Vol. VII. Xo. IfiO. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



189 



C^, 





LITEKATrRE OF FCh'CRAh'A WITH A SVXOJ'- 

 i'/N OF THE K.XO WX SFECIES. By J. R. Druninioml. 

 Rtjirlnted from the Eijliteentli Auiitial Rej-iort of tlx Alissoarl 

 Botanic (jiirdcn. 



This reprint of an interesting .scientific paper forms an 

 epitome of the present knowledge, regarding tlie genus 

 F'-iircrnea, and was prei^ared in comiexion witli an investiga- 

 tion on the subject, at Ivew, in 1 90(i, by Mr. Drunimond. 

 The pamphlet is illustrated, and contains jjarticulars of tlie 

 species of Furrfitm and Atjave found in the West Indies. 



ABC A.XD XYZ OF liEE CULTURE. By A.I. 

 and E.li.h'oot. Pn/^Ushed Jnj th- A.I.Rnot Co., .i/,di„a, 

 Ohio, U.S.A. Price §1 50 post' free. 



The popularity and value of this well-known bee 

 book is evidenced by the fact that the present issue forms the 

 thirteenth edition, and brings the number of copies printed 

 up to 116,000. \\'hile the first edition com|irised only .some 

 200 pages, continual revisions and ailditicnis necessi- 

 tated by more extensive knowledge on the subject, have so 

 increa.sed the matter that the present issue contains 576 

 double-column pages. The woik, as its title implies, forms a 

 veritable encyclopaedia of everything relating to bees and 

 bee-keeping, hives, honey, honey-plants, etc., and since it has 

 been compiled from information collected all over the world, 

 bee keepers, in whatever climate they are situated, will find 

 it a valuable liandbook. The alphabetical arrangement 

 adopted with the various articles, facilitates ready reference 

 to any particular point connected withi the industry, but since 

 such an arrangement is not the most .suitable for consultation 

 by persons about to start bee-keeping, beginners are, on page 

 1, referred to a list of articles which form a first cour.se of 

 reading on the subject. The book is abundantly illustrated, 

 photograjilis representing various processes and phases of the 

 work of l)ee-keeping appearing on almpst every page. 



It may be of interest to note that the book includes 

 several articles contributed by Mr. W. K. Morrison, author 

 of ' Bee-keeping in the AVest Indies ', which was published 

 as No. 'J in the Pamphlet Series i^isued by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture. 



77/ A' BUILD IXC OF AX ISLAXD. l',y .b.hn T. 

 -Quin, F.H.O.S., late Inspector of Schools in the Dani.sh West 

 Indies. Pidiliithfd hi/ thi- Author at Chri.ntinn.strd, ,Sf. Croi.r. 



In this volume of 106 pages, the author has given 

 a very readable history of the geological structure of 

 St. ( !roix. The book is Astitten in a siuipje style, the use of 

 technical expressions being avoideif' as far as possible. 

 Further, it is rendered more useful by the inclusion of maps 

 and representations of typical fossil.s, together with reproduc- 

 tions of photogi'aphs of various features which illustrate the 

 geology of the island. 



Two idck formations are apparent in the structure of 

 St. Croix. ( )f these, tlie -earlier is a Secondary indurated 

 clay laid down in the Cretaceous age. This formation 

 is known locally as ' blue beach ' rovk, and it occupies 

 the eastern, the greater part of the nortiiern, and the 

 whole of the north-western portions of the island. Since 

 tlie deposition of the clay, however, it has undergone 

 a considerable amount of metamorphism as the result of heat 

 and pressure. The second formation consists of Tertiary 

 marls and limestones of the Miocene age. It overlies the 

 older rocks to a thickness of at least 600 feet in the central, 

 south-central, and south-wfstern parts of the islan<l. 



Throughout the book it is shown how the conclusions 

 arrived at are deduced from direct observation of the rocks 

 of the island. Towards the end the author deals with the 

 relationship of the geology of St. Croix to that of other West 

 Indian I.sland.-;, and finally its relationship to geology in 

 general. 



EDUCATION SCHEME FOR ESTATE 

 OVERSEERS AND MANAGERS. 



It will be remembered {Ayricnltanil News, Vol. 

 VII, p. :^4), that at the Agricultural Conference helrl 

 at Barbados in Janu.uy last, the question of the educa- 

 tional qualifications of overseers anrl nianagens on 

 estates in the West Indies came u" for discussion, and 

 it was suggested that something might be done, 

 through ths Imperi.^l Department of Agriculture, to 

 organize a scheme of reading for young men wishing to 

 qualify for such positions on estates, to he followed by 

 examination for certificates of proficiency. 



The Barbados Agricultural Society some time ago 

 aiipointed a Special Committee to consider the subject, and to 

 draw up a scheme of working. At the monthly meeting of the 

 Society, held on Friday, May -29 last, the report of this Com- 

 mittee was presented. The report is in the shape of a scheme, 

 published under the auspices of the Imperial ])epartment of 

 Agriculture, ja-oviding for a cour.se of reading and examina- 

 tion in practical agriculture, the details of which were 

 explained to the nieml)ers of the Society by Sir Daniel 

 Morris. It is proposed to hold examinations periodically at 

 various centres in the West Indies at which candidates will 

 have the opportunity of submitting themselves and obtaining 

 certificates of competency. The examinations will be three 

 in number — (1) Preliminary, in the general principles of 

 agriculture ; (2) Intermediate, in regard to insect pe.sts and 

 fungi ; (3) Final, enifiracing fuller knowle<lge of special 

 crops, estate management and control, disea.ses of plants, I'tc. 

 Candidates will have about six or eight months in which to 

 prepare themselves by reading the text-books suggested, and 

 in addition to the written work there will be an oral examina- 

 tion, for the purposes of which it is hojied to secure the 

 services of the most experienced |jlanters in the various 

 colonies. 



In recommending the scheme to the approval of 

 the Society, Sir I )aniel said it was one vA'hich was calculateil 

 to be of great benefit to the whole island, and hoped that 

 it would be the means of eventually securing to young rricii 

 engaged in agriculture, who proved they were worthy, greater 

 remuneration and increased comfort in their ilaily life. The 

 adoption of the .scheme was moved by Mr. A. Cameron, 

 seconded by Mr. W. I). Shepherd, and carried unanimously. 

 On the motion of Mr. J. IJ. Bovell it was decided to ask 

 Sir Daniel Morri.s to draw up a circular-letter to be sent to 

 the various planters in the island with a copy of the scheme. 



