Vol. XV. No. 376. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



30^ 



DOMINICA: REPORT ON THE AGRICULTU- 

 RAL DEPARTMENT, iuir>-ln. 



The Botanic Gardens suffered considerable injury during 

 the 5'ear from severe storms in August and September 1915. 

 This necessitated extra work in connexion with repairing 

 the damage done. 



In regard to work in the nurseries, the report 

 states that the distribution of plants ha.s been main- 

 tained, though the number sent out was less than in 

 former j-ears. The report then furnishes notes on plant 

 importations. The seeds of Ponf.eria suavis, a fruit tree 

 of Uraguay, two plants Joboticaba a fruit tree of Brazil, 

 some new mangoes, and seeds of an Achras from British 

 Honduras, which yields chicle gum, were safely received and 

 attended to. In the plot experiments at the Botanic and 

 Experiment Stations extensive trials wi'h green dressings 

 have been continued and intere.sting remarks are given on 

 the value of green dressings in young lime cidtivation where 

 the trees are widely planted and have not yet filled in. 



After referring to the cessation of the tapping oper- 

 ations on Castilloa rubber trees as well as to the thrifty 

 character of the Robusta coffee grown at the Station, the 

 Report gives an account of the latest results in connexion 

 with the grafted cacao plots. 



The investigation into the identity of Dominica grasses 

 and sedges was continued during the year, with the kind 

 assistance of the United States Department of Agriculture, and 

 a list of the species so far determined is given in this Reporr. 



The succeeding section concerns progress in the chief 

 industries. In spite of the fact that the climatic conditions 

 during 1915 were unfavourable, the output of lime products 

 was satisfactory. But on the estates, as in the gardens, 

 damage was caused by the storms of the 1915 hurricane 

 season If the weather had been favourable, the output, 

 which was 390,000 barrels of fruit, would have exceeded the 

 record crop of 1913, which was 391,000 barrels of fruit. In 

 regard to the relative amount of the different lime products 

 exported, the quantity of raw juice and, to a less extent, 

 of concentrated juice exceeded that shipped the previous 

 year. There was a falling off in the shipments of 

 fresh limes and of citrate of lime. As to total value 

 of the lime products exported, there was a total decrea.se 

 in value amounting to £12,626. The actual figure for 1915 

 was £174,-105. 



Concerning cacao there has been for some years a falling 

 off in the industry, which is to be regretted. Progress in 

 connexion with coco-nut cultivation is satisfactory. 



An important section of the present report deals with 

 manurial experiments with limes and cacao. Experiments 

 with limes have been in progres.- only three years, but the 

 plots show very clearly, that the application of complete 

 manures and of mulching is attended by great benefit to the 

 trees as well as by a remunerative increase in crop. It is 

 estimated that the application of complete artificials yields 

 a clear profit amounting to £12 per acre. Experiments are 

 in progre.ss with young trees as well as matured ones, and 

 there are additional experiments being carried on to compare 



the relative value for manurial purposes of cotton seed meal' 

 and grass mulch. An interesting line of investigation is 

 that designed to ascertain whether grass can be profitably 

 grown on adjacent waste land to serve for mulching purposes at 

 a profit. The manurial experiments with cacao have been in 

 progress much longer than those with limes, and the results 

 have been repeatedly referred to in past volumes of the 

 Agriculiund NeHM, and have been studied in detail in the 

 West Indian Bvlittin. Suffice it to say that the applicatioa 

 of mulch and of dried blood with phosphates and potash is 

 attended by very considerable profit. A useful appendix to 

 this account of manurial experiments is a table giving the 

 chemical composition of pen manures and allied manures suit- 

 able for mulching, etc., produced or commonly used in the 

 Leeward Islands. 



The next section of the report gives an account of the- 

 work accomplished in the chemical laboratory. At the 

 beginning of thje year under review the chemical work carried 

 on in the Leeward Islands was reorganized, and branch 

 laboratories were established in Dominica and St. Kitts 

 under the advisory control of the central laboratory in 

 Antigua. The section under review is an account of the 

 first year's work This has consisted principally in analy- 

 tical work in regard to lime products. The need for 

 improvement in the manufacture of concentrated juice is 

 indicated. The value of steam concentration not only in 

 regard to less sediment but in connexion with reduction 

 of loss of acid is shown by the results of two experiments 

 conducted in a steam plant. Several manures were analysed 

 during the year, and the composition of meat bone meal and 

 Swift brand 003 were found to be satisfactory. An investi- 

 gation was conducted also into the milk supply of Roseau, 

 the chief town. The composition of the milk appears to be 

 very satisfactory. 



A novel line of investigation had regard to the concen- 

 tration of lime juice by freezing. It has been found that 

 raw lime juice when frozen and treated in a centrifugal 

 can be concentrated without affecting its properties as 

 a beverage— a most important fact. If the juice is treated 

 once only, the acid content may be increased from about 

 13 oz. per gallon to over 20 oz. per gallon. If this be 

 refrozen, a juice containing 30 oz. per gallon can be obtained. 

 The low testing juices can be converted into citrate of lime, 

 thus eliminating all losses except those of handling. This 

 process enables a very considerable saving to be made in 

 freight, charges and packages amounting to between 40 and 

 60 per cent., the actual amount depending upon whether- 

 the juice is frozen once or twice. 



A large number of analyses were conducted to deter- 

 mine the ratio of citric acid to free acid in lime juices. The 

 results obtained will be found of value. The section under 

 review concludes with a report on the waters of Dominica, 

 the published analyses having been made at the central 

 laboratory in Antigua. 



Work connected with insect and fungus pests has happily 

 not been as considerible as is generally the case in other 

 islands. The root diseases of lime trees appear to occasion 

 the most serious trouble, and agricultural officers are always 

 on the look ojt for their occurrence, and ready to give 

 advice as to the necessary control measures to betaken. 



The principal section in the concluding portion of this 

 report concerns agricultural instruction in the Botanic 

 Gardens. To show the practical nature and value of this 

 work, extracts from the diary of one of the pupils are repro- 

 duced together with a report on the work, by a leading 

 planter. These .statements make it evident that the Garden 

 provides a training for would-be overseers equal if not- 

 superior to any obtainable elsewhere ia the West Indies. 



