Vol. XIII. No. Six. 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



377 



The tirst of these is reijresented by caterpillars, ami 

 the second by aphid.s, cotton stainers, and plant liugs. The 

 arsenical and other stomach poisons are available for the 

 destruction of biting insects, while kerosene emulsion, and 

 similar washes are suitable for u.se against sucking insects. 

 Black Leaf 40, a tobacco extract preparation, is principally 

 a contact [joison, but it would probalily posse.ss .some value as 

 a stomach poison also, and it might lie tried experimentally 

 against both biting and sucking insects, since it is likely that 

 it would be less injurious to certain plants than other 

 insecticides. 



Iti certain instances it will be found advisable to use 

 contact sprays instead of the usual stomach poisons for the 

 control of biting insects; especially when these ai'e suffi- 

 ciently soft-bodied to be susceptible to the action of such 

 insecticides. The following instance is an example of 

 this. A row of very promising garden beets was badly 

 attacked li}' the cater|)illars of a small moth. A stomach 

 poison was tried without success, because each caterpillar was 

 protected between two leaves fastened together by silken 

 threads, or by a portion of leaf folded over or rolled up and 

 tied in place by silk threads. The ar.senate of lead did not 

 come within reach of the caterpillar. A mixture of soaj), 

 kerosene, and naphthalene was tried with good results; the 

 soapy spray probably penetrated into the hiding places of the 

 caterpillars; at any rate, these beets made much better 

 recovery than those which had been dusted with dry arsenate 

 of lead. 



The article entitled Scalo, on page 282 of the current 

 volume of the Ai/ricultural A'en'f, gives an account of the 

 preparation of this kind of mixture. 



VlRirlN ISLANDS: REPORT ON THE EXPERI- 

 MENT STATION, TORTOLA, JUL! IJ,. 



Under the heading in this Report' of Work Done in the 

 Nurseries and in Distribution of Plants, the increased atten- 

 tion given by the local planters to probably remunerative 

 minor industries is very noticeable. Orders for no less than 

 4,.500 coco-nut plants and 1,500 coffee, plants were received 

 at the Station; while the supply nf fi8,500 onion plants was 

 insufficient to meet the demand. The number of lime 

 plants distributed (3,210) was also greater than in the 

 previous year. 



A laru-e portion of the Report consists of the description 

 of plot experiments with various crops. Beginning with the 

 lime plot, it is noted that the very dry weather experienced 

 duriuf the year has had a retarding influence on the growth 

 of the tree.s. With regard to cacao, 'the poor results seem 

 to point to the conclusion that it is not likely to be suited 

 to the climatic conditions of the Virgin Islands; on the other 

 hand, it is hoped that Liberian coffee may prove remuner- 

 ative^ if only to supply the local market." 



Dealing with the orchard plot, the opinion is expressed 

 that citrus^fruit is little suited to the Virgin Islands, but 

 that mangoes, especially of the finer kind.s, could profitably 



be grown for export to the neighbouring island of St. Thomas. 

 The suitability of the .soil and climate for growing pine- 

 apples also is apparently proved. 



The experimental plot of coco-nuts is serving a useful 

 purpose in demonstrating the best way of planting these 

 trees, with a view to encouraging planters to take up thi.s 

 industry. 



The sugar-cane phjts afford an opportunity to oane 

 growers of obtaining plants of well tested varieties. 



As cotton is the chief industry in the Virgin Islands, 

 the plots devoted to various experiments with this crop are, 

 of cour.se, of primary importance. It seems fairly well 

 proved that it is of great importance in those islands 

 to plant cotton early, not later, in fact, than the end of June. 



Great attention has als(j been given to experiments with 

 plants that supply so nuich of the food of the people of tho.se 

 islands — cas.sava, sweet potatoes, yams, and tannias. The 

 tabulated results must lie of value in demonstrating the best 

 varieties to be grown. 



It is hoped to develop an oni(jn industry, which may not 

 only supply the local Tnarket, but may also prove profitable in 

 export to the neighbouring island of St. Thomas. 



The experiments with the starch-producing tubers of 

 arrowroot and tous-les-mois seem to show that they might 

 profitably be grown for local use. 



Other industries of which the work on the Station 

 appears to show the benefit, are the cultivation of the papaw 

 for the purpose of obtaining papain, and the cultivation of the 

 Bay tree. In Montserrat the papaw industry is a growing 

 one, and the climate and soil conditions of the Virgin 

 Islands are well adapted to the cultivation of this plant. 

 With regard to the Bay tree, the Virgin Islands would seem 

 to be exceptionally favourably situated, because there is 

 a market for the leaves so near at hand in St. Thomas. 



There is a considerable portion of the report dealing with 

 the work done in cotton selection, with tallies of results 

 appended. This careful work cannot fail to be of use in 

 the future. 



A table of exports shows that cotton .still holds the first 

 place, though followed very closely by cattle. It is gratifying 

 to note that the value of lime juice exported has much 

 increased, and that the value of fresh fruit and vegetables 

 exported is more than double that of last year. 



In dealing with the cotton industry in the Presidency, 

 the Report regrets that owing to unfavourable weather con- 

 ditions the crop gave, on the whole, poor results, though 

 a larger area was under this cultivation than that of last 

 year. The Government factory still continues to be of great 

 use to the planters. 



The prospects of further advance iir the growing of 

 limes are good. There is much land, especially in Tortola, 

 which, with facilities foi- crushing, would seem to be suit- 

 able for lime trees. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 

 Mr. J. C. Moore, late Agricultural Supfriiitemleiit, 

 St. Lucia, arrived in that island on October 22 from 

 England, and proceeded on October 25 to Grenada to 

 take up his appointment as AgricnUural Supeiintenrj- 

 ent in that Colony. 



Mr. M. A. Lawrence, Foreman of tlie Botaiiiu 

 Station, St. Lucia,, left that Colony on November 8, 

 to take up an appointment as Overseer in the Agri- 

 cultural Department, Nigeria. 



