■Vol. III. No. 62. 



THE AGRICULTURAL. NEWS. 



285 



VIR<;IXI:^LAXDS: AXXVAL REPORT ON THE 

 EXPERIMENT fiTATIOX, TORTOLA, l'MJ-4- 



The total expenditure on this station was £572 12s. Id. 

 The receipts from the sale of produce amounted to £26 .5.s. ^d. 



The sugar battery was pulled down and completely 

 rebuilt during the year. A new nursery shed was also 

 erected. 



The condition of the garden appears to be satisfactory. 

 The work of improving its general appearance has been 

 continued. 



Vegetable seeds, jilant tops of seedling cane B. 147, and 

 pine-apple suckers were distributed. 



In the experiment plots, cotton, sugar-cane, yams, 

 onions, cacao, and other economic plants were grown. The 

 results were fairly successful. The cacao plot is particularly 

 promising and has demonstrated the suitability of this 

 cultivation to parts of Tortola, provided wind-breaks are 

 planted. 



It appears that useful work is being accomplished by 

 !Mr. Fishlock for the improvement of agriculture in the 

 Virgin Islands. 



ST. VINCENT: ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, 

 AND LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME, 1903-4. 



Botanic Station. — Mr. W. N. Sands, having been 

 appointed Agricultural Superintendent in succession to 

 yiv. Powell, who loft St. Vincent in November, took up 

 his duties on March 4, 1904. 



The expenditure during the year, including the cost of 

 upkeep of the experiment plots, amounted to £59.5 16s. \d. 

 The sum of £45 15s. 6(/. was received from the sale of 

 plants, etc. 



There was a very large increase in the number of 

 economic plants distributed during the year. This increase 

 was mainly due to the free distribution of plants to allottees 

 under the Land Settlement Scheme. 



The experiments in growing crops in volcanic ash were 

 continued. The conclusions arrived at are clearly stated. 



An account is given of the efforts made to establish 

 a cotton industry in the island. The area planted last season 

 was nearly 400 acres. Eleven experiment plots were also 

 started during the year. 



Agricultuyal School. — Mr. Knowles reports that there 

 were twenty boys in the school at the beginning of the year ; 

 three others joined in August, and six have left during the 

 year. 



The value of the food crops grown in the experiment 

 plots during the year represented a saving of £24 4s. 1'7. 

 on the food expenditure. 



Satisfactory results were oljtained at the two half- 

 yearly examinations. 



The boys assisted in making arrangements for the 

 Agricultural Show held in March. 



Each boy lias a garden plot, 20 feet by 20 feet, in 



which he raises produce. Several of the boys obtained 

 prizes for their exhibits at the Show. 



This is a satisfactory report, and it is evident that good 

 results are being accomplished. 



Land Setthmcnt Scheme. — The report of the Agricultural 

 Instructor deals wiih the work in connexion with the 

 allotments at Linley Vallej-, Cumberland Valley, Clare 

 Valley and Questelles, liiclnnond Hill, New Adelphi, and 

 Park Hill. The total nunilier of allotments on these estates 

 is 646. 



Over 4,000 cacao, 108 nutmeg, 308 cinnamon, and 

 732 coffee plants were distributed to allottees. 



The work of planting and supplying the wind-breaks 

 was continued. Over 20 miles of wind-breaks are being 

 planted. 



On the whole, it is reported, the allottees appear to be 

 taking an interest in theii- allotments and are producing 

 satisfactory results. The Instructor gave instruction in the 

 jilanting and care of crops, with demonstrations in pruning, 

 manuring, etc. 



BRITISH GUIANA .- ANNUAL REPORT ON THE 

 BOTANIC GARDENS, 19034. By A. \\. Bartlett, B.A., 

 B.Sc, F.L.S., Superintendent. 



Mr. Bartlett took over the charge of the Botanic 

 Gardens in November 1903. 



The usual routine work was carried on during the year. 

 From the nursery 10,904 [)lants were distributed to public 

 institutions, etc. 



The report includes an account of the work done at the 

 Government House Gardens, the Victoria Law Courts 

 Gardens, the Berbice Public Gardens, etc. 



A long list is given of seeds available for exchange. 



The receipts from the sale of plants, produce, etc., 

 amounted to $1,039. This is an increase of $54 on the last 

 year's receipts. 



The total rainfall at the gardens during the year was 

 104'43 inches, exceeding the average for the last twenty-four 

 years by 10 inches. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Secretary of State for the Colonies has 

 granted an extension of leave to Sir Daniel Morris, 

 K.C.M.G., from September 5 to October 24, during 

 which period Professor J. P. d'Albuquerque will act as 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture. It is expected 

 that Sir Daniel Morris will leave England in the 

 R.M.S. 'Trent' on October 12. 



Mr. L. Lewton-Brain, B.A., F.L.S., Mycologist and 

 Agricultural Lecturer on the staff of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, left Barbados in S.S. 'Oruro' 

 on Tuesday, August 23, for St. Vincent, for the purpo.se 

 of inspecting the Agricultural School. 5Ir. Lewton- 

 Brain was expected to return to Barbados to-day. 



Mr. F. E. Bundy, Acting Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent at St. Lucia, having obtained leave of absence, 

 the Rev. L. Barlow has been appointed to act a.s 

 Agricultural Superintendent until further notice. 



