98 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



March 26, 1904. 



Marked features in connexion with these shows 

 were the cordial manner in which the members of the 

 planting coniuuinity co-operated with the small 

 proprietors and settlers and the evident keenness of 

 all in the competition for prizes and diplomas. 



In cases where the Shows had been carried on for 

 some years, the vegetable jiroducts, especially, bore 

 evidence of considerable advance in cultivation and 

 preparation for market. The educational \ahie of 

 these Shows is, therefore, assured. It is a matter of 

 regret that it is not possible to speak so favourably of 

 the exhibits of domestic animals. It is evident that in 

 the small islands, at all events, these have not received 

 the attention they deserve. With few exceptions the 

 horses and cattle have been stunted and in poor 

 condition. Further, small stock, such as pig.s, sheep, 

 goats, poultry and rabbits, exhibited by peasants and 

 settlers, have, almost invariably, shown an entire 

 absence of selection in breeding. It is hojted that the 

 considerable efforts now being made by the Department 

 to introduce pedigree animals will have appreciable 

 influence in this direction. When possible, the Botanic 

 Stations have organized special exhibits consisting of 

 new varieties of yams, sweet potatos and other food 

 crops. The Agricultural Schools have followed a 

 similar course ; while the pupils attending these 

 Schools have forwarded for competition amongst them- 

 selves the produce of their own plots consisting of 

 English and native vegetables. A new feature at all 

 the recent Shows has been the attention given to the 

 exhibits of plants and produce grown b^' children 

 attending the Elementary Schools. In some cases the 

 plants have been exhibited in the original jjots or 

 boxes. In others the produce onl}' has been shown. 

 Special prizes have been arranged to suit both classes 

 of exhibits. The success of these efforts has been of 

 a gratifying character. The interest of the teachers 

 has been thoroughly enlisted, and where diplomas have 

 been gained these have been framed and hung in the 

 school-rooms. 



As regards future Agricultural Shows, it is 

 recommended that active steps be taken to organize 

 these and issue the prize lists at least six months 

 before the date fixed for the Shows. It is desirable 

 that local committees be appointed in each district to 

 .afford information and arrange for selecting and 

 forwarding representative exhibits. The Chairman of 

 each local committee might call a meeting of the land 

 owners and cultivators in his district and infuse a spirit 

 of rivalry as against other districts. This plan has 

 been carried out with great success at Dominica and it 

 might usefully be followed in the other islands. 



There can be no doubt that the general effect of 

 these Shows cannot fail to have a beneficial and 

 stimulating influence on all agrictdtural industries. 

 We heartily congratulate those who have already taken 

 an active part in them, and we bespeak the cordial 

 support of all who desire to promote intelligent 

 and progressive action in developing the material 

 resources <jf these colonies. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Growth Variation of the Sugar-cane. 



Some good examples of seedling sugar-canes 

 exhibiting curious growth variations have recently 

 been forwarded b}' Mr. Robert Ward, Agricultural 

 Assistant, British Guiana, to the Imperial Connnissioner 

 of Agriculture for inspection : — 



(1) Seedling No. .5,406, showing a succession of nodes 

 with undeveloped eyes. In one specimen there were no 

 fewer than six nodes without buds. This appears to be a 

 fairly coninioii feature of this variety. 



(2) Seedling No. Ijl-OG, showing two eyes developed side 

 by side from the same node. 



(3) Seedling No. -4,^05, in which there is a large fluster 

 of buds wliieli have developed sinniltaneously at the top of 

 the cane so as to form a kiml of broom. 



Drawings have been made of these canes, showing 

 the variations mentioned, to be kept at the Head Office 

 of the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the 

 West Indies as a permanent record of these curious 

 growths. 



The Deterioration of Cut Sugar-cane. 



The following is a brief summary of a paper on 

 the above subject in the Aiirieulfunil L>'<hjt'r (190-3, 

 No. (J) and contains information that will jjrobabi}- be 

 of interest to sugar planters who ha\e to rel}' on wind 

 power for crushing their canes. The deterioration 

 referred to, in canes wdiich have been cut for over 

 seventy-two hours, unfortunately too often occurs in 

 Barbados : — ■ 



It is well known that when the outer wall of the sugar- 

 cane is broken and air thereby admitted to the ceil contents, the 

 sucrose or crystalline sugar contained in the latter readily 

 change.s into non-crystalline invert sugar. This action 

 seriously affects the value of the cane to the sugar niaiuifac- 

 turer, and it is therefore desirable that canes should be 

 treated at the factory as soon as possible after cutting. Most 

 of tlie experiments hitlierto conducted have consisted in 

 keeping five to six cart loads or bundles of canes and grinding 

 one cart load every day, the analyses of the juice being the 

 criterion by which to judge the deterioration. There was, 

 however, no guarantee whatever that the different cart loads 

 or bundles had the same sucrose contents to start with, ami 



