Vol. IV. No. 87. 



THK AGKIUULTUKAL NEWS. 



253 



Sr. VINCENT.- ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, 

 AND LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME, 1904-5. 



Botanic Statio7i. — The total expenditure during the 

 year amounted to £562 4s. \\d. The sale of plants, etc., 

 yielded an income of £39 5s. M. 



There wa.s again a large increase in the number of 

 economic plants distributed during the year, the number 

 (26,256) being in exce.ss of that of any previous year. An 

 important feature of the plant distribution is that special 

 attention is evidently being paid to the growth of cacao and 

 other permanent crops. 



An interesting note on the cacao industry shows that 

 a steady increase has been made in the output of cacao 

 during the past five years. It is anticipated that this 

 industry will regain the satisfactory position which it 

 occupied before the hurricane of 1898. 



Mr. Sands also reports on the progress of the cotton 

 industry. At the cotton factory 237,734 lb. of seed-cotton 

 had been dealt with up to the end of the year; 171 bales 

 (61,011 lb.) of lint had been shipped. The area planted in 

 cotton was 1,471 acres. 



The usual routine work has been curried on at the 

 station. A large number of plants were planted out during 

 the year ; and the general condition of the garden is quite 

 satisfactory. 



In reviewing this report Sir Daniel Morris expres.ses his 

 deep appreciation of the work done by the Agricultural 

 Superintendent at the Botanic Station, and also in connexion 

 with the cotton industry and in the promotion of agri- 

 cultural progress generally in the island. 



Aqricultwal School. — Mr. Patterson reports that there 

 were twenty-two boys at the school on March 31 last. The 

 health of the boys has been good. 



In the experiment plots provisions have been grown by 

 the toys, and trials have been made of various fodder crops. 

 The indo(u- work was tested by two e.xaminations during the 

 year. The results showed that, on the whole, fair progress 

 had been made. 



Several changes occurred in the statf. Mr. Knowles left 

 for Fiji, and his place was taken temporarily by Mr. A. J. 

 Clarke, of Harrison College, Barbados, until the arrival of 

 Mr. W. H. Patterson, who took up the duties of the Resident 

 Mastership at the end of .January. 



Bearing in mind these changes and their necessary 

 effect on the results, the report cannot but be regarded as 

 indicating that progress has been made and that useful work 

 is being carried on at the school. 



Land Settlement Scheme. — The Agricultural Instructor's 

 report deals with his duties in connexion with the allotments 

 at Park Hill, New Adelphi, Piichraond Hill, Clare Valley and 

 Questelles, Cumberland Valley, and Linley Valley, and also 

 the Experiment Station at Georgetown. 



The system of wind-breaks determined on for these 

 estates (now 16 miles in length) has continued to receive 

 attention. It is satisfactory to record that 15,424 economic 



plants were distributed to allottees during the year, of which 

 15,060 were cacao plants. 



Mr. Osment reports that the allottees have, for the 

 most part, worked their lands to good advantage. Provisions 

 have been largely grown by allottees who also rear poultry 

 and other small stock. The prospects of cacao cultivation 

 are considered satisfactory. 



The report indicates that a decided improvement is 

 noticeable on the cultivations under the Land Settlement 

 Scheme. 



TO SAGO.- ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION, ETC., IQOJ^S. 



Botanic Station. — The report of the Curator of the 

 Botanic Station shows that the expenditure for the year, 

 including salaries, was £650. The receipts from the sale of 

 plants and produce amounted to £39 3s. l\d. 



There was again a large increase in the number of 

 economic and other plants sold and distributed from the 

 station. The rainfall for the year was only 59"34 inches : 

 the year was the driest since the station was established. 



Taking into consideration the large amount of extra 

 work the dry season entailed in keeping the garden in order, 

 the work has been carried on in a very satisfactory manner. 

 A number of new plants were introduced. 



The experiment plots at the station and in the country 

 districts are calculated to serve a useful purpose as object- 

 lessons. 



Ai/riridtural Inslrucfor. — The duties of the Agricultural 

 Instructor have been mainly in assisting the holders of 

 Crown Lands, of whom there are now 230. He also visited 

 seventeen school gardens, in some of which useful work was 

 being accomplished. 



The returns of the number of cacao trees under 

 cultivation show an increase of 15,905 trees, of which 

 10,130 are in bearing. 



In reviewing these reports the Imperial Commissioner 

 of Agriculture testifies, from a recent personal inspection, 

 to the eminently satisfactory condition of the station and 

 to the useful work being carried on there. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Iinjjerial Commissioner of Agriculture left 

 Barbados for Jamaica in the R. M. S. ' Orinoco ' on 

 Monday, July 31. It is expected that Sir Daniel 

 Morris will return to Barbados about the end of August. 



Professor J. P. d'Albuquerque, M.A., F.I.C., F.C.S., 

 Island Professor of Chemistry and Chemist-in-charge 

 of the Sugar-cane Experiments at Barbados, was 

 expected to embark tor England by mail steamer 

 to-dav on leave of absence. 



Mr. A. J. Jordan, Curator of the Botanic Station 

 at Antigua, has been appointed Curator of the Govern- 

 ment House Gardens at Trinidad. Mr. Jordan will 

 probably leave Antigua on August 23. 



On the recommendation of the Director of the 

 Royai Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies has appointed Mr. Thomas Jackson 

 Curator of the Botanic Gardens at Antigua, in succes- 

 sion to Mr. A. J. Jordan. It is expected that Mr. Jack- 

 son will arrive from England by next mail. 



