404 



THE AGRICULTURAL XEWS. 



Dkcember 16, 1916. 



BOTANY IN THE TROPICS. 



The following extract is taken from the Address of 

 the President (Dr. A. B. Rendle, F.R.S.) of the 

 Botanical Section uf the British Association for the 

 Advancenienc of Science, 1916. It is that part of the 

 Address in which the speaker refers to botanical matters 

 in the tropics, and will be read with interest b\- those 

 associated with West Indian botanic stations. Dr. 

 Rendle complains that provision for botanical research 

 work is inade<|nate, and cites Jamaica as affording 

 a case in point. While this is true in a general sense, 

 it should be remembered that a considerable amount 

 of botanical investigation is being done in Trinidad 

 and British Guiana, in Ceylon and the Federated 

 Malay States, while for pure systematic work, the 

 Colonies have always lelied upon Kew. Dr. Rendle 

 says: — 



If we are to make the best use of our resources, botanical 

 research stations in different parts of the Empire adeijiiately 

 equipped and under the charge of a capable trained botanist, 

 are a prime necessity. We seem to have been singularly 

 unfortunatp, not to say stupid, in the management of some 

 of our tropical stations and botanical establishments. 



The island of .Jamaica is one of the oldest of our tropical 

 possessions. It is easy of access, has a remarkably rich anil 

 varied flora, a tine climate, and affords easy access to positions 

 of widely differing altitude It is interesting to imagine what 

 Germany would have made of it as a station for botanical work 

 if she had occupied it for a few years. The most recent account 

 of the flora which pretends to completeness is by Hans Sloane, 

 whose work antedates the Linnaean era. A flora as complete 

 as available material will allow is now in course of preparation 

 in this country, but the more recent material on which it is 

 based is due to American effort. Comparatively recently 

 a mycologist has been appointed, but there is no government 

 botanist to initiate botanical exploration or experimental 

 work or to advi.se on matters of botanical interest. A botani- 

 cal station ideal for experimental work in tropical botanical 

 problems is a mere appendage of a Department of Agriculture, 

 the director of which is a chemist. 



A botanical station for research to be effective must be 

 under the supervision of a well-trained botanist with admini.s- 

 trative capacity, who must have at his disposal a well-ei.iuipped 

 laboratory and ground for experimental work. He must not 

 be expected to" make his station pay its way by selling 

 produce or distributing seedlings and the like: a botanical 

 station is not a market-garden. The director will be ready 

 to give help and advice on questions of a botanical nature 

 arising locally, and he will be on the lookout for local 

 problems which may afford items of botanical research to 

 ▼isitinp students. Means must be adopted to attract tho 

 research student, aided, if necessary, by research scholar- 

 ships from home. The station should have sufficient 

 imperial support to avoid the hampering of its utility by 

 local prejudice or ignorance. The permanent staff should 

 include a mycologist and a skilled gardener. 



The botanical station does not preclude the separate 

 existence of an agricultural station, but the scope of each 

 must be clearly defined, ami under normal conditions the 

 two would be mutually helpful. Nor should the botanical 

 station be responsible for work of forestry, though forestry 

 may supply problems of interest and importance for its 

 consideration. 



HOG-RAISING IN CUBA. 



Cuba consumes more than £2 000 000 worth of pork 

 and pork products per annum, but as yet there has been no 

 sustained ettbrt to raise pork for the local demand, or to estab- 

 lish a packing-house industry, although the country is in many 

 respects ideal for raising hogs. 'I'here is an abundance of 

 water, forage all the year round, an equable climate, and, in 

 addition, the widespread distribution of the royal palm tree 

 ensures a great quantity of the seeds, called 'palmiche', 

 which fall at all sea.sons of the year and are greatly relished 

 by swine. The palmiche gives th" meat a nutty flavour that 

 is very tine indeed, and pork raised on this food is held in 

 great esteem. The animals thrive on it amazingly. 



In addition to the palmiche there are other foods grow- 

 ing wild— the guava, which hogs relish, and yuca roots, and 

 many otlier tubers and roots. Mango trees are distributed 

 over the island, and in .season, the ripe mangoes that fall are 

 a considerable factor in the food supply. Sugar-cane is eaten 

 with avidity, and is found to be remarkably .satisfactory for 

 putting flesh on hogs. Cow peas, peanuts, sweet potatoes, 

 soya beans and the like as special forage and grazing crops 

 grow with little attention. Good land suitable for hograising 

 may be liad for 1 Os. M. to £i per acre, becoming more 

 expen.sive as the location is nearer the cities. 



The native hog in Cuba is very much like the famed, 

 'razorback' of the Southern pine woods— mostly head, legs, 

 snout, and ears, swift of foot, but very hardy and thrifty, 

 and does well without any care whatever. According to 

 a report by the United States Special Agent in Cuba, there 

 is as yet practically no effort to raise hogs commercially, 

 except in small herds which range the woods in charge 

 of a herdsman and his dogs. The meat of these semi- wild 

 hogs is in con.siderable demand on account of its flavour from 

 the palmiche seeds, but the supply is not dependable, and 

 no attempt is made to put it up as hams, bacon, ribs, or 

 .sides. This fresh pork .sells at \\d. a Iti. all the year round, 

 and is scarce at times. 



There has of late grown up in C'uba a .sentiment in 

 favour of producing more foodstuffs, and hog-raising is receiv- 

 ing considerable attention. The Cuban Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station at Santiago de las A'egas is experimenting with 

 various breeds, and is in touch with the more progressive 

 element which intends to devote attention to the growing of 

 better pork. Cholera is known to some extent, but the 

 most prevalent disease with which Cuban hogs are afflicted is 

 called 'piatadillo', and is supposed to be a mild sort of 

 cliolera. The Cuban Experiment St;ition i.s now seeking in 

 the United States a competent chemist to make choleia 

 serum and to study the diseasps of native hogs. 



la lyio CuUd, iiiiponed M,'J.2,b iiogs, valued at £26,170 

 and in li>14, 9,8Iti hog.s, valued at £26,920. The United 

 States furnished the entire number. I )uroc-.Jerseys, Berk- 

 shires, and Poland-Chinas appear to be the favourites and 

 a cross between these and the native hogs produces a thrifty 

 animal which, if not ideal in shape from the packing house 

 stand-point, carries considerable meat, and is a great improve- 

 ment on the native wild hog. 



Some capitalists of the United States are now projecting 

 a hog ranch and packing-house on 20.000 acres of land in 

 Pinar del Rio Province, about GO miles from Habana. It 

 is projiosed to commence with a capital of .£.50,000. iJoar- 

 nnt '■! 'A* Hoyil .'^O'i'Jtj of Arts, October 1.3, 1916.) 



