Vol. XV. No. 382. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



411 



■when the May rains come on, and in the latter case the 

 August dry weather would soon put an end to their activity. 



HAED BACK ENEMIES. 



In lyi-t yir. Moore found a parasitic grub feeding on 

 a hard back grub. The adult parasite turned out to be Tiphia 

 parallela, the same species of S 'oliid wasp which is believed 

 to control the browD hard back ( Pliytalus sndthi) in Barbados. 



In 1915 numerous cocoons of this same wasp were 

 found in one of the fields at Xon Pareil estate in the earth 

 about the cane stools. The parasites had nearly all emerged. 

 Parasitic eggs and larvae were also found attached to 

 hard back grubs. Dielis dorsatu, another Scoliid wasp, 

 was occasionally observed in cane fields, but whicli particular 

 hard back it parasitizes has not been determined. Kopkop 

 ants were noticed feeding on the grubs of the small black 

 hard back. 



•J.C.H. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 



AGRICULTURE. 



The editorial in a recent issue of the Experiment Station 

 Reiord states that an Act has recently been passed which 

 considerably extends and enlargens the functions and activi- 

 ties of the United States Department of Agriculture, and 

 establishes a new high-water-mark in the appropriations 

 for its maintenance. Some of the more interesting directions 

 in which more money is to be spent may be referred to in 

 this note since they are not devoid of signifiance with regard 

 to the West Indies. It may not be out of place also to make 

 definite acknowledgement of the great value to the West 

 Indies of much of the literature issued by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, though perhaps this is unneces.sary 

 in view of the large amount of space devoted to American 

 information in this Journal. In regard to the special subject 

 under consideration, the Weather Bureau is to receive an 

 increase of $81,210, of which -540,000 is for the e.xtension of 

 the weather service to the Caribbean Sea Region, the Panama 

 Canal Zone, and Alaska. The total appropriation to the 

 Weather Bureau is $1,747,260. In regard to the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, it is interesting to note that a special 

 appropriation of $60,000 is continued for the work in 

 live stock production in the cane sugar and cotton 

 districts now being conducted in close cooperation with 

 the State of Louisiana. Altogether the grant allotted to the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry amounts to S.3,020,746. 

 The Bureau of Plant Industry receives an increase from 

 •12,139,1.50 to $2,537. 120, its appropriations being divided as 

 usual among the large number of projects. The total 

 appropriation for the States Relations Service is $2,969,680, 

 as compared with $2,821,840 for the previous year. 

 The main item of increase is one of $100,000 for the 

 Farmers' (Jo-operative Demonstration Work outside of the 

 cotton belt. It is stated that this would permit of con- 

 siderable further extension of that work, and of initiating in 

 a small way extension work by women county agents. 

 There is also an increase of $23,000 for the experiment 

 stations in Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico. 



In Ceylon, similar trials have been made with Ajowan 

 seed to those carried out in the West Indies. The Tropical 

 Ayrii'alturist for October 1916 states that the plants grew 

 freely and were of two kinds, yellow and white, the seeds of 

 which were collected separately for further sowing. The seed 

 of the white variety yielded on distillation 2-2 per cent, of oil, 

 containing 60 per cent, of thymol. 



AGRICULTURE IN NEVIS. 



The Agricultural Instructor in Nevis has forwarded to 

 this Office a copy of the report on the work of the Experi- 

 ment Station and on the condition of staple crops in the 

 island during the quarter ended September 30, 1916. 



It would appear that the condition of the crops in the 

 demonstration plots at the Station, namely, cotton, Indian 

 corn, and onions is all that could be de.sired. The small plots 

 of Para peas and Lima beans have not, however, done so 

 well. 



The cane crop throughout the island was looking very 

 promising at the end of the quarter, and good returns are 

 anticipated. A large acreage is under cultivation by peasants, 

 who have turned their attention to .sugarcane on account of 

 the high price for sugar. 



The cotton crop throughout the island has improved 

 somewhat and picking has begun in several places, but the 

 returns will probably be below the average. The peasants 

 have not planted as much land as usual, chiefly on account of 

 the bad weather at planting time, and the high price for 

 sugar. 



The provision crops were looking somewhat better. A 

 large acreage was planted in sweet potatoes and cassava: plots 

 of peas, beans, and Indian corn have also been planted. 



Eighty-three pounds of onion seed was imported through 

 the Imperial Department of Agriculture, and distributed to 

 growers about the island. The germination on the whole 

 was excellent, and the field plots had all been carefully 

 prepared. 



Several meetings were held during the quarter. A meet- 

 ing of the planters was held on September 14, at which an 

 address dealing chiefly with the sugar industry was delivered 

 by Dr. Watts. Several meetings in regard to a proposed 

 central sugar factory for Nevis were held during the latter 

 part of the quarter. The first meeting of the Nevis Onion 

 Growers' Association was held on September 20. 



The agricultural position in Nevis, therefore, would 

 appear to be in a very satisfactory condition, and with a con- 

 tinuation of favourable weather good crops may be expected. 



The Rise of Plantation Rubber. —The insistence 



of the war demand has helped Plantation rubber in its rivalry 

 with Fine Hard Para. It is stated in Colonial Reports — 

 Annual. No 905, on the Straits Settlements for 1915, that 

 manufacturers have been compelled to lay aside their 

 aversion to trymg Plantation and appear to be satisfied with 

 the result of that trial. .\t the beginning of 1915, Fine 

 Hard Para stood, as it had done persistently for the preceding 

 eighteen months, at a considerable premium above Plantation. 

 Early in the year the two rivals drew level, and now Plantation 

 is leading though the lead is small. It is added that the 

 establishment of a rubber market in Singapore and Penang 

 has also helped Plantation rubber, large forward contracts 

 being now practicable. 



