Agricultur, Horticultur, Forstbotanik. 511 



Moore, J. C, Rubber experiments in St. Lucia. (West Indian 

 Bulletin. Vol. VII. p. 21-29. 1906.) 



At the [Botanic Station, St. Lucia, are nine trees of Castilloa 

 elastica, from fifteen to seventeen j^ears old. The trees are very poor 

 specimens for their age, owing to their being grown on unsuitable 

 swampy land. The best tree is one on slightly higher and richersoil. 



The trees were tapped, and the latex treated with formalin, and 

 allowed to stand for thirty six hours; the liquor under the rubber 

 was then drawn off and an equal bulk of water added. After forty 

 eight hours it was found that the rubber had not coagulated. The 

 water was drawn off, and the rubber cream was poured on to a 

 blotting paper filter litted into a flower pot containing fine sand. 

 The water drained away from the rubber, and in about forty eight 

 hours the latter could be lifted out of the filter and the paper peeled 

 off, and the rubber finally dried. 



A second sample was prepared, without the addition of formalin; 

 the rubber coagulated readily on the top of the liquor after Standing 

 two days. It was removed, and well washed by kneading in clean 

 water, and afterwards dried. 



Samples were sent to experts in London and New York. The 

 rubber was pronounced of good quality but rather damp and valued 

 at about 5 s per Ib in the case of the samples prepared with formalin, 

 and a few pence less in the case of those prepared without the 

 addition of formalin. 



The scrap rubber was valued at about 3 s 10 d per Ib. 



There are estimated to be about 300 to 400 trees growing in 

 the Island between five and twelve ^'ears old, and in addition about 

 700 have been distributed from the Botanic Station. The trees grow 

 well when exposed to prevailing winds , and are on the whole healthy 

 and vigorous. The}' seem quite suitable as a shade tree for cacao, 

 particularl}' on rieh soil. 



The conditions of climate and soil in St. Lucia, and the result 

 of local experiments, seem to suggest that success is likely to 

 attend the extended cultivation of Castilloa elastica in this Island. 



Extracts from a report by Mr. George S. Hudson, the agri- 

 cultural Instructor, are given. The writer states that he has some 

 hundred large trees of Castilloa elastica, between twelve and eight 

 years of age planted amongst cacao. The trees have been tapped 

 and the yield found to be good. 



Castilloa is recommended as a shade tree for cacao in place of 

 the Immortel iErythrina sp.) generally planted. W. G. Freeman. 



Watts, F., Agricultural Industries of Montserrat. (West In- 

 dian Bulletin. Vol. VII. p. 1 — 15. 1906.) 



On comparing the agricultural exports of Montserrat for the 

 last fourteen years, the most striking feature is the relatively large 

 part which sugar formerh' bore in the commerce of the island and 

 ■ its comparative insignificance in recent years. But whilst sugar has 

 disappeared so largely from the exports, no other industry has in- 

 creased to take its place. 



Sugar is now almost entireh^ a peasant industry, the greater 

 part being grown on a share system, hj which the land owner pro- 

 vides land and sugar works, and the peasant cultivates and manu- 

 factures the sugar, each part}' then sharing the sugar and molassis. 



Next in importance to sugar is the lime industry {Citrus niedica 



