ToL. XI. No. 277. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



395 



ANTIGUA. AGRICULTURAL AND 

 COMMERCIAL SOCIETY. 



At a general meeting of this society, Iield on Friday 

 November 1, 1912, an address was given by Dr. Francis 

 %Vatt!', C.M.G., Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture. His 

 Excellency fcjir H. tieaketh Bell, K.C.M.G., Goveinor of the 

 Leeward Islands, presided. 



At the commencement of the address Dr. Watts, in 

 referring to the useful work of the society, mentioned the 

 interesting circumstance that it is now twenty-one years 

 since its inauguration. 



In a survey of agricultural matters in Antigua, the 

 address fir.st paid attention to sugar, and reference was made 

 to the way in which central factories had proved tliemseleves 

 useful and necessary in the island. Xot withstanding the 

 unfavourable conditions of a series of dry years, the amount 

 <of sugar-cane grown had not decreased to anything like the 

 vixte«t that may have been e.xpeoted, had there been no 

 chance of dependence on central factories. Though there had 

 been great improvements in the direction of the manufacture 

 ■of sugar, much more attention was required regarding the 

 improvement of the soil, both by proper tillage and the 

 judicious use of manures, particularly pen manure, a circum- 

 stance aiding in the production of the latter being the 

 abundant growth of hay grass (Andropocron caricosiin) that 

 DOW forms a feature oi the vegetation of Antigua. The 

 matter led, in another way, to the consideration of the 

 drainage of the soil, and Dr. Watts expressed agreement 

 ■with the suggestion made by Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc, 

 Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands, that 

 more attention is now needed in relation to this matter, 

 simply because of the deeper root system of the seedling 

 canes that are now being raised in the place of the Bourbon 

 cane. 



Among green dressings, the Barbuda bean {P/iaseo/i'S 

 iunatus) was recommended as being particularly useful, 

 because the hydroc)'anic acid formed in its leaves discourages 

 the attack of insects. Most of the other available green 

 •dressings were liable to be destroyed by caterpillars of 

 different kinds, and the matter was made all the more ditfi- 

 cnlt for the agriculturist because Paris green and lime in 

 proportions sutticient to kill the insects was fatal to the 

 j)lants. 



Dr. Watts referred to the untoward past experience of 

 cotton growers in Antigua, mentioning the signs of recovery 

 ahat are to be seen in consequence of the much less serious 

 incidence of the flower-bud maggot. Assistance in combating 

 this pest was afforded by early planting, whereby the state of 

 the crop would be well advanced before the chief time of its 

 attack — about the middle of December. 



The consideration of cotton was succeeded by informa- 

 tion regarding coconut growing, stress being laid on the great 

 demand for coco-nuts, and the consequent attraction of agri- 

 »culturists and capitalists toward the crop. After giving a few 

 Mnts on the planting and cultivation of coco-nuts, the speaker 

 ipassed on to the subject of forestry — a matter whose impor- 

 T^ance to the island has been recognized for several years. 

 Although there was great uncertainty as to the power of 

 .forests to attract rain, it was realized that their presence 



caused the water falling as rain on hillsides to be held back 

 for a time instead of being poured immediately ofi' the surface 

 of the land. Mr. Tempany had given this matter specific 

 attention in a memorandum drawn up by him this year, deal- 

 ing with the afforestation of the catchment area around 

 Wallings Reservoir. 



Allusion was then made to tuberculin tests that have been 

 carried out recently in Antigua by Mr. P. T. Saunders, 

 M.R C.V.S., Veterinary Otticer to the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture. Piegret was expressed that planters in Antigua 

 had not shown more interest in the subject. The Department 

 had demonstrated the general presence of tuberculosis among 

 stock in the island, and any further action would have to be 

 taken by owners. 



Dr. Watts concluded his address by reference to the 

 question of the water-supply of Antigua, mentioning the 

 recent work by Mr. A. A. Camaeho at Ottos, and the 

 somewhat unexjiected results that had been obtained. It 

 must be remembered that good supplies of drinking water 

 could always be obtained by sinking wells in the limestone 

 district, and economy would be effected in the use of such 

 water by the increasing employment of the brackish waters 

 for domestic purposes other than drinking. 



After His Excellency had thanked Dr. Watts on behalf 

 of the members present for his address, the Commissioner 

 of Agriculture made suitable acknowledgement, and a vote 

 of thanks to His Excellency for presiding terminated the 

 proceedings. 



The Recent Rainfall in the Virgin Islands. — 

 The following is taken from a recent report by the Agricul- 

 tural Instructor, Tortola, to His Honour the Comnt.ssioner 

 of the Virgin Islands, dealing briefly with the recent useful 

 rainfall received in those islands: — 



'The long drought was very effectually broken by the 

 rains of the 7-8th. On the 6th Your Honour and myself 

 left for Virgin Gorda, where it was proposed to hold aa 

 agricultural meeting on the 7 th at noon. Soon after arrival 

 there a strong south-east wind set in, accompanied by driving 

 rain. We were unable to land on the 7th and eventually 

 left Virgin Gorda at about 1.30 p.m., reaching Road Harbour, 

 after a rough passage, about 3.30 p.m. On reaching home 

 at 4 p.m. I measured what rain had fallen since 9 a.m. and 

 found it amounted to 227 inches. During the night very 

 heavy rain fell, and at 6 a.m I measured 7 32 inches (the 

 rain having then ceased) making the total in less than 

 twenty-four hours 959 inches. This is by far the heaviest 

 fall in any one period of twenty-four hours since records 

 have been kept here (1899 to date). The previous greatest fall 

 in twenty-four hours was 6 04 inches on July 22-23, 1901. 



'Considerable damage was done to the roads by wash. 

 The upper wall of the bridge over the ravine, at the point 

 where the public road crosses it, was washed away and the 

 road cut up a lot. About 100 yards of newly erected fence 

 was washed away, and minor damage done to the station. 

 The water-course, which, fortunately, had recently been 

 cleared out, has been again filled with gravel brought down 

 from the foot of the hills. It is most essential for the 

 preservation of the lower lands of the Station that this 

 watercourse be kept clear; much damage has been done in 

 former years by its becoming choked and the water spreading, 

 carrying with it gravel and debris. 



'Growth has been very active since the rains, and, 

 though it is too much to hope for normal crops of cotton, 

 limes, sugar-canes, etc., I venture to hope that the.se crops 

 will be better than was at one time thought possible.' 



