S2 



THE AGPvICULTUEAL NEWS. 



March 11, 1916. 



GLEANINGS. 



We learn from the Trinidad Minor for -January 24, 

 that during the month of December last, 129,716 BE>. of 

 balata was exported from Demerara, 11,210 lb. going to the 

 United States, and the balance to the United Kingdom. 



In the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Farasitoloyy, 

 Vol. IX, No. IV, there Ls publi.shed a paper on a disease 

 ■which affects most domestic animals, known as Babesiasis. It 

 occurs on the West Coast of Africa, and is caused bj- a species 

 of Piroplasm. It is understood that the disease is spread by 

 ticks and tetse-tetse flies. 



It is stated in the Trinidad Mirror, February 5, that an 

 American syndicate has bought 10,000 hectares of land from 

 jirivate owners, and 20,000 hectares from the Government 

 of Porto Rico, with a view to developing the banana trade. 

 Already 16,000 hectares have been planted and a line of 

 steamers has been established. It is inferred that the 

 .syndicate is the United Fruit (Company. 



Tlie progress of the hookworm campaign in St. Lucia 

 is dealt with in the Voire of St. Lucia for February 12. 

 During 1915 there were examined 4, -501 people. Of those 

 examined 1,.590 or 3.5'.5 per cent, were found to be infected. 

 The number treated was 1,48«, and 1,119 or 82-3 per cent, 

 were cured, 194 remaining under treatment at the end of 

 the period under review. 



The figures showing the exports of rubber from the 

 Federated Malay States for December last, established a new 

 record for one month's export, while the total for the year, 

 which shows an increase of 13,827 tons over figures for 

 1914, establishes a record for the exports during one year. 

 The big demand for rubber has been a direct consequence of 

 tlie war. {The Board of Trade Journal.) 



Ueference is made in a recent issue of the Wcxl India 

 C'ommilU Circular to the experimental work that is being 

 conducted with coco-nuts in Porto llico. It does not appear 

 that any verj' remunerative results have been got from the 

 iipplication of artificial manures. In connexion with selection 

 work, records are being maile showing the constiincy in shape 

 ;ind size of both husks and nuts borne by individual trees. 



There is evidence in the Inlcrnational Sugar Jourmil 

 for November 191-5, to sliow thut it is of importance to study 

 the question of the direction of the lines of cultivation in 

 the planting of crop.s, since local conditions, such as proximity 

 to mountains and large areas of water, exert a consideial>le 

 influence. It has been found that with beetroot, lines planted 

 east and west give bigger yields than Hues running north 

 and south. 



An almost extinct relative of the cultivated cotton is 

 the Kokio tree of the Hawaiian Islands. In the .Tov/rnal of 

 Heredity iot .January 1.916, is an article giving some interest- 

 ing facts concerning this notable plant. Seeds have been 

 distributed to the different Botanic Gardens of the world in 

 an attempt to save it from extinction. Whether it will 

 cross with the cultivated cottons, and what the hybrid 

 would be, are vet unknown. 



We learn from the Journal of the Neu; York Botanirat 

 Gardin that Mr. A. S. Hitchcock, Systematic Agrostologist, 

 United States Department of Agriculture, visited the Garden 

 last November for the purpose of studying the West Indian 

 grasses in the garden herbarium. Our readers will be aware 

 that Mr. Hitchcock has already made a large number of 

 determinations of St. Lucia and Dominica grasses, and hence 

 the continuation of his work is of direct interest and value 

 to these islands. 



Banana growers 

 an article on the cult 

 Agticultural Gazette 

 Various matters in 

 figures are given to 

 New South Wales, 

 a net return of £362 

 ing would therefore 

 Australia. 



in the West Indies will find of interest 

 ivation of bananas, which appears in the 

 if New Sntth Walts (November 1915). 

 regard to planting are dealt with, and 

 show what returns may be expected in 

 From an area of 12 acres during 1914, 

 95. lOrf. was obtained. Banana plant- 

 seem to be a profitable occupation in 



Reference is made in the Agricultural Gazette of New 

 South Wales for October 2, 1915, to a plant called Tagasaste, 

 which is a shrub belonging to the pea family and known as 

 Cytisus proliferus. There are three varieties. It appears 

 that the variety palmensis is superior to the others as 

 a fodder plant. It is found in the Canary Islands off the 

 north-west coast of Africa, and in the above journal, Mr. G. A. 

 Maiden, the Government Botanist to New South Wales, 

 makes a plea that it should be given a fair trial in Australia. 



A letter has been received from the Government Veterinary 

 Surgeon, St. Vincent, enclosing information concerning a live- 

 stock credit plan. The principle is that a company purchases 

 improved live-stock for fanners. No actual money is paid 

 over, the business men simply allowing the use of their credit. 

 For St. Vincent it is suggested that the Government should 

 buy stock and that the money should be refunded in the form 

 of in.stidinents. Such a plan was adopted in Barbados some 

 years ago when Dr. Shannon was sent to the L'nited States to 

 purchase stock. 



A shortage in nitrogenous manures seems to be antici- 

 pated in Great Britain. The Gardeners' Chronicle for 

 December 25, 1915, says that manufacturers of phosphatic 

 manure are unable to procure sufficient quantities of sulphuric 

 acid which is in demand in munition work. In an article 

 in Naturi- for December 2, reference is made to a possible 

 shortage of nitrate of soda, owing to communication 

 with Chile being interfered with bj- the land.slide 

 in the Panama Canal. It is understood that action 

 has been taken by the Government to secure an adequate 

 stock. Nitrate of soda is of course used in enormous quan- 

 tities in the manufacture of munitions, and even in agricul- 

 ture the consumption in Great Britain is not under 100,000 

 tons per annum. 



