Vol. XII. No. 287. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



143 



every instance unable to infect the cane. This result 

 supports the general opinion that C. falcatum is a wound 

 parasite. 



In the case of the inoculated cuttings, however, the 

 results were more complicated. .U the end of eighty- three 

 days all the inoculated cuttings had bucnme reddened in every 

 node, whereas only fourteen or about half of the controls had 

 become similarly discoloured in every node; and even when 

 this had taken place it was not as general nor as intensive as 

 in the inoculated cuttings. In the controls a white healthy 

 strand of tissue was generally to be seen extending along the 

 side of the cutting from which the shoots arose. This was 

 not noticed in the ino(;ulated cuttings. Of the inoculated 

 plants eight growini! points were found to be diseased at the 

 end of eighty-three days; a similar condition was observed 

 in two controls. The tissue appeared red and decomposed, 

 in some cases black and completely disorganized. Ked 

 strands connected this area with the diseased tissue of 

 the cuttings lu the case of the shoot of onn inoculated 

 cutting, V. falcatum was found to be present, but it was not 

 possible to isolate the fungus in every instance; it was isolated 

 however from the tissue of two inoculated cuttings, but was 

 apparently absent from the controls to these. 



As regards the field characters of the plants, it was 

 found that the controls weighed heavier, had more shoots, and 

 presented generally a more healthy appearance than the 

 inoculated plants. 



Although the above re.sults may be somewhat incon- 

 clusive as regards the question of the communication of 

 C falixitii-iii from the cutting to the developing shoot, it 

 would seem clear that occasionally this may occur, and that 

 at any rate inoculation tends to check the growth of the 

 young shoots. 



Lastly, in connexion with the repetition of the entire 

 experiments with J/, sarchari, it was found that only six of 

 the inoculated canes in .Series A showed any discoloration, and 

 this was generally lather blackish than red and only slight 

 in extent. Six of the controls exhibited a similar appearance. 

 No fungus could be isolated. 



In Series C, D and E no infections were observed, show- 

 ing fairly conclusively that J/, sacchari, under the conditions 

 of these experiments, is not a parasite. 



Whilst it was believed that the results of the experi- 

 ments so far described shed a little more light upon the 

 relations existing between C. falratuni and the sugar-cane in 

 the West Indies, yet it was felt that further investigation in 

 connexion with infected cuttings was de.sirable in view of the 

 inconclusive results and the economic importance of the matter. 

 Accordingly, arrangements were made to carry out, in Barba- 

 dos, more comprehensive experiments with cuttings from four 

 different varieties of sugar-cane, namely, B. 1-17, R.376, 

 Bourbon and White Transparent. In the next issue of the 

 Agricultural News an account will be given of the results 

 obtained in these experiments, and a final summary will be 

 presented of the position in regard to the parasitology of 

 C. falcatum as it stands at present. 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



It is stated in The Soarcl of Trade Journal for January 9, 

 1913, that the baobab tree {Adansonia digitata) grows in 

 immense clusters or small forests near the sea at Dakar. 

 The fibrous part if this tree makes a paper of superior 

 quality and durability suitable for banknotes, and it is also 

 added to other pulp.s in small quantities to impart a gloss 

 and finish to the paper. As a result the fibre is niuoh sought 

 after in the United Kingdom and still more fo in (Germany. 

 The tree occurs in the West Indies. 



DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON 

 MARKET. 

 The Report of Mr. J. R. Jackson is as follows: — 



Little or no change can be reported on the condition of 

 trade in Mincing Lane since our last report, either generally, 

 or in the matter of any individual product, due in the former 

 instance, to the continuance of hostilities in the near East, 

 and the consequent unsettlement of the European Powers, 

 and in the second place to the occurrence of the Easter 

 holiday.s, when buyers are always scarce, and the offerings of 

 goods limited. The dealings in spices have been markedly 

 inactive. 



GINGBR. 



At the first auction on the .5th, 269 bags of Cochin, fair 

 to good washed rough were ottered, and all bought in at 33s., 

 to 3.5,s. per cwt. A week later the offerings amounted to 

 320 bags of washed Cochin which were bought in at 33s. 

 to 3-5s. for fair part slightly mouldy, and 32s. for wormy. 



NUT.MEGS .4XD MACE. 



No offerings of nutmegs were made at the first spice 

 auction, but on the 12th of the month 18-5 packages of 

 West Indian were brought forward and 110 sold, tjG's 

 fetching M. per lb.; 72's to .SOs, Qd to 6.Vi.; Si's to SS's 

 ^d. to 6i'i.; 99's to 108's -3^ to Gc^. and 12-1'8 to 136's, 

 o\d. to 5ic?. There was a steady demand for mace at the 

 first auction on the oih of the month, 10 packages of West 

 Indian were disposed of, 2s. bd. being paid for good, 2s. id. 

 for fair, and Is. \\d. for broken Ten cases of fair flat 

 .Java were bought in at 2s. Id. per B). A week later, namely 

 on the 12th, West Indian mace was represented by 12 

 packages which were disposed of at 2s. 'M. for fair pale and 

 reddish, and 2s. to 2s. \<1. for dark red. 



SAESAPAEILLA. 



At the first drug auctinn on March 6 there was 

 a steady demand for grey Jamaica and Lima Jamaica, the 

 former fetching about id. advance on previous rates, and 

 realizing 2s "id. per Bb. for 2 bales of slightly rough and 

 2s. od. per lb. for 6 bales of fair fibrous, 8 bales being 

 all that were offered. Sixteen bales of Lima Jamaica 

 were brought forward and all sold at an advance of 

 from \d. to 5d., fetching 2s '2d. to 2s. Zd. per lb.; 

 22 bales of native Jamaica were offered but 5 only found 

 buyers, good red fetching \0d and mixed greyish ^d. per lb. 

 A fortnight later, namely on the 18th, the offerings consisted 

 only of -5 bales of grey Jamaica and 1 of Lima Jamaica. 

 All were sold, the former at 2s. od. per lb. and the latter at 

 2s. It was stated at the end of the month that some 20 

 bales of grey and native Jamaica had arrived and would 

 appear at the first drug auction in April. 



LIMB OIL AND LIME JUICE. 



It was announced in the early part of the month that 11 

 packages of lime oil had arrived from Dominica; a portion of 

 which was .sold at the end of the month at lis. Grf. per ft. 

 for hand pressed. There has been a fair demand for lime 

 juice, at the first auction on the .5th, 22 packages were 

 offered two of fair raw Jamaica fetching Is. Id. per fc. and 7 

 of ordinary brown pulpy for which Is. bd. per lb. was paid. 



