340 



THE AGKICULTlfKAL NEWS. 



OdMBEE L'4, 1914. 



AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS IN 



MONTSERRAT. 



The following ci_>n»titiite.s the concluding portion 

 of L)r. Watts's address in IMontserrat, referred to in the 

 last issue of the Agricultural News. The fir.st part of 

 the address ended with a considei-ation of the prospects 

 before an extension of corn-gTowLng': this, the .second 

 part, begins with a discussion on the subject of bean 

 and pea crops. 



There are several beau and pea crojj.s that appear to ofi'ei' 

 advantages at tliis period when, in addition to local uses, 

 there are likely to be openings for the.se grains at good prices 

 in niarket.s outside the colony. 



Pigeon peas {Cojanus mdiciis) first call for considera- 

 tkin. They are largely grown in this island, hut rather for 

 purjioses of green dressiug.s than for grain. There is good 

 rea.son for thinking that they may be grown profitably for 

 their grain, which would finil a niai'ket in other parts of the 

 West Indies, as in Trinidad and British Guiana, or tliey 

 might be exported to England where these peas should sell 

 at jjrices comparable with ordinary field peas. 



Pigeon peas can be advantageously planted after cotton: 

 they grow well, require little attention when once established, 

 and cover the ground so as to eradicate weeds. After the 

 peas are reaped, the bushes may be buried, or, prior to bury- 

 ing, the}' may be fed over l:>y stock. After this treatment the 

 land is left in excellent condition for succeeding crops. 



These peas, therefore, lend themselves extremely well to 

 the existing condition of things, and their extended cultiva- 

 tic^n on some of the fields now in cotton is a matter for careful 

 consideration. 



Several other kinds of bean and peas are worth consider- 

 ing as field crops at this time. Amongst them what is known 

 locally as White bean (Phaseolus ianatus) — a bean widely 

 grown under a variety of names all the world over — calls for 

 attention. It has the advantage that it is free from insect 

 attacks owing to its leaves containing a poisonous principle. 

 The vines, therefore, cannot be fed to stock. This bean might, 

 with advantage, be planted to follow corn so that the vines 

 may run upon the old corn stocks after the corn has lieeu 

 rea])ed. The beans, if produced in large quantity, would find 

 a market in England and elsewhere aliroad. 



There are several varieties of what are known in 

 America as cowpeas that are kno\\n in the West Indian islands 

 by various names and some known in Montserrat as lilack 

 eye peas that should prove very useful. They come quickly inti • 

 bearing and mav be cultivated when a short ])eriod crop is 

 indicated. 



Bengal beans should find a .sale in the English market 

 as fciod for stock. Some enquiry has already buen made for 

 these beans which have been valned at from ;J-Vi \{}s. tr. £7 

 per ton (about :h Gd. to 4s per liushel) in London: but 

 jx.ssibly higher prices jnay he obtained. There is some 

 objection to the black seed-coat in that it gives rise to a 

 discoloured meal: attempts are therefore being made to find 

 a bean of this class having a light-coloured seed-coat. 



It may be -remarked that many beans possess more uv 

 less poisonous qualities; careful investigations have, therefore, 

 to be made before attempting to place a new bean on the 

 market. 



If peas and beans are to lie grown on a large .scale 

 it will be necessary to employ machinery for threshing them 

 from the pod.s. Enquiriis are being made for suitable machines 

 for this purpose. 



Amongst crops th\' ir.'>_v advantageously be grow n are 

 li well-known on?s as tuveet potatoes, yams, eddoes, 



tannias, and well-known vegetables of this kind. The char- 

 acters and properties of these are so well known that it is 

 unnecessary to enlarge upon them now. Cas.sava is a crop 

 that may be grown to advantage in some districts. It has 

 this merit, that it can be converted into starch, meal and 

 cakes, which can all be stored and will provide a valuable 

 addition to the food supply. Some demand is arising for 

 dried cassava roots, and active steps are being taken to 

 ascertain whether it is possible to luiild u{) a profitable trade 

 in this direction. 



The foregoing crops may be regarded as general in theu- 

 nature, that is, they may be grown practically by all who are 

 interested in land, whether in the form of large estates or 

 small holdings. There are some crops which are more limited 

 in their capabilities but which may well have attention fiom 

 careful cultivators. 



Onions may be referred to in this connexion. They 

 have been successfully grown in IMontserrat for several years 

 and the trade in them is capable of l>eing considerably 

 developed. If this is to be clone it will be necessary to 

 exercise greater care in the manner of curing, grading and 

 packing, and onion growers in Montserrat would do well to 

 follow the stejjs taken by the Antigua Onion Growers' 

 Association. 



Pine-apples can be successfully grown in .Montserrat, 

 and now that there is i-egular fortnightly conununication 

 with Canada by the New Royal ilail line of steamers, there 

 is good reason for thinking that a profitalile trade with the 

 I )ominion might be develojied in pine-apples. If anything is 

 to be done in this direction it is essential that the greatest 

 care .should be taken in selecting, grading and packing the 

 fruit, for it is absolutely necessary that this produce should 

 tie sent in uniform condition and in uniform packages. 

 There is good scope here for co-ojjerative working, and it is 

 desiralile that something should be done in this direction. 

 There is no doubt that here the Local Agricultural Depart- 

 ments can render useful assistance. 



As a minor industry, reference may he made to the 

 successful cultivation of Bay -trees for the production of 

 Bay oil of standard purity and quality: work in this con- 

 nexion is being steadily pushed forward. 



The exportation of stock has always occupied a fairl}' 

 pnjminent place in the activities of Mout.serrat. If this 

 woik were taken in hand in a more systematic manner, there 

 is no doubt it could be largely and profitably extended. 

 Throughout the world there is an outcry concerning the 

 shortage of beef and prices are advancing steadilj": this 

 shortage affects the supply and the price at {)laces within 

 our reach .such as St. Lucia, Trinidad and Bernuida. It is 

 understood that His Honour the Connnissioner has already 

 taken steps to ascertain whether Vjeef can lie profitalily 

 supplied to Bermuda, and tjiat the experiment so made 

 prtnuises favourably. 



There is an opening in Montserrat for cattle raising, but 

 if an}' success is to be attained more care must be taken in 

 the selection of animals for breeding, \'arious attemps have 

 been made departmentally to improve the breeds of cattle, 

 but it would seem as though the better animals resulting from 

 the.se efforts had been shipped or di.sposed of rather than ke|)t 

 for breeding. If any trride is to be done along this line, it 

 is essential that only gciod animals properly raisi-d and fed 

 for beef purposes .should be offered for .sale. 



In conclusion the speaker again statefl his impression 

 that the time is a favourable one for the development in 

 ^Montserrat of agricultural enterprises as yet little ex|)loited; 

 that both the people and the laiul are in better condition for 

 nndertaking these develo[iments than they have ever lieen. 



