1919.] 57 



BEPORT ON AN INVESTIGATION OP PROGHOPPER 

 PEST AND DISEASES OP SUGAR-CANE IN 

 TRINIDAD. •!) 



By W. Nowell, D.I.C, 

 Mycologist, Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies. 



With a covering letter by Sir Francis Watts, K.C.'M.G., D.Sc, &c. 

 Commissioner of A.griculture for the West Indies. 



ImpepvIal Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, 



Barbados, 



March 4, 1919. 



Sir, — lu continuance of our correspondence bearing upon the 

 question of diseases of sugar-cane in Trinidad I now have the honour 

 to forward the report by Mr. Nowell as the result of the observations 

 made during his visit to Trinidad in December and January last. 



2. When Mr. "Xowell's services were asked for in this connexion th? 

 investigations, which had been in progress for some time, had reached a 

 stage when it was felt that other factors than the presence of froghoppers 

 were at work causing the serious loss of the sugar crop which was 

 complained of. Mr. Xowell's investigations iuWy confirm this impression: 

 he finds that the position is complicated by the presence of fungus 

 root disease of the canes, but his observations more particularly goto 

 show that the diseased conditions generally met with are attributable 

 mainly to defective methods of agriculture, and that froghopper and 

 root disease are to be combated rather by general methods of agricultural 

 improvement than by application of specific remedies. 



3. I may add that I entirely concur in the views expressed by Mr. 

 Nowell and I venture to hope that his report will prove of material 

 service to those engaged in the sugar industry of the colony. I venture 

 to suggest that it will be well if steps can be taken to give early 

 publicity to Mr. Nowell's report while matters connected with his visit 

 are still fresh in the minds of the agricultural community. 



4. As requested in Your Excellency's letter No. 787/1915A of January 

 ^8, 1919, I hope to be able to arrange that Mr. Nowell mxy pay another 

 visit to Trinidad in September next in order to continue his observations 

 concerning these diseases of sugar cane. 



I have, &c., 



FRANCIS WATTS, 

 Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies, 



His Excellency 



Sir John li. Chancellor, K.C.M.G., 



Govex-nor, Trinidad. 



(1.) Reprintea from Triiuiad and Tobaijo Counci! Paper 'So. 39 of 1919. 



