Vol. XVII. No. 425. 



TH2 AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



The difference between the method of feeding of the 

 larvae and of the adults of these parasitic insects is of interest, 

 and while the actual feeding of the larva, causing the death 

 of another insect which is an agricultural pest, is rightly con- 

 sidered a matter of greatest importance in e.stimating 

 the value of the work of the parasite, it is shown that 

 the very dift'erent habits of feeding on the part of 

 the adults must be taken into account in any attempt to 

 introduce these insects from one country into another, or to 

 distribute them from one locality to another in the same 

 country. The varied feeding habits of the adults of nearly 

 related species make it necessary to study each species by 

 itself in this respect. 



Tha matter of parasite introduction is now recognized 

 ;as involving milch more than the mere carrying of the 

 Adults from one place to another, and liberating them in 

 .good Gondition to live and increase in numbers. 



H.A.B. 



=1 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS ©f LOCAL mTEllIT, 



NE\ H On account bi the prevailing dry weather, oiJei-a^ 

 tions at the Botanic Station during the month of June were 

 practically at a standstill. The following represent plant 

 ■distribution from ihe Station daring the month: sweet potato 

 cuttings, 25,000: white velvet beafti*, 18 ft., Mazzagua Guinea 

 •corn, 2 lb. Mr. W. I. Howell, the Agi'rcaltural Instructor, state.s 

 in respect of staple crops, that tlie .yoting canes throughout 

 the island are juffering very much tVom want of rain; 

 the supplies have grown very badly, ant« the fields arc all 

 irregular. The «>tton crop also is makiog very slow pro- 

 gress on account of the dry weather. There being no oppor- 

 tunity for supplying, many of the fields are growing very 

 irregularly; in some places planting has not yet been done 

 A fair acreage was planted in provision crops in May, but 

 these are doing badly on account of the prevailing dry 

 weather. The rainfall for the mouth was 202 inches- for 

 the year to date, 18 95 inches. ' 



The Beport of the Agricultural Instructor for the quarter 

 ending June 30, which has also been received at this Office 

 mentions that in the Experiment Station an acre plot was 

 planted in the best varieties of sweet potatoes during the 

 early part of the quarter, chieHy with the object of supplying- 

 cuttings to growers when the weather permitted planting to 

 be done. This plot of poUtoes, Mr. Howell states, has 

 proved of greatest value to planters in the island, for in 

 the month of May, when the rains came, there were prac- 

 tically no pota.ti) cuttings available elsewhere, and a very 

 large number of cuttings was distributed from the Station. 



There has been a great demand for muscovado sugar in 

 the neighbouring islands, ohiefiy at Antigua, where good 

 prices were obtained. Advantage was taken of this by 

 planters in Ne-vi?, and it is now feared that there will 

 be a shortage of sugar during the latter part of the year 

 as practically the whole crop has been sold, and very little 

 kept on hand for local consumption. 



The total quantity of cotton purchased for the Admiral- 

 ty now amounts to 1,324 bales, weighing 398,592 ft. This 

 cotton wan not all grown in Xevis: a fair ((uantity came 

 from the Dutch islands, and from Montseriat. 



VIRGIN isL.\M..s. The Uirator, Mr. W. C. Fishlock 

 writes to say that lack of labour interfered considerably witli 

 operations in the Experiment Station during the month of 



Jufle. In consequence it has been impossible to plant any 

 cotton or other crops in the experiment plots. What little 

 labour was available had to be utilized in keeping cultivation 

 already established in some semblance of order. Plant dis- 

 tribution included 37G^i ft. of cotton seed, and 24 cobs of 

 Indian corn. The outlook as far as the cotton crop is con- 

 cerned is good: the weather has been favourable, and there 

 has been considerable activity in planting, on an area probably 

 larger than for some years past. Large areas have also been 

 planted in ground provisions, and all cultivations are at 

 present in good condition. No pests have been reported. 

 Rain fell in measurable quantity on thirteen days of the 

 month, the total precipitation registered at the Station being 

 4-83 inches. The average for the same month for- the pre- 

 ceding seventeen j^ears is 454 inches. " '" ' 



:kGRlCULTURE IN BARBADOS. 



There is no comparison between the rainfall of this 

 month with that registered last July. Last year some districts 

 had as much as 10 inches for the month, and in most parishes 

 the total was 12 inches. This year the record to date is 

 iibout 3 inches in the south of the island, and slightly over 4 

 iiicheb: ia tbe central and northern parishes. This total is 

 somewhat .below the average rainfall for July, but the distri- 

 bution of it has u°en very satisfactory. 



With the closing or uxJ5°P^'.°'^ *^inie is being lost with 

 the tillage of various kinds whicti j'"'^ t-a.ken in hand at, 

 this time of the year. 



We observe that trash is being turned in in a very fair 

 number of fields. This means that fertilizers will be applied 

 at a later date Iw these fields, instead of farmyard manure 

 Already we estfl see carts proceeding to the various parishes 

 with fheep manure evidently for application to fields which 

 will not receive a share of home made manure. It would be • 

 well if fields thus treated could also be green-manured It; ' 

 should be remembered that green manuring is feasible, inex- 

 pensive, and has been reckoned among the most potent agents 

 for enriching the soil. At this time when mineral manures 

 are so scarce and so costly nothing that can add to the ferlil- 

 ity of the soil should be omitted. 



Agriculturists will always find it to their advantage 

 to improve the land without ' the aid of foreign manures. 

 These are valuable as a stimulant, but the back°bone should 

 be vegetable and animal manures. 



Field pens are being forced everywhere, and it is sur- 

 prising to see how quickly heaps of compost are built up 

 and the hurdles removed to other fields. Not only are estates 

 carting the manure from the yard into the hurdle pens for 

 forcing purposes, but they are buying;manure from labourers 

 or others so as to hasten rach heap to its conclusion. <Jf 

 course, the faster that cane trash and c*netops can be 

 trampled into the pens the better. The most successful 

 planter is he who can provide the greatest quantity of well 

 trampled manure for application by the time his fields are 

 ready to receive the cane plant. 



The provision crops have started well. We do not think 

 the yam crop in general is as advanced as we have been 

 accustomed to see it. The majority of fields seem to have 

 been planted later than usual, owing, perhaps, to the neces.sity 

 there was for planting; potatoes first. , 



Potatoes are still scarce. As soon as it is known that 

 a Held is for sale, it is practically surrounded by carts, and 

 at the end of the first d.y almost the whole field has been 

 bought up. There are standing fields of corn in many 

 districts, but very little has as yet been harvested. (The 

 Barl'iidos Agrktilltirnl lu'forte^, July 27, 1918.) 



