242 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



August 11, 1906. 



The only way to obtain the best results, both as 

 regards quality of staple and yield of seed-cotton, is to 

 practise a rigorous system of seed selection. It has 

 been stated that the cotton plant shows a pronounced 

 tendency to variation, and this is particularly empha- 

 sized in the rapid manner in which the quality of cotton 

 deteriorates as soon as seed selection is discontinued. 

 The cotton grower must therefore realize the necessity of 

 applying a system of seed selection yearafter year, with 

 a view to maintaining, and possibly also improving, the 

 quality of his crop. 



Proposals for carrying out a system of seed selection 

 in the West Indies were discussed in an editorial in 

 a previous issue of the Agricultural News (Vol. IV, 

 pp. 38.5-6). The work involved in these proposals is 

 dealt with by ]\[r. Tlmrnton in the paper under review. 



Selection was commenced in the field when the 

 bolls were just beginning to open. The healthiest, 

 most vigorous, and best-shaped plants to be found on 

 seven estates in Barbados were selected. These were 

 free from disease, having as few large branches from 

 the bottom of the primary stalk as possible, and of 

 medium height (not more than 5 feet 6 inches). They 

 were plants producing good-sized bolls, distributed 

 generally over the plant. It was also possible to make 

 in the field a rough examination of the lint. Only 

 those plants which produced long fibre and seeds 

 neither covered with, nor entirely free from, fuzz were 

 selected. The total number of plants that passed this 

 field e.xaniination was 264. The lint from these plants 

 was picked into separate bags, which, at the end of the 

 picking season, were sent to the Head Office of the 

 Inperial Department of Agriculture, in order that the 

 samples could be subjected to further examination in 

 the laboratory. 



The process then a*lopted was a system of elimina- 

 tion. By a preliminary cursory examination a large 

 number of samples, which showed clean, black seeds, 

 or short or coarse lint, were discarded. The succeeding 

 examination was according to the scheme full}' set forth 

 in the Agricultural News (Vol. V, p. 38). At each 

 step the unsatisfiictory samjiles were eliminated, only 

 those which proved to bo satisfactory being retained 

 for further examination. 



The characters for which the samples were 

 examined were: (1) length of staple and uniformity of 

 length; (2) weight of sSed-cotton per plant; (3) weight 

 of seed-cotton per boll ; (4) proportion of weak fibre; 

 (.5) proportion of lint to seed : (6) proportion of lint per 

 plant: (7) diameter of fibres: and (8) general appearance, 

 including fineness and ailkiness. 



The seed from these finally selected plants has now 

 been disinfected and distributed to the different estates 

 on which it was produced. The planters have been 

 advised to set aside small plots of land as nurseries for 

 this seed : these were to be situated away from, and to 

 windward of, all Qther cotton fields; the seed to be sown 

 one to the hole only, in single rows 6 feet apart, and 

 2 feet apart in the row. 



The thanks of the Department are due to the 

 owners and managers of the vai'ious estates for their 

 assistance in the conduct of these experiments, which 

 cannot fail to be of considerable value to the cotton 

 industr\' in the ^\'est Indies. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Sugar-cane Diseases in Antigua. 



The Hon. Francis Watts, C.M.G., ]).Sc., has 

 forwarded the following memorandum un sugar-cane 

 diseases in Antigua : — 



Having seen evidence of rind fungus in a few localities 

 and of root fungus in several, I deemed it prudent to direct 

 the attention of planters to the subject of disea.ses amongst 

 their sugar-canes, and to this end the following circular, with 

 its attached ijuestions, was sent to sixty-one es^tates. Thirty- 

 eight reiilies were received : — 



Antigua, May 21, I'JUU. 



Dear Sir, — Having recently observed an appreciable quan- 

 tity of diseased cane in Antigua, it appears tn nie desirable to 

 make careful inipiiry as to the extent and nature of cane 

 diseases as observed during the present reaping season. 



2 In view of the great injin-y to the sugar industry 

 caused by cane diseases in the early ' nineties ' and in order 

 that any possible recurrence iif disease may be prom]itly met, 

 planters are, in their own interests, earnestly recpiested to reply 

 to the in(juiry now made ; in additiim to answering the specitic 

 (juestions, they are asked to give any information wliicli may 

 throw light on so important a matter. 



3 Cane diseaijes may be classed as insect and fungi lid. 

 The i)ilncipal insect enemies are : moth borer, weevil 



l)orer, and root borer. These are well known to jilanters, and 

 are described in the Wist IniJinit Biilhtin, Vol. VI, pp. 37-47. 



The jirincijial fungoid diseases are rind fungus, which 

 causes the cane to rot, and is well known as tlie princi[)al 

 disease prevalent sonie twelve years ago, and root fungus. Tliis 

 latter is recognized by the presence of a white fungus which 

 causes tlie old leaves (trash) to lemain attached tc^ the stein 

 instead of fading ott' and leaving the stem clean, as should 

 hai>pen in healthy canes Canes attacked by root fungus 

 visually have the aj)pearance of suffering badlj- from drought. 

 The funi,'ipid diseases of cane are described in the West Jnduin 

 Bnlhtlit^\<:\ VI, jip. 33-7. 



It is particularly requested that a reply be received not 

 later than June 10. 



Yours truly, 



(Sgd.) FRANCIS WATTS, 



Government Chemist and 



Superintendent of Agricultui'e, 



