Vot. XV. No. 376, 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



.^07 



So far as one could se-^, there was good reason 

 for hoping that the sugar industry would be relieved 

 of some of the disabilities under which it has lab mred 

 for generations past, and that it might meet with fair 

 play in the world's market. There was reason too to 

 hope that the prices obtained for sugar would be such 

 as, coupled with the improvements effected in manuftic- 

 ture, would make the industry a remunerative one. 



C>ne must not, however, overlook the fact that so 

 soon as things begin to adjust themselves after the war, 

 there would be keen competition in the sugar produc- 

 tion: competition was being vastly stimulated by the 

 high prices now prevailing. <Juba, Hayti, San- 

 Domingo, Porto Rico — to name important sugar-produc- 

 inw countries near at hand — .]ava. Hawaii, the Philip- 

 pines and parts of South America were all being stimul- 

 ated, while new countries including large areas in 

 Africa were being induced to devote attention to the 

 industry. 



Nor must we overlook the intiuence of Germany 

 and Austria, great sugar-producing countries now held 

 in check by the war, but which sooner or later ma\' be 

 busily at work endeavouring to reg.iiu something of 

 their lost supremacy; and while their sugar may be, and 

 we tnist will be, excluded from British and Allied 

 countries, they would make strenuous efforts to force 

 their sugar upon such markets as might remain open to 

 them. This might have the effect of lowering the 

 general price of sugar. In any case West Indian 

 planters would do well to exert themselves to the 

 utmost to gain all such advantages as might be open 

 to them: and to this effect Dr. Watts felt that they 

 would be well advised now to give much thought to 

 matters pertaining to sugar-growing: to create a sound 

 policy in this regard. 



The speaker asked as to what aspects of sugar- 

 growing may thought be directed. There seemed to be 

 several. First came the question of manuring: this had 

 had very long and careful attention at the hands of 

 the Agricultural Department, and certain very definite 

 conclusions had been arrived at. 



Dr. Watts then gave details of the various ques- 

 tions in connexion with the inanurial recjuirements of 

 sugar-cane that had been worked out by the Agricul- 

 tural Department from time to time, pointing out the 

 need for organic manures and, under certain conditions, 

 artificial nitrogenous manures for ratoon canes. He 

 briefly touched on the new series of manurial experi- 

 ments started by the Agricultural Department, and 

 indicated that as the majority of the canes grown in 

 Antigua were weighed, the study and analysis of these 

 weights by planters would yield valuable information. 



Questions pertaining to stock, the manufacture of pert 

 manure, and the growing of green dressings w'ere dealt 

 with. He pointed out that the rotation of crops had 

 not received sufficient local attention. It was indicated 

 that the m.any problems connected with the tilth of the 

 soil could only be dealt with by agricultural officers. 

 with difficulty, but that they could be more readily 

 studied by planters themselves, because the work of the 

 latter brings them into close association with the land. 



Dealing with stock raising, the speaker said that it 

 was now acknowledged that scientific inbreeding of stock 

 was practical for the improvement of herds. Without 

 sufficient knowledge, however, this might lead to. 

 considerable harm being done. He indicated some 

 lines of work that might well have consideration. 



When speaking about sugar-cane pests and diseases,, 

 he alluded to the present position as regards the hard 

 back grubs ( Lachnosterna sp.). These were apparently 

 not doing much damage at the moment. The fact that 

 their depredations were not strikingh- noticeable was- 

 probably due to the good weather that was being 

 experienced. These pests are root trimmers, and when 

 the weather is such as to allow vigorous plant growth, 

 roots are formed rapidly and these take the place and 

 perform the functions of those destroyed bj the grubs. 

 A spell of dry weather would possibly show up the 

 damage done by these pests. He reminded his audience 

 of the value of trap crops of maize, and the value of crop 

 rotations in connexion with controlling these pests. 



Dr. Watts spoke at length on the question of pig 

 raising, and pointed out the present shortage of pork 

 and bacon in the world's markets. It was not suggested, 

 that pigs should be penned, but that they should be 

 allowed to run in enclosed areas in fields. These 

 could be planted with food crops, and the herds moved 

 from place to place in the field. If this S3'stem were 

 adopted, it would however be necessary to provide 

 strong movable hurdles. He indicated that bacon 

 curing was possible in the West Indies, seeing that 

 with the aid of refrigerating machinery, the difficulties 

 due to climate may be readily overcome. 



Continuing, he thought, that by way of conclusion- 

 he might say that the main points he wished to impress 

 to-day were that real, steady progress would be the 

 outcome of definite conscious thinking, directed towards- 

 the framing of a definite policy in connexion with 

 each agricultural problem; that a time of relative 

 prosperity should be the time when this effort to frame 

 sound policies should be most readily and fully exerted; 

 it was wrong to regard it as the time when things- 

 misrht take care of themselves. 



