ToL. IX. No. 220. 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



315 



.Sr. LUCIA lAXNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDIC- 

 AL OFFICER IB. DISTRICT. I'.WU. 



A copy of this report, received from the Colonial Office, 

 shows that the work of this officer, Dr. Lucius Xicholls, has 

 includefl interesting investigations in the laboratory with 

 regard to : (1) rat viruses; (2) the natural enemies of mosqui- 

 tos and mosquito larvae; (3) the naming and examination 

 of mosquitos and biting insects; (4) the examination of mor- 

 bid tissues. In the first of these, the results showed that the 

 virus was eflfective if it was exalted, that is to s.ij', increased 

 in virulence by passing through several rats, end distributed 

 for immediate use. 



Mention is made nf the extent to which ankylostomiasis 

 occurs in the island; this was shown by the fact that the 

 worm was found in twenty-three con.secntive post-mortem 

 examinations of adult paupers. The greater part of the 

 report is, however, taken up by a consideration of mosquito 

 larvae and their natural enemies, and this will be given 

 special attention. 



It is pointed out, first of all, that Governments with 

 limited funds cannot be expected to undertake large drainage 

 and reclamation .schemes for the purjiose of reducing the 

 number of mosquitos, and special attention is given to the 

 usefulne-ss of millions and other enemies of the mosquito in 

 this connexion. The Anophelinae of St. Lucia are C>Uki 

 argyrohinh and C. alhiiica, and observations showed that 

 the larvae of these live chiefly in water where there is 

 a supply of surface food, contained usually in protected, non- 

 permanent, unshaded pool.s, where there is not a continuous 

 current and where their natural enemies are not present. It 

 was found that the larvae will not grow unless surface food 

 is provided. 



Experiments with m\\\\on& ((j hard i mi s pceciloides) show- 

 ed that these could be gra<lually accustomed to living in iron 

 tanks, in darkness, in water from brackish swamps, or in water 

 having temperatures ranging from 55' F. to 101 '5° V. 



The natural enemies of millions are stated to be 

 water-fowl, cray fish and the larger fishes; they are pro- 

 tected, however, to some extent from these where the water in 

 which they live is occupied to any degree by vegetation. Other 

 enemies of mosquito larvae that are mentioned are a small 

 crustacean of the sub-order Decapoda, and certain dragon fly 

 larvae. 



After an interesting account is given of measures for the 

 reduction of the number of mosquitos in Anse-la-raj-e, the 

 most malarious village in St. Lucia, suggestions are made for 

 the breeding and distribution of millions locally, and to other 

 countries. In this connexion, Dr. Xicholls does not appear 

 to be conversant with the work of the Imperial De}iarlment 

 of Agriculture which has included the successful introduction 

 of this fish into Guayaquil, and into the Malay States and 

 Sierra Leone, with the assistance of the Zoological Gardens, 

 London. (See West Indian Bulletin, Vol. IX, p. 38S; A(/ri- 

 cultural News, Vol. VIII, pp. 9, 106, 231. 3U and 464; 

 Pamphlet 55 of the Dejiartment Series, entitled Millions, and 

 Mosquitos.) Attention may be al.so drawn to the effective 



manures that have been taken, in relation to local distribution 

 in Antigua. 



A report which deals with much useful work concludes 

 with a consideration of the effectiveness of the distribution of 

 quinine, and of the adoption of measures to prevent the accid- 

 ental provision, through carelessness, of breeding grounds 

 for mosquitos; and full recognition is given to the great 

 importance of education in obtaining the general adoption of 

 measures for the prophylaxis of malaria, as well as of other 

 tropical diseases. 



BAHAMAS: REPORT OF THE BOARD OF 

 ACRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR 190'.). 



This report is contained in Vol. V, No. 1, of the Bulletin 

 of the Department of Agriculture, Bahamas. It shows, first 

 of all, that progress in the improvement of agriculture is being 

 maintained in tho.se islands. In considering the general 

 agricultural conditions of the colony, it is stated that 

 the work of the department is hindered, as regards the 

 Out Islands, by the lack of demonstration farms; although 

 much good work is being done by means of co operative 

 experiments with farmers. The necessity is indicated of the 

 po.s.session of an agricultural bank, for the purpose of assist- 

 ing small cultivators. 



The total value of the shipments of sisal fibre, which is 

 the most important product of the colony, was £42,627. In 

 view of the extended production of this fibre in other parts of 

 the world, ways are being sought of increasing the number of 

 its uses. The export of pine-apples was worth £22,853; the 

 market for this fruit, either green or canned, is entirely in 

 the Unitel States, on account of the inability to compete with 

 the cheaply produced Singapore pine apple, in England. Grape 

 fruits were exported to the value of £1,264, and the .ship- 

 ments of oranges were worth £412, the numbers of the fruits 

 being respectively, 276,576 and 465,050. The complaint is 

 made that the citrus industry requires care in the handling 

 and shipment of its products; and it is stated that more 

 information is wanted as to possible markets. In the exports 

 of cotton, an increase of £85 was shown, the total value being 

 £319. The popularity of this crop in the Out Islands is 

 increasing, and it is likely that the coming year will see an 

 extension of the area planted. As regards tobacco, 23,800 

 cigars, valued at £122, were exported. Among minor pro- 

 ducts weie exports to the following values: tomatos £148, 

 preserved guavas £97, bananas £67, pumpkins £66, and 

 onions £48. The production of these is showing a fairly 

 rapid growth, as increased amounts are being employed for 

 local consumption. 



The chief of the forest products were lignum vitae, with 

 273 tons, worth £586; Sabica, 93 tons, worth £257; bark 

 133,156 B). worth £2,169. In a general way, as regards the 

 agricultural prospects of the Bahamas, it would appear that 

 an extension of the demand for sisal is required; the onion 

 industry does not increase; rubber-growing will not attain 

 a large importance, because the plants have to be cultivated 

 there on a small scale; the cotton industry is growing; while, 

 finall)', very much more requires to be done in the direction 

 of raising corn and ground provisions for local use 



An interesting account is given of the work of the experi- 

 ment station, which included investigations in connexion with 

 the following crops: arrowroot, onions, broom corn, cassava, 

 maize, citrus plants, cotton, fodder plants, pine-apples, rubber, 

 sugar-cane, sweet potatos and tobacco. The report concludes 

 with a useful account of the agricultural conditions of the 

 chief among the different islands, from which valuable infor- 

 mation regarding the Bahamas may be gained. 



