324 



THE AGKICDLTUKAL NEWS. 



Ootobbr 1«, is 19. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



BT. TiNCFKT. The Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. 

 W. N. Sands, writes to say that wet weatler was experienced 

 during the month of August, but crops were not seriously 

 affected, except in places where drains overflowed. On 

 August 9, the last of the ba)es of cotton of the 1918 19 crop 

 were shipped by the SS. ' Sargasso.' Adult cotton stainers 

 were reported in cotton planted in May, at Grand Sable, 

 Mount Bentinck, and Spring estates, and were being 

 energetically collected. 



The Agricultural Superintendent visited Katho Mill 

 estate to inspect a field of a pure strain of cotton being grown 

 there for purposes • f obtaining seed for the Department. 

 Visits of inspection were also paid during the month to 

 cotton and coco nut cultivations at Grand Sable, and the 

 Carib Country estates. About 500 young coco nut plants 

 had been turned over by a .strong westerly wind a few days 

 previously. Advice was given as to re-setting these, and 

 the planting of Gliricidia windbreaks across exposed 

 portions of the cultivation. At Grand Sable, early planted 

 cotton fields were inspected for insect pests. Adult cotton 

 stainers which had arrived in one field were being system- 

 atically collected, with satisfactory results. Diamond and 

 the Buccament Valley were also inspected. Throughout 

 the district visited, Mr. Sands says, crops looked promising, 

 but already there were indications in several places of ' rust ' 

 «f the leaves of young cotton plants, due to a deficiency 

 of available potash in the soil. 



The rainfall recorded at the Botanic Garden for the 

 month was 21 27 inches ; at the Experiment Station, 

 18 50 inches. 



M0NT.SERRAT. During the month of September, plant 

 distribution comprised 400 bay plants, 400 sweet potato 

 cuttings, 5 ft), beans and peas, 2 dozen decorative cuttings, 

 108 ft), onion seed. In the Botanic Gardens three distilla- 

 tions of bay leaves were made, giving an average yield of 

 1-39 oz. per 100 ft), of leaves. The acting Curator states 

 that in spite of the adverse weather whiih prevailed during 

 certain periods of development of the cotton crop, more 

 seedc'tton per acre has been reaped from the first crop up 

 to the end of September than for the same period last 

 ■eason. The quality of the cotton this season is also much 

 better than last season, and the advantage of a good strain 

 is now more clearly realited by planters. The prohibition 

 of the exportation of cotton to the United Kingdom and to 

 British possessions only, has been withdrawn by Proclama- 

 tion, and the arrival of a steamer by which cotton will be 

 shipped, is now awaited. The prospects of a second crop 

 are not as promising as last season, but later rains may 

 improve the sitnatio*. The lime trees have made a slight 

 improvement, but have produced a very poor crop. Slight 

 attacks of cotton worms were observed in some loc.klities, 

 Mtd few cotton stainers were seen in a field near Grove . 



Station. Mr. S. C. Harland, B Sc, spent several days on 

 cotton investigations in the island, and left for St. Vincent 

 on September 14. 



On September 2, a storm of moderate violence passed 

 Montserrat travelling from a souih-west direction to the 

 northeast. The lowest barometer reading was 29 804 

 corrected at 5pm On several oiher days indications of 

 bad weather were also observed. A sharp shock of earth* 

 quake was felt at 930 a.m. on September IG. The rainfall 

 for the month was 455 inches ; for the year to date, 3356 

 inches. 



.\NTif;LiA. The following was plant distribution in 

 September: .sisal, 1,000; miscellaneous, 12; cotton seed, 

 156 5).; vegetable seeds, 15 packets. Mr. Jackson states 

 that during the last week of the month good rains fell : 

 these were general. Previous to this, sugar-cane — especially 

 that planted early in the season — was suffering considerably 

 for want of moisture. The recent rains have made a 

 considerable difference to the general appearance of this 

 crop. Only a limited area of cotton has been planted 

 this season, and this also has suffered on account of dry 

 weather. Onion seed arrived during the month, and 

 368 tt). were distributed in Antigua and a proportion sent 

 to other islands in the colony. Cotton stainer made its 

 appearance during the month in certain cotton fields of the 

 island Investigations in connexion with hard back beetles 

 were continued. During the month 201 silk-cotton trees 

 and five perennial wild cotton trees wi re destroyed. The 

 rainfall for the month was 4 '36 inches ; for the ye-\r to 

 date, 23 91 inches. 



From a short report on agricultural instruction, in 

 Antigua for the month of September, appended to 

 the foregoing items, it is gathered that cotton stainers are 

 present in some holdings, and no effort is made by the 

 peasants to control these. Leaf-blister mite is also present 

 in most holdings. The reaping of the corn crop has been 

 concluded ; some peasants obtained a price of 12^. 6J. per 

 100 ft), on the cob, while others obtained as low as 9s. 

 Consequent on good 8howe''s during the latter part of the 

 month, the planting of sweet potatoei has been commenced. 



ST. KiTTS. Mr. F. 11. Shepherd writes to say that 

 during the month of September the usual routine work was 

 carried on in the Botanic Gardens. Much watering was 

 needed during the early part of the month but a good rain 

 on September 22 has much improved conditions ■ 75 ft), of 

 Indian corn were distribu'ed for planting purposes. The 

 continued dry weather during the earlier part of the month 

 was a great set-back to the cane crop, particularly in the 

 valley district, but the rain above referred to (from 1| to 3 

 inches in the valley, and from 4 to 6 inches in the northern 

 district) has considerably improved the general condition. 

 Heaping is still in progress on a few estates in the north, 

 where the making of syrup was delayed owing to lack of 

 packages. The picking cf cotton is in full swing, and the 

 returns will be above the average. The dry weather ol the 

 past two months has been beneficial to this crop. Worms 

 have been teen, but little if ^my damage done. No cotton 

 stainers have so far been reported, and leaf-blister mile is 

 not very prevalent. The embargo against the exportation 

 of cott/on has been removed except to foreign countries. The 

 rainfall for the month was 391 inches ; for the year to 

 date, 32*74 inches. 



