280 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



September 8, 1906. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



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 Agriculture, Barbados. 



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gtigricultiiral ^leiui 



Vol. V. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1906. No. 114. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. . 



The editorial in this issue deals with the progress 

 of the cotton industry in St. Kitt's-Xevis. 



A short note on a paper read at the International 

 Conference on Hybridization and Cross-breeding, by 

 Sir Daniel Morris (see p. 274) briefly reviews the 

 efforts that have been made in the West Indies to 

 improve the sugar-cane. 



Extracts from a recent report on sugar-cane 

 experiments in British Guiana appear on p. 275. 



It is desired to draw the attention of readers of 

 the Agricultural Xeu-s to the letter from the Secretary 

 of the West India Committee, published on p. 277, 

 relative to the representation of the West Indies at the 

 forthcoming show of colonial fruit to be held under the 

 auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society. 



On pp. 278-9 will be found several notes of interest 

 to cotton growers. The prospects of the cotton crop 

 in Antigua and St. Vincent are reported upon, and 

 references made to cotton growing in Porto Rico and 

 St. Croix. Interest also attaches to the tables dealing 

 •with the production and prices of cotton during the 

 past twenty years, and to the returns of cotton 

 exported from'the various West India Islands during 

 the quarter ended June 30 last. 



The leaflet reproduced on p. 2.S2 shows what steps 

 are necessary to secure the eradication of the tick 

 nuisance. Stock raisers in the West Indies will be 

 well advised in adopting some such .system as that 

 advocated in the leaflet. 



Exports of Barbados, 



According to the Blue Bool- on Barbabos for the 

 year 1905-(i, the value of the exports of produce and 

 manufjictures of the island during the year amounted 

 to £096,829. 



The exports of sugar were as follows : muscovado, 

 45,409 hhds. ; dry sugar, 1,62S hhds. The total value 

 of the sugar exjjbrts was £451,491. Of molasses 

 39,379 puncheons, of the value of £177,205, were 

 exported. 



Other articles of export were:arrowroot(487, 191 tb), 

 £3,775: cotton (.344,232 lb.). £17,211 : fruit (including 

 bananas), £11,803 : manjak (929 tons), £9,292. 

 ^^^♦-^ 



Balata and Rubber in British Guiana. 



According to the Annual Report on the North- 

 western district of British Guiana, . balata bleeding 

 is on the increase. It is estimated that there are some 

 150 bleeders at work, and large shipments may, in 

 consequence, be looked for. 



I'he rubber industry has come to the front very 

 much during the year, and prospectors are coming into 

 the district to ascertain whether rubber can be found 

 in paying quantities. A large number of j'oung rubber 

 plants are reported- to be growing splendidly. 



Grants of Crown lands up to 9,305 acres have been 

 made during the year. 



Rice Growing in British Guiana. 



The Demerara Argo'<y (August 18) has a short 

 article reviewing a recent report by Mr. A. L. Mans- 

 field, Agricultural Instructor, on a visit to Leguan in 

 March last in connexion with the rice industry in the 

 island. 



' Excellent returns were obtained from the foreshore 

 last year, 40 bags to the acre being realized. . . At 

 the time of the Instructor's visit there were 420 acres 

 in course of preparation for the May sowing.' 



The island has two rice mills in operation, and it 

 is expected that the area under lice cultivation this 

 year will reach 2,000 acres, or double last year's acreage. 

 The crop last year amounted to 35,000 bags. 



An important point in connexion with the industry 

 is that the negros are following the example of the 

 coolies in j)!anting rice. 



Sugar-cane Experiments in British Guiana. 



From the extracts published on p. 275 it will be 

 seen that the experiments which have been carried out 

 by the Board of Agriculture in British Guiana comprise 

 trials of a large number of varieties of canes. 



Many of these varieties have been proved to give 

 vields equal to, or greater than, those obtained from the 

 Bourbon. D. 62.5, D. 145, D. 109, which have also 

 exhibited well-marked ratooning qualities, are recom- 

 mended for further trial. 



D. 74, D. 78, and the White Transparent have 

 shown signs of falling oft" in their yields, and the 

 committee advises that their cultivation be continued 

 only on lands which have proved very suitable to their 

 growth. 



