THE AGKICULTUEAL NEWS. 



J.\2s-rARY 1, 1916. 



^0jmm': 



EDITORIAL }^ 



Head Office ^-^r'^ _ ^ 



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NOTICES. 



— Barbados. 



Letters and matter for i)ul)llcation, as well as al! 

 Bpecimens for naming, should be addressed to the 

 Commissioner, Imperial Department of Agiiculture, 

 Barbados. 



All applications for copies of the 'Agricultural 

 Kews ' and other Departmental publications, should be 

 addressed to the Agents' and not to the Department. 



The complete list of Agents, and the subscription 

 and advertisement rates, will be found on page 3 of 

 the cover. 



Imperial Commissioner of Francis Watts, CM. G., D.Sc, 



^•jricuUurefor the West Indies F.I.C., F.C.S. 



SCIENTII'IC STAFF. 



Hcieiitijic Assistant and 



Assistant Editor W. H. Dimltip. 



Untomoloyist H. A. BjiIIdu, M.Sc. 



Mycologist W. Nowell, D.I C. 



CLERICAL STAFF. 

 Giief Cler): A. G. Howell. 



Assistant Clerh M. B Connell. 



Junior aerl: W P. Bovell, 



Assistant Junior Cle>k P. Taylor. 



Typist Mis.-< B. Rol)ins((ii. 



/A. B. Price, Fell. J.min. Tiist. 

 |,L. A. Corbin. 



New Invention in Rubber. 



One of the few good featur* s of the war has been 

 its stimulating effect upon invention. In this respect 

 Gi'eat Britain has not been the least to respond, in fact 

 she has, in many ways, in spite of all the outcry against 

 the unorganized state ,oi science excelled the other 

 Powers. The following is a little example, reported in 

 the India Rubber WoHd. The invention described is 

 called a rubber shock absorber for the eai-s — a positive 

 necessity for pmtection against damage to the ear 

 drums from the air vibration of heavj- gunfire. It 

 looks like a stud and fits the oral aperture. 



'The body of the defender is made of hard rubber, 

 in a variety of sizes. Near the large end is a series of 

 alternating discs of fine wire gauze, and a diaphragm of 

 gold beaters' membrane. The latter stands free of 

 contact, and is limited to the minutest motion by the 

 gauze on either side of it. This instrument effectuall}' 

 protects the wearei-'s hearing by excluding violent con- 

 cusions of air, and at the same time permits him to hear 

 ordinary conversations. An ebonite tool for cleaning 

 the open end of the defender accompanies each pair of 

 instruments securely packed in a pocket case, in which 

 they are held in place by rubber studs.' 



Assistants for Publications 



Jigriciillural llmiij 



Vol. XV. SATURDAY, .JAXUAKY 1, 1916. No. 3-37 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in this number describes the out- 

 standing lines of agricultural work which are being 

 followed at the present time in the smaller islands of 

 the West Indies. 



Two interesting reviews appear in this ntindici': 

 line of the recently issued report of the Agricultural 

 Depai-tnient, St. Vincent, and the other of a new book 

 entitled The Rubber Industry of the Amazon and How 

 Its Supremacy Can be Maintained, 



The section entitled Do.vn the islands will be 

 found on pages 2 and 3. 



Insect Notes and Plant Diseases, respectively, deal 

 ■with the Mediterranean fruit riy.'knd a stem disease of 

 sugar-cane in Barbados. 



The Barbados Annual Exhibition. 



Much interest, as iisual, was shown in the 

 Barbados agi'icultnral and industrial exhibition, which 

 was held at Queen's Park on December 15 last. 

 As would be expected in an old established colonj% 

 the show was more or less a replica of former years, 

 but in certain respects there were features deserving of 

 special comment. 



In accordance with general expectation, the show 

 of canes, yams, etc., was very creditable, surpassing 

 that of the previous yoar, both in the number and quality 

 of the items exhibitid. Particularly numerous were the 

 canes and yams, which included .some of the best ever 

 seen at an Exhibition. This high standard of quality 

 with regard to agricultural products was undoubtedly 

 due to the very copious rains we have had within the 

 past few months. Not only were these rains copious, 

 but they were most opportune, foiling as they did at 

 a time when they were calculated to bestow the greatest 

 benefit upon the crops. 



The first prize of S5 for a clump of plant canes 

 taken from a single hole and from a field of canes was 

 awarded to Mr.'c. C. Mahon, of Highland plantation, 

 St. Thomas. The \ariety was B.()450 and there were 

 over thirty canes to the stool. 



As regards live-stock, the show of young animals 

 was distinctly good. Amongst the milch animals the 

 Holstein and Jeisey Breeds were in prominence, and 

 the growing dairy industry of Barbados was unmis- 

 takably reflected in this section of the show. 



Altogether, including the commercial side, the 

 show was a great success, and the number of attend- 

 jxncet is bclii'v.il to have been above the average. 



