Vol. XIII. No. 32.5. 



XHE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



.325 



TMENJM, ftmJlTs) 



ST. LUCIA: REPORT OK THE AdRWVLTJ'- 

 RAL DEPARTMEST FOIi THE YEAR ESDEB 

 MARCH Jl, 101 J,. 



l.ssued in the .same form a.s tho.^e previously reviewed in 

 this vohniie of the Agricultural Ken-f, the report under con- 

 sideration begins by describing the work done in tlie gardens 

 and the observations made on tlie decorative [jlants. h. 

 connexion with plant importations an interestiiig event has 

 been the introduction of two species of Juniperus and the 

 receipt from the Trinidad Agricultural Department of several 

 grafted varieties of mangoes. Work in the nurseries has 

 included the raising and distribution of a large numl>er of 

 economic plants. Out of a total of nearly 59,000 plants 

 distrilinted, neirly .57,000 were lime seedlings. Of these 

 lime ]ilants 1.800 were distributed free to Crown Land 

 purchasers. Owing to the l)e|)artnient's work at I'nion 

 having lieen gradually closed down during the year, the 

 special line of work just referred to is now being carried on 

 at Reunion in the Choisenl district. 



The establishment of this station was one of the jirin 

 cipal events of the year Ijefore last, and dining the year 

 under review its first sea.son's work is also of special interest. 

 An aci-ount has already appeared in a recent munber of the 

 Anncuilural A'ews (see issue for .lune 20, 1,914) on the tir.st 

 year's w-ork at Reunion, and it will only be necessary to refer 

 here to one or two tletails connected with the routine work. 

 I'lots have been established for the raising of lime plants, 

 vanilla. Para rubber, oranges, grape fruit, etc., and as 

 soon as the necessary protection from wind by the jslant- 

 ing of wind-breaks has been acccjmplished, it is likely that 

 success will attend this important line of work at the new 

 e.xperiment station. It should be . mentioned here that, 

 appended to the report of the Agricultural Superintendent 

 are the regulations made by the rjovernorin-Counci! in 

 regard to Reunion estate, part of which has been cut up into 

 small holdings and a part reserved foi- the experimental work 

 above referred to. The ajjpendix contains a valuation of the 

 band Settlement lots and the report f)n the working of 

 I'eunion estate for the year imder review. In concluding 

 these remarks on Reunion estate, it may Ije noted that this 

 institution has successfully passed through its first vear of 

 operations with results that give cause for nuu-h gratifi- 

 cation. 



Turning to tlie section in the report dealing with insects 

 and fungus pests, it is stated that useful work continues to be 

 done by the encouragement of entomogenous fungi. A special 

 line of activity continue<l from the previous year has been the 

 cacao root disease exj)eriment. It has been proved that the 

 causative fungus can live as a saprophyte, and can al.so attack 

 _lime trees as well as cacao trees that may be planted in an 

 infected area. During the past year, an interesting experi- 

 jnent has been the application of a fungicide known as 

 'Fungal', with a view to testing its preventive and curative 

 powers. The results obtained have been ,flisappointing and 

 it appears so far, that the only remedy and preventive treat- 

 ment for cacao root disease is by means of deep isolation 



trenches, the appJicati(jn of (piicklime to the soil and the 

 burning of diseased fl-oud on the spot. 



Progress in the chief industries has been satisfactory. 

 The value of the lime products exported was approximately 

 £3,110 compared with £1,084 and £290, the values for 

 19 12-1.3 and 1911-12, respectively. The ijrincipal indus- 

 try as far as the total value of the exports go, is sugar. 

 Tlie value of the sugar products exported for the year 

 under review was £67.679 compared with £53,549 for 

 1911-12. It is possible that in the future the .sugar industry 

 in St. Lucia may undergo increa.sed development, bir it is 

 uidikely that it will extend as rapidly as the lime cultivation. 



In regard to cacao, the position remains about the same, 

 the value of the exports being about £36,888. It is observed 

 that there is considerable neglect on the part of the jieasants 

 in regard to this cultivation— a matter which the Department 

 is endeavouring to deal with. 



The nunor industries of St. Lucia include coco-nuts, 

 honey and P>ay oil. It may be noted that the value of 

 the honey exported is considerable, being worth over £500 

 annually. During the .season under review apiarists reported 

 that the honey .sesuson of 1913 had been bad, hence the 

 jjresent figures are below the average. It is stated that the 

 local demand foi- selected seed nuts for coco-nut plantations 

 has been considei'able. The future before coco-nut planting 

 in St. Lucia is satisfactory. 



Agricultural education in St. Lucia falls under four 

 heads. As in other islands, there are the Reading Coiu'ses 

 iixaniinations i;)f the Imjierial Department of Agriculture; as 

 well as this there are the agricultural pupils at the Bjtanic 

 Station, the agricultural lectures in the secondary .school 

 (St. ^Mary's College) delivered by the Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent, and agricultural instruction in the primary schools. 

 There are certain sjjecial difficulties attaching t:i agricultural 

 education in St. Lucia but, on the whole, the efforts that are 

 being made appear to be serving a usefid [lurpose. It is 

 satisfiLCtory that improvement is indicated in regard to nature 

 study in the elementary schools. The largest part of the 

 section on agricultural education in the report is devoted to 

 elementary school inspection, which shows that useful work is 

 lieing done in this direction by the Agricultural Department. 



The extension of interest in the lime industry led the 



(iovernment in 1913 to establish a l.nie juice factory where 

 Jieasants and others could sell their produce on a co-operative 

 basis. As already noted in the Aijru-icltunii Aetrs, i:i deter- 

 mining the profits there is deducted from the amounts 

 realized for the sale of produce the amounts paid for the 

 jjurchase of limes and lime juice together with the expenses 

 of working the factory and disposing of the produce, and, in 

 addition, a sum equivalent to 10 per cent, of the amount paid 

 for the purchase of limes and lime juice, the remainder being 

 regarded as gross profits to be divided, one-third being paid 

 to the Government and two-thirds to the vendors of fruit and 

 juice, this latter to be distriliuted to the vendors by way of 

 bontis, in proportion to the amounts paid to them for limes or 

 lime juice. The price paid for limes and lime juice is liased 

 on a scale of prices having a relation to the value of concen- 

 trated juice and insuring a safe margin of profit to the factory. 

 The seller of fruit realizes his full value when lie gets his 

 bfiuus derived from the share of profits. 



The first year's working of the factory has shown 

 that juice concentration, amongst other processes, has given 

 extremely satisfactory results, particularly as regards factory 

 loss of acid. By referring to the report a full ascount will 

 be found of these matters, including a description of the 

 building and plant. 



