Vol. VIII. Xo. 189. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



2:1."? 



Cotton in Jamaica. 



It is still hoped that a successful cotton industry 

 may be established in Jamaica. The disappointing 

 results of the last two j'ears may be entirely attributed 

 to the abnormal weather and attendant drought. 

 This year, however, the weather appears to be return- 

 ing to its more normal condition, and some satisfactory 

 yields have already been obtained which may possibly 

 encourage the extension of the industry, since the crop 

 possesses many advantages which make it suitable to 

 conditions in Jamaica. 



Rainfall in Dominica. 



The mean rainfall in Dominica for the year 190S, 

 based on the returns from thirty-three stations, was 

 10621 inches : this is 230 inches less than that of 1907. 

 As in that year, the highest rainfall was at Lancashire 

 and Gleau Manioc, but the positions have been reversed, 

 ■Gleau Manioc receiving 236"18 inches and Lancashire 

 226'11 inches. Of all the stations. Batalie has continued 

 to receive the least quantity of rain, and this is less than 

 that of last year by 3'39 inches. July, August, 

 .September and December were the wettest months, 

 the rainf.ill being greatest in December. It was during 

 this monih, too, than the greatest rainfall at any one 

 station took place, namely at Castle Bruce, where it 

 ■was 4.502 inches. February was the driest month : 

 then January. It is interesting to note that, since the 

 great decrease (20 inches) after 1900, the rainfall has 

 remained steady. 



Suggested Field Staff for the Philippines. 



The sugar industry is considered to be of such 

 great importance to the Philippine Archipelago that, 

 in the Seventli, AnniMl Report (August 190S) of 

 tite Director of the Bareaih of Science at Manila, 

 the advisability is suggested of providing funds, for afc 

 least two years, to place in the tield, a regular labora- 

 tory staff of at least three chemists with a man who 

 has made sugar chemistry a life study at the head. 

 Such a man, it is thought, could be obtained for 

 a limited period, although work of this kind is in great 

 demand in other sugar-producing countries. 



Spraying for Scale Insects. 



It is pointed out, in the Jaarnal of the Jiimalcfi 

 Agricidtiiral Society, that, although the methods of 

 making the different washes for this purpose and those 

 of applying them m.ay be known and employed correctly, 

 it is of equal importance, if the work is to be effective, 

 to have a knowledge of the best time to use them. As 

 the scale insect on the plant matures, its waxy shield 

 becomes more and more impervious, and its power to 

 protect the insect beneath it therefore increases. 

 This consideration affords an explanation of the 

 irregularity of the measures of success, with the same 

 wash, which are obtained at different times. 



The obvious way, then, in which to ensure the 

 best results in attempting to reduce the numbers of 

 any given kind of scale insect, is to spray or wash just 

 after the eggs of a new brood have hatched. 



Agriculture in the Bahamas. 



The Report of the Board of Agriculture of the 

 Bahamas for 1908 is especially interesting as showing 

 the speedy commencement of a revival of agricultural 

 prosperity after a severe crisis brought about by 

 unfavourable natural conditions. Followin? a lonjr 

 drought in 1907, there were two severe hurricanes in 

 September and October 1908, which caused wide-spread 

 destruction to crops and other property. The distribu- 

 tion of sweet potato and cassava cuttings for the 

 immediate needs of the people and the re-planting of 

 the old, and opening-up of new areas of land by the 

 planters were the first efforts made to bring about 

 a return of prosperity. 



The most important export during the year was 

 that of sisal fibre, the total value of this being 

 £46,6G9 : pine-apj)les come next with £17,821 ; then 

 grape fruit and oranges, value £6,177. But the most 

 encouraging feature of the export trade of the colony 

 is the increased trade, notwithstanding the adverse 

 conditions recently experienced, in various minor 

 products, such as tomatoes and cocoa-nuts. 



Accoiding to the report, the outlook for the sisal 

 industiy is good, as the demand for the product has 

 Toeen growing more rapidly than tli.at for the competing 

 fibres, and the state of the fibre markets of the world 

 indicates that this demand is bound to increase. 



Barbados and the Canadian Exhibitions. 



An exhibit has been prepared by the Barbados 

 Permanent Exhibition Committee for the Toronto 

 Exhibition (1909) and will go forward by the 

 S.S. ' Oruro ' in A'.igust. It includes samples of the 

 principal commercial products of the island, the chief 

 of these being white, j'ellow, and dark cr3'stal sugars, 

 oscillated and muscovado sugars, molasses and fancy 

 .syrups, rums and falernums, and Sea Island cottor). 

 In addition, there are manjak, green tar, and infusorial 

 earth, and, among minor products, bitters, aloes, and 

 ornamental seeds. The exhibit, which is quite up to 

 the standard of former years, has been on view at the 

 office of the Superintendent of Agriculture. 



The HamViook if Bnrt)ailo», which has been 

 prej)ared in previous years to be distributed at these 

 exhibitions, has not been continued this year, but the 

 matter relating to Barbados has been included in the 

 booklet The West Indies in Canada in 1909, which is 

 being issued by the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture. 



It may be mentioned that 7V/e West Indies in 

 Canada in 19 UO is much enlarged over the issues of 

 previous years. 



The list of books relating to the West Indies h.as 

 been added to, and a certain amount of advertising 

 matter has been included. 



