136 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Apkil 25, 1914. 



EDITORIAL. NOTICES. 



Letters and matter for publication, as well as all 

 apeeimens for naming, should be addressed to the 

 Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture, 

 Barbados. 



All applications for copies of the 'Agricultural 

 News' should be addressed to the Agents, and not to 

 the Department. 



Local Agents: Advocate Co., Ltd., Broad St., 

 Bridgetown. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau & Co., 

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 ing Lane, E.G. The complete list of Agents will be 

 found on page 3 of the cover. 



The Agricultural News : Price \d. per number, 

 post free ^d. Annual subscription payable to Agents, 

 22s. d. Post free, 4s. 4(i. 



^grttultitnil Jleiujj 



Vol. XIII. SATURDAY, APRIL 2.5, 1914. No. 313. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in this number reviews the attitude 

 and position of the Imperial Department of Agricul- 

 ture m relation to agricultural education in the West 

 Indies. 



On page 131, the condition of cane cultivation in 

 South Africa is dealt with. Information is given 

 concerning undeveloped lands and the history of the 

 introduction of seedling canes. 



A recent progress report on the Antigua Onion 

 Growers' Association is abstracted on page 132. 



An important article on the cultivation of sisal 

 hemp in the West Indies appears on page 134. 



On page 13.5, several departmental reports are 

 briefly reviewed, and matters contained in them of 

 interest in the West Indies are brought forward in a 

 concise manner. 



Insect Xotes, on page 138, describe an entomol- 

 ogist's visit to Demerara, Trinidad and Barbados. 



Under Book Shelf, on page 141, an important 

 work on maize is reviewed at some length. 



On page 142, the subject of agricultural education 

 in India is continued from the last issue of this 

 journal. 



Three Interesting Organic Compounds in the 

 Soil. 



The presence of three benzene derivatives \u soils 

 is described in the Journal of Agricultural Research 

 for February 1914. They are benzoic acid, metaoxyto- 

 luic acid and vanillin. The occurrence of these com- 

 pounds, which are closely related, is of interest since 

 there is some evidence that they may be produced in 

 the decomposition of vegetable matter in the soil — a 

 point which is worthy of consideration in regard to the 

 changes which take place consequent on mulching in 

 the Tropics. 



The isolation of these compounds may also have 

 an interest other than that of a purely scientific nature 

 attached to any increase in our knowledge of the com- 

 position of soils. This is true not only when com- 

 pounds may be known to be readily reactive with other 

 compounds, but also when their constitution may 

 indicate that they may have such an effect. The 

 three organic compounds referred to seem to be of this 

 nature. 



Index to the Agricultural News 



With this number is issued the Index and Title 

 Page to Volume XII of the Agricultural Neivs. The 

 publication of the index will now enable readers to 

 have their copies for 1913 bound. The Department 

 would emphasize the desirability of having this done, 

 owing to the value of the journal as a source of 

 reference. 



Agricultural Affairs in Jamaica, 1912-13. 



According to Colonicd Reports — Annual, 1912-13. 

 the value of the exports from Jamaica last year showed 

 a slight reduction on that for 1911-12, but was still 

 above the figures for the previous three years. The 

 principal increases in the value of articles of export are 

 shown by the following figures: cacao, 1912, £139,833; 

 average of four years, £91,357: cotfee, 1912, £274,730; 

 average of four years, £141,207: coconuts, 1912, 

 £108,627; average of four years, £69.216. A reduction 

 is shown in the value of oranges, sugar, and rum 

 exported, but bananas have remained in about the same 

 position. 



As regards the cultivation of crops, useful progress 

 has been made in the matter of growing fodder for 

 ensilage purposes. Several newly introduced seedling 

 sugar-canes from Demerara (chiefly D.625) are being 

 found to answer very satisfactorily, and it is stated that 

 the area under Sea Island cotton is increasing now that 

 the small holders have taken up the crop. 



The heads of expenditure at the beginning of the 

 publication show that the Government spent £16,146 

 for agricultural services during 1912-13. The expendi- 

 ture on agricultural services is increasing in Jamaica: in 

 1911-12 It was £15,223— nearly £1,200 less than in 

 1912-13. It is understood, however, that this expen- 

 diture includes other items than those directly bearing 

 upon the upkeep of the Agricultural Department. 



