Vol. IX. No. 218. 



THE AGRICULTDEAL NEWS. 



285 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



SEPTEMBER. 

 First Period. 

 Seasonal Notes. 



At tlje preient time, the land is in preparation for the 

 planting of sugarcane in December, and much information 

 that is of use and interest will be available concerning 

 methods of tillage and manuring for this crop. In Barbados 

 for sugarcane growing, the land is usually either close- 

 subsoiled, or the upper part of the soil, only, is turned over 

 by means of a mould-board plough. For planting the cane, 

 the holes vary in depth: sometimes a shallow hole and then 

 a stock hole are dug. Methods ditiering much in detail are 

 employed in the various sugar-producing islands. Take 

 notice of as many of these as you can, and see how 

 far their adoption, in any given instance, is correlated 

 with the conditions of the soil. Chemical manures will 

 have been applied to the young canes, and opportunities 

 will have occurred for noticing the comparatively quick 

 effect of the nitrogenous manures, where the rainfall has 

 been favourable: this effect is evidenced chieHy by the im- 

 provement in appearance, and the deepening of the colour, of 

 those canes that have received the treatment. It is probable 

 -that, where both nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia 

 are employed, the signs of the influence of the former 

 manure will be visible before those from the action of the 

 latter. Why is this! (See, in this connexion, A<i)ieultural 

 News, Vol. IX, pp. 97-9.) The different methods of 

 application of farmyard manure to land on which sugar-cane 

 is raised should be studied. Discuss the estate value of this 

 manure in relation to the previous crop (from which it was 

 derived), the energy that has been given by the animals 

 supplying it, and the food value that it bears for the coming 

 <:rop. 



Discuss the question of the relationship of rainfall to 

 manuring. In what ways may the presence of readily soluble 

 jirtificial manures in a .soil, during drought, do harm to the 

 plants growing in it? What kinds of damage may long-con- 

 tinued applications of (a) nitrate of soda, (b) sulphate of 

 ammonia, do to a soil, and how may the condition of the soil, 

 that has been produced in each case, be remedied? Oive an 

 account of as many reasons as you can for applying lime to 

 .soils. 



In cases where canes show (juickly the effect of dry 

 weather, what examination would you make of them, and 

 what would probably be found as the cause of their condition? 

 State what remedies may be applied in the circumstances of 

 the discovery of the presence of this cause, and indicate how 

 certain ot these are fitted particularly to special circumstances. 



Some of the i.slands of the West Indies, and especially 

 certain districts in them, are liable to suffer from a shortage of 

 fodder during the dry season: this iiiny take place to such an 

 extent as to cause the loss of cattle thiough starvation. Give 

 an account of any methods that may be devised for maintain- 

 ing the supply of fodder during times when the weather is too 

 dry for the grass to grow. What circumstances, besides lack 

 of rainfall, may make it difficult or impossible to grow 

 a reasonable supply of pasture grass and fodder? Attempts 

 have been made to produce fodder in some of the West Indian 

 islands for use in others, where there is a shortage. (See, 

 more especially, Agrwulfunil Xtirs, \ol. VIII, p. 131.) What 



is the best time for cutting grass to be made into fodder? 

 Give reasons. 



During the present quarter, opportunities will be avail- 

 able for effecting repairs to fermenting and curing appliances 

 on cacao estates, so that this work may be taken up without 

 delay when the next crop is being gathered. On what 

 circumstances does the quality of cacao depend chiefly? 

 Discuss the advisability of introducing delicate varieties of 

 cacao, giving a superior product, into (a) estate cultivation, 

 (b) peasant cultivation. 



In part of a lime plantation, where the trees had, so far, 

 appeared to be reasonably healthy, the leaves on the plants 

 were seen to turn j'ellow as soon as they grew to a fair size, 

 while less power of resistance to disease was shown by these 

 plants, and, ultimately, several of them died. It was noticed 

 that the yellowing of the leaves took place to the greatest 

 extent during the occurrence of periods of heavy rainfall, or 

 soon after their termination. What was the probable cause 

 of the ill health of the trees, and what remedies would you 

 suggest in such a case '. 



Questions for Candidates. 



PRELIMIXAKY QUESTIONS. 



(1) What are the chief reasons for mulching soils! 

 Explain what is meant by dry farming. 



(2) Why do plants wilt after being transplanted? 



(3) What is a weed? How do weeds chiefly interfere 

 with the growth of cultivated plants ? 



INTERMEDI.'VTE QUESTIONS. 



(1) Why is cotton seed meal used as a food for cattle? 

 Compare the proiiortions of its chief food constituents with 

 those in cane tops or grass 



(2) Give an account of the chief phosphatic manures. 



(3) Compare the action of leguminous and non-legum- 

 inous crops, when they are used as green dressings. 



FIN.\L liLESTIONS. 



(1) (!ive an outline of a complete scheme of cotton 

 selection, without definite breeding (crossing). What is the 

 limit to obtaining improved plants by means of such selection? 



(2) Indicate, in a general way, the food requirements of 

 the different kinds of stock on an estate, in relation to (a) 

 time of year; (b) kind of work: (c) age of the animals. 



(3) (Jive an account of the records that should be kept 

 on a good cotton, cacao or lime estate, and indicate the par- 

 ticular relation of each of these to the commercial results 

 attained eventnallv. 



The St. Vincent Arrowroot Growers' and 

 Exporters' Association. Tlie issue of the St. Vincent 

 Sentii/ for -Inly 29, 1910, states that a meeting of the newly 

 formed St. A'incent Arrowroot Growers' and Exporters' 

 Association, which has been organized for the protection of 

 the arrowroot industry oi that colony, was held on July 23, 

 1910. This was presided over by his Honour the Adminis- 

 trator, and its purpose was to consider the adoption of the 

 rules and constitution of the Association, and to elect 

 a Committee of Management. In the result, the rules were 

 adopted, and the following were elected to serve on the 

 Committee: the Hon. C. J. Simmons (Chairman), the Hon. 

 J. G. W. Hazell, the Hon. D. A. McDonald, Mr. G. II. Corea, 

 and Mr. .J. E. Sprott (Secretary). 



