Vol. X. No. 238. 



THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS 



181 



in wiving sustained attention to seeds that will not germinate, 

 as it is not until those in the sand or sawdust show signs of 

 sprouting that they are removed to the pots. In this removal, 

 the seeds should be placed in the pot with the pointed end 

 upward; in the case of round seeds, the end that was nearest 

 to the stem of the fruit should be uppermost In any case, 

 about one-quarter of the length of the seed .should be left to 

 project above the surface of the soil, which should he rich 

 and thoroughly moist, but never allowed to hold standing 

 ■water. 



Directions for the propagation of the avocado by budding 

 are given in the article, where it is stated that results have 

 shown that the raising of the plant in this way is no more 

 difficult than that for citrus plant.s. (It may be mentioned 

 that information concerning the budding of the avocado has 

 been given recently in the Agricultnrol News, Vol. IX, 

 p. 116.) On a commercial scale, in California, the plants are 

 grown from seed in pots, as has been explained, until they 

 are about 12 inches high, at which stage they are set out in 

 nursery rows 3i to 4 feet apart, and 14 inches in the row. 

 They are grown in this way and budded, and allowed to 

 remain until they are large enough to be sold. When this is 

 the case, they are balled, or transplanted into pots, and not 

 sold until they have become established. 



Among other methods of propagation that have been 

 tried in California are inarching, grafting, and by cuttings, 

 but no great success has been attained from any of these, 

 while it is very likely that the last mentioned produces plants 

 that are weaker than those olitained from seed, or by budding. 



In plantations, e.vperience has demonstrated so far that 

 the trees should be placed about the same distance apart as 

 orange trees, or if there is plenty of space, at a somewhat 

 greater distance. Budded plants require much less room 

 than those raised from seed, and may therefore be planted 

 more closely. In any case, the tree should be kept to a con- 

 venient size by pruning; only the strongest branches should 

 be allowed to develop, those which are weak being cut out 

 every year. The top should also be cut back regularly, in 

 order to facilitate the picking of the fruit. All transplanting 

 should be done at a time when the plant is (juiescent, and no 

 new growth is being formed. 



Among the points which should be considered in select- 

 ing varieties for planting on a commercial scale, a matter of 

 importance is that those which yield ripe fruit at the time 

 corresponding to mid-winter will obtain the best prices, on 

 account of the greater demand for avocados in North America 

 at that time of the year. The best size of fruit for practical 

 purposes appears to be that giving a weight of about 1 Ifi. 

 The quality of the product is naturally one of the most 

 important matters in making the choice; the variety .should 

 also be prolific, and should possess fruit with good keeping 

 properties having a smooth, thick, leatheiy skin, and a small 

 seed which completely fills the space in the centre of the fruit. 

 There will be, in addition to varieties of this kind, those for 

 the cheaper markets, as well as for local consumption. 



The article from which the above information is obtained 

 is well illustrated, and concludes with a list of varieties, which 

 receive attention in the shape of a detailed description in 

 each case. 



The S.S. ' Korona' has taken an cNpedition from the 

 American Museum of Natural History. It will stop at 

 Dominica for several weeks, spend seven weeks in the interior 

 of British Guiana, and attempt the ascent of Mount Roraima. 

 It will make collections of H'ora and fauna. (Public Telegram, 

 May 30, 1911.) ' ' •'- 



AGRICULTURE IN TRINIDAD, 1909-10. 



CACAO. The exports of cacao continue to increase in 

 quantity. 51,575,000 lb. having been exported during the 

 year ending December 31, 1909. 



A large number of manurial experiments was started at 

 River Estate by the Department of Agriculture and the 

 results are looked forward to with considerable interest. 



Spraying experiments have been carried out by the 

 Board of Agriculture and the results are reported to be satis- 

 factory The Mycologist and the Entomologist have also 

 been engaged in studying the diseases of cacao, and recom- 

 mending remedies. 



suiiAit. The exports during 1909 amounted to 45,330 

 tons; 11,401 cane farmers produced 154,000 tons of canes, 

 which were sold to the estate factories for the sum of 

 $337,000. at the average rate of !?2'19 per ton. 



Special attention has been given during the year to the 

 study of the ' frog-hopper ' insect, which is most destructive 

 to the cane crops, with a view to discovering the most 

 effective means of minimising the attacks of this pest. 



cocoA-NUT.s. The demand for these continues to 

 increase, and the prices obtained are remunerative. Exports 

 during 1909 were over 20,300,000 nuts. 



L'UBUER. The following statistics of rubber cultivation 

 have been supplied by planters. The trees vary in age from 

 one to fifteen years; — 



Hevea 80,000 trees 



Castilloa 000,000 ,. 



Funtunua 25,000 ,, 



Hevea having been found to grow well, a large consign- 

 ment of seeds was imported from the Malay States, but only 

 a small number (about 3,000) germinated. As it is intended 

 to grow Hevea on a larger scale, a further supply of seeds 

 will be obtained. 



Castilloa trees grow well, and rubber has been exported 

 in small quantities for the past few years. Tapping on 

 a larger scale is about to be undertaken. 



EICE. This cultivation is entirely in the hands of small 

 growers, who grow mostly for their own use. 



UANANAs. I'^xperiments in manuring bananas have 

 been carried out by the Government on its lands known as 

 St. Augustine, and it has been shown that a profitable return 

 can be obtained from heavy applications of pen manure. 

 The variety of banana known as 'Governor' has been shown 

 to possess several advantages over the 'Gros Michel' variety. 



About 110,000 bunches have been exported during the 

 vear, .showing a large increase over any previous year. 



ACKicuLTURAL SHOWS. Five .sliiiws were held during the 

 year in different districts and a remarkable improvement in 

 the quality of the exhibits was shown. 



(lovERNiiEN'r t'AEM. Additions have been made to the 

 breeds of stock at the farm by the importation of Holstein, 

 Guernsey .and Jersey bulls and cows. A second sire jack has 

 also been imported. The hackney and thoroughbred stallions 

 continue to be highly appreciated. (Colonial Reporti — 

 Annual, No. 664, p. 9.) 



