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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



April 4, 1908. 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



COLONIAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE 

 SHOWS. 



Full particulars of thu three exhibitions of colon- 

 ial fruit and ve.2;etables which the Royal Horticultu- 

 ral Society have arranged to hold in London during the 

 present year, wore given in the Agricultural A'cir.v of 

 December 28 last (Vol. VI, p. 405). The first of these 

 shows has already taken place (March 5 and 6), and 

 there now remain the Jnne and November meetings. 

 Some of the West Indian islands may find it ])0.ssible to 

 participate in the June e.'chibition, but in the mnjoiity 

 of cases much finer collections of produce will be avail- 

 able in November, "and it is greatly hoped that 

 a general effort will be made by the Permanent E.Khibi- 

 tion Committees of the several colonies, and that deal- 

 ers and consumers in London w'ill be enabled to see 

 really creditable displays of fruit and vegetables from 

 the West Indies. 



In the course of a circular letter sent out, together 

 with leaflets relating to the shows, to the Secretaries 

 of the Permanent Exhibition Committies of the differ- 

 ent colonies, Mr. A. E, Aspinall, Secretary to the West 

 India Committee, says : — 



From the enclosed leaflet.s you will see that tlie lluyal 

 Horticultural Society has responded to our suggestion.^, and 

 is taking far mni-e active steps to advertise the Colonial Fruit 

 and Vegetable Shows than lias hitherto been the case. 

 There is to be a l)and, the liours of admission are lengthened, 

 and the price is reduced. 



It is lioi)e(l that several of the West Indian Colonics will 

 ■organize exhibits for the .show to be held on June 11 and 

 12, but it is on the show iixcd for Novemljei- 20 and 

 27 that we might, I think, with advantage concentrate our 

 attention. K.xiicricnce has .shown that the cost to colonics 

 participating in these cxhilitions need not exceed from .£15 

 to £20 ; the space is I'rce, and tlir slii|i|iin,n- companies consent 

 to carry exhibits freight free. 



In the circnm.slances I lu'pc very nindi that your 

 Exhibition Cnnuuiltce will co-operate towards .seeming 

 a really representative cxhil>it. The exhibits from each of the 

 •colonies will bo kept entirely distinct, and tlie awards will 

 be made to the actual exhibitors. All that will 1 r n.T.'ssaiy 

 for the Exhibition Conunittccs to do will hv to cnlU'cl 

 reiiresentative exhibits, to have them carcfidly put up, 

 laVicllcd, and ) lacked, and addressed to mc at tlic Royal 

 Hortiiiiltural Hall, A'incent Square, Westminstei-, and wc 

 ■will tlicri gladly niidiitakr the necessary arrangements. 



MANURES FOR PINE-APPLES. 



The need for the application of large quantities of 

 fertilizers in the cultivation of pine-apples is empha- 

 sized in an article in the Florlila Ayriculturist. This 

 is on account of the fact that many soils, well adapted 

 from the point of \-iew- of their sitiuition and physical 

 conditions to pine-apple culture, contain very little 

 plant food. By the provision of the necessary constit- 

 uents, however, the pine-apple will live, flourish, and 

 crops for twelve or fifteen years. 



Organic manures 

 lilood, are preferabl 

 anunonia, for the supply 



such as cotton seed meal and dried 



to nitrate of .soda or .sulphate of 



r nitrogen. A little nitrate of 



soda may be given .soon after planting, but it is stated, as 

 a conclusion drawn from experiments cariied out at the 

 Florida Experiment Station, that the continued u.se of nitrate 

 of soda or sulphate of ammonia, firings about a spiky condi- 

 tion of the plants, and results in the production of fruits of 

 small size and poor keeping i|iialitv. 



Basic slag appears to be the best phosphatic manure for 

 the ]iinc-a])ple crop. Bone meal also gave .satisfactory results. 

 Superphosphate was an unprofitable fertilizer, and resulted 

 in an iiidicalthy condition of the plants with lessened fruit 

 i\lniii. In the Florida exiierimciUs, however, it was shown 

 that when the application of suiicrpho.sphate was accompanied 

 with a good dressing of lime, much better rctiirn.s were given. 

 This is what woidd be ex[iectcd in view of the results 

 obtaincil with basic -slag. 



.\ good stipply of potash is ab., (.^snitial to the proper 

 <leveloiiment and fruiting of the pine-apple. Sulphate of 

 potash is recommended as the most suitable potassic manure 

 and as likely to produce better results than kainit, apart 

 from the economy in freight observed in purchasing the 

 former. The following is recommended as a good mixed 

 maiuire suitable for the pine-apple crop: Dried blood. 

 735 lb.: raw ground bone, -135 Ih.: and low-grade .sulpliatc of 

 potash, 925 lb., making a total of 2.095 Ih. jier acre. 



The above is mentioned as a sufficient quantity 

 for the first year's growth of the plants. Since a greater 

 return of fruit will be expected in the .second year, a heavier 

 application of fertilizing constintents should be made. The 

 (pianlity applied, in fact, .should be in proportion to the 

 ret luii of fruit that may reasonably be expected. Under 

 average circmnstanccs, however, no more than 3,500 tti. to 

 3,SI'pO 111. of manure can be pmlitalily applied each year. 



