200 



on private estates and have proved thoroughly successful. As 

 many as 9 bags have been cured in twenty-four hours. 



The members of the West Indian Agricultural Conference of 

 1905 had an opportunity of inspecting a patent cocoa-drying ap- 

 paratus erected by Mr. Hoadley at Chaguanas, Trinidad. The 

 following is a description of this drier : — 



The cocoa-drying apparatus consists of an ordinary room 34 

 feet square, with 25 feet perforated circular drying floor, upon 

 which cocoa is placed direct from the fermenting box. In the 

 centre of the drying tray is a vertical axe from which project four 

 arms which are revolved once in ten minutes. To each arm are 

 attached six ploughs, the operations of which are equal to the 

 work of twelve coolies in keeping the cocoa in constant motion. 

 Hot air is generated by exhaust steam, which is passed into 1,100 

 feet of piping enclosed in a box, over which cold air is drawn by 

 a powerful fan which makes from 600 to 700 revolutions per 

 minute. The air in its passage becomes heated to any desired 

 point up to 150° and is forced up through the drying floor. The 

 machine will dry from 12 to 15 bags of cocoa in thirty to thirty- 

 six hours. The cost of installing the system is said to be between 

 £300 to £400. 



After drying, the cocoa is passed through a machine which 

 clays and polishes, or merely polishes to suit the markets, and 

 thereby saves the costly process of dancing. 



The cocoa is fermented in cylindrical drums, which are partially 

 turned every night and morning for ten to eleven days. 



COTTON. 

 I.* 



By HON. T. H. SHARP. 

 Fungi and Insect Pests. 



The Cercospora fungus is the only one that is to be found in 

 every cotton field, but it only attains serious proportions when the 

 conditions are favourable, such as during droughts when the plant 

 is weak or on sour spots of land. I find that by my picking off 

 the leaves badly affected and burning them and applying Bor- 

 deaux mixture I have been able to exterminate this disease. It 

 does not attack the cotton bolls or stems as readily as the leaves 

 and so when it makes its appearance on some weak spot I find 

 that by cultivating and altering the favourable conditions for its 

 development together with the treatment above mentioned, I am 

 able to keep it in check. 



As far as insect pests are concerned, the cotton worm is cer- 

 tainly very plentiful and represents about the most serious item to 

 be dealt w'ith. Fortunately it may be avoided to a large extent 

 by planting at the correct time. The months that the worm gives 

 most trouble are March, April, May, November and December : 

 the best time to plant is from the 15th March to 15th April, and 

 again from 15th August to 15th September. The trees will then 



♦ These Notes (I & 11) OQ Pests are published by direction of the Board of Agriculture. 



