Vol. XII. Xo. 293. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



22» 



'L^TMENlML kLPOHf^ 



AXTIGt'A: REPORT OX THE liOTAXIC STA- 

 TIOX AMI EXl'i:i;iMEXT PLOTS, liillli 



In this, as with all the Botanic Station Reports issued 

 during 1913, a new system of heading's has lieen introduced 

 which, it is hoped, will indicate in a distinct maimer 

 the significance and relationshi[> of the diti'erent sections, 

 giving prominence to matters of general interest !>}■ the 

 placing of adraini.strati\e details near the end. 



ni:OUGHT-ItESIST.*NT 1 i:EE.<. 



1 luring the year under review the work in the Antigua 

 I'otanic Gardens was seriously hampered through drought. 

 At the same time the occurrence of the dry weatlier afforded 

 an opportunity for making observations as to what plants 

 are best adapted to resist it. In this conne.xion it may be 

 noted that, among the ])alms that withstood the drought 

 were Attalea Co/nnic, Sahal iiiaiiri/ae/ot'iin's^Cory/ihia eiata 

 and Elaeis guiiieensis. On the other hanU, a whole avenue 

 of Royal palms, .some of which were 3.0 feet high, died from 

 the effects of the weather. 



V.-VLUK or EUCALYPTS. 



The section dtaling with work in the nurseries, which 

 follows, is characterized by the large number of lime and 

 coco-nut plants that had been distributed, in spite of an 

 inclement season; whilst in regard to plant importation, the 

 establishment of several more species of Eucalyptus is a 

 matter for much satisfaction. Of these trees, E. corniita and 

 E. rostrata have proved themselves splendid drought- 

 resisters, whilst the wood of the latter has been under the 

 soil in the garden for several years, and may with confidence 

 Vte looked upon as being suitable for underground work. 



I'ltOVISIOS CROPS. 



Trials with provision crops, particularly with varie- 

 ties of sweet potatoes have been conducted for several years 

 at the Experiment Station, and the fact that during the 

 last three years more than 147,000 cuttings were distributed 

 from the plots, shows that these e.^periments have, eve« 

 as a means of supplying the planting material during drought, 

 justified their existence. The trials witfh cassava have given 

 inter(^sting results, in that the yields showed a decided increa.se, 

 in spite of the drought, over the previous j-ears' returns. 

 The results derived from the different varieties should be 

 of particular interest and value to small growers, who are 

 naturally to a large extent dependent upon provision crops. 



RESirLT.S OF COTTON SELECTION. 



The experiments with cotton have included the 

 usual trials with selected seed of different types at the 

 Experiment Station, together with special selection work 

 conducted on better soil at Teptons. Cotton selection 

 was commenced in Antigua in 1906, and since that year 

 the work has been carried on systematically. The greater 

 part of the cotton grown va the i.sland is from cotton 

 selected since the above date by the Department of Agricul- 

 ture. It is more than probable that the increased yields now 



obtained are, in part, due to the efforts made in connexion 

 with this work. One of the most interesting features of th& 

 special selection work referred to above is the hybridization 

 of different types along Mendelian lines, the greatest promise- 

 being shown in this connexion in a case of crosses between 

 Sea Is-land and native St. Eustatius plants. 



i:sSEX R.M'K .\S A 1'01>DER CROP. 



The report under review continues with a discussion of 

 the value of certain green dressing and fodder crops. In 

 spite of the drought, it was found possible to conclude that, 

 of the plants tried in Antigua during the past few years for 

 green dressing purposes, Tephrosia Candida and the Barbuda, 

 bean (Phascolnx bnxitus) are two which have stood the local 

 conditions best. Inconclusive trials were made with the 

 .Jerusalem pea. {Phaseolnx trinervia) and the cowpea {Vujtia- 

 unguicidata). An extremely interesting experiment was 

 the trial of the dwarf Essex rajse as a fodder crop. The 

 fattening properties of this plant are said to be greater 

 than those of clover. It has been tried on several occasions 

 in Antigua and fair results have always been obtained. 

 During the year under review, fodder at the rate of 1.5,6001b. 

 per acre was yielded in four months' time. 



The cultivation of soy bean {Gti/rine fiispida) continue* 

 to be persevered with. 



DISEASE fa(;toi; in cultivation. 



The description of work connected with insect and 

 fungus pests, which next receives attention, again indicates 

 that root disea.se, flowerbud maggot and scale insects are, 

 respectively, factors that have to be seriously considered irt 

 the cultivation of sugar cane, cotton and limes, in Antigua. 

 Two newly suspected pests of cultivated plants are hard 

 back grubs in connexion with sugar-cane, and a weevil founct 

 on cotton. 



general peockess ddeing 1911.12. 



The succeeding section in the report on progress in the 

 chief industries is interesting from a historical point of view. 

 Reference is made first of ail to the fluctuating yields of cotton 

 during the past nine years, and it is pointed out that insect 

 pests must be considered as constituting the factor mainly 

 responsible for the decreased yields during 1903 9. In regard- 

 to the sugar industry, the lower yields that have been obtain- 

 ed during the past three years are attributed to the effects of 

 a series of dry seasons In this section a few notes are 

 added concerning the sugar-cane experiments, on which a sepa- 

 rate report has just been issued for 191112. 



As regard progress in the minor industries, coconut 

 cultivation and the planting of .Jequiii Mani(;oba rubber, 

 though in their initial stages, show promises of development. 

 Proceeding with questions of general agricultural progre.ss,. 

 interesting facts are given in regard to implemental tillage 

 in Antigua, and to some new means of manuring. The notes 

 on modern sugar niaking which follow, describe the alter- 

 ations and additions that have been made in the Central 

 Factory, and the final chapter in this section dealing witk 

 timber production and reafforestation matters, involves- 

 problems of the greatest importance to Antigua. 



The report concludes with information showing that satis- 

 factory progress has been made in educational matters, at the- 

 Grammar School, but more esiiecially in connexion with the 

 Reading Cf)ur.ses Examinations, due, in great measure, to the- 

 assistance and encouragement given by the Local Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



A useful appendix will be found at the end of the 

 publication containing, with few exceptions, a complete list 

 of the flowering plants at the Botanic Station. 



