190 



Mr. J. H. Hart : We have established in Trinidad one experi- 

 ment plot on the same lines as the Grenada plots. It is at Brasso 

 and in charge of Mr. Carl de Verteuil. It was only started a few- 

 months ago, and the results wil not be available for some time. 



Mr. G. S. Hudson : (St. Lucia) : Experiments in improving the 

 health and productiveness of cocoa trees have been carried on in 

 St. Lucia under the Imperial Department of Agriculture now for 

 five years. Our method, as Sir Daniel Morris has said, has been 

 that of taking up the most unhealthy portions of cocoa we can 

 find adjoining the main-roads, so as to bring our work as much as 

 possible before passers-by. The results have been exceedingly 

 satisfactory. In many cases the trees had actually stopped 

 bearing ; in others, the yield was only 56 lb of dry cocoa per acre 

 when the plots were taken over. In three years the yield had 

 been increased to 7 bags. The policy is, as soon as we attain 

 that standard of improvement, to hand the plot over to the 

 owner and take a new plot in the same or another district. 

 In our five years' experience we find we get the best results 

 from the following method : forking throughout the plantation 

 in January ; then applying broadcast eight cwt. of basic slag 

 between January and April ; that is followed by draining where 

 necessary, and then thorough pruning. We find pruning to be of 

 very great importance as it admits sunlight. After this, thorough 

 cleanliness throughout the year. Three to four weedings are 

 usually sufficient, but sometimes as many as six have been found 

 necessary. In August or September we apply sulphate of 

 ammonia to each tree. I observe from the results of the experi- 

 ments in Grenada that the best results there have been obtained 

 from an application of sulphate of potash. In 1902 we applied 

 nothing but potash to a 6- or 7-acre plot, and the results were 

 negative in every case. I may mention, however, that, in combina- 

 tion with basic slag, the experiment has proved very valuable ; but 

 the best results were obtained from a combination of slag and 

 nitrogen. We have also tried superphosphate but have not found 

 it advantageous. We have obtained good results from ground 

 bone, but that is rather expensive. Pen manure is undoubtedly 

 the best system of manuring, but the difficulties of transportation 

 prevent its general use. Chemical manures yielded as good 

 results and at less cost. The only fear in the application of 

 chemical manures is that too much nitrogen may be applied to 

 certain soils, but in light soils, there is nothing to fear. Many 

 planters seemed to fear forking, on the ground that it injured the 

 trees, but I have never seen any bad results from careful fork- 

 ing. On the contrary, the results have been excellent. As the 

 result of the experiment plots, planters in St. Lucia are now 

 importing basic slag and sulphate of ammonia— a thing unheard 

 of before — and pruning and forking have now become a recognized 

 part of cocoa cultivation. As a rule, we do not find it necessary 

 to use tar or cement except in cases where a fungus disease is 

 affecting the trees. 



