Vol. XYIIL No. 449. 



THE AGRICULTOltAL NEWb. 



219 



been ascertained. It may be stated, however, that even with 

 an abundance of parasites, th'e control exerted by natural 

 enemies is only partial. In Barbados, Pbytalus is parasitized 

 by Typhia, but the control is so incomplete that the pest is 

 spreading, and the damage increasing year by year. 



On many estates in Antigua root disease is very prevalent, 

 and in certain places, damage attributed to grubs is purely a 

 matter of root disease attack associated with a lack of tilth in 

 the soil. The ordinary crop system in Antigua resultsin the fact 

 that, at the end of nearly three and a half years of cultivation 

 under cane only, a short period of eight to ten months ensues 

 before canes are planted again. JIany of the Antigua lands 

 are heavy, any lose tilth rapidly '.'rgjnic matter is not 

 supplied in sufficient quaulity to th-j plant canes to maintain 

 a deep tilth for the ratoon crops, and it is noticeable, 

 especially where canes are attacked by root disease, that in 

 some places the ratoons are not i/i the soil but on it; that 

 is to say, that the roots have been crowded nut of the lower 

 layers by the packing of the soil, or loss of that condition 

 known as tilth, and are all in the few inches of open soil 

 on the surface. Such canes are bound to suffer in any period 

 of drought. 



Root disease is to be controlleJ by rotation, the 

 reduction of ratoon series, and the use of large quantities 

 of organic matter. The system of cultivation prevalent in 

 Antigua cannot be called rotation Rotation for the im- 

 provement of the soil condition and the control of root 

 disease would mean an arrangement in which one full 

 season of from sixteen to eighteen months elapses between 

 the reaping of the last of the ratoon series and the 

 replanting with ctne. Daring this interval several other 

 props might be grown, each one receiving thorough tillage, 

 or some months of ptire fallow might be allowed. 



The question of drainage of cane fields also needs 

 attention, because drainage is fundamental in connexion 

 with the treatment of heavy soils such as are common in 

 Antigua, Improved drainage must be associated with 

 tillage, and the use of organic manures. This has a direct 

 bearing on the red.uction of the losses from root disease. 

 Healthy plants may not be less severely atticked by 

 hardback grubs, but with a better developed root system, 

 and with a soil in better condition for ro t growth, they will 

 undoubtedly suft'er less from the attacks of these insects than 

 plants infested with root disea.se, trying to grow in badly 

 drained, poorly tilled soil which is opea and attractive to 

 roots only for a few inches on the surface. 



H.A.B. 



ANOTHER SPECIES OF AVOCADO. 



In an interesting account of the avocado pear in 

 Guatemala by Mr Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer, 

 published as Bulletin No. j-^j of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, a description is given of 

 another species of the genus Persea, which, although well 

 known in Northern Guatemala, has almost entirely escaped 

 the attention of horticulturists in other countries. This 

 fruit is known in Guatemala as the coyo, and with 

 the exception of a brief reference to it by G. N. 

 Collens, in Bulletin 77, United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, nothing seems to havrf been wriuen about it. 



The fruit closely resembles that of the avocado, but 

 the tree is distinct in foliage and flower. The coyo and the 

 avocado are evidently two distinct species. 



Like the avocado, the coyo varies greatly in the form 

 and character of the fruit. Many coyos are very inferior 



in quality, having large seeds, and coarse fibres running 

 through the flesh. On the other hand, those with small 

 seeds, and flesh free from fibre, are comparable with the 

 best avocados, possessing a distinct and agreeable flavour. 



It is not difficult to distinguish the coyo tree from the 

 avocado. In both habit and growth it is quite distinct. The 

 tree is about the same size as the avocado, but the branches 

 have a greater tendency to ex' end horizontally from the 

 trunk. The tips of the branchlets, as well as the lower 

 surfaces of the leaves, are covered with a heavy brown 

 pubescence not seen in the avocado. The leaves are as a 

 rule broader, and less pointed at the apex than those of the 

 avocado. The flowers are borne on shorter and stouter 

 racemes than those, of the avocado, and are easily distin- 

 guishable from the latter by a blotch of deep orange or 

 red at the base of each segment of the perianth. All 

 parts of the inflorescence are covered with a heavy 

 pubescence 



In Northern Guatemala, at elevations of from -500 to 

 1,-500 feet, the coyo ripens from the latter part of June 

 until August, the season thus corresponding with that of the 

 West Indian race of avocados. 



In form, most of the coyos are slender and bottle-necked, 

 resembling in appearance a medium sized avoca io of the 

 West Inlian race. The best varieties of coyos weigh froiu 16 

 to 20 oz. Most specimens are light, green iu colour when ripe, 

 with numerous large, yellowisli-green spots. .Sumetiuies a 

 bronze-coloured fruit is seen, but the deep purple of some 

 avocados has not been observed am mg the coyos. The skin is 

 thick, but; soft and pliable, resembling in texture the skin of 

 West Indinn avocados, but approaching in thickness to the 

 thickest skinned \arieties of the Guatemalan race. When 

 properly ripe the skin peels readily from the flesh. 



The point, however, which easily distinguishes the 

 coyo from all avocados, is th'? colour of the flesh. This 

 varies from brownish white to pale brown. When squeezed, 

 a milky juice exudes from the flesh, which is of about the 

 same texture in good varieties as the flesh of a good avocado. 

 In flavour, the coyo is quite distinct from all avocados. 

 It has a peculiar and very agreeable richness, similar to that 

 of the avocado, but characterized by a well marked flavour 

 of ripe coco-nut. Good coyos are exceedingly rich in flavour, 

 and are considered by many people as superior to the best 

 avocado. The coyo is eaten in the same way as the avocado. 

 The coyo grows on soils of various types, from sandy 

 loam to heavy clay. It grows well in the tropical heat of 

 the coast lands of Gautemala, as well as in the cool climate 

 of the higher interior. It is a vigorous, robust tree, requir- 

 ing no more care than the avocado. The coyo would seem 

 to be worthy of attention or the part of horticulturists in 

 the tropics and subtropics generally. 



Farm Schools in Cuba. — An illustrated article 



appears in Revista de Agricultura. Comercio y Trabajo, 

 describing the work done at the Cuban farm schools. These 

 institutions appear to be doing very good work. They train 

 boys and youths for all kinds of agricultural occupations. 

 Practical instruction is given in the cultivation of all the 

 important crops grown in the country. The schools are 

 residential, and are provided with good workshops, 

 laboratories and class rooms. In connexion with the 

 proposed developments in agricultural education in the 

 British West Indies, the work of these schools should receive 

 attention. There are six altogether, one situated in ea«h 

 province. Their [aim is to turn out ' scientific masterg of 

 cultivation.' 



