Vol. XVI. Xo. 394. 



THE AGRICULTURAL XEWS. 



163 



MOSTSEEEAT. In detailing operations in the Experiment 

 Stations daring the month of April, the Curator, Mr. W. E. 

 Eobson, states that the cotton-breeding plot of twenty-five 

 types was planted, as well as the cotton manorial plots. 

 Considerable trouble has been experienced on the former plot 

 through the attacks of the common sludge. On account of the 

 continued dry weather, other work was routine in character, 

 and included the reaping of pigeon peas, Lima and Madagascar 

 beans, and Ajowan seeds. Bay plants distributed numbered 

 1,2-50 In the Botanic Gardens the pine-apple experiment 

 plot had become hopelessly diseased by 'wilt", and was dug 

 out. Further spraying was necessary on the limee-^periment 

 plot. Two distillations of Bay leaves were made but the 

 work is at present suspended on account of the breaking 

 down of the still. In regard to staple cropw, it is stated that 

 some districts had good showers and a considerable portion of 

 the cotton crop had been planted. Gfeneral weather 

 conditions however, have not been favourable for obtain- 

 ing a good stand of plants, and rains are urgently 

 needed. Stocks of seeds for planting purpcses have ran 

 low and it has been necessary to import from neighb<jur- 

 ing islands. The area planted by peasants will exceed that 

 of any previous year. Latest sales of last cjop were at 3S<i. 

 The crop has much exceeded the estimate and will be over 

 300,000 ife. of lint. A very medium crop exists on the lime 

 trees on account of the dry weather in March and April 

 The recent improvement in the market of muscovado sugar 

 is stimulating to those interested in its manufacture. In 

 continuation of previous work a survey was made of the 

 lime fields in iLe Grove neighbourhood for disease, but no 

 particular changes were observed. The rainfall at Tlrove 

 •Station for the month was 2'58 inches, total for the year 

 1 -3 -58 inches. The average rainfall at twenty-two stations 

 in 1916 was 67'69 inches compared with an average of 

 57'08 inches for the previous twenty- two years. Mr. Robson 

 mentions that it is in contemplation t.i carry out experiments 

 on the lime ex[;criment plot in Belle field to decide the best 

 manner of using Bengal beans as a cover for lime trees. 



vNTii.i A. During the month of April work in the Ex- 

 periment Stations consisted in the reaping of crops on the 

 various experiment plots. Piant distribution included sisal 

 81-5, beaequen 470, miscellaneous decorative 20, .seeds (cotton) 

 140, (vegetable) 4 packets. The work in the Botanic Gardens 

 was more or less of an ordinary routine nature. Regarding 

 staple crops, Mr. .lackson states that daring the early jiart of 

 the month the young canes suffered severely from drought — in 

 fact a number of young plants diedfrom thLs cauae. Cultivation 

 of land was commenced on some estate?, and during the 

 latter end of the month some few acres of cotton were planted. 

 The planting of sisal was continued in the windward district 

 of the island. There is every reason ro believe that ihe area 

 under cotton in Antigua will be increased during the coming 

 season. During the month 979 ft>. of cotton was purchased 

 for the Antigua Cotton Growers' Association, making a total 

 to date of 7,247 R. in round numbers. The number of 

 crates of onions shipped during the month for the same 

 Association was 1 036, making a total for the season ot 5,560. 

 ThLs is a record. Work in selecting cotton seed of pedigree 

 strain for planting purposes was comncenced. The weather 

 for the first three weeks of the month was exceedingly 

 ■ilry: during the last week good general rains fell. The 

 rainfall for the month was 2 22 inches, for the year 

 7-9.5 inches. 



SEvis. Mr. W. I. Howell, the Agricultural Instructor, 

 states that during the month of April the plots in the 

 Experiment Stations were all kept in gcxyi order, but un 

 '. jL-oiint of the very dry weather no planting was done, and 



the crops are suffering much, from want oi .tiin. Prepara- 

 tion of the cotton deinon^tration plot was completed and 

 planting would commence as soon as enough rain. fell. Oa 

 account of the drj" weather the distribution of plants was 

 very small and comprised only 163 ft. of cotton s*ed, 

 2 Jb. of Lima beans, and 2 fc. of black-eye peas. Concern- 

 ing staple crops, the reaping of the cane crop was still in 

 progress, but the returns were poor, while many of the fields 

 were getting very dry. The young canes throughout the 

 island were suffering very much from want of rain, and in, 

 many fields a fairly high percentage of the plants had died_ 

 A great part of the cotton preparation was made up but on. 

 account of the very drj- weather in some places operations 

 had to be discontinued. About 200 acres of cotton will be 

 planted at Salt Pond — preparation was almost completed and. 

 some planting had been done. The question of insecticides 

 was creating some anxiety. The supply stocked by the locaL 

 Government for the benefit of small growers had been exhaust- 

 ed and many of the larger growers were entirely without. Oa 

 account of the weather also, very little planting of provision, 

 crops had been done, only in the high lands. The peasants 

 are strongly advised to plant provision crops as soon as th& 

 rains come. There was an acre plot of the best varietj- of 

 sweet potato at the Experiment Station, which would all b& 

 used for supplying cuttings to planters free: there was also a. 

 limited amount of Lima beans and black-eye seeds at the 

 stations for free distribution. The work in the onion caring 

 house was brought to a close on April 14. The rainfall for 

 the month was 1 inch, for the year to date 8 "24 inches. 



viEijDJ LSLAS03. Owing to unfavourable weather, 

 little could be done in cultural work in the Experimenti 

 Stations during the month of April. The preparation of 

 land for cotton was pushed on and general cleaning up work 

 continued. The Curator, Mr. W. C. Fishlock, states that, 

 due to the same cause, there was no distribution of plant.3 

 during the month. The general condition of crops in the 

 islands was bad; the lime trees nearly all perished in 

 the gale: the same remark applies to coco-nut palms. The 

 cotton crop season as far as the Government factory is 

 concerned was closed. There was no progress to report, every- 

 thing being at a standstill. A visit was paid to Anegada 

 and a meeting of the people addressed as to the need of 

 planting all the food crops possible. A brief visit was also 

 paid to Virgin Gorda (Sound and Valley). The weather 

 during the last five months has been exceptionally dry. Rain 

 fell in measurable quantity on nine days durine April, the 

 total measured at the Station being 091 inch: the average- 

 for the month for the previous sixteen years was 2-4:7 

 inches. The total rainfall registered from January 1 to 

 April 30, 1917, was -5'97 inches as against an average of 

 10S7 inches for the same period for the previous sLxceen 

 years. 



In a paper recently reSd before the Royal Society of 

 Arts, Dr. J. A. Voebker said that although certain crop* 

 like potatoes and fruit benefit largely from the applicatioit 

 of potash, he did not regard the need of potash for general 

 crop raising as being .so urgwat as was generally supposed to 

 be the case. If farmyard manure can be supplied in suffi- 

 cient quantity, it will in the case of most crops give all the 

 [KJtash that is required. Dr. Voelcker also referred to the 

 somewhat carious action of basic slag, which in some cases 

 produced beneficial effects and in others no effects at all. The 

 action of this phosph^tic manure would appear to need mora 

 investigation. 



