Vol. V. No. 99. 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



41 



Rubber and Cotton. 



A correspondent writes : ' The cultivation of 

 India rubber trees in Ceylon has been carried on with 

 considerable energy during the last ten years. The 

 exports for 190-t were G81 cwt., of the value (at 5.s. per 

 lb.) of £19,068. It is interesting to note that the 

 cotton industr}', started less than four years ago at 

 Barbados, is now of the estimated value of £20,230. 

 If we also take into account the value of the cotton 

 industry in the other islands, also started within the 

 last fourj'ears, this is estimated at not less than £.50,000. 

 It is evident from these figures that when an industry 

 well suited to the West Indian Colonies is placed 

 within their reach, they are as capable, as any British 

 possession in any part of the world, in turning such an 

 industry to the best account. 



■ I ^m 



Spread of Fungoid Diseases. 



An interesting series of articles by Mr. G. ilassee, 

 F.L.S., on the spread of plant diseases, caused by fungi, 

 is commenced in the Ganlenerfi Chronicle for Decem- 

 ber 23, 190.5. This clearly shows that combined 

 attempts should be made to stamp out these diseases. 



The first article deals with the spreading of 

 <iisease, and is conviently discussed under two distinct 

 headings : — 



(1) Diseases which appear in new localities 

 through the introduction of new plants. 



(2) Diseases that spread from an area known to 

 be infected to adjoining areas hitherto free 

 from disease. 



The spreading of disease, by the spores of 

 fungi adhering to the seed, is discussed at length. 

 From the interesting experiments that have been 

 carried out in the Jodrell laboratory at Kew, it appears 

 that this is a serious danger, and deserves particular 

 attention. 



A second method of dispersion of disease, is where 

 the mycelium of a parasitic fungus hibernates in those 

 portions of plants, such as tubers and cuttings, used for 

 reproduction in place of seed. This subject of the 

 spreading of fungoid diseases is of considerable impor- 

 tance to West Indian planters, and it is highly 

 necessary for them to continue the disinfection of 

 cotton seed and the treatment of cuttings of sugar- 

 cane as recommended by the Imperial Department 

 •of Agriculture {Agrieidtaral News, Vol. IV, p. 101), 

 especially when any interchange is being made between 

 the different islands. 



Laws and proclamations dealing with the fumiga- 

 tion of plants for the prevention of the introduction 

 of insect pests have alread}' been issued by many 

 West India Islands. Copies of the laws that were 

 issued at Jamaica, British Guiana, and Dominica 

 were published by the Imperi.il Commissioner of 

 Agriculture in order to furnish detailed information 

 for the other islands. 



It is hoped that in the near future the 

 different governments will prohibit the importation of 

 seeds and cuttings that are likely to be infected, or 

 allow their importation only after disinfection at the 

 point of entry. 



Proposed Experiments witli Tea in India. 



A small phamphlet has recently been issued on 

 the ' Objects and Plan of the Ileeleaka Experi- 

 mental Station,' by Harold H. Mann, D.Sc, Scientific 

 Officer to the Indian Tea Association, and C. M. 

 Hutchinson, Assistant Scientific Officer. 



The outline here given of the work proposed to be 

 done at this station indicates that planters should keep 

 themselves informed as to the progress made, inas- 

 much as the results would have a most important 

 bearing on the tea cultivation of the future. The 

 experiments are to be carried out in respect of three 

 principal points, viz., quantity of yield, quality of 

 product, and capacity of land for future crops. They 

 are to be determined by manurial experiments with 

 both artificial and green manures, pruning and pluck- 

 ing experiments, and the careful study of such 

 problems as drainage, water in the soil, etc. 



West Indian Bulletin. 



The last number of Volume VI of the West 

 Indian Btdletin has just been issued. This 

 contains a collection of articles dealing with the sugar 

 industry and should be of considerable interest to 

 planters in these colonies. The first is an interesting 

 article by Mr. H. H. Cousins, M.A., F.C.S., on the sugar 

 industry in Jamaica. The writer clearly explains how 

 the yield of sugar per acre on estates at present in 

 cultivation in Jamaica can be doubled by the most 

 ordinary methods and appliances. He touches on the 

 improvement of canes in sugar content, the cultivation, 

 and defective crushing of canes in Jamaica, and gives 

 a short summary of the work done at, and in connexion 

 with, the sugar experiment station. 



The second article is an account of the sugar-cane 

 experiments carried on in Barbados, under the direction 

 of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, for the 

 season 1903-.5, which was presented by Mr. J. R. Bo veil, 

 F.L.S., F.C.S., at a special meeting of the Barbados 

 Agricultural Society. The experiments consisted of two 

 series: (1) experiments with seedlings and other canes, 

 and (2) manurial experiments. A brief summary of 

 that portion dealing with the experiments with varieties 

 has already appeared in the Agricultural News 

 (Vol. IV, pp. 35.5, 372, and 380). 



Another interesting article on the 'Fermentation 

 of Cane Juice' is contributed by the Hon. Francis 

 Watts, C.M.G., D.Sc, and Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc. 

 This shows that cane juice on standing for a few hours 

 undergoes a series of changes. It first becomes sour 

 and develops a considerable quantit}' of acids. After 

 standing for a longer time, alcoholic feniientation sets 

 in, and, finally, the juice becomes quite sour, forming 

 the so-called cane vinegar. 



The last article is by Mr. F. A. Stockdale, B.A., 

 on the improvement of sugar-cane by selection and 

 hybridization, and embodies the results that have been 

 obtained in the West Indies during the last few years 

 with the raising of improved varieties of seedling 

 canes by direct cross-fertilization. 



