Vol. V. No. 104. 



THE AGRIGULTUEAL NEWS. 



121 



Manures for Cotton. 



In the article on ' Manures for Cotton ' on p. 102 

 of the previous issue of the Agri cultural News, an 

 account is given of experiments with crushed cotton 

 seed, and, cotton seed (cake) meal. By a transposition 

 of figures in the table, 409 lb. of cotton seed (cake) 

 meal is made to appear as the fertdizing equivalent of 

 177 lb. of crushed cotton seed. In the summary 

 following the table, it is, however, correctlj' stated that 

 177 If), of cotton seed (cake) meal is the fertilizing 

 equivalent of 409 It), of crushed cotton seed. 



Praedial Larceny in Dominica. 



Dominica's Ordinance No. 8 of 190-5 'to make 

 provision for the prevention of thefts of agricultural 

 produce,' will come into effect on Jul}' 2 next, by 

 proclamation of March 13, 1906, issued by Sir Robert 

 Bromley, Bart., the Acting Governor of the Leeward 

 Islands. The Ordinance is very exhaustive in its aims, 

 and far-reaching in its penalties. It provides for the 

 proper licensing of both sellers and buyers of protected 

 produce, except an officer of the Imperial Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture acting in his official capacity ; or 

 any person purchasing pods, beans, seeds, slips, or 

 plants merely for the purpose of planting the same : 

 or any one purchasing for domestic use only ; or to any 

 purchase pursuant to legal process. 



Each offence against the Ordinance maybe punish- 

 ed by a fine not exceeding £20, or imprisonment for 

 a period of four months. 



A list of licensed sellers and purchasers, and their 

 places of business in each district, will be posted at 

 the Police Station of that district, and published 

 in the Ojfici.al Gazette once in each year. 



Antigua Agricultural Show. 



The Antigua Standard for March 10, 1906, states 

 that on Friday, March 2, Sir Robert Bromley, Bart., the 

 Acting Governor, distributed the diplomas and prizes 

 awarded by the judges at the agricultural show held 

 on February 22. 



The awards included quite a number of special 

 diplomas and prizes, among them being one given by 

 Mr. A. P. Cowley, of a 3'ear's subscription to the 

 Agrkidtii/rul Neirs for the best school exhibit. This 

 ■was awarded to Mr. Jacobs, the master of the Cathedral 

 ■school, as was also the challenge cup presented by the 

 late Sir C. C. Knollys, which will be retained by 

 Mr. Jacobs for the first of three years' competitions. 



After distributing the prizes, which numbered 

 over 200, his Excellency in a few words expressed 

 regret that he was unavoidably absent from the show, 

 and spoke of the pleasure he felt on the information of 

 competent judges as to the excellence of the exhibition. 

 He emphasized the importance and value of such 

 shows in a community wholly dependent on agriculture, 

 as they exemplified what great things may be achieved 

 by the aid of science. He concluded by congratulating 

 all concerned in the show on their having made it 

 a success. 



Seeds and Plants, Jamaica. 



A catalogue, recently issued, of the seeds and 

 plants offered for sale by the Nurseries and Gardens 

 of Norbrook Plantation, Constant Spring, Jamaica, 

 contains a list of seeds and plants which are 

 available for immediate use, and for which orders 

 will be booked for future delivery. 



The economic plants offered in this catalogue 

 include fruits, spices, fibre plants, rubber plants, etc., 

 suitable for cultivation in the West Indies. The 

 following varieties of pine-apples are kept in stock : 

 Abbaka, Black Jamaica, Curacoa, Egyptian Queen, Red 

 Spanish, Green Ripley, Red Ripley, Sam Clark or Ruby, 

 Smooth Cayenne, and Sugar Loaf. 



The ornamental and flowering plants include 

 palms, roses, various aroids, crotons, begonias, orchids, 

 ferns, etc., as well as cut flowers and foliage for 

 decorations. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. 



A very interesting and well-illustrated guide to 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, has been 

 issued by the Curator, Mr. H. F. Macniillan, F.L.S., 

 F.R.H.S. These gardens were established in 1821, 

 twent3'-five years after the arrival of the English 

 in Ceylon, and six years subsequent to the final 

 conquest of the Kandyan Kingdom. The present 

 Director, Mr. J. C. Willis, D.Sc, M.A., F.L.S., was 

 appointed in 1896, and under him, besides a native 

 clerical staff, there are nine European officers, including 

 an Entomologist, a Mycologist, a Scientific Assistant, 

 and a Chemist. 



' The gardens are at an elevation of about 1,600 

 feet above sea-level. The area is nearly 1.50 acres, and 

 beautifully undulated. The climate is moist, hot, and 

 very equable, the mean annual temperature being 

 about 76' F., though as low as 5.5' F. is sometimes 

 recorded in the early mornings in January and 

 February. Rain falls, on an average, about 170 days 

 in the year, with a total yearly average of 89 inches. 

 February and March are the driest, and April and 

 May the hottest months. The vegetation is purely 

 tropical, being characterized by an abundance of 

 climbing plants or lianas, palms, bamboos, screw-pines, 

 orchids, ferns, etc., and loft}' trees. Other striking 

 tropical features are the great variety of bird, insect, 

 and reptile life. Lizards or chameleons of diversified 

 forms are everywhere, and snakes of numerous species 

 abound, from the venomous cobra and repulsive 

 polanga to the harmless, beautiful, green whip-snake, 

 which lives mostly in trees or shrubs. With reasonable 

 precautions, hov,-ever, the snakes do not constitute an 

 appreciable source of danger.' 



By following this guide, the visitor would make 

 a complete circuit of the gardens, and at each step 

 would learn something interesting about the orna- 

 mental and economic trees and shrubs to be met with 

 on the way. 



The photographs with which the guide is 

 illustrated are excellent, and add considerably to the 

 value of the book as a souvenir. 



