Vol. XV. No. 378. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS 



347 



The economic importance of C. dictyospernii, in Italy, 

 varies in different regions ; at the present time the extensive 

 citrus groves of Sicily and Calabria are the most menaced. 

 This pest was introduced into Italy without its natural 

 enemies. None have been found either in Liguria or 

 Tuscany, and during 1913 and 1914 the authors noticed 

 very few endophagous or predaceoua species in Sicily. 

 According to De Gregorio, Aphelinun tilvestrii, De Greg., 

 exercLses useful control. The predaceous species destroy 

 not more than 10 per cent, of the adult Coccids, and the 

 endophagous species are even less efficient, for only one 

 Chalcid nymph was found in about .SO.OOO Coccids examined. 

 In America, Aspidioliphaguis citranus is a parasite of 

 C. dictyospeimi, while Apheliims rlirysoniphali is reported 

 to be useful in the Iberian peninsula. Cultural methods of 

 control include pruning and defoliation. Pruning is valuable 

 because a properly pruned tree offers le.ss shelter to the Coccid 

 against unfavourable climatic factor.s. and green pruning 

 directly diminishes the number of the scales. Some growers 

 have thought that complete defoliation is equivalent to 

 suppressing infestation, but this cannot be the case, as 

 infestation is not confined to the foliage 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OP LOCAL INTEREST. 



GKEN.\DA. Work in the E.xperiment Stations in August, 

 the Superintendent of Agriculture writes to .say, wa.s chiefly 

 of routine nature. The general condition of all the stations 

 is reported as satisfactory on the whole, showing much 

 improvement on last yeiir. In the Botanic Gardens improve- 

 ments in the nursery grounds were carried out; other oper- 

 ations comprised planting, grafting and budding. Plants 

 distributed included 8,677 limes, 1,0-41 coco nuts, 4 grafted 

 mangoes, and 56 of other varieties. As regards staple crops, 

 the prospects of the 1916-17 cacao crop, Mr. Moore says, are 

 very promising indeed. The crop year ending September 

 1916 promised to be the largest on record. Lime planting 

 on estates and holdings was making good progress. Spraying 

 experiments for Bourbon Aspidiotus on coco-nuts have been 

 undertaken. The weather during the month was rainy and 

 very hot. 



ST. VINCENT. Mr. W. N. Sands, reporting for the 

 month of September, mentions the reaping of selected corn 

 planted in the experiment stations, which gave a calculated 

 average yield per acre of 9,865 B). of corn on the cob. This 

 corn was planted on banks 4 feet apart, plants at a distance 

 of 1 foot apart on both sides of banks. Other work in the 

 experiment stations included tbe collection and destruction 

 of cotton .stainers in cotton plots Plant distribution for 

 the month was as follows: cane cuttings 1,794, grafted 

 mango plants 3, sweet potato cuttings 300, guava plants 

 (^Suuili Africnn) 12 onion siid ".) lb, Indian colli ■Tib. lu 

 the Botanic Gardens, operations were of a general routine 

 character. In regard to staple crops, the corn (maize) crop 

 continued to make good progress, and was particularl}' free 

 from insect attack. The cotton crop also made fair progress. 

 On many estates hand collecting of cotton stainers, 

 when found, was practised. The black-eye pea crop turned 

 out satisfactorily on several estates. Annexed to this 

 Eeport is a report on the work performed in connexion with 

 the destruction of food plants of the cotton stainer during the 

 month of September. It appears from a table appended to 

 this report, that the number of Isrge 'John Bull' and silk- 



cotton trees destroyed to September 30 was 9,390 and 446, 

 respectively, while the sum paid out for the work performed 

 from July 28 to September 30 amounted to £74 10s. It is 

 estimated that the total cost for work performed and reported 

 will not exceed £80. The Agricultural Superintendent 

 visited the Leeward and Windward Districts — Kingstown 

 to Richmond and Kingstown to Overland; a number 

 of estates were visited and the work of destroying 'John Bull' 

 {Thespeda populnea) and silk-cotton trees was inspected. 

 The Assistant Agricultural Superintendent visited Ratho Mill, 

 Glen and Prospect estates in connexion with cotton and 

 corn investigations. The weather was rather drier than 

 usual about the middle of the month. The rainfall recorded 

 both at the Botinic Gardens and Experiment Station was 

 83 1 inches. 



DOMINICA. Mr. Joseph Jones writes to say that during 

 the month of September efforts were made to restore order 

 in the lime experiment station after the hurricane. Damaged 

 trees have been pruned and uprooted ones removed; so like- 

 wise in the cacao e.tperiment station where, close exami- 

 nation reveals the fact that many of the plots are so consider- 

 ably damaged that the anticipated year's results will be much 

 disturbed. For the first time since the establishme t of the 

 Botanic Gardens there was no distribution of plants during 

 the month. Many thousands of plants, however, are .ready 

 for immediate distribution and have to be cared for; in 

 addition, arrangements have to be made for a continuous 

 supply, consequently the nurseries are much congested. In 

 the Botanic Gardens s iiisfactory progress has been made in 

 clearing the wreckage after the hurricane. Efforts are being 

 made bj' circularising planters to estimate approximately 

 the damage caused by the recent hurricane. The districts 

 in the island most seriously affected by the hurricane are in 

 course of being visited. Concerning pests, Mr Jones says 

 the presence of root di.sease (Rosellinia) on Para rubber and 

 the Nicaraguan shade tree was observed for the first time. 

 Beyond the testing of samples of lime juice sent in by planters, 

 the work in the chemical laboratory is for the time bein^ 

 suspended. The weather was normal; rainfall for the month 

 6'20 inches. 



ST KiTTs. Mr. F. It. Shepherd reports plant distribuUon 

 for the month of September to have been as follows: ornamen- 

 tal 12, sweet potato cuttings 300, cassava cuttings 2,200, 

 Para bean.s 35 8)., white velvet beans 50 B)., and 300 suckers 

 of Agave (sp. cintahi) .sent for planting in Anguilla. In the 

 Botanic Gardens general routine work was carried on. 

 Touching staple crops, the reaping of the old cane crop still 

 continues on a few estates in the northern district. The 

 young cane crop is well advanced for the time of year, and the 

 prospects for next season continue to be very hopeful. The 

 condition of the cane crop at the present time is all that 

 can be desired, and there are no signs of any disease. The 

 cotton crop has been considerably reduced, the area for 

 this season being about 600 acres. In the northern district 

 two estates have practicAlly finished picking their crop, and 

 have made good returns; but estates in the valley district are 

 only now beginning to pick. Meetings of the Agricultural 

 Society were held on the 5th and 15th instant, respectively. 

 Results of experimen's with sugar-cane varieties were 

 submitted by the Agricultural Superintendent at the meeting 

 on the 5th, and the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 who was present at the meeting on the 15th, addressed the 

 meeting, after which a Re.solution was passed approving 

 the policy of the British Empfc-e Producers' Association, and 

 suggesting subscriptions from estate owners and others. 

 The rainfall for the month was 4'04 inches; for the year 41 '64 

 inches. 



