Vol. XII. No. 29.3. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS: 



239 



distributed in the soil. It was found that the fungus in the 

 soil is not able to retain its vitality for two months — • 

 a most important result, since it shows that an outbreak can 

 be checked by growing in rotation another, even a short- 

 lived crop like a green dressing. It was also discovered that, 

 in regard to seedlings which were attacked by the fungus in 

 the soil, the point of infection was always confined to the 

 surface level of the earth. In the field, infection has never 

 been found at the surface level but always above it. 



A farther ai'count of the fungus will be given in the 

 next issue of the A</ru'idtural Xews. 



AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS IN ST. KITTS. 



The following intcrestiDg account of agricultural 

 matters in St. Kitts is taken from a report on a \isit to 

 that Presidency last Blay. recently forwarded by 

 Mr. Tenipany, B.Sc, F.I.C, Superintendent of Agricul- 

 ture for the Leeward Islands. 



The primary object of the visit was in conne.xion with 

 the reaping of the experiments with varieties of sugar-cane 

 conducted in the Presidency, and with this the largest share 

 of Mr Tempany's time was occupied. Three hundred and 

 eighty five e.vperimental plots were, successfully reaped in 

 the field, .samples of the cane crushed, the juices analysed, 

 and the results calculated and entered up. The results may 

 be regarded as satisfactory, and as constituting, to some 

 extent, a record, the percentage of experiments successfully 

 reaped being higher than on any previous occasion. 



In passing, comment is made on the remarkably good 

 yields experienced in the field, the result forming striking 

 evidence of the recuperative powers of the soils of St. Kitts, 

 in view of the exceptionally unfavourable weather met with 

 up to the end of last August. 



Considerable interest existed in St. Kitts (as in Antigua) 

 on the question of .syrup manufacture in preference to sugar, 

 on muscovado estates. (See Agricultiiral Neim, ^'ol. XII, 

 p. 179.) As prices ranged at that time, the former practice 

 offered considerable advantages. A well attended meeting 

 of planters was held in St. Kitts, and Mr. Tempany delivered 

 an address <jn syrup-making, in which considerable interest 

 was evinced. A number of planters also consulted Mr. 

 Tempany per.sonally on the subject, and visits were paid to 

 several estates in the same connexion. Arrangements were 

 made for the examination of .samples at the laboratory, on 

 payment of a small fee; in this way sixteen samples were 

 examined. On the whole, the quality of the syrups submitted 

 was decidedly good. 



At the request of His Honour the Administrator, 

 arrangements were made for an examination of the milk- 

 supply of the town of Basseterre, during the visit, and in all, 

 twenty-seven samples were examined. A separate report on 

 this work is to be submitted to the Government. 



Samples of megass — fifteen — were also analysed in con- 

 nexion with an enquiry into the composition of different cane 

 varieties grown under varying conditions of soil and rainfall. 

 Some measurements were also made in regard to the temper- 

 atures of the soil at varying depths, on the experiment plots. 



Seven visits were paid to estates, partly in connexion 

 with tlie reaping of the cane experiments, and partly on 

 other accounts. Among these a special one was paid to the 

 cacao plantation at Molineux estate, with reference to 

 the dying out of trees in certain places. This problem 

 will be dealt with in detail in due curse. 



Further visits were paid to the Central Factory, and the 

 work discussed with the manager and the chemist in charge. 



The quality of the sugar-making done during the present 

 season is stated to be high. Special interest attache.", to 

 the trial of oil fuel in the furnaces, the arrangements for 

 which are now completed. 



Opportunity was taken to discuss various points with 

 the Agricultural Superintendent, St. Kitts, with reference 

 to the agricultural work in the Presidency. In this con- 

 nexion mention may be made of the arrangements completed 

 for the distribution of Paris green among the peasant cotton 

 growers of Xevis, which .should successfully avert a repeti- 

 tion of the events of the previous season. 



After consultation with His Honour the Administrator, 

 .samples of water were drawn by Mr. Tempany from the 

 Basseterre town reservoir for examination in the laboratory 

 in Antigua, samples will subsequently also be submitted 

 from the various country sources of supply, and the results 

 reported on in due course. 



RUBBER-PLANTING ON HILLSIDES. 



The following article, which appeared in a recent 

 number of the Acjricidtural Bulletin of the Federated 

 Mal'iy Stxtes (April IOI.3) has been reproduced, in the 

 hope that the method it outlines may prove useful to 

 planters, and others, in islands like Dominica, where, 

 in some places, rubber is being planted under 

 conditions similar to those referred to below. 



In planting Para rubber on the side of hills where the 

 gradients are severe, I believe it would prove of great 

 advantage to adopt the .same method as that practised in 

 Penang with nutmegs and cloves on similar situations. 



The system is simple enough. As .soon as the young 

 plants or stumps ha^e been put out, a circle of about 3 feet 

 in diameter is made round them and the earth taken from 

 the upper half of this to the lower so as to form the circle 

 into a terrace. At each weeding after this, more earth 

 should lie taken from above the plant and the circle enlarged 

 and weeded. If this be done constantly as the coolies come 

 round at the regular weeding periods, it will be found that by 

 the time the trees have reached maturity, these circles 

 practically form a series of terraces on the sides of the hills, 

 according to the distances the trees are apart. 



It will be noticed that the plants are all along being fed 

 with the rich surface soil which alone should assist their 

 growth, and for the same reason the circles or terraces round 

 the trees are easily weeded and kept clean, as the top surface 

 soil remains loose und friable for a considerable time. Apart 

 from the entire eradication of lalang, no other weeding on 

 the clearing is required, and the timber and grass will 

 prevent heavy wash and quite do away with the necessity of 

 drainage; of course the timber and stumps should ultimately 

 all be removed and destroyed. The next benefit derived is 

 when the tapping stage commences: for instead of the tappers 

 having the difficulty of climbing slopes in an irregular way, 

 they each take a circle or circles as the case may be, the 

 walking being practically all on the level, and under these 

 conditions the coolies shouM be able to tap the same, or if not 

 very nearly the same number of trees as on the flat. 



Considering the saving of expen.se that can be effected 

 in the directions I have mentioned, the .system should not be 

 unduly costly, and 1 think, on the other hand, it must be 

 admitted it has many advantages over the method now 

 usually adopted. I may in conclusion mention that this 

 method of cultivation nui?t be oommenced while the plants 

 are quite young, otherwise taking the earth from above the 

 trees when once thoroughly e.stablished, would mean the 

 lateral roots being interfered with and exposed. 



