Vol. X. No. 244. 



THE AQRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



277 



GREEN DRESSING TRIALS IN 



DOMINICA. 



The following nrtiele comprises an account of recent 

 trials with green dressings made at the Agricultural 

 School, l)iiininica, which has been prepared by the 

 Assistant Curator of the Botanic Station. In forward- 

 ing the account, the Curator states that the first-men- 

 tioned, namely Tcphrosia candula, is the most promis- 

 ing of all the green dressings that have come under the 

 observation of the Dominica Agricultural Department. 



TEPHKOSIA c.vNDiD.v. Seeds of this green dressing were 

 received from ibe Commissioner of Agriculture in October 

 1910. On November 2, they were sown in drills 3 feet 

 apart, on a light open .soil, the previous crop having been 

 yams. No soil was received for inoculation, and the plot was 

 not in any way specially prepared. Cierminatio]i was good 

 and even. Growth at first was somewhat slow. The plot 

 was weeded on three occasions — earlj' in December, late in 

 January and early in March. After the last date, further weed- 

 ing was unnecessary, the ground being covered over. The 

 plants continued to grow in height for several months, anel it 

 was not until the first week in August that ilowers appeared, 

 on a few of them; the average height at this date was slightly 

 over 6 feet. The ground under them was perfectly clean 

 from weeds, being covered by a light layer of decayed leaves. 



This is one of the most promising of green dressings, 

 especially for rubber cultivations; and if e.xperiments show 

 that it can survive topping at .about 3 feet from the ground, 

 for cacao and limes, as well The .saving in the weeding 

 expenses resulting from its use would lie very considerable. 

 Once this green dressing has become established, it keeps 

 the soil clean for many months. 



It is hoped that it will seed plentifully, and that sup- 

 plies of seeds will be available for planters. 



TEPHROsiA luntruKEA. Seeds of this green dressing were 

 received from the Commissioner of Agriculture during Febru- 

 ary of this year. Together with the seeds was sent a bag 

 containing a small (piantity of soil in which the plant had 

 been successfully grown in the East, with the object of sup- 

 plying the special variety of the nodule organism that lives 

 in symbiosis with T. piu'purea. 



Both the seeds and the soil were sown together, on Feb- 

 ruary 17; a few seeds, however, were put in without the soil, 

 as a control. Unfortunately, only seven holes germinated, 

 and six of the seven were in the part of the plot which had 

 been inoculated. 



The growth of leafage was at first very sparse, and con- 

 tinued so until the first flowering took place, which was early 

 in May — eleven weeks from the date of .mowing. The plants 

 continued to spread, bearing Howers and seeds nearly all 

 the time. At present (August) they are covered with 

 flowers, have a spread of about 3 feet, and are between 2 and 

 3 feet high. The seeds that have already matured have been 

 sown, and further experiments will be carried out with thi.s 

 green dressing. 



As far as one is able to judge at present, 1'. purpurea is 

 not nearly as valuable as a green dressing as the last-men- 

 tioned species of Tephrosia, namely, T. Candida. 



.TEHUSALEM PEA (Phaseolus trinefvin). A small quantity 

 of seed of this green dressing was received from the Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture early in February of this year. It was sown 

 on February 10, in drills 3 feet apart, in a fairly loose soil, the 

 previous crop having been soy beans. The soil was not in any 

 way specially prepared. Cermination was somewhat uneven. 

 The plot was twice weeded — on March 28 and May 12; no 

 further weeding was required. Phaseolus trinervis has a very 

 marked creeping habit of growth, and any unevenness which 

 appeared at first was soon concealed by the growing planti. 

 It is a vigorous grower, under conditions in Dominica, and 

 when last examined in the middle of August, showed no signs 

 of flowering. The growth is very thick, and, on an average, 

 2 feet high; the plant is very effective in keeping down weeds, 

 and has already occupied the ground six mouths. 



As a cover crop, it is a valuable addition to the few really 

 good plants available for this purpose. Its twining habit, 

 however, is somewhat unfavourable when it is growing among 

 young limes and cacao, unless care is taken to keep the vines 

 away from the trees themselves. 



In the middle of the plot, the leaves of a few of the 

 plants were attacked by a minute red spider, which does con- 

 siderable harm to the plants. Those attacked have been 

 removed and destroyed, with the hope, in this way, to pre- 

 vent the spread of the pest to other parts of the plot. 



CHICK PEA {Cicer arietinuia). Seeds of this green 

 dressing were obtained from Ceylon, by the Commissioner of 

 Agriculture, and a small quantity forwarded in May for trial 

 in Dominica. 



The seeds were sown in drills 3 feet apart, on May 30; 

 the previous crop was the Bambarra ground nut ( Vuandzeia 

 su/jteri'anea). 



The seeds germinated fairly evenly, but failed to grow 

 more than a few inches, when the roots were badly attacked by 

 a fungus, followed by mealy-bugs. The plants made an 

 attempt to produce seeds, flowering during the first week 

 in July five weeks from the date of sowing. Later, the 

 leaves, flowers and young pods (containing one or two seeds) 

 were attacked by a green caterpillar. 



It is quite evident that Cicer arielinmu requires condi- 

 tions very different from tho.se obtaining in Dominica, for 

 its successful cultivation. 



cv.iMOP.sis psoRALioiDEs. Seeds were received at the 

 same time as those of the last-mentioned plant, but though 

 carefully sown in well prepared land, they unfortunately failed 

 to germinate. 



With reference to the two plants dealt with first, 

 above {Tephrosia Candida and T. purpurea), it may 

 be mentioned that accounts of the results of similar 

 trials, made in St. Lucia, are given on page 24-5 of the 

 current volume of the Aijricidtural News, and on 

 page 2S4- of this number. 



The Proceedings of the A'jricultural Societij of Trinidad 

 and Tolia<io shows that the amount of cacao shipped from 

 Trinidad during .June last was r),215,414 lb., and that the 

 quantity exported during the [iresent year was 35,100,943 lb. 

 In 1910, the exports, up to the end of June, were 

 39,277,699 fti. 



