Vol. XII. No. 286. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



125 



STUDENTS' CORNER 



APRIL. 

 Second Period. 

 Seasonal Notes. 



At this time of year lime nuiseries will probably need 

 careful attention. In some di.strict.s the plants may be suffer- 

 ing from drought. The bad effect may be lessened by main- 

 taining a mulch of loose soil on the surface, also the amount 

 of moisture lost may be reduced by covering the surface 

 with trash. What effect does this have upon the temper- 

 ature of the soil, and how does this influence the retention 

 of water? On the plantations, the trees will be blossoming 

 or will lately have blossomed, and in this connexion observa- 

 tions should be made to determine the influence of situation. 

 In exposed localities a low yield of fruit is occasioned by 

 the destruction of flowers by the wind, and this emphasizes 

 the importance of wind-breaks In dry localities it is 

 probable that a certain degree of shade is advantageous, 

 whereas under moist conditions abundant sunlight is always 

 desirable for vigorous growth and fruit production. Moist 

 conditions are not entirely regulated by the amount of 

 rainfall: the retention of water in the soil — particularly in 

 the subsoil — the humidity of the atmosphere and presence 

 of clouds have an important bearing upon the conservation 

 of rainfall, and must accordingly be considered in conjunction 

 with the precipitation of rain itself. 



Attention will soon have to be given to the preparation 

 of land for cotton and sugar cane. In some districts the early 

 planting of cotton is safer owing to weather conditions and 

 insect attacks. On e.states where cotton is grown over a large 

 acreage, before the cane is planted, it will be advisable to 

 supply the new cane crop with quick-growing varieties so that 

 the disadvantage of late supplies may not be felt later when 

 the crop is reaped. What varieties of cane germinate quick- 

 ly, and what varieties germinate .slowly? 



The planting of provision crops will also have to be con- 

 sidered. Care must be exercised in the selection of the best 

 cuttings, and the land must be got into proper condition in 

 order that planting may be proceeded with at once on the 

 receipt of rain. 



The editorial in this issue of the Agricultural News 

 should be read carefully and compared with a former leading 

 article on A West Indian Herd Book (see Agricultural News, 

 Vol. XII, p. 81). It will be seen that the improvement of live 

 stock and the improvement of pastures are closely connected. 

 In these columns in the la.st number of this journal it was 

 suggested that observations might be made on the general 

 characteristics of good class working cattle. This may be 

 extended to the matter of susceptibility of certain animals to 

 tick infestation. Xotice any differences between the nature of 

 the hide of a nearly or quite pure lired Zebu animal and 

 that of an animal partly descended from some European breed 

 or breeds. 



More directly in connexion with the improvement of 

 pastures read an account of West Indian grasses in the West 

 Indian Bulletin, Vol. IV, p. 3.").'5, and also the note on the 

 selection of devil's grass in the Agricultural News, Vol. XII, 

 p. 41 . Examine pastures for leguminous plants and grow those 

 found in boxes with a view to observing their characteristics. 



Interesting specimens of pasture plants may be forwarded 

 to the local agricultural department for further examination. 



Questions for Candidates. 



PRELIMIN.\EY QUESTIONS. 



(1) Compare with the aid of line drawings the root 

 system of a lime and cacao seedling. 



(2) How many teeth has a three-year-old horse and 

 a three-year-old cow? How many incisers and molars are 

 are there in each animal? 



INTERMEDIATE liUESTlONS. 



(1) Given an area of land for cane cultivation, would 

 it pay better to plant (a) half in plant canes each year 

 leaving half in ratoons, or (b) three-fifths in plants, one-flfth 

 in ratoons and one-fifth bare fallow? Discuss the matter 

 from a practical aspect. 



(2) What field implements correspond to the following 

 tools: spade, fork, rake, garden hoe and roller. Describe 

 accurately the work done by these implements, and give the 

 reasons for the beneficial results that accrue from their 

 employment. 



FIN.\L QUESTIONS. 



(1) What is the difference between a parasitic fungus 

 and a fungus parasite? Write a short essay on the utilization 

 of fungus parasites in ordinary estate practice. 



(2) In proceeding to drain a field, what would be the 

 Gon.siderations that would guide you in deciding upon the 

 course of the drains, their .size, dejith, distance apart, and the 

 outlet? 



An Appreciation of St. Vincent.— During the 



visit to St. Vincent, Her Highness Princess Marie Louise of 

 Schleswig Holstein took much interest in the Botanic Gardens, 

 and in order to leave behind in them a record of her visit, Her 

 Highness on the 4th instant, in the presence of a large gather- 

 ing planted a mahogany tree. 



In the Leeward District Her Highness visited the Linley 

 Valley estates and stayed at Belmont Rest House. She 

 appeared much interested in the agricultural progress on 

 these Land Settlement estates. Her Highness also evinced 

 a keen interest in the industries of the Colony, more particu- 

 larly in the Sea Island cotton and arrowroot cultivations, and 

 took away samples of these products as mementos of her stay 

 in the island. 



The Princess rode on horseback for the greater part of 

 each journey, and therefore brought herself into close touch 

 with the inhabitants of most of the small towns and villages 

 as well as with the gorgeous tropical scenery and vegetation of 

 the mountains and valleys from the Falls of Baleine, situated 

 near the most northerly point of the island on the Leeward 

 coast, to Orange Hill estate in the Carib Country on the 

 Windward side. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Secretary of State for the Colonies has been 

 pleased to confirm tlie apjiointment) of Mr. W. R. 

 Dunlop as Scientific Assistant on the Staff of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, in succession to 

 Mr. A. H. Kirby promoted to Southern Nigeria. 



