Vol. XVn. No. 434. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



389 



This may be rubbed on the clothes or body. A few 

 drops on a bath towel hung over the bed will keep Cit/cx 

 hipiens away for a whole night. 



Graybill lists many repellents against flies, which have 

 been tried on animals. The most successful substances 

 tried by him were -50 per cent, pine tar in cotton-seed oil, 

 or 10 per cent, oil of tar in cotton-seed oil, when applied 

 lightly. Fish oil is a very effective repellent. Bishopp's 

 fish oil repellent is very effective in keeping flies from live 

 stock, when applied lightly. ■ Tt. consists of:— 



Fish oil 1 gallon 



Oil of tar 2 oz. 



Oil of pennyroyal 2 oz. 



Kerosene \ pint 



Mosquito nets fw the bed are used in many parts of 

 the South where the buildings are unscreened. Campers 

 who sleep in hammocks may easily arange a good sleeping 

 net by tying a rope to the hammock supports, and hanging 

 from this a tent-shaped net. which can be fastened at the 

 ends, and tucked in beneath the blankets. 



Hegh illustrates mosquito bars for tent coverings, for 

 lent doors, and soldiers' cots, and also a mosquito bar 

 fastened inside a small soldier's field lent, so that the sid-s 

 of the tent can be raised to give air. Various types of 

 protfcctive headgear have been described for troops in tropi- 

 cal countries, two of which are illustrated by Hegh. 



The references cited below are worthy of study in 

 connexion with this lecture. There are many other works 

 in all languages on the special problems of different countries. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



I. Freeborn, Stanley B., and Atsatt. llodneyF., 1918. 

 The effects of petroleum oils on mosquito larvae'- 

 Journ. Econ. E,it., Vol II, No. 3, pp. 299-30". 



*2 Graybill, E. W., 1914. 'Repellents for protecting 

 animals from the attacks of Hi s'. United States 

 Department of Agriculture, Bulletin lU, 26 pp. 



3. Hegh E., 1918. 'Comment nos Planteurs et nos 



Colons peuventils se proteger contre les Mous- 

 tiques qui transmettent des maladies'. Minister 

 of Colonies, Service of Agriculture of Belgium, 

 Etndes de Biologie Agricok, No. 4, 200 pp. 



4. Howard L- C, Dyar, H- G., and Knab, F., 1912. 



'The Mosquitoes of North and Central America 

 and the West Indies- Vol. I, Carnegie Institution 

 of Washington, pp. 320-449. 



5. L" Prince, Joseph A., and Orenstein, A. G , 1916- 



'Mo.'quito Control in Panama', 'The Era.lication of 

 Malaria and Yellow Fever in Cuba and Panama'. 

 G. P. Putman's Sons, 325 pp. 



6. Howard, L. O., 1917. 'Reme.lies and Preventives 



agiinM Mosqui'.oes'. United States Depaitmont 

 of Agriculture, Farmers' Biilktin 444. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



viEGiN ISLANDS. During the month of October, 60 

 coco-nut plants and 500 potato cuttings were distributed, 

 and 10 lb. of cotton seed sold. Regarding staple crops 

 Mr. W. C. Fishlock states that cotton cultivations have res- 

 ponded to the more favourable climatic conditions experi- 

 enced since the middle of September, and are now, generally 

 speaking, in fair condition. There is a fair leal supply of 



ground provisions, but, in sympathy with St. Thomas, prices 

 rule very high. Quite large patches are being planted, and 

 the aggregate area under these crops must be considerable. 

 The sugar industry is in a bad state. Cotton worm is re- 

 ported from several districts, and there is a shortage of Paris 

 green. During the month the weather was showery. Riin 

 fell in measurable quantity on twenty-eight days, the total 

 precipitation registered at the Botanic Station, Tortola, being 

 742 ir.ches, as compared with 7'16 inches, the average for 

 the month for the previous seventeen years. .Sharp earth- 

 quake shocks were experienced on October 11, 14, and 2.3. 



AGRICULTURE IN BARBADOS. 



The rainfall for November, though generally a moderate 

 one, has been, as far as distribution is concerned, fairly satis- 

 factory. At the date of writing the total is between 5 and 

 6 inches, if we except certain districts in the western and 

 south-western portions of the Island, where a very heavy rain 

 fell on November 17. 



The planting of the young crop proceeds rapidly Kin 

 the majority of estates all the fields that are to be pat under 

 B. 6f:00 have been planted, and progress is being made with 

 the planting of the other seedlings. The germination of the 

 fields planted three weeks ago has apparently been satisfac- 

 tory, and already many shoots are to be seen above the banks. 

 It would appear that, in general, care is being taken with 

 the selection of plants. Most planters have determined 

 not to put in anything except cuttings from plant canes or 

 from nurseries. But here and there we notice esta'es which 

 planted cuttings from fields of ratoons which are lacking in 

 vigour. This reminds one of the old proverb of saving a 

 penny but losing a pound. We are aware that in some dis- 

 tricts there are first ratoons from which very healthy plants 

 can be obtained, but the most vigor >iis plints are those to be 

 got from plant canes, or from healthy nurseries. Whatever 

 the cost, the best cuttings should be secured, and whatever the 

 waste of cine every cutting which is not in the best condition 

 should be discarded. 



This year, too, as in recent years, planters are tioding it 

 • Hfficult to complete the manuring of their fields, and, in all 

 probability, this will not be finished before the end of 

 .January. .And late manuring in any year means a shortage 

 for the next. Pi»niers are doing their best bit it xvill 

 doubtless mean that the las' fields will receive short rations 

 .\s in previous reports, we would state ihit pasture land, if 

 cared, would greatly assist in the accumulation of manure. 

 .At present there arc sever il hundreds of acres of grass which 

 yield at most only one fourth of what they would if they 

 received at intervals an application of sheep manure mixed 

 with mould. The cost wo'iH be inconsiderable, and the 

 benefit incomputable. 



We learn that limited sales of dark crystals have already 

 been made at -SS' 20 per 100 lb. and we have heard that 

 a factory owner has made a large engagement of syrup at .^Oc. 

 per gallon- At this date last year syrup opened at 2Gc. per 

 gallon, and this price induced a few owners to sell out their 

 entire crops. 



Many peasants have taken advantage of the favourable 

 weather, and, since selling cane plants from their small 

 holdings, have put in potatoes and other crops. We ar*. 

 glad to see this, as the cessation of hostilities does not 

 mean that plenty will follow immediately. The future ■ is 

 uncertain and we should maintain intensive production 

 with a prudent use of all foodstuffs-. (The Barbados Ai\ri- 

 (ultural Reporter, November :», 1918.) 



