Vol. VII. No. 170. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



347 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



Introductory. 



It is proposed to devote a small space in each issue 

 ■of the Agriraltund iY^v/^s to matters relating to the 

 Reading Courses in Agrieiilture which have lately been 

 established in the West Indies (see A(p'iciill iiral Ncn's 

 of July 11 last, p. 209 : also August 2^ last, p. 267) and 

 the e.xaTiiinations to be held in conne.xion with them. In 

 this space there will be put forward hiiijlsand suggestions 

 concerning the various objects of stuc^y and observation 

 together \vit,h questions which j^tudents should 

 endeavour to answei'. Notes on seasonable events of 

 agricultural importance in the difterent colonies will 

 also be a fretjuent feature in this column. 



As the work to be done by various students in the 

 several colonies covers a great deal of ground it is not 

 expected that each student will be abffeto answer every 

 question, but he should, with the aid of his books, work 

 out the answers to such as deal with the work he has 

 in hand. 



The answers to the cpiestions are iiat to be 

 forwarded to the lidhor o( the Af/yii-tilturtd Ntnvs, who 

 cannot undertake to revise them. It, would, however, 

 be well if students could find, at various centres in the 

 different colonies, persons who would assist them in their 

 studies and correct their answers to the questions. In 

 any case it would be of ad vantage if the students of a dis- 

 trict were to meet together at regidar intervals for 

 mutual intercourse and guidance. 



From time to time attention will be directed to 

 books of interest to students. Students must not 

 think that it is necessary for them to purchase every 

 book i-eferred to : each student should have a few 

 books which he studios thoroughly and raiefulh'. 

 Other books are very useful fbi' reference and it is well 

 to know of their e-xistence. Mnny b(X)ks of reference 

 can be seen and consulted at the central agricultural 

 station in each island or colony, and .'students should 

 acquire the habit of referring to these fegulai-ly. 



Below are given a few notes (prepared by 

 Dr. Francis Watts, U.M.G.), in which the attention of 

 students is drawn to the agricultur;),l operations in 

 progress on the land during the month of September.* 

 These will be followed in the ne.xt issue of the Ai/ri- 

 ciiltund Neics by notes dealing with agriciiltuial woik 

 usually conducted in the month of October. Sitiiilar 

 notes discussing points of topical inteirest will ajipear 

 in each succeeding number of the News. 



Following the notes are given h series of six 

 questions. Three of these are suitable for students 

 preparing for the Preliminary examination, while the 

 second three are intemled for students Entering on the 



* Owing to unavoidable delay it was notofound p<)S.sible t<i 



]i\il)li.sl» the niitus relating to September work in tlu- nuniliers 

 iif tlu- Aiiiiciiltiii-((l Ni-irs issued last luunth, as ..rmin.iUy 

 intfiided. After the next issue, however, the imti's will lie 

 J>riiu,i;ht u[i tfi date. 



work for the Intermediate examination. O.uestions of 

 this type will be continued in feach issue : — - 



Seasonal Notes. 



SEI'TEMlipii. 

 1st Fortnioht. 



The period ha.s arrived whei^ the tields are being pre- 

 pared for sugar-canes. Students .should note the character of 

 the soil as it is turned up by th^ plough.s, forks or hoes. 

 The dejith to wliirli tlie.se impleiiLPnts turn up the soil .should 

 be accurately measured. The character of the subsoil .should 

 be noted. Xote what is done with the old cane stools and 

 t(i what extent the old stools are att'eeted by root disease. 



Ill the cotton tields young cotton will be grfiwing ; note 

 the manner of growth of a cotton root and compare it with 

 a eaiie root. Observe the maujier in which cotton seed 

 germinates and what becomes of tin' eotyledonary leaves. 



:iMi FoRT.VloHT. 



Preparation of land for sugar-cane is in progress. 

 Pen manure is being ajiplied. Note how much iiianure is 

 given per acre. Endeavour to asi-ertain either the number of 

 cubic feet or the weight. Note what materials are used to 

 produce the manure. Note whether the manner in which man- 

 ure is jirepaied or stored renders it liable to loss or waste. 



Ill the cotton fields, note whether any plants are grow- 

 ing which differ in appearance from others and what is the 

 nature of any ditJ'erences that majTbe evident ; note whether 

 these tlower before or after the others, and when the bolls 

 arc ripe, whfther the lint is better' or worse in iinality. 



I'RKHjMINAKV yCRSTIONS. 



(1) What is the atmosphere, and of what is it composed? 



(2) Write a short account of Carbon Dioxide, and the 

 part it plays in animal and vegetable life. 



(.'3) Describe the changes which take jilace on cooling 

 and heating water, giving brief accounts of the properties of 

 ice and steam. 



INTEIIMKOI \TK t.iCK.STIONS. 



(1) What puri)0.se is .served by the breaking up of the 

 soil in cultivation .' 



(2) How is water retained in soil, and how does tlii.s 

 admit of the simultaneous presence of air and water ? 



(3) Plow is air-space in a .soil related to the fineness of 

 the particles; 



FUTURE RUBBER PRODUCTION IN 

 THE EAST. 



A note in a late issue of the Iiiilla-nihlji)- .loiiriial 

 discussed the possible output of rubber that may be expected 

 from the plantations of Ceylon and Malaya in the course of 

 the next ten years or so. 



At pre.sent an area of about ;3.50,000 acres has been 

 planted with rubber in the East. , Estimating the possible 

 return on the low basis of 1 lb. per .tree at eight or ten years 

 old, at least 17,500 tons of plantati,<>n rubber would be turned 

 out in 1U18. On .some estates in Ceylon, however, planta- 

 tions at this age yield an average, return of 2 lb. or even 

 more per tree per annum. At this rate a crop of from 

 3.5,000 to 40,000 tons per year wotild be expected from the 

 lilantations of the East, ten years, i^rom now. This quantity 

 represents about one-half the prespnt rubber production of 

 the world. Taking into account shortage of crops, badly 

 developed estates, ravages of disea.se, etc., it would be reason- 

 able to place the anticipated output of 1917-8 at about 

 2.5,000 tons 



