Vol. XI. No. 261. 



THE AQRICULTUKAL NEWS, 



isr 



GRENADA: REPORTS OX THE BOTANIC 

 STATION, EXPERIMENT PLOTS, AGRICULTU- 

 RAL INSTRUCTION, AND LAND SETTLEMENT 

 SCHEME, VJlu-U. 



The report dealing with the condition of the iiotanic 

 <jardens shows that these liave been maintained in good order 

 during the year. The distribution of economic plants con- 

 tinues to be large, both as regards variety and (juantity. 

 There is, however, scope for an increase in this matter, and 

 it was sought to attain this by distributing lists of plants of 

 ■which there was a good supply. The information concerning 

 the work in the experiment plots at the gardens contains an 

 interesting account of an investigation that is being carried 

 out in regard to the growing of green dressings under cacao 

 shade. A glance at the table detailing tlie results is sutKcient 

 .to show that little success lias been attained in this matter, 

 so far. Other trials have been conducted with alfalfa, the 

 Bambarra ground nut ( I'aand.eia sulderranca), and ground 

 provisions, including sweet potatoes, yams and tanias. The 

 results with alfalfa have continued to be disappointing, and 

 it was not found that the amount of seed set was increased 

 by ' tripping ' the flowers. More useful results have been 

 obtained with the Bambarra ground nut and the ground 

 provisions. 



■ As in some of the other island.s, the work of agricultural 



instruction in Grenada is assisted by means of prize-holdings 

 competitions, and interesting and detailed information of the 

 competition of the year under review, which was again held 

 under the auspices of the Agricultural and Commercial 

 Society in all the parishes of the island, is included in the 

 report. A short section, dealing broadly with general agri- 

 cultural progress in the island, shows that the cacao crop was 

 smaller than that of the previous year, the latter having been 

 the largest that has received record in (irenada. Some trouble 

 has been experienced through the incidence of root disease 

 and thrips. A large import was made of i'ara rubber seeds, 

 and in regard to Castilloa, some slight indication has accrued 

 that this may be successful, although time is required before 

 definite information in the .matter can be obtained. The 

 results from cotton cultivation, as far as this has been con- 

 ducted, show that a fair industry may be built up gradually. 

 It is expected that the new Land Settlement iScheme will 

 assist in its extension, and further aid has been given by the 

 purchase, on the part of the Government, of two gins and an 

 oil engine for handling the crop. 



Following the precedence of last year's report, a short 

 account is given of agricultural matters in Carriacou, where 

 the first pri/.eholdings competition was held during the year. 

 The judges' report on this shows that agricultural matters in 

 the island are very satisfactory, although a great deal of 

 inducement is required before the peasants will enter the 

 •competition. There are indications that Carriacou will be 

 in possession of a lime industry of some large importance, in 

 .he near future. 



The succeeding section, dealing with scale insects and 

 ilack blight, may be .said to provide an illuminating example 



of the useful results that are likely to be obtained from tlie 

 conduct of investigations in a scientific manner. It was ex- 

 pected that a comparatively large sum of monej' would have 

 to be spent on the acquisition and use of spraying apparatus; 

 whereas careful observation resulted in showing that much 

 might be done by the dissemination of fungus parasites 

 of scale insects, and the adoption of this method of lontrol 

 has been of the greatest practical use, while the ex[iendilure 

 on experimental work has proved eventually to be very small, 

 in comparison with that expected at the outset. 



The report on Agricultural Instruction refers to the fact 

 that the Botanic .Station has been placed in the charge of the 

 Agricultural Instructor, under the Superintendent of Agricul- 

 ture, and gives an account of the chief work that has been 

 done. A description is also afforded of the work conducted 

 in the newly attached Spout Lands. The labours of the 

 Agricultural Instructor have also included visits to country 

 districts, mainly in connexion with giving instruction to the 

 peasantr}-, and in relation to the Prize-holdings Competition. 

 It a[)pears that these efforts are resulting in an amelioration 

 of the conditions u\ider which the peasantry live, as well as of 

 the circumstances of their cultivations. The reports con- 

 clude with that dealing with the Land Settlement Scheme, 

 and as this scheme is only of recent' adoption, the matter 

 presented has mainly to deal with the preliminary work that 

 has been undertaken. 



VIRCIN ISLANDS: REPORT ON THE EXPERI- 

 MENT STATION, TORTOLA, lUIO-ll. 



The details that are included in this report concerning the 

 demand for plants, at the Experiment Station, show that this 

 continued to be small in comparison with the extent to which 

 it should attain: a somewhat encouraging feature is the fact 

 that the amount of Sea Island cotton seed sold and otherwi.se 

 disposed of continues to be maintained; there is also the cir- 

 cumstance that there exists a stead}', though small, demand 

 for lime plants. 



The work in the experiment plots has received consider- 

 able interference through drought. As is pointed out, the 

 months of .Tune, July and August were very dry, the total 

 rainfall for this period being 7 3 7 inches below the average 

 for the same (leriod in the preceding nine years; further 

 illustration of the extent of the drought is given in the 

 meteorological records, which show that the rainfall measured 

 at the Experiment Station during 1910-11 was IO'L'4 inches 

 below the average for the past ten years. The plants includ- 

 ed in the experiment plots were cotton, sugar-cane, sweet 

 potatoes, cassava, limes, as well as several miscellaneous 

 plants both in ;)ermament and seasonal cultivation. In spite 

 of the drought, some interesting results are available from 

 these. 



In connexion with the extension of the agricultural 

 interests of the Presidency, a successful agricultural show was 

 held, exhibits were sent to the Canadian National Exhibition 

 held during the year, addresses were given by the Agricul- 

 tural Instructor, and periodical visits were paid by him to the 

 out-islands mainly in connexion with the cotton industry. 



An interesting Appendix to the report gives information 

 concerning the I'otton, lime, and sugar industries. In regard 

 to the first, considerable work had to be done with the object 

 of bringing the industry back to its former position, after the 

 severe check experienced in 1909-10; this object was almost 

 completely accomplished. Progress has been made with the 

 lime industry, and the small output of swgar has been main- 

 tained 



