264 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



December G, 1902. 





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INSECT NOTES. 



Screw worm in Cattle. 



Mr. C. W. Mcaden coatribiitcs iiilonuation on 

 screw Avorin in cattle to the Proceed in ()f< of the Trini- 

 dad Agricultural Society fjr June 1902, his paper 

 being rejirinted from the Field N^atiiralist'.s Jdu.nud 

 of l.S!)3. The life history observations are practically 

 identical with thoso already published in the Depart- 

 7nental pamphlet No. 14, Screiv UHrrm in Cattle at 

 St. Lucia (see also Agricultural Neivs, Vol. I, pp. Sand 

 73). Mr. Meaden is not able to state where the Hy breeds 

 in the usual way, outside the cactle. There can be no 

 doubt that this infestation of living animals is abnor- 

 mal and that the Hy breeds as a rule in some decaying 

 animal matter. Any reduction in this breeding 

 material would lead the fly to seek for other food for 

 its }'oung, and this probably exjilains its attack on 

 cattle. 



Mr. Meaden's paper contains a remedy that may 

 prove useful in St. Lucia and elsewhere. He states 

 that ' Capuchin powder ' (prepared from the dried seed 

 of Si'haeiKicauluii officinale) when put into a wound 

 lull of maggot.s, either drives them out or kills them. 

 E^plally efficacious is a plant called the ' Madar ' or 

 ' Redeye,' found growing in Trinitlad pastures, of which 

 the pounded leaves and flowers are used to dress the 

 wound. These suggestions are worth the attention ot 

 stock owners in St. Lucia, who should try these two 

 plants as substitutes for carbolyzed oil or Jej'cs' fluid. 



A New Insecticide. 



CRUDE on. .\ND SOAP. 



In a previous issue of the Agricullu rat Xews 

 (p. 21()), mention was made of an emidsion of crude 

 native ])etroleum used in liarbados for s])raying yi>ung 

 corn. The definiie ])nip()r|,i(iHs of this mixture have 

 now been settled and the ctinipduiid may be niacU' as 

 follows: — 



Place ten pounds (U) Ih.) of whale oil seap in a metal 

 vessel (such as a kero.sene tin) and hiat slowly until 

 the soap melts. In a separate vessel di.ssolve 4 oz. 

 najithalene (powdered) in T^l pints of crucle petroleum. 

 Add this to the boiling soa]), and stir tliorotigldi/ till 

 both arc well mixed. On cooling a solid mass is 

 produced, which readily lathers in water and can be 

 used at the rate of 1 lb. to 3 lb. jiei- 10 gallons of water. 

 The com]iound contains a largi' pro)ii)rtion of crude 

 petroleum rendering it a valuable insecticide for scale 

 in.sects, jilant lic(^, white blight, and also for such jiests 

 as corn fly. Moreover, it is very effective against ticks 

 and other vermin on cattle, horses, dog.s, etc., if used 

 siiujily as a .soaj). The emidsion being solid is easily 



handled and will keep indefinitely. It needs only to 

 be rubbed uj) in cold water to be read}' for use. 



The mixture is evidently only a soap containing a 

 large projiortion of crude petroleum and a small amount 

 of napthaleiie, and is likely to jirovc a valuable insecti- 

 cide. A fuller account of the mixture will appear in 

 the ll't'.s^ Imliau Bulletin shortly. Soft soap may be 

 substituted for whale oil soap, but in this case, the 

 above proportions will need to be varied. If a soap 

 containing much water is used, a larger quantity must 

 be taken proportionately', and the excess of water boiled 

 off. The above proportions can only be adhered to if 

 the soap is very dry and semi-liquid whale oil soap 

 will need to be boili'il down before the oil is added. 



ARBOR DAY IN ANTIGUA. 



We mentioned in a previovis number of this .Journ.il 

 (p. 12.'}) that the Agricultund .Society of Anti;,'ua liiul a,;,Meed 

 that, for this year at least, November 9, tlie King's birtliilay, 

 should be observed as an Arbor Day throughout the island. 

 We find by the Antigua Staiitluid of November \5, hvst, that 

 day was observed as a Bank holiday and the function came 

 off most successfully. 'By 9 o'clock,' says the Stawhtnl, 'the 

 school children from all [tarts of the island were mustered in 

 and about the Victoria Park ; the boys of the Antigua 

 Grammar School as also the students and scholars of the 

 Buxton Grove Theological College and secondary school, with 

 their respective princi[ials were also present and took [lart in 

 the proceedings. Altogether they numbered hardly less than 

 3,000, while the spectators may fairly be estimated at .5,000. 

 It was a big turn out to witness the iiiauguration of "Arbor 

 Day" in Antigua, as a custom to be observed annually in 

 future. 



'As the result of the day's function, there were planted^ 

 'A grcnji of sixteen Balm trees in the triangular sjiace, 

 at the top of High Street and east of East Street, approxi- 

 mately centred by the Governor's tree. 



'A circle of Palm trees around the Band Stand. 

 'A clump of Wlute-woods [liiiciila Jiucirti.<] in the 

 Park. 



'An avenue of seventy erne Mahogany trees along the 

 main road in the Park. 



'It is proposed that on next Arbor Day there shall be 

 local celebrations in every parish in the i.sland, when it is to 

 be cx|)ccted that the grouiuls surrounding Churches and 

 schools, and other imblic places will be beautified. These 

 country celebrations also offer better facilities than that in 

 the Victoria Park for the iilanting of fruit trees in suitable 

 places, as well as trees for ornament. We hojic the country 

 .schoolmasters will co operate to the best of their aliility in 

 this matter. 



' Trees arc needed absolutely in tlie country districts, 

 where the .shortsighted jilanter is satisfied to .sacrifice his 

 crop rather than ajipropriate land to anything but cane.' 

 It is gratifying to note that the people of Antigua 

 have resolved to make Arbor Day an aiuuial function, and it 

 is hoped that other colonics will follow their exami)le in this 

 respect. We might a.ld that all the trees planted at Antigua 

 on this occasion were supplied friDU the Botanic Station 

 there, and jiersonal assistance was given by the Curator, 

 Mr. W. N. Sands, to the Arbor ])siy Committee in carrying 

 out the arrangements. 



