structure
which in turn greatly influence plant growth.

Silk Production in Italy.—The Italian cocoon
crop of 1910 amounted to 22,658,000'Ib., as compared with
21,870,000 tb. in 1909 and 27,933,000 th. in 1908. The crop of
Piedmont in 1910 was a little over 10 million tb., as
against 9 million in 1509, and 15 million in 1908. In
1910, as in 1909, Piedmont, instead of producing, as usual,
more than one-half of the total Italian crop, produced so
small a quantity as greatly to diminish the total crop uf
Italy. The failure of the Piedmontese crop was due in part
to the cold and rainy weather of the spring months which
affected the growth of mulberry leaves, and in part to
Diaspis pentagona, which made its appearance early in the
spring and caused considerable damage. The quality of the
crop was, however, satisfactory, and was richer in silk than
the crop of 1909. (From the Jowrnal of the Royal Society
of Arts, January 26, 1912, p. 292.)

=I
lo

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,
28, 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural Aews

Vou. XI.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1912. No. 257.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Oontents of Present Issue.

In this issue is presented the second of the
editorial articles having relation chiefly to matters that
received discussion at the recent Agricultural Con-
ference.

An article on page 68 describes the methods em-
ployed for the extracting and preparation of cocoa-nut
fibre in Ceylon.

On page 69, there are given reviews of the annual
reports for 1910-11 of the Agricultural Departments in
Antigua and Trinidad.

An article on pages 70 and 71 describes methods
for making laboratory measurements for the purpose of
valuing cotton lint. The object of these is to supple-
ment the tests that are made without an apparatus,
by those who possess experience in the matter.

In this issue, the Insect Notes present an account
of sugar-cane insects of Hawaii, which is given on
page 74. It will be seen that several of these pests
are of the same kind as those in the West Indies;
though there are radical differences in the methods that
are adopted for the control of some of them.

An article on page 75 gives an account of the
rubber from the West Indies that was exhibited at the
Second International Rubber Exhibition held last year
in London. It presents a description of the samples,
more particularly from a commercial point of view.

The Fungus Notes, on page 78, review an article
that appeared recently, describing work in connexion
with the red rot disease of the sugar-cane, 1n Louisiana.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Marcu 2, 1912.

Publications. of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

The first part of Volume XII of the Wesé Indian
Bulletin is being issued. It commences with accounts
entitled: Manurial Experiments with Cotton in the
Leeward Islands, ‘fhe Cotton Industry in the Leeward
Islands, and Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands,
with Special Reference to Antigua, by Mr. H. A. Tem-
pany, B.Sc., Superintendent of Agriculture for the
Leeward Islands. The interests of rubber receive further
attention in a succeeding article entitled Some Notes
on Rubber Trees in Dominica, by J. Jones, Curator of
the Botanic Station, Dominica. After the Cadet System
in Antigua and St. Kitts has been described in a short
article, a paper 1s presented bearing the title An
Account of the Return of Vegetation and the Revival
of Agriculture in the Area Devastated by the Soufritre
of St. Vincent in 1902-3, by W. N. Sands, Agricultural
Superintendent, St. Vincent; this ts usefully illustrated,
and completed by lists of plants collected, during 1907,
in the area devastated by the volcanic eruptions. The
two articles which follow are entitled Notes on St. Lucia
and its Agriculture, and The Lime Industry in St. Lucia,
by J. C. Moore, Agricultural Superintendent, St. Lucia.

The next paper consists mainly of compilations by
Mr. G. G. Auchinieck, BSc. Superintendent of Agri-
culture, Grenada, and of a note by Mr. H. A Tempany,
BSe., in connexion with the work of various investi-
gators in the West Indies on the subject of The Esti-
mation of Certain Physical Properties of Soil; the
information given relates chiefly to experiments in soil
shrinkage and friability. he matter in this issue of
the West Indian Bulletin is completed by the inclu-
sion of papers entitled The Estimation of Carbonates
and of Organic Carbon in Soils, by Dr. Francis Watts,
C.M.G., ete., Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for
the West Indies; The Epizootiology of Anthrax, by
Mr. Stewart Stockman, M.R.C.V.S., Chief Veterinary
Inspector of the Board of Agriculture, England; Grafted
Cacao at the Dominica Botanic Station, by Mr. J. Jones;
and The Determination of the Water Content of
Molasses and The Composition of Antigua and St.
Kitts-Nevis Molasses, by Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc.,
and Mr. V. M. Weil, B.Se., Assistant Government
Analyst, Antigua.

With this issue of the West Indian Bulletin are
distributed the Index and Title Page of Volume XI.

As regards other publications of the Department,
it may bestated that the annual reports on the Botanic
Stations in Grenada and Dominica are being issued,
Additional interest attaches to these from the fact that
they are illustrated.

E> + ae

Candelilla Wax.

With reference to the note on candelilla wax
appearing on page 409 of the last volume of the Agricul-
tural News, it is useful to state that, in the Bulletin of
the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant
Diseases, for November 1910, p. 117, mention is made
of the fact that small lots of this wax are now appear-

Vor. <I Non 257.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

=]
ow

ing on the London markets and in other European
centres. According to the Bulletin du Musée Colon-
ial de Haarlem (July 1910) a company has been form-
ed at Monterey, in Mexico, for the exploitation of
Pedilanthus pavonis, the plant which produces it.

This plant grows wild in North Mexico and in the
neighbouring territory of the United States. It is
a shrub of from 2 feet 6 inches to 4 feet in height, and
every part of it is covered with a thin coating of wax.
The yield in the works is from 33 to 4 per cent.

The cost of a factory capable of producing 226
kilos. of wax per day is about 12,000 franes. The
working expenses amount to 370 francs, per ton, and
the price of the product is 3,000 franc per ton. - This
wax is used for candles, varnishes, photographic plates
and electrical insulators. It is hard, of a pale colour,
with a high melting point. It is superior to Car-
nauba wax, as it keeps perfectly white.

ee, a

Electricity and Animal Production.

An experiment in connexion with this subject
is described in Diplomatic and Consular Reports,
No. 4650, issued in May 1911, in which it was indi-
cated that the birth rate of lambs, under the conditions
of the trial was more than doubled, and that the yield
of wool was greatly increased.

In the experment, which was conducted in Cali-
fornia, 1,000 sheep were placed in a field under the
power wires of the Great Western Power Company:
the same number of sheep was employed at the same
time asa control, without electricity. Where electri-
city was used, the average production of lambs was
a little more than two lambs to each ewe; while under
the ordinary condition it was less than one. At the
same time the sheep, where electricity was used, yielded
one-fifth more wool than those where it was not
employed.

i

A Method for the Determination of Humus
in Soils.

The Jowa Station Bulletin, No. 124, p. 370, pre-
sents an account of a method for the determination
of humus in soils, which has been devised with
a view to the avoidance of difficulties that arise in
regard to filtration, when the ordinary methods are used.
In the manipulation described, a centrifugal machine is
employed, and an account of the procedure is given as
follows: ‘ After washing free from chlorides, the soil is
transferred to a 1-litre shaking bottle with 500 cc. of
a 4 per cent. ammonia solution, using a glass rod to
loosen the soil... The flask is then stoppered with
a rubber stcpper, placed in the shaking apparatus
[which is described] and shaken at the rate of 50 revolu-
tions per minute for three hours. Aé the end of this
time the bottles are removed and the contents allowed
to settle for ten minutes... About 350 cc. of the solu-
tion is then decanted through a funnel into the cen-

trifuge bowl, the top clamped in place, and the solution
whirled for ten minutes. By means of a thumb screw
a part of the solution is drawn off through the glass
tube while the machine is still at full speed. The first
10 c.c. is discarded and then about 70 cc. of the solu-
tion is collected. This amount is readily caught in
a small beaker, which should be coyered at once with
a cover glass to prevent loss by evaporation.

‘Fifty cubic centimetres of the solution, which
represents 1 gramme of soil, is drawn off with a pipette,
placed in a weighed porcelain dish, and evaporated to
dryness on a steam bath. The dish is then dried to
constant weight in an oven at 110° C., and the weight
recorded. The contents of the dish are then ignited in
a muffle furnace, and weighed again after cooling to
room temperature. The loss in weight upon ignitien
represents the weight of the humus, and the increase
of the last weighing over the weight of the empty dish
represents the weight of the ash.’

$$$ + a -—t—“‘“ié‘i SSO

The Properties of Calcium Cyanamide.

The interest in this manure, of comparatively
recent production, has caused a large amount of inves-
tigation to be undertaken concerning its properties.
Some of the work done in this way receives attention
in the Huperiment Station Record, for June 1911,
p. 623.

In the experiments noted, it was found that only
about one-half of the weight of commercial calcium
cyanamide consists of the pure compound: the other
half is composed of free lime and other impurities.
Dicyandiamide and other similar compounds are only
present in traces. When subjected tothe action of the
moisture and carbon dioxide of the air, the commercial
product absorbs water (see also Agricultural News,
Vol. X, p. 313) and finally undergoes a perceptible loss
of ammonia. With improved methods of preparation,
this loss is much lessened. ,

The loss of nitrogen from calcium cyanamide was
also shown to depend upon the method of storage:
when it was placed in thin layers, under dry conditions,
the loss was 1°7 to 18 per cent. of the total nitrogen,
during eight months; under moist conditions, however,
the loss was increased to 8 per cent., in the same time.
It was found that when the manure is applied to the
soil in normal amounts, no loss of ammonia takes place,
for any of this compound that may become free is
absorbed by the soil and undergoes nitrification.

Storage of eulcium cyanamide in a dry place was
shown to cause an increase in its content of dicyan-
diamide. Past results, which indicate that the latter
compound is poisonous to plants, were supported by the
work of the investigators. Another result that received
confirmation was the fact that calcium cyanamide should
be mixed with the soil, before sowing takes place, rather
than applied as a top dressing. -This manner of use
prevents loss of ammonia, and causes any dicyandiamide
that may be formed to be converted quickly into am-
monia, which subsequently undergoes nitrification.

74 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcu 2, 19192,

INSECT NOTES.

SUGAR-CANE INSECTS OF HAWAII.

The sugar-cane insects of Hawaii are dealt with in Bul-
letin 93 of the Bureau of Entomology, United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, by Mr. D. L. Van Dine, who was for
several years Entomologist of the Hawaiian Agricultural
Experiment Station. The information given herewith is
abstracted from the bulletin mentioned, and should be of
interest to growers of sugar-cane in the West Indies.

The Hawaiian Islands, which form a territory of the
United States, lie between latitude 18° 54’ and 22° 15’ North
Latitude, about 2,100 miles south-west from San Francisco.
The climate is similar to that of the islands of the Lesser
Antilles.

The principal sugar-cane pests are four in number: the
sugar-cane leaf hopper (Perkinszella saccharicida, (irk.),
the Hawaiian sugar-cane borer (Sphenophorus obscurus, Boisd.),
the sugar-cane leaf-roller (Omodes accepta, Butl.), and the
sugar-cane mealy-bug (Pseudococcus calceolariae, Mask.).

The sugar-cane leaf-hopper was introduced into the
Hawaiian Islands from Queensland before 1900. The species
occurs throughout the sugar-cane areas, both in Australia and
in Hawaii, and it has been recorded as occurring in Java.
This insect spread rapidiy over the sugar-cane districts of
the Hawaiian Islands, and early in 1903 became generally
abundant throughout the cane fields of the Hawaiian
Territory.

The eggs of the leaf-hopper are often deposited beneath the
epidermis of the sugar-cane stalk, in the internodes, and it is
probably because of this habit that the leaf hopper was intro-
duced into Hawaii, the eggs being concealed in cane cuttings
imported for planting.

The adult leaf-hopper is attracted to light, and this
characteristic accounts for a considerable amount of spread
locally, steamships and railway trains as well as the bright
lights of the sugar-cane factories being responsible for dissemi-
nation of the insect to a large extent. :

During the severe outbreak of leaf-hoppers in Hawaii,
in 1903, the adult insects were often observed to migrate in
enormous swarms, flying with the prevailing wind. The
infected area was probably greatly increased by these
migrations.

The eggs of the leaf-hopper are often deposited in slits in
the epidermis of the leaves and stalks of the sugar-cane. The
time required for them to hatch, in the laboratory, is fourteen
days, while the entire life-cycle occupies a period of about
forty-eight days. It is recorded also that in one trial with
infested cane cuttings, the eggs continued to hatch for
a period of thirty-eight days. This will serve to show the dan-
ger that exists of introducing the leaf-hopper in cane cuttings
imported into any country for planting, since the manner in
which the eggs are deposited in the cane, and the length of
the period over which the young continue to appear, would
make it possible for one shipment to infest an area far remote
from the place of export.

The control of the leaf-hopper falls under several heads,
such as the burning of the trash, the selection of cane varieties,
cultural methods and diversification or rotation of crops. The
use of insecticides, stripping off the mature leaves, and the
collection of adult insects by means of nets, have all been
tried and abandoned. The cutting down and_ burning of
the canes over the centres of infestation resulted in the
destruction of the eggs and immature insects, but many
adults escaped to adjoining fields, by flight.

The burning of the trash, after the cane is harvested, is
the most effective method practised for the control of this
and other pests of the sugar-cane in the Hawaiian Jslands.

In the selection of canes resistant to attacks -of leaf-
hopper, the Yellow Caledonian has been found to be the most
valuable of all the varieties tried.

The use of other crops in rotation with sugar-cane is
strongly recommended. Sugar-cane has been the principal
crop in the Hawaiian Islands for many years, and certain
areas have been planted continuously in that crop for twenty-
five years. Other crops should be grown, either for market or as
green dressings, for rotation with sugar-cane. The practice
of burning the trash results in the loss of great quantities of
organic matter; this can best be replaced by a green dressing
crop, and if for this purpose a leguminous crop be used, not
only organic matter, but an amount of nitrogenous plant
food, will be added to the soil.

It has been estimated that the injury caused by the leaf-
hopper to the sugar-cane industry in the Hawaiian Islands
during 1903 and 1904 amounted to $3,000,000. It is likely,
however, that other pests, and certain fungus diseases, were
responsible for a portion of this loss. The leaf- hopper was
by far the most important of the pests, and this insect, also,
was responsible to a large extent for the severity of the
attacks of the rmd fungus (V/elanconium sacchari), since the
incisions made by the female leaf-hoppers in egg- laying, and
the punctures of these insects of all ages made in feeding.
offer the most ready means of access for the fungus to the
interior of the cane. Any practice which results in the re-
duction in the numbers of the leaf-hoppers will have a very
beneficial effect im connexion with the occurrence of the rind
disease.

Among natural enemies, many predaceous insects, native
to the Hawaiian Islands, at the time of the severe out-
break of leaf-hoppers in 1903 and 1904, found in this pest
a source of food, and undoubtedly aided in reducing its num-
bers. Parasitic insects were introduced from America and
from Australia. The most important of the introduced species
were certain egg parasites from Australia, which is the ori-
ginal home of the leaf-hopper.

The practice of burning the trash results in the destruc-
tion of many beneficial insects, and in consequence of this, it
is still found necessary to propagate the parasites under arti-
ficial conditions, and to distribute them in the fields as the
attacks of the leaf-hopper are commencing.

The Hawaiian sugar-cane leaf-hopper does not occur on
the continent of North America. The insect is closely related
to the corn leaf-hopper, Dicranotropis [Delphax] maidis,
which occurs in the Southern States, and has been recorded
from the West Indies.

The West Indian species, Delphax saccharivora, is
a leaf-hopper attacking sugar-cane; but this insect does not
often occur in sufficient numbers to cause any serious loss.

The sugar-cane borer of the Hawaiian Islands is a weevil
borer, related to’ the weevil borer which is of common occur-
rence in the West Indies. It is the second in importance of
the sugar-cane pests in those islands, and in addition to the
sugar-cane it attacks several palms, and the papaw (Carica
Papaya).

The eggs are laid beneath the epidermis of the cane
stalk; and the larva lives in the tissue of the cane, often com-
pletely destroying the entire interior, even when there is no
external evidence of injury to be seen. The life of the borer
within the stalk-lasts seven weeks. The pupa is formed
within a cocoon made from the fibre of the cane in the stalk.

Vou. XI. No. 257.

Burning of trash is strongly recommended as a control
measure, and the selection of a hard variety of cane such as
Yellow Caledonian is also considered to be of value. The
selection of uninfested seed cane is of importance, since the
adult weevil is able to work its way to the surface even
though buried to a considerable depth. If a cane cutting
which is used for planting contains a borer, the grub will
have every chance to complete its development and escape,
while the cutting will be destroyed.

The practice of collecting the weevils in the field and at
baits consisting of pieces of sugar cane about 12 inches long,
split lengthwise, distributed along the borders of the field,
has been found to yield valuable results. These baits also
furnish the adult females with opportunities for egg-laying,
becoming in consequence heavily infested, and as the canes
dry up the young grubs perish.

The Hawaiian sugar-cane borer has long been known as
Sphenophorus obscurus; it is related to the West Indian
species Sphenophorus sericeus which attacks sugar-cane, and
to other species of the same genus, such as S. sordidus which
is a pest of bananas and S. sexguttatus, which is recorded as
attacking sugar-canes in Porto Rico.

The Hawaiian sugar-cane leaf-roller is the caterpillar of
a moth which isa native of the Hawaiian Islands. It some-
times occurs over large areas in sufficient numbers to cause
a considerable amount of damage to growing sugar-cane.
The species, which is primarily a grass feeder, now occurs
very generally on sugar-cane throughout the islands, feeding
on the leaves, and in the crown of the plant. It is attacked
by parasitic and predaceous insects to such an extent that it
only occasionally becomes a serious pest.

The very young larvae feed in the crown of the sugar-
cane plant, where the young leaves have not yet unrolled.
Later on they roll the margin of a leaf over, forming a tube
for their ‘retreat’. When nearly full-grown they are found
in their rolls or tubes, toward the tip of the upper leaves.

No remedial measures are considered necessary, since the
degree of control exercised by the natural enemies of the
leaf roller is generally sufficient to keep the pest reduced to
fairly small numbers.

The sugar-cane mealy-bug is known in,Louisiana and
the West Indies as well as in the Hawaiian Islands, This
insect feeds on the stalk of the canes. It is not generally
a serious pest, being held in check by its natural enemies.

The burning of. trash and the selection of clean cut-
tings for planting are strongly advised in Hawaii as means of
keeping the mealy-bug from increasing too rapidly.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. P. 'T. Saunders, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Officer
on the Staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture,
returned to Barbados, from Grenada, by the R.M.S.
‘Tagus’, on February 23, 1912.

Mr. G. E. Bodkin, Economic Biologist to the
Department of Science and Agriculture, British Guiana,
after attending the recent Agricultural Conference in
Trinidad, paid a visit to Barbados, in order to have an
opportunity of making investigations, at the Head
Office of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, con-
cerning biological matters of agricultural import in
British Guiana and the West Indies. Mr. Bodkin left
for Dominica, in pursuance of similar work, by the
S.S. ‘Parima’, on February 29, and will probably return
to Barbados on March 16.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 75

WEST INDIAN RUBBER AND
THE RECENT RUBBER
EXHIBITION:

Messrs. Lewis and Peat, of Mincing Lane, were kind
enough to examine critically the various exhibits in the West
Indian section of the recent International Rubber Exhibition,
and have submitted the following commercial report regard-
ing them.

The West Indies were represented at the International
Rubber Exhibition by Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana,
Dominica and Jamaica. About eighteen or twenty different
estates sent samples, and the quality and variety of sorts
exhibited showed a great improvement on those displayed at
the last show at Olympia, three years ago.

HEVEA. Practically all the samples were good, and
some compared very favourably with those from Malaya and
Ceylon. The quality of the rubber without exception was
satisfactory, but a little more experience must be gained, and
a little more attention paid to the various stages of the prep-
aration, especially the washing and drying. Many exhibits
were spoilt by being insufficiently dry, and others by being
too resinous, many showing small particles of dirt and bark.
The smoked biscuits from the Trinidad Botanic Gardens
deserved special mention.

casTitLos. Taken all round, the exhibits of this
species were excellent, and the rubber prepared by Mr. H. S.
Smith’s new machine was as good as any yet produced from
this tree. The two best samples shown were from Major
Walker’s estate, Easterfield, and Mr. Smith’s Caledonia
estate, Tobago. These sheets showed what can be done
with Castilloa latex, and we should think that this rubber
would rank very close to Hevea if sent to the market as well
prepared as these two exhibits. They were better than any-
thing we have seen, either from Mexico or anywhere else.
The Ceara samples were good, but nearly all showed too
much resin, but this might be entirely due to the tree being
very young, and to the insufficient washing after coagulation
and before drying.

The small samples of Landolphia, Funtumia and Ficus,
shown by the Trinidad Department of Agriculture, indicated
that all three of these species give a very marketable latex;
but we doubt whether their cultivation, where Hevea, Castil-
loa or Ceara will grow with such good results as shown by
the other exhibits, is advisable.

Altogether, the collection was most satisfactory, and
although the West Indies are perhaps a few years behind the
big plantation centres of Ceylon and Malaya, they are certain-
ly coming along very fast, and in a few years will be able to
compete. As to Castilloa curing, we think that Mr. H. S.
Smith and his colleagues are teaching the rest of the world
how to doit, andif they can be sure of. a good yield, they
will bring the cultivation of this species to a very high posi-
tion in the rubber-planting world.

Naturally, until the production can be increased so that
regular supplies can be relied upon, it is very difficult to
obtain fair values, and with such small and irregular parcels,
both as regards quantity and quality, prices from time to time
are most erratic, and cannot be fairly quoted as the intrinsic
value of any one of them against either wild Para or plan-
tation Para, cultivated with success in the Middle West.
(Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture, Trinidad and
Tobago, Vol. X, p. 198.)

76 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcn 2, 1912.

The International Sugar Journal for January 1912
states that, during the crop season ending August last, Argen-
tina produced 1,485,666 tons of cane; in the previous season
the production was 1,175,234. It was expected that the
output of sugar would reach 160,000 tons.

The average yield of cotton during the past season in
St. Vincent has been somewhat low, prices for the first
shipments, as has been shown in the Agricultural News, have
been about 20d. to 21d. per tb. The prices for arrowroot
have continued firm in both the English and Intercolonial
markets.

The annual report of the Porto Rico Experiment Station
for 1910 gives the results of trials of chloride of lime, potas-
sium permanganate, tri-cresol and carbon bisulphide, in cases
where lilies were being grown in so-called sick soil. The
best results were obtained with the cheapest of these sub-
stances, namely chloride of lime.

The values of the chief exports from the Federated
Malay States during the year 1910 were as follows: tin and
tin ore, $57,154,891 ($1 = 2s. 4d.); Para rubber, $38,441,610;
copra, $1,194,226; sugar, $679,794; rice, $655,085; tapioca,
$516,252. There were increases over the amounts for 1909
in all cases except those of sugar and tapioca.

It is expected that, mainly owing to the unfavourable con-
ditions at the commencement of the season, the yield of cot-
ton throughout Nevis will be small; in some districts, how-
ever, the rettrns are good. ‘Trouble has been experienced
with cotton svainers and caterpillars, and there is likely to be
some increase in the quantity of stained cotton.

It is reported by the Agricultural Superintendent,
St. Kitts-Nevis, that, up to January, little progress had been
made in regard to the old sugar-cane crop in the Basseterre
district; in the northern districts, the prospects of the crop
were more promising. ‘The young cane crop was stated to
be-healthy, and more regular growth than usual was being
made.

Information has been received from the Secretary of the
British Cotton Growing Association that the sorting of cotton
on arrival at Liverpool will be greatly facilitated if planters
will in all cases send specifications of their shipments to the
Association, when advising that a consignment is being sent
forward. ‘The specification note should show the number of
bales, together with weights, marks and numbers of each
bale, whenever a shipment is being advised.

It is announced that the following reports, presented
to the International Congress of Tropical Agriculture
in May 1910,2have now been published: Report on
the Present Position of Cotton Cultivation, by Professor
Wyndham R. Dunstan, M.A., L.L.D., F.R.S., price 1s.;
Papers and Reports on Cotton Cultivation, supplemen-
tary to the above, price 5s., post free (abroad) 5s. Td. These
are to be obtained from the British Section of the Interna-
tional Association of Tropical Agriculture and Colonial Devel-
opment, Imperial Institute, South Kensington, S. W.

The Centralblatt fiir Bakteriologie for February 4, 1911,
contains an account of experiments that have been conducted
on the peaty bigh moors of Sweden, in growing leguminous
crops with the aid of such inoculating substances as Azotogen
and Nitragin, and with natural soil. Past results had shown
that the best effect was obtained by the use of natural soil,
and the new experiments formed a confirmation of these. Of
the artificial preparations, Azotogen (prepared by Dr. Simon
of Dresden) was shown to be superior to Nitragins obtained
from Dr. Kuhn of Cologne. (See also Agricultural News,
Vol. X, p. 408.)

In the Hxpertment Station Record for July 1911, p. 17,
attention is given to the continuation of experiments that are
being conducted in France in order to find if there is any
truth in the popular superstition that the moon exercises an
influence on the growth of plants. In the latest trials, plant-
ing at the time of the new moon gave the greatest yield in
twenty-eight cases, planting in the first quarter in twenty-
nine, planting at the time cf the full moon in twenty-eight,
and planting in the last quarter in twenty-seven, This
shows that no “material difference in the yield could be
attributed to the influence of the moon.

The Nachrichten tiir Handel und Industrie (Berlin) of
November 29, 1911, states that the Russian Minister of
Agriculture has caused experiments in cotton-growing to be
carried out in Bessarabia, Kherson, Ekaterinoslav, Taurida,
the Black Sea district and North Caucasus. Altogether, about
800 acres were sown with cotton seeds, The results were very
satisfactory; the cotton ripened well, and produced a good
workable staple. The Moscow Cotton Committee submitted
the South Russian cotton to a thorough examination, and
declared it to be as good as Turkestan cotton. Experiments
with early varieties of cotton will be continued on a Jarger
scale. (The Board of Trade Journal, December 14, 1911.)

According to the Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural
Intelligence and of Plant Diseases for June 1911, p. 1209,
the Government of Siam has made a commencement of
repairing the irrigation and drainage works which had been
allowed to fall into ruin, and numerous attempts have
been made in jute cultivation, without much result, so far.
Agricultural exhibitions were held in 1910 and 1911. In
the former of these years, the values of the chief exports,
rice and teak, were respectively £7,437,565 and £625,672.
The teak industry has brought about a large amount of
deforestation, and the effects of this are beginning to be
felt, so that the Government has made stringent regulations
regarding the removal of timber trees.

Voz. XI. No. 257.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 77

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

MARCH.

First PERrIop.

Seasonal Notes.

Give a description of the way in which you would select
cocoa-nuts for planting, affording special attention to the
characteristics that should be possessed most specially by
nuts that are used for seed. In this matter, would you have
any regard to the kind and condition of the trees from which
the nuts came? If so, what special properties should be
exhibited by palms that are used to provide cocoa-nuts for
planting? In what circumstances of soil and situation do
cocoa-nuts thrive best? It is sometimes found that cocoa-
nut seedlings develop slowly during the first part of their
existence, and then begin to grow quickly, and afterwards to
flourish. What reasons may be adduced for this cireum-
stance? Provide a description, with diagrams, of the frnit of
the cocoa-nut palm.

State your experience in regard to animal pests of cotton,
giving information as to those which usually effect the great-
est damage, under conditions with which you are familiar.
Which of these pests are most likely to be reduced in num-
bers by the proper clearing of cotton lands after the crop has
been reaped? State what insecticides you would stock at the
beginning of the season, and in what quantities you would
provide them, for use on 25 acres of cotton. ‘To what extent
does the natural control exist, of insect pests attacking cotton?

Experience has shown that the suitability of lands for
the growing of cotton depends to some extent on their aspect,
in relation to the points of the compass, and to the degree of
slope. In some places, lands with a northern slope are found
to be much less suitable for the cultivation of cotton than
those which slope tothe south, In the former situation, there
is likely to be a large dropping of bolls during the cooler
months, and in addition, those which remain on the plants
may not develop in the normal time and manner. Can you
account for this circumstance, giving consideration to differ-
ences in temperature and rainfall, and to the incidence of the
wind, under the different conditions!

Give a description of the operations connected with the
harvesting of onions. What precautions should be employed
in drying the bulbs? State the reason why onions cannot, as
a rule, be stored for any length of time, in the West Indies.
How should onions be graded and packed for export! Indicate
any improvements in these matters that may have occurred
to you.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY ()UESTIONS

(1) Distinguish between complete and incomplete, and
perfect and imperfect flowers, giving examples of each.

(2) How may weeds be made useful to the agriculturist

(3) State the chief ways in which air is caused to enter
and leave the soil.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Give a description of the work, where artificial polli-
nation is necessary for the preduction of a crop

(2) State the chief uses of weeds to the agriculturist.
What kinds of weeds are most likely to benefit the soil in
which they grow?

(3) What changes take place in the air in the soil, owing
to the presence of the roots of plants ?

FINAL QUESTIONS,

(1) Give as many examples as you can of the uses of
flowers to mankind.

(2) Provide an account of any cultivated plants, which
are now of importance, that are known to have originated
as ‘weeds’.

(3) In what ways is the atmosphere being exploited for
the production of manures which are intended to take the
place of supplies of special manures that are rapidly under-
going exhaustion /

TRADE AND AGRICULTURE OF
BARBADOS, 1910-11.

The report on the Blue Book of Barbados, 1910-11, has
been issued as Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 698. In deals
ing with the trade, agriculture and industries of the Colony,
this shows that the value of the imports in 1910 was
£1,345,194, as compared with £1,119,343 (though addition
of the items makes the latter amount £1,129,343). The
sugar and molasses shipments were as follows: muscovado
sugar 39,906 hogsheads value £350,084, as compared with
16,968 hogsheads value £144,228 in 1900; dry sugar, 3,993
hogsheads value £45,920, as compared with 827 hogsheads
value £8,684 in the previous year; molasses 77,722 pun-
cheons value £310,888, in comparison with 69,036 pun-
cheons value £345,180, in 1909. The increase in the exports
of dry sugar (dark crystals) is accounted for by the adop-
tion of modern methods of sugar manufacture, and largely by an
apparent change due to the employment of a more accurate
system of Customs declaration. The amount of rum distilled
in 1910 was 226,169 gallons; in 1909 it was 207,239 gallons.

A computation is given of the total output of sugar for
the year that would have been made if there had been no
manufacture of fancy molasses; this would have been 59,771
hogsheads, reckoning that 315 gallons of fancy molasses is
equivalent to 1 ton of sugar, with its molasses.

The quantity of cotton lint exported during the crop
season (October 1 to September 30) of 1910 was 644,279 th,
value £38,549; in 1909 the similar figures were 838,748 bb.
value £41,937. The exports for the actual years were
respectively, 589,118 lb. value £36,820 and 830,117 tb. value
£40,946. The decrease of the area reaped was 1,647 acres,
and was due to the low prices and poor yields of 1908.
Better prices toward the close of 1909 and during 1910 have
led to increased planting of cotton.

During the year ended December 31, 1910, 13,137 bun-
ches of bananas were exported to the United Kingdom.

Returning to a consideration of the imports into Barba-
dos, it is of interest that these came from the chief
exporting countries in the following proportions ; the United
Kingdom, 44 per cent.; United States, 30 per cent.; Canada,
11 per cent.; and the British West Indies, 5 per cent.

—1
oa

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 2, 1912.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE RED RQT DISEASE OF THE SUGAR-
CANE IN LOUISIANA.

A fairly complete account of the red rot disease of sugar-
cane, due to Colletotrichum falcatwm, as it appears in Louisi-
ana, has recently been prepared by C. W, Edgerton, Plant
Pathologist at the Louisiana State University, and has been
published in the Modern Sugar Planter for January 27 and
February 3 of this year. As some interesting points have
resulted from this work, it is thought that an account of it
may be of interest to West Indian readers, particularly as
there is most probably a close connexion between it and the
rind disease of these islands.

symproms. In Louisiana the red rot disease attacks both
the leaves and the stems of the sugar-cane. Affected canes
frequently show no symptoms of ill health on the outside; but
when they are split open, the internal tissues exhibit a bright
red discoloration, quite characteristic, and distinct from the
reddening produced by other injuries. Very frequently, the
centres of the red areas are occupied by white or whitish
spots, the strands of vascular tissue are discoloured red, and
may be surrounded by a red ground tissue. The attack on
the leaves usually commences as a red spot on the upper side
of the midrib. his extends in both directions along the
axis, and often becomes from 1 to 3 feet in length. The

centre of the spot dries, and becomes whitish in colour, and
“is finally covered with the black fruiting pustules of the
fungus. Since the disease does not cause any external symp-
toms on the stems of the infected canes, the spots on the
leaves form a useful means of ascertaining whether or not
it is present in a field. Two points of difference be-
tween Edgerton’s description and that of the rind disease
given by Howard are worthy of note (A. Howard, Annals
of Botany, Vol. XVII, No. LXVI, p. 373). In the first place,
the brown discoloration of the rind, followed by shrinkage,
which are noticeable on the outside of canes infected by rind
disease, does not occur in the Louisiana disease; while Howard
also makes no mention of the occurrence of the red spots
on the leaves, though he describes the leaf symptoms in
some detail.

INOCULATION EXPERIMENTS AND PROGRESS OF THE
DISEASE. Edgerton made over 275 inoculations with pure
cultures of Colletotrichum falcatum, on stems of canes belong-
ing to the varieties D.74, D.95, purple and striped. The
inoculations were effected at needle punctures in the lower
joints. Only about six of the 275 canes failed to develop
the disease, while of the equal number of controls employed
about six showed the disease. This was probably due to
the difficulty of preventing accidental infection when red rot
is abundant in the field. In addition to proving conclusively
that the fungus can act as a wound parasite, these experi-
ments showed that D. 74 and D. 95 are more resistant to
the disease than the local types; while of the former D.74
appeared to be the more resistant. Further inoculations
were made with two species of Colletotrichum which resemble
C. falcatum so closely as to be indistinguishable under the
microscope or in pure cultures. The first of these is C. /ine-
ola commonly found on broom corn and Johnson grass
(Sorghum halepense), in the Southern States; the second is
C. cereale, that attacks wheat and other grasses in the North-
ern States.

These inoculations did not yield any conclusive results,
though in a few cases indications of infection were obtained
with ©. lineola. There is a possibility that the fungus on

the sugar-cane was originally the same as C. dineola, but has
become adapted to living on cane. Further work to deter-
mine this will be carried out.

The first sign of infection is a reddening of the tissues
at the point of inoculation. The discoloration spreads in all
directions, but most rapidly along the stalk. The fungus
grows very rapidly in the vascular bundles, which it discol-
ours red. It passes up them from the infected internode
through the node into the internode above, and may extend,
in this way, through two to five joints during the season.
Red patches appear here and there in the ground tissue near
diseased vascular strands, as the fungus grows out laterally
from the bundles into the parenchyma. Several weeks after
inoculation, the centres of the red patches dry out and show
the white spots characteristic of the advanced condition of
the disease. Infected stalks usually show little, if any, decrease
in size and cannot be distinguished from healthy stalks by an
examination of the exterior. Sometimes, when the stalk is
inoculated when very young, the fungus breaks through the
rind tissue which becomes dry and sunken, while fructifica-
tions of the fungus appear on its surface; at other times the
growth of the fungus may be so rapid as to kill young stalks
altogether. Apparently, the fungus cannot penetrate the
fully developed rind and fructifications do not form at the
nodes, as they usually do on canes attacked by Colletotrichum
faleatum, in the West Indies. In his infection experiments
with C. falcatum, Howard (loc. cit.) usually obtained the
characteristic external symptoms observed in the case of the
West Indian rind disease.

INFECTION IN THE FIELD. Carefully conducted field
observations showed that there is a possibility that the fun-
gus can enter previously undamaged canes at the node, where
the rind tissue is broken by the leaf traces and rootlets.
This was not definitely proved, as small wounds due to
minute insects may have been present. Howard was able to
produce successful inoculations by placing the fungus on the
leaf bases and on the broken surfaces produced when
the leaves were stripped off. There is also a possibility that,
in Louisiana, the fungus penetrates the stem from the leaves,
entering along the leaf traces. By far the commonest means
of entry is, however, the tunnels made by the moth borer
(Diatraea saccharalis). Not only do the tunnels afford an
easy means of entry to the fungus, but the grubs serve to
disseminate the mycelium throughout the cane far more
thoroughly than this could be done by its own, unaided,
growth. Observations showed that over 50 per cent. of
canes attacked by moth borer are probably also infected with
red rot. One other point was definitely established, namely
that the disease does not spread upwards into the young
growing shoots from previously infected cuttings.

LOSSES FROM RED ROT DISEASE. A certain amount of
loss is occasioned by the killing out of young shoots, and
even more by the injury to the leaves. The disease does not
appear to be as serious in its direct effects as is the local
rind disease, since shoots are rarely completely destroyed.
The two main sources of loss are, however, a bad stand due
to the failure to germinate evinced by infected cuttings, as
well as to the possibility that the disease can spread in the
soil from infected to healthy cuttings; and the loss of sucrose
and increase of glucose in the juice caused by the presence
of the fungus in the tissues. The fact that no selection of
cuttings is practised in Louisiana necessitates the planting of
a large number, and often results in a poor stand, partly due
to the presence of red rot in the canes cut up for planting.
Analyses of the juice of artificially infected canes showed
that not only is the juice from the infected internodes defi-
cient in sucrose, but that the deficiency extends to the inter-

Vot, XI, No, 257.

nodes above, while it is accompanied by an increase in
glucose. This is partly due to the fact that the fungus secretes
an inverting enzyme. Appropriate comparative experiments
also showed that the decrease in sucrose and increase in
glucose in the juice of canes attacked by the moth borer are
probably mainly due to the presence of the red rot disease
in such canes, following the attacks of the insect.

Finally, it may be stated that the remedial measures
recommended by Edgerton are very similar to those already
employed with success in the West Indies, with the exception
that no mention is made of the grosving of immune varieties,
or of the need for the introduction of new varieties for trial.
He apparently considers that adequate preventive measures
will do all that is necessary to control the disease.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of January 1912:—

The first week of January in Mincing Lane is always
a period of slack and unsettled business, a condition that is
often carried well on into the second week, when,the drug
auctions are resumed after the Christmas holidays, The
present year has proved no exception to that general rule;
the drug sales were not commenced until the 11th, conse-
quently our notes, so far as drugs are concerned, will cover
a period of a fortnight only. The general tone of the markets
throughout the month has been of a normal character, not-
withstanding the continued industrial outbreaks that have
occurred in many branches of trade, particularly those affect-
ing the cotton and coal industries, the last named of which
has such far reaching effects.

The details referring to West Indian products are as
follows. —

GINGER.

At the first spice auction, ginger was represented by 290
packages of wormy, washed, rough, Cochin, 89 of which found
buyers at 42s. per cwt., a week later the offerings had in-
creased to 828 packages, washed rough Cochin was bought in
at 50s. per ewt.; wormy at 45s., bold selected Calicut at 95s.
and small cut at 72s. 6d. Forty bales of Formosa were
offered, and found purchasers, at 34s. for dark and lean,
coarse. On the 17th of the month some 300 bags of wormy
washed rough Cochin were brought forward, of which 20
were disposed of at 41s. per cwt.; 100 bags of rough brown
Formosa were also offered, but found no buyers, being bought
in at 35s. On the 31st. 161 bags of rough, washed, wormy
Cochin were offered, and bought in at from 42s. to 45s. per
ewt., while 168 bags of good limed Japan were sold without
reserve at 31s. 6d. to 32s. per cwt.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.,

At the first auction on January 3, West India Nutmegs
were in good supply, 231 packages being brought forward,
most of which sold at the following prices: 55’s. 1s, 2d. 60’s.
to 68's, 7d. to 94d.; 70’s to 80’s 53d. to 64d.; 91's. to 101’s.
5ld. to 53d.;123’s to 157’s. 54d. to 54d. A few packages
of Eastern were also sold, limed fetching the following prices:
60’s to 70’s. 7d. to 9d.; and 80’s. to 100’s, 6d. to 64d. The

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 79

following prices were realized for 32 packages West Indian
brought forward on the 18th, 66’s. 7d. 68’s. to 78’s. 53d. to
63d.; 92’s to 102’s, 5d. to 53d.; and 118’s, 54d. At the fisst
Spice auction on the 3rd, 39 packages West Indian mace were
sold; fine bold fetching 2s. 8d. ordinary to fair 2s.{1d. to 2s. 4d,
and broken ls. 11d. to 2s. 1d.; 22 cases of Java were also
offered and 11 sold, 2s. 4d. being paid for pale reddish and
2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. for heavy dark red. A week later a few lots
of West Indian were sold at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d., while broken
fetched 2s. 2d. On the 17th there was a steady demand for
West Indian, sales being effected at 2s. 7d. per tb. for bold
pale, 2s. 4d. for fair, and 2s. 2d. for red. Three cases of
Wild Bombay were sold without reserve at 62d. to 63d. per tb.
Of Pimento there is little or nothing to report. At the begin-
ning of the month none was offered at auction, but privately
it was quoted at 22d. per Ib., the later offerings have all been
brought in at about the same price.

ARROWROOT,

This article has been quiet at auction, through the month.
On the 3rd 20 cases of Natal were brought forward, as well as
10 half barrels of Bermuda, the former were bought in at
10d. per tb. and the latter at ls. 6¢. These consignments
were snbmitted to auction again on the 17th, with similar
results, and in addition 20 barrels of fine St. Vincent were
also offered and bought in at 33d. per hb.

SARSAPARILLA,

At the first drug auction of the year, on the 11th, the
offerings of sarsaparilla were exceedingly small, consisting of
2 bales of grey Jamaica, 8 of native Jamaica, and 3 of Hon-
duras. For the 2 bales of grey Jamaica, for fair, somewhat
coarse, ls. 10d. to ls. 1ld. per tb. was paid; of the native
Jamaica, 2 bales only found buyers, fair red selling at 1s. 1d.,
and dull red at 114d. per tb.; red and yellow mixed were held
at ls. ld. per tb., while the 3 bales of Honduras fetched
ls. 5d. per tbh. At the auction on the 25th, 19 bales of grey
Jamaica, 2 of native Jamaica, and 2 of Mexican were sub-
mitted; the whole of the grey Jamaica met with a ready sale,
at from 1s. ild. to 2s. per lb., fair fibrous; partly dark and
coarse, fetching 1s. 10d.; the 2 bales of native Jamaica went
for ls. to 1s. 1d. per tb. for fair red, while the Mexican was
held at 1s. 1d.

KOLA, OIL OF LIME AND TAMARINDS,

At auction on the 10th, 44 packages of kola were brought
forward, and 11 sold, fair haives and whole St. Lucia fetch-
ing 34d. to 34d. per tb., and fair Dominica 34d. At thesale
on the 24th, 4 barrels of West Indian kola were offered, 23d.
per lb. being paid for ordinary dull mouldy. Two cases of
West Indian distilled oil of Jime were offered in the early part
of the month, and disposed of at from 1s. to 1s. 3d. per hb.
At the end of the month, ls. 2d. to 1s. 3d. was the price
quoted for fair distilled, and 5s. 3d. for West Indian hand
pressed. There has been 4 steady demand for lime juice; at
the end of the month a barrel of good, raw, brown Jamaica
sold at ls. 4d. per gallon, and 2 hogsheads from Montserrat
fetched 1s. 3d. per gallon. At auction on the 10th, some 16
packages of fair dry Antigua tamarinds were offered, and sold
at 12s. 6d. per cwt., in bond.

It is reported from Portuguese East Africa that large
trees of a species of Balanites, producing fruits whose kernels
yield freely a fine oil, not unlike olive oil, have been dis-
covered in the Lebombo Mountains and on the Umbeluzi
River. The return from each tree at maturity is stated to be
as much as 1,200 tb. of the fruits, each containing 60 per
cent. of oil.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Marcw 2,

1912.

London.—Tue

MARKET REPORTS.

West Inxpia ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,
February 13, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass & Co.,
January 19, 1912.

Arrowroort—3sd. to d}d.

Batata—Sheet, 2/33 ; block, 3/4 per th.

Brreswax—4£7 10s,

Cacao—Trinidad, 58/- to 69/- per cwt.; Grenada, 51/-
to 56/-; Jamaica, 49/. to 55/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 67/6 to 74/- per ewt.

Copra—West Indian, £26 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 18d. to 24d.

Fruir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 64/- per cwt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotation.

Lue Juice—Raw, 1/3 to 1/6; concentrated, £15 10s. to
£18 12s. 6d. to £19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Mace—Fim.

Nourmecs—Firm.

Pimento—Common, 2,5,d.; fair, 23d.; good, 2)d.; per tb.

Rusper—Para, fine hard, 4/65; fine soft, 4/6; Castilloa,
4/6 per Tb.

Ros—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/9 to 21/-; Muscovado, 15/- to 17/6;
Syrup, 14/6 to 17/6 per cwt.; Molasses, no quotations,

New York.—Messrs. Gitteseiz Bros. & Co., February

9, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 1]}c. to 125c.; Grenada, 114c. to 11ic.;
Trinidad, 11c. to 12}c. per tbh.; Jamaica, 10jc. to 113c.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00; culls, $16-00; Trini-
dad, select, $26°00 to $27:00; culls, $15-00 to $16:00
per M.

OCorrEE—Jamaica, 14$c. to 165c. per tb.

Gincrr—8c. to 10}c. per Ib.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 48c.
to 50c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 45c. to 47e.
per tb.

Grape-Fruit—Jamaica, $2°75 to $3°50.

Limes— $5'00 to $550.

Mace—50c. to 57c. per tb.

NurmrEcs—110’s, 15gc. to 13{c.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—22d. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals,96°, 4°48}c. per lb. ; Muscovados, 89°,

3°98hc.; Molasses, 89°, 3°735c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., February 19,

1912.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $12°00 per fanega; Trinidad, $11:60
to $11°90.

Cocoa-nut O1r.—$1:08 per Imperial gallon.

Corrre—Venezuelan, 154c. per fe. _

Corra—$4°35 per 100 tb.

Dualt—$4°20 to $4°25.

Onrons—$3'75 to $425 per 100 th.

Peas, Srrir—$6-90 to $700 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°60 to $1°80 per 100 tt.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°60 to $470; White, $6:-25
per bag.

Svucar—American crushed, no quotations

to $6°50

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., February 24,

1912; Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co., February 26,

1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., February 16, 1912.

ArrowrRoot— $650 to $700 per 100 th.
Cacao—$10°50 to 312-00 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-NutTS—$16°00.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°90 per 100 tb.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $42:00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.
Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$2'75 to $8:00 per 100 tb
Peas, Sptir—$7‘00 to $7°10 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$2°75 to $4°40 per bag of 120 th.
Potatores—Nova Scotia, $1°50 to $300 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $4°85 to $5°25 per 190 tb.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $5°50 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, February

20, 1912; Messrs. Sanppacn, Parker & Co,
February 19, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARrRowrooT—St. Vincent

Barata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NuTS—

Correr—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DuaL—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo asses— Yellow
Ontons—Tenerifte
Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
PoratoEs—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Potators-Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
TaNNIAS—
Yams—White

Buck
Suear—Dark crystals

Yellow

White

Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

Messrs. WI£ETING
& RIcHTeEr.

No quotation

70c. per th.

185c. per tb.
96c.

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per tb.

18c. per tb.

13c. per fb.

$3°75 per bag of

168 ib.
$450
$1:90
None

$7°25 per bag
(210 tb.)
20c. to 40c.
$275 to $3:00
$1-20 per bag
No quotation

$500 to $5-25
$2-16
$2°16
$3-00
$3°30 to $3°50
$4:00 to $4:25
$4°80 to $500

$290 to $3-00
32c. to ddc. per
cub. foot

$3°75 to $6:00

per M.
$180 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

$13-00 per 200 tb

Prohibited
70c.
18c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
_16c. per tb.
183c.to 19c. per tb.
12c. to 13c. per tb.
$3°80 per bag of
168 th

8c.
$760 per bag

(210 ib.)
No quotation

$2°75 to $3-00
No quotation

$500 to $5°25

$3°20 to $3°30
$4°10 to $4°25

32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
34°00 to $6-00
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 Quarteriy 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, ls. 2d,

Volumes IJ, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, 1X, X, and XJ:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. No. 1. Containing papers on: Manurial Experiments with Cocton in the Leeward Islands: Tae Cotton
Industry in the Leeward Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special Reference to
Antigua; Some Notes on’ Rubber Trees in Dominica; The Cadet System in Antiguvand St. Kitts; An
Account of the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the Area Devastated by the
Soufriére of St. Vincent, in 1902-3; Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
St. Lucia; The Estimation of Carbonates and of Organic Carbon in Soils; The Epizootiology of Anthrax;
Grafted Cacao at the Dominica Botanic Station; The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses
and the Composition of Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses and Title Page and Index of Vol. XI.

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 seventy. 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 (id) 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 Gd.; (28) Barbados and Porto Rico Molasses. Price 3d.

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.; No. 66, 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-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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, price 67. (45) A BC of Cotton Planting. New and Enlarged Edition.
Manurial Experiments with Sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands, Price 6d.

in 1902-8, No. 30. price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

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CHE BE ‘ST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

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CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:-— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land,
Stock for Inarching Planting,
and Budding Cultivation.
Tnarching Fertilization or Manuring,
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) PULL PAGER ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

: fa a
ee Ch > eH ee"

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

LIBRAR
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, ~....'
Tae XI eNoy 258: BARBADOS, MARCH 16, 1919. - Price ld,

CONTENTS.
PAGE, PaGE.
Agricultural Conference, Gleanings . eee 2.2. 92
1912, III... ... ... 81)Ground Nut, New So-called 89
Agricultural Teaching and Horses, Sore Shins in ... 87
Hygiene in Grenada | Information Regarding the
Elementary Schools ... 89} Mango... ... ... ... 88

Agriculture, Early, in the | Insect. Notes :—

Bahamas... ... ... 85| The Sugar-cane Beetle in
Bacteriological Work in Mauritiugaeeees ee ---90

Jamaica -» .. ..- 95|Jaffa Oranges, Packing of 84
Calcium Carbonate, Forma- Kola Trees and Kola Nuts 84

tion in Soil ... So ote
Camphor in German East

AMET ICa)* 2.
Cotton Notes :—

3yitish Cotton Growing

83 | Market Reporteieessiecs) «21 96
Notes and Comments ... 88

. 93 | Noxious Weeds in Grenada,
Legislation against ... 89

Rainfall of Dominica, 1911 88

Association... ... ... 86) Rubber Seeds, Para, Vital-
Insurance of West Indian ty OL . eee) ce OL
Cotton... ... ... .. 86/Rubber-Yielding Plants
West Indian Cotton ... 86) irom Peri, .-. Si
Departmental Reports ... 91|/St. Vincent Arrowrcot

Fungus Notes :—
Bud Rot of the Cocoa-
nut Palm, Part I... 94

Growers’ and Export-
ers’ Association .. ... 89
Students’ Corner... ... 93

The West Indian Agricultural Conference,

1912.
IIL

[SM HE present article furms the third, and last,
of a series dealing editorially with the chief
matters that received attention in discussion
at the recent Agricultural Conference in Trinidad. The
subjects of broad import that remain for treatment are

concerned with cotton-growing, agricultural education
and rubber production.

Great attention was paid to the various characters
of the lint that are particularly demanded by spinners
of Sea Island cotton. Those who have to deal with this
lint can form a fair judgment of its value to them, by
ordinary examination: the best test of it, however, is
its behaviour in the spinning machines. Among the
properties most required in such lint is that of strength
—one of the special characteristics of West Indian Sea
Island cotton. The possession of strength is a matter
of much importance to those who have to use the cotton
as the raw material for their manufactures, but the fact
that this cotton is very likely to show irregularities
often lessens the advantage of the special possession of
strength by the lint. The existence of such irregularities
has its effect in causing great wastage in spinning, and
a consequent reduction of economy in working up the
material. In connexion with this irregularity, a char-
acter specially shown by cotton from the West Indies
is the presence of ‘nep’, orsmall clusters of weak cotton
among the lint, varying in size.

There was much debate as to the reason why
this feature is noticed so frequently in West Indian
cotton, and it was decided that its production is cne,
not to bad ginning of the sced-cotton, but tu untoward
or varying conditions surrounding the plants during ihe
period of growth. It was concluded that the best means
to be employed for the reduction of the percentage of
weak fibres in cotton is rigid selection, having particular
regard to this property in the product of the plants
raised for the purpose, and evidence Was adduced from
practical experience, showing that such reduction had
been attained as the result of experimentation.

82 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marca 16, 1912,

In a discussion of the direct causes of irregularity
in West Indian cotton, it was concluded that the feature
is due mainly to interruption of nutrition, whereby in-
terference takes place with the building up of the fibres
during their period of growth. As has been indicated,
this irregularity in nutrition may arise from the exist-
ence of untoward conditions in regard to weather and
insect and fungus pests; it is also brought about by the
unequal distribution of the fibres on the seed, whereby
the insufficient food-supply of these, where they are
most closely crowded together, causes the production
of weak fibres. It is a natural circumstance that
the control of the conditions under which the plants
grow is not entirely in the hands of the agricul-
turist, although as has been proved, much can be done
toward minimizing the evil effects from pests and dis-
eases. ‘he circumstance is quite different as regards
the distribution of lint on the seed, for the employment
of proper methods of selection will have the effect of
bringing about greater uniformity of this; and it may
be claimed that much good has resulted already from
the simple rejection of clean black seeds from material
that is to be used for planting. A last matter for con-
sideration in relation to the effects arising from unequal
nutrition is that the possession of too many seeds by
the boll will necessarily be a factor in reducing unitorm-
ity, and the experimenter and grower are thus faced
by a condition that possesses the greatest difficulty in
regulation.

The last subjects for special mention in connexion
with the discussions on cotton production reiated to
the obtaining of fixed types, to be employed in cultiva-
tion, and the increasing necessity for specialization in
agriculture. It was brought forward that an impor-
tant feature relating to the first of these is the making
of a collection of material showing the different types
of cotton, grown and found wild in the West. Indies.
The second subject—specialization—received its em-
phasis in the necessity that increases from day to day,
for the assistance of specialists, on the part of agricul-
tural departments.

The discussions at the session during which agri-
cultural education was considered dealt mainly with
the extent to which nature study and agricultural
teaching should be taken up in elementary schools, as
well as with the scope of such subjects in so far as they
are suited for treatment in schools of the kind. Em-
phasis was laid upon the importance of the practical
treatment of these matters and of the provision of the

efficient training of teachers. Attention was also

given to the means for the instruction in agricultural
subjects of those who will ultimately hold positions of
responsibility as practical agriculturists, and descrip-
tions were afforded of the work that had been done in
this direction in different parts of the West Indies and
in British Guiana.

In the consideration of the matters brought for-
ward in relation to rubber, a qnestion arose, out of the
information presented in the first paper read at the
session, as to the kinds of soil that are best suited for
Hevea cultivation, when it was stated that this may be
successful, even in heavy clay soil, if the rainfall is not
very large; more rain was wanted, and could be toler-
ated, for Hevea on lighter soils. After the elucidation
of other interesting kindred subjects, the description of
the exploitation of rubber in part of the West Indies
and British Guiana served to show that experimenta-
tion is done on a large scale and that caution is being
exercised in this work of the agricultural departments
in order to provide the most accurate knowledge con-
cerning rubber introduction and cultivation, and to
guard against any inadvisable extension of the industry.

Much interest was shown in regard to the choice
and manner of importation of Hevea seed. and in refer-
ence to the latter, evidence was brought forward to
show that the best method of packing is that in which
chareoal containing abou: ten per cent. of actual mois-
ture is mixed with the seed in the parcels. The sub-
ject of the choice of seeds was discussed in relation to
the importance of the possession of an exact knowledge
of the nature of the trees that are employed as a source
of the seed. In regard to one matter,it is natural
that trees which mature earliest should be used to fur-
nish the demand for seed; and it is a question of impor-
tance, whether such planting material is likely to yield
the plants that are best for rubber production. Some
observations have shown it to be probable that the age
of the trees furnishing the seed is not of prime impor-
tance, as long as they are good producers of latex; though
it is naturally safer to employ the older trees for the
purpose, as more is known concerning their oualities.

Consideration of the question of the manner of
planting Hevea seemed to lead to the conclusion that,at
least as far as some experience is concerned, while wide
planting is usually advocated in Malaya, close setting
of the plants, with subsequent thinning, has been found
successful in the West Indies. The opinions expressed
as to the utility of Castilloa as a rubber producer in
this part of the world differed materially; it seems that
the plant may, prove itself useful when planted widely
in conditions that are particularly suited to it, and

VoL. XI. No. 258.

evidence based on its behaviour in its own country was
brought forward as to the promising nature of the
species Castilloa costaricana. Attention was given,
further, to Funtumia elastica as a rubber pro-
ducer; close planting is best for this species, but even
under the most favourable conditions, as far as experi-
ence in Trinidad is concerned, the yield of rubber is
small and the product poor, quickly becoming tacky.

Finally, in relation to rubber, opinions were
expressed as to the future of the industry that may
develop in the West Indies, and to the likelihood
of the serious competition of the artificial with the
natural product. As far as the first is concerned,
it is likely that plantations in the West Indies
will never have to compete directly with those in the
East; the competition will almost certainly be only with
the South American production, which suffers under
the disadvantages of the existence of export taxes and
of scarcity of labour. With regard to synthetic rubber,
any large manufacture of this is bound to increase its
price by enlarging the demand for the material—tur-
pentine—from which it is made; and while the practica-
bility of the ultimate extensive production of the com-
modity is not denied, it is likely that many years will
elapse before it will be conducted on such a scale as to
affect the interests of the grower of rubber.

The business of the succeeding sessions had refer-
ence to the consideration of matters that are not con-
cerned purely with agricultural production. This article
therefore completes the series, commenced in the last
issue but one of the Agricultural News, in which it
has been intended to present a broad summary of the
results of the discussions at the recent Agricultural
Conference.

THE FORMATION OF CALCIUM
CARBONATE IN THE SOIL

The Journal of Agricultural Science for October 1911,
contains a paper, bearing this title, which describes work that
was carried out at the suggestion of A. D. Hall, for the
purpose of ascertaining the nature of the organisms which are
concerned with the conversion of calcium oxalate into calcium
carbonate, in the soil.

The paper commences by pointing out that some of the
processes in the soil tend continually to diminish the amount
of calcium carbonate in it; nevertheless, soils remain fertile,
when in a normal condition, without additions of calcium car-
bonate. This suggests that there is a balancing action, by
means of which the calcium carbonate withdrawn is supplied
from another source, or sources. The first stage in the inves-
tigation was a repetition of Hall and Miller's experiments to
show that organisms capable of fermenting calcium oxalate
to carbonate are present in the soil, A culture solution con-

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 83

taining the necessary mineral salts, and including ammonium
sulphate, as well as glucose for providing a certain amount
of soluble organic matter to assist in the commencement of
the growth of the bacteria, was employed. A definite amount
of calcium oxalate was added to this, and it was inoculated
with soil and placed in an incubator at 25° C. In a period
varying from three to five weeks, it could be shown that most
of the calcium oxalate had disappeared, and small crystals of
calcium carbonate were found, mostly on the bottom and sides
of the flasks. The observation was completed by determining
by suitable means the amount of calcium oxalate left.

There is reference to the fact that attempts had been
made previously, by Mr, A. Amos, B.A., to bring about this
change in calcium oxalate, in pure cultures of various bacteria,
and that the only one with which he obtained any success
was the nitrogen-fixing organism, Azotobacter chroococewm.

The authors made further investigations on these lines,
but found that, although a large number of bacteria, yeasts
and moulds were tested in pure culture, none seemed to be
able to effect the decomposition of the calcium oxalate.
In the nutrient solution containing ammonium sulphate,
there was usually little or no growth, among the species
exhibiting the latter characteristic being Azotobacter chroo-
In cases where no growth occurred, a strong culture
of the organisms was taken, and after a small quantity of
sterilized calcium oxalate had been introduced into it, the
flask was kept in an incubator for some time. It was only
in cultures of Azotobacter that any conversion to calcium
carbonate took place, and this was only after all the soluble
organic matter had been exhausted; the observation of Amos
was thus confirmed. A list is given of the organisms that
did not show any power of decomposing the calcium oxalate.

The first attempts that were made for the purpose of
isolating from the soil an organism that is responsible for the
change were unsuccessful; better results followed the use of
a clear water extract of soil in the place of the ammoniacal
nutrient solution described above. ‘The results were similar
whether the extract was prepared from a somewhat stiff loam
or from a light sandy soil, the production of carbonate being
however more rapid in the case of the sand, which was
extremely poor in organic matter. The lack of much soluble
organic matter seems to throw the organisms back on the
oxalate for their supply of carbon.’ The action was shown
not to be due to enzymes, by making similar experiments in
which toluene or chloroform, as an antiseptic, was added to
the solution; when there was no formation of carbonate, even
after six weeks.

The solutions in which the change had been brought
about were used for making plates in ordinary gelatine or
agar nutrient media, and in most instances only one, two or
three types of colonies developed. The organisms were
obtained pure by sub-culturing, and inoculated in fairly large
amounts into sterile soil extract containing calcium oxalate
in suspension. In the result, six types of bacteria were
isolated, which possessed the power of changing calcium
oxalate to the carbonate. The rate at which the change tovk
place varied considerably at different times, under simular
conditions, and appeared to be affected by the kind cf
medium on which the organism had been grown previcusiy.
An impure culture was found, on the whole, to bring about
the change more guickly than any of the pure cultures, and
in no case was the carbonate formed unless oxygen was
present.

The conclusion is reached that it seems probable that
a number of bacteria in the soil are able to oxidize calcium
oxalate, if the lack of other food makes it necessary for them
to employ it in nutrition.

coccune,

84 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Marcu 16, 1912,

TASS

LG A\\\\
AN

pu

THE PACKING OF JAFFA ORANGES.

The gathering of oranges commences when they are yet
green. The fruit is removed from the trees with a piece of
stalk by means of sharp long-handled shears, but great care
must be taken in cutting that thestalks do not project beyond
the circumference of the fruit and that the latter is not
injured by the shears, because the least wound will render it
unsuitable for exportation. The work of cutting the fruit
from the trees begins after the rain or dew has evaporated,
and as soon as the orange is cut off it is placed in a canvas-
lined basket

When filled, the basket is carried on a boy’s shoulder to
the shed or store in the orchard, the floor of which has been
covered with mats ready to receive the oranges. The basket
is immediately emptied by a workman in the shed, who takes
out the oranges two or three at a time by hand, examining
them as he does so, and separating any that he may find
bruised or wounded, forming with the sound ones a heap 2
to 24 feet high.

They are left in the store from one to three days, after
which they are sorted and placed in cases in the following
manner. Sitting down beside the heap the workers take
each orange singly, examine it and place it in one or other of
four heaps of different qualities. The first quality is for
oranges with close, thin, smooth peel and without any stains
of scale disease or any trace of wound marks. The second
quality is for those similar to the first quality, except that
the peel has slight stains of scale disease The third quality
is made up of the Jarge, rough and thick-skinned oranges.
The oranges of these three qualities are, when sorted, wrapped
in thin tissue paperand placed in cases in rows sufliciently
close that they may not move during the voyage, and are
shipped to England and Russia.

The cases used for oranges of the first and second quali-
ties are 68 em. [27 inches] long, 34 cm. [13} inches] wide,
and 27 to 28 or 30 cm: [11 to 12 inches] high.

The third quality oranges are packed in cases 1 metre

40. inches] long, and 47 em. [19 inches | wide, and 47 cm.
19 inches| high, and consigned to nearer ports such as
Constantinople and Egypt.

The fourth quality oranges, which are those attacked by
diseases or bruised, are poured into cases of the same size as
those used for the third quality oranges, without being

wiapped in paper, and are shipped to neighbouring markets
in Egypt and Syria. As soon as a case is filled up, its cover
is nailed on. Other cases are sent on camels to merchants
to be warehoused until sold. (From the Cyprus Journal,
January 1912, p. 602.)

KCLA TREES AND KOLA NUTS.

There has been published recently a work dealing with
this subject, by A. Chevalier and E. Perrot, which forms part
of a larger publication entitled Vegctaux Utiles de VAfrique
Occidentale, by the same authors. The information given in
the section under consideration is reviewed in an article that
appears in the Journal @ Agriculture Tropicale for August
1911, part of which has been utilized in presenting the
matter below.

The information published concerning kola plants before
the appearance of the work of Chevalier and Perrot is con-
siderable, but the investigations have not formed a means of
determining precisely, from a botanical point of view, the
real characteristics of the varieties examined, because the
material available for the purpose was insufficient. On the
contrary, the large number of investigations that A. Cheva-
lier has been able to make in every part of West and Equa-
torial Africa, where kola plants are found, enabled him to
criticise accurately the work of his predecessors. Before his
researches were made, the classification of the plants was
quite incomplete, and the efforts of different authors had
only served to nfake it more obscure

The two principal causes of error that have made of no
avail all past efforts to determine the relationships between
different species of Cola have been firstly, that it was believed
possible to differentiate the types by means of the colours of
the nuts, and secondly, that it was thought that only two
species existed, separable by the characteristic of seeds with
two cotyledons, and of seeds with more than two cotyledons.

It has been shown by A. Chevalier that the same trees
can bear nuts of different colours, and that the separation of
the known type$into two species, according to the number
of ectyledons, does not suffice for complete classification.

It is stated in the article from which this information
is derived, that the account of the past observations made for
drawing up the classification that was considered until

VoL. XI. No, 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 85

recently to be complete, and the description of the work done
in determining the distribution of the different species,
together form a large part ef the work under-review—a part
which is provided with very~accurate figures and with admir-
able plates, It is upon thezconclusions given- that future
researches, for the purpose of completing the botanical study
of kola plants must be based. It will suffice at present to
give a translation of the*table in which A. Chevalier has
presented a classification of the kola plants discovered by him
or known previously. This may be detailed as follows.

(1) Cola nitida (Vent.), A Chev. This is the most
generally cultivated species, and from it are obtained nearly
all the nuts in commerce; its seeds always possess two
cotyledons. It comprises numerous varieties that may be
grouped in sub-spécies as follows: — Ke

(a) Cola rubra, A. Chev., which yields only large,
red nuts; i

(b) Cola alba, A. Chev., which gives only large,
white nuts;

(c) Cola mixta, A. Chey., from which may be ob-
tained red nuts, whice nuts and sometimes rose-coloured
nuts, from the same tree: it is the form that is most
widely dispersed in cultivation; } gir

(d) Cola pallida, A. Chev, which yields nuts of
small size, often rosy in colour.

(2) Cola acuminata -(Pal.), Beauv. ‘This altways:' gives
nuts possessing more than two cotyledons. :

‘ (3) Cola Ballayi, Cornu. This yields nuts having four
or five cotyledons, but it is easily distinguished by its very
large leaves, grouped in false whorls. _ 5

(4) Cola verticilluta (Thomm. in Schum.), Stapf.:This is
easily distinguished by its leaves, in whorls of three or: four;
it gives red nuts which are mucilaginous and possess more
than two cotyledons.

(5) Cola sphaerocarpa, A. Chev. This constitutes
a species about which little is known at present; the plant
yields large, white nuts with more than two cotyledons
which are probably not edible.

A chart placed at the end of the volume shows the
distribution of these species : Cola nitida is found chietly in
West Africa, while those species with more than two coty-
ledons occur most commonly in Equatorial Africa.

EARLY AGRICULTURE IN THE BAHAMAS.

In the year 1874, thé Bahama Islands were visited by
Dr. Johahn David Schépf, a’German traveller, who among
other matters published the book that is regarded as the first
work on American geology. The 7avels of this savant
have been translated into English for the first time, from the
copy in the Library of Congress, of the United States of
America. The information below -has been taken from
extracts ‘supplied by the translator. and published in Bulletin
No. 16 of the Lloyd Library of Botany, Pharmacy and
Materia Medica. From a perusal of this, it will be seen that
the agricultural conditions of the lahamas at that time were
very different from those which obtain at present, and the
contrast may be heightened by reference to an article entitled
Agriculture in the Bahamas, 1910-11, published in the last
volume of thé Agricultural News, page 365. :

In describing Providence Island, mention is made of
deserted plantations and ruined houses, and the reason for the
existence of these is found in the fact that the exploitation of
the timber in this and other islands was comparatively easy
and lucrative, and replaced toa great extent the raising of

ordinary crops. As regards the chief agricultural products

~ of the day, coffee is said to have thriven excellently, and it is

stated that several large coffee plantations were to be seen in
and near Nassau. The sugar-eane also-grew well, but the
rocky nature of the soil. prevented the land from being
properly exploited, and only enough sugar for local consump-
tion was made, the product being obtained by merely boiling
the cane juice to a thick syrup. Indigo was growing abun-
dantly; no large manufactories had been set up, how-
ever, on account of the character and small supply of the
available water.

Cotton was grown to a greater extent in the other
islands, than in Providence, and was regarded as one of the
most certain crops. Yams were raised in large quantities,
chiefly for local use. and there was some small export to
North America. The dry climate did not permit of the
growing of more than one crop of maize in the year, and the
production was so insufficient that many cargoes were contin-
ually sent from America to supply the deficiency.

The tamarind tree is mentioned as being planted now and
then. There was an export of the produce, which was pre-
pared by removing the shells of the pods and placing the
seeds, with their acid covering, between layers of brown sugar.
Orange and lemon trees are mentioned, as well as what seems,
to be a shaddock or grape fruit under the name Soursoop. The
citrus fruits grown most abundantly were limes, which, are
stated to have been exported in great quantity, from Provi-
dence and other West Indian Islands, to North America,
‘where they are preferred greatly for punch, being juicier and.
sourer than lemons.’ ' There was al:o an expert of lime juice.
Pine apples were raised in some large quantity, and exported
to America and urope; they are stated to have been sold in
London at 4s. to 8s. apiece, the purchase price in the Bahamas
being 4s. to 5s, a dozen. In addition to the export of the
fresh fruit, there was a trade in the fruit conserved in sugar
or brandy. ‘

It is stated that almost all the Bahama Islands, except
the Keys, were thickly overgrown with bush; nevertheless,
large timber trees existed on some of the Jarger islands, which
could be cut by anyone, at will. Wood cutting was, however,
becoming more difficult and less lucrative. Mahogany (not
only the product of Swietenta Mahagoni, but that of several
other trees, including Cedrela odorata) was exportel to
Europe. There was also a considerable output of Braziletto
wood (from Caesalpinia brasiliensis). Exports of lignum
vitae, from Guatucum officinale and (’. sanctum, took place at
times, and there was a commencement of a trade in logwood,
employing trees that had been raised from seed brought from
Honduras. :

Under the names White Cinnamon’ and Eluthera Bark
is mentioned Eleuteria bark (Croton Hleuteria), many tons
of which were sent to Curacao and other Dutch colonies for
making cinnanion water, and perhaps also cinnamon oil.
Cascarilla bark (from Croton Cascarilla) was also gathered,
on some of the islands. An onion known as Squills, or the
Sea Onion, was collected on the sandy shore, dried and -ent
to North America.

Among the remarkable or useful plants that are stiuied
to have been growing, in addition to the above, there ave in-
cluded the papaw, guavas, the avocado pear, the banana, the
common fig, the cashew, various palms, the custard apple and
similar fruits, the wild cherry (Malpighia ylabra), the sapo-
dilla, the hog plam, and the manchineel and the mangrove,

In conclusion, an interesting list is given of the com-
moner plants flowering in the Bahamas in April and May,

86 THE AGRICULTURAL

Marcu 16, 1912.

NEWS.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date February 26, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, between four and five hundred
bales of West Indian Sea Island cotton have been sold at
hardening rates.

The sales comprise Montserrat and Virgin Islands 17d.
to 18d., St. Kitts 184d to 20d., with some superfine Jots
Qld. to 23d., and St. Vincent 22d. to 24d., with a few
exceptional bales at 25d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending February 17, is as follows:—

There has been a moderate demand this week, which
resulted in the sale of some lots of old, crop cotton, which the
owners consented to sell on a basis of quotations. ‘There is
no demand for the Planters’ Crop Lots classing Extra Fine,
which the Factors are showing more disposition to sell, and
would make some concession from present asking prices.

We quote viz :—

Extra Fine 32c.=18d., c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
Fine to Fully\o¢e. to 28c. = 15d. to 16d. c.i.f. & 5 per cent.
Fine J

Fine to Extra Fine,

5c. =101d
off in preparation \ise, to 25c.=104d. to l4}d. ,, ,, ,,

Insurance of West Indian Cotton.—-A new
notice concerning the West Indian All Risks Policy for insur-
ance by the British Cotton Growing Association shows that
an alteration has been made in the direction of an additional
rate of premium, amounting to 2s. 6d. per cent., on cotton
transhipped by a sloop or drogher in the West Indies ; this is
in addition to the 8s. 9d. per cent. net for Jamaica, 10s. per
cent. for Barbados and i2s. 6d. for the other islands. The
amount of the premium will be deducted, as before, from the
account sales.
buying of cotton in the Grenadines, and its transhipment to
St. Vincent in sailing boats, and it is advised by the British
Cotton Growing Association, in order to avoid any possible
trouble, that planters whose cotton is likely to be shipped or
transhipped in this way shall give notice to the Associa-
tion beforehand, and also supply similar information when
the cotton is shipped from the West Indies by the ocean
ateamer.

The addition has been made because of the

THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING
ASSOCIATION.

The following account of a recent meeting of the
Council of the British Cotton Growing Association has
just been received :—

The ninety sixth meeting of the Council of the British
Cotton Growing Association was held at-the Offices, 15, Cross
Street, Manchester,on February 6.

In the absence of the President (the Right Hon. the
Earl of Derby, G.C.V.O.), who had been commanded to
attend the Thanksgiving Service at St Paul’s Cathedral,
Mr. John E. Newton occupied the Chair.

WesT aFrica: Considerable progress has been made
by the Government during the past year in the construction
of roads in the cotton-growing districts of Lagos, and the
Association’s Staff is now better able to inspect the farms
where the bulk of ‘the cotton is produced.

The latest reports from Lagos are to the effect that the
crop will be a late one, but there is every reason to believe
that a larger area;was planted with cotton than in 1910. As
the Harmattan season is not yet over, it is not to be expec-
ted that the crop will come through without suffering to
some extent, but allowing for this it is expected that the
crop will not be Jess than 7,000 bales:

The purchases of cotton in Lagos for the month of Jan-

, uary were 147 bales, as compared with 92 bales for January
‘last year, and 87 bales for 1910.

A cable has been received from Northern Nigeria stating
that the purchases for December were 175 bales, and it is
estimated that the crop this season will amount to not less
than 2,000 bales.

UGANDA. The new crop is now beginning to come forward,
and there is every, reason to believe that the production will
exceed that of last year, when 19,000 bales of cotton were
exported from the Protectorate.

RHODESIA. ‘lhe Association’s, representative, who has
recently made a tour of inspection through the Fort Jameson
district of North-east Rhodesia, is quite convinced of the
future of this country for cotton, and estimates that, during
the: present. season, there will be 4,000 acres undericotton
cultivation. In order that experiments may be made to evolve
a suitable typeof quick-maturing cotton for the higher
altitudes, several varieties of American seed are being ob-
tained, and a number of varieties which have done well
in the Nyasaland Uplands. The area of land suitable for
cotton is practically unlimited, and the terms on which land
can be obtained are most advantageous. Up to quite recently
it was necessary to carry the cotton in small bales on the
heads of natives for a considerable distance; but a good road

Vou. XI. No. 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 87

has been constructed from Tete, and waggons have been
sent out for transport purposes from Fort Jameson to Tete;
as a consequence the freight charges on cotton have been
reduced considerably.

supAN. Mr. Hutton (the Chairman of the Association),
who will shortly be returning from his visit.to Egypt and the
Sudan, reports most favourably on the developments in the
Tayiba district, and a shipment of 200 standard bales of
cotton is now On its way from Port Sudan,

A statement regarding the present position of the
capital of the Association shows that the balance
remaining to be raised for the completion of the total
authorised capital of £500,000 is £25,589.

RUBBER-YIELDING PLANTS FROM
PERU.

The following information concérning rubber-
yielding plants recently collected in Peru is taken
from the Kew Bulletin, 1912, p, 74 :—

Mr. W. Fox, on a recent journey in the.territory between
the rivers Putumayo and Caqueta, collected.five rubber-yield-
ing plants, about which he has furnished the following par-
ticulars. //evea Foxii, Huber, is by far the most common
and the best rubber-yielding species, and is the source of the
Para rubber of commerce from this region. This species
bears the vernacular name of Ituri or Iserai, but these names
also appear to be applied to another species of Hevea,
allied to H. /utea. Of the rubber exported from this region
75 per cent. is derived from //evea Foxit, and these trees are
the only ones which are properly tapped. All the other
rubber plants are cut down for the extraction of their latex.

The Hevea is tapped by incisions made with a machete,
and the latex is allowed to run down the tree to the ground,
where it coagulates. The rubber is recovered in strips, which
are taken to a stream and washed, and it is then rolled into
rabos or tails, in which form it arrives in London. This
crude method is due to the wide area over which the trees
are scattered.

Micrandra minor, Benth., bearing the vernacular names
Huemega or Wakati Ewickeri, was found fairly evenly
distributed, but was becoming scarce owing to the destructive
methods of working. The latex of this tree is mixed with
that of the Hevea, and is.also used for wrapping the rabos or
tails. ’

A species of Castilloa, probably C. elastica, though some-
what different from the type, was also collected, but as leafy
specimens only; it bears the name Caucho negro or Efacone.
It is only found in quantities near the Caquetd and Puta-
mayo Rivers. The sections where the valuable Castilloa
occurs have not yet been much worked, so that its destruc-
tion is not so marked_as is the case with the’other trees.

Another tree yielding rubber is the Minyadotana, a new
species of Zschokkea described in the Aew Bulletin’ 1912,
p. 38, under the name Z. Forii, Stapf. The tree is not very
widely spread, and is becoming scarce owing” to the methods
of working. The latex is used for mixing with that of the
Castilloa and the Hevea. :

Lastly, a gutta-yielding plant was found which is prob-
ably Sideroxylon cyrtobotryum, Mart.- This’ plant, -which is
known by the native name Arérate, is rare and was met
with only at Oriente, near the Igara Parana,*and the yield is
therefore a negligible quantity i

SORE SHINS IN HORSES.

The condition known as sore shins is an inflammation
of the periosteum, or sheath, which covers all the bones; it is
found on the anterior portion of the metacarpal, or cannon
bone, from the knee to the fetlock, particularly in the lower
third. It only occurs in the fore legs,

causes. It is dependent on the concussion brought about
by fast work, especially if on hard ground, before the bones
are able to stand the strain. Hence it is almost confined to
race-horses, the legs of which, from the nature of th2ir work,
are likely to be affected, and two-year-olds are more liable
than three- or four-year olds; while the condition is almost
unknown after that age.

The inflammation commences at the epiphyseal cartilages
at the end of the bone, extends along the bone, and may
affect its whole length in rare cases. If it is very severe, the
bone itself is involved, and necrosis, or death, of the bone
may result.

syMpToMs. Usually, it develops suddenly, generally after
hard exertion, and shows itself by severe lameness. The
horse rests the affected leg, and ‘ points’ the foot. If both
legs are attacked, the animal rests them alternately. The leg
is carried forward stiffly, and the length of the step is short.
The swelling is confined to the cannon bone, usually in the
lower part, and is tense and puffy, later becoming softer and
more elastic. It is due to an inflammatory exudate poured
out between the periosteum and the bone, which in health are
in close apposition. The pain is from the pressure of this
exudate on the delicate nerves of the periosteum, and is
increased by the inelasticity of that membrane.

In very acute cases, the horse may show constitutional
symptoms—fever, with increased pulse and signs of general
disturbance.

In a given instance, it may be said that the chances of
complete recovery are favourable if the condition is recognized
early, the exudate being absorbed, though slowly, leaving no
sign. If training is continued, the symptoms return, and are
more severe. On the other hand, if the exudate be already
large in amount, permanent thickening of the bone results,
either in the torm of nodules, or in thin layers on the surface.
of the bone.

TREATMENT. The first signs of lameness should be care-
fully looked for, and the work of the horse at once stopped.
Cold water, with astringents such as the usual salts of lead
or zinc, should be applied to the legs, to check the amount of
exudate, while, if the pain is excessive, a sedative such as
opium may be used. Gentle pressure is also beneficial. Medi-
cinal agents, in the form of laxatives and febrifuges, may ba
usefully employed, if constitutional symptoms are manifested.
After the acute stage is over, iodine and similar agents pro-
mote absorption of the exudate, and prevent bone formation.
A blister is commonly advised at this stage. In those cases
which do not yield to treatment, surgical interference may
be resorted to, though experience shows that the results are
not always successful. :

Recovery is aided by a long rest, and the horse must. be:
brought back into training gradually; or the trouble will
recur,

Tf the horse has not been unduly overworked, and yet
the condition arises, it is probable that the animal’s legs are
not equal to the strain of hard work, and it becomes a question
if training as a race-horse may be profitably continued.

88 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Marcu 16, 1912

EDITORIAL NOTICES.
Thattere and matter for publication, as well as all’
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

ommissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture,
Barbados.

All {pplications 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.

- Agnienltural News

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1912. No. 258.

Wor axe

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue :

. . t . 5 1 ° j . U
The editorial in this, number cons‘itu:es the third

and last article dealing chiefly with magters, That re-
ceived discussion at the recent Agricultural Conference.

_ An article on page 83 describes interesung and,
important work that has been conducted recently 1n,

connexion with the formation of calcium carbonate in
soils. 5 it

Information available in an old work dealing with

travels in America forms the subject of an abstract on
page 85, descriking early agricultural conditions in the
Bahamas. .. 9

.- Attention is drawn-to a note, on page 86, concern-
ing certain changes in the.terms-of insurance of West
Indian cotton by the British Cotton Growing Associa-
tion.

J

horses, appears on page 87.

‘ The Insect Notes, in this issue, are given on page

90.’ They have for their subject an account of the sugar-
cane beetle that has proved such a menace to the sugar-
cane industry of Mauritius, and against which an ener-
getic campaign has been conducted recently. Special
interest attuches to'this insect, from the fact that it is

found in parts: of the West Indies, where it is appar-

ently controlled by natural enemies.

“The Fungus Notes, on page 94, comprise the
former of ‘two articles dealing with the bud rot of the
cocoa-nut palm. .

An interesting article, dealing with sore shins in,

Information Regarding the Mango.

A list of some of the authorities that may be con-
sulted for information concerning the mango is given in
the Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany
for December 1911, and is reproduced here for informa-
tion, as follows.

Woodrow, The Mango: Its Culture and Varieties,
Paisley, 1904; Collins, The Mango in Porto Rico
(Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin No. 28), Washing-
ton, 1906; Higgins, The Mango in Hawai (Hawaii
Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 12),
Washington 1906; McMillan, A Handbook of Tropical
Gardening and Planting, Colombo, 1910; Jumelle, Les
Cultures Coloniales, Paris, 1901: Hartless, A Tabular
List of Mangos Grown at the Government Botanic
Gardens, Saharanpur, U.P., India: Yearbooks of the
United States Department of Agriculture for 1901,
1907, 1908 and 1910; Catalogue of Government
Botanical Gardens, Saharanpur. India, 1907; Catalogue
of Tropical Fruit l'rees, William Bros., Heneratgoda,,
Ceylon, 1907; Catalogue of Royal Palm Nurseries,;
Oneco, Florida, for 1911-12: Inventories of Burean of
Plant Industry, United States Department of Agri-,
culture. 5

CO re

The Ra nfalicaa Dominica. 191k

> y ‘

The rainfall returns. of. Dominica fur 1911 show
that the greatest precipitation was received at Gleau
Manioe, Saltoun; Long Dition and Corlet, with 270 47,
24945, 23076 and 21959 inches, respectively; at no-
shbatton other than these was more than 200 inches
registered. -Gleau’ Mamove has received the highest*
rainfall of all stations, during the last four years, the’
figures for the first three being: 1908 23618, 1909
258'82,and 1910 302 56 inches. Mage aes

As in the past'three years, Batalie has received.
the smallest precipitation, in this instauce 62 41 inches,
It is followed by Macoucherie with 66°36, Wall House
with 81:33, and Picard with 8259 inches. The increase
in the rainfall, even at those stations where it is usually
low, which took place in 1909, has not been main-
tained to the same extent as it was during 1910.

As was mentioned in the last volume of the Agri-
cultural News, p. 137, the average precipitation for’
the years since 1907 and 1908 had been about 30
inches higher than it was in those years. This increase
has been maintained in 1911, but not to the same
extent as was the case in 1909 and 1910, in which the
mean for thirty-four stations was 13736 and 13659
inches, as compared with the mean for. thirty-six
stations in 1911, which was: 132°69 inches; the basis of
this comparison is not strictly correct, owing to the
fact that, in the last-mentioned year the average was
cist from a larger number of stations. ;

In regard to the distribution of the rainfall, the
zverages in the different districts were as follows: four-
teen Leeward’ Coast stations 94:66, three Windward
Coast stations°133 64, twelve Inland stations 190°85,
and six La Soye Coast stations 10853 inches.

Von XI. No. 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

89

2S J {
Agricultural Teaching and Hygiene in Grenada

Elementary Schools.

The Report on. the Primary Schools, Grenada, for
1910-11, published in the Government Gazette for
January 15,1912, states that good results were obtained
in many schools in the theoretical teaching of subjects
connected with agriculture. Little use is made, how-.
ever, of school gardens, in connexion with this work, but
it is expected that the fact that in a few cases bonuses _
were given for school plots, as a result of the examin- >
ations of 1911, will stimulate teachers and managers
in the re-establishment of the gardens. It is evident
that teaching of this kind cannot possess useful results
unless it is accompanied by proper demonstrations, and
practical work: with plants on the part: of the pupils.

/ A favourable report is given on the teaching in
sanitation and hygiene, and good results have been
obtainetl in the subjects, even by lower division schools,
although it forms no,part in their curriculum.

4 be

The St. Vincent Arrowroot Growers’ and
‘ Exporters’ Association.

‘Lhe report of this Association for the period end-
ing December 31, 1911, was presented at its first
annual general meeting, held in Kingstown on Jan-
uary 24, 1912. The formation and objects of this
Association have been dealt with already in the Agri-
cultural News, Vols. 1X, p. 285; X, pp. 9 and 220.

In regard to'advertisiug, it had been decided that,
as funds to be collected under the Arrowroot (New
Market Fiind) Ordinance would not be ‘available until
December 1910, this should commence in January 1911,
and meanwhile inforrhation was to be collected in con-
nexion with the matter. His Honour the Administrator
placed at the disposal of the Committee useful informa-
tion in regard to the exploitation .of arrowroot in
Canada; the assistance was also obtained of Mr. A. E.
Aspinall, Secretary of the West India Committee, and
of Mr. A. S. Durrant, of New Ycerk. By this:means,.--
the Association has been placed in communication with
several countries, and samples of arrowrovt, together
with advertising matter, including the Guide Book to
St. Vincent, written by the Hon. Mrs: Murray, have
been distributed in ‘Europe and the United States.
Efforts have also been made for the expansion of trade .
in the West Indies, and in addition to the work done
through commercial firms in Canada, there was the
placing of advertisements in journals and handbooks °
circulating in that country, one of these being The West

ndies in Canada, published by this Department.
Another. more detailed effort consisted in the provision
of an exhibit, with accompanying copies of illustrated
booklets, at the National Exhibition in Toronto. In
the report, a list of firms in Canada and the United
States, who may be interested in arrowroot, is inserted
provisionally. say: %

' . Among general matters, it is shown that there is
at present no tendency to over-production of St. Vincent
arrowroot. The success gained already has caused the

Association to urge strongly that the Ordinance men-
tioned above be renewed for two years, reckoning from
December 1, 1912. Finally, grateful appreciation is
expressed of the interest that the Administrator, the
Hon. C. Gideon Murray, has shown in the formation of
the Association, as well as of the -assistance that has
been afforded by His Honour.

1

A New So-called Ground Nut.

The Agricultural News, Vol. 1X, p. 340, contained
an account of the Bambarra ground nut, which is
known botanically as Voundzeia subterranea. It is
announced by the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute,
from information given in Der Tropenpflanzer 1911,
p. 275, that another plant has been discovered, in
Togoland, which is similar to this plant and to the
ground nut, in that it ripens its fruits below ground. It
occurs in three forms yielding seeds of different colours,
and is called by the natives in Togoland Kandela, and
by those in Dahomey Doi. It has been named Ker-
stingiella geocarpa, and has been already described
from Dahomey under the name Voandzeia Poissoni.
The seeds are about =-inch long and nearly }-inch
broad, and are stated to possess a pleasant flavour. So
far, the plant has only been seen in cultivation.

Legislation Against Noxious Weeds in Grenada.

The Grenada Government Gazette for January 3,
1912, publishes the draft ofa Bill for an Ordinance
that may be cited as the Noxious Weeds Ordinance,
1912.

Under the regulations of this Ordinance, noxious
weeds on land have to be removed by the persons
responsible in respect of the land, and further, such
persons are bound to report the occurrence of noxious
weeds to a Justice of the Peace, Magistrate or Inspec-
ter under the Ordinance, or at the nearest Police Sta-
tion, or direct to the Superintendent of Agriculture.

The Ordinance gives power to inspectors to enter
upon any land, whether it is enclosed or not, for the pur-
ose of aszertaining if any noxious weeds exist thereon.
If such plants are found, notice is given to the person
responsible, requiring him to clear the land within
a time specified in the notice. The Ordinance, further,
provides for penalties for disobedience and for the
removal by inspectors of neglected weeds, at the expense
of the delinquents.

For the-interpretation of the Ordinance, the term
Noxious Weeds is intended to include any plant which
the Governor may, from time to time, with the consent
of the Legislative Council, signified by resolution to
that effect, declare by Order published: in the Gazette
to be a noxtous weed, either throughout the whole col-
ony or in one or more districts or portions of districts
thereof.

90 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

G one

pas iy —
eT
ih
THE SUG *~-CA & BEETLE IN
te Ad Ri ai US.
Ina recent numve: of the iviicultural News (see Vol.

X, p.. 314) a short nope ppeare) on the subject of a new

sugar-cane pest in \lausitins. ‘his pest was the larva of
a hardback beetle which had mie its appearance in that
island, and had caused « considersoie amount of loss by the
injuries inflicted on sho growing cane

Since the time this beetle was first reported, it has

attracted attention from all paris of the sugar-growing world,
on account of the very Scyious nature of the damage done by
it, and also because 6? the faci thet it is seemingly a new
form, ‘certainly new to Mamiilius, and, up to the present
time, apparently not ‘ceutified ii any published account of
she insect.

numbers in which these insects have
vo letters which have been received by
onér of Agriculture from a correspond-
ent in Mauritius. In oc of these, dated December 15, 1911,
it was stated that the adult bectles were being captured in
large numbers, over 390,000 haying been taken in a single
night; a postscript addcd on the 19th of the month gives the
record of 1,372,000 bec!!es taken in one night.

The method ado;tcd+for the capture of the beetles is
ingenious. This work ‘s done by East Indians—men, women
and children—who stick small branches of trees into the
ground, in fields where ‘le insects are known to abound. The
branches, having the #)|))arance of small shrubs, are placed
irregularly, at no fixed ‘istance apart; this may vary from 15
to 50 feet. At dusk; the insects come out of the ground and
settle on the branches, from which they are collected by the
Indians, who are provided with small hand lamps. The
insects are taken to the officer in charge of the work, and are
paid for at a given price per thousand.

The enormous
occurred are shown i:
the Imperial Commis:

In another letter from the same correspondent, under
date of December 28. 1911, the Imperial Commissioner was
informed that the record capture for the season amounted
to nearly 3,000,000 of the beetles in one night, while the
total number for the snonths of November and December
exceeded 25,000,000. During the latter part of December,
however, there was a ‘ecided falling off in the number of
insects taken, the last ‘gures received being 275,000, for one
night near the end of + month.

un the information received that the
especially towards the end of the
«thod on which the greatest depend-
ugh it is possible that experiments
have been under progress, and will

It would appear
collecting of the adu
year, was the contro!
ence was placed; al‘!
with other methods 11
be reported upon late

sreat interest in connexion with the
i Mauritius is that of its identity,

A question of ve:
onthreak oi the beet!

Marcu 16, 1912.

relationship and original home. There seems to be no doubt
that it is a recently introduced form in Mauritius, and the-
fact that it occurs in the vicinity of the Gardens at Pample-
mousses, gives rise to the surmise that it may have been
introduced among plants imported for the gardens.

A letter in the West India Committee Circular for
December 5 last suggests a_relationship between the Mauri-
tius beetle, and the Lachnosterna beetle in Porto Rico and
Cuba.

In the Agrieultural-News for February 17, 1912 (Vol.
XI, p. 58) there appeared an article on The New Zealand
Grass Grub, in which mention was made of several root-eating:
grubs, and of the general relationships betweenthem. In the
first of the letters quoted above the correspondent refers to
the article in the Agricultural News (Vol IX, p, 186)
entitled The Hardback Beetle, stating that the brown hard-
back which is mentioned there seems to be very similar to,
if not the same.as, the beetle causing so much injury in
Mauritius. This is the brown hardback which has often
been referred to in, publications cf the Imperial Department
of Agriculture as C'yclocephala sp. 3

At the West Indian Agricultural Conference in Trinidad,
one of the delegates was Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall, Scientific
Secretary to the African Entomological Research Committee.
Mr. Marshall, who has made a special study of Coleoptera,
brought with him to the West Indies specimens of the Mauri-
tius beetle which. he had received from the island. . These
specimens were compared with hardbacks in the collection
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, when it was.
found that the sugar-cane pest of Mauritius is the same as
the common brown hardback in Barbados, but the examina-
tion showed that the brown hardbacks from other islands.
belong to the genus Cyclocephala, while the Barbados species
is distinct. 4

Mr. Marshall was able to state that the sugar-cane pest
of Mauritius has been described under the name of Phytalus
smithi, Arrow, and that the Barbados brown hardback
is the same species. . The published description in which this
name is used has not yet been received, although it may have
appeared before this time.

It is naturally of considerable interest that, while the
brown hardback in Barbados is not recognized as being of
any importance as a pest in that island, in another part of
the world the same species should develop to such enormous
numbers and should become a pest of such great economic
importance.

It is well known that insects are much more serious pests.
when introduced into a new locality than in their native homes,
and this is generally attributed to the fact that in the former
of these situations they are not checked by the activities of
their natural enemies, which occur in their native habitat.

If Barbados, or another West Indian island, is the native
home of this pest, it would seem probable that there must
be some very efficient natural enemy, which is able to control
it. Careful and systematic observations of the natural
enemies of the hardback beetles throughout the West Indies
might result in the discovery of the natural enemies which
are responsible for keeping these insects reduced to compara-
tively insignificant numbers,

In regard to the occurrence of the leaf-blister mite (#7r7-
ophyes gossypti) as & pest ‘of cotton in the West Indies,
Barbados has, so far, been regarded as free from the presence
of this enemy of the cotton planter. It has, however, been
found quite récently in several cotton fields in that island.

Vor. XI. No. 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 91

ST. KITTS-NEVIS : REPORTS ON THE BOT-
ANIC STATION, ECONOMIC EXPERIMENTS AND

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION;
CULTURAL EDUCATION, 1910 11,

It is shown, among the first matters dealt with in this re-
port, that the condition of the Botanic Garden in St. Kitts has
been maintained, and that efforts have been made for its
improvement. Hedges of bread-and-cheese (Pithecolohium
Unguis-cati) have made good progress, except where they have
suffered from attacks of what is apparently a root disease.
The letting of the lawn for recreation gnd‘games continues
to be appreciated. In regard to economic plants, success has
been obtained with onions; but the want of an external
market prevents an onion-growing industry from extending.
‘There has been no increase in cacao-growing during the
year, though success has been obtained ‘on experimental
estate areas, in the island of St. Kitts. The area in rubber
cultivation remains the same as it was in ‘the previous year;
it is occupied by Castilloa elastica, Funtimia elastica and
Hevea brasiliensis. The lime industry bas been retarded by
attacks of scale insects, particularly by *the purple scale
{Lepidosaphes beckii), and material bearing fungus parasites
has been introduced from Dominica; no definite results as to
the effects of the introduction are yet apparent, but these are
awaited with interest. A succeeding section of the report
gives information concerning the agricultural show held
during the year under review, and regarding the work of the
Permanent Exhibition Committee, chiefly in connexion with
the Canadian Exhibitions.

The experiments of an economic nature deal mainly with
food plants, green dressings, tobacco, cotton, limes and sugar-
cane, and the work of this kind is closely connected with the
distribution of planting material, of which a fairly large and
varied quantity was sent out. Trials with yams gave, among
other matters, inconclusive results as to the effects of staking.
With cassava, a test of the variety Black Stick did not
support its reputation as a heavy producer. No definite
fesults were obtained as to the value of liming lands for
growing ground nuts; among the exotic varieties of ground
nuts, the Spanish is mostly in demand, on account of its
small marketable size, early maturity and easy and cheap
harvesting. A trial was made of the Bambarra ground nut
4{Voandzeia subterranea), and this work will be continued.

ALSO ON AGRI-

On the averages oi ,eight -years’ experiments, Caroline
. Lee, Spooner, White Gilkes and Red Bourbon have shown
themselves the four best varieties of sweet potatoes, as
regards return. Mazzagua Guinea corn was tried, and its
prolificness has caused it to receive much attention from
growers. Among other plants in relation to which the chief
nterest exists are pine-apples, onions, tobacco and J'ephrosia
candida.

Manurial experiments with cotton have:continued to
-show the value of good cultivation, with sniall applications of
farmyard manure. Lint from selected plants was sent to
Mr. A. H. Dixon, of the Fine Spinners’ and Doublers’ Asso-

ciation, Limited, who kindly made a report on it, which is
reproduced. The usual cotton selection work has been cor-
tinued, and hybrids have been made between Sea Island an¢
native St. Eustatius. The estimated area of cotton in the
Presidency, during the season under report, was 3,800 acres,
made up as follows: St. Kitts 1,500 acres, Nevis 1,300,
Anguilla 1,000 acres; the return of lint, as far as could be
ascertained at the time of the writing of the report, was:
St. Kitts 323,894 lb., Nevis 331,757 Ib, Anguilla 123,695 fb,
making a total of 779,346 tb. Finally, with respect to
St. Kitts, as regards sugar-cane experiments, the total num-
ber of plots reaped during the season was 530; 290 of these
were concerned with varieties, plants and ratoons, and
240 with manurial experiments with ratoons.

A list of the plant distribution, at the Experiment
Station in Nevis, shows that this has comprised a large part
of its work. The experiments were chiefly concerned with
food crops, cotton, limes, broom corn and green dressings.
As regards economic plants, comparatively new to Nevis in
any quantity, the chief success is expected with limes and
onions; the results with cacao are, up to the present, some-
what disappointing. A scheme of experiments with sugar-
cane, similar to that in Antigua and St. Kitts, is being
followed, on a smaller scale, in Nevis. The cotton selection
carried out for providing peasant growers with good seed, has
been successful, particularly in that the returns of cotton
raised by small cultivators compare favourably with those
from estates.

The report on agricultural teaching at the Grammar
School, St. Kitts, shows that the work has been carried on
aecording to the usual scheme, except that an alteration has
been made in the time-table whereby all the pupils in the
school study botany as well as chemistry. The information
concerning this work is amplified by the inclusion of a special
section describing, in more detail than is usual, the science
instruction at the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School.

VITALITY OF PARA RUBBER SEEDS.

An account of observations on the duration of the
vitality of Para rubber seeds is given; as follows, in the
Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated
Malay States for December 1911 :—

On January 31, a box of 600 Para rubber seeds was
packed for a German planter to go to German New Guinea.
The seeds were paeked as usual in a tin box 12 inches long;
8 inches wide and 5 inches deep, in layers of burnt rice husk,
and the box was covered with canvas stitched over it. The
planter, however, omitted to leave any address or instructions
for shipping the box, as he intended to do. The parcel re-
mained ‘unopened until July 13 (a period of five months and
thirteen days), when the lid was taken off and the box left
open by a window. By the end of the month fifty-three >f
the seeds had germinated and thrown up strong stems.

A hundred of the others were removed and put in a pan
and of these, three germinated.

No particular care was taken of these seeds and it is
probable that if they had been carefully treated more would
have germinated. Theduraticn of the vitality of these seeds
for nearly six months, enclosed in a box, shows that the Para
rubber seed has greater lasting powers if properly packed
than would be expected. I believe this is the longest record
of duration for this seed,

92 THE AGRICULTURAL mE

Marcu 16, 1912.,
ye, a 2

GLEANINGS.

The distribution from the St. Lucia Botanic Gardens
during January comprised 4,760 plants, including 4,050 lime
plants and 150 cacao plants, In addition to these, 163 pack-
ets of seeds were sent out. :

The chief exports from St. Vincent during November
last comprised: arrowroot 162,254 ib, Sea Island cotton
17,283 tb. (48 bales), cotton seed 78,339 tb., muscovado sugar
53,450 tb., molasses 2,025 gallons, cacao 34,425 Ib.

During last month, the number of plants distributed from
the Dominica Botanic Station was 3,468. These included:
limes 1,600, Para rubber 1,300, cacao 200, shade. trees 200,
Eucalyptus 86, grafted mangoes 11, miscellaneous 71.

>

Ina notice by the St. Lucia Agricultural Department,
it is intimated, for the information of planters in the island,
that preparations are being made by the Department for
raising a large number of plants of Para rubber for locs] dis-
tribution during this year.

The Experiment Station Record for August 1911,
p. 109, gives a note on a method for the,estimation of citric
acid in citrates and Jemon juices. In this, the citric acid is
precipitated as calcium citrate, which is heated with sulphuric
acid, and the amount of carbon dioxide that is driven off
measured. This amount depends directly on the auantity of
citric acid that was present.

Returns received from the Superintendent of Agricul-
ture, Barbados, show that the area of cotton grown in the
island during the period January to December 1911 was
4,670 acres. Of this 4,401 acres cornprised cotton planted
in that season, while 269 acres consisted of so-called ratoon
cotton, that is cotton which had been allowed to spring
again from the last season’s plants.

An account is contained in the Bulletin of the Bureau
of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant Diseases for March
1911, p. 629, of a plant named Atractylis gummifera, belong:
ing to the Compositae, which is found almost throughout the
Mediterranean region, and is very common in Sicily, in open,
rocky, dry, situations. Analyses have shown that the plant
produces a latex containing about 23 to 36 per cent. of rub-
ber which, it is stated, might be used industrially. The
means of propagation are apparently by cuttings or from
seed.

Among the matters of recent interest in connexion with
the Antigua Botanic Station has “been the importation of
twenty-nine new species of Eucalyptus. The plants distribut-
ed from this station during February last included 15,500
cane cuttings and fifty cocoa-nut plants. During that month,
a cane mill and oil engine were imported in connexion with
the experimental work that is conducted with sugar-cangg,

dyen

A method for protecting seeds from rats, mice or birds
is suggested in the Garden and Field for January 1912. This
consists in adding water or kerosene to the seeds in sufficient
amount just to moisten them, stirring them well, and then
adding a small quantity of red lead and stirring again until
each seed is given a coating of this substance. It is claimed
that even if seeds so treated are attacked by Vermin, these
will not return once they have experienced the results.

Some of the sections of the meeting of the British
Association for the Advancement of Science, to be commenced
in Dundee on September 4 of this year, under the presidency
of Professor A. E. Schafer, F.R.S., will be held with the fol-
lowing as Presidents: Chemistry, Professor A. Senier; Botany,
Professor I*. Keeble; Agriculture, Mr. T. H. Middleton. It
will be noticed that this is the first meeting of the British

Association at which Agriculture has comprised a complete
section.

i

The Apnual Report of the Ontario Agricultural College
and Experiment Farm for 1910, p. 100, contains an account
of work that has been done in order to find the effect of add-
ing various substances to lime sulphur wash for spraying.
It was shown that, although a certain amount of alteration
results from the addition of lime, this is not sufficient to
render inadvisable such addition; the same was the case with
lead arsenate and calcium arsenite, but the employment of
Paris green in the same way was found to reduce the strength
of the wash by almost one-half.

In the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute for 1911, p. 346;
it is recorded that Para rubber from Seychelles, submitted
to brokers, was valued at about 7s. per tb. for light biscuits,
and 6s. 11d. per tb. for dark biscuts, in London, with fine
hard Para quoted at 6s. 1ld. per tb. and fine plantation
Para at 6s. 11d. to 7s. 10d. per Ib. The physical properties
of the samples examined are stated to have shown a con-
siderable improvernent on those of the previous specimens
from Seychelles, and the opinion is given that there is little
doubt that Hevea in Seychelles, when mature, will yield
rubber of excellent quality.

The United States Department of Commerce and Labour
has issued a bulletin which shows that the quantity of cotton
exported from that country during the twelve months ended
August 1911, was 4,007,880,368 Ib., having a value of
£120,327,264. In a like period for 1909-10, the similar
figures were 3,241,391,972 tb. and £95,852,770, and in
1908-9, 4,440,883,763 tb. and £87,361,887. The export price
per Ib. of cotton lint varied from 7:2d. to 7-1d. and 4°7d.,
for the above years in the order given. It should be
stated that these export figures refer to shipments from the
chief cotton ports, and are actually within about 1 per cent.
of the total cotton shipments.

Von. XI. No. 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 93

MARCH.

Sreconp PERIOD.

Seasonal Notes.

What matter in connexion with the life of the sugar-
cane is indicated by the circumstance of ,arrowing! State
what you know of the way in which the arrows of the sugar-
cane are formied, and describe the flowers which they bear.
What is the chief importance of the flowering of the sugar-
cane, in regard to experimentation with the plant, and to the
sugar industry. Mention any varieties of sugar-canes with
which you are acquainted that arrow freely; state the reason
why arrowing takes place to a greater extent in some years
than in others. What precautions should be employed in
using sugar-cane arrows in the production of seedlings! Give
a general account of the work that is done in obtaining
a supply of sugar-eane seedlings.

The completion of the harvesting of limes will allow
attention to be given to the cultivation of the fields. What
observations and records do you make in order to obtain
information as to which fields require pen manure, and which
are needing artificial manures! State if you consider that
all fields should be given a dressing of pen mauure at definite
intervals, providing reasons for your answer. What are the
chief effects of applications of pen manure, in relation to the
soil? What are the reasons why the land is likely to suffer
through the continual use of artificial manures without pen
manure! The ordering and employment of artificial man-
ures require care, not only in the matter of obtaining the
kinds best suited to the plants to be treated, but also with
respect to the choice to be made where more than one kind
may be used for the provision of a given element of plant
food. In relation to this matter, sulphate of ammonia is
dearer than nitrate of soda; what compensating circumstance
is, however, possessed by the latter, and how would you
eompare the two manures in this respect? The manuring
of lime cultivations does not usually take place during
the present part of the year. Give reasons for this. What
is the proper time for carrying out the mulching of lime
plantations, and what is the purpose of the operation?

Observations conducted in lime fields during the wet
season will have given indications as to the places where
draining is required. The present time is suitable for taking
advantage of these observations, in the direction of increasing
the number of drains, or of deepening those that exist already.
Give an account of the kinds of drainage that are needed in
lime cultivation, under different conditions. Speaking gene-
rally, drains should be 3 or 4 feet deep, with the exception
of contour drains that have been made only for the purpose
of preventing the washing away of the soil.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY MUESTIONS.

. (1) How can plants be grown without,soil, and what use
has been made of the methods that are known?
(2) State broadly what beneficial kinds of work are done
by bacteria in the soil. a
(3) Explain what is meant by grafting, and give an
account of its uses.

INTERMEDIATE (QUESTIONS.

(1) Deseribe the way in which information is obtained
as to the elements that must be provided for green plants,
through the roots, in order that they may grow normally.

(2) In what ways do bacteria affect the nitrogen of the
soil in regard to (a) the forms in which it is found, (b) the
quantity that is present /

(3) Describe the process of grafting, in the case of any
plant of commercial importance with which you are familiar,

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) How has it been shown that the supply of a certain
amount of iron is necessary for the proper development of
green plants, and what are the more obvious signs of a lack
of this element ?

(2) State what methods are employed, or suggested to
be employed, for increasing the beneficial action of micro-
organisms in the soil.

(3) Describe what oecurs in the stems of two plants, or
parts of plants, that have been grafted successfully the one
on the other.

CAMPHOR IN GERMAN HAST A?#RICA.

Notes given in the Agricultural News from time to
time (Vols. VIII, p. 328, IX, p. 233 and X, p. 56) have
summarized the results of experiments that have gone to
show that the greatest yield of camphor, in proportion to the
raw material, is obtained from the leaves and twigs. In
relation to the same subject an article in the Journal
@ Agriculture Tropicale for April 1911 draws attention to
information contained in Der Pflanzer for November 18, 1907,
to the effect that 500 tb. of camphor seeds were imported
into that colony from Japan, in 1905; most of these
were sown at Wilhelmstal, from which place young plants
were sent out to nurseries at different stations, as well as to
planters. The article proceeds to give attention to results
with plants obtained from this source, which were planted at
the station at Amani; these results were presented in the last
volume of the Agricultural News, p: 56.

It is further stated that interest has been revived in the
matter on account of the similar results that have been obtain-
ed in such diverse places as Ceylon, Italy (using old trees),
the Federated Malay States (Batu-Tiga), and in Jamaica.
Attention is drawn, however, to the suggestion that camphor
trees thus exploited may not be able to withstand the annual
removal of the leaves. In regard to this matter, the state-
ment is made that the most detailed experiments, at Batu-
Tiga and Amani (those in Italy are omitted from considera-
tion, on account of the age of the trees), on trees three and
a half to five years old are explicit on the point that, on
condition that the leaves are removed to a reasonable extent,
the trees do not suffer any harm. The experiments at Amani
are precise on this point, and it has been shown that one-
third of the foliage should be cut away; when after the fol-
lowing rainy season, the trees are weady for a repeti-
tion of the treatment. The practical advice based on this is
that planters of camphor trees should treat these in such
a way as to cause the greatest production of leaves.

The article discusses briefly the question as to the bring-
ing about of a revolution in the camphor industry, owing to
the fact that the drug may be obtained so easily and economi-
cally from the leaves, and points out the importance of the
suitability of German East Africa to the camphor tree, in
relation to the matter.

94 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marca 16, 1912.

FUNGUS NOTES.

BUD ROT OF THE COCOA-NUT PALM.
Part I.

The bud rot disease of cocoa-nut palms has been known
in the West Indies for many years, and has caused serious
losses in some cases, particularly in Cuba; but although this
is so, and though many workers have devoted time and
attention to its investigation, its true cause has only very
recently been determined, and there are still many miscon-
ceptions of its origin, and of the efficacy of the different
methods of treatment that have been suggested. The account
of an extensive and careful investigation, which has led to
a clear understanding of the symptoms and causes of the
disease, has recently been published as Bulletin No. 228 of
the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture. The work has been carried out by
J. R. Johnston, late Assistant Pathologist in the Laboratory
of Plant Pathology, now Pathologist to the Estacion Experi-
mental de la Associacion de Productores de Azucar de Puerto
Rico, who investigated the disease in Cuba, and also visited
Jamaica, Trinidad and British Guiana, for the purpose of
comparing the forms of disease reported from those localities
with that found in Cuba. The results of this work are given
below.

SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE, The account of these, in
Mr. Johnston’s own words, is as follows: ‘ The common name
of the disease, bud-rot, well describes its nature, for in its
acute or advanced stages the bud of the tree, i.e., the growing
point in the centre of the crown, is affected by a vile-smelling
soft rot which destroys all the younger tissues. At this stage
most of the nuts have fallen, the lower leaves are turning
yellow, and the middle folded and undeveloped leaves are
dead and hang down between the still green surrounding
leaves. Signs of the disease in its incipiency are (1) the
falling of immature nuts; (2) a staining of the open flower
spikes, partly or wholly, to a rich chocolate brown; and (3) the
dying and bending over of the middle undeveloped leaves.
When the nuts are being shed, investigation reveals at the
base of the affected spikes a dark-coloured wet rot which
spreads around the leaf sheaths, or strainers, as they are
locally known. This rot appears as water-soaked areas which
may reach a length of 15 or 20 cm. on both the upper and
lower surfaces of the bases of the leaves. This condition often
penetrates the leaf bases to a depth of 2 cm. or more, and the
tissues involved in it. swarm with bacteria. As the white
tissues at the base of the leaf become old and green the
water-soaked spots harden, and they may often be found in
this condition on otherwise perfectly healthy trees.

‘The rot gradually spreads from the base of one spike
to another through the wet strainer. It is probable that
insects carry the disease from one part to another, since there
may be one or more points of infection. Gradually all the
spikes become affected and shed their nuts, and the leaf stalks
become so rotted at their bases that they are not able to
maintain their natural position, but are pendent, often for
a long time, or else fall off.

“If the infection starts in the central leaves the disease
is apt to progress rapidly downward into the younger tissues,
which it is very active in disintegrating, the vascular bundles
being so soft as to allow the tissues to go entirely to pieces.
In the centre it may progress into the trunk for a short dis-
tance and rot out the fundamental tissue, leaving only the
fibres which are too hard to be disintegrated. This rot has
been found, exceptionally, as far as 1°5 metres under the

heart of the bud, a hard outer shell being left around the
central rotted portion. Usually the decay extends in the
trunk under the bud for a distance of only 0-2 to 0'5 metre
and never throughout its lengta.

‘Spots which are merely fungus infections often occur
on the middle leaves. These spots spread and coalesce, leay-
ing blackened, wet, and later, dry and dead tissues. Insects
and small animals are often found in the decaying tissues,
but the advancing margin of the soft rot appears to be oceu-
pied exclusively by bacteria.’

DISTRIBUTION. Johnston’s principal investigations were
conducted in Cuba, but he also found a bud rot with exactly
similar symptoms in Jamaica, Trinidad and British Guiana.
Its spread and general effect are most serious in Cuba; in
Jamaica where it used to be prevalent, the destruction of
diseased trees, and general sanitary measures, have reduced it
very greatly, so that Johnston estimates that probably only
about fifty cases existed there at the time of his visit ; while .
in Trinidad he found it to be fairly prevalent and responsible
for considerable damage. Since then, however, an active
campaign for the destruction of diseased trees has been insti-
tuted by the Board of Agriculture, in the latter island, and
the majority of them have been destroyed, so that only a few
cases can now be found. In British Guiana the disease
is present though not very virulent in form.

Diseases with very similar symptoms have been reported
by other observers from the Cayman Islands and from British
Honduras. Although full accounts of these are not available
in all cases, and though careful comparative investigations
have not been made, there is not much doubt that these
diseases are the same as bud rot It may here be noted that
one or two instances of a disease strongly suspected of being
the same as that under consideration have been reported from
certain of the smaller islands of the Lesser Antilles. Old
traditions of the wholesale destruction of cocoa nut planta-
tions still linger in some of them, and lead to the surmise
that possibly at one time or another bud rot has been present
in the majority.

It is interesting to note that, although there have been
reports of the existence of bud rot in Porto Rico, Johnston did
not find it there; neither did he observe it in New Providence
Island, in the Bahamas, nor in certain small groves along
the Coast of Colombia and Venezuela; while according to
Professor Rolfs and Dr. Bessey, it is also absent from
Southern Florida,

Diseases with similar symptoms, also attributed to bac-
teria, have been reported from the Philippines and Ceylon,
and these are very probably the same as the West Indian
disease. From German East Africa, Portuguese East Africa
and Tahiti, there are reports of a similar disease which cause
it to be very desirable that comparisons should be made with
the local disorder. In India, a similar disease of certain palms
in Travancore has beem attributed by Butler to a fungus,
Pythium palmivorum, while Coleman has found another
fungus, Phytophthora omnivora, var. Arecae on the Areca
palm in Mysore. (See Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 254
and Vol. X, pp. 14, 30 and 206.)

cause. The disease has been attributed to very many
different causes by various observers, and its infectiousness
has been doubted or ignored by some. In connexion with
the agents to which the disease has been ascribed, Johnston
writes as follows: ‘By many it has been thought due to some-
thing in the soil or to the climatic conditions, and various
applications have been made to the base of the tree in the
hope of curing it. Insects eating the roots and working in
the trunk or inthe crown have also been considered as
causes. It has likewise been claimed that a mechanical

Von. XI, No. 258.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 95

injury, such as a bullet piercing the tender heart tissues,
would produce a rot of the crown. It is safe to say that most
of the reasons given as to the causes were based on inaccurate
or incomplete observations, together with a lack of any
experiments to substantiate them. The rapid spread of the
disease in itself seems good evidence of its infectious nature,
for it does not stop in one valley or one grove, but fre-
quently spreads over a hillside and into the next valley,
always beginning in a small way and from that spreading
sporadically over the entire grove. If the disease were due
to soil or to climatic changes, many or all of the trees would
show signs of the rot about the same time. It could hardly
be supposed that this might be accounted for by variation in
individual resistance, since in the end most or all of the trees
contract the disease.’

Johnston isolated strains of bacteria from diseased trees
in Cuba which, when inoculated into healthy trees, produced
the disease. The same bacteria were recovered from the
inoculated trees, re-inoculated again, and again recovered; this
proves as conclusively as possible that the organisms were
the cause of the disease, which must therefore be regarded
as infectious. The inoculations were made by boring a hole
into the heart tissues and then injecting the fluid containing
the bacteria. At the same time, control experiments were
made by boring the hole without injecting the bacteria. In
no case did the controls show any sign of a soft rot, so that
they indicated clearly that mere mechanical injury of the heart
tissues will not cause the disease.

By means of a long series of comparative culture experi-
ments, Johnston showed that the bacteria from cocoa-nut
trees infected with bud rot were indistinguishable from
Bacillus coli—an organism found in the human colon. More-
over, pure cultures of ZB. coli caused a rot of cocoa-nuts prac-
tically identical with bud rot. Thus the cocoa-nut organ-
isms must be regarded as strains of B. col’. This is a most
important conclusion, as it is the first instance in which
a bacterium infesting animals has been found to produce
a plant disease. Some further results of Johnston’s work
will be referred to in the next number of the Agricultural
News.

BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK IN JAMAICA.

A supplement to the Jamaica Gazette dated Thursday,
November 16, 1911, contains the report of Dr. H. H. Scott,
M.D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Government Bacteriologist, on the
work done by that officer between his arrival in Jamaica, on
January 6, and the end of the official year, March 31, 1911.
The work has been arranged so that part of the day is
employed at the Hope Laboratory in carrying out investiga-
tions connected with the Agricultural Department, and part
is devated to consultations and pathological work at the
Hospital. In the report, the work is described under the
following heads : (1) bacteriological examination of samples
of water-supplies; (2) veterinary pathology in connexion with
the Government Farm; (3) maintenance of the culture of rat
virus; (4) work in connexion with fermentation,

As regards the first of these, bacteriological examina-
tions of the main supplies of water to Kingston are carried
out every month, for the Kingston General Commissioners.
The scheme according to which the samples of water are
taken for examination is described, and it appears that,
during the time under report, twenty-six such samples have
been examined for their bacterial characteristics,

In the work connected with veterinary pathology, by far
the largest number of specimens examined consisted of blood
smears from cattle suspected of suffering from Texas fever,
at the Government Farm; evidence was found in several
cases of the presence of the typical Pirosoma |Piroplasma]
Ligeminum, conveyed by the bite of ticks. A matter of
some general interest is that material froma horse with symp-
toms of lymphangitis, strongly simulating farey, gave good
specimens of Saccharomyces farciminosus, which is the or-
ganism of epizootic lymphangitis (see West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. XI, p. 31).

It is stated that the results with rat virus have not, so
far, been very encouraging, and reference is made in this
connexion to work in Madras, Calcutta and Burma which has
not succeeded in showing that the disease produced by the
virus is transmissible from rat to rat. There had been no
demand, recently, for the virus, in Jamaica; but the cultures
were being maintained at the proper strength, in case such
a demand may arise.

The work in connexion with fermentation is largely con-
cerned with the provision of pure yeast cultures for rum
manufacture. The preparation of these takes about three
weeks for completion, and during the whole of this time
there must exist the greatest care in order that contamination
may be prevented. A matter that evidences the importance
of care in the work is that a small amount of contamination
at any stage of the preparation of a culture would quickly
cause disastrous results, on its introduction into a distillery,
This work is not merely routine in nature, as it includes
a large amount of technical labour which exhausts time, but
does not exhibit its existence in a large way when results
are presented.

A detailed report of the work for the Medical Depart-
ment shows that part of this is done on behalf of the Typhoid
Investigation Committee, appointed to inquire into the preva-
lence of typhoid fever in Kingston and its suburbs. A dis-
ease known in the island as vomiting sickness is receiving
special attention by Captain Potter, R.A.M.C., and permis-
sion has been obtained from this investigator to announce
that work in collaboration, by the writer of the report, has
succeeded in showing the existence, in cases of this disease,
of an elongated, protozoal-looking body, in many of the red
corpuscles which did not stain asa rule, but, in some few
instances, gave a spot of stained substance at one end. The
possibility is expressed that bodies of the kind constitute one
stage of the disease, only met with at some definite period of
the illness.

Considerable attention is given in this part of the report
to vaccines and their employment in disease. With relation
to this matter, much ignorance still appears to exist in regard
to the mode of use of these bodies, and to the way in
which they produce a curative condition. The fact should be
properly realized that vaccines do not cure, of themselves; but
that their administration causes a reaction to take place in
the tissues, which brings about the removal of the disturbing
influence. The conclusion from this fact may be quoted from
the report as follows: ‘When this idea is grasped, vaccine
therapy will no longer be regarded as a “ dernier ressort” to
which appeal is made after everything else has been tried.
Such a procedure is unfair from the points of view of both
the patient and the bacteriologist. For when vaccines are
tried at a late stage, after all recuperative power is lost or
when it is at such a low ebb that no reaction is possible, not
only has the time gone by when any treatment is availing, but
the vaccine therapy in consequence falls into disrepute.’

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS

Marcu

16, 1912.

London.—TxHE

MARKET REPORTS.

West Inpia ComMiTrTEE CIRCULAR,

February 27, 1912; Messrs. E. A. Dz Pass & Co.,
February 2, 1912.

Arrowroot—3sd. to 43d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/6 ; block, 2/6 per tb.

Brerswax—§£7 7s. Gi. to £7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 57/- to 68/- per cwt.; Grenada, 50/-
to 55/-; Jamaica, 50/. to 56/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 68/- to 82/- per ewt.

Copra—West Indian, £26 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 17d. to 24d.

Fruit—No quotations,

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 64/- per ewt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotation.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 1/3 to 1,6; concentrated, £15 10s. to
£19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 5/6.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nourmecs—Firm.

Pimento—Common, 2,%d.; fair, 22d.; good, 2}3d.; per tb.

Rusger—Para, fine hard, 4/7; fine soft, 4/67; Castilloa,
4/8 per Tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 19/6 to 22/6; Muscovado, 16/- to 19/-;
Syrup, 14/9 to 18/- per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York,—Messrs. Gintesprx Bros. & Co., February

23, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 1]fc. to 12c.; Grenada, 1lgc. to 112c.;
Trinidad, 11c. to 12}¢. per tb.; Jamaica, 10c. to 11c.

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26-00; culls,
$16°00; Trinidad, select, $26:00 to $27-00; culls,
$16°00 per M.

OorrEE—Jamaica, 14c. to 17c. per ib.

Gincen—8c. to 10}c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 48c.
to 50c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 45c. to 47e.
per lb.

Grape-Fruir—Jamaica, $3°25 to $4:00.

Limes—$5-00 to $5°50.

Macre—b0c. to 57c. per tb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 155c.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—22d. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°80c. per lb. ; Muscovados, 89°,

4°30c.; Molasses, 89°, 4°0dc. per Ib., all duty paid,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., March 4,

V912.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $11°80 to $1200 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $11-40 to $11°75.

Cocoa-Nut O11.—$1:06 per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 154c. per fb.

Copra—$4°50 per 100 th.

Duat— $4°20 to $4°25.

Onrons—$4°25 to $5-00 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprir—$6'90 to $7:00 per bag.

Potators—English, $1°90 to $2°10 per 100 fh.

Rice—Yellow, $4°60 to $4°70; White, $6°25 to $6:50
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, no quotations

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lynco & Co., March 9,
1912; Messrs. T. 8. Garraway & Co., March 11,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co.; March 1, 1912.

Arrowroot— $6°50 to $7-00 per 100 th.
Cacao—$10°50 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NuTS—$16:00.

Hayv—$1°60 to $1:90 per 100 tb.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $6500; Cacao manure, $42-00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $800 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2

"25 to $6°00 per 100 tb

Pras, Sprit—$7'00 to $7:10 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$2°75 to $4°40 per bag of 120 th.
Potatores—Nova Scotia, $1°50 to $2°25 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°85 to $5°25 per 190 tt.;
quotations; Rangoon. no quotations.

Patna, no

Sucar—American granulated, $5°50 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wrermsc & Ricurer, March

4, 1912; Messrs.
1912.

March 2,

SANDBACH,

ParKER & Co,

ARTICLES.

ARRrowrooT—St. Vincent)

Batata— Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet
Cacao—Native
Cassava— :
Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NuTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DuaL—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo tasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Potators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon.
Porators-Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White

Molasses)"
TimBER—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

», Cordwood

Messrs. WIsETING
& RicuTer.

No quotation
70c. per tb.

19c. to 20c. per ib.

96c.
$800

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per tb.

18c. per tb.

13c. per tb.

$3°75 per bag of

168 1b.
$450
S108
None

$7°00 per bag
(210 1b.)

16c. to 40c.
$3°10 to $330

$144 per bag
No quotation

$500 to $5-25
$1:68
$2°40
$3-00

$3°30 to $3°50

$4:00 to $4-25

$2°90 to $3-00
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6-00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited
70c.

18c. per fb.

No quotation

No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
l6c. per tb.
183c. to 19¢c. pertb,
12c. per th,
$3°75 per bag of
1

8c.
$7°60 per bag
(210 tb.)
No quotation
$3°25 to 33°50
No quvutation

$5°25 to $5-50

$340 to $3-50
$4°25

32c. to 55c. pex
cub. foot _
$4:00 to $600

per M.
No quotation.

ss ee

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, ls. 2d,

Volumes IJ, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. No. 1. Containing papers on: Manurial Experiments with Cotton in the Leeward Islands: The Cotton
Industry in the Leeward Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special Reference to
Antigua; Some Notes on Rubber Trees in Dominica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An
Account of the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the Area Devastated by the
Soufriére of St. Vincent, in 1902-3; Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
St. Lucia; The Estimation of Carbonates and of Organic Carbon in Soils; The Epizootiology of Anthrax;
Grafted Cacao at the Dominica Botanic Station; The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses
and the Composition of Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses, and Title Page and Index of Vol. XI.

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 seventy. 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.; No. 66, 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-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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; Price 4d.

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d. (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

ScaLe INsEcTs. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. No. 7, price 4d.; (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.
Part II., No. 22, price 4d. (65) Hints for School Gardens, Fourth Edition.
GENERAL. (69) Hints to Settlers in St. Lucia. Price 6d.
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The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of 4d. 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 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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 1X complete, with title page and index, asissued
—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. DuLtavu & Co., 37, Soho Sauare, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Moszey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. BowrEn & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station,
Jamaica: Toe Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Bripcewarer, Rosean,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tur ‘Datty Curonicie’ Orricg.Georgetown. <Ancigua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s,
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-WarsHat & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THE Braue anp Book Suppty AGeEncy, Basseterre.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough. JTevis : Messrs. HoweExt, Bros., Charlestown,

Grenada ;: ‘THE Stores’ (Crenada) Limited, St. George.

THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Marcu 16, 1912.

Bg et 5 3js lye

Ohlendorff’s

Ohiendorff’s Special &

Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Sugar-cane Manure

Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure

Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of

soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO:—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS.

Londo=z

Agency :

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.0

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

VAPORITE!
VAPORITE I]

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE AND
OTHER ROOT PESTS.

PRICE TWORBPCE NTS PER POUND,

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII, No. 1.)

Containing papers on: Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; The Cotton Industry im the Leeward
Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special
Reference to Antigua; Some Notes on Rubber Trees in Domin-
ica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An Accouut of
the R eturn of Ve cetation and the
Area * Devaste uted by the Soufriére of St. Vincent, in 1902-3;
Notes o Bost: Lucia and its Ag vieult ire; The Lime Industry in

St. Lucia; The Estimation of C irbonates and of Organic Carbon
in Soils: “The Epizootiology of Anthrax; Grafted Cacao at the
Dominic: Botanic Seaton: The Determination of the Water

Content of Molasses and the Composition of Antigua and
St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses; and Title page and Index of Vol. XI.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's
Publications. Price Gd., post free, 83d.

tevival of Agriculture, in the}

__

SEA ISLAND COTTON.

FOR SALE IN THE ISLAND OF ST, VINCENT,

Where the best Sea Island Cotton is produced,
2,000 acres, more or less, of land adapted to Cotton,
Arrowroot, Cacao, Rubber, Cocoa-nuts and Stock-rais-
ing, with a good water- supply, necessary buildings, and
easy shipping. Most of the above-mentioned crops are
now being cultivated.
Particulars may be obtained from R.F.E.,

care of the Colonial Bank,—&t. Vincent.
(260.)

FOR SALE. |

SUMMER YELLOW COTTON
* SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.

* ERNEST THORNE, LTD., -.
Cotton Seed Oil Mills,
Barbados, W.I.

PRIME

Telegraphic address,
‘Thorum.’

(267)

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

+ Sy

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1912.

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SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

HAVE YOU OUR NEW BOOK ON CACAO?

IF NOT, WRITE FOR IT TO-DAY. WE SEND IT FREE OF COST. NO CACAO
PLANTER CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.

CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching - Planting.
and Budding Cultivation.
Inarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) FULL PAGR ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KAL! WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW ew
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. “—~

Vor. XI. No. 259.

CONTENTS.

PaGE, PaGE.

Manures, Influence of, on
Constituents of Seeds

Jamboo Leaves as Fodder

and Litter... 104

103 |

Cacao in Ecuador, in 1910 105 |Market Reports... nog LU.

Cotton, Amount and Effect Notes and Comments . 104
of Sterility and of IPrize-Holdings Sompeti-
Cross-Fertilization in 97} tion in St. Lucia,

Cotton Notes :— 1911-12 100

Rainfall of Antigua, 1911 104

Cotton Exports from the
102 Rubber, Machine for Ex-

West Indies in 1911...

Cotton in Northern Ni- tracting neat. neces LOB
geria ... ... «. «-. 102|St. Kitts Agricultural and
West Indian Cotton ... 102 Industrial Show 107
Department News ... ... 101 Sesamum Seed, Cultiva-
Erythrina (ndiea, Uses of 105 tion and Uses of 101
Fungus Notes :— Silk Industry in France
Bud Rot of the Cocoa- and Brazil ... 107
nut Palm, Part II... 110 Students’ Corer 109

Gleanings ... ... ... «.. 108 Sugar Industry:—
Giaft Hybrids, Nature of 105 | Opening of the St. Kitts
Insect Notes :— Sugar Factory ... ... 99

Mango Pests in the Tobacco, Curing of ... 102
Philippines... ... ... 106 Trees, Methods of

The Cotton Leaf-Blister Planting eee. 108
Mite in Barbados . 106 West Indian Products ... 111

Amount and Effect of Sterility and of

Cross-Fertilization in Cotton,

2 N experimentation having for its object the

FC NK production of good types of cotton for culti-
Se iso Vation, two of the most important matters
that require consideration in regard to their results
with respect to the nature of the product obtained are
the degree of sterility that may be produced in plants

subjected to artificial self-fertilization for a series of

BARBADOS, MARCH 30, 1912.

Price ld,

successive generations, and the extent to which cross-
fertilization takes place under normal field conditions.
These subjects receive attention, from the point of view
of work with cotton in India, in a publication* issued
recently by the Imperial Department of Agriculture
in India. ‘The subject-matter of this has formed the
basis of what follows in the article below.

In the first stage of experimentation, a number of
individual plants has to be protected artificially, in
order to prevent access to the flowers of foreign pollen
of unknown origin. In the next stage, the number of
plants in the experiment has become too great for
such artificial protection. It results that in the first
stage, the most important matter is the extent to
which sterility may arise through continuous self-
fertilization; and in the second, the extent of cross-
pollination that may take place is the circumstance
that requires the most careful consideration. In regard
to this, it is hardly to be expected that it is possible
to determine exactly the amount of cross-fertilization
that is taking place under certain conditions. It is for
this reason that the matters that are being reviewed
have not arisen as the outcome of a carefully planned
series of experiments, but rather of the collection of ob-
servations made during investigations with another
definite purpose. As has been indicated, the subjects
comprise the occurrence of sterility, chiefly through
repeated self-fertilization, and the frequency with which
crossing takes place in cultivation—two phenomena
that need separate treatment.

The study of the cotton flower does not lead to any
specific indications that it is normally either cross- or

*Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture in India,
Botanical Series, Vol. IV, No. 3.

98 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Marcu 30, 1912,

See

self-fertilized. Further, in regard to self-fertilzation,
the effect may be the failure to set fruit or the partial
development, only, of bolls; or seed may be produced
that gives rise to plants that are completely or partly
sterile, or show a lack of vegetative vigour. Actual
observations relating to these matters are given, which
show that all conditions may obtain; though even
with the same type of cotton, indications may appear
of the existence of an individual difference in the
degree of sterility induced by self-fertilization. It is
pointed out that a definite series of experiments 1s
required to determine the extent to which self-sterility
in the cottons is a function of the individual.

The above considerations in regard to sterility
only take account of the phenomena shown by pure
types; the case remains of the similar circumstance
with respect to the offspring of a cross. Here, the
difficulty is increased; for the particular caaracters
shown may not only arise from the matters concerning
sterility dealt with above, but there may also exist
sterility resulting from specific or racial diversity. There
are not many observations available in regard to the
latter form of sterility; they go far enough to show
that the Indian forms of cotton are members of a fairly
definite group, and that these members exhibit coni-
plete sterility when crossed with other forms; there is,
however, considerable divergence in the extent of fer-
tility when they are crossed among themselves. The
complexity of the subject increases when attention is
given to the determination of the degree of sterility
that may be produced by such crosses; large and
inexplicable divergences of behaviour occur among in-
dividual plants of similar parentage.

In dealing with the second part of the subject,
that is the frequency of cross-fertilization in the field,
the first matter to be considered is the mode of trans-
ference of pollen from one flower to another. As is
well known the agencies most usually concerned
in this transference are the wind and insects, and
flowers often show adaptations by which they may most
readily take advantage of one or the cther of these agen-
cies. When it is considered in this way, the cotton flower
shows little adaptation; and that, if anything, to cross-
pollination by insects. Further, the time which elapses
between the opening of the flower and the advent of
the best chances for self-pollination is so short that it
leads to the suggestion that cross-fertilization will not
be as.common as would appear to be indicated by
a study of some of the characteristics of the flower.
Observations on the great mixing of types occurring 1n
cottons growing in the field constitute, however,

a strong argument for the frequent occurrence of cross-
fertilization, and this is supported by the significant
fact that the only types grown pure, in India under
ordinary conditions of cultivation, are those whose
natural habit helps to prevent the occurrence of cross-
pollination. Mention is made of the very. divergent
views that have been held by various investigators as
to the extent to which cross-pollination takes place in
the field; the results of the earlier observations on the
subject are contained in Sir George Watt's article on
Gossypium.* From a consideration of these and from
the results of much personal observation, this investiga-
tor concludes that hybridization has played a large part
in the history of the cotton plants of India, and he still
holds this view in a more recent work.t The results
of experiments by other investigators are noticed in
the Memoir that is under present consideration, and
attention is drawn to the fact that Balls considers that
in Egypt at least 5 per cent. of cross-fertilization takes
place yearly; there is also mention of work conducted
recently in the United States, from which it has been
concluded that, in North Georgia, the pereentage of
cress-pollination is at least twenty, with strong prob-
abilities of forty per cent. of cross-pollination.t

Details of experiments relating to the subject are
presented in the Memoir, which show, in their broad
results, that several forms of Indian cotton have arisen
through natural cross-pollination. Consideration is
then given to the distance at which cross-pollination
may occur in the field—a matter of much importance
in cotton-breeding, and in the maintenance of definite
types in cultivation. Webber considered that absolute
isolation would require separation of five to ten miles,
but that practical isolation needs a distance of a quarter
to half a mile. As far as has been possible to draw any
conclusions from experiments and observations in India,
it appears that such distances are unnecessary. The
particular conclusions reached are expressed as follows:
‘for practical purposes, there is no objection to culti-
vating different races in adjoining plots, provided the
two lines bordering the second -race are discarded for
the purposes of seed supply. Additional security, and
one which might render even this precaution unneces-
sary, may perhaps be obtained by the separation of two
kinds with one or two lines of a crop which flowers
freely during the cotton season, and will grow under

* Dictionary of the Economic Products of India, pp. 39-42.

+ The Wild and Cultivated Cottons of the World, 1907,
p- 90.

+See Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 102.

“| Yearbook of the United States Department of Agricul-
ture, 1902, p. 370. 7

Vor, Xue No: 259;

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 99

the same conditions as cotton. For this purpose the
Indian ‘sann (Hibiscus cannabinus) [sunn hemp] or
H. Subdariffa [sorrel] naturally suggest themselves.’

The latter part of the Memoir gives attention to
several other matters of interest that are bound up
with the subject under discussion. It will be sufficient
here, however, to present the main conclusions that are
reached: ‘Firstly, that a considerable degree of steril-
ity results from self-fertilization repeated through
a number of successive generations; and, secondly, that
cross-fertilization takes place to a considerable extent,
though the greater portion of this is limited to neigh-
bouring plants.’ :

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

OPENING OF THEST. KITTS (BASSETERRE)
SUGAR FACTORY.

The following account of the opening of the
St. Kitts Sugar Factory has been received from
Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Superintendent of Agri-
culture for the Leeward Islands:—

The new central sugar factory in St. Kitts was formally
opened on Tuesday, February 20, 1912. The undertaking
is the work of a company which owes its origin to Messrs.
Henckell du Buisson & Co., of 18, Laurence Pountney Lane,
E.C., who are largely interested in it, and to whom the ori-
gination of the central factory at Gunthorpes, Antigua, was
also due. The latter is the pioneer sugar central factory of
the smaller British West Indian islands, The St. Kitts
factory has originated as the result of its uninterrupted career
of successful operation.

This is situated in the Basieterre valley, about 1 mile
from the town, and its cane-supply is at present derived from
the estates situated in the valley adjoining it, and on the
leeward coast of the island. It is contemplated that during
coming years the operations of the factory will be extended
to include a considerable number of the estates on the wind-
ward side of the island. The plant is of modern design,
Messrs. Mirrlees, Watson & Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, being
responsible for its construction.

The mill is of the fourteen-roller pattern, comprising
a Krajewski crusher and a train of four three-roller mills. It
is estimated that the factory is at present capable of producing
8,000 tons of grey crystal sugar, but provision is made for
further extension to 10,000 to 12,000 tons, as its maximum
output.

The constructional work has been in progress during the
past eight months, and has been carried out with remarkable
expedition and success. The engineer in charge has been
Mr. A. Love, from Messrs. Mirrlees, Watson & Co.

At the opening ceremony a large number of guests was
present, upward of 220 invitations having been issued by the
factory authorities. Among those present were His Honour
T. L. Roxburgh, C.M.G., Administrator of St. Kitts, the
Honourable Dr. F. Watts, C.M.G., Imperial Commissioner of
Agriculture, Mr. G. Moody Stuart, a director of the factory,
and the Hon. E. du Boulay (St. Lucia).

His Excellency Sir E. B. Sweet-Escott, K.C.M.G.,
Governor of the Colony, was unavoidably absent on the
Oceasion, on account of his impending early departure to
administer the Government of Fiji.

At 12 o'clock, the mills were set in motion by Mrs.
Moody Stuart, and the first canes ground, amid Joud applause.
Subsequently the guests inspected the factory and were after-
wards entertained at luncheon by the factory authorities.

During the proceedings, Mr. Moody Stuart, on behalf of
the constructing company, gave an account of the undertak-
ing. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Stuart, after wel-
coming those present, briefly reviewed the events which led
to the erection of the factory, and in passing paid a tribute
to the memory of the late Mr. P. A. Wade, one of the planters
most largely interested in the scheme, and from whom origin-
ated the proposals which had resulted in the erection of the
factory.

Mr. Stuart then enunciated thé principle on which the
factory was founded, which was co-operation between grower
and manufacturer. He pointed out that it was not by decreas-
ing the cost of production but by increasing the output of
sugar that central factories were able to effect economies.
He gave an account of the benefits which had resulted from
the introduction of the central factory system into Antigua;
similar benefits should now ensue in St. Kitts Finally, he
referred to the question of labour-supply, pointing out that
there was likely to be no reduction in the amount of labour
required in consequence of the introduction of the factory
system; what was looked for, rather, was more productive ~
work as the result of the introduction of labour-saving.
appliances.

In conclusion, he paid a tribute to the workof the staff
which had so efficiently carried out the labour of construction.

Subsequently, numerous toasts were drunk, among the
speakers being His Honour T. J.. Roxburgh, Mr. Moody
Stuart, the Hon. Dr. F. Watts, the Hon. E. du Boulay, the
Hon. J. T. Manchester, Messrs. Dobridge, Hardtman, Love,
and M. Moody Stuart. : ;

Afterwards, a considerable number of the guests .proceed-
ed on special cars for a short trip on the railway system
attached to the factory.

The event must rank as one of the first importance in
the history of the Leeward Islands Colony, marking as it does
a further step in the transition from old-fashioned methods of
sugar manufacture to those that are modern and economical.
The new regime, inaugurated by the Gunthorpes Factory,
Antigua, in 1904, has now made a further step forward, and
one which undoubtedly must result in increased prosperity
to the Presidency of St. Kitts-Nevis, and to the Colony of the
Leeward Islands as a whole. There appears no reason to
doubt that the present occasion will constitute the forerunner
of further important developments in the same direction, in
the future.

A note in the International Sugar Journal for February
1912 gives attention to aclaim that has been made by an
investigator that he has devised a method of determining the
quantity of sucrose in sugar factory products by observations
on the amount of carbon dioxide evolved when the sucrose is
oxidized with chromic and sulphuric acids. As basic lead acet-
ate cannot be used for defecation, in the process, lead nitrate
(Herles’s reagent) is employed instead. It is said that the
results obtained are equal in accuracy to those found by
direct polarization.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Marcu 30, 1912,

WWE]

FRUITS AND FRUIT “SREES.

PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION,
ST. LUCIA, 1911-12.

A report by the Assistant Agricultural Superintendent,
Mr. A. J. Brooks, on the year’s working of the Cacao Prize-
holdings Scheme in the Soufriére district, St. Lucia, has
been received through Mr. J. C. Moore, the Agricultural
Superintendent. s

The holdings judged for the competition are divided
into three classes: those of 3 to 5 acres, those of 2 to 3 acres,
and those less than 2 acres in area. ‘There was an increase
in the number of entries in the competition, on account of the
confidence engendered by the awarding of prizes on the first
occasion. in 1910-11, the number of peasants entering being
twenty-seven each in Classes I and I, and six in Class III.
A description is given in the report, of the original state of
the holdings, which shows that almost every omission was
made of the operations ahd attention incidental to good cacao
cultivation, and that the trees were mostly planted too
closely: nevertheless, the plantings were remarkably free
from disease, mostly on account of the hardiness and disease-
resisting powers of the varieties grown. These varieties are
Forastero and Calabacillo and hybrids between them, and in
view of the way in which they thrive, it is recommended
that, in peasant cultivation, no attempts should be made to
improve the variety of cacao grown, by introducing such
delicate kinds as Criollo and Alligator, as these would almost
certainly succumb eventually to canker or other diseases. It
is suggested that any desired improvement might be brought
about by careful selection and grafting on hardy stocks, such
as the Calabacillo or Amelonado, the best and proved varieties
now found in the district.

In pruning, mistakes seem to be made as much from over-
attention to the matter as from neglect. Interplanting with
the cacao of other trees such as the bread-fruit, cinnamon,
avocado pear and nutmeg has taken place, in many cases,
and their contribution to the revenue from the plots renders
it difficult to advise their removal. The use of the Nicaragua
shade tree (Gliricidia maculata) or immortel (Hrythrina sp.)
ig recommended where shade is required. Wind-belts have
been employed, the chief trees used being pois-doux (Inga
laurina), bois d’Inde (Pimenta acris), immortel, galba
(Calophyllum Calaba), and other native trees.

All the holdings were visited by the Assistant Agricul-
tural Superintendent at least four times in the year; this

'

officer received valuable assistance from the local instructor,
Mr. Acti Clement, who had been awarded the first prize in
Class I, in the previous year. The judging was conducted on
March 6 to 8, after due notice had been given. ‘Ten of the
twenty competitors have carried out the instructions given
them, ‘in a most praiseworthy manner, and without the least
hesitation.’ One competitor cut down several bearing trees
for the purpose of thinning, while another sacrificed a small
crop in order to free his trees from moss. Work such as drain-
ing, pruning, the burying of pods, and general care in manage-
nent of the crop, had been mostly carried out very efficiently.
One of the most important results of the scheme has been the
arousing of a very keen spirit of competition between the
entrants. Some disappointment has resulted from the non-
success of those who had won small prizes in the previous
competition; the reason for their failure to figure in the prize
list was the advent of better competitors in the second year.
It is recommended that, if another competition is held, the
winners of first prizes in this and last year should not be
allowed to compete. In concluding his report, the Assistant
Agricultural Superintendent states that the thanks of the
Government, and particularly of the Imperial Department
of Agriculture, are due to the Rev. Father Viollet and
Mr. Palmer for their kind and practical assistance in carrying
out the details of the scheme.

The list of prize winners is as follows:—

Class I.
Ee Ok
Bruno Mitéhell lst prize 4 0 0
Bazil Etienne Ind, ay (0)
Benjamin Blades SEC ss 25.0) 10
Class II.
Marcelius Melcher lst prize 30> 0)
Fervier Fevrier Al 5 Ze Oe
Jean Langellier BiNel mikey (0)
Class ITT.
Jules Charlemagne lst prize 3 0.0
(Not awarded 2nd. ;,, = = =)
James Cenac Byyel LO, 0
Charles Martineau Ath 13, 10) 0
Total 20 0 0

Von. XI; No. 259.

The prizes were distributed by His Hononr the Adminis-
trator at a public meeting, held in the Cogrt House, Soufriere,
on the 9th instant, when His Honour fook the opportunity to
encourage the holders to persevere with=the good work that
they had begun. The Imperial Comnbissioner of Agriculture
also addressed the meeting, explaining the objects of the
scheme and pointing out how the continued practice of the
improved works under the direction of the loca] Agricultural
Officers, would bring about the permanent betterment of their
holdings and increased profit to the growers. The meeting
was very successful, and on the announcement that the scheme
would be continued during 1912-13, nine names were entered
for the forthcoming, and third, competition in that district.

CULTIVATION AND USES OF SESAMUM
SEED.

Sesamum seed, the product of an annual plant, Sesamum
indicum, is known by a number of names in commerce, among
these being Sesame, Sim-sim or Sem-sem, Til or Teel, Gingelly
or Jinjilli, and Benne or Benni. These names are mentioned
in an article in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, 1911,
p. 260, from which the following information is taken.

The oil from the seed is largely used in the countries of
production as a food; in this case it is prepared in crude
pestle mills or wedge presses, and is employed in cooking and
for adulterating ghi (clarified butter fat); it is also used for
preparing perfumed oil for burning, while the residual cake
is fed to cattle, or even eaten by human beings in times of
scarcity. The seed is also employed as a food, chiefly in the
form of sweetmeats. In European countries the oil is largely
employed in soap-making, and the preparation of edible oils
and fats. The most important market in Europe for sesamum
seed is Marseilles.

The plant grows well in the tropics and in sub-tropical
regions. It does not require a large rainfall, as it occupies
the ground for only a short time; in India, if it is sown in
September, it may be harvested in January. The article men-
tioned advises the growing of sesamum, in view of the increas-
ing demand for edible oils of the kind yielded by the seed,
suggesting that it might easily be raised as a catch crop, ‘as
the returns are quick, and the cultural requirements simple.’

Tn India, sesamum is grown alone, or mixed with corn or
millet. In the preparation of the land, deep tillage is not
essential; all that is required is a fine surface tilth, on account
of the smallness of the seed. For sowing, the latter is mixed
with sand or ashes, to enable it to be distributed thinly and
evenly on the land; the sowing takes place either broadcast
or in drills 1 foot to 1 foot 6 inches apart, according to the
nature of the soil. Where it is grown alone, 12 tb. to 25 bb.
of seed is needed for sowing 1 acre. The seedlings are
thinned out when about 6 inches high; at this stage of growth
they are delicate, and likely to be damaged by heavy rains.

The time to harvest the crop is indicated by the fact
that the Jeaves begin to turn yellow and the fruit capsules
become mottled. At this stage, the plants should not be
allowed to remain long in the field, or the capsules are
likely to open and cause loss of seed. In harvesting, the
plants are cut down close to the ground, or uprooted, tied in
bundles and placed upright on a floor or a prepared piece of
ground ; they do not require any cover, as they are not
harmed by rain. This stacking of the plants permits the
capsules to ripen, and as these are produced at different
periods of growth they are not all equally ripe when the
plants are taken from the field. Under ordinary conditions,

THE. AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

101

the first-formed fruits mature in seven days, and the seeds
are shaken from these on to a cloth spread on the floor.
After this has been done, the bundles of plants are laid out
in the sun for two or three days, and again stacked ; after
this time they are again shaken, and the alternate operations
of drying, stacking and shaking are repeated until all the
seed has been obtained. In the case of particular varieties,
the stems are sometimes beaten with a flail, to make the
fruits open, but this is not ordinarily necessary. The dried
stems that are left cannot be utilized as fodder, but may be
burned on the land and the ashes ploughed into the soil.

The above description is that of the harvesting operations
as they are carried out in India. In that country, the yield
of a good average crop from black soil is about 450 Ib. per
acre; under the different conditions of growing the plant
alone and mixed, however, yields have been obtained as high
as 1,230 tb, and as low as 50 to 150 Ib. per acre.

The seeds of sesamum vary greatly in colour, and may
be white, grey, reddish-brown, dark-brown or black, accord-
ing to the variety. This circumstance makes some difference
to their value in commerce, for according to trade regulations,
consignments must contain less than 25 per cent. of dark seed
in order to be classed as ‘ white’ seed ; while allowances have
to be made if more than 15 per cent. of dark seed is
present. Mixtures of dark and white seed are classed as
‘bigarré’; this must contain at least 35 per cent. of the
latter. ‘There are also certain regulations and allowances
applicable to mixtures of large and small seed. The prices
at Marseilles are about £14 per ton for ‘black mixed’ to
£16 13s. per ton for Bombay ‘large seeds’. In the United
Kingdom, sesamum seed is not a source of oil; the small
quantities imported are generally used in making compound
feeding cakes, for the purpose of bringing the percentage of
oil up to the standard. European methods for extracting
sesame oil from the seed are very similar to those employed
for obtaining ground nut oil.

The cake lett after the expression of the oil still contains
8 to 10 per cent. of this, and is much used as a cattle food.
Experiments conducted at the South Eastern Agricultural
College, Wye, showed that the cake constitutes an excellent
fodder which is agreeable to stock; cows could be given 7 to
8 tb. a day, with no ill effects, and the butter obtained from
the milk was soft and white, while it did not contain any trace
of seasmum oil. ‘he cake made from unsound or damaged
seed is not used as a cattle food, but for manure after all the
cil has been removed by means of such solyents as petroleum
and carbon bisulphide. At Marseilles, the price of the cake
varies from £5 15s. per ton, for that from black Indian seed
to about £6 5s. per ton for that from white Levant or Indian
seed.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture re-
turned to Barbados by the S.S. ‘Guiana’, on Saturday,
March 16, 1912, from a visit to St. Vincent, the
Northern Islands and St. Lucia, in connexion with the
agricultural interests of those colonies,

Mr. G. E. Bodkin, Economic Biologist, British
Guiana, returned at the same time from Dominica, and
left Barbados for Demerara by the 8.8. ‘Coppename’,
on Tuesday, March 19, 1912. ;

102

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Marcu 30, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date March 12, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 400 bales of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, chiefly from the Leeward
Islands from 18d. to 19d., with a few at 20d.; Barbados 18d.
to 20d.and St. Vincent 20d. to 23d. The market continues firm.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending March 9, is as follows:—

The market has been very quiet throughout the week,
and no sales are reported, but the crop 22 bales Stono has
been sold on private terms, we think for France. The offer-
ing stock consists principally of Planters’ Crop Lots, and
about 350 bales to 400 bales of old crop cotton which is
firmly held.

We quote viz :—

Extra Fine 32¢.=18d., c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fine to Fully\ 560. to 28¢, = 15d. to 16d. cif. & 5 per cent.
Fine J

Fine to Extra Fine, |

: : 8c. to 25c. = 103d. t }d.
off in preparation le ee ee a

” 3

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE WEST
INDIES IN 1911.

The following table gives the exports of cotton from the
West Indian Colonies mentioned, during the civil year 191 1:—

Colony. Weight in ib, Estimated value.
Ey Bade
Barbados 740,269 42,400 15 8
St. Vincent 511,947 40,529 3 4
Montserrat 544.607 38,692 8 0
Nevis 348,908 24,813 80
St. Kitts 306,590 "Ae yt GLY 33
Antigua 193,984 13,590 00
Anguilla 127,495 8,888 8 0
Virgin Islands 43,410 3,096 13 6
Trinidad and Tobago 6,056 456 OO
Grenada and Carriacou* 274,224 10,205 5 0

3,097,490 203,983 12 9
*This Colony shipped only 8,643 Ib. of Sea Island cotton
lint, valued at £566, the rest being Marie Galante.

Total

COTTON IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

The following is taken from the letter of the late
Governor of Northern Nigeria, Sir H. Hesketh Bell,
K.C.M.G., transmitting to the Secretary of State for
the Colonies Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 704,
dealing with Northern Nigeria:—

Strenuous efforts are being made to encourage the
natives to grow cotton on a large scale. Experimental plots
were established in various centres and the relative merits of
three different varieties of cotton were tested. An excessive
period of drought militated not only against the success of
those experiments but also against the whole normal output
of cotton, and the crops almost everywhere were below the
average. Buying depdts are now being opened by the
British Cotton Growing Association in the chief cotton-grow-
ing centres, and a ginnery on a very large scale is in course
of construction at Zaria.

As soon as the natives begin to realize that cotton is
a crop which is not affected by the local supply and demand
and for which there is always a ready sale to an unlimited
extent, they will embark largely in its cultivation. Although
I cannot share the extremely roseate views that have been
expressed in the paSt concerning the rapid development of an
immense output of cotton from this Protectorate, I believe
that, under proper guidance and encouragement, there will
be a steady and continuous increase of production and that
the industry will have a marked effect on the prosperity of
the territory. The’people have for centuries been accustomed
to the growing of cotton, and have little to learn as regards
methods of cultivation. The success of the problem iies in
the improvement of the local varieties of cotton and in the
discovery of means by which the productiveness of the plants
can be enhanced. I am of opinion that though the outlook
in the Hausa States is distinctly hopeful, the prospects of
cotton-growing ona very large scale are much more promis-
ing in the fertile lands of the provinces bordering on the Niger
and Benue.

Curing of Tobacco.—It has long been known that
this process could be materially altered and controlled by
external means. It has been recently stated that a process
has been perfected in Germany whereby the wild ferments
are first destroyed by electrical sterilization and then the
required mould is introduced.

In this way superior results are claimed, and the aroma
and flavour improved. It is possible that this may be so,
as the process as it stands may be compared with that used
in the control production of butter. On previous occasions,
te preliminary sterilization of the tobacco has been absent.
(Yhe Chemical World, January 1912.)

Vou. XI. No. 259.

BAMBOO LEAVES AS FODDER
AND LITTER.

An article giving consideration to the employment of
the leaves of species of bamboo for forage and litter for ani-
mals, written by the Director of the Jardin d’Essai, Algiers,
appears in the Jowrnal d’ Agriculture Tropicale for November
30, 1911. In this, it is pointed out that the large kinds of
bamboo, or true bamboo, as they are called, give the greatest
quantity of leaves, and these are relatively long and broad.
The collection of the leaves from the plant is, of course, not
thought of, on account of the great height of the latter, and
the unapproachable nature of the branches which bear them.
One must therefore be content to gather the leaves which
fall, and these are often found in large quantities, but have
naturally become dry. Such fallen leaves are most accept-
able to animals, after the removal of the dust and earthy
matters that they have collected from the soil, and when they
have not yet acquired the mouldy smell and taste which they
are likely to develop through resting on the earth for a long
time.

The large true bamboo, and not the species of Phyllo-
stachys, bear leaves in the greatest quantity. The best known
type is that usually described as Bamlusa arundinacea —an
erroneous name under which the large species Bambusa macro-
culmis, A, Riv., is known; for B. arwndinacea is only a syno-
nyni of B, spinosa, so well characterized by its strong spines.

Even at the limit of the area in which it grows, B. ma-
croculmzs, which appears to be the most resistant among the
large species, flourishes with vigour, and the fall of its leaves
is almost constant. It has been remarked, however, that, on
the coast of Northern Africa, for example, the fall is most
sudden and most abundant at the commencement of summer,
especially at the time of the sirocco, The advance of the hot
weather causes the branches to form leaves, so that those
which are older lose the leaves near their base, while the
branches themselves are actually lengthening. This fall of the
leaves is sometimes considerable, and an example is afforded
by experience at the Jardin d’Essai, Algiers, where species of
B. macroculmis, over 45 feet in height, shed their leaves at
such a rate that these have to be taken away in carts several
times a week.

It is suggested that some attention should be given to
the utilization of the large amount of organic matter supplied
in this way, especially as analyses conducted at the Jardin
d’Essai have shown that the nutritive value of the dry leaves
is at least double that of wheat straw. In ordinary cases,
animals to which bamboo leaves are fed have to be gradually
accustomed to their inclusion in the food. Animals rais-
ed under harder conditions, however, and without any great
choice of food, will eat the leaves readily, notwithstanding
their comparatively small digestibility in the dry state.

The leaves of the large bamboo are usefully employed as
litter, but the best plan is to mix them with other materials,
such as straw or leaves of different kinds, because they possess
a tendency to stick together and produce layers. Nevertheless,
they show an absorptive power which makes them go to form
good manure, particularly on account of the relatively large
amounts of potash and phosphoric acid that they contain.
There is the circumstance, however, that a manure made in
this way decomposes slowly, because of the fibrous and sili-
ceous structure of the leaves; this is not a disadvantage when

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 103

they are required to help to cover the ground for certain
crops, or when they are employed to protect the soil from the
rays of the sun. At the Jardin d’Essai of Algiers, the leaves
have been used specially for the purpose of making manures
which were not required to decompose quickly; in such cases
a good compost has always been obtained.

In another connexion, even if the leaves of such bamboos
do not possess the size and elasticity of maize husks, they
none the less constitute useful material for making mattresses
and couches, under conditions of urgency, such as the influx
of a large number of agricultural labourers, when lodging for
these has to be found.

The question still remains if all these advantages, pos-
sessed by the material from the bamboo in countries where
it grows spontaneously, would still obtain in conditions where
it would have to be grown specially, and where labour is not
very cheap. As is stated in the article, further observations
and enquiries are needed, before definite information concern-
ing the matter can be obtained.

METHODS OF PLANTING TREES.

An account of experiments conducted at the Woburn
Experimental Farm, on methods of planting trees, was
given in the Agricultural News, Vols. VIII, p. 101,
and IX p. 261 ; a record of experience in India in regard
to the methods is also given in the same journal in
Vol. IX, p. 180. Since this time, experiments similar
to those at Woburn have been conducted at several of
the Botanic Stations in the Lesser Antilles, and accounts
of these have been presented in the West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. XI, p. 50, and in Annual Reports on the
Botanic Stations issued during the past two years. In
continuation of the same subject, the Journal of the
Board of Agriculture for February 1912, p.951, gives
the following abstract of a paper dealing with the
matter, which appears in Scientific Bulletin No. 2,
1910, of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester :—

An experiment was made to ascertain whether the
results obtained at the Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm in
the planting of fruit trees would be borne out in the case of
forest trees. The land used was old pasture, with a deep
and scmewhat heavy soil. Twenty four-year-old trees were
planted of each of the following kinds: oak, ash, beech,
spruce, Corsican pine, and Scots pine, and the planting was
carried out as follows: ten trees of each kind were planted in
pits, every care being taken to give the roots enough room;
the finer soil was placed round the roots, and the whole
carefully and firmly trodden down. The other ten trees were
planted in very shallow pits, into which the roots were
merely pushed anyhow, the soil placed on the top in thin
layers, and well rammed with a heavy iron rammer. No
care was taken not to injure the roots. The trees were
lifted and weighed after two years, but the number was too
small to give reliable averages. It is noted, however, that
no more of the rammed and carelessly planted trees died than
of the others, and in general appearance the two sets could
not be distinguished. An examination of the roots con-
firmed Mr. Pickering’s former conclusions that great care in
digging holes and carefully spreading out the roots is not of
much importance, as in many cases the old roots do not
throw out new roots to any extent, while it is important to
see that trees are put quite firm in the ground, although
ramming would be too expensive for ordinary planting.

104

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Maren 30, 1912.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.
Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
Bpecimens 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. XI.

No. ¢

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1912.

Oontents of Present Issue.

In this number, the editorial gives attention to the
subject of the Amount and Effect of Sterility and of
Cross-fertilization in Cotton. It reviews the results of
interesting and important work that has been carried
out recently in regard to the matter, in India.

“An account is given, on page 99, of the proceed-
ings that took place at the opening of the St. Kitts
(Basseterre) Sugar Factory.

Page 101 may be consulted for an interesting
article dealing with the cultivation and uses of sesamum
seed.

An article of some interest in countries where the
bamboo grows plentifully is given on page 103, and
contains suggestive facts in regard to the useful employ-
ment of bamboo leaves.

The Insect Notes, on page 106 of this issue, are of
particular interest on account of the circumstance that
they. contain information as to the outbreak of the
cotton leaf-blister mite in Barbados, in view of the fact
that this pest is, as far as is known, new to that island.
The same page also contains an article on pests of the
mango that are found in the Philippines.

A description and some details of the recent
St. Kitts Agricultural and Industrial Show are pre-
sented on page 107.

On page 110, the Fungus Notes contain a second,
and concluding, article on the bud rot of the cocoa-nut
palm.

The Rainfall of Antigua, 1911.

An account of this is published in the Leeward
Islands Gazette for March 14. 1912, the information
being furnished by Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc, Super-
intendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands.

‘The first of the tables given deals with the average
monthly rainfall at the stations during the year, and
shows that the wettest months were September and
October, with 534 and 5:18 inches, respectively, and
that the drie-t months were March, April and June,
during which the fall was 0:76, 1°85 aud 0-98 inches,
respectively.

The total of the monthly averages is 36°47 inches,
and, as is pointed out by Mr. Tempany, this, like
the precipitation in the previous year, is very deficient;
it is 833 inches below the average for the thirty-eight
years 1834-1911. The dry period from March until the
end of August cansed the outlook for the crops and
water-supply in the island to be very serious, but the
conditions were improved by the reccipt of well distri-
buted rains in the last four months of the year. The
fact, however, that two years of dronght have been
experienced is a matter for some consideration. ‘This
is particularly true in view of the circumstance that, as
is shown by the returns, the average annual rainfall
for the last ten years has been considerably lower than
for the corresponding previous periods during the past
thirty-eight years.

EE

Influence of Manures on the Constituents of
Seeds. 3

Experiments have been conducted recently, at the
Agricultural Experiment Station at Rome, with haricot
beans of different varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris), in
order to determine the effect of various systems of
manuring on the constitution of the seeds. These are
given attention in the Bulletin of the Kureau of Agri-
cultural Intelligence and of Plant Diseases tor July
1911, p. 1619, and the following results are stated to
have been obtained.

Where the-smallest amounts of manure were used,
haricot beans were obtained that were richest in nitro-
genous matter 6f a non-proteid nature. On the other
hand, these constituents were lowered in amount by
superphosphates, and even to a greater extent by nitre-
genous manures, the quantity being, in this case, about
one-third of the proportion obtained in unmanured soil.

These facts seem to show that the reduction in
quantity of nitrogenous substances of a non-proteid
nature was due to the presence of nitric nitrogen, which
favours the formation of proteid substances. It must
be concluded in any case, that the nitrogen in manures
exercises a specific etfect on the composition of seeds.

The facts adduced also afford an explanation as to
why, in the cultivation of medicinal plants, nitrogenous
manures give products less rich in alkaloids, for the
latter are, of course, of a non-proteid nature. In this
connexion, it is of interest to compare the information
given in articles which appear in this volume of the
Agricultural News, on pages 21 and 63,

“Vou., XI. No. 259.

-Cacao in Ecuador, in 1910. 9

During the year mentioned a record crop of cacao
was made in Ecuador: it was 752,761 Spanish Ib.
(1 Spanish th.=1014 1b.), us compared with 631,958
Spanish ib, in 1908, the year of the previous largest
-output. This does not include the production in two
of the cacao-growing districts. In any case, the output
may be considered to have increased by abont 20 per
-cent. The average market price was 4 to 5 per cent.
above the average price in 1909.

ee _—

Uses of Frythrina Indica.

Evrythrina indica is related to the bois immortel
4E. umbrosa) used as a shade tree for cacao. Information
concerning the various uses to which it is put, in

Indo-China, appears in L’ Agriculture Pratique des
Pays Chauds tor January 1911, p. 63.

In Annam and in. Tonkin the leaves are employed
-as fucd while they are still young; they are eaten raw,
wrapped round meat. Owing to their being attacked by
birds, and caterpillars and other forms of insect life,
the seeds rarely attain maturity; when they are fresh
their outer skin is of a beautiful violet colour which
-changes to a deep brown as they become dry. On
account of their rarity and the virtues which are
attributed to them, they are much prized by the
natives of Annam, who regard them as a valuable
wemedy for snake bites. When they are used in this
way, they are first grated, then crushed and furmed
anto a large pill: they are then boiled in.a little water,
in order to form a paste from which a plaster is made
and applied to the place where the fangs of the reptile
have penetrated. he superstitious mature of the
people causes them to consider this a sovereign remedy,
‘but there has been no opportunity to'test the correct-
mess of their views, because it ‘has not been fuund
possible to obtain sufticient of the seeds in order to find
-out by chemical analy:is if they include any curative
substance in their compcsition.

It is the wood of the tree in which the greatest
interest is taken. This is open in texture and not
suited for the purposes of cabinet-making. In Cochin
‘China, it is sometimes made into trays. Its great
lightness causes it to be employed in Annam for making
the native shoes, for which purpose it is .preferred to
anything else. These shoes are reallyva kind of sabot,
-and each consists simply ofa flat piece of wood, roughly
squared, and fitted with a band of copper for holding
it on to the foot. The wood is-not employed in this
way in Tonkin, but it is made to figure in funeral

.-eeremonies. It isa branch of this tree, and ‘of this
tree alone, which the mother of a deceased person uses

- to assist‘her in walking behind the coffin, while the
father aids his own steps with a stump of bamboo,

am ae

“The ‘Nature of Graft Hybrids.
A note on work of this kind which was being

-earnied out with a graft hybrid between the cultivated .

tomato and the black nightshade was-giyen in the

THE. AGRICULTURAL , NEWS.

105

Experiment Station Record, Vol,, XXI, p. 320. In

this, the graft hybrid produced was called Solanum
tubingense, and there were also descriptions of addi-
tional graft hybrids, designated as S. proteus, S. dar-
winianum, S. koclreuterianum and S. gaertnerianun.

A subsequent study of these is noticed in the nnm-
ber of the same journal issued in June 1911, page 632.
This has shown that, of those mentioned, only S. dar-
winianum appears tobe a hybrid in the strict sense
of the word. Propagation of the so-called hybrids by
cuttings gave plants, except in the case of S. koelreu-
terianum, which produced ripe fruit intermediate in
character between that of the nightshade and that of the
tomato. There were a number of instances of sponta-
neous reversion, and all the seedlings derived from the
hybrids reverted in the second generation to the parent
form most nearly resembled by the hybrid.

As has been stated, the only true hybrid was
S. darwinianum and support of this view of the form
was obtained by observing that, preliminary to the
formation of seed, there is actual fusion of cells, includ-
ing the nuclei derived from the parent forms.

A note on this matter appeared in the Agricul-
tural News for January 20.

EE

A Machine for Extracting Rubber from Bark.

In the Journal d'Agriculture Tropicale for
November 1911, p. 349, an account is given of experi-
ments with an apparatus designed for the purpose of
obtaining rubber from Landolphia. It consists ‘of
two parts, one of which is a portable machine, moved
by two men, which is brought into the neighbourhood
of the plants to be treated; this effects the separation
of the wood from the latex-bearing bark. The other
part comprises a grinding apparatus, worked by means
of a steam engine. This separates the rubber from the
fragments of bark, makes it into lumps, and after this
process, conveys the mixture on to a polygonal sieve,
where a strong current of water carries away the
fragments of bark and the impurities, leaving the well-
washed rubber behind.

After suggesting certain imprevements in the
machinery, the article describes the grinding apparatus
as consisting of two sets of cylinders, placed one abave
the other,in which the mass of material proceeds from
the upper to the lower set. A certain amount of water
is forced into the cylinders, in order to facilitate the
work of grinding. According to information given by
the inventor; the machine shown is capable of dealing
with nearly 2,000 tb. of bark in*ten hours, the quantity
of water required for the treatment of this amount
being over 500 gallons. The steam engine employed
is one of 15 hip.

The opinion is expressed that experiments in the
employment of the apparatus for the extraction of
Funtumia rubber would be of interest; particularly in
view of the circumstance that the economic importance
of lianes as rubber producers is likely to decrease, so
that it is not probable that an expensive machine of
the kind would be often employed for exploiting such
plants. :

106

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, —

Marcu 30, 1912.

NS ET LD GG

INSECT NOTES.

THE COTTON LEAF-BLISTER MITE IN
BARBADOS.

With further reference to the occurrence of leaf-blister
mite on cotton in Barbados, which was briefly mentioned in
the last number of the Agricultural News (see Vol. XI, p. 90),
the following note may be of interest.

The existence of the leaf-blister mite in Barbados was
first discovered by the Entomologist on the Statf of the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, on February 27, 1912,
and reported to the Colonial Secretary on the same day. The
matter was referred to the Local Department of Agriculture
which has since been investigating the extent of the attack,
and advising cotton growers to pull up and destroy the cotton
in all infested fields.

The field in which the pest was first found is part of an
estate adjoining Bridgetown, on the south. This estate form-
erly produced a considerable amount of cotton, sugar and
other products; but in recent years has been more and more
given up to tenantry. The field in question is in close
proximity to a large number of small houses, each with its
awn plot of ground.

Investigation by the Officers of the Local Department of
Agriculture has so far shown the infested area to include
a strip some two or three miles wide, along the westward coast
for a distance of 18 miles, the southern limit apparently
being about 4 miles south-east of Bridgetown.

It will be seen that by far the greatest amount of infes-
tation occurs to the north of Bridgetown, where the frequency
of the occurrence of the pest and the severity of the attacks
indicate that fields in this section have been infested for
a longer time than the field where it was first discovered.

The Governor of Barbados has appointed a Committee in
connexion with the ovcurrence of leaf-blister mite, which is
asked to consider and report upon the following points:—

(a) what steps should be taken to stamp out the
existing disease,

(b) whether legislation is needed,

(c) the area infected.

This Committee, which consists of ten members of the
Agricultural Society, together with the Superintendent of
Agriculture of Barbados and the Entomologist on the Staff
of the Imperial Department, held a meeting on March 26.
As has been stated already, however, the Officers of the Local
Department had investigated the extent of the infestation, and
Were recommending that infested cotton should be pulled up
and burned.

Notice of a bill was given in the House of Assembly on
Tuesday, March 26, providing for compulsory destruction
of cotton infested with leaf-blister mite: for, although
owners and managers, generally, have readily complied when
requested to destroy infested cotton, it has happened occa-
sionally that this request has been refused.

The life-history of the cotton leaf-blister mite is not
known, nor have any food plants of this pest ever been dis-
covered except cotton, both wild and cultivated.

In those islands of the West Indies where the leaf-blister
mite has been a pest for several years, it has been found
necessary to develop a strain of cotton which will yield its
crop in one picking, whereas in Barbados it is the custom to
get a second or even a third picking, allowing the cotton to
occupy the fields for twelve months, or more. It will prob-
ably be necessary in Barbados to adopt a course similar to

that followed in the other islands, if the leaf-blister mite
becomes established and assumes serious proportions.

The control of the leaf-blister mite depends upon the
destruction of all old cotton as soon as the crop is finished.
Tf an interval of several weeks ensues between this and the
planting of the new, and attention is paid to the destruction
of all infested leaves as they first appear on the cotton plants,
the attacks of leaf-blister mite seldom seriously affect the
yield of cotton.

The fact that in Barbados there is very little wild land
and bush, and that the cuitivated fields are very carefully
weeded and tilled, would indicate that in that island the difti-
culties of control would be less than in those where cultiva-
tion is not maintained at such a high point and where there

is a greater abundance of uncultivated and bush-covered
land.

MANGO PESTS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

A short article in the Philippine Agricultural Review
for June 1911 (Vol. IV, No. 6) gives an account of the
occurrence of insect pests on mangoes, which had appeared
in the Philippine Islands in such numbers as to cause
a considerable amount of loss.

One of these pests was a small insect, with sucking
mouth parts, belonging to the Hemiptera Homoptera, and
related to such insects as cane flies and leaf-hoppers. Atten-
tion was attracted to this pest through the failure of mango
trees in several localities to set their fruit. Investigations
showed that the trees which failed to set fruit were generally
covered with a black blight, and it was found that the
larvae of these sucking insects were injuring the buds and
tender stems to such an extent as to cause the flowers to
drop, and thus prevent the development of fruit.

It was considered by Mr. P. J. Wester, Horticulturist of
the Board of Agriculture, that the insect was identical with
the so-called mango fly in India, under which common name,
by the way, are included three species of homopterous insects
(Idiocerus niveosparsus, Leth., J. atkinsoniz, Leth., and
I. clypealis, Leth.), which in certain years has been reported
to reduce the mango crop in that country to one-third of its
normal amount. ’Two of these species have been identified
at Washington, D.C., from specimens captured in the Philip-
pines. These are Jdiocerus clypealis, Leth., and I. niveos-
parsus, Leth.

Another pest mentioned as being quite destructive to
mango bloom in the Philippines is the: ‘caterpillar that enters
the central stem of the flower panicle and hollows it out,
causing it to shrivel up and die.’

In the December number of the same journal Mr. Wester
reports the occurrence of another mango pest. This is one
of the fruit flies, which is said to be either identical with, or
very nearly related to, Dacus fervugineus, which is destructive
to mangoes in Java and parts of Malaysia; it is thus also
related to 7’rypeta ludens, which is a serious pest in Mexico,
attacking mango, orange and guava.

These pests have not been recorded from the West Indies
but it may be well for the planters in these islands to aos
that serious pests occur in other localities.

The harmful nature of the mango weevil (Agricultural
News, Vol. X, p. 282), of fruit flies (Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII, p. 93), and of other pests has been recorded, as
is shown, in previous numbers of this journal, and attention
is directed to these newly discovered pests in order that West
Indian planters may take all reasonable precautions to pre-
vent the introduction of any of them.

Von. XI. No. 259.

ST. KITTS AGRICULTURAL AND INDUS-
TRIAL SHOW, 1912.

The sixth of these shows was held under the auspices of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural
and Commercial Society, at the Grammar School on Febru-
ary 23, 1912. After a private view had been made of the
exhibits, His Honour the Administrator, having been intro-
duced by the Hon.S L. Horsford, President of the St. Kitts
Agricultural and Commercial Society, formally opened the
show at 12 noon. His Honour was accompanied by
Dr. Francis Watts, C.M.G., the Imperial Commissioner of Agri-
culture. In his speech, Mr. Horsford regretted the absence
on this occasion of His Excellency the Governor of the
Leeward Islands, explaining that this was due to additional
work in connexion with His Excellency’s forthcoming depar-
ture from the Colony ; he also read a letter from the Governor,
expressing his great regret at not being present, and wishing
the Show every success. Mr. Horsford further referred to
the presence of Dr. Watts and to the important event that
had just taken place in the opening of the Basseterre Central
Sugar Factory. He extended a welcome to the visitors from
Nevis, and to Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Superintendent of
Agriculture for the Leeward Islands. He also congratulated
the Secretary of the Society, Mr. F. R. Shepherd, on the
successful arrangements for the show, and thanked Mr. W. H.
Mitchell, M.A., Head Master of the St. Kitts Grammar
school, and his staff, for the assistance that they had given.
In reply, the Administrator thanked Mr. Horsford for his
kind remarks and the Agricultural Society for its kind wel-
come, regretting at the same time the absence of the Governor,
In doing this, His Honour took the opportunity to make
several comments on the exhibits at the Show, and then
formally declared it opened. Dr. Watts expressed his pleas-
ure at being in St. Kitts at such a time of awakening
agricultural prosperity, influenced by the possession of
a central sugar factory. He also reviewed some of the
objects of agricultural shows, giving special attention
to their effect in assisting the diversification of agriculture;
their usefulness toward finding new markets for the pro-
duce which they gave an opportunity. to be brought for-
ward; and their effect toward the improvement of stock.

The number of exhibits was 620, as compared with 736
in 1911, the smaller number being partly due to a lessened
amount of the exhibits from Nevis, probably because of the
drought. The exhibits in the different classes were as
follows: horsekind and cattle, 73; smaller stock, 12; poultry,
pigeons and rabbits, 19; sugar-cane and its products, 49;
fruit, 30; vegetables, 135; local industries, 35; preserves, 58;
meals and starches, 50; fancy work, 47; miscellaneous, 69;
plants and flowers, 29; school exhibits, 3; trade exhibits 5,
exhibits not for competition, 8.

Good exhibits were seen in the riding and driving com-
petition, and in the cattle class the number of teams of steers
that was brought to compete was in strong contrast, by its
increase, to those in former years. Good native cows were
shown, as well as imported mules; a first prize was awarded
for a fine specimen of a he-goat bred from Rajah. There
were also good exhibits among the poultry.

The sugar-canes shown were numerous and of a high
quality; this was the case also with the vegetables, among
which there were fair exhibits of ground provisions, notwith-
standing the unfavourable conditions that had been experi-
enced through drought. Meals and starches were all
represented, and gave rise to keen competition. The same is
true of the fancy work, while an improvement was to be
noticed in the laundry work. The miscellaneous exhibits

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 107

included a show of lint and seed-cotton, in both of which fine
samples were to be seen. Some of the greatest interest was
evinced in the trade exhibits, to which considerable expense
and care had been devoted by the competing merchants.

In the classes where the quality and quantity of the
exhibits, either, or both, were disappointing, were included
horses, fruits, preserves, local indtstries, plants and flowers,
and school exhibits.

Eleven diplomas of merit, awarded by the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, were distributed by His Honour
the Administrator at a special general meeting of the Agri-
cultural and Commercial Society held on March 12. The
exhibits for which the diplomas were given comprised: native
cow, steer over three years, team of native mules, driving
and riding, 1 stool of plant canes of B.1753, 4 varieties of
cut canes, 12 cut canes, dry goods and groceries, hardware
and groceries (2 exhibits).

The report from which this information has been taken,
furnished by Mr. F. R. Shepherd, Agricultural Superintendent,
St. Kitts, who as has been indicated, is Honorary Secretary of
the St. Kitts Agricultural and Commercial Society, states that
the attendance of the general public at the show was as good
as in past years—a fact which indicates that the interest of
the general public in St. Kitts, in such affairs, is being main-
tained.

THE SILK INDUSTRY IN FRANCE
AND BRAZIL.

Interest in the production of silk has been increased
recently by a lecture by Mr. H. Maxwell-Lefroy, M.A., Impe-
rial Entomologist to the Government of India, in which he
suggests that the rearing of silkworms might be taken up on
an industrial scale in the West Indies. In regard to the
matter generally, the following information is of some direct
concern.

In the Journal Officiel for January 27, a table is pub-
lished, giving particulars of the silk cocoon production in
France during the past three years; from this the following
figures have been prepared :-—

Year. Number of Seed used, Fresh cocoons Fresh cocoons
producers. hb. produced, from 1b.seed,
b. b.
1909 119,067 10,076 18,802,357 1,866
1910 114,283 9,830 9,393,360 966
1911 102,605 7,795 11,240,737 1,442

In regard, again, to the silk industry of France, it is of
interest that the issue of the journal just mentioned, for
February 2, 1912, publishes a decree extending to producers
in Algeria the provisions of a law by which those engaged in
the production of cocoons in France are granted a premium
amounting to about 23d. per tb. for fresh cocoons.

The particulars of the Brazilian Budget for 1912 are
published in the Diario Official for January 5. They
show, among other matters, that it is intended to spend
10,000 milreis currency (£1,125) on premiums to producers
of silk cocoons. The grant will be at the rate of about 74d.
per Ib. Another form of grant will be that of premiums to
producers who can prove that they have employed at least
2,000 mulberry trees for silk culture; the total amount to be
distributed in this way is 5,000 milreis (£563).

A note on the silk industry of Italy appeared in the
Agricultural News for March 2, 1912, p. 71.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,-— Marcu 30, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

The cabled particulars, subject to correction, issued by
the Colonial Secretary cf the Gold Coast Colony show that the

The shipments of cacao from Trinidad during the month
of January 1912 are given in the Proceedings of the Agiicul-
tural Society of Trinidad and Tobago for January and Febru-
ary 1912, as 10,757,066 bh. The output for the same period
of last year was 5,848,611 tb.

The plants distributed from the St. Lucia Botanic
Station during last month amounted to 1,713, and included
limes 1,000, cacao 613, and nutmegs 50. There were also
sent out 1,500 Liberian coffee berries, 102 packets of seed
and 2 bushels of horse beans.

The Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXV, p. 577, gives
attention to a paper in which the results are described of
a chemical and physical analysis of the butter, body fat, and
lard obtained from animals that have been fed on cotton seed
products. The investigations showed that cotton seed oil
was present in practically all of these.

The Government Gazette of the Federated Malay States
for January 19,1912, shows that the exports of cultivated rub-
ber from those States during 1911 amounted to 19,695,330 hb.;
during the previous year they were 12,212,526 tbh. The
shipments for December 1911 were 2,147,859 ib., as com-
pared with 1,234,669 tb. for December 1910.

Reports from the Virgin Islands show that the cotton
erop of this season is Very late, the reason being the con-
ditions of drought that existed during last year: cotton was
still coming freely to the ginnery during last month. The
condition of the sugar canes is mostly poor. A fair crop of
limes was being reaped in the month mentioned, and the
trees had improved.

A final forecast of the sugar-cane crop of Eastern Bengal
and Assam for 1911-12 shows that the total estimate for’ the
province is 179,300 acres, as against ; 181,300 acres in the
previous season. The area in this district represents some
8:1 per cent. of the total area under sugar-cane in British
India. As regards outturn, the estimates average 89 per
cent, of a rormal yield, but in several cases they are too low.

rs

It is estimated by the Government Statistician’ of
Queensland that Ge area of sugar-cane cut by 1912 will be
96,396 acres, yielding 1,564,993 tons of cane. The quantity
of sugar is expectéd to be 176,076 tons; this, as is pointed
out in the Australian Sugar Journal for January 11, i912,
has been exceeded on three previous occasions, namely in 1906
with 184,377 tons, 1907 with 188,307 tons, and 1910 with.
210,756 tons. :

In a short note on the United States census statistics-
for 1909, the Modern Sugar Planter for February 10, 1912,
states that, notwithstanding the great losses from storms
during that season, the amount of sugar produced on planta-
tions in Louisiana was 325,497 tons. In the sime year the
molasses manufactured amounted to 942,997 gallons, the
total sugar products, including refined sugar, being valued at
$63,775,000.

Cotton cultivation has been newly introduced into the re-
public of San Domingo, and according to the Journal of the -
Royal Society of Arts for February 23, 1912, the success that
has accompanied the introduction has led many of the more im-
portant agriculturists to take it up in the place of less re-
munerative crops, and this movement has been aided by failure-
in the tobacco crop. The variety of cotton grcwn is said to-
be Sea Island mixed with an indigenous kind.

The account of seeds and plants imported into the
United States, contained in Bulletin No. 233 of the Bureaw
of Plant Industry of that country, which deals with the
period January 1 to March 31, 1911, and was issued on
February 20, 1912, gives a short description of a variety of
date received from Tunis, and known as Menakher. This is
stated to be a large fruit of good quality and excellent
flavour, known only from the Jerid Oases in Tunis, where it
has become extremely rare. It is intended to propagate
the variety in the South West of the United States.

The Gardeners Chronicle for February 24, 1912 mentions
experiments described in Le Jardin, in which potatozs were
found to be superior, for use in the grafting of the grape vine,
to any form of grafting clay wax. In actual practice, after
the surfaces of the stock and scion, which should be of about
the same diameter, have been prepared for grafting, a hole of
the proper size is cut in the potato and thisis slipped over the
stock, the scion being then placed in position and the potato
drawn up and secured in such a way as to surround the graft-
The method is said to have been particularly successful.
during hot and dry weather.

At a recent special meeting of the Rubber Growers”
Association, held at the London Chamber of Commerce, it
was decided to present to the forthcoming International
Rubber Exposition a series of gold, silver and bronze medals-
for free competition among all rubber exhibitors ‘at the ex-
hibition. The’samples submitted must be of a commmerciab.
nature, weighing at least 1 cwt., and: any one exhibitor may
enter more than one sample for exhibition. The latest time-
for entries is August 1, and these must be- made to Mr. A..
Staines Manders, Grand Central Palace, 46th to 47th Streets,
Lexington Avenue, New York.

Vor. XI. No. 259.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 109

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

APRIL.
First PrEriop.

Seasonal Notes.

Distinguish between artificial and natural manures,
stating why manures are required for soils on which crops
are grown. What is likely to happen, especially in the
tropics, from the use of artificial manures, with the employ-
ment of little or no natural manure? Discuss the use of
artificial manures from the point of view of economy, partic-
ularly in relation to the fact that, in most cases, many by-
products of the estate are ayailable for manuria] purposes.
Proper consideration of these subjects will lead to the conclu-
sion that the main use of artificial manures should be to
supplement natural manures such as pen manure and green
‘dressings. What are the constituents for which artificial
manures are most generally valuable, and which of these
constituents of the manure costs the most? Taking the analy-
sis of an artificial manure of which you have had experience,
calculate the cost of each constituent in one ton of the manure,
and compare the cost of the manure itself with that of others
which do not contain the same proportions of the different
constituents. It is to be remembered that one of the chief
objections to the purchase of cheap, low-grade manures is that
they contain a certain amount of matter that is of little or no
manurial value, usually called ‘filler’, the presence of which
actually entails greater expenditure in freight, and in applying
the manure to the purpose for which it has been bought.

What do you understand by water soluble, citric acid
soluble and insoluble phosphate! How is the so-called insolu-
ble phosphate treated in order to make it more quickly avail-
able to plants, and what changes that are taking place in the
soil assist in its becoming soluble! How is the phosphatic
manure known as bone meal treated to make it soluble, and
under what name is it known after this treatment? State
what you understand by the manures that are called acid
phosphates or superphosphates. What is basic, or Thomas,
slag?

q What occurs to organic matter in the soil which, causes
it gradually to disappear? State what products are available,
under conditions with which you are familiar, for use for the
purpose of restoring the proportion of such matter in the soil.
It should be remembered that this question is of larger im-
portance in the tropics than in temperate countries, because
of the greater rate at which the destruction of such matter
takes place in the soil. Explain the employment of green
manuring in this connexion, and state what plants your exper-
ience would lead you to consider best to be employed for the
purpose. Distinguish carefully the effects of manuring with
ordinary plants, as compared with those from turning legu-
minous plants into the soil. Care is required in using stable
manure and green dreSitgs, lest this should lead to the intro-
duction into the soil of seeds of harmful or useless plants,
which may interfere with the growth of the crop for which
the manure or dressing has been applied.

It sometimes happens that the plants of a leguminous crop,
particularly in the case of one that has been introduced for
the first time, do not thrive. This condition may be a result
of the fact that the soil does not contain the actual strain of
bacteria that live in symbiosis with the plant, in the nodules
that should form on the roots. In such cases, efforts may be
made to introduce the required bacterium, and this is done:
(1) by applying soil from an area where the same plant, or
one closely related, has been grown recently; (2) by
using artificial cultures of the required bacteria, the culture
being placed in a large quantity of water containing salts
for the nutrition of the bacteria, and the seed of the plant
being soaked in the water a few hours after the intro-
duction of the culture; or even (3) such soil as is men-
tioned in the first of these methods has been soaked in
water, and the water poured off and used for moistening the
seeds to be planted. Of the ways described, the first has
been found most successful. In regard to the second, men-
tion the names of any bacterial preparations that have been
prepared for use in connexion with this purpose, on a large
scale. In such work, it cannot be expected that any im-
proved results will follow the addition of the bacteria where
these are present already in sufficient amount; the lack of
recognition of this matter has led to a deal of confusion in
the interpretation of the results of experiments performed in
connexion with the matter under consideration.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY ()UESTIONS.

(1) Give a list of the operations required in raising
sugar-canes from cuttings, under conditions in which you
have had experience.

(2) State carefully how Bordeaux mixture is usually
made. :

(3) What is the importance of sunlight to green plants?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an estimate of the cost of raising an acre of
sugar-cane, under conditions with which you are familiar.

(2) What are the chief precautions to be followed in
making and applying Bordeaux mixture?

(3) How would you show by means of a simple experi-
ment the effect of sunlight on the rate of transpiration
in plants?

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Provide statements showing the approximate cost of
raising an acre of canes: (1) when implemental cultivation is
employed, (2) when hand labour is the sole resource.

(2) Give an account of any means that has been em-
ployed for the speedy making and use of Bordeaux mixture
on a large scale.

(3) What is the effect of sunlight in relation to the
changes that take place in the soil?

en nn ee

Experiments described in the Comptes Rendus de
VP Académie des Sciences for May 1, 1911, p. 1884, have shown
that when fresh vanilla pods, even those that are completely
green, are subjected to the ultra-violet rays an exhalation of
perfume is caused. This action is brought about more
quickly, and the exhalation is stronger, if the stalk of the
fresh fruit is placed in a solution containing manganese
chloride at a strength of one part of the salt in 1,000 parts
of water.

110

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

FUNGUS NOTES.

BUD ROT OF THE COCOA-NUT PALM.
“Part II.

In the last number of the Agricultural News, some
information was given as to the symptoms, distribution and
cause of cocoanut bud rot, as recently described by J. R.
Johnston in Bulletin No. 228 of the Bureau of Plant Indus-
try of the United States Department of Agriculture. In the
present article, a further account, dealing with the method of
spread and treatment of the disease, is given, the subject-
matter being taken from the same source.

SPREAD OF INFECTION. The actual means by which the
infection is spread from tree to tree is as yet not determined
with absolute certainty. Two agencies have been suggested,
namely wind and insects. There are two important arguments
against the theory of wind distribution. The first is the spor-
adic nature of the attacks in any locality, combined with the
fact that the disease appears to spread against or across the
direction of the prevailing wind, as frequently as it spreads
with it. The second depends on the nature of the disease it-
self, Since the infected tissues are deep-seated in the crown of
the tree, and are enfolded by the firm leaf bases, it is difficult
to see how pieces of this‘moist tissue could be distributed by
the wind. In another way, the nature of the causative
bacteria is such as to render it unlikely that they can survive
such desiccation as would be necessary if they are distributed
by the wind as a light dust.

On the other hand, nearly all observers have recorded
the presence of numerous insects in the decaying tissues of
the bud. In the tops of the trees a great variety of forms
may be found, while in the diseased tissues those predomi-
nating are the larvae of flies, often scavengers, and of earwigs.
These insects might spread the infection, either by means of
small portions. of decaying tissue adhering to their bodies, or
through their excreta, in which hving individuals of the
causative bacteria might be contained. Johnston was able to
obtain certain bacteria which gave reactions typical of Bacillus
coli, from the intestines of earwigs found in diseased trees
in Cuba.

Another animal that may be responsible for spreading
infection is the turkey buzzard, which may be commonly seen
in diseased trees, and is stated to be found in all tropical
countries where the bud rot occurs. The diseased tissues, as
is well kncwn, have a very unpleasant odour, and it is likely
that the birds are attracted by it; in connexion with this,
Johnston notes a statement of Dr. Smith: ‘that twice, at
Baracoa, buzzards swooped down on the rotted hearts of
palms he had laid aside for study, and would have carried
the material off, if he had not made a frantic rush to protect
it. Although the fact that these birds feed on the diseased
tissue has not been definitely proved, yet Johnston was able
to obtain from their @xcreta a few colonies of bacteria
giving reactions very similar to those of the bud rot organ-
ism. He also notes that, in Porto Rico, where the disease
probably does not exist, turkey buzzards are either very rare
or absent. Although the actual carrier, or carriers, of the
disease has not been definitely ascertained yet there is con-
siderable evidence that certain animal agencies are respon-
sible, particularly insects and turkey buzzards, while the
evidence in the case of other causes is of a negative
character.

TREATMENT. Johnston thought at first that bud rot
almost always commences in the central leaves, but careful

Marcu 30, 1912.

or

investigation showed that in many cases trees could be found
with healthy central leaves, while the spikes, or more com-
monly the swords just opening, revealed brown water-soaked
discoloured areas: in some cases also the bases of the lower
leaves were diseased in the same way. ‘Trees showing these
discolorations almost always developed a soft rot of the
terminal bud, at a later date. It was, however, hoped that
careful removal of the infected leaves, flower spikes and
swords would result in the recovery of the tree, at any rate
if sufficient of the suspected parts was pruned. ‘Twenty-one
trees were treated in this way, but though they remained
undiseased at the centre for three months, they all eventu-
ally succumbed.

As there has been a belief that certain disinfectants are
capable of checking the disease, applications of salt, copper
sulphate and Paris green were made to trees infected as
above in which the central leaves were quite healthy. In
every case, it was found that the treatment was without
effect and that the disease progressed at about the same rate
and killed the trees in about the same time as it did in the
case of untreated trees in the neighbourhood.

Another remedial measure from which successful results
have been anticipated is flaming. Johnston considered that
it was unlikely to have any practical value owing to the
arrangement of the leaves and also to the failure of other
methods of external treatment ; consequently he did not
experiment with it himself, but an examination of trials
conducted by others fully confirmed his opinion of its ineffec-
tiveness. He sums up the whole position with regard to
flaming as follows :—

‘From the arrangement of the crown it is impossible
for the heat to penetrate into the inner tissues in sufficient
degree to dry out the diseased portion without seriously
affecting the growing part of the crown. Any flaming what-
ever will destroy the lower leaves and all the nuts, so that
even if the tree is not killed, at least a year’s crop is des-
troyed. The scorching of the leaves and the charring of the
trunk so kill the superficial tissues as to permit the rain to
soak in and a subsequent rot to take place. It has been
contended by some people applying this treatment to their
trees that there was subsequent recovery from the disease,
at least to the extent of flower spikes opening out and setting
nuts. It should be noted, however, that the tree, while
retaining the disease, may send forth new flower spikes and
nuts for a period of at least a year after infection has taken
place without any treatment having been applied. The
writer possesses records of individual trees which show this.
In many trees flamed the disease progressed subsequently so
that it presented to the writer no evidence of the value of
this treatment. “As a diseased tree is certain to die if not
treated, there can be no error in flaming it ; but to try this
method with healthy trees in the expectation of warding off
infection is not advisable, because (1) there is no evidence that
the treatment would succeed, and (2) there is the certainty
that the tree would be seriously injured in a way that would
make it more susceptible to infection.’

' Although none of the remedial measures tried have
proved effective in preventing the progress of the disease in
infected trees, yet adequate preventive measures will check its
general spread and reduce to a minimum the number of annual
cases. The first step is to destroy all the sources of infec-
tion ; the second to destroy or reduce in numbers its means of
transmission ; and the third to do away with conditions
favourable to its development. In regard to the first step,
the tops of all infected trees must be cut off and destroyed.
Johnston recommends that when only a few trees have to be
destroyed the best plan is to cut off their tops and burn them,

Voted NO 259,

allowing the bare trunks to stand. This ~ ‘eaves the ground
free from obstacles and prevents the trunks from forming
breeding places as acceptable to insects as they would do if
the trees were cut down and the trunks left lying on the
ground. ‘If the rot extends below the crown, it would be
advisable to pour over its surface a pint or soof coal oil and
then set fire to it.’ When a large number of trees have to be des-
troyed they should be felled, their tops romoved and burned,
and their trunks piled up together and heaped over with earth.
According to Johnston, it would probably pay to girdle the
trunks about 4 feet from the ground, after cutting off the
tops and destroying them. to allow the trunks to dry out
and then to use them for timber on the estate.

Since it is probable that insects carry the disease,
Johnston suggests that the following measures may prove
effective. The spread of infection might be prevented
by placing bands of cloth soaked in coal tar, and
about 6 inches wide, on the ground round the base
at about 5 feet from the tree. This would prevent
the access of crawling insects. When rats or larger
animals are present, a band of galvanized iron about
8 inches wide might be fixed round the trunk at a height of
5 feet. Turkey buzzards might advantageously be destroyed.
It is uncertain, however, if spraying the tops of the trees
with insecticides has any very marked effect in reducing the
number of flying insects in the crown, while it is a somewhat
difficult operation to perform. Lastly, the cultivation should
be kept free from bush, so that as little shelter as possible is
provided for insects. The soil should be manured and well
drained in order that the trees may be given the best con-
ditions for their growth. There can be no doubt that
destruction of diseased trees and careful attention to general
sanitation and cultivation have materially reduced the preva-
lence of the disease in Jamaica, and that these measures
would give beneficial results in practically all cases.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson. A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of February 1912:—

The position of the markets during February has shown
but very little change since our last report. Though business
has been by no means brisk, there has, however, been a steady
demand for most of the well-known drugs. The close of the
month has, unfortunately, suffered considerable depression in
all trade circles, by the realization of the long threatened coal
strike, resulting, as it has already done at the time of writing,
in the closing of many large factories, and the suspension of
much of the passenger and goods traftic on the railways. In
West Indian prodace there is but very little to report upon,
as the sales have been only of a normal character.

GINGER.

At the first spice auction on the 7th, ginger was repre-
sented by 168 packages of Cochin, which were sold without
reserve at from 28s. to 30s. per cwt. At the last auction on
the 28th, as many as 1,400 bags of Cochin and Calicut were
brought forward, 170 only were sold, at the following rates:
small, rough, wormy Cochin, 38s. to 38s. 6d.; good bright
cuttings, 55s.; fine, bright, rough Calicut, and washed rough

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. ryt

Cochin were bought in, the former at 53s., and the latter at
44s. to 47s. per cwt.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

On the 7th of the month, nutmegs were represented by
113 packages of West Indian and 82 packages of Eastern.
The former sold at the following rates: 83’s, 53d. to 6d.;
92’s to 101’s, 5d. to 53d.; 103’s to 110’s, 54d. to 53d. Only
a part of those from the East found buyers, 56’s fetching
Is. 1d.; 65’s, garbled and slightly defective, 10}d.; 85’s, 54d.;
and 120’s, 4¢d. On the 14th, 20 packages of West Indian
were brought forward and sold, 87’s fetching 53d., and 94’s
to 103’s 53d. to 53d. per Ib. A week later, as many as 300
packages of West Indian were brought forward, and sold at
full rates, 63’s to 72’s fetching 61d. to 8hd., 91's to 106’s
5d. to 6d., and 110’s to 130’s 54d. to 6d. At the last auction
on the 28th, 16 packages of West Indian were offered, and
sold at similar rates. Of mace, at auction on the 7th, 22
packages of West Indian were sold at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d., and
broken at 2s. 2d. to 2s. 3d. per tb. A fortnight later 61
packages of West Indian were brought forward, and sold at
slightly increased rates, which were maintained at the last
sale on the 28th. Pimento is reported firm, but little has been
done with it at the sales.

SARSAPARILLA.

The continued scarcity of grey Jamaica and the demand
for it, ensures the ready sale of all that is brought forward at
every auction; at the first drug auction on the 8th, the supplies
were small, consisting of only 6 bales of grey Jamaica and 8
bales of native Jamaica, the former were all disposed of at an
advance of about 2d. per tb. over previous rates. Fair fibrous
fetched 2s. ld. to 2s, 2d. per lb., and sea-damaged ls. 6d.
per ib. Of the native Jamaica, 4 bales only found pur-
chasers, 2 bales of good red fetching 1s 2d. per tb. and
2 bales of ordinary dull red 10d. per tbh. A fortnight later
the offerings of grey Jamaica had increased to 14 bales, which
were all sold at a further advance of ld. per Ih, fair grey
fetching 2s. 3d. and part slightly rough 2s. 2d. per tb., while
11 bales of Lima Jamaica, all that was offered, sold at Is. 4d.
to 1s. 6d. for fair, part slightly country damaged, and 1s. 3d.
was paid for rough and chumpy.

KOLA, LIME JUICE, LIME OIL,
CASSIA FISTULA, TAMARINDS AND CASHEW NUTS.

At the first auction in the month 11 bags of fair
bright Jamaica kola in halves, were cold at 34d. per hb,
and again on the 21st, 10 bags of good clean dried Jamaica
halves were brought forward and all disposed of privately, it
was stated, at 34d. per lb.; and quite at the end of the month
it was reported that 44d. had been paid for good West
Indian halves. Lime juice has been scarce throughout the
month. At the first auction 14 hogsheads of Antigua were
sold, realizing from Is. 3d. to 1s. 4d. for fair brownish, and
for 11 puncheons of fair palish Jamaica, 1s. 5d. was paid.
A week later, it was reported that ls. 94d. had been paid
for some very fine pale juice West Indian distilled
lime oil, at the beginning of the month, sold at 1s. 2d.
per tb. The new crop of Cassia Fistula was referred to at
the end of the month as arriving freely on the Hamburg
market, 23s. per cwt. being the price quoted. Tamarinds
were represented on the 21st by 8 barrels of West Indian,
common dry stony, 10s. 6d. per ewt. in bond being paid for
them. A large quantity of cashew nuts from Bombay were
brought forward, at the beginning of the month, and part sold
at 24s. per ewt. for husky, 60s. being the -price wanted for
clean pale.

112

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—Tue West Ixpia ComMmirrEE CIRCULAR,
March 12, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass & Co.,
March 1; 1912.

ARrRrowRooT—33d. to 43d.

Batata—Ssheet, 3/7 ; block, 2/64 per th.

Brrswax—8£7 2s. 6d. to £7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 55/- to 75/- per cwt.; Grenada, 49/-
to 54/6; Jamaica, 49/. to 55/6.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 70/- to77 /- per ewt.

Corpra—West Indian, £26 per ton.

Cortron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 18d. to 23d.

Frvuit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincEr—48/- to 65/- per ewt.

IsrincLass—No quotations.

Honry—No quotation.

Line Juice—Raw, 1/3 to 1/9; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/9 to 6/11.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Mace—Firm.

Nourmecs—Firm.

Pimento—Common, 23d.; fair, 213d.; good, 23d.; per tb.

Rusger—Para, fine hard, 4/84; fine soft, 4/7;; Castilloa,
4/10 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 20/- to 23/-; Muscovado, 16,6 to 19/-;
Syrup, 14/9 to 15/6 per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York,—Messrs. Gittesrrz Bros. & Co., March

8, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 1]#c. to 12jc.; Grenada, 1ljec. to 11éc.;
Trinidad, 11fc. to 12c. per tb.; Jamaica, 10c. to 11c.

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $24°00 to $25°00; culls,
$15-00 to $16-00; Trinidad, select, $25:00 to $26-00;
culls, $16°00 to $17°00 per M.

OorreE—Jamaica, 142c. to 16c. per tb.

GincER—8c. to 10jc. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 53c.; Antigua and Barbados, 48c.
to 50c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 45c. to 47ec.
per tb.

Grarz-FRvuit—Jamaica, $3°50 to $4-00.

Limes—$5°00 to $5°50.

Macre—ddce. to 57c. per tb.

Nutmecs—110’s, 125c.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°00 per box.

Pinento—3$d. per tb.

Svear—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°52c. per tb. ; Muscovados, 89°,

4°02c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°70c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., March 18,

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $11°9U to $12°10 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $11°60 to $11°85.

Cocoa-nut O11—$1°07 per Imperial gallon.

OorrrE—Venezuelan, 15}c. per fb.

Copra—$4°50 per 100 tb.

Duat—$4:00.

Ontons—$5°00 to $5°25 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Porators—English, $2°10 to $2°25 per 100 ft.

Rice—Yellow, $4°75 to $4°80; White, $6°50 to §6°75
per bag.

Svcar—American crushed, no quotations

Marcu 30, 1912.

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., March 23,
1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., March 25,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., March 15, 1912.

ARRrowRoot— $6°50 to

57 ‘00 per 100 th.

Cacao—$10°50 to $11:00 per 100 ft.

Cocoa-nuts—$16°00.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°90 per 100 tb.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $42-00
to $48-00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80°00 per ton.
Mo tasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$3'00 to $5°50 per 100 fb
Peas, Sprit—$7°10 to $7°25 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°00 to $4°40 per bag of 120 tb.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $1°50 to $3°25 per 160 tb.
Ricze—Ballam, $4°85 to $5°10 per 190 fb.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $5°50 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & RicuTER, March

16, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacn, Parker & Co.,
March 15, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARrRowkooT—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DHat—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo tasses—Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Potators—Nova Ssotia

Lisbon
Porators-Sweet, B’bados
Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimsEeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles
»,» Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& Ricuter.

No quotation
70c. per th.
19c. to 20c. per tb.
96ce.
$7 00

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per tb.
18c. per tb.
13c. per tb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 tb.
$4°50
96c.
None

$7°00 per bag
(210 tb.)

l6c. to 40c.
$350

$1°68 per bag
No quotation

$500 to $5°25

$1-80
$2°40
$2°64
$3°30 to $3°40
$425

$2°90 to $3-00
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6:00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.
SS

Prohibited

20c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
16c. per fb.
19c. per tb,
12c. per tb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 tb.
8c.
$7°60 per bag
(210 ib.)
No quotation
$3°50
No quotation

$5°25 to $5°50
$3°40
$4°25

32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$4:00 to $6-00
per M.
No quotation.

fHE aGRICULTURAL NEWS.

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

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

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

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Volume XII. No. 1. Containing papers on; Manurial Experiments with Cocton in the Leeward Islands: The Cotton
Industry in the Leeward Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special Reference to
Antigua; Some Notes on Rubber Trees in Dominica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An
Account of the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the Area Devastated by the
Soufriere of St. Vincent, in 1902-3; Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
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Grafted Cacao at the Dominica Botanic Station; The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses
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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
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present time is seventy. 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.
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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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in 1902-3, No. 30. price 4d.; in 1903-4, No. 36, price 4d.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,

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in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; | (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
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ScaLe [ysecrs. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
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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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 1X 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, All
applications for copies are to he addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.
The following have been appuinted Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau « Co.. 37. Soho Sauare, 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 Surety Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Bripcewater, Rosean.
Street, Kingston. = Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: THE ‘DatLy CHRONICLE OFFICE.Georgetown. dnagua: Mr. S. D. Manone. St. John’s,
Trinidad : Messrs. Muir-MarsHatt & Co.. Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THe Brsue sNpD Book SuppLy Agency, Basseterre.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Puacemann, Scarborough. : J¥ems - Messrs: Howe, Bros., Charlestown.
Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited. St. George.

THE

Marcu 30, 1912.

Vou. XI. No. 259.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

WN 0 =U) ee

Ohiendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano-—for Sugar-cane and general use

Qhiendorff’s
Ohiendorff’s
Ohlendorff’s

special
Special
special

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Gocca Manure
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Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Nitrolim and ali other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

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AND

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII, No. 1.

Containing papers on: Manurial Experiments with Cotton in
the Leeward Islands; The Cotton Industry m the Leeward
Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special
Reference to Antigua; Some Notes on Rubber Trees in Domin-
ica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An Accouut of
the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the
Area Devastated by the Soufriere of St. Vincent, in 1902-3;
Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
St. Lucia; The Estimation of Carbonates and of Organic Carbon
in Soils; The Epizootiology of Anthrax; Grafted Cacao at the
Dominica Botanic Station; The Determination of the Water
Content of Molasses and the Composition of Antigua and
St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses; and Title page and Index of Vol. XI.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department’s
Publications. Price 6d., post free, 84d.

SEA ISLAND COTTON.

FOR SALE IN THE ISLAND OF ST. VINCENT,
Where the best Sea Island Cotton is produced,
2,000 acres, more or less, of land adapted to Cotton,
Arrowroot, Cacao, Rubber, Cocoa-nuts and Stock-rais-
ing, with a good water-supply, necessary buildings, and
easy shipping. Most of the above-mentioned crops are
now being cultivated.

Particulars may be obtained from R.F.K.,
care of the Colonial Bank, St. Vincent.

(260)

FOR SALE.

PRIME SUMMER YELLOW COTTON
SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.

ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,
Cotton Seed Oil Mills,
Barbados, W.L,

Telegraphic address,
‘Thorum.’

(267)

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter 4, High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

~ Vol. XI. No. 260.] ‘SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1912. [One penny.

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CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting.
and Budding Cultivation.
Inarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

RS. EN ‘
Nea

ks
Ere

x FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE uiey INDIES.

BARBADOS,

Vou. XI. No. 260.

——

CONTENTS.

PAGE. PaGE.
Agriculture in Jamaica, |\Grenada, Trade and Agyri-
1910-11 es pe orl culture of, 1910... ... 123
Bacteria in the Soil, Recent | Insect Notes :—
Work on ... 113; A New Method of Con-

British Honduras, Trade trolling Termites 122
and Agriculture of, ! International Rubber Ex-
$910" 24 ) ae 121 hibition oe 2) 19

Candle-wood Tree, Jamaica 123 | Japanese Isinglass, or

Coffee-Growing in Mada- Agar-agar ... 120
PASCAL oa ede tees) Mires 117 | Labor utory “Crucibles,

Cotton Notes :— Methods of Marking 119

Injury to Cotton Fibres | Market Reports... . 128
in Spinning : . 118} Notes and Comments ... 120
West Indian Cotton . . 118) Rice-Growing in Java,

Department News an Uy a Native. ; 116

Formalin on Rubber Plan- Rubber Cultivatio m in
tations, Use of... ... 125) Mexico 43120

Fruit, Forced Curing of... _ 116 | Rubber from Dominica led.

Sea Island Cotton in Cuba 121
Silk Cotton in Commerce
Students’ Corner

Fungus Notes :—
The Panama Disease of
Bananas, Part I ... 126)
Funtumia Elastica, A By-
product from “c
leanings s-ajiccos sock ens thee

| Sugar Industry:—
Sugar Trade of the
United Kingdom, 1911 115

favourable, or Eeicmortal a the plants growing in it,
has led to an increasing amount of work, on the part
of investigators, designed for the purpose of determining
the conditions under which such bacterial action takes
place, and in what ways it may be influenced in the

APRIL

1d a LOT: Price ld,

interest of the agriculturist. A review,* published
recently, of the chief matters pertaining to such work
that have received attention during the past year,
affords an opportunity of presenting its chief results,
and of indicating the ways in which the results are
likely to have application in relation to agricultural
practice and investigation in the West Indies.

The chief difficulty that has been encountered in
the investigations, so far, has arisen from the fact that,
under the artificial conditions of the laboratory, the
results obtained concerning the extent of bacterial act-
ivity in the soil are not in agreement with those indi-
cated in trials conducted under natural circumstances,
op a large seale: in the former case, the amount of this
activity is much smaller than that which appears to
take place in the soil. In regard to tropical conditions,
the difference is likely still to be greater, because of the
circumstance that almost all the important investi-
gations are being conducted in laboratories in the
Temperate Zone, in relation to the soil constitution and
temperature that obtain in those latitudes. The most
important requirement at present therefore, is the dis-
covery of a method that will enable experiments, on
a small scale, in regard to the activity of micro-organ-
isms in the soil, to be conducted in a way to give results
comparable to those obtained in the field; and further,
that the work of investigation shall be extended in the
direction of affording increased attention to the subject,
in its relation to the conditions that exist in the warmer
regions of the earth.

The general bacterial activity in the soil has been

on Agricultural Chemistry and Vegetable
the Progress of Chemistry,

*A. D. Hall,
Physiology, in Annual Reports on
1911, issued by the Chemical Society.

114

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Apri 13, 1912,

_—_—— SSO Sh OE

investigated by some workers with reference to the
effect produced by the addition to it of carbohydrates
such as starch and sugar (sucrose). Under the condi-
tions of the experiments, this was found to cause injury
to growing plants, whereby development was retarded,
and the roots killed to a large extent. The reason
adduced for this effect is that the presence of so large
a proportion of carbohydrates in the soil led to so great
an increase in the number of bacteria that, in the
competition for the available supply of air, the roots of
the plants suffered. This effect was hardly expected,
for it was considered that the increased supply of
carbohydrates would result in the usual increase in
numbers of the chief nitrogen-fixing organism—Azoto-
bacter—with a consequent favouring of the growth of
the plants. The apparently abnormal result was shown
later, however, to have been produced by the circum-
stance that the experiments were conducted during the
spring of the year, when the temperature of the soil
was such that the activity of Azotobacter was at its
lowest, while that of other bacteria, notably those of
putrefaction, was much greater. On repeating the
trials, in autumn, the nitrogen-fixing organism took
advantage of the greater supply of the carbohydrate
required for providing it with the energy for doing its
work, with beneficial results to the succeeding crop.
Trials of a similar nature, in the tropics, employing
molasses as the source of carbohydrate, and sugar-cane
as the crop, have indicated beneficial results in Mauri-
tius and possibly beneficial effects in Antigua; while in
Britisn Guiana, it has been demonstrated so far that
the application of molasses to sugar-cane lands is not in
the nature of a commercial success.

The nitrogen-fixing organism, Azotobacter, as has
been indicated, derives the energy needed for this
action by the destruction of carbohydrates; that is to
say by employing as sources of that energy substances
of the nature of starch and the sugars. It has also
been stated that the measure of the activity of soil
bacteria in laboratory experiments is not on a scale
affording comparison with that existing under natural
conditions. Thus with Azotobacter, the amount of
nitrogen fixed, in relation te the quantity of carbohy-
drate destroyed, is very small in experiments of the
former kind, in comparison with that indicated in trials
on a field scale. This condition has led to the making
of investigations to find a reason for it, and the result
has been to show that while at first the ratio of nitrogen
fixed to the carbohydrate used is high, even in the
small scale experiments, this decreases quickly, as the
time goes on, because, as it is explained, of the accumu-
lation of nitrogenous material under the conditions of

the trials, whereby the Azotobacter is caused to use
the carbohydrate for purposes other than the fixation
of nitrogen. It is natural to conclude that this change
in its action on carbohydrates does not occur in the
open soil, because the conditions do not ordinarily
exist there for the concentration of the nitrogenous
material that is effective in causing it to take place.

Another reason for the apparently increased
activity of Azotobacter in soils has been found in the
fact of the presence of humus, which results in the
stimulation of the organism owing to the fact that the
humus contains small quantities of silicate of iron, and
similar bodies, the effect of compounds of iron being such
that this depends largely for its extent on the nature of
those compounds. As these are present in basic slag,
the circumstance forms an explanation of part of the
beneficial effect on nitrification that is known often to
follow the application of this manure.

Among the bacteria that have been found to exist
normally in soil are a number of heat-loving organisms—
that is organisms that can thrive at temperatures
sufficiently high to kill the majority of other, similar
forms of life, as well as those more highly organized.
Experiments have shown that these have the power to
fix nitrogen at a temperature as high as 142°F. The
matter is suggestive in connexion with the supposition
that such organisms may have a larger importance under
tropical, than under temperate conditions,

There has been no new work of a striking nature,
with respect to the benefit to plants of heating and
partially sterilizing the soil, though accounts have been
published by several investigators, of the effects pro-
duced by antiseptic substances. In the case of these,
the improvement of the conditions, as regards plant pro-
duction, by the application of such substances to
the soil, has been attributed to the stimulus that they
are thought to give to the beneficial organisms in the
soil, rather than to the reason adduced by Russell
and Hutchinson,* namely the destruction that they
cause of the larger organisms which employ the bacteria
as food; and this conclusion is reached notwithstanding
the fact that the work of these investigators was, in one
of its aspects, conducted for the purpose of showing
that the benefit arising in the soil after heating or
partial sterilization cannot be attributed to the direct
stimulation of bacterial activity.

The circumstance that has just been mentioned,
namely, the effect of partly sterilizing the soil by heat

* Agricultwral News, Vol. IX, p. 33.

Vout. XI. No. 260.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

115

eee ——— eee — — — ———— ——————— ——————————___

or by antiseptics, in relation to the destruction of the
larger organisms (protozoa), and the consequent great
increase of the smaller forms of lite, including the bene-
ficial bacteria, has received attention by an investi-
gator, at Rothamsted. who has devised a means of
driving the organisms out of the soil and enumerating
them, so that it is no longer necessary to obtain them
by culture methods. The work described goes on to
produce evidence that these organisms—the protozoa
mentioned already, or, at any rate, severa] kinds among
them—exist in the soil in an inert condition (encysted),
and are thus unable to cause the decrease in the number
of bacteria in the way attributed to them by Russell
and Hutchinson. This objection cannot be maintained,
however, in regard to all the organisms in the soil that
may act in this manner, and it has been met to some
extent by the supposition that, under the conditions of
the investigation, the bacteria themselves were showing
little activity, and that this, as well as the activity of
the inert protozoa, would be largely increased under
favourable conditions of moisture and temperature.

Other work of interest has shown that Azotobacter
and other organisms are capable of increasing the
amount of calcium carbonate in the soil by the oxida-
tion of calcium oxalate in plant residues that it con-
tains, the calcium oxalate being attacked only in the
absence of organic matter sufficient for the needs of the
bacteria. A description of the investigation has been
given in a recent issue* of this journal.

The account just presented serves to draw atten-
tion to some of the more important results that have
been obtained during the past year, in regard to bacteria
in the soil. It will be seen that, while these are
already of the greatest importance to the agriculturist,
the work that is being done, in order to make the labour
of investigation possess as close a relation as possible
to conditions in nature, will greatly increase the value
of those results and render them continually more
dependable in their application as a guide in agricul-
tural practice.

SUGAR TRADE OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM, 1911.

The following figures giving theimports and exports
of sugar, expressed as the nearest ton, into and from the
United Kingdom in 1911, are taken from the Jnter-
national Sugar Journal for January 1912. For pur-
poses of comparison the quantities for 1910, taken from
the same source, are also included:—

* Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 83.

IMPORTS.
1911. 1910.
Quantity, Value, Quantity, Value,

Unrefined Sugars. tons. : tons. :
Germany 391,912 4,287,246 229,750 2,644,093
Java 173,721 2,815,521 118,275° 1,605,161
A ia- -

ee Han \ 62,025 756,260 57,520 715,229
British India 64,398 1,093,048 8,871 96,674
Mauritius 58,696 702,934 41,496 589,230
British W. I.
Islands, Brit-
ish Guiana & 54,346 750,521 78,748 1,147,200
British Hon-
duras
Netherlands 30,916 468,438 20,216 234,063
HaytiandSan\ 97 97 908 97 - r F
Deningo | 27,277 296,273 76,547 1,078,592
Peru 27,157 293,412 46,232 588,000
Belgium 21,185 282,964 11,165 129,180
Brazil 14,751 138,762 51,469 618,752
Mexico 8,180 103,020 10,686 151,454
Dutch Guiana 6,522 91,963 7,223 105,252
Cuba 3,859 29,611 96,336 1,371,633
Philippine) ‘
ee | 3.645 34,293 ut Le
Russia 1,747 21,686 93 1,190
Straits Settle-) 99 ¢ was
ane 1,226 16,209 192 9,389
France 254 2,620 431 6,260
OtherCountries 18,263 213,455 25,198 329,525
Total Raw P 9 298 9 Pe ont
Sugars J 970,080 12,398,236 881,049 11,420,857
Refined Sugars.
Germany 366,547 5,314,217 334,093 5,080,325
pe eral \ 186,137 2,724,065 199,517 3,103,558
Holland 145,068 2,407,165 117,877 1,809,649
liussia 110,051 1,683,815 2,113 26,357
Belgium 60,125 1,022,969 49,148 740,071
France 5,825 93,046 — 60,708 1,004,381
OtherCountries 65,791 1,156,580 80,699 1,369,011
ace tet 939,845 14,401,857 844,155 13,133,352
Molasses 158,403 681,455 155,405 700,994

Total Imports 2,068,328 27,481,548 1,880,609 25,255,203

EXPORTS.
1911. 1910.
Quantity, Value, Quantity, Value,
British Refined tons. : tons. ;
Canada 8,735 131,871 10,770 170,107
Denmark 4,100 52,504 4,055 56.113
Netherlands 295i 43,822 3,290 48.418
Italy 1,105 13,344 930 11,658
Portugal, Azores \ ; a
Ba Madeira ! 1,100 15,436 1,829 25,998
Other Countries 10,648 183,482 10,489 186,178
28,645 440,459 31,363 498,472

A summary of the details given concerning the ex-
ports of foreign and colonial sugars may be presented as
follows. The total of such exports during 1911 was 37,232
tons, value £552,904, as compared with 52,364 tons, valu
£759,692, in 1910.

116

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Aprit 13, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE FORCED CURING OF FRUIT.

An account of preliminary work in regard to the
forced curing of fruit is contained in Bulletin No. 232
of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States
Department of Agriculture, just issued. From this,
the following conclusions are taken:—

The forced curing or sweating of lemons as at present
practised consists in subjecting the green fruit to heat and
humidity in closely confined enclosures until the desired
yellow colour is produced, the time required ranging from
five to fourteen days. Different methods of supplying the
heat are used with varying success.

Experiments here described show that heat and humidi-
ty are of minor importance in colouring lemons and that the
pungent, gaseous combustion products given off by the oil
stoves used, produce the desired effect. These gaseous pro-
ducts can be conducted to distant rooms by means of pipes,
their effectiveness being thereby unimpaired. This suggests
the possibility, in using these gases on a commercial scale,
of generating them with the burners in separate structures
and distributing them to different rooms containing the fruit.
A great reduction of fire risk would result from such an
adaptation.

The colouring of leraons is noticeably hastened when
confined in spaces constructed of materials of a porous nature.
Sweat rooms constructed of earth, brick, or concrete are
more effective than those made of wood.

A common result of the sweating process is the loss of
the stems from the fruit. This loss is supposed to provide
an avenue for the entrance of organisms into the fruit,
causing decay—a conclusion not justified by the available
evidence. It has been generally held that excessive humidity
in the sweat room causes the stems to loosen. Experiments
indicate that the gaseous products applied alone will cause
the stems to drop and that humidity and heat are less im-
portant factors.

It must be understood that the results recorded in this
publication are put forth rather as a report of progress than as
a finished investigation. It is recognized that further work
is required in order to apply the results already obtained to the
practical use of the lemon producer, and plans for such further
work are already made.

The following note is appended to the summary at
the end of the Bulletin: —

Since the manuscript of this bulletin left the hands of the
writers, an interesting development from the investigation
here reported has been worked out by certain California lem-
on handlers. Instead of getting the effective combustion pro-
ducts from the rather objectionable oil stoves, these handlers
have made use of the exhausted products of gasolene-burning
motors. These motors supply the heat needed for the com-
bustion and the energy required for forcing the gases to those
parts of the lemon houses in which they are needed. . It is
probable, however, that this method will prove rather expen-
sive unless the energy developed can be successfully utilized in
ae washers, graders, or other machinery of the packing

ouse.

NATIVE RICE-GROWING IN JAVA.

This is the title of an abstract, given in the
Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence
and of Plant Diseases for February 1912, p. 418, of
an article in the Bulletin Agricole du Congo Belge,
Vol. I, p. 744. The abstract is reproduced here:—

Rice is cultivated in Java in three different ways: (1) in
flooded fields (sawahs); (2) in wet fields; (3) in dry fields.

CULTIVATION OF RICE IN FLOODED FIELDS. The rice fields
form a succession of terraces, arranged without any slope, and
surrounded by small banks to keep in the water. The latter
is conveyed to the highest terraces, and successively empties
on to the lower fields.

Some time before starting work, at the beginning of the
rainy season, the rice field is flooded. The soil slowly grows
wet. When it is sufficiently softened, ploughing begins; each
ploughing is followed by a harrowing, and cultivation con-
tinues till the surface is transformed into soft mud.

The nurseries consist of small areas surrounded by banks,
which are likewiseploughed several times after flooding. The
surface water is then drained off, and on the mud, side by
side, whole rice ears are placed. After sowing, the nursery
is once more flooded. In eight or ten days the water is drawn
off during the night, and irrigation after that only effected by
day. This goes on for about two months.

Vor. XI. No. 260.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 117

When the young plants are 18 to 24 inches high, they
are ready for transplanting to the fields; they-are dug up and
made into small bunches; these are set out after cutting off the
top of the stalk, care being taken to bury the root thoroughly.
The distance between each bunch is 4 to 8 inches.

After planting, the rice field is left dry for three to four
days. It is then once more flooded. If the rice is yellow in
appearance, the field is dried for some time, and, about
seventy-five days before the crop, it is left dry for good. The
attentions required consist in keeping the banks in good
repair and weeding two or three times. It is advisable to
clear away plants growing on the bank, to get rid of vermin.

RICE-GROWING IN WET FIELDS. This method is applied
where there is not enough water for regular flooding. The
field is flooded at the start of the rainy season. When the
soil is soaked the water is run off. The soil is then ploughed
deeply two or three times and harrowed down. The rice seed
is sown in the plough furrows and immediately covered by
harrowing. The soil is kept cool by surface cultivation. If
the weather is dry and water is at hand, the held is Hooded
from time to time. During the heavy rains the rice grows
very rapidly. By means of well designed banks the water is
then kept as long as possible on the field; it is however
necessary to provide for a slight current in the water, because
in stagnant water rice is largely attacked by a caterpillar
which gets inside the stalk and makes the plant wilt.

CULTIVATION OF RICE IN DRY FIELDS. This method is
only practical in mountain regions. The soil is tilled with the
plough or spade, or sometimes not at all. For sowing, all
that is done is to dig holes with a hoe or spade 6 to 8 inches
apart, and put down a few grains.

Oryza montana and O, sativa are the two species gener-
ally grown. The former is used for dry rice fields and the
latter for flooded or wet rice fields. The most frequent
diseases of rice are caused by Leptocorisa acuta, an insect
which attacks the young ears and thus prevents the forma-
tion of the grain; 7y/enchus oryzae, a nematode which attaches
itself to the roots; the caterpillars of Vymphula stagnalis,
Hesperio philiona, etc., are likewise very frequent; to prevent
their metamorphosis, it is recommended to leave the field
flooded.

For harvesting the rice, the ears are cut one by one and
then tied up in bundles. These bundles are stacked and
conveyed to the store-houses. After the crop, the land is
very often allowed to lie fallow for six months, or earth-nuts,
sweet potatoes and other quick-growing vegetables are
cultivated.

Under native cultivation, the average yield per acre is
900 to 1,080 ib. of paddy. With improved methods, yields
of 2,700 to 3,600 Ib. per acre are obtained, producing about
80 per cent. of dry rice.

Coffee-Growing in Madagascar. —Coffee-growing
in Madagascar is beginning to take an important place
amongst the agricultural industries of the island. In the
Mananjary district there are no fewer than twenty coffee-
growing estates, containing at least 700,000 plants, produc-
ing at the present time about 120 tons annually. It is
estimated that the yield from these plantations will in a few
years’ time be increased to at least 500 tons. The Liberian
variety of coffee is chiefly grown in Madagascar, but many
planters are introducing a quality resembling East Indian,
with small berries and thin husks. Madagascar coffee is
beginning to find a market in France. (The Journal of the
Royal Society of Arts, March 8, 1912.) :

SILK COTTON IN COMMERCE.

Recent references to the product of the silk cotton
tree (Hriodendron anfractuosum), which is most
generally known as kapok, have appeared in the Agri-
cultural News, Vols. VIII. pp. 180, 279, 393; IX,
pp. 60, 93, 239; and X, p. 308. The following addi-
tional information is taken from the Chamber of Com-
merce Jowrnal for February 1912:—

The tree which yields Java kapok is Hriodendron
anfractuosum, D.C. The kapok exported from India, Cochin
China, etc., is derived from Bombax malabaricum, and other
species of Bombax. In Java, the kapok tree is met with in
the fields and by the roadside; it is cultivated only by a few
Europeans. The fruit is gathered when ripe and the fibre is
separated from the seeds and debris either by hand or by
machine. The seeds are pressed for the oil which they con-
tain. The kapok is pressed and packed in jute sacks. For
the Australian market these contain 60 to 80 ib.; for America
or Europe they are pressed more closely, so that the sacks
weigh 99 tb. Owing to the care which is given to the
preparation of the kapok in the Netherlands Indies the fibre
can be used immediately without further cleaning. The
most important markets for kapok are Holland and Australia,
but the imports to America, France, Italy, and Spain have
increased considerably in recent years: The other European
countries are supplied from the Amsterdam market, Ger-
many being the principal customer. England, Russia,
Denmark, Sweden and Norway use comparatively little
kapok. Horsehair is nowadays being gradually supplanted
by kapok which, it is stated, is more hygienic for use in stuff-
ing mattresses. Kapok is also preferred to other vegetable
fibres for this purpose. Jt has the great advantage of
being extremely elastic and of retaining this quality for
a long period. Mattresses stuffed with kapok, therefore, last
longer than those stuffed with horsehair or vegetable fibres.
They are also light and easily handled, and, since a smaller
quantity of fibre is necessary, they cost less than horsehair
mattresses. The statement that kapok mattresses are not
cool seems to be unfounded, since the material is used in
tropical countries both for this purpose as well as for use in
upholstering chairs, etc. Kapok possesses various other
advantages. For example, it does not readily absorb moisture
and dries rapidly without losing its elasticity. It can also be
repeatedly submitted to sterilization by heat without losing
its qualities. Kapok is used for surgical dressings on account
of its properties mentioned above, and also because it does
not become matted. It may be used for making life-belts and
life-buoys, since it has great buoyancy and retains this quality
after being immersed in water for several days, which is not
the case with cork or reindeer hair. Kapok, after immersion
in water for thirty days, loses only 10 per cent. of its buoy-
ancy, which it at once regains on being dried. A company
has been formed in Germany for spinning yarn from kapok
either alone or in admixture with cotton. Kapok is also
used by hat makers and in the manufacture of guncotton.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. F. W. South, B.A., Mycologist on the Staff of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left ° for
St. Lucia by the S.S. ‘Parima’, on April 9, for the
purpose of making investigations in connexion with
plant diseases in that island.

THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS!

« Aprin 13, 1912:

eM UTATAN

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date March 25, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 200 bales of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, ‘chiefly Montserrat, Anti-
gua, Nevis and St. Kitts at prices varying from 18d. to 19d.,
and Barbados 20d., with a few superior bags on private
terms.

The maiket remains very firm, as owing to the poor char-
acter of the Carolina cotton this season and the smallness of
that crop, most users are purchasing West Indian in replace-
ment.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending March 23, is as follows:—

The market remained very quiet throughout the week,
with limited inquiry for a few of the planters’ crop lots,
which resulted in sale of only 15 bales Jos. T. Dill on private
terms, and a few bags of rejections from crops of Extra Fine
at 28c.

There is no change to report, except that the Factors
seem more disposed to sell and will make concessions to dis-
pose of some of the lots held in stock.

.' We quote viz :—

Extra Fine 32c.=18d., c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fine to Fully) 26c. to 28c. = 15d. to 16d., c.i.f. & 5 per cent.
Fine J

Fine to Extra Fine, |

g Mera (Oe 1
off in preparation jie to 25c.=103d. to 14id. ,,

thy bb

INJURY TO COTTON FIBRES IN SPINNING.

This interesting subject led to much discussion
during the session in which matters. relating to cotton
were dealt with at the recent Agricultural Conference
in Trinidad. Useful information in connexion with it
is given in the following article, taken from the Textile
Mercury for March 2, 1912. It appears to deal with
upland cotton, for which the saw gin is used, rather
than with the Sea Island variety:—

At a meeting of the Manchester Section of the Society
of Dyers and Colourists, a paper was read on this subject by
Mr. W. S. Taggart, M.I.M.E. In the course of the paper the
author drew attention to the fact that there is a large per-
centage of poor fibres in all cotton. The ginning operation,
being a severe one, has much to do with this, and he fibre,
when received in the mill, is thus in a somewhat damaged
condition,

The first actual processes capable of doing damage in
the spinning mill itself are opening and scutching. Most
cotton-pinning machinery dates from an early period, ar&
little has been done to improve matters from what took place
many years ago. The beater of the scutcher acts in a brutal
way towards the cotton fibre. The damage done to the
cotton may be judged from the following figures: The
beater revolves 1:000 to 1,200 revolutions per minute. There
are two blades on it. Sometimes there are three blades, in
which case they are of a smaller diameter and run a little
slower, but the general practice is to have two blades. The
beater gives the ‘cotton 2,400 biows per minute, at the rate
of 1,200 revolutions per minute. During the time that one
inch Jength of citton emerges there will be about 8,000
blows given to it. It will readily be realized what terrific
action must take place.

What happens very often (apart from the damage that
may be done to the cotton due to the terrific hammering
that the fibres receive) is that the cotton emerging just over
the pedal-nose is wedged by the downward moving blade,
This wedge action takes place frequently, and causes serious
damage.

Another great sinner in respect of injuring cotton is the
card, which is also somewhat brutal. The operation acts so
that a large number of fibres must be broken or snapped,
and also a large number must go through damaged by being
cracked. If cracked fibres have any influence at all, they
will certainly reduce the strength of the yarn, and they must
of necessity reduce the strength of the cloth. What effect
they have on dyeing and printing the author could not say.

During the discussion which followed, the opinion was
expressed that the hammer wedging action of the opening
machine would most likely influence the dyeing, as it had
been noticed that when cotton cloth was hammered on a steel
plate, the hammered places took up less dyestuff, and it was
very likely that the tearing action of the card would have the
result of producing darker shades in dyeing.

At a meeting of the Dominica Planters’ Association
held in January last, it was concluded after some discussion
that the shortage of limes and cacao in the past year was
partly due to difficulties of transport and the growing
scarcity and inefficiency of local labour. ‘The lime crop is also
stated to have suffered damage through the indiscriminate
picking of green limes during the flowering season. It is
further suggested that, for obtaining a proper means of
comparison, the crop year for limes should be reckoned from
July 1 to June 30 following.

Vout. XI. No. 260.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 119

es

METHODS OF MARKING LABORATORY
CRUCIBLES.

These are described in Circular No, 33, just issued,
of the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States
Department of Agriculture, and are employed for
marking porcelain crucibles, accounts of two methods
being given, one for marking with platinum and the
other for the application of China paints, rubber type
being used in both cases:—

THE PLATINUM PROCESS. The crucibles are cleaned by
heating for half an hour with nitric acid, one part concen-
trated acid to one part of water. A sizing is prepared con-
sisting of a hot 5-per cent. solution of gelatine. The parts of
the crucibles to be marked are dipped into this sizing and
set aside to drain and dry. When the gelatine is dry, the
desired number is stamped on with a solution of platinic
chloride containing 12 to 15 per cent. of platinum--ie,
about 32 to 40 per cent. of the hydiated crystallized chloro-
platinic acid. ‘The pad holding the solution may be made of
six or eight folds of smooth linen or muslin, and need not be
much larger than the type used. This pad is nearly saturated
with a few drops of the platinic-chloride solution. Too much
of the solution causes blurring and too little of it or too
dilute a solution results indim numbers. After the numbers
are dry the crucibles are gently heated until the platinum is
reduced and the gelatine burned off. ‘his is most con-

_ veniently accomplished in a muffle. Finally, the numbers are
heated for one-half minute in the flame of the blast lamp—
ie. for one-half minute from the time it attains the tempera-
ture of the flame.

If the wares are cleaned and fired as directed, the mark-
ings adhere well. The figures become more prominent if
burnished by use of a china painter’s burnishing stone, if
available, or of seashore sand, or less advantageously of
a silica soap. The deposit is resistant to single acids, but
not to alkalis. In some experiments library paste was
substituted, with good results, for the gelatine sizing. Gold
and mixtures of gold and platinum solutions may be applied
similarly, but there is more danger of volatalizing the gold
chloride before reduction takes place, and thereby causing
a spreading of the deposit. The resulting figures also are
less conspicuous than when platinum is used. This method
of getting the deposit of platinum or gold may possibly find
use also in decorating chinaware. If the solution is applied
with a brush, a quill, or a glass stylus, it may be more
dilute. The same method applied to silica wares also gives
very satisfactory results.

APPLICATION OF CHINA CoLoURS. Paints mixed in oil
are not satisfactory for use with rubber stamps because the
type leaves on the porcelain a rim of thickened paint while
the main surface of contact is relatively bare. The method
finally adopted is to stamp the wares to be marked with
a sizing or varnish similar to that which painters use for
applying gold leaf; ‘Fat oil’—that is partly oxidized linseed
oil, supplied by paint dealers—proved very satisfactory for this
purpose. While this sizing is still sticky, the dry pigment
is dusted on with a camel-hair brush. After the varnish
has set the excess of pigment is wiped off and the crucible is
fired at a strong red heat, preferably in a muftle. The fat
oil dries slowly. This is an advantage because then some
time may be allowed between its application and the dusting
on of the pigment for the irregular layer on the porcelain to
draw out by surface tension into a smoother one. Standing
overnight at room temperature, or for one hour in a drying
oven at 100°C, suffices for the varnish to set, The pad used

for ‘inking’ the type may consist of several thicknesses of linen
cloth and is nearly saturated with this varnish. ‘l'oo much
varnish on the pad must be avoided, as it results in figures
with ragged outlines. ‘This varnish may readily be cleaned
from the rubber type before it has set, by the use of a 10-per
cent. alcoholic solution of caustic potash applied with a small
bristle brush.

THE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL
RUBBER EXHIBITION.

The first meeting of the honorary advisory committee
of the International Rubber and Allied Trades’ Exposition,
to be held in New York in September next, was held
recently at the London Chamber of Commerce, Oxford
Court, E.C. Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G. (President of the
European committee) occupied the Chair.

The Chairman said they were meeting there for the
purpose of deciding what course should be taken, espec-

dally by the growers of plantation rubber in the Near East,

with regard to the great exhibition which had been arranged
to take place in New York, under the able management of
Mr. Manders. The question for the committee to consider
was what benefit was to be derived from this exhibition by
the rubber growers of the Near East and possibly by some
of the manufacturers in Great Britain. It seemed to him
that it would be to the interests of rubber growers to present
the plantation rubber in New York as it was presented in
London, because, although they did have American buyers
over here, the fact remained that in New York they had
never yet had placed before the great rubber market, which
took half the rubber of the world, the excellent condition of
the rubber production in our eastern colonies. He need
hardly say that if they appreciated those conditions it could
not but be beneficial to the owners of plantations in Ceylon
and Malaya. Therefore, ir his opinion, it was advisable that
rubber growers should make as good a show as possible in
New York. He thought that perhaps knowledge of what
they were doing in the East might be of advantage in attract-
ing American capital and American orders. They must
remember that there was a stupendous market to be opened
in future in America for our productions, with excellent
remunerative prices, and they must look forward to the day
when they required all the markets of the world.

The Organizing Manager (Mr. Manders) submitted a
report, in which he stated that since the commencement
of the organization on October 1 last year, he had been
meeting with most spontaneous support from rubber
companies and from the manufacturers and allied trades
of America, so that the success of a high class exhibition
was already assured. Mr. Manders added that Professor
Dunstan (Director of the Imperial Institute, London) was
making a magnificent exhibit of known rubbers in British
possessions.

Mr. Norman W. Grieve moved that a Committee con-
nected with the Rubber Growers’ Association and the Malay
States’ known agencies should be appointed, with the object
of securing subscriptions from home companies or individuals
with properties in Malaya, towards the cost of the representa-
tion of Malaya at the International Rubber Exhibition.

The resolution was seconded and carried, and similar
resolutions were also agreed to with regard to Ceylon, Suma-
tra, Java and Borneo, (The Jndia-Rubber Journal, February
10, 1912.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

_ Aprit 13, 1912.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
yews 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 News

Vou. XI.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1912.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Oontents of Present Issue.

The editorial presents a review of some of the
chief work that has been done in connexion with bac-
teria in the soil during the past year. The summary
is made to refer to conditions in the tropics, particu-
larly in the West Indies.

No. 260.

A useful table containing statistics with regard to
the sugar trade of the United Kingdom is reproduced
on page 115.

An article of interest to cotton growers and ex-
porters, entitled Injury to Cotton Fibres in Spinning,
appears on page 118. It helps to explain why some
of the large wastage, experienced in cotton spinning,
takes place.

A short article on page 119 gives information
regarding the forthcoming international rubber exhibi-
tion, to be held in New York during the present year.

The Insect Notes of this issue appear on page
122. They are concerned with a description of a new
method of controlling termites, or white ants as they
are usually called.

An article on page 125 gives interesting and
useful information concerning the employment of
formalin on rubber plantations.

The Fungus Notes, on page 126, comprise the first
of two articles giving an account of the work that has
been done, and the conclusions that have been reached,
concerning the condition known as the Panama disease
of bananas,

Rubber Cultivation in Mexico.

As is pointed out in Ja Quinzaine Coloniale
for July 10, 1911, the rubber produced in Mexico is
mainly of two kinds: Guayule, from Parthenium
argentutum, and the product of Custilloa elastica.

It is stated further that the total export amounts
to 5.532 tons. valued at over £1,600,000. Of this
quantity 407 tons was from Castilloa, 163 tons out of
this having been obtained from cultivated trees. It is
estumated that'the total area of the Castilloa planta-
tions is about 90,000 acres, and in these rubber is being
obtained at present from only a small proportion
of the trees.

Although about 93 per cent. of the total shipments
of rubber was Guayule, the proportion is bound to
become greatly lessened on account of the decreasing
numbers of the wild plants and the fact that those
raised in plantations have not given the yields that were
expected from them.

SE nEEEEtneeeenedtindiiitesssesamtannnnn

Japanese Isinglass, or Agar-agar.

Japanese isinglass, or agar-agar, is made from six
kinds of seaweed, which, according to the Journal of
the Royal Society of Arts for February 23, 1912, is
bought up at the close of summer by wholesale dealers
in Osaka, and stored until it is sold to the manufacturers,
who deal with it only in the autumn and winter, as in
the preparation heat and rain spoil the product.

An account of the process of manufacture, by the
United States Consul at Kobe, shows that this is
simple, and that the utensils employed are primitive.
The first stage 1s the crushing of each kind of seaweed
separately, and then its washing with water in order to
clean it, followed by its being dried and bleached in the
sun, on niats, the bieaching action being assisted by
frost and dew.

When they have been bleached, the six kinds of
seaweed are boiled together in certain proportions, for
about fourteen hours, until they become soluble. After
being strained, the liquid is ladled into shallow trays,
where it remains about twelve hours; after which time
the solid isinglass formed is cut into strips 3 inches
wide and 14 inches long, with a knife and aruler. These
are then pushed through a wire sieve, so that long, fine
strips are produced.

The isinglass in this form is placed on a low stand,
covered with a clean mat, and dried in the sun during
the day and frozen at night, for two or three weeks
during January and February, being watered at mid-
night. The kind of weather that occurs during this
time is the circumstance that decides the quality of the
isinglass, which is best when the weather is clear and
cold. After being bleached sufticiently, the product is
compressed and packed in Japanese matting, tied with
straw rope.

The very best quality is all exported to China, the
so-called No. 1 quality taken by the United States being
equal to the No. 2 quality that goes to China. It may
be mentioned that one of the uses of agar-agar in the
tropics is for making cultures of fungi and bacteria at
temperatures at which ordinary gelatine would melt.

“Vou. XI. No. 260.

29THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 121

A By-product from Funtumia Elastica.

The seeds of Funtumia elastica are borne in
-@ follicle, which is a fruit something ‘like a pod, that
opens on the lower side the seeds being attached to this
side. Each of these seeds is furnished with silky, very
light tufts of fibre.

‘Attention is drawn to this matter in the Journal
@d Agriculture Tropicale for January 1912, p. 27,
where if is stated, after a first examination, that the
fleece formed from these tufts would find a use on the
market, provided that the price is uot too high: that is
to say offers would be accepted on the basis of about
4d. per tb., landed at Havre. It has been found that
the average weight of one fruit, containing 190 to 225
seeds, is nearly 1 oz., and in this there are about 52
per cent. of husks, 36 per cent. of seeds and 12 per cent.
of uncleaned tufts of fibre.

It is stated that it would be possible, at the sixth
year after planting. to obtain about 88 tb. of the fibre
per acre of Funtumia, in open cultivation.

ee

Trade and Agriculture of Pritish Honduras,
1910.

The following details concerning the trade and
agriculture of British Honduras during 1910 are taken
from Colonial Reports—Aunual, No. 706, issued at
the beginning of this year.

The principal trade was with the United Kingdom
and the United States, and to these countries the
following chief products were exported in the amounts
stated: mahogany 10,069,653 feet, cedar 711,237 feet,
logwood 2,006 tons, bananas 441,181 bunches, plantains
3,514,101 fruits, cocoa-nuts 4,871,321 fruits, chicle (for
chewing gum) 2,790,890 tb., sarsaparilla 2,967 tb.,
rubber 16,835 Ib., sponges 4,079 tb.;"and tortoiseshell
2,703 tb. :

This list does not include the comparatively unim-
portant agricultural export, cacao; of this, the amount
‘shipped in 1910 was 32,023 tb, as compared with
39,868 tb in the previous year.

The sugar produced was practically all taken up
for local consumption. For the manufacture of this,
‘forty-six mills were in operation—eleven worked by
steam, two by oil engines, and the rest by cattle.

In connexion with the timber trade, two saw mills
were in operation during the year.

Sea Island Cotton in Cuba.

A review of a report by the United States Deputy
Consul-General for Cuba is given in<the Tertile Mer-
cury for March 9,1912. This shows that experiments
in the cultivation of Sea Island cotton have been
carried out during the past three years by the Artemisa
Tobacco Company, at Artemisa, Pinar del Rio Province.
‘The chief object of the trials was to find out if cotton

can be grown in Cuba, free from attacks of the boll
weevil, 1f certain methods of cultivation are adopted
and the seed is planted during the autumn months.

In the first trial, selected Sea Island cotton seed
from Florida was planted on # very small scale in
September, when a good return was obtained and no
boll weevils appeared. After the harvesting of the
crop all the remains of the old cotton were burned;
and equally good results were obtained on repeating
the experiments in exactly the same way, in the second
and third years.

It is considered to have been demonstrated that
cotton planted in Cuba, in September, will not suffer
from the boll weevil, provided that precautions are
taken to prevent the insect from being brought into the
fields, and that all old plant remains are burned as soon
as the crop has been gathered.

It is said that the lint produced is of good quality
and of exceptional length. This fact, taken together
with the circumstance dealt with above, namely that
Sea Island cotton.may be grown in Cuba free from the
attacks of boll weevil, makes the matter of much impor-
tance to the island, as it appears to contain many
localities suitable for the raising of long stapled cotton.

rrr

Rubber from Dominica.

The Dominica Official Gazette for March 22, 1912,
contains a report by the Imperial Institute on samples
of Para rubber grown in the island and exhibited at
the last International Rubber Exhibition, held in
London.

The samples consisted of biscuits of Para rubber
from the Botanic Gardens. These are described as
consisting of light-brown rubber and having a diameter
up to 5 inches and a thickness of }-inch; they were
clean and well prepared, and the physical properties of
the rubber were satisfactory. The loss on washing,
which is made up of moisture and impurities, was 0°8
per cent.

The percentage composition of the dry, washed
rubber was: caoutchouc 93:9, resin 29, proteid 2°8,
ash 04. The commercial valuation is given as about
4s. 10d. per tb. in London, with fine hard Para at 4s. 44d.
per lb., and fair average quality plantation Para biscuit
at 4s. 103d. to 4s. 114d. per tb.

In remarking on the samples, the following state-
ments are made:—

‘The results of the analysis show that this Para
rubber from Dominica is of very good quality, as it
contains 94 per cent. of caoutchouc in the dry mate-
rial, and only small amounts of resin and proteid.
It is slightly superior in composition to the pre-
vious specimen of Para rubber from Dominica shown
at the rubber exhibition held in London in 1908, and
subsequently examined at the Imperial Institute (see
Imperial Institute Report dated February 10, 1909).

‘The results of these investigations show that the
Para trees in Dominica will furnish rubber of excellent
quality which will realize good prices in the market.’

INSECT NOTES.

A NEW METHOD OF CONTROLLING
TERMITES.

The following interesting article is reprinted from
the Philippine Agricultural Review for December
1911, for which it was prepared from notes furnished
by D. B. Mackie, Agricultural Inspector:—

The various species of white ants, or termites, constitute
one of the most serious insect pests on cultivated estates in
the tropics. In some countries only dead wood is attacked,
while in others, even living plant tissues are devoured, espe-
cially in case of the temporary scarcity of decaying timber;
for instance, immediately after the clearing of a forest area.
The damage to live planis is usually comparatively insignifi-
cant, as compared to the destruction of timber, wooden imple-
ments, ete., about estate buildings. Even in places as far
north as Washington, D.C., U.S.A., certain species enter
houses, and destroy books, furniture, etc.

Attempts along the line of rendering timber used in the
construction of buildings, etc., obnoxious or impermeable to
termite attacks have been carried on for the last decade or
more, but it is only within the last few years that a really
scientific method of directly combating the pest itself has been
worked out. Of course, timbers can be soaked in tar, creasote,
or any number of chemical preparations, thus protecting the
material from the pest. Moreover, it isa fairly simple, though
not always effective plan, to destroy the queens of the species
which construct nests.of earth for the rearing of their young;
however, since it is almost impossible to destroy an entire
colony, even by the use of kerosene, arsenic, or carbon bisul-
phide, this method has been rather unsatisfactory.

It has long been known that termites are particularly
sensitive to arsenic and at the same tinie are very easily killed
or driven away either by arsenical baits, or by white arsenic
itself deposited in the galleries of the nest. In order to
make the destruction of the colony complete, then, it is only
neccessary to carry arsenic, in some form, throughout the nest
and all the galleries leading to it. It is now known that
the vapour of white arsenic and sulphur burned together in
a suitable receptacle and introduced into the nest, or even
one of the main galleries leading thereto, will permeate the
entire structure of the colony leaving a poisonous deposit
throughout the course of the fumes, and at the same time
immediately killing nearly all the insects by suffocation.
All that is required is a metal box of some sort, which can be
readily heated from beneath, connected with a flexible tube
which can be inserted into the nest, or main gallery. The lid
of the box should, of course, fit tightly, and there must be
some sort of a pumping apparatus to force the fumes out of
the poison chest through the flexible tube and to the extrem-
ity of the smallest gallery, even if it be 20 metres from the
central nest. Machines are now on the market at a reason-
ble price for performing this operation. The principle is the
same in all, that is, a charcoal-burning stove carrying a fume
chamber on the top forms one piece, and a hand pump which
forces air into the fume chamber—thus driving the fumes into

-the nest—forms the.second piece. Rubber tubing connects
_ the pump with the main apparatus, and at the end of the hose
leading from the fumechest is a metal point for thrusting
into the hard structures of the nest.

About three parts of sulphur to one part of arsenic is
the best combination of the fume substances; the heat of the

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS."

I,

-Aprin 13, 1912.

charcoal is sufficient to vaporize both the sulphur and arsenic,
and these vapours combine more or less, forming arsenic tri-
sulphide, which is deposited throughout the galleries of the
nest, and a!so upon the individual insects. A nest so treated
is probably never again habitable by any colony that might
attempt to annex the abandoned structure.

The operation of this fume apparatus is exceedingly
simple, there being but few chances for a mistake to be made~
in its manipulation. It should be remembered, however, that
moist clay, or something similar, should be placed around
the nozzle of the fume hose at the point of its entrance into
the nest, gallery or infested timber; this air-tight packing will
prevent the escape of the fumes. In the case of ground in-
fested by termites whose nests are not plainly in evidence,
a rod may be used to make an opening into the earth wherein
the galleries are suspected to be situated. Except in very
heavy soil, these artificial galleries generally break into one
or more of the termite tunnels, and thus the fume hose in-
serted into the hole made by the bar or stick will convey the
fumes to the nest and galleries within a reasonable distance
therefrom.

Five minutes of pumping is generally sufficient to im-
pregnate the nest and galleries with the fumes. In the case
of beams or large timbers in buildings suspected of being
infested with termites, a small auger may be used to explore
the interior of the wood; when a gallery is located, all that
is necessary is to attach the apparatus, pack the point of
entrance of the hose nozzle with mud, and pump in the
poison.

A heaping teaspoonful of the poison mixture is usually
suflicient for treating an ordinary nest. it should be remem-
bered that the insects are not all immediately killed, no
matter how thorough the fumigation; but if the operation is
well performed, no insect should be in evidence after a period
of forty-eight hours. This is explained by the fact that death
is caused not entirely by asphyxiation, but probably by the
irritant action of the arsenic as well.

The foregoing notes appear to be based on experi-
ment and trial, and are therefore deserving of considera-
tion on the part of those who have to deal with these
pests. ‘lhe question arises, however, as to the etfect
which arsenic tri-sulphide would exert as an insecticide,
since this is an inert and insoluble compound. It
would seem that if the sulphur and arsenic were treated
in separate compartments, the gases might be mixed in
the application with good results, and it may be that
the useful effect is due rather to the action of arsenious
oxide and sulphur dioxide than to that of arsenic tri-
sulphide.

The application of arsenic in the form of poison
bait, or merely placed within the nest or the galleries,
is a simple operation which has given good results in
some instances. Other methods of control, including
the use of cyanide of potassium and the treatment of
timbers for building purposes, were mentioned in the
Agricultural News, Vol. VII. p, 378. Poison baits for
termites may be made by mixing arsenic with sawdust,
sugar, molasses, sheep manure or horse manure. Any
of these mixtures, placed on the ground where the
termites are known to occur, will be eaten and will
cause the death of many of the insects. Used in this
manner, the poison is slowly diffused through the colony,.
ensuring its destruction in the course of a short time.

‘Wor. XI. No. 260.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 123

| AE

TRADE AND AGRICULTURE OF
GRENADA, 1910.
The following information concerning the trade
and agriculture of Grenada, 1910, is taken from Colo-
nial Reports—Annual, No. 701, issued recently:—

The value of the three principal products of the Colony
exported in 1909 and 1910 is given hereunder:—

1909, 1910,
£. oi.
Cacao 248,398 259,365
Nutmegs and mace 18,135 17,872
Cotton and cotton seed 8,971 8,019

The record cacao crop of the Coluny, 73,863 bags, was
reaped in the year ended September 30, 1910, being 6,534
bags more than in 1909, which was the largest reaped, at that
date. Prices, however, remained pretty much the same as in
the previous year, viz: about 51s. to 54s. 6d. per cwt., so that
the fullest advantage was not realized from this fine output.
The heavy exports of cacao from Guayaquil and Africa affect
the market prices considerably nowadays.

The nutmeg crop again fell off this year, only 6,229
barrels and 306 half-barrels being exported in the year ended
September 30, as compared with 6,740 barrels and 346 half-
barrels in the preceding year; prices also continued unsatis-
factory.

he cotton crop of Carriacou was less than in 1909,
2,370 cwt. being exported in the calendar year 1910, as
compared with 2,888 ewt. in the preceding year. All of
this went to the United Kingdom, but the direction of the
cotton seed exported underwent a changein the year under
review, £1,440 of the total of £2,221, in value, going to
Barbados, where it was purchased by the Cotton Company
of that island; the balance went to the United Kingdom.

The dependency of Carriacou continues to flourish under
the stimulus applied to it since 1903 by the Land Settlement
Scheme, and the conccmitant improved administration.
Those who visit the place after an interval of years are
surprised to notice the immense change for the better which
has taken place. In his latest Annual K@port the Commis-
sioner of the district writes as follows: —

‘In past reports comment has been frequently made on
the remarkable transformation which has taken place within
a few years in the general tone and prosperity of this interest-
ing dependency. This happy result is so entirely the outcome
of the Land Scheme that it may not be out of place my again
drawing attention to the fact.’

Of the amount originally advanced from Colonial Funds
to finance the scheme, viz. £8,450, all but £1,768 had been
repaid at March 31, 1911.

A commencement was made in the island of Grenada
with a similar scheme in 1910. An estate called Morne Rouge,
in the south of the island, near to the principal town, which
had been escheated to the Crown some time ago, was surveyed
into lots, and preliminary details settled, but the actual allot-
ment to purchasers was not made until 1911. Beyond men-
tioning that at the date of this report the lots have all been
‘taken up, and that the scheme is making satisfactory progress,
other details must be left to the report for the current year.

The attention of progressive agriculturists in the Colony
is being more and more directed to the exploitation of other
staple products than those now existing. In Carriacou, as
-was pointed out in the Annual Report for 1908 (see Report
for that year—No. 628) an important lime industry is being
-established, and in the current year the first shipment of juice

has been made. In Grenada, rubber cultivation is extending.
At first Castilloa elastica was introduced, but of late years
Hevea has taken its place; and in the current year a large
importation of seeds from Ceylon has been undertaken by the
Board of Agriculture. Z

This Board, which was inaugurated in 1909 (see Report
for that year—No. 658), did excellent work in 1910, both of
an active nature and as preparatory to further expansion in
the future. The local Department of Agriculture, under its
control, and in close association with the Imperial Depart-
ment of Agriculture, gives promise of fulfilling the object for
which it was designed. Its affiliation with the Imperial De-
partment is proving to be of the greatest assistance in its
practical work, and the ready and courteous co-operation of
the present head of that Department is an asset of much
value to its existence and usefulness.

Forty-one thousand four hundred and eighteen gallons
of rum were manufactured in 1910, being 745 gallons more
than in 1909.

THE JAMAICA CANDLE-WOOD TREE.

Interesting information concerning this plant is
given in the Journal of the New York Botanical
Garden for February 1912:—

Among some of the rare and little-known species
brought from the West Indies by the various expeditions of
the Garden, and installed in the living plant collections are
a number of specimens of the Jamaica candle-wood (Pelto-
stigma pteleoides), one of which flowered at the Conservatory
Range 2, on January 6, 1912. ‘This plant, a member of the
Rue family, was discovered on the Santa Cruz Mountains,
Jamaica, by William Purdie in 1844, who was making
a botanical collection for the Royal Gardens at Kew, and
plants grown from seed collected by him flowered there in
February 1849. In his Jeones Plantarum, Sir William
Hooker described and figured this new plant under the name
of Pachystigma pteleoides. As the name Pachystigma had
been used for a South African genus in the Madder family,
Hooker's plant was renamed two years later by Walpers as
Peltostiyma pteleoides. Subsequent collectors in Jamaica
failed to find this species until its rediscovery, after a long
search, by Dr. N. L. Britton and Mr. William Harris in
September 1907, on a wooded hill at Potsdam, on the Santa
Cruz Mountains, probably the original locality, at about
2,600 feet elevation. ‘The trees were in young fruit at the
time of their visit, and numerous seedlings were obtained
from which the specimens at the garden were grown.

The Jamaica candle-wood, or ptelea-leaved Peltostigm«
is a slender tree, sometimes attaining a height of 8 metres.
The leaves are alternate, the dark-green leaflets usually three,
and closely resemble those of the hop-tree, Ptelea trifoliata,
a native of the United States, sometimes grown in our parks.
The flowers are an inch or more in diameter and sweet~
scented, with the petals of a creamy white and nearly equal,
and the sepals deciduous and unequal, the interior ones large
and somewhat petal-like, the outer smaller. The stamens are
numerous and inserted on a thick, fleshy disc, and the ovary
is covered with short hairs giving it a velvety appearance.
This species appears from the history of the living material
at Kew and here to flower when at the age of five years.

Herbarium specimens from Southern Mexico and
Guatemala from altitudes up to 5,500 feet appear identical
with the Jamaica plant.

124

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

“Aprit 13, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

Reports received recently from England, on cotton from
Montserrat, indicate that the Jint is being more carefully
prepared than in the past, for there is little mention of the
presence of leaf. There is, however, frequent allusion to
irregularity of staple.

Information has been received from the Governor of the
Gold Coast to the effect that the cacao crop of the Colony for
last year amounted to 89,482,226 tb., valued at £1,613,458,
as compared with 50,609,950 tb. in 1910, 45,277,606 tb. in
1909, and 28,545,910 Ib. in 1908. (Vhe Board of Trade
Journal, February 22, 1912.)

Food Inspection Decision No. 139 of the United States
Department of Agriculture, issued February 23, 1912, holds
that any oil other than olive oil is misbranded when it is sold
under-the name Sweet*Oil. This makes it incorrect in the
United States to label cotton seed oil, or mixtures of this
oil and olive oil, with the words Sweet Oil.

Latest reports indicate that the sugar crop of the Philip-
pines this year will break all previous records, exceeding that
of last year by 35,000 tons. The total crop of this year is
estimated by experts at 240,000 tons. Of this quantity about
8,000 tens will enter into home consumption, leaving 232,000
tons for export. (American Sugar Industry, March 1912.)

According to the Modern Sugar Planter for March 2,
1912, sugar-cane planting is backward in parts of Louisiana,
and seed cane of the home variety has proved to be bad in
several instances. The Demerara seedlings 74 and 95, are stated,
however, to be giving very good planting material, there
being very little difference between them in this respect.

The Uganda Official Gazette for January 31, 1912, shows
that the cotton exported during the period April 1 to
September 30, 1911 was as follows: ginned cotton, 1,421
tons value £104,318; unginned cotton, 1,123 tons value
£26,935. The similar quantities and values for the same
period in 1910 were 706 tons value £51,322, and 1,110 tons
tons value £19,600. The perceutage of lint on seed-cotton
may be calenlated at 33°3.

The State of Ohio, United States of America, has passed
a law, which comes into force in May, requiring all orchards
in which there are ten or more trees to be sprayed at least
once between November 1 and April 30. The preparation
used must be such as will destroy the San José, oyster. shell,
and scurfy scales. <A fine of $25 to $100 is to be imposed
for each year that spraying is not performed. (The Garden-
ers’ Chronicle, March 2, 1912.)

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, February
26, the Minister of Agriculture said it is proposed to place at
the disposal of Rothamsted a sum of about £2,000 annually,.
to help the extension of new work on special lines of research.
Arrangements are being made to send several scientific ex-
perts to India to prosecute enquiries relating to foot-and-mouth,
disease, in connexion with the Commission recently appointed
upon the subject. It is anticipated that the cost of this Com;
mission will run into some thousands of pounds. (Nature,
February 29, 1912.)

In the Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelli-
gence and of Plant Diseases for June 1911, page 1262,
a note is given reviewing recent work in regard to the possi-
ble action of gypsum with respect to nitrifying bacteria.
The investigation has shown that there is no such action,-
neither was there any effect when lime and magnesia were
used. Experiments with artificial soil and with natural soi}:
of the clay type have supported the hypothesis that the
beneficial action of gypsum in clay soils is due to a chemical.
and physical modification of the soils.

A publication issued by the Institut Colonial Marseil=
lais, called Le Commerce des Colonies Francaises en 1910,
states in regard to Martinique that this colony is recovering;
from the catastrophe of 1902, and that the trade figures.
which in 1904 showed imports of £593,267 and exports ofy
£500,556, giving a total of £1,093,823, had reached, in
1910 : imports £774,363, exports £1,076,161; total
£1,850,524. The continued increase of exports since 19077
is regarded as an indication that the ancient prosperity of
this colony has been regained, for it is necessary to go back:
as far as the year 1884 in order to find similar figures.

Information received from Mr. W. H. Mitchell, M.A.,
Head Master of the St. Kitts Grammar School shows that in
the Cambridge Local Examination held in December last, as
far as the science subjects are concerned, eleven boys were
entered from the school as candidates, ten of whom were-
successful, eight of the latter being holders of agricultural
scholarships. In the individual science subjects taken, the
results were as follows: agricultural science—l entered,
1 passed (with the mark good); chemistry—8 entered, 8 pass-
ed (2 with the mark good); botany—9 entered, 7 passed:
(1 with the mark good). The less favourable results in.
botany are partly due to the fact that this is a new subject in.
the school.

Articles having reference to the extraction of wax from
the sugarcane haye appeared in the Agricultural News,
Vols. VIII, p. 360, and X, p. 51. The International Sugar
Journal for February 1912 has a note dealing with the same
subject, which states that a large sample of the wax was for-
warded from Hawaii to Europe, as much as two years ago, for
an opinion on it, when it was condemned, and nothing further
was done in Hawaii. It is stated, on the other hand, that
several firms in Java ventured to recover large quantities of
the wax before they took steps to ascertain the possibilities
of the market, and, as a result, sustained a heayy loss, The
opinion is given, however, that more will be heard of the
extraction of wax from sugar-cane, as fresh patents for the
process have been taken out from time to time.

Vou. XL No. 260, THE

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

APRIL.
SeconD PERIOD.

Seasonal Notes.

Explain what is meant by a bud, and state how you
would show of what the different parts of a bud consist.
What are the uses of leaf buds to plants! State any changes
that you have observed in leaf buds, between the time that
they become visible and the period at which they expand and
eventually form shoots. Where are leaf buds usually found?
What is meant by a terminal bud, and what is likely to
follow the destruction of such a bud? In regard to dormant
buds, how may the presence of these be demonstrated, and
how is it sometimes shown that they have existed in a stem?
Distinguish between dormant buds and adventitious buds,
stating for what reasons the latter may be formed. Adventi-
tious buds sometimes develop on roots; give an example
where this occurs, and state what advantage may be taken of
the circumstance. In what part of the stem, do buds origi-
nate, and how may this be shown in a general way?

How are flower buds distinguished from leaf buds!
State, in the case of several plants which you have examined,
where the flower buds are generally borne; tat is in relation
to. the age of the wood on which they are found. Give
several examples of the use that is made in agriculture of the
fact that certain parts of plants possess buds. Whatis bud
variation, and how may if be demonstrated to exist, in the
case of any plant with which you are acquainted?

Under what conditions are flower buds most usually
formed? It is sometimes desired to increase the amount of
formation of such buds, or to hasten it. In what ways may
this be done? It often happens that a” plant produces
a large number of buds and flowers while it is still young;
what may be the reason for this?

What signs are shown by plants when the amount of
nitrogenous food that they are receiving is in excess? It
should be remembered, in regard to the nutrition of plants,
that one essential element of food cannot be used instead of
another element; if the supply is insufficient in any respect,
the plant is dwarfed in all its parts. It may, however, be
reduced in size, while there may not be a corresponding
lessening in amount of the seed products. This is why
plants that are grown for seed or fruit are less likely to show
a decrease in yield than those raised for their vegetative parts
such as leaves, stems or roots; for instance, it may have been
observed often that cotton plants of small size will give
a fair yield of seed and lint. It must be remembered, how-
ever, that a limit exists in regard to the matter, and that the
food-supply may be easily restricted to such an extent as to
interfere seriously with the development of all parts of the
plant.

All the above matters should be considered by the
student in particular regard to crops of which he has practi-
cal knowledge, and with reference to instances that have
come, or may come, under his notice.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY (QUESTIONS,

(1) State broadly how roots take up*plant food from
the soil. In what condition must this plant food be, in order
that the roots of a plant may make use of it im this way?

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 125

(2) State the chief ways in which-farmyard manure
differs from artificial manure.

(3) Give a description-of-any stems that you have
examined,

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Describe the way in which pfant food travels from
one part of a soil to another.

(2) Supply an account of the manner in which any
artificial manure, that you have seen, is obtained.

(3) State the chief differences between the stems of
monocotyledons and of dicotyledons, and say what import
these differences possess as regards the agriculturist.

FINAL QUESTIONS._

(1) State what is meant by Osmosis, and how you
would demonstrate its existence ina simple way.

(2) Write an account of any substance that has been
suggested recently to be used as a manurial source of potash.

(3) Mention as many agricultural products as you can,
that are obtained from stems.

THE USE OF FORMALIN
PLANTATIONS.

An article in the Journal @ Agriculture Tropicale, for
January 1912, p. 15, by V. Cayla, refers to a warning that
has been given already by that journal against the belief by
planters that formalin is an anti-coagulant. Formalin actual-
ly prevents coagulation only in an indirect manner; it acts
as an antiseptic. Through its interference with bacterial
activity which would cause acidification of the latex, it
indirectly prevents the coagulation of Hevea latex, which is
produced in an acid medium. The’ explanationis necessary,
because it may be alleged that the formalin itself prevents
the coagulation of the latex. It is actually a coagulant. At
a strength of i-per cent. in water it is inactive asa coagu-
lant, and in this proportion it is, if not antiseptic, at least
capable of inhibiting bacterial life.

There is, however, a more complex question concerning
formalin which, it is believed, has not so far been considered.
The formalin (or formol) of commerce is theoretically a solu-
tion of formaldehyde at a strength of 40 per cent. When it
leaves the manufacturer, it probably answers to this descrip-
tion; but the numerous changes that formaldehyde may
undergo when it is kept for some time in solution are
unknown, and the result is that when the formalin of
commerce is being used, one hardly knows the real nature of
the substance. It is possible that certain commercial kinds
of formalin, at the time that they are being used, do not
contain any trace of formaldehyde, but only modifications
of that compound.

In the opinion of the writer of the article, these cireum-
stances provide the reason for the great discrepancy that
exists between the results of different investigators, in
experiments in the coagulation of rubber latex by formalin,
notably in the work of Chevalier, Christy and Fickendey.
Although these experimenters worked under almost the
same conditions, the reactions noted by them were different.

To summarize the matter, it is the belief of the writer
that three points have to be remembered, concerning formalin,
in the special connexion: it is a coagulant; it is an antiseptic;
and it is a body of which, at the time of its use, one never
knows the actual composition, and consequently there is the
accompanying ignorance as to its coagulating value.

ON RUBBER

126

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Aprit 13, 1912.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE PANAMA DISEASE OF BANANAS.
Part I.

Certain diseases of the banana, characterized by the pro-
gressive destruction of the water-conducting tissue in the
roots, bulb and leaf sheaths, have been known to exist in the
Western Tropics for some years, while a similar disease has
recently been reported from Bengal. These diseases are not
only spread over a comparatively large banana-growing area in
Central and South America and certain of the West Indian
Islands, but in some cases they have been responsible for very
serious damage, and have occasioned large financial losses.
In order to arrive at a clear understanding of the present
position of our knowledge of the subject, the history of these
maladies, as it appears in publications that have been issued
from time to time, may shortly be summarized. Such a course
is advisable, because the position is at present somewhat
complicated, and it is not yet clear how many of the different
forms of disease reported are attributable to the same organ-
ism, and are therefore truly identical with one another. It
should be clearly understood that this discussion relates only
to those diseases in which the vascular bundles, more espe-
cially in the rhizome, are destroyed and discoloured, usually
becoming dark-brown or reddish-brown.

In 1903, Earle published in the Jowrnal of the New
York Botanic Garden, Vol. IV, p. 8, an account of a banana
leaf-blight in Jamaica, at Stony Hill. He stated that the
vascular bundles of the veins and midrib of the leaves became
brown; this was followed by the blackening of the entire leaf
blade, and the subsequent decay of the leaf and petiole
(leaf stalk). The disease did not appear able to extend from
the petiole into the tissues of the stem. The terminal bud
was not attacked, but continued to push out new leaves,
which were infected in turn, so that only three or four of the
younger leaves were healthy. Infected plants were much
stunted in growth, and did not bear fruit. Earle attributed
this disease to bacteria. It is worthy of note that the damage
appeared to be confinéd to the leaves, and to be incapable of
spreading to the stem, while there is no mention of any signs
of disease in the rhizome or in the roots.

In April 1910, Rorer published a preliminary account of
a bacterial disease attacking the Moko Fig and French
varieties of plantain. Infected plants showed a drooping of
the leaf blades accompanied by a slightly yellowish tinge of
colour. This was followed by the breaking down of the
leaves owing to the collapse of the petiole at the base of the
leaf blade. The vascular bundles in the rhizome and leaf
sheaths were destroyed, and their colour changed to shades
varying from yellow to dark-brown or bluish-black The
preliminary note appeared in the Proceedings of the Agricul-
twal Society of Trinidad and Tobago, Vol, X, pp. 109-13.

In May 1910, McKenny published in Sczence, Vol. XX XI,
p. 750, a short account of the banana disease prevalent in
Costa Rica and Panama, and occurring by report on the
Atlantic side of Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. The
symptoms of the disease as described by this writer are as
follows:—

‘Commonly the first external sign is a rapid yellowing
and subsequent browning and wilting of one or more leaves.
Sometimes there is a striking curvature and yellowing of the
terminal part of the leaf blade while the remainder is still
green. Eventually all the leaves die and fall back against
the trunk, leaving a crop of suckers which in turn are killed
and give place to still weaker shoots. . The fruit of diseased

shoots rarely matures and even when mature is worthless
with blotched, somewhat shrivelled surface and dry, pithy
interior. Shoots which develop after one or two suckers
have died rarely reach the flowering stage, when they do,
however, weak, distorted, worthless bunches are produced.
‘On cutting the pseudo-stem across and longitudinally
many of the bundles are found to be of a yellow, reddish or
reddish-purple colour, the colour deepening towards the root-
stock. In the last stages the colour of the bundles may be
almost black. While in recently affected plants the vessels
of the upper part of the stalk and the leaves may be normal,
those of the root stock are always coloured.........

A nauseating odour is often given off when
leaf stalks which have been diseased for some time are cut
open, though there may be no sign of rottting in the trunk.’
McKenny makes no definite statement as to the cause of
the disease beyond remarking that it is due to a vegetable
parasite, and recording the presence of both bacteria and
fungus hyphae embedded in the gummy substance blocking
cells and vessels of the xylem.

In the same number of Science, Erwin Smith gives
an account of a disease of bananas found in Cuba. He
received material for study from that island and from it he
isolated a species of Fusarium, provisionally named Fusariwm
cubense, which when inoculated into the midrib, leaf stalk
and psuedo-trunk gave a typical discoloration of the vascular
bundles; while from these the fungus was again isolated.
The disease was not given a chance to spread into the
root stock as the experiments had to be discontinued.
It remained to»be shown if inoculations into the root
stock would give rise to the symptoms of the disease in
uninoculated leaves. This point is certainly of importance
because, as will appear later, the disease in Surinam is
due to a fungus having a Fusarium stage; and in this case
the disease starts in the root and root stock, so that, if
the Cuba disease is identical with it, inoculations into the
rootstock are more likely to produce the disease in its typical
form than are those into the aérial portions of the plant.
In his account of the Cuba disease Smith writes as follows:—

‘The signs of the disease so far as I have been able to
obtain them from Cubans, and as the result of my own
examination, correspond quite closely with those described
by Dr. McKenny, and also to the banana disease described
by Mr. Earle from Jamaica in 1903. A similar, if not
identical, disease prevails in Trinidad, according to state-
ments made to me by Mr. James Birch Rorer, from whom
I have also received alcoholic material. A similar disease
occurs in Dutch Guiana, according to statements received
by me from Dr. van Hall, Director of the Experiment
Station in Suriname. I am inclined to think that the
Central American disease is also the same as this disease,
although we are not yet certain, Dr. McKenny and myself
having joined forces to settle, if possible, the problems
relating to banana diseases in these regions. Possibly there
are two banana diseases now confused—one due to bacteria,
the other to fungi.

‘A microscopic examination of the Cuban material
showed bacteria to be present in some of the vessels, but
not in quantity sufficient to lead me to suppose them to be
the cause of the disease. In passing, I might say that
Earle sent me cultures of the bacteria isolated by him from
the diseased Jamaican bananas, and that in December of
1904 I inoculated these copiously into the leaf-blades and
petioles of bananas at Washington, but without production
of any disease.’ ~

In 1910, Levy published, in the Jowrnal of the Jamaica
Agricultural Society, Vol. XIV, p. 241, an account of the

Vou. XI. No, 260,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 127

disease as he found it in Costa Rica; he writes as follows:—
‘The younger plants, say up to four months old, when first
attacked present no unusual appearance for a few days, after
that, it will be noticed that the stem is splitting starting from
the bulb upward, for a distance of 1 to 2 feet, exposing the
lower layer of the sucker, in some instances the split extends
all the way into the heart, the heart leaves will then grow
through the split and form for a time a new sucker, but this
in time will also succumb, and at last the whole plant will
rot to the ground. With the older plants the first sign of in-
fection is manifested in a different way, « fringe of yellow will
appear on the lower leaves of the plant, and this border of
yellow is so distinct that it can be noticed from quite a dis-
tance in contrast to the green of the other part of the leaf, it is
only aftera few days of this state that the entire lot of leaves
turn yellow, at this stage it is often confounded with suckers
suffering from drought or lack of drainage, but in a few days
the disease puts on another symptom which is peculiar to it.
All the leaves suddenly turn a brown colour and hang quite
limply down the side of the sucker. The heart, leaf and
bunch if young turning black.

‘The leaves do not have that crisp feel asdo those that
are found on dry weather banana or from the natural shed-
ding of the leaves, but a soft damp feel, which continues un-
til all the moisture dries out, it is only a matter of time when
the whole tree rots to the ground giving off a very offensive
smell.

‘At all stages of growth, if the head or “yam” of an
infected sucker be split open, the heart will be found quite
rotten and composed of a putrid yellow mass, further out the
fibres will be found to be firmer, but still in a decomposing
state and having a yellowish tinge until the outer part is
reached, and here will be found say about 1 inch from the
surface, a bright red streak flanked to the outside and inside
by a brighter yellow than occurs on the other part of the cut
surface, the red streak follows all the passages to the roots
and continues all along these to their extremities. All the
roots will present a sickly appearance, some quite dead, others
partly so, but none quite healthy.

‘The smell given off by a diseased banana sucker is offen-
sive and peculiar, and if once experienced cannot be mistaken.
It would be quite correct to use the Scotch term “feel the
smell” in connexion with it.’

This, then, is a summary of the literature on this subject
up to the end of the year 1910, An account of the subsequent
work that has appeared to date, with a few conclusions
that seem to be indicated by the data so far available, will
appear in the next number of the Agricu/twral News.

AGRICULTURE IN JAMAICA, 1910-11.

The following general accouno of agricultural con-
ditions in Jamaica during 1910-11 is taken from the
report on the Blue Book for the financial year ended
March 31, 1911, issued as Colonial Reports—Annual,
No. 703:—

The farm school at Hope estate, which was opened in
January 1910, completed its first year with a full comple-
ment of students. The demand for admission has been so
great, that arrangements for extending the accommodation
by one-half have been made.

The stock farm, associate with the school, was operated
on a business basis during the year, by means of a working
account at the Treasury. The stock was valued on Decem-

ber 31 by two practical stock breeders, and favourably re-
ported on. The balance sheet for the year shows a balance
of assets £760, on a capital investment of £95V. The Public
Hospital and other Government Institutions in Kingston are
now supplied with milk from the farm at Hope.

The appointment of a Veterinary Surgeon has enabled
a start to be made in the development of a branch devoted
to the interests of the animal industry, while an officer is now
available for service under the Diseases of Animals Law,
when outbreaks of diseases are notified in the Colony.

The results from the use, on the large scale, of the tick
wash, introduced. by the Department, have been very satis-
factory, and it has now been demonstrated that the tick pest
can be controlled in Jamaica, by the systematic spraying of
cattle with this preparation. The Paranaph compound is
made at the Laboratory and sold to the public at cost price.

The Sugar Experiment Station was operated during the
year on the residue of the Imperial grant, a small surplus
still remaining to the credit of the fund at the close of the
year. The Imperial grant has thus enabled the station to be
equipped with laboratories and an experimental distillery,
and to provide for experimental plants on estates, while the
operating expenses of the station have been provided for
a period of seven years. This work is now being carried on
as a part of the operations of the Agricultural Department.

The first field results with seedling canes raised at the
station indicated that some valuable new canes have been
secured. The most promising of these were raised by natural
cross-fertilization of the White Transparent with some Bar-
bados seedling canes in 1903.

The work of agricultural instruction was extended during
the year by a considerable increase in the grant to the Jamaica
Agricultural Society, whereby four new instructors were pro-
vided. The results of this work are encouraging, and efforts
are now being made to operate cacao and rubber nurseries
in certain favourable centres, under the care of the local
authorities.

The Prize-holdings Scheme is taking a firm hold on the
small settlers, and marked improvements in small holdings
can be traced to the operation of this competition in several
parishes,

Special legislation, dealing with the importation of bees
and the infectious diseases of plants, have been effected, to
protect the honey industry from the risks of introduced
diseases, and to give powers for dealing with such dangerous
infectious diseases of staple crops as the bud rot disease of
coco-nuts, and the Panama disease of bananas, should the
latter ever obtain a footing in the island.

Considerable interest has been taken in the prospects of
the rubber industry during the year. The Castilloa rubber,
of which three distinct species have been established in the
island, has given the most promising results, and there are
indications that on favourable soils in seasonable districts
the Castilloa rubber tree is capable of giving good returns
of rubber in Jamaica.

The erection of a large central sugar factory at Rose
Hall, in St. James, has been started, and it is expected that
the work will shortly be completed. It will deal with the
produce of nine sugar estates.

In three sugar estates in Westmoreland arrangements
have been made to erect plants for boiling molasses sugar.

The logwood factory at Lacovia in St. Elizabeth has
been acquired by the Trust controlling the West India
Chemical Works at Spanish Town, and thus put an end to
competition in the purchase of logwood.

A new plant of modern design for the manufacture of
sugar has been erected at Holland estate in St. Elizabeth.

112 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. ‘Aprin 13, 1919.

MARKET REPORTS. Barbados,—Messrs. Jamus A. Lyncu & Co., Ltd., April 6,

1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., April 6,

London.—Tue Wesr Inpia Commitrer CrrcuLar,

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., April 1

March 26, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass & Co.,
March 15, 1912.

ARRowRooT—3}}d. to 43d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/85 per tb.

BrErswax—8£7 7s. 6d. to £7 10s.

Cacao—Trinidad, 55/- to 75/- per cwt.; Grenada, 49/-
to 54/-; Jamaica, 48/6 to 54/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 69/- to 86/- per cwt.

Copra—West Indian, £26 5s. per ton.

Cotron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota.
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 18d. to 19d.

Frvuit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—48/- to 65/- per cwt.

Istnciass—No quotations.

Honrey—No quotation.

Lire Juice—Raw, 1/4 to 1/9; concentrated, £18 10s. to
£19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/3.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nourmrcs—Steady.

Pinento—Common, 23d.; fair, 213d.; good, 22d.; per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 5/1; fine soft, 4/10; Castilloa,
4/11 per tb,

Roum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Svcar—Crystals, 20/- to 23/-; Muscovado, 16/6 to 19/-;
Syrup, 12/6 to 18/- per cwt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York.—Messrs. Gittesprz Bros,

22, 1912.

& Co., March

Cacao—Caracas, 11 fc. to 12}c.; Grenada, 11}c. to 112c.;
Trinidad, 11jc. to 12ic. per tb.; Jamaica, 10}c. to 11c.

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $2400 to $25°00; culls,
$15:00 to $16-00; Trinidad, select,¥$25-00 to $26-00;
culls, $16°00 to $17:00 per M.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 144c. to 16jc. per tb.

GincEeR—9c. to 10}c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 52c.; Antigua and Barbados, 48c.
to 50c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 45c. to 47c.
per tb.

Grapre-Fruit—Jamaica, $4°00 to $4°50.

Li1es—$6°00 to $650.

Mace—d8c. per tb.

Nourmecs—110’s, 12$c.

Orances—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—3d. per fb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4:49c. per th. ; Muscoyados, 89°,
3°98c.; Molasses, 89°, 3-74c. per tb., all duty paid.

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $12°30 per fanega; Trinidad, $11:60
to $11°90.

Cocoa-nut O1r—$1-06 per Imperial gallon.

CorrEE—Venezuelan, 15$c. per tb.

Copra—$4°65 per 100 tb.

Dxat—$4:00.

Ontons—$4°25 to $525 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$7‘00 to $7:25 per bag.

Potators—English, $2°10 to $2°25 per 100 th.

Rice—Yellow, $4°8u to $5°00; White, $6°50 to $6-75
per bag.

Suear—American crushed, no quotations

1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., March 29, 1912.

ARROWROOT— $6'50 to $7:00 per 100 fb.
Cacao—$10°50 to $11°50 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NutTs—$16°00.

Hay—$1-90 per 100 tb.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65-00; Cacao manure, $4500
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.
Mo tasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$4°00_to $6°00 per 100 th

Peas, SpLit—$7‘00 to $7°25 per bag of 210 th;

$3°00 to $4°80 per bag of 120 tb.
Porators—Noyva Scotia, $2-00 to $350 per 160 tb.
Rice—Ballam, $4°85 to $5°40 per 190 ib.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Canada,

Sucar—American granulated, $5°50 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & RicuTeR, March

30, 1912: Messrs. SanpDBACH, Parker & Co.,
March 29, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARRowROOoT—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NuTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DaaL—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Potators—Nova Szotia

Lisbon
Portators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimBeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

ys Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RicHrer.

No quotation
70c. per tb.
19c. to 20c. per th.
96c.
$7 00

$12 to $16 per M

18c. per th.
18c. to 18c. per th.
13c. per fb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 tb.
$4°50
96c.
None

$700 per bag
(210 tb.)

20c. to 48c.
$3°50 to $3°75

$1°68 to $1 “80
per bag
No quotation
$5°25 to $5°50
$1°80
$2°40
$2°64
$3°30 to $3-40
$4°25 to $4°50

$2°90 to $3-00
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6:00
per M.
$180 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
& Co.

Prohibited
18c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
16c. per tb.
19c. per tb,
12c. per tb.

$3°75 to $3-90 per
a,

bag of 168 tb,

8c.
$7 °35 to $740 per
bag (210 tb.)
No quotation

$3°50 to $3°75
No quotation

35°50

$3°30 to $3°40
$4°25
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$400 to $6-00
per M.
No quotation,

a

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, ls. 2d,

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Industry in the Leeward Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special Reference to
Antigua; Some Notes on Rubber Trees in Dominica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An
Account of the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the Area Devastated by the
Soufriére of St. Vincent, in 1902-3; Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
St. Lucia; The Estimation of Carbonates and of Organic Carbon in Soils; The Epizootiology of Anthrax;
Grafted Cacao at the Dominica Botanic Station; The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses
and the Composition of Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses, and Title Page and Index of Vol. XI.

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
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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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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress and
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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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Vou. XI. No. 260. THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Aprit 13, 1912,

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

A Ree t

4

Ohlendorft’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano-—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohiendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure

——
oa”

Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

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

Londoz

Agency:

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.0

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Bridgetown.

VAPORITE!
VAPORITE !!

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE AND]
OTHER ROOT PESTS.

PRICE TWO (2) CENTS PER POUND.

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Woeleexil, No: 1)

Containing papers on: Manurial Experiments with Cotton im
the Leeward {[slands; The Cotton Industry in the Leeward
Islands; Rubber in the Drier West Indian Islands, with Special
Reference to Antigua; Some Notes on Rubber Trees in Domin-
ica; The Cadet System in Antigua and St. Kitts; An Accouut of
the Return of Vegetation and the Revival of Agriculture, in the
Area Devastated by the Soufriere of St. Vincent, in 1902-3;
Notes on St. Lucia and its Agriculture; The Lime Industry in
St. Lucia; The Estimation of Carbonates and of Organic Carbon
in Soils; The Epizootiology of Anthrax; Grafted Cacao at the}
Dominica Botanic Station; The Determination of the Water'
Content of Molasses and the Composition of Antigua and
St. Kitts-Nevis Molasses; and Title page and Index of Vol. XI.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department’s

Publications. Price 6d., post free, 84d.

SEA ISLAND GOTTON.

FOR SALE IN THE ISLAND OF ST. VINCENT,

Where the best Sea Island Cotton is produced,
2,000 acres, more or less, of land adapted to Cotton,
Arrowroot, Cacao, Rubber, Cocoa-nuts and Stock-rais-
ing, with a good water-supply, necessary buildings, and
easy shipping. Most of the above-mentioned crops are
now being cultivated.
Particulars may be obtained from R.F.EK.,
iat care of the Colonial Bank, &t. Vincent.
(260)

FOR SALE.

PRIME

SUMMER YELLOW COTTON
~ SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.

ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,
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Barbados, W.I.

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‘Thorum.’

(267)

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CONTENTS.
Introduction. Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting,
and Budding Cultivation.
Inarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) PULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

a \

oe LA

We et

We id
x

by

vas
AY

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Won, Sy Nos 261

CONTENTS.

PAGE, PacE,

Agricultural Show, Mont- Plants and Radium ... . 141

serrat, 1912 . 139) Prize-Holdings Competi-
Cotton Notes :— tion, Dominica, 1912 132
The World’s Cotton In- Ramie Fibre, Method of
Gusteywa as, cas, see ot Cleaning Be sas LOO
West Indian Cotton ... 134 School Gardens in Great
Department News eee 030 Britain... Petree. LOY
Departmental Reports ... 153 Seeds, Longevity of... .. 136
Education in Rural Schools 129 Soil, Temperature of,
Fungus Notes :— Under Different Con-
The Panama Disease of Aitions.... eemuers 135
Bananas, Part IL . 142 Soils, Hot-Weather
Glednines-:.. «2... . 140 Ploughing and... .,. 131
Insect Notes :— Soy Bean in England,
Eel Worms, or Nema- Trials of Qaeeecmecs Loe
todes, Part I .. 138) Students’ Corner 141
Leaf Green and the Work | Sugar Industry:—
of Leaves ... . 137; The New York Sugar
Market Reports... w 144 Trade Laboratory 131
Notes and Comments ... 136) Uganda, Export Trade of,
Plant Labels, Painting ... 143 1910-11 eae, =; 139

Education in Rural Schools.

JOR some time past, the need has been felt in

the West Indies for improvement in the edu-

S225 cational methods employed, in rural schools
particularly. The has
jn Great Britain, where a stage in progress has been
marked recently by the issue of a Memorandum on the
Principles and Methods of Rural Education, by the

same circumstance existed

BARBADOS, APRIL 27,

1912. Price ld,

Board of Education, England. In England, the dis-
tinctions between the circumstances surrounding
schools in town and those in the country are much
greater than the ditferences which obtain in the West
Indies, where almost all commercial effort is directly
connected with agriculture. ‘The same general princi-
ples apply nevertheless in both cases, and actually in
a broader degree in the West Indies: and it will be
well to see in what way several of the matters in the
Memorandum mentioned may be made useful in regard
to West Indian conditions.

Dealing first with rural elementary schools, there
has been in late years, in England, a desire to make
the teaching more practical in nature, and although
this has been effected from small beginnings, many of
the schools employ in large measure the great wealth
of material supplied by the conditions surrounding
them. In such cases the teacher is continuing to recezve
education, in the best sense, at the same time as the
pupil, and the chief requisites for his success are a real
interest in the affairs in which he finds himself placed,
and willingness and courage to undertake experiments
and to benefit by what others may have to teach him.

It has been pointed out already in this journal
that the chief effort in such matters should be to make
the teaching possess an intimate connexion with the
life of the child and with the daily circumstances with
which he comes into contact. The adoption of this
method will supply abundant material for dealing with
nearly all the subjects that are commonly found in the
curriculum of an elementary school. Further, a lively
interest will be given to these subjects, in that the
pupil will be made to see in what way they are of nse

BOT!
GA

130

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aprit 27, 1912.

to him in the conditions of the ordinary course of his
life. Lessons in English, arithmetic, geography, history,
and especially nature study, will all be simplified in
character and increased in interest if they are made to
relate as far as possible to those conditions. Further,
with respect to nature study, this is the subject which
lends itself particularly to the provision of assistance
with geography, practical arithmetic and drawing. It
may be said that the fact is recognized in several parts
of the West Indies, and that the employment of the
school garden in relation to the general curriculum of
the®school has reached a degree that was not imagined
when it ‘was first suggested that school gardening
should be taken up on a general scale.

Turning now toa consideration of practical work
in rural secondary schools, some of the first efforts were
made in a small part of England by engaging the
county horticultural lecturer to teach practical horti-
culture in a few of the schools. The results have been
disappointing, chiefly on account of the fact that the
adoption of the scheme led to the detachment of
certain boys from the regular work of the school. The
danger of this was recognized early in the West
Indies, so that the agricultural and science masters
first appointed under the Imperial Department of
Agriculture were definitely placed on the teaching
staff of the school in which their work was to be done,
and their classes were included in the ordinary school
curriculum. The principle was extended further, in
order to prevent the appearance of detachment of
any of the pupils in the school, by making every boy
take up at least one science subject during the whole
of his time at school; so that later, when there came to
be specialization in the direction of agriculture, on the
part of some of the pupils, these did not appear to be
detached from the ordinary interests of the school,
any more than others who happened to specialize in
subjects that are not agricultural. Another matter
that was recognized by the Imperial Department of
Agriculture at the beginning was that the course of
science in these schools should be actually fundamental
to agriculture, and the Memorandum mentioned shows
that the importance of this principle has been appreci-
ated in England, for it states: ‘Agriculture has to do
with the production of crops and stock, and a course
of biology, mainly dealing with plant life, together
with such a thorough course of chemistry and physics,
as is necessary thereto, constitutes the fundamental]
science.’

The employment of the school garden, and of visits

to experiment stations and estates where work with
a definite agricultural object may be seen in progress,
is of special importance in this stage. This is well
expressed in the Memorandum, as giving the science
instruction an agricultural bias: and it is pointed out
that this bias does not in any way depreciate the value
of the science instruction to those who do not intend to
take up agricultural occupation ultimately; ‘on the con-
trary, a subject which is brought into touch with environ-
ment tends to become real and living, and more easily
mastered.’ The matter is seen to be important, then,
with respect to general education, whether agriculture
or other subjects are to receive attention when the pupil
leaves school.

In dealing with the subject with reference to
England, the matter is considered further in connexion
with farm schools. Institutions of this nature have
not been adopted to any extent 1a the West Indies,
except in Jamaica and British Guiana. Their place is
taken to a degree by the Cadet System that is in opera-
tion at several of the Botanic and Experiment Stations,
and by the Courses of Reading instituted on the part of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture. In England,
experience of the existing farm schools shows that the
work should be very practical in ‘character. The time
expended on a short course does not allow the teaching
of the principles of chemistry, for example, to those who
are untamiliar with this subject; whereas there is no
need for this teaching in the case of those who already
possess a knowledge. This does not prevent it from
being true that the method of education should be
thoroughly scientific —that experiment should form the
basis for instruction, and that nothing should be taken
for granted. It will be evident, in any case, that the
proper correlation of the educational work in the sec-
ondary schools with that in institutions of a higher
order will give such instruction in the elements of use-
ful science subjects as is necessary, and will greatly
simplify the work of the higher course.

Matters of this kind have not reached such a stage,
in the West Indies, that attention can be given in
a brief and general way to the subject of the provision
of agricultural colleges. Sufficient has been said to
show that experience in education, that is of a more
directly agricultural nature, in this part of the world,
has resembled in many ways that which has been met
with in other countries; and that the West Indies have
been saved some of the mistakes that might have been
made, as well as some of the delay that would be
caused while knowledge was being gained in order
to rectify those mistakes.

Vous XL Noy 261:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

131

SUGAR INDUSTRY

THE NEW YORK SUGAR TRADE
LABORATORY.

Accounts of this institution were given in the
Agricultural News, Vol. IX, pp. 19 and 291. They
are now supplemented by the following information,
taken from the Louisiana Planter for February 10,
UN

The accuracy of the laboratory work has been greatly
enhanced by the utilization of a refrigerating plant, by
means of which the polarizing room is maintained at a con-
stant temperature. The average temperature utilized in
1911 was 20:02°C., the average maximum being 20°72°C.,
and the average minimum 19°48° C. This artificial cooling
was found necessary during 107 days in 1911. It seems
that after the introduction of the refrigerating plant the cost
of operating the same, that is for the electric current utilized
for power, was $129°69, and the cost of 22,400 cubic feet of
water was $22°40, this being used for the ammonia con-
denser, making a total of 3152-09.

During the year 1911, over 15,000 polarizations were
made for the buyers of sugar and over 15,000 were made
for the sellers. These polarizations varied in their indica-
tions of sucrose content from 68°69 test up to 98:90 test,
ranging chiefly in four grades, 94-95, 95-96, 96-97 and
97-98. A few samples above these limits and a few below
were received, but these just named constituted the bulk of
the entire list.

It might have been fair to infer that the efforts of the
sugar-making world for a general betterment of the product
would be shown in the average polarizations made accessible
in this large way. From the data given, however, we can
hardly detect any gradual rise in the quality of the sugars
imported into the New York market. The government
statistics showed, however, at the time of the adoption of
the Wilson bill, in 1894, that the average polarization of
sugars was about 90 per cent. sucrose. The figures for
the last four years, including 1908, are reported as 94:83;
1909 as 94:88 test; 1910 as 95°19 test, and 1911 as $4°68
test. Our readers, of course, are aware that under the colour
restrictions of the tariff, which practically exclude all
sugars above No.16 Dutch standard, there is very little
very high-grade sugar imported, and the tendency of
sugar producers is to work between 94 and 97 test, as
below 94 the regulations of the New York trade penalize the
importer 10c. per 100 tb. for each point below 96 test, and
after reaching 94 there is a drop of {-c. per fb, in addition
to the penalizing one-tenth. The allowance granted above
86 is onesixteenth for each point of test higher than
96, and sugars of 97 to 98 test are rather difficult to keep
down in colour, as not above No. 16 D.S.

The capital necessary with which to start this enterprise
seems to have been contributed, or rather loaned to the
organization by the leading sugar refiners and importers.
A charge of $1:00 per test seems to have been’ made. This
gave a revenue during 1911 of some $31,000. After the
general expenses, such as salaries, rent, expenses of refrig-
eration, ete., with the cost of the refrigerating plant, have

been paid off, the actual gain made by the organization has
been returned to those patronizing it, to the extent of nearly
one-half of the total receipts, thus cheapening the work of
the laboratory to the buyers and sellers of sugar by about
one half, and at the same time insuring positive satisfaction
to all concerned.

As is usual in such organizations, special accountants
were delegated by the trustees to examine into the records,
receipts, and expenditures, and their report indicated
extreme accuracy in every direction, all of which in turn was
reported by the trustees to the importers and refiners of raw
sugar.

THE EFFECT OF HOT-WEATHER
PLOUGHING ON SOILS.

The results of partially sterilizing soils by heat
have been considered on several occasions, in the Agri-
cultural News, more especially in an editorial article
in Vol. IX, p. 33. The work that is described in this
has led to the suggestion, in India, that the increased
fertility, considered in some districts of that country to
be caused by ploughing in hot weather, may be due to
partial sterilization; this was dealt with on page 107
of the same volume of the Agricultural News.
A further phase of the matter has been the making of
actual experiments, which are described in the Report
of the Agricultural Research Institute and College,
Pusa, 1910-11, p. 74:—

A special study has been made of the effect of hot-weather
ploughing upon the bacterial content of the soil, and its pos-
sible relation to the undoubted increase in fertility resulting
therefrom. It has been found that this operation increases
the rate of ammonification of the soil humus, probably by
the selective action of combined desiccation and abnormal
temperature; similar results can be obtained by heating the
soil to 60°C., the soil plates showing a survival of the more
active ammonifiers, such as Bacillus mycoides and B. subtilis,
whilst the highly aérated condition of the soil inhibits the
activity of surviving anaérobic spore forms. The net result
is an extremely rapid formation of ammonia, part of which is
retained by the soil and nitrified or taken up directly by
plants, and part is lost by diffusion; in this way rapid deple-
tion of the soil nitrogen must take place, and subsequent
fertility will depend upon the judicious use of green manures;
the economic value of the method depends upon the power
which it places in the hands of the agriculturist, of rapidly
converting green manure or other organic nitrogen into plant
food, although this may be counterbalanced to some extent
by loss of nitrogen as ammonia.

Study of Pusa soil, taken from depths down to 9 feet,
shows large numbers of bacteria even at this low level; nitrifi-
cation has been found actively proceeding in the third foot
from the surface, the greatest amount of this taking place in
the second six inches. Owing to the open texture of this soil
it is improbable that denitrification occurs to any appreciable
extent, but the rapid rate of ammonification, and the yigorous
growth of soil bacteria, no doubt interfere with the produc-
tion of nitrates.

A method of quantitative estimation of the changes in
soil due to bacterial action, by periodical analysis of the soil
gases, has given much information as to the conditions favour-
able for nitrification in soils; it is hoped that this method will
be invaluable in the future for dealing with such problems
as arise out of soil irrigation and drainage, and the use of
green manures.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Aprit 27, 1912,

FRUITS

AND FRUIT @EREES.

PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION,
DOMINICA, 1912.

The following information regarding the Prize-
holdings Competition held recently in the Grand Bay
District, Dominica, is taken from a report made by
Mr. G. A. Jones, Assistant Curator:—

Owing to one cr two unavoidable causes it was found
impossible to commence this year’s competition before
August; four months were in consequence lost. It is hoped
that this year a start may be made much earlier

As in previous years, there were two classes of holdings:
one class of 1 acre and over, not exceeding 4 acres; and one
class of 1 acre of bearing cacao, and not less than 100 trees,
calculated at proper distances apart In 1908-9 there were
sixteen competitors, ten being in Class I and six in Class II
This year there were twenty-four, eleven in Class I and
thirteen in Class II. This district is particularly well suited
for such a competition, there being a very large number of
small proprietors.

In a year or two we would probably be successful in
obtaining a still larger number of entries.

Mr. J. O. Henderson acted as local instructor. He pos-
sesses the confidence of the people of the district, and is him-
self a successful cacao grower. During August Mr. Henderson
visited all the holdings, and made suggestions for improve-
ment. During October 16 to 21 Mr. Henderson, accompanied
by myself, again visited all the plots, giving all the assistance
we could. We were very well received, and gave demonstra-
tions in pruning, ete., together with advice as to draining and
wind-breaks when necessary. From March 10 to 15 we again
visited the plots, chiefly for the purpose of judging; but in
anticipation of a continuance of the competition, we spent
considerable time in further instruction.

During the eight months that we have been working in
this district, I am pleased to report that very good work has
been accomplished. Much of course remains to be done, even
in the best holdings, but the people are willing, and many
anxious, to receive instruction.

After dwelling on the importance of, and the ne-
cessity for, the removal of side branches and suckers,
the report goes on to say, in regard to this matter:—

Most of the persons entered for the competition realize
this in so far that they are willing to remove any tree which
we indicate to them. But they seem quite incapable of their
own accord todecide which tree should be allowed to remain
and which should be removed. The result is that those
without instruction do nothing. This point seems more
important than methods of removing the pods, forking, and
even manuring. If competitors can only be made to realize
that the trees must have room to develop, the scheme will
have more than justified its existence.

The prospects are promising; the prize winners are
people who have responded best to the advice of the instruc-
tors. But the work of thinning is of necessity slow work,
and must extend over a period of two or three years; in that
time, with three visits per annum by the instructor, I feel
confident that most of the plots will again be in excellent
condition, producing heavy crops, which the soil of this dis-
trict, almost unaided, is capable of doing.

Due notice has been paid to the necessity for drainage,
wind-belts, manuring and proper pruning. ll the plots are
remarkably healthy and free from disease.

I would strongly recommend the continuation of the
competition in this district during 1912-13, and the best
thanks of the Department are due to Mr. Henderson for his
valuable assistance in carrying this competition to a success-
ful issue. J append a list of prize winners. The total cost
of the competition was £21 5s.

The prize winners were as follows:—

Class 1:
Jeremie Remie Ist prize £2 10 0
J. L. Angol \ee ‘
G. Thomas J 2G £2 00
B. J. Lewis \ aes m
D. Durand if nie £1 100
A. Henry |
A. Celestine - 4th ,, £ 100
J. J. Lewis |

Class IT.
E. Henderson lst prize £2 00
B. Leatham 2nd i, HOME ay 0)
M. Mathew rds eae es i's 19)
Alice David \ 4th es i
M. Liverpool J EB OD

Vout. XI. No. 261.

THE BOTANIC

GRENADA: REPORTS ON
STAVION, BXPERIMENT
RAL INSTRUCTION, AND
SCHEME, 1910-11,

The report dealing with the condition of the Botanic
{ardens shows that these have been maintained in good order
-during the year. The distribution of economic plants con-
tinues to be large, both as regards variety and quantity.
There is, however, scope for an increase in this matter, and
it was sought to attain this by distributing lists of plants of
which there was a good supply. The information concerning
the work in the experiment plots at the gardens contains an
interesting account of an investigation that is being carried
out in regard to the growing of green dressings under cacao
shade. A glance at the table detailing the results is sutticient
to show that little success has been attained in this matter,
so far. Other trials have been conducted with alfalfa, the
Bambarra ground nut (lvandzeia sulterranea), and ground
provisions, including sweet potatoes, yams and tanias. The
results with alfalfa have continued to be disappointing, and
it was not found that the amount of seed set was increased
by ‘tripping’ the flowers. More tiseful results have been
obtained with the Bambarra ground nut and the ground
provisions. f

As in some of the other islands, the work of agricultural
instruction in Grenada is assisted by means of prize-holdings
competitions, and interesting and detailed information of the
comnpetition of the year under review, whith was again held
under the auspices of the Agricultural and Commercial
Society in all the parishes of the island, -is included in the
report. A short section, dealing broadly with general agri-
cultural progress in the island, shows that the cacao crop was
smaller than that of the previous year, the latter having been
the largest that has received record in Grenada, Some trouble
has been experienced through the incidence of root disease
and thrips. A large import was made of Para rubber seeds,
and in regard to Castilloa, some slight indication has accrued
that this may be successful, although time is required before
definite information in the -matter can be obtained. The
results from cotton cultivation, as far as this has been con-
ducted, show that a fair industry may be built up gradually.
It is expected that the new Land Settlement Scheme will
assist in its extension, and further aid has been given by the
purchase, on the part of the Government, of two gins and an
oil engine for handling the crop.

Following the precedence of last year’s report, a short
account is given of agricultural matters in Carriacou, where
the first prize-holdings competition was held during the year.
The judges’ report on this shows that agricultural matters in
the island are very satisfactory, although a great deal of
inducement is required before the peasants will enter the

- competition. There are indications that Carriacou will be
in possession of a lime industry of some large importance, in
the near future.

The succeeding section, dealing with scale insects and
black blight, may be said to provide.an illuminating example

PLOTS, AGRICULTU-
LAND SETTLEMENT

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 133

of the useful results that are likely to be obtained from the
conduct of investigations in a scientific manner. It was ex-
pected that a comparatively large sum of money would have
to be spent on the acquisition and use of spraying apparatus;
whereas careful observation resulted in showing that much
might be done by the dissemination of fungus parasites
of scale insects, and the adoption of this method of control
has been of the greatest practical use, while the expenditure
on experimental work has proved eventually to be very small,
in comparison with that expected at the outset.

The report on Agricultural Instruction refers to the fact
that the Botanic Station has been placed in the charge of the
Agricultural Instructor, under the Superintendent of Agricul-
ture, and gives an account of the chief work that has been
done. A description is also afforded of the work conducted
in the newly attached Spout Lands. The labours of the
Agricultural Instructor have also included visits to country
districts, mainly in connexion with giving instruction to the
peasantry, and in relation to the Prize-holdings Competition.
It appears that these efforts are resulting in an amelioration
of the conditions under which the peasantry live, as well as of
the circumstances of their cultivations. The reports con-
clude with that dealing with the Land Settlement Scheme,
and as this scheme is only of recent adoption, the matter
presented has mainly to deal with the preliminary work that
has been undertaken.

VIRGIN ISLANDS: REPORT ON THE EXPERI-
MENT STATION, TORTOLA, 1910-11,

The details that are included in this report concerning the
demand for plants, at the Experiment Station, show that this
continued to be small in comparison with the extent to which
it should attain; a somewhat encouraging feature is the fact
that the amount of Sea Island cotton seed sold and otherwise
disposed of continues to be maintained; there is also the cir-
cumstance that there exists a steady, though small, demand
for lime plants.

The work in the experiment plots has received consider-
able interference through drought. As is pointed out, the
months of June, July and August were very dry, the total
rainfall for this period being 7°37 inches below the average
for the same period in the preceding nine years; further
illustration of the extent of the drought is given in the
meteorological records, which show that the rainfall measured
at the Experiment Station during 1910-11 was 10:24 inches
below the average for the past ten years. The plants includ-
edin the experiment plots were cotton, sugar-cane, sweet
potatoes, cassava, limes, as well as~several miscellaneous
plants both in permament and seasonal cultivation. In spite
of the drought, some interesting results are available from
these.

In connexion with the extension of the agricultural
interests of the Presidency, a successful agricultural show was
held, exhibits were sent to the Canadian National Exhibition
held during the year, addresses were given by the Agricul-
tural Instructor, and periodical visits were paid by him to the
out-islands mainly in connexion with the cotton industry.

An interesting Appendix to the report gives information
concerning the cotton, lime, and sugar industries. In regard
to the first, considerable work had to be done with the object
of bringing the industry back to its former position, after the
severe check experienced in 1909-10; this object was almost
completely accomplished. Progress has been made with the
lime industry, and the small output of sugar has been main-
tained

134

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

1912.

Aprit 27,

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

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

About 200 bales of West Indian Sea Island cotton have
been sold since our last report, chiefly St. Kitts, Antigua and
Anguilla at 19d. to 20d.; also St. Vincent at 24d. <A few
fancy Barbados have also been sold at 22d. to 224d. The
market remains firm.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending March 30, 1s as follows:—

There has been’ a limited demand for some of the
Planters’ Crops of Extra Fine, which resulted in the sale of
two small crops on private terms, the buying being for the
Continent. Otherwise the market is very quiet. The
Factors still show more disposition to make some conces-
sions in price in order to sell the crop lots held in stock.
The odd bags continue to be firmly held on a basis of our
quotations,

We quote viz:—

Extra Fine 32c.=18d., c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
: a i : p
28 eet) J 26c. to 28c.=15d. to 16d., cif. & 5 per cent.

Fine to Extra Fine,) ,

off in preparation J yo»

8c. to 25c.= 104d. to 141d. ,,

A forecast of the area sown in this season in cotton, in
Kastern Bengal and Assam, states this to be about 101,300
acres——practically the same area as that of last year. For
various reasons, the total outturn is expected to be much
smaller than that of the season 1910-11, namely 19,700 bales
instead of 31,100 bales.

Nature, for March 7, 1912, presents a note of obser-
vations on the stomata of the cotton plant, that have been
carried out in Egypt by W. L. Balls, as follows: ‘A five-
days’ record of the opening and closing of the stomata of the
cotton plant in Egypt is given, showing the stomata wide
open during bright sunshine. The author has elsewhere shown
that during this part of the day no growth occurs, and there
is evidence that the apparent waste of water then occurring
is of importance, as keeping the leaves cool, since, when trans-
piration is artificially checked, the leaves are rapidly injured,
or eyen killed, by the high temperature.’

THE WORLD’S COTTON INDUSTRY.

A yearly volume, dealing with the cotton industry of
the world, is published in Germany, under the title Das
Tllustiierte Jahrbuch mit Kalender fiir die Gesamte Bawmwoll-
Industrie. The thirty-third issue of this, made in the
present year, is reviewed in La Chronique Coloniale et
Financiere for February 18, 1912; and advantage has been
taken of this to present the following account of the contents
of this work.

Professor M. Lehmann, of Krefeld, who supervises the
publication of this annual work, has collected in it 4 notable
amount of information on the history of the cotton industry,
and on the culture and exploitation of the cotton plant, not
only in a general way, but in relation to the principal couatries
of production—and that in a detailed fashion.

As an ordinary fact, little consideration is made of the
growing development of the cotton industry that is taking
place, not only in Europe, but even in those countries which
have only entered into the movement in recent years.

Without giving attention to all the details that are
contained in this interesting annual, it may be said that it
shows that, in 1910, more than 633,384,794 spindles were
at work. The largest number of these was in England,
namely 53,397,466; the United States of America possessed
28 million, and Germany 10,200,000; while in British India
there were more than 5 millions. It may be considered that
there were more than 2,500,000 automatic looms working, to
which must be added a number of hand looms.

One of the countries in which the cotton industry has
developed most vigorously is China, where the number of
spindles increased from 275,000 in 1896 to 1,500,000 in
1904: the number of automatic looms in this country is
7,500.

The work contains a very interesting article by Moritz
Schanz, on cotton in the United States of America; the
authority as regards matters connected with cotton, of this
writer, is well recognized.

As regards the special study of machinery, which com-
pletes this volume, the latter goes beyond its character as-
a work of merely annual import, for it includes several
pages devoted to this subject which go to forma veritable
treatise on cotton. The book itself will be of the greatest
service to all those who in any way whatever are interested
in a textile that is attaining from day to day a greater
importance in the world.

Vou. XI. No. 261.

THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SOIL
UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
The following article has been received from

Mr. W. R. Dunlop, Agricultural and Science Master,
St. Kitts-Nevis. It deals with observations carried out
by him in connexion with soil temperatures in the

tropics, and is of particular interest as it treats of

a subject that has not received any great attention
under the conditions described:—

The warmth of the soil under different conditions is an
important matter, since it is closely connected with root
development, bacterial activity and the conservation of soil
moisture.

During March 1912, observations were made in
St. Kitts, under as widely different conditions as possible,
with a view to ascertaining the extent of temperature varia-
tions in ordinary cultivated fields. The first series of
observations consisted in taking readings, simultaneously
twice a day, for one week, in plots situated respectively in
the dry and wet localities of the island. Molyneux estate
was selected for the purpose in the case of the latter locality
and La Guerite in the case of the former. Readings were
‘taken at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., ata depth of 3 inches. The
main result of these observations was the indication
that the surface soil at Molyneux estate maintains a tem-
perature 2°F. lower in the early morning and 5°F. lower in
the early afternoon than the surface soil at La Guérite. The
eause of this is attributed to the cooling effect of rainfall,
with its subsequent evaporation; to direct sea breezes; and to
the absorption of radiant heat in the afternoon by the clouds
and mountains of the Molyneux district. At both La Guérite
and Molyneux the temperatures kept fairly constant, day by
day; at La Guérite, at 7 a.m., the temperature was 75° to
37° F;at 1 p.m. it was 91° to 94° F. The thermometer at
Molyneux showed, at 7 a.m., 72° to 75° F, and at 1 p.m.
85° to 89° F. The lowest readings could in every case be
-correlated with fall of rain on the day that readings were
taken.

The second series of observations had for its object the
determination of the temperature of the soil at different
depths. Readings were taken every hour from 8 a.m. to
8 p.m., and at 6 a.m. on the next morning, at a depth of
“8 inches, 6 inches, and 1] and 2 feet.

The temperature of the soil at a depth of 3 inches, at 6 a.m.
was 72° |'., and increased with the intensity of the heat
~from thesun. The maximum of 91°F. was reached at 1 p.m.
During the early hours of the afternoon this temperature
remained fairly constant, but there was a quick drop after
sunset. The diurnal range at 3 inches was twenty degrees. The
“temperature at 6 inches remained more constant; it was lower
during the day than at 3 inches, but higher af night. There
avas, however, a steady rise and fall, but the maximum of
89° F. was not reached until 4 p.m. Again, a quick drop
-aecurred after sunset. The diurnal range at 6 inches was

“ten degrees.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 13

Cu

At a depth of one foot, the temperature remained nearly
constant during the day, but it was two degrees lower at
melt than during the day. The maximum temperature was

) FE.

At adepth of 2 feet, the temperature was 83° F., and
remained constant day and night. A heavy shower of rain
lowered the temperature by one degree, on another occasion.

The temperatures of soils of different texture and colour
were investigated, in the third series of observations. Readings
were taken at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m, ata depth of 3 inches, in
four plots, composed respectively of dark-grey sand, reddish-
brown clay, dark-brown pen manure mixed with sandy soil,
and lime mixed with a small amount of sandy soil. The
temperatures of these soils were taken under two different
conditions: (a) after the soils had lain untcuched for one
month; (b) the day after the soils had been forked, raked and
watered. The sand plot was warmer at 1 p.m. than the soils
of the other plots, and was cooler at 7 a.m. The temperature
of the untouched sand at 1 p.m. was 99° F.; that of the cul-
tivated sand 90° F. The temperature of the dry sand had
a diurnal range of 26° F.; this was considerably greater than
that of the air. In the case of all the plots, the effect of water
in levelling up the specific heats was clearly indicated. At
1 p.m. the clay was warmer than the humus plot, but cooler
at 7am. The lime plot (untouched) was thirteen degrees
cooler at 1 p.m. than the sand plot (untouched), and the lime
plot also possessed the lowest diurnal range, which amounted
to 6 to 8 degrees.

The fourth series of observations consisted in an investi-
gation of the temperature of the soil under different condi-
tions of cultivation, at a depth of 6 inches The first point
of interest brought out was the cooling effect of cultivation,
particularly forking or ploughing. Rolling warmed the soil
in dry weather, but had the opposite effect when the land was
wet. As regards ridging or banking up, the important
fact was brought ont that land cultivated in this manner
from east to west is at least three degrees warmer
during the day than when the soil is ridged north and
south. At a depth of 3 inches the difference would
be at least six degrees. The well-known fact that wind
cools the soil was also supported by observations made
in sheltered and unsheltered places. The soil under pas-
ture was rather cooler than arable soil, and covering arable
soil with light trash lowered the temperature during
the day by four degrees. Finally, observations in connexion
with the soil warmth of cacao plantations showed that soil
thus shaded and sheltered was eleven degrees cooler, at
1 p.m., than the soil exposed to the sun, outside; and at
7 a.m., it was cooler by three degrees.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, V.Sc., Entomologist on the
Staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left
Barbados on April 17, 1912, by the S.S. ‘Korona’,
for St. Kitts, for the purpose of conducting investi-
gations regarding insect pests of plants in the Leeward
Islands.

Mr. P. T. Saunders, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Officer
on the Staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture,
left Barbados on April 16, by the S.S. ‘Ocamo’, in order
to visit St. Vincent in connexion with his official
duties.

136

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Aprit 27, 1912,

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,, 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

No.

Vou. XI. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1912. 261.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this number gives attention to
the subject of Education in Rural Schools. It compares
and contrasts broadly the means for education, particu-
larly of an agricultural nature, existing in the West
Indies, with those in England.

Page 182 contains an account of a prize-holdings
competition held recently in Dominica.

Two departmental reports are reviewed on page
133. These are concerned with the work of the Agri-
cultural Department in Grenada, and the work of the
Agricultural Instructor for the Virgin Islands.

On page 135, there appears an article presenting
information in connexion with the temperature of soils
in the tropics, under different conditions. The details
are based on the results of experimental work that has
been carried out recently in St. Kitts.

The Insect Notes in this issue appear on page 138.
They have reference to the subject of eel worms, or
nematodes. Another article, in continuation of the
information there given, will appear in the next number
of this journal.

A note treating of the action of radium on plants
will be found on page 141.

On pages 142 and 143, there is presented the second
and concluding article, giving the latest information
that is available in regard to the Panama disease of
bananas, and reviewing earlier work on the subject.

The Longevity of Seeds.

The Kew Bulletin, 1912, p. 110, contains a note
which presents an interesting instance of seeds that have
retained their power of germination for a long period —
as much as sixtyreight years. These belong to a legu-
minous plant called Albizzia lophantha, related to the
West Indian ebony or ‘women’s tongues’ (Allizzia
Lebbek). They were received by Sir John Herschell from
the Cape of Good Hope, in 1845, and preserved in his
cabinet since his death in 187i. In 1910 and 1911,
seven plants were grown from the seed, of which one,
two years old, has attained a height of 10 to 11 feet, and
flowered abundantly, but did not produce seed, toward
the end of last year.

Part of the information given concerning the seeds
and plants is contained in a letter sent to Kew by
Sir William Herschell, Bart., and since 1t was writtem
the interesting plant has been presented by him to
the collection at that Institution.

A Method of Cleaning Ramie Fibre.

The difticulty of separating the gummy matter
from the fibres of ramie has engaged the attention of
inventors and others for several years, as it is the
existence of this gum which lessens to a large degree
the extent to which the cultivation of the ramie plant
(Boehmeria nivea) is taken up. With reference to
the subject, the Journal d Agriculture Tropicale for
December 1911 states that the Bulletin of the
Sociedad Agricéla Mexicana announces the invention
by a chemist of a soap with a petroleum base which is
perfectly suited to the cleaning of ramie. This soap
contains about“40 per cent. of petroleum, combined in
such a way that it is not dissociated from the soap
while this is inuse. It is stated to possess a useful
power of cleaning fibres of all kinds, and in particular
to dissolve completely the gum which causes the fibres
of ramie to stick together.

As is mentioned in the article from which these
details are taken, 16 is impossible without further
information to give any opinion in regard to what is
claimed for this soap. Nevertheless, at first sight,
consideration of the power possessed by distillation
products of petroleum to dissolve certain substances
makes it appear possible that unrefined petroleum may
exhibit active properties in regard to gums and resins,
and that the cleaning of ramie fibres may he facilitated
by means of this product.

It is stated further that it will be interesting to
have additional information concerning’ this soap, for
success in its use should lower considerably the price of
clean ramie fibre.

It may be mentioned that the plant from which
ramie, or rhea or Chinese grass cloth, as it issometimes
known, is obtained, belongs to the same Natural Order
as the stinging nettle, and that, like that of flax (Linum
usitatissimum), the fibre 1s obtained from the inner
bark of the stem.

Vou. XI. No. 261.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

137

Trials of the Soy Bean in England.

As is well known, the soy bean is a tropical and sub-
tropical plant, and may be grown with a certain amount
of success in the warm temperate zone. In view of the
fact, interest is aroused in trials with this plant that
have been made in England, and are described in the
Journal of the South Eastern Agricultural College,
Wye, 1910, page 315.

The experiments were conducted with seed ob-
tained from the United States, which was sown in
a chalky loam. The plants grew well, and produced
a small amount of seed; later on they turned yellow.
It was found that the roots of these plants did not
possess any nodules. ;

Other seeds of the plant were sown in pots, the
soil in half of these being treated with sail in which soy
beans had grown, in the United States; while that in
the other pots did not receive any addition of such soil,
In the former case, the plants that were obtained grew
well, and nodules were produced in large numbers on
their roots. The results with the plants in the pots
containing untreated soil were similar to those obtained
in the field.

It is concluded from these trials that the soy bean
may be grown in England, but that in Jand where it
has not been present before, inoculation is necessary.

—— ES

School Gardens in Great Britain.

As is the case in other countries where attention
is being given to agricultural education, the usefulness
of the school garden as an aid to nature study is well
recognized in Great Britain. The subject receives
attention in The Report of the Board of Education for
1910-11, issued recently, and the following interesting
matter is taken from the section of that report dealing
with school gardens in elementary schools:—

‘Closely connected with the growth of interest in
nature study is the subject of school gardens. How
great has been the increase in the number of schools
where gardening is taught since 1902 can be gathered
from the following comparison: In 1902 gardening was
taught in 389 schools, and the total number of boys
on whom grant was paid was 4,359. In the year 1909-10
the subject was taught in 2,014 schools, and grant was
earned by 811 girls and 28,948 boys. The subject is
taught in practically every county area in England,
and in all but two in Wales.

‘In all school gardens, with hardly an exception,
the cultivation of vegetables is the main feature; in
some a special point is made of fruit and flower grow-
ing. The practical work is organized im various ways.
In one school each child will cultivate a separate plot
of ground; in another two children will work together
at each plot; often a boy in his second year of instruc-
tion will be put to work with a beginner; in a third
school the whole class is jointly responsible for the
garden. Sometimes there is a “common plot”, in which
experiments are shown and special operations carried
out, such as fruit-budding, grafting, spraying, the use

of artificial manures, “thick and thin” sowing. Through-
out the year the work in the gardens and the work in
the school are closely associated. The plants whose
life-history is to be studied in the class-room are grown
in the garden, the habits of caterpillars and other pests
are illustrated, often with distressing clearness, by the
damage they do among the children’s plots; calcu-
lations as to quantities of seeds and crops make
admirable exercises in arithmetic; children draw the
gardens to scale and paint and model from the fruits
and tlowers which they have themselves grown. These
drawings and paintings form a useful record of what has
been done from year to year.’

TT

The Leaf Green of Plants and the Building up of
Food Bodies in the Leaf.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the
possession of what is broadly described as green colour-
ing matter (chlorophyll!) by leaves is connected inti-
mately with their power to employ carbon dioxide from
the air, and water from the roots, in the building up of
more complex bodies that are employed as plant food.
Work has been undertaken by a Russian investigator,
among others, in order to find out the relation between
the amount of chlorophyll possessed by a given kind of
leaf and its power to build up food bodies. This re-
ceives attention in an abstract that appears in the
Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXIV, page 718.

It was found that the work of the leaf commences
as soon as light begins to be absorbed, provided that
a minimum of chlorophyll is present already, and the
greater the amount of chlorophyll the less is the quan-
tity of light required. The energy of the building up
process is said to increase with the amount of chloro-
phyll, up to a maximum attained only in young leaves;
in older leaves the quantity of chlorophyll present is in
excess of that which can be employed for absorption in
bright light. The effect of too strong light is to cause
the energy of food-building to diminish.

The greatest action of leaves, as regards the decom-
position of carbon dioxide, takes place in red light, and
the smallest in green light. The opposite is the case
in regard to the production of dry matter. A considera-
tion of the phenomena observed indicates that there are
two stages in the process of food-building in the leaf:
the first is characterized by the breaking up of carbon
dioxide and the second by actions taking place through
the influence of light which are connected with the
transportation and utilization of material that has been
built up already.

The work has attorded other results that are equal
in interest to those just given, though there is not avail-
able space to detail them completely. Mention may be
made, however, of one of them, which consists in the
fact that two physiological types may be recognized
among plants, namely those which produce little chloro-
phyll and require much light; and those in which large
quantities of chlorophyll are formed, so that they are
able to grow in comparatively feeble illumination.

138

INSEGT NOTES.

EEL WORMS, OR NEMATODES.
AUR:

In previous numbers of the Agricultural News, eel worms
have been discussed from the points of view of the amount
of injury which these minute worms inflict on crops and other
cultivated plants, methods of control, methods of spread, and
means to be adopted for the detection of this pest in sugar-
ane fields. The following references to these notes may be
given: Vol. III, p. 283; Vol. VI, p. 123; Vol. VIII, pp. 138,
280, 327; Vol. IX, p. 314.

At the present time, much interest is being shown in the
subject of eel worms in different parts of the world, since it
is now realized that many crops are being sericusly injured,
and much loss is resulting, from the attacks of these minute
worms.

The summary is reproduced here that is given in Bulletin
No. 217 of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United
States Department of Agriculture, entitled Root Knot and its
Control: —

(1) the disease known as root knot, characterized by
enlargements of the roots, and often leading to the death of
the plant affected, is caused by a nematode (Heterodera
vadicicola (Greef) Mull.). This was probably originally native
in the tropics (of the Old World!) but has spread into nearly
every part of both temperate zones.

(2) he plants recorded as more or less subject to attack
number almost 480 species and varieties, including nearly
all the larger families of flowering plants. Probably many
more are actually susceptible, but have not yet been reported
as hosts. Most of the important field and garden crops and
ornamental plants are more or less subject to root knot.

(3) The life-cycle of this nematode, from egg to egg, may
take place in four weeks, or longer, depending upon the temp-
erature of the soil. The larval stage is that in which entry
into the host takes place. It then becomes motionless and soon
enlarges and undergoes a sort of metamorphosis, the males
eventually recovering the original worm shape, while the
females become pear- or flask-shaped and very much enlarged
in their transverse dimensions. Hach female lays 500 or
more eggs. The winter is passed probably most frequently
in the larval stage in the soil, but in the case of galls of
perennial roots the nematodes may overwinter in these in
a more advanced stage, even as practically mature and perhaps
already fertilized females.

(4) For the rapid multiplication of the root knot nema-
tode the following conditions are necessary: (a) A certain
degree of warmth of the soil. Thus in southern Florida
this nematode is active the year round, in part of South
{Carolina the active season is from April 20 or May 1 to the
middle or end of October, while farther north the period is
still shorter. (b) Loose-textured soil. Only sandy or at
least light soil is favourable to its spread. (c) Moisture.
‘The drying out of the soil is frequently fatal to the nematode,
and in any case prevents it from doing any harm. Appar-
ently the moister the soil, as long as it is well supplied with
air, the more favourable it is to the nematode’s development.
However, wet soil, that is soil in which the air spaces
are filled with water, is at length fatal to the nematode.
(d) Food supply. The larvae are able to exist in the soil for
more than one year, but apparently not for two years, with-
out the presence of living plants into which to enter. They
are apparently unable to develop beyond the larval stage
aniess they enter a suitable host plant.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS..

Riva Pits leer

(5) The nematode is distributed in several ways: (a) The
larvae move through the soil by their own motion, but the
distance traversed thus is probably not more than 6
feet or so a season. (b) They are carried from field to
field in earth clinging to implements, the hoofs of
animals, the shoes of labourers, wagon wheels, etc. (c) They
are conveyed in the soil; that is washed from one field
to another by heavy rains, a very common mode of
distribution of this pest. (d) It is possible that heavy
winds may carry larvae or eggs with the soil blown
from one field to another, but probably most would be
so dried out in the process that this is not much to be
feared. (e) They are introduced into new places in the roots
or in the dirt adhering to the roots of nursery stock, in
rooted cuttings, potted plants, etc., especially those of the
peach, grape, fig, mulberry, potato and ginseng; also dirt in
which some seeds are packed. (f) They are sometimes
brought to a field in manure, if the manure pile has stood on
infested soil.

(6) The following methods of control in greenhouses and
seed beds may be used: (a) The most efficient method of con-
trol is the use of live steam at fairly high pressure. The
steam is forced through a system of perforated pipes Jaid at
the bottom of the bed or bench. (b) The old, infested soil
may be entirely removed and the benches thoroughly cleaned
out. The non-infected soil may be put inits place. This
method 1s not advisable in regions where the nematode occurs
out of doors in the vicinity. (c) Infected soil, when it is
desired to save it and steaming is impracticable, may be
freed by allowing it to lie through the winter in a place
where it will be exposed to alternate freezing and thawing,
and especially to drying. (d) Soil containing perennial plants
can be nearly, if not quite, freed from nematodes by the use
of an abundance of a solution of formaldehyde (1 part of
commercial formaldehyde to 100 parts of water). ‘his solu-
tion is fatal to many plants and can be used only with great
caution.

(7) For the control of the nematode in the field where
the land is occupied by perennial crops no entirely satisfac-
tory chemical application can be recommended. Places where
trees are to be reset should be freed from nematodes by the
use of carbon bisulphide at a rate of 5 or 4 oz. per square yard,
placed in about nine holes per square yard, these holes being
about 6 to 12 inches deep and to he filled with soil as soon as
the chemical is placed in them. Carbon bisulphide cannot be
used with safety around living trees. Flooding the land seems
to be unsatisfactory, as flooding long enough to kill the nema-
todes is usually fatal to trees. High fertilization and con-
stant cultivation to induce growth often so help the trees
that they are able, as it seems, to outgrow the trouble, the
roots either penetrating to levels where the nematodes are
less abundant or being formed faster than the galls can be
produced. Avoid growing susceptible cover crops, like the
ordinary non-resistant varieties of cowpeas, for example, for
these multiply the nematodes in the soil manifold. In pre-
paring the land for setting out a perennial crop the soil
should be freed from nematodes by the use of the methods
suggested below.

(8) For land infested with nematodes and not bearing
a perennial crop, the following methods may be recommended:
(a) Keeping the land free from vegetation of all kinds for two
years. ‘This is the most effective method, but it is not prac-
ticable in many cases. (b) Planting the land to non-suscep-
tible crops for at least two (perhaps better three) years, using
in the winter small grains, such as wheat, rye or oats, and in
the summer the velvet bean, Florida beggarweed, the iron
cowpea, or even ground nuts, scrupulously destroying all

Vou, XI. No. 261.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 139

ooo SSS

weeds that might harbour nematodes. (c) Making heavy
applications of fertilizer, especially those containing potash,
except where the soil already contains this in abundance.
This treatment often reduces nematode injury greatly.
(a) Flooding the land for a period of some weeks. (e) Where
rain is not likely to interfere, ploughing and allowing the soil
to dry out for several months. (f) Preventing, by the use of
embankments, ditches, etc., the washing of soil from infested
fields to the field which is free from the pest. The introduction
of the pest by tools, wagons, farm animals, ete., should be
avoided. The trap crop methods, and the use of various chemi-
cals, have not proved practical as tested by the writer. The
former needs, perhaps, further trial.

(9) The ideal procedure is to develop non susceptible
strains of plants, so that the expense and trouble of extermin-
ating the pest may be avoided. Such strains may be obtained
by the selection of more resistant plants, or by crossing with
resistant strains, followed by the careful selection and breed-
ing of the progeny.

Further attention to this subject will be given in the
next number of the Agricultural News.

EXPORT TRADE OF UGANDA, 1910-11.

The great expansion of the export trade is phenomenal,
an increase of £130,675 on domestic produce being recorded.
The amount of the increase in domestic exports over the
previous year exceeds the value of the total exports of the
Protectorate of five years ago. ‘The articles chiefly responsi-
ble for the increase are cotton, chillies, ivory, hides, cotton
seed, and ground nuts. The figures would have been still
further increased had not transport been seriously affected
by an unfortunate outbreak of rinderpest along the main
routes from the cotton fields. Large quantities of produce
remained in the outlying districts towards the end of the
year, which could not be moved. A railway is, however, in
course of construction between Jinja and Namasagali, and
additional steamers and lighters are being placed on Lake
Kioga, which will effectively deal with all the produce from
the fertile Bukedi District.

FOOD, DRINK AND ToBAcco. The increase under this
head was £13,918. The quantity of chillies exported was
nearly double that of the previous year and ground nuts
show a satisfactory increase.

RAW MATERIALS, UNMANUFACTURED. The increase
under this head was £115,791. The greatest expansion in
the export trade is shown under this class and is largely due
to the increase in cotton export, the value of which—ginned,
unginned, and seed— increased from £60,445 in 1909-10 to
£168,620 in 1910-11. The approximate quantity of lint
cotton exported during the year under review was 2,740 tons,
as compared with 1,158 tons in 1909-10. Hides show
a decrease in quantity, but an increase in value. The
decrease is due to the outbreak of rinderpest and conse-
quent prohibition of the export of hides. A slight decrease
is shown in the value of wild rubber exported, owing to the
trees and vines being rested for a few months during the
year. Plantation rubber is now being exported, and extensive
planting of rubber trees of different varieties is being carried
out.

RAW MATERIALS, MANUFACTURED. The increase under
this head was £966. The exports of cotton seed and sesame
oi] show an improvement, and a still further extension of
these industries is anticipated. (Colonial Reports—Annual,
No. 708.)

AGRICULTURAL SHOW, MONTSERRAT,
1912.

The following account has been received from the
Curator of the Botanic Station, Montserrat, Mr. W.
Robson:—

The seventh agricultural show in Montserrat was held
in the Roman Catholic Schoolroom at Plymouth on March 6,
an adjoining enclosure being used for stock.

The show, which was a great success, was promoted by
the Agricultural and Commercial Society and was liberally
supported by the local Government and by the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, the latter of which gave a grant
of £15, and offered six diplomas of merit, for competition.

His Honour the Commissioner, in opening the Show,
congratulated all concerned in its promotion. He referred
to the marked increase in the number of exhibits and to the
excellent manner in which they were arranged. He further
stated that it was very gratifying to find that the prejudice
which has hitherto inclined many of the small growers to
think that there is an ulterior motive in the promotion of
such exhibitions, was to some extent breaking down, and he
hoped that it would disappear altogether. The very large
increase in the importation of American foodstuffs into the
island, in recent years, suggested to His Henour, that the
small grower was neglecting his provision ground, and he
strongly urged that greater attention be given to local food
crops, generally.

The total number of exhibits was 890, compared with
370 at the show held in 1911. There was a very marked
increase in the number and quality of the exhibits in the
classes for stock, sugar products, minor products including
starches and meals, and preserves. Vegetables were fairly
well represented, but the quality of the samples, on the whole,
was not as good as that in last year, owing no doubt to the
prolonged drought previous to the show. The classes for
fruit and cotton were poorly represented, probably chiefly
because of the time of year at which the show was held.

The marked increase in the stock exhibited was one of
the most pleasing features of the show. The number of
animals entered for competition in 1911 was 40; at the
recent show there were 120 entries. The principal sections
were colt or filly under two years, 9; horse over 14 hands, 4;
horse under 14 hands, 7; bull, 7; milch cow, 15; heifer, 11;
mule, 4; donkey, 14; pigs, 9; sheep, 16; and goats, 23.

A special prize given by His Excellency Sir Bickham Sweet-
Escott, Governor of the Leeward Islands, for the best collec-
tion of estates produce, brought forth three competitors, the
prize going to the Olveston Estate of the Montserrat Co., Ltd.

Of two prizes given by His Honour the Commissiner for
the most satisfactory piece of joiners’ work, the first was
awarded to two well finished mahogany chairs, made from
a tree felled in Montserrat.

Competition was also very keen for prizes offered by
Mrs. Davidson-Houston for drawn-thread work, many excel-
lent samples being shown.

The six Diplomas offered by the Imperial Department of
Agriculture were awarded for samples of seed-cotton, cotton
lint, an imported Canadian sheep and boar, a cow, a piece of
furniture and drawn-thread work.

An interesting function just previous to the closing of
the show was the distribution of the prizes by Mrs: Davidson
Houston.

The attendance at the show was the largest on record,
and the gate money nearly double that of any previous year.

There is ample evidence that the show as an institution
is appealing to all classes of the people, and it is anticipated
that it will be an annual event for some years to come.

140

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

GLEANINGS.

An article in the Union Gazette of South Africa for
January 19, 1912, shows that last year 1,018,630 bags (of
200 tb. net) of maize were shipped from British South
Africa. The amount in 1910 was 1,760,208 bags.

The distribution of plants from the St. Lucia Botanic
Station continues to indicate a maintained interest in lime-
growing, for during March it included 1,550 lime plants.
There were sent out 1,661 plants altogether, of which 300
were cacao plants. Seventy-one packets of seeds were also
distributed.

The distribution of plants from the Botanic Station,
Dominica, during March last amounted to 1,463, including:
limes 1,050, Para rubber 300, cacao 50, nutmegs 18, grafted
mangoes 4, miscellaneous 41. The total distribution from
this Station during the twelve months ended March 31, 1912,
was 76,363 plants.

The Board of Trade Journal for March 7, 1912, showed
that the number of bales of cotton imported into the United
Kingdom, up to the end of February last, was 1,303,714,
including 1,518 bales of British West Indian, 90 British
West African, 5,936 British East African, and 396 bales
Foreign East African.

In connexion with the importation and erection of an oil
engine and mill for the purpose of assisting in the worl: of
of sugar-cane experimentation in Antigua, it is reported
that this machinery is now available for use, and that the
engine has shown satisfactory behaviour in a trial run con-
ducted during last month.

With reference to Phylloxera, the well-known parasite
of the grape vine, it is of interest that in the year 1909,
6,120 tons of carbon bisulphide was used, in Hungary, for
the control of this pest. As it is found on the roots as well
as on the Jeaves of the plants, the employment of carbon
bisulphide as a measure against it is easily understood.

Attention is given, in the Mxperiment Station Record
for August 1911, p. 120, to experiments that have been con-
ducted for the purpose of observing the rate at which
common salt and sodium nitrate travel through soil. It was
shown that, even in sand, the rate of travel of the former is
very low, while it is strongly absorbed by clay. ‘lhe rate at
which nitrate of soda diffuses through loam soils was found
to be much less than is generally assumed, and the trials
would indicate that there is little danger of loss of nitrate,
in strong soils, during the time that the crop is growing.

The work in the Botanic and Experiment stations,
St. Kitts, received serious interference during last month
through drought. At the Experiment Station, the plots were
kept clean, and in the Botanic Station the plants were main-
tained alive by watering them. Much of the effort during

the month was concerned with the important work of cotton
selection

A note in the Bulletin Agricole, Mauritius, for January
1912, draws attention to experiments that have been con-
ducted in Cuba, which have shown that the yield obtained by
using the roots of sweet potatoes for planting is about three
and a half times as great as that given when cuttings are
employed for the same parpose. Similar results have been
obtained in the British West Indies, more definitely in the
Leeward Islands and in Barbados.

Tt is to be doubted whether the extent of monetary loss
caused by parasitic fungi is generally realized. The following
figures are, therefore, not without interest. The official esti-
mate of the loss due to the attacks of rust on cereals amounts,
in Prussia alone, to about £20,000,000. The loss from this
cause amounts to’ about £5,000,000 in the case of wheat, to
nearly £9,000,000 in that of rye, and to about £8,000,000
in oats. (The Gardeners’ Chronicle, February 24, 1912.)

Twenty-four thousand eggs of the silkworm weigh a quar-
ter of an ounce; the worm lives from forty-five to fifty-three
days; it increases in weight, in thirty days, 9,500 fold, and
during the last twenty-eight days of its life eats nothing. For
739 Ib. of mulberry leaves, 70 Ib. of cocoons are obtained;
10,000 cocoons give 8} tb. of silk, and 1 lb. of cocoons will
produce a single. thread 88,000 fathoms, or 100 miles, in
length. (The Queensland Agricultural Journal, February
1912.)

An abstract,in the Journal of the Chemical Society, 1910,
page 1106, gives an account of an indicator that is made by
placing radish skins in alcohol of 96 per cent. strength, and
carefully neutralizing the solution, if necessary, with semi-
normal potassium-hydroxide. The indicator turns green with
alkalis, and intensely red with acids. It is claimed to be more
sensitive than methyl orange or phenolphthalein; it resembles
the latter, however, in giving an acid reaction with carbon
dioxide.

It is reported from Montserrat that, during March, the
destruction of old cotton plants in the island was well ad-
vanced, and that a large area was ready for the sowing of
seed. It is expected that this area will be at least as large
as that planted in cotton in 1911. As regards selection and
manurial experiments with cotton, Mr. k. P. Penchoen has
again kindly placed 2 acres of land, situated at Dagenham
estate, at the disposal of the Agricultural Department, for the
carrying on of this work.

An abstract contained in the Budletin of the Bureau of
Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant Diseases for January
1912, p. 95, states that the examination of authentic speci-
mens of a plant from the island of Tenos in the Cyclades
(Greece) has led it to be considered that they belong to a new
species of Trifolium, namely 7’. pilulare, which was re-
garded hitherto as being confined to Asia Minor. It is
supposed that the dispersal of the seed of the plant has been
effected by wind,

Vor. XI. No. 261.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 141

SS ONS

eae
STUDENTS’ CORNER,

MAY.
First PERIop.
Seasonal Notes.

In the present quarter of the year, the work that was
indicated to be done in lime plantations for the last quarter

should be continued. This includes drainage, pruning,
weeding and mulching. Under what conditions are lime
cultivations most likely to exhibit a need for drainage, and
what are the signs that such conditions exist? In what cir-
cumstances do you consider that lime trees require pruning?!
State what objections, if any, there are to the pruning of
limes, and what precautions should be employed in carrying
it out.

Manure may be applied at the present time, and when
the period of regular rainfall begins. Among useful manures
for the purpose are sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of lime and
various proprietary manures. What are the essential differ-
ences between manures contained in the last mentioned
designation and those named first? It will be observed that
they all contain nitrogen. What changes usually take place in
regard to this substance before it is absorbed by plants! With
reference to these changes, it must not be considered that
they are absolutely necessary with respect to many substances
that contain nitrogen, for recent work has proved that several
compounds carrying this element can be absorbed by plants
under conditions such that there could not be any trans-
formation into nitrates, with the aid of bacteria.

Usually, the time for setting out young lime plants in
the field arrives in June, and in May the holes should be
prepared for the purpose of receiving them in the carefully
marked out positions that the plants will occupy. These
holes should be about 2 feet deep, and 2 feet wide and long.
They are allowed to remain open for a few weeks before the
limes are planted in them. Why is this done?

Give an account of the characteristics of a well-grown
lime seedling, and supply the details of the treatment that
seedlings receive in the nursery in order that they may
acquire the desirable characteristics.

The sowing of lime seeds at the present time is likely to
be successful in those islands possessing the larger rainfall, as
they are not liable to be killed by the disease known as
damping off—a disease that is most generally found to pre-
vail during wet weather. Give an account of the life-history
of the fungus that produces this disease.

The work that has been outlined for limes will include
the careful treatment of all wounds made in pruning or in
any other way. Wounds should be dressed with an antiseptic
substance or mixture which will discourage the attacks of
fungi and insects. A useful mixture for the purpose may be
made from resin oil and tar. Observe the way in which the
wounds heal, both large and small, and make sketches of the
progress of the healing process.

Lastly, in regard to limes, the present time is likely to
form a useful opportunity for the study of scale insect pests
of the plant, and of the fungi that are parasitic on them.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY (QUESTIONS.

(1) Give a list of manures that are used specially for
providing phosphorus.

(2) Write a description of what is seen in the case of
a scale insect attacked by a fungus parasite.

(3) Provide a list of the chief exports of the island in
which you live, in the order of their importance.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Write an account of the manufacture of any manure
that is used to supply phosphorus.

(2) Give as many examples as you can of scale insects
that you have seen to be attacked by fungi.

(3) Supply a description of the way in which any agri-
cultural product with which you are familiar is packed and
shipped.

FINAL QUESTIONS,

(1) What part does the element phosphorus occupy in
regard to the nutrition of plants?

(2) Write an account of the natural and artificial
methods employed in practice for keeping scale insects in
check.

(3) Give a general account of the conditions existing in
regard to the two chief crops of the island in which you live,
and state how far the replacement of the first in value, by the
second, is expedient.

PLANTS AND RADIUM.

Details of experiments that have been undertaken for the
purpose of ascertaining the effect of radium on plants, under
certain conditions, are given in the Comptes Rendus de la
Société de Brologie, Paris, 1910, p. 523, and 1911, p. 419.
The accounts are abstracted in the Hxperiment Station Record,
Vol. XXV, p. 523, and the matter there given is used for pre-
senting the following facts,

The unopened flower buds and the ovaries of Lilium
were exposed to radium rays of different strengths, with the
result that the former organs were arrested in their develop-
ment and commenced to dry up, while complete atrophy of the
ovaries and stigmas took place, and the anthers either did
not attain complete development or the period required for
them to come to maturity was much lengthened.

Microscopical examination of the anthers and ovaries
showed that there were either no nuclei, or incompletely
developed nuclei, in the former; in the ovaries the embryo-
sacs were atrophied, and this was not the extent of the
damage, for the same circumstance had occurred in the entire
ovule.

In further work, it was found that it was sufficient
merely to subject the flowers of Lilium to the action of the
rays to cause the underground stems (rhizomes) to rot or
fail to grow, so that it is concluded that the exposure of the
floral organs to strong radium rays has the result of causing
a general derangement of the vegetative part of the plant.

Observations were also made with Linum catharticum,
a plant commonly known as purging flax, which was grown
from seed in soil containing radium salts. Under the
condition, a general retardation was caused in the germina-
tion of the seeds and the growth of the plant. A further
observation went to show that the number of leaves pro-
duced on plants of this kind was increased by exposure to
the radium rays.

142

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aprit 27,-1912.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE PANAMA DISEASE OF BANANAS.
Part II.

In April 1911, Rorer published a full account of the
Moko disease of bananas and plantains in Phytopathology,
Vol. I, pp. 45-9, a reprint of which was issued by the Board
of Agriculture, Trinidad. The disease attacks the Moko,
Creole, and French varieties of plantain, and the dwarf or
Cavendish banana, but does not usually affect the Gros
Michel. It has been. proved by inoculation experiments to
be caused by a bacterium, to which the name of Bacillus
musae has been given. The symptoms of the disease, as
described by Rorer, are as follows:—

‘The presence of_the disease is as a rule first detected
in the lower leaves. The leaf blades droop a little more
than usual and have a slightly yellowish tinge—symptoms
very similar to those brought about by drought. Soon, how-
ever, the petiole of one of the leaves gives way just at the
base of the leaf blade, and all the other leaves quickly break
down in a similar manner. Eventually the terminal leaf,
too, bends over and the plant dies and rots down to the
ground,

‘Transverse sections of the pseudo-stem show that prac-
tically all the vessels are discoloured, the colour ranging
from pale yellow to dark-brown or bluish-black, and filled
with bacteria. The discoloured bundles run back into the
true stem and thence into the young suckers and buds.
Sometimes in badly diseased plants the tissues of the leaf
stalks and stems are broken down completely, so that fairly
large bacterial cavities are formed.

‘If transverse sections of leaf or stem are let stand for
a short time the cut surfaces soon become covered with
bacterial drops which have been forced out from the ends of
the bundles. If the sections when freshly cut are put in
large covered dishes away from the air, pure cultures of the
organism may be obtained directly from these drops. If the
disease is not severe, ora plant does not become infected
until it has just formed a branch of fruit it may remain per-
fectly healthy-looking, but many of the young fruits, or
“fingers” do not properly mature; they remain small and
eventually become black and rotten. In such cases it is
found that there are some discoloured bundles filled with
bacteria in the leaves, stem, fruit stalk, or fruits. When
diseased suckers are planted the terminal leaf frequently turns
black and dries up, so that the plant dies,’

The similarity of this description with that of the disease
in Panama and Costa Rica suggested to Rorer that they might
possibly be the same _ Further study, however, showed that
they were clearly distinct, the principal points of difference
being that Bacillus musae has never been isolated from the
vessels of plants attacked by the form of Panama disease
occurring in Trinidad; that in every case a species of Fusa-
rium has been isolated by Rorer from plants both in Trinidad
and from Surinam, which were attacked by the Panama
disease; that the longitudinal splitting of the leaf sheath —
a characteristic of the latter disease~ is not found in plants
attacked by the Moko disease; and finally, that the Gros
Michel variety, which is the most susceptible to the Panama
disease, seems to be naturally resistant to the Moko disease.

Besides this statement by Rorer of the existence of the
Panama disease in Trinidad, there is another mention by the
same author in the Annual Report of the Mycologist. 1909-10,
published by the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad. No general
account, however, has as yet been issued of the form of the
disease present in that island.

In April, 1911, Essed published in the Annals of Botany,
Vol. XXYV, p. 343, an account of the Panama disease as found
in Surinam. He attributed the disease to a fungus, which he
named Ustilaginoidella musaeperda. This had a Fusarium
condition, and, in so far as this stage was found, his account
supports those of other workers. His description of this
Surinam disease differs from McKenny’s description of that
found in Panama, principally in the absence of any smell; and
from Levy’s account, in the facts that no rotting is recorded
in the Surinam form of the disease, and that the roots remain
healthy until the tissue at their base is affected.

In the same ‘month, Basu published in the Quarterly
Journal of the Depar tment of Agriculture, Bengal, Vol. IV,
p. 196, an account of a disease attacking certain varieties of
banana in the neighbourhood of Chinsurah. Part of this is
reproduced:—

‘The chief symptoms of the disease are: (1) the turning
yellow of some of the older though otherwise healthy leaves,
(2) the formation of one or more much reduced leaves at the
crown, (3) the gradual withering of the younger leaves, (4) and
finally, the breaking down of the plant. The disease pro-
gresses so rapidly, that in ten or fifteen days from the first
appearance of it, the plant is found dead...............

‘By cutting a plant transversely near the base of the
leaf sheath, the disease becomes noticeable; either as black,
brown or yellow spots, varying in size from that of a circle
3 or 4 inches across. In longitudinal sections these
spots appear like streaks, which seem to pass from the roots
upwards into the root stock and the leaf sheaths. In many
places where a young plant is still attached to another plant
the disease passes from the mother plant to the young off-
shoot directly through the point of contact.’

A fungus having a Cephalosporium and a Fusarium
condition was isolated from the diseased tissues; numerous
bacteria, believed to be of a secondary nature, were also
present, as is the case in the forms of Panama disease preva-
lent in the West.

The most recent contribution to our knowledge of the
subject has been made by Drost, in Bulletin No. 26 of the
Department of Agriculture, Surinam. This author states
that this disease is different from that prevalent in Panama
and Costa Rica, though it has long been known as the
Panama disease, and although it also attacks principally the
Gros Michel variety. He bases this statement on a compari-
son of Levy’s description of the true Panama disease with
the symptoms of the Surinam form as observed by himself.
He proposes the name Surinam Panama disease, to distin-
guish it from the form prevalent in Central America.

The principal symptoms of the Surinam disease are as
follows: (1) The occurrence of yellow spots on the leaves;
this is best seen in young plants; it cannot be tiken as
a definite symptom, as it may be occasioned by other causes.
(2) The sudden appearance of one or more incompletely
developed leaves. Plants whose leaves were formerly healthy
may show this symptom when growing in infected soil, as
also may infected suckers when planted in healthy soil.
When it appears during the first development period of the
banana, it is an indication of a very strong infection, and
the bulb will be found on examination to be badly diseased
throughout. (3) Longitudinal splitting of the external leaf
sheath. This is usually found on infected soil, in cases
where the disease is spreading in from the outside; it is due
to the disintegration of the vascular bundles, which so
weakens the leaf sheath that it can no. longer resist the
pressure of the still vigorously growing inner leaves which it
enfolds. (4) In the most usual form, plants of six months
or older, which have been previously healthy, show a soften-

Vor, XI. No. 261.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 143

ing, ribbing and folding of the heart leaf, provided no fruit
is present. The older leaves break off at the junction of the
stalk and the leaf sheath, turn yellow, and die in a few days.
The plants are quite dead a few weeks later. When fruit is
present, the stem remains with the bunch at the top, but
the fruit is without value, as even when it is apparently ripe it
has no taste. The root systems of diseased bananas do not
appear to be less strong than those of healthy plants.

On cutting open a diseased bulb it is seen that the
vascular bundles are discoloured brown and that the dis-
coloration extends into some of the bundles of the leaf sheath
as well as, in some cases, into certain of the vascular strands
of the roots. The central portion of the bulb may commence
to rot when the disease is in an advanced condition, but the
outside remains firm for some time. The main differences
between this desctiption and that of Levy are that there are
no external symptoms of disease in the roots, that the plants
dry up and do not rot, and that there is no sniell The
absence of rotting in the bulb is a particularly noticeable
point of difference, except in the final stages of the disease.

Drost has shown by infection experiments that the
Surinam Panama disease is due to a fungus named Leptospora
musae which has Cephalosporium and Fusarium stages in its
life-history. It can penetrate the root hairs, and thence
spread into the central bundle of the roots, whence it passes
into the root stock and ascends the vascular bundles of the
leaf sheaths. Usually, however, it attacks directly the bundles
exposed at the place where the suckers have been cut from
the mother plant, under the surface of the soil. The fungus
is not asa rule found in the leaf blade or in the fruit stalk.

It would seem, from a consideration of the literature

cited, that the disease described by Earle from Stony Hill,
Jamaica, has probably no connexion with the other forms
described, and is purely a leaf disease. This opinion is sup-
ported by some remarks made by Cousins, and published in the
Jamaica Gleaner for January 19, 1912, in which he states
that the plants in that locality did not show any indications
of bacterial disease of the roots, but clear evidence of a fun-
gus disease of the leaves. Apart from this, there are two
fully described diseases affecting the vascular bundles, and
therefore the water-supply, of certain varieties of plantains
and bananas. ‘The first is the Moko disease described from
Trinidad, due to Bacillus musae, occurring on certain varieties
of plantains and bananas, but not usually on the Gros Michel.
The second is the Surinam Panama disease, due to Leptospora
musae, and attaining its greatest virulence on the Gros Michel.
Further, there seems to be a reasonable possibility that the
incompletely described forms of Panama disease mentioned
as occurring in Trinidad and Cuba will prove, on more com-
plete investigation, to be identical with that in Surinam;
while the similarity of the description of the disease in Bengal
with that of the latter cannot escape attention. It seems
advisable to regard the true Panama disease of Central
America as distinct from any of the above, at any rate until
it has been further investigated It may be that the noted
differences in symptoms between this and the Surinam Panama
disease are occasioned by secondary parasites, probably bac-
teria, which develop in the tissues damaged by the primary
agent, and that this primary agent is the same in both cases.
This, however, is purely a speculation.

All these diseases are characterized by_a destruction of
the vascular bundles which results in thé death of the
aérial portions, owing to the failure of the water-supply. At
the same time, the discoloration of the diseased bundles is
very similar in all the cases. This being so, it is natural
that there is some difficulty in determining the exact identity

of any given disease by mere examination of the field symp-
toms, unless the investigator is well acquainted with the
various forms, and with the minor differences by which they
may be distinguished. It is conceivable that, at certain
stages in the progress of the infection, even an experienced
observer might be mistaken; and, in any event, the isolation
and identification of the organism responsible for the disease
furnish by far the most satisfactory, and perhaps the only
definite, method of distinguishing them.

Previous articles on the subject of banana diseases have
appeared in the Agricultural News, Vol. X, pp. 110 and 254;
the latter deals more particularly with the work of Rorer
and Essed, to which reference has been made above.

PAINTING METAL PLANT LABELS.

The following note on this matter has been received
from Mr. J. C. Moore, Agricultural Superintendent,
St. Lucia:—

White metal plant labels, having the names formed in
raised black-faced type, are in common use throughout the
West Indian botanical gardens, and they are undoubtedly
the best form of permanent legible label for public gardens,
particularly in the tropics. An occasional scouring, followed
by a coat of paint over the raised type, is all that is necessary
to keep them perfectly legible. To paint over the raised type
without painting the white-metal body of the label may at
first appear a tedious and somewhat costly undertaking, when
several hundred labels have to be dealt with, but I have
devised a simple and expeditious method, which has proved to
be so successful that I think it is worth describing, in case it
may be found useful for trial in other public gardens.

All that is required is paint well mixed to the consis-
tency of printers’ ink, a slate such as is used in schools, or
some smooth, flat surface on which to spread the paint, and
a small rubber roller (I have employed a small roller intended
for use in connexion with photographic prints).

A small quantity of the paint (about a teaspoonful) is
poured on the slate and rolled out into'an even film. Pass-
ing the roller along the slate coats it with paint, and it is
then carefully rolled over the raised letters once or twice.
With a little practice, from forty to sixty labels can be
renovated in an hour.

A table is contained in Bulletin No. 234 of the Bureau
of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agri-
culture, just issued under the title The Cultivation and
Manufacture of Tea in the United States, which shows that
the quantity of tea imported into that country was, in 1908,
94,149,564 Ib, having an import value of $16,309,870.
Of this weight, about 27 million pounds came from China,
47 million from Japan, and 20 million pounds from India
and Ceylon. It is stated in the Bulletin that, although the
two last-named countries are increasing their trade in tea, in
the United States, the Chinese and Japanese teas remain in
the lead, perhaps because of the demand for green and oolong
teas. It is further considered that black teas are constantly
becoming more popular in the United States, and that they
may in time supplant the green tea, as has been the case in
Great Britain.

144

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

London.—THe Wesr

MARKET REPORTS.

Inpia ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,
April 9, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass & Co.,
March 29, 1912.

ArRrowRoot—3id. to 43d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/9 per th.

Brzswax—£7 10s. to £7 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 55/- to 75/- per cwt.; Grenada, 49/-
to 54/-; Jamaica, 49/- to 55/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 71/- to 80/- per cwt.

Uorra—West Indian, £26 15s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 19d. to 24d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincER—48/- to 65/- per cwt.

IsrnaLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotation.

Live Juice—Raw, 1/3 to 1/10; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d.
to £19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/3.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Macre—Steady.

Nutmrecs—Steady.

Pimento—Common, 213d.; fair, 22d.; good, 2}#d.; per tb.

Rupser—Para, fine hard, 4/93; tine soft, 4/9; Castilloa,
4/11 per tb,

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Suear—Crystals, 19/- to 22/-; Muscovado, 15/6 to 18/-;
Syrup, 12/6 to 18/5 per ewt.; Molasses, no quotations.

New York.—Messrs, Giitesriz Bros. & Co., March
22,1912.

Cacao—Caracas, llc. to 12ic.; Grenada, 1ljc. to 11gc.;
Trinidad, 11fc. to 12}c. per ib.; Jamaica, 10}c. to 11}c.

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $24°00 to $25°00; culls,
$15:00 to $16:00; Trinidad, select,§$25-00 to $26-00;
culls, $16°00 to $1700 per M.

Oorrre—Jamaica, 14$c. to 16fc. per fb.

GincER—9c. to 10jc. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 52c.; Antigua and Barbados, 48c.
to 50c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 45c. to 47e.
per Ib.

Grapre-FRvuit—Jamaica, $4°00 to $4°50.

Limes—$6°00 to $6°60.

Mace—58c. per th.

Nutmrcs—110’s, 125c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pinento—3d. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°49c. per tb. ; Muscovados, 89°,
3°98c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°74c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs, Gorpon, Grant & Co., April 15,

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $12°40 to $12°60 per fanega; Trinidad,
$11°80 to $1225.

Cocoa-nuT O1r—$1°05 per Imperial gallon.

Correz—Venezuelan, 154c. per fb.

Copra—$4:70 per 100 tb.

Dxaat—$3'90.

Onrons—$4:00 to $4°25 per 100 ib.

Pras, Sprit—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°90 to $2°25 per 100 ft.

Rice—Yellow, $4°8u to $5:°00; White, $6:25 to $6°50
per bag.

Svcar—American crushed, no quotations

A

PRIL~ 27, 1912.

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncn & Co., Ltd., April 20,

1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., April 22,

1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., April 12, 1912.

ArRowkRoot—$6'50 to $7:00 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$11°50 to $12°00 per 100 it.

Cocoa-nuts—$16°00.
Hay—$1-60 to $1:80

per 100 tb.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65-00 ; Cacao manure, $45:00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Nala es i be to $9°00 per 100 th.

Eas, Sprit—$7‘00 to $7°25 per bag of 210 ib.; Ca

$3:00 to $480 per bag of 120 Th otek

Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $4:00 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4:90 to $535 per 190 fb.; Patna, no
quotations; Rangoon, no quotations. ‘

Suear—American granulated, $5:25 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wretinc & Ricuter, April

13, 1912; Messrs. SanDBACH, Parker & Co.,
April 12, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARRowRooT—St. Vincent

Batata—Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STaRCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

Corrrr—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHat—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasses— Yellow
Onrtons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINs—
Potators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Potators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimseR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

Cordwood

”

Messrs. WIETING
& RicHtTer.

No quotation
70c. per tb.
17c. per tb.

48c.
$300

$12 to $16 per M

17c. per th.
18c. to 18sc. per th,
12c. per fb.
$3°75 per bag of
168 tb.

$4°50
$1-:80
None

$7-00 per bag
(210 tb.)

24c. to 60c.
$3°50 to $3°60
$156
per bag
No quotation
$5°25 to $5-50
$204
$2°64
$2:40
$3°30 to $3:-40
$4°25

$2°90 to $3-00
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6-00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited

18c. per th.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
16c. per th.
19¢. per tb,
12c. per ib.
$3°75 to $3:90 per
bag of 168 ib,

$7 °35 per bag
(210 tb.)
No quotation

$3°50 to $3-75
No quotation

$550

$3°30 to $3°35
$4°25

32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$4:00 to $6:00
per M.
No quotation.

SS —,

THER A4AGRIUULLURAL NEW).

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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in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4d.; (16) Hints on Onion Cultivation. Price 2d.

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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

The ‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts from official correspondence and from progress and
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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
local agents of the Department at one penny per number, post free, 2d. The subscription price, including postage, is
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Vout. XI. No 261 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Aprit 27, 1912.

THE BEST ‘-MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

Ae ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sagar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorfi’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorif’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

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

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.0
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown.

VAPORITE!
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TO BE ISSUED SHORTLY. 7 |
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN. FOR SAI Hy
(Vol. XII, No. 2.) | )

West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of|

Papers anid Proceedings: List of Repre: entatives; Presidential PRIME SUMMER YELLOW COTLON

Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago;

> 8 eet s 5° 4

Cacao; Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa nut, Lime} SEED OIL.

and Fruit, and Rice Industries; ( ‘otton; Agricultural Educa- In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).

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mittee: Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies; = =

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| arbados, W.I.

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Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

Vol. XI. No. 262.] SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1912. [One penny.

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| PLANTER CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.

CONTENTS.
Introduction, Soil,
Varieties, Climate,
Propagation:— Shade,
Selection. Preparing the Land.
Stock for Inarching Planting.
and Budding Cultivation.
Tnarching Fertilization or Manuring.
Budding, Pruning and Sanitation

TWELVE (12) FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
P.0. Box 1,007, Empedrado 30,

Havana, Cuba.

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

BARBADOS, MAY 11, 1912.

Price ld,

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.
Vou. XI. No. 262. ARB: —_

CONTENTS.
PaGE, PaGE,
Agriculture in the Straits Manure, New Artificial ... 153
Settlements, 1910 ... 157 Market Reports... ... ... 160
Agriculture in Trinidad, Notes and Comments ... 142

Noxious Weeds in Grenada,
Eradication of ...

1910-11 pean, Reelol
Anthrax in St. Vincent,
Legislation against ...
Australian Fruit Industries 159
Cotton Notes :—
Cotton Experiments on

Prize-Holdings Competi-
tition in” Jamaica ... 153
Publications of the Impe-
rial Department of

the Gold Coast... a LOU Agricul tte 152
West Indian Cotton ... 150 ., EB} CHa sci) oo
D ; isi it ~ Rubber Experiments in
epartment News 147 Be sa! ~
Departmental Reports 155 : ganda 2. ee 158
: SENDer eae ~ St. Lucia, Medical Work
Field Experiments, Inter- = 152

pretation of Results of 145

Fungus Notes :— Sterilization and Fertility 151

Hevea Rubber Stumps mendents' Comics ey
as Possible Carriers of Sugar Industry:—

Disease 158 Sugar from Shredded
Gleanings ... ... 156 Cane ..Mieetucrd) +s. 145
Insect Notes :— Tea, Manurial Experi

Eel Worms, or Nema- ments with... =4) LDS:
todes, Part II ... . 154,Tonka Bean ar UG)
The Pernicious, or San Vanilla, Curing of ... ... 148

José Seale ... . 154. West Indian Products . 159

The Interpretation of the Results of

Field Experiments.
IE

ston September 6, 1910, papers were read
before the Agricultural Sub-section, dealing with the
magnitude of error in agricultural experiments. These
have been published recently, with suitable modifica-

tions, at the suggestion of the Association, in a Supple-
ment to the Journal of the Board of Agriculture,
under the title The Interpretation of the Results of
Agricultural Experiments. Attention has been given
already to the subject in the Agricultwral News, in an
editorial article in Vol. VIII, p. 369, and it is intended
to employ the papers mentioned for the purpose of
supplementing the information that was then presented.

The first of the papers is entitled Field Trials and
Their Interpretation, by A. D. Hall, M.A., F.R.S., and
E. J. Russell, B.Se., of the Rothamsted Experimental
Station. This commences by pointing out that the
value of an experiment depends on the confidence that
may be placed in its results; that is to say, on the like-
lihood that, with a repetition, the same results will be
obtained. In agricultural experiments, the matter is
complicated by the fact that the material with which
the trials are made consists of living organisms, which
respond in various ways to ditterent factors of environ-
ment. The import of this is understood when it is
considered that, in manurial experiments for instance,
the object is to compare the effects of the provision of
different kinds of plant food; but the real issue is not
as simple as this, for the manures may affect directly
the texture and water-holding capacity of the soil, so
that the response of the plants is not connected immed-
iately with the power of the manures to provide food.
The circumstance makes it necessary that the object
of experiments should be clearly defined, and that the
methods by which they are carried out should be made
as simple as possible. This is specially important in
agricultural experimentation, as it has to be con-
ducted over a considerable period, for results to be
obtained, and any mistakes made at the outset can
rarely be rectified, so that they may cause it to be

GARD

146

necessary eventually to modify the whole scheme of
investigation.

Even though such a scheme may have been drawn
up most carefully, 1t is not possible to expect an exact
answer to the questions that it is sought to elucidate—
a matter that is amply illustrated by the differences
obtained in various years or various places. The aim
of the investigation is to find the most probable
result that can be given by the differing answers.
In obtaining this most probable result, in the first
case, a selection must not be made of the results to
which the greatest importance is attached; all the
figures that are given by the trials must have con-
sideration. In the same way, it must be realized
that the average result of a series of experiments
cannot always receive dependence. This is illustrated
from the consideration that the effect of a manure on
different soils, to take an example, will not be truly
represented by the mean of the results, on account of
the fact that several among them may give no response
of any kind to the manure. In such a case the only
accurate method is the repetition of the trials on the
same soil. Lastly, however great may be the care with
which the experiments are carried out, there is always
some error where measurements have to be made. It
is therefore necessary to recognize the existence of this
inevitable error, to reduce it as far as is practically
possible, and to measure its probable amount for the
purpose of determining what must be allowed for its
effect, in arriving at definite conclusions. Methods
have been devised for estimating this probable error,
and although they were invented for use in astronomy
and physics, they can be employed equally in agricul-
tural experimentation.

In considering the causes of variation in the
results of field trials, 16 is evident that these can never
be repeated under exactly the same conditions. This
fact, together with what has just been stated, shows
that the differences observed arise in two ways: from
the true error of the experiment, and from the diver-
gence between the conditions of the various trials.
One of the most potent among such conditions is
lack of uniformity in the soil. Another is the effect
of hedges and trees, in subjecting plants in different
parts of the plot- to varying circumstances. A slight
difference of level, even, in an experimental field may
suffice to render the undulating part of it useless
for the purpose of investigation. In temperate lati-
tudes, more than in the tropics, lasting effects of a dis-
turbing nature arise from old applications of pen
manure. Again, the conditions of plant growth may

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 11, 1912

not be uniform, and this is why the outside row or
rows often does not receive consideration in arriving
at results. Further, there is the effect of the unequal
incidence of diseases and pests: it must be remem-
hered, however, that this may possess a useful
significance in regard to the subject at issue; thus
a lack of potash is liable to be shown by a greater
susceptibility to disease. ‘These considerations would
not be complete without a reference to the effect of the
individuality of plants, which however is small because
of the large number that is usually employed in an
agricultural experiment. Lastly, there is the effect of
variation in season, which may be very large. All the
sources of variation that have been dealt with may be
divided into two groups: firstly, those that get smaller
with the decrease in the size of the plot, as for instance
variation in the-soil and the conditions of growth; and
secondly, those that become greater as the size of the
plot decreases, these being the variations in the indi-
viduality of the plant and in the incidence of disease,
and the effect of the outside rows.

The facts that have been adduced are sufticient to
show that the chances of accuracy of experiments are
enhanced by increasing the number of plots. In this
way, the effect of unequal conditions in the soil tends
to become eliminated, and the errors made in experi-
mentation and observation go to balance one another.
As, however, the addition of plots increases the labor-
iousness of the work, the number of plots used must
be the result of compromise between accuracy and
convenience.

At this stage, it is evident that the magnitude of
the experimental error in field trials will be dependent
on the character of the soil and sub-soil, the previous
history of the former, and the nature of the crop and of
the season, so that it is necessary for this error to be
calculated on each occasion that the trials are made.
It is, however, desirable to know what may be the
erder of the error to expect, and the determination of
this and of other similar matters will receive attention
in the next number of the Agricultural News.

Experiments in which the Bambarra ground nut ( Voand-
zeia subterranea) was fed, with hay, to wethers is described
in Der Tropenpflanzer, 1911, p. 413. The unshelled pods
were used, and the percentage co efficients of digestibility
proved to be: fat 100, proteids 84-2, nitrogen-free extract 84:3,
cellulose 256. Analysis of the pods thus employed gave the
following percentages: water 15, proteids 17°9, fat 3:9, nitro-
gen-free extract 49:1, fibre 10°7, ash 3:4. The Bambarra
ground nut was described in the Agricu/tural News, Vol. IX,
p. 340. It is under trial at several of the Botanic Stations
in the West Indies.

Yoru: XI. No. 262:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 147

SUGAR INDUSTRY

SUGAR FROM SHREDDED CANE.

The manufacture of sugar from shredded cane, by
what is known as the McMullen process has been des-
cribed, cr has received attention, in the last volume of
the Agricultural News, on pages 67, 83, 195 and 303,
The following further information is contained in the
American Sugar Industry, for April’ 1912:—

A coriespondent of the Chemiker-Zeitung gives the
following account of the manufacture of dried sugar cane as
now carried out in Cuba under the auspices of the United
Fruit Company.

In the so-called bagasse factory situated in Preston, on
Nipe Bay, in north-eastern Cuba, neither sugar nor cellulose
is made. The products of this factory are the so called
‘fibre’ and ‘pith’. The ‘fibre’ is the bast-like long fibres of
the cane, and the ‘pith’ is the fine cellulose fibres of the mare.
These two products combined contain the entire quantity of
sugar originally present in the cane.

It kas been found a very difficult matter to separate the
two very different kinds of fibre in the cane by one and the
same boiling process, because one kind requires a vigorous
chemical treatment which destroys the other kind. For this
reason the United Fruit Company has adopted the McMullen
process, in which the two kinds of cellulose are first separated
and then treated separately to obtain their sugar and cellulose.
To boil the dry cane first and then separate the two fibres, as
is recommended in another process, is not the correct way.

In order to separate the components of the sugar-cane,
fibre and pith, the cane is first cut up by rotating, chopping,
and at the same time tearing knives, without loss of sugar.
The fragments are then quickly dried and. subjected to
a second beating; the fibre and pith are then separated in
rotating sieves. Analyses of these two sugar-cane products,
which were exhibited at the Industrial Exposition in Havana
in February of last year [see Agricultwral'News, Vol. X,
p. 303], showed the following results: —

DRIED CANE.

In fibre, In pith,

per cent. per cent.
Moisture 8:20 6:10
Sucrose 33°05 50°36
Glucose 2-08 3°42
Non-sugar 9:93 5°10
Fibre 46-74 35°02

After this mechanical separation, the components of the
sugar-cane are subjected to high pressure in a press and
shipped in the form of bales. If the moisture content
exceeds a certain per cent., the juice is pressed out of the
fibres with the result that there is formed a compact solid
mass of the consistency of wood. This contingency must be
avoided in order to prevent difficulties in the subsequent
operation. The cane being=prepared in this form, further
operations can be carried out in Cuba itself, or in any
industrial district of other countries where there may exist
more favourable labour conditions, and where the cost of
obtaining fuel for heating is not so great.) =——

The dried cane is utilized chiefly in obtaining sugar and
cellulose for the manufacture of paper, and it is reported that
considerable quantites of wax are obtained as a by-product.
At the present time the sugar is obtained from this dried
sugar-cane by diffusion in a beet sugar factory at Madison,
Wisconsin. The fibre extracted from this material is then
worked up in a paper mill to cellulose. The quality of the
resulting cellulose lies between that obtained from straw and
that obtained from esparto—a species of Spanish grass (Mac-
rochloa tenacissina [synonym of Stipa tenacissima)), of which
cordage, shoes, baskets, ete, are made. It is also used in
making paper.

At the present time the process employed in obtaining
the fibre is the soda process, but there exists a question as to
whether this process can survive, because large quantities of
chloride of lime are required for bleaching and the use of this
chemical is accompanied by decreasing yields. The two
situations together make the economic standing of the pro-
cess very doubtful. A better process is urgently needed, and
it is very likely that a new method which has been proposed
will give the desired results.

The material called ‘fibre’ yields long, strong, bast-like
fibres. The pith contains about 75 per cent. water-soluble
substances. Three-fourths of its weight, therefore, consists
of sugar. After extraction the crude fibre of the pith is found
to consist of cellulose, oxycellulose, and about 12 per cent.
of lignocellulose, determined by the method of Dr. Renker.
The very short fibres of the pith are said to constitute a very
geod material for the manufacture of nitro-cellulose.

The advantages of the McMullen process consist in the
fact that it permits sugar-cane, which can be kept only a com-
paratively short time, to be subjected to a preliminary treat-
ment without affecting the quality and quantity of the sugar
it contains. It is thus put into a condition which makes
the factory manager independent of the season The cane
thereby acquires good keeping quality, is easily transported,
and may be worked up in localities where fuel and labour
conditions are more favourable than in the tropics. It is self-
evident, says the correspondent of the Chemiker-Zeitung, that
if the McMullen process becomes capable of general introduc-
tion, it will bring about great changes in the sugar industry.
If, under favourable conditions, the cane sugar industry
-ecomes able to furnish cellulose for paper manufacture, this
may mean that cane sugar will come to play an important
part in the European markets, since the profits on the
by-products will enable the sugar to be sold at a lower price.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. F. W. South, B. A., Mycologist on the Staff of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, returned from
St. Lucia by the S.S. ‘Guiana’, on April 26, after visit-
ing that Presidency for the purpose of making investi-
gations in connexion with plant diseases in the i-land.

According to the Board of Trade Journal for March 28,
1912, it is reported by H. M. Consul at Dairen that for the
last two or three years attempts have been made to introduce
the Lima bean (Phaseolus Junatus) into Manchuria. It has
been found necessary, however, to abandon the attempt on
account of the expenses incurred in protecting the seedlings
from high winds, which, when added to other unavoidable
expenditure, render the venture unprofitable.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS © May 11, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE CURING OF VANILLA.

The increased interest that is being shown in certain
parts of the West Indies with regard to the production of
vanilla has made important the consideration of the question
as to the best way of carrying ont the process of curing, on
which the ultimate value of the product so much depends,
In view of this fact, it may be well to give an abstract of the
information that is presented concerning the subject in
the publication issued recently under the title Spices, by
H. N. Ridley, M.A., ©.M.G., F.R.S., F.L.S, late Director of
Botanic Gardens, Straits Settlements.

The objects of the artificial methods for curing vanilla
are to hasten maturity, to produce a uniform and simultaneous
ripening of all parts of the pod, and to prevent splitting of
the pod and consequent loss of the perfume. The means for
artificial curing include the employment of hot water, sun
heat, and stove heat.. Particulars of the best known among
them are as follows,

THE GUIANA PROCESS. After the pods have been placed
in ashes until they begin to shrivel, they are removed and
wiped, rubbed with olive oil, and tied at the lower end in
order to prevent them from splitting They are then left to
dry in the open air.

THE PERUVIAN PROCESS. The pods are hung in the open
air for twenty days, after being dipped in boiling water and
tied at the end. They are then smeared lightly with castor
oil, and tied in bundles a few days afterwards.

THE MEXICAN PROCESS. The pods are allowed to shrivel
under cover, and then are sweated in two different ways,
according to the weather at the time. In warm and fine
weather, they are exposed to the rays of the sun, on a woollen
blanket, in the early morning. At mid-day, or soon after-
wards, the blanket is folded over the pods, and the bundle
left in the sun until evening, when the vanilla is sweated in
air-tight boxes during the whole night. On the next day
they are again left in the sun, after which time their colour
turns to a dark coffee shade, the depth of the shade varying
with the success of the sweating. In cloudy weather, the
pods are made into bundles, which are formed into small bales
covered first with a woollen cloth, then with banana leaves, and
finally in a thick matting, which is sprinkled with water. The
bales containing the largest beans are placed in an oven at
a temperature of 140° F., and the temperature is allowed to
fall until it reaches 113° F., when the smaller beans are

c

introduced, and the oven closed tightly. The smaller beans
are kept in the oven for twenty-four, and the larger for
thirty-six, hours, when they acquire a fine chestnut colour. In
order to dry them, the pods are exposed to the sun on mat-
ting, every day for nearly two months, and then the drying
is completed in the shade. This process is said to have been
employed successfully in Réunion for some years; it requires

however, care and skill. :

THE BOILING WATER Process. This has also been found
successful in Réhnion, In the first stage the pods are placed
in cylindrical baskets of rattan and lowered into large iron
cauldrons containing water nearly at boiling point (about
194°F.). The time of dipping varies: sometimes it lasts for
fifteen to twenty seconds, when it only takes place once;
and at others two or three dippings are given, each lasting
three or four seconds. The water is then allowed to drain
away from the pods, on tables covered with black cloth, or
on mats. After all the pods have been scalded, they are piled
together, covered up, and put into an oven for a quarter
of an hour. In the next stage, they are exposed to the sun,
on tables covered with blankets, until two or three o’clock,
when they are rolled up in the blankets and either kept
warm in a closed room, or put to retain their heat, into
cases lined with wool. Four, six or eight days are required
for this stage of the process, according to the weather, and
the pods are examined from time to time in order that those
which are ready may be removed, the condition being
recognized by the pod becoming flexible, and the skin of
a uniform deep chocolate-brown, and marked with longitudinal
furrows. Drying is carried out on tables, made of rattan or
perforated, placed in a drying house usually roofed with zine,
and with windows that are open during the middle of the day.
They remain here for about a month or a little longer, and are
turned frequently in order that they may dry easily. The
completion of the process is shown by the fact that the pods
have become black and may be twisted easily round the finger
without cracking. Before they are sorted they are passed
through the fingers repeatedly in order that the oil that they
exude during fermentation may give them the proper supple-
ness and lustre.

POTIER’S PROCESS. After having been soaked in rum
for twenty to thirty days, the pods are exposed to the air for
thirty-six to forty-eight hours, without becoming completely
dry. They are then shipped in the rum in which they were

Vou. XI. No. 262

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

149

first soaked. Simplicity is claimed for the method, but it is
expensive.

A process for drying vanilla ‘with the aid of calcium
chloride is deseribed in the Kew Bulletin for 1898, p. 43,
and the account is abstracted in the work, that has been
employed in presenting the following details.

The pods are placed on end, close enough to secure
pressure without damage by rubbing, in ting fitted with lids
closing on the outside of the tin, the pods Ne the last layer
being placed on their sides. They are then covered with
a woollen cover, and the lids put on. The tins are put into
halves of wine barrels, which are filled with water up to the
lids of the tins, care being taken that no water gets into the
latter. After the barrels have been left for the night, covered
with a piece of sacking, the pods are taken out and dried in
the air, and then placed under woollen coverings in full
sunlight, for two or three days. ’

This is the preliminary curing process, used before
the method of drying with calcium chloride that is
described. For drying, there are used closed boxes,
made of galvanized iron and containing calcium chlo-
ride. Each box is about a yard square, and fitted with
a hinged, air-tight door, closing on an india-rubber edging.
There are eleven trays in each box, in the sixth of which,
as well as on the bottom of the box there are placed about
40 tb. of calcium chloride, while the remaining trays
contain about 100 tb. of vanilla; the bottom of each tray
is perforated. The receptacles for the calcium chloride are
double bottomed, the inner bottom being perforated in order
to allow the calcium chloride that has absorbed water to run
away from the rest; more calcium chloride is added as it is
wanted. Every two or three days the vanilla is examined,
and any damp pods are placed in the sun. Twenty-five to
thirty days is required for this part of the process.

The vanilla is next put into frames, in a covered, well-
ventilated place for several days, and then into tin boxes
each containing a weight of about 40 Ib. It remains in these
for several weeks, during which time any pods that show
mildew are carefully wiped.

When the perfume is well developed, the vanilla is
subjected to treatment for the purpose of removing any dust
and spores of mildew upon it. For this purpose, 40 tb. of
the vanilla is put into about 6 gallons of water at 140° F,
and vigorously stirred by hand. Lastly, the pods are taken
out, wiped lightly, and put to dry in the shadé.

A process called Macfarlane’s process is employed
specially for Vanilla Pompona, as that for V. planifolia
cannot be used for the former without loss through splitting
of many of the pods. In this, the pods are placed in the
shade in layers 6 or 8 inches deep, for about three weeks,
until they turn to a uniform, deep, red-brown colour, when
they are exposed to the sun in wooden trays, 3 feet by 6 feet
and 2 inches deep, in layers of about 14 inches. They are
turned two or three times a day, and at about 3 p.m., or
whenever rain threatens, the trays are stacked one upon
another, under cover, and blankets are placed over them.
In three or four days the pods are packed while hot into old
40-Ib. biscuit tins, in which they remain for two days, when
they are then spread out in the trays, and covered with
blankets. From this time the processes are alternated, one
day in the sun and one or two in the tins, until the pods
have become soft and pliant, when they may be left for
a couple of weeks at a time in the tins, as long as the latter
are fairly air-tight. The chief precautions to be observed
are the frequent turning of the pods, and care never to
spread them singly in the trays.

A safer plan, but one requiring more house room, is te
remove the pods when they have lost about half their weight,
and are distinctly wrinkled, to frames covered with wire-cloth
or thin sacking, the frames being placed in a well-ventilated
building so that the pods may become dry.

THE TONKA BEAN.

Information concerning the tonka bean has been
given, more recently, in the Agricultural News, Vols. V,
p. 212; and IX, p. 149. The following additional
details are taken from an article appearing in the
Journal of the Royal Society of Arts for March 15,
1912:—

The tonkin, tonqua or tonquin bean of commerce is sup-
posed to have first reached Wurope from the Province of
Annam, Tonquin. It is the dried seed of the fruit of the
leguminous tree called by botanists Dipteryx odorata, which
grows in the forests of the northern part of South America.
The tree attains a height of 80 feet, and the fruit is an
oblong, fibrous pod that contains one seed, almond-shaped but
larger, and covered with a shiny black skin. The seeds have
the sweet odour of new-mown hay. ‘Tonka trees flourish in
the Guianas, in the state of Para, Brazil, and the Orinoco
basin of Venezuela.

The tree is found scattered singly throughout the forest,
rarely in groves. Experience has shown that the third-year
crop is generally the best, although it is almost impossible to
forecast the harvest of any one year. In Venezuela the tree
is known as the ‘Serrapia’, from which the men engaged
in collecting the beans earn their name ‘serrapieros’.

Men, women and children all take part in the collection,
The fruit is much like the mango in appearance, and serves
as food for the natives. It has but little pulp, which is sticky
and of insipid taste, while the seed is covered with a hard,
fur-like substance. When the serrapiero has gathered sufti-
cient fruit, he carries it to some open spot in the forest, where
he can get the benefit of strong sunlight; he here carefully
breaks open the hard shell and extracts the single oblong,
dark-brown bean. The seeds are then spread to dry on large
granite slabs common in Venezuela, The dried beans are
then shipped to Ciudad Bolivar and sold to local merchants,
who may subject them to the process called crystallization, or
who may send the beans on to Trinidad, where this process
can be carried on much more cheaply. Crystallizing is an alco-
holic treatment. Open casks are ranged side by side and
filled with beans to within 1 foot of the top. Strong rum is
then poured over them until the casks are quite full, when
they are covered with gunny bags. At the end of twenty-
four hours the rum not absorbed is run off, and the beans are
spread out to dry where the air circulates freely. When first
emptied from the casks the beans are of a dull black colour,
soft and swollen, but, on drying, shiny white crystals appear
on their surfaces, and by the time they are ready for packing
they seem to be sugar-coated. The beans shrink in drying,
and present a wrinkled appearance when ready for final
exportation. ‘Tonka beans, pulverized, are mixed with snuff
and tobacco to give a bouquet, and their sweet scent finds
thema ready market with perfumery and soap manufacturers,
Somtimes they displace the vanilla bean, but strictly speak-
ing, it is the fragrant odour that gives value to the fruit.

The tonka bean is also found scattered through the
forest lands of Colombia.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 11, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date April 22, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :-—

A fair amount of business is reported in West Indian
Sea Islands since our last report. and prices are firm. The
sales comprise Antigua, Nevis, St Kitts, Montserrat, An-
guilla, Barbados, 18d. to 20d, and St. Vincent 23d. Some
stains have also been sold from 7d. to 10d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending April 13, is as follows:—

The market remains very quiet with little or no demand.
There is some enquiry for a few of the Planters’ Crop Lots,
but at prices below the average views of the Factors. There
has been shipped this week to Northern mills 300 bales
which were held in stock by an exporter, consisting of part
of a purchase made last October, at 18c. to 20c., of cotton
more or less off in preparation.

In the absence of any demand we can only renew our
last quotations, viz :—

Extra Fine 32c.=18d., c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fine ea Ree? to 28e. = 15d. to 16d., c.i.f. & 5 per cent.

Fine to Extra Fine, We- fo 6c. = 104d. to 144d
off in preparation J ci ae

” ” ”

COTTON EXPERIMENTS ON THE GOLD
COAST.

Experiments in cotton-growing are being carried
out at the Agricultural Station, Tamale, on the Gold
Coast. The information below is taken from a descrip-
tion of them thai is given in the Report of the Agricul-
tural Department for the year 1910, which has just been
recelved:—

The Station is worked on the principle of a farm for
annual crops, as this suits the agricultural needs of the
Dependency. Plots are set apart for various perennial econ-
omic plants, and the remainder of the farm has been placed
under rotation, in which cotton figures prominently.

The rotation to be observed is as follows: first year,
leguminous crops, such as ground nuts, native beans, cow-

peas, pigeon peas; second year, cotton, American, or other
variety; third year, native Hibiscus fibre, maize or other grain
crops, followed. by quick-growing leguminous crops to be
turned in for green manure; fourth year, cotton, native or
other variety.

Plots have also been set aside for the cultivation of
selected types of native cottons, for testing exotic varieties,
and experiments in different times of sowing have been insti-
tuted

The total yield obtained from the cotton sown in 1909,
gathered during the first quarter of the year under review,
has been most unsatisfactory. The experiment was confined
to testing different times of planting the Black Rattler
(American) variety, with the ordinary native variety.

The yields are so poor that the results of the different
sowings can hardly be relied on, but unless better returns
can be shown in future it would appear that cotton cannot
be successfully grown for export. There was at first some
difficulty in obtaining an adequate supply of labour, so it is
probable that the poor returns are due in some measure to
the land having been insufficiently prepared. The soil at
the Station, however, although said to be representative of
that in the Dependency is not very fertile, and in any
case large returns cannot be looked for.

During the past year, six different varieties have been
cultivated, viz.: American Black Rattler, American Jones
Improved, American Hawkins, American Upland, Nyasaland
American, and’ Dagomba Native.

A few selected types are also being grown, and are
showing interesting variation. The present crop of Black
Rattler is from seed of the previous year’s crop. It appears
to be acclimatized. The seed of the other exotic varieties
was received from Southern Nigeria.

Five expetimental plots were sown with native cotton,
and four with American Black Rattler at different times, with
a view to ascertain the best season in which to plant.

The first sowings were made on July 13, and subsequent
sowings at intervals of fourteen days.

The value of these experiments has been diminished by
heavy rains making the plots swampy, and by an attack of
insects which destroyed the first crop of bolls.

The climate seems suitable for cotton-growing if neces-
sary precautions against drought are taken. It is essential to
get a deep-rodted plant before the Harmattan commences,
otherwise the plant will quickly dry up, giving poor returns,
Mulching has been found to be of great benefit.

The quality of some of the cotton is excellent; it is of
fine colour and lustre, and the seed is good.

Gathering of the crop is proceeding, and gives indica-
tions of better yields than in last year.

VoL. XI No 262

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

151

AGRICULTURE IN PREINIDAD, 1910-11.

cacao. The exports of cacao continue to increase in
quantity, 57,858,640 tb., of the value of £1,230,097, having
been exported during the year ending December 31, 1910.
The manurial experiments at River Estateghave been con-
tinued, and also on private estates in different parts of the
Colony. It is too early yet to draw conclisions. Spraying
experiments, conducted by the Board of Agriculture, indicate
a profit over the cost of the spraying. Diseasl of cacao, fortun-
ately not very serious, have continued to receive careful
attention. To promote better methods amongst small growers,
a Cacao Prize Competition [see Agricy/tural News, February
17, 1912, p. 53] has been arranged, and is expected to pro-
duce useful results; the number of entries, 430, was much
larger than was anticipated.

suGAR. The exports during 1910 amounted to 46,248
tons—an increase of slightly under 1,000 tons over those of
1909, Special attention has again been devoted to the study
of the froghopper, which is a destructive insect pest. In
addition to the local officers, an entomological expert from
England, specially engaged by a group of. proprietors, has
conducted investigations. The pest, however, is one which
is very difficult.to cope with, and no certain and practical
method of eradicating it has yet been discovered.

coco-nuts. The cultivation of this tree is being extended
in certain districts of both ‘I'rinidad and Tobago. Diseases,
as in other parts of the world, have caused some difficulty,
but care is being taken to keep them in check. The exports
during 1910 amounted to 18,872,962 nuts, 2,046,621 tb. of
copra, and some oil, making a total value of £86,823.

RUBBER. This product continues to receive much a.tten-
tion. Large supplies of Castilloa and Funtumia seeds are
available localiy, as also moderate supplies of Hevea seeds
from local trees. Experiments in tapping and preparing
rubber have been continued by the Department of Agricul-
ture, and planters in Tobago are making marked advances.
Trees of both Castilloa and Hevea rubber give normal yields;
of Funtumia but little is known at present; 7,375 Ib. of
rubber, valued at £1,395, was exported.

RICE. This industry continues as hitherto in the hands
of small growers, the majority of whom are Kast Indians,
who mostly produce for their own use.

BANANAS AND OTHER FRUIT. The experiments conducted
by the Department of Agriculture on the Government Estate,
St. Augustine, continue to demonstrate the profitable use of
pen manures. The disease which earlier threatened the
banana cultivation has been largely reduced by rotation of
crops. At St. Augustine the expenses of the banana cultiva-
tion were £1,092 (including rent charges, ete.), and the
receipts £1,647. The profits would have been greater, but
3,500 bunches were lost during the disorganization of the
mail service. The total shipments of fruit from the Colony
amounted to £19,952.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS, One successful show was held
during the year. 5

GOVERNMENT FARMS. The Farm in Trinidad has been
enriched during the year by the importation of Guernsey,
Jersey, Shorthorn and Gujarati cattle, a hackney mare and
pigs. The stallions, ete., continue to be in good demand.

The future of the Tobago farm has formed the subject
of investigation by a committee, which has recommended
limiting it to a stud farm. A shorthorn bull, pigs and
poultry have been imported.

RIVER ESTATE. This estate, managed; by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and used for experimental work, has had
a successful year. The crop was the largest on record; the

expenses were £1,312 (including £654 capital charges) and
the receipts £1,585.

INFLUENCE OF BOTANIC STATIONS ON MINOR INDUSTRIES.
One important means of encouraging minor industries is by
the distribution, at reasonable rates, of good plants and seeds.
During the year there has been a check in this direction
owing to other views having been held previously, with con-
sequent diminution in the nursery stock available. However,
60,484 plants were distributed (by sale, exchange or gratis)
including in order of numbers: cacao, sugar-cane, sisal hemp,
timber trees, fruits, rubber, coffee. In addition large num-
bers of seeds were disposed of. Seed of hybrid cotton
and tobacco, raised in Tobago for the Department of Agri-
culture, are being distributed free from the Botanic Stations.
Grafted mangoes and other high-class fruits are prepared.
In addition, the officers of the stations maintain touch, as far
as is practicable, with the cultivators, and give advice when
desired. Rubber tappers are being trained to be available on
estates. (Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 699.)

PARTIAL STERILIZATION AND FERTILITY.

The effect of partial sterilization in increasing the
fertility of soils has received attention in several issues
of the Agricultural News, as for instance, in Vol. IX,
pp. 33 and 107, and in the last issue, on p. 131. Further
experiments, having for their object the investigation
of partial sterilization on the activity of nitrogen fix-
ing bacteria in artificial culture, are thus described

~ shortly on pp. 14 and 15 of Bulletin No. 113 of the

Pennsylvania State College Agricultural Experiment
Station:—

It has been noted by many observers that the treatment
of the soil by ether, chloroform, carbon bisulphide, and other
antiseptics that are capable of sterilizing it more or less com-
pletely, is followed, at least after a short time, by increased
vigour of crop growth, similar to that produced by a dressing
of nitrate of soda.

Two theories have been advanced to account for this
effect: one, that the antiseptic kills the organisms hostile to
the useful soil bacteria, and thus favours their highest devel-
opment and effect; the other, that these antiseptics directly
stimulate the plant itself.

In the course of an extensive study of the bacterial flora
of a General Fertilizer Series, G.C. Given compared the
amounts of nitrification in different portions of a culture
medium, severally inoculated from the soils of various plots.
Of these inoculated media, some were partially sterilized
by heating in an autoclave for five minutes, at a pressure of
17 tb. to the square inch, corresponding to a temperature of
254° F.; the remainder were left without such modifying treat-
ment before incubation... At the end of an incubating period
of thirty days, it was found that the partially steriliz+d enl-
tures had produced from 1°6 to 29 times as much nitric avid
as the corresponding unsterilized cultures; or an average of
twice as much from the soils of five plots representing as
many different fertilizer treatments.

These results show that the resistant nitrifying bacteria
of these soils have been far more active after partial steriliza-
tion of the inoculated culture media, and support the former
of the two theories above stated. In partial sterilization,
either by heat or by aid of antiseptics, greenhouse men have
the means for diminishing the activity of certain injurious
organisms, and for increasing that of other helpful agents,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 11, 1912.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Conner eey 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 ld. per number:
post free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s, 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

| Fgrieultural News

Vou, XI.

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1912. No. 262.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

In this issue, the editorial is entitled The Inter-
pretation of the Results of Field Experiments. It is
intended to pursue this subject further in the next
issue of the Agricultural News.

Under the heading Fruits and Fruit Trees, on
pages 148 and 149, detailed information is given con-
cerning methods that are employed in the curing of
vanilla, The matter is of some importance with refer-
ence to the increased interest in this product that is
being shown in the West Indies.

Page 151 contains an interesting note dealing with
observations on the partial sterilization of soils and their
fertility. This is in continuation of the subject in
several articles that have appeared from time to time in
the Agricultural News.

The Insect Notes, on page 154, contain the con-
eluding article dealing with eel worms or nematodes.
There is also presented on the same page a note on the
pernicious or San José scale.

ete

On page 158, the Fungus Notes contain an article
in which consideration is given to the possibility that
Hevea rubber stumps may carry disease. The subject
is of special interest in view of the fact that these are
being imported in certain cases for the purpose of
supplying planting material of Hevea.

The same page contains an account of rubber
experiments that have been conducted in recent years,
in Uganda.

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

The West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XIL, No. 2. con-
taining an account of the West Indian Agricultural
Conference, 1912, is just being issued. The details
included in the account are arranged under the
following heads, as an abstract of the papers and pro-
ceedings: List of Representatives; Presidential Address;
Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago; Cacao;
Sngar: Plant Diseases and Pests; Cocoanut, Lime and
Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural Educa-
tion; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commis-
siouer im Canada; Telegraphic Service: Entomological
Research Committee: Committee on Entomological
Research, West Indies; Nomenclature Committee; Use-
fulness of Agricultural Conferences; Forestry; Closing
of the Conference.

The West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XII, No. 2, may
be obtained at an early date from all agents for the sale
of the publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture; price 6d., post free, 9d.

ee ———

Medical Work in St. Lucia.

With the St. Lucia Gazette for Saturday March 16,
1912, there is issued a supplement presenting the
Laboratory Report for the Half-year Ending Septem-
ber 30, 1911, by Dr. Lucius Nicholls. This deals with
many matters and some of them are of sufficiently
general interest to receive attention here.

As regards the prevention of malaria, the distri-
bution of the fish millions, and of quinine, is stated
to be proceeding satisfactorily, and good results are
urcdoubtedly being shown. A large amount of the
information has regard to research in connexion with
yaws (Framboesia tropica), ard considerable success
has been obtained from treatment with the remedy
salvarsan, commonly known as 606. With reference
to prophylactic measures against this loathsome disease,
the suggestion is made that these should include:
(1) the strict isolation of all cases which arise; (2) the
thorough treatment of these cases; (3) the careful
watching of all cases which are discharged as cured;
(4) the look-out for ‘chronic carriers’; (5) the disinfec-
tion of clothes and dwellings. As is pointed out, the
only practical scheme includes freely supplying dress-
ings, disinfectants and oimtments for the protection
and treatment of injuries, and the keeping away of
flies, and it may be other insects, as far as possible.
The suggestion is made that the dressings should be
doled out at suitable situations on all estates and in
villages, and that agricultural overseers should be asked
thoroughly to acquaint the labourers with the fact that
these are available; further that, when they see un-
covered abrasions or ulcers, they should ensure that the
labourer properly attends to them. Stringent regula-
tions for isolation should be made, and a thorough
trial conducted of salvarsan; so that if this is successful
the remedy may be used continually hereafter,

Vou. XI. No. 262.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Additional means of contro] for yaws are suggested,
including the compulsion of patients to appear for
examination, and stress is laid upon the importance of
the co-operation of the planters and their overseers
with the Government, in the matter.

A New Artificial Manure.

A report from H.M. Acting Consul at Chnstiania,
Norway, states that the local newspapers have signal-
ized the production of a new artificial manure, which
has received the name Bi-phosphate. This is stated to
be actually a by-product in the manufacture of nitrate
of lime at the Notodden Works. The nitric acid pro-
duced in making nitrate of lime is used to dissolve
apatite (bone earth) or other raw material, and the
manure is produced by subsequent treatment of the
product.

It is expected that the price of the new manure
will be low: its chief use will be in the replacement of
superphosphate and basic slag.

———_—_— |}

Legislation against Anthrax in St. Vincent.

At a meeting of the Legislative Council of
St. Vincent held on December 4, 1911, the Council
went into committee over a Bill for an Ordinance to
Provide for the Compulsory Vaccination of Animals, as
a Precaution against Anthrax in Infected Districts.

Among other matters, in addition to that of com-
pulsory vaccination, the Ordinance is intended to define
and limit the conditions under which a district might
be declared infected, and to make provision for the pay-
ment of compensation for animals dying from the effects
of vaccination. A clause, included at first in the Bill,
by which owners had to pay for the vaccination of their
animals, was eliminated.

With reference to this Ordinance, it should be
pointed out that powers are only given by it in pro-
claimed districts, and as an emergency measure.

Eee
Manurial Experiments with Tea.

Attention is given in the Eupervment Station
Record, Vol. XXIV, p. 738, to experiments that have
been carried out at the Heeleaka Experiment Station,
India, for the purpose of investigating the effects on
tea of various methods of cultivation and manuring.

The experiments have been made continuously
for the five years during which the station has been
in existence. In this time, five plots which received
no manure, but were given careful and repeated culti-
» vation, showed a considerable increase in yield.
Consideration of the returns of leaf during the
five years has led to the conclusion that the yields are
influenced both by the local climatic conditions and by
seasonal variation. The heaviest yields were generally
received during the months of greatest rainfall.

The trials showed further, that the best method of
employment of suitable manures was their application
in small divided doses during the year, in order to lessen
the Joss in drainage water. a

Prize-holdings Competition in Jamaica.

At the end of last year, a prize-holdings compe-
tition, held im the parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica,
received the attention of the judges, and the report is
printed in the Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural
Society for February 1912.

There were fifty-four entries in the competition,
forty-nine of which were inspected and judged; of these
there were ten in the first class, a similar mumber in
the second class, and twenty-nine in the third class,
the total number being smaller than that in the pre-
vious competition, probably because of the severe
drought during the year.

Among matters that showed weakness were the
keeping of stock and the paying of attention to fences
and gates. It was advised that after the drought the
cottee trees should be pruned, and that the old ones
among them which had been seriously affected should
be removed entirely. The suggestion is made that
the cultivation of bananas might be profitably extended
in various districts. Catch crops such as yams suffered
seriously in the drought, and more attention to mulch-
ing 1s advised.

Eradication of Noxious Weeds in Grenada

An Ordinance, No. 2 of 1912, dated March 23,
1912, the purpose of which is to make provision for the
eradication of noxious weeds in Grenada, has received
the assent of the Governor of the. Windward Islands.
In the schedule of the Ordinance, ‘to clear’ is defined
as meaning to dig up and burn, or to pull up and burn,
noxious weeds; or to employ other means of destruction
prescribed by an inspector under the Ordinance; and
‘persons responsible’ shall, in relation to lands, mean
the occupier of land or, in the case of unoccupied lands,
the owner thereof or his agent in the Colony.

According to the regulations, it is the duty of
responsible persons to clear lands of noxious weeds and to
report the occurrence of such weeds to a Justice of the
Peace, Magistrate, or Inspector, or at the nearest police
station, or directly to the Superintendent of Agriculture.
Any land, whether enclosed or not, may be entered
upon by an Inspector for the purpose of ascertaining if
any noxious weeds exist thereon. In case of such
existence, the Inspector serves a notice giving details of
the nature of the weed and the localities in which it
occurs, and the person responsible is required to clear
the land within the time specified in the notice.

If, after notice has been given, the land is not
cleared of the weed, the responsible person will be lable,
on conviction, to the penalties provided in the Ordin-
ance, and the Court may further order such person to
pay the cost of clearance. In the event of failure to
clear the land, an Inspector may enter upon it, with or
without assistance, and eradicate any noxious weed
found thereon,

Other regulations provide for the serving of notices
and for the protection of the Inspectors during the exer-
cise of their duties.

A preliminary note on this Ordinance appeared in
the Agriewltural News for March 16,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

May 11, 1912.

INSECT NOTES.

EEL WORMS, OR NEMATODES.
PART IL,

A circular of the Bureau of Plant Industry, United States
Department of Agriculture, issued on February 20, 1912, entit-
led The Nematode Gallworm on Potatoes and Other rops in
Nevada, deals with the serious occurrence of eel worms in
Nevada in 1910-11. The summary of this circular is given
herewith:—

‘During the seasons of 1910 and 1911 there has been
a serious infestation of certain potato fields in Nevada, caused
by a nematode gallworm known as Heterodera radicicola.
This has resulted in hindering the marketing of Nevada
potatoes in California, where the crop has been sold here-
tofore.

‘The parasite causing the disease is a very small unseg-
mented worm, which invades the roots of many different
plants, causing malformations, and often seriously hindering
the growth of the plants. The’ nematode multiplies very
rapidly under favourable conditions. The life-cycle may be
completed within a few weeks, and each female may lay as
many as 500 eggs. ©

‘The nematode may be carried from place to place in the
roots of living plants, in potatoes, on soil on the roots of
nursery stock, or with potted plants. It may also be carried
‘from one field to another in earth, on farm implements, or in
irrigation water. Manure from yards where diseased roots
or tubers have béen fed may carry the worm, and garbage
containing peelings of diseased potatoes is also a prolific source
of infestation, ca

‘The use as seed of any infected potatoes is to be strongly

“condemned. No effort should be spared to locate all infested
fields in a district where the nematode is known to occur, and
.seed potatoes should be secured from fields known to be unin-
fested, or, better still, from a region where, because of adverse
climatic conditions, the nematode is unknown.

‘A thorough inspection should be made of all fields in
each district where the nematode is suspected to occur, and
all infested fields should be devoted to crops which the
nematode does not attack. There are many plants besides
the potato which are susceptible to nematode injury, and
these should never be planted or allowed to grow in fields
where the gallworm is found. There are a number of crops
that are not attacked by this parasite, and these only should
be grown on infested fields until the nematode is practically
starved out.

‘It is very difficult to eradicate the nematode completely
when it is once well established in a field, but its numbers
may be so reduced by the use of immune crops that suscep-
tible crops may be grown again without serious injury.’

In the summary given above, reference will be seen to
the effect which the outbreak of eel worms exercised on the
Californian market for Nevada potatoes. The presence of
this pest in certain counties in Nevada was considered such
aserious matter that a quarantine order was issued prohibit-
ing the importation of all potatoes from those counties.

The following copy of the Order establishing the quaran-
tine prohibition on such potatoes is taken from the Monthly
Bulletin of the California State Commission of Horticulture,

Vol. I, No. 1, December 1911, where it was published in an
article by Mr. H,°O. Essig, Secretary of the Commission:—

‘Whereas, potatoes from Lyon, Churchill and Washoe
counties in the State of Nevada shipped into California,
have been discovered to be infested with eel worm, a destruc-
tive nematode worm; and Whereas, the planting and throwing
of such potatoes or parts thereof on the earth would likely
infest the soil with this serious pest; and

‘Whereas, Once in the soil, its riddance is almost impos-
sible, therefore, a horticultural quarantine be and

‘Is hereby declared and established, against all potatoes
shipped from the counties of Lyon, Churchill, and Washoe,
State of Nevada, into the State uf California, and all horticul-
tural commissioners and local inspectors are instructed to
destroy or return infected potatoes from the counties afore-
said to the place of shipment, at the option of the shipper or
his agent, and to take all proper precantions against the
introduction of the eel worm into the State of California.’

An indication of the increasing recognition of the impor-
tance attaching to the presence of eel worms and the occurrence
of root knot may be seen from the attention that has been
given to the subject and the stringent quarantine regulations
that have been issued. A further indication is te be found
in an article by R. D. Anstead, B.A., Planting Expert to the
United Planters’ Association of Southern India, entitled
Eelworms Attacking Tea Seedlings, which appeared in the
Planters’ Chronicle for February 17, 1912. In this article
an account by Dr. C. A. Barber, Government Botanist,
Madras, of the Nematode Heterodera radicicola, contains
information similar to that which has appeared in other parts
of the world recently, and also describes the attacks of the
pest on tea seedlings. ;

Most of the crops which are described as being attacked
by eel worms, in the various publications mentioned, are not
those with which West Indian planters have to deal, but it
would be well to keep constantly in mind the fact that crops
in the West Indies are liable to attack and that climatic con-
ditions favour the development of the nematode worms.
Whenever any plants in the field, garden or nursery are seen to
be suffering from disease, the cause of which is not apparent,
it would be well for planters to suspect the presence of eel
worms and make a careful search for them. They may not
be now, or in the future, the cause of really serious injury
to staple crops in the West Indies, but the knowledge of the
possibility which exists that this may happen should serve to
place West Indian planters on their guard.

The Pernicious or San Jose Scale. —According
to the Agricultural Journal of the Union of Suuth Africa,
Vol. II, p. 821, the Pernicious or San José scale ( Aspidiotus
perniciosus) has made its appearance in Natal. This insect has
proved a most destructive pest in North America, and has been
the cause of enormous loss to various fruit-growing industries.
It has necessitated extensive experiments with spraying
material, and the records of the work done in connexion with
the control of this pest forms an enormous bulk of experi-
ment station literature. As a result of the experience thus
gained and placed upon record, invasions of other countries
by this pest have not occasioned an equal amount of loss,
and it is encouraging to note that in the United States,
where the most severe attacks occurred, their virulence
has become less, partly on account of the greater degree
of control exercised by natural enemies, and partly because
of the better understanding of the nature of the pest and the
method of control, on the part of agriculturists.

Vor. XI. No. 262.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 15:

or

THE BOTANIC

DOMINICA: REPORTS ON
STATION, EXPERIMENT PLOTS, AND AGRICUL-

TURAL SCHOOL 1910-11.

As has been announced in the Agricultural News, the
work of the Agricultural Department in Dominica has been
re-organized to the extent that the agricultural pupils will
be trained in future at the experiment plots, under the
Botanic Garden staff; this change is noted in the report on the
Botanic Station. The latter report shows that the garden
and experiment plots have been maintained in good order,
and interesting details are given concerning striking orna-
mental and economic plants that are in permanent cultivation
at the former institution. The statistics presented concerning
the distribution of plants show that the total number sent
out during the period under review was 69,295, among which
may be noted more particularly: limes 46,112, Para rubber
11,664, cacao 4,856, spineless limes 1,500, shade trees 1,265,
vanilla 1,162, and grafted cacao 574. The seed that was sold
included 600 Para rubber seeds and 717 packages of vegetable
seeds, as well as quantities of seeds of Castidloa elastica,
Congo coffee, avocado pear, ordinary and spineless limes,
papaw, fodder grasses, and of green dressings.

In the notes on economic plants, it is stated that a con-
tinuation of the investigation in regard to the acidity of the
juice of spineless limes still indicates that this feature is more
or less constant in individual trees. Failure has been expe-
rienced with soy beans, and the roots have formed no nodules,
notwithstanding the fact that seeds have been sown several
times in the same soil. ‘he notes in this section of the
report, after giving information concerning Eucalyptus and
grafted cacao at the station, proceed to deal with experiments
that are being conducted with grafted Alligator and Forastero
cacao, which show that grafted cacao benefits, in Dominica,
by the provision of light shade during early rowth. With
‘reference to samples of Alligator cacao (7heobroma pentagona)
sent to the firms of Messrs. J. S. Fry & Co., Rowntree & Co.,
and Cadbury Bros., Ltd., in England, and to the Pennsylvania
Chocolate Company in the United States, the reports agreed
in stating that the product possessed a peculiar flavour, and it
seems that its only use in commerce would bé of a very special
kind; it does not appear that it would be a source of profit,
either to growers or manufacturers. Samples of the cured
beans of Tiger cacao (7'heobroma bicolor) submitted to the
three English firms mentioned above elicited the unanimous
opinion that this is of practically no value. It may be said
that further details concerning these reports have appeared
in the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, No. 4. In regard to
rubber, samples of Ficus elastica rubber produced at the
station were examined at the Government Laboratory in
Antigua, and it was shown that some improvement is
needed in the preparation in order to obtain a product with-
out stickiness. It is recommended that this-plant should be
utilized for planting ridges and protective belts, rather than
in systematic cultivation. Observations on Para rubber at the
Botanic Station, and in parts of the island, have shown that
the conditions at the station are not complétely suitable for

its successful cultivation, and that the growth of Hevea trees
in the wet districts is satisfactory, so far. This part of the
report concludes. with interesting information concerning
fruit trees of various kinds that have been imported recently,
for trial.

The meteorological returns show that the rainfall at the
Botanic Station during the year 1910 was 90°64 inches,
which is the heaviest annual rainfall since 1893, with the
exception of that in 1903, when it measured 90-72 inches.
As is pointed out in the report, the weather conditions in the
island appear to have entered upon’a wet period, following
a series of years that were fairly dry. The means for eighteen
years indicate that, in Dominica, April is the driest month
and July the wettest.

The next subject of more general interest that is dealt
with in the report has reference to the testing of lime juice,
which might well be taken up ona larger scale in Domi-
nica. An improvement in lime juice manufacture in the
island, that has taken place in the past few years,
is signalized; this consists in allowing the juice to
settle in vats, and boiling the clear juice instead of
the juice mixed with the sediment. With respect to
limes, again, among the more important results that- have
been elucidated by experiment are the facts that the smaller
limes are usually more acid than the larger ones; the
acidity of the fruits increases as the trees attain maturity;
different trees growing under identical conditions show dis-
tinct variation in the acid content of their fruits; and that in
crushing the largest amount possible of juice should be extract-
ed from the limes, An interesting account follows, of observa-
tions on the pollination of cacao flowers.

Details concerning the Permanent Exhibition Committee
show that Dominica was represented during the year under
review at the Colonial Fruit Show and at the Dominion Exhi-
bition at St. John, N.B. With regard to other means in
connexion with the encouragement and direction of agricul-
tural effect there should be mentioned the collection of econ-
omic products at the Victoria Museum, and the Prize-holdings
Competition, the latter of which receives a detailed account.

The lime crop increased by 85,000 barrels, being 369,000
barrels; the exports of green limes have increased steadily from
13,564 barrels in 1905 to 27,427 in 1910. The export of
citrate of lime continues to increase, being 5,194 ewt. value
£16,880, in 1910, as compared with 3,447 cwt. value
£11,203, in 1909. The recent exports of cacao have been as
follows: 1908, 9,820 ewt.; 1909, 10,844; 1910, 11,272 ewt.

The experiments in the manuring of cacao, conducted at
the Botanic Station, still exhibit the large benefit that is
received from mulching. As is stated in the report, the yields
from the mulched plot continued to show a considerable excess
over those obtained from the plots receiving other forms of
manurial treatment, aad it will be of interest to see how long
the yearly increase of productiveness will continue; these
results are supported by experiments that have been com-
menced more recently at the station, in plots some of which
are situated on the hill-side. As regards cacao experiments in
country districts, those at Picard maintained the super-
iority of treatment with pen manure, and supported the
conclusions that are reached in the trials at the Botanic
Station. Other interesting matters in this part of the report
refer to further experiments with cacao, and with citrus plants,

The series of reports concludes with information of the
usual kind concerning the Agricultural School, the work of
which, it has been stated already, has been re-organized. The
experiment. plots at this institution included cacao, rubber
and grafted cacao, ground nuts, and trials of different
methods of tree-planting.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. May 11, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

Official returns show that the exports of rubber from
Ceylon during the period July to December 1911, amounted
to 4,317,064 tb. Of this quantity 2,509,279 tb. went to the
United Kingdom and 1,065,850 tb. to the United States.
The total export during the similar period in 1910 was
2,364,880 tb.

During the month of March cotton-picking was practi-
cally completed in Nevis, and owing to the drought the
average yield will be low. The fields were being prepared
for planting, with the hope that the weather will be favour-
able for earlier sowing than could be carried out last season.

The quantity of wool produced in the Argentine
Republic during the season of 1910-11 was 194,229,275 hb.
The similar amount for the season of 1909-10 reached
174,405,249 tb. As-is shown by these figures, the impor-
tance of the wool industry to Argentina is becoming steadily
greater year by year.

The organization of a cotton-growing association is being
discussed by Moscow cotton mill owners, who propose culti-
vating a number of large plantations in the Caucasus. The
required working capital is said to be ready, and will be
invested gradually, as suitable cotton land is acquired. (The
Textile Mercury, February 17, 1912.)

Attention is drawn toa Course of Practical Work in Agri-
cultural Chemistry for Senior Students, by T. B. Wood, M.A.,
Drapers Professor of Agriculture in the University of Cam-
bridge, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College; this is issued
by the School of Agricuiture, Cambridge. The price of the
work, which is suited to the needs of advanced pupils in agri-
culture, is 2s. 6d. net.

In agreement with opinions that have received expres-
sion from time to time in the Agricultural News, work that
has been conducted at the Pasteur Institute at Nha-Trang,
Cochin China, has shown recently that the employment of
a special virus for producing epidemics among rats is not to
be counted as a serious method of reducing the numbers of
these rodents. In presenting the results of the experiments,
the Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius, for January 1912, draws
attention to the fact that the disease produced by the virus
shows at first a great activity, but that the ultimate effect
is to produce a race of rats that are immune to it and can
therefore, for a time, resist any further effects of the virus
when it is introduced among them.

The Gardeners’ Chronicle for February 24, 1912, refers
to the fact that the botanical origin of the Irish potato has
been a subject of much speculation and discussion, but that
little certain knowledge has been gained in regard to it. It
states further, that a long and careful investigation, dealing
with the anatomy and morphology of the chief cultivated
varieties has led to the conclusion that they are all derived
from a common ancestor, and that this ancestor is not any of
the known wild tuberous solanums. It is therefore to be con-
sidered that the potatoes are varieties of a true species of
Solanum tuberosum.

One of the methods for the purification of water that have
been devised most recently consists in exposing it to the ultra-
violet rays, that is to say, to the invisible rays beyond the vio-
let end of the spectrum. Experiments with the method have
been conducted in Germany, which show that the etfect of the
rays is greatest when the water is well stirred, and that it
increases with the length of the time of treatment. Further,
the larger the germ content of the water, the longer is the
exposure required. ‘The result of the trials has been to show
that the method has not yet been perfected sufficiently to be
of large practical use,

A published letter from the Quebec Steamship Company,
Ltd., states that the company is placing Jarge fans on board
their steamers ‘Guiana’, ‘Parima’, and ‘ Korona, for the
purpose of carrying limes in good condition. The company
has decided, besides, that whenever sugar is engaged for the
steamers at St. Croix that would cause a delay of more than
two days for loading, the steamer will return to Dominica for
fruit, and then proceed to New York, calling at the Northern
Islands for mails and passengers only. The change will be
made on the understanding that there are at least 800 barrels
of limes awaiting shipment in Dominica.

During the course of experiments conducted in Amani, it
was found that the addition of a l-per cent. solution of cal-
cium chloride to the latex of the rubber tree Manihot Glaz-
tovit resulted in a fairly good coagulation. A 1}-per cent.
solution of calaium chloride is considered sufficient to bring
about completescoagulation, at the end of the rainy period
when the latexdis especially fluid. The use of calcium chlor-
ide reduces the cost of the coagulant considerably, without
injuring the elasticity and nerve of the rubber. Barium
chloride, magnesium chloride, and magnesium sulphate all
proved to be rather strong coagulants, but were not as active
as calcium chloride. (From the Zrperiment Station Record,
February 1912, p. 141.)

y

With reference to the information concerning the Gogo
vine (Hntada .scandens) that was given in the Agr-
cultural News, Vol. XI, p. 62, from the Aew Bulletin, the
Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay
States for February 1912, mentions this as being a fairly
common plant throughout the Malay Peninsula, where it is
known under the native name of Akar Beluru. The note
goes on to say that the flowers are borne in spikes 6 to
10 inches long, but are not attractive, and that the pod, which
is said to be 1 to 3 feet long, is spirally curved into
a mass, in the Malay plants, and has the appearance of being
far too heavy for so slender a climber, which depends, how-
ever, on its tendrils for support.

‘Von, XI. No. 262.

“ THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 15

-~I

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

MAY.
Seconp PERIOD.
Seasonal Notes.

Work with the sugar-cane during this quarter includes
the planting and the making of supplies where this is neces-
sary. In your experience, what canes are mostly employed
for the purpose of supplying, and why are ‘these used in pre-
ference to others? State why cuttings for planting should be
treated with Bordeaux mixture, and give an account of any
trials with which you are acquainted that were conducted for
the purpose of showing that a better stand is obtained from
planting material that has been treated with this fungicide.
Why is it important that the canes should spring early and
regularly, and what are the sources of loss if this does not
-occur ! 7

After the reaping of the old canes, what is the exact
process by which new canes are produced in their place?!
Explain why it is that the yields from ratoons are usually less
than the returns from plant canes. Where the central factory
system has been adopted, it is a simple matter to ascertain
the weights of canes that are being obtained from different
fields, from different varieties, and from plants and ratoons,
as well as from different methods of manuring and cultivation.
The possession of such information should be particularly
useful in deciding how far ratooning is profitable in any given
ease, and to what extent it may be carried on.

What are the best means of combating the spread of the
‘root disease of sugar-canes, on an estate? Do you know of
any kinds of cane that appear to show an in¢reased resistance
to this disease? During the whole of the time that canes are
‘being cut, observations should be made on ‘heir state as they
come from the field, particulary for the purpose of detecting
the presence of fungus diseases and damage from rats. Ex-
plain the importance of the careful selection of material for
planting, with reference to the incidence of fungus diseases.
Give an account of the insect pests of sugar-cane with which
you have had experience, and describe methods that have
been tried for their control, indicating any improvements that
may have occurred to you. In what ways does loss occur
when canes are kept for some time before being dealt with
at the factory! How may quantities of juice be held over for
a time without undergoing loss from fermentation?

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY ()UESTIONS.

(1) State briefly how improved varieties of sugar-cane
are obtained. {
(2) In what way does mulching decrease the loss of
water from the soil?
(3) According to what methods is selection carried out
for the purpose of the improyement of plarits?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) State what are the six best varieties of sugar-cane
for growing in heavy soils.

(2) Mention the chief sources of material for mulching,
under conditions with which you are familiar.

(3) What are the main characters that it is intended te
obtain when selection with cotton is carried out?

FINAL QUESTIONS,

(1) Give an account of the chief characteristics of seed-
ling sugar-canes with which you are familiar.

(2) How would you devise an experiment in order to
show that, under given conditions, mulching is of benefit to
the soil, with regard to its employment in plant production?

(3) State how far selection may be employed for the
improvement of plants, and supply an account of other
methods that exist for such improvement.

AGRICULTURE IN THE STRAITS
SETTLEMENTS, 1910.

The information given below, on agricultural
industries in the Straits Settlements during 1910, is
included in Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 709, issued
recently:—

The cultivation of Para rubber trees in Singapore showed
no sign of decrease, but on the contrary, more and more land
was cleared and planted, so that the area under cultivation
was, at the end of the year, about 14,000 acres.

The planting of this tree in every corner, even in quite
unsuitable localities and in small patches, caused a remark-
able diminution in the supply of vegetables, fruit, poultry,
and even pigs, many Chinese abandoning other occupations
to plant rubber. The fruit crops during the last few years
have been very poor, probably from the dying out of the old
trees and the failure to plant fresh ones, and there are no
signs of any improvement. This is regrettable, as most of
the fruit trees take from seven to twelve years to produce
a crop. There has been a little improvement in vegetable
cultivation, but supplies are stili short.

Gambier has increased a little. Indigo and pine-apples
have also increased a little. Ground nuts are again coming
to the front, and there has been a distinct increase in this
formerly neglected cultivation. There is a small increase in
flower cultivation, roses, jasmines and tuberoses being the
favourites. The water hyacinth (Eichornia), originally intro-
duced as an ornamental plant, has been found by the Chinese
to be quite suitable for pig-feeding, and is now much used
for that purpose.

There is no increase in pepper, nor in coco-nuts. In
the latter case, this is perhaps due to the ground suitable
being already planted up. The red beetle, formerly so injuri-
ous to this industry, seems now to be nearly extinct, but
occasionally a few trees are killed by the black beetle.

A very successful agricultural exhibition was held during
the year.

In Penang, the fruit and padi [rice] crops were good,
and in Province Wellesley coco-nuts were very successful,
and large areas of rubber are coming into tapping.

In Malacca, the planting of rubber proceeded apace, and
several blocks of lalang land were taken up for this cultiva-
tion. The fruit and padi crops were fair, The decrease in
tapioca [cassava] cultivation continues.

_
or
lo2

FUNGUS NOTES.

HEVEA RUBBER STUMPS AS POSSIBLIE
CARRIERS OF DISEASE.

The importation of stumps of Para rubber has only
occurred to a very limited extent in the West Indies, since
by far the greater portion of the existing trees has been
grown from imported seeds. Yet occasional shipments of
stumps have been made from the Eastern Tropics, so that it
may not be entirely out of place to emphasize the need for
adequate supervision, to prevent these plants from affording
a means of entry for diseases, some of which are as yet
apparently absent from the Western Hemisphere, or at any
rate from the West Indies and Central America.

In the Annual Report of the Botanic Gardens, British
Guiana, for 1910-11, Stockdale calls attention to the need for
some form of Government control in the importation of Para
rubber stumps into that Colony, in order to protect the rubber
industry. His argument is based on the fact that, though the
West Indian cacao die-back fungus, Thyridarza tarda (= Di-
plodia cacaoicola) is now generally held to be the same as the
form common on rubber in the East, and formerly known as
Botryodiplodia elasticae and Diplodia rapax, yet the extent
to which the West Indian form is capable of attacking Para
rubber is as yet not ascertained; at the same time, certain
shipments of stumps from the East have been found on arrival
to be covered with fructifications of the Eastern form of the
fungus mentioned above. In view of the possibility that the
Eastern form, though morphologically identical with the
Western, may have become more adapted to living on Para
rubber, it seems advisable that such infected plants should
not be allowed to enter these colonies.

A further argument of the same nature may possibly be
advanced in favour of Government restriction of careless impor-
tions of rubber stumps. The brown root disease, due to Hymeno-
chaete novia, found on both rubber and cacao in the East, does
not appear to occur in this region; at any rate it has not been
found in any of the West Indian Islands where investigations
of root diseases have been conducted, nor does there seem to be
any report of its occurrence up to the present in any part of the
American Continent upon tropical species of cultivated plants.
The same would also appear to be true of the root disease
caused by Fomes semitostus—a fungus even more widespread
in its range of host plants and of even greater economic impor-
tance in the East than is Hymenochaete nowia. Finally, there
is in the East a pink disease common on a wide range of
host plants and caused by Corticium salmonicolor. Although
there is an indigenous species, C’. lilacino fuscwm, in the
West Indies, which is similar to and possibly identical with
the Eastern form, yet the local fungus is not of great
economic importance and appears to be limited to a few
species, while the Eastern fungus is possessed of far greater
virulence.

In view of these facts, it certainly seems advisable that
imported stumps of Para rubber from the East should be
submitted to some form of inspection; that diseased plants

should be destroyed and suspected stumps quarantined, and.

subjected to reasonable preventive treatment.

The risk of introducing diseases of Hevea at present
confined to the East, on seeds packed in charcoal and sent
by parcel post, is much less than that incurred when
stumps are imported. Annually increasing quantities of
seeds have been sent to the West Indies and British Guiana
during recent years, and the fact that up to the present,
practically no disease has attacked the plants grown from

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

May 11, 1912:

them supports the idea that the seeds are comparatively
free from the spores of the commoner parasitic fungi, or that
these spores are unable to survive the long journey under the
conditions in which the seeds travel best. There is an
instance on record in which a disease did attack seedling
plants in the nursery, but it is not certain if this malady was
due to an imported or a local fungus; while adequate steps
were promptly taken, and the disease was thus easily con-
trolled and has not reappeared.

It is almost impossible for the root diseases to be intro-
duced on seeds, since Hymenochaete novia hardly ever pro-
duces spores, in Ceylon and Malaya; while Fomes semitostus
would not be likely to be fruiting vigorously in the neigh-
bourhood of trees from which seeds would be taken. On
the other hand, the spores of Thyridaria tarda are of very
common occurrence in the tropics while those of Corticiwm
salmonicolor might also find their way to Hevea seeds; but
even so, the risk of infection from sucha source is consider-
ably less than that arising from the presence of vigorously
growing mycelium provided with an adequate food-supply
such as is furnished by a stump.

RUEBER EXPERIMENTS IN UGANDA.

A section is included in the Annual Report on the
Botanical, Forestry, and Scientific Department, Uganda, for
the year 1909-10, which has just been received, dealing with
the rubber experimentation undertaken during that year,
In a general way, in regard to rubber trees growing at the
Botanie Gardens, Entebbe, it is shown that the prospects of
Para rubber cultivation are most encouraging; this is not so
much the case with Muntumia elastica, as the growth of
the tree is slow when compared with that of Para. A rubber
tree that grows rather well is Custilloa elastica, but the
extent to which it is attacked by a borer (Jnesida leprosa)
causes it to be of little economic importance to the Protecto-
rate. Better results have been obtained with Ceara rubber
(Manihot Glaziovi) which had yielded well on being tapped.
Manihot dichotoma and M. piauhyensis have been received
from Kew; the plants of the former have made exceedingly
rapid growth, and it is suggested that it might be used as
shade for cacao. *

In the perféd that is the subject of the review, two
experiments in tapping Para rubber trees were conducted.
Observations made during these and previous experiments
have led to the recommendation that the full and_ half
herring-bone systems should be adopted, the former for trees
with a girth at 3° feet of over 36 inches, and the latter for
those with a girth, at the same height, of 17 to 3G inches.
It is thought that the half herring-bone system will
eventually give the largest amount of latex, but this is not
yet certain. In any case, it has been demonstrated so far
that the prospects of Para rubber cultivation in Uganda are
most encouraging.~

A wial was made for the purpose of ascertaining if the
Ceara rubber trees may be systematically and profitably tapped
on the herring bone system. The preliminary trials with
three trees have shown that, with paring and pricking on
consecutive days, the wound response was very rapid for
eleven days; from this time the daily yield decreased very
materially. It is intended to carry out further experiments
on a larger scale, at an early date. ;

Roadside planting of rubber trees is being tried, with
varying results. An experimental forest planting of Funtumia
is making very fair progress.

Vou. XI.

No. 262.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET. bs

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of March 1912:— :

The remarks made in these market reports for January
and February relating to the then threatened strike of the
coal miners, as affecting commercial activity, has, unfortun-
ately, become more than fully realized during the month of
March. Under such conditions the Produce Markets, like
all other branches of trade, have experienced considerable
depression. It is thouglit that, with the strike ended, and
the re opening of railway and shipping facilities, the markets
will quickly resume a brisk condition.

The following details refer to West Indian produce:—

GINGER.

At the first spice auction on March 6, as many as 161
bags of Cochin were sold without reserve, 39s: being paid for
washed rough wormy, and 34s. to 34s. 6d. for common rough
wormy. A week later, 413 bags washed rough Cochin were
bought in at 44s. to 45s. per ewt. On the 20th, the prices
realized for the same quality Cochin, was from 42s. to
42s. 6d., at which rates 147 bags were sold. At the last
auction on the 27th, Cochin was represented’ by 120 bags,
washed rough and wormy being bought in at 40s., and dull
washed rough at 43s.. Fifty bags of Japanese limed were
also offered at this sale, but were bought in at 32s. per cwt.
No Jamaica has appeared in the market.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.,

At the first sale on the 6th, there was a steady demand
for nutmegs; 41 packages of West Indian were offered, and
sold at the following rates: 86’s to 96’s, 53d. to 53d; 107’s
to 116’s, 53d. to 53d.; 120’s, 54d. On the 13th, 25 packages
of Eastern were sold, at 53d. to 64d. for 76’s to 87's, 54d.
for 104’s, and 4d. for 147’s. On the 20th, nutmegs were
again in steady demand; 21 packages West Indian sold at
6d. for 72’s, 53d. to 53d. for 87’s to 94's, and 54d. to 53d.
for 102’s to 11l’s. At the last auction on the 27th, 143
packages West Indian were brought forward, 127 being dis-
posed of, 59’s fetching 11d., 73’s to 83’s 53d. to 6d., 89’s to
99’s 54d. to 5fd., and 123’s 53d. For mace there has been
a steady demand. At the auction on the 6th, 13 packages
West Indian realized 2s. 7d. per Ib. for fair palish, slightly
mouldy; 2s. 6d. for palish, 2s. 4d. for fair reddish, and
2s. 3d. to 2s. 5d. for fair to good broken. At the last auction
on the 27th, 33 packages West Indian were offered, and all
sold at the following rates: ordinary to fair 2s..3d. to 2s. 5d.,
and broken 2s. 1d. to 2s, 2d. A firm market ruled in pimento;
24d. per tb. was the price paid in the early part of the month,
but on the 20th, 27 bags were offered, and bought in at 3d.
per tb. For arrowroot there has been little or no demand,
the offerings being for the most part bought in,

SARSAPARILLA.

At the first drug auction on the 7th of the month, sarsap-

arilla was represented by 11 bales of grey Jamaica, 15 of
native Jamaica, and 8 of Lima-Jamaica. Of the first, 9 bales
were sold, fetching 2s. 3d. per tb.; the whole of the native
Jamaica was disposed of, ls. 3d. to 1s. 4d. being paid for

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

159

good red and pinky, ls. 2d. for fair red, 1ld. for red and
yellow mixed, and 84d. to 9d. for very dull red and yellow
mixed. The whole of the Lima-Jamaica was also sold at full
prices, coarse and chumpy fetching from 1s. 4d. to ls. 6d.
per fb. On the 21st of the month, the details of the auction
were as follows: Of grey Jamaica, 5 bales were offered, of
native Jamaica 10 bales, and of Lima-Jamaica 4 bales, all of
which were disposed of, the first at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. per hb.
for fair grey, the second at ls. 4d. for rather dullish, 1s. to
Is. 1d. for dull red, 11d. to 114d. for red and yellow mixed,
10d. for common mixed, and 7d to 9d. per lb. for common
to ordinary grey mixed. The Lima-Jamaica fetched ls, 7d.
per lb. for 3 bales of rather chumpy.

KOLA, LIME OIL, LIME JUICE, TAMARINDS,
CASHEW NUTS,

Kola was represented at the first auction in the month
by 3 bags of bright dried West India, chiefly in halves, which
were bought in at 44d per lb. Again on the 20th, 17 bags
of slightly mouldy, said to be from Java, were offered, and
held at 5d. per tb., an offer of 43d. being refused: A week later,
this consignment was reported to have come from the West
Indies, and to have found a customer at the 5d. per hb.
asked. Eighteen cases of lime oil were offered at the first
auction, and 8 sold at from 6s. 9d to 6s. 11d. per tb. for
good hand pressed Dominica. Very little lime juice appeared
at auction during the early part of the month, though it
was reported that, privately, sales had been effected at 1s. 10d,
per gallon. On the 20th, however, 4 hogsheads of pale raw
Dominican were offered and sold at 1s. 9d per Ib ; 19 hogs-
heads from Antigua were also sold at from Is. 5d. to 1s. 7d.,
and a further 2 from Monsterrat were sold at ls. 7d. for
fair palish. On the 20th, some 40 barrels of fair black East
Indian tamarinds were sold without reserve, at from 8s. to
8s. 6d. per cwt. At the end of the month it was reported
that very high prices were being asked for new crop tamar-
inds from Antigua and Barbados and that 17s. 6d. had been
paid for the latter. A large consignment of Cashew nuts
appeared at auction in the early part of the month, a por-
tion of which was sold without reserve at 45s. per cwt.

Australian Fruit Industries.—The Government
of New South Wales proposes to established fruit-canning,
vegetable-canning, and jam-making factoriesin the Burrinjuck
irrigation area on the Murrumbidgee. At these factories the
produce of the settler will be handled at moderate rates and,
subsequently, the factories may be taken over by the settlers
themselves, under a co-operative arrangement. The experi-
ment will be carried on by the Department of Agriculture.
The fruit growers will be encouraged to plant only the best
varieties of fruit, and will be taught how to specialize in those
varieties that are most useful for canning purposes. The
Burrinjuck scheme of irrigation will bring under intensive
cultivation no less than 350,000 acres of splendid land. It
is stated that 500 irrigation farms in this area will be avail-
able for settiement in April, A similar proposal is under
consideration in Victoria, in the. well-known and _ fertile
Bacchus Marsh irrigation district. The Commissioner 1s
endeavouring to induce landowners in that district to sub-
divide their properties for intensive cultivation, and suggests
that a canning department be added to one of the district
butter factories, for preserving the fruit raised by the settlers.
(Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, March 22, 1912.)

160

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

London.—Txe West Inp1a

New York,—Messrs.

MARKET REPORTS.

ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,
April 23, 1912; Messrs. E. A. Dz Pass & Co:,
April 12,, 1912,

Arrowroot—3sid. to 43d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/8 per tb.

Brrswax—£7 10s. to £7 12s. 6a.

Cacao—Trinidad, 56/- to 75/- per cwt.; Grenada, 50/-
to 55/-; Jamaica, 49/- to 55/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 70/- to 80/- per cwt.

Copra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota.
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 18d. to 25d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincEr—48/- to 65/- per cwt.

Istnctass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotation.

Live Juice—Raw, 1/3 to 1/11; concentrated, £18 12s. 67.
to £19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/3 to 6/6.

Loe woov—No quotations.

Mace—Steady.

Nutmrecs—Steady.

Pmento—Common, 212d.; fair, 22d.; good, 213d.; per th.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/103; fine soft, 4/10; Castilloa,
4/6 per th.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/8 to 5/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 19/- to 22/-; Muscoyado, 15/6 to 18/-;
Syrup, 12/6 to 13/- per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

GittEsPiz Bros. & Co., April
19, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 1]#c. to 12}c.; Grenada, 1lic. to 11éc.;
Trinidad, 11jc. to 12c. per tb.; Jamaica, 10c. to Lle 3

Cocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $22°00 to $23°00; culls,
$13-00 to $14:00; Trinidad, select, $22:00 to $23:00;
culls, $14°00 to $15-00 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 14#c. to 17c. per tb.

GincER—%c. to 9$c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 45c.
to 47c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c.
per Ib.

Grave-Fruit—Jamaica, $4'00 to $5:00.

Limzs—$7-00 to $800.

Macr—S5c. to 58c. per Ib.

Nourmecs—110’s, 18c. to 13}c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—3d. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4*1lc. per tb. ; Muscovados, 89°,
3°61c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°36c. per ib., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., April 29,
1912. ;

Oacao—Venezuelan, $1310 to $13°30 per fanega; Trinidad,
$12°75 to $13°25.

Cocoa-Nut Oir—$1:00 per Imperial gallon.

OorrrE—Venezuelan, 153c. per tb.

Copra—$4°75 per 100 th.

DasLt—$3'90 to $400.

Onrons—$2‘50 to $4°00 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°90 to $3:00 per 100 ft.

Rice—Yeillow, $4°8u to $5°0U; White, $6°50 to $6°60
per bag.

Soe42—American crushed, no quotations

May

11, 1912.

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., Ltd., May 4,
1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., May 6,

1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., April 26, 1912.

ARROWROOT— 36°50 to $7°00 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$11°50 to $12°00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NuTsS—$16°00.
Hay—$1°60 to $1°80

per 100 tb.

Manoures—Nitrate of soda, $65:00; Cacao manure, $45:00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.
Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$6'00 to $8°

50 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$7'00 to $7°25 per bag of 210 th.; Canada
$3:00 to $5:25 per bag of 120 tb. if

Potators—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $4:00 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $4°90 to $5°00 per 190 ft.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $5°25 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietinc & Ricurer, April

27, 1912: Mesers. SANDBACH, Parker & Co.,
April 26, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ArrowrooT—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorreE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DaaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mozxasses— Yellow
Onrons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLAaNTAINS—
Porators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon

PotaToEs-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Svuear—Dark crystals
Yellow.
White
Molasses
TimpeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

»» Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTer.

|-__

No quotation

70c. per tb.

17c. per th.
48c.
$300

$16 to $20 per M.

17c. per tb.
18c. to 185c. per tb.
12c. per tb.
34°00 to $4-50 per
bag of 168 th.
$450
$1°80
None
7c. to 8c. per tb.

$675 to $7-00 per
bag (210 tb.)

24c. to 60c.
$550 to $3°60

$156
per bag

No quotation
$5°2d to $5-50

$2°04

$2°64

$2°40
$3°30 to $3:40

$4°25

$2-90 to $3-00
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6:00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited

18c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,,,
peeled and
selected
16c. per tb.
19c. per tb,
12c. per tb.
$4°50 per bag of
168 tb,

—

$7°35 per bag
(210 tb.)
No quotation

$3°50 to $3°75
No quotation

$5°50
$345
$4°25

32c. to 55c,
cub. foot
$400 to $6°00
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. ls. 2d.

Volumes IJ, IIT, IV, V, oS \A86 VIII, EEX: X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
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Volume XII. No. 1. No. 2:—West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of Papers and Proceedings:
List of lepresentatives; Presidential Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago; Cacao;
Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural
Education; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomo-
logical Research Committee; Committee on [Entomological Research, West Indies; Nomenclature Com-
mittee; Usefulness of Agricultural Conferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

PAMPHLET SERIBS.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
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Sucak 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.

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in 1903-5 -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 and
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The ‘ Agricultural News’ is printed in time to be distributed, regularly, by each mail, and is on sale by the
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2s. 2d. per half-year, or 4s. 4d. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 1X complete, with title page and index, asissued
—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 appuinted Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. Dutav & Co., 37, Soho Sauare, 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. BripGewarTer, Rosean,

. Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rogson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tuk ‘Datty Curonicie’ Orrice.Georgetown. dnogua: Mr. S. D. Matone. St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Muir-MarsHaty & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: THe Bree anp Boox Suppty AGenoy, Basseterre.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Pracemann, Scarborough. /"enis : Messrs. HowEtt, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THeStores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No 262.

THE eee eS

NEWS. May 11, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

we PASE ni ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guanod—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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

Londoz

Agency:

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

VAPORITE !

VAPORITE I]

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE AND

OTHER ROOT PESTS.
PRICE TVEGZ) CENTS PER POUND}

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED,

We are interested in tropical and sub-
tropical fruit and will nuy seed, cuttings or
grafts; particularly water-melon seed.

Would also send anything Egyptian in
‘exchange, stamps or genuine pharaonic

‘scarabs If desired

R E. FISCHER,
Gheziret Dabsha,

BRIDGETOWN. Matanieh (Upper Egypt).
a7. Cl. FOR SALE
@
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nprising 300 acres, well situated in Mabouya Valley. In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).
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in Cocoa, grep 50 bag gs, and 15 acres in S iar cane, crop 200) CO TYON 8 SEED CAKE ME AL.
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For further particulars apply to:
A. R. G HUNTER,
La Cave, Dennery, St. Lucia; or ta

DUNCAN FERGUSON, Castries.|

ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,
Cotton Seed Oi] Mills,~
Barbados, W.I.
Telegraphic address,

(267) ‘Thorum.’

Printed at Offce of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

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- CITRUS CULTURE —

IN THE

WEST INDIES

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because n» other line of tropical agrieu'ture has become as highly
developed as that. and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND di Fagee.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad,

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WEST INDIAN AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE, 1912

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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

BARBADOS,

MAY 25,

1912.

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Vou. XI. No. 263.
CONTENTS.
PAGE. Pace.
Avricultural Conference Lima Bean, Se'ection for 164

Picture . 168
Agricultural Co-operative
Credit Societies in
England and Wales... 171
Cotton Notes :—
Cotton Industryin Japan 166
West Indian Cotton ...
Departmental Reports ... 167
Dominica, Agricultural
Progress in

Market Reports... ... ... 176
Nitrogen-tixing Organisms,
Stimulation by Humus 169

Notes and Comments ... 168
Para Rubber Seeds, Vital-
ity of 165
Plouchs, Method for Fa-
cilitating Removal of 169
Poinsettia, Propagation of 167

Field Experiments} Inter: Rat Biker minators, Value Bt
pretation of Results 145 Riibber Meena 5
if. II 16) Rubber, Mechanical Ex-
was SOE) Sey ase traction of... . 166

Fungus Notes :— -, soil Sterilization, Vartial,

" orte ri BCLs ae on YT ¥

lmmortel Canker 14 Use for? MEMES thc, 166
Rose Nhildew...0 (2... 0 14) « : - 1
eg Sey Bean in England,

Gleanings ... . swapelinie eS : (

Trials of Ree eee LOD

Goat Improvement Recabis Chien ten Coenen 173

ations in Belgium ... 175 }°°"°* Cag pha

Index and Title Page
Insect Notes :—
A Disease of a Bee

. 168 | Sugar Industry:—
Sugar-Beet in England 163
The Antigua Sugar

pers Ae FIO) Factory (ie: . 165
The Banana W. ee} vil Trinidad, Recent Eatomo-
Borer ... 170. logical Work in. 169

MbekCoston sols eeviliil'76,\West: Indian iPaadunts. <5 175

The Interpretation of the Results of

Field Experiments.

I.

WS N the last number of the Agricultural News
) consideration was given to the ways in which

é
Be the results of field experiments may vary, and

the need was shown of the possession of means for
determining the amount of variation that is likely to
take place, under given circumstances, and for applying
this in the interpretation of results. The purpose of
the present article is to develop the subject, by setting
forth in a general way the measures that are available
for the purpose under discussion.

When an average is struck, of a large number of
results, if is generally obvious that, while most of the
results are near the average, a few of them, for reasons
that have been explained already, differ largely from
this. It is therefore expedient to possess a simple
means of ascertaining the amount of dependence that
may be placed on the average. Such a means is
afforded by constructing what is knownas a Frequency
Curve, in the following way. First of all, the results
are divided into classes, each class corresponding to
the same proportion of the terms in which the results
are expressed; for instance, each class might be
taken to correspond to a difference of one per
cent. The number of results falling into each class is
then ascertained, and a frequency curve constructed
by dividing a horizontal line into equal parts corres-
ponding to the different classes, erecting perpendicul-
ars from the middle point of each equal part, marking
on each of these perpendiculars a distance proportional
to the number of results falling into the corresponding
class, and joining all the points thus obtained. If there
is formed a fairly regular curve whose highest point, or
peak, is above, or nearly above, the point on the
horizontal line corresponding to the average, depend-
ence may be placed upon the latter as the true average
of the results.

162

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

May 25, 1912.

It happens sometimes, however, that the curve
that is obtained may possess more than one peak. In
such a case, it is indicated that more than one cause is
actively influencing the results, and that no reliance
can be placed upon their average alone, when an inter-
pretation of them is sought. There is, however, no
need to conclude, in such a case, that the results are
useless, for information may have been received which
will enable the separate factors causing variation to be
discovered, and the apparent incongruity may prove to
be of the greatest use in arriving at an interpretation
of the experimental figures that have been obtained.

The next step is to find the value that may be
attached to any one result; this is done by ascertaining
its Probable Error, or the extent to which it may
vary from the average on account of the method
of experimentation employed. The determination of
the probable error is a matter of applying the
rules of mathematical chance; these must be taken for
granted in this discussion. It will suffice to say that
the probable error is found by adding together the
squares of all the amounts by which the results differ
from the average, dividing the figure obtained by the
number of results less one, taking the square root of
the quotient, and multiplying this by the constant
quantity 0°67. To illustrate the use of the probable
error obtained by means of this simple arithmetical
process, suppose that it is found to be 2°3, in a certain
instance, and that the average of the results was 16:6,
it is most likely, under the conditions of the experiment
that any one result will fall between the limits differ-
ing by 2°53 on each side of 16°6; that is, between 14:3
and 18:9.

Proceeding to the consideration of more than one
result in a given investigation, it is useful to know the
probable error of the average of all the results, or of
a certain number of them; this is obtained by dividing
the probable error of one result, found as above, by
the square root of the number of results that are
being considered, For example, employing the prob-
able error just found, namely 2°3, the probable error of
the average of four results would be 2°3 divided by the
square root of four; that is 23+ 2, or 1:2. In the same
way (to take another simple example) the probable
error of the average of nine results would be 0°8.
It is obvious that the probable error of the aver-
age of results decreases with increase in the number
of results taken. Further, using the application of the
last result as an illustration, it has been shown that;

under the special circumstances, when nine results are
taken, the average is not likely to vary on each side of
166 by more than 0:8; that is, the chances are that it
will be between 15:8 and 17:4. It is instructive to
compare these limits of variation with those of the
similar limits for one result alone, as de termined above
namely 143 and 189.

It is sometimes found convenient, in experimenta-
tion, to divide the experiments into two equal, inde-
pendent groups, to submit each to the same process of
investigation, and to take the average of each group,
instead of regarding the whole lot as being in one group
and finding the average of this. By doing this, a use-
ful check on the work is obtained, especially when the
results are employed for comparison in the two groups.
The value of the comparison is determined by finding
the probable error of the difference between the two
results; and when this is done, it must be remembered
that each of the results, as it is obtained by the same
method, is liable to the same probable error. Taking
this into consideration, it may be said shortly, that the
probable error of the difference between any two such
results is obtained by multiplying the probable error of
each result by the square root of two. Thus, with the
figures given above, and taking two similar groups of
fifty, the probable error of the average of 100 results will
be 2'3 divided by 10 (the square root of 100), that is
0:23; and the probable error of the difference of the
averages of the two groups of fifty (making up the
hundred) will be 0:28 multiplied by the square root of
two, giving as the result 0°26.

Further development and illustration of these
matters may be found in the papers mentioned in the last
article, particularly in that entitled The Interpreta-
tion of Experimental Results, by T.B. Wood, M.A., of
the Cambridge University Department of Agriculture.
The purpose of the next article on the subject will be
to bring forward the practical value and results of the
methods, as they may be applied specially to schemes of
experimentation that are being carried out in the West
Indies.

Information concerning the export of rubber from the
Federated Malay States is contained in the Government Gazette
for March 15, 1912. This shows that the quantity shipped in
January 1912 was 2,730,576 tb ; during the same month of the
previous year, it was 1,329,170 fb. By far the largest amount
o1 rubber is being produced in the State of Negri Sembilan,
the weight for last January being 1,352,473 bb.

Vou. XI. No. 263.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 163

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE ANTIGUA SUGAR FACTORY.

The following extracts are taken from the seventh
annual report of the Directors of the Antigua Sugar
Factory, Limited:—

The island suffered greatly during both the growing and
the crop seasons from the lack of rain, the record being the
lowest for the past twenty years with the exception of
1905-6. The result was a very short crop and the canes,
not properly grown and matured, were the worst which the
factory has ever had to deal with; and further, the supply
of water for manufacturing was so low that during a con-
siderable part of the crop, there was not suflicient for the
proper maceration of the canes, and at one time the Factory
had even to stop working altogether.

In accordance with the intimation in the last Report,
the Board has carried out large extensions of the factory and
the railway, the cost of which is shown in the accounts, with
a view to better crushing and a larger production, and has
taken in a considerable additional acreage of canes, but owing
to the exceptional circumstances of the year, the expected
results were not achieved. With the enlarged plant and the
extended acreage, there should have been, under normal con-
ditions, a higher yield from the canes and an increase in the
sugar output of 30 per cent. on that of the previous year;
instead of this the yield has been much worse, and the out-
put shows hardly any increase at all.

An issue has been made (with the assent of the holders
of the A and B Debentures) of £20,000 C Debentures repay-
able within nine years out of a special Sinking Fund of
£2,250 per annum to be set aside for that purpose, before
the Surplus on Working Account is divided. This money
has been applied towards carrying out the new extensions.

The canes supplied have been as follows: —

[907 L908, 1909) SISO oie

tons. tons. tons. tons. tons.

Contracting planters 28,046 26,912 20,576 24,065 22,506
Outside estates 8,689 12,905 14,646 20,712 29,398
Peasants 4,047 3,243 2,062 3,542 3,212
Total 40,782 43,060 37,284 48,319 55,116

The sugar made and the yield per cent. of canes during
the past four years have been as _follows:—

1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911.
Sugar made (tons) 4,230 4,695 3,995 5,390 5472
Yield, per cent. of canes 10:07 7 10:90) 10:72 WIGS 9-93

Prices of sugar per ton: 1907, £9 16s, Od.; 1908,
£11 15s. 9d.; 1909, £10 7s. 5d.; 1910, £12 16s. Sd; 1911,
£10 11s. 5d.

Owing to the adverse circumstances mentioned above,
after making the necessary charges for the various Sinking
Funds, there remains only a surplus of £212 15s. 5d. for the
year, which has been credited, in accordance with agreements,
as follows: ‘To outside estates £84 10s. 5d., equal to 0-69d.
per ton on their canes, making their total price 12s, 2-034.
per ton; to contracting planters £106 7s-9d., equal to 1-13d.

per ton, making their total 10s. 10°34d. per ton; and to
A Shareholders £106 7s. 8d., making a total at their
credit (including interest on the undistributed balance) of
£12,038 5s. 11d ,out of which it is proposed to distribute 5s.
per share, or £3,125, carrying forward the balance of
£8,913 5s. 11d.

The following details concerning the working of
the factory are given here, in addition, on account of
their interest:—

Cane crushed. tons 55,117
Sugar made, _,, 5,477
Tons of cane per ton of sugar 10:06
‘ Indicated’ sucrose in juice, tons 6,661
Recovery on ‘indicated’ sugar, per cent. 82:2
Water in megass, per cent 47-15
Normal juice lost in megass per 100 of fibre 70:03
Average composition of first mill juice:—

Total solids, per cent. 20:92

Sucrose + an 18:49*

Purity Be 88:39
Total juice, including maceration water: —

Total solids, per cent. 18°85

Sucrose =H usi 15:87

Purity ‘shell 84-16
Maceration, per cent. on first mill juice 110

The last figure, namely 11 per cent. for maceration
water on first mill juice, serves as an unmistakable
indication of the serious difficulty in obtaining water
that has existed, and accounts generally for the inferior
work of the season.

Sugar-Beet in England. —TheAnnual Report of the
British Sugar-Beet Council, just published, reviews the work
of the Council up to the end of last year, with special refer-
ence to the proceedings in 1911 and 1910. It shows conti-
dence in the remunerative character of the sugar-beet
industry and ability to develop it successfully in this country.
That good crops of sugar-beet can be grown here has already
been proved. The results obtained last year at Wye and
other college farms confirm the evidence obtained in previous
years. It is the financial soundness of the business that
exercises the minds of farmers and capitalists. The report
explains the efforts made to procure a grant from the Develop-
ment Fund, which were unsuccessful because the conditions
of the International Sugar Convention prohibit Government
subsidies or advances of any kind to an undertaking that
would produce sugar for commercial purposes. Mr. G. L,
Couithope, who succeeded Lord Denbigh as Chairman of the
Council, was, however, not discouraged by the failure of the
negotiations with the Development Commissioners, and
deserves praise for the other arrangements he has made to
subject the project to a financial test. The establishment of
a factory in Norfolk, which is largely due to his initiative, is
a step of great importance. It was felt in the country thao
what was wanted was a practical demonstration. This,
Mr. Courthope, in conjunction with English and Dutch
colleagues, has arranged to provide. They can rest assured
that, if their calculations are fulfilled, they will have the
enthusiastic support of farmers whose land and climate are
suitable for the production of the raw material. (The Jowr-
nal of the Royal Society of Arts, March 29, 1912.)

*Or 1°897 tb, per gallon,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

May 25, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

SELECTION FOR THE LIMA BEAN.

An account of a method of selection practised for
the Lima, or Barbuda, bean (Phascolus lunatus) is
given in Bulletin No. 224 of the College of Agriculture,
California University, issued last November, and part
of this is presented below:—

A plan of work, looking to the improvement of the Lima
bean, was begun in the summer of 1908, in co-operation with
several farmers. It is expected to continue this work for
several years. In the selection of plants, special attention
is being given to earliness where found in high-yielding indi-
viduals. It was expected that those plants which blossomed
heavily early in the season would also fruit heavily and ripen
early. Hence, on the first of July, when fields began to bloom,
the earliest and heaviest blossoming plants were marked by
means of a piece of lath 2 feet in length, set in the ground
beside each plant. Ten thousand stakes were thus set to
mark the same number of early blooming plants, the time of
selection covering a period of two weeks, and being made in
both early and late blooming plants in each field. While
there were individual cases in which the early blooming plants
did not ripen early, the average time of ripening of these
marked plants was earlier than the average of the field. More-
over, an advantage was gained in case of selection by marking
the plants before the vines became so intertwined as to make
it difficult to recognize individuals. If the early selection had
not proved satisfactory, there was still the opportunity of
selecting early maturing plants in the fall. But the marked
plants being satisfactory as to earliness, it was thought to be
of no use to make later selections of other plants.

The selected plants, although earlier in maturity by
perhaps four days than the average of the field, were found
at harvest to be apparently lower-yielding than the average
of the field. However, this was not entirely unexpected,
and as the original purpose had been to make a second selec-
tion for yield within the first selection for earliness, selections
being made for 10,000 plants at harvest time. At the time
of the first selection in July, earliness of blooming stood
almost alone in influencing the marking of plants, except
that somé attention was given to size and vigour of vine
whete this did not appear to be due to a difference in room,
and hence to available plant food. Vigorous and thrifty
plants, which appeared to be so because of inherent eharacter,

were selected, if blossoming early, and in no case were small,
stunted plants selected. At harvest time, however, it semed
necessary to pay a great deal of attention to the yield. The
plants were pulled, care being taken to separate the vines
trom the vines of surrounding plants, and each was inspected
quickly after being turned over, so that the pods were easily
seen. If the pods were found immature, or if the total
number of pods was small, it was dropped, except that some
plants with a small number of pods were carried along if the
plant was very mature, and some very high-yielding plants
were Carried on, though immature, it being proposed to run
two lines of selection, one for earliness, the other for yield.
In this way, about 3,000 plants were selected out of the
original 10,000.

After a short period of drying, the pods were picked
from each plant and placed in a paper bag. The bags were
numbered consecutively, corresponding to cards on which
data regarding the number of dry pods, a number of pods to
be shelled, and number of pods too immature to shell, length
of the vine, and number of pods within 12 inches of the
central stem, were recorded. Two numbers were then
arbitrarily fixed for each field, one representing number of
dry pods, the other representing total number of pods, and
those plants which did not exceed either of these numbers
were discarded. About 1,500 of the more immature and
light yielding plants were discarded in this way. The pods
from all the remaining plants were shelled, keeping the lot
from each plant separate from all the others. Finally, a:l
but 600 from the original 10,000 were discarded before plant-
ing in the spring of 1909. The seed from these 600 plants,
some representing early maturity, some representing high yield
and some representing a combination of these factors in the
same plant, were grown in rows as foundation stock in 1909,
the seed from each plant being planted separately, so that the
yield, earliness, and other desirable characters of their produce
might be determined. A large number of plants was taken
to increase the chances of finding one or more with the power
to transmit its characters to the-next generation, or to in-
crease the chance of isolating mutants.

The results showed that in the case of pole Lima beans in
general, the yield is in proportion to the length of the vine or
runners, although it may be said that occasional occurrence of
individual plants giving high yield, with a reduced vining ten-
dency, would indicate.a possibility of reducing this tendency

Vor. XI. No. 263.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

165

ng ee ee

to some extent and still retain a satisfactory yield. It is notice-
able that as the percentage of pods within 12 inches of the
body of the plant decreases, the yield increases. While the per-
centage of pods within 12 inches of the central stem shows
a direct relation to the percentage of dry pods on the plant,
the former shows a slight opposite relation to the weight of
shelled beans per plant (yield).

THE VITALITY OF PARA RUBBER SEEDS.

This subject has received attention on several
oceasions in the Agricultural News (Vols. X, pp. 111,
363; XI, pp. 53, 91), and formed the matter of an
interesting discussion at the recent Agricultural Con-
ference. An account of investigations undertaken in the
Federated Malay States, in regard to it, is contained in
the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Fede-
rated Malay States for February 1912, the purpose of
the work being, firstly, to compare the vitality of seeds
from tapped and untapped trees, and, secondly, to try
the effectiveness of various methods of preserving seeds
from tapped trees. The details given with respect to
the first of these are reproduced here; those relating to
the second will be published later in this journal.

Seeds of Hevea brasiliensis do not retain their vitality
for a long period, and the consequent difficulty of forwarding
them successfully to distant countries is well known. This
year several hundred thousand Para seeds from tapped trees
were packed in Venesta chests with charcoal and forwarded to
Trinidad. The results obtained were far from satisfactory,
although the seeds were most carefully selected and packed.

There is no doubt that seeds picked immediately on
falling, and carefully packed, give the best results. If they
are allowed to be on the ground, or if badly packed, a smaller
percentage of germination will be obtained. It must be
borne in mind however, that no matter how the packing has
been done, the vitality of Para seeds cannot be retained for
any length of time if they are not gathered immediately.
The seeds must not be packed too many in a box, otherwise
fermentation starts and the whole mass heats and loses its
vitality; the packing material must be just sufficiently moist
to prevent the seeds from drying out and not moist enough
to encourage the growth of moulds and bacteria. For the
same reason the packing must be fairly tight and yet not
quite air-tight. Small boxes seem better than larger cases.

Experiments have been carried out as mentioned in
a previous article, at the suggestion of the Director of Agri-
culture, to compare the germinating power of seeds from
tapped and untapped trees and to see if by coating the
surfaces of the seeds with various substances the germinating
power could be retained for a longer period. The tapped and
untapped trees selected for the experiments are twelve years
old; the first-mentioned have been tapped for the past two
years; the seeds are collected fresh each morning and treated
as mentioned.

THE VITALITY OF SEEDS FROM TAPPED AND UNTAPPED
TREES. All seeds were packed with burnt padi husk, in
biscuit tins, each containing 200 seeds. The ‘tins were
wrapped in brown paper, and sealed._

Boxes Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were kept 3, 5, 7, 8, 9
and 10 weeks, respectively, then opened, and the seeds planted
in well-prepared nursery beds. It will be seen from the
tables that seeds from untapped trees gave on an average 50
per cent. higher germination than those from tapped trees
reckoned on the absolute percentage. In each test the

former showed from two to three times as many germinations
as the latter.

A record of similar experiments is published in the
Circulars and Agricultural Journal of the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Ceylon, Vol. [V, No. 11, May 1908. This circular
states: ‘seeds from tapped trees kept for five weeks did not
germinate but those kept for four weeks showed 28 per cent.
germination while seeds from untapped trees kept for four
weeks did not germinate and those kept for three weeks
showed only 3 per cent. germination. Both in percentage
germination, and time of germination the seeds from tapped
trees are better throughout.’ No information is given
regarding the mauner in which the seeds were kept previous
to planting.

It will be seen that the Ceylon figures are at variance
with those obtained here, but it is difficult to say why this
should be. The Ceylon Circular states also that seeds from
tapped trees are smaller and weigh less per 1,000 seeds than
those from untapped trees. This agrees with the figures
obtained here, namely, seeds from untapped trees were found
to be on an average 10°7 per cent. heavier than those from
tapped trees of similar ages [see Agricultural News, Vol. XI,
p. 31]. The figures in Experiment 1 are of interest not only
as regards the suitability of exporting seeds from untapped
trees, hut they also tend to show the effect tapping has on
the vitality of the seed. Tapping lessens the weight and
size of the seeds, and according to the present experiments
reduces the germinating power.

It is evident that seeds which are to be exported are
best selected from untapped trees.

Experiments are to be conducted to compare the growth
of plants resulting from seeds of tapped and untapped trees.

PERCENTAGE OF SEED GERMINATION OBTAINED FROM
TAPPED AND UNTAPPED TREES.

No. of box. } = 920i Seem)

No. of seeds in box 200 200 200 200 200 200
No. of weeks the seeds were) 3 ee tee eas VP eetp
in box J
No. of plants obtained; seed)
from tapped trees J
No. of plants obtained; seed) 156 133 100 167 164 165
from untapped trees |
Percentage of seed germina-| . Py aGY TY) any)
tion; seed from tapped trees J 38. Aap 21205. 20 baer
Percentage of seed germina-)|
tion; seed from untapped trees J

It may be added that consideration of the figures
given in the table shows that the average percentage
germination, for all the periods, of seed from untapped
trees was 74, as compared with 24 for seed from tapped
trees.

67 46 48 40 40 49

78 66 50 83 82 82

——— el

Information is given in the Quinzaine Coloniale of Feb-
ruary 25, 1912, to show that the general production of wild
rubber on the Ivory Coast is satisfactory, except that a cer-
tain amount of fraud and adulteration exists. The exploi-
tation of rubber has taken place chiefly in the eastern part of
the colony, where replanting is suggested; at the same time
the western part contains large areas of trees of Funtumia
elastica, and little has been done in obtaining rubber from
these. Experiments have shown that Hevea and Funtumia
grow successfully, and this fact, together with the improve-
ment that is taking place in labour conditions, causes a satis-
factory future for the colony to be predicted.

166

WEST

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date May 6, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 350 bales of West Indian
Sea Islands have been sold chiefly composed of cotton 19d.
te 20d., from the Islands of St. Kitts, Barbados, Antigua,
Nevis, Anguilla and St. Martin. A few superfine bales from
St. Kitts, Barbados and St. Vincent have been sold at prices
ranging from 21d. to 24d., and also a few Stains at 9d.

The market remains firm, but there is very little demand
for anything over 20d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending May 4, is as follows:—

There has been some demand during the week, resulting
in sales of about 100 bales of Fully Fine and Extra Fine,
included in which were several crop lots, which the Factors
sold at some concession from previous asking prices. The
buying was on account of the Northern mills.

This demand having been satisfied, the market is quiet
again, with little inquiry, but Factors are still holding the
unsold stock on a basis of our last quotations.

The Cotton Industry in Japan.—In spite of the
hign prices of raw material, the cotton-manufacturing
industry of Japan is in a very flourishing condition. At the
present time the number of spindles there is 2,180,000, as
compared with 1,274,000 in 1900, while the quantity of
cotton consumed increased from 700,000 bales in that year
to 1,060,000 bales in 1911. The corresponding figures for
the United Kingdom for 1911 were 54,523,000 spindles
and 3,782,000, bales. It will be noticed that there is
a striking difference in the consumption of cotton per
spindle in the two countries; while in the United King-
dom each spindle only consumes ‘07 of a bale approxim-
ately, each Japanese spindle consumes nearly ‘05 of a bale.
The reason of this difference is to be found in the
fact that as a rule the Japanese spindles are operated
day and night, and are for the most part equipped
with ring spindles, which consume considerably more
cotton than mule spindles. According to the Bulletin
on the Supply and Distribution of Cotton recently issued
by the United States. Department of Commerce and
Labour, Japan has at present thirty-eight factories engaged in
cotton manufacture, containing 17,000 looms and employing
about 93,000 men, women, and children, while it is estimated
that there are still about 1,000,000 hand-looms in the country,
which produce about one-third of the cotton cloth used by the
inhabitants. The principal source of the cotton-supply is
3ritish India, although the import of Chinese cotton is
steadily increasing. ‘The imports from the United States of
America have averaged about 200,000 bales annually.
Efforts are being made to increase the supply by promoting
growth in Korea and Siam. (The Journal of the Royal
Society of Arts, April 19, 1912.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 25, 1912.

A USE FOR PARTIAL SOIL
STERILIZATION.

The following abstract of a paper by E. J. Russell
and J. Golding on this subject, which appeared origin-
ally in the Journal of the Society of Chemical Indus-
try, 18 given in the Annual Report of the Rothamsted
Experimental Station for 1911, p. 13:—

This paper deals with an investigation of the state into
which the soil of sewage farms arrives after the continued
application of sewage, whereby it is so far injured, both in
its physical and biological conditions, that it will no longer
either let the sewage percolate, or purify what passes through.
Sewage-sick soil was found to possess a very limited bacterial
activity, and to be exceptionally rich in those protozoan
organisms which Russell and Hutchinson have regarded as
the limiting factor in the development of bacteria in soils.
[See Agricultural News, Vols. IX, pp. 33 and 107; XI, p. 131.]
Partial sterilization of the soil, either by treatment with anti-
septics or by heating, was followed by a very large increase
in the number of bacteria; in one case they rose from about 40
million to over 400 million, per gram of the soil. Accomp-
anying this increase in bacterial activity, there was a renewal
of the purifying effect of the soil upon the sewage, and it was
found possible to restore the sewage-sick soil, and make it
become an even more effective filter than before, either by
heating the soil sufficiently to char it slightly, or by treating
it with the vapour of toluene.

THE MECHANICAL EXTRACTION OF
RUBBER.

The last number but one of the Agricultural News con--
tained a note on a machine for. extracting rubber from
bark, based on an article that appeared in the Journal
@ Agriculture Tropicale, in which it was suggested that the
process described might be used for obtaining rubber from
Funtumia elastica. A subsequent article in the issue of the
latter journal for January 1912 describes the mechanical
extraction of rubber from this plant, as it is practised by
a tribe known as the Bayanzi, in the Belgian Congo.

According to this method, the tree is felled at the base
when it has attained a diameter of 6 to 8 inches. The
branches are cut off and rejected, while the trunk is passed
to and fro over a fire, when the bark becomes detached from
the wood and is more easily removed on that account.

After a preliminary maceration, the bark is beaten in
a manner similar to that employed for such plants as Lan-
dolphia Thollonnw. The first mass obtained is generally
treated by immersion in boiling water. Ordinarily, no
further trouble is taken than the carrying out of this first
immersion; by its means, a very impure rubber is obtained
which can be easily improved in quality by bing beaten
and boiled in water again.

The most harmful stage in this crude process, as regards
the final product, is the passing of the bark over the fire.
It seems, however, that this phase of the operation is
necessary, for if coagulation of the latex is not brought
about before beating, no rubber is obtained. On the other
hand, if the bark is heated too strongly, it is likely to be
burned, with the result that the rubber coming from those
parts where the heat has been too great rapidly becomes
sticky and, if it is mixed with the general product, it lowers
its value. It is not, however, the process of heating, itself,
that is the cause of reduction in value, but the faults that
arise in carrying it out.

Vor. XI. No. 263.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 167

—_

ST. LUCIA: REPORTS ON THE BOTANIC STA-
TION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL AND EXPERI-
MENT PLOTS, 1910-11,

The changes made whereby the agricultural pupils receive
training at the Botanic Station, instead of at the Agricultural
School, have enabled the arrangements at the Botanic Station
and at the Experiment Station, Union, to be altered, so that
now the Agricultural Superintendent has established his
office at the former of these institutions. At the same time,
the scope of the work in country districts has been increased
by the appointment of an Assistant Agricultural Superin-
tendent.

The condition of the garden was maintained, but for
various reasons nothing in the way of permanent improvement
was effected during the year under review. An abnormal rain-
fall was received during February and this, owing to the low-
lying situation of the Botanic Station, caused a large amount
of damage in certain parts. Something is being done toward
raising the level of the more swampy section of the lawn by
filling in with the cleanings from surface water drains near
the gardens. Some improvements were brought about by the
removal of large trees to positions where their effect would be
less injurious, or by their complete destruction.

: The total number of plants distributed was 59,391; of
these, 56,330 were disposed of by sale and exchange, and
3,061 were sent out free to Crown Land purchasers. Chief
among those distributed were limes 45,660, sugar-cane 8,500
and cacao in boxes 3,616. Seeds of several kinds were also
sent out, including 788 Para rubber seeds and }-hb. of Central
American rubber seeds.

The notes on economic plants show that rubber-planting
in St. Lucia is only in an experimental condition at present;
trees set out, however, on a few estates in 1908-9 appeared to
be growing very satisfactorily, and there is some increasing
interest in the cultivation. In relation to this, 10,000 seeds
of Hevea brasiliensis were obtained from Ceylon, some being
distributed to purchasers while the remainder was sown at
the Experiment Station nursery. The germination of the
whole consignment was only 10 per cent. The number of
plants raised at the station was 780, and it was intended
that 600 of these should be available for distribution. Trials
with Manihot prauhyensis and M. dichotoma do not make it
appear likely that these plants will thrive under the condi-
tions in which they are growing.

As usual, the fumigation of imported plants was carried
out, and 139 packages of plants and seeds were dealt with under
the Plant Importation Ordinance. An interesting section is
included in the report on the Botanic Station, which gives an
account of trials with insecticides and spraying machinery.
This is followed by notes on fungus diseases and insect pests,
which deal with: a root disease of various plants; pink
disease (Corticiwm laeve) on guava; pink disease on pigeon
peas; a fungus (Zhelephora pedicellata) on lime branches;
a cacao seedling disease that has not been found to cause
much injury; and the frangipane caterpillar.

Details given concerning the small cotton industry
show that the estimated area of Sea Island cotton in

the island was about 122 acres, 58 belonging to peasants
and 64 acres cultivated on one estate. Although every
reasonable encouragement has been given for the estab-
lishment of cotton-growing, the results are not of increasing
promise. With respect to the lime industry, the area under
the plant has been extended. Concentrated lime juice was
made in small quantities on three estates—on two of these
for the first time—and satisfactory prices were obtained. At
the time of reporting, steam concentrating plants were being
installed on two estates. In the lime plantations, no serious
cases of injury from scale insects were observed, as these pests
appear to be largely controlled by their natural enemies.
Statistics given in regard to cacao production show that, in
the last twenty years, the greatest activity in cacao-planting
took place during the first half of the period. The output
for. 1908, 1909 and 1910 was, respectively, 6,775 bags (of
200 tb.), 10,855 bags, and 8,187 bags. A description is pre-
sented of a Cacao Prize-holdings Competition held in the
period under review; an account of this has been given in the
Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 153.

Agricultural education in the primary schools receives
large attention from the agricultural department in St. Lucia,
and the details of the work are presented in an appendix to
the report on the Botanic Station. The examinations in
practical agriculture, of the Imperial Department of Agri-
culture, have continued to be taken up, with some success.

Through the changes consequent on the discontinuance
of the scheme by which the agricultural pupils receive their
instruction, in residence, at the Agricultural School, Union,
the work, as has been indicated, is no longer carried on at that
institution. The details of what was done in the Agricultural
School experiment plots show that the investigations had
reference to: the planting of fruit trees, mango propagation,
soy bean, Jerusalem pea (Phaseolus trinervis), Bambarra
ground nut (Voandzeia subterranea), cabbages, cacao and
limes. With respect to the first, it is of some interest that
the trees planted in small holes, with hard ramming and
without the exercise of the usual precautions observed in
what is called the orthodox method of tree-planting, were at
the time of report making the better progress; but it was too
early to draw definite conclusions, as the observations had
extended only over a few months.

The Propagation of Poinsettia.—Remove the
shoots which can be spared from a plant and allow them to
lie for about a fortnight in a shady, dry situation. The soft,
sappy, useless shoots will immediately shrivel but the firmer
wood at the base of the shoots remains sound. At the end
of about a fortnight cuttings can be made and inserted
in pots.

The size of the cuttings should be about 4 inches, and it is
essential that the base of the cutting be cut slightly below a
node or bud; that is, where the stem is solid. The internodes
or other parts of the stem are hollow and the shoot has gen-
erally to rot away until a solid piece of stem is reached. As
may readily be imagined, it is a matter of considerable diffi-
culty to arrest the growth of this rot.

Insert the cuttings in 6-inch pots using a sandy compost.
Cuttings root much more readily when placed round the side of
a pot, so that only four or five should be inserted round the
side of the above-mentioned size of pot. Until the cuttings
are rooted, the soil requires to be kept slightly drier than is
usually the case with other plants. Pot off singly into small
pots and provide the treatment afforded other plants of
a like nature. (From the Agricultural Bulletin of the
Straits and Federated Malay States, February 1912, p. 12.)

168

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 News

25, 1912. No. 263.

Vou. XI. SATURDAY, MAY

NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this number is entitled The Inter-
pretation of the Results of Field Experiments. It is
written in continuation of the editorial article on the
same subject, in the last number of the Agricultural

News. The intention is to give further attention to
the matter in the next issue of this journal.

On page 165, an interesting account is presented
of experiments that have been conducted for the pur-
pose of investigating the vitality of Para rubber seeds.
A subsequent opportunity will be taken to present the
further results of the same investigation.

Page 167 contains a review of the Reports on the
Botanic Station, Agricultural School and Exp eriment
Plots, St. Lucia, for 1910-11, issued recently.

Under the heading Insect Notes, on page 170,
articles are presented dealing with a disease of grass-
hoppers and the banana weevil borer. There is also
a note on the cotton boll weevil.

Page 171 contains on article presenting useful
information regarding agricultural co-operative credit
societies in England and Wales. It would appear to
be of special interest in relation to developments in
the same direction that are foreshadowed and are
taking place, at the present time, in the West Indies
and British Guiana.

A short account of recent agricultural progress in
Dominica is presented on page 173.

The Fungus Notes, on page 174, deal with rose
mildew and immortel canker.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 25, 1912.

Agricultural Conference Picture.

There is issued asa loose supplement, with this
number of the Agricultural News, a full page repro-
duction of a photograph of the delegates to the West
Indian Agricultural Conference, held in Trinidad from
January 23 to 30, last. The photograph was taken
on the steps of the Princes’ Building, on Monday, Jan-
uary 29. It includes most of the delegates; though it
is to be regretted that a few were unavoidably absent.
Tf it is desired, the picture may be bound in, when the
present volume of the Agricultural News is complete.

oo

Index and Title Page.

The Index and Title Page of Volume X, of the
Agricultural News are also published as a supplement
to the present issue, so that the opportunity is now
given, for the numbers of that volume to be bound
together.

As in the case of the last index, it has been endeav-
oured to make that of Volume X more detailed in
nature than those issued for the first eight volumes,
This, again, applies particularly to the portion dealing
with Insect Pests and Plant Diseases, so that this
part may be employed as a dictionary of common and
scientific names, as well as an index.

The Value of Rat Exterminators.

In relation to this subject, a note was given in the
last number of the Agricultural News on work that
has been carried out in Indo-China. The interest of
the matter is further increased by experiments that are
described shortly in the Report of the Agricultural
Research Institute and College, Pusa, 1910-11.

It is stated that experiments were made with
fresh samples of Ratin and Trope Ratin received from
England, and that a report on the results was furnished
to the Inspector General of Agriculture in India. It is
explained that Ratin is a bacterial culture of a rat
disease, prepared in Copenhagen. In the trials at Pusa,
although the cultures were alive when they were re-
ceived, as was proved by transfers, it was not possible
to effect the transmission by them of any disease when
they were given with food to captive rats, The sug-
gestion is made that the virulence of the cultures
might be regained by re-culturing in Indt«.

It is further explained that Trope Rutin is not
a bacterial culture, but a vegetable poison, whose prin-
cipal characteristic is that it readily kills rats and mice,
but is harmless to other animals. The trials carried
out with it in India proved that its usefulness in that
country depends upon its employment within a limited
period of time after its preparation, for it deteriorates
rapidly when kept, and loses its poisonous property.
The cost is said to preclude any possibility of its use
by cultivators on a large scale, but it is suggested that
it may be employed in special cases, such as in granaries
or warehouses.

Vou. XI. No. 263.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 169

A Method for Facilitating the Removal of
Ploughs.

The Journal of the New Zealand Depariment of
Agriculture for February 1912 describes a very simple
arrangement for assisting in the removal of an ordinary
plough from place to place. It consists merely of
a 2-inch board whose iength is a little greater than the
total length of the share and mould board. To this is
attached a loop made of hoop steel, iron, or wire, which
is of such a size that it will just hold securely the poiat
ofthe share. The sole of the plough is kept in position
by means of two iron pins standing up a couple of inches
above the board, and driven into it at such an angle as
to ensure a good grip.

It is evident that such an arrangement enables
the plough to be moved over the field or roads with more
comfort to horse and man, and more quickly than is
ordinarily the case.

The Stimulation of Nitrogen-fixing Organisms
by Humus.

The Journal of the Chemical Society, 1911, p. 758,
abstracts a paper which presents an account of work
that was done for the purpose of determining the reason
for the increased growth, and power to fix nitrogen, of
Azotobacter chroococcwm, when soil is added to
a nutrient solution containing the sugar called mannite,
in which the organism is being grown.

The results, which are in agreement with those of
other investigators, showed that the effect was due to
the iron contained in the crude humus acids, for if
these acids were freed from iron and added to the nutri-
ent solution, there was no corresponding increase in the
activity of the nitrogen-fixing organism.

It was found that some of the greatest effect in
the stimulation of Azotobacter was produced by iron
hydroxide dissolved in an alkaline solution of cane
sugar.

+

Trials of the Soy Bean in England.

The last number but one of the Agricultural
News contained a note on trials with the soy bean in
England, that have received description in the Journal
of the South Eastern Agricultural College, Wye.

In the Journal of the Board of Agriculture for
April 1912, p. 33, an account is given of other trials
made in England with this plant. For the purpose of
these, seeds of sixteen varieties of soy bean were
obtained by the Board of Agriculture from an experi-
ment station in North Japan, together with a small
quantity of soil in which the crop had been grown
already. The purpose was to make trials with seed
produced from plants raised in temperatures more
nearly approaching those obtaining in England, as it was
thought that a reason for failure in past experiments
might be found in the circumstance that the seeds
had been imported from countries with hot climates.

The experiments were carried out at the Midland
Agricultural College, and by Professor Biffen at Cam-
bridge. In the former case, it was reported that many
of the seeds produced vigorous plants, which would not
flower even when they are placed in a greenhouse.
Nevertheless, the plants were strong and healthy, and
there was a large number of well-developed nodules
on the roots. Similar results were obtained at Cam-
bridge. The interesting observation was made that
nodules were absent entirely from plants grown in soil
that had not been inoculated with the soil from Japan;
whereas, in the cases where the Japanese so:! had been
applied, the nodule formation was good.

As these experiments seemed to suggest that
Japanese varieties of soy bean are not suited to
English conditions, seeds of Manchurian soy beans
were obtained, some from northern Manchuria and some
from the south of that country. These were grown in the
same places as the Japanese seeds.

Inconnexion with this experiment, it was reported
from the Midland Agricultural College that vigorous
plants had been obtained, bearing abundant nodules,
but that no seed had matured. At Cambridge, the
trial was more successful although the plants did not
grow very vigorously. They flowered at about the
middle of August, and ripened a small quantity of seed
about the end of September. On being sown in the
following April, this seed produced useless plants that
did not bear seed in turn, in spite of the hot seasun.

It is claimed that these results seem to prove
fairly conclusively that none of the varieties of soy bean
yet tried in England can be relied upon to produce seed
in that country, though a certain amount of seed may
be obtained under exceptional circumstances.

ST

Recent Entomological Work in Trinidad.

A report of the Entomologist to the Board of Agri-
culture, Trinidad, dealing with recent work in con-
nexion with insect pests, was presented at 1 mecting of
the Board held on March 22.

Among the work mentioued in the report, record is
made of the observation of the eggs of froghoppers in
dry trash, in a boncan, in fields in which the cane had
not yet been cut, but had been stripped; this is stated
to show the necessity for burning the trash in the fields.

Holes of Castnia licws have been observed in canes,
in the mill yards of the Caroni and Couva districts, and
a similar appearance has been noticed in canes carted
by cane farmers along the Arima, Couva and Caroni
roads. It is stated that the evidences of attack are not
numerous in most places, but that they are sufficient
to prove that the moth is spread all over the northern
part of Trinidad. It is thought that it exists in the
southern district also.

Among other matters, there is the interesting fact
that the predaceous bug of the froghopper is doing well
in confinement, and that the numbers are steadily
increasing.

170

INSECT NOTES.

A DISEASE OF GRASSHOPPERS.

The last volume of the Agricultural News contained on
page 410 an article describing work that had been carried
out, in Yucatan, which showed that a disease germ known
to produce fatal results in grasshoppers could be employed in
the control of this pest. Subsequently, another article has
appeared in the Journal d’Agriculture Tropicale for March
1912, p. 70, which states that the study of the disease has
been continued at the Pasteur Institute, on the return to
France of the investigator, M. d’Hérelle.

A further phase of the same matter receives interesting
description in the article that has just been quoted. At the
end of last December, the Argentine Government obtained
the services of M. d’Hérelle for the purpose ot enquiring if it
was possible to undertake the destruction of grasshoppers,
which are serious pests in parts of the Republic, by employ-
ing the disease for the purpose. The importance of the
matter was all the greater because of the existence of areas
in Argentina which it seems to be impossible to colonize on
account of the periodical appearance of the scourge. Past
efforts have been made to devise means for lessening the
damage done by the pest, in this country, and there exists
a commission and a bureau organized for the service, but it
was desired, nevertheless, to invoke the services of the
investigator mentioned. It may be said shortly that, as in
Yucatan, the results of the work have been eminently
successful.

The first care of the investigator was to increase the
virulence of the bacillus responsible for the disease, by means
of successive inoculations of the insects. When the maxi-
mum degree of virulence had been gained, pure liquid
cultures were prepared and were used for infecting flights of
grasshoppers.

The first trials were made with insects in captivity,
which were allowed to feed on alfalfa on which a small
amount of the culture had been spread. After forty-eight
hours, the mortality was aboat 50 per cent.; in five days all
the insects were dead. Further, the microbe of the disease
was found to be almost the only bacterial organism present
in the intestines of the dead insects and in the liquid
excreta found on the alfalfa. At the end of such absolutely
convincing experiments, practical trials were made in diff
erent parts of the country.

On January 16, a flight of grasshoppers was enclosed, by
means of barriers made of corrugated iron, in a space having
an area of about 1} acres, and nearly | pint of a culture of the
bacillus was spread on the ground. In four days, 75 per cent.
of the insects were dead, and after a second similar period they
had all succumbed.

On January 18, a. meadow having an area of 88 acres,
where there was a large number of winged grasshoppers, was
infected with 1 ? pints of the culture, which was scattered broad-
cast. Five days afterwards, an enormous number of dead and
dying insects was found all over the meadow and in the sur-
rounding wood.

Several days after, over 5 pints of the culture was
scattered in areas infested by grasshoppers. On the following
day, numerous dead insects were found, and the plants were
soiled by excreta. All the flights which passed the infected
region, and which rested there, were contaminated; and within
a radius of several miles, dead grasshoppers were found.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

Actually, about cne million of the dead insects was observed
on each acre.

Other experiments have shown identical results, and it
has been found that if the insects are infected through the
stomach, by eating contaminated plants, they die in a time
which varies from eight to twenty-four or thirty-six hours.
The effect is increased by the fact that the excreta contamin-
ates fresh plants, and a further destruction of insects is
caused

Toward the end of the article, it is claimed that the
experiments described place beyond doubt the efficacy of this
means for the destruction of grasshoppers. As the matter
arose from observations made of a disease of the insects in
Yucatan, occurring in a species identical or nearly related to
that of the Argentine (Schistocerca americana), there may
have been the fear that special conditions may not have per-
mitted an easy development of tke disease among the South
American insects. Happily, this fear has not been justified;
on the contrary, even non-migratory grasshoppers have been
found infected. It seems that the extreme virulence of the
bacillus producing the disease (Coccobacillus acridorum)
should ensure its usefulness among the most diverse species.
At any rate, it is easy to make experiments to determine the
matter.

THE BANANA WEEVIL BORER.

In a letter received recently by the Imperial Commis-
sioner of Agriculture from Mr. Frank P. Jepson, Government
Entomologist of the Fiji Department of Agriculture, enquiry
is made as to methods of control known to be of value in
dealing with the banana borer.

This insect, which has been recorded as a pest in
Dominica in previous years, under the name Sphenophorus
sordidus, German, is stated to be the same as C'osmopolites
sordida, Chevrolat. It is said to be a serious pest of bananas
in Fiji, and to defy all artificial methods of control. Mr. Jepson
proposes to visit certain islands in the East Indies, with the
object of endeavouring to discover some efficient parasites of
this borer which are supposed to exist there.

The banana borer has not occurred in sufficient numbers
in the West Indies, during the past nine or ten years, for it to
have been recorded as a pest during that time. It would be of
interest, however, to know whether any planters have observed
borers in the stems of banana plants, just above the ground,
and also how much damage may be attributed to this pest.
There is, of course, a possibility that efficient natural enemies
of the borer exist in the West Indies, and that they prevent
its increasing to sufficient numbers to become a pest. In any
case, it would be useful for any observations, that may be
made on this insect, to be communicated to the Imperial
Department of Agriculture.

The Cotton Boll Weevil.—In the Cuba Magazine
for January 1912, a short account is given of trials in grow-
ing cotton in a district where the cotton boll weevil is known
to occur, for the purpose of ascertaining whether cultural
methods can be depended upon to prevent attacks by this
pest. The result of.these trials, so far, has been that by
late planting —after the season of greatest abundance of
insect pests—-and the immediate destruction of all old plants
and trash when the crop is finished, cotton has been grown
for three years without any sign of boll weevil attack. (See
also Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 121.)

Vou. XI. No. 263.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 171

a _— LK

AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT

SOCIETIES IN ENGLAND AND
WALES.

There has just been issued, by the Board of Agri-
culture and Fisheries, Leaflet No. 260, dealing with
this subject, and from this the following extracts, that
are of more general interest, have been made:—

There is nothing in the Friendly Societies Act to prevent
the registration of a society in which the liability of the
members for the debts of the society is limited toa fixed
sum in each case (or limited by guarantee, as it is called);
but no society has yet been formed on this basis, and all the
existing societies have adopted a rule to the following
effect: —

‘Every member of the Society shall be, equally with
every other member, jointly and severally liable for all debts
incurred by the Society, and for any loan which a member
or his sureties may fail to pay.’

Thus in all the existing societies the liability of each
and all of the members for debts due by the society is
unlimited, and the ultimate security offered by the society
for advances made to it is the total property of all its
members put together.

A society registered under the Friendly Societies Act
has to submit its rules to the Chief Registrar, whose duty it
is to satisfy himself that they are not contrary to the Act.
Most of these societies have adopted the model rules recom-
mended by the Agricultural Organization Society, to which
all but two of them are affiliated, and the others have rules
which are in all important respects similar, so that regarding
all of them it may be said that, besides the principle of
unlimited liability, they have the following features in
common.

No one can be admitted as a member unless he lives
within a certain circumscribed area, such as a parish, or two or
more adjoining parishes, and so is personally known to most
of his fellow members. He must also be approved by the
committee as a man of good character, worthy of admission
to the society. All the members have an equal voice in the
election of the committee and the management of the society.

Loans to members are granted only on approved security,
and must be utilized only for a specific purpose, which, in
the opinion of the committee, is such that there is a sufficient
prospect to the loan repaying itself by the production, busi-
ness, or economy which it will enable the borrower to effect.
No member can have out on loan more than £50 altogether
at any time, but he can repay one loan and afterwards take
out another, not exceeding £50.

The society may receive deposits, either from members or
non-members, and may pay interest on them.

No profit may be divided among the members of the
society. All profits must be carried to a reserve fund, which
can only be drawn upon to meet exceptional losses by resolu-
tion of the general meeting of the society. Even if the socie-
ty is dissolved, this reserve fund cannot_be divided among the
members, but must be spent on some useful purpose in the
parish. Thus the only pecuniary benefit a man may expect
to gain by becoming a member of such a society is that of
obtaining loans for profitable purposes connected with agri-
culture at a low rate of interest; and if he is unlikely himself
ever to require such a loan his motive for joining as member
can only be to help on a beneficial movement, and to assist
his neighbours, by his guarantee and guidance, to get small
loans on advantageous terms.

The accounts of the society, with the exception of those
relating to individual loans and deposits, are open to the in-

spection of all interested in the funds. They must be audited
annually and submitted to the Chief Registrar, and a copy of
the annual balance sheet must be conspicuously displayed for
the information of all concerned.

It takes some years for a credit society to get into work-
ing order, and the progress made can be better judged by tak-
ing separately the totals for the six oldest societies, which have
been at work for over fourteen years. Between them, they had
in 1910, 145 members (an average of 24 per society), and
during the year they gave out thirty-four loans, so that
about one in four of the members took a loan. The
loans aggregated £511, and averaged £15 per loan.
The rate of interest charged on loans to members was,
in four societies, 5 per cent., in one 6 per cent., and in
one only 4 per cent. They had secured deposits amount-
ing to £481, paying interest on them at 3 per cent. in four
societies, and at 4 per cent. in one. Two of them had
obtained advances from banks at 4 per cent., and one at 3 per
cent. During the year they earned £36 in interest, and
received other income amounting to £1, while their interest
charge was only £20, and their expenses of management £6,
an average of £1 per society; so that the net profit of the
year was £11], or nearly £2 per society. Their assets amount-
ed together to £743, including gifts of £65, and £556 out
onloan to members; and their liabilities were £538, including
the £481 held on deposit. Their surplus of assets over lia-
bilities amounted to £205 (including the £65 received as
gifts), so that they have now, after fourteen years of careful
management, built up a reserve fund equal to more than one-
third of what their members require in loans during the year.
This is their own property, on which they have no interest to
pay. The loans have been repaid punctually, and the societies
have made no bad debts, and incurred no losses, and only in
three or four cases have they had to call on the sureties to
help in repaying loans due from members. Jn hardly any
case has the surety ultimately failed to recover the money
from the actual borrower.

The members agree in saying that they have derived
great benefits from the existence of these societies, which
have enabled many of them to obtain the small loans needed
for their agricultural operations at a lower rate of interest
than they would have had to pay elsewhere, and some of
them to obtain loans, who otherwise could not have borrowed
at all. They cite instances of men who were enabled, by
a loan from the society, to buy and feed sheep, pigs or cattle,
to hold over stock for better prices, to procure seed, plants,
or manure, to work their land to better advantage, or to add
to the area of their holdings; and of some who, by means of
a succession of such loans, have risen from the position of
labourers to that of substantial small holders.

The establishment of these societies in the rural villages
in which they are found has evidently not only added to the
prosperity of many of the villages, but has stimulated neigh-
bourly feeling by showing men how they can help their
fellows by the exercise of care and mutual trust, without any
real pecuniary risk to themselves, has encouraged thrift and
efficient methods of cultivation, and has at the same time
increased the selfrespect of the individual members, and
inspired them with hopes of progress.

It is very noticeable that the first efforts in
these agricultural credit societies are very small,
and that gradual but safe progress is made. This
fact may form an object-lesson in regard to simi-
lar work in the West Indies, and serve as matter for
encouragement in such work.

—_s
7)
bo

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

May 25, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

The amount of cotton shipped from Antigua up to the
end of April was about 42,400 tb. Indications existed that
the area of cotton planted will be somewhat largely increased
during the coming season.

A note in the Board of Trade Journal for February 29,
1912, states that, although the rice crop of 19i1, in Japan,
was considerably below the estimates, it was, however, 10°7
per cent. above the 1910 crop, and 5:2 per cent. greater than
the normal crop.

By the end of last month, lands were being prepared on
a few estates in St. Vincent for cotton-planting; harvesting
was practically completed. Cotton seed for planting pur-
poses was, in the usual course, being selected and disinfected
at the Central Cotton Ginnery.

The Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad
and Tobago for April 1912 shows that the total amount of
cacao shipped from Trinidad during that month was
6,291,709 tb. The total export of cacao from the island for
the first four months in the year was 30,702,105 bb.

A report received from the Director General of Agricul-
ture in Egypt shows that, early last month, the temperature
was favourable to cotton-growing, and that sowing was gen-
erally ten days earlier than in the previous year, 75 per cent.
of the crop having been planted. Germination and growth
were good; a few attacks of sore shin had been reported.

Information received from Antigua as to the agricultural
conditions during last month shows that drought was still
being experienced. The condition of the young cane crop was
fair, considering the lack of rain. The plantations of young
coco-nut palms were standing the drought well, and this was
being resisted fairly successfully in the lime cultivations.

The trend of some of the chief agricultural interest in
St. Lucia is shown by the fact that there continued to be
a fairly large distribution of lime plants, by the Agricultural
Department, during last month, the number being 1,850. In
addition to these, there were sent out: cacao plants 300, yams
500 tb., corn seed 2 gallons, horse beans 1 gallon, vegetable
seeds 29 packets.

A note in the Demerara Daily Argosy Mail Edition of
April 27, 1912, states that, in connexion with the severe
drought that is being suffered in the Colony, cane pests are
very prevalent, especially the smaller moth borer, which is
doing extensive damage. The statement is made that as
many as two million caterpillars of this pest have been collected
and destroyed on one estate since the beginning of the year.

The United States Vice Consul General at Buenos Ayres
reports that the first cotton-growing colony has been formed
in Argentina. A large area of land has been set apart for
the purpose, and it is the intention to subdivide this into
small farms of 125 to 250 acres, and to offer these to immi-
grants remaining in the country, on the distinct condition
that no other plant than cotton shall be cultivated on them
as a main crop

At a recent meeting of the Demerara Permanent Exhibi-
tions Committee, it was decided that, owing to the severe
drought, it would not be expedient for the Colony to be repre-
sented at the forthcoming International Rubber Exhibition,
owing to the impossibility of making a collection of exhibits
that would be serviceable and representative of the Colony’s
resources. It is hoped, however, that arrangements will be
made for the distribution at the exhibition of literature pre-
senting an account of the Colony and its industries.

According to the Bulletin of Agricultural Statistics of
the International Institute of Agriculture, for March 1912,
the total area under cotton in Jndia is estimated at
20,631,598 acres as compared with 22,859,363 acres last
year; this is a decrease of 9°7 per cent. The estimated out-
turn is 3,135,000 bales of 400 tb. of clean cotton, as against
3,853,000 bales last year, the decrease being 18°6 per cent.
The figures refer to the Indian agricultural year 1911-12,
but the greater part of the crop was picked before the end
of 1911.

It was stated, in-a paper read before the Royal Society
of Arts, on March 26, that cotton-planting in British North
Borneo has practically passed the experimental stage, and
that it has been proved that the soil and climate are well
adapted to the cultivation of this plant. Favourable reports
were received on samples sent to Hong Kong and Japan,
and a suggestion is made that the cultivation should be taken
up onan estate scale in one of the more populous districts,
where women and children would be easily available for the
work of picking.

The question has often been asked if the nodule organ-
ism of leguminous plants, Pseudomonas radicicola, is capable
of living alone in the soil, and fixing nitrogen, without the
presence of such plants Some light has been thrown on the
matter by experiments conducted in liquid media, sand and
soil, and described in Reports of the Virginia Agricultural
Experiment Station, 1909-10, p. 138, which appeared to show
that the organism will live in the soil where the host plant
is not present, and will accomplish a certain amount of nitro-
gen assimilation.

Investigators have found that carbohydrates may be
built up under the influence of the ultraviolet rays, and in the
absence of chlorophyll. The Lxperiment Station Record for
August 1911] gives a summary of further work that has been
done in the matter, showing that neither formaldehyde nor
carbohydrates are formed from carbon dioxide and water, if
potassium hydroxide is absent; in its presence formaldehyde
was formed, but no carbohydrates. For the formation of
sugar from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, in the presence of
po‘assium hydroxide, under the influence of the ultraviolet
rays, it was found necessary that the hydrogen should be in
the nascent state,

‘Von. XI. No: 263,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. ii

tt ooo

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

JUNE.
First Perrop.
Seasonal Notes.

It is a well-recognized fact that no two living beings,
whether they are plants or animals, are exactly alike. ‘The
phenomenon is known as variation, and its existence enables
the agriculturist and the horticulturist, as well as the stock
breeder, to obtain superior kinds of the living beings in which
he is interested. In nature, the effect of the existence of
variation is that the weaker forms, or those less suitable for
continued existence under the conditions, disappear, and only
the varieties that are most fitted to exist under the cireum-
stances are permitted to survive and reproduce their species.
One of the most powerful causes of this kind of selection is
competition. In the case of plants, many more seeds of any
given sort are produced in each season than are required for
the number of plants for which food is available, so that the
matter is important in its effect in preventing the numbers of
any one kind of plant from increasing to a disproportionate
extent.

Sometimes, variations takes place to such a degree that
the new plant is completely different in one or more respects
from those which produced it. This variation is called muta-
tion. It may happen that the new characteristic makes the
form particularly valuable to mankind, but its utility is often
small because the plant possessing it is incapable of transmit-
ting the special property to its offspring: the latter are, in
fact, most likely (as it is expressed) to revert to the former
type. There is also the chance that the new form may not
be adapted to its surroundings, and it will then be quickly
extinguished. On the other hand, the product of mutation —
the ‘sport’ as it is termed—may be better suited to its envir-
onment than the kind of plant from which it came, and it
may in addition be able to produce offspring possessing its
special characters. In this case, mutation has given rise to
a plant that may prove to be of great utility.

The name ‘natural selection’ is given to the way in which
new kinds of plants are produced by these means, in nature.
The common weeds have their origin in this manner, and it
-is their very fitness to survive, under the conditions in which
they are found, that makes them so difficult to eradicate.
Further, the varieties or races of plants that are only suited
to a limited condition of temperature, climate or soil, have
been produced in this way. This natural adaption to defi-
nite climatic conitions should be considered carefully when
it is desired to effect the introduction of some certain variety
of a plant.

The chief importance of these matters to the agricul-
turist is that man is enabled to perform artificial selection,
and thus to obtain kinds of plants that are more prolific, or
more definitely suited to his needs, in a much smaller time
‘than this can be done in nature.

Give examples that have come within your knowledge,
of plants that are being improved or maintained in a con-
dition of superiority to the common forms, by means of
artificial selection. State what other means exist for the
improvement of plants.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY (QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an account of six plants that are commonly
-classed as weeds.

(2) How do plants give evidence of injury to their
roots?
(3) What is the ditierence between parasitic and

saprophytic fungi!
INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Write an account of the special characteristics by
means of which any weeds with which you are acquainted are
enabled to persist.

(2) Why is care required to prevent injury to the roots
of plants! Mention any particular case.

(3) Describe the life-history of any saprophytic fungus
that you have studied.

FINAL ()UESTIONS,

(1) Give an account of any uses of weeds on an estate.
In what indirect ways are weeds of use to the agriculturist?

(2) Provide a description of any root disease of plants
which you have observed, giving careful attention to its
symptoms.

(3) State the usefulness, in any respects, of fungi ta
mankind.

AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS IN DOMINICA.

The address hy His Honour the Administrator, delivered
at a meeting of the Legislative Council, Dominica, held on
March 21, 1912, gives a review of the official returns of the
Presidency, which shows that steady progress continues to be
made in the trade and agriculture of the island. A review
of the address, as regards matters more specially connected
with agriculture, follows here.

During the year 1911, the total trade of the island,
excluding the value of whale oil and stores shipped in transit,
reached the value of £224,793; the annual average for the
five previous years was £221,687. A consideration of the
figures has shown that there has bzen an increase of 68 per
cent. in the trade of Dominica during the past ten years. The
exports during 191] amounted in value to £100,705, in which
were limes, value £72,929, and cacao, value £21,702. On
the basis of the export returns, the lime crop for 1911
amounted to 355,000 barrels; this is less by some 14,000
barrels than the unprecedented crop of 1910, but it is pro-
bable that this smaller amount is only apparent, as some
quantity of the lime products of 1911 was held over for ship-
ment during the present year. It may be stated shortly that
the conditions concerning the lime crop indicate a satisfactory
expansion in the lime industry.

The exports of cacao during 1911 were 10,053 ewt.; this
is less by about 1,200 ewt. than the exports of the previous
year. The cacao crop has remained somewhat stationary for
some years past, and the reason adduced for this by the Cura-
tor of the Botanic Station is that more attention is being
paid to lime cultivation, and that on the death of cacao trees
they are replaced by limes in preference to fresh cacao plants.

Reference is made to the excellent report received recent-
ly from the Imperial Institute concerning rubber from Dom-
inicea. A note on this was given in this volume of the
Agricultural News, p. 121.

Among the other matters considered in the address, the
reference to the work on the Imperial road is of most direct
agricultural import. In relation to this it is stated that the
work of improving and metalling the first 8 miles of the road,
for which a vote of £500 has been made during the last
financial year, is in hand, and that a revote of £2U0 out of
this sum will be asked for, as this was the estimated unex~
pended balance of the vote remaining on March 31, 1912.

174

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, May. 25, 1912.

me

FUNGUS NOTES.

ROSE MILDEW.

At this time of the year, mildew is very common on rose
trees, and may be found in almost every garden. The disease
attacks the leaves principally on the underside and causes
them to curl up and become distorted. It also attacks the
young, growing stenis and the flower buds. On the latter it
causes crumpling and frequently brown discoloration of the
outer petals, while it also reduces the size of the flower. The
fungus causing the trouble appears as a very thin dusty white
covering on the surface of the parts attacked. The dusty
appearance is due to the production of myriads of spores that
are able to germinate on healthy plants, and thus start the
disease on them.

Some varieties of roses are much more susceptible to
mildew than are others, but this fact is of little use in pre-
venting the disease from appearing in West Indian gardens,
partly because it is not easy to obtain information as to
what varieties are comparatively immune and what are not,
but mainly because the best roses are often the most suscep-
tible, and unless immune varieties can be found with almost
identical flowers, the more attractive forms will be planted
whether they are immune or not.

Various measures have been recommended for the control
of the disease. One method is to dust the plants with a mix-
ture of 2 parts by volume of flowers of sulphur with 1 part of
quicklime. This mixture should be put in a muslin bag
and shaken on to the plants in the same manner as that
in which cotton plants are dusted with Paris green.
The treatment should be repeated about every ten days, until
the trees are free from mildew. The powder adheres best
when the leaves are slightly damp with dew or from the
effects of a light shower. Another method of treatment is
to spray or wash the plants with a solution of liver of
sulphur, scientifically known as potassium sulphide. This
may be made by dissolving 1 oz. of liver of sulphur,
obtained from a chemist, in 35 gallons (Imperial) of water;
this is equivalent to 32 wine gallons such as are used
in Barbados A suitable vessel to use is an old kerosene
tin that has been thoroughly freed from oil by scrubbing with
hot water and sand. Another solution, recommended by
Massee, is that consisting of 1 part of sulphuric acid in 1,500
parts of water. For practical purposes, there should be
obtained from the chemist a solution containing 1 part of
strong sulphuric acid and 9 parts of water. One ounce of
this mixture should be added to one Imperial gallon of water
contained in a clean wooden tub or in an earthenware dish.
Both the liver of sulphur and the sulphuric acid solutions will
scorch young leaves, if the mixture is too strong; and the
effect of their application should be carefully watched.

In addition to the two solutions already described, vari-
ous proprietary substances are recommended for treating rose
mildew, and some of them have been found to give quite
satisfactory results. Directions for preparing these sub-
stances for use are as a rule supplied with them.

The actual application ef solutions of fungicides often
presents some difficulty, in a garden. The ordinary garden
syringe, even when it is provided with a fine rose nozzle, does
not usually give a spray that will adhere well all over
leaves with a thin, waxy coating. Either the solution falls
as minute, practically spherical drops on the leaves, or if

the plants are further wetted the liquid runs into big
drops which evaporate slowly, leaving a somewhat too con-
centrated solution on the leaves in some places and none at
all in others. The drops of strong solution scorch the leaves,
and on the other parts the disease is not affected. In either
of the above cases the spraying is of very little use. A method
that would probably be found far more satisfactory, and
one that is quite practicable on a small scale, is to wipe care-
fully each of the diseased parts with a soft sponge dipped in
disinfecting solution. The leaves should not be made too
wet; all that is necessary is to leave a thin, continuous film
of liquid over the surface of the affected parts. The applica-
tion of liquid disinfectant should be repeated at intervals of
about a fortnight, until the trees are free from mildew.

In addition to applying a fungicide, it is advisable to
pick off and burn all dead leaves, dead buds, flowers or
other parts killed or badly damaged by the disease, and to
collect and burn fallen leaves lying beneath the trees. These
measures, if carefully carried out, should prevent the fungus
from doing any serious damage.

IMMORTEL CANKER.

A disease of the immortel (2rythrina umbrosa), the
Bocarie of Trinidad, has been known to exist for some time
in St. Lucia, and an account of its symptoms, with suggested
remedial measures, was given in the report of the Mycologist
on the Staff of the Department, Mr. F. W. South, B.A., on his
recent visit to that Island. This account is as follows:—

The disease usually starts from a cut surface, as for
instance, where a branch has been removed. It spreads fast,
and usually kills the tree: Where it is in its early stages, the
bark is somewhat split, and covered with a thin, shiny, trans-
parent coating, of a yellowish brown colour, probably consist-
ing of a dried gummy secretion, while dark red-brown secre-
tions of a gummy nature exude through the lenticels. Inside,
the bark is rotted, and wet, and reddish brown in colour.
Between the wood and the bark, and in the bark itself, are
very numerous insects of several kinds. The insects work
almost up to the advancing margin of the diseased area, where
the bark is only a little darker in colour on the inside than
is the adjoining healthy bark. As the disease progresses, the
parenchyma of the bark is destroyed, and the brown fibres
alone are left. The bark dries and comes away in sheets,
exposing the wocd. The wood does not appear to be affected,
except that it is bored by a beetle. The diseased tissues have
a strong, characteristic, and very unpleasant smell.

It would seem that careful excision and burning of the
diseased bark, followed by tarring, should control the disease.
The excision should be done with a knife that is frequently
sterilized, and should extend well into the healthy birk. The
exposed surface of the wood should be well fluned with
a torch, before being tarred.

A disease of the same species of Erythrina was reported
by Carruthers from Ceylon, and he believed that it was due
to the same fungus as that causing canker of cacao. At the
present time, however, cacao canker is known to be caused
by Phytophthora Faberi, while this fungus has not so far been
found to develop from diseased immortel bark in St. Lucia.
Moreover, Carruthers believed the immortel disease to be due
to a species of Nectria, to which he attributed cacao canker.
Inoculations with fungi obtained from the diseased trees in
St. Lucia are contemplated, and these may throw some light
on the cause of the disease.

Vou. XI, No, 263,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

175

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of April 1912:—

The month of April began with a more cheerful outlook
for the future than has been the case with the previous
months of the year, and was hoped that the brighter pros-
pects of peace in the coal trade dispute, and the gradual
resumption of work in factories, that had for weeks been idle,
together with the gradual return to the normal railway traffic
would bring with it, when Easter had passed, an increase in
trade generally. To a certain extent this hope has been
realized, but it was not till the end of the month that business
matters began to assume anything like their normal condi-
tions. No individual product affecting these notes has claimed
special attention, as the following summary will show.

GINGER.

At the first auction on the 3rd of the month, no sales
were effected, the offerings being all bought in, and it was not
until the end of the month, namely, at the auction on the
24th, that any amount of business was done, when the offer-
ings amounted to 543 packages of Jamaica and 454 bags of
Cochin and Calicut; of the former only 24 bags were sold,
dull washed realizing 52s. 6d., and common 50s. 6d. per ewt.
Of the Cochin and Calicut, 77 bags were disposed of without
reserve, washed rough fetching 40s. per cwt., and B cut
68s. 6d. ‘

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO,

At the first spice auction on the 4th of the month, 112
packages of West Indian nutmegs sold at the following rates:
64’s to 68’s, 7d. to T4d.; 73's to 79’s, 6d. to 64d.; 82’s to 92’s,
5id. to 6d., 109’s to 120’s, 54d. to 6d... At the next auction
on the 17th, West Indian nutmegs were represented by 157
packages, most of which were disposed of at slightly altered
prices, as follows: 55’s, 7d.; 64’s to 72’s, 6d. to 7d.; 76’s to
86's, 54d. to 64d.; 103’s to 113’s, 54d. to 53d. At the last
auction no nutmegs were offered. Mace was represented at
the first auction by 42 packages West India, and sold at
2s. 2d. to 2s. 8d, broken also fetched 2s. 2d. A fortnight
later West India was again represented by 42 packages, part
of which was disposed of at slightly reduced rates, namely
Qs. 2d. to 2s. 5d. for good, and 2s. Id. to 2s. 2d. for
broken. No further quotations have been made. Pimento
has been quiet throughout the month. At the last sale on
the 24th, 33 bags were brought forward, and bought in at
3d. per Ib. Arrowroot has also met with little or no demand
the offerings for the most part being bought in.

SARSAPARILLA.

The general scarcity of this drug has been a subject of
comment for some weeks, and none has been forthcoming
till at the auction of the 18th; 16 bales of grey Jamaica,
31 bales of Lima-Jamaica, and 10 bales of native Jamaica
were brought forward. The whole of the grey Jamaica and
native Jamaica were disposed of, as well as 26 bales of the
Lima Jamaica, 2s. 4d. was readily paid for the bulk of the
grey Jamaica, while 2s. was paid for ordinary part dark, and
Is, 8d. for mixed. The native Jamaica also fetched good

prices, 7 bales of dull pale reddish fetching from 1s. 1d. to
ls. 2d., per tb. and ordinary pale red Ild. to ls. For 24
bales of Lima Jamaica ls. 6d. per tb. was paid, whilst two
other bales fetched 1s. 7d. per hb.

LIME JUICE, LIME OIL, KOLA, TAMARINDS,

At the beginning of the month, lime juice was reported
very scarce and hardly any was offered in the open market,
good pale unracked was fetching 2s. 3d. per gallon, at
auction on the 17th; 5 hogsheads of fair palish raw West
Indian realized 1s. 11d. per gallon, while it was said that
2s. had been paid for fair raw. At auction on the 17th of
the month four cases of hand pressed oil of limes from
Dominica were offered, and held at 6s. 6d. per bb. Is. 6d.
per Ib. being asked for five other cases of ordinary distilled.
A steady business was done with kola in the early part of
the month, 5d. being quoted for fair halves, at auction on
the 17th 3 bags of West Indian whole nuts and fair halves
were held at 44d. per tb, At the same auction tamarinds
were represented by 10 barrels of new erop Barbados, which
were held at 17s. 6d. per cwt. in bond, and 43 casks of fair
black East Indian which sold without reserve at 9s. 3d.
per cwt.

GOAT IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS
IN BELGIUM.

Belgium has many important syndicates for the improve-
ment of goats, and, in a subordinate degree, of sheep, at least
in East Flanders. Their object is the provision of their
members with first class milk-giving goats, placing at their
disposal choice he-goats of selected stock.

The goat improvement syndicates amounted, on Decem-
ber 31, 1909, to 425—191 in West Flanders and 182 in East
Flanders; they had 40,260 members, owners of 48,505 goats.

The working of these syndicates is very simple. Active
members pay a quite infinitesimal annual contribution, 25
centimes [nearly 24d.] for example. The revenue of the
societies is increased by donations made to them by subsidies
granted by the public authorities. The management buys the
he-goats and chooses the members to whom they are to be
entrusted. For each service members pay the keeper a fixed
amount, for example 50 centimes, which is forwarded to the
syndicate. The keeper must register the services. He
receives an allowance. The breeding registers are kept by
the secretary. Heads of division selected from among the
council are entrusted to register the she-goats and to see that
the regulations are strictly observed. Experts judge the
qualities of the she-goats registered, supervise the main-
tenance of the he-goats, and present proposals for the improve-
ment of the breeds. The syndicate has right of preference as
purchasers of the kids. It pays 50 to 60 centimes a head.
Tt also concerns itself with the rearing of the animals it has
bought and arranges to place a certain number at the dispos-
al of the active members of the syndicate, either chosen by
lot, or in some other way,

If possible, every year, the Board organizes a show
among its members. These syndicates have united in arron-
dissement and provincial federations: there are four provin-
cial federations in West Flanders, five in East Flanders and
one in Brabant. They keep books, and organize shows and
exhibitions. (The Bulletin of the Bureaw of Economic and
Social Intelligence, of the International Institute of Agri-
culture, November-December 1911, p. 40.)

Wew York,—Messrs.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—Tse West Inpia CommirreE CIRCULAR,
May 7, 1912; Messrs. FE. A. DE Pass & Co.,

April, 26, 1912.

ARROWROOT—32d. to 4yu.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8; block, 2/5 per tb.

Brreswax—£7 10s, to £7 12s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 57/- to 75/- per ewt.; Grenada, 52/-
to 57/6; Jamaica, 49/- to 55/-.

Corrre—Jamaica, 71/- to 81/- per cwt.

Uopra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Gorron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota.
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 19d. to 24d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—48/- to 65/- per ewt.

IsincLass—No quotations.

Honry—No quotation.

Lime Jurce—Raw, 1/7 to 2/1; concentrated, £18 17s. 7d.
to £19; Otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/6.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Mace—2/4 to 2/6.

Nurmrcs—d3d. to 6d.

Porento—Common, 212d.; fair, 24d.; good, 213d.; per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/8; fine soft, 4/7{; Castilloa,
4/5 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/9 to 5/-.

Svucar—Crystals, 18/6 to 21/6; Muscovado, 15,6 to 18/-;
Syrup, 12/6 to 16/9 per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

Gittespiz Bros. & Co., May
She Jb}.

Gacao—Caracas, 12}c. to 12$c.; Grenada, 12c. to 12!c.;
Trinidad, 12}¢. to 123c. per tb.; Jamaica, 10c. to 11c.

Gocoa-nuts—Jamaica, select, $22°00 to $24:00; culls,
$1400 to $15:00; Trinidad, select, $23°00 to $2400;
culls, $1400 to $15:00 per M.

Corrse—Jamaica, 14}c. to 17c. per tt.

Gincger—S8c. to 10}c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 43c.
to 45¢c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 41c. to 42c.
per ik.

Grave-Fruir—Jamaica, $2°00 to $350.

Limzs—$3-00 to $9 00.

Mace—i3c. to 56c. per tb.

Nourmegs—110's, 11gc. to 11 fe.

Oxances—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pimzento—3d. per tb.

Svaar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3 98$c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°48he.; Molasses, 89°, 3°23}c. per tb., all duty paid.

Prinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co. May 13,

1912.

Oscao—Venezuelan, $13°25 per fanega; Trinidad, $12°75
to $13°25.

Cocoa-nuz Orn—48e. per Impertal gallon.

Oorrzz—Venezuelan, 15}c. per tb.

Oorra—$4-50 to $4°75 per 100 th.

Daat—$390 to $400.

Onrons—$2°50 to $4:00 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprrr—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Poratozs—Hazlish, $2°00 to $2°75 per 100 fh.

Rioer—Yellow, $4°7U to $4°380; White, $6°25 to $6°35
per bag.

Sucan—Ameriern erzahed, no quotations

May

25, 1912:

Barbados,—Messrs. Jamus A. Lyncxe & Co,, Ltd., May 18,
1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., May 20,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., May 10, 1912.

Arrowroor— $6°50 to $7:00 per 100 th.
Cacao—$11-00 to $14:00 per 100 th.. ©

Cocoa-NuTsS—#s16°00.
Hay—$1°60 to $1°80

per 100 Ib.

Manvres—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Cacao manure, $45:00
to $48-00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80°00 per ton.
Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$6'00 to $6°50 per 100 th.
Peas, Sprit—$7'10 to $7°25 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°00 to $5°25 per bag of 120 th.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $3°25 per 160 th.
Ricr—Ballam, $4°65 to $5:00 per 190 tb.; Patna, no
quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.
Sucar—American granulated, $5°25 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs.

Wietinc & Ricuter, May

11, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacH, ParKeR & Co.,
May 10, 1912.

ARTICLES,

Arrowroot—st. Vincent

Barata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorreE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
Daat—

Green Dhal
EppoEs—
Mo asszs— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Pzas—Split

Marseilles
PLaNTaIns—
Potators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Porators-S weet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam

Creole
Tanyias—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses

Trrser—Greenheart
Wallaba shingles

Cordwood

99

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTErR.

No quotation
70c. per tb.
14c. per tb.

48c.
$300

$16 to $20 per M.

17c. per tb.
18c. to 184c. per tb.
12c. per tb.
$4°00 to $4:50 per
bag of 168 tb.
$450
$2°40
None
7c. to 8c. per tb.

$675 to $7:00 per
bag (210 ib.)
24c. to 60c.
$4.00
$2°88
per bag
No quotation
$5°25 to $5°50
$2°88
$264
$240
$3°30 to $3°40
$3°90 to $4:00

$2°90 to $3°00
32c. to ddc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $600
per M.
$180 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited

18c. per fb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
16c. per Ib.
19hc. per tb.
13c. per ib.
$4°50 per bag of
163 tb

$7-35 per bag
(210 th.)
No quotation
$3°75
No quotation

$5 50
$345
$4°25

32c. to 55c. pas
cub. foot
$4:00 to $6-CC
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, ls. 2d.

Volumes IJ, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. No. 1. No. 2: West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of Papers and Proceedings:
List of Representatives; Presidential Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago; Cacao;
Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural
Education; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomo-
logical Research Committee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies; Nomenclature Com-
mittee; Usefulness of Agricultural Conferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

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 seventy. 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.; No. 66, 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-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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; Price 4d.

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d. (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

ScaLe Insects. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. No. 7, price 4d.; (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.
Part II., No. 22, price 4d. (65) Hints for School Gardens, Fourth Edition.
GENERAL. (69) Hints to Settlers in St. Lucia. Price 6d.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests (Revised), price 4d. (70) Coco-nut Cultivation in the West Indies. Price 6d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of 4d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., 1d. for those
marked 4d., and 13d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62, 63, 67, 69 and 70.

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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 1X complete, with title page and index, asissued
—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 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. Mosetry, Agricultural Schoel.
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, Rosean.

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Roxson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tue ‘Dairy CuronicLe’Orrice.Georgetown. <dnigua: Mr. S. D. Matoneg, St. John’s,
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHat & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Toe Breve anv Boox Suppty Acency, Basseterre.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLacEmMANN, Scarborough. J"emis : Messrs. Howe, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada. ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited. St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 263.

fHE AUKICULTURAL

NEWs. May ecie 1912.

THE BEST - MANUR ES

FOR COLONIAL USE

ess PAE

Qhlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugarcane and general use

Qhlendorff’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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO:—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’'S) GUANO WORKS

London

Agency:

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

VAPORITE! |

VAPORITE !!

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE AND

OTHER ROOT PESTS. |
PRICE TWOQEPEENTS PER POUND,
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON

FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

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FOR SALE.
BOSQUET DOR ESTATE,

Comprising 300 acres, well situated in Mabouya Valley.
on main road to, and 24 miles from, Dennery ; about 25 acres
in Cocoa, crop 50 bags, and 15 acres in Sugar-cane, crop 200

soil very suitab le for Limes, a few acres planted.
For further particulars apply to:—

A. R. G. HUNTER,
La Cave, Dennery, St. Lucia; or to

tons,

| Nomenclature Committee;
| ferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

DUNCAN FERGUSON, Castries.

(267)

FOR SALE.

‘PRIM Kk SUMMER R YELLOW
SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).
COTTON SKED CAKE MEAL.
ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,
Cotton Seed Oi] Mills,
Barbados, W.I.

COTTON

Telegraphic address,

(267) ‘Thorum.’

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 2.)

West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of
Papers and Proceedings: List of Representatives; Presidential
Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago;
Cacao; Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoanut, Lime
and Fruit, and Rice Eadustries; Cotton; Agricultural Educa-
tion: Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in
Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomological Research Com-
mittee; Committee va Entomological Research, West Indies;
Usefulness of Agricultural Con-

To be obtained from-all agents for the sale of the Department's
Publications. Price 6c., post free, 9d.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

Vol. XI. No. 264] SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1912.

THE ROYAL MAIL
STEAM PACKET COMPANY
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~ CITRUS CULTURE |

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A FORSNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE By
EEE DEPARTMENT OF eee FOR THE we US
van XI. No. 264, - BARBADOS, | JUNE a 1912 Price ld,
CONTENTS. of the errors due to the methods adopted, in experi-
mentation, may be determined. In the first, attention
p was given more directly to some of the ways in which
AGE, PAGE.

Agriculture in British
Guiana, 1910-11 . 1ST
Agriculture in the Lee-

Fungus Notes :—
The General Treatment
of Root Diseases of

ward Islands, 1910-11 180 Permanent Crops 190
Carbon Assimilation in Gleanings ... @eamers «cs 190
Plants ... 181 Insect Notes :—
Cattle, Removal ans ‘from A Carbon Bisulphide
St. Vincent to the Explosiofiizes =... =. 186
Grenadines SUS AL85 The Arrowrvot Worm 186
Characteristics of a Hybrid Lime and Magnesia in

Hevea be wae) N84 Soils, Effects of Ditfer-
Cotton in Ceylon . 189 ent Proportions . 184
Gbtuawanbies t= Lime Juice, Keeping aes ;

‘ nee ties of.. a
Consumption of Egyp- s ie eza
ae” Cation ir the Market Reports... ve 192
Wailea Stvtes 182 Notes and Comments ... 184
Cotton Gaintaten in , | Plant, A Honione dt low-
1 ‘ onan: 85
Lynieoet: 39 ering . Sl
nrisesan. ae -- 182! Plant Protechion in
Cotton-Growing in Papua 185
Jamaica 182] ; a ye
ae = ants’ Co 89
West Indian Cotton ... 182 poco Cone ee
Sugar Industry:—
Departmental Reports ... 183] Sugar in the United
Field Experiments, Inter- States, 1911 5 oY)
pretation of the Re- | Wood Specimens in Nature
sults of, III elie Study... Se

The Interpretation of the Results of

Field Experiments.
NE.

HE last two articles on this subject were
written for the purpose of indicating and
describing the means by which the extent

such errors may arise; and emphasis was laid on the
importance of the determination of the magnitude of
these errors, in order that allowance may be made for
them in arriving at an interpretation of the results of
experiment.

The second article was devoted to a description of
the way in which the chief kinds of information in
regard to experimental error are obtained. It was
shown, firstly, that the value of an average calculated
from a series of experiments, in relation to its use in
obtaining a definite result of the work done in con-
ducting these experiments, may be determined in
a simple way by the construction of a Frequency Curve,
and directions for this were given shortly; attention was
also paid to the kind of information with respect to the
results themselves that may be obtained from the proper-
ties of a curve of the kind. Consideration was next giv-
en to the determination of the probable error ofany one
of the results; that is, to the ascertaining of the extent
to which it may vary from the average, on account of
the method of experimentation employed. This led
naturally to the presentation of the method of finding
the probable error of the average of all, or a certain
number of, the results.

The matters dealt with then proceeded to the
determination of the probable error of the difference
between the results of two sets of experiments con-
ducted in exactly the same way. In passing, it may
be useful to remind the reader that the reason for
making two such sets of experiments is to provide

178

a means of estimating the valne of the methods em-
ployed, and of gaining information as to the amount of
dependence that may be placed upon the numerical
results.

These means of obtaining checks on the results of
observations and experiments made in the course of
agricultural and other scientific investigation do not
exhaust all the methods that have been devised for the
purpose. They are, however, sufficient in scope for
adoption in all ordinary cases. In practice, as a matter
of fact, it is often found that the needs of investigations
of the usual kind are supplied adequately by the
employment of two of the methods of obtaining assist-
ance in finding the true significance of sets of experi-
mental results. These are the determination of the
probable error, of the average and, less frequently, of
the probable error of any one result. It is to these,
therefore, that attention will be given shortly for the
purposes of illustration from actual investigations that
are being undertaken in the West Indies.

The particulars of the means of illustration that
have been chosen for the special purpose are presented
in the table printed after the conclusion of this article.
In the first part of the table there are included, among
others, the results of calculating the probable error of
the average, and that of one experiment, in some of the
sugar-cane investigations that have been conducted
continuously at Dodds, Barbados, for the seventeen
years 1894 to 1910; It is seen here that the differences
obtained when nitrogen and when nitrogen and potash
are supplied to plant canes in addition to pen manure
are significant (that is outside of the limits of experi-
mental error) particularly in the case of the latter
‘method of manuring; while in the case of any one
experiment, in regard to the addition of nitrogen alone,
‘dependence cannot be placed on the numerical result,
as this may be entirely due to the error of experiment.
A similar conclusion is to be drawn from the figures
given for the Leeward Islands, 1901-6 in the second
part of the table, referring to the result of the em-
ployment of nitrogen (in artificial manure), potash
and phosphorus, in addition to pen manure; the average
of the results shows a gain of 3 tons of cane from the
last-named method of manuring, whereas the probable
-error of the average in each case, is only 0°44 and 0°63.
Further, the result of any one experiment is here again
without significance; actually, in such a case, it is
possible for the difference arising from the errors of
experiment to be greater than that which may be
-expected from the addition of the manures.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

June 8, 1912.

It is instructive to compare the significance of the
general results for the Leeward Islands (actually for
Antigua and St. Kitts) with that of the results for one
estate, for a period of years; this has been done in the
third and last parts of the table, presenting figures
obtained at Buckleys, St. Kitts, for plant canes during
1900-5, and for ratoons during 1902-7. Here, with
plant canes, the probable error of the average is very
much the same in amount as the differences that are
made to be apparently due to the ditterent methods of
manuring, and it is evident without further considera-
tion that there is nothing to be gained from the appli-
cation of artificial manures to plant canes, under the
conditions of the experiment. In view of what has been
said, the figures showing the probable error of one
experiment require no comment. he case of the trials
with ratoons presents, however, very different features;
here, basing the judgment on the figures for the diff-
erences for the manures and for the probable errors of
the averages, alone, significant gains are indicated
where artificial manures have been employed.

It may be well to explain that these conclusions
have been stated solely for the purpose of illustration
connected purely and simply with the determination of
the experimental error of field trials, It is especially
important that this fact should be realized as
regards the results that are considered for plant
canes, particularly with respect to the results in
the first and second parts of the table. Here, the
average differences shown to be sufficiently
large, as compared with the probable error of the
averages, to be significant, when they are considered
alone; but it is easy to understand that the matter is
not complete until the value of the increase of cane
indicated from the special method of manuring (with
the probable error subtracted) is compared with the
cost of the manures that may be regarded as the cause
of the increase.

are

The assistance given by the mathematician
to the experimenter, whether the work of the
latter is connected with agriculture or not, has
enabled him to gauge with accuracy the value of the
results obtained by him and to test exhaustively their
dependence. Practical agriculturists have not been
slow to recognize this tact; and the determination of
the experimental error is gradually becoming a matter
of ordinary routine, in trials conducted both in the
field and in the laboratory.

Vou. XI. No. 264.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 179

The table to which reference is made in the above
article appears below. It presents results, for the purposes
of illustration, calculated from data, chosen at hazard, given
in the Annual Reports on Agricultural Experiments Con-
ducted in Barbados, and in the Annual Reports on Experi-
ments Conducted in Antigua and St. Kitts, for the years
mentioned.

In the table, the numbers in brackets refer to the num-
bers designating the experiments as they are detailed in the
reports. Further, N P and K denote experiments with
artificial manures supplying chiefly nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash, respectively.

It is to be understood that, for the purposes of illustra-
tion, the results given in the table have been reviewed in
a perfectly general manner.

BARBADOS. 17 YEARS’ EXPERIMENTS AT popps, 1894-1910.
PLANT CANES.

Tons cane, Difference. Probable Probable
average, error of _ error of
average. one ex-
periment.
Pen manure 24:0 a 0-76 31
Pen manure, and) 5+, ‘ .
1OiioNard her { 34 0-83 3-4
Pen manure and |
40 Ib. Nand | 30°5 65 0.79 33
AGMTinc Kewl |
LEEWARD ISLANDS. AVERAGE OF EXPERIMENTS, 1901-6,
PLANT CANES.
(1) Pen manure* 24°8 -- O44 4°8
ene og 3-0 063 48
K and P
BUCKLEYs, ST. KITTS, 1900-6. PLANT°CANES,
(1) Pen manure 32°3 -- 0:96 4-7
(2) Pen manure 32:4 01 1:00 4:9
(G)ENERSES 339 16 1:40 49
(14) N. 32°4 0:1 1:53 53
(18) N.K 345 2°2 1°60 55
(26) N.P 34:1 18 1°35 47
BUCKLEYS, 1902-7. RATOON CANES.
(1) No manure 15,7 — 1.81 40
2) Pen manure 17°5 18 212 4:7
(6) N.P.K,. 21:2 5:5 1 35
(14) N. 22°0 63 Fae 35
(18) N.K. 2251 6°4 1°31 41
(26) N.P. 20°9 52 147 4:7

In regard to the silk industry of Europe and Japan,
a statement issued by the International Institute of Agri-
culture, Rome, is to the effect that the condition of the
mulberry trees, during the past season was satisfactory in
Austria, Croatia and Slavonia, and Japan, and bad in Italy.
The quantity of silk worm eggs placed for incubation was in
Austria 29°414 oz. of 30 to 36 grammes; in Bulgaria 14°336
hectogrammes or 96 per cent. of last year’s figure; and Japan
521-000 hectogrammes, the latter being 102 per cent. of the
amount placed for incubation last year.

*In the experiments in the Leeward Islands, No. (1) which
is described in the reports as no manure actually receives, as
plant canes, a dressing of pen manure. The manurial constitu-
ents referred to under the subsequent numbers are applied in
addition to pen manure as received by No. (1). In ratoons,
however, No (1) actually receives no manure at all.

SUGAR IN THE UNITED STATES,
1911.

Sugar consumption in the United States in the calendar
year 1911 exceeded that of any earlier year. The total
quantity consumed in continental United States was, accord-
ing to the latest estimate of the Bureau of Statistics, Lepart-
ment of Commerce and Labour, 7,670 million pounds, or an
average of 81°78 pounds per capzta, against the former high
record of 81°19 pounds per capita in the fiscal year 1907.

These figures are official so far as relates to the quantity
brought into continental United States during the calendar
year from Hawaii, Porto Rico, the Philippines and from
foreign countries. To this the Bureau has added the latest
estimates of sugar produced in the country during 1911, and
by subtracting the official figures of exports from the grand
total of imports and domestic production obtains a total of
7,670 million pounds, or practically 82 Ib. per capita, as the
indicated consumption of the calendar year 1911. Ten years
ago, in the fiscal year 1901, the indicated consumption was
5} billion pounds, or 72 lb. per capita; twenty years ago,
in 1891, 3} billion pounds, or 61 tb. per capita; thirty
years ago, in 1881, 2} billion pounds, or 43 tb. per capita;
and forty years ago, in 1871, 1} billion pounds, or 36} hb.
per capita.

The import valuation of the sugar brought from foreign
countries in 1911 was, speaking in round terms, $90,000,000;
from the non-contiguous territories, $78,000,000; and the
estimated value of that produced in continental United States,
$90,000,000. The Bureau of Statistics estimates the duty
paid on sugar imported from foreign countries in 1911 at

50,000,000.

One striking fact which comes to the surface in this
study of sugar consumption in the United States is found
in a comparison Of production and growth in production of
cane and beet sugar respectively. While exact figures of
domestic production in 1911 have not yet been completed,
the latest and best available estimaté puts the production of
beet sugar at 1,105 million pounds, and that of cane sugar
at 700 million pounds, the production of beet sugar thus
exceeding that of cane sugar by more than 50 per cent.
Prior to 1907, the production of beet sugar was never as great
as that of cane sugar. In 1901 the quantity of beet sugar
produced was less than one-third that of cane; in 1906 it
nearly equalled that of cane; in 1907 it exceeded that of cane,
and has continued greater in each year since that time, being
in the year just ended, as above indicated, more than 50
per cent. in excess of the cane sugar produced.

Approximately one-fourth of the sugar consumed in the
United States is of domestic productiop, another quarter is
brought from the non-contiguous territories, and the re-
mainder from foreign countries, chiefly Cuba, from which the
importations in the calendar year 1911 were 3,193 million
pounds out of a total of 3,732 million pounds from all
foreign countries. The next largest foreign contribution to
the sugar supply of the United States was the Dutch Kast
Indies—353 million pounds in 1911. The contributions
from islands belonging to the United States were, from
Hawaii, 1,136 million pounds; Porto Rico, 654 million; and
the Philippines, 402 million; and of sugar produced in con-
tinental United States, 1,105 million pounds from beets, and
from cane, 700 million pounds, the figures of domestic produc-
tion being necessarily estimates. (In the Modern Sugar
Planter for March 2, 1912; from a Special Report of the
United States Department of Commerce and Labour.)

180

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS June 8, 1912.

FRUITS AND: FRUIT .BREES.

THE KEEPING QUALITIES OF LIME JUICE.

The following report by Mr. G. A. Joncs, Assis-
tant Curator, Dominica, dealing with work conducted
by him for the purpose of inves'igating the keeping
qualities of three grades of lime juice, stored in open
casks under conditions similar to those in lime factories
in the island, has been received through Mr. J. Jones,
Curator of the Dominica Botanic Station:—

In November last it was decided to start observations to
determine the loss (if any) which occurs in the storing of lime
juice in open vats.

These observations were made for a period of fifteen
weeks, and as this is considerably in excess of any time which
is likely to be required for the handling of raw juice on any
estate in Dominica, I think it advisable at this stage to
bring the observations to a close and to present a report on
the results.

Three different strengths of juice were obtained, namely
strong (S), medium (M) and weak (W), the last being press
juice. Sixteen gallons of each were placed in a wooden cask,
and left exposed in a large, airy building.

Samples of the juice were taken and tested at the com-
mencement, and at fairly definite intervals, with the following
results as given in the table:—

Interval from

first testing, — 2 4 6 8 10 Py ls)
weeks.

Acid.oz. {© 123 12°2 12:17 12:12 12:06 11:8 108 10-1
Cid, OZ. 1 NF 11-8 11°5 11-4 11:36 11:2 10:2 96 81
per gal.jwo95 87 63 29 268 2:2 18 0-65
Acid, gr. (S 33-6 33°4 33:3 33:1 33:0 32:3 29°5 27-6
per oz. 1M 323 315 31:2 31-1 306 27-9 26-3 22-2

W260 238 176 79 73 60 49 1:8
Acidlost, (S — 089 13 11:7 22:2 40 1241758
per cent.1M — 098 31 36 5:0 13-5 186 31:3

|W — 8-00 330 69:3 71:7 768 81:2 931

The dates of testing were November 4, 20; December
4, 18; 1911; and January 3, 15, 31; February 19; 1912.

From these figures it wil] be seen that the weak juice
has deteriorated much more than the other two. In four
weeks 33 per cent. of the acid was lost, in six weeks 70 per
cent, and in fifteen weeks 93 per cent.

A good average juice testing 12°3 oz. per gallon may, it
seems, be kept for a considerable time without any serious
loss of acid; when stored for six weeks it lost only 1‘7 per cent,
On storing for twelve weeks, however, the loss became
rather heavy, namely 12 4 per cent., and in fifteen weeks 17°8
per cent.

The medium juice behaved as one would expect from the
above. The loss in six weeks amounted to 3°6 per cent, in
twelve weeks 189 per cent., and in fourteen weeks 31:0 per
cent.

These observations have shown:—

(1) - That a good average juice may be stored for a con-
siderable time without any serious loss of acid.

(2) That the weaker juices, such as those obtained
from presses, should be dealt with without delay.

It is intended to carry on similar experiments with juice
stored in closed casks, and also to determine the effective-
ness of the various preservatives which may be in use,

AGRICULTURE IN THE LEEWARD
‘ISLANDS, 1910-11.

The year 1910-11 may, on the whole, be said to have
marked a period of considerable progress and activity in agri-
cultural matters.

Sugar cultivation is the largest and most important of
the agricultural industries of the Colony and constitutes the
principal source of revenue in Antigua and St. Kitts. In
both Presidencies the year 1910-11 may be said to have been
fairly propitious for sugar cultivation.

The sugar‘export of Antigua during the year amounted
to 15,488 tons, of which 6,397 tons were 96° grey crystal
sugar and 7,091 tons muscovado. The central sugar fac-
tory at Gunthorpes manufactured 5,400 tons of crystals,
taking 8°95 tons of cane to make one ton of sugar, while the
Bendals Factory was responsible for 1,015 tons of crystals,

The export from St. Kitts amounted to 12,330 tons,
consisting almost entirely of muscovado sugar.

At the present time, the sugar industry of Antigua is
somewhat severely handicapped by the wide-spread prevalence
of root disease of sugar-cane (Marasmius sacchari). The
disease is somewhat difficult of recognition, especially as its

Vou. XI. No. 264.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

181

intensity is greatly affected by external conditions. The im-
portance of the disease as a controlling factor in sugar-cane
cultivation is gaming in appreciation, but it is only where it is
completely recognized that remedial measures can be applied
with real prospects of success.

Peasant canes have continued to be aitiaded at the
Gunthorpes and Bendals factories in Antigua During the
year the former purchased 3,542 tons, and the latter 4,176
tons of peasants’ canes. There is no doubt that the provision
of an adequate market for peasant-grown cane has had a con-
siderable effect in improving the position of the peasantry in
Antigua.

The year may, on the whole, be said to have been dis-
tinctly satisfactory as regards th2 cotton industry. As the
outcome of the favourable results obtained in the previous
year, considerable increases in the area planted under the
crop occurred in all the Presidencies.

Moderately favourable weather was on the whole
experienced, and satisfactory yields were almost everywhere
obtained. A notable feature of the season was the relatively
small prevalence of insect pests. Prices declined somewhat from
the high value of those in the previous year, and during the
earlier months of 1911, owing to trade depression in England,
the product was difficult of sale. At the time of writing
the bulk of the crop has been disposed of at fairly satisfac-
tory prices.

The cultivation of limes continues to occupy the position
of principal agricultural industry in Dominica, and further
expansion has once again to be recorded. The crop for the
year was 369,0C0 barrels, an increase of 85,000 barrels
over the crop of 1909. This remarkable increase is partly
attributable to the coming into bearing of young plantations
established within recent years. Considerable efforts con-
tinue to be made by the Permanent Exhibition Committee of
Dominica to popularize limes in England and Canada by
means of judicious advertisement and representation at
exhibitions. The export of citrate of lime amounted to
5,194 ewt., valued at £16,880; this showed an increase of
1,747 ewt. over the export of 1909.

In Montserrat, the total exports of lime, products were
valued at £9,000. Trouble continued to be experienced in
connexion with scale insect pests.

In Antigua interest in the crop continues to grow, and
considerable increases are being made in the area planted
under the crop, especially in the southern district of the
island. In Nevis also, interest in the crop continues to
grow, while in the Virgin Islands attempts are being made
to foster the growth of a small industry.

In Dominica the cacao crop amounted to 11,012 ewt.,
valued at £23,769, a small increase over the exports of the
previous year. Small exports of cacao were again made
from Montserrat.

Interest continues in the possibility of cacao production
in suitable localities in St. Kitts and Nevis. ‘The plantations
are small in area; that in St. Kitts has been slightly extended,
but the total amount of land suitable for tls: form of culti-
vation is relatively small.

Rubber-growing is now attracting considerable attention
in Dominica. Trials have shown that the Para rubber tree
(Hevea brasiliensis) grows well under the conditions obtain-
ing in many localities; an appreciable area has already been
established under the crop, and this is being considerably
extended. It is hoped that this form of cultivation may prove
especially suitable to the conditions obtaining in the interior
lands of the island. re

The cultivation of coco-nuts continues to attract atten-
tion in Antigua and Nevis. About 200 acres have already

been established under the crop in each of these islands, and
the area is being extended. ‘lhe older trees present a pro-
mising appearance, especially in Nevis, where they are now
coming into bearing. Should these pioneer plantations prove
financially successful, it appears probable that they may lead
to considerable further developments in this direction in the
future, as the Colony possesses considerable areas of land at
present in waste, which appear likely to be well adapted
to this form of cultivation.

The possibilities of vanilla cultivation on a systematic
basis are now engaging some attention in Nevis and Dominica,
and small trial plantations have been established; the develop-
ment of these attempts will be watched with interest.

Onion cultivation for export continues to be carried on
with success as a small industry in Antigua. The onions are
chiefly grown as a catch crop on land prepared for cane plant-
ing. In the other islands onions are raised in small quanti-
ties, chiefly for domestic use. (From Colonial Reports—
Annual, No. 711, p. 10.)

CARBON ASSIMILATION IN PLANTS.

The leaf of a plant has been likened to a factory
engaged in elaborating complex substances from the simple
raw materials supplied to it. In the case of the carbohyd-
rates, the final product, starch, and the simple raw materials,
carbonic acid and water, are known definitely, but there is
some uncertainty as to which of certain sugars are formed as
intermediate products of assimilation. It is now some years
since Brown and Morris brought forward experimental
evidence, based on the study of Tropaeolum, to prove that
the first sugar to be synthesised by the leaf is cane sugar.
When the concentration of this sugar exceeds a certain
amount, it is transformed into starch, which is a more stable
and permanent reserve material than sucrose. These con-
clusions have not escaped criticism, but it is only recently
that fresh experimental evidence on the subject has been
obtained by Parkin, in England, and Strakosch, in Austria.
Parkin selected the snowdrop for his experiments, choosing
it because it is one of the few plants which do not elaborate
starch in their leaves. It is therefore a more simple material
for investigation than the Tropaeolum. Parkin comes to the
same conclusion as Brown and Morris, namely that
cane sugar is the first product formed. Subsequently
it is broken down by an enzyme in the leaf into
the more simple sugars dextrose and levulose, which
according to the older views of Sachs and others, are
those first formed in the leaf. The older view, how-
ever, has received some confirmation in the work of Stra-
kosch, carried out with the leaves of the sugar beet.
Using a somewhat different method for determining the sugars
from that employed by the English workers, he claims that
dextrose is the first sugar to appear, part of it soon becoming
transformed into levulose, and the two combining to form
cane sugar. Starch is only formed when a considerable quan-
tity of cane sugar has accumulated in the leaf sap. The cane
sugar produced in the leaf of the beet travels in this form to
the root to be stored; in the Tropaeolum, Brown and Morris
considered that cane sugar is not translocated as such, but in
the form of its simple components —dextrose and levulose.
A similar conclusion is reached by a study of the beet in the
second year of growth. The cane sugar stored up in the root
is translocated to the growing parts as a mixture of dextrose
and levulose, which are recombined on reaching their destin-
ation. The evidence at present seems to favour the retention
of the view expressed by Brown and Morris; but it is evident
that the problem is not fully solved. (The Gardeners’ Chron-
icle, April 20, 1912.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Jung 8, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

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

Since our last report the sales of Sea Island cotton have
been confined to about 20 bales of St. Vincent at 22d. to
224d.

Consumers who have supplied their immediate wants
are not eager buyers at the moment, but we thivk the re-
mainder of the crop will all be wanted before the season is
out.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending May 18, is as follows:—

There was some enquiry this week, and Factors conced-
ing to the views of buyers, it resulted in sales of several crop
lots and of odd bags brought over from last season, amount-
ing in all to about 200 bales, which will be officially reported
next week. A good proportion of the remaining stock, how-
ever, is still being held at higher prices, above the views of
buyers.

We quote, vizi—

Extra Fine 30c. to 32c.=17d. to 18d. c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 28e: top29e.— 16d. to l6kd: 5 95, “43. 3s
Fine 26c. = 15h

+P) 3 oY 3
Fine to Extra Fine,| 130. to 25¢. = 104d. to 143d. ,,

off in preparation J

” ”

Consumption of Egyptian Cotton in the
United States.—In 1892-3 the mill-owners of the United
States used 42,475 bales of 750 Ib. each. In the ‘boom’ year
of 1906 the consumption was 122,806 bales, the highest on
record. It fell off after that, but last year it reached 122,525
bales. The total number of bales used in Great Britain is
from about 320,000 to 325,000 bales a year, or about one-
half of the total bales of Egyptian cotton spun annually
throughout the world. Taking one year with another, Ger-
many makes use of about the same quantity as the United
States. France’s share is from 60,000 to 70,000 bales a year,
while Russia gets through 50,500 bales, Austria over 30,000,
Switzerland about 22,000; all other countries vary from about
220 bales, as in Belgium, to 16,000 or 17,000 bales, asin Italy.
England, therefore, is still a long way ahead of other coun-
tries in the spinning of Egyptian fibres. At the end of 1910
there were 12,508,873 spindles using this cotton, while Ger-
many had only 1,233,078 and France 1,390,147, as shown in
the returns of the International Cotton Spinners’ Federa-
tion. (The Textile Mercury, April 6, 1912, p. 257.)

Cotton-Growing in Jamaica.-—The Secretary
submitted statements of the results of the various experi-
mental plots of cotton grown in Trelawny, St. Ann
and St. Elizabeth. Also the results of shipping the cotton
produced and otherlots purchased at 3d. per tb. from
small growers in St. Elizabeth, ginned by Mr. Conrad
Watson, and marketed along with his own, but marked sepa-
rately. The cotton fetched 1s. 3d per tb. in London, and
freight, being now per ton measurement, worked out at 14.
per Ib.; still the result showed a net return of $d. per tb. on
the seed cotton purchased at 3d Later, through Mr Watson’s
representation, the Royal Mail Company reduced the freight
from 47s 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton measurement, and gave
a refund, making the net return 13d. per tb.

It was resolved to discontinue any further effort to en-
coursge cotton-growing in the dry sections at St. Ann and
Trelawny, as people had not responded in these districts,
but to concentrate effort on St. Elizabeth, Portland, Vere,
where fair crops had been got in spite of a series of very dry
seasons. and where the people were taking well to this crop.
From the money at credit to cotton account it was decided
to offer prizes of £2 and £1 on the best grown cultivations
of cotton of not less than half an acre in the districts of
St Elizabeth and Portland, Vere. (The Journal of the
Junaica Agricultural Society, March 1912.)

Cotton Cultivation in Turkestan.—The Russian
Government hag been assisting in many ways the growers of
Trans-Caspian cotton. It appears from official reports that,
in the autumn of 1910, the Agricultural Department organ-
ized the first cotton seed plantation in Turkestan. In 1911
one such station was working in the Namangansk district of
the Ferghana Oblast, covering an area of 53 dessiatines
(about 143 acres). Here, three systems of cultivation were
applied: first, by machinery only, the seeds being sown in
rows, and the soil between the rows ploughed; secondly, by
using both machinery and hand labour for sowing, but work-
ing the soil between the rows; thirdly, by manual labour only,
the natives being employed. The best results, from the point
of view of an abundant crop, were achieved by relying entire-
ly on machinery, the results being 5,190 tb. per acre for
machinery, 2,058 tb. per acre for machinery and labour, and
1,823 Tb. per acre for hand labour alone. Manure was used
in the first instance only. The average crop of cotton ob-
tained on the plantation amounted to 1,567 Ib. per acre, but
a second crop of 200 tb. to 270 tb. is expected, so that the
average for the station for 1911 may be estimated at about
1.690 tb. (From the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts,
April 26, 1912.)

Vou. XI. No. 264.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 183

VINCENT: REPORTS ON THE BOTANIC

ST
STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, LAND SET-
TLEMENT SCHEME, AND OF THE GOVERNMENT
VETERINARY SURGEON, 1910-11.

Some of the first matter of interest contained in the
report on the Botanic Station is concerned with the condition
of the garden and with particulars of striking plants that have
been introduced, or have flowered or fruited. It is stated
that the continued spread of scale insects was a matter for con-
cern; control is specially difficult because of the presence of
these pests in large quantities, in the forest behind the Garden,
up to a height of nearly 2,000 feet. In spite of the presence
of the chief West Indian insect and fungus parasites of scales,
with the possible exception of Ophionectria coceievla, the
pests are not kept under control, and special efforts in the
introduction of the fungus parasites from Dominica have not
yet brought about any useful improvement.

It does not appear that Manihot dichstoma and
M. piauhyensis will be successful under the conditions of trial.
The trees of Hevea brasiliensis have flowered for several years
in succession, but haye not produced any seed, Castilloa
elastica has shown great susceptibility to attacks by scale
insects and mealy-bug, and the plants haye been removed and
replaced by Hevea brasiliensis. It is not considered desirable
under present conditions to recommend any extensive plant-
ing of Castilloa in St. Vincent. Other interesting plants
which receive attention include the mangosteen, a species of
Tecoma, pimento, and JMJichelza Champaca, the last of which
produces in profusion delightfully fragrant flowers; it is the
champak of Shelley’s Zndian Serenade:—

‘ The champak odours fail
Like sweet thoughts in a dream,’

The large attention that is given by planters to the
cotton and arrowroot industries prevents the distribution of
plants from the station from being either large or varied,
the number of economic plants sent out during the period
under review being 4,340; of these 4,003 were cacao, and the
next largest distribution—126—rubber: there were also
miscellaneous plants, as well as a certain amount of produce
and seeds that were sold.

The particulars given concerning the rainfall show that
the amount recorded at the Botanic Station during 1910 was
104:03 inches, which is 1:25 inches below the average of the
past seventeen years. Particulars of the rainfall for the
past twelve years indicate that the driest months are Febru-
ary, March and April, and the wettest June and October,
each of the last having an average precipitation exceeding
10 inches.

In regard to exhibitions, St. Vincent was well repre-
sented at the Canadian National Exhibition held in August
1910, and at the Dominion Exhibition at St. John, N.B.,
in September of the same year, and a very favourable report
on the exhibits was received. Following instructions from
the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, samples of Sea

Island seed-cotton and lint from St. Vincent have been for-
warded for exhibit in the Colonial Products Section of the
Imperial Institute. Connected with such effort, a useful
example that might well be followed more commonly is the
maintenance of a show case by the Agricultural Department,
at the Public Library, in which are placed from time to
time samples of the different products of the Colony.

The details concerning implemental tillage given in the
previous report are supplemented by information bringing
the matter up to the date of writing.

The notes on agricultural industries are concerned
mainly with cotton. and it is shown that the export of Sea
Island and Marie Galante lint, during the period under
review, was 540,339 tb. valued at £41,836, as compared
with 394,667 tb. valued at £26,775, in 1909-10. Since
1903-4 the total exports from St. Vincent of these two kinds
of cotton have, to the date given, amounted to 2,392,884 bb.
having an estimated value of £160,407. During the past
three years, there has been a steady increase in the yield of
lint per acre, the amount stated being a return of 156 bb.
In this section of the report are contained interesting details
concerning legislation in regard to the cotton industry,
Jabour-supply for cotton-growing, peasant cotton-growing,
selecticn for improvement, and pests and diseases.

It is shown in the section dealing with the starch
industry that the output of arrowroot for 1910 was
valued at £30,089, the weight produced having been
5,302.725 tb; the similar figures for 1909 were £31,792
and 5,594,498 lb. The export of cassava starch was
138,112 Ib. value £781, as compared with 195,166 hb.
value £1,009, in 1909. Samples of meal and starches have
been sent to Canada for examination, and arrangements were
made to acquire a small experimental plant for conducting
investigations in regard to these. ‘lhe exports of cured
cacao showed a decrease, notwithstanding the existence of
a progressive annual increase in the previous five years; the
diminished output was caused chiefly by an outbreak of thrips
in several cf the plantations: the actual export during 1910
was 235,236 tb, as compared with 241,294 tb. during 1909.

The report on the Agricultural School shows that the
average number of boys receiving instruction during 1910-11
was about 19; the examiner's revorts on the half-yearly
examinations were, on the whole, satisfactory. This section of
the reports contains an account of work of collecting certain
new species of insects, done by the Resident Master.

The usual information is included in the report on the
Land Settlement Scheme and Agricultural Instruction. This
would tend to show that the efforts of the Agricultural
Instructor had been successful in bringing about improve-
ments in estate and peasant cultivation, in several of the
districts.

The Veterinary Surgeon states that the number of inocu-
lations against anthrax during the period was 7,550, making
a total of 3,725 head of stock fully treated with the vaccine.
A short history of anthrax in St, Vincent is included, and
information concerning various disorders of stock is succeeded
by detailed statistical tables concerning the incidence of
anthrax in St. Vincent.

It is placed on record that the Bulletin du Jardin Botan-
ique de Buitenzorg. Series 2, No. 3, contains the continuation
of observations of Cecidomyiid and other galls on plants.
The first part of the work was published in the journal
Marcellia, Vols. VIII, 1909, to X, 1911.

184

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Juwn 8, 1912,

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 sews

Von. Xi.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1912. No. 264.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

This number contains the third of a series of
editorial articles entitled The Interpretation of the
Results of Field Experiments. Its purpose is to recapi-
tulate and illustrate shortly the matters that were
brought forward in the former articles.

Page 180 sets forth an account of work that has
been carried out in Dominica in regard to the keeping
qualities of lime juice of various strengths when it is
stored for periods extending to fifteen weeks.

On the same page, there is also the commencement
of an article describing agricultural conditions in the
Leeward Islands during the period 1910-11.

An article on page 183 reviews the reports on the
various agricultural institutions in St. Vincent, issued
as a departmental report, for the period 1910-11.

The Insect Notes, on pages 186 and 187, contain
illustrated articles dealing with the arrowroot worm,
and an explosion of carbon bisulphide under a special
condition which is described.

The condition of agriculture in British Guiana is
described shortly in an extracted article on page 187.

On page 190 are presented the Fungus Notes,
dealing with the general treatment of root diseases of
permanent crops. The subject is taken up in a broad
manner, and much practical advice is given in connex-
ion with the means to be employed.

Characteristics of a Hybrid Hevea.

Through the courtesy of Mr. H. C. Pearson, Editor
of the India Rubber World, a description has been
received of the main characteristics of the hybrid Hevea
that is supposed to be a cross between Hevea brasili-
ensis and H. confusa.

It appeaxs that the hybrid branehes much more
abundantly than either of the plants from which it is
considered to have originated; the leaves are larger,
broader, and witha point showing a slight curve be-
tween the apex and the leaf proper. ‘The bark of the
hybrid is thin; wound response is not continuous, and
the rubber is short and very resinous. After plants of
it have been tapped and the latex removed, the wounds
are apt to discharge a greenish, sticky resin, which
runs down the bark.

It is not possible at present to make any definite
statements in regard to the identification of seedlings
of the plant. The opinion of Mr. Pearson is, how-
ever, that there will be found eventually to be differ-
ences in venation that will permit the hybrid to be
identified, even as a seedling.

Effects of Different Proportions of Lime and
Magnesia in Some Soils.

An account of a large number of experiments
dealing with this matter, conducted during 1907, 1908
and 1909 on six different types of soil and with eight
different crops, receives attention in the Hxperiment
Station Record for December 1911, p. 725.

As regards the yield from the plants grown, ib
was found that, even when the proportions between the
lime and magnesia were varied largely, there was no
effect on thereturn. Thus the investigations did not
give support to Loew’s supposition that the power of
plants to produce crops depends in a very definite
way on the ratio between the amounts of lime and
magnesia in the soil. It may be stated, in passing,
that information concerning this theory, and details of
other matters connected with it, may be found in the
Agricultural News, Vols. IX, p. 95 and X, pp. 60 and
328.

The behaviour of plants toward lime and magnesia
varied with the kind of plant, and even when these
substances were added to soils containing very small
amounts of them, no increase in yield was obtained
so that the conclusion is reached that the same
plants must be studied in the same soil for several
consecutive years before definite results can be gained.
Another interesting conclusion of a general nature was
to the effect that, although substantially the same yields
may be obtained from plants on different occasions, the
amounts of lime, magnesia and phosphoric acid con-
tained in them may vary greatly.

With respect to matters that are of more isolated
importance, it was found that the usefulness of lime in
g.vwing mustard is dependent on other factors, in addi-
tion to the nutritive value of that substance. Again,

Vou. XI: No. ‘264.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 18%

or

the observation was made that the lime content of grain
is much smaller than that of straw; there is more mag-
nesia than lime in the former, while the opposite
condition obtains in regard to straw. Further, the
composition of straw is more susceptible to changes in
the amounts of lime and magnesia than is that of grain.

When the manures applied were rich in magnesia
and poor in lime, the lime content 6f the crop was
lowered, while there was an increase in its content of
magnesia and phosphoric acid. In determining the
exact relation of lime and magnesia in the soil, the
varying solubility and absorption of the manures sup-
plying them must be considered.

A last matter of more general interest is that, as
with the higher plants, no distinct proportion of lime to
magnesia, which was particularly favourable to develop-
ment in the case of bacteria, was found.

Removal of Cattle from St. Vincent to the
Grenadines.

The St. Vincent Government Gazette for April 18,
1912, publishes a Regulation, made by the Governor-in-
Council on April 16, 1912, in the place of Regulation
No. 10 of the Regulations made by the Governor-in-
Council on August 26, 1909 (see St. Vincent Govern-
ment Gazette, September 9, 1909), under the authority
of the Cattle Diseases Prevention Act, 1869. By the
new Regulation the old one is revoked, and the former
substituted for it as follows:—

‘No animal shall after the date of these Regu-
lations be removed to any of the Grenadines Islands
within the Government of this Colony from the Island
of Sait Vincent unless the same shall have been
vaccinated by a Government Vaccinating Officer as
a precaution against Antorax not less than fourteen
days and not more than twelve months prior to such
removal, or unless it is accompanied by a certificate
signed by the Government Veterinary Surgeon to the
effect: (a) that such animal has been taken from an
area in which there has been no case of anthrax for
fourteen days immediately prior to shipment; (b) that
such animal was not taken through an area infected
with anthrax while being conveyed te the vessel for
shipment, and (c) that the fodder put on board for the
use of such animal has not come from an area infected
with anthrax.’

rrr

Plant Protection in Papua.

A Plant Diseases Ordinance was put into effect in
Papua during last year, and according to the Territory
of Papua Government Gazette for February 7, 1912,
a Proclamation has been made by the Lieutenant-
Governor declaring that certain diseases and insects
shall be regarded as diseases and inseets within the
meaning of the Ordinance. t

The diseases mentioned are as follows: of coeo-nuts—
leaf disease, root disease, bleeding disease and bud rot;

of rubber—root rot; of sugar-cane—leaf disease and red
rust.

The insects that are mentioned are the following:
affecting coco-nuts—the Solomon Islands stag beetle
(Eurytrachelus pilosipes), Solomon Islands elephant
beetle(X ylotrupes ninvrod), Solomon Islands rhinoceros
beetle (Trichogomphus semilinki), Ceylon rhinoceros
beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros), red beetle or Asiatic palm
weevil (Rhynchopharus ferrugineus), cane beetle
(Sphenophorus obscwrus), small palm weevil (Calan-
dra taitensis), cabbage beetle or leaf hispa (Brontispa
froggattii), copra bug (Necrolix rufipes), the longi-
corns Xivuthrus costatus and Olethrius tyrannus,
phasma or leaf insect (Graejfer [Lopaphus] cocophagus),
stink bugs (Pentatomidae).

Proceeding, the proclamation refers in the same
way to the following insects: affecting rubber—
white ants (Zermes sp.); atfecting sugar-cane—cane
beetle (Sphenophorus obscurus), leaf hoppers includ-
ing Perkinsiella vastutrix, P. lalokensis, P. rattlei,
P. variegata, P. bicoloris, P. papuensis.

In regard to the diseases, the proclamation men-
tions the following under the heading Fungi: of coco-
nuts—Pestalozaia palmarum and Pythium palimivo-
rum; and of rubber—Fomes semttostus.

A Handsome Flowering Plant.

There may be seen in the Dominica Botanic
Garden a specimen of Bailiaea insignis, which is
a plant belonging to the family of pod-bearing plants
(Leguminosae), and is noted for the size of its flowers.
Information concerning this plant may be found in the
Reports on the Dominica Botanic Station for 1907-8,
1908-9, and 1909-10, and in the Agricultural News,
Vol. VIII, p. 405.

The following interesting details regarding Baik-
iaea insignis are also given in Einige Nutzhiélzer
Kameruns, published as appendixes to Motizblati des
Kéniglischen Botanischen Gartens and Museums zu
Dahlem (Appendix XXI, No. 2). The tree reaches
a height of about 60 feet; it is provided with short
pinnate leaves which bear very stiff, naked, large,
elongated leaflets which are often alternate: there may
be two or three pairs, or only one. The white flowers
are in short racemes, and are among the largest and
most splendid flowers of the Leguminosae. The thick
calyx is provided with velvety hairs, and is more than
3 inches long; the petals are broadly oblanceolate or
inverted egg-shaped spatulate, and reach the consider-
able length of over 6 inches.

The account goes on to say that this beautiful
flowering tree was discovered originally in Fernando Po
(in the Gulf of Guinea),and among much additional
information, states that it has also been collected near
Lolodorf (in Kamerun), where it was found as a bushy
tree 36 to 60 feet high, with a brownish-grey bark,
glassy, bright-green leaves, and a not very hard wood,
A very similar plant to B. insignis is B. minor, which
only differs in the possession of smaller flowers and
more pairs of leaflets.

186

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. June 8, 1912.

INSECT NOTES.

THE ARRGCWRCOT WORM.

The arrowroot worm (Calpodes ethlius)—see Fig. 1—is
known in the United States as the larger canna leaf-roller,
and this name appearsas the title of an interesting circular
(No. 145) by F..S. Chittenden D. Se,, issued by the Bureau of
Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Calpodes ethlius attacks canna plants in the West Indies,
but is better known as a pest on account of the injury which
it sometimes causes to arrowroot. References to this insect
have appeared in previous numbers of the Ayricultural News.

The larvae protect themselves during the entire larval
period by rolling over a portion of the margin of the leaf to
form tunnels, within which they live and feed.

Tae se
hi irae 5

‘

Fic. 1. Morn or THE ARRowroor Worm.

Attention was attracted by this insect during 1911
because of the unusual abundance of its occurrence in several
localities in the Eastern States. The following information
is abstracted from the circular mentioned above.

This insect has been known as a pest of cannas in the
United States since 1904, occurring in considerable numbers
in certain of the years of this period, and being much less
abundant in others. The injury has been the result of the
feeding of the larvae, which causes a very ragged appearance
of the leaves that detracts greatly from the value of the
canna as ornamental plants.

It has been found that the eggs, which are deposited
singly on the surface of the leaf, require from four days in
Florida to six days in Washington, D,C., for hatching,

The larva moults five times before pupation. The pupa
is attached to the leaf by means of a silk band, within the
resting place formed by the rolled-up leaf margin,

Many of the eggs are parasitized by Zrichogramma
pretiosa.

The larger canna leaf-roller is a tropical insect, and it is
not believed that it can withstand the temperature which
prevails during the winter in the latitude of Washington.
The attacks in successive seasons depend therefore on the
migrations of the adult insects from the more southerly
localities in which it oceurs. As there are three or four
generations in a season, the insect is capable of increasing to
considerable numbers, between the advent of spring and the
beginning of cold weather.

The remedies which have been found useful for the
control of this insect are hand picking or crushing of the
larvae and pupae in the rolled-up leaves, and the use of
arsenical poisons such as DParis green and arsenate of lead

applied in the form of sprays. The only objection to the use
of these on ornamental plants in parks and gardens, is the
fear that children may pick the leaves and by putting them
in their mouths, suffer from poisoning; but this danger is
small.

A CARBON BISULPHIDE EXPLOSION.

For several years past carbon bisulphide has been exten-
sively used as a fumigant for destroying insects in grain, and
in the ground.

One of the cautions always expressed in connexion with
the application of carbon bisulphide refers to its highly
inflammable nature, and the likelihood of an explosion if any
flame, or even glowing matter, such as that at the end of
a lighted cigar, pipe, or cigarette, is brought into contact
with the fumes, when these have become mixed with air.

An article which appeared in the Journal of Hconomic
Entomology, Vol. IV, No. 6, gives an interesting account of
an explosion which occurred in Alabama, as a result of apply-
ing carbon bisulphide to grain which had been stored while
wet, and in which fermentation had commenced,

The following is an abstract of the article already men-
tioned, which was written by Dr. W. E. Hinds, Entomologist,
Alabama Experiment Station.

In the southern part of Alabama, the black, or rice
weevil (Calandra oryza)—shown at Fig. 2—is a serious pest
of stored Indian corn, and in order to reduce the seriousness
of these attacks, carbon bisulphide is used toa very large
extent, and with good results in most instances

Fic. 2, (a) Granary WEEVIL; (d) Rice W szevit.

The farmers in this section believe that by storing the
corn with the husk on the ear they reduce the amount of
injury by weevils, and, consequently, this is the usual practice.

In the case under consideration, a large amount of corn,
about 1,200 bushels, was collected in one day, when the
weather was too wet for cotton-picking, and stored in one mass
in a room with a capacity of some 2,400 cubic feet.

The building in which it was stored was constructed for
the purpose, the walls being of concrete, while the partitions
and ceilings were made with tongued and grooved boards,
forming a very tight enclosure.

Von, XI. No. 264.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

187

One week after the corn was placed in the concrete
building, 30 tb. of carbon bisulphide was placed in several
dishes on the surface, and the workmen made their way out
as quickly as possible.

The door was immediately closed and locked, and the
owner and a helper commenced to paste paper over the cracks
around the door. Before this could be finished, an explosion
occurred, which blew off the door and threw the men to a dis-
tance of about 30 feet. Fire immediately followed the explo-
sion, and in spite of the convenient presence of a good supply
of water, and the energetic efforts of a large force of men, it
was found very difficult to extinguish it.

The force of the explosion produced large cracks in the
concrete walls, which were a foot or more in thickness, and
blew out wooden partitions; one of the men standing
outside near the door, when the explosion occurred, was
rather severely burned by the fiames.

A careful investigation of all the circumstances attend-
ing the explosion indicated that it was practically impossible
that it could have resulted from the presence of any fire, or
similar cause, and it was concluded that the heat of fermen-
tation in the interior of the mass of corn must have been
great enough tv have caused the carbon bisulphide to ignite.
It is known that, at a temperature of from 295°F. to 300°F.,
carbon bisulphide will burst into flame, and it is not doubted
that this temperature may have been equalled, or even
exceeded, in the case under discussion.

Serious accidents have not often resulted from the use
of carbon bisulphide during fumigation. It is recorded,
however, that a workman caused an explosion in nailing the
cover on a packing case, the contents of which had been
heavily treated with this insecticide. The impact of the
hammer on the nail produced a spark sufficient to ignite the
escaping fumes, and the flame thus caused was communi-
cated to the interior of the packing case.

In addition to the cautions given heretofore with regard
to the danger from fire, from artificial light of all kinds, from
the spark caused by turning electric light off or on and from
electric fans, that arising from the heat of fermentation in
masses of grain will have to be mentioned in future,

Thal
AGRICULTURE IN BRITISH GUIANA,

1910-11.

The various public agencies for the improvement of
agricultural efficiency continued their work during the year.

The area under cane was 69,736 acres. The cane
cultivation suffered in certain districts to such an extent from
the ravages of insect pests that it has been décided to secure
the services of an economic biologist* for the Department of
Science and Agriculture.

The experimental cultivation of varieties of cane was
continued by the Board of Agriculture, and in the sugar
plantations the area planted with varieties of cane other than
the Bourbon increased from 39,850 acres to 45,484 acres,
about 65 per cent of the total area under cane cultivation.

rice. The area under rice has increased in late years
and amounted to 31,680 acres last year; but owing to
various causes of a temporary nature there was a decrease of
6,174 acres on the area cultivated in 1908-9. Attention is
being given to the cultivation and reaping of it by mechani-
cal means, but this method can only be said to be on trial so

* An Economic Biologist for British Guiana has been since
appointed; see Agricultural News for March 2 and 30.—EKd., A.N.

far as this Colony is concerned. The rice grown is of
excellent quality. In the opinion of the Director of Science
and Agriculture there is an enormous area of the front lands
of the Colony pre-eminently suitable for the cultivation of
rice.

cacao. The area under cacao has not increased and
is about 2,200 acres. The export fell from 75,355 tb. in
1909-10 to 46,347 Ib. this year This may, however, to
some extent be explained by an increased local consumption
in the shape of sweets, and otherwise. There is an extensive
belt of land in the Colony well suited for cacao.

RUBBER. The practical interest in the prosecution of
the rubber industry referred to in the report for 1909-10
continues in an increased degree, and a large number of
inquiries have been made in regard to indigenous latex-pro-
ducing plants. The Government Botanist reports that, while
the difference between the distinctive leaves of the various
species of Hevea are very minute, marked differences exist
in the flowers and seeds of the various species, and by them
it is comparatively easy to distinguish between the various
local species and the true Para rubber tree, Hevea brasil-
vensis. The local species are known not to yield a product of
commercial value

Work at the several experimental stations established by
Government was systematically carried on during the year,
Hevea Lrasiliensis, Puntumia elastica, and Castilloa elastica
being grown as well as the various native Sapium rubber trees.
Some 1,156 tb of rubber was exported during the year.
Upwards of 1,700 acres are now under cultivation in rubber.

The ‘rubber boom’ reached the Colony, and a certain
number of properties changed hands under the operations of
the company promoter. Few of them are established planta-
tions, and dividend-earning is not a near possibility.

COFFEE. The area under coffee was 2,546 acres. Of
this upwards of 1,600 are situated in the Canal Polder area of
West Demerara. Experiments carried on at the Botanical
Gardens and at Onderneeming Farm indicate that the variety
known as Coffea robusta (a Congo coffee grown largely in
Java) is well suited for some of the river lands of the colony,
especially, perhaps, as a catch crop between rubber.

coco-NuTs, Coco-nuts are planted on some 9,760 acres
of land; the acreage last year was 9,466. The export of nuts
increased from 711,512 to 1,023,631. The caterpillar pest
(Brassolis sophorae) of coco-nuts was common in some dis-
tricts during the year, and cases of bud rot have been report-
ed. There is, however, a vast area of land suitable for the
planting of coco-nuts, and given proper cultivation and
drainage the yearly crop could be very largely increased.

CATTLE. There are large areas of land suitable for the
raising of cattle. The number in the Colony is estimated at
71,500, but it is probable that this estimate is considerably
below the actual figures. The value of cattle was £6,663.
Horses are returned at 2,160, sheep, 17,500, goats, 10,300,
swine, 16,600, donkeys, 5,400. (Colonial Reports—Annual,
No. 702.)

Attention is given in the Z’ropical Agriculturist for
March 1912 to the butter nut or Souari nut (Caryocar nucif-
erum), a native of Brazil and British Guiana. which was
introduced to Peradeniya, Ceylon in 1891. It is stated that
the introduced plants are growing luxuriantly, and have
flowered freely for the last two years, so that they are expect-
ed to give fruit in the near future. The statement is further
made that the retail price of the nuts at Covent Gurden is
3d. or 4d. each,

GLEANINGS.

It is stated in the Louzscana Planter for April 27, 1912,
that the sugar production in Brazil for the season 1911-12 is
estimated at 270,000 tons. Of this amount 210,000 tons will
be employed for home consumption.

According to The Board of Trade Journal for Febru-
ary 29, 1912, the exports of cacao from Para, Itacoatiara
and Manaos, by way of Para, during the year 1911, amounted
to 5,871,800 tb. In the previous year the corresponding
export was 8,122,400 ib., and in 1909 10,628,200 tb.

Writing from Matamoras (Mexico) the United States
Consul there says that the region is rapidly becoming
a cotton-growing country. In 1910 there were raised 600
bales, and last year 2,000 bales while there will probably be
a crop of over 3,000 bales in 1912. There has been plenty
of rain for the new season, and up to March 6 about 25 per
cent. of the acreage has been planted. (The Temtile Mer-
cury, April 13, 1912.)

At a meeting of the committee of the Lawes Agricul-
tural Trust held on March 30, Mr. A. D. Hall, F.R.s.,
Director of the Rothamsted Experiment Station, tendered
his resignation. Mr. Hall’s resignation takes effect in Sep-
tember, after which he will give his whole time to the work
of the Development Commission. The committee of the
Lawes Agricultural Trust will proceed to the election of
a new director in June. (ature, April 11, 1912.)

A note is presented in the Hxperiment Station Record
Vol. XXVI, No. 3 (issued March 20, 1912), stating that
particular attention should be given to the proper sampling
of mixtures containing copper salts, meant for spraying,
when it is intended to subject them to analysis. The reason
is that the most valuable portion, consisting of the copper
salts, is likely to settle to the bottom of the sack during
transportation; this was proved by analyses of mixtures taken
at different levels of the material in a sack.

Statistics of the customs of Haut-Sénégal et Niger show
that an increasing export is being made of the nuts of the
palm Lorassus flabellafer, var. Aethiopium. The use of these
is mainly as a substitute for the vegetable ivory obtained
from the fruits of Phytelephas macrocarpa, a palm growing
chiefly in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. An
illustrated description of this palm was given in the Agrieul-
tural News, Vol. VII, p- 58.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. June 8, 1912,

It is shown in the Uganda Official Gazette for March 31,
1912, that the amount of ginned cotton exported from the
Protectorate during the nine months ending December 31,
1911, was 4,798,192 tb., value £142,622; in the same way
the quantity of unginned cotton exported was 2,944,816 ib.,
value £29,945, and of cotton seed 4,960,480 tb., value
£4,462. The similar figures for the same period of 1910
were: ginned cotton, 2,302,384 Ib., value £75,356; unginned
cotton 3,150,112 tb., value £24,896; and cotton seed
2,364,656 tb., value £2,102.

Der Tropenpflanzer for April 1912, p. 208, contains an
abstract of an account of work carried ou with Manihot
Glaziovii in German East Africa, in which the results of the
investigation permit it to be gathered that the branches of
this tree contain quite 12°1 per cent. more rubber than the
corresponding parts of a stem belonging to a tree which has
branched high up, but that the cost of tapping is at least
30 per cent. greater. It is further admitted that no more
favourable results are produced in cases where more branch-
ing exists than is found in the average tree.

In the Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius for March 1912
attention is drawn to the fact that the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture has just published the conclusions of its
investigations relating to the presence of phosphoric acid in
leaves of different plants, at different stages of their growth.
The general result of these investigations is that the phos-
phoric acid content of leaves is found to be at its greatest
proportion at the time when vegetative growth is at the
highest, and that gradual diminution fellows. It may be
added that the fact of the withdrawal of food substances
from leaves, previous to their falling, is well known,

Information has been received from the Department of
Agriculture, Commerce and Labour, Cuba, to the effect that
certain dependencies of this department have in the past
employed in their calculations the Spanish ton of 2,000 bb.
for sugar-cane and the English ton of 2,240 tb. for sugar.
As, however, the first of the units is not suited for practical
commercial purposes, it has been decided that the cane ton
in future calculations shall be that cf 100 arrobas, or 2,500 bb.,
while the sugar ton will remain at 2,240 tb., that is the
English ton, in accordance with the usage of the principal
markets of the world. These facts will facilitate calculations
in which figures eminating from that department are em-
ployed.

The Gardeners’ Chronicle for April 20, 1512. states that
the researches of Professor Bottomley have shown that the
roots of the sweet gale or bog myrtle (Myrica Gale), a plant
occurring frequently in Great Britain, in mountain bogs,
possess root nodules which are inhabited by Pseudomonas
radicicola, the organism which is responsible for the forma-
tion of similar nodules on the roots of leguminous plants.
Thus it has been shown that this, although it is not a pod-
bearing plant, must rank with the Leguminosae as a nitro-
gen-tixing plant... In the experiments, the interesting observ-
ation was made that plants of the bog myrtle possessing
nodules were_ able to-thrive in soil containing no combined
nitrogen, while those which did not show the nodules were
unable to live under the conditions.

‘Won. XI. No. 264.

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

JUNE.
Seconp PERIOD.
Seasonal Notes.

Much of the work on sugar estates during the present
“period will have been concerned with giving attention to the
‘young cane crop, in order that as regular a stand as possible
may be obtained. In connexion with this, a knowledge of
the characteristics of the different varieties of seedling canes
-employed is necessary, particularly as supplies should be made
with quickly-maturing cane, in order that the work of taking
-off the crop may be simplified as much as possible, and that
the canes may be all in a fit state for reaping when the time
-comes to do this.

In reaping canes where the central factory system is
employed, opportunity will have been given to obtain the
weight of cane from the different fields, and useful facts
should now be available in regard to the returns from different
varieties, and from various methods of manuring. The results
that are given by such observations are of the greatest im-
portance for future guidance, particularly, as has been stated
recently already, in deciding the question as to whether
ratooning is profitable, and the extent to which it should be
-continued.

When a favourable rainfall has been received, cotton
will have been planted. Later on, when the seedlings have
reached a height of about 1 foot, they will be thinned out so
-as to leave one in each hole, State exactly the reason why
this is done. Should cotton be planted more closely or more
widely apart in rich than in poor soil? It is often observed
that, where trash has been burned in papt of a field, the
-cotton sown in that portion grows much more quickly and
luxuriantly. What reasons can you give for this fact!
State why the effect is not found to be lasting. Adduce the
weasons for and against the burning of refuse plant material,
instead of burying it in the soil, in the West Indies.

State the effects of burying compost and green manures
as regards (1) the soil itself, (2) the bacteria in the soil. Give
-a description of the plants with which you are familiar, that
you have seen employed for green manuring. What circum-
-stances would guide you in deciding whethe?’a green manure
should be buried in the fresh state, or not?

How is cotton seed selected on estates for planting?

“Give the reasons why it is important that such selection.

should be carried out regularly. How far does the improve-
ment that may be obtained through plant and seed selection
extend?

When the receipt of rain affords an opportunity, sweet
potatoes and yams will be planted. Give’ particulars of
such preparation of the soil as is made for these. Describe
the chief varieties of sweet potatves and yams of which
_you know, stating any special characteristics that make them

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS: 189

valuable. What precautions, when planting, will tend to
cause gradual improvement of the product?

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY (QUESTIONS,

: (1) Give an account of any animal pest of cotton that
1s not an insect.

(2) Stateany reason why it is sometimes necessary ta
apply lime to soil.

(5) ,. How does water travel through the soil!

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) By what signs would you recognize the presence of
leaf-blister mite in a cotton field!

(2) Give a short account of the uses of lime on a sugar
estate making its own sugar.

(3) State shortly the ways in which the loss of water
from the soil may be lessened.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Write an account of the best methods of controlling
leaf-blister mite in its early stages.

(2) What are the uses of lime in relation to the useful
bacteria in the soil!

(3) State all the benefits that may accrue to a soil
when it is supplied with a mulch of vegetable material.

Cotton in Ceylon.—The Secretary inspected a 20-
acre block of land planted with cotton in Kayts. The plants
had suffered severely as the result of the heavy rainfall of
December last, and the greater part is not likely to come to
anything. This is a very unfortunate experience for the
enterprising owner, who, in spite of the disappointment, has
resolved to plant a larger area this year.

Cotton is doing well at Balalla, Kalalgamuwa, and
Madipola gardens.

The variety known as Sakellarides, of which seed was
sent to the Society by the British Cotton Growing Associa-
tion, is a particularly hardy plant. The cotton is named
after the discoverer, M. Sakellarides, who isolated it from
a field of Mitaftifi on his Egyptian estate. Professor Dunstan,
reporting on a sample forwarded by the Director-General of
Agriculture in Egypt, speaks highly of its strength, lustre,
colour, texture and length, and valued it at at 143d. per b.,
with fine Jannoviteh at 13id. (Progress Report No, LVILI of
the Ceylon Agricultural Society.)

The Grenada Government Gazette for May 1, 1912, con-
tains the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Carriacou
for 1911. In this, dealing with the work at the Experiment
Station, it is stated among other matters that the orange
snow scale (Chionaspis citri) has again made its appearance
in the lime orchards; sulphur and lime-wash are being
employed against this pest. A plot of land having an area
of }-acre is being cultivated as a provision garden, in order
to afford an illustration, to peasant landowners in the island,
of the results that may be obtained from a small and well
tended garden; records of the returns are being made, and it
is intended at the close of the season to circulate the informa-
tion by means of leaflets. The sale of limes by peasants
to a factory in the island is being encouraged, and continues
successfully.

190

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

June &, 1912.

FUNGUS NOTES.

THE GENERAL TREATMENT OF ROOT
DISEASES OF PERMANENT CROPS.

During recent months, a considerable amount of atten-
tion has been called to the damage inflicted upon permanent
cultivations, such as cacao and limes, by fungi, which attack
their roots, and are capable of passing from one tree to
another wherever a diseased and a healthy root come into
contact with one another beneath the surface of the soil.
These diseases occur throughout practically all of those West
Indian islands in which permanent crops form the staple
cultivation, and their existence has long been known and
recognized by scientific workers, and to some extent by
planters. More recently, however, there has been growing
up among those interested in agriculture a wider appreciation
of their true nature, and of the definite, though limited, pro-
portion of damage they inflict. The increased attention and
more general observation that have been bestowed upon them
have resulted in some instances, as is natural, in a tendency
to regard the damage as greater than it is actually. In spite
of this, it cannot be denied that the harm inflicted is, in
many instances, of sufficient importance to warrant the expen-
diture of some time and money on adequate means for pre-
venting the spread of the fungus in infected areas, and it is
thought that an account of the measures likely to prove suc-
cessful in attaining this object may be acceptable to those who
haye to contend with the problem.

It is not intended here to enter into a description of
the fungi responsible for the diseases under consideration, as
this may be found in the Agricultural News, Vol. X,
pp. 360 and 382. Suflice it to state here that, in a majority
of cases at any rate, the causative fungus is only capable of
spreading from a diseased to a healthy tree when the infected
xoots of the one come into immediate contact with the pre-
viously healthy roots of the other; that is, the fungus is
incapable of spreading by independent strands of mycelium
running through the’ soil. If left to itself, the disease pro-
gresses gradually in an ever-widening circle, and, theoretically,
would only be arrested by the presence of natural barriers,
such as ravines, streams, or ditches, which form a break in
the continuity of the soil. The first object, therefore, is effec-
tually to isolate the diseased area. When this has been
done, all infected material must be. removed from the soil
and burned, and the soil itself must be well aérated, and
thoroughly treated with a fungicide.

The isolation of the diseased area is usually effected by
means of a trench; this must be not less than 3 feet deep,
and should be about 18 inches wide. It must be kept
epen to its full depth until the area it isolates has been freed
from the presence of the root fungus. Shallow trenches are
useless for isolation purposes, as are also trenches that are
allowed to silt up before the fungus has been entirely eradi-
cated. Another matter of great importance in successfully
isolating the disease is the location of the trench in such
% position that all infested roots are included within it.
Many of these diseases commence on the stumps of forest
trees or on living avocado pear or bread fruit trees whose
roots extend fora considerable distance and for a considerable
depth in the soil. The root fungi are liable to travel along
all such roots to their furthest ramifications, and therefore all
of them must be included within the area limited by the
trench At the same time, it should be remembered that the
roots of the outermost infected cultivated trees in the area

‘be ensured. y
‘perhaps be advisable to point out that during all forking
‘operations, care shopld be tdken to prevent the breaking

may possibly extend beyond the healthy trees next to them,
and that these healthy trees may in reality be themselves
slightly affected, though no symptoms of ill health are visible
on their aérial portions. All this indicates clearly that the
trench must be run in such a way as to include a margin of
at least two or three healthy trees in a belt round the infected
area. Furthermore, all roots cut in the process of digging
the trench should be carefully examined, and if signs of the
disease be found upon them on the side remote from the
infected area, the position of the trench must be altered to-
include them withinits boundary. It need hardly be added
that the soil taken from the trench should be thrown on to the
infected area. These details have been emphasized here as
there is reason to believe that, occasionally, failure to consider
them has resulted in a corresponding failure to control suc-
cessfully the progress of the disease.

Once the infected area has been thoroughly isolated, the
next step is to destroy as carefully as possible all infected
material in the soil and thus with the aid of disinfectants to-
eradicate the fungus and render it once more safe for the
planting of supplies. The dead trees must first be felled,
the soil then cleared away from the stumps, and the
roots very carefully followed up as far as possible; the
whole tree, top, stump and roots, should then be cut up
and burned in the hole from which the stump has been
removed. It is important that dead trees, especially the
fungus-infested portions below the soil, should not be dragged
through the healthy portions of the cultivation. When it is-
observed that fructifications of the fungus have been formed
at the base of the stem above the ground, dry leaves or
other inflammable material should be piled up round the tree
and lighted, so that the spores are burned, This prevents the
scattering of the spores into the air when the tree is dis-
turbed. When the diseased roots of dead trees are followed up,
it may be found that they have come into contact with, and
infected, those of apparently healthy trees near the margin
of the quarantined area. Such roots should be carefully
followed up in turn and cut off at a point some 3 or 4 inches
above the limit of the visibly diseased tissues; the cut ends
should be tarred, and the soil in their neighbourhood
treated with lime or some other fungicide, as is described
below. This process may be expected to save the lives of
the healthy trees left on the margin of the diseased area,

Having freed the soil as far as possible from material
carrying the fungus, the next step is to apply a heavy dress-
ing of lime at the rate of about 6 lb. per syuare yard, and
to mix it thoroughly with the soil by forking. Any small
pieces of root turned up in this process should be collected
and burned. The dressing of lime recommended here is-

‘heavy, but is pot likely to be excessive on heav~ clay soils

or in situations where the soil is liable to be acid. UCertaia
fungicides such as sulphate of copper and of iron have been
recommended for soil disinfection, but it is not certain that
they will prove satisfactory in all cases, and their use cannot
be encouraged until it has been thoroughly tested by experi-
ment. The exposed soil inside the isolated area should be

forked over sufficiently frequently to maintain it free from any

strong growth of weeds. ‘This will serve at the same time to
keep it well aérated and to expose fresh surfaces to the sui.
It is possible that where this treatment is carefully carried

‘out, replanting may be commenced after an interval of six

months, though it might be preferable to wait twelve months.
Experiments haye been arranged to determine how long a time
should elapse before replanting, so that absolute safety may
Before leaving this part of the subject it may

Vout. XI. No. 264.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

191

-— ONS i ee

down of the side of the trench, and to avoid as far as possible
inflicting damage on the roots of the healthy trees left in the
isolated area.

All the measures so far indicated have dealt with the
spread of the fungus, once its attack has commenced; it is now
proposed to mention one or two measures that might be cf
service in preventing the occurrence of attacks. In one type
of root disease, infection almost always commences on avo-
eado pear or bread fruit trees; this suggests that in infected
districts where these trees are plentiful as shade*to cacao,
their gradual though steady removal might be advisable. It
would be necessary not only to cut them down, bnt to remove
their principal roots at the same time. Their place should
be taken by some other tree not as liable to serve as a start-
ing point for the disease. Such a plant is the immortel
which, though it is occasionally attacked, does not usually
serve as an original centre of infection. Some of the species
of Eucalyptus may also be found useful as wind-breaks for
eacao while proving resistant to root disease.

Another type of disease is common on newly cleared
estates in the forest, where infection commences from decay-
fing stumps. The complete removal of such stumps is often
a matter of difficulty, and is often said to be impossible. In
this connexion a useful suggestion is made by Dr. D. G.
Williams, in Western Australia. (See Root Rot, by A. J.
Despeissis, Bulletin 15, Department of Agriculture and
Industries, Western Australia.) He recommends that when
mewly cleared land is being planted, each tree should be set in
the centre of a spot of soil 12 feet square, in which the earth
has been well dug over to a depth of 5 feet and the soil has
been freed from all decaying roots. This gives the roots of
the young trees an extent of clean soil in which to grow;
while at the time they begin to penetrate beyond this dis-
tance, the old roots in the outside soil will have had time to
decay completely. This suggestion is perhaps more appli-
cable when establishing valuable trees such as oranges, but
it might be found that it was useful also in the case of
limes, since it might do away with the recognized tithe of
vigorously growing trees that would otherwise certainly be
levied by root disease.

WOOD SPECIMENS IN NATURE
STUDY.

The following information concerning the prepa-
ration and use of specimen woods, for nature study in
schools, has been taken from Pormere Dias No. 468,
of the United States Department of Agriculture,
issued recently:—

COLLECTIONS OF WOOD SPECIMENS. The pupils should
‘be encouraged to make collections of specimens of woods
found in the locality of the school. A number of possible
ways of preparing and mounting such specimens will doubt-
less suggest themselves, but the following method is recom-
mended as likely to prove convenient and satisfactory.

(1) Whenever possible, use seasoned woods for the
specimens. If nothing but green wood is available, cut
wough sticks and allow them to dry as thoroughly as possible
before preparing the finished specimen. :

(2) Collect specimens as nearly as possible uniform in
‘size and character as to the parts of the trees and ages of the
trees from which they are taken If some are taken from
-the branches and some from the trunks, or some from young

saplings and others from old trees, they should be marked
accordingly.

(3) For each specimen, select a stick about 2 or 3
inches in diameter and cut from it a section about 4 inches
long, sawing the ends squarely across. Split or saw this
block through the centre and smooth the split or sawed sur-
face so as to show the grain longitudinally. Beginning
about 1 inch from the end on the bark-covered surface, cut
with a sharp knife out to the end of the flattened surface, sa
as to slope one end. Now, if the wood is thoroughly dry
and well seasoned, sandpaper the flat surfaces well. If it
can be done, it will add to the appearance of the specimer:
to apply a single coat of thin varnish or shellac, so.as to
bring out the grain. The speciméi is now ready for
mounting.

(4) Probably the best plan to follow in mounting
a specimen is to insert a small screw eye into the square-cut
end of the block prepared as above described, and to hang it
on a hook in the wall or in the cabinet? This will make it
possible to take the specimens down for use in the class-room.
It will also be possible to pack them in a small space, if it is
desired to move them about.

(5) Great care should be taken to see that each specimen
is properly labelled. When the sections are first cut, they
should be carefully marked so as to make it easy to identify
each one, and these marks should be kept on the specimens
until they are finally labelled. The label should state the
name of the tree, whether taken from the trunk or branch:
whether from an old tree or a sapling; locality and habitat:
and, possibly, a brief statement as to the uses of the wood,
especially in the case of woods like hickory or oak which are
used in making implements, furniture, or other special
articles.

THE USE OF THE MUSEUM. The materials collected for
the museum should be used, not merely displayed. As far as
possible the specimens should be so prepared that they may
be handled and closely studied by the pupils without injury.
Interest soon wanes in blocks of wood or samples of wood
products shut up behind glass cases. The child wants to
handle the objects he studies, not merely to gaze at them
through panes of glass. The material should be gathered
by the pupils themselves, as much as possible.

They should be encouraged in thinking of the collection as
their museum. It would defeat this aim to deprive the pupils
of the privilege of using and handling the specimens, since
they could not tut feel that they have a right to use what is
their own.

Of course there will be some specimens, the rare or
delicate ones, which will not bear handling and must necess-
arily be used for display only. But the real value of the
museum will come from the ‘working collection. It is
suggested, therefore, that the wood specimens, the samples of
wood products, the sets of pictures, or ‘whatever material be
obtained for the museum, be prepared and arranged with the
aim of use constantly in view. If, in addition, provision can
be made for the display of the material when not in use, this
should not be neglected. But at all events the use of the
materials should not be sacrificed for the sake of making an
attractive display.

The chief exports from St. Vincent during the first
three months of the present year were as follows: arrowroot,
494,383 tb.; Sea Island cotton, 25,975 tb. (794 bales); cotton
seed, 253,690 tb.; muscovado sugar, 95,280 tb.; molasses,
3,830 gallons; cacao, 18,194 hb.

192

London.—Tse West Inp1a

New York,—Messrs.

MARKET REPORTS.

ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,

May 21, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass & Cos,

May 10, 1912.

Arrowroot—32d. to 4jd.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/74 per tb.

Brrswax—£7 10s. to £7 17s. Gd.

Cacao—Trinidad, 59/- to 75/- per cwt.; Grenada, 55/-
to 61/-; Jamaica, 50/6 to 56/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 72/- to 81/- per cwt.

Uopra—West Indian, £26 15s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 22d. to 223d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincER—48/- to 65/- per ewt.

IsrncLass—No quotations.

Honrty—No quotation.

Linz Jurce—Raw, 1/8 to 2/2; concentrated, £18 12s. 67.
to £19; otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/8.

Loewoov—No quotations.

Mace—No quotations.

Noutmecs—No quotations.

PimenNto—Common, 23d.; fair, 2}3d.; good, 22d.; per tb.

RusspEr—Para, fine hard, 4/74; tine soft, 4/65; Castilloa,
4/2 per th.

Rum—Jamaica, 1/10 to 5/6.

Sucar—Crystals, 18/3 to 20/6; Muscovado, 14/6 to 17/-;
Syrup, 15/- to 17/- per.cwt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

GintesPizE Bros, & Co., May

Be NE

Cacao—Caracas, 12}c. to 12#c.; Grenada, 12c. to 12ic.;
Trinidad, 12tc. to 12¥c. per th.; Jamaica, 10c. to 11c.

Cocoa-nuTs—Jamaica, select, $22°00 to $24:00; culls,
$14-00 to $15°00; Trinidad, select, $23-00 to $24-00;
culls, $14°00 to $15-00 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 144c. to 17c. per fb.

GincEr—8c. to 10}c. per Ib.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 43c.
to 45c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 41c. to 42c.
per ib.

Grape-FrRuit—Jamaica, $2°00 to $3°50.

Limes—$8-00 to $9:00.

Macre—h3c. to 56c. per th.

Nourmecs—110’s, 112c. to 11je.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pinento—3. per tb.

Suear—Centrifugals,j96°, 3 98$c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°484c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°235c. per th., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., May 27,

1912.

Cacao—Venezuelan, $14°25 per fanega; Trinidad, $13°75
to $14°25.

Cocoa-nut O1.—¥6c. per Imperial gallon.

Corrre—Venezuelan, 153c. per fh.

Copra—$4°50 per 100 th.

Duat— $4°25.

Onrons—$2°50 to $4:00 per 100 tb.

Pras, Sprit—$7°00 to $7°25 per bag.

Potators—English, $2°00 to $2°75 per 100 th.

Ricr—Yellow, $4°70 to $4°80; White, $6°25 to $6°25
per hag.

Sugar—American crushed, no quotations

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

JUNE 8,

1912.

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., Ltd., June 1,
1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., June 2,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., May 10, 1912.

ArrowRroot—$7 ‘00 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$13'00 to $14°00 per 100 tt.

Cocoa-NutTs—$16:00.

Hay—$1°80 per 100 tb.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45°0D
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.
Mo tasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$4°00 per 100 th.
Peas, Sprit—$7‘10 to $7°25 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3-00 to $5°25 per bag of 120 tb.

Potarors—Novya Scotia, $3°25 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, $5:05 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quotations;
Rangoon, no quotations.
Sucar—American granulated, $5°00 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs.

Wietinc & Ricuter, May

25, 1912: Messrs. SanpBacH, Parker & Co,
May 24, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARrRowRooTt—St. Vincent

Barata— Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native
Cassava—
Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrEE—Creole

Jamaica and Rio

Liberian
DxHaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo tasses— Yellow
Ontons—T'eneriffe
Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Potators—Novya Scotia

Lisbon

Porators-Sweet, B’bados

Ric—e—Ballam
Creole

TanNIAS—

Yams— White
Buck

Sucar—Dark crystals

Yellow

White

Molasses
TimseeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

>, Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTER.

No quotation

70c. per tb.

14c per tb.
72¢.

$7 00
$16 to $20 per M.

l7c. per tb.
19%c. per ib.
12c. per tb.
$4°00 to $450 per
bag of 168 tb.

$4°50

$2°16

None
7c. to 8c. per th.

$6-75 to $7-00 per
bag (210 tb.)

24c. to 60c.

per bag
No quotation
$5°25 to $5°50
$2°40
$3-00
$2°40
$3°25 to $3°40
$3°90 to $4:00

$2°90 to $3:00
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6°00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. SAanb-
BACH, PARKEB
Co.

Prohibited

18c. per fb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
16c. per tb.
193c. per tb.
14c. per tb.
$450 per bag of
168 tb.

$7°15 per bag
(210 tb.)
No quotation
$3:75 to $4:00
No quotation

$5°30 to $5°50

$3°25 to $3:45
$4°25
32c. to 55c. pex
cub. foot
$400 to $6-0D
per M.
No quotation.

a

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 II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s, 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. No. 1. No. 2:—West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of Papers and Proceedings:
List of Representatives; Presidential Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago; Cacao;
Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural
Education; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomo-
logical Research Committee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies; Nomenclature Com-
mittee; Usefulness of Agricultural Conferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

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 seventy. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Sucar Inpustry. P (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. 18, 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.

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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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 1X complete, with title page and index, asissued
—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 Sauare, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosretry, Agricultural Schoel.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowren & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica ; THE Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripcewarTer, Rosean,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: THE ‘Dairy CHRonicLE’OFFIce.Georgetown. dnagua: Mr. S. D. Matong. St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Mu1r-MarsHati & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Toe BipteE anp Book SuprpLy AGENCY, Basseterre.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PracEMANN, Scarborough. JFevts : Messrs. HoweEtt, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada; ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 264,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWs.

June 8, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES

FOR COLONIAL USE

ee ed 52d ale

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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

Londo:

Agency :

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

VAPORITE !
VAPORITE I!

EFFECTUALLY DESTROYS SCARABEE AND)
OTHER ROOT PESTS.
PRICE TWOKEJTGENTS PER POUND:

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON
FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

ST, LUCIA.
FOR SALE.

BOSQUET v'OR ESTATE,

Comprising 300 acres, well situated in Mabouya Valley,
on main road to, and 2} miles from, Dennery; about 25 acres
in Cocoa, crop 50 bags, and 15 acres in Sugar-cane, crop 200
tons; soil very suitable for Limes, a few acres planted.

For further particulars apply to:—

A. R. G. HUNTER,
La Cave, Dennery, St. Lucia; or ta

DUNCAN FERGUSON, Castries.

(267)

FOR SALE,
PRIME SUMMER YELLOW
SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).
COTTON SKED CAKE MEAL.
ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,

Cotton Seed Oil Mills,
Barbados, W.I.

COTTON

Telegraphic address,
‘Thorum.’

(267)

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 2.)

West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of
Papers and Proceedings: List of Representatives; Presidential
Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago;
Cacao; Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime
and Fruit, ana*Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural Educa-
tion; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in
Canada; Telegraphie Service; Entomological Research Com-
mittee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies;
Nomenclature Committee; Usefulness of Agricultural Con-
ferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's
Publications. Price 6d., post free, 9d,

a

*Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Stree:, Bridgetown, Barbados,

- FAK "G

tT Aye a
ob Cf,

nin ia tat
ANS BAG

ql mM

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Vol. XI. No. 265.] SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1912.

[One penny.

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- CITRUS CULTURE —

IN THE

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This book, just abla shonld be in the Library of |
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_ IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, cagpen.
Vou. XI. No. 265. BARBADOS, JUNE 22, 1912. | Prick 1d,
CONTENTS. with these is to be continued. The examinas«
tions are now held annually by the Department,
ene “ARES ey Musket Reames ae and it is intended again to follow, this year, the
pr Std Vinconk wf w. 207 Notes and Suen ca 200 plan adopted of holding them in October and Novem-
Candelilla Wax ... ... ... 199 | Oil, Source of a Useful ... 201 ber. This brings it about that candidates will

Coco-nut Exploitation in Panama Canal Zone, Agri-

British Guiana... ... 201 cultural Possibilities
Coco-nut Growing in An- Of... Sees Beer a0o
tigua and Barbuda... 196 | Para Rubber Seeds, Vital-
Cotton Notes :— ity of eaeeeet.. oc ae) 207
The British Cotton Publications of the Im-
Growing Association 198 perial Department of
The Government Cotton Agriculture . 200

we Y + rens : 9
svainnea, Greiads 198 Reting Couret and Be
Menacinient’ News oll UB aminations in Practi-
per ee val Agriculture... . 193
Double Coco-nut Palm ... 196 R Me oD =
= tattans or Rotangs... . 202
Fungus Notes :—
Gummosis of Prunus Sleeping Sickness Bureau,
and Citrus... <-. |... 206 Future of... see) 2OL
German Agricultural In- Students’ Corner . 205
stitute at Amani ... 197 | Sugar Industry:—
Germination of Old Seeds 197 Bordeaux Mixture in
Gleanings... ... ... ... 204 Cane-Planting ... ... 195
Grenada Land Settlement Wax from the Sugar-
Scheme 200 Canc-Setesssne.. LOD
Insect Notes :— Sugar Yields in Réunion 205
Silk Fish Lines ... ... 202 Vanilla, Introduction into
The Yellow Fever Mos- Réunion and Mau-
QUIGON=pMarwenpt 22) (ee aOe TibiUS Lees epee ete nee
Manihots, Information Water, Method of Obtain-
Concerning . 199 ing Purceeesmetemmec. 200

Reading Courses and Examinations
in Practical Agriculture.

RHE present time gives a convenient oppor-
tunity for reviewing the progress that has
been made in regard to the Reading Courses

and Examinations in Practical Agriculture conducted
by the Imperial Department of Agriculture, and
for indicating the way in which the work connected

now find it expedient to make their reading follow
a definite plan, so that they may be prepared in time;
and where assistance is given in the shape of meetings
for instruction and discussion, steps will have to be
taken to establish communication among candidates and
to organize the work so that it will follow a precise
scheme.

The number of examinations held in all the stages
up to the present has been nine—four in the Prelimin-
ary, three in the Intermediate and two in the Final
Stage. In the Preliminary Stage fifty-eight candi-
dates have been examined and forty-three have passed;
in the Intermediate the similar figures are twenty-
eight and twenty-one, and in the Iinal Stage eleven
and seven. It follows that the total number of
candidates examined all the
ninety-seven, and of these seventy-one, or seventy-

so far in stages is

three per cent. have passed. A consideration
of the proportions of the results falling in the

shows that, especially on the
occasion of the last examination, the number in
the higher classés was comparatively low. This
is a matter for regret, and points to a lack of
thoroughness in the work of most of the can-
didates. There is an evident need for a greater
attempt to go deeply into the subjects that are pre-
scribed for study, and to obtain something more than
a moderate knowledge such as may be calculated as
being sufficient to enable its possessor to pass the
examination in the lowest class.

ditterent classes

194

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

ee eee

For the guidance of candidates in their reading,
a leaflet has been published by the Department, con-
taining 2 syllabus of the subjects of examination, in so
far as this is concerned with the more theoretical parts
of the wors. The principal contents of this were first
published in the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. IX,
pp. 293-6; the matter was, however, revised considerably,
for inclusion in the leaflet, as experience gained in
conducting the examinations had indicated the expedi-
ency of making such a revision. It may be added that
the leaflet contains lists of books that will be found
useful by the candidate, though there is no intention
to limit his reading to these; they are mentioned in
order to assist him in making a comprehensive choice
of agricultural literature that is of a more specially
educational nature.

Further aid is given to candidates by the inclusion,
in the Agricultural News, of the feature designated
as the Students’ Corner, which has appeared con-
tinuously since October 1908. In this, the assis-
tance given to the student is intended to possess
a wore special relation to his practical work, and
in order shortly to indicate its scope, quotation
may be made from the introductory article, as
follows: ‘In this space there will be put furward hints
and suggestions concerning the serious objects of
study and observation together with questions which
students should endeavour to answer. Notes on season-
able events of agricultural importance in the different
colonies will also be a frequent feature in this column,’
More recently, the questions given in the different
stages have been chosen to apply to the same subjects,
so that some idea may be afforded as to the scope of
the knowledge required in each of those stages.

These stages—Preliminary, Intermediate and
Final—of the examination are not only arranged to
correspond with the increase in the knowledge that is
expected from candidates, but are intended to possess
an intimate relation to their experience and progress
as practical planters. In pursuance of this, as is
explained in the syllabus, the special purpose of the
Preliminary Examination is to enquire into the ade-
quacy of the general knowledge and education of the
candidate in relation to his fitness to enter the plant-
ing profession. Proceeding, the standard of the Intermed-
iate Examination is such as to require the knowledge of
planting work and of the principles of agriculture that
should be possessed by an intelligent overseer of
a few years’ experience. Lastly, for success in the
Final Examination, the knowledge expected is that in

the possession of a man who is capable of being
entrusted with the managervent of an estate. In enter-
ing upon, and passing through, the course, stud2nts
muat register their names with the chief Agricultural
Officer in the island in which they live, for transm‘s-
sion to the Head Office of the Department, and take
the examinations in the order in which they have } ist
been named.

Emphasis has just been laid on the practical nature
that it is intended the Courses of Reading shall possess.
It is easy to understand that if they are to bear this
character in an adequate degree, the Intermediate an?
Final Examinations must themselves be essentially prac-
tical in kind. here was early realization that this con—
dition could not be fulfilled to any extent if the sole
means of examining candidates was to consist in papers
of questions to ‘be answered under the formal and
limired circumstances of a written examination. In
order, therefore, to make the examinations sufficiently
practical in nature, those of the Intermediate and Final
Stages are conducted with the co-operation of planters
of standing, in each colony, who have courteously sub-
jected canditates to an oral test which is usually
carried out on an estate, or similar place presenting
conditions with which the candidate is familiar. In
cases of success, the certificates issued by the Imperial
Department of Agriculture have to be signed by the
planter examiners before they are presented to candi-
dates; without such signatures they are invalid, and
the fact that they bear them is the only adequate
testimony that their possessors have shown sufficient
practical knowledge to be included in the class in
which they are stated to have passed.

As has been indicated already, meetings of
students have been arranged in the past by Agricul-
tural Officers, in some of the islands, for the purpose of
giving useful aid, when the scheme was new. Valua-
ble work has been done by those officers in this way,
but it has not been intended to provide anything in
the nature of regular courses of lectures for students.
The scheme has been in operation for a period that is
sufficiently long for students to be independent of such
outside help; although there is no reason why it should
not be given if circumstances permit. In any case, the
services of the local Agricultural Officers are always
available, where they are required in suggesting lines
of study, answering questions, or in giving other, simi-
lar assistance.

Returning to the general consideration of the
scheme, the matter would not be complete without the

“Won. XI. No. 265.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 195

inclusion of a statement as to the progress that is being
made year by year. Though it is desirable in every
way that a larger number of candidates should take up
the Courses of Reading, and enter for the examinations,
it may be said that this progress is satisfactory,
and what was stated in a former article* on the
“subject may be repeated: ‘Many of the papers sent
up by the candidates at the examinations are of

a very encouraging nature, and show that, in their case.
at least, there was only needed the inducement that °

has been given by the Department for them to put
themselves in the way of gaining an orderly and meth-
odical view of the ideas and principles underlying their
work,’

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

BORDEAUX MIXTURE IN CANE-
PLANTING.

Experiments have been conducted recently at the
Estacion Experimental Agricola, Tucuman, Argentina,
for the purpose of investigating the effects of dipping
cane-planting material in Bordeaux mixture for protec-
tion against plant diseases. These are described in the
International Sugar Journal for May 1912, and the
following conclusions are taken from this source. It
may be mentioned that similar experiments have been
conducted in the Leeward Islands and Barbados. under
the Imperial Department of Agriculture. The results
obtained in Argentina have shown:—

There seems to be no doubt that dipping cane has given
an increased tonnage, although it cannot be said that this
year’s experiments have proven the matter a financial success.

It appears that it is better to employ Bordeaux mixture
of nurmal concentration, this 1 per cent. strength giving
the better results, and nothing being gained by the use of
the stronger solution.

It appears that there is no injurious effect upon the ger-
mination of the cane where it is simply dipped in the
Bordeaux mixture or not exposed to it for more than one
hour, either in the case of the double or normal strength.

The cane dipped for an hour in normal strength and in
double strength Bordeaux mixture has given better results
than the undipped cane.

Emphatically, it is best to dip for a short time only.

It may be stated, in explanation, that ‘normal’
Bordeaux mixture is described in the article as consist-
ing of 2 kilos. of copper sulphate and 3 kilos. of lime in
200 litres of water; that’ is to say, 1 per cent. of the
copper salt is used in making the mixture. A mixture
of the same strength would be obtained by employing
1 tb. of copper sulphate, 14 tb. of lime and 10 gallons
of water, or similar proportions: .~ .

Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 386.

WAX FROM THE SUGAR-CANE.

Information concerning sugar-cane wax and the
possibility of its extraction on a commercial scale has
been given at different times in the Agricultural
News (Vols. VIII, p. 360; X, p.51; and XI, p. 124). In
continuation, the following summary of much that is
known about the matter is taken from the Modern
Sugar Planter for April 27, 1912:—

Wax is an important constituent of the filter press cake,
being present to an extent up to 12 per cent. of the dry cake.
This wax can easily be extracted by boiling the dried cake
with organic solvents, like alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, ete.,
and the. extract thus obtained is filtered off and cooled when
the wax solidifies out as a yellowish white mass.

Very considerable attention has been given to the possi-
bility cf extracting this wax. Among recent work may
be mentioned that of Wynberg, in Java, who redetermined
carefully the properties of the wax, and perfected a method
of extracting it from press-cake. The wax was said to have
similar properties to the expensive carnauba wax, and there-
fore to be worth probably 20 to 25c. per bb.

After this the question was taken up by the Hawaiian
planters two or three years ago, and with characteristic pro-
gressiveness they submitted large samples of the wax to
Lewkowitsch, the eminent London specialist on waxes, fats,
ete., whom they engaged at considerable expense to examine
the wax and pronounce upon its commercial value. Lewkow-
itsch’s investigation was duly made and his report communi-
cated to the Hawaiian Planters’ Association Animated by
the secretiveness which during the last few years has charac-
terized this Association (the replacing of the Hawariar
Planters’ Monthly by a similar journal for private circulation
among the members) the results of this work were not
published to the outer world. From a private source, how-
ever, the writer learned that Lewkowitsch’s report had been
to the effect that the wax consisted of a mixture of several
chemically different waxes, and that the substance had only
a small commercial value of from 4 to 5c. per lb.

The prospects of economical utilization of the wax are,
therefore, vague. The first difficulty is the danger of fire due
to the use of alcohol in extracting the wax. This can, how-
ever, be overcome by the use of carbon tetrachloride which is
non-inflammable. ‘The value of the product is, of course,
what it would fetch on the market, and until quantities of it
are produced we cannot be sure what the value would be.
It is questionable whether it would pay to extract a product
whose value was less than 8 to 10c. per tb., at the least.
Other ingredients of the filter press cake do not offer any
prospect to economical extraction. 3

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados on June 17, 1912, by the R.M,S.P. ‘Magda-
lena’, for the purpose of paying visits connected with
official matters to Grenada and Trinidad. . Dr. Watts is
expected to return to Barbados by the S.S, ‘Verdi’ on
the 28th instant.

Mr. F. W. South, B.A., Mycologist on the Statf of
the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left Barbados
for St. Kitts on June 4, by the S.S.‘Korona’,. for the
purpose of investigating fungus diseases of plants in
the island. Mr. South was expected to return ‘by. the
S.S. Parima, on June 21. ;

196

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS JuNE 22, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE INTRODUCTION OF VANILLA INTO
REUNION AND MAURITIUS.

Vanilla was introduced into the island of Réunion in
1822, by an official of the colony, M. Marchant, who
brought the planting material from the Jardin du Roi, Paris.
According to the Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius, for March
1912, from which this information is taken, M. Marchant
saw a plant of vanilla flourishing at the place mentioned,
while on a visit to Paris in 1817 or 1818. His surprise at
the circumstance that so valuable a plant had not been intro-
duced into Réunion was shared by M. Thouin, the Director
of the Jardin du Roi, and in consequence two or three cut-
tings were prepared so that they may be taken to that colony
on the return thither of M. Marchant. In 1825, one of the
plants flowered, and in the following year two perfectly
mature pods were formed. His desire to increase the culti-
vation of such an interesting and useful plant, led M. Mar-
chant to take several cuttings, some of which were sent by
him to Mauritius, to M. A. Genéve, an old colonist of
Mauritius, who made the original note from which these
details are derived. He received the cuttings in November
1827; and after much care, and in spite of damage to the
original plant by a storm, in the next year, was able to
raise cuttings and eventually obtain the fruit. This fruit
consisted of eleven beans, which were obtained on M. Geneve’s
property of Rivere Noir.

THE DOUBLE COCO-NUT PALM.

At the recent Agricultural Conference, a specimen of
the fruit of the double coco-nut or coco-de-mer (Lodotcea
sechellarum) was exhibited, which had been grown in the
British Guiana Botanic Gardens (West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. XII, p. 182). The exhibit possessed all the greater
interest because, as was explained, the specimen shown was
probably the first example of the fruit produced in the
Western Hemisphere. A suggestion was made, however, by
the Hon. J. S. Hollings, of Nevis, as to a possibility of the
fruits having been produced, in past years, in St. Kitts;
though no confirmation of this is so far available.

As was stated on p. 324 of the last volume of the
Agricultural News, germinating nuts of the double coco-nut
have been introduced into the islands of St. Lucia, Dominica
St. Vincent and Grenada, by the Imperial Department of
Agriculture, and information given in the article mentioned
shows that the introduction has failed in St. Lucia and
St. Vincent, and that one plant has survived in Grenada;
while the greatest success has been obtained in Dominica,
where two established plants were raised from the three
germinating nuts that were sent.

This interesting fact has led to the publication of the
illustration on the next page of the present number of the
Agricultural News, which was prepared from a photograph
supplied by Mr. J. Jones, Curator of the Dominica eta
Gardens. It shows one of the young plants of the coco-
de-mer that, as has been indicated, may be seen in those
gardens. The illustration has also appeared in the last
Annual Report on the Dominica Botanic Station, namely
that for 1910-11.

Coco-nut-growing in Antigua and Bar-
buda.—A report has been furnished by the Curator of the
Botanic Station, Antigua, dealing with the extension of
coco-nut growing that is taking place in that island and in
Barbuda. In addition to the orders for 2,400 coco-nut
seedlings received by the Antigua Agricultural Department
during April, orders have been further accepted for
2,150 plants, to be set out in Barbuda. Apart from these
there are at present 1,000 coco-nut plants growing in the
nurseries, which because of the drought were not sent out
last year. The demand has increased greatly the work at
the Station, especially as the requirements of planters for
other kinds of plants has been enormously enhanced during
the last year or two.

The parts of the island where it is intended to plant
coco-nuts are: Brooks, Cades Bay, Yorks, Orange Valley.
Yeptons, Fitches Creek, Parham Hill, Betty’s Hope and
Hodge’s Bay; it is also possible that they will be planted at
Gambles, McKinnons, Dimsdale and Claremont. The area
to be planted in Barbuda, if nothing arises to prevent it, is
about 50 acres. ;

Vou. XI. No. 265.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

197

THE GERMAN AGRICULTURAL INSTI-
TUTE AT AMANI.

teference has been made frequently in the Agricultural
News to the Imperial Biological Agricultural Institute at
Amani, German East Africa, and it will be of interest to
present further details of this Institute abstracted from an
account made for the Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural
Intelligence and of Plant Diseases for April 1912

The establishment of the Institute dates from 1902,
and its objects include: research in connexion with the
raising of cultivated tropical plants, and on their pests and
diseases, with means of
prevention and cure; soil
analysis and analysis of
raw materials and other
products of interest;
manurial experiments;
and lastly the study of y
the flora and fauna of
German East Africa.

Amani was chosen as
the site for the work
because of its favourable
conditions of soil and
climate. The land that
is used has an area of
741 acres, and extends
from 4 height of 1,300
to 3,575 feet, above
sea-level, This inclus-
ion of areas at different
altitudes is of particular
utility in that it enables
experiments to be made
with sub-tropical, as well
as tropical, plants. The
Amani Experiment Sta-
tion is completed by
a station at Mombo
where there is a large
area of land in the plain.
The site of the principal
buildings and of the
laboratories is at nearly
3,000 feet above the sea. ,
The clearing of forests
has amounted already to
about 250 acres, and
about 30 miles of roads
have been made.

The abstract from
which these details are
taken proceeds to give
an account of the past
activities of the Insti-
tute, which as may be well understood have been many and
varied. The propaganda of the station is carried on at present
by the issue at Dar-es-Salam, of a journal called Der Pflanzer.
A more important publication sent out by the institute is
constituted by the Berichte iiber Land- und Vorstwirtschaft
fiir Deutsch Ost-Afrika.

Among the useful features of the station, that serve as
an annex to it, is a building intended for the accommodation
of visitors; these are mostly European settlers in the colony,
including students and farmers and employees of the neigh-
bouring English and Italian colonies.

Fic. 3. PLANtT

or Coco-DE MER, OR

Dominica Borantc GARDEN,

THE GERMINATION OF OLD SEEDS.

The Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius for March 1912 contains
an interesting note which commences by drawing attention
to the legends that exist concerning the extreme longevity of
seeds, particularly those regarding the germination of grains
of wheat found in sarcophagi in ’}gypt—a matter which has
been entirely discredited.

The note proceeds to state that, nevertheless, Professor
Becquerel in Paris, and Professor Ewart in Melbourne, have
instituted experiments which demonstrate that seeds do
actually possess great vitality.

They have taken from
museums old seeds that
are known authentically
to have been in the
museums for at least
twenty-five years,and have
found that 10 per cent.
of these were capable of
sprouting. The oldest
among the seeds were
those of Cytisus brflorus
(eighty-four years), Cassia
bicapsularis (eighty-seven
years), and Hovea linearis
(105 years). In each of
these cases, germination
was obtained with two
or three seeds out of ten.

The two observers have
remarked that the species
of plants in which the
seeds present the largest
vitality belong generally
to the pod-bearing plants,
or Leguminosae.

Professor Becquerel has
placed a certain number
of seeds in round glass
vessels in which the most
perfect vacuum obtainable
has been produced; and
these vessels, after |having
been sealed, have been
deposited in a safe place
where they will be found
by future generations and
employed for testing the
vitality of the seeds con-
tained in them.

In regard to the ger-
mination of seeds that
have been kept for only
a few weeks, the follow-
ing account of work con-
ducted in Italy, taken
from the Hxperiment Station Lecord, Vol. XXII, p. 326, is
of interest: ‘At temperatures ranging from 9° to 17° C,,
with a daily temperature at 3 p.m. of 12° to 16°, 18 per
cent. of maize, 51 of barley, 70 of millet, 22 of beans, and
23 of chick peas germinated in three weeks when the seed
was fresh, while of the old seed only 7 per cent, of maize, 5 of
barley, and 12 of millet germinated. Where the temperature
was increased to 20 to 24, the fresh seed gave the following
germinations: 86 per cent. of millet, 96 of maize, 100 of
barley and beans, and 97 of chick peas, while the old seed
did not show any considerable increase.’ ;

DoUBLE Cuwuc0-NUT, Av THE

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

WEST INDIAN

COTTON.

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

Only a limited business has been done in West Indian
Sea Island cotton since our last report. The sales amount
to about 80 bales, chiefly St. Croix and Anguilla at 194d. to
20d., and Stains at 9d. to 12d.

Spinners having supplied their immediate wants are not
eager buyers at the moment.

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

The market has been very quiet throughout the week,
with apparently no demand. The Factors are disposed to sell
the stock on hand, which they are unwilling to carry over
into another season, consequently with orders in hand we can
buy to advantage on a basis of the following quotations, viz:—

Extra Fine 30c. to 32c.=16d. to 173d. c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 28c. = 153d. ” Oy k= Sr)
Fine 26c. = 143d. ” 33) eos 99.

Fine to Extra Fine, 19. to 25c. = 104d. to 1444. ,,
off in preparation f :

” ”

The Government Cotton Ginnery, Grenada.—
the above ginnery which contains two Platt roller gins
driven by a6 h.p. Crossley’s Patent oil engine, and one hand
baling press was worked for the first time on March 12,
1912.

The first cotton ginned was 1 bale of Sea Island and 2
bales of Marie Galante produced in Grenada, and one bale
each of Marie Galante and Sea Island is expected to arrive
shortly from Islet Ronde. Some of the cotton ginned was
grown at True Blue Estate, the property of Mr. John
Barclay, and the balance by a peasant from the Southern
district.

A bale of cotton wasalso ginned for Grand Ance Estate.

The engine is run by one man, each gin by a woman
and a boy, and the baling press by a man. (From a note on
the Government Cotton Ginnery, Grenada, supplied by the
Superintendent of Agriculture.)

THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING
ASSOCIATION.

The following is taken from a report received of
a recent meeting of the British Cotton Growing Asso-
clation:—

The ninety ninth meeting of the Council of the British
Cotten Growing Association was held at the Offices of the
Association, 15 Cross Street, Manchester, on the 7th instant,
the President (The Right Hon. The Earl of Derby, G.C V.O.)
in the Chair.

West AFRICA. The purchases of cotton in Lagos to the
end of April amount to 6,902 bales, as compared with 4,152
bales for the same period of last year, 3,475 bales for 1910
and 8,525 bales for 1909.

The purchases in Northern Nigeria to date are 1,634
bales against 504 for the whole of last year. With the
extension of the railway there is every reason to believe that
the expectations which the Council have always held as to
the suitability of Northern Nigeria for cotton cultivation will
be fully realized. The Association’s manager estimates that
the present crop will amount to over 2,000 bales, and there
is every reason to believe that 5,000 bales will be produced
next year and possibly 10,000 bales in 1914. The ginnery
which the Association has erected at Zaria was completed
towards the end of last year, and has given entire satisfaction.
Owing to the prohibitive cost of coal, the engine is run by
means of a gas producer plant fed with cotton seed, and this
plant is giving excellent results.

NYASALAND. In order to encourage the native industry
it has been decided to erect a ginnery in the Chiroma
District, which is becoming the most importait :iative cotton-
planting centre, the crop produced in the district last year by
natives being over 100 tons of lint.

UGANDA. ‘The cotton-growing industry in this Protect-
orate continues to expand, and it is estimated that the crop
this year will be 32,000 bales, as compared with 19,500
bales last year. Mr. Simpson (who was formerly Director of
Agriculture in Nyasaland) has been appointed the Govern-
ment Director of Agriculture in Uganda, and the Association
has discussed with him the best means of developing the
industry, and of improving the quality of the cotton grown.

A financial statement is appended to the report,
which shows that a sum of £24,664 remains to be
raised in order to complete the total authorized capital
of the Association, of £500,000. =

Vou. XI. No. 265.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

199

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE
MANIHOTS.

The following notes refer chiefly to Jequié and Remanso
Mauicoba rubber (Manihot dichotoma and M. piauhyensis),
and are based on details concerning these plants supplied
directly to the Commissioner of Agriculture, by Mr. Gilbert
Railton, as well as those contained in an article in Tropical
Life, for January 1912, written by Mr. Railton. It may be
said that Mr. Railton has had useful experience in growing
the Manihots in the hinterlands of Brazil.

Dealing generally with the Manihots, it is the opinion
of this authority that the claims for a production of rubber
equal to that from Hevea are not founded on fact; nor is it
necessarily true that the returns from the species mentioned
are far greater than those from Ceara rubber (IZ. Glaziovit).

Both M. dichotoma and M. piauhyensis grow well in
dry climates, and do not suffer great damage from the condi
tions of ordinary drought. They prefer the slopes of hills
and the valleys near them, and have been found growing
successfully up to an altitude of as much as 4,000 feet.
Land that is likely to become water-logged, even if the condi-
tion is only temporary, is entirely unsuitable to these species.
With respect to the former plaut, it is stated by Mr. Railton
that it may thrive on poor pasture land, but he lays stress on
the particular suitability of recently burned land to the needs
of this tree, as a seedling.

Reference to the article in Z’ropical Life will show that
seeds required for planting should be allowed to mature
thoroughly in the sun, or be kept on a dry floor for at least
nine months atter falling, in order that a regular germination
may be obtained. It is recommended that they should be
sown two or three in a hole at least an inch deep, at stake,
in the places which the plants will occupy permanently.
The employment of seed beds and subsequent transplanting
is discouraged, chiefly because the length of the tap root of
seedlings is so great and the bark so tender that it is easy to
cause injury from which the tree will not recover. The use
of cuttings is discouraged to an even greater degree; plants
grown from them develop a shallow riot system which
makes it possible for the tree to be blown over by the first
high wind; this objection also applies to the transplanting of
seedlings. In order to ensure and encourage germination, the
seeds should be soaked in water for one to two days, just
before they are sown; in some cases a longer soaking than
this has been found successful

The objections that have been stated in connexion with
the use of seedlings and cuttings, for planting, apply equally
to the employment of stumps, which in the same way produce
plants of inferior growth and having a badly developed root
system.

Practice has shown that J. dichotoma and M. piauhyen-
sis may be planted much more closely than Hevea brasiliensis
and M. Glaziovii; they may be placed as near as 7 feet
x 10 feet.

The amount of weeding that is required will depend
naturally on the conditions under which the plants are grown.
For the stage to be reached at which weeds will be kept
down by the shade from the plants themselves generally
requires a period much longer than a year; though assertions
are sometimes made that the shorter period is sufficient.

Dealing particularly with J. dichotoma, it is generally
agreed that this flourishes on good clay soil; it is considered
by Mr. Railton that it does not pay to tap this species before
the trees are six years old.

M. piauhyensis is suited more especially for the lighter
soils; the height attained by it is not as great as that reached

by I. dichotoma. In regard to the rate of growth, Mr. Railton
has observed trees, that had received good care, with
a diameter of 25 to 28 inches, the trees being six to seven
years old. At this stage the height of the unbranched
portion of the main stem was about 6 to 9 feet.

CANDELILLA WAX.

Notes on the candelilla plant and its wax have
been given several times in this journal (see Agricul-
tural News, Vol. XI, p. 73), as the matter is of partic-
ular interest in relation to the fact that it has been
introduced into Antigua, Sr. Kitts and Montserrat by
this Department. In continuation, the following is
taken from the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute,
Vol. X, p. 128, just issued:—

In a previous number of this Bulletin (1909, p. 411)
a note by the late Dr. Olsson Seffer was printed, giving
information regarding the botanical origin, method of pre-
paration and characters of this wax. Dr. Seffer gave
Luphorbia antisyphilitica, Luce., as the source of the wax,
but other authorities have attributed it to Pedilanthus
pavonis, Boiss. and Euphorbia cerifera, and it appears that
the confusion may be due to the fact that in Mexico the
natives apply the name ‘candelilla’ to a number of widely
different plants.

A pamphlet has been published recently by the National
Medical Institute in Mexico, and in this, on the authority of
Professor Alcocer, the plant yielding the wax is given as
Euphortva cerifera, The following additional particulars are
summarized from the pamphlet already referred to.

The wax can be extracted by cutting up the plant into
small pieces and either wrapping in wire cloth and immersing
in boiling water, when the melted wax rises to the surface and
can be skimmed off, or by subjecting the mass to live steam
in order to melt the wax, which can then be separated from
the condensed water. The impure wax so obtained is
purified by re-melting and filtering through charcoal mixed
with iron filings; it then varies in colour from greenish-yellow
to almost chocolate black, but can be partially bleached to
such an extent as to compete with carnauba wax. The
candelilla wax is not so hard or brittle as carnauba wax.
The composition is said to be affected by the age of the
plants, the region where they grow, and the time of year
they are collected, but it also seems likely that the great
differences that plants show in this are at least in part due
to the differences in botanical origin of the samples examined.

According to Sanders the wax contains myricyl alcohol
and the hydrocarbon hentriacontane.

Tke wax is said to be useful for a variety of purposes,
among which may be mentioned the manufacture of boot
polishes, sealing-wax, insulating materials, and varnishes.

The wax has appeared on the Hamburg market
(Chemist and Druggist, 1910, p. 59), and at first sold at
about 77s. per cwt., since manufacturers preferred carnauba
Wax, as its properties are well known to them. Recently,
however, candelilla wax has sold in Hamburg at 115s. per
ewt., so that it has apparently found definite uses in Germany,
probably as a substitute for carnauba wax.

According to the British Vice-Consul at Monterey (Board
of Trade Journal, 1911, p. 430), the supply of the can-
delilla plant is practically inexhaustible, and there are now
four factories at Monterey extracting the wax, two of which
are said to be shipping the product to the United Kingdom.

200 Thies

EDITORIAL NOVICES

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,, 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 p»yable to Agents,
28, 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agqrieultural 3

SATURDAY, JUNE 29,

Alows

EOE:

Von. XE Nor 265.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this issue reviews the position of
the Reading Courses and Examinations in Practical
Agriculture organized by this Department, and makes
suggestions in connexion with future work in those
courses.

Page 196 contains a short article on the plant
known as coco-de-mer or the double coco-nut palm.
It is illustrated on the next page by a picture showing
a young specimen of the plant that may be seen in the
Dominica Botanic Garden.

On page 199 there will be found an article pre-
senting useful informaticn regarding the Manihots,
particularly M. dichotoma and M. piauhyensis.

The Insect Notes are contained on page 202.
They consist of two short articles dealing with the
yellow fever mosquito and with silk fish lines. It is of
interest that the latter are made in South China from
the silk glands of the caterpillars of a moth that has
been identified as Saturnia pyretorwm.

An interesting article will be found on page 205,
dealing with the sugar yields that were obtained in
twenty-two factories in the island of Réunion, in 1910.

The Fungus Notes of this issue are presented on
page 206. .They consist of a summary of information
concerning the physiological condition of citrus and
prunus plants known as gummosis.

A second article describing experiments regarding
the vitality of Para rubber seeds will be found on page
207. ‘The former of these articles appeared on page
165 of this volume of the Agricultural News.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture,

The issne of the Annuai Reports on the Botanic
Stations, ete..in the Windward and Leeward Islands
has now been completed, and these are available as
follows: for Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica,
Montserrat, Antigua, St. Kitts-Nevis and the Virgin
Islands.

Among the reports, as issued, those for Grenada
and Dominica are illustrated, on heavy art paper, by
means of half-tone blocks showing various parts of the
respective Botanic Gardens.

These reports may be obtained from the agents
for the publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture, price 6d., post free 74d.; except in the
ease of the reports for St. Lucia, Montserrat and the
Virgin Islands, the cost of which is 3d., post free 4d.

>

The Grenada Land Settlement Scheme.

The report of the Land Officer appointed in con-
nexion with this scheme, for April 1912, shows that
applications for the allotment of land to small holders
continued to be received.

Mention was made in the Agricultural News,
Vol. X, p. 381, of the intention to erect a small
factory for the production of muscovado sugar at Morne
Rouge. Subsequently, work in connexion with this
was commenced, and it was expected that the factory
would be completed during last month.

During the month under report, the reconstruction
of the roads at Westerhall was begun.

Details of progress of work on the holdings show
that these contained no crops at the time of reporting,
except for a small quantity of sweet potatoes and sugar-
cane. ‘The settlers at Morne Rouge North and Morne
Rouge South were stated to be busily engaged in pre-
paring their lots for the coming planting season.

No work was done during the month on the
experiment plot constituted under the Scheme.

A Method of Obtaining Pure Drinking Water.

The use of chloride of lime for rendering water free
from infection, and fit for drinking is thus described in
the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1911,
p. 50.

“1) Take a spoonful of chloride of lime, containing
about one-third available chlorine, and remove the
excess of powder by rolling a pencil or other round
object along the top of the spoon, or by flattening it
with a penknife blade, so that the excess will be
squeezed off,

(2) Dissolve the teaspoonful of chloride of lime in
a cupful of water, making sure that all lumps are

Vou. XI. No. 265.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 201

000 aa

thoroughly broken up, and to it, in any convenient
receptacle, add three more cupfuls of water.

(3) Stir up the mixture, allow to stand for a few
seconds in order to let any particles settle (this stock
solution if kept ina tightly-stoppered bottle may be
used for four or five days), and add one teaspoontul of
this milky stock solution to 2 gallons of the water to be
purified, in a pail or other receptacle. Stir thoroughly
in order that the weak chlorine solution will come into
contact with all the bacteria, and allow to stand for ten
minutes. This will give approximately one-half part
of free chlorine toa million parts of water, and will
effectually destroy all typhoid and colon bacilli, or
other dysentery-producing bacilli in the water. The
water will be without taste or odour, and the trace of
free chlorine added rapidly disappears.’

$< ae

The Future of the Sleeping Sickness Bureau.

Nature for May 16, 1912, contains a note with
reference to the fact that the Secretary of State for the
Colonies has issued a memorandum announcing that,
from July 1 next, the Sleeping Sickness Bureau will be
known as the Tropica! Diseases Bureau. As is stated
there, the Sleeping Sickness Bureau originated at the
International Conference of Sleeping Sickness held in
London in 1907 and 1908, and its purpose was to find
and set forth measures for the control of sleeping sick-
ness. After the bureau had been established, 1t was
quickly seen that its energies could be extended to
include investigations concerning tropical diseases in
general.

The new bureau will have its quarters at the
Imperial Institute, having outgrown the accommodation
provided by the Royal Society. It will deal with all
exotic diseases that are prevalent in tropical and sub-
tropical regions, and will publish a Tropical Diseases
Bulletin in the place of the present Sleeping Sickness
Bulletin. The pubhcation will be partly employed for
presenting the results of the most recent researches on
tropical diseases, so that the information may be quick-
ly available for workers in the tropics.

Source of a Useful Oil.

The recent high price of linseed oil has given an
impetus to the attempts to find a substitute for this
product, which possesses so large an importance in
regard to the employment of paints and varnishes, and
the following information, taken from Der Tropenpflan-
zer for May 1912, concerning an oil yielded by the fruit
of Plukenetia conophora, which grows as a liane in
Kamerun, is of interest.

Official tests have shown that the oil approaches
linseed oil, in its physical and chemical properties, and
may also be in demand for soap-making; it 1s especially
likely to be useful as a substitute for linseed oil in the

preparation of varnish and lacquer. In this connexion,
the iodine value of the oil indicates that it is partic-
ularly well suited for the restoration of varnishes,
while it contains hardly any but drying acids. The
iodine value of linseed oil is in general smaller than
that determined for Plukenetia oil. Further investi-
gations respecting its drying properties are to be
undertaken.

A table giving the results of an enquiry into
the properties of the oil shows that the percentage con-

- tained in the fruit is 59, and that the product itself

possesses a yellowish white colour and a mild and
pleasant smell, and taste. Further, the specific gravity
of the oil (15°/4°) is 0°936. The refractive index at
15°C. is 14835, and the saponification value 190.

The account concludes with interesting observa-
tions on the drying properties of the oil.

It may be added that the plants included in the
genus Plukenetia belong to the same family of plants
as the castor oil plant, the physic nut and the Euphor-
bias (spurges). ‘They are woody, climbing plants, with
alternate heart-shaped leaves, and are found in Africa,
the north and centre of South America, and in the
West Indies.

Cee cenennneneediiindl

Coco-nut Exploitation in British Guiana.

At a meeting of the Court of Policy of British
Guiana held on May 7, the Standing Rules and Orders
were suspended so that the following motion may be
brought forward:—

‘Whereas it is known that options to purchase
have been secured on a large number of coco-nut or
so-called coco-nut estates in this Colony, at prices far
above the intrinsic value of such properties,

‘Be it Resolved,—That this Court views with
apprehension the possibility of the flotation of com-
panies in Great Britain on an unsound basis, thereby
imperilling the good name of the Colony as a field for
the safe investment of capital.’

In bringing forward the motion, the mover—
Mr. R. G. Duncan—referred to the fact that an indi-
vidual firm or syndicate in London had apparently
secured options to purchase a large number of coco-
nut or so-called coco-nut properties in the Colony, at
prices far in excess of tae real market value of the
properties. It was his fear that the attempt would be
made to induce the British public to take up shares in
such a company or companies, and in view of this, and
in respect to the good name and future of the Colony,
he had brought forward the motion.

Consideration of the motion led to the dropping
of the preamble, and the amendment of the motion
itself to read:—

‘Be it resolved,—That this Court views with
apprehension the possibility of the flotation of com-
panies in Great Britain in connection with coco-nut
profits on an unsound basis, thereby imperilling the
good name of the Colony as a field for the safe
investment of capital’

The amended motion was passed on a division,
eight voting for it, and three against it.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT NOTES.

THE YELLOW FEVER MOSQUIL®©.

At the first International Congress of Entomology at
Brussels, in August 1910, Mr. Fred. V. Theobald, M.A.,
F.ES., presented a paper entitled he Distribution of the
Yellow Fever Mosquito (Steyomyia fasciatus, Fabr.) and
General Notes on its Bionomics, which has appeared in the
volume of the Memoirs of the Congress (p. 145).

The following notes are abstracted trom Mr. Theobald’s
paper.

The yellow fever mosquito occurs throughout the tropi-
cal and sub-tropical regions of the world, as the common
domestic day-flying mosquito, It never appears to occur far
from the habitations of men, and though its attacks are
usually most noticeable during the day, it also bites at night,
at least in certain localities, notably the West Indies.

Yellow fever occurs as an endemic disease only in the
American hemisphere and on the West Coast of Africa.
There is a liklihood, however, that with the opening of the
Panama Canal, infested mosquitoes will be transported to
many of those locations where the Stegomyia mosquito
occurs, which have up to the present time been free from
yellow fever, with the result that the disease may become
world-wide in its distribution.

The possibilities of such transportation would seem to
be great, since an adult Stegomyia mosquito is capable of
remaining alive for forty-seven to fifty days, which is a period
more than will be necessary for steamships to travel to all
parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans from the endemic
yellow fever countries in the West Indies and Central
America

SILK FISH LINES.

The Journal of the College of Agriculture of the
Imperial University of Tokio, Vol II, No. 2, contains an
article by Professor C. Sasaki on The Silk Fish Line The
method of obtaining and preparing silk fish lines is briefly
noted here as likely to be of interest to readers of the Agrz-
cultural News.

It would appear that the use of these lines dates back
to very remote times, especially in Japan; but the Japanese
have had but fragmentary knowledge of the source from which
they are obtained and the manner of their preparation.

Professor Sasaki reviews at some length the historical
records of the sources of the silk fish lines. He finds that
they are procured from wild silk worms.

Recently, specimens of the moth have been identified by
Sir George Hampson as Saturnia pyretorum, Westwood.
The larvae feed upon the leaves of Camphor and Liguidambar
formosana, and are most abundant in certain districts of
South China, where most of the silk fish lines are produced.

When the larvae are fully developed, many of them
descend to the trunks and lower branches for the purpose of
pupating These are collected, while the most of those
which remain in the higher branches of the trees are allowed
to pupate and emerge as moths, thus providing for the next
generation of larvae; a few are gathered by means of a funnel

on a bamboo. The caterpillars which have been collected
are put into a large earthen bowl (4 feet high and about 2 feet
in diameter) until it is about one-half full, and the bowl is
then filled with water. At the end of from twelve to twenty-
four hours, all, or very nearly all, the worms are dead. The
caterpillars are taken from the water, a slit is made in the
ventral surface of each one, and the two long silk glands are
drawn out of the kody. ‘These silk glands are then soaked
for a time in strong vinegar; after this they are transferred
to water and thoroughly washed and rubded between the
fingers. About sixty of these glands are then fastened by
one end to a bamboo stick which is then thrust into the mud
wall of the house. Each of the glands is then drawn out
until it is stretched to its full extent, and fastened to another
stick thrust into the mud wall. In this way the silk glands
are kept stretched between two supports until they are
thoroughly dried in the air, and become firm and strong.

When they are sufficiently dried, the filaments are fur-
ther washed, and dried again, and then made up into bundles
of fifty or sixty filaments; each of these bundles is formed
into aring 8 or 9 inches in diameter, in which condition
they are ready for market.

THE RATTANS OR ROTANGS.

The ‘rattan canes’ of commerce are the stems of two Old
World genera of palms—Calamus and Daemonorops—of
which, jointly, about 300 species are known. With few
exceptions, they are climbers from tree to tree, in dense
forests. The distinguished traveller and botanist, Dr. O.
Beccari, has devoted a large portion of a long and laborious
life to the study of Asiatic palms, both in the forest and in
the herbarium, and has contributed much to the literature
of the subject. Foremost in his work is the monograph of
the genus Calamus, noticed in some detail in the Gardeners’
Chronicle, Vol. XLVI (1909), p 87, and forming the
twelfth volume of the Annals of the Calcutta Botanic Garden.
The magnificent illustrations, reproductions of the author’s
own photographs, constitute the valuable feature of these
monographs. They are portraits of specimens preserved in
various herbaria, but largely in Beccari’s own herbarium,
and they include the types or co-types of most of the species.
The advantage of having these types brought together in one
volume is obvious. In Beccari’s monograph each species is
very fully described in English, to which is added all par-
ticulars of its affinities, distribution, uses, and native
or trade names. Approximately 200 species of Calamus are
known as against somewhat fewer than 100 of Daem-
onorops. Some authors regard Daemonorops as a section
of Calamus, and there certainly is no character by which
the one genus can at once be distinguished from the
other. Dr. Beccari states that they are not separable
by any character easily explained, but by combinations
of characters not repeated in the two genera, and he
gives the characteristics, positive and negative, side by side.
As to the cultivated species of both genera, he says that
they are mostly under incorrect names, and there are also
names on record of species which have disappeared from

cultivation; names which must remain nomina nuda for all
time. The geographical area of Daemonorops is much

more restricted than that of Calamus, and is comprised
between Latitude 10°S. and 25°N., and between Longitude
85° and 132° E, with much the greatest concentration of
species in the Malayan Peninsula and Archipelago, though no
species has been found in New Guinea. Calamus extends to
tle western peninsula of India and to tropical Africa

Vou, XI. No. 265

on the west, to Formosa, Australia, and New Guinea on the
east. Myrmecophilism (symbiosis with ants), Beccari states,
is far more accentuated in Daemonorops than in Calamus,
and is particularly easy of verification in D. verticrllaris,
D. mirabilis, and D, formicaria. The uses of the stems of
Daemonorops are nearly equal to those of Calamus, but precise
information is wanting, and the real origin of trade produce
is often unknown. Dragon’s Blood, ‘djernang’, of the Malays,
is the most important product of Daemonorops. It is
furnished in abundance and of the best quality by D. Draco,
D. Draconcellus and D. propinquus. With regard to dimen-
sions. Dr. Beccari states in his Monograph of Calamus that
none of the stems he measured exceeded 150 feet; yet Rox:
burg describes his C. ewtensus as having stems 200 yards to
3C0 yards long. Certain of the mountain species of
Daemonorops are of dawrf, erect habit. and suitable for
cultivation in a house of moderate size. For example,
D., microthamnus. D. monticolus and D. tabacinus scarcely
exceed a yard in height. (The Gardeners’ Chronicle, April 27,
1912.)

AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES OF THE
PANAMA CANAL ZONE.

There hus been issued recently, from the Office of
the Secretary, United States Department of Agri-
culture, Report No. 95, dealing with the outlook for
agriculture in the Panama Canal Zone. In this the
following conclusions are reached:—

Large farming operations are impracticable in the Canal
Zone on account of the broken topography. Small farms,
operated by the proprietors or under a central directive man-
agement, through which crop rotations and handling could
be systematized and controlled, constitute the probable
course of test agricultural development, especially where
valuable perishable products destined for shipment outside
the Zone are concerned, such as choice mangoes, avocados,
pine-apples, mangosteens, chayotes [the Mexican star cucum-
ber], and other tropical fruits and vegetables which are
apparently well adapted to conditions in the Zone.

The staple crops best adapted to the conditions appear
to be corn, cassava (known as ‘yuca’), yams of several species,
sugar-cane, plantains, bananas, and upland rice, with a large
number of other tropical and sub-tropical crops of lesser
importance in the Zone, including cacao, coffee, and rubber.

The methods practised are most primitive and transient,
and little effort appears to have been devoted to selecting
and developing desirable types, which alone can create an
efficient and profitable agriculture. The total crop produc-
tion of the Zone at present is in consequence very small, and
the products in general aie of Jow quality and incapable of
maintaining other than very primitive standards of living.
The occurrence of occasional choice strains and individual
trees and plants of superior excellence indicates that great
improvement in productiveness and quality ef most of the
products could be promptly secured by well-directed, sys-
tematic plant introduction and plant improvement work.

The most promising line of attack upon the agricultural
problem of the Canal Zone will apparently be to develop
a permanent mixed tropical agriculture with a distinct. horti-
cultural trend, in which hand Jabour of tropical origin will be
the main dependence for tillage. In this way the existing
and prospective conditions would favour the production of

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 203

high-priced products requiring regular and frequent transpor-
tation service, such as will doubtless be available promptly
after the opening of the canal for use.

One important feature will be the early working out of
a method of mixed cropping, in which soil maintaining and
improving leguminous intercrops can be continuously used
to replace the wild and intractable native vegetation of the
present shack-farm agriculture.

To quickly and effectively develop such a method will
doubtless require some intelligently directed experimental
work, as it involves careful study of the whole question of
plant relationships and antagonisms—one of the most impor-
tant and far-reaching problems in tropical agriculture, as
well as the control of injurious insects and plant diseases. To
meet the obvious needs the following lines of work are sug-
gested: —

(1) A careful study of the existing cultivated types of
crop plants of the Canal Zone and the adjacent territory of
the Republic of Panama, with a view to locating and _per-
petuating the better strains of such staple crops as have
already demonstrated their adaptability to the conditions.

(2) Systematic introduction of promising types and
varieties trom other tropical countries, with a view to
securing the best and most valuable varieties and strains that
have been developed under similar conditions elsewhere.
This feature is of special importance in the Canal Zone
because of the backwardness of the agricultural industry at
the present time.

(5) The adjustment of some northern types of vege-
tables and other perishable crops to tropical conditions by
selection and breeding. This will probably be a slow and
tedious undertaking, but the fact that the maintenance of
the canal will probably necessitate the continuous presence
of a considerable population of northern birth and tastes,
which is not likely to be quickly or easily reconciled to
tropical vegetable products, renders it well worth while to
undertake it.

(4) The development of more economical, effective and
permanent methods of farming, including contouring, tillage,
crop rotation, and other points essential to the conservation
of soil and the maintenance of soil fertility. Special atten-
tion should be given to the introduction and establishment
of crops needed for maintaining and encouraging of dairying
and the poultry industry, and to the establishment of these
industries on a stable economic basis.

(5) The production of useful timbers on lands not suita-
ble or valuable for general agriculture, including such trees
as the various species of Eucalyptus, teak, ete.

The report concludes with recommendations con-
cerning the means to be adopted for carrying out the
suggestions made, with economy and despatch. These
comprise the appointment-of agricultural officers under
the Isthmian Canal Commission or the United States
Department of Agriculture, the provision of cxperi-
ment stations and plant nurseries, arrangements for
co-operative experiments with planters ,and the system-
atic development of school gardens.

The next meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science will be held at Dundee from Sep-
tember 4. to 11. Up to the present, eighty-one meetings of
the British Association have been held, one of which took
place in Dundee in 1867,

A table given in Diplomatic and Consular Reports,
No. 4862, Annual Series, shows that the exports of bananas,
tomatoes and potatoes from the Canary Islands, during 1911,
were respectively 2,648,378 crates, 991,047 bundles and
506,032 cases. ‘The similar figures for 1910 were 2,700,352,
1,013,806 and 384,703.

A statistical report from the Philippine Islands shows
that in the first quarter of 1911, the sugar exports aggre-
gated 62,625,188 tb., distributed as follows: United States,
50,777,011 tb.; China, 5,878,725 tb.; Hong Kong, 5,953,209'b.;
British West Indies, 16,243 fb. (The Zowistana Planter,
May 11, 1912.)

According to the Government Gazette for March 29,
1912, the exports of rubber from the Federated Malay States
amounted to 5,446,343 tb., as compared with 2,820,019 hb.
in the similar period of last year. The amount shipped in
February 1912 was 2,715,767 tb.;in the same month of 1911
it was 1,490,849 hb.

It is reported from Montserrat that, at the end of May,
most of the sowing of cotton on estates had been completed;
peasant holders had, however, done very little planting, as
they were waiting for more rain. Light showers had been
received, which were causing the cotton that had been sown
to become well established.

The Union Gazette of South Africa gives an estimate of
the maize crop of the Transvaal Province, for the present
year, as 2,307,970 bags of 200 tb.; the actual yield in 1911
was 3,177,298 bags. The expected decrease in yield is
chiefly due to the severe drought that was experienced during
the ploughing season, and to insect pests.

Information contained in the Port-of-Spain Gazette
for June 1, 1912, shows that about 61,000 'seeds of cedar
(Cedrela odorata) and 56,000 seeds of cyp (Cordia gerascan-
thus) have been sold at the Crown Lands Office, Trinidad,
during this season. There are still 30,000 cedar seeds and
200,000 cyp seeds available for sale, at 10c. per 1,000.

A report received from Dominica at the beginning of this
month states that an average lime crop had been obtained, and
that the caréme cacao crop had been almost all picked. In re.
gard to the lime industry, 20,000 sccdlings that had been ad-
vertised were allotted among applicants, and it was intendéd
to send them out during the present month and in July.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

JUNE 22, 1912.

It is reported by H. M. Legation at Caracas that the
drought in Venezuela during this year has caused one half of
the cacao crop to be lost, so that some of those who have
a direct interest in the cacao industry in the Republic are in
financial difficulties. Another effect of the drought has been
that the collection of balata and rubber has been almost
impossible,

In the course of experiments made at the Wye Agricul-
tural College, it was shown that the heaviest yield of tobacco
leaf and the largest amount of nicotine were obtained by
manuring with farmyard manure plus artificials. Thus,
whereas farmyard manure alone yielded from 124 to 138 hb,
of nicotine per acre, farmyard manure plus artificials yielded
from 149 to 161 fb. (From the Gardeners’ Chronicle, April
20, 1912.)

A notice has been issued by the Trinidad Department
of Agriculture stating that, in accordance with Section 7 of
the Plant Protection Ordinance, 1911, every nursery must be
registered by the Owner or occupier thereof, at the office of
the Chief Inspector on or before a definite date in the year,
In relation to this Ordinance, a nursery is defined as any
land or premises whereon are grown or kept any trees,
shrubs or herbs intended for sale or distribution.

It may be mentioned that the Australian Sugar Journal
(Queensland) for March 7, 1912, contains an article that is of
some interest in relation to the economy that may be
effected by the employment of electric motors in sugar fac-
tories. Economy in the matter of steam consumption in
sugar factories, in Queensland, is of special importance on
account of the circumstance that, under the conditions, each
ton of sugar manufactured requires the employment of
supplementary fuel to the value of about four shillings.

From Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4865, Annaal
Series, it is gathered that the principal agricultural exports
of Réunion for 1911 and 1910, respectively, were as follows:
vanilla, 51 tons for both years; coffee 81 and 112 tons;
ylang-ylang, 36,366 tb. in 1911; geranium essence, 45 and
64 tons; aloe fibre, 311 and 268 tons; tapioca and starch,
2,860 and 4,077 tons; rum 953,877 and 779,284 gallons;
vacoa sacks, 806,500 and 881,685. Satisfactory results
have been obtained from the experimental planting of longose
(Hedychium gardnervanum).

In regard to the preservation of wood, a matter that is
receiving special experimental attention in various parts of the
West Indies, there is interest in an account of investigations
that are mentioned shortly in the Hxperiment Station Record,
Vol. XXV, p. 844. It is stated that the work was done with
shingles made of loblolly pine, Pennsylvania pitch pine and
chestnut, which were treated with creasote by the open tank
process. The results showed that the creasote was absorbed
in the following amounts: loblolly pine shingles, 11°3 Tb. of
creasote per bundle at a cost of 32°5 cents; Pennsylvania
pitch pine shingles, 15 5 ib. of creasote per bundle at a cost
of 41:7 cents; chestnut shingles, 17:1 fb. of creasote per bun-
dle at a cost of 45:5 cents. It is intended to test these
shingles, together with those of western cedar, red wood and
untreated chestnut, for durability over a term of years,

Vou. XI. No. 265.

Den

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

JULY.
First PEriop,
Seasonal Notes.

State what you know of the ways in which the soil is
formed, and give examples that illustrate your answer, taken
from districts with which you are acquainted. What is the
most important substance that is found in soil, as regards
the life of the plants that exist in it? Make a sketch map
-of a district in which you have conducted observations, show-
ing the areas covered by the different types of soil. Indicate
-any way in which the kinds of soil that are found in the
various parts may be correlated with the means by which
water from the rainfall runs off the land.

State in what ways the supply of air in soils is renewed,
and indicate the manner in which this renewal is important
as regards the plant life supported in the soil. What are the
broad differences between the kinds of bacteria present, and
between their activities, in water-logged and in well aérated
soils? How do bacteria assist in increasing the amount of
available plant food in the soil, and what artificial means are
in employment, in practice, to the same end?

Distinguish between heavy and light soils, stating how
heavy soils may be made lighter. What are the most easily
available means for effecting this, under conditions in which
-you have had experience?

What is meant by the organic part of the soil; state how
this is maintained in effective proportion (1) in nature, (2) in
agricultural practice? It has been found that the presence of
humus in soil possesses a particular importance in regard to
the activities of the nitrogen-fixing organisms (Azotobacter);
what substance contained in the humus is indispensable to
this end! How do the higher plants indicate a lack of this
substance in the soil or in the food that is being supplied
to them?

What condition of the soil do you consider best for the
operation of ploughing, and why do you regard this condition
-as being most suitable? What is the chief objection to
ploughing soils when they are (1) very wet, (2) very dry?
Distinguish between ploughing, and cultivation in its special
sense, stating what is the chief use of the latter. What are
the chief circumstances that set a limit to the amount of
ploughing that a soil should receive? Give descriptions, with
-sketches, of ploughing and cultivating implements with
which you have had practical experience in employment.

What is meant by (1) the texture of the soil, (2) its
‘tiltht What relationship does the working of the soil bear
to the occurrence of weeds, under conditions with which you
are familiar? State the chief effects of the presence of weeds
in relation to @) the plants that are being grown especially,
(2) the soil? Give a description of any weeds that are useful
~when they are under proper control, and provide an account

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

205

of the general uses of weeds in relation to, firs‘ly, the agrie
culturist, and secondly, mankind in general.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) Give an account of the chief uses of roots.

(2) Write a description of the special properties of pen
manure.

(3) Give a list of the chief reasons why plants are
prunec.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Compare the root system of any deep-rooted plant
with that of a plant with roots that are confined to the upper
part of the soil.

(2) Give directions for the storing of farmyard manure,
under conditions in which you have had experience.

(3) Describe the ways in which pruning is effected,
stating the reason for the adoption of each method that you
mention.

FinaL QUESTIONS.

(1) Show, in the case of any cultivated plant, how the
manner of cultivation employed is correlated with the kind of
root system possessed by the plant.

(2) Mention the ways in which the employment of pen
manure is particularly useful in the trepics, and state the
dangers arising from the use of this manure when it has not
been properly prepared.

(3) Give an account, in connexion with any plant that
you have observed, of the effect of pruning with reference to
(a) the manner of growth of the plant, (b) its yield,

SUGAR YIELDS IN REUNION.

Attention is given in the Journal d’ Agriculture
Tropwale for April 1912, p. 122, to a very complete enquiry
that has been conducted by the Chamber of Commerce of
Réunion into the sugar manufacture, in 1910, of twenty-
two factories in the island, and to the returns obtained.

Information in the article in the journal mentioned
shows that the output of these factories was 45,549 tons (of
2,204 tb.) of which 43,127 tons was exported; the average
manufacture of sugar for the past five years was 42,378 tons.

The general yield of the canes crushed has been about
9°65 per cent., which corresponds to a crop of 472,000 tons
of canes, from about 30,000 acres. The crushing leaves
something to be desired, as the mills have only extracted
ordinarily 70 per cent. of juice on the weight of the cane, as
compared with 84 per cent. in Hawaii, the latter crushing
being mentioned for purposes of comparison. In publishing
this figure, the Bulletin Commercial de VIle de la Réunion
states that the average price realized during the season
mentioned, for all kinds of sugar, was about 25 fr. 80 (about
£1 Os. 9d. per ton of 2,240 Ib.); at this price the factory
owners would have received an additional sum of about
£93,000, given a properly organized chemical control and
more powerful mills, such as would not mean a cost of more
than about £400 for each factory. ;

The factory expenses have been, on an average, 5s. 6d.
per ton,

The last crop appeared to be less valuable than that of
1910; the same weight of canes had been dealt with, but as
they had suffered untoward conditions in February of that
year, they had given an inferior juice.

FUNGUS NOTES.

GUMMOSIS OF PRUNUS AND CITRUS.

An interesting paper by O. Butler was published a short
time ago in the Annals of Botany, Vol. XXV, No. XCVII,
7p. 107, under the title: ‘A Study on Gummosis of Prunus
and Citrus, with observations on Squamosis and Exanthema
of the Citrus.’ It is proposed in this article to give some
account of the results arrived at in Butler's paper so far as
gummosis is concerned, and to leave the consideration of that
part dealing with squamosis and exanthema for a subsequent
number of the Agricultural News.

DISTRIBUTION AND HisToRY. Gummosis of Prunus and
Citrus occurs in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Por-
tugal, Spain and America, as well as in Sicily, the Azores,
and in India. The disease has never assumed serious pro-
portions on Prunus but has been responsible for a large
amount of damage in the case of Citrus. In St. Michael, in
the Azores, it first appeared in 1834, and was at its height
in 1840, when it caused the destructiou of a large proportion
of the citrus trees of the island. By the year 1873 it was
no longer feared, though it still occurred. It subsequently
made its appearance in Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Corsica and
Algeria. It seriously affected the groves of new South Wales
between 1860 and 1870, and appeared in California in 1875,
in Floridain 1876.

DESCRIPTION. The first external signs of the disease
are the occurrence of raised places on the epidermis or of
drops of gum on its surface. As the disease progresses, the
swollen spots on the epidermis burst and allow the gum to
flow out, while in those cases where the first sign was the
occurrence of small drops on the surface, the progress of the
disease simply increases the flow of gum. At the stage
when gum has appeared on the surface of the bark, the inner
bark, or cortex, will be found to be permeated to a greater or
less extent. The infiltrated bark subsequently dies, cracks,
curls and sloughs off. Severe cases of gummosis are always
accompanied by chlorosis, that is the disappearance of the
green colouring matter of the plant, whose green parts
become yellow; this probably results from a decrease in
the absorption of mineral nutriment by the roots, brought
about by the partial destruction of the bark which entails
a partial starvation of the roots as regards the food-supply
from the leaves. On cutting a slightly affected branch, two or
more years old, through a-diseased area, it will be found that
the damage first arises in the young wood which has just
been formed by the cambium. ‘The diseased area is fusoid
in form from the greater development of the diseased tissues
near the point of gum accumulation and their lesser and
lesser development as one proceeds further away. The gum
exudes en masse from the centre of the sickle, but as one
proceeds towards its extremities it will appear in droplets of
decreasing magnitude and separated with larger intervening
spaces of apparently healthy tissue. The gum in the centre
of the sickle is more or less tinted yellow, depending on its
age, whereas that pearling from the tissues at its extremities
is always colourless.

‘Tf sections are now cut at various distances above or
below the centre of disease, it will be found that gum form-
ation proceeds downward to a much less extent than
tupward, Furthermore, if we imagine a line’ drawn through
the middle of the pathognomic tissues, it will be found, as
one proceeds upwards and downwards, that the gumming
sickle diminishes in size.”

Gumming may attack the stems, small branches, leaves
or fruit, and may affect the tree locally or generally, accord-

THE AGRICULTURAL

to drainage.

NEWS,

ing to external circumstances and the species attacked. It
may arise autogenously, that is to say, without direct outside-
cause, Or may be induced by the attacks of insects or fungi,

or by any other form of damage such as may result from.
wounds caused accidentally by instruments or brought about

by frost, sunburn, or the application of acids and poisons.

As has been Stated already, the gum pockets may be
formed among the embryonic cells of the xylem (the cells of
the wood that have been formed most recently from the-
cambium). .The cell walls of this tissue swell up and give-
rise to the gum This breaking down of the cell wall may
proceed until all its layers are disorganized, when the celb.
contents become mixed with the gum; or it may be arrested
when Only the two outer layers of the walls of certain of the
cells have broken down, so that freed cells contained by the
third layer are left floating in the gum. In miid cases this
disorganization is confined to the embryonic xylem cells, but
in more serious attacks it may extend to the cambium, the
medullary rays, and the older cells of the xylem. When
gummosis is arrested, the young xylem cells become lignified
(provided with woody walls), and the cambium proceeds to:
lay down normal tissue so that the gum pockets are enclosed
in healthy wood

causE. For an outbreak of the disease the simultaneous
occurrence of two factors is necessary, namely, active growth
and a free supply of moisture. Butler believes that the
formation of gum is due to the hydrolysis of the cell walls of
the young xylem. Exactly how this is brought about is
uncertain, but he is inclined to think that it is not due to the
action of an enzyme, He puts forward good reasons for
believing that gumming is not produced by the oxidation of
the cell walls, nor/by the direct action of a cellulose-dissoly-
ing enzyme: two theories which have been suggested by
previous writers.

It will be seen from this that gumming is likely to
occur when trees are grown in heavy, badly drained soils, or
in suitable soils underlaid by an impermeable subsoil. Fuar—
thermore, it may be encouraged by excessive irrigation, or
by high fertility of the soil combined with want of drainage
or excessive irrigation; or by the too great application of
manures, especially of nitrogenous manures; and, lastly, by
continuous wet weather at the commencement of the growing
period. These factors may either induce the disease or
encourage its development on wounded trees or on those
attacked by insects or fungi.

PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. When the
disease is traceable to wounds, or to the action of insects or
fungi, preventive and remedial measures must deal with these
agencies, and need not be discussed at length here. Preven-
ttve measures in the case of autogenous outbreaks of the
disease should aim at attention to drainage, irrigation, and
manuring. The use of resistant stocks and of high budding
also possesses a preventive effect. The maximum resistance
is exhibited by Citrus trifoliata and C. amara, the bitter
orange. The rough lemon, shaddock, orange and citrom
exhibit intermediate resistance in the order given; while the
lemon is highly susceptible. Applications of salt’at the rate-
of from 2 tb. to 3 tb per tree are suggested as being likely to

prove of value in preventing gumming. Certain other minor

preventive measures are also mentioned.

The most important remedial measure is attentiom
Slitting of the bark, crosswise, longitudz
nally, or spirally, .gives some alleviation when trees are

‘subject to gummosis irregularly or accidentally:’The ex-

cision of all tissues affected, both bark and wood infiltrated
the gum, cannot be recommended; excision should be con-
fined to the dead bark only. -F

Vout. XI, No, 265.

THE VITALITY OF PARA RUBBER SEEDS.

The last number but one of the Agricultural
News contained an account, taken from the Agricul-
tural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay
States for February 1912, of an experiment to compare
the vitality of Para rubber seeds from tapped and
untapped trees. ‘Ihe following description of a second
experiment, for the purpose of finding the effective-
ness of various methods of preserving seeds from tapped
¢vees, is given in the same journal. It was intended
to repeat the experiments that are described.

THE PRESERVING OF RUBBER SEEDS FROM TAPPED TREES.
The secds in these experiments were collected and packed
na similar way to those in the first experiment, but they
avere coated respectively with beeswax, hard parattin, and
vaseline The beeswax and hard paraffin were melted, and
the seeds dipped into their respective liquids, allowed to
solidify, and then packed. Previous to planting the seeds,
the hard paraffin, beeswax, and vaseline were removed.
The percentage of germination of untreated seeds from
tapped trees can be seen by referring to experiment 1. On
comparing this with the seeds coated with beeswax, it will
ibe seen that the latter showed an increased germination to
the extent of approximately 30 per cent. The seeds coated
with hard paraffin gave better results than untreated seeds
fiom tapped trees, but not as good as those coated with
beeswax.
The seeds treated with vaseline did not germinate. The
coating of rubber seeds with any substance is undoubtedly an
. expensive treatment, but if seeds have to be sent to countries
which take from one and a half to two and a half months to
reach, and seeds from untapped trees cannot be obtained,
then, it is thought, the extra percentage of germination result-
ing from the seeds being coated with beeswax would more
than repay the extra expense entailed by this system of
4reatment.

PERCENTAGE OF SKED GERMINATION OBTAINED FROM

TAPPED AND UNTAPPED TREES.

No. of box. 1 2 eee 6
180 180 180 180 180 180

No. of seeds in box

No. of weeks the seeds may 3 5S 9-10
in box

No. of plants obtained; aaa 107 108 94 82100 86
wax

No. of plants obtained; par-\ 5 7) 74 66 61 58.
affin J >

Percentage of seed germina-\ 59°60 52 45 55 47
tion; beeswax 7)

Percentage of seed eet 34 40. 41 37 34 32
tion; paraffin

Percentage of seed germina-\ 35 93 94 99 20 24
tion; untreated J
In no case was there apparent a large falling off in
germinating power from the third to the tenth week.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, aay

AGRICULTURAL MATTERS IN
ST. VINCENT.

In the opening address by His Honour the Adminis-
trator at the February session of the Legislative Council of
St. Vincent, held on the 9th of the month, several refer-
ences were made to subjects connected with agriculture that
it is well to mention here.

In regard to anthrax, His Honour stated that it was
particularly gratifying to be able to record an entire abate-
ment of this disease among stock, and that he had no
hesitation in declaring tlie Colony to be so free from anthrax
as to render the exportation of stock therefrom no longer
of danger to neighbouring colonies. For a period of ten
months, that is since April 1911, only one case of anthrax
had been found among stock dying from natural causes; this
occurred as far back as July 1911, so that for seven months
no single case of death has taken place among stock from
anthrax. Human anthrax has not occurred in the Colony
for nine years. These circumstances, particularly in view of
the means that exist in the Colony to prevent and counter-
act the disease, including an Act providing for compulsory
vaccination in case of emergency (see Agricultural News,
Vol. XI, p. 153), are causing St. Vincent to seek to induce the
neighbouring colonies to accept stock from the island under
more reasonable and less prohibitive conditions, than exist
at present.

Among the matters for which the expenditure under the
estimates has provided is the institution of a scholarship and
an exhibition at the Grammar School.

Reference is made in the address to the successful adver-
tising campaign that has been conducted by the Committee of
Management of the Arrowroot Growers’ and Exporters’
Association. In mentioning the last annual report of this
association, which was reviewed in the Agricultural News,
Vol. XI, p. 89, the Administrator congratulates the commit-
tee, with particular mention of the secretary, on the progress
that has been made. Request has been received that the
Arrowroot (New Market Fund) Ordinance of 1910 (see
Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 9), which expires automati-
cally in December 1912, shall be renewed; and certainty is
expressed that such renewal will receive the favourable con-
sideration of the Council, subject to the sanction of the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The last matter in the address that is connected more
directly with agriculture is a reference to the recent visit to
the island of Mr. J. W. McConnel, Vice-Chairman of
the Fine Spinners’ and Doublers’ Association in Manches-
ter. It is stated that the useful information that had
been received at first hand, in consequence of this visit,
should do much, notwithstanding the recent experience of
unfavourable conditions for the crop, to encourage cotton
planters to continue its production, and ensure perseverance
in the careful methods of cotton cultivation and seed selection,
that are carried out in St. Vincent in order to maintain the
high quality of the product.

ET

Information given in the Semz-Annual Report of
Messrs. Schimmel & Co., dated April 1912, shows that the
production of camphor in Formosa during 1910 was
6,494,375 tb., and that the value of the exports during the
same period was £503,552; in the preceding year the similar
figures were 4,705,157 tb. and £446,902. It is stated
further that an estimate has been made to the effect that the
camphor forests of Formosa will be exhausted in forty-five
years’ time, but that since 1901 the Japanese Government
has caused fifteen million trees to be planted.

London.—TxHe West

New York,—Messrs.

MARKET REPORTS.

Inp1a ComMItTTEE CIRCULAR,
June 4, 1912; Messrs. E. A. Dz Pass & Co.,
May 24, 1912.

Arrowroot—3jd. to 4td.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/74 per tb.

Breswax—£7 17s. 6d.

Cacao—Trinidad, 60/- to 78/- per cwt.; Grenada, 59/-
to 61/-; Jamaica, 53/ to 58/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 72/- to 79/- per cwt.

Corra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 193d. to 20d.

Fruir—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations,

GincER—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

IsincLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotation.

Line Juice—Raw, 1/7 to 2/1; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d.
to £19; otto of limes (hand pressed), no quotations.

Loawoop—No quotations,

Mace—No quotations.

Nurmecs—No quotations.

Pinento—Common, 23d.; fair, 2,°,d.; good, 23d.; per tb.

Rusper—Para, fine hard, 4/62; fine soft, 4/4}; Castilloa,
4/2 per th.

Rust—Jamaica, 1/11 to 6/.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/6 to 19/; Muscovado, 13/6 to 16/-; }
Syrup, 12/3 to 16/- per cwt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

Giutesrig Bros, & Co., May
1912.

ole

Cacao—Caracas, 14fc. to 153c.; Grenada, 12{c. to 13{c.;
Trinidad, 133c. to 144c. per tb.; Jamaica, no quotations.

Cocoa-Nuts—Jamaica, select, $21°00 to $22-00; culls,
$14:00; Trinidad, select, $22°00 to $23-00; culls,
$14:00 per M.

CorreE—Jamaica, 144c. to 17c. per Ib.

GincEeR—Sic. to 1l4c. per ih.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 438c.
to 4ic.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 41c. to 42c.
per Ib.

Grapr-Fruit—Jamaica, $3°50 to $4°00.

Limes—$6°50 to $7:00.

Mace—No quotations.

Nurmrecs—110’s, 11}c. to 12c.

OraNnces—Jamaica, $1°50 to $2°00 per box.

Pimento—3d. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals,i96°, 3 98}c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°484c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°233c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., June 10,

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $15°00 to $15°25 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $13°75 to $14°25.

Cocoa-NuT O1t—95c. per Imperial gallon,

Oorrrr—Venezuelan, 154c. per ft.

Copra—$4:50 per 100 ib.

Duar—$4°50.

Ox10Ns—$2°50 to $400 per 100 ib.

Pzas, Sprit—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per bag.

Poratozrs—English, $200 to $2°75 per 100 fb.

Ricz—Yellow, $4°SU to $4:90; White, $6°25 to $6°35
per bag.

Sugar—American crushed, no quotations

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

JUNE

99
2

Shy Ue

Barbados,—Messrs, James A. Lyncu & Co., Ltd., June 15,

1912; Messrs. T. 8S. Garraway & Co., June 17,

1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., May 25, 1912.

Arrowkoor—$7'00 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$14°00 per 100 th.

Cocoa-nuts—$16:00.

Hay—$1°80 to'$2°50 per 100 th.
Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45:0D
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.
Mo.asses—No quotations.
Ontons—$1°80 to $2°75 per 100 fh.
Peas, Sprit—$7'00 to $7°10 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°00 to $5°40 per bag of 120 tb.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $3°60 to $3°75 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $5°05 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quotations;.
Rangoon, no quotations. ;
Suaar—American granulated, $5°00 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. WirTinc & Ricurer, June
8, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacH, Parker & Co,

June 7, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ea |
Arrowkoor—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Cocoa-NUTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
Daat—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Mo tassrs— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS— ;
Potarors—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Porators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suecar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TiueeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

$450 per bag

3, Cordwood

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTER.

No quotation
70c. per tb.
14c. per tb.

72c.

$7 00

$16 to $20 per M.

18c. per th.
20c. per tb.
12c. per th.

168 th.
$4°50
$2°16
None

6c. to Tc. per th.

$6°75 to $7-00 per

bag (210 tb.)
24c. to 60c.
$3°75 to $4-00
$2°40
per bag
No quotation
$5°25 to $5°50
$2°40
$300
$2°40
$3°20 to $3°30
$4°00

$2°80 to $2:90
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot™
$3°75 to $6-00
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

of

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited
18c. per tb.
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,

peeled and
selected
16c. per tb.
20c. to 2Qle.
14c. per th,

$4°50 per bag of
168 th,

$7°15 per baz
(210 tb.)

No quotation

$3°75 to $4-00

No quotation

$5°30 to $5-5D

$3°25 to $3:45
$4°25

32c. to 55c. pex
cub. foot
$400 to $6-0D
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, ls. 2d.
Volumes IJ, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI:—Price 2s, each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;

IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. No. 1. No. 2:—West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of Papers and Proceedings:
List of Representatives; Presidential Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago; Cacao;
Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural
Education; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomo-
logical Research Committee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies; Nomenclature Com-
mittee; Usefulness of Agricultural Conferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

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 seventy.

Sucar Inpustry.

Seedling and other Canes at Barbados
in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.; in 1901,
in 1902, No. 19, price 4d.; in 1902,
in 1904, No. 32, price 4d.

Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at
in 1903-5, No. 40, price 6d.; in 1904-6, No. 44,
in 1905-7, No. 49, price 6d.; in 1906-8, No. 59,
in 1907-9, No. 62, price 6d.; No. 66, price 6d.

Seedling and other Canes in the Leeward Islands,
in 1900-1, No. 12, price 2d.; in 1901-2, No. 20,
in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33,
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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.;
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d.

CALE INSECTS.

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 4d.

No. 13,
No: 26,

price 4d.;
price 4d. ;

Barbados,
price 6d.;
price 6d. ;

price 2d.;
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-meal on West Indian Planta-
tions. Price 2d.

(45) A BC of Cotton Planting.
Price 6d.

(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. Price 4d.

(61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d. :

(65) Hints for School Gardens, Fourth Edition.

(69) Hints to Settlers in St. Lucia. Price 6d.

(70) Coco-nut Cultivation in the West Indies.

Price 2d.
Price 5d.

New and Enlarged Edition,

Price 6d.

The above wil] be supplied post free for an additional charge of 4d. for the pamphlets marked 2d., ld. for those
marked 4d., and 13d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62, 63, 67, 69 and 70.

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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX complete, with title page and index, asissued

—Price 4s. each.— Post free, ds.
longer be supplied complete.

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, 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 Curonicie’ OFrrice, Georgetown,

Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHatt & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. PracemMany, Scarborough.

St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School,

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BriwcewaTER, Rosean.
Montserrat : Mr. W. Roxzson, Botanic Station.

dnugua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s.

St. Kitts: Tue Brpste anp Boox Supply Agency, Basseterre.
JTevis : Messrs. Howet, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘Tue Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 265 THE ee NEWS. JuNE 22, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

oR Ae eee es

Ohiendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cene anc general use
Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohiendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Suiphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO :—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

LINTERSCOTTON® FOR SALE.
LINTER COTTON !J/PRIME SUMMER YELLOW COTTON

SEED OIL.
UNEQUALLED FOR STUFFING CUSHIONS, In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).
COUCHES, ETC. DOES NOT GET HARD | COTTON SEED CAKKE MEAL.
LIKE STRAW OR FIBRE. ERNEST THORNE, LTD.
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE COTTON, Cotton Seed a ee 2
FACTORY, LIMITED, Telegraphic address, Bice e:
BRIDGETOWN. (267) ‘Thorum.’

STSLLUCIA. . JUST ISSUED.

WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

FOR SALE. (Vol. XII No. 2.)

West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of

BOS VET OR i} See if Papers and Proceedings: List of Representatives; Presidential
D ko o| Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago;

Cacao; Sugar; Plant Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime
and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural Educa-
tion; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in
Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomological Research Com-
mittee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies;

Comprising 300 acres, well situated in Mabouya Valley.
on main road to, and 24 miles from, Dennery; about 25 acres
in Cocoa, crop 50 bags, and 15 acres in Sugar- cane, crop 200
tons; soil very suitable for Limes, a tew acres planted.

For further particulars apply to:— Nomenclature Committee; Usefulness of Agricultural Con-
A. R. G. HUNTER, ferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference,
Le La Cave, Ee eEDELy St. Lucia; or to To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's
(267) DUNCAN FERGUSON, Castries.| Publications. Price 6¢., post free, 9d.

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

Z

i dens .\) SS

||
yj
if
j
bi

|

Vol. XI. No. 268.] SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1912. ; [One penny.

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180

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WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the As of it will help to solve prob-
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Price ld,

CONTENTS. Other hyphotheses exist, however, among which the most

reste divergent from what has been stated is that of Whitney,

Cameron and others, who have been engaged in work

PaGE, Pace. for the Bureau of Soils of the United States Depars-

de rae ae Gleanings 220 ment of Agriculture. It is the present purpose to
Bay Oil, Supply of... 217 Entomology in Fiji ... 218 Teview this hypothesis, under the guidance of what is

Chick, Development of
IDA NN Gag Gos AE
Cotton Notes :—

Mango, Embryony of the 212
Manure, New Artificial... 216

known broadly concerning the nutrition of plants and
their relationship to the soil in which they grow; and

: Market Reports 224 : :

Annual Report of the — as this has been done ably and at length in a recent
British Cotton Grow- Nitrates in Cultivated ele be Be Baseell® hat isMenideahes ie
ing Association, 1911 214 Soil, Formation of ... 217 2rlicle by B. d. ESE ; Wwilak 1S sald there wl e

West Indian Cotton ... 214 Notes and Comments ... 216 used freely as a guide in dealing with the matter.

Department News... ... 219 . Mm. Ee
aa ‘ x Phoenix canariensis 213
Dominica Grammar School,
Agricultural Science Rubber Exhibition, Third Before the special aspect of the subject receives
Ati(Reee ciate kd Sct dicest elie International «« 22 ‘ J : I : EE é 10)
Expoits from Barbados, Seeds, Vitality of ... ... 216 attention, it will pe useful to give a brief account of
1911... ... 217 Soil _ Fertility, Theories the main circumstances in the relationship between
Fungus Notes :— Concerning 209 ; i ;

Exanthema and Squa- Students’ Comtex 99; the soil and plant. In an article published some

mosis of Citrus... 222 West Indian Products ... 223 time ago in the Agricultural News,+ a review was

Theories Concerning Soil Fertility.
L.

2N recent years, great changes have taken
y place with respect to the way in which the
- mr soil is regarded in relation to the nutrition
ef plants, and investigators are by no means agreed in
their views on the subject. The most general opinion
is that the soil contains definite food bodies which are
taken up by the plant, for its nutrition, and that owing
partly to weathering and partly to the action of micro-
organisms, among which bacteria are very important,
some of these, as well as other substances, are produced
or destroyed, according to the conditions that obtain.

given, at some length, of the things that are essential
for plants to grow properly, and stress was laid upon the
fact that insufficiency in regard to the provision
of any one of these essentials results in a decreased
power of the plant to make use of all the others.
The necessary conditions were stated to be, in the
order of immediate urgency:(1) a supply 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. For
a statement of the ways in which these are necessary,
reference is made to the article quoted; the important
matter is that they are necessary, and that they must
all be present in sufficient amount in order that plants
may make the best use of them.

* The Soil and the Plant, by E. J. Russell, D.Sc ; Science
Progress, Vol. VI, No. 21, p. 188.
+ Vol. IX, p. 257.

210

Juty 6, 1912.

g THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

It has been known for a long time that the soil
supplies to the plant several eiements that are of value
in nutrition, including among others nitrogen, potas-
sium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron;
there has also been the recognition that an increase
of plant growth is brought about when certain com-
pounds of these elements, notably nitrates, phosphates,
potassium salts and carbonates, are added to the soil;
further, that the crop may be increased by the use of
organic matter in the form of green dressings, composts
and natural manures. The results of all the observations
that have been made have gone-to show that the food
bodies are taken up by the plant either after being
dissolved directly in the water in the soil or after being
made to dissolve through the presence, in the water, of
carbon dioxide that has been excreted by roots or
formed by bacteria. All that has been said demon-
strates sufficiently the supreme importance to the plant
of the soil moisture. It is the source of the water
required by plants, and the means by which the food
entering through the roots is absorbed.

This is the reason why so much work has been
done for the purpose of learning as much as possible
concerning the water in soils, It must be considered,
in making the investigations, that four things happen
to the water that falls upon the soil: part of it clings
to the particles, through surface attraction; part travels
slowly downwards and escapes into the subsoil; part
evaporates; and where much rain falls in a short time,
a portion runs off the surface without entering the soil.
The water that clings to the particles is of the greatest
importance to plants. By surface action, it is supposed
to travel from the wetter to the drier places in the soil,
though little is actually known about the matter; and
it is constantly reduced in amount through evaporation
and absorption into plants, but to an extent to which
there is a definite limit that its removal cannot exceed.

It is easy to demonstrate that the spaces in the
soil are not only occupied by water, but to a greater
extent by air. For the present purpose, however, much
consideration of this matter is not required. It may be
sufficient to realize that owing to the actions of plant
roots and micro-organisms, mentioned above, oxygen
is continually being taken from this air and carbon
dioxide put back in its place. New supplies of oxygen
flow in from the outer air, and the ultimate result is
that the air in the soil continually resembles ordinary
air in its composition, except that 1t contains a little
more carbon dioxide.

In its relation to plants, the soil derives much of
its fitness as a medium for their growth from the

extent to which it contains calcium carbonate. Where
the proportion of calcium carbonate is small or wanting,
the soil is usually called ‘sour’, and is realized as being
but poorly adapted to the raising of crops. It is neces-
sary, therefore, that much account should be taken of
the effect of the presence of this substance, when
investigations of the soil are being made.

These matters have been brought forward in order
to indicate the circumstances of the soil that agricul-
tural workers are called upon to investigate. They
show that the conditions which go to make the soil
useful to the plant bear an intimate relation with one
another: they must all be served in sufficient degree.
If therefore, in an investigation, attention is given to
one or more of them to the exclusion of the rest, useless
and misleading conclusions will be reached. The view
of the experimenter must be broad, lest he attribute
results to the particular factors that he is investigating,
when they are actnally due to the limiting effect of
some other factor that, in his restricted survey, he has
overlooked.

Short reference to the hypotheses of the United
States Bureau of Soils has been made already. These
hypotheses depend on the recognition of the great
importance to plants of the soil moisture, and study of
this has led to most interesting conclusions, among
such conclusions being: that plants will grow in culture
solutions that vary greatly in strength: that variations
in the proportions of the nutrient salts in the solutions
result in a much more marked etfect on the growth and
organization of plants; and that the strength of the
soil solution is practically the same in all soils. Of
these, the last conclusion is the most suggestive, from
the practical aspect, and requires consideration at
length.

The supposed constancy in composition of the
soil moisture is accounted for by Whitney and Cameron
by the fact that most soils are derived from a relatively
small number of minerals which are very similar in
composition, so that when they are dissolved into the
water in the soil, similar solutions are always formed.
They explain that the constitution of such solutions is
not affected by the addition of artificial manures con-
taining definite chemical compounds, for any propor-
tion of the latter that may dissolve is balanced in the
solution by the removal of an equal quantity of similar
matter that was present already. Further, the mineral
particles in the soil serve two purposes with respect to
this solution: they supply it with the substances that
are removed from it by plants, and they afford a large

Vou. XI. No. 266.

number of surfaces which hold the soil moisture and
enable it to travel to the places where it is required.
Thus the differences shown by soils, with respect to
their fertility, or usefulness to plants, are not due to
variation in the composition of the soil solution, as this
does not exist; but to the efficiency of the soil as a
water-carrying medium—a characteristic depending on
the nature of the mineral particles and on the presence
of organic matter, as well as other circumstances. All
this means that it is argued that fertility does not
depend on the chemical composition of the soil, for the
constitution of the soil solution is the same in all soils;
and even if it were not, differences in composition
would have no influence on plant growth.

The holders of this view of soil fertility were soon
confronted by special instances that did not bear them-
selves in accord with the simple explanation. Cases
were adduced in which soils possessing very similar
physical characteristics showed striking differences in
fertility, either when plants were grown in the soils
themselves or when they were raised in solutions ob-
tained by extracting the soils with water; as was ex-
pected, however, these solutions were found on analysis
to be similar in composition. It was therefore con-
cluded that the infertility of the poor soil could not be
due to any deficiency in its content of plant food, so
that another cause must be found. The short explana-
tion may be made that, as the result of a large amount
of work in connexion with the matter, carried out both
in the United States and other countries, it was sup-
posed that the inferiority cf the poor soil in such cases
is due to the presence of some organic substance that is
a poison (toxin) in relation to the life of the higher
plants. The solution obtained by treating such soils
with water was so poisonous to plants’ in some cases
that they were found to develop to a greater degree in
distilled water than in the solution. This toxicity
could be reduced in various ways, such as diluting the
solution, shaking it with various substances and bodies,
and adding artificial or natural manures—the latter
kind being the more efficient.

All this led to the suggestion by Whitney that
the infertility of soil is caused by the presence of toxic
bodies, probably of an organic nature; and the next
step in the investigations was to find, by means of
water cultures, the effect on plant growth of organic
substances likely to occur in the soil, and to try to dis-
cover in the soil itself such organic compounds among
these as had been identified. Several of these bodies
were found and examined, and it was demonstrated

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 211

that a toxic water solution in which two crop3 are
grown is less poisonous to the second than to the first—
probably because of the oxidizing action of the roots
that had already developed in it—and that this action
was especially powerful in the presence of manure,
The attempt to find harmful organic compounds in the
soil resulted in the isolation of several such substances,
one of whiech—dihydroxystearic acid—received special
investigation.* Attempts to find the way in which
these poisonous compounds are formed in the soil led it
to be concluded that some arise from the decomposition
of organic matter already present, and that others are
excreted by plants; the latter consideration led to the
revival of the old supposition of de Candolle that,
while such products may be harmful to the kind of
plant that produces them, they may not necessarily
interfere with the growth of other kinds—a supposition
that was brought forward to explain the decreases
in yield that sometimes take place when the same
soil is used for growing successive crops of the
same plant. Lastly, it was suggested, as a result of
all the work that has been reviewed, that the bene-
ficial action of manures arises—not because they feed
the plant—but because they assist in the proper dis-
tribution of the soil solution and are effective in
destroying the toxic bodies that are formed or pro-
duced in the soil.

What has been said shows the directions in which
investigations concerning soil fertility must be made,
and presents the conclusions concerning this that
have been reached in work which takes account of
physical and chemical considerations of the soil, rather
than of the effect of the life-processes that oceur in it
continually. The presentation of the criticism by
Russell, of this work and of the views to which it has
led, as this is unfolded in the article by that investi-
gator, quoted above, is reserved for the next issue of
the Agricultural News.

According to The Board of Trade Journal for May 16,
1912, of the exports from Venezuela in 1911, valued at
£428,960, classified as being sent to the United Kingdom
and British Colonies, about £262,440 went to the United
Kingdom and £162,000 to Trinidad. The imports from
Trinidad during the same year were valued at about £26,000
only, owing to the surtax of 30 per cent. levied in Venezuela
on imports from the West Indies.

* Bulletin No. 70; Bureau of Soils, United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture.

to
~
i)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Jury 6, 1912,

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE EMBRYONY OF THE MANGO.

Two articles were published in Vol. VIII, of the Agrv-
cultural News, on pages 187 and 228, which were concerned
with the fact that both monoembryonic and polyembryonic
seeds of the mango are known. ‘This means that there are
not only varieties of this plant which produce seeds that give
rise to one seedling, alone, but that there also exist varieties
with seeds from which as many as six to eight, and even
thirty, plants may spring. The former of the articles gave
an account of observations on the polyembryony of the
mango, made by J. Belling and published in the Annual
Report of the Florida Experiment Station fcr 1908. In this,
attention is given to the fact that where more than one seed-
ling comes from one seed, one of the seedlings is the result
of pollination and consequent fertilization, while the others
arise in a purely vegetative way—much in the same manner
as suckers are formed, and cuttings grow.

An addition to the interest of the subject is afforded in
an article by P. J. Wester which appears in the Philippine
Agricultural Review for February 1912. This commences
by making references to other well-known examples of plants
with polyembryonic seeds, such as the orange and tangerine
and the rose-apple (Hugenta Jambos), and proceeds to refer
to the work of Webber and Swingle, in which, when several
seedlings developed fiom one seed obtained by crossing the
orange and Citrus trofolrata, one only skewed hybrid charac-
ters, the others exhibiting the characteristics of the mother
plant, alone; thus confirmation was obtained of the purely
vegetative origin of all but one. It is then pointed out that
the consideration of polyembryony in the mango is no new
matter, for Giirtner had already noted the peculiar structure
of the mango seed, about a century ago, though he probably
did not recognize its significance, the matter remaining for
discussion at some length by Reinwardt, a few years after-
ward. Later references to the subject are made by Schacht,
Strasburger and Cook, and the places where these, as well as
others, are to be found are quoted usefully in Wester’s article.

Reinwardt was aware of the existence of monoembryony,
as well as of polyembryony, in the mango, though later
investigators appear to have paid very little attention to the
former. ‘The significance of the matter is that plants true to
type are more likely to be obtained from seeds producing

more than one seedling, than from seeds giving only one
plant; for in the former case, all the sprouts but one are
of vegetative origin, and therefore little inclined to variation.
This is illustrated practically in a most interesting way by
the circumstance that, in Jamaica, Florida and the Philip-
pines, where the varieties of mangoes usually cultivated are
polyembryonic, these reproduce themselves true to seed;
whereas all the grafted mangoes introduced into Florida from
India (except that called Cambodia), which are monoem-
bryonic, have given seeds that afford plants showing much
greater variation from the mother parent than is exhibited
by polyembryonic kinds. Wester quotes C. Maries as saying,
with respect to the Indian varieties, in their own country:
‘If the seed from the best and finest sorts are (stc) planted,
the chances are that fifty per cent. will be as good as the
fruit planted, a few better, and the rest worse.’ The matter
receives further illustration in the significant circumstance
that, of all the varieties introduced into Florida from the
East, the only polyembryonic form—Cambodia, mentioned
above—is the sole kind that reproduces itself truly from
seed.

Wester, in continuing his article, mentions Belling’s work,
to which reference has been made already, and draws atten-
tion to the apparent conclusion of this observer, namely
that monoembryony is a result of the practice of grafting for
several generations, rather than an inherent botanical charac-
ter. It has occurred, however, to Wester to suggest that,
from the data collected, ‘the species Mangifera indica, L,
may be divided into two great types: one, the monoembryo-
nic. to which belong most, if not all, of the mango varieties
in India; the other, the polyembryonic type, the mangoes
belonging to which transmit their characters to their pro-
geny. He realizes, nevertheless, that much more study of
it is required before the subject can be given a definite
conclusion.

The second of the articles mentioned at the commence-
ment of this contains information supplied by Mr. Jones,
Curator of the Dominica Botaniz Station, which would tend
to show that experience there has apparently demonstrated
that the polyembryoric mangoes show much greater varia-
tion in type than in the Philippines: probably because the
seedling that is the result of fertilization is the stronger, and
therefore the one that is allowed to survive. Useful sugges-
tions for further work are made by Mr. Jones,

Von. XI, No, 266,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 213

ee

PHOENIX CANARIENSIS.

As it name indicates, this palm is a native of the Canary
Islands, Phoenix canariensis is, however, now grown in
other parts of the world as an ornamental plant, for which
purpose it is especially fitted by the possession of leaves that
have been described as: ‘rich-green fronds like enormous
ostrich plumes; it resembles the date palm (P. dactulifera),
but has a larger numer of Jeaves and is more slender and
graceful in appearance. A variety (P. canariensis, var.
macrocarpa) is sometimes cultivated.

An illustration is given on this page of a plant of

P. canariensis which is to be seen growing in the Dominica
Botanic Gardens. This was also figured in the last Annual

Report (1910-11) on the Botanic Station, Dominica.
According to Bailey (Cyclopacdia of American Tlorti-
culture), a hybrid between P. canariensis and an Indian
species of Phoenix—P. sy/vestris—is highly prized among
It may be useful to state that

American horticulturists.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE EMBRYO CHICK

Twelve hours after incubation has begun, the ligaments of
the head and body are discovered. Close observation has
found the heart to beat by the close of theday. At the end of
forty-eight hours two vesicles of llood are distinguished, the-
pulsations of which are visible. At the fiftieth hour, an auri-
cle of the heart appears. At the end of seventy hours, the
outlines of wings, and on the head two ‘bubbles’ for the brain,
one for the bill, and two others for the forepart and the hind
part of the head appear. The liver appears toward the fifth day.
As the end of one hundred and thirty-six hours, the first vol-
untary motion is observed. Seven hours later the lungs and:
stomach become visible, and the intestines, the loins and the
upper jaw are seen at the end of one hundred and forty-eight
hours. The seventh day, the brain, which is slimy, begins to
have some consistence.

At the one hundred and ninetieth hour of incuba-
tion the bill opens and the flesh appears on the breast.

Fic. 4,

the latter of these plants is the wild date, or date sugar palm, of
India. This palm is very similar to the ordinary or edible,
date palm mentioned above; in fact it is so closely related
that some hold the opinion that the latter was derived
from P. sylvestris, while others think that P. sylvestris
is a variety of P. dactylifera growing under sumewhat
unfavourable conditions. In accordance with what is
suggested in its name, the date sugar palm is used as
a source of sugar. The industry of obtaining the sugar,
or jaggery (gur) as it is called, is followed on an extensive
scale in India, where the juice is obtained by tapping the
trees and is then boiled down to form the jaggery which is
usually sold to refiners.

Returning to the consideration of ornamental species of
Phoenix, it should be stated that there are several of these,
besides P. canariensis, among which P.rupicola may be
mentioned. This plant, in its wild state, 1s found in India.

{ED-FRUITED PHOENIX CANARIENSIS;

Domintca Borantc GARDENS.

Four hours after that the sternum, that is to say the
breast bone, is seen. At the two hundred and tenth hour,
the ribs come out of the back, the bill is visible, as well as
the gall-bladder. The bill becomes green at the end of two
hundred and thirty six hours. About four hours later the
feathers begin to shoot out and the skull becomes gristly-
The eyes appear at the two hundred and sixty-fourth hour;
and at the two hundred and eighty-eighth hour the ribs are
perfect. At the three hundred and thirty-first hour the
spleen draws near to the stomach, and the lungs and the
chest. At the end of three hundred and fifty-five hours, the
bill frequently opens and shuts, and at the end of four
hundred and fifty-one hours, or the eighteenth day,
the first ery of the chick is heard. (In the Bulletin of
the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant
Diseases, April 1911, from the Poultry Advocate, Toronto,
December 1911.)

314

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Jury 6, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

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

Since our last report, about 230 bales West Indian Sea
Island cotton have been sold, including about 100 bales
St. Vincent from 227. to 30d. 20 bales Barbados 20d. to
21d., and 100 bales Stains at 84d to 103d.

The demand for fine yarn for lace purposes is very
limited, and consequently many spinners have turned their
machinery on to Sakellarides Egyptian cotton, with a view
of manufacturing a coarser article which they can sell readily.
This is in spite of the fact that not only is the West Indian
Sea Island crop a short one, but the Carolina crop has been
an absolute failure, and fairly confirms the caution which we
gave planters Jast season not to increase their acreage. Had
it not been for the failure of Carolina this year, the two
growths would, in all probability, be a glut at 14d. Of
course, if the fashion for ladies’ dress should change, the
whole situation would be altered immediately.

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

There has been a good demand this week for the odd
bags off in preparation classing Fully Fine and Extra Fine,
resulting in sales of about 200 bales, at prices ranging from
24c. to 25c., the buying being on account of the Northern
mills and French spinners. This demand has taken very
nearly the supply of cotton more or less off in preparation,
therefore the unsold stock consists very largely of Planters’
crop lots, which the Factors are showing more disposition to
sel], not wishing to carry them into another season.

We quote, viz:—

Extra Fine 30c. to 32c.=16#d. to 177d. c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 28c. = 153d. Fe 55
Fine 26c. = 143d. GR ony tr

Fine to Extra Fine,

95 = 1, 0 1;
Beliniprcparation! 25c. = 103d. to 143d.,,

” ”

With respect to cotton-growing in the Sudan, copies of
a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the British
Cotton Growing Association, on May 1, have been sent to
the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
and others, and there is reason to believe that the Govern-
ment will be willing to give some financial assistance toward
the development of the industry.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BRITISH
COTTON GROWING ASSOCIATION,
1911.

In a copy of this report—the seventh of the series —
which has just been received, the matter commences by
making references to various changes that have occurred
on the Council of the Association, and expresses thanks
to Government officials and to the President for assistance
that has been given by them; reference is made also to the
grant of £10,000 made by the Government, that has
enabled work to be continued in several Protectorates. The
details that follow refer to various means that have been
employed towards completing the authorized capital of the
Association, of £500.000.

An interesting table is given which shows that the total
amount of cotton which has passed through the hands of the
Association during recent years, in addition to that sold
through other channels is as follows:—

Year. No. of bales. Value.

1908 16,713 £224,888
1909 20,028 225,078
1910 21,388 296,160
1911 27,673 373,583

Short reference is made to various meetings and con-
ferences that have taken place during the year with the
assistance of the Association, including the addresses deliv-
ered last year in Manchester by the Imperial Commissioner
of Agriculture and by Professor Carmody, Director of
Agriculture, Trinidad, which were reported in the Agrz-
cultural News, Vol. X, p. 342. The Council expresses the
wish to put on record the importance that is attached
to such meetings. A final matter of more general interest,
in the introductory part of the report, is mention of the
expeditions that were sent out during the year, to the
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and to the West Indies, the latter
being in connexion with the recent Agricultural Conference.
It should also be mentioned that the fact is noted that the
quantity of cotton grown in new places in the British
Empire during 1911 amounted to over 60,000 bales.

The detailed account of the financial state of the
Association is succeeded by a report of work in the colonies,
which may be abstracted shortly as follows.

INDIA AND CEYLON. The Council expresses its regret
that for various reasons the cultivation of cotton under
irrigation, in Sind, has had to cease temporarily; though
a fresh endeavour in regard to the matter is being made by
the Agricultural Department. It is stated, in a general way,
that there is not the least doubt that owing to the influence
of the Association improvement has taken place in Indian
cotton, which is acquiring in consequence a wider market.

Vou. XI. No. 266.

The cotton industry in Ceylon is still being supervised by
Messrs. Freudenberg & Co., but drought and other circum-
stances have caused little progress to be made.

WEST INDIES. It is well to reproduce in full what is said
about cotton in this part of the world:—

‘There has been no great increase in cultivation recently
and this is largely due to the low prices which prevailed
during 1911. Those planters who stuck to cotton have,
however, secured good prices, for owing to the partial failure
of the American crop there has recently been a substantial
advance in the price of Sea Island cotton. Although the
market for this class of cotton is a limited one it would be
a great misfortune if the planters in the West Indies were to
materially reduce their acreage. Some of the best authorities
are convinced that the day will come when spinners of the
finer classes of yarn will have to depend mainly for their
supplies on the West Indies. There seems to be every
probability that sooner or later the boll weevil will reach the
Atlantic States and that ultimately the cultivation of Sea
Island cotton will have to be abandoned in that part of the
world. The Association are doing their best in co operation
with the Imperial Department of Agriculture to help the
planters to secure good prices for their cotton, and in this
connexion they wish to record their deep appreciation of the
invaluable services rendered by the Hon. Francis Watts and
Mr. C. M. Wolstenholme, and which are perhaps not as fully
appreciated as they should be.

‘In accordance with a request from Dr. Watts, arrange-
ments were made for representatives of the Association to
attend the Agricultural Conference at Trinidad, and Sir
‘Owen Phillips very kindly offered a free passage for one of
the delegates. Mr. John W. McConnel and Mr. William
Marsland very kindly placed their services at the disposal
of the Council, and they not only attended the Conference
but also visited most of the cotton-growing islands. The
Council cannot sufficiently thank these gentlemen for giving
up so much valuable time to the work of the Association.
Their report has been published separately, and it is to be
hoped that this expedition may lead to valuable results.’

WEST AFRICA. Continued Harmattan winds during the
growing season have again reduced the crop so that it was no
larger than that of 1910; the progress that is being made,
however, in Northern Nigeria may bring about larger results
next year. West African cotton has created a market for
itself, and most of it has been sold at relatively high prices,
almost on arrival; there has been great improvement, particu-
larly in Lagos cotton. The Council expresses some concern
in regard to the proposal to establish a separate silver token
currency in the West African colonies.

GOLD coast. The pioneer work has been continued in
accordance with an agreement with the Government, and
possible extension in the Northern Territory has received
particular attention. Disappointing results have been ob-
tained so far, and it is stated that unless they improve it will
be useless to spend any more money in cotton trials on the
Gold Coast.

LAGos. As in the case of West Africa generally, the
cotton output has suffered from the Harmattan winds, the
output having been only 5,9C0O bales as compared with 6,000
in 1910 and 12,000 bales in 1909. Though this result is
disappointing, there has been great improvement in the quali-
ty of the lint, and encouragement has been offered to growers
in the shape of a minimum rate of payment for all seed-cotton
produced during this year. The buying agreement with the
merchants has been renewed, and the Council records its
appreciation of the valuable assistance that has been given
by the mercantile community of Nigeria.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

215

SOUTHERN NIGERIA. Kesults useful as regards quality,
but only moderate with respect to quantity, have been
obtained. The work is proving itself valuable as a means
of raising seed for distribution elsewhere.

NORTHERN NIGERIA. Consideration of the exports of
cotton would lead to the conclusion that little progress, has
been made, but it continues to be pointed out that the effect
of the present work will be felt in future. The practical
completion of the Baro-Kano railway and other extensions
are bringing a large portion of Northern Nigeria into
economic touch with the rest of the world. Special assist-
ance is being given by the Council in the direction of the
provision of gins, and of material for trials of improved
methods of transport.

BRITISH EAST AFRICA. The results on the coast are
again unsatisfactory, though there has been a considerable
extension of cotton-growing in the neighbourhood of Kisumu.

uGANDA. The exports for 1911 exceeded 19,000 bales,
and it is expected that in a year or two the Protectorate will
produce over 50,000 bales of lint per annum. Additions
have been made to the ginning plant, and further assistance
is available in the completion of the new railway which will
Open up ar important area around Lake Choga.

NYASALAND, ‘The progress is stated to be continued and
satisfactory, though more advantage should be taken of the
ginning factory and hydraulic press that have been erected at
Port Herald. It has been decided for the present not to
commence a plantation, as was suggested in the last report,
chiefly on account of the competition that may be produced
in the labour market. In relation to this difficulty, propo-
sals are being made concerning the employment of motor
ploughs and the construction of railways.

The general report, to which several useful appendixes
are added, is brought to an end with most interesting informa-
tion in connexion with cotton-growing in Rhodesia, South
Africa, and Egypt and the Sudan, but space does not permit
an acccunt of this to be given The present review may be
completed, however, by the full quotation of the following
conclusion to the report: —

‘Although, as will be seen from the above, some of the
ventures undertaken by the Association have been unsatis-
factory and may ultimately have to be abandoned, on the
other hand the results of the past year’s working in several
of the Colonies are more than encouraging. Uganda is now
producing a large quantity of cotton, Northern Nigeria is at
last making real progress, and in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
there are almost boundless possibilities for the future. These
three countries, with the assistance of Nyasaland and the
West Indies, can supply all the cotton, both as regards
quality and quantity, that Lancashire requires. The Council
are convinced that the position of affairs to-day is the most
satisfactory since the inauguration of the work and that large
and important results may shortly be expected.

‘Very satisfactory progress is also being made with the
development of the purely commercial side of the work,
viz., selling, financing, and insuring cotton and seed, supply-
ing machinery, stores, etc., to planters and others. The
income derived from this work now goes a long way towards
covering the cost of the Head Oftice in Manchester.

‘Before concluding, the Council wish to record their
appreciation of the excellent work done by the Staff, and
more particularly by those whose lives are spent in tropical
and unhealthy countries. Without exception they have
willingly and enthusiastically devoted themselves to the
great work of promoting and establishing the growth of
cotton throughout the British Empire’

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Jury 6, 1912.

EDITORIAL NOTIOES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Spree ioaes, 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 &
©o,, 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

o. Xi. SATURDAY, JULY

NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Contents of Present Issue.

In this number the editorial commences a review
of certain Theories Concerning Soil Fertility. The

subject will be concluded in a second editorial article,
an the next issue of the Agricultural News.

On page 212, an account is presented of recent
work concerning, and theories in connexion with the
embryony of the seeds of the mango.

Among other matters, page 213 contains an illus-
trated article dealing with Phoenix canariensis and
some allied species of Phoenix. The plant illustrated
is at present growing in the Dominica Botanic Gardens.

The same page presents an account of the stages
-of development of the chicken in the egg. Although
the times that are given for the stages described are
aot invariably followed under differing conditions, the
matter forms an interesting short description of the
process of growth before the chicken is hatched.

The Annual Report of the British Cotton Growing
Association for 1911 is reviewed at some length on
pages 214 and 215, The omission of certain interesting
matters was necessary for want of space, but these may
recelve attention at some future time. j

The Insect Notes, on page 218, are concerned with
an illustrated article describing recent entomological
work in Fiji.

On page 222, the Fungus Notes give an account of
work connected with exanthema and squamosis of Cit-
rus plants. It may be considered as a continuation of
the article on gummosis of Prunus and Citrus, in the
jast number of the Agricultural News.

A New Artificial Manure.

On page 153 of this volume of the Agricultural
News, the announcement was made that a new artifi-
cial manure called Biphosphate was being produced at
the Notodden Nitrate Works, Norway.

In the Board of Trade Journal for May 2, 1912,
further information is given concerning the manure.
A sample of this has Leen forwarded to Englard by
the British Acting Consul at Christiania, and it is
stated that the product contains 26 per cent. of phos-=
phoric acid and 23°8 ner cent. of nitrate of lime. Of
the phosphoric acid, 92 per cent. is in the citrate-solu-
ble form, which means that this proportion will dissolve
in a standard solution of ammonium citrate.

The further statement is made that the manure
will be placed on the market. in future, with consider-
ably higher percentages of both phosphoric acid and
nitrogen.

$4 ————_$_

The Vitality of Farm Seeds.

The last number of the Agricultural News con-
tained an article dealing in a general way with the
vitality of seeds. The information given there may be
supplemented by. details that are contained in an ab-
stract describing work in connexion with the same sub-
ject, which appears in the Journal of the Board of
Agriculture tor May 1912, the seeds in this case being
shose usually in employment on an English farm.

The experiments that are described were designed
for the purpose of finding: (1) the time that certain
seeds live when stored under ordinary conditions; (2) the
annual loss of vitality; (3) the real value of seeds kept
for one or two years; and (4) the rapidity of germination
of the seeds that were chosen.

Among cereals, the vitality of barley and wheat
seeds changed little during the first five years, but there
was a rapid total loss of vitality during the next five
years. The similar periods in the case of white oats
were nine and five years; while for black oats they were
nine and seven years. The greater vitality of oats is
attributed to the fact that the glumes do not fall away
as chaff, so that the seeds are protected.

All seeds of grasses died between the eighth and
thirteenth year, though there was much variation
among the different kinds in the way in which the loss
of vitality took place.

Seeds of different sorts of clover, generally speak-
ing, lose little vitality during the first three or four
years; there is then a rapid loss for another three or
four years, and it takes an additional similar time
for the last 10 per cent. of the seeds to die.

There was a remarkable drop in the germination
of seeds of turnips and allied plants during the tenth
year; and practically all the seeds were dead by the
thirteenth year.

With reference to the rapidity of germination, the
detailed results are of little interest in this place. An
observation of a general nature was made, however, to
the effect that seeds specially slow in germinating all
showed more rapid germination in the second year
than in the first.

Wot. XI. No. 266.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 217

‘The Formation of Nitrates in Cultivated Soil.

Experiments carried out recently in Germany
have shown that, in soils protected from leaching, there
was a steady increase in nitrates, which however was
-greater in the first year than later; the observations
were made to a depth of 52 inches,

An abstract of the paper describing the work,
which appears in the Experiment Station Record for
March 1912, p. 319, goes on to state thatif the aération
of the soil was increased by adding sand or loam there
was an increase in the rate of formation of nitrates.
“The content of nitrates and the nitrifying power of the
‘soil became less as the depth increased; the decline of
the former was more rapid than that of the total
mitrogen.

It was demonstrated that active nitrification takes
place during winter, by means of pot experiments in
which ammonium sulphate in quantity amounting to
“O'2 per cent. of the weight of the soil was added to the
the latter; about one-half of the sulphate applied in
November was nitrified by the following March. The

rocess of oxidation under the conditions, however,
involved a large loss of nitrogen.

The oxidation of ammonium sulphate took place
less quickly in the subsoil than in the surface soil,
-during the first three months, but later the difference
~was less.

As may be expected, the addition of caustic lime to
-soil containing ammonium sulphate caused loss of
ammonia; the loss was less when calcium carbonate was
-added instead of the lime. The nitrification of ammo-
nium sulphate was checked to a marked extent by the
addition of caustic lime; but where no manure had been
added to the soil, it increased the rate of formation of
nitrates from the soil nitrogen as long as the lime
-continued in the caustic state.

Agricultural Science at the Dominica Grammar
School.

The Headmaster of the Dominica Grammar School,
Mr. W. Skinner, M.A., has recently issued his report
-on the school for the year 1911-12, and itis published in
che Dominica Official Gazette for May 31,

The amounts voted for the present financial year
provided for the appointment of an Assistant Master
who is qualified to teach agricultural science: this
~master has since arrived in the island. and taken up
the work, in the person of Mr. H. Waterland. In
-addition to the above sum, there was a supplementary
vote of £70 to provide for the erection of a room to be
used asa chemical laboratory; a sum of £25 was also
authorized to be expended for the purchase of ‘appar-
-atus and chemicals.

The Assistant Master mentioned teaches agri-
sulture and science, in addition to some other subjects.

Both parts of the school are in receipt of the same
teaching in French, English subjects and mathematics.

As regards the time which the instruction in
science has been given, the study of elementary botany
was commenced in September, and the classes im
chemistry in the Lent term.

ll -- ee

Exports from Barbados, 1911.

A return showing the quantity and value of the
exports from Barbados during 1911 was issued in
April by the Comptroller of Customs. From this the
following information is taken, in regard to the chief
exports of agricultural origin, that were the produce
and manufacture of the Colony:—

Aloes, value £125; cotton, raw, 740,269 th. value
£43,182: cotton seed, 365 bags, value £183; cotton seed
meal, 592,570 th. value £3,704; fresh fruit, value £28;
preserved fruit, value £159; hides and skins, value
£3,550; falernum, 639 gallons value £129; rum, 2,472
gallons value £185; molasses, choice, 25,067 puncheons
value £100,268, and fancy, 59,820 puncheons value
£246,757: dark crystal sugar, 7,024 hogsheads value
£77,264; white crystal sugar, 7 hogsheads value £82;
yellow crystal sugar, 104 hogsheads value £1,196;
muscovado sugar, 23,413 hogsheads value £210,717;
tamarinds, value £237; fresh vegetables, value £14,423,

—— ee

The Supply of Bay Oil.

In the Semi-Annual Report of Messrs. Schimmel
& Co., dated April 1912, the complaint regarding the
scarcity of bay oil that| has been made for several years
is repeated, and it is stated that the small arrivals
which have come to hand from time to time at Havre,
Marseilles and Hamburg have been readily taken up.
It is stated further: ‘occasionally the supplies consisted
of oil which had been adulterated almost out of recog-
nition, and scarcely deserved the name of bay oil.’

It is considered that the present condition of the
market is likely to continue for some time, because the
most recent advices show that producers in the West
Indies have again begun to complain of the difticulty
of procuring leaves in sutticient quantity. In any case,
Messrs. Schimmel & Co. will be prevented from resum-
ing distilling operations: further, according to their
report, none of the parcels of West Indian hay oil
that have come into their possession approach even
distantly in quality their own distillate.

In consequence of these circumstances, the plan
will be to exercise the greatest possible care in selection
from among the available supplies of oil, and the result
of this will be to continue the upward tendency of
prices. ,
It is satisfactory that, in spite of the large increases
of price that have been made, Schimmel’s terpeneless
bay oil continues to be in strong demand—a fact which
indicates that the prices asked for this product are
justified by its excellence.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

JuLty 6, 1912.

Biss <
INSECT NOTES.

ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY IN FIJI.

The Department of Agriculture, Fiji, has recently pub-
lished a report on Economic Entomology, by Frank P.
Jepson, B.A. (Cantab.), F.E.S., Government Entomologist.

Mr. Jepson assumed the duties of his office in October
1909, and his report has for its primary object a statement
of the manner in which his time was spent during the first
year of his appointment. i

The report is of very considerable interest, both because
of the fact that it includes an account of the first work in
Fiji by a Government Entomologist, and also on account of
the very large amount of information that it contains.

Iie, {5},

West

GRUB OF

INDIAN SUGAR-CANE

Weevit Borer,

In the introduction, which includes a general summary
of the work of the year, the author discusses, among other
topics, the necessity for the inspection of imported fruit and
plants. It is stated that in all probability the insect enemies
of cultivated crops in Fiji have with few exceptions, been
introduced from other countries, and the great need for
proper inspection of all imported plants is strongly brought
out. Several insect pests are named which are not at the
present time known to occur in Fiji; the introduction of
these would seriously affect the agricultural prosperity of the
Colony, while the probability of such introduction is very
great, unless adequate means are taken to prevent it.

One instance is given in particular to illustrate this
point. The rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros, L.) has
recently been introduced into Samoa from Ceylon. It is
believed that this insect was transported in packages contain-
ing rubber seeds. This is a very serious pest of coco-nuts
and many acres of full-bearing coco-nut palms have already
been destroyed, and as there is no satisfactory manner of
dealing with this pest, its importance seems likely to increase
rather than to diminish,

The use of natural enemies is also discussed in the
report, and the value of combating insect pests by this means
is clearly shown.

The section on Arthropoda Injurious to Man and Animals
contains accounts of mosquitoes, ticks, lice and related insects
which in general are similar to those known in the West
Indies, and the same remark applies to the insects mentioned
in the sections entitled Insects Injurious to Stored Goods,
and Insects Injurious to Timber.

The insects dealt with in this report which seem likely te
be of greatest interest to the readers of the Ayricultural News
are certain of those mentioned in the chapter entitled Insects
Injurious to Cultivated Crops.

Several insects are regarded as pests of coco-nuts. One
of these is a small moth, Levwana iridescens. The larva of
this insect feeds upon the Jeaves of the coco-nut palm, eating
from the under surface, and in cases of severe attack destroy-
ing the entire tissue of the leaf except the upper epidermis.
The attacked areas are in the form of narrow lines running.
lengthwise of the leaflet, and it often occurs that a number of
these lines, each the work of a separate larva, may be foun®
in a leaf.

The pupa of this insect is generally formed in the
fibrous mass at the bases of the leaves. This habit, together
with the fact that the mass of loose fibre in the axils of the
leaves affords a shelter for many insects and other animals,
suggests the desirability of clearing it away, in dealing with
infested trees. This, however, involves a large amount of
labour, which renders it impossible on many coco-nut planta-
tions. Spraying is not feasible, often on account of the
lack of a sufficient supply of water. It is suggested therefore
that the natural enemies of this pest should be sought for im
places where the latter is likely to be indigenous.

The coco-nut leaf miner (Promecotheca reichet) occurs om
certain islands in the Uolony, causing a considerable amount
of danger on small areas. Trees which are attacked are
conspicuous on account of the large brown patches upon the
leaflets. These patches are the dead areas resulting from
the feeding of the beetle larvae, which eat out the greem
portion of the leaf, leaving the dry upper and lower epider-
mis. This pest is largely controlled by a minute hymenop-
terous parasite.

Coco-nuts are also attacked in Fiji by certain stick

-Insects, closely related to the guava lobster (Diapherodes

gigantea) and the common god.horse (Phanocles spp.) of the
West Indies.

The flowering spathes of the coco-nut are often attacked)
by the boring larvae of moths and beetles, and the cabbage,
or bud, is attacked and destroyed by the larvae of a small
moth, Trachycentra sp.

Fic. 6. West INDIAN SUGAR-CANE WEEVIL Borer.

The attack of this latter insect produces a condition
which Mr. Jepson states closely resembles that which results
from an attack of bud rot in the West Indies.

The only scale insect mentioned as attacking coco-nuts
in Fiji is the coco-nut scale (Psewdococcus pandani). This
insect appears to be fairly well controlled by a small lady-
bird beetle, Ancsercus affinis.

Bananas are reported as being attacked by several insect
pests, the chief of which is the banana borer, Sphenophorus
sordidus. This insect, which has occurred in limited num-

‘Wor. XI. No. 266.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

219

‘bers in the West Indies, causes extensive damage to
banana plantations in certain localities in Fiji. It is consid-
ered likely that it is an introduced pest, having been imported
‘into the Colony with banana suckers for planting.

In the introduction to the report, Mr. Jepson mentions
the case of a recent importation of bananas from Jamaica and
‘Barbados, which upon arrival were found to be infested with
-a borer, quite distinct from the banana or sugar-cane borers,
-already known in Fiji, although apparently very closely
related to them. It is stated that in the case of the Gros
Michel varieties, out of 676 suckers, only twenty were found
‘to be free from the attacks of this insect, This instance serves
to show the manner in which such a pest may be introduced
anto a new locality, and also the value to be derived from
careful inspection of imported plant material.

An attempt has been made to discover an efticient
parasite of the banana borer, but the search has not yet been

~successful.

Several other insects affecting bananas are mentioned in
the report, but these do not seem to be of great economic
importance.

Among the insects attacking sugar-cane it is interesting
to note that the principal pest is a weevil borer, Spheno-
phorus obscurus. This insect is closely related to the weevil
borer (Sphenophorus sericeus) which attacks sugar-cane in
the West Indies (see Figs. 5 and 6). In Fiji, however, the
weevil borer is a principal pest of the sugar-cane and
appears to be able to attack healthy canes; while in the
West Indies the weevil borer is a pest of secondary
‘importance, and is able to attack the cane only when the
wind has been broken or ruptured by some cause such as
wind, attacks of rats or moth borer.

The sugar-cane borer in Fiji is controlled by collecting,
4principally at baits, which consist of pieces of split canes
-about 12 inches long placed on the ground in the cane field
at regular intervals. As fermentation commences, the beetles
are attracted to the cane baits, and deposit eggs in them.
The bait pieces should be collected and burned before the
beetles are fully developed, and others put down in their
yplaces.

A parasitic fly has been discovered in New Guinea (see
Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 138) attacking the cane borer;
which may eventually prove a valuable natural enemy in Fiji.

Cacao is stated to be attacked by two species of shot
borers, and by scale insects. Pine-apples are attacked by
scale insects, and a fruit fly, Zephrites [Dacus] ranthodes),
has been reported as being bred from pine-apples from
Fiji, although Mr. Jepson states that he has not found it in
the Colony.

Cotton is attacked by two species of stainers, Dysdercus
_pacifica and D, insularis, and by a tip worm, the larva of
a small moth, Harias fabia. The injury to the cotton results
from the twig-boring habit of the larva.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture re-
é¢urned to Barbados, from visits to Grenada and Trinidad
an connexion with official matters, by the S.S, ‘Verdi’,
on June 27.

Messrs. H. A. Ballou and F. W. South, Entomo-
logist and Mycologist on the Staff of the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, returned to Barbados from
St. Kitts, by the $.S. ‘Parima’, on June 21,

AGRICULTURE IN ST. LUCIA, 1910.

The information given below, concerning the agri-
cultural industries in St. Lucia during 1910, 1s selected
from details presented in Colonial Reports—Annual,
No. 713, issued recently:——

The principal products of the Colony are sugar and
cacao, but as there are no reliable statistics available of the
area of each under cultivation, the value of the industries
can be estimated only by the quantities exported.

In 1910, the quantity of cacao exported was 8,187 bags
of 200 tb., value £40,935, as compared with 10,850 bags,
value £54,275 in 1909. The amount of usine sugar shipped
in 1910 was 5,199 tons, value £64,988; in 1909. 5.360 tons,
value £59,623. Other sugar, and muscovado and its pro-
ducts, reached a value of £2,674 in 1910, and £2,265 in
the preceding year.

The quantity of cacao produced from year to year
does not exhibit that rapidity of increase that might be
reasonably expected from the area of land to be seen
employed in its cultivation, and it is more than probable
that this is owing to the lack of attention bestowed by the
small growers on their cacao plots, and to their ignorance,
despite the efforts made by the officers of the Agricultural
Department to teach them, of proper cultural methods. The
following summary of figures recently prepared by the Agri-
cultural Superintendent shows that it has taken twenty years
for the quantity of cacao exported to double itself.

Quingennial periods. Annual average export.

(Bags of 200 hb.)

1891-5 4,581
1896-1900 5,070
1901-5 7,094
1906-10 9,434

The production of lime juice is steadily increasing, the
value of the export in 1910 being £320, the value in 1909
and 1908 being, respectively, £297 and £126. Honey did
not do quite so well, the figures being, for 1910 £402, and
for 1909 £479. Cotton, on the contrary, showed a remark-
able increase, the value of the output being declared at
£1,302, as compared with £432 in the year previous. The
cotton industry is one, however, which for various reasons,
does not find favour in the planting community, and that
this is so is borne out by the fact that cotton cultivation is
being largely given up by those who were engaged in it
during the year under report.

The number of applications for the purchase of Crown
Lands, received in 1910, was seventy-two, the acreage
of which was 692, as compared with 121 applications for
1,609 acres in 1909. But the applications in the latter year
included two applications in respect of 407 acres, and three
in respect of 200 acres. Surveys to the nuniber of eighty-
seven were executed during the year, of which fifty-five were
re-surveys, and the total alienations amounted to 1,042 acres;
twenty-four Crown grants were issued, and fifty-seven
remained unissued at the close of the year. Economic plants,
comprising coffee, cacao, limes, nutmegs, cinnamon etc., were
distributed to Crown Lands purchasers, free of cost, to the
number of 5,406, more than double the number issued in the
year previous. :

The Crown traces, Colombette to Canaries, Esperance to
La Borne, and Ravine Soufre were completed during the year;
the Raillon trace, which leaves the main road between Den-
nery and Micoud at the crossing of the Praslin River and
extends upwards and along the southern side of the valley
of that name for a distance of nearly 4 miles, was begun,
and considerable progress made with its construction.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Juty 6, 1912, .

GLEANINGS.

It is reported from the Antigua Botanic Station that
further orders were received recently for 2,150 coco-nuts.
Orders were also sent to the Station during May for 50,000
lime plants.

The buying of cotton by the Agricultural Department
in the Virgin Islands was brought to an end, for the past
season, on June 1. The crop has amounted to about
51,000 hb. of lint.

The Agricultural Superintendent, St. Vincent, reports
that a fairly large area is being planted in coco-nuts in
different parts of the island; the imported nuts are obtained
asa rule from St. Lucia and Dominica. In connexion with
the same matter, 506 coco-nut plants were fumigated at the
Station during Jast May.

A note in the Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius for April
1912 shows that larvae of the Anopheles mosquito have been
found, in Cambodia, in a cavity full of salt water, in a rock
near the sea. As is stated, this is an interesting fact,
because it shows that the wrigglers of this dangerous insect
may exist in salt water as well as in that which is fresh.

An article is published in Zhe Auk for 1911, p. 335,
which demonstrates that: the English’ sparrow is often the host
of the chicken mite (Dermanyssus gallinac), and of the bird
mite (D. avium). The observations on which the article is
based were made in the United States, and it is shown that
the sparrows become infested with the mites through employ-
ing the feathers of poultry for lining their nests.

Diplomatic anid Consular Reports, No. 4859 Annual
Series, shows that the chief exports from Nicaragua during
1910 were as follows: coffee, 12,028 tons value £576,198;
cotton, 63 tons value £2,258; cacao, 68 tons value £4,291;
hides, 590 tons value £40,422: rubber, 285 tons value
£71,231: lignum vitae, 138 tons value £600; mora, 2,621

tons value £5,000; bananas, 490,000 bunches value £22,090.

A report recently issued on the trade of Iquitos, Peru,
by H.M. Consul in that district, shows that the outlook for
the rubber industry is unfavourable; statistics indicate that
the exports have been decreasing since 1907. The Chamber
of Commerce at Iquitos is making attempts to start cotton-
planting in Loreto, where it is considered that the plant
should flourish; the chief difficulty is the obtaining of labour
at a reasonable price.

A paper in the Comptes Rendus de l’ Académie des Sciences;.
Paris, 1911, p. 1629 brings forward the fact that the ultra--
violet rays of light may be made toinvert cane sugar. The
action then proceeds in the direction of breaking up the-
sugars thus formed, so that formaldehyde and carbon
dioxide are produced. , This is of interest in relation to-
another action of the ultra-violet rays that was noted on
page 172 of this volume of the Agricultural News.

One of the latest Food Inspection Decisions of the
United States Department of Agriculture, namely No, 143,
is to the effect that the term Candied Citron is to be appli-
cable only to the candied peel of the fruit of the citron tree
(Citrus medica, var. genuina, Engl.). One of the reasons
for issuing this decision is that the rind of the citrus melon,
(Citrullus vulgaris, Schrad.) is sometimes designated as
candied citron. It should be labelled Candied Citron Melon,
Candied Water-melon, or in some similar way.

Information given in the Semi-Annual Report of Schim-
mel & Co., dated April 1912, shows that up to the
time mentioned, citronella oil had been able, during the
preceding six months, to maintain the prices which it had
reached in October 1911. The reason for the firmness is
found partly in the decline of the exports from those of the
previous year, and partly in the systematic withholding from
the market of the arrivals by the native traders in Matara:
The exports of citronella oil from Ceylon in 1910 were
1,747,934 tb, and in 1911 1,524,275 bb.

A note is contained in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for April 6,
1912, which deals with investigations that show that there is
no doubt as to the injurious effects of road tar on trees grow-
ing near the road. The observations were made in the Bois
de Boulogne, on trees of Catalpa bignonioides and Robinia
Pseud-acacia and others, and show that the tarring affects the
number of leaves and their size and shape. The influence of
the tar is such that the effective leaf surface of trees in parts
of the Bois where the roads are tarred is one-half of that on
trees in parts of the roads which are not tarred.

The Lzperiment Station Record, Vol. XXVI, p. 526,
issued May 7, 1912, reviews an article which describes
briefly an attempt to place Phonolith, which is a silicate of
potash found in volcanic rocks in the Eifel Mountains, im
competition with the potash salts from Stassfurt. The
Phonolith is stated to contain from 8 to 10 per cent. of
potash, and can be mined and ground for about £1 per
car load. ‘Trials have shown that, although conflicting
results have been obtained, the material possesses a very low
manurial value as compared with that of potash salts.

Official information has been received to the effect that
the post of Inspector General of Agriculture in India has
been combined with that of Director of the Agricultural
Research Institute and Principal of the Agricultural College,
Pusa. The new title of the holder of the post will be Agri-
cultural Adviser to the Government of India and Director of
the Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa. In consequence,
all communications intended for the offices first mentioned
should be addressed to the last-mentioned officer, Further,
the Assistant Inspector General of Agriculture in India is now
to be known as ‘the Assistant to the Agricultural Adviser to
the Government of India,

Vor. XI. No. 266.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 221

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

JULY.

Seconp PErrop.

Seasonal Notes.

Examine several plants, and find out if the way in
which the leaves are borne possesses any relation to the parts
of the stem; observe also the different kinds of leaves that
may be borne by a plant, and the places on the plant where
they are found. Why are leaves usually flat and thin!
Adduce any reason for their being cylindrical (roughly
speaking) and tapering; that is to say of a form in which
there is far less surface, in proportion to the bulk, than is
usually the case. What are the uses of the veins of leaves,
and how would you show that they possess these uses? The
interior of a leaf generally exhibits large spaces between the
cells, and there is very free communication between this part
and the outer air; why is this! How is a leaf enabled, to
some extent, to regulate the rate at which the water leaves
it, that it receives from the roots? In considering the
different structures that are usually found in leaves, in
relation to their uses, it should be remembered that those
of many plants give off water freely and in large quan-
tities, in bright sunlight, the purpose being to prevent
the temperature of the leaves from rising to such a degree as
to cause injury to the protoplasm in them; this fact has been
demonstrated particularly for cotton, in Egypt. State what
you know concerning protoplasm, and mention the parts of
an ordinary woody plant that consist of cells which contain
this body.

In what way are leaves concerned in the nutrition of
the plant which bears them? State how you would show, in
a simple manner, that leaves are necessary for the proper
nutrition of a plant. The fact that leaves derive from the
sun the energy which they require for building up the food
bodies that are formed in them lends much importance to
the results of shading plants and to the question of the
degree of shade that they require at different stages of their
growth. Itis evident, again, that the amount of develop-
ment of the stem and roots of a plant depends to some
extent on the effective Jeaf surface that belongs to it. This
is illustrated by the circumstance that trees growing in dense
forests possess tall, slender trunks that branch very high up;
for the lower branches have been killed through the want of
light; and further the resulting reduction in the amount of
leaves that they bear generally causes the wood to be of
a soft kind, containing relatively little fibrous tissue. The
latter condition receives contrast from the case of trees of the
same kind growing in the open, where the access of light and
the consequent free growth of leaves causes the rate of
nutrition to be such that large, strong trunks full of fibrous
elements are formed.

The largest leaves, in plants of the same kind, are most
often to be found on those receiving the best supply of
water; in fact, in any given plant, the size of the leaves as
compared with those of other plants of the same sort is
closely dependent on the ease with which the plant may
obtain water. This is why the leaves borne by the suckers

of plants that sprout out quickly during the rainy season are
generally larger than the older, ordinary leaves on the
plant—a matter that may often be observed in lime trees, to
give an example. With such leaves there is usually the
accompaniment of a softer woody tissue.

In a collection of similar seedlings, or in different
varieties of the same plant, those individuals or furms bear-
ing the largest leaves may be regarded as the most hardy
and as possessing the best root development—the latter
property being a consequence of the former. This fact should
be remembered when selection is being carried out.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Give a short account of the different kinds of buds.

(2) What is meant by stomata, and what are their uses
to the plant?

(3) State, giving examples, what you know of the
different shapes that are possessed by leaves.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) How are the buds of plants employed in their
propagation?

(2) State briefly how the stomata of a plant are enabled
to open and close.

(3) Give examples of plants in which the area of the
surface of the leaves has been much reduced, in order to
enable the plant to withstand dry conditions.

FINaL QUESTIONS.

(1) Supply examples of the kinds of protection for the
interior that may be found in leaf buds and in flower buds.

(2) Write an account, illustrated with examples, of the
ways jn which Jeaves are enabled to reduce the amount of
transpiration.

(3) What cases have you observed, of the modification
of leaves to fulfil purposes other than those which are usual!

THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL RUBBER
EXHIBITION.

Useful suggestions, arising as the result of expe-
rience in connexion with the forwarding of samples
of rubber for exhibition, are contained in the Agri-
cultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay
States for March 1912, and are reproduced here :—

(1) All cases of exhibits should be fastened by screws
and not nails. Nailed cases frequently split and are spoiled
for returning.

(2) The name of the estates, settlement or State should
be stencilled or printed on two or three faces of the case.
Consignee’s address should appear on the top of the case.

(3) Cases to be returned should have the addresses
printed on a board and screwed face downward on the top of
the case when consigned to New York.

(4) Full instructions: if for competition, description of
contents, number of cases, weight of rubber, whether offered
for sale or to be returned, address of returning, should be
communicated to the local secretary or direct

(5) Instructions should not be enclosed in the cases of
rubber.

(6) Instructions, part to local secretary or direct, an
part to agent or friend, should be avoided.

(7) Cases should be numbered, and the contents des-
cribed on the case, as well as mentioned with instructions.

bo
bo
bo

FUNGUS NOTES.

EXANTHEMA AND SQUAMOSIS OF
CITRUS.

The following article contains in a condensed form the
information given by O. Butler on these two diseases in his
paper in The Annals of Botany, Vol. XXV, p. 107. It may
be looked upon as a continuation of the article on Gummosis
that appeared in the last number of the Agricultural News.

SYMPTOMS OF EXANTHEMA. This disease is at present
only known in the United States, where it affects all varieties
of citrus of all ages that are growing on dry permeable soils
or on light soils overlying an impermeable subsoil. The
parts characteristically affected are the small branches, shoots,
and occasionally the fruits. Frequently, the definite symptoms
are preceded by a luxuriant growth and dark colour of the
foliage, and by the presence of thick-skinned fruit. Then
the shoots become more or less stained beneath the epider-
mis by a yellowish-brown substance, and begin to die back.
If this symptom is not observed, another conclusive indica-
tion is that the fruit becomes stained, and its epidermis is so
hardened that it cracks and splits on account of the pressure
of the growing pulp cells. In more advanced stages of the
disease the young shoots swell at the nodes—occasionally
also at the internodes; while similar swellings may form on
the fruit. Then linear erumpent pustules break out on the
internodes as the shoots grow older; in some cases the pus-
tules may alternate with nodal swellings. On the older
branches nodal swellings are not produced, but the pustules
may become very numerous and a smal] amount of gum may
be observed in them. Gum may also exude through the
bark in small amounts. When swellings and pustules are
not formed on the shoots and branches, an excessive number
of buds may be produced which may develop into short
branches with yellow foliage; so that a witches’ broom effect
is brought about.

Cross sections of the diseased shoots show that the swell-
ings are due to an accumulation of gum formed from the
young xylem cells, as in gummosis; that the pustules are
caused by excessive growth of the cortical tissues accom-
panied by a sickle-shaped patch of young xylem containing
gum pockets; and that the rings of growth are well marked
and are too numerous to be considered as variations in growth
due to seasonal changes. The malady is very similar to
gummosis, and is only differentiated from it by the occurr-
ence of the erumpent pustules. These are possibly caused
by the circumstance that the epidermis first becomes inelastic
and checks normal growth and then bursts; after this vigor-
ous or excessive growth recommences.

CAUSE OF EXANTHEMA. This disease is so similar in
most respects to gummosis that its occurrence is in all proba-
bility dependent on the same conditions, namely vigorous
growth coinciding with an abundant supply of moisture. At
the same time the abnormally large number of rings of growth
indicates clearly that there has been a fairly rapid alterna-
tion of favourable and unfavourable conditions for develop-
ment. This might be brought about by a quick alternation
of climatic conditions, or by frequently recurring changes in
the available supply of water. The last is clearly the cause
in this case. ‘The light soils on which plants with the
disease are found become readily saturated with water, which
they as readily lose.

It has been discovered that excessiveapplications of organic
nitrogenous manures increase the severity of exanthema, in
Florida; while inorganic manures have a less marked effect.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Juny 6, 1912.

Butler suggests that this is due to the fact that nitrogenous
manures stimulate growth, and that organic manures in which
the nitrogen is only rendered available by the process of
nitrification are only so altered when the soil is sufficiently
damp. Thus the growth stimulus due to the nitrogen takes
effect at the very time when an ample supply of water is
available and when the presence of that water has already
induced a vigorous growth in the trees.

Cultivation is another factor that increases the suscepti-
bility of citrus to the disease. Swingle and Webber suggest
that this is because the surface roots are destroyed and the
remainder are forced to grow down into an unsuitable subsoil.
Butler believes, however, that this is not the true explanation,
but that cultivation increases nitrification, particuiarly in
humid climates; while it prevents excessive evaporation from
the soil.

REMEDIAL MEASURES. The object to be aimed at in
preventing or remedying the disease is to produce a uniform-
ity in the water- and in the nitrogen-supply, which will give
rise to regular, and not to fluctuating, growth. Thus drain-
age, especially on soil overlying an impermeable layer, is
a matter of importance, as is the correct regulation of irriga-
tion water where irrigation is necessary. Care should be
taken to increase the humus content of light soils, and appli-
cations of nitrogenous manures should be carefully regulated.
Heavy fertilisation with phosphatic and potassic manures is
also frequently found to be useful, as these have a restraining
influence on growth. It may also be desirable to discontinue
excessive cultivation, especially in soils underlain by an
impermeable subsoil; and merely to apply mulches of different
kinds to the soil, according to the material available.

SYMPTOMS OF SQUAMOsIS. This is at present limited in
distribution to Florida and Southern California, and is
a disease confined to the orange tree. The conditions which
favour its occurrence are prevalent only infrequently, so that
the disease is rare; moreover it develops extremely slowly on
affected trees. The chief characteristic is a scaling of the
bark which may occur on the limbs or on the trunk, where it
first appears asa single scale or group of scales. When the
outbreak is on the smaller branches, the leaves turn yellow
and eventually the branches are ringed and die, so that much
dead wood is present. When the attack commences on the
trunk or main limbs, the leaves do not turn yellow until
much later and the tree may live for fifteen or twenty years.
In fact in these instances, an attack is often hard to identify,
as scaling of the bark may arise from other causes, while
there are no indications of disease in the foliage and there is
no definite correlation with environmental conditions.

Squamosis commences as a rounded or an irregular
sloughing of the bark about an inch or somewhat less in
diameter. The detached bark soon dies and cls more or
less. This curling reveals the underlying cuctical tissues
which are warty, white, or white with a yellow tinge, and
somewhat mealy, When a piece of bark falls, a pustule will
be found beneath it; this pustule has a depression in the
middle, from which gum frequently oozes. In some cases
the pustular outgrowth becomes less prominent, especially in
advanced cases, and is replaced by a general swelling of the
cortex lying below the epidermis. This causes the bark to
flake off in large strips. On shoots and water sprouts, shield-
shaped, raised spots are formed which are discoloured
beneath the epidermis. These become hard, and the
epidermis ruptures round their margins. In more serious
attacks the spots are larger and less definite in outline.
Cracks parallel to the axis of the shoot occur in them, and
the disease-producing tissues form distinct swellings on the
shoots

Voz. XI. No. 266.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 293

ee eee eee —— Eee

In cross section, diseased limbs are more or less zoned
with brown, and rings of growth are prominent. Cross
sections of shoots show only one or two discoloured zones.
‘be disease is similar to gummosis, but the degeneration
does not proceed as far in the young xylem cells. The con-
nexion is, however, evident and there can be little doubt that
squamosis is also dependent for its appearance on a ready
supply of water combined with vigorous growth, It occurs
under very varying environmental conditions, and its true
cause is uncertain. Butler suggests that it arises from bark-
binding that causes a pressure on the cambiurn, this pressure
being released at a time when the trees are growing rapidly
and the tissues are full of sap.

There is no known remedy for the disease at present,
though slitting the bark may be resorted to as a palliative.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of May 1912:—

The following notes refer to West Indian produce.
GINGER.

At auction on the 8th the offerings amounted to 200 bags
of Jamaica, 452 bags of Cochin, and 10 bags of Liberian.
The Jamaica was bought in at 55s. and most of the Cochin at
42s. to 44s.,a few bags of mouldy fetching 30s. 6d. while the
Liberian was sold without reserve at 25s. per cwt. for small
brown. Onthe 15th, 392 bags of Cochin were offered, and 20
bags of fair washed were sold at 41s per cwt. Some small cut
Calicut in cases was bought in at 70s. It was stated that
privately the market both for Cochin and Jamaica was firm,
but unchanged; a week later the offerings amounted to 88
barrels of Jamaica and 660 packages of Cochin.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

At the first auction on the 2nd of the month 64 pack-
ages of West Indian were offered and sold, 68’s fetching 73d.,
79’s to 85’s 54d. to 6d, 102’s to 109’s 5}d. to 53d., 121’s
54d. to 5jd.; 198 packages of Eastern were partly sold at
the following rates: 60’s to 68's 7d. to 9d., 70’s to 80’s 6d. to
7d., and 100’s 5d. to 53d.; a week later 43 packages of West
Indian were sold at the following rates: 69’s to 7l’s 6d. to
7d., 80’s to 87’s 54d. to 6d. and 104’s to 109’s 5}d. to 53d.
On the 15th, 792 packages of West Indian were offered, and
780 sold, commencing at steady rates and closing rather
easier. On the 22nd, 34 bags of West India sold; 69’s to
70’s at 53d. to 6d., 89’s to 98's, 44d. to 5}d., 101’s to 115’s
43d. to 5d., and 134’s 43d ; 56 boxes of Eastern were sold
without reserve at 64d. to 7d. for 78’s. At auction on the
1st of the month mace was represented by 12 packages of West
India, good fetching 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d. per ib. and broken
2s. 1d., at which rates the whole was disposed of. In the
following week a few packages only of West India were
sold’ at 2s. 2d. to 2s. 4d. and broken at 2s. 2d. to
2s, 3d. East India fetched from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 7d.
On the 15th, 306 packages of West India were sold, fetching
2s, 1d. to 2s. 5d for good, and 1s. 10d. to 2s. 3d. for broken.
On the 22nd, 11 packages of West India were sold at the
following rates: for fair, 2s. 3d.: for red, 2s. 2d.; and for
broken, 2s. At auction on the Sth Pimento Was represented
by 100 bags which were sold without reserve at 23d. to 23d.

Again on the 22nd, 186 bags were sold without reserve at
24d. per bb.
SARSAPARILLA.

There has been a steady demand throughout the month
for this drug, though prices have been, for some kinds,
lower. At the first auction on May 2, 24 bales of grey
Jamaica were brought forward, and the whole disposed of
at 2s. 4d. to 2s. 5d. per tb. for fair partly coarse, 2s. 2d.
being obtained for very coarse. Ten bales of native
Jamaica were also offered and sold, fair to good red fetch-
ing ls 4d. to 1s. 6d. per tb.; ordinary to palish red 1s. 1d. to
ls. 24, and common yellow mixed 10d. to ls. Four bales
only of Lima-Jamaica were brought forward and sold, 1s. 6d.
to ls. 7d. being paid for good, and 1s. 5d. for inferior coarse.
A fortnight later, namely, on the 16th, the offerings con-
sisted of 6 bales of grey Jamaica, 13 of native Jamaica and
2 of Lima-Jamaica. The whole of the grey Jamaica was
sold at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. per tb., being 1d. per ib. cheaper
than at the previous sale. Of the native Jamaica 6 bales
only found purchasers at 1s. 6d. for good, Ls. 1d. to 1s. 2d.
for fair red, and ls. for dull. The 2 bales of Lima Jamaica
which were ordinary rough were not sold, a bid of ls. 5d.
being refused. On the 29th of the month there was again
a fair supply at auction consisting of 24 packages of grey
Jamaica, 10 of Lima-Jamaica and 4 described as ‘Panama’,
all the grey Jamaica was sold at a still further reduction on
the previous auctions, of from ld. to 2d. per tb, 2s. 2d. being
paid for fair, 1s. 10d. for rather mouldy, and 1s. 7d. for sea-
damaged; of the 10 bales of Lima-Jamaica brought forward,
only 4 were disposed of, 1s. 5d. being paid for rather coarse.
The 4 bales described as Panama which was somewhat of
the character of rou ghLima fetched 1s. 5d. per bb.

KOLA, LIME JUICE, LIME OIL, TAMARINDS, CASSIA FISTULA.

An unusual source of kola was brought to notice at the
first sale in the month of a single bag of fair halves from
Sydney, New South Wales, which were sold at 3{d. per hb.
At the second auction on the 15th, 35 packages of Kola were
brought forward, consisting of Java halves and West India
halves, of the former 44d. was paid for fair, 4d. for darkish,
and 32d. for small wormy. For the West Indian 3}d. was
paid for fair bright, 3}d. for dark, slightly mouldy, and 2
bags of small bright, but shrivelled fetched 3d. per tb. Lime
juice has commanded firm rates during the month. At the
first auction 23 packages of West Indian were brought forward
and 19 sold at the following rates: nice pale raw 2s. 1d., fair
pulpy 1s. 104. to 1s. 1)d. and ordinary brown 1s. 8d. to 1s 9d.
A week later it was stated that, notwithstanding recent arrivals,
there was practically nothing to offer in Mincing Lane, but at
Liverpool some 424 puncheons and 59 hogsheads had arrived
from Montserrat ‘on behalf of a. well-known propriety
brand.’ On the 15th, 2 puncheons of good pale green raw
Jamaica fetched 2s. 1d and fair green 1s. 10d. per gallon.
Two barrels of brown from Montserrat were also quoted at
1s. 10d., as well as one hogshead of brown Antigua at the
same price, 13 packages of ordinary brown Dominican fetched
ls. 9d. per gallon. Of lime oil,a single case only has
appeared in the market and was sold at 6s. 5d. per hb.
for hand pressed West Indian. In the middle of the
month, it was reported that 170 barrels and 14 tierces of
tamarinds had arrived from Barbados, 25 barrels’ from
St. Kitts, and 392 barrels from Antigua; and that fair juicy
new crop Barbados was quoted at 17s. per cwt. On the
15th May, 22 bags of fair Dominica Cassia Fistula were
offered and all sold at 20s. to 22s. per cwt. Quite at the
end of the month a considerable advance on, this price was
asked, 11 paekages of good sound Dominican were offered
and a bid of 24s. 6d. per cwt. refused.

224

1912,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, Juty 6,
MARKET REPORTS Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncow & Co., Ltd., June 29,
1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., July 1,
London.—Tsz West Inpia CommirTEE CIRCULAR 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., June 21, 1912.

June 18, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass §& Co.,

June 7, 1912.

Arrowroot—3id. to 3d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/74 per tb.

Berswax—No quotations.

Oacao—Trinidad, 61/- to 78/- per cwt.; Grenada, 55/-
to 61/-; Jamaica, 53/ to 60/-.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 69/6 to 80/- per cwt.

Corra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 20d. to 30d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

IsrneLass—No quotations.

Honty—No quotation.

Live Juice—Raw, 2/; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d. to £19;
otto of limes (hand pressed), 6/3 to 6/6.

Logwoop—No quotations.

Mace—No quotations.

Nurmecs—No quotations.

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

Rugser—Para, fine hard, 4/104; fine soft, 4/6; Castilloa,

British Guiana.—Messrs.

ArRrowRoot—$7 ‘00 per 100 fb.

Cacao—$13:00 to $14°00 per 100 fb.

Cocoa-Nuts—$16°00.

Hay—$1°80 to $2:00 per 100 tb.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Oacao manure, $45°00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°00 to $2°75 per 100 fb.

Peas, Sprit—$7‘00 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada $3:00 to
$5°05 per bag of 120 th.

Potatoes—Nova Scotia, $2°50 to $4°50 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $5°05 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quotations;
Rangoon, no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $5:00 per 100 th.

Wietinc & Ricutrr, June
22, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacH, ParKkER & Co,,
June 2], 1912.

ARTICLES.

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTeErR.

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKEB

4/4 per tb. Co.
Roum—Jamaica, 2/- to 6/-. = = if
Suear—Crystals, 16/6 to 18/6; Muscovado, 13/6 to 16/-; Arrowroot—St. Vincent — ss

Syrup, 10/6 to 13/6 per ewt.; Molasses, no quotatioas.

Batata—Venezuelablock| No quotation Prohibited
Demerara sheet 70c. per tb.
New York.—Messrs. Gitueseiz Bros, & Co., June Cacao—Native 14c. per tb. 14c. per th.
a Cassava— $1:32. No quotation
14, 1912. Cassava STARCH— $7°50 No quotation
Cacao—Caracas, 14jc. to 15$c.; Grenada, 13%c. to 144c.; | Coco-nuTs— $16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM.,

Trinidad, 14c. to 14$c. per tb.; Jamaica, no quotations. peeled and
Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $23°00 to $25°00; culls, selected

$13°00 to $1400; Trinidad, select, $2200 to $24:°00; Corree—Creole 19c. per tb. 18c. per tb.

culls, $13°00 to $14°00 per M. Jamaica and Rio 20c. per tb. 20c. to 2le.
OorreE—Jamaica, 144c. to 16jc. per ft. Liberian ldc. per tb. dc. per fb.
GincER—8jc. to 1]}c. per tb. DHat— $5°00 per bag of/$5°50 per bag of
Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 43c. 168 tb. 168 tb

to 45c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 41c. to 42c. Green Dhal a —

per Ib. Eppors— $240 a
Grare-Frvuit—Jamaica, $4°50 to $500. Mo asses— Yellow None —

Limges—$5°50 to $6:00.

Mace—No quotations.

Nourmecs—110’s, 11 jc. to 12c.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°00 per box.

Pimento—3d. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°92c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°42c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°17c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., June 24,

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $15°00 to $15°50 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $13°75 to $14°50.

Coco-nut O1.—92e. per Imperial gallon,

OorrrE—Venezuelan, l6c. per tb.

Oorra—$4°60 per 100 th.

DxaL—$5°25.

On1ons—$2-50 to $3°50 per 100 th.

Peas, Spitit—$7 ‘25 to $7°d0) per bag.

Porators—English, $2°00 to $5:00 per 100 ft.

Ricz—Yellow, $4°8u to $4°90; White, $6°25 to $6°35
per bag.

Svcar—American crushed, no quotations

Ontons—Teneriffe
Madeira
Peas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—

Potators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon

Potators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole

Tannras—

Yams— White
Buck

Suear—Dark crystals

Yellow

White

Molasses
TimsER—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

3, Cordwood

4c. to 5c. per tb.

$6°75 to $7:00 per
bag (210 1b.)
$3°75
l6c. to 48c.

$2°75
$3°36
per bag
No quotation
$5°2d to $5°50

$3°24

$264

$3°24
$3°05 to $3°25
$3°60 to $3°75

$2°80 to $2°90
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$3°75 to $6:00
per M.
31°80 to $2:00
per ton

$7°15 per bag
(210 tb.)

No yuotation
$4°00

No quotation

$5°30 to $5°50

$3°10 to $3°20
$3°75 to $4:00

32c. to 55c. pew

cub. foot
34:00 to $600
per M.
No quotation.

*
THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

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

j

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

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Volume XII. No. 1. No. 2:—West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of Papers and Proceedings:
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Seedling and other Canes at Barbados (15) Plain Talk to Small Owners. Price 2d.

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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.

Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown.

Jamaica: THz Epucationat Suppty Company, 16, King
Street, Kingston.

British Guiana: THE ‘Datty CHronicie OFFICE, Georgetown.

Trinidad : Messrs. Mutr-MarsHAaLt & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLacemany, Scarborough.

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St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Dominica : Mr. J. R. H. BripGewaATER, Roseau,
Montserrat : Mr. W. Rozson, Botanic Station.

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T’evis : Messrs. Howe, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada : <THE Storrs’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

. No. 266.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Juty 6, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES

FOR COLONIAL USE

cae As Fea

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 gradés,
Potash Salts, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

London

Agency :

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

LINTER COTTON

LINTER COTTON!)

STUFFING CUSHIONS,
DOES NOT GET HARD
OR FIBRE

UNEQUALLED FOR
COUCHES, ETC.
LIKE STRAW

THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE
COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

FOR SALE.

PRIME SUMMER YELLOW
SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).
COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.
ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,
Cotton Seed Oil Mills,
Barbados, W.I,

COTTON

Telegraphic address,
‘Thorum.’

(267)

~ ST. LUCIA.
FOR SA SALE.

BOSQUET v'OR BSTATE,

Comprising 300 acres, well situated in Mabouya Valley.
on main road to, and 2} miles from, Dennery; about 25 acres
in Cocoa, crop 50 bags, and 15 acres in Sugar-cane, crop 200
tons; soil very suitable for Limes, a few acres planted.

For further particulars apply to:—

A. R. G. HUNTER,
La Cave, Dennery, St. Lucia; or to

(267) DUNCAN FERGUSON, Castries.

JUST ISSUED.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 2.)

West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstiact of
Papers and Proceedings: List of Representatives; Presidential
Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago;
Cacao; Sugar; Plant cess and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime
and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural Educa-
tion; Excursions.and Demonstrations; Meade Commissioner in
Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomological Research Com-
mittee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies;
Nomenclature Committee; Usefulness of Agricultural Con-
ferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's
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SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

~ CITRUS CULTURE ©

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because n» other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND AL FRiee.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad,

TUR

BS
NY

J Uk =
SD as Pr
ep

AL, Bas
aE f

Ly

a

rea) iF

BAG bs 2 deat

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW pee

OF THE ae

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

BARBADOS, JULY 20, 1912.

Pgice ld,

Vou. XI. No. 267.

CONTENTS.
PaGE. PaGE.
Agriculture in St. Vin- Market Reports , 240
cent, 1910-11 .... ... 239 ; Milk, Pasteurization of ... 238
Black Blight in Grenada 233 | Mulberry and the West
Camphor from Dried Cam- Indies He estubiee, 239
phor Leaves ... 229 | Nature Teaching and Hy-
Chlorosis, !xperiments on ,233 giene in British Gui-
Cotton Notes :-— ana Schools ... ... 232
West Indian Cotton ... 230 Notes and Comments ... 232
Dominica, Exports from 228 Qil-yielding Plant, A
Dominica, Victoria Mus- Little-known ... ... 229
eum As . 233 Oils, Vegetable, Work
Fungus Notes :— Dealing with 231
A Bud Disease of the Porto Rico University
Coco-nut Palm in Agricultural College 237
Mexico ... ... 238 Rock Phosphate, Avail-
Funtumia Rubber in ability Offenses 20)
Southern Nigeria ... 235 Rubber-Growing in Su-
Gleanings... . 236 matra... 233

Guayule Rubber Plant, Rubber Output of Malaya 250

Oil from 232 Soil Fertility, Theories
Insect Notes :— Concerning, II... 225
A New Pest of Cow- Students’ Corner 237
peas ... -.. ... .-. 234 | Sugar Industry :-—
The Brown Hard-back 234 Sugar Mannfacture in
The Cane Fly in Mavrti- Java, 1910... ... .., 227
MIGUe/-= 1 -=- ... 234 Vanilla Preparation in
Manna Plant ... bes ods Seychelles .. 228

Theories Concerning Soil Fertility.
Ii.

“HE last article on this subject, contained in
ithe previous issue of the Ayricultwral News,
Q@ gave an account of the theories concerning
soil fertility that have been advanced by Whitney and
others, of the United States Department of Agri-
culture. Before proceeding to an account of Russell’s
criticism of these;* it will be convenient to give
broadly his summary of the hypotheses presented

* Science Progress, Vol. VI, No. 21, p. 142.

in that article. They are concerned with the following
matters: (1) soils result from the breaking-up of rock-
forming minerals, the extent of the decomposition that
takes place being very small; (2) the result is that
all normal soils possess a similar chemical composition
and contain a soil solution of the same constitution;
(3) but as this solution is the nutrient solution for
plants, the amounts of plant food provided in all soils
are very similar; (4) this soil solution is distributed
over the soil particles, and the way in which certain
properties of the particles allow it to travel over them,
through the soil, is of the greatest importance in rela-
tion to the productivity of soils; (5) some other circum-
stance must also be active, in many cases, in regulating
this productivity, for some soils which are themselves
infertile give watery extracts in which plants cannot
grow, so that a toxin must be present in such soils;
(6) the origin of such toxins may be the normal
decomposition of organic matter in the soil, but some
are probably given off by the roots of plants; lastly
(7) manures are not mere sources of plant food, but act
favourably in the soil in a complex way depending on
their power to alter the distribution of the soil solution
or to prevent the action of some of the toxins, and
probably in other ways as well.

It had been long recognized that the fertility of
soils depends in a very intimate way on their physical
condition, but the first paperstof Whitney were
instrumental in putting forward clear and definite ideas
in the subject; while other investigations showed the
connexion between the properties of soils and those of
the particles composing them. The ultimate result was
that the mechanical analysis of soils reached its present

~ +United States Weather Bureau, Bulletin No. 4; United
States Department of Agriculture, Division of Soils, Bulletin
No. 13.

226

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Juty 20, 1912.

importance. Russell and other experimenters are not,
however, prepared to agree as to the relative msignifi-
cance in which the effect of the chemical properties of
soils on their fertility is held by Whitney and others.
The simplicity of the composition of the coarser soil par-
ticles is not possessed by those that are of the smallest
dimensions, and investigation is tending to show that
their smallness of size will not account alone for their
properties. Those who have made the chemical inves-
tigation of soils a large part of their work are most
prone to follow van Bemmelen in his view that, in the
soil, the various decomposition products are largely
deposited on the particles in a special state known as
the colloidal form, the matter of importance being that,
owing to their condition, changes of temperature, of
strength of the soil solution, and other circumstances,
cause the continuous further decomposition of these
products, rather than any sudden completed changes
inthem. It is therefore the composition of this mixture
of colloidal products that determines the strength of
the soil solution, so that the latter may be altered to
a certain extent by the addition of soluble salts, includ-
ing artificial manures.

This view is thus seen to depend upon the cir-
cumstance as to whether or not the strength of the
soil solution is constant, and thus great importance
attaches to the investigation of this matter. Chemical
examination of the solution itself is so far impos-
sible because no means has been devised for its
extraction from the soil. If well water or the soil
surface drainage water are taken to be representative
of soil water, then there is a large amount of evidence
that its composition does vary considerably, and this is
true even when consideration is given to the figures upon
which Whitney based his contrary conclusion—that the
composition of the soil water is virtually constant. The
observations and experience of Russell and others lead
to the view that the strength of the soil solution is
dependent upon the amount of carbon dioxide present
(which depends in turn on the distribution of roots
and living beings in the soil), on the disposal of
water and of calcium carbonate, and on other factors.
There is the further consideration that, even if it were
possible to obtain some of the soil water by itself, for
analysis, 1t would not necessarily follow that the
average composition found would be that of anything
occurring in the soil.

The argument advanced against these criticisms is
that, even where the strength of the soil solution may
vary, the differences are without effect on fertility, as
they are incapable of influencing the growth of plants:

The opponents of Whitney, again, cannot agree with
this view of the matter, and point to the fact that the
amount of growth of plants in nutrient solutions
increases with the strength of these, up to a certain
limit of concentration. Further, the concentration
may be increased beyond this limit, over a fairly wide
range, without causing any enhanced growth, and this
is why experiments in plant physiology may be carried
out with a number uf culture solutions possessing
different strengths; there is, however, nothing to show
that the concentration of the soil solution approaches any
of these strengths. In relation to the action of manures,
it is difficult to,deny to these the effect of increasing
directly the fertility of the soil, especially as all the
substances employed in this way are particularly rich
in the very bodies that are necessary for the nutrition
of plants. Whitney, even, holds that this action is
complex, and it isnot obvious why their nutritive
function should not be agreed to exist as part of this
complexity.

The theory that infertile soils contain substances
classed generally as toxins, that are poisonous to plants
is held to be supported by the circumstance that
organic substances possessing such poisonous properties
have been isolated from the soil. Though these may
be toxic in water cultures, it does not follow that they
retain the property in the soil; in fact its removal has
been demonstrated by the addition of various sub-
stances, and even of soil itself. So that it has not been
proved that toxic substances taken from the soil have
been affecting injuriously the plants in it, though the
fact is admitted that soils poor in calcium carbonate
have given indications of the presence in them of such
substances. Agreement with Whitney is therefore
expressed: that in soils deficient in calcium carponate
—‘sour soils—infertility may be caused by the presence
of toxic organic bodies.

Russell and other investigators have found no
evidence whatever of the existence of plant excretions
in the soil. Experiments have been made at Rotham-
sted in which plants were grown continously in nutrient
solutions, in sand cultures and in soils, and no signs
were obtained that the later plants suffered from
excretions of the first. Interesting particulars of other
trials from which the same result was obtained are
given in the article quoted; all lead to the significant
statement: ‘it is asserted by the American workers
that the continued growth of one and the same crop on
the same soil leads to a low crop production, whilst we
on this side are unable to obtain any evidence to this
etfect. It must be realized at the same time that the

Vou. XI. No. 267.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 227

experimental difficulties of such investigations are
very great: the growth of bacteria in the water cultures,
and of bacteria and algae in sand cultures, and the
changes that take place normally in soils, all confuse the
issue, so that what can be said actually is: ‘Our conclu-
sion, therefore, is that there is no unexceptionable
evidence of any toxin excretion by plant roots.’

The article by Russell proceeds to deal with the
cireumstance that agricultural literature contains
many statements to the etfect that crops may be pois-
oned through succeeding other crops, and in passing
refers to Daubeny’s work, of many years ago, which led
to conclusions other than that expressed in de Can-
dolle’s hypothesis that plants excrete toxins; he also
mentions the fact that Pickering’s investigations of the
harmful effect of grass on fruit trees have not shown
that this is due to any poisonous excretion. Attention
is then given to several results that have been obtained
at Rothamsted, which are inexplicable at present, and
do not yield to any form of explanation founded on the
theories of Whitney. Reference is made here to the
original article for a very interesting treatment of
these matters.

The work of those who are engaged in putting
forward the theory of toxins in regard to soil fertility
has suffered, as Russell states: ‘from leaving out of
consideration all biological changes going on in the
soil. We can agree nevertheless with that writer in
saying: ‘The investigations have, however, served
a very useful purpose in stimulating enquiry and they
have brought home the fact that the relationships
between soils and plants are complex,’ and again:
‘Whether further work support their hypothesis or not,
Whitney, Cameron, Schreiner and their colleagues have
made agricultural chemists re-examine their ideas on
the soil, and such a reconsideration must in the end
advance the subject, however troublesome or super-
fluous it may at the time appear. In the meantime,
it may be added, experimental work on the more prac-
tical seale will continue to be done, and those who have
its performance in their hands will await eagerly the
further guidance that is expected from investigators
who pursue their researches in a more detailed manner.

A copy of a publication entitled The Cult of the Coco-
nut, that should be particularly useful from a commercial
point of view has been received recently. This deals with
_ the past and future development of the coco-nut, copra and
palm oil industries; it also contains a section dealing with
the oil palm of West Africa (H/aeis guineensis). The
work is well ilJustrated, and may be obtained, price 2s. 6d.
net, from Messrs. Curtis, Gardner & Co., Ltd., Spencer House,
South Place, Finsbury, London, E.C.

SUGAR MANUFACTURE IN JAVA,
1910.

There has been received recently a set of tables
prepared by J. J. Hazewinkel, setting forth facts
connected with sugar manufacture in Java, under the
system of mutual control whereby the figures relating
to the working of the different factories are furnished
for publication and comparison. These tables have
reference to the year 1910, and the average results
obtained in regard to several of the more important
items are presented below for the use of readers of
the Agricultural News:—

Sucrose, per cent. in cane 12°54
Purity of mixed juice 84 67
Sugar in bags and baskets* 10°18
Sugar in black stroop7, A centr. 0:09) 0:23
B bags 0714) =
Sucrose obtained in sugar and black stroop) 10:26
per 100 cane
Available sucrose (Hazewinkel’s formula) 10°35
Maceration water in 100 parts normal juice 14:3
Moisture in megass 46°72
Normal juice per 100 fibre! 552
Juice extracted, on 100 parts of juice in cane 91:2
Fibre per 100 cane 12 27
Purity, final molasses 33°42
Sucrose per 100 megass 4:32
Juice of first mill, Brix 17°89
SERIES EER COSE, 15°55
SO a oe ay 86°49
»» 5, final mill, sucrose 6 08
ay cote a laseen punioy, 79:76
Mixed juice, Brix 15°73
_ » sucrose 13°32
Glucose ratio in mixed juice 7:26

The Manna Plant.—A recent issue of the Pharma-
ceutical Journal and Pharmacist gives interesting particulars
of the manna of the Bible. The plant, Lecanora esculenta,
is found over a region covering south-west Asia, extending
to south-east Europe and to north-west Africa. It appears
on small stones, preferably small chalky pebbles, first as thick,
wrinkled warty crusts, greyish-yellow on the outside and
having a white mealy fracture. Later the flakes become
cracked, detach themselves from the stones, and roll up into
bullet-shaped or warty masses of about the size of a Hazel
nut. When the rain comes the manna quickly absorbs
moisture, and bursts into large flakes which have a mealy
interior. When we consider that the dry manna plants are
carried considerable distances by the wind, and are often
blown together in considerable quantities, this rapid change
from hard, dry, almost stone-like substances into a flaky
food may well have induced the belief of the Israelites
that the manna fell from heaven. In Persia manna is used
as a food, and is also given under the name of ‘Chirzade’ to
feeble and ill-nourished mothers as a lactogogue in daily
doses of 150 to 200 grammes. The food value of manna lies
in its 20 to 25 per cent. of lichenin. (The Gardeners’ Chron-
icle, June 1, 1912.)

* Sagar already obtained.

+ Sugar to be obtained.

{ Corrected for variation in sucrose and fibre in cane,

228 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Juty 20, 1912,

FRUITS AND FRUIT GEREES.

VANILLA PREPARATION IN
SEYCHELLES.

The subject of the curing of vanilla was dealt with
at length in a recent number of the Agricultural
News—in the issue of May 11. In relation to this, the
following consular report is of interest. It is taken
from the Planters’ Chronicle for April 27, 1912, which
reproduces it from the Spice Mill,

The proprietor of the Cascade Estate, Seychelles Islands,
thus describes the method of preparing vanilla beans on that
plantation.

A successful result depends on the pods being picked
at the right stage of maturity more than on anything else—
that is, when they are ripe and just before they begin to
split. An unripe pod will never prepare well and is always
inclined to become mouldy; split or over-ripe pods have lost
much of their value.

A pod in condition to be picked has lost to a great
extent its shiny green colour, and has become duller, with an
almost silvery appearance. The longitudinal lines along
which it will eventually split, if felt, are distinctly marked.
The tip is light in colour or even yellowish, and comes away
fairly evenly from the stalk when broken off. Pods in
a bunch seldom ripen simultaneously, so they must be
carefully watched.

When brought in the pods are sorted into five qualities:
(1) over 6 inches long; (2) over 4 inches long; (3) under 4
inches long; (4) split; (5) unripe, broken, ete

A cauldron of water is heated to 87°C. (189°F.); the
pods are placed in an openwork basket and dipped for
ten seconds, withdrawn, and allowed to drain for about
five seconds; dipped again for ten seconds, withdrawn and
drained as before; dipped sgain for about five seconds,
or until their colour has changed to a dark-green. Large
pods require a longer third dipping than small ones.
After being scalded the pods are wrapped in woollen blan-
kets and left in a warm, dry place for twelve hours, when
they have taken on a blackish hue.

They are then placed in openwork trays in a hot room, on
one thickness of blanket, and covered by another; the temper-
ature of the hot room should be about 90°F , not over. In about
ten days the largest pods will have become wrinkled, the smaller
ones before that. When in this stage they can be removed to

a cool drying room, where they are placed on trays, uncovered,
heaped on each other to a depth of 3 inches, and turned
about every day. The more slowly vanilla is dried the
better. In about ten days for small pods, dry ones may be
looked for; these must be taken out and stored in a dry place,
in well-closed wooden boxes. Examine thorougbly from
time to time, and take out all that show signs of mould;
this appears mostly at the stalk end. A dry pod should
have a silky feeling, the wrinkles must be soft, there must
be no hard centres, and it should be possible to tie the pod in
a soft, loose knot without its breaking. Absolute cleanli-
ness must be observed all through the preparation, and those
who handle vanilla must wash their hands before touching it.

When sufficiently dried, the pods should be put into
a vessel containing water at a temperature of about 80° to
90° F., and stirred about with the hands for five minutes,
then taken out and placed in trays or on a blanket in the
sun, where they soon dry. The pods must now be measured
(quarter-inch differences are sufficient) in the middle only.
Tin boxes are used in Seychelles, 13 inches long, 9 inches
broad and 6 inches deep, a lining of parchment paper being
placed in each. The vanilla must be packed fairly loosely
and the lid secured by solder.

The process is difficult to describe. If vanilla is to be
produced in any large quantity, a man should be sent to the
Seychelles to learn about it. The season of preparation is
from May to September.

Exports from Dominica.—An official statement
of the imports and exports of Dominica during 1911 has
just been issued. Among other matters, this shows that
the principal agricultural and forest products and manufac-
tures of the island were exported as follows: lime juice,
concentrated, 131,506 gallons valued at £23,014; cacao,
10,055 ewt. valued at £21,703; citrate of lime, 5,926 ewt.
valued at £19,259; limes, 36,520 barrels valued at £14,608;
lime juice, raw, 311,377 gallons valued at £10,379; lime
oil, distilled, 5,472 gallons valued at £3,283; lime oil,
écuelled, €92 gallons, valued at £2,118; oranges, 1,803
barrels valued at £1,156; lime juice cordial, 10,650 gallons
valued at £954; coco-nuts, 402,622 valued at £839; bay
Jonves, 590 ewt. valued at £634; hardwood, 31,272 feet
valued at £293; limes, pickled, 711 barrels valued at £267.

Vou. XI No. 267.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 229

A LITTLE-KNOWN OIL-YIELDING
PLANT.

A common weed in the West Indies is the Lord
Lavington or wild hops, as it is sometimes called; the
botanical name is Hyptis capitata. It is a herbaceous plant
which is often seen growing in waste lands and bearing its
flowers in globular heads, on the parts of the stem whence
the branches spring. This plant is closely related to the
mosquito bush (Ocimum micranthwm), indigenous to the
West Indies, and to sweet basil (O. Lasilicum). In the same
family of plants there are also included such well-known
forms as rosemary, lavender, Salvia, thyme and mint.

It is not intended, however, to make //. capitata the
subject of this article, but to draw attention to another
species of Hyptis, namely, /7/. spicigera, which is native to
the West Indies but not as commonly found as the species
just mentioned. A special account of this plant, in relation
to its existence in French West Africa as on oil-seed bearing
species, is given in L’Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds
for February 1912, p. 163, and this is employed as the
source of the following information.

Hyptis spicigera is known in parts of French West
Africa as Benefing, which means black sesame. Like
H. capitata, it is an annual herbaceous plant; it is distin-
guished from it in several ways, however, notably by the
facts that the flowers are borne in terminal spikes instead of
in heads, and that the leaves are narrower, being more
nearly lance-shaped than those of the latter. The seed is
about =;-inch in length. Its colour is that of dark tobacco,
and it bears a small white spot in the form of a V, at one
end. The method of obtaining the seed is by threshing, as
for sesame (see Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 101).

The Director of the Official Laboratory for Technieal
Investigations of il-yielding Materials, at Marseilles
(M. E. Milliau), had occasion to study a sample of the seed
which was shown among the exhibits from French West
Africa at the Universal Exhibition of 1900. When these
seeds were treated with carbon bisulphide in a continuous
extraction apparatus, they yielded 37°32 per cent. of an oil
having a yellow amber colour. This was of average fluidity,
and possessed an odour very closely resembling that of
linseed oil. ° A comparison of the two oils gave the following
particulars, among others, the order being—oil from Hyptis,
and linseed oil: specific gravity, 943°6 and 932°5; satura-
tion, 17:3 and 17-9; iodine value, 171 and 153 to 162;
molecular weight of the fatty acids, 209 and 280°5; drying
power, 17°7 and 15,

It is pointed out in the article that the iodine value of
the Hyptis oil is the highest known, and suggests the pos-
session of a very strong drying power—an indication which
receives support from the figures just given.

In giving general conclusions concerning this oil,
M. Milliau states that Hyptis oil contains too high a propor-
tion of liquid fatty acids for it to be utilized advantageously
in cases where stearine is employed; its drying power adds to
this disadvantage. It could only be used to a small extent in
soap-making for, like all drying oils, 1t yields a soap which
does not keep well; trial has shown that the soap made
from it decomposes partially, after being exposed eight days
to light and air: it becomes yellow and exhales a strong smell
ot linseed oil.
contrary, the drying power of this oil makes it of particular
advantage.

A subsequent examination by another investigator of
seeds from a different source, showed that they contained the
following: moisture 7°12, fatty matter 27-00, and nitro-

In the varnish and painting industries, on the _

genous matter 25°50 per cent. The cake left after the
extraction of the oil is rich enough in nitrogen to be usefully
employed in agriculture. It will be noticed that this
analysis gives a much lower percentage of fatty matter than
the former; it is however sufficiently high to admit of the
industrial employment of the seed. As is suggested in the
article, it appears that this discrepancy between the analyses
can hardly be explained otherwise than on the assumption
that there exist several varieties of H. spicigera, having
seeds of very different composition. The choice of the best
kinds for propagation would be an easy matter.

The conclusion of the article is concerned with sug-
gestions for the exploitation of Hyptis spicigera as an
oil-seed yielding plant in parts of French West Africa.

CAMPHOR FROM DRIED CAMPHOR
LEAVES.

Articles have appeared in this journal from time
to time (see Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 93) deal-
ing with the yield of camphor from leaves and twigs.
The account below, of the returns obtained by drying
the leaves previous to distillation, is taken from the
Semi-Annual Report of Schimmel & Co., dated
April 1912:—

Tn our Report of October 1910 (p. 27) we discussed
a paper by Lommel on the preparation of camphor at Amani.
A second paper from the same author* contains some
interesting data on the distillation of dried camphor leaves,
of which a synopsis is given below. The author first deals
with the distillation of leaves which had been spread out for
drying in a small cinchona plantation shortly before the
setting in of the rains, but which were not yet quite dry.
The camphor yield from these leaves was too small to make
it worth while estimating it, and the experiment was set
down asa failure. Fora subsequent distilling experiment
a plantation was subjected to moderate cutting, when
a quantity of dry fallen leaves was found on the ground
between rows of plants. These were first distilled and only
yielded 0:06 per cent. of crude camphor and 0:19 per cent. of
camphor oil, showing that they had lost almost the whole of
their volatile constituents during the long time they had
been lying on the ground drying, exposed to the alternating
effects of rain and sun,

Next the green leaves were dried on previously cleaned
ground under the shade of cultivated cinchona trees. In the
course of about a fortnight they were dry enough to be
readily stripped from the branches and, collected in sacks,
they were carried to the still. This experiment gave
a thoroughly satisfactory result, the yield being 1°55 per
cent. of crude camphor, and 0°49 per cent. of camphor oil. The
result would certainly have been better still, but that on one
oceasion, in the course of the distilling process, the condens-
ing water became heated, and a not mconsiderable quantity
of camphor was thereby lost.

In view of the fact that present experience of the effects
of cutting upon the growth of the trees shows it to be
a pretty well established fact that it is possible to cut the

‘trees twice a year, it is reasonable to expect a five-year old

plantation to yield about 8,400 Ib. of dry leaves per acre.
This would be equivalent to an output per acre of about
325 tb, of camphor, and about 103 Ib. of camphor oil.

* Der Pflancer, Zeitschrift fur Lond- und Forstwirtschaft in
Deutsch-Ostafrica, 7 (1911), 441.

230 THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Juty 20, 1912,

=
Gas -
(oro

‘;

WEST

INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date July 2, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

There is an extremely limited demand for West Indian
Sea Island cotton and the sales comprise about 50 bales,
including a few Barbados at 20d. and a few superfine
St. Vincent at 30d. and Stains at 84d.

Spinners find difficulty in finding a market for their
finest qualities of yarn, such as is made from West Indian,
and they are therefore turning their machinery on to
Sakellarides cotton and making a cheaper class of yarn in
order to keep their mackinery going.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending June 29, is as follows:—

During the past fortnight there has been a very limited
demand, resulting in sales of only 21 bales Fully Fine to
Extra Fine for export on private terms, The Factors are
anxious to dispose of some of the Crop Lots, of which the
unsold stock largely consists, and are willing to make some
concessions in price, but the spinners do not seem interested
even at the decline quoted. We renew our quotations, which
in the absence of demand are only nominal:—

We quote, viz:—

Extra Fine 30c. to 32c.=16#d. to 17d. c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 28c. = 15 $d. ” OOP 00)
Fine 26c. = 143d. scam TEN ata
Fully Fine to Extra Fine sil:

off in preparation ‘} EEO oe

At the one-hundredth meeting of the Council of the
British Cotton Growing Association, held on June 11, it
was stated that the purchases of cotton in Lagos to the
end of May amounted to 7,637 bales, as compared with
4,624 bales for the same period last year, and 4,327 bales
for 1910; it was suggested that the increase is largely due to
the action of the Association in increasing the buying price
of seed-cotton, last year, and the satisfactory results have
led to the decision to guarantee the minimum buying price
for the coming season.

In consequence of the continued unsuccessful results with
cotton-growing in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast,
the Colonial Office has informed the Governor that the Asso-
ciation does not consider it worth while to continue the work,
and has asked him for an immediate report on the subject.
As regards Uganda, cotton was still being bought in large
quantities, and a record shipment of 2,900 bales of cotton
and 750 tons of cotton seed has been consigned recently from
Mombasa by one steamer,

THE RUBBER OUTPUT OF MALAYA.

The following information is taken from an article
by an authoritative correspondent (Mr. C. C. Mallet) in
the Straits Times for March 21. ‘he statistics are
stated to have been compiled from details supplied by
the Government surveys, by the Planters’ Association
of Malaya, as well as those obtained from other sources.
The list of the estimated plantings in the Malay
Peninsula is as follows:—

Year planted. Acreage planted Estimated total

during the acreage at the
year. end of each year.
Ww 876
wand 1898 S27 50 50
1898 500 550
1899 1,000 1,550
1900 1,450 3,000
1901 4,000 4,000
1902 8,000 15,000
1903 10,000 25,000
1904 14,000 39,000
1905 35,000 74,000
1906 48,000 122,000
1907 95,000 215,000
1908 48,000 263,000
1909 61,000 324,000
1910 115,000 437,000
1911 63,000 500,000

The estimated average yields per acre for all Malaya,
from acreages of different ages, is assumed to approximate
to the following:—

Age of trees, Yield per acre,

years. Ib.
4 60

5 125

6 200

7 250

8 300

9 325
10 350

Older trees will not be considered as yielding more than
this, as most of them are either cut to pieces by early experi-
ments in tapping, or else being rested from recent over-
tapping. :

On this basis, the output for Malaya for 1911 may be
estimated as follows:—

No. of acres in Age of trees, Estimated yield Estimated

tapping. years. per acre, in Ib. total out-
put, in hb,

50 35-14 say 1,000 50,000

500 13 350 175,000
1,000 12 350 350,000
1,400 11 350 507,000
4,000 10 350 1,400,000
8,000 9 325 2,600,000
10,000 8 300 3,000,000
14,000 7 250 3,500,000
35,000 6 200 7,000,000
48,000 5 125 6,000,000
93,000 4 60 5,580,000
215,000 30,162,000

Vou. XI. No. 267.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

The actual crop for 1911 was only 23,400,000 tb., how-
ever, largely owing to the tremendous drought of March to
May 1911, but also because of the fact that the bulk of the
1906-7 plantations were somewhat neglected during 1908-9,
and only produced a small portion of the theoretical yield,
the total year’s crop being about 6,000,000 tb. short of the
theoretical estimate. This was, however, anticipated largely,
and my estimate for the Peninsula, made in January 191i,
amounted to 12,000 tons, or 26,880,000 tbh. which could have
reasonably been expected but for the drought, which threw
all calculations out.

The theoretical estimate for the year 1912 is: —
Estimated yield Estimated

No. of acres Age of trees,

in tapping. years. per acre, in Ib. total out-

put, in tb.

50 36-15 1,000 50,000

500 14 350 175,000
1,000 13 350 350,000
1,450 12 350 507,000
4,000 11 350 1,400,000
8,000 10 350 2,800,000
10,000 9 325 3,250,000
14,000 8 300 4,200,000
35,000 7 250 8,750,000
48,000 6 200 9,600,000
93,000 5 125 11,625,000
48,000 4 60 2,880,000
263,000 45,587,000

This is equal to an output for the present year of 20,350
tons.

This crop is not, however, likely to be realized, as a good
deal of the older rubber is being rested from recent over tap-
ping, and the younger rubber is in many places still backward
from neglect, from which it is however rapidly recovering
Since the properties were properly financed by the capital
raised during the boom.

A WORK DEALING WITH VEGE-
TABLE OILS.

An article in La Chronique Coloniale et Financiére for
May 5, 1912, signalizes the publication of parts 27-30 of the
Handbuch der Pharmakognosie, of Professor A, Tschirch,
dealing entirely with the study of fatty matters, among
which the vegetable oils naturally possess the greatest
importance.

In a short review, the article states that it is not pos-
sible to give a full account of the way in which the material
of the work has been dealt with by Professor Tschirch. It
may be said, however, that those living in the colonies,
whether planters, business men or manufacturers, will find
in these well illustrated portions of the work, clear informa-
tion on the fatty matters, of tropical or sub-tropical origin,
that are derived from the following plants (to quote the chief
among them): cotton, the ground nut, sesame, the castor oil
plant, the coco-nut palm, the West African oil palm (Z/ae/s
guineensis) and cacao,

Each product receives attention in a chapter to itself, in
which is presented a large number of references.

The article states, finally, that the handbook is a work
that ought to be possessed by all who are interested in any
way in commercial products, and particularly by those who
are engaged in commercial matters connected with the
colonies.

THE AVAILABILITY QF ROCK
PHOSPHATE.

An account of work that has been conducted for the pur-
pose of finding the effect of organic matter, in the shape of
composts and manures, on the availability of rock phosphate,
is contained in Research Bulletin No. 20 of the University
of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. The follow-
ing information is taken from a summary which appears at
the end of that publication.

Experiments in the laboratory indicate that the organic
matter that was composted with raw phosphate exerted only
a slight solvent action; this was to be expected, as carbon
dioxide is the only free acid that is formed, and further the
amount of the solvent action is limited by the quantity of
phosphate which the water containing carbon dioxide can hold
in solution.

In small experiments, the dissolved phosphate and car-
bonates are not removed from the place where they are
formed, so that the dissolving action reaches a stage at
which no more carbon dioxide goes into solution and acts as
a solvent. Under field conditions, however, the movements
of soil water and the absorption of food by crops cause
removal of the dissolved substances, so that the action of the
carbon dioxide as a solvent is greatly increased. It is thus
seen that the experiments in the laboratory failed to imi-
tate field conditions with respect to a most important cireum-
stance.

When rock phosphate is mixed with manure it immedi-
ately becomes less soluble in 0°2 per cent. citric acid solution,
so that it must be concluded that the availability of phos-
phates as measured by such a solvent is entirely different
from the availability as indicated by a growing crop. In
relation to the growing crop, again, the availability is not
only influenced by the solubility of the raw phosphate in
weak solvents, but also to a large extent by the thoroughness
with which it is distributed throughout the soil.

It seems that, when the material is thoroughly mixed
with the soil, some plants can obtain a sufficient supply of
phosphate from the insoluble material, probably through the-
dissolving action of the carbon dioxide given off by the roots.

When manure is added to a soil, the amount of carbon
dioxide produced is greatly increased, so that there is an
enhanced solvent action on the phosphate which the soil
may contain. This consideration leads to the suggestion of
the usefulness of mixing raw phosphate with manure, when
applying it to soil. On the other hand, the addition of this
material to a tight clay soil containing little organic matter
may cause the phosphate to become confined to areas from
which its subsequent distribution may be very slow.

Consideration of the whole question leads to the con-
clusion that the use of organic matter in connexion with raw
phosphate increases the availability. This result is brought
about through the facts that: (1) the phosphate is mixed
more thoroughly with the soil; (2) the formation of carbon
dioxide, which leads to greater solution, is increased
because of the favourable conditions that exist for the
chemical and biological processes that give rise to it; and:
(3) the action of the carbon dioxide results ultimately in
a finer and more uniform distribution of the phosphate
through the soil.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Oommissioner, 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 dlews

Vou. XI.

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1912. No. 267.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this issue completes a review of
certain Theories Concerning Soil Fertility. ‘The theo-
ries specially dealt with, were put forward in an article
in the last number of the Agricultural News, and the
purpose of this is to present a criticism of those
theories.

Page 229 contains an account of a little-known
oil-yielding plant that exists in the West Indies. The
matter may become of greater interest at some future
time.

The subject of the availability of rock phosphate
receives attention on page 281. The effect of mixing
this with natural manures and compost is dealt with
more particularly.

On page 234, the Insect Notes contain interesting
articles on A New Pest of Cowpeas, The Cane Fly in
Martinique, as well as a note on The Brown Hard-back.
The pest mentioned in the first of these articles was
observed originally by the Entomologist to this De-
partment, on cowpeas, in Barbados,

Page 235 contains an article describing experi-
ments with Funtumia rubber, carried out in Southern
Nigeria.

The Fungus Notes in this issue are contained on
page 238. They deal with a bud disease of the coco-
nut palmin Mexico, which is attributed to Pythium
palmivorum, the fungus that has been proved to cause
a similar disease of palms in India.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Juty 20, 1912.

Oil from the Guayule Rubber Plant.

As is well known, this plant (Partheniwm argen-
tutum) has attained much importance in Mexico,
where it 1s native, as a source of rubber chiefly for the
United States. It has been brought to notice lately
as a plant that is capable of yielding oil.

The Semi-Annual Report of Messrs. Schimmel
& Co., dated April 1912, states that the plant contains,
in addition to rubber, about 0°5 per cent. of essential.
oil, caleulated on the dry material.

The oil that was examined was prepared from
material grown in Mexico, and dried quite shortly
before it was shipped, The yield was about 0:15 per
cent. of a greenish-yellow, faintly leavo-rotatory oil
consisting entirely of hydrocarbons; the small yield of
oil is stated to be due to the fact that no suitable dis-
tilling plant for work on a large scale was available for
use.

Material that had been stored for some time was
also subjected to distillation; this yielded an oil rich in
oxygen, which when distilled left a residue of about 50
per cent. resin.

It is stated that the oil of P. argentatum possesses
a marked similarity to oil of German chamomile, but as
is stated by Messrs. Schimmel they differ completely
in their chemical constitution.

Nature Teaching and Hygiene in British Guiana
Schools.

The report of the Inspector of Schools, British
Guiana, for 1911-12, indicates that imterest continues
to be maintained in the subject of nature knowledge,
but that a large amount of work remains to be done
before the teaching attains a satisfactory standard.
The usefulness to teachers of the publication Nature
Teaching is emphasized, and it is stated that this book
should be employed by every teacher, ‘who is at all
desirous of learning how to put before his class in the
simplest possible language and in a perfectly clear and
intelligent manner the elementary principles of Nature
Knowledge.’ Stress is also laid upon the use of the
simple experiments that are described in the book. It
is further advised that the pupils should be made more,
commonly to describe and illustrate with drawings the
experiments conducted by the teacher.

As regards elementary hygiene, the fault continues
to exist by which pupils are taught rather to repeat
the text of the pamphlets used by the teachers than
to understand the principles and practice of hyg-
iene, As in the case of nature study, more experi-
ments are wanted; this section of the report concludes,
however, in the following way: ‘I am afraid it is only.
too true that a great many teachers all over the country
are not sufficiently enthusiastic to give a moment's
thought to any lesson on the time table, be it hygiene,
or any other subject, before reaching school for their
day’s work.’ }

Vou. XI. No. 267.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 233

Experiments on Chlorosis.

Chlorosis is a condition in plants in which for sone
reason or other the green colouring matter is either
partially or entirely absent. An investigation for the
purpose of obtaining information concerning the causes
of chlorosis is described in the Comptes Rendus de
v Académie des Sciences (Paris) 1911, p.902. In this,
experiments were conducted in which maize was grown
in nutrient solutions, some of which were complete and
some incomplete, the omissions from the latter con-
sisting of such constituents as manganese, iron, sul-
phur, silicon, lime and chlorine.

The absence of sulphur and iron resulted in inter-
ference with development, and chlorosis; the effect of
the absence of the sulphur was shown more quickly
than that from the want of iron. Observations on the
development and constituents of the leaves showed
that the cause of chlorosis is, as was to be expected,
interference with nutrition. The condition could
always be corrected perfectly by supplying the plant
with the element that was wanting. ‘The green colour
could also be restored by pouring dilute ammonium
sulphate on the leaves.

Chlorosis was not found to be caused by the
absence of chlorine, magnesium or silicon.

ro ——

The Victoria Museum, Dominica.

The first annual report of the Directors of this
institution was gazetted on May 31, 1912. It
shows firstly, that the arrangements for starting the
Meseum were made in February 1910, and that
Messrs. H. A. A. Nicholls) CMG, M.D, F.LS,,
J. Jones (Curator of the Botanical Gardens), and E. A.
Agar, F.ES., were appointed by His Honour the
Administrator as a Board of Directors of the museum

The museum was opened to the public on
October 23, 1911, and it was decided that it should
be opened on alternate mornings and afternoons to the
general public, and at other times for the accommoda-
tion of visitors to the island.

Among those, others than the members of the
Board, who are mentioned as having given assistance
in connexion with the museum, have been Mr. Hugh
Scott, B.A., F.E.S., of the Museum of Zoology of the
University of Cambridge, Dr. D, Thaly, and Mr. P. W.
Jarvis.

The present contents of the museum, according to
the details given in the report, consist mainly of
specimens of insects, especially Lepidoptera and Cole-
optera; corals and land shells; samples of the agricul-
tural products of the island; polished specimens illus-
trative of the Simber resources of Dominica; and
a collection of Carib stone implements. Efforts to
add to these are being continued, while the economic
section is in the charge of the Botanical Department.

The general public has showed interest in the
collections, many specimens among which have been
provided by school children. When the museum was
opened it contained 1,271 specimens; at the time of
reporting the number had reached 1,501.

Black Blight in Grenada.

At a meeting of the Agricultural Board of Grenada
held in March last, the Superintendent of Agriculture
was asked to explain the reasons for the reduction to £50
of the amount on the Departmental Estimates for experi-
mentation in connexion with black blight. It was
stated in reply that such excellent results had been
obtained through the use of imported parasitic fungi
that avery small part of the sum of £100 that had
been voted previously was actually spent. It was
therefore considered that half that sum would be ample
for the work of the coming year.

This fact forms a very effective illustration of the
usefulness, under certain conditions, of parasitic fungi
in combating the scale insects that are followed by
black blight. The matter is dealt with at some length
in the last Annual Report (1910-11) on the Grenada
Botanic Station.

At the meeting mentioned it was decided ulti-
mately that the sum of £50 should stand, and that
this would be sufficient to provide, as well, a certain
amount that might be expended in trials of treatment
for the coco-nut palm bud rot.

Rubber-Growing in Sumatra.

The growing of rubber in plantations has become
one of the most important industries in Sumatra, and
is regarded as being of particular usefulness with res-
pect to the development of the east coast of the island.
According to a recent report by the British Vice-Con-
sul at Medan, dealing with the conditions on this coast,
about five-eighths of the capital invested in rubber is
British. Better means of communication are required,
however, for successful exploitation. The activity of
the different companies interested in the matter varies,
but preparations are being made by several of them to
plant considerable areas in rubber.

It is not possible to obtain reliable statistics as to
the amount of capital invested in the industry, and the
area under plantation rubber. Returns are available,
however, which go to show that about 130,000 acres of
rubber had been planted up to the end of last year; of
this, more than 125,000 acres was under Hevea brasil-
iensis. At the end of the time mentioned, it was
estimated that there were fifty British rubber com-
panies working in Sumatra, with an issued capital of
approximately £5,000,000, and a nominal capital of
about £6,200,000. An estimate gives the capital invested
by countries other than Great Britain, in rubber-grow-
ing in East Sumatra, as the following: Dutch
£3,000,000, German £80,000, Belgian £62,000, and
Swedish £20,000.

The number of companies that were producing
rubber at the time of reporting was about thirty, but
most of these have only commenced tapping recently,
and on a very small scale. Further estimates show
that the export of plantation rubber from the East
Coast of Sumatra during 1911 was about 677 tons;

of this about 554 tons was sent to London,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Juty 20, 1912.

=
[SS
Ss

Sr

INSEGT NOTES.

A NEW PEST OF COWPEAS.

In October 1911, officers of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture discovered the larvae of a lepidopterous insect
causing a considerable amount of injury to cowpeas growing
in a field on an estate near Bridgetown, Barbados.

The injury resulted from the attacks of these larvae on
the flower buds, leaf buds and young pods. From the con-
dition in the field at the time when this injury was first
noted, it seemed that the first attacks were on the buds, the
attacks on the pods only occurring at a much later time.

The effect of a general attack on the buds would be to
produce a condition such as existed in this field, where the
plants though advanced in age had made very little growth
of vine, and as a result the surface of the field was not more
than half covered, although it would appear that the growth
of the vines should have completely covered the ground.

As the cowpeas were grown principally for a green
dressing, it may be taken that the crop was not more than
50 per cent. of what it should have been, and probably this
condition was largely, if not entirely, attributable to this
insect.

The loss caused by the injury to the pods is also severe,
for not only is the amount of the vine greatly reduced, thus
lessening the number of pods, but many of the pods which
are developed, are damaged to such an extent as to be practi-
cally worthless.

On the occasion of one visit to the fields, the manager
seemed to attribute the condition to drought rather than to
insect attack.

Specimens of the moth were reared from larvae and
sent to Dr. L. O. Howard, Chief of the Bureau of Ento-
mology, United States Department of Agriculture, Wash-
ington, through whose courtesy the insect has been studied
by Dr. H. G. Dyar, who will describe it as Ballovia
cistipennis, creating a new genus, and a new species,

The full-grown larva of this species measures about
%-inch in length, and is of a pea-green colour until it is just
about to enter the ground to pupate. The pupal stage extends
over a period of fourteen to seventeen days.

The moth measures about {-inch across the outspread
wings, and about 3-inch in length when the wings are closed.

The general colour of the forewings is a pale grey above,
anda silvery grey below, while that of the hind wings is
a translucent white with pale honey-yellow veins. A striking
characteristic is a large dark spot in the basal half of the
forewing.

This insect is capable of becoming a serious pest and it
may easily be realized that methods for its control can only
be devised by experiment.

An insect causing similar injury to the horse bean
{Canavalia ensiformis) occurs in St. Kitts, but up to the pre-
sent time the adult has not been obtained,

THE CANE FLY IN MARTINIQUE.

The Bulletin of the Burcau of Agricultural Intelligence
and of Plant Diseases for April 1912 (3rd year, No. 4)
reviews at page 1074a paper entitled La Maladie dela Canne
a Sucre a la Martinique, by Eugene Bassiéres, which was
published in Suecrerie Indigéne et Coloniale, Paris, January 9,
1912.

It appears from the review that, at the end of 1910,
37 acres of .cane were observed to be suffering from attacks
of an insect not previously known there. This proved to be
Delphax saccharivora, Westwood, the cane fly which appears
occasionally in Barbados and other islands,

The author considers the development of the fly in
Martinique to be favoured by three causes: the carelessness
of the cultivators, who neglected the centrol of the pest on
its first appearance; the custom of using large quantities of
mineral fertilizers and scarcely ever employing farmyard
manure; and finally, the almost complete absence of insecti-
vorous birds in the sugar-cane plantations.

M. Bassieres advises the following method of control:—

(1) When the large or small canes are badly attacked
it is necessary, as far as possible, to burn the infected zones.
The canes could then be sent to the mill without further
trouble.

(2) In the case of tall canes, which have sutfered less
severely and can thus, without much loss, be allowed to
grow till the usual time of harvest, it is sufficient to ent
them as soon as possible after burning.

In the meantime, and in inaccessible places, a partial
burning will be advisable, and also the collection of the eggs
of the insect, ete.

(3) Young canes, intended to be cut in 1913, and which
are, so far, not irremediably affected, should be treated with
an insecticide.

For this purpose, the writer recommends various emul-
sions: with petroleum and soap bases according to the
American station and Hubbard-Riley formulae; with a basis-
of petroleum and hot milk of lime; bases of soft soap, tobacco
juice, sodium carbonate and alcohol; of soft soap and
spirits of turpentine; of soft soap and commercial ammonia

The preparations of petroleum and of ammonia seem to
be the most efficacious against the majority of the insects
belonging to the same family as Delphax.

The Brown Hard-back.—The occurrence of the
brown hard-back (Phytalus smithi, Arrow.) in Barbados and
Mauritius, was mentioned in the Insect Notes in the Agri
cultural News of March 16 last (see Vol. XI, p. 90).

In a letter to the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture,
under date of July 5, 1912, the Superintendent of the Local
Department of Agriculture, Barbados, announces that the
Assistant Superintendent has discovered that the larva of
Phytalus smithi is parasitized by a black wasp, which has
been identified through the courtesy of Mr. Guy A. K.
Marshall, Scientific Secretary of the Entomological Research
Committee, as Ziphia parallela, Smith.

The information is of considerable interest, and if it cam
be shown that 7%phia parallela is largely responsible for the
fact that Phytalus smith? occurs in only small numbers in
Barbados, is likely to prove of the greatest benefit in those
places where, as in Mauritius, the brown hard-back is abun-
dant and its larvae are serious pests as grubs in the soil,
attaeking the roots of sugar-cane and other crops.

Vor. XI. No. 267,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 93

Or

FUNTUMIA RUBBER IN SOUTHERN
NIGERIA.

The following interesting extracts are taken from
a report by the Provincial Forest Officer, Central
Province, Southern Nigeria, on the tapping of
Funtumia rubber in Benin City Communal Plantations,
in 1910,

The plantations are formed by the village people
under the supervision and encouragement of the Forest Staff.
It has been, and is still, the practice each year for the Forest
Staff to collect seed from the forest, take it to the villages
and make nurseries with the help of the village people.
Later in the year the Forest Staff supervises the planting out
into the plantations, the labour for all operations being sup-
plied by the villages and utilized under the direction of the
Forest Staff. In each village there are one or more ‘Ogas’
or headman who are told off to look after the plantations,
and whose duty it is to see that they are kept weeded, ete.
These Ogas are usually exempted from other work.

TAPPING, Tapping was commenced on June 8, the
greater part of May having been taken up in building a dry-
ang shed at Benin City for the reception of the rubber when
it came in from the plantations. The trees were tapped on
the full herring-bone system, to a height of 10 feet, and half-
way round the tree.

COAGULATION. ‘his was done by boiting, as it was thought
unwise to introduce acids or chemicals of any description for
the purpose. My opinion is that all the operations should be
done in a way that the natives can easily imitate. It
was a matter of some experiment before we arrived at the
correct quantity of water to use, when cooking, to prevent
turning; but it was eventually gauged to a nicety, and
I think I may say that after the first month there was not
a single buscuit spoiled by burning, whereas at first quite 50
per cent. were burned.

The boiling was done in enamel-lined saucepans holding
about 3 pints, putting in about 1} pints of water to a quar-
ter of a pint of latex; the water was brought to boiling point
before the latex was putin. It was found necessary to get
the proportion of water to latex fairly correct as too little
water results in burning, whilst too much causes the whole
thing to overflow and thus waste the rubber. During the
coagulation the rubber is kept off the sides of the vessel with
a clean stick, and the mass is cooked until the remaining
liquid becomes quite clear.

A point worth mentioning here is that fresh latex, that
is, that just taken from the trees cannot be cooked satisfac-
torily. It is impossible to get the water clear, and in the
efforts to do so the rubber becomes over cooked and too tough
to roll out. If taken out whilst still soft enough to roll
there is necessarily a large amount of rubber left behind in
the water, and this of course is wasted. On the other hand,
if the latex is allowed to stand for twelve hours, the water is
cleared without excessive cooking; the rubber is in a pliant
state capable of easy rolling, and there is no waste. Evi-
dently some mechanical change takes place in the latex
whilst standing, which makes the globules cohere more
readily.

After cooking, the rubber is thrown on to a table or
other flat surface and rolled out into thin biscuits with
a wooden roller. ‘The side of a box and a bottle answer
the purpose quite well, in the absence of more convenient
apparatus,

fter cooking, which in each case was done in the
plantation, the rubber was brought into Benin .City and
washed. It was found necessary to wash it for a whole day
in the same way that one washes a photographic plate, in
order thoroughly to get rid of the serum. After washing it
was placed in the specially built rubber-drying shed.

This building is 54 feet long by 20 feet wide, and is con-
structed of squared timber and corrugated iron, the sides
being made to open for ventilation. Internally it is fitted
with a series of wire netting shelves to receive the rubber
biscuits, it being found impracticable to handle them.

It takes a long time to dry the rubber thoroughly, and
it is doubtful if it is possible to bring it to the requisite
state of dryness during the wet season without the aid of
artificial drying apparatus. During last season small fires
were kept going in the shed most of the time, but even then
the June rubber was not considered sufficiently dry to sell
before October, and the whole was not ready for shipment
until December.

There is one interesting point in connexion with the
drying of rubber which I should like to mention, and that is
the cause of tackiness, As is well known by anyone who
has had to do with rubber (Funtumia rubber at any rate), it
frequently happens that some of the biscuits become tacky;
that is to say, they become sticky on the outside, and the
whole mass gradually becomes converted into a gum-like
substance which sticks to everything and cannot be got rid
of. This occurred with several of our biscuits last year, and
for a long time I was at a loss to account for it. I found on
experiment that it was only on the outside of the shed,
where the rukber was exposed to the morning or afternoon
sun, that the tackiness occurred. This, of course, would
have been noticed before had it not been for the fact that
the biscuits were constantly turned to accelerate drying, and
in the operation the positions were altered.

After this discovery I erected palm leaf shades on either
side of the shed, and since then there has heen no tacky
rubber

RESULTS. The season’s operations comprised the tapping
and thinning of eighty-four plantations, the total number of
trees tapped, that is trees 18 inches in girth and over, being
4,706, yielding 413 Ib. 12 oz of dry rubber. The total
number of trees tapped to exhaustion and cut out was
28,815, yielding 608 lb. 4 oz. of dry rubber. The total yield
of dry rubber was 1,022 tb. The loss of weight in drying
was 37°7 percent. The average yield per tree of tapped
trees, that is 18 inches in girth and upwards, was 1:4 oz.
The average yield per tree of thinned trees, that is tapped to
exhaustion, was 0°3 oz.

The rubber was sold by Messrs. Figgis & Co. in London,
in March. It was put up in three lots and realized the
following prices, finest plantation Para at the same date
fetching 6s. 1ld. per tb.: lot 1, 470 tb, 6s. 6d. per bb;
lot 2, 466 tb., 6s. 1dd., and lot 3, 60 tb., 5s. 6d. per tbh. This
is an average of nearly 6s. ld. per Ib.

Lot 2 was composed of slightly thicker biscuits than
lot 1, whilst lot 3, was partly composed of the tacky rubber
previously mentioned.

The gross sum realized was £302 12s. 9d., whilst
brokerage and other charges amounted to £5 lls, 7d,
making a net result of £297 1s. 2d,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Juty 20; 1912:

GLEANINGS.

It is reported from Nevis that about 300 acres of cotton
were planted in the island during last month. Germination
had been fair, but at the time of reporting the seedlings were
suffering much from drought.

Information received from the Agricultural Superin-
tendent, St. Vincent, states that the sales of selected and
disinfected cotton seed to small growers, from the Central
Cotton Ginnery, for the present season, have amounted to
about 7,000 h..

The distribution from the St. Lucia Botanic Station
during the month of June included the following plants:
limes 5,600, cacao 300, budded oranges 6, grafted mangoes
4, nutmegs 56, ornamental plants 474. ‘There were also
sent out 183 packets of seeds.

Details supplied from the Dominica Botanic Station
show that the distribution from that Station during June
included the following plants: limes 6,025, cacao 300, grafted
cacao 30, budded grape fruit 20, grafted mangoes 6, miscel-
laneous 18. The total distribution for the month comprised
6,399 plants.

In the Luxperiment Station Record, Vol. XXVI, p. 559,
issued May 7, 1912, mention is made of an instance of para-
sitism of a mosquito by a midge. The midge, which is
a small Chironomid fly, was observed with its proboscis insert-
ed into a mosquito (Myzomyia rossii), from which it was
apparently sucking blood.

A copy has been received of a new monthly publication
entitled Revue Beonomique Internationale, which contains
several useful articles dealing in a general way with the
exploitation of plants, notably of those used in rubber pro-
duction. The office from which the journal is issued is situ-
‘ated at 4 Rue du Parlement, Brussels.

We are asked to say that Lady Hooker will be grateful
if any of her friends who possess letters written by her late
husband, Sir Joseph Hooker, will lend them to her for the
purposes of a biography which Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co..
will publish. The letters, which should be forwarded to Lady
Hooker at The Camp, Sunningdale, will be carefully returned.
(Vature, June 13, 1912.)

The announcement is made that a new work entitled
Coco-nuts, The Consols of the East, will be ready shortly.
The authors of this are H. Hamel Smith, the editor of
Tropical Life, and F. A. G. Pape, F.R.G.S. It is to deal
with the cultivation of coco-nuts and the utilization of the
by-products of the plant, and will be fully illustrated. The
price of the work will be 11s., post free.

An estimate of the cotton crop of German East Africa,
contained in the Bérsen Zeitung (Berlin), of May 3, gives
the cotton crop of German East Africa for the present sea-
son as 5,000 bales (of 550 tb.), and that of Togoland as
2,500 bales; the value of this cotton will be about £150,000.
It is expected that the production will increase further in
1912-13, for the amount of seed that is being sown has almost
doubled.

The President of the Board of Trade has appointed
Mr. C. Hamilton Wickes, at present His Majesty’s Trade
Commissioner for Australia, to be His Majesty’s Trade
Commissioner for Canada, in place of Mr. Richard Grigg,
who has resigned on acceptance of an important appointment
under the Dominion Government. Mr. Hamilton Wickes
will take up his duties in Canada early in the autumn of
this year. (Zhe Board of Trade Journal, May 23, 1912.)

According to the Annual Report of the Durban
Chamber of Commerce for 1911, the Natal sugar industry
made considerable progress during last year. The crop of
that year yielded 92,000 tons of sugar as compared with
82,000 tons in 1910, the increase being partly due to the
erection of improved machinery, and partly to the greater
acreage. The estimate is made that the crop of 1912 will
produce 112,000 tons; this will be sufticient to snpply
nearly all the needs of South Africa as far as sugar is
concerned,

The Government Gazette of the territory of Papua for
May 1, 1912, signalizes the discovery of petroleum on the
Vailala River, in Papua, by a report by the Assistant
yovernment Geologist of New South Wales of an inyesti-
gation of the supposed indications of the occurrence of oil
that was made in the first months of this year. The original
discoveries which led to the prediction of the existence of oil
took place in September 1911. The same issue of the
Gazette contains a despatch regarding the procedure to be
adopted in regard to petroleum leases in Papua.

Dealing with part of the Dutch West Indies, Diplomatic
and Consular Reports, No. 4879 Annual Series gives the
following information: ‘The cultivation of cotton has been
favourably reported upon in the Island of St. Eustatius.

‘Complaints continue to come in regarding the bad conditions
‘prevailing in the harbour of Willemstad. The Budget pro-

vides for the enlargement on a small scale of the St. Anne
Bay. Further measures were made dependent upon the
findings of a committee constituted to inguire into the
possible results which the opening of the Panama Canal
might have upon the Netherlands and her colonies.’

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. _ 237

" STUDENTS’ CORNER

JULY.
/ Tutrp Perron.
Seasonal Notes.

During the present quarter, lime-planting will be pro-
eeeded with, the preparations for this having been made
previously. What are those preparations, and why are they
made? An early opportunity should be taken for the setting
out of the plants, in order that they may be given time to
become well established before the dry weather commences.
State what happens to the parts ofa lime plant that are
below ground, after it has been transplanted. Where there
is a good rainfall, particularly where this is likely to be
excessive, a method of planting may be employed which
does not entail any preliminary preparations in the first half
of the year. In this method, after the rows have been lined
out, an area of 4 to 5 sqnare feet is forked around each of
the stakes showing the positions of the plants, and the soil
is drawn up to form a slight mound. On the middle of each
mound, a lime plant is placed and the roots spread out; the
latter are then covered with soil from the outer part of
the mound. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that
the plants will be growing well above the general surface of
the soil in the plantation; it has the further useful effect
of assisting drainage to a great extent—an important matter
where the rainfall is large. In cases where the drainage is
insufficient, what is likely to happen to (1) the soil, (2) the
plant! State broadly how the nature of the bacterial action
is likely to be changed in soils when the excess of water that
falls as rain is unable to flow away freely. With reference to
the method of lime-planting just described, the circular areas
that are clear, round the plants, can easily be kept free from
weeds, and those growing between them may be cutlassed
occasionally,

The distance for planting limes varies with different
circumstances, one of these being the kind of soil in which
they are to grow. Discuss the conditions that decide the
distance from one another at which the plants have to be
placed, and give reasons for the plan that is followed,
in this respect, under circumstances with which you have
practical acquaintance.

In lime plantations, where it is considered advisable or
necessary to thin the plants, the present season is the best
for the purpose, as the rainfall will cause growth to be
made, on the part of the plants that are allowed to remain,
that will cause the intervening spaces to be covered up
quickly. One effect of heavy rains may be to cause the
drains to become blocked up; care should be taken that they
are kept open continually.

Where manures have been applied, and where the
drainage has been improved, in lime cultivations, any result-
ing improvement in the growth of the plants will be shown
most plainly at the present time of the year. Further, it is
at this time that careful note should be made of the progress
and growth of the trees, and where any individual plants or
groups of plants do not show a sutfticient amount of develop-
ment, a careful enquiry should be made into the conditions of
such plants, in order to discover if the circumstance that is

unfavourable consists in the state of the soil or in the
presence of disease. Give an account of any diseases of
lime plants of which you have knowledge, and state what
should he done in cases where diseases are thought to be
doing harm.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS,

(1) State what substances or classes of substances gen-
erally go to make up a soil.

(2) How may the agriculturist cause nitrogen to be
added to the soil!

(3) What precautions are employed in transplanting
plants!

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) From what sources may the phosphates in a soil be
derived!

(2) Describe the ways in which nitrogen is added to
soils, directly and indirectly.

(3) Why is the root system of plants often reduced,
before they are transplanted?

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) How do phosphates become available in soils?

(2) Give the general principles of the manufacture of
manures containing nitrogen derived from the air.

(3) State why plants are transplanted, dealing (1)
with practical considerations, (2) the effect on the plant
itself.

The Porto Rico University Agricultural
College.—An announcement has been received that the
Agricultural College of the University of Porto Rico will
begin work in September in a building specially ereeted for it
at Mayaguez. There will be no fees for tuition, and books
will be provided free; there are no expenses except living
expenses. A complete equipment will be available, including
all apparatus for the study of agricultural subjects, and what
is as important, there will be a full and competent teach-
ing faculty. A limited number of scholarships is to be
granted, giving the holder a monthly allowance; details®
concerning these may be obtained by application to the Dean.
The lengths of the courses that may be taken are four
years, five years and one year; it is intended also to give short
courses of one week.

The plan to be followed is that, during the first two
years the courses of study will be alike for all, and planned
in order to give a general education in certain languages,
mathematics and science. by this means an opportunity will
be afforded to a student to choose effectively his course of
further study, or to elect to carry his efforts to some other
centre of instruction.

A certain amount of work has been done already, for
since January, what are termed Agricultural Institutes have
been held throughout the island, and will continue until the
end of this month. It is stated that these have been at-
tended by hundreds of teachers, who have received practical
instruction in agriculture and have become interested in the
work.

The Board of Trade Journal for May 2, 1912, shows
that the quantity of rubber exported from Para, Manaos,
Iquitos, and Itacoatiara for the first quarter of this year was
30,256,521 tb. In the first quarter of 1911 the shipments
amounted to 22,415,868 Ib.

Lo
(ss)
io.)

FUNGUS NOTES.

A BUD DISEASE OF THE COCO-NUT
PALM IN MEXICO.

The important bud rot disease of coco-nuts has occupied
considerable attention of late, and the recent work of
Johnston attributing it to Bacillus coli was reviewed in the
Agricultural News, Vol. XI, pp. 94 and 110. This work
was done on the form of the disease that occurs in the West
Indian Islands, and does not necessarily apply to all such
diseases. In the Agricultural News, Vol. X, pp. 14 and 30,
some account was given of a bud rot of palms in India
attributed by Butler to Pythiwm palmivorum, and it was
stated that one of the species occasionally subject to this
disease was the coconut. In the English section of the
Review of Tropical Agriculture, Vol. II, p. 295, appears an
article by QOlssen-Seffer on a bud rot of coco-nut palms in
Mexico, particularly prevalent on the east coast. This
disease the writer attributes to Pythium palmivorum, the
cause of the Indian disease already referred to; as will be
seen from the account which follows, the Mexican disease
differs somewhat in its symptoms from the accounts given of
the West Indian disease, particularly in the appearance of
brown stained spots on the bole of the tree, in the exudation
of gum from these spots, and in the fact that the outer leaves
appear to decay first and not the central spike. Olssen-Seffer’s
account is as follows: —

‘As far back as 1898 a disease similar in its effects to
the destructive “bud rot” disease of cocoanut palms in the
West Indies, was known on the eastern coast (of Mexico),
killing out the cocoanuts in many districts.

‘Bud rot due to a fungus. The parasite which is respon-
sible for the disease is a fungus (Pythium palmivorum, Butl.),
which gains entrance through the leaf sheaths which closely
encircle the green tops of the stem below the point where the
expanded leaves open out into the spreading head. Its
principal characters of importance—from the point of view
of treatment—are that it only emerges from the tissues
of the leaf sheaths, to form spores in the inner layers of
sheaths, and that hence in the early stages before the dead
stalks drop off, it is not exposed to conveyance by the wind.
Furthermore, on account probably of the sugary nature
of the palm saps, its track is rapidly followed by hosts of
putrefying organisms which not only lead to the putrid heart
rot of dead trees, but also rapidly destroy by ‘‘poisoning” the
parasite itself with the probable exception of its durable
spores

‘The spores of the parasite are of two kinds: a temporary
form suited for very rapid propagation limited in time and
space and quite ephemeral, and a lasting or durable form
whose structure shows it to be well capable of withstanding
adverse circumstances and probably of living many months.

‘The full history of the latter is not yet known but it is
the probable agent of extensive as opposite to intensive
infection. It is possibly capable of surviving even the
putrefaction of the bud which the rest of the fungus cannot
do, and after exposure by complete rotting of the “cabbage”
may be conveyed to fresh trees and secure their infection.
Water is necessary for the germination of the spores, but
rain drops or the film of dew in cold weather is suffici-
ent. Cases of infection are rare in the dry season, and
take place chiefly in the cold weather (when there is
much fog and dew), and to some extent during the rains.
The conditions necessary for the spread of disease are

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. JuLy 20, 1912.

(1) the exposure of the diseased inner leaf sheaths to the air
(with some animal bird or insect capable of conveying
infective matter); (2) the prevalence of moist or foggy
weather or copious dew, to allow of germination of the spores.

‘I find (1) the first symptom visible is a slight brown
discoloration on the back of the centre rib of the heart limb;
(2) as each limb appears it is more and more discoloured;
(3) a brown stain appears in spots upon the bole of the trees;
(4) later a clear gum appears in great gouts and hardens on
each discoloured spot on the bole; (5) all the outer limbs of
the tree begin to drop down; (6) the young blossoms of the
trees show signs of brown decay; (7) the whole spike of
heart leaves leans over and finally drops right out of the tree;
(8) the tree is dead.

‘I have observed the following also: (1) the trees ap-
pear to die in patches of three or four, (2) the trees never die
on a hillside; (3) the land where they die has always been of
a yellowish clay.

‘The treatment recommended. The first circumstance can
be prevented by destroying all diseased heads in the early
stages, before the “cabbage” falls apart, the second seems at
present beyond human control, except that poison can be
applied to the seat of new infection; on these considerations
the treatment is based. I am confident that the burning of
diseased tops, thoroughly carried out, will in itself be sufti-
cient to check the disease.’

THE PASTEURIZATION OF MILK.

MEANING OF THE TERM ‘PASTEURIZATION’.. Pasteuriza-
tion as applied to milk is the process of heating for a short
or long period as the different methods demand at temper-
atures usually between 140° and 185° F. The process must
be followed by rapid cooling. The term originated from the
experiments of Pasteur, in France, from 1860 to 1864, on
the ‘diseases’ of wine, in which he found that the heating for
a few moments at a temperature of 122° to 140° F. was
sufficient to prevent abnormal fermentations and souring in
the wine. A little later Pasteur found that by a similar
heating beer could be preserved from souring. The applica-
tion of the process gave rise to the term Pasteurization.

VALUE OF PASTEURIZATION. The value of pasteuriza-
tion from a sanitary standpoint is of the greatest importance
when market milk is under consideration.

In the first place, the pasteurization of milk, when the
process is properly performed, affords protection from
pathogenic organisms. Such disease-producing bacteria as
Bacillus tuberculosis, B. typhi, B. diphtheriae, and the
dysentery bacillus, are destroyed, or at least have lost their
ability to produce disease, when heated at 140° F. for twenty
minutes or more. Although the infective agent in scarlet
fever is unknown, epidemics of the disease hav heen traced
to milk supplies, and in such cases pasteurizati n has been
resorted to as a means of safeguarding the public, with
apparently satisfactory results.

In the second place, pasteurization causes a reduction of
the infantile death rate due to the ordinary intestinal dis-
turbances. Numerous experiments definitely prove the value
of pasteurization in this connexion. While it has not been
possible to isolate any special organisms which act as the
causative agents in the common infantile intestinal troubles
other than the one producing dysentery, it seems that high
bacterial numbers in the milk consumed are associated with
such diseases.

In the third place, pasteurization is of value from a com-
mercial standpoint in so far as it increases the keeping quality
of the milk and prevents financial losses caused by souring.

Vou. XI. No. 267.

Commercial pasteurization as practised at the present time
with reasonable care destroys about 99 per cent. of the
bacteria, but it does not prevent the ultimate souring of milk,
although it does delay the process.

QUALITY OF THE MILK TO BE PASTEURIZED. Only clean
milk should be pasteurized, and it shouid never be pasteur-
ized more than once. Dirty milk containing many millions
of bacteria per cubic centimetre is not fit for consumption,
and should be condemned. Pasteurization should not be
resorted to in order to make dirty milk sweet long enough
to be sold or simply to pass legal regulations, but should be
used only to make clean milk a safe milk.

METHODS OF PASTEURIZATION. Milk is pasteurized by
two processes, one known as the ‘flash’ or ‘continuous’ process,
in which the flowing milk is heated to the required temper-
ature and held there from thirty seconds to one minute.
The other is known as the ‘holder’ or ‘holding’ process, and
sometimes the term ‘held pasteurization’ is applied. By the
latter method the milk is held for approximately thirty
minutes at the temperature desired. (From Circular 184, of
the Bureau of Animal Industry of the United States
Department of Agriculture; issued April 23, 1912.)

AGRICULTURE IN ST. VINCENT, 1910-11.

It is pleasing to record a further increase in the amount
of land under cultivation in cotton, as also a slightly improv-
ed yield of lint as compared with that of the two preceding
years. So long as the average value of this product remains
at 18d. per Ib. of lint, it must constitute the staple crop of
the Colony, although arrowroot at its present minimum price
of 3d. per lb. should prove a stout competitor for the honour-
able place. While arrowroot can be grown on any land
where cotton is cultivable, on the contrary, cotton cannot be
raised on all lands where arrowroot can be cultivated; in
fact its area of production is limited to the coastal lands.
Thus it is unlikely that the one crop will ever be entirely
forsaken for the other.

In the St. Vincent Grenadines, notably Union, Canouan,
and Mayreau, the common Marie Galante type of cotton is
grown. It is cultivated as a perennial, and produces a short
coarse, lint valued usually at from 8d. to 9d. per tb. The
exports of this cotton during the past six years amounted in
the aggregate to 166,576 Ib. weight, valued at £7,039. In
several of the other islets, Bequia, Mustique, Battowia. and
Balliceaux, the cultivation of Sea Island cotton has been
taken up exclusively, and with very satisfactory results.

The table given below shows the area planted in Sea
Island cotton, together with the yield of lint and the average
per acre during the past six years.

Crop year. Acreage planted. Weight of lint
in hb.

Yield of lint
per acre, in hb.

1905-6 790 137,460 174
1906-7 1,533 286,275* 175
1907-8 3,250* 432,000 135
1908-9 3,000 372,000 124
1909-10 2,528 356,139 141
1910-11 3,587 561,526 156

Arrowroot in export value reached a figure of £30,089
as compared with £31,792 in the preceding year. This
crop is again becoming a source of attention to growers inside
the Colony and of commercial attraction to buyers outside
the Colony. The Arrowroot Growers’ and Exporters’ Associa-
tion commenced their operations on December 1, 1910, and

* These figures are given ieonrectlps they should be
268,275 and 3,200.—Kd., A.V.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 239

their method of working would indicate great beneficial
results to the industry. In support of this it may be stated
that whilst on December 1, 1910, the price of ordinary manu-
facturing arrowroot stood at 12d. to 113d. per Ib, at date of
writing the quotation for that article is 3}d. to 34d. per bb.
It is also to be noticed that stocks on hand are considerably
lower than for a number of years gone by.

Sugar continues to be grown chiefly in the Carib country
estates, but the exportation figures indicate no increase in
quantity. The only noticeable feature with regard to this
crop is the increase in the amount of export of crystallized
sugar, showing a corresponding decrease in the export of
muscovado sugar.

The cultivation of cacao raises no enthusiasm in St. Vin-
cent, and it seems conclusive that only certain favoured
localities and spots are suitable for its growth. The export
value figures are practically the same as in last year—
£4,132 for the year under review as compared with £4,088
in 1909-10.

During the last four months of the year under review
there was a marked decrease in the number of deaths among
stock from anthrax. This is due to the stringent and
efficient measures of vaccination and burial of carcasses which
have been continuously carried out since that disease evinced
its presence in the Colony in malignant form. Since April
1, 1911, up to the time of writing (ten months) only one
case of death from anthrax has been discovered by the
Government Veterinary Surgeon and that death took place in
July. Thus seven months have elapsed without a single
death amongst stock from the dread disease. Human
anthrax has not been known in the Colony for seven years,
The time has come when the neighbouring colonies may well
agree to recognize St. Vincent as free from disease and accept
stock from here, under certificate from the Government
Veterinary Surgeon that they have been exported from
a locality non-infected with anthrax and that the forage
accompanying such stock has likewise come from a non-in-
fected area. During the year an Ordinance has been passed
making provision for compulsory vaccination of stock in
areas where the disease may become epizootic. (Colonial
Reports—Annual, No. 712.)

THE MULBERRY AND THE WEST
INDIES.

The revived interest in the possibility of carrying on
a silk-raising industry in the West Indies has led to the
question as to the suitability of the white mulberry (Morus
alba) for growing in this part of the world. In relation to
this question, seeds of this plant have been distributed by
the Commissioner of Agriculture among the Botanic Stations
in the Windward and Leeward Islands, in order that trials
may be made,

In acknowledging the receipt of some of these seeds,
Mr. J. Jones, Curator of the Botanic Station, Dominica,
states that on his arrival in that island, in 1892, he found
Morus aiba established at the Station for the purpose of
raising silkworms: nothing, however, resulted from the
attempts that were made at the time, though this does not
mean that future work may not be successful.

The further interesting fact is mentioned by Mr. Jones,
that a strong plant of Morus alba still remains in the col-
lection at the station, from which seeds could be obtained
from time to time; and it is indicated further that the
existence of the plant in the gardens for a period of over
twenty years shows that the white mulberry is well suited
to the conditions under which it has grown in Dominica.

New York,—Messrs.

Trinidad,—Messrs.

240

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

Jury 20, 1912,

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—Tse West Inpia CommitrEE CircuLaR,
July 2, 1912;°Messrs. E. A. Dz Pass & Co.,
June 21, 1912.

Arrowkoot—3id. to 43d.

Batata—sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/74 per tb.

Brereswax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 61/- to 80/- per cwt.; Grenada, 60/-
to 66/-; Jamaica, 54/- to61/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 70/- to 80/- per cwt.

Uorra—West Indian, £26 10s. to £26 15s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota:
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 20d. to 30d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honry—No quotation.

Limz JuiceE—Raw, 2/; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d. to £19;
otto of limes (hand pressed), no quotations.

Log woop—No quotations.

MacE—2s. to 2s. 9d.

Nourmrecs—dd. to Ls.

Pimento—Common, 24d.; fair, 2;%d.; good, 23d.; per tb.

Rupper—Para, fine hard, 4/8}; tine soft, 4/2; Castilloa,
4/2 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/- to 6/-

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

GittesPi—E Bros. & Co., June

28, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 14{c. to 15$c.; Grenada, 13Zc. to 144c.;
Trinidad, 14c. to 144c. per th.; Jamaica, ll}c. to 12+4ce.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $23°00 to $25°00; culls,
$13:°00 to $14:00; Trinidad, select, $22:00 to $24:00;
culls, $13°00 to $14°00 per M.

CorrEE—Jamaica, 14$c. to 16#c. per tt.

GincEeR—8jc. to llc. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 43c.
to 45c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 4lce. to 42c.
per tb.

Grape-FRvuit—Jamaica, $6°00 to $7:00.

Limzes—$5°50 to $6°00.

Macre—No quotations.

Nurmrecs—110’s, 13c. to 13}c.

OrancEes—Jamaica, $1°75 per box.

Pimento—3d. per fb.

Suear—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°86c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°36c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°1lc. per ft., all duty paid.

Gorpon, Grant & Co., July 8,
1912,

Cacao—Venezuelan, $16°50 per fanega; Trinidad, $15:00
to $15°75.

Coco-nut O1L—8de. per Imperial gallon,

CorreE—Venezuelan, 16$c. per fb.

Corra—$4°50 per 100 tb.

Dxat—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°50 to $3°50 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprrt—$7 25 to $7°50 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°50 to $2°75 per 100 te.

Rice—Yellow, $4°8u to $4°90; White, $6°25
per bag.

Suear—American crushed, no quotations

to $6°35

Barbados,—Messrs, James A. Lyncxu & Co., Ltd., July 13,

1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., July 15,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., June 21, 1912.

ArRowRoot—$7‘00 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$13:00 to $13°50 per 100 tb.

Cocoa-Nuts—$16°00.

Hay—$1°80 to $2:00 per 100 tb.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45°00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$1°‘00 to $2°75 per 100 tb.

Peas, Serit—$7‘00 per bag of 210 th.; Canada $3-00 to
$5°40 per bag of 120 tb.

Poratoes—Nova Scotia, $4°50 per 160 tb.

Ricre—Ballam, $5:10 per 190 th.; Patna, no quotations;
Rangoon, no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $5:00 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs.

8, 19125
July 6, 1912.

Wietinc & Ricarer, July
Messrs. SANDBACH, ParKER & Co.,

ARTICLES.

Messrs. WIETING

& RIcHTER. © iGo.
Arrowroot—St. Vincent — a
Batata—Venezuelablock|} No quotation Prohibited
Demerara sheet 70c. per tb. —
Cacao—Native 14c. per tb. 14c. per th.
Oassava— $132. No quotation
Cassava STARCH— $750 No quotation
Coco-NuTs— $16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
Corrre—Creole 19c. per tb. 18c. per fb.
Jamaica and Rio 20c. per th. 21c.
Liberian 15c. per th. l5c. per tb.
DxHat— $5:00 per bag of ——
168 tb.
Green Dhal —— ——
Eppors— $2°40 —
Mo tasses—Yellow None —_
Ontons—Teneriffe —-
Madeira 5e. per tb. —
Preas—Split $6°75 to $7:00 per| $7°15 per bag
bag (210 tb.) (210 tb.)
Marseilles —— No quotation
PLantTaIns— l6c. to 48c. ——
Potators—Nova Sczotia —— $4:00
Lisbon $2 75 to $3:00 N» quotation
Potators-Sweet, B’bados $3°36 —
per bag
Rice—Ballam No quotation —
Creole $6-00 $600
Tannias— $3°24 ——
Yams— White $264 —-
Buck $3°24
Sucar—Dark crystals $2°75 to $2:80 $2°75 to $2°90
Yellow $3°40 to $3°50 $3°50
White $4°00 oe
Molasses $2°60 to $2°80 ——
Timper—Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot cub. foot
Wallaba shingles} $3°75 to $600 | $4:00 to $6°00
per M. per M.
+ Cordwood| $1°80 to $2-00 No quotation.
per ton

Messrs. SAnp-
BACH, PARKER

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.

Volumes IJ, IIT, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. No. 1. No. 2:—West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of Papers and Proceedings;
List of Nepresentatives; Presidential Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad and Tobago; Cacao;
Sugar; Plaut Diseases and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural
Education; Excursions and Demonstrations; Trade Commissioner in Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomo-
logical Research Committee; Committee on Entomological Research, West Indies; Nomenclature Com-
mittee; Usefulness of Agricultural Conferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

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 seventy. 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.; No. 66, 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-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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; Price 4d.

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d. (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

Scare Insects. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
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Part If., No. 22, price 4d. (65) Hints for School Gardens, Fourth Edition.
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(71) Insect Pests of the Lesser Antilles. Price 1s. 3d.

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 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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 1X complete, with title page and index, asissued
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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. Mosetzy, Agricultural Schoel.
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: THE EpucationaLt Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BRIDGEWATER, Rosean.

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rozgson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: Tur ‘Datty Cnrontcie Orrice,Georgetown. Ancgua: Mr. S. D. Matonz, St. John’s.
Trinidad - Messrs. Murr-MarsHati & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Toe Brsute anp Book SuppLiy AceEnoy, Basseterre.
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLacEmann, Scarborough. Zlevis : Messrs. HowxELL, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 267.

THE eI Ia NEWS,

Jury 20, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

ARE

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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF'’S) GUANO WORKS

Londo=

Agency:

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

COTTON SEED MEAL!
COTTON SEED MEAL!!

SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR MANURIAL |
PURPOSES.

Cun be obtained from:—
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE
COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

N.B.—Special quotation for large lots.

| FOR SALE.

PRIME SU MMER YE YELLOW COTTON
SEED OIL.
In casks or 5-gallon tins (in Bond).
COTTON SEED CAKE MEAL.
ERNEST THORNE, LTD.,
Cotton Seed Oil Mills,
Barbados, W.LI,
Telegraphic address,
‘Thorum.’

ST. LUCIA.
FOR SALE.

BOSQUET DOR ESTATE,

Comprising 300 acres, well situated in Mabouya Valley
on main road to, and 24 miles from, Dennery; about 25 acres
in Cocoa, crop 50 bags, and 15 acres in Sugar-cane, crop 200
tons; soil very suitable for Limes, a few acres planted.

For further particulars apply to:—

A. R. G. HUNTER,
La Cave, Dennery, St. Lucia; or to

(267) DUNCAN FERGUSON, Castries.

jand Fruit,

|

| JUST ISSUED.

| WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 2.)

West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912; Abstract of
| Papers and Proceedings: List of Repres entatives; Presi: ential
Address; Agricultural Progress in Trinidad andl Tubago;
Cacao; Sugar; Plant Biecenses and Pests, Cocoa-nut, Lime
and Rice Industries; Cotton; Agricultural ‘Educa.
tion: Excursions and iJemonstrations; ‘rade Commissioner in
Canada; Telegraphic Service; Entomological Research Com-
mittee; c ommittee on Entomologic al R esearch, West Indies;
| Nomenclature Committee; Usefulness of Agricultural Con-
ferences; Forestry; Closing of the Conference.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the Department's

|

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Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

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Calle dei Aren2! 16,
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f
THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. | —

| SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, should be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE’ SEND TT FRE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

aa |

: IE

ag ee
Shae) wat:
SI x

Bars OR ee Wess
Da LUZERN INNS
=AXK a SW NS YS

CUL

be ES
; i

A‘ FORENIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vout. XI. No. 268.

BARBADOS, AUGUST 3, 1912.

Price ld.

CONTENTS
PaGE, PaGE
British Guiana, School Insect Notes (Contd.):—
Gaidens in ... ... 249 Natural Control of
Citrus Chamber of Sicily 249 Citrus Mealy-bug ... 250
Coco-nuts in Zanzibar ... 244 | Legumes in Orchards ... 248
Pepes drying, Artificial....254 | stanov, Dried a. 244
avijs Ornata... 254 | Market R ka 256
Cotton Notes :— arre SPOrts
Selling of West Indian Notes and Comments ... 248
Cotton ... 246 Roots, Absorption and
Waste in Cotton- Spinn- Excretion by ... 245
ing through Ihregular Rubber, Names and
Staple... paste wos ets Kinds of ... =. Bees}
Kuphorbias Yielding Rub- Soil Moisture, Influence
ber Jon Dae eres eet] on Nitrification 248
Germination, Influence of Students’ Corner ... . 253
Light on 255 Sulphur as a Manure ... 251
Gleanings... ... ... ... 252 Sugar Industry :—
Guadeloupe, Agricultural Sugar Industry in India 243
Experiments in... 245 Trees, Preservation of ... 251
Hurricanes . 241 | Typhoid Bacillus and
Insect. Notes :— the House-Fly.... ... 249
Account of Twig Gird- West Indian Cotton ... 254
lers . 250 | West Indian Products ... 253
Hurricanes,

ov HE last occasion on which information regard-

ing hurricanes was published in the Agri-

cultwral News was that of the issue of

July 10, 1909. With the present approach of the
hurricane s2ason, a convenient opportunity is atforded
for dealing again with the subject, so that readers
may be reminded of what is the true nature of hurri-

canes and of the signs by which observers may be led
to expect their approach.

A hurricane is a cyclonic storm; that is to say
a storm in which the wind swings round in a circle, or
more correctly in a spiral, while the whole system
moves along more slowly. The origin of such storms
is near the Equator, and they result from a great
uprush of air which causes more air to flow in from
every side to take its place. The effect is that the
movement of the wind becomes circular; an interesting
analogy is afforded by the eddying of water running
out of a hole in the bottom of a basin—only that in this
case the causative movement of the fluid is downward
instead of upward. North of the Equator, this circular
movement is always in a direction opposite to that
normally taken by the hands of a watch, becanse as
was discovered by Ferrel, the rotation of the earth
causes all moving bodies in the northern hemisphere to
swerve a little to the right, and this movement of all
the particles counter-clockwise
motion. In the southern hemisphere, the swerve is
to the left, and thus in cyclones there the wind travels
with the hands of a watch.

causes a general

Experience has shown that, while Trinidad and
Grenada are not likely to be visited by a hu'ricane,
St. Vincent ard Barbados are much more subject to
such disturbances, or at least to the high winds that
occur toward the outer limit of the storm area. This
circumstance is easily understood when it is realized
that the storms,arising as has been said near the Equa-
tor, travel in the lower latitudes westward to north-
westward, Later, when they reach a latitude near that

of the Bahamas, their movement has become northerly.
and they continue to follow the curved path until in
high latitudes they are travelling in a north-easterly
direction, thus making their way, with much reduced
strength, across the Atlantic Ocean. The actual origin
of storms arising during the hurricane season is in
a region in mid-ocean, ten to eleven degrees north of
the Equator. ‘The rate of travel of a storm along its
course, that is its rate of translation, is ten to fifteen
miles an hour, in these latitudes. The velocity of the
wind in the spiral track, as far as it has been recorded
in the West Indies, is known to have reached 120 miles
an hour—a speed which means that the pressure of
the wird is more than seventy pounds on every square
inch of any flat surface that may be directly opposed to
it. As the wind is blowing in a circle around a centre
at which there is an uprush of air, this violence is not
shown at this centre, which is therefore a region of
calm—usually called the ‘eye’ of the cyclone.

In the former article dealing with the subject in
this journal, an account was given of the premonitory
symptoms of a hurricane, largely taken from the
United States Pilot Chart, and it will be convenient to
reproduce this here:-—

Before a hurricane, the barometer is some-
what higher than usual, with cool, very clear,
pleasant weather; there is a long low swell
from the direction of the distant storm; the
sky is covered with a quantity of light
feathery cirrus clouds (mare’s tails) radiating
from a point on the horizon, where a whitish
are indicates the bearing of the centre. If
the cirrus plumes are faint and opalescent in
tint, fading gradually behind a slowly thick-
ening haze or veil, the approaching storm is
an old one, of large area. If of snowy white-
ness, projected against a clear blue sky, it is
a young cyclone of small area, but great
intensity. Great activity of movement of the
upper clouds while the storm is still distant
indicates that the hurricane is of great
violence.

As the storm approaches, the following
unmistakable signs display themselves; the
barometer falls rapidly; halos are seen around
the sun and moon; the ocean swell increases;
the weather becomes hot, moist and oppressive,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Avucust 3, 1912.

with light variable winds; deep-red and violet
tints appear at dawn and sunset, tints which
assume a coppery glare of ominous aspect;
a heavy mountainous cloudbank on the distant
horizon indicates the position of the approach-
ing storm; the barometer falls more rapidly;
and, finally, if the observations are made on or
near the storm track in the West Indies, the
wind begins to blow in a direction between the
north-east and north-west, soon rising to
hurricane force, increasing till the central calm
passes, then breaking out with violence from
the south to south-east.

A knowledge of the nature and behaviour of
hurricane storms is #f the greatest importance to the
navigator, for it enables him to ascertain his position
in relation to the track that the storm will follow, and
to direct his course in such a way as to avoid the path
of the hurricane. In these latitudes, where the storm
moves along in an almost easterly direction, with the
wind blowing in a eirele running from the north to the
west, from the west to the south, from the south to the
east, and from the east to the north again, it is evident
that the dangerous positions are situated in the
northern half of the storm, or dangerous semicircle as
if is called, for here the wind is from the east and

lowing toward the front of the storm. In the navi-
gable semicircle, or southern half, the direction of the
wind is from the west and toward the rear of the area
of the disturbance. These circumstances, together
with the fact that in the West Indies, the track of
such storms is usually from the south-east to the
north-west, make the useful statement possible that,
on the occasion of a hurricane, as soon as the wind has
any point of south in it, the time of danger has
passed.

Other indications useful to those encountering
hurricanes on land can be made from what has-been
said. In any partof the storm area, if an observer faces
the wind, the storm centre is on his right; and if the
direction of the wind remains constant, and there is an
increase in violence accompanied by a falling barometer,
it means that he is directly in the track of the hurri-
His experience in such a case will be that these
latter conditions will be emphasized until the centre
or eye of the cyclone arrives, when there will be
a short calm, followed by a change of the wind to
exacily the opposite direction and a return of the
stormy conditions, usually with increased violence.

cane.

VoL. XI. No. 268.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 243

Where the centre of the storm passes to the north of
the observer, the wind changes steadily from the north
to north-west and west, falling ultimately in the south-
west; where it passes on his south side, the wind moves
in the same steady way from north-north-east to east,
finally ceasing in a direction near south-east.

These matters show firstly what signs of weather
are indicative of the approach of a cyclonic storm.
They also warn those who are in the direct track of
the storm against concluding that a sudden calm indi-
cates its end. Lastly, they enable those situated in
any area that it may pass over to judge with certainty
when the danger has passed, so that they may relax the
precautions that they have taken to ayoid damage to
life and property.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN INDIA.

The importance of the sugar industry to India, and the
critical position in which it is finding itself to-day, merit
special mention. In consequence of the situation, more or
less serious, which has arisen, the Board of Agriculture was
called together in November last, some three months before due
date, principally on this account, in order to advise the
Government on the policy it should adopt in regard to sugar.
Although the meeting was held ut a time not strictly coming
within the period of this Annual Report, it is, I think,
permissible, owing to the importance of the subject, to refer
to it here. As I pointed out in my opening address to the
Board: ‘there are certain ominous signs in the condition of
India’s sugar trade which we cannot afford to ignore. With
increased facilities for cheap ocean traflic to and from all
parts of the world, and with the easy means of transit within
herself brought about by her network of railways, India has
been deprived of the natural barriers which formerly protected
her primitive industries, and consequently her sugar markets
have been invaded by cheap white sugar from abroad. The
imports of this white sugar have risen in the past twenty
years from 80,000 to 700,000 tons per annum. It is not
only displacing the existing indigenous white sugar, but
owing to its cheapness the consumption of extra quantities
of white sugar is encouraged, especially where the influence
of Western civilization is being most felt, and it is being
mixed with molasses and “gur” and retailed as “gur’. It is
thus undermining the foundations of the gur industry as
well as of the indigenous refined product. The effect has
been to cause a decline in the area under cane and a decrease
in the number of sugar mills and refineries in the more
important sugar tracts of India. As the result of the
evidence placed before the Board and the discussion which
took place, the following points were agreed to in a series of
resolutions: (1) that owing to its threatened position the
sugar industry deserved the assistance of Government;
(2) that the appointment of a Sugar Engineer was necessary;
(8) that sugar stations should be located in sugar tracts;

(4) that an acclimatization and cane-breeding station should be
established for the production of high quality canes; (5) that
facilities should be afforded to capitalists for the acqui-
sition of land and the erection of central factories, and assist-
ance should be given by subsidy or otherwise to pioneer
factories.

The appointment of a Sugar Engineer has already been
carried out, and he has been placed under the Director of
Agriculture in the United Provinces, where half the sugar of
India is produced and the industry is vital to the welfare of
the agricultural population. The establishment of a cane-
breeding station is under the consideration of the Govern-
ment of India, and the location of sugar stations in sugar
tracts will doubtless receive the attention of Local Govern-
ments. It is too soon to report on the facilities it will be
possible to afford to capitalists for central and pioneer fact-
ories, but the matter is being enquired into and there seems
little reason to doubt but that there exists great scope for the
successful introduction of the centralized sugar factory sys-
tem. It is perhaps not generally known that there are
factories in both North and South India, working in recent
years upon this system, that have demonstrated the possi-
bility of making white sugar direct from the cane at a profit
to both the sugar factory and the grower, with sugar selling
at the minimum market price. And further, as indicated by
the evidence placed before the Board, there are large areas
of waste land available to capitalists capable of producing
large crops of cane and waiting the erection of factories on
the centralized system. Thus, if the salvation of the Indian
sugar industry lies in the adoption of this system, as there
appears very good grounds for believing, there would not
only seem no reason to doubt but that the whole of the
foreign sugar now imported into India could be made in this
country, but there would even seem to be room for imagin-
ing the possibility of an export trade to foreign countries.
These considerations appear to be warranted by the evidence
submitted to the Board. It only remains for those inter-
ested to avail themselves of the infurmation thus afforded.
The Agricultural Departments throughout India have under-
taken to do all they can to assist in the introduction of better
canes and better methods of cultivation, and if the establish-
inent of a cane-breeding station, as recommended by the Board,
is carried out, the production of cane will bave been placed on
a higher plane, and with the spread of the central factory
system there is ground for predicting the possibility of
India soon being abreast of other countries in its methods of
sugar production. In anticipation of the assistance that will
be required, the Assistant Inspector-General of Agriculture
in India has been entrusted with the task of starting exper-
ments on sugar plantations for the introduction of high
quality canes and improved methods of cultivation, and his
services are available for the purpose. (Aeport on the Progress
of Agriculture in India, 1910-11.)

An article in the Journal d’ Agriculture Tropicale for
April 1912 refers to the fact that the suggestion hi- been
made, in Indo-China, that Michornea crassipes, which has
increased to a harmful extent in the waterways of that
country, shall be utilized for the production of fibre. The
leaves of luc-binh, as the plant is called in Annam, have been
successfully treated in a slightly modified Duchemin de-
corticator, and from the fibres obtained and dried in the
shade, rice bags have been made. Drying in the sun is
unsuccessful, as fermentation takes place, and the fibres lose
all their strength,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Avucustr 3, 1912,

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

DRIED MANGO

An observer in North Queensland thus describes
a method of drying mangoes, that is carried out
successfully in that part of Australia. he description
appears in the Quecnslund Agricultural Journal for
February 1912:—

The mango is picked just before turning colour. On
being peeled, the flesh is found to be firm and a palesyellow
colour. ‘This is cut off with a large knife in chips or small
slices some 2 inches in length, 1 inch or so wide, and perhaps
Z-inch thick. These slices are laid in the sun to dry, and
become dry enough to store in three or four days. Sheets of
galvanized iron (roofing) were used with sheets of paper
laid on them. Cloth was not found satisfactory, and the
paper could not be dispensed with, as the acid Juice of the
fruit turned the product a dark colour if in direct contact
with the iron. I observed various stages of drying, but was
unable to see any one batch through from peeling and paring
to packing. I was, however, informed, that if laid out in
full sunlight in the day, and covered at night, it is dry enough
to pack in three or four days. One turning is required.
The fully dried ‘chips’ are of a very pale-yellow or brownish-
white colour, and if only cut into similar shapes could hardly
be distinguished in appearance from the best dried apples.
Sometimes when half-dried the chips are threaded on to
Strings or hemp twine for convenience, as is done with apple
chips in some countries and with meat in others, as such
strings are more easily exposed to the sun and air, as well as
brought under cover again than are trays. I have even seen
these strings, 5 or 6 yards in length, draped over the
clothes lines for final drying

These chips when thoroughly dry, are stored in air-tight
receptacles, and may be packed quite tightly in them.
Large glass jars and wide-mouthed bottles are used, but the
best receptacles are the large earthenware jars in which the
Chinese import liquor, preserves, or sauces. Hermetical
sealing is very necessary, and is gencrally done with ordinary
beeswax.

In this manner the mango keeps perfectly, and apparently
indefinitely, without any preservative whatever.

When cooked, the dried fruit darkens in colour a little,
and is not so decided in flavour as is the typical fresh mango —
in fact, to one who did not know what-it was, it tastes

somewhat like a mixture of dried apples and apricots. It
makes excellent tarts and pies, and could equally be used for
jams or chutneys.

COCO-NUTS IN ZANZIBAR.

According to a correspondent of the Madras Mail, great
attention is being bestowed nowadays in several coco-nut
growing countries, to the various improved methods employed
in the cultivation and preparation of coco-nut products for
market. In this comnexion it is interesting to learn that an
official from the Zanzibar Protectorate, which is now distinct
and separate from the Government of East Africa, has just
visited Southern India with the object of securing, as free or
unindentured emigrants, twelve families who are wanted in
the Protectorate to help carry out the local Government’s
endeavours to improve the standard of ccco-nut cultivation,
which is apparently not very high, The idea would appear
to be the gradual conversion of mixed gardens of cloves and
coco-nuts into exclusively coco-nut gardens, and should this be
realized, Zanzibar may cease to be the world’s largest supplier
of cloves; its gardens have hitherto produced about four-fifths
of the clove crops of the world. Doubtless, the authorities
of the Protectorate realize that coco-nuts will in the future
serve as a better foundation of prosperity than spices, of
which latter, however, the clove is not the only one largely
raised in Zanzibar, pepper, cinnamon and other descriptions
being also considerably produced and exported, in addition to
which gum copal and rubber represent fairly important items
in the list of exports. The terms offered to the dozen families
were particularly attractive. For the first year after arrival
they will be permitted to cultivate where they like in the
coco-nut and clove areas, while in the rice area each family
will be given an area not exceeding 3 acres rent free,

After the first year special land purchase facilities will be
afforded, and for the next three years the work these
emigrants will be required to do will be the conversion of
mixed cloves and coco-nut gardens into purely coco-nut
garlens, and we note that each family is required to take
its own native hand implements. (From Tropical Life,
June 1912, p. 107.)

Vou. XI. No. 268.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS IN
GUADELOUPE.

The Director of the Experimental Garden at Pointe-a-
Pitre has issued recently a report on the work done in the
Garden during the past year. This is reviewed in an article
in the Jowrnal d’ Agriculture Tropicale for March 1912, from
which the following information has been taken.

Trials have been made with several kinds of coffee,
including Coffea stenophylla, CU. Canephora, C. liberica, and
Abyssinian coffee. Among these, the Liberian coffee
appears alone to be suitable for cultivation; the others have
shown themselves inferior to the universally appreciated
indigenous coffee, called Petit Café. The cultivation of
cacao has been extended as far as possible, but no new varie-
ties have been tried; those which have been distributed in
the past are to be found in the island, but are only taken up
on a small scale.

The cultivation of the lime appears to have received
a great impulse; numerous plants and seeds have been dis-
tributed, and it is likely that its culture will be remunerative,
as a hectare is capable of producing, at the end of five years,
a gross return of 1,000 franes per annum (nearly £16 per
acre), and it is held that the crop doubles itself toward the
seventh or eighth year. The lime plant, almost wild in
Guadeloupe, grows well and yields an abundance of fruit.

Experiments have been conducted with rubber plants of
various kinds, and it appears that licus will prove to be
most suitable for the island: it grows vigorously in all the
soils, and is resistant to drought. Castilloa possesses
a rapid growth: a plant two years old, at the Experimental
Garden, ‘s already 13 feet high and 10 inches at the base.
The same success has not been obtained with Jfanzhot
Glaziovwi; the brittleness of the wood causes it to show
little or no resistance to wind; several specimens have
died after being tapped; the clay soils of the island are not
well suited to it. The several Funtumia plants that have
received attention have possessed a slow development, which
gives little encouragement, at the commencement. Hevea
has also been tried, but the insignificant germination of
the seeds, which as is known easily perish, has not per-
mitted a sufficient trial to be made with this species.

Lastly, Huphorbia [ntisy, tried mostly as a curiosity,
has grown easily and well. None of these plants have been
tapped methodically—some of them not at all—and it is not
possible to form any opinion as to which of them is most
suited for rubber culture in Guadeloupe.

Attempts at afforestation with valuable species of trees
have been carried out with mahogany (Swietenta Mahagoni),
Guaiacum (Guaracwm officinale) and courbaril, the West
Indian locust or algaroba (/ymenaca Courbaril), the rapid
destruction of which necessitates planting ona large scale.
Trees of mahogany sixteen years old exist already, which are
large enough to be cut; this is a matter for encouragement.
Venezuelan kapok nas developed rapidly, and there is much
hope of its success; it has not met with a very enthusiastic
reception from planters, probably because they are unaware
of the value of the product in the European market. With
cegard to textiles, properly described, mention may be made
of trials with Furcraea and with Sansemeria zeylanica.
Regret is expressed in the article reviewing the report that
these two kinds have been chosen in preference to sisal -hemp,
as Furcraea yields a less valued article, and as the market
for Sansevieria is still insufticiently established. It may be
said, nevertheless, that Furcraea does not seem to be likely
to suffer great harm from disease, for it already grows very
well in all parts of the island. : ‘ :

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

ii)
re
ot

In concluding the review, itis stated that the Experi-
mental Garden at Guadeloupe has given during the year
proofs of the existence of an activity which will enable it to
obtain results of the greatest interest for the French Antilles,
and satisfaction is expressed that an attempt is being made
to follow the advance that has already been shown by the
English islands of the Antilles,

ABSORPTION AND EXCRETION BY
PLANT ROOTS IN CULTURE
SOLUTIONS.

Unpublished work that was carried out by the United
States Department of Agriculture several years ago for the
purpose of investigating the changes that take place in
culture solutions in which seedlings of the white lupine
(Lupinus albus) are grown, by ascertaining the change in the
ability of the solutions to conduct water (their conductivity),
has suggested work in the same direction that is described in
Bulletin No. 231 of the Bureau of Plant Industry of that
department, issued at the beginning of this year.

The results of the old work, which are mentioned in the
bulletin quoted, indicated that lupine roots, when grown in
distilled water, excrete electrolytes which make the water
sv used better able to serve as a medium for growing
a second set of seedlings. It may be mentioned that electro-
lytes are salts which dissolve in water to form solutions in
which the constituents can be broken up in a definite way
by passing an electric current. In such solutions the con-
ductivity is proportional to the amount of electrolytes pre-
sent, so that it was suggested for the new work described in
the Bulletin that this method of ascertaining the amount of
electrolytes present should be employed.

In the investigations, Canadian field peas were grown
in extremely dilute solutions of calcium and magnesium
uitrates. A summary that is given, of the conclusions
reached as a result of the experiments, shows that among the
first of these was the fact of the existence of a concentration
for each salt or mixture of salts at which the latter
are absorbed and excreted by the roots of peas at the
same rate Further, if the solution has a concentration
less than this amount, more of the salts is excreted from the
roots than is absorbed; on the other hand, with a more con-
centrated solution, there is more absorption than excretion.

The definite concentration at which absorption and excre-
tion proceed at the same rate is referred to shortly as equili-
brium concentration, and a further result shows that the
action of the roots on solutions stronger than equilibrium
concentration may be to make them much weaker than this
concentration. Proceeding, the interesting result was reached
that the extent to which the concentration may be brought
by the roots beneath equilibrium concentration depends upon
the ratio of the magnesium to the calcium in the solution.
From a quantitative point of view, it was found that the
greatest absorption took place when the weights of calcium
and magnesium present were in proportion to their molecular
weights. ;

Turning now to the effect of the solutions on the growth
of the pea roots, the experiments show that their develop-
ment was g00d when the ratio of magnesium to calcium was
9 to 1; that is to say, under conditions in which the con-
centration of the solutions was so great that if magnesium
salts had been present alone the growth of lateral roots would.
have been prevented. If, however, the solutions are so dilute
that the amount of magnesium in them alone would not pre-_
vent such growth, the ratio just mentioned is nearer 99 to le

246

THE AGhICULTURAL NEWS.

AuGusr Bh 1912.

=

=
Nuc

Ba

av

THE SELLING OF BRITISH WEST
INDIAN COTTON.

The Commissioner of Agriculture has received an
official letter from Mr. J. A. Hutton, Chairman of the British
Cotton Growing Association, dealing with cotton-growing
generally in the West Indies, with the request that the con-
tents shall be made as public as possible, in an effort to
remove some ot the misunderstanding that appears to exist
as to the objects and policy of the Association. It com-
mences by making reference to complaints that have been
received by the Association, from planters in the West Indies,
as to delays and difficulties that have taken place in the
selling of their cotton; it statesalso that Mr. J. W McConnel
had reported dissatisfaction in the matter, saying that there
Seems to be a suspicion that the Association is neglecting
the interests of the planters and giving chief attention to
those of the spinners.

Mr. Hutton states very strongly that, although there
may be some grounds for complaint, there is not the least
foundation for the suspicion. He refers to the great difti-
culties that exist in the Association’s work of cotton-buying,
and states: ‘It is quite impossible for anyone except those
in daily contact with the work to realize the amount of time
and labour which Mr. Wolstenholme has devoted to this
work. I can assure you he has most generously and ungrudg-
ingly given up time which shonld have been devoted to his
own business, and I have not the least hesitation in saying
that his firm have suffered considerably from what he has
done for West Indian planters and for the Association.’

Mr. Hutton goes on to refer to the work of the Associa-
tion, and its duty to help the planters, in view of the
conviction that the future of fine spinning in Lancashire will
be made more difficult if cotton-growing fails in the West
Indies. The circumstances make it essential that the
Association should practically ensure that the cotton is
sold to the very best advantage. It has been felt,
however, that something more than mere assurances on
the part of the Association would be required by planters,
so that a Special Committee was appointed, consisting of
the Executive Committee of the British Cotton Growing
Association, together with Messrs. Lawrence, Marsland,
Oliver and Wolstenholme, to consider the whole question.
This committee has now discussed the matter most fully,
and further Mr. Hutton himself and Mr, Wolstenholme
have consulted at length with Mr. Dixon and Mr, McConnel
of the Fine Spinners’ Association, so that the subject has
received the largest consideration.

It is recognized fully by the users of cotton that the
interests of the spinners and planters are identical, for the
former have need of the cotton and are willing to pay a price

for it (as far as the laws of supply and demand will allow)
which will induce the planter to continue and extend cultiva-
tion. This aspect of the matter receives additional impor-
tance in view of the probable eventual destruction of tha
United States Sea Island cotton industry through the spread
of the boll weevil.

Mr. Hutton gives attention to suggestions that have
been made to curtail the cotton area in the West Indies
because of the present lowering of the demand through
a change in fashion, and because of competition by Sakellarides
cotton. ‘his matter has been most fully gone into, and the
Association is convinced that the special excellence of quality
of most West Indian cotton makes it certain that every
pound of the first class quality will be absorbed by the mar-
ket. ‘We are convinced after the fullest consideration that
it would be the greatest mistake in the world for the planters
to reduce their acreage at the present moment.’ There is
now the closest and heartiest co-speration between the Asso-
ciation (as representing the planters) and the larger users,
who realize: ‘that they must help the planters as far as
possible.” Mr. Hutton suggests, however, very definitely
that the planter, in forwarding his cotton should assist in
this co-operation by advising the Association whether ha
prefers a quick sale even at slightly reduced prices, or the
holding of the cotton, at the discretion of the Association,
for higher prices.

The co-operation of cotton planters in the West Indies
is asked for emphatically by Mr. Hutton, and he requests
that one feature of this should consist in advising the
Association, as early in each season as possible, as to the
probable size of the crop—not only as to the quantity likely to
be produced in the whole of the West Indies, but as to the
amount to be grown in each island, and even further, the
probable production of each of the larger estates. This
information would pnt the Association in a much better
position to place the whole of the crop to the best advantage.

Mr. Hutton concludes by asking that any cotton planter
who is dissatisfied with what the British Cotton Growing Associ-
ation has done, or may do, or who has any grievance whatever,
will communicate directly with the Association, when he
may be assured that everything will be done to assist him.
At the same time, considering the existence of unreasonable
complaints, any planter who is dissatisfied, when the Associ-
ation has done what is possible for him, is asked to transfer
his business to those whom he thinks may serve him better.

In commenting on this letter, it may be said that the.
question appears to have arisen in a large degree through
the number of complaints that were made to Mr. McConnel
by cctton planters during his recent visit to the West Indies
as a delegate of the Association to the recent Agricultural
Conference. It is) only natural that, when they have

Vor. XI. No. 268.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 247

such an opportunity as was provided to bring forward
their grievances and to make a move for higher prices
in the future, cotton planters should do so. It should
be remembered, however, that the mention of complaints
alone, without any attention to the more attractive side
of the picture and to the benefits that have been received,
is bound to canse those who hear such complaints to
go away with an exaggerated idea of their relative impor-
tance and to conclude that the matter consists of nothing but
subjects that are crying for redress. The actual position is
quite otherwise, for though matters for dissatisfaction exist,
that should be easy of remedy, it might be remembered that
the West Indian Sea Island cotton industry has received from
the beginning advantages experienced by very few other
industries—the advantage that it found an open market
ready for it, from the first, and the advantage that it was
fostered by those who were in possession of skilled knowledge
that they were willing to apply in order to save the producers
every difficulty in the favourable disposal of their
commodity.

THE WASTE IN COTTON-SPINNING,
THROUGH IRREGULARITY OF
STAPLE.

Through the courtesy of Mr. J. W. McConnel, of the
Fine Cotton Spinners’ and Doublers’ Assuciation, who was
one of the representatives of the British Cotton Growing
Association at the Agricultural Conference held recently in
Trinidad, there has been received a memorandum dealing
with the length of staple in West Indian cotton. Copies of
this memorandum have been also furnished by Mr. McConnel
to the Agricultural Departments in St. Vincent, Montserrat,
Antigua and St. Kitts.

Mr. McConnel has provided this valuable memorandum
Cn account of the circumstance that, during his visit to the
West Indies, he was asked several times what degree of
irregularity in length of staple is compatible with the use of
fine cotton in spinning; that is to say, information was
required as to the limit to which spinners are obliged to
take out the cotton on account of its shortness, in lint of
any given staple.

It was felt by Mr. McConnel that some sort of an
answer to the question was due to those who are trying to
judge scientifically the suitability of cotton when it is grown
for use in a fine spinning mill. In consequence, on his
return to ngland, he explained the matter to the manager
of the card room in one of the most important mills using
West Indian cotton; and finally asked him to ascertain from
examination, as well as he could, the answers to the follow-
ing questions: —

(1) What are the percentages of various lengths of
Staple in raw cotton after ginning!

(2) What are the percentages of the various lengths of
staple in. the combed sliver after having been passed through
the drawing frame!

_(8) What are the percentages of various lengths of
Staple in the waste taken out in the four processes of
scutching*, carding, and first, and second combing?

The cotton used in all cases for the tests consisted of
West Indian cotton of the best type usual in the West Indies,
but not the very fine St. Vincent cotton; and was judged in
the raw state to have a staple of 1 inch. Mr. McConnel

: *Scutching means beating the cotton, in bulk, before it is
carded; that is, before the fbres are first opened out. The
other terins are explained below,—Kd,, 4.N.

states that the examination was made with great care and
intelligence, and gave the results presented in the following

table, in which S and D stand for Short and Dirt,
respectively:—

le 186 eee See): Percent

tage.

Raw cotton 25 20 20 iy i & 5} 100
Clean cotton 16 22-4 19216 32 16 «64
Scutching | lah
waste | 3| 2
Card waste 6-6 36 102
Ist combing 10°4 69 17°3
2nd 33 Bey ty)

Total 1°6 22°4 19-2 22-6 13:6 1°6 16:0 3:0) 100-0

As Mr. McConnel points out in forwarding the results,
the investigation was remarkably interesting, and the cor-
respondence between the percentages in the raw cotton, and
the totals of clean cotton and waste, is remarkably close.
He points out further that there was no chance of manipu-
lating the figures so as to obtain this correspondence, as the
reduction of the different percentages to a common basis,
and the addition of these, were performed by himself from
the figures supplied.

The hope is expressed by Mr. McConnel that the results
will be of some assistance to those in charge of the experi-
ment stations in the West Indies; it must be remembered,
however, that they can only be considered to be approxim-
ately correct, as this is the first occasion on which such an
examination has been made. He points out that the wastes,.
when taken out, are all very irregular, particularly in the
earlier processes, and that the large proportion of the good
cotton still contained in the carding waste arises from the
kind of appliances that are used for removing the waste from
the machine. A curious feature is that the waste taken out
in the second combing is shorter and poorer than that in the
first, but observant spinners have always noticed this fact.
The second combing is given with the object chiefly of
removing ‘neps’; and as has been stated by Mr. McConnel on
several occasions, it is probable that the weak fibres in the
cotton are continually breaking up into short lengths while
going through the spinning mill.

The whole matter is summed up at the conclusion of the
memorandum in the following words: ‘Broadly speaking it
seems that the answer to the original question should be tkat.
with cotton named 1 inch, the presence of 1# inch staple
may be readily accepted and even of 13 inch, but anything
shorter than this has to be almost entirely removed before
the cotton can be spun.’

With this memorandum, there were presented by
Mr. McConnel, on behalf of the Fine Cotton Spinners’ and.
Doublers’ Association, to this Department and the Agricul-
tural Departments in St. Vincent, Montserrat and Antigua,
cases containing firstly specimens of combed cotton, showing
neps, yarn and rovings, the last being slightly twisted bundles
of carded fibre; the specimens are mounted between glass
plates. The main part of the cases is taken up by
samples of the cotton that would be eventually worked up
into yarn, and of the part rejected. The former consists of
samples of ginned raw cotton, card sliver (loose, untwisted,
fibres) and flat strips, first comber sliver, and second comber
sliver. Lastly, the samples showing the part rejected are
comprised of droppings (containing chiefly sand and dust),
under fly and cylinder strip, first comber waste and second.
comber waste. With respect to these samples, a matter of
chief interest is that, in the combed cotton showing neps,
these are still to be seen although the lint had been passed
not only twice but three times, through the comber.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
‘Specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
Oommiissioner, 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 &
©o,, 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,
28, a Post free, 4s. 4d.

dlews

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1912.

Agricultural 4

VoL, XJ.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

In this number the editorial gives an account of
Hurricanes, dealing more particularly with their origin,
their indications, and the signs which may be employed
in avoiding them and in determining when the danger
dune to them is past.

An account of the state of the sugar industry in
India is given on page 243.

Page 245 presents an interesting description of
work of agricultural experimentation that is being
carried on in Guadeloupe. It shows that much atten-
tion is being given to the culture of citrus plants in
that island.

A description of the results that have been
obtained in a recent investigation relating to absorp-
tion and excretion by roots in culture solutions is
presented on page 245.

Page 247 is taken up mostly by an account of
very useful work that has been conducted recently in
England in relation to the determination of the waste
that takes place in cotton-spinning through the
irregularity of the staple of the cotton that is used,

The Insect Notes in this issue, on page 250, are
concerned with an account of twig girdlers and of
means for the natural control of citrus mealy-bug.

Past attention has been afforded in this journal to
the employment of sulphur asa manure. The subject
receives further enlightenment in an article on page
251:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aveust 3, 1912.

Legumes in Orchards.

The question of a cover crop for use in orchards
has received much eonsideration from experimenters,
and the following experience in regard to the sword
bean (Canavalia gladiata), with reference to the
matter, which is described in the Annual Report of the
Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station for 1910,
is of interest.

A number of leguminous plants was tried for the
purpose, and the best success was obtained with the
plant mentioned. This grew quickly, soon completely
covering the ground and keeping down all grass and
weeds. It showed particular usefulness on lands likely
to sutter from washing.

A disadvantage in such use of the plant was found
to be its natural tendency to climb over the trees.

The Influence of Soil Moisture on Nitrification.

The Journal of Agriculture of Victoria for May
1912, p. 275 contains an account of an investigation
by J. W. Paterson, B.Sc., Ph.D., Experimentalist, and
P. R. Scott, Chemist, to the Victoria Department of
Agriculture, dealing with the effect on nitrification of
varying the amount of moisture in the soil.

It was found that nitrification is inactive in the
soils investigated while they stll contain about three
times as much moisture as they possess when in an
average air-dried condition. Comparing sand with
clay, less water is required to start nitrification, at the
lower limits of moisture, in the former than in the
latter. At the higher limits of moisture, nitrification is
stopped by less water in sand than in clay.

It is probable that the best amount of water for
nitrification varies for different soils, and has the higher
value for clay. Nevertheless, for both sand and ‘clay
it ranges between 14 and 18 per cent. of the weight of
dry soil.

An increase of the water content above this
optimum amount is more harmful than an equal
decrease below it.

A result of practical value is that, if the workin
in dry weather of land that is resting (fallow) helps to
keep water in the surface soil, this water may have
much use in relation to the production of nitrates for
the following crop.

The nitrate supply for a crop may have been
reduced by the previous crop in two ways: by actual
consumption of the nitrates that were present, and by
drying the soil to such an extent that little nitrifica-
tion takes place in the time between the occupation of
the soil by the two crops.

Another indication of practical value was received
to the effect that the moisture requirements that were
found for nitrification suggest that good results might
be obtained by the single flooding of fallow land in
dry seasons.

Vou. XI. No. 263.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 249

_ aaa”) ll _

The Citrus Chamber of Sicily.

It is stated in Diplomatic and Consular Reporis
No. 4871 Annual Series, that at the time of issue it
was not possible to review the Annual Report of the
Camera Agrumaria of Sicily, for the season ending
November 30, 1911, as this was still in course of pre-
paration and not available for furnishing facts before
its publication.

It is concluded, however, that the accumulated
stock of 5,504 metric tons of citrate of lime existing on
November 30, 1910, must have been reduced, for the
exports of citrate of lime during 1911 amounted to
3,148 metric tons, or nearly 30 per cent. more than in
1910; while the published exports of lemons during
1911 were little more than those of the previous year.
It is considered that the prospects for the present year
are normally good.

The Typhoid Bacillus and the House-fly.

The Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXVI,
yp. 251 (issued March 20, 1912), quotes from a paper
that appears in the Journal of Hygiene (Cambridge),
1911, p. 353, showing the results of experiments that
indicated that, although the larvae of the house-fly were
fed liberally with matter containing typhoid bacilli,
there were no signs of the presence of Bacillus
¢yphosus in the pupae or the perfect insect reared
from the larvae, as long as the original eggs were not
disinfected. If on the other hand, the ova were disin-
fected, pure growths of the typhoid bacillus could be
obtained from both larvae and pupae; so far, imagines
had not been examined in regard to the matter.

The result of the investigation is expressed in the
paper as follows: ‘From the practical point of view the
main conclusion to be drawn from the experiments
detailed in this communication is that the typhoid
bacillus can lead only a very precarious existence in
the interior of larvae or pupae which possess, at least
in so far as these investigations warrant, a well-defined
bacterial flora of their own. Even under the highly
artificial conditions of the final series of experiments,
it was not possible to decide whether the B. typhosus
though recoverable from the pupa was really actively
multiplying in the pupal interior or gradually dying
out. There was some indication that the latter
was the case, as the typhoid colonies recovered from
the pupa in the one successful instance were extremely
few in number, while the larvae which had been
feeding on B. typhosus contained enormous numbers
as evidenced both by cultural and microscopical
-examination.’

This note may be read in connexion with an article
entitled the House-fly and Man, in the Agricultural
News of October 14, 1911, in which emphasis is laid
upon the importance of reduciog as much as possible
the number of places in which the conditions exist that

_are favourable for the breeding of the fly. With refer-

ence to the matter generally, it must be remembered that
although many dangerous germs may not survive easily
in the intestines of the fly, they may be readily carried
in dirt on its ‘feet’. ‘ i

OSS
School Gardens in British Guiana.

A review of the present position regarding school
gardens in British Guiana is contained in the Report:
of the Inspector of Schools fur 1911-12. It is stated
that the best success is obtained where the teacher
shows an active interest in the garden, and it is agreed
that every school would be the better for a garden, not
necessarily for obtaining a Governinent grant, but
a garilen of flowers and shrubs possibly, kept in proper
order by the teachers and pupils themselves.

The statement is made that there are about 100
gardens attached to aided schools in British Guiana,
and it is thought that all of these are doing a certain
amount of good, at least during some parts of the year.
Much difficulty has arisen, however, from the unusually
long dry season, especially where it was far from easy
to obtain water.

It has not been found that the making of notes by
the children on their work has been successful, because
of the lack of proper knowledge of what should be
entered in the note-book, and of the use of anything
that may have been written. It is therefore suggested
that it may be sufficient, for many years to come, for
the teachers to employ, instead, the writing of simple
compositions on the work done in the garden, particu-
Jarly respecting operations that require careful manipu-
lation and close observation.

————— ————

Euphorbias Yielding Rubber.

An abstract in the India-rubber Journal tor
June 15, 1912 mentions #. Tirucalli, E. lactiflua,
BL. fulva, LE. elastica, EL. antiquorum and FE, Catti-
mandoo as some of the chief Euphorbias which are
exploited or mentioned for their latices. Of these
E. lactijlua, from Chili, gives a latex with the highest
caoutchoue content, reckoned on the dry substance;
this was from 3:9 to 5 per cent. The caoutchoue con-
tent of the latex of #. Tirucalli has been found to be
4 per cent., of that of H antiquorum 55 per cent. and
of that of /. elastica 32 per cent; it is probable how-
ever that the last mentioned plant may not be actually
a Euphorbia. Of these three species, the first comes
from East Africa, the second from India and other
countries, and the third from Madagascar.

Like that of 2. elastica, the latex of LZ. fulva
contains much rubber as compared with. the content in
Euphorbia latices, in general, but it is to be noted that
the species has been renamed Huphorbodendron ful-
vum.

As is stated, the amount of resin in Euphorbia
rubber is always a high multiple of the amount of
rubber. This is so in the case of the latex from
E. Tirucalli, which is used for varnishes.

Information regarding these and other Euphorbias
was given in the Agricultural News, Vol. IX. pp. 41,
76, 109, 180, 232 and 396.

250

INSECT “NOTES.

AN ACCOUNT OF TWIG GIRDLERS.

In a recent number of Science (Vol. XXAV, May 3,
1912, p. 714) a meeting of the St Louis Academy of Science
is reported. Among the papers presented was one entitled
A Grove of Deformed Trees, by Dr. J. R. Terry.

Since information concerning the insect mentioned as
causing the injury which resulted in the deformities of
the trees is likely to be of interest to readers of the Ag7-
cultural News, the account of the paper as given in Science
is reprinted herewith.

‘A grove of four or five hundred small persimmon trees
in St. Louis County has suffered from the ravages of a beetle
which has been identified as Oncideres cingulata. Limbs
varying in diameter from 5 to 15 mm. are girdled, and the
ends fall to the ground. All the trees, old and young, haye
been attacked. The girdling is done in the fall, mainly in
September and October. During this time the larger trees
present scores of branches bearing dead leaves, and the ground
is strewn with fallen branches often laden with fruit. There
is no tree in the grove that does not present a crooked trunk
and limbs. The deformities in some cases are extreme.
Most of the trees are as a consequence dwarfed, although
able to make some advance in growth. Some trees only
a metre and a half tall bore fruit in 1911.

‘A few beetles have been observed working. The cut was
begun on the upper side of the branch and was made
3-4 mm, wide and about 3 mm. deep. Most of the limbs
fall, probably within a few days after the girdling. A small
proportion remains throughout the following winter. On
every severed branch, near the distal ends of the twigs, one or
more small deep excoriations of the bark were found, That
the beetle makes similar abrasions of the bark of twigs of the
honey locust is known from observation of Oncideres in cap-
tivity. Limbs recovered from the ground in winter in some
cases presented no evidence of the propagation of the beetle,
whereas in others more or less of the wood had been destroyed
under the bark along one side of the branch extended from
the distalend proximally. The cavity never quite reached the
proximal severed end. Larvae, which are now being studied,
were discovered in some of the tunnels.’

In the genus Oncideres are to be found species of long-
horned insects which are known as girdlers. Dr. Sharp, in
the Cambridge Natural History (Insects, Part II, p. 286)
states the characteristic habit of the genus in the following
words: —

‘The species of the American genus Oncideres are called
girdlers because the parent beetle, after laying an egg in
a small branch, girdles this round with a deep incision, so
that the portion containing the larva sooner or later falls to
the ‘ground.’

In certain of the West Indian islands the genus is
represented by Onczderes amputator, Fabr., which in St. Lucia
is reported as attacking pois doux (/nga lawrima), and in
St. Vincent, nga dulcis, West Indian ebony (Alézzz1a Lebbck)
and cacao. Many persons in the West Indies believe that the
girdling or pruning of twigs of trees is done by the Hercules
beetle which, they say, clasps the two great horns, one pro-
jecting from the head and one from the thorax, around
a twig and then by means of the wings swings round and
round the twig until it is cut off by the action of the horns.

An examination of the horns of the Hercules beetle
will suggest at once the difficulty which the insect would
have in cutting of a twig with such smooth-surfaced instru-
¢ is more probable that all the pruning of trees in

mens,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Avcusr 3, 1912.

the West Indies which has been ascribed to the Hercules
beetle has been done by the girdler, O. amputator, or by
a similar insect with like habits.

The Hercules beetle is one of the largest of beetles,.
measuring 6 or 7 inches in Jength, including the horns, which
project forward one above the other; the lower one from the
head has an upward curve; the upper one from the thorax has
a downward curve. The inner surfaces of these curves are
lined with short bristles, brown to reddish in colour. The
girdler is a much smaller insect, only about }-inch in length
and narrow in proportion. The ground colour is dark brown,
almost black; the surface is overlaid with fine greyish scales,
among which are scattered small patches of reddish or orange-
coloured scales. The antennae are long and slender, the
head is broad and pointed downwards, the thorax has-
a small projection on each side, and the shoulders or bases of
the wing covers are pronounced.

NATURAL CONTROL OF THE CITRUS
MEALY-BUG IN CALIFORNIA.

In an article published in the Monthly Bulletin of the
California State Commission of Horticulture for May, 1912,
Mr. A. 8. Hoyt, Deputy Quarantine Officer, at Los Angeles,
discusses the degree of control which has been attained
over the citrus mealy-bug, Pseudococcws citri, in one district
in San Diego, California.

In this district there are certain citrus groves which for
nine years have not been sprayed or fumigated, entire
dependence, having been placed on the action of natural
enemies for the contro! of the pest. During this time these
estates have principally had to contend with the citrus mealy-
bug, and the chief insect natural enemies have been two
lady-birds which in both larval and adult stages prey upon
the mealy-bug in all its stages of development.

These lady-birds are Cryptolaemus montrouziert and.
Cryptogonus orbiculus, the former of the two being con-
sidered the more important.

At the time of the introduction of these two lady-birds
the mealy-bugs were very abundant, and consequently the
predaceous insects made a remarkably rapid increase as.
a direct result of an abundant food-supply. After the mealy-
bugs had been almost entirely destroyed by the lady-birds,
these beneficial insects died from want of food. Then
a very different aspect of the case presented itself: the mealy-~
bugs developed rapidly—much wore rapidly in fact than the
lady-birds—until after a certain time the beneficial insects
again became most numerous and assumed control.

Thus through the whole period of nine years, there have
been periods of abundance of mealy-bug, when the lady-hirds
were few in number, succeeded by periods of abundance of
lady-birds and a decreasing number of mealy-bugs.

The writer of the article states that in groves where
this method has been followed exclusiveiy, trees ond fruit
have been, at times at least, covered by black blight ané
there has been a loss of fruit-bearing wood in the interior of
the trees.

In the concluding paragraph, the writer gives it as his
Opinion that the best way to ensure clean fruit and healthy
trees, and at the same time to employ as far as possible pre-
daceous insects, is to spray for mealy-bug only such trees as
are badly infested and in which the lady-birds have failed to.
stibdue the pests, leaving to the care of these insects the trees.
in which they are actively at work.and making every attempt
to foster these beneficial insects and promote their work.

Vou. XI. No. 268

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

251

SULPHUR AS A MANURE.

The following article describing investigations
regarding this subject appeared in the Gardeners’
Chroniele for June 15, 1912. It may be read with
interest in connexion with the articles on the supply
of sulphur to cuitivated crops, and on soil sterilization,
in the Agricutural News, Vols. X, p. 241 and IX,
pp. 17 and 33.

Experiments made by M. E. Boullanger, reported in the
Comptes Rendus of the French Academy of Science and
summarized in Die Gartenwelt (XVI, 17, p. 228), tend to
show that the application of small quantities of flowers of
sulphur to the soil results in a very considerable increase in
the crop grown on that soil. As a result of the addition of
flowers of sulphur at the rate of 7 decigrams to 30 kilograms
of soil, M. Boullanger claims that the plants experimented
with—beet, beans, celery, potatoes, spinach and others—
gave a higher yield of produce than the control plants grown
in unsulphured soil.

Nor is that all: according to M. Boullanger’s experi-
ments the yield from the soil treated with sulphur, but
otherwise unmanured, was actually greater than that from
soil which received a complete manure. When both com-
plete manure and sulphur were added the best results of all
were obtained. One example will suffice to show the extent
to which sulphuring the soil increased its fertility. The
numbers to be given represent the results (in grams) in the
ease of celery:—

Complete
No Sulphur Complete manure and
manure. only. manure. sulphur.
360 635 398 676

The increase of yield in the case of the soil treated with
sulphur is indeed remarkable, and if further experiment
confirms M. Boullanger’s conclusions we shall have to add
-Howers of sulphur to the list of artificial fertilizers indis-
pensable to the garden.

Apart from the practical aspect of the discovery—which,
we repeat, yet awaits full confirmation—the question arises
as to the mode of action of sulphur in enhancing soil fertility.
M. Boullanger has himself supplied the clue to the answer to
the question. By means of a series of experiments involving
the use of sulphured and unsulphured soils, he was able to

~demonstrate that sulphur produced its stimulating effect on
plant growth only in soil which was not heat sterilized.
When soil to which sulphur had been added was sterilized by
‘heat it gave no larger crop than that yielded by unsterilized,
unsulphured soil. The yields obtained in these experiments
were, in round numbers:—

Not sterilized soil 15 grams.

Sulphured, not. sterilized soil Sco, 25S) a
Sterilized soil és a Bo. 15) ae
Sulphured and sterilized soil SSO x

Whence it is to be concluded that the beneficent effect
of the sulphur is due to its action on some of the living
<onstituents of the soil, possibly on certain races of soil
bacteria. The experiments, especially when considered in
<onjunction with those of other observers, open a promising
‘Gield for further investigation,

THE PRESERVATION OF LARGE TREES.

The information below is presented in the
Monthly Bulletin of the State Commission on Hor-
ticulture, Catifornia, for June 1912. It has relation
more particularly to methods for preserving large
trees growing in streets for an ornamental purpose:—

As regards damaged trees, if the wound is fresh
and the wood only slightly injured, prompt aid may
heal it in one year. All ragged tears must be cut smooth,
the wound then painted with Bordeaux mixture or ear-
bolineum, and completely covered with a tree wax or
putty made of 1 part of coal tar and 4 parts of ground
slate. If trees have been badly neglected, large limbs
broken off, the wounds not properly treated, the stubs
of large limbs or branches left instead of smooth cuts to the
trunks or limbs, and rot has set in, then the stubs must be
cut smooth to the trunks or limbs, all decay chiselled out,
and the cavities filled with concrete made of 1 part
Portland cement and 2 or 3 parts of sharp, coarse sand or
fine rubble. :

Street shade trees often have large, old wounds near the
ground. In such cases the exposed wood should be thor-
oughly examined, for sometimes a hard shell harbours
entirely dry, rotten wood beneath it. All unsound wood
should be chiselled out; this often leaves nothing but an
outer shell of sap-wood and bark. If the tree is old and

large and the whole inner root rotted away, it is best to

drive three l-inch iron pipes inside the cavity of the tree
well into the ground—say 3 feet deep—and fill the hole
with a strong concrete of 1 part of Portland cement and
5 or 6 parts of coarse rubble. After this has set it
should be smoothed off with a finer concrete of 2 parts of
sand and 1 part of cement.

If the tree is vigorous enough to callous over in a few
years, the concrete should only come even with the cambium
layer. Where the tree is old, and the wound very large—
say half the circumference of the tree—then the concrete
can be placed to conform with the outside curve of the
trunk, but the edge must be looked after every year and
chiselled away if the growing rim of the tree wound presses
too hard against it. All injuries will try to heal over, even
though very slowly

Every wound or cavity should be painted or sprayed
with a strong Bordeaux mixture or carbolie acid emulsion
before being filled with concrete. The filling should be
painted the colour of the tree bark. Large cavities often
take a ton, or even several tons, of concrete.

This work pays well, especially along streets where
a lost tree is so difficult to replace, and where symmetry
counts for so much, Many trees suffer when comparatively
young from the decay of the heart or pith wood near the
foot, and this decay slowly affects the adjoining wood layers,
and will sooner or later show on the outside. As soon as this
defect is known, an opening should be made into the tree so
as to work out all decayed wood and replace it with concrete.

A note in the Louisiana Planter for July 6, 1912, states
that the imports of sugar into the United States from
foreign countries, and including the Philippines, for the ten
months ending April 30, amounted to 1,611,000 short tons,
valued at over 92 million dollars. The similar export for
the preceding period was 1,483,000 short tons, value 73
million dollars. During the first of the periods mentioned,
Cuba, the largest supplier, sent to the United States 1,200,000
short tons value 71 million dollars,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aveusr 3, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

Official returns show that the amount of rubber exported
from Ceylon during the nine months July to March 1911-12
was 7,961,778 tb. The quantity for the preceding similar
period was 4,201,232 tb. For March 1912 the shipments
amounted to 1,012,167 tb. as compared with 604,016 tb. in
March 1911.

A table in Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4874
Annual Series, shows that the value of the chief exports from
St. Michael’s, Azores, during 1911, was as follows: pine-
apples £120,015, sugar £89,000, beans £67,793, maize
£66,869, alcoho] £36,823, tobaceo and cigars £13,091.

Information concerning the work of the St. Vincent
Agricultural Department during June last contains the
interesting fact that thirty 6-tb. lots of cotton seed from
plants showing a considerable amount of resistance to angular
spot were sent out to estates and to certain small land owners,
for trials in separate plots.

An account of agricultural work received from the
Virgin Islands shows that, during June, His Honour the
Commissioner paid a visit to Jost van Dykes and gave an
address at a meeting of small holders. An address was also
given on the occassion by the Agricultural Instructor, who
had accompanied His Honour.

From the Proceedings of the daricultural and Commer-
cial Society of Trinidad and Tobago. for May 1912, it is
gathered that the total shipments of cacao from Trinidad for
the month amounted to 2,404,239 fb. During the previous
four months there were shipped 30,702,105 b., making
a total for the year, to the end of May, of 33,106,344 fh. of
cacao.

The Government Gazette of the Federated Malay States
for April 1912, publishes a table showing that the exports of
rubber during the first three months of the present year
amounted to 8,535,926 tb., as compared with 4,736,238 tb. in
the similar period of 1911. The shipments in March 1912
were 3,089,583 tb.; in March 1911 they were 1,916,219 h.

In Vie Board of Trade Journal for June 6, 1912, it is
stated that, according to official statistics published recently,
the total area under sugar beet in Russia for the present year
is 1,719,268 acres; this is a decrease of 59,861 acres from
the area of 1911. In this year, 548,100 acres is owned by
factories—an increase on the area held in this way during
last season.

During their recent visit to St. Kitts, in June, the
Entomologist and Mycolegist of the Department addressed
a meeting of the Agricultural and Commercial Society of
that island on the subject of sugar-cane pests and diseases.
It is reported that the visit of these officers has proved to be
of great use in directing the attention of planters in St Kitts
to pests and diseases in general.

A report on the trade of Korea during 1911 has been
drawn up by H.M. Consul-General at Seoul, which shows
that satisfactory progress is being made with cotton-growing
in that country, and that there is every indication that it
will increase. Estimates of the area under cultivation and
the output during 1911 give these as 125,000 acres and
33,940,000 Ib. This indicates rapid increase, for the ship-
ments in 1910 were 17,333,000 th.

An announcement in Tropical Life for June 1912 shows
that the prize of £50, offered jointly by Messrs. J. H.
de Bussy of Amsterdam, by the leading cacao manufacturers
in England, Germany and America, and by that paper itself,
for the best essay on, the fermentation of .cacao, has been
awarded for the essay, written in collaboration, by Mr. G. S.
Hudson and Dr. Lucius Nicholls of St. Lucia. No second
prize was awarded, on account of the absence of scientific
details from the other essays.

According to the Uganda Official Gazette for May 15,
1912, the amount of ginned cotton exported in the period
April 1, 1911 to March 31, 1912 was 2,963 tons valued at
£184,638; the unginned cotton shipped during the same
period was 2,105 tons value £42,755. The similar amounts
and values for the previous like period in 1910-11 were
1,634 tons and £120,664, and 2,513 tons and £44,748.
For the purpose of calculation, the percentage of lint may be
taken as 33 3.

A useful hint in connexion with the taking of megags
samples is given in the American Sugar Industry for June
1912. This is to the effect that the addition of 15 or 20 c.c.
of formaldehyde solution, shaken up in the cans containing
the megass about one and a half to two hours after com-
mencing the sampling, will prevent fermentation of any kind.
Any subsequent samples thrown into the tin remain in an
atmosphere containing formaldehyde vapours, which prevent
bacterial action.

The Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Trint-
dad and Tobago for June 1912 makes mention of a shipment
of palms supplied by the Trinidad Botanical Department,
which reached Sweden, by parcel post, in good order. The
method of packing was devised by Mr. H. Caracciolo of the
St. Joseph’s nurseries, Trinidad. The result was obtained
by using a specially made crate, in which the plants were
placed with the roots washed clean and covered with slightly
damped moss, and then wrapped in oiled paper. .The crate
itself was coyered with oiled paper and then with light
canvas.

Vot. XI. No. 268. THE

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

AUGUST.
Frrst PERIOD.
Seasonal Notes.

For the greater part, the lack of rainfall has interfered
with cotton-planting, so that there has been delay in the
establishment of the crop. State what experience you have
had where fields have received a second planting because
there was not sufficient rain to cause the seeds to sprout that
were put in at first. How much seed is required for an acre
of cotton, under favourable circumstances! What are the
additional expenses incurred on a small estate through
having to put in cotton seed a second time?

How may cotton seed be selected for planting, in
a simple way? State the chief objects of such selection.
What treatment should cotton seed receive before it is sown?
It is well known that no more than one plant should be
allowed eventually to grow in each hole; why is this!) What
rules would you observe in giving instructions for the
thinning out of plants in a cotton field!

Why is the early planting of cotton insisted upon, in the
West Indies! It should be remembered that the importance
of such early planting has its effect in causing an early
previous opportunity to be taken of removing and destroying
the old cotton plants of the former crop.

What pest is most likely to be found on young cotton,
and how would you deal with outbreaks of this pest? In
what way does the pest cause changes that interfere with the
normal life-processes of the plant?

With proper rainfall, the present time falls within the
period for the planting of provision crops such as yams,
sweet potatoes and cassava. The reports issued by the
various agricultural departments should be consulted in order
that information may be obtained as to the best varieties of
these plants, and trials should be made of the varieties. In
the case of the most valuable kinds, it would be useful to
establish, if possible, nurseries for the provision of planting
material.

Discuss the advantages and otherwise of growing sweet
potatoes in rotation with sugar-cane. By what diseases are
the provision crops mentioned above likely to be attacked?

Give a careful account of the way in which the ground
is prepared for the planting of such provision crops as have
come within the scope of your experience. Supply details as
to the amount of planting material that is required for one
acre in each case, and of the expenses of the planting.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Give a list of the insect pests of the sugar-cane, of
which you have knowledge.

(2) What are the reasons for destroying all old cotton
plants at the end of the season?

(3) Write a list of the advantages that may be gained
by growing crops in rotation.

INTERMEDIATE QUFSTIONS.

(1) Describe the life-history of the moth borer of the
sugar-cane, and suggest methods for its control.

(2) Mention any advantages that are incurred in the
complete destruction of the plants at the end of a cotton-
growing season?

AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 253

(3) How is the rotation of crops connected with the
control of disease?

FINAL QUESTIONS,

(1) Discuss the question as to whether the moth borer
assists in the spread of fungus diseases.

(2) Write an account of what you know concerning the
pests that are kept in check by the seasonal destruction of old
cotton.

(3) Mention any reasons for growing different varieties
of sugar-cane on the same land, in rotation.

NAMES AND KINDS OF RUBBER.

There are many systems of classification which are
adopted in a study of caoutchouc-yielding plants. One of
the most popular is that according to habit; in this three
groups are distinguished, viz., trees, climbers and shrubs.
In the tree forms we have Ficus elastica in the Malay Archi-
pelago, which grows to an enormous height. We have
Castilloa, a handsome tree characterized by very rapid
growth in the first four or five years, common in Central
America and Mexico. There is the genus Manihot in North
Brazil and Bahia, which provides a well-branched tree. In
Africa the genus Funtumia is responsible for many trees,
and in Brazil Hevea is predominant. Hevea and Ficus are
large forest types, the smallest are probably Funtumia and
Manihot, Castilloa coming midway between these groups.
Among the climbers we have the Landolphia vines of Africa
and Madagascar, the genus Forsteronia in the West Indies,
and Parameria in the Middle East. The first-mentioned
genus is, of course, the most important among the vines;
it is exclusively African, and is responsible for rubber of high
quality. Among the shrubs there is really only one example,
Parthenium argentatum, the Guayule shrub so well known
as a source of useful rubber.

Another useful system of classification is that according
to the part of the plant which yields the rubber. Under
this heading there are three groups: (1) stem, (2) root, and
(3) the whole plant. Among stem rubber one can include
arborescent forms such as Hevea and Manihot, and climbers
as Landolphia and Parameria. Among the root rubber we
have Clitandra, Carpodinus, and many other African genera,
from which rubber is obtained by macerating the bulbous
roots and extracting with water. The whole plant may yield
rubber, as in the case of the Guayule shrub where the whole
structure is uprooted and subjected to maceration. Perhaps
one might also include Palaquium, since it gives gutta not
only from the stems, but also from its leaves,

It is singular that there are many instances of trade
names being associated with the produce from one species
only. For instance, fine hard Para we know always comes
from Hevea brasiliensis; Rambong from Ficus elastica; Ceara
from Manihot Glaziovii, etc. ete. On the other hand, there
are many instances of trade names being applied to produce
derived from quite a number of species, and in the last
category we find the same species may provide different-
named rubbers in different parts of the world. The best —
example of the last group is probably to be found in the
produce from Landolphia Heudelotir, this species providing
Soudan niggers, Gambia balls, Massai, and many other grades
known as niggers, twists, and flats. (The Zndia-rubber Jour-
nal, June 8, 1912.)

ARTIFICIAL COPRA-DRYING.

With a loss of several million pesos annually, by reason
of the crude and unsatisfactory methods used for drying
copra in the Philippine islands, the introduction and use of
an improved copra drier . beomes a question of great
economic importance. The Original plans for an apparatus
to use steam heat were furnished about one year ago by
Mr. O. W. Barrett, Chief of the Division of Experiment
Stations, but the details of construction have been worked
out by Mr. Z. K. Miller, Machinery Expert of the Bureau of
Agriculture. Unfortunately, Mr. Miller did not have time to
make any preliminary tests of the drier at the Pandacan
repair shops of the Bureau, but it was decided to exhibit the
original apparatus at the exposition held recently, and to
try it there on the grounds, instead of delaying its introduc-
tion to the public any longer. It is believed to be the first
machine of this type. When perfected, it may meet the
requirements of the Philippine copra industry and thus help
to raise the standard of that product in the Orient.

This drier is 5°64 metres long by 91 cm. wide, 3 metres
high at the front and 2°44 metres high at the rear end. Its
sides are constructed of angle iron frames for the sections
into which are riveted two sheets of plain galvanized iron
with 3-mm. asbestos millboard between. The tracks for the
trays are set on an incline of 61 cm. to 46cm. There are
three rows of these trays with a 5l-cm. space between the
rows. Each row holds four trays, or a total of twelve trays
for the drier. The trays, which are 91 cm. by 1:37 metres,
and 1 dm. deep, are constructed of wire and angle iron with
the bottoms made of bamboo slats set 6 mm. apart. Each
tray has a capacity of about 160 nuts. The trays are fitted
with trunk rollers and can be easily handled by two labourers.
The incline is such that very little effort is required to push
the trays when they are loaded. Each track has an entrance
door and a discharge door 91 by 28 cm. in size. There are
also three doors of the same dimensions on the top of the
drier, to carry off the moisture, while fresh air is admitted at
the bottom below the coils. The coils located at the bottom
of the drier, contain 1,219°20 square metres of heating surface,
which will maintain an even temperature between 150° and
180°and will dry the copra in fifteen hours.

There are three methods of handling the raw material
in connexion with this type of drying apparatus:—

(1) The Birchfield method which obviates the necessity
of husking the nuts—that is, the entire nut is chopped in
halves by means of a heavy broad axe, the halves being
immediately placed either in the sun ona concrete or had
earth patio, or placed directly in the trays of the drier
where after two or three hours the meat may be readily
removed and then replaced to complete the drying process,
the refuse husk and shell being thrown aside for fuel.

(2) The husked nuts are broken in halves, and the
shells are either set out to dry in the sun so that the meat
can be removed after about one day of good weather, or else
put directly into the trays of the drier and treated as by the
first method.

(3) The meat from whatever process, at any stage of
dryness, is put into the trays without considering the
previous operations and kept there until the attendant in’
charge prorounces the drying complete. With the latter
method of procedure the capacity of a drier of this size is
estimated to be about 3,000 nuts in twenty-four hours.

he principal advantage in the use of the steam drier is
that it is practically impossible to burn the material during
the drying, though of course, the time required for turning out
a copra which will endure storage in the bodega for several
months is considerably longer in the case of an apparatus

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aveust 3, 1912.

like this than with a hot-air, or rotary oven, type—makers of
some machines of the latter type claiming to be able to turn
out thoroughly dried copra in ‘two to three hours’.

This drier willbe taken to the Pandacan repair shops of
the Bureau of Agriculture where exhaustive tests and experi-
ments with it will be carried on for several months, until
accurate information has been obtained as to the most
economical method of drying copra The information thus
obtained will then be published. (From the Philippine Agri-
cultural Review, Vol. V, p. 204).

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date July 15, with reference
ao the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report, about 250 bags of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, which include about 200
St. Vincent at 19d. to 21d. and 50 Stains at 83d. to 10d.

Spinners still hold supplies for their requirements for
some months to come, and require concessions of several pence
per pound if they put the cotton into stock.

We understand that the Carolina Sea Island crop is likely
to be a full one, and no doubt will be better in quality than in
last season. ‘Sakell arides Egyptian has been planted 50
per cent in excess of last year.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending June 29, is as follows:—

During the past fortnight there has been a very limited
demand, resulting in sales of only 21 bales Fully Fine to
Extra Fine for export on private terms. The Factors are
anxious to dispose of some of the Crop Lots, of which the
unsold stock largely consists, and are willing to make some
concessions in price, but the spinners do not seem interested
even at the decline quoted. We renew our quotations, which
in the absence of demand are only nominal:—

We quote, viz:—

Extra Fine 30c. to 32c.= 16d. to 173d. c.i.f., & 5 per cent.

Fully Fine 28c. =a 158d. ” <9) aes y ie 28

Fine 26c. = 14}. ” on

Fully Fine to Extra } 25e; = 14d dee eee
off in preparation

Clavija Ornata.—Seeds of this interesting orna-
mental plant have been received by the Commissioner of
Agriculture, through the courtesy of Mr. W. G. Freeman,
B.Sc., Assistant Director of Agricultore and Government
Botanist, Trinidad, and are being distributed to several of
the Botanic Stations in the Lesser Antilles. The plant
itself belongs to a family (My rsinaceae) | that is somewhat
nearly related to that containing the primro., on the one
hand, and to that containing the sapodilla, oi te other; the
members of the family are nearly all tropical or sub-tropical
plants. A characteristic of the genus Clavija is that the
plants forming its species are palm-like in habit; as in the
case of those of cacao and the carambola (dA verrhoa
Carambola), flowers are borne on the old wood

The native home of C. ornata is the Guianas and
Brazil. Its palm-like appearance arises from the fact that
the leaves, which often exceed a foot in length, are borne
at the top of the straight, unbranched stem. The staminate
and pistillate. flowers are bright orange-red in colour, and
are found on separate plants; the former are specially noted’
for the strong scent of raspberries that they exhale,

Vout. XI. No. 268.

INFLUENCE OF LIGHT
TION.

The following is part of an abstract appearing in
the Journal of the Board of Agriculture, fur June
1912, p. 231, of a paper appearing in Praktische Blitter
fiir Pflanzenbau und -schutz, dealing with investiga-
tions concerning the influence cf light and temperature
on the germination of seeds:—

ON GERMINA-

Investigations carried out at the Institute at Munich
have shown that different seeds are differently affected by
light; thus fresh seeds of Nigella sativa did not germinate
in a seed bed open to the light, but when placed in the
dark the whole of the seeds germinated after ten days. The
seeds of many Liliaceae were found to behave similarly,
though here the action of light depended on the temperature,
germination being seriously hindered by the light only in
temperatures above 68°F.

On the other hand, abowt 20 species including Vero-
nica officinalis could not be germinated in the dark; when
brought suddenly into the light, however, after being kept
for three years in the dark, they were found to germinate in
a very short time. In many cases only a small amount of
light was necessary for germination. Lights of different
colour were noticed to act in different ways. A blue light
was found to act in the same way as darkness, and had the
additional effect of preventing the growth of harmful fungi
and bacteria; 100 seeds of Tofieldia were kept for four years
under a blue light and not one died. Germination ensued
immediately on changing the blue to a red or white light.
On the other hand, a blue light seemed to favour germination
in the case of seeds which germinate in the dark, while
red was unfavourable.

The sudden appearance of large numbers of some
varieties of weeds in fields seems to be explained by the fact
that in many cases germination is more complete and rapid
where seeds have been kept for a considerable time in an
unfavourable environment, and then brought suddenly into
a favourable one. Thus it was found that seeds of Dzgitalis
purpurea took eight months for the whole to germinate in
the light in the ordinary way; but where they had been kept
in the dark for three years the whole germinated in ten days
after the admission of feeble light. Species of Veronica
behaved similarly. Allowed to germinate in the ordinary
way in the light, only 50 per cent. germinated in three years,
but when kept in the dark for some time and then suddenly
placed in the light, the whole of the seeds germinated. In
the case of Verbascum nigrum, seeds kept in the light for
three years germinated to the extent of 21 per cent., while
75 per cent. germinated where the seeds had been kept in
the dark for three years and then placed in the light.

A noticeable point in connexion with these experiments
was the different behaviour of different species of the same
family, and it is evident that seeds are able to adapt them-
selves to varying conditions of climate, soil and light.

At a meeting of the Lawes Agricultural Trust Commit-
tee held on June 25, Dr. E. Jz Russell, at present Goldsmith’s
Company’s assistant for soil investigations, was appointed
Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station in success-
ion to Mr. A. D. Hall, F.R.S. (ature, July-14, 1912.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 255

WEST INDIAN

PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson. A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of June 1912:—

The continuation of the strike of the Union transport
workers at the docks, which has been going on for some
weeks, with more or less intensity, accompanied with violent
attacks on non-union men, has had a very serious effect on
trade in general, so serious indeed was the outlook in the
middle and latter part of June that the usual fortnightly
crug and weekly spice auctions were suspended, and at the
time of writing this report, up to the last day of the month,
business is still very limited, in consequence of the lack of
labour for the removal and distribution of goods from the
ships, and the wharves, except by non-union men, who work
at considerable peril of attack by union labourers. In
consequence of these troubles our report this month will be
very meagre.

GINGER.

At the first auction on the 5th June the offerings
consisted of small cut Calicut, Rough Cochin and Japanese,
all of which were bought in at the following prices res-
pectively: 67s., 42s, and 32s. 6d.. A week later it was
reported that sales of Sierra Leone had been effected at
25s. 6d. to 26s. At auction on the 26th, 168 bags of
small limed Japan sold without reserve at 28s. to 28s. 6d.
per cwt. Nutmegs, mace, pimento and arrowroot have
been quite of a neglected character, what has been offered
being for the most part bought ip.

SARSAPARILLA.

In the matter of this drug, in the early part of the
month it was reported that about 80 bales had arrived, con-
sisting of Grey Jamaica, native Jamaica, and Mexican,
but on account of the transport strike no delivery had been
effected, and it was not until the 27th of June that the
auctions were resumed, when 6 bales of grey Jamaica, and
32 bales of native Jamaica were offered: of the former the
whole was disposed of at steady rates, while of the latter
20 bales changed hands at full rates, fair to good red fetch-
ing ls. 2d. to ls. 4d, fair palish red ls. ld., dull red and
yellow mixed 11]d., and common yellow and grey mixed 9d.
per ib.

LIME JUICE AND TAMARINDS.

It was reported in the early part of the month that the
prices quoted for lime juice were more or less nominal, though
nothing was being offered in the open market, about 50
packages being at the time held up by the strike. At the end
of the month West Indian tamarinds were selling at 15s. 9d.
per cwt. and East Indian at 12s.

256

London.—TxHr West Inpia

New York,—Messrs.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., July

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

MARKET REPORTS.

CoMMITTEE CIRCULAR,

July 16, 1912; Messrs. E. A. De Pass & Co.,

July 5, 1912.

Arrowroot—3id. to 4id.

Batata—Sheet, 3/8 ; block, 2/65 per tb.

Brrswax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 68/- to 85/- per cwt.; Grenada, 63/-
to 70/-; Jamaica, 59/- to68/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 69/- to 79/- per cwt.

Uopra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 19d. to 21d.

Frouit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

IsrneLass—No quotations.

Honty—No quotation.

Lm Jurce—Raw, 1/10 to 2/5; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d.
to £19; otto of limes (hand pressed), 7/-.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Mace—ls. 11d. to 2s. 8d.

Nourmecs—dd. to 1s.

Pimrenro—Common, 2,¢d.; fair, 25d.; good, 28d.; per fb.

Rusper—Para, fine hard, 4/10; tine soft, 4/4; Castilloa,
4/6 per th.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/- to 6/-

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

Giutesprzg Bros, & Co., July

12, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 14$c. to 154c.; Grenada, 14c. to 143c.;
Trinidad, 14c. to 14$c. per fb.; Jamaica, 1l}c. to 124c.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $22°00 to $23°00; culls,
$13-00 to $14:00; Trinidad, select, $22°00 to $23-00;
culls, $13°00 to $14°00 per M.

OorreE—Jamaica, 14}c. to 16}c. per tb.

GincER—8}c. to 1l}c. per tb.

Goat Sxrns—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 45c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 44c,
per ib.

Grape-Fruit—Jamaica, $4°30 to $5-00.

Limes—$2°50 to $6:00.

Mace—No quotations.

Nurmecs—110’s, 123c. to 12$c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°00 to $2°25 per box.

Pinento—23d. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 3°77c. per Ib.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°27c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°02c. per fb., all duty paid

92

“4,

1912,

Oacao—Venezuelan, $16°00 to $16°25 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $15°50 to $16°00.

Coco-nut O11—90c. per Imperial gallon

CorreE—Venezuelan, 17c. per tb.

Copra—$4°60 per 100 th.

DxHat—$5°50.

Onrons—$2°50 to $3°50 per 100 th.

Pras, Sprir—$7-25 to $7°50 per bag.

Potators—English, $3°00 to $3°25 per 100 f.

Rice—Yellow, $4°8U to $4°90; White, $6°25
per bag.

Svucar—American crushed, no quotations

to $6°35

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncw & Co., Ltd., July 27

Avcusr 3,

1912.

‘;

1912; Messrs. T. 8. Garraway & Co., July 29,
1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., July 19, 1912.

Arrowroor— $700 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$12°00 to $13°50 per 100 th.

Cocoa-NuTs—$16:00.
Hay—$1°70 to $1°80

per 100 th.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Oacao manure, $45°00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 per ton.
Motasses—No quotations.
Ontons—$2°25 to $2°75 per 100 tb.
Peas, Sprit—$6°80 to $7°00 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3:00 to $5°40 per bag of 120 th.
Potators—Novya Scotia, $3:00 to $6:00 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $5:20 to $5°30 per 190 th.; Patna, no quota-

tions; Rangoon,

no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $5°00 per 100 ib.

British Guiana.—Messrs.

Wierinc & RicutER, July

20, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacH, ParKER & Co.,,
July 19, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ArrowRoot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Coco-nNuTS—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
Dxaat—

Green Dhal
EppoEs—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Peas—Split

Marseilles
PiLantTalns—
Potators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
PotaToEs-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
TaNNIAS—
Yams— White
Buck
Svuesr—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
Timber —Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

Messrs. WIETING

& RIicuTer.

No quotation

70c. per tb.

14c. per th.
$1-20.
$750

Messrs. Sanp-

BACH, PARKER
Co.
—?——D

Prohibited

l4c. per ib.
No quotation
No quotation

$16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM.,

19c. per tb.
20c. per tb.
15c. per tb.

$5°50 per bag of

168 tb.
$5°50
$2°40
None

5c. per tb.

$6°75 to $7:00 per

bag (210 tb.)

16c. to 48c.

$2 25 to $2°75
$360
per bag

No quotation
$600

$3°24
$264
$4°24
$2-8U to $2°90
$3°40 to $3°50
$4:00
$2°60 to $2°80
32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
33°75 to $600
per M.

., Cordwood

$1:8U to $2:00
per ton |

peeled and
selected
18c. per ib.
2lc.
ldc. per th.
$5°50 to $375

5c. to 6c
$7°15 per bag
(210 tb.)
No quotation
$2°50
No quotation

$6-00

$2°75 to $2°90
$3°50

32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot

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, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, 1X, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s, 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. Nos. 1 and 2. No, 3:—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Drier; The Structure and Polli-
nation of the Cacao Flower. SuGar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;
A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugar-canes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugarcane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
canes with a View to their Classification; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in Megass; The
Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

PAMPHLET S#HRIBS.

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 seventy. 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.; No. 66, 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 1902-8, 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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; Price 4d.

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.

in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d. (58) Insect Pests of Cacao, . Price 4d. .
GENERAL. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
(7) and 22 Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. price (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d. ‘
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THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

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‘CITRUS CULTURE

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This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
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BOTANICAL
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, canocn
Vou. XI. No. 269. BARBADOS, AUGUST 17, 1912. Price ld.
CONTENTS
marsh land, in the south-east of England. Although
e p the conditions of the experimentation are greatly
Britis Pea a . ASE. different from those obtaining in the West Indies,
ritish Association, 1912, Insect Notes :— 5 . a APE
Agriculture and the 269 A Weevil Enemy of certain matters regarding the work-are of significance
Bulletin of the Imperial Caravonica Cotton ... 266 with respect to the subject of pasturage in general, and

Institute ... ... ... 261 Caterpillars Eating the
Calcium ‘ yanamide, Care Giass of Lawns 266
in Storing... ... ... 263 The Cotton Worm in

Camphor in India’s Wet- the United States in
test listrict sce IB) 1910... eee ee 206
Coir, Machine for Separa- International Rubber Con-
GH sce nee . 265 gress and Exhibition 263
Cotton Notes :— Market Reports a ore
Cotton-Growing in Ha- Notes and Comments ... 264
wali ... ... ..._... 262 | Ramie, Exploitation of ... 264
Cotton-Growing in Por- St. Kitts and the Cana-
tuguese Kast Africa 262 dian National Exhibi-
Cotton in Siam . 262 tion sient aes 203
West Indian Cotton 262 | Soil Bacteria and Evapo-
Department News... ... 259 ration eee | os, 200
Fertility in Pastures, Soursop and Related
Causes of... oe. 207 Plants, Budding of 260
Fodder Plant, An Indian 263 | Students’ Corner ... ... 269
Fungus Notes :— Trees, Cement for Cavi-
Miscellaneous Informa- ties in 259
tion ee ee00)) Curmeric ...aeneees en 27
Funtumia in Dominica... 271 | Vanilla, World’s Produce-
Germination, Using Sul- tion of, 1911-12 ... 261

phurie Acid in -. 264 | Ventilation, Some Con-
. 268 siderations Regarding 267

Gleanings...

The Causes of Fertility in Pastures,

Sethe power to fatten animals grazing upon it,
while a neighbouring area, subjected to similar circum-
stances, is greatly inferior to it, is given in a recent
article* which presents an account of valuable investi-
gations that have been carried out on pastures in

* A.D. Hall, M.A., F.RS., and E. J. Russell, b.Sc.. in
the Journal of Agricultural Science, June 1912, page 339,

are suggestive in relation to similar observations that
may be condneted in other places.

The areas upon which the experimenters worked
has been indicated, fields having
a reputation for fattening animals well, which were
contiguous to fields that were only capable of keeping
the animals in a growing condition; the former are well
referred to as ‘fatting’ fields, and the latter as ‘non-
fatting’ fields. Work had already been done on
soils, in the south-east of England, representing rich
and poor pastures; but as the chemical and mechanical
analyses did not show any corresponding differences
between the soils, it was decided to give the matter
a more thorough investigation. With this object, the
fatting and the poor fields were chosen where they
adjoined closely, and a portion of each pasture was
railed off, from which the grass was cut from time to
time for the purposes of observation, this observation
consisting in weighing the grass and analysing it both
botanically and chemically. Soil samples were also
taken to the depth at which standing water was found,
and chemical and mechanical analyses of these were
made, Other samples, obtained by boring, formed
material for the determination of the water-content,
Further, the depth of the water table, the level of the
water in the adjoining ditches and the temperature of
the soil were noted regularly.

contained, as

Dealing definitely with some of the results, observa-
tions were made to determine the floral type: that is

to say the proportions which the different kinds of
plants bear to one another in the various areas. These
were remarkable in showing that the floral type in rich
and poor fields was very similar, some of the plants
agreeing in their proportions, on the fatting and
non-fatting fields, within the limits of experimental
error. There were no differences that would explain
the superiority of the herbage from the futting field:
Tt is clear then that the value of the pasture is not
determined by the floral type of the herbage.’ When,
however, the plants on the two kinds of land were
considered, it was found that they made better cover
in the good fields and that the turf was more ‘springy’;
but the most notable difference was the leafiness and
breadth of the leaves in the former case, with the much
smaller tendency to form flowering heads. This was in
contradistinction to the ‘stemmy’ nature of the herbage
in the poorer fields, together with its fewer leaves and
its earlier and abundant flowering. These matters
constitute the chief difference in the herbage in the
two kinds of fields, which as may have been concluded,
is independent of the floral type. Two other differences
were also observed: the fatting field contained more
clover—a leguminous plant—than the non-fatting
field, while in the latter the herbage tended to become
more quickly dried up in summer.

Soil analysis showed no significant differences
between the two kinds, though it is noted that, as the
analyses were made upon samples representing the
average of layers a foot thick, the presence of a thin
parting of pure clay, which might seriously interfere
with the movement of water in the soil, would be
overlooked. Determination of the water-content of
the soils gave no marked difference, though it seemed
that the soil of the fatting field was rather moister
than that in the other, while it dried up more
quickly, possibly because of the greater transpi-
ration of the better plants upon it. The question
of temperature is not of importance in this consid-
eration of the work; it is of interest however that
the soil of the fatting field was slightly warmer than
that of the non-fatting field, while the daily range of
temperature was smaller in the former case. The
similarity of results in the various cases just mentioned
is repeated in the chemical analysis, which gave vir-
tually identical figures in the two instances; there was
however a little more nitrogen, and especially a little
more phosphoric acid, in the soil of the good field,
though that of the poor field contained quantities that
would ordinarily be regarded as large. ‘Thus as
regards the mechanical and chemical composition, tem-
perature and moisture determinations, little can be

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Avcust 17, 1912.

found to discriminate between the two soils, and though
some of the factors of production are slightly better in
the good soil the differences seem too small to be signi-
ficant.’

The results obtained in this way suggested that
the soils should be subjected to more detailed methods
of observation, and the consequence was that the diff-
erences obtained were more pronounced. Analysis of
the soils from time to time during the season showed
that in the early part of it there were larger amounts
of nitrate and ammonia in the soil of the fatting field,
though this difference disappeared with the advance
in the season. Further, direct experiment indicated that
nitrates were produced more quickly in this field than
in the non-fatting field. Though the determinations
were only very approximate, they were conclusive in
showing that the greater production of grass in the
better field was a consequence of the increased fcod-
supply, although there was no effect in the direction of
altering the floral type. A last circumstance that
bears relation to the matter consisted in the fact that
the organic matter in the soil was found to decompose
more quickly in the better areas.

Observations of the water-level in the borings and
ditches showed that, while the fatting field was slightly
higher than the non-fatting field, as the season advan-
ced the water-level fell, the fall being most rapid in
the fatting field, the ultimate consequence being that
the soil in this field tended always to be a little drier |
than that in the other, for there was always a greater
distance between the surface and standing water. It
was observed further that rain-water sinking into the
soil of the fatting field ran away more quickly and
thoroughly than was the case in the poorer soil.

Similar results to all those that have been men-
tioned above were obtained in other cases, though in
one instance the water-level in the poorer field was
actually lower than in that where the soil was better.
Reference to all the experiments results in showing
that, in a broad manner, the differences found may
be of considerable significance, but cannot be expressed
in any general way; that indications existed that
the citric acid method for measuring available phos-
phoric acid is not applicable to pasture soils; and
lastly that the greater content of nitrates and ammonia
in the early part of the year in the better soils probably
accounts for their production of the superior herbage,
the causative difference being possibly the nature of
the organic matter in the soil.

Vou. XI, No. 269.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 259

Interesting general conclusions were obtained in
regard to the floral type of the soils It seems that
this is influenced to a greater extent by the local
climate, situation and management than by the soil
itself; the last may, however, become a dominant factor
under the influence of the kind of management, which
itself is a potent cause in determining the floral type
that may obtain. Turning from this to the considera-
tion of the relation between the habit of growth
of the plants, their chemical composition and their
feeding value, it found that the variations
in the last of these could not be explained by those
in the composition, though certain constant differ-
ences were observed, particularly the fact that the
herbage from the better fields invari-
ably richer in nitrogen—a matter that may be
expected from the higher nitrate content of the
soil. Determinations of the proportion of nitrogen
in the herbage that could be dissolved by the
action of pepsin also showed small differences, for there
was always « larger total amount of digestible nitrogen
in that from the better fields. It was noticed that
there was invariably a larger proportion of manganese
oxide in the poorer herbage, and this was almost always
the case in the less productive soil, but present know-
ledge of the part taken by manganese in plant and
animal life does not permit it to be stated if this fact
possesses any significance. It is concluded from the
whole matter that the method of food analysis, as this
is carried out ordinarily, fails to indicate the value

Was

was almost

of grasses as food.

It is evident that, under the conditions described,
the feeding value of pasture grass is determined rather
by the habit of growth than by the floral type, the
latter being decided by surrounding circumstances
rather than by the food-supply, while the habit of
growth is influenced by factors that are more difficult to
ascertain; under the conditions of the investigation,
the most important of these factors seem to be the
ease of decomposition of the organic matter and there-
fore the rate of formation of nitrates and ammonia, the
supply of phosphate being also important. This leads
to the conclusion that floral type and habit of growth
are independent,so that where attempts are being made
to improve a pasture, it must be determined, first,
which of these is the cause of its infertility. Lastly,
the ordinary methods of investigation are inadequate
for ascertaining the value of pastures, while it seems
likely that the best herbage will grow on soils in which
the texture is best, and therefore the power to drain,

as well as to hold water is well marked; though with
regard to this matter, soil analysis does not give as
definite indications for pasture land as for arable land.

CEMENT FOR CAVITIES IN TREBS.

The subject of the preservation of trees received
attention in an article on page 251 of the last number
of the Agricultural News. The additional information
given below is taken from the Garden and Field for
May 1912.

It is only recently that very much attention has been
given to the filling of cavities in trees This is now being
done quite extensively, and better work is being accom-
plished in this line than heretofore.

The question has often been asked whether it is worth
while to dig out a decayed cavity of a tree and fill it with
cement or some similar substance. We are free to confess
that we have never had an opportunity to examine many
trees which have been filled for any length of time,
especially when the filling was well done, and therefore have
not sufficient data to ascertain whether this method of treat-
ing trees always prevents further decay. Until we have
an opportunity to examine carefully specimens that have
been filled for many years, we cannot be absolutely sure
whether the types of filling now in vogue are successful in
preventing further decay.

We have observed sections of large trees which have
been filled for a few years, which showed that decay was not
arrested completely, but it is hardly fair to assume that the
trees we examined represented the best workmanship in this
direction. We believe, however, that if a rotten cavity is
thoroughly cleaned out and properly filled, the life of a tree
can be greatly extended, and that it is possible to prevent
further decay of such cavities. The best method, however,
of treating tree cavities may not as yet have been discovered,
We believe that it is the best plan to make all cavities
wider at the centre than at the exterior surface, so that the
filling substance will be wedged in, as it were, and have no
opportunity to fall out or become displaced.

Of course, cavities after being thoroughly cleaned are
treated with some antiseptic, such as corrosive sublimate,
creasote, or paint Creasote possesses more penetrating
power than a watery solution of corrosive sublimate, and
probably for this reason it is more effectual in reaching por-
tions of the mycelium of the fungi which might be still
remaining in the wood near the chiselled surface. Probably
formalin at the rate of 2 to 4 parts of formalin to 100
parts of water, as well as many other substances, can be
used to advantage, but the use of such disinfectants on trees
is entirely in an experimental stage, and their value as anti-
septics is problematical.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture lefs
Barbados on July 30, by the S.S. ‘Guiana’, on an official
visit to the Northern Islands. It was intended that
Dr. Watts should spend some time in St. Kitts and
Dominica, and return to Barbados by the S.S. ‘Oruro’
on August 21.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS Avucust 17, 1912,

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE BUDDING OF THE SOURSOP AND
RELATED PLANTS.

A method for the vegetative propagation of the
soursop (Anona muricata), and related plants of which
the best known are the sugar-apple (A. squamos«a),
the custard-apple (A. reticulata), and the cherimoyer
(A. Cherimolia), is thus described in the Philippine
Agricultural Review for June 1912.

GENERAL REMARKS. Experiments in budding the cul
tivated anonas on the mamon [pond-apple—Anona glabra}
were started by the writer in August 1904, when a few
cherimoyer buds were inserted on mamon stock. The work
was successful and the following year the custard-apple and
soursop were also successfully budded on the same stock, and

’ various methods of grafting and budding were experimented
with extensively.

The following species have been successfully budded:
On the mamon, the cherimoyer, the custardapple, the
soursop, and the biriba [Ro/linia orthopetala]; on the custard-
apple, the cherimoyer and soursop; and on the sugar-apple,
the cherimoyer. As new species are introduced into cul-
tivation the list of species of Anona and Rollinia that can
be budded reciprocally will no doubt be greatly extended.

GROWING THE STOCK PLANTS. The seed should be
washed and all pulp removed, which is most conveniently
done in a coarse-meshed sieve that allows the water and
pulp to pass through freely. After drying, store the seed
in a cool, dry place and plant as soon as convenient.

Sow the seed thinly in a flat or shallow box, well
drained by the use of coal ashes, potsherds, or broken rocks,
or in a seed bed, and cover them with not more than 12 mm.
[3-inch] of soil. The germinating medium should contain
but little, if any, clay, a light soil, rich in humus, being
preferable. After germination the plants should be kept
rather dry until transplanted. Remove the young plants
from the seed bed and set them out in a bed or frame as
soon as from two to four true leaves have appeared, by
using a pointed stick or dibber, setting the plants 13 em.
[5 inches] apart each way. At the same time cut off the
tap root to encourage a better lateral root system. With
proper care the young plants make a rapid growth and in
a few weeks are ready to be transplanted to the nursery.

Perform this work preferably on a cloudy day or late
in the afternoon after first having pruned off about
two-thirds of the foliage and the tender growth, and
after having pruned the tap root to within 12 to 15 cm.
[5 to 6 inches] in length. Unless rains render this
unnecessary. always water the plants thoroughly before and
after transplanting.

BUDDING. The results obtained in the experiments con-
ducted by the writer in south Florida indicate that in the
nursery the method of shield budding is preferable to any other
method of propagation, the success with which this method
was attended in experimental work covering several hundred
plants having been all that could be desired.

The plants may be budded at any time of the year
provided the sap is flowing freely, but under ordinary condi-
tions it is well to perform the budding as early in the spring
as possible in order to give the buds the benefit of the entire
season’s growth. The last year’s growth after the leaves
have been shed is the best bud wood material, though older
wood may be utilized if scions are scarce. ‘Lhe bark of the
anonas is thick and the callusing rapid, and in order to
enable the buds to sprout and to prevent them from being
smothered by the callus, the buds should, therefore, be cut
large with an ample wood shield The soft wood of the
anonas renders this easy of accomplishment. On account of
the thickness of the bark it is well—not to say necessary—
to make a sloping cut in the bark below the horizontal cut
in order to facilitate the insertion of the bud without injury.
While other material such as raffia and cotton twine may be
used, waxed tape, covering up the entire wound, is the most
preferable for tying. After ten or twelve days the buds
should be examined, and if a union has been formed, the
buds should be unwrapped to below the leaf bud and the
stock lopped. All adventitious sprouts should be removed
with a sharp knife every ten days to assist in the prompt
forcing out of the buds before they are callused over. If
the budded plants are well cared for they will be ready for
planting in the orchard cight months after the insertion of
the bud.

COMPARATIVE VALUE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES AS STOCKS,
The value of the different s: ecies of anonaceous plants as stocks
depends largely upon their adaptability to the land and the
climatic conditions in which they are grown, and this must
be worked out locally. The longevity of the trees of a species

VoL. XI. No. 269.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 261

should also be considered in the selection of stocks, other
qualifications being equal. The vegetative propagation of
these plants is so recent that no comparative experiments of
the suitability of a certain species as a stock for another
have been made.

The most vigorous and as far as is known perhaps the most
long-lived species of all the anonas is the mamon, and while
the natural habitat of this species is low and marshy land,
seven years’ experience in south Florida seems to indicate
that it makes a good stock on well-drained land; it has a well-
developed root system, and transplants well.

Perhaps the next species in point of vigour is the custare-
apple. This species succeeds on well-drained land and seems
to be particularly well adapted to land with a scarcity of soil
and where the precipitation is not over abundant. It has
a strong tap root but is rather deficient in laterals; however
this can be corrected by judicious root pruning. The
longevity of the tree makes it a fairly satisfactory stock from
this point of view.

The sugar-apple grows well on drained land and sucereds
on land having scanty soil. It is less long-lived than any of
the species under discussion and of less vigorous growth,
and would thus appear to be the least desirable stock to use
where the other species succeed equally well. Its root system
is weaker than that of any of the other species, and like its
congener it may be transplanted without difticulty.

The sonrsop is of good vigour and rapid growth and has
a better developed root system than any of its congeners, and
succeeds well on any well-drained, moderately rich soil.

Judging from the ease with which three-year-old mamons
have been cleft- and side-grafted by the writer, this method
should prove very snecessful in the working over of old seed-
ling trees. Where for some reason the grafts fail, the sprouts
that issue from the trunk may readily be shield budded and
the plant treated as already described under the paragraph
on budding.

The World's Production of Vanilla, 1911-12.

As a supplement to recent articles dealing with vanilla,
in the Agricultural News, Vols. 1X, pp. 295 and 319, and
XI, p. 148, the following has been taken from information
supplied by Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.LS.:—

‘With regard to the world’s production in the 1911-12
season the quantity is estimated at 590 tons made up as
follows: Bourbon 65 tons, Seychelles 13 tons, Comoro and
Mayotte 70, Madagascar 60, Nossi-Bé 10, Mauritius, Java,
Fiji and Ceylon 15, Guadeloupe and Martinique 16, Mexico
145, Tahiti 195 tons.

‘Tt is stated in a recent number of the Chemist and
Druaggist: “the total yield shows very satisfactory dimensions,
notwithstanding the shrinkage in the Seychelles aud Tahiti
returns, but as twice in succession no stocks of consequence
were left to be carried forward into a new season, the market
maintained its high leyel subject, of course, to the inevitable
fluctuations which a passing shortage or accumulation of
large arrivals of immature parcels or occasional ulterior
motives of speculators, must produce.”

‘Of course it must be borne in mind that the market
value depends on the kind cultivated, and the quality aimed
at should approach that of the Bourbon or Seychelles
varieties.’

THE BULLETIN OF THE IMPERIAL
INSTITUTE.

The following prospectus of the new issue of the
Bulletin of the Imperial Institute has been received
from the Director of the Institute, and is published
here for general information. It may be stated that
an article from the first number of the new issue was
partly reproduced on page 199 of this volume of the
Agricultural News, and that similar use has often
been made of past volumes of a publication that always
contains much that is of interest to those concerned in
agricultural development, particularly in the tropics.

This Bulletin was first published in 1903. It appears
quarterly and contains: reports on investigations conducted in
the Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial
Institute; articles and notes dealing with mineral and
vegetable economic products; and a quarterly summary of
information on recent progress in agriculture and the develop-
ment of natural resources.

Until this year the Bulletin has been published by the
Imperial Institute, but owing to the increased demand for it,
its publication has now been undertaken by Mr. John Murray,
50a, Albermarle Street, London, W., and the first number
of the new series has appeared.

The principal contents of this first number are as
follows:-—

Rubber resources of Uganda; some cotton soils of the
Nyasaland and Uganda Protectorates; kola nuts from British
West Africa; coca leaves from Ceylon and the Federated
Malay States; aromatic grass oils, Part ILI: Hibiscus fibres
from the Northern Territories, Gold Coast; timbers from
Uganda; sumach from Cyprus; economic products from
Mauritius; the coconut and its commercial uses, Part I;
cultivation, preparation and utilization of hemp and hemp
seed (Cannahis sativa); cultivation and preparation of ginger;
agricultural work in Seychelles; candelilla wax; sisal hemp in
Quilimane; New Zealand hemp; iron ore from Trinidad;
copper-mercury ore from Queensland; native labour regula-
tions in Mozambique.

The second number, now in the press, will have the
following principal contents: —

Tobacco industry of Ceylon; some new gutta-yielding
plants from the Gold Coast: /%cus elastica rubber from
Southern Nigeria; balata rubber (Z%ceus Vogelii) from South-
ern Nigeris.; the rubber of Cryptostegia grandifora; silk from
India; cotton and sisal hemp from Papua (British New
Guinea); fibres from India; utilization of Caesalpinia digynaz
oil seeds of Telfairia peduta; Lophira oil seeds from West
Africa; oils and oil seeds from Hong Kong; West African
cacao; the cultivation of cigar tobacco with special reference
to Java; the coco-nut and its commercial uses, Part II; shea
nuts and shea butter; rubber-tapping experiments in Southern
Nigeria; economic developments in the Belgian Congo; West
Indian satinwood; oil of ‘Nepal camphor wood’; citronella
grass; Mesembrianthemum Maloni roots from the Transvaal;
Rubber Exhibition in Java; cultivation of fibres in Javaz
‘Root cotton’; Perilla seed and cil.

The annual subscription to the Bulletin is 10s. 6d., or
11s. post free; single numbers may be purchased at 2s. 6d_
each, or 2s. 9d post free. Subscriptions may be paid through
avy bookseller, or if no bookseller is available, they may be
sent direct to Mr. John Murray, 50a, Albemarle Street,
London, W.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aveust 17, 1912.

WEST

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date July 29, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

INDIAN COTTON.

Since our last report, about 250 bales of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, nearly entirely composed of
St. Vincent at prices ranging from 18d. to 21d., the remainder
being accounted for with a few Barbados 21d. to 22d,,St. Lucia
-at 143d., and stains at 9d. to 10d.

The stock is large and the demand for extra fine yarns is
very limited; spinners are disinclined to purchase until they
can obtain sales of extra fine lace yarn and form an idea as to
what the New Crop Carolina Sea Island will sell at. This
-crop begins to arrive in about October. As they have to buy
to stock, they are only prepared todo so at about 3d per hb.
-below recent current prices.

COTTON-GROWING IN HAWAII.

The position as regards cotton-growing in Hawaii
-is thus summarized in Press Bulletin No. 34, issued by
the Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station on
May 2, 1912:—

Cotton culture in some parts of Hawaii has been aban-
doned. In some locations this result was brought about
because of the damage done by the boll worm; in other regions
because they had conditions ill-suited to the best growth of

“the crop.

A good quality of cotton in paying quantities can be
produced under certain conditions.

On the lower elevations, with a moderate supply of mois-
ture, with absence of, or protection from wind, with a good
supply of heat, and in fields that can be given horse cultiva-
tion—a good profit can be made in growing cotton even
under boll worm conditions.

Because of the boll worm, Sea Island cotton should be
grown as an anuual, and also only where there is no difficulty
in securing a stand.

In drier locations, Caravonica will be likely to be the
better variety and should be grown only as a perennial.
Good yields will be obtained from this variety in the first
year only where the very best conditions of heat and moisture
exist. It requires an occasional pruning, which should be
given usually prior to the rainy season, Under certain con-
ditions, two prunings can be given and two crops obtained,
and where this is possible greater immunity from the boll
worm will result.

Careful handling of the staple is necessary at all times.

A more uniform product can be secured by propagating
with buds or cuttings, but only through the seeds is any
improvement possible. To secure this, hybridization must
be prevented or controlled; all inferior plants or those having
undesirable qualities must be destroyed; and seed must ba
selected only from those which have desirable characters.

In determining what is suitable environment for cotton
in the islands, we find that location evidently has far more
influence than the character of the soil. Any soil will grow
cotton (some, however, require fertilization, and in some
perhaps the water might be too brackish), but some locations
preclude any possible chance of profit.

Cotton-growing in Portuguese East Africa.
The only serious attempt at cotton growing in Portu-
guese Hast Africa was commenced last year by a large
Portuguese land company on the island of Bompono, in the
Zambesi. H. M. Consul at Lorenzo Marquez (Mr. Rt. C. F.
Maugham) writes that the variety chosen was American
long-staple upland, grown from Nyasaland seed. The area
planted was 120 acres, and the resulting crop of 200 bales of
ginned cotton was valued in the United Kingdom at 7d. to
8d. per tb. as regards the best parcels, and from 53d. to 6d.
for the middling. It is stated that the best quality pre-
dominated. This year it is intended to plant out 1,000
acres in the same locality, and the outcome of this second
experiment is awaited with much interest. (The. Vewtile
Mercury, May 25, 1912.)

Cotton in Siam.—It was thought at one time that
cotton might be profitably grown in Southern Siam, but
recent experiments are not very encouraging. A Japanese
syndicate was formed with the object of cultivating cotton,
but its operations have not been successful, and the local
exhibits at the recent exhibition of agriculture and commerce
in Bangkok were pronounced to be generally poor.
Mr. Acting-Consul Crosby, in his report on the trade of
Bangkok, seems to think that the introducion of superior varie-
ties from other countries may be productive of good results,
but the high cost of labour is a severe handicap to planters.
Experiments have been tried with Egyptian cotton, but the
results have not been very satisfactory, the staple turning out
little better than that of local varieties. It may be noted
that of the imports of cotton goods, the United Kingdom and
Singapore contributed, last year, 36 and 35 per cent., respec-
tively. (The Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, May 31,
1912.)

Vou. XI. No. 269.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 263

Ss aaa

AN INDIAN FODDER PLANT.

A publication which is entitled Fodder Crops of
the Punjab, but does not give indication of its origin,
has been received lately. From this the following
information is taken concerning gir, or the cluster
bean (Cyamopsis psoraloides), which is a bushy
leguminous plant bearing hairy pods in clusters. ‘This
plant is under trial at some of the West Indian Botanic
Stations, as a green manure, seeds having been dis-

tributed to them by the Imperial Commissioner of

Agriculture. (See Agricultural News, Vol. X, pp. 277
and 293.)

It is an important fodder crop in the districts of the
Punjab formerly included in the United Provinces. It is
suited to light sandy soil, and is usually sown alone, but is
sometimes mixed with bajra [Pennisetum typhoideum). It
is considered to be a good crop to follow cotton or char/
[Guinea corn], because the leaves appear to act as manure
on the soil and to prepare it for a subsequent ra/i [dry
weather crop] (Hissar Gazetteer), page 170). No doubt,
like other leguminous crops, it feeds the soil with nitrogen.
The grain is very rich in albuminoids, the chemical compo-
sition being:—

Per cent.
Water 11°8
Albuminoids 298
Starch 46:2
Oil 14
Fibre Li
Ash OL

But it is considered coarse and produces flatulence, and
grain and leaves and stalk are given to the bullocks. The
grain is either boiled or coarsely ground and given dry. The
dry straw is useless, but the green plant is cut and chopped
up and given to bullocks. The broken pods, called Palosi,
left on the threshing floor, make good fodder.

After gram, ir is the most important pulse in Rohtak,
xurgaon and Delhi.

International Rubber Congress and Exhibition,
1914.—A cireular has been issued drawing attention
to the fact that an International Rubber Congress and Exhibi-
tion will be held at Batavia in April 1914.

The Congress and Exhibition will be organized by the
Netherlands Indies Agriculture Syndicate (*‘Nederlandsch-
Indisch Landbouw-Syndicaat’), which also brought about the
very successful Fibre Congress and Exhibition at Sourabaya
in 1911. Both Congress and Exhibition have the support
of the Government of the Netherlands East Indies and
many influential persons, commercial bodies ard estates

His Excellency the Governor-General of the Netherlands
East Indies has consented to become Honorary President of
the Congress and Exhibition. A complete detailed pro-
gramme of the Congress and the Exhibition will shortly be
published and distributed on a large scale in all countries of
the world.

At this moment we can, however, state that both the
Congress and the Exhibition will deal with all matters con-
cerning rubber production and the preparation of the crude
product, in the broadest sense of the wcrd, and that the pro-
duction and preparation of balata, Jelutong, and gutta-percha
will also be given attention. (The India Rubber Journal,
May 25, 1912.)

ST. KITTS AND THE CANADIAN
NATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Information has been received from Mr. F. R. Shepherd,
Honorary Secretary of the St. Kitts Permanent Exhibition
Committee, to the effect that the exhibits from St. Kitts-
Nevis for the Canadian National Exhibition to be held iz
Toronto, were forwarded by the S.S. ‘Oruro’ on July 18.

They are ninety-three in number, and consist of samples
of sugars (crystals and muscovado), molasses, cotton and
seed-cotton cotton, seed, cotton seed meal, cotton seed oil,
meals and starches, lime juice, pickles in brine, cured cacao,
cassareep, coco-nut oil, and a good collection of preserves
made from local fruit.

Besides these, there were forwarded as decorative
material bunches of coco-nuts, specimens of the Turk’s Cap
cactus (Melocactus conumunis) and palms. It was hoped to
forward samples of sugar-cane by the next steamer. Views
of the islands were included in the shape of a framed
collection of post cards, made by Mr. A. M. Losada.

Camphor in India’s Wettest District.—The
following is reproduced from the Statesman of April 19,
1912, in the May number of the Zropical Agriculturist. It
is of interest in relation to former articles, dealing with cam-
phor, in the Agricultural News (see page 229 of this
volume) :—

‘The camphor trees planted in the Government Farm at
Wahjian below the plateau of Cherrapunji, have now reached
a stage fit for cutting for distribution, and experiments were
started in May last. A small] still, modelled on those used
in Ceylon, was constructed at a cost of Rs. 80. In the first
trial distillation, 35 tb. of twigs and leaves yielded 1} oz. of
crude camphor. Of experiments in propagating the camphor
trees by root cuttings and layerings, out of thirty root
cuttings put down at the commencement of the rains,
twenty have succeeded, and out of fifty layers ten have
proved successful.’

Care in Storing Calcium Cyanamide.—The
Board of Agriculture and Fisheries desire to draw the
attention of agriculturists to the need for precaution in
storing calcium cyanamide on farms. Calcium cyanamide
contains calcium carbide in varying proportions, and the.
latter gives rise to an explosive gas, acetylene. Experiments
carried out by the Board of Trade showed that, in the case
of the particular samples investigated, 1 ton of calcium
cyanamide in dry air rendered 3°6 cubic feet, or in moist air
6°1 cubic feet of air, explosive in twenty-four hours. From
this it appears that there is some possibility of danger in
storing the calcium cyanamide in damp, unventilated sheds,
cellars, etc., and dry, well ventilated conditions should
prevail in places selected for the storage of this manure. If
the material is actually wetted when in store it becomes
a source of considerable danger. Further, it is most impor-
tant that the cyanamide should be kept dry in view of the
fact that moisture may induce chemical changes which would
probably cause the material to deteriorate in value as
a manure. (The Journal of the Board of Agriculture,
July 1912.)

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EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the

lommissioner, 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. Buwen & 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

Vo. Xl. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1912.

No. 269.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

‘Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this issue is entitled The Causes of
Fertility in Pastures. It gives a description of inter-
esting and suggestive work regarding pastures that
has been carried out recently in England.

Attention is drawn to the account of the new issue
of the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, which
appears on page 261.

The Insect Notes, on page 266, consist of a short
article and two notes on subjects of interest. These
deal with the cotton worm in the United States,
a weevil enemy of Carayonica cotton, and the destruc-
tion of lawns by caterpillars.

Page 267 is taken up by an abstract of an article
in which the subject of ventilation is considered in an
original and interesting manner.

A short account of some of the subjects that will be
considered by the Agricultural Section at the next
meeting of the British Association is presented on page
269. It will be remembered that the occasion of that
meeting will be the first at which agriculture is to be
taken as a Separate section.

On page 270, the Fungus Notes comprise an illus-
trated article presenting some miscellaneous informa-
tion regarding plant diseases.

A short article giving results obtained with Fun-
tumia in Dominica will be found on page 271.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Avucust 17, 1912.

The Exploitation of Ramie.

A note of some interest in relation to the employ-
ment of ramie fibre in the manufacture of incandescent
gas-mantles is published in the Journal of the Royal
Society of Arts, for July 5. For reasons probably
connected with its high absorptive properties, ramie
answers admirably for the purpose mentioned. As
a single pound of ramie yarn is computed to make
five or six gross of mantles, it is obvious that the
agyreyate weight of raw material reqnired to satisty
the lighting industry is relatively small. Even in
this field, however, ramie is said to have a more or
less serious rival in moulded mantles made by dissolv-
irg and precipitating cellulose in a manner akin to
that by which artificial silk is made.

It does not appear that ramie is brought iato
large use for other purposes, and there seem at
present to be few prospects of its successful employ-
ment in other directions: ‘apart from a_ limited
range of uses ramie remains easily the most con-
sistent disappointment in the whole family of
textile fibres. More money has been sunk in its
development to less purpose than in anything that has
engaged English attention. According to estimates,
which nobody contradicts, some thirty millions have
been lost in ramie by planters and manufacturers
during fifty years. One German undertaking succeed-
ing where virtually everyone else has failed, pays good
and regular dividends out of rarnie manufacture, but
otherwise, the industrial history is a story of unrelieved
disaster.’

+

Increased Seed Germination by Using Sulphuric
Acid.

Interesting information is contained in bulletin
312 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell
University, in which the claim to have ‘discovered’ the
method of improving the germination of seeds by the
use of strong sulphuric acid is made by one of the
anthors. The experiments described were carried out
chiefly with seeds of leguminous plants that are them-
selves of no direct interest in the West Indies, as well
as with cotton seed: the treatment consisted in immers-
ing the seed in concentrated sulphuric acid (of specific
gravity 1-84) for a few minutes. The method of using
the sulphuric acid was to pour on to the seed a quan-
tity of it equal to about five or six times the volume of
the seed; after the mixture had been stirred thorough-
ly so that all the seeds became completely covered with
acid, water was allowed to run into the vessel, at the
end of a time depending on the kind of seed, and
the contents were poured quickly into a strainer and
washed with running water for five minutes, or until
the seed was entirely free from acid. It was found
that the seed may be planted immediately or allowed
to dry before being planted; the former process is the
better one in the case of small lots of seed.

In trials of the effects of storage on the treated
seed, it was found ‘hat, at the end of four months, the

‘Voi. XI, No. 269.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 265

SSS ee

germination was generally the same as that obtained
when the seeds were tested immediately after treat-
ment. When this was employed tor seeds that were
already old, there was very little improvement in
-germination.

Care is required in washing the seed jor the pur-
pose of removing the acid, as the seed coat is easily
injured in this part of the process. Washing should
not to be continued for a longer time than is necessary
for the complete removal of the acid: this is especially
true when the treatment has been continued long.

The special interest of the matter exists in rela-
tion to the fact that, as strong sulphuric acid has been
used on the large scale in the United States for delint-
ing cotton seed, it is important to know what effect the
treatment has in relation vo the germination of the
seed. It will be sufficient to state the conclusion of
the matter shortly. When cotton is delinted in this
way, the rate of germination is increased, the seed may
be sepsrated more easily into light and heavy seed,
the possibility is brought about of using more improved
machinery in planting, and lastly it is probable that
any anthracnose spores on the seed are killed in the
process. Further, it appears that the conditions which
cause acceleration of germination are maintained when
the seed is dried and stored after treatment.

A Machine for Separating Coir.

In the Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 68, an
account was given of the way in which the fibre of the
coco-nut (coir) is separated from the husk in Ceylon.
According to the Philippine Agricultural Review
for May 1912, several machines have been invented
for the purpose, many of which are unsatisfactory. It
gives a description, however, of one of the machines
which is stated to be the best: this is made by Messrs.
Larmuth & Co., Manchester, England.

It consists actually of a series of machines driven
frem one source of energy, and designed to deal with
every process—from the crushing of the partially
soaked husks to the final processes of weaving coir
mattings and making cordage.

Described briefly, the apparatus is arranged as
follows. The husks are split into four parts, each of
which is fed separately to the crusher, where the fibre is
loosened from the cellular tissue that holds it together.
The husks that have been through the crusher are held
against the first scutch wheel, the two halves of each
piece being cleaned separately, and each piece being
passed through the wheel two to four times. The
succeeding stage is similar to the last, a wheel provided
with finer teeth, called the second scutch wheel, being
employed.

The fibre then reaches the first card, where
if is cleaned and straightened, and then further
cleaned by passing through a machine consisting of
a revolving drum, where dust and other foreign matter
are eliminated. The preparation of the fibre for its
final treatment is conducted in a second ecard, and after

this it is ready to pass into the spinning and weaving
machinery, where it is made into the article for which
it is intended.

It may be stated that a description of the
machines made by this firm is given in Coco-nuts, Th
Consols of the Kast, by H. H. Smith and F. A. C.
Page, just issued.

oo oS

Soil Bacteria and Evaporation.

The results of experiments regarding this matter
are presented in Research Bulletin No. 23 of the
Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. In sum-
inarizing the information given, the necessity is stated
for caution in interpreting the results, for the condi-
tions prevailing in the experiments could only imitate
approximately those obtaining in the field. They seem
to be sufficient to show that the movement of soil
water is not only dependent on gravitation. surface
tension, capillarity, temperature and visosity, and on
the chemical and physical composition of the soil, but
upon the life-processes that are taking place in it.

Bacterial activities cause changes in the quantity
and quality of the substances dissolved in the soil water,
and these changes help to alter the distribution of the
water in the soil.

This alteration in distribution is brought about
chiefly by changes in the surface tension of the soil
moisture, owing to bacterial activity, and the water
moves from places of lower tension to those of higher
tension, in accordance with the tendency to dis-
tribute itself uniformly throughout the soil. If in
the upper layers of the soil, soluble substances are
being produced, the surface tension of the water there
is increased, and water will travel upwards; if on the
other hand, substances are produced which cause
a reduction of surface tension (such as those originating
in the decomposition of certain proteids or carbonaceous
materials), they have the effect of bringing about a
movement of water away from the upper layers of
the soil.

Another factor which undoubtedly increases the
surface tension is the production of carbon dioxide by
bacteria; this dissolves in the water and increases its
ability to dissolve other (mineral) substances, so that
the surface tension is increased.

The broad conclusion of the matter is presented
in the Bulletin as follows: ‘In general then, it would
appear from the experiments that the soil bacteria and
their activities are factors which must be considered
when discussing the movemert of soil water; not so
much because of the cells themselves as because of the
by-products which they form and the subsequent
influence of the same upon such factors as surface
tension, capillarity, viscosity, etc. of the soil moisture.
The biological feature of the soil apparently forms an
important contributory factor in determining the
movement of soil water,’ .

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Avcust. 17, 1912.

INSECT NOTES.

THE COTTON WORM IN THE
UNITED STATES IN 1911.

Ina recent number of the Agricultural News (see Vol.
XX, p. 378) reference was made to a general outbreak of the
cotton worm (Alabama argillacea) in the cotton-growing
districts of the United States. It was mentioned that
Mr. W. D. Hunter, who is in charge of the southern field
crop insect investigations of the Bureau of ntomology of the
United States Department of Agriculture, was endeavouring
to account for the unusual occurrence of this insect on the
theory that it had invaded the Southern States by migration
from Mexico and perhaps also from the West Indies.

At a meeting of the American Association of Economic
Entomologists at Washington, D.C., in December last,
Mr. Hunter read a paper on the Outbreak of Alabama
argulacea in 1911, which has been published in the Journal
of Economic Entomology, Vol. V, p. 123. The following
items are abstracted from Mr. Hunter's paper and the report
of the discussion which followed its reading.

For nearly a quarter of a century there has been no
serious outbreak of the cotton worm in the cotton belt of the
United States until 1911, and as a result many planters were
not familiar with this insect. The reserve stocks of Paris
green and other arsenicals throughout the South had become
much reduced, and when the outbreak of the cotton worm
became general the demand for arsenicals became very great,
many of the larger factories in different parts of the country
running night and day.

The earliest seasonal record for this insect in 1911 was
received from Brownsville, Texas, which is on the Mexican
border, and at two near-by points in Mexico. As early as
June 10, the greater number of cotton fields in this district
were almost entirely stripped of their foliage. In Louisiana
and Mississippi, defoliation of cotton fields began to be
reported about the middleof July. In the eastern part of the
cotton belt, this condition was observed in August and
September.

It is concluded that the outbreak of 1911 started from two
infestations,one apparently unimportant, in the eastern part of
the cotton belt, another of greater importance in southern
Texas, which began in Mexico, but it does not seem that the
occurrence of the cotton worm throughout the cotton belt
could be explained on the theory that these two infestations
had spread and eventually coalesced. At widely separated
points extending far to the north of the latitude in which
this insect breeds, large swarms of cotton moths appeared
almost simultaneously between September 19 and October
29. It is stated that the occurrence of these enormous
numbers of moths toward the end of the season and the
vapid increase of the caterpillar shortly before that time were
due to invasion of moths from South America through
Mexico or over the Gulf of Mexico.

Rather complete and full records exist of the depreda-
tions of the cotton worm from 1793 to 1881. These
contrast strongly with the meagre accounts of this insect in
more recent years, when by the use of arsenical insecticides
and changed plantation methods the effects of cotton worm
attacks have been much modified.

Tn 1846 the theory was advanced that severe attacks of the
cotton worm occurred once in twenty-one years. The records
show that in the years 1783, 1804, 1825, 1846, 1868, 1890,
ind 1911 there have been severe and general outbreaks of
this insect, while in other years the attacks have often been

severe in localities but not general throughout the cotton
belt, with the exception of one that occurred in 1872-3.
Two of the periods indicated by the figures given are of
twenty-two years while the others, it will be observed, are of
twenty-one years each.

Another point of interest which was brought out in the
discussion of Mr. Hunter’s paper had to do with the food
plant of the cotton worm, and its native home. So far as is-
known at the present time, the only food plant of the cotton
worm is cotton, and it is not believed that this insect can
live and go through its developmental changes to maturity
on any other plant. It is known that the native home of
the cotton worm is somewhere south of the United States,
probably South America, and it seems to be the opinion
among those entomologists who have studied the subject
that this insect is incapable of passing the winter in the
United States. In that case it is necessary that an invasion
of moths should take place each year before any caterpillars
can appear in the cotton fields.

This being so, may it not happen that the severe out-
breaks of cotton worm in the Lesser Antilles follow invasion
of the moths from South America?

These invasions are probably not from the same sources
as those in the United States which cause the first attacks
there, since in these islands the cotton worm is seldom if ever
to be seen in the field in numbers before the last week in
September. This date would, however, coincide closely with
that at which the great flights of moths were recorded in 1911.

If, on the other hand, the severe outbreaks of cotton
worm in these islands, in certain years, are to be accounted.
for by invasions of moths, it is difficult to understand why the
island of St. Vincent should have escaped and not have
experienced a single attack during the past ten years, when
in the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Barbados there have been,
during this time, several seasons in which this pest has been
present in enormous nuinbers.

A Weevil Enemy of Caravonica Cotton.—Ac-
cording to the Experiment Station Record (Vol. XXVI, No. 4,
March 1912) a weevil has attacked Caravonica cotton in
Morogoro, German East Africa. The habits of this weevil
and the injury caused by it are similar to those caused in the-
United States by the Mexican cotton boll weevil (Anthono-
mus grandis).

The description of this pest, which appeared in Pflan--
zer, T (1911) No. 514, p. 18, was by H. Morstatt.

Caterpillars Eating the Grass of Lawns.-—
Mr. J. C. Moore, Agricultural Superintendent, St. Lucia, in
a letter to the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, states-
that caterpillars have done considerable damage by feeding
upon the grass of the lawns at the Botanic Gardens. Speci-
mens of the caterpillars, and of the moths bred from them,
have been forwarded for identification.

Mr. Moore finds that a spray of Paris green in water
kills the caterpillars, and does not burn the grass much.

This insect is similar to, if not identical with, a small
moth of the family Pyralidae, reported by Mr. Patterson as
doing similar damage at the Agricultural School in St. Vin-
cent.

In St. Vincent, the grass-eating caterpillars were exten-
sively parasitized by Spilochaleis femoratus.

‘VoL. XI. No. 269.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING
VENTILATION.

The subject of ventilation is treated in an original
-manner in a paper read recently before the Royal Society of
Arts, the authors being Leonard Hill, M.B, F.RS., and
Martin Flack, M.A., M.B., B.Ch. It was printed, with the
-discussion, in the Journal of the loyal Society of Arts for
February 9, 1912.

The paper commences by pointing out that, though the

good effects following efficient ventilation and open-air treat-

‘ment are generally attributed to the chemical purity of the
air, they are due really to the: ‘movement, coolness, relative
humidity of the air, and to the ceaseless variation of these
- qualities.’ The ventilating engineer and the heating engineer
have sought to make conditions more comfortable, the first
by the supply of chemically pure air, the second by heating
the air to a uniform temperature; whereas their real aim
should be to provide air: ‘which is cool, of proper relative
humidity, and which moves so as to vary the cutaneous
state of the body.’

In considering the chemical purity of the air, three

matters may be kept in view: the concentration of carbon
dioxide, the concentration of oxygen, and the supposed exhala-
tion of organic poison in the breath. As regards the first,
-from the fact that the percentaye of carbon dioxide in the
air of factories must be kept exceedingly low, it is the general
idea that the presence of the gas in any proportion greater than
that percentage causes the air to be poisonous. Actually, the
truth of the matter is quite otherwise, and this is easy to see
when it is considered that the percentage of carbon dioxide
in the air of the lungs is always about five—a percentage
very much higher than the amount that it is not legally
permissible to exceed. It follows that it is impossible for
-a person to breathe more carbon dioxide than is good for him,
even in the worst ventilated room. Examples are given,
further, to show that in nature the movements of animals, and
the postures in which they rest, are governed by considerations
of warmth and moisture of the air, and not by the circum-
stance of the percentage of carbon dioxide that it contains.
Evidence in the same direction is also adduced from the
fact that workers in breweries, divers in diving dresses, and
those who work in compressed air caissons, where the per-
centage of carbon dioxide is always comparatively high, do
not suffer from this condition. ‘It results, then, from
what we have said, that concentrations of carbon dioxide,
such as occur in the most crowded and worst ventilated
‘rooms, are of no account.’

It is convenient now to discuss ventilation in regard to
the percentage of oxygen in the air. As is stated in the
paper, the oxygen in the worst ventilated school-room, place
of worship, or theatre, is never lessened by more than | per
cent. of an atmosphere. Attention is drawn, again, to the cir-
cumstance that the concentration of oxygen in mountain
health resorts, and in the towns on the high plateaux of the
Andes, is reduced to a much greater amount than this, and
yet the visitors and inhabitants do not suffer in any way from
this cause. Further, experiments have been made in which
persons have been confined in an air-tight chamber in which
the oxygen was gradually reduced to about 16 per cent., and
there was 3} per cent of carbon dioxide present, when no dis-
comfort was suffered by them although the proportion of
oxygen in the air was too low to enable them to light
a match and smoke a cigarette. Investigations of the kind
have shown that it is only when the oxygen is reduced below
a pressure of 14 to 15 per cent. of an atmosphere that
Signs of its want appear. ‘A diminution of 1 per cent, of

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

~I

to
ao

an atmosphere has not the slightest effect on our health or
comfort.’

As it is must be concluded that ventilation is required
neither to take away carbon dioxide nor to restore oxygen, the
third of the causes mentioned above, of discomfort in crowded
places, has been adduced, namely the presence of organic
chemical poisons that have come from the human breath—
poisons whose presence is said to be proved by the exis-
tence of the smell or ‘fugg’ in such places. In actual circum-
stances, those inside the room, helping to make the ‘fugg’, are
unaffected by it, while it is only those who enter from outside
who are likely to remark it. Examples are given which show
decisively that, in general, the dislike of a smell arises
rather from its unaccustomed nature than from any pois-
onous quality. In a more exact way, the supposed exis-
tence of organic chemical poisons in expired air is based
upon experiments of Brown-Sequard and d’Arsonval,
who injected into guinea pigs and rabbits either
water condensed from the breath or water that had
been used several times to wash out the windpipes
of dogs; when the animals showed signs of illness, collapse
and death. Other investigators, among whom are those
possessing the best methods of work, have not confirmed
these results. It seems that the injected water contained
traces of the proteins of the saliva, so that an anaphylactic
shock was produced in the animals after a second injection;
this means that the animals had become sensitised by the
first injection, aud were therefore poisoned by the subsequent
injection of the proteid, which was foreign to them, in the
saliva. Confirmation of the supposed poisonous nature cf
breath has been alleged to have been obtained by the injec-
tion into a mouse of 1 or 2 c.c. of condensation water
obtained by breathing through a cooled flask. As the
mouse weighed about 13 grams., this was equivalent to
injecting about 9 pints of water into a man weighing just
over 140 lb, so that small wonder may be felt that the
animal became ill. The experiment with the mouse is dis-
credited further by the fact tnat the same symptoms may
be produced by injecting a similar quantity of pure water
alone. ‘Such experiments are ridiculous, and deserve not
a moment’s attention.’ After dealing further with the
matter, the authors proceed to say: ‘After studying the
literature on this subject we are convinced that there is no
positive evidence which demonstrates the poisonous nature of
the condensation water obtained from the breath. We go
further and say there is at present no trustworthy evidence
of the existence of any such poison in the exhaled air,’

The real cause of discomfort in crowded rooms arises in
the following way. The air actually in contact with the
bodies of the persons in the room is confined by the clothes
and becomes almost as warm as the body, and saturated
with moisture, so that perspiration, wetness and flushing
of the skin, and a rise of its temperature, are brought about.
Under the conditions, the blood is kept near the outside of
the body, and does not pass in proper proportion through
the brain and internal organs. On the other hand, the
feelings of discomfort and fatigue do not arise if this
‘blanket of stationary wet air’ is prevented from forming by
causing a proper amount of movement of the air, by fans
or otherwise.

The paper presents an account of many interesting
observations in support of the supposition that discomfort
is caused by excessive heat and humidity of the air, and not
by excess of carbon dioxide or want of oxygen, and concludes
by making valuable suggestions as to the use of ozone for
improving conditions where there is not free natural move-~
ment of the air,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Aveusr 17, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

A report from Nevis shows that welcome rains fell
during the early part of last month, and that there has been
much improvement in the condition of the crops. Cotton-
planting had been carried on vigorously, and good stands
had been obtained, but want of rain was indicated at the
end of the month.

Statistics supplied by the Malay States Information
Agency show that the export of plantation rubber from the
Federated Malay States tor last June was 2,305,915 th. The
total shipments for the first six months of this year amount
to 15,382,265 ib.;in the corresponding period of last year
they were 8,349.397 bb.

A note in the Jowrnal @Agriculture Tropicale for
March 1912 mentions a wax that is obtained from a kind of
banana plant growing in Java. In preparing this the leaves
are scraped, and the scrapings are thrown into boiling water.
‘The wax has a melting point of 79° to 80° C.; its specific
gravity varies from 0°963 to0°970. It is insoluble in alcohel,
but dissolves in boiling turpentine.

A total of 10,885 plants was distributed from the
St. Lucia Botanic Station during July. These included
limes 10,350, cacao 350, oranges 20 and mangoes 12, and
there were in addition 41 packets of miscellaneous seeds and
13 tb. of papaw seeds, the distribution of the last being in
connexion with the late increase of interest in the production
of papain, in the West Iudies.

Information received from St. Kitts shows that the
reaping of the sugar-cane crop of last season is almost com-
plete on the estates sending cane to the Basseterre sugar
factory; an output of about 3,800 tons was expected. In the
northern districts the reaping was not as advanced, but
better returns were being obtained. There had been no
increase in the incidence of rind fungus.

Among laws of agricultural interest that have been
enacted in Jamaica during the present year, there are included
Laws 6,11, and 17. These are entitled, in order, A Law
for the Encouragement of Agricultural Loan Societies,
\ Law to prescribe a Measure to be used in the purchase of
‘itrus Fruits by Licensed Produce Deaers and A Law to
prevent the Introduction and Spread of Plant Disease,

The Philippines Free Press of March 30 presents an
account of a modern sugar factory giving a daily output of
about 14,000 tb. of 96° crystals that has been erected
recently at Talisay, Negros Island. It is proposed to
erect one three times as large at Bago. ‘There has also been
built a modern mill at San José, in the island of Mindoro.
It may he mentioned that an account of the sugar industry
of Negros was given in the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI,
p. 207.

According to Diplomatic and Consular Reports,
No. 4875 Annual Series, the crop of Tonka beans (Diptery«
odorata) in Venezuela for 1911 was relatively small, and it
is expected that the return for the present year will be
somewhat low, as well. Prices are therefore very high, the
quotation being about £1 5s. per tb. It is expected,
however, that next year will be productive, for by that time
the trees will have had an opportunity to have recovered.
from the exhaustive crop of 1909, which was very large.

During last month, the Agricultural Superintendent,
St. Vincent, paid a visit to Arnos Vale estate in that island
in company with the Government Veterinary Surgeon, in an
endeavour to determine the plant or plants that had appar-
ently caused recently the poisoning of horses and donkeys on
the estate. It is of interest, in relation to articles and notes
that have appeared in the Agricn/tural News, Vols. VIII, pp.
222, 261, 363 and 415, and IX, p. 124, that no plant was-
found to which suspicion may be attached, except the wild
ipecacuanha (Asclepias curassavica).

It is believed that, in the neighbourhood of Quilimane,
Portuguese East Africa, no less than 2 million coco-nut palms.
are possessed by three large agricultural associations, and
one-fifth of these are now coming into bearing. According
to The Board of Trade Journal for May 23, 1912. it is
expected that the export of copra from the Port of Quilimane
should reach an annual value of at least £100,000 in the
next few years. It seems that, as regards East Africa, the
latitude of the mouth of the Zambesi is the most southerly
limit for productive coco-nut growing.

A note on the first meeting of the British Imperial
Council of Commerce was given on page 296 of the last
volume of the Agricultural News. At the Eighth Congress
of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, held recently, the
following resolution was adopted: ‘That this Congress
welcomes the establishment of the British Imperial Council
of Commerce representing the Chambers of Commerce and
Boards of Trade of the Empire as being a permanent link
between such bodies, and as a means of giving greater effect
to the resolutions of successive Congresses.’

As was stated in the Agricultural News, Vol. XI,
p. 183, the champak tree (Michelica Champaca) is growing
in the St. Vincent Botanic Garden. With regard to this
interesting plant, the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute,
Vol. X, p. 148, presents a note on work that has shown the
necessity, when it is intended to obtain the oil, of distilling
the flowers immediately after gathering; on standing, they
rapidly became dark coloured, possibly owing to the action
of an oxidase, and less fragrant. ‘lhe original paper forming
the subject of this note appeared in the Philippine Journal
of Science, 1911, A, p. 332, and this contained particulars
of the cultivation, growth and dimensions of the champak.

Vout. XI. No. 269.

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

AUGUST.
Srconp PERIOD.
Seasonal Notes.

Where green dressings are employed in lime and cacao
cultivations, they should be sown during the present quarter,
as soon as sufficient rain has fallen to bring about the
germination of the seed; this early planting will ensure their
quick growth, so that they will be able to ‘smother’ the
weeds that would come up otherwise in their place.

Mention the advantages, and any disadvantages, in
connexion with the employment of green dressings, under
conditions with which you are familiar. State what plants
you have found most useful under those conditions, giving
reasons why they have proved themselves the most useful.

In lime plantations, scale insects are generally seen to
be plentiful at the end of the dry season. They tend,
however, to disappear with the advent of the rains. What
is the reason for this disappearance? Give an account of
any observations that you may have conducted for the
purpose of observing the cause. How may what you des-
cribe be employed in practical agriculture as a means for
controlling scale insects! Do you know of any animal
parasites that are effective in reducing the numbers of these
insects, as well as of insects related to them?

Where it is intended to extend cacao or lime cultiva-
tion, the new plants should be put in at an early date in
order that they may become properly established before the
dry season sets in. Describe what happens in the case of
a plant which has commenced the renewal of root growth
under favourable conditions of rainfall, when there follows
a cessation of these conditions for some time.

At the present time, lime plantations in which the trees
have reached maturity should be free from weeds and should
have commenced to bear ripe fruits. Preparation will have
been made for crushing, where lime juice and citrate of
lime are produced. In the manufacture of these, it may
be possible to obtain interesting results in connexion
with the relation between the yield of lime oil and of raw
juice, and the state of maturity of the fruit that was
employed. Where trees in different areas show great varia-
tion in vigour of growth and freedom from disease, an
opportunity may be given for finding any connexion that
exists between the state of the trees and the yield of the
products that are obtained finally from them. In such work,
a knowledge of the way to determine the percentage of citric
acid in the juice is of the greatest assistance toward obtaining
useful results.

In cacao cultivations, a constant watch should be kept
as regards the state of health of the trees, and the observa-
tions will be employed chiefly in regard to the possible spread
of canker and new outbreaks of root disease.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Why is it necessary to drain the soil?
(2) Why is the soil turned over from time to time?

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 269

(3) Give a list of the ways in which plants may be
reproduced vegetatively.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) State shortly the results of draining a soil, dealing
with the effects in the soil alone.

(2) What benefits arise from forking the soil? What is
the best time of the year for forking, under the conditions in
which you are gaining your experience?

(3) What is likely to be the effect when a plant is
propagated vegetatively for a long period of time?

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Give a description of a system of drainage to be
employed on a hillside, under stated conditions

(2) What circumstances, other than the time of removal
of crops, decide when the land should be forked or ploughed?

(3) It is often stated that uniform plants are always
obtained by continued vegetative reproduction. Criticise this
statement.

AGRICULTURE AND THE BRITISH
ASSOCIATION, 1912.

The first meeting of the new section of the British
Association—Section M (Agriculture)—promises to be of
very special interest and importance to the great industry
which it is designed to help by the promotion of science in
this direction. The district round Dundee is famous for
more than one branch of farming, which has been carried
to a high degree of perfection, and the following programme
shows that the local interests have been made a special
feature. On Thursday, September 5, the presidential address
will be given by Mr. T. H. Middleton. The remainder of the
day will be devoted to papers dealing with milk, On Friday,
September 6, Mr. R. H. Rew of the Board of Agriculture will
read a paper on the sources of the nation’s food supply, and
Major P. G. Craigie, C.B., will contribute a paper on Scottish
agricultural production—half a century’s changes. A paper
will also be contributed by Professor J. Wilson, on a considera-
tion of the profits realized from the usual field crops, more
especially from temporary pasture. The remainder of the day
will be devoted to two special papers on the agriculture
of the district. On Monday, September 9, a joint meet-
ing will be held with the Meteorological Department
of Section A, the subject being the connexion between
meteorology and agriculture. Dr. W. N. Shaw, F.R.S.,
will read a paper on the practice of cultivation in rela-
tion to our knowledge of climate and weather, and
Mr. A. Watt, Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological
Society, will open the discussion. Other general papers on
this day will deal with the action of quicklime on soil,
studies on nitrogen fixation, the rate of evolution of hydro-
cyanic acid from linseed, the influence of origin and topo-
graphy on grass lands, and the problem of disease resistence.
On Tuesday, September 10, will be held a joint meeting
with Section 1 (Physiology) on the important subject of
nutrition. The discussion will be opened by Professor
F. G. Hopkins, F.R.S., and continued by Professor Leon
Asher (Berne), Dr. E. P. Cathcart, Dr. C. Crowther,
Dr. Leonard Hill, and Dr. Martin Flack, Professor J. J. R.
Macleod ‘United States of America), and Professor T. B.
Wood. This is the first time within recent years—if not
the first time at all—when the practical feeder and the
physiologist have met, and when the stores of knowledge
and experience of the practical man have been drawn upon
by the man of science. (Vatwre, July 11, 1912.)

THE

FUNGUS NOTES.

MISCELLANEUUS INFORMATION.

In the following article a few miscellaneous points of
interest will be dealt with relating to the occurrence of
different species of fungi in the islands.

ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGI. In a communication recently
recelved from the Agricultural Superintendent in St. Lucia
it is stated that the white-headed fungus (Ophionectria
coccicola) parasitic upon scale insects was particularly preva-
lent in the southern district of that island during the month
of July, so much so that its presence caused some alarm
until its usefulness was indicated It is perhaps hardly
necessary to point out that this fungus has never been
known to cause any damage to plants and that its activities
are entirely confined to the insects upon which it lives. In
other parts of the island, particularly in the northern district,
it was entirely absent. It has been established artificially at the
Experiment Station and upon a neighbouring estate, and
since this is so, it would appear that the fungus might also
be introduced into other districts where it is not at present
found. The Assistant Agricultural Superintendent has pro-
vided the information that artificial inoculation is greatly
assisted if the inoculated trees are sprayed with water every
morning and evening for a week after the infected leaves
have been tied in, more especially in dry weather. The
presence of the fungus would appear from the information
given to be largely dependent on the moisture conditions,
since the rainfall at the southern end of the island is usually
higher than at the north. Generally speaking, however, the
conditions in St. Lucia are very favourable to the develop-
ment of the fungus parasites of scale insects. Besides the
white-headed fungus (Ophionectria coccicola) and the three
other species of scale insect parasites that have been known
to be present for some time, there are also two species of
Aschersonia. One is A. twrbinata, that lives probably upon
the mango shield scale (Coccus mangiferae). It was referred
to in the Agrzcultural News, Vol. X, p. 190, under the name
Hypochrella oxyspora, but according to information received
from Mr. Petch, the Government Mycologist in Ceylon, this
name is incorrect, The other species is as yet unidentified,
but it was found to attack a species of Coccus on rose apple
(Eugenia Jambos) growing by the roadside in the Forestiére
district. It appeared to attack also specimens of the glassy
star scale (Vinsonza stellifera), which was common on the
leaves of the plant, but this was not actually the case.

RED RUST OF LIME LEAVES. Some specimens of lime
leaves have recently been received from St. Lucia which
showed peculiar raised rusty-brown patches on their upper.
and occasionally on their lower, surfaces. The patches varied
in size from 1 to 5 mm., and on examination with a hand
lens were seen to be covered with fine red hairs, each of
which terminated in a small round knob. The patches are
caused by the flat plates of an alga belonging to the genus
Cephaleuros. This minute plant, although it is provided
with chlorophyll and can obtain its own carbon-supply, is
undoubtedly parasitic upon the leaves, but the injury it
inflicts is confined to the tissues immediately below it and it
probably does not interfere with the normal functions of the
leaves sufficiently to cause any serious damage. In the cells
forming the terminal knobs that arise from the surface of
the plate, motile zoospores are produced, which are liberated
and germinate when the surfaces of the leaves are moist, and

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aucust 17, 1912.

thus produce new algal plates. The same or a similar species
has been previously recorded upon different kinds of Citrus
in Grenada. The record is of interest because an allied
species (Cephaleuros mycoidea) is responsible for the ‘red
rust’ of tea bushes in India. There, the alga occurs on the
leaves and young twigs, on the latter of which it forms
bright-red patches that cause the serious injury to the
bushes. The presence of the alga on the leaves is not of any
great importance. As far as is known at present, the local
species has not been observed to attack Citrus twigs, and is
probably of but little economic importance.

Bre. 7.

EvutypaA CAvuLivora on HEVEA.

BLACK ROOT DISEASE. It has recently been determined
that Rosellinia bunodes, the fungus causing black root disease
of limes, cacao, and pois doux (Inga l/auwrina) in Dominica,
occurs in Grenada, where it was first found on Castilloa
plants. It has been recorded in the same island on the
pigeon pea and more recently on young camphor plants.
The species of Rosellinia responsible for cacao root disease in
St. Luciais different from &. bunodes, as the perithecia are
much larger and are, moreover, smooth and dark-brown
rather than black. The identity of the St. Lucia species is at
present undetermined, as none of the perithecia examined
were mature and no spores have been found in them. A new
host plant, the horse bean (Canavalia ensiformis) has been
lately recorded for this parasite. It would appear from the
number and varied nature of the plants that have been found
to be attacked that almost any plant whose roots were in con-
tact with infected material might succumb to this disease.
An outline of the treatment to be given in cases of this and
similar diseases has already appeared in the Agricultural News,
Vol. XI, p. 190, and experiments are in progress to test some
other methods.

Vor) cols eNO. 269:

EUTYPE ERUMPENS. This fungus has been responsible for
the death of evergreen trees (cus spp.) in Trinidad, Barba
dos, and recently Grenada. As the trees die, large black patches
of a hard, charcoal-like substance burst through the bark on
the trunk, main branches and exposed portions of the roots.
(See Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 62.) These patches
may be as muchas 6 inches or more in diameter. Fig. 7
shows similar patches formed by #. caulivora on the stem of
a Hevea rubber tree, in the Straits: it is reproduced from
the Kew Bulletin, 1910, p. 25).

Inside the black crust are numerous small perithecia
provided with long necks that open on to its surface. Large
numbers of unicellular smoky spores are formed in the peri-
thecia and are extruded through the necks. The fungus is
probably a wound parasite. It does not kill the tree rapidly;
and as it is entirely confined to the inner tissues, its presence
is not apparent until the hard, black plates are formed as the
tree is dead or dying. Probably if dying limbs were removed
from evergreen trees as they make their appearance, some
trees might be saved, but where infection is in the trunk
itself, perhaps near the ground level, nothing much can be
done. Dead trees should be removed and burned as soon as
the black plates appear. Besides evergreens, nutmegs and
cacao are sometimes attacked, while the fungus can appar-
ently live as a saprophyte on dead stumps, for a species—
probably this—was found in St. Lucia on the stumps of
a cacao tree killed by root disease.

FUNTUMIA IN DOMINICA.

A communication has been received from the Curator of
the Botanic Gardens, |)ominica, which presents the results

of the tapping of eight-year-old trees of Yuntumia elastica -

on two estates in Dominica, during the second week in
April 1911.

In one case, there were sixteen trees with an average
measurement at the base of 22°3 inches. and at 3 feet from
the ground of 19°7 inches, which yielded 17 oz. of cured
rubber. In the other case. the number of trees was eight,
with a base measurement of 24 inches, and 3 feet from the
ground of 21°8 inches; these yielded 9 oz. of cured rubber.
It is seen that in each case the yield obtained was slightly
over | oz. per tree.

The methods employed were thoroughly to tap the trees
on the herring-bone system, and to coagulate the latex by
boiling. In a subsequent tapping conducted fourteen weeks
later, a very small amount of latex wasobtained.

A sample of rubber prepared from /. elastica in
Dominica has been analyzed at the Government Laboratory,
Antigua, and gave the following results:—

Sample as received, Dry rubber,

per cent. per cent.
Moisture 56 0-0
Caoutchoue $273 87:2
Resin et 12:4
Protein O-4 0-4
Insoluble matter 0° 00
Ash 0-5 0-5

The report on the product stated: ‘the rubber was very
elastic and tenacious, and free from tackiness. When dried
it showed a good light-brown colour.’

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

TURMERIC.

This plant [Curewma longa| which is indigenous to
many hot countries, is in general cultivation throughout the
Eastern Tropics, and is in large use by the natives of the
islands of the Pacific. The virtue of the plant, for all the
various purposes to which its product is put, lies in the
mature tubers. These vary a good deal in size as well as
form, according to species, the prevailing shape being oblong;
but in colour they are all more or less of a grey or greenish-
yellow externally, and of an orange. yellow inside.

The chief use, probably, to which this product is put in
the economy of the arts is as a condiment and a colouring
matter in culinary preparations. Its use as an ingredient
of curry powder is well known, and to the presence of
turmeric is probably due much of the wholesomeness of
curries. Its remaining uses are in the manufacture of
yellow varnishes, and, in the form of turmeric paper, as
a chemical test for the presence of alkalis, which change its
yellow colour to a reddish-brown.

The cultivation of turmeric is as simple as, and much
resembles, that of ginger. It likes a rich and Jight soil, and
is planted, in the form of fragments of the roots, in rows
1 foot or more apart. Others plant in beds 3 feet wide,
with furrows intervening 12 to 18 inches apart, or in drills
8 inches apart. After the land is well prepared by digging,
a layer of fresh vegetable or animal manure is laid on the
surface, and the ‘roots’ then dibbled in. When the plants
are about 8 inches high they should be earthed up to keep
the young-formed tubers well covered, and they then require
little further attention until fit for harvesting in the cold
season. The tubers mature in about six months; but are fit
for use, fresh, in three months or less.

An acre properly cultivated will yield about 2,000 b.
of fresh roots. The tubers should be dug as soon as the
stems fade. They are prepared for market by drying in the
sun, being previously scalded to assist in destroying their
vitality. (The Queensland Agricultural Journal, June 1912.)

During 1911, interesting experiments were carried out
at the Nantwich and Acton Grammar School with the object
of ascertaining if seed for sowing could be made distasteful
to birds. For the purpose, rye seed was treated in the
following different ways: (1) rubbed in red lead; (2) soaked
in a 10-per cent. solution of bluestone (copper sulphate);
(3) soaked in kerosene. Other seed received no treatment,
and was left asa control. After the seeds were sown, part of
each lot was protected from birds by means of black thread.
In the result, it was shown that the treatment afforded little
or no protection, for the rye under the black thread came up
well, whereas few plants were obtained where no threads
were used, Another test, employing oats soaked in bitter
aloes had already shown that this treatment is useless for
the purpose,

London.—THE

New York,—Messrs.

~T
bo

MARKET REPORTS.

JOMMITTEE CIRCULAR,
E. A. De Pass & Co.,

West Inpia
July 30, 1912; Messrs.
July 19, 1912:

Arrowroot—3!jd. to 43d.

Barata—Sheet, 3/74; block, 2/5 per th.

Brreswax—No quotations.

Cacao—Trinidad, 68/- to 85/- per cwt.; Grenada, 61/-
to 68/-; Jamaica, 59/- to 68/-.

OorreE—Jamaica, 69/- to 79/- per cwt.

Uopra—West Indian, £26 5s, per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 144d. to 22d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

Is1ncLass—No quotations.

HonEy—25/- to 34/-

Lime Jurce—Raw, 1/11 to 2/1; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d.
to £19; otto of limes (hand pressed), 7/6.

Loe woov—No quotations.

Macr—5d. to 1s.

Nutmecs—dd. to Is.

Pimento—Common, 2,';d.; fair, 2$d.; good, 23d.; per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/114; fine soft, 4/6; Castilloa,
4/2 per th.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/- to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/6 to 18/6; Muscovado, 12/- to 15/-;
Syrup, no quotations; Molasses, no quotations. 5.

GiutesPizg Bros, & Co., July

26, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 14}c. to 15$c.; Grenada, 142c.
Trinidad, 14c. to 143c. per tb.; Jamaica, 11}c. to 13c.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $22°00 to $23:00; culls,
$13-00 to $14:00; Trinidad, select, $2200 to $23-00;
culls, $13°90 to $1400 per M.

OorreE—Jamaica, 14}c. to 16}c. per tb.

GinceR—8#c. to 114c. per Ib.

Goat Skins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 45c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 33c. to 44c.
per tb.

Grapre-Fruit—Jamaica, $3°50 to $5:00.

Limes—$2°00 to $6°123.

Mace—No quotations.

Nutmecs—110’s, 12}c. to 12hc.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°30 per box.

Pimento—22d. per th.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°05c. per tbh.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°55c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., August 5,

1912,

Oacao—Venezuelan, $16°00 per fanega; Trinidad, $15:00
to $15°50.

Ooco-nut Or—88c. per Imperial gallon

Oorrrre—Venezuelan, 17}c. per tb.

Corra—$4:50 per 100 th.

Dxat—$d°50.

Onrtons—$2:00 to $2°50 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$7 ‘25 to $7°30 per bag.

Potators—English, $2°75 to $3°00 per 100 tb.

Rice—Yellow, $4°8U to $5°00; White, $6:25 to $6°35
per bag.

Sucar—Ameriean crushed, no quotations.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aucust 17, 1912.

Barbados, —Messrs. James A. Lynca & Co., Ltd., August

10, 1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., August
12, 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., August 2,
1912.

ArRrowroor— $700 per 100 th.

Oacao—$12:00 to $13°50 per 100 tb.

Coco-nuts—$20°00.

Hay—$1°70 to $1°80 per 100 th.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00 ; Cacao manure, $45:00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80°00 per ton.

Mo.asses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°25 to $2°75 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6-90 to $7°00 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°00 to $5°30 per bag of 120 th.

Porators—Nova Scotia, $4°50 per 160 th.

Ricze—Ballam, €5°20 to $5 30 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quota-

tions; Rangoon,

no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $5:00 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierine & Ricarer, August

3, 1912; Messrs. Sanppacn, Parker & Co.,

August 2, 1912.
RTICLES Messrs. WIsETING Messrs. Sanp-
A : & Ricurer. ae Fanien
ArrowkooTt—St. Vincent — Tas
Batata—Venezuelablock| No quotation Prohibited
Demerara sheet|76c. to 77c. per tb. —s
Cacao—Native 14c. per th. 14c. per tb,
Cassava— $120. No quotation
Cassava STARCH— $7 °50 No quotation

Coco-nuTs— $16 to $20 per M./$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected

CorrEE—Creole 18c. per tb. 19c. per th.
Jamaica and Rio 21c. per tb. Ye.
Liberian 1dc. per th. 15c. per tb.

Duat— $6°00 per bag of| $6:00 to $575

168 th.

Green Dhal $5°50 —_—
Eppors— $2°40 aes
Motasses— Yellow None a
Onitons—Teneriffe —

Madeira 5e. per th. 5e. to 6c,
Pras—Split $6°75 to $7°00 per| $7-15 per bag
bag (210 tb.) (210 tb.)

Marseilles No quotation
PLANTAINS— 16c. to 48c. =
Porators—Nova Scotia $2-50

Lisbon $2 25 to $2-75 N.. «notation
Potators-Sweet, B’bados $3°60 xe
per bag
Rice—Ballam No quotation =

Creole $6°00 $6°00 to $6-25
Tannias— $3°24 esas
Yams— White $2°64 =i3!

Buck $4°24 =
Suear—Dark crystals $3°25 to $3-40 $3-25

Yellow $4°20 to $4°25 $300

White $4-00 —

Molasses $2°80 —
TimBeR—Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 5dc. per

cub. foot cub. foot

Wallaba shingles] $4°00 to $6:25 $4-00 to $6:00

per M. per M.
s, Cordwood| $1°8v to $2-00 No quotation.

per ton

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

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The ‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

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“Agricultural News’ contains extracts

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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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applications for copies are to be addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.
The following have been appuinted Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

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Street, Kingston.

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ea
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Vor. XI. No 26 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWs. Aucusr 17, 1912.
THE BEST MANUR RES FOR COLON ILAL“USE
== er eres

7}

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved P
Ohiendorif’s
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er
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Londo

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TO BE ISSUED SHORTLY.
WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 3.)

cacao; Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of
Cacao; Cacao Canker; a Possible Inference to be drawn from
the Studies on Caeao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; M anurial
xperiments on Caeao in Trinidad; A Description of the
Barnard Cacao Drier; The Structure and Pollination of the
Cacao Flower. sugar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane
in Trinidad and Tobago; A Jomparison of some Secdlihg Sugar-
canes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The application of Mendlian I vinciples to
Sugar-cane Breed The Study of Sugar-cane with a view te
their Classification; A Quick Method for Estim: iting Moisture
in Megass; The Sugar Industry i in Antigua and St. Kitts- Nevis;

om the Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

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

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

INSECT PESTS _

THE

LESSER ANTIHLGES, |

BY HH. Ase NEEBOURNESG.,

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF oF THE ImpeRIAL DeEraRTMENT of AGRICULTURE.
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular, illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
lan introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the publications of the Department, price ls, 3d,,
post free is, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, should be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the sty of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE. SEND TT FREE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

+

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A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

*RD

Vou. XI. No. 270.

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES,

BARBADOS, AUGUST 31,

1912, Price ld.

CONTENTS.

PAGE, PaGE.

Adsorption of Certain Sub- Nitrogen from the Atmos

stances by Starches 281 phere. eases) e.> 279
Agriculture in Ceylon, | Notes and Comments ... 280
ne aa

ce eae os i} ae | Plant Growth, Stimula- abit
Chlorocodon Root Oil ... 280," Of Seeing ain ot?
GattoneN atc | Pruning Sea Island Cot- os
Cotton-Growing in Rus- ii seh
Slat. se.) 2) =. 278) Sapucaia Nutieeey.)) --.. 207
Poisoning by Cotton | Silkworm Industry, 1912 281
Seed Meal ... ... 278 | Students’ Comer ... ... 285

West Indian Cotton... 278
Department News... ...
Departmental Reports ... 277
Fruits, Making Models of 276 |

Sugar Industry:
The Cost _of Growing
Sugar-cane in Cuba... 275

Trade and Agriculture of

Gleanings ers esse) a 12S4 4 R=. ~
Hevea, Characteristics of St. Helena, 1911 289
a Hybrid ... 275 | Vegetative Propagation,

Insect Notes :—
Report on a Visit to
St. Kitts, Part I ... 282
Market Reports “oe
Nitrates, Employment by
Plants for Nutrition 280

Continued, Changes

in Plants through ... 281
Virgin (slands and the

Canadian National

Exhibition ... 283
West Indian Products ... 287

The Stimulation of Plant Growth.

T is usual to regard the function of manures

9 as consisting in the direct provision of food
D235 to the plant; the agriculturist employs them
‘because he considers that they supply substances
required by the plant, in which the soil is lacking
either on account of its peculiar nature or because the
amount of those substances has been lessened by the
growing of previous crops. Though the subject requires
much further investigation, there appears to be little

doubt that this is the right view of one of the funce-
tions of manures; an account that gives the chief obser-
vations and arguments that are in favour of this view
has appeared previously,* and may be consulted if
a summary of these is desired.

The question has been raised, however, as to the
extent to which manures may simply stimulate the
growth of plants; that is to say it has been asked if
manures are capable of causing changes to take place
in plants, which result in increased growth, without
necessarily acting as providers of food. Inv stigationst
have been undertaken recently that appear to consti-
tute a preliminary step in obtaining an answer to the
question, and it is the purpose of this article to give
a general account of the work and of the conclusions
to which it has led.

It has often been noticed that certain leaves, such
as those of the cherry laurel (Prunus Lawrocerusus)—
a plant indigenous in Europe and Asia, althongh they
do not possess any perceptible odour, under ordinary
conditions, emit the vapour of oil of bitter almonds,
as well as prussic acid, when they are crushed; the
most delicate tests for this acid do not indicate its
presence when the leaf is allowed to remain whole, in
ordinary air. The same result as that obtained by
crushing may be brought about in other ways,
such as subjecting the leaf to the vapour of
chloroform and many other volatile organic substances,
including hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers and essential
oils; non-volatile substances, too, produce the effect,
and the less soluble among them do this more readily

* Agricultural News, July 6 and 20, 1912, pp. 209 and 225.

+ Professor Henry E. Armstrong, F.R.S., in the Journal
of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vol. XXXVITI, p. 17
(July 1912).

274

than those that dissolve easily: ‘so that, speaking
generally, it may be said that the substances which
penetrate most readily into the leaf tissues and pro-
duce effects such as have been described are those
which are least readily soluble in water.’

What has been said makes it cvident that the
prussic acid and the oil of bitter almonds do nos
exist in the leaf until the influences mentioned have
been brought to bear. The actual process is that a sub-
stance (prunasin) belonging to the class of bodies called
glucosides is caused to break up and, with the aid of
water, to form those compounds, together with the sugar
glucose. This decomposition is brought about by the
action of an enzyme, or unorganized ferment, in the cell
sep, which is probably, under ordinary conditions,
separated from the glucoside by a membrane through
which it cannot pass. The ‘stimulus’ for the decom-
position caused by the substances mentioned would
then consist in their power to enable the enzyme to pass
through the membrane.

Other interesting observations connected with the
matter have been the outcome of experimentation, but
it will be sufficient here to allude to the work of
Professor H. E. Armstrong and Dr. E. F. Armstrong, his
son, which has shown that plants are provided with
membranes which allow certain substances, including
water, to pass, but are not permeable by other sub-
stances; it is because of the possession in their cells of
such membranes that leaves do not lose any of their
contents even when they are washed by the heaviest
rains. It has been proposed to apply the term Hormone
to all substances that can penetrate those membranes,
or differential septa as they are called, and further,
the theory has been put forth that such substances
exercise their disturbing influence, in the cells into
which they have penetrated, by permitting the enzymes
already present to become active.

The affair derives its practical importance from
the power of plants to employ, as food, compounds that
they have already built up in their cells. It seems
that stimulation is required for this, in order that the
enzymes may be brought into action and cause the
production of substances that are carried to other
parts of the plant, where they are wanted for growth.
In nature, it appears that ammonia is the most active
stimulant, while carbon dioxide also acts as a hormone.

The matter to which all this consideration has led
is the question whether the soil, or manures, contains
substances which may bring about such actions in the

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Aveust 31, 1912.

roots of plants. It is well known that, while ammoni-
acal manures, including pen manure, form some of the
best manures when they are employed carefully, their
use in large quantities or in a concentrated form, as
for horticultural purposes, may actually kill the plants
that they are intended to benefit. This is quite in
accordance with what should be the effect of ammonia
if it acts as a hormone, for the stimulating action of
these bodies is only exerted when they are present in
an amount below a low maximum—above this max-
imum they are poisonous. Further, an explanation is
indicated of one of the reasons for using well-rotted
pen manure in preference to the fresh dung: in the
latter, the early changes due to putrefaction cause the
ammonia to be liberated so quickly that it is harmful.

Some explanation of the beneficial effects on plant
growth by the partial sterilization of the soil* has been
sought in the supposition that the process results in
the production of hormones such as ammonia which
subsequently exert their stimulating action on the
plants raised in the soil; a similar explanation is adduced
for the better germination shown by seeds sown in
partly sterilized soil. In either case, if the soil is
sterilized by heating it very strongly, growth is made
slower, and germination retarded,+ at first, suggest-
ing that the hormones are present in poisonous propor-
tions after the treatment, and that these proportions
decrease gradually to those in which the action is
stimulating.

These matters serve as an addition to the many
illustrations of the fact that the investigation of the
relationships between the soil and the plant is of much
complexity. The continuation of the work in connexion
with them will doubtless give results of practical value
in enabling the agriculturist to know more accurately
how he may give the plants in which he is interested
the conditions that will lead to their most economical
productivity.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture re-
turned to Barbados, from Dominica, by the S.S. ‘Oruro’
on August 22, 1912. It is expected that Dr. Watts
will leave Barbados on August 30, by the S.S. ‘Oruro’,
for the purpose of making an official visit to St. Vincent,
and that he will’ return to Barbados by the S.S. ‘Ocame’
o1 September 14.

* Agricultural News, Vol. IX, pp. 17 and 33,
‘Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 281.

Vor. XI, No. 270.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 275

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE COST OF GROWING SUGAR-CANE
IN CUBA.

In response to the numerous enquiries received by the
Cuban Department of Agriculture, relative to sugar lands in
that island, their production and the cost of p)anting and
cultivation, the Chief of the Bureau of Information of the
Department has issued a bulletin which, although it bears
date of March 19, has just been given out,

In this bulletin is a table showing the cost of preparing
and cultivating one acre of cane land in Cuba, which is
reproduced below:—

PREPARATION OF LAND.

Clearing land for ploughing from $1°50 to 310-00
Cost of first ploughing 4:00 ,, 6°20
Cost of second ploughing DeTO! 3°00
Cost of harrowing 1:00, 1°25
Marking and cleaning ID 5 1°65
10-45 $22:10
COST OF PLANTING.
Cost of seed cane $4:00 to $5:00
Cost of hauling 0:50 ,, 0-70
Cutting in pieces 0°50 ,, 0°80
Distribution of same 2°50 ,, 3°50
Covering 3°00 ,, 3°80
$10 50 13°80
COST OF CULTIVATION.
First cultivation $4:00 to $4:50
Second cultivation 2:15... 3°10
Third cultivation 1460 ,, 2-00
Three cleanings 2:20 ,, 3:00
$10°55 $12°60
CUTTING AND HAULING TO MILL,
Cutting and loading $12°75 to $1800
Hauling EON 5 18:00
$21°75 $3600
Total $53°25 $84°50

According to the bulletin, when replanting is necessary,
the work can be done at an expense ranging from $15 to
$20 per acre. With land producing 60,000 arrobas of cane
(1 arroba is equivalent to 25 Ib.) per caballeria (i caballeria
equals 334 acres) [about 20 tons per acre], the crop lasting

six years without replanting, the results would be approxi-
mately as follows:—

Cost of making and harvesting first crop, per acre $ 60:00
Cost of making and harvesting 5 subsequent crops
at $40 per acre $200:00
$260:00
Yield of 6 years to grower, or 2,605-44 tb. at
$2°80 = $72°95 x 6 $437°70
Gain in 6 years 177-70

Caballerias of good, new land often produce 100,000
arrobas of cane, and sometimes will not require replanting
for fifteen or twenty years. If irrigation is available, and
intensive cultivation is employed, it is possible to raise the
production to 160,000 or even to 200,000 arrobas of cane to
the caballeria [about 54 to 70 tuns per acre]. (The Ameri-
can Sugar Industry, June 1912.)

CHARACTERISTICS OF A HYBRID HEVEA.

In the /ndia Rubber World for July 1, 1912, the Editor,
Mr. H. C. Pearson, gives a description of a visit made by
him to the Boston estate, in Trinidad, when the opportunity
was taken to make an examination of thetwo types of Hevea
that are growing on that estate; these types are said to
occupy the ground on the estate in about equal proportions.

The hybrid Heveas are stated firstly to be of lusty
growth, full-branched and densely leaved, the leaves being
much broader towards the apex than those of H. brasiliensis;
further, the bark is exceedingly thin, having a thickness of
only about {-inch, and the latex gives a rubber that is very
short and much inferior to fine Para rubber. The flow of this
latex is succeeded by the oozing of a very sticky, yellowish-
green resin. Dealing again with the bark, the surface shows
characteristic differences, that of the hybrid possessing many
minute spines, while the bark of H. braszliensis is almost
smooth, with small vertical ridges. The colour of the bark
is also a distinguishing feature, being dark-red in the hybrid,
as compared with the silvery appearance of the true Para
rubber tree.

Another difference is constituted in the fact that the
hybrid plants possess a full crown of bright-green leaves at
a time when the leaves are falling, or have fallen, from
H. jvasiliensis. A difference also exists in relation to the
seeds, those of the hybrid being the larger, squarer and
lighter, though the seeds of both kinds are coloured similarly,

At the time of the visit, seedlings were being grown by
the Trinidad Department of Agriculture in order to ascertain
further points of distinction between the two kinds. So far it
has been noted that the first ordinary leaves of the true plant
hang vertically, while those of the hybrid take up an almost
horizontal position; it is probable, too, that the venation of
the leaves shows characteristic differences.

Investigation has shown that it is likely that the hybrid
is the result of crossing between //. brasiliensis and
H. confusa, for the tree from which the original seeds were
obtained is situated in the Botanic Gardens of Port-of-Spain,
at no great distance from a well developed specimen of
IH. confusa.

It will be remembered that much of the above inform-
ation has appeared already in the Agricultural Mews (see
the issue for June 8, p. 184), having been obtained through
the courtesy of Mr. H. C. Pearson.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

AucGust 3], 1912

PRUITS AND FRUIT TeaBES:

MAKING MODELS OF FRUITS.

A method of fruit-modelling is thus described im
the Annual Report of the Hawaii Agricultural Experi-
ment Station for 1910-11:—

Fruit-modelling as a means of record has been used to
some degree in the study of mango varieties. Modelling has
some advantages over photographing or verbal description as
a permanent record. The method used was applied at the
station first by the late Mr. F. N. Otremba, who was an
expert in this line of work. The method, however, is so
simple and convenient, that it does not require artistic talent
to use it successfully. Other members of the staff have found
it convenient, and it might be worth while here to record the
method for the convenience of others who may wish to apply it.

The principle inyolved is simply to make a mould by
pouring a medium of glue and gelatine about the fruit to be
modelled. This when cold is cut open and the fruit removed,
leaving the mould, into which plaster of Paris is placed in
a liquid form and allowed to solidify, making the cast. The
details are as follows

THE MOULD. This is formed of fish glue and gelatine.
The glue should be reduced to the liquid form with water by
being heated in a kettle surrounded by water and placed over
a slow fire. When liquefied add the gelatine. About 1 Ib. of
gelatine to 24 tb. of glue has been satisfactory.

THE BOX OR CONTAINER. This may be made of wocd, but
we have found that for fruits of ordinary size a flower-pot
ean be used very conveniently and saves much trouble. If
made of wood, the box must be held together by wire or
twine so that it can readily be taken to pieces. A flower-pot
has the advantage of being larger at the top than at the
bottom, and therefore the mould can be removed without great
difficulty. The inside of this container must be well coated
with shellac. and each time before the mould is made must be
well oiled. A mixture of 50 per cent. olive oil and 50 per
cent. kerosene is, perhaps, most satisfactory, but cotton seed
or ordinary raw linseed oil would probably serve the purpose.

MAKING THE MOULD, Oil the fruit to be modelled and
place it in the container, which should be large enough to
allow an inch or more on each side of the fruit and between

the fruit and the bottom. The fruit may usually be
suspended from a‘ small nail driven through a stick which
rests upon the top of the pot and is tied down at the ends
to the shoulder of the pot. This will prevent the fruit from
rising to the surface when the glue is poured into the con-
tainer. While the glue is warm, but not too hot, pour it
into the container, distributing it on all sides so as not to
crowd the fruit to one side. Allow it to remain so over-
night In the morning remove the mass of glue from the
container. With an oily knife cut one side of the mass
from end to end as far as may be necessary. Gently release
the fruit and remove it, leaving the mould empty. At the
same time cut a small opening at the highest point to receive
the plaster of Paris. Allow the mould to dry for half an
heur and then apply to its interior, with a brush, a coating
of about 10 per cent. formalin to harden the surface.

MAKING THE cast After the formalin has evaporated,
apply « coating of oil to the interior of the mould and also
oil the interior of the container into which the mould must
now be placed. It is sometimes necessary to tie the mould
together before replacing it in the container. Take the
required amount of plaster of Paris and add to it enough
water to make a thick liquid. Mix this well so as to free it
from all lumps and pour it into the mould through the
opening made in the top. Shake the mould with a circular
motion to force the plaster of Paris into all parts. Allow it
to stand for an hour or more when it will be sufficiently
solidified to be removed. It may then be taken out with
the same care with which the fruit was removed.

COLOURING THE CAST. If it is desired to have a repro-
duction of the colour of the fruit as well as the form, this
may be done with water colours, but for this part of the work
some familiarity with colour work will be necessary. Any
slight imperfecticns must first be removed. Sometimes minute
holes, which have failed to be filled with the plaster of
Paris, are to be found. These may be filled by first dipping
the cast in water and then painting it with a very dilute
coat of plaster of,Paris. ‘These may not be filled by one or
tv coatings, but care must be taken not to alter the shape
of the fruit. To prevent the colours from striking into the
cast it is necessary to coat the latter with a very thin glue,
applied with a brush; after this the colour may be applied,

Vou. XI. No. 270.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

ho
-T
~]

BRITISH GUIANA: REPORT OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE FOR THE
YEAR 1910-11.

This contains the General Report on the Department of
Science and Agriculture, the Report of the Government
Analyst, the Report on the Botanic Gardens, the Report
on the Board of Agriculture and the Report from the
Government Veterinary Surgeon. At the commencement
of the first of these, educational matters are dealt
with, and with reference to science teaching at Queen’s
College, a favourable report has been obtained by the
eXaminer appointed by the University of Cambridge, although
it appears that much difficulty is experienced in the instruc-
tion of the lower forms. In the Cambridge I.ocal Examina-
tions held in July 1910, there were six candidates in senior
chemistry and twelve in junior chemistry; uf these one only
in each division failed entirely, while both sections of the
examination, practical and theoretical, were passed by at
least half of the candidates. Proceeding, this part of the
Report gives information concerning lectures to elementary
teachers, model gardens and agricultural apprentices. With
reference to the last, six boys were indentured as agricultural
apprentices, and during the year two of these completed their
course of instruction and very readily found employment as
foremen in two rubber companies. It is stated that a weak
point exists with reference to this scheme, owing to the lack
of an officer whose time may be employed in giving system-
atic instruction.

Turning from these matters to work connected with
agricultural investigation, it continues to be shown at the
Issorora Station that Para rubber and Sapium possess the
promise of former years, while Castilloa and Funtumia are
practically failures, except in isolated instances. The superi-
ority of Para rubber is repeated in the results that are being
obtained at Plantation Christianburg, where Castilloa,
Manihot and Funtumia do not succeed: while unsatisfactory
results are being obtained with Sapium on the lighter soils,
where Hevea is developing well. ‘The tapping experiments
with Sapium in the Bonasika Sapium Reserve have not given
satisfactory results; it may be stated that these are referred to
at length in the Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 379. The
Marlborough Agricultural Experiment Station is intended to
serve the purposes of experiments with new crops and of
demonstrations in good cultivation of those already existing
in the district; it contains among other kinds of plants,
different varieties of bananas, cacao, coco-nuts and coffee, as
well as various citrus fruits, Para rubber, Sapium rubber,
provision crops, and fallow and cover crops. At the
Onderneeming School Farm, on which there is a fairly
detailed report, satisfactory progress appears to have been
made; at this place, Hevea is doing well, Sapium Jenmani pro-
gresses fairly, Funtumia makes little growth, and Castilloa is
a failure. Efforts were made at this institution to encourage
the lime industry in Essequibo, and over 6,000 plants were
sold during the year, at practically nominal prices. Good

progress is being made with fruit and other
balata. The Stock Farm continues to be conducted satisfac-
torily. A last matter of more special interest in this part of
the report is concerned with the appointment of an Agri-
cultural Instructor in Berbice, and with th2 suggestion to
establish experimental and demonstration stations on the
Berbice River.

The report of the Government Analyst commences by
stating that during the year under review 5,455 samples
were received at the Government Laboratory for examination;
of these 4,464 were official samples. During the period,
only one case of death by suspected poisoning was submitted
for investigation at the Government Laboratory, and in this
nothing injurious was detected. It is of interest, with
respect to the very different experience in some parts of
the West Indies, that heavy fines have been inflicted for
adulterating inilk, and this has caused that kind of fraud to
be practised to a satisfactorily small extent. In another
direction, action taken under the Customs Ordinance has
practically caused the importation and sale of low grade
butter and tobacco to cease.

The institutions receiving attention in the report on the
Botanic Gardens include the Botanic Garden, Georgetown
(Flower Garden), Government House Gardens, the Town
Gardens, the Head Office Garden, the Public Gardens,
Berbice, the old Military Burial Grounds and the Park Land:
from the first of these, a large and useful plant distribution
is shown to take place. This and the succeeding sections
contain many interesting details concerning ornamental and
useful plants. ‘lhe total number of economic plants sold by
the Department during the year was 91,116 as against
46,393 during the previous period—an increase which, as is
claimed, indicates an enhanced activity in the Colony, in the
planting of useful crops. Other interesting matters are
presented, including a description of an unfavourable physio-
logical condition of the sugar-cane, a note on the distinction
between //evea brasiliensis and H. confusa, and particulars
regarding a new species of Sapium; space does not permit
however of their detailed treatment here. This part of the
report concludes with information concerning the herbarium,
the library, and meteorological observations.

Matters of more particularly local interest form the
subject of the report of the Board of Agriculture, and the
work of various committees is placed on record.

The report of the Government Veterinary Surgeon
refers to the fact that the hygienic condition of the animals
in the Colony has, according to police reports been most
satisfactory; no cases of anthrax and only two of glanders
were recorded. It is the opinion of that Officer, however, that
outbreaks of anthrax occur from time to time, and that the
true incidence of the disease is concealed. The importance
of vaccination against the disease is emphasized, and warning
is given concerning the danger that is incurred when the
serum is administered by persons who have not had experience
of its use—a danger that arises chiefly from the circumstance
that the serum contains living anthrax bacilli, and must be
kept under proper conditions lest its injection should cause
death. With reference to tuberculosis in cattle, remarkable
freedom from this disease is claimed for the animals in the
Colony.

trees, and with

wt |

A report has been made by H M. Vice-Consul at Jaffa
in which it is : tated that the Jaffa orange exports of 1911-12,
to Liverpool, have amounted to 638,904 cases, each contain-
ing about 150 fruits; this comprises about two thirds of the
total shipments from Jaffa.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Aveust 31, 1912.

AATF
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2 Bae Ze
4 ME ESO

TON

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date August 13, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report an increased business has been done
in West Indian Sea Island cotton at declining prices.

Between 600 and 700 bales have been sold, which include
Barbados 17d. to 18d., St. Croix 16d., Antigua 154d. to 16¢.,
Monsterrat 154¢., Virgin Islands 16d., and stains 9d. to lid.

Spinners are indifferent buyers even at the reduced prices
and holders of Carolina cotton are pressing sales in competi-
tion with West Indian.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending August 3, is as follows:—

The market has continued dull with no enquiry, the only
sales being 72 bales Fully Fine to Extra Fine slightly off in
preparation, for English account.

We repeat our last quotations, which are nominal, viz:—

Extra Fine 30c. to 32c.= 163d. to 17d. c.i.f., & 5 per cent.

Fully Fine 28c. = 153d. aie yee

Fine 26c. = 142d. eee

Fully Fine to Extra Fine, | ata 5) 4:8 ne
off in preparation J

Cotton-growing in Russia.—The cultivation of
cotton in the Trans Caucasus is steadily assuming wider pro-
portions, the conditions for its cultivation being favourable
in the governments of Elizavetpol and some parts of the
governments of Erivan and Baku. It is estimated that
close upon 76,688 acres were under cotton in the Batoum
Consular district in 1911. With the strong desire now
being shown by Russia to become independent in so far
as the supplies of cotton for her manufacturing centres are
concerned, the cultivation of cotton by all those willing to
embark in the enterprise is being encouraged to the utmost.
With the extention of the irrigation systems of the Caucasus
now in progress, new Jands will be placed at the disposal of
would-be cotton growers, and the cultivation of cotton there-
fore promises soon to become more general than it has
hitherto been. Under these conditions the area under cotton
is sure to increase within the next few years, and although
on a smaller scale, the Trans-Caucasus: will become, after
Russian Central Asia, the next important cotton- producing
territory in the Russian Empire. (Zhe Board of Trade
Journal, April 11, 1912.)

NOTES.
H el in
hailed CACM

e)
Oy)

POISONING BY COTTON SEED MBAL.

The following conclusions are reached at the end
of an investigation of this matter which is described in
Bulletin No. 134 of the Louisiana State University
Agricultural Experiment Station. It may be said that
the experiments were carried out with guinea pigs
and rabbits—a facs that detracts from their practical
value, though it is easy to understand why they were
not made with the larger farm animals. It should also
be mentioned that the results do not indicate that
there is any danger (except possibly in the case of pigs
and calves) in continuing to feed the larger animals in
this way, in the West Indies. Further, the last con-
clusion, relating to pyrophosphoric acid and cotton
seed meal poisoning has to do with the sugges-
tion that has been made that the presence of this
substance in cotton seed meal accounts for the harmful
properties that are shown by it when the meal is fed te
certain animals:

While some of the results may seem conflicting, taken
as a whole, we believe that several conclusions regarding
cotton seed meal poisoning may be drawn. Briefly, the con-
clusions which we have arrived at during our study may be
summed up as follows: —

Cotton seed and cotton seed meal do contain a toxic
principle which is poisonous to certain animals.

Cotton seeds, itself, seems to be more toxic than the
ordinary commercial cotton seed meal.

Different lots of cotton seed and cotton seed meal show
a considerable variation in toxicity.

The toxicity of the cotton seed meal does not seem to
be affected by the fungi which rot the cotton bolls and enter
the cotton seed.’ :

Cotton seeds from plants affected with the cotton wilt,
or black root disease, are less toxic than cotton seed from
healthy plants. ‘This decrease in toxicity in this seed is not
due to the premature ripening of the seed, because seed
ripened on plants that had been cut down showed as much
toxicity as seed from kealthy, uninjured plants.

Heating cotton seed meal or cotton seed kernels for
a long period at a high temperature decreases the toxicity to
a considerable extent.

A very short heating of the cotton seed kernels, followed
by an extraction of the oil, apparently does not decrease the
toxicity. Another facto: enters here, however, which must
be considered. This heated meal is much more palatable
than the raw kernels, and animals eat considerably more of it.
Animals make better gains on this meal than on the kernels
though they die as soon, or even sooner, than animals on the
raw kernels,

Worn, Xi.) No, 2/70:

The heating to which the kernels are subjected in the oil
mill is probably sufficient in most cases to reduce the toxicity
to some extent, though this reduction is usually not enough
to remove all danger from feeding susceptible animals.

The careful fermentation of the kernels or meal seems to
reduce the toxicity to a considerable extent,

All the cotton varieties that were tested, that were grown
on the same plot of ground during the same season, showed
no difference in the toxicity

Sea Island seed obtained from Porto Rico was extremely
toxic.

We have no evidence whatever to show that pyrophos-
phoric acid has anything to do with cotton seed meal
poisoning.

MANURIAL NITROGEN FROM THE
ATMOSPHERE.

A paper on the manufacture of nitrates from the atmo-
sphere was read by Mr. EK. Scott before the Royal Society
of Arts on May 15, 1912, Sir William Ramsay, K.C.B, F.RS,
being in the chair, and the following details are taken from
the account presented in the Journal of that Society for May
17. The information that is of most interest in this place is
that connected with the manufacture of calcium nitrate and
calcium cyanamide, and it is to this that special attention
will be given.

CALCIUM NITRATE. Before dealing with this, the paper
presents a table showing that the production of sulphate of
ammonia in England from the chief sources was, in 1906,
1909 and 1910, 289,391 tons, 349,143 and 367,587 tons.
Another table shows that the exports of sodium nitrate from
Chile increased from 935 tons in 1830 to 1,050,000 tons in
1890, with further progression from 1,970,000 tons in 1908
to 2,420,400 tons in 1911. A third table is reproduced
below, which gives the present and future installations of the
Norwegian Hydro-electric Nitrogen Co.:—

Year. Horse power. Name of Installation.
1903 25 Experimental plant at Frognerkilen
1903 160 Experimental plant at Ankerlikken
1904 660 Arendal

1905 45,000 First Notodden (Svaelgfos)

1910 15,000 Second Notodden (Lienfos)

1912 140,000 First Rjukan Installation

1913 120,000 Second Kjukan Installation

1914 70,000 Vamma

1915 80,000 Matre

1916 70,000 Tyin

These are used for making calcium nitrate, or lime nitro-
yen; a further table gives a list of the plants for the manu-
facture of calcium cyanamide (in Europe, Japan and America).

A description follows of the Birkeland-Eyde furnace and
its use in making calcium nitrate. As this was described at
length in the Agricultural Mews, Vol. VIII, p. 325, it does
require further consideration here. An account is given of
the Schonherr furnace, also for making calcium nitrate. In
this, as it is installed at Christiansand, an electric are 16
feet long is maintained in a long vertical iron tube, each
furnace taking 600 horse-power; the are is kept in the centre
of the tube by blowing the air through with a whirling
motion. The air receives a preliminary heating by the
employment of the hot gases from the furnace; it is then
rapidly cooled after becoming mixed with the highly
heated nitric oxide formed, and the mixture leaves the
top of the cooler with a temperature of about 1,200°C,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 279

At Christiansand, the plant is not actually being used for
making calcium nitrate, but for obtaining sodium nitrite for
employment in producing aniline dyes and similar substances.

After a statement of the theory of the fixation of
nitrogen has been given, a detailed account is presented of
the installation at Rjukanfos; it seems that the Birkeland-
Eyde furnace is preferred to the Schonherr furnace as it is
more compact and cheaper to build, the latter requiring to be
built very high if is desired to increase its output.

The principle of the Pauling furnace depends upon the
action of the horn-break lightning arrester. In some installa-
tions it consists of two hollow iron electrodes arranged to
form an open V, at the lowest point of which are two adjust-
able lighting knives. The effect of the heated air, of the
presence of the magnetic field, and particularly of a blast of
heated air that is provided, is that the arc runs tu the upper
part of the V, forming a triangular sheet of flame about
a yard wide at the upper part of the V. In this apparatus,
tke cooling is effected by the action of cooled gas and air
which is arranged to strike into the top of the arc flame.
The article gives several examples of installations employing
this type of furnace. ‘The acid solution obtained by the
process contains 50 per cent. of nitric acid.

CALCIUM CYANAMIDE. After referring to the manner
of discovery of calcium cyanamide, or nitrolim, the article
describes its manufacture at the Odda works. Here, the
calcium carbide employed is crushed and ground to powder
which is filled into electric furnaces in which the temperature
is raised to 800° to 1,000°C. The electric current is allowed
to piss for twenty-five hours, while nitrogen is passed
through the mass; at the end of thirty-five hours all the gas
is absorbed. At Odda, 196 furnaces make about 30 tons of
calcium cyanamide, containing 18 per cent. of nitrogen, in
twenty-four hours. The product is crushed and ground fine,
and packed in a paper-lined bag which is put into one or
two jute bags, the latter being the case for export to tropical
countries. Recent improvements at the Odda works have
increased the output from 12,000 to 15,000 tons per annum.
It should be noted that calcium cyanamide is not only used”
as a manure: very pure ammonium sulphate is obtained from
it by treating it with superheated steam, and ammonium
nitrate and dicyandiamide are made from it.

The chief interest of the electrical fixation of nitrogen
is its employment for making artificial manures, as has been
described. It also has other uses, chiefly in the direction
of the manufacture of ammonium nitrate, dicyandiamide and
nitric acid for use in connexion with explosives. The manu-
facture of the last product is likely to be of the greatest
importance in view of its employment in making guncotton,
dynamite and smokeless powders, and this matter is of
special weight when it is considered that: ‘A few rounds
from a broadside of modern guns blows away into the air
as much nitrogen as was used during the whole course of
a war of the last century.”

After making reference to other matters of interest in
connexion with the subject under discussion, the article before
presenting its general conclusion gives attention to a proposal
that is being made to utilize the water from irrigation dams,
in India, for manufacturing manures; in this case, the manu-
facture could only continue for nine months in the year,
as in the other three the water would be requred for irriga-
tion, but this does not militate against the scheme, as the
furnaces for the processes can be easily shut down and
started at any time. In the scheme, it is proposed to use
30,000 h.p., which is expected to give 37,000 tons of calcium
cyanamide, containing 18 to 20 per cent. of nitroge», in the
nine months.

280

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,, 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

Vout. XI. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1912.

No. 270.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

‘Contents of Present Issue.

In this number, the editorial is concerned with the
subject of The Stimulation of Piant Growth, and gives
consideration to the question as to whether manures, as
well as certain substances in the soil, may act as
stimuli for changes in the plant that will lead to
increased nutrition and therefore quicker growth.

A review of the last Annual Report of the Depart-
ment of Science and Agriculture, British Guiana, will
-be found on page 277.

Page 278 presents an account of investigations
regarding the possible poisonous properties of cotton
seed meal, under certain conditions. It will be seen
that the conclusions reached do not indicate that there
need be any alarm in regard to the employment of
a product that is well established as a useful food for
stock, in the West Indies.

The different systems for using atmospheric
nitrogen in making artificial manures are described
shortly on page 279.

The Insect Notes are illustrated, and appear on
pages 282 and 283. They consist of the former of two
articles describing a recent visit of the Entomologist of
this Department to St. Kitts.

A recent publication dealing with the coco-nut is
reviewed on page 286.

A note on the sapucaia nut is contained on page
287.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Auvcust 31, 1912.

Chlorocodon Root Oil.

A note on Chlorocodon Whiteii in relation to its
use as a fibre plant was given in the Agricultural
News, Vol. X, p. 285:

The Semi-Annuai Report of Schimmel & Co,
dated April 1912, refers to the fact of the occurrence
of this plant in German East Africa in the wild state,
and says, on the authority of the Imperial Bioloyical-
Agricultural Institute of Amani, that 15 is cultivated
by the planters for the sake of the hairs which cover
the seed. :

When the infurmation was sent to Messrs. Schim-
mel, a sample of crystals was also despatched, which had
been obtained by steam-distilling the green root from
wild plants, the crystals being intended for comparison
with those that had been prepared previously by that
firm. The account of these 1s contained in the Semi-~
Annual Report dated October 1911, p. 33.

The two sets of crystals proved to be identical.
The crude product, which was pink in colour, melted
at about 35°C.; its recrystallization from water gave
white crystals which, after being dried in vacuo over
strong sulphuric acid, melted between 43° and 45°C,
resembling the crystals similarly prepared previously,
Further, no depression or melting point was shown by
a mixture of the two samples of crystals.

Chlorocodon Whiteit may possibly prove to have
a value in addition to that of its use as a fibre plant.

$< ee

The Employment of Nitrates by Plants, for
Nutrition.

Work on this subject receives short description in
the Lxperiment Station Record for May 1912, p. 625,
In the experiments, wheat seedlings were grown in
light and darkness, in the absence of carbon dioxide, this
gas being excluded in order to prevent the ordinary
building up of plant food in the leaf from taking place.
Calcium nitrate and other mineral salts were supplied
to one lot of the plants; while the others were given
the same mineral salts but no calcium nitrate or any
form of salts containing nitrogen.

Where no nitrogen was supplied, the plants lost
a part of the nitrogen that they contained originally;
those to which nitrates had been available absorbed
a Jarge proportion of them, forming nitrogenous com-
pounds, the process taking place equally well in dark-
ness and in light.

The suggestion was obtained that amides are
formed in plants not only by the breaking down of
albuminoids but also in the building up of the compli-
cated nitrogenous bodies (albuminoids or proteids)
from nitrates; this was shown by the fact that the
nitrogen contained in amides was found to increase
most abundantly in the plants receiving nitrates.

The author considers that, in the formation of
proteids from nitrates, in plants, there are two distinct
stages: the change from the nitrates to amides, and the
change from amides into proteids, or albuminoids; light
was however found necessary for this transformation to
take place. i

‘Vor XT. No.

270.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 2

oF)

Silkworm Industry, 1912.

The world’s production of silk during the present
year is likely to be very satisfactory, though it is
estimated that the yields will be somewhat below those
of 1911. It isstated in the Bulletin of Agricultural
Statistics of the International Institute of Agriculture,
Vol. IJ, No. 7, thatin Austria and in France the
harvests have been particularly good, but in Hungary
the production has been somewhat limited owing to
the spread of disease as the result of a wet season.
The following figures, given in the above journal,
represent the total production of cocoons in Europe,
Asia and Africa: obtained in 1911, 140,626,109 kilos ;
estimated in 1912, 138,224,655 kilos. It is expected
that the production in 1912 will be just under that of
the previous year.

OC — — ————

Pruning Sea Island Cotton.

The Annual Report of the Hawan Agricultural
Experiment Station for July 1, 1910 to July 30, 1911,
issued April 9, 1912, to which reference has been made
already in the Agricultural News, gives attention to
the subject of the pruning of Sea Island cotton, which
has received some investigation in Hawai. It states
that, after the plants had been pruned back to mere
stumps, some high and some low, the new growth
always started from near the ground, showing that if it
is desired to grow Sea Island cotton asa perennial,
low pruning should be practised: it is also necessary to
plant it wider than usual (8 feet by 5 feet) to give sutt-
cient room for cultivation and picking.

In the experiment that is described the plants,
-after being cut back in December, bloomed pro-
fusely in the spring, and it seemed that there would
be a good crop; attacks of the boll worm and of mealy-
bugs caused the bolls to be shed, however, and the
latter pest infested the plants so severely in some cases

“shat they had to be destroyed.

The only additional pruning that was practised
was that a few of the plants were pinched back just
before the bolls began to form; the result was that the
plants that had been pinched back flowered much more
profusely and somewhat earlier than those which had
not been so treated. The first picking was made on
June 15, 1911, and at that time the boll worm was
present in great numbers.

Adsorption of Certain Substances by Starches.

Most porous bodies, like colloids, coagulated
-albumen, wood charcoal and starches, on account
of their surface ‘tension’, possess the ability to take
up certain substances in such a manner that the
material taken up cannot be removed, even by
most thorough washing. This phenomenon is called
adsorption. An interesting account of investigations
-on the adsorptive power of different starches appears

in the Journal of the American Chemical Socts
ety, Vol. XXXIII, No. 7, and since several of the
starches examined were obtained through the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, from the West Indies.
a statement of the conclusions arrived at is likely to
prove of interest.

The starches used in the investigation were
cassava from St. Vincent and from St. Lucia; arrowroot
frem different estates in the West Indies—chiefly from
St. Vincent; and potato, rice, and maize starches
obtained in the United States.

The object of the experiments was to test the
adsorption by starch of three substances, hydrochloric
acid, sodium hydroxide, and sodium chloride.

The conclusions arrived at were as follows: (1) the
adsorption of hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and
sodium chloride by starch, varies with different starches
but not as much as would be expected considering the
great differences in the size of the granules. (2) The
adsorption is not regulated by the granule surface per
unit of weight. (3) The amount of adsorption is much
greater for sodium hydroxide than for either hydro-
chloric acid or sodium ¢hloride. (4) In the case of
starch-hydrochloric acid the ordinary adsorption rule
is followed for solutions up to abont 0-4 normal, except
in the case of maize starch.

ESE

Changes in Plants Through Continued Vegeta-~
tive Propagation.

The changes that take place in plants through
continuous vegetative reproduction have often excited
great interest; inthe West Indies the matter has gained
much importance particularly in relation to the sugar-
cane which, especially with what are called the newer
varieties, shows a tendency to degenerate after it has
been raised from cuttings in the ordinary way for
several seasons.

The matter has also been proved to be important
in relation to fruit trees: the English physiologist
Knight has shown conclusively that these change many
of their characteristics when grafted repeatedly, the
change often tending in the direction of degeneration.
Such degeneration, with respect to another case, takes
place with great rapidity in the potato, as is weil
known.

To pursue the subject, the Bulletin of the Bureaw
of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant Diseases,
for June 1912, contains a short abstract of a paper
describing work in the vegetative reproduction of the
chrysanthemum. In the investigation, a variety of
this plant was grown for eighteen years, being repro-
duced by means of slips alone. The author's observa-
tions appear to sbow that a new variety inferior to the
original was obtained, although the continued reproduc-
tion was made under constant conditions; further, it
seems that the variation was progressive and not
sudden. The latter circumstance atfords an example
which supports the theory of the existence of ‘slow
varieties capable of yielding many new types—an idea
originated and developed by Darwin and Lamarck.

999 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Aveust 3], 1912.

INSECT NOTES.

REPORT ON A VISIT TO ST.
PART T.

The Entomologist on the Statt of the Imperial Depart-
inent of Agriculture recently visited the Leeward Islands for
che purpose of investigating the occurrence of insect pests
attacking sugar-cane. The primary object of the visit was
to make a study of the conditions prevailing in the cane fields
of a certain estate in St. Kitts where termites had occurred
at intervals for several years in sufficient numbers to cause
» considerable amount of damage.

KITTS.

The following notes are
abstracted from a report
on the visit to St. Nitts,
which was prepared by
the Entomologist and sub-
mitted to the Imperial
(ommissioner.

TERMITES. ‘The attack of
growing sugar-cane by ter-
mites in St. Kitts appears
to be the only occurrence
of this kind recorded. It
often happens that cuttings
used for planting are dama-
ged in the field before the
young shoots start, or
about that time, but on
this one estate in St. Kitts
sugar cane plants which are
reaching maturity, and ap-
proaching the season of
ripening are attacked by
these insects.

On this estate, in 1906,
termites occurred in suffi-
cient numbers to cause the
loss of almost the entire
crop over an area of several
acres. In 1911-12 the
attack was made in fields
near those which suffered
on the previous occasion,
but the area involved was
smaller than previously,
and even on this many plants escaped.

It is also to be noted that, while in the attack of 1906
(see Agricultural News, Vol. VI, P 58), the termites
appeared to be the principal cause of injury in the infested
fields, on this last occasion this was not the case—extreme
drought, and a severe infestation of moth borer and root
fungus appeared to have caused more injury than the attacks
of the termites.

The fields which sutiered severely in 1906 had since that
time been planted for two or three years in cotton, and as
@ consequence the termites were greatly reduced in numbers.
hey did not occur to such an extent as to attract attention,
and it was only by careful search that even a few stools of
canes were found to be infested.

The species of termite concerned in this unusual attack
on canes has not yet been determined, but it is suggested
that it may prove to be Zermes flavipes. This species appears
to be a native of tropical America, extending its range as far

Tamed ts},

All enlarged.

THe Wurrr An’.

(a) queen; (b) nymph of winged female; (c) worker; (d) soldier.
(From U.S. Dept. Agric.)

north as Boston, Massachusetts and other localities in the
same latitude. Although the insect has long been known te
attack the timbers in buildings and other structures, it does
not seem to have been recorded as a pest of growing plants,
In spite of its general distribution throughout this part of
the world, and the attention it has attracted, no nests of the
species appear to have been discovered.

The termite attacks on growing canes generally begin
above ground: apparently the insects often enter by means of
a borer hole at about the time that the lowest internodes
begin to ripen It often happens that the interior of the
cane is eaten out completely, and this in the case of every
cane in the stool, and of all the stools over a considerable
area. Canes so attacked often remain green, or at least
possess a few green leaves at the top, probably indicating
that the termiteshave eaten.
out the cellular tissue con-
taining the sugar, but have
not entirely destroyed the
vascular bundles on the pre-
sence of which the condue-
tion of moisture depends-

The roots of the canes
are also often completely
eaten out, nothing being
left except possibly the
extreme outer Jayer of
tissue, which the termites
cover on the inside with
a peculiar cement-like sub-
stance, and thus form their
tunnels and galleries in the
grounc.

No definite nests of this
insect have been found in
the cane fields where these
attacks occurred, but on the
visit covered by the report
under consideration, the
Entomologist discovered ar
enlarged gallery in whicl»
there were several egg-lay-
ing females. These insects
are not the true~ sexual
females, but are the sup-
plemental queens devel-
oped probably from the
workers by special feeding
in a manner similar to
the production of a new queen in the hives of the honey b2e.

The galleries in which these supplemental queens
occurred contained no eggs, nor were any galleries found in
which the very young larvae were being reared. ‘The
different castes or forms of this insect which were found in
these fields were workers, soldiers, and winged forms—all of
which occurred both in the tunnels in the ground, an&
within the tissues of the infested plants—and the supple-
mental queens which were only observed in underground
galleries. _

The galleries and tunnels of this insect have been found
in the soil toa depth of 14 to 18 inches; those contain-
ing the egg-laying females were about 8 to 10 inches below
the surface.

A similar attack by the same species of termite oceurred.-
in the grounds of the Head Office of the Imperial Department
of Agriculture at Barbados during 1911-12. This was like
that in St. Kitts, the only difference being that these canes

Vor. XI. No. 270.

were not grown under field conditions: a few canes were
planted for experimental purposes in a small garden partly
surrounded by buildings and fences in which this insect was
known to occur.

The remedies suggested for the control of termites when
they become pests ‘In sugar cane fields are rotation of crops
and thorough cultivation. Cotton does not appear to be
attacked by termites, and the experience already gained in
St. Kitts indicates that when the land has been devoted to
cotton for two or three years, the numbers of the termites are
reduced to such an extent that they will not cause appreci-
able damage for several years after it has been returned
to canes.

Deep close ploughing of the land, with a complete
removal of the old stumps as soon as the cane crop is
harvested, followed by thorough tillage of the surface soil
while the cotton is growing, would seem to be sufficient
treatment for the eradication of termites in such fields. Of
course no canes should be used for planting which contain
termites,

The prsctice of covering the cane stumps with mould
instead of taking them out—the general practice in St. Kitts—
detracts greatly from the value of any rotation system, and
it is probably not too much to say that wherever termites
become a serious pest in sugar-cane fields it will be necessary
to remove the stumps as soon as the canes are harvested.

In addition to termites, other insects were observed in
the fields. A root borer and a small brown hardback were
the new species studied; while the moth borer, weevil borer,
shot borer, and grasshoppers were all observed and reported
upon. There is, however, very little that is new to be
stated with regard to these last-mentioned forms. The new
insects are of considerable interest, and will form the subjects
of the succeeding article.

AGRICULTURE IN CEYLON, 1910-11.

THE AGRICULTURAL society. The Ceylon Agricultural
Society has now a membership of 983.

Through the agency of the Zvropical Agriculturist and
Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, its smaller
Sinhalese and Tamil monthly publications, and the dissem-
ination of leaflets, the Society helps to keep the lvcal
agriculturist in touch with the progress of agriculture in all
parts of the world, particularly in the tropical regions.

A number of small village shows was held during the
eighteen months, in various parts of the island.

Demonstrations in the use of improved implements
were continued, with the result that there is now a consider-
able demand for better class ploughs, ete. The dearth of
buffaloes for mudding and ploughing, owing to the ravages
of rinderpest in some parts of the island, has tended io
<juicken the interest of the paddy cultivator in more modern
methods.

The Society has interested itself in the introduction of
improved varieties of fruits and vegetables, has conducted
experiments in the improvement of tobacco cultivation and
curing, and has co-operated with the local agents of the
British Cotton Growing Association to encourage the cul-
tivation of cotton.

Good work is being done by a village Co-operative

~Credit Society and Agricultural Bank in the Central
Province, and an Ordinance has recently been enacted to
promote the formation of such societies.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 28:

Los)
we

POSITION OF AGRICCLTURAL INDUSTRIES. The continued
prosperity of the tea, coconut and rubber industries is
sufficiently indicated by the figures already given under the
head of Exports

The position of cacao, cardamoms, citronella oil, and
cinnamon has continued satisfactory.

The culiivation of cotton and tobaceo for export
purposes remains still in the experimental stage. That, with
the reasonable capital expenditure and scientific methods of
treatment both crops can be made to pay, there is little
doubt. But so long as the older-established products
continue to yield such handsome returns the inducement te
pioneer in new ventures is not great.

Hitherto the native tobacco plantations of the Northern
and Eastern Provinces and the Chilaw and Kandy Districts
have contented themselves with supplying the local market,
with the exception of a not inconsiderable export of Jaffna
tobacco to Travancore. ‘The Travancore authorities having
recently imposed a limit on the import of this tobacco there
is no room for expansion in this direction, and unless the
native cultivator can be induced to set himself seriously to
the improvement of the quality of tobacco produced, the
prospects of the industry are not bright.

Paddy cultivation remains the principal occupation of
the villager, but shows little sign of extension, while the
quantity of rice imported for local consumption continues
steadily to increase.

During the latter months of 1910 and the first half of
1911, a prolonged drought was experienced in most parts of
the island. In many localities the tanks did not fill, and
paddy cultivation was seriously affected. ‘The same cause
has in many cases interfered with the realization of the
estimated yields of the staple export products.

The Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya have continued to
render valuable assistance to the cultivator in all branches of
agriculture, both directly and through the instrumentality of
the Agricultural Society. From 1912 the staff of the
Gardens will be merged ina regular Agricultural Depart-
ment, the organization of which has received the sanction of
the Secretary of State. The establishment of a school of
agriculture, and the modification of the present system of
education in vernacular schools with a view to the introdue-
tion of a training in agricultural pursuits, await the inaugu-
ration of the new Department. Meanwhile arrangements
have been made for selected students from Ceylon to undergo
a course of agricultural training at the Agricultural College
at Poona, and the Government is offering sholarships for
students who take up the course. (Colonial Reports—
Annual, No. 716, July 1912.)

The Virgin Islands and the Canadian Nation-
al Exhibition.—The Agricultural Instructor of the Virgin
Islands, Mr. W. C. Fishlock, has given information con-
cerning the representation of that Presidency at the above
exhibition. He states that there were forwarded to St. Kitts,
in time to meet the S.S. ‘Oruro’ on July 16, two cases of
exhibits. These included: glass jars containing starch (arrow-
root, cassava and tons-les mois), coffee and cacao; bottles of
raw and concentrated lime juice, and bags of cotton.

Exhibits of fancy work, including a tea cloth, lace doilies
and lace handkerchiefs were also sent,

284 THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Aveusr 31, 1912.

The Revista Azucarera for 1911-12 states that it is
expected that from 20,000 to 25,000 tons of 96° sugar will
be exported from Mexico to the United Kingdom during this
year. in the season 1911, 158,627 tons of sugar, 83,348
tons of molasses and 49,107 tons of panela (a brown sugar)
were produced in Mexico.

It is shown in 7’he Board of Trade Journal for July 4,
1912, that the number of bales of cotton imported into the
United Kingdom during the twenty-six weeks ended June 27
was 2,836,474, including 5,620 British West Indian, 5,213
British West African, 17,523 British East African, and
1,044 bales Foreign East African.

A copy of a bulletin on the condition of crops in
{igypt on July 1, 1912, has been received from the Director-
General of the Department of Agriculture. This shows that
the condition of the cotton, sugar-cane and melon crops at
that date was well above the average, while that of wheat
and rice was somewhat below the average.

In the report of the Government Botanical Gardens,
Saharanpur, India, for 1911-12, it is stated that the Jéquie
Manicoba trees (Wanihot dichotoma) in the gardens continue
to make only slow progress, and it is concluded that the
plant requires a more equable temperature and a somewhat
moister atmosphere than those which obtain at Saharanpur.

According to the Zextile Mercury for July 13, 1912,
experiments have been made at Casablanca in cotton-growing,
from seed obtained from Porto Rico. The experiment was
only on a small scale, and the plants were watered by hand
during the dry season. Other trials were made ata place
about 50 miles from Casablanca, but like the former were
not on a scale sufficient to give useful results.

H.M. Consul at Amsterdam states that a factory is being
erected for the manufacture of artificial ‘rubber’ from fresh
sea fish, the cost of this being only about one-sixth of that in
the manufacture of natural rubber. The invention has been
examined and reported upon by an English chemist, and his
report may be seen by British firms at the Commercial Intel-
ligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73 Basinghall St.,
London, E.C,

An account of sisal-growing experiments that are being
conducted in Curacao has been given recently by the United
States Consul. The results appear so far to be favourable:
the plants have survived an abnormally dry period, and have
given sisal of excellent quality. In consequence of the suc-
cess, a company called the First’ Sisal Culture Co. of
Curacao, has been formed for the exploitation of the fibre
in the island.

The Agricultural News of February 3, 1912, p. 41, com
tained a note on a suggestion that has been made to the effect
that tobacco seed might be utilized asa source of oil: the
seeds contain 15 percent, of a drying oil. Asis pointed out
in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute for April 1912,
p. 1538, the ordinary conditions of tobacco cultivation are not
such as to produce tobacco seed in quantity, so that the
suggestion does not appear to be practicable.

During the year 1910, tin and rubber were exported
from Bolivia to the value of £5,160,000, the value of the
rubber being £2,200,000. The total exports during that
year reached the value of £6,000,000, the shipments of
products other than tin and rubber being made up by silver
(£420,000), bismuth, copper and other minerals, witla
a certain amount of coca and raw hides. (From Diplomatic
and Consular Reports, No. 4888 Annual Series, July 1912.)

The results cf inoculation experiments that have been
carried out with horse beans in Germany are quoted in the
Experiment Station Record for May 1912, p. 617, and it is
stated that decided benefit was received from inoculation in alll
cases. The kinds of inoculation practised were seed inocula-
tion with gelatine cultures, seed inoculation with soil cultures,
and soil inoculation with soil cultures, on upland moor soil
which had never grown horse beans; the best resnlts were
obtained from seed inoculation.

The Bulletin of the Sureau of Agricultural Intelligence
and of Plant Diseases for June 1912, p. 1395, contains am
account of a machine for raising water which is described
under the name Hydropulsator. This is employed in the
same way as the ordinary ram, but the two valves of this ma-
chine are replaced by a kind of turbine which revolves and
closes alternately the discharge pipe and the outflow pipe.
The apparatus can be made in large sizes, and does not.
require much head of water. It has proved itself already to-
be practicable, and observations are stated to have showm
that it possesses an efficiency of 70 per cent.

The Board of Trade of St. John, New Brunswick, has
issued a statement showing that-the exports from that port;
by transatlantic steamers, for the six months November 190%
to May 1910, were valued at $24,030,007. In the fiscal
year ending March 31, 1910, the values of the exports fron
the chief eastern ports of Canada were: from Montreal
$77,501,549, from’ Halifax $11,595,755, from Quebec
$5,751,375, and from St. John $24,988,519; as regards
St. John, they were valued at $20,668,517 in the preceding
similar period. The latter facts show that the trade of the
port is making substantial increases and that future progress.
may be expected.

Vor. XI. No 270.

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

SEPTEMBER.
First PrEriop.
Seasonal Notes.

Interesting observations may be made by taking seeds
at different stages of ripeness and testing their germinating
power. In cases where seedlings are obtained, those from
the partly mature and the mature seeds should be examined
in order to determine which kind of seed produces the
strongest plants. Seeds that will be found useful for the
purpose described include those of annuals such as the pea
and the tomato, and those of the commoner woody plants; in
the case of the former, ready germination is obtained before
the stage of ripeness is reached, whereas the seeds of many
perennial plants require a period of rest before they will
sprout. State the reason why partly matured seeds usually
give rise to plants that are lacking in vitality. It must be
remembered that this is not always the case, for the seeds of
some plants, when the latter are over-vigorous, give plants
with increased fruitfulness when they are slightly immature;
those of the tomato form an example of this kind. Experi-
mentation with ripe seeds and those which have not quite
reached maturity may show that the latter often germinate
more quickly than the former.

State what effect the continual selection of immature
seeds for planting may have in regard to changing some
of the characters of a plant.

It is well known that all seeds, if they are kept long
enough, lose their power to germinate, though the time
required for this varies greatly in different cases. Examples
of the longevity of certain seeds, notably those of the
Leguminosae, have been given recently in the Agricultural
News. Other information concerning the duration of the
germinating power of some of the commoner seeds
may. be found in Zhe Vegetable Garden (issued by
Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux et Cie, Paris). Among such
seeds those of the cucumber, endive, artichoke, some
beans, beet, cabbage, carrot, egg-plant, ochroe, melon,
pumpkin, squash and turnip, with others, are given as
being capable of germinating even after as long a period
as ten years has elapsed; this is, however, the extreme period
for those seeds, and it must not be expected that any samples
of seed of the kinds will necessarily contain individuals that
will sprout after so long atime. As regards the percentage
of germination that should be expected from good seeds of
various sorts, a useful list is contained on page 20 of the
last edition of Vature Teaching.

When it is intended to store most kinds of seeds, if they
are wet for any cause, they should be carefully dried after
being gathered, in order to prevent the growth of moulds that
may destroy their vitality. The storage of oily seeds in bulk,
in large quantities, requires care in order to prevent them
from becoming heated.

Where seeds are stored, again, the moisture in the air
and the temperature should be kept as uniform as possible.
It is usually the case that seeds will remain useful for sowing
for a longer time if they are put away in their natural cover-
ing; this is true of many grasses, including maize, the seeds

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

bo
(v2)
or

of which are considered to retain their vitality best when they
are allowed to remain on the cob; it is supposed, too, that the
husking of the ear decreases the period of the retention of the
germinating power of these seeds.

It is the usual circumstance that the most vigorous
crops are obtained from seeds sown in the season in which
the new crop is grown or in the preceding season; though
in the case of crops raised for seed or for fruit the best
refurns may sometimes be obtained by using seed that has
been kept for two or three years, examples of plants having
seed with this characteristic being the cucumber and the
melon.

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What are the chief uses of the bones in the bodies
of mammals?

(2) Give a short account of the kinds of soil that you
have examined.

(3) Supply information concerning the chief grasses
with which you are acquainted.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS,

(1) Compare the structure of the leg of the horse and
of the ox.

(2) Diseuss the ways in which the characters of a soil
are influenced by the proportion of clay that it contains.

(3) State what plants that you know of, belonging to
the grass family, are employed in providing food directly
for man.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Show broadly how the structure of the animals used
directly on an estate to provide energy is correlated with the
purposes for which they are employed.

(2) Provide a general account of the way in which the
kinds of crops grown in any particular area are influenced by
the character of the soil.

(3) How would you proceed to convert to pasture
land an area of land that had been used in cultivation for
ordinary crops!

Trade and Agriculture of St. Helena, 1911.—

exports. The total value of exports in 1911 amounted
to £9,959 as against £9,324 in 1910. Specie shows a marked
increase, being £7,800 as compared with £5,300 in the
previous year.

AGRICULTURE. The year under review was, on the whole,
a bad one for stock owners. The drought which prevailed for
the first four months of the year resulted in cattle getting into
low condition, and the period of heavy rain which followed
found thera in a condition least able to stand it. Again, the
last four months of the year were exceptionally dry; this
caused heavy losses amongst cattle. Both cattle and sheep
were raised at large expense, chiefly by imported food, to
supply the Naval Establishment at Ascension.

The potato crop was also adversely affected by the
unfavourable weather. In some parts of the island potatoes
remained in the ground for along time, there not being
enough moisture to bring then on. Consequently they
suffered from rot, and potatoes became scarce and dear at
times. Green vegetables did badly and were scarce, for the
same reasons. Hay was also unsatisfactory, the crop being
very short. In most lands grass was not worth cutting.
(From Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 714, June 1912.)

Et

THE EAST.
By Harold Hamel Smith and F. A. G. Pape, John Bale, Sons
& Danielsson, Ltd, London. 11s. post free.

A notice of the publication of this book appeared in the
Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 236, and recently a copy
has been received from the authors.

The book aims at giving, as fully as its size will
allow, a complete account of the coco-nut palm, its cultiva-
tion, and the products to be obtained from it. It does
not enter into full details on every ‘point, but each is
brought forward and full references are given which
enable the reader to procure the details for himself.
Each section of the book aims at being self-contained, so
that the reading of many pages of familiar matter may be
avoided. This course naturally leads to considerable repeti-
tion, but as the points repeated are all worthy of emphasis,
their reiteration is perhaps advisable; nevertheless, there
appear to be places where a closer confinement to the subject
indicated at the commencement of the chapter would have
been preferable. For example, under the title Cultivation in
Malaya, among other matters, general discussions are given
of prices, drying methods and planting distances, all of
which should have been relegated to the sections of the book
dealing more particularly with these points, where they are
expected to appear.

After a foreward by Sir W. H. Lever, indicating the
value of coco nut cultivations and putting forward a plea for
Government assistance to intending planters, there is
a preface by Mr. Hamel Smith in which the question of
the establishment of one or more tropical agricultural colleges
receives some consideration—a question engaging attention
im several quarters at the present time. Then follows
a useful introduction on health in the tropics, written by
Mr. Pape and containing many valuable suggestions resulting
from a long experience. The first three chapters deal
adequately with the questions of the Cost of an Estate, Native
Ownership and Husbandry, and Locality and Site. Chapter I
contains carefully considered statistics, and provides a good
conservative indication of the amount of capital that will be
required for opening up an estate. Subsequent chapters deal
with the position and prospects of coco-nut planting in vari-
ous parts of the world. Among important matters dealt
with is the nature of the catch crops that can be grown
successfully in each locality, while the estate is coming into
bearing, and the kinds of stock that may be raised after-
wards. It is to be observed that no mention is made of
Portuguese East Africa as a suitable country for coco-nut
cultivation—-an omission which will probably be repaired in
future editions.

The next section of the book deals more particularly
with the details of establishing an estate; separate chapters
are devoted to Clearing and Preparing the Land, The
Seed Nuts, Seed Beds and Nurseries, Laying out the Planta-
tion, Lining and Holing. The authors call attention to

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Avaust 31, 1912,

the necessity of selecting good nuts for planting, and to the
excellence of the nuts from San Blas, Panama, which may
be obtained from Panama shippers or from certain firms
in England.

The subject of Disease is well treated, and good
references are given to original papers on it. Then follow
sections on manuring, mulching and catch crops. Adequate
emphasis is laid on the need of manuring and properly
caring for the estate after it has become established; and
light ploughing and harrowing are strongly advocated. The
advisability of this last course may be open to question, but
it would appear from experiments that the advantages
outweigh the defects.

Subsequent chapters deal with the preparation of
copra, oil, alcohol, and fibre from the nuts, and accounts of
the most successful types of modern machinery for these
purposes are given; much attention is paid to the extraction
of oil from copra by means of liquid solvents, but perhaps
the expression method has been rather neglected. The
possibility of the preparation of products such as sugar,
vinegar, and paper of a rough quality, is touched upon, and
mention is made of the possible utilization of the water in
the nuts for the manufacture of vinegar. These industries
are not yet established, but it does appear that they may be
of some importance in the future. In connexion with
copra-drying and the preparation of fibre, it may be well to
call attention to two articles in the Agricultural News,
Vol. XI, pp. 254 and 265.

The book under review closes with notes on stump
extraction and irrigation, and a chapter dealing with spraying
machinery. In connexion with knapsack sprayers, it may be
remarked that those of the type of the Alpha machine des-
cribed on page 483 are much the best, as it is difficult in the
tropics to induce a labourer to use a machine with which it is
necessary to work the pump with one hand and direct the
spray with the other. The book contains a useful index, and
a good list of literature dealing with the coco-nut palm is
placed at the beginning. It is well illustrated throughout.

The subject-matter of the book is excellent, as is
naturally the case when it is borne in mind that the reports
of well recognized authorities, only, have been consulted, and
occasionally reproduced, in its construction. These reports,
prepared during the last six years by men working on the
spot, contain the most reliable information now available as to
the best methods of cultivating the coco-nut palm. They em-
phasize the points made in the book as to the need for careful
selection of seed nuts, their planting in nurseries, wide plant-
ing in the field, careful manuring and cultivation, and the
use of good modern methods for obtaining the finished
products, The subject-matter thus procured is, on the whole,
well arranged and readable. One small blemish is noticeable
in a tendency to misquote the names of papers consulted.
This habit does not add to the readabilty ot the book, and
certainly is not conducive to ease of reference

Throughout the volume, a basis of forty-ciz!t trees to the
acre and forty nuts per tree per annum, is cousidered safe for
reckoning profits; it is, if anything, somewhat low, but it
probably represents a good all-round average. A well-merited
censure of certain company prospectuses appears on page 56;
advertisements of this nature, giving the mythical figures of
200 trees per acre and 200 nuts per tree, do more to harm
the development of such an industry than can anything else.

In conclusion, it can be said that all coco-nut planters or
intending planters should obtain this book, which will be
found to be full of useful, practical, and thoroughly reliable
information.

Vor, XI, No. 270.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of July 1912:—

Though peace has been somewhat restored amongst the
dock labourers, and large numbers of men have returned to
work, it is estimated that some five or six weeks will elapse
before trade assumes even its normal character, first on
account of the large accumulation of goods on the quays,
which have to be removed and properly stored, and next in
consequence of the summer holidays which are supposed to
empty London of its inhabitants at the end of July and
throughout the month of August. It is anticipated, however,
that after the holiday season there will be a complete revival
of business in drugs and chemicals. In the matter of

GINGER

The market has been very quiet; at the first spice
auction on the July 3, 526 bags and 37 cases of Cochin
and Calicut were offered, and all bought in at prices varying
from 42s. to 90s. per cwt.; 100 bags of Liberian were held
at 30s., and 140 bags of limed Japan also at 30s. A week
later 489 bags of Cochin and Calicut were again offered,
20 of which sold at 65s,; 70 bags of brown rough Liberian
sold without reserve at 27s. 6d.; 115 bags of Japan were also
offered but found no buyers. On the 17th, 520 bags of
Cochin and Calicut were brought forward, of which only 190
were sold, 45s. being paid for cut tips, 55s. for fair cuttings,
and 40s. for small and medium washed. Bold cut Calicut
was all bought in at 90s. to 92s. 6d. At the last auction on
the 24th, none of the offerings found buyers.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND PIMENTO.

Nutmegs have maintained a quiet tone throughout the
month. At the first auction the offerings consisted of 34
boxes of Singapore, all of which were bought in at 1s. for 65’s
and 74d. for 80's. At the second sale on the 10th, 54
packages of West Indian were offered, part of which found
buyers at 8d. for 68’s, 63d. to 7d. for 74’s to 82’s, 53d. for
95's, 53d. to 6d. for 102’s to 112’s and 5{d. for 118’s.
A week later, namely on the 17th, the very large supply of
360 packages of West Indian were offered, and all were dis-
posed of at the following rates: 1s. for 54’s, 5$d. to 10d. for
63’s to 73’s, 54d, to 64d. for 78’s to 87’s, 6d. to 64d for 100’s
to 110’s and 6d for 140’s. At the last sale on the 24th. 27
packages of West Indian were disposed of, 82’s to 95’s fetching
6d. to 64d., and 73 packages of Eastern partly sold at the
following rates: 7d. to 74d. for 63’s to 70’s and 54d. to 64d.
for 100’s to 105’s.

Mace, at the first auction on the 3rd of the month, was
represented by 31 packages of Eastern, none of which was
sold. A week later 3 barrels of West Indian realized
2s 3d. per tb. for bright red broken and ls. 10d. for dark
inferior. Two cases of Penang somewhat mouldy, and
part wormy, sold at 2s. 3d per tb. At the auction on
the 17th 133 packages of West Indian were offered, and
sold at 2s, 3d. to 2s. 4d. per tb., good fetching 2s. 5d. to
2s. 6d. On the 24th 38 packages of Eastern were offered
and partly scld at 2s. 6d. to 2s. 7d. per tb. Little has been
done in pimento or arrowroot, of the first-named at auction

THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS, 287

on the 3rd of the month, some 71 bags were brought forward,
and 40 sold at 24d. per tb. At the first auction 10 half
barrels of Bermuda arrowroot were offered and bought in,
and on the 10th 18 cases of Natal were offered and all
bought in.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the drug auction on the 11th no grey Jamaica was
offered, the only kind being native Jamaica, of which 12
bales were offered, and 11 sold, yellow fetching 9¢. yellow
and reddish mixed ls. and good red, part chumvy 1s. 2d. to
ls. 4d per tb. On the 25th the offerings were as follows:—
grey Jamaica 20 bales and Lima-Jamaica 10 bales all of
which were disposed of, 26 bales of native Jamaica were also
brought forward and 21 sold. The grey Jamaica realized
2s. 3d. per tb. and the native Jamaica 1s. 3d. for good red,
1s. 1d. for fair red, 103d. for dull red mixed, and 9d. to 9}d.
for common yellow and grey mixed. The 10 bales of Lima-
Jamuica, realized ls. 9d. to 1s. 10d. per tb. for fair, part
slightly chumpy.

CASSIA FISTULA, LIME JUICE, TAMARINDS AND KOLA,

At the beginning of the month Cassia Fistula was in
fair demand, the quotations for West Indian being 30s. and
for East Indian 28s.

At the beginning of the month it was stated that fair
quantities of lime juice had been placed on the market
from stocks in London and Southampton and that the
absence of real summer weather had much decreased its
demand with a consequent drop in prices. Later on, owing
to the strike, large quantities accumulated at the docks but
were unobtainable. The prices quoted were from 2s. 3d. to
2s. 41d. according to quality. Quite at the end of the
month good pale raw Dominican was sold at 2s. per gallon,

In the middle of the month 29 packages of fair, but
rather dry tamarinds from the West Indies were brought
forward and held at 13s , and on the 25th, 13 packages from
Montserrat were sold at from 13s. 3d. per cwt. in bond.
There is a demand for Kola nuts, and good prices have been
realized, some 20 packages were brought forward at auction
on the 25th, amongst them some whole dried St. Lucia,
which fetched 5d. per tb.

The Sapucaia Nut.—The tree (Lecythis Zatucajo)
producing the sapucaia nut is a native of Guiana, Brazil and
Venezuela, where it grows to a great size, and bears its seeds
in a large, very hard fruit provided with a lid at the top,
which, falling away when it is mature, lets the seeds escape.
These are what are commonly known as the nuts; they may
be obtained often in the fruit shops in England, where they
are sometimes sold in preference to the Brazil nuts, which are
borne by a plant (Bertholletia encelsa) belonging to the
same Natural Order: as a matter of fact they possess a better
flavour—sweet and somewhat resembling that of the almond
—-and are more easily digested than the Brazil nut. They
yield an oil which, like that of the last-mentioned nut, is
employed in South America as a food oil and for soap-
making; it shares with this oil the disadvantage that it
becomes rancid in a very short time.

By the courtesy of the Trinidad Department of Agri-
culture, plants of Lecythis Zabucajo have been supplied to
the Dominica Botanic Garden, and that Department is
co-operating further with the Commissioner of Agriculture
by sending plants of the same kind to other Botanic Stations
in the Lesser Antilles,

bo
Lea)
ion)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

Aucust 31, 1912,

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—TsHe West Inpia CommirrEE CIRCULAR,
August 13, 1912; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass & Co.,
August 2, 1912.

ArRowRoot—3!}}d. to 43d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/6 ; block, 2/74 per tb.

Brrswax—£8 12s. 6d.

Oacao—Trinidad, 68/- to 85/- per cwt.; Grenada, 61/-
to 68/-; Jamaica, 58/- to 67/-.

CorrrE—Jamaica, 69/- to 76/- per cwt.

Copra—West Indian, £26 10s. per ton.

Oorron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 15d. to 18d.

Frvuit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

Gincer—48/- to 65/- per ewt.

IsincLass—No quotations.

Hongy—25/- to 32/-

Live Juice—Raw, 2/2; con centrated, £18 12s. 6d. to
£19; otto of limes (hand pressed), 7/6.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Macre—2/3 to 2/6.

Nutmecs—dd. to 11d.

Pinento—Common, 23d.; fair, 2;4d.; good, 22d.; per th.

RupBeER—Para, fine hard, 5s.; tine soft, 4/54; Castilloa,
4/5 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/- to 6/-. :

Svucar—Crystals, 16/6 to 18/9; Muscovado, 12/- to 15/-;
Syrup, 13/- to 15/-; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York,—Messrs Gittespiz Bros. & Co., August
9, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 12fc. to 13c.; Grenada, 14c. to 142c.
Trinidad, 14c. to 16c. per tb.; Jamaica, 1l4c. to 13c.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26:00; culls,
$15:00; Trinidad, select, $25°00 to $26:00; culls,
$15°90 per M.

OorreE—Jamaica, 14ic. to 16#c. per fb.

GincEeR—S8}c. to 11 fc. per tb.

Goat Sxrns—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 45c.
‘to 46c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 42c. to 44e.
per Ib.

Grape-FRuit—Jamaica, $2°75 to $3°50.

Lies—$2°00 to $2°25.

Mace—5le. to 54c. per fh.

Nurmrcs—110’s, 13$c. to 14c.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—djc. per fb.

Suear—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°05c. per th.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°ddc.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per fb., all duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., August 19,
1912,

Oscao—Venezuelan, $15°52 per fanega; Trinidad, $14:75
to $15°2d.

Coco-nut O1r—89%c. per Imperial gallon.

CorrrE—Venezuelan, 1&c. per fb.

Copra—$4°40 per 100 th.

DxHaL—$5°25.

Ontons—$2:00 per 100 fb.

Pzas, Sprit—$7 ‘00 per bag.

Porators—English, $2°50 to $3:00 per 100 tt.

Rice—Yellow, $4°8u to $5°00; White, $6°25 to $6°35
per bag.

Svuaar—American crushed, no quotations.

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncw & Co., Ltd., August
24,1912: Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co., August
26, 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., August 15,
1912.

ARrRownroot—$7 ‘00 per 100 fh.

Cacao—$13'00 to $14:00 per 100 fb.

Coco-nuts—$20°00.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°80 per 100 tb.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $635°00 to $67°50; Cacao
manure, $45°00 to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia,

$80-00 to $84-00 per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Ontons-—$2°25 to $300 per 100 th.

Peas, Sprit—$6°75 to $6°90 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$300 to $5°30 per bag of 120 th.

Porators—Nova Scotia, $3°75 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $5°20 to $5°75 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quota-
tions; Rangoon, no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $5°00 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & Ricursr, August

17, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacn, Parker & Co.,
August 16, 1912.

Messrs. Sanp-

ARTICLES. pera See act, PARKER
Co.
Arrowroot—St. Vincent — —
Batata—Venezuelablock| No quotation Prohibited
Demerara sheet|76c. to 77c. per tb.
Cacao—Native 14c. per tb. 14c. to lic. tb.
Cassava— 80c. No quotation
Cassava STARCH— $7 -50 No quotation
Coco-nutTs— $16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
CorreE—Creole 19c. per th. 18c. per tb.
Jamaica and Rio 2Uc. per tb. 2Ic.
Liberian lic. per fb. l5c. per tb,
DaaL— $5°00 per bag of| $5°50 to $5°75
168 tb.
Green Dhal $5°50 es
Eppors— $1°32 to $168 ——
Mo tasses— Yellow None —
Ontons—Teneriffe —
Madeira 5c. per tb. 5c. to dsc.
Peas—Split $6°75 to $700 per] $7-25 per bag
bag (210 tb.) (210 th.)
Marseilles —— No quotation
PLANTAINS— 16c. to 48c. ——
Porators—Nova Scotia — $2°75
Lisbon $2 50 to $2°75 No quotation
PoratorEs-Sweet, B’bados 33°24 =
per bag
Rice—Ballam No quotation
Creole 36°00 $6 00 to $6°25
TaNnNIAs— $312 —
Yams— White — —-
Buck - =
Sucar—Dark crystals $3°25 to $3-40 $3°25
Yellow $4°20 to $4°25 $3-00
White —
Molasses $2-80 ———
TimpeR—Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. pen
cub. foot cub. foot
Wallaba shingles} $4°00 to $6°25 | $4:00 to $6°00
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, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s, 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. Nos. 1 and 2. No. 3:—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Drier; The Structure and Polli-
nation of the Cacao Flower. SuGar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;
A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugar-canes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugar cane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
canes with a View to their Classification; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in Megass; The
Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

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 seventy. 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.; No. 66, 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 1902-3, 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.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards,

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; Price 4d

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; (55) Millions ‘and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d. (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

GENERAL. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
(7) and 22 Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part I. price (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.
4d.; Part II., price 4d. (65) Hints for School Gardens, Fourth Edition.
(69) Hints to Settlers in St. Lucia. Price 6d.
(5) General Treatment of Insect Pests (Revised), price 4d. (70) Coco-nut Cultivation in the West Indies. Price 6d.

(71) Insect Pests of the Lesser Antilles. Price 1s. 3d.
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, 63, 67, 69and 70. Postage for No. 71, 4d.

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
lecal 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, VIII, and IX complete, with title page and index, asissued
—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. Mosetxy, Agricultural School,
Barbados : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Jamaica: Tue EpucationaL Suppty Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Bripcewarer, Roseau,

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Roxson, Botanic Station.
British Guiana: TuE ‘Dairy CHRONICLE O¥FICE,Georgetown. Ancigua: Mr. S. D. Maton, St. John’s,
Trinidad : Messrs. Murr-MarsHALt & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Tae Brste anp Book Surrpty AGEney, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. Pracemann, Scarborough. Tfevis : Messrs. Howe, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 270 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Avcust 31, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR ‘COLONIAL USE

Ae

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

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, B.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

COTTON SEED MEAL! |
COTTON SEED MEAL !!

SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR MANURIAL |
PURPOSES. SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

Cun be obtained fronm:—
THE BARBADOS OCC-OPERATIVE
COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

B.—Special ate te ation. for larg re e lo ts.

FOR SALE. JUSL ISSUED.

WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 3.)

ONE (I) ‘TRIUMPH’ STEAM DRIER, Suit. cso. ated of Sing Cin, Banga Les of

10; Cacao Canker; a Possible Inference to be drawn from

able for evaporating solids or liquids. the “Bhudies on Caeggf@anker; Insech Pests of Cacaoy/Manurtal

xperiments on Caeao in Trinidad; A Description of the

ONE (| ) FILTER PRESS. Barnard Cacao Drier; The Structure and Pollination of the
Cacao Flower. st@ar: Me murial Experiments in Sugar-cane

Apply to:— in Trinidad and Te hago; A Vomparison of some Sec dlihg s Sugar-

}canes with the Bourbo m variety in Barbados; Bourbon and

H. A. FRAMPTON, Seedling Canes; The application of Mendlian Vrinciples to

Bath Estate, Sugarcane. Brecdinil The Study of Sugar-cane with a view to

tate their Classification; ey Quick Method for Estimating Moisture

Dominica. in Megass; The Sugar Indus stry in Antigua and St. Kitts- Nevis;

(271) land the Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

Printed at Office of Agricultwral Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

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Vol. XI. No. 271.]

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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT

OF THE

LESSER ANTILLES

ESSER Al S

v) NOUS ey) L 7G We py he ‘Or
BY HH. (AS (BAR BOUGAESG,

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEFARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. |

'

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,

This gives mainly a popular, illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
lan introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects, |
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
'Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department, |
price 1s, 8¢,, post free 1s, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

E WE SEND IT FREE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain, |

Trinidad.

ZA
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tu

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iA FOREMIGHTLY REVIEW a bes.

OF

THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Wor. XT) No. 271.

BARBADOS, SEPTEMNRER 14, 1912.

Price ld.

CONTENTS
PaGR PAGE.
Agriculture in Porto Tusect Notes (Cointd.)
Rico, 1911 ete Us Zalophothvix mirum ... 298
Balata from Northern Ni- International Ruboer Ex-
ON ees Boy oe ee 2A) hibition, Imperial In-
Cacao Cultivation, A Neg- stitute Jad! <.. ... 299
lected Consideration Jamaica, School Gardens
iu 292 in PAU

293
303

Lemon Grasses in Fiji ...

Camphor, Pigxetat laser
Mango, A Nearly Seedless

mation Concerning...

Cotton Notes :— Market Reports « 304
Cotton-Growing in the Notes and Comments ... 296
Angle-Egyptian bot Cotte _ 999

Sudan Ree pines, bese
Cotton Seed Meal for
Mules and Horses ...
The Development of
Cotton-Growing in

Rubber Experiments in
Southern Nigeria ... 293
Vincent and Visita-
tion by Hurricanes...

295
St.
296

Tndiai... . «ss. . 294] Scientitic Work, Direct
West Indian Cotton... 294 and Indirect Values of 289
Department News... ... 291 | Students’ Corner . 301
Gleanings... ... ... ... 300 Sugar Industry:
Tinperial Department of The Relation between
Agriculture, Publica- the Crushing of Cane
tions of ae AS PA and the Volume of

Insect Notes :— the Wibtemeen i asuecs. 20
Report on a Visit to | Wood Preservation, Treat-
St. Kitts, Part IT... 298 | ment in India... ... 297

The Direct and Indirect Values of
Scientific Work.

M) place in recent years in the application of
eos scientific knowledge to the practical affairs
of agriculture has exercised a most beneficial influence
over the results obtained from the cultivation of crops
and the rearing of stock. If the agricultural progress
of the world during the past twenty-five years were to
be carefully scanned, many instances would be found
illustrating the value of the work of scientists when

the results of such work were properly applied to the
solution of existing problems. A|l branches of science
would vield instances illustrating this point; but for
the present purpose, a brief consideration of a few
entomological prublems will suitice.

From the instances given below it will be seen
that the study of such problems often leads to the
discovery of facts which have an importance greater
than that of the original investigation, and extend
much beyond the limits suggested by the problem
under consideration.

The study of cattle ticks and Texas fever resulted
in a knowledge of the dissemination of several diseases
by insects and ticks; the attempts to control the San
José scale brought about the production of a number
of contact insecticides of greater efticiency than those
previously known; the struggle against the gypsy moth
caused the commercial production of arsenate of lead,
and gave a stimulus formerly unknown to the attempts
to import and establish natural enemies for the control
of an introduced pest; while the steady warfare waged
against the cotton boll weevil has produced favourable
changes in agricultural practice, in the infested dis-
tricts, in the matter of cultural methods, rotation, and
diversification of crops.

The study of ticks in relation to fever in cattle has
brought about an accumulation of knowledge of the
most useful and varied kinds. In the first place, a
study of the life-history of ticks, and of the disease
known as Texas fever or tick fever, demonstrated the
fact that the micro-organism causing the disease is
transinitted to healthy animals by the bite of the tick,
and it was further found that no other means of infec-
tion could be proved than the bite of ticks which had
previously fed upon infested animals. This led to

290

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Sepremper 14, 1912.

‘studies of ticks and biting insects which resulted in
giving a knowledge of the manner of transmission of
malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness and filaria—
among the diseases of the human subject—and of
several tick- and insect-borne diseases of domestic
animals. This knowledge has had the effect of causing
all biting and blood-sucking arthropods to be regarded
with grave suspicion as to the part that they may
play in the dissemination of disease.

Further study of the tick led to a knowledge of
its life-history and habits, from which it appeared that
the fully-gorged female ticks drop from the cattle in
order to deposit their eggs on the ground, and that
the young hatching from the eggs can live for only
a certain time without food. This led to the adoption
of a pasture rotation system, which consists of the prac-
tice of enclosing cattle on a certain area during the
time when the adult ticks are dropping, and removing
them to another, tick-free, area before the young are
hatched; cattle are prevented from entering the pasture
where the eggs are deposited, until the young should
all have died for want of food. his, in general, is the
practice by means of which large grazing areas have
been rendered tick-free in certain of the Southern
States, and in consequence fever-free. In this manner
more than 100,000 square miles of territory formerly
included in the tick-infested area is now declared tick-
free, and the cattle industry of that region is thus
relieved from a tax, imposed by parasites and disease,
which was formerly very severe.

The benefit derived from the employment of insec-
ticides in combating insect pests is incalculable. In
many parts of the world certain crops are subject to
attack by insects of different sorts, and in order that
profitable returns may be obtained, it is necessary that
the effects of insecticides of various kinds should be
understood and the life-history of the insects known.
The proper insecticide can be used so as to produce the
greatest killing effect on the insect and the least injur-
ious effect on the crop plant.

Not many years have elapsed since the use of
insecticides was but little understood, and when there
were but few well-known substances available for the
purpose. At the present time there are several arsen-
ical and other stomach poisons, prussic acid from
potassium and sodium cyanides as a fumigant, and
a great variety of contact spray materials including
such substances as kerosene and other oils, soap, rosin,
salt, sulphur and lime, the use of which is understood
by planters and farmers in those localities where it is
necessary.

The San José scale has been a serious pest on
apple and other orchard crops in nearly all parts of the
Temperate Zone, and it is due largely to the resistance
of this insect to the ordinary spray washes that so
much improvement in contact insecticides has been
made in the past few years.

The gypsy moth is a European insect which
during the past twenty-five years has been a most
serious pest to orchards and woodland in the Eastern
United States. When the attempt was made to control
this pest by means of Paris green and London purple
it was found that these insecticides were not efficient,
for the foliage of the trees was injured by the poison
even when used at strengths which were insufficient
to kill the caterpillars of the moth. To meet the need
for a more satisfactory poison, lead arsenate was pre-
pared. ‘This compound can be used in mixtures with
water at strengths sufticient to kill any leaf-eating
insect without injury to the foliage, and is thus one of
the most useful arsenicai insecticides for spraying
plants, if not the most useful insecticide among these.

Another result of great value that has come about
from the study of the gypsy moth problem is the
stimulus that has been given to the interest in control
by natural enemies; this method of control had been
used previously, notably in Hawaii, California, and
Australia, but probably nowhere on the same large
scale. Parasitic and predatory insects from Europe
and Asia, where the gypsy moth occurs, are transported
in enormous quantities to Eastern Massachusetts,
where they are carefully reared in the insectary, and
colonized in the open. This work is still in an experi-
mental stage, although it is being carried out on
a large scale involving the expenditure of enormous
sums of money.

The Mexican cotton boll weevil is one of the most
serious pests of an agricultural crop known. Less than
twenty years have elapsed since this insect spread from
Mexico into the cotton fields of Southern Texas.
During this period it has progressed steadily north and
eastward, until it now occupies a large part of the cotton
belt. No insecticides or remedial measures have
sufficed to stop its progress: native parasites do not
seriously reduce its numbers, and wherever it becomes
established it greatly reduces the yield of cotton. As
a result of careful study and investigation over a long
series of years, it has been found that early planting of
early-maturing varieties greatly reduces the liability of
serious attack; while cultural methods such as wide
planting, which allows the sun to penetrate to the

Wor, <r No: 2al.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 991

ground between and under the plants, the early
destruction of all cotton plants as soon as the crop is
harvested, and also the complete removal and destruc-
tion by burning ofall weeds, rubbish and cornstalks
which would furnish hiding places in which the boll
weevils might hibernate, still further reduce the severity
of the attacks. In addition, a system of rotation has
been devised which is in use in many places, and this
often results in a diversification of crops which is most
beneficial. | By these means, the Southern farmers are
able to grow profitable crops of cotton in spite of a most
serious pest, and they will ultimately gain an advan-
tage as a result of the changes in method, that they
are being forced to adopt, which will probably be
greater than the losses which they at first experienced.

All these examples are of the greatest interest on
account of their direct value. Some of them are
useful, further, in that they serve to afford
instances where, although the degree of success first
anticipated has not been attained, the bold con-
tinuation of the work has proved to be of incom-
parable benefit and has often brought about salutary
changes in methods which, probably, could not have
been caused to accrue in any other way.

THE RELATION BETWEEN THE CRUSH-
ING OF CANE AND THE VOLUME
OF THE FIBRE.

A summary of the conclusions from an investiga-
tion of this matter is thus given in Bulletin No. 38,
Agricultural and Chemical Series, Experiment Station
of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, by Noél
Deerr:—

(1) The amount of juice expressed from chopped cane
subjected to a direct pressure increases with the degree of
fineness of the material.

(2) After chopped cane has been pressed to a certain
pressure, a further notable quantity of juice can be obtained
by releasing the residue from pressure and pressing again.

(3) The pressure at which juice begins to flow from
megass is not a measure of the pressure at which it has been
pressed.

(4) With the pressure remaining constant, greater
percentages of juice are obtained from chopped cane as the
quantity of material under pressure decreases.

(5) With chopped cane the sum of the volumes of
expressed juice and residue remains constant.

(6) At pressures up to 60 tb. per square inch the
volume of megass varies inversely as the 2'5th root of the
pressure.

(7) At pressures from 500 Ib. per square inch to
12,000 tb. per square inch the volume of megass varies
inversely as the 5th root of the pressure.

(8) The quantity of juice obtained from chopped
cane varies as the 12th root of the pressure.

(9) It is not to be supposed that the relations formu-
lated in 6, 7 and 8 above are of the same degree of exactness
as the PV=C law for gases [the product of the pressure
and the volume of a gas, at a given temperature, is a con-
stant] or any fundamental physical law: actually the exponent
in the equations increases as a function of the pressure; at
the higher pressures the increase is however very slow, and
the simpler expression may be used to develop a theory of
the strains and stresses in the three-roller mill.

(10) The pressure exerted by the layer of megass in its
passage between the top and front roller of a standard three-
roller mill is small compared with that exerted in its passage
between the top and back roller, and probably amounts to
about one-fortieth, with settings such are in common use.

(11) The line of no side thrust in a three-roller mill of
standard design is only a little deflected from the line
joining the centres of the top and back rollers.

(12) From consideration of the equation H2® P=C
{where H is the height of the column of megass under
pressure, n the number of mills and P the pressure], the
pressure on the trash turner, the power therein absorbed,
the pressure on the rollers, the power required to compress
megass, etc, can be calcujated either by analytical or by
graphic methods. It is to be distinctly understood that all
these calculations are relative and that the accuracy of the
numerical results arrived at depends on the accurate deter
mination of the value of H® P for one particular set of
conditions; in other words, ‘if the power required to com-
press t tons of fibre in one hour to a volume V is p, then the
power required to compress t’ tons of fibre in one hour to
a volume V’ is p’ as deduced from consideration of the
equation of H® P=C.’

(13) It has been shown (in the preceding pages) that the
pressure exerted by the megass in its passage between the
top and front roller is very much less—probably about
one-fortieth—than than exerted in its passage between the
top and back roller, that is to say, the strain in the conven-
tional three-roller mill is symmetrical and as much metal is
used in the feed side and in the front roller as in the
delivery side and in the back roller. The logical application
of the experiments described here would indicate that the
front roller be regarded solely as a feed roller and would
point to a two-roller mill with a small feed roller as being
the rational design for the later mills of a train.

In a two-roller mill, however, the pressure exerted by
the layer of megass will not be in a vertical line, but following
the construction given will pass through a point 0-810 inch
from the line of nearest approach of the rollers; in a mill
with rollers superimposed vertically there will then be
a small side thrust, due to the slow recovery of megass after
compression.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados by the S.S. ‘Oruro’, on August 30, 1912, for
the purpose of making an official visit to St. Vincent.
Dr. Watts was expected to return to Barbados by the
S.S. ‘Ocamo’, on September 14.

Mr. F. Birkinshaw, of Kew, has been appointed by
the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the post of
Assistant Agricultural Superintendent, St. Vincent.
Mr. Birkinshaw arrived in St. Vincent, to take up the
duties of his appointment, on August 28.,

99 9

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

SepremBer 14, 1912.

BRUITS AND ‘FRUIT TREES.

A NEGLECTED CONSIDERATION IN
CACAO CULTIVATION.

‘The hygrometric state of the air is the most important
factor making for success in a eacao plantation, although it
has been the least considered up to the present.’ This is the
translation of a sentence appearing at the head of one of
a series of articles dealing with African cacao that are being
published in ZL’ Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chawls, the
special article emp!oyed in giving the following informa-
tion being contained in the issue of that journal for May last.

As far as the knowledge of the writer is concerned,
J. H. Hart was the first to point out that the humidity of
the air playsa preponderating part in the growth of cacao,
and he states that this opinion is finding confirmation con-
tinually in cacao-growing in Africa. Theoretically, the
matter may be deduced from the examination of meteorologi-
eal observations. On the Gold Coast, as in Nigeria, it is
easy to remark the irregularity of tha rainfall, and the con-
siderable deviations in temperature which are the character-
istics of the climate of both places, particularly as one
approaches the north, towards the limit of the zone that can
be cultivated. On the contrary, a remarkable constancy is
noticed in the relative humidity of the atmosphere, and for
the first time an enormous deviation, principally among the
minima of the humidity, between the figures observed for
‘the centres of cultivation of the Gold Coast and Gambaga,
situated at the extreme north of the Colony, where as much
rain falls as at Aburi, and where cacao cultivation cannot be
carried out.

In practice, a large number of observations show that
the cacao plant suffers very severly from the dryness of the
air, and that much of the want of success in cultivating
this plant arises from the little care taken by planters to
provide in their plantations a sufficient degree of humidity.
The chief matters to be considered are as follows: —

(a) Cacao plants ina plantation which readily resists
dry weather, thanks to the permeability and the depth of the
soil, suffer damage and lose their leaves immediately after the
blowing of the Harmattan (a drying wind), which drives
away the moist air and replaces it by that which is dry.
The plantations situated in the northern parts of the belts of
cultivation are particularly exposed to this wind. The Har-
mattan reaches many points, as far as the coast; this is the
case every year at Aburi on account of its altitude. Cacao

plants and heveas regularly lose their leaves at its first
breath. At Lagos, on account of the considerable deforesta~
tion, the north-northeast wind reaches as far as the lagoon,
after having completely swept the centre of cultivation at
Agege-Otta.

Tt is not necessary for the wind to be violent in order
that it may produce its damaging effects; plantations
sheltered by strips of forest through which it filters suffer
decidedly from it, on account of the slow replacement of the
air which a progressive fall of the state of humidity brings
about. It is equally remarkable that at Oshogbo, where the
dry season sometimes lasts from four to five months, cacao
grows well, thanks to a remarkable constancy in the
hygrometric state of the air.

(b) A plantation in which the trees are planted too
widely, and where a complete cover has not been formed by
the fourth or fifth year, is generally in danger and only
gives small yields.

In felling the forest for clearing, the planter has
removed the forest conditions near his plantation; that is to
say, he has eliminated the regulating factor as regards
temperature and the moisture of the atmosphere and the
soil. His first care should be to replace the cover ina few
years; the prosperity of a cacao cultivation is set at this
price. If after the removal of the temporary shade—
bananas in most cases—the soil of the plantation is exposed
to the sun, the water vapour emitted by evaporation from
the soil and by transpiration from the leaves is dissipated.
The layer of air which bathes the cacao plants becomes
exposed, through this cause, to sudden atmospheric changes
which are inimical to the trees, and loses that moisture,
which it is agreed, should be present in all well-conducted
plantations of cacao.

(c) Verification of the facts is supplied by observing the
conditions in the indigenous cacao plantations. In this
consideration, those are not included where the trees are planted
too thickly; but those, kept in good order, in which there are
360 to 640 plants to the acre. Under these conditions, the-
cover is sufficient without the assistance of shade trees; the air
is generally cool and damp during the hottest time of the day.
Such cultivations have been observed in the region of Agege;
they showed good resistance to the Harmattan and were
normally very productive. The leaves of the plants om
the exterior acquire, besides, special characters under the
influence of the sunlight and the wind; they become papery

Vor. XI. No. 271.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

293

and harden rapidly, forming a kind of protecting mantle to
the plantation. This, being sheltered on the side of the pre-
yailing winds, develops with ease its young leaves and flowers.

The thickness of planting is a question in which other
factors intervene as well, such being the nature of the soil
and the exposure. But the maintenance of cover is, withont
doubt, the principal condition. A matter of interest is
that the humidity of the air is at its maximum during the
second half of the night, towards six o’clock in the morning;
it is at its minimum, that is to say evaporation is greatest,
between ten o'clock in the morning and four o’clock in the
afternoon.

RUBBER B&XPERIMENTS IN SOUTHERN
NIGERIA.

A copy of a report of a visit by the Chief Con-
servator of Forests, Southern Nigeria, to the Mamu
Reserve in the Western Province, has been received
recently. This gives information concerning the results
of wild and plantation rubber-tapping in that area,
which may be compared with those obtained in the
Benin City Communal Plantations (see Agricultwral
News, July 20, p. 235):—

FUNTUMIA ELASTICA. Tapping was started in the
Reserves on May 1, and up to the end of June the results
were as follows: —

Plantation trees. Wild trees.

Number tapped 1,954 354
Yield of rubber in

biscuits 1,446 405
Yield of rubber by

weight 1146 bb. 40°5 bb.
Average yield per

tree 0:93 oz. 18 02.

The total yield of rubber up to the end of that period
was 185 tb. (this includes 30 tb. still in the drying shed
at Mamu) and the expenses of tapping amounted to
£15 11s. 4d., or at the rate of 1s. 8d. a pound—a not unsat-
isfactory figure but one capable of further reduction as the
tappers become more expert. A further sum of £6 was
spent in purchasing utensils, knives, etc., but this being of
the nature of capital expenditure has not been included in
the cost. With that sum added, the average cost per
pound amounts to 2s. 4d. or £21 11s. 4d. in all.

If the rubber sells at 5s. per tb., out here, the 185 tb.
will realize £46 5s., and the net profit will be £24 13s. 8d,
or at the rate of 2s. 8d. a pound.

The rubber was prepared in the same manner as in
Benin, namely by the boiling method with suksequent
smoking, and is of excellent quality. It should realize good
prices at home. On the whole, it is better prepared than
that shipped to England last year from the Benin Plantations.

Very little injury has been done to the trees that were
tapped with the Christy knife, and cuts a month or so old
at the time of my visit had nearly completely healed up.
It also appears probable, though the experiments have not
-yet been concluded, that by using this knife the trees can be
tapped two or three times in one year with but little
diminution in yield as compared with the results of the
first tapping.

An extraordinary feature of the Mamu trees is the fact
that the weight of the biscuits prepared from their latices
has been quite constant all through; ten biscuits weigh
almost exactly 1b.

Consignment after consignment has given the same
figures. Of course these results are mainly due to the same
percentage of water being used to dilute the latex before
it is boiled, and to the same quantity of this diluted latex
being used for the preparation of each biscuit; but even
allowing for this, the results show an extraordinary constant
proportion of rubber to latex, which appears to have been
unaffected by the state of the weather at the time of tapping.

HEVEA BRASILIENSIS. The growth of this species is
poor compared with results obtained in the moist districts
close to the sea; it is also much exposed to damage from the
large rodent known as the Cut Grass, and taking everything
into consideration I think it will be unprofitable to continte
the cultivation of this species at Mamu. The areas that
would thus be set free could be planted up with teak and
other valuable timber trees for which the soil is very suitable.
I have accordingly issued instructions that no more Hevea
is to be planted at Mamu.

LEMON GRASSES IN FIJL.

A grass has been identified at the Imperial Institute
as Cymbopogon coloratus, Stapf. It does not appear to be
one of the common sources of lemon grass oil, but information
from the Imperial Institute shows that it may have a special
value for scenting soap. The weight of grass distilled was
7,943 1b., giving 28°63 Ib. of oil, or 0°36 per cent. Three
separate distillations gave an average of 28°7 Ib. of oil per
acre, per cutting.

The following experiment was conducted to determine
the increase or otherwise of the oil content of the grass with
the age of the plant: four plots of a uniform growth of grass
were measured off, and after flowering the whole grass was
cut short. When the grass was 1 foot high, plot. A was cut
and the oil obtained. The grass in the other plots was
allowed to grow until it was 2 feet high. A second plot was
now cut and the oil obtained; plot A being also cut and the
oil distilled from its grass. These two plots were again cut
when the grass in the other two was 3 feet high, and at the
same time one of these new plots was cut. All the plots were
cut again when the grass in the fourth plot was commencing
to flower and was nearly 4 feet high. The complete results
are given below:—

Oil in lb. per acre, and percentage.
B

A. C. D.
Cutatiliooh sh. 08) — | —— a
Cutat2feet 26 046 133042 — — eee
Cutat3feet 80 038 80038 440 047 — —
ca when 5.5 9-48 4:4 0°54 37 051 54:5 0:40
owering Jf
Total wt. ib. 16°9 257 4T7 54:5

It will be seen, therefore, that the best results seem to
be obtained by cutting the grass mature, that is when about
to flower. A lemon grass which is usually spoken of as
indigenous was identified by the Bureau of Plant Industry,
United States Department of Agriculture, as Andropogon
schoenanthus. A cutting from the small number of stools
of this grass available at the station gave 0:24 per cent.
of oil. The cultivation is being extended. (From the
Report on Agriculture in Fiji for 1911.)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1912,

WEST

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date August 26, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

INDIAN COTTON.

A fair business has been done in West Indian Sea Island
cotton during the past fortnight, at the reduced prices men-
tioned in our last report.

The bulk of the business was from 14d. to 16d., with
Stains 84d. to 94d. and odd lots of extra quality St. Vincent
at higher prices.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending August 3, is, generally, as follows:—

The market has continued dull with no enquiry, the only
sales being 72 bales Fully Fine to Extra Fine slightly off in
preparation, for English account.

The Deyelopment of Cotton-growing in
India.—On July 1, the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State
for India, received at the India Office a deputation of
English and Indian members of the International Cotton
Committee, the purpose of which was to urge the necessity
for the development of cotton-growing in India. In intro-
ducing the deputation, Sir Charles Macara referred to the
steady, increasing consumption of Indian cotton, outside of
that country, and to the fact that circumstances make it
easier to enlarge greatly the production of cotton in India
than in any other country. Among the speakers was
Mr. J. W. McConnel, who referred to what he had seen
in the matters of cotton-growing and experimentation with
the plant while on a visit to the West Indies (as a
delegate to the Agricultural Conference of this year),
speaking in favourable terms of the work of the Imperial
Department of Agriculture, and of the local agricul-
tural departments, and contrasting the comparatively large
number of skilled investigators that are available for
cotton experimentation, in these islands, with the number of
Europeans in the Agricultural Department of the United
Provinces of India that may be employed for the purpose.

After the Marquis of Crewe had replied sympathetically,
stating that it was the desire of the Government of India to
set aside an increasing amount of money, not only for
cotton —the importance of which the Government recognized
—hbut for the encouragement of agriculture generally, Sir
Charles Macara thanked his Lordship on behalf of the depu-
tation, which then withdrew.

COTTON-GROWING IN THE ANGLO-
EGYPTIAN SUDAN.

In reviewing the Annual Report of the British Cotton
Growing Association for 1911, in the Agricultural News of
July 6, it was stated that the want of space forbade the treat-
ment of certain matters that appeared in the report. These
matters were concerned chiefly with cotton-growing in the
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan; as however, the information in the
report has been supplanted by the details in Pamphlet
No, 49, issued by the British Cotton Growing Association
in May 1912, the contents of this will receive attention
instead,

This pamphlet deals with the recent visit of Mr. J. A.
Hutton, the Chairman of the Association, to the Sudan, for
the purpose of viewing the prospects of the extension of
cotton-growing in that country. Mr. Hutton gave a des-
cription of the journey made by him, together with other
expert members of the Association, at its annual dinner on
May 20. ‘I'he account of the proceedings at the dinner is
reprinted in the pamphlet from the Manchester Guardian
for May 21. It is preceded by a copy of the following
resolution that was passed at the annual meeting of the
Association, held on the same day:—

‘That the attention of His Majesty’s Government be
drawn to the dangerous position of the supply of the raw
material of the Cotton Trade of this country, and to the
exceptional opportunity offered in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
for the extension of Cotton Growing on a large scale in the
immediate future, and to the vital importance to Lancashire
of the work being pushed on with ali possible speed.

‘That the Government be respectfully requested to make
a grant-in-aid to the Government of the Sudan of the sum
of £200,000, to be spent in experimental and research work
for the advancement of Cotton growing in that country.

‘That the Government be also respectfully requested to
make arrangements for a loan of £1,000,000 to the Sudan
Government for the construction of Irrigation and other
works necessary for the rapid development «! the Cotton-
growing Districts of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.

‘And that copies of this resoluticn be sent to the Prime
Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, and Lord Kitchener of Khartoum.’

Returning to the subject of the journey, it was stated
by Mr. Hutton, in acknowledging the toast of The Cotton
Growing Expeditions, proposed by Lord Derby, the President
of the Association, that the visit and the journey occupied the
time between December 14, 1911 and February 23, 1912;
during this period about 9,000 miles was travelled. In
Egypt interviews took place with more than seventy-five per-
sons including His Highness the Khedive and Lord Kitchener,
the Agent-General. In the Sudan, there were almost as many

Vor. XI. No. 271.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 29

Or

interviews, and visits were paid to all the chief ginning
factories and to almost every cotton plantation of any impor-
tance, so that a vast amount of information of future utility
was obtained.

Proceeding, Mr. Hutton drew attention to the fact that
the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan has an area of about 1,000,000
square miles, so that it is about one-half the size of India.
Although the land was not all cultivable, a large extent of
territory existed where cotton may be grown—enough to fill
the requirements of the British Cotton Growing Association,
in the special connexion, for the next fifty years. The
climate of the southern part included an ample rainfall with
a well-marked dry season; the rainfall decreased as one pro-
ceeded northward, but there was plenty of water available for
irrigation. The soil was best in the southern part, and as
far as labour is concerned, it was thought that there is an
ample population for immediate requirements.

After referring to the excellent transport facilities that
exist in the country, and the readiness that has been
expressed by Sir Owen Philipps to co-operate with the
Association in the matter, attention was drawn to the
important circumstance that the Sudan is already a cotton-
growing country (the exports exceed at present 20,000 bales
a year), so that there is no need to carry out extensive
experiments to show that cotton is a suitable crop, nor is
special effort required to impress upon those interested that
the latter is an actual fact.

The succeeding part of the address dealt with the condi-
tions that exist in Tokar, Kassala, the Khartoum district and
Gezira. With reference to all these places there were most
encouraging signs that they can be made to produce large
quantities of cotton of American type, the conditions being
better in many respects than those in Uganda and in
Nigeria. For raising cotton as a rain crop, it seemed
that the rainfall is sufficient over at least 100,000 square
miles. Cotton was already being grown in quantity as
a rain crop, but it varies greatly in quality and is very
dirty on account of the careless methods of picking.

The speaker expressed himself very favourably indeed
as regards Gezira, which he described as a huge plain con-
taining at least 5,000,000 acres of first class cotton soil, or
an area as great as that of the Delta. He considered
that the number of local cultivators existing at present is
sufficient to take up all the land that can be brought under
irrigation during probably the next ten years. The existing
pumps could only irrigate about 2,000 acres; it was
hoped that the whole of these will be cultivated in the next
season. On a reasonable scale, however, to develop even
a portion of the Gezira, the expenditure of £4,000,000 or
£5,000,000 would be necessary; further than that, com-
mercial development would require £2,000,000 to £3,000,000
additional capital. Mr. Hutton finally expressed his opinion
that, if work is commenced at once, in a very few years’ time
the Gezira would produce 250,000 bales of cotton, or more.

The speaker concluded by dealing with several matters
relating to the provision of capital for these purposes.
He suggested that, while the capital for commerical develop-
ment might be raised in other ways, the part needed for
railways and irrigation work might be found by the British
Government; at the same time the services of the Association
would, in another way, be available for expert assistance and
advice. The amounts of capital required would be very large:
£8,000,000 for railways and irrigation work and £4,000,000
for commercial developments were suggested. This, however,
would not be all required immediately, and Mr. Hutton made
the further suggestion that the Association should ask the
British Government to advance on loan to the Sudan Govern-

ment, for the railways and cotton development, the sum of
£1,000,000. Questions would be asked about the immediate
expectations from extended cotton-growing in the Sudan,
supposing that this capital was found. It seemed that
favourable answers would be obtained, from the fact that
results are likely to be larger and quicker in the Anglo-
Egyptian Sudan than in any other part of the British Empire:
in actuality an annual prodaction of 250,000 bales of excellent
cotton, in ten years from now, was forecasted by Mr. Hutton
if the conditions are fulfilled. He concluded with the state-
ment: ‘After our investigations | and my colleagues are con-
vinced that the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan offers one of the best
cotton-growing propositions in the British Empire, and in
the Gezira we have the very finest proposition in the whole
of the world.’

Among the speakers who followed Mr. Hutton were
Mr. J. W. McConnel and Mr. W. Marsland, who attended the
recent Agricultural Conference as delegates of the British
Cotton Growing Association. They both referred in apprecia-
tive terms to what they had seen during their visit to the
West Indies.

COTTON SEED MEAL FOR MULES
AND HORSES.

In the last number of the Agricultural News, an
account was given of the results of an investigation of
the harmful effects of cotton seed meal when it was
fed to guinea pigs and rabbits. The following abstract
of a description of a more practical trial of the food,
carried out with mules and horses at the North Caro-
lina Agricultural Experiment Station, appears in the
Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence
and of Plant Diseases, June 1912, p. 1369:—

In order to ascertain the value of cotton seed meal as
a feed for horses and mules, the author carried out, from
1908 to 1911, some feeding experiments on six mules at the
North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, besides
which he collected the experience of farmers who fed cotton
seed meal to their work stock.

The feeding experiments were divided into four periods;
in the first, the preliminary period, five mules were fed
shelled corn and cotton seed meal, and only one was given
shelled corn alone, as concentrated food. The roughage
consisted, throughout the experiment, of corn stover and
sometimes, exceptionally, of different kinds of hay.

In the three principal periods the ration of concentrateds
fed to three of the mules was either shelled corn, ear corn, or
corn and cob meal. The other three mules had the same
concentrateds, but in smaller quantity, the difference being
made up with wheat bran and cotton seed meal. All the
animals under experiment worked.

The experiments showed that no inconvenience arose
from the use of cotton seed meal in moderate quantities
(about 10 per cent. by weight of the whole ration, or 14 to
2 Tb. per head per diem) and intimately mixed with bran or
maize meal. When greater quantities of cotton seed meal
was fed, the animals lost weight and their capacity for work
was impaired. Besides, after a short time, they refused to
eat it when it was given too liberally.

The experience of farmers who fed their horses and
mules with cotton seed meal was, in the main, to the same
effect. Some farmers stated that when the meal is fed in
excess it causes weakness of the eyes and even blindness, but
the author considers that if the meal is fed with judgment
no trouble should arise.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

SerremBer 14, 1912

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
specimens for naming, should be addressed to the
jommissioner, 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 sews
Vor. XI. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1912. No. 271.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this issue treats of the Direct and
Indirect Values of Scientific Work, the examples for
illustration being mostly drawn from instances where
the labours of investigators have been concerned with
the life-history and control of insects and similar animals.

On page 292 an article is presented which deals
with a consideration that is generally neglected in
cacao cultivation, namely the humidity of the air in
the plantation.

An account of a recent address on cotton-growing
in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is presented on page 294.

The last issue of the Agricultural News contained
an account of feeding experiments with cotton seed
meal, employing guinea pigs and rabbits. Page 295 of
this number gives a report of other, similar work, the
animals in this case being mules and horses.

The Insect Notes, on page 298, contain the second
and concluding part of a report on a visit to St. Kitts,
by the Entomologist to the Imperial Department of
Agriculture; this article is illustrated. ‘hey also com-
prise a note on Zalophothrix mirwm, to the effect that
this name for the insect is a synonym of Lecaniohius
cockerelli, Ashmead.

A short article on page 299 deals with the repre-
sentation of the Imperial Institute at the International
Rubber Exhibition.

St. Vincent and Visitation by Hurricanes.

With reference to a statement that appeared
recently in an editorial article on Hurricanes, in the
Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 241, His Honour the
Administrator of St. Vincent, the Hon. C. Gideon
Murray, writes to point out that this may cause
inaccurate and detrimental conclusions to be drawn
regarding the liability of that island to be visited by
hurricanes and high winds. The statement is as
follows:—

‘Experience has shown that while Trinidad and
Grenada are not likely to be visited by a hurricane,
St. Vincent and Barbados are much more subject to
such disturbances, or at least to the high winds that
occur towards the outer limit of the storm area.’

In his letter, His Honour proceeds to state: ‘In
these circumstances therefore I have taken the trouble
to ascertain exactly how often St. Vincent has been
visited by hurricanes during the past 100 years.

‘From an investigation of the records of West
Indian Hurricanes in the United States of America
Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau, Bulle-
tin H, a standard work on the subject, I find that
a hurricane is stated to have occurred at St. Vincent
on the 21st October, 1817, but this hurricane evidently
was not serious as there do not appear to be any local
records of damage done. In support of this I may say
that while the hurricane of 1831 is fully described in
a despatch to the Secretary of State from the
Governor of the day there is no similar despatch to
the Secretary of State on the subject of the alleged
hurricane of 1817. 1n fact Sir Charles Brisbane, who
had been away on leave, in a despatch dated the 17th
December, 1817, states that on his return to assume the
administration of the Colony he has found that during
his absence “everything has been tranquil”.

‘On the 11th August, 1831, the Colony was visited
by a severe hurricane. Not until 16th August, 1886,
55 years later, did she suffer again in this way, but
this time the hurricane or cyclone as it was called,
was confined to a limited area of the island, 5 miles
broad. St. Vincent was again inflicted by a severe
hurricane on the 11th September, 1898, since when
she has been free of hurricanes.

‘Thus in an hundred years St. Vincent has been
the scene of one hurricane about which no information
can be obtained locally so it cannot hive been of
a serious nature, two destructive hurricanes and one
cyclone over a limited area; a record which I am sure
will compare favourably with that of any of the other
West Indian Islands excepting Trinidad and Grenada.’

Following this, His Honour adds that he does not
question the contention that St. Vincent is much more
subject than Trinidad and Grenada to the high winds
that occur on the outer limit of the storm area, but
draws attention to the fact that the mean track of
recorded hurricanes is undoubtedly well to the Hast
and North of the island. In support, further, of the
opinion that St. Vincent is not specially subject to
high winds, he adduces his own experience that. during
three years’ residence in the Colony, no high winds

Vor, XI, No; 271.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 29

have been felt, and the circumstance that the absence
of these is shown by the successful cultivation of cotton
in the island, season after season.

rt

Publications of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

As has been advertised, the issue of the West
Indian Bulletin, Vol. XII, No. 3, has been made.
This contains the papers in full belonging to the
sessions in which Cacao and Sugar were dealt with at
the West Indian Agricultural Conference, 1912.
A detailed list of these papers is as follows:—

Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao: Fungus Dis-
eases of Cacao; Cacao Canker; A Possible Inference to
be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect
Pests of Cacao: Manurial Enperiments on Cacao in
Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Polisher;
The Structure and Pollination of the Cacao Flower.
Sugar: Manurial Experiments on Sugar-cane in Trini-
dad and Tobago; A Comparison of some Seedling
Sugar-canes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados;
Bourbon and Seedling Canes; The Application of
Mendelian Principles to Sugar-cane Breeding; The
Study of Sugar-canes with a view to their Classifica-
tion; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in
Megass: The Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-
Nevis; and the Determination of the Water Content
of Molasses.

The West Indien Bulletin, Vol. XII, No. 3, may
be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publica-
tions of the Imperial Department of Agriculture:
price Gd., post free 8d.

It may be stated, at this opportunity, that the
usual issue has been made of the handbook published
by the Department, called the West Indies in Canada,
for distribution at the Canadian National Exhibition
and to firms in Canada and New York that are
interested in West Indian products, as well as to those
who have advertised in the book.

Vol. XII, No. 4, of the West Indian Bulletin,
dealing with papers on Plant Diseases and Pests,
Coco-nut, Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries, pres-
ented for the Agricultural Conference, will be published
shortly.

n> ae

School Gardens in Jamaica.

A copy of the Annual Report of the Education
Department and of the Board of Education, Jamaica,
for the year ended March 1911, has been received
recently. This contains the following information
regarding school gardens in the island:-—

‘The number of school gardens recognized by the
Department at the end of the year under review was
377 as compared with 361 the previous year. And the
expenditure under Article 112 was £746 in 1910-11
as compared with £509 1909-10. Mr, Murray, In-
tructor for School Gardens, reports having visited 145
of these school gardens and extracts from his report will

be found along with those from the Inspectors’ Reports.
As in previous years prizes of £3 and £2 and two of
£1 cach were awarded to the best four gardens in each
Inspector's district, on the Inspector’s recommendation
after consultation with Mr. Murray. Opportunities
were again afforded to teachers to obtain seeds at cost
price and cuttings and plants of many varieties gratuit-
ously through the Agricultural Department, but the
number of teachers who made use of these oppor-
tunities was only sixty-two as compared with sixty-one
last year.

‘In several districts the Agricultural Instructors
have rendered very valuable assistance to the teachers
in their school gardens and realize fully the important
part this encouragement of agricultural interest amongst
children may play in the development and success of
their own work. This co-operation of the Agricultural
Instructors is welcomed by the Department and
I hope to see it more systematically organized in the
future.’

It is added that considerable encouragement
has been given to practical agricultural teaching in
Jamaica under a recent amendment of the Code, the
special grant for the work having been increased from
a maximum of £5 to one of £6; and better provision
has been made for supplying tools to small schools, and
for fencing.

Treatment for Wood Preservation in India.

The antiseptic treatment of timber in India, with
special reference to railway sleepers, is dealt with in an
interesting and valuable manner in Vol. III, Part 2, of
the Indian Forest Records, published during last
March.

After a preliminary note on the antiseptic treat-
ment of timber, the various methods for this treatment
are grouped under two heads: the processes in which
injection by hydrostatic or pneumatic agencies are
employed, and chose which involve the open tank or
brush method of treatment.

The former of these—processes employing injec-
tion—include: creasoting, the haskinizing or vulcanizing
process, the boucherie process, the burnettizing process,
which involves the use of zine chloride, the gardenerizing
process, the Riiping process and the cresol-calcium pro-
cess (the last was described in the Agricultural News,
Vol. IX, p. 137).

With reference to the open tank or brush method
of treating timber, the employment of the following
receives description: chloride of mercury (kyanizing
process), saccharine solution (powellizing process),
avenarius carbolineum, jodelite, atlas solution, solignum,
green oil, microsol, béllit, cresol-calcium, cresoyle and
other antiseptics. The last include include zine chloride
and sodium chloride, bellitol, hylinit, anthrol, afral,
antiformine, antigermine, and lysol, as well as others.

The publication concludes with an account of pro-
posals as to the way in which future investigation into
the antiseptic treatment of wood for sleepers should be
earried out.

bo
iio}
io2)

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

SEPTEMBER 14, 1912.

INSECT NOTES.

REPORT ON A VISIT TO
PART II.

THE HARDBACK. ‘The small brown hardback occurs in
considerable numbers in cane fields and other cultivated land
infcertain districts in St. Kitts.

Si Klis:

This insect has been identi-
fied, through the courtesy of
Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall, Scienti-
fic Secretary of the Entomologi-
cal Research Committee, as Lach-
nosterna patruelis. The grubs
of this species are of the typical
form of the white grubs or hard-
back grubs, while the beetle is
of the usual hardback form, but
considerably smaller than the
ordinary hardbacks.

The occurrence of these insects
in abundance in the sugar-cane
fields of St. Kitts is of interest
in view of the importance of
similar pests in other countries.
In Mauritius, serious losses have
been occasioned by the attacks of Phytalus smithi which
is the same insect as that known in Barbados (see Agricul-
tural News, Vol. XI, p. 90) as the brown hardback. In
Porto Rico another species of Lachnosterna occurs as a pest
of importance in sugar-cane fields; and in other countries
related species of insects are attracting attention either
because of the injury they are known to cause, or on account
of what they are suspected of being capable of doing.

Wie,
HaRDBACK.

GRUB OF

The brown hardback in Barbados is parasitized by
a small black wasp which is probably responsible for keeping it
incheck. In St. Kitts a wasp related to the Barbados species
was observed in the cane fields and a hardback grub was
found with a larva of a hymenopterous insect attacking it.
This is suspected to be a parasitism similar to that known to
occur in Barbados, but the relation between the wasps observ-
ed in the fields and the parasitic grub attacking the hardback
larva has not been proved.

THE ROOT BORER. The root borer discovered in the
sugar-cane fields in St. Kitts appears to be of a different
species from that which occurs in Barbados, but in its manner
of attacking sugar-cane it is very similar, and the grub is
much like the larva of Diaprepes abbreviatus.

Fie.

10. Eacas or Roor Borer.

In several different localities these large weevil grubs
were found tunnelling in the underground stem portion of
the cane stool. The adult of the root borer is not known,
but it is believed to be a greyish-brown weevil which was

found in the soil near cane stools attacked by root borer.
This weevil, which is of the same general shape as, and
slightly smaller than, the root borer weevil in Birbados, is

Fic. 11. Roor Borer, Grup (on left) snp PeRrEct

Insecr (on right).

quite common in its occurrence in St. Kitts-Nevis, Antigua
and Montserrat, whers it is often to be found hiding amongst
the leaves of such plants as castor and pigeon peas, which
grow along the borders of cane fields. This adult insect has
previously been known largely on account of its habit of
feeding on the leaves of limes and other Citrus plants. If the
connexion between this weevil and the root borer grub is
definitely established, it may
prove to be a more serious
pest than has been suspected.
The fact that these beetles
are fairly abundant would
indicate that their larvae
must have some food plant
other than sugar-cane, since, if =
this were the only food plant,
the attacks would have been
discovered before this time,
while the relation between the
weevil and the grub would
have been sooner suspected,
The methods of control sug-
gested in the report for the
root borer and the hardback
grubs are the same as those
suggested for the control of
termites, which have been
mentioned already.

Fic. 12. Damacre Done TO
SUGAR-CANE BY THE
Root Borer,

Zalophothrix mirum.—Mr. J. C. Crawford, Assist
ant Curator, Division of Insects, United States National
Museum, described and named Zalophothrix mirum when
this useful parasite was found to be exerting a very material
control over the black scale (Sazssetia nigra) on cotton in
Barbados.

In a note included in Descriptions of New Hymenoptera,
No. 3 (Proceedings of the United States National Museum,
Vol. 41, pp. 267-82), Mr. Crawford states that 7. mirum is
a synonym of Lecaniobius cockerelli, Ashmead.

This insect will therefore be called by the latter name,
in future, in the publications of this Department, the name
being followed by the words ‘Zalophothrix mirum’ placed in
square brackets,

Nore.—The insect to which Figs. 10, 11 and 12 refer is
the sugar-cane root borer found in Barbados (Diaprepes abbre-
viatus), and probably not that of St. Kitts which forms the
subject of the article. [Ep., A.N.]

Vor, XI. Nos 271.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 299

M

‘BALATA’ FROM NORTHERN NIGERIA.

The sample of this product received for examination at
the Imperial Institute consisted of four large blocks of
‘balata’, which were very dirty externally and covered with
mould. Internally the material varied in colour from white
to pink, and contained a considerable amount of moisture
and vegetable impurity. The ‘balata’ was rather tenacious,
but deficient in elasticity, and was slightly sticky.

The results of an analysis of the specimen were as
follows:—

Per cent.
Loss on washing (moisture and impurities) 26-0
Composition of dry washed rubber:—
Caoutchoue 49°2
Resin 47:7
Protein 2°4
Ash O7

The material was valued in Liverpool at ls. 8d. per bb.
(November 1911), the brokers stating that there isa good
market for black ‘balata’ of this kind, and that consignments
can be sold almost at any time. They added that it is
preferable to export the balata in the form of blocks rather
than to cut it into small pieces, as is sometimes done.

The balata as received contained a large quantity of
moisture and impurities, losing as much as 26 per cent. on
washing and drying. The appearance and physical properties
of the material were greatly improved by its conversion into
crépe in the washing machine.

The results of the analysis show that the ‘balata’ is of
very resinous composition, the dry material containing about
equal proportions of caoutchouc and resin. The isolated
caoutchouc was almost black, and exhibited very poor physical
properties.

The ‘balata’ rubber from Northern Nigeria is usually
stated to be derived from Ficus Vogelii, and the results of
the analysis of this specimen agree generally with the figures
previously obtained at the Imperial Institute for specimens
of the product furnished by this tree in the Gambia and
Gold Coast. (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, Vol. X,
p. 209.)

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE AND

THE INTERNATIONAL RUBBER
EXHIBITION.

An account of the exhibits to be sent to this
exhibition by the Imperial Institute 1s contained in the
India Rubber World for August 1, 1912:—

Great interest has been aroused by the announcement
that the Directors of the Imperial Institute of London have
consented to send to the Rubber Exposition, to be held in
New York in September, an extremely fine collection of
rubber grown in every British rubber-producing country, in
charge of a special commission.

The object of this exhibit is to illustrate the rubber
resources of the British Empire by means of specimens from
the collections of the Imperial Institute. The exhibit in-
cludes (1) herbarium specimens of the principal rubber yield-

ing plants and (2) representative samples of rubber from the
following countries: India, Ceylon, Straits Settlements and
Federated Malay States, British North Borneo, Papua, Fiji,
Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Northern Nigeria,
Southern Nigeria, Anglo-Egyptain Sudan, Uganda, East
Africa Protectorate, Zanzibar, Nyasaland, Natal, Transvaal,
Rhodesia, Seychelles, British Guiana, British Honduras,
Jamaica, Trinidad, Dominica, St. Lucia, and the Bahamas,

The secticn devoted to each country will be provided
with a descriptive label giving general information regard-
ing the rubber-yielding plants which are indigenous to, or
are being cultivated in, the country, and statistics of the
rnbber production during the last ten years.

The article includes further a list of the exhibits
and their places of origin. This shows that they are as
follows, as far as the British Possessions in tropical
America are concerned: Trinidad, Castilloa elastica rub-
ber—sheet, Para rubber—biscuits: St. Lucia, Castilloa
elastica rubber—biscuits; Dominica, Para ruabber—bis-
cuits, Ficus elastica rubber—biscuits; Jamaica, Fors-
teronia floribunda rubber; British Guiana, Sapiwm
Jenmani rubber—biscuits, lump, balls, Mimusops
globosa—sheet balata; British Honduras, Castilloa
rubber; Bahamas, Cryptostegia grandiflora rubber—
biscuits.

‘Root-Cotton.’—An interesting fibrous material
occurring on the surface of the roots of a tree, Fayara
integrifolia, has been described by S. Kusano in the Journal
of the College of Agriculture, Tokio (1911, 4, 67). The
plant belongs to the natural order Rutaceae, and is found
commonly on the mountain slopes in Botel-tobago island,
Formosa, and in the northern half of the Philippine Islands
Archipelago. The fibre is produced in considerable quanti-
ties in the form of loose bundles, resembling masses of cotton,
which can be readily removed with the fingers, It can be easily
cleaned by washing with water and drying. The actual
quantity present on any one root depends on its age, the
layer attaining a thickness of as much as 2} inches on old
roots. The removal of the fibre does not appear to affect
the functional activity of the roots. The individual fibres or
filaments consist of rows of long, empty, thin-walled cells.
The fibre, or ‘root-cotton’, is lustrous, of a pale straw colour,
soft, exceedingly fine, and not very hygroscopic. It is so
weak that when rubbed between the fingers it is reduced to
a fine, waxy powder, and for this reason could not be used
for spinning. A remarkable property of the fibre is that it
is not wetted by water and will never sink, owing to the
cell-wall being highly suberized and thus rendered imper-
meable. The product is developed in the cortex of the root
by the cork-cambium, and is comparable with the ordinary
corky layer produced on the bark of trees,

The root-cotton is used by the natives of Botel-tobago
for caulking the seams of their boats, whilst the natives of
Mindoro island employ it for stuffing pillows. It is sug-
gested that the fibre might find an application for the latter
purpose among civilized communities, and that if pressed
into sheets it might serve as a substitute for plates or
sheets of cork. It seems probable, however, that the value
of the material for either of these purposes would be seriously
limited by its weakness and the ease with which it is
pulverized. (The Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, July
1912.)

300

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. SEPTEMBER 14, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

It is announced in Nature for August 1, 1912, that
Mr. H. Maxwell Lefroy, sometime Entomologist to the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, has been appoimted
Professor of Entomology at the Imperial College of Science
and Technology.

Information has been received to the effect that the
Fourth International Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition will
be Leld in London in June 1914. In the same year the First
International Cotton, Fibre, Tropical Products and Allied
Trades Exhibition will take place concurrently, but quite
separately, in an adjoining building.

The distribution from the Antigua Botanic Station
during last month included: limes 3,422, Eucalyptus 294,
coco-nuts 273 and onion seed 105 tb. During the latter part
of the month, about 17 acres of limes were planted in the
island. The exports of cotton from Antigua during the
season 1911-12 amounted to 70,209 ib.

A note in the supplement to the Chamber of Commerce
Journal for July 1912 shows that the imports of arrowroot
into the United Kingdom in 1911 were 30,849 cwt., valued
at £35,581, of which 29,718 ewt., valued at £32,019, came
from the British West Indies, and 1,024 cwt., valued at
£3,254, from other British possessions.

The Federated Malay States Government Gazette ot
June 21, 1912, shows that the exports of rubber from the
Federated Malay States during the first five months of the
present year amounted to 13,076,350 Ib., as compared with
7,119,643 tb. in the corresponding period of last year. The
exports for May 1912, were 2,255,034 tb.; for May 1911
they were 1,147,488 hb.

According to the Louisiana Planter for August 10,
1912, 30,940 tons of sugar were taken by Canada from Java,
in the period May 1, 1911 to March 31,1912. There is
a steady increase in the atmount of sugar imported into
Canada from Java, as is shown by the fact that in the
similar period 1909-10 it was 18,304 tons, and in the similar
period 1910-11 the quantity was 23,819 tons.

With reference to the information given concerning
cotton production in Uganda, on p. 252 of the Agricultural
News of August 3, 1912, the Uganda Official Gazette of
June 15, 1912, gives a correction which shows that the
figures for the returns of unginned cotton shipped in the
period April 1, 1911 to March 31, 1912, should be 2,275
tons value £45,543, instead of 2,105 tons value £42,755.

Mr. William Hodgson, the manager of the Nismes estate,
who is the proprietor of Plantation Noitgedacht, has
despatched a quantity of biscuit rubber, grown upon his
plantation, to New York for inclusion among the exhibits at
the International Rubber Exposition to be held there next
month. The rubber, which weighs 10 fb., is of excellent
quality. (The Demerara Daily Chronicle, Mail Edition,
August 16, 1912.)

H.M. Consul at Lourenco Marques, in reporting on the
trade of Portuguese East Africa in 1911, mentions a valuable
product which consists of the fruit of the mafureira tree
(Trichilia emetica), the seed of which yields an oil. The
tree is widespread in its distribution, but has not been much
exploited; the exports of the seed in 1910 amounted to 1,367
tons value £7,658. It is stated that the seeds yield about
65°5 per cent. of an oil resembling cotton seed oil.

A report by the British Vice Consul at Santos shows
that the exports of coffee from that port during 1911 were
8,719,742 bags—an imerease of 1,885,030 bags over the
shipments in 1910; at the same time prices were much higher
during the first-mentioned period. The crop of 1911-12 is
not expected to reach 10 million bags, on account of unfav-
ourable weather; although the original estimates were much
higher than that. An estimate of about 8 million bags is
made for the 1912-13 crop.

The Board of Trade Journal for June 20, 1912, gives
particulars of a patent material made in France and called
‘bois armé’. ‘This reinforced wood consists of layers of wood
planed in small corrugations, a woven fibre being inserted
between the layers and the whole firmly cemented together
by means of waterproof glue. Great strength, combined with
elasticity and lightness, is claimed for the material, which
is said to be adapted for use in aeroplanes, poles for wireless
telegraphy, ladders, and frames of motor cars and sledges.

There was launched recently, by Messrs. Alexander
Steven & Sons, Ltd., Linthouse, Glasgow, the steamer Chagres,
as an addition to the banana and passenger steamers of
Messrs. Elder and Fyffe, Ltd., running between Liverpool
and Bristol, and ‘the West Indies and Central America.
This is a twin-screw vessel of 5,000 tons, and as she is
designed for carrying bananas, the principal feature is an
insulated chamber of some 250,000 cubic feet in which the
temperature is under absolute control. A special interest
is that the vessel is-the first of a new type of steamer intended
to take the place of the boats of the late Imperial Direct Line.

Won. XI. No 27). THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 301
STUDENTS’ CORNER : Labour problems are frequently of a loeal nature. The

SEPTEMBER.
Seconp PeERiop,

Seasonal Notes.

In view of the approaching examinations in practical
agriculture, it may prove suggestive to Final Students, and

- others, to present in these columns a brief survey, from the

economic aspect, of the more important matters relating to
Estate Management, and to give references to articles and
papers that have appeared from time to time in the publica-
tions of the Imperial Department of Agriculture.

It is not always recognized by the student that there
are really two great divisions of science applied to agricul-
ture—natural science which aims at the elucidation of
physical, chemical, and biological problems connected with the
soil, crops and estate animals, and economic science which
concerns questions ot capital and Jabour markets, methods of
keeping accounts, agricultural law and similar matters.
@roadly speaking, economics deal with the administrative
and distributive activities in estate management; and
although work of this nature constitutes mainly the duties

- of the attorney and manager, and a knowledge of it accumu-

_ Jeet of capital.

lates naturally in the course of business experience, it is
mevertheless desirable for the overseer to obtain a grasp of
*he economic forces and principles underlying and surround-
ing the management of an estate in order that he may
Setter appreciate the significance of its internal working.

It is not intended in these nctes to adhere strictly to
the syllabus of the Reading Courses for Overseers, though at
the same time most of the points dealt with are closely con-
mected with the requirements of the final examination. In
agricultural economics, land is the first consideration. The
following are some of the factors which determine the value
of an estate: natural fertility, weather conditions, contour,
means of communication (both internal and external), proxim-
ity to shipping port, and labour conditions. Compare, in these
xespects, different estates with which you are acquainted.
Consider carefully what is meant by the term ‘fertility.’
AAs regards land tenure, examine the question of renting
4s against ownership: what are the relative economic
advantages and disadvantages! This leads to the sub-
Capital invested in an estate can be
classed as (a) fixed (land, buildings, roads, drainage,
irrigation, etc), and (b) circulating (machinery, implements,
working animals, seeds, etc.) How would you proceed to
determine, under your conditions of working, the average
amount of capital invested per acre? In making inventories,
a knowledge of cost prices and depreciation is required. It
should be borne in mind that the value of stock to the owner
is generally greater than the selling price. Consider any
instance of over- and under-capitalization of which you have
knowledge, Capital invested in a business is charged with
interest, and the balance of the profit and loss account goes
to the capital account and the resulting balance is then
zarried to the balance sheet as an asset. Cash receipts can-
mot be regarded as capital until the total cash receipts and
sotal cash expenditures have been balanced. Many more
points like these will occur to the student: for a full treat-
went of capital in relation to agriculture, see Estate Manage-

- ment, by Card, and text books on book keeping (agricultural).

journal).

modern tendency to employ labour-saving devices should be
noted. The modern production of agricultural machinery
and implements is partly the outcome of rural depopulation,
Explain this. The following references will be found of
interest in connexion with labour: supply of labour, Ayi?-
cultural News, Vol. IX,*p. 177 and 178; bonuses to

labourers, Vol. 1X, p. 168; conditions of labour, Vol VII,
pp. 25 and 376. The law of supply and demand is funda-
mental in agricultural economics, and in this connexion
a knowledge of markets is of the first importance. It would

not be in accordance with the purpose of these notes
to discuss here the various market problems, but a perusal
of the following literature will provide much interesting and
useful information on the demand abroad for West Indian
agricultural produce. Sales of West Indian Cotton, Wesé
Indian Bulletin, Vol. 1V, p. 319; West Indian Food Supplies,
West Indian Sulletin, Vol. I, p. 270: Agrieultwal News,
Vol. VIII, p. 129; British West Indian Limes on the New York
Market, West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI, p. 153; the Cotton Mar-
ket and Cotton Planting, Ayricultural News, Vol. X, p. 184;
Cotton Spinning Statistics, Agricultwral News, Vol. X, p. 390;
Manchester Fruit Market, Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 68;
Sugar Trade of the United Kingdom, 1911, Agricultural News,
Vol. XI, p. 115; Annual leport of the British Cotton Growing
Association (1911), Agricultural News, Vol. XI, p. 214;
Selling of West Indian Cotton, Agricultural News,
Vol. XI, p. 246; Waste in Cotton-spinning, dyriculturul
News, Vol. XI, p. 247; Review of the Sugar Indus-
try in the Leeward Islands, West Indian Bulletin,
Vols. VI, p. 373; XII, p. 394 (and in other issues of this
Reference is made to papers on similar subjects,
read at the last Agricultural Conference, that have appeared
so far.

These notes on agricultural economies will be continued
in future issues of the Ayrieultural News and some of the
questions set will be based upon the notes given in the pre-
vious number, thus enabling the student to test his progress
systematically.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) How would you conduct a test of seed germination?

(2) Describe the parts of which a leaf may be seen to
be composed. :

(3) State brietiy how water moves in plants.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an account of the uses of the leaf to the plant.

(2) State, as far as you can, what takes place inside
a germinating seed.

(3) Define (a) capital, (b) cash, (c) petty cash, (d) depre-
ciation, (e) compound interest, (f) discount, (g} personal
account, (h) liability.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Give an account of the ways in which compounds
useful to them may enter plants.

(2) Supply information concerning the markets for
any two of the following products from the West Indies;
(a) sugar, (b) cotton, (c) caeao, (d) limes.

(3) Write an essay (of about 500 words) on: ‘The Value
of Road, Railway and Telephonic Communication in West
Indian Estate Management,’

USEFUL INFORMATION CONCERNING
CAMPHOR.

The Department of Agriculture of the Federated Malay
States has issued recently Bulletin No. 15, which deals with
the cultivation and preparation of camphor in the Federated
Malay States. The following information, of more immediate
interest in the West Indies, is abstracted from parts of this
bulletin.

VARIETIES OF CAMPHOR. In*the East, two distinct kinds
of camphor are known, that from the tree called Cinnamo-
mum Camphora known as Chinese, Japanese, or Formosan
camphor, and the product known as Borneo camphor, that is
obtained from the plant Dryolalanops aromatica, which grows
in Borneo, Sumatra and Malaya. The two products are
distinct chemical compounds, but it is possible to prepare
ordinary camphor from Borneo camphor. A third camphor
is known, called Nagai camphor, which is yielded by Bluinea
balsamifera, a plant growing in Burma.

SUPPLY AND USES OF CAMPHOR. The exports of camphor
from Japan in 1905, 1906 and 1907 were 1,350 tons value
£261,756: 1,570 tons value £370,545; and 1,805 tons value
£512,730; irom China in 1905 and 1906, they were 320 tons
value £59,840 and 882 tons value £222,264. Most of the
Japanese camphor comes from Formosa; information con-
cerning the production in this island was given on page 9 of
the present volume of the Agricultural News,

About 70 per cent. of all the camphor obtained is used
in the manufacture of celluloid, or xylonite; most of the
remainder is employed for medicinal, pharmaceutical and
sanitary purposes. An idea is prevalent that camphor is used
largely in the manufacture of smokeless powders and explo-
sives; only a small ammount is at present actually employed
in this way.

SYNTHESIS OF CAMPHOR. As is well known, synthetic
camphor has been produced ona commercial scale, but it
cannot compete successfully with natural camphor for any
length of time. It is made from oil of turpentine, and its
preparation in the countries where it used to be made—
England and Germany—has probably ceased because of the
fallin price of natural camphor since 1907. Its existence
is useful, however, because it prevents any extensive inflation
sof the prices of the natural product.

DISTILLATION OF CAMPHOR IN JAPAN. ‘The camphor is
steam-distilled and the vapour condensed in a box, divided
into compartments and placed upside down, in water, in
a larger, shallower box. The sides of the inverted box
extend above the bottom, and water is constantly allowed to
run on to this box, keeping it cool and renewing the layer of
water in the larger, shallower box which acts as a seal.
A third box is inverted over the first, and is made in a similar
way to condense any vapour that may escape; in both cases
holes are made in opposite corners of the partitions in the
boxes in order to cause the vapours to travel by a circuitous
route. The crude camphor and oil are skimmed from the
surface of the water or scraped from the sides of the condenser;
separation of the two products is effected as far as possible
by pressure.

CULTIVATION oF cAMPHOR. A method of cultivation recom-
mended by the United States Agricultural Department was
described on page 5 of this volume of the Agricultural News.
In Malaya, before plauting takes place, the seeds are soaked in
lukewarm water for twenty-four hours, and the resulting
seedlings transplanted when about a foot high, the tops being
first cut off and the roots pruned. The transplanting is done
during the wet season, and careful weeding is necessary,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS SepremBer 14, 1912.

Well-prepared nursery beds are employed, and sand is added te
the soil so that it may be sufficiently porous not to allow the
seeds to rot during their long period of germination. So far,
this method of propagation, as well as that from rcot cuttings,
has not proved successful in Malaya, and it is considered at
present that the best Way to obtain a stock of plants is to
import two-year-old seedlings from Japan, provided that the
price of these is reasonable. Success has been obtained by
using this method.

EXPERIMENTS IN DISTILLING CAMPHOR. In initial experi-
ments, in Malaya, with material from Batu Tiga, Selangor,
26tb. of prunings, consisting of leaves 64°9 per cent. and
small stems 35°1 per cent. was used. This gave, as the result
of different distillations, 0°19ib. of distillate, the yield on the
original material being 1:06 per cent.; the proportion of oil in
the distillate was very small. ;

Subsequently, experiments were carried out on a com-
mercial scale; a useful, detailed description of the apparatus
employed is given in the bulletin. Separate distillations gave-
the following results:—

Weight of Percentage of Yield of Yield per
material. whole plant. camphor and cent.
oil in oz.
12:5 hh. Leaves 75 2-00 1:00
BOO) Stems (under 1:07 0:22
2-inch diame-
ter) 18-2
SEIKO) Woody stems 9:08 0-61
(over }-inch
diameter) 56°3
29'5,, Roots 18:0 5-07 1:10

The distillate from all parts except the roots consisted
chiefly of solid camphor with very little oil. That from the
roots was comprised entirely of an oil apparently quite
distinct from that given by the other portion, and possessing
what is described asa lemon-camphor odour. The results
of the experiments are thus summarized in the bulletin: —

(1) A yield of about 1 per cent. of camphor and oil
(consisting chiefly of camphor) may be obtained from prun-
ings from five-year-old plants and probably from younger
plants.

(2) The distillation period should not exceed three
hours in the case of prunings, that is leaves and young
branches,

(3) A much larger proportion of camphor is obtained
from the leaves than from the branches, and the yield from
small twigs is greater than that from older branches in trees
of this age.

(4) Air-drying of the leaves has no detrimental effect
on the yield, but loss would probably result if the leaves
were exposed to direct tropical sunlight.

Further experiments were conducted during 1911-12,
using a new condenser, the old one, which was a Liebig
condenser with four tubes round which cold water circulated,
having proved unsatisfactory, for reasons that are given.
The new condenser was made of teak; it was replaced later
by a metal condenser constructed of galvanized iron having
the following dimensions: length 3 feet 10 inches, breadth
2 feet 4 inches, depth 1 foot 7 inches, extension of sides
over bottom 4 inches, length of exit pipe 64 inches, diameter
of exit pipe 2 inches, This was placed in the shallow box
used for the teak condenser, which was 4 feet long, 2 feet
6 inches broad and 1 foot 1 inch deep, the depth of water in.
it being 6 inches. This condenser was found to give excel-
lent and constant results, the yields being considerably
increased. Further, the camphor was ‘of a beautiful white -

Worn. XI, No. 271.

colour’ and the camphor oil was pale-yellow. No corrosion
took place during three months’ use, and the joints, which
were soldered, showed no signs of leakage. The matters
“thus described are of importance, as they show the way in
which one of the chief difticulties connected with the distilla-
“tion process, namely that of condensation, was solved.

In the trials with the metal condenser, 5,338 ib. of
uprunings were used ; these gave, as a result of several distil-
lations, a total yield of camphor and oils weighing 34°96 hb.,
or 0°66 per cent. on the weight of the original material.

Several other matters of importance are included in the
‘Bulletin, which is usefully illustrated to show the construc-
tion of the apparatus employed for distillation on a com-
anercial scale.

AGRICULTURE IN PORTO RICO, 1911.

Conditions were generally favourable. The acreage
wander cultivation has been extended, and greater attention
as now given to methods, under the instruction of the
-experimental station at Rio Piedras. Gradually the old
plough drawn by oxen is being replaced by the steam plough,
wreference being given to british make. :

The acreage under cultivation in 1911 was as follows: —

Acres, ©
Cane 183,225
Coffee 150,864
Tobacco 19,420
Pine-apples 1,720
Oranges 7,394
Coco-nuts 3,341
Minor fruits 115,576
Pasture 926,894
Miscellaneous 37,137
Timber brush 515,137
Marsh 28,795

Total 1,989,504
The following details are available concerning the live
~stock in the island:—

Cattle 171,880
Horses 34,171
Mules 2,717
Pigs 3,948
Sheep 2,644

Total 215,360

sucAr. The exports of sugar during the year amounted
~to 323,000 tons, showing an advance of 15 per cent. over
last year. The external sales aggregated 5,109,000, being an
approximate average of £15 16s. per ton,
COFFEE. The quantity shipped was not so great as in
1910, but the value was greater and netted about £1,042,000.
crcArs. This year’s shipments reached 174,000,000,
sand about 102,000,000 were placed in the local market.
Less than 25 per cent. of the tobacco produced is shipped in
deaf. The total value of this industry amounted to
-£1,468,000.
FRUITS.
staples in the market.
1911 reached £417,000.
Coco-nuts thriving nicely in sandy soil near the sea are
mot in the way of any other plant. They are receiving
more attention every year. This year they contributed
£52,000 to the income of the island. (From Diplomatic
- and Consular Reports, No, 4894 Annual Series, June 1912.)

Oranges, pine-apples and grape fruit are now
The total value of shipments in

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 303

A NEARLY SEEDLESS MANGO.

The following account of an almost seedless mango
that has been given the name Oahu is contained in the
Annual Report of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment
Station fer 1911, issued in April last:—

HisToRY. A seedling trée about six or seven years of age
bore fruit this year, and its characteristics have given justifi-
cation for naming it Oahu. It is probably a cross between
the Hawaiian sweet mango and the Crescent. Although the
husk is present, the seed presents an undeveloped condition
with often just the seed coat present. About 75 per cent. of
this year’s crop has had no viable seed.

The Oahu is valuable as a large, fine-appearing fruit of
good quality. Its nearly seedless condition makes a thin husk
with a large proportion of flesh. No mango weevil (Cryp-
torhynchus mangiferae) has been found within these mangoes,
and it will be interesting to note what may be the result of
the attack of this insect on a fruit which contains no seed
upon which its larva may feed. The Oahu is also worthy of
propagation as a basis for breeding toward complete seedless-
ness.

DESCRIPTION. Form oblong, heavily shouldered at the
cavity end and tampering toward the apical end; size large,
averaging in weight from 10 to 15 oz.; cavity shallow, flaring,
irregular; stem slender; apex variable, ranging from a point
to a depression; surface moderately smooth and undulating;
colour pale-yellow with a reddish blush on the exposed side;
dots numerous, small, yellow, depressed; bloom bluish-white,
moderately abundant; skin moderately thick, tough, very
tenacious; flesh thick, bright-yellow, juicy, with an abundance
of fibre; seed dried up or represented by just the seed coat;
flavour rich, moderately sweet, quality good. Season June
to August at Honolulu, Hawaii.

This tree is of the average height and presents a broad,
spreading habit.

The Chocho in Mexico.—The following note on
the chocho, christophine, or chayote (see Agricultural Vews,
Vol. XI, p. 203) as it is called in Mexico, appears in the
Journal of the Royal Society of Arts for August 9, 1912;
what is referred to there as a tuber is really a swollen root:—

‘The chinchayote is the tuber of a gourd-like plant, grown
in the State of Guadalajara, whose botanical name is Seeh/unz
edule. The year-old tubers are boiled and candied and are
sold by street vendors, being very popular among labourers
and children. The larger two-year-old tubers are sliced and
fried for table use. The tubers yield an excellent starch,
similar to arrowroot or sago. Above ground the chinchayote
is similar toa gourd plant, with a smaller leaf, and the flower
develops into a bulbous fruit covered with prickly spines
called the chayote. The tubers are the part known as the
chinchayote, and these resemble a sweet potato in shape, the
colour under the skin being white. Each plant produces ten
to thirty tubers, having a total weight of 5 to 30 Ib., varying
with age, as some plants are allowed to grow for two years,
producing larger and more numerous tubers. For cultivation
the chayotes are sprouted in a moist place, and then planted
sometimes three plants together. The planting season,
according to the American Consul at Guadalajara, is from
February to April and the plant reqnires little attention
thereafter. he chayotes or fruits are gathered in September
or October, and the chinchayotes or tubers mature fromm
October to December, being taken up when they reach the
desired size. The shrubs are planted 7 to 10 feet apart,
loose soil that has been used for other crops being the best,’

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Seprempen 14% 1912:

Barbados,—Messrs. JAmes A. Lynce & Co., Ltd., Sep
tember 7, 1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co.,

September 9, 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., August

MARKET REPORTS.

New York,—Messrs. Gittespre Bros.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., September 2

London.—Tse West Ixpia ComMITTEE CIRCULAR a
PS) ANY
st 27, 1912; Messrs. E. A. Dr Pass & Co., ;
ist { 1912, Anrowroot— $7 ‘00 per 100 th.
Cacao—$13'00 to $14°00 per 100 fh.
ArrowrooT—diid. to 43d Coco-Nuts—$20°00.

Barata—Sheet, 3/7 ; block, 2/7 per te.

Brrswax—No quotations

Cacao—Trinidad, 70/- to $d/- per ewt. ;
to 64/-; Jamaica, 57/- to 66/-.

CoFrFEE—Jamaica, 66/- to 7\/- per cwt.

Corra—West Indian, £26 15s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 14d. to 16d.

Froit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincER—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

Isrycrass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotations.

Live Juice—Raw, 1/- to 2/1; concentrated, £15 12s. 6d.
to £18 17s. Gd.; otto of limes (hand pressed), 8/.

Loc woop—No quotations.

Mace—2/1 to 2/6.

Nourmecs—6d. to 10d.

Puiento—Common, 2,';d.; fair, 23d.; good, 2);d.; per lb.

Rogser—Lara, fine hard, 5/14.; fine soft, 4/95; Castilloa,
4/8 per Ib.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-.

Sugsr—Crystals, 16/3 to 18/6; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/6-;
Syrup, 9/3 to 14/3; Molasses, no quotatioas.

Grenada, 57/-

& Co,, August

9, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 12%c. to 18c¢.; Grenada, 4c. to 143¢.
Trinidad, l4c. to 16c. per tb.; Jamaica, ll$c. to 18c.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $25°00 to $26-00; culls,
$15-00; Trinidad, select, $25°00 to $26-00; culls,
$15°90 per M.

Corrrr—Jamaica, 14jc. to 16fc. per te.

Gincrr—Sic. to 11 $c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 45c.
to 46c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 42c. to 44c.
per lb.

Grapre-Fruit—Jamaica, $2°75 to $3°30.

Limges—$2°00 to $2°25.

Macre—dle. to 54c. per th.

Nutmzcs—110’s, 13}c. to 14c.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—dic. per fb.

Svcar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4-05c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°55c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per Ib., all duty paid.

=13

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $14°50 to $14°80 per fanega; Trini-
dad, $1375 to $14°50.

Coco-xut O11_—9%0c. per Imperial gallon.

OorrEE—Venezuelan, 18c. per tb.

Copra—$4°40 per 100 tb.

Dxaat—$a‘00.

Onrons—$1°75 to $2°00 per 100 fb.

Pras, SPLit—$6°50 $6°75 per bag.

Potarors—English, $2°25 to $2°40 per 100 fe.

Rice—Yellow, $4°80 to $5°00; White, $6°25 to $6°3b
per bag.

Svear—American crushed, no quotations.

Hay—$1°'60 to $1°80

per 100 fb.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45°0P
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $8000 to $85-00

per ton.

Motasses—No quotations.

Onxtons-—$2°50 to $3°

00 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprir—$6°50 to $6°'75 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3-00 to $5°10 per bag of 120 tb. —

Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°20 to $3-00 per 160i

Rice—Ballam, $5°20 to $5 75 per 190 Tt.; Patna, no quota-

tions; Rangoon,

no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $5:00 per 100 fh.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wierinc & RicuTgr, August

31, 1912;

August 16, 1912.

Messrs. SANDBACH, PARKER & Co.,

ARTICLES.

ARRowROOT—St. Vincent

Baxata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Coco-nuTs—

Correr—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
MotassEes— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Pras—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Potators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Potators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Baliam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
‘T'imperR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles
Cordwood

th)

Messrs. WIETING
& RicHTer.

No quotation
76c. to 77c. per Th.
15c. to 16c. per tb.

80c. to $1:20

$750 to $800

$16 to $20 per M.

20c. per tb.
2Uc. per Tb.
16c. per fb.
$5:00 per bag of
168 tb.
$5750
$1°00 to $1-44
None

5e. per tb.
$6°75 to $7°00 per
pag (210 tb.)

16c. to 48c.

$275
$2°88
per bag
No quotation
$6-00
$180
$4:00
$3°25 to $3°40
$400 to $4°25
$2°80
.32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot
$4°00 to $6°25
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

Messrs. Sa)D-
BACH, PaRKER
& Co.

Prohibited

l4c. to lic. Re
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
18c. per fh.
2lc.
ldc. per fh.
$3°50 to $3°75

5c. to Ske.
$7°25 per baz.

(210 tb.)
No quotation

$2°75
No quotation

$6-00 to $6-20
$3-25
$3-00

32c. to 55c. pex
cub. foot
$4:00 to $6°00
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, ls. 2d.

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Volume XII. Nos. 1 and 2. No. 3:—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Drier; The Structure and Polli-
nation of the Cacao Flower. Sucar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;
A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugarcanes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugarcane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
canes with a View to their Classification; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in Megass; The
Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses,

PAMPHLET SERIBS.

The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the information contained in them is especially
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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, price4d.; (17) Genetal Treatment of Fungoid Pests. Price 4d.

in 1904, No. 32, price 4d. (18) Recipes for Cooking West Indian Yams. Price 2d.
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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 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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX complete, with title page and index, asissued
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Agents.

The following have been appomted 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: Toe Epucationa Surety Company, 16, King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. Bripcewater, Rosean.

Street, Kingston. Montserrat : Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.
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Tobago: Mr. C. L. Pracemann, Scarborough. JTevis : Messrs. Howett, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada : ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 271. THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, Serremper 14, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

= Ane =

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Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

issolved Peruvian GSpan0—-For Sugar-cane and general use

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Ohlendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorff’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

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COTTON SEED MEAL! |
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N.B. Dee RCo ane ul quot ition eee ts. ks large lots.

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FOR, Ss A LEK 5H) JUST ISSUED.

WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.
(Vol. XII No. 3.)

ONE (1) ‘TRIUMPH’ STEAM DRIER, Suit, cso: totus of Saying casos Pingss Diane of

Cacao Cai 10 C Pankerg a Possible eee to “he Re fot

able for evaporating solids or liquids, the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; \ anurial

Experiments «n Caeao in Trinidad; A De eseription cf the

ONE (I) FILTER PRESS, Barnard Cacao Drier rs Phe Structure and Pollinatio m cf the
Cacao Flower svucar: Mai 1uria!l By Pt pen maeny Ss in Sugar-cane

‘ Apply io— in Trinidad and Tobago; A < OS. arison of some Seedlihg : Sugar-
canes with the Ii seron variety in Barbados; Bourbon and

fom 2. FRAMPTON, Seedling Canes; Th application of Men: lisae I rinciples to

Bath Estate. Sugar-cane Biccda ; The Study of Sugar-cane with a view to

Domini their Classitication; “A Quick Methe yd. for Es stimating Moisture
ant ERIE ES in Megass; The Sug ab Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts -Nevis;
(271) and the Determination of the Water Content of Mo lasses.

Orr — —

Printed at Office of Agriculiwral Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

7)

Vol. XI. No. 272.| SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1912.

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT PESTS

LESSER ANTILLES. |

BY H. A. BALLOU, MSc.

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE Srarr OF THE IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department,
price 1s, 3¢., post free 1s, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-

lems in other lines.

WE SEND IT FREE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

LIBRA
OF THE NEW YC
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, “asos
. GARDE
Vou. XI. No. 272. BARBADOS, SEPTEMRER 28, 1912. PricE 1d.
CONTENTS supply, but that each possesses a large importance
arising from the employment of forests as an aid in
water conservation,and for the purpose of protecting cer-

; Hea ma - m= tl tain localities, such as catchment areas for water-supply,
aaa, pert sey 313 Aprile ep attiee from pollution or other harm. The relation of forests
Antigua at the Canadian ; tions of . 312 to water conservation gains an additional interest when

National Exhibition 314 | Insect Notes :— pie a . ; k
Apterite, Trial of . 317 Entomology in Trinidad 314 it is viewed in the aspect of the suggestion, supported
Bamboo, the Male.. 311 The Brown Hardback 314 by some, that their presence increases precipitation.
British ‘Guiana and the Lime Skins, Feeding and
ternational Rubber Manurial Values of... 308 x
ees M oo 315 moro perros tas 809 A useful summary* of this part of the subject that
Cotton Notes :— | Market Reports . 320 has appeared recently, commences by drawing attention

Cotton Exports from Nitrogen Fixation, Con- fa tho Rennie Ghnvestiontion ofthe dahon ohleh

the West Indies 311 | siderations Re- irs 3 ie Bee Ae bay is 0 ae

Progress in Cotton- garding . 307 influence of forests on rainfall that has been made in

ore seen CIS EE 310 | Notes and Comments ... 312 France, Germany and Austria, in the United States,

Tis isnacn (Ghutene Orange Oa as 39g and more recently in India, and points out that the

Growing Association 310) gt Kitts Agricultural and literature of the subject is somewhat bewildering, both

West Indian Cotton... 310 CommasmnllSocisty 209 5 ‘ : e
Department News ... 507 Students’ Gaonce 5 J 317 on account of its extent and of the divergent views of
Leba ae ‘py eau BS 305 | Suear Industry:— the different authorities. One manner of attacking

elling sasure H ; : ie j . 7 4
ie Runt, . 313 | Some We One the problem is the historical method. In this the state
canes see . =, - .
Fungus Notes :— ; of an area of country as regards its forest cover is
Crown Gall of Plants | Tobacco, Preparation by L i f
and ts Relation to | Electricity . 307. compared with the amount of rainfall over a period for
i Animal Cancer... ... sale eee ang as of oi which statistics are available, the latter being often,

eanings . uba, 5 eee . ov . . : 7 i 4

Grenada ~ Botaaic Station; | Tuberculosis among Stock, in the absence of reliable rainfall records, supplied
New Plants at... ... 313 | Lecture on ..- 313° by accounts of the condition over a long time of
Hawaii, Hibiscus in... 313 | West Indian Products ... 319

Forests and Rainfall.

definite information ee the matter may be
obtained, a large number of observations are beins
made in different parts of the world. In a wider sense,
it is recognized that the existence or planting of forests
is not concerned merely with the problem of timber-

a stream or river which may be considered to be
influenced by the forest in or near its basin. Among the
objections to this method is the ignoring of effects due
to secular climatic changes, and it is also open to the
criticism that forests are known to assist in increasing
the amount of water, available for streams, in ways
other than that which supposes an increase in the
rainfall.

Observations in India + have been considered to
show that the presence of wooded areas has a beneficial

*Nature, August 29, 1912, p. 662.
+Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, p. 24.

306

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

SEPTEMBER 28, 1912.

influence upon rainfall, an increase of eight to fifteen
per cent. having been suggested. Results bearing the
opposite interpretation have been obtained in the
United States; some of them are presented in a paper;
contained in a report to the United States House of
Representatives on the influence of forests on climate
and floods. The conclusions in the paper indicate that
there is strong evidence for the inability of the removal
of forests to influence rainfall: it is that the latter
controls the rate of forest growth rather than that the
amount of forest cover influences the rainfall; the con-
ditions that affect rainfall exist at such an altitude as
to prevent the way in which the land is covered locally
from possessing any influence. Actual, careful observa-
tions show that there has been no noticeable change in
the rainfall in the United States, during the time that
such observations have been possible.

The advocates of the theory that forests induce
rainfall try to find confirmation of their views in the
results that have been obtained by making simul-
taneous observations, at stations called parallel stations,
in a forest area and in the open surrounding country.
In nearly every place where these observations have
been carried out, a larger rainfall has been indi-
cated on the land under forest; so that it is held that
forests increase precipitation. If this conclusion could be
proved definitely to be correct, the circumstance would
be of the greatest importance, for it is easy to see that
the effect would extend beyond the forest urea because
the wind would bear away the rain-carrying clouds
that had been formed. The opponents of the theory
do not agree that the observations have been inter-
preted correctly; experiments, they say, have demon-
strated that gauges situated in the forest register
a greater rainfall than those in the open because they
are sheltered from the wind. Attempts to allow
for this have been made, but the
matter is so uncertain that those who hold the
theory cannot be said to have made good their
case. The subject will be seen to possess pecu-
liar difficulty when it is realized that differences in
height above ground of the gauges as well as in
altitude above sea-level are easily capable of inducing
differences in the measure of the rainfall that are far
greater than those claimed for the influence of the
forest.

influence

It is thus evident that, at present, no definite
conclusion can be reached concerning the possible

t Agricultural Neves, Vol. TX, p- 248,

influence of forests on rainfall. The review mentioned at
the commencement of this article sums up the matter
in the following way: ‘Professor J. von Hann’s opinion
on the subject, in the latest edition of his Handbuch
der Klimatologie is that the question cannot be
definitely answered at present, but that the effect, if
any, should be greater in the tropics than in higher
latitudes. Dr. G. J. Walker, of the Meteorological
Office, Simla, is of a similar opinion. He states that
if forests have any influence at all on the rainfall, it
is probably not greater in India than five per cent.’

The usefulness of forests in retarding the rate of
travel to the sea of water falling as rain, and in
improving conditions for plant growth, must not be
forgotten in any case; and this consideration alone
should prevent reckless deforestation and emphasize
the importance of the replacement of forest cover.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

SOME WEST INDIAN SUGAR-CANES IN
INDIA.

‘rhe Annual Report of the Agricultural Stations in
Eastern Bengal and Assam for the year ending June 30,
1911, shows that, among the sugar-canes grown at the Dacca
Agricultural Station during that time there were included
B.147, B.1753, B.376 and B.208. Among these it was
thought that one or two, together with Striped Mauritius,
would prove superior to the local cane on becoming accus-
tomed to the changed conditions.

These canes were obtained from the Jorhat Agricultural
Station, and mention is made in the report that they were
under trial at this station; further, in describing their
behaviour there, it is stated that they all, except B.208,
showed resistance to red rot; it was decided however to
continue experimentation with this cane. As regards the
total yield of sugar from the canes that were grown success-
fully, Striped Mauritius attained the first place, followed by
B.376 and B.147. It is stated that a high yield with
a superior quality of juice are combined in these canes. The
varieties Striped Tana and Kheri also showed a high yield of
cane and juice, but the inferior quality of the latter caused
the yield of sugar per acre to be low. In another experi-
ment at this station, B,147, B.376 and Striped Mauritius
again showed a striking superiority as regards quality of
juice, the sucrose content and purity being high and the
glucose ratio low. B,208 is reported as having had to be
destroyed on account of disease in the previous year; it is
stated however, in the experiment under discussion, to have
given a juice of high quality in spite of the fact that it
continued to be very susceptible to attacks by red rot. In
making general remarks concerning the sugar-canes under
trial at this station, the following statements occur: ‘Two
of the Barbados varieties, viz. B.147 and B.376, are exceed-
ingly promising. Although not such high yielders as
St:iped Mauritius, they gave juices of very high quality.’

Vor, Xie No: 272:

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING NITROGEN
FIXATION.

The fact that nitrogen from the atmosphere becomes
fixed (that is united to other substances) in the soil, in the
presence of air, by a group of organisms called Azotobacter
nas become a matter of common knowledge among agricul-
turists since its discovery by Beijerinck in 1901, and the
group of organisms itself has received much investigation.
The results of this work have, however, been conflicting,
especially as regards the food requirements of the organisms,
although it is generally agreed that these include some form of
fermentable carbohydrate (a sugar) and a certain amount of
phosphorus in a form in which it is available. A further
investigation of these matters has been made in recent years
at the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment
Station, the results of this being presented in Research
Bulletin No. 12 of that station; and these form the subject
of the present article.

Trials with different soils showed that the power of the
Azotobacter in these to fix nitrogen varies greatly; in actual
experiments the amount of nitrogen fixed, for every gram of
mannite (a sugar) consumed, ranging from 0:15 to 14-47 mgr.

The best sugars to use for obtaining the greatest
amount of fixation in impure cultures of the organism were
found to be mannite and lactose (milk sugar); while maltose
and sucrose (cane sugar) enabled the bacteria to fix only
a comparatively small quantity of nitrogen. In pure cultures,
the highest results were obtained with mannite and dextrin.
The superiority of milk sugar in impure cultures was not
maintained in those which were pure.

The activity, and therefore the etticiency, of Azotobacter
was found to be increased when small quantities of the
carbohydrates were used. This is important in regard to the
fact that, where it is intended to inoculate soil with pure
cultures, the organisms should be exhibiting the greatest
activity that is possible.

In impure cultures, at any rate, dicalcium and tricalcium
phosphate were found to produce better results, respecting
nitrogen fixation, than monocalcium phosphate.

When the period of incubation of the organisms in
a soil is unduly extended, losses take place of the nitrogen
that has been fixed already, and it is evident that in such
conditions the amount of nitrogen found is not a true indica-
tion of the amount actually fixed. Results obtained in the
investigation under consideration indicated that the period
of incubation for impure cultures should not exceed fourteen
to eighteen days.

The presence of small quantities of calcium carbonate is
sufficient for the fixation to take place. It was not found
that there was a greater amount of nitrogen fixation when
the quantity of that substance was increased.

Difficulty was met during the experimentation in
obtaining a large growth of the organisms in liquid culture
media. This was overcome by the employment of a sand
slope of white quartz sand in the following way. The
culture solution to the amount of 20 c.c. was placed in
a conical flask of 150 c.c. capacity, and 10 grams of
the quartz sand, previously washed, dried, screened and
ignited, was added in such a way that its surface formed
a slope going down into the culture medium. The enhanced
supply of air caused the bacteria to form a profuse growth all
over that surface. This method did not serve, however,
when large quantities of the organisms were required for
the purpose of determining their nitrogen content, as for
this object pure Azotobacter cells free from all other solid
matter were required. The means adopted finally comprised

THE AGRICULTURAL

8

NEWS. 307

the use of 1l-inch Petri dishes, containing the sterilized
nutrient medium, on to which, when it had solidified, 5 to
10 cc. of sterile salt solution, containing Azotobacter in
uniform suspension, was poured.

It seems that the protein content of Azotobacter cells
is influenced by the age of the culture in which they occur;
in any case the results obtained were considerably lower than
those found by other investigators, and it is suggested that
the method of growing the organisms may possibly be
a cause of the difference. Another condition influenced by
the age of the culture was the phosphorus content of the
cells.

Preparation of Tobacco by Electricity.—
A short article in the Jowrnal d’Agriculture Tropicale for
June 1912 states that the journal De Indische Merkwur has
recently given notice of the discovery by an engineer of
Sourabaya of a new process for preparing tobacco: in place
of submitting the leaves, for several weeks to the action of
warm air, as is usual, they are exposed for twenty-four hours
to the action of electricity. Unfortunately, nothing is said
as to the way in which the operation is conducted nor
concerning the manner of action of the electricity: whether
there is an electrolytic action on the very damp leaves, or if
the change comes about through discharges at high voltage
or in any other way.

The matter of importance is, however, that this mode of
working should not only greatly shorten the time required
for the operation, but should bring under complete control
the extent to which the colouring of the product takes place.
It should be added that, according to the report, the results
are yet far from being conclusive, but if they are eventually
confirmed, the new manner of procedure will completely
overthrow the ordinary methods for tobacco preparation that
are employed up to the present in the many factories in
Java, which, it is said, are eager to adopt its application,
The journal mentioned first, above, states that return will be
made to the subject when an opportunity has been given for
obtaining additional information.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture return-
ed to Barbados, from an official visit to St. Vincent, by
the 8.S. ‘Ocamo’, on September 14, 1912.

Mr. P. T. Saunders, Veterinary Officer on the Staff
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the
West Indies, returned to Barbados, from visits to
St. Vincent and the Northern Islands, by the R.MS.
‘Thames’, on September 18.

The exports of raw cotton from Shanghai fell from
1,482,299 cwt. in 1910 to 928,444 ewt. in 1911, a decrease
of nearly 40 per cent., and business in raw cotton during the
year was most unsatisfactory from the point of view of
exporters to Japan. The chief reason was to be found in

‘the destruction of an unusually large proportion of the crops

by the abnormal summer rains; the difficulty of forwarding
money to the producing centres owing to the position of
the native banks, and the unprecedented fall in prices in the
United states caused by the abundant crops in that country,
were also iniportant determining elements. (From Diplo-
matic and Consular Reports, No. 4966 Annual Series.)

308 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS}

SepremBer 28, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE FEEDING AND MANURIAL VALUES
OF LIME SKINS.

The following note on this matter has been
received from Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc. Superin-
tendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands:—

The disposal of the expressed skins obtained in the
extraction of lime juice by milling is a question of some
interest to those engaged in the lime industry. In some
cases, the lime skins are simply thrown away, but a far
better practice is to utilize them either for feeding stock or
for manurial purposes dlirect.

Cattle will eat lime skins readily, and they possess
value both directly as a fodder and also asa relish to the
ordinary rations of stock.

On certain estates in Dominica the practice exists of
making a species of ensilage of lime skirs; this appears to be
a useful method of dealing with them, since the limes
produced in excess of the requirements of the stock on an
estate during crop time can be utilized for feeding purposes
out of crop. When properly handled, lime skins do not
appear to suffer any deterioration when treated in this way.
; The following analytical data, obtained in the Govern-
ment Laboratory for the Leeward Islands concerning two
such samples of ensilage from estates in Dominica, are of
some interest in view of the complete absence of published
information of this character at the present time. The samples
were obtained and forwarded by Mr. J. Jones, Curator of
the Botanic Station, Dominica.

Sample A. Sample B.
Moisture 79°6 76°5
Nitrogen 0:293 0:246
Equivalent crude protein 1:83 1:54
Crude fibre 3°6 51
Extracted matter — 1:9
Albuminoid nitrogen 0-114 _
True protein 0-712 =

In the case of neither sample was the ash determined,
Other determinations tend to show, however, that the ash
content of lime skins is in the region of 1 per cent.; assuming
this value in the case of sample B, we arrive at an approxti-
mate value of 14:0 per cent. for the crude carbohydrate
content and 12:2 for the albuminoid ratio on the crude
protein.

{t

_ From this it will be seen that the ensilages have
a distinct feeding value, though they are somewhat deficient
In proteins. Under the head Extracted Matter must be
included the residues of the essential oi] not expressed in the
processes of ccnelling and milling; it is to this and the
residues of citric acid, included under the head crude carbo-
hydrates, that the skins owe their value as a relish.

_ The following analysis of the manurial value of lime
skins is reproduced from the Report on Sugar-cane experi-
ments in the Leeward Islands for 1905-6.

Nitrogen.

Ammonia. Phosphorie acid. Potash.
0°314

0381 0:006 0148

From the above analysis it is calculated that lime skins
are worth 30°95 per ton for manurial purposes.

ORANGE CULTIVATION IN DUTCH
GUIANA.

In a note in L’Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds
for May 1912, it is stated that the French Vice-Consul at
Rotterdam has drawn attention to the importance that
orange-growing is attaining in Dutch Guiana, and the
suggestion is given that perhaps this importance merits the
attention of planters in French Guiana.

The statement is made that, under the conditions, the
establishment of a plantation giving useful results and
consequently having an area of about 300 acres necessitates
a capital amounting to something like £16,500, without
taking account of the expenses for the construction of
dwelling houses, store-houses and other necessary buildings.
There would be a modification of this estimate where it is
possible to acquire old plantations that are still productive.

In the seventh year the income should exceed the
expenditure. The trees should produce, on an average,
300 fruits a year, although it is possible for this figure to be
as high as 600, and even 1,000. The fruits, after deduction
has been made for the expenses of plucking, packing and
exportation should give a profit of about $d. each. This
return may be greatly increased in the case of oranges
belonging to specially esteemed kinds; these should afford
a profit about three times as large.

Voz. XI. No. 272.

The trees bear fruits from the third year, from the fifth
they each give fifty and from the sixth 150. At the age of
ten years the trees yield 300 to 600 fruits, the oldest as has
been indicated probably approaching 1,000. In ordinary
cases eighty trees are planted to the acre.

The cultivation of oranges in Dutch Guiana has been
taken up seriously, and the note concludes by repeating that
the matter is of much interest for French Guiana although
it raay not be possible to profit from the example for several
reasons, notably that of the very poor labour-supply.

ST. KITTS AGRICULTURAL AND
COMMERCIAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this society was held on August 10, 1912,
at which there were present His Honour the Acting
Administrator, Captain Roger, and Dr. Francis Watts, the
Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, who were welcomed
at the opening of the meeting by the President of the
Society, the Hon. 8. L. Horsford. After suitable acknowledg-
ment had been made by Captain Roger and Dr Watts, the
latter referred to the proposal that had come before the
meeting to appoint a Veterinary Surgeon in the Presidency,
making suggestions in regard to the putting of the matter
into the form of a definite undertaking, and saying that
although he could not make the appointment he was willing
to supply recommendations.

After some short discussion of the matter just
mentioned, the Secretary read the report of Mr. H. A.
Ballou, M.Sc., Entomologist to this Department, on his
wecent visit to St. Kitts-Nevis (this was summarized in the
last two issues of the Agricultural News) After the report
had been read it was decided that this, as well as the report
On sugar-cane diseases in St. Kitts, by Mr. F. W. South, B.A.,
Mycologist to this Department, should be printed and
circulated.

Dr. Watts next provided a review of the reports, giving
the opinion that they are extremely valuable records. In the
former there was much new and useful information
regarding root borers and root trimmers. He referred to the
coot borer in Barbados (Diaprepes abreviatus) which is not
known in St. Kitts, and to the beetle the grub of which
Mr. Ballou considers to be doing some damage to the
roots of the sugar-cane in the latter island; this beetle was
known in Montserrat, where it is found to eat the leaves
of citrus plants, and had never before been connected with
sugarcane. The Commissioner then made reference to the
existence of another beetle both in Mauritius and Barbados,
in the former as a pest, in the latter as an insect doing little
harm.

Proceeding, Dr. Watts referred to Mr. South’s report on
cane disease in St. Kitts, stating that he thought the
disease was the rind fungus, and that an abnormal season,
over-ripeness of the canes, and constant cultivation of one
variety on the same land, were probably responsible for the
wecent outbreak. ‘The circumstances that more was known
about the disease than formerly and that easily applicable
cemedies, such as the employment of new cane varieties and
the cultivation of cotton, were near at hand, made it evident
that there was no cause for alarm.

Dr. Watts also drew attention to the Pamphlet recently
issued by the Imperial Department of Agriculture, treating

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 309

of Insect Pests in the Lesser Antilles, by Mr. H. A.
Ballou, M.Se , which he thought should be in the hands of
every planter.

The Commissioner of Agriculture then referred to the
subject of the selling of West Indian cotton, bringing forward
matters that were dealt with recently in an article on page-
246 of the issue of the Agricultural News, for August 3,
1912. This, it will be remembered, contained several
suggestions made by Mr. J. A. Hutton, Chairman of the Brit-
ish Cotton Growing Association. As regards types of cotton,
advice was given by Dr. Watts that the selected kinds now
grown in St. Kitts should continue to be planted. In relation
to matters connected with this, he referred to a paper by
Mr. J. W. McConnel on the different lengths of staple in
a sample of lint (this paper was summarized on page 247 of
the issue of the Agricultural News just mentioned).

teferring to silkworm culture, the speaker mentioned:
Mr. Maxwell Lefroy’s recent paper on the subject, and stated
further that, although it may not seem that the Eri silkworm
industry will succeed in the West Indies, he was obtaining
cocoons of this worm, which feeds on castor leaves; material for
growing the mulberry silkworm would be obtained by him
as soon as the mulberry trees introduced recently by the
Imperial Department of Agricultnre had been planted out
and were available for feeding the worm. In any case there
were many ditticulties in the way of such work, and Mr. H. A.
Ballou feared danger from the attacks of parasitic insects,

The subject of coco-nuts then received attention from
Dr. Watts, who reviewed the general conditions as regards
coco-nut cultivation and gave as an instance in a more par-
ticular way the useful progress that is being made at Pinneys
Estate. Nevis. The matter of disease was of the greatest
importance, with respect to this crop, and a great increase of
knowledge concerning this should be brought about by
the harmonious co-operation of the different agricultural
departments.

A vote of thanks, proposed by the President and
seconded by Mr. J. R. Yearwood, was accorded to Dr. Watts
for his interesting and instructive remarks, and after this
had been acknowledged the meeting was adjourned.

Mangrove Bark.—The results of the examination of
the barks of several species of mangrove from German East
Africa are given in Collegium (1912, No. 504, p. 130). It is
concluded that the tannin content of the bark is not
influenced by the age or by the part of the tree from which
it is stripped, or by the time of the year it is collected.

Tanning trials were also made, which showed that bark
collected at the end of the year gives a leather which is of
yellow-brown colour and does not redden on exposure to
light. This improvement in colour is believed to be due to
better drying of the bark at this season, and it is recom-
mended that the dark should be collected only at the end of
the year.

Trials on a small scale have been made recently in
Queensland in the manufacture of cutch from mangrove
bark, and the results show that, with proper care and with
up-to date machinery, good quality cutch containing 60 per
cent. of tannin can be obtained (Journal of the Society of
Chenucal Industry, 1912, 31, 212). It is estimated that, on
a manufacturing scale, Queensland mangrove bark should
yield about 50 per cent. of cutch. (The Bulletin of the
Imperial Institute, July 1912.)

310 THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
-write as follows, under date September 9, with reference
2o the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report only about 50 bales of West Indian
Sea Islands have been sold, chiefly 14d. to 153d., and a few
stains at 9$d.

Buyers are quite indifferent and will not operate until
they can get some idea as to the prices at which American
‘Sea Island cotton will open next month. Meanwhile, the fine
spinning trade does not improve, and until it does so, many
spinners are continuing to employ their machinery upon
various descriptions of Egyptian cotton.

PROGRESS IN COTTON-GROWING IN
UGANDA, 1911-12.

The cotton crop continued its rapid advance and there
was a further large increase in the area planted.

The seed distributed to natives by the Government
amounted to 207 tons as compared with 133 tons and 70
tons in the two preceding years. This increase in acreage
cannot be very accurately estimated from the increase in
seed distribution, as there is now much less waste of seed
than in former years, and germination has always been so regu-
lar and satisfactory that the sowing per acre has been some-
what reduced also. No increase is probable or I think desirable
during the coming season. The transport facilities have
already been strained to their utmost to deal with the
present output. In the out-districts cotton remains often
for months awaiting transport. This will probably be
remedied to a great extent in the near future by the setting
up of ginneries in the up-country districts.

Although a check and possibly even a considerable
set-back may be looked for in the immediate future, the
Protectorate is still a very long way from reaching its limit
as a cotton-producing country; apart from the increase that
may be expected, when the transport facilities have been
more fully developed, in the districts where the crop is
already established, a large area of country suitable for
cotton cultivation lies in districts which are only now being
brought under Administration, and it will be many years
before their agricultural possibilities can be fully realized.

Probably the most important part of the work, that this
Department is at present engaged upon, is the improvement
of the quality of Uganda cotton; the preliminary work has
been done during the last three years, and provided that the
present supervision of seed-supply is continued, a steady
advance may be looked for.

NWiewaa-
NOLE
en
Walt Be

Sepremper 28, 1912;

Ti passat y/o
a cer TULL ti

The seed farms originally laid down with a view to
supplying a high quality of seed were all abandoned, as they
did not fulfil their object. A plant-breeding station has
now been established on the shores of Lake Kioga and the
Officer in-charge is confining his attention largely to seed
selection with a view to improving both staple and yield.
A pleasing feature is the increased productiveness of the
newly introduced long stapled varieties, which without
exception gave a much larger yield per acre during the past
season than from the first sowing of the seed in the
Protectorate.

The experiments with [Egyptian cottons were not
satisfactory and they are being abandoned with the exception
perhaps of a few minor plant-breeding trials. Mit Afifi
cotton gave a fair yield in the Bululu district but the staple
was most inferior; Abassi on the other hand remained true
to the Egyptian type as regards staple but gave poor
returns. Neither of these varieties gave results that can
compare in any way with the Allen and Sunflower varieties
of upland cotton.

A few experimental plots of Caravonica cotton were
planted in the Nile districts. (From the Annual Report of
the Department of Agriculture, Uganda, for the year ending
March 31, 192°)

THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING ASSO-
CIATION.

The following account of a meeting of this associ-
ation has just been received:—

The one hundred and third meeting of the Council of
the British Cctton Growing Association was held at the
Offices, 15 Cross Street, Manchester, on the 3rd instant. In
the absence of the President (The Rt. Hon. The Earl of
Derby, G.C.V.O.) the Chair was taken by Mr. J. Arthur
Hutton.

supAN. A discussion took place as to the possibility of
pushing on the development of this country as rapidly as
possible, and it was suggested that a large deputation should
be organized to urge the Imperial Government to provide the
necessary capital for railways, irrigation works, etc., either
by an actual loan or by guarantee. It was decided to defer
the question until fuller information had been obtained as
to what actual works the Sudan Government propose to
construct in the immediate future.

WeEsT arrica. A report has been received from the
Association’s representative in Northern Nigeria, stating that
the prospects continue very favourable and estimating the
crop for next season at 6,000 bales,

Vou. XI. No. 272.

The purchases for the present season to date amount to
2,264 bales as compared with about 500 bales for the whole
of the previous season .

The purchases of cotton in Lagos to the end of July
amount to 8,643 bales, as compared with 5,129 bales for the
same period of last year, and 5,228 bales for 1910. The
purchases for the month of August are not yet to hand.

NYASALAND. Owing to the absence of rains the crop
on the Lower River has been a failure this season, but the
reports of the crop in the highlands are most satisfactory,
and owing to the increased acreage planted under cotton it is
not anticipated that the total crop will fall short of that of
the previous year.

UGANDA. Complaints have been received of the inward
dues charged by the Uganda Government on machinery,
buildings, ginning material, ete., imported into the country;
the charge amounts to about 10 per cent., and the opinion
was expressed that it was not a fair way of raising revenue
to put a tax on machinery, ete, which would ultimately be
the means of increasing the revenue of the country.
Representations had been made to the Colonial Office, and it
is understood that the Governor is considering proposals to
reduce the road and wharfage dues on some classes of goods
including building material, machinery, ete. It was reported
that the Chairman (Mr. J. Arthur Hutton} had been invited
to attend a meeting at the Colonial Office to consider the
question of the expenditure of a portion of the Government
Loan of £500,000, for the improvement cf roads in the
cotton-growing districts of Uganda.

A financial statement with which the account
concludes shows that on September 5 the balance to
be raised, to complete the authorized capital of the
Asscciation, was £23,127.

COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE
WEST INDIES.

The following table gives the export of cotton from the
West Indies for the quarter ending June 30, 1912:—

Origin. No. of Weight, Estimated value,
bales. lb. £. Bx. a:
Antigua 138 19,473 25h PA AT
Barbados 995 1491626 11,221 Ko 9
Grenada 1,067 319,837 10,669 Il! 4
Montserrat igs 61,276 5,106 6 8
St. Kitts 206 78,369 5,061 6 6
Nevis 269 78,392 5,062 16) 74
Anguilla 294 62,711 4,050 1 10
St. Vincent 655 223,448 15,933 16 2
Trinidad and \ Fe :
Tanece de ul 17 6,056 454 0 0
Virgin Islands 113 24,667 1,349 2 6
Jamaica 38 12,654 949 0 0
Total 3,285 1,036,509’ 61,115 Deal

All this cotton was sent to the United Kingdom. The
cotton exported was Sea Island in all cases save the following
(which are included in the figures given in the above table):
1,066 bales (319,587 tb.) valued at £10,652, 18s. Marie
Galante from Grenada; 136 bales (46,822 3.) valued at
£1,950 18s. 4d. Marie Galante from St. Vincent and
40 bales (8,674 tb.) valued at £349 Ils. 3d, native and
stains from the Virgin Islands.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

311

THE MALE BAMBOO.

The Commissioner of Agniiculture has been informed
recently by the Curator of the Botanic Gardens, Domini a
(Mr. J. Jones), of the flowering of a clump of the so-called
male bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) in the Gardens, as-
well as of that of a small clump in the grounds of Govern-
ment House; the latter was propagated several years ago-
from a rhizome taken from the large plant in the Gardens
mentioned.

The letter giving the information draws attention to the
fact that the Dictionary of the Economic Products of India
points out that the male bamboo sometimes produces flowers
on one or two culms (stems) in the clump; sometimes,
however, the entire clump produces seeds. It happens too,.
in India, that large areas of the plant will flower at about
the same time. In any case, each culm dies after flowering,
but the rhizomes may throw up weak shoots in the following
year.

As is pointed out, the matter is of some interest, as
bamboos flower but rarely in the West Indies. In this
species, however, flowering only takes place when the plant
is twenty-five to thirty years old, even in India. The age of
the plants in the Dominica Botanic Gardens is said to be
abut thirty-eight years.

Further interest attaches to the incident from the fact
that, while he was in Trinidad recently, the Commissioner of
Agriculture was informed (June 25) by Mr. W. G. Freeman,
the Assistant Director of Agriculture, that the male bamboo
was flowering at the Royal Botanic Gardens in that island.

The main characteristic of the male bamboo is that
the stem tends to become almost, or more rarely com-
pletely, solid instead of remaining hollow between
the nodes like that of the ordinary bamboo. Turning to
the publication mentioned above, it is found that the
usual manner of artificial reproduction of the plant is by
means of seeds and by rhizomes with rootlets and portions of
the stems attached, and minute directions for this are given.
The plant flourishes best in a rich, light soil, having good
drainage and plenty of moisture.

It is stated, further, that the fibre from the stem 1s
suitable for the manufacture of paper, for which purpose it is
not employed, however, on account of its value. The
siliceous matter (tabashir) found near the joints in this and
most bamboos, as well as a decoction from the leaves, is
used as medicine in India. ‘The leaves are eaten by
buffaloes and are fairly good fodder for horses, Duthie
remarks that the foliage affords abundant fodder for
elephants and Lisboa that the leaves are eaten by cattle.
The seeds are eaten by men in times of famine.’ The stem
has many uses in India: it is employed for making spear
handles, for all the requirements in building native houses,
and for basket work. A demand has existed in England
for the stems for employment as lance shafts and for use in
making fishing rods, but information is not available as to if
any want of the kind still exists,

Towards the end of the matter yielding this information,
it is stated that the chief requisite in the bamboo needed
for these purposes is that the stem should be almost or
completely solid, and as the plants in different areas vary in
this respect care would be required in selecting them, ‘This
fact suggests an enquiry that would seem worthy of the
attention of persons who may have the opportunity of
following it out, viz., as to the peculiar climate, soil, and
exposure that is found to produce the more solid condition
of stem. Possibly it may be found that, although belonging
to the species D. strictus, there is.a recognizable variety that
possesses the desired property.’

THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 28, 1912.

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 &
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 Slews
Vor. XI. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1912. No. 272.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

‘Contents of Present Issue.

In the present number, the editorial gives
attention to the subject of Forests and Rainfall, with
special reference to investigations that have been
undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining if forests
possess any influence on the rainfall in the areas near
‘them.

A short article dealing with the behaviour of
certain West Indian sugar-canes in India appears on
page 306. .

On page 307 a summary is given of work that has
been undertaken for the purpose of obtaining informa-
tion in certain definite directions concerning the fixation
of nitrogen in the soil.

An interesting article on page 308 affords details
concerning the feeding and manurial values cf lime
skins.

The recent flowering of the male bamboo in some
parts of the West Indies has given rise to the account
of this plant, on page 311.

Page 314 contains the Insect Notes of this issue,
in which are included an article reviewing recent
entomological work in Trinidad and a note on the
brown hardback.

The Fungus Notes, on pages 318 and 319, present
an account of investigations that appear to show that
the crown gall of plants possesses some relationship to
the cancer of animals.

Publications of’ the Imperial Department of
Agriculture.

The issue of the handbook Insect Pests of the
Lesser Antilles, by H. A. Ballou, M.Sc, Entomologist
on the Staff of the Imperial Department of Agricul-
tnre, is now complete.

The purpose of this publication is to present, in
a handy form,a popular illustrated account of the chief
insect pests that are of economic importance in the
Lesser Antilles. Following an introduction, the con-
tents are collected and classified in a series of chapters
bearing, in order, the following titles: Insects and
Their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which
Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects
of the Household and Pests of Stored Products, The
Control of Insects, Insects.and Their Natural Enemies,

This information is contained in 210 pages, with
a comprehensive index as a guide, and over 180 figures
have been used in illustration.

The price of the handbook is ls. 3d, from all
agents for the sale of the publications of the Depart-
ment; post free 1s. 7d. ;

As was annognced in the last number of the
Agricultural News, Vol. XII, No. 4, of the West
Indian Bulletin, continuing the presentation of the
papers prepared for the recent Agricultural Conference,
is to be issued shortly. This 1s now being received
from the printer. It deals with the section in which
were included Plant Diseases and Pests, Coco-nut,
Lime and Fruit, and Rice Industries, thus containing
182 pages of matter that should appeal to many vary-
ing interests. The titles of the papers are as follows:—

The Use of Entomogenous Fungi on Scale Insects
in Barbados, Further Notes on the Fungus Para-
sites of Scale Inseets, Report on the Prevalence of
some Pests and Diseases in the West Indies, for 1910
and 1911, Bud Rot of the Cocoa-nut Palm, Cocoa-nut
Palm Insects in Trinidad, Scale Insects and Their
Insect Parasites, Some Fruit Diseases, Experiments in
Lime Juice Concentration, Investigations on the
Extraction of Lime Juice by Milling, Some Root
Diseases of Permanent Crops in the West Indies,
Notes on Expressed and Distilled West Indian
Lime Oils, The Lime Industry in Antigua, The
Acid Content of Lime Fruits, Observations on the
Development of the West Indian Lime Fruit,Outline of
Manurial Experiments on Cocoa-nuts in Trinidad and
Tobago, The Bay Rum and Bay Oil Industries of
St. Thomas and St. Jan, The Classitication of Sweet
Potatoes, Cassava Starch and Its Uses, The Water-
supply of Antigua, Does the Sereh Disease Exist in
the West Indies, More Especially in Trinidad? A Report
on Observations on Scale Insects, The Cocoa-nut
Industry in Antigua, Manurial Experiments with the
Governor Banana in Trinidad, Artificial Cross Fer-
tilization of the Mango, Rice Experiments in British
Guiana. The number is completed by the inclusion
of a plate to illustrate the paper entitled The Study of
Sugar-cane Varieties with a View to their Classifica-
tion, in Vol. XII, p. 378.

Voi. XI. No. 272.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 313

eee —— ss ese ee

The West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XII, No. 4, will
-shertly be obtainable from the agents for the sale of
the publications of the Department, price 6d.; post
~free 9d.

-

New Plants at the Grenada Botanic Station.

The Commissioner of Agriculture has recently
obtained from Kew a collection of plants for the
Grenada Botanic Station.

This collection comprises the following, in some
-cases there being included more than one plant ot
a species: Agave twenty species, Aloe nine, Cereus four,
“Cotyledon two, Crinum one, Dasylirion two, Dyckia
two, Fureraea one, Gasteria three, Haworthia one,
Kalanchoé two, Mammillaria one, Mesembryanthemum
-six, Opuntia eleven, Portulacaria one, Senecio one
~species. The collection comprises seventy-eight indi-
vidual plants in al).

The Hibiscus in Hawaii.

In the Annual Report of the Hawaii Agricultural
Experiment Station for 1911, p. 41, mention is made
-of the successful holding of an exhibition of Hibiscus
in Hawaii, and methods are also given for the propaga-
~tion of this useful ornamental plant. The first exhi-
tion, held during the month of June 1911, is said to
have astonished even those most familiar with these
vplants, by the number and beauty of the varieties
which were brought together. The Hawaii Agricul-
tural Experiment Station co-operated in this under-
taking by exhibiting flowers; over 3,000 cuttings of
different varieties have been sent out from the station,
A method has been adopted in this propagation work
by which the plants can be multiplied rapidly at
_a nominal expense. Beds of ordinary beach sand are
prepared in the open; the cuttings are tied up in
bundles of fifty or 100 and planted in the sand where
they root rapidly. They are thus quickly put in, and
-can be speedily removed.

an + eee

A Source of Food for Animals.

An account is given in \itteilungen der Deut-
schen Landwirtshasts-Gesellschaft, XXVII, pp. 254
and 272, May 1912, of a product used for feeding
_animals, called Brotmehl.

The source of this product, which has originated
an Charlottenburg, is the leavings from the table
which, by order of the police are saved separately
from the other household waste products. The leavings
.are collected by a company which deals with waste
‘ substances, freed from anything that they may contain
that is nob useful for food, ground after having been
wetted, pressed and dried, and then mixed. The pro-
‘duct has a light-brown colour and a pleasant smel]; it
vas fed alone or mixed with molasses.

Analysis has shown that Brosmeh! has a similar
composition to wheat bran as regards nutritive sub-
stances; it possesses some objection in that its ash con-
tent is high. Trials in feeding cows on the product
have proved successful.

Ee

Fruit-Selling by Measure in Jamaica.

Reference was made on page 268 of this volume
of the Agricultural News to Law i1 of 1912, Jamaica,
which is a Law to prescribe a measure to be used in the
purchase of citrus fruit by licensed produce dealers.
It is to be cited as the Sale of Citrus Fruit Law, 1912.

The law provides that all citrus fruit sold by
measure to a licensed produce dealer shall be sold by
a measure described in the schedule or by such other
measure as the Governor, on the recommendation of
the Jamaica Agricultura] Society, may prescribe, the
size and dimensions being those mentioned in the
schedule. Provision is made, further, for punishment
for offences under the Act.

By the term Licensed Produce Dealer is meant
any person holding a current license under Law 31 of
1903 entitled The Produce Protection Law, 1903. The
expression Citrus Fruit includes oranges, grape fruit,
shaddocks, lemons and limes.

The schedule describes the package for the sale of
the fruit as a box measuring on the inside 2 feet in
length, 1 foot in breadth and 1 foot in depth, and
usually known as the Florida standard orange box.

DD oe

A Lecture on Tuberculosis among Stock.

At aspecial meeting of the Agriculéural and Com-
mercial Society of Antigua, held on August 23, a paper
dealing with the results of tests for tuberculosis was
read by Mr. P. T. Saunders, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary
Officer of the Imperial Departments of Agriculture.
Attention was drawn to the nature of the disease, its
symptoms, and post mortem appearances, and the
causal agent was described. The tuberculin test was
also explained. The tests recently carried out were
then analysed. The total number of animals tested
was 162, and of these forty reacted to the test, giving
a percentage of 247. Of the number tested, forty-
three were working oxen, twenty-six bulls, sixty-
six cows, seventeen heifers and ten steers. The oxen
were affected to the extent of 419 per cent., the bulls
26:9 per cent., the cows 13°6 per cent. the heifers
176 per cent.; and the steers 30 per cent.

It was pointed out that the tests could not be con-
sidered as representing an average incidence of the
disease, because many were suspected animals, but the
seriousness of the disease was emphasized from the
fact that of 137 animals not suspected, twenty-three,
or 16°8 per cent., were found to be affected.

The means for suppression of the disease were
finally dealt with and the generally accepted methods
of eradication were outlined,

INSECT NOTES.

ENTOMOLOGY IN. TRINIDAD.

At the meeting of the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad,
in July last its Entomolgist presented a report covering his
work during the time since the previous meeting. The
report dealt principally with matters relating to the occur-
rence of the froghopper (Yomaspis varia, Fabr.) on a number
of estates, and showed the difference in the abundance of
this pest where different treatments had been applied. In
those localities where the fields were burned after the canes
had been cut and the surrounding traces were also burned,
there were few froghoppers and only a small amount of spittle
to be seen. In those fields which were burned over while the
canes were still standing there were at the time of the report
more froghoppers than under the preceding conditions. In
those localities where no burning was done, that is where
infested fields and traces had gone untreated, froghoppers
Were numerous, spittle masses were abundant and the canes
were beginning to show signs of injury already.

The froghopper fungus (Metarrhizium anisopliae)
appeared to be doing good work on the two estates where
spores had been distributed in the previous year. The use
of lime and sulphur applied dry was being tried as a remedy,
but it was too early to say what the result of the trials
would be.

The Mexican predaceous bug (Castolus) had been dis-
tributed to seven estates, where they had been observed
since their liberation in the field. These insects seemed
quite at home, and were found to be attacking the adult
froghoppers. : ;

_ Attacks of the cotton worms and the corn ear worm
are recorded, and it was suggested that these insects could
be killed by the use of arsenate of lead, applied either as
a dust, or as a spray.

A note was also given on the use of formalin for the
destruction of house-flies. The method suggested was as
follows: 1 part of formalin in a mixture with 6 parts of
condensed milk and water. This is exposed in saucers.
A few pieces of bread are put into the mixture to provide
places for the flies to alight and feed. This method is
similar to that mentioned in the Agricultural News, Vol. XI,
p. 58, where an account was given of the successful use of this
method in South Carolina. In this latter instance formalin
was used in water and ina mixture of milk and water. It is
mentioned that in Port-ofSpain the principal breeding
places for the house-fly are horse-manure heaps. Careful
attention to the removal of their breeding places will have
greater effect in reducing the numbers of these insects than
any methods of killing or capturing the adult fly.

The Assistant Entomologist reported on the method of
trapping the cacao beetle by means of pieces of thick bark
from the trunks of the Chataigne Maron (Pachira aquatica)
placed in the forks of the caeao tree or against its trunk.
The eggs of the beetle are laid in these pieces of trap bark,
which dries in a short time and causes the death of the eggs
ov of the young larvae which may have hatched from them.
(See also West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XII, p. 311.)

At the meeting of the Board in August and September
the froghopper situation was discussed at length, and at the
close of the latter of these meetings a committee was
appointed to investigate the whole matter of froghopper
control in that island.

During the discussion of the question of the abundance
~ the froghopper a diversity of opinion was shown to be held

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.
SS a

SEPTEMBER 28, 1912.

by members of the Board. Certain influential planters
maintained that no improvement was to ke seen on those-
estates where the recommendations of the Board’s officers had
been carried out. The officers of the Board however. showed
that the introduced Mexican bug was actively engaged in
destroying the froghoppers and that the fungus was more
abundant where the spores had been distributed than in
other localities. The long continued drought earlier in the-
year had helped to make the froghopper conditions very
bad, but experiments and trials in methods of control were
being continued.

The Director of Agriculture stated to the meeting that
he was making trials of nitrolim, a nitrogenous manure-
which he hoped would prove of value as possessing certaim
insecticidal properties, which would be effective against the
froghopper.

The result of the efforts in Trinidad to control the frog-
hopper will be awaited with much interest in all sugar-pro-
ducing countries where this pest is likely to occur. The
experiments with the froghopper fungus and the Mexicar
predaceous bug as natural enemies of the froghopper are
likely to have important results. The practice of clear
cultivation, and the burning of trash and the grass on the
traces, are also likely to result in definite improvement when
they have been tried over a series of years on a fairly large
scale.

The question as to whether the froghopper fungus will)
attack the Mexican bug and thus interfere with its pre-
daceous activity is one that time alone will answer.

The Brown Hardback.—In a recent number of
the Agricultural News (see Vol. XI, p. 298), mention was made-
of the brown hardback (Phytalus smithi, Arrow.) which has.
appeared in such extraordinary numbers in Mauritius. In the
Bulletin Agricole, Mauritius, for May 1912, a brief account of
the occurrence of this insect is given, with mention of the prin-
cipal points in its life-history. This information is taken
from a report submitted to the Government by M. D.
d’Emmerez de Charmoy. It is shown that the life-cycle of
this insect occupies a period of from 405 to 648 days, of
which from 265 to 333 days are spent in the egg, larval
and pupal stages.

As already stated in the Agricultural News, the tota
number of beetles collected in the campaign against this pest
from August 1911 to April 1912 amounted to over 26.
million. The greatest number captured in any one day, or
rather night, was nearly three million, taken on December 14.
In the report under consideration, the weights are given for
these enormous numbers of insects. It appears that the
total capture was equal to a weight of 15 metric tons, 800
kilos., or about 20 long tons. The weight of the insects
captured on December 14 was 700 kilos., or about 1,540 th.

Antigua at the Canadian National Bxhibi-
tion.—Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc., Superintendent of Agri-
culture for the Leeward Islands, has sent information to the
effect that the material representing Antigua on the occasiom
of the present holding of this exhibition comprised eighty-
nine separate exhibits, including samples of sugar, molasses,
cotton, and lime juice and other minor products, together
with native curios, picture post cards, and ornamental andl
decorative material. A small illustrated pamphlet, dealing
with useful general matters relating to Antigua, was also
issued by the Permanent Exhibition Committee for distribu-
tion at the exhibition.

Vor XT. No; 272:

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. ald

‘TRADE AND AGRICULTURE OF CUBA
1910-11.

The following information concerning the agricul-
ture and commerce of Cuba during the year ended
June 30, 1911, is taken from Diplomatic and Con-
sular Reports, No. 4905 Annual Series:—

The total trade of the Republic during the period under
review amounted to £49,432,634, divided into imports
£22,520,370 and exports £26,912,264, showing an increase
of £969,120 in imports and a decrease of £3,095,861 in
exports, or a decrease in the total trade of £2,126,741 as
compared with the figures of the preceeding financial year.
‘The decrease is accounted for by a diminution both in the
size and value of the 1911 sugar crop.

The total production (including local consumption) of
sugar in 1911 was 1,485,451 tons, as against 1,804,349 tons
Za 1930

The decrease in the value of the crop as compared with
the preceding one was about £4,000,000, the quantity
harvested being nearly 300,000 tons short of the estimate.

The area under sugar continues to increase under the
stimulus given to the industry by the increased demand and
consequent high prices of the past two or three years, and it
is said that there are still 10,000 square miles of sugar land
awaiting development.

The value of the tobacco exported in 1910-11 was
£6,184,680; in 1909-10, it was £5,765,155.

The crop of 1910-11 again suffered severely from the

cyclone, but was nevertheless larger than that of the previous
“year.
x The export trade with the United Kingdom appears to be
still suffering from the increase in the British duty. Exact
figures of the exports to the United: Kingdom are not yet
-available, but it is known that they show a slight increase
over the figures of the previous year. The United Kingdom
still remains Cuba’s best customer for cigars.

Fruits. No great progress can yet be recorded in the
citrus fruit industry. It would appear that a success can at
present only be made of this industry where the plantations
are in a position to supply the local market.

The export trade in coco-nuts has been almost destroyed
by a disease which has attacked the palms, and the number
exported has fallen in three years from 10,000,000 to
4,000,000. A coco-nut oil mill at Baracoa which formerly
sworked day and night operates only two days a week. The
Commission which has been considering the disease appears
to be of opinion that nothing can uproot the disease except
the destruction of all the infected palms. As it takes five
years for a coco nut palm to come into bearing, the industry
must for some time suffer eclipse.

The exportation of pineapples in 1910-11 amounted to
°989,883 crates, a decrease of about 350,000 crates as
-compared with the export in the previous year, the whole
going to the United States.

coTron. An interesting experiment has recently been
“made in growing cotton on tobacco lands in the Province of
Pinar del Rio. So far 6 acres have been planted and the
experiments have extended over three years.

The owners are now anxious to put the matter on
‘a commercial basis, and if the industry can be made
@ success it would do much to relieve the prevalent distress
in the western province.

stsaL. A factory has recently been established at Regla,
“near Havana, with a capital of £70,000 to work the sisal
‘from its own plantation at Cardenas, The’ machinery has

all been inported from the United States. It is said that
2,000,000 plants are now ready for cutting and that over
3,000 acres are ready for cultivation.

_ _ At Matanzas is situated the largest plant for working
sisal in the West Indies, and there are 4,000 acres under
cultivation in the immediate neighbourhood.

HONEY. A considerable amount of honey and beeswax
is produced in the eastern part of the island. It is
estimated that 250,000 gallons of honey (valued at £21,000)
and 250,000 tb. of wax (valued at £13,500) were exported
in 1909-10. The honey is dark in colour but of good
quality. Nearly the whole of the honey goes to tha
Netherlands, and the wax to Germany.

TIMBER. Twelve million feet of spruce and 8,000,000
feet of white pine annually come to Havana, of which nearly
all the spruce and much of the pine come from Canada.
The import of Canadian lumber shows considerable prospect
of increase.

Hardwoods—consisting almost entirely of mahogany—
to the value af £71,500 were exported to the United
Kingdom during the year under review.

COFFEE. Coffee, which was once Cuba’s principal crop,
is now so little cultivated that only enough is grown to fill
one quarter of the local demand. Cuba takes practically the
whole crop produced by Porto Rico, the duty of Porto Rican
coffee being only 8} cents per tb. as against 11 cents on the
product of other countries. The total amount imported in
1909-10 was 25,000,000 tb.

Coffee is, nevertheless, a crop which would give good
returns to the grower in Cuba, as the home-grown article
retails at about 25 per cent. higher price than foreign coffee,
and is produced at about 1,200 tb. to the acre.

BRITISH GUIANA AND THE INTERNA-
TIONAL RUBBER EXHIBITION.

In the last number of the Agricultural News, p. 299
an account was given of the representation of the Imperial
Institute at the Third International Rubber Exhibition.
At a meeting of the British Guiana Board of Agriculture,
held on August 22, it was stated that the following samples
from the Colony would be additionally included in the
exhibit of that Institnte:—

(1) Seven-pound sheet of balata from Messrs. Garnett
& Co.

(2) Seven-pound sample of sheet balata from the Con-
solidated Rubber and Balata Company.

(3) Seven pounds of plantation Para biscuits from Mr. W.
Hodgson, of Plantation Noitgedacht, Demerara River,

(4) Biscuits of plantation Para rubber from Messrs.
Booker, Bros,, McConnell & Co., Ltd., from Plantation
Tuschen.

(5) Biscuits of plantation Para rubber from the Experi-
ment Station of the Department of Science and Agriculture,

(6) Biscuits of Sapium rubber from Bonasika Govern-
ment Reserve.

(7) Scrap cakes of Sapium rubber from David Young
Rubber Estates, Ltd.

The Permanent Exhibitions Committee announced
further that it was prepared to receive additional, suitable
exhibits of rubber and balata, up to September 14,

THE

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS SertEmBer 28, 1912,

GLEANINGS.

A report by H. M. Consul-General at Ispaban, Persia,
shows that the cotton crop of that district is expected to be
about 50,000 ewt. At the time of reporting about 11,600 cwt.
remained over from the previous crop.

A note in the /owrnal of the Royal Society of Arts for
August 16, 1912, states that, according to an _ Italian
Consular Report from Batavia, the production of rice in
Java, in 1910, was 4,932,554 long tons.

The Borsen Zeitung, Berlin, dated August 7, 1912,
states that the prospects are good for the present season’s
cotton crop in Togoland. In 1911 the yield was 1,137,400 b.;
_in the previous year it was 1,027,400 tb. It is expected that
the former return will be exceeded.

It is announced by the Superintendent of Agriculture,
Grenada, that several thousand lime seedlings are ready at
the Botanic Station, for sale locally. Cane plants (of B. 147)
to the number of 50,000 have also been imported by the Agri-
eultural Department from Antigua, for sale in the island.

In order to save them from the torment of flies, a writer
in the July number of 7he Animals’ Friend suggests that
when horses are ‘summered’ in pastures they should be
turned out only at night, and kept in their stables during the
daytime, or at any rate during the hotter hours, (Nature,
August 22, 1912).

It was reported by the Agricultural Superintendent,
St. Vincent, in August, that the cotton crop although in
« backward state was making fair progress, and that the
same may be said of other staple crops. Coco-nut planting
was being continued on a large scale, but trouble was still
‘being experienced from the white fly, in certain districts,

The plant distribution from the St. Lucia Botanic
Station during last month included the following: limes
11,500, Liberian coffee 104, cacao 50, mangoes 9, nutmegs
7, decorative plants 41, various other plants 31, vegetable
seeds, 107 packets, horse beans 3} gallons, papaw seeds 2 hb.
The total distribution from this station reached 11,742
plants.

By the end of August, most of the cotton lands in Nevis-
had been planted, and the young crop was making good,
progress. It was expected that about 2,500 acres of land in
the island would be planted this year, about 280 acres of
which had been cleared specially for the purpose. Cotton-
picking had begun during that month, and fairly good
returns were being received, on estates where the seed was
sown early.

The Agricultural Superintendent, St. Kitts, reported in
August last that the young cotton in the island was growing
well, and appeared to be healthy, in spite of the dry
weather. Although there had been only moderate showers,
there was every prospect for a good return from the crop>.
picking had begun in some of the earlier-planted fields.
The cotton worm had appeared on some of the estates, but
had done little damage, because the usual repressive mean=
had immediately been taken.

The plant distribution from the Dominica Botanic
Station during last month included the following: limes-
8,781, cacao 300, vanilla 50, Para rubber 12, nutmegs 6,
grafted mangoes 2, miscellaneous 37, the total being 9,18&-
plants; a large number of papaw seedlings, as well as several
pounds of seed of this plant, were also sent out. The rain-
fall for the month was abnormally low, the precipitation.
being only 4°88 inches, while the average rainfall for August,
for eighteen years, is 10:12 inches.

The announcement is made that the Cambridge Univer-
sity Press intends to publish a series of Cambridge Agri-
cultural Monographs, dealing with agricultural subjects in
a critical and impartial manner, and sufficiently detailed te
be of use to all readers, but especially to those who have
not access to a well-equipped reference library. The subjects-
that are proposed so far for treatment are: the strength of
wheat flour, the constitution of the soil, disease resistance,
inorganic plant poisons and stimulants, the chemical composi-
tion of cows’ milk, nitrogen fixation by symbiotic processes, .
and poisonous plants. it is hoped to publish the first
volume in the autumn of 1913,

An abstract in the Maperiment Station Record for
June 1912, p. 723, summarizes the results of experiments-
which were conducted in Utah with soils containing a higle
percentage of magnesium compounds. The investigation is
stated to have shown quite clearly that the high proportion
of magnesia is not poisonous to plants, either because the
ratio of magnesia to lime is within 1:3, which in accord-
ance with Loew’s suggestion is favourable to growth, or-
because the calcium and magnesium are present in the form
of a double carbonate, so that there is actually. little
magnesium carbonate free as such in the soil. The latter
suggestion leads to the proposal to use magnesian limestone
for correcting soil acidity. With further reference to the
subject, the Agricultural News may be consulted as follows:
Vols. IX, pp. 95 and 204; X, pp. 60 and 328; XI, p, 184.

Vor. XI. No 272,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 317

eee

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

OCTOBER.
First Periop.

Seasonal Notes.

It is well known that, in the case of two solutions of
different strengths, separated by a suitable membrane, the
pressure on one side of the membrane is greater than that on
the other, the greater pressure being toward the stronger
solution; the difference between the pressures is called the
Osmotic Pressure. Its existence is often demonstrated by
tying a membrane over the mouth of ‘a small glass funnel,
putting salt water into the vessel thus formed, and inverting
the funnel with its mouth below the surface of a quantity of
tap water; the greater pressure is exerted toward the salt
water, so that water passes through the membrane into the
salt water which consequently rises in the tube of the funnel.
In another way, pieces of yam or potato, put into salt water,
lose their stiffness, because water passes out of their cells;
while on the other hand, if pieces of these plants (or similar
material from other plants) are placed in water, they: swell
and become stiff, because the water has passed into the
stronger -solution in their cells and increased the internal
pressure on the walls of these.

It must be remembered that, at the same time, sub-
stances in the stronger solution pass into the weaker. Apply
these matters to living plants and state why the strength of
the solutions in the cells of the roots of such plants does not
become gradually so weak that it is no stronger than the
soil solution in contact with them.

In considering the value of agriculture to mankind, it
must be remembered that, while mining, manufacture and
trade are necessary for the development of a country, the
foundation of these is agriculture: without the production of
crops and stock, civilization is at present impossible. The
importance of agriculture to a growing country in which
there is still much room for development is illustrated by
reference to statistics concerning the United States of
America. These show that, in the year 1899, the
total capital invested in manufactures in that country was
about ten billion dollars, while the total value of all farm
property in that year was more than twice as much. The
matter is further illustrated by the consideration that the
total horse-power employed at the same period in factories
is stated to be more than eleven million, while the total
number of horses and mules on farms was over 18 million;
this is of course only a rough manner of comparison. These
figures help to demonstrate the preponderating share of
agriculture under conditions of growth and progress.

The complexity of the matters that pertain to agri-
culture is indicated by the fact that chemistry, physics
botany, geology, zoology, entomology (which may be con-
sidered asa branch of zoology), mycology (or the study of
the fungi producing plant diseases), bacteriology and meteor-
ology are all required in its study and practice. Again, the
agriculturist, whether he is attending to the raising of crops
or stock for commercial purposes, or making investigations
and giving advice, has to pay attention, not only to the
sciences that are the handmaidens of agriculture, but must
possess knowledge of the subject as an art, and the ability
to deal with it asa business, The interests of agriculture

are complex; the position is summed up shortly ina text-
book* issued in recent years: ‘It [agriculture] involves
more problems than any other occupation—unless it be
housekeeping.’

Questions for Candidates.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Why is the soil round a tree, under ordinary
conditions, higher than the surrounding soil?

(2) Why does recently germinated
a sweet taste!

(3) How do pod-bearing plants help to enrich the soil
in nitrogen?

corn possess

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) Describe the structure of any root that you have

examined,
(2) Give an account of the exports of the colony in

which you live.
(3) State how you employ published agricultaral

matter in connexion with your work.
FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) Give your experience of the employment of
a nursery on an estate.

(2) From a consideration of the imports of the colony
in which you live, show how the conditions may be improved
by a greater local production of useful food-stuffs.

(3) Discuss the usefulness of agricultural literature to

the planter.

A Trial of Apterite.—At the request of the pro-
prietors, some tests have been made at the Hawkesbury
Agricultural College to ascertain the effect of this preparation
upon eel worms in the soil. A piece of light sandy soil was
selected for the trial. The rubbish and weeds were either
burned or carted away, and the ground ploughed on Octoberf6,
1911, and harrowed on the following day. It was then culti-
vated once a fortnight until December 18, when Apterite
was sown by hand, and the ground ploughed 4 or 5 inches
deep. The area had been divided into nine plots and appli-
cations were made at varying strengths, from 103 to 656 hb.
per acre. Untreated strips were left between the plots for

observation purposes.

The ground was then harrowed and rolled, and on
December 21 sown with Poona cowpeas. A few patches of
green summer grass which were on the ground at ploughing
time were harrowed out before sowing.

Half of the area was uniformly affected by eel worm to
such an extent that very little seed was formed, and all the
plants died before full maturity. The other half, with the
exception of a small strip adjoining the damaged section, was
only slightly affected. The only conclusion that can be drawn
is that the application of ‘Apterite’ made no difference in the
severity of the affection, and did not prevent the eel worms
from attacking the plants (The Agricultural Gazette of
New South Wales, July 1912,)

* Elements of Agriculture, by G. T.. Warren; Messrs,
Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

o3
—
(o

FUNGUS NOTES.

CROWN GALL OF PLANTS AND

ITS RELATION TO ANIMAL
CANCER

In February 1911 there was issued Bulletin 213 of the
Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department
of Agriculture entitled Crown-Gall of Plants: Its cause and
Remedy, by Erwin F. Smith, Nellie A. Brown, and C. O.
Townsend, and in June of this year appeared Bulletin 255
of the same Bureau under the title The Structure and
Development of Crown-Gall: A Plant Cancer, by Erwin
F. Smith, Nellie A. Brown and Lucia McCulloch. The
contents of these two bulletins are of very great interest, not
only because they provide a clear proof of the cause of crown
gall in plants—a disease that had baftled the numerous
earlier attempts to discover its origin; but even more perhaps
on account of the theory of the senior author that the structure
and development of these galls is analogous to those of cancer
growths in animals, and that the elucidation of the cause of
the one may result in the discovery of a similar cause for
the other and necessitate the acceptance as a fact of the now
much discredited theory that animal cancer is due to a bac-
terial parasite. ;

Crown galls are hard or, more usually, fairly soft
swellings of varying sizes and unlimited growth that occur on
the crown, roots, stems and leaves of a comparatively large
number of different plants mostly of importance as crops or
ornamental plants. The duration of the galls depends
somewhat upon whether they are hard or soft, as in the
latter case they may be entered by saprophytes and secondary
parasites which destroy them; the entrance of these organisms
and of water is facilitated by the fact that the galls are usually
not protected by a cork layer on the outside. Another
disease often associated with the presence of galls is hairy
root in which a large number of roots, usually fine and hairy
but sometimes fleshy, arise at a smal] spot on an older root.
The spot usually consists of a flat swelling similar in origin
and appearance to a small gall. This disease has been
shown by the workers mentioned to be due to an organism
very similar to that causing crown gall, and capable of
producing tumours only, when inoculated into plants. In one
instance both tumours and hairy root resulted from separate
inoculations with this organism on the same plant. Further
evidence of the identity of the two diseases lies in the fact
that occasionally hard galls are found in nature with a tuft of
small roots attached to them. Hard and soft galls were at
one time supposed to be different, but as the organisms
causing them are almost identical, and as numerous transition
forms between the two types of gall occur, they must now be
regarded as identical and the difference in their appearance
as due only to different rates of growth or to differences
in the tissues originally infected. Thus hard and soft galls
and hairy root are all to be regarded as of practically the
same nature and of nearly identical origin.

Crown gall has been known in Europe on several
plants for at least fifty years, and has usually been ascribed to
frost cr mechanical injuries. A few authors have attributed
it to bacteria, but without sufficiently conclusive proof. It
is particularly well-known on the grape, and occurs also on
the rose, poplar and probably peach, as well as_ other
plants. It has been recorded on the grape in Chile and
Peru, for South America, and on a large number of hosts
including the daisy, almond, peach, quince, apple, raspberry,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 28, 1912.

blackberry, rose, grape, red clover, alfalfa, cotton, hop and
sugar beet, all over North America, while a similar disease on
poplar, willow, peach, apple and other trees is reported from
South Africa. A disease that may well be the same has
been found on roses in the West Indies.

The first results of the attempts made by Dr. Smith and
his fellow workers to isolate a causative bacterium from gall
tissues were all entirely of a negative nature, as of the
numerous different organisms obtained, none would reproduce
the disease when inoculated into healthy plant tissues.
Finally, however, it was observed that in cultures from daisy
tumours certain colonies developed some time after the others,
not until five or six days had elapsed, and that when these
colonies were isolated in pure cultures, the bacteria compos-
ing them did cause galls when inoculated into healthy daisy
stems. After this it was found that the same organism
could give rise to galls on several other plants on which such
swellings had been found in nature. The bacterium thus
isolated was studied on various culture media, its staining
reactions determined, and finally named Bacterium tumefaciens.
Other very similar organisms were isolated from galls both
hard and soft, on several different host plants, as well as
from the swollen pad from which hairy roots arise.

These organisms all behaved in a more or less similar
manner on the different culture media and all produced galls
on the hosts similar to those from which they were isolated,
as well as on a more or less wide range of other plants.
Thus by inoculation, cross-inoculation and cultural methods
it was established that crown galls and hairy root on a large
number of different plants are due to different strains
of the same bacterium or to a very closely related group of
similar bacteria.

The organism is a wound parasite that lives in the
soil, and in nature usually makes an entry through
wounds on the roots or crown. The amount of damage
caused by the galls varies on different hosts, but their presence
often results in the gradual death of the plant, and usually
causes stunting and barrenness even where death does not
occur. The disease is very common on nursery stock,
and it is by the distribution of infected plants that it is
principally disseminated. Smith urges the careful control of
such stock, and suggests that infected land should not be
replanted with plants known to be susceptible to the disease.
In hot houses it can be got rid of by heating the soil.
Continued inoculation experiments showed that the bacteria
lose their virulence when kept for some time—about two
years in this case—in pure cultures, and that different strains
isolated from different host species, and from the same host
species at different times, vary very considerably in their
virulence, some being apparently unable to reproduce the
disease at all. Further, it appeared that a certain degree of
immunity may be obtained in a strain of plauts reproduced
vegetatively when the strain is inoculated tnvough several
generations, 1

The primary tumours, such as are caused by inoculation,
originate as a rule in young growing tissue, generally the
cambium; they can only be successfully induced artificially
by inoculation into young, vigorously-growing parts of the
host. When formed in the stem they include in their
substance elements of all or nearly all the usual tissues,
These primary tumours form (root or tumour) strands that
run through the normal tissues and may extend for some
distance; these consist of undifferentiated young cells that can
give rise to medullary rays, tracheids and sieve tubes, and
their cells are rich in chloroplasts. These strands can
become the origin of secondary tumours within the plant,
often situated at some distance from the original gall.

Vor. XI, No, 272:

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

319

A peculiar point about these secondary swellings is that,
no matter in what part of the plant they form, they
have the same structure as the part in which the primary
tumour arose. Thus a secondary tumour in a leaf that has
originated from a primary stem tumour shows a stem
structure, not a leaf structure; while a primary tumour
in a leaf does not possess a stem structure. These galls
resemble animal cancers in their unlimited growth, in the
fact that they contain the tissues proper to the organ in
which they arise, and in the formation of secondary galls
with the structure ef the part in which the primary growth
was formed. In animals the secondary tumours are not
connected to the primary by definite strands, but are formed
by the migration of a cell or cells of the primary tumour
to another part of the body. This difference is probably
due to the nature of the host and is not dependent upon
any essential differences in the nature of the swellings
themselves.

The causative bacteria inhabit the interiors of certain of
the cells of the tumour often in small numbers only. They
are not to be found in the intercellular spaces or in the
interior of the vessels of the wood. ‘Their presence stimulates
the cells to rapid division, and by the growth of the tumour
strands they are transferred to different parts of the host.
They have been isolated in pure culture from the secondary
as well as the primary tumours, and in one instance from
a tumour strand. Inside the cells they are in an unhealthy
condition, probably partly because of the accumulation
around them of their own poisonous secretions which are
very possibly also responsible for the stimulus causing the
division of the cells of the host. When this division occurs,
nuclear substances from the host cell nucleus are liberated
into the protoplasm and these revive the activities of
the bacteria. Their unhealthy condition in the host
explains their originally slow growth on culture media,
and may account for the difficulty of staining them
there by the usual stains, though they stain readily when
obtained from an artificial culture. Their few numbers and
the difficulty of staining them, combined with their slow
original growth on culture media inoculated with tumour
tissue, accounts for the long time that their discovery has taken.
Dr. Smith urges that possibly the same causes operate in the
case of animal cancers and explain the general acceptance of
the view that these diseases are not due to the presence of
foreign organisms in the cell. He urges that the crown
gall presents so close an analogy to animal cancer that it is
only reasonable to believe that the latter may well be due
to the presence in the proliferating animal cells, or in some
of them, of a definite foreign organism probably a bacterium,
but not necessarily the same as that found in crown gall.

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of August 1912:—

The month of August, notwithstanding that it is in the
height of the holiday season, and usually a dull one for
business in London, was an exception this year, a slight
reaction having set in after the severe depression of the ten
weeks strike of dock labourers, week by week things have

been slowly shaping themselves into normal conditions and
as the holidays end it is expected that there will be a satis-
factory revival of trade in drugs and chemicals, many of
which have, during the month under review advanced in
prices.

The following details refer to the ordinary West India
imports.

GINGER.

In consequence of the holidays there were no spice
auctions held till the 14th of the month, when the offerings
were small, with a very slow demand, 48s. to 49s. per ewt.
was paid for eight barrels of good ordinary, but mouldy
Jamaica, 445 bags of Cochin were offered and only 30 sold
at 35s. per ewt. for washed slightly wormy. On the 28th
some 906 bags of Cochin were brought forward, part of
which sold at 30s. per cwt. for common wormy rough,
a further 200 bags of washed rough wormy were dispesed of
at 33s. to 33s. 6d. per cwt.

NUTMEGS, MACE, PIMENTO AND ARROWROOT,

At the auction on the 14th, nutmegs were in good
supply, as many as 650 packages of West Indian being
offered and all sold at an advance of 1s. 4d. per b. on previous
rates, 61’s to 71’s fetching 7d. to 10d., 72’s to 82’s 7d. to
73d., 84’s to 94’s 64d. to 74d., 96’s to 106’s 64d. to thd.,
121’s to 131’s 6d. to 7d.; 38 cases of Java limed were also
offered and sold, 60’s to 70’s fetching 74d. to 8d., 80’s to
90’s 63d. to 7d., and 100’s 5¢d. A week later 52 bags of
West Indian were offered and sold at the following rates:—
66’s to 76's, 7d. to 74d., 77's 7d, 101’s to 114’s 64d. and
136’s 6d. At the last auction on the 28th, 15 packages of
West Indian were offered and all disposed of at similar rates,
Mace was represented at auction on the 14th of the month
by 253 packages of West Indian, the bulk of which sold at
steady rates, 2s. 8d. to 2s. 9d. being paid for fine bold pale,
2s. 6d. for good pale reddish, 2s. 3d. to 2s, 5d. for fair to
good palish, 2s. 1d. to 2s. 3d. for fair to good red, and
Ils. 10d. to 2s. ld. for broken. Pimento has been quiet
throughout the month. On the 14th some 30 barrels of
St. Vincent arrowroot were offered and sold at 34d. per hb.

SARSAPARILLA.

In consequence of the drug auctions not being resumed,
on account of the holidays, till the 22nd of the month the
offerings of sarsaparilla on that date were very large, grey
Jamaica being represented by 60 bales of which 43 were
sold, native Jamaica 29 bales and 26 sold, and Honduras 11
bales, none of which found buyers. Fair grey Jamaica
fetched 2s. 3d. per tb., part rough 2s. 2d., and 1s. 9d. to
ls. 11d. was paid for country damaged and mouldy, of the
native Jamaica good red realized 1s. 3¢., dull to fair red 1s.
to 1s. 2d. middling 11d. and inferior mixed 83d. to 94d. per bb.

LIME JUICE, TAMARINDS AND KOLA,

At the first sale on the 14th, lime juice appeared after
being held up by the strike to the extent of 300 packages
from Dominica, 2s. to 2s. ld. per gallon were the quoted
prices for raw West Indian. A week later five puncheons of
fair palish raw West Indian were disposed of at ls. 6d. per
gallon. At the end of the month good pale raw West Indian
was quoted at ls. 9d. per gallon, the demand for it had con-
siderably lessened on account of the prevalence of cold and
wet weather. At auction on the 22nd, three barrels of dry
West Indian tamarinds were brought forward and reserved
at 7s. percwt. Fair quality, in bond was quoted at 12s. to
14s. At this auction 25 bags of fair dried kola from the
West Indies were offered and bought in at 7d.

320

London.—Tse West Inpia

MARKET REPORTS.

ComMITTEE CIRCULAR

September 10, 1912; Messrs. E. A. DE Pass &
Co., August 30, 1912.

ArrowRoot—3id. to 4jd.

Batata—Sheet, 3/64 ; block, 2/5 per tb.

Breeswax—#£7 lds.

Oacao—Trinidad, 70/- to 85/- per cwt.; Grenada, 57/-
to 64/-; Jamaica, 56/- to 63/-.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 67/6 to 72/- per cwt.

Oorra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Oorron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 14d. to 153d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 1/6 to 1/104; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d.
to £18 17s. 6d.; otto of limes (hand pressed),,7/6.

Logwoop—No quotations.

Macre—2/1 to 2/6.

Nutmecs—6d. to 10d.

Pimento—Common, 2,%d.; fair, 23d.; good, 2}}d.; per tb.

Rusger—Para, fine hard, 4/10$ to 4/114.; fine soft, 4/95;
Castilloa, 4/4 per Tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-.

Suear—Crystals, 16/- to 18/-; Muscovado, 11/- to 14/-;
Syrup, no quotations; Molasses, no quotations.

New York,—Messrs, GintEspiz Bros, & Co., September

6, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 14c. to 153c.; Grenada, 14jc. to 14$c.
Trinidad, 14c. to 15c. per tbh.; Jamaica, 1l3c. to 13c.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $30°00 to $32°00; culls,
$1700 to $18°00; Trinidad, select, $34°00 to $35:00;
culls, $17:00 to $1800 per M.

Oorrre—Jamaica, 14$c. to 17c. per fb.

QGincEeR—83c. to 12}c. per Ib.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 45c.
to 46c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 42c. to 44c.
per tb.

Grapre-FrRvuit—Jamaica, $2°75 to $3°25.

Limes—$4°00 to $5:00.

Macre—No quotations.

Nourmacs—110’s, 15c.

Orances—Jamaica, $1°75 to $2°25 per box.

Pimento—4jc. per fb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°36c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3:86c.: Molasses, 89°, 3°61c. per fb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., September 16,

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $14°00 per fanega; Trinidad, $13°75
to $14°50.

Ooco-nut O1r—$1'04 per Imperial gallon.

OorrrE—Venezuelan, 18c. per fb.

Oorra—$4°45 per 100 th.

Dxaat—$5'00.

Onrons—$2'00 to $2°25 per 100 th.

Pras, Sprir—$6°50 per bag.

Potators—English, $1°75 to $2°25 per 100 tb.

Rice—Yellow, $5°00; White, $6°25 to $6°35 per bag.

Svear—American crushed, no quotations.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

SEPTEMBER 28,

1912,

Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncu & Co., Ltd., Sep-
tember 21, 1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway & Co.,
September 22, 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co., Sep-

12, 1912.

ArrowRoor—$7 ‘00 to $7°25 per 100 tb.

Cacao—$13'00 to $14
Coco-nuts—$20°00.

‘00 per 100 fb.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°80 per 100 th.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45°00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80:00 to $8500

per ton.

Motassrts—No quotations.
Ontons—$2°50 to $3°00 per 100 tb.
Peas, Sprir—$6°40 to $6°75 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,
$3°00 to $5:0U per bag of 120 th.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°20 to $3:00 per 160 fh.
Rice—Ballam, $5°20 to $5°70 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quota-

tions; Rangoon,

no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $500 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietine & RicuTEr, Septem-
ber 14, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacn, Parker & Co.,

September 13,

1912.

ARTICLES.

Arrowroot—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Coco-NuTsS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DxHaL—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasszes— Yellow

Onrons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLAaNTAINS—
Potators—Nova Scotia

& RIcHTER.

No quotation

80c. to $1°20
$750 to $8-00

20c. per th.
20c. per th.
16c. per th.
$4°50
168 tb
$5°50
$1°00 to $1°44
None

bag (210 tb.)

to 48c.

16c.

Lisbon
Potators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Svuear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimpER—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

2 Cordwood

$225
$2°88
per bag
No quotation
$600
$1-80

$4:00
$3°20 to $3°40
$4:00 to $4°25

$2°80
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$4°00 to $6°25

per M.
$1°80 to 32:00
per ton

Messrs. WIETING

76c. to 77c. per tb.
15c. to 16c. per th.

per bag of

4ic. to 5c. per th.
$6°75 to $7:00 per

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited

14c. to 15c. th.
No quotation
No quotation

$16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM.,

peeled and
selected
18c. per fb.
20c. per tb.
15c. per th.
$4°50.

5e.
$7 25 per ba
(210 tb.) ;
No quotation
No quotation

$6°00 to $6°25
$3°45
$3°90

32c. to 55c. per

cub. foot

$4:00 to $6:00
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 XII. Nos. 1 and 2. No. 3:—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Polisher; The Structure and Polli-
nation of the Cacao Flower. Sucar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;
A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugar-canes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugar-cane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
canes with a View to their Classification; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in Megass; The
Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

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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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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 1903, 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.
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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 and
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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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The following have been appu:nted Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
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Grenada : ‘THE Storws’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 272. THE AGRICULTURAL ai SepremBer 28, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

= ACR 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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF'’S) GUANO WORKS.

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.
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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT PESTS
LESSER ANTILLES,

BY, SH Ay BAIEOUR MESos

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department,
price Is, 3¢,, post free 1s, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES. .

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND If FREE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

Kee a SST Pa
ie fo A ea Sept. Eins A (ean EF
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PUTTERS cae = LIE TY aoe Bh;
.- — sw — Ors
a es tee SAPS OD j
ay ee WN

C2 ate ae ile
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2 ) ZN GGG
i. FU Bee LW)

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW emis

oa BOTANIC

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, canoe:
Vou. XI. No. 273. ij BARBADOS, OCTORER 12, 1912. Price 1d.
CONTENTS. broadly, are of a sandy or clayey nature. If all this

Pace, PacE.

Bean, A New
Calcium Cyanamide, Way

... 325 | Jamaica, Annual Report of
Director of Agriculture,

of Using .-. 328 1911. W2geceie ace vena) Out
Camphor, Purification of 322 | Jamaica Harthquake, 1907,
Cotton Notes :— Causeloiiiise, e<e s-- O20
Cotton Industry of Jamaica Farm School ... 329
Carriacou ... ... 326| Market Reports 336
Cotton-Growing in |Maganese in Hawaiian
Egypt Piece tet OoG)| Soils Reeweetaes- aeseoaO
Quality of Uganda Nitrogen-Fixing Plants,
Cotton odie ceo, Seber te Growing Crops with 329
West Indian Cotton ... 326) Notes and Comments ... 328
Cover Crop, New ... ddl | Panama, Trade of, 1911... 325
Dominica and the Canadian Rubber Trees, Manuring
National Exhibition... 335 Of... Bem Mics) acme
Fungus Notes :— Silk Cotton, or Kapok ... 324
Three Fruit Diseases and Soil Analysis, Practical
Their Control... ... 334 Value of eee sen ad
Gleanings ... .. ... 382 Soil Fertility, Duration of 335
Insect Notes :— Students Corner +. Goo
Plant Protection in the Sugar, Some Uses for ... 323
United States... ... 330!Sunn Hemp ... 333
The Practical Value of Soil Analysis.
AHEN soil analysis is mentioned, it is

~ usually understood that an investigation and
MSF statement of the chemical and physical con-
stitution of the soil are intended. In the part of the
statement relating to the chemical investigation, first
attention is paid to the content of the soil in more or
less available compounds containing nitrogen, potash
and phosphorus; while the information relating to the
physical condition of the soil is concerned chiefly with
the proportions that it contains of particles of different
sizes, and with the quantities of these that, speaking

information is properly understood and applied with
a correct regard to its limitations, it is of the greatest
use to the agriculturist. If it is thought to provide an
absolute indication of the degree of fertility of the soil,
and to show necessarily the plant food constituents
that the soil lacks, its provision may be of little avail,
and actually harmful.

A recent discussion*.of the correctness of the
view that the analysis of a soil gives a ready means of
obtaining an indication of its fertility, and of deter-
mining its manurial requirements, deserves notice
here in the light of conditions and experience in the
West Indies. First attention may be directed to the
question—‘to what extent does an analysis of a soil
give an indication of that soil’s fertility”

The fertility of a soil is measured by its power to
grow crops, and this power is most obviously limited
by its ability to supply the plant food requirements
mentioned already. It is not sufficient, nevertheless,
for the soil merely to contain these bodies in adequate
amounts. One matter of the greatest importance
is that there shall be an ample provision of water
to be taken up by the roots,and there are other
essentialst, such as proper aération of the soil.
It is not the purpose of this article to discuss
these: it is only expedient to point out that
insufficiency in any one of them prevents the proper
use by the plant of all the others. Their useful pro-
vision depends, in turn, on such factors as climate,
exposure and depth of soil, and drainage. The chief

* The Journal of the Board of Agriculture, September 1912,

p. 479.
+ Agricultwral News, Vol. UX, p. 257.

322

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Octoser 12, 1912.

limitation to soil analysis is that these factors, obviously,
gannot be determined in the laboratory, Even when
they are known to the analyst and he is able to
eorrelate them with the results of his investigation of
the soil itself, they are quite insufficient to determine
the fertility of any given area. They must be supple-
mented by the local knowledge; experience and judg-
ment of one, such as a planter or investigator, who
may be said to be agriculturally familiar with that area.

The difficulty does not end here, for the analyst
up to the present is not able to give any complete
information as to the availability of the food bodies in
the soil: this may contain nitrogen, phosphates and
potash im amounts that are far greater than
those required by plants, but one or more of these
bodies may be unavailable, or locked up as regards
immediate needs, to such an extent that the soil is
actually less fertile than one containing them in much
smaller amounts but presenting them in forms that
are easily taken up by plants. This is the reason why
a soil showing lack of fertility will often readily respond
to small dressings of certain manures.
amenable to treatment other than manuring; it requires
that the plant food in it shall be made to become
available at a greater rate, and good cultivation, drain-
ing and liming are partial means to this end.

Such a soil is

In this consideration regarding availability of
plant food in the soil, it must not be forgotten that
methods have been devised with the object of ascer-
taining roughly the amount of certain soil constituents
ready for direct use by the plant: an example is
the determination of the proportion of the phosphates
soluble in weak citric acid. This is useful for obtain-
ing broad indications of what is wanted in certain
directions as regards manuring, as well as for compar-
ing soils of the same kind. The serious limitation of
such methods is that they do not include a ready means
of finding the availability of the chief forms in which
nitrogen—the most important of plant food elements—
usually exists in soils.

More directly useful results are afforded by the
second kind of analysis of soils, under discussion, which
is the physical or mechanieal analysis. In most cases
this gives a means of estimating approximately such
matters as the power of the soil to retain water, the
ease with which water drains away from it, and its
ability to withstand drought; it may even supply indi-
cations as to the best methods of cultivation of the

soil. Conditions in the tropics nevertheless render the

hummus content of the soil of such paramount importance
regarding its permeability, water capacity and drainage
that this factor has to he considered very seriously
when interpretation is being given to the results of
physical analysis. If this is remembered, these may
be used in a most valuable way by the planter and
other agriculturists.

A further complication of the matter is that the
results of analyses of the chemical and physical condi-
tions of the soil do not enable much to be inferred con-
cerning its biological condition. These pages have
been often employed recently to explain and emphasize
the importance of the modern conception of the work
of bacteria in the soil. It is here that the physical
analysis again shows its usefulness, provided that its
results are interpreted in the light of knowledge
mainly concerning the water and lime content of the soil,
and regarding its aération. To make the matter plain,
it 1s only necessary to contrast the nitrification and
maintained fertility in an open soil, with an efticient
water-supply, with the loss of nitrogen and non-
productiveness in a waterlogged clay soil.

It can be concluded frem these matters that, while
their proper employment may be most useful, chemical
and physical analyses of the soil—especially the former
kind of investigation—are rarely capable by themselves
of providing direct conclusions regarding fertility in
a particular area. Their main use, in a broad way,
is for supplying material in such work as a goil
survey, by which the soils of a country may be usefully
classified so that general predictions as to the manurial
requirements of these may be made. They can never
replace the simple field experiment as a means of
ascertaining the suitability of a given area of soil for
raising any crop that if is intended to cultivate on
that area.

The Purification of Camphor.—With reference
to the information concerning camphor given on page 302 of
the last number but one of the Agricultwral News, the
following note on its purification, by R. D. Anstead, in the
Planters’ Chronicle for August 3, 1912, is of interest,—

‘The impure camphor should be mixed with about its
own bulk of lime, which acts as a drying agent, or powdered
charcoal, and spread out in a thick layer on a copper plate
and covered with a glass bell jar supported at a little height
above it. Heat should then be gently applied to the plate.
The camphor in the mixture will then evaporate, or sublime
leaving the impurities behind and the vapour will condense
on the cool sides of the bell-jar in a pure powder-like form
known as “flowers”, When the process is complete and no
more camphor sublimes off, the bell-jar is removed and the
pure camphor collected from it.’

VoL, XI. No. 273.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 323

NNN

THE MANURING OF RUBBER TREES.

The following is an abstract, in the Bulletin of the
Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant
Diseases, July 1912, of a paper vy E. de Wildeman in
Le Caoutchouc et la Gutta-Percha for March 15, 1912,
p. 6037-—

It has been demonstrated that the use of a certain
amount of manure is necessary for the successful growing of
rubber trees. Some chemical compounds not only exert
a favourable action on the development of the trees, but
also on the yield of latex. Thus it appears from various
experiments, which however are not completely conclusive,
that nitrate of soda increases the flow of latex and the
proportion of rubber. ;

At Hawaii some manihots were mahured with nitrate of
soda buried to a depth of 4 inches. The experiment was
conducted with three lots of manihots. The first was kept
as control, the second was manured with }-Ib. of the salt per
tree and the third }-Ib, per tree. The control trees yieldec
during the experiment 1 to 2 oz. of dry rubber each; those
of the second lot 1 to 3 oz.; and those of the third lot
2 to 3 oz. per tree. The effects of the nitrate begin to
show after forty-eight hours. [See Agricultural News,
Vol. X, p. 265.] M. E. Lierke has demonstrated that
potash plays a most important part in furthering the
development of heveas, but it must also be borne in mind
that manures, and especially potash, seem to favour the
development of plant parasites also.

Among the rubber growers in the Hast, lime as a manure
raises at present the greatest interest. The value of lime
must be considered according to the soil in which the trees
are grown. In the Middle East the soil is peaty, clayey or
sandy. In peat soils deep drainage is advisable, after which
the soil must be allowed to dry and then it is limed in order
to neutralize its acidity. Clay soils improve physically after
the addition of lime; they are easier to till and do not crack
after prolonged drought. In sandy soils lime improves the
cohesion. Lime acts also directly as plant food; it prevents
the development of the weeds which infest acid soils, and its
application may also become necessary after the repeated use
of other manures, such as sulphate of ammonia, kainit, and
superphosphates which, in the long run, produce a certain
amount of acidity in the soil.

Lime further stops the development of fungi which
produce root rot, and especially of Fomes semitostus, which
causes serious injury to heveas.

It is recommended to slake quicklime with water,
allowing it to turn to a dry powder, and then to spread it
broadcast at the rate of about 5 cwt. per acre, and at least
four times as much on peat or clay.

Experiments conducted in tropical regions where the
rainfall is abundant show that it is preferable to apply lime
and the other manures during the relatively dry season.

In the Malay States the following formula is
recommended:— Quantity
per acre.
Slaked lime 3 to 1 ton
Basic slag 350 Ib.
Sulphate of ammonia 150 ,,
Sulphate of potash 100 ,,
or kainit 400 ,,
or chloride of potash 100 ,,

Instead of salts of ammonia, castor oil, linseed, cotton
seed, earth nut [ground nut] or Hevea seed cake may be given,
and guano may be used instead of basic slag,

Most crops grown between the Hevea trees appear to
retard their development and diminish the yield of rubber.
Tapioca [cassava], sugar-cane and pineapples exhaust the
soil considerably; coffee and cacao are not so harmful,
especially if the plants are kept at a sufficient distance.

There is a good deal to be said both in favour of and
against the use of artificials or of green manures, and the
planter must judge according to his special conditions and
decide which type of manuring may be most useful, or
whether he may not preserve and improve the fertility of
the soil by ‘clean weeding’, and sterilize its surface by the
heat of the sun. This last method naturally requires
a great amount of careful labour which cannot always be
given.

SOME USES FOR SUGAR.

The Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius for April 1912 gives
a summary in an interesting manner of the many ways that
sugar is used in addition to its consumption as food and flav-
ouring, the information being based on an article by M. A.
Vivien, a wellknown French chemical engineer. On the
larger scale it is employed in tanning, particularly in con-
nexion with the use of chromic acid for preparing skins, for
dyeing, the silver-plating of glass, textile manufactures, and
is even mixed with mortar and cement. Other large con-
sumptions of sugar are concerned with the making of
explosives, blacking, transparent soap, clear coco-nut oil,
white linens, and the regulation of the rate of emission of
acetylene gas. In America it is mixed with coke, in the
manufacture of briquettes and similar materials. By burning
it in a closed vessel, a form of carbon is obtained which is
useful for making electric are ‘carbons’. Sugar also enters
into the composition of many copying inks and gums,
Lastly, one of its chief means of consumption is in medicines.

It is claimed that sugar heated on a metal plate yields
6 per cent. of formaldehyde, and this appears to justify the
old method of disinfecting a room by burning sugar.

The power of sugar as a preserving agent is well known,
and greater use of this may be made, particularly for keeping
fresh meat and fish; a patent has actually been granted in
which a solution of sugar containing formalin or creolin is
employed for preserving eggs. In another way, cut flowers
may be made to keep fresh for a longer time by placing their
stalks in water containing 5 to 20 per cent. of sugar: for
roses the strength is 7 to 10 per cent.; for chrysanthemums
it is 15 to 17 per cent. ‘There are flowers, however, such as
lilies, pelargoniums and sweet peas, which fade more quickly
in water containing sugar.

The antiseptic properties of sugar are employed in wood
preservation by such means as the Powell wood process
(see Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 201), and it enters into
many preparations intended for preventing the ravages of
fungi. Boilers and other steam-producing apparatus are
kept from ‘scaling’ by the use of preparations coutain-
ing sugar. Various useful organic acids are made with the
aid of that substance, and in the course of the preparation
of some of them gases possessing a high calorific value
(heating power) are produced; it is also employed in preparing
such acids by fermentation: among them are butyric acid,
yielding butyric ether which has the smell of pine-apples and
is used largely in the perfumery trade and in making syrups.

The matter in this account serves as a reminder of
a similar article describing many uses for cotton, devised in
recent years, contained in the last volume of the Agricultural
News, p. 246.

324

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS}

OctToBER 12, 1912.

©
EN
\

BRUITS AND PRUIT TREES.

SILK COTTON, OR KAPOK.

Much information concerning silk cotton, or Kapok as
it is usually known in commerce—chiefly the product of
the tree Hriodendron anfractwosum—has been given in the
Agricultural News, and reference to the principal articles
dealing with the product may be found on page 117 of this
volume. It is intended now to supplement this information
by details taken from various sources which will be
mentioned.

The chief producer of kapok is Java, where the trees
are grown systematically for their produce. A table showing
the exports of the fibre from that country, given in the
Philippine Agricultural Review for August 1912, indicates
that these rose from 1,500 tons in 1890 to 3,500 tons in
1900; five years later the shipments were 6,300 tons, and in
1910 they amounted to 7,930 tons. The total export of
kapok from the Dutch East Indies in 1910 was 8,625 tons.
No such systematic cultivation of the plant exists in the
Philippines, where there is only a comparatively small pro-
duction—in 1905, 4 tons, in 1910, 30 tons, and in 1911
98 tons.

Observations made by the Philippine Bureau of
Agriculture have caused it to be estimated conservatively
that the annual yield of silk cotton trees under seven years
old is 34 to 54 tb. of fibre, older trees give 7} ib. or more.
Trees of the former age are considered to be giving a fair produc-
tion when they yield three to five hundred fruits in a year;
those that are older may give as many as 1,000 fruits, but this
is exceptional. There is much variation in the size of the
fruits, for sometimes it takes only sixty of these to give 1 h.
of clean fibre; in other cases the number may be as high as
120, or even higher. The yield of the fibre is 58 to 65 per
cent. of the weight of the seed. These figures refer to
investigations in the Philippines.

The value of kapok has risen gradually in recent years.
A table given in the article already mentioned shows that
this increased from 12-13c. per fb. in 1905 to 20c. per hb.
(the approximate maximum value) in the present year, the
price being that of Dutch East Indian kapok.

At present, kapok (from Java) enters the United States
free of duty.

The Board of Trade Journal for August 8, 1912, re-
views a recent report of the German Consul at Amsterdam

which shows that 61,449 bales (of 40 kilos. or 88 tb.) of
cleaned kapok and 2,335 bales of uncleaned kapok were
imported into Amsterdam in 1911, and 3,000 bales of cleaned
kapok were received at Rotterdam in the same year; the
total importation into Holland was 66,784 bales, as compar-
ed with 67.175 in 1910 and 67,377 bales in 1909. The
prices per lb. for East Indian kapok were as follows: for
special cleaned, about 8d.; for good cleaned, very little less.
than this; for cleaned, about 7d.; and for uncleaned, about 3d.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture has recently
received inquiries from London importers of the article,
Messrs. Kraft Brothers, 14 Bevis Marks, E.C., regarding the
possibility of obtaining kapok in commercial quantities from
the West Indies; they state that at present about 6d. per hb.
is being paid for British East Indian kapok. It has been
explained before that the small number of isolated trees that
exist, and the absence of systematic cultivation, make
unlikely any useful export of kapok from this part of the
world.

It is recommended in the 3ulletin of the Imperral
Institute, Vol. TX (1911), p. 121, that silk cotton trees should
stand in plantations so that there are about 144 to the acre.
If the figures given above for yield in the Philippines are
taken, the kapok on 1 acre of yielding trees less than seven
years old would, on an average return and at 6d per bb., be
worth about £16. Its value from trees older than this, taking
the minimum yield, would be about £28.

In Java, the tree is not only raised in plantations, but
is commonly planted about 12 to 15 feet apart along
the roads in coffee and cocoa cultivations, which are
usually on a much larger scale than those in the West
Indies. Each tree above seven years old yields kapok
valued at nearly 4s., in England, taking the minimum figure
for the Philippines. The similar value of the fibre from the
trees along a mile of road, planted on both sides at the
greater distance, works out at £136.

Nothing useful is known as to the cost of the
establishment of the trees and of picking and cleaning the
fibre, in the West Indies.

In St. Vincent, the silk cotton trees are being actually
destroyed, because they harbour an enemy—the cotton
stainer (Dysdercus delauneyi)—of a fibre that is far more
valuable than kapok,

Voz. XI. No. 273.

TRADE OF PANAMA, 1911.

An account of the agricultural possibilities of
Panama. was given in the Agricultural News for June
22. The following details of the trade of the Republic
during 1911, taken from Diplomatic and Consular
Reports, No. 4978 Annual Series, issued in August, is
of interest in connexion with that article:—

Exports from the Republic of Panama, with the exception
of bananas, are insignificant in amount and value. ‘The entire
export of bananas comes from the plantations of the United
Fruit Company, an American company, at Bocas del Toro,
and amounted to 3,643,900 bunches, valued at £184,257 in
1910 and to 4,297,260 bunches, valued at £214,835 in 1911.
Other exports are rubber, coco-nuts;-ivory nuts, gold and

mother-of-pearl. Mahogany, cedar and _ cocobolo are
beginning to be exported.
Attention may be drawn to the increase in the

exportation of ivory nuts, locally knownas Tagua, which in
1911 was the export of highest value after bananas. These
nuts are collected by Indians on the Caribbean coast and are
brought by them to Colon, where they are readily bought
by merchants for shipment to New York and Hamburg.
A new field for ivory nuts is being developed near the
headwaters of the Chepo, or Bayana River, whence the nuts
are shipped to Panama. These nuts are larger in size than
those brought to Colon, but in actual quality they are not
equal to the Ecuadorian nuts. They command a high price
in New York at present, where there is a demand for the
‘arge size buttons which can be madefrom them. Specimens
of the nuts have been forwarded to London firms, but
British button makers demand the highest quality, and their
prices are as a rule not so good as those offered in New York.
‘There are also cacao and ipecacuanha growing wild on the land
ceferred to, but the latter is valuable and easily damaged,
and the cultivators have not yet touched it with unskilled
workmen.

Coco-nuts come from the San Blas coast and are shipped
by a merchant in Colon to the United States in his own ships.
The San Blas nuts rank high on the New York market, and
have realized $40 per 1,000 nuts. The Smithsonian Institute
at Washington has pronounced them superior to any on the
European or American markets. Two large plantations have
recently been started, one for a grove of 50,000 trees at
Nombre de Dios, on the Caribbean coast, and another near

~ the Pacific entrance to the Canal.

Practically all the gold exported comes from the mines
of the Darien Company, a French company registered in the
United Kingdom, which has been working for years.
Nearly all the streams of the country bear evidence of gold,
but the difficulties in the way of practical working appear
to be insurmountable. Prospectors continue, however, to
explore the Darien country and the provinces of Los Santos
and Veraguas in the hope of making a rich ‘find’, No other
minerals are worked.

Mineral rights in the Canal zone are reserved to the
United States Government, and it is stated that quicksilver
exists. The Canal geologist has examined the so called
“coal deposits’ in the Zone, and has reported that it is certain
that no coal of any commercial importance will ever be found
within the Canal Zone, and that the local lignite shale beds
of Culebra Cut, and at other points, have no commercial
value whatever, because of their very high percentage of ash
and high content of water.

The effect of the completion and opening of the canal
on local trade is difficult to predict, but on the whole there

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 325

appears no reason for expecting any development, unless
Colon is made a free port and its merchants are permitted
by the United States Government to supply, or compete in
supplying, shipping in transit through the Canal. Local mer-
chants fear that when the canal is completed the Government
stores which furnish supplies duty free to canal employees,
will be continued and will extend their operations to ship-
ping, also that the supply of coal and ship chandlery will
be made a Government monopoly.

A NEW GROUND BEAN.

The discovery of a new genus of Leguminosae in Toxo-
land, three years ago, led to the addition of a new generic
name, Kerstingiella, to the very large number of names
under that order. ‘Ihe plant first described by this name is
Kerstingiclla geocarpa and it is particularly interesting from
the fact that its fruits, like those of the common ground or
monkey nut (Arachis hypogaea) and of the Bambarra ground
nut (Voandzeia subtervanea), ripen underground. The same
plant was also reported from Dahomey under the name
Voandzeva Po/ssoni. It has since been under cultivation in
the Botanic Gardens at Dahlem and Jena.

The plant is cultivated fairly largely in Upper Guinea
and exists as a field crop in British Nigeria; the Avw
Bulletin, 1912, p. 209, which is the source of this informa’
tion, states: ‘The plant is undoubtedly of some economic
importance,’ and suggests that further information should be
obtained.

In Togoland there are three varieties, and the plant goes
under the name of Kandela: ia Dahomey it is called Doi; varie-
ties also exist in the latter place, and in both cases they are
separated by the appearance of the seeds. Analyses of these
indicate a high nutritious value; they are said to have
a nitrogenous content as large as that in the richest ground
nuts, and it is claimed that Europeans tind them more
palatable, the taste recalling that of the best varieties of
beans. The seeds are small, so that the yield is not large;
their size is given as 8 to 10 cm. by 6 to 7 mm, but em. is
here surely a misprint for mm., and this means a maximum
size of 2-inch by nearly ?-inch, The French explorer Chavalier
states that, in Nahomey, the women are not allowed to eat
the seeds.

K. geocarpa, like V. subterranea at first, is not known, so
far, out of cultivation. It is described as a prostrate herb with
a main stem 2 inches to something over 3 inches long, which
roots from the nodes; the tap root possesses slender branches
sometimes bearing nodules. Each leaf consists of three
leafiets, and there is much variation in size. The flowers are
in pairs, or solitary, borne in the axils of the leaves; while
the outer covering of the seed is thin, and its colour white,
red or black, or it may be mottled. The article in the Kew
Bulletin gives a useful table of differences between the plant
and V. subtervanea.

The way in which the pods of A. geocarpa are buried.
in the ground to develop and ripen is almost unique among
the Leguminosae. The fully-developed flowers are close to
the ground, and after fertilization the very short base of
the pistil lengthens and turns toward the ground, and then
the corolla and style fall away. This lengthening causes the
ovary, while it is still very small, to be pushed out of the
ealyx, and it is eventually driven into the ground, where
it ripens.

The article concludes by giving circumstances of the
discovery of the Bambarra ground nut in the wild state,

326 THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

Octoser 12, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date September 23, with reference
vo the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

West Indian Sea Islands continue neglected and sales
are confired to about 30 bales stains from 743d. to 9d. and
a few Barbados at 18d.

Buyers are still waiting the price at which American
Carolinas will open. The first arrivals of the Florida crop
are good in quality and the price asked is 13d.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending September 21, is as follows:—

The receipts to date of new erop cotton are only 6 bales
which have not been sampled, consequently there are no
offerings as yet for sale. The stock consists of old crop
cotton, which is nominslly held at previous prices.

We omit quotations, as they would be entirely nominal.

Cotton-growing in Bgypt.—The Commercial
{utelligence Branch of the Board of Trade has received
a copy of a Report on Cotton-growing in Egypt, by
Mr. Arno Schmidt, Secretary of the International Cotton
Federation, which bas just been issued. The report contains
information as to the history of cotton-growing in Egypt,
together with suggestions for the improvement of the indus-
try, and remarks as to its future prospects.

At the conclusion of his report, Mr. Schmidt summar-
izes the prospects as follows: —

‘The outlook for the future is decidedly hopeful... .
‘bere are schemes under consideration for extending the
area of agricultural land. Lord Kitchener mentioned to me
that by a scheme which would be begun in January he hoped
to be able to get, in years to come, 1,000,000 feddans
{feddan = 1:038 acres) under cultivation, half or a third of
which would produce cotton. Other land reclamation schemes
ave spoken of, and consequently we may expect that every
year in the near future will see an increased area under
cotton. The active Department of Agriculture will no doubt
deal energetically with seed distribution, pests, and errors
of cultivation, and although the Afifi cotton has degenerated
there are signs of another new and improved quality,
*Assili’, taking its place’ (The Board of Trade Journal,

21,1912.)

March

THE QUALITY OF UGANDA COTTON.

The following is appended to a report by the Imperial
Institute on samples of Uganda cotton which is reproduced
in a Supplement to the Uganda Official Gazette for June
30, 1912:—

‘The reports of the Director of the Imperial Institute
reproduced above bring out clearly the following points.

‘]. That irregularity in strength and length are stild
outstanding features of Uganda staple which require
attention on the part of the Agricultural Department.

‘2. That Uganca cotton is tending rather to improve-
than to deteriorate in length of staple, for whereas both these
samples are stated to possess staple mostly from 1:0-1'S
inches in length, two samples submitted by the British Cotton.
Growing Association in July 1910 (wde Gazette of December
15, 1910) were reported on as having staple mostly fron
1:0-1:2 inches, and 0 9-1°2 inches in length respectively.

‘Gioners would do well to note the remarks about
seed-husks and seed being found in the lint, and to endeavour
as far as possible to prevent these impurities from finding their
way through the gins

‘The two main causes of stained cotton in Uganda
undoubtedly are:—

(a) The attacks of cotton stainers which suck the
juices from immature bolls thus checking their growth and
arresting the ripening process. In this condition the bolls
remain upon the plants and become stained and rotted by
the weather.

(b) Exposure to heavy storms in the picking season.

‘Yhese causes can both be greatly controlled by the
establishment of one regular season for sowing cotton, and
a definite date for uprooting the piants.

‘Further, the proportion of stained cotton exported wil)
tend to diminish annually as the crop gradually establishes
itself in those districts-best adapted by nature for its growth.”

The Cotton Industry of Carriacou.—Twenty-
two thousand, seven hundred and ninety-four pounds of
cleaned lint, representing 76 bales, were turned out
from the factory during the year. Receipts for cotton
ginned amounted to £36 4s. 4d. and working expenses
(including repairs) to £24 1s. 2d., thus disclosing a profit of
£12 3s. 2d. for the year under review. ‘There are at present
seven steam ginneries, capable of turning out 60 bales of
cotton per day, now at work in the island. (From the
Report of the Commissioner, Carriacou District, for 1911; im
the Grenada Government Gazette for May 1, 1912.)

Wort. XI. No, 273.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 327

JAMAICA: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND ISLAND
GHEMIST, 1911-12.

This report is issued as a Supplement to the Jamaica
Gazette of August 29, 1912. It commences by reference to
the severe drought that was experienced in Jamaica during
part of the period under review. The general observations
are then concerned, among other matters, with the state
ot the gardens at Hope and Castleton, where by adding to
the plant collection and improving the conditions of the
buildings and similar matters these places are being made
more attractive and interesting. Additional land has been
taken in on the leased property belonging to the Department,
and a matter of some small interest is that Cassia staua is
being used in this and other places to form a live fence.
Strenuous efforts have been made toward the acclimatization
of imported dairy stock from England, Canada and the
WJnited States; much difficulty has been experienced, chiefly
thecause the imported cattle do not appear to acquire any
appreciable immunity from Texas fever even after they
wecover from a severe attack of the disease; better results are
being obtained with young stock, the progeny of the
imported cattle, and much assistance is derived from the use
of trypan blue as a remedy against the fever. Contidence
js expressed that this work will be successful eventually.
A short review is given concerning the recent outbreak of
the Panama disease of bananas; it has been shown to be
actually the Surinam form of the disease. This is not the
only enemy of banana cultivation that is being observed, as
five distinct diseases of the plant have been found in Jamaica
since January 1911, four of which are of such a dangerous
type that they have been scheduled for compulsory treatment
under the Diseases of Plants Law. ‘Ihe seriousness of these
diseases and the fact that the existing variety of banana is
thetter than any other kind for growing in Jamaica lead to

the conclusion: ‘The preservation of this variety is therefore
of supreme commercial importance to the island.’

Interesting details are given in the report of the
Superintendent of Public Gardens which deals with the
Hope Gardens and Experiment Station, the Castleton Gar-
dens—Kingston, the King Street Gardens, the Hill Gardens—
inchona, the Bath Garden and Nursery, and the Herbarium.
This section concludes with the Report of the Superinten-
fent, King’s House Gardens.

The sugar exported from the island during last year
was 20,000 tons, which is the greatest amount since the year
1902-3—a period of high average production; of the quantity
30 per cent. went to Canada. Several estates have co-oper-

- ated to enable a well-equipped central factory to be estab-
lished at Rose Hall, but the poor season has made the
results only moderate so far. There are signs that Jamaica
wvum is recovering from the depression of two years ago,
wartly because the planters have by means of a maximum
‘production of sugar reduced their output of rum. Among

seedling canes, B.208 is stated to continue to do well in

‘smany districts and its area of cultivation is being rapidly

extended. D.625 has also confirmed the promise that it
gave on its first trials in Westmoreland on strong soils.
Among the locally produced seedlings, J.71 and J.72 appear
to be useful, and it is intended to try them more largely.
Reference is made for further details to Bulletin No. 5 of
the Department of Agriculture. In a report of the Superin-
tendent of field experiments, favourable mention is made of
B.208, B.147 and 1.625, and it is stated that the Jamaica
seedlings promise so far to do all that is expected of them.

In spite of the drought, the increased price of coffee has
made this product worth nearly twice as much (over
£150,000) as it was six years ago—an encouraging feature
in what is mostly a useful peasant industry. The case with
cacao is at present far otherwise, chiefly because of bad culti-
vation and neglect; though confidence is expressed that there
will be a large improvement in the future.

In 1911, the export of bananas reached its highest valne,
having become worth nearly 14 million sterling, and it is con-
sidered that it will soon reach a value of at least 2 million
pounds a year. Emphasis is again laid on the necessity for
a strict watch in connexion with banana diseases in Jamaica.
The security of the valuable coco-nut industry has been
increased by the passing of the new Plant Diseases Law, which
makes compulsory the treatment of coco-nut trees affected
with bud rot, and in several districts both planters and
peasant cultivators have adopted energetically measures of
eradication. It is estimated that over 20 million nuts were
exported during 1911, at good prices. The export value of
citrus fruits continued to show a fall, and there does not
appear at present to be any prospect of the revival of the
industry. ‘’he growing of mangoes extends, and there has
been a good demand for grafted plants of the Bombay mango,
Cassava dried by a United States patent process is being
tried. Trials are also being made of the chief varieties of
the castor oil plant, in consequence of the recently enhanced
price of the oil. Exhibits of Jamaica rubber were sent to
the last International Rubber Exhibition in London, and
although the specimens were mostly resinous in quality and
roughly prepared, the recorded tapping results of the Castilloa
trees compared quite favourably with those from this species
in other countries. Efforts have been made to increase the
interest in Castilloa and a representative collection of all the
chief species and varieties of this tree has been planted at
Castleton, for eventual trial of their rubber yielding capacity.

The section dealing with agricultural education includes
the report of the Senior Travelling Instructor, the report of
the Travelling Agricultural Instructor, the report of the Head
Master at the Hope Farm school and the report of the Veter-
inarian. These contain details of interest pertaining to the
subjects with which they deal. The report on the Hope
Stock Farm is mainly statistical and serves as a useful record.

The report on the Government Laboratory shows that the
number of official samples examined and analysed during the
time under review was more than double of that in any of the
previous years. Among the work done for the Department of
Agriculture there figures the bacterial examination of water-
supplies; the results of the tests are shown to have been
generally favourable. Inthe work connected with veterinary
pathology interesting experience is described with Texas
fever, which has received a large amount of attention on
account of its importance in the island. Regarding fermen-
tation work, the distribution of pure yeast cultivations and
the maintenance of a supply to prevent delay in cases of
urgency have been continued. This part of the report
concludes with details regarding the staff, publications and
revenue of the Jamaica Department of Agriculture,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ocrosper 12, 1912.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.

Letters and matter for publication, as well as all
apecimens 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 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 Aews

Vou. XI. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1912.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The leading article in this issue deals with the
practical value of soil analysis, and is written with the
object of pointing out where this is valuable and the
limitations that the results possess in application.

An article on page 323 gives an idea of the
very many uses possessed by sugar, in addition to its
consumption for food and flavouring.

Information concerning silk cotton, or kapok as it
is generally known in commerce, has been given several
times in the recent volumes of the Agricultwral News.
The additional details on page 324 have been provided
in order to afford an answer to enquiries concerning its
production in the West Indies. Particulars as to
yield and price are also given.

On page 325 there appears an article having for
its subject a new ground bean that has been discovered
in recent years in West Africa.

The Annual report for 1911-12 of the Director of

Agriculture and Island Chemist, Jamaica, is reviewed
on page 327.

The Insect Notes in this issue reproduce matter
concerning plant protection in the United States.

Pages 333 and 534 present the Fungus Notes,
which give information regarding three well-known
fruit diseases and their control.

A Way of Using Calcium Cyanamide.

An abstract of a paper in the Lxperiment Statior
Record for May 1912, p. 622, describes an investiga-
tion regarding the suggestion that has been made to use
calcium cyanamide or nitrolim with nitrate of lime im
order to overcome its injurious effect on some young
plants.

Pot experiments with oats were made, in whicli
the manures were applied separately and in mixtures
of 1 and 2 parts of calcium cyanamide to 1 of nitrate
of lime, applied as a top dressing or thoroughly mixed:
with the soil before sowing. In every case the soil
was manured with a mixture supplying the necessary
amounts of constituents other than nitrogen compounds.

When the materials were mixed with the soib
before the seed was sown, the effect of nitrate of lime
was found to be greater than that of sodium nitrate.
Good results were also obtained with calcium cyana-
mide, the yield of grain being slightly greater thar
that with sodium nitrate; there did not appear to be
any injurious effect from its use. The best results
were obtained from mixtures of the two manures, the
most useful proportion being apparently 2 parts of
calcinm cyanamide to 1 part of nitrate of lime.

The application of the two manures as a top dress-
ing appreciably increased their effect: calcium cyanamide
employed in this way, however, proved injurious, an&
in some cases the plants were killed.

D+ ae ——_

Manganese in Hawaiian Soils.

A consideration of the presence and ettect of man-_
ganese in the soils of Oahu is given in Bulletin No. 26 of
the Hawan Agricultural Experiment Station, and
a summary is presented here of the conclusions that
have been reached with reference to the matter.

The soils bearing the manganese occur in local
areas as surface accumulations in the alluvial super-
stratum, and never in the sedimentary strata below:
this indicates that the collection of the manganese
salts has been brought about through solution and
leaching, the manganese compounds being subsequently
oxidized and deposited.

The manganese is derived from the basaltic lavas
of the islands, 1n the course of whose normal weathering
they became soluble. This fact, together with the
occurrence of the manganese-bearing soil in the lower
altitudes, shows that water has been the active
agent in its transfer and ultimate deposition. Indica-
tions also exist that submergence was taking place
during the time that the alluvial soil was being
deposited.

Further, it is probable that manganese exists in:
the water in the soil in greater quantities than any
other element. The manganiferous soils are superior
to red soils, as regards physical properties, so that theys
afford a freer circulation of air.

The presence of manganese in the soil does noé
appear to influence nitrification and the formation of
ammonium salts. The former certainly takes place

Wort. XI. No. 273.

more readily inthe manganese soil, but this is probably
because the circulation of air is better in this kind
of soil.

a

The Jamaica Farm School.

A review appears, on another page, of the Report
of the Director of Agriculture and Island Chemist,
Jamaica, 1911-12. In this, want of space prevented
detailed attention from being given to the subjects of
the report, among these being the Farm School at
Hope, and it is thought well to make larger mention
here of this institution.

With reference to the prospects of continued
success of this school, it is of interest that the report
states that accomodation, consisting of a new dormitory
and class-room, was provided during the year for
twelve additional students, and that improvements and
additions to the former buildings were also made. The
additional room for classes made it possible to divide
these in a better way, for study. Additional stables
and two stave silos were also erected during the year.
The statement is made: ‘The development of the stock
farm has given the students unique opportunities of
obtaining experience in the handling and management
of various classes of live stock.’

Another interesting matter in the same connexion
is that over forty applications were received for twelve
vacancies for students at the farm, in January. These
were filled from among the applicants, who showed on
the whole a considerably higher educational standard
than that possessed by applicants when the school was
started. The full number of students—thirty-six—is
in residence.

The Head Master, in reporting on the conduct and
progress of the students states: ‘The conduct of the
students has continued to be satisfactory and I am
able to report considerable progress on the part of
some, both in the acquiring of knowledge and manual
skill and in the development of a keener sense of
responsibility and reliability than was at first evident.’

rr + re

Growing Crops With Nitrogen-fixing Plants.
The Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 59, contained
an article dealing with the results of growing crops
tegether with leguminous plants, with special reference
to increased growth and the enhanced content of
nitrogen in the plants that are not leguminous.

An abstract in the Haperiment Station Record
for May 1912, p. 617, gives attention to the results of
somewhat similar work in which peas and barley and
oats and vetch were grown separately and together, as
indicated, in pots, and these plants and corn and horse
beans were raised in the field with and without
manures.

It was found that the dry matter of the mixed crops
was higher in amount than that of the separate crops,
but smaller in comparison with the weight of seed
used. The employment of manure affected the quan-
tity of dry matter produced less in the case of mixtures
than where crops were grown separately. In the mix-

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

329

tures, again, leguminous plants were poorer, while
cereals were richer, in nitrogen, than in the case of the
separate crops—a fact that is attributed to the diminish-
ed growth of the cereals and not tothe presence of the
leguminous plants; while the lower nitrogen content of
the latter is considered to be due to their smaller
growth.

The nitrogen content of the leguminous crops
showed an increase only when their growth was poor
and there was a sufficient amount of nitrates in the
soil. The employment of manures affected the nitrogen
content of the cereals to a greater degree than that of
the leguminous plants.

Lastly, the amount of nitrogen produced per unit
area was greater in the mixed crop than the sum of the
quantities of nitrogen produced by the separate crops,
but it was influenced to a greater degree by manures
when the plants were grown separately than when they
were mixed.

The Cause of the Jamaica Earthquake, 1907.

An account of this earthquake was given in the
Geographical Journal for March 1908, by Dr. Vaughan
Cornish, F.R.G.S., F.G.S.,and extracts from this appeared
in the Agricultural News, Vol. VII, pp. 123, 139 and
175. The issue of the first-mentioned journal for
September 1912 now contains a further article on the
catastrophe, by the same writer.

The evidence of the earthquake itself, and that of
the after-shocks, has led Dr. Cornish to conclude that
the tremors originated in two regions, ‘one near the
shore south-of-east from Kingston, ard the other, less
precisely located, in the mountainous region within the
triangle formed by the points Newcastle, Butt Bay and
Glengoffe.’

The first inclination was to attribute the earth-
quake to subterranean agencies, but a subsequent visib
to the island in 1910 has caused the conclusion to be
reached that it was caused by the redistribution
of surface material through the transport of
such matter, from the area of their head-waters
in the Eastern part of the island, by the rivers
Hope, Butf Bay, Wag Water and Yallahs. Dr.
Cornish states. ‘My theory of the cause of the
earthquake is that it was due to a disturbance of
pre-existing equilibrium by this modern redistribution
of load, that the southern tremors came from
subsidence with fracture at sea near the mouth of
Hope River, and that the northern tremors were
produced by elevation with fracture near the Gaps.’

The matters adduced in the article lead to the
comforting statement that it is reasonable to think that
the earthquake was brought about by a familiar,
everyday agency, which may be seen at work, operating
at a slow and fairly regular rate, and not by any
gigantic and deep-seated cause, unlimited in its powers
to destroy and likely to act at any moment. ‘There is
the additional satisfaction that the necessarily slow
reproduction of the agency means that a long period
must elapse before a similar catastrophe can take place,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Ovcroper 12, 1912.

INSEGT NOTES.

PLANT PROTECTION IN THE UNIT#D
STATES.

The information given below is copied from Cir-
cular No 37, from the Office of the S-cretary of the
United States Department of Agriculture and is pre-
sented herewith as likely to be of interest to readers of
the Agricultural News. The cirenlar includes an
introduction and the development of joints under
four headings: the introduction and the first of these
parts are given herewith. The West Indian Colonies
are equipped with legislative enactments by means of
which it is sought to prevent the introduction of
pests and diseases along with imported plants. The
instances quoted as illustrations of the conditions call-
ing for legislation can hardly fail to impress the mind
of the reader with the importance of these imported
pests and the necessity for preventing the introduction
of additional forms with similar capacity for harm.

INTRODUCTION. The effort to secure national legislation
to keep out new and dangerous insect pests or plant diseases
which may be brought in with imported nursery stock has
been actively favoured by the Department of Agriculture,
just as the department in the past has promoted and
secured legislation enabling it to exclude from this country
diseased animals or to quarantine and stamp out animal
diseases whenever such have appeared. In the case of
domestic animals, the exercise of these powers has brought
enormous benefit and has worked entirely satisfactorily to
‘the live stock industry. It is reasonable to believe that like
benefits to fruit and forest interests, including the nursery
business, will undoubtedly come from similar legislation to
exclude insect pests and plant diseases.

The mere statement is sufficient to show the need, but
a strong concerted effort is being made to array the nursery
trade of this country against such legislation and put this impor-
tint industry in the very unfair altitude of opposing reasonable
legislation, which is quite as much for its own protection as
it is for the protection of fruit and forest interests. In view
of the evident misunderstanding which is being broadly
circulated in relation to the intent of the proposed act and of
its probable manner of enforcement, and the groundless fear
that the Secretary of Agriculture or his experts would take
an unreasonable attitude toward the nurserymen, it seems
desirable to make a fair statement (1) of the conditions
calling for such legislation, (2) the history of the efforts to
secure it, (3) an explanation of the scope and working of the
Bill now before Congress, and (4) the relation of the Secre-
tary of Agriculture and his assistants to the enforcements of
such a measure.

CONDITIONS CALLING FOR LEGISLATION. Practically all of
the European powers have very stringent plant inspection
laws, and, in the case of the. United States, absolutely pro-
hibit the entry of nursery stock. Apples and other American
fruits are admitted only when the most rigid examination
shows freedom from insect infestation. Canada and other
important British possessions have similar protective
legislation.

The United States is the only great power without pro-
tection from the importation. of insect infested or diseased
plants, and thus becomes a sort of dumping ground for
Huropean refuse nursery and ornamental stock. This does

not often apply to the importations of the larger and reput-
able importing firms, but does apply to the poorly packed
miscellaneous ornamental and other stock imported by
department stores of large cities or that sent to this country
to be sold under the hammer by auctioneers for whatever
price may be obtained.

The immediate danger which led to the recent effort ta
secure legislation was the discovery in 1909 of the abundant
importation and wide distribution into the United States of
nursery stock infested with brown-tail moth nests and occa-
sional egg masses of the gipsy moth. During the years 1909
and 1910 such infested stock was carried into twenty-two
States, covering the country from the Atlantic seaboard to the
Rocky Mountains, During the first of these years no less
than 7,000 winter nests of the brown-tail moth, containing
approximately 3,000;000 larvae, were found in shipments
into New York State alone—seed material enough to infest the
whole United States within a few years. During the second
of these years, 617 of these nests were found on nursery
stock shipped into the State of Ohio, and a much larger
number, appromimately the same as the year previous, were
again sent into New York. Smaller numbers of these nests,
proportioned to the amount of nursery stock received, were
sent into other States east of the Rocky Mountains during
both of these years. Fewer brown-tail moth nests were
received during the season just ended (1910-11) owing to
the agitation in this country and more strict supervision by
foreign Governments. These winter nests are, however,
still coming in, and the danger is now perhaps even greater,
for the reason that as infestation becomes more infrequent
a laxity of examination is likely to result.

So far as possible, this stock, as voluntarily reported by
customs officers and railroads, has been examined and the
brown-tail nests removed or destroyed by state authoritias,
or, where these were not available, by agents of the Bureau of
Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Undoubtedly many shipments have not been reported or
examined, and it is quite probable that local infestation has
already started at different interior points. The history of
both the gipsy and brown-tail moths in New England shows
that these insects may be present for several years without
being noticed, slowly gain headway, and then suddenly develop
their full power of destructiveness.

It is scarcely necessary to comment on the danger to this
country from the careless introduction and wide distribution
of these two orchard and forest pests. Ina limited district in
New England more than a million dollars a year has been
spent for a long period in a mere effort to control these two
insects, and the General Government is now appropriating
$300,000 annually to endeavour to clear them from the
border of main highways and thus check their spread, These
expenditures do not take into account the actual damage done,
but they do serve as a measure of the danger to the whole
country from the recent distribution of these two insects on
imported nursery stock.

As further illustrations of the constant risk from lack
of legislation may be mentioned too very recently introduced
insects which will undoubtedly prove very expensive pests
in future years. The European alfalfa leaf weevil, on the
authority of the entomologist of the Utah Experiment
Station, Mr. Titus, was probably brought into Utah on pack-
ing of nursery stock or other merchandise from Europe.
This leaf weevil has already destroyed much of the value of
the important alfalfa crop of Utah, and is spreading into
adjacent states. The other illustration is the oriental cottom
scale (Pulvinaria psidii), probably the worst scale pest of
citrus and other sub-tropical plants in Southern Asia, This

Vou XI. No. 273.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

331

scale insect has recently been introduced into Florida on
imported stock and is already well established there.

New plant diseases, againt the entrance of which there
is at present no bar, may even more seriously jeopardise the
farm, orchard, and forest products of this country. Imported
potatoes from Newfoundland are now bringing in the potato
wart disease, which, wherever it has been introduced in
Europe, and also in Newfoundland, puts a stop to potato
culture. The importation of white pine seedlings is now
bringing in the European white pine rust, which, if estab-
lished and disseminated, will destroy much of the value of
eur white pine forests. Absolute quarantine against these
two plant diseases is the only means of keeping them out.
The chestnut disease, now practically shown to have been
introduced on trees imported from Japan, illustrates what
may quickly happen from such unchecked introductions

More than half of the important insect enemies and
plant diseases now established in this country have been
brought in on imported nursery stock, and new insect
enemies and new diseases are being thus introduced every
year. Twenty different insect pests, new to this country,
some of them very formidable in the Old World, have been
intercepted in the inspections of the imported material by this
department this year, and this does not include the introduction
of brown-tail moth nests and other European pests with
imported seedling stock.

A properly enforced quarantine and insp:ction law in
the past would have excluded many, if uot most, of the
foreign insect enemies and plant discases which are now
levying an enormous annual tax amounting to several
hundred million dollars on the products of the farms and
orchards of this country.

In spite of the many pests which have already gained
foothold and the control of which will be a permanent
annual charge on production, there remain many other insect
pests and plant diseases with eyual capacity for harm which,
fortunately, have not yet come to us, and it is to protect
from these new dangers that legislation is now sought, not
with the intention of prohibiting the trade in imported stock,
but to throw such safeguards around it as will most protect
both the importers and the subsequent purchasers of such
stock.

The insect pests and plant diseases that have come in
are probably here for all time, but certainly no reasonable
objection can be made to the effort to safeguard the future.
The conscientious importer will be benefited, and the home
producers, the dealers, and all the great fruit and forest
interests will be protected by suitable inspection and quar-
antine legislation.

4

A NEW COVER CROP.

The following is taken from the first number of
the Agricultural Bulletin of the-Federated Malay
States, which is a new publication issued by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture of the Federated Malay States
and the Planters’ Association of Malaya. The plant
referred to is closely related to the plant called the
yam bean (Dolichos Lablab) in the West Indies:—

During the past eighteen months seeds of some thirty
varieties of plants have been procured from India, Philippine
Islands, Barbados, Antigua, etc., for the purpose of attempt-
ing to secure a cover crop for this country which would
fulfil the necessary requirements. After a long series of

experiments I have come to the conclusion that one of the
cover crops that may possibly meet with success is
Horse Gram | Dolichos /iflorus].

Dolichos belongs to the family of the Leguminosae and
is either sub-erect or twining in‘habit. It is largely culti-
vated in South India and is wild in the Himalayas. It is
stated that on the plains of India this pulse is grown either
as a green manure or as a cattle food and fodder, and that
few Indian crops are perhaps more valuable in this respect
than the horse gram, especially when grown as a green
manure. Its great value in this respect lies in its power,
in common with other leguminous plants, of fixing atmos-
pheric nitrogen in the soil through the agency of bacteria
contained in the root nodules and by so doing it increases
the fertility of the soil and indirectly the growth of the
rubber growing amongst it. Being a close-growing, dense
shading plant it keeps the surface soil damp and prevents it
from being baked by the heat of the sun.

Although not deemed a superior pulse it is largely used
by the poorer classes owing to its being perhaps the cheapest
of pulses. The husk is regarded asa valuable cattle food.
The split peas may be reduced to a meal or may be boiled or
fried and eaten with rice or other articles of food. There is
a fairly extensive trade done locally with the seed.

CULTIVATION. The ease with which it may be cultivated
recommends it most highly. The plant may be made to
grow at any season of the year as it requires but one shower
of rain to start its growth, but even if this be not obtained
the seed will remain alive for months in the soil and ger-
minate after the first rain.

The land should be chungkolled, or when possible
ploughed, the weeds collected and burned, and the seed sown
broadcast at the rate of 12 to 15 Ib. per acre. It is advisable
to cover the seed and this may be done by breaking up the
surface lumps of earth or chungkolling the land to the depth
of one or two inches, No after-cultivation is necessary
until the crop is mature, which is in about five months’ time.
The seed is then collected, and if a second crop is required,
the land chungkolled and the seed resown. It is advisable
to plant the second crop as soon as the first has died down in
order that the weeds may not have an opportunity of getting
the upper hand. Horse gram grows on the poorest land but
it is best suited to a mixed soil.

VALUE AS A COVER CROP. Two plots, similarly weedy,
and containing lalang, were selected for this experiment.
these areas were chungkolled and in one of them seed of
horse gram sown. ‘Two crops were obtained in one year ~
which necessitated weeding the land twice. Comparing this
with the control plot which Lad to be cleaned every month it
will be seen that there is a great saving of labour, and that
from an economic point of view it is most satisfactory. As
to its primary value, namely the checking of lalang growth,
I would not go so far as to say that it eradicates weeds, but
it had certainly the advantage over the control in that the
plot containing it was freer from lalang at the end of the
year’s experiment It has an advantage over most other
crops in dying down natrrally and therefore has not to be
eradicated by chungkolling, previous to tapping, as Java
Crotalaria, Tephrosia purpurea, ete , have to be. In view of
its power of checking the vigorous growth of lalang, its
beneficial chemical, mechanical and bacteriological effect on
the soil and the saving of the labour bill, I would recommend
that this cover crop be given a trial, where a cover crop is
required,

332 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

October 12, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

Regarding cotton cultivation in Turkey, H.M. Vice-
Consul at Adana reports that the Government has granted
a concession over 111,150 acres to a French syndicate, in
the Cicilian Plain, and it is probable that a large planting of
Fgyptian and American varieties will take place.

A Proclamation contained in the St. Vincent Government
Gazette for August 22, 1912, announces that the Government
has made into a forest reserve all such Crown Lands in the
Colony as are situated higher than 1,000 feet above sea-level
(except those already disposed of in some other way).

The Department of Land Records and Agriculture,
Assam, reports that the estimated area under cotton in
Assam, this year, is 34,900 acres against 36,300 acres last
year, the decrease being due to unfavourable weather at the
beginning of the sowing time. The present prospects of the
crop are fair.

Statistics issued by the Mauritius Chamber of Agricul-
ture indicate that, according to the factory figures, the total
production of the island for the sugar crop of last season
(1911-12) was 169,551 metric tons (1 metric ton = 2,205 b.),
as against 222,837 in the previous season. The extraction
was somewhat lower than that of the year before, being
10°62 in place of 10°65 per cent.

The St. Vincent Arrowroot (New Market Fund) Ordi-
nance 1910, which was to be in force up to December 1 of
the present year, has been renewed for a further period of
two years from that date, and power is reserved to extend
further the Ordinance at the end of this time if it is deemed
advisable. The new Ordinance is No. 9 of 1912, and was
published in the Government Gazette on August 22.

The British Vice-Consul at San Luis Potosi (Mexico)
reports that the Forseck fibre-shredding machine, put on the
market in 1911, produces 875 Ib. of cleaned fibre in ten
hours, and he expects that large quantities of ixtle or
lechuguilla and maguey fibre will be available for export
during this year. It is stated that the machine can be used
also for the extraction of other Mexican fibres, such as
henequen (sisal) and zapupe. (From Diplomatic and Consu-
lar Reports, No, 4976 Annual Series; August 1912.)

A table in Vol. XLVI, Part IV, of the Agriculturak
Statistics, issued recently by the Board of Agriculture and
Fisheries for 1911, shows that the quantities of sugar import-
ed into the United Kingdom, per head of the population, has
been since 1890, in five year periods, as follows : 1891 82 Ib,
1896 86 tb., 1901 9+ tbh, 1906 86 lb, and 1911 94 1b. In
no year were the proportions exceeded, of 1901 and 1911.

A report by the British Aecting-Consul at Para shows
that the total qnantity of rubber exported from Para,
Manaos, Iquitos aud Itacoatiara, by way of Para, during the
six months ended June 1912 was 22,410 tons: for the
similar, period of 1911 the amount was 17,731 tons. The
total exports from these sources in the crop year 1911-12
reached 40,074 tons, and in the same period in 1910-11
32,950 tons.

The St. Lucia Gazette for August 31, 1912, contains
the draft of an Ordinance to amend the Minor Products
Protection Ordinance, 1899. It may be cited as the Minor
Products Protection Ordinance, 1899, Amendment Ordinanee,
1912, and it enacts that the following subsection shall be
added to section three of the older Ordinance: ‘(2) In sections
eight, fifty-one and fifty-two, of this Ordinance “minor pro-
ducts” includes limes and coco nuts.’

The announcement is made in the Trinidad Royal Gazette
for August 22, 1912, that the Department of Agriculture in
that island proposes to establish at River estate a supply of
sugar-canes for planting purposes. It is expected that canes
will be ready for sale from about August 1913. Orders for
canes are requested and ‘plants’ will be sold at a maximum
price of $2°40 p:r 1,000, exclusive of packing and freight, and
at cost price if the cost is less than 52°40.

It is shown in the Board of Trade Journal for August 8,
1912, that the total value of the sea-borne exports (excluding
specie) from the Gold Coast during 1911 was £3,471,309,
as compared with £2,613,919 in 1910. The values of the
exports of the principal articles in 1911 and 1910, respec-
tively, were: cacao, £1,613,468 and £866,571; gold and gold
dust, £1,057,692 and £280,060; rubber, £219,447 and
£358,876; palm kernels, £175,891 and £185,058; native
timber, £138,821 and £148,122; palm oil £128,916 and
£161,388; kola nuts, £93,099 and £77,716.

In consequence of allegations of cruelty in pluck-
ing ostrich feathers, the Government of the Union of
South Africa has issued a statement by Dr. J. E. Deurden,
M.Sc, F.R.C.S., Professor of Zoology at Rhodes University
College, Grahamstown, to the effect that no such cruelty
exists. The first plumes (spadonas) of the bird are clipped
after all the living matter has been withdrawn into the quill,
which is still growing, so that the operation amounts to no
more than cutting human hair or nails, or shearing a sheep.
Later, the living matter leaves the quills, which are then
drawn, so as to obtain a succeeding regular crop of plumes—
an operation which in any case would have to be effected
clumsily by the bird, and does not cause it to show the
slightest sign of irritation. These facts are true for alk
subsequent crops of feathers,

Vou. XI. No. 273.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 333

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

OCTOBER.
Szconp PEriop.

Seasonal Notes.

In continuation of the notes on agricultural economics
which appeared in the last issue but one of the Agricultural
News, the student’s attention is now directed to matters
connected with agricultural co-operation.

Interdependence, not independence, is the basis of
co-operation, In the present connexion the subject natu-
rally divides itself into the following main lines: (1) co-oper-
ative credit, (2) co-operative production, (3) co-operative
manufacture, (4) co-operative buying, (5) co-operative mar-
keting. Before proceeding to the study of West Indian
practices and business concerns bearing upon the above lines
of co-operation, the student may make use of the following
for information on agricultural co-operation in general:
Agricultural News, Vols. IV, p. 383; IX, p. 49.

Proceeding now to considerations of co-operative credit,
the student is advised to read the following articles dealing
mainly with the subject of agricultural banks: Pamphlet
Series No. 35; West Indian Bulletin, Vols. VI, p. 129; VII,
p. 317, VIII, pp. 16, 250 and 334: Agricultural News,
Vols. IV, pp. 49, 73 and 186; VI, p. 249; VIII, pp. 89 and
TOL Mpg, Ra pe Lal

Co-operative methods among planters do not obtain to
any great extent in West Indian agricultural production,
except in the case of cotton-growing. Give examples of
the employment of such methods. It should be borne
in mind that the co-operative efforts of the local depart-
ments of agriculture and local agricultural societies
greatly benefit agricultural production. Joint ownership
for the purchase of pedigree stock or expensive imple-
ments, or even cooperation in matters of labour when
practicable, will often prove profitable to those concerned.
The following references should be consulted in connexion
with co-operative production: West Indian Bulletin, Vols. VII,
p. 311; and IX, p. 243. The preparation for market,
and the selling of agricultural produce, lend them-
selves to co-operative methods more readily than does
pure production. The activities of the British Cotton
Growing Association, the establishment of central cotton
ginneries, and as regards sugar, the establishment of
‘central factories, are examples of the benefit to be
derived from co-operative manufacture and selling. In
connexion with central factories, the student is advised to
read the following on the subject: West Indian Bulletin,
Vols. I, pp. 52, 64, 195 and 200; IX, p. 56; X, pp. 107 and
305; Agricultural News, Vol. VII, p. 193.

Co-operative buying has already been referred to in
connexion with joint ownership, but the student should note
that this method can be applied in the purchasing of seeds,
manures and food stuffs: also in the matter of obtaining the
services cf scientific experts, and in other ways.

Closely connected with co-operative credit and co-oper-
ative methods in general are the various Small Holdings
and Land Settlement Schemes, and the student will derive
considerable benefit by studying these questions. As regards
small holdings the following references are given: Agricul-
tural News, Vol. 1X, p. 89 and West Indian Bulletin, Vol.
VIII, p. 267. Information on the subject of Land Settle-
ment Schemes will be found in the following literature:

Agricultural News, Vols. V, pp. 15 and 410; VIII, p. 247; X,
pp. 217, 329, 27 and 305; West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI,
p. 194; as well asin the various Annual Reports on the
Botanic Stations in the islands where such schemes exist.

Three of the following questions have been set to
enable the student to test his knowledge of the economi¢
subjects referred to in the last issue of the Agricultwral
News. The next issue will contain questions on agricultural
co-operation.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) Why are plants cross-fertilized?
(2) Give methods for the control of insects.
(3) What are fungi, and how are they spread?

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) How would you cross-fertilize maize on a large scale?

(2) Supply examples of fungi seriously attacking more
than one plant.

(3) Give your views as to the practical value of the
following methods for improving labour conditions: (a) the
provision of bonuses; (b) the letting out of land as estate
small holdings; (c) wages on a sliding scale; (d) technical
instruction.

FINAL QUESTIONS.

(1) State broadly the directions in which the plants
raised from crossing two different varieties may show differ-
ences from the parents.

(2) The total cost of team labour is made up of the follow-
ing items: (a) feed and bedding, (b) shoeing, (c) care includ-
ing veterinary attendance, (d) interest, (e) depreciation,
(f) stable rental. Give an approximate idea of the charges
per month that you would make under these headings for
half a dozen mules, or horses.

(3) State ina general manner the different classes of
individuals through whose hands either (a) cotton or
(b) the lime fruit passes during the course of its transport from
the field to the comsumer, and say which of these has the
greatest effect in determining the final cost.

Sunn Hemp.—The Commissioner of Agriculture has
received, through the courtesy of the Superintendent of the
Royal Botanic Garden, Sibpur, Calcutta, seeds of sunn hemp
(Crotalaria juncea), for distribution among some of the
botanic stations in the West Indies. This plant is a native
of India, where it is grown chiefly for its fibre which is used
mainly for making a coarse canvas employed mainly for
sacking. There is a general and firmly rooted opinion in
that country that the plant improves the soil in which it
grows, and this is undoubtedly true because of its possession,
in common with other leguminous plants, of root nodules
containing the bacteria which attach nitrogen from the air.
This circumstance makes it useful for employment as a green
dressing.

The Indian agriculturist sows sunn hemp by itself, most
generally at the commencement of the rains, and cuts it at
the end of September or the beginning of October. The
plant needs a light soil, which is not rich necessarily, and
is not considered to require high cultivation. When it is
grown for fibre, the seeds are sown (broadcast) at the rate of
12 to 80 fb. to the acre, the actual amounts varying greatly
in different parts of India.

ist)
oo
rs

FUNGUS NOTES.

THREE FRUIT DISEASES AND THEIR
CONTROL.

MANGO AND AVOCADO PEAR. At the Agricultural Con-
ference held in Trinidad in January last Mr. J. B. Rorer
presented a paper entitled Some Fruit Diseases, which was
subsequently published in the West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. XII, p. 464. In this paper, among other matters, he
dealt with anthracnose or black spot disease of mangoes and
avocado pears, and stated that in each case the damage could
be controlled by spraying with Bordeux mixture. The disease
of the mango is due to a small fungus, Glocosporvum man-
giferae, while that of the avocado is probably caused by an
allied species. Reference to the presence of the mango
anthracnose in St. Vincent was made in the Agricultural
News, Vol. X, p. 190, while the same malady is probably to
be found in all the smaller islands; it has been observed very
markedly in Dominica, especially on the better, grafted
varieties. An anthracnose of the avocado pear is described
by Stevens and Hall in Diseases of Economic Plants, p. 184,
and is attributed by them to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides,
a fungus better known as causing wither-tip of citrus trees.
These authors do not state definitely in what locality this
disease occurs, and it may not be quite identical with the
Trinidad form, but the causative fungi are at any rate
closely related.

In the case of the mango the fungus not only attacks the
fruit and leaves but also the flowers and flower stalks. The
spots on the fruit are at first about the size of a pin’s head and
are often arranged in parallel streaks along the fruit, the streaks
representing the course of drops of rain water laden with spores
that have fallen from the leaves on to the surface of the fruits
and then run off leaving many spores behind to germinate and
cause infection. Mr. Rorer showed some excellent photographs
illustrating this. The spots rapidly increase in size and run
into one another, until finally the whole surface may become
discoloured and the rot is found to extend in to the seed. In
the case of the avocado pear, the leaves and fruit alone appear
to be affected. This disease, though disfiguring, is not very
serious when the fruit attacked is used for local consumption,
but at once becomes of primary importance when it is
packed and shipped for export to temperate countries, as it
will develop so strongly while the fruit is in transit as to
cause the loss of a large part of the shipment.

Anthracnose of both host plants can be controlled by
careful spraying. In the case of the mango the first spray-
ing must be carried out as the flowers open, in order to
protect them as well as the flower stalks. Successive appli-
cations must be made until the fruit is well set and then
they must be repeated when the fruits are half to three-
quarters grown, according to the weather conditions. In the
case of the avocado, the time of spraying follows closely that
of the mango, but the applications need not begin so early.

To test the possibility of shipping mangoes from Trini-
dad and the effect of spraying, a box of sprayed and
unsprayed fruit was sent to Mr. A. W. Hill, the Assistant
Director of Kew, and according to the minutes of the meet-
ing of the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad, held on August 16,
the following remarks were contained in the reply, and
showed that sprayed mango fruits can be successfully shipped
to England in quantity.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. OctoBerR 12, 1912.

‘There were ninety-five mangoes in the cases:—

Gordons E 10
Divine 15
Julie (unsprayed) 22
Julie (sprayed) 29

4 % (less ripe) 19

‘A few fruits were slightly bruised or squashed owing
to pressure from the overlying fruit but none were rotten
and every fruit was edible.

‘At the date of writing there are still nearly two dozen
fruits not quite ripe.

‘We were very much struck with the fine appearance of
the sprayed fruits and they have not ripened so quickly
since their arrival as the unsprayed Julies.

‘The fruits which were found to be ripe or somewhat
squashed on arrival were as follows: —

Gordon
Divine
Julie sprayed

1 ripe
5 ripe, 1 rather squashed
5 rather squashed

5% » (lessripe) 1 ripe

,, unsprayed lripe 3 rather squashed

‘Of the more or less squashed fruits four were rather
split but all could be eaten.

‘The fruits have been appreciated by over forty people.

‘The Gordons did not meet with general favour as they
have more of the turpentine flavour.’

BREAD FRUIT. In the Jowrnal of the Board of Agriculture,
of British Guiana, Vol. VI, p. 14, Mr. F. A. Stockdale describes
a disease of bread fruit that was found to be fairly common in
Georgetown and on the farms of the East Coast of Demerara.

‘The disease commences as small brownish spots generally
approximately circular in shape which are to be observed on
the surfaces of the bread fruits. On examining this closely, it
can be noticed that the centre is generally darker than the
edges of these discoloured areas, and it is probable that these
darker sunken areas mark where infection took place. These
discoloured areas become sunken and gradually assume
a darker brown hue. They usually measure about 1} to 2
inches in diameter but cases have been observed where they
measure up to four inches in diameter. If one of them is cut
through it will be seen that the internal tissues are also
discoloured and present a brownish hue, and they eventually
become ‘“‘water-soaked” and slimy.

‘The disease may affect the breadfruit at any stage of
its growth, when the “fruits” are young or when they are
practically ripe. Where only a single spot becomes affected
the “fruit” may ripen and a portion of it can be used, but
when the fruits are affected at several points they usually
fall before they are ripe, and rot. If the dises+rd areas are
examined closely when they are dark-brown in appearance
small pin points of a pinkish grey colour will be seen. These
on examination under a lens can be observed to be the spores
of a fungus and infection experiments conducted in the
laboratory have shown that these spores are produced by the
fungus that is responsible for the disease. Injections that
have been made in healthy “‘fruits” have shown that infection
takes place during forty-eight hours, and that within four
days the diseased sunken areas had a diameter of 1{ inches
with an internal depth of slightly over 2 inches.. These
injections were made under aseptic conditions by means of
shallow cuts through the epidermis. How infection takes
place in nature has yet to be ascertained.’

The actual identity of the fungus causing the disease
has yet to be worked out, but a species of Gloeosporium is
suspected, and with it are associated Fusarium spores whose
relation to the disease is undetermined.

Von. XI, No, 273.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

335

The disease does considerable damage in the district in
which it occurs, but it has been proved by experiments
conducted at the Botanic Gardens in Georgetown that it can
be successfully controlled by collecting and burying with
lime all diseased fruits lying under the trees, and by spraying
the fruits of infected trees with a 4 per cent. solution of
copper sulphate or with Bordeaux mixture. ‘The first
application of the fungicide should be made when the fruits
are very young.

It is interesting to note that all three of the diseases
dealt with in this article are probably due to species of the
genus Gloeosporium. Members of this genus and of its near
relative Colletotrichum are extremely common in the tropics
and cause damage to a number of fruits of various kinds;
examples are cotton boll anthracnose, ripe rot of bananas and
plantains, and cacao anthracnose, to mention only very few.
Often they are confined to the fruit and leaves, or
more generally all the soft green parts including the tips of
young twigs. Often too, the spots resulting from an individual
infection are limited in extent, especially on leaves, while on
fruits they may not spread or cover any considerable area until
the fruit commences to ripen. Practically all cases of this
kind of fruit rot can be dealt with by spraying the leaves
and young fruits, or in some cases the flowers before the
fruits set, and by collecting and burying with lime all
diseased and rotting fruit on the ground.

THE DURATION OF SOIL FERTILITY.

The following extract is taken from an account
of a discourse entitled Recent Advances in Agricultural
Science—the Fertility of the Soil, delivered at the
Royal Institution on Friday, May 24, by A. D. Hall,
The account appeared in Nature for August 22, 1912.

The question of the duration of the fertility of the land
under continual cropping has excited much attention of late,
chiefly because the United States has begun to take alarm
about the reduced production of some of its most fertile
lands, as, for instance, the old prairie lands of the middle
West—a reduced production which, amongst other causes,
has helped to set in motion a stream of. migrants from the
United States to the newer lands of the Canadian North-
West. In the development of agriculture three distinct
stages may be observed. In the first place, we may have
a process of pure exploitation of the initial resources of the
soil, when the farmer is to all intents and purposes mining
in its fertility. This is the process which, in the main, has
been going on in America, and, indeed, in all the newer coun-
tries which have been opened up to agriculture during the last
two centuries. Not all virgin soils are rich, and the system
of cropping alternately with wheat or maize which prevails
over so much of North America has reduced great areas of
the land in the eastern States to such a poverty-stricken
condition that it has been allowed to,go derelict. In the
great plains, however, where the first settler found 4 or 5 feet
of black soil, containing nearly } per cent. of nitrogen,
the land has kept up its productivity almost unimpaired for
nearly a century. If we suppose the black soil only
extended to a depth of 3 feet, and contained ;3, per cent.
of nitrogen, both limited estimates, there would still be
30,000 tb. of nitrogen per acre—that.is to say, nitrogen
enough for 500 crops larger than the American farmer has
been accustomed to win from that land—and yet in less
than a century such soils are beginning to show signs
of exhaustion. The farming of the kind just described

is destructive; but in the older lands of the west of
Europe, which have been under cultivation for something
like a century, a conservative system has been devised
which is capable of keeping up the productive power
of the soil, though not, perhaps, to a very high pitch,
Perhaps the best example of this may be seen in the Norfolk
four-course rotation prior to the introduction of artificial
fertilizers. In this system a turnip crop, which was either
consumed on the ground or converted into manure, and so
returned to the soil, was followed by barley in which clover
was sown, and the clover, which also got back to the soil,
was followed by wheat. The farming covenants prevented
the sale of anything more than barley and wheat grain,
and the meat that was produced by the consumption of the
turnips and hay. Thus but a small proportion of the nitro-
gen taken out of the soil by the crop left the farm; the rest
was returned and used over again, although considerable
losses of gaseous uitrogen occurred during the making of the
dung. Both losses, however, were more than replaced by
the nitrogen which the clover crop gathered from the atmos-
phere during its growth. At any rate, we find that under
such a conservative system of farming the productivity of
the land remained pretty constant at about a level of 20
bushels to the acre from the time of Queen Elizabeth down
to the beginning of the nineteenth century. This conserva-
tive farming about 1840 began to give place to the third
stage in the development—intensive farming, rendered
possible by the discovery of artificial fertilizers and the cheap
freights which brought foreign fertility in the shape of cheap
feeding stuffs to the soil of this country. By these means
the average production of the land of the British Isles has
been raised from the twenty-bushel level to something
over 30 bushels, and the most intensive farmers reach an
average level at least 25 per cent. higher. In their case the
soil has become practically a manufacturing medium trans-
forming the nitrogen and other fertilizing materials added to
it into crops, giving nothing to those crops from its original
stock, and indeed up to a certain point gaining rather than
losing fertility with each year’s cultivation.

Dominica and the Canadian National Exhi-
bition.—The Secretary of the Dominica Permanent Exhibi-
tion Committee reports on the exhibit of limes sent from
Dominica to this exhibition as follows (Dominica Official
Gazette, September 6, 1912):—

‘I beg to report the despatch of twenty-seven barrels of
limes to the Canadian National Exhibition to be held in
Toronto at the end of this month, and of one box containing
Roseau plumes to assist in decorating the West Indian
section,

‘A large number of leaflets of the “Lancet’s” article on
Dominica limes were also forwarded for distribution to
visitors at the Exhibition.

‘The exhibit of limes was contributed by the follow-
ing gentlemen to whom the thanks of the committee are
due: Dr. Nicholls, C.M.G.; J. F. Johnson, Esq.; A. D.
Riviere, Esq.; F. A. Gordon, Esq.; F. Potter, Esq, A. R. C.
Lockhart, Esq.; J. T. Greg, Esq; A. Emanuel, Esq,;
S. Didier, Esq., and the Dominica Fruit Growers’ Association,

‘Owing to the action of the above it has been possible to
send ona good exhibit of Dominica limes, which, it is hoped
will prove of considerable assistance in advertising the fruit
in Canada. ‘

‘The Superintendent of the Quebec Steamship Company
kindly allowed the exhibit to be conveyed to New York on
board the S.S. “Guiana” free of charge.’

336

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—Tse West inpia ComMITTEE CIRCULAR

September 24, 1912; Messrs. E. A. Dz Pass &
Co., September 13, 1912.

ARROWROOT—3id. to 5d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/6 ; block, 2/5 per tb.

Brzswax—No quotations.

OCacao—Trinidad, 71/- to 85/- per cwt.; Grenada, 57/-
to 65/-; Jamaica, 55/- to 63/-.

OorrEE—Jamaica, 70/- to 73/- per cwt.

Uorra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Ootron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 74d. to 18d.

Frvuit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—49/- to 65/- per cwt.

TsincLass—No quotations.

Honzy—No quotations.

Liaz Jurce—Raw, 1/6; concentrated, £18 12s. 6d. to
£18 17s. 6d.; otto of limes (hand pressed), 7/6.

Logwoop—No quotations.

Mace—2/1 to 2/6.

Nutmecs—7d. to 10d.

Pimzenro—Common, 2,;%d.; fair, 2§d.; good, 2}3d.; per tb.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/8; fine soft, 4/63; Castilloa,
4/2 per tb.

Rums—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-.

Suaar—Crystals, 15/9 to 18/6; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/6;
Syrup, 11/6 to 13/-; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York,—Messrs. Giutespiz Bros, & Co., September
20, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 14}$c. to 15$c.; Grenada, 14}c. to 14$c.
Trinidad, 14c. to 15c. per tb.; Jamaica, 114c. to 124c.

Coco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $33°00 to $35°00; culls,
$18-00 to $19°00; Trinidad, select, $35°00 to $36:00;
culls, $18°00 to $19:00 per M.

OorrzE—Jamaica, 15$c. to 17c. per Te.

GincerR—8}c. to 12}c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 46c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c.
per tb.

Grare-Fruit—Jamaica, $3°00 to $5:00.

Lies—$8 ‘00.

Macr—5b4c. to 56c. per tb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 143c.

Ornances—Jamaica, $2:00 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—2§d. per tb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°36c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°86c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°61c. per fb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., September 30,
1912.

Oacdo—Venezuelan, $15°75 per fanega; Trinidad, $14°75
to $15°50.

Ooco-nut O11—$1°01 per Imperial gallon.

OorFEE—Venezuelan, l8c. per fb.

Oopra—$4°50 per 100 fb.

Dxat—$5'00 to $5°50.

Onrtons—$1°75 to $3:00 per 100 fh.

Pras, Sprit—$6'15 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°25 to $1°50 per 100 ib.

Rice—Yellow, $5:°00; White, $6°25 to $6°35 per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, no quotations.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Barbados,—Messrs. JamEs

Ocroger 12,

A. Lyncw & Co.,

1912.

Ltd.,

October 5, 1912; Messrs. T. S. GAaRRAWAY & Co.,

October 5, 1912.

ArRowRoor— $700 to $7°50 per 100 fb.
Cacao—$13-00 to $1400 per 100 ib.
Coco-nuts—$20°00.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°80 per 100 th.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45°00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 to $85:00

per ton.
Mo.asses—No quotations.
Onrtons—$2"50 to $3°75 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6-40 to $6°50 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada,

$3°00 to $4°9U per bag of 120 tb.

Potators—Nova Scotia, $2°20 to $3:00 per 160 tb.
Rice—Ballam, $5°20 per 190 fb.; Patna, no quotations;

Rangoon, no quotations.

SuearR—American granulated, $5'00 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wrerine & Ricurer, Septem-
ber 28, 1912 ; Messrs. SanpBacH, PaRKER & Oo.,

September 27, 1912.

Messrs. WIETING

ARTICLES. & Ricurer.

Messrs. SAND-
BACH, PARKER

Co.
Arrownroot—St. Vincent —= ese
Batata—Venezuelablock| No quotation Prohibited
Demerara sheet|76c. to 77c. per tb. —
Cacao—Native 17c. per th. l5c. to 17c. th.
Oassava— 80c. to $1°20 No quotation
Cassava STARCH— $750 to $8:00 No quotation
Coco-nuTs— $16 to $20 per M./$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
Corrrr—Creole 20c. per tb. 18c. per it.
Jamaica and Rio 20c. per ib. 20c. per th.
Liberian 17c. per tb. 15c. per th.
Daat— $5°00 per bag of $5-50
168 th.

Green Dhal $5°25 ae
Eppors— 60c. to 80c. ——
Motassrs— Yellow None pees
Ontons—Tenerifie —

Madeira 43c. to 5c. per tb. Be.
Pras—Split $6°25 to $700 per| $7-25 per bag
bag (210 tb.) (210 tb.)

Marseilles —- No quotation
PLANTAINS— 16c. to 48c. as
Potators—Nova Scotia --—

Lisbon $2°00 to $225 No quotation
Porators-Sweet, B’bados $3-00 Sts
per bag
Rice—Ballam No quotation a

Creole $6-00 $600
Tannras— $2°16 aS
Yams— White — ==

Buck —
Suear—Dark crystals $3°30 to $3°40 $3°50

Yellow $4-00 to $4°25 $425
White —=
Molasses $2°80 nee
TimseR—Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot cub. foot
Wallaba shingles} $4°00 to $6°25 $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
The ‘WEST INDIAN BULLETIN’.

INDIES.

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Volume XII. Nos. 1 and 2. No. 3;—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Polisher; The Structure and Polli-

nation of the Cacao Flower.

Sucar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;

A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugarcanes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugarcane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
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Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

PAMPHLET SERIES
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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 seventy.

Sucar Inpustry.
Seedling and other Canes at Barbados

in 1900. No, 3, price 2d.;in 1901, No. 13, price 4.;
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Seedling Canes and Manurial Experiments at Barbados,
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The

‘Agricultural News’ contains extracts

‘AGRICULTURAL NEWS’. A Fortnightly Review.

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.

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applications for copies are to he addressed to the Agents, not to the Department.

Agents.

The following nave been appurnted Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—

London: Messrs. DuLau & Co.. 37. Soho Square, W.

Barbados : Messrs. Bowrn & Sons. Bridgetown.

Jamaica : THE Evucationat Surety Company, 16, King
Street, Kingston

British Guiana: Tre ‘Darty CHRONICLE’ OFFICE. Georgetown.

Trinidad - Messrs. Muir-MarsHatt & Co.. Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. Piragemann, Scarborough.

St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School,

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripGEwatTER, Rosean,
Montserrat; Mr. W. Rosson, Botanic Station.

Anngua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s.

St. Kitts: Toe Brste anp Book Suppty Agency, Basseterre,
Jems : Messrs. Howrt, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Ocrosrer 12, 1912

2 LAL Fe

Ohlendorfi’s
Ohiendorff’s
Ohiendorif’s

Dissolved Peruvian &uUapo -—-For Sugar-cane and general use

Special Sugar-cane Manure
Special Cocoa Manure

Ohiendorff’s Special Cotton Manure

Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of
Potash Salts, Nitrolim and all oth

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

er high-class Fertilizers.

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

London

Agency:

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

COTTON SEED MEAL!

COTTON SEED MEAL !!

PREPARED FOR MANURIAL
PURPOSES.
Can be obtained from:—
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE
COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED,

BRIDGETOWN.

N.B.—Special quotation for large lots.

SPECIALLY

SPACE AVATLABLE FOR ADVER

Printad at O

a

a
<

TISEMENT, |

TO BE ISSUED SHORTLY.

WEST INBIAN BULLETIN:

(Vol. XII No. 4.)

Containing Papers on PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS, COCOA-
NUT, LIME AND FRUIT, AND RICE INDUSTRIES, prepared for the
recent Agricultural Conference, comprising: The Use of
Entomogenous Fungi on Scale Insects in Barbados; Further
Notes on the Fungus Parasites of Scale Insects; Heport on
the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases in the West
Indies, for 1910 and 1911; Bud Rot of the Cocoa-nut Palm;
Cocoa-nut Palm Insects in Trinidad; Scale Insects and their
Insect Parasites; Some Fruit Diseases; Experiments in Lime
Juice Concentration; Investigations on the Extraction of
Lime Juice by Milling; Some Root Diseases of Permanent
Crops in the West Indies; Notes on Expressed and_ | )istilled
West Indian Lime Oils; The Lime Industry in Antiznt; The
Acid Content of Lime Fruits; Observations on the |). velop-
‘ment of the West Indian Lime [ruit; Outline of Manurial
Experiments on Cocoa-nut 1 Trinidad and Tobago; The
Bay Rum and Bay Oil Indust ‘es of St. Thomas and St. Jan;
The Classification of Sweet Potatoes; Uassava Starch and its
| Uses; The Water Supply of Antigua; Does the Sereh Disease
| Exist in the West Indies, More Especially in Trinidad?
'A Report on Observations on Scale Insects; The .Cocoa-nut
| {Industry in Antigua; Manurial Experiments with the Gover-
}nor Banana in Trinidad; Artificial Cross-Fertilization of the
| Mango; and Rice Experiments in British Guiana

Mee of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

——— TR PK

i, fon “i Gay pao ‘4

f TSF SC
== a eee aS <\)) Z

<a SS

\}
WT

ly el

_ SATURDAY, | OCTOBER 26, 1912.

Vol. XI. No. 274.]

REGULAR -SERVICES.

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. |

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OF THE

LESSER ANTILLES,

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEFARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department,
price 1s, 8¢,, post free 1s, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because n« other line of tropical agricu!ture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND IT) FREES

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
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y pete eig,

Ay

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vor. XI. No. 274. BARBADOS, OCTOBER 26, 1912. Prios 1d.
—— ——— I
Although these problems were all considered and illus-
CONTENTS. trated with reference to economic mycology in England,
yet in themselves they are equally important in con-
nexion with plant pathology in the tropics. Stated
Pace. Pace. shortly they are as follows:—
Beans, Some Well-known 347 | Lemon Industry of Italy... 340 ‘What is the economic importance of that special-
a ae “+ oe S45) wrarket Reports... «1. 852 ization of parasitism now proved to exist in many
British Cotton Growing Notes and Comments ... 344 fungi’
Association . 343 | Pellagra . os 339 ‘What degree of importance. fro ] >
Cotton-Growing in Ar- Plant Diseases, Problems L i ax pee iy po bbe Se eee
yentina — ... - 342 of Economic Impor- point of view, is to be attributed to the saprophytic
West Indian Cotton ... 342 tance Regarding 337 stage in the life-history of any fungus causing a plan
Department News ... 339 | Plant Food in Sandstones 344 li S , y y 8 5 Aa
Egypt, Cotton Crop, Plants, New Method of Wee
1911-12 Shr 344 Investigating Needs of 345 ‘What are the conditions under which some sapro-
Fungus Notes :— Plants, Nitrogen, Phos- hyti erat farivi.b Sey
Knot of Citrus Trees .., 350 phorus and en phytic species of tung! ecome parasites:
Bleenings oe ee . 348 4 iConoa aa Be . 345 ‘What are the conditions under which a parasitic
ta) cast Northern Ter- st. Kitts and Nevis, Rain- J say
ritories, Agriculture in 343 fall) in<2.e . 347 fungus attacks a new host Speers |
Grenada, Importation of Silk, World’s Production, Some few words of explanation are necessary to
ide es ee < Bales Cae er elucidate the subject involved in the first problem. Ib
Coco-nut Pest in the Tulip Woods and Tulip has been shown by inoculations, notably ameng
Philippines - 346 Trees ... 34) - - =
ee win 346 | United States) Production members of the rust family (Uredineae) and of the
Sugar-cane Pest in St. in, 1911 341 family of powdery mildews (Erysiphaceae), that of
Croix ... «ss + 346 | West Indian Products _ 351

Problems of Economic Importance

Regarding Plant Diseases.

ley. his presidential address* to the British
h® Mycological Society delivered in 1911, Pro-
op BS fessor Salmon states and illustrates, among

others, four practical problems connected with certain

aspects of the

life-histories

of economic

* Transactions of the British Mycological Society, 1911.

fungi.

a fungus species occurring on a large number of host
species one form on a host species @ cannot attack
a host species b, and vice versa. Thus although the
two forms of fungus cannot be distinguished from one
another by their morphological characters, that is by those
characters that together may be said to make up their
general appearance, yet biologically they are different in
that their powers of parasitism are very strictly limited.
The economic aspect of this is that if the host species
aand b are growing together and only the biological form
of fungus parasitic on a is present, then the species 6 will
appear immune. But if the fungus strain parasitic on
b is also present or is introduced, / also will be attacked
or its immunity will appear tu break down. There is,
moreover, another means whereby > might become

338

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

OctroBer 26, 1912.

attacked from a. It has been found in some cases that
the fungus parasitic on a can attack a third species 7
and that when it has grown on « for one or more gen-
erations, spores from « can infect b. Thus & serves as
a bridging species to carry the fungus from a to b, and
the introduction of # into a cultivation where a is
attacked and } is immune would naturally result im
the breaking down of b’s immunity. Finally, it has
also been shown that the immunity of the species / to
the fungus strain on ~ may be partly broken down, if
the parts of b liable to attack are damaged by adverse
conditions, wounds, or the depredations of insects.

Very little, if anything, is known of the existence
of biological species in the tropics; yet the matter is
clearly worthy of attention, particularly in relation to the
production or introduction of immune varieties of host
plants and in considering legislation restricting the
introduction of plants from one country into another.
These applications are so evident that they do not call
for further elaboration here. In conclusion it may be
added that the related genera Colletotrichum and
Gloeosporium, to mention only two, might well repay
investigation from this point of view.

The next point raised by Professor Salmon is that
of the degree of importance, from the economic point
of view, of the saprophytic stage of a fungus causing
a plant disease. It has been found that the mycelium
producing conidial fructifications of a fungus may live
as a parasite, while that producing the ascigerous fruit
lives as a saprophyte on dead and often fallen portions
of the same plant. In countries with a very marked
change of climate in summer and winter this power
may be of considerable economic value, since the
saprophytic stage may serve to carry the fungus through
the winter and give rise to new outbreaks of disease in
the succeeding spring. In mild winters the parasitic
stage may persist, but under extreme conditions the
saprophytic form may alone be able to survive. An
investigation of this problem is of more importance in
temperate countries than in the more uniform climatic
conditions of the tropics, yet even there it should
hardly be entirely neglected. It is possible, for example,
that definite knowledge of the part played in spreading
infection by the ascospores of Rosellinia bunodes, the
black root disease fungus, would be of value. The
perithecia in this instance always develop on a sapro-
phytic mycelium, some time after the tree isdead. Their
growth is slow and the spores have a thick outer coat—
all facts which point to this stage as intended to carry
the fungus through unfavourable conditions. It would
appear, however, that most fungi perpetuate themselves

in the tropics largely by means of conidia, since the
ascigerous stage is often either entirely absent or only
rarely formed.

The question of the itions under which some
saprophytic species of nn me parasites is one of
very great importanee in thea’§epics, and one on which
some information, of a rather “preliminary nature, has
been obtained. Quite a large number of the more
serious diseases of crops are caused by fungi that are far
more usually saprophytic than parasitic in habit. As
an example may be taken the ubiquitous Thyridaria
tarda found as a sapropbyte on an immense number of
different plants, and as a wound parasite on cacao,
Hevea and tea, among other hosts. Its parasitism is
largely dependent on conditions unfavourable to the
growth of the host, as well as on other factors. Again,
the root disease of Para rubber in the Kast is due to
a fungus (Homes semitostus) usually saprophytic on
forest stumps. Its parasitism depends on the presence
of large quantities of decaying wood which afford it
food for vigorous vegetative development before it
begins attack, and on the presence of an
ample supply. of moisture. The same is probably
true to some extent of Rosellinia bunodes referred
to above. The solution of the problem in connexion
with many species of the family of bracket fungi
(Polyporaceae), to which Fomes semitostus belongs, is
a matter of some importance in the tropics, as many of
them appear to act occasionally as wound parasites or
as root parasites on trees planted in newly cleared
forest land. Similar investigations would be valuable
in the case of many of the toadstools (Agaricaceae)
and of the genera Colletotrichum and Gloeosporium, of
which many forms are found on ripe or fallen fruits.

its

Of the last of Professor Salmon’s questions, namely
what are the conditions under which a parasitic fungus
attacks a new host species, nothing appears to be known
in the tropics, since the records as a rule do not go back
far enongh to show that when a parasitic fungus is
found on an apparently new host plant, it has never
actually occurred on that host before in the same locali-
ity, or in some other. This again is a problem worthy
of attention.

Other problems of some economic importance also
eccur in connexion with the life-histories of fungi,
besides those mentioned by Professor Salmon, One isi
to what extent a strain of a parasitic fungus may lose
its virulence when growing for some time on the same
host plant in a limited area, exhibiting fairly uniform

Von. XI. No. 274.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 339

conditions of climate. Another is: to what extent do
strains showing very marked differences in virulence
occur in one species of parasitic fungus. While yet
another is: to what extent do certain species of partly
parasitic fungi, such as Thyridaria tarda, found
throughout the tropics on several host plants and
originally probably pure saprophytes, exhibit before
our eyes a process of developing parasitism, becoming
at the same time specialized to the host plant predom-
inating in any given locality. So many partly
parasitic fungi are of universal distribution in the
tropics, and are capable of attacking several host plants,
that it seems very possible that some of them may
actually afford instances of the progress and specializa-
tion of parasitism.

The investigation of problems of the nature of
those just considered belongs in a sense to the realin
of pure research, and requires more time than is usually
available to the plant pathologist engaged in pioneer
or routine work. In fact such investigation bears
much the same relation to routine plant pathology
that medical research does to the work of a general
practitioner. The future may prove that the parallel
can be carried farther; and that the solution of these
problems is as important to the economic welfare of
an agricultural community as the results of medical
research are to its bodily health.

PELLAGRA.

Information concerning this disease, which is
common in parts of the West Indies, is contained in an
abstract of a paper, given in the Bulletin of Agricul-
tural Information and of Plant Diseases, August
1912, p. 1701:—

The investigation of pellagra moves now essentially on
bacteriological lines. It differs from the preceding diseases,
[beri-beri, polyneuritis, epidemic dropsy and scurvy] in
in that it cannot be produced experimentally in animals.
Pellagra, which was known in Italy in the eighteenth
century, now occurs in Italy, Roumania, Austria, Spain,
Portugal, Egypt, Algeria, United States, Mexico and Central
America; it is strictly limited to districts where maize is
used as the staple diet. The disease, which breaks out
mostly in spring and autumn, shows nervous and psychic
symptoms and leads often to general cachexia, diarrhoea, and
suicide. A very characteristic symptom is an erythema of the
skin, which is caused by the sun and is localized in uncov-
ered parts of the body.

Tn addition to such views as those expressed by Hodson,
that pellagra is not a definite disease, there exist five
distinct theories—namely, the intoxication, auto-intoxica-
tion, infection, photodynamic and deficiency theories.

According to the first, held by the Italian authors
(Ceni, Otto, Lombroso, Gosio, Gavina, Bertarelli, Antonini,
Camuzzi), the disease is caused by toxic substances produced

in maize by the action of micro-organisms, especially fungi
(Aspergillus, Penicillium, etc.). The ferments capable of
producing the toxic substances remain active even after
cooking.

According to the auto-intoxieation theory (v. Neusser,
De Giaxa) pellagra is due to toxic products formed in the
intestine under the influence of certain bacteria, especially
of B. eoli.

As regards the infection theory, an enormous amount of
different organisms have been credited with the power of
causing pellagra: a particular strain of Penicillium glaucum,
Aspergillus fluorescens and A. funugatus; Streptobacillus
pellagrae, a protozoon transmitted by a biting fly of the
genus Simulium.

But post-mortem bacteriological investigations (Raubit-
scheck) revealed nothing in favour of the infection theory of
the etiology of pellagra and the sero-diagnostic examination
of the blood did not show the presence of antibodies against
maize proteins or germs contained in maize.

According to Raubitscheck’s theory, spoiled maize pro-
duces a toxic substance, which is able to sensitize the skin
for sun rays.

The deficiency theory is the one brought forward by the
writer [C. Funk]. He draws attention to the fact that the diet
in pellagra districts is very one-sided and consists chiefly of
starch, which is known to produce beri-beri. Maize prevents
beri-beri and scurvy, as do beans, vegetables, milk and
potatoes; these appear, though in very small quantities, in
the diet described by Lombroso and Camuri. Thus lr Funk
concludes that pellagra is due, probably to the deficiency of
a vitamine* different from those of beri-beri and scurvy.

Food has, till now, been valued only by its content
in proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and calories value; but
the nutritive value of the proteins depends on their amino-
acid content. An animal fed on proteins which differ in the
quantity of amino-acids from the proteins of its own body
is forced to use much more proteins and is unable to use
these amino-acids, which are in larger proportion in the food
than in its own body. In future, the amino-acid vitamine
content will have to be considered.

It is to deficiency in vitamine that the fact must be
attributed, that proteins which contain sufficient amino-acids
to maintain adult animals in nitrogenous equilibrium, prevent
normal growth in young animals. A deficiency in vitamines
produces also a predisposition to many other diseases, among
which rickets may be mentioned.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left
Barbados by the S.S. ‘Guiana’ on October 20, for an
official visit to Antigua. Dr. Watts is expected to return
to Barbados in about three weeks’ time.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc., Entomologist 10 the
Department, left Barbados for St. Vincent by the
S.S. ‘Oruro’ on October 17, in order to make investiga-
tions regarding insect pests in the island.

* Vitamines are substances (organic bases) present in small
quantities in foods, which are able to prevent or cure such
diseases as beri-beri and scurvy. Their insuffiency in the diet
appears to cause the exhibition of those diseases.—Kd., A.N,

340

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. Ocroper 26, 1912,

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE LEMON INDUSTRY OF ITALY.

The lemon tree grows in Italy, from Lombardy and
Venetia as far south as Calabria and Sicily, but it is chiefly
in the latter parts, as well as in the penirsula of Sorrento,
that the lemon industry is developed, for it is here that the
climatic conditions are most favourable to citrus plants.
More particularly yet, Sicily is the great centre for the grow-
ing of the fruit: out of a little more than 8 million lemon
trees planted in the whole of Italy there are about 7 million
in Sicily, representing a number of trees of the kind fifteen
times greater than that existing in California.

This information is supplied by the Jowrnal d’Agri-
euliure Tropicale for August 1912, which goes on to say that
a report summarized in the Jowrnal de la Chambre de Com-
merce Francaise de Milan states that a lemon tree in Sicily,
properly cared for, will give 800 to 1,200 fruits a year, and
sometimes as many as 2,000. It is therefore not surprising
that the crop of lemons in Sicily and Calabria had risen in
1907 to the figure of 6,900,000,000 lemons, equivalent to
20,000,000 boxes of 300 to 360 fruits; that is to say it
would take up 64,000 fruit cars such as are used in California,
each of which has a capacity of 312 boxes.

In Sicily, the lemon orchards stretch from the coast to
the fertile valleys of the interior and are found on the sides
of the hills up to an altitude not exceeding about 1,450 feet.
In this island and in the province of Reggio Calabria, the trees
are planted in squares at distances of 12 to 18 feet; they are
not given protection of any kind, because of the mildness of
the climate, and under the conditions well developed trees
are the general rule.

At Sorrento, on the contrary, on the coast of Amalfi in
the district situated further north, where the culture is
undertaken, the trees are generally planted at smaller dis-
tances and are protected from frost.

In the province of Palermo the chief shipments are
during March to June; in the provinces of Messina
and Catania from November to February; and in the
peninsula of Sorrento,from June to September. There is also
a summer harvest of lemons of a kind called Verdelli. The
ripening of these fruits in summer is caused by suspending
irrigation in June and July, then stimulating the trees by
means of a rapidly acting manure, and resuming irrigation in
abundance from the time that flowering commences.

The quality of the lemons varies perceptibly according
to the soil and the time of the crop. The best fruits in every

respect, and those which keep longest, come from the strong
soils of the hill gardens. Those raised on light soil ripen
earlier, but do not generally possess as good an appearance as
the others and are of medium quality. Choice lemons are
usually packed for export in boxes containing 300 to 360 fruits.

The Italian lemon is remarkable for its resistance to
disease, the richness in essential oil, for the strength of its
juice and for its citrie acid content. These matters explain
the important demand that exists in the United States for
Italian lemons, in spite of the very active competition of fruits
from California and the advantages which protection gives to
the products of the United States, over those which are
imported.

In Italy, the lemons that are not suited for exportation
are employed for making the essential oil; this is prepared
chiefly in the districts near Etna, Messina, Palermo, Syracuse,
and Barcelona. The time of year for this work lasts generally
from December to the end of March. The methods employed
vary to a certain extent with the district. Near Etna,
Messina and Syracuse the fruit is cut for the purpose into
two halves, the pulp is removed with a spatula, then the empty
skins are wetted with water for four or five hours before the
essential oil is expressed. According to the size, the state of
ripeness and the shape of the fruit, 1 tb. of oil may be
obtained from 1,600 to 2,200 half skins; the green fruits give
a little more of the oil than the ripe. A good worker obtains
33 to just over 5 pints of oil a day. At Palermo the fruit is
cut lonyitudinally into three parts; in this method the
separation of the rind and the pulp is less perfect than in
the preceding, but the oil filters better and is more limipid.

Information concerning the lemon industry of Sicily
and the manufacture in that island of citrate of lime and of
the essential oil has appeared in the Agricultwral News,
Vol. VI, p. 83, and Vol. VIII, pp. 180 and 324.

Particulars regarding the citrus industry of Sicily in
1910-11 have been extracted from the report for the year
ended November 30, 1911, of the Royal Commissioner
administrating the Camera Agrumaria (see Agricultural
News, Vols. VIE, p. 377 and IX, p. 233), and appear in
The Board of Trade Jowrnal’for August 29, 1912. These
show that the estimated production of lime and lemon juice
in Sicily, in 1911, was 4,800 metric tons, as compared with
6,300 tons in 1910 and 7,500 tons in 1909; in making this
estimate 162 litres of concentrated lemon juice are calculated
as vquivalent to 100 kilos. of citrate: there is a relatively

Vor. XI. No. 274.

-small production of lime juice, as compared with citrate of
lime, in Sicily. It is also stated that the position of the
Camera Agrumaria has improved during the year, and the
following interesting information is given: ‘It is calculated
that the world’s production of citrate of lime and concen-
trated juice amount to an average of about 7,200 metric tons
per annum, of which about five-sixths are»produced in Sicily.
The remaining 1,000 tons are produced in the British
Antilles (principally in the islands of Dominica and Mont-
serrat), in Mexico, and in Central and South America.’

TULIP WOODS AND TULIP TREES.

An article in the Aew Bulletin, No. 5, 1912, p. 241,
_gives a useful account of eleven plants that are either called
tulip trees or yield woods called tulip woods. It draws
attention to the confusion that exists generally through
the use of one common name for several kinds of trees, and
states that this confusion is increased in the case under dis-
cussion because some of the plants called tulip trees do not
give wood designated as tulip wood. The term tulip wood
seems to be associated with at least seven different kinds of
trees. Among the plants described, there are three that are
of interest in the West Indies or British Guiana, and the
following information concerning them is for the greater part
abstracted from the article mentioned.

DICYPELLIUM CARYOPHYLLATUM, OR LICARIA GUIANEN-
sis. It seems that this plant is plentiful in the Guianas
and in Brazil, ‘where it attains a height of 50 or 60 feet,
with a trunk 3 feet or more in diameter with reddish, cor-
rugated bark and strong, close-grained wood.’ Like some
other members of the Lauraceae it possesses wood, leaves and
bark which are fragrant, hence its name ‘bois de rose’, and
probably ‘Cayenne sassafras’, Its bark is called ‘clove bark’
and ‘Brazilian clove bark’, because of its scent and taste:
distillation with water gives an essential oil called ‘clove bark
oil’, bearing a strong resemblance in all its properties to
clove oil and used in perfumery.

The name tulip wood is given to this wood in England.
It seems, from Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4818
Annual Series, that the timber and oil are quickly becoming
important articles of coramerce, and development of its
exploitation is expected in the forests of Brazil. The export
has increased steadily since 1902; in 1910 it was 1,262 tons,
and it all went to Grasse (Alpes Maritimes), France. The
essential oil is also shipped to France.

THESPESIA POPULNEA. ‘This is known in some parts of
the West Indies as ‘seaside mahoe’; in India it seems to be
commonly called ‘tulip tree’. The flowers are yellow and
purple, and very much like those of cotton, to whose family,
the Malvaceae, it belongs. ‘The wood is fairly strong and
heavy, fine-grained with light-coloured soft sapwood and
hard, red heartwood. It is used for gun-stocks, wheel-spokes,
boat-timber, carts, and furniture. The bark yields a good
fibre, and the capsules a yellow dye like gamboge. Both
‘bark and wood contain tannin,’

In the West Indies, this plant is usually seen growing
‘near lagoons and swamps, The fibre in the bark is used by
fishermen.

HIBISCUS ELATUS. It is stated that the two common
-mames of this plant are ‘blue mahoe’ and ‘tulip tree’. In
~Stone’s Timbers of Commerce, the wood is described as
possessing a faint, aromatic or peppery scent, causing sneez-
‘ang when it is worked. It finds uses in making gun-stocks,
carriage poles, ships’ knees and fishing rods, and is like
European ash but is said to be more durable and longer in

the fibre. ;

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

34]

PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES’
1911.

CROP PRODUCTION. Most of the crops of 1911, as far as
their production is ascertained, compare unfayourably with
the average production of the preceding five years. Cotton
is the most conspicuous exception. If the commercial expecta-
tions of the size of this crop are realized, it will be one-
quarter larger than the five-year average, and also the largest
cotton crop ever grown.

The sugar-beet crop is much above the average produc-
tion of the previcus five years, and is the largest ever grown,
while rice and buckwheat are considerably above.

All other crops are below the five-year average in pro-
duction, hay being the most prominent one in percentage of
deficiency.

VALUE .OF WEALTH PRODUCED. For the first time in
many years the total value of farm products has declined from
that of the preceding year. The estimate for 1911 is based
on the census items and $8,417,000,000, or 5277,000,000
under the total for 1910. The loss is chargeable to the general
classes of animal products and animals sold and slaughtered.
Dairy cows are the only farm animals for which increase of
price is indicated. Eggs, wool, butter, and poultry have
likewise suffered in farm price during the year. In conse-
quence of the decline of prices of farm animals and their
products, the group is estimated as having produced a value
of $2,913,000,000 in 1911, or 321,000,000 below the
amount for 1910.

On the other hand, the crops are worth more than those
of 1910, the estimate of farm value being $5,504,000,000—
a gain of 544,000,000 over 1910. Farm prices of all crops
are higher than for 1910, except for cotton, cotton seed and
flax seed, and this general fact, notwithstanding the other
general fact that production was low, makes about ten crops
of 1911 the most valuable ones of the same kinds that the
farms of this country have ever produced.

If the census value of farm products for 1899 is repre-
sented by 100, the relative standing of subsequent years can
be readily perceived if they also are represented by index
numbers. After 1899 the total value of farm products
increased yearly about five to seven in the index number
for six years, ending with 1905. For 1906 the increase was
ten, for 1907 it was fifteen, for 1909 it was sixteen, for
1910 the increase was less than two, and for this year there
is a loss of six in the index number. At the end of six
years after 1899, or the year 1905, the index number had
risen from 100 to 133; in five years more it mounted to 183;
and the highest point reached 184°3 for 1910. The number
for 1911 is 178:4. The progression was broken by this year,
so that two other years, 1909 and 1910, exceed 1911 in the
value of the wealth produced on farms.

Little is known of the total agricultural wealth produc-
tion of foreign countries, but the little that is known affords
interesting comparisons. A rough but official estimate of
the value of the wealth produced by agriculture in Italy
in 1910, a year of large production, is $1,351,000,000.
Official returns of the production in Japan, averaged for the
three years 1905-7, give an annual value of a little more
than $613,000,000. The official yearbook of the Common-
wealth of Australia reports for 1908 a value of $484,000,000,
According to the Canadian census of 1901 the value of the
farm products of the foregoing year was $363,000,000; the
census of 1911 has not yet published the corresponding
figures for 1910, but the annual official report of agriculture
indicates a present production valued at about $900,000,000.
(From the Yearbook of the United States Department of

- Agriculture, 1911.)

THE

pt)
se
~

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

OctosEer 26, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date October 7, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

West Indian Sea Islands have been neglected since our
last report, the only business being about 25 bags of
St. Kitts at 17d.

Buyers are waiting the opening prices of the New
Crop Carolina Sea Island. Meanwhile, Old Crop Carolina
jots are offering at as low as 16d., without finding buyers.
The best Floridas are offering at 143d., but spinners prefer
Sakellarides Egyptian at 113d. to 12d. per bh.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending October 5, is as follows:—

There has continued some demand for the Planters’ crop
lots left in stock from last year, which has resulted in the
sale so far of 65 bales of Uneeda at 38c. for export.
Also there has been put on shipboard, but not yet cleared,
100 bales medium Fine Islands which have been held in
warehouse by an exporter for nearly two years. In our next
circular we will be able to give the destination of both of
the above lots.

The receipts of the new crop to date amount to only
99 beles, which the factors have decided to postpone
sampling and offering for sale until next week. The impres-
sion is that they would be willing to open the market on
a basis of, viz:—
30c.

28e.

=". c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
= léd. ” ” ” ”

Extra Fine
Fully Fine

COTTON-GROWING IN ARGENTINA.
The infurmation below is part of a report by H.M.
Consul at Buenos Aires, reproduced in The Board
of Trade Journal of September 5:—

Cotton-growing in Argentina cannot be said to have
emerged from its initial stage of development, but indications
are not lacking of a possible flourishing and profitable
mdustry in the future. Unfortunately Argentina does not
possess the population needed for the development of her
latent resources and is dependent upon immigration. The
iack of labour is undoubtedly the most serious obstacle to
ihe expansion of cotton-growing inthe Republic. The only
»vailable local labour is supplied by a few native Indians and
peasants from Paraguay and the Province of Corrientes.

Apart from this difficulty cotton would seem to offer
extensive possibilities, the vast districts of the Argentine
lying to the north of the 32nd degree of south latitude being
admirably adapted to its growth. The climate is particularly
favourable to the cotton plant, the absence of rain at the
critical ripening period conducing to the production of fibre
of almost unrivalled quality. The greatest advantage of all
is beyond doubt the total absence in Argentina of the much.
dreaded boll weevil, to the ravages of which is attributed the
loss of a large part of the cotton yield of 1911 in the
Mississippi valley alone. While this scourge is spreading
throughout the entire cotton belt of the United States,
causing millions of dollars of damage, the only parasite im
Argentina detrimental to the cotton plant is a cotton worne
that is easily exterminated by the use of Paris green.

The area under cultivation inthe United States amounts
to 30000,000 acres and the same extent of territory is
available for cotton-growing in Argentina. A Spanish
syndicate in Barcelona has sent a commission of experts to
Argentina to study the industry more particularly from
a labour standpoint, a fact that tends to show how seriously
the problem is being grappled with, particularly when taken
in conjunction with the large Spanish immigration into thas
country, amounting to 102,277 in 1911.

The future success of the industry would of course lie ia
cultivation for export, and the aim of the Barcelona syndicate
would be to draw supplies of raw cotton from Argentina
instead of the United States. At present cotton is being
grown on a scale that falls a long way short of even satisfy-
ing the modest demands of the home market.

Out of about 6,200 acres at present under cultivation
some 4,700 acres fall to the share of the Chaco territory.
An expert comparison of the rich alluvial soil of this terri-
tory with that of the Mississippi valley leaves no room for
donbting its productiveness. The principal centres of the
cotton-growing industry are in the colonies of Resistencia,
Benitez Margarita, Belen, Popular, Pastoril, Zapallar an&
General Vedia. A government experimental station has also.
been started in the Chaco territory to supply seed which will
be distributed, on application, by the Ministry of Agriculture:
the industry is at present exempt from taxation.

The Government have started agricultural colonies ita
the Chaco territory. These colonies may be occupied by
settlers, who have a right to apply for a grant of land om
payment of 2} dollars per hectare (about Is. 94. per acre).
This concession is offered to settlers who comply with the
laws Applications should be made to the Land Office,
Calle Tucuman 950, Buenos Aires, but the only way to
secure the land appears to be by first settling thereon an&
then making application for a provisional lease. This lease
is only granted provided the land is entirely free from any
previous lien thereon.

Vout. XI. No. 274. THE

AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

343

The Government have also allotted a large track of land
some 2,500,000 acres in extent, to be divided up into lots of
5,000 acres and sold by auction in Buenos Aires to the
highest bidder. The price of the land is payable in half-
yearly instalments according to the decree at present in force.

This region will be traversed by a xailway under con-
struction from Barranqueras in the Chaco territory to Metan
‘in Salta. As soon as the railhead reaches the 127th mile
connexion will be made with a branch line of the National
Central Railway, thus establishing communication between
the Northern provinces and the deep waterway of the Parana
river, which will have a stimulating effect upon the indus-
tries of the district to be opened up.

The date of the sale by auction of the lands above
referred to will be fixed as soon as the surveys of the new
railway are complete, and will be announced at least three
months before the sale takes place. The surveys will
probably occupy a period of from three to six months.

THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING
ASSOCIATION.

The following account of
Association has just been received.

The one hundred and fourth Meeting of the Council of
the British Cotton Growing Association was held at the
‘Offices of the Association, 15 Cross Street, Manchester, on
the 1st instant.

The President, the Right Hon. The Earl of Derby,
‘G.C.V.O., occupied the Chair.

soupDAN. A discussion took place as to the best method
of pushing on the development of cotton-growing in this
country and as to organizing a deputation to His Majesty’s
Government, The question was postponed pending further
information on the subject.

WEST AFRICA. The purchases of cotton in Lagos to the
end of September amount to 8,853 bales, as compared with
5,274 bales for the same period of last year and 5,469 bales
for 1910. The purchases in Northern Nigeria to the end of
September are 2,301 bales as compared with about 500
bales for the whole of the previous season. There is every
reason to believe that the quantity of cotton produced in
West Africa this season will create a record.

NYASALAND. It was mentioned that the Shire River has
been very low for some time and that it may be December
next before any quantity of cotton can beshipped home from
Port Herald. At the end of July the Association had over
-400 bales lying at Port Herald; and this» quantity has since
‘been greatly increased, thus necessitating the locking up of
several thousand pounds capital for many months owing to
the inadequate transport facilities. In this connexion it was
hoped that arrangements would soon be completed for the
-extension of the railway from Port Herald to the Zambesi.

UGANDA. It was mentioned that a’ Conference had been
held at the Colonial Office at which Mr J. Arthur Hutton,
the Chairman of the Council of the Association, was present
“to discuss the question of the expenditure of a portion of
the Government loan of £500,000 towards the improvement
-of roads, etc., in the cotton-growing districts of Uganda.
Mr. Hutton stated that he considered the lines on which it
ds proposed to work were sound, and that the proposed roads
would be most useful in opening up new cotton lands.

Satisfaction was expressed at the progress which was
“being made in the different colonies on the eastern side of
Africa, and it was pointed out that during September the

a meeting of this

Association had sold about 3,000 bales of cotton from these
districts.

A financial statement with which the account con«
cludes shows that on October 3 the balance to be raised,
to complete the authorized capital of the Association,
namely £500,000, was £23,039. On September 5 it
was £23,127.

AGRICULTURE IN THE GOLD COAST
NORTHERN TERRITORIES.

The Protectorate is purely agricultural, and owing to
the cost of transport bulky produce cannot be profitably
exported: the people in consequence have no inducement to
till more land than is sufficient to produce such foodstufis as
are necessary for their personal consumption. However,
they are quick enough to recognize the advantage of trade
as is shown by the fact that around places like Tamale,
Salaga, Tamale Port, Zouaragu, and other important trading
centres, where food can be sold for money, the natives have
made great progress in extending the area of land under
cultivation, and in various other ways have shown that the
previous indifference was only due to lack of demand for
their farm produce.

Increased interest has been taken by the chiefs an&
people in the work of the agricultural station at Tamale.
Various experiments have been made at this station during:
the year in the rotation of crops, and in the comparison of
different varieties of cotton, rice, fibres, ete. Foodstufix
such as cassava, sweet potatoes, ginger and peppers have
been introduced, and are gradually being distributed to the
native farmers. Bullocks have been successfully trained ta
draw carts and to plough.

A large number of ornamental trees and shrubs have
been planted in the cantonments at Tamale, and they appear
to be thriving very well.

To encourage cotton-growing, small cotton farms bave
been made in eighteen villages, and in addition a consider~
able amount of cotton seed has been distributed.

The British Cotton Growing Association during the year
completed a number of permanent buildings at Tamale,
containing gins and a press, which are quite adequate to deal
with all cotton likely to be purchased locally. A ginnery
and a press-house, containing a hydraulic press, have also
been erected at Tamale Port, on the Volta River, to further
compress bales for transport.

The price paid by the Association for native and Ameri~
can cotton has been increased respectively by jd. and {d.
per lb., and it is hoped that this enhanced price may be am
inducement to the natives to grow more cotton in1912. The
amount of cotton brought for sale during the past season has
been very disappointing, but a considerable increase is
expected next season,

The harvest throughout the Protectorate has been.
reported abundant; in consequence an ample supply of maize,
guinea corn, millet, yams, beans and rice was to be had in
the markets.

In order to improve the local breed of cattle an experiment
similar to that of 1909, of importing specially selected bulls
from the United Kingdom, has been tried during the year,
unfortunately with a like result, as the bulls died on their
journey from Coomassie. It is now proposed to start, under
the superintendence of the Curator of the Agricultural Station,
a herd of specially selected native cattle for experimental
purposes, (From Colonial Reports Annual, No 722; Auguste
1912.)

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,

nost free 2d. Annual subscription payable to Agents,
2s, 2d. Post free, 4s. 4d.

Agricultural stews

1. 2
Vor. XI. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1912. No, 274.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Contents of Present. Issue.

In this number
Problems of Economic Importance Regarding Plant
Diseases, giving special attention to interesting sug-
gestions that have been made recently in connexion
with the subject.

In view of the existence of the disease in the
West Indies, particularly in certain islands, the article
on pellagra, on page 339, is of some interest.

On page 340, an account is given of the lemon
widustry of Italy, and this includes statistics concerning
lemon and lemon products in Sicily, where the indus-
tries are carried on to their greatest extent.

An article on page 341 gives information that has
been brought forward recently concerning plants either
giving what is called tulip wood, or being themselves
named tulip trees, in the West Indies.

The Insect Notes appear on page 346. They
contain articles on a coco-nut pest in the Philippines,
ou the corn ear worm and on a sugar-cane pest that
has appeared in S4. Croix. The second of these articles
is illustrated.

Useful information regarding some well-known
edible beans appears on page 347.

The Fungus Notes of this issue, on page 350,
present information concerning a disease described as
a knot of citrus trees. This disease is not well known
in the West Indies, except in Jamaica.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

the leading article treats of

Ocroper 26, 1912.

The Cotton Crop of Egypt for 1911-12.

| Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 493%-
Annual Series, states that this was estimated at
7,250,000 cantars (317,187 tons). The quality of the
lint is rather poor and below the average, chiefly
because of large-damage by the cotton worm in the
sumimer, a general deterioration of the seed used for
sowing, and, in Lower Egypt, to cool weather during
summer, ,

The large crop in the United States has caused
prices to be a good deal lower than in 1910-11.
so that although the Egyptian cotton crop is estimated
at only 250,000 cantars (10,937 tons) less than the re-.
cord crop of 1910-11, it represents an estimated
net value of only £E. 29,000,000 as compared with
LE. 56,000,000 of the previous season. Another result
of low prices is that dealers in cotton nearly through-
out the world have replenished their stocks.

RN

Plant Food in Sandstones.

An account of work contained in the Bulletin of
the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant
Diseases for June 1912, draws attention to the fact
that while unweathered rocks are as a rule not adapted
for supporting plant life, fragments of sandstones that
have been formed by the natural ‘cementing’ together
of pieces of the rock are so adapted because the
cementing material was originally a product of disin-
tegration and contains comparatively soluble plant
food.

It appears that chalky sandstones with less cement-
ing matter were found to be more useful than those
in which the proportion of siliceous material was
greater, at any rate in the case of oats; with peas the
opposite results were obtained.

The conclusions finally reached, as stated in the
account, are (1) the value of the product resulting
from the weathering of rocks as nutritive medium for
plant growth is confirmed: (2) among rocks, sandstones,
as being directly mtilizable form an exception.’

—

Importation of Coco-nuts into Grenada.

A Gazette of September 2,1912, states that, under
the authority of section 12 of the Plant Protection
Ordinatice of Grenada. the following regulations have
been made by ‘the Governor in Council: (1) All
coco-nuts in husk or growing plants of coco-nuts
imported into the Colony shall on arrival be forthwith
delivered to the Superintendent of Agriculture for
treatment with efficient fungicides. (2) All such nuts
and. plants shall be planted in nurseries apart from
growing coco-nuts in such places as may be approved by
the Superintendent of Agriculture. (3) All such
nurseries shall be visited from time to time by the
Superintendent of Agriculture or any person deputed

Vou. XI. No, 274.

by him for the purpose, and any resulting plants which
are suspected of disease may, at the discretion of the
‘Superintendent of Agriculture, be destroyed.’

As these regulations have been made, a Proclama-
tion was issued on August 31,1912,declaring that a pre-
ventive Proclamation dated November 30, 1910, shall
cease tobe in force,so far as it relates to coco-nut plants or
parts of them, or coco-nuts in husk or any earth or soil,
or any package, article, covering or thing packed or in
any way associated with coco-nut plants or portions of
plants, or coco-nuts.

D+ ee

A New Method for Investigating the Needs of
Plants.

The Annales de UInstitut Pasteur for October
1911 contains a paper in which it is suggested that
scientific progress in agriculture is receiving inter-
ference, not so much on the account of the want of
ideas but because of the lack of experimental methods
suitable for their verification. Great stress is laid on
the sugyested necessity of cultivating the higher plants
in nutritive solutions free from bacteria, when it is
desired to gain further information concerning their
physiological functions.

It is recognized that past methods of experiment-
ation have been most valuable, but it is submitted
that they require amplification in the direction indi-
cated. The mode of procedure brought forward is to
develop the plants at first in « complete nutritive
solution, and then with these plants, after their roots
have been well washed, to conduct investigations in
incomplete nutrient solutions free from bacteria. The
author calls this method the method of interrupted
nutrition: he has employed it already in studying the
formation of citric acid in fungi. It has also been
applied to a certain extent to the study of the growth
of maize.

It will be recognized that the idea is not new,
he method is rendered extremely difficult because
means have not been devised so far for' growing plants
easily in nutrient solutions that will remain free from
bacteria.

ee

Candelilla Wax.

Articles and notes on candclilla wax have appeared
already in the Agricultwral News, Vols. IX, pp. 104
and 124; X, pp. 203 and 409; and XI, pp. 72 and 199.

Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4943
Annual Series, July 1912, shows that in the year 1911
there were several companies in Mexico which were
exploiting candelilla. One of these has a plant with
a capacity of 25 tons of the wax per month, and it is
intended to erect a second plant baving a similar
output; the product of this company, which finds
a ready market in the United Kingdom, the United

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 845

States of America and Germany, possesses a melting
point varying from 67° to 76° C.

The plants producing the wax only grow in the
most arid regions; in well-watered districts they
contain little or no wax. With the best plants the
quantity extracted averages about 2 per cent. It is
expected that some by-products will be obtained,
among them tannin.

As has been stated in the Agricultural News,
candelilla wax is used at present in the manufacture
of such articles as shoe polishes, oor waxes, varnishes,
carbon papers, phonograph records and for electrical,
insulation. It sells for 11d. to 1s. per th. delivered in
Europe.

The record has already been made that plants of
candelilla are growing in the Botanic Stations in Mont-
serrat, Antigua and St. Kitts, from planting material
obtained by the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture.

The Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur Content
of Plants at Different Times.

The Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural
Intelligence and of Plant Diseases, tor August 1912,
gives an abstract of a paper appearing in the
Comptes Rendus de I’ Académie des Sciences, Paris,
1912, p. 1627, dealing with this subject. It points out,
first, that Isidore Pierre had discovered that the weight
of the dry matter and of ash in wheat diminishes from
the time of flowering until the grains are mature, and
that Joulie had found the same to be true for all
cereals, The fact that the losses vary with different
plants and the circumstance that they are very irregu-
lar have caused the author of the paper to make
further investigations regarding the matter, using
barley as the plant cultivated.

It seems from the results that the dry matter in
the plant increases regularly up to the time of com-
plete maturity; after this a lessening takes place. The
phosphoric acid content also increases regularly up to
maturity but does not take part in the diminution
afterward. The facts are the same for sulphur, except
for « slight lessening in the content after ripeness.

It is claimed that this demonstrates that both
phosphorus and sulphur exist in the plant ina state
insoluble in water and not diffusible, such as lecithin,
nuclein and albuminoids, and that the phosphorus is also
probably in an insoluble state ina mineral form such as
the phosphates of lime and magnesia. This would serve
as an explanation of the fact that the phosphorus does

not diminish even after the plant has attained maturity.

There is an increase in the nitrogen content up to
the period of maturity, and after this it suffers con-
siderable loss, which may be as much as 16°4 per cent.

The acid elements considered here have their
maximum percentage in the plant at the time of com-
plete maturity. The author does not think that this
is the case with the alkaline elements, and he proposes
to demonstrate the truth of his opinion later.

346

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, OctoBER 26, 1912,

INSECT NOTES.

A SUGAR-CANE PEST IN ST. CROIX.

Dr. Longfield Smith. Ph D., Director of Agriculture,
‘St. Croix, Danish West Indies, in correspondence with the
Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, has given a brief
account of an insect which occurs in that island as a pest of
Sugar-cane.

The insect is a large, brown bectle the name of which
Dr. Smith gives as Strategus titanus; it belongs to the same
family as the common hardback (Ligyrus twimulosus)
The larva of Strategus titanus is in shape and general
appearance similar to the typical larvae of insects in this
group, but it is much larger than the common hardback
larva, attaining a length of over 2 inches, while it is about
+-inch in thickness,

The insects of this group, Dynastides, are more often
scavengers, feeding on decaying organic matter, than actual
pests feeding on the living tissues of plants of economic
importance. When however, they do occur as pests the
injury to plants is usually the result of the feeding of the
grubs on the fine roots after the manner of the related insects
of the Melolonthid group, of which the brown hardback
(Phytalus smithi) and the May beetles (Lachnosterna patens
in St. Vincent and Z. patruelis in St. Kitts) are examples.
In the case of the sugar-cane beetle (igyrus rugiceps) of the
United States, however, the injury is reported to be due to
the adults tunnelling into the base of the stem The
injury to canes in St. Croix by Strategus titanus is different
from both these. The habits of this insect are stated by Dr.
Smith to be as follows: ‘It occurs very abundantly, much to
our disadvantage. It [the larva] eats the roots of canes,
sweet potatoes and other plants, and burrows into the bases
of the cane shoots, eating its way upward, and turning the
cane into a hollow tube. The insect is saprophytic as well
as parasitic. I have found it living in decaying megass
heaps. At present (September 18) the grubs do not seem to
be so abundant as they were, probably because many have
turned to beetles, which are now busy laying eggs.’

There would seem to be no doubt that Strategus titanus
is capable of becoming a very serious pest, and it is obvious
that every effort should be made to prevent the introduction
of this insect into any colony where it does not at present
-exist.

A Coco-nut Pest in the Philippines.—In the
Philippine Agricultural Journal for March last an article
appeared which gave an account of a new coco-nut pest in
those islands.

This insect has been described as Aleyrodicus destructor,
{Juaintance. It is one of the white flies, closely related to
the white fly (A. cocovs) of coco-nuts and other palms
in the West Indies, and although it differs from the
latter somewhat in the appearance of the adults and of the
masses of wax filaments among which, on the surface of the
leaf, the eggs, larvae and adults are to be found, the nature
of the injury inflicted on the tree is the same in the case of
both species. It is probable therefore that the newly dis-
covered white fly may become as serious a pest in the coco-
aut growing districts of the East as its relative has been in
the American tropics,

THE CORN EAR WORM.

The corn ear worm appears to be causing a very consid-
erable amount of damage in the Southern States, and it
would seem from a report of the Entomologist of the
Trinidad Board of Agriculture, in July last, that this insect
was also unusually abundant in ‘l'rinidad.

Fic. 13.

Tue Corn Ear Worm.

a, moth, plain gray form; 6, forewing of more ornamental
form; c, larva extended; d, abdominal segment of larva, lateral
view; ¢, pupa, lateral view; d@, twice natural size; others enlarged
one-fourth,

(From U S. Dept. Agric.)

Dr. W. E. Hinds, in a letter to the Entomologist on
the Statf of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, states
that the boll worm (Helzothis obsoleta) is usually the more
common worm attacking corn in Alabama, but that this year
(1912) the corn ear worm (Laphygma frugiperda) is the
more abundant, and that it does not seem possible to main-
tain an efficient ‘control over this insect, when it occurs in
such enormous numbers in fields of Indian corn, even by the
use of such insecticides as arsenate of lead and Paris green. In
fact Dr. Hinds states that some of the farmers assert that
this insect is not killed by these poisons, even when it eats
them. In Trinidad, however, good results in its control on
Indian corn are reported to have been obtained by the
use of arsenate of lead,

It is of interest to note that the corn ear worm is
usually much the more abundant of these two insects, in the
West Indies. Both species attack corn generally, and cotton
but rarely. In the attacks on cotton, also, the corn ear worm
appears to occur more frequently than the boll worm in the
West Indies, and this also is in contrast to the conditions in
the Southern States where the boll worm is in most seasons
a serious pest on cotton, and the corn ear worm is very
seldom recorded as a pest of this crop.

—=—SSSSSS—==—ES=a—s

A note in Der T'ropenpflanzer for August shows that
the production of camphor and camphor oil (to the nearest
1,000 tb.) in Formosa during 1911 was 5,200,000 and
7,467,000 tb.; in 1910 it was 7,067,000 and 7,733,000 hb,
and in 1909, 4,667,000 and 5,067,000 tb. Similarly the
output of these products in Japan, in the same order, was
for 1911, 1910 and 1909, 1,467,000 and 2,400,000 b.,
1,333,000 and 2,133,000 Ib., and 1,067,000 and 1,467,000 tb,

Wor XI. No. 274

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

347

SOME WELL-KNOWN EDIBLE BEANS.

About the middle of last year, the Imperial Institute
received from Hong Kong samples, for examination, of seeds
of various kinds, and there were included among them some
edible beans that are well known in the West Indies. An
account of the examination was given in the Bulletin of the
Imperial Institute for July 1912, p. 235, and this is used in
presenting the following facts

DOLICHOS LABLAB. This is known in the West Indies as
the bonavist or yam bean (another plant called yam bean is
Pachyrhizus tuberosus). In the instance~under report, the
beans are imported into Hong Kong from Chekiang; those in
the sample measured 1} by 1 by 1 cm, and possessed a hard,
woody, pale, straw-coloured seed coat, while the inside of the
beans was hard, of a similar colour, and had a compact waxy
appearance.

The following table is reproduced from the article; it
compares the beans with Lablab beans from India:—

Beans from Indian Lablab

Hong Kong. beans.
Per cent. Per cent.

Moisture 12°63 12 1 to 14°6
Crude proteins 19°51 17:1 to 22:4

True proteins 18°46 ——

Other nitrogenous | 1-05

substances |

Yat 1:24 14to 23
Starch, etc. 57°56 54:2 ,, 574
Fibre 5°89 50, 65
Ash 3:07 3:4 Sao
Nutrient ratio*™ 1:3:10 Tipe a a al be ery
Food units} 1095 1057955 DUS 7

Reports on the beans by two firms of merchants in
London were not good. It was stated by one firm that
their appearance was unfavourable and that the results
of the analysis do not indicate that they possessed any
special quality for feeding purpos2s; in order to be sold in
London, they would have to be offered at a price much below
that of Rangoon beans—£6 to £7 c.if. in March 1912.

vicNa cCATsANG. This is the plant usually called
cowpea. The seeds in the sample were said to be imported
into Hong Kong from Quinhon, Annam; they ‘measured
about 1 by } by $ cm. and had a thin, cream-coloured,
tightly-adhering seed coat, while internally they possessed the
same colour and were hard. In the following table, the
composition of the seeds is compared with the same bean
from India:—. F

Beans from Indian Catjang

Hong Kong. beans.
Per cent. Per cent.
Moisture 11°65 12-7
Crude proteins 22:05 23-1
True proteins 20 38 —
Other paere 167 =
substances
Fat 1:23 = jlo
Starch, ete. 57-99 55:3
Fibre 3°83 ‘ 4-2
Ash 3°25 ’ 36
Nutrient ratio* 1:257b Lpeehs9
Food units] 116:2 115°8 S

Merchants who examined the samplé stated that there
is a small sale for the beans in the United Kingdom at
£8 per ton (October 1911).

PHASEOLUS MUNGO, The common name for this plant
in the West Indies is woolly pyrol. Three samples are
described—the first and third from Newchwang and
the second from the West River. Kwantung Province.
The first beans were about l em. long and _ slightly
less in width and thickness, and the second the same in
length and about }-inch in width and thickness; while the
third were smaller, being about }-cm. in diameter and nearly
round; the colour of the first two kinds was kidney-red to
brownish purple and light reddish brown to purplish brown,
while internally they were all hard, whitish and wax-like.
The value, c.i.f. United Kingdom ports (October 1911), was
given as £6 12s. 6d. per ton for the first two samples, and
£6 15s. for the third.

A table is reproduced here, which compares the beans
from Kwantung (the second sample) with Indian ‘mung’
beans: —

Beans from Indian ‘mung’

Hong Kong. beans.
Per cent. Per cent.
Moisture 11 88 10‘1 to 11-4
Crude proteins 19 98 22-2), 200
True proteins 18-04 -_—
Other nitrogenous ) 194
substances J es
Fat 075 20.45, 450
Starch, etc. 58-96 Sa1h es ba8
Fibre 4°76 4255. od
Ash 3°67 38 ,, 44
Nutrient ratio* 1: 3:03 L255 W27
Food units} 1108 1163 ,, 1193

”

The article from which this information is abstracted
concludes as follows :—

‘In the cases of all the prices quoted in the preceding
paragraphs the merchants pointed out that the current prices
for beans in the United Kingdom were exceptionally high,
and that the various samples would probably fetch less in ap.
average year.

‘Samples of all these beans have been placed on exhibi-
tion in the Hong Kong Court in the Public Exhibition:
Galleries of the Imperial Institute.’

Rainfall in St. Kitts and Nevis.—A communica-
tion from Mr. F. R. Shepherd, Agricultural Superintendent,
St. Kitts, dated October 8, 1912, describes the improved
conditions regarding rainfall that have taken place recently
in St. Kitts and Nevis. On the 6th and 7th of the month,
good rains fell in both islands. In the Basseterre district of
St. Kitts, the fall was about 5 inches; and in the southern
district, from 6 to7 inches. At Cane Garden estate in Nevis
3°25 inches was received, and in the lowland district to the
south the precipitation was 2°69 inches. Some damage was
done to roads, in St. Kitts, but none to crops; on the other
hand, the benefit brought to the cane crop is incalculable.
Mr. Shepherd states that the cotton crop in Nevis should
now be almost assured, as the prospects were fair, even
before the rain.

*The ratio between the percentage of crude proteins and
the sum of the percentages of starch and fat, the latter
being converted first into its starch equivalent by multiplying
by 2:3.

+ The total obtained by adding the percentage of starck:
to 2°5 times the sum ofthe percentage of fat and crude proteins,

The plant distribution from the Dominica Botanic
Station during September reached 4,057. There were in-
cluded in it: limes 3.300, cacao 569, budded citrus 97, Para
rubber 60, nutmegs 12, grafted mangoes 4, and miscellaneous
plants 15.

Returns issued by the Ceylon Government show that the
exports of rubber in June 1912 amounted to 681,259 ib., as
compared with 449,904 tb. in June 1911. The shipments of
rubber in the year ended June 1912 were 10,094,018 ib.; in
the previous similar period they were 5,428,080 hb.

In September, the plants distributed from the Antigua
Botanic Station included: limes 1,800, Eucalyptus 531, coco-
nuts 458, mahogany 129, ornamental plants 302, and
miscellaneous economic plants 47. There were also sent out
42,000 sweet potato cuttings, 1974 Ib. of onion seed and
20 tb. of cotton seed.

The Cuba Review for September 1912 gives a table
which shows that the chief exports of fruit and fruit products
from Porto Rico to the United States during 1912 were
valued as follows: grape fruit $524,976, oranges $584,368,
pineapples 4683,801, lemons $3,131, limes $960, canned
pineapples $258,671. - Shipments of honey to the value of
$42,251 were also sent.

In common with other parts of the West Indies, Domi-
nica experienced very dry conditions during Jast month,
when the rainfall at the Botanic Station was 3°32 inches
whereas the average rainfall for September, during a period
of eighteen years, is 9°26 inches. The precipitation during
the first nine months of this year has been 38°63 inches; in
the similar period of last year it was 76°12 inches,

It is reported by H.M.Vice-Consul at Adana, Turkey-in-
Asia, that the estimate for the cotton crop of the present
season is about 100,000 bales, as compared with 80,000 bales
last year. Itis expected that about 4,000 or 5,000 bales of
the output will be American cotton. Reference is made to
a company that has recently loss money in an attempt to
introduce American cotton into the district, and efforts are
being made to improve the native cotton by seed selection.
The climate is unsuitable for Egyptian cotton, while the fact
militating against American cotton is the want of labour,
A report concerning cotton-growing in Adana, having a very
different tenour from this, was noticed in the last issue of the
Agricultural News.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS

OcroBER 26, 1912.

Ne

The International Horse Agency and Exchange, Ltd,
announces, from 46 A Pall Mall, S. W., the sales to take place
at Newmarket early in December, and its willingness to act
for purchasers, at the ring side, take delivery and see the
stock safely shipped; an expert is retained in the interests of
customers. The Agency will also supply information, inelud-
ing books relating to thoroughbred stock, to those who may
enquire for it.

According to Colonial Reports, Annual; No. 726, the
imports and exports of the Turks and Caicos Islands during
1911 were valued at £24,722 and £23,703, as against
£27,916 and £24,461 in 1910, respectively. The salt exports
rose from £14,889 to £19,503, and those of sponges from
£1,316 to £1,530; while those of sisal, chiefly because of
the retention of stock in consequence of the low prices in
the United States, fell from £7,351 to £1,225,

The exports of sugar industry products from British
Guiana during 1912 were as follows: sugar 22,337 tons,
rum 1,275,992 gallons, molasses 906 casks, cattle food 2,417
tons. The corresponding quantities for the previous year were
30,368 tons, 671,468 gallons, 437 casks and 2,461 tons.
Among other exports during 1912 there were rice 2,068 tons,
lumber 99,550 feet, timber 142,359 cubic feet, firewood,
wallaba, ete., 5,290 tons and balata 317 ewt.

A note in the Agricultural News for September 28,
1912, stated that a coliection of plants had been obtained
recently by the Commissioner of Agriculture, from Kew, for
the Grenada Botanic Station, and a short account was given
of the nature of the collection. It is of interest that asimilar
collection has been obtained for the Antigua Botanic Station,
where the plants will be propagated, as the time comes which
permits of this, fer distribution to other stations especially
in the Leeward Islands,

It is shown in Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No,
4940 Annual Series that the production of raw sugar in
Hawaii in the fiscal year 1911 was 441,344 tons value
£7,419,360; this was 97 per cent. of the total output, as very
little sugar is refined locally. Although it has not been long
started, the pine-apple industry ranks after the sugar industry.
During 1910 some 610,000 cases were exported, and for the
following year it was estimated that the number had increased
to 800,000 cases. It is supposed that over 6,000 acres are
devoted to pine-apple cultivation in Hawaii, and that capital
amounting to £200,000 is invested in the industry.

In La Informacion Agricola, Madrid, for June 1912, an
account is given of a private institution that has been
founded at Valencia for the encouragement of silk produc-
tion in the province. ‘The chief matters with which this is
to be concerned are the free distribution of mulberry trees,
improvement in silkworm-rearing, cultivation of the mulberry
in the best way, the preference of planting of mulberry
hedges and espaliers, the foundation of a silk cultivation
station, and the establishment of travelling lectureships on
suk production. At present a payilion has been opened. at

9H

Valencia, and the public is admitted free to this and demon~

strations in the raising of silkworms are given,

Vor. XI. No, 274.

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

4°
3

NOVEMBER.
Frrst Perron.

Seasonal Notes.

The economic functions of agricultural departments and
experiment stations have already been referred to in these
notes in connexion with co-operation, land settlement schemes
and other matters; but for a full appreciation of the various
lines of activity the student should read the following:
Agricultural News, Vol. IX, pp. 129, 141 and 145; the
Annual Reports of the Departments of Agriculture in the
different islands, and the West Jndian Bulletin, Vol. XI.
There exists perhaps no more important function than that of
advising the Government on questions of agricultural
legislation and the influence of agricultural societies is
important in this respect. Agricultural legislation includes
the law of the landlord and tenant and transfer of real estate,
the taxation of land and agricultural produce (including
by-products, for example rum), the taxation of imports in its
bearing upon agricultural progress, and the laws relating to
the control of plant and animal diseases. Legislation in
relation to agriculture is to a great extent of a local nature
and information on many of the points referred to can best
be obtained from local sources, but the following references
dealing with legislation for the control of plant diseases
should be consulted: West Indian Bulletin, Vols. I, p. 309;
II, p. 344; III, p. 140; X, p. 197 and Agricultural News,
Vol. X, pp. 12 and 252.

The student’s attention is now directed to the subject of
land-surveying and mensuration in relation to the valuation
and improvement of estates. Field-surveying and levelling
find their application in the determination of the areas of
fields, forest and waste land, and in drainage, irrigation and
road-making operations.

A knowledge of practical surveying and levelling can
be utilized to good purpose in estate management without
necessarily employing expensive instruments, and the student
is advised to obtain one of the several handbooks dealing
with this subject from an agricultural point of view.

The importance of mensuration in estate management
hardly needs emphasizing. The student should make himself
familiar with methods of calculating the, areas of different
plane figures and the cubic contents of stacks, manure heaps,
stored fertilizers, food stuffs, etc., and the cubic capacity of
buildings, carts, etc.

Building construction is also a subject of great economic
value in agriculture but here again, as in the case of survey-
ing, text-books must be consulted, though the following
references will prove useful and suggestive: Agricultural
News, Vols. X, pp. 66 and 333; VIII, p. 364 and XI, p 267.

Building construction embraces the structure 6f roof
trusses, wall and fence building, flooring for stables and
cattle sheds, indoor and yard drainage, construction of cattle
pens and covered yards, systems of ventilation, together with
their cost and valuation. =

The student will find McConnell’s Agricultural Note-
book useful in regard to the subjects of surveying and build-
ing construction. 4

Mechanical as well as civil engineermg finds its appli-
cation in estate management, both as regards machinery and
implements. The construction of steam and oil engines
should be studied mainly with the view of learning how to

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

349

test their efficiency and cost of running under different con-
ditions, and how to reduce depreciation to a minimum.

As regards implements the student is advised to obtain
catalogues from the big makers and study the construction
and special advantages of different types. Draft is an
engineering problem of the greatest economic importance
and should be carefully studied under the following
headings: steam versus live stock, the effect of gradient and
soil, attachment of animals to implements, strain, heat
values of different rations and fuels. The following refer-
ences are given in connexion with machinery : West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. X, p. 318; Pamphlet Series, No. 60; Agricul-
tural News, Vol. X, pp. 41, 72, 89, 108, 121, 124, 156, 184.

Questions for Candidates.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(1) What substances are found in the atmosphere, and
which ot these are of direct use to plants ?

(2) How do roots grow in length?

(3) In what ways are flowers pollinated in nature?
Illustrate your answer by examples.

INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS.

(1) How much cordwood is likely to be required to
boil completely one hogshead of concentrated lime juice?

(2) Write an account of the German system of co-oper
ative credit, :

(3) Where and how are artificial manures, containing
nitrogen from the air, made!

FINAL QUESTIONS,

(1) Discuss the question of the connexion between
weather and pollination.

(2) Explain clearly the economic benefits derived from
central sugar factories, giving figures as far as possible to
illustrate your statement.

(3) State what you know concerning land settlement
schemes; and if you can, compare those of St. Vincent and
Carriacou.

THE WORLD’S PRODUCTION OF SILK
IN 1911.

An abstract of a paper in the Bulletin of the Bureau
of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant Diseases for July
1912, states that the Syndicate of Lyons Silk Merchants
has published general statistics of silk production, and pro-
ceeds to give information concerning these. The statistics
are provisional as concerns exportations from the Far East.

The first table shows that the production of fresh
cocoons and raw silk in Western Europe, in 1910, was res-
pectively 126,570,400 tb. and 1,034,000 fb.; that for 1911
was 115,310,800 fb. and 9,537,000 ib. In the Near East
and Central Asia the output of raw silk was 6,160,000 Ib. in
1910, and 6,193,000 tb. in 1911; in the Far East, it was
37,389,000 tb. in 1910 and 36,641,000 hb. last year.

The world’s production of raw silk for the years 1910
and 1911, calculated from the figures given was 53,889,000 th.
and 52,371,000 h,

It is stated in the article that the year 1911 marks an
arrest in the progress of the world’s supply of silk factories,
and this is illustrated by a table indicating that while this
supply had increased from 20,913 metric tons in 1906 to
24,510 metric tons in 1909, it has since fallen to 23,805
metric tons in 1911.

350

FUNGUS NOTES.

A KNOT OF CITRUS TREES.

In Bulletin No. 247 of the Bureau of Plant Industry
of the United States Department of Agriculture, entitled
A Knot of Citrus Trees Caused by Sphaeropsis Tumefaciens,
by Florence Hedges and L. S. Tenny, an account is given of
a peculiar knot disease of limes and oranges in Jamaica.
The causative organism is described at some length, with its
cultural characters, and details of numerous inoculation
experiments, almost all successful, are also provided. The
same or a very similar disease has also been recorded
in Florida but it has never been observed up _ to
the present in any of the smaller West Indian Islands.
A few years ago the damage caused by this disease in
Jamaica was of some importance on certain estates, but
recently by severe pruning, and by burning badly diseased
trees, it has been brought under effective control,

syMproms. The knots may appear on the stem or
branches, and vary in size from 2-inch to 2 or 3 inches in
diameter. ‘Generally they are approximately round, but in
the earlier stages before they surround the stem they have
a broad, flattened base, and may be somewhat elongated, the
longer axis being parallel to that of the infected branch.
In some cases, instead of forming a well-defined gall, the
disease produces an eruption extending several inches along
the limb. This consists of slightly raised and variously
fissured portions.

‘At first the incipient knot is covered by the bark, but
after some months this usually dies and falls away, exposing
the enlarged woody tissues. In the early stages of growth
the surface of the knot (the bark) is light-coloured and
rather smooth. With age the surface becomes darker and
more or less fissured, and an old gall divested of its bark is
often almost black, rough, knotty, and deeply furrowed.
When the growth is rapid, however, the malformation may
reach a large size and the bark surface still be intact,
smooth, and light in colour.

‘The surface of the knot is usually quite different in
texture from that of the healthy stem; the firm greenish
bark is replaced by a softer, more or less crumbling surface,
cutting easily with a knife. The interior of the knot,
however, is very hard and compact, being composed of firm
woody tissues. The outer layer of the knot (modified bark)
is about the thickness of ordinary bark, i.e, the knot grows
chiefly by additions to the woody, not to the cortical tissues.
The colour of the interior of the knot may be similar to that
of healthy wood, or it may be more or less streaked with
black. The knots are attached by a broad base and cannot
be broken off. As they grow they extend laterally and may
ultimately girdle the branch.

‘The first indication of infection is a slight swelling of
the branch. As this increases in size the bark, which at this
stage covers the young knot, becomes lighter in colour and is
noticeably cracked and has a cork like appearance. Growth
under greenhouse conditions in Washington is slow, several
to many months being necessary for the production of knots
1 to 3 inches in diameter. When many knots appear upon

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, OcropEeR 26, 1912.

a branch the single ones may be smaller. In the artificial
infections in the Department greenhouses it has taken from
five months to two years for the knots to girdle the branch
and to become 1 to 2 inches in diameter, but our temperatures
were considerably lower and the moisture less than in
Jamaica. By the time the stem is girdled all that part of
the branch above the knot is usually dead or dying. When
a tree contains numerous infections, therefore, a large portion
of it dies.’

These knots often give rise to a large number of
branches, from two to forty or more, and thus form typical
witches’ brooms. The branches may attain a height of
several feet with few if any branchlets, and often themselves
bear knots. They are of short duration and die after some
months. Gumming also occurs from the knots, and gum
pockets are of frequent occurrence in the infected wood.

Since, when a knot encircles a branch, the upper portion
of the branch dies, a badly infected tree may have so much
dead wood as to be commercially useless. Moreover, the
causative fungus can spread in the stems and give rise to
secondary knots, which, on neglected trees, arise in large
numbers on the branches and main stem and may extend to
the ground, so that the tree ultimately dies.

The disease attacks trees of all ages and appears on old
as well as young wood; its occurrence is independent of
weather conditions, but it was noted in Jamaica to be more
prevalent on the so-called ‘red dirt’, which is rich in iron.
In that island affected trees are usually killed in about
eighteen months; cutting back the affected tree did not appear
to be always successful, as the young shoots springing from
below developed knots.

THE CAUSATIVE FUNGUS. The disease is due to a fungus
named by the investigators who isolated it Sphaeropsis
tumefaciens. It possesses a mycelium that is white at first,
but becomes brown when older by the colouration of the cell-
walls of the hyphae. Many of its cultural characters are
similar to those of TVhyridaria tarda and of Dipiodia
natalensis, but it is a species quite distinct from these, as is
shown by the shape and colour of its pycnidiospores. The
mycelium occurs in the bark and wood of the knots, and in
the bark. wood and pith of the stem. In rapidly growing
galls the mycelium is not very plentiful and is often colourless,
while in those developing more slowly it may occur in quan-
tity sufficient to cause a blackening of the tissues. Three
distinct strains were isolated by Miss Hedges and Tenny, two
sterile on culture media, one from limes, and one from
oranges, and a vigorously fruiting strain from oranges. ‘lhe
fructifications are of two kinds, pycnidia and so-called sper-
magonia. These are also formed very freely in some cases
on knots on inoculated or diseased plants, The pycnidia on
the host are produced beneath the epidermis. but eventually
burst through it. They are small, round, |)lack and usually
crowded together. They contain colourless or yellow spores
oblong or ovoid, usually unicellular, sometimes 1-, 2- or even
4-septate, especially in cultures. The spermagonia are some-
times the actual pycnidia, sometimes are formed separately
and occur after the pycnidia; they produce small unicellular
colourless spore-like bodies, which, however, have not been
observed to germinate.

INOCULATION EXPERIMENTS. Almost all the inoculations
were made by inserting spores or mycelium of the fungus, or
both, into cuts in the stems of the host plants, so that the
majority were wound infections. An attempt to infect an
old healed wounded surface, without further damaging it,
failed. The summary of the results of the inoculations as
given in the Bulletin under consideration is as follows:—

Vor, XI. No, 274.

‘Successful inoculations have been made on lime, pomelo,
lemon, tangerine, and Citrus trifoliata. Only one trial (five
ijuocnlations) was made on oranges, the trees not being
available. As knots occur on oranges in the field and as
infection took place in the limes inoculated the same day
with the same culture, the failure of the experiment was
probably due to the fact that the trees were not in good
condition or were not of a susceptible variety.’

It was found that non-fruiting strains of the fungus lost
their virulence when cultivated for a long time on artificial
media. It was also observed that woody parts of the host
are apparently as susceptible to disease as are the young,
rapidly growing ones.

‘The fungus can live for some years in the host. It has
been isolated from secondary knots four years and eight
months after the tree was inoculated, and one year after it
had been cut down and brought into the laboratory.’

REMEDIAL MEASURES. ‘Affected limbs should be removed,
care being taken to cut them off well below the lowest knot.
Badly diseased trees should be rooted out and burned, that
they may not prove a source of infection to sound trees
through the dissemination of the fungus spores. Great care
should be taken to select only sound trees for grafting
purposes.’

WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MARKET

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market,
for the month of October 1912:—

The opinion expressed in our report for August, that
brighter conditions in the drug and spice markets, might be
expected on the termination of the summer holidays has not
been altogether realized. The month of September indeed,
opened with a small and inactive amount of business, which
however, generally improved as the month advanced. Many
important chemicals and a few drugs showed a decided
advance in prices, but of these few were of vegetable origin,
and fewer still of West Indian produce. Thus glycerine
continues to advance while quinine lias declined. The
following are the details affecting West Indian products.

GINGER,

At the first spice auction on the 4th of the month the
offerings amounted to 545 packages. Of 498 packages of
Cochin, only a few were sold, 40s. per cwt. being paid for
cut tips. Washed rough was bought in at 40s. to 43s,, and
small cut Calicut at 65s., medium at 80s. and bold at 85s.

On the 11th of the month Jamaica -was represented by
47 bags of good small ordinary, all of which were bought in
at 54s., 181 bags of Cochin were also offered without reserve,
and sold at 28s. for washed rough, chiefly small and wormy,
25s. to 25s. 6d. being paid for small and wormy. On the
18th the offerings consisted of only 50 bags of Cochin, brown
rough fetching 44s, other descriptions being bought in, On

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 351

the 25th the offerings consisted of 196 bags of washed rough,
wormy Cochin, which were bought in at 30s. per ewt. Forty-
three cases of Calicut were sold yithont reserve, bold ent
fetching 78s. per ewt, and small cut 55s. per cwt.

NUTMEGS AND MACE.

At auction on the 4th, 60 packages of West Indian
were disposed of at the following rates: 65’s 74d, 94’s to
101’s 7d, 113’s to 120’s 7d, to 7d. and 140’s 63d.
A week later 44 packages of West Indian were brought
forward and sold 95’s at 8d., 102’s to 107’s 74d. to 8d., 112’s
to 118’s 7d. to 8d. and 122’s to 126’s 7}d. On the 18th,
113 packages of West Indian were offered and mostly sold
71’s fetching 74d, 86’s to 96’s 74d. to 8d., 103’s to 118’s 74d.
to 8d. and 141’s 74d. Seventy-five packages of Eastern were
also disposed of at the following rates: 117’s 84d. and 127’s
73d. On the 25th 747 packages of West Indian were offered
and all sold at rates varying slightly from the above. There
has been a steady demand for mace during the month. On
the 18th, 33 packages of West Indian and 17 of Eastern were
offered the former realized 2s. 3d. to 2s. 5d. for good, and 2s.
to 2s. 2d. for broken. On the 25th the offerings were 257
packages of West Indian all of which were sold at 2s. to
2s. Td. for sound and 1s, 9d. to 2s. for broken.

SARSAPARILLA.

At the first drug auction on the. 5th sarsaparilla was in
good supply, the offerings amounting to 25 bales of grey
Jamaica, 35 of native Jamaica, 4 of Lima Jamaica, 10 of
Honduras, and 10 Mexican. Of the first, 3 bales only
were sold; of the second 18; of the third all 4 bales; of
the fourth none, and of the fifth none. The bulk of the
grey Jamaica was held firmly, at 2s. 3d. per b., offers of
2s, 2d. being refused. Two of the three bales which found
buyers were of an ordinary character, and fetched 2s. 1d.
per Ib. and the remaining one—sea damaged—ls, 10d. Of
the 18 bales of native Jamaica which also found buyers
1s, 2d. was paid for good red, 10d. for dullish red, and 8d.
to 8d. for inferior yellow and grey mixed. For the 4
bales of Lima Jamaica, fair fetched 1s. 10d. to 2s. and sea
damaged 1s. 6d. per fb. The whole of the Mexican was
held at 74d. A fortnight later, namely on the 19th the
offerings of sarsaparilla were only 10 bales of grey Jamaica.
and 17 of native Jamaica, The first were disposed of at
2d. per tb. cheaper than previous rates, namely 2s. for fair,
and Is. 1ld. for ordinary, partly rough. Of the native
Jamaica 11 bales only were sold, fair red fetching ls, to
1s, 1d., ordinary 9d. to 10d. and dull red and yellow 83d.

OIL OF LIME, CASSIA FISTULA, KOLA AND TAMARINDS.

At the beginning of the month there was a demand for
genuine hand pressed West Indian oil of lime, and towards
the end of the month one case of Dominican oil of the above
character was brought forward and limited at 7s 6d. per bb.
On the 5th one bag only of Dominica cassia fistula was
offered and sold at 25s. per ewt. for good fresh pods. At
auction on the 18th kola was represented by 40 bags,
20 of which were sold at 4d. per tb: for Ceylon halves
and quarters, partly of dark colour, one bag of good
St. Lucia fetched 53d. per tb. At the end of the month
kola was reported to be scarce, but that an arrival was
shortly expected from the West Indies. Of tamarinds,
25 packages of West Indian were brought forward on the
19th, 22 of which sold at 14s. per ewt. for juicy Barbados
and 11s, per cwt. for St. Thomas, in bond,

eo
or
bo

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—TuHE West Inxpra Commirreg CIRCULAR,
October 8, 1912.

ArrowRoot—3id: to 43d. .

Batata—Sheet, 3/6 ; block, 2/34 per tb.

Brezswax—Noa quotations. .-

Oacao—Trinidad, 72/- to 82/- per ewt.; Grenada, 57/-
to 65/-; Jamaica, no quotations.

Oorrrr—Jamaica, No quotations.

Uorra—West Indian, £27 per ton.

Oorron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 17d.

Frurt—No quotations.

Foustic—No quotations.

GincER—Quiet.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Hontey—No quotations.

Linz Juice—Raw, 10d. to 1/3; concentrated, £18 15s. to
£19; otto of limes (hand pressed), 7/6.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Macre—2/- to 2/6.

NutmEcs—8d. to 10d.

Pimento—Common, 2,%d.; fair, 23d.; good, 2j4d.; per ib.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/7; fine soft, 4/5; Castilloa,
4/ per Tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 15/9 to 18/6; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/6;
Syrup, 10/6 to 13/3; Molasses, no quotatioas.

Wew York.—Messrs. Gituesprz Bros. & Co., October

4, 1912.

Cacao—Caracas, 15c. to 154c.; Grenada, 14}c. to 143c.
Trinidad, 143c. to 15jc. per tb.; Jamaica, 114c. to 124c.

Ooco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $37°00 to $38°00; culls,
$18-00 to $19°00; Trinidad, select, $37°00 to $38-00;
culls, $22 per M.

OorrEE—Jamaica, 15c. to 17c. per tb.

Gincrr—83c. to 12jc. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 46c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c.
per ib.

Grare-Fruit—Jamaica, $4°50 to $500.

Limes—$5°50 to $6°00.

Mace—52c. to 56c. per Ib.

Nurmecs—110’s, 14e.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $2°30 to $2°50 per box.

Pimento—4jc. per ib.

Svucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°17c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3:67c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°42c. per fb., all duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., October 14,

1912.

Qacao—Venezuelan, $15°50 to $16°00 per fanega; Trinidad,
$14°75 to $15°50.

Ooco-nuT O1r—81'01 per Imperial gallon.

Oorree—Venezuelan, 17c. per tb.

Corra—$4'60 per 100 ib.

Dxat—$4'50 to $4°75.

Onrons—$1°75 to $3°00 per 100 ib.

Peas, Sprit—$5'75 to $6°00 per bag.

Poratozrs—English, $1°25 to $1°75 per 100 fv.

Rice—Yellow, $4°80 to $5°00; White, $6°25 to §$6°35
per bag.

Sucar—American crushed, no quotations.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Barbados,—Messrs. James

OcToBER 26,

A. LyncH & Co.,,

1912.

Ltd.,

October 19, 1912; Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co.,

October 21, 1912. .

ARRowR00T—87 ‘50 per 100 th.
Cacao—$13°50 to $14:00 per 100 fh.
Coco-nuts—$20'00.

Hay—$1°'60 to $1°80 per 100 ib.

Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $45°00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80:00 to $85:00

per ton.
Motasses—No auotations.
Ontons—$2°20 to $4°00 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6'50 per bag of 210 ib.; Canada. $3°00 to

$4°90 per bag of 120 tb.

Poratores—Nova Scotia, $2°40 to $3:25 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $5°15 per 190 fb.; Patna, no quotations;

Rangoon, no quotations.

Sucar—American granulated, $5:00 per 100 th.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wiet1Nc & RicutER, October
12, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacH, PaRKER & Co,

September 27, 1912.

Messrs. WIETING

ARTICLES. & RicHter.

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER

& Co.
ArrowRroot—St. Vincent — _—s
Batata—Venezuelablock| No quotation ibi
Demerara sheet|75c. to Ye. per tb. syopibiied
Oacao—Native 17c. per fh. l5c. to17c. tb
Cassava— $100. No quotation ;
Cassava STaRCcH— $7°50 to $8-00 No quotation
Coco-nuTs— $16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM,
| peeled and :
Correr—Creole 20c. per th. Paes
Jamaica and Rio} 2Uc. per ib. 20c. per tb.
Liberian lic. per ib. 15c. per ib.
Daat— $450 to $4:60 per $550
bag of 168 tb.
Green Dhal $5°25 ihe
Eppors— 60c. to 80c. es
Mo asses— Yellow None presley
Ontons—Teneriffe a?
Madeira 43c. to 5c. per tb. Be.
Pzas—Split $6°25 to $7°00 per! $7:25 per bag
iis, bag (210 1.) | (210 ta)
eilles — i
PLAaNTAINS— 16c. to 48c. g aeaeen
ha ot Scotia . ett
isbon 2°00 to $2°25 No
Porators-Sweet, B’bados $264 Ehcapa ne
per bag
Rice—Ballam No quotation —
Creole $6-00 $6:00
Tannias— $1°68 pa
Yams— White $2 64 ees
Buck $2°40 ors
Suear—Dark crystals $3°30 to $3°35 $3°50
Yellow $400 to $4:10 $425
White — es
Molasses $280 as
TimsER —Greenheart 32c. to 5dc. per | 32c. to 55c. per
cub. foot cub. foot
Wallaba shingles} $4°00 to $6°25 | $4:00 to $6:00
: 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 ls. each. Post free, 1s. 2d.

Volumes IJ, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3 are out of print.)

Volume XII. Nos. 1 and 2, No. 3:—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Polisher; The Structure and Polli-
nation of the Cacao Flower. SuGar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;
A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugarcanes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugar-cane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
canes with a View to their Classification; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in Megass; The
Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses,

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 seventy. Those mentioned in the following list are still available; the rest are out of print.

Suear Inpustry. 2. (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.; No. 66, 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 1902-3, 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.

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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
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Agents.

The following have been appuinted Agents for the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutav & Co.. 37, Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetry, Agricultural Scheol,
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Grenada : ‘THe Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 274 THE oe NEWS. Ocroper 26, 1912.

THE BEST -MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE.

J AR nS

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

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

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, B.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

COTTON SEED MEAL! USP ISSUBD
COTTON SEED MEAL!!! WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR MANURIAL (Vol. XII No. 4.)
PURPOSES. —
Can be obtained from:— Containing Papers on PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS, COCOA-

NUT, LIME AND FRUIT, AND RICE INDUSTRIES, prepared for the
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE recent Agricultural Conference, ae es The Use of
COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED, Entomogenous Fungi on Scale Insects in Barbados; Further
BRIDGETOWN, Notes on the Fungus Parasites of Scale Insects; Report on
the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases in the West
Indies, for 1910 and 1911; Bud Rot of the Cocoa-nut Palm;
Cocoa-nut Palm Insects in Trinidad; Scale Insects and their
Insect Parasites; Some Fiuit Diseases; Experiments in Lime
Juice Concentrtion; Investigations on the Extraction of
Lime Juice by Milling; Some Root Diseases of Permanent
Crops in the West Indies; Notes on Iixpressed and Distilled
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Acid Content of Lime Fruits; Observations on the Develop-
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SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENT. Experiments on Cocoa-nut 1 Trinidad and Tobago; The
| Bay Ram and Bay Oil Indust ‘es of St. Thomas and St. Jan;
The Classification bf Sweet Potatoes; Cassava Starch and its
| Uses; The Water. Supply of Antigua; Does the Sereh Disease
Exist in the West Indies, More Especially in Trinidad? }
A Report on Observations on Scale Insects; The Cocoa-nut
Industry in Antigua; Manurial Experiments with the Gover-
/nor Banana in T-inidad; Artificial Cross-Fertilization of the

| Mango; and Rice Experiments in British Guiana
EEE eee

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_ Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Streets Bridgetown, Barbados,

Vol. XL. No. 275.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1912. [One penny.

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT PESTS

LESSER ANTILLES.

BY (He Aes See OURVESG.,

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEFARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
. |

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
|Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

ql:

To be obtained from all agents for the sale
price 1s, 84, post free Is, Td,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

i

of the publications of the Department,

This’ book, just published, should be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because nv other line of tropical agricu!ture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-

lems in other lines.

WE SEND [hi hie

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

ee |

ca

Za eas
SONG ahi

Bary “%“, G fia
lt OG LG
ms

URAL ES

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vou. XI. No. 275.

BARBADOS, NOVEMBER 9,

1912. Prick Jd.

CONTENTS.

Pacr PaaE.

Avocado, Budding of 357 | Lime Juice Industry of the

Bitter Oranges, Prepara- Virgin Islands ... . 365
tion of . wee O04 Madagase: wr, Cotton-Grow-
Buchu of South ‘Africa 362 ine in. : sees ears ODT

Market Reports see | ver BUG
Cacao Consumption and ne
. 3 ope Megass, Fuel Value af . Bab

Production, 1911... 363) yy. 07, Infl
Canadian National Exhibi- ED AC SSCS: _« eke ee ae
= : Soil Fertility 305

ion and“ Weab) Indigs Nitrogen, Direct Assimila-

ae aud eee in ane tion by Green Plants 36t

Chto. Buy frig | A Caeant ate 361 Notes and Comments : 360
" Prize-Holdings Competi-

Cotton Notes :— tion, Carriacou, 1912 362

Radioactive | Substances,
Influence on Plants... 36:
Sisal, Cutting of one) OO
Students’ Corner ... ... 36
Sugar in Argentina ... 36.
Sugar Production in the

Branching of Seypugn
Cotton Plants ... ... 3

Cotton Experiments in
the United States,
GW eecetace st) xcvel dees

Cotton Seed Meal as

Food for Stock ... . 309 Philippines Beh) B65
West Indian Cotton ... 358 Vanilla-Growing under
Department News +-. 306 Mango Trees ... 361
Fungus Notes :— Vanilla im the Seychelles,
Tliau—A Cane Disease 1911, .- . 060
of Hawaii. . 366 Vanilla Production and
Gleanings ... . 364 Consumption .-. 300
Japan ‘Culture’ Pearl In- Venezuela, Trade of,
dustry aathles eines s| ODL) 1911-12 Bel ee OuO

The Pitre: es Wiican on Soil
Fertility.

U aR HE question of the possible influence on its
A fertty of molasses applied to the soil, has
fs excited some interest in the West Indies
since 1908, when a report of work in relation to the
subject was received by the Commissioner of Agri-
culture from Mauritius. This, as well as subsequent
information, has been published* and the possible

VII, p. 297; Ate p. 339; and

Pl aitural Meda Vols.
Xp l7o!

practical value of the problem has caused experiments
in using molasses on sugar-cane lands to be made by
the Department of Agriculture in Antigua. The
investigation has also been taken up by the Hawaiian
Sugar Planters’ Association. Before reviewing the
latest results of the work, it will be well to summarize
briefly what has appeared concerning the subject in
the past,

The first work described from Mauritius was:
carried out at the suggestion of Mr. W. P. Ebbels,
It appeared to show that Azotobacter, or allied organ-
isms, are present in the soils of the island and that
there is a connexion between their presence and an
increased nitrification that was found to take place
when soils containing them are treated with sugar,
Later observations in the field indicated that an
increase of as much as five tons of cane per acre had
been obtained in the case of third ratoons, the molasses
being exhausted molasses, and having been applied
before the cane was planted; it is claimed that this is
sufficient to show that the etfects of the molasses had not
ceased during the three previous crops. Similar results.
were obtained by M. P. Boname, Director of the Station
Agronomique, Mauritius, who states* that the increases.
obtained by the use of molasses are larger than those
which could be produced by the employment, in
mineral salts, of amounts of nitrogen and potash equal
to those added in the molasses; further, the influence of
the molasses continues to exhibit itself for some time,
after the first crop, though it is shown better with
plant canes than with ratoons.

The Report on the manurial experiments with
sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands for 1909-10 draws
attention to work relating to the matter, conducted in

* Station Agronomique, Mautitius; Rapport Annuel pour
1908, p. 22.

354

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Novemeber 9, 1912.

Hawaii with definite solutions or with small quantities
of soil kept under constant conditions of temperature
and moisture. The conclusions reached were not to be
accepted as final, owing to the fact that the work was
carried out under circumstances so far removed from
those in the field; they have been expressed as follows:*
“Molasses applied at intervals to growing canes which
have received artificial manure is likely to do harm,
either by destroying nitrates that have been already
applied or by preventing nitrates from being formed
from other compounds containing nitrogen, in the
manure. Further, it is considered that the application
of molasses to fallow land, or to land in which sugar-
‘cane is to be planted after several weeks have elapsed,
may have a beneficial effect in stimulating the action
of the nitrogen-fixing organisms and thus adding to
the store of nitrogen for the crop that will be growing
after such a time has elapsed as will have allowed this
stimulus to have had its proper effect.’

An account*+ has appeared recently of further inves-
‘tigations in Hawai on the influence of molasses on
nitrification in cane soils. These were made in
a manner more nearly imitating field conditions than
the former, being conducted with soil in galvanized iron
cylinders, two feet high and eight inches in diameter,
painted inside with asphalt paint, the bottom of each
being perforated; the soil was placed on three inches
-of sand, supported by a piece of coarse sacking. The
general conclusion from these experiments with soil in
-small containers substantiates the results of the former
work, just expressed; and it is stated that the harmful
effects of molasses on artificially manured lands is due
entirely to the organic constituents of the molasses,
while dressings of calcium carbonate do not correct
such adverse action.

Investigation of the subject was commenced by the
Agricultural Department in Antigua in the season
1908-9, and the results obtained are recorded in the
annual reports on the sugar-cane experiments in the
Leeward Islands. In the first season, gains in tonnage
of sugar-cane were apparent, from the use of exhausted
molasses; these were repeated in the second season, but
were not as definite asin the first. Indications were
obtained of a residual action of the molasses. Small
increases followed the application of molasses in the
‘third season, but it was not considered that these
would be renumerative unless the value of exhausted
molasses was very low; this opinion is of particular
interest in view cf the statement by Professor

* Agricultural News, Vol. X, p. 179.
t Bulletin No. 39, Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association,

J. B. Harrison, at the last Agricultural Conference, to
the effect that it had been shown in British Guiana
that the application of molasses to soils, for sugar-cane
growing, is certainly not a commercial success.* In
the last report, dealing with experimentation with
sugar-cane in the Leeward Islands in 1911-12, which
isin the press, Mr. H. A. Tempany states that appre-
ciable increases of yield were obtained in an
experiment confined to an application in one season
only, but that no reliable inferences are to be drawm
from the trial; while the results bear out his opinion,
already expressed, that the use of exhausted molasses
as manure is unremunerative unless its monetary value
is very low. .The experiments seem to show, in
a broader way, that some residual action of the molasses
exists, but the effects are small and appear to be
irregular,

There is no doubt that further investigation of
the matter is required, and this is being made. Con-
fusion of the issues must be avoided. Does the sugar
in molasses increase the activity of Azotobacter? Are
preliminary applications of molasses useful? Is there
any residual effect? Is it advisable to apply molasses
with other manures? If so, how? And: Can the use
of exhausted molasses for sugar-cane growing be re-
garded as remunerative?

The Preparation of Bitter Oranges in
Valencia.— The oranges canned in Valencia for use in the
manufacture of marmalade are exclusively the bitter oranges
grown in that district, supplemented occasionally by supplies
of the same variety brought from Seville. The operation of
canning is as follows, each of the steps being performed by
a different set of workers. The oranges are immersed in hot
water for a few moments and cleaned with a stiff brush; they
are cut in half perpendicularly to their axes; the interior is
scooped out of the skins with a chisel-shaped wooden
implement some 8 or 10 inches long by 1 inch wide. The
seeds are then picked from the pulp by hand, and the latter
is put in cauldrons where it is boiled by itself for half an
hour. It is then passed through a macerating machine, when
it is ready to be mixed with the shredded peel and canned.
The skins, after the pulp has been removed from them are
placed in a machine which cuts them into long, thin shreds.
These shreds are boiled by themselves for forty-five minutes,
when they are ready to be mixed with the pulp and canned.
The pulp and shredded peel are canned together in their
original proportions—that is to say, the skin of one orange is
considered in Valencia the proper amount to balance the pulp
of one orange in the finished product, though British
preserving houses frequently add extra pulp, which they
obtain chiefly from manufacturers of essential oils and
flavouring extracts, who use only peel for those purposes.
The cans are sealed and then boiled for ten minutes, when
the process is complete. (The Journal of the Royal Society
of Arts, September 13, 1912.)

ee
* West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XII, p. 162,

Vou. XI. No. 275.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 355,

THE FUEL VALUE OF MEGASS.

The following information regarding the fuel
value of megass is taken from Bulletin No. 40 of the
Agricultural and Chemical Series of the Experiment
Station, Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, issued
recently under the title Heat of Combustion of Bagasse
from Hawaiian Cane:—

In the investigation of-fuels for practical purposes there
is not much advantage in the direct comparison of thermal
values. The amount of heat that can be obtained from
a fuel is not dependent solely on its thermal value, though it
is necessary to know this in order to determine its value as
a fuel. The fuel value may be considered the net thermal
value, or the available heat per unit weight. The amount of
heat available depends on the thermal value, the moisture
content, and the total heat removed by all the products
resulting from the combustion in the furnace,

The effect of the moisture in the megass on its fuel
value is, in the first place, to reduce the amount of combustible
matter per unit weight. In a pound of megass containing
50 per cent. moisture, there is only half a pound of fuel, so
that instead of there being 8,100 B.T.U.* per pound there
are only 4,050 BT.U. to start with. According to the mill
reports the moisture in megass in Hawaii averages atout 45
per cent 7 and there would therefore, be 4,455 B.T.U. per
pound of green megass. For other percentages of moisture
the heat set free would be as follows:-—-

Heat contained per th. of
megass, B.T.U.

Per cent. moisture.

42 4,698
43 4,617
44 4,536
45 4,455
46 4,374
47 4,293
48 4,212
49 4,131
50 4,050
5l 3,969

The moisture in the megass reduces the amount of
available heat in another manner also—it carries away what-
ever heat is used in bringing it to the stack temperature.
According to Thurston this is usually 600°F. or over, but the
average in a number of sugar factories in Cuba, investigated
by Kerr, was only 434°F., and he believes that for the
highest efficiency it should not be over 500°F. Taking
500°F. as an average for the temperature in the stack, and
85° F.{ as the temperature of the water in the megass, the
loss of heat from this source for each pound of average
megass would be as follows: 0°45 x (212 —- 85)=57 B.T.U. to
raise the water to the boiling point; 0°45 x 966=435 B.T.U
to convert it into steam, 966 being the latent heat of vapo-
rization of water; and 0°45 x (500 — 212) x 0'48=62 B.T.U. to
raise the temperature of the steam to 500 F., 0°48 being the
specific heat of steam. A total of 57+435+62=554
B.1.U. to be subtracted from the 4,455 B.T.U., in a pound
of green megass.

There is a further loss also in the heat carried away by
the products of combustion, and excess ofiair. From the
elementary analysis given previously we may assume a pound
of green megass to contain 0:55 x 0-48=0:264 pounds of
carbon and 0°55 x 0:057 =0°0314 pounds of hydrogen, which
on combustion would give 0:264 x 3°67=0969 pounds of
carbon dioxide and 0°0314 x 9=0:282 pounds of water vapour,

and would require 0262x1159=306 pounds of air.
Taking the excess air as 100 per cent. we would then have
in addition to the carbon dioxide and water given above,
3°06 pounds of air and 3-06 x 0°77 = 2°35 pounds of nitrogen
leaving the furnace for every pound of megass burned.
The air would contain also, on an average, one and a half per
cent., or 612x0015=0092 pounds of water vapour.
From the following specific heats we can calculate the total
heat carried away by these products of combustion: —

Carbon dioxide 0:2163
Nitrogen 0:2438
Air, dry 0:2375
Water vapour 0-48

Assuming the temperature of the air entering the
furnace to be the same as that of the megass,‘] we would
have,—

Loss from combined water 0282 x 7. 24=347 B.T.U.
Loss,, water vapour 0:092 x 0°48 x (500 — 85)=18 B.T.U.
Loss ,, carbon dioxide 0 969 x 0:2163 x (500 — 85) = 87

Loss ,, nitrogen 2°35 x 0:2438 x (500 — 85) = 23 :
Loss ,, excess air 3 06 x 0°2375 x (500 — 85) =302 B.T.U.

CEE) VetU)

The combined loss of heat from the products of com-
bustion and the moisture in the megass would then be
554+992=1,546 B.T.U., leaving available for generating
steam in a pound of the megass which we have taken as
typical, 4,455 — 1,546 = 2,909 B.T.U. For megass containing
different amounts of moisture the available heat, by the
same method of calculation, would be as follows:—

Total loss from products of combustion

Per cent. moisture. Fuel value per tb. of

megass, B.T.U,

42 3,129
43 3,057
44 2,982
45 2,909
46 2,835
47 2,762
48 2,687
49 2,614
50 2,540
51 2,468

On the basis of these values not only different megasses
may be compared with one another, but megass with other
fuels through corresponding values for the latter.

The amount of heat which these fuel values represent is
not actually obtained for the production of steam, because
there are other losses, such as radiation, but these are func-
tions of the furnace rather than the fuel. There is a slight |
loss through the heat carried away by the ashes, which -
directly affects the fuel value, but it is so small as to be
practically negligible.

* In accordance with the usual custom the British Ther-
mal Unit and Fahrenheit scale of temperature will be used in
discussing fuel value.

+ The moisture in the megass as it enters the furnace is
probably somewhat less than this owing- to evaporation after
it leaves the mills.

t There is probably a variation of as much as 15°F. in this’
temperature in different factories, depending on whether hot or
cold water is used for maceration, the distance the megass is
carried to the furnace, and the temperature of the air surround-
ing it.

“| It is probably somewhat less, as most of the air comes
directly from the outside through the grates,

356

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. NoveMBeER 9, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
OF VANILLA IN DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES.

PRODUCTION OF VANILLA. Information regarding the

‘production of vanilla has been given in the Agricultural
News, Vols. IX, pp. 53, 295, 319; and XI, p. 261; other
references to the subject have also been made. In continu-
ation, the following statistics have been taken from an
article in L’Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds for April
1912. a

From the figures given it is calculated that the exports
of vanilla from the French colonies during 1910 were as
follows:—

1910. Pounds.
Tahiti 564,782
Réunion 142,868
Madagascar 94,169
Mayotte and dependencies 106,095
Guadeloupe 19,996
Martinique 2,554
The Gaboon 693

It should be added that figures are available which
show that the exports from Guadeloupe in 1911 were
39,178 fb.; and from the Gaboon, 1,111 tb. Th: latest
figure given for French Guiana is that of 18 ib. for 1909.
As is pointed out in the article, the matter should be com-
pleted by the inclusion of New Caledonia which produces
annually a fair amount of the spice, of which statistics
hardly make mention.

The exports for 1910 from places other than the French
colonies were:—

1910. Pounds.
Seychelles 51,377
Mauritius 1,874
Ceylon 660

The production of Mexico is given as an amount cor-
responding to 333,043 Ib. for 1909-10. The latest figure
given for Java is that of 1909—7,700 tb. It may be
mentioned that the exports from Ceylon in 1909 were com-
paratively high, being 3,562 h. ; '

The world’s production is placed at an equivalent of
1,320,000 tb., of which about 880,000 ib. is stated to be
grown in the French colonies.

_ , CONSUMPTION OF VANILLA, Before the figures are given,
it is pointed out that the consumption year by year in the
different countries is much more regular than is shown by
the statistics. In order to give exactly the quantities of
vanilla consumed annually at the different centres, it would
be necessary (and this is not possible) to know the amount
of the local stocks at the end of the year. The following

figures are equivalent to those given for the different coun«
tries, for 1909:—

1909. Pounds,
Germany 234,080
France 125,239
Austria- Hungary 62,040
Italy 24,823
Belgium 23,166
Sweden 2,158
Norway 1,984
United States 1,118,106

Statistics do not give information as to the consumption
of vanilla in the United Kingdom; it is considered to be about
100,000 tb. yearly. Further, the estimate is made that the
amount of vanilla consumed by Russia is 33,000 to 44,000 tb.
The value of the vanilla used in Holland in 1909 corres-
ponds to about 12,000 tb. The best sources of information
permit it to be stated that the Swiss consumption of vanilla
is about 13,000 tb. In 1910, France exported 5,588 tb. of
vanilla to Denmark, and this figure represents approximately
the consumption by that country.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture is:
expected to return to Barbados from Antigua on
November 9, or on November 14, 1912.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc., Entomologist to the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, returned to the
Head Office from St. Vincent, by the S.S. ‘Ocamo’, on
November 2.

Vor. XI. No, 275.

THE BUDDING OF THE AVOCADO,

The illustration on this page has been made from two
negatives sent by Mr. J. Jones, Curator of the Botanic
Station, Dominica. It shows the successful budding of
a Mexican variety of the avocado pear (Persea gratissima)
on a common avocado stock.

On the left-hand side of the illustration is seen
a flourishing branch grown from the inserted bud; above the
latter is the upper part of the main stem of the stock, which
has been bent over so as partly to break it and divert plant
food to the bud. The right-hand section of the picture shows
the plant after the upper part of the stock has been cut off
just above the position of the bud.

In forwarding the negatives, Mr. Jones draws attention
to the circumstance that there is no reason why varieties of
the avocado should not be selected and budded in the West
Indies, just as this is done with oranges and grape fruits.

Ricie 14:

Mr. Jones, in a later letter (September 23) to the
Commissioner of Agriculture, states: ‘The early attempts to
bud avocados in Dominica were made dn stocks growing in
bamboo pots. These efforts failed owing to the difficulty of
keeping stocks, within the limited area of bamboo joints, in
a healthy and growing condition. It was then decided to
transplant seedling avocados raised for stocks from the seed
to the nursery beds (after the manner employed in citrus
budding). The stocks were placed out in two rows in a bed
4 feet wide, the distance between the plants in the rows
being 18 inches. Planted under such conditions the stocks
grow vigorously and are soon ready for budding, which latter
can be done when the stems have attained the thickness of
a lead pencil. It is essential that the stocks should be in
a healthy growing condition, at which time the bark separates
readily from the wood.

‘The budwood used in the Dominica experiments was
taken from the comparatively young branch (green wood) of

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

357

a vigorous seedling of a Mexican variety. A good percentage
of the buds grew. There is a tendency in avocado stocks to
callus so quickly at the point of insertion that the buds are
sometimes covered before growth has started.

‘The method employed was shield budding with an
inverted T, the procedure being the same as that commonly
followed in budding citrus, a method now well understood in
the West Indian Islands.

‘It is not yet known how budded plants will stand
lifting and transplanting, but it is thought that, after the wood
is ripened, and the leaves are removed, the plants may be
lifted, packed, transported and replanted in the field with no
more loss than in the case of citrus plants.’

It may be useful to mention that other information con-
cerning the propagation of the avocado pear, and regarding
its growing and marketing, may be found in the Agricultural
News, Vols. IX, pp. 116, 213; and X, pp. 180, 356.

J

STaGEs IN THE BuppING oF THE Avocavo PEAR (DoMInica).

Cotton-Growing in Madagascar.—According to
the Bulletin de Office du Gowvernement Générale de V Algérie
of September 1, various attempts have been made to grow
cotton in Madagascar in the provinces of Morondava,
Analalava and Tulear, especially at Nanera and Andranolava.
The seeds used are supplied by the Colonial Cotton Associa-
tion, but the results have not been very satisfactory, owing
in part to the prevalence of very dry weather from May to
July, which is unfavourable to the opening of buds. \More-
over, the plants are attacked by red and green bugs and by
caterpillars, which penetrate the pods before they have time
to ripen. Experimentsare at present being conducted by the
Cotton Association at various points along the west coast,
by several planters in the south-west, by the Compagnie du
Lac Alaotra in the district of Ambatondrazaka and also by
the Administrative Authorities at Marovoay station. It is
estimated that about 1,400 hectares are under cotton culti-
vation. (The Board of Trade Journal, September 12, 1912.)

358

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NoveEmMBER 9, 1912

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date October 21, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Sea Island cotton has continued neglected since our last
report and sales are confined to 15 bales of St. Vincent at 213d.
and a few bales from other islands from 173d. tol8d.

American Sea Island cotton is still pressed for sale and
superior crop lots of last season are being sold at 153d. to 163d.,
with difficulty; meanwhile, the new crop has not arrived.
Spinners are quite indifferent and there is no doubt that the
cheapness of Sakellarides Egyptian is inducing them to go on
to lower counts of yarn in preference to spinning the finer
numbers, for which there is a limited demand, the lace trade
being so depressed.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending October 12, is as follows:—

The receipts this week of 225 bales were composed of
105 bales Planters’ crops carried over on plantations from
last year and previously advised sold, and 120 bales of new
crop cotton. The 105 bales have not been cleared and there-
fore we cannot yet give their destination.

The sales consisted of a Planter’s crop, Hams 31 bales at
30c., brought over from last year.

The receipts of the new crop have only been partially
sampled and Factors are postponing offering their cotton until
they have some accumulation of stock. They intimate, how-
ever, that they would be willing to open the market at:—

Extra Fine ae, = Sich, c.i.f., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 28c. = 16d. cal ire

BRANCHING OF EGYPTIAN COTTON
PLANTS.

The following conclusions are reached after an
investigation of the manner of branching of Egyptian
cotton, described in Bulletin No. 249 of the Bureau of
Plant Industry, United States Department of Agricul-
ture. Reference to the original publication is made,
for a description of the diagrams that are mentioned:—

The Egyptian cotton plant bears two kinds of branches,
long vegetative branches on the lower part of the stem,
which bear no flower buds directly, and above these, to the
top of the plant, shorter fruiting branches which bear flower
buds.

The differences between vegetative branches and fruiting
branches are very sharp: (1) vegetative branches usually

approximate the length of the main stem, while fruiting
branches are about one-third as long; (2) vegetative branches
bear no flower buds except as they produce secondary fruiting
branches. Fruiting branches bear a flower bud at each node
opposite the leaf; (3) the vegetative branches, like the axis,
bear fruiting branckes and may bear vegetative branches.
The fruiting branches rarely bear fruiting branches or vege-
tative branches.

Vegetative branches may be either axillary or extra-
axillary. Normal fruiting branches are always extra-
axillary. Single bolls or short fruiting branches are some-
times developed from buds in the axillary position, at nodes
bearing fruiting branches. Such branches may be regarded
as secondary fruiting branches borne by the axillary vegeta-
tive branch, which is itself suppressed.

From six to eight large vegetative branches are usually
produced from the first ten nodes of the axis. At the next
two or three nodes the buds frequently remain dormant or are
abortive, and above these a fruiting branch is produced at
each node.

Under conditions of great luxuriance extra-axillary limbs
occur at some of the lower nodes which would bear fruiting
branches if the development of limbs was restricted.

The length and number of vegetative branches largely
determine whether the plants are bushy and spreading or up-
right.

The control of the production of vegetative branches
that is of the stature of the plant, is necessary because of
the desirability of small plants in cultivation and harvesting.

Egyptian cotton when planted late apparently develops
more numerous vegetative branches than when planted early,
Early planting is therefore advisable as a means of restricting
the development of vegetative branches.

Abortion of early fruiting branches on both axis and
large limbs is common in a greater or less degree to all
stocks grown from imported seed. Even the Arizona
acclimatized plants frequently abort their lowest fruiting
branches.

Some of the selected acclimatized types of Egyptian
cotton originated in the United States bear fruiting branches
at lower nodes on the stem than the stocks of imported
Egyptian cotton. Selection for low fruiting gives promise
of being a practical means of increasing earliness and yield.

Of the six Egyptian varieties grown in Arizona in 1909
from imported seed, Nubari most nearly resembled the
acelimatized stocks in putting out fruiting branches at
comparatively low nodes of the stem.

A method of recording branching habits of cotton by
means of diagrams has been devised. The diagrams show
the location of branches, the development of fruiting branches,
and the stature of plants. Such diagrams promise to be of
value as records in the cultural and breeding study of cotton.

Vor. XI. No, 275.

Preliminary experiments in topping young plants have
resulted in stimulating the growth of buds in the axils of
cotyledons. Branches just below the point where the plant
is topped make an excessive vegetative growth and tend to
assume an upright position in place of the severed axis. The
topping of nearly mature plants to hasten the ripening of
fruit has not yet been adequately tested.

Egyptian cotton plants grown on soil containing con-
siderable alkali restrict the development of limbs and reject
their early fruiting branches.

Differences in the branching habits of the different
Egyptian varieties grown from imperted seed are not sharply
defined because of the diversity within each variety and
hence cannot at present be used to distinguish one variety
from another.

COTTON SEED MEAL AS FOOD
FOR STOCK.

Two articles on this subject have appeared recently
in the Agricultural News, in the issues for August 31
and September 14. In continuation of the matter, the
following are the conclusions reached in a recent
bulletin of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment
Station (No. 108), which describes work having for its
chief object the testing of methods designed for the
purpose of remoying the poisonous properties possessed
by the meal when it is fed to pigs and young cattle:—

It was found, in one trial, that ‘fermentation’ or
decomposition of cotton seed meal for forty-eight hours at
a temperature of 20° to 28° C. did not lessen its toxie action
when fed to pigs.

Cotton seed meal, from which 2 per cent. more of fat had
been removed by extraction with gasoline, showed no diminu-
tion of toxicity.

In two trials it was found that cold aqueous extraction
removed from cotton seed meal no substance which could be
shown to be toxic for pigs.

The extract similarly obtained by dilute hydrochloric acid
proved non-toxic in one trial. In a second test a temyorary
sickness occurred in one animal, the identity of which with
cotton-seed poisoning was not established.

The fluid strained from cotton seed meal, after
prolonged steaming, caused death with symptoms and
post-mortem changes of cotton seed poisoning in one case.
This fluid, however, was not a clear solution of matters
extracted from the meal, but contained much material in
suspension. The meal itself after such cooking and
separation of the fluid also proved toxic.

In young cattle (fattening steers) symptoms of poisoning
appeared after a consumption of cotton seed meal (along with
hulls) equal to from 75 to 108 per cent. of the body weight.
The anatomical lesion of cotton-seed poisoning of cattle is an
interstitial keratitis [inflammation of the cornea or front
covering of the eye] which may end in complete blindness.

In hogs there is a degeneration of the muscular tissue of
the heart and of the parenchyma of the liver and kidneys,

_ with extreme passive congestion of all the viscera, and fiuid
effusion into the serous cavities, especially the pleura. Hogs
which have recovered and regained their thrift did not show,
after slaughter, any microscopic changes in these organs.

It may be noted, finally, that the ill effects resulting
from the feeding of cotton seed may be due toa prolonged

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 359

absorption of poisonous products generated in the digestive
tract by decomposition or putrefactive changes peculiar to
this feed. The problem, however, has not yet b2en ap-
proached from this point of view.

COTTON EXPERIMENTS IN THE
UNITED STATES, 1911.

There has been issued recently (July 17) Circular
No. 96 of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United
States Department of Agriculture, dealing with the
results of cotton experimentation by that department
during 1911. The statement of the results is to be
considered as supplementary to that contained in the
Annual Report of the Chief of the Bureau mentioned.
It will be useful to quote here the conclusions that are
reached in the circular:—

Improved varieties of American Upland cotton bred by
the Department of Agriculture and sent out through the
Congressional Seed Distribution are being utilized for the
improvement of the cotton industry.

New types of Upland cotton, introduced from weevil-
infested regions of Mexico and Central America, have been
acclimatized in the United States and have given excellent
results in Texas and other South-western States.

One of the new varieties from Mexico, called Durango,
is the most promising Upland long-staple cotton for irrigated
districts. Long-staple cotton is likely to become one of
the most important crops in the irrigated regions of Texas
and other South-western States.

Cotton-growing communities have much to gain by
co-operative organization for the production and marketing
of a single superior variety of cotton.

An improved method of distributing select varieties has
been devised to avoid waste and encourage the production of
superior fibre on a community basis.

The necessity of continued selection to preserve superior
varieties has been demonstrated and improved methods of
selection have been devised. ‘The value of distinctive char-
acters that enable the plants to be recognized in the field
is being taken into account in the breeding of varieties

Cultural methods are suggested for avoiding malforma-
tions uf young seed}ings, which often delay the development
of the plants and reduce the yield.

Several methods of utilizing superior first-generation
hybrids between Egyptian and Upland varieties of cotton are
being tested, including the propagation of such hybrids from
cuttings.

Experiments have shown the possibility of controlling
the development of vegetative branches by thinning the
plants gradually and restricting the supply of water in the
early stages of growth.

The Egyptian type of cotton proves to be less suscepti-
ble to the shedding of the buds and young bolls than the
Upland cotton, which is an additional element of security
for the crop.

Differences in habits of growth and methods of picking
render the Egyptian cotton superior to the Upland type as
a family crop.

The suczessful production of Egyptian cotton in Arizona
and Southern California does not justify expectations of
similar results in Texas, where the conditions are essentially
different. The Durango variety is preferable for irrigated
districts in Texas. :

360

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

NovemMBer 9, 1912

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. Dulan &
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.

- - ; Se
¢ + rey At yp :
Agricultural slews

pal EZ :
Vout. XI. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1912. No. 275.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial of this issue brings forward various
conclusions that have been reached regarding The Influ-
ence of Molasses on Soil Fertility. It summarizes the
results of recent investigations, as well as information

that has been given already concerning the subject in
this journal and in other places.

An article on page 355 deals with detailed work
regarding the fuel value of megass that has been carried
out recently in Hawaii.

An interesting illustrated article having for its
subject the budding of the avocado pear is to be found
on page 357.

Information concerning the buchu of South Africa,
send by Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., and in addition
abstracted from a recent number of the Kew Bulletin,
is given on page 362.

A summary of the results of the continuation of
work having for its subject the influence of radioactive
substances on plants appears on page 363.

The Fungus Notes of this issue are on pages 366
and 367. They deal with a disease of sugar-cane called
Tliau, which up to the present appears to be confined
to Hawaii. A summary of a bulletin giving an account
of recent work with the disease is supplied, and note is
made of the remedial measures that have been
suggested.

Page 367 contains an account of various matters in
connexion with the representation of the West Indies at
the recent Canadian National Exhibtion held at
Toronto.

Trade of Venezuela, 1911-12.

Statistics originating from H.M. Legation at
Caracas show that the imports and exports of merchan-
dise to and from Venezuela for the financial year ending
June 30, 1912 were worth £224,434 and £328,368,
respectively; in 1910-11 they were £200,447 and
£242.500.

The coffee crop of Venezuela for 1911-12 was above
the average. In spite of the drought iv is probable
that the crop to be shipped in 1912-13 will be only
about 20 per cent. less than that exported in 1911-12,
Last years crop of cacao was very small because of
drought, and prospects are poor for this year. The
drought has also caused the balata and rubber exports
tor this year to be small, but conditions have improved
lately in the Orinoco region.

$$

Vanilla in the Seychelles, 1911.

During the year mentioned almost the smallest
crop of vanilla on record was obtained; if was 11,008
kilos. (24,218 tb.) worth Rs. 223,200 (£14,880). It is
explained in Colonial Exports—Annual, No.271, that
the cause of the small yield was not disease of the plants
but unseasonable rainfall at the flowering season. The
last good crop was in 1907, and was valued at
a million rupees.

The crop of 1912 is expected to be as low as that
of the previous year. If nothing unfavourable occurs at
the present time, the year 1913 should see a large crop,

Prices have been high for several years, and it 1s
stated that there is no longer much dread that vanillin
will replace the natural product in popular favour.

Vanilla is sold chiefly in London and Paris, in
about equal proportions.

>>

The Cutting of Sisal.

Opinions vary greatly regarding the best way to
cut leaves of Agave for the production of sisal hemp
The subject receives attention in the Journal d’ Agri-
culture Tropicale for May 1912, which quotes an article
in the Bulletin Economique de lV Indo-Chine as say-
ing that to cut too plentifully, leaving a straight stump
in the place of the crown of twenty-two leaves which
should nourish the plant, constitutes one of the most
clumsy methods, besides giving leaves of irregular
maturity and therefore fibre that sells at an inferior
price. Itis pointed out that this view receives confir-
mation in a letter sent to the Agricultural Department
of New South Wales by the Director of the Fibre
Department of the International Harvester Company of
America. So far, the procedure in Australia, for this
recently introduced cultivation, has been that of Java.
In Yucatan, it is admitted that a leaf ought to be allowed
to become almost horizontal before it is cut; in any case
i; ought not to be removed before its angle has become
at least 22°.

Vor, Xi. No; 210;

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

361

Cotton-buying in Grenada.

The assent of the Acting Governor of the Wind-
ward Islands has just been given to an Ordinance to
amend the Cocoa, Nutmegs and Cotton Ordinance,
Grenada; it is No. 13 of 1912, dated September 16, 1912.

By this Ordinance, notwithstanding anything in
the Principal Ordinance, it shall be lawful for any per-
son to sell, offer for sale or deliver to a licensed dealer,
and for any licensed dealer to purchase or take delivery
of, cotton at any ginnery, the expression Ginnery mean-
ing a building where cotton is ginned, whether it is
Government or private property.

Provision is made for the keeping of books giving
particulars of transactions in cotton, at ginneries, the
inspection of such books and the production of the
books for inspection.

According to the Ordinance also, notwithstanding
anything in the Principal Ordinance, it shall be lawful
to issue half-yearly licenses for the purchase of cotton
only, the licenses to expire at the end of the half year
and at the end of the year, the price for each being £1.
A form is prescribed for such licenses.

The Ordinance may be cited as the Cocoa, Nutmegs
and Cotton Ordinance, 1912, and is to be construed as
one with the Principal Ordinance. It may be cited
with this as the Cocoa, Nutmegs and Cotton Ordinances,
1911 and 1912.

rr + re”

Growing Vanilla under Mango Trees.

The Queensland Agricultural Journal for Sep-
tember 1912 makes the suggestion that vanilla vines
may be cultivated on the trunk and over the lower
branches of mango trees. The practical mature of
the suggestion is illustrated by reference to a case in
which vanilla is raised under some nine large mango
trees, planted about 30 feet apart and occupying
about ;4-acre, the number of vines being about forty.
In this case the vanilla is growing on rows of posts and
rails between the trees, as well as on the trees
themselves.

In such a cultivation, protection from stock must
of course be provided. There must not be too much
shade, so that this must be lightened in the case of
older trees by cutting away some of the middle branches
in the centre of the tree, from the inside. It is claimed
that this does not necessarily make the tree unsightly.
Generally speaking, the proportion of the tree opened
up in this way is about one-quarter of the diameter.

Four vines may be planted at the base of large
trees; two or three are sufficient in ordinary cases.
Where horizontal branches are available the vines
should be trained along them, and later merely draped
over them; in their absence rails may be laid from fork
to fork or supported on posts. The rails need not be
more than about 4 inches, and should not be less
than 2 inches, in diameter.

The opinion is expressed in the article that no
weeding, no pruning and no watering are ordinarily
necessary, ‘the work of culture consisting of watching

the vines to prevent their growing out of reach, vollin-
ating the flowers in season, and harvesting and curing
(drying) the beans as they ripen.’

It should be stated that the article is not intended
to suggest that mango trees are the best for growing
vanilla, nor is it implied that other trees are not suit-
able for the purpose.

a

The Direct Assimilation of Nitrogen by Green
Plants.

The Journal of the Chemical Society for October
1911 contained an abstract of a paper describing the
continuation of work by Messrs. H. B. Hutchinson and
N. H. J. Miller, having for its object the investigation
of the direct assimilation of inorganic and organic forms
of nitrogen by other plants.

In the work, the plants are grown in water cul-
tures, under sterilized conditions which exclude nitrifi-
cation, while the nitrogen is supplied in many various
forms.

The greatest assimilation was shown for urea, and
several less well-known organic nitrogen compounds
were also readily assimilated. Doubtful results were
obtained with some of the other compounds; others still
were not absorbed at all, while one of them proved to
be actually poisonous.

The matter of chief interest is that soluble humus
was readily assimilated and produced considerable
growth. Peptone was also taken up, but the increase
in dry weight of the plants was a good deal less than
that with humus.

dp —

The Japan ‘Culture’ Pearl Industry.

Part of the report by H.M. Commercial Attaché at
Yokohama shows that there is a considerable export
from Japan to Europe and America of what are called
Japanese ‘culture’ pearls. These have the same appear-
ance and nature as the natural oyster pearl, but are
obtained by a special process. In the first stage, the
oysters are carefully watched and tended until they are
three years old, when they are taken out of the sea and
opened, and a foreign substance introduced. They are
then replaced in the sea and allowed to remain for
about four years; after this time the finished pearl is
taken from the shell.

Apart from its origin, the chief difference between
the culture pearl and the natural pearl is that it has to
be cut from the shell, instead of being found free in the
oyster. The consequence is that one part of the
culture pearl is inferior in appearance, and this causes
the value to be much lower than that of the natural
product.

This information appeared in the Board of Trade
Journal for September 26, 1912, where it is stated
that some further particulars regarding the industry
may be seen by British firms at the Commercial Intel-
ligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73 Basinghall
Street, London, E.C.

362

THE BUCHU OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has sent the following note
on the Buchu of South Africa.

‘So long ago as 1821 the leaves of one or more
species of Barosma were introduced from South Africa
to the notice of the medical profession in London, under
the name of Buchu, or Buku, which is the native
name of the plants themselves. For a long time before
their introduction to England they were used by the
native population for various diseases, and ever since
their adoption in European practice—principally as a tonic
and diuretic remedy—they have been more or less in
demand. The plants producing them are shrubs, natives of
the Cape of Good Hope, and have been referred to three
species of Barosma, namely, B. betulina, B. crenulata and
B. serratifolia, belonging to the natural order Rutaceae.
They are classified in the London market by the shape of
the leaves such as ‘round’, ‘longs’, ‘ovals’, ‘long ovals’, etc.,
and their value depends partly on their colour. They have
a strong smell somewhat suggestive of mint, and it is said
that in Thunberg’s time the natives used them, dried and
powdered, and mixed with grease, to anoint their bodies,
which gave them such a rank disagreeable odour that Thun-
berg could not bear the smell of the men who drove the
waggon.

‘For some time past there has been an increasing
demand for Buchu leaves in the London Market, and the
limited supply that often occurs, automatically results in
increased prices, especially in the best qualities; but prices
all round have almost doubled within the last few months
Thus at the drug auctions at Mincing Lane at the end of
August and the beginning of September the market was
very firm, nothing being obtainable on the former date under
6s. 6d. per tb., and a few bales of good green round leaf were
held at 7s., while on September 5, 2 bales of good green
round leaves free of stalk were bought in at 7s. Fair green
somewhat stalky were held at 6s. 3d., and very stalky yellow
green at 4s, 3d. It was stated at the time of this auction
that 29 bales had arrived from the Cape, 15 of which were
destined for New York and the remaining 14 for London.

‘It is worthy of note that while the exports from South
Africa for the six months ending 30th of June last, amounted
to 172,510 Ib. of the value of £29,344; the quantities and
value for the corresponding period in the previous year were
146,803 tb. valued at £21,578. On the other hand, the
exports and values for the month of June only, show that
in 1911 they amounted to 31,871 Ib. of the value of £5,388,
while in June last the quantity was 8,497 Ib. and the value
£2,121.

‘With a plant, the uses of which have been of such long
standing, and are apparently increasing, so that there is
every promise of a continued increase in the demand at good
prices, it would seem that an extension of its cultivation
might be taken in hand in such British possessions as approach
in climate and other conditions suited to its culture.’

It may be added to Mr. Jackson’s observations that the
Kew Bigletin, 1912, No. 7, issued recently, in describing
a buchu (Barosma Peglerae), mentions that other names
loosely applied to the plants by the natives of Cape
Colony are Bukku and Bucco, and that the stuff called
Buchu Vinegar or Buchu Brandy is made by infusing the
leaves in vinegar, brandy or ‘dop’. This is employed for
sundry complaints, though as one authority remarks: ‘in
these cases its chief value perhaps is the excuse and cover it
affords for the occasional dose of alcohol.’ In any case the
leaves are held in high esteem for sprains, contusions, etc.,

THE AGRICULTURAL

eee

NEWS.

NoveMBER 9, 1912.

and it has not been denied that they are of importance in
alleviating rheumatic troubles.

The Aew Bulletin goes on to point out that the trade
names of ‘longs’, ‘ovals’ and ‘short-broad’, ‘obovate’ or ‘rounds’
apply respectively to leaves of B. serratifolia, B. crenulata
and B. betulina; though in recent years the last have been
preferred, and constitute now the Folia Buchu or Folia Bucco
of the British Pharmacopoeia. It also draws attention to
the fact that an article preliminary to further investigation
appeared in the Agricultural Journal of the Cape of Good
Hope, 1910, p. 252, and states that more information is to
be given in a future issue of the Agricultural Journal of the
Union of South Africa. The article concludes with the
description of B. Peglerae, stating that its leaves may
possibly prove to be of pharmaceutical importance.

PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION,
CARRIACOJU, 1912.

The Superintendent of Agriculture, Grenada,
Mr. G. G. Auchinleck, B. Sc., has forwarded a copy of
a report by Mr. W. Malins-Smith and himself on the
Prize-holdings Scheme in the island of Carriacou for
the year 1912:—

We hereby submit our report on the Prize-holdings
Scheme in the island of Carriacou for the year 1912.

There were thirty-one entries of which five had done so
little work and the appearance was so poor that no marks
were given to them.

We cannot say that we found any holding in excellent
condition; and on the whole, the appearance of the holdings
was backward and poor. At the same time there were
evidences of some attempt at improvement. This however
was considerably handicapped by the severe drought
experienced this year.

Among the next striking features observed on the hold-
ings we may mention a contrivance for collecting rain-water
from the stem of a tree by Alfred Akie of Belair, by nailing
a bit of tin partly around the stem, so as to catch the water
trickling down and spout it into a tub Alexander of
Beausejour has a large plot of selected cotton which gave
a yield last year of 33} per cent. of lint to seed-cotton.

Rebecca Philip of Beausejour was able to show a splen-
did field of bananas and cacao. Stephen Mark of Tophill is
growing a large variety of fruit trees and bringing them on
very satisfactorily in a rather exposed situation.

There were only four of the competitors who made any
attempt at the conservation of manures.

The competitors do not yet seem to have yt a real grip
of the idea of the Prize-holdings Scheme. We would recom-
mend that visits of the Agricultural Instructor be increased
next year.

The crops generally throughout the island are very late
and poor this year. The corn crop is particularly poor.
This is due no doubt to the prolonged and severe dry season
which ended in June.

A list at the end of the report shows that the
following were successful: S, Mark and 8. Augustine,
Tophill, awarded first and second prizes of £2 10s.;
Rebecca Philip, and G. M. Joseph, Beausejour, awarded
third and fourth prizes of £1 10s.; J. Cummins, Pros-
pect Hall, and P. Augustine, Harvey Vale, awarded
fifth and sixth prizes of £1.

Von XI. No. 275.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 363

THE INFLUENCE OF RADIOACTIVE

SUBSTANCES ON PLANTS.

Work directed toward finding if radioactive substances
possess any influence as regards plant growth is being carried
out under the direction of the Professor of Botany and Plant
Physiology of Melbourne University. At the commencement
the investigations were carried out in plots; they received
attention on page 183 of the last volume of the Agricultural
News.

A second account in the Journal of the Department of

Agriculture, Victoria, for July 1912, states that the experi-
ments have been extended to field trials. In comparing the
results with those obtained in the laboratory, it must be
remembered that these were obtained by the use of quantities
of the radioactive substance impossible to employ on the
same scale in the field. Further caution is given that it may
not follow that a substance which accelerates germination
may be of any further advantage to the plant, and that it is
possible that the addition of a radioactive mineral to the soil
may affect injuriously the development of useful soil bacteria.

Trials in culture fluids showed that bacteria are able to
develop even when large quantities of radioactive mineral
are present; but that there is a retarding action, increasing
with the length of exposure. It was proved that this influence
was actually due to the rays from the mineral, and not to
any poisonous substance dissolved from it. There were
indications that organisms of the Bacillus subtilis type may
be more resistant to the rays of a radioactive mineral than
are other bacteria.

It appears that, in the presence of bacteria, carbon dioxide
and water, the rays from a sufficient quantity of radio-active
mineral can cause the formation of small amounts of
formaldehyde. This substance was not present because of the
action of light, for the cultures were in darkness during the
whole of the time. It may possibly be that the retarding
action was caused by the formaldehyde, but the amount of
this does not seem sufficient to account for the whole of the
action.

In the field, trials were devised to see if this retarding
action is shown when the mineral is employed in the
quantities customary when mineral manures are being given.
It seems that such dressings do not produce any distinct
action; while enormously heavy dressings actually do reduce
the number of soil organisms. Another result obtained was
that, in quantities capable of practical application, the
radioactive mineral does not affect appreciably the early
stages of germination in wheat.

The final conclusion reached is: ‘There is nothing, there-
fore, in these results to show that radioactive mineral is of
the least benefit to wheat when applied in the same manner
as manure, and the hopes that had been raised by the stimu-
lating action of large quantities upon the early stages of
germination, that this substance might be of use in the field,
have failed to be established by experiment as regards wheat,
at least. Whether results of value may be obtained with
other plants is, of course, another question, but the radio-
active mineral does not appear to have any direct value for
the growth of wheat.’

CACAO CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION,
1911.

The Gordian has issued recently its final estimate of
the production (exports) and consumption of cacao for 1911.
This, expressed in long tons and with the figures for 1909
and 1910 for comparison, is as follows:—

THE WORLD’S GACAO CROP.

Countries. 1909. 1910. 1911.
Tons. Tons. Tons,

Gold Coast 20,213 22,751 39,726
Ecuador 51,071 35.738 38,883
San Thomé 29,788 36,092 34,453
Brazil 33,290 28,702 34,447
Trinidad 23,025 25,821 20,888
San Domingo 14,586 16,363 19,518
Venezuela 16,585 16,981 17,109
Grenada 5,356 5,755 5,855
Lagos 2,240 2,931 4,401
German Colonies 3,763 4,009 4,335
Ceylon 3,514 4,005 3,016
Fernando Po 2,683 2,312 2,953
Jamaica 3,166 1,716 2,740
Dutch East Indies 2,430 2,539 2,421
Surinam 1,867 2,011 1,570
Hayti 2,089 1,822 1,462
French Colonies Isp 1,550 1,343
Cuba 1,910 1,390 1,232
St. Lucia 546 731 925
Congo State 757 888 670
Dominica 970 565 568
Colombia 719 292 394
Costa Rica 231 181 338
Other countries 984 984 1,476

Total 203,134 216,129 240,722

THE WORLD’S RAW CACAO CONSUMPTION.

Countries. 1909. 1910, LOE;
Tons. Tons, Tons,
United States 52,545 49,529 58,044
Germany 40,089 43,254 50,060
France 22,891 24,676 26,913
United Kingdom 23,885 23,706 24,999
Netherlands 19,084 18,887 23,169
Switzerland 6,580 8,947 9,698
Spain 5,887 5,431 6,279
Austria-Hungary 4,179 4,885 5,821
Belgium 4,932 4,717 5,410
Russia 2,886 3,644 3,986
Ttaly 1,591 1,857 2,159
Canada 1,156 1,500 2,095
Denmark 1,491 1,576 1,678
Sweden 1,118 OA Wi 1,524
Australia and New Zealand 692 1,119 1,281
Norway 722 838 1,003
Portugal 209 167 196
Finland 85 104 yal
Other countries 1,772 1,969 1,969
Total 191,794 198,023 226,395

364

The Jamaica Gazette for September 5, 1912, notifies for
general inforraation that a Bill passed by the Legislature of
Jamaica, namely Law 6 of 1912, entitled A Law for the

Encouragement of Agricultural Loan Societies, has become
law.

It is stated in the Official Messenger, St. Petersburg, for
September 17, 1912, that the Russian Department of Agri-
culture has decided to form next year several new experiment
stations, to encourage cotton-growing, in Russian Turkestan
and the Trans-Caucasus.

Official returns dated September 3, 1912, show that the
Japanese rice crop for the present season is estimated at
55,293,945 koku, or 274,257,967 bushels. This is 7 per
cent. greater than the crop of last year, and 12°6 per cent.
over the average for the past seven years

The Superintendent of Agriculture, Grenada, states that
the next meeting of the Grenada Agricultural and Com-
mercial Society will be held on November 15 at the Botanic
Gardens. A guide leaflet will be issued by the Agricultural
Department to members for the purpose of showing the chief
points of interest in the Gardens.

An Ordinance, No. 9 of 1912, St. Lucia, dated October
12, has been enacted for the purpose of amending the Minor
Products Protection Ordinance, 1899. It adds a sub-section
to section three of the latter Ordinance, to the effect that, in
sections eight, fifty-one and fifty-two of this Ordinance,
‘minor products’ includes limes and coco-nuts. It may be
cited as the Minor Products Protection Ordinance, 1899,
Amendment Ordinance, 1912.

The Bulletin of Agricultural Statistics, of the Internat-
ional Institute of Agriculture, Rome, for September 1912,
states that the condition of the Egyptian cotton crop was
excellent, and that the worm had entirely disappeared. The
state of the United States cotton crop on August 28 is
described as 74°8 per cent. of normal as compared with
73:2 at the same date last year, and with 736 per cent.—
the average condition on August 25 for the last ten years.

According to Colonial Reports—Annual, No, 718, the
crop of ground nuts of Gambia in 1911 was the third largest
recorded, and as prices were exceptionally high, the value of
the crop was easily in excess of that of any previous year.
The amount exported was 47,951 tons value £437,472, com-
pared with 58,456 tons valued at £387,943 in 1910. Except
for the ‘picked nuts’, which go to England, most of the
product is shipped to France to be crushed in the oil mills.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

November 9, 1912,

The report of the Sudan Central Economic Board for
last July gives detailed attention to the occurrence in the
Sudan of the plant (Calotropis procera) yielding Ushar fibre.
A sample of the fibre was valued at the Imperial Institute in
May 1912 at £24 per ton, with Mexican sisal hemp at the
same price. This plant is related.to the Madar or Mudar
fibre plant of India (C. gigantea). C. procera has been natura-
lized in the West Indies, where it is sometimes called French
cotton, and the hairs from the seeds are used in decorating fans,

The following appears in a report on a recent examina-
tion of candidates for pupil teacherships and of pupil
teachers, Grenada, printed in the Government Gazette for
October 15, 1912: Agriculture: ‘This is all theory, and is
well done. The answers to the papers on Blackie (Ist and
2nd year) disclosed accurate and familiar knowledge of the
year’s work. The 3rd year standard was higher, and furnished
less scope for memory work. Questions on the handling of
this or of that product as permanent crops, at any stage, met
with poor response.’

Comparison of figures given in Diplomatic and Consular
Reports, Annual Series, Nos. 4953 and 5969 shows that the
exports of cotton from Galveston during 1911 amounted to
3,022,131 bales, while the receipts at Savannah, for the
twelve months ending August 31, 1911 were 87,583 bales.
The value of the cotton shipped from Galveston was
£37,758,219, and was less than that in 1908, namely
£35,752,535, although in that year the shipments reached
a record amount, being 3,289,354 bales. The total crop of
United States Sea Island cotton for the period September
1910 to August 1911 was, as indicated, 87,583 bales,
compared with 96,656 bales for the previous season and
101,420 bales for the similar period in 1909.

At a meeting of the Board of Management, Jamaica
Agricultural Society, on August 15, 1912, the following
resolution (copied from the Journal of that Society) was
passed unanimously: ‘That in the interests of the fruit growers
of the island, this Board hereby asks the Government, in the
negotiations for a weekly subsidized service of steamers
between Jamaica and the Dominion of Canada, to give special
consideration to the claims of those growers, or associations
of growers of fruit in this island, who desire to make direct
shipments of fruit to the markets of the Dominion, and to
include in the term of contract between the two countries
provision whereby the growers should always have the
preference of the space on the subsidized steamers.’

In Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 725, it ix shown that
the total value of all sea-borne exports from the Gold Coast
during 1911 was £3,792,454, against £2,697,706 in 1910,
the increase being chiefly due to larger shipments of cacao,
gold and specie. The exports of the principal articles during
1911 were as follows: cacao 88,987,324 Ib. value £1,613,468,
gold and gold dust 280,060 oz. value £1,057,692, specie
value £321,145, rubber 2,668,667 Ib. value £219,447,
palm kernels 13,254 tons value £175,891, native timber
13,973,396 cubic feet value £138,821, and palm oil
1,610,209 gallons value £128,916. Increases over the
values of the previous year took place in cacao, gold and
specie (as has been indicated); in all the other cases mentioned,
the exports decreased.

Vor. XI. No. 275.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 365

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The Preliminary Examination of this year, in connexion
with the Courses of Reading of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture, was held on Monday, October 28. Three hours
were allowed for the written paper, which consisted of
thirteen questions, of which not more than nine were to be
-attempted, and among these either question 11 or 12 had to
be included. Simple diagrams were required, for illustrating
‘the answers, and for these additional credit was to be given.
The questions set were as follows:—

(1) What gas do green plants give off in quantity, in
“sunlight? How would you show, by a simple experiment,
that they give off this gas?

(2) Give the chief reasons why plants require a supply
of water, and state how the water is taken into them.

(3) Describe with sketches, any observations that you
have made on germinating seeds.

(4) State the chief reasons for cultivating and tilling
the soil, and write a description, with diagrams, of any kind
of plough that you have examined.

(5) What is the effect in a soil of a large proportion of
(a) clay, (b) sand? How may heavy soils be made lighter!

(6) Give a full account of the way in which any plant
that you choose may be budded.

(7) Describe the chief parts of an ordinary leaf, mention-
‘ing their uses.

(8) Explain five of the following terms, giving examples
where this can be done: (a) abomasum, (b) xylem, (c) radicle,
{d) atmospheric pressure, (e) evaporation, (f) stamen, (g) arti-
ficial manure, (h) proteid, (k) astragalus, (1) ruminant.

(9) Give a list of the ways in which the amount of
mitrogen in the soil is increased, in nature.

(10) Make sketches and describe what is seen when
a thin section of a young root is observed under a microscope.

(11) Describe the structure and action of the heart of
-a mammal, and state the uses of the blood in such an animal.
(12) What organs of a mammal are concerned in diges-

Give a general account of this process.
(13) Write a description of the parts of some common
lower, and say how fruits are formed.

tion!

Sugar in Argentina.—Argentina has a compara-
“tively temperate climate, but the northern part of it reaches
“up within the limits of the southern tropicand quite a large
-cultivation of sugar-cane has been developed. The sugar crop
“for the current year is estimated at 180,000 long tons and this
grown on about 180,000 acres of land producing sugar-cane.
“The chief seat of sugar production is the Province of
Tucuman, where 156,250 acres are reported as being in cane
culture. The other provinces of Jujuy, Santa Fe and
Misiones are estimated altogether at 23,750 acres in cane
-eultivation,

In the neighbouring republic of Paraguay there is
-a sugar factory known as La Azucarera of Terbicuary. This
is said to be one of the finest sections of Paraguay, the lands
being located on that vast area known as the Chaco, or low-
fands. This factory is equipped with modern machinery and
Uhas tramway connexion with adjacent cane fields along the
wiver. ‘The factory is located about 100 miles from the
‘federal capital and is one of the most thriving and _ pros-
‘perous regions of Paraguay. (The Lowiscana Planter,
August 24, 1912.)

THE LIME JUICE INDUSTRY OF THB
VIRGIN ISLANDS.

The following is taken from a report by the Agri--
cultural Instructor on the lime juice industry of the
Virgin Islands, during 1911-12. As with cotton in
this Presidency, lime juice is shipped and sold by the
Agricultural Department, and this is done on behalf of
those who sell the fruit at the Experiment Station,
where the juice is extracted and concentrated:—

I have the honour to forward a report on the working
of the Lime Purchase Industry for the crop season 1911-12.

Messrs. Gillespie have advised me of the payment by
them of the sum of £112 4s. 3d. the proceeds of the sale of
the two last consignments of lime juice; this completes the
transaction for the last crop year.

During the period under review, 1,580 gallons of raw and
404 gallons of concentrated juice were shipped to London,the
net amount realized from its sale being £150 3s. 3d. This
compares with £140 14s. 10d., similar receipts for the
year 191011.

It is much to be regretted that the climatic conditions
last season were so unfavourable; but for this circumstance
the export of juice would have been considerably more.
There is undoubtedly an awakening of interest in the
industry and I think we shall see more rapid advance during
the next few years, provided of course that climatic con-
ditions are more suitable.

INCREASED SUGAR PRODUCTION IN THE
PHIL'PPINES.

An article giving information on this appeared in
the Louisiana Planter for October 5, 1912, and is
reproduced below. It may be mentioned that an
account of the sugar industry of Negros, under the old
conditions, appeared in the West Indian Bulletin,
Vol. XI, p. 207.

The increase of Philippine sugar exports from 110,604
tons in 1909 to 183,077 during the fiscal year ending June
30 last, is given additional interest by the reason of the fact
that for the first time even a smal: part of the crop was the
output of a modern mill. In the past all sugar produced in
the islands being the output of old-style mills has been
handicapped in the markets, usually grading 88° or lower
and bringing approximately Ic. per tb. less than centrifugal
sugars testing 96°.

There was in operation near La Carlota, OccidentaD
Negros, during a portion of the last grinding season, a smalR
mill with a capacity of 150 tons of cane per day. Its
product met a strong demand, bringing 4}c. per tb. at whole-
sale in Iloilo. Another mill of this type installed near
Muntinlupa, Rizal Province, met with similar success,
A number of similar mills are now being constructed at
other points.

The first large mill in the Philippines has recently beem
completed on the San José estate in the southern part of the
island of Mindoro, but until the next grinding season
commences it will only be used for reboiling some of the
lower grade article and making marketable sugar from it.
On this estate some 800 acres are already in cane and there
are about 200 to 500 labourers at work preparing land and
planting cane. At the da‘e of the last report, contracts were
being let for a similar mill on the San Carlos estate on the
north-east coast of the island of Negros,

366

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, Novemser 9, 1912,

FUNGUS NOTES.

ILIAU-A CANE DISEASE OF HAWAIL.

An interesting account of an endemic cane disease
known for some time in Hawaii is published in Bulletin
No. 11, Pathological and Physiological Series of the Experi-
ment Station of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, by
H. L. Lyon. The disease appears to be limited to the
island mentioned, but some account of it may be of interest
in case it should appear locally at any time. It was first
described by Cobb in Bulletin 5 of the series already referred
to; but he failed to recognize its true cause or to appreciate
its economic importance, and Lyon’s account is the first to
deal with it fully.

symptoms. The disease is essentially one affecting the
leaf sheaths, and the major portion of the damage
caused by it is inflicted on the young shoots just emerging
from the ground. The name Iliau means ‘tight skin’, and
describes the most conspicuous symptom of the disease which
is the cementing of the leaf sheaths into a tight, firm jacket
about the stem. This encloses the growing tip so effectively
that its elongation is prevented and it is eventually strangled.
The leaf sheaths killed by the fungus causing the disease are
always pinkish brown in colour, while the infected rind of
such canes as have produced any stem is bluish grey. These
colours are very constant and afford a means of diagnosing
the disease.

Since the young shoots are the parts principally affected,
the greatest damage is naturally caused in fields of young
cane; while it has been observed that plant canes are always
attacked more severely than are ratoons. The development
of the fungus is favoured by cool, damp weather which checks
the growth of the cane, and the amount of harm done varies
according to the incidence and continuation of such weather.
If it begins when the shoots are young and endures for
some time, the fungus, which is always present in cane fields in
Hawaii, obtains a good hold and may destroy nearly all the
shoots ina stool. Moreover, it is also natural that the disease
should be more severe on fields at a high elevation or with
a northerly aspect than on those lying low and facing south,
Shoots weakened by any other cause than those already
mentioned are also more liable to the disease than are healthy
shoots. Usually under normal conditions in Hawaii a certain
number of shoots grow away from the fungus and only the
later secondary shoots are killed. Their death, when they
are only about 10 inches long, does not give a field any very
diseased appearance, especially as the main shoots are
healthy, and the presence of the disease may be hardly
manifest except inasmuch as it causes a poor initial stand of
cane. At the same time the damage inflicted is considerable.
Only when the primary shoots are killed out by the disease
does it become conspicuous, and only then is it usually noted
on the plantations.

The fungus generally commences its attack on the leaf
sheaths of young shoots at a point below the surface of the soil.
It then progresses upwards and inwards from leaf sheath to leaf
sheath, and finally into the stem. The fungus thus penetrates
the compact roll of young leaf sheaths surrounding the
growing point and cements them together in a firm jacket;
consequently the growing point is killed, often long before
the mycelium of the fungus has reached it. Frequently, the
stems of young shoots severely attacked are found, when the
shoots are split open, to be variously twisted and doubled in
their attempts to elongate. Sometimes the bending of the
stem splits the leaf sheaths longitudinally and a loop of stem

is forced through. The fungus can penetrate the stem,.
which it enters usually by way of the leaf bases, but it cam
attack directly where the tissues are soft. Hardening of the
stem tissues checks the progress of the mycelium.

Often if a young infected shoot elongates rapidly before-
the fungus has had time to cement the leaf sheaths into an
entirely closed jacket, very little harm is done to it, beyond
the destruction of a few basal leaf sheaths and perhaps the
scarring of one or two of the bottom internodes. Very
rarely, badly attacked shoots recover and make good growth.
above the point of infestation, but such are liable to break
at the base owing to the damage caused to the lower joints,
one or two of which are always shrivelled and blackened.

The disease is due toa fungus present almost universally:
in the soils of the Hawaiian fields and the extent of the
damage due to it depends as already stated largely on condi-
tions that tend to check the growth of the cane. Thus the
harm inflicted varies in a manner very similar to that caused
by the root disease due to Marasmius sacchari in these
islands, and the lines of treatment of the two are also similar,
as will appear below. Part of the damage actually caused.
by iliau in preventing the formation of a good stand by the
destruction of secondary shoots was formerly attributed te
the Ithyphallus said*to cause root disease in Hawaii (see.
Agricultural News, Vols, VIII, p. 315; IX, 159).

THE CAUSATIVE FUNGUS. In one stage, this is an
undescribed species of Melanconium very similar in certain
of its gross characters to Melanconium sacchari, but differing
materially in the size and shape of its spores and in other
characters. Moreover its complete or ascus-bearing fructifica-.
tions have been found on the outermost leaf sheaths of dead
or very badly diseased canes. These belong to the genus
Gnomonia, and as the species is undescribed it has beer
called Gnomonia iliau.

The fungus produces a white cottony mycelium, which
under suitable conditions of cultivation gives rise to cups im
which are formed spherical black masses of Melanconium spores.
These spores are dark-coloured under the microscope and are
filled with dense granules; usually, they are one-celled but occa-
sionally they may be divided into two by a cross wall. In
nature they are formed between the leaf sheaths of the
cane or on the stem itself, where it is enveloped by
leaf sheaths, but not on the outside of the sheaths.
They are thus rarely disseminated by wind, but are more
usually liberated and dispersed by water, since when the
compact mass of leaves is wetted, the individual sheaths fal}
apart and the spores are set free. This usually occurs im
the field when the diseased or dead stems are lying on or im
the soil. Another fact which suggests that the spores are
usually water-borne is that they will not germinate readily
in water. The Melanconium spores. and the mycelium om
the leaf sheaths are, therefore, probably the means by which
infection usually occurs, since it commences below the surface
of the soil. The spores of the Gnomonia stage, however,
being produced on the outside of the sheaths, are probably.
wind-borne, and serve to extend the area of the disease.

REMEDIAL MEASURES. The most perfect means of control
would be to obtain an entirely resistant variety oi cane; such
is, however, not yet known. The standard Hawaiian canes-
appear to be all equally susceptible, but the Demerara
seedlings grown there have proved partly resistant.

The only measures at present known for controlling
iliau are preventive. Since the Melanconium spores and the
mycelium are rapidly killed by sunlight, good preparatory
cultivation, resulting in a frequent stirring of the soil and the
exposure of much of the spores and mycelium, is beneficial im

Vor. XI, No. 275.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

367

-checking the disease; while it also encourages the growth of
‘the cane and enables it to outgrow the fungus. Early
planting is another useful measure, as it enables the cane to
make a vigorous growth before tle cold, damp weather sets
in, and thus to form shoots too tall to be badly camaged by
the fungus when it begins to develop. It is also stated
that the recovery of the cane after an epidemic will be
assisted by the 1emoval and burning’ of dead and dying
shoots, through affording the new and healthy shoots more
light andair. Finally the soil should be well worked-over after
the removal of the crop, to ensure the destruction of the large
number of Melanconium spores formed or. those parts of the
cane stools below the surface of the soil.

THE WEST INDIES AND THE CANADIAN
NATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1912.

A letter received from Messrs. Pickford and Black states
that the West Indian exhibit at the recent Canadian National
Exhibition held at Toronto occupied a floor space of 3,200
square feet and attracted a very great amount of attention.
Most of this space—nearly three quarters of it—was occu-
pied by exhibits from Jamaica, so that the area used for the
Windward and Leeward Islands was small in comparison.
A united exhibit from the West Indies was not shown, on
account of the circumstance that the material sent from
Dominica and Montserrat was not placed in the space
mentioned above, but in the Horticultural Building. The
Jarger exhibit from the West Indies was visited by His Royal
Highness The Duke of Connaught, who expressed himself as
astonished at the variety of what was to be seen.

It is stated by Messrs. Pickford and Black that
a permanent space of 5,000 feet has been allotted for
exhibits from the West Indies. This is situated in the new
Government Building, which is the first building inside the
main entrance of the exhibition grounds. The possession of
this, by continued and efticient representation at the exhibi-
tion, is a matter of importance for the West Indies. It
may be said in passing that Messrs. Pickford and Black
speak highly of the material sent on this occasion from
Jamaica.

Mr. Lewis W. Clemens, President of the Canadian
Travel Club, writes to emphasize the importance of continuous
and united representation of the West Indies at the Exhibition,
and in so coing gives evidence of appreciation on many sides,
of the last West Indian exhibits.

The Toronto Glove refers to the exhibits from the West
Indies in the north wing of the Government Building, under
the charge of Mr. C. 8. Pickford, of Halifax, and Mr. E. J.
Wortley of Jamaica, as a unique display. The efforts of
Jamaica to attract tourists from Canada, and of the
St. Vincent Arrowroot Growers’ and Exporters’ Association
to increase the interest in their product, in that country,
seem to have drawn some of the greatest attention. The
useful and attractive nature of the Jamaica exhibits is also
attested in an article in the Toronto Daily Star. Similar
-appreciation is expressed in the Toronto Mail and Empire.

Suggestions useful in the West Indies for further work
iin connexion with such exhibitions are given in the Canada
West India Magazine for September 1912. They amount to
the following: (1) continuous representation of the different
parts of the West Indies and of British Guiana, year by year;
42) the employment of the most modern methods of display;
and (3) the use of enlarged photographs, such enlargements
“heing easily obtainable in Canada, if not in the West Indies,

Another article in that periodical describes the display of the
exhibits from Dominica and Montserrat, which was in the
charge of the Canadian West Indian League; and this
appears to have been particularly effective. A feature worthy
of imitation in connexion with this was the sending of invi-
tations to visit the booth, to leading merchants and prom-
inent private citizens.

COTTON AND TOBACCO IN NYASALAND.

In spite of the exceedingly unfavourable climatic con-
ditions of the year for cotton, the value of produce exported
shows an increase of 2°35 per cent. on last year’s figures; this
increase (which bears no comparison with the largely increased
area under cultivation) was due to the comparative success
of tobacco, which thanks to the unusually cold and wet
weather prevailing from April to August, could be planted
up much later than usual and gave large crops, though the
quality suffered.

Four thousand five hundred and seven acres were
planted with tobacco, as compared with 3,274 acres in
1910-11. Two million one hundred and forty-six thousand
six hundred and fifteen pounds of cured tobacco were
exported, an increase of 441,978 tb. over the preceding year’s
figures; the increase in the local value of the total crop was
£11,062 18s. 3d.

Off 23,332 acres under cultivation on Europeans?
estates, cotton toa value of £44,098 11s. 6d. only was pro-
duced as against £58,687 5s. 10d. off 12,752 acres in the
preceding year. Considering the adverse conditions indi-
cated by these figures it is extremely satisfactory to note an
increase of 408 bales in the native cotton crop.

The export of native-grown cotton has increased from
196 bales containing 400 tb. lint each in 1908-9 to 1,454
such bales in 1911-12.

The prospects for the 1912 harvest are good for cotton
and poor for tobacco, and it is unfortunate that the past
year’s experience has led to a decrease of the acreage under
the former crop and a corresponding increase under the
latter. The two crops are admirably calculated to balance
each other, the one being as much benefited by an excessive
rain as the other is injured by it, while a normal year should
produce good crops from both. © Tobacco needs less labour
than cotton and is of the two perhaps the crop less liable to
complete failure, and itis possible that it will ultimately take
first place as the European’s standard crop in this country.
Among natives, on the other hand, the cotton industry is
every year obtaining a firmer hold and nothing but
a very heavy fall in the price of cotton is now likely
seriously to cheek it. The product is suited as few
others could be to the native’s present stage of develop-
ment, and though he has yet much to learn as to its
cultivation and grading, he can produce an excellent quality
of cotton in quantities which pay him well. The system of
cotton markets now being instituted by the Government in
the principal native cotton districts will promote competition
and secure for the native the best prices for his produce; it ig
hoped that the more marked correspondence of price to
quality which is bound to follow competitive buying in open.
markets will teach the native to pay more attention ta
grading his cotton—work which at present has to be done at
the ginneries at greater expense, and, probably, less thorough-
ly than the native producer himself could do it. (From
Colonial Reports—Annual, No, 732; October 1912.)

368

London.—T#E

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

MARKET REPORTS.

West

October 22, 1912.

Inp1a CommitTrEE CIRCULAR,

ARrRowRooT—3id. to 4id.

Batata—Sheet, 3/3 ; block, 2/2 per fb.

Brrswax—No quotations.

Oacao—Trinidad, 72/- to 82/- per cwt.; Grenada, 57/-
to 65/-; Jamaica, no quotations.

CorrrE—Jamaica, No quotations.

Copra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Oorron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 17d. to 18d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—(Quiet.

IstncLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotations.

Lime Juice—Raw, 9d. to 1/; concentrated, £18 15s. to
£19; otto of limes (hand-pressed), 7/6 to 7/9.

Loewoop—No quotations,

Macre—2/- to 2/6.

Nurmrcs—8d. to 10d.

Pimento—No quotations.

Ruzpper—Para, fine hard, 4/7; fine soft, 4/5; Castilloa,
4/ per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 15/9 to 20/6; Muscovado, no quotations;
Syrup, 11/6 to- 12/3; Molasses, no quotations,

New York,—Messrs. Gittespiz Bros. & Co., October

18, 1912.

Oacao—Caracas, 15jc. to 15$c.; Grenada, 14jc. to 143c.
Trinidad, 15c. to 15je. per tbh.; Jamaica, 1l4c. to 12%c.

Gooo-nuts—Jamaica, select, $38°00 to $39°00; culls,
$22:00 to $23°00; Trinidad, select, $38°00 to $39-00;
culls, $22 to $25 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 15éc. to 17}c. per tb.

GineER—8#c. to 12ic. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 46c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c.
per tb.

Grape Fruit—Jamaica, no quotations.

Limes—$4°50 to $5:00,

Mace—i0c. to 57c. per tb.

Nourmrcs—110’s, 15jc.

OrancEs—Jamaica, no quotations.

Pimento—4jc. per ib.

Suaar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4:1lc. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°61c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°36c. per fb., all duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., October 28,

1912,

Oacao—Venezuelan, $15°50 per fanega; Trinldad, $14°75
to $1550,

Coco-nutT O11—99c. per Iniperial gallon. ,

Oorrrr—Venezuelan, léc. to 164c. per tb.

Corra—$4°65 per 100 tb.

Daat—$4°50.

Ontons—$1°75 to $3:00 per 100 tb.

Pras, Sprir—$5‘50 per bag.

Poratrors—English, $1°75 to $2:00 per 100 tb.

Rice—Yellow, $4°80; White, $6°25 to $6°35 per bag.

Suear—American crushed, no quotations.

Novemeer 9,

1913,

_Barbados,—Messrs. James A. Lyncw & Co., Ltd.,
November 2,1912; Messrs. T.S. Garraway & Co.
November 4, 1912.

Arrownkoor — $7°50 to $8-75 per 100 bt.
Cacao—$13'00 to $14:00 per 100 fr.

Coco-Nuts—$20'00.
Hay—$1°60 to $1°80

per 100 tb.

Manures—Nitrate of soda, $65°00; Cacao manure, $4500
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 to $85:00

per ton.

Motasses—No ouotations.
Ontons—$2°20 to $400 per 100 th.
Pxas, Sprit—$6'50 per bag of 210 tb.; Canada, $3-00 to
$4°9U per bag of 120 Tb.
Porators—Nova Scotia, $3°50 to $3°75 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $520 per 190 tb.; Patna, no quotationss.
Rangoon, no quotations.
Suear—American granulated, $5:00 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wietine & Ricntur, October
26, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacH, Parker & Co.,
October 25, 1912.

ARTICLES.

ARRowkOoT—St. Vincent

Batata—Venezuelablock
Demerara sheet

Cacao—Native

Cassava—

Oassava STARCH—

Coco-nuTs—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DHaL—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneritfe

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Porators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Potators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Sucar—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimspeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles
Cordwood

”

Messrs. WIETING
& RicHTer.

No quotation
70c. per fb.
l7c. per th.

$100.
$750 to $8-00

$16 to $20 per M.

20c. per th.
20c. per tb.
lfc. per tb.
$450 to $4°60 per
bag of 168 tb.
$5°25
60c. to 80c.
None

5c. per th.
$6°25 to $7°00 per
bag (210 tb.)

16c. to 48c.

$200 to $2°25
$2°64
per bag
No quotation
5-00 to $5°25
$168
$2 64
$240
$3°15 to $3°20
$4°00
$2°80
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$4°00 to $6°25
per M.
$1°80 to 22:00
per ton

Messrs. Sanp-
BACH, PARKER
Co.

Prohibited

18¢. per tb,
No quotation
No quotation

$10 to $16 perM.,
peeled and
selected
20c. per th.
203c. per th.
dc. per ih.
$4°80

$ 5c,

7°50 per bag
(210 tb.)

No quotation

No quotation

$500 to $5-25
$3-20
$400 to $4-25

32c. to 55¢. per-
cub. foot
$4:00 to $6-00
per M.
No quotation.

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, X, and XI:—Price 2s. each ; Post free 2s. 8d, where complete. (III, 2;
IV, 3; and V, 2 and 3eare out of print.)

Volume XII. Nos. 1 and 2, No. 3:—Cacao: Methods of Spraying Cacao; Fungus Diseases of Cacao; Cacao Canker;
A Possible Inference to be Drawn from the Studies on Cacao Canker; Insect Pests of Cacao; Manurial
Experiments on Cacao in Trinidad; A Description of the Barnard Cacao Polisher; The Structure and Polli-
nation of the Cacao Flower. SuGar: Manurial Experiments in Sugar-cane in Trinidad and Tobago;
A Comparison of Some Seedling Sugar canes with the Bourbon variety in Barbados; Bourbon and
Seedling Canes; The Application of Mendelian Principles to Sugarcane Breeding; The Study of Sugar-
canes with a View to their Classification; A Quick Method for Estimating Moisture in Megass; The
Sugar Industry in Antigua and St. Kitts-Nevis; and The Determination of the Water Content of Molasses.

PAMPHLET SERIES
The Pamphlets are written in a simple and popular manner and the tnivrmeation contained in them is especially
adapted to West Indian conditions. They contain, amongst other subjects, su:umaries 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 seventy. 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.
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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.
in 1903-7, 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, price 6d. (35) Information in regard to Agricultural Banks. Price 5d.
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in 1902-3, No. 27, price 2d.; in 1903-4, No. 33, price 4d.; (41) Tobago, Hints to Settlers. Price 6d.
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in 1908-9, No. 63, price 6d.; in 1909-10, No. 67, 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.; (54) Fungus Diseases of Cacao and Sanitation of Cacao Orchards.

in 1904-5, No. 42, price 4d.; in 1905-6, No. 47, price 4d.; Price 4d.

in 1906-7, No. 51, price 4d.; in 1907-8, No. 57, price 4d.; | (55) Millions and Mosquitos. Price 3d.
in 1908-9, No. 64, price 4d.; in 1909-10, No. 68, price 4d. (58) Insect Pests of Cacao. Price 4d.

GENERAL. (60) Cotton Gins, How to Erect and Work Them. Price 4d.
(7) and 22 Scale Insects of the Lesser Antilles, Part [. price (61) The Grafting of Cacao. Price 4d.
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(71) Insect Pests of the Lesser Antilles. Price 1s. 3d.

The above will be supplied post free for an additional charge of 4d. for the pamphlets marked 2¢., 1d. for those

marked 4d., and 13d. for Nos. 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 59, 62, 63, 67, 69 and 70. Postage for No. 71, 4d.
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. per annum. Volumes IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and [X complete, with title page and index, asissued
—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 Agents, not to the Department. :
ome
Agents.

The following have been avpurnted Agents fer the sale of the publications of the Department :—
London: Messrs. Dutau « Co.. 37. Soho Square, W. St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Moseuey, Agricultural School.
Barbados : Messrs. BowEn & Sons, Bridgetown. St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station,
Jamaica: THe Epucationa, Supery Company, 16. King Dominica: Mr. J. R. H. BripcewaTeR, Rosean,

Street. Kingston. ca ' Vontserrat : Mr. W. Roxson, Botanic Station.
British Guana: Tae ‘DatLy CHRONICLE OFFICE.Georgetown. dniagua: Mr. S. D. Matonz, St. John’s.
Trinidad : Messrs. Muir-Marsaatt & Co., Port-of-Spain. St. Kitts: Toe Brsiue aNp Book Suppty AGEncy, Basseterre,
Tobago: Mr. C. L. PLracemann, Scarborough. JTevis : Messrs. HowEtt, Bros., Charlestown,

Grenada: ‘Tue Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

Vou. XI. No. 275 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. NovemsBer 9, 1912.

THE BEST MANURES FOR COLONIAL USE

oo ARO ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use
Ohiendorff’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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR DIRECT TO:—
THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

London Agency: Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.
Barbados Agents : James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

COTTON SEED MEAL! USP 1SSUBD
COTTON SEED MEAL!!! WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR MANURIAL (Vol. XII No. 4.)
PURPOSES. —
Can be obtained froim:— Containing Papers on PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS, COCOA-
: NUT, LIME AND FRUIT, AND RICE INDUSTRIES, prepared for the
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE |recent Agricultural Conference, comprising: The Use of
COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED, | Entomogenous Fungi on Scale Insects in Barbadcs; Further

BRIDGETOWN, Notes en the Fungus Parasites of Scale Insects: Keport on
|the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases in the West
| Indies, for 1910 and 1911; Bud Kot of the Cocoa-nut Palm;
~~ | Cocoanut Palm Insects in Trinidad; Scale Insects and their
Insect Parasites; Some Finit Diseases; Experiment~ in Lime |
| Juice Concentration; Investigations on the Extiaction of
| Lime Juice by Milling; Some Root Diseases of I: manent
| Crops in the West Indies; Notes on Expre-sed and Distilled |
| West Indian Lime Qils; The Lime Industry in Antigua; The’
Acid Content of Ligfe lruits; Observations on the Develop- |
|ment of the West @@dian Lime Fruit; Outline of Manurial
Experiments on C@pa-nuts in Trinidad and Tobago; The |
| Bay Rum and Bay Industries of St Thomas and St. Jan;
|The Classification of sweet Potatoes; Cassava Starch and its!
| Uses; The Water Sugply of Antigua; Does the Sereh Disease |
Exist in the West@Jndies, More Especially in Trinidad?
_A Report on Obser¥@tions on Scale Insects; The Cocoa-nut
Industry in Antiguaj; Manurial Experiments with the Gover-
|nor Banana in Trinklad; Artificial Cross-Fertilization of the |
Mango; and Rice Experiments in British Guiana

anne nr nnn nn nner enn erence nnn renner reer

7

N.B.—Special quotation for large lots.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENT,

*Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Street, B idgetown, Barbados,

aN

\

A

\

aA
fF
Ey

44 —> 7,
IE

Ny was

} Vol. XI. No. 276.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1912.

Se

Ss
L CHARTER, DATED 1839.4

REGULAR SERVICES.

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Argentine Spanish Main Canary lsiands Ports, Ceylon,
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YACHTING CRUISES.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT PESTS

OF THE

LESSER ANTILLES.

BY H. A; BALLOUL MSc.

‘

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEFARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRECULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
lis contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department,
price 1s, 3¢., post free 1s. 7d,

QOITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND TIisFREE

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

442; sMmed

VE SSS 2 plas See x
ee a eee SAN
~ SRA == yay)

= Aha te yy y F
ws : —<i¢

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

Vou. XI. No. 276.

BARBADOS, NOVEMBER 23, 1912.

Prick ld.

CONTENTS.

Pace. Paar.

Lime Cultivation in Marti-
Diq UG sees.) a. OTe

Antigua; A Little-Known
Disin(ehni... <2. ss. 300
Carbolic Acid, Crude, for

Mosquito Larvae ... 376 Market Rept =
Chicle zum ... ... ... 375) Notes and Comments 376
Cotton Notes ona : | Oil and ¢ il Seed Trade of

Mechanical Harvesting of Marackiies ore
Cotton eapetce nes. e& ( : areer - Se nh ae ed
West Indian @oteen-,...974/O0erich Meat as Human
Dominica, Some Interest- | 00d ee ee O07

ing Plants in 372 | Sawdust, Feeding Value of 377

Egyptian Department of
Agriculture, Some
Work of tr

Exhibition, International
Rubber, 1912 ...

Fungus Notes :—

Sugar-cane Diseases in

Silkworm Rearing in Yuca-
tan JiGegeeeess)) soc
Soil Nitrification. Some
Conditions Influencing 3
Sugar Industry:—
Distance of Cane-Plant-

Porto Rico 382| IMG esa aoe (o< 5 370
Gleanings ... ... 389, Sugar in Formosa 371
Timed hlins oa! | West Indian Sugar-canes i

Jumping Beans _ 878)... J2 Queensland 625) eee 371
Protection of Coco-nut | Students Corner SrS8h

Palms from Beetles... 378 | West Indian Products ...

585

Some Conditions Influencing Soil

Nitrification.

4ULL RECOGNITION is now given by the
vr agriculturist to the importance of the causes
KS) that operate in the transformation of the
nitrogen compounds in the soil into forms that can be
taken up directly by green plants. These causes are
concerned intimately with bacterial life; the work is
divided between different kinds of these organisms,
and each kind takes its definite part in the process: the

putrefactive bacteria bring about the formation of

compounds of ammonia from the more complex
nitrogenous substances in the soil, and the subsequent
successive changes into nitrites and nitrates complete
the process that is usually termed nitrification. It is
evident that one of the cares of the agriculturist is to
determine the conditions required for the most
efficient action of this important process, and much
work in this direction has been done in recent years.
It is the present intention to summarize the results
of investigations* of the matter that have been carried
out in some detail in Australia.

The experiments were designed to gain further
information regarding two matters: the influence of
moisture on nitrification in soils, and the influence of
chalk (calcium carbonate) and other substances in the
same way. For the former, two sets of experiments
were devised. In one, the different proportions of water
in the soil were ten to seventy per cent., advancing by
tens, of its total water-holding capacity; in the other,
they were ten, twenty, thirty, fifty, seventy and ninety
per cent. of the same quantity Where the former
proportions were used, the soil, having been treated with
a standard solution of ammonium sulphate and aérated
regularly, was found to show a rate of nitrification that
did not vary to any great extent where the percentages
of water were between forty and seventy; while at ten
per cent. there was practically no nitrification, and at
twenty per cent. it had been greatly reduced. A sandy
soil was used in this case, and in the second set of
experiments to determine the influence of moisture,
the work was conducted with a clay soil as well. Here,
the former results with the sandy soil were confirmed,
and the additional conclusion was reached that when

* The Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Victoria,
Vol. X, 1912, pp. 275 and 393.

370

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. November 23, 1912.

the percentage of water is as much as ninety, there is
little nitrification, probably because of the large occu-
pation of the air spaces of the soil by water. The
greater ability of the clay soil to hold water caused this
to show a smaller range of good nitrification in relation
to the percentages of water present; at the same time
the process took place more actively in the clay than
in the sandy soil.

In the investigation concerning the effect of chalk
and other substances on nitrification, the experiments
were conducted with a sandy soil deficient in lime, in the
same way as those in the trials with varying amounts of
water. It was found that chalk. of all the substances
tried, was favourable to the process to the greatest
extent, and that it exerted its helpful action soonest.
Burnt lime practically caused nitrification to cease; its
harmful effect was greatest where most of it was used.
The process was hastened to a much smaller extent
by gypsum. Magnesium carbonate was similar in its
effects to chalk: while superphosphate of lime and
iron (ferric) chloride were favourable, though the action
of the iron salt: was slow. Starch and sugar caused deni-
trification at first, and nitrification was recommenced
soonest where sugar was present: the action of the
sugar is parallel with that of molasses in soils manured
with sodium nitrate. Common salt and citric acid
proved to be quite inimical to nitrification.

The investigation is of practical value in that it
shows or confirms that: excessive drying or wetting of
soils retards nitrification; the surface cultivation of
fallow land may be all the more valuable in that the
water which it helps to conserve is caused to be
present in amounts favouring nitrification; a growing
crop may reduce the amount of nitrates for the next
crop in two ways: by the simple removal of nitrates in
the produce, and by drying the land to such an extent
that subsequent nitrification is greatly retarded: and
that, where it can be done, a single flooding of fallow
land, when the rainfall is low, may increase usefully the
fertility of the soil.

There are other praciical conclusions also to be
reached, in relation to the treatment or state of the
soil. Calcium carbonate is useful and prompt in its
action, as a soil dressing to promote nitrification: while
burnt lime may be employed for the same purpose but

‘with caution—not near the time of sowing or during
the growing of the crop, and in smaller quantities than
chalk. Magnesium carbonate, gypsum and superphos-
phate of lime are favourable to nitrification; and the
same is true of red and brown soils, on account of she

iron that they contain. Salt is among the substances that
delay nitrification. Lastly, the process is influenced
very unfavourably in sour soils, and the application of
undried green dressings, or of fresh stable manure to
wet soils may be expected to reduce for a time the
amount of nitrates present.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

DISTANCE OF CANE-PLANTING.

The following is taken from the Second Annual
Report of the Porto Rico Experiment Station,
1911-12:—

All the plantings were made in furrows, the width
between rows varying as well as the distance between the
seed in the row. The object of the planting was to deter-
mine the proper distance between rows, between seed in the
row, and to determine the value of group planting, as against
continuous planting. Each plot is approximately }-acre.

It is seen from the above table [not reproduced] that
the cane in the close planting contained less sugar than that
from wide planting and that the cane was less mature,
nevertheless there is a v2ry great difference in final results in
favour of the close planting. In fact there is but one case in
which there was no increase in yield from close planting,
and this in a total of seventeen experiments. The soil
where the 4-foot rows are planted was apparently in better
physical condition than that where the 6-foot rows were
planted, and this may account for a part of the difference in
yield; nevertheless after taking this into account there is
a marked difference in favour of close planting.

A great many observations have been made, not only at
this Station, but also in plantations where experiments were
made in distance planting, of the apparent rate of growth of
cane, and almost without exception cane planted close grows
faster and develops faster than where planted wide apart. At
three months from planting there is generally a difference of
1 or 2 feet in the height of the cane, and the close planting
seems greener and more thrifty. This is contrary to the
usual opinion among Porto Ricans. They are inclined to
the opinion that where cane is planted very wide the indi-
vidual stalks will develop faster and stronger than the
thickly planted cane, and owing to the fact that the indi-
vidual canes have more room for root and leaf development,
The true explanation of the observed fact seems to be that
where there is a heavy stand of young cane it forms a pro-
tection against the wind, against the cold, and against the
trying effects of the sun. An added advantage is that the
cane soon covers and shades the ground, preventing the
evaporation of moisture, and the development of weeds and
grasses. Cultivation, therefore, becomes much less expensive,

These results and observations are quite in accord with
those of other cane-growing countries. In Hawaii rows are
usually placed 5 feet apart and the cane planted continuous
in the furrow.

In Louisiana Dr. W. C. Stubbs made experiments
similar to those enumerated above and gives his conclusions
in Bulletin No. 14, Second Series. He says (p. 365): ‘The
above shows conclusively that there is nothing gained on the

Vou. XI. No. 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 371

tonnage or sugar content by very wide rows and suggests the
propriety of narrowing them to a distance that will permit
of the best cultivation. It may be added that the narrow
rows, by the increased amount of foliage, were, we believe,
better protected from cold. They were necessarily culti-
vated very little.’

These experiments were repeated for several years and
finally in 1894 Dr. Stubbs says: ‘So strong have been the
teachings of these experiments, that the station has begun
the practice of narrowing all the rows of cane, and is giving
the minimum width which will permit of easy culture with
two-horse cultivators and ploughs. This width has been
found to be about 5 feet.’

Boname says that the width between rows in Guade-
loupe varies from 4} to 5 feet (see Revista Industrial y Agri-
cola de Tucuman, July 1911, p. 73).

At the Porto Rico Experiment Station of the United
States Government, at Mayaguez, Dr. May reports in Bulletin
No, 9 the results of experiments in distance planting.

The conclusion arrived at from the experiments was:
‘that in every instance the narrow planting gave the largest
yield not only for the plant cane, but for the ratoons.’

In Cuba it is well known that cane is planted at much
greater distance than in Porto Rico, and some years ago wide
planting was advocated and adopted by many. In 1904 the
Cuban Station began some experiments to determine this
question. The experiments were made on poor land and the
results in favour of close planting were undoubtedly more
pronounced than would have been the case had the soil been
rich, The results are summed up in the Segundo Informe in
1909 as follows: ‘The experiments heretofore described have
proved that in the soils of this Station wide distance planting
is not remunerative. In fact from personal observations of
the writer he is persuaded that in general cane is planted too
wide in Cuba. In the case of virgin or very rich soils where
cane will ratoon many years it is possible that there would be
little difference in the final results whether one planted close
or wide, since in a few years the cane would fill up the spaces
between the rows, but in those fields where the cane is
planted every few years the distance between rows should be
short in order to obtain a large number of canes the first year.
The reason why a field of wide planting does not yield so
large a crop the first year as one of close planting, is that
the former does not yield a sufficient number of canes the
first year. This is apart from the fact that both cultivation
and conservation of moisture demand close planting in poor
soils,’

SUGAR IN FORMOSA, 1911.

The following information regarding sugar (which
is the chief product of the island) in Formosa is taken
from Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4996
Annual Series, issued in September last:—

The quantity of sugar manufactured ir the season 1911,
that is, from November 1910 to October 1911, was close
on 269,048 tons, or considerably in excess of the estimated
production of 244,048 tons to 255,952 tons. The weights
of the various kinds were as follows: centrifugal,.192,501 tons;
brown, 76,273 tons; black, 214 tons.

While centrifugal sugar was well up to the estimate of
184,524 to 196,429 tons, the production of brown greatly
exceeded the estimate of only 59,524 tons; of the total pro-

duction of centrifugal, 98,153 tons were used for refining in
Japan, leaving a balance of 94,347 tons for local consump-
tion and export.

The total quantity exported during the year 1911
(January to December) to Japan and abroad was 242,800 tons,
an increase of over 50,000 tons on the export of 1910.

The present estimate of the Sugar Bureau for 1912 of
the Formosan Government is: centrifugal, 150,300 tons;
brown 24,950 tons.

This estimate may be taken as representing fairly
correctly the actual output, as the crushing must now have
been completed.

About 8,929 tons of browns will remain in France for
direct consumption.

Some 15,800 tons have been exported, including ship-
ments to Vancouver, Liverpool, Calcutta and Bombay.

At the close of the year 1911 there were seventeen compan-
ies owning thirty-two modern style mills with a total crushing
capacity of 24,450 tons of cane per day. Of these mills,
eleven with a total crushing power of 7,200 tons commenced
working in the 1912 season, The total paid-up capital of
these companies was £4,083,000 with power to increase
it to £8,575,000.

WEST INDIAN SUGAR-CANES IN
QUEENSLAND.

Near the commencement of the Annual Report of the
Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, Queensland, 1911, work
is described in a first ratoon experiment with six Queensland
eanes, Mauritius Malagache and B.147; it is stated in this
that B.147 gave the best results in the series: it proved to be
a promising variety, and remained healthy.

Tables follow, giving analyses of the juice and of the
canes at different periods of their growth; in the final exami-
nation, after the canes had been growing twelve months B.147
gave: sucrose in juice 20-01, glucose in juice 0°41, purity 93:5.
The best crop results were shown by this cane which gave
46°2 tons of canes per acre, for the crop of 1911. In the
crops 1910-11 this cane was only inferior, among those tried,
to Mauritius Malagache, giving in the plant crop 51:0 tons
of cane per acre, and in the first ratoon crop 46°2 tons, mak-
ing a total of 97:2 tons per acre for the two crops. The
similar figures for the Mauritius Malagache were 69:2, 42:0
and 111:2.

A succeeding portion of the report deals with experi-
ments with miscellaneous canes, stating that B.208 had been
reintroduced for trial. A plot of D.1135 was planted as
a control, and the treatment of this will be brought into line
with that of the other canes. A preliminary analysis of the
miscellaneous canes, conducted in August 1911, showed that
B.208 occupied the first position, after seventeen months’
growth, with the following: sucrose in juice 20°53, glucose in
juice 0°31, and purity 97-2.

_ In a list of canes introduced at the Mackay Sugar
Experiment Station since its inception, T.60 is mentioned as
having been retained for experiment, while T.83, T.202 and
T.205 have been discarded . Further, B.208 was discarded,
but has been reintroduced from Herbert River and is again
under examination, as has been indicated. When a cane is
discarded it means that it has been ploughed out because
of disease, or because of its worthlessness under the condi-
tions as a cane or sugar producer. ;

Finally, a table giving a list of canes at present under
examination includes B.147, B.208 and D.1135—matters that
may have been concluded from what has been said above.

72 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NoveMBeER 23, 1912.

VTA
Z\\\

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

LIME CULTIVATION IN MARTINIQUE.

Page 196 of the last volume of the Ayricultural Vews
contained information regarding lime cultivation in
Martinique, and an opportunity to add to this has arisen
through the publication, in answer to an enquiry: of a letter
from the President of the Chamber of Commerce of that
island, in L’Lxpansion Coloniale for October 1912.

The letter states that the cultivation of the lime in
Martinique is little developed, so far, although numerous
plants exist in the Colony. It may be asserted that there is
no small holding in the country districts that does not
possess one or more plants near the house, and the total crop
from these might be reckoned at over 3,000,000 ib., having
a value of a figure approaching £25,000. Actually, some of
these fruits are used for household consumption, and the rest
have been lost so far.

The Chamber of Commerce has paid attention to
the possibility of recovering part of the wasted fruit, but
success in this direction is not expected. The idea has been
useful, however, in that the owner of a recently planted lime
cultivation proposes to buy fruit from this source until his
own trees are in bearing. This planter intends to manu-
facture citrate of lime.

It is thought that this good beginning will certainly
draw attention in Martinique to the profits that may be made
out of the lime, and there exists the probability that the
example will be followed and that small citrate factories will
be established in different parts of the island.

As is indicated above, however, the actual value of the
production is small, but it is hoped that the situation will
change. It was pointed out in the article mentioned, in the
Agricultural News, that trials of lime cultivation have been
made during the past two or three years, and the latter states
that in this time several proprietors have commenced lime-
growing on areas estimated at about 250 acres.

The letter concludes by prophesying an extension of the
cultivation in Martinique, in one case under the auspices of
a French company, provided that the present prices for lime
products are maintained; and points out that areas of land
exist in the island that are specially suitable for the growing
of limes.

SOME INTWRESTING PLANTS IN
DOMINICA.

The following notes on three interesting plants
growing in the Dominica Botanic gardens have been
sent by Mr. J. Jones, the Curator:—

RAPHIA VINIFERA. In September 1893, the Domini-
ca Botanic Gardens: received from the Director, Royal
Gardens, Kew, 200 seeds of Raphia vinifera, the Wine Palm
of Lagos. A considerable number of plants was raised and
distributed, and an ayenue was formed in the Botanic Gardens
of plants of this species. During the course of years. these
have developed into medium-sized palms, having leaves of
from 6 to 8 feet or more in length with spiny leaflets, The
largest specimens haye recently fruited. Their large spadices

with imbricated shining fruits have attracted a good deal of
attention.

Raphia vinifera, also known as the Bamboo Palm, is
very common on thelow lying lands of Lagos. The stem,
leaves and fruit are used for many purposes by the natives of
that region, and it is also the source of African bass fibre.

COLVILLEA RACEMOSA. . This plant, which is an interest-
ing ornamental ‘tree of Madagascar, is now in flower in the
Dominica Botanic Gardens for the first time. It belongs to
the Natural Order Leguminosae and its genus is nearly related
to the genus Caesalpinia. The Z’reaswry of Botany records:
‘C. racemosa is a beautiful tree which attains a height of 40
or 50 feet and is furnished with elegant fern-like leaves. The
beautiful scarlet flowers are in dense racemes which arise
from the axils of the upper leaves, and are either simple or
branched, and about a foot and a half in length. The pod is
straight, about 6 inches long, containing a number of seeds,
The genus bears the name of Sir Charles Colville, once
Governor of the Mauritius.’

MELOCANNA BAMBUSOIDES The Superintendent of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, recently presented to the
Dominica Botanic Gardens five seeds of Melocanna ham/u-
soides, of which two germinated and are growing well.

In the Dictiongry.of the Economic Products of India
this species is described as: ‘a tall bamboo with stem from
50 to 70 feet long and from 12 to 13 inches in girth. It is
the common gregarious bamboo of the Chittagong hills. The
fruit is large, pear-shaped, 3 to 5 inches long and edible.’

Vor. XI. No. 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 373

It is further stated that the wood is of good quality,
durable and largely used for house-building, mat-making, etc.

It would be interesting to learn if this is the first intro-
duction of the species into the West Indies, or whether it is
already established in the older Botanic Gardens existing in
Trinidad, Jamaica and British Guiana,

OIL AND OIL SEED TRADE OF
MARSEILLES, 1911.

The Consul-General in his report -on the Trade of the
Consular District of Marseilles, states that during the year
1911 Marseilles maintained its position as a great producing
centre of seed oils.

OILS AND OIL SEEDS. The total imports of oil seeds
during 1911 amounted to 643,634 tons, as against 665,680
tons in 1910, 596,156 tons in 1909 and 465,849 tons in
1908, and were composed as follows:—

Ground nuts:— Tons.
Shelled 200,000
Unshelled 140,000

Copra 173,000

Sesame 80,000

Except for a diminution of 10,000 tons in sesame, these
amounts are much the same as in 1910.

Conditions were on the whole favourable to the oil-seed
crushing industry. Sesame and ground nut oils and oil cake
sold well during the year, while there: was an increased
demand for concrete (copra and coco-nut butter) oils owing
to the continued high price of lard.

Another large copra-crushing concern is setting up
a plant for the refining of coco-nut oil, which will bring the
number of important manufacturers up to four, besides other
smaller concerns. This product seems to find more and more
favour with the French public, and the exports from Marseilles
to the United Kingdom and the North of Europe, as well as to
Egypt and the Levant, are very considerable—275,000 tons.
The quantity of oil produced seems to have sufficed for
local consumption, for imports of cotton-seed oil fell off
still further and were comparatively insignificant, amounting
only to 4,750 tons of American and 1,330 tons of British oil,
all for edible purposes. A noticeable feature of the Mar-
seilles oil trade is the increase in the use of refined low-
grade ground nut oil, formerly used 7 for soap-making
without any refining.

These oils undergo two processes af tet the crushing of the
seed. The low grade of oil extracted from decorticated
ground nuts is first of all neutralized, i.e., the free fatty acids
are eliminated and then the neutralized oil i is deodorised and
a quite palatable oil obtained. The residue of fatty acids
from the neutralizing process is used for soap-making. Prob-
ably some 30,000 tons of soap-making ground nut oil was
diverted from the soap kettles and neutralized during 1911.

Cotton seed oil seems no longer to play a part in the
Marseilles market. The increase in the duty, dating back to
the beginning of 1910, together with the ever increasing
world’s consumption of cotton seed oil and the enormous
quantities of other oil seeds available for producing similar
oils, would seem to have almost entirely eliminated cotton oil
from the Marseilles market. The protective duty on the oil

has, it is true, encouraged French crushers to develop more .

fully the crushing of cotton seed, but owing to the greater

facilities found in the North of Europe for the disposal of the
cake which forms a large percentage of the products obtained
(85 per cent. cake and 15 per cent. oil), it is the northern
crushers who have profited most by the new conditions; very
little cotton seed oil is being crushed in Marseilles,

The northern crushers at times are able to sell small
quantities of their oil in Marseilles and in the South of
France. The quality is fairly good.

The prospects for 1912 are less favourable. From
China it has been difficult to procure supplies of sesame
and ground nuts, as owing to the disturbed conditions
prevailing, shippers have exercised great caution in their
dealings with native firms. In India, especially in the
Bombay Province, the harvests have been poor. For these
reasons the price of oil seeds has risen so high that little
profit can be made out of then.

This shortage has stimulated the demand for unshelied
ground nuts, and in view of this it is fortunate that there is
promise of an excellent crop from the Madras Province,
where the area under cultivation has been largely increased
in recent years. It is estimated that probably about 175,090
tons of decorticated ground nuts will be received here during
the year.

From West Africa the reports are so far satisfactory,
and the yield of crops and the exports will probably be about
the same as last year. Unfortunately, speculations early in
the year (1912) caused a sharp rise in price, which may
hamper the oil industry to a certain extent.

OIL CAKe. The production of oil cake was about the
same as in 1910 (312,000 tons as against 317,000 tons).

The following table shows the amounts of the different
kinds of oil cake, together with their prices: —

Quantity, Prices per cwt.
tons. a dt Bievds
White Levant sesame 5,000 meats arehe Sef SalS
Indian sesame 45,000 4.3 By) as
Shelled ground nuts 120,000 411 Tignes:
Unshelled ground nuts 56,000 5s 710
Linseed 6,000 7 10 8 0
Egyptian cotton seed 8,000 5 4 Gl
Castor oil 9,800 1 Laie 4 1
Copra 64,000 4.93 feel
Palm oil 1,200 5 0 5 8
IMPORTS OF OIL SEEDS
For the First Five Months of 1912.
Total
Articles. From From From West (from all
India, ~ China, Africa, _ parts),
Ground nuts:— tons. tons. tons. tons.
Shelled 171,274 8,912 893 181,079
Unshelled 6,128 190 76,508 86,086
Sesame 12,423 160 1,534 14,259
Linseed 5,630 — — 7,210
Colza 1,205 _ -- 1,205
Castor oil seeds 8,061 — — 8,770
Copra, mowra, etc. _ —_ — 71,694
Total — = — 379,303

During the same period the total amount of oils of all
kinds exported from Marseilles amounted to a little over
34,000 tons. (From the Monthly Magazine, Incorporated
Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, October 1912.)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

NoveEMBER 23, 1912.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date November 4, with reference
to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report about 200 bales of West Indian
Sea Island cotton have been sold, chiefly composed of the
lower qualities 12d. 10 14d., but also including a few extra
fine lots at 18d. to 20d. The medium qualities are neglected.

We are hoping for an improved demand in lace yarns,
and if this occurs we hope that Sea Island cotton will be
more readily absorbed that has been the case during the past
twelve months.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
‘Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending November 2, is as follows:—

The market opened quiet with moderate demand, result-
ing in sales of 40 bales of the odd bags, from Fine to Extra
Fine, on a basis of our quotations and the crop lot 15 bales
Special at 30c. The buying of the odd bags was on account
of the northern mills, and the crop lot was for export. After
the close of this report there developed a good demand for
nearly all the offerings of odd bags off in preparation, result-
ing in the following sales, viz :—

50 bales Extra Fine offin preparation, at 26c.
PHS) Fully Fine’ ,, ;, 5 eee:
UDOT we Fine sylcne 5 yy eR

This buying is presumed to be principally on speculation
account, the firmness of the Savannah market with limited
offerings and the advance paid in that market, it is thought
influenced the party to make the above purchase.

We quote, viz.:—

Extra Fine 29e. = Leda: c.i.f., & 5 per cent,
Fully Fine 27sec. = Lote Lise Oeaaleee
Fine 26c. = 1434, OA tte Ride Say

At a special meeting of the Executive Committee of the
British Cotton Growing Association, held on October 28 after
a visit of inspection to the Manchester Docks, the new
General Manager of the Uganda Government Railway, whom
the Committee had been asked to meet, referred to the very
great increase of traffic that is taking place on that railway
(largely because of cotton cultivation), and to the necessity for
the provision for further expansion,

THE MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF
COTTON.

It has been considered in the past, in connexion with
the mechanical harvesting of different plant products, that
where the whole of the crop cannot be cut in the same way,
as in the case of sugarcane, or where only certain parts of
the plant are removed, as for cotton, any machine designed
for the purpose cannot be entirely automatic, but must be
under control of a human brain which directs and modifies
its operations when necessary. Agreement with this opinion
has been expressed from time to time in the Jowrnaé
@ Agriculture Tropicale, but a later article in the issue of
that journal for March 1912 indicates that it seems that this
opinion will no longer be able to be held in its entirety,
mainly owing to the success of a machine for the purely
mechanical harvesting of cotton, that is known under the
name of the Campbell machine.

Although this and similar machines cannot be used for
harvesting Sea Island cotton, even probably from those
varieties in which the lint protrudes from the boll to a greater
extent than is usual, it will be well to give attention to some
ot the facts that are brought forward concerning the
Campbell machine, in the article just mentioned.

As in the J-owry machine which was described in the
Journal d Agriculture Tropicale in 1906 (No. 60, p. 163),
in the Campbell apparatus preference is given to collecting
claws, over the pneumatic aspirators of some other machines;
but while the former machine was semi-automatic, the collect-
ing arms being directed by human agency, the Campbell
apparatus carries the claws on vertical drums which surround
the part from which the crop is to be momentarily collected
and travel lightly through the plants. The general appear-
ance of the machine is simple: it is a structure supported
on four wheels, and having a petrol engine of 30 h.p. above
it, which drives at the same time the hind wheels and the
collecting agencies. Between the front and hind wheels, on
each side of the apparatus, there are the two vertical drums
bearing the claws or collecting teeth. Behind, there are
endless chains, which carry the fibre collected from the ripe
bolls to bags suspended at the back of the machine. The
driver, sitting at the front of the machine, and above it,
steers it by means of a wheel, and has at command at the
same time all the agencies for regulating the motor and the
drums; in this way labour is reduced to a minimum.

The wheels travel between the furrows, and the two
lateral parts of the machine form a kind of bridge which
encloses one row of plants; the drums attack these on the
outside, rolling each plant between them—if such a term
may be employed for an operation which is conducted with
great delicateness and without subjecting the plants to any
more than a grazing action that cannot do them any harm,

Vor. XI, No, 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

ER

It has been said that the drums carry a series of claws or
teeth, which are the true collecting agencies. These teeth are,
more exactly speaking, mounted on vertical cylinders
themselves fixed to the drums, and this is the matter that
gives its distinctiveness to this ingenious machine. The
drums move at the same speed as the machine, but in the
reverse direction; that is to say, that their surface near the
plants moves from before to behind; consequently in
regard to the plane of travel of the whole apparatus, it may
be considered that one point on this surface is at rest,
while the curvature of the surface of the cylinder causes it to
describe the horizontal movement in a plane perpendicular to
the plane of movement of the machine. It follows from this
that each of the vertical cylinders fixed on the drum, and on
which are placed the claws, can only force these claws into
the plant which is opposite to it; the claws themselves, in the
reversed motion, drag with them the fibre drawn from
the boll. The dragging force and the form of the claws
are calculated and designed in such a way that the
seed-cotton can only be drawn from the ripe bolls; all half-
opened bolls and those not yet ripe allow the claws to pass on
empty, without letting any bit of fibre yield to a drawing
force which is too feeble to overcome its adhesion to the boll.

In the same way the very slow movement of the picking
agencies does not permit them to free themselves from the
fibres which they haye removed from the plant. This removal
is effected by another means, consisting of the endless chains
already mentioned; these are vertical at first, and then
incline towards tubes which carry the fibre to the bags hang-
ing behind. On each cylinder there are fixed 816 claws,
which in action are insinuated gently into the plant, and are
mounted in such a way that no capsule can pass between the
cylinders without coming within the play of the claws.

Practical trials have been made of the apparatus in
Texas under very varying conditions. It travels at a walk-
ing pace, which allows it to cover 4} to 6 acres per day,
collecting 95 per cent. of the ripe cotton: that is to say 550
to 880 Ib. of fibre per hour, depending upon the thickness of
the crop and the maturity of the plant, against 180 to
220 tb. per day, reckoned for hand picking. The cost of
working is about 24s. per day. The value of the machine is
increased by the fact that the collecting~mechanism may be
easily dismounted, and it may then be used in various ways
as a tractor.

Trials have been made in order to ascertain if mechani-
cally collected cotton is in any way inferior to that picked by
hand, when it comes to be worked up commercially. They
have all shown that the advantage is‘ with the machine-
gathered cotton, and microscopical examination of the lint
has demonstrated that the Campbell machines does not leave
any signs of crushing or of breaking of the fibres.

It should be stated in conclusion that any machines of
the kind possess the disadvantage arising from the fact that
in a cotton field the spaces between the rows are largely
occupied by horizontal branches; so that it may be considered
impossible for machines of the kind to move between the
plant without damaging a large number of them, for the
simple reason that each is an apparatus mounted on wheels.

’

‘

Information received from the Agricultural Superinten-
dent, St. Vincent, shows that durivg last season 506,932 bb. of
seed. cotton was purchased at the Government Central Cotton
Ginnery from small growers, the amount being made up of
Sea Island 353,485 tb. and Marie Galante 153,447 h.

CHICLE GUM.

Reference was made at the recent Agricultural Con-
ference to chicle gum, which is used to a large extent in the
United States for making the material known as chewing.
gum. ‘This is extracted from the stem of the sapodilla tree
(Achras Sapota), or from trees closely related to this plant;.
the gum is chiefly obtained from Central America and
Mexico According to an article in the Bulletin Agricole of
Mauritius for June 1912, the stems are bled during the rainy
season, the incision being made in the form of a V around
the tree; where the two oblique lines join, a vessel is
placed to receive the gum. At first the resin is white
in colour, but contact with the air causes it rapidly to
become yellow and. solidify. It is said that trees bled
periodically, with care and moderation, are capable of giving
a yield for twenty-five years.

The article proceeds to show that in 1909 the importa-
tions of chicle into the United States had become 5,450,139 bb.,.
value £412,596.

In making chewing gum, the product is scented with
mint, vanilla and orange. Digestive bodies such as pepsin are
also added.

Up to the present the only trees that have been
exploited are wild, but it is proposed to establish them in
regular cultivation. The wood of the tree is reported to be
useful in cabinet-making.

A Little-known District in Antigua.—Mr. H. A.
Tempany, B.Sc., Superintendent of Agriculture for the
Leeward Islands, has sent an account of a visit paid by him
recently to a district in Antigua lying between Old Road and
Falmouth, the visit having been made as part of a general
inspection of lands that may possibly be useful for coco-nut
growing. As the district is little known, however, the account
possesses features that are of special interest and may merit
short attention here.

The Jand behind the opening called Rendezvous Bay
presents a very shallow soil that offers no inducement to
cultivators, except where there are valleys containing an area
of soil apparently suited to coco-nut cultivation; this area is
occupied by Deep Bay estate at the eastern end of Falmouth
Harbour and by Nock estate further along the coast.
Between Tucks estate and Old Road, there is probably
a larger area of fertile soil, in scattered places, but the
difficulties of communication and transport are such as to.
make exploitation unlikely. The adjoining estate, Rendezvous
Bay or Doigs, offers better opportunities, and Mr. Tempany
thinks that there may be as much as about 450 acres
suitable for coco-nut, lime and cotton cultivation. An
important matter is that an abundant supply of good
underground water exists in this area, near the sur-
face. Access to the district is difficult, however. Dealing
finally with it Mr. Tempany states: ‘On the whole there is no
place in Antigua in my estimation which offers better pros-
pects for successful cultivation of coco-nuts; from the situa-
tion it seems that the rainfall is almost certainly good and
probably averages close on 60 inches per annum.’

A description follows of Ding a Ding Nook estate and
the district near, which is on the way from Rendezvous
estate to Falmouth. This area is rugged and unpromising,
but its afforestation would probably make it the source ‘of
a constant supply of water.

The general conclusion is that, although the area
visited is for the greater part rugged and uninviting, parts
of it are worth development for coco-nuts, limes and cotton,
the chief difficulty being that of communication.

376

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NoveEMBER 23, 1912.

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 fer copies of the ‘Agricultural
News’ should be addressed to the Agents and not to
the Department.

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

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

Agricultural ews

Vor. XI. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1912. No. 276.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

In this number the editorial is concerned with
Some Conditions Influencing Soil Nitrification. It
deals with recent investigations that have been carried
out regarding nitrification in soils, and points out the
practical application of the results.

A short article on page 371 gives an account of
the behaviour of certain sugar-cane seedlings, from the
West Indies and British Guiana, in Queensland.

A brief description of some interesting plants in
Dominica is presented on page 372. These are
growing in the Botanic Gardens in that island.

The present interest in vegetable oils and the
sources of their production has led to the inclusion of
an article treating of the oil and oil seed trade of
Marseilles, on page 373.

The Insect Notes of this issue contain two articles
dealing with methods for protecting coco-nut palms
from beetles, and with the curious phenomenon that is
shown by what are known as jumping beans.

Some matters in connexion with the recent inter-
national rubber exhibition are brought forward in an
article on page 379, and certain suggestions for the
conduct of future exhibitions are made.

The Fungus Notes appear on page 382. They
deal with recently published matter having relation
to sugar-cane diseases in Porto Rico.

Crude Carbolic Acid for Mosquito Larvae.

It appears from a paper in the Annals of Tropical
Medicine and Parasitology tor October 18, 1912, that
experiments have been conducted recently in British
Guiana, by the Government Bacteriologist and the
Assistant Government Bacteriologist, in which trial
was made of the use of crude carbolic acid against
mosquito larvae.

This substance has been investigated in the
special connexion because conditions are such in
Briush Guiana that when ordinary oil is poured on
the ponds and siiall temporary areas of water it is
generally blown to one side by the strong wind, and
evaporated before it has a chance of killing the larvae
in the water.

In the case of large amounts of water such as
drainage trenches, small fish may be used in the same
way as ‘millions’ for controlling the mosquito pest.
Such fish are however useless in the smal] depressions
in land holding temporary water, and it is in these
cases that crude carbolic acid has been found to be
most cheap and efficient for the purpose.

In an actual instance, its use was completely
successful during the camping out of the Local Forces
its employment being combined with the stocking of
the larger quantities of water with fish. ‘The carbolie
acid, in most of the small pits, killed the larvae in
about one hour; but a much longer time—frequently as
much as twenty-four hours—was required to destroy
the pupae.

The authors are inclined to believe that crude
carbolic acid applied to temporary small collections of
water does not evaporate to any large extent, but
remains to impregnate the ground after the water has
dried up: and that further there is sufficient of the
carbolic acid left even now to render the water
subsequently deposited fatal to larvae.

Laboratory experiments showed that a dilution of
1 in 20,000 kills all larvae within two hours, but that
a much longer tithe is required for the death of pupae.
For use in practice, one teaspoonful to every 2 cubic
feet of water, or 1 0z. to 16 cubic feet is recommended;
‘this gives a dilution of about 1 in 16,000, and allows
a fair margin of safety to cover errors in calculation.’

Experience shows that the crude carbolic acid,
containing all its impurities, is much more efticient
than the purified product. It is thought that this is
because its sticky nature makes it adhere more strongly
to the larvae and pupae, and also in some cases it may
act by blocking up the syphon tubes through which
the insect breathes.

The possible effect upon animals drinking the
treated water is important. In the first place such
water is not attractive to animals because of its tarry
smell and blackish colour. In the second the dilution
suggested is such that an animal would have to drink
a very large quantity of the water before it could ingest
a sufficient amount of the carbolic acid to cause
poisoning. i

A disadvantage of the substance is that it is not
suitable for spraying over large areas such as ground
containing a number of small holes, caused it may be
by footprints, unless the mixture with water is

Wor. XI. No. 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Se

constantly stirred, under supervision.. In this case it
has been found better to employ preparations that mix
more freely with water, even though the expense is
greater; among these preparations are Cyllin, Chloro-
Naphtholeum, and Sanitas-Okol.

>
Silkworm Rearing in Yucatan.

In the Nachrichten fiir Handel (Berlin) for
September 27, 1912, the statement is made,on the
authority of the German Consul at Mexico City, that
members of the Yucatan Chamber of Agriculture have
been recently making experiments in rearing silkworms,
and that the results of the work have been very
favourable.

The eggs were imported from Europe, and they
produced vigorous caterpillars; it was proved possible
to obtain four broods of the insect in a year.

The trials have been made so far on a limited
-scale, but it has been decided to conduct more extensive
planting of the mulberry tree, particularly as this plant
grows well under the conditions.

Ic will be remembered that the mulberry tree
thas been shown to flourish in the West Indies, and
that seeds of the plant have been distributed by the
Commissioner of Agriculture in various islands, where
seedlings are now being raised. (See Agricultural
News, Vol. XI, p. 239.)

———— —_

The Feeding Value of Sawdust.

In an abstract of a recent paper giving an account
of investigations of this matter, contained in the Jour-
aval of the Board of Agriculture for October 1912, it
is stated that reference is made in the original article
to feeding trials with stock, carried out by German
experimenters in 1890, and since, with sawdust, both
crude and prepared in various ways; the results of
these trials showed that sawdust in any of the forms
possesses a very low feeding value. Attention is also
drawn to the fact that more recent experiments with
molasses mixed with sawdust showed not only that the
sawdust remained completely undigested, but that its
anclusion decreased the digestibility of the ration as
a whole.

The experiments described in the paper were
carried out with crude sawdust and with sawdust
treated with sulphuric acid under pressure. Past
experience with the crude substance was repeated:
‘mone was digested, and its use caused the other foods
in the ration to be less digestible. The prepared saw-
dust added to the digestibility in.one way by convert-
ing some of the crude fibre in the food into easily
- soluble and assimilable carbohydrates (chiefly dextrose);
the prepared sawdust itself, however, not only remained
undigested,as far as its protein and unchanged fibre were
concerned, but decreased the digestibility of such of
these substances as were present in the other foods of
the ration. No better success was obtained by mixing
the prepared sawdust with molasses.

‘It is concluded that sawdust, either treated or
untreated, is not at all a suitable substance with which
~o mix melasses.’

Ostrich Meat as Human Food.

Attention is drawn in the Journal d’ Agriculture
Tropicale tor September 30,1912, to the fact that
ostrich farmers in South Africa are occupied with the
question of utilizing as food ostriches which are useless
for the production of feathers, as such birds naturally
constitute a Joss; and a suggestion is much wanted as
to ways in which they may be profitably exploited.

It is said that dried ostrich meat has the appear-
ance of the flesh of the chamois and that it may become
as strongly esteemed as this. The suggestion is made
that experiments might be made under French auspices
in Madagascar; but the question is naively asked as to
the way in which the bird should be served. In
the same manner, it is stated that the use of the ostrich
in this way is not a matter of impossibility, since some
time ago the camel as an article of food had a certain
amount of vogue in Paris,

EE
Some of the Work of the Egyptian Depart-
ment of Agriculture.

A short note on the activities of the newly created
Department of Agriculture in Egypt is given in Diplo-
matic and Consular Reports, No. 4938 Annual Series.
Among the matters mentioned are improved methods
of cultivation, particularly for cotton, and in the same
connexion, the selection, control and distribution of seed
and the prevention of damage by insect pests, Con-
sideration is aiso being given to the requirements of
cotton consumers,

Regarding this crop again, the Department is giv-
ing special attention to small holders, which constitute
by far the largest proportion of the landed proprietors
in Egypt. This isa matter of particular importance
as it has been proved that it is through these small
holders that the deterioration in the quality of Egyp-
tian cotton has been increasing year by year.

Among new crops or varieties of crops that are
being tried for the purpose of finding their usefulness
in Egypt, there are included new kinds of sugar-cane,
the soy bean and several other crops. For the purpose
of dealing with scale insects on orange and other fruit
trees, the cyanide tent process has been introduced.

The poultry industry of Egypt has been much
neglected, so that the appointment has been made of an
experienced Director to organize an experimental
poultry-breeding station.

A matter of some particular interest for the West
Indies is that various insect and fungus enemies of the
cotton worm are being introduced into Egypt, and
legislation has been framed for the purpose of protect-
ing the existing enemies of the cotton worm and of
other pests.

Attention is called by the Director General of the
Department of Agriculture to the demand for a cheap
and effective steam plough for use on the larger estates,
and for inexpensive soil levellers needed chiefly in
Upper Egypt.

The Agricultural Department is publishing Agri-
cultural Circulars and Agricultural Notes and an
Agricultural Journal of Egypt,

a3
~j
ies)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

NovemBer 23, 1912.

INSEGT NOTES.

PROTECTION OF COCO-NUT PALMS
FROM BEETLES.

In view of the interest being shown in the devel-
opment of coco-nut planting in all parts of the tropics,
the following law, which appeared in the Tropical
Agriculturist for July 1912, is reproduced for the
information of the readers of the Agricultural News.
At the present time insect pests of the coco-nut palm
in the West Indies are not df sucha serious nature as
to render necessary any legislation looking to the des-
truction of insect-infested trees in coco-nut groves; but
it may be convenient to know what steps have been
found advisable to take in other places. The informa-
tion below refers to the Philippines:—

Act No. 286 of the Legislative Council of Moro Pro-
vince, passed April 29th, 1912, is printed herewith and,
though a drastic measure, provides the only apparent remedy
for the beetle scourge which has‘already created great havoc
in the coco-nut groves of this Province. This Act as pro-
posed was given publicity several weeks ago, and discussion
of the measure wasinvited. As every tree infected by beetles
is doomed to death and is also nucleus of infection for all
surrounding trees, the sooner radical measures are adopted
for the destruction of infected trees and the discontinuance
of breeding places, the better for the welfare of the entire
coco nut industry.

We anticipate that there will be much dissatisfaction
with the enforcement of this law by those who already have
infected trees; but as the safety of remaining, sound trees, as
well as future plantings, depends upon prompt and radical
measures, it is to be hopec that there may be co-operation of
all coco-nut owners in saving this most important industry.

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the owner or person
in charge of any coco-nut tree which is dead or attacked by
the Rhynchophorus jerrugineus, commonly known as the red
beetle, to immediately uproot such tree and either to burn
the same or to bury it in the ground at a depth not Jess than
one metre or completely submerge it in water so that said
tree may not serve as a breeding place for beetles and that
the beetle and eggs and larvae thereof which may be contain-
ed in the said tree shall be totally destroyed.

Section 2. Any owner or person in charge of coco-
nut trees who shall neglect or refuse to perform the duty
imposed upon him by the next preceding section shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding fifty pesos [about £5] for
every tree in respect to which such neglect or refusal occurs.

Section 3. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep
or permit to remain on premises owned or occupied by him
dead coco-nut trees or stumps,.coco-nut timber or rubbish
heaps, vegetable refuse, or other matter likely to harbour or
become breeding places for the Oryctes rhinoceros, commonly
known as the black beetle, or the Rhynchophorus ferrugineus,
commonly kaown as the red beetle, and any such person who
shall neglect or refuse to remove or destroy the same when
requested so to do in writing by any officer of the district or
municipality wherein said premises are located, or by any
owner ox occupant of land planted with coco-nut trees and
situated within one mile of the premises on which such dead
coco-nut trees or stumps, coco-nut timber or rubbish heaps,
vegetable refuse, or other matter are kept, shall be liable to
a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos [about £20].

Section 4. Upon the conviction of any person under-
sections two or three hereof the governor of the district
wherein such premises are located shall cause such dead coco-
nut trees or stumps, coco-nut timber, or rubbish heaps, vege-
table refuse, or other such matter to be removed or destroyed,
and the costs necessary therefor shall be a lien upon the.
property and collectable as are other taxes upon real property.

~

Section 5. All provincial, district or municipal officers.
shall have access at all reasonable times into and upon any
land whereon any coco-nut tree is growing for the purpose of
inspecting such tree and also into and upon any land or
premises where there is‘reason to suppose that there are kept
any such things as in article three hereof are referred to.

JUMPING BEANS.

Mr. R. J. Pocock, writing in Zhe Field for
September 21, last, gives in the notes from the Zoologi-
cal Society, a brief account of the curious jumping beans
from Mexico, which is reproduced below.

In the West Indies, jumping seeds are produced
by small weevils which inhabit the flower buds of the
Roble tree (Platymiscvwm platystachyum). An account.
of these was given in the Agricultural News,
Vol. VII, p. 282.

Most readers of Zhe Mield are probably familiar with
the so-called ‘jumping beans’, which are brought over from
Mexico by the bushel and sold as curiosities even in small
suburban London shops. Strictly speaking, the seed in
question is not a bean atall, but belongs to the genus Croton,
one of the Euphorbiaceae. It is also tolerably well known
that the jumping and rolling of the bean are caused by the
contortions of a maggot or grub inside it, and that the appli-
cation of warmth, such as that which comes from the human
hand, is sufficient to set the beans a-going. The purpose of
the movement is not quite clear but Sir Ray Lankester has
suggested to me that if the seed falls in an exposed and
sunny place the warmth may stimulate the grub to activity,
which will only cease when it reaches cool shade, the use of
the instinct being, presumably, to save the grub from.
desiccation.

The grub is really,the caterpillar of a moth (Carpocapsa.
saltitans), one of the tortrices, and about the size of an
ordinary clothes moth; The eggs are laid on the pods of
the plant when they are green and;soft, so that the newly
hatched larva can burrow its way into the interior. There
it stays feeding on the contents until it reaches full size an@
is ready to pupate. Before entering upon this period of
quiescence, however, it, takes steps to ensure the escape of
the moth, which with its weak jaws would be unable to bite
through the hardened shell of its prison. At one end of the-
capsule, therefore, the grub eats away the wall from the
inside, but ceases operations just before reaching the surface.
The result is a circular hole closed and concealed from
without by a thin and easily ruptured membrane.

This done, the grub wraps itself in a case of silk, which
is everywhere complete except up against the future exit
above described. To the area round this the silk is attached,
but the membrane itself is not overspun with the material,
The grub them settlessdewn cosily in its case, with its head

- pointing towards thedoor, and turns into a chrysalis. In

due course the moth emerges, and all it has to do to escape-
from ‘its cell is to break down the frail membrane which lies-
between it and liberty.

Vou XI. No. 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

. 319

FF x-"_—-+- row

THE INTERNATIONAL RUBBER
EXHIBITION, 1912.

The following is taken from a leading article in the
Andia Rubber World for November 1, 1912:—

Trade expositions may properly be divided into three
*kinds—those that are distinctly technical in their character,
that are intended only for people directly interested in that
particular trade, and without any purpose of attracting
outside attention; second, those that are planned expressly
to attract the general public, and which carefully avoid
everything of a too technical character; and third, those that
seek to combine these two functions, having enough of
a technical character to appeal to all those associated
with the particular trade, and enough of general interest
to attract the public at large. The Rubber Exposition
_just held belonged to this third class, but undoubtedly it
was much stronger on its technical side than it was in its
general appeal to the public at large. Viewed asa rubber
show intended for rubber men, it left little to be desired.
‘Che exhibits of crude rubber, reclaimed rubber, compounding
ingredients and manufacturing machinery were full and
varied, and covered the ground with satisfactory complete-
ness. But in the department of manufactured goods the
same cannot be said, for while certain manufacturers made
admirable exhibits, there were important branches of the
rubber-manufacturing industry which were practically
unrepresented.

The exhibitors of crude rubber cannot be complimented
too highly on the intelligence, enthusiasm and thorough-
mess with which they did their work. Brazil exhibited
with a lavish hand—nor was the Middle East far behind.
Both wild rubber from the Amazon and plantation rubber
from the Federated Malay States and Ceylon were for-
warded to the exhibition in generous quantity and im-
pressive variety. It was altogether the finest collection of
crude rubber ever brought together in this country. A cer-
tain rubber mill superintendent, after going over these
exhibits carefully, remarked: ‘I have learned more about
-erude rubber in the ten days of this show than I had ever
learned before in any ten years in the factory,’ Of reclaimed
rubber and of compounding ingredients there was also
-a comprehensive exhibit; while the foundry men, with their
machinery set up and in motion, contributed a great deal to
the importance and value of the enterprise. Undoubtedly,
all these groups of exhibitors—crude rubber producers,
planters and importers, manufacturers of compounding
ingredients and makers of machinery, found their ten days at
the Exposition time profitably spent. “ Many of them indeed
expressed great satisfaction over the Fesults of their partici-
) pation.

But among the manufacturers of finished rubber goods
who attended the show and who undoubtedly derived great
benefit from what they observed, there must have been
:a number who regretted that they had not seized upon this
opportunity to exploit their products in a large way. Some
of them when approached before the exhibition took the stand
that they could see no particular benefit for them in showing
‘their goods to other rubber men— which undoubtedly was true.
But in a city like New York, with its five million permanent
population and with its half million floating population—more
or less—it would have been possible at a show of this charac-
ter, covering so large a floor space, to have secured an extreme-
ly large attendance of people outsidehof the rubber trade—
consumers of rubber goods; and to >this class the rubber
manufacturer might have appealed, with no little profit to
himself, And that undoubtedly is the chief lesson learned

from the first rubber show, the result of which will be shown
at the second American Rubber Exposition, whenever that
may be held. There is a great deal connected with many
lines of rubber manufacture that could be made extremely
interesting to the general public. There are many articles
made almost exclusively by hand, which had they been manu-
factured at this show would have proved great centres of
attraction. Some of the footwear manufacturers have gone
to considerable expense in sending demonstrators aroand the
country—and even abroad—to explain and to illustrate, by
the actual operation, the making of rubber footwear.
It is thought worth while to give the demonstration even
before small groups of people. At an exposition in such
a place as New York it would be possible to have thousands
of spectators during a single day, The public can always be
relied on to attend any sort of exhibition, if it is properly
encouraged.

Nor would the attendance of the general public in large
numbers interfere with the success of the more technical side
of an exhibition, especially in a place like the Grand Central
Palace, where (as was the case in the recent show) the techni-
cal departments were grouped chiefly on the upper floors, the
main floor being reserved for exhibits of a more genera
character.

One feature of the recent show—-which on another
occasion would undoubtedly be much enlarged upon,
because it was one of the most successful features of the
Exposition—consisted of the moving pictures. There
were two of these moving picture shows, one on the main
floor under the auspices of the Brazilian exhibit, the other
on the second floor under the auspices of the Federated Malay
States. Both attracted a great deal of attention, and to many
of the visitors proved the most interesting part of the exhibi-
tion. The plantation pictures were particularly to be
commended, as they set forth in such orderly fashion the
whole process of rubber culture in the Hast, showing the
clearing of the forests, the preparing of the ground for the
seed, the planting of the seed, the destruction of weeds and
insects, the tapping of the trees, the gathering of the latex,
its coagulation, the preparation of the rubber for the market
and its final shipment to the rubber centres of Europe. This
feature could be—and probably would be at another exhibi-
tion—made much more prominent, and with most gratifying
results.

The management of the recent Exposition is certainly to
be congratulated. It was a most creditable achievement, far
beyond the expectations of many American rubber men.
But by reason of the lessons taught by this first experience,
the next exposition (whenever that may occur) will undoubt-
edly be more complete, more fully rounded out and symmet-
rical. It will not only be highly instructive from a technical
standpoint to rubber men, but will be equally attractive to
the public at large.

Published paper No. 135, of the Wellcome Chemical
Research Laboratory, deals with an investigation of the dried
leaves of the soursop (Anona muricata), obtained from
Dominica. An alcoholic extract of the material, distilled
with steam, yielded a small amount of an essential oil which
possessed a strong, somewhat agreeable odour. The portion
of the extract soluble in water contained a large amount of
potassium chloride, together with dextrose, tannin, amorphous
products, and a small amount of an alkaloidal substance
which could not be crystallized. The part of the extract
insoluble in water was a dark-green resin, consisting largely
of fatty matter. The constitution of this resin is given at
the end of the paper.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

NovemMBer 23, 1912.

GLEANINGS.

The plant distribution from the Antigua Botanic Station
during October included: limes 19,216, forest trees 577,
coco-nuts 493, miscellaneous plants 34, sweet potato cuttings,
38,100, seeds 2 gallons and 8} tb. and 3 packages.

The Bulletin of the Pan-American Union for August
1912 shows that the production of coffee in Guatemala
during last year was about 645,000 ewt. At the end of the
year there were in the State 2,156 coffee plantations, covering
an area of 880,320 acres.

The Uganda Official Gazette for September 15, 1912, con-
tains a declaration by the Acting Governor of the Protectorate
to the effect that epizootic lymphangitis is a disease, for the
purposes of the Cattle Disease Ordinance, Uganda, 1902.
An account of this disease was given in the West Indian
Bulletin, Vol. XII, p. 72.

The values of the chief exports from British Honduras
during 1911 were: chicle (see page 375) $968,392, mahogany
$850,801, coco-nuts $131,140, bananas $93,392, cedar
$89,455, logweod $54,549, plantains $23,206, tortoiseshell
$19,485, and rubber $18,647. (From Colonial Reports—
Annual, No. 733; October 1912.)

Information received from the Director General of the
Department of Agriculture, Egypt, shows that the cotton
crop of both Upper and Lower Egypt was estimated at the
beginning of last month to be above the average for the past
ten years. The rice crop of Lower Egypt was below normal
and that of Upper Egypt above normal.

Among the plants distributed from the St. Lucia Botanic
Station during October, there were chiefly: limes 6,350 and
Para rubber 1,380. Smaller numbers of cacao plants, oranges,
grafted mangoes and decorative plants and cuttings, as well
as others, were also sent out. In the seed distribution there
were 98 packets of vegetable seeds and }-gallon of horse beans.

Regarding the exhibit from Dominica at the Canadian
National Exhibition held recently in Toronto, information
has been received to the effect that this exhibit has been
awarded a gold medal diploma by the exhibition authorities.
The plant distribution in this island, by the Agricultural
Department during October was: limes 11,825, Congo coffee
1,500, cac2zo 550, Para rubber 300, grafted cacao 11,
budded citrus 40 and miscellaneous 60; the total was
14,286 plants. The rainfall at the Botanic Station during
October was 7:26 inches, of which 5-26 inches fell on
October 3, 4 and 5. There was no rain after the 14th
ultimo. !

It is stated in Diplomatic and Consular Reports, Ne.
4932 Annual Series, that the imports of cotton into Japan
from Corea for 1911, only amounted to 900 tons worth
£32,600, compared with 2,200 tons worth £47,900, in 1910.
Notwithstanding the encouragement of cotton-growing in
Corea by the Japanese Government, the results have not been
very satisfactory.

A heavy fall of rain was experienced in St. Lucia
on October 8, when as much as 2°10 inches fell at the
Botanic Station, which was flooded, the drains being
silted up. The Experiment Station was also flooded and@
a large number of lime seeds and seedlings intended for
next season was washed away and lost subsequently. The
rainfall for the month at the Botanic Station was 13:01
inches; at the Experiment Station it was 12°64 inches.

A special meeting of the St. Vincent Agricultural and
Commercial Society, at which His Excellency the Acting
Governor of the Windward Islands presided, was held on Octo-
ber 30. At this, Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc., Entomologist to the-
Imperial Department of Agriculture, gave an account of the
different pests seen in the island during his recent visit, and
made suggestions for dealing with them. The distributiom
from the Botanic Gardens during the month was mainly
concerned with cacao plants and mahogany seedlings.

A note appears in the 7ropical Agriculturist for Sep-
tember 1912 on the lac tree (Schleichera trijuga), the source-
being the Indian Trade Journal. It is from the seeds of
this tree that Macassar oil is obtained, and they have been
collected from Orissa under the name of Paka seeds. The:
composition of the seed is 40 per cent. of shells and 60 per
cent. of oil, the percentage of oil being equivalent to about
36 per cent. of the nuts. The tree occurs in the dry, deci-.
duous forests over the greater part of India, Burma and,
Ceylon.

In the Board of Trade Journal for October 10, 1912,
publicity is given to a decree regulating the collection and’
sale of rubber in French West Africa. The decree is designed
to protect the rubber industry of that country by prohibiting
the manufacture, sale of, and traffic in, coagulated rubber
otherwise than in sheets or in cakes having a maximum
thickness of lcm. The tapping-of rubber trees is also pro-
hibited during not more than three months of each year; the
period of this prohibition is to be decided separately by the
Governor of each Colony.

Reference is made in the Agricultural News, Vol. XT,
p. 44, to schemes that have been put forward for the general:
improvement of the harbour of St. Thomas, Danish West
Indies. According to the Standard (London) for October 9,°
1912, the Danish Syndicate that had obtained a concessiom
from the Government for the work has returned the concession:
because of the failure to raise the necessary capital to carry:
out the extensive plans. It appears that only about
one-quarter of= the money has been forthcoming, and that
the syndicate will, with the sanction of the Government,
merely carry out that part of the scheme dealing with the-
deepening of the hai dour.

Vox. XI. No. 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 381

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The Preliminary Examination in connexion with the
Courses of Reading in Practical Agriculture, 1912, of the
Imperial Department of Agriculture, was held on October 28.
Four candidates presented themselves for examination—two
in Grenada and two in Antigua—and all were successful, the
individual results being as follows: —

Centre. Name. Result.
Grenadin (Bertrand, L. J. 2nd class,
ae (Phillip, H.H. A. 2nd _s,,

2 j Gallwey, A. 2nd 55
Antigua | Peters, A. E. SIGs 55

The questions set in the examination were reproduced
in the last number of the Agricultural News, p. 365. It will
be well to review here the answers given to those chosen by
candidates.

The first question was generally attempted by candidates,
and in only one case was a fairly good description given of
the experiment required; in most instances the method
suggested for collecting the oxygen involved its mixture
with a large amount of air, so that the detection of its
addition would have been impossible by the usual simple
means; an account of a form of experiment for the purpose
may be found on pages 74 and 75 of the last edition
of Nature Teaching. Fair answers to: question 2 were
received, but sufficient stress was not laid on the importance
of root hairs and the youngest parts of the roots in
relation to water absorption. The answers to question 3
that were given all required carefully drawn diagrams, but in
only one case were these not totally inadequate and slipshod.
It may be said at once, indeed, that nearly all the papers
showed weakness in the matter of providing simple
illustrations to the answers to questions, notwithstanding the
stress that was laid, in the last of the instructions to
candidates printed on the examination paper, on the
importance of supplying these wherever they may be of use.
Some of the best of the answers were received to question 5,
though in some cases confusion of ideas led to repetition; the
use of sand for lightening clay soil (especially in horticultural
and nursery work) should not be forgotten. The replies to ques-
tion 6 were good as far as they went, except for the feeble draw-
ings; attention was not paid however to the request for a full
account of the process of budding, so thatthe preparation of
budding tape (or of grafting wax) was often omitted, and
there was hardly any reference to the after-treatment of the
budded plant. Fair replies were received.to question 7, and
it was recognized that this may be answered in a number of
ways. The choice exercised in answering question 8 showed
that there is weakness among candidates in their knowledge
of animal physiology. The answers to question 9 sometimes
showed that the words ‘in nature’ were not considered when
it was read A more important matter regarding this ques-
tion, however, and one that requires most careful attention,
is that in ali the answers, the nitrifying organisms were cited
as agencies for increasing the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
They are not, and the nitrifying action including in order
putrefactive changes—ammonia formations-pnitrite formation
—nitrate formation, results in some loss rather than in gain
of nitrogen. The nitrogen is made easily available for
plants, by the process, but none of the element is added to
the soil.

Poor answers to question 11 were received, except in one
case. The confusion that exists in the minds of candidates
as to the structure and action of the heart of mammals could
be greatly reduced by the examination. of a sheep’s heart—
easily obtained—in the light of what they have read or heard
about the matter. Question 12 was answered. inadequately,
and little or no attention was paid to the part that the liver
and pancreas take in connexion with the process of digestion.
Lastly, among the questions mostly attempted, number 13.
should have been given far better answers than were
received, and here again the diagrams submitted were gene-
rally quite inadequate; while in replying to such a question,
it is always best to make the answer relate strictly to one
definitely chosen flower.

Reference to the questions not mentioned has been kept
to the last, as none of these was attempted by any of the
candidates. In the case of number 4, it may be that they
have not had many opportunities for the detailed examination
of a plough, and the drawing of its various parts; though
this is a matter of importance that should not receive further
neglect. The same may be said of question 10. Candidates
should refer frequently and carefully to the syllabus of
subjects for the examination, which, while its intention is not
to limit the field of their knowledge, will help them to make
that knowledge complete as far as it is required and give
them a greater scope when dealing with questions that they
may be asked.

The following were the questions set in the paper on
General Agricultural Science in the Intermediate Examina-
tion, held on November 11 last; not more than eight were to
be attempted, and among these, numbers ten and either
eleven or twelve had to be included:—

(1) Give an account of some form of tillage with which
you are acquainted, and say how tillage benefits the soil.

(2) How is the nitrogen of the air made available to
plants (a) naturally, (b) artificially?

(3) Write a description of the way in which a given
kind of seed is stored, that has to be used later for planting
purposes, and say how you would conduct a germination test
of seed.

(4) Describe with careful sketches any stem that you
have examined, stating how the different parts are suited
specially to do the work that is required of them.

(5) Mention all the uses, with which you are acquainted,
of the rotation of crops.

(6) Give a description of the manner in which any arti-
ficial manure of which you have knowledge is obtained, and
supply instances where you have seen it used.

(7) In what ways are soils formed? How would you
show by means of a simple experiment what different classes
of substances usually exist in soils?

(8) Show by means of careful description and sketches
how any plant that you may choose is grafted and budded.

(9) What are the consequences of the presence of too
much water in the soil! For what reason may land be
flooded purposely, in agricultural practice?

(10) State what is included among the soft parts of the
body of a mammal, and give the uses cf all the structures or
organs that you mention.

(11) Give a general description of any three orders of
insects, and mention tw» examples in each order that are of
agricultural importance.

(12) Supply an account of any fungus causing plant
disease that you have had under observation, and suggest
measures for its control.

oo
GO
to

FUNGUS NOTES.

SUGAR-CANE DISEASES IN PORTO RICO.

In the Second Annual Report of the Experiment Station
of the Sugar Producers’ Association, Porto Rico, some inter-
esting information is given by J. R. Johnston on the more
important fungus diseases attacking the sugar-cane, and
some of the points made by this writer might apply equally
to the same diseases found in the English islands of the
Lesser Antilles.

ROOT DISEASE. The most important is the root disease,
which appears to be caused by at least two different fungi.
The first is Marasmius sacchari, which has long been known
throughout the whole of the West Indies. The second is an
unidentified fungus of which the mycelium is characterized
by the presence of stellate crystals, but of which no fruiting
bodies have yet been found. Unlike Marasmius this latter
fungus does not appear to cement the leaf sheaths together
but is found as a white feathery mycelium at the base of the
lower leaf sheaths. Investigations with a view to determin-
ing if these root fungi of the sugar-cane occur on any other
host plants have revealed the fact that the stellate crystal
fungus is common on many grasses, more especially on such
as form dense growths, as an example of which one kind of
guinea grass (Paspalum henisphaericum) is mentioned. It
is also stated that a root fungus has been found on corn, and
it may be advisable to mention here that such a fungus has
also been recorded on corn in Barbados and Antigua, and
that its mycelial characters are very similar to those of the
Marasmius root disease of the sugar-cane. As a result of
this Johnston recoramends that Jand known to be infected
with sugarcane root diseases should not be allowed to lie
fallow with a view to their elimination, but that it should
be planted with some leguminous crop or some crop of
economic importance, other than corn. Another point men-
tioned is that ratoons of Otaheite cane were found to be
particularly susceptible to root disease.

RIND DISEASE. It is observed in Porto Rico that this
disease ‘has close relation to the climatic conditions, and to
the presence of the moth borer. This was also found to be
the case to some extent in St. Kitts recently; while another
factor influencing the virulence of the disease would seem to
be the condition of ripeness of the cane, as mature or over-
ripe cane would appear to be more susceptible than green cane.
Instances are recorded in Porto Rico of severe attacks of this
disease on a cane, apparently D. 625, which was mature but
comparatively free from the presence of moth borer; also on
over-ripe Otaheite cane that was suffering from drought, and
in a third instance on nearly matured cane that was badly
infested with moth borer. ‘The occurrence of this fungus
(i.e. rind fungus) at the base of the leaf sheaths has been
noted, but its importance there has not been sufficiently
emphasized. We have no data as to whether or not the fun-
gus at the base of the leaf sheaths aids in killing the leaves.
It probably does, but not to an alarming extent. We have,
however, observed, that at least in the case of Otaheite and
of D,116, the fungus passesfrom the leaf sheaths into the
stalk, if for any reason the vitality of the stalks is lessened,
thus neither moth borer holes nor rotted tops are essential in
every case to the infection of the stalk by this fungus.’

Another point of importance that has received attention
is the value of treating cuttings with Bordeaux mixture pre-
vious to planting. Johnston calls attention to the fact that
this treatment will not destroy the mycelia of fungi which
have already entered the stems from which the cuttings are
made, and that the first step of importance is the selection of

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, NoveMBer 23, 1912,

cuttings free from disease, that is, showing no discoloration
at the cut ends nor the presence of the white mycelium of the
root disease on the surface of the rind. With regard to the
treatment itself, it was found, as has also been discovered in the
West Indies, that its effect is much more valuable during dry
weather than it is when the atmospheric conditions are moist
enough to ensure a good stand of canes; under such conditions,
its principal effect is only to hasten the germination. On
plantations where a large number of cuttings fail to germinate
owing to attacks of the pine-apple fungus, disinfection is to
be recommended, but on estates that are comparatively free
from the disease it may not be necessary in a good season.

RED SPOT OF THE LEAF SHEATH. ‘In the Annual
Report of the Pathologist for last year it was questioned what
effect the presence of diseased leaf sheaths on the cuttings
might have on the subsequent stand of canes. The particular
fungus related to this question is Cercospora vaginae causing
the red spot of the leaf sheath Experiments were made
with Crystalina seed which is characteristically badly affected
by this disease. There resulted a difference in the number
of shoots arising from the cuttings, a difference, however,
clearly not due to the fungus infection. In comparing the
shoots arising from the two lots of cuttings, and the sub-
sequent growth of these shoots, absolutely no difference in
amount of disease could be detected between the plants from
cuttings with diseased sheaths and the plants from cuttings
without such sheaths. All the plants had abundance of the
fungus and in no case could it be said to be doing any
material injury. The difference in number of shoots in these
experiments is due partly to the effect the leaf sheaths have
on the preservation, of the moisture content of the seed and
possibly to protection in other ways.’

This red spot fungus is fairly common on several
varieties of cane in the English islands, but it has never been
believed to occasion any injury of importance.

RED ROT DISEASE OF THE LEAF SHEATH. Observations
were also made on a disease of the leaf sheaths occasioned
by a fungus having a white superficial mycelium with small,
brown, spherical sclerotia. This fungus may occasionally
penetrate the leaf sheaths and inflict a certain amount of
Injury on the surface of the rind. In Porto Rico it was
found as a result of observations on a limited number of
stools, that no very serious damage was inflieted by the
fungus even when it was present in considerable quantity. On
the other hand, occasionally instances have been recorded from
other countries in which the fungus is believed to have
caused severe damage to growing canes, and Johnston states
that his ‘observations must not be taken as proof that this
fungus is not sometimes injurious to canes but merely as an
indication that it isnot always serious.’

In his concluding remarks this writer states: ‘over
twenty-five different fungi have been found : n different parts
of diseased and dead cane and are now being identified. It
is believed important to determine not only the fungi found
on living, green cane, but also those of badly diseased cane,
for many fungi even if not parasitic tend to reduce the sugar
content of the cane.’ He also records that attention is being
given to the question of whether certain of the cane fungi
may not live on other host plants, and states that certain
smal] mushroons found on grass showed a resemblance to
those growing at the base of canes, while certain of the leaf
fungi of the cane have also been found on grass. It is
interesting here to note that a species of Colletotrichum,
C. lineola, almost indistinguishable from C. falcatwm, has
been recorded by Butler’ in India on the Guinea corn
(Andropogon Sorghum, var. vulgaris), and by Edgerton in
Louisiana on broom corn (A. Sorghum, var. textilis), and

Vor. XI. No. 276.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

383

nn tat

Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense); while a very similar
species has recently been seen on the leaves of Indian corn in
Larlados; and that the red rot fungus’ itself can attack the
leaves of sugar-cane. Edgerton tried inoculation experiments
on sugar-cane stems with C. /ineola, but did not obtain any
very conclusive results. (See Ayricu/twral News, Tol. XI,

p. 78.)
WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS.

DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON
MAREBT.

Mr. J. R. Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol-
lowing report on the London drug and spice market, for
the month of October 1912:—

The first week of October in Mincing Lane, opened with
an improved business prospect, but later the outbreak of war
between the Balkan States and Turkey, produced a depressing
effect, especially with regard to products derived from those
countries, such as opium and otto of rose. Towards the
end of the month the markets became less active, buyers in
general purchasing only for their immediate requirements.
Amongst many products commanding advanced prices may be
mentioned Eucalyptus and clove oils, the latter of which is
scarce, causing a consequent advance in the price of vanillin,
which is now chiefly made from clove oil.

In the matter of West Indian products generally, there
has been but little change since our last report, as the follow-
ing details will show.

GINGER.

Atjauction on the 9th, 440 packagesof Cochin and Cali-
cut were offered and 28 sold without reserve, 80s. 6d. to
81s. 6d. being paid for bold A. cut, and 54s. 6d. for C. cut,
45s. was the price at which fine bold round Calicut rough,
was held, and 40s. for washed rough Cochin. A week later
215 bags of small shrivelled brown rough Calicut, were sold
without reserve at 26s. per cwt. Washed rough slightly
wormy being bought in at 37s. On the 23rd as many as
1,400 packages of Cochin and Calicut were offered and all
bought in at the following prices 85s. for A. cut, 80s. for
B. cut, small and medium 75s., C. cut 60s., washed rough
Calicut 40s. and fine brown 45s. At this-sale there were also
some 60 bags of limed Japan brought forward, but all was
bought in at 28s. per ewt. At the last auction on the 30th
40 bags of Cochin were offered without reserve anc sold at
26s. per cwt. for washed rough wormy.

NUTMEGS, MACE AND ARROWROOT.

At the first spice auction on the 2nd of the month
65 packages of West Indian nutmegs were brought forward
and sold at the following rates: 75’s 8}d., 92’s to 102’s 74d.
to 8d., 117’s to 127’s 8d. and 147’s 73d. Pie following rates
prevailed for West Indian on the 9th: 69’s to 70’s 8d. to 83d.,
100’s to 148’s 7}d, to 84d. Sixty-eight packages of limed
Java were also disposed of at this auction, On the 16th
55 packages of West Indian were sold, 76's to 77’s fetching
7d. to 8d., 92’s to 102’s 74d. to 8d, 124’s to 128’s 8d.
A week later there was a steady demand both for West Indian
and Eastern, 88 packages of the former, and 68 packages of
the latter being disposed of, the rates for. the former being as
follows: 62’s to 90’s 7d to 8d, 95’s to 105’s 73d. to 8d,
110’s to 120’s 7d. to 74d. and 135’s to 146’s 7d. to 74d. For
the Eastern 8d. to 33d. was paid for 60’s to 70’s and 63d.
to 7d. for 95’s to 105’s. At the last auction on the 30th,
306 packages of West Indian were brought forward and
disposed of at rather easier rates. Of mace 16 packages of
_West Indian were disposed of at the first auction on the 2nd

of the month at 2s. 1d. to 2s. 2d. per tb. for sound, and
1s. 9d. to 1s. 10d. for broken. A week later good fine pale
thin, West Indian fetched from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d, and broken
2s, to 2s. 1d., while good red Java realized 2s. 5d , and broken
2s. 2d. per tb. For the rest of the month these prices
remained fairly steady, West Indian being in good demand,
67 packages being disposed of at auction on the 30th. Of
arrowroot 23 barrels of St. Vincent were brought forward on
the 16th, part of which sold at 42d. per ib. and again on the
30th, 25 barrels of St. Vincent were offered and partly sold
at from 2d. to 4d. per bb.
SARSAPARILLA.

There has been a steady demand for this article
throughout the month, and good prices have been realized.
At the first drug auction on the 3rd. of the month 21 bales
of grey Jamaica were brought forward, and all were sold for
part coarse to fair fibrous, at 1s. 11d. to 2s. per tb., 2 bales
of fair Lima-Jamaica were offered, and both sold at 1s. 10d.
per Ib.; of 27 bales of native Jamaica offered, 15 found
buyers, fair to good red fetching 1s. to Is. ld., ordinary to
dull reddish 10d. to 11d., while ordinary grey and pale red
mixed, realized 104d. and dingy red 8d. per Ih. A fortnight
later, namely on the 17th, the offerings consisted of only
9 bales of grey Jamaica, and 5 of Mexican. The whole
o. the former which consisted of ordinary dark to fair,
was disposed of at from ls. 10d. to 2s. per fb. None
of the Mexican found a buyer. At the last auction on the
31st, the offerings were as follows, grey Jamaica 6 bales,
native Jamaica 22, Lima-Jamaica 10 Honduras, 4 Two
bales only, of the grey Jamaica were sold, fetching 2s. per hb.
the other four being held at 2s. ld. per tb. Only 3 bales
of the native Jamaica sold, 2 at 104d. to 11d. for fair red,
and 1 at ls. per Ib, The whole 10 bales of the Lima-Jamaica
were disposed of at from Is. 8d. to ls. 9d. for fair, part
roughish. The Honduras failed to find a buyer.

KOLA, LIME OIL, LIME JUICE, CASSIA FISTULA
AND TAMARINDS,

Kola has been in greater demand during the month. At
the first auction 16 bags of good bright dried Jamaica
whole and halves, together with some halves from St. Lucia,
were all disposed of at from 53d. to 5fd. per tb. At auction
on the 9th, 8 packages of West Indian were brought
fprward and sold, fair fetching 54d. and dull 5d. per tb. It
was stated at this sale that 64d. was asked for good sound
halves. A week later the large consignment of 76 packages
were offered, 64 of which were disposed of, 22 bags of
West Indian fetched from 43d. to 5d. per tb. for good small
dried, 34d. per tb. for 14 bags of dark and mouldy, and 44d.
to 43d. for fair halves, slightly dark. One batch of
12 bags of fair halves were held at 63d. At the last
spice auction on the 30th, 22 bags of West Indian
sold at from 3}d. to 4$d. per tb. and at the drug
auction on the following day, one bag of small to medium
dull, St. Lucia, realized 37. per Ib.; white 54d. per Ib. was the
price asked for 2 bags of bright Dominican.

At the first auction in the month 4 cases of hand
pressed lime oil from Dominica were disposed of at 7s. 6d.
to 7s. 7d. and for another 4 cases of distilled oil 1s. 3d.
was asked Of lime it is reported that plentiful supplies are
forthcoming, and ls. to ls. 6d. per gallon, according to
quality is the nominal current price. Cassia Fistula is
very scarce, 30s. per cwt. being the price quoted for fair
plump West Indian pods. At the last spice auction on the
30th, 34 barrels of ordinary dry stony West Indian tamarinds
were brought forward and sold at lls. 6d. per cwt. in
bond,

is)
g's)
+

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

NOVEMBER 23,

MARKET REPORTS.

London.—THe West Inpra Commitree CIRCULAR,
November £, 1912: Messrs. E. A. de Pass & Co.,
October 11, 1912.

ARROWROOT—3 id. to dd.

Batata—Sheet, 3/4; block, 2/2 per th.

Brrswax—$7 5s. to £7 17s. 6d.

Oacao—Trinidad, 72/- to 80/- per ewt.; Grenada, 58/-
to 66/-; Jamaica, 55s. to 64s.

OorrrrE—Jamaica, 70s. to 81s.

Uorpra—West Indian, £27 5s. per ton.

Corron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 12d. to 20d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GinceR—49s. to 65s.

Isinctass—No quotations.

Honry—25s. to 31s.

Lime Juice—Raw, 9%d. to 1/4; concentrated, £18 5s. to
£18 10s.; otto of limes (hand-pressed), 7/6.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Macre—2/- to 2/6.

Nurmrcs—73d. to 94d.

Pimento—24d. to 22d.

RusserR—Para, fine hard, 4/3; fine soft, 4/0; Castilloa,
3/8 per tb,

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-.

Sucar—Crystals, 16/6 to 19/-; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/6;
Syrup, 11/3 to 12/3; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York,—Messrs. Gittesprz Bros, & Co., November
1, 1912.

Oacao—Caracas, 15c. to 15$c.; Grenada, 144c. to ldc.
Trinidad, 15c. to 15jc. per tb.; Jamaica, 1ljc. to 123c.

Ooco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $34:00 to $35°00; culls,
$20-00; Trinidad, select, $34:00 to $35-00; culls,
$20-00 per M.

Oorrer—Jamaica, 15$c. to 17jc. per tb.

GincER—8}c. to 12}c. per th.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 46c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c.
per Ib.

Grape Fruit—Jamaica, $1°50 to $2:00.

Limzes—$5°00 to $5°50.

Mace—d3c. to 56c. per fb.

NurtmEcs—110’s, 15}c.

OrancEs—Jamaica, $1°25%to $1°50.

Pimento—4c. per tb. i

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4:05c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°ddc.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., November 11
1912,

Oacao—Venezuelan, $15°50 to $16:00 per fanega; Trinidad,
$1475 to $1550.

Ooco-nut O11—$1-02c. per Imperial gallon.

Oorrre—Venezuelan, 16$c. to 17c. per tt.

OCorra—$4'70 per 100 th.

DuaLt—$4:20.

Onrons—$1°50 to $2°50 per 100 th.

Pras, Sprit—$5°50 per bag.

Potators—English, $1°75 to $2°10 per 100 tt.

Rice—Yellow, $5°00; White, $6°25 to §6°35 per bag.

8c0car—American crushed, no quotations.

Barbados,—Messrs. Jamzs

A. LyncH & Co.,

1912,

Ltd.,

November 16, 1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway &
Co., November 18, 1912; Messrs, Leacock «& Co.,
November 7, 1912.

ARROwROoT—$8-00 to $9:00 per 100 tr.

Cacao—$12°50 to $14:00 per 100 th.

Coco-nuts—$20:00.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°80 per 100 tb.
Manvures—Nitrate of soda, $7000; Cacao manure, $45-00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 to $85-00

per ton.

Motasses—No auotations.
Ontons—$2°20 t6 $3°75 per 100 th.
Pras, Sprit—$6'00 to 70-00 per bag of 210 tb.;3Canada,
$3°00 to $4°9U per bag of 120 tb.
Potators—Nova Scotia, $3°75 to $4°25 per 160 th.
Rice—Ballam, $5°15 to $5°60 per 190 tb.; Patna, no

quotations; Rangoon, no quotations. &;

= aes,

mene

Suear—American granulated, $4:90 per 100 th.

British Guiana. —Messrs. Wierine & Ricurer, Novem-
ber 9, 1912; Messrs. SanpBacn, ParKEeR & Co,,
October 25, 1912.

Messrs. WI:ETING

Messrs. Sanp-

ARTICLES. eras. BACH, PaRKER
& Co.
ArrowRkooTt—St. Vincent — —
Batata—Venezuelablock) No quotation Prohibited
Demerara sheet 70c. per tb.
Cacao—Native 19c. to 20c. per th.| 18c. per tb.
Oassava— $1-00. No quotation
Cassava STaRCH— $750 to $8-00 No quotation
Coco-nuts— $16 to $20 per M.|$10 to $16 perM,,
peeled and
selected
CorrrE—Creole 20c. per tb. 20c. per tb.
Jamaica and Rio 20c. per tb. 203c. per tb.
Liberian 7c. per tb. ldc. per th,
DraLt— $3°50 to $4:00 per $480
bag of 168 tb.
Green Dha!. $5:00 —_
Eppors— 60c. to 80c. —
Mo asses— Yellow None —
Ontons—Teneriffe —
Madeira 5c. per tb. 5e.
Preas—Split $6°25 to $7:00 per| $7-50 per bag
bag (210 tb.) (210 tb.)
Marseilles $400 to $4°25. No quotation
PLANTAINS— l6c. to 48c. —
Potators—Nova Scotia ——
Lisbon $2-00 to $2:25 No quotation
PoraTors-Sweet, B’bados $2°64 ae
per bag

Ric—E—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Svuear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimsbeR—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

s» Cordwood

No quotation
34°50 to $4:60
$1°68
$264
$2°40
$2°25 to $2-70
$3°50 to $380.

$2°50
32c. to 55c. per
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per M.
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on. XT. rok

AGRICULTURAL

NEWs. November 25, 1912

THE BE ST

SA SI S05

MANURES FOR COL LONIAL USE

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohiendorff’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, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

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COTTON SEED MEAL!

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N.B.—Special quotation for large lots.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

JUST ISSUED

\WEST INDIAN BULLETIN.

(Vol. XII No. 4.)

Containing Papers on PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS, CoCOA-
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Entomogenous Fungi on Scale Insects in Barbados; Further
Notes on the Fungus Parasites of Scale Insects; Report on
the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases in the West
Indies, for 1910 and 1911; Bud Rot of the Cocoa-nut Palm;
Cocoa nut Palm Insects in Trinidad; Scale Insects and their
Insect Parasites; Some Fruit Diseases; Experiments in Lime
Juice Concentration; Investigations on the Extraction of
Lime Juice by Milling; Some Root Diseases of |’ rmanent
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ment of the West Indian Lime Fruit; Outline of Manurial
Experiments on Cocoa-nuts in Trinidad and Tobago; The
Bay Rum and Bay Oil Industries of St. Thomas and St. Jan;

‘| The Classification of Sweet Potatoes; Cassava Starch and its

Uses; The Water-Supply of Antigua; Does the Sereh Disease
Exist in the West Indies, More Especially in Trinidad?
A Report on Observations on Scale Insects; The Cocoa-nut
Industry in Antigua; Manurial Experiments with the Gover-
nor Banana in Trinidad; Artificial Cross-Fertilization of the
Mango; and Rice Experiments in British Guiana.

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180

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OF THE

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ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEFARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
\Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department,
price 1s, 38e., post free 1s, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, shonld be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND IT FREE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

YY bye

al y ve aft Y Day hy eA)! Mp : ef Rog (RUYY ~ Ww | =
7} K “Ay. Ly => \ va F iy AN cal, ae IS
INE 2 via 4 N Ui we Ae OF QE ay.

A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW “ak
OF THE ee
IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES, cano
Von. XI. No. 277 | BARBADOS, DECEMBER 7, 1912. Prick ld.
a CONTENTS.
a museum, whose early recognition will lead to an
PaGE. PaGE.

increased efficiency of the work and the saving of

Agriculture in Fiji, 1911 391 | Insect Notes :-— : ; egy oe ‘4
Antigua Agricultural and A Method of Treatment trouble and expenditure in later rectifying mistakes,
Commercial Society... 395 | for Borers in Trees... 394
Towne icus ... 38 ube ay
Camphor Industry in For- es = BERS Pe It is possible in most of the larger countries of the
Fo sas SORT - 389) Market Reports . 400 world to provide museums of two kinds: those on
Castilloa Elastica on the Nise F Wdueational P ;
Ivory Coast 1 8D irk of... 395 @ great scale serving alike the interests of the general
Shevinioyer, The | ne ae Nature Object-Lessons and public and the specialist, and those maintained
3 pees Agriculture in St. Vin- yenerally on a smaller scale for the uses of the
Cotton Notes :— cent, fs) aeemese 392 8 oh ; ;
British Cotton Growing | Notes and Comments 392 specialist alone This cannot usually be done in the
Serene cee A oe from Bam- ae West Indies, where the only ‘museum’ of the second
ndian VUotton ..- | 1008 oe eee Or c a 5 : .
Su EEN 3g9 | Radium and Plants 399 kind is likely to be found in the laboratories of the
epartment News ... .. 399|y,-: ; op : Yous
Bt os 399 Rice Husks, Important various scientific departments; these are of course
odder in St. Lucia ... 392) Conshitentas 393
Exports from Dominica ... 399} Rice in Corea, 1911... ... 393 accessible to any one who wishes seriously to consult

| Rubber of Hevea Confusa
from British Guiana 393
Students’ Corner ee Uys
Sugar Industry:—
The Production of White

Fibre of Gomphocarpus
Semilunatus . 387

Fodder Plant, A New ... 391|

Fungus Notes :—
|

their contents, but are not public in the common sense
of the word. It seems that the best museum for the
West Indies is the most popular kind, possessing with
its popular attributes material that will serve to guide

Coco-nut Diseases in Sugar Directly from Se ‘
Tobago . 398 | Sugar-cane ...._ ... 387 the specialist in his quest for the local aspects of his
ween : Virgin Islands, Recent ee
Gleanings ... “s 396 | Rainfall in .. 395 further researches.
Hurricane Insurance for Wooden Poles, Preserva- , ee :
Coco-nut Plantations 399! tion of 395 The construction of a building for a museum

The Educational Work of Museums.

made to relate as closely as possible to the pur-
Ml poses that it is intended to serve, and in the
West Indies, where the chief interests of the difterent
islands are so very well defined, it is a comparatively
easy matter to decide the scope of the subjects to be
dealt with directly, and to determine the extent to
which attention shall be given to interests that belong
specially to other parts of the world. There are, at the
same time, several general principles to be observed in
the collection and arrangement of material for

should be carried out in a way that such addi-
tions as may be required can be made without inter-
fering with the consistent nature of the original
architectural plan. Even in cases where the lack of
funds prevents new building, and necessitates the use of
buildings that exist already, this matter must be kept
in sight in making a choice. A similar principle is to
be observed in setting out the collections: room for
expansion must be left, so that the housing of fresh
accessions may not necessitate a large moving of
material already in place. Additional and unnecessary
trouble and expense will thus be avoided, as well as
the confusion arising from the bodily removal to new
situations of definite sections, that carelessness in this
matter would entail.

386

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

DeceMBER 7, 1912.

The purpose of a museum, as regards a large
proportion of its visitors, is to suggest new activities of
the mind, and to awaken curiosity. This is why it
should be housed in a conspicuous building easily
accessible to the public, and why its contents should
be arranged as attractively as possible. In this way, it
will be enabled to serve as a means of increasing
interest in local products, and what is ultimately more
important, of bringing about a desire for instruction in
useful subjects. Attention to these circumstances will
also make it more efficient as a direct means for educa-
tion, and if it is to serve well in this capacity, its
equipment must include printed guides to the different
sections, together with such pamphlets as can be pre-
pared for the purpose of elaborating the information
given on the labels belonging to the exhibits.

A use of the museum that is often forgotten is to
provide a place for the safe keeping and exhibition of
rare and valuable objects belonging to private
individuals. In a museum building that is properly
constructed and managed, such articles are in much less
danger from fire and theft than when they are kept in
dwelling-houses; and are available for the pleasure and
instruction of the many, rather than the very few.
Caution has to be exercised, however, by those who are
responsible for the reception and disposal of such
articles, lest space in the museum should come to be
taken up largely by things that are merely objects of
curiosity.

Correlation of the material in a museum is a most
important matter-—-making at once for the liveliest
arousal of interest and the largest educational value.
This correlation should always be natural rather than
artificial, and objective better than subjective; it
may be expressed simply by saying that an article for
exhibition and study should be brought into associa-
tion with other objects of the same nature, as far as
possible in surroundings that belong to its normal
environment, rather than be used simply to illustrate
some ‘subject’ in an educational curriculum. In many
large museums much labour and expenditure are
employed toward reproducing naturslly the conditions
that surround a group of objects, in nature; where such
means are not available, much can be done by provid-
ing printed descriptions and pictures of the necessary
scenes, countries or other details of nature.

The most successful museums are those in which
the members of scientific staffs (uct necessarily belong-
ing to the museum), or specialists, are available to
take an active part in the direction of the work. The

arrangement of the exhibits and the preparation of the
labels and descriptive matter are among the chief
duties of such persons, and their special knowledge
and interest are available for making the institution as
useful as possible, and for keeping it in a condition of
activity. In the West Indies, where the most general
concerns are agricultural, much assistance can be, and
is, given in museum and exhibition work by those who
have charge of the botanic and experiment stations in
the different islands. These officers, as well as those
more directly employed in educational pursuits, should
find their work simplified in places where an efficiens
museum exists, and the possession of such an institu-
tion should make easier the organization of that most
useful means of instruction—the school museum.

Models of objects of interest or learning will always
find a place in museums, partly because they constitute
a way of representing things that it is not easy or
possible to acquire, and because they may be made on
a scale magnifying the original, and thus form a means
of simplifying study. Pictures and maps, and a library
of books chosen carefully in relation to local needs and
to the contents of the museum, are also necessary,
Where funds are available, it is of the greatest use as
well to keep a supply of printed reproductions of photo-
graphs of the more commonly consulted objects or
groups, so that they may be distributed to those
needing them, and particularly for employment in
schools. A useful extension, again, in this direction, is
the provision of lantern slides for the use of lecturers
and teachers; in the case of large museums, even
moving pictures are available for responsible use where
they are required. Matter to be lent for educational
purposes should also include cases of specimens prepared
in such a way as to make them most useful with the least
fear of damage. Lastly, public museums should possess
one or more lecture halls that maay be available for
meetings and demonstrations.

The nature of the material collected for museums
necessitates that some of this cannot be exposed
without suffering damage, and has to be stored in
special ways, out of sight. Articles of this kind should
never be refused on that account, but should be kept as
carefully as those that are exhibited, so that they may
be always available in a fit state for examination and
research.

Where it is intended to organize a museum, those
who have the work to do should not be discouraged
because they have little material to exhibit at first.
A beginning may well be made in connexion with an

Vou. XI. No. 277. THE

existing organization such as a scientific society or an
agricultural society, or the first collections may be
housed and exhibited in a public library until the time
that a special building becomes necessary. _In any case,
it must be realized that the work in a museum is never
finished. A museum that is regarded as complete has
lost its activity and is fast hastening to decay.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.

THE PRODUCTION OF WHITE SUGAR
DIRECTLY FROM SUGAR-CANE.

The present efforts among cane and beet growers to
produce pure white sugars by one continuous process from
the canes or the beets, are attracting much attention
throughout the sugar world. The Wiese Process Company
for making white granulated sugar has been tested at
Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, and the results are said to
have been very satisfactory. These experiments at
Wallaceburg, however, have been chiefly in the way of
refining raw cane sugar imported from the West Indies under
the privilege given to the sugar factories in Canada to
import free of duty, or comparatively free of duty, as much
raw cane sugar as they produced of sugar from home-grown
beets in their own country. This concession to these beet
sugar factories has led to a considerable development of this
method of cane sugar refining in these same beet sugar
factories.

Pure white beet sugars have been made for years directly
from beet juice without the use of bone black. Dr. von
Lipmann inaugurated the addition of the sulphuring process
to the standard carbonatation process in Germany some
twenty years ago and has been successfully making pure
white sugars ever since, This same process has been utilized
in Canada in its beet sugar factories, and of course,they have
been disposed to make efforts to handle cane sugars in the
same way, although their process begins with cane sugar, and
not with cane juice. Beet sugar is singularly free of glucose,
while cane sugar always contains more or less of it and cane
juice contains still more.

We shall discuss first the success in refining cane sugars
in Canada, and later some of the other features of the
business.

The beet sugar factory at Wallaceburg when used as
a sugar refinery has a capacity of 200 tons of refined sugar
per day of twenty-four hours. There is said to be another
factory, located at Marine City, Michigan, of still less capacity
and that a third plant is to be erected at Toledo, Ohio. It
is said that at Wallaceburg no lime or sulphurous acid gas
is used in the final processes with cane sugar, although they
are used with beet sugar, but in the final processes more
attention is given to filtration and the thorough purification
of the cane syrup, including its decolorization, are secured in
this way. The results seem to have been satisfactory and
the sugars produced at Wallaceburg, as well as at Marine
City, Michigan, have been sold in competition with sugar
turned out by the Canadian sugar refinery, which has a full
bone black filtering equipment. It is stated that the cane
sugars brought equal prices with the white beet sugars.

The advantage of this process of sugar-refining in
a beet sugar house is that the beet factories already have all
the machinery ready to handle raw sugar in this way,

AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 387

excepting the melting pans and a few minor rnachines, the
cost of which would be but a few hundreds of dollars, and
with this limited outlay these beet factories can handle raw
sugars to their heart’s content throughout all the dull
season, provided, always, that they can make any money at it.

The beet sugar factories being located back in the interior,
it becomes quite a problem as to how they can receive their
freights of foreign sugars and distribute their refined product.
All these matters, however, are yielding to the good sense
of the railroad management and can doubtless be adjusted.

The next most serious problem is the question of the loss
in this process of refining. It has always been thought that
in refining raw cane sugars the bone black process would give
the largest possible yield. In liquoring sugars with a white
liquor, or by washing them white in the centrifugals, the
losses are ordinarily greater and yet by this Wiese process it
was found in certain experiments that from 100. of raw
sugar nearly 93}Ib. of refined sugar were obtained. It was
estimated at Wallaceburg that in handling approximately 16
million pounds of Java sugar the manufacturing cost of pro-
ducing 100 Ib. of refined sugars reached 41 2c. The
resulting sugar was sold in successful competition with
first-class refined sugar and seemed to give satisfaction.
All this speaks well for this method of production, but by
it cane sugar is still denied the advantage of being made in
one continuous process directly from the juice of the sugar-
cane. Dr. von Lipmann’s method in Germany revolutionized
the production of pure white sugar there in many of their
great sngar factories, although some still adhere to raw sugar
production. It has been the dream of thousands of sugar
planters everywhere that the day would come when with our
improved mechanism, our better methods of decolorizing by
the proper use of sulphur or by improved methods of filtra-
tion, we should be able to produce pure white sugars without
the cost of rehandling or remelting, all of which go to make
the expenses of sugar-refining, and all of which can practi-
cally be saved in the handling of cane juice in the original
sugar factories and turn out there the high grade product
at a single process.

This new method, known as the Wiese process, is
attracting much attention and may revolutionize the cane
sugar industry of the world by carrying the refineries right
into, and making them part of, the great sugar factories,
where the bulk of the sugars of the world are now produced.
(From the Lowisiana Planter, November 2, 1912.)

The Fibre of Gomphocarpus Semilunatus.—
A note based on information regarding this plant in the Kew
Bulletin, 1906, p. 397, and the Bulletin of the Imperial
Institute, Vol. IIL, p.316, as well as in the Agricultural Bulle-
tin of the Straits and Federated Malay States, was given in the
Agricultural News, Vol. IX, p. 72. It appears, further, from
the Annual Report of the Biological Agricultural Institute,
Amani, for 1911-12, in Der Pflanzer for September 1912,
that the work in the laboratory of that institution included
experiments in the extraction of the fibre from the stem of
the plant by soaking it in water. The investigation showed
that, after two or three days’ soaking of strips of the
inner bark, these rotted, together with the fibres. The
preparation of the fibre without soaking in water is very
laborious and can only be carried out by natives, who
employ it for simply making rope for their own use.

It may be added that G. semilunatus is sometimes
referred to as Asclepias semilunata. The plant is related to
the Mudar fibre of India (Calotropis gigantea).

388

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. DeEcEMBER 7, 1912.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

THE CHERIMOYER.

CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS. That the cherimoyer is not
highly successful in strictly tropical countries is conclusively
shown by the fact that even when it has been grown for some
time in such regions and is comparatively well known, it is
not held in high esteem. It is reported that it succeeds in
some parts of Ceylon, and is popular with the natives
Obviously it is not at its best or it would call for a greater
degree of enthusiasm. In Jamaica it is cnly a success in the
coolest and driest parts of the island. Writers in other parts
of the West Indies, and in Réunion, have remarked that it is
not as fine a fruit as some other members of the genus.

But a glance at its popularity in the Mexican highlands,
Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Peru shows a contrary state
of affairs. It has reached a degree of perfection never
attained in tropical lowlands, and is esteemed as one of the
finest of all fruits

The great central plateau of Mexico may be taken as an
example of climatic conditions best suited to this fruit, since
it is there found in perfection, and has been cultivated from
the remotest antiquity.

The hardiness of the tree has been so thorougly tested
in this state [California] as to leave no room for dispute, and
it can be reliec upon to succeed in locations suited to citrus
fruits, with the same amount of protection. The same provi-
sion must be made as with the citrus fruits, however, that
some localities will produce finer fruit than others. And it
must be recognized and remembered that varieties introduced
from other countries will not necessarily be successful here—
if from climates widely different from our own—without
undergoing a process of acclimatization.

PROPAGATION. ‘Although the majority of cherimoyers
in this state are seedlings, the tree can be readily budded.
It is only through this or some other asexual means of
propagation that desirable forms, originated as chance seed-
lings, can be perpetuated, and cherimoyer culture on a com-
mercial scale made profitable.

For germinating the seeds an excellent medium is
a mixture of two-thirds silver sand and one-third o/d redwood
sawdust; lacking this, any light, well-drained soil can be
used with good results. The seeds should be covered to
a depth of }-inch, and if conditions are favourable, they
will germinate within four or five weeks. The young plants
should be potted off when they have attained a height of

3 or 4 inches, using pots of a diameter not less than 24 inches.
The plants are not particular as to soil, it only being necess
sary that it is light and porous.

Budding is best done in early spring, shortly after the
sap has begun to flow. In-some seasons this will be as
early as the first of March, but more frequently late in
March or early in April. The trees should be watched and
the work begun as soon as it is found that the bark will
slip readily.

The most advantageous method of budding the cheri-
moyer is that known as shield budding, the operation being
practically the same as with the citrus fruits.

The stocks should be free from - to }-inch in diameter—
seedlings of this size being usually from a year to a year and
a half old. Wood from which the leaves have dropped and of
about a year’s growth is the most desirable for budwood, and
Mr. Wester advises cutting the buds not less than 1} inches
in length. If cut smaller than this, on account of the rapid
callousing and thick bark of the Anonas, the buds have
difficulty in starting and are choked out. Insert the buds
exactly as in budding citrus fruits, and tie with waxed tape.
At the end of three or four weeks they should be unwrapped,
and if alive, the tree should be lopped back and the bud
rewrapped loosely, leaving the ‘eye’ exposed so that it may
start into growth. The buds of the cherimoyer are sunk
into the bark tissues, and there is not the danger of their
dropping and leaving a ‘blind’ bud that there is with the
avocado.

CULTURE. Experience in California has shown that the
cherimoyer thrives under the same treatment as is accorded the
citrus fruits. The seedlings grow to much larger size than
any of the citrus trees, however, and should be planted at
least 25 feet apart. Budded trees will probably require less
room, as budding dwarfs the tree to a certain extent.

The tree has proved to be about as hardy as the
orange —though this must be largely a matter of variety—
and is semi-deciduous in nature, the extent being dependent
upon the severity of the climate.

Whether seedling or budded, the tree ordinarily comes
into bearing about the fourth year. The fact that large
trees are quite frequently unproductive, though blooming
profusely, has led to a series of investigations by P. J.
Wester of the United States Department of Agriculture,
which throw considerable light on the matter, although there

Vou. XI. No. 277.

is still much to be learned. Mr. Wester found that the
flowers of the cherimoyer were unable to fertilize themselves
because of the pistils maturing before the stamens, and
consequently not receptive to the pollen whenat was liberated,
thus necessitating the assistance of some outside agency for
fertilization. The pollination of the mature pistils with
pollen from another flower was attribu uted to insects,
Mr. Wester believed the sterility of the) cherimoyer in
Florida to be due to a scarcity of fiowers and an insufficient
xumber of insects to assist in pollinating thém. He further
states that: ‘the extraordinary productivity of a few indi-
vidual trees suggests a chance in regard to the pollination of
the flowers of these trees, possibly due to synacmy [the
coming to maturity of the anthers and stigmas at the same
time] and self-pollination.” (From the Pomona College
Journal of Economic Botany, May 1912.) ~

CASTILLOA ELASTICA ON THE IVORY
COAST.

Here, in the same way as other plants yielding rubber
that are being tried, Castz//oa elastica has been planted in
open spaces and seems suited to the conditions. It appears,
however, to be unable to bear standing water at the roots,
as is shown by the death of trees that have been reached by
floods; nevertheless it behaves well under the rainy condi-
tions of Tiassalé, where the trials are being made.

This and the following information is given in
L Agriculture Pratique des Pays Chauds for December 1911,
which proceeds to remark upon the large growth of one of the
trees, in comparison with that of the others in the same set,
from which however it is situated at some distance. Although
this tree is only three and a half years old, it has commenced
to fruit, and it is thought that its better development is due
to its superior position. In any case, measurements (which
are given) show that on the Lower Ivory Coast, Castilloa
makes rapid growth, comparable with that of Manihot
‘laziov, and it is considered that facility in producing
rubber should go along with this.

Tapping trees two and a half years old by means of
horizontal grooves about an inch long, arranged vertically,
gave 0°35 oz. of dry rubber from three plants. Another tree
of the same age, for which herring-bone tapping to a height
of about 4 feet was employed, gave 0:15 oz. of scrap rubber
possessing little elasticity; in this case, all the rubber remained
in the cuts. These experiments with very young trees are
not considered to show that plants of such an age should be
tapped, on account of the interference with their growth and
the poor quality of the rubber given by them.

In the case of older trees, three and a half to four years
old, one plant tapped by means of horizontal grooves arranged
vertically gave 0°62 oz. of dry rubber, in scraps, the product
being black in colour and very elastic. A second tree of the
same age, with herrring-bone tapping to avheight of about
4 feet, gave 0°14 oz. of rubber, all of which remained in the
incisions; though the product was good, the yield, as is
seen, was small. Lastly, a very vigorous tree which had
been bled three months before by the eareless herring-
bone method used by the natives for Funtumia, in
the forest, was first tapped in horizontal grooves; but
the latex was so much more fluid than that in the other
eases that there was a risk of the loss of the rubber.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. 389

Tapping was therefore carried out by the herring bone method,
from a height of about 6 feet, on onehalf of the trunk.
Coagulation took place before the latex could reach the cup:
placed at the foot of the tree. The product, like that of the
first of these older trees, resembled the grade Sernamby; it
was black in colour, with an agreeable Smell, and very elastic,.
being a better product than that obtained by collecting the
latex and treating it in order to obtain the rubber. It is
stated that the rubber does not coagulate immediately in the
air, but forms a more or less pasty mass having a white colour
turning to yellow. The yield from the tree was 0 44 oz. of
dry rubber, and the reason for this low return is seen easily
in the way that the plant had been abused three months-
before.

The article concludes by reviewing shortly the prospects.
for Castilloa-growing on the Ivory Coast, which appear to
be good.

TRE CAMPHOR INDUSTRY IN FORMOSA,
1911.

The details below have been taken from the Board.
of Trade Journal for September 12, 1912. An account
of the Camphor industry in Formosa in 1910, and an
article entitled Useful Information Regarding Camphor,
are to be found in this volume of the Agricultural
News, pp. 9 and 302.

The export of camphor (a Government monopoly) showed
a decrease of 872,5541b. in 1911. The quantity shipped was
5,613,718bb.

The estimated output of refined camphor by the
Monopoly Bureau’s refinery during 1911 was 7,267,000Ib.

The number of owners of crude camphor works was
fourteen, but the number of works exceeded this. It is stated
that no new licenses will be issued during 1912 as the
authorities still hold surplus stocks brought over from two
years ago. ‘The estimated receipts of crude camphor and
ago oil for the financial year 1911 were 6,264,000h. and

272,000b. respectively. These quantities were received,
chotih in part after the turn of the year, the late receipts
being brought over to the following year.

The estimated demand in Japan for. Formosa camphor
during 1911 was 3,280,000Ib. to be extracted from the oil
sent over. The quantity of camphor sent was very small.
This demand is expected to increase considerably this year in
consequence of the newly established manufacture of celluloid.

The improved refining machinery installed by the Bureaw
last autumn is said to give satisfactory results, producing
camphor to the amount of 48 per cent. of the weight of oil
used; this camphor is of superior quality, viz., 93 per cent.
pure, containing only 2 per cent._of oil and 5 per cent. of
water. The distillation is effected by steam heat, steam being
also forced through the oil during distillation.

The Government has since 1906 encouraged the planting
of camphor trees by distributing seedlings gratis. Over
3,000,000 plants were distributed in 1911.

As the result of experiments carried on for five years,
the Bureau will commence the distillation of camphor from
leaves on a practical scale this year. A considerable area has
been afforested for this purpose. Leaves will be gathered
from the young trees. he best results were obtained from.
the use of the leaves only, branches not being cut; 1°3 per cent,
of camphor was. obtained in this manner, together with
0-4 per cent. of oil.

390

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. DrceMBER 7, 1913.

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date November 18, with reference
‘to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton :—

West Indian Sea Islands have been in moderate request
since our last report and sales comprise about 200 bales
chiefly Leeward Islands cotton from 12d. to 1l4d., with
a few extra fine New Crop lots of Barbados and St. Kitts
from 18d. to 19d. The medium qualities between 15d.
and 18d. are quite neglected, there being very little demand
for the yarns for which they are used. Prices remain firm

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending November 16, is as follows:—

There continued a demand for all the offerings of the
receipts classing Fine to Extra Fine off in class, at prices
ranging from 22c. to 26c., and some small sales were made
of Extra Fine at 29c. _There was also some inquiry for Fully
Fine, which did not result in any sales.

Factors are not very willing sellers at our quotations,
as the report of cotton ginned, and the continued small
receipts, together with unfaveurable reports from the. planta-
tions, has resulted in crop estimates being reduced to 8,000
to 10,000 bales.

We quote, viz.:—

ZExtra Fine 29c. = 63d. c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 274e. = 154d. ” ” ” ”
Fine 26c. = 143d. ” ” ” ”
Se OT aN 56cm > Lote |
in preparation, J

Rally ine on ho teth => Saapauemmmen

in preparation, f ”
Hinejott \ 22¢. = 123d. ” ” ’ ”

in preparation J

BRITISH COTTON GROWING ASSOCIA-
TION.

The following account of a recent meeting of the
Council of this Association has just been received:—

The one hundred and fifth meeting of the Council of the
British Cotton Growing Association was held at the oftices,
15 Cross Street, Manchester, on Tuesday, November 5,
Mr. J. Arthur Hutton occupied the chair.

A letter was read from the President, the Right Hon.
The Earl of Derby, G.C.V O., regretting his inability to
attend as he had intended; but his presence was necessary ab
a meeting in Liverpool in connexion with the threatened
carters’ strike.

West Arrics. The purchases of cotton in Lagos to the
end of October amount to 9.035 bales, as compared with
5,368 bales for the same period of last year, and 5,575 bales
for 1910 he purchases in Northern Nigeria to date are
2,326 bales, as compared with about 500 bales for the whole
of the previous season. The new crop in Northern Nigeria
will begin to come forward towards the end of the present
month, and there is every indication that the production will
show a considerable increase over that of any previous season,
and it is estimated that some 7,900 bales will be produced
this year

NYASALAND. It was reported that the crop in the Port
Herald district is now coming in in small quantities, but tha
cotton is again mixed owing to the fact that the natives
have not destroyed the old season’s plants which have again
cropped; it was felt that the only solution of this difticulty
was to have a close season for cotton and ensure that all
plants are rooted up every year. It was decided that repre-
sentations should he made to the Agricultural Department if
it is found that the cotton is badly stained when it arrives
in this country.

A letter was read from the Director of Agriculture for
Nyasaland suggesting that the Association should establish
a small ginnery in the Upper Shire District, where during
the last season over 80 tons of seed cotton was produced,
and the crop now being harvested promises to show a con-
siderable increase, over 100 tons of native-grown cotton
having already been purchased. The matter is under con-
sideration, but it was pointed out that it was most expensive
to establish these pioneer ginneries, as an expenditure of
something like £10,000 to £20,000 per annum would be
necessary for some years if present developments were ta
continue. The question of the continuance of the Govern-
ment grant, which expires on March 31, next, will very
shortly have to be brought forward, and the opinion was
expressed that the Association should not be expected to
continue this pioneer work unaided.

supan. Reports have been received stating that on
the whole the cotton at Zeidab is looking healthy and prom-
ising, and at Tayiba the crop looks fairly healthy with the
exception of a few patches which have been attacked by the
cotton-flea and Asl. The cotton at Tayiba which has been
planted on Jand under cultivation last year looks stronger
than that which has been sown on new land,

Vor. XI. No. 277.

The account closes with a financial statement
showing that on November 7 the balance to be raised,
to complete the authorized capital of the Association,
namely £500,000, was £22,860. On October 1 it was
£25,039. 5

AGRICULTURE IN FIJI, 1911.

The quantities and values of the chief exports from Fiji
in 1911 were as follows: sugar 72,834 tons Value £797,274,
copra 16,337 tons value £294,245, and bananas 897,345
bunches and 219,551 cases value £151,668.

The general increase both in quantities and values is
gratifying, and it is satisfactory to note that the anticipated
illeffects of the 1910 hurricane were not realized; while,
however, the output was considerably less, the value of
the year’s produce was £32,242 greater than that exported
during 1910. An extraordirary increise in the quantity of
green fruit exported is noticeable, and it is due to the fact
that during the year the banana industry was not affected by
any serious cyclonic disturbance. During the year green
fruit of the total value of £151,668 was exported, of which
£33,145 was shipped to the Melbourne market by means of
the greater facilities in transport provided during the year.
The revenue derived from the imposition of the Banana
Subsidy and Inspection Tax, levied under Ordinance XII of
1911, amounted to £1,397 12s. 11d., against which the cost
of inspection and subsidies on account of the banana trade
amounted to £6,133 10s. 10d.

The total area of Jand under sugar-cane cultivation on
December 31, 1911, was estimated at 43,358 acres, from
which were produced 488,534 tons of sugar-cane. The area
under coco-nuts, or cultivated by Europeans and exclusive of
native plantations, was estimated at 37,562 acres. The esti-
mated cultivated area under bananas and pine-apples on
December 31 last was 4,692 and 230 acres respectively.
These figures do not include native plantations, as to which
details are not available. It is from native plantations that
the greater part of the green fruit exported is produced.
Fruit so grown is sold under contract to European buyers,
who ship the produce to the respective markets. ..... .
It is hoped that greater facilities for transport and conveyance
of fruit to the port of Suva may be provided in the near
future, and that the cultivation of fruit will increase con-
siderably. This result will follow if planters are guaranteed
that vessels suitably equipped for the carriage of fruit will
be provided, and that the service will be continued for
a definite period.

The continued increase of exports of minor products
indicates that more attention might, with advantage, be
given to the cultivation of products other than sugar, fruit,
and copra. Some considerable area of land is now being
leased to planters for the cultivation of sisal hemp. It is
anticipated that the production of this fibre will become an
important industry in some districts of the Colony. Land
in considerable areas unsuited to the cultivation of either of
the staple products is available for settlement, and may be
utilized in the cultivation of sisal hemp. .The quantity of
molasses exported during the year was 9,821 tons, as against
8,900 tons in 1910. The value, however, placed on the
quantity exported is shown to be £1,419 less than that for
the previous year. (Taken from Colonial Reports— Annual,
No. 727; September 1912.)

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS,

A NEW FODDER PLANT.

An article in the most recently received issue of the Kew
Bulletin, on page 309, deals with an African grass called
elephant grass which was described in the Rhodesian Agrs-
cultural Journal for June 1910 as Zinyamunga or Napier’s
fodder grass. The grass has since been identified at Kew
as Pennisetum purpureum, Schum. It is a species widely
distributed in Tropical Africa; but as comparatively little is
known about it, the purpose of the article in the Bulletin is
to give a grief account of what is ascertainable at present.

The plant is described as a tall perennial grass with
a creeping rhizome; the stems (culms) are erect, in tufts
containing up to twenty, and are 6 to 10, or occasionally as
much as 23 feet high. They are branched, the brarches
being obliquely erect. The leaves are 1 foot to 2 feet
(rarely 3 feet) long and up to 1 inch wide, with a strong
midrib which is rounded on the back and provided with
a shallow channel above, towards the base. The distribution
of P. purpurevm is between 10° N. Lat.and 20° S. Lat. It is
found mainly along watercourses and in low-lying marshy
land, but also enters the bush and forest in places where
there is sufficient light. The stems grow to the greatest
height in rich marsh land; on drier soil, as in the savannas
of East Africa, they are hardly more than 6 feet high. The
plant appears occasionally on abandoned land that has been.
cultivated, and has in a few cases been seen in a state of
cultivation. -

Besides its use as fodder, the grass is employed in Africa
for making fences, for the interior walls of native houses,
and strips of it are sometimes used for cutting up meat.
Like pearl millet, it is said to be an extremely good resister
of drought. It may. be propagated like sugar-cane, either by
division of the rhizomes or from cuttings or slips.

The composition of the fodder is compared with that of
sugar-cane fodder in the following analyses:—

Sugar-cane Elephant gras®

fodder, fodder,

per cent. per cent.
Water 73 63 61°81
Ether extract 0°22 0:29
Protein (nitrogen » 6 25) 1:27 2°92
Carbohydrates 17-73 17°29
Woody fibre 5°32 14°77
Ash 1°83 2°92

Juice from the stripped stalks was compared with juice
from the cane, the extraction being made by the use of an
ordinary flatting mill for rolling out metals, and was found
to amount to 21°3 per cent. of the weight of the straw
compared with 56:6 per cent. in the case of the sugar-cane.
The juice of the elephant grass was tasteless and contained
little sugar, while that of the sugar-cane gave 6°69 per cent.
sucrose and 2°84 per cent. glucose.

It is authoritatively considered that the rotting grass,
as well as the ash, is a valuable manure.

The article concludes by stating that the best method
of propagating the grass is probably by dividing the plants,
or from cuttings, and that as only one seed was found in the
material recrived at Kew, and this was not quite mature, it
is possible that the spikelets of the grass, with their invoe
lucres, detach themselves very easily. r

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

DecemBer 7, 1912.

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 & Sors, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulan &
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, 48. 4d.

Agricultural stews
Wor. XI. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1912. No. 277.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Contents of Present Issue.

The leading article in this issue presents some
matters concerned with The Educational Work of
Museums. A fuller treatment of the subject may be
found in Science for November 15, 1912.

Under the heading Sugar Industry, page 387
contains an article reviewing methods of making white
sugar directly from the sugar-cane,

On page 389 an account is given of interesting
experiments that have been carried out in the tapping
of Castilloa elastica on the Ivory Coast.

A description is given on page 391 of a new
African fodder plant called elephant grass (Pennisetum
purpureum), based on information appearing in the
recent issue of the Kew Bulletin.

The Insect Notes, on page 394, contain the first
of two articles dealing with ticks. They also comprise
two short notes on a new pest of Ficus and a method
of treatment for borers in trees.

An account of an address given by the Imperial
Commissioner of Agriculture at a recent meeting of the
Antigua Agricultural and Commercial Society is pre-
sented on page 395,

The Fungus Notes, which are given on page 398,
<leal with a recent report by the Assistant Director of
Agriculture of Trinidad on coco-nut diseases in Tobago,

Nature Object-Lessons and Agriculture in
St. Vincent.
The report on the Examination of Schools,

St. Vincent, for 1912, which was gazetted on Octo-
ber 31, states that these subjects continue to be taught
in the same way as was followed last year, except that
more attention is given in some cases to box experi-
ments.

It is thought that the recent reorganization of the
the Agricultural Department may have one result in
improving the conditions in connexion with the school
gardens. This work has received interference during
the year on account of the prolonged drought

The report states that the pupils still exhibit
keenness in the object-lessons and theoretical agricul-
ture, but the suggestion is made that the senior pupils
at least should provide weekly, brief accounts of the
experiments that they have been conducting.

>

Phe Dodder in St. Lucia.

A memorandum regarding the dodder or love vine
(Cuscuta sp.) in St. Lucia has been prepared by the
Agricultural Superintendent. This is being published
in the Gazette, and it is intended that copies shall be
supplied to the Parish Priests and to the Inspector of
Schools, who are being asked to co-operate in spread-
ing infurmation and making known the expediency of
united action against the parasite.

The memorandum of the Agricultural Superin-
tendent commences by describing the plant and its
common method of propagation, giving attention to its
parasitic habit whereby it obtains all its food from its
host.

The chief plants that are being attacked are
enumerated, and stress is Jaid on the importance that
every effort should be made by man, woman and child
to destroy the vine. The method of destruction is thus
detailed: —

‘To destroy the vine it is necessary to collect it
carefully and completely from the trees and shrubs on
which it is found growiag and then to burn it. Another
way is to bury it in a hole in the ground, taking care
to well cover it with plenty of soil. The work must be
thoroughly done, and in collecting the material care
must be exercised that any pieces that get dropped
about are picked up. The infested spots should be
visited at regular intervals of about seven days to
collect any of the vine that may have begun to grow
from pieces that were formerly dropped or overlooked.

‘In some cases it may not be possible to properly
hand-clean infested trees that have spiny branches; 16
will then be necessary to cut off the infested parts and
burn them with the vine. Persistent and united effort
for a few weeks will reduce this dangerous pest
considerably, and then it will be an easier matter to
keep it under control, especially if everyone becomes
acquainted with its appearance, nature, and habits, and
is always on the look-out for a chance to destroy it.’

It is pointed out that the vine is flowering at the
present time in some localities, so that the necessity
is indicated for prompt action before seeds are formed,

‘Rice in Corea, 1911.

It is hoped that the export tax én rice raised in
‘Corea will be removed soon, as this will improve the
conditions of the industry notwithstanding the fact
that the rice taken by Japan has td pay an import

- ¢ax. Attention is drawn in Diplomatic and Consular
Reports, No. 4899 Annual Series, to the fact that the
Japanese intend Corea and Formosa to be the sole
producers of rice for use in their country, and better
methods of agriculture in Corea should go a long way
toward the attainment of this hope.“In 1911 the
-exports of rice from Corea decreased from 108,935 tons
worth £640,830 in 1910 to 75,286 tons worth £539,590
in 1911. The improved conditions forthe circulation
-of money, in the peninsula, now enable the Coreans to
hold their rice crops for better prices.

-

An Important Constituent of Rice Husks.

In the Agricultural News, Vols. X, p. 345; XI,
pp. 55 and 339, attention was given to the possible
connexion that exists between a diet consisting mainly
of cleaned and polished rice and the prevalence of such
diseases as beri-beri. Further information regarding
the matter is available in an abstract of a paper
describing recent work on the subject, contained in the
Journal of the Chemical Society for October 1912.

In the investigation, it was shown that as in former
cases hens, doves, mice and other animals fed exclu-
sively with shelled rice become ill and finally die, after
a great loss of body weight. The effect is caused by
the absence of a substance essential«to life, which is
found in rice husks; it has been called Oryzanin.

The necessity of oryzanin in supporting life is
proved further by adding it to artificial diets of fat,
proteids, carbohydrates and salts, when the diet, origi-
nally inefticient, becomes useful.

The experience with the animals mentioned was
confirmed in the case of dogs. Without oryzanin, they
waste rapidly, and when given 0°3 gram of that sub-
stance daily they quickly recover.

The writers discuss the relationship of the absence
of oryzanin to beri-beri. The substance has been found
to be fairly widely distributed in various foodstuffs. In
obtaining it from rice husks, these are first freed from
‘fat by the use of ether, and the residue is extracted
with alcohol.

EO
‘Rubber of Hevea Confusa from British Guiana.

Under this title, the Bulletin of the Imperial
Dastitute for October 1912 gives a note on Hevea con-
_ fusa, which is indigenous to British Guiana, where it is
Known as Hattie or Sibi.
The plant is a large tree, distinguishable from
H. brasiliensis by its bark being perfectly smooth
except for the presence of scattered minute prickles; the
bark of the Para rubber tree shows distinct longitudinal
grooves.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the rubber fur-
mished by H. confusa is weak and has hitherto been
considered of little or no commercial value. A sample

‘THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

393

received at the Imperial Institute in July 1911 was
however, of very satisfactory composition, and rubber
of the kind would doubtless be saleable, although the
product was deficient in elasticity and tenacity.

It is said that the trees give a small yield in
rubber, and that experience in British Guiana, Jamaica
and Java has shown that there is no improvement in
the returns, under cultivation.

The sample from British Guiana consisted of
biscuits of very dark rubber, clean, well prepared, and
in good condition. The rubber was soft, however, and
tore readily when stretched. An analysis which is given
shows that the loss on washing was 1-4 per cent.; the
percentages of caoutchouc, resin, protein and ash in the
dry washed rubber were 92:3, 18, 49, and 1:0, respec-
tively. It was valued at about 4s. per Ib. in London,
with fine hard Para at 4s. 8d.

‘This sample of the rubber of H. confusa was very
satisfactory in composition, the dry material containing
923 per cent. of caoutchouc and only 1'8 per cent. of
resin; notwithstanding this it was very deficient in
elasticity and tenacity.’

It is stated that it is impossible at present to
assign a definite reason for the poor physical characters
of the rubber.

——— ee
Paper-making from Bamboos.

It appears from the Bulletin de la Société Belge
d’ Etudes Coloniales for September to October 1912
that the French Colony in Tonkin has just become
practically interested in a new industry. A factory for
making paper paste from the bamboo has been built,
and commenced to work in March of this year. It is
sufficiently large at present to produce yearly 6,000
metric tons of paper paste by the soda process.
Permission has been obtained for cutting in the bamboo
forests for along period, and the factory is thus assured
of a supply of raw material.

Emphasis is laid on the importance of the effort, in
the light of the fact that the world’s production of
paper paste is about 8,000,000 metric tons; 55 per cent.
of this amount is furnished by Europe, and the
remainder by the United States and Canada. The
well-known fact of the greatly increasing demand for
paper, as well as the circumstances that a smaller area
of forests is year by year available and that the
Governments of various countries are taking energetic
measures for the conservation of the forests, have had
the result of increasing the market price of paper.

The work of investigators has shown that certain
bamboos may be used with facility for the pur-
pose; they yield more than 50 per cent. of cellulose,
are harvested cheaply and can be cut up easily. Ib
appears also that the paste obtained from such bamboos
is of excellent quality and would be superior not only
to the paste made from wood but also to that obtained
from esparto grass. : , hal

As is pointed out in the article, the investigations
—provided that future experience does not invalidate
their worth—may yield results of the greatest
importance.

os
cS
i

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

DeEcEMBER 7, 1912,

INSECT NOTES.

TICKS.
PART I.

An important contribution to the knowledge of North
American ticks has been issued recently by the United States
Department of Agriculture as Bulletin No. 106 of the Bureau
of Entomology. The authors are Messrs. Hooker, Bishopp
and Wood, and the publication has been prepared under the
general direction of Mr. W. D. Hunter. The title ‘The Life
Historyand Bionomics of some North American Ticks’ indicates
the lines on which the investigations have been carried out.

Reference to previous articles by Mr. Hooker and
Messrs. Hooker and Bishopp will be found in the Agricultural
News, Vol. X, p. 314, in the Insect Notes entitled: ‘Informa-
tion Concerning Ticks.’

On account of the importance of ticks generally, and of
the limited knowledge regarding the ticks of most of the
Leeward ard Windward islands, it is proposed to reprint in
the Agricultural News, two of the introductory chapters of
Bulletin No. 106, for the information of the planters and
others in these islands who are, or ought to be, interested in
these parasites.

One of these chapters ‘The Economic Importance of
‘Ticks’ is reproduced herewith; the other ‘Collecting, Presery-
ing and Mounting Ticks’ will appear in the next number of
this journal.

‘Ticks are of economic importance (1) as agents in the
transmission of infectious diseases, and (2) as external para-
sites, both of man and the lower animals. At least two
distinct diseases of man and eight or more of domestic animals
are known to be thus transmitted, at least seventeen species
of ticks being involved as carriers. Of these diseases one of
man and one of cattle occur, and one of fowls is suspected to
occur in the United States, while several others would
undoubtedly obtain a foothold were they once introduced.

‘It has been estimated by Dr. Mohler (1905) that the
cattle tick alone is the source of approximately $40,000,000
annual loss in the United States. Mayor (1906) has
estimated the annual loss as nearly $100,000,000.

‘These parasites are of considerable importance as external
parasites, particularly in the Southern States, owing not only
to their irritation and great drain upon stock through removal
of blood, but also to their indirect effect as well. In one of
Theiler’s experiments (1909a) a horse that was infested with
Margaropus decolorvatus died as a result of infestation from
acute anaemia due to the withdrawal of blood. Within
three days, 14 ib. by weight of ticks which had dropped
from this horse were collected, and this amount represented
only about one-half of the total number of ticks which
engorged upon it. After dropping, their places of attach-
ment furnish points at which the screw-worm fly (Cirysomyia
macellaria) deposits its eggs, the maggots from which then
readily enter the host. In the Southwestern States the
appearance of equines is frequently injured by screw-worms,
which gain entrance at the points in the ears where ticks
had been attached, burrow, and destroy the supporting
cartilage, causing the ears to lop over. This condition is
commonly known as ‘gotched’. Not the least of all is the
frequent annoyance which man suffers as the result of the
attachment of ticks to his body.

‘The ticks which moult upon the host, instead of having
to wait long periods to find another, merely continue sucking
blood from the same animal. As a result these ticks repro-
duce very rapidly and frequently become of much greater

importance as external parasites than species which drop
to moult. This is the case with the cattle tick. Those
which drop to fhoult have overcome this great disad-
vantage by becoming more resistant to heat and cold
and by having gained the power to withstand much
longer periods® of fasting. Certain members of the sub-
family Ixodinae, while not occurring in such great num-
bers on animals as in the case of species which moult on
their hosts —all of which belong to the sub-family Rhipicepha-
linae—are frequently of considerable importance as pests,
owing to the fact that the great length of the hypostome
permits deep penetration, As the result of this deep pene
tration by the Ixodinae, an inflammation is produced which
frequently restilts in suppuration. Often in the attempt to
remove ticks belonging to this class from the body of the
host the capitulum is separated from the body of the tick
and remains embedded in the host.

‘The periods in tke life-history of ticks of particular
importance economically, and which should be determined,
are: Jongemty, or the period required for starvation while
awaiting a host; minimum parasitic period, which is used in
connexion with the preoviposition and incubation periods to
determine the time that tick free areas may be used after
infested cattle are turned in before the areas become infested:
maximum parasitic period, or the period required for clean-
ing the host of all ticks (except males) when kept in tick-free
inclosures; preoviposition period and minimum incubation
period, used with the minimum parasitic period to determine
the time that tick-free lots may be used before becoming
infested; stage or stages of imbibition of infection and the
stage or stages im which infection is transmitted, ie., in the
case of species involved in disease transmission.’

A Method of Treatment for Borers in Trees —
The following is translated from a note which appeared in the
Journal @ Agriculture Tropicale for May last:—

M. Mieville,a planter at Tonkin, has reported that he
has successfully employed the following method of using
rectified benzine against the coffee tree borer.

For this purpose a syringe with a strong, sharp point is
used: the injection is made as high as possible in the tunnel
of the borer so that the benzine may flow down and thus
come into contact with the insect, which is immediately killed
by being touched by the benzine.

A few hours after the injection the odour of the benzine
will be found to have entirely disappeared, and there are no
oil marks or wounds on the tree.

This method, which has been employed successfully for
more than a year by M. Miéville, is said to do away with the
necessity for cutting out the attacked parts.

A New Pest of Ficus.—A not in Der Pflanzer for
May 1912 reports a new pest of Ficus elastica from Dar-es-
Salam, German East Africa. This was observed on the
opening leaf shoots, which were otherwise flourishing. and
was boring through the young leaves, which later withered,
becoming black at the edges and finally falling. The com-
plete stage of the insect is a handsome, yellow beetle, which
was described at Amani as Sternotomis Lohemani. This is
3 to 4 cm. in length, with clear bluish-green wing cases
which are marked with dark-brown, wavy, diagonal lines.
The antennae of the insect are 5 to 7 cm. long and curved iz
a semicircle from behind. The land of the observer was
freed from the pest by systematic search for it, followed by
its destruction. +

‘Vor. XI. No. 277.

; THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

395

ANTIGUA AGRICULTURAL AND
COMMERCIAL SOCIETY.

At a general meeting of this society, held on Friday
November 1, 1912, an address was given by Dr. Francis
Watts, C.M.G., Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture. His
Excellency Sir H. Hesketh Bell, K.C.M.G., Governor of the
Leeward Islands, presided.

At the commencement of the address Dr. Watts, ia
referring to the useful work of the society, mentioned the
interesting circumstance that it is now twenty-one years
since its inauguration,

In a survey of agricultural matters in Antigua, the
address first paid attention to sugar, and reference was made
to the way in which central factories had proved themseleves
useful and necessary in the island. Notwithstanding the
unfavourable conditions of a series of dry years, the amount
of sugar-cane grown had not decreased to anything like the
extest that may have been expected, had there been no
chance of dependence on central factories. Though there had
been great improvements in the direction of the manufacture
of sugar, much more attention was required regarding the
improvement of the soil, both by proper tillage and the
judicious use of manures, particularly pen manure, a circum-
stance aiding in the production of the latter being the
abundant growth of hay grass (Andropogon caricosus) that
now forms a feature of the vegetation of Antigua. The
matter led, in another way, to the consideration of the
drainage of the soil, and Dr. Watts expressed agreement
with the suggestion made by Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc.,
Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands, that
more attention is now needed in relation to this matter,
simply because of the deeper root system of the seedling
canes that are now being raised in the place of the Bourbon
cane.

Among green dressings, the Barbuda hean (Phaseolus
dunatus) was recommended as being particularly” useful,
because the hydrocyanic acid formed in its leaves discourages
the attack of insects. Most of the other available green
dressings were liable to be destroyed by caterpillars of
different kinds, and the matter was made all the more diffi-
eult for the agriculturist because Paris green and lime in
proportions sufficient to kill the insects was fatal to the
plants.

Dr. Watts referred to the untoward past experience of
cotton growers in Antigua, mentioning the signs of recovery
‘that are to be seen in consequence of the much less serious
incidence of the flower-bud maggot. Assistance in combating
this pest was afforded by early planting, whereby the state of
the crop would be well advanced before the chief time of its
attack—about the middle of December.

The consideration of cotton was succeeded by informa-
tion regarding coco-nut growing, stress being laid on the great
demand for coco-nuts, and the consequent attraction of agri-
culturists and capitalists toward the crop. After giving a few
hints on the planting and cultivation of coco-nuts, the speaker
passed on to the subject of forestry—a matter whose impor-
tance to the island has been recognized for several years.
Although there was great uncertainty as to the power of
forests to attract rain, it was realized that their presence

caused the water falling as rain on hillsides to be held back
for a time instead of being poured immediately off the surface
of the land. Mr. Tempany had given this matter specific
attention in a memorandum drawn up by him this year, deal-
ing with the afforestation of the catchment area around
Wallings Reservoir.

Allusion was then made to tuberculin tests that have been
carried out recently in Antigua by Mr. P. T. Saunders,
M.RC.V.S., Veterinary Ofiicer to the Imperial Department of
Agriculture. Regret was expressed that planters in Antigua
had not shown more interest in the subject. The Department
had demonstrated the general presence of tuberculosis among
stock in the island, and any further action would have to be
taken by owners.

Dr. Watts concluded his address by reference to the
question of the water-supply of Antigua, mentioning the
recent work by Mr. A. A. Camacho at Ottos, and the
somewhat unexpected results that had been obtained. It
must be remembered that good supplies of drinking water
could always be obtained by sinking wells in the limestone
district, and economy would be effected in the use of such
water by the increasing employment of the brackish waters
for domestic purposes other than drinking.

After His Excellency had thanked Dr. Watts on behalf
of the members present for his address, the Commissioner
of Agriculture made suitable acknowledgement, and a vote
of thanks to His Excellency for presiding terminated the
proceedings.

The Recent Rainfall in the Virgin Islands.—
The following is taken from a recent report by the Agricul-
tural Instructor, Tortola, to His Honour the Comnussioner
of the Virgin Islands, dealing briefly with the recent useful
rainfall received in those islands:—

‘The long drought was very effectually broken by the
rains of the 7-8th. On the 6th Your Honour and myself
left for Virgin Gorda, where it was proposed to hold an
agricultural meeting on the 7th at noon. Soon after arrival
there a strong south-east wind set in, accompanied by driving
rain. We were unable to land on the 7th and eventually
left Virgin Gorda at about 1.30 p.m., reaching Road Harbour,
after a rough passage, about 3.30 p.m. On reaching home
at 4 p.m. I measured what rain had fallen since 9 a.m. and
found it amounted to 2°27 inches. During the night very
heavy rain fell, and at 6 a.m I measured 7:32 inches (the
rain having then ceased) making the total in less than
twenty-four hours 9°59 inches. This is by far the heaviest
fall in any one period of twenty-four hours since records
have been kept here (1899 to date). The previous greatest fall
in twenty-four hours was 6‘04 inches on July 22-23, 1901.

‘Considerable damage was done to the roads by wash.
The upper wall of the bridge over the ravine, at the point
where the public road crosses it, was washed away and the
road cut up a lot. About 100 yards of newly erected fence
was washed away, and minor damage done to the station,
The water-course, which, fortunately, had recently been
cleared out, has been again filled with gravel brought down
from the foot of the hills. It is most essential for the
preservation of the lower lands of the Station that this
water-course be kept clear; much damage has been done in
former years by its becoming choked and the water spreading,
carrying with it gravel and débris.

‘Growth has been very active since the rains, and,
though it is too much to hope for normal crops of cotton,
limes, sugar-canes, etc., I venture to hope that these crops
will be better than was at one time thought possible,’

GLEANINGS.

The Grenada Government Gazette of September 16,
1912, publishes an order declaring the love vine (Cuscuta sp.)
to be a noxious weed under the Noxious Weeds Ordinance,
1912. This is in consequence of a resolution passed by the
Legislative Council on August 30, 1912, signifying its
consent to such action.

The total export of bananas from Costa Rica during
1911 was 9,309,586, bunches, as against 9,097,285 bunches
in the previcas year. ‘The total area under bananas at the
end of 1911 was about 65,000 acres, and new plantations
amounting to about 2,500 acres were made during the year.
(From Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4919 Annual
Series.)

In Colonial Reports— Annual, No. 719, it is stated that
the area of cacao under cultivation in Ashanti is increasing
phenomenally. In order to encourage the natives to bring
in better fermented cacao, merchants are beginning to grade
their purchases of the irticle, and it is thought that this
practice may produce a decided improvement in the quality
of cacao exported from Ashanti.

Much benefit has accrued to the cotton crop in St. Kitts
through the rains received in October. The Agricultural
Superintendent states that the returns promise to be good and
that the quality of the lint seems excellent. During the
month mentionéd the cotton worm showed much activity, but
the use oi large quantities of the mixture of Paris green and
lime prevented any damage froma being done.

An abstract of a paper given in the Jowrnal of the Chemt-
cal Society for Septermber 1912 deals with work showing that:
‘certain bacteria are able to appropriate certain definite consti-
tuents of the protein molecule, especially that part which con-
tains a carbohydrate radicle, leaving the remainder but little
acted on until the more desirable portion is largely exhausted.’
Carbohydrates are therefore enabled to exert a sparing action
in regard to the consumption of proteids by bacteria.

According to Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No.
4916 Annual Series, the sugar-cane crop of Madeira in 1911
was again greater than that of any preceding year. Sugar
was manufactured from 40,000 tons of cane, and 1,200 tons
of the product was consumed locally and 2,000 tons exported
to Lisbon and Oporto. The total cane crop was estimated
at 72,000 tons, of a value of about £240,000. A decreasing
amount of the cane is used for making cane brandy,

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS. | DrcemBer 7, 1912.

It is stated by the Agricultural Instructor in Tortola.
that at the end of October the cotton crop was in a very
backward state; while as regards limes, a small crop of fruit
was coming in. [he growth of sugar-canes had been very
good since the receipt of the rains. Mesatings for peasants
were held during the month at East End and West End, and
at the Experiment Station. It was hoped shortly to hold
other meetings at Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dykes.

It is stated in the Leeward Islands Gazette for Novem-
ber 7, 1912, that His Excellency the Governor has been
informed by the Secretary of State for the Colony of the
approval of Ordinance No. 2 of 1912, Dominica. The pur-
pose of this Ordinance is to amend the Dominica Forests
Limited, Acquisition of Land Ordinance, 1910, and to
transfer, extend and continue the powers conferred by this-
Act on the Company called Dominica Forests and Sawmills
Limited.

A note in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute for
October 1912 states that a patent has been taken out recently
for the extraction of candelilla wax: a description of it occurs
in the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, 1912,
No. 31, p. 346. In the process, the plant is boiled with:
gasoline, benzine or naphtha in the presence of fuller’s earth,
and after clarification the solvent is evaporated. The last
reference in the Agricultural News to the wax was on page
345 of this volume.

During October, the cotton cultivation in many parts of
Nevis suffered somewhat severely from cotton worms, and
much of the time of the Agricultural Instructor was taken up
in advising energetic measures against the pest. The amount
of damage was increased by the fact that many of the holders
had not taken measures to ensure the possession of a sufficient
amount of Paris green required in the emergency. The rains
had caused the crop to make fairly rapid progress, and picking
had commenced in some districts.

A Bill has been brought before the United States Legis-
lature which, iter alia, imposes an import duty of 4-c. per Ib
on coco-nut oil, and palm kernel oil, which have hitherto been
duty free. This is intended to allow the crushing of copra in
the United States, and would probably stop the importation,
of coco-nut oil, and eventually that of palm oil. The importa-
tion of palm oil has grown enormously lately, and no doubt
has invited attention. More than half has been sent from
this country [England]. The duty is likely to affect Ceylon
and other colonies: (The Colonial Office Journal, July 1912.)

A résumé of the proceedings at the Eighth International
Congress of Applied Chemistry, in Nature for October 17,
1912, mentions a paper in which it is stated that the element
manganese, present only in minute quantities in plants,
is found to occur in laccase, which is an enzyme (fist
extracted from the lacquer tree) capable of bringing about.
assimilation of the nitrogen of the air. As small additions of
manganese and of some of the other less common elements
have been found to increase crop production to a considerable
extent, it is likely that there will arise a new class of manures,
called catalytic manures, capable of modifying the fertility of
the soil in a favourable way without providing directly plant .
food.

Vor. XI. No. 277.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

397

STUDENTS’ CORNER,

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

In the last number of the Agricultural News, the page
corresponding to this contained the questions set in the paper
on General Agricultural Science in the Intermediate Exami-
nation held on November 11 last. The questions that wereasked
in the paper on Special Crop Subjects in that stage are now
given. Six.of the eight questions set in each subject, only,
were to be attempted, and where any subject in the syllabus
is not mentioned, it means that it was not offered on this
occasion by any of the candidates.

SUGAR INDUSTRY.
General.

(1) Give a general account of a method of sugar-cane
cultivation with which you have had experience.

(2) What methods for lessening the damage from root
disease (Marasmius sp.) of sugar-cane have been suggested?

(3) State what manures you have seen used for sugar-
canes, and why they were employed.

(4) What facts are in favour of the establishment of
cane nurseries! How would you proceed to make a nursery
of the kind?

(5) Say what you know of any methods that have been
suggested for the classification of sugar-canes.

(6) Describe carefully the way in which ratoons are
produced from the material left in the ground after crop.

(7) Give a list of insect pests of cane that you have
observed, and supply an account of the life-history of any one
of them.

(8) What considerations, in your experience, govern
the extent to which the sugar-cane should be ratooned!

CACAO,

(1) Give a description of the disease called die-back of
cacao, and say what other parts of the plant the fungus
causing this disease will attack. Mention any other plants
affected by this fungus.

(2) State what manures or other dressings you have
seen used for cacao, and describe the way in which they are
applied.

(3) Describe the fermentation of cacao,

(4) How have you seen cacao land drained, in your
experience! What are contour drains and what are their uses?

(5) Give a list of the activities on a cacao estate, in
order, during a complete crop season.

(6) Supply a description of a method of drying cacao.

(7) How is cacao grafted, and why?

(8) Write a short account of three different species or
varieties of cacao that you have examined.

LIMES.

(1) Give the life-history of any insect pest of limes
that is of importance, suggesting measures for its control.

(2) Write a careful account of the manufacture of any
lime product with which you have had experience.

(3) Describe the work that has to be done in a lime
nursery.

(4) In what ways is the essential oil obtained from
limes? Compare the values of the preducts yielded by th
different methods. >

(5) Give details concerning the packing and marketing
of either (a) lime juice ov (b) citrate of lime.

(6) Write a description of a method of treating the soil
in lime cultivation.

(7) State what you know of any disease of limes with
which you have become acquainted practically.

(8) For what is lime juice tested, and how are tests
carried out!

COTTON,

(1) Make an examination of the sample of seed-cotton
provided, and express the results of the examination in the
form of a table.

(2) Describe a method of control of any insect pest of
cotton, Give a list of the chief natural enemies of insects
attacking cotton.

(3) What manurial treatment of cotton is advised, in
the island in which you live?

(4) Mention the chief by-products of cotton-growing
and say what uses are made of them.

(5) How should cotton lint be prepared for baling?

(6) What precautions should be taken in storing
cotton seed?

(7) Give an account of any fungus or bacterial disease
of cotton, stating what measures may be taken against it.

(8) Describe the action of the type of gin used for Sea
Island cotton.

COTTON IN CHINA, IN 1911.

The decrease in the total export of raw cotton was chiefly
due to the shortage of crops in the districts supplying
Shanghai, Ningpo and Hangchow, in all of which the heavy
summer rains caused much damage. The difficulty of for-
warding money into the interior in the last quarter of the
year, and the fall in prices in the United States, where
abundant crops were produced, were factors still further
operating to reduce the export from Central China, the
decrease in shipments from Shanghai alone amounting to
40 per cent. The Hankow crop was a good one, but the
revolution broke out before it could be brought to market.
Tn the north of China, on the other hand, the salient feature
of the trade of 1911 was the enormous increase in the pro-
duction of raw cotton, the export from Tientsin being two
and a half times greater than in the previous year. In many
parts of Chili and Shantung cotton was grown as a substitute
for opium, every assistance being given by the Government in
experimenting with American seeds, and in other ways. An
important reform was accomplished in Shanghai in regard to
the long-standing abuse of watering native cotton, the efforts
of an anti-adulteration association formed by cotton dealers
there resulting in the establishment of a testing-house, by
which all cotton intended for export has first to be examined,
and is rejected if found to contain more than a certain percen-
tage of moisture. The anarchy prevailing during the last
three months of the year, however, checked the bringing in
of supplies to the Shanghai market and interfered with the
complete success of the new institution. At Tientsin a similar
association has been formed, and negotiations are proceeding
for the establishment of testing-houses at the native customs
barriers. Efforts are also being made by the Hankow General
Chamber of Commerce to have a similar arrangement adopted
at Hankow. (Diplomatic and Consular Reporis, No. 4979
Annual Series; August 1912.)

398

FUNGUS NOTES.

COCO-NUT DISEASES IN TOBAGO.

An interesting preliminary Report on Coco-nut cultiva-
tion in Tobago, by Mr. W. G. Freeman, Assistant Director of
of Agriculture, Trinidad, has recently been published in the
minutes of the meeting of the Board of Agriculture, Trinidad,
for September 20, 1912. This deals principally with the
unhealthy condition of coco-nut palms known as root diseases
and calls attention to an important point of some interest
that had been overlooked previously, which is that the
diseased condition of the roots themselves is confined to the
horizontally spreading roots in the top 12 or 15 inches of the
soil, and does not extend to the deeper roots. Another
point to which attention is called is the existence of a
possibly independent disease of which the symptoms are
a rotting at the junctions of the leaf stalks with the stem
and at the base of the very young fruits. The symptoms
described by Mr. Freeman are not confined to Trinidad and
Tobago. Diseased trees whose appearance corresponds in
every way with the account given by him have recently been
examined in St. Vincent and possibly might be found in
certain other of the smaller islands, Part of Mr. Freeman’s
account is as follows: —

‘Tam not at present in a position to draw any definite
conclusions as to the cause of the trouble [ie. root disease].
It is probable I think, that under varying conditions, various
causes result in the symptoms which are characteristic of the
disease It can, however, be said that the trouble is not
confined to areas of any particular soil. Coco-nut palms are
affected on “rotten rock” both on hill sides and on the flat,
on sands, coral deposits (coral sand), loams and heavy clays;
on virgin forest land, and abandoned cane lands; on places at
sea-level and at elevations up to 800 or 900 feet, on places
which have been kept clean as well as on neglected areas.

‘On most of the areas examined borings were made to
a depth of 3 to 4 feet and much useful information obtained
regarding the depth and character of the soil and subsoil,
and of the level of the water-table. A collection of these
soils and subsoils has been made. These will be retained
as a reference collection and should be of value to intending
planters in the future.

‘In certain localities unfavourable conditions of soil and
of water-supply are probably connected with the trouble,
iLe., they either cause it directly or predispose the plant to
attack.

‘In other localities no such explanation appears to suit
the facts, yet the disease occurs.

‘One estate (not in Tobago) offers an excellent instance
ef the trouble, fortunately slight in amount, occurring under
apparently ideal conditions for coco-nuts. The soil is sand
to the depth, to which dug down about 4 to 5 feet when
water was reached. The area is drained and kept in
good cultivation. ‘I'rees were dying with all the usual
symptoms—premature dropping of leaves, falling of the
immature nuts, formation of the red ring in the stem, and
reddish brown discoloration and drying up of the upper hori-
zontal layer of roots. Before digging it was thought possible
that stagnation of water or other unfavourable soil condition
might be a cause of trouble. It was ascertained, however,
that the discoloration and decay of roots were confined to
those running horizontally in the upper 12 to 15 inches of
the soil. Those below, which run vertically down to and
below the water-level, were perfectly sound. A similar state
of affairs has since been seen elsewhere. If stagnation of

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

DECEMBER 7, 1912

water, or lack of aération of the soil, had been the cause the
lower roots would scarcely be healthy when the upper ones
were unhealthy.

‘Further work is necessary as to the cause of this root
trouble, correlated as it is with the red ring in the stem,
which red ring gradually progresses apparently fram the base
of the stem upwards.

‘Then quite independent apparently of the root trouble
and the red ring*of the stem there is the fairly constant and
characteristic decay at the base of the leaf where it joins the
stem, and at the bases of the very young fruits.

‘This trouble has previously been investigated by the
Mycologist and others, but further work appears necessary to
determine whether its occurrence in trees suffering from “root
disease” is merely a coincidence or not.

‘It is important to emphasize the fact that on several
estates there is but little trouble at all. Others have affected
trees over definite, often small areas. In other cases rela-
tively large areas are affected. Unfavourable conditions are
responsible, directly or indirectly, probably in some cases,
but there are others, as already indicated, in which this
explanation is not sufficient; at any rate, it is impossible at
present to point to any condition and say that it is unfavour-
able. Investigation in areas apparently well suited to the
palm should yield useful results. These I propose to
continue. The restriction in some instances of the disease
to the portion of the root system in the upper layer of soil
of practically similar character throughout appears a point
of some importance to which attention has not hitherto been
directed.’

In concluding, Mr. Freeman says that this report is
only of a preliminary nature and that the work will be
continued with a view to ascertaining causes of diseases and to
find a practicable and profitable remedy. This work should
be of great value not only to Trinidad and Tobago but to
the West Indian islands in general, and the results obtained
will be awaited with interest.

THE PRESERVATION OF WOODEN
POLES.

-The following are some of the results of various
methods of treatment for preserving wooden poles
presented in Circular No. 198 of the Forest Service,
United States Department of Agriculture. Although
the results were not obtained under tropical conditions,
they are of interest in the West Indies, where more
attention might. profitably be given to the subject of
timber preservation.

Both the green and seasoned poles butt-treated with
coal-tar creasote by the open tank process showed practically
no decay at or near the ground line.

The poles brush-treated with two coats of coal-tar
creasote, and preservatives sold as Avenarius carbolineum,
§.P.F. carbolineum, and wood creasote, showed but little
difference in the extent of decay. Their average loss of
circumference was 0:02, 0°04, 0:04 and 0:06 inch, and the
per cent. affected. with decay 14°5, 13:6, 13-4 and 24-0,
respectively. The condition of these poles was next best to
that of those treated with coal-tar creasote in the open tank.

The poles brush-treated, respectively, with one coat of
preservatives sold as S.P.F. carbolineum and Avenarius
carbolineum showed a much greater loss of circumference at
the ground line than those treated with two coats of these

Vout. XI. No, 277.

preservatives. The average losses of circumference were 0°10
inch and 0-27 inch, and the per cent. affected with decay 30
and 25, respectively.

The poles brush-treated with two coats of preservative
sold as creolin and those similarly treated with one coat of
preservative sold as wood creasote showed but slight
difference in loss of circumference at the ground line, the
average loss being 0°42 and 0°43 inch, and the per cent.
affected with decay 69°8 and 95:2, respectively.

The poles brush-treated, respectively, with one coat of
preservative sold as creolin and coal-tar, showed a loss of
circumference at the ground line of 0°89 and,0°95 inch, and
a per cent. affected with decay of 100 and 98, respectively.
The loss with these poles was nearly as great as with the
untreated.

The untreated poles were practically all more or less
affected with decay at the ground line, the average loss of
circumference for those seasoned prior to placement being
1-01 inches, and for those placed green 1°16 inches. That two
of those seasoned prior to placement showed no decay at or
near the ground line is possibly due to the fact that they
were both set on a hillside or slope where the drainage was
excellent. One of them was set in broken stone or rock.

A second independent set of experiments gave the
following additional results:—

The untreated poles set in crushed stone showed less
decay at the ground line than similar poles set in sand, the
average loss of circumference at that point being 1:77 inches
and 2°27 inches, respectively.

The poles with charred butts showed less decay at the
ground line than similar uncharred and untreated poles set
in either crushed stone or sand, their average loss in circum-
ference at the ground being only 0°71 inch.

RADIUM AND PLANTS.

The influence of radioactive substances on plants
has received attention in the Agricultural News
(Vols. X, p. 183; XI, p. 363). The following note con-
cerning the action of radium itself is taken from the
Gardeners’ Chronicle for November 2, 1912:—

The effects produced by the exposure of seeds and plants
to radium emanations have been investigated by Professor
Molisch who finds that, generally speaking, they are disastrous.
Plants subjected to these emanations are in many cases
permanently damaged, the germination of seeds is delayed,
and in many cases, for example in various leguminous seed
plants, such as Robinia Pseudacacia, the leaves are thrown
off, even though the experiment be carried out in spring or
summer. If extremely small amounts of radium are used,
a speeding up instead of a retardation of germination may be
obtained, e.g., with stocks, Cucurbita Pepo [the pumpkin],
and Helianthus annuus [the sunflower]. The permanent
nature of the injury appears to be due to the action of the
emanations on the cells of the growing point, both of shoot
and root. A remarkable modification made its appearance
as a result of subjecting plants of Sedwm Serboldii to this
agent. Normally the shoots of this plant bear three leaves
in whorls, but those exposed to the emanations for three days
developed leaves arranged in opposite pairs. The mode by
which radium produces its effects on the cells of plants is
unknown, though many of its effects recall those produced by
poisons. It is interesting to note that the above-mentioned
symptoms are produced by the exposure of plants to ‘0000063
milligram of radium.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

399

EXPORTS FROM DOMINICA.

The following particulars of the exports from
Dominica during the periods mentioned are given in
the Official Gazette for November 1, 1912:—

From Jan. 1 For same
to Sept. 30, period,
1912. 1911.
Bay leaves, cwt. 625 490
Cacao, cwt. 6,901 5,600
Coffee, cwt. 70 53
Citrate of lime, cwt. 2,044 2,502
Essential oils:—
Lime, écuelled, gals. 587 425
» distilled; _,, 2,522 2,479
Orange, gals. 40 49
Firewood, cords 1,725 142
Fruit, fresh:—
Bananas, bunches 3,969 2,770
Coco-nuts 377,836 293,432
Limes, barrels 32,232 32,027
» boxes 2,864 2,538
Oranges, barrels 686 223
FA boxes 718 247
Fruit juices: —
Lime, con’ed., gals. 67,745 51,584
5 Taw, gals. 385,339 196,901
Hardwood, feet 857,228 30,624
Lime Juice Cordial, gals. 5,160 5,800
Limes, pickled, barrels 474 353

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc , Entomologist on the Staff
of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left
Barbados for Antigua by the R.M.S. ‘Tagus’ on Decem-
ber 2, in order to make investigations regarding insect
pests in that island.

Hurricane Insurance for Coco-nut Planta-
tions.—Information has been received from Messrs. Henry
Head & Co., Ltd. Insurance Brokers, 27 Cornhill, E.C,
who have for the last few years effected insurance on both
the trees and crops of coco-nut plantations against the risk
of hurricanes, in the West Indies, as to the present terms
and rates of premiums. These are as follows:—

Trees: 20s. per cent. to pay the excess of 5 per cent. of
the value of each plantation, or 15s. per cent. to pay the
excess of 10 per cent. of the value of each plantation

Crop: 30s. per cent. to pay the excess of 10 per cent. of
the value of each plantation.

In the cases where the crop is insured, Underwriters
require the buildings of the estate to be insured as well,
except where they are only of trifling value.

It may be said with reference to coco-nut insurance gene-
rally, that it would appear to be easier to estimate the
damage due to a strong wind than is the case in many other
kinds of cultivation.

400

London.—Tse West

MARKET REPORTS.

Inp1a CommiTrTgE CIRCULAR,
November 19, 1912; Messrs. E. A. de Pass & Co.,

November 8, 1912.

ARRowRooT—3id. to dd.

Batata—Sheet, 3/44 ; block, 2/24 per th.

Brrswax—£7 15s.

Oacao—Trinidad, 72/- to 80/- per cwt.; Grenada, 59/-
to 66/-; Jamaica, 55s. to 65s.

OCorrrE—Jamaica, 69s. to 88s.

Oorra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Oorron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea Island, 12d. to 19d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GInGER—49s. to 65s.

IsrncLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotations.

Limz Juice—Raw, 1/-; concentrated, £18 to £18 10s.;
otto of limes (hand-pressed), 7/-.

Loewoop—No quotations.

Macze—1/11 to 2/6.

Nutmrcs—7d. to 9d.

Pimento—2,'5d. to 2,%d.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/5; fine soft, 4/-; Castilloa,
3/8 per Bb. see gt

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-. ——

Sucar—Crystals, 17/ to 19/6; Muscovado, (11/6 to 14/-;
Syrup, 13/5 to 14/-; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York,—Messrs. Gittespiz Bros. & Co., November

LES LOT 2:

Oacao—Caracas, 15c. to 15$c.; Grenada, 144c. to bc.
Trinidad, 15c. to 15jc. per tb.; Jamaica; 114c. to 12c.

Oooo-nuts—Jamaica, select, $34°00 to $35°00; culls,
$20:00 to $21:00; Trinidad, select, $34:00 to $35-00;
culls, $20-00 to 21°00 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 15$c. to 17c. per fb.

GinceR—8fc. to 12c. per ib.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 46c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 45c.
per Ib.

Grare Fruit—Jamaica, $1°50 to $2:00.

Liazs—$5:00 to $5°50.

Macz—53c. to 58c. per hb.

Nurmecs—110’s, 14$c. to loc.

OrancEes—Jamaica, $2°25.

Pimento—4c. per fb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4°05c. per tb.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°55c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per tb., all duty paid.

Trinidad,—Messrs. Gorpon, Grant & Co., November 25,

1912.

Oacao—Venezuelan, $15°50 to $16:00 per fanega; Trinidad,
$15°96 to $1668.

Ooco-nut O11—$1 ‘Ole. per Imperial gallon.

OorrrE—Venezuelan, 16$c. to 17c. per Tb.

Oorra—$4°70 per 100 fh.

Dxuat—$4-00.

Ontons—$1°50 to $3-00 per 100 th.

Pzas, Sprit—$5°75 to $6:00 per bag.

Potators—English, $1°75 to $2°10 per 100 tt.

Rice—Yellow, $5°00; White, $6°25 per bag.

Suear—American crushed, no quotations.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS.

DECEMBER 7, 1912,

Barbados,—Messrs. James

November 30,
Co., December

A. Lynen & Co., Ltd.,
1912; Messrs. T. S. Garraway &
2, 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co.,

November 22, 1912.

Arrowkroot— $800 to $9-00 per 100 tb.
Cacao—$12°00 to $14:00 per 100 tr.

Coco-nuts—$20°00.
Hay—$1°'60 to $1°80

per 100 tb.

Manvres—Nitrate of soda, $75°00; Cacao manure, $45°00
to $48°00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80:00 to $85:00

per ton.

Mo tasses—No quotations.

Ontons—$2°00 to $3°75 per 100 tb.

Peas, Sprit—$6°25 to $6°75 per bag of 210 th.; Canada,
$3°00 to $4°8U per bag of 120 tb.

Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°70 to $3°75 per 160 tb.

Rice—Ballam, $5:10 to $5°60 per 190 fb.; Patna, no
quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $4°90 per 100 tb.

British Guiana.—Messrs. Wretinc & Ricnter, Novem-

ber 23, 1912.

ARTICLES.

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTeEr.

ARRowRooT—St. Vincent

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet

Oacao—Native

Oassava—

Cassava STARCH—

Coco-nuTs—

CorrEE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian
DaaLt—

Green Dhal
Eppors—
Motasses— Yellow
Ontons—Teneriffe

Madeira
Preas—Split

Marseilles
PLANTAINS—
Porators—Nova Scotia

Lisbon
Porators-Sweet, B’bados

Rice—Ballam
Creole
Tannias—
Yams— White
Buck
Suear—Dark crystals
Yellow
White
Molasses
TimbeER—Greenheart

Wallaba shingles

s» Cordwood

No quotation
70c. per tb.
18c. per tb.

$1:00.
$7 50 to $8°00

$16 to $20 per M.

18c. per fb.
20c. per tb.
17c. per th.
$3:50 to $4:00 per
bag of 168 tb.
$5:00
60c. to 80c.
None
9c. to 10c. per tb,
$6°25 to $7-00 per
bag (210 tb.)
$3°75.
16c, to 48c.

$200 to $2°25
$264
per bag
No quotation
$4°50 to $5:00
$1°68
$2°64
$2°40
$2°20 to $2:40
$3°00 to $3°25
$4:00
$2°30 to $2°40
32c. to 5dc. per
cub. foot
$4°00 to $625
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

THE

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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Volume XII. Nos. 1, 2, and 3, No. 4:—Containing Papers on PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS, COCOA NUT, LIME AND
FRUIT, AND RICE INDUSFRIES, prepared for the recent Agricultural Conference, comprising, among
others: The Use of Entomogenous Fungion Scale Insects in Barbados; Further Notes on the Fungus
Parasites of Scale Insects; Report on the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases in the West Indies, for
1910 and 1911; Cocoa-nut Palm Insects in Trinidad; Some Fruit Diseases; Experiments in Lime Juice
Concentration; Some Root Diseases of Permanent Crops in the West Indies; The Bay Rum and Bay Oil
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Artificial Cross-Fertilization of the Mango; and Rice Experiments in British Guiana.

PAMPHLET SERIES.

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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

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—Price 4s. each.— Post free, 5s.
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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 EpucationaL Suppty Company, 16, King
Street, Kingston.

British Guiana: THE ‘Datty CHRONICLE’ OFFICE, Georgetown.

Trinidad: Messrs. Murr-MarsHaty & Co., Port-of-Spain.

Tobago: Mr. C. L. Pracemann, Scarborough.

’ St. Vincent: Mr. L. S. Mosetey, Agricultural School,

St. Lucia: Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Botanic Station.
Dominica : Mr. J. R. H. BripcewatTeR, Rosean,
Montserrat : Mr. W. Roxson, Botanic Station.

Anugua: Mr. S. D. Matong, St. John’s,

St. Kitts: Tar Bree anp Boox Suppiy AGEncy, Basseterre,
JTevis : Messrs. How, Bros., Charlestown.

Grenada: ‘THE Stores’ (Grenada) Limited, St. George.

L. XI, No

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

DecempBer 7, 1912.

BEST MANURES

FOR COLONIAL USE

ste 8 Aree ee

Ohlendorff’s Dissolved Peruvian Guano—For Sugar-cane and general use

Ohlendorff’s Special Sugar-cane Manure

Ohiendorff’s Special Cocoa Manure
Ohlendorfi’s Special Cotton Manure
Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda, Superphosphates, high grades,

Potash Salts, Nitrolim and all other high-class Fertilizers.

APPLY TO LOCAL AGENTS OR

DIRECT TO :—

THE ANGLO-CONTINENTAL (LATE OHLENDORFF’S) GUANO WORKS

London

Agency :

Dock House, Billiter Street, London, E.C.

Barbados Agents: James A. Lynch & Co., Ltd., Bridgetown

PLEASE NOE

Buco Cultivators.
Spraying Machines.
Vaporite.
To be obtained from:—
THE BARBADOS CO-OPERATIVE

COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED,
BRIDGETOWN.

SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

JUST ISSUED.

WEST -INDIAN BULLETIN:
(Vol. XII No. 4)

Containing Papers on PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS, COCOA-
NUT, LIME AND FRUIT, AND RICE INDUSTRIES, prepared for the
recent Agricultural Conference, comprising: The Use of
Entomogenous Fungi on Scale Insects in Barbados; Further
Notes on the Fungus Parasites of Scale Insects; Keport on
the Prevalence of Some Pests and Diseases in the West
Indies, for 1910 and 1911; Bud Rot of the Cocoanut Palm;
Cocoa nut Palm Insects in Trinidad; Scale Insects and their
Insect Parasites; Some Fruit Diseases; Experiments in Lime
Juice Concentration; Investigations on the Extraction of
Lime Juice by Milling; Some Root Diseases of Permanent
Crops in the West Indies; Notes on Expressed and Distilled
West Indian Lime Oils; The Lime Industry in Antigua; The
Acid Content of Lime Fruits; Observations on the Develop-
ment of the West Indian Lime Fruit; Outline of Manurial
Experiments on Cocoa-nuts in Trinidad and Tobago; The
Bay Rum and Bay Oil Industries of St. Thomas and St. Jan;
The Classification of Sweet Potatoes; Cassava Starch and its
Uses; The Water-Supply of Antigua; Does the Sereh Disease
Exist in the West Indies, More Especially in Trinidad?
A Report on Observations on Scale Insects; The Cocoa-nut
Industry in Antigua; Manurial Experiments with the Gover-
nor Banana in Trinidad; Artificial Cross-Fertilization of the '
Mango; and Rice Experiments in British Guiana. |

Printed at Office of Agricultural Reporter, 4 High Street, Bridgetown, Barbados,

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180

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

INSECT PESTS

OH THE

LESSER ANTILLES,

BYs He AY BSALLOUS MSc:

ENTOMOLOGIST ON THE STAFF OF THE IMPERIAL DEFARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

This gives mainly a popular illustrated account of the chief insect pests in the Lesser Antilles, presented, with
an introduction, in chapters having the following titles: Insects and their Near Relations, Natural History of Insects,
Orders of Insects, Insect Pests of Crops, Insects which Attack Man, Insect Pests of Domestic Animals, Insects of the
Household and Pests of Stored Products, The Control of Insects, Insects and their Natural Enemies. . The information
is contained in 210 pages, illustrated by over 180 figures.

; To be obtained from all agents for the sale of the publications of the Department,
price 1s, 37, post free 1s, 7d,

CITRUS CULTURE

IN THE

WEST INDIES.

This book, just published, should be in the Library of
every Planter whether he is interested in Citrus Culture or not,
because no other line of tropical agriculture has become as highly
developed as that, and the study of it will help to solve prob-
lems in other lines.

WE SEND 77 FREE.

GERMAN KALI WORKS,
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.

ail Saallls va

Ipieer *g Pas 5
sh ll

A ——— REVIEW

OF THE

IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES.

BARBADOS, DECEMBER 21,

1912. Prior ld.

CONTENTS
PaGr PaGE.
Agricultural Education and Insect Notes :—

Hygiene in Grenada | Wicks: Part aliumes rc 410
Schools : ... 408| Insecticide, Basie pee
Automatic Plough 2 mad as an ... ee +10

. »~ | Market Reports oa cen ALG
Book Shelf 2... ... -...406 | Nite: ates iMmePiane Cells,
Cotton, Apparatus for Assimilation of.. . 409
Drying vs ses 403|Notes and Comments ... 408
Cotton Notes | Palms for Decorative Pur-
Cotton in Corea .. ... 407) Re ading ‘Oph eee pal done es
West Indian Cotton ... 406)“ Sak ae
- : aminations... ... . 401
West [ndian Cotton-
eae : ,.| Rubber, Possible Source
Growing Season . 406 aE. 409
Department News... .. 403) St. V incent, Last Cotton
Departmental Reports ... 411 Crop in .. 411
‘ Silk Industry, The Turk-
Figs, Production of... ... 404 ck - 404

Fungus Notes :—

Summary Re tie Rae Spry ‘ree ‘for Rocky bans
mation Given During Saal He “2 1

the year 414 | 5188 emp Cu tive ation, zis

Conditions for... ... 403

Gleanings ... . 412 Students’ Corner . 413

Reading Courses and Examinations in
Practical Agriculture.

[SN HE present conclusion of another set of
Reading Courses and Examinations in

Practical Agriculture conducted by this
Department makes a suitable opportunity to provide
a general statement of the progress that has been
made, and at the same time to draw attention to the
scope of the work and to review the principles that are
followed in carrying it out. This is done all the more
readily because it is realized that the present occasion
can be employed usefully to point out and illustrate

the practical nature of this work, particularly as
regards the method that is followed in conducting the
examinations.

The Reading Courses were commenced in the last
quarter of 1908. For the guidance of students,
a syllabus of subjects for examination was published*
and issued subsequently as a leaflet, and part of one
of the pages of this journal began to be used as
a ‘Students’ Corner’, in order to provide a means of
regularly bringing forward subjects for the thought and
investigation of students by the aid of short articles
and sets of questions. In this feature of the courses,
the purpose of the articles was to make suggestions
thet wonld lead to caretul thought rather than merely
to present facts that could be learned by students in
other ways; and when the time came for the examina-
tions to be held in the several stages, the questions
were graded carefully in order to indicate the scope of
those likely to be set in each stage. The syllabus of
the examinations has been revised from time to time,
as progress was made with the scheme; and the articles
in the Students’ Corner have been made to refer to the
actual conditions in the different islands, with the aid
of notes supplied by the agricultural officers in those
islands. The student has also been assisted in a most
valuable way by these ofticers, by their personal advice,
and in many cases they have organized meetings where
students could discuss agricultural matters with them
and with one another.

For the intermediate stage of the Reading Courses,
the student has to be engaged actually in agricultural
work, and to pass a Preliminary Examination, or its
equivalent, which will satisfy the Commissioner of
Acriculture that he is fitted to enter the Intermediate,

*West Indian Bulletin, Vol. TX, p. 293.

402

and ultimately the Final, Examination. For both of
these, he must continue to be engaged in agricultural
work, either on an estate or under an agricultural
department, and a nominal period of one year of such
work for each of these stage8 is insisted upon. In the
examinations, the thoroughness of this practical work
is tested in the case of each candidate by a most
efficient method that will be described.

This efficiency has been gained by holding oral, as
well as written, examinations in each stage. In the
preliminary stage this is conducted by one or more of
the agricultural officers in each island. It is, however,
in the Intermediate and Final Examinations that the
great necessity of the oral part of the tests has been
realized, and its efficacy has been shown. This is
because it is conducted in these stages by planters who
hold an acknowledged position as practical agriculturists
in the island where they live, and because no certificate
of a pass by a candidate in those stages can be issued
until it has received the signatures of the local exami-
pers; at the same time, in order to avoid subsequent
misunderstanding, the certificates of candidates who
have gained their experience in an agricultural experi-
ment station alone are endorsed with a statement of
this fact. As these examiners naturally satisfy them-
selves as to the usefulness of the practical experience
and knowledge of the candidate before they will report
his fitness to pass, it follows that his possession of
a certificate countersigned by them forms the best
possible guarantee that he can be entrusted with the
work on an estate, connected with the subjects that he
has offered for examination.

The stages of the courses are devised so that a pass
gained by a candidate in the Intermediate Examination
testifies to his fitness to conduct the work of an overseer
on an estate of the kind where he has gained his expe-
rience; while the possession of a certificate of the Final
Examination entitles him to be regarded as being fitted
to undertake the duties of manager on such an estate.
The testimony by his oral examiners of his ability, thus
possessed by him, is the most important outcome of
the scheme; and too much cannot be said of the
thorough way that the reports by those examiners have
always shown them to have done their work.

It should be evident, from what has been said, that
these courses and examinations cannot be regardedjas
having merely the nature of home reading courses, or
similar schemes, which simply enable the candidate to
pass an examination on a basis of what is often called

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

DeEcEMBER 2], 1912.

‘book learning’. The way in which they are conducted
gives them an eminently practical value, both in their
oral and written parts; and the recognition of their
usefulness, by practical agriculturists who employ men
doing the work of the candidates, is their strongest
feature.

A matter of indirect interest that has transpired
during the examination of the papers is the almost
invariable superiority of the style and form of the
answers in those islands where secondary agricultural
education has been established for some years. These
answers generally show that candidates possess a far
greater ability to think correctly and marshal their
facts in an orderly manner, where the advantages of
such education exist, than that shown where they are
absent or are of comparatively recent introduction.
The import of this circumstance is greater than may
be realized at first, for it means that in the more
favoured islands, the educational system has become
such as to aid in the production of individuals who are
the most fitted to assist in leading the thought of the
community. It is one of the many examples where
the introduction of a system, or the making of a reform,
has led to results of wider application than was
expected at first—results whose importance is not
patent to everyone, because their value cannot be
expressed through the medium of figures in statistics.

A short account of the history to the present of the
examinations for the reading courses will not be out

of place. The first examinations in the three grades
were held as follows: preliminary, February 1909;
intermediate, November 1909; final, November 1910.
The statistical details given after the end of this article
show that the numbers of examinations and candidates
have been: preliminary, five examinations, with 62 candid-
ates of whom 47 passed; intermediate, four examinations,
with 34 candidates of whom 25 passed; final, three exam-
inations, with 12 candidates of whom § passed. The
reason for the decrease in the number of candidates
appears to be chiefly that the examinations have quickly
come to be regarded as a serious matter—not to be taken
up lightly with the chief aim of getting a certificate of
some kind; there is the additional circumstance
that no candidates have come forward from Bar-
bados in recent years. With this decrease in num-
bers there has, however, been an _ encouraging
improvement in the general standard of the papers
that are being sent up; and this circumstance,
rather than the numbers of candidates entering, makes
for uhe strength and stability of the scheme.

Vox. XI. No. 278.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 403

It may be said, in short, that the present state of
the Reading Courses and Examinations of this Depart-
ment is a matter for encouragement; and the active
co-operation of the practical agriculturist in the
different islands, particularly of those planter examiners
who are giving their personal assistance, is one of the
best auguries for continued success.

A synopsis of the results of the examinations that have
been held is as follows:—

Examination. No. of No. who
candidates. passed.

Preliminary, Feb. 1909 14 9
i October 1909 20 15
7 a ULOTO 17 13
3 Lon 7 6
” ” 1912 4 4
Totol 62 47
Intermediate, Nov. 1909 12 10
5 5 EO 12 8
P LO 4 3
” ” 1912 6 4
Total 34 25
Final, November 1910 7 5
- - 1911 4 2
- ae 1912 1 1
Total 12 8

AN APPARATUS FOR DRYING COTTON.

An account has been received from Mr. W. N. Sands,
Agricultural Superintendent, St. Vincent, of a system for
drying cotton devised by Mr. C. O. Hazell, K.C., of that
island. In forwarding the matter Mr. Sands states that he
considers this system the best that has been devised so far
for local use.

In the memorandum describing the system, Mr. Sands
points out that the heavy rainfall of St. Vincent makes it
necessary to equip buildings with special drying arrangements
for the purpose of preventing the deterioration of Sea
Island seed-cotton. Among the many methods in use, some
follow closely the principles of the sliding roof and the sliding
tray, of cacao boucans; while others include shallow open
trays that can be covered quickly or moved into a building
when rain threatens. In all these methods, most of the seed
cotton has to be dried in the open air, so that the process is
much delayed in wet weather.

The system of Mr. Hazell is referred to as the Car
System; it comprises an arrangement of a drying rack on
wheels. Its advantages over all other drying arrangements
devised so far are that the seed-cotton does not deteriorate
by ‘heating’, and that drying can be carried on both in and
out of doors.

The cars are such as can be moved easily. Their length
is 13 feet, their width 3 feet 7 inches, and their height
8 feet 4 inches. They hold seven trays each 5 inches deep,
running the whole length and width of the car; the bottoms
of the trays are made of 4-inch galvanized wire netting, so

that air passes easily through the cotton. As the cars run
on rails both inside and outside of the drying house, their
attention requires little labour.

When the cars are inside of the house, the cotton is
protected from the weather by the device of having the
outside end of each leading car covered with galvanized iron
sheeting, which exactly fills the exit space in the wall when
the car is pushed home.

The account is accompanied by photographs which
show plainly that a most efficient means of drying cotton
has been devised by Mr. Hazell.

DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc, Entomologist on the Staff
of the Imperial Depsrtment of Agriculture, returned to
Barbados, from Antigua, by the S.S. ‘Korona’, on Friday
December 20.

Conditions Suitable for Sisal Hemp Cultiva-
tion.—An article in the Tropical Agriculturist for Septem-
ber 1912 states that the International Fibre Congress and
Exhibition, held at Soerabaya, Java, in 191], came to the
following conclusions regarding the conditions that are best
suited for the growing of sisal. The experience is obtained
from the cultivation of Agave (chiefly A. cantala) in Java,
where this is the most important fibre plant. It is quite
different from the sisal (henequen) of Mexico, which is
A, sisalana:—

‘The culture of sisal hemp is not remunerative on lands
which do not permit cheap transport of the raw material, nor
on poor land nor in a cool region where the yield falls below
650 Ib. of fibre per acre. It can be grown with advantage on
soil deficient in humus, where cacao and coffee no longer
flourish. The soil must be free, and situated not more than
1,200 feet above sea-level. It is most profitable grown as
a secondary product, since it can then be left untouched when
the market price is low, or during seasons when the production
of leaf is small. It cannot be recommended as a catch crop
or intercrop. If sisal is the chief product, estates of less than
700 acres are not profitable. For an estate of 900 acres the
cost of upkeep and replanting, upkeep of buildings, manage-
ment, etc., together with 5 per cent. interest on the capital,
will be about 54 rupees per acre, The capital required is
estimated at 335,000 rupees. The expenses of harvesting,
transport, commission, etc., and depreciation are reckoned at
about 100 rupees per ton of fibre, while the value per ton of
dry fibre, f.o.b. Java, is about 300 rupees. The net profit,
with a production of 650Ib. per acre is not more than 5 per
cent., but with a production of 1,300. per acre it increases
to 20 per cent.’

The Superintendent of Agriculture, Grenada, has drawn
attention to an account of milk made from soy beans, which
appeared in the 7imes Weekly Edition dated October 18,
1912. A demonstration of the milk which, it is claimed,
contains all the elements of the best cow’s milk, and can be
used for the same purposes, was given in London before Sir
William Crookes and representatives of the Home Office and
the Local Government Board. It is stated that the product
would yield a profit at the price of 3d. a quart, and it is
proposed to form a company and to erect factories for its
manufacture,

404

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

DeEcEMBER 21, 1912.

j a 7 Sf
soca tl

BRUITS AND FRUIT “GeeEs:

THE PRODUCTION OF FIGS.

The Agricultural News for August 19, 1911,
contained an article dealing with the production of
Smyrna figs. In connexion with this matter, it has
been thought well to draw attention to the following
details which should be considered in relation to the
account jist mentioned. They appear in an article
in Nature for November 14, 1912, reviewing Die
Feigenbiume TItaliens und ihre Bezvehungen zu
einander by Dr. Ruggiero Ravasini, which has just
appeared.

When men began to plant wild fig trees in their gardens,
they would, of course, propagate them by cuttings. Now
cuttings of the wild fig tree are found to reproduce the
characters of the branches from which they were taken. By
taking cuttings from branches destined to bear spring inflor-
escences, trees have been produced in which only the spring
inflorescences regularly attain complete maturity; these trees
are Caprifigs (goat figs), which are practically male. In the
same way, by using as the parent stock branches which bear
summer inflorescences, trees have been produced which are
entirely female. Of these two the caprifig alone is capable
of harbouring the insect guest during its growth period.

Two fig trees, very different in appearance and function,
have thus been developed by the action of men out of the
single primitive stock; they are often called varieties, but
Tschirch and Ravasini show that they are really artzficeally
produced sexual forms of one and the same natural species,
viz., of the wild fig tree. One proof is that seeds of the
cultivated fig tree produce either caprifigs or inferior fruiting
figs. A further proof is yielded by the fact that the female
Blastophaga, when laden with eggs, can only fly a very short
distance. Hence we infer that she is adapted to a monoecious
fig tree, in which all the forms of inflorescence are to be
found on one tree. The cultivated fig tree is practically
dioecious, and without artificial pollination ripens no seed.
Only one monoecious tree is known, which can be regarded
as a possible common ancestor of the two infertile forms,
caprifig and fruiting cultivated fig; this common ancestor is
the wild fig tree.

Fig cultivators must have become early acquainted with
the Blastophaga and the effects of its visits, for the female

flowers of the fig remain unfertilized if no Blastophaga enters
them, and unfertilized female inflorescences (in unimproved
fig trees) fall off prematurely. To prevent such failures, the
expedient was successfully tried (ages ago) of fastening to
the female trees ripe staminate inflorescences of the. wild
fig trees. Blastophagas and pollen were thus supplied
together, and the female inflorescences duly ripened In
course of time the inflorescences of the wild fig tree were
replaced by those of the caprifig, which answer the same
purpose, and are easily raised on the spot. Thus arose the
practice cf ‘caprifieation’ which is essential to the production
of the best keeping or drying figs.

The dried figs of commerce, which are all seed-bearing,
absoluteiy require fertilization by the Blastophaga, and this is
most easily secured by caprification. But if only fresh
edible fruits are desired, caprification may be dispensed with.
By long-continued selection it has been found possible to
create varieties in which the unfertilized figs do not fall off
prematurely, but develop into a valuable fruit. The large,
non-seeding, sweet.and juicy table figs of north and mid Italy
require no pollination at all. Ravasini calls this the greatest
triumph of fig culture.

The Turkish Silk Industry.—Brusa and Beirut
are the chief centres of the silk industry in Turkey, and the
gross annual production of fresh cocoons in the Empire may
be estimated at 33,000,000 tb., valued at £1,875,000. From
80 to 85 per cent. of this is spun in Turkey, the rest
being exported to continental markets. The spun silks are
almost entirely exported, as the native looms are limited to
a few hand machines The average annual silk thread
exports amount sto about 1,100,000 ib, from Syria, and
1,540,000 tb. from Brusa and Adrianople. Turkey’s 1911 silk
crop was excellent, but prices were low, partly owing to the
new fashions requiring less material, and partly on account
of Japanese competition. ona fide etforts are still being
made to open up direct connexions with the United States
for the sale of Turkish raw silk. Merchants engaged in the
silk industry in Turkey have had to face several poor seasons
in succession, and there is a tendency to abandon silk for
tobacco in some places, (Jownal of the Royal Society of Arts,
November 8, 1912.)

Vou. XI. No. 278.

cs Wy

i ff = =
= Ly [i
_—SS== =

G;(ENBEE

rence Balls, M.A. Macmillan &: Co. 5s. net.

In this book, Mr. Balls has brought together in
a condensed form a review of his researches made upon cotton
plants in Egypt, and the outcome is striking and valuable,
resulting in a book which, while appealing strongly to
everyone interested in the problems attendant on cotton-
growing, will claim the attention of students of plant
physiology and plant-breeding generally. Problems of the
broadest interest are dealt with, while the methods of
investigation are such as command admiration, and the
results constitute valuable additions to knowledge, not only
as regards the cotton plant, to which they immediately apply,
but also in relation to plant physiology in general.

The book is written in an extremely condensed style,
especially in its earlier chapters, and indeed forms an excellent
summary of valuable work which serious students will do well
to supplement by reference to the author’s numerous papers, in
which much of the information is given in greater detail. A
good bibliography appearing at the end of the work
facilitates such reference.

We are told that the investigations began as genetics but
necessarily extended into physiology. We are grateful that
this happened, for much of the physiological work is of the
most fascinating and stimulating nature, so that one asks
oneself why similar work should not be carried out on many
more of our staple crops, both of the tropics and of temperate
regions, feeling sure that results would follow which would
ultimately have a bearing on crop production.

It is impossible in the space of a brief review of a book,
wuich is itself an extremely condensed epitome, to give
consideration to more than a very limited number of points
of interest. The chapter dealing with fertilization, cytology
and embryology is a model of close and luminous writing,
containing much that is of service to the investigator.

The work on development and environment brings to
light a number of most important facts, some of them of an
unexpected character; for example ‘the sunshine effect’, in
connexion with which it is established by a fascinating series
of observations that direct sunshine completely inhibits
growth. The manner is which the fact is established, the
careful observations, the ingenious apparatus employed and
the careful reasoning will appeal strongly to plant physiolo-
gists. In the same way the observations on the growth and
functions of the root are full of points of profound importance.
The first matter that strikes one is the rapidity of growth of
the root of the cotton plant and the enormous volume of soil
ultimately occupied by it, whereby under field conditions even
under circumstances of wide planting, there is so much root
interference that the plants behave as if ‘pot-bound’,

The relationship of the root system to the water table is
completely worked out; it is shown that a deep water table is
essential, and that a rise of the water table to the roots under
Egyptian conditions is: ‘deadly in July, prejudicial in Septem-
der and almost harmless in December.’ The relationship of

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

405

this to the changes in the level of the water table induced by
irrigation has been worked out by the author and his col-
leagues so that, as he remarks, ‘the preliminary solution of
one of the neatest problems ever set to agricultural science
has thus been achieved en a crop which is worth 20 to 30
millions of pounds per annum.’

The manner in which the problem relating to the loss of
young cotton seedlings was handled constitutes another fine
piece of biological work. The loss was attributed by cottom
growers to the effect of cold and fog ; it was shown to be due
to a specific fungus whose growth and development are-
absolutely dependent on temperature in such a manner that
the injury to the young seedlings ceases when the tempera-
ture rises to 37°C. For an account of the interesting observa-
tions and reasoning, and the practical suggestions for
dealing with the trouble, the reader must refer to the book
itself.

The observations on boll-shelling, with the discussions
on the mechanism and causes of the shedding, will be read
with much interest. It is shown that the principal cause ef
the trouble in Egypt is root asphyxiation. The observations
recorded will doubtless stimulate otker workers to a closer
study of the causes that may be operative in their own fields
of experiments.

The short chapter on the cotton fibre contains valuable
additions to knowledge which will find application im the
work of other experimenters.

A considerable portion of the book is devoted to the
study of questions of heredity; in this connexion a large
amount of valuable work has been done, the results of which
are briefly recorded. In most instances it is shown that the
controlling factors in the cases studied are of a complex
character, so that a vast amount of work remains to be done
in order to elucidate them. Some instances of fairly simple
inheritances are brought to light, but even these are so
masked by the effects of environment as to be difficult of
perception. The explanation given of the underlying facts.
relating to the inheritance of seed weight by ‘clearing away
the lumber brought in by autogenous fluctuation’ will appeal
to workers in this field.

Difficult and obscure as are the problems of heredity
connected with cotton, the author states his conviction that-
‘the hybrids studied are subject to Mendel’s Law of Segrega-
tion often obscurely—on account of defective methods—but
none the less certainly,’ and: ‘that there is no doubt as to.
the formal inheritance of various characters in cotton crosses,
even when such inheritance seems most dependent on simple
chance.’

A picture conjured up by the author may fitly come
near the end of this notice. ‘The outcome of such
deductions must be that the colonial agriculturist of
the near future will no longer carry a bag of seed,
searching for a district in which it will grow to the
consumer’s liking but will choose his district first and
then manufacture a cotton plant to suit it.’ But it may be
added that he will need the co-operation of such investigators
as the author, backed up by adequate means for investigating
things which may appear to have little application to the
practical problems they may ultimately aid in solving; and.
that work such as this under review is a powerful appeal for
the endowment of research.

In the Comptes Rendus dev Académie des Sciences, 1912,
p. 891, an apparatus is described for growing plants with
their roots ina sterile medium, while the stem and leaves.
are free in the air,

406

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS DeEcEMBER 21, 1912.

WL he es J
~ fe: AU
rr

a ey,

WEST INDIAN COTTON.

Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool,
write as follows, under date December 2, with reference
‘to the sales of West Indian.Sea Island cotton :—

Since our last report about 230 Bales of West Indian Sea
Island cotton have been sold at firm prices. The sales include
old crop from Barbados, St Croix, Jamaica and Tobago at
144d. to 16d and New Crop St. Kitts from 18d. to 20d.; also
stains at 53d. to 9hd.

The BGnericanl Sea Island market remains firm and the
quality of the crop is poor.

The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on
‘Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week
ending November 30, is as follows:—

The market has been firm throughout the week with firm
demand at quotations, and after the close of the official
report there was an active demand, with sales of about 400
Bales taking the offerings of No. 1 and Extra Fine off Islands
at 24c to 26c, and of odd bags of Fully Fine and Extra Fine
at 27kc. to 29c, Besides there was some enquiry for the
Planters’ crops, with sales of ©. Royall 15 bales and Palmetto,
AHD 25 bales, at 33c. Bids were made on several other
lots Ghick Factors refused to accept.

We quote, viz.:—

/Extra Fine 29c. = IW6kd c.if., & 5 per cent.
Fully Fine 27k. = 153d. ” ” ” ”
Fine 26c. = 143d. ” ” ” ”
Extra Fine off | Ga) WE. | Biaa- Pe US

in preparation, Jf ~
Fully Fine off é
in preparation, } 3
Fine off V5
in preparation J

133d. Do

(osqees

THE WEST INDIAN COTTON-GROWING
SEASON, 1911-12.

It is proposed to review in this and a following article
the conditions that existed in regard to the last cotton-
growing season in the West, Indies, namely that extending
from October 1911 to September 1912, inclusive. The plan
followed will be to give an account of the circumstances of
the season of growth in each of the islands of the Lesser
Antilles where cotton-growing is important, and then to

present statistics as to production and prices. The general
information is compiled from data supplied by the agricul-
tural officers in the different islands from time to time.

1911-12.

st. viNceNT. The selection and disinfection of cotton
seed at the Government Central Cotton Ginnery for the new
crop commenced in’ April 1911, and in the next month the
preparation of the land had started well; the peasantry
bought a large quantity of the selected and disinfected seed,
and good germination was obtained where sowing had taken
place. From May | to the end of June, 7,507 tb, of seed—
sufficient to plant 1,500 acres—was sold from ‘lhe central
ginnery, and general satisfaction existed because practi-
cally the whole of the Sea Island crop of the past
season had been sold at 18d. per lb. and upwards. The
weather in July was fair; though the rainfall and shortage of
labour had caused the young cotton to be weedy in some
districts. August” was a very wet month, and the rain
(14:04 inches at the Botanic Station) caused sume damage
in cotton fields in different parts of the island. The
continuation of this weather in the next month—the
rainfall at the Botanic Station in September was 21 81 inches
—catised more damage and the prevalence of angular spot on
both leaves and bolls; small pickings were made of early-
planted cotton. [Lf October, the wetness of the season had
caused plants of the old crop to become diseased, especially
in certain areas, the leaves and bolls being affected; there was
also an outbreak of the black scale (Sazssetia nigra) in the
Leeward District. In December of that year, nearly all the
estates reported a shortage in the crop; in this month, a few
first bales sold at, 20d. per lb. Inthe end, a low average
yield was obtained. Some burning of the old cotton plants
was done, and the prevalence of the black scale caused the
Agricultural Superintendent to prepare a notice regarding
the control of this pest, which was posted by the Government
in the different cotton-growing districts.

In another article in this issue of the Agricultural News,
statistical details are given concerning the last cotton crop in
St. Vincent.

MONTSERRAT. Good progress had been made already, in
January 1911, in the preparation of new land for cotton-
planting; and in February old plants were being destroyed, the
work being continued into the next month. The tendency in
this island is for the crop to be planted earlier in each year,
provided that suitable weather is experienced. Germination
tests were conducted with the seed used on estates, and showed
that this was good. April saw the experimental planting
between sugar-canes of a considerable area of cotton in the
Gages and Lees districts; rain was being awaited for the gen-
eral planting, By the middle of June a regular stand of

COTTON PRODUCTION,

Vor. XI, No, 278.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

407

cotton existed in all parts of the island, and the crop was
almost a month ahead of that of last year; an area amount-
ing to 60 acres had been planted with pedigree seeds from the
Experiment Station. In genera], there was little sign of root
disease in seedling cotton, in Montserrat. The want of rain was
felt in July, in the northern and windward districts. The leaf-
blister mite was observed, but (it is interesting to note) only
where there had been carelessness regarding the destruction of
old plants—a matter that was also very.evident the year be-
fore. During the month, severe attacks of cotton stainers were
experienced in one or two small areas. Dry weather in
August caused premature ripening in the plants that had
been put in earliest, and some picking was done; pests were
comparatively rare, except that leaf-blister mite was met
with in scattered areas, and cotton stainers were perhaps
more prevalent than usual. In September, good rains were
received throughout the island, and there was a consequent
improvement in the outlook for the cotton crop; as has been
indicated, picking commenced a month, at least, earlier than
in the previous year. Leaf-blister mite was more prevalent
than it had been for many years, chiefly in districts where
the drought had been most severe; but there was little trouble
from cotton worms. The incidence of angular Jeaf spot was
less than in the year befor2, and the flower-bud maggot
had not yet been reported; the attacks of cotton stainers
received special repoit from the Curator of the Botanic
Station. Considerable improvement of the plants took place
during October; by the end of this mouth, some of the
estates had already reaped half the crop. At this time,
the flower-bud maggot was noticed on a limited area at
New Windward—the district from which the first report of
the pest in Montserrat was received; the attacks of cotton
worms were not very severe, but leaf-blister mite was com-
mon. It was in the next month that the former pest did
considerable damage in part of the island, A peculiar feature
of the produce of this crop was the low percentage of lint
(on seed cotton) obtained on some of the estates. Cotton-
picking was delayed by frequent rains, at the close of
December, and this rainfall seems to have had some connexion
with a larger proportion of stained cotton that was obtained.
Cotton stainers and diseases were prevalent, and in conse-
quence the work in February was concerned chiefly with the
destruction of the old plants. At thig)time, the Curator
stated that the reports on cotton sent from Montserrat
indicated that the lint was being prepared more carefully for
shipment, though there was frequent mention of irregularity
of staple. By the end of April, the destruction of the old
plants was nearly complete.

anvicua. The preparation of land for ‘sowing was
commenced in April (1911), and some few acres were put in
during the next month; at the commencement of the season it
was expected that there would be an increase in the total
area of cotton cultivation. There was dry weather, however,
during June, which prevented the further early planting of
cotton; and this continued for the next two months, although
showers from time to time, in the southern part of the island
permitted the sowing of seed to be resumed in August, to
some extent. As has been indicated, there were good rains
in September, and though the drought had adversely affected
the earlier-planted fields, the seed sown inthis month showed
a good germination. Many of the cultivations required weed-
ing, and there were a few isolated attacks of the cotton worm.
By the end of October, the area under cotton in Antigua and
Barbuda was 637} acres, of which 5073 acres were in Antigua.
At this time, some severe attacks of the cotton worm were
experienced, and there was a slight appearance of red spider
and of beetles. The cotton worm continued to require treat-

ment during November, and the flower bud-maggot appeared
near the end of the month, though in no serious way; the condi-
tion of the cotton crop was, in fact, promising on the whole.
These conditions obtained throughout December, except that
the attacks of the cotton worm had become very few, and
cotton stainers were found especially in fields containing
plants with ripening bolls. The general promising state of
the crop continued in January, and fair returns from picking
were received in February. As in the case of some of the
other cotton-growing islands, Antigua was visited at this time
by Mr. J. W. McConnel, one of the representatives of the
British Cotton Growing Association at the Agricultural Con-
ference held in Trinidad, and it was expected that his visit
would do much toward the encouragement and re-establish-
ment of the cotton industry in the island. Up to the end of
April, about 42,400. of cotton lint had been shipped from
Antigua, and it was all picked by the end of May. There
were indications that a large increase in planting would take
place in the next season (for the present crop) in the island.

st. kirTs. The crop season commenced in March (1911)
when the preparation of land was begun, and planting took
place during this month in small areas in the northern district.
In the next month, cotton was planted between young sugar-
canes, on two estates as an experiment, and it seemed as if
the trial would be successful. Early planted fields at Lodge
and Brighton estates gave pickings as early as July; in
general, in this month, the cotton was healthy and vigorous,
on an area about equal to that of the preceding season. This
condition obtained during the next month, although as in
several of the other islands, rain was wanted; fair returns
continued to be obtained from early-planted cotton, and the
receipt of useful rains in October gave hopes of a second
picking from this. By the last-named month, harvesting had
become general, and there were very promising prospects of
a good return; though it was necessary to use large quantities
of insecticides to keep the cotton worm in check, The
trouble with this pest continued during the next month;
while picking and ginning were continued actively, with very
good returns on some estates and the prospect of an average
crop, generally. At the end of December, a considerable
amount of the lint had been shipped; leaf-blister mite was
prevalent where the cotton was being kept for a second pick-
ing. A few cotton stainers were seen in January, on a very
small amount of the older cotton. The work of the season
ended in March of this year, when all the cotton had been
picked and preparations were being made for the new crop.

This account will be continued in the next issue of the
Agricultural News.

Cotton in Corea.—The cultivation of cotton im
Corea appears to be progressing satisfactorily, and there is
a great desire on the part of the authorities that this enter-
prise should be pushed on and developed, as it is of great
promise, The area under cultivation at the end of 1911 was.
estimated at about 125,000 acres. The output for 1911 is
estimated at 23,940,000 Ib. as against 17,333,000 bb. in 1910,
an increase of nearly 100 per. cent. The export for 1911
shows a decrease due to the fact that, as in the case of cereals,
the 1911 crop has not yet been shipped.

A company, known as the Kankoku Menkwa Kaisha,
has for some years been cultivating cotton in Corea, and an
attempt is being made to establish a second company for the
same purpose under the title of Chosen Menkwa Kaisha,
The promoters of both companies are cotton spinners in.
Japan. (Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4889 Annual
Series.)

408

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

DecemMBer 21, 1912.

sees SSS SSS aaa

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 & Sors, Bridge-
town, Barbados. London Agents: Mes-rs. Dulan &
‘Co., 37, Soho Square, W. A complete Jist 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.

Ay ricultural Sews

: E
Wor. XI. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1912. No. 278.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

‘Contents of Present Issue.

The editorial in this issue reviews the circumstances
of the Courses of Reading and Examinations in Practi-
eal Agriculture, conducted by this Department, giving
special attention to the purpose of the scheme and the
matters that make it of practical value.

A review of Balls’s recent work on the cotton plant
in Egypt is given on page 405, under the caption Book
Shelf.

The Cotton Notes contain the first of articles giy-
ing an account of the production and prices of cotton in
the West Indies, for last season. The table of figures
of production cannot be given yet, as the returns from
the different islands are not complete.

In the Insect Notes, on page 410, are included the
second of the two articles promised on ticks, and an
account of basic slag as an insecticide.

Page 411 contains a review of the last report by
the Director of Agriculture of the Federated Malay
States.

The results of the last Intermediate and Final
Examinations held in connexion with the Reading
Courses of the Department will be found on page 413.

The Fungus Notes, on page 414, present
a summary of the information that has been given by
the Mycologist during the year, in this volume of the
Agricultural News.

Agricultural Education and Hygiene in Grenada
Schools.

In the Report on the Grenada Primary Schools
for the year 1911-12, reference is made to the apathy
exhibited by teachers and parents in the matter of
agricultural instruction in the primary schools. In
spite of the fact that most of the schools are in
possession of garden plots, the effurts of the Board of
Education have been practicilly negatived: in one or
two instances the teaching of agriculture has been
forbidden altogether, It appears that the liberal spirib
in which the Board intends the Regulations for the
advaucement of agricultural teaching to be adminis-
tered is not properly appreciated; it is distinctly laid
down that the employment of plots, boxes, tubs, ete., for
purposes of demonstration will receive due considera-
tion in the awarding of monetary grants. Finally it is
suggested that the services of an Agricultural Instrue-
tor might tend toinvest the subject with some of the
dignity which at present seems to be the factor most
lacking, in the opinion of parents and pupils.

In striking contrast to the apathy so generally
displayed in connection with agriculture follows the
keeness exhibited in all schools towards the study of
hygiene, any drawback to seeming good results being
the inability of pupils to express themselves in giving
answers, and not inetficency as regards the teaching of
the subject.

EEE

An Automatic Plough.

The recent invention of a self-contained motor-
propelled plough in England receives attention in the
Commercial Motor. It is stated that the etticiency
of the machine ‘has been demonstrated practically.
According to the article under review, it seems that
a 4h.p. engine enabled a furrow nearly 6 inches deep to
be cut at a speed of over 3 miles per hour in a heavy clay
soil. The whole machine weighs 6 cwt. and at the
above speed will plough about an acre and a half a day,
with a fuel consumption of 3 gallons, costing not more
than 5s. The cost of horse ploughing in the same district
is from 15s. to £1 per acre, and taking into consideration
the heavy charges for maintenance, interest and depre-
ciation in the case of horse labour, it would certainly
appear that such motor-ploughing might be economical.

A locomotive cultivator has also been designed,
It is claimed by. the inventor that the plough when
once started will continue ploughing on its own accord
‘with almost human pertinacity’ to the end of the
furrow: but the cultivator machine, working amongst
growing crops, has of course to be steered.

Without doubting the validity of the above in-
formation, it must be borne in mind that the matter is
still in an experimental stage; and the high degree of
novelty attending such an invention as a locomotive
plough renders extended and unprejudiced trial necess-
ary before its application can be seriously considered in
West Indian Agriculture.

Vout. XI. No. 278

A Possible Source of Rubber.

Attention has been recently directed to a species
of Euphorbia (Luphorbia lorifolia) which contains an
unusually large quantity of easily-obtained latex and
eecurs in large numbers in Hawaii. So far as is
known, this particular species of Euphorbia is found in
no other part of the world, being a native of Hawaii.
In press Bulletin No. 37 of the Hawai Agricultural
Experiment Station it is stated that the best means of
-coagulating the latex is with heat or by spraying the
latex into alcohol. The former method appears to be
the preferable one. The constituents which are likely
to be of most commercial value are the resins, the
acetone-soluble resin being a product of very fine
texture and physical appearance. The caoutchouc-
like substance appears to be of an inferior quality in
comparison to the better grade: however, it might find
use as a low grade product. It is suggested that useful
results might accrue from the destructive distillation of
the wood of this tree. It is further pointed out that in
the event of a commercial working of the latex by
means of volatile solvents, the insoluble residue with jts
40-50 per cent. protein would have asa means of its
disposal a. possibility of its sale as a fertilizer on
account of its high nitrogen content.

;. oe

A Silkworm Tree for Rocky Soils.

A very interesting article appears in a recent
‘mumber of the Journal d’ Agriculture Tropicale, in
which the Tapia tree (Uapaca clusiaceac), one of the
Euphorbiaceae, is dealt with from the point of view of
its value for afforestation purposes and as a host for
a silk worm (Borocera madagascariensis). The
tree is very common on the rocky soils of the western
slopes of central Madagascar. In general appearance
it is said to resemble certain evergreen oaks, for its
leaves are persistent, shiny and leathery. The Tapia
“tree seldom grows more than 40 feet in height, and
its thick bark and general adaptation for dry, or at
least for rocky localities, should render this plant
-extremely suitable for afforesting the hills and moun-
tains of the central plateau of Madagascar, at present
-covered with scarcely any vegetation except hard,
coarse grasses possessing no value as forage.

Added to the cumulative benefits to be derived
‘from the planting of the Tapia, is the important fact
that the leaves of this tree constitute the favourite
food material of the indigenous silkworm already refer-
red to. It is stated that a large industry exists amongst
the natives, who collect annually the cocoons, produced
without the application of cultural. methods.

_ It appears that the future prosperity of the
‘andustry has of late years been seriously endangered
by the removal of an interdict which rightly put restric-
tions on the making of bush fires. For reasons clearly
>set forth in the article under review, the burning of
the young Tapia wood undoubtedly increases the
harvest in the following year or two; but the practice
is a short-sighted one, because the trees are prevented
from reproducing themselves naturally. Consequently,

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

409

unles3 extensive planting is carried out, it is likely
that in the near future a profitable industry will have
ceased to exist.

The subject as a whole should prove very
instructive to those who are interested in such matters,
in the West Indies. It is not definitely known
whether this particular species of Tapia would thrive
in the West Indies, but there certainly exist con-
siderable areas of waste land which might possibly
prove suitable for its cultivation. Moreover, the efforts
that are now being directed towards the establishment
of a silkworm industry in some of the islands should
lend a lively interest to the present subject from
a purely industrial aspect; though it is not definitely
known whether the Madagascar silkworm would flourish
under West Indian conditions.

The Assimilation of Nitrates in Plant Cells.

The Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXVII,
1912, reviews recent work on this subject by O. Loew.
Considering the questions of: (1) what is the first
transformation product of the nitrates in the manu-
facture of protein, and (2) what factors operate in the
reduction of such nitrates, the investigator does not
agree with the general opinion that hydroxylamine is
formed and that light is necessary as a source of energy
for the reduction process. The experiments are
claimed to show that: (1) contact with platinum
sponge is sufficient in the absence of light to
reduce magnesium nitrate with glucose in an over-
saturated solution of potassium hydrate, or to reduce
potassium nitrate in solution with dextrose, a process
analogous or similar to one that goes on in the living
cell; (2) the absence of light did not prevent, nor did
access of light accelerate, the reduction of sodium
nitrate in the development of the saprophytic fungus
Penicillium glaucum in a nutrient medium with
glycerine; (3) in various roots kept growing in a cool
and totally dark chamber the nitrates were steadily
decreased in quantity with a corresponding increase of
protein; (4) young etiolated barley plants removed
every trace of nitrate from a nutrient solution in the
absence of light with increase of protein, while the
controls showed strong nitrate reaction. The con-
clusions based on these results are briefly: (1) that the
splitting up of nitric acid with the evolution of nitrogen
peroxide under the influence of light has its parallel
and equivalent in energy developed by the breaking-
down of carbohydrates in the absence of air with the
evolution of carbon dioxide (intramolecular respiration );
(2) that if hydroxylamine were formed, its toxic influ-
ence upon the cells would reveal its presence: (3) that
the requisite energy for the more difficult work of
reducing sulphates is derived from changes in the
living protoplasm initiated to some extent by changes
in the composition of the proteins in the living cells.

Finally, it is believed that most roots are obliged
to utilize their nitrates in the absence of light, and
they are probably not carried to the leaves for reduc-
tion before utilization.

THE

INSECT NOTES.

TICKS.
PART Ik

410

As was promised, the subject of ticks is continued from
the last number of the Agricultural News, by further
«juotation from the Bulletin mentioned there, namely No. 106
“of the Bureau of Entomology of the United States
Department of Agriculture.

‘Owing to the fact that very few entomologists or
zoologists have had experience with the systematic collection
of ticks, a few suggestions along this line may prove of value.
“The writers have found that in ‘many instances zoologists
‘have received and handled specimens of skins and living
animals to which ticks were attached and seen but were not
preserved. The ease with which this class of parasites may
‘be preserved should encourage zoologists to keep on the
Jookout for them and to collect all specimens seen.

‘Persons who collect specimens of ticks should record the
host, point of attachment, date and locality. All parts of the
host, including the inside of the ears, should be closely
examined. Upon the discovery of a female, and before
removing it, the collector should search closely for the male,
-which may be attached near by. A pair of forceps will be
found useful in removing the smaller ticks. Those with
short mouth-parts are readily removed without injury, but
“many, particularly those of the genus Ixodes, are usually so
+firmly attached that the body of the tick will be separated
from the capitulum unless the latter is firmly grasped. Some
ixodologists have recommended the application of a penetra-
ting oil and waiting for the tick to loosen its hold, but this
will seldom be found necessary.

‘In collecting ticks from small animals which have been
shot or trapped, a supply of small cotton bags should be at
hand into which the host can be placed as soon as shot
and the bag firmly tied to prevent the escape of the ticks.
Tf the host animal is too large to be bagged it should be
examined at once over some white surface, such as white
ectton cloth spread over the ground. The importance of
immediate examination is emphasized, as the writers have
found that larvae of the rabbit tick, and of other species with
short hypostomes, commence to leave the host within a few
minutes after the animal is killed. Ticks with long hypos-
tomes, such as Ixodes, are sometimes unable to detach them-
selves and therefore remain upon the animal. In a number of
instances living and dead ticks have been found clinging to
the skins of animals which have been nailed on a wall for
several days.

‘The collection of ticks from herbage, on which they are
awaiting a host, may best be done by dragging a white cloth,
preferably of wool, over bushes, grass, etc. An ordinary in-
sect beating net may also be employed. Fruitful results have
been found to attend the examination of the dens of animals,
nests and regular roosting places of birds, and the ground in
the vicinity of resting and watering places of mammals. Pill
boxes have been found to be satisfactory receptacles for the
ticks when collected.

‘In preserving we have usually used 80 per cent. alcohol
or a mixture consisting of 60 parts alcohol, 1 part formalin,
and 39 parts water. Adult specimens, particularly males
with bright colour markings, should be mounted on pins as
well as preserved in alcohol. For microscopical study speci-
mens should be mounted in Canada balsam on slides. The

AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

DecemBer 21, 1912.

contents of the body should first be teased out in hot water,.
through a slit made at the posterior end of the body. Speci-
mens can then be readily cleared by boiling in a 10 per cent.
solution of caustic potash, care being taken that the clearing”
be not carried too far. “The method employed by Dr. C. W.
Stiles consists in soaking the specimens in from 2 to 5 per
cent. caustic potash solution for periods varying from twelve
to ninety-six hours, after which all the soft body content
is removed, and after passing the specimens through water,
the alcohols, and xylol or other clearing agents the specimens
are mounted in balsam.”

BASIG SLAG AS AN INSECTICIDE.

The following article appeared in the Journal of
the New Zealand Department of Agriculture for Sep-
tember 16, 1912. The employment of the manure in
this way is interesting, particulariy in view of the
experimental use of nitrolim (calcium cyanamide) in
Trinidad against the froghopper; only it must be
remembered that the probable manner of action ditters
in the two cases.

Basic slag, that one-time residual waste of the steel
blast furnace—the dross formed in the removal of phosphorus
from iron ore—is not only proving a fertilizer of great value
in this country, as well as an excellent corrective of acidity
in the soil, but it is well known that root crops manure&
with slag are not affected with certain diseases which are
often present when other manures are used.

Now, according to an investigation in France, basic slag
is proving of distinct value in the destruction of the plant
louse. In Europe this insect has been very destructive,
especially to sugar beet. All mixtures or liquors used for
spraying plants as a protection against these insects have
been applied in vain. .The ‘false brown rust’ or ‘curl’ of
the peach is caused by the plant lice, and it cannot be success-
fully fought because neither liquors nor powders can be made
to reach the little animals. When the beet plant is attacked.
the leaf curls up and protects the insect against any treat-
ment the farmer may apply.

It has been found that by the application of large
quantities of nitrates after rains, the beet is stimulated to
push out new leaves, which take the place of those destroyed
by the plant lice. But this method has its dangers, since
an excess of nitrogen in the soil may be just as harmful to-
the plants as the action of the insects.

J. P. Wagner, a sugar-beet expert, recently told the
National Society of Agriculture of France of a successfull
attempt to fight thesejinsects by means of basic slag. He
spread about 1,400. of the basic slag to the acre on fields
that were infested with the plant louse. Not only did this
treatment prevent the insects from attacking the leaves, but
they were driven away. from leaves they had already attacked.
On another field the slag was applied in larger quantities.
Every plant was already attacked by the insects when the
dross was applied. \Vithin eight days all the insects had.
disappeared, and the plants recovered their healthy appear-
ance and colour.

The method by which the basic slag operated in these
cases is not known. Wagner thinks that the compound forms
a thin layer on the leaf, spreading out over the whole surface,
and that it is either distasteful or injurious to the insect.
It is well knowa that many lime compounds are injurious to-
animals with soft, naked skins, such as snails, caterpillars,
naked larvae; but it has not been shown that a similar effect
is actually produced in the treatment against plant lice with
basic slag.

Vor. XI. No. 278.

FEDERATED MALA)

STATES:
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE
YEAR 1911.

REPORT OF

After the commencement of this report it is stated that
the headway made with rubber during the year under review
has been characterized by steady and quiet development, so
that progress of the best kind has been made, from an agri-
cultural aspect. Although the prices for rubber were not
very steady, the tendency is thought to be toward a more
settled state of the market; in any case, they have been
higher than was estimated by the authorities at the com-
mencement of the year. Interesting details are given of the
cost of production of rubber in the different States; this was
highest in Selangor and lowest in Perak. It is considered
that the cost of this production on a good estate should
not exceed 1s. 6d. per tb. During 1911 the land opened
for rubber reached an area of as much as 107,200 acres,
which is more than double that in 1910, this being again
higher than in any previous year. The amount of rubber
produced by the Federated Malay States in 1911 was
21,809,617 tb., as compared with 12,563,220 tb. in 1910.
The productive acreage at the end of the year was 105,635,
so that the approximate yield per acre of rubber appears to
have been 200 tb. The total production of rubber in Malaya
in 1911 is given as 11,118 tons.

In a part of the report dealing with more general
matters, it is stated that the Department of Agriculture is
continuing to experiment with a large variety of cover crops,
particularly leguminous plants. The trials should prove
ultimately to be of the greatest importance. Advice is given
to the effect that more thorough cultivation is required for
rubber trees, and that the conditions would be greatly
improved by dressings of lime for the soil. More attention is
also needed in regard to careful pruning. It is thought that
there is a general improvement in the tapping of the trees,
Twenty cuts to the inch is stated as a good average, and it is
‘recommended that wounds made in tapping should be
treated with coal tar. Much usefal information follows
xegarding certain matters connected with the manufacture of
» rubber.

The next section deals with insect pests of rubber. These
include white ants (Zermes gestvot), a minute beetle (Xy/e-
Zorus parvulus), borers including another species of Xyle-
borus and Platypus sp., a cricket (Brachytrypes achatinus),
a beetle closely allied to Xylotrupes, the coco-nut beetle
<Oryctes rhinoceros) in a very few instances, and Sa/ssetia
-vigra {Lecanium nigrum].

The root diseases of Para rubber are attended to at
some length, and a useful summary is given of work carried
-9ut mainly by Mr. C. K. Bancroft, then Assistant Mycologist
to the Department. The information regarding rubber con-
- gludes with a short account of Malayan interests in connexion
with the International Rubber Exhibition last held in
London,

An estimate is given which places the total area under
scoco-nuts in the Federated Malay States at about 142,774
acres—an increase of 12,430 acres over that in 1910.

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

411

——

A steady increase of this important crop is reported, and the
Inspector of Coco-nuts estimates that on an average of forty
nuts per tree, there could be produced about 65,500 tons of
copra. The exports of this product from the four States
during 1911 was about 8,000 tons; in addition a large
production was taken up locally by the Federal Oil Mills
at Kuala Selangor. As in the case of rubber, advice is given
to the effect that much more care is necessary in regard to
coco-nut cultivation in the Federated Malay States. The
diseases of the latter plant investigated by Mr. Bancroft during
the year have included a leaf disease caused by Pestalozzis
palmarwin, a so-called bud rot of the coco-nut palm, and
a sooty mould (Meliola palmarum). The bud rot of this
palm that occurs in India has not been recorded in Malaya.

Of the important native crop—rice—there were in the four
States more than 100,000 acres during 1911-12, and the yield
of padi was 3.313,437 bushels. Of other crops, the area of
coffee had doubled by the end of the year, being 11,000 acres.
All the sugar-cane raised in the Federated Malay States is
grown as 1 catch crop under rubber; the use of sugar-cane in
this way, is, however, being abandoned gradually, and this is
indicated by the fact that the total area under sugar in Malaya
fell during the year from 9,075 to 6,657 acres.

Space does not permit the description of the interesting
work that is being carried out in the Experimental Planta-
tions; reference is made to the original for an account of this.
In a general way in the Report it is stated that the relations
between this Department of Agriculture and planters continue
to be excellent; though there is still some need for a more
complete recognition of the extent to which the Department
is equipped for the assistance of agriculturists. On account
of the prosperous and well-established state of the Para rubber
and coco-nut industries in Malaya, it is not likely that new
cultivations will be taken up to any great extent. Possibili-
ties are nevertheless considered to exist regarding Japanese
camphor, the West African oil palm (Zlaeis guineensis),
sisal and Manila hemp.

There are appended to the report statistical tables
regarding agricultural matters in the Federated Malay States
and Malaya which contain much information in a form
useful for reference.

The Last Cotton Crop in St. Vincent.—A note
based on information received recently from the Agricultural
Superintendent concerning the last cotton crop of St. Vincent
appeared in the last number but one of the Agricultural
News. The details show further that bonuses of 50 per cent.
and 100 per cent. have been paid by the St. Vincent Govern-
ment Central Cotton Ginnery to the small growers who sold
their seed-cotton to the ginnery last season, on the profit-
sharing scheme. The first payments were made at the rate
of 64c. per lb. for lst grade Sea Island seed-cotton and 2c.
per Ib. for Ist grade Marie Galante. With the bonuses now
distributed, these payments make the disbursements per
pound reach 9c. for good Sea Island seed-cotton and 4c. for
Marie (ralante. The amount paid on account by the ginnery
for cotton was £4,770. This, with £2,760 paid in bonuses,
makes the total payments to all small growers £7,530,

As was stated in the issue of the Agricultural News.
mentioned the total purchase of seed-cotton was 506,932 Ib.,
comprising 353,485 Ib. of Sea Island and 152,447 Ib. of
Marie Galante.

It is pointed out by the Agricultural Superintendent
that these figures form some indication of the rapid progress
that is being made in the cotton-growing industry by the
peasantry in St. Vincent. All this does not include tha
estate work of the ginnery.

GLEANINGS,

Meetings of the Agricultural Societies both of St. Kitts
zund Nevis were held during last month, at which it was
decided to hold agricultural shows in 1913.

During November the weather was unfavourable in most
sdistricts of St. Vincent for cotton-picking owing to the heavy
rainfall. At the Botanic Station this was 1091 inches and
-at the Experiment Station 10°51 inches.

A note in the Journal d Agriculture Tropicale for
October 1912, announces a method that has been devised
-for simplifying the extraction of ramie fibre by acting
chemically on the gum in the bark. It also mentions a pro-
‘posal for making paper paste from the ramie plant.

The Board of Trade Journal for October 31, 1912, con-
“tained a note stating that the British Acting Consul-General
at Rio de Janeiro reports that the coffee crop in the State of
Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been severely injured by frost after
a long drought, and that it is estimated that the coming crop
will be much smaller than that of last year.

The distribution from the Antigua Botanic Station
during November comprised the following: lime plants 11,797,
onion sets 3,500, coco-nut plants 739, Eucalyptus plants 83
and miscellaneous plants 91. There were also sent out 2,000
sweet potato cuttings, and 9 packets and 1 bag of seeds.

The Honorary Secretary of the Barbados Goat Society
has forwarded a copy of the prize list of the show of this
Society that was to be held on December 18. At this show
A first prize of $10 and a Diploma of Merit were offered
by the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, in the class
Milch Goats.

According to the Lancet, 1912, No. 19, p. 1291, the
amount of ammonia in rain which falls after a period of
drought (‘rare rain’) is much greater than that in ordinary
rain. Water which fell in London as rain, after a five weeks’
drought, contained 0525 gr. of ammonia per gallon, which
is about seven times more than is found in normal rain, in
England.

The use of hydrogen peroxide as a fungicide and stimu-
lant in connexion with germinating seeds receives attention
in an abstract of a paper in the Haperiment Station Record
for August 1912. Investigations have shown that dilute
solutions of hydrogen peroxide facilitate germination and
stiniulate the active development of plants, and that at the
~same time this substance is effective against certain fungi.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, DrecemBer 21, 1912,

The value of the exports from
1911 reached £1,300,238. Among these (according to
Colonial Reports—Annual, No. 724) there were included
42,892 tons of oil palm kernels, and rice to the value of
£4,715; the shipments of rice have decreased because of the
greater local consumption. The rubber produced in 1912
was the lowest recorded during the past ten years, being
only 16 tons value £5,918.

Sierra Leone during

eS

Vature for November 7, 1912, gives attention to the
last issue of the yearly memorandum of the chief engineer of
the Manchester Steam Users’ Association. This shows that,
with the present prices of oil, it is not profitable to burn oil
rather than coal until the price of the latter has risen to
38s. per ton; but that oil can be used profitably in internal
combustion engines whenever and wherever the price of
coal is higher than 15s. per ton.

In the Journal of the Chemical Society for September
1912 an abstract of a paper is given showing that by
repeated extraction with boiling alcohol (96 per cent.)
a glucoside has been isolated from the seeds of Para rubber
(Hevea brasiliensis) which is found to be identical in every
way with the phaseolunatin isolated by Dunstan and Henry
from the seeds of the Barbuda or Lima bean (Phaseolus
lunatus) and from the roots of the bitter cassava.

A report issued by the Commercial Intelligence Depart-
ment af India shows that the areas and yields of the principal
crops of that country during 1911-12 were as follows, the
figures being subject to revision: rice 56,443,000 acres and
521,992,000 ewt., wheat 30,386,800 acres and 9,813,500
tons, sugar-cane 2,331,700 acres and 2,390,400 tons, jute
3,106,400 acres and 8,234,700 bales, and cotton 20,333,000
acres and 3,925,000 bales, this quantity of cotton including
exports from India and that consumed in the country in and
outside mills.

The Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence
and of Plant Diseases for October 1912 contains an abstract
of a paper which shows that watermelons investigated by
the authors contained: juice 43 per cent, rind 47, and pulp
10 per cent. The ash in the juice amounted to about 0:25
per cent., and of this one-eighth was insoluble. Reducing
sugars were present to the extent of about 5 per cent. of the
juice, and sucrose about 1 per cent. The fermented juice
gave 2°5 per cent. of alcohol by weight, which yielded
ultimately 1°75 per cent. of pure acetic acid.

Copies of an Order made by the Governor-in-Executive
Committee on November 21 last have been received from the
Superintendent of Agriculture, Barbados. This prohibits
unders Section 45 and 46 of the Trade Act, 1910 (1910.6) the:
importation into Bardados of sugar-cane and other gramina-
ceous plants, and matters connected with them, from South
America, Central America, British Guiana, Trinidad, Tobago,
Grenada and St. Croix; and prescribes the conditions under
which plants, etc., may be imported from such countries, and
repeals the Order made on May 23, 1912. Articles manufac-
tured, or dried articles, from plants in the order Gramineae,.
such as barley, guinea corn, maize, rice, rye, oats, wheat, and
hay, or similar articles may be exempted from the operation
of the Order, at the discretion of the Superintendent of
Agriculture.

Vou. XI. No. 278.

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, 413

STUDENTS’ CORNER.

AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The results of the Intermediate and Final Examinations
in connexion with the Courses of Reading in Practical Agri-
culture, of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, which
were held on November 1], 1912 are as follows:—

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION,

Centre. Name, Result.
Dominica Auguste, H. 2nd class
Athill, S. V. 2nd y,;
Antigua - Gomes, C. A. NH As
| Lake, 1D, 1G Aitel a
FINAL EXAMINATION,
Montserrat Howes, 8S. W. Ind! 7.

In the Intermediate Examination, the candidates in
Dominica qualified in Cacao and Limes, as special subjects; in
Antigua the candidates qualified in the same way in Sugar
Industry— General and in Cotton. The candidate in the Final
Examination passed in Cotton and Limes as special subjects.
Tt should be stated in connexion with the Intermediate Exam-
ination in Dominica that a second candidate obtained
a second class, but that as he only took one special subject
he must satisfy the examiners in another such subject before
he can be granted a certificate. Two candidates had offered
themselves in Antigua for the Final Examination, but for
various reasons were unable to sit.

The total number of candidates éxamined in the inter-
mediate stage was six, so that four passed and two failed.
There were no candidates examined in the final stage, besides
the one who passed.

The questions in the preliminary and intermediate stages,
were published in the last three numbers of the Agricultural
News. Those in the final stage are reproduced below in the
same way.

GENERAL SUBJECTS,

(Six questions, only, were to be attempted; and one had
to be selected from each of the sections A,B,C,D )

A. Production of Plants.

1. Give an account of any legislation that has been
made for the protection of some cultivated plant, under
conditions with which you are familiar.

2. State fully the precautions that have been taken
against fungus diseases cf plants, in the circumstances of
your experience.

3. Write a description of any work in which you have
taken part, having for its object the improvement of a given
plant used as an estate crop.

B. Production of Auimals.

1. Supply as much information as you can concerning
the use of by products of an estate for feeding stock.

2. With what disease of stock are you best acquainted?
Describe its symptoms and a method of treatment for it.

3. What means, as far as you know, are employed for
the improvement of stock, in the West Indies? Criticize
them.

©, Construction on Estates.

1. State how you have employed the natural resources
of an estate in maintaining or constructing buildings upon it.
2. Give a description, aeeompanied by simple drawings,
of any building used directly in produetion on an estate.
> 3. Describe any piece of machinery used for agricultural
work, giving particulars as to its first cost’ and cost of main-
tenance, and the kinds of repairs most usually needed.

D. Economies of Planting.

1. What are chief losses that take place, under estate
practice with which you are familiar! How may those losses
be prevented or lessened?

2. Give an account of the labour conditions by which
you are surrounded, and say how you think they may be
improved.

3. Supply details of the expenditure in cultivating and
manuring an acre of a crop whose raising you have super-
vised. (Approximate figures, only, are required.)

SPECIAL SUBJECTS,

(Three questions only awere to be answered, chosen
from both of the special subjects that the candidate was
offering. The time given for the answers is meant to enable
candidates to deal with the questions in as detailed a manner
as possible. )

Sugar Industry.
General.

1. State how you deal with an area of burnt canes,
both as to the canes themselves and the after-cultivation of
the land. What comparative losses would you broadly
expect through the burning of (a) plants, (b) ratoons?

2. Give particulars, with the cost, of a system of
manuring land, for sugar cane, with which you have had
experience.

3. In what ways have you dealt with pests and diseases
of sugar-cane, in connexion with both prevention and control?

Cotton.

1. Describe the work done on cotton land from the end of
crop to the next sowing, and state how much of this is
concerned with the control of pests and diseases.

2. Give an account of the expenses of picking and
preparing seed-cotton to be sent to the ginnery.

3. Write a description of the appearance shown by
plants attacked by any disease of cotton with which you are
acquainted, saying how it is controlled and how its manifesta-
tions depend upon the state of the weather.

Provision Crops.

1. Diseuss the particular and general uses of the
cultivation of provision crops in a community.

2. Give a full account of the preparation of the land,
manuring and planting in connexion with any provision crop
with which you have had experience, supplying details of the
cost of the various materials and operations.

3. Describe useful methods of storing provision and

grain crops.

As in the Intermediate Examination, some of the
subjects of the syllabus were not offered by any of the
candidates, so that questions were not set in these.

A review of the questions and of the work done by
candidates in the examinations will be given in the next issue
of this journal.

414

THE AGRICULTURAL

NEWS, DecemBer 21, 1912,

SSS ao SS SS SS ee eae

FUNGUS NOTES.

SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION GIVEN
DURING THE YEAR.

In this concluding number of the current volume of the
Agricultural News a summary will be given of the informa-
tion that has been published during the year on the subject
of plant disease, in continuation of the course adopted in
Volumes IX and X. As on previous occasions the major
portion of the information deals with investigations that
have been conducted in other parts of the world, principally
in the tropics, or in the larger islands of the West Indies
such as Trinidad and Porto Rico. Certain of the articles,
however, as for example the following: that dealing with the
prevalence of plant diseases in 1910 and 1911, on page 30,
that on the general treatment of root diseases of permanent
crops, p. 190, as well as others, have been the outcome of
observations made either by the agricultural officers in the
various islands of the Windward and Leeward Colonies, or
by the Mycologist on the Staff of this Department. The
information is here classified under various headings in order
to facilitate reference.

SUGAR-CANE. There have been three articles dealing with
diseases of this host plant in various parts of the world. The
first appeared on page 78, and was entitled Red Rot Disease
of the Sugar-cane in Louisiana. It contains an account of
Edgerton’s observations on the symptoms of the disease as
found in that State, and of his successful inoculation experi-
ments with Colletotrichum falcatum, the causative fungus.
The disease appears in its most typical form and causes much
damage to the juice of the cane, which it enters principally
through moth borer tunnels. In Louisiana the fungus does
not appear to spread into the shoots from infected cuttings as
it is reported to do in other parts of the world, notably in
India. Its presence in the cane stem is often attended by red
spots on the leaves believed to be of the same origin. In the
course of the inoculation experiments, the seedlings D.74 and
D.95 were found to be more immune than the local varieties.
Inoculations with two other fungi very similar to that caus-
ing red rot gave no very definite results. In the article
on page 366 entitled Iliaun—A Cane Disease of Hawaii,
a summary is given of Lyon’s work on a serious disease of
cane, confined to Hawaii. This was shown to be due to
a fungus previously undescribed and called by him Gnomonia
wav. It has a Melanconium stage similar to that of the
fungus found so very commonly on dying canes in the West
Indies. The disease is mainly confined to the young shoots,
which it kills by encasing them in a wrapper of leaf sheaths,
closely cemented together by mycelium. The growth of the
fungus is much favoured by cool, damp weather, which checks
that of the cane; while in its partial parasitism dependent on
the reduced vitality of its host, as well as in the fact that itis
a soil organism, it resembles Marasmius sacchari, one of the
local root disease organicms, and the treatment for the two is
consequently also similar. Johnston’s work on sugar-cane
diseases in Porto Rico is summarized on page 482. The
most important is root disease which is due to at least two
different kinds of fungi, one Marasmius sacchari and possibly
other species of Marasmius, the other unidentified, but caused
by a fungus with a mycelium characterized by the presence of
stellate crystals. This latter fungus has been found on other
grasses, especially guinea grass. In dealing with rind disease
the influence of climatic conditions and of the attacks of
moth borer on its virulence are noted, as well as other points

of considerable interest. Experiments showed that the red
spot of the leaf sheath due to Cercospora vaginae did not
appear to cause much damage to the cane, and the same was
true of the red rot of the leaf sheath due to Sclerotium sp.,
though other cbservers’ have recorded it as inflicting serious
harm in some cases. It is further noted that the question of
other native host plants for the sugar-cane parasites is
receiving attention.

coco NUT PALM. On pages 94 and 110 is given a sum-
mary of Johnston’s work on the bud rot of this plant as
it occurs in the West Indies. The symptoms, distribution,
cause and treatment of the disease, with the means of spread
of the infection, are discussedat some length. The causative
organism is believed to be a bacterium or strains of bacteria,
known as Bacillus coli which is found in the human colon.
This is an important instance of a plant disease attributed to
an organism best known in connexion with animals. The
symptoms of the disease are numerous and rather various, and
the rate at which it induces death depends very largely, as
do the symptoms exhibited, on the original point of infection.
The destruction of the diseased trees is believed to be the best
remedy. Another form of bud rot disease, due to a fungus
Pythium palmivorum and described from Mexico by the late
Olsen-Seffer is dealt with on page 238. This is the same
disease as that found in India by Butler, of which an account
was given in the Agricultural News, Vol. X, pp. 14 and 30,
Finally, part of Freeman’s report on Diseases of Coco-nut
Palms in Tobago is reproduced on page 398. The diseases dealt
with are root disease and one possessing somewhat different
symptoms that may be due to other causes, It is stated that
the incidence of root disease is independent of soil conditions,
while the peculiar fact is noted that only the more superficial
roots are diseased in some cases.

citrus. In two articles, one entitled Gummosis of
Prunus aud Citrus on page 206, and the other Exanthema and
Squamosis of Citrus on page 222, the result of Butler’s work
on these diseases is summarized. It was found that all three
are physiological and are not occasioned by any definite
organism, but depend on the incidence of a free supply
of moisture at a time of active growth. The young
newly, formed elements of the wood which are still in
a more or less embryonic state break down and form
gum, which in gummosis swells out the bark tissues
and then breaks through them, forming drops which
harden on the outside. Certain varieties of Citrus are
very resistent to gummosis and may be used as stocks,
while applications of salt are suggested as preventive of this
disease. The occurrence of an alga, Cephelewros sp., on lime
leaves is noted on page 270. On page 350 is a summary of
an account of a knot disease of limes found in Jamaica and
investigated by Florence Hedges and L.S. Tenney. The
disease is characterized by the presence of large galls on the
branches and even on the main stem. These when old, girdle
the stem and cause the death of the parts above them. The
cause is a fungus Sphaeropsis tumefaciens of which the
mycelial characters are somewhat similar to those of
Thyridaria tarda and of Diplodia natalensis. The disease
may be controlled by the destruction of badly damaged trees,
and by heavy pruning of those less affected.

PARA RUBBER. A short article dealing with investiga-
tions by Bancroft on the cause of spotting of prepared sheets
of rubber appears on page 62, while on page 158 attention is
drawn to Hevea stumps as possible carriers of disease,
especially that due to Thyridaria tarda, and Stockdale's
advocacy of Government control of their importation into
British Guiana is recorded.

Vou. XI, No, 278.

FRUIT DISEASES. Under the title.The Panama Disease
of Bauanas, on pages 126 and 142, is summarized the
literature dealing with those diseases of bananas and
plantains characterized by the progressive destruction of the
water-conducting tissue of the roots, bulbs and leaf sheaths.
The tentative conclusion is reached that three different
diseases of this nature must probably be recognized: the
‘Moko’ disease of plantains described by Rorer from Trinidad’
caused by Bacillus musae; the Surinam Panama disease prin-
cipally confined to the Gros Michel banana, described by
Drost and attributed to a fungus Leptosphaeria musae, while
possibly incompletely described forms of disease in Trinidad
and Cuba may be identical with this, as well as a disease
with similar symptoms in Bengal; and the true Panama
disease of uncertain origin found in Central America.
Diseases of avocado pear, mango and bread-fruit, of which
the first two are due to species of Gloeosporium, while the
third may also be caused by a species of that genus, receive
attention on page 334. ‘The first two may be successfully
controlled by spraying the young fruits with Bordeaux mixture
as shown by Rorer in Trinidad; and Stockdale has found the
same treatment effective in the case of the bread-fruit in
British Guiana.

ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGI. In a note on page 270 the occur-
rence of the white-headed fungus of scale insects, Ophionectria
coecicola, is recorded in St. Lucia on lime scales, and a hint is
given as to the best course to follow in making artificial
inoculations with it. The presence of Aschersonia turbinata
on the mango shield scale in the same island is also reported.

MISCELLANEOUS DIsEAsEs, A soft rot of ginger in Bengal,
with its cause and remedy, receives attention on page 46.
The investigation was conducted by McRae and the disease is
attributed to a fungus, Pythiwm grq@eile, which infects the
parts below ground, entering from the soil and eventually trans-
forming the rhizomes into a wet, rotten mass. The well-known
mildew of roses is the subject of a short note on page 174, on
which a canker of the immortel shade tree found in St. Lucia
is also considered; its cause has not yet been definitely ascer-
tained. Some further notes on the distribution and host
plants of the black root disease (/osel/uiza spp.) are given on
page 270.

GENERAL ARTICLES. Four articles of a general nature
have appeared in this volume. A summary of experiments
on the control of leaf rust of ground nuts appears on page 14,
and the conclusion is reached that the disease does not inflict
sufficient damage in most cases to justify-the use of spraying.
On page 30 is an article entitled Reports on Fungus Diseases
during the years 1910 and 1911. This is a summary
of a fuller paper by the Mycologist to this Department read at
the Agricultural Conference held this year in Trinidad and
published in full in the West Indian Buldetin, Vol. XII,
p. 425, The third is an article on the General Treatment of
Root Diseases of Permanent Crops, which appears on page 190;
while the last is entitle¢ Crown Gall of. Plants and its Rela-
tion to Animal Cancer, and appears or page 318. This last
presents a short summary of the work of Erwin Smith and his
collaborators on this subject, and of the reasons he gives for
considering the plant galls as analogous to human cancers.
Since the galls have been shown to be due to the presence in
their cells of a bacterium, Baci/lus twmefaciens, it seems
possible from the anology and from the peculiar relation
found to exist between the host and the parasite in the plant
disease that cancer in animals is due also to a bacterium
which has been overlooked

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS,

415

PALMS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES.

The information below 1s taken from an article
giving general suggestions regarding plants for tropical
landscapes, in the Philippine Agricultural Review
for September 1912:—

According to their habit and behaviour the palms may
be used in a variety of ways for decorative purposes.
Because of their slow growth and comparatively small spread
ef crown which gives but little shade, they are not as fre-
quently planted for street trees as they deserve from a purely
ornamental point of view. This is a matter for much regret
because no shade tree can approach a well-developed palm of
certain species in clean-cut knightly beauty. A tree may be
the most majestic or the most graceful, but the palm is,
nevertheless, distinctly in a class by itself. ‘The princes of
the vegetable kingdom’, so were the palms termed by the
great Linnaeus, and there seems to be no reason for a revi-ion
of that expression. And yet Linnaeus received his impres-
sions of the palms from descriptions by others, from herba-
rium specimens, and from what must have been but poor
specimens found in the crudely constructed greenhouses of
his day. We can but conjecture his expression if he had
seen the palms in their native habitat. One cannot but
regret that the great plant lover and botanist never saw the
real Tropics—but to return to our subject. If palms are
unsuited to line the wider streets and thoroughfares of a city
or the country, they should be planted along paths and
walks in the park and plazas whenever this can be done so
as to conform to the general design.

For avenue purposes only, species having a straight
trunk and a fairly well developed crown should be chosen,
such as the Canary Island date (Phoenix camariensis), the
royal palm (Roystonea regia), the California fan palm (Wash-
ingtonia robusta), Cocos plumosa, Buri, Corypha elata, etc.;
the date (Phoenix dactylifera) makes a very satisfactory
avenue true; though it has a rather ‘stiff and ungraceful
appearance; for narrow walks and the ‘patio’ the ‘Bonga de
China’ (Normanbya merrillt) is excellent. As an all-round
avenue tree, perhaps no species surpasses the Canary Island
date. The royal palm is indeed excellent when from 5 to
10 metres tall, but it unfortunately grows so rapidly as
to lose its greatest charm while it is still compar-
atively young. For the best effect palms should never be
planted so close in the avenue that the leaves interlace. For
massing, as solitary specimens on the lawn, or in the shrub-
bery, all palms may be utilized more or less, For a ‘grove’,
particularly near water, none is more appropriate than the
coco-nut palm. In planting a ‘grove’ for ornamental pur-
poses be sure not to plant an ‘orchard’ or else much of the
charm will be lost.

A paper in the Annales du Jardin Botanique de Buiten-
zorg, 1910, describes an investigation which shows that the
latex in plants may contain a reserve of plant food as starch,
An abstract of the paper in the Gardeners’ Chroniele for
October 26, 1912, states: ‘By cultivating laticiferous plants
in an atmosphere containing no carbon dioxide the formation
of sugars is suppressed and the starved plants utilize the
starch grains suspended in the latex. At all events, these
grains become corroded just as they do when they are acted
on by a diastatic enzyme in the normal course of the “diges-
tion” of starch, that is, the conversion of starch to sugar,’

416

London.—THr West

THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

MARKET REPORTS.

Inpia ComMITTEE CIRCULAR,

December 3, 1912: Messrs. E. A. de Pass & Co.,

November 22, 1912.

ARRowRooT—4d. to 44d.

Batata—Sheet, 3/44; block, 2/7 per th.

Brrswax—4£7 15s.

Oacao—Trinidad, 72/- to 80/- per cwt.; Grenada, 59/-
to 66/-; Jamaica, 55s. to 65s.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 72s. to Sis.

Copra—West Indian, £27 10s. per ton.

Cottron—Fully Fine, no quotations; Floridas, no quota-
tions; West Indian Sea island, 143d. to 20d.

Fruit—No quotations.

Fustic—No quotations.

GincER—49s. to 65s.

lgineLass—No quotations.

Honey—No quotations.

Ling Jurcr—Raw, 1/- to 1/14; concentrated, £18 5s. to
£18 10s.; otto of limes (hand-pressed), 7/3 to 7/44.

Log woop—No quotations.

Macre—()uiet.

Nutmras—5d. to 9d.

Pinento—2}d. to 2,44.

Russer—Para, fine hard, 4/6-; fine soft, 4/13; Castilloa,
3/9 per tb.

Rum—Jamaica, 2/1 to 6/-

Sucar—Crystals, 17/6 to 20/; Muscovado, 11/6 to 14/-;
Syrup, 10,6 to 11/-; Molasses, no quotatioas.

New York.—Messrs. Gintesprz Bros, & Co., November

29, 1912.

Oacao—Caracas, 15c. to 15$c.; Grenada, 14c. to 15e;
Trinidad, 15c. to 15jc. per th.; Jamaica, 114c. to 12kc.

Ooco-nuts—Jamaica, select, $35°00 to $34:00; culls,
$19°00 to $20°00; Trinidad, select, $33-00 to $34:00;
culls, $19°00 to $20-00 per M.

OorrrE—Jamaica, 15jc. to 17c. per th.

Gincer—8$c. to 12c. per tb.

Goat Sxins—Jamaica, 50c.; Antigua and Barbados, 46c.
to 48c.; St. Thomas and St. Kitts, 43c. to 46c.
per tb.

Grape Fruir—Jamaica, $2°25 to $275.

Limes—$5-00 to $5°50.

Macre—5dsc. to 57c. per tb.

Nurmrcs—110’s, 14c.

Oranaes—Jamaica, $2 00 to $2 25.

Pimento—4ic. per fb.

Sucar—Centrifugals, 96°, 4-05c. per th.; Muscovados, 89°,
3°55c.; Molasses, 89°, 3°30c. per th., all duty paid

Trinidad,—Messrs Gorpon, Grant & Co., December 9,

1912,

Oacao—Venezuelan, $15°50 to $15'75 per fanega; Trinidad,
$14 50 to $15-00.

Coco-nut O1L—$1-04c. per Imperial gallon

CorreE—Venezuelan, 16c. to 17c. per ft

Copra—$4°50 per 100 fh.

Dxuat—$4:00.

Ontons—$1°50 to $3°50 per 100 fh.

Peas, Sprit—$5°75 to $6°00 per bag.

Porators—English, $1°25 to $1°50 per 100 tt.

Ric—e—Yellow. $5°00; White, $6°30 to $6°75 per bag.

Suear—Amenriean crushed, no quotations.

December 21, 1912,

Barbados.—Messrs. James A. Lyncn & Co., Ltd.,

December 14, 1912; Messrs. T. 8. Garraway &
Co., December 16, 1912; Messrs. Leacock & Co.,
December 6, 1912.

ARROWROOT—$6'75 to $9:00 per 100 fb.

Cacao—$12-00 to $12°50 per 100 tr.

Coco-nuts—$20°90.

Hay—$1°60 to $1°80 per 100 tb.

Manvres—Nitrate of soda, $75°00; Cacao manure, $45°00
to $48:00; Sulphate of ammonia, $80-00 to $85:00
per ton.

Motasses—No auotations.

Ontons—$2:00 to $6°00 per 100 th.

Pras, Sprit—$6'40 to 56°75 per bag of 210 tbh.; Canada,
$300 to $4°75 per bag of 120 th.

Porators—Nova Scotia, $2°75 to $3-00 per 160 th.

Rice—Ballam, #510 to $5°30 per 190 tb.; Patna, no
quotations; Rangoon, no quotations.

Suear—American granulated, $4°75 per 100 tb.

British Guiana. —Messrs. Wietine & Ricater, Decem-

ber 7, 1912.

ARTICLES.

Messrs. WIETING
& RIcHTer.

ARrrRowroot—St. Vincent —

Batata— Venezuela block
Demerara sheet
Cacao—Native
Cassava—
Cassava STARCH—

Coco-NuTS—

CorrrE—Creole
Jamaica and Rio
Liberian

Daat—

Green Dhal
EvpogEs —
Mo .asses— Yellow
Owtons—Teneriffe

No quotation
70c. per tb.
18c. per tb.

$100.
$750 to $800

$16 to $20 per M.

17c. per th.
2Uc. per tb.
l6c. per th.
$350 to $4:00 per
bag of 168 th.
$5 00
60c. to 80c.
None

Madeira 9c. to 10c. per th.
Pras—Split $6°25 to $7°00 per
bag (210 tb.)
Marseilles $3°70.
PLaNTaINS— 16c. to 48c.
Potators—Nova Scotia $2°75
Lisbon —
Potators—Sweet, B’bados $2°64
per bag

Rice—Ballam

No quotation

Creole $430 to $5°00
Tannias— $1-68
Yams— White $2 64

Buck $2°40
Sucar—Dark crystals $2°20 to $2°40

Yellow $3-00 to $3°25
White $4:-00
Molasses $2°30 to$ 2°60

TineeR — Greenheart
Wallaba shingles
;, Cordwood

32c. to ddc. per
cub. foot
$400 to $6°25
per M.
$1°80 to $2:00
per ton

A

Absorption by roots, 245.
Achras Sapota, 375.
Adsorption by starches, 281.
Afforestation in Guadeloupe, 245.
Agar-agar, 120.
Agave cantala, 403.
Agricultural and Commercial Society,
Antigua, 395.
—, St. Kitts, 309.
— Industrial Show, St. Kitts, 107.
banks, literature of, 333.
chemistry, work on, 156.
College, Porto Rico University, 237.
Conference, 1912, 49, 65, 81.
— picture, 168.
examinations, 29, 45, 61, 365,
—, results, 13, 381, 413.
investigation and agriculturists, 19.
possibilities in Honduras, 40.
— of Panama Canal Zone, 203.
pupils, Dominica, 41, 59,
science, Dominica, 217.
—, research scholarships in, 28.
Show, Montserrat, 1912, 139.
teaching in Grenada, 89, 364, 408.
Agriculture and the British Association,
1912, 269.
—, early, in Bahamas, 85.
— in Bolivia, 43.
= SAS BENE
— — Gold Coast Northern Territories,
343,
— — Porto Rico, 303.
— — St. Vincent, 239, 392.
— — Southern Nigeria, 1910, 47.
— — Straits Settlements, 1910, 157.
— — Trinidad, 15].
—, Reading Courses and [xaminations
in Practical, 193, 401.
—, Third International
Tropical, 43.
Agriculturists and agricultural investiga-
tion, 19.
Albizzia lophantha, 136.
Alfonse mango, 52. .
Alga on lime leaves, 270.
All Ceylon Exhibition, 28.
Amani, German Agricultural Institute
at, 197.
Ammonia in rare rain, 412.
Ammonification in soils, 131.
Ammonium salts, utilization by plants,
57.
Andropogon schoenanthus, oil from, 293.
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, cotton-growing
in, 294.
Animal production and electricity, 73.
Animals, source of food for, 315.

397:

Congress of

Anisercus aftinis,

417

INDEX.

controlling coco-nut

scale, 218.

Anona wuricata, 379.

Anopheles sp. in salt water, 220.

Anthrax, disappearance from St. Vincent,
207, 239.

— Ordinance, St. Vincent, 153.

— serum for human anthrax, 13.

Antigua at the Canadian
Exhibition, 314.

— Agricultural and Commercial Society,

395.

—, coco-nut growing in, 196

—, collection of plants for, 348.

-—, cotton exports from, 172.

-——, — growing in, 69.

—, Eucalyptus in, 92.

— Handbook of General Information,
40.

—, little-known district in, 375.

—, plant distribution in, 60, 300, 348,
380, 412.

—, rainfall of, 1911, 104.

_—, Report on Botanie Station, 69.

—, seedling canes in, 69.

— sugar factory, 163.

Apparatus for drying cotton, 403.

Apterite, trial of, 317.

Argentina, cotton-growing in, 172,

—, sugar crop of, 76.

—, — in, 365.

—, wool output of, 156.

Armstrong, Dr. E. F., 274.

Armstrong, Professor H. E., 274.

Aromatic grass oils, 4.

Arorate, see Sideroxylon erystobotryum.

Arrowroot Association, St. Vincent, 89.

— imports into the United Kingdom,
300.

— in St. Vincent, 76, 239.

— oon the London market, 79, 319,
383.

— Ordinance, St. Vincent, 207, 332.

— worm, 186.

Arsenic in dipping fluids, changes in,
25, 57.

Artificial rubber, 284.

Aschersonia turbinata, 270, 415.

Asclepias curassavica and stock- poisoning,
268.

— semilunata, see Gomphocarpus semi-
lunatus.

Ashanti, cacao in, 396.

Assam, cotton in, 332.

Atmosphere, nitrogen from, 279.

Atractylis gummifera, 2.

Atriplex nummularia, 56, ame

— semibaccata, 56.

Auchinleck, G.G, 362.

Australia, casein manufacture in, 58.

Australian fruit industries, 159.

—— salt bushes as stock food, 56.

342.

National

Automatic plough, 408.

Avocado, budding of, 357.

Azores, exports from, 252.

Azotobacter, activity in different condi-
tions, 307.

— chroococeum, 169.

Azotogen, 76.

B

Bacillus mycoides and ammonification,
131.

— prodigiosus on rubber, 62.

— subtilis and ammonification, 131.

— — and radioactive substances, 363.

Bacteria in the soil, 109, 113.

Bacteriological work in Jamaica, 95.

Bahamas, early agriculture in, 85.

Baikiaea insignis, 185,

— minor, 185.

Bajra, see Pennisetum typhoideum,

Balanites sp., oil from, 77.

Balata from Northern Nigeria, 299,

Ballou, H.A., 135, 219, 312, 339, 356,
399, 403.

Balls, 405.

Bambarra ground nut as feed, 146.

Bamboo, male, 311.

— leaves, uses for, 103.

— palm, see Raphia vinifera.

Bamboos, paper-making from, 393.

Bambusa arundinacea, Bambusa
macroculmis.

— macroculmis, 103.

-— spinosa, 103.

Banana exports from Canary Islands, 204

— — from Trinidad, 69.

— weevil borer, 170.

Bananas in Costa Rica, 4, 396.

— — Jamaica, 327. .

—, Panama disease of, 126, 142.

Baneroft, C. K., 17, 62, 411.

Barbados, census of, 28.

—, cotton area in, 92.

— exports from, 77.

—, — leaf-blister mite in, 106.

—, exports from, 217.

Goat Society, 44, 412.

—, plant importation regulations, 412.

—, sugar exports from, 77.

—, tradeand agriculture of, 1910-11, 77.

Barbuda bean, see Phaseolus lunatus.

—, coco-nut growing in, 196.

Barosma spp., 362.

Basic slag as an insecticide, 410.

Bay oil, supply of, 217.

Beans, some well known, 347.

Beet growing in South Australia, 60.

Belgium, goat improvement associations
rholy JOTI

see

418

Beri-beri and nutrition, 55.
Bertolletia excelsa, 287.
Bhadoorea mango, 52.
3i-phosphate, 153, 216.
Birchfield method for preparing
254,
Birds, apparatus for scaring, 28.
—, protecting seed from, 271.
Birkinshaw, F., 291.
Bitter oranges, 354.
Black blight in Grenada, 233.
Blastophaga sp. in fig production, 404.
Blumea balsamifera, 302.
Bodkin, G. E., 75, 101.
Boehmeria nivea, 136.
Bois armé, 300.
Bolivia, agriculture in, 43.
—, exports from, 254.
Bombax malabaricum, 117.
Boname, P., 353.
Bonavist bean, see Dolichos Lablab.
s00ks reviewed :—
Antigua: A Handbook of
Information, Tempany, 40.
Coco-nuts: The Consols of the East,
Smith and Pape, 286.
St. Vincent Handbook, Anderson, 25.
The Cotton Plant in Egypt, Balls, 405.
Borassus flabellifer, var. Aethiopium,
188.
Bordeaux mixture in cane-planting, 195.
Borers in trees, method of treatment,
394,

copra,

General

Borneo, British North, cotton in, 172.

— camphor, see Dryobalanops aromatica.
Borocera madagascariensis, 409.

Branching of Egyptian cotton plants, 358.

Brazil rubber exports, 12, 237.

—, silk industry in, 107.

—, sugar production of, 188.

British Association, 92, 203.

— — and agriculture, 269.

— Cotton Growing Association,
86, 198, 243, 310, 343, 390.

— —- — — andcotton shipments, 76.

— — — —, Annual Report, 1911, 24.

BA,

— — — —, yearly cotton statistics, -

214.

British Guiana, agriculture in, 187.

— — and International Rubber Exhi-
bition, 315.

cacao in, 187.

, cattle in, 187.

— —, coco-nut exploitation in, 187,
201.

— —, coffee in, 187.

— —, gold, diamond, and forest indus-
tries of, 28.

— —, report of Government Analyst,
277.

— —, rice in, 187.

— —, rubber experiments in, 187, 277.

7
— of Hevea confusa from, 393.
school gardens in, 249.

— schools, nature teaching and

hygiene in, 232,

British Guiana, sugar industry exports,
348.

British Honduras, exports from, 380.

— —, tradeand agriculture in, 121.

— Imperial Council of Commerce, 268,

Brooks, A. J., 4, 100.

Brotmehl, 312.

Brown hard-back, 254, 314.

Buchu of Sonth Africa, 362.

Bud disease of the coconut palm in)
Mexico, 238.

— rot of the coco-nut palm, 94, 110.

Budding of the avocado, 357.

Butter, 46

— nut, see Caryocar nuciferum.

C.

Cacao, consumption and _ production,
1911, 363.

/-—— cultivation, humidity in, 292.
— —, neglected consiceration in,
|— exports from Dominica, 155.
Gold Ceast, 108, 124.
Para, 188.
San Domingo, 12.
Trinidad, 44, 69, 168, 151,
172; 252.

in Ashanti, 396.

— British Guiana, 187.

— Congo, 25.

— Keuador, 105.

— St. Vincent, 239.

prize competition in Trinidad, 53.
production in St. Lucia, 167.

-— — St. Vincent, 183.

—, shade trees for, 100.

—, wind belts for, 100.

Calamus spp., 202.

Calcium carbonate, formation in soil, 83.
'— chloride as a rubber coagulant, 156.
cyanamide, 25,
—, care in storing, 263.
—, manufacture of, 279.

—, properties of, 75,

—, way of using, 328.
nitrate, manufacture of, 279.
California, natural control of

mealy- bug, 250.

_Calotropis procera, 364.
Cambridge Agricultural Monographs, 316.
— Local Examinations in St. Kitts, 124.
Camera Agrumaria, 249.

Campbell cotton-picking machine, 374.
Camphor, cultivation of, 5. |
from camphor leaves, 93, 229.
in Formosa, 9, 207, 346, 389.
— German East Africa, 93.
— India, 263.

production in Japan, 346.
, purification of, 322.

292.

citrus

'—, useful information concerning, 302. -

Canada, sugar imports from Java, 300. |
Canadian National Exhibition, 367.
—— — — and Antigua, 314.

Canadian National Exhibition and Dom-
inica, 335.

— — — — St, Kitts, 263.

-— — — — Virgin Islands, 283.

— — —, award for Dominica, 380.

Canary Islands, banana experts, 204.

Canavalia gladiata, 248.

Candelilla wax, 72, 199, 345, 396.

Candle-wood tree, Jamaica, 123.

Cane borer parasite, 219.

— fly in Martinique, 234.

— planting, distance of, 370.

— sugar, inversion by ultra-violet rays,
220.

Caprification, 404.

Carabao, Philippine, 27.

Caravonica cotton, weevil enemy of, 266.

Carbohydrates, formation without ch!oro-
phyll, 172.

—, sparing action for proteids, 396.

Carbolie acid for mosquitoes, 376.

Carbon assimilation in plants, 181.

— bisulphide explosion, 186.

Carriacou, cotton industry of, 326.

—, Prize-holdings Competition,
362.

Caroa, 60.

Carpocapsa saltitans, 378.

Carpodinus Gentilii, 11.

— gracilis, 11.

Cartagena, exports from, 44.

Caryocar nuciferum, 187.

Casein manufacture in Australia, 58.

Cashew nuts on the London market, 111,
159.

Cassia bicapsularis, longevity of seeds,
197.

—- Fistula on the London market, 111,
223, 287, 351, 383.

Castilloa elastica, 87.

— — in Formosa, 35.

— — — Uganda, 158.

-— — on the Ivory Coast, 389.

Castolus sp., 314.

Catalytic manures, 396.

Caterpillars eating the grass of lawns
266.

Cattle export regulations, St.
185.

— in British Guiana, 187.

— poisoning by sorghum, 21.

—, Zebu, and Texas fever, 27.

Caucasus, cotton in, 28, 156.

Cayla, V., 125.

Cecidomyiid galls, 183.

Cement for cavities in trees, 259.

Central factories, literature of, 333

1912,

Vincent,

|Cephaleuros sp. on lime leaves, 270.
— mycoidea, 270.
Ceylon, agriculture in, 283.

citronella oil exports from, 220.
cotton in, 189.

rubber exports from, 156, 252, 348,
school gardens in, 44.

soy bean in, 28.

Tephrosia purpurea in, 28.

——

Champak tree, see Michelia Champaca.

Chari, see Guinea corn.

Chayote, 303.

Chelidonium
latex in, 18.

Cherimoyer, 388.

Cherry laurel, see Prunus Laurocerasus.

Chick, development of, 213.

Chicle gum, 375.

China, cotton in, 1911, 397.

SEE RE, 303.

Chirzade, 227.

Chloride of lime for water purification,
200.

Chlorocodon root oil, 280.

— Whyteii, 280.

Chlorophora tinctoria, 7.

Chlorosis, experiments on, 233,

Chocho, use of roots, 305.

Cinnamomum Camphora, 302.

Citric acid, method for determining, 92.

Citronella oil, 4.

— —, exports from Ceylon, 220.

— —, prices of, 220.

Citrus chamber of Sicily, 249.

—, exanthema and squamosis of, 222.

— frnit-handling and shipping, 52.

— growing in Ithodesia, 60.

— mealy-bug, ladybirds on, 250.

— production in Sicily, 249.

Clavija ornata, 254.

Clitandra Arnoldiana, 11.

— orientalis, see C. Arnoldiana.

Cluster bean, see Cyamopsis psoraloides.

Coco-de-mer, see Lodoicea sechellarum.

Coco-nut diseases in Tobago, 398.

— exploitation in British Guiana, 201.

— exports from Trinidad, 151.

— fibre, 68.

— growing in Antigua and Barbuda,
196.

— oil, duty in U.S., 396.

palm, bud rot of, 94, 110.

—, double, 196.

— in Mexico. bud disease of, 238.

— —- New Caledonia, 60.

palms, protection from beetles, 378.

pest in the Philippines, 346.

seedlings, circulation of

599.
—, San Blas, 325.
— scale, predator on, 218.
Coco-nuts, importation
S44.
— in British Guiana, 157.
— — F.MS., 411
—— Jamaica. d20)
— — Portuguese East Africa, 268.
— — Zanzibar, 244
Coffee exports from Santos, 300.
growing in Madagascar, 117.
in British Guiana, 187.
Costa Rica, 4.
Guadeloupe, 245.
Guatemala, 380.
Jamaica, 327.

plantations, hurricane insurance for,

into Grenada,

419

Coffee in Venezuela, 1911, 28.

Coir, mechanical separation of, 265.

Cola spp , classification of, 85.

Colvillea racemosa, 372.

Congo, cacao and cotton in, 25.

—, wild rubber in, 11.

Congress of Chambers of Commerce,
268.

— — Tropical Agriculture, Third In- —
ternational, 43.

Co-operative credit societies, 171.

Copper mixtures for spraying, sampling —
of, 188.

Copra-drying, artificial, 254.

— exports from the Philippines, 44.

— in the Philippines, 23.

Corea, cotton in, 252, 380, 407.

—, rice in, 1911, 393.

Corn ear worm, 546.

Cornish, Dr. V., 329.

Costa Rica, bananas in, 4, 396.

— —, coffee in, 4.

Cotton and tobacco in Nyasaland, 367.

—, apparatus for drying, 403.

— area in Nevis, 316.

— boll weevil, 170.

— buying in Grenada, 361.

—, Cambodia, in Madras, 9.

—, cessation of growth in sunlight, 134.

—, ‘count’ of, explained, 22.

— crop of Egypt, 1911-12, 344.

— — in St. Vincent, 411.

— — — Virgin Islands, 220.

—, cross-fertilization in, 97.

— cultivatien in San Domingo, 108.

— — — Southern Siam, 6.

— Turkestan, 182.

— — — Turkey, 332.

—, Egyptian in U.S., 182.

— experiments in U.S, 1911, 359. |—,

— — on the Gold Coast, 150. —

—- exports from Antigua, 172.

a Danbadosaits ——

—- — — Shanghai, 307.

— — — Uganda, 124, 188, 252 [error], |
300 [correct |

— U.S., 92.

— —, West Indian, 102, 311.

fibres, injury in spinning, 118.

ginnery, Grenada, 198.

-growing in Antigua, 69.

Argentina, 172, 342.

Caucasus, 156,

Corea, 252, 380, 407.

Egypt, 326.

Hawaii, 262.

India, 294.

Jamaica, 182.

Madagascar, 357.

Mexico, 188.

Morocco, 284.

Portuguese East Africa,

Russia, 76, 278.

Sudan, 214, 294.

— Uganda, 1911. 12,

— hand roller gin, 12.

262.

310.

Cotton imports into the United King-
dom, 60, 140, 284.

in Assam, 332.

British North Borneo, 172.
Carriacou, 326.

Ceylon, 189.

China, 1911, 397.

Congo, 25.

Corea, 252, 380, 407.

Eastern Bengal and Assam, 134,
Egypt, 364, 380.

German East Africa, 236.
Hawaii, 262.

India, 172.

Jamaica, 182.

Mexico, 44.

Nevis, 76.

Northern Nigeria, 102.
Portuguese East Africa, 262.
Russia, 278.

St. Eustatius, 236

— Vincent, 76, 239.

Siam, 6, 262.

Togoland, 236, 316.
Turkestan, 182.

—- Turkey, 348.

Uganda, 326.

Virgin Islands, 108.

West Indies, 23.

industry in Japan, 166.

— of Carriacou, 326.

leaf-blister mite in Barbados, 106.
mechanical harvesting of, 374.

or melon aphis, 42.

picking, mechanical, 70, 374.
plant, arrangement of parts in, 38.
production in Russia, 364.

in West Indies, 1910-11, 23.
purchases in St. Vincent, 375.
Sakellarides, 50.

Sea Jsland, exports from U.S., 364.
— —, pruning, 281.

seed meal for mules and horses, 295,
-— — as stock food, 359.

— — poisoning, 278.

-— oil in animal fats, 108.
Marseilles, 373.
spinning, waste through irregular

staple, 247.
|—, sterility and self-fertilization in, 98.

worm in the United States, in 1911,

266.
Count of cotton explained, 22,
Cowpea, see Vigna Catjang.
Cowpeas, new pest of, 234.
Crotalaria juncea, 333.
Crown gall of plants, relation to animal
cancer, 318.
— lands, St. Lucia, grants of, 219.
Crucibles, marking of, 119.
Cryptogonus orbiculus,
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, 250.
Cuba, cost of growing sugar-cane in,
—, Sea Island cotton in, 121.
—, trade and agriculture of, 315.
‘Culture’ pearl industry of Japan, 361.

250.

275.

420

Curacao, sisal in, 284.

Curcuma longa, 271.

Cuscuta sp., 392, 396.

Cyamopsis psoraloides, 263.
Cymbopogon coloratus, oil from, 293.
Cytisus biflorus, longevity of seeds, 197.

D.
Daemonorops spp., 203.
Danysz virus, 47.
Demerara and the International Rubber
Exhibition, 172.

— seedling canes in J.ouisiana, 67, 124

Dendrocalamus strictus, 311.

Department News, 19, 45, 53, 75, 101,
Mig, es, WSS ey eas ed

291, 307, 339, 356, 399, 403.

Departmentai Reports, 69, 91, 133,
167, 183; 277,411.

Dermanyssus spp., 220.

Diaspis pentagona, 71.

Dicypellium caryophyllatum, 341.

Digitalis purpurea, germination of,

Dimorphandra Mora, 7.

Dipping fluids, changes in, 25, 57.

Dipteryx odorata, 149.

Distribution of plants, Antigua, 60, 500,
348, 380, 412.

—, Dominica, 18, 92, 140,
236, 316, 348, 380.

a Grenadamolor

— — —, St. Lucia, 60:92, 5108)
167, 172, 236, 268, 316, 380.

—— i Ot incense:

Djernang, 203.

Dodder in St. Lucia, 392.

Doi, see Kerstigiella geocarpa.

Dolichos Lablab, 331, 347.

— sp., a new cover crop, 331.

Dominica, agricultural progressjin, 173.
—, agricultural science in, 217. f:,mis24,

— and Canadian Exhibition, 335, 380.

— Botanic Station, agricultural ‘pupils
at, 41.

cacao exports from, 155.

, exports from, 59, 173, 228, 399.

—, Funtumia in, 271.

—, interesting plants in, 372

—, lime exports from, 155,

— — in England, 36.

— Permanent Exhibition Committee, 60.

—, plant distribution in, 18, 92, 140,
155, 236, 316, 348, 380.

—, Prize-holdings Competition,
132.

—, rainfall in, 88, 348.

—, rubber from, 121.

—, Victoria museum, 233.

Double coco-nut palm, 196.

Dragon’s blood, 203.

Drugs and Spices on the London market,
15, 63, 79; 111, 159, 175, 223, 255,
287, 319, 351, 383.

Dryobalanops aromatica, 302.

1912;

. | Edie, E. S., 55.

_Eichornea crassipes for fibre, 243.

Dunean, R. G, 201. Electric motors in sugar factories, 204,

Danlop, W.K., 155. Electricity and animal production, 73.

Dutch Guiana, orange cultivation in, 308.|—, preparation of tobacco by, 307.

Embryo chick, development of, 213.

|Embryony of the mango, 212.

|England and Wales, Agricultural Co-
operative Credit Societies in, 171.

E.

Earthquake, Jamaica, 1907, cause of, /—, Dominica lime in, 36,
329. —, sugar beet in, 163.

Eastern Bengal and Assam, cotton in, | —, trials of soy bean in, 137, 169.
28, 134. |Entada scandens, gogo vine, 62, 156.

— — — —, sugar crop of, 108.
Ebbels, W. P., 353.
Ecuador, cacao in, 1910, 105,

Entomology in Trinidad, 169, 314.
| Epizootic lymphangitis and Uganda, 380,
| Eri silkworm, 309.
'Erigeron annuus, 39.
Editorials :— | Eriodendron anfractuosum, 117, 324.
Amount and effect of sterility and of | Ee gossypil, leaf- blister mite, 26,
cross-fertilization in cotton, 97. LG,
Causes of fertility in pastures, 257. Dead Gndieas 105.
Colour of soils, 1. Essay on cacao fermentation, award for,
Direct and indirect values of scientific] 252.
work, 289. | Eucalyptus, essential oil from, 35.
Education in rural schools, 129. — in Antigua, 92.
Educational work of museums, 385. —, uses of, 35
Forests and rainfall, 305. | Pupberbe Totisy, 245.
Hurricanes, 241. lorifolia, rubber from, 409.
Influence of molasses on soil fertility, lz aphorbiag yielding ru phen 249,
353. Kuphorbodendron fulvem, 249.
Interpretation of the results of field Europe, silk industry of, 179.
experiments, I, 145. Evaporation, soil bacteria and, 265.

--- -—, II, 161. Examination of agricultural pupils, 59.
— - pO Mere Examinations, agricultural, 29, 61, 45,

365.
—, results, 13, 381, 413.

Practical value of soil analysis, 321. | Exanthema and squamosis of citrus, 222.
Problems of economic importance Excretion by roots, 245
regarding plant diseases, 337. Exhibition, Antigua

Reading courses and examinations in| National, 314.
practical agriculture, 193, 401. . Dominica and Canadian National,

Mendelism in relation to seedling
sugar-canes, 33.

and Canadian

Recent work on bacteria in the soil,, 335.
1138. —, Imperial Institute and International
Some conditions influencing soil nitri- Rubber, 299.

fication, 369. —, International Rubber, 1912, 13, 108,
Stimulation of plant growth, 273 119} 221, 379.
Theories concerning soil fertility, I,|—, — — and British Guiana, 315.
209. —, — — Congress and, 263.

— — — —, Il, 225 -— "St. Kitts and Canadian National,
Use of latex in plants, 17. 263.
West Indian Agricultural Conference, —, Virgin Islands and Canadian

1912, I, 49. |
== 51, 65) |
—, Ill, 81. |
Education in rural schools, 129.
Eel worms, apterite trials for, 317.
— —, or nematodes, 138, 154.
Efacone, see Castilloa elastica.
Egypt, cotton in, 326, 364, 380.
—, eotton crop, 1911-12, 344.

—, rice in, 380.

Egyptian cotton, 22.

National, 283.

—, West Indies and Canadian National,
367.

| Experimental error, 178.

F:

— — crop, 6. Fat, absorption in relation to water-
— — in United States, consumption] drinking, 41.
of, 182. Fagara integrifolia, root cotton, 299.

— — plants, branching of, 358.
— Department of Agriculture, 377.

Federated Malay States, coco-nutsin, 411.
— — —, exports from, 76.
— — —, rice in, 411.

Federated Malay States, rubber exports
from, 108,204, 252, 268, 300.

— — —, — in, 41l1.

Fibre, relation between crushing of cane
and volume, 291.

—— of Gomphocarpus semilunatus, 2

— shredding machine, Forseck, 332.

Ficus elastica in Formosa, 35.

—, new pest of, 394.

— Vogelii, ‘ balata’ frcm, 299,

Field experiments, interpretation
results, 145, 161, 377.

Figs, production of, 404.

Fiji, agriculture in, 1911, 391.

—, economic entomology in, 215.

—, lemon grasses in, 293

Fire-flies, nature of the light emitted by,
42.

Florida, citrus fruit handling and ship-
ping in, 52.

— standard orange box, 313.

Fodder and litter, bamboo leaves as, 103

— plant, new, 391.

Food bodies, building in leaf, 137.

— for animals, source, 313.

Forest-planting in Trinidad, 204.

— reserve in St. Vincent, 532.

Forests and rainfall, 305.

Formaldehyde, formation under ultra-

violet rays, 172.

, used in megass-sampling, 252.

Formalin, poison for house-tly, 58.

—, use on rubber plantations, 125.

Formosa, camphor in, 9, 207, 346, 389.

rubber-planting in, 35.

—, sugar in, 60, 371.

Forseck fibre-shredding machine, 332.

France, silk industry in, 107.

French West Africa, rubber regulations
in, 380.

¥renchWest Indies and Panama Canal, 12.

Frequency curve, 177.

Friendly Societies Act, 171.

of

Froghopper fungus, Metarrhizium ani-

sopliae, 314.

Frost, Henry W. & Co, 6, 22, 38, 54,
70, 86, 102, 118, 134, 150, 166, 182,
198, 214, 230, 254, 278, 294, 326,
342, 358, 374, 390, 406.

Fruit exports from Porto Rico, 348.

— — — Priniddd® 151"

—, forced curing of, 116.

— industries, Australian, 159.

— modelling, 276.

— selling in Jamaica, 313.

Fuel value of megass, 355.

Fungi and atmospheric nitrogen, 24.

—, assimilation of nitrogen of air by, 24.

—, monetary loss, from, 140.

* > Fungus’ Notes :— Ly
bud disease of the coco-nut palm
in Mexico, 238.
bud rot of the coco-nut palm, Part L.,
94.
i — ; Part’ Ti 110;
-coco-nut diseases in Tobago, 398.

Fungus Notes (Continued):—
crown gall of plants and its relation
to animal eancer, 318.
exanthema and squamosis of citrus,
292

aos.

experiments on the control of leaf rust

of ground nuts, 14.
general treatment of root diseases of
permanent crops, 190.
gummosis of prunus and citrus, 206.
hevea rubber stumps as
carriers of disease, 158.
iliau, a cane disease of Hawaii, 366.
immortel canker, 174.
knot of citrus trees, 350.
miscellaneous information, 270.
Panama disease of bananas, Part I,
126.
— — — —, Part Il, 142.
red rot disease of the sugar-cane in
Louisiana, 78.
report on fungus diseases during the
years 1910-11, 30.
rose mildew, 174.
soft rot of ginger in Bengal, 46.
spots on Para rubber, 62.
sugar-cane diseases in Porto Rico, 352.
summary of information given during
the year, 414.
three fruit diseases and their control,
334.
Funtumia elastica, by-product from, 121.
— —, extraction of rubber from, 166.
— in Dominica, 271.
— Southern Nigeria, 293.
— — Uganda, 158.
—, tapping experiments with, 12.
—, — results with, 235.
rubber in Southern Nigeria, 235.
| Fustie wood, 7.

G.

Gambia, ground nuts in, 364.
Geerligs, H. C. Prinsen, 51.

possible

———

Gold Coast, cotton exports from, 332,
364.

— — Northern Territories, agriculture
in, 343.

— —., trade and agriculture of, 8.

Gomphocarpus semilunatus, fibre of, 387.

Graft hybrids, 29, 105.

Grass-eating caterpillars, parasite on,
266.

Grasshoppers, diseases of, 170.

Grass oils, 4.

Great Britain, school gardens in, 137.

Grenada, agricultural teaching in, 364.

—, black blight in, 233.

—, new plants for, 313.

--, cotton: buying in, 361.

— elementary schools, agricultural teach~
ing and hygiene in, 89, 408.

—, exports from, 125,

— Government Cotton Ginnery, 198,

—, importation of coco-nuts, 344,

— Land Settlement Scheme, 200.

—, love vine in, 396.

—, noxious weeds, legislation against,
89, 153.

—, plant distribution in, 316,

—, Prize-holdings Competition in, 1912,
56.

—, trade and agriculture of, 123.

Grenadines, removal of cattle from St.
Vincent to, 185.

Greund nut, new so-called, 89.

Ground nuts in Gambia, 364.

Guadeloupe, afforestation in, 245.

—-, agricultural experiments in, 245.

—, agriculture in, 245.

Guatemala, coffee in, 380.

Guayule rubber plant, oil from, 232.

Guinea corn, 263.

Gummosis of prunus and citrus, 206,

Gypsum, action on soils, 124.

— and nitrifying bacteria, 124.

Gwar, see Cyamopsis psoraloides:

H.

German Agricultural Institute at Amani,

197.

— East Africa, camphor in, 93.

— — —, cotton in, 236.

Germination and hydrogen peroxide, 412.

|— — light, 255.

— of old seeds, 197.

_—, organic acids and, 28.

|—, sulphuric acid in, 264.

Ginger on the London market, 15, 63,
79, 111, 159, 175, 223, 255, 287, 319,
351, 383.

Glossina palpalis and sleeping sickness,

| bi

,Glucoside from Para rubber seeds, 412.

| Goat improvement association, Belgium,

|: 1V5:

|Gogo vine, 62, 156.

Gold Coast, cacao exports from, 108, 124.

|— —, cotton experiments on, 150,

| Hall, A. D., 83, 145, 188.
Hardback, brown, parasite on, 234, 298.

Harrison, Professor J. B., 354,

Hattie, see Hevea confusa,

| Hawaii, agriculture in, 262, 313, 343,

/—, sugar-cane insects of, 74.

Hawaiian soils, manganese in, 328.

| Hazell, C. O., 403.

Hedychium gardnerianum, 204.

Herles’s reagent, 99.

Heterodera radicicola, 138, 154.

Hevea brasiliensis, glucoside from seeds,

412.
— in Formosa, 35.

— Para, 59.

— St. Lucia, 167.

— Southern Nigeria, 293.

— — Uganda, 44.

seed, oil of, 61.

429,

Hevea brasiliensis, vitality of seeds, 165

— confusa, 184, 275, 393.

— Foxii, 87.

—, hybrid, 184, 275.

— lutea, 87.

— rubber stumps as carriers of disease,
8.

Hibiscus elatus, 341.

— in Hawaii, 313.

Honduras, agricultural possibilities in,
40.

‘Hong Kong, rice imports into, 12.

Hooper, Sir J. D., 5.

Mop tree, see Ptelea trifoliata.

Hormones, 274.

Horse Agency and Exchange,
national, 348.

—— beans, inoculation trials with, 284.

Horses, cotton seed for, 295.

—, jibbing in, 37.

—, sore shins in, 87.

Hot-weather ploughing on soils, effect of,
131.

House-fly and typhoid bacillus, 249.

—, formalin as a poison for, 58.

Hovea linearis, longevity of seeds, 197.

Huemega, sce Micrandra minor.

Humidity in cacao cultivation, 292.

Humus in soils, method for determination
of, 73.

—, stimulation of nitrogen-fixing organ-
isms by, 169.

Hurricane insurance for coco-nut plant-
ations, 399.

Hurricanes, 241,

—- and St Vincent, 296.

Hutchinson, H. B., 361.

Hutton, J. A. 246.

Hydrogen peroxide and germination, 412.

Hydropulsator, 284.

Hygiene in Grenada elementary schools,
59, 408.

— — British Guiana schools, 232.

Hypochrella oxyspora, Aschersovia
turbinata.

Hyphis spicigera, 229.

Inter-

see

Iliau, 366,

Immortel canker, 174.

Imperial Department of Agriculture,
publications of, 72, 152, 200.

— Institute and International Rubber
Exhibition, 299.

— —, Bulletin of, 261.

Importation of plants, Barbados, 412.

Tndex and title page, 168.

India, Agricultural Adviser to the Gov-
ernment, 220.

—, camphor in, 263.

—, cotton in, 172, 294,

—, crop yields in, 412.

India, sugar industry in, 245.
—, West Indian sugar-canes in, 306.
white sugar imports into, 243.
—, wood preservation in, 297.
Indian fodder plant, 263.
Tudicator made from radish skins, 140.
Inoculation experiments with horse
beans, 284.
Insect Notes :—
an account of twig girdlers, 250.
arrowroot worm, 1486.
banana weevil borer, 170.
basic slag as an insecticide, 410.
brown hardback, 234, 314.
cane fly in Martinique, 234.
carbon bisulphide explosion, 186.
caterpillars eating grass of lawns, 266.
coco-nut pest in the Philippines, 346.
corn ear worm, 346.
cotton boll weevil, 170.
— leaf-blister mite in Barbados, 106.
— worm in the United States in
1911, 266.
disease of grasshoppers, 170.
economic entomology in Fiji, 218.
eel worms, or nematodes, I, 138.
-— —, — —, I, 154.
entomology in Trinidad, 314.
formalin as a poison for the house-fly,
58.
insect pests in the West Indies in
¥911, 26.
jumping beans, 378.
mango pests in the Philippines, 106.
melon or cotton aphis, 42.
method of treatment for borers in
trees, 394.
natural control of the citrus mealy-
bug in California, 250.
nature of the light emitted by fire-
flies, 42.
new method of controlling termites,
122.
— pest of cowpeas, 234,
— — — ficus, 394.
New Zealand grass grub, 58,
pernicious or San José scale, 154,
plant protection in the United States,
330
protection of
beetles, 378.

report on a visit to St. Kitts, I, |

929

silk fish lines, 202.

sugar-cane beetle in Mauritius, 90.
— insects of Hawaii, 74.

— pest in St. Croix, 346.

summary of information given during

WAL KO):
ticks, I, 394.
—, II, 410.

weevil enemy of Caravonica cotton,

266. ;
yellow fever mosquito, 202.
zalophothrix mirum, 298.

coco-mit palms from |

knsect Pests : —

Akee friaged scale,
pustulans, 26.
Alabama argillacea, cotton worm, 10,

26, 266.

Aleyrodicus cocois, white fly, 346.

— destructor, white fly, 346.

Anthonomus grandis on Caravonice

cotton, 266.
Aphis gossypii, melon aphis, 42.
Argentine ant, control of, 10.
Argentine grasshopper, Schistocerca.
americana, 170.

Arrowroot worm, Calpodes ethlius,
186.

Asiatic palm weevil, Rhynchophorus
ferrugineus, 185, 378.

Asterolecanium pustulans, akee fringed
scale, 26.

Aspidiotus perniciosus, San José scale,
154.

Ballovia cistipennis on cowpeas, 234.

Banana weevil borer, Sphenophorus
sordidus [Cosmopolites sordida], 75,
170.

Bananas, Sphenophorus sordidus on, 75.

Bartocera rubus, tree borer, 10.

Beetle, brown, Strategus titanus, 346.

Biting fly, Simulium sp, 339.

Black scale, Saissetia nigra, 10, 26.

Borers in trees, treatment of, 394.

Brassolis sophorae, coco-nut caterpil-

lar, 187.
Cacao beetle, Steriastoma depressum,
26, 314. :
Cacao thrips, Heliothrips rubrocinctus,
26.

Calandra oryza, rice weevil, 186.

— taitensis, small palm weevil, 185.

Califernia, citrus mealy-bug in, 250.

Calpodes ethlius, arrowroot worm, 186.

Cane fly, Delphax saccharivora, 74,234,

Caravonica cotton, Anthonomus-

grandis on, 266.

Carbolic acid and mosquito larvae, 376,

Castilloa elastica, mealy-bug on, 183.
—, scale insects on, 183.

Castnia daedalus, coco-nut moth, 10.

— licus, sugar-cane giant moth borer,
10, 169.

Caterpillar on ground nuts, 27.

on onions, 27.

Cecidomyiid fly on mangoes, 10. ;

Ceylon rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhin-

oceros, 185, 378.

Chionaspis citri, orange snow scale,
189.

—, Pseudococcus citri, 250.
Coccus viridis, green scale, 10, °
Coco nut beetle, Rhynchophorus ferru-

gineus, 378, ' a
— caterpillar, Brassolis sophorae, 187.
— moth, Castnia daedalus, 10.
Coco-nuts, pests on, 10.
Common mealy-bug,

_citri, 26.

Asterolecanium

Pseudococecus-

Insect Pests (Continued) :—

Contarinia gossypii, flower-bud maggot,
26.
Copra bu
Corn ear worm,

perda, 27, 346.
Corn leaf hopper,
maidis, 74.
Cotton stainers, Dysdercus spp., 26.
— worm, Alabama argillacea, 10,
26, 266.
‘Cowpea pest, Ballovia cistipennis, 234.
Cryptorhynchus mangiferae, mango
weevil, 10, 106.
— batatae, scarabee, 26.
Cyclocephala sp., West Indian brown
hardback, 9.
Dacus ferrugineus,
106.

Delphax saccharivora, cane fly, 74,
234.

Diaprepes abbreviatus, sugar-cane root
borer, 10, 298, 309.

Diaspis pentagona on mulberry leaf,
Usk

Diaspis sp., white scale, 26.

Diatrea canella, sugarcane smaller
moth borer, 10.

-— lineolata, sugar-cane SENG moth
borer, 10.

— saccharalis, sugarcane smaller
moth borer, 10. {

Dicranotropis maidis, corn leaf hop-
per, 74.

Dysdercus spp., cotton stainers, 26.

Eriophyes gossypii, leaf-blister mite,
26

g, Necrolia rufipes, 185.
Laphygma frugi-

Dicranotropis

mango fruit fly,

Eurytrachelus pilosipes, Solomon
Island stag beetle, 185.

Flower-bud maggot, Contarinia gos-
sypii, 26.

Froghopper in Trinidad, 169.

Fruit tly on cacao, 10.

Graeffer cocophagus, stink bug, 185.
‘Grasshopper, Shistocerca pallens, 10,

26.

‘Green fly on pigeon peas, 26.

Green scale, coccus viridis, 10.

“Green soldier bug, Nezara viridula, 26.
‘Ground nuts, caterpillar on, 27.
Hardback (brown), Phytalus smithi,

90, 298, 314.
—, lachnosterna patruelis, 26, 298.
Hawaiian sugar-cane borer, Spheno-
phorus obscurus, 74, 75, 185.
Heliothrips rubrocinctus, cacao thrips,
26.
Hemichionaspis minor, white scale, 26.
House-fly, Musca domestica, 58, 249,
314.

“Idiocerus spp., mango flies, 106.
Indian corn, moth borer on, 10.
Lachnosterna patens; May beetle, 346,
— patruelis, hardback, 26, 298, 346.
Laphygma frugiperda, corn ear | |

27, 346.

423

Insec®™Pests (Continued) :—

Larger corn-stalk borer, 10.

Leaf-blister mite, Eriophyes gossypii,
26:

Lepidosaphes beckii, purple scale, 91.

Ligyrus rugiceps on sugar-cane beetle,
346.

Longicorn beetle,
185. _

Mango flies, Idiocerus spp., 106.

Mango fruit-ly, Dacus ferrugineus,
106.

Mangoes, cecidomyiid fly on, 10.

May beetle, Lachnosterna patens, 346.

Nixuthrus costatus,

Mealy-bug, common, Pseudococcus
citri, 26
— on Castilloa elastica, 185.

Melon aphis, Apbis gossypii, 42.

Mexican mango fly, Trypeta ludens,
106.

Mosquito larvae and carbolic acid, 376,

Moth borer on Indian corn, 10.

Moth, brown-tail in United States, 330.

Mulberry leaf, Diaspis pentagona on,
(Me

Musca domestica, house-tly, 58,
314.

Necrolia rufipes, copra bug, 185.

Nezara viridula, green soldier bug, 26.

Olethrius tyrannus, phasma, 185.

Omiodes accepta, sugar-cane leaf roller,
74.

Oncideres amputator,
250.

Onions, caterpillar on, 27.

Orange snow scale, Chionaspis citri,
189.

Oriental cotton scale, Pulvinaria psidii,
330.

Oryctes rhinoceros, Ceylon rhinoceros
beetle, 185, 378.

Palm weevil, Khynchophorus palma-
rum, 10.

Perkinsiella saccharicida,
leaf-hopper, 74

Pests on coco-nuts, 10.

Phasma, Olethrius tyrannus, 155.

Phytalus smithi, Barbados brown
hardback, 90, 298, 314.

Pigeon peas, green fly on, 26.

Pink mealy-bug of sugar-cane, Pseudo-
coccus calceolariae, 26, 74.

Protoparce cingulata, sweet
caterpillar, 26.

Pseudococcus calceolariae, pink mealy-
bug of sugar-cane, 26, 74.

— citri, citrus mealy-bug, 26, 250.

Pulvinaria psidii, oriental cotton iseale,
330.

Purple scale, Lepidosaphes beckii, 91.)

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Asiatic
palm weevil, 185, 378.

— —, coco-nut beetle, 378.

— palmarum, palm weevil, 10.

Rice weevil, Calandra oryza, 186.

Saissetia nigra, black scale, 10, 26.

249,

twig girdlers,

sugar-cane

potato

Insect Pests Roney) :—

San José sca
154.

Scale insects on Castilloa elastica, 183.

Scarabee, Cryptorhynchus batatae, 26.

Schistocerca americana, Argentine
grasshopper, 170.

— pallens, grasshopper, 10, 26.

Simulium sp., biting fly, 339.

Small palm weevil, Calandra taitensis,
185.

Solomon Islands elephant beetle, Xylo~
trupes nimrod, 185.

— — rhinoceros beetle,
phus semilinki, 185.

— — stag beetle, Eurytrachelus pilo~
sipes, 185.

Sphenophorus. obscurus, Hawaiian
sugar-cane borer, 74, 75, 185.

— sericeus, weevil borer, 75.

— sexguttatus on sugar cane, 75.

— sordidus [Cosmopolites sordida},
banana weevil borer, 75, 170.

Stegomyia fasciata, yellow fever mos-
quito, 202.

Steirastoma depressum, cacao beetle,
26, 314.

Sternotomis bohemani, yellow beetle,
394.

Stink bug, Graeffer cocophagus, 185.

Strategus titanus, brown beetle, 346.

Sugar-cane, Castnia licus on, 169.

— frog-hopper, Tomaspis varia, 10,
314.

— giant moth borer, Castnia licus, 10,
169.

— leaf hopper,
ricida, 74.
— leaf-roller, Omiodes accepta, 74.
— root borer, Diaprepes abbreviatus,

10, 26, 298, 309.
— smaller moth borer, Diatrea ca~
nella, 10.

e, Aspidiotus perniciosnus,

Tricogom-

Perkinsiella saccha-

— lineolata, 10.

SS EH ME I) BUS
27.

—, sphenophorus sexguttatus on, 75.

—, Termes flavipes on, 282.

—, Thermesia gemmatalis on, 26.

Sweet potato caterpillar, Protoparce
cingulata, 26.

Termes flavipes on sugar-cane, 282.

Termites, white ants, 122, 185.

Thermesia gemmatalis, woolly pyrol
moth, 26,

Tomaspis varia, sugar-cane frog-hop-
per, 10, 314.

Treatment of borers in trees, 394.

Tree borer, Bartocera rubus, 10.

Trichogomphus semilinki, Solomon
Islands rhinoceros beetle, 185.

Trinidad, froghopper in, 169.

Trypeta ludens, Mexican mango fly,
106.

Twig girdlers,’ Oncideres ampatator,
250.

424

~

Insect Pests (Concluded): —
United States, brown-tail moth in, 330.
—, gipsy moth in, 330.
Weevil borer, Sphenophorus sericeus,
75.
West Indian brown hardback, Cyclo-
cephala sp., 90.
White ants, termites, 122, 185.
— fly, Aleyrodicus cocois, 346.
_— —, — destructor, 346.
— scale, Diaspis sp, 26.
— —, Hemichionaspis minor, 26.
Woolly pyrol moth, Thermesia gem-
matalis, 26.
Xixuthrus costatus, longicorn beetle,
185,
Xylotrupes nimrod, Solomon Islands
elephant beetle, 185.
Yellow beetle, Sternotomis bohemani,
394,
Yellow fever mosquito, Stegomyia fas-
ciata, 202.
Ynsect Pests of the Lesser Antilles, 312.
Insurance, cotton, 86.
International Congress of
Agriculture, reports to, 76.
— cotton, etc., and Allied Trades Exhi-
bition, 1914, 300.
— Engineering and Machinery Exhibi-
tion, 60.
—— exchange by Smithsonian Institution,
68.
—— Rubber Congress and Exhibition, 263
— — Exhibition, 1912, 13, 108, 119,
AE Ge)
— — —, Imperial Institute and, 299.
— — —, Demerara and, 172,315.
—, 1914, 300.
Aserai, see Hevea Foxil.
isinglass, Japanese, 120.
Ttaly, lemon industry of, 340,
—, silk production in, 71.
dturi, see Hevea Foxii.
Yvory Coast, rubber production on, 165.
Castilloa elastica on, 389.

Tropical

_— —,

J.
Jackson, J. R., 15, 63, 79, 111, 159,
175, 223, 255, 261, 287, 319, 351,

$62, 383. j
Jaffa, orange exports from,
oranges, packing of, 84.
Famaica, agriculture in, 1910-11, 127.
, annual agricultural report, 327.
—, bacteriological work in, 95.
—, bananas in, 327.
~— candle wood tree, 123.
, coco-nuts in, 327.
. coffee in, 327.
, cotton-growing in, 182.
- earthquake, 1907, 329.
Farm School, 329.
Fruit selling by measure, 313.

277.

’

Jamaica Government Laboratory, 327.
—, Law for Encouraging Loan Societies,
364.

—, Prize-holdings Competition in, 153.

—, recent agricultural laws in, 268.
, school gardens in, 297

—, sugar in, 327,

Japan, camphor production in, 346.

—, cotton industry in, 166.

— ‘culture’ pearl industry, 361.

—, loofah crop of, 44

—-, rice production in, 172, 364.

Java, native rice-growing in, 116,

—, rice production in, 316.

— sugar crop, 51.

— —, imports into Canada, 300.

—, — manufacture in, 1910, 227.

—-, white sugar manufacture in, 51.

Jequié Manicoba rubber, see Manihot
dichotoma.

Jepson, F. P., 218

Jibbing in horses, 37.

Jones, G. A., 180.

— J, Bae

Jumping beans, 378.

Juniperus barbadensis, 31.

Ke

Kandela, see Kerstingiella geocarpa.

Kapok, 324.

Kerstingiella geocarpa, 89, 325.

Kheershapottee mango, 52.

Knot of citrus trees, 350.

Kola, 84.

— on the London market, 15, 79, 111,
159, 175, 223, 287, 319, 351, 383.

20),
Korea, cotton growing in, 252.

L.

| Laboratory measurements for cotton, 70.

|Laccasse, 396.

| Lac tree, see Schleichera trijuga.

Ladybirds on citrus mealy-bug, 250.

| Land Settlement Schemes, literature of,
333.

| Landolphia droogmansiana, 11.

— Klainei, 11.

—- owariensis, 11.

— Thollonii, 11, 166.

Land Settlement Scheme, Grenada, 200.

Langra mango, 52.

Latex in plants, 17, 412.

Laws, recent agricultural in Jamaica, 268.

Le Hunte, Sir G. R., 49.

Leaf-blister mite, Eriophyes gossypii, 26,
90, 106. ;

Leaf, building up of food bodies in, 137.

— rust of ground nuts, experiments on
control, 14.

Lecanora esculenta, 227.

Lecythis Zabucajo, 287.

Leeward Islands, exports from, 180.

Lefroy, H. Maxwell, 300.

Legumes, benefit from growing with.
crops, 39. i

— in orchards, 248.

Lehmann, Professor M_, 134.

Lemon grass oil, 4.

— grasses in Fiji, 293.

— industry of Italy, 340.

Licaria guianensis, see Dicypeilium earyo-
phyllatum.

Light, influence on germination, 255.

Lima bean, see Phaseolus lunatus.

— — in Manchuria, 147,

Lime cultivation in Martinique, 372.

—-, Dominica, in England, 36,

-—, effect in soils, 184.

— exports from Dominica, 155.

— juice industry of Virgin Islands, 365_

— — onthe London market, 15, 63,
111, 159, 175, 223, 255, 287, 319,

-—— —, storing of, 180.

— nitrogen, manufacture of, 279.

— oil on the London market, 15, 63, 79,
TI) 159) 15; 228; 351, 383:

— skins, feeding and manurial values of,
308.

— sulphur wash, effect of adding sub—
stances, 92.

Limes in Guadeloupe, 245,

Linum catharticum, 141.

Lipoids, 24.

Liquidambar formosana, 202.

Loan societies, encouragement of, 364,

Lodoicea sechellarum, 196

Longose, see Hedychium gardnerianum.

Loofah crop of Japan, 44. —

Louisiana, Demerara sugar-canes in, 67.

—, red rot disease of sugar-cane in, 78.

—, sugar crop of, 108.

Love vine in Grenada, 396.

Lowry cotton-picking machine, 374.

Lue-binh, 243.

Lupinus albus, absorption and excretion:
by, 245.

Lyon bean, trial in St Lucia, 4.

M.

Macassar oil, 380.

Machine for extracting rubber, 105.

— for separating coir, 265,

McConnel, J. W., 247.

Mace on the London market, 15, 63, 79,.
111, 159, 175, 223, 287, 319, 351,383,

Macfarlane’s process for vanilla, 141.

Maclura tinctoria, see Chlorophora tine--
toria.

MeMullen process, 147.

Leaves, phosphoric acid content of, 1&8.| McRae, W., 46. :
Lecanobius cockerelli [Zalophothrix mi-| Madagascar, coffee growing in, 117.

rum], 298.

—, cotton growing in, 357,

425

Madeira, sugar in, 396.

Madras, Cambodia cotton in, 9.

Madrid, silk production in, 348.

Mafureira tree, see Trichilia emetica, 300.

Magnesia, effect in soils, 184, 316.

Maize crop of the Transvaal, 204

— exports from South Africa, 140.

— inthe US,, 23

Malarial mosquito in salt water, 220.

Malaya, rubber output of, 230.

Male bamboo, 311.

Manchuria, soy bean exports, 28.

Manganese, action in plants, 28, 396

— in Hawaiian soils, 328.

Mango, authorities on, 88.

— cultivation, 20.

—, dried, 244

—, embryony of, 212.

—, information regarding, 88.

—, nearly seedless, 303.

— pests in the Philippines, 106.

— trees, vanilla growing under, 361.

Mangoes, new, for West Indies, 52.

Mangrove bark, 309

Manihot dichotoma in India, 284.

— Glaziovii, distribution of rubber
188.

— — in Formosa, 35.

— sp. in Uganda, 158

— spp., ieee concerning, 199.

Manna plant, 2 22

Manure, new aritniel

-, sulphur as, 251.

Manures, influence on seed constituents,
104.

Manurial experiments with tea, 153

— value of lime skins, 308.

Market Reports, 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96,

in,

153,

112, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208,
224, 240, 256, 272, 288, 304, 320,
336, 352, 368, 384, 400, 416.

Marseilles, oil trade of, 373.

Martinique, cane fly in, 234.

—~, lime cultivation in, 372 |

—, trade of, 124.

Mauritius, introduction of vanilla, 196
, sugar-cane beetle in, 90.

—, sugar production in, 332

Megass, formaldehyde used in sampling, |
252,

—, fuel value of, 355.

Melocanna bambusoides, 372

Melon or cotton aphis, 42.

Menakher date, 10%.

Mendelism and sugar cane, 33.

Metarrhizium anisopliae, froghopper fun- |
gus, 314. |

Methods of planting trees, 103.

Mexican predaceous bug, Castolus sp.,
314,

Mexico, bud disease of coco-nut palm
in, 238.

—, cotton in, 44, 188.

d

—-, rubber: cultivation i in, 120.

—, sugar exports from, 284.

| Nicaragua, exports from,

M ichelia Champak, 268.

Micrandra minor, 87.

| Midge parasitic on mosquitoes, 236.

Milk, pasteurization of, 238.

Miller copra drier, 254

Miller, N H J, 361.

“Minyadotana, see Zschokkea Foxii.
‘Models of fruits, making, 276

» Molasses, influence on soil fertility, 353.
Montserrat, Agricultural Show, 1912,159.
Moon and plant growth, 76

Moore, J C., 4, 143.

Mora excelsa, see Dimorphandra Mora.
— wood, see Dimorphandra Mora.
Morocco, cotton growing in, 284.

| Morus alba in the West Indies, 239
+—- tinetoria, see Chlorophora tinctoria
| Mosquito larva, crude carbolic acid for,

376.
Mosquitoes, midge parasitic on, 236.
Mulberry and the West Indies, 239.
Mule, notes on, 37
Mules, cotton seed for, 295.
Mung beans, 547.
Musa sp., wax from, 268.
Museums, educational work of, 385.

Myrica Gule, nodule organism and, 188.

N.

Nagai camphor, see Blumea balsamifera.

Napier’s fodder grass, see Pennisetum
purpureum.

Natal, sugar in, 236.

Natural selection, 173.

Nature object-lessons and agriculture in
St. Vincent, 392.

— study, wood specimens in, 191.

— teaching and hygiene i i schools 232.

Nematoder, or eel worms, 138, 154.

Nevis, agricultural bi in, 28

—, cotton in, 76, 316.

/—, rainfall in, 347.

New Caledonia, coco-nut palm in, 60.

| New York Sugar Trade Laboratory, 131.
New Zealand grass grub, £8.

220.

| Nigella sativa, germination of, 255
|Nitragin, 44, 76.

Nitrate formation in soils, 217.

| — of lime, 25.

— — soda, output, 12

Nitrates and plant nutrition, 280.

| — in plant cells, assimilation of, 409.

Nitrification, influence of onsoil moisture, |
248.

Nitrifying bacteria and gypsum, 124.

Nitro bacterine, 44.

Nitrogen assimilation and laccase, 396.
—, atmospheric, assimilation by fungi,
24.

— content of plants, 345.

—, direct assimilation by green plants,
361.

— fixation,

307.

considerations

regarding, |

WS

Nitrogen fixing organisms, 169.

— — plants, growing crops with, 3

— from air, 279.

Nitrolim, manufacture of, 279.

Nodule organism, life without legumin-
osae, 172.

— — and Myrica Gale, 188.

Northern Nigeria, balata from, 299.

—, cotton in, 102.

Noxious weeds in Grenada, 153.

Nurseries, registration in Trinidad, 204.

Nutmegs on the London market, 15, 63,
79; V1, 159)-1'7.5;,223, 287, 3l9>sbly
383.

Nutrition, new factor in, 24.

—, nitrates in, 280.

—, phosphorus in, 55.

Nyasaland, cotton in, 367.

—, tobacco in, 367.

29.

O.

Oahu mango, 303.

Oil from Andropogon schoenanthus, 293.

|— chlorocodon root, 280.

— discovery in Papua, 236.

— from Guayule rubber plant, 232.

— — Cymbopogon coloratus, 293.

— — tobacco seed, 41, 284.

— fuel, when profitable to use, 412.

—, Para rubber seed, 61.

—, source of a useful, 201.

— trade of Marseilles, 373.

—, vetiver, 4.

— yielding plant, 229.

Oils, aromatic grass, 4.

—-, vegetable, 231.

Olive oil, misbranding of, 124.

Ophionectria coccicola, white-headed fun-
gus, 270, 415,

Orange cultivation in Dutch Guiana, 308.

— exports from Jaffa, 277.

Oranges, bitter, preparation of, 354.

—, box for exporting, 313.

—, Jatfa, packing of, 84.

|—, sugar content of, 36.

Orchards, legumes in, 248.

Organic acids and germination,

Oryzanin, 395.

Ostrich feathers, plucking of, 332.

— meat, 377.

28

a.

12%

Pachystigma pteleoides, see Peltostigma
pteleoides.
Pain baryté, 47.
| Paka seeds, 380.
Palm oil, duty in U. S., 396.
| Palmarosa oil, 4.
Palms for decorative purposes, 415.
--, method of shipping, 252.
| Palosi, 263.

——

426

Panama Canal and French West Indies, Plant disease control, literature of, 349,
Plant diseases :-—

12.
— — and St. Thomas, 44.
— — “Zone, agriculture in, 203.
— disease of bananas, 126, 142.
—, exports from, 44.
—, trade of, 325
Panay and Negros, sugar crop of, 60.
Panela, 284.
Papaw plant, flowers of, 9.
Paper-making from bamboos, 593.
Papua, oil discovery in, 236.
—, plant protection in, 185.
Para, cacao exports from, 188.

—, encouragement of rubber cultivation |

in, 59.
—, rubber exports from, 332.
— — in Uganda, 158.
— — seed oil, 61.
—- — seeds, germination of, 53.
— — — in St. Vincent, 12.
— — —, vitality of, 91, 165, 207.
— — —, weight of, 31.
— —, spots on, 62.
— — trees, weight of seeds, 31.
Parthenium argentatum, 233.
Pasteurization of milk, 238.
Pastures, causes of fertility in, 257.
Pearl, Japan ‘culture’, 361.
Pearson, H. C., 184, 275
Pedilanthus pavonis, 73, 199.
Pellagra, 339.
Peltostigma pteleoides, 123.
Pencil cedar, 31.
Pennisetum purpureum, 591.
— typhoideum, 263

Permanent Exhibition Committee, Domi-

nica, 60.
Persea gratissima, 357.
‘Peru, rubber in, 220.
—, — ylelding plants from, 87.
(Phaseolus spp., toxins in seeds, 63.
— lunatus, 147, 164.
— Mungo, 347.

— vulgaris, effects of manures on, 104.

‘Philippines, coco-nut pest in, 346.
—, copra in, 23.

—, mango pests in, 106

—, sugar crop of, 19, 124, 204, 365.
—, — factories in, 268.

—— —— In, 19) (365s

Pheenix spp, 215.

Phonolith, 220.

Phosphate, rock availability of, 251.
Phosphoric acid content of leaves, 188
Phosphorus content of plants, 345.

— in nutrition, necessity for, 55.
Phylloxera, contro! of, 140.
Phytelephas macrocarpa, 188.
Phytoptus oleivorus, rust mite, 26.

Pimento on the London market, 15, 63, |

79, 111, 159, 175, 223, 287, 319.
Pine-apple industry in Hawaii, 348.
Pirosoma bigeminum, 95.

Plant cells, assimilation of nitrates in,|

409,

|

Avocado anthracnose, 354.

— black spot, 334

Bacillus coli and bud rot, 94, 110, 414 |

musae and Mcko disease, 142, 415,

Bacterium tninefaciens and crown gall,
318, 415.

Janana diseases in Jamaica, 327.

— Moko disease, Bacillus musae, 142,
415, |

Bananas, Panama disease of, 126, 142,
415.

Black blight in Grenada, 233

— root disease, NRosellinia bunodes,
270, 338, 415.

Botryodiplodia elasticae, 158

Bread fruit, disease of, 354.

Brown root disease, Hymenochaete
noxia, 158.

Bud rot of palms, 94, 110, 238, 411.

Cacao canker, Phytophthora Faberi, |
30, 174.

— die-back, Thyridaria tarda, 30, 158,
338, 339, 350, 414

— horse-hair blight, Marasmius equi-
crinis, 30

_ pink disease, Corticium lilacino-,
fuscum, 158.

— pod black rot, Phytophthora F aber
30.

— seedling disease, 167.

— thread blight, 30.

Castilloa, Rosellinia sp. on, 30.

Cercospora personata, ground nut leaf
spot, 31.

— vaginae, sugar-cane red spot, 382,
414.

Citrus exanthema, 222, 414.

—, gummosis, 206, 414.

— knot, Sphaeropsis
350, 414,

— squamosis, 222, 414.

Coco-nut diseases in Tobago, 398, 411.

— palm bud rot, 94, 110.

Colletotrichum faleatum, sugarcane
red rot, 30, 78, 382, 414.

— gloeosporioides, 334.

— gossypii, cotton anthracnose, 30.

— lineola, 382.

Corticium laeve, pink disease. 167.

— lilacino-fuscum, cacao pink disease,
158.

— salmonicolor, pink disease, 158.

Cotton angular leaf spot, 30.

— anthracnose, Colletotrichum gos-
sypii, 30.

— bacterial boll disease, 30.

— black arm, 30.

— boll soft rot, 30.

— leaf mildew, 30.

Crown gall, Bacterium tumefaciens in, |
318, 415 |

Diplodia cacaoicola, 158.

— natalensis, 350.

— rapax, 158.

tumefaciens,

Plant diseases (Continwed):—

Exanthema of citrus, 222, 414.

Fomes semitostus, 158, 185, 338.

Ginger, soft rot of, Pythium gracile,
46, 415

Gloeosporium mangiferae, mango black
spot or anthracnose, 334.

Gnomonia iliau, iliau, 366, 414.

Ground nut leaf rust, Uredo arachidis,
14, 31, 415

— — leaf spot, Cercospora persona~
ta, 31.

-— — root disease, 31.

Gummosis of prunus and citrus, 206,
414.

Hevea seedlings, disease of, 30.

Hymenochaete noxia, brown root dis-
ease, 158.

Tliau, Gnomonia iliau, 366, 414.

Immortel canker, 174, 415.

Leptospora musae and Panama disease,
143, 415.

Lime black root disease, Rosellinia sp.,
30.

— melanose, 30

— red root disease, Sphaerostilbe sp,
30.

— root disease, peculiar, 30.

Limes, Thelephora pedicellata on,
167.

Maize root disease, 31.

Mango anthracnose, Gloeosporium

mangiferae, 334.

— black spot, Gloeosporium mangi-
ferae, 354.

Marasmiusequicrinis, horse-hair blight,
30

— sp., sugar-cane root disease, 30,
366, 382, 414.

Melanconium sacchari, sugar-cane rind
disease, 30, 366, 382, 414.

Meliola palmarum, 411.

Moko disease of bananas, Bacillus mu-~
sae, 142, 415.

Palm sooty mould, 411.

Panama disease and Ustilaginella mu-
saeperda, 142.

—— — and Leptospora musae, 143,
415.

— — of bananas, 126, 142, 415.

Para rubber, spots on, 62.

Pestallozia palmarum, 185, 411.

Phytophthora Faberi, cacao canker,
30, 174.

— —, — pod black rot, 30.

— omnivora and bud rot, 94, 110.

Pigeon peas, pink disease of, 167.

Pink disease, Corticium laeve, 167.

— —, — salmonicolor, 158.

— — of pigeon peas, 167.

Prunus, gummosis of, 206, 414.

Pythium gracile, ginger soft rot, 46,
415.

— palmivorum and bud rot, 94,
110, 185, 238, 414.

Root diseases, general treatment, 190.

427

Plant diseases (Concluded):— Polyneuritis and foodstufts, 55.
Rosellinia bunodes, black root disease, Porto Rico agricultural college, 237.
270, 338, 415. -— —, agriculture in, 1911, 303
— sp., lime black root disease, 50. |— —, fruit exports from, 348.
— sp.,on Castilloa, 30. — —, sugar-cine diseases in, 382.
Rose mildew, 174, 445.
Sclerotium sp., sugar-cane leaf-sheath — — —, cotton growing in, 262.
red rot, 382, 414. | Potato, Irish, origin of, 156.
Sphaeropsis tumefaciens, citrus knot, —, use in grafting viues, 108.
350, 414. Poultry -fattening, 11.
Sphaerostilbe sp., lime red root disease, Prickly pear for “making whitewash, 8
Prize-holdings Competition,
Sugar-cane rind disease, Melanconium 1912, 362.
sacchari, 30, 366, 382, 414. —-—, Dominica, 12
— root disease, Marasmius sp., 30, — -—, Grenada, 56.
366, 382, 414. — —. Jamaica, 153.
— — —, unidentified, 382. St. Lucia, 60, 100.
— leaf sheath red rot, Sclerctium sp., ere eeatiae of wooden poles, 395.

Portuguese East Afriea, coco nuts in, 268.

o—— ee
*

ted rot of sugar-eane, Louisiana, 78.

— rust of lime leaves, 270.

SS ss TD).

Report on fungus
1910-11, 30.

Research scholarships in agricultural
science, 28.

Réunion, exports from, 204.

—, introduction of vanilla into, 196.

—, sugar yields in, 205.

| Rhodesia, citrus-growing is, 60.

diseases duriog

ae Rice crop of Japan, 364.

— growing. native, Java, 116.

— husks, important constituent of, 393.
— imports into Hong Kong, 12.

— in British Guiana, 187.

— — Corea, 191], 393.

— — Egypt, 380.

382, 414. Probable error, 162, 179. | — — Federated Malay States, 411.
— red rot, Colletotrichum falcatum, | Proteids, sparing 4 action of carbohydrates|-— production in Japan, 172.

30, 78, 414. for, 396. — — in Java, 316.
— — spot, Cercospora vaginae, 38 , Prunus Latrocerasus and hormones, 274. Rock phosphate, 281;

44. i Psendomonss radicicola and Myrica Gale, Root cotton, 299.
Surinam Panama Hisense 143, 527. 188. |— diseases, 190.

Squamosis of citrus, 222, 414. | — —, life without Leguminosae, 17

Thelephora pedicellata on limes, 167, P telea. trifoliata, 123.
Thyridaria tarda, cacao die-back, 30, Pirification of camphor, 322.
158, 338, 339, 350, 414.
Uredo arachidis, ground nut leaf rust, 13.
14, 31, 415.
Ustilaginella musaeperda and Panama
disease, 142.
Plant diseases, problems of economic im- Q.
portance regarding, 337.
—— food in sandstones, 344.
— growth, essentials for, 209.
— —, stimulation of, 273.
— labels, painting, 143.
— protection in Papua, 185.
Plants and radium, 141, 399. | R.
—, carbon assimilation in, 181. |

Queensland, sugar crop of, 108.

—, West Indian sugar-canes in, 371.

Roots, absorption and excretion by, 245-
Rose-apple Coccus, fungus on, 270.
Rose mildew, 174.

Pyocyanase, use after anthrax injections, | Rotangs or Rattans, 202.
2

Rothamsted, grant for agricultural work,

|} 124,

‘Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition,
Third International, 13, 108, 119,
221, 379:

—, ‘artificial’, from fish, 284.

— coagulation, agents for, 156.

— cultivation in Mexico, 120.

—, distribution in Manihot Glaziovii,

) lists},

|— Exhibition, West Indies at, 75.

—, Euphorbias yielding, 249.

|— experiments in British Guiana, 187,

—, changes in through vegetative propa-| Radioactive substances and Bacillus, 277.
gation, 281. | subtilis, 363. — — — Southern Nigeria, 293.
—, cultivation in bacteria-free solutions, Radish skins, indicator made from, 140. — — in Uganda, 158.
345. Radium and plants, 141, 399. — exports from Brazil, 12, 237.
—, direct assimilation of nitrogen by, Rain, rare, ammonia in, 412. — — — Ceylon, 156, 252, 348.
361. Rainfall and forests, 305. — — — Federated Malay ‘States, 108,
—, effect of cultivation on poisons in, 63. — in Dominica, 88, 348. 204, 252, 268, 300, 411.
—, employment of nitrates by, for nutri: -- — St. Kitts, 347. — — — Para, 332
tion, 280. —— 9b, luncia, o80. =) ——rinidads oly
—, growing crops with nitrogen-fixing, — — Nevis, 347. — from Dominica, 121.
329. |; — — St. Vincent, 183, 412. —, Funtumia, 235.
— — ina sterile medium, 405. |— — Virgin Islands, 395. — growing in Sumatra, 233.
—, influence of radioactive substances — of Antigua, 104. — in Guadeloupe, 245,
on, 363. Ramie, 264. j== = TPows, 5G)
—, leaf green of, 137. —, extraction of fibre, 412. |— — Peru, 220.
—, new method of investigating needs — fibre in Australia, 44. —— — St. Vincent, 183. :
of, 545. — —, method of cleaning, 136. -—, mechanical extraction of, 105, 166

—, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur) Raphia vinifera, 572.
content, 345. fea destruction, 47.

—, some interesting, in Dominica, 372.|— exterminators, 168.

Ploughs, removing, 169. — virus, trials with, 156.

Plukenetia conophora, 201. | Ratin, 47.

Poinsettia, 167. Rattans or Rotangs, 202.

Poisoning by cotton seed meal, 278.

Poisonous substances in plants, 63. Practical Agriculture, 193, 401.

—, names and kinds of, 253.

_— of Hevea confusa from British
Guiana, 395.

|-— output of Malaya, 230.

—, Para, from Seychelles, 92.

— plantations, use of formakn on, 125-

Reading Courses and Examinations in — planting in Formosa, 35.

—- plants from Peru, 87.

428

——.

|

<ubber, possible source of, 409.

—, precautions in forwarding samples,
221.

—— production on the Ivory Coast, 165.

— regulations in French West Africa,
380.

— seeds, Para, germination trials of, 53,

, —, Vitality of, 91, 165, 207.

— trees, manuring of, 323.

— —, Para, weight of seeds from, 31.

—, wild, in the Congo, 11.

Russell, E. J., 145, 255.

Russia, cotton-growing in, 76, 278.

—, — production in, 364.

—, sugar beet area in, 252.

Russian cotton crop, 12, 28.

Rust mite, Phytoptus oleivorus, 26.

S.

Saccharomyces farciminosus, 95.
Saigon, rice exports from, 44.

St. Croix, sugar-cane pest in, 346.
St. Eustatius, cotton in, 236.

St. Helena, trade and agriculture of, 255. |

St. John, N.B, exports from, 284.

St. Kitts Agricultural and Commercial
Society, 309.

— — Agricultural Show, 107.

— —, Cambridge Local Examinations
in, 124.

= raintallain, 340

— —, report on visit to, 282,

— —, sugar crop of, 76, 268

— — Sugar Factory, 99.

St. Lucia, agriculture in, 219.

— —-, cacao production in, 167,

— —, dodder in, 392

—-, exports of, 219.

—, grants of Crown lands,

—, Lyon bean in, 4.

— —, medical work in, 152.

—, Minor Products Amendment

Ordinance, 332.

298.

a 219.

nance, 364.

— —, plant distribution in, 60, 92,
108, 140, 167, 172, 236, 268, 316,
380.

100.

Prize-holdings Competition, 60,

. Thomas Harbour scheme, 44, 380.

. Vincent, agriculture in, 207, 239

— — and visitation by hurricanes, 296.
— —, anthrax legislation in, 153.
— Arrowroot Association, 89.
—, — in, 76, 239.
— —, — (New Market Fund) Ordi-|

nance, 207, 332.

— —, cacao in, 183, 239.

—, cotton in, 76, 239, 411.

—, — purchases in, 375.

—, disappearance of anthrax, 207,
239.

Minor Products Protection Ordi-|

‘St. Vincent, exports from, 60, 92,
191.

, forest reserve in, 332.

— — Handbook, 1911, 25.

—, nature object lessons and agri-

culture in, 392.

, plant distribution in, 183.

rainfal] in, 183, 412

rubber in, 183.

starch production in, 183.

stock mortality in 60.

Salt bushes, Australian. as food for stock,
56.

Salts, rate of travel through soil, 140.

|—-, soluble, effect on soils, 71.

|Salvarsan, 57, 152.

| Samoa, agriculture in, 25.

(San Blas coco-nut, 325.

|San Domingo, cacao exports from, 12.

\Sands, W. N., 403.

Sandstones, plant food in, 544.

Santos, coffee exports from, 300.

|Sapodilla, see Achras sapota.

'Sapucaia nut, 287.

Sarsaparilla on the London market, 15,
63, 79, 111, 159, 175, 223, 255,
319, 351, 383:

Saturnia pyretorum,
202.

Saunders, P. T., 19, 75, 135, 307,

Sawdust, feeding value of, 377.

Scaring birds, apparatus for, 28.

Schleichara trijuga, 380.

School gardens in British Guiana,

— Ceylon, 44.

\— = — Great Britain, 157.

— Jamaica, 297.

|Scientific work, direct and

| values of, 289.

Scott, Dr. D. H., 95.

|Sea Island cotton in Cuba, 121.

— pruning, 281.

Sea Islands, cotton crop of, 1910-11,
12.

Seaweed as manure, 3.

Sechium edule, use of roots, 303.

Seed, protection from birds, 271.

Seedling canes in Antigua, 69.

wild = silkworm,

313.

indirect

31.

, germination of, 285,

‘ old, 197.

—, influence of manures on constituents
of, 104.

—, longevity of, 136.

—, protection from vermin, 92.

|, vitality of, 91, 165, 207, 216.

Serrapia, 149.

Serrapieros, 149

|
|
|

| Seychelles, exports from, 14.

|—, Para rubber from, 92.

—, vanilla preparation in, 228.

——, —— in} 360;

| Shade trees for cacao, 100:

| Shanghai, cotton exports from, 307.

287,

249, |

183, Shepherd, F. R., 347.

Shredded cane, sugar from, 19, 147.
Siam, cotton in, 262.

—, exports from, 76.

Sibi, see Hevea confusa.

Sicily, citrus products of. 249.

Sick soil, treatment for, 76.
Sideroxylon crystobotryum, 87.
Sierra Leone exports from, 43, 412.
Silk cotton, 117. 324

fish lines, 202.

industry, Brazil. 107.

—, France, 107.

— of Europe, 179.

—, Turkish, 404.

production of the world, 349.

— in Italy, 71.

— — Madrid, 548.

Silkworm, facts in life-history of, 140.

/— in Yucatan, Stilts

industry, ‘281.

—, wild, Saturnia pyretorum, 202.

Simpson, G. C. E., 55

Sisal, cutting of, 360.

— hemp cultivation, conditions for, 403.

in Curacao, 284.

Skinner, W., 217.

Sleeping Sickness Bureau, future of, 201.

sickness and Glossina palpalis, 60.

Smithsonian Institution, International
Exchange by, 68.

Soft rot of ginger in Bengal, 46.

Soil analysis, value of, 321.

— bacteria and evaporation, 265.

— fertility and starch, 12.

—— —— ——sucrose, 12s

—, duration of, 335.

; theories of, 209, 225.

—, formation of calcium carbonate in

83.

>

— — —— nitrates ms bie

— inoculation, +4, 76.
— moisture, 9.
— -—, influence on nitrification, 248.

|— nitrification, 369.

—, rate of travel of salts through, 140.
—, sterilization, 166.

_—, temperature under different con-

|Seeds from Para rubber trees, weight of, |

ditions, 135.
—, work on bacteria in, 113.
Soils, action of magnesium in, 316.
colour of, 1.
determination of humus in, 73.
effect of soluble salts on, 71.
hot weather ploughing and, 131,
red, properties of, 2.
rocky, silkworm tree for, 409.
, sulphur in, 39.

| Sobiawrd tuberosum, 156.
Sesamum seed, cultivation and uses, 101. | Sore shins in horses, 87.

‘Sorghum poisoning, 21.

'‘Souari nut, see Caryocar nuciferum.

Soursop, analysis of dried leaves, 379.
—, budding of, 260.
‘South Africa, buchu of, 362.

|— —, maize exports from, 140.

439

South Australia, beet-growing in, 60.
South, F. W., 59, 147, 174, 195, 219.

Southern Nigeria, Funtumia rubber in,

235.

— —, rubber experiments in, 2935.

Southern Siam, cotton cultivation in, 6.

Soy bean exports, Manchuria, 28.

— — in Ceylon, 28.

— — — England, trials of, 137,

— beans, milk from, 403.

Spadonas, 352.

Sparrows and mites, 220.

Spilochalcis femoratus, 266.

Spots on Para rubber, 62.

Spraying to kill weeds, 41.

Starch and soil fertility, 12.

— manufacture in the U.S., 60.

— production in St. Vincent, 183.

Starches, adsorption by, 251.

Sterilization and fertility, 151.

Stizolobium niveum, 4.

Stock, cotton seed meal as food for,
359

— poisoning and Asclepias curassavica,
268.

—, tuberculosis among, 313.

Straits Settlements, agriculture in, 1910,
157.

Sucrose and soil fertility, 12.

Sudan, cotton-growing in, 214.

Sugar beet area in Russia, 252.

— — — — England, 163.

— content of oranges, 36.

— crop of Argentina, 76.

— Eastern Bengal and Assam,

196

108.
— Louisiana, 108.
— Philippines, 124.
— Queensland, 108.
St. Kitts, 76.
exports from Barbados, 77

— — Mexico, 284.

— — Philippines, 204.

== = UNM RE IDI.

factories, electric motors in, 204.

—— in the Philippines, 268.

foreign imports into U.S., 251.
from shredded cane, 3, 59, 147.
imports into U.S., 3.

-—— per head, United Kingdom, 332.
in Argentina, 365.

Formosa, 571.

Jamaica, 327.

Madeira, 396.

Natal, 256,

Philippines, 19.

— U.S, 179.

Sugar Industry : --

Antigua Sugar Factory, 165.
Bordeaux mixture in cane-planting,

ei a

195.

cost of growing sugar-cane in Cuba,
275.

Demerara sugar-canes in J.ouisiana,
67.

distance of cane-planting, 370.

_—, white sugar directly from, 387,

‘Sulphuric acid and germination, 264.

Sugar industry (Continued):—

Java sugar crop, 51.

New York Sugar Trade Laboratory, |
131.

opening of the St. Kitts sugar factory,
99.

production of white sugar directly |
from sugar-cane, 387.

relation between the crushing of cane
and the volume of fibre, 291.

some West Indian sugar-canes
India, 306.

sugar beet in England, 163,

— from shredded cane, 19, 147.

— in Formosa, 371.

— — the Philippines, 1910, 19.

— — — United States, 1911,.179.

— industry in India, 243. |

in

—- manufacture in Java, 1910, 227.
— trade of the United Kingdom, |
1911, 115.

| Tephrosia purpurea in Ceylon, ¢

wax from the sugar-cane, 195.
West Indian sugar-canes in Queens- |

land, 371.
Sugar industry exports, British Guiana,
348.
— — in India, 243.

—-, Java, imports into Canada, 300.

— manufacture in Java, 1910, 227. |

— production in Hawaii, 348.

— — — Mauritius, 332

— — — St. Kitts, 268. |

— — of Brazil. 158.

— trade, United Kingdom, 115.

= uses for, O20

—, white, direct from sugar-cane, 387.

—, —, imports into India, 243

—, yields in Réunion, 205.

Sugars, destruction by ultra-violet rays, |
220.

Sugar-cane and Mendelism, 33.

beetle in Mauritius, 90.

erushing and volume of fibre, 291.

diseases in Porto Rico, 382.

growing, cost in Cuba, 275,

insects of Hawaii, 74

pest in St. Croix, 346.

planting, distance of, 370

seedlings, Demerara, in Louisiana,

124,

— shredded, sugar from, 3, 19.

—, wax from, 124, 195.

Sugar-canes, Demerara, in Louisiana, 67.
Sulphate of ammonia production, 21.
Sulphur as a manure, 251.

— content of plants, 545.

— in soils, 39.

Sumatra, rubber-growing in, 233.

Sunlight and plant growth, 134.

Sunn hemp, 333.

Sweet potato stem, movement of water
in, 12.

Trap for the Egyptian cotton worm,

— potatoes, growing from roots, 140.
Sword bean, see Canavalia gladiata.

Te

Taggart, W.S, 118.

Tagua, 325.

|Tamarinds on the London market, 15,

63, 79, 111, 159, 175, 223, 255, 287,
319, 351, 383.

Tapia, see Uapaca clusiaceae.

Tar, effect on trees, 220.

| Tea, manurial experiments with, 153.

imports into the U.S, 143.
Tempany, H. A., 99, 104, 354, 375, 308,
514.

| Temperature of soil under different con-

ditions, 135.

28.
Termites, new metliod of controlling, 122

| Texas fever, Zebu cattle resistant to, 7
Theories concerning soil fertility, 209.
Thespesia populnea, 341,

Thornton, T., 69.

Ticks, 394, 410.

Tiphia parallela, 234, 298.

Tobacco, curing ef, 102.

—, experiments in Ceylon, 63.

— in Nyasaland, 367.

— manuring, 204.

—, preparation by Sentmty: 307.

— seed, oil from, 41, 284

Tobago, coco nut ‘diseases i in, 398.
Togoland, cotton in, 316, 236.

‘Tonka bean, 149.

— beans, export from Venezuela, 268.

‘Trade and agriculture of Barbados,
1910-11, 77

— — — — British Honduras, 1910,
121.

— Cuba, 1910-11, 315.
— Gold Coast, 8.
— Grenada, 1910, 123.

| —= of Pana OMe ae

— — Sierra Leone, 1910, 43.

— — Uganda, 191011, 139.

Transvaal, maize crop of, 204.

A.

Trees, cement for cavities in, 259.

—, planting of, 103.

—, preservation of, 251,

Trichilia emetica, 300.

Trichogramma pretiosa, 186,

Trifolium pilulare, 140.

Trinidad, agriculture in, 1910-11, 151,

—, banana exports from, 69.

—, cacao exports from, 44, 69, 72, 108,
151, 252

—, — Prize Competition in, 53

—, coco nut exports from, 151.

—, entomological work in, 169, 314,

—, forest-planting in, 204

—, fruit exports from, 151.

—, registration of nurseries, 204.

-—, report of Agricultural Department,

= rubber exports from, 151.
—, sugar exports from, 151.
Tropaeolum, sugar synthesis in, 180,

—

430

Tropical Diseases Bureau, 201.

— ratin, 47.

Tuberculosis among stock,
313.

Tulip trees, 341.

Turkestan, cotton cultivation in, 182. |

Turkey, cotton in, 332, 348. |

Turkish silk industry, 404.

Turks Islands, trade of, 548. |

Turmeric, 271.

Twig g girdlers, account of, 250.

Tylenchus oryzae, 117.

Typhoid bacillus and house-fly, 249.

lecture on,

U.

lv. anilla Pompona, 149.
production and consumption, 261,
356,
Variation and fluctuation, 34.
Vegetable ivory, substitute for, 188.
oils, work dealing with, 231.
Vegetative propagation, changes through,
281.
Venezuela, coffee in, 1911, 28.
—, tonka bean exports from, 268.
—, trade of, 211, 360.
Ventilation, 267.
Verbascum nigrum, germination of, 255.
| Veronica officinalis, germination of, 255.
‘Vetiver oil, 4.
‘Victoria Museum, Dominica, 235.

| Vigna Catjang, 347

Uapaca clusiaceae, 409

Uganda, cotton exports from, 124, 188, |
252 [error], 300 [correct].

—, — growing in, 310.

— —, quality of, 326.

—, epizootic lymphangitis and, 380.

—, export trade of 1910-11, 139.

—, Hevea brasiliensis in, 44. |

—, rubber experiments in, 158.

Ultra-violet rays, action on vanilla pods,
109.

172.

and

carbohydrate formation, |

: ; nee
— , cane sugar inversion by, 220

— —, destruction of sugar by, 220

— --, purification of water by, 156. |

United Kingdom, arrowroot imports, 300.

— —, cotton imports into, 68, 140,
284.

— —, sugar imports per head, 332.

trade of, 115.
United ‘States, consumption of Egyptian |
cotton in, 182. |

cotton experiments in, 1911, |

maize in, 23.
plant protection in, 330.
production in 1911, 341.

sugar in, 3, 115, 179, 251.

We

Vanilla, curing of, 148.

—- growing under mango trees, 361.
— in Seychelles, 228, 360.
—, introduction into Réunion and

Mauritius, 196.
— pods, action of ultra-violet rays, 109. (ts

| Virgin Islands, agricultural meetings in,

252, 396.
— — and Canadian Exhibition, 285.
—, bonus for imported stallion, 20.
—, cotton in, 108, 220.
—, lime juice industry of, 365.
—, rainfall in, 595.
Vitamines, 339.

Voandzeia Poissoni, see Kerstingiella geo-

carpa.

/— subterranea, 146.

W.

Wakati Ewickeri, see Micranda minor.

Waste in cotton-spinning, 247.

| Water current, turning back of, in plants,
12.

Water drinking, absorption of fat in rela-

tion to, 41.
machine for raising, 284
method of obtaining pure, 200.
—, purification by ultra-violet rays,
156.

’

?

| Watermelons, analysis of, 412.

Watts, Dr. F.,
259,
395)

| Wax from Masa sp., 268.

— from the sugar-cane, 124, 195,

Weeds, legislation i in Grenada, 89,

45, 50, 53,101, 195, 219,
274, 291, 307, 309, 339, 356,

| —, spraying to kill, 41.

West Indian Bulletin, 72, 152, 29
— — canes in India, 306.

— -— — Queensland, 371.
cotton, insurance of, 86.

7, 312. |

West Indian ei on the Liverpool
market, 6, 22, 38, 54 70, 86, 102,
118, 134, 150, 166, 182, 198, 214,
230, 254, 262, 278, 294, 310, 326,
342, 358, 374, 390, 406.

—-— cotton- growing season, 406,

|—— — products on the London ees
Lo 63, 79) LIN, TSS 1ia, 4223)

287, 319, 351, 383.

— — rubber nad rubber exhibition, 75.

West Indies and Canadian National Exhi-
tion, 367.

—— -—, cotton exports from, 102, 311.

— —, — production in, 23.

— —-, insect pests in, 1911, 26,

= —, mulberry and, 239.

_ White sugar manufacture in Java, 51.

|— headed fungus, Ophionectria cocci-

| cola, 270, 415. tt
| Whitewash, use of prickly

making, 8.

Wild ipecacuanha, see Asclepias curassa-

vica.

| Willis, Dr. J. C., 63.

Wind-belt for cacao, 100.

Wine palm (Lagos), sce Raphia vinifera.

pear in

| Wolstenholme and Holland, Messrs,., 6,
| 22,38, 54, 70} S86, 102; 118! 134,
| 150, 166, 182, 198, 214, 230, 254,

262, 278, 294, 310, 326, 342, 358,

le BU a 390, 406.

Wood preservation, 204.

-— specimens in nature study, 191.
|— —, treatment in India, 297.
Wood, T. B., 156, 162.

| Wooden poles, preservation of, 395.
Wool output of Argentina, 156.
Woolly pyrol, see Phaseolus Mungo.

| World’s cotton industry, 134,

World’ s production of silk, 1911, 349.
— — —vanilla, 1911-12,261.

-5=

YE

Yaws, treatment of, 57, 152.
Yellow fever mosquito, 202.
Yucatan, silkworm rearing in, 377.

Z.

Zalophothrix mirum, 10, 26, 298.
Zanzibar, coco-nuts in, 244.

Zebu cattle and Texas fever, 27.

| Zinyamunga, see Pennisetum purpureum,
Yschokkea Foxii, rubber from, 87.

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