41i 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



December 17, 190i. 



An intimation lias been received by the Imperial Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture from the British Cotton-growing 

 Association that two cotton seed disintegrators have been 

 shipped for the Central Cotton Factories at Antigua and 

 I'.arbados. 



ilr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., has written to the Imperial 

 Conimissioiier of Agriculture, in response to a re(iuest for 

 a supjil}- of plants of the Trinidad seedless lime, that he will 

 be happy to suiiply all the Fiotanic Stations as soon as 

 a stock is available. 



GLEANINGS. 



The half-yearly examinations at the Agricultural Schools 

 in St. Vincent, Dominica, and St. Lucia have been held 

 during the past fortnight. 



The exports of teak from Bangkok amounted in 190;i to 

 58,142 tons. First-class logs fetch £9 to £9 10s. per load ; 

 first -cla.ss planks from £10 to £12 10s. {Consular Bcjm-t.) 



It is interesting to observe in the Consuhir Report on 

 the trade of Goa for 1903, that the average annual value of 



the exports of mangos 

 (£4,992). 



from 1900-02 was 74,876 rupees 



The provisional [irize list for the Exhibition of the 

 Agriculturtil and Commercial Society of (irenada, which is to 

 be held in that island in Februnry next under the auspices of 

 the Imperial Department of Agricultuie, has been i.ssued. 



Three additional prizes of $3 each are being ottered by 

 the Imiierial Commissioner of Agriculture at the Annual 

 Industrial Exhibition to be held at Barbados on December 20 

 for the be-st goats the progeny of the imported stud goats 

 ' Black Rock ' and ' Bruce.' 



His Excellency Sir C. C. Knollys has formed the nucleus 

 of an army which is to wage war on mosquitos in the city of 

 St. John's, Antigua. This is an example worthy of being 

 copied in all the West Indian Colonies. ( IIVs? Inrlia 

 Com III itti-e Circidm .) 



From Jamaica pai)ers to hand by the mail we learn that 

 Messrs. Oliver and Stanclitie, forming the Deputation from 

 the British Cotton -growing Association, arrived in that island 

 on November 2-5, and had paid a number of visits to estates 

 on which cotton was being grown. 



As a supplement to the November issue of the Cape of 

 Good Hope Agrii-nlluyal Journal, there is issued a chart 

 (20 X 30 inches) to show at a glance what treatment should 

 be given to trees to avoid or check siiecifie insects 

 diseases. 



and 



During the past fortnight 28 bales of West Indian 

 cotton were imported into the United Kingdom. Sales have 

 been effected in Liveriwol at the following prices : West 

 India, bd. to 6-2.')(/. ; West India Sea Lsland, mediuni fine, 

 12i(?. ; fine, 13i(?. ; extra fine, 15i(/. ( IIVs^ India Coininittee 

 Circular, November 22.) 



From a report by the Officiating Chemist of the Natal 

 Agricultural Department we learn that some sugar-canes 

 (White Transparent, B. 109, and D. 95) sent to Natal from 

 Antigua have made satisfactory growtli and have ]iroved 

 accei'table to cane growers. 



According to the Cotton Trade Journal, a cotton- 

 picking machine is likely to be on the market for the coming 

 picking season in the United States. Such a machine is 

 among the great necessities of the age, and keen interest 

 will be taken in the trials. 



It is desired to make the following corrections in the 

 article on ornamental seeds in the last issue of the Ar/ri- 

 cvltur(d Kcws (p. 395) : the .specific name of the Circassian 

 seed tree should rend pavonina and that of the yellow 'rattle 

 bush,' 7-cfuf:a. In the case of the soap-berry plant it is the 

 covering of the seeds that is used as a substitute for soap. 



At the Local Agricultural Exhibition to be held at 

 Dunscombe, Barbados, on January 24, 1905, two additional 

 prizes are being offered by ladies for the best working 

 donkey (the proi)erty of a jieasant who works it himself). 

 This is with the view of obtaining better treatment for these 

 useful little animals. 



A corresiiondent has written asking what style of 

 [jreparation for market is necessary in the case of kola nuts. 

 It may be mentioned that there is a regular demand for nuts 

 carefully cured and dried so that they may not become 

 mouldy on the voyage. They should be packed in bags 

 similar to those used for cacao. For recent prices for kola 

 niits .see p. 414. 



The principal items of export from the Society I.sland.s, 

 exclusive of mother-of-pearl, are copra and vanilla. According 

 to the Consular Beport just i.ssued, the values of the.se 

 during 1903 were £87,924 and £23,424, respectively. The 

 increase in the value of the copra exports, as compared with 

 1902, amounted to no less than £14,254. 



A bag of fruits of Ilarrintjtonia spcciosa has been 

 received from the Botanic Station, Antigua. Persons desiring 

 these fruits should ajiply to the Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture. This handsome tree is a native of the ilciluccas ; 

 from its seeds a lamp oil is obtained. Specimens already exist 

 at Barbado.s, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad. 



lieliorting on an examination of two samples of cassava 

 starch from St. Lucia, Professor J. P. d'Albuipierque remarks 

 that, instead of being, as usual, slightly acid, they are 

 slightly alkaline, a result due probably to the use of alkaline 

 substances in the manufacture. i!oth samples were well 

 prepared. 



The inaugural meeting of the Association of Economic 

 Biologists was held at Burlington House, London, on 

 November 8. The object of the as,sociation is to jiromote 

 the science of economic biology in its agricultural, horti- 

 cultural, medical, educational, and connnercial aspects. The 

 Honorary Secretary is :Mr. W. E. Collinge, M.Sc, the 

 University, Birnnngham. 



