Vol. III. No. 56. 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



189 



BIUTISII GUI AX A: REPORT OX A VISIT TO 

 THE FOMEIiOOX AXD MORUCA DISTRICTS: I!y 

 E. Beckett, Assistant Instructor in Agriculture. 



This is a report to the lioard of Agriculture on a \isit 

 jnade to tlie abovenanied districts in .January last. 



;Mr. lieckett remarks that the most interesting feature of 

 the vegetation of tlie Tapacooma Creek is the hirge nuniljer 

 of Hevea rubber trees. Efforts made to obtain rubber from 

 them did not, however, meet ^vith success ; possibly better 

 results would be obtained at a different season. 



As Mr. Beckett states, it is difficult to tell whether the 

 species are of any economic value, but it is probable that 

 some of them are. We -would suggest that a careful and 

 systematic investigation of these rubber trees migJit be of 

 considerable advantage to the colony at the present time. In 

 any case, it is not unlikely that the true Para rubber tree 

 (Ilevm brnsiliensis) -would thrive equally well in the same 

 situations and prove of value. 



At the AVarauniri Jlission Station a number of economic 

 trees oi various kinds -ivere found, but there was little or no 

 systematic cultivation. IMr. Beckett advised the growing of 

 pine-apples and ground nuts. 



On the Aciwini there was a carefully cultivated cacao 

 Plantation, which the owner was recommended to extend. 

 In this district cocoa-nuts have been planted pretty exten- 

 sively. It is estimated that within the last two years 

 70,000 trees have been planted. One planter has an excellent 

 hand-mill, capable of grindirg 1,000 nuts per daj-. 



Coffee, cacao, cocoa-nuts and tobacco appear to be 

 ])romising crops for this district. Insufficiency of labour is 

 at present the chief drawback : it is considered that a better 

 knowledge of even elementary principles of agriculture is 

 much needed liy the farmers. 



The following extracts fiom this report are of interest : — 



Jl/((,v((s<>(;»in.— This is Mr. ini Tluirn's old Ininie and was 

 once tlie must beautiful station in the colony, owing to the great 

 ■oare and attention that distinguished gentleman gave to the 

 many interesting and valuable jilants whicli he grew there. The 

 •orchids and palms and a large and beautiful Ptnl'm are still 

 v.-orth seeing. Mr. Gall keeps the place clean lie has made 

 ii fair cricket piteh and has succeeded in teaching his Indians to 

 lilav cricket. 



The one coloured man, who is doing things on a larger 

 scale, is Mr. Bedford Garraway. who owns 400 acres, of which 

 over 150 are cultivated. He hires a fair iuiud)er of negrcies. 

 East Indians and Aborigines. He has several thousand coffee 

 trees and n\nid)ers (if cacao, but all are sadly in need of jn-uning. 

 Also several hundred C'jC(ja-nut palms and an etticient mill fi.ir 

 dealing with the nuts. Many acres are devoted to (piick-grow- 

 ing crops, such as corn, cassava and plantains, which are all 

 grown extensively on Imsiuess lines. It was noticeable that 

 crojis giving ipiick returns were weeded, drained an<l kept in 

 •excellent conditu.m, whilst the cacaci and coffee \vere compara- 

 tively neglected. 



His soil is a very go^id clayey loam, on which nutmegs, 

 black )iepper. grafted mangos and other valuable economic 

 jiUiuts would do excellently. He keeps cattle, pigs and other 

 stuck, all of which aiipear to be v.ell li'.aised. 



DODDS REFORMATORY, BARBADOS. 



Tlie annual report for 1903 of the Acting Super- 

 intendent of the Reformatory and Industrial School 

 at Dodds was published in the Barbados Official 

 Gazette oi ybiy li). 



Under the head of 'Cidtivation,' the following 

 report is given of the cotton and onion crops at Dodds, 

 which appear to be distinctly promising : — 



During the middle of the year 2| acres were devoted to 

 the growing of the cotton plant, and later on .3i acres more 

 were planted, as a trial. The yield from the 2^ acres was 

 about 1,500 lb. of seed-cotton as a first return. This 

 quantity is consitlerably lower than what is obtained in 

 cotton-growing countries, but there is little doubt that, Ijy the 

 use of i)roper seed and careful cultivation, a better yield can 

 be obtained. This field of cotton suffered \evy slightly from 

 the attacks of the worm, but during the drought of 

 November many of the pods were attacked by a fungoid 

 disease, which decreased the yield and caused much incon- 

 venience in picking and cleaning. These cotton trees are 

 commencing to bear a second time. The results of the first 

 shipment of the cotton have not yet been received, but with 

 the present price obtainable for the lint the outlook is 

 encouraging. 



About 10 acres will be planted in cotton next 

 season, and fresh seed of the best quality, obtained from 

 the Sea Islands, through the Inqierial Department of 

 Agriculture, will be used. 



The attenq)t at growing onions, which was mentioned 

 in the last re^iort, was tried on a somewhat larger scale this 

 year. On the whole, it is a successful one. The onions 

 seem to thrive and grow readily after the rather tedious 

 work of transplanting frou-i seed boxes and beds has been 

 done. The season, however, was not very favourable towards 

 the end of the year, November being very dry, while the latter 

 part of December, when some of the onions were ripening, was 

 continually wet, and this caused many of them to spoil. 

 The remainder of the croii, which is only partially reaped, 

 ajipears to be healthy and [iromises well. 



The red onion is the hardier variety, but, on the whole, 

 the white onion, though more delicate at the start, seems to 

 give a better and more marketable product. Fresh seed is 

 being obtained through the Inqierial Deiiartment of Agri- 

 culture for the West Indies, and another crop will be grown 

 next season. ^^_^^_^^_^^^^^_^^^_ 



FOREST RESERVES. 



In Hawaii much attention is being devoted to 

 forest protection. We print the following extract from 

 the HavMucn Plantcrfi Monthly, referring to the 

 co-operation of the planters with the government, in 

 the hope that their example will be followed in the 

 West Indies : — 



The Hawaiian Planters' As.sociation is in .sympathy with, 

 and is disposed to lend its aid and assistance to, the Govern- 

 ment and to the Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry 

 in agricultural and forestry luatters. Were it not for the 

 assistance given by the Planters' Association and its members, 

 it would be not only inqiracticable, but inqiossible, to carry 

 out the plans of the Government in the lines of forest 

 preservation and development. A great many of the 

 volunteer foresters apiiointed by the Government are sugar 

 plantation men and managers, and their hearty co-operation 

 is essential to the successful carrying out of the Government's 

 plans. 



