Vol. III. No. GO. 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



249 



Government Laboratory, Jamaica. 



We have received a cop}- of the annual report of 

 the Island and Agricultural Chemist in Jamaica for 

 the year ended March 31, 1904. 



Out of a total of 4S.5 samples (exclusive of plants 

 for fumigation) dealt with during the year, 310 were 

 classed as ' Agricultural.' The small proportion of 

 police and customs samples enabled the chemist to 

 devote most of his time to agricultural problems. 



The results of most of the agricultural analyses 

 and investigations have appeared in the Bulletin of 

 the Department of Agriculture, and have been noticed 

 from time to time in the Agricultural Nacs. 



Reference is made to the work of Mr. C. Allan, 

 B.Sc, who was appointed Fermentation Chemist 

 during the year. Mr. Allan has visited a large number 

 of estates, studying local conditions and taking samples 

 for work in the Laboratory. 



Grasses and Cattle in the Danish West Indies. 



In a report, dated November 20, 1903, the United 

 States Consul at St. Thomas states that it is 

 remarkable to find so many fine cattle as exist among 

 the native herds in the Danish West Indies, consider- 

 ing they feed only on the native grasses. 



The grasses most popular for cultivated pastures 

 are Guinea grass and ' Spanish grass,' by which name, 

 we believe. Para grass is known in some parts. 

 Although the former is more often grown, probably on 

 account of its stronger and more rapid growth, herds- 

 men are not able to state which is better for the cattle. 

 Possibly the Spanish grass is better able to withstand 

 drought, and it is remarkable how quickly the pastures 

 are renewed after the rain begins to fall. 



The only drawback to the establishment of a 

 stock-raising industry appears to be the occasionally 

 protracted dry .season. Investigations are, however, 

 now being carried out with a view to the introduction 

 of an irrigation system. 



^ I ^ 



Agriculture in the Falkland Islands. 



In those islands agriculture is practically confined 

 to sheep rearing. According to the Annual Report 

 for 1903, the estimated number of sheep on the farms 

 was 081,209. The exports of wool during the year were 

 of the value of £103,-597 ; of sheep-skins, £7,450. 



It is reported that most of the farmers are endeav- 

 ouring to improve their flocks by selection and the 

 importation of new blood. During the year .515 sheep 

 were imported from New Zealand, Roniney Marsh 

 rams being most favoured for the purpose. 



The great pest of the farmers is the so-called ' wild' 

 goose. ' It is represented that from 100,000 to 150,000 

 ^(representing grass for 20,000 sheep) might, with 

 .advantage to the sheep farmers, be destroyed annually.' 

 Ten shillings per 100 is the price paid for the upper 

 beaks of these birds as evidence of their slaughter. 



His Excellency the Governor does not sympathize 

 with these efforts and is of opinion that, as the 

 Falkland Islands goose is excellent eating, some scheme 

 might be devised for preserving the food and marketing 

 the high-clas.s down. 



Oil of Ben. 



We published in t\\Q Agricultural News, Vol. Ill, 

 p. 150, a short note on oil of ben, in which reference 

 was made to an examination of this oil by the Director 

 of the Imperial Institute. 



In an article on the 'Nature and commercial uses 

 of Ben Oil' in the Bulletin of tlie Imperial Institute 

 (Vol. II, no. 2), reference is made to examinations of 

 samples from Northern Nigeria and Jamaica. 



The seeds, which were identified as those of 

 Moringa pterygosperma, received from Northern 

 Nigeria, contained 38 per cent, of an almost odourless, 

 pale-yellow oil, possessing a bland, agreeable taste. 

 Brokers to whom the oil was submitted reported that 

 the oil would probably be able to compete for edible 

 and culinary purposes with American refined cotton 

 seed oil, which is at present worth about £22 per ton. 

 The seeds were valued at about £7 per ton delivered in 

 London. The sample of ben oil received from Jamaica 

 in December 1903 was found to have a very slight, 

 pleasant odour, and an agreeable taste. The results of 

 the chemical examination are given. 



It is pointed out that in arriving at the cost of 

 production, which appears very large, the manufac- 

 turers in Jamaica appear to have made no allowance 

 for the residual cake which might be of value as a 

 cattle food. 



Castor Oil Plant in Ceylon. 



The Annual Beport mi the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Ceylon, contains an interesting account of 

 experiments conducted at the Experiment Station with 

 different varieties of the castor oil plant. Varieties 

 were obtained from Calcutta, Madras, Colombo, and 

 Hakgala. 



The Calcutta variety grows to a larger tree than 

 any of the others. The crop is ready for reaping in 

 four to five months after planting at stake, and 

 a month later if the seedlings are transplanted. The 

 yield was at the rate of 152 lb. of seed per acre. This 

 variety, however, is not recommended for cultivation on 

 account of its liability to the attacks of a green fi}'. 



The Madras variety, of much smaller habit, 

 resisted, to some extent, the attacks of the fly. It 

 bears fruit somewhat earlier than the preceding 

 variety. The yield was at the rate of 4i cwt. of seeds 

 per acre, and it appears to be one of the best varieties 

 of the castor oil plant. 



The Colombo ('Patna') variety comes between the 

 two preceding varieties in point of habit. The crop 

 can be expected four to five months after sowing. The 

 yield was at the rate of 3 cwt. of seed to the acre. 



The fourth kind, known as ' Major,' is a pei'ennial 

 variety. It is a large, (piick-growing variety, but was 

 completely defoliated by the previously mentioned fly. 

 The yield of seeds was at the rate of 354 lb. per acre. 



Of all the varieties the Madras suffered least from 

 the green fly. An effective remedy for this insect pest 

 was found in Macdougal's mixture. 



The leaves of the plant were also attacked by a 

 fungus. This can be killed with a solution of copper 

 sulphate (blue-stone) in the proportion of I in 1,000. 



