IGO 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



March 30, 1912. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



COMPETITION, 

 1911-12. 



PRIZE-HOLDINGS 

 ST. LUCIA. 



A report by the Assistant Agricultural Superintendent, 

 Mr. A. J. Brooks, on the year's working of the Cacao Prize- 

 holdings Scheme in the Soufriere district, St. Lucia, has 

 been received through Mr. J. C. Moore, the Agricultural 

 Superintendent. 



The holdings judged for the competition are divided 

 into three cla.sfes: those of 3 to 5 acres, those of 2 to 3 acres, 

 and those less than 2 acres in area There was an increase 

 in the number of entries in the competition, on account of the 

 confidence engendered by the awarding of prizes on the first 

 occasion in 1910-11, the number of peasants entering being 

 twenty-seven each in Classes I and II, and six in Class III. 

 A description is given in the report, of the original state of 

 the holdings, which shows that almost every omission was 

 made of the operations and attention incidental to good cacao 

 cultivation, and that the trees were mostly planted too 

 closely; nevertheless, the plantings were remarkably free 

 from "disease, mostly on account of the hardiness and disease- 

 resisting powers of the varieties grown. These varieties are 

 Forastero and Calahacillo and hybrids between them, and in 

 view of the way in which they thrive, it is recommended 

 that, in peasant cultivation, no attempts should be made to 

 improve the variety of cacao grown, by introducing such 

 delicate kinds as Criollo and Alligator, as these would almost 

 certainly succumb eventually to canker or other diseases. It 

 is suggested that any desired improvement might be brought 

 about by careful selection and grafting on hardy stocks, such 

 as the Calabacillo or Amelonado, the best and proved varieties 

 now found in the district. 



In pruning, mistakes seem to be made as much from over- 

 attention to the matter as from neglect Interplanting with 

 the cacao of other trees such as the bread-fruit, cinnamon, 

 avocado pear and nutmeg has taken place, in many cases, 

 and their contribution to the revenue from the plots renders 

 it difhcult to advise their removal. The use of the Nicaragua 

 shade tree ((.'liriridia nuicidata) or immortel (Erythrina sp.) 

 is recommended where shade is required. ^Yind-belts have 

 been employed, the chief trees used being pois-doux (Inga 

 laurind), bois d 'Inde (Pimenta acris), immortel, gaiba 

 {Calophylluin Galaha), and other native trees. 



All the holdings were visited by the Assistant Agricul- 

 tural Superintendent at least four times in the year; this 



officer received valuable assistance from the local instructor, 

 Mr. Acti Clement, who had been awarded the first prize in 

 Class I, in the previous year. The judging was conducted on 

 March 6 to 8, after due notice had been given. Ten of the 

 twenty competitors have carried (jut the instructions given 

 them, ' in a most praiseworthy manner, and without the least 

 hesitation.' One competitor cut down several bearing trees 

 for the purpose of thinning, while another sacrificed a small 

 crop in order to free his trees from moss. Work such as drain- 

 ing, pruning, the burying of pods, and general care in manage- 

 ment of the crf'p, had lieen mostly cariied out very efficiently. 

 One of the most important results of the scheme has been the 

 arousing nf a very keen spirit of competition between the 

 entrants. Some disappointment has resulted from the non- 

 success of those who had won small prizes in the previous 

 competition; the reason for their failure to figure in the prize 

 list was the advent of Iietter competitors in the second year. 

 It is recommended that, if another competition is held, the 

 winners of first prizes in this and last year should not be 

 allowed to compete. In concluding his report, the Assistant 

 Agricultural Superintendent states that the thanks of the 

 Government, and particularly of the Imperial Department 

 of Agriculture, are due to the Rev. Father Viollet and 

 Mr. Palmer for their kind and practical assistance in carrying 

 out the details of the scheme. 



The list of prize winners is as follows: — 



Class I. 



