Vol. X7I. No. 408. 



THE AGBICULTUEAL NEWS. 



397 



ST. VINCENT: REPORT ON THE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL DEPARTMENT, 191617. 



This report contains a record of work of diversified 

 character, and in many respects of great and permanent 

 value, showing that the officers of the Department in question 

 not only take an interest in their work, but also throw much 

 energy into its performance. 



In the first place the care that is taken to preserve and 

 improve the beautiful Botanic Garden is most commendable. 

 This Garden is of historic interest. It is the oldest garden 

 of its kind in the smaller British West Indian islands, having 

 been established in the year 1765. Among other early 

 introductions were some of the original breadfruit plants 

 brought to the West Indies from the Pacific Islands by 

 Captain Bligh in 1793. 



Turning now to the economic side of the work of the 

 Department, it is to be noticed that great attention is paid to 

 questions relating to the cotton growing industry, and 

 naturally, as it is the chief industry in the island. Unfor- 

 tunately the year under report has been a very trying one 

 to the cotton growers for two reasons: first, the unpropitious 

 weather conditions, especially the unprecedented heavy 

 rainfall in November 191'5; and second, the very serious 

 attacks of insect ind fungus pests on the crop. Seeing that 

 the type of Sea Island cotton produced in St. Vincent is of 

 the highest quality, and commands therefore the highest 

 prices, it would be a veritable disaster if this type could no 

 longer be profitably cultivated. The work therefore of 

 Mr Sands, the Agricultural Superintendent, in carefully 

 studying the life-history and habits of the cotton stainer bug, 

 which is thought to be largely responsible for most of the 

 trouble in the cotton fields of the island is ore of great value. 

 Acting on the information thus gained, the Government 

 of St. Vincent, through the ofticers of the Agricultural 

 Department, and with the co-operation of the cotton 

 growers, have undertaken a vigorous effort to destroy 

 the plants on which this pest feeds in the intervals 

 between the cotton crops, with the hope of effective 

 control of it. In connexion with the cotton crop also, the 

 researches being carried out by Mr. Hariand, the Assistant 

 Agricultural Superintendent, in mauurial experiments, and 

 in cotton breeding are also of great interest and value. It 

 is hoped that before long the efforts to combat the pests 

 and to improve the quality of the cotton in St. Vincent will 

 lead to beneficial re.sults in both directions. To quote 

 a remark on page 17 of the report, 'The weather cannot be 

 controlled, but it is absolutely necessary to control the cotton 

 stainer, if the stability of the valuable cotton industry is to 

 be ensured.' 



In connexion with the cotton industry, the successful 

 working of the Government Ginnery in the 191t)-17 crop, 

 which is conducted on a co operative basis, is to be noticed. 

 After deducting the payment made on account, and all 

 charges, three-fourths of the net profits made by the sale of 

 lint and seed are returned to the grower. 



The next most valuable industry in St. Vincent to 

 cotton is that of starch, which is manufactured from arrow- 

 root and cassava. The prices obtained fdr these starches 

 during the season under review was remunerative, although 

 the output was lessened by the heavy rains of November. 

 The total amount exported of arrowroot starch in 1916 was 

 4,441,242 ft., valued at £37,619, and 182,004 ft. of cassava 

 starch, valued at £860. 



After an almost total cessation in the production of sugar 

 the island has returned to the cultivation of sugar-cane 

 during the past three years, on a somewhat large scale. The 

 sugar and sugar products, in point of value, are now the third 

 on the list of exports. While only 250 ft. of sugar, valued 

 at £2, and 3,252 gallons of molasses and syrup, valued at 

 £171, were exported in 1913, in 1916 there were exported 

 1,198,314 ft. of sugar and 33,771 gallons of molasses, 

 of the total value of £10,995. The extension of sugar-cane 

 cultivation seems only to be limited at present by the capacity 

 of the small mills. 



Another crop in which considerable progress has been 

 made is that of Indian corn. This seems to have resulted 

 from the following causes: the shortage of imported cereals, 

 the remunerative price obtainable for the grain, the 

 advisability of a locally produced supply of corn meal, and 

 lastly, the facilities given by the Government granary for the 

 purchase of corn on a co-operative basis, and the kiln drying 

 and storage of it. From the interesting account of the 

 working of this granary it appears that the total quantity of 

 corn dealt with for the crop was 128,598 ft., which equals 

 2,296 bushels. It is hoped that during the coming year 

 a considerable extension will take place in this direction, 

 especially looking to the distribution of selected seed corn, 

 which will doubtless rriise the standard of the product. 



Among minor industries it is satisfactory to note that 

 there has been a continued increase in the planting of ground 

 nuts and peas, as shown by the amounts exported. In 1916 

 the value of ground nuts exported was £3,660, and of pigeon 

 and black eye peas, which are the chief varieties grown, 

 £2,070. This leads one to remark on the great interest 

 that is evidently being taken in the island in increasing the 

 production of local food products. The efforts of the 

 Agricultural Superintendent to demonstrate that St. Vincent 

 could produce sufficient quantity of foods, and in such variety 

 as to enable the population to feed itself, are most praise- 

 worthy, and seem to be meeting with deserved success. 



Now that the question of education is being discussed, 

 it is noticeable that in St. Vincent it has been decided to 

 substitute for the six agricultural pupils two cadets who have 

 had secondary school training. This step has been taken 

 owing to the ditficulty of obtaining suitable boys as 

 agricultural pupils. In the selection of cadets prefer- 

 ence will be given to candidates who have passed the 

 Cambridge Senior Local Examination. These cadets will 

 have a two-years" course of training in theoretical and 

 practical agriculture, and it is hoped that they will be able 

 to take the Intermediate Examination of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture at the expiration of that period. 



As has been already noticed, the meteorological conditions 

 of the year 1916 were abnormal. The rainfall —137-63 

 inches — was the heaviest ever recorded at the Botanic 

 Gardens. It was 29'89 inches above the mean of the past 

 twenty-three years. In the month of November alone the 

 rainfall recorded was 32'52 inches. 



It is pleasing to note from the report of the Government 

 Veterinary Surgeon that there has been no case of anthrax 

 reported in St. Vincent since October 1914. The total 

 number of animals exported under certificate for the year 

 1916 was 4,821, of the total valueof £8,331 13«. 2d. 



