TllK AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Jwi \l:v 



L915. 



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Agricultural jilrirs 



Y^ \IY. SATl'liltAV, .lAXTAUY -J, 1915. No. 331. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in the presenl number treats ofthe 

 educational function of agricultural departments. 



Under the heading of Sugar Industry, on page 2. 

 there appear abstracts of papi rs relating to this subject, 

 which were read al the International Congress oi 

 Agriculture recentlj held in England, and also notes on 

 duties in Canada, and the working of sugar mills 

 in Java. 



On page 5 there is a review ol a valuable work 

 t In ■ coco-nut. 



The Insect Notes in this number deal with mis 

 cellaneous insects from the Wesl [ndies, and a reporl on 

 pi sts in Mauritius. 



In the Fungus Notes, on page I 1, will be found an 

 artich "ii a dangerous citrus disease due to a fungus 

 which is known t cur in Florida, and a shorl article 



beneficial fungus of the genas Aschersonia. 



Visit of a Cotton Expert. 



Mr. .1. L. Fonda, representing the Fine Cotton 

 Spinners and Doublers Association, Ltd., is al present 

 on a \isit to the Wesl Indies. In tin Agricultural 

 2ft ws for November 21 last, was mentioned the prospect 

 oi Mr. Fonda's \isit. with an explanation oi its general 

 purpose. 



After a few rl ys spent in Barbados Mr. Fonda 

 proceeded to St. Kitts and Nevis, where he has visited 

 cotton growers, and addressed meetings of the Agri- 

 cultural Societies in both those islands. Mr. Fonda 

 will visit Antigua, Montserrat, ami St. Vincent, before 

 ret timing to Barbai li is. 



Proposed Conference of British and Colonial 

 Entomologists. 



In May last the Colonial Office put forward pro- 

 posals tor tin- holding ot a Conference in London 

 during 1915, at which it was hoped thai official 

 entomologists from different parts of tin- Empire might 

 In- present for the discussion of questions relating to 

 insect control in the several parts of the Brit ish Empire. 

 It was further suggested, that as mycological questions 

 are often inseparable from entomological, it might be ot 

 value if mycological officers could also attend. 



Such a Conference would be of great value, and 

 there is no doubt that it would have met with hearty 

 support mi all sides. Owing to circumstances arising 

 out of the war. however, it has been round desirable to 

 postpone tin' Conference indefinitely, and the Colonial 

 Office has communicated this decision bo Governments 

 and official departments which hail been previously 

 in\ ited to participate. 



On page lo an article on indigo is presented, which 

 should Im- of especial interest at tin- tit 



The Barbados Agricultural and Industrial 

 Exhibition. 



The annual exhibition under the auspices of the 

 Barbados General Agricultural Societj was held on 

 December 16. The weather was everything that could 

 lie desired, ami. on the whole, the attendance was good. 



The exhibits of agricultural products were very 

 creditable, considering the very drj weather experienced 

 throughout the island in the earlier pari of the year. 

 On the other hand, the show of stock was exceedingly 

 good, the cattle meriting special commendation. 



A i g these the remarkably hue t horoughbred and high 



grade bulls of the milking strains, ami the half-bred hulls 

 of general utilitj bree3s were mi\ noticeable. 



The exhibits ot' goats also are worthj of par- 

 ticular mention. Specimens of imported thorough- 

 bred animals were shown, along with stock, thorough- 

 bred ami others, derived from them. The improvement 

 in the strain of this most useful animal in recent years 

 in Barbados has been verj marked a proof of the 

 value of co-operation, for this improvement is largely 

 due to the efforts in this direction ot tic Barbados 

 t loal Society. 



On the industrial side special mention must he 

 made of bh< cellent workmanship displayed in the 

 exhibits of various handicrafts. Specimens in particular 

 of tin- work of joiners ami smiths, show that Barbadian 

 artisans can turnout first -class work. 



