-<^VoL. Viri Xo. 1S2. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



125 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



Seasonal Notes.. 

 Aphtl. 



■2ni.l Fi.>KTMi;irr. 



Students should note the ertpct, of the moth borer 

 ■ (Diutraea mcchiindi'^) on the growth of thesugar-ciine, 

 and observe the habits of this pegt., Read article on 

 moth borer in West Indian Ballaiin (Vol. I, pp. 827- 

 51). Eggs of this insect may be 'found on ihe young 

 leaves of the canes at this time of the year. Collect 

 some of these egg clusters, which may be kept in 

 a wide-mouthed bottle, the opening of which is closed 

 with muslin. Observe the 3'oung caterpillars as they 

 emerge. Noie also the eggs which have been parasit- 

 ized, and observe the minute Hymenopterous insect 

 which emerges from the latter. Sbut up some freshly 

 laid eggs of moth borer with parasites and observe the 

 result. 



On estates where cotton is grown, students should 

 note the difference, if any, in the quality of the cotton, 

 the quantity of the nep, etc., from the first picking 

 and that from the second picking. Note also the 

 relative quaTitity and quality of the lint obtained from 

 ratooned cotton, i.e., cotton plants that are allowed to 

 remain on into the second year from planting. Students 

 should further make a point of observing the difference, 

 if any, between the yields from plants that have been 

 pruned, and those vvhich have not been so treated. 



The gathering of the ' Easter' cacao crop will be 

 in progress. Compare the different varieties : Criolio, 

 Forastero, and Calabacillo, in regard to their vigour 

 of growth, yield of pods, and number of beans in the 

 individual pods. Discuss the rela-ive advantages and 

 disadvantages of the three varieties. Search for and 

 poison the nests of wood ants in cacao plantations : 

 also regularly lay pois6n to keep down the plague of 

 Tats. 



Lime seedlings in nursery beds need attention. 

 Keep surface soil loose in these beds, or seedlings will 

 ' quail. ' Green dressings are most usefid for improv- 

 ing the te.xture ot soil in lime plantations, but should 

 not be planted after the end of April. Why is this '. 



Questions for Candidates. 



FRELIMI.\.\RY QUEiTlON.S. 



(1) Describe liow budding i.s doA%; and name the jn-iu- 

 ■<;ipal Weht Indian plants that are pr(ipagated by budding. 



(2) What is meant by the ' germinating power ' of seed? 

 How woidd you test the vitality of a sample of cotton seed ? 



(.3) What advantages are derived from the use of 

 leguminous green dressings? State -frhat non-leguminous 

 plants are sometimes used for green dressings in the West 

 Indies, and explain why crops of the former class are more 

 ^^seful than those of the latter for this purpose. 



1NTERMEDI.4TE yrESTIONS. 



(1) E.xplain clearly the ditference between uvaUahlc 

 plant food, and total plant food con.stituents in the .soil. 



(2) What causes a 'plough pan," and how can this be 

 rectified ? Does this interfere with sojl capillarity '\ 



(.3) How does adequate drainage benefit .soil and plants? 



IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF TROPICAL 



AGRICULTURE. 



At the annual meeting of the Associ.qted 

 Chambers of Commeree ftf the United Kingdom, held 

 early in March, a resoli^tioji,, proposed by Mr. J. C. 

 Atkins, of . Oldham, was- carried unanimously, which 

 strongly urged upon the'iiaovernment the importance 

 of establishing an Imperiar Department of Tropiead 

 Agriculture. The following forms a summary rff 

 Mr. Atkins' speech on tli,e subject : — 



A large part of the British Empire lay within the tropics 

 and contained extensive tracts of tlio most fertile land in the 

 world, which was largely undeveloped. These land.s were 

 capable of producing immejjse quantities of food stufts and 

 raw matei-iiils, which would bring prosperity to the inhabi- 

 tants, and thus by increasing their purchasing power, also 

 benefit the mother country. The natives could be helped to 

 grow more of the products they now cultivated, and also 

 new ones suitable to the various climates could be intro- 

 duced. But, in order that this might be done properly, and 

 to avoid useless expenditure, a thorough knowledga of the 

 climatic conditions, the rainfall, the quality of the soil, labour 

 supply, and transport facilities, etc., were necessary. That 

 could only be done satisfactorily by a Government Depart- 

 ment. In India and Ceylon, and in parts of South Africa, 

 nuich good was being done by the Agricultural Departn entsj 

 but there was no relationship between those ditferent bodies, 

 and there must be some central authority if the best results 

 were to be obtained, so that the information and experience 

 gathered might be available for the whole Empire. To 

 ensure unity of purpose in the carrying on of such a Depart- 

 ment, it must be on an Imperial basis. From his conne.xion 

 ■with the liritish ( lotton-growing Association, he knew the 

 great difficulties which had to be contended with in the 

 initial stages from want of information as to the climate, 

 soil, and also of technical knowledge, and many mistakes 

 were made and money lost. The same remark applied to 

 many other products. The history of the British Cotton- 

 growing Association and its results, proved what could be 

 done in developing the colonies, if proper methods were 

 employed. It was only about seven years since the idea of 

 growing cotton within the Empire was started. Now it had 

 lieen proved that cotton of every variety can be grown under 

 the British flag, and the industry had been firmly established. 



What had been done in cotton' could surely be done in 

 other commodities. Rubber, for instance, was bebig grown 

 in many parts of the Empire, but much of it was of infer- 

 ior cjuality owing to lack of knowledge. The natural resources 

 of our Empire were enormous, and, if only properly 

 developed, would bring jjrosperity to all. In order that tbi.s 

 might be brought about it would be necessary to have 

 agricultural departments in all the colonies, ani a central 

 department iu London, where all the information and e.xperi- 

 ence that have been collected will be gathered together, and 

 experts will be able to advise, assist, and direct on all matters 

 in connexion witli tropical agriculture. 



The work should be concentrated in one department 

 whose sole object would be to develop the agricultural 

 resources of our tropical possessions, acting in conjiuiction 

 with departments in the colonies, formed on lines similar to 

 that in the West Indies. The cost of the central department 

 would be borne by the Imperial Government, and that of th«i 

 branches principally by the colonies themselves. 



