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THE AGiaCULTURAL NEWS. 



Makch 31, 190G-. 



AGRICULTURE IN FIJI. 



The following iiifonnatioii with roganl to agri- 

 cultiinil inrlustries" in Fiji is extracted from reports by 

 Mr. C. H. Knowles, B.Sc!, Agricultural Superintendent, 

 dated P'ebruary 8 to June 27, 1905.* In the reports, 

 details are given of the methods of cultivation practised 

 on the various estates visited, with recommendations 

 for the treatment of some of the pests met with :— 



"With reference to sugar-cane, the cultiviition generally 

 is very thorough. The continuous ' trench ' system, in which 

 the cane plants are placed horizontally and touch each other 

 in the trench, is advocated. It is as.serted that this method 

 gives heavier crops than the ' hole ' system, and seeing that 

 the trench method has replaced the 'hole' system, which was 

 practised at one time, it is evident that the land must be 

 in good condition to withstand the extra strain put upon it. 

 The canes are generally free from diseases. Some 

 districts, however, suffer from a disease of an obscure nature 

 in which the tops of the canes die. 'Gumming,' which 

 ■was once prevalent in Queensland, occurs occasionallj-. Of 

 insect pests, the borer causes very little trouble, but con- 

 siderable damage has, at times, been done by leaf-hoppers. 

 Professor Koebele, of the Hawaiian Sugar-planters' Associa- 

 tion, has lately been on a visit to investigate the leaf-hopper. 

 He seems to think that the common one in Fiji is not the 

 same as that which causes so much destruction in the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



In the Ba districts are experimental plots. There are 

 35 acres of different varieties of canes grown for trial and for 

 hybridization experiments, and also 35 acres laid out in 

 nianurial exi.eriment plots. This is possibly the fir.st time 

 that such experiments have been carried out .systematically 

 in Fiji, and good results are looked for. 



On Caboni estate, several varieties of cotton are grown. 

 iSea Island cotton plants were fairly health}-, but the method 

 of planting is different from that practised in the West Indies. 

 The plants are grown G feet by 4 feet, and remain on the 

 land for three years. Mr. Knowles is trying to discourage 

 this method for, as he rightly points out, 'if the old 

 plants are left standing they are a harbour of refuge for 

 cotton jiests and diseases all the year round, while if they 

 are cut back, the plants grow up .straggling, and mix w-ith one 

 another in such a way as to make picking and working the 

 cotton jilants difficult.' This is also the experience in the 

 ■\Vest Indies, where rationing is now abandoned. 



The bananas cultivated are the Gros ilichol and the 

 Chinese variety. The latter variety, in certain parts of the 

 island, suffers from a disease which finally causes a stoppage 

 of growth in the plant. Experimental shipments of bananas 

 are° being made to Ganada. The fruit is broken up into 

 hands, and in some cases, into separate fingers, and then 

 placed closely together in the boxes, no packing material 

 being used. Mr. Knowles is of the opinion that this method 

 will not be found suitable for long voyages. 



i;ice, cocoa-nuts, cacao, Indian corn, fruits, and 

 vegetables are also cultivated in different parts of the colony. 

 The cultivations are generally good, being clean and free 

 from weeds, and the plants healthy. A few pests are recorded, 



* Mr. Kn<:.wles was formerly an officer of the Imperial 

 Department of Agricultm-al at St. Vincent, West Indifs. and 

 Jeft that place on October 20. 1004, tc. take up his duties in Fiji. 



but only in a few localities were they in considerable 

 numbers, and, in such cases, recommendations were made for 

 their destruction. 



Mr. Knowles is to be congratulated on the careful 

 and intelligent manner in wdiich his reports have been 

 prepared, and it is hoped that his efforts to promote 

 the agricultural interests of the Fiji Islands will meet 

 with the success they deserve. 



POULTRY NOTES. 

 The following notes on geese, taken from the 

 Juunml of tlte Jamaica Ayrlcvltural tiocletj for 

 February last, may be of interest to poultry rearers ii> 

 the West Indies : — 



All people living on places where there is a considerable 

 stretch of common grass could rear a few geese i>rofitably, as 

 these birds need less care and attention than any other kind 

 of poultry. They do not require to be fed to anything like 

 the same extent as fowls or even turkeys, as they are 

 a grazing stock, just like horses and cattle, and feed upon 

 gras.s, especially upon the more succulent grasses which grow 

 upon the banks of ponds, and in damp jilaces generally. The 

 young ones, however, need to be fed a little in the morning 

 "and in the evening, to start them off growing f|uickly. The 

 parent birds require a mere bite to encourage them to return 

 home at night. Where they have a good run, they can 

 support themselves on the grass with the other odds and 

 ends i)icked up, such as seeds and insects. Only towards 

 the selling period should the grown ones be fed more freely, 

 and the last tv,o weeks they should be stuffed with fattening 

 food, as much as tliey will take. 



If the goose has laid her sitting, which may be anything 

 from four or five to a dozen eggs, seldom more, she will want 

 to sit. It will be better that she is not allowed to do this, 

 as the goose makes a poor sitter and an indifferent mother. 

 It is better, then, to put the eggs under a hen. They will 

 take five weeks to hatch, so the hens should be well fed and 

 watered while sitting, and .should be occasionally dusted with 

 sulphur, or insect powder to keep away lice, or a piece of 

 .sulphur should be put in the nest. "The goslings are exceedingly 

 hardy, but it is better not to allow them to get into the water 

 at first. This is one of the reasons why it is l:>etter for a hen tc^ 

 hatch them out and rear them. The goslings should be well 

 fed, starting twenty-four hours after tlioy are hatched, on hard 

 boiled eggs, crumbled fine with bread crumbs, and on corn- 

 meal pudding, made simply with corn-meal and boiling water 

 and a little chopped meat. This is the best food for them at 

 first. They should be supplied with plenty of drinking 

 water. If there is water near for them to swim in, there i* 

 no need to worry if they take to it. In this climate, it is 

 better to wait until they have feathers, nevertheless, let 

 them have their swim. As a rule, however, going with the 

 hen, they will not want to go into the water, unle.ss simply 

 to bathe and drink. Unlike hens and duck.s, geese do not 

 arrive at maturity until the third year, but they are long- 

 lived birds, and even reach the age of thirty years. However, 

 it is better to sell all except stock birds, when they are full- 

 grown, that is about a year old : but they will put on weight 

 quickly after that, and if there arc not too many in stock, it 

 will be more profitable to keep them longer. The stock-hens- 

 can be kejit until they are seven or eight years old, but the 

 gander grows so quarrelsome, that four or five years should 

 be his limit. Geese do not need housing at nights when 

 they are well grown, although it is better to do so when they 

 are young to keep them safe from dogs. When they are 

 older, they will beat off' any intruder. 



