Vol. in. No. 08. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



381 



DOMIXICA AGRICULTURIST, NO. -J: Edited by 

 H. A. Alfoid XichoUs, C.M.G., M.D., F.L.S. Price, 2.5. 6d. 



The third number of this publication — the journal of the 

 Uoniiniea Agricultural Society — has just been issued. It 

 contains the roiiorts of the Secretary and Treasurer for 1901 

 and a full account of the proceedings of the society for the 

 year 1902. 



Si.x meetings of the society were held during the year 

 1902 and were well attended. The number of ordinary 

 members was ninety-si.x. 



Several interesting papers were read during the year 

 which are now placed on permanent record. Among these 

 may be mentioned one on ' Citrate of Lime,' by the 

 Hon. V. Watts, a jiaper on ' Cacao in Dominica,' by 

 3Ir. A. R. C. Lockhart, and the prize essay on ' Lime 

 Cultivation,' by Mr. E. A. Agar. 



It will be seen that the third issue of this publication is 

 <is interesting and useful as the preceding numliers. 



rnOCEEDIXGS OF THE IXTERXATIOXAL 

 COXFEEEXCE OX PLAXT IIREEDIXO AXD 

 IIYliRIDIZA TIOX, 190..'. 



This is the official report of the proceedings of 

 the Plant Hybridization Conference held in New -York in 

 September and October 1902, and forms Vol. I of the 

 Memoirs of the Horticultural Society of New York. 



This report has been considerably delajed in its 

 publication, but it is, nevertheless, a valuable contribution 

 to the literature of the subjects on which it deals. 



A short account of this conference was given in the 

 A<jr't<:ulttiral Xcirs (Vol. II, p. 17). As stated, among the 

 papers read by delegates were one by Sir Daniel Morris on 

 ' Improvement of the Sugar-cane by Selection and Cross 

 Fertilization,' and one by the Hon. Wm. Fawcett on ' Plant 

 Breeding in Jamaica.' It should be pointed out that 

 iSir Daniel Jlorris' paper was read more than two years ago, 

 and is therefore not altogether a complete statement of the 

 position now attained. 



XATURE TEACHIXG : Based upon the general 

 jiriuciples of agricultiu'e for the use of schools. By Francis 

 Watts and W. G. Freeman. London: John Munxui, 

 Alhemark Street, ]V., IdOJf. Price, 3.s. 6i/. 



This is an English edition, rewritten and moditied to 

 meet the circumstances of British conditions, of Dr. Watts' 

 little book issued by this Department. In the preparation of 

 this edition Dr. Watts has been assisted by Mr. W. G. 

 Freeman, formerly Scientific Assistant on the staff of the 

 imperial Department of Agriculture. 



In the arrangement of the matter this edition follows 

 closely that of the West Indian edition which is now familiar 

 to most of the readers of the Aijrkultiirid Xcwk It contains, 

 liowever, a number of illustrations prepared especially for 

 this edition. 



Another new feature is an appendix devoted to suggested 

 courses of instruction, whic-h, it is intended, the teacher shall 

 extend and modify as surrounding conditions demand. 



This little book should be found very useful by teachers 

 who are engaged in 'Nature Study' work, especially those 

 with school gardens, and is likely to have a good reception. 



WEST INDIAN FLORA. 



The Nassau Guardlayi of September 10, referring 

 to the recent visit to the Bahamas of Dr. N. L. Britton, 

 Director of the New York Botanical Garden, for the 

 purpose of collecting specimens of the local flora, has 

 the following note respecting Dr. Britton's_^ work : — ■ 



His work is part of a general plan for the botanical 

 exploration of the West Indies and Florida, which hais 

 already been pursued by representatives of the New York 

 Botanical Garden for several years, and large collections have 

 been obtained from Cuba, Florida, Hayti, Porto Rico, 

 Jamaica, St. Kitt's, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Dominica. 

 In co-operation with the general plan, Sir Daniel ^Morris, 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for the British A\'est 

 Indies, has had a collection made for Dr. Britton in Barbados, 

 and the Hon. Wm. Fawcett, Director of Public Gardens 

 and Plantations in Jamaica, has greatly aided the inves- 

 tigation by contributions of specimens. Professor F. S. 

 Earle, Director of the recently established Agricultural 

 Experiment Station of the Cuban Republic, near Havana, 

 and formerly a colleague of Dr. Britton, in New York, and 

 Professor P. H. Rolfs, Director of the Sub-tropical Laboratory 

 of the U. S. Deiiartmcnt of Agriculture, at Miami, Florida, 

 are rendering most imjiortant aid, so that the collections of 

 West Indian jilants and plant products of the New York 

 Botanical Garden are rapidly becoming very valuable and 

 representative. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 accompanied by the Deputatii^n from the British 

 Cotton-growing Association, returned to Barbados 

 from the Northern Islands iu S.S. ' Orinico' on Friday, 

 November 11, and left by the same steamer for 

 St. Vincent. It is expected that Sir Daniel Morris 

 will return to Barbados to-day. 



News has been received in Barbados, by cable, 

 that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased 

 to appoint the Hon. Francis Watts, D.Sc, F.I.O., 

 F.C.S., Government Analyst and Agricultural Chemist 

 for the Leeward Islands, to be a Companion of the 

 Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. 



Mr. H. A. Ballon, B.Sc, Entomologist on tlie 

 staff of the Imperial Department of Agricidture, left 

 Barbados in R.M.S. ' Eden' on November 7 for 

 St. Vincent. Mr. Ballon was expected to return to 

 Barbados to-day. 



Dr. R. A. Stoute, Veterinary Surgeon to the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, has returned t'> 

 Barbados and resumed his duties ou November 7. 



