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THE AGRICULTUllaL NEWS; 



February 15, 1913. ■ 



W^^. 





GLEANINGS. 



A notice in recent numbers of the St. I.urin G(i\r(tc 

 states that the holdings entered for the Cacao Prize holdings 

 Scheme in the Soufricre district of St. I.ucia will be judged 

 after the 23rd instant. 



The plant distribution at the Dominica Botanic Station 

 during last month amounted to a total of 4,998, including: 

 limes 4, 310, Para rubber 474, vanilla 100, shade trees uO, 

 budded citrus 22. grafted mangoes 10, mi.^cellaneous 32. 



'J'lie plants distributed by the Antigua Agricultural 

 Department during .January last were as follows: sugar cane 

 1 13,250, limes 1,83(1, coco-nuts 970, forest trees, 294, sweet 

 potato cuttings 30,000. There were also included 2 lb. and 

 i>ne bag of various seeds. 



As in some other islands, rain has interfered with cotton- 

 picking in .Montserrat; although some estates have been able to 

 get a very good second picking, in spite of the wet weather. 

 A few of the estates will eventually harvest a good crop, but 

 this is by no means the case with most of the small planters. 



It is stated by the Curator of the ISotanic Station, 

 Antigua, that the presence of the flower- bud maggot of cotton 

 was reported from the windward district of the island on 

 December 29, and that it was noticed by the Agricultural 

 Department on Januray 11. It is mentioned further that the 

 attack is not severe. 



A publication entitled Ferlilixrs an an Aid to Prulit- 

 ii'le farmhiff has been issued at the price of 3(/. by Messrs. 

 McfJIashan, Gregory A- Co., Printers, 20 Cullum St. and 

 Uury St., E.C. It consists of two parts, dealing with the 

 function and effects of the elements of plant food, and with 

 the value of agricultural experiments. 



A statement is contained in 77/( Board of Trade Joiirnnl 

 for December 26, 1912, which shows that the total quantity 

 rif ci'tton yarn spun, and of cotton woven goods produced, in 

 P.riti.=h India and the Native States during the six months 

 inded September 1910, 1911 and 1912, were resiiectivcly 

 122,043,o7Glb., 130,857, 127 lb., and 142,-) 20, 7 7 01b. 



A communication received from the .Superintendaiit of 

 Agriculture, Grenada, states that attempts made recently at 

 the llotanic Gardens to proiiagate Tholn-oinn Cacao, T. pen- 

 >a:oiia and T. Iiirolur by cuttings resulted, in complete 

 failure. Ordinary Forastero cacao was propagatad, however, 

 by circum position — a nn'thod having the chief ffbjectinn of 

 expcnsiveness. 



Jourii 



The Cyprus Joufnid for October 1912 contains the 

 text of a P>ill the object of which is to effect the gradual 

 exclusion of goats from Cyprus. This was to have beea 

 considered in the last session of the Legislative Council. 

 It would appear that the reason for the passing of such 

 a Bill is the presence in the island of Malta fever, a disease 

 that is transmitted by goats. 



Information received from the Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent, St.KittsNevis, shows that the general prospects of 

 the cane crop in the island have much improved: in the 

 Basseterre district, i o'nditions both of growth and freedoms 

 from disease are said to be in striking contrast to those of 

 last season Cotton-picking was nearly completed in January. 

 In a few cases the returns are above the average, but iit 

 a general way damage has been done by the constant rains 

 that have been received lately. 



The Cham'ier of Commerc. Journal for January 191S 

 states that information received from the Colonial Secretary, 

 Singapore, shows that the export of rubber from Strait* 

 Settlements ports in November last was 1,828,400 lb., as 

 compared with 1,232,800 B). in October. The figures include 

 transhiiiments from places such as Borneo, Java, Sumatra 

 and the non Federated Malay States, as well as rubber 

 produced actually in the Colony, but do not include rubber 

 exports from the Federated Malay States. 



The Centni/Uatt fiir Ba/,terioto<iii', 1911, p. 4, describes- 

 work with various disinfectants conducted with the object of 

 ascertaining their power to free seeds from bacteria and 

 fungi Nearly all the disinfectants used failed to destroy the 

 organi.sms producing disease, before a time had elapsed which 

 was sutticient for the germination of the seeds. The result* 

 are opposed to the conclusions of other investigators, and it is 

 considered that disinfection is often mistaken for a state 

 (antisepsis) in which the organisms have not been killed, bub 

 merely prevented from growing. 



Information received from the Superintendent of Agri- 

 culture, Barbados, shows that the area of gi owing cotton ia 

 the island during last calendar year was 3,971 acres of 

 which 231 acres was so-called ratoon cotton, or cotton plants 

 grown from the remains of plants of the former crop. The 

 areas of cotton grown in Barbados In the four previous 

 calendar years were'' as follows: 1908, 5,769 acres: 1909, 

 4,121 acres; 1910, 4,741 acres; 1911, 4,670 acres. The 

 figures show a steady decline in the Barbados cotton industry 

 which now gives signs of becoming rapid. 



The Commissioner of Agriculture has received informa- 

 tion from Sir Daniel Morris, K.C..M.G., that there is wanted 

 immediately, by an English Firm in Central America, 

 a capable assistant for plantation work, who should not be 

 over thirty years of age. A sound experience in sugar, 

 bananas, cacao and coconuts is essential, and a knowledge 

 of Spanish will be a recommendation. The commencing 

 salary will be £20 per month, with i|uarters. Application, 

 with full particulars and testimonials, should be made to the 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, Barbados. 



