226 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



July 29, 1905. 



been given in regard to the selection and the 

 preparation of the land and in caring for the young 

 trees afterwards. 



It is desirable that committees shoukl be appointed 

 as soon as possible, so that the detailed arrangements 

 for the celebrations may be well in hand. This will 

 enable the officers in charge of Botanic Stations to 

 ensure an adequate supply of suitable plants. At the 

 same time proper sites for planting will have to be 

 chosen. This must be done witli due regard to the 

 character of the trees which it is decided to plant. The 

 trees most counnonly chosen for this purpose are palms 

 (principally the cabbage i)alm and the royal palm, 

 Oreodoxa oleracea and 0. reglu), mahogany, white-wood 

 (Bucida Buceras), and, in one instance that has been 

 I'eported in the Agrlcultv.ral A^eivs, viz., in Dominica, 

 CastiUoa elastica for planting along the side of the 

 public road. There is a wide choice of suitable trees in 

 the West Indies both for ornamental and .shade 

 purposes. There are also several very desirable fruit 

 trees for gardens and orchards. 



In order to give the young plants every possible 

 opportunity of making rapid growth, and of fulfilling 

 the purpose for which they are planted in the shortest 

 possible time, special attention should bo given to the 

 preparation of the land. This should be commenced, if 

 possible, early in October. Holes, at least 3 feet square 

 and 2h feet deep, should be dug; these, after a few 

 weeks' exposure to climatic influences, should be 

 carefully filled with good f^j) soil. Where, however, 

 the soil is poor or of a rocky nature, a plentiful supply 

 of well-rotted stable or pen manure should be mixed 

 with the soil. 



After the young trees have been planted, some 

 protection must be afforded against cattle, goats, and 

 fowls. This will best be secured by the erection of tree 

 guards, which may conveniently be made of three 

 strong posts around which \\ ire netting is fastened, or 

 the staves of a barrel may be used for the purpose. 

 Arrangements should also be made for watering the 

 plants, if necessary, and for subsequent weeding and 

 general attention to their requirements. 



With regard to the objects of Arbor Days, it 

 should be clearly understood that in urging its 

 observance the Imperial Department of Agriculture 

 has in view mainly its educational influence. There is 

 no intention to connect it with schemes of re-afforesta- 

 tion. The general lines which it is intended Arbor Day- 

 should serve were stated by the Imperial Commissioner 

 of Agriculture at the West Indian Agricultural Con- 

 ference in Trinidad as follows : — 



' What we hope to accoinplish is this : To have a few 

 special trees planted on certain days in order, not merely that 

 children may develop the desire to perpetuate an event by 

 the planting of a tree (handed down from the earliest times), 

 but that thej- .shouhl always have presented before tliem all 

 the details nece.s«ir\' in order to prepare the ground and look 

 after the tree until it is thoroughly established. That, from 

 an educational point of view, would be a valuable aciiuisition 

 for the individual as well as for the communitj-. I can 

 understand that some people may thiid^ that an Arbor Day 

 is not necessary where vegetation is already abundant, but 

 the idea is to plant a few q}ecial trees and keep tlieui 

 continually under observation in order to illustrate in 

 a practical form the methods and conditions best adapted 

 for plant life.' 



While, however, the main idea is to be educational, 

 the movement may serve a utilitarian purjioso in 

 beautifying the appearance of roads or open spaces and 

 in affording delightful shade from the torrid heat of 

 the sun. Thus in Barbados, where Arbor Day has not, 

 so far, been observed, it has been suggested that, in ,. 

 addition to affording object-lessons to children in the 

 jiroper treatment of trees, Arbor Day celebration nught 

 be taken advantage of to transform some, at least, of 

 the white, glaring roads into shady avenues, thus 

 adding to the general comfort and well-being of the 

 communit}-. 



Tlu' great advantage in regard to the observance 

 of an Arbor Day is that a small expenditure, only, is 

 necessary', in a tropical climate, to produce pleasurable 

 and lasting results. 



% 



JAMAICA BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



The Jamaica Times of June 17 has the following 

 editorial note on the work of the Department of Public 

 Gardens and Plantations, especially in reference to the 

 tobacco experiments : — 



It is with sincere pleasure that we learn that the 

 experiments in tobacco growing, recently conducted at Hope 

 by Jlr. Fawcett's Department, have now reached very definite 

 success. The exjieriment was under the immediate direction 

 of Mr. Cunningham, who has set out the history of its 

 conditions clearly and usefully in a report for which we hope 

 to find space in another issue. 



While we are on the subject of Mr. Fawcett's Depart- 

 ment, we take the opportunity of expressing the appreciation 

 with which we and others have watched his wise and 

 persevering efforts to recommend Agricultui-al Loan Banks, 

 on a voluntary basis, to our people. We try never to say 

 more than we feel, and our readers know that we do not 

 think that the Department of Public Gardens fulfils in all 

 things the work we want done ; but that does not mean that 

 it does not in man}' directions do good and useful work, 

 while, personally, it is always pleasant to have to do with tlie 

 Director himself, who .sets an e.xample of courtesy and 

 gentlemanlincss that all officials would do well to copy. 



