174 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



June 



191'i 



RECENT PLANT IMPORTATIONS. 



The following is an account put together from 

 Statements appearing in the Reports on the Agricultural 

 Departments of St. Vincent, Pt. Lucia, Donnnica and 

 Antigua for 1915- l(i, of the new plants introduced 

 during that year into the ditil'erent islands. 



.ST. VINCENT. 



Seeds of the Tung or China Wood Oil plant {Aleuritcs 

 J'ordii) were received from the Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture and several seedlings were raised. 



A collection of beans largely consumed in the "Amazon 

 region, and a number of improved varieties of Lima beans 

 ■were also received from the Imperial Commissioner. The 

 results obtained with these are reported on under the head 

 Experiment Station. 



Dolidios I/oseii, a strongly growing legume used for 

 green-dressing purposes from the Federated Malay "States 

 ■wa.s another importation. 



From the Agricultural Superintendent, Antigua, a supply 

 of the Barbuda white Lima bean {Phaseolus /unatus) was 

 obtained for experimental planting. 



The Imperial Commi.ssioner supplied a sample of Argen- 

 tine Indian corn (maize) as sold at Barbados. The corn was 

 lolder and brighter than the ordinary native unselected 

 St. Vincent corn. 



From the Forest Officer, Trinidad, seeds of the Burmese 

 IBamboo \Cephalostachymuin xxrijracile) were received, but 

 unfortunately the seeds failed to germinate, as did also seeds 

 of Jwiiperus ctdrus, received from the Imperial Commissioner. 



A collec;ion of water-lilies from the Royal Botanic Gar- 

 dens. Kew, was received aVuX planted out. 



ST. LITIA. 



Seeds of A'ukia Kockii, an interesting plant I'losely related 

 to the cotton plant, and a native of Hawaii, were received 

 in April. F'^ur plants have been raised and at present they 

 appear to be thriving, being a foot in height and making 

 strong growth. 



Six plant.s of the Mangosteen (Garcinia Minigo^tana) 

 ■were obtainod from the Curator, Botanic Gardens, Dominica; 

 this will enal le this delicious Eastern fruit to be planted in 

 ■variou.s parts of the island with a good chance of its becom- 

 ing establishi d and so forming a valuable addition to our 

 present collection of fruits. Plants of three new varieties 

 of grape fruit were raised during the year from budwood 

 received from the Botanic Gardens, Dominica, viz : Pernam- 

 buco, Mark's Seedless, and Manville's Improved. Plants 

 ■were also raised of the Portugal orange from budwood received 

 from the same source. 



Two new varieties of mangoes — Tamancha and Madame 

 — were received from the Agricultural Department, Trinidad. 



A considerable number of interesting economic and 

 decorative plants have been introduced during the year. 

 The following are amongst the more important; — 



Marking Nut (Seynernijinf: anacardium). The juice of 

 this is mixed with quicklime and then useil for marking 

 linen. 



Jak-fruit (Artonirj.ux intngri folia). A large tree, native 

 of South India, bearing very large fiuita often 

 weighing over 100 fc, each. This fruit forms a very 



important article of food with the natives and is 

 relished by many Europeans. 



'Bi\\mhi{Ai'errkoa Bilimbi). A small tree bearing acid 

 fruits .3 inches long; it is used in pickles and pre- 

 serves, and makes excellent jam. 



Honduras .Mahogany (Su-ieienia miicropliylla). Valuable 

 timber tree. 



Ceylon .Spinach [Basella allio). A slender climber with 

 succulent stems and leaves which may be used as 

 spinach. It is- extensively cultivated in Ceylon 

 where it is relished by Europeans. This should 

 prove a valuable addition to the vegetables of the 

 island. 



BrunftUia aiuericana. Ornamental shrub, yellow^ 

 flowers. 



Copaifera officinalis. Yields Copaiba resin. 



Peltophormn. jetrugineum. A handsome foliage tree 

 bearing sweet-scented rusty yellow flowers. 



Ficiix nitida. Evergreen tree of Barbados. 



Fig {Finis Cnrica). A small spreading fruit tree, 

 native of Turkey, known locally as the 'French Fig'. 



Orchid Flower tree l^Monodora lenuifolin). Profusely 

 flowering tree bearing large orchid-like flowers. 



Paiidamis B'tptistii horn. Dominica. Ornamental. 



Cassia nodosa. A beautiful flowering tree bearing 

 a profusion of bright pink and rose-scented flowers 

 during ilay and June. 



Norantea gtiianensis. A brilliant flowering shrub. 



Bead tree. (Adenanthera pavoninn). Produces bright 

 scarlet seeds used for necklaces. 



Alliizzin Le/jhek. A procejv/, and A. stipul.ata from India. 

 Flowering shade trees. 



Prosopis juliflora from India. 



Camphor (Cinnmnomum Camphora) from Japan; yield- 

 ing by distillation of the leaves the camphor of 

 commeice. 



D0.MINIC.\. 



Twelve seeds of Pouteria suavis, a fruit of Uruguay, 

 were received fiom the Kew Botanic Gardens. .All the seeds 

 germinated. Trials of this interesting species will be made 

 in the Botanic Gardens, and in other districts of the island. 

 It is described in the Keiv Bulletin, No. 9, 1906, as being 

 a splendid evergreen tree which bears a pear-shaped fruit 

 having an extremely agreeable taste and pcssessing a finer 

 scent than a ripe pine-apple. 



>■ 

 Two plants of the Jaboticaba {Myrciaria cauliflo'^a) were- 

 received from the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 in exchange for seeds of the ilangosteen {Garcinia Mangos- 

 tana). It is hoped that this, the favourite fruit tree of the 

 Brazilians, will be found to succeed in Dominica. Mr. Wil.son 

 Popenoe, of the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 writes of this tree as follows; Among the many interest- 

 ing indigenous fruits of Central and Southern Brazil, few 

 create so strong an impression on the new comer as the 

 Jaboticaba, not only because of its habit of producing its 

 delicious fruit upon the trunk of the tree from the ground, 

 but also because of the unusual beauty of its .symmetrical, 

 dense, umbrageous head of light-green foliage, which entitles 

 it to a place among the best ornamental trees of the region.' 



To the collection of manuo trees were added the varieties 

 Haden and Mulgoba, which were obtained from the I'^nited 

 States Department of Agriculture. Both are considered first- 

 rate kinds, and it was desirable to import them for testing 

 alongside selected Indian varieties already growing in 

 Iiominica. 



