^VoL. XI. No. 264. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS* 



189 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



JUNE. 



Second Period. 

 Seasonal Notes. 



Much of the work on sugar estates during the present 

 -period will have been concerned with giving attention to the 

 young cane crop, in order that as regular a stand as possible 

 may be obtained. In connexion with this, a knowledge of 

 the characteristics of the different varieties of seedling canes 

 employed is necessary, particularly as supplies should be made 

 with quickly-maturing cane, in order that the work of taking 

 off the crop may be simplified as much a.s possible, and that 

 the canes may be all in a fit state for reaping when the time 

 comes to do this. 



In reaping canes where the central factory system is 

 employed, opportunity will have been given to obtain the 

 weight of cane from the different fields, and useful facts 

 should now be available in regard to the reiurns from different 

 varieties, and from various methods of manuring. The results 

 that are given by such observations are of the greatest im- 

 portance for future guidance, particularly, as has been stated 

 recently already, in deciding the question as to whether 

 ratooning is profitable, and the extent to which it should be 

 continued. 



When a favourable rainfall has been received, cotton 

 will have been planted. Later on, when the seedling.s have 

 reached a height of about 1 foot, they will be thinned out so 

 as to leave one in each hole. State exactly the reason why 

 this is done. Should cotton be planted more closely or more 

 widely apart in rich than in poor soil? It is often observed 

 that, where trash Las been burned in part of a field, the 

 cotton sown in that portion grows much more quickly and 

 luxuriantly. What reasons can you give for this fact? 

 State why the effect is not found to be lasting. Adduce the 

 .reasons for and against the burning of refuse plant material, 

 instead of burying it in the soil, in the West Indies. 



State the effects of burying compost and green manures 

 as regards (1) the .soil itself, (2) the bacteria in the soil. Give 

 a description of the plants with which you are familiar, that 

 you have seen employed for green manuring. What circum- 

 . stances would guide you in deciding whether' a green manure 

 should be buried in the fresh state, or not? 



How is cotton seed selected on estates for planting? 

 •Ciive the reasons why it is important that such selection 

 should be carried out regularly. How far does the improve- 

 ment that may be obtained through plant and seed selection 

 extend? 



When the receipt of rain aftbrds an opportunity, sweet 

 potatoes and yams will be planted. Give' particulars of 

 such preparation of the soil as is made for these. Describe 

 the chief varieties of sweet potatoes and yams of which 

 _you know, stating any special characteristics that make them 



valuable. What precautions, when planting, will lend to 

 cause gradual inqirovement of the product? 



Questions for Candidates. 

 Peeliminary Questions. 



(1) Give an account of any animal pest of cotton that 

 is not an insect. 



("3) State any reason why it is sometimes necessary to 

 apply lime to soil. 



(3) ^.How does water travel through the soil? 



Intermediate Questions. 



(1) By what signs would you recognize the presence of 

 leaf-blister mite in a cotton field? 



(2) Give a short account of the uses of lime on a sugar 

 estate making its own sugar. 



(3) State shortly the ways in which the loss of water 

 from the soil may be lessened. 



Final Questions. 



(1) Write an account of the best methods of controlling 

 leaf-bli.ster mite in its early stages. 



(2) What are the uses of lime in relation to the useful 

 bacteria in the soil? 



(3) State all the benefits that may accrue to a soil 

 when it is supplied with a mulch of vegetable material. 



Cotton in Ceylon. — -The Secretary inspected a 20- 

 acre block of land planted with cotton in Kayts. The plants 

 had suffered severely as the result of the heavy rainfall of 

 December last, and the greater part is not likely to come to 

 anything. This is a very unfortunate experience for the 

 enterprising owner, who, in spite of the disappointment, has 

 resolved to plant a larger area this year. 



Cotton is doing well at Balalla, Kalalgamuwa, and 

 Madipola gardens. 



The variety known as Sakellarides, of which seed was 

 sent to the Society by the British Cotton Growing Associa,- 

 tion, is a particularly hardy plant. The cotton is named 

 after the discoverer, M. Sakellarides, who isolated it from 

 a field of Mitaftifi on his Egyptian estate. Professor Diin.«tan, 

 reporting on a sample forwarded by the Director General of 

 Agriculture in Egypt, speaks highly of its strength, lustre, 

 colour, texture and length, and valued it at at lihd. per B)., 

 with fine Jannovitch at IS'^d. (Progress Report No. LVIII of 

 the Ceylon Agricultural Society.) 



The Grenada Government Gn:ette for May 1, 1912, con- 

 tains the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Carriacou 

 for 1911. In this, dealing with the work at the Experiment 

 Station, it is stated among other matters that the orange 

 snow scale {Chionaspis citri) has again made its appearance 

 in the lime orchards; sulphur and lime-wash are being 

 employed against this pest. A plot of land having an area 

 of |-acre is being cultivated as a provision garden, in order 

 to afford an illustration, to peasant landowners in the island, 

 of the results that may be obtained from a small and well 

 tended garden; records of the returns are being made, and it 

 is intended at the close of the season to circulate the informa- 

 tion by means of leaflets. The sale of limes by peasants 

 to a factory in the island is being encouraged, and continues 

 successfully. 



