Vol. V. No. 106. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



151 



AGRICULTURAL EFFORTS AT DOMINICA. 



The Imperial Cotninissioner ol Agriculture 

 attended a conference of the members of the Agri- 

 cultural Experiments Committee at Dominica at the 

 Court House, Roseau, on Friday April 27. His 

 Honour the Administrator (Mr. W. Douglas Young), 

 the Hon. Dr. Francis Watts, Dr. H. A. Alford NichoUs 

 (the President of the Agricultural Society), Mr. Joseph 

 Jones (Secretary), and others were present. 



EXPERIMENT PLOTS. 



A review of the position of the several cacao experi- 

 ment plots wa.s placed before the committee by the 

 Commissioner showing the results in continuation of those 

 placed on record in the Annual liejjort for the year 1904-5. 

 It was decided to relinquish the peasant plot at Carse 

 O'Gowrie (La Plaine), also the experiment plot at Point 

 Miilatre. The latter had deniunsti'ated the value of good 

 methods of dealing with young and old cacao trees, and the 

 health and condition of the plants had steadily improved. 

 On the recommendation of the committee it was decided to 

 continue for another year the experiment plots at Picard 

 (Hatton Hall) estate, Clark Hall, Moore Park, and Riversdale 

 (on the Imperial Road). It was also resolved to continue 

 efforts at the orange experiment jjlots at Corona and at 

 the lime experiment plot at St. Aroment. 



The rubber experiment plot in the neighbourhood of 

 the Imperial Road having proved a failure owing to the 

 unsuitable character of the locality, it was decided to abandon 

 it. On the other hand, the line of rubber trees planted on 

 each side of the Imperial Road, where the conditions were 

 favourable, had done well and was to be continued. In view 

 of the excellent reports on recent samples of rubber grown at 

 Dominica, the prospects of the rubber industry were regarded 

 as very promising. 



INCREASFD DEMANr> FOK PLANTS. 



The Imperial Commissioner in response to the oiiinion 

 expressed by the members of the committee stated his 

 intention to recommend the extension of the nurseries for the 

 supply of cacao and lime seedlings, provided it was shown 

 that they could be disposed of at not less than cost price. 

 The demand for lime seedlings was unprecedented, but every 

 effort would be made to meet reasonable requirements, 

 especially of new settlers. 



VISIT OF DR. WATTS. 



It was arranged that the report on the results of the 

 proposed visit of Dr. Watts to the outlying districts and to 

 the several experiment plots would be placed before the . 

 committee and discussed at their next meeting. 



HINTS ON CACAO OULTUEE. 



The committee suggested that a further address by the 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture on cacao cultivation, 

 for the guidance and information of new settlers and others, 

 would be likely to be of value. It was mentioned that the 

 first address on the subject was delivered as long ago as 1886 

 and a second in 1899. The Imperial Comndssioner promised 

 to accede to the wishes of the committee and an address will 

 probably be arranged to be delivered under the auspices of 

 the Agricultural Society at the Court House later in the year. 



BACTERIAL DISEASE OF TOMATOS. 



A report on the occurence of a bacterial disease 

 of toniatos in St. Lucia has already appeared in the 

 Ayricultaral iVc^«s■ (Vol, IV, p. 43). This disease is 

 duo to Bacillus solanacearum and causes sudden 

 wilting of the foliage and the subsequent death of 

 the plant. The following is taken from Leaflet No. 152 

 issued by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 

 London, and shows that a bacterial disease of the 

 fruits is well known in France and is at present 

 spreading in England : — ■ 



This disease has long been known in France, where, 

 during certain seasons, it has assiuned the proportions of 

 a destructive epidemic. A single example was received at 

 Kew some years ago for identitication, since which time 

 until the present season its occurrence in this country has 

 not been noted. Quite recently, however, examples of the 

 disease have been received from three widely separated 

 localities, which suggests that it has invaded this country 

 in earnest. 



The synqitons are very marked and cannot be con- 

 founded with those of any other tomato disease at present 

 known. When the tomato is about the size of a marble 

 a minute, blackish patch first appears at the base of the style. 

 This patch gradually increases in size, retaining a circular 

 outline, until eventually the entire fruit is reduced to 

 a blackish, soft, decayed mass. 



Experiments have shown that infection takes place 

 during the flowering stage, and that the bacteria causing the 

 disease are deposited on the stigma by flies visiting the 

 flowers. 



The stigma ajqiears to be the only vulnerable part 

 under ordinary conditions ; nevertheless, if bacteria from 

 a diseased fruit are introduced into the flesh of a healthy 

 tomato at any point of its surface by means of the point of 

 a very fine needle, infection follows. 



This disease does not appear to be influenced to any 

 extent by the forcing method of cultivation commonly 

 followed, as it has been observed in a house where the 

 temperature was kept comparatively low. 



When the disease appears all diseased fruit should be 

 removed as cjuickly as possible, and not be allowed to decay 

 and liberate the bacteria present in the tissues. Insects 

 should also be excluded by using an insecticide. This last 

 act would necessitate artificial pollination with a camel-hair 

 brush. 



This latter disease is also prevalent in St. Lucia 

 and the following information with reference to it has 

 been furnished by Mr. J. C. Moore, Agricultural 

 Superintendent, St. Lucia : — 



We had to destroy the other day our plot of tomatos, 

 as most of the young fruits were infected with this disease, 

 and its ajjpearance in other local gardens has made it 

 neces.sary for me to recommend the early destruction of all 

 infected fruits. 



I have noticed this disease here for the last two or three 

 years, but not to such an injurious extent as at present. 



Wherever tomatos are grown these diseases should 

 be carefully watched for, all insects that injure the 

 plants should be destroyed and all diseased plants 

 disposed of either by burning or burying with lime 

 as early as possible. 



