^OL. V. No. 111. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



237 



BERMUDA : REPORT OF THE BOARD OF 

 .AGRICULTURE, I'JOo. 



Considerable space is devoted in this report to efforts 

 that were made by the board to establish a trade for tlie sale 

 of Benmida agricultural products in markets other than those 

 of the United States. Onions were shipped to Canada and 

 to the United Kingdom, but the results were so unsatisfactory 

 that no further trial was recommended. 



A samjile of unginned Sea Island cotton, grown in 

 Bermuda, was sent to the Imperial Institute for a report 

 upon its quality and commercial value. The sample was 

 considered to be of excellent quality and was valued at 13c?. 

 to \id. per lb. A report on the general subject of cotton 

 growing in Bermuda, by Mr. T. .1. Harris, the Superintendent 

 of the Public Garden, is attached. Taking into consideration 

 all the conditions as to available land and the price of labour, 

 Mr. Harris is of opinion that the cultivation of cotton in 

 Bermuda would not be attended with .sufficient profit to 

 attract the interest of the farmers. 



In his report on the Public Garden, ]\Ir. Harris makes 

 interesting observations on the agricultural industries of the 

 islands. He is of opinion that e.xcellent wrapi)er tobacco 

 can be successfully grown and cured in Bermuda. 



An effort is being made to select varieties of straw- 

 berries best adapted to Bermuda. Twelve thousand rough 

 lemon and Seville orange stocks have been raised from seed 

 obtained from Jamaica. These will be budded and prepared 

 for distribution. Efforts are also being made to build up 

 a trade in the Canary Island banana. 



MONTSERRAT: ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 BOTANIC STATION AND EXPERIMENT PLOTS, 

 1905-6. 



Mr. Robson's report states that the total expenditure 

 on the Botanic Station at Grove and the Experiment Stations 

 at Olveston and Harris' amounted to £611 13s. 9t/. The 

 sum of £39 19s. 'M. was received from the sale of plants and 

 produce. 



During the year 6,774 economic plants were distributed, 

 in addition to a large number of cuttings of cassava and 

 sweet potatos. 



The results of the various experiments with economic 

 plants at the stations are stated in detail. Particular interest 

 attaches to the experiments with onions and broom corn, in 

 view of the fact that a small onion industry has been 

 .successfully established, and that there are signs of the 

 cultivation of broom corn being taken up to supply the 

 Canadian market. 



The progress reported last year in the establishment of 

 the cotton industry has been maintained. During the year 

 132,848 K). of cotton were shipped, as against 70,758 lb. in 

 the year 1904-5. The prices ranged from Is. 2d. to Is. Ahd. 

 per tt). The value of the exports was £6,064 ; in the previous 

 ye&v, £3,384. It is estimated that there will be a larger 

 .area devoted to cotton growing this year. 



It is evident that useful work has been done by- 

 Mr. Robson and Mr. Dudley Johnson in assisting to develop 

 this industry, as also several other minor industries. 



The rainfall returns show that the year was not as dry- 

 as the previous one. At the Grove Station 59'51 inches 

 were recorded, 59-45 inches at Olveston, and 50'47 inches at 

 Harris' Station. 



Further efforts were made to improve the local breeds of 

 stock in Montserrat during the year. The stallion ' Jamaica 

 Lad ' was received from Dominica, the Hereford liull from 

 St. Vincent, and the Devon bull ' War King ' from Antigua. 



All these animals have been made use of, and their 

 presence in the island is much ajipreciated. A Berkshire 

 boar and a pair of young Anglo-Nubian goats were also added 

 to the live stock. 



DOMINICA AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. 



The following is the general report of the examiner 

 (Mr. F. A. StiOckdale, B.A.) on the recent half-yearly 

 e.Karaination of the pupils of the Dominica Agricultural 

 School : — 



Of the eighteen pupils who sat for this examination only 

 one is new, and comparison with the papers that were sent 

 up in the last examination shows that continued progress is 

 being made. 



Three boys took the papers set for the senior class, and 

 the work throughout was very satisfactory. A. T. Pinard 

 has given place in this examination to Cuff}', who has come 

 out top with 78 per cent, of the total marks. 



The papers in Agriculture throughout the senior class 

 were the weakest, but improvement has been shown since the 

 last examination. The questions directly dealing with the 

 experimental work in the grounds attached to the school were 

 all answered well, and clearly showed that the boy.s take 

 a considerable interest in this work. 



A considerable improvement has been made in Chemistry, 

 which was the weakest subject in the last examination ; but 

 it would be advisable to give continued attention to this 

 subject so that the improvement recently made may be 

 maintained 



Of the fifteen boys vt-ho took the papers for the junior 

 class, two obtained over 70 per cent, of the total marks, and 

 only one, e.xcepting the new boy, obtained less than 50 per cent. 

 The work, on the whole, is very uniform and of a very satis- 

 factory nature. Garraway and Lamothe sent in very good 

 papers, and seeing that these boys occupied high positions in 

 the last examination, they might be promoted to the senior 

 class. Pros]5er came next, liaving advanced from thirteenth 

 place to third ; but it would be advisable for hira to continue 

 for another half-year at least before going on with senior work. 

 Lawrence has also improved considerably and comes tenth on 

 the list. 



The Arithmetic is again the best of the more important 

 subjects, most of the boys obtaining nearly full marks. The 

 Botany and Chemistry papers were also good. Continued 

 attention should be given to the Chemistr}', and a few 

 observation lessons in this subject might be useful. 



The Agriculture was the weakest, and the boys should 

 be trained to apply what they are taught in school to the 

 work they do in the field. 



It is very satisfactory to note that the tendency to 

 learn off notes of lessons by heart is diminishing. This, 

 possibly, may be due to the observation lessons that have 

 loeen given to the boys, and it would be desirable that these 

 be continued, as they teach the boy.s to think and reason for 

 themselves. 



