4i>2 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Dki'I'.muer •2•^, 1918. 



destroyed, and alsofixina; a time 'betbre which no cotton 

 plant may be planted, thus creating a period, at least 

 of about one month, during whirh no cotton plant is in 

 existence in any given district. Such an arrangement 

 -assists greatly in the eonirol of pests and diseases, and 

 creates a barrier which to a large extent prevents the 

 carrying over of these pests and diseases from one season 

 t«-> .another. This is not snrticient in all cases, and it 

 still remiins for cotton growers to take the proper steps 

 to control such pests as may arise, and it may also be 

 necessary to take other compulsory measures. 



It is not necessary now to deal with cotton questions 

 in detail. Suffice it to say that, troublesome though it is, 

 the industry is one which should not be neglected, for it 

 is capable of putting considerable sums into circulation, 

 and of adding considerably to the value of the exports 

 of those islands where the conditions are favourable for 

 the cultivation of this crop. 



Reference may be made to the ipieslion of the 

 -production of food crops as affecting efficiency. 

 Althousrh the war is drawing to a close, it must not be 

 -expected that the cessation of hostilities will lead to an 

 immediately increased and cheapeneil food supply:indeed 

 it IS likely that the opposite will be the case. The armies 

 still have to be (e(\, and it will be some time before the 

 fighting men can turn to the work of food production. 

 Furthermore, the marked shortages of food on the 

 European Continent have to be (iealt with from the 

 fud supplies of the Allies, and this will tend to con- 

 sume more than any surplus which might have been 

 -created by the vigorous efforts of the past few months. 

 Then again there will remain a serious shortage of 

 .-^hipping, for many of the ships will <>{ necessity be 

 engaged in the work of transportitig troops and uiili- 

 tary stores. Hence we may look forward U> n period of 

 some length during which imported foods may be 

 both scarce and dear. It is necessary to provide for 

 this by continuing and even increasing the efforts iu 

 the direction of local food supplies. This matter 

 should have consideration on the part both of the 

 local ( Governments and of the planters if the work is 

 to be carried out in an efficient manner, and the 

 assurance reached that there will be ade<|uate supplies 

 of food to obviaUi .lerious discomfort or inconvenience. 

 It mav be well if estate owners will undertake to plant 

 n fixed anil stated proportion of their arable land in 

 food crops, and if they will carefully consider the 

 nature of the crops to be planted, so as to ensure a 

 proper diversity, and the avoiding of a glut of pi-rish- 

 able material. 



The cultivation of corn, and peas an<l beans which 

 are capable of being stored, will doubtless have due 

 consideration. The existence in some islands of grain 

 driers is a fact of some importance, of which full 

 advantage should be taken. The excellent work 

 that his been done in So. Vincent io connexion 

 with the grain drier which has been erected and oper- 

 ated in that colony makes evident how useful such an 

 appliance is when properly used in conjunction with 

 such things as adequate storage bins, grinding mills, and 

 other accessories. It may be pointed out that in thati 

 colony planters ami merchants availed themselves of the 

 means of ridding grain from weevils and moulds, and 

 of storing it for short periods until re<|uired for use, 

 whereby much food was saved to the colony. 



Amongst matters relating to food production, 

 reference may be made to pigs, and to the making of 

 pork, bacon, and other products. As is well known, the 

 Imperial 1 )epartment of Agriculture has long advocated 

 the increased keeping of pigs in those islands, and the 

 Commissioner has suggested that pig raising might 

 well assume the character of a large staple industry. 

 It should be quite po.ssible to raise pigs in suffi- 

 cient nnmbeis to permit of the erection ami work- 

 ing of Itacon factories of luate considerable size, and 

 the agriculture of the islands would be. greatly stimu- 

 lated thereby. There is an increased interest being taken 

 in this ipiestion of pig raising, and it is to be hoped that 

 it will receive serious and systematic attention. It is 

 a business which has great potentialities, but it must 

 be recognized that it is a business which neecis know- 

 ledge, skill, and energy for its successful operation. 



With an interest in pig raising one may also hope 

 to see increased interest in other branches of animal 

 iuduatrv. The raising of catt'e is a business of some 

 little importance, even for the production of the work- 

 ing cattle re<iuired for the estates: but it can hardly 

 be saici that the industry receives tiu' skilled attention 

 it deserves. So far as is evident, very little care is 

 taken in the selection of animals for breeding. In this 

 connexion it is interesting to refer to the great pains 

 and expense incurred some si.x years ago by Messrs. 

 Henckell, 1 'u P)uisson & Co., in the importation of four 

 Indian cattle into Antigua. These cattle constitute 

 an important addition to the breeding stock of that 

 island, and, if intelligently u.sed, their infUience should 

 extend beyoml the island, and have a maiked influence 

 in neighbouring colonies. There are po.ssibilities in 

 this way of improving the generd run of working 

 cattle, but beyond Ihat it should be jiossible to 



