191 



THE AGEICn/lVIIAL NEWS. 



Ji m 19, 1915. 



is so injurious as the accompanying rise in tempi 

 ture. At the same time il is always desirabli to 

 keep the carbon dioxide confenl al a minimum ii 

 onh because of the consideration that fresh air rend- 

 ers animals more immune to diseases like tuberculosis. 



Another subject which receives attention is 

 the ecoitomj of small farm gas engines. These 

 machines are now being commonly employed on 

 estates in the tropics, but it may not be gener- 

 ally known that engines develop their best fuel 

 ■economy not at their maximum load, but at a load 

 approximately <>7 per cent, of the maximum load. In 

 America the draft of waggons has also received much 

 investigation. The invention of a now form of 

 dynamometer has enabled interesting curves to be 

 obtained showing the variation in the horse power 

 exerted on roads of different surfaces and grades over 

 long distances. This work is being continued, and 

 within the next few years a sufficient number of 

 observations will have been made to allow of the 

 deduction of very general conblusions. One question 

 that i- being studied is the effect of the width of tyres 

 on draft. In this connexion it may be pointed out that 

 in regard to carriages, a rubber tyre necessitates the 

 expenditure of greater energy in starting and stopping 

 than does an iron tyre. Most planters in the West 

 Indies recognize thai there is need for the investigation 

 of draft work locally, particularly in connexion with the 

 relative efficienc} for different draft purposes of cattle 



and mules. 



The lasl phase of agricultural engineering which 

 we ma} consider is the teaching "i the subject. For 



agricultural student, most authorities agree thai 



a tli« itical beginning should: consist oi a study of 



mechanics, and that a practical start should consist of 

 work in the forge and in the carpenter's shop. On the 

 farms attached to agricultural colleges and experiment 

 i Ions there is generallj every facility for studying 

 the different aspects of agricultural engineering. The 

 various appliances employed fos<the cultivation of the 



and for the preparation of crops may be tested 

 or considered from a theoretical aspect, while the 

 gas engines and various pumping applianci - « ill often 

 be available for critical examination. On the average 

 estate in the tropics th machinery is frequentlj 

 rather specialized, as in the case of the sugar estates. 

 Nevertheless for educational purposes it would be 

 difficult i" find a bi tter equipment for studj 



ineering in tcull ural aspects I han in the 



ci ntral factor} and on estates connected with it. which 

 mi on labour sa\ ing lines. 



The considerations in the above paragraph concern 

 the training of the plantei rather than the agricultural 

 engineer. In fact they imply his existence. There 

 are few institutions at presenl capable of training such 

 an expert, though some of the American colleges n 

 which mechanics and agricultural'departments are in 

 touch might suffice. The agricultural engineer is 

 essentially an engineer, and ol course a specialist de- 

 pending upon whether branches of irrigation, architec 

 bure surveying, implement designing or machinery are 

 taken up. But he must also be an agriculturist in 

 i lie sense that he must understand agricultural economy, 

 and be in a position to leek al things from the planters 

 point of view. 



SUGAR CASE EXPERIMENTS IX THE LEE- 

 WARD ISLANDS, 1918-14. 



The series of experiments here reported en have been 

 continuously in progress for a perii.il of fifteen year.-, and it 

 has been an essential feature to conduct them in a uniform 

 manner on the fields of sugai estates situated in the different 

 sugar-producing districts. The experiments with varieties 

 of cane constitute the vehicle through which new- and promis- 

 ing varieties are introduced into cultivation; while the 

 manurial experiments afford important information as to the 

 most remunerative way "I supplying these varieties with 

 plant food. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH VARIETIES 01 SUGAR-CASE. 



The report under review is divided into two parts as in 

 former years, Part 1 dealing with experiments of sugar-cane, 

 and Part II, dealing with manurial experiments. The past 

 season's trials in Antigua have indicated, in the case of 

 plant canes, the superiority of B.4596, B.6450 and - 

 Seedling, amongst ethers. The first and last of those 

 mentioned have occupied high positions in the li-t for 

 several years, and their continued satisfactory beha 

 enables them t" be confidently recommended to pla 

 B. 6450 is now well known as a valuable cane in Barbados, 

 where it has wen for itself a very favourable op 



It is of interest to record that thn thei Barbados vari Lii 



n troduced into the experiments for the first time las 

 have shown premise as pin namely, B.6204. 



B, I'.i-W and B. 1030. B.4030 is in many respect* 

 interesting cane and its behaviour will be watched 



attention. Turning to i at i canes in Antigua, it will be 



ed that :e mere the list is he ided bj I' I 



The id cane on the list is B.3922. Both these vai 



