294 



tionally good mother. We breed on the basis of one bull to 

 every twenty cows for a period of four months. 



When the Devon breed is thoroughly established we expect 

 then to cross Shorthorn bulls on to the general herd. We do not 

 believe in using cross-bred or grade bulls, but plan to use only 

 pure bred. It is slow work to improve a mongrel herd with any- 

 thing but pure-bred bulls, and one cannot get uniformity in his 

 herd except with pure-bred bulls. In a large herd uniformity is 

 most essential, as the cattle cannot be handled individually but in 

 classes, viz., year-old heifers, two-year-old steers, etc. 



CASSAVA IN BARBADOS. 



Following is an extract from the official report on the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Barbados, 1913-14, just received: 



"The cultivation of the different varieties of cassava obtained 

 from Alontserrat, Trinidad and Panama, together with a number 

 of the varieties grown from seed, was continued again this year. 

 There are tw^enty-four new seedlings, obtained during the year, 

 under cultivation. The yields during 1913-14, with four excep- 

 tions, were not as high as those of the previous year. This is 

 probably due to the drought experienced from November, 1913, 

 on to the time the cassava was reaped in 1914. 



"Every year, just before the rainy season is expected, a num))er 

 of the peasants dig out their cassava roots so as to enable them to 

 have the land ready when the rain comes to plant other crops. 

 As fresh cassava roots do not keep very long after they have been 

 dug they usually have to sell them at a low price, and later on 

 often suffer for want of food before the crops which have taken 

 the place of the cassava mature sufficiently to be reaped. 



"As in some of the neighboring islands the peasantry manufac- 

 ture their cassava roots into farine, cassava meal, cassava starch, 

 cassava cakes and tapioca, a small manufacturing plant consist- 

 ing of a mill, a press, and a farine pan with the necessary bags 

 for pressing the grated roots, etc., was, with the kind permission 

 of Mr. W. D. SlK"i)hcrd, put into operation at Union Hall, which 

 is situate in a district where there are probably more ]ieasants 

 growing cassava than in any other. P.efore the j)lant was sent to 

 Union Hall, it was operated at Codrington House, where the 

 Superintendent of Agriculture resides, so as to enable some of the 

 members of the staff of the Department of Agriculture to obtain a 

 knowledge of the matmfacture of the articles mentioned above. 

 This was done in order that one of them might be able to instruct 

 the peasantry, etc. As maim factu red cassava products like far- 

 ine, cassava cakes, etc., will keep in good condition for some 

 months, those who have availed themselves of the opportunity to 

 work up their cassava roots should have a food supply sufficient 

 to last them until, under normal weather conditions, their crops 

 of Indian corn, sweet potatoes, etc., arc available." 



