Yor. XIII. No. 305. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



ST VINCENT: REPORT ON THE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL DEPARTMENT, 19U-1.S. 



This report, which is now being distributed, describes 

 the work done by the Local Agricultural Department during 

 the year ended March .31. 1913. 



WORK IN THE BOTANIC GAUDEXS. 



The first section of the publication, dealing with the 

 work in the Botanic ' lardens, informs the reader that import- 

 ant road improvements have been effected in the Gardens 

 whereby visitors can now, in a short space of timo, obtain 

 a satisfactory view of the Colony's interesting old gardens. 

 A view along the new driving road is illustrated in Fig. 1. of 

 the Iteport. In addition to this information, an extremely 

 interesting account is provided of the history of the intro- 

 duction of economic plants into the (Jardens. 



As regards plant distribution from the nurseries, it may 

 be stated that a considerable number of cacao plants. Para 

 rubber stumps and sugar cane cuttings were sent out. Two 

 hundredweight of seeds of Bengal bean {Stizolohtiuii ntleri- 

 mum) was distributed for green dressing purposes. 



F.XPEimlKNTAL WORK WITH COTTON. 



Turning to the subject of plot experiments at the 

 Botanic and Experiment Stations, there will be found first 

 an account of the manurial experiments with cotton. It 

 will be seen that owing to unfavourable weather conditions, 

 no conclusive results have as yet been attained as to the 

 advantages of manuring cotton with artificial fertilizers. 

 Another feature of the e.vperiinental work with cotton has 

 been the selection for resistance to angular leaf spot disease 

 (Bactrniinn malracearuin) and anthracnose {(iloiiiereUa 

 gossppii) and West Indian leaf mildew. Some interesting 

 observations are recorded in regard to types of Marie 

 Galante cotton occurring in the Southern (Irenadines. It 

 was found that after ginning some of this cotton there were 

 at least three classes of seed: (a) clean, (b) tufted, and 

 (c) woolly. This different seed was planted out and the 

 'clean' seed gave rise to new types. No conclusive results 

 are yet drawn, as it appears necessary to repeat the experi- 

 ment under more favourable climatic conditions. 



Of great interest and importance locally will be the list 

 of the types of the cotton grown during 19r2-13and described 

 on page 7 of the report, followed by a discussion of the use 

 and signihcance of the term 'lint index'. 



VALUE OF BENCAL liEAN.S ANIi iJRUCRU NUTS. 



The notes on economic plants deal with the nutritive 

 value of the Bengal bean and the u.sefulness of the gru gru 

 palm nut as a source of vegetable oil. For some time in 

 Mauritius, Bengal bean seed has been used as stock food, and 

 according to a report by the Director of the Imperial Institute, 

 the seeds have a high nutritive value and contain no alkaloids 

 or cyanogenetic glucosides. In connexion with the gru-gru 

 palm nut, the reader should refer to the Agricultural News, 

 Vol. XII, p. 180, where a report on the sample of these nuts 

 -5ent from Grenada is presented. The kernels of the nut 



contain'about 56 per cent, of a white crystalline fat which 

 resembles both coco-nut and palm kernel oil, and is worth 

 about the same price per ton. 



INSECT PESTS. 



The longest section of the report is that dealing with 

 insect pests and fungus diseases. This consists principally 

 of a report by the Entomologist of the Imperial Department 

 of Agriculture, but it contains also, at the conclusion of the 

 section dealing with the pests of pigeon peas, .several 

 observations collected during the year by the Agricultural 

 Superintendent. Perusal of this section will show that the 

 inelKciency in St. Vincent of the parasites of the black scale, 

 and the question of wounds on coco-nut and other palms in 

 relation to the prevalence of palm weevil attacks, seem to be 

 two of the main points demanding special attention. In 

 addition, it is interesting to state that the local Department 

 has expended a considerable sum of money upon the purchase 

 of an air-compressing pump and four compressed air knapsack 

 sprayers together with specimens of the 'Furet' duster. 



PROGRESS IX THE INDUSTRIES. 



Progress in the chief industries has been temporarily 

 retarded liy another unfavourable season, and the export of 

 Sea Island cotton again shows a decrease. It has to be 

 borne in mind, too, that wet weather tends to reduce the 

 market value per pound, though in this respect it must be 

 remembered that St. Vincent cotton fetches the highest 

 cotton prices in the world. The exports of Marie Galante 

 have shown a decided increase, and Sakellarides cotton has 

 given very favourable returns in the Southern Grenadines. 

 In St. Vincent, however, it has been found very susceptible 

 to angular leaf spot disease. 



Progress in the arrowroot and cassava industries has 

 been satisfactory, not so much owing to favourable yields as 

 to the favourable prices which have been obtained. As 

 regards the minor industries, some importance attaches to 

 the report on ground nut cultivation. The area under this 

 crop is extending, and it may, in the near future, be possible 

 to inaugurate an export trade with Canada in this product 

 under the new preferential tariff arrangement. These refer- 

 ences cannot be concluded without mentioning the coco-nut 

 and vanilla industries, both of which show definite signs of 

 development 



IMPORTANT CHANGES. 



The report of the Agricultural Superintendent concludes 

 with an account of the changes that have taken place in 

 the organization of the department. Stated briefly, these 

 originated with the transfer of the pupils from the Agricul- 

 tural School — a boarding establishment — to the Botanic (Jar- 

 den, where the boys receive practical instruction daily, accom- 

 panied by theoretical instruction at the Grammar School. 

 Thus this side of agricultural education is on a similar basis 

 to that which exists in Dominica. It is one of the duties 

 of the Assistant Superintendent of Agriculture to give the 

 instruction just referred to. 



REPORT OF VETERINARY SDEiiEOX, 



Appended to the report reviewed above is that of the 

 Government Veterinary Surgeon. This is naturally mainly 

 statistical, but the text cont lins several interesting facts, the 

 mo.st important of which would appear to be that no case of 

 anthrax was discovered during the year, and that the single 

 anthrax vaccine which has been introduced not only facilitates 

 the regular vaccination work, but enables stock owner.s t<> 

 prepare their animals for export in about half the time takea 

 formerly. 



