Vol. XIV. No. 333. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 





REPORT ON THE BOTANIC AND EXPERI- 

 MENT STATIONS, ST. KITTS-NEVIS, FORT/IE 

 YEAR ENDED MARCH SI, 1914. 



From the reporl of the Superintendent of Agriculture 

 for St. Kitts Nevis, which has jusl been issued, it appears 

 that the weather conditions during the year under review 



have been not altogether so untax able as in the previous 



year, the rainfall having been slightly above the average oi 

 the past twelve years. The distribution of the fall was 

 somewhat unusual, the months June, July, and Augusl having 



been abi ally dry. The gardens of the Botanic Station 



have been maintained in condition, and present a good 

 appearance, 



A> in the year before, there has been very little demand 

 from the nurseries for economic plants such as cacao and 

 limes, no extension of the cultivation of these having taken 

 place. On the other hand, there has been a considerable 

 demand for palms and other plants for ornamental purposes, 

 which has Keen met from the gardens. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH ECONOMIC PLANTS. 



The series of plot experiments with sweet potatoes, 

 yam-, and cas.-ava, which have been steadily ec inducted for 

 the past ten years, must yield valuable information for the 

 cultivation of these root crops. The table of results of such 

 a long-continued series of experiments deserves careful 

 attention, sin, wing as it doe- the great variation in yield of 

 the several varieties experimented with. Experiments too, 

 with ground nuts, onions, maize, and Guinea corn are being 

 ■continued. It is interesting to note that a variety of 

 Guinea corn, new to the smaller West Indian islands, called 

 'Mazagua', appears to be giving very good results, the corn 

 obtained being distributed to planters for more extended 

 •cultivation. The experimental cultivation of tobacco yields 

 good results: and the horse bean as a green dressing has 

 proved of value. Experiments as to the effect of various 

 manures in the cultivation of pine apples are being continued. 



WoRK WTTH COTTON. 



For ten successive years identical manurial experiments 

 in cotton cultivation have been conducted at La Guerite. 

 The same conclusion continues to be drawn, that under con- 

 ditions prevailing in that locality, the application of manures 

 to the cotton fields is riot remunerative, although it is interest 

 ing to note that for the last two years, the long-continued appli- 

 cation of these fertilizers to the land apiiears to have resulted 

 in a slight increase of yield. Some experiments in hybridi 

 zation of cotton, which had been begun in the past, have been 

 now definitely abandoned, as they do not seem to be likebj to 



lead to the production of a varietj superior in any waj to 

 the one at present cultivated. Sonn siieds of a variety with 

 ■exceptionally long fibre, which were recently received bj 

 the Superintendent of Agriculture, have been experimentally 

 planted, and will receive careful attention. Particularly 

 good work seems to be done in this Station as t,, cotton seed 



-election, a point of the utmost importance, if the high 

 -t. in. lard of excellence of St. Kitts cotton i- to be maintained. 



PLANT PESTS \M> DISEASES. 



With regard to pests of the sugar-cane, St. Kitts does 



not -'■■■in to ha I • , piously affected during the y< 



under review. [t does ,.,. „ however, that the grub oi 

 Exophthalmos esurient is capable of inflicting a good deal of 

 damage as a root borer. Precautions should be taken at :e 



against this enemy. Some years ago termites badly attacked 



the canes in one district, but the methods of destruction 

 advised by the entomologist of the Imperial Department bl 

 Agriculture having been employed, this pesl seems to have 

 been adequately controlled. 



By the use of preventive measures, the damage done by 

 the cotton worm this season has been very much Lessened. 

 In some districts a leaf disease, which appeals to be similar 

 to what is known in the United States a- leaf cut disease or 

 tomosis, made it- appearance. The leaf-blistei mite has 

 keen troublesome only in fields which are near to others 

 which old cotton plants have been allowed to remain. This 

 reprehensible practice should ecu, only be discontinued. 



PROGRESS IN I III. CHIEF INDUSTRIES. 



Owing to improved weather conditions, the sugar crop 



was i fairly g 1 one, surpassing the estimates. The out 



put of the Central Sugar Factory was very satisfactory. The 



results of the work on the Experiment Station with varieties 

 of sugar canes, and with regard to the effects of various 

 manures in sugar-cane cultivation, form the subject of 

 a separate and detailed report. 



(In most estates in St. Kitts, cotton forms a rotatioi 

 crop with cane. The crop this season is the largest \, i 

 recorded, and the product has maintained its reputation for 

 a high standard of excellence. In order to avoid any 

 lowering of this standard by the admixture of possibly 

 inferior cotton grown in other islands, and sent to St. Kitts to 

 be ginned, it has been decided that the separation of such 

 cottons shall be very stringent, and that bales of really 

 locally grown cotton shall be conspicuously marked, 'grown ir. 

 St. Kitts'. 



There was an interesting local agricultural show in St. 

 Kitts in the year, and an exhibit of agricultural produce was 

 sent from that island to the Canadian National Exhibition in 

 Toronto. 



The work of instruction in Agriculture Science at the 

 Grammar School seems to be very efficient. The results oi 

 the Cambridge Local Examinations in this subject are special 

 ly gratifying. 



IGRIC1 l.'li RAL IFFAIRS IN NEVIS AND ANGI II. H. 



Appended to the Superintendent of Agriculture's report 

 there is the report of the Agricultural Instructor in Nevis, on 

 agricultural matters in that island. 



The cotton crop seems to have been a fairly good one 

 but there also, as in St. Kitts, mischief has been wrought in 

 some places by the presence of diseased, old cotton plants, 

 which were allowed to remain in neighbouring fields. In- 

 creasing interest is being shown in the cultivation of 



coco-nuts in Nevis. Experiments with regard to various 

 food crop- are being continued, which are certain to prove 



of value. 



In the body of the report, the Superintendent of Agri- 

 culture refers to the cott :rop in Anguilla. In spite of the 



dryness of this season, the crop has 1 n a fairly good one 



and there is loubt that the cultivation of cotton has d< 



very much to ameliorate tin litions of life in that small 



island. 



