THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Februaey 28, 1914. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



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^qricultural BeiuH 



Vol. XIII. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2S, 1914. Xo. 309. 



Further Note on Mai de Oaderas. 



Since the article presented on page 7.5 was written, 

 the January number of the Journal of the Board, of 

 Agricidture of Britisli Guiana has been received, and 

 an article in this publication by Captain A. L. Farrant, 

 F.R.C.V.S., contains important information concerning 

 the mode of propagation and the treatment of Mai de 

 Caderas in South America. It is stated that in the 

 opinion of the writer Stomoxi/s calcifraus is at least 

 the chief means of the spread of the present epidemic 

 in British Guiana, though this has not been definitely 

 established. It is pointed out that in Paraguay and in 

 the Argentine portions of the Chaco, an animal known 

 as the Capybara {Hydroclmrus capyhara) or Qa.^Tmc\iO 

 is a source from which the tly or other carriers of this 

 disease probably obtain the virus. The animals in 

 question are attacked periodically by an epizootic of an 

 unknown nature. They lie about along the banks of 

 of the streams and die there. (Capybr.ra is the 

 waterhass of British Guiana, and is fairly common upon 

 some of the sugar estates at present affected with 

 Mai de Caderas.) 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. confidential Advice. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in this number deals with the subject 

 of a tropical agricultural note-book. The possible scope 

 of such a work is described and its uses pointed out. 



On page 07 information is given concerning West 

 Indian fruit-producing plants. An interesting article 

 ajpears on this page dealing with the cultivation of 

 Cayenne pepper plants. 



Under the caption Book Shelf, on page 68, several 

 recently published works are reviewed dealing with 

 planting, mycology and educational matters. 



The Engineering Notes, on page 71, principall}- 

 comprise a description of the new American cane 

 harvester, which according to certain authorities is 

 likely to come into general use in Louisiana. 



The new and important subject of the conversion 

 of liquid oils into solid fats by means of hydrogen gas 

 is discussed on page 73. 



The Insect Notes in this issue (see page 74) 

 contain some new results obtained in regard to West 

 Indian termites or white ants. 



The position of the Northern Islands in regard to 

 Mai de Caderas is discussed at some length on page 75 

 A further note on the subject will be found in the- 

 next column. 



Fungus Notes, on page 7<S, comprise articles on 

 the green muscardine fungus in Samoa, and the 

 question of soil sterilization in relation to the control 

 of plant disease. 



A statement was made by a West Indian planter 

 the other day, to the effect thac if he discovered a new 

 disease or even a sudden outbreak of one of the 

 common maladies amongst his canes he would not apply 

 for departmental assistance because he could not be 

 certain that the case would be regarded as strictly 

 confidential. Apparently the risk of injury through 

 publicity would be greater than the risk of material 

 loss by disease. The statement though not levelled at 

 any one in particular touches so important a phase of 

 departmental policy that it cannot be passed by 

 unheeded. As far as the West Indies are concerned 

 the attitude displayed by the remark in question has 

 always constituted a difficulty in the administration of 

 scientific advice and in the progress of research. But 

 it has always been respected and appreciated and in 

 general circumvented to the satisfaction of the average 

 client. In the case of the work of the Imperial 

 Department for instance, particularly the publication 

 ■wiirk, the avoidance of personalities is so great as to 

 invoke, at times comment on the part of those readers 

 who cannot be satisfied with the unimbellished truth. 



As matters stand at present we fear that the 

 scientific adviser has to go to the crop, and he has to 

 go at a time when everything is astir — hence his visits 

 are noticed; if crops could be made to walk, or in any 

 other way rendered locomotive, it might then be 

 possible to invent a mycological Harley Street, where 

 consultations could be made productive of benefit and 

 enacted under conditions of the strictest secrecy. 



The Way to Apply Manures for Cotton. 



A correspondent to the St. Kitts Daily E.vprcss 

 calls attention to the statement made in the St. Kitts- 

 Nevis Report on the pjotanic Station, 1911-12, as 

 a result of many years' trials, that, 'in regard to 

 manuriai experiments with cotton, the results of the 



