Vol. X. No. 234. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



125 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



APRIL. 



Second Period. 



Seasonal Notes. 



Where cotton is grown as an intervening crop with 

 .sugar cane — a scheme that has been adopted to a large e.xtent 

 in St. Kitts — the planting of the coming cane crop is delayed 

 to a certain degree, and it is well to consider the advi-sability, 

 under the.se circumstances, of planting early maturing variet- 

 ies of cane, such as B.208. Discuss the effects of cutting at 

 the same time varieties of cane that have 1 leen planted simul- 

 taneously, but reach maturity at the end of different periods 

 of growth. What effects has such a circumstance on the work 

 of making muscovado .sugar? Compare the results of these 

 effects in a muscovado works with those in a modern central 

 factory. If the weather is drj- during the time that cane is 

 being planted, an excellent opportunity is afforded of making 

 observations for the purpo.se of finding the connexion between 

 the methods of treatment of the cuttings, before planting, and 

 the percentage of sprouts that is obtained; these observations 

 should have special reference to the treatment of sugarcane 

 planting material with Bordeaux mixture. 



The chief insect pest of the cane that will show itself at the 

 present time is the moth borer, which at this season lays its 

 eggs on the leaves of the young plants. Where the eggs are 

 found, a few should be collected, and after they have hatched, 

 the caterpillars should be fed on fresh cane leaves, being at the 

 same time kept in a jar at the bottom of which there are 2 or 

 3 inches of soil. Another reason for keeping the eggs of the 

 moth borer under careful observation will be to study, if pos- 

 sible, the way in which the parasites of the egg work in 

 attacking and destroying it. In relation to the moth borer 

 as a pest of sugar-cane, discuss the advisability or other- 

 wise of cutting out dead hearts in order to control it as 

 far as pos.sible. In relation to this matter, make a consider- 

 ation as to the way in which the extent of the adoption of 

 such a means of control has relation to the possible 

 loss of crop that it entails, and what is more, to the degree 

 to which the plants are Ijeing attacked. It must be remem- 

 bered that in any discussion as to whether the cutting 

 out of dead hearts for the control of this pest is profitable, 

 consideration must be given to the question of the severity 

 of the attack, and to the cost of the labour entailed in the 

 operation. 



In the cultivation of ratoon canes, regard must be 

 had to the circumstance that the sugar-cane possesses an 

 underground stem, or rhizome, and that any injury to this is 

 likely to have the effect of reducing the number of stalks in 

 the ratoon stool. In order to observe thi- underground stem, 

 the best method is to remove a stool of well-grown canes com- 

 pletely from the soil and to wash away any of the latter that 

 is] clinging to them, by means of a stream of water. The poss- 



ession of such a stem by the cane explains the fact that 

 ratoons grown season after season tend to spread and make 

 the lines of cultivation irregular. Why is it advised, in the 

 light of the first-mentioned facts, to till ratoons as soon as 

 possible after the reaping of the crop; and what result is dam- 

 age to the underground stem likely to produce in relation to 

 the next year's crop ? Information in connexion with the.se 

 matters may be found in the Agricultural News, Vol. VIII, 

 p. 329, and in the West Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, No. 2. 



The cjuestion of tillage naturally suggests that of the 

 different uses of the soil to the plant, and therefore to the 

 agriculturist. The soil is of the greatest importance in 

 relation to the power which it possesses of absorbing and 

 storing water, and of giving it up to plants when it is wanted; 

 this is why so much attention is paid, particularly where the 

 rainfall is small, to the carrying out of such methods of tillage 

 as will best enable the soil to hold the water which may be 

 otherwise lost through evaporation. Much attention has been 

 given in the past to the view that soil is a storehouse of food 

 for plants, and many of the theories of manuring have been 

 based alone upon this idea of its utility. These theories are 

 receiving considerable modification at the present time, because 

 it is now recognized that the soil constitutes a place where 

 many of the food bodies useful to plants are manufactured 

 from substances that are not available to them. In relation 

 to this manufacture, more knowledge is being gained continu- 

 ally as to the part taken in it by several of the minute 

 organisms that live in the soil, and it is expedient for the 

 student, as well as all others interested in agriculture, to 

 follow as far as may be the developments that are taking 

 place in this view of soil activity and usefulness to plants. 

 Other lines of thought will have reference to the physical 

 support afforded to plants by soil, and the influence of light 

 both on the plants and on the organisms in the soil, in relation 

 to the changes that take place in its constitution, and affect 

 its utility as a medium for the growing of plants. 



Questions for Candidates. 



PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. 



(1) Examine and describe carefully the seeds of any 

 three commonly cultivated plants. 



(2) Give an account of the value of green dressings to 

 the soil. 



(3) Write down the details of any simple method for 

 classifying manures. 



INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS. 



( 1 ) Give an account of the operations in connexion with 

 checking the growth and spread of weeds, on an estate with 

 which you are acquainted. 



(2) State what you know about the fact of the possession 

 of a rhizome by the sugar-cane. 



(3) What are the main features of the means that are 

 commonly adopted for keeping in check the fungus diseases 

 of plants? 



FINAL QUESTIONS. 



(1) Give an account of the way in which leguminous 

 plants assist in the addition of nitrogen to the soil. 



(2) State what you know of the commercial importance 

 of the pos.session of rhizomes by certain plants. 



(3) Draw up a scheme of the general methods for the 

 control of insect pests, and illustrate the methods mentioned 

 by means of matters from your own e.^perience. 



