Vol Xll. No. 303. 



THH AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



387 



DEM^TMENlM^TEPm^ 



GHENADA: REPORT ON Til i: AGRICULTURAL 

 DEPARTMENT, I'.ij .'7;. 



This publication reallj' consists dl five separate reports 

 written by the otlicers in charge of the work which is sum- 

 marized Keference to the numerous matters dealt with is 

 facilitated by the provision of a table of contents on the 

 first page, and by the introduction nl general subject head- 

 ings, which are inserted immediately under the numbers at 

 the top of each page. 



EXPERIMENTAL \Vc)l;K WITH t'.^C^O. 



The general administration report which constitutes 

 the first section of the publication, provides, as its title 

 implies, a general review of the organization and of the work 

 done and contemplated b}' the Department as a whole. A com- 

 mencement has been made in regard to ex])erimental work with 

 cacao Manurial experiments started comprise serie.s to test 

 the effects of different nitrogenous manures sulphate of potash, 

 basic slag and mulch. Spraying experiments have also been 

 carried out Two points were involved in this latter line 

 of work: (1) the poisoning of epiphytic growths on the 

 trunks of cacao trees in wet di.strict,=. and (2) the lessening 

 of fungoid diseases of the fruit and )urk. Gopp?r sulphate 

 solution was used in the first instance and Bordeau.x mix- 

 ture in the second. The results of the trials with J'.ordeaux 

 mixture do not attbid reason to believe that the method 

 will be of much value in (Jrenada unless fungoid diseases 

 become more prevalent. As regards the use of copper 

 sulphate solution, it was found that the application of 

 i gallon per tree was efficacious in killing all epiphytic growth. 



Besides these experiments, others have been arranged with 

 the object of selecting desirable types of cacao. There are 

 nciw about twenty four trees marked out for this line of 

 work, and this year (1913) a definite beginning will l)e made. 



After giving interesting information in regard to the 

 improvement of Indian corn, the suitability of varieties of 

 sugar-cane, and trials with cotton, limes, coconuts and other 

 crops, the section concludes with a list of scale insects 

 attacking cultivated plants in Grenada 



WORK IN THE LA1>0R.\T()KY. 



The report on the laboratory shows that attention has 

 been mainly directed towards a soil survey, and a large number 

 of physical analyses of different soils and subsoils are given. 

 Crenada soils may be divided for practical purposes into red, 

 black, and grey soils The red soils have a high percentage 

 of silt and fine silt In the black soils the proportion of sand 

 is much greater, whilst in the grey a high percentage of coarse 

 ^nd occurs. As might be expected, the "heaviness' of the 

 soi's decreases in the order in which the soils have Just been 

 referred to. The report also gives results of experimr nts on 

 shrinkage and friability of soils Future investigations will 

 be conducted to extend the results of the different r.nalyses, 

 and to deal with specific cases of soil fertility or poverty. 



WOUK IN THE IIOTAXIC tlAROENS. 



A notable feature of the list of plants distributed from 

 the Botanic Gardens presented in the next report, is the 

 diversity of the various species sent out. This reflects the 

 interesting nature, and therefore the educational value, of the 

 garden, whilst economically it shows that efforts are being u.ade 

 towards the diversification of agriculture of the smaller estates. 

 Large numbers of cane plants and coco-nuts were sent out. 

 The former constitutes the staple crop on most of the 

 settlements, and it is sati.sfactory to learn that coconut 

 planting is being taken up not only by the larger landed 

 proprietors but also by peasant holders as well. 



EFFORTS IX CONNE.XION WITH PEASANT INSTEUCTION. 



This section of the publication is principally of local 

 concern, though the notes on peasant agriculture present points 

 of general interest and indicate the dilliculties which the 

 agricultural officers in Grenada are endeavouring to overcome. 

 The greater portion of this report (seventeen pages) is devoted 

 to the presentation of results of the judging of the Prize-hold- 

 ings Scheme. These results show, on the whole, that the usual 

 lassitude exists amongst the peasants. Improvements are re- 

 quired in connexion with drainage, the conservation of manure 

 and the provision of the wind breaks. Efforts have been, and 

 continue to be made lo awaken the holders to these facts. 

 It may be stated tb^t there are indications that the Brize- 

 holdings Scheme will continue to increase in po[)ularity and 

 effect, particularly in the case of crops other than cacao. 



REPORT ON LAND SETTLEMENTS. 



Readers will be iamiliar with the circumstance that Land 

 Settlement now forms an essential feature of the agriculture 

 throughout the entire Windward Islands The existence of 

 small holdings has made it necessary to retain amongst them 

 an area which may be devoted by the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment to demonstration work and experiments. By means of 

 these plots it is possible to bring about more easily, the intro- 

 duction of a diversified system of cropping on the holdings, 

 and to enable the Department to provide for the allottees 

 selected seed and other planting material. Amongst those 

 crops dealt with experimentally at these stations are sugar- 

 cane varieties (of which B. 147 has proved itself to be very 

 generally suitable), cotton, tobacco, Indian corn, coco nuts, 

 pine apples, fruit trees and ground provisions. It is sati.s- 

 factory to observe from a table given at the end of the 

 report, that the class of persons purchasing allotments in the 

 Land Settlement districts during 191213 were principally 

 agricultural labourers. 



FOREST RESERVES. 



A short account is given at the end of the publication 

 of the work done on the Forest Reserve. During the year 

 the.se areas have been increased. It is also interesting to note 

 that on some of this land Para and Castilloa trees have been 

 planted. The essential aim of the.se Re.serves is to maintain 

 forest conditions around the sources of the two streams 

 from which the island's water supply is principally obtained. 

 Two rangers were employed during the year under the 

 Land Officer to prevent squatting and the cutting of wood. 

 For a full account of forestry conditions in Grena;da, see 

 West India)' Jlnf/etin. Vol. .Mil, Xo. 4. 



Appended to the publication are monthly returns of 

 the rainfall for 1912 13 at fourteen different stations situated 

 in various parts of the island. 



