OF THE 



DEPARTME^^T OF AaRIOULTTJUE 

 Trinidad aixd Tobag-o. 



Part 2.] [Vol. XVIII. 



Frog-hopper Investig-ations.— In this number of the Bulletin 

 considerable attention is devoted to recent aspects of the Sugar-cane 

 Froghopper investigations. Mr. C. B. "Williams, the Entomologist in 

 charge, had for some time been forming the conclusion that root disease 

 played a more important part in the condition known as " blight " than 

 was usually recognized. A.t his request Mr. W. Xowell, the M\-cologist 

 of the Imperial Depax'tment of Agriculture paid a short visit fi'oni 

 December, 1918 to February, 1919. Mr. Nowell's report is here given 

 in full with an introductory resume by Mr. Williams. It has been 

 arranged for Mr. Xowell to pay another visit this year so as to see the 

 •canes at the time when the froghopper itself is usually at its worst. 



Pending anj- modifications which his second visit may cause the 

 view held is that " blight " is often due not to froghopper attack alone, 

 but to combined attack of froghopper and root disease, and that until 

 some practical means of exterminating froghoppers can be found, careful 

 attention should be given to improved agricultural methods and field 

 sanitation which would reduce the damage done by root disease. 



This does not mean that the froghopper is no longer to be regarded 

 as a serious pest. It is, and every etibrt should be Jiiade to get rid of it 

 also. It means that the froghopper alone does not do all the damage 

 ■commonly attributed to it, and that root disease is an important 

 contributing agent. As the methods of dealing successfully with root 

 disease are known, they should be applied, even if the necessary 

 increased attention to cultivation, should require a temporary reduction 

 in the area under cane cultivation. 



Agricultural Credit Societies.— Since the beginning of the 

 3'ear there has been a gratifying development of Agricultural Credit 

 Societies. Mr. G. Moody Stuart has fostered them on estates of the 

 Ste. Madeleine Sugar Company and twelve registered Societies are now 

 at work in that area, bringing the total number of these Societies at 

 work in the Colony up to nineteen. 



A mass m'^eting of the Ste. Madeleine Societies was held at San 

 Fernando on July 26, when His Excellency the Acting Governor, the 

 Hon. W. IMontgomerie Gordon presided. There were some 500 members 

 •of the Societies present, who were addressed by Mr. G. A. Jones, 

 Supei'intendent of the Cane Farmers of the Ste. Madeleine Company, and 

 Inspector of the Societies, Mr. G. C. Wyatt, Mr. Jarvis, Manager 

 Colonial Bank, San Fernando, Mr. Ludovic de Verteuil, Mr. W. G. 

 Freeman, Acting Director of Agriculture and Registrar, and His 

 Excollency the Acting Governor. 



