100 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



July 19, 1902. 



WEST 



INDIAN 



FRUIT. 



SERIOUS PEST OF THE ORANGE IN 

 JAMAICA. 



THE FIDIJLKK OR MAY-BUC. 



Mr. H. H. Cousins, tlic Agricultural Chemist of 

 Jiimaici, has contributofi the ioliowing notes on this 

 pest : — 



It must be admitted that thi.s jiest (rniepoileit ititiatiis) 

 i-ommonlj' known as the 'Fiddler,' and in some districts in 

 Jamaica as '.May-I'iig, ' is one of tlie most serious obstacles 

 that the orange grower has to face in Jamaica. Tliis is more 

 jiarticularly so witli budded fruit. \Ve know of large 

 |il;uitations of budded oranges just coming into giiod liearing, 

 wliere losses that can only be descrilied as disastrous are 

 taking jilace from tlie ravaires of the larvae (if Pnifpadcf. 



The trees, fnmi a state of jierfect liealtli and vigorous 

 growth, suchlciily stoji growing, the terminals turn yellow 

 and, gradually, death .sets in. Defective drainage and 

 starvation were the general explanation, and one [iroin-ietor 

 wasted much money in applying chemical manures on the 

 basis of this theory. .\ recent visit to one of these orange 

 groves convinced us of the real cause and author of the 

 damage. Trees in various stages of injury were dug np and 

 in every case the roots had liecn girdled and larvae found 

 in, ."itu. In o)ie case where negroes cultivated produce 

 between the trees, the soil was so loose that a stick could be 

 pushed 2 feet into it without dithculty. .\dults were 

 found at a depth of "2 feet. Specimens of these roots are 

 being sent to the Impeiial Department of Agriculture by 

 this mail. 



This year thi- licetles have been found in thousands 

 defoliating the orange trees. One grower was catching 

 0,000 Jier day, antither was paying a lixed rate per pint of 

 'heads.' ('arbon bisulphide injections have been found of 

 sonu! apparent benefit as a mwms of destroying larvae. The 

 iibandonment of inter-cultivation has also been found of 

 benefit as it is then less easy for the l)est to enter the soil. 

 Deep planting is also contributory to disaster. If a deep 

 planted tree be girdled it cannot recover, whereas a surface 

 rooting system appcar.s capable of considerable recU|icration 

 even when serious damage has l)een done. 



War against tlie adults seems to be the best jiolicy. 

 We should be glad of the advice of the l)e|>artment in 

 this matter, and a per.sonal visit by the Entomologist would 

 be welcome. 



ST. VINCENT ARROWROOT. 

 A sanij)le of St. Vincent airowroot was recently 

 submitted to the Imperial De])artment of Agriculture. 

 It was examined at the (ioveri.ment Laboratory 

 Barbados, and the Island Froiessor of Chemistry hius, 

 i'orwarded the IbHowing rejiort : — 



COMl'OSlTlii.V : 



Moisture 



Starch 



Ash 



.S.')l(i 

 •OS 



pi'r cent. 



<)<)-90 



' This is a jiure sample of excellent whiteness : it 

 has been ])re])ared with care and consists entirely of the 

 starch granules of arrowroot.' 



CACAO. 



IMI'ORTATKlX KOKlilDDEX .\T TKINID.VD. 



A jiroclamation has been i.s.sued by the Govern- 

 ment of Trinidad prohibiting 'the importation into the 

 Cohiuy from any ])art of the Mainland of South 

 Ameiica of cacao plants or of any portions of sucli jrlants 

 and of all parts or ]iorti<uis of any cacao trei^ other 

 than th<^ cur<'(l beans thereof tidiii Venezuela or 

 Colombia.' Similai- jiroclamations have alieady been 

 issued at Dominica and St. Lucia. (See Aijncnlt n i-dl 

 Nfir.y, ]>]>. 14 and 8S.) 



MANIOC OR CASSAVA FLOUR. 



Tlie Imperial Institute, London, has forwarded to 

 the Dejiartinent the following note received from 

 Messrs. W. & tl Pantin. 147, Upper Thames Street, 

 London K.C., which may be of interest to West Indian 

 ])laiiti'rs and exporters : — • 



Co.vilsE Ma.nioC. What we are looking out for is a 

 coarse, very cheiip, manioc Hour for manufactiuing |>inpose.s, 

 and we have already had some otfered from Brazil which will 

 come about £6 jier ton c. f. i. Hamburg. If you have 

 anything in this line to offer us, will you kindly .send us 

 .sjimples and wc shall be very glad to work uj) a business, 

 and we think the ipiantities would be large. 



Sweet ])otato Hour would answer eijnally well, the. 

 oidy difficulty is the prici', it woidd probably not i>ay 

 at less than £9 per ton. 



