Vol. XV. No. 373. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



267 



ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE NATIVE 



FOOD PLANTS AND FEEDING HABITS 



OF THE COTTON STAINER IN 



ST. VINCENT. 



In previous articles published in the Ayriiullural News 

 (Nos. 369 and 370). an account was given by Mr. W. N. 

 Sands, F.L.S., Agricultural Superintendent, St. Vincent, of 

 the native food plants and feeding habits of the cotton 

 stainer {Dijs^dercus delauneyi, Leth.) in St. Vincent, together 

 with suggestions for the control of the pest. The notes 

 embodied in this account were made chiefly in the period 

 February to M'<y. Since the end of the last named month 

 to date ('luly 20), additional investigations have been 

 undertaken by Mr. Sands, and the results of these are of 

 much interest and importance. 



It was shown in the articles referred to, that the silk- 

 cotton {Eriodendron anfracluosum) and 'John Bull' {'J'hespesia 

 pojndnea) trees were the chief focjd plants of the cotton 

 stainer in St. Vincent in the close season for cultivated 

 cotton, and were therefore a menace to the cotton industry. 

 Infestations of young cotton fields have now been definitely 

 traced to these sources. In the Leeward District, notably at 

 the Experiment Station and Clare Valley-Questelles cotton 

 stainers from fruiting silk-cotton trees were found in the 

 cotton cultivations in June .searching for food: fortunately, the 

 season was a late one, and the cotton in most cases had not 

 reached the Howeringstage. However, attheExperimentStation, 

 young bolls on ilay sown cotton were immediately attacked 

 and infected with internal boll disease. At Clare Valley and 

 other places the pest found out and fed on cotton .seed and 

 cotton seed meal, used as manure, which had not been care- 

 fully covered over with .soil. In the Windward District, 

 a fine field of cotton planted in April was badly attacked by 

 cotton stainers from John Bull" trees, and a very high 

 percentage of bolls was found to be diseased internally on 

 July 15. The early planted cotton was, therefore, already 

 badly damaged. 



There were no stainers on silk-cotton trees generally 

 in July, but they were found in the vicinity of the trees 

 feeding on seed disseminated by the wind. On fruiting 

 'John Bull' trees at this time they were still present in very 

 large numbers in all stages of development. In the article 

 published in the issue of the Aurlcultvral A'evs of July], 

 which was written in May, the following passage occurs: — 



'AVhen it is mentioned that cotton planting was started 

 in April close to a large number of badly infected "John 

 Bull" trees, it will be realized that unless the tree is destroyed, 

 it will be impossible to prevent the cotton stainer from badly 

 daraaaing the valuable Sea Island cotton crop.' 



It will be seen that this apprehension was well founded, 

 and the outlook for the cotton crop this season in some dis- 

 tricts is thereby considerably clouded 



In view of the situation, the local Government proposes 

 to pass immediately an Ordinance which will enable the 

 Agricultural Department to take such action as may be 

 deemed necessary to control the pest. 



A full account of the measures laken and the result will 

 be given at a later date, but it may be mentioned here that 

 attention will be devoted at the outset of the campaign to the 

 destruction of 'John Bull' trees and the collection of the 

 stainers found on them, in order that the pest may not be 

 driven into the young cotton fields. It is proposed to use the 

 fruits of the John Bull trees, and possibly also cotton seed and 

 cotton seed meal, as traps in the vicinity of the destroyed trees. 



WORK AT THE EXPERIMENT STATION, 



VIRGIN ISLANDS. 



Mr. W. C. Fishlcick, Curator of the Experiment Station, 

 Tortola, Virgin Islands, has submitted a quarterly report on 

 the work of the Station for the period ended .fune 30,1916. 

 In the first part of the period under review, there was 

 considerable activity in connexion with the sugar, cotton, 

 lime, and onion crops. The cane crop, so far as the Station 

 is concerned, was brought to a close on April 1 S. As regards 

 cotton, the last shipment of lint has not yet been made, but 

 the factory was closed for the purchase of cotton on May "27. 

 By July 7, 100 bales, aggregating 22,228 8). lint had been 

 shipped. There remained in store G bales and 2, .550 lb. of 

 ginned cotton. 



The preparation of a lot of fresh land for the cott<jn seed 

 farm involved considerable labour. The fresh area had to 

 be cleared of bush and cultivated. The present block will 

 give a continuous area of close on 8 acres, and as less than 

 5 acres of cotton are reijuired, it will be possible to ett'ecb 

 a rotation of crops. 



As regards the condition and progress of the experiment 

 plots, Mr. Fi.shlock gives details of the cultivation work per- 

 formed but says little concerning their condition at time of 

 writing. The coco-nut demonstration plots received attention 

 in the way of cutlassing and weeding. Good growth is still 

 being maintained on this plot. It is hoped to lessen the 

 cost of upkeep by allowing certain selected persons to make 

 u.se of the land, rent free, in return for which they will be 

 expected to keep the plants weeded. 



Concerning the onion industry, it is stated that the 

 total weight of onions sold locally and .shipped, amounted to 

 9,094 lb., in addition, 50 fi). were kept in the drying 

 house as an experiment to ascertain how long onions might 

 be kept without deteriorating. When all tran.sactions are 

 completed, and the'accounts made up, a report on the .season's 

 work will be sent in. 



Turning to the cotton industry, it is of interest to note 

 that the Government has decided lo put a profit-sharing 

 scheme into operation with the coming crop, i.e., in 

 November next. Notices have been is.sued concerning 

 this scheme Fortunately, the planting season has, in 

 the main, been favourable; but trade conditions in 

 St. Thomas are bad owing to the dislocation of business 

 caused by the war and the ::topping of the Hamburg 

 American Line of steamers, thus causing many British 

 A^'irgin Island persons who had formerly found employ- 

 ment in St. Thomas, to return home. The conditions are 

 also very unsettled in San Domingo. This combination of 

 circumstances has had the effect of turning the people's 

 attention to cultivation in their own i.sland.s, and, as cotton is 

 one of the few crops they can plant with good hope of fair 

 returns, they are planting more freely than has been the case 

 for some years past. It is hoped that, once they can tide 

 over the first year ;ind secure a satisfactory bonus, the 

 profit-sharing scheme will prove to be all for the good 

 of the industry. 



