23G 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



July 28, 1906. 



GLEANINGS. 



Dr. G. C. Henderson, of Kingston, Jamaica, lias made 

 ■"a very generous gift of a large collection of orchids ' to the 

 Botanical Gardens at Hope. (Jamaica Gazette.) 



From Antigua 40 bales of cotton (29 bales of first quality 

 and 11 bales of stained or second quality) were shipped by 

 the S.S. 'Parima'for transhipment to the R.M. steamer at 

 Barbados. 



The 1905 sugar crop of Madeira was larger than that of 

 1904, and a larger proportion of the cane was utilized in the 

 manufacture of sugar. Little or no sign of disease was 

 observed. {Consular Ecport.) 



During the quarter ended March 31 last, 42,000 Bb. of 

 cotton, of the value of £1,500, were exported from Jamaica. 

 The amount exported during ihe corresponding period of 

 1905 was 3,918 fti., of the value of £154. 



All the unoccupied land among the limes in the 2-acre 

 plot at the Tortola lixperiment Station has, after being well 

 forked and hoed, been planted in cotton. It is thought 

 likely that the limes will benefit by the cultivation of the 

 ground in this manner. 



The output of canned pine-apples from Hawaii has risen 

 from about 8,000 cases in 1903 (one case contained twenty- 

 four cans averaging 2 B). each) to some 20,000 cases in 1904. 

 For 1906 the estimate is 12,000 cases (holding each one 

 dozen glass containers) equal to about 135 tons. (Consular 

 Report.) 



According to the Consular Report on the Friendly Islands, 

 the quantity of copra exported from the protectorate during 

 1905 exceeded that of the previous year bj' 1,860 tons, and 

 this in spite of the great falling off in the Vavau district 

 (from 2,687 to 1,433 tons) owing to the disastrous hurricane 

 in the beginning of the year. 



The Agricultural Instructor at Nevis reports that a new 

 form of gin is on trial in that island. ' It is said to clean 

 and gin the cotton at one and the same time. As far as the 

 writer can judge from the several experimental settings of 

 this machine, it has great promise.' Further particulars of 

 this gin will be awaited with interest. 



Writing to the Director of Public Gardens in Jamaica 

 on the use of the powder bellows for applying Paris green, 

 described in the Agricultural News (Vol. V, p. 154), 

 Mr. W. B. Seabrook states : ' It is the simplest to operate 

 •of any contrivance yet devised ; is more efficacious in its 

 deadly work on the worms, and the most convenient to 

 handle.' 



The Agricultural Instructor reports that there are 

 indications that considerably more land will be planted in 

 cotton in the yirgin Islands this year than last. The best 

 Sea Island canton seed has been distributed to some 140 

 applicants. This should result in an improvement in the 

 quality of the, crop, and more rapid progress is likely to 

 ensue in consefjuence. 



In reference to the note in the Agricultural News 

 (Vol. V^, p. 201) on tannin materials in Jamaica, the 

 Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture (June) gives the 

 exports of divi-divi and barks of all kinds from Jamaica. In 

 the year 1904-J^, 148,190 lb. of divi-divi were exported. The 

 exports of bark of all kinds during the same year amounted 

 to 263,974 B). and 810 bags. 



According to the Consular Report on Porto Rico for 

 1905, there are at least 7,000 acres under systematic citrus 

 cultivation, more or less advanced towards the remunerative 

 stage. About 70 per cent, of this acreage is in oranges, 

 25 per cent, in grape fruit, and the reniainder in lemons, 

 ' In addition to, climatic advantages, market conditions would 

 appear to single out Porto Rico as an ideal orange-growing 

 spot.' 



It is observed from a recent report of the Agricultural 

 Instructor at Nevis that most of the young cotton has made 

 satisfactory growth. In some fields the leaf-blister mite has 

 made its appearance. This is being treated with sulphur and 

 lime. It is unfortunate that a large amount of ' old cotton,' 

 infested with this pest, has been left in the fields throughout 

 the island. Energetic action on the part of the planters in 

 the matter of clearing away ' old cotton ' is desired. 



According to the Washington titar, the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is keenly alive to the necessity of 

 keeping the mungoose out of that country. The Department 

 has a number of inspectors at every port whose duty is to 

 prevent the entrance of this animal, which is sometimes 

 brought by travellers as a pet. While it is admitted that 

 the mungoose is useful in destroying snakes, it also 

 exterminates ground-nesting birds, lizards, etc., which assist 

 in keeping noxious insects in check. 



In reference to the note in the Agricultural Neivs (Vol. V, 

 \>. 197) upon the baobab tree {Adansonia digitata), Mr. R. D. 

 Anstead writes from Grenada : ' There are two handsome 

 specimens of this tree growing not far from the Botanic 

 Gardens here, on the Tantine Swamp. In 1896 they were 

 enclosed within railings by the Government for protection. 

 The larger of the two has a double trunk with a base girth 

 of 32 feet, and a girth, 4 feet from the ground, of 24 feet. 

 During the past twelve months both trees have been almost 

 continuously in flower, though no seed appears to have set.' 



In letters from England it was frequently assumed that 

 in the event of a fire, where canes were insured, practically 

 no loss was incurred. The loss of the cane toj)s in the field 

 and the cane-top heaps stored up deprived the stock of 

 valuable food, and the loss of trash prevented the ])lanter 

 from sheltering young canes from the heat, and ultimately 

 rain came and rotted them and diminished the humus of 

 the soil. It Avas calculated that after a bad fire an estate 

 often did not recover the loss for four or five years. ( ]yest 

 India Committee Circular.) 



