Vol. X. No. 246. 



THE AGEICULTUKAL NEWS. 



307 



the distribution of plants aiiiounteii to 11,770, and 

 included 9,895 cacao plants and l,40(i niitmeg!=. The 

 Agricultural Superintendent furnished a report in 1907, 

 in which the fact was emphasized that cacao was the 

 chief f-ri.p p'anted by allottees. As a resuU of the dis- 

 tribution of c^icno plants fnim th(.- Botanic. .Soation, tlie 

 Gcorgitown Experincnt Station and the Linley and 

 CiDiiberland Valleys, the total number growing, inclusive 

 cf those raised by the allottees, was at least (iO.OOO. Plants 

 other than cacao in |)erinanent cultivation were coffee, 

 nutmegs, cocoa-nuts and cinnamon; in addition, sugar- 

 cane, arrowroot, cassava, cotton, ground nuts, and provis- 

 ion crops were grown on considerable areas. At this 

 time, prizes weie awarded from the Land Settlement 

 Fund in order to promote competition. 



In June 1910, l^nioii Island, some forty miles 

 to the south of St. Vincent, was purchased, subse- 

 quent to a petition from its inhabitants for inclu- 

 sion under the Land Settlement Scheme, and the pro- 

 gress since that time has led to the hope that the new 

 departure will meet with success. OUier further mat- 

 ters are connected with the fact that negotiations are 

 proceeding, at the present time, for the acijuisiiioii of 

 the Fairhall estate in order to provide agricultural 

 settlements for the pea.santry living in and near the 

 town ofCalliaqua. 



At this stage the Report ends its review of the 

 annual progress of the work and gives attention to the 

 agricultural side of the scheme, using the information 

 supplied in a recent paper by Mr. W. X. Sands, 

 Agricultural Superintendent, dealing with the matter, 

 which appeared in the West. Indian Bulletin, Yo\. XI, 

 p 194. It is here that reference is made to the 

 importance of the introduction of the Sea Island 

 cotton industry into St. Vincent. This section 

 concludes with the following statement; 'It would 

 be difficult to overestimate the progress which 

 has been made through the efforts of the Agri- 

 cultural Department. The otficers of this Bepart- 

 ment have not only dealt with questions concerning 

 the best method of growing and handling different 

 crops, but also with those of maintaining the fertility 

 of the lands of the small holdings. Instruction has 

 been freely given in the making of drains to prevent 

 washing; the formation of compost heaps and manure 

 pens; the growing of leguminous and other plants for 

 green-dressing purposes; the utilization of grass and 

 bush as mulch for permanent crops and arrrowroot; the 

 rotation of crojjs and pasture fallowing. The advice 

 that has been received in these and other matters is 



producing a class of small holders which is a valuable 

 asset to the agricultural progress of the Colony.' 



The opinion is finally reached in the Report that 

 the results of the scheme are justifying its adoption, 

 and th.it misapprehension as to its purpose has to 

 a large extent disappeared. lo is pointed out, however, 

 that success is not as yet complete, and attention is 

 drawn to the circumstance that the most urgent 

 requirement for such success is co-operation among 

 the peasantry. This exists to a certain extent ia 

 the interests connected with the Government cotton 

 factory, and in the formation of an agj-icultural credit 

 bank in one of the districts, and there is little doubt 

 that the success which is being obtained with these will 

 lead to the taking of further measures for closer union 

 among the allottees under the Scheme. 



SUGAR IN PORTO RICO, 1910. 



Of the $37,900,219 of exports during the fiscal year 

 1910, sugar and molasses totalled $24,145,046. Since the 

 earliest times, l^orto liico has been noted for the quality of 

 her sugar-cane The strip of level land bordering her sea- 

 coasts has been mainly devoted to this crop. Since the 

 American occupation, this industry has had a phenomenal 

 growth, brought aliout by favourable trade relations with the 

 United States, the installation of modern equipment in both 

 the cultivatifin and the grinding of the cane, and in modern 

 methods of culture. Although the cane acreage has been 

 increased, the greater gain has resulted from a better prepara- 

 tion and cultivation of the soil, and the application of fertil- 

 izers. The greatest increase in the future production of sugai 

 on the island will be brought about by more intensive culti- 

 vation, augmented to some extent by a larger acreage planted 

 in cane. 



Owing to the profit of cane-growing under present con- 

 ditions in I'orto Rico, the planter endeavours to continue this 

 crop on the land without rotation. This is contrary to the 

 best practice in agriculture, and, to succeed, the grower must 

 apply an unusual skill, or disaster will overtake him. The 

 first endeavour among progressive planters has been the 

 changing of varieties, especially the introduction of the new 

 productions obtained from the seed The experiment station 

 has for several years been engaged in breeding new canes, 

 and importing those of other stations in the West and East 

 Indies. The aim in this work is to secure a cane of larger 

 tonnage, greater sweetness, and resistance to disease. 



The sugar planters, realizing the importance of .scientific 

 research in the improvement of their industry, liave organized 

 their own station for the study of the questions directly affect- 

 ing sugar production. A tract of land has been purchased 

 and a stall' selected. The various phases and factors influ- 

 encing sugar production will be studied. This station, working 

 in harmony with the Federal Station, will greatly profit tha 

 industry in Porto Rico. It will also relieve to some extent 

 the latter station, which is endeavouring to cover many line* 

 of work in the large and important field of tropical agricul- 

 ture. (Animal Report, of the Porto Rico AgricultiM-al E.rperi- 

 nient Station iox 1910, p. 8.) 



