Vol. XL No. 273. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



333 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



OCTOBER. 

 Second Period. 



Seasonal Notea. 



In continuation of the notes on agricultural economics 

 ■which appeared in the last issue but one of the Agricultural 

 Nexus, the student's attention is now directed to matters 

 connected with agricultural cooperation. 



Interdependence, not independence, is the basis of 

 co-operation. In the present connexion the subject natu- 

 rally divides itself into the following main lines: (1) cooper- 

 ative credit, (2) co-operative production, (3) co-operative 

 manufacture, (4) cooperative buying, (5) co-operative mar- 

 keting. Before proceeding to the study of West Indian 

 practices and business concerns bearing upon the above lines 

 of co-operation, the student may make use of the following 

 for information on agricultural co-operation in general: 

 Agricultural News, Vols. IV, p. 383; IX, p. 49. 



Proceeding now to considerations of cooperative credit, 

 the student is advised to read the following articles dealing 

 mainly with the subject of agricultural banks: Pamphlet 

 Series No. 35; West Indian nulUtin, Vols. VI, p. 129; VII, 

 p. 317. VIII, pp. 16, 250 and 334: Agricultural News, 

 Vols. IV, pp. 49, 73 and 186; VI, p. 249; VIII, pp. 89 and 

 104, X, p. 9, XI, p. 171. 



Co-operative methods among planters do not obtain to 

 any great extent in West Indian agricultural production, 

 except in the case of cotton-growing. Give examples of 

 the employment of such methods. It should be borne 

 in mind that the co-operative efiforta of the local depart- 

 ments of agriculture and local agricultural societies 

 greatly benefit agricultural production. Joint ownerehip 

 for the purchase of pedigree stock or expensive imple- 

 ments, or even co operation in matters of labour when 

 practicable, will often prove profitable to those concerned. 

 The following references should be consulted in connexion 

 with co-operative production: West Indian B%dletin, Vols. VII, 

 p. 311; and IX, p. 243. The preparation for market, 

 and the selling of agricultural produce, lend them- 

 selves to co-operative methods more readily than does 

 pure production. The activities of the British Cotton 

 Growing Association, the establishment of central cotton 

 ginneries, and as regards sugar, the establishment of 

 central factories, are examples of the benefit to be 

 derived from co-operative manufacture and selling. In 

 connexion with central factories, the student is advised to 

 read the following on the subject: West Indian Bulletin, 

 Vols. I, pp. 52, 64, 195 and 200; IX, p. 56; X, pp. 107 and 

 305; Agricultural News, Vol. VII, p 193. 



Co-operative buying has already been referred to in 

 connexion with joint ownership, but the student should note 

 that this method can be applied in the purchasing of seeds, 

 manures and food stuffs: also in the matter of obtaining the 

 services cf scientific experts, and in other ways. 



Closely connected with cooperative credit and cooper- 

 ative methods in general are the various Small Holdings 

 and Land Settlement Schemes, and the student will derive 

 considerable benefit by studying these questions. As regards 

 small holdings the following references are given: Agricul- 

 tural News, Vol. IX, p. 89 and Went Indian Bulletin, Vol. 

 VIII, p. 267. Information on the subject of Land Settle- 

 ment Schemes will be found in the following literature: 



Agricultural News, Vols. V, pp. 15 and 410; VIII, p. 247; X, 

 pp. 217, 329, 27 and 305; West Indian Bulletin, Vol. XI, 

 p. 194; as well as in the various Annual Reports on the 

 Botanic Stations in the islands where such schemes exist. 



Three of the following questions have been set to 

 enable the student to test his knowledge of the economic 

 subjects referred to in the last issue of the Agricultural 

 News. The next issue will contain questions on agricultural 

 co-operation. 



Questions for Candidates. 

 Preliminary Questions. 



(1) Why are plants cross fertilized? 



(2) Give methods for the control of insects. 



(3) What are fungi, and how are they spreadi 



Intermediate Questions. 



(1) How would you cross-fertilize maize on a large scale? 



(2) Supply examples of fungi seriously attacking more 

 than one plant. 



(3) Give your views as to the practical value of the 

 following methods for improving labour conditions: (a) the 

 provision of bonuses; (b) the letting out of land as estate 

 small holdings; (c) wages on a sliding scale; (d) technical 

 instruction. 



Final Questions. 



(1) State broadly the directions in which the plants 

 raised from crossing two different varieties may show differ- 

 ences from the parents. 



(2) The total cost of team labour is made up of the follow- 

 ing items: (a) feed and bedding, (b) shoeing, (c) care includ- 

 ing veterinary attendance, (d) interest, (e) depreciation, 

 (f) stable rental. Give an approximate idea of the charges 

 per month that you would make under these headings for 

 half a dozen mules, or horses. 



(3) State in a general manner the different classes of 

 individuals through whose hands either (a) cotton or 

 (b) the lime fruit passes during the course of its transport from 

 the field to the comsumer, and say which of these has the 

 greatest effect in determining the final cost. 



Sunn Hemp. — The Commissioner of Agriculture has 

 received, through the courtesy of the Superintendent of the 

 Royal Botanic Garden, Sibpur, Calcutta, seeds of sunn hemp 

 (Crotalaria juncea), for distribution among some of the 

 botanic stations in the West Indies. This plant is a native 

 of India, where it is grown chiefly for its fibre which is used 

 mainly for making a coarse canvas employed mainly for 

 sacking. There is a general and firmly rooted opinion in 

 that country that the plant improves the soil in which it 

 grows, and this is undoubtedly true because of its possession, 

 in common with other leguminous plants, of root nodules 

 containing the bacteria which attach nitrogen from the air. 

 This circumstance makes it useful for employment as a green 

 dressing. 



The Indian agriculturist sows sunn hemp by itself, most 

 generally at the commencement of the rains, and cuts it at 

 the end of September or the beginning of October. The 

 plant needs a light soil, which is not rich necessarily, and 

 is not considered to require high cultivation. When it is 

 grown for fibre, the seeds are sown (broadcast) at the rate of 

 12 to 80 lb. to the acre, the actual amounts varying greatly 

 in different parts of India. 



