Vol. XIV. No. 335. 



TIIK AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



ZfgJ^TMlMl^kJlEPO/irs 



ST. VINCENT: REPORT ON THE AGRICVL 

 TURAL DEPARTMENT, 1913 I ',. 



This publication commences with an account of the work 

 carried on in the Botanic < lardens, and presents information in 

 connexion with the nurseries and distribution of plants. Dur- 

 ing the period tinder review, a large number of sugar-cane 

 cuttings ;ui<l cacao plants were 5en1 out, together wiili 

 a quantity of mahoganj seedlings which were supplied for 

 the afforestation of Crown Lands. The section under review 

 does not include the distribution of cotton seed, which is 

 dealt with in those pages devoted to that crop. 



The experimental work with cotton has included selec- 

 t i . .11 in relation to hybridization, resistance t" disease, 

 microscopic examination for fineness of lint, yield of I locked 

 bolls, and the usual selection for public seed supply. All 

 this work has Led to interesting and, in many cases, important 

 results. For instance, in connexion with the 1 locked bolls. 

 it was found that the number of seeds from nineteen lots 

 amounted to 183; the number from nineteen Hocked came to 

 239. The yield of lint was correspondingly larger in the 

 c ise of the I locked bolls. 



Experiments have been started in connexion with the 

 manuring of cotton and arrowroot. No conclusive results can 

 be expected from the first year's trial; full benefit of this work 

 will not be available until after the lapse of several years' 

 trial. 



Interesting results are recorded in connexion with the 

 cultivation of crops on banks, compared with their cultivation 

 on the flat. In the case of arrowroot, for example, it was 

 found that the crop on a banked piece of land gave a poorer 

 return than that grown in the usual way". The figures are as 

 follows: banked land, S.SOO It). rhizomeS per acre; Hat or 



unbanked land. 9,400 lb. rhizomes per acre. Results similar 

 in principle were obtained in the case of cassava. 



In connexion with this last named crop, a useful 

 estimate is recorded in the report to show the relative value 

 of dried cassava roots and cassava starch in relation to their 

 exportation. Comparing prices of dried cassava roots and 

 cassava starch, it is shown that when cassava starch is selling 

 at over 3c. per lb. in Trinidad, or over l'.'.c. per lb. in 

 St. Vincent, it is more profitable to manufacture starch than 

 to sell the dried mots. 



Progress in the Colony's minor industries is shown to be 

 satisfactory. As regards the chief industries, we may take 

 cotton first. In the :ase »f this crop, the irregular distribution 

 of the season's rainfall affected harvesting adversely. The 

 total value of the exports, therefore, showed some decline 

 compared with those of the last two ycais. The figures are 

 as follow-: total value 191] 12, £44,104; 1912-13, £39,166; 

 1913-14, £37,127. For arrowroot and cassava starch, the 



recorded yields and values of exports are distinctly good. The 



figures are: 1911, and 1912, £1,300: 1913,£6,570. 



A considerable number ol observations were made 



during the year in connexion witl md diseases and 



their control. Fairly successful efforts have been mad. | i 

 control the small bronze beetle (ColapsU Jastidiosa), which 

 attacks cottou- on the Windward coast. \ heavy 



dusting of lime through infected field ippi irs to do somer 

 good. Tic injury can >erl by thrips to ca i has also 

 engaged the attention ot i hi I tepartment Two ,. 



have bi en di i ivered, I identified in England. \ i 



erable number ol in ■ ■ collected bj I he S tpi rin 



and sent to the Imperial Udpartmenl for identifii 

 A list of these is given in the section undei review. 



The Assistant Agricultural Sup nl profits 



occupied a part of his tint bj tnaki ; a visit to the Gren- 



with the object ol i omit hether 



these islands are general!} or in part culti 



ration of limes. His observations had regard principally to 

 tic presence or absenci ol inseel and fungus pests, and the 

 report will no doubt be read with tnten bj those who are 

 locally familiar with th nditions in the Grenadines. 



Appended to the Agricultural Reporl is bj the 



Government Veterinary Surgeon. In this it is stated that 

 two cases of anthrax occurred during the yen' under review, 

 ina locality favourable for the occurrence ol thi 

 This is the first record of anthrax in St. Vincent for some 

 time. Prompt measures have been taki . b ol com 



pulsory vaccination and other way-, to prevent further 

 outbreak. 



DIVI-DIVI -A SOURCE OF A VALUABLE 



DYE. 



Divi-divi 1ms often been referred to in these 

 columns as a source of tannin. The commercial producl 



consists of the pods of Caesafypinia coriaria, which is 

 a native of the tropica] regions of America, and occurs 

 in West Africa, 



The following note is taken trout The Board of 

 Trade Journal for December 24, 1914:— 



The Board of Trade I !ommittee for Chemicals and Dye 

 Stuffs has received the following information from a reliable 

 source: Divi-divi is a very useful d\v extracted from the 

 seed pod of a small tree which grows wild in almost inexhaus- 

 tible quantities over the arid regions of the Peninsula of 

 Goajira. The product is collected by the native Indians, 

 part being taken to Etio Hacha and part to Maracaibo in 

 Venezuela, whence it has hitherto been taken in sailing ships 

 to Curagao and thence to Hamburg, which is the distributing 

 centre for the rest of Europe. The bulk is disposed of in 

 Russia 



I'p to 1895, all the divi-divi was shipped to the United 

 Kingdom, but the trade was then diverted to Germany, 

 owing to the greater facilities offered by German commission 

 houses, mainly in the direction of financial accommodation, 

 and cheap warehousing. 



Divi-divi is usually shipped loose, but it is not difficult 

 to reduce the bulk by compressing it into bales; in this form 



the freight is reduced b\ about one half, and the product also 

 fetches a higher price. 



In regard to the volume of business to be done, the fol- 

 lowing figures will be of interest. Official data from the 



Custom House at Rio Hacha give tl xport for the last five 



,, as 2,075 tons in 1909, 3,895 tons in 1910, 5,997 tons 

 in 1911, 1,246 tons in 1912, and 2,078 tons in 1913. The 



paries between £8 and £10 per ton, and the fr 

 between 1 1 18s. and £2 2« 



In addition to shipments from Rio II con- 

 siderably amount finds n v i" C lirect from the 



i coast line bj sting steamers, and shipments are 



made from Maracaibo iboul equal in volume to those from 

 Rio I lacha. 



