164 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



Jl >E 



1911 



DOWN THE ISLANDS, 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



GKENAPA. Mr J. C. Moore, Superintendent of 

 Agricukare. reporting for the mOnth of April, states that 

 work in the Experiment Stations was ot' a routine nature, 

 while in the Botanic Gardens the principal operations consisted 

 in watering nurseries, mtdching lime beds and preparing 

 land for yams. The condition of the staple crops was 

 reported as normal. The Agricultural and Commercial 

 Society \"r-as vigorously pushing & campaign urging all 

 agriciilt:rists having available land to extend the cultivation 

 of groucd pmvisions and cora as rapidly as possible. 

 Committees of planters have been formed in several parishes, 

 and the Governor has approved of the Agrictdtnral Instractoi, 

 W. M Malins Sini'h, devoting practieally the whole of the 

 next three or roar moaths to active work in this campaign, Ln 

 coopera'.ion with the lo<^l Committees, and under the control 

 of the AgriciTlt'Tal and Commercial Society. The temporary 

 loss of Mr. Smiths services :o the Department at this time is 

 much to be r. irretted, but the urgency of the work he is 

 takine ud and his qualifications for it are considered sttfficient 

 jtistification. The officers of the Department will endeavour, 

 as much as possible, to nrev?:it the work in hand suffering 

 any serious set-back. 



Excellent tillage v r - been done during the past 

 six months on the Grand Anse estate. A considerable 

 area has been ploughed and ridged for cane, and plants put 

 in during L>ecember and February are making very good 

 progress. It is probable that a motor plough wdl be tried 

 on this estate in the near future. 



Preparation for distributing seed com, yams, and eddoe 

 plants from the Department has ^een made. Stored seed 

 com stUl cC'Utinaes in good condition. Work contemplated 

 includes construction of a culture cabinet and steam generator 

 for the cnltivarioa of thrips fnngus: continuation of the thrips 

 invesrigation work: inspection of two estates for land settle- 

 ment purposes: and Prize-holdings Competition work in 

 Grenada and Carriacon. The weather during the month was 

 very dry, with occasional high winds: rainfall at Eichmond 

 Hill 017 inches. 



ST. vixcEST. Mr. W. X. Sands, the Agricultural Super- 

 intendent, in his report for the month of April states that 

 work in the Experiment Stations and Botanic Gardens was 

 of a general routine nature Plant distribution included eighty- 

 one coc'-i-nuts. The weather was dry, and beyond the cleaning 

 of lands for planting aci ■' ^ . resting of cane, arrowroot and 

 cassava, there was li;" rt. The corn mill at the 



ginuery was worked eon'.iru;'::;iy and the daily demand for 

 com meal exceeded the sappiy. The destruction of sUk- 

 cotton tind ".John Btdl' trees was conrinued in the Lee- 

 ward and Windward districts by the_ Agricultural Department. 

 The Agricultural Superintendent paid a visit to the Grenadines 

 and adiiressed large i.ieetings of the inhabitants of Union and 

 Bequia islands on local fcxi problems and how to grapple 

 with them He also advised on the planting and marketing 

 of crops for the coming season. The owners of Maj-rean 

 island were interviewed and similar questions were discussed 

 with them. Estates and small hoUings were visited at T'nion 



and Bequia. Mr. S. C. Harland, the Assistant Superintend- 

 ant, was granted three months" vacation leave as from 

 the 30th, and left for Canada on that date Departmental 

 arrangements for the carrying on of his duties were 

 approved of. 



ST. LUCIA. Owing to the severe drought no planting 

 operations could be carried out in the Experiment Stations 

 during the month of ApriL Work consisted in repairing 

 roads, weeding, manuring and pruning: grafting mangoes and 

 budding oranges and grape-frtiit, and spraying cattle. Plant 

 distribution included 900 lime plants, 70 ornamental and 

 decorative, 2-1-5 packets vegetable seeds- In the Botanic Gar- 

 dens, praning hedges, cleaning drains poisoning crabs, levelling 

 lawns, repairing fences and potting nursery stock represented 

 the work done. In regard to staple crops Mr. Brooks states 

 that the reaping of cacao was continued, lime trees were flower- 

 ing and the reaping of the sugar crop was practically over. 

 A new area was being cleared for planting lime trees. Public 

 meetings were held in Choisuel and Laborie in connexion with 

 the proposed Government sugar factory at Reunion. The 

 proposal, which has the fullest support of all the leading 

 planters in the district concerned, is warmly welcomed by the 

 peasants everywhere. 



The Agricultural Superintendent was appointed a mem- 

 ber of a committee fonued by His Honour the Administrator 

 to enijaire and report under what conditions- natives of 

 St. Lucia at Panama should be repatriated, atd what provision 

 can be made for their useful emt>loyment in the Colony. The 

 first meeting of this Committee was held on April 23, when 

 a circular was drawn up for distribution to planters through- 

 out the island seeking information as to what assistance they 

 would be willing to render the scheme, in the way of providing 

 house accommodation and employment. An Assistant Agri- 

 cultural Instructor has been appointed for ihe duntion ')f the 

 war. This otticer will reside on the Windward Coast and work 

 the districts of Micoud and Dennery. The rainfall for the 

 month was: at the Botanic Gardens, Castries, 1 "93 inches; at 

 the Agricultural and Botanic Station, Choiseul, "76 inch. 



DOJuxiCA Mr. Joseph .Jones, the Curator, writes to 

 say that during the month of April work in the lime experi- 

 ment station comprised picking and recording the crop, weed- 

 ing and cutlassing: in the cacao experiment station heavy 

 pickings of cacao were made and recorded: while in the 

 coco-nut experiment station close on -3 acres of land was 

 cleared, for the extension of this station. (3wing to dry 

 weather conditions plant distribution practically ceased. 

 A further consignment of cane plants — this time the gift 

 of the Government of Martinique — was received and dis- 

 tributed on the windward .side of the island. In the Botanic 

 Gardens general loutine work was carried on in keeping 

 the gardens in order. In his observations relating to 

 staple crops, Mr. .Jones states that an excellent careme 

 crop of cacao ripeneiJ rapidly during the month and ^•xid 

 weather conditions were experienced for drying the same. 

 There was considerable activity in the green lime trade 

 and the prices ruling for the previous month were main- 

 tained. Work in the chemical laboratory included the 

 examination of a case sent in by the Customs authorities: 

 the analysis of a sample of citrate of lime: the testing of 

 several samples of raw and concentrated juice: analyses of 

 two samples of milk sent in by the Roseau Town 

 Board, and the examination of two samples of wash- 

 ings from sludge. At the invitation of the local Chamber 

 of Commerce, the Curator discussed with the special committee 

 appointed for the purpose, various means of improving the 

 status of the green lime trade. The weather was very dry, 

 the rainfall for the month being only "47 inch. 



