Vol. XV. No. 377. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



32.5 



THE GRASSES OF DOMINICA AND 

 ST. LUCIA. 



DO.MINICA. 



In the progress report of the Department for 1913-14, 

 a list was given of the Dominica grasses collected during 

 the year. Inadvertently the names of the authorities were 

 omitted. During the last two years, nine additional 

 species were collected, and those not known locally 

 were determined by Mr. Hitchcock, of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, and the full list is now 

 reproduced. Following the list of grasses appears a list 

 of some species of sedges which were also forwarded to Mr. 

 Hitchcock, and named by Mr. P. B. Stanley: — 



Andropogon brevifolius, Sw. 



„ eondensatus, H.B.K. 



,, pertusus, Willd. 



Anthephora hermaphrodita, (L) Ktze. 

 Arundinella martinicensis, Trin. 

 Axonopus compressus, Beauv. 

 Bouteloua americana, Scribn. 

 Capriola dactylon, (L) Ktze. 

 Cenchrus viridis, Spr. 

 Chaetochloa glauca, (L) Scribn. 

 Chloris paraguayensis, Steud. 



,, radiata, (L) Sw. 

 Coix lachryma, Linn. 

 Cymbopogon citratu.s, Stapf. 



„ Nardus, Rendle. 



„ Schoenanthus, Spreng. 



Dactyloctenium ajgyptiura, (L) Richt. 

 Echinochloa colonum, (L) Link. 

 Eleusine indica, (L) Gaertn. 

 Eragrostis ciliaris (L) Link. 



,, delicatula, Trin. 



„ tephrosinthes, (Spreng.) Schult. 

 Erichloa punctata, (L) W. Hamilt. 

 Isachne disperma, (Lam.) Doell. 

 Ischaemum latifolium (Spreng.) Kunth. 

 Lasiacis, n. sp., (Previously Panicum divaricatum). 

 Leptochloa virgata, (L) Beauv. 

 Melinis minutittora, Beauv. 

 (Jplismenus hirtellus, (L) K. iS S. 



„ loliaceus, Beauv. 

 Panicum (chaetochloa) barbatum, Lam. 



„ barbinode, Trin. 



„ laxum, Sw. 



„ maximum, Jacq. 



„ palmifolium, Willd. 



„ pilosum, Sw. 



,, trichoides, Sw. 

 Paspalum conjugatum, Berg. 



„ fimbriatum, H. B. K. 



,, Helleri, Xash. 



„ paniculatum, L. 



,, pumilum, Mecs. 

 Pennisetum .setosum, Rich. 

 Setaria brachiata, (Poir. ) Kth. 

 SporoVjolus jac(|uemontii, Kth. 

 Stenotaphrum .secundatuin, (Walt.) Ktze. 

 Thysanolaena agrostis, Roxb. 

 Syntherisma digitata, (L) Hitche. 

 Valota insularis, (L) Chase 

 Vetiveria zizanioides, (L) Nash (Andropogon 

 squirrosus, L f). 



The following species of sedges have been determined: — « 



Cyperus compressus, L. 

 ., filioulmis, Vahl. 

 Fimbristylis polymorpa, Boeche. 



,. antuninalis, R. ik S. ! 



Kyllinga pumila, Michx. 

 Rynchospora polyphylla, Vahl. 

 Scleria melaleuca, Schlecht, & Chamis. 



St. Lucia. 



The investigation of the native and naturalized gras-ses 

 of St. Lucia, commenced in 1913 and referred to in the last^ 

 Annual Report of the Agricultural Department ( 191-t-l.!i) was 

 carried a stage further during the year 1916. 



Nineteen specimens were collected and forwarded to 

 Mr. A. S. Hitchcock, Systematic Agro.stologist of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, for determination. 

 Thirteen of the.se specimens proved to be new records. 



The thanks of this Department are due to Miss Agnes 

 Cha.se, Scientific Assistant in Systematic Agrostology, who 

 in the absence of Mr. Hitchcock undertook the work of 

 identification. These species proved to be: — 



Andropogen condensum. H.B.K. 

 Anthephora hemaphrodita, (L.) Ktze. 

 Chloris paraguayensis, Steud. 

 Cyperus compressus, L. 



„ surinamensis, Rottb. 



„ rotundas, L 

 Dactyloctenium ;egyptium, (L.) Willd. 

 Echinochloa colonum, (L) Link. 

 Fimbristylis miliacea, Vahl. 

 ,, diphylla, Vahl. 



Leptochloa virgata, (L.) Beauv. 

 Paspalum virgatum, L. 

 Syntherisma digitata, (Sw.) Hitehc. 



New Agricultural Instruction Work in 



Antigua. — A report on the starting of new work in regard 

 to peasant instruction in Antigua has been received from Mr. 

 T. .Jackson, Curator of the Botanic Station. In the covering 

 letter it is mentioned that i" the Piccadilly District of Antigua 

 there are appro.ximately 1 20 peasants working land on areas 

 ranging from ^-acre to 7 acres so that at the present time 

 there is a considerable amcaint of work to be done in this 

 part of the island. 



During August, with which period the report deals, the 

 planting of cotton on the holdings visited was near comple- 

 tion. Advice was given in regard to matters of cultivation. 

 An attempt was made to establish a better understanding 

 amongst the peasants as to the advantages afforded by the 

 Government Granary. Suggestions were also made concerning 

 the cultivation of onions. From information obtained the 

 reaping of provision crops was nearly finished in the district . 

 Necessary advice was given in regard to the desirability of 

 replanting as quickly as possible after the reiping of the crop. 

 The pest known as .Jacobs (Scarabee) was found to be very 

 prevalent in sweet potatoes. The presence of this pest is 

 believed to be due to the fact that fre.sh areas are continually 

 being planted with infested cuttings. Healthy cuttings from 

 the experiment station were offered to the holders. 



The institution of the work referred to above is likely to 

 prove of considera^l ■ •'■'"" 'n ':he future to the peasants of 

 Antigua. 



