Vol. XIV. No. 337. 



THE v ' ULTURAL NKW 3. 





DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OP LOCAL INTEREST. 



st. viscent. The Agricull iral Superintendent (Mr. W. S". 

 Bands) write to 1,3 thai work in the Experimet 

 during Fi >ri iv has included principally operations con 

 nected with provision crops, The harvesting has begun ol 

 onions, sweel potatoi - Etounceval beans, white velvet beans, 

 and Bengal beans. This reflects the importance which the 

 cultivation of such crops is likelj to mni in the Colony. 

 In the Gardens, a large number of imported coco-nuts were 

 inspected, and 900 cane cutting di tributed. As regard 

 ndition of the principal crops in the island, thrips are 

 attacking cacao in some places, and the | rice for cotton and 

 arrowroot are still depressed. 



Mr. Samis states that the installation of an 'oil expeller' 

 and other machinerj for dealing with co i id has been 



in progress at the Government Ginnery. \" article i i 

 this issue will show that impoi tant devi 



ird to the handling, on :o operative 

 lines, of Indian ■ ■ 



It is recorded that Mr. J. L. Fonda representing the 

 Fine Spinners' Association, and the Imperial Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, visited the island during the month. 

 Dr. Watts left on the 7th instant. The rainfall at the 

 Botanic and Experiment Station for the month was I'"'. 1 and 

 1*59 inches, respectively. The weather was therefore dry. 



st. lucia. According to the re t of the Agricultural 



Superintendent (Mr. A. J. Brooks), work in the Experiment 

 Station has included various operations connected with citrus 

 cultivation, including the raising of lime plants and the 

 budding of oranges and grape-fruit. Considerable efforts 

 are being made to improve the Castries Botanic Gardens. 



Observations relating to the conditions of crops show 

 that the lime crop was practicallj over, while the cacao was 

 coming in slowly. The reaping of sugarcane has become 

 more general, whilst extended planting continues, as cuttings 

 become available. 



Mr. Brooks visited a considerable number of estates, 

 and is making a collection of vegetable parasites with a view- 

 to their correct determination. The local grasses are being 



studied with the sai bject. This work is b ing executed 



with the help of Professor Trelease. 



The lime factory closed on February 27, and during the 

 month also, the office of Assistant Superintendent was 

 abolished. 



Plants distributed were: limi 3 2,000, nutmegs I, 

 decorative ii. There were also sent out 136 packets of 

 vegetable seed-. 



dominica. Mr. Joseph Jones (Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent) writes to inform this < > tl i< . ■ that work in the Expert 

 ment Station has included cutlassing, picking and mulching 



on the lime plots; picking ami recording in the case nt cacao. 



In the Gardens, the Castilloa rubber tree- have been tapped 

 and attention given to the maintenance of the good condition 

 of the ornamental trees anil hedges. 



As regard-, the position of the lime juice market, it is 

 stated that the local price of green limes unpacked was 22*. 

 per barrel, and for yellow limes 7s. fie?, per barrel. Good 

 quality raw juice is in demand locally at Is. per gallon. 



Several estates were visited U the Curator during the 



month, ami a consideral umbei of visits on the 



planters were recorded at the Botanic Station. 



Plant distribution included, limes, 200; vanilla, 151; 

 cacao. 50: budded limes, II: miscellaneous, 26: total, 141. 

 The rainfall for the month was I'll I inches. 



uontsebb v r. Vcconli ig to thi report ol the I 

 (Mi W Etobson), the law enforcing the destruction ot d 



cotton plants cami int ration during the i th. This 



id. - that all old plain nusl be destroyed by Febr 



28. In ordei to I ; th mat I e the peasan 



posters have bee tt up in prominent place- sta 



he main point- contained in the Oi 



[t is expected that the area planted under cotton 



season will probably be between 1,500 12,000 acres. In 



sion with cotton, Mr. Robson reports fuither, thai i 



statement has Keen received in regard to the -a in pies of COt Oil 



-cut for -pinning tests to the British Cotton ( trowing Associa 

 tion. It is satisfactory to know that Heaton 9 is considered 



one of the two best, alt! ghg I strain- of both St. Vincent 



and St. Kitts cottons were included. 



| lonsiderable work continues to be d in regard to the 



Bay oil industry, which is rapidly assumii 



importance. It is reported that 30,000 ba} plants have h • 



ordered for delivery this year, and every effort will lie in bd 



meet the demand, though il i- doubtful « hi I hi i I he ordei s can 

 be .op,,, | with as quickly as might be desired. Nearly 

 20, I bay plant- were sent out in the past season. 



■,s i nu v. It is stated by the I lurator (Mr. J, Ja< kson) 

 thai work in the Experiment Station has included the man 

 ing of maize plots at Fitches Creek, and the reaping of 

 sugar-cane manurial plots at Cassada Garden. The ca 

 variety plots have received attention al various a 

 Plants distributed included: Eucalyptus, 1,863; onion 

 1,600; coeo-nuts, 35] : foresl trees, 225; cane cuttings, I 1,028; 

 sweet potato cuttings, 11,500. 



The growing cane crop has made a good start, and 

 stands that have been obtained so fai are said to be good. 



The Onion Growers' Association has been active. 

 Handling of onions began during the month, and 85 crates 



were shipped. A meeting of the Executive C ittee of 



the Association was held during the month. The Gove 

 ment granary was expected to open during March. Good 

 rains were experienced during the month. -Vi 1 1 inches being 

 n corded at the Botanic Station. 



ST. kitts. Tin- Agricultural Superintendent (Mr. F. It. 

 Shepherd) writes to say that the work in the Experiment 

 Station has consisted in the planting of Indian corn, the 

 re ping of manurial experiments (result poor owing to clo 

 planting and attack of worms), ami the planting of nine 



varieties. of sugar-cane received from Mauritius. Artificial 

 manures were applied to experimental canes at Brighton and 

 Buekleys estates. There were distributed from the 

 1,500 sweet potato cuttings. 



The old cane crop was being rapidly taken off in the 

 Central Factory district, and about 2,000 tons of sugar had 

 been made'. During the month, for the first time canes 

 were harvested for the factory from the estates on the new 

 extension on the railway line. Owing to the continued dry 

 weather, the cane- were ripening quickly, and reaping opera 

 tions on the muscovado estates were in full swing. Three 

 of the estates in the Sand, Point district were sending their 



cine- to the factory by boat, the present price of [6i Id. 

 per ton making this po sible. The young cane crop w 

 healthy and growing well, but rain, especially i 

 Basseterre district, was badly needed. 



Mr. Shepherd States that although -nine estates were 



preparing for th c rig cotton crop, there will, however, 



be a great reduction in favour of sugar-cam 



Appended to Mr. Shepherd's reporl i- a stateme i by 

 the Assistant Chemist (Mr. II. Waterland), as to th 



c lucted at the Governmenl Laboratory. This included 



ermination of fibre in sisal hemp, analyses of n 

 and soil. 



