ToL. VIII. Xo. 187. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



199 



THE SOILS OF NEVIS. 



The study of the soiis of the Leeward I.slands 

 j/iuup has been carried on from the Government Labora- 

 tory, Autigna. as time and opportun)1;y have permitted. 

 A Report on tin' Sails cf Dominica was published in 

 1902, and the soils of Montserrat formed the siiV)ject 

 cfa paper which appeared in the West Indian Bulletin 

 some two 3-ears ago (Vol. VI, p. 263). A paper on 

 the soils of Nevis, by Dr. Watts and Mr. Tempany, 

 appeared in the latest number of the Wcsf Indian 

 Bidletin (Vol. X, p. 60). The following are among 

 the chief points brought out as the result of the 

 investigations : — 



The unitVirnily liigli percentage of available potash, and 

 the very low percentage of available phosphate are remark- 

 able, and would appear to be characteristic of Nevi.s soils. 



It is probable that undei .some conditions, applications 

 of phospbatic manures to the r..ajority of soils in the i.sland 

 would prove markedly beneficial. Nevertheless, the deniand.s 

 <\i certain tropical crop.s in this respect,^ notably cotton and 

 .sugar-cane, are, in our e.xpeiience, so peculiar that caution in 

 tlie use of manures of this class should be observed. 

 Phosphatic manures wouM appear likely to be of marked 

 benefit in the case of i>i rmanent crops such as cacao and 

 linie.s, and may probably be useful in the case of cotton and 

 sugar ; this latter is, ho\vever, a matter for local e.xperiment. 



In common with all the volcanic soils in these island.s, 

 the soils of Nevis aie invariably markedly deficient in 

 carbonate of lime. It is likely that, in all cases, moderate 

 dressings of lime, when combined with tlie liberal use of 

 organic manures would prove of marked benefit, and we 

 recommend its use at the rate of 2 to S cwt. per acre. It 

 must, however, be boine in mind that lime 1')- itself is not 

 a manure, and unless accompajiied by an ample supply of 

 inanurial oonstituenti-', particularly organic matter, is liable 

 to result in ultimate iaipoverishment of soils. 



The majority of X^evis soils are remarlcable for the con- 

 .siderable number of large stones and boulders that are 

 <Hstributed over their surfaces, and this general distribution 

 constitutes an important determining factor in the agricultural 

 manipulation of these : oils. It is probably not too much to say, 

 that in many instances their presence is sufficient to remove 

 from the possibility of cultivation 30 per cent, of the arable 

 land of the fields in which they occur. From their large size 

 it is impo.s.sible to give oxpres.sion to the eft'ect they exert in 

 the results of analysis quoted. Nevertheless, in reviewing 

 the Nevis soils, it is impossible to give an adequate descrip- 

 tion of their characters without taking full account of this 

 characteristic and peculiar feature. 



Finally, attention mu.'^t again be directed to the need 

 for the free use of organic manures, such as pen manures 

 and compost, and the growth of green dressings as an 

 essential feature in the maintenance of tilth in these, in 

 common with other tropical soils. In tropical agriculture 

 all the world over, the main problem to be contended with 

 is the rapid decay of hunms vhich takes place, and the 

 corresponding rapid decay of tilth that is likely to ensue in 

 consequence. The combating of this tendenc}-, combined 

 with the conservation of .soil moisture, must, we are convinced, 

 Always be the chief end and object of cultivation in the 

 tropics. 



To sum up, the soils of Nevis are fertile, and well 

 adapted to the growth of all ordinary tropical crops, such as 

 sugar-cane, cotton, and tobacco. 



DISINFECTION OF COTTON SEED. 



Now that the time is at liaiid for planiiii',' -ct'oii 

 for the coming crop, it might be well to consider again 

 the advantages to be derived from the disinfection of 

 cotton seed, and the methods to be employed. 



Corrosive sublimate is a poisonous substance and a germi- 

 cide. If eaten by insects, aiiimals or persons, it is a poLsott 

 in the ordinary sense, and a very powerful poi.son at that. 

 As a germicide it kills bacteria, fungus spores, and s-imilar 

 organisms by coming in contact with them. It is used in 

 a water solution, at a strength ol 1 part of corrosive sublimate- 

 to 1,000 parts of water. To make this strength, use 1 oz. of 

 corrosive sublimate and 7 gallons of water or 1 lb. to 100 

 gallons. The poison may be dissolved in a small amount of 

 liot water, and then poured slowly into the full amount of 

 water. It is essential that the poison should be thoroughly 

 di-ssolved in the water before the solution is used. 



There are two points that must be borne in mind— one 

 i.s, that the wooden tul) or cask in which the cotton seed is 

 usually soaked will probably absorb a certain amount of the- 

 corrosive sublimate, thus weakening the solution ; and the 

 other is that the seel must be thoroughly wetted, but must 

 not stay in the solution too long. In dealing with the first 

 of tlie.se point.s, the tub or cask may be prepared some time 

 before it is jiroposed to disinfect the seed After it has. 

 been thoroughly washed, the tub should be filled with 

 a solution of corrosive sublimate, 1-1,000, and left to stand 

 a few hours. ^ By this time the reaction between the wood 

 and the .solution will have been completed. The .solution 

 may then be thrown away, and the tub is ready for u.se in 

 disinfecting cotton seed. 



In order that the seed may be thorouglily wetted it is 

 only neces.sary to stir it in the .solution for a few "minutes, -when 

 it is first put in, .so that the solution may come in contact with 

 all parts of the surface. Ten to twenty minutes should be 

 quite long enough for thorough disinfection. 



It is estimated that the cost of disinfection amounts to 

 about one cent for 1 2 lb. of seed, 1 gallon of the solution 

 being .suflicient satisfactorily to disinfect 1 i ft)., and the planter- 

 should always bear this in mind. The solution is weakened 

 by the loss of corrosive sublimate, which is absorbed by the 

 te.ita or hard outer covering of the seed. 



When the .seed has become thuroughly Avetted it should be 

 taken out and, if it is desired, may be planted at once, with- 

 out drying ; but if it is not to be planted at once it shoidd be 

 thoroughly dried before being put in bags for storing. 



There are no disadvantages to the disinfection of seed' 

 except the cost and the labour required, each of which is only 

 a small item. The advantages to bo expected are several. 

 Seed often germinates better as a result of disinfection : it 

 is reported that fields of cotton planted with disinfected seed 

 suft'ered less from leaf-blister , mite than the adjoining 

 fields, the seed for which was not disinfected : the spores of 

 fungus diseases are often transported with the cotton seed, 

 and disinfection is the best means known of killing such- 

 spores and thus warding otf subsequent attacks. 



One of the most troublesome of the fungus diseases 

 liable to be transported with the seed is anthracnose. This 

 fungus causes the damping off which often kills the young 

 cott'ju seedlings when only a few days above ground. 



When this attack is serious, a large proportion of the 

 seedlings may be killed. Later in the life of the cotton this. 

 fungus causes the well-known anthracnose of the boll. If the 

 process of disinfection is carefully carried out, and the direc- 

 tions given herewith are obseived, there ought to be no ill 

 effects from it, but rather welt marked benefits ought to be 

 realized. 



