Vol. XV. No. 360. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



59 



AGRICULTURE IN NEVIS AND TORTOLA. 



Two quarterly reports dealing with agricultural condi- 

 tions in Nevis and Tortola have been received recently, and 

 the following consists of the more interesting points referred 

 to therein. 



In Tortola the principal work towards the end of last 

 year was the raising and distribution of onion seedlings at 

 the E.x-periment Station. The number distributed between 

 November 1-5, and December 31 was about 19l*,000. The 

 establishment of the fields, however, was interfered with by dry 

 weather, and an attack of insects. The cotton seed farm, 

 established with a view to supplying the island with selected 

 seed, received a considerable amount of attention, but the 

 crop suffered on account of the weather and the vigorous 

 attacks of cotton worm. The cotton industry, as a whole, was 

 naturally depressed through the war, but the price paid for 

 best grade cotton brought in by the peasants has been 

 increased from .5c. to 7c. per ft)., as from the commencement 

 of the present buying season. This increase will tend to 

 restore confidence. 



Attention has been given to work in the coco-nut demon- 

 stration plot.s. and the scheme in view has now been 

 completed. 



In forwarding the above information, Mr. W. Fishlock, 

 the Curator, regrets to have to record the death oi Mr. Charles 

 Maduro, one of the most useful of the station employees. 

 His death took place after a very brief illness on the evening 

 of December 31. The deceased had rendered faithful service 

 at the Station for over eight years. 



The quarterly report from Nevis deals chiefly with 

 the condition of the principal crops growing at the Station, 

 and on the estate. The cane crop throughout the island was 

 at the time of writing very promising. A good crop is 

 anticipated. In some parts of the island the growers are 

 disappointed at not being able to get their canes sold at the 

 .St. Kitts factory. Sugar is being made on some estates, but 

 the machinery is not very good, and it pays better to sell the 

 canes to the "factory. The cotton crop this season has not 

 been very good, and the return per acre, on the average, must 

 be low. However, the cotton demonstration plot at the 

 Station, which was reaped during the (juarter ending Decem- 

 ber 31, gave a return of 660 lb. of seed-cotton to the 

 .acre as a first picking, which was not bad, considering the 

 circumstances that prevailed. The plot of onions at the 

 Station has done fairly well and the plants are now forming 

 bulbs. A supply of crates has already been bought, as it is 

 intended to make a shipment to New York and try and 

 establish a market there for Nevis. The following plants, 

 seeds, etc., were distributed from the Station during the 

 quarter: 12,5U0 sweet potato cuttings; 750 cassava cuttings; 

 1,300 lime plants; 18 ornamental plants; 46 11). of Guinea 

 com; 13 Bb. of cotton .seed; and 23 ft). Paris green. 



We gather from a statement received from the British 

 Cotton Growing Association comprising a list of West Indian 

 cotton on hand, unsold at December 31, 1915, that with the 

 exception of St. Vincent, practically the whole stock of Sea 

 Island cotton had been disposed of. The foregoing infor- 

 mation would appear to indicate that satisfactory conditions 

 obtain Iti the Sea Island market. The stocks referred to 

 were last season's croj). Delay has occurred in the shipment 

 of this season's, but wiU soon arrive in big consignments. It 

 will be interesting, in view of the recent rise in prices, to see 

 what the effect will be on the Liverpool market. 



ST. VINCENT ARROWROOT GROWERS 



ASSOCIATION. 



The Annual Report of this Association for 1915, which 

 has recently come to hand, shows that while the finances are 

 in a sound state, the activities of the Association have been 

 hindered on account of the war. This applies particularly 

 to the Association's advertising campaign It had been 

 intended to enter upon a scheme for introducing into the 

 United Kingdom a proprietary article of food in the prepara- 

 tion of which St. Vincent arrowroot would be largely used. 

 Although it was arranged that the cost of this project 

 would not exceed £400, it was decided that owing 

 to unsuitable conditions resulting from the war, it would be 

 wise to defer the commencement of the campaign until 

 a later date. Similar intentions were entertained regarding 

 Canada, but for similar reasons failed to materialize As 

 regnrds production of arrowroot in St. Vincent iiself, the 

 industry is in a favourable condition. Many members 

 have recently improved the (juality of their product. 

 Progress is still the watchword: and although curtail- 

 ment of production is at present proceeding owing to 

 the exigencies of the industry, the island is capable of 

 doubling its yield of arrowroot, if that be necessary to meet 

 any demand that might be created on both sides of the 

 Atlantic when the war is over. 



On account of the increase of freight rates, a special 

 meeting was held during the year at which it was resolved 

 that the increased cost of shipment should be borne by the 

 consumer, as the market prices then obtaining for the various 

 grades of arrowroot were on such a level as would not admit 

 any further decrease in prices paid to members of the Associa- 

 tion. .Vccordingly it was agreed to raise the minimum orice 

 of arrowroot of all grades by the sum of |-'f. per ft). 



Blue Mountain OoflFee: A Correction.— In 



the article on Blue Mountain Coffee which appeared in the 

 Agricultural News of September "25 (Vol. XIV, p. 308), 

 certain mistakes occur on account of some difficulty expe- 

 rienced when deciphering the manuscript on which the 

 said article was based. In line 10 from top of page 308, 

 right hand column, the word Priage should read Triage. 

 Again, the statement 'twenty-nine of which are a mule load.' 

 should read 'two' instead of 'twenty-nine.' Further, the 

 reference to irrigation of Blue Mountain coffee is out of 

 place, since irrigation in regard to the cultivation of crops 

 on Blue Mountain lands is impossible. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Imperial Coiimiissioner of Agriculture returned 

 to Barbados on Wednesday, February 9, by the C.R.M.S. 

 'Chaudiere' from Antigua, after an official visit to that 

 Colony, 



