THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



As well as being the scene of Governmental action 

 along these two outstanding lines, the smaller islands 

 have their minor plays or side-shows. An interesting 

 one of quite recent pi-oduction is the St. Lucia Lime 

 Juice Factory, which is a source of great satisfaction 

 to the peasantry, and is also freely patronised by 

 the larger owners, who of course, in many cases, 

 possess factories of their own. The venture has 

 interested the large owner in both St. Lucia and 

 Dominica, in so far as it has shown that it can reduce 

 the loss in acid during concentration, as well as the 

 Amount of sediment in the juice to quite a remarkable 

 -extent. 



Other side-shows of much interest are on the prem- 

 ises of the Antigua Onion Cirowers' Association and 

 the Government Kiln-drier for Lidian corn. The first 

 named is rapidly gi-owing in interest, and has been 

 initiated with success in Montserrat and the Virgin 

 Islands. The moral is co-operation; and, indeed, this 

 holds good for most of these new productions. It is 

 -a very popular theme at present, and one hopes that 

 it will continue to be so. 



Janc.\ey 1, 191fi. 



being introduced, there is scarcely ever enough atten- 

 tion given to work that has been done in that direction 

 previously. An examination oF past records should 

 never be omitted, for it will oft;n prevent the useless 

 repetition of some experiment vhich has alreadj- been 

 shown to yield unsatisfactory results, and will often 

 save direct mistakes. Besides, t is only fair to credit 

 past workers with their own nsults, and only rational 

 to start any new scheme, if possible, on a basis of 

 pre-ascertained fact. In conne::ion with this, one may 

 draw attention to the importan;e of filing publications 

 for reference — a habit which is regrettably absent even 

 in public offices. 



In colonial ail ministration 



2very problem mttst be 



regarded on its merits, and according to local circtim- 

 stances and the experience of others in the past. It 

 is a very unoriginal but nevertheless a true saying 

 that 'there is nothing new under the sun,' and most of 

 the events in colonial development labelled original, 

 are merely- the intelligent application of other peoples 

 results. 



A most pleasing feature of this co-operative 

 trend is the formation within the last year or two of 

 co-operative credit societies. This is the very quint- 

 escence of co-operation, for if we can trust each other 

 with money, we can do so in regard to most things. 



It will be understood that in all the instances 

 we have referred to above, it is the local Governments 

 which have produced the money and the principal 

 • actors; there has been very little private enterprise. 

 As for the Imperial Department, it is not perhaps too 

 much to claim that that institution has originated the 

 ideas and the working plans to a not inconsiderable 

 •extent. But as already intimated, that form of effort 

 ends with success, just as it would not end in the event 

 of failure. 



While Governmental action has predominated, it 

 must not be thought that piivate enterprise has been 

 ■entirely absent. Most of the islands have of recent 

 years been the scene of coco-nut planting on an 

 extending scale, and we must not fail to recognize the 

 important part played by the pioneers in this direction, 

 as well as that played by those who have been 

 responsible for the planting of land in limes and other 

 erops in places like St. Lucia and Dominica. 



Looking at a distance we notice one feature of 

 administration in both official and business circles that 

 jieeds amendment. When a so-called new scheme is 



DOWN THE ISLANDS, 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. Luci.\. — ilr. A. .J. Biook.s writes to say that during 

 November the cacao crop was satisfactory, and was being 

 harvested dtiring that month. The lime crop was still fairly- 

 heavy, while the sugar-cane was very promising throughout 

 the island. During the month, \d casks of concentrated lime 

 juice were prepared at the factory, making a total of -59 for 

 the present crop. Improvement in relation to the roads and 

 entrances at the liotinic Gardens, and an extension of the 

 drainage system at Reunion continue. In the Experiment 

 Station, work has consisted in preparing lime beds, sowing 

 and transplanting limes, and making 12-inch concrete pipes 

 for drainage purposes. The plants distributed from the 

 Government nur.series during November consisted of the 

 following: limes, 1,82.5; budded oranges, 42; miscellaneous, 

 36; cassava cuttings, 3,000; sweet potato cuttings, 5,000; 

 sugar-cane cuttings, 3,000; also 8 packets of vegetable seed. 



DOMINICA. — In October the lime crop was slackening otl'. 

 The local prices for yellow limes advanced from 3s. to Is. per 

 barrel, and raw juice from 6c/. to 7c?. per gallon. The latest 

 cable ipiotation for concentrated juice was ,£28 per pipe. 

 A shipment of juice made by steam concentration realized 

 £35 per pipe. .Mr. .Joseph .Tones, who has furnished the 

 above information, .states further that, in connexion with 

 coco-nut cultivation, a 5-acre experimental plot has beea 

 approved by autlmiity. Work in the nurseries has consisted 

 in lifting and delivering plants, potting, cutlassing, weeding, 

 transplanting, sowing seeds, budding and spraying. In the 

 lime experiment station the principal operations have con- 

 sisted in picking and recording the crop, cutlassing, planting 



