324 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWSl 



October 20. 1917. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



DOMINICA. Mr Joseph Jones, the Curator, in his 

 report for the month of September, states that the following 

 distribution of plant.s has been made for the month: limes, 

 3,875; shade tree.s, .500; cacao, 100; budded citrus, 16; 

 grafted mangoes, 4; miscellaneous, 10; making a total of 

 4,505. In addition 189 packets of, vegetable seeds were 

 sold. 



The local price paid for ripe limes has risen from is. 

 to 6s. per barrel. 



With the assistance of the entomologist (Dr. J. O. 

 Hutson) investigations were carried on in connexion with 

 the"°mango maggot, and the wood-boring beetles which 

 attack puncheons in which lime juice is shipped. 



Eleven boxes of limes and 10 boxes of oranges have 

 been shipped to London for the use of the wounded in 

 hospitals. 



The rainfall for the mouth totalled 15-02 inche.s, 5'74 

 nches of which fell on the 20th. 



JI0NTSEKR.\T. It is reported by Mr. W. Robson, the 

 Curator, that a storm of considerable severity passtd over 

 the island on the morning of September 21. The wind 

 was at its highest between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., the baro- 

 meter falling at Giove Station to 29 776. The rainfall 

 was 5J inches at the same station, but was much less on 

 the windward side of the island. The damage to the cotton 

 crop in Montserrat, with the possible exception of the 

 windward di.strict, is not regarded as serious, but some of 

 the plants in that portion of the island have been almost 

 stripped of leaves, and theie will probably be a considerable 

 reduction in the yield as the result. 



In his monthly report ilr. llobson states that 

 the following plants have been distributed from the 

 station: bay plants 950; mahogany 19; together with 20 lb. 

 of pigeon peas, and 20 lb. of sword beans. Vilmorin's 

 Stringless Bonavist Bean, received from Demerara, promises 

 to be quite an acquisition. 



The prospects of the cotton crop remain fair in all parts 

 of the island. There has not been much trouble with cotton 

 worm, and cotton stainers are only troublesome in one or two 

 places. Seed-cotton is fetching locally \0d. per lb., giving 

 a further .stimulus to the interest of the small growers. Very 

 considerable areas are now being cultivated on the half- 

 system. 



Less attention is being paid to the papaw industry, in 

 fact to all minor industries, on account of the present boom 

 in cotton. 



Four distillations of bay leaves were made wiih the 

 usual results. Samples of the oil obtained were forwarded 

 to the Government Laboratory in Antigua for examination. 

 The rainfall at Grove Station has been 1314 inches for the 

 month, making a total for the year of 5385 inches. 



ANTIGUA. The distribution of plants from the station 

 is reported by Mr. T. Jackson, Curator, as having 

 been as follows: 820 bay plants, 58 decorative, 49 

 economic. There wei.j also distributed 791 8). of cotton 

 seed during the month. With regard to the cane crop, 

 Mr. Jackson reports that the outlook is fairly promising, 

 perhaps, however, not i|uite as good as at this time last 

 year. The cotton crop is fair. It is felt that the non- 

 arrival of onion seed may have a serious effect on next 

 year's returns of this industry. Nursery beds and land 



in which to plant this crop are fully prepared. The 

 payment made by the Antigua Onion Growers' Association 

 for onions delivered at their premises during the last crop 

 was approximately at the rate of '2d. per fc 



Agricultural instruction to the peasants in the English 

 Harbour district was continued during the month, the 

 peasants being busy with completing the sowing of cotton. 

 The reaping of corn still continues in this locality, and the 

 peasants are disposing of their corn locally at a remunerative 

 price. Two more plots of land have been taken up during 

 the month at Sawcolts. 



As far as Antigua is concerned, practically no damage 

 was done by the cyclonic disturbance of September 21. It 

 is noted, however, that in Christian Valley the biinana 

 cultivation suffered a good deal, many plants having been 

 blown down 



The rainfall for the month was 440 inches; for the year, 

 22'04 inches. 



BARBUDA. The growth made by the cotton plants in 

 both the districts of this island where there is an area of 

 about 60 acres under cotton is decidedly encouraging. The 

 prospects of the cotton crop are excellent. 



A number of bay trees have been satisfactorily trans- 

 planted \ heavy return is expected to be reaped from the 

 fields cultivated in corn. The rainfall for the month was 

 417 inches. 



The Agricultural Instructor reports that the peasant 

 growers are showing much interest in ihe cultivation of cotton 

 160 tt). of cotton seed having been distributed among them. 

 They have also reaped fair crops of corn and peas from 

 their grounds. Two smill experiment plots, p^-acre in area, 

 planted in black eye peas, have been reaped, giving a calcu- 

 lated yield of 671 \h. of shelled peas per acre. 



ST. KiTTs. The Agricultural Superintendect.Mr. F R. 

 Shepherd, reports the distribution from the station of 500 

 sweet potato cuttings, 30 lb. white velvet beans, 9 lb. cow- 

 I eas, and 19 ornamental plants. 



Tbe picking of the cotton crop is in full swing; 

 excellent n turns are being obtained. The plants suffered 

 no damage from the wind of September 21, and not enough 

 rain fell to affect the lint. Some of this season's cotton has 

 already been sold at lis. 6d. per tt>. lint. There have been 

 shipped, via New York, 500 bales of last .season's cotton. 



Special work in connexion with counting flowers on 

 cotton plants on manurial plots, and records of individual 

 plants is being continued. Cotton is being carefully picked 

 from selected plants in projicny rows. 



The damage done by the recent gale was comparatively 

 slight; .some young cotton in exposed places was shrivelled, but 

 on the whole, there has been little damage done to the crop. 

 The canes in the upper lands were lod^ied to some extent, but 

 it is not considered that the crop will suffer any loss thereby. 

 There was very little rain during the gale, only 97 inches. 

 The rainfall for the month was 7 54 inches, making a total for 

 the year to diite of 3040 inches 



NEVIS. The cotton in the demonstration plot is being 

 reaped, .Mr. W. 1. Howell, the .Agricultural Instructor, 

 reports, and the crop is estimateil to give a yield of 200 ft), 

 of lint 1 er acre. 



It seems doubtful from the appearance of the onions 

 planted from seed obtained from Kew, whether a satisfactory 

 crop will be obtained. 



For the purposes of experiment seven varieties of 

 sweet potatoes have been planted in small plots, each ^^ acre 

 in extent. The following distribution ot plants had been 

 made during the month: Lima beans, 14i &.; black-eye peas, 

 5 ft). ; Para peas, 2 1 ft).; cotton .seed, 160 lb; together with 

 22 shade trees. 



