Vol. IX. No. 221. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



327 



ST. LUCIA . REPORT ON THE BOTAXIC 

 STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL AND EXI'ERL 

 ME NT PLOTS, litod-in. 



The financial statement made at the commencement of 

 this report-shows that the total expenditure in connexion with 

 the Botanic .Station and Special Agricultural Services, during 

 1909-10, was £723 14s. f>d. This sum, which is £60 9.s 2d. 

 less than that of last year, included £398 is. llrf. received 

 from the Imperial Grant-in-aid. The receipts from the sales 

 of plants, trees and Howers were £30 lis. 



The station has been maintained in good condition, 

 although the state of the northern part of it is not satis- 

 factory, because of the Hooding of the land from time to time, 

 and it appears that improvemt-nts in the direction of raising 

 the land and walling the drains are required, in order that 

 this portion of it may become useful. 



The extent of the distribution of economic plants from 

 the nur.series at the Botanic Station and the Agricultural 

 School continues to increase. The share of the latter institu- 

 tion in this is much greater than that of the former, as is 

 shown by the fact that, in a total distribution of 7V,.j.t7 

 plants, 73,3.53 were sent out from the Agricultural School. 

 These figures do not include those relating to the distribution 

 of seed and cuttings. 



The lainfall for the -year was S5'43 inches, the three 

 wettest months being .June, August and October, with 10-20, 

 13 44 and 10-32 inches, respectively. The highest temi)era- 

 ture measured was 92^, on August 16, while the lowest was 

 62-0°, on March 2. 



During the year, a scheme of prize-holdings competitions 

 has been introduced into the island, particulars of which are 

 published as an appendix to the report. Other work of an 

 educative nature has included the provision of assistance in 

 relation to the pursuit of nature study in the elementary 

 schools, and the giving of aid to those taking the examina- 

 tions held in connexion with the Courses of Reading of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture. 



The report includes interesting notes on soil examination, 

 and on insect pests and fungus diseases, especially in relation 

 to the control of the former of these. It is hoped that the 

 information obtained by the carrying out of soil examination 

 will be of the greatest use, eventually, in giving information 

 as to the suitability of lands in the different parts of the 

 island for the growing of cacao 



The expenditure on the Agricultural School, during the 

 year, was £688 10s. Zd., excluding the emoluments ot the 

 ofKcer in charge. There was a monetary return of £1.51 8s. \\d. 

 from the sale of plants, produce and Five stock. The report 

 on the school shows that satisfactory progress has been m-ide, 

 and that the discipline and health of the pupils are good. 

 Three new boys were admitted during the year; ten pupils 

 were discharged after completing their course of training, and 

 t-wo as physically unfit. 



The report proper concludes with interesting details in 

 relation to orange.s, Para rubber. Central American rubber, 

 seedling canes, Bengal beans, mangos and cacao, grown on 



the experiment plots. As regards the last named crop, 

 a scheme of experiments in various kinds of cultural treat- 

 ment has been formulated. The information in regard to 

 live stock shows that this has filled a position of usefulness 

 in the island. 



Reference has been made already to the appendix con- 

 taining details of the prize-holdings scheriie. There are two 

 other appendixes, the first of which contains a report on 

 lectures in elementary agricultural science given by the 

 Agricultural Superintendent to teachers in the primary 

 schools; the second presents a report by the Agricultural 

 Superintendent on the teaching of agriculture in such schools 

 during 1909. These show that a great deal of assistance is 

 being given by the Department of Agriculture in St. Lucia 

 with the teaching of nature study and the principles of agri- 

 culture in the primary schools. 



TORTOLA : REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENT 

 ST A TION, lUOO-D). 



The expenditure at this station during 1909-10 was 

 £.598 Os. :id., which is an increase of £98 15s. KkL, caused 

 by the effecting of several improvements and additions to the 

 station. The sum was provided by the balance brought for- 

 ward at the end of the preceding period; it included 

 £14 Os. bd. decrease in the expenditure from the Imperial 

 Grant-in-aid. The receipts from the sale of produce, old 

 stores, and from the rent and .sale of land, amounted to 

 £88 lO.s. 



The improvements and additions at the station related 

 chieHy to the sugar and cotton industrie.s, and to the water- 

 supply. .-Vs regards the distribution of plants, there was little 

 demand during the year, notwithstanding the fact that this 

 is free. The amount of cotton seed sent out from the station 

 w-as 957 lb., sold at 4c. per lb. 



The details given in relation to the experiment plots 

 show that these were occupied by cotton, sug-ir-cane, sweet 

 potato.s, cassava, limes, pine-apples, cacao, coffee and arrow- 

 root. Among the results obtained in these experiments are 

 the indication of the advisability of the earlier planting of 

 cotton, and that of the special suitability of the seedlings 

 B.147, and B.208, under certain circumstances, to condi- 

 tions in Tortola. There are signs that the export trade in 

 sweet potatos and limes is increasing; as regards cacao, it 

 seems that this may eventually be grown for shipment to 

 a limited extent. The local demand alisorbs, at present, all 

 the cassava, pine-apples and coffee produced. 



The rainfall of the period was e.^cceptional, being 64-12 

 inches, while the average at the experiment station for the 

 last nine years was 54-49 inches. The increased annual pre- 

 cipitation was mainly due to heavy rains in Xovember. 



An interesting appendix to the report treats of the 

 cotton, lime and sugar industries. A check has been received 

 by the first of these because of low prices and unfavourable 

 weather, but this is likely to be only temporary. Limes, as 

 well as cotton, are purchased by the Government, and an 

 increase is taking place in the extent to which the former 

 crop is grown. The increased facilities that have been ob- 

 tained for the manufacture of sugar are likely to cause 

 a greater interest to be taken in this product. 



The work of the Agricultural Instructor has included 

 the holding of meetings in connexion with the cotton and 

 lime industries. Through his efforts, a collection of exhibits 

 was .sent to the Canadian National Exhibition, 1909. The 

 agricultural interests of the out-districts of Tortola and of the 

 out-islands have been served directly by means of visits by 

 this Officer. 



