Vol. IV. No. 93. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



341 



INOCULATION OF SOIL FOR ALFALFA 

 IN DOMINICA. 



The following interesting report has been received 

 from Mr. A. J. Brooks on an experiment carried out at 

 the Agricultural School at Dominica in inoculating the 

 soil for alfalfa. 



The seed was treated with the culture received 

 from the U. S. Department of Agriculture in June last. 

 Up to the present only one reaping has been made. 

 While the experiment is by no means conclusive, it 

 shows that good residts may be expected. The 

 experiment will be continued, and it will be possible, 

 later on, to state definitely whether alfolta can be grown 

 successfully as a fodder crop at the Agricultural School 

 at Dominica: — 



A plot of land previously occupied with tannias was 

 chosen for the purpose. It was divided into equal parts 

 and separated by a deep drain to prevent tbe bacteria from 

 entering the untreated plot. 



Two and a half pounds of alfalfa seeds were received 

 and divided into equal weights of 1 J lb. One lot of seeds was 

 then taken and inoculated in accordance with instructions 

 received. Both lots of seeds were then sown, the soil of the 

 plot being a sandy loam. 



No difference wa.s observed in the rates of germhiation 

 and there was no apparent difference in the growth of the 

 plants until two months after gernunating. The inoculated 

 plants then appeared to be a little stronger and of a deeper 

 green colour. 



In comparing individual plants, those in the ' inoculated ' 

 plot are much more branched and slightly taller ; but the 

 most striking difference is in their healthier appearance. 



The average size of the plants at the ftowering period 

 was approximately as follows : — 



Inoculated 7 feet to 8 feet. 



Untreated G feet to 7 feet. 



Six average plants were carefully taken from each plot 

 for an exandnation of the roots, and the results were as 

 follows : — 



In every case the roots of the inoculated plants were 

 much longer (in some instances as great a difference as 

 3 feet), thicker, more branched, and the nodules more 

 numerous, but the latter did not appear to differ in size. 



The difference between the general appearance of the 

 two plots was that the inoculated plants appeared stronger, 

 of a deeper green colour and much healthier, whilst the 

 plants in the untreated plot appeared yellowish and as if 

 suffering from the drought. 



The first reaping was made on September 21, the 

 plants were in ffower and of an average height of 7 feet, thus 

 taking three and a half months from the time of sowing to 

 the flowering period. 



The yield was as follows :— 



Wet. 

 8.5 ft. 

 56 „ 



Dry. 

 19 ft. 

 13 „ 



Inoculated plot ... 



Untreated ,, 



The gain of inoculated over untreated was therefore 

 2;C( ft. (wet) and 6 ft. dry. The percentage gain of inoculated 

 over untreated was 50 per cent. 



COMPOSITION OF JAMAICA CORN. 



Tlie following extract from a paper on Jamaican 

 fodders by Dr. H. H. Cousins, dealing with the composi- 

 tion of Jamaica corn, is reproduced from the Bulletin 

 <if the Departmcat of Ayricalture, Jamaica, for 

 October : — • 



MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN. 



A special study of the composition of countr}' corn as 

 compared with the imported American corn has been made 

 by Mr. E. J. Wortley, of this department, and the results of 

 his analyses are here given. The outstanding features of this 

 investigation are (1) the great superiority of country corn 

 over the imported corn as a source of albuminoids, and (2) the 

 excessive amount of moisture in the country corn. Calculated 

 on a uniform ))asis of 12 per cent, moisture, country corn 

 shows a content of over 10 per cent, of albuminoids as against 

 a little over 7 per cent, in the imported article. 



The prejudice against country corn among horse keepers 

 has arisen simply from the excessive moisture and the 

 liability of such corn to ferment and give horses colic. If 

 properly dried, our native product is decidedly superior to the 

 imported corn. To secure immunity from fermentation corn 

 should be dried to a content of 12-13 per cent, of moisture. 

 This was attained with the oorn at the Experiment Station 

 at Hope by drying for twelve days. 



GUINEA COEN OE SORGHUM. 



The analysis of this corn shows that it contains 12 per 

 cent, of albuminoids and is decidedly superior to any sample 

 of maize in the list. 



In olden days Guinea corn was an important staple and 

 formed one of the chief foods of both man and beast in 

 .Jamaica. It is of interest to record so favourable a composi- 

 tion for a crop grown with such simple culture and capable 

 of such good returns in dry districts. 



ANALYSES OF CORNS. 



^ Dried twelve days i 



BRITISH HONDURAS BOTANIC STATION. 



Many nutmeg plants, which were introduced into the 

 colony and distributed by the Botanic Station, are beginning 

 to bear fruit. The climate and soil of British Honduras 

 appear to be favourable to this product. 



Much useful and important work was done in the 

 nursery attached to the Botanic Station in Belize during the 

 year, and a great number of plants were raised and 

 distributed to meet the requirements of the planting season. 

 (Annual Heporl on British Honduras for 1904:.) 



