Voi^ XVIII No. 458. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



357 



AGRICULTURAL REPORT, BARBADOS. 



The following report on the condition of crops in 

 Barbados was published in the liarbadcs Agriculinml 

 Rei'ortcr, for November 2, 1919. 



The cane crop has been kept green by the light 

 showers which fell between October 1.5 au'l 27. There has 

 been a struggle for existence, but little growth. The recent 

 rains have already started a spurt, and planters are hoping 

 for such vieatheras will enable them to make a 50- per cent 

 crop next year In the black soil there is freedom from 

 di.sease, and the bunches are fairly full It is a matter of 

 racing with time. St. Philip and C'hri.st Church particularly, 

 have held out well, but, of course, everywhere there is only 

 a very moderate length of cane. With a forcing October 

 the talc would have been a different one, and the fields Kould 

 have shown sigus of a promising harvest. 



In different parts of the island accounts vary as to the 

 staying powers of the seedlings. Of the Ba.6032 we have 

 heard but little. Of the B. 6450 some planters still have 

 the highest opinion, while otheis think of reducing the area 

 to be put under this .'■eedling at the approaching planting 

 season. Some think that the B.H. 10(1 2) has not reisted 

 the drought as well as the i!. 6450 : all, however, agree 

 that it is a seedling very rich in saccharose. We think that 

 a smaller area will be planted of the Ba. 6032 this season 

 than last, although it is generally felt that it yields t'le 

 highest tonnage whenever it develops well It ia as a 

 ratooner that planters are doubtful of this seedling. 



We are convinced that the B. 6450 and the B.H. 10 (12) 

 are the best seedlings for the red soil. If treated liberally, 

 they will yield well, both as plant canes and as first ratoons. 

 It is a question whether second ratoons should be regularly 

 grown un'ess the soil is exceptionally good, and has been 

 rested. 



In the black soil the B. 6308 and the Ba.6032 may 

 receive a fair amount of patronage. The B.630S is an 

 excellent plant cane, and will give a most satisfactor)- account 

 of itself, if reaped at the proper time. With the factory 

 system this sliould be possible, so long as too large an area 

 of ic is not planted. 



At this date last year we referred to certiin new vari- 

 eties which were being adver'is'd These were : the 

 Ba. 11569, B.SF.12 (24), BS.F.12(27), B.S.F.12 (34), 

 B.S.F.12 (44), and the B S.F.12 (53). On enquiry we 

 find that none of tLese are as yet beyond the experimental 

 stage. The B.S.F.12 (24) shows promise, but of this even 

 there is as yet no certain knowledge. It would be well if 

 planters in general would grow small ['lots of these seedlings, 

 note results and report them to the Department 

 of Agriculture. The valu" and characteristics of seedlings 

 would be more quickly kn^ vn, and the data thus obtained 

 would be both useful ai.d interesting. Work of ihis 

 kind would, we think, nliexe the monotony of estate 

 routine and produce an interest in plant life. We are 

 convinced that the habits of seedling.-* have not up to the 

 present time been carefully noted. This neglect has caused 

 many a plau'er to select an uns'>itablp habitat for a seedling 

 which would have thriven well r.ndi r other conditions. It 

 has als') frequently beon the cause nf the poor .-^tart which 

 hat< so often been made by the B.6450 



We hope the foregeing suggestion-) will be accepti d in 

 the spirit in which they have been writtsn. They are the 

 lesult of frequent conversations with those who we think 

 are capable of giving advice. They are aso the result of 

 observations cf the procedure on various and manifold 

 estates. 



The plauting of the crop for 1921 has already been 

 started, and planters are hurrying all they c»n with tillage 

 and manuring. During the next fortnight planting will be 

 general, but on some red soil estates cane hole.s have not 

 yet been dug in all fields. This is a pity, aa the plants 

 will make their start under disadvantageous conditioi.s. 



Sheep manure is being used extensively. Indeed twr> 

 of our correspondents inform us that this manure is in greater 

 demand this year than ever before We knew that there 

 would be a great shortage of farmyard manure, owing to 

 the small fall of litter from the old crop. Planters will have 

 largely to resort to green crop manuring if they mean to 

 keep their land up to a high standard of fertility. They 

 complain that labour is insufficient to colli ct all the bush 

 that could be cut from the gullies and hillsides. We notice 

 that, in St. Peter particularly, year after y. ar the bush 

 remains uncut. It is a pity that this should be the case, as 

 an abundance of nitrogenous manure is thereby lost. 



The yam crop suffered during October. In some fields 

 the spires were nipped and many leases blistered. In a 

 recent report we mentioned that the finest spot of yams we 

 had seen was at Cottage in the parish of St. George. To 

 this we would add a field at the Government Industrial 

 Sch' ol, and one at the Piidge in Christ Church. Almost 

 everywhere else the outlook for the next crop of this 

 vegetable is decidedly moderate. 



Potatoes, which are very scarce in some ilistricts, are 

 somewhat clieaper than they were at the date of the last 

 report. In St. Lucy's parish they are being retailed at 5 tti. 

 for 10c. The general price however, is 3c. per lb. We 

 were glad to find on several estates gangs busy with the 

 planting of this vegetable on the morning after the rain of . 

 October 27. 



The first field of white eddoes which has come under 

 our notice is at Bushy Park in St. Philip's parish. The 

 nut eddoe, a very wholesome and nourishing food, does not 

 seem to be planted as generally now as was the case years 

 ago. 



The worm ha? been very busy of late. Potatoes, corn, 

 woolly pyrol, and the cucumber and squash vines have all 

 b en attacked, and in one or two instances we have noticed 

 that the blades of canes had been eaten. We are pleased to 

 be ab'e to state hovs'ever, that no material loss has been 

 sustained as far 'is the potato croj> is concerned. The 

 fields attacked wem practically ready for the market. 



Dark crystals are now being purchased at -SS Oti per 

 100 D) for deliveries up to July next year. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Infonnatioii has boon received at the Il^ad (.)fKce 

 to the effect that Sir Francis Watts, K.C..M.G., Itu« 

 perial Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies, 

 has left England, and is expected tn arrive at Barbados 

 on or about Xovember Ki, 1919. 



The Imperial Commissioner proceeded to England 

 on duty leavu in June last, and has .during tiuvt time, 

 been actively engage! in official matters including 

 the question of the proposed estabiisiiinent of an 

 Agricultural College in the West Indies. 



