Vol. X. No. 235. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



135 



on the market. The question of reduction having been thus 

 decided, it remains to consider the position in regard to any 

 proposed extension. 



In a letter received recently, j\Ir. .J. A. Hutton, Chair- 

 man of the British Cotton Growing Association, expresses 

 the opinion that it will not be wise to effect any increase of 

 note in the cotton-growing areaof the West Indies, and show- 

 ing agreement at the same time with wha*l,has been said above 

 concerning reduction. Mr. Button comments, further, on the 

 present ditticulty of moving any quantities of Sea Island cotton 

 at high prices, and refers particularly to the similar circuni- 

 stances in the United States. He points nut that West Indian 

 producers have to decide whether they will permit the cotton 

 to be offered at 14c?. to 16c?. per lb — at which rate, as he 

 states, every bale would be sold promptly — or if they will hold 

 out, for six months to a year, for higher prices, in which case 

 the British Cotton Growing Association vail be qaite willing 

 to finance the cotton for them. 



This is the present position, described briefly. Turning 

 to the conditions in the various islands, the increased yields 

 of the past season have in some cases led to the suggestion 

 that larger areas .shall be put in for the coming crop. There 

 does not appear to beany reason why this should not be done, 

 as long as the increases are not extensive and of such a size 

 as to prevent the crop from obtaining that particular and 

 sustained attention that is necessary to the realization of 

 a reasonable yield. The ability of tlie planter and his staff 

 to give adequate care to the area in the fields that he will 

 find under his .supervision is a far more important factor in 

 the case than any considerations as to market prices — 

 a matter that has been demonstrated to an almost tragical 

 extent in some of the islands, such as .Antigua and Nevis. 

 The matters of importance, then, are these: caution in making 

 individual extensions, and the provision of constant care for 

 the purpose of increasing the yield per acre, due consideration 

 being given to the relation between the increased expenditure 

 for this yield and the added value nf the probable total 

 product. 



FORESTRY IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA. 



The Annual Report on the Forest ri/ and A rp-icultural 

 Departments, Southern Nigeria, 1909 (Southern Nigeria, 

 No. 30 of 1910), has been received recently, and it is the 

 purpo.se of the present article to drave attention to a few out of 

 the many points of interest contained in that report. 



Much work is being done in Southern Nigeria with 

 reference to the artificial regeneration of forests, and in pur- 

 suance of this, large numbers of seeds, seedlings, -rooted 

 stumps and suckers of various plants have- been sold by the 

 Forestry and Agricultural Departments toindividuals, distri- 

 buted to Executive Officers and placed out, in plantations.- 

 The chief of the plants thus employed have been Para rubber, 

 the .soft-shelled oil palm, bamboo, mahogan)',- Funtumia, Ficns 

 elastica. West Indian cedar, Indian teak, as well as; some' of 

 the native plants . , . 



, An interesting note on Funtumia. elastica refers to the 

 .fact that both the excision and the incision systems may be 

 employed for collecting rubber from this ])lant. -In the former 

 method, the cuts are deep, and extend as far as the cambium, 

 "while in the incision system, shallow channels are opened, 

 Hvhich "are just d^ep enough to allo-\v the latex to flow, and 

 ■then incisions a're made into these with a pricker. In regard 

 •1o the- excision system,' the most satisfactory yields were 

 -obtained with spiral cuttings, though the results have been 

 generally very disappointing, as the trees require a long rest 

 after having been tapped in this way. The best method 



seems to be the employment of incision tapping, as compara- 

 tively little damage is done to the plant, and it is claimed 

 that a tree can be tapped three times a year in this manner 

 without showing a decreased yield. 



It was not found possible to coagulate cold Funtumia 

 latex either with acetic acid or Purub (see At/ricidtural News, 

 Vol. IX, p. 143); though good results were given when form- 

 alin or absolute alcohol was used. In regard to the prepara- 

 tion of rubber, the statement is made that there is no reason 

 for the natives to employ expensive chemicals for the purpo.se, 

 as good thin biscuits can be made equally well by boiling 

 small quantities of the latex, and washing and pressing it. 



Information is given in regard to the palm oil tree 

 {Elaeis guineensis), and attention is drawn to the importance 

 of discovering the nature of the differences between the soft- 

 shelled and the hard-shelled varieties. Much work has been 

 accomplished in regard to the question, but it appears that 

 the only matter of certainty at present is that seeds of the 

 soft shelled kind cannot be depended upon to give plants 

 yielding similar seeds. In any case, the importance of the 

 matter to Southern Nigeria can be gauged from the fact that 

 the totfil exports of the products of the oil palm during 1909 

 were over -10,000 tons of kernels, and nearly 7 millioa 

 imperial gallons of palm oil. 



As has been indicated, the above report contains several 

 interesting matters which cannot be well dealt with here. 

 Attention may be also drawn to another report issued by the 

 same Department (Southern Nigeria. No 25 of 1910), 

 entitled .S(»/)o/-^ hy the Conservator of Forests on His Tour 

 through Meko and Shaki Districts, which contains, among 

 Other matters, important information in regard to the more 

 useful plants of the .savannah forests of Southern Nigeria. 



AGRICULTURAL TRAINING IN 

 ST. LUCIA. 



An announcement bearing the date March 18, 1911, 

 has been issued by the St. Lucia Department of Agriculture, 

 dealing with the new organization in connexion with the 

 teaching of practical agriculture. This is to the effect that 

 the department is |)repared to receive a limited number of 

 pupils for practical training in agriculture at the Botanic 

 Station, for two years. Candidates must be at least 

 sixteen years old; they must be physically fit, and have 

 shown aptitude for instruction in agriculture. They must 

 also have received sufficient instruction in ordinary elemen- 

 tary school subjects to show that they are capable of taking 

 advantage of the training offered, and must posse.ss a good 

 character. Arrangements will be made for granting satisfac- 

 tory pupils a small increa.sing allowance; and in cases where 

 it is neces.sar}', a small additional allowance toward the 

 carriage of pupils, living at a distance, to the Botanic Station. 



The course of instruction will be essentially practical, 

 including nursery work, the cultivation and care of staple 

 crops, and subjects connected with these such as tillage, 

 drainage, weeding, sowing, transplanting, manuring and 

 mulching: the treatment of pest.-; and disease.s, pruning, 

 methods of vegetative propagation, arid the preparation for 

 the market of crops and their transportation. 



Proper attention will be given to the theoretical .side of 

 the subjects by the provision of class instruction and home 

 study under the direction of the Agricultural Superintendent. 



Application for admission of candidates must be madu 

 on forms supplied ■ 'by the Agricultural Superintendent. 

 Accepted pupils will have to show satisfactorj' conduct and 

 progress, or they will not be retained under instruction. 



