77 
West Indian Reports._From the Imperial Commission of Agri- 
culture for the West Indies the following reports have been 
recently received :—(1.) Report on the Agricultural and Botanical 
Department Barbados for the period 1898-1907, with a review of 
the sugar cane experiments since 1884, (2.) Reports on the Botanic 
Stations, &c. St. Lucia, 1907-8. (3.) St. Kitts, Nevis, 1907-8. 
(4.) Antigua, 1907-8. Of these the first mentioned is of particular 
interest, since it gives a review of the Sugar and Cotton Industries 
in Barbados since the foundation of the Imperial Department of 
Agriculture in 1898. The report is illustrated by some good 
photographs. The history of the Introduction of the Sea Island 
cotton in 1903 is given and the progress of the industry summarised. 
In 1902-3 the value of the cotton from the 16 acres grown in 
Barbados was £318, whilst in 1906-7 the acreage under cotton had 
risen to 5,000, yielding lint and seed of the total value of £76,376. 
An account of the Banana industry, which is also illustrated by 
excellent photographs is of interest and affords an example of the 
difficulties which are encountered in endeavouring to establish an 
industry with an export trade. 
In Antigua, in 1907-8, 2,508 acres were under cotton, shewing an 
increase of 683 acres over the previous year; considerable loss, 
however, is reported owing to insect pests. 
Experiments with Sugar-canes._Report of the Agricultural work 
for the season between 1905-7 carried on under the direction of 
the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, 
Barbados, 1908. Parts i, and ii., Manurial Experiments with 
Sugar-cane. Part iii., Experiments with varieties of Sugar-cane. 
By J. P. d’Albuquerque and John R. Bovell. 
The work summarized in Part i. of the report deals with the 
composition of Barbados’ rainfall. The weather conditions during 
the season under review were not altogether favourable to the 
growth of canes, the rainfall at first being below the average and 
drought setting in again at a later period. The total amount of 
rainfall was 76°53 inches, and this supplied approximately 175 pounds 
of chlorine and 9°5 pounds of nitrogen per acre. = 
The manurial experiments are dealt with in Part ii, ‘These were 
conducted at Dodd’s Botanic Station and at five other estates on 
of phosphatic and potassic manures was variable, but the use of 
nitrogen after farmyard manure was found both in the case of plant 
canes and ratoons to yield highly satisfactory results. — 
Part iii. deals with the important subject of raising new and 
improved varieties. A very large amount of work has been carried 
out in this direction, and the results obtained during the season 
1905-7 are given in detail in the report. A 
