Vol. XV. No. 378. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



351 



meteorological observations are required, and as this condition 

 is fulfilled at ^11 the e.xperiment stations in the West Indies, 

 it may ^be expected that at those where the sugar-cane is 

 ^rown, preliminary observations will be instituted in regard 

 to the growth and development of that plant. 



THE SUG.A(R-CANE CROP IN BARB4DOS. 



In connexion with the note published in this issue 

 Teviewing the weather conditions and crop prospects in 

 Antigua and St. Kitts, the following extract from an 

 article in the Barbados Agriculiiiral Reporter will be 

 Tead with interest: — 



The rainfall in Barbados for September was somewhat 

 irregular. The month opened propitiously, and for the first 

 week there was a rainfall of about 2 inches. After this there 

 were fifteen consecutive days of dry weather with very hot 

 suns, during which time vegetation began to feel the lack of 

 moisture. It seems that at this time of the year the earth 

 grows dry more quickly than during a dry spell in the earlier 

 months A very welcome change came on on the 26th, and 

 from the 27th to the last day of the month there was an 

 average rainfall of 3 inches. 



As far as we have been able to ascertain, no part of the 

 island has recorded less than inches for the month of 

 September. This, following on the large number of wet days 

 in August, would have been sufficient for the growth of every 

 crop if it had been well distributed. 



The leeward parishes recorded more rain during Septem- 

 ber than did the parishes situated in the central, eastern and 

 southern parts of the island. At District 'E', the rainfall 

 was 871 inches, and at Holetown it was 7'9.5. 



October so far (up to the 7 inst.) has been dry. The 

 sky has been very clear and the sun very hot. Rain is again 

 needed in order that there may be nu check in the growth of 

 the crops to be reaped in 19 1 7. It is also required to enable 

 the planters to proceed steadily with the preparation of their 

 fields for the planting season which is but eight weeks oft', 

 and in .some districts only six weeks. 



The dry days during September were very helpful in 

 assisting planters to get rid of weeds and grass both in the 

 preparation land and. in the fields where the cines have not 

 yet covered the groind. There is still, however, a good deal of 

 weeding to be done before it can be said that the land for 

 the coming planting season presents that appearance which 

 is so desirable. 



The fields have practically all been ploughed or forked, 

 but there is still some cane-hole digging to be done, and a 

 few of the planters tell us that they are somewhat backward 

 with this work. On the whole, however, there is no need 

 for anxiety, although in some districts the demand fijr labour 

 exceeds the supply. 



Turning to other topics, the article in due course 

 refers to the question of manuring. As much pen 

 manure as possible, and sheep manure at the rate of 2 

 tons per acre have been applied on many estates. As 

 regards the storage of pen manure, the article says: — 



( )f recent years several estates have erected spacious and 

 ■well-covered pens, but there are still a large number of estates 

 where very inferior .structures are u.sed. Advantage .should be 

 taken of the present good prices not only to improve niichin- 

 ery, but to effect every necessary improvement. A good 



deal is being done for the improvement of the sugar manufac- 

 ture. It is as imp irtant to pay the utmo.st attention 10 every- 

 thing that will improve the yield in the field. 



We have noticed on one or two estates that some pasture 

 land is being broken up and will be put under canes for thet 

 crop of 1918. This is expensive work, but with th& 

 prospective high prices for the next two or three years, it is 

 expected that the return will justify the outlay. Pasture 

 land is, however, a very valuable asset to an estate, and the 

 reduction of it should not be lightly decided on. 



As regards the shipment of this year's crop, i(> 

 is stated: — 



The exportation of sugar and molasses still continues. 

 During the fortnight ended September 28, 801 tons sugar 

 and 2,077 puncheons molasses were shipped. This brings 

 the total shipment of this year's crop up to 47,148 tons sugar 

 and 84,844 puncheons molasses, as compared with 26,571 

 tons sugar and 53,235 puncheons molasses at the corres- 

 ponding period of last year. 



In conclusion it may be stated that with a continu- 

 ation of rains in November and I)ecember, next year's 

 crop promises to be a record one in yield per acre, and 

 this, together with the fact that there is some extensiou 

 in the acreage under canes and every prospect of high 

 prices, the position of the Barbados planter is an 

 exceedingly good one. 



Prophesying the Life Duration of Seeds. ^ 



A note appears in the International Revieiv of the Science and 

 Practice of Agriculture lov March 1916, on a method of pro- 

 phesying the life duration of seeds. The writers suggest that 

 the viability of seeds decreases with rise of temperature 

 and moisture content of the seed, and that it is due to the 

 slow coagulation of the proteins of the plasma of the embryo. 

 The time temperature formula for the coagulation of protein: 

 T = a - b log Z, in which T = temperature, Z = time in min- 

 utes, and a and b are constants, has been found applicable 

 as a temperature life duration formula for seeds. 



The Yearbook for 1 9 15 of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture contains an interesting article on the 

 production and handling of grain in Argentina. This is of 

 particular interest in connexion with the editorial in this 

 issue of the Agricultural News. Notwithstanding the fact 

 that about 70 per cent, of the corn grown in the world is 

 produced in the United States, the surplus for export has- 

 decreased in recent years to such an extent as to permit 

 importations of this cereal. The.se importations have been 

 made chieHy from Argentina, which is the principal corn- 

 surplus-producing country of the world. It is considered 

 likely that Argentina will continue to .send corn, to the United 

 States, especially in years of decreased production. This 

 together with the fact that Argentina is taking a place of 

 ever increasing importance in the production of grain, chiefly 

 wheat, for export to the European markets, makes 

 a discussion such as the one in the article refeired to of 

 considerable interest and importance. 



