Vol. XU. No. 295 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



267 



TORTOLA: REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENT 

 STATION, iuni.>. 



In view of the fact that attention is devoted almost 

 entirely to economic matters at the experiment station, the 

 greatest amount of interest in this report attaches, first, 

 to the section describing the result of crop investigations. 



PLOT EXPERIMENTS. 



In regard to the work with limes, useful information 

 has been obtained which would appear to indicate that 

 although clean weeding has at first the effect of stimulating 

 growth and of increasing the crop, the after-etlects are bad. 

 In connexion with the yield of limes, considering the dry 

 weather, the returns for the year under review were distinctly 

 satisfactory. The experiments with sugar-cane consisted 

 of plot trials with some dozen diti'erent varieties. The list 

 is headed by Sealy Seedling, which yielded cane at the rate 

 of 19 tons 16 cwt. per acre. This forms a striking contrast 

 with the 3 tons 4 cwt produced in the case of the Bourbon. 

 P). 1753 and B. 6450 gave satisfactory returns. 



The section under consideration concludes with 

 a reference to a trial with a variety of cotton known as 

 Southern Cross. The results of experiments with thirty 

 varieties of cassava are also included, the remarkable difference 

 in the yields being a matter of much local economic 

 importance. 



PROGRESS IN THE CHIEF INDUSTRIES. 



The notes on economic plants which follow, possess 

 tnany points of interest. The cultivation of coco-nuts is 

 ■deserving of encouragement in spite of economic difficulties 

 pointed out in the report. 



The Government control of the cotton industry stands 

 out prominently as the main feature of agriculture in the 

 Virgin Islands. It may be noted that the Tortola cotton 

 has shown a steady improvement as regards quality during 

 recent years, a fact which indicates the increased amount of 

 care in its cultivation by the pe.isantry, and the value of 

 good organization in regard to ginning, collecting and 

 distribution. 



An interesting feature of the lists of exports from the 

 Virgin Islands given in this section is the very large number 

 of live stock shipped, and in view of their circumstance, it is 

 to be hoped that the importance of selection, and of some 

 sort of registration in breeding, may lie well kept in mind. 



REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF AGRICUL- 

 TURE IN INDIA, 1011 1.>. 



This brief account of the recently' published report by 

 "the Agricultural Adviser to the fJovernment of India, is 

 "liaken principally from the introductory chapter which con- 

 "veniently constitutes a resume of the entire booklet. 



tOTTOX. 



Dealing first with the efforts of the Department ia 

 connexion with cotton improvement it is shown that tha 

 present area under improved varieties is rapidly extending. 

 In Madras, for instance, the present area under cotton 

 exceeds that of any previous year by nearly 300,000 acrea. 

 In the United I'rovinces, Uio, a whiteHowered variety giving 

 19 per cent, more seed cotton than any other existing 

 varieties, is being distributed to cultivators and it is 

 estimated that the li.OOO acres grown last year will this year 

 be increased to 20,000 acres. In India, the problem of 

 cotton improvement appears to be diametrically ojiposite t» 

 that in the West Indies, in India, yield, and not quality, ia 

 the fundamental object to be aimed at; in India increased 

 returns and increased ginning percentage combined with 

 hardiness of habit in the plant, means more money for tha 

 cultivator than mere length and fineness of staple. There ia 

 indeed evidence to show that, on the whole, the cotton now 

 grown in India is inferior in quality to that of many years 

 ago. 



The fundamental problem in the saving of the Indian 

 sugar industry lies in better cultivation and the introduction 

 of cane possessing a larger percentage of sugar and higher 

 purity of juice. In view of this fact a cane breeding station 

 has recently been established in Madras with Dr. Barber 

 in charge: an engineer has also been appointed whos» 

 attention will be directed mainly to the study of methods of 

 manufacture. Sugar cultivation is also being stimulated by 

 the establishment of central factories. 



Considerable activity has also been directed toward* 

 the improvement of the palm sugar industry (see Ayricali- 

 tural News, Vol. XII, No. 294). 



GROUND NUT .IND OTHER FRUIT CROPS. 



Dealing next with the ground nut crop, and with 

 experiments on fruit, a large increase in area i.s shown in 

 the case of the former, whilst in connexion with the latter, 

 the investigations of Mr. and Mrs. Howard are likely to 

 assume proportions of great economic importance. 



VETERINARY INVE.STIGATIONS. 



The work of the Indian Veterinary Department is well 

 known in a general way. The economic value, however, of 

 this section of the department may not be widely compre- 

 hended. It appears that enormous damage is inflicted in 

 India by sudden epidemics of rinderpest, which will in ono 

 stroke waste the hard-earned savings of the peasant culti- 

 vator. A new pair of bullocks have to be purchased which 

 means that he will be driven once more into the hands of 

 the money lender. With a view to combating cattle disease, 

 laboratories have been established in the United Province* 

 principally for the manufacture of sera. It is stated, 

 however, that a greater number of veterinary assi-stants and 

 a large staff of inoculators to cope with outbreaks on an 

 extended scale are urgently needed. 



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 



The final paragraph in the chapter under consideration 

 contains a few suggestions in regard to general economio 

 derelopment in India. Reference is made to the passing of 

 the Development Funds Act in England, and to the large 

 sums of money set aside for developing agriculture and 

 rural industries, and it is noted that the Indian Government 

 have recently followed the example by granting for similar 

 piVposes 10 lackhs of rupees. 



