338 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



OcroBEK 25, 1913. 



no occasion to buy tu the extent they do, provided 

 the cultivation <>f corn be conducted on a more 

 intensi\e and extensive s&ile under co-operative 

 conditions. Tliose interested in the matter — and 

 there are a large number— will remember possibly, 

 a previous editorial on this subject. It may be 

 recollected that great importance was attached in 

 that article to the introduction of co-operative 

 methods for the collection, drying and storage of 

 the grain. It is, it seems, the depreciation of stored 

 grain in the Tropics which tends to check the extension 

 of the area under Indian corn, and strangely onough, 

 in America itself, where as a general rule only grain 

 iFor export is passed through the hot air driers, 

 the Department of Agriculture is now considering what 

 methods shall be adopted in the case of corn produced 

 for immediate or early consumption on farms, in order 

 to check the damage occasioned, particularly under 

 unfavourable climatic conditions, by weevils and 

 mildew. Apart from the initial loss — which is very great 

 — occasioned by these organisms, there is also strong 

 evidence which indicates that diseased corn and corn 

 fodder tend to induce a disease known as cerebral men- 

 ingitis of horses. There is a likelihood, then, that the 

 cost of producing corn will tend co rise in America, and 

 this together with an increased demand, is likely to 

 render it necessary for the West Indies either to do 

 without the grain or else produce it themselves on 

 sound economic lines. 



Quite recently the Government of the Leeward 

 Islands has given the matter detailed attention as the 

 outcome of the previous editorial in this journal, and in 

 a recent paper on the subject read by His Excellency 

 the Governor before the Antigua Agricultural Society, 

 it was suggested that an experiment should be con- 

 ducted with a central kiln drier on commercial lines, 

 the necessary funds to be obtained by co-operative 

 donations and, if necessary, with the assistance of the 

 Government. The chief questions which the proposed 

 experiment would be intended to settle would be, first, 

 •whether locally grown corn can be properly kiln-dried 

 in these islands; secondly, whether the grain so treated 

 is equal in quality to the grain now imported: thirdly, 

 ■whether it will keep as well; and, lastly, whether it 

 •will sell as well. 



There can be no doubt that the first three ques- 

 tions can be answered in the attirmativo. There has, 

 however, been some hesitation shown in regard to the 

 last, and that will be the main object of the proposed 

 investigation. From an external economic point of 



view. It is believed that the information given in this 

 article, although treating of only one side of the subject, 

 is encouraging, and lends considerable support to the 

 idea that conditions of production and consumption in 

 America are favourable in respect of an increased 

 production of grain in the West Indies, and, in a 

 general way, looking into the future, the view may be 

 expressed that -with proper co-operation, it will be 

 found cheaper in a few years' time tor a merchant to 

 buy from a central kiln-drying plant established 

 locally in certain islands like Antigua and Barbados, 

 than from the Fnited States of America or even from 

 the world's gr^eatest corn exporting country — the 

 Argentina. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



SUGAR-CANE EXPERIMENTS AT 

 ANTIGUA. 



At the meeting of the Antigua Agricultural and Com- 

 mercial Society held on Fridaj-, October 1, ilr. H. A. 

 Tempany, B Sc, Superintendent of Agriculture for the 

 Leeward Islands, laid before the members a summary of the 

 results obtained in the recently concluded experiments with 

 varieties of sugar-cane. 



The trials were conducted on plants and fii-st ratoons 

 on the fields of estates in ditl'erent parts of the island, 

 the treatment received by the plots being essentially similar 

 to that of previous years, and to that received by the ordinary 

 canes of the estate. The canes were planted in rows travers- 

 ing the field. In all, forty-two varieties were under experi- 

 ment, the list of canes grown being closely similar to that of 

 the previous season. 



The following tables indicate the mean yields: — 



1"I,.\ST ■•ANES. 



Means for each variety grown in 1912-13. 

 Name. No. of plots Pounds per acre 



grown. in juice. 



1. B.459G 8 .5,410 



2 B.3922 8 .-),140 



3. Sealy Seedling V 4,480 



4. B.254 V 4,450 



5. B.(J450 8 4,240 



6. B.lOy 7 4,050 



7. White Transparent 7 3,980 



8. B.152S 8 3,910 



9. D.llll 8 3,720 



10. 15.147 7 3,720 



11. B.1355 8 3,710 



12. D.74 8 3,600 



13. B.393 7 3,560 



14. B.208 7 3,530 



15. B.37G 7 3,510 

 IG. B.3696 8 3,510 

 17.15.3675 8 .3,510 



18. IJ.848 8 3.500 



19. 1). 109 7 3,4.50 



20. I).62."i 8 3,450 



