328 



THE AGKICULTUEAL NEWS. 



October 20, 1906. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



Letters and matter for publication, as well 

 as all specimens for naming, should be addressed 

 to the Commissioner, Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, Barbados. 



All applications for copies of the 'Agri- 

 cultural News' should be addressed to the 

 Agents, and not to the Department. 



Local Agents: Messrs. Bowen & Sons, Bridge- 

 town, Barbados. London Agents: Messrs. Dulau & 

 Co., 37, Soho Square, W., and The West India Com- 

 mittee, 1.5, Seething Lane, E.C. A complete list of 

 Agents will be found on page 3 of the cover. 



The Agricultural Nnvs: Price \d. per number, 

 post free \hd. Annual subscription payable to Agents, 

 2s. 2d. Post free, 3s. M. 



Agricultural |^tiuH 



Vol. V. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1906. No. 117. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



The subject of fungus diseases of plants and their 

 prevention is dealt with in the editorial of this issue. 



A report on the sugar industry of Java appears 

 on p. 323. 



Mr. J. Jones, Curator of the Botanic Station at 

 Dominica, contributes an interesting note on the 

 manufacture of citrate of lime. (See p. 324.) 



On p. 32.5 will be found an illustration showing 

 the West Indian exhibit at the Canadian Exhibitions. 

 The great success of this section and the interest 

 aroused by it are referred to in all the press notices 

 on the exhibitions. 



Action is being taken in Barbados to secure the 

 destruction of the ' love vine.' A brief account of this 

 pai'asitic plant appears on p. 327. 



Among the notes on insect pests on p. 330, 

 mention is made of a new sugar-cane pest in Trinidad, 

 which proves to be one of the ' spittle insects ' or 

 ' frog-hoppers.' 



An interesting trial of various fodder plants has 

 been made at the Dominica Agricultural School. 

 A brief report on the results will be found on p. 333. 



In view of the efforts that are being made to 

 extend the cultivation of the Castilloa rubber tree in 

 the West Indies, considerable interest attaches to the 

 article on this subject on p. 334. 



Botanic Station Reports. 



The issue to-day of the Annual Reports on the 

 Botanic Station, Agricultural School, and Land Settle- 

 ment Scheme in St. Vincent, for 1905-G, completes the 

 publication of the reports on the local agricultural 

 departments throughout the West Indies for the year 

 ended March 31 last. 



These reports form an interesting summary of the 

 ertbrts for the improvement of agriculture in the several 

 islands ; for, in addition to dealing with the details of 

 the work in the Botanic Stations, the local officers 

 have prepared valuable reports on the progress in the 

 establishment of minor industries and experimental 

 work in connexion therewith. Of special interest are 

 the reports on the progress of the cotton industry. 



In the case of St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and Dominica 

 reports are furnished by the Officers-in-charge of the 

 Agricultural Schools, in which much useful work is 

 being accomplished. 



These reports can be obtained of all the agents for 

 the sale of the publications of the Imperial Department 

 of Agriculture at a cost of 3'?. or Qd,. each. 



Colonial Fruit Shows. 



As already stsited in the Agricultural News 

 (Vol. V, p. 277), the next Colonial Fruit Show, to be 

 held by the Royal Horticultural Society, has been fixed 

 for December 4 and .5. 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture is 

 firmly of opinion that every effort should be made to 

 secure an exhibit of West Indian fruit for this show. 

 It is a matter that the Permanent Exhibition Commit- 

 tees in the Windward and Leeward Islands and 

 Barbados should take up at the earliest opportunity. 

 They are invited to communicate with the Imperial 

 Commissioner of Agriculture or the local officers of the 

 Department, who will be ready to render any assistance 

 in their power. 



In regard to funds for meeting the necessary 

 expenditure, it is suggested that resolutions might be 

 passed by the Agricultural Societies, asking the various 

 Governments to contribute a share of the expenses. 

 Jamaica, British Guiana, and Trinidad might be asked 

 to vote £20 each, and Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, 

 and St. Lucia £10 each. 



Cacao in British Guiana. 



Reporting on the Essequebo and Pomeroon Rivera 

 district of British Guiana for the yenv 190.5-6, the 

 Commissioner refers to the suitability of some parts of 

 the lands on the Essequebo and on its tributaries to 

 the cultivation of cacao. 



It is interesting to note that cacao was presumably 

 planted by the original Dutch settlers, although no one 

 can speak definitely of its origin. Mr. ilcTurk .says : 

 ' I have found large cacao trees in what is now forest 

 wherever there are old Dutch graves, some of them, 

 from their inscriptions, nearly 200 years old. 



' It may interest some persons to know that cacao 

 grows wild on the banks of the Rio Branco, near Fort 



