328 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



October "21, 1905. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



Letters and matter for publication, as well 

 as all specimens for naming, should be addressed 

 to the Commissioner, Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, Barbados. 



All applications for copies of the 'Agri- 

 cultural News' should be addressed to the 

 Agents, and not to the Department. 



Local Agents : Messrs. Boweii & Sons, Bridge- 

 town, Barbados. London Aijents : Messrs. Dulau &; 

 Co., 37, Soho Square, W., and The West India Com- 

 mittee, 1.5, Seething Lane, E.C. A complete list of 

 Agents will be found at foot of page 3 of the cover. 



The Agricultural uVeu'S : Price If?, per number, 

 post free IkZ. Annual subscription payable to Agents, 

 2s. 2d. Po"st free, 3.?. M. 



3lnriciiltiir;it ^^Tinuii 



Vol. IV. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 190.5. Xo. 92. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The prospects of the Sea Island cotton industry in 

 the West Indies are full}' discussed in this issue's 

 editorial. The position of the industry is entirely- 

 satisfactory and provided ratooning be abandoned 

 there is a promise of good prices in the future. 



A summarized report of an important conference 

 of banana growers, held at Barbados on October 13, 

 will be found on p. 32.5. It was evident from the 

 remarks of speakers that banana growing offers 

 remunerative returns, if satisfactory arrangements 

 can be entered into for shipping the fruit to the 

 United Kingdom. 



Among notes of interest to cotton growers (see pp. 

 326-7) is a report on the working of the Central Cotton 

 Factory at St. Vincent. 



It is desired to draw the attention of banana 

 growers and others in Barbados to the offer of special 

 pi'izes at the forthcoming Agricultural Show for banana 

 fibre (see p. 329). 



An illustrated note on the 'Success' knapsack 

 sprayer appears on p. 230 ; also a note on spraying 

 cattle for ticks. 



Bird lovers and others who devote attention to the 

 natural historj' of these islands should read with 

 interest the article on p. 333 on the protection of birds 

 in Dominica. 



Agricultural News. 



Beginning with the next issue of the Agri- 

 raltural News, a change in the day of issue will be 

 rendered necessary by the alteration in the sailings 

 of the Royal !Mail steamers. 



While the Agrirultural Xeics will be published, 

 as heretofore, on every alternate Saturday, it will be 

 ready for distribution on the preceding Wednesday, in 

 time for the intercolonial mails. Copies for England 

 will go by the mail steamer leaving Barbados the day 

 after the date of publication. 



The ne.Kt issue (Xo. 93) will therefore be published 

 on Saturdaj', November 11, instead of on Saturday, 

 November 4, but will be ready for distribution on the 

 preceding Wednesday, viz., November 8. 



Medals for Cotton Growers. 



In a recent letter to the Imperial Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, Sir Alfred Jones. K.C.Jf.G., has notified 

 his willingness to present gold and silver medals to the 

 growers of the best cotton in the West Indies. 



Sir Daniel Morris has suggested that the medals 

 be offered for competition at the Agricultural Shows 

 that are to be held, under the auspices of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, towards the end of 1905 

 and in the early pai-t of 190(), in Barbados, St. Vincent, 

 St. Kitt's-Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, and the Virgin 

 Islands ; also that medals be offered to Jamaica, Tobago, 

 and Carriacou. 



It is believed that Sir Alfred's idea will assist in 

 encouraging the devotion of attention to cotton growing 

 on right lines. In order that the medals may be fully 

 appreciated, it is suggested that they be awarded only 

 in case of exceptional merit and that, with this aim in 

 view-, the authorities in charge of the medals be 

 instructed to withhold them for another year, if the 

 exhibits are not fully worthv of them. 



Birds of Dominica. 



In connexion ^^ith the article on p. 333 on the 

 ])rotection of birds in Dominica, it may be mentioned 

 that Mr A. Hyatt Verrill has just published, under 

 the title of ' Additions to the Avifamia of Dominica,' 

 notes on the birds of the island. The paper contains 

 notes on species hitherto unrecorded with descriptions 

 of three new species and a list of all birds now known 

 to occur in Dominica. 



Mr A'errill states that the list and notes are 

 compiled from his own observations and collections 

 made during twenty months' stay in the island. 



The three new species described in this paper are : ■ 

 ' Bell's Huniming-bird, {Thuluran la Belli), named after 

 his Honour the Administrator; 'Riviere's Hawk,' 

 (Butco rivierci): iind the 'Tropical Redstart' (Septo- 

 pJaKja tropica). 



Mr. Verrill j^s of opinion that the list of species 

 occiu'ring in~T)ominica is still far from complete. 

 There are portions of the island, not yet visited by 

 collectors, which may well contain species unknown to 

 the island fauna. 



