Vol V. No. 101. 



THE AGPJCULTUEAL NEWS. 



6» 



AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. 



Cottagers' Show at Carriacou. 



The following account of the Cottagers' show held 

 at Hillsborough, in the island of Carriacou, is taken 

 from the report made to the Colonial Secretary of 

 Grenada, by Mr. R. D. Anstead, B.A., Agricultural 

 Superintendent. 



The show was opened on January 26, 1906, by his 

 Excellency the Governor of the Windward Islands, 

 who, with his faniil}', and accompanied by the leading 

 public officers and members of Council, and a large 

 party of ladies and gentlemen, arrived from Grenada in 

 a special steamer : — 



The display of stock was the main feature of the .show, 

 and this section was rendered especially worth seeing by the 

 kindness of Mr. T. Archer who exhibited his thoroughbred 

 stallion ' Rochester,' and some fine bulls, as well as other 

 stock. A ram of his, a son of 'Black iloek,' the Anglo- 

 Nubian ram belonging to the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, elicited much admiration, as did 'Black Rock' 

 himself, who was brought down by his Excellenc}', and is to 

 remain in the island for some time. The Carriacou peasants 

 may deservedly be proud of their stock : while all was good, 

 perhaps the display of native cattle was the best. 



After the stock, the exhibit which attracted the most 

 attention was the cotton. Some very creditable Sea Island 

 cotton was on view, and a sample sent by Mr. T. Archer was, 

 in length of staple and general cjualit}-, equal to any I have 

 seen in the West Indies. The ginnery, containing saw and 

 roller gin.=, was at work for the benefit of visitors, and 

 a ginning competition was held. 



The fruit and vegetable section did not do justice to the 

 known capability of the island, but this was to be expected, 

 as January is the wrong month for the harvest, and this 

 section was bound to fall below the mark when the .show had 

 to be postponed from December. The long spell of dry 

 weather, too, recently experienced, has been all against these 

 products. In face of these circumstance.s, it was surprising 

 what a large variety of vegetaVjies and fruits was exhibited, 

 but only one exhibitor in most cases was represented. The 

 exhibits, however, served to indicate what the capabilities of 

 the island must be under favourable circumstances, and it is 

 hoped that next season nothing may prevent the show- 

 being held in the harvest, so that the cottagers may have an 

 opportunity of doing themselves justice in this section. 

 Some fine bunches of Chinese bananas were exhibited, and 

 there was a good show of peas, while two samples of home- 

 cured cacao were especially creditable. 



The large variety of meals and starches exhibited deserve 

 mention, as do the specimens of vegetable oils and lime juice; 

 one sample of the latter, in particular, being of a high 

 standard of merit. 



An e.Khibit of sisal hemp calls for special comment. 

 The prepared fibre, of splendid quality and whiteness, was 

 shown together with some rope, two halters, and a hat 

 manufactured from it. 



Stone work, boot making, boat building, and basket 

 work were all represented by specimens of good workmanship. 



Before leaving for Grenada, his Excellency the Governor 

 distributed some ol the prizes. 



The Commissioner and inhabitants of Carriacou are to 

 be congratulated on the excellence of this, their first 

 cottagers' show. 



The sum of £11 Os. lOd. was distributed in prizes. 

 This included a sum of £5 contributed b}- the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, in addition to which four 

 Diplomas of Jlerit were granted. 



EDUCATIONAL 



St. Lucia Agricultural School. 



The following is the rejjort of the Examiner 

 (Mr. F. A.Stockdale, B.A.) on the half-yearly examina- 

 tion of the Agricultural School in St. Lucia : — 



Since the last examination eight of the senior boys 

 have left, so that only four presented answers to the senior 

 papers in this examination. Seven boys took the junior 

 papers, and thirteen new boys have been admitted. 



The work of the senior class is very satisfactory. 

 Edgar came first with about 75 per cent, of the total marks. 

 With the exception of agriculture, his papers are very good ; 

 some of his answers being excellent. DuBoulay came next 

 with 67 per cent, of the total marks, but he has not shown 

 much improvement since the last examination. Vincent is 

 last with 47 per cent., his paper in arithmetic being 

 particularly weak. The papers in agriculture throughout 

 the whole class are weak, the boys knowing little about 

 budding, or of the needs of cacao. It would be advisable 

 to give more attention to this important subject, and it is 

 hoped that considerable improvement will be shown in the 

 next examination. 



Of the seven jiuiiors, fcau' obtained over 50 per cent. 

 The work, on the whole, is very luiiform, the papers in 

 arithmetic being the best of the more important subjects.. 

 Girard is again first with nearly 60 per cent, of the total 

 marks, while Katty and Gabriel occupj', as before, the 

 lowest positions. The latter is decidedly weak in the 

 science subjects, particularly in agriculture. As in the last 

 examination, the agriculture and botany papers are the 

 worst, the agriculture being particularly weak. The boys 

 should be discouraged from learning written notes of lessons 

 off by heart, and should be given practical work to perform 

 in the school gardens. More attention should be devoted to 

 the agriculture and science of this class, and more interest 

 might be taken in the different subjects if more experimental 

 work is shown them. I think it advisable that these boys 

 should continue with the junior course, none being ready 

 for promotion. 



Of the thirteen new boys, some sent in very good papers 

 in arithmetic, the working being clear and neat, and the 

 results accurate. 



BANANA FIBRE. 



Captain Baker, the founder of the United Fruit 

 Company, gives it as his opinion that if some use can be 

 found for the juice of the banana plant, it would pay to 

 extract the fibre from the banana stems. The fibre averages 

 rS per cent, of the weight of the plant. Banana fibre would 

 probably not sell for more than .$50 to §100 per ton; the- 

 latter price being obtainable only in years when there is 

 a shortage of sisal and manila hemp. It has been estimated 

 that 20,000 acres of bananas would produce 9,000 tons of 

 fibre per annum — worth from $22-50 to |;45'00 per acre. 

 If some use can be found for the acrid juice of the banana 

 plant, the problem of profitable fibre extraction will 

 undoubtedly soon be solved, [//aivaiian Fwestei- and Agri- 

 culturist, January 1906). 



