XIV. X". 335. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



Seasonal Notes. 



Reference to 1 1"- p ige in this is.- Ji i « ii h 1 terns ■ A 



Local [nterest will show that consii on is being 



given in several of the islands to the increased cultivation of 

 maize, [n Grenada the corn selei ti >i periments have been 

 re started, and inJSt. Vincent, and partieularlyin Antigua, there is 



i siderable extension of the area under this crop at 



the present time. In regard to seta i eed for planting 



maize, the student maj be referred to the pamphlet recently 

 issued by the [mperial Department entitled [ndian Corn. 

 Selection in corn cultivation is dealt with on pages 13-50. 

 This information should be studied, and special attention 

 should be given to the idea of producing a uniform plant well 

 bdapted in every respect to local conditions" For instance, it 

 is net merely desirable to select fon i . Id alone (though this 

 will necessarily be a first consideration): it will be desirable 

 to consider as well t he habit of theplant.jp relation! 

 position of the ears, and the size and structure of the leaves, in 

 relation to labour and climatic conditional respectively. In 

 this issue is published the results oi the Antigua kiln-drying 

 experiments. These are conclusive, and show that locally 

 grown corn, after being dried, can be tored safely for a con 

 Biderable period. 



By the time this issue of the Agricultyral Newscomes to 

 hand, the grinding of cane will be in full swing. At the 

 same time, the young crop just established will need attention, 

 and it will be well to observe the prevalence of weeds, and 

 investigate as far as possible the causes of any failures of the 

 young plants that maj be seen in the field. 



Much interest is being shown in the West Indies in 

 essential oils. Information appears in this issue in connexion 

 with Bay oil, the production of which is a promising industry 

 in the Leeward Islands. Another matter to which the 

 student should give attention is the preservative action of 

 essential oil of limes in raw lime juici This matter will be 

 d on page 75. 

 Questions for Candidates. 



PEELlMfN IR1 . 



1. How does milk of li in clarifying ci 



juice. What is the result of using exi ess of lime.' 



2. Explain the function of lime in the manufacture of 

 calcium citrate. What an the local s ces of this lime ami 



•t the 'it rate radicle' 



INTKKMLM \ I 'E. 



1. Write a short account oi the importance of scientific 

 names in regard to plants, pes ts, and diseases. What is 

 i s] nonymi 



2. What an I m] • haracters of a seedling 



cane' 



FIN W.. 



1. What are the . Iiiei leguminous crops grown in your 



district as green dressings? Discuss tie idea ol growing 



and peas, both as green dressings and as food crops. 



•_'. Write a short account ol the production of 



essential oils in the West Indies. 



West [ndian botanists will be interested in an article 



tied The Ecology and Anatomy of Polygonatum 



' urn, I... which appears in the ^American Midland 



Naturalist for January 1915. The genus Polygons urn is 



■ I in the West Indie-. ..nd is chiefly of interest 



owing to the remarkably slov growth of 



referred to. 



PRODUCTION OF JUTE AND HEMP. 



The followin shows the world 



exporting countries, tl ultivated plant which yields the 



fibre in ea< I case, and, where figures a > the 



exports in tons oi fibre: 



It will be seen that a large number of different 

 plants are employed in many different countries oi 

 climates. Each species is frequentlj represented l>y 

 I varieties or strains. As well as the countries 

 Lbove mentioned, it should be pointed out that several 

 places are beginninc kblish a hemp industry, 



leasl attemping to; Foi i ample, Fiji, Jamaica, and Sicily. 



In this latter c j i strain oi Agavi risalana a is been 



acclimatized. 



A Triple Purpose Breed of Cattle. —In Switzer- 

 land there exists a triple purpose breed of cattle which is known 

 as the Simental breed. The animals of this race are moderately 



g 1 milkers, meat producers and workers, and it would 



considering the conditions of employment of cattle 

 West Indies, that these animals may be of some intere 

 local planters. Their characteristics are briefly described in the 

 New Zealand .Journal oj Agriculture for November 20, 1914. 



Wemaj fine ourselves in this note to the information given 



as regards the animals' capabilities. Cows of this breed, iccord 



ing to official figures, nave given up to 6,078 kilos. 



2 - 2 ft.) of 3 - 94 per.cent. milki«-fcwel oi lis. As regards 



rational fattening, the Simental breed gives ven g I 



results, in the quantity as well as in the quality of the meat. 

 The flesh is -aid to be firm, with fine fibres, and well pro- 

 vided with fat. The best results are obtained with the 



the heifers, ami the young eal\ e- : but even the 



cows from eight to ten years ol agi a re, in general, good 

 results. By reason of their build, constitution, and 



cattle of the Simental breed are to a high degree apt 



foi greater part "I the labour oi the fields being 



done with animals of this breed in their native home-. They 



o used for haulagi work on rea irds 



general appearance. : I ol the body and the character 



istic signs are all a faithful expression i d 



with combined aims in view. The whole bodj has an 



of great strength without being coarse oi 



of the mountains were before 1 1 1 < • \ \ ughl under 



domestication. 



