Vol. XII. No. 301. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



405 



ST. LUCIA: REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURAL 

 DEPARTMENT, 1:>1.'- J.:. 



This report, which has just been distributed, contains 

 interesting information because of the important develop- 

 ments which are taking place in St. Lucia in connexion with 

 agricultural matters. 



EXPANSION OK THE UMK IXDUSTRY. 



Although the lime industry is expanding rapidly, 

 it may be pointed out that sugar and its by products 

 still hold the premier position in the value of the 

 agricultural produce exported from the Colony. The 

 total value of the sugar shipped in 1912 was £5.3,-549, 

 as against £56,504 for 1911. But whereas this shows 

 a reduction, a marked increase has occurred in the quantity 

 and value of !"^" nvoducts exported. Valued at £290 in 

 1911, it rose i.^ - to £1,084. In the couise of the nest 

 year or two a very rapid rise may be locked for At the 

 end of 1912 *'^re were about 2,000 acres under limes, and 

 during the year 45,600 lime plants were distributed from the 

 Government Nurseries. A matter of vital importance in 

 regard to lime cultivation in St. Lucia is the provision of 

 adequate protection, by means of windbreaks, from pre- 

 vailing strong winds. These wind belts should be planted, 

 not after, but before, the limes are established. The report 

 provides information as to the best trees to use for the 

 purpose. So far, Eucaltz/jtus paniculutu has shown great 

 promise as a wind-break tree. 



EXPKEIMENTAI. WORK WITTl LIMES. 



In connexion with lime cultivation, it may be pointed 

 out here that some very interesting tillage and nwnurial 

 experiments are now being conducted with the crop: the 

 object of these experiments is to test the eflect upon the 

 trees of farming, shading, cutlassing, and hoeing. As regards 

 the manurial experiments, the effect of stable manure and 

 mulch is being tried. 



CACAO. 



Turning to cacao, it will be seen that the value of this 

 product exported shows a decrease of £3,557, the total 

 value for 1912 being £43,098. The market value of the 

 produce, however, was in advance of that of previous years. 



FUXGUS DISEA.SE.S. 



During the period under review, a considerable amount 

 of mycological work was done in St. Lucia. The infection 

 experiments on the cacao root disease gave conclusive results, 

 and showed the wide range of parasitism of the causative 

 fungus, and the necessity for i-solation trenches and good 

 general sanitation in both cacao orchards, and on lime estates. 

 Ir.vestigation is still required in regard to the banana disease.s 



PP.OGKESS IN MINOP. INDUSTItlES. 



The section of the report devoted to progress in the minor 

 industries shows that it is possible that cotton cultivation may 

 be revived in certain districts. The transfer of the experiment 



station from Union to Reunion ought to prove useful in 

 regard to demonstration and selection work with this crop. 

 Coco-nut planting continues to extend. It is interesting to 

 note that bee keeping is quite an important minor industry in 

 St. Lucia: the quantity of honey shipped in 1912 was 

 81,386 a., valued at £704 8s.— a sum exceeding by 

 £225 14s. any previous year's exports of this product. 

 Orange cultivation ha.s lately been regarded by planters with 

 considerable interest, and the improved steamship communi- 

 cation between the West Indies and Canada, which is now 

 commencing, should provide a stimulus for the extension of 

 this cultivation. Finally, there is every likelihood of 

 a successful trade becoming established between St. Lucia 

 and Canada in papain. 



ACRICLtLTUEAL EDUCATION. 



Turning to educational work, the report shows that the 

 Department has directed its efforts along four lines: (a) prize- 

 holdings competitions; (b) agricultural teaching in the 

 elementary schools; (c) instruction to agricultural pupils at 

 the experiment station; and (d) agricultural instruction to 

 che pupils of St. Mary's College. Moderately encouraging 

 results are recorded for the prize-holdings competition. This 

 work received some set back owing to the circulation of an 

 unfounded rumour that the prize money was only in the 

 nature of a loan and might be recalled by the Government. 

 The examiner's report on agricultural teaching in the 

 elementary schools shows there has been, during the year, 

 a general all-round improvement. School gardens are, on 

 the whole, a distinct success in St. Lucia. The examiner 

 appropriately recommends a closer association of ordinary 

 garden work with weighing, measurement and numeration. 

 The remaining two lines of educational effort are, on th& 

 whole, answering useful purposes. 



TWO IMPORTANT CHANGES. 



Brief reference only is made in the report to the impor- 

 tant changes likely to ensue from the establishment of a new 

 experiment station and plant nurseries at Reunion in place of 

 those at Union. It may here be stated that changes are now 

 in progress and give every promise of successful development. 

 In addition to the experiment station, the establishment of 

 a scheme of peasant Land Settlement on the Reunion estate 

 is a movement of some importance concerning which little 

 can yet be said, beyond that a start has been made, and that 

 the outlook is favourable. 



NEW LliMK .7UICE FACTORY. 



It may be appropriate, in concluding this review, to 

 refer to the establishment of the new profit sharing lime 

 juice factory in St. Lucia. This will be managed by the 

 Agricultural Department. The price offered for limes will 

 be based upon the current prices of concentrated lime juice 

 plus a deferred payment in the form of a bonus to be giveil 

 at the close of the season, provided the success of the 

 season's work warrants doing so. This should insure its 

 success financially, and its economic value from the point of 

 view of the small estate owners. 



CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 



The customary meteorological data are appended to the 

 report. The average annual rainfall of twenty-five stations 

 for 1912 was 72 92 inches. The highest rainfall was recorded 

 at Warwick with 120-73 inches, and the lowest at Moulea- 

 Chique where 3912 inches were recorded. November was 

 the wettest month and February the driest. The meaa 

 monthly temperature in the shade was 79° F. 



