Vol. IX. Xo. 222. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



349 





::^i>£'^ 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



NOVEMBER. 



FiiisT Pekiod. 



Seasonal Notes. 



It haslieeu found advantageous, in planting jjine-aiiple 

 suckers, to sti ip off the lower leave.s liefore putting the sucker.s 

 into the ground. AVhat difference does this make to the 

 growth of the roots, and how does it assist in the prevention 

 of the access of the condition known as ' tangle roof ; 

 "What is the appearance of the roots of a pine-apple plant 

 showing this condition ! In what way does it interfere with 

 the giowth of the plant { Dcscrilie thu appearance of pine- 

 apples which have l)een attacked by fungus diseases. Are 

 there any diflerenccs in such appearances which would suggest 

 to you that pineapples may suffer from more than one disease? 

 If so, what are these differences; What kind of soil is the 

 best for pineapples, and why is it that the drainage of that 

 soil must ue effective before the plants will thrive ? 



At this time, limes are ripening, and the gathering of 

 the crop will continue until the end of the year. In order 

 to facilitate the collection of the fruit, the weeds beneath 

 the trees should be kept short with a cutlass, or by other 

 suitable means. Care niu.st be taken, especially at the time 

 of heavy rains, to keep all drains o[)en. These are the chief 

 matters that admit of attention, until the harvesting of the 

 crop is completed. A useful exercise will l)e provided by 

 choosing a few trees, in different parts of a plantation, and 

 making oliscrvations on the yields of these. Such observa- 

 tions will be given an additional value by the making of others, 

 for the purpose of ol>taining suggestions as to the causes of the 

 variations which v.'ill certainly be found to occur. Make notes 

 on the size of the fruits produced by trees in different places, 

 and as before, account, if you can, for the variation. Where 

 a tree has borne a heavy crop of limes, observe the effect on 

 its subsequent state, especially as regards its general health. 

 In relation to pests and diseases generally, take notice of the 

 trees that are most prone to sutler from these, and try to 

 supply a reason, or reasons, for the added susceptiliility of 

 them. Find out how long, under ordinary conditions, limes 

 may remain on the ground without rotting, and ascertain 

 which part of the fruit first shows signs of decay. 



Where Bengal l>eans are grown over lime trees, make 

 observations of the following kinds: (1) the effect on the 

 growth of the trees; (2) the e.xtent to which scale insects 

 are present; (3) the amount of parasitism of these liy fungi. 

 How could you tell if the cover given by the Bengal beans 

 was too thick? AVhat possible effects may be produced by 

 the Bengal beans (1) on the soil; (2) on the air in their vicin- 

 ity? What relation has the use of Bengal beans in lime 

 cultivations to the control of weeds? 



The production of the Christmas crop of cacao is taking 

 place at this time, and a commencement of picking will be 

 made shortly. What precautions are of the greatest import- 

 ance in gathering cacao pods, and why are these precautions 

 necessary. What ill efi'ects on the succeeding crop will prob- 



ably be caused by careless picking, and how are these 

 efi'ects brought about.' Constant attention is required in 

 removing suckers from th^^ trees. AVhat conditions, in 

 a plant, are the most general cause of the production of 

 suckers, and why are the latter usually removed when they 

 ai)pear; As has been stated above, for limes, the drains in 

 cacao plantations require special attention at this time of the 

 j'ear. Give an account of what is likely to hapi)en (1) to the 

 .soil, (2) to the plants, where tlte drains in a plantation are 

 allowed to become gradually filled upf AA'hy are drains often 

 employed, in cacao fields, on the sides of hills, even where the 

 water can get away quickly, without any artificial aid' 



On a cacao (or nutmeg) estate, some of the trees may 

 show irregular dull-ljlack patches, with a rough surface, on 

 the bark. The patches measure at least an inch across, and 

 may reach as much as 2 inches. They are the outward 

 manifestation of a fungus that may eventually cause the death 

 of the plants that have been attacked. AVhere this is pos-si- 

 ble, look carefully for any signs of the presence of such a fun- 

 gus. AVhat remedial measures might be suggested, in the 

 presence of an outbreak of such a disease ! 



Questions for Candidates. 



PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. 



(1) AVhy are limes allowed to fall to the ground before 

 they are gathered ! What is the reason for not adopting 

 this method for harvesting other citrus fruits ? 



(2) AVhy is it important, in the case of cultivated plants, 

 to encourage the development of a large root system .' State 

 the ways in which this may be done. 



(3) AA'hy does farmyard manure disappear more quickly 

 when it is buried in sandy soils than when it is treated in the 

 same way in clay soils .' 



INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS. 



(1) AA'hat is the value of a good supply of humus in the 

 soil t AVhat are the chief sources of humus, and how is it 

 best conserved ? 



(2) AA'hat treatment should lime trees receive after they 

 have been weakened through an over-production of fruit 1 



(3) De.scribe a g(jod method of curing and preparing 

 ginger for shipment. 



FINAL QUESTIONS. 



(1) AVhat bacteria, of importance to the agriculturist, 

 are usually found in farmyard manure, and what is their 

 action ? 



(2) Discuss the requirements of one important crop, in 

 the AVest Indies, in relation to the provision of shade at any 

 stage of its growth. 



(3) ilention the chief pests of sugar-cane or cacao, and 

 state what precautions should be taken against them. Give 

 the approximate cost of any measures recommended to be 

 employed against one of those you mention. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Imperial Coininissioner of Agriculture returned 

 to Barbados from Britisli ( iiiiana by the R.]\I.S. 'Beibice' 

 on the I8th instant. As was stated in the last number 

 of the AgrU-ultural iVcnvs, Dr. AA'^atts's visit to British 

 Guiana was made for the purpose of conferring with 

 His Excellency the (Joveiiior, as well as with a Com- 

 mittee that had been a[i|>ointed by him, with regard 

 to the preliminary arrangrments foi- holding the forth- 

 coming Agricultural Conlei-ence in that colony. 



