276 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



August '26, 1916. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



GRENADA. Mr. J. C. Moore reports the plant distribu- 

 tion for the month of July included : limes 4,2io, coco-nuts 

 800, cacao 280, and 2.5 ornamental plants. In addition, 400 

 immortel seed.s, and 26-5 lb. of horse beans were sent out. 

 Reaping operations in conne.xion with the sugar- cane crop 

 were completed, the yield being above the average. A visit 

 was paid Vjy the Superintendent to Carriacou with the object 

 of reporting to the Government on the suitability of an 

 estate for land settlement purposes. The weather was favour- 

 able, the rainy .season practically commencing about the 

 middle of July. In the Botanic Garden and Experiment 

 Station the work partook of a routine character. 



DOMINICA. Mr. Joseph Jones writes to say in regard 

 to staple crops, that good crops of limes are general and 

 •were coming in towards the end of the month. The sudden 

 drop from 6s. to 3s. per barrel paid locally for yellow limes 

 has caused considerable dissatisfaction. Later in the month 

 the price was put up to 4s. per barrel Forty-six copies 

 of the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XV, No. 4, were distri- 

 buted to leading officials and planters in the island. 

 Thirteen candidates presented themselves for examination 

 to enab'e vacancies to be filled in pupils undergoing 

 training in agricultural practice; two were selected for 

 a two-years' course of training. Plant distribution in- 

 cluded .5,950 limes, 50 cacao, 44 budded citrus, 2 grafted 

 mangoes, and '^ miscellaneous. Mr. Jones futher reports an 

 outbreak of red root disease observed on a lime estate, the 

 primary cause of which he attributes to the too close prox- 

 imity of the water-table Suggestions were offered to cope 

 with the outbreak. Owing to pressure of work in other 

 directions there was no opportunity for carrying on chemical 

 work in the laboratory. 



MONTSEKRAT. Accoiding to Mr. Robson, work in the 

 Experiment Station consisted of cultural and planting opera- 

 tions. For planting purposes the following were distributed: 

 limes 2,8-50, Ray plants 770, ground nuts 40 Bb. In the 

 Botanic Gardens four distillations of Bay leaves were made, 

 and both the bay and lime experiment plots received 

 attention Cage experiments have been carried out 

 in connexion with egg-laying habits of Exophthalmus 

 weevils. Success has this year attended the raising of Hay 

 seedlings in beds under shade. As regards staple crops, the 

 outlook for the cotton crop, says Mr. Robson, is fairly good, 

 rains Vieing desirable early for the late planted area on the 

 Leeward coast. Fitking commenced on the fields planted in 

 March, early in the month. There is very little evidence so 

 far of damage by winds, absence of high winds being proba- 

 bly ju.st as desirable as an ample rainfall. Cotton stainers 

 and worms have appeared on certain iireas, and measures of 

 «ontrol have been carried out. The rainfall has not been 

 .sufficient for the development of the lime crop, and conse- 

 quently, the fruits for August and September pickings will 

 be small. There has been considerable develoiJinent of black 

 blight recently, following on attacks of the Lantana bug. 

 The sugar exports are expected to reach som<nvliore in the 

 neighbourhood of 400 tons, and there has been little difficulty 

 80 far in getting the crop shipped. A small nunntily of 

 Montserrat cotton was recently sold at Is. 8ci. per lb , but the 

 average for the crop so far .sold is about \.i. 5L/. per lb. An 

 interesting case has occurred on one estate, where lime trees 

 have recently died in the absence of scale insect attacks: 



a report on specimens of the roots was sent to the Head 

 Office, where the diignosis is confirmed that the damage 

 was primarily caused by the grub of the Exophthalmus 

 weevil. At a meeting of the Committee of the Onion 

 Growers' Association it was decided to pay an interim 

 bonus of Ic. per ft., which makes Id. per Bb. paid for onions. 

 The payments have been made to small growers. There will 

 probably be a further small bonus. The self-fertilizing of 

 cotton fiowers by the wiring method Mr. Robson finds to be 

 easily manageable. The common cross-fertilizing bee (Dielis) 

 he says has not, however, been seen this year. A visit 

 by Dr. Tempany extending from July 9 to 14, was 

 recorded. The rainfall has been well distributed, heavy 

 rains occurring on the 11th, 12th and 13th. Since then 

 there have been frequent light showers. The precipitation 

 at Grove Station was 597 inches. 



ANTIGUA. Plant distribution during the month of July, 

 writes .Vir. T. .lackson, included coconuts 250, Eucalyptus 

 17 I, papa ws 100, mahogany 30, Bay trees 35, and miscel- 

 laneous 79. Heavy rains did some damage to walks in the 

 Botanic Gardens, and a considerable amount of labour was 

 engaged during the month in repairing, etc. Several 

 large trees growing in unsuitable situations have been 

 cut down. The young cane crop in most districts 

 of the island looks healthy and is making good growth, 

 which has not been seriously retarded since planting 

 took place. The quantity of sugar manufactured to 

 date by Gunthorpes factory amounted to 10,200 tons: that 

 made by Bendals to 2,130 tons approximately No great 

 increase in area under cotton can be looked for this season. 

 About 1,300 ft), of pedigree cotton .seed has been selected 

 and distributed for planting purposes. Several persons have 

 been elected members of the Antigua Cotton Growers' Asso- 

 ciation, which now has a membership of forty-six. The 

 rainfall for July was 7 '2 inches; for the year 29"28 inches. 



ST. KiTTs. According to the Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent's report, work in the Experiment Stations in July con- 

 sisted mostly of planting operations, and in the Botanic Gar- 

 dens general routine work was carried on. The central factory 

 completed operations on July 22 with a total of 11.591 tons 

 .sugar from 101,240 tons cane. The muscovado estates are 

 still grinding with good returns, (iood shipments of sugar 

 have been made by recent steamers, and the pressure has 

 been relieved. The early part of the month was dry, but 

 the fine rains in the middle of the month made a great 

 improvement in the young cane crop, and the prospects for 

 next .season, says Mr. Shepherd, are so far excellent. The 

 record return of cane per acre for this season was made 

 by Douglas estate which gave 30 tons per acre over 

 300 acres, plants and ratoons. The young cotton crop is in 

 good condition, and with good weather a fair yield may be 

 expected. The acreage has been increased to a small degree 

 beyond last season's planting, but the actual figures are not 

 yet to hand. Visits were made to I'.rimstone Hill and Monkey 

 Hill with reference to planting a small area in trees, as an 

 experiment. High southerly winds and heavy rains with 

 low barometer were recorded on .July 13, and a slight shock 

 of earthquake occurred on July 21. The rainfall for the 

 month was S-27 inches; total for the j'ear, 2941 inches. 



NEVIS. In his refmrt for the month of July, Mr. W. I. 

 Howell, in reference to the staple crops, says the young 

 canes are looking very much better since the rains, and the 

 outlook is more hopeful. The old crop i.-; off on s(ime of the 

 estates. Cot.lon planting was in full progress during the month, 

 but there has been a shortage of seed throughout the island, 

 due to the great difficulty many of the growers have 



