Vol. XV. No. 3S3. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



421 



lings into beds. Three distillations of bay leaves were made. 

 Plants of Hyoscyamus rauticus are being raised in pots; 

 sixteen plants of the new tree (^ w hra'-hia Lorentiii have 

 germinated. A plot of a new black-eye pea from St. Vincent 

 has been planted. 



The early part of the month continued to be wet, and 

 there was considerable trouble in getting picked cotton dried. 

 Only restricted local areas, planted early, have given a good 

 second crop, but quite sufficient to .show the possibilities in 

 the second crop where early planting is practised and due 

 regard paid to the control of cotton stainers. Low percent- 

 ages of cotton are as a rule being obtained at the ginneries, 

 and the results from the last two .seasons indicate a connex- 

 ion between a wet season and a low percentage of lint. 

 Touching pests, Mr. Robson says no very marked benefit is 

 yet shown in the condition of lime fields as the result of the 

 recent wet weather, and within the last four months, in spite 

 of the rains, there has been a striking development of purple 

 scale and the usual decline, on certain areas. Cotton stainers 

 are now abundant in many districts, and at this time of the 

 jear no effort is made, nor is it apparently considered worth 

 while, to control them. There has been generally, a marked 

 cessation of attacks of the cotton worm, and large areas have 

 the appearance of young growing fields. In continuation of 

 previous work, a survey was made of the Grove lime fields 

 in the course of a study of diseases; the recent development 

 of purple scale is very puzzling. Visits were also made to 

 other districts, as a result of which several specimens of 

 diseases amongst which is apparently a new trouble on 

 corn (maize) plants, have been submitted to the Head Oflice 

 for examination. 



Sixty plants of the St. Kitts No. 342 cotton were 

 examined for lint length and per cent, of lint The type is 

 not found to be any more uniform than some of those 

 already in cultivation. Twenty-nine .samples of bay oil from 

 the distillations made in 1916 were sent to the Govern- 

 ment laboratory for examination. Weather conditions 

 seemed to have been abnormal. A heavy downpour of 

 ■)i) inches in two hours in the Harris's district on the 

 evening of the 17th did serious damage to roads. It has 

 been decided to close Harris's Experiment Station at 

 December -31, 1916. Arrangements are being made to plant 

 the sugar-cane experiment jjlots at Whites and Farrels estates. 

 The rainfall recorded at Grove Station for the month was 

 7 '70 inches. 



NEVIS. Mr. W. I. Howell, the Curator, writes to say 

 that during November the plots in the Experiment Station 

 have all been kept weeded and in good order. Cotton plants in 

 the demonstration plot have taken on a very promising new 

 growth and a good second picking is expected. The plot of 

 Indian corn is ripening and a good yield is expected; while 

 the plot of onions continue to make good progress. During 

 the month 900 sweet potato cuttings were distributed from 

 the station. As regards staple crops, the cane crop continues to 

 look green, but the return will not be as good as last year's. 

 Preparation for next year's crop is in progress and several 

 fields have already been planted. The cotton crop through- 

 out the island has taken on a new growth, and should the 

 ■weather continue favourable, a good second picking would be 

 obtained. Practically the whole of the crop reaped has been 

 sold to a local purchaser at prices ranging from Is. lOrf. to 

 2s. 2d. Cotton stainers are very plentiful this season, and 

 there is a fairly high percentage of stained cotton, due to 

 unfavourable weather and internal boll disease. There is 

 a large acreage under provision crops, chiefly sweet potatoes, 

 yams, and tanias; all are doing well. The rainfall for the 

 .month was 674 inches, for the year to date, .59'30 inches. 



Planting an acre plot in different varieties of castor seed is 

 mentioned as work cojitemplated. 



vmaiN ISLANDS. Mr.- W. C. Fishlock (Curator) reports 

 that very little work was possible in the Experiment Station 

 during the month of November consequent on the recent 

 hurricane, labour available being omploycd iu L'le work of 

 clearing up. Plant distribution included the following; peas, 

 109 Bo. to lis persons; corn, 5-59 cobs to 137 persons: 

 •582 lb. of nails were also given to 366 pei-sons. As 

 regards staple crops, a fair amount of cotton has come in, 

 chiefly froni Virgin Gorda. This island does not .seem to 

 have suffered so much from the hurricane. Some cotton has 

 also been received from different parts of Tortola, .Tost van 

 Dykes, etc. The total amount of seed-cotton received to 

 date is equal to 33 bales ginned cotton of 2-50 ft. each. 

 Visits, chiefly in connexion with Hurricane Relief work, 

 were paid by officers of the Department to out-posts of 

 Tortola and also to .lost van Dykes. The weather was 

 rainy. Rain was measured on twenty-five days of the month, 

 the total being 1 1 '02 inches. The average rainfall for the 

 same month for the past fifteen years is 7'09 inches. It 

 is hoped shortly to start in earnest the work of clearing up 

 the Station. 



Ordinance to Regulate Fishing at Trinidad. 



— The Governor of Trinidad and Tobago has assented to an 

 Ordinance empowering him to make regulations regarding 

 certain matters affecting fishing within one marine league 

 of the coast of the Colony. Regulations may be made for 

 all or any of the following purposes: (a) for prescribing 

 the size of mesh, forming dimensions of nets or appliances 

 for fishing and for the manner of using the same; (b) for 

 restricting the size of fish, crabs, shrimps and turtles that 

 may be taken, and jDrohibiting the sale or exposing for sale 

 of such as are under such size as may be prescribed by the 

 regulations: (c) to prevent the taking of fish at such times 

 and within snch areas as may be defined; and (d) for naming 

 and prescribing the duties of persons authorized to see to the 

 carrying out of the provisions of this Ordinance. It should 

 be observed that the objects in view have been, in large 

 measure, left to be worked out by means of regulations 

 instead of provisions being inserted in the Ordinance itself. 

 This has been done deliberately with the intention of proceed- 

 ing gradually to carry out the objects sought to be attained, 

 and also with a view to the greater elasticity of regulations. 



Some interesting facts concerning the palm kernel trade 

 of Sierra Leone are published in Colonial Reports — Annual, 

 No. 888 (1915). The exports during 191-5 showed an 

 increase in volume of 3,709 tons, and a falling off in value 

 of £55,280. The total value of the products shipped wa* 

 £504,133. The decrease in the market value of this 

 product was very noticeable. The price in Europe at onfr 

 time fell as low as £12 10s. a ton, whereas in the preceding 

 year the price never fell below £16 nor in 1913 below 

 £21 per ton. Prices however rose steadily towards the end 

 of the year, and reached £19 a ton in December. In the 

 year under review the whole quantity of palm products 

 exported went to the Ignited Kingdom instead of to 

 Germany. In the United Kingdom crushing mills have 

 now been established, and nut butter or margarine into 

 the composition of which the oil of the palm kernel largely 

 enters, is now recognized as a nutritious form of diet. It i* 

 at present in general u.se in the United Kingdom, and will 

 probably sustain its place on the market even when th» 

 present inflated price of butter again becomea normal. 



