22^ 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS^ 



July 28, 1917. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



' '' ST. VINCENT. 1 luring thf month of May, work in the 

 Botanic Gardens was of a general routine nature. Plant 

 distribution was considerably below the average. In his 

 observations relating to staple crops, the Agricultural Super- 

 intendent (Mr. W. N. Sands)states that preliminary operations 

 were undertaken in all distriits for planting up lands in 

 staple products and food crops; the weather however, was 

 too dry to allow of much planting being done. Indications 

 pointed to the fact that far larger areas of land would be 

 put under cultivation than for some years past. The 

 available labour supply would, however, be the limiting 

 factor. Tiie Agricultural Superintendent addressed well 

 attended meetings of small owners and peasants on the war, 

 and local food problems and staple products. The Imperial 

 Comiiiissinner (Sir Francis Watts, K.C.M.G.) paid a vi,sit on 

 the l.^th instant on his way back to Barbados and discussed 

 with His Honour the .\dministrator and the Agricultural 

 Superiiili iideiit agricultural and economic questions. The 

 weather diiriiig the month was fairly drV; the rainfall 

 recorded at the Botanic and Experiment Stations being -5 1 1 

 and "5 93 inches, resjjeciively. 



In his report for the nmnth of June, also to hand. 

 Mr. Sands states that plant distribution consisted of 1,06.3 

 cane cuttings of selected varieties and lOi fti. cotton seed, of 

 a btrain grown at the Botanic Station. Work in the Botanic 

 and Experiment Stations was similar to that recorded for 

 the month of May. As regards staple crops the report is 

 more encouraging. The rains, writes Mr. Sands, althougli 

 rather later than usual, came in and enabled the work 

 of preparation and planting of lands for various crops 

 to be proceeded with on a large scale. The cotton seeds 

 sown had germinated well, and there had so far been no 

 difficulty in getting a good stand of young plants Up 

 to the end of .June about 9,000 ft. of selected cotton seed 

 had been sold, since the season opened, at the Government 

 Cotton Ginnery. The stock of corn meal at the Ginnery was 

 all disposed of at the beginning of the month. 



Regarding special work of officers of the Department it 

 is mentioned that visits were paid to Young's Island to 

 establish a cotton plot to obtain a pure supply of cotton seed 

 for general planting, and to Ilatbo Mill estate to investigate 

 a report that cotton stainers were breeding on the milk bush 

 (Tabernaeriumtana citrifolia), and the redhead bush or wild 

 Ipecacuanha (Asclepias citrassavica). The rejDort proved, 

 however, to be without foundation, as the insect breeding was 

 not the cotton stainer. At (irand Sable and Mt Bentinck 

 estates, young cotton fields and lands be'ng prepared for 

 cotton and canes by means of modern implements were 

 inspected. The successful use of a gasolene torch in con- 

 nexion with traps ft^r the destruction of cotton stainers is 

 recorded. A cjuick and inexpensive method of destroying the 

 insects has been devised, which has the further advantage 

 that the cotton seed iraps do not lose their poJier of 

 attracting the insects A circular has been issued to planters 

 suggesting measures which should be taken, besides the 

 destruction of their native food j^lants, for effectively eraili- 

 cating the cotton stainer. 



The rainfall for the month was — Botanic Station 

 11 '8.5 inches, Experiment Station 10'32 inches. 



ST. LUCIA. The Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. A. J. 

 Brooks reports plant distribution during the month of 

 .lune as follows: grafted mangoes 19, ornamental plants 39, 

 budded oranges 26, cacao 52, economic 8, and lime plants 

 s,200; there were also distributed 36 packets vegetable seeds, 

 and I l-Jb. Castilloa seed collected and sent to Egypt. In 

 legard to .staple crops it is stated that cacao trees were 

 flowering, the lime crop was coming in, and good growth 

 being made with sugar-canes. The special work of 

 visiting properties of the peasants and regularly supply- 

 ing limes to the Government Lime Factory was com- 

 menced by the Agricultural Officers in the Gros-Islet 

 and Dauphin districts. This work is considered of great 

 importance and will be continued systematically. The severe 

 drought, which had practically lasted from December, broke 

 up on .Tune 9. Thunderstorms have been of almost daily 

 occurrence curing the last fortnight. On Friday June 29 

 a severe storm broke over the southern part of the island. 

 The lightning was very intense and lasted all day, being most 

 severe between •") p ra. and 7 p.m. The wind swept in 

 continual strong gusts and did some amount of damage to 

 shade trees, etc. flecord falls of rain were registered on 

 some estates. .Starting at Vieux-Fort (the southern end of 

 the island) and following along the Leeward Coast to the 

 northern end of the island the rainfall recorded was as follows: 

 Vieux-Fort, 1'84 inches, Choiseul 290, Soufriere T'OO inches, 

 Anse la-Raye 223 inches, Castries Gardens 1"80 inches, Gros 

 Islet 1 '00 inch Telephonic communication between Castries 

 and all the country districts was completely cut oft' and all 

 partially restored after twenty-four hours. Landslides 

 occurred here and there in new clearings; the rivers were in 

 Hood, and in one cam swept away a large stone wall built to 

 protect the adjoining cultivation froiu flood. Considering 

 the force of the storm, little apparent damage, on the whole, 

 was done, although cacao trees in certain districts which 

 were heavily in flower must have suffered from damage to the 

 blossom. 



Mr. W. Nowell, Mycologist on the staflP of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, called at the Gardens on his way to 

 Dominicaanddi.scus.sed matters of interest with the Agricultural 

 Superintendent. At the request of His Honour the Admin- 

 istrator the Agricultural Superintendent is preparing a com 

 plete set of lessons to assist the teachers at the primary 

 .school in teaching agricultural subjects. These lessons when 

 completed will cover the whole of the agricultural syllabus 

 as laid down in the ( Jode of Rules approved by the Governor- 

 in-Council on September 3, 1909. 



.\NTIGUA. Ordinary routine work was performed in the 

 Botanic Gardens during the month of June, while plant dis- 

 tribution consisted of bay seedlings 735, limes 600, coco-nuts 

 64, decorative 25, sweet potato cuttings 23,200, 1 1 packets 

 miscellaneous and 815 ft), of cotton seed. The quantity of 

 cotton seed distributed for the season amounted to 2,360 ft). 

 Good rains were experienced during the month, in consequence 

 of which the cane crop improved considerably. The cotton 

 crop has also recently made good growth. Mr. Jackson 

 states that extension of activity in connexion with the sisal 

 industry may be looked for in the near future, 100,000 

 plants of sisal having been ordered from Anguilla for planting 

 in the windward districts of Antigua. Some 100,000 btetlei 

 of E.rop/u/ialmus e.iuriens were caught on one estate during 

 the month. A meeting of peasants was held at Sawcolts 

 estate in connexion with the sale of Crown Lands. The 

 Antigua Grammar School Boys attended the School G.irdens 

 regularly, budding, grafting and the examination of cotton 

 lint being the main points dealt with during the month. The 



