Vol. XVI, Xo. 388. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



G7 



been in charge of the Experiment Station for many 

 years. Mr. Robson's work on cotton selection is fully 

 recognized by the planters of this island, and is 

 regarded as fundamental to the staple industry of the 

 Presidency, Of recent years special attention has been 

 given to the cultivation of the Bay tree, and to investi- 

 gations concerning the yield of oil from the leaves of 

 this tree. Progi-essive work has been done in connexion 

 with the control of pests and diseases. Quite recently 

 an Union Growers' Association has been formed, which 

 introduces the commercial element into the Depart- 

 ment's work, as does also the experimental shipment of 

 fruit and vegetables to Canada, 



Coming to Antigua, we find the most unique 

 instances of progress in Departmental activity. 

 Antigua being the seat of the Federal Government for 

 the Leeward Islands,has for a long time possessed a more 

 fully equipped agricultural establishment, but it began 

 originally m a very small way. The most important 

 event in the economic history of Antigua was the 

 establishment of Gunthorpes Central Sugar Factory in 

 1905, Thi.s was brought abmit lar^'ely through the 

 Federal Department of Agriculture, to which the 

 present Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for 

 the West Indies was then Superintendent and Analy- 

 tical Chemist, The experimental work of the Depart- 

 ment has for nearly twenty years now, included the 

 well-known variety and manurial tests with sucrar-cane. 

 Additional to this, a large number of original chemical 

 investigations have been conducted at the Federal 

 laboratory, papers on which have been published in the 

 Went Indian Bulletin. 



During the last two or three years, a marked trend 

 in the direction of co-operative action has been intro- 

 duced by the Antigua Department. This is shown in 

 the establishment of an Onion Growers' As.sociation and 

 a Cotton and Lime Growers' Association. Recently 

 also, the Government authorized the erection ot 

 a Granary for drying and storing Indian corn. This is 

 managed by the Department, as are also, to a large 

 extent, the affairs of the Associations referred to above. 

 Added to these economic activities, Mr. T. Jackson, the 

 local .Superintendent, has charge of the routine work at 

 the Experiment .Stations, whore plot experiments are 

 conducted with cotton, provision crops and other 

 economic plants. At the present time many minor 

 investigations are in progress which may have 

 important economic results: for instance, trials of fibre 

 plants and reafforestation experiments. 



For the last eight years the office of Superintendent 

 ■of Acrriculture and Government Chemist for the 



Leeward Islands has been held by Dr, H, A. Tempany, 

 recently promoted to Mauritius. To him much of the 

 progress and development made during that period in 

 Antigua has been due, while his advice, and assistance 

 in investigation matters, have been invaluable in other 

 Presidencies of the Colony. 



The remaining islands of agricultural importance 

 are St. Kitts-Nevi-*, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands. 



On account of the established character of St. Kitts, 

 there has not been scope within recent years for ihe- 

 extension of much departmental activity in th-it 

 island. Mr. F. R. Shepherd's work with cotton, however, 

 has become more and more important, while the 

 experiments with sugar cane have been carefully con- 

 tinued The establishment of a central factory in 1911 

 has had an indirect effect in widening the work of the 

 Department, while the establishment of a Government 

 laboratory in 1913 tor agricultural investigations has 

 had a direct influence. 



Some noticeable changes have taken place in 

 Nevis, where Mr, Shepherd, and Mr, \V. I. Howell 

 the Agricultural Instructor, have been giving increased 

 attention to agricultural matters in this island. The 

 cultivation of cotton by the ppasants has shown ;in 

 improvement, and at the present time active steps are 

 being taken to establish an onion-growing industry. 

 The Department is conducting an important series of 

 manurial experiments with coco-nuts on an estate in 

 this island, and in due course the results will be of 

 great interest not merely locally, but in other parts of 

 the tropics. 



Agricultural work in the Virgin Islands is in the 

 hands of Mr. W, C, Fishlock. Tortola and the surround- 

 ing islands have suffered a serious set-back this last 

 year through the visitation of a severe hurricane, and 

 the experimental work has been seriously interrupted. 

 I'reviously, however, even in such a small community 

 as that of Tortola. much has been done to further the 

 .agricultural interests of the island of recent years. 

 Cotton selection has been started and coco-r,ut 

 demonstration plots established. Plot experiment* 

 have also been carried out with provision and other- 

 crops. As in Nevis, so here, successful efforfs have 

 been made to extend the cultivation of onions, A system 

 of purchasing cotton and limes from the peasants has 

 been in operation for a considerable tiuip anri h.is- 

 proved of great benefit to the people. 



The foregoing will afford some idea of the st^igcs- 

 of development reached by the Agricultural Deparfi- 



