ToL. V. No. 97. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



13 



ARBOR DAY AT ANTIGUA. 



The following is extracted from the report of the 

 Arbor Day Committee at Antigua, kincjly forwarded by 

 the Chairman (the Hon. Dr. F. Watts, CM.G.):— 



Arbor Day was celebrated in the different districts of 

 Antigua as in previous years. 



St. John'g. — At 8.30 a.m. a large gathering collected 

 near the bridge to the east of the Botanic Station, which was 

 o-aily decorated with flags. After the National Anthem had 

 been played by the band, his Excellency the Acting Governor 

 ■opened the ceremonies by planting the first tree. Immediately 

 •afterwards, mahogany trees were planted by ladies in the 

 Victoria Park along the Tomlinson's Road, thus continuing 

 the ' Ladies' Avenue ' started two years ago. 



The children of Spring Gardens, Buxton Grove, and 

 Ebenezer schools continued the 'Elementary School' Avenue, 

 and the children of the Cathedral school planted trees near 

 the Bishop's schoolroom. 



The Grammar School boys planted seven mahogany 

 trees and the girls of the High School five mahogany trees 

 along the boundary of the Rectory grounds bordering on 

 Hyndman's Village. 



The students of Buxton Grove planted trees in Buxton 

 Grove grounds. (Ten mahogany trees and one avocado pear.) 



St. James'. — The school children assembled in the 

 schoolroom at 8 a.m., where a short address was made to 

 them on the subject of arbor day. The National Anthem 

 was then sung, and the children marched out and planted 

 seven trees on the road leading from the churchyard gate to 

 the church. Each of the seven standards in the school 

 promised to look after and care for a tree. 



St. Lid-e's. — Four trees were planted round St. Luke's 

 schoolroom, and fruit trees were distributed to peasants for 

 planting on their own lands. 



St. Paul's. — The celebrations were conducted at four 

 different stations, English Harbour, Falmouth, Sweets, and 

 Gracehill. The general plan of operations was to plant and 

 protect four new trees at each station, and to replant as 

 far as possible the old positions of the two previous years. 



At English Harbour the trees in front of the AVesleyan 

 Chapel were replaced. Four trees were planted on the 

 English Harbour road. Mr. Odium also planted trees at 

 suitable positions along the roads. 



At Falmouth twenty-four trees had been planted on the 

 two previous arbor days at the north end of the carriage drive 

 to Falmouth Rectory. These had all died but were replaced 

 by !Mr. Tongo, and four new trees were planted at the other 

 end of the drive. 



At Sweets some ten trees had lived through the drought. 

 The vacant holes were again replanted, and four trees were 

 planted on the public road leading to St. Ann's. 



At Gracehill, nine trees were alive, including three 

 royal palms. The vacant holes were replanted, the tree 

 guards mended, and four trees planted. 



The children of the schools assembled at Sweets, 

 English Harbour, and Gracehill, and sang the National 

 Anthem before planting the trees. Over one hundred 

 children were present at Sweets, and a large number at 

 English Harbour and Gracehill. Several people in the 

 district recognized the day by planting fruit trees in their 

 own ground.s. The peasants planted cocoa-nut and orange 

 trees chiefly, while two or three were supplied with Cbristmas 

 bush or bay trees (P/iueiito acris) from the Botanic Station. 



All Saints'. — At 8 a.m. the school children and 

 parishioners assembled in the schoolroom, where songs, 

 addresses, etc., were giTen. 



St. Philip's. — The ceremony of tree planting began at 

 7.30 a.m. At AVillikies the school children planted four 

 mahogany trees, and afterwards sang the National Anthem. 

 Three roj'al palms were planted at St. Stephen's, and one 

 at Collins' estate. 



St. Peter's. — At 8.30 a.m. the ladies of the parish 

 jilanted a number of trees round the grounds of the Antigua 

 Country Tennis Club, and then joined in singing the 

 National Anthem. 



St. Georges. — After a short service at the ^lissioii 

 Church, Sea View Farm, the school children planted twenty 

 bay trees. 



The children of St. JIark's school planted thirty-one 

 walnut trees (Aiulira inermia) south of the parish church. 



Eight walnut trees and a large number of white wood 

 {Terminalia lueeras) and Jamaica shade trees {Pitheeolohiuni 

 Sainan) were planted on the sugar factory lands. 



SHEA NUTS. 



Discussing the desirability of broadening the 

 trade of the colony, the Anniml Report on Lagos for 

 1904 has the following reference to a possible industry 

 in the products of the shea tree (BiUijrospcrmum 

 ParJdi):— 



We have also an indigenous product which at present 

 is almost neglected, but from which it is hoped that 

 substantial benefit may be derived in the future, viz., the 

 shea tree. This is not as a rule found within the palm belt, 

 but immediately beyond there are great areas of country 

 inside the Lagos boundary where it flourishes, and in which 

 the natives have at present but little regular occupation. At 

 the time of writing this report the c^uestion of finding some 

 free and remunerative outlet for the produce of this tree is 

 being pushed forward by the Government, which feels that 

 there are good grounds for efforts in that direction, as shea 

 nuts to the value of about £19,000 were exported from the 

 Niger during 190i. Up to the present, the trees in Lagos 

 have been only slightly worked in order that what is known 

 as shea butter might be procured, there being a fair local 

 tlemand for this commodity, but it is hoped that the 

 shipment of nuts may give better results than have so far 

 attended experimental shipments of a native-mannfactured 

 ' butter.' The attention of merchants at home who are 

 interested in the Lagos trade is particularly directed towards- 

 this product, and their co- operation invited. 



GROUND NUTS FOR FORAGE. 



The results of growing groui\d nuts at the Arkansas 

 Experiment Station are recorded in a recent bulletin. This 

 crop has increased in popularity of late years in the Southern 

 States. While ths extension of ground nut culture for 

 market purposes cannot be specially advised, in many 

 localities the crop can be grown for forage and for purposes 

 of soil renovation. In the Southern States the plants are 

 generally loosened in the soil by means of a plough running 

 sufliciently deep and constructed to cut the tap root without 

 tearing the nuts from the vines. Later, the rows of vines 

 are gathered into small cocks, and when partly wilted are 

 stacked about poles and left to cure for from two to four 

 weeks until ready for picking. The curing process is finished 

 in the barns. According to numerous estimates, the yield of 

 hay from a crop of ground nuts varies from 1 ton to nearly 

 3 tons per acre. The hay is usually worth at least iJlO per 

 ton, and may be considered a by-product when the nuts ar* 

 harvested. 



