Agricultur, Horticultur, Forstbotanik. 461 



Kudson, G. S., Report on Experiment Plots and Agricul- 

 tur al Instruction, St. Lucia 1905/06. (Imperial Dept. of 

 Agriculture for the West Indies.) 



Seedling cane B. 208 gives good results and in disease resistance 

 is much superior to the Bourbon cane. Cacao experiment plots 

 continue to give good results. The plot of one acre taken over in 

 1901 in bad condition has with appropriate manurial treatment been 

 improved as shown in following return of successive crops : 1900 — Ol 

 nil; 1901-02 217 if; 1902—03 236 'ö; ; 1903—04 343 ft'; 1904— 05 717 'tc; 

 1905-06 1.081 ic: The profit in 1905—06 was £24 Is. 6d. Hybrids 

 between Theobroma Cacao and T. pentagona have been raised. 



The question of shade for cacao is discussed, with reference to 

 the diversity in practice between Trinidad and Grenada. Light 

 shade, from Hevea brasiUensis, or Erythrina inäica is generally 

 desirable in exposed places and always wind belts for shelter. Shade 

 trees should be selected which are free from insect and fungoid 

 pests; for this reason Castilloa elastica is not recommended as a 

 cacao shade tree in St. Lucia. For separate plantadons it appears 

 well suited. Seed of Hevea brasiUensis is being imported, and 

 FiDiticniia elastica is recommended for poorer lands. 



W. G. Freeman. 



Jackson, T., Reports on the Botanic Station and Experi- 

 ment Plots, Antiqua. 1905/06. (Imperial Dept. of Agriculture 

 for the West Indies.) 



Para Rubber {Hevea brasiUensis) is amongst the new plants 

 introduced. The season was ver}' dr}^ the rainfall being only 35.10 

 inches. The cotton crop shows very satisfactory increase and 93.000 'S 

 were exported. Cotton selection work has been continued, also 

 numerous experiments with two plants. The lemon grass oil plant is 

 being grown and it is hoped to have a distillation still shortly. 

 Experiments with lucerne {Medicago sativa) gave unsatisfactory results. 



W. G. Freeman. 



Johnson, T., The Principles of Seed Testin g. (Science 

 Progress. Vol. I. p. 483 — 496. January 1907.) 



Seed testing, as now understood, was started by Nobbe of 

 Tharandt in 1869 who established the tirst Seed-Testing Station, 

 although as early as 1816 measures were taken in Switzerland to 

 suppress fraud in the seed trade. The creation of a central seed 

 testing Station for England was recommended in 1900, but it has 

 not 3"et been instituted. In Ireland such a Station was in existence 

 prior to 1900 and is still at work. 



The author describes the points to be attended to in testing 

 seeds. (1) The Genuineness i. e. whether the seeds are true to name or 

 not. (2) Purity i.e. whether it contains impurities such as soil, stalks, 

 chaff etc., or seeds of Weeds. (3) Germination. (4) True Value which 

 may be expressed by the following formula: 



P = percentage of purit^^ 



G = percentage of germination. 



TV = true value = — ^-^-r — 



The methods of determining these, and the conditions affecting 

 germination are described. 



