67 



Experiments are also required to find out suitable plants for " green 

 manuring." 



Alfalfa at Hope has been fairly successful, and is promising as a fod- 

 der crop in many parts of the island. Reports on trials of seed sent out 

 from the Department are given in Appendix I, page 77, and these are en- 

 couraging when it is considered that they refer to the first sowing. Par- 

 ticular attention is directed to the reports from Messrs. J. Shearer, A. C* 

 Kennedy, W. H. Hall, C. Daly, C. A. T. Fursden, and Miss E. Fisher. 

 From their experiments it may be seen that it would be well to sow 

 during light rains before the seasons come on, and that an occasional cut- 

 ting or feeding down strengthens the subsequent growth. 



Onions. — In the Bulletin for August, 1890, attention was called to the 

 cultivation of the onion, and since that time seeds have been distributed 

 free in various parts of the island. Only a very few persons had tried 

 growing them before that date, and there was a general opinion that they 

 would not bulb here. They have been very successfully grown at the 

 Hill Garden, and the reports show that they can be grown in several 

 places. No one has yet attempted the cultivation on anything but a 

 very small scale, but experience is being gained, some of the onions 

 grown have been of remarkable size and I have hopes of an extended 

 cultivation in the future. In gardens where the onion seedlings can be 

 watered and well looked after, the time of year is not so important ; but 

 for field culture, it is necessary during the early stages of growth to 

 avoid the " seasons rains" and to have a little rain almost every day up 

 to the time when the bulb is of full size. See Appendix II, page 80. 



Grapes. — The culture of Grapes is one which the Department has 

 done a great deal to encourage, and not only has a large number of 

 vines (over 1,000) been distributed but the attention of the public has 

 been directed to the great importance of proper care in pruning the 

 Vines, thinning the bunches, etc. The Liguanea plain is perhaps the 

 most important district in the island in which to give practical in- 

 structions. There are more people there interested in the subject, and 

 it has been possible to continue the demonstrations from week to week 

 on account of Mr. Thompson being in charge of King's House Garden. 

 His report on his work is as follows : — 



In March 1892 cuttings of nine kinds of Grape-vines were received from 

 Kew. The cuttings were propagated and planted out in the piece of ground en- 

 closed for them at the East Lodge, King's House. They made good growth and 

 in the Spring of 1893, the vines were cut down and about 1,200 cuttings were 

 propagated and we sent out as many young vines as we had orders for. In 

 the Spring of 1894, about 800 more young vines were propagated. In 1893-94, 

 there were about 1,000 young vines sent out from King's House Gardens, and 

 what young vines we had left were sent up to the Hope Gardens to be disposed of 

 when required. 



During 1893-94, 36 Demonstrations were given at Collins Green and King's 

 House Vine- Garden. These demonstrations were not attended so well as would 

 have been expected ; some said it was too far away, others that the time of day 

 did not suit them, — the days and time were altered, but I do not think it made 

 any difference. 



There are several persons who, I think, have benefited from the demonstra- 

 tions. Most of these gentlemen have either started or extended their vine 

 cultivations, since the demonstrations started. 



During the demonstrations all the instruction possible has bee>n given, viz : — 

 eoil, cultivation and manures, climate, evil effects of cold or too much wet, need 

 <of plenty of water at the proper time, need of ripe wood, difference between ripe 



