Vol. XVI. No. 403. 



THE AGRICULTUJIAL NEWS. 



311 



results. The students receive instruction in the follow- 

 ing subjects: Principles of Agriculture, Dairying, Live 

 Stock Management, Veterinary Science, Elementary Botany, 

 Chemistry and Physics, Apiculture, Arithmetic, Book-keeping 

 and Surveying. Besides this class work the .students take 

 a share in the practical work of the Stock Farm, while the 

 crops of the Experiment Station afford good opportunity 

 for practical agricultural work, which is taken advantage of 

 to the full. 



All the seven students who graduated with certificates 

 in December 1916 are at present working either on their 

 fathers' properties, or as bookkeepers on sugar estates and 

 plantations. There is an increasing demand from planters 

 for students who have completed their three years' course, to 

 fill positions on plantations. 



With regard to the work on ornamental plants and 

 flowers in the various gardens, we note points that may be 

 useful to other gardener.s in these islands. The first is the 

 advice as to treatment of Hippeastrum bulbs, especially the 

 beautiful hybrids, many of which have been produced locally. 

 It is found advisable to lift the bulbs early in November, 

 dry them off for six or eight weeks and then replant. The 

 second point is that cuttings of the cherry-red Bougain- 

 villaea, which is locally known in -Jamaica as Ruby, will 

 flower freely when not more than 1 foot in height, thus 

 making it very suitable for pot culture. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OP LOCAL INTEREST. 



(iEENADA. In his report for the month of .\ugust, 

 Mr. J. C. Moore, Superintendent of Agriculture, states that 

 in the Botanic Gardens work of a routine nature was main- 

 tained as well as irregularity and shortage of labour per- 

 mitted. Plant distribution included the following: limes 

 6,923, coco nuts 1'2, budded oranges 3, timber 48, ornamen- 

 tal 40, palm seeds 17, -550 horse beans .58 ft)., other 

 economic 400. 



The condition of the cacao crop is said to be good; much 

 crop was not expected before November or December. Thrips 

 was scarce generally; there were prospects of a mild attack 

 this year. The condition of the lime crop was normal; 

 planting continued. A similar report is made a? regards the 

 nutmeg and sugarcane crops. 



The rainfall recorded during the month at Kichmond Hill 

 was 10 '58 inches. Bright hot weather with light showers pre- 

 vailed since the 23rd instant. 



ST. VINCENT Mr W. N. Sands the Agricultural Super- 

 intendent, writes to say that during the month of August 

 work in the Experiment Stations included the laying out 

 and planting of cotton distance trial plots, applying manures 

 and planting cotton manurial experiment plots, sowing Sea 

 Island cotton selections and many varieties of peas and beans, 

 and collecting and destroying wandering cotton stainers. 

 Selected cotton seed distributed from May 1 to August 31 

 from the ginnery amounted to 11,359 ft). In the Botanic 

 gardens the operations were of a routine nature. 



The staple crops generally made good progress under the 

 influence of excellent weather. The Cotton Inspector paid 

 further visits to the estates named in last month's report and 

 also to Argyle and Fitzhughes to search for cotton stainers. 

 He reported that he was unable to find any insects. Two 

 cadets, ex-pupils of the Grammar School, were admitted for 

 training in agriculture under the Department. 



DOMINICA. Mr. Joseph Jones, Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent, in a report recently received at this ' )ffice states 



that, during the latter end of the past week heavy rains with 

 fairly high winds were experienced in Dominica. On the 

 night of September 20. 5-74 inches of rain fell at the 

 Botanic Gardens, and the total rainfall during the 19th, 

 20th, and 21st instant was 8-44 inches. Considerable 

 damage has resulted to roads and bridges, especially in the 

 south of the island. Very considerable sums will be needed 

 to repair the damage. Some estates have suffered consid- 

 erably from floods and landslides; one estate reports the 

 loss of 1,000 lime and 400 cacao trees. Rose's factory 

 at Grandbay was swept away and 40 puncheons of raw 

 lime juice were lost. 



AXTiGUA. According to the report received from 

 Mr. T. Jackson, work in the Expeiiment Stations during the 

 month of August was of an ordinary routine nature. Plant 

 distribution comprised the following : bay plants 312, deco- 

 rative 17, cotton seed 307 ft) , sweet potato cuttings 500. In 

 addition, some 20,000 plants of sisal were imported and dis- 

 tributed to date. Besides ordinary routine work in the 

 Botanic Gardens, a new roof was put on the store-room 

 of the Botanic Station, the work being executed by the 

 Public Works Department. 



The young cotton crop, on the whole, was* promising; 

 in some parts of the island the reaping of cotton had 

 commenced. The young cine crop was in fair condition. 

 Gunthorpes and Bendals central factories completed their 

 season's work during th» month. The former made 1 1,705 

 tons, and the latter 2,100 tons of sugar. Some anxiety, says 

 the Agricultural Superintendent, is felt among planters as to 

 the non-arrival of onion seed for the coming crop. 



The work of agricultural instruction in the English 

 Harbour district was being continued. It is believed that 

 now that a definite beginning has been made, a number of 

 plots will be taken up and worked at Sawcolts. 



The rainfall during the month was 3-74 inches; for the 

 year to date, 24 6 4 inches. 



NEVIS. Mr. W. I. Howell reports planting and reaping 

 operations in connexion with the plots in the Experiment 

 Stations dining the month of August. The following plants, 

 seeds, etc., were distributed during the month: Indian corn 

 392 ft)., cotton seed 88 ft)., black-eye peas 23 ft).. Para peas 

 17 ft)., shade trees 12, onion slips 400. 



The Curator states, in regard to staple crops, that the 

 young canes throughout the island were not making very 

 rapid growth, and in many places the crop was suffering 

 from want of rain. Cotton was very promising, and 

 should the weather continue favourable the crop would be 

 a very large one, with better yields per acre than for some 

 years past. Reaping was in progress in some places, and 

 good returns had been obtained. Cotton worms had done 

 little or no damage to the crop; so far very few fields had 

 been attacked. Provision crops continued to do well, but 

 little planting had been done during the month. Sweet 

 potatoes were being reaped. 



The rainfall for the month was 4'02 inches; for the year 

 to date, 2672 inches. 



ToRTOLA. During the month of August, writes the 

 Curator, Mr. W. C. Fishlock, agricultural work in thq 

 Experiment Stations was greatly delayed by the long drought. 

 Operations consisted chiefly in weeding the various plots 

 already planted, and preparing land for other crops. The 

 following plants and seeds were distributed: potato cuttings 

 150, cabbage plants 12, coco nut plants 2, cotton seed 98 ft. 

 The condition of staple crops generally was poor; climatic 

 conditions had been very unfavourable, and growth retarded. 

 There was little or no progress to report in any direction. 

 In regard to insect pests, it was noted that green fly was 

 troublesome on cotton. 



