Vol. XIII. No. 327 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



.•3().3 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



SEASONAL NOTES. 



At this time of the year there is not much to be iloue an 

 sugar estates with regard to the cro]) on the ground. Tlie 

 canes have attained such growth as to make further cultiva- 

 tion either unnecessary or impossible. Arrows are beginning 

 to appear, a sign that full growth has lieen attained. Observa- 

 tions, however, of value may l:>e made, with greater ease at 

 this time than earlier or later, on tlie morphology of ditierent 

 cane varieties. As regards the flowering or arrow ing of the 

 cane, it is of interest to mark and note which varieties of 

 cane arrow freely; which varieties arrow early, and which 

 later. Now also may be advantageously noted the habit of 

 growth of each variety, whether upright or trailing. The 

 difference in colour, manner of growth, and appearance of the 

 leaves in each variety is well worth noting; also, as the canes 

 mature, the question as to whether they drop the trash easily 

 or not. Again, the average number of canes in each stool 

 can be observed. This is evidently practically useful, as it 

 may give a useful factor for the calculation of yield. This 

 <|uestion, as all planters know, is ini|)ortant. To be al)le to 

 estimate the jjroljable croj:t/)f the estate with toleraljle 

 accuracy is very helpful in plWnning the w-ork and expense of 

 the coming year. 



On cane estates at this season the chief work is the 

 preparation of the land for planting the crop to be reaped in 

 191G. Note carefully any experiments that may be tried in 

 this directitm. For instance, the i|uestion whether planting 

 on the Hat is more suitable in your locality than trencliing 

 and holing; whether there is any advantage in using bits of 

 mature cane as plants rather than 'tops". No intelligent 

 observation is without its value. 



While on the subject of growing crops, an interesting 

 question suggests itself for oljscrvation, viz. the possibility 

 of the increase of local supplies of food.stuft's. For instance, 

 can maize be jn-ofitably grown? Is it worth while growing 

 it as a staple crop, or only as a catch crop? Such questions 

 can really only be answered by careful observation and notes 

 by the planter student. Or again, with regard to such 

 a crop as sweet potatoes, what soils can they be grown most 

 profitably in, and what is the effect of the crop on the soil? 

 Of course, the student can obtain an answer in general terms 

 to these questions from books, but his own observation of the 

 particidar fields he has to deal with, will be of much greater 

 educational \alue. 



Probably no crop in the West Indies is so liable to 

 attacks from a host of foes as cottf>n. Continual ob.serva- 

 tion as to these is invaluable. Noticing a pest at an early 

 stage, and taking steps to combat and destroy it, often make 

 a vast difference in the results of the crop. New enemies 

 often show themselves, which the observant planter can 

 detect, and so defeat. An instance of this is mentioned in 

 the last number of the Agricultural Neivs. The common 

 house cockroach had begun to turn its attention to the 

 destruction of young cotton seedlings in St. Kitts. Careful 

 observation of "the plants, and quick attention were sufficient 

 to check its ravages. 



At this time of the year heavy rains are usually 

 experienced in most of the smaller islands. Note with 

 regard to drainage the direction of the How of surplus water; 

 oftentimes the drainage of a field is defective because the 

 artificial lines of the drainage have been attempted to be 



drawn in a direction not in accordance with those of the 

 natural fall of the land. Again, when water lies long, after 

 heavy rain, in spots, or when file land becomes heavy and 

 puddled, it is an indication that the drains there want 

 attention. 



The Imperial Institute.— A Circular despatch 

 f n im the Secretary of State f ' 'i; the Colonies received at this 

 (Jffice deals with the sphere of activity of the Imperial 

 Institute. In the past a considerable amount of investigation 

 woik has been undertaken h\ this institutifm for private 

 individuals. Now, however, as the institute is occupied with 

 scientific, technical, and commercial researches required by 

 the technical departments of the Governments of those 

 {larts of_ His Majesty's Dominions which contriVmte to its 

 funds, it is impossible to undertake investigations on any 

 considerable scale for private individuals and firms without 

 adding to the technical staff, and therefore to the general 

 expenses of the Institute. In view, however, of the growing 

 demand fortius work, the Imperial Institute has been autho 

 rized to undertake investigations required by private indi- 

 viduals and firms for an appropriate fee. It will be left to 

 the authorities of the Institute to decide whether these 

 requests for researches can in each case be properly com- 

 plied with. An important point is that luider this system 

 any reports which may be supplied will become the property 

 of those who pay for them, and will not be comnuinicated 

 either by the Imperial Institute or by any Government to 

 other persons, or published without the consent of those 

 concerned. At the present moment the Managing Committee 

 are not prepared to suggest anj- actual scale of fees which 

 could meet with the variety of cases which are likely to occur. 

 The fee nmst be arranged between the Institute and the 

 individual. It is believed that the adoption of this plan will 

 increase the usefulness of the Imjjerial Institute to the manu- 

 facturing and industrial communities of all cdunti-ies of the 

 Empire. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Mr. W. R. Diinlop, Scientific Assistant nn the Statl 

 of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, jjroceeded 

 to England on three months" leave .of absence, by the 

 R.M.S. 'Orotava' which left Barbados on Octobei- 2S. 



Mr. W. Nowell, D.I.C., Mycologist on the Statif of 

 the Imperial Department of Agriculture, returned to 

 Barbados on October 20, by the S.S. 'Korona', after an 

 official visit to Dominica for the purpose of studying 

 certain root diseases of lime.s, and of making other 



investigations. 



Mr. W. N. Sands, Agricultural Superintendent, 

 St. Vincent, was a passenger by the R.M.S. Trent' 

 arriving at Barbados on November 2, returning from 

 leave in Enoland, en route to St. Vincent. 



Mr. F. Birkin.shaw, Assistant Agiicultural Super- 

 intendent, St. Vincent, was a passenger by the R.M.S. 

 • Orotava', which sailed from Barbados on October 28 

 Mr. Birkinshaw is proceeding to Mauritius to take up 

 the position of Agricultural Instructor in the newly 

 formed Department of Agriculture in that island. 



