~^oL. Viri. No. 177. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



4."> 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



Seasonal Notes. 

 FEBKUAltV. 



1st FdBTNliiHT. 



Take note of the young canes now growing from 

 the planted ' tops. ' Compare the ' top,' aucl -its buds 

 with the seed and its embryo. Xote how the young 

 roots arise, and the course they take. See if the root 

 tips in any case are attacked by root disease 



Examine the young cane shoots for ' dead hearts ' 

 and see how these are ' caused by boring caterpillars. 

 Study the life-history of this moth borer. 



In cacao-growing localities lead uj) the facts 

 relating to grafting cacao : understand what is aimed 

 at, and what has been done. Blake experiments in 

 grafting. 



Make notes as to the best lots of seed to save 

 from cotton fields for next year's planting. Examine 

 carefully and systematically any samples of cotton 

 ■passing through 3'our hands. 



In many places the cotton plants will be shedding 

 their leaves. Learn what changes take jilace in a leaf 

 as it ripens and prej)ares to fall. 



Questions for Candidates. 



PREHJIINAKV (,)rESTl(lN'.S. 



(1) What gases in tho atmosphere play a part in 

 plant life ? In -what manner are they taken in by the plant ? 



(2) Describe, with sketches, the jierniination (if a cacao 

 seed. 



(.3) Describe a plough, and its action on the soil. What 

 ■constitutes good ploughing ? 



IXTERMEIUATE QUESTIONS. 



(1) What causes the so-called 'dead hearts ' in young 

 bane sprouts, and what steps should be taken in conne.xion 

 ■with them 1 



(ti) What are the advantages of grafting fruit trees, 

 cacao, etc., as against raising from seed '. 



(3) AA'^hat ijrecautions are necessary in jiicking cotton ? 



RICE IN BRITISH GUIANA. 



Weather conditions continui> favourable for rice 

 growers in British Guiana. A good deal of produce is 

 now being placed on the market, and prices are steady. 

 Messrs. Sandbach, Parker & Co., of Georgetown, report 

 as follows on January 22 last: — 



The weather for the past fortnight 'lias been favourable, 

 only two rainy days being e.xperienced, which did not 

 seriously interfere with milling opeiations, and fairly large 

 quantities of rice are now being reccixed in town. 



The market keeps firm, and in fact prices have advanced 

 slightly, small offerings being eagerly bought for local 

 consumption. Two sales for export have been reported, but 

 we do not think that there will be much, offered in the West 

 India islands, except at an increase on previous sales. 



Shipments to the West India isl.inds during the fort- 

 night amount to about 1,800 bags. 



The piice of good export rice, f.o.b. Demerara, is, at 

 ■date of writing, 19s. M. to Ids. Gd. per bag of 180 ft. gross. 



ST. VINCENT AGRICULTURAL AND 



COMMERCIAL SOCIETY. 



An interesting meeting of the above Society was 

 held at the Court House, St. Vincent, on January 13 

 last, under the presidency of Mr. Alexander Smith. 



A resolution of thanks to the British Cotton-growing 

 Association for the kindnes.s shown to the delegates from 

 St. Alncent to the Cotton Conference held in England in 

 August last, was carried unanimou.sly, as -was also a second 

 vote of thanks to the Royal ilail Company for carrying the 

 ' delegates at reduced rates. 



The cjuestion of mechanical tillage at St. Vincent was 

 then brought up for discussion by ilr. (J. 1!. Corea. 

 ]\Ir. Corea mentioned that he thought the time had come 

 when it was necessary for planters to go into this matter, in 

 view of the serious shortage of labour at present existing on 

 estates. He understood that at Antigua certain implements 

 had been imported from the Southern States of America, and 

 were reported on very favourably. They were, it ap[jeared, 

 eminently suited for Cii'ie and cotton cultivation. He had 

 also heard that the cost of production of cro[)s was reduced, 

 better work was done, and a good deal of labour saved. He 

 suggested that the S ■oiety should go into the matter with. 

 a view to obtaining full information as to whether such, 

 implements were liki !y to be of service in this island. He 

 v.'ould give his supp trt in every way possible, and suggested 

 that the question be laid before Dr. Francis Watts, C.M.G. 



Mr. Sands gave a general idea of what had been done at 

 Antigua. He pointed out that there was a good area, probably 

 half of the aralale land of St. Mncent which could be worked by 

 machinery, but that in the first place skilled instruction was 

 necessary. The implements imported from Louisiana into 

 Antigua were well suited for cotton and cane cultivation and 

 all the different cultural operations could be carried out by 

 them. 



Other speakers referred to the shortage of labour on 

 many estates, and since the introduction of inqilements might 

 help towards production at a minimtnn figure, it was 

 decided to obtain more information on the subject. Since 

 mechanical tillage had been tried at Antigua, the Secretary 

 was instructed to write to Dr. Francis Watts, Imper- 

 ial Connnissioner of Agriculture, asking for his views 

 on the subject, together with fidl data as to the cost of imple- 

 ments, the cost of working, and the amount of saving ett'ected 

 per acre in the production of .sugar-cane and cotton. If the 

 adoption of inqilemental tillage was likely to be suitable on 

 St. Vincent land.s, and to reduce the cost of production, 

 every effort should be made to introduce it into the island. 



The question was next rai.sed by the Hon. C. .T. Sinnnons 

 as to wliether there Avas, at present, a sufficient sujjply of 

 labour in the island, or whether owners would not be advised 

 to co-operate for the introductfou of indentured labour. 



While it was generally agreed that the pre.seut deficiency 

 of reliable labourers increa.sed the ditficulty of remunerative 

 cotton production, some of the members present believed 

 that the introduction of indentured labour would prove too 

 expensive just now. Furthrr discussimi on the matter was 

 deferred. 



The last item of business on the agenda was a i-i:sr)hUioii 

 expressing regret at the retirement of Sir Daniel .Morris, 

 K.C.M.O., from the office of Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture for the AVest Imlies, together with appreciation 

 of the services rendered to the West Indies by the ex-Com- 

 missioner. This resolution \\as carried unanimously. 



