Vol. III. Xo. 61. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



267 



ST. LUCIA: AXXUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL 

 AND EXPERIMENT PLOTS, 1903-4. 



Botanic Station. — The exiienditure during the year 

 ended March 31, 1904, was £812 10s. Ud. The receipts 

 from the sale of plant.?, which amounted to X-oG Os. .3(/., 

 again showed an increase. 



The increase in the number of plants distributed, to 

 which reference was made in the report for 1902-3, was not 

 maintained. Tliere was, however, a large increase in the 

 amount of seed distributed from the station. 



Agrindtural School. — The total expenditure under this 

 head, including the Windward Islands Agricultural Scholar- 

 ship, amounted to £680 3s. \d. 



All the vegetables and farine, and some of the dried 

 beans used at the school were produced in the plots. It is 

 estimated that this effected a saving of about £34. 



Satisfactory results were obtained at the two half-yearly 

 examinations, and it is reported that the boys have .sh(3wn 

 interest in their studies. 



A large number of economic plants have been grown in 

 the experiment plots. In addition to vegetables, cacao, 

 oranges, kola, cotton and other ero[is have been grown, in 

 most cases with satisfactory residts. 



Experiment Plot.'i in Country Districts. — The Agri- 

 cultural Instructor has had charge of five of these plots. 



At tlie Riviere Doree station interesting experiments 

 have been carried out with different varieties of cotton, 

 including Sea Island, small green-seed Upland, and the 

 native black-seed. The manurial experiments with cotton 

 demonstrated the advantage of applying 1 cwt. of sulphate 

 of ammonia one month before flowering. 



The other experiment plots — Soufriere, Dennery, Roseau, 

 and Castries — are devoted to cacao. These plots, which were 

 taken over in a more or less unhealthy condition, have 

 been forked, weeded, pruned, and manured. This treatment 

 has resulted in greatly increased yields. 



These reports are, on the whole, of a satisfactory nature 

 and indicate that the officers concerned have continued to 

 carry out their duties in a faithful and conscientious manner. 



MONTSERRAT: ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION AND EXPERIMENT PLOTS, 



190-3-Jf. 



Mr. Jordan's report deals with the working of the 

 Grove Botanic Station and the two out-stations at Olveston 

 and Harris'. 



The expenditure for the year amounted to £-568 lis. od. 

 The sale of plants and produce yielded £4-5 17s. Sid. 



Large numbers of new plants were placed in permanent 

 positions during the year. There was a large increase in the 

 number of plants distributed from the station. 



The report gives full details as to the experiments that 

 have been carried out at the stations. These experiments 



should be useful in demonstrating to peasant proprietors the 

 best methods of cultivation. 



A record is given of the experiments carried out to 

 ascertain the best way to control the leaf-blister mite, which 

 proved such a serious pest to cotton last season. Giwd 

 results have been obtained with a mixture of sulphur and 

 lime. The interest of the residents in the island has been 

 maintained, and the officers of the Department gave their 

 assistance in the organization of an Agricultural Show and 

 an Arbor Day celebration. 



This report also contains a record of the work done by 

 the Local Instructor, who furnishes interesting details as to 

 recently introduced minor industries. 



DOMINICA: ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL 

 AND EXPERIMENT PLOTS, 190J-4. 



Botanic Station. — The report deals with the working of 

 the station during the year ended ^larch 31, 1904. Among 

 the buildings erected during the year may be mentioned the 

 fumigation chamber for the treatment of imported plants. 

 Additional land near the Roseau Bridge was fenced in and 

 will be used as a nursery. 



The number of plants distributed was .53, -500 : there 

 was a decrease in the number of lime plants distributed, but, 

 on the other hand, increased demands for cacao, rubber, 

 nutmeg, and orange plants are reported. 



A number of interesting notes are given on various 

 economic plants grown at the station. 



The report shows that work of a useful and satisfactory 

 nature has been carried cnit by Mr. .Jones during the year. 



Agricultural School. — In his report Mr. Brooks, who 

 succeeded Mr. Tannock in -June 1903 as Offioer-in-charge, 

 states that the expenditure for the year under review 

 amounted to £525. The receipts from sale of vegetables, 

 eggs, service of stallions, etc., were £23 13s. 3c?. 



The health of the boys was .satisfactory, the iledical 

 Officer reporting that they have improved in physic|ue since 

 their admission into the school. 



Good results were obtained in the two half-yearly 

 examinations. The number of boys at the school at the end 

 of the year was eighteen. 



A large variety of food and fodder crops was grown in 

 the experiment plots. In addition, experiments were carried 

 out with cotton, rubber, citrus plants, pine-apples, ginger, 

 etc. The results of the experiments were satisfactory, and 

 the growth of vegetables reduced the expenditure on food 

 by £21 17s. 



The live stock at the school are reported to be doing 

 good service. It is evident that ilr. Brooks is making an 

 earnest endeavour to continue the .satisfactory work com- 

 menced by his predecessor. 



Experiment Plots. — The Agricultural Instructor's report 

 deals with his work in connexion with the experiment plots 

 in the country districts. 



Seven cacao experiment plots were worked during the 

 year. The results appear, on the whole, to have been 

 satisfactory, increased yields being reported in most cases. 

 The cacao suffered considerably on some plots from the gale 

 of August last. 



An orange plot of 2 acres was started on Corona estate 

 with plants obtained from .Jamaica. 



Two lime plots — one at Hillsborough, and the other at 

 St. Aroment — were treated with manures. 



Eight hundred and seventy-two rubber plants were put 

 out along the Imperial Road, 



