Vol. V. No. 113. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



27r 



ST. LUCIA: ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 MOT A NIC STATION, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, 

 AND EXPERIMENT PLOTS, 1905-6. 



Botanic Station. — The total expenditure on the Botanic 

 Station and the experiment plots in the country districts 

 was £81.5 9s. &d. The sum of £.58 was derived from the 

 sale of plants, etc. 



The rainfall at the Botanic Station during the year 

 amounted to 72'64 inches. This is the lowest rainfall since 

 1900, being .5'08 inches below last year's return, and 2r43 

 inches below the average for the past sixteen years. 



The general condition of the station appears to be 

 satisfactory. A number of new plants have been planted 

 out during the year. 



The usual attention has been paid to the raising of 

 plants in the nursery for distribution. The total number of 

 plants raised at, and distributed from, the nurseries at the 

 Botanic Station and Agricultural School was 25,675, or 

 16,380 more than the number distributed from these sources 

 in the previous year. This large increase is due to the very 

 considerable demand for lime and cacao plants. While this 

 is an indication of extensive planting operations, Mr. Moore 

 points out that it must not be considered as a guide to the 

 extent to which the cultivation of these plants is being 

 increased, since many estates have their own nurseries for 

 the raising of seedlings. 



Agricultural School. — The total expenditure on the 

 school, including the Windward Islands Agricultural Scholar- 

 ship, but excluding the emoluments of the Officer-in-charge, 

 amounted to £719 16s. 2,d. 



The results of the two half-yearly examinations, 

 <;onducted by the Head Office, were fairly satisfactory and 

 indicated that due attention had been given to the indoor 

 •work of the school. 



Useful work has been done in the experiment plots 

 attached to the school. A good-sized plot of the ' dwarf ' 

 or Chinese banana has been established, from which suckers 

 could be distributed in the event of a demand arising. 



The orange plot is affording the pupils experience in 

 budding ojierations : 550 plants, budded by the boys, were 

 raised during the year. Fifty lime trees have also been 

 planted out as an object-lesson. 



All the ground provisions required for feeding the boys 

 •were, as usual, produced on the premises. 



The live stock at the school include woolless sheep, 

 Belgian hares, bees, and poultry. A cow is kept for the 

 supply of milk. The object of the apiary is the instruction 

 of the boys in bee keeping. A number of poultry of good 

 breeds were imported during the year, and eighty-nine 

 chickens were raised for distribution. An incubator has been 

 introduced with very satisfactory results. 



Experiment plots. — Mr. Hudson reports upon the seed- 

 ling sugar-cane experiment plots, the cacao plots, and also 

 upon the experimental planting of fruit and cotton. 



Plants of two seedling canes (B. 208 and D. 95) were 

 supplied to the five principal sugar estates in St. Lucia, and 

 Mr. Hudson gives an interesting account of the results. : 



With regard to the cacao experiment plots, it will be 

 seen that that at Soufriere has continued to show an increase 

 in yield as the result of good cultivation and manuring. The 

 history of this plot should go a long way towards convincing 

 planters and peasant proprietors of the desirability of 

 following the methods recommended by the Department. 

 Two new plots were taken up during the year under review, 

 and they are already showing considerable improvement, 

 owing to the treatment they have received. 



The report contains references to a number of interesting 

 and important subjects connected with the cultivation of 

 cacao and rubber. 



TOBAGO : ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE BOTANIC 

 STATION, ETC., 1905-6. 



Botanic Station. — The total expenditure on the station, 

 including salaries, was £659 16s. Id The receipts from the 

 sale of plants and produce amounted to £38 \'2s. 2ic/. 



The Curator is again able to report a satisfactory 

 extension in the plant distribution work, necessitating the 

 enlargement of the nursery. The number of plants distributed 

 from the station was the largest since the station was 

 established, viz., 13,694 — a very creditable increase of 4,159 

 over last year's total. 



The general condition of the station is satisfactory, 

 a number of minor improvements having been made. 



Experiments were carried on at the station with a large 

 number of economic plants. Cotton of fairly good quality 

 was produced in the small experimental plot. 



The rainfall at the Botanic Station during the year was 

 71 '29 inches, which was well distributed. 



Agricultural Instructor. — The duties of the Agricultural 

 Instructor are mainly in connexion with the improvement of 

 Crown Land holdings. Some advance is reported. 



The increase in cacao cultivation is worthy of note. The 

 returns show that there were 9,845 more cacao trees than in 

 the year 1904-5 ; 4,345 of these being bearing trees. The 

 Shipments of cacao from the island were 1,085-2- bags in 

 excess of the previous year's .shipments. 



A cacao raanurial plot was started during the year at 

 ' Caledonia ' estate under the supervision of the officers of the 

 station, regular monthly visits being paid by the Agricultural 

 Instructor. 



TRINIDAD: ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE 

 GOVERNMENT STOCK FARMS, 1905-6. 



Mr. C. W. Meaden, the Manager, reports that the health 

 of the stock at the Trinidad farm has been satisfactory during 

 the year, with the exception of a recurrence of strongylua 

 among some of the yearlings. Twenty-eight cases terminated 

 fatally. Two bulls were imported, but both died soon after 

 arrival. During the year, 143 calves were born. 



The auction sale in January realized the sum of 

 £572 10s. lOrf.j the total sales for the year amounted to 

 £821 14s. Oid. 



Two new breeds of pigs were added to the farm — Poland- 

 China and Berkshire. Good results were obtained from the 

 poultry yard, the profits being nearly £40. 



As regards the branch farm at Tobago, the manager 

 (Mr. Henry Meaden) reports a much more profitable year than 

 the last. Full advantage has been taken of the services of 

 the stud animals, and the health of the stock has been 

 excellent. The annual sale, on August 9, realized £141. The 

 total receipts during the year were £491 lis. Z\d. 



