Vol. XVII. No. 429. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWa 



311 



on' the work of former years. The members have good reason 

 to be satisfied with the present position, and with the bright 

 prospects of the future. The Balance Sheet, with its surplus 

 maintained at about last year's level, is evidence of the large 

 business which has developed in the few years of the A.-socia- 

 tion's existence. In comparison with Lancashire's require- 

 ments, it is true the British Cotton Growing production is 

 small, but it is not negligible, and one must not lose sight of 

 the fact that a very firm foundation has been laid for the 

 benefit of Lancashire and the Empire. The Association's 

 members may now see in the appointment of the Empire 

 Cotton Growing Committee, evidence of having, by their 

 cheerful sacrifices of the past, convinced the Government 

 Authorities that the question of the development of cotton 

 growing in the Empire is worthy of closer attention than it 

 has hitherto received. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



DOMINICA. During the month ot August, 2»9 barrels 

 of limes were gathered in the Lime Experiment Station, 

 making a total crop since April of about .536 barrels. Plant 

 distribution included the following; limes, 1,475: vanilla 100: 

 Eucalyptus, 49: bamboos, 59: budded citrus, 23: grafted 

 mangoes, 4; miscellaneous, 8-5; dracaena cuttings for wind 

 breaks, 150. In addition, 155 packets of vegetable seeds, and 

 26 tt>. of black eye peas were sold. Kegarding staple crops 

 Mr. .Jones states that the lime crop for the reason has reached 

 the maximum, and is now on the decline. Ripe limes continue 

 to sell at is- per barrel. The embargo on green limes and 

 other lime products has been raised, and it is understood 

 that shipments can be made freely. The free movement of 

 concentrated juice and citrate of lime to Xew York. Mr. Jones 

 says, will greatly help at this lime, but it is too late in the 

 season for much to be done in connexion with the green 

 lime trade. The total rainfall for the month was 846 inches. 

 High winds were experienced during the afternoon and 

 evening of August 22. Fortunately but little damage was 

 done 



sT. n.'ci.\. Plant distribution during the month of 

 August included 2,500 lime plants, and 738 decirative 

 and ornamental. In addition, 3 tt>. of cotton seed, and 47 

 packets of vegetable seeds were sent out. Mr. A. .J. Brooks, 

 the Agricultural Superintendent, states, in regard to staple 

 crops, that the cacao crop was setting, extension of the lime 

 crop continued steady, while the sugar crop was making a 

 good stand throughout the island. Special work had 

 been undertaken in connexion with the eradication of 

 love vine. The lime factory was working at fnlV=t 

 pressure, necessitating the ic^ulalibg oi liie lucummg 

 produce. The Chula drier arrived safelj, and has been erected 

 at the Granary; it gave satisfaction during its first trial. 

 The rainfall recorded at the Botanic Gardens, Castries, 

 during the month, was 790 inches; at the Agricultural 

 and Experiment Station, Choiseul, the record was 779 

 inches. 



ANTiGU.*.. The following plants were distributed during 

 the month of August; sisal, 3,229; henequen, 47; limes, 18: 

 vegetable seeds, 213 packets; cotton seed, 446 ft). .Some 

 20,000 sisal plants were imported und planted out in nurs- 

 ery beds in the Botanic Gardens. Mr. Jackson states that 

 dry weather was seriously aflfecting the cane crop throughout 

 the island. On the heavy lands, even with the best season- 



able weather during the next few months, only very limited 

 returns can be looked for. On siich types" o; land root 

 fungus is extremely prevalent. Some of the early cnttoa 

 fields look promising, and cotton is being harvested from 

 some of these. Others present a very inditferent appearance 

 on account of the severe drought. Many cotton planters 

 have not been able to get their crop established. Cotton 

 stainers have been observed in moderately large numbers. 

 Attacks of caterpillars were experienced, and some fields have 

 been attacked by aphis. The rainfall for the month was 

 2-02 inches. Crops throughout the island, except on one or 

 two estates, require rain badly. 



Since the above notes were received, news has come to 

 hand that welcome heavy rains have fallen, rendering the 

 outlook much brighter 



XEvis Mr. W. I. Howell, the Agricultural Instructor, 

 writes to say that during the month of August the plots in 

 the Experiment Station have all been kept in good order, 

 and the crops, on the whole, are doing a little better than in 

 previous months. 



Cotton in the demonstration plot is being reaped, but 

 the first picking will be poor, as the plants are very small, 

 and a number of the bolls were shed on account of the 

 drj' weather. Cotton worms made their appearance, but were 

 kept in check by the use of Paris green. The following 

 plants and seeds were distributed from the station during the 

 month: cotton seed, 4 lb.; sweet potato cuttings, 1,600; and, ic 

 addition, 70 lb. of Paris green. 



The cane crop throughout the island. Jlr. Howell states, 

 is very poor, and in some places presents a miserable appear- 

 ance. In the windward part of the island the weather has been 

 particularly drj-, and the crops have suffered very mueh. The 

 cotton crop in some places is doing fairly well, and picking ha.s 

 been begun, but the returns generally will be poor. In other 

 from the crop is late, and the young plants are suffering much 

 from want of rain. Cotton stainers are very plentiful, and in 

 some of the early fields a very high percentage of the crop is 

 stained cotton. Stainers have never been observed in such num- 

 bers so early in the season. Cotton worms were very active 

 during the month, and many fields in the Xew Road district 

 have been damaged through lack of proper attention, and 

 the use of poison which was mixed far too weak to be efi'ective. 

 Provision crops in the Gingerland district are looking fairly 

 \ifell, but in other places they are much in need of rain. The 

 rainfall for the month was -5 inches: tor the year to date, 

 28' 15 inches. 



Agriculture in Barbados.— The tirst hi teen days 



of September were marked by bw breezes, intense heat, and 

 heavy downpours of rain at intervals in various parts of the 

 i-land. These uownpours were sometimes partial, but the 

 whole island has registered a very satisfactory rainfall during 

 the past fortnight, while in some districts the total already- 

 reached is much above the average. Roughly speaking it 

 is already three times as much, and it has exceedeil to date 

 the total registered during any month this season. 



The cane crop — the plant canes especially — is mak- 

 ing excellent progress. One has but to visit a district at 

 intervals of a fortnight to observe the strides maile by some 

 fields. All estates have now had their full supply of sulphate 

 of amraonij, and planter.^ have been i iisy putting in the 

 second application to their ratoons. A good supply of Indian 

 corn is being reaped. Field after field is being broken in, 

 and the return in most cises has been satisf;ictory. (The 

 Barbados Agricultural Jiefi'rter, September 21, 1918.J 



