Vol. III. No. 57. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



195 



are oecuiiied with large-scale experiments in varieties of 

 sugar-cane other than Bourbon, 9,150 acres being in 

 Demerara, 2,791 in Berbice, 929 in Essequebo.^ 



The total area of 12,860 acres, when comiiared with 

 9,518 acres in 1903-4 and with 6,282 acres in 1902-3, 

 shows an increase upon them at the rates of 35"1 per cent, 

 and 104 '7 per cent., respectively. 



The following shows the varieties other than Bourbon 

 ■which are at [iresent being cultivated in British Guiana on 

 areas of more than 1 acre in extent on sugar plantations 

 other tlian Plantation Diamond, no returns from which have 

 been sujiplied by the ilanager : — 



The returns last supplied by Plantation Diamond- 

 those for 1903-4 — were as follows : — 



than Bourbon, it is evident that a considerable extension of 

 area has taken place. 



In the last issue of the Agriculturdl N'cics (p. 180) 

 we publi.shed detuiled iiifonnation in regarti to the 

 experimental cultivation of seedling canes at Dia- 

 mond Plantation, kindly furnished by the manager, 

 Mr. John M. Fleming. 



TREATMENT OP WOUNDS IN CACAO 

 PLANTATIONS. 



The following is taken from the Trinidad Bulletin 

 of Miscellaneous Information for April : — ■ 



In cacao plantations under the old system of cutlass 

 pruning, snags or stumps have been left with jagged edges. 

 Into these spots, spores of various wood-destroying fungi 

 readily iind their way, with the result that decay sets in 

 rapidly, and wood ants take up a position therein, eating 

 away the decayed wood, and leaving large holes in the stem 

 to the depth of several inches. Water enters these holes and 

 tends to decay the wood more quickly by its presence, and 

 eventually the decay reaches the heart of the tree, which 

 gradually dies out. It is certain that more trees are lost by 

 bad pruning on a cacao estate than from any other cause. In 

 pruning cacao, all branches .should be removed close up to 

 the stem and no snags, spurs, or projecting stumps should be 

 left, Ijut any branch removed should be cut close, the surface 

 of the cut being made in a proper direction to shed water. 

 It should then be pared with a sharp knife or other tool to 

 make it smooth, and a little tar applied as a styptic or 

 antiseptic dressing. If this is done, the edges of the wound 

 will rapidly close over and completely shut out moisture, and 

 all rotting will be stayed. In cases, however, where holes 

 exist in the stem, they should be carefully cleaned out and 

 filled up with Portland cement and sand, mi.xed in the 

 proportion of one of cement to three of fine clean .sand. This 

 will effectually stop the hole and prevent the entrance of 

 water, and will save the life of many a valuable tree. 



The suggestion may be dismissed by some as being too 

 expensive, but a little calculation of the cost and value of a 

 tree, will, I think, prove to any reasonable mind, that it would 

 be money well expended. At any rate, it is hoped that this 

 note will persuade planters to try it a little at a time, as there 

 can be no doubt of the ultimate result. 



It is to be remembered that large cultivations, like 

 cacao, are sure, sooner or later, to be attacked by disease, and 

 in cacao plantations, as in cities, it is the cleanest and 

 healthiest that escape, and not those where neglect of 

 hygienic measures is but too apparent. So it will be with 

 cacao ; a clean and healthy tree is much less likely to be 

 attacked than one in a half-starved and neglected condition. 

 Tar all wounds, therefore, and prevent entrance of disease 

 and the rotting of stems to the heart, and if neglect of 

 pruning is apparent, by holes in the stem, have them filled 

 as soon as possible with cement composition. 



the total area being 1,875-177 acres, but as the Manager, in 

 a recent letter to the Chairman of the Board stated that 

 2,200 acres were occupied by varieties of the canes other 



Algarrobilla Seed. This is an important item on 

 the export list of certain districts of Chili. According to 

 the Consular Report for the district of Coquimbo for 1901, 

 685 tons were exported, the Consul remarking that this was 

 an incipient industry. In the following year, owing to a bad 

 harvest, only 96 tons were exported. These seeds are 

 obtained from Prosopis pallida (a synonym, according to 

 the Index Kewensis, of P. julijjora, well known as the 

 ' Cashaw ' in the West Indies), and are used for tanning 

 purposes. 



