Vol. XVIII. No. 43G. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



15 



l'j9-57 of the more vigorous were planted at Waterford in 

 1917. These seedlings grew well and during the reaping 

 season of 1918, 37.5 were reaped and the juice analysed. Of 

 these 121 were, from their high tonnage and rich juice, con- 

 sidered worthy of retention. Owing to the favourable 

 weather conditions that prevailed during the flowering season 

 jf the sugar-canes in 1917, over 1-5,000 seedlings were 

 obtained. A number of these were grown from seed obtained 

 from Bloomsbury plantation. Of the seedlings that germin- 

 ated 4 977 were potted out and a first selection of 2,72-1 of 

 the more vigorous were planted in April 1918 in land rented 

 from Waterford plantation. 



Since 1898 a total of 87,698 sugar-canes have been 

 raisetl from seed and potted out. Of this number 7,303 

 reached the second stage. Of these latter 3,066 varieties 

 were under cultivation during the season 1916-18, and 784 

 variety and manurial plots werf d and the sugar-canes 



therefrom analysed. 



At present there api be three seedlings 



which are being tried unde. .loary plantation con- 



liitions, with satisfactory results, namely, H.H.IO (12), 

 Ba.6032, and Ba.7924. There are also four new varieties, 

 seedlings of the B. 6450, which have been cultivated for the 

 past three year- at Dodds in comparison with the White 

 Transparent and B. 64.50. As these seedlings appear to be 

 ■worthy of being tried under ordinary plantation condition--, 

 the results obtained with them are given in tabular form so 

 that planters may, if they think fit, cultivate them tentatively 

 on their estates. These varieties are — B.S.F. 12(4-5), B.S.F. 

 12 (34), B.S.F 12 (27), and B.S.F. 12 (24). 



In the summary of the principal results obtained in 

 conne.xion with seedling and other varieties of sugar-cane, it 

 is stated that the object which is steadily kept in view is to 

 obtain such varieties as will be best suited to the soil and 

 climatic conditions existing in the different districts of the 

 island. Comparison of yields from the different varieties 

 shows that, on the average, the seedling canes B.6450, 

 Ba.6032, and B.H. 10 (12) maintain premier position in the 

 experimental results. 



Under the St. Vincent 'Birds and Fish Protection 

 Ordinance' of 1901, any person who kills, wounds, or take* 

 the eggs or nest of any protected bird, or has in his possession 

 any such bird is liable on conviction to a tine of £-5, or in 

 default, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three 

 months. 



PROTECTION OF INSEOT-EATI NG BIRDS 



IN ST. VINCENT. 



( )n the recommendation of the Agricultural Superinten- 

 dent, a notice was recently posted up throughout the colony 

 of St. Vincent, in which it was notified for general informa- 

 tion that the following insect-eating birds were fully protected 

 by law ; — • 



'Tick' or 'Chapman' bird (Crotophaga iwi), 



'Beijuia Sweet'* or 'Barbados blackbird' {Quiscahis 



Jortirostris). 

 'Pipiri' or 'Hawk-beater' ( Tyraiinus rostratus). 

 'Topknot' or 'Flycatcher' {Elainm martinica). 

 'Blue Gaulding' i^Ardea caeruleii). 



The preservation of these valuable birds is necessary, 

 because they assist materially in controlling pests damaging 

 local crops. For example, the first three named are known to 

 feed on the cotton stainer {Dysdemis di'lauittyi) as well as 

 othe rinsects, and the Blue Gaulding is a noted enemy of the 

 destructive mole-cricket (Gryllotalpa didactyln). 



* According ti> Mr. Austin H. Clarke's list of birds of S'. 

 Vincent in tin- Ifesf Iu'lhia BiilUtin, Vol. V, p. 7.5, the 'Beqiiia 

 Jiwet't' is y'i/".vc(Zns lnmlnijs>i^, a (liti'eit/nt s])ecies from tlii' 

 BavUados blnrkbird, (,'. fortirostris.—[F.i\.A. N.] 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON 



MARKET. 



The month of November opened with a general absence 

 of interest in products of all kinds, whether considered as 

 food or medicine. The military situation alone has pos- 

 sessed the public mind, but as the month advanced, ami it 

 became known that the annistice had been signed, the effect 

 even then was one more of joy than of business. Later on 

 however, towards the close of the month, things becamHs 

 somewhat more normal, though by no means settled, with 

 the disturbing element of a general election before the nation. 



GINtJBK, NUTMEG.S, MACE, ANIv SAES.\PARILT.A. 



There has been a quiet but steady demand for ginger 

 throughout the month. At the first auction on the 7th 

 quotations were as follows: Jamaica 16.5j-. to ISOi. per cwt., 

 washed Cochin 160^., Calicut 157j--, Japane.se 12•5.^-., and 

 African 120j-. At the last auction on the 28th of the month 

 ginger was easier — at the following rates: .Jamaica 150a-. 

 to 170.f., Calicut IbOs., washed Cochin remained at 160.*-., and 

 African at 120.f. Nutmegs were in good supply at auctiou 

 on the 21st of the month, when some 900 odd packages of 

 West Indian were ofi'ered, and mostly sold at the following 

 rates: 82'3. to 132's. to the lb. Ij-. .ji., slightly defective 

 Is. Qd. to 10^/., and wormy and broken Is. Id. to 9;/. A 

 week later nutmegs were again in good supply, and were 

 disposed of at advanced rates, 7 barrels of West Indiau 

 fetching Is. 8d. per lb. for sliuhtly wormy. At the same auc- 

 tion 15 boxes of Singapore SO's were bought in at 3s. ()</, 

 per Bb. At the spice auction on the 21st of the month 182 

 packages of West Indian mace were oflFered, but only a few 

 were sold at the following rates: 3s. id. being paid for good 

 pale, 2s. 1 ()(/. to 3.f. 2(/. for fair, while ordinary fetched from 

 2s. hf. to 2s. lOd., and broken Is. 3d. to 2s. 2d- A week 

 later good pale was to be obtained for 2.f. Id., and broken 4or 

 Is. Id. per 8). There has been very little dene during the 

 month in sarsaparilla in consequence, it was reported of 

 heavy shocks already in hand. 



PIME:. ->, LIME .JUICE, CITRIC ACID, C.4.SSIA Vli^TVLA, and 

 T.AMARINDS. 



Pimento has been in quiet demand throughout tho month 

 varying from 6</. to 7d. per lb. Quite at the end of the 

 month large quantities of lime juice were e.Kported as having 

 arrived from the West Indies, good pale raw beinj; quoted at 

 is. 6d. per gallon. The quotations for citric acid through- 

 out the month have been steady at 4/. 9(/. to 4a-. 10,/. Caa?ia. 

 Fistula has been in steady demand througho It the month at 

 160.S-. per cwt. It was announced at the end of the month 

 that large supplies of We: ' I ndian tamarinds am' 'unting to 

 600 barrels were on their way for the London market. 



