Vol. XV. No. 361. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



GRENADA. Mr. .J. C. Moore (Su[iorinten<lent of Agri- 

 culture) informs us that Samaii trees which were ham- 

 pering the nursery work in the Botanic Gardens by 

 shade and root activity have been cut down, while prepara- 

 tions are in satisfactory progress for next year's supply 

 of lime plants. Citrus plants imported from Dominica 

 and St. Lucia for the orchard are doing well. In regard to 

 staple crops, the report mentions that at the time of writing 

 the cacao crop was still coming in satisfactorily; 26,973 

 bags were shipped to December 31 as against 12,2i9 at same 

 date in 191i, and 41,000 bags at .January 31, as against 

 37,229 at the same date last year. Lime juice shows an 

 increase also in shipments to date. The Superintendent cif 

 Agriculture and the Agricultural Instructor were appointed 

 on a Committee of the Agricultural and Commercial Society 

 to consider the revision of the Rules for the Cacao Prize 

 Holdings Scheme. At a meeting of the Society held on the 

 27th ultimo, the revLsed scheme of Prize Holdings was passed. 

 Both officers attended a meeting of Morne Rouge sugar 

 growers to discuss the future of the Government sugar works, 

 and the need for extending the area under sugar-cane culti- 

 vation on the Settlement. A meeting of peasant proprietors 

 was held at River Sallo, at which the Agricultural Instructor 

 delivered an address on the subjects of draining, mulching, 

 and hedges. The weather was rather dry during the first 

 half of December, but from the 14th to the 31st rain fell 

 every day; throughout the month of January also, seasonable 

 showers were recorded. 



ST. LUCIA. Concerning this island, Mr R. W. Niles 

 (for the Agricultural Superintendent) leports that the follow- 

 ing plants were distributed from the Experiment Stations; 

 lime plants 1,000, economic 66, decorative 38, making 

 a total of 1,104. The cacao crop was making slow pro- 

 gress, while the lime crop was nearly finished, and reap- 

 ing operations in regard to sugar had commenced. The 

 total quantity of concentrated lime j.'iice prepared to date at 

 the Government Lime Fiictory was 65 casks. The rainfall 

 recorded at.the Botanic Station for the month of .January was 

 ■6-80 inche-s. 



DOMINICA. In Spite of an unfavourable season in many 

 respects, writes the Curator (Mr. .Joseph .Jones), the exports 

 of lime products during the year showed a slight increase 

 -over 1914, and were practically equal to the exports 

 of the record year 1913. The year's crop, reduced 

 to barrels, was .390,4.58. The work of fencing the new 

 coc3-nut portion of the experiment station was retarded owing 

 to persistent wet weather. Consequently, the planting of 

 ooco-nuts during the month had to be postponejl. Work in 

 the chemical laboratory included the testing of samples of 

 juice sent in by planters, analysis of sample of lime to 

 determine suitability for citrate making, and investigations 

 with raw and concentrated juices. Plant distribution con- 

 sisted of limes 2,185, cacao 250, budded citrus 98, shade 

 trees 2-50, rai.scellaneous ^)5, making a total of 2,838. The 

 rainfall for the month of .January was 10'79 inches. 



ANTIGUA. From this I'residency Mr. T. Jackson, the 

 Curator, reports considerable activity in connexion with 

 the planting of cane variety experiment plots at the various 

 stations, the reaping of the ' corn plots at Fitches Creek, 

 trenching coco-nut plots and planting corn experiments 

 At Skerretts. A fair number of ne^^■ cane seedlings will be 



raised this year. The plants distributed were — cane plants 

 178,.366, Eucalyptus l,4sr), miscellaneous plants 56, and 2^ 

 barrels^ and 8 packets vegetable seeds. Respecting staple 

 crops, it is stated that high winds have done damage 

 to the cotton crop. Attacks of cotton caterpillars were 

 experienced in some localities. The corn growing in the 

 island does not look very promising. This is said to be due 

 to a great extent to atta<'.ks of brown hardback grubs. 

 Cotton selection is being carried out at Yeptons. The 

 opening of an onion drying house is mentioned as a coming 

 event of interest. During the month (.January) 4-99 inches 

 of rain were recorded at the Botanic Station. 



ST. KiTTS. The carrying on of general routine work is 

 reported by the Agricultural Sup rintendent (Mr. F. R. 

 Shepherd). Plant distribution included 4 lb. of Para peas 

 and 3 oz. of Teff grass seed. Referring to staple crops, 

 Mr. Shepherd states that the high winds during the month 

 have ripened up the canes to some extent, but the good showers 

 have kept them green and growing. Grinding at the Basse- 

 terre factory was timed to commence on February 1, and 

 many of the estates have begun to cut canes. The returns 

 per acre promise to be as good or better than anticipated. 

 The muscovado estates are grinding, as sugar locally com- ' 

 mands a high price. The factory has sold 6,000 tons sugar 

 at a price which enables them to offer 15.s. Qd. per ton canes, 

 as first payment. The young cane crop is growing well and 

 supplies will now be put in. As far as can be seen, the 

 general condition of the cane crop is healthy. The cotton 

 crop is all reaped and ginned. The returns per acre will be 

 much below the average, owing to the bad season. Visits 

 paid to Nevis revealed the fact that conditions here are 

 better than in former years in respect of insect and 

 other pests attacking the canes, which on this occasion 

 were found to be free from termites. At a recent meet- 

 ing of the Agricultural and Commercial Society, Mr. F. R. 

 Shepherd and Mr. George Slack were elected Presi- 

 dent and Vice-President, respectively, for the current year, 

 while His Honour the Administrator was made Patron. The 

 thorough-bred stallion 'Tim Healy', on which a bonus of 

 £30 was paid, has been sold out of the island, and the bonus 

 refunded. This leaves the island without the services of 

 a valuable animal. The rainfall for the month and year 

 to date was 3-.53 inches. 



ToKTOLA. Work in the Experiment Stations in this 

 island included the usual cultural operations preparatory to 

 planting. It is noted that the germination of selected corn 

 has been very poor Plants distributed were — canes 300, 

 cassava 200, limes 90, onions 97,900, potatoes .536, coco- 

 nuts 6, making a total of 99,032. Mr. FLshlock, in regard 

 to pests, states that the worst attack of cotton worms he has 

 known was experienced during the latter part of November, 

 December, and the first days of January. Repeated applica- 

 tions of Paris green had to be made. 



Writing at a later date further plant distribution is 

 recorded, including 13,200 onion slips, which make a total of 

 233,000 onion plants distributed for the .season. The cotton 

 plots have improved greatly during the last three months, 

 due to good climatic conditions. The yields will, however, be 

 poor, and the total crop small. Worms of various kinds have 

 attacked practically all growing crops during the past two 

 months. At a meeting held in Virgin Gorda, the planting 

 of ground nuts and Rounceval peas on a commercial scale, 

 as also the improvement of the local breed of goats were 

 discussed. The rainfall recorded in January was 3-63 inches, 

 the average for the previous fifteen years for this month bein" 

 2 '96 inches. 



