Vol.. Xir. No. 288. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



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ST. VINCEXT: BEI'OKT i>X THE AGRICUL- 

 'lURAL DKl'ARTMEXT, I'Jll-lJ. 



Peiu.sal of this publication will show that the subject- 

 Uiattcr has been arranged under a system of headings having 

 a wider significance than those used in former reports, whilst 

 details of administration and similar information have been 

 placed so that the subjects which are of more lively interest 

 may be brought forward prominently. 



The first section of the report concerns work carried out 

 in the Botanic (Jardens. Itefercncc may be made to the 

 efforts it describes in the distribution of fungus parasites of 

 scale insects, namely Cfplniloi-jioiiiun lecanii and the white- 

 headed fungus [O/ihiontcfrid cocctcola). A considerable num- 

 ber of new plants have been introduced including the butter 

 or tallow tree {Prntndesiua huli/fdna), Bermuda C'edar {Jiiiii- 

 }je>i(.-< lieriuiidiana), from Bermuda, and several species of 

 Opuntias and Agaves from Montserrat. As regards plant 

 distribution, cacao plants in pots constitute the most impor- 

 tant feature; altogether 1,203 various plants (in pots) and 

 6,698 various plants and cuttings (not in pots) were sent 

 out during 1911-12. 



The succeeding section deals with plot experiments, the 

 most iKiportant of which are those conducted at the Agri- 

 cultural School K.vperiment Station. Attention is given 

 chietly to cotton, and the most important work with this 

 plant was carried out in connexion with the selection of 

 different local types of Sea Island cotton for resistance to 

 disease. There is little to record in detail in regard to the 

 results of these experiment since they have not been in 

 progress long enough. Useful results are, however, anticipated. 

 Other kinds of cotton plots were Thornton's Hybrid F. 1, 

 Sakellarides Egyptian, Nyasaland, Southern Cross Upland 

 and an indigenous tree cotton. Of these, all except Thornton's, 

 Hybri '- failed owing to susceptibility to disease. The fact 

 was cleirly brou; jt out in these trials that the local Sea 

 Island variety has become well acclimatized to local conditions. 

 The notes, which follow, on economic plants, contain 

 references to the suitability of pigeon pea as a green dressing 

 in comparison with the large number of other leguminous 

 plants experimented with. Interesting facts are also given 

 concerning the fruiting of male nutmeg trees. It appears 

 that in St. Vincent male trees are frequently found to bear 

 two or three fruits, though the majority of the flowers exhibit 

 no abnormal structure. The subject has been referred to in 

 the Ar;ricultiiral Vews, Vol. X, pp. '.^'2i, and 388. Mention is 

 also made of the great durability of Bermuda cedar wood 

 already referred to. Seedlings of this useful tree had been 

 planted in the Botanic ( iarden. 



The next six pages of the report contain an account by 

 Mr. F. W. South, B.A., Mycologist on the Staff of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, of the arrowroot disease, 

 and certain affections of the cacao tree. A description is 

 also given in this section of the black scale pest of cotton. 



The account of the progress in the chief industries 



which is dealt with next is largely taken up with cotton. 



The exceptionally heavy rainfall of the year under ^ev^.w 



has been the cause, unfortunately, "f the redu.v.l yi-ld 

 of this staple as is indic.ittd by the following tijuicj; 

 1908-'.', 124 lb. of lint per acre, rainfall, 890(; inches- 

 190910. 141 lb, rainfall 9105 inches; 1910-11, 1.5(; lb., 

 rainfall 93 77 inches; 1911-12, 90 lb., rainfall 106 18 inches. 

 'J'he above figures, however, are not strictly representative, 

 since the year's returns refer to the financial year ending; 

 on March 31, which does not coincide with the cottoa. 

 year ending on September 30. There has been a stih- 

 stantial increase during the year under review in the acreage 

 planted in Sea Island cotton, which may be attributed t» 

 larger planting by the peasantry. In 1910-11 there were 

 54.5 small holders with 916 acres, whereas last season there: 

 were l,-")70 small holders with 1,865 acres This rajiid' 

 increase was due to the successful working of the 

 Government's co-operative buying system at the CentraC 

 Cotton Ginnery. A summary of work performed at this 

 establishment next receives attention in the repoit, and the 

 increase in the amount of business done is shown b}' the; 

 following figures: seed-cotton purchased during 1909 10,, 

 93,850 B).; during 191112, it was 510,932 lb. 



In contradistinction to the reduction of cotton yields, the 

 output of cacao has shown a decided increase, there having: 

 been over 50,000 lb. more exported during 1911 than during; 

 1910. Progress in the minor industries is not as satisfactory 

 as might be desired. 



The report of the Agricultural Superintendent concludes^ 

 with details of administration and meteorological returns of: 

 considerable local interest. 



At the end of the publication will be found a re[x>rt 

 indicating satisfactory progre.ss at the Agricultural School,, 

 together with the report of the Government Veterinary- 

 Surgeon, which presents the gratifying information that onifc 

 two deaths from anthrax among stock are recorded in the 

 period to which the information relates, and it may be 

 added that no occurrence of anthrax has been observ d itt^ 

 St. Vincent .since July 1911. 



Lime Cultivation in St. Lucia— Information 



embodying the following facts has recently been received 

 from tlae Agricultural Superintendent, St. Lucia: — 



It is pointed out that lime planting on a commercial 

 scale was begun in St. Lucia during 1901. At the begin- 

 ning of 1913 it was estimated that the area devoted too 

 the industry was approximately 2,000 acres. At present; 

 there are indications that the area will rapidly increase,, 

 now that it has been shown that conditions of soil and', 

 climate suitable for the successful development of pro-- 

 ductive lime estates exist on a fairly large scale in> 

 St. Lucia, and consecjuently, the island promises to become^ 

 in the near future an important centre of the lime industry. 



The distribution, at nominal charges, of large quantities', 

 of lime plants from the nurseries of the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment, has contributed very considerably to the substantial 

 progress that has been made. As many as 326,007 plants'. 

 have been sent out during the period 1901-12 inclusive.. 

 This number is sutiicient to plant 1,630 acres, on the basial 

 of 200 to the acre. 



Lime products are now beginniiij.; to figure to an: 

 appieciable extent in the exports of the Colony, the value of" 

 these for the period April 1912 to .January 1913 inclii.sivet 

 being estim:;ted at £1,216 ll.s. Sd. Steam concentrating^ 

 plants have recently been installed on several estates anot 

 are giving very satisfactory results. 



