28 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



Jaxuaey 17, 1914. 



The newly form'^ Department of Agriculture and- 

 Forestry of the Chinese republic is taking advantage of the 

 suitable conditions in Hawaii for studying organization and 

 methods of forestry. Attention is being given to systems, 

 which would likelj'to be of value in China. (The Ifaaaiian.- 

 Forester and Agriculturist, November 1913.) 



GLEANINGS. 



The total rainfall in Dominica (Itoseau) for 1913 was 

 09'9 inches, which is 7 '60 inches below the average annual 

 rainfall for twenty-one years. 



As was prophesied sometime ago in the Agricultural 

 A'cfs, some dynamite demonstrations with the soil have 

 recently been conducted in Antigua. A full report on these 

 trials will be given at a later date. 



A leading article in the Port-af-S/«iin '/aje^e (December 

 14, 1913) draws attention to the perfunctory support of the 

 Agricultural College Scheme in that island, and also the 

 lassitude shown in the matter of the establishment of agri- 

 cultural banks. 



From the Antigua Botanic Station there were distributed 

 during December: limes 2,62-5; onion plants 4,000; miscella- 

 neous economic plants 4-5-5; miscellaneous decorative plants 

 18-5; seed coco-nuts 1,200; sweet potato cuttings -500; cane 

 plants 14,622. 



It is stated in the Trinidad Mirror (September 15, 

 1913), that Crown lands for rice growing will be sold in plots 

 <if 2 acres each. It is regarded as a matter of satisfaction 

 that it has been resolved definitely to sell these lands under 

 Buch conditions. 



A very interesting article by Dr. Crosse, appears in 

 the Louisiana Planter (December 6, 1913), dealing with the 

 chemical aspects of clarification. Numerous equations are 

 given showing the chemical changes which take place during 

 carbonatation and sulphitation. 



According to The Board of Trade Journal (December 

 4, 1914) it is intended in the Central Provinces of India to 

 erect appliances for the production of flour from bananas or 

 plantains. The promoter of this scheme wishes to communi- 

 cate with firms which make the appliances. 



A tentative estimate of the world s rice production this 

 year ranges from 175,000,000,000 to 190,000,000,000 ft. 

 90 per cent, of which is produced in Asiatic territory, where 

 it comprises the principal crop of nearly half of the world's 

 population. (//OHfsia>i«P/a»!to-, for November 29, 1913.) 



An Ordinance has been drafted by the Government of 

 Trindad and Tobago to amend the Sale of Produce Ordinance 

 1909. This amendment introduces the representation made 

 by the Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago, that the 

 business of dealing in coco-nuts should be carried on only in 

 licensed premises. 



In St. Kitts, cotton picking is in full swing and the 

 return both in quantity and quality is very favourable. Prices 

 have been as a rule fairly high, account sales having beeia 

 received up to l.s 8rf. per lb. It is stated that owing to the 

 recent heavy showers, mildew has appeared in some of the- 

 cotton fields, but there has been no loss from boll dropping. 



In view of the importance of the matter, the attentioQ- 

 of readers of this journal may be called to the decision of the- 

 Canadian Government to appoint a Travelling Trade Com- 

 missioner who will shortly begin his duties with a tour of the 

 British West Indies, for the purpose of gaining information, 

 suitable for the promotion of trade under the Pieciprocity 

 Treaty. 



In view of the importation of Biospyros discolor into ■ 

 Dominica, it may be pointed out that this plant is a native 

 of the Philippine Islands. The fruit is like a large quince, 

 and in some places is called Mangosteen, but its proper name 

 should be the Mabola fruit. The fruits are covered with a 

 reddish down when immature. This falls away when the ■ 

 fruit ripens. 



According to the report of the Assistant Agricultural- 

 Superintendent, St. Lucia, the weather du.-ing the month at 

 Pieunion and the Land Settlement has been exceptionally 

 dry — a circumstance that has retarded progress in the 

 nurseries. The rainfall for the month was only just over 2 

 inches, whilst the sunshine has been particularly fierce for 

 the time of year. 



This Department has been notified by a local firm in . 

 Barbados, to the eft'ect that frequent enquires have latelv 

 been made for Barbados aloes. It may be pointed out that 

 at one time the e.\ports from the island of this produce 

 were worth some £7,000 a year, but in 1911 they were valued 

 at only £125. The industry, such as it is, appears to be 

 followed chiefly by peasants in the south-eastern district of 

 Barbados. 



A paper in Circular No. 119 of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, deals 

 with an Arabian variety of alfalfa suitable for cultivation in 

 a very mild climate. Two years ago this alfalfa was tried on 

 a small scale in St. Kitts and results obtained in agreement 

 with those got in America, namely that early growth is very 

 rapid. In St. l\itt.s, growth did not persist satisfactorily. 



It is commonly stated that it is a matter of difficulty to 

 make large profits in the sugar industry. This holds gooti 

 for the agricultural side, perhaps. But as regards manufac- 

 turing and refining the reverse is the case. It is interest- 

 ing to note in the Internatiomd Sugar Journal (December 

 1913) that one well .known firm declared a dividend ic 

 1910-11 of 42 per cent. A fall took place during the past 

 year when only 18| per cent, was declared, as compared with 

 23 per cent, in 1911 12. 



