374 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



December 1, 1917. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



DOMINICA. The report of the Curator for the month 

 of October indicates the usual cultural operations in the 

 Experiment Station. Plant distribution included the follow- 

 ing: limes, .3,050; cacao, 201); grafted mangoes, 9; budded 

 citrus, 40; shade trees, 600; mi-cellaneous, 2 [ ; making a 

 total of 3,920 In addition, 174 packets of vegetable seeds 

 were sold. In the Botanic Garden work was of a general 

 routine character. In relation to staple crops, Mr Jones 

 says that an excellent second crop of limes is now being 

 gathered on some estates. The price of fresh limes remains 

 at 8s. per barrel, and ripe limes at Gs per barrel. The cacao 

 crop is late, and generally speaking, not very promising. 

 Fifty-six boxes of limes, 8 boxes of grape fruit, and 4 boxes 

 of oranfies were shipped to London for the use of the wounded 

 in hospitals. The weather for the month was fine; the rainfall 

 equalled 2 46 inches. The dry spell is said to be much 

 appreciated after several months of wet weather 



MONTSEKKAT. Mr. W. Kob.son reports work of a routine 

 character in the Experiment Station.s during the month of 

 October The following plants and .seeds were distributed: 

 3,650 bay plants, 200 lime plants, 47 Andira for a wind-break, 

 and 15 packets of variou.s beans. In the Botanic Gardens four 

 distillations of bay leaves were made, being a total of thirty- 

 five distillations for the year. The yield of oil rose to 20oz. 

 per lOOBb. of green leaves on two occasions. The plot of 

 American horse-mint is making moderate growth. 



In his observations regarding staple crops, the 

 Curator says the reaping of the cotton crop from 

 most of the early planted fields has been practically 

 completed; the crop from the late planted fields does 

 not give very good promise. In some cases a start has 

 been made to destroy the old cotton plants. The indi- 

 cations are that the percentage of lint wili be relatively high 

 in the present season. The Government's action in taking 

 over the cotton crop has been well received, except in the 

 case of those buyers of seed-cotton who paid lOrf. per lb. for 

 it. On the real situation as to the probable prices for 

 lint on the market becoming known, the price for seed- 

 cotton locally immediately fell to 7c?. per lb. Regarding pests, 

 no particular trouble has been experienced with disease on 

 the cotton crop, and it remains to be seen whether the ample 

 rains at the close of the month will encourage the develop- 

 ment of a second crop nf cotton. Three hundred samples of 

 seed cotton were examined in connexion with the cotton 

 breeding experiments, leaving about 250 more to be exam- 

 ined. The onion seed (290 ft).) ordered some time previously, 

 arrived at the close of the month. Dry weather was ex- 

 perienced during the month until the 28th, between which 

 date and the 31st, 4'14 inches were recorded. The rainfall 

 at Grove Station for the month was 6'90 inches; for the 

 year, 6075 inches. 



ANTIGUA. The following plants and seeds were distri- 

 buted from the Botanic Gardens during the month of October: 

 miscellaneous and decorative plants, 44; onion seed, 650 ft).; 

 vegetable seeds, 155 packets, cotton seed, 25 Di.; miscellaneous 

 seeds, 5 packets. The work in the Botanic Gardens was 

 of a routine nature; towards the end of the month a consider- 

 able number of plants were put out in beds and borders. 



The cane crop in the Windward and Central districts 

 of the island continues promising, the crop growing in the 

 western and northern parts of the island is not so good. 

 Exceedingly dry weather was experienced during the first 



three weeks of the month, but rain which was required fell 

 during the last week. On the whole, the cotton crop is 

 late: the earlier planted cotton looks promising. Onion 

 seed for the coming crop arrived during the latter part of 

 the month, and was immediately distributed and planted at 

 once on estates. Experiments were conducted during the 

 month in the grinding of corn meal locally. In regard to pests, 

 Mr. Jackson states that several attacks of caterpillars on cotton 

 were experienced during the latter part of the month. For 

 the Antigua Cotton Growers' Association GIO lb. of seed- 

 cotton were purchased. Five plots of land were taken up by 

 peasants at Sawcolts during the month. The rainfall for 

 the month was 2 54 inches; for the year, 31 '78 inches. 



Attached to Mr. Jackson's notes is a short report by 

 Mr. A. Gallwey, on the work of agricultural instruction 

 duing the month of October. From this the following 

 particulars are of interest; During the early part of 

 the month the harvesting of the corn crop throughout 

 the district was brought to a close. A part of this- 

 was purchased by the Government Granary, the remain- 

 ing p rtion being bought by various estates. The cutton 

 crop presents a fine appearance, and under the influence 

 of the good rains which fell during the latter part of the 

 month, steady progress has been made. Slight indications of 

 the presence of cotton caterpillars were noticed on certain 

 portions of one or two fields; these were dusted in the usual 

 manner. Up to the present but few plants have been 

 attacked by leaf-blister mite. Cotton stainers have not 

 been observed in any of the fields. A splendid stand of 

 black-eye peas has been obtained. Difficulty in establish- 

 ing this and other crops of a similar nature is usually 

 experienced owing to the depredations of sIuks. Some 

 three or four peasants in the district have combined and 

 purchased 3 lb. of onion seeds. 



.ST. KiTTs. Reporting for the month of October, Mr. F. R. 

 Shepherd, Agricultural Superintendent, states that the 

 usual routine work was carried on in the Botanic Gardens. 

 Much watering was needed owing to very dry weather. 

 Large numbers of ornamental cuttings were planted for 

 a hedge in the cemetery. Plant distribution included 20 

 plants of Que/>rac/iia Lorentzii, and 177 ornamental plants 

 and cuttings. A barbed-wire fence has been erected to the 

 east of the nursery, which improves the general appearance. 

 In the Experiment Station planting operations were carried 

 out, and the following seeds distributed: 10 lb. white velvet 

 beans, 4 lb. Para peas, and 29). Mazzagua Guinea corn. In re- 

 gard to the staple crops, Mr. Shepherd states that the con- 

 tinued dry weather of the past month seriously afTected the 

 cane crop, and the prospects for next season are poor. Arrow- 

 ing has commenred to a large extent, especially in the 

 Valley district. Showers fell during the last few days of the 

 month, and fairly heavy rains were experienced in the 

 north-west districts, but heav3' and constant rains are 

 needed to do any real good in the Valley district and 

 the estates connected with the factory. Planting of the 

 next cane crop has begun on many estates, and the 

 germination so far has been good. The cotton crop has nearly 

 all been reaped, especially where planted early. The 

 general returns have been disappointing: only in special 

 cases have good yields been reported. This Mr. Shepherd attri- 

 butes to the dry weather experienced in the early stages, the 

 plants not growing sutficientl}' before bearing. The work in 

 connexion with cotton selection and counting of flowers haa 

 been continued. Visits were paid to West Farm estate in 

 connexion with the laying out of lime experiments. There 

 was a meeting of the Agricultural and Commercial Society 

 en October 2, at which the results of the reaping of the sugar- 



