Vol. I. Xo. 10. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



157 



flEFORTs/ 



MOXT.^EURAT: REPORT OX THE KXl'ERT- 

 JfE.YT .STATIOXS, VJUO-lUul. By ]Mr. A. .J. .Jordan, 

 Agricultural Instructor. 



The rejiort is on the whole of a very favourable 

 character. Notwithstanding the severe drought experienced 

 during the jear and the many ditticulties encf)untered in 

 .starting agricultural work of this kind in the West Indie.s, 

 .substantial jirogress has been made and the Exj)erinu'nt 

 Stations at !Montserrat are now actively engaged in further- 

 ing the agricultural interests of the island. Plants and 

 packages of seeds to the number of 37,864 were distributed 

 from the Station during the period reviewed ; and in addition 

 to these a large quantity of English potato and yam plants, 

 purchased from Relief Funds were distributed to 115 

 peasant proprietors and others resident in the island. 



Two Agricultural Shows were held. These were supported 

 by grants contributed by the Imperial Department of Agricul- 

 ture and were well attended. Amongst the more interesting 

 exhibits were some English potatos and onions. There was 

 keen com[)etition in nio.st of the classes, es[iecially those for 

 starches and iirovisions. Two courses of lectures were given 

 to the school teachers by the Travelling Superintendent of 

 the Department. These were attended by seventeen and 

 twenty-one teachers respectively, and were much appreciated. 

 Bee-keeping is progressing favourably : an ajiiary is being 

 formed at each of the Experiment Stations and a stock of 

 bee-keepers' supplies is kept on sale at the Grove Station. 



ASSOC I A TIOX OF OFFICIAL Ad RICULTURAL 

 CII E MISTS. Froi-eedings of the Ei.rjhleeiilli Annual. Con- 

 vention, hi ((I lit Wasltinijton, D.C., in X'ov. I'.tOl. lUttUtin 07, 

 Bureau of Cheinistri/, U.S. Department of Ayrieultiire. 



For nearly twenty years it has been the custom of the 

 Official Agricultural Chemists in the United States to meet 

 annually for the purpose of discussing methods and results, 

 and of organizing research with the view of iin})roving 

 the processes employed in chemical analysis. Tlie result of 

 these conferences are published every year by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and should find a jilacc in the working 

 library of every chemist in the West Indies. 



In the bulletin under review, tlie subjects which came 

 up for discussion are very numerous and include many 

 problems in the analysis of manures, foods and feeding stutt's, 

 and the sampling and analysis of soils. 



The remarks of the President of the Convention on the 

 manner in which conference papers should be delivered 

 are deserving of notice. They should consist of shar]), 

 clear and comprehensive statements of results so expressed 

 that all present should hear and undi-rstand them. 

 Scientific training is described as 'a training in clear, 

 thorough, precise statement, accurate observation, the verifi- 

 cation of evidences and the ascertainment of truth.' 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The S^^cretary (it .State fur t!ie Colonics lias 

 appointed L)r. Morris, C.M.G., luiporial Coniuiissioner 

 of Agriculture for the West Indies, to attend the 

 International Plant-Rreeding and Fertilization Confer- 

 ence to be held at New York on iSeptenibm- 30 and 

 October I and 2 next. 



The Secretary of State iov the Colonies ha.s 

 appointed Mr. L. Lewton-Brain, B.A., late Foundation 

 Scholar at St. Joim's College, and Hutchinson 

 Student fi)r research in Botany, in the University of 

 Cambridge, to the post of Mycologist and Lecturer in 

 Agriculture on the staff of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture for tlie West Indies, in succession to 

 Mr. Howard, B.A., F.L.S., F.C.S., who.se term of service 

 expires on September 17 next. 



Professor J. P. d'Albuquercpie, M.A., F.I.C., F.C.S., 

 Cheniist-in-charge of Sugar-cane Experiments at 

 Barbado.s under the direction of the Imperial Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture has been granted an extension of 

 leave of absence for two months and four days from 

 August 24. 



It is in contemi)lation that Mr. J. R. Bovell, 

 F.L.S., F.C.S., the Agricultural Superintendent in 

 charge of the Sugar-cane Experiments at Barbados, 

 under the direction of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture in the West Indies, will give an addres.s 

 before the Barbados Agricultural Soci(.'ty on or about 

 September 12 next. The address will contain some of 

 the results of the sugar-cane experiments for the crop 

 season I900-I902. A summary will afterwards be 

 published in Pamphlet form for the information of the 

 planting community. 



STOCK AND AROMATIC GRASSES. 



A suggestion was made on l)age 105 of the Ayriculturat 

 Xetvs, that the aromatic jirinciple in the Barbados sour-gras.s 

 might be of value in warding off ticks, etc., from animals. la 

 this connexion ilr. C. \\ . ileaden, ^Manager of the Govern- 

 ment Farm, recounts the following experiment made to 

 determine whether such grasses had any effect on the ndlk 

 of cows eating them : A single cow was stalled and fed 

 entirely on an aromatic grass (k)iown in Trinidad as ' .sour 

 gra.s.s,' but not the Barbados sour-gra.s.s). The milk was 

 tested twice daily and no change was observed either in taste 

 or smell. If it should be definitely proved that the aromatic 

 grasses are of direct use in warding off the attacks of tick.s, 

 etc., it is of interest to know that they have apparently no 

 influence on the character of the milk. Further observations 

 on this head would be welcome. 



