Vol. IV. No. 8-5. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



217 



Rubber Trees in Dominica. 



In the A<jricaltar<d News (Vol. IV, p. 39) a note 

 from the Admini.strator of Dominica was published 

 describing the system of road-side planting of rubber 

 trees that had been adopted in Dominica. For 

 a distance of 9 miles along one side of the Imperial 

 road, plants (to the number of about 2, .500) of the two 

 species Ccmtilloa da»tica and Fv/ntumia elasfira have 

 been planted alternatel3^ As the altitude of the road 

 varies from 4.50 feet to 1,800 feet, this experiment is 

 likely to furnish very valuable information as to the 

 conditions of elevation, soil, and exposure at which 

 these trees thrive best. 



In a recent report to the Imperial Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, Dr. Francis Watts makes some interest- 

 ing observations on this experiment. The best results 

 have been obtained in the district of Bassinville, where 

 the Castilloa trees have thriven remarkably well. In 

 other districts the Funtumia trees appear to have 

 grown better. Sujiplying will be necessary in some 

 places, and for this purpose seeds will soon be available 

 at the Botanic Station. 



The experiment undoubtedly brings out the fact 

 that Castilloa requires a well-drained soil, which must 

 not be too heavy. As pointed out by Dr. Watts, it 

 may usefully be assumed as a guide in planting 

 Castilloa that this tree requires much the some .soil 

 conditions as cacao. 



Insect and B'ungoid Pests in British Guiana. 



In the Annual Report on the British Guiana 

 Botanic Gardens, reviewed elsewhere in this issue, 

 Mr. Bartlett makes interesting observations on the 

 injuries done to plants in the colony by insects and 

 fungi. 



Attention was paid to the alleged destruction of 

 rice by the ' rice bug ' in the island of Leguan. The 

 damage was caused by the insects sucking the grains 

 in their young stage. This was, however, restricted to 

 one field and was found on investigation not to be as 

 great as was stated. 



Many of the cocoa-nut and cabbage palms, both in 

 the gardens and in other parts of the colony, were 

 attacked by caterpillars which fed on the leaves. In 

 some cocoa-nut jjlantations considerable damage was 

 done. 'Insufficient has been ascertained about the 

 life-history of the insect to suggest means of destroying 

 it.' Reference is also made to the larger moth borer of 

 the sugai'-cane {Ga>ttnm licus), a full account of which 

 has already appeared in the Agricultural Xeivs. 



In regard to fungoid diseases, Mr. Bartletf's 

 •observations are confined to the pests of cacao. As 

 has already been reported, the ' witch broom ' disease 

 was discovered on one estate; the 'thread' disease on 

 two estates: while on everj' estate visited the cacao 

 pod disease, caused by Pliytophthora omnivora, was 

 found. The 'brown rot' disease, due to Diplodia 

 cacaoicola, was found only on dead husks. 



A previously undescribed fungoid disease was 

 plentiful on some plantations. The cause of this has 

 not yet been identified. 



Manuring: Forest Trees. 



An article in the Journal of the Board of 

 Agriculture (Great Britain) reviews experiments that 

 have been carried out in Belgium, Germany, and 

 Holland, to determine the advisability of cultivating 

 and manuring the soil for forest trees. 



Usually no .special measures are taken to |)repare 

 the soil before transplanting forest trees from the 

 nursery. The German Agricultural Society is directing 

 a comprehensive series of trials for the purpose of 

 ascertaining v/hat form of manuring is likely to give 

 the best results. As far as these have gone, they 

 appear to indicate that a considerable increase of 

 growth may be obtained by means of manures and 

 cultivation. 



'Careful management of the humus is a point 

 which is considered deserving of special attention, as it 

 is the only source of plant food in the later stages of 

 the trees.' 



Importance is also attached to the use of 

 legun)inous plants as an inexpensive means of enriching 

 the soil : moreover, their cultivation offers the best 

 means of deejDening the soil. 



Agricultural Industries of Bermuda. 



It is stated in the Annual Report on Bermuda 

 for 1904 that the cultivation of onions, potatos, and 

 lily bulbs for the United States markets is the chief 

 agricultural industry of Bermuda. Special reference 

 has been made to the onion trade. 'Che potato crop 

 was somewhat smaller than in 1903. The lily croj] was 

 again a small one, and the prices were poor. It appears 

 that the Bermuda lily has now to compete with the 

 Jajmn variety, which is placed on the American market 

 at a low price. Diseases affecting the lily bulb are 

 being investigated, and new varieties tested. 



The exports of arrowroot show an increase. 

 The one factory equipped with modern plant 

 is capable of producing a large quantity of this 

 valuable commodity, which is of excellent quality and 

 commands a high price in the home and foreign 

 markets. There was during 1904 an appreciable 

 increase in the exports of vegetables other than onions 

 and potatos. 



Reference is made in the report to the Public 

 Garden which is supported chiefly as an Experiment 

 Station under the management of the Board of Agri- 

 culture. Mr. T. J. Harris, formerl}' of the Department 

 of Public Gardens and Plantations, Jamaica, a.ssumed 

 charge at the end of the financial year, and much good 

 work was done at the garden. 



It is evident that useful work is being carried on 

 by Mr. Harris. Experiments are to be carried out in 

 growing Sumatra tobacco for wrappers, in the cultivation 

 of new varieties of potatos, in establishing standard 

 varieties of vegetables and strawberries for Bermuda, 

 in the cultivation of peaches, etc. Some difficulty has 

 been experienced in growing fruit on account of the 

 attacks of the fruit fly. Mention was made in the 

 last issue of the Agricultural News (Vol. IV, p. 200) 

 of Mr. Harris' efforts to raise onion seed locally. 



