Vol. XV. No. 37S 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



339 



to the notice of householders in order that they may 

 be prepared to act upon them if riecessar\'. 



Most of the foodstuffs referred to may be stored 

 satisfactorily in the form of meal. Undricd corn will 

 not give meal of good keeping (|ualities unless the 

 germs, which contain a high percentage of oil, are 

 first removed from the grain. Whole meal from 

 dried corn will keep, however, for a considerable 

 time. Reference has been made to cassava meal. 

 The art of making this is well worth studying 

 by those who are not fainiliar with the process. 

 It is carried on largely in Grenada, St. Vincent. 

 St. Lucia, and Dominica, and shoijild be more widely 

 introduced into the other West Indian islands. 



In closing these remarks on possible substitutes 

 for wheat flour, reference may be made to the 

 importance of rice. The cultivation of this crop is 

 a largo industry in Trinidad, and in British Guiana. It 

 is not gi'own to an}- extent in the smaller islands, 

 but rice grown in British Guiana is imported into the 

 West Indian islands, and from that point of view it is 

 desirable, in view of the possible shortage of wheat, that 

 the production of rice in British Guiana should be 

 maintained, if not extended, not merely for the benefit of 

 British Guiana alone, but for the good of all the colo- 

 nies in the West Indies. 



WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SUGAR 



CANE PROSPECTS IN ANTIGUA 



AND ST. KITTS. 



In the following note.s an account is given of the 

 progress of the cane crop in Antigua and St. Kitts since the 

 beginning of the current year. The information has partic- 

 ular reference to the effect of weather upon the crop, and 

 a final statement is made as to future prospects. 



Last January it was reported from Antigua that the 

 cane growing in the island continued to improve, though 

 some of it appeared a little unpron;ising, the result of the 

 attack of brown hardback grubs. Xearly 5 inches of rain 

 fell during the month. In February, 1"95 inches of rain fell. 

 In March it was reported that the stand of young canes 

 obtained was not as good as that of the previous year. This 

 was regarded as being due to the heavy rains experienced 

 during the time of planting in the previous November. 

 Rainfall for the month, •2-2.5 inchef. •. A more favourable 

 report on the young cane crop was received for April. It 

 was reported as rapidly improving, as a' result of 4'93 inches 

 of rain received during the month. In the next month, 

 May, it was reported that the young canes continued to 

 improve. Good growing weather was experienced during 

 this month, the rainfall being 534 inches. During .June 

 the weather was drier, the precipitation being 2 '.52 inches; 

 in certain parts of the island the 'young cane crop was 

 reported as showing signs of the effects of dry weather, but it 

 was realized that tliesc symptoms were not serious and would 

 soon disappear on the receipt of rain. This happened by 

 the end of July, during which month 7'29 inches of 



rain fell: the young cane crop in most districts of the 

 island looked healthy and was making good growth 

 which, it was pointed out, had not been seriously retarded 

 since planting took place. The crop continued to improve 

 during August, the rainfall for which month was .5'69 inches. 

 At the end of this month the condition of the crop was- 

 reported to be equal to or perhaps slightly better th*n it was 

 at that time last year. Up to the end of August the rain- 

 fall received since the beginning of the year was 34'97 inches. 

 During September rainy weather was experienced, and 

 conditions were favourable for the rapid growth of cane. 

 The rainfall figures given above refer to the Bitanic Station 

 records. The distribution throughout the i.«land, however, 

 was, on the whole, generally satisfactory, and as will be seen 

 from the above observations, from a weather point of view 

 conditions were markedly favourable for the growing cane 

 crop. There is, therefore, every prospect of high yields on. 

 the reaping of the growing crop early next year (1917). 



The following observations relate to St Kitts. In. 

 January of this year it was reported that the young cane 

 crop was growing well and that the necessary supplies were 

 being put in. Rainfall for the month, 3o3 inches. In 

 February the young cane crop was still being supplied where- 

 necessary, and in some districts was well advanced as the 

 result of a continuation of rainy weather (3 62 inches). 

 A very favourable report to the effect that the young cane- 

 crop was growing rapidly and that the plants were strong 

 and health}' was issued at the end of March, during which 

 month there were falls of rain amounting to 313 inches. 

 In April, however, the weather became drier (1 ••52 inches);, 

 but the young cane crop was stated to be looking well 

 as a whole, though rain was much needed, especially in the 

 valley district. In May the weather became wetter, as showa- 

 by a total rainfall of .5^(4 inches. The young cane crop at the 

 end of this month was well advanced and pre.sented a very 

 healthy appearance. The report supplying this information 

 concluded with the remark 'that with the present weather 

 prospects for next sea.son are very hopeful.' Satisfactory 

 growth continued during .June; by the end of this month 

 the young cane crop was well advanced, especially in the 

 northern or windward district. According to the report, at 

 the end of June the prospects generally speaking were very 

 favourable. During July the early part of the month wa^ 

 dry, but the tine rains in the middle of the month made 

 a great improvement in the yonni; cane crop and the pros- 

 pects for next season were regarded so far as being excellent. 

 Rainfall for the month b'27 inches. The crop by the end of 

 August was still further advanced and everything pointed to 

 good crops next season. Rainfall for August 8'24 inches. 

 The report at the end of September was as follows : 'The 

 condition of the ca«e crop at the present time is all 

 that can be desired and there are no signs of any disease.' 

 Rainfall for the month 4-40 inches. The total rainfall 

 up to end of September was 41 '64 inches. The rainfall 

 up to the end of August was 3 7 '02 inches, compared 

 with 3497 inches in tlie case of Antigua. It should be 

 pointed out that the St. Kitts rainfall returns like 

 those for Antigua were those taken at the Botanic Station. 

 These stations are situated in the c'rier parts of the 

 respective islands, so that the average precipitation over 

 the whole of each island may be taken as being greater 

 than that recorded for the Botanic Stations. It is satis- 

 factory to be able to conclude by stating that up to the 

 time of going to press no damage has been occasioned to 

 sugar-cane in these Islands bj' storms, though during the past 

 hurricane season (July to October) cyclones have passed iii 

 the vicinity of Antigua and St. Kitts. 



