Vol. XVIII. No. 4 50. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



lb is pointed out tliab the production of syrup is 

 usually confined t<< small plantations, with rather 

 inefficient means 'jf manufacture. Under such circum- 

 stances, however, cane syrup is often a proKtable 

 article to place on the market, as is well known to 

 planters in Bailuados. 



(Jne point in the pamphlet is well worth bringing 

 10 the notice of planters cultivating small areas. That 

 is, the advantage of keeping careful records. All large 

 concerns have to do this, and it is just as beneficial for 

 •a small estate. For instance, it is generally understood 

 that raioon crops are produced at a much less e.vpense 

 per acre than the plant crop, so that even a consider- 

 ably less return from the former makes them profitable 

 to grow. If the price of the sugrir or cane is high in 

 •comparison with the low cost of labour, etc., it would 

 probably be more advantageous to grow only plant 

 •canes for the sake of the larger yield. On the contrary, 

 low prices for the product in comparison with high 

 labour wages would make it more profitable to ratoon 

 as far as practicabli;. 



If the planter were to keep an accurate record, 

 through a series of years, of all the labour and other 

 expenses involved in producing the plant cane crop, 

 and of each ratoon crop, and of the receipts obtained 

 from each crop, he would be in a position to plan his 

 system of cropping to as to bring him in the greatest 

 returns per acre. Since, however, the yields both from 

 plants and ratoons vary very mich from year to year, 

 due to weather conditions, and since also the prices 

 of sugar and .syrup fluctuate, there is need of caution 

 in drawing conclusions from the results of only one 

 or two years. The really valid conclusions must be 

 based on averages obtained frou' the records of a 

 considerable number of years. 



Measuring the Growth of Sugar-Oane. 



This subject was dealt with at some length in the 

 Agricidtural Neivs for October 7, 191(5, when the fact 

 was stated that an observer in America measured rate 

 -of growth of a sugar-cane by the .simple method of 

 inserting a needle horizonally in the growing part 

 of the cane, by which was meant the terminal bud. 

 The holes made served as points from which to 

 measure the growth of the various parts with respect 

 to the outer sheaths around the bud, which had 

 ceased to grow. 



According to the Wealth of India for March 1919, 

 there is employed in the Dutch East Indies, a 

 specially constructed apparatus consisting of a high, 

 •square wooden rule, graduated in centimetres and fitted 

 with a slider, to which is attached a small copper 

 plate graduated in millimetres Xumerous observa- 

 tions with this apparatus are reported to have shown, 

 that the time between the appearance of two 

 successive shiiots varies between five and seven days 

 for the local varieties observed. Night growth usually 

 exceeds day growth, but the latter is much intluetice(i 

 by rain, which may cause a day growth superior or 

 eijual to night growth. 



The Hookworm Campaign. 



Although during the past five years reports, 

 have appeared from time to time in the local 

 newspapers, few people realize the magnitude .-incl 

 efficiency of the West Indian hock'.vorm Cornpaiga 

 directed by the Rockefeller Foundation, Interna- 

 tional Health Board, Xew York. On another page^ 

 in this issue we publish a review of a leagr.fiy pub- 

 lication by Dr H. II. Howard, Director for the Westi. 

 Indies, which describes in detail the methods employed, 

 and the remarkably satisfactory results achieved. 

 The deep gratitude of uU clisses in the West Indies is 

 due to Dr. Howard and his co-workers, and to tha 

 generous and beneficent founder of the International 

 Health Fund, who have ah'ead\' done so much to 

 relieve suffering and to incr he efficiency of 



working people in these colonie.-- 



While dealing with this su j i/ of hookworm, iti 

 might be emphasized, in connexion with the article at; 

 page 238 on thymol ar.d chenopodium, that Dr. Howard 

 Las found, in his West Indian experience, thymol to ba 

 a much more satisfacvory specific than chenopodium. 

 Not only has thymol been found more effective as a 

 cure, but also less likely to produce toxic symptoms. 

 The large demand for thymol as a hookworm specific, 

 and its gencial value as an antiseptic, raise the question 

 as to whether it could not be produced commercially in 

 the West Indies. Success has attended the experi- 

 mental cultivation of the Ajowan plant in Mont- 

 serrat. It is of coursf from the seed ot this plantt 

 that thymol is obtained. 



Marine Enterprise at the Bahamas. 



According to Colmiuil Rep -rts — Annual, No. 978, 

 dealing with the Bahamas for 1917-18, the sponge 

 culture experiments at those islands are giviiig 

 satisfactory results. The Marine Products Board regret* 

 that it has not been in a position to enlarge the sponge 

 farm, as the specimens of sponge show marked 

 progress, 'and are forcible evidence that sponge culti- 

 vation is an enterprise that can be carried on 

 successfully'. Specimens, one a wool, 15 inches in 

 circumference, the other a yellow, 4 iriches in height, 

 were exhibited in the committee room of the House of 

 Assembly, and are now in the possession of the Board. 

 These reports, which may be taken as quite reliaMe, 

 are of a very satisfactory kind, and it would app ar 

 that this industry of sponge culture will expand ia 

 the near future. 



Besides showing enterprise in the matter of 

 sponges, the Board has conducted exp"riments equally 

 successfully, in curing beche-de-n..r. The last lot 

 handled by the Board were of excellent quality, bub 

 unfortunately they got spoiled during the long voyage 

 to Hong Kong, where they were sent for eo:;3umption. 

 It may be noted that commercial becbc-de-mer should 

 be fished from deep water. The shallow water slug is 

 too tough and lean for the bestculin.iiy use.s. Bahamas, 

 fishermen want to take care that they boar this la 

 mind, otherwi.se the shallow water miteria! may le id 

 to disappointment as regards the obtaining of profits* 



