Vol, XIII. Xo. 313. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



139 



Other cane pests of minor importance observed in 

 Trinidad were the weevil borer (Mttamasivs /iemipteru.% var. 

 decolorotus), the gru gru worm {Eh;jnco'pfu)rus pahaarum) the 

 sugar-cane mealybug, ( Pseudococcm calceolariae), and termites. 



In Barbados, the moth borer {Diatraea facc/iaralis) was 

 the pest of canes observed in greatest abundance, and the 

 opinion is expressed that in Barbados the injury to canes by 

 this pest is as great as, if not greater than, in Demerara. 



Mr. Wolcott was much impressed by the severity of the 

 attacks of borer {Dia-prepes nhW(natu»), which he ranked as 

 the most serious pest of sugar canes in the island, stating 

 that the injuries caused by it are more serious than those 

 caused by the white grub larvae of Lachnosterna sp., in Porto 

 Eico. The other sugar-cane pests observed in Barbados were 

 the weevil borer {Mctamasinf hemipterus [Sphenophorus 

 sericeus]), the cane fly (Delphar saccharivora), and two 

 species of sugarcane mealy-bug {P. calceolariae and 

 P. sacchari). 



The occurrence of the brown hard back {Phytalus smit/ci) 

 and its control by the parasitic wasp, Tipkia parallela, is 

 mentioned as being of special interest, because of the injury 

 to canes in Porto Rico by a related insect, Lachnosterna sp., 

 which is not adequately controlled by parasites ; it is stated 

 that arrangements were made for a trial shipment of Tiphia 

 cocoons to be sent from Barbados to Porto Rico, in the hope 

 that the wasp would become an efficient parasite of the 

 Lachnosterna ia that island. 



AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES 

 MAURITIUS. 



IN 



COTTON, 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



Messrs. Wolatenholnne and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date Ai)ril (>, with reference 

 to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton: — 



Since our last report, the demand for West Indian 

 Sea Island cotton has been restricted, and the sales are 

 confined to about .")0 bales, of which half are Montserrat 

 \'},d. to 18('.. and the remainder St. Vincent at i\d. 



Spinners are not in immediate want, but we think they 

 are prepared to continue purchasing at present rates, though 

 they will take their own time in dofng so. 



The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending Jlarch 2!s, is as follows: — 



There was some demand this week for the Planters' 

 crops classing Extra Fine, resulting in sale of 1-5 bales 

 Hunting Island and -10 bales Hylda at 30c., and a small 

 cargo of Extra Fine off in preparation at 30c. There has been 

 no demand for odd bags classing fine, held at ■23c., of which 

 there are remaining unsold about 200 bales. 



We quote, viz:- 



Extra Fine 

 Fully Fine 

 Fine 



26c. 



2-lc 



'J3c. 



= 14J(i. c.i.f., iS:5percent. 



= 13fc?. 

 = Uld. 



This report shows that tlie total exports of Sea 

 Island cotton from the United States to Liverpool, 

 Manchester and Havre, up to March 28, 1914, were 

 4,328 bales, 6,.595 bales, and 4,02G bales, respectively. 



The preliminary report issued by the newly established 

 Department of Agriculture, in Mauritius, has just been 

 received from the Director. It contains much that is of 

 interest and indicates that a good start has been made in 

 connexion with the Deijartment. 



As regards the sugar-cane industry iu the colony, more 

 knowledge of .soils is required, and on the economic value of 

 manures. Although molasses has ajiparently had good 

 effects on young canes, it is pointed out that figures should be 

 obtained by means of careful exjieriments to elucidate if 

 possible the causes of the increases in yields after molasses, 

 in view of negative results which have been obtained in the 

 West Indies and elsewhere. 



In connexion with experimental plots, the necessity for 

 these being laid out in triplicate or quadruplicate for the 

 purpose of reducing the experimental error is pointed out. 



With implemental tillage there is much work to be done. 

 The trials of various forms of implements will be carefully 

 watched and .such assistance as can be given will be ofifcred. 

 It is proposed to hold a field day with a ploughing competition. 

 Organized efforts will be made to improve the condition of the 

 draft animals by the importation of bulls, selection of stock 

 cows, and the commencement of a stock farm. Special work 

 wUl be done in connexion with surrah. 



Turning to the various crops of minor importance in the 

 colony, trials with sisal hemp are to be made, and new varietie.s 

 of maize are to be introduced. The growth of camphor in 

 Mauritius has been attended with gratifying results, and it i» 

 proposed tn lay down an area \\'ith camphor on plantation lines. 

 The position as regards rubber is not very encouraging, but 

 with coffee the state of affairs is different, and it is expected 

 that Coffea robusta will be soon extensively planted. Attention 

 is being given to cacao, tobacco, coconuts, ground nuts, 

 vanilla, black wattle and fruits. 



The department hopes to engage in agricultural educa- 

 tional work, and to train students in elementary rural science^ 

 at the laboratories at headquarters. The establishment of 

 a small sugar school at these laboratories, for training some of 

 the rising generation of agriculturists should be of value to 

 those who cannot afford to go farther afield. It is suggested 

 that a museum of economic products, insect and fungoid 

 diseases of economic plants might be established. 



Appended to the report are various entomological and 

 mycological papers of interest. 



It is reported in the Experiiitent Station Pciord for 

 January 19 U, that Dr. P. J. S. Cramer has been studying in 

 Dutch Ea.st Indies the varieties of coffee commonly grown 

 there, including also observations on recently introduced forms. 

 Dr. C. J. J. van Hall has also been working on the coffee plant 

 chiefly in connexion with Coffea robmta. With the view of 

 securing an improved form of this species, a large number of 

 plants were studied with reference to variations in productivity, 

 disease resistance, yields and quality. The results of this test 

 are presented in tabular form and discussed. 



It may prove of interest ti add that Coffea robusta is- 

 a native of the Belgian Congo and the first plants iniported 

 into the Lesser Antifles came apparently to Dominica in 1904 

 from Belgium. The cultivation of Coffta robusta in the West 

 Indies is deserving of consideration. 



