Vol. XIV. No. 345. 



THE ACKK TLTURAL NEWS. 



229 



trade, bul it will ha> iken ii Qatura I indigo is to 



make any progress ill the European market. One oi the 

 greal advantages of the synthetic producl is that ii is easily 

 manipulated in the vats, whereas natural indigo varies greatly 

 in composition and dyeing power, and therefore requires 

 expert supervision. Under modern conditions of production 

 this is a great disadvanta 



In considering the manufacture of indican from the 



standpoint of the planter, it is made clear that future 



3s "ill depend upon the capacity of the planting 



community toapply the principles underlying the successful 



growth of the crop. 



In the course of several interesting pages on this part 

 of the subject, Mr. and Mrs. Eoward strongly emphasize the 

 importance oi encouraging the development "I the root 

 nodules of this plant. Apparently observations have shown 

 that there is a direct correlation between nodule activity, 

 i.e., the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and high indican 

 cntent. Everj planter knows, it is stated, that indigo grown 

 on rather poor land gives the be_st yield of finished 

 indigo, and often the besl colour. When indigo is grown on 

 rich land containing a high proportion of organic matter 

 such as seeth (residue after extraction), the number of 

 nodules formed on the root is small, and the bach ria in them 

 do not work at an} great pressure. In such soil, nitrates 

 are formed in abundance, and the indigo plant then behaves 

 like tobacco and takes up its nitrogen by way of the root 

 hairs, in the form i>t' nitrates dissolved in the soil water. 

 Under such circumstances the growth is rapid, but little 

 indican is accumulated, and if such plants be steeped, the) 

 give a small proportion of indigo and, moreover, of poor 

 quality indigo. 



The necessary conditions for the activity of the rool 

 nodules i.s an open soil, well aerated. Hence one of the 

 principal features of soil cultivation when growing indigo 

 is the use of the tine harrow, and similar implements for 

 keeping the soil well stirred. The importance of the 

 aeration of the soil is strongly emphasized. 



The improvement of the yield of indigo with reference 



to cultivation also depends upon the stirring of the soil and 

 the judicious use oi cover crops. A word of warning i.s 

 given in regard to tin- over-pruning of indigo at tic first 'ait. 

 As stated in an earlier paragraph, one of the principal 

 objects in the work under review has been to establish a seed 

 supply of -lava indigo. It may be mentioned here that the 

 Java indigo is more generally cultivated than the Sumatrana 

 indigo, which is a different and less desirable species. 

 Mr. and Mrs. Eoward have come to the decision that in 

 future seed supplies, leaf growing, am! seed growing should 

 be regarded as separate things. It is impossible to carry on 

 satisfactorily cultivations with both objects in view. 



A satisfactory method of producing - I has been arrived at 



at I'usa, the plants being sown much wider apart than when 

 grown for leaf. It is mentioned incidentally that the flower 

 of the Java indigo is a bee Mower, and the visits of these 

 are necessary to bring abou pollination. Finally 

 attention i- called to the successful cultivation on high lands 

 of wheat and indigo together. The well known l'usa I has 



d most satisfactory because this is a rapid grower, does 

 not tiller much, has a very strong straw, and i- provided with 

 few leave.-. If tic cultivation of indigo conies to be taken 

 Up again by planters in the West Indies, the question of 

 growing the crop in conjunction with another one will have, 

 fcp be one of the first things to be considered, 



As regards the manufacture of indigo from the plant, tin 

 reader who may desire information on this part of the subject. 

 is referred back to the Agricultural News, Vol. \IY, p. 15. 



MAIZE SHOW IN ANTIGUA. 

 A notice appeared i recent issue of the Agricultural 



Newi to the effect thai i uggestion has been made t.o hold 



a small show of maize i maize products with the id 



endeavouring to stimulati interesl in the growth of tin 

 in Antigua. More definite information has now been 

 received, and it is understood that the exhibition will take 

 place in November. It i proposed to make admission to 



the show by invitation- broadly distributed throughout the 



community, and to combine with it an alien , ,, 



given by the members of the Agricultural Society; while tit 



the same time special arrangements will be made for the 



staging of a Department oi Agriculture exhibit i bined with 



a popular address on ome oi the more important points 

 connected with the industry. 



The following is the suggested prize list, which has been 



forwarded to this Office by Dr. H. A. Tempaiiv: — ■ 



(1) ill ears of corn grown by an estate 



to be judged on points. 



(2) 12 ft), of shelled corn grown by 



an estate to be accompanied by 

 a certificate as to acreage, the 

 plot to be open to inspection anil 

 report by the Agricultural De- 

 partment. 



(•'!) 4 ft), of corn and cob meal ground 

 on an estate. 



( 1 1 t lb. of com meal prepared from 

 locally grown corn. 



(5) 12 ears of corn grown by a cul- 

 tivator of not more than 2 acres 

 of land. 



((i) 12 B>. of shelled corn grown by a 

 cultivator of not more than 

 2 acres of land, to be accouipan 

 ied by a certificate signed by a 

 member of the Committee of the 

 Agricultural and ( !i immercial So- 

 ciety or Minister of Religion, 

 Doctor, Member of Legislative 

 Council, or Head of a-.Govern- 

 ment Department a- to yield 

 per acre. 



(7) 8 lb. of 

 fodder. 



corn stover dried for 



(8) Any other article made from any 



part of the corn plant. 



(9) Champion prize for the best single 



ear of corn exhibited at the show 

 in any class. The ear to become 

 the property of the Agricultural 

 Department. 



(10) Collection of dish is illustrating 

 various methods of serving corn 

 and corn meal as 1 1. 



1st prize 7s. Gd. 

 2nd „ 3s. Gd. 

 and a diploma. 



1st prize 7 s. Gd. 

 2nd „ 3s. Gd. 

 and a diploma. 



1st prize 1-. 

 2nd „ 2s. 



1st prize 4s. 

 2nd „ 2s. 



1st prize 6s. 



2nd „ 3s. 

 and diploma if exhib- 

 its warrant it. 



1st prize 4s. 

 2nd .. 2s. 



1st prize 4s. 

 2nd „ 2s. 



1st prize Is. 



2nd „ 2s. 



Lsl prize 10s. 



I -i prize 21 Is. 



■.'ud „ 10s. 



presented byj.the 

 Chairman of the Agri- 

 cultural and Com- 

 mercial Society. 



