Vol. XVII. No. 413. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



53 



account of the recent drought, the crops of sweet potatoes 

 have in certain parts been a faihire. This, Mr. Jackson 

 observes, is a serious matter at the present juncture, as there 

 is a decided sciroity of foodstuffs in the island. During 

 the month the engine at the granary was taken to pieces, 

 the various jiarts receiving necessaiy attention, and the 

 engine re erected. The corn grindtr was taken down and 

 moved to a new position. This useful woik was done by 

 Mr. Henzell, and the thanks of the community are d'.e to 

 him for his valuable services. A preliminary run was made 

 with the meal-maker, and several bags of corn meal were 

 made. It would seem as though the alterations effected 

 are such as to allow corn meal to be made in the future. 

 This work is being proceeded with. More than 10,000 tt>. of 

 seed-cotton were purchased by the Antigui Cotton Growers 

 Association. Aproximately 30 acres of land have now been 

 allotted to peasants in connexion with the Sawcolts Land 

 Settlements Scheme. The rainfall during the month has bten 

 meagre, only 97 parts being recorded at the Botanic Station. 

 In the report of the Agricultural Instructor, which is 

 appended to the foregoing, it is stated that the peasants have 

 fully realized the seriousness of the food question, and are 

 utilizing all available lands at their disposal, which are not at 

 present unier cotton, for the planting of provisions. Fresh 

 areas are being opened up for this purpose. The planting of 

 corn has also been started, but to a limited degree, the time 

 being regarded by some peasants as out of se»son for this crop. 

 ST. KiTTS. The Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. F. K. 

 Shepherd, writes to say that o«ing to the very dry weather 

 little could be done in the Botanic G.rdens beyond watering 

 to keep the plants alive, together with general routine work. 

 The Basseterre sugar factory commenced to grind at the 

 end of the month with the prospect of a very small output, as 

 the canes were short and stunted. The germination of the 

 young cane crop is very poor, and. in addition to the lack of 

 rain, the very high winds now prevailing make it difficult to 

 establish a good stand of cane. On many estates it has been 

 impossible to plant out the sugar-cane variety experiments for 

 this season. The cotton crop is now off, and the land is being 

 prepared for planting canes. There seems to be a great ten- 

 dency to increase the acreage in cotton for the coming season, 

 and to this end all the selected seed has been already engaged. 

 The rainfall for the month was 106 inches, re^isteied in 

 very small ijuan titles, the highest being i7 inch. 



NEVIS. Mr. W. I. Howell, Agricultural Instructor, 

 writes to say that operations at the Experiment Station 

 during the month of January have been practically at 

 a standstill on account of dry weather. The cotton plot 

 had. been reaped, and a return of 1,"00 ft), of seed-cotton 

 obtained, which is a record for the plot. The old cotton 

 plants are being pulled up. The corn crop is ripening, but 

 the returns will be very poor, as the crop was badly affected 

 by the drought. With regard to staple crops. Mr. Howell 

 states that the cane crop is being reaped with very poor 

 returns Sugar is being made on all the estates, and sold 

 at good prices in the local market. Planting for next 

 season's crop is not yet completed, and, on account of the 

 dry weather, germination of plants is bad. The cotton crop 

 has almost been reaped, and, as was expected, the return^ 

 from the late fields have been very poor. Cudiuh stainers 

 are very prevalent throughout the island, and quite a large 

 number of bolls were attacked by internal boll disease, 

 causin^i a great amount of stained cotton. Prepara- 

 tion for next season's crop has Uegun in some places 

 but there are still many fields of old cotton left standing. 

 The reaping of potatoes is still in progress but lii ■ supi)ly of 

 provisions generally is getting 



number of bales of cotton purchased for the Imperial Govern- 

 ment to the end of January was 166. The rainfall for tha 

 month was 2'18 inches. 



less and less. The total 



AGRICULTURE IN BARBADOS. 



January closed with a rainfall of about - inches in the 

 south, south-western, and western parts of the island, while 

 in the districts in the centre of the island ihe register was 

 slightly ovef 4 inches. 



A larger rainfall would have been very acceptable, but we 

 cannot .say that January was a very unfavourable month 

 either for the young or for the old crop, although the prevail- 

 ing high winds have caused the old crop to present a more 

 weather-worn appearance than would otherwise have been the 

 case. 



The start made by the young cane crop has been distinct- 

 ly more favourable than last year. There is, no doubt, a good 

 deal of supplying still to be done in the fields last planted, 

 but those planted earlier are regular and, in some instances, 

 forward. 



Even in districts which at this time of the year have 

 completed the tillage and manuring of their young crop, 

 both these are still in progress Large quantities of manure, 

 both from the yard and field pens, are still being distributed, 

 and draining and forking are also going on It would be 

 more satisfactory if thorough tillage could be done earlier, 

 but it is better late than never. It is impossible to estimate 

 the value of exhaustive and intensive tillage. The particles of 

 the soil are minutely divided, the air gains access, and the 

 soil is rendered lighter and more permeable to the roots. The 

 vecetable matter it contiins decomposes more rapidly by 

 a constant turning of the soil, and wherever the fibres of the 

 roots penetrate they find organic fold provided for them, 

 and an abundant supply of oxygen of the air to aid in 

 preparing it. We do not suflBciently realize how much the 

 air a-ssists in the fertilization of the soil. We can greatly 

 enrich our land by having it thoroughly exposed to the 

 atmosphere by deep aud frequent tillage. 



Reaping has been started, but is not so general as at this 

 date last year. The canes are certainly not as ripe, and, as the 

 crop is a lighter one, ii is not thought nece.ssary to force the 

 pace. The density of the juice is not yet up to a good 

 .standard: 9. V is generally quoted. Practically all the wind- 

 mills are at work, as iheir progress is naturally slower than 

 steam powtr. All of these are making syrup, even where 

 machinery for centrifugal muscovado had been instilled. We 

 may say that, outside of the factories, very little sugar will 

 be made. The demand for liquid produce is strong, and 

 a good price is being paid. We are of opinion, however, 

 that the high price offered for molasses, Fancy and Choice, 

 is to some extent the result of competition in the local 

 market. The good price paid for syrup is enabling ownera 

 of estates on which this article is being manufactured to 

 purchase canes from the peasants at apparently a better price 

 than that offered by the factories. We have heard of one 

 such estate wh ch is purchasiny at ST'OO per ton. 



But little remains of the old yam crop for market 

 purposes, and eddoes are very scarce. Potatoes are being 

 retailed at 7 lb. for 10 c. An effort is being made to till the 

 land from which canes ha%-e been recently removed, in order 

 that potatoes may be planted All depends on the weather. 

 A small quantity of Indian corn has been reaped, and scattered 

 here and there are to be seen fairly healthy pots of growing 

 corn which, with showers at intervals, should develop satis-: 

 factorily. (Agricultural Reporter, February 9, 1918.) 



