252 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



August 2, 1913. 



GLEANINGS. 



It is stated by the Agricultural Instructor, Xevis, that 

 cotton planted in that island during May, has made a fairly 

 good stand. Some of the fields are looking very promising. 



The Demerara Dail;/ Chronicle 2Iail Edition (July 4, 

 1913) publishes articles advocating an extension in regard 

 to the cultivation of bananas and provision crops in British 

 Guiana. 



During June, in consequence of the extremely dry 

 weather, all agricultural operations in St. Kitts came prac- 

 tically to a standstill. The young cotton suft'ered from the 

 drought severely. 



In St. Vincent, owing to the favourable weather during 

 the latter part of June, planters were able to make consider- 

 able progress with cotton planting. The seed has germinated 

 well on most estates. 



In Antigua, during June, there were distributed from the 

 Botanic Gardens: lime plants, 1,300; mahogany seedlings, 70; 

 Eucalyptus, 19; miscellaneous decorative plants, 75; sweet 

 potato cuttings, 30,000. 



According to the Curator of the Experiment Station, 

 Tortola, recent weather has been favourable for the growth 

 of canes and the early planted cotton is progressing satisfac- 

 torilj'. The August lime crop is promising. 



Of those Venezuelan articles the exports of which 

 have increased during 1912 are. Para rubber. Tonka beans, 

 and feathers and plumage. A reduction is shown in the 

 exports of coffee and balata. {Dqdomatic and Consular 

 Iti/iorts, No. 50S5 — Annual Series.) 



The Antigua Sun (July 1, 1913) rails attention to the 

 large area of bush land in that island, and advocates the 

 alletment of these tracks to labourers on the share system 

 under agreements binding proprietor and labourer alike. 



During the twelve months ended March 31, 1912, 

 St. Thomas and St. Croix exported to the United Kingdom, 

 cotton valued at £13,105, and cotton seed valued at £207. 

 (Dijilomatic and Consular Ec.ports, No. 5070 — Annual Series.) 



The programme of the seventy-fourth annual show of the 

 1 loyal Agricultural Society of England has been received. 

 From the plan of the show-yard it may be seen that the 

 Over.seas Section occupies a very central and prominent 

 position. 



A letter received from the ollice of the Louisiana 

 Planter calls attention to the special Birthday edition of that 

 journal for July 5, 1913. The issue contains an interesting 

 account of the organization and of the staff connected with 

 the paper. 



It is stated in The Board of Trade Journal (June 5, 

 1913) that by order of the German Government, the cotton 

 experiments in Togoland with Sea Island seed are to be 

 extended, and trials with other types of cotton are also to 

 be carried out in the southern districts of that territory. 



According to Diplomatic ami Consular Reports, No. 

 5075 — Annual Series, the principal cause of the rise in the 

 price of sisal hemp during 1912 was the sudden demand due 

 to increased cereal crops in the United States and the damage 

 caused to hemp in Manila by the violent typhoons. 



Referring to the question of the proposed Tropical 

 University for Agriculture, the Gardener's Chronicle (June 

 21, 1913) emphasizes the fact that if established, the 

 institution should be unofficial, and should serve the purposes 

 of agriculture throughout the entire Tropical Dominions of 

 the Empire. 



In Le liidkdn Agricole for May 1913, reference is made 

 to an article in the Agricultural Xews (Vol. XII, p. 99) 

 dealing with a prize pasture competition at Antigua. The 

 journal alluded to, advocates the usefulness of such competi- 

 tions. Apparently their introduction into Mauritius would 

 serve a useful purpose. 



The production of rubber in Java is rapidly increasing, 

 the total exports for the year 1912 being fully 100 per cent, in 

 excess of those of the previous year. Of this quantity, the 

 greater part is Ficus and Hevea; very small quantities of 

 ("astilloa and Ceara rubbers are being i)roduced. (Diplomatic 

 and Consular Reports, No. -"lOSo — Annual Series.) 



According to l'if> Demerara Daili/ Aryosy Mail Edition 

 (July 5, 1913) there has been great scarcity of labour in 

 I'.ritish Guiana on estates where cane cutting has been going 

 on, but owing to the short intervals of grinding which occur 

 just at present, the dearth is not felt seriously. Canes have 

 been very short, hard and dr)-, and in many districts the yield 

 per acre has been disappointing. 



In connexion with the article on cane ensilage which 

 appeared in the last issue of the Ar/ricultural yeirs, it may 

 be of interest to point out that the Australian Sugar Journal 

 (May 8, 1913) states that a number of sugar-cane varieties 

 have recently been introduced from New Guine;i to see 

 whether any of th''m are suitable for growth in Southern 

 (Queensland for fodder purposes and for making ensilage. 



At the recent session of the Legislative Council of 

 Khodesia, the general opinion of private members was that 

 on financial grounds it was inexpedient to proceed with 

 the establishment of an Agricultural College in Southern 

 lihode-sia during the present year. It is considered likely, 

 however, that delinite action will be taken by the Govern- 

 ment during the next session. (The lihodesia Agricultural 

 Journal, June 1913.) 



