Vol. XVIII. Xo. 450 



THE AGBICULTCTLAL NEWS. 



^.17 



INDIAN CORN IN ST. VINCENT. 



The following information appeared in Mr. W. N. 

 Sands's Report on the Agricult'.iral Department, St. 

 A^incent, for 1917-lS. It indicates striking progress 

 in the matter of corn culture in this colony during the 

 year under review : — 



In last year's report it was shown that considerable pro- 

 gress had been made with corn growing since the outbreak 

 of the war. A description of the Government Granary 

 with its kiln-drier, macliinery, and bins was also given. 

 For the 1917-18 season still further progress has to be 

 recorded. An account o the quantity of corn dealt with 

 at the Granary, and other information of interest are given 

 in previous pages. Excellent results were obtained by 

 kiln-drying corn and storing it, so that it could be converted 

 into corn meal for human consumption, at a period of the 

 Tear when local food products were comparatively scarce 

 and dear, and imports of foodstuffs were restricted. This 

 action was much appreciated by the people of the colony. 



The exports of the past five years were : — 



Year, Exports. 



1913 — 745 bushels 



1914 — 766 

 191.5 — 1,518 



1916 — 1,6.52 



1917 — 1855 



The exports are relatively small, but it is 'i interest to 

 note that during the crop, 55 tons of corn were shipped to 

 England, where it arrived safely, and secured prices satisf.ic- 

 tory to the shipper. The bulk of the crop was, however, 

 consumed locally. 



Although a few fields with corn as the principal crop 

 were cultivated, the bulk of the corn was grown as a catch 

 crop with cotton and arrowroot, tut more particularly with 

 the former. The practice is to sow cottjn and corn 

 simultaneously, the corn being planted in each or every 

 alternate row at a distance of 6 feet between the holes. 

 The yield per acre is necessarily small, and, under good con- 

 ditions, would hardly exceed 16 bushels and 8 bushels, 

 respectively, of shelled co'n per acre ; still, even if 2,500 

 acres were grown each season in the manner described, and 

 the average yield was 8 bushels per acre only, the total 

 output from this source alone would be 20,000 bushels or 

 -500 tons. 



The arguments for and against intercropping corn with 

 cotton need not be discussed here; but for the limited amount 

 of shelter provided to cotton plants in early stages of growth, 

 the interplanting of corn is undoubtedly prejudicial to the 

 growth and bearing of the cotton, and especially so if the corn 

 is planted in each row. This can readily be .seen on estates 

 when the cotton bolls are opening, and the pickers realize 

 this fact so well that, in fields where corn has been sown in 

 every alternate row, they will always strive to pick in the 

 rows where no corn has been grown 



With arrowroot, corn is grown after the arrowroot has 

 been reaped. The newly dug fields, principally those which 

 are harvested in the last three months of the year, are sown 

 with corn. Even wider distances of planting than those 

 described above with cotton are adopted, and here again the 

 yield per acre, although small, is an important addition 

 collectively to the colony's output. 



Although the usual method of corn production is in the 

 form of a catch crop, yet it would be po.-^sible to- obtain 

 satisfactory yields by planting corn as a cmji by itself. 

 A large area of selected yellow corn has not been grown 



experimentally by the Agricuhural Department, but esperi-. 

 ments on small areas well cuitivaied and manured have in-* 

 dicated a yield up to 50 bushels per acre. 



PLANT LEGISLATION IN ST. VINCENT. 



The legislation in force regarding plant proteotioo in 

 St. Vincent consists of ; — 



(1) The Importation of Plant Diseases Preventioii. 

 Ordinance, 1906. 



Under Section 4 of this Ordinance the Croyernor-in* 

 Council may by notice absolutely prohibit the importation, 

 directly or indirectly, from any country or place, of any 

 plants, packages, or other articles or things likely to tie the 

 means of introducing plant disease into this colony. 



The following is a Schedule of the prohibition in force : — » 



' Prom all countries of Central and South America, 

 and the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, and Trini- 

 dad. Of all coco-nuts in h'jsk and all growing 

 plants or parts of plants of coco nut, or any 

 earth or packing material associated with. 

 them, or any pruning knives, which have beeu 

 used in the cultivation thereof. 



'Prom Ceylon, Natal, South India, Mauritius, and 

 the Straits Settlements. Of all plants, op 

 trees, and any earth, soil, or vegetat>le matter 

 used for packing or covering the same. 



' From South America. Of all cacao plants or 

 trees and parts or portions of such plants or 

 trees, and any earth, 5oil, or vegetable matteir 

 used for packing or covering the same. 



' From the Colony of Trinidad and Tobago. Of 

 any suckers, roots, fruit, or any other portions 

 of a banana plant and any earth, soil, or vege- 

 table matter used for packing or covering 

 the same' 

 Section 5 provides for the fumigation and disinfectioa 

 by the Agricultural Authority of all plants, packages, etc., 

 imported. 



(2) The Cotton Diseases Prevention Ordinance, 1911. 



(3) The Cotton Diseases Prevention Ordinance, 1911, 

 Amendment Ordinance, 1918. 



' For the definition of " Cotton Season " in section 2 of 

 the Principal Ordinance, the following definition shall be 

 substituted : — 



' "Cotton Season" means such period as the Government 

 may by Order-in Council prescribe either for the whole of, 

 or for a particular area of, that part of the C jlony to which 

 this Ordinance applies or may for the time being oe applied, 

 and, except in so far as such period is so prescribed, shall 

 mean the period between the last day of April in any year 

 and the first day of April in the succeeding year.' 



In the supplementary Ordinance (5), Section 2 is aa 

 under : — 



' The occupier of any building, in or in the neighbour- 

 hood of which the cotton stainer is present, who tails to 

 take all such measures as may be necessary, for the destruc- 

 tion of such cotton staineron bee )ming aware, or on being 

 notified, of the presence of the same in or in the neighbour- 

 hood of such building, shall be liable on summary conviction 

 to a fine not exceeding £-0, or in default of payment, to be 

 imprisoned with or without hard labour for a term not 

 exceeding 6 months.' 



(Report on the Agricultural Department, St. Vincent^ 

 for 1917-18), 



