Vol. XV. No. 363. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



103 



indications that it will be a small one. The lime trees 

 throughout the island are (lowering heavily. There has 

 been no change in market quotations of lime products, with 

 the exception of green limes, the price at the end of the 

 month for those being 16.<. per barrel. 



There have been several complaints of an abnormal 

 pre.sence of thrips on cacao trees. There has been a further 

 extension of several acres in the new coco-nut experiment 

 station. In the laboratory the work has included the 

 analysis of samples of manures used at the Experiment 

 Station during the past year, and also of samples sent in 

 by planters. 



Among plants distributed from the station, limes easily 

 take the first place, a total of SjO.JO having been sent out 

 during the month; 33 cacao plants and 28 grafted cacao, 

 together with 50 camphor trees have also been sent out. 

 The rainfall at the Garden for the month was 1"90 inches. 



MONTSEREAT. Reporting to this Office as to the aifairs 

 in the Botanic and Experiment Stations during the month of 

 January, the Curator, Mr. W. Robson, mentions that the 

 plot of Hawaiian papaws was in a very diseased condition, 

 the stems suffering chiefly: another plot of the local type was 

 more robust. The pine-apple plot continues to decline. The 

 plot of Bush Lima beans, which has been flowering profusely, 

 does not show any great development of pods; the same may 

 be said of the climbing type. The latter, he adds, is no 

 doubt an excellent green dressing 



Very little direct observation work was carried out in 

 the field, owing to the indisposition, and subsequent ab.sence 

 on leave of the Curator. Three distillations of bay leaves 

 were made, confirming the results obtained in the pre- 

 vious month, when a low percentage of oil was obtained. 

 Attention was given to the lime experiment plot in Bellefield, 

 and to the plot of bay trees at the Chateau. The rainfall re- 

 corded at Grove Station was 8-J:7 inche.s, and at Harris' 6'27 

 inches. At the former station rain fell on twenty-eight days, 

 the total precipitation being much above the average. 



It was contemplated that the onion house of the (Jnion 

 Growers Association would be opened to receive onions on 

 the 1 4th ultimo. 



In a communication as to the affairs of the Botanic 

 and Experiment Station during the month of February, 

 the Curator, Mr. W. Robson, reports that a plot of 

 cassava at the Grove Station, when reaped, yielded at the 

 rate of 1 1 tons of roots per acre. The collection of sugar- 

 cane varieties has been replanted. 



Throughout the island the preparation of cotton land 

 is being pushed forward, and it is hoped that most of the 

 crop will be planted early, between March and April. The 

 sugar crop is progressing. The new muscovado works at 

 Rileys appear to be giving satisfaction. On that estate, fields 

 are being planted with some of the newer seedling canes. 



The Onion Growers Association commenceil operation 

 on February 1 -t, but on account of the lateness of the crop 

 only two small shipments were made. On several estates 

 trials have been made in growing cowpeas as a catch crop on 

 land prepared for cotton, with varying results. The Curator 

 returned from leave of absence on the 1 2th instant, and has 

 been busy with matters in connexion with the newly started 

 Onion Association. 



An interesting report has been received from Mr. E. 

 Lomas Oliver, on three samples of cotton sent to him for 

 report, one of which he strongly recpmrnends for cultivation 

 in place of Heaton 9. I'nfortunately a report has not been 

 received on the seventeen samples sent to the British Cotton 

 Growing Association in October. At a meeting of the Board 

 of Management of the Onion Growers Association it was 



decided in future to accept onions loose from the growers, as 

 i.s done in Antigua. 



ANTKiU.v. Mr. .Jackson reports tha-; the weather 

 experienced during Februarj' has ri[)ened the caneaj 

 reaping is being pushed on in general throughout the 

 island. During the month, 24,.5.51 cane plants have been 

 distributed from the Station; 118 Eucalyptus trees, and 

 104 coconuts have also been distributed, together with 

 several packets of seeds and 843 Do. of yams for planting 

 purposes. With regard to the onion industry, Mr. Jackson 

 reports that a record order has been received of 3.54 lb. of 

 onion seed for the coming season. The onion drying house 

 has been opened, and 1,070 orates have been shipped; some 

 severe attacks of thrips have been noticed, however, oa 

 some onion fields. During the month D95 inches of rain 

 fell, making a total of (v95 inches for the year. 



ST. KiTTS. With regard to the work in the Experiment 

 Station, Mr. Shepherd, the Superintendent of Agriculture, 

 gives details about the returns from some of the experiment 

 plots of vegetables. Good returns have been received from 

 one of the plots of Barbados white eddoes, and returns above 

 the average from one of the plots of yams. Some of the 

 varieties of sweet potatoes have given large returns. There 

 has been distributed from the station 10 fit. of velvet beans, 

 and 3,400 cane plants. Cotton seed for planting has also 

 been sold to the amount of 468 Db. The reaping of the sugar , 

 cane crop is in full progress. The Ba.sseterre sugar factory 

 began work on February 1 , and the results so far have been 

 excellent. The tonnage of cane per acre has quite come up 

 to the estimate, and in some cases exceeded it. On one 

 estate in the Valley District a field of White Transparent 

 canes has given over 50 tons per acre. The canes are fine 

 and large, and free of disease. Moth borer however is present 

 to a small extent. The young cane crop in some districts is well 

 advanced. Attemion is being paid to selection of plants from 

 the best varieties. Grasshoppers are very prevalent in certain 

 districts, and an attempt is being made to poison them with 

 the Criddle mixture, but no definite results have been as yet 

 obtained. On some estates in the northern districts land is 

 being prepared for planting cotton. 



The Superintendent has piida visit to Nevis in connexion 

 with onion and corn experiments. He has visited the 

 Experiment Stations at Molineux and Brighton estates. 

 The forthcoming Cotton Conference to be held in ilaroh is 

 being looked forward to. The Agricultural and Commercial 

 Society has selected delegates to the Conference, and arrange- 

 ments have been made for receiving the visitors from the 

 other islands. At a meeting on February 8, notes were 

 read by the Agricultural Superintendent and the Chemical 

 Assistant on the preservation of cane tops for fodder The 

 rainfall for the month was 3'63 inches, making a total for the 

 first two months of the year of 7'44 inches. 



Ni>;\'is. In Nevis the results of experiments with regard 

 to peas, onions, and Indian corn are recorded by Mr. W. 1. 

 Howell, the Agricultural Instructor. Rounceval peas yielded 

 a return of 200 Db. of dry peas from the |-acre plot. A plot 

 of the same size, planted in onions, is expected to give a return 

 of 4,000 tt). From the plot of Indian corn 1,398 fb. of corn 

 on the cob was obtained. , Distributions of cassava and sweet 

 potato cuttings have been made from the Station, together 

 with 129 Bb. of Rounceval pea.s, 31 tt). of Indian corn seed, 

 and 19 ft). of selected cotton .seed. 



The reaping of the cane crop throughout the island contin- 

 ues, and fair prices are being obtained in the local market, 

 The moth borer however seems to be troublesome in some 

 ca.ses. During February 399 inches of rain have fallen, 

 making a total for the year of 8'52 inches. 



