136 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



May 6, 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 Af/evts : Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge- 

 town, Barbcadus. LonJon Agevts: Messrs. DuUiu & 

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

 niittee, 15, Seetliing Lane, E.G. A complete list of 

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



The Agricultural Xnvs : Price !</. per number, 

 post free lUL Annual subscription payable to Agents, 

 2s. 2d. Po'st free, 3«. Sd. 



giflriciilturat J]inu!i 



Vol. IV. SATURDAY, MAY 6, 190-5. 



No. SO. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The editorial in this issue of the Agricultural 

 News deals with the arrangements that have been 

 made for the representation of the ^Vest Indies at the 

 Colonial and Indian Exhibition to be held at the 

 Crystal Palace during the present year. 



Sugar planters will find matters of interest on pp. 

 130-1 in reference to the Xaudet process for e.xtracting 

 sugar and the sugar-cane experiments that are being 

 carried on in British Guiana. 



An illustrated article containing directions for 

 packing Barbados bananas will be found on p. 132: also 

 a letter written by Mr. J. K. Jackson in reference to the 

 general question of the advi.sability of shipping bananas 

 in crates. 



St. Vincent Cotton. 



In the St. yincent Sentry of April li last, consid- 

 erable space is devoted to the subject of cotton growing 

 in that island. Reference is made to the excellent 

 jirices that have been obtained for the shipments of 

 cotton recently made from that island, and to 

 the refusal of the Sea Island planters to sell seed for 

 planting in the West Indies. 'We are glad to observe, 

 however,' it is stated, 'that the Imperial Department 

 of Agriculture has made excellent provision to meet 

 the emergency, .md local growers need have no fear 

 that the industry can be materially hampered by the 

 action taken in South Carolina.' 



We arc glad to acknowledge the assistance that 

 has been afforded by the Sentri/ in connexion with the 

 establishment of the cotton industry. It is obvious 

 that its editor realizes the important part the industry 

 is likely to ])lay in the improvement of the agricultural 

 condition of St. Vincent. 



The article on p. 13-5 deals with the treatment of 

 the witch broom disease. On the same page is a list 

 of economic plants on sale at the Botanic Station at 

 Grenada. 



A further contribution to the discussion on the 

 subject of the immunity of Barbados from malaria will 

 be found on p. 138. 



On p. I'il is the concluding portion of the article 

 on the preparation of honey for the market, commenced 

 in the last issue of the Agricultural Neu-s. 



An interesting note on keeping poultry in 

 conjunction with gardening will be found on p. 1-13. 



Supply of Cotton Seed. 



It is gratifying to learn that the arrangements- 

 proposed by the Imperial Department of Agriculture 

 for su)iplving 'selected and disinfected cotton seed,' 

 grown in the West Indies, and guaranteed to be of the 

 highest quality, have received general support in 

 these colonies. 



The principal supplies of such seed are obtained 

 from estates in St. Vincent, Barbados, and St. Kitt's 

 that have obtained the best prices (l(>k/. to lid. 

 per lb.) for their produce during the current season. 

 The seed will be selected by hand and disinfected and 

 delivered freight free to any part of the West Indies 

 at the rate of .5c. per lb. In the event of any profit 

 arising from the transactions, this will be divided j^t'O 

 rata (as was the case last jear) amongst the persons 

 who purchased the seed. 



In order to a.ssist growers who desire to plant their 

 own seed for experiment purposes this will be ' hand- 

 picked and disinfected' by the Department on payment 

 of cost price. 



It is particularly^ recommended that onl}' the best 

 seed be planted this year and that no one will plant 

 (even his own) seed without having it carefully selected 

 and disinfected beforehand. 



The experience this year has shown that those 

 who planted the best disinfected seed obtained higher 

 prices (ranging from 4t?. to 5d. per lb.) for their cotton 

 than those who planted inferior seed. The question of 

 carefully selecting the seed is a vital one as affecting 

 the future of the Sea Island cotton industry. 



Preparation of Honey for the Market. 



In view of the efforts that are being made in the 

 West Indies to establish a trade with the United 

 Kingdom in honey, the article on ' The preparation of 

 Honey for the Market' that is reproduced from the 

 Journal of the Board of Agriculture (Great Britain) 

 should be carefully read by all bee keepers in these 

 islands. Clear and explicit directions are given in 

 that article for preparing the first-class kinds of honey 



