YoL. IV. No. 80. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



139 



f 



UGANDA I'ROTECTORATE: LIST OF PLANTS 

 UNDER CULTIVATION AT THE BOTANIC GAR- 

 BENS: EiitMe, Uganda, 1904. 



This list is issued by the Scientific and Forestry 

 Department of the Uganda Protectorate. It is stated that 

 this is the first list of its kind to be issued in Uganda ; it 

 applies, however, exclusively to the district of Entebbe. The 

 l>laiits are all being grown in the Botanic Gardens, and are 

 either indigenous or have been ir.troduced. In each case the 

 degree of success which has attended the culture is denoted. 

 Many plants, which otherwise do well, are attacked by 

 termites and frequently die a premature death in consequence. 



The common names of foreign [ilants are given, as also, 

 where possiljle, the native names of indigenous plants. 



There is no doubt that the value of this list would have 

 been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of information in 

 respect to the altitude, rainfall, teni[ierature, etc., to which 

 each plant is suited, as is usually given in similar publications 

 in other tropical countries. 



DISEASES OF CATTLE: A special report of the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 Revised Edition. Washinrjton : Government Printinr/ Office, 

 IQOIf. 



This is a companion volume to the Report on DheaMi of 

 the Horse, which was reviewed in the Agricultural Neirs, 

 Vol. Ill, p. 27. The popularity of this report is shown from 

 the fact that since it was first issued Congress has ordered 

 the publication of several new editions. It is a popular work 

 prepared in the first instance for farmers and stock owners 

 and contains much useful information of a practical character. 

 It has been prepared by a number of prominent members of 

 tlie veterinary profession in the United States, and may 

 therefore be regarded as a .safe and reliable guide for stock 

 owners and farmers all the world over, to whom, on 

 account of its freedom from technical terms and expressions, 

 it should prove very welcome. 



The volume contains no fewer than fifty-two excellent 

 full-page plates and twelve figures. It deals with the 

 administration of medicines, the diseases of the various 

 organs, accidents, infectious diseases of cattle, animal 

 parasites, etc., etc. 



Barbados Blackbirds in St. Kitts. Un his 



■visit to St. Kitt's in February last tlie Imperial Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture took with him fifteen l^arbados ))lack- 

 birds as a present to the Administrator with the idea of 

 again attempting to introduce these useful birds into that 

 island. They were kept for some weeks in a large cage and 

 then set at liberty in the grounds at Springfield, the 

 residence of the Administrator. This attempt to introduce 

 these birds into St. Kitt's gives every promise of success. 



TRINIDAD CACAO SOILS. 



Some geological notes on cacao soils by tlie 

 Trinidad Government Geologist have recently been 

 issued as a Council Paper (No. 5 of 1905). They have 

 been written to render the geological maps of greater 

 value ko the agriculturist. The following is a short 

 summary of this interesting paper: — 



In the opinion of planter.'! the most favourable soil for 

 cacao is a ' loose clay, or clay with an admixture of a fair 

 pn'oportion of sand and lime.' Very many rocks in Trinidad 

 are capable of yielding, under disintegration, soils coming 

 under this somewhat comprehensive description. 



(1) The aluvium of rivers is made use of for planting 

 in cacao to a great extent. Alluvial soils vary considerably 

 in character and composition. They have the advantage 

 of being flat and easily worked ; the situation is usually 

 well sheltered, watered, and convenient for transport. On 

 the other hand, difficulties may arise in draining and 

 liability to floods. 



(2) The clays of the Tertiary series att'ord soils, which, 

 though rich as regards chemical constituents, are seldom so 

 suitable for cacao cultivation as regards mechanical condition. 

 They are usually very stiff and impervious, requiring a great 

 deal of drainage when the land is level, and being liable to 

 landslips on hilly or undulating ground. Forking around 

 the trees and the addition of pen manure must evidently 

 have a favourable ettect on these soils. 



(3) The marls of the Tertiary series form the well- 

 known 'black soils' of the cane plantations. They form 

 excellent soils both from a chemical and a mechanical pioint of 

 view. They contain a considerable percentage of lime and 

 other bases, distinct porosity, and, o]i account of the undulat- 

 ing ground they form, are easily drained. Some of the best 

 cacao in Trinidad is grown on these marls. Liming and 

 forking are obviously unnecessary, but phosphatic and 

 nitrogenous manures may form valuable additions to the soil. 



(4) The .sandy clays of the Tertiary series form soils 

 which are admir^.ble as regards mechanical conditions, being 

 neither too light nor too heavy, and draining readily, 

 Basic slag and farm3'ard manure will probably be beneficial. 



(•5) Tertiary sandstones yield soils which are usually 

 too light for good results. They rapidly become exhausted 

 unless manuring is resorted to. 



(6) The Tertiary limestones form the best cacao land ia 

 Trinidad. They form fairly porous soils with plenty of lime ; 

 they occur in well-marked ridges which drain easily ; they 

 disintegrate irregularly, leaving blocks and masses amid 

 a lighter friable soil, thus preserving tha surface from being 

 washed away. Liming and forking will not be required, but 

 basic slag and pen manure might be used with effect. 



(7) The shales and limestones of the Cretaceou.s 

 formation have ))ot been planted in cacao to any extent. But 

 considerable are.as in the high-woods are formed of these 

 rocks, and, as the land becomes opened up by roads, it will 

 probably be found that valuable cacao estates can be 

 established. The sandstones give light, barren soils upon 

 which cacao could not be grown profitably ; the clays and 

 shales, on the other hand, ought to provide excellent soil. 



Banana Trade. At a meeting of the Colonial Bank 

 on April G, the Cliairman said : ' I think now the future of 

 bananas in this country is assured. We see an enormous 

 amount of bananas all over the place, being retailed at 

 a very low price indeed, and it appears to be becoming to 

 a certain extent, as it is to a very great extent in the United 

 States, a food of a considerable proportion of the people.' 



