180 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



June 3. 1916. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 

 f<T. LUCIA. Mr. A. Brooks'.s notes for April .state that in 

 the E.xperiment Station, work included the reaping of cane, 

 the sowing of a second consignment of Cofea robiuta, the 

 tran.splanting of limes, the planting of plots of camphor and 

 bay trees, and the budding of limes on sour orange and 

 citron stocks. In the Botanic ''Gardens, at Castries, the 

 centre middle drive, with three driving entrances, was com- 

 pleted during the month. A water-basin 20 feet in diameter 

 was formed between the two entrances at the eastern bound- 

 ary ,and fitted with a. revolving fountain throwing four sprays 

 of water. The basin is edged with large lumps of coral. 

 The adjacent bank has been planted with a row of Travell- 

 ers' palms along the iron fencing, to close the view of the 

 public road.s, and the slopes have been planted with various 

 palms, ferns, begonias, caladiumsy iris, ginger lilies, eucharis 

 lilies, tuberoses, alocasias, and other plants. The orchid 

 collection ha.s been removed from the nurseries and the plants 

 are now suspended in baskets on wires from the branches of 

 two mature specimens of /icM«'^e?y'a//(?'?u, overhanging the 

 •water. The adjoining lockery is made of coral and is being 

 extended and planted with ferns, selaginellas, and begonias. 

 A considerable amount of work was performed in preparing 

 the gardens for the fete in aid' of the French lied Cross, 

 which was held on Easter Monday. 



Mr.' Brooks's observations relating to staple crops 

 furnish the information that the reaping of cacao continues. 

 The promise of heavy crops of limes in Jane and July is 

 indicated, and there is a continued steady extension of the 

 area under this crop. A goo.d ciop of sugar is being 

 harvested and an extension of the area under this crop also 

 is taking place. Work has been begun in connexion -wih 

 enlarging the lime juice buildings: The advisory committee 

 of the factory held a meeting during the month, and Mr. 

 Anguste, late pupil of the Agricultural School, was, on the 

 advice of the committee, appointed by His Honour the 

 Administrator, Manager of the Factory. During the month 

 al.so, there was a meeting held in the Micoud district in con- 

 nexion with the formation of agricultural banks. This meet- 

 ing was conducted by the Inspector of Agricultural Banks. 

 Arrangements are being made between Mr. Brooks and the 

 Head Master of St. Mary's College to utilize the Botanic 

 Gardens for the study of Botany. The lime juice factory 

 was to open on May 27. The ..rainfall during the month 

 at the Botanic Gardens was 3 50 inches, while at the Experi 

 ment Station at Choisucl, 2-01 inches fell. 



MON'TSERU.VT. ilr. \V. Robson says that operations in 

 the Stations have been practically at a standstill on account 

 of the drought, and crops will therefore be later than usual. 

 The nursery shelter for raising bay seedlings is ccnnpletcd. 

 A plot of yellow plantain was planted at Harris .station to 

 provide slips for distribution. Plantain is becoming scarce. 

 In regard to the staple crops, a portion of the cotton crop 

 was put in late in March and early in April, but the bulk 

 of it, iiarlicularly on the leeward side, remains to be planted. 

 The young fields are looking fairly well, some rains having 

 fallen in the Windward district. Rain is much needed to 

 develop the limo crop. It is stated that a weekly collection 

 of Exophthalmus weevils on the lime experiment plot was 

 commenced. As regards the Onion Growers' Association, it 

 is stated that this has finished operations; the number of 

 crates shipped vvas GG2 together with (i."! barrels, and finan- 

 cially the venture promises to be snccessftd. The result of 

 the shipment of 198 crates to Canada is awaited with interest. 

 Mt. Robson says that a good deal more could be done with 



papaws at the piesent time, particularly on the part of the 

 [jeasants. The proposed experiments at both Harris and 

 Grove stations are, therefore, opportune. The rainfall at 

 Grove Station was only O'7-l inches during April, and this 

 was distributed over eleven days. 



ANTiGu.v. According to Mr. T. Jackson, the young cane 

 crop is rapidly improving, and the area under cultivation has 

 increa.sed. This applies especially to the peasant crop. As 

 regards this year's crop, it is stated that in most cases the 

 yields obtained have exceeded estimates. 



As regards work^ in the experiment stations, this has 

 principally concerned the reaping of the sugar-cane experiment 

 plots. It is said that large orders have been received for 

 forest trees. During the month the following plants were 

 distributed: 1S,S Ei.icalyptns, 20 coco-nuts, 22 decorative 

 plants, and 30,000 sweet potato cuttings. Early in the 

 month of May, the Antigua Cotton Growers' Association was 

 formed, which should help to give greater stability to this 

 industry in Antigua. The rainfall for the month was 4'93 

 inches. 



NEVIS. Mr. Wi-Howell writes to the effect that the 

 reaping of the cane Crop is still in progress and prices are 

 still fairly good. As regards cotton, a fair acreage of land 

 is already prepared,,ibut, on account of the dry weather, no 

 planting has been done. Mr. Howell states that much more 

 land will be put under cotton this year than last year, but 

 the acreige will not be what it usually is. Provision crops 

 suffered very much during the past six or eight weeks on 

 account of the dry weather. It is thought there may be 

 a shortage in about August. Mr Howell paid a visit to 

 Antigua and !Montserrat in connexion with the onion 

 industry. As reported in the last issue of the Agricultural 

 A'eirf, the Administrator presided at a cotton meeting held 

 in the island during the month. The rainfall for the month 

 was '75 inches. 



\'iR(;iN ISLANDS. Writing from Tortola, Mr. W. C. 

 Fishlock complains' of very dry weather. Owing to the 

 drought, it was possible to do but little work connected with 

 plantmg in the Experiment Station. In regard to staple 

 crops, the sugar and lime crops will show an increased pro- 

 duction. Cotton will probably be below the average. As 

 regards the coming cotton crop, a good deal of interest 

 appears to be shown at Jost van-Dyke and Mrgin Gorda 

 especially. 



Peasant Agriculture in Grenada.— The Govern- 

 ment of Grenada has furnished this ( )lhi;e with a report of the 

 Agricultural Instructor for April last. In this it is stated 

 ttiat attention was given in connexion with the Prize Holdings 

 Gompetitiou, and thit up to Aprd 30 more than 300 entries 

 had been obtained. In connexion with land settlements, it 

 is noted that the construction of roads at St. Cyr Mountain 

 has been completed, and that allottees are settling their instal- 

 ments and interest in advance As regards crops, cacao 

 continues to be satisfactory, having maintained its increase 

 over the previous crop up to May G, and having up to April 

 30 passed the total of last year up to September 30. The 

 report says that the lime crop is about r>0 per cent, better to 

 date than last year.' ' In the experiment plots, satisfactory 

 crojjs of eddoes have been ieai)ed at Morne llouge and 

 Westeihal': while the sugar-cane planted in November at the 

 Morne liouge plot, on ridged and furrowed land, has stood 

 the season better than any other sugar-cane in the district, 

 which is all planted in square holes. The horse beans sown 

 im the ridges between the sugarcane in December are 

 coming through the reason green and healthy. 



