286 



THE AGEICULTUEAL NEWS, 



Ausust 26, 1916. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF 

 BARBUDA. 



The following interesting account of Barbuda appears in 

 the Report of the Agricultural Department, Antigua, for 

 1914-15. 



The island of Barbuda is a dependency of Antigua, and 

 lies about 30 miles due north of that island. It has an area 

 of about 65 square miles; it is owned by the Government, 

 and is worked as a Government plantation and stock estate. 

 The island is very flat, the highest point being only 20 

 feet above sea-level; the .soil is for the most part shallow and 

 rock}', but considerable areas of fertile land exist. The 

 rainfall is low, averaging about 41 inches per annum. The 

 population at the last census was 871. 



Formerly the island was regarded as possessing very 

 little agricultural value, but of recent years the development 

 of cotton cultivation has proved that the reverse is the case. 

 Under Government auspices during the past thirteen years 

 from 100 to 150 acres of land have been annually cultivated 

 under cotton, and satisfactory returns experienced. In 

 connexion with the cotton industry, a small ginnery contain- 

 ing two gins, a baling pre.ss, and a 4 h p. Hornsby oil engine 

 is maintained and worked. 



In addition to the cotton cultivation, the stock farm is 

 maintained on which are raised horses, cattle and mules. In 

 this connexion pastures are kept clear of bush, water-supply by 

 means of wells provided, and paddocks and enclo.sures main- 

 tained, while two thoroughbred stallions and two jack 

 donkeys are kept for service. 



Apart from the stock owned by the Government, 

 a large number of animals exist which are owned by the 

 peasantry; these enjoy in return for the payment of a small 

 annual licence the use of the Government stallions, pa.stures, 

 water-supply, and paddocks. 



In addition to cotton cultivation, areas are each year 

 planted by the Government under maize ('iuinea corn) and 

 other fodders, mainly for use as fodder for the stock, while 

 about 80 acres in the north part of the island, have been 

 planted in coco-nuts during the past two years, under the 

 advice of the Agricultural Department. 



The Department has throughout advised in connexion 

 with the agricultural work as required, while of late years 

 at the request of the Government, regular yearly visits have 

 been paid to that island by the Superintendent of Agriculture. 



A .series of cotton .selection plots has been instituted by 

 the Management in co-operation with the Department of 

 Agriculture, the field .selections being performed by the 

 manager, while the examinations of the lints from selected 

 plants are carried out in the Government laboratory. It is 

 hoped that systematic work of thi.s description will result in 

 raising the quality of Barbuda grown lint, which in past 

 years has been somewhat bel<iw the average, and signs are 

 not wanting that this is being accomplished. 



In other ways the Department has assisted in the work 

 (if the plantations by advice as to cultural methods and the 

 control of insect pe.sts, analyses of .soils, manures, feeding 

 stuffs, and waters, and the supply of planting material for 

 experimental and other purposes. 



Towards the end of the j-ear under review, the Super- 

 intendent of Agriculture was instructed to make a special 

 report to the Government regarding labour conditions in the 



island, since of recent years .some difficulties have been 

 experienced in this connexion with the increase in prosperity 

 of the inhabitants. 



It is not out of plaee to add that the present commercial 

 undertakings were inaugurated in 1903 as a measure of 

 relief work to the people of the island, who were then in an 

 extremely poor condition, the cultivation of cotton being 

 assisted by a grant from the British Cotton Growing Associ- 

 ation. From these beginnings a substantial prosperity has 

 arisen, the surplus of assets over liabilities on March 31 last, 

 being £2,473 18*. 8^. 



It might be added that in Barbuda good shooting and 

 fishing are afibrded and the island is frequently visited by 

 sportsmen for those purposes. In connexion with fishing, it 

 might be added that there are possibilities regarding the com- 

 mercial development of the shallow- water areas around this 

 island in the direction of -sponge cultivation and allied 

 industries. 



A New Tree.^ — A .sample of seed belonging to a tree 

 known as Quebracho Colorado {(JueOrac/iia Lorentzii) husheen 

 received from the Director of the Itoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 

 This is a large forest tree, native of the Argentine, where the 

 very hard and durable wood is used for railway sleepers, piles, 

 bridges, beams, etc. From the wood reduced to chips, a cutch- 

 like extract is obtained. This is exported to the extent of 

 nearly 100,000 tons a year to the United Kingdom, United 

 States, etc., for tanning purposes. A tanning extract in 

 a finely powdered condition is also imported into thia 

 country [United Kingdom] from the Argentine, and accord- 

 ing to a recent Consular report, the wood in logs finds- 

 a market in Russia. 



In view of the closer association between the Imperial 

 Institute and the Colonial Office which has just been effected, 

 the report on the work of the former institution possesses 

 particular interest at the present time. The stateihent of 

 the work done is arranged under geographical headings. 

 Investigations conducted for the West Indies have included 

 work on minerals from Grenada, oils and beans frum Mont- 

 .serrat, agave pith and manchineel fruit from .-^^ntigua, rubber 

 from Dominica, banana meal from .Jamaica, and timbers and 

 sponges from the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Imperial 

 Institute is of much value in respect of its close association 

 with the manufacturers of raw material in Great Britain. 

 The report under notice indicates that a large amount of 

 work has been accomplished during 1914, particularly in 

 regard to the West .\frican colonies. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



'I'hc Imperial Coiniiiissiont'r of Agriculture left 

 Barhiuius on August 2:5 by the C. R. M. S. 'Caraquet' 

 for Antigua, with the object of paying an official visit 

 to that island. Dr. Watts is expected to return to 

 Barbados in about .me month's time. 



Mr. W. Xowell, D.I.C, .Mycologist on the staff of 

 the Imperial Department, returned to Barbados by the 

 (■. R. M.S. 'Chaleur' on August 23 from Dominica, 

 where he has been engaged in certain niycological 

 investigations. 



