Vol. XVI. No. 402. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



299 



resist an outbreak of the horn^fly. Mr. Ritchie says that the 

 control of ticks in -lamaica by dipping and spraying is rapidly 

 being taken up. 



The use of repellents in grazing pens cannot be recom- 

 mended at present, although some such means may be employed 

 to afford relief to a dairy herd during milking time. Such 

 strong smelling substances as fish oil, carbolic acid, pine 

 tar, etc., are in general use in many countries for keeping 

 flies from cows, but these repellents give only temporary 

 relief and have to be renewed every day or two. 



.J.C.H. 



AGRICULTURE IN BARBADOS. 



The monih of August closed with a comparatively 

 moderate rainfall, and the last heivy general rain fell on the 

 2.3rd of the month, when there was rain the whole day. 



We, however, need at this time of the year a liberal 

 supply of moisture, as, at this stage, the cane plant grows 

 with great rapidity. 



September has opened with light showers only, and 

 some of the days have been very sultry. Up to the present 

 the rainy season has not brought us any bad weather. The 

 winds have been quite ordinary, and, e.xcept for a slight 

 southern breeze now and aaain, we have had no reminder 

 that we are passing throngh what are known as the stormy 

 months of the year. 



Efforts are being made to put out of hand field 

 after field in preparation for the next planting season. On 

 some estates, notably in the red soil, the cultivation presents 

 a very pleasing appearance. The more extensive the tillage 

 the better. The return is always heavier where there has 

 been no stinting, to use a common expression, in the 

 'handling of the soil.' Some estates, for many years past, 

 have discarded draining altogether, but several planters have 

 told us that they will have to resort to it again. It was dis- 

 continued, no doubt, to reduce agricultural expenses when 

 the price of produce was below a remunerative figure, 

 "but now that this is not the case it would be dis- 

 tinctly advantageous to reintroduce a form of tillage 

 which was productive of much good to the soil. 

 There was also the regular practice of moulding slo^jes. 

 Some planters tell us that they would be glad to do some 

 moulding this season, but labour is insufficient. This is 

 a pity. It is of the greatest value to spread new mould on 

 the surface, and years ago the labourers found this work 

 more remunerative than many another task. 



The fair weather has been most favourable f r ploughing, 

 forking and weeding, and in some fields there has been a 

 disturbing amount of pond grass to be got rid of. It does 

 seem as though this grass in particular, is much more abundant 

 than it used to be. The mere uprooting of it is of 

 no avail. Eich field should be thoroughly picked and the 

 disturber entirely removed. It is a waste of money and of 

 labour to proceed otherwise. But apart from the increased 

 expenditure in a single year, caused by partial weeding, there 

 is the leaving in the field of gra.ss plants which develop 

 rapidly as soon as the growing crop has matured 

 and been removed from the land. There is, too, the old 

 proverb that 'one year of seed makes three years of weed.' 

 The pens of manure which were completed a few weeks 

 ago are being rapidly distributed and new pens are being 

 built up. Scientific accuracy is necessary in dealing with the 

 distribution of farmyard manure. After a certain time there 

 is a rapid loss of nitrogen. Wastage in the proiierties of 

 manure is, no doubt, sometimes the cause of the unsatisfactory 



condition of a certain field which" is said to have been treated 

 in exactly the same way as the other fields cultivated during 

 the same season. 



One of the most important details in connexion with 

 the growing of a crop is its manurial treatment. It is here 

 that scientific knowledge may be of much assistance, and it is 

 worth while studying those processes and conditions which 

 lead to the best results The condition of farmyard manure 

 at the time of its application is an important matter, but we 

 would on this occasion, mention one other detail which is not 

 infrequently overlooked. A. light soil should always have 

 applied to it thoroughly rotten manure. The soil mi.xes with 

 it more easily, and the trying effect of a drought is lessened. 

 The soil is consolidated, and its power of retaining moisture 

 much increased by its mixture with the rotten manure. 

 While in the case of a heavy soil, freshly made manure is 

 more beneficial, the soil is greatly lightened and made more 

 pervious to air and water. 



The question of resting soil is also a point to be con- 

 sidered. A fallow year is a most effective means of renewing 

 the productive power of the soil. The increase of humus in 

 the soil, valuable as this is, is not as beneficial as rest. 



The potato crop in the black soil is healthy and a good 

 yield is anticipated. In the red soil the yield will be, gener- 

 ally speakina, moderate to poor. After the growth of three 

 and sometimes four crops of canes there is but little left in the 

 soil to support a crop of provision of any kind without the 

 assistance of manure. 



Several fields of potatoes on estates in the red soil have 

 been sold during the past fortnight at He per hole, 

 while in the black soil the return in many instances has been 

 been such as to command a price of 8c. per hole. (The 

 Barbados Agricultural Reporter, September 8, 1917.) 



RECIPES FOR MAKING BREAD WITH 



FLOUR SUBSTITUTES. 



As a practical corollary to the subject of local food 

 supply which is dealt with in this issue, the following is 

 taken from the Bulletin, of the Department of Agriculture, 

 Trinidad and Tobago, issued August 13, 1917: — 



BAKING POWDER BEE.\D. 



Take A-lb. of banana or other meal, -J-H). of wheaten 

 fiour, half a teaspoonful of salt, and one and a half 

 teaspoonfuls of baking powder. Mix all thoroughly, and 

 then add enough cold water to make a rather moist but 

 not too wet dough. 



Do not knead but put into a well-greased tin and bake 

 at once in a moderate oven for about an hour. If the dough 

 is allowed to stand for even a very short time after mixing 

 it will become sodden and heavy. 



YEAST BREAD. 



Take a small quantity of yeast and about half a teaspoon- 

 ful of brown sugar and a tablespoonful of wheaten flour. 

 Mix this with warm water to the consistency of thick cream. 

 Allow this mixture lo stand in a warm place for two or three 

 hours to form a sponge. Make a mixture of i-Bb. of 

 wheaten flour, A-ft). of banana meal, and half a tea- 

 spoonful of saltf knead tliis thoroughly into the sponge 

 to make a stiff dough. The kneading is very important. 

 Place the dough in a well-greased tin, and stand in a warm 

 place for tsvo or three hours lo rise again. When the loaf 

 has risen to about two and a half oi three times its original 

 .size bake in a moderate oven for about an hour. 



