170 
parasitic fungus, Cephalosporium lecanit, and the leaves are 
distributed over the island in order to spread the fungus which has 
resulted in keeping the Lecanium scale in check. 
Useful work is being done in connection with the peasant agri- 
culture by giving instruction in the country and by the establishment 
of small experimental plots as object lessons in different parts of the 
island. In this way it is hoped, not without reason, to raise the 
standard of the cultivation of the peasants’ small holdings which 
are a very important feature of the conditions which prevail in 
Grenada. Ten thousand, three hundred acres are in the hands of 
peasant proprietors holding ten acres or less while 64,200 acres are 
held in estates or holdings of over ten acres. 
Str. VINCENT. 
Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the steamer arrived at 
St. Vincent on the outward journey and the early arrival and short 
stay on the return voyage, I was unfortunately unable to get ashore 
to visit the Botanic Station. The noble bay, with its forest-clad 
mountains and Georgetown half hidden among the trees and palms 
forms a view of great beauty from the steamer. 
In St. Vincent the cotton industry is being conducted by Govern- 
ment on successful lines. The Government owns the Central 
Ginnery and purchases the cotton from the peasants, and the work 
is largely in the hands of the Agricultural Superintendent. In’ 
addition to this work and the care of the Botanic Station, there is 
the advisory work connected with the estates which entails a con- 
siderable amount of travelling about the island. 
_Here, as elsewhere, in the West Indies the multiplicity and 
diversity of the work which devolves upon the agricultural super- 
intendents or curators strikes the visitor with surprise which is 
increased when it is seen how efficiently the various duties are 
performed. ; 
St. Luca. 
St. Lucia was reached in the early morning and we berthed 
alongside for coaling. Castries being an important coaling station, 
has its beauty somewhat marred in consequence and the compara- 
tively high wages which can be obtained from coaling operations 
render the natives indolent in agricultural matters. Here we 
were met by Dr. L. Nicholls and taken across a piece of low-lying 
ground to the Botanic Station which is partly situated on a 
reclaimed swamp at the end of the harbour. The situation is by no 
means a good one, but the gardens have risen superior to the site 
and possess several attractive features. Soon after my arrival I 
was met by Mr. Moore, who took me all over the station. The 
garden contains a good and interesting collection of exotic plants 
and a good nursery stock of economic plants for distribution. The 
nutmegs in full fruit, just bursting and exposing the crimson mace 
were among some of the most beautiful objects in the garden. The 
garden affords a fine spot on one side for a collection of West 
Indian ferns, but the funds at the disposal of the station are 
insufficient to allow of expenditure on the formation of collections 
of purely botanical interest. 
