372 



I'EE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



November 30. 1918. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



DoMixii A. The following comprised plant distribution 

 during the month of October: limes, 5,450; budded citrus, 

 48; nutmegs, 26; grafted mangoes, 11; miscellaneous, 33; 

 Nicaragua shade tree cuttinas, 10,000; horse beans, 65 ft).; 

 Tepbrosia seeds, 3 ft)., vegetable seeds sold, 180 packets; 

 black-ej-e peas, 84 ft). Mr. J. Jones, the Curator, states that the 

 crop from the lime experiment station during the month 

 aggregated 77 barrels, making a total to date of 694 barrels 

 of limes. The local market price for lime products remained 

 unchanged. Shipments during ihe month were .■satisfactory, 

 averaging 46,170 gallons of concentrated juice, and 132,700 

 gallons of raw juice. The cacao crop is late, and prospects 

 appear to be poor. The rainfall recorded for the month was 

 <)'67 inches. 



(;kex.\I).4. During the month of October the followng 

 plants and seeds were distributed: limes, 1,500; coco-nuts, 

 192; budded oranges, 26; grafted mangoes, 15; ornamental 

 plants, 15; Sea Island cotton seed, lift).; horse beans, 219 ft).; 

 red kidney beans; 9 ft).; large papaw seeds, 50 packets; 

 various seeds, 22 packets; cuttings, 4 Regarding staple 

 crops, Mr. Moore .states that the picking of cacao had begun, 

 promising a good crop in some sections though backward in 

 others. The nutmeg crop is spoken of as exceptionally good, 

 and the lime crop as good. Potatoes are being extensively 

 planted; yams are fair to good, according to cultivation; a 

 second crop of corn i.s being sown. Sea Ishnd and Marie 

 Galante cotton, where properly cultivated, are looking promis- 

 ing. Cotton staiuers are making their appearance. Mr. W. 

 Newell, Mycologist on the Staff of the Imperial Depaitraent 

 of Agriculture, visited the island from c3ctober 19 to 28, 

 investigating a disease of coco-nuts. The rainfall registered 

 at Richmond Hill during the month was 1176 inches. 



ST. Li'ciA. Plant distribution during the month of 

 October included: linies, 3,575; budded oranges, 20; coffee 

 (Robusta), 158; decorative and orni<mental plants, 16; cassava 

 cnttinfis, 550; vegetable seeds, 75 packets. Concerning staple 

 crops, .Mr. Brooks .states that cacao was being reaped, and 

 promised well; the lime crop was still comini; in; while sugar- 

 canes were growing well and gave promise of a good crop. 

 Shipments made from the Government Lime .Juice Factoiy 

 during the month comprised 3,680 gallons of concentrated 

 lime juice and 1,584 ft), of distilled lime oil to England, and 

 500 ft) of distilled lime oil to New York. The rainfall record- 

 ed during the month at the Botanic Gardens, Castries, was 

 13-46 inches; at the Agricultural and Botanic Station, 

 Choiseul, tl>e total precipitation was 7 '89 inches. 



.MOSTSKKRAT. The Curator, Mr. W. Robson, writes to 

 say that the weather during the month of October was 

 excellent for crops. Plant distribution included: lime plants, 

 2,500; bay plants, 700; corn, 184 ears; sweet potato cut- 

 tings, 1,690; sapodilla, 19; cowpeas, 31 ft).; sword beans, 

 21 ft).; climbing Lima beans, 9 ft). The Chateau bay plot yield- 

 ed 6,000 ft), of bay leaves to the end of October. There is 

 promi'e of a good second crop of cotton, the chief danger now 

 apprehended being an cxce.ssive rainfall during the next two 

 months. Of the 1918 cotton crop, 688 bales have been deliv- 

 ered to the Government : it now appears probable that the island 

 will make an average crop. The remainder of the 1917 crop 

 (416 bales) was shipped during the month. The destruction 

 of old cotton plants has been started on areas .severely 

 infested with leaf blister mite, or where the rains have 

 caused the plants to make excessive second growth. In one 

 or two districts cotton staioers are present in great numbers. 



Experiments have been sUrted to destroy silk-cotton trees by 

 means of poisons; the destruction of >(ahoe trees by felling 

 has also been commenced. The rainfall recorded at the Grove 

 Station during the month was 713 inches, chiefly in the early 

 part of the month; the total rainfall lor the year to ilate i'S 

 4 5 07 inche.«. 



ST. KiTT.-^. In his notes of interest for the month 

 of October, the Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. F. R. 

 Shepherd, states that there has been much improve- 

 ment in the crops in the Experiment Stations in conse- 

 quence of recent rains. I'lant distribution included 65 

 cypre (Cordia i^frnsca/if/iiis) for planting at Govern- 

 ment House. The condition of the Botanic Gardens 

 has much improved since the rains, and annuals have been 

 planted out. The cane crop throughout the island has also 

 considerably improved during the month, and in the northern 

 district a good average return is anticipated. In the Basse- 

 terre or Valley district, the ratoons are very poor in conse- 

 quence of the long drought and the absence of artificial 

 manures, and the returns are not expected to exceed the crop 

 of last year. • )n some estates where plant.s were available, the 

 planting of the new cane crop has begun. The cotton crop in 

 the northern district has been gathered, and the plants are 

 being turned under as the land is being prepared for cane. 

 The yield has been above the average for many years in this 

 district owing to the suitable weather. In the lower hnds 

 cotton picking is in full swing, and the new growth on the 

 plants consequent on the rains is remarkable. The cotton 

 worm has been very violent in its attacks, and large 

 quantities of poison had to be ii.«ed owing to the frequent 

 shower.'. Cotton stainers are also very prevalent, and the 

 recent Ordinance passed for i he destruction of their native 

 food-plants is very much needed. All the old cotton crop ha.s 

 now been shipped, together with 46 bales of the new crop 

 The rainjall for the month was 5-4S inches; for tlie year to 

 dale, 3478 inches. 



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

 writes to say that the plots in the Experiment Station were 

 all in good order. Plant distribution during October 

 included 17,000 sweet potato cuttings. The sugar-cane croD 

 throughout the island has very much improved since the 

 lains, and the crop, though very late, may not be as bad as 

 was anticipated. Preparation for next season's crop is in pro- 

 gress, and there will be a fair increase in the acreage pat under 

 cane. The cotton crop throughout the island is fairly good, 

 and reaping is in progress. Good returns are being obtained on 

 many estates, but it is feared that the heavy rains will ciuse 

 boll-shedding, and that the second picking will not be as good 

 as was expected. Cotton worms are very troublesome through- 

 out the island, and damage is being done to many fields. 

 In many cases a sufficient quantity of Paris green was not 

 secured by the planters, and in consequence, the worms were 

 not dealt with promptly. Cotton stainers are also very 

 abundant, and a fair amount of stained cotton and di.seased 

 bolls has occurred. Provision crops, on the whole, are doing 

 well; the planting of sweet potatoes is still in progress. The 

 rainfall for the month was 6'36 inches; for the year to date 

 40-72 inches. 



ANTKiLA. .According to items of interest forwarded by 



Mr. T. Jackson, plant distribution during the month of 



October comprised: eucalyptus, 2,788; coco-nut», 161; 



decorative plants, 47; miscellaneous, 4: suaar-cane cjttines 

 •)nr>. ..... — > ^...._ .....: ii ni\r, " _?.' 



200; sweet potato cuttings, 41,600; cassava cuttincs, 700- J 



cotton seed. 157 ft).; rice seed, 2." lb.; vegetable seeds, 2 

 packets. The cane crop, on account of the last two months' 

 seasonjible weather, has materially improved. Althou^.}, 

 ihec'iifs are low, they now have a healthy growth, j 



