2G-t 



THE AGEIC'ULTT/P.AL XEWS. 



At'GusT 15, 1914. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



Letters aud matter tor publication, as well as all 

 specimens for naming, should be addressed to the 

 Commissioner. Imperial Department of Agiicultnre, 

 Barbados. 



All application.s for copies of the 'Agricultural 

 News' should be addressed to the Agents, and not 

 to the Department. 



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

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

 37, Soho Square, W.; West India Committee, Seeth- 

 ing Lane, B.C. The complete list of Agents will be 

 found on page 3 of the cover. 



The Agricultural Neivs: Price Ic?. per number, 

 post fi-ee 2cl. Annual subscription pavable to Agents, 

 2s. 2d. Post firee, 4s. U. 



^ijriciiltiiral lleiufj 



VY.L. XIII. SATUKDAY, AUGUST 15, 19U. No. 321. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in this number, on the subject of 

 Commercial Standardization in Tropical Agriculture, 

 shows the necessity for introducing precise methods for 

 the standardization of the so-called commercial gi-ades 

 of cotton. 



Under the heading Fruit Products, on page 260, 

 will be found short articles dealing with coffee and 

 coco-nuts, principally from a' chemical point of view. 



On page 261 several official matters of interest 

 receive attention under the headings of Land Settlement 

 and Departmental Reports. 



On page 263, a second article appears on bacterized 

 peat, a substance which appears to have important 

 manurial properties. 



Insect Notes on pages 266 and 267 consist of a review 

 of a pamphlet on Sugar-cane Pests of the Leeward Islands 

 which has just been issued by this Department. 



The War and LocaUy-grown Foodstuffs. 



In view of the disturbed nature of existing circum- 

 stances it may be prudent to urge planters and others 

 to consider the advisability of planting as much avail- 

 able land as pt>ssible with (juick growing food crops 

 Apart from any immediate shortage of food supply that 

 may occur, it would seem only good business policy to 

 endeavom- to profit by the higher prices that must 

 e\entually arise as a natural result of the disturbed 

 conditions resulting from the war in Europe. 



From the pea.sant's point of view an adoption of 

 the policy is very essential in oi'der that he may find 

 himself as little dependent as possible upon impoi-ted 

 food supplies, the pices of which will no doubt continue 

 to lunge high so long as the consumers' demand remains 

 urgent. 



It is foitunate that the corn crop is now soon to be 

 reaped: but fresh seed should be .sown as soon as possible 

 so as to have another supply in three months' time. 

 Bonavis beans which ripen in six weeks, are likely to 

 constitute a useful crop at the present time, and indeed 

 most of the beans and peas as well as sweet potatoes 

 and guinea corn may with advantage be planted even 

 though they may reduce the area under cotton and 

 similar crops grown for export purposes. 



Live Stock Notes appear on page 270 in this issue; 

 whilst on page 271 will be found items of local interest. 



The 'Colonial Journal' and the West Indies. 



The issue i:)f the Colonial Journal for July 1914 

 devotes considerably' more space than usual to West 

 Indian matters. In the course of the Erlitorial Notes, 

 reference is made to the effect of the Reciprocity Agree- 

 ment with Canada <jn the trade of Fiji as well as 

 ilauiitius, and it is not supposed that the traffic with 

 Fiji or ilauritius and Canada will have any appreciable 

 eft'ect on the West Indies. Tuniing to the present 

 position in Antigua, various agi-icultural matters of 

 interest are noted upon including the successful estab- 

 lishment of a kiln-drying apparatus for maize and the 

 investigation that is being made as to the possibilities 

 of irrigation ^)n sugar plantations. This colony's 'Model 

 Village', it is stated, is a great success, and the Govern- 

 ment's action in taking charge of the schools hitherto 

 managed by the various religious denominations has 

 led to a reduction of their number without any decrease 

 in efficiency. 



Attention is also given to agricultinal affairs in 

 St. Vincent and St. Lucia. The central cotton ginnery 

 in the former island receives complimentary reference, 

 and for St. Lucia it is said that the most promising 

 sign is the growth of the lime industry which has been 

 rendered more stable, particularly as regards the smaller 

 owners, through the establishment of a government 

 lime juice factory. 'Such factories' it is stated, 'when 

 they provide ready and convenient markets for the 

 peasants are a very great help, as they are set up 

 security for the industry and at the same time act 

 educationally in the way of improving the product.' 



Numei'ous other references are made to the West 

 Indies particularly amongst the Business Notes where 

 West Indian cotton and orange oil receive mention. In 

 conclusion, it may be added that the name of the 



