248 



THE AGPJCULTURAL NEWS. 



August 2, 1913. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



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 Barbados. 



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Vol. XII. SATURDAY, AUGUST 



1913. No. 29-1. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in this number of the Agricultural 

 Ktv:s describes in a general way the present state of 

 motor cultivation in different parts of the world. There 

 is reason to believe that this form of power is likely to 

 come into more common use in tropical agriculture. 



On ])age IV-i, a brief account is given of interesting 

 facts concerning a recent investigation of the date sugar 

 industry in Bengal. 



An article, on page 245, describes an important 

 meeting recently held in London to discuss the 

 proposed establishment of an agricultural college in 

 Trinidad and in Ceylon. 



Veterinary Notes, on page 247, contain information 

 concerning disinfectants and their employment in 

 resjiect of estate animals. 



Under the caption Insect Notes, on page 250, will 

 be found an interesting account of pests observed in 

 Antigua. 



The recently issued Reports on the Botanic 

 Stations at St. Kitts-Nevis and iMontserrat, arc 

 reviewed on page 2.51. 



Fungus Notes, which will be found on page 254, 

 continue from the last issue but one of this journal, 

 the subject of the spotting of plantation Para rubber. 

 A second article also appears ia continuation of the 

 subject of the new disease of the castor oil plant. 



A West Indian Herd Book. 



In reproducing the main arguments connected 

 with the above subject, put forward in an editorial in 

 a recent issue of this journal (Vol. XII, No. 284), the 

 Havaiian Forester and Agriculturist (March 1913) 

 suggests that the establishment of a Herd Book in' 

 Hawaii would be useful too. 'I'he subject has also been 

 favourably considered in Barbados. 



In may be remembered that the principal idea 

 was that the registration should be done locally by the 

 different Agricultural Societies, and a general record 

 kept at a central office. The ultimate object would 

 be to produce from already existing animals in the 

 West Indies, lines of three distinct types, for breeding 

 purposes: working animals, milch animals and beef 

 animals. The registration of these superior and 

 definite grades would benefit the seller, safeguard the 

 buyer and encourage careful selection and good breed- 

 ing in general. It would tend to eradicate disease — 

 in particular tuberculosis — and it would make stock- 

 breeding more interesting without incurring a great 

 deal of extra labour and expense. 



A commencement might be made b}- instituting 

 a Registration Class for bulls and cows at the Agri- 

 cultural Show.'^. It would be necessary to draw' up 

 score-cards for awarding marks, and to appoint compe- 

 tent judges disinterested, commercially, in the animals 

 dealt with. The animals ought to pass a medical, as 

 well as a breeder's inspection, and consideration should 

 be given to pedigree as far as reliable records are 

 available. 



Rainfall in the West Indies during June. 



The following set of figures obtained from various 

 sources gives an idea of the rainfall in inches throughout 

 the West Indies and British Guiana during the month 

 of June 1913. Where a note is not added to the con- 

 trary the returns were taken at the Botanic Stations 

 in the different islands: — 



Demerara (average for county), 100; Berbice 

 (ditto), 90: Kssequibo (ditto), 140: Trinidod (San 

 Fernando), 98!»: Barbados (Office of Imperial Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture), 2 90; Grenada (Richmond Hill), 

 655; St. Vincent, 1061; St. Lucia, 7-0o; Dominica, 349; 

 Montserrat (Grove), 1'56; Antigua, 1-75: St. Kitts, 082; 

 Nevis, 2-23; Virgin Islands (Tortola), 3-86. 



The weather, on the whole, during June was 

 abnormally dry, particularly in St. Kitts, Antigua, and 

 Montserrat (sec page 252), and to some extent in 

 Trinidad and British CJuiana. The recent rains in 

 July, however, have greatly imj)roved cultivations in 

 these places. The Windward Islands, during June, 

 experienced excellent growing weather, favou'-.able in 

 St. Vincent for the development of the young cotton 

 crop, and in St. Lucia, seasonable for the citrus 

 cultivations. 



