Vol. X. No. 245. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



293 



The fruit is full of juice, but the aroma is not so strong 

 as that of Dominica limes. I notice, however, that the 

 aroma of the yellow limes is stronger than that of the green. 



I would advise the packing of this fruit in square boxes, 

 size one foot square, to hold approximately 220 limes, or in 

 double case.% with a division in the middle, which could easily 

 be sawn in two. Such cases in reasonable quantities should 

 have a steady sale in London at prices ranging from 3s. to 

 4s. Gd,, delivered at Nine Elms Station, London. The 

 London market is very uncertain, and would require very 

 careful watching until limes are as well known by the 

 English public as they are in America. 



TRIALS WITH GREEN DRESSINGS IN 



ST. KITTS. 



On pages 245 and 284 of this volume of the Agri- 

 cultural News, information was given concerning trials 

 that have been conducted recently in St. Lucia with 

 certain green dressing plants. The last number of the 

 Agriculiihral News (p. 277) presented an account of 

 similar experiments made in Dominica. Since this was 

 received, a report on green dressing experiments of 

 a like nature has been supplied by 5Ir F. R. Shepherd, 

 Agricultural Superintendent, St. Kitts-Nevis. In for- 

 warding this, Mr. Shepherd states that the results 

 obtained in St. Kitts, at the La Guerite Experiment 

 Station, are almost identical with those reported from 

 St. Lucia. The details of the report are as follows: — 



TEFHK0SI.4. CAXDiD.i. This was planted on November 14, 

 at distances 2 feet square, and at first grew slowly, but later 

 on the plants developed into fine, large bushes, covering the 

 land thoroughly and keeping down ali grass and weeds. At 

 the present time the plants are from 5 to 6 feet high, with 

 laterals from 3 to 4 feet, and as yet show no signs of flower- 

 ing. On examination, a few nodules were found on the lateral 

 roots. 



These plants have been growing during the last fewmonths 

 under very dry conditions, and do not appear to be suffering 

 in any way. I was surprised to find, only a few weeks ago, 

 that the plant is growing wild here, as I found in a garden 

 quite near the Station, a number of specimens growing most 

 luxuriantly; I am informed that it also grows on the mountain 

 lands. 



As soon as seed is obtainable, further trials will be made 

 with this plant, as from what can be gathered from this 

 experiment, it should prove a valuable crop for green dress- 

 ings. 



TErnEosiA pui;puRE.\. A small quantity of seed was 

 received from the Commissioner of Agriculture, for trial, and 

 also a little soil in which the plant had previously grown. 

 This was mixed with the seed, and sown in a plot, in JLarch. 



Germination was very slow and irregular; but later on 

 most of the seed sprouted, and in about three months the 

 plants began to flower, when about 2 feet high. They are 

 now bearing seed, which is being collected for further trial. 

 As a green dressing, they are not to be compared for foliage, 

 etc., with 2'ephrosia Candida. 



CYAMOPsis rsoEALOiDES. Sccds of this plant were 

 received from the Commissioner of Agriculture in April, and 

 sown at the Experiment Station on May 14. They germina- 

 ted well, and have produced plants from 2 feet to 3 feet 

 high, with distinct characters; some have bushy laterals 

 a})Out 2 feet long and others are erect, without any laterals. 



They are at present covered with seed, which is produced in 

 small, straight pods growing in clusters from the stem. 



The plants are very succulent and should be useful as 

 a green dressing. No nodules have so far been observed on 

 the roots. Further trials on a larger scale will be made with 

 this plant. 



One of the matters of chief interest in relation to 

 the experiments in the three islands named is that 

 Tephrosia Candida has shown itself likely in every case 

 to constitute a valuable plant when employed as a green 

 dressing. 



THE CONSTITUTION OP YOUNG 

 CASTILLO A PLANTS. 



Interesting experiments have been undertaken recently, 

 in Malaya, for the purpose of ascertaining the manurial 

 requirements of Para rubber plants. These have been fol- 

 lowed at the Jardin Colonial, Nogent-sur-Marne, by similar 

 experiments in relation to CustiUoa elastica. The results of 

 the latter work are presented in L'Agriculture Pratiqug des 

 Pays Chauds for June 1911, from which the following infor- 

 mation is taken. 



The work was done with plants of Castilloa elastica one 

 year old, and the method employed was to determine their 

 mineral composition in order to obtain .some indication as to 

 a rational course of manuring for such plants. It is pointed 

 out that the composition of the young plant is probably not 

 identical with that of the matured tree; nevertheless the 

 analysis of it is likely to give indications of the composition 

 of the ash of the adult plant. Again, it should be useful to 

 know what is to be found in the ash of young plants, in order 

 that they may receive adequate manuring for the purpose of 

 accelerating their growth and giving them the vigour by 

 which they may be able to withstand the attacks of pests 

 and diseases. 



The following information concerning the composition of 

 young Castilloa trees is taken from a table given in the 

 article. The selected details are, in percentages : — 



A scheme of manuring based on this table is drawn up, 

 and attention is directed to the fact that the chief bodies 

 that appear to be required by the plant are nitrogen, lime 

 and potash. 



It is intended to conduct manurial experiments, based on 

 information of this nature, at the Jardin Colonial, and the 

 suggestion is made that similar trials .should be made on 

 estates. 



It is stated, for general information, that Mr. C. R. 

 Kennaway, of La Perle estate, St. Lucia, has for sale a pure- 

 bred Jersey bull, born (from imported Jersey stock) in 1908, 

 and imported into St. Lucia, from England, in 1907. 



