Vol. IX. No. 20-5. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



77 







STUDENTS' CORNER, 



MARCH. 



Fip.sT Period. 

 Seasonal Notes. 



AVhere several varieties of sugar-cane have lieen planted, 

 a useful opportunity will have been afforded, by this time, of 

 observing their relative value as regards the production of 

 plants from cuttings. Make observations of the more obvious 

 characters of each kind, with the object of discovering if the 

 variation in the power to form new plants has any relation to 

 differences that are to be seen in tho.se characters. Discuss 

 the relation that the power cjuickly to form good, healthy 

 plants bears to the ability to survive drought. Where it is 

 possible, make observations and drawings, for the purpose of 

 gaining an accurate idea of the ways in which growth takes 

 plaae after the canes have been cut from a stool that is left 

 to form ratoons. Reference to the Wi^st Indian Bu/Zetin, 

 Vol. X, No. 2, pp. 117-21, will be of assistance in gaining 

 information in regard to this matter. 



Note the way in which Bordeaux mi.xture is made. 

 How may it Ije easily ascertained whether a sample of this 

 mixture has been properly made or not! Is there any danger 

 in using badly prepared Bordeaux mixture for disinfecting 

 sugar-cane cuttings! If so, why! Consider whether an 

 improvement on the methods in vogue for treating cuttings 

 with this mixture could be devised, such as in the construction 

 of wire baskets which would facilitate the wetting and 

 removal of the cuttings. (See A;/riru/fiiiiil Tews, Vol. VIII, 

 p. 315.) Hrtve any other methods been employed for the 

 treatment of cane cuttings before planting! Describe any 

 that you know of, and compare tlieir efKciency, in the mtitter 

 of disinfection, with that of the use of Bordeaux mixture. 

 {See West Indian Bulletin, Vol. V, p. 99, VI, p. 4S.) 



What is the essential difference between a cane cutting 

 and a cane 'top! Why is the latter generally used as a food 

 for stock instead of being ground in the mill! Cut through 

 a piece of sugar-cane, in the direction of its length, so as to 

 include one or two of the nodes. What is the appearance of 

 the vascular bundle.?, and w'hy are these structures called by 

 that name? In what part of the cane does the juice contain- 

 ing the sugar exist chiefly! Carefully trace the course of the 

 vascular bundles and ascertain what becomes of them when 

 they reach a node. In what part of the cane are new bundles 

 formed! Why is it that the sugar-cane is harder in the outer 

 than in the inner part! Compare the cane, in this respect, 

 with the stem of a dicotyledon. 



In regard to cotton, make ob.servations in connexion 

 with the effect of the time of planting on the severity of the 

 attacks of the flower-bud maggot, and compare the date of the 

 appearance of this pest during the present season with that 

 of former ones. Make a careful review of the causes that 

 may be effectual in bringing it about that the insect is much 



more prevalent in some seasons than in others. What is the 

 definite circumstance in its life-history that causes it to lessen 

 the yield from the cotton plant ! What other plant or plants 

 does it infest, and how may it be found in them ! Where 

 does.'She insect pass its pupal stage ' 



In places where cotton has been planted as a catch crop 

 with cane, it will now have been turned in. Where it is 

 being employed as a stage in a rotation, and where a second 

 picking is being obtained, a careful watch for leaf-blister 

 mite must be kept, and all affected leaves should be picked 

 off and burnt, preferably as near as possible to the place 

 where they have grown. Why is it unwise to carry material 

 infested with leaf-blister mile any greater distance than is 

 necessary, even if bags are used for the purpose ! To w-hat 

 kinds of animals is the leaf-blister mite most nearly related? 

 (.See A'/rir,illuml Newf, Vol. VIII, p. :U(j.) 



Questions for Candidates. 



I'ltKLIMIXAKV c^l-ESTIOXS. 



( 1 ) What is meant by humus ! How is it beneficial to 

 crops! 



(2) Name the special arrangements that may be required 

 ill growing a plant possessing tendrils. What parts of a plant 

 may be changed in such a way as to enable them to perform 

 the function of tendrils ! 



(3) Describe a suitable agricultural rotation where the 

 staple crop is cotton. 



INTERMKL)l.\rK liUESTIONS, 



(1) Describe the symptoms that are shown by a cane 

 suffering from rind fungus. 



(2) Give an account of the chief characters of a good 

 sample of molasses. 



(3) Draw a map of the island in which you live, show- 

 ing the position of the different kinds of soil that exist there. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture left 

 Barbados by the SS. ' Balantia ', on February 22, 1910, 

 for the purpose of accompanying the members of the 

 Royal Commission appointed to enquire into trade 

 relations between Canada and the West Indies. 

 Dr. Watts returned to Barbados on the 28th ultimo. 



Mr. V. M. Weil, B.Sc. (Lond.), has been appointed, 

 by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Assistant 

 to the Government Analyst and Agricultural Chemist 

 for the Leeward Islands, in connexion with the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture for the West Indies. 



Mr. W^eil arrived in Barbados, on his way to 

 Antigua, by the SS. 'Oruba', on the 1st instant. 



Mr. W. R. Dunlop has been appointed, by the 

 Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the post of 

 Agricultural and Science Master at the St. Kitts 

 (irammar School, in connexion with the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture. 



Mr. Dunlop arrived in St. Kitts, to take up the 

 duties of his appointment, on February 19, 1910. 



