Vol XII. No. 290. 



THE AORICULTDRAL NEWS 



1S9 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



JUNE. 



Fii!>;t Peiuod. 

 Seasonal Notes. 



Tlie fields of plant canes are now mostly reaped, and this 

 condition artbrds opiiortunity for the study of several problems 

 of interest. Regard the fields critically. Has the cutting of 

 the canes Ijeen done thoroughly? Note the weeds that are 

 growing, and pay great attention to their habits of growth 

 and the ways of reproduction; for these matters are of more 

 importance than names and the mere shape of leaves, Howers 

 and stems. Distinguish carefully, in the first place, between 

 annual and perennial weeds. Uemember that it is as 

 important to keep the headlands of fields weeded ah the 

 fields themselves, since waste areas provide a source of 

 infection. Many weeds may also harbour insect and fungus 

 pests. 



What tillage should the fields of cut canes receive? As 

 regards the manuring of ratoon canes, the Report on Sugar- 

 cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands, 191 112, should 

 be read, in which publication will also be found a great 

 deal of important information on the characters of the 

 diflerent varieties of sugar-cane that have just been, and 

 are still prominently before those interested in sugar-estates. 



Careful attention will be given, of course, to the article 

 in this issue on the manufacture of syrup. 



A good supply of bamboo and other pots and seed boxes 

 should be got ready for sowing seeds of cacao, cofi^ee, rubber, 

 nutmeg, mango and other useful trees and plants as soon as 

 the rains come in. Nursery beds should be well forked, 

 manured and prepared for transplanting seedlings. Pots of 

 seedling cacao and mango should be carefully attended to in 

 order to have good growing stocks for grafting. Seeds of any 

 useful forest and other tree should be collected. 



In regard to the planting out of lime seedlings, a dull day 

 following heavy rains is the most suitable climatic condition 

 under which to carry out the operation. This holds good, in 

 fact, as regards all transplanting. It is commonly the 

 practice for the lime plants to be cut back before being 

 planted out, thereby removing all the young shoots and the 

 bulk of the leaves. Is it always advisable to remove the 

 leaves? If the roots have been properly pruned in the 

 seedling beds little root pruning will be necessary at this 

 stage. See that the roots are well spread out and that the 

 soil is firmly pressed down around them. The land should 

 be kept free from weeds. 



On some of the lime trees on ditierent estates, a good 

 deal of trouble is occasioned by the presence of Dodder 

 (Cuscuia sp.), and Mistletoe (Loranthus sp.). Find out by 

 direct observation how these two plants obtain their food- 

 supply, how they reproduce themselves, and the manner in 

 which they become distributed. 



In connexion with the cacao crop, the final pickings 

 are being made in many places, and the yields of trees 

 which have received ditierent treatment, or which have been 

 growing under diflerent conditions -hould be noticed as far 

 as possible. 



refresh the student's menioiy. the following figures have 

 been reproduced, which will shi^ v him the difference between 

 a spore called a conidium, and a spore denominated 

 ascospore. In point of fact, Fig. 7 represents a thin section 



Fig. 7. Section showing Conidia. 



of plant tissue with the fructifications of a Colletotrichum 

 bursting through the epidermis or skin. The detached cells 

 constricted in the middle, are conidia. The cells in Fig. 7 

 (and also in Fig. S) are of course greatly magnified. An 

 ascus containing eight ascospores is seen in Fig. 8. This ascus 

 has been removed from its position on the fungus body. The 



An important investigation is described under Fungus 

 Notes in this number of the Agricidlural News. In order to 



Fig. S. Ascds containing Ascospoees. 



differences, other than shape and size, between conidia and 

 ascospores are: (1) that ascospores, unlike conidia, are sup- 

 posed to be the result of sexual reproduction (sexual union), 

 and (2) that ascospores are more resistant and remain 

 quiescent for a longer time than conidia. Chlamydospores 

 are particularly resistant spore bodies of nonsexual origin. 

 They are generally extremely small and covered with a thick 

 coat. 



Questions for Candidates. 



preliminary question.?. 



(1) What manures are applied in practice to ratoon 

 canes? What do they contain, and at what rate per acre are 

 the applications made? 



(2) Can Bengal beans be employed as a foodstuff^ 

 If so, why? 



intermediate questions. 



(1) Contrast the mode of living as exemplified by the 

 Dodder {Cuscuta sp.) and Marasmius sacckari. 



(2) Write a short description of Zapupe fibre. 



FINAL QUESTIONS. 



(1) r4ive a short account of the recent prices of sugar 

 and green limes. Endeavour to explain the causes of any 

 abnormalities. 



(2) Mention ten useful hints in connexion with the 

 preparation of plantation Para rubber. 



