Vol. XVIII. No. 444. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



133 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. VINCENT. Mr. Sands writes to say that during the 

 moDth of March the weather was dry, and the reaping of 

 staple crops was continued under good conditions. The 

 destruction of cotton stalks was energetically undertaken. 

 Good white cotton was picked in the Windward district. 

 Although cotton stainers became numerous during the month, 

 the damage due to them was relatively small, owing to the 

 lateness of the infestation, and the fact that the crop was 

 practically finished. The new measures relating to the close 

 season should lead to still further control of the pest 



Special investigations of cotton fields made by the Agri- 

 cultural Superintendent in certain districts revealed cotton 

 stainer infestation, and a very high percentage of bolls with 

 internal boll disease. The selection and testing of cotton 

 seedfor planting next season was supervised at the Ginnery, 

 where 10 tons were required to be reserved. Cotton growers 

 in Bequia appreciated the beneficial result of the cotton stainer 

 control measures undertaken during the last season, and 

 a considerable extension of cotton planting is expected there 

 during the coming season. The rainfall recorded at the 

 Botanic Station for the month was 2-64 inches; at the Experi- 

 ment station the record was ■2'71 inches. 



NEVIS. Operations at the Experiment Station were 

 practically at a standstill during the month of March, 

 Mr. Howell writes to say, on account of prevailing drought. 

 Cotton demonstration, sugarcane, and other plots are all 

 prepared, and are only awaiting rain to be planted. Regard- 

 ing staple crops, the Agricultural Instructor states that the 

 reaping of the sugar cane crop on many of the estates is 

 almost completed, but the returns continue poor. The young 

 canes throughout the island are suffering much from want 

 of rain: planting is still in progress, but the field.s have all 

 grown very badly, and a great deal of supplying had to be 

 done. Preparation for cotton planting throughout the island 

 is almost completed, except in the New Road district, where 

 the close season has been extended to April 15. No planting 

 was done during the month. The acreage under cotton 

 cultivation for the coming season will be very much reduced 

 on account of shortage of labour and the anticipated high price 

 for sugar. No planting of provision crops was done during 

 the month on account of the dry weather, and there will be 

 shortage within the next month or two. Mr. H. A. Ballou, 

 Entomologist on the Staff of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, accompanied by Mr. F. R. Shepherd, Agricul- 

 tural Superintendent, visited Nevis during the latter part of 

 the month, and addressed a meeting of cotton growers held 

 on March 26, in connexion with cotton worms and the cotton 

 stainer. Mr. Ballou remained in the island four days, during 

 which time he made observations with regard to the sudden 

 disappearance of the cotton stainer. The rainfall recorded 

 for the month was 1'33 inches: for the year to date, 

 4'71 inches. 



TiEGiN ISLANDS. The Curator states that very little 

 was done in the Experiment Station, Tortola, during the 

 month cf March, beyond routine work. The dry weather 

 experienced has been favourable to the maturing of a second 

 picking of cotton, and there are indications that the crop is 

 now nearly over. Regarding the sugar crop, Mr. Fishlock says 

 that the quantity of canes handled at the Station was greater 

 than that of last year, but the condition was very poor. The 

 total rainfall recorded at the Station for the month was 

 •89 inch, as compared with 252 inches, the average for the 

 preceding eighteen years. 



Attached to these notes is a report on the Experiment 

 Station for the quarter ended March 31, which contains 

 items of local interest already reproduced in previous num- 

 bers of the Agricultural News. 



AGRICULTURE IN BARBADOS- 



The drought continues without abatement, ami April, 

 like March, has been dry and warm, and, it goes without 

 saying, unbearably dusty. 



The earth ha.s developed cracks, in many places 3 

 inches in width, and there are many stools of young canes 

 that are isolated from the surrounding banks by cracks 

 which encircle them. 



The light showers which fell on the hills between 

 April 7 and 13 revealed the fact that life still remained 

 in some of the supplies which had not yet sprung. A few 

 days after these showers, many tender shoots were to be seen 

 peeping up in holes, which had previously shown no signs of 

 life. No supplying could, however, be done, as a few hours 

 afterwards it ciuld hardly be observed that one drop of rain 

 had fallen. 



We are having convincing proof of the superiority of 

 farmyard manure over every kind of fertilizer. We are also 

 sure that in spite of the harsh weather, if the majority of 

 fields had been rested, there would have been no cause for 

 anxiety. Agriculture can be more conveniently and scientifi- 

 cally carried on under a rotation system. The problem of 

 efficient manuring is solved, and the land would in all 

 probability be kept clean with greater economy. We believe 

 that the cost of establishing the presenc young crop is 

 double what it would have been under the system to 

 which we refer, a system which is correct both from the 

 practical and the scientific point of view. 



Where crops in the blick soil consist of plant canes 

 only, the average yield keeps well up to 30 tons per acre, 

 but where first ratoons have been grown the average has fallen 

 to 20 tons. We learn that in St. Andrew's parish the Ba. 6035 

 has yielded a very heavy tonnage. The cool, moist soil 

 of this parish seems to be admirably suited to this seedling. 

 The habits of the preient favourites should be closely 

 observed, and the experience gained applied It would seem 

 that the Ba. 6032 will not ratoon vigorously in the red soil, 

 particularly if it is cut late. On the other hand, the 

 B.H.IO (12) promises to be a hardy and satisfactory 

 ratooner. 



The weather has been too dry to continue the putting in 

 of the first application of chemical manure to the ratoons, 

 but, in spite of all circumstances, they are making progress. 



The House of Assembly on March 25 did not renew 

 the Vegetable Produce Bill. Planters will, therefore, now 

 be under no legal obligation to plant ground provisions. 

 We do not, however, believe that the removal of this 

 obligation will, under favourable weather conditions, cause 

 a scarcity of sweet potatoes. In those parts of the island in 

 whichgro nnd provisions yield a large return, satisfactory 

 areas will be planted, while the smallreturn obtained under 

 the Vegetable Produce Bill from other districts will not ba 

 m issed. There is also the fact that many planters are seeing the 

 absolute necessity for growing rotation crops. This will in- 

 crease the supply of potatoes in the districts which are not 

 regarded as good provision ones. After canes, there is 

 nothing that pays st) well as potatoes. (The Barbadoa 

 Agricultural Reportm; April 19, 1919.) 



