NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



233 



NOTES AND ABSTEACTS. 



Agricultural Conference in Antigua, 1910 {West Indian Bull. 

 vol. X. p. 233. 1910). — This is the Eeport of the visit of a number of 

 Barbados sugar planters to Antigua for the purpose of inspecting newly 

 introduced methods of sugar cane cultivation by means of implements, 

 and sugar works fitted with steam-heated pans for making muscovado 

 sugar. 



Among the resolutions passed were the following : 



(1) " That in the opinion of this meeting, the concessions granted to 

 the Canadian refiners whereby they are empowered to import, on prefer- 

 ential terms from non-preferential countries, sugar equal to one-fifth of 

 the imports, nullify the benefit of the preferential treatment to the 

 British West Indies : and it is therefore desirable that the Eoyal Oom.- 

 mission should be urged to make strong representations directed 

 towards the repeal of this breach of preferential arrangements." 



(2) " That the prices paid in Canada for muscovado sugar from the 

 British West Indies are below the world's parity of prices and show no 

 evidence of preferential treatment." 



The following subjects were discussed unofficially by the members 

 of the Conference and form the subject of separate papers in the 

 Eeport : 



(1) Five years' working of the Antigua Sugar Factory. 



(2) Muscovado Sugar-making by Steam Boiling. 



(3) Implemental Cultivation. 



(4) Systems of Agricultural Education. 



(5) The Introduction of Insectivorous Birds. — C. H. L. 



Alectorurus yedoensis {Bot. Mag. tab. 8336). — Nat. ord. 

 Liliaceae; tribe Asphodeleae. Japan. Herb, perennial; leaves 6-11, 

 tufted, ensiform; scape 10-30 inches long; flowers set racemosely; 

 perianth, campanulate, pale-rose; stamens exserted. — G. H. 



Alfalfa Disease, A new Stem Blight. By Walter G. Sackett 

 (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Colorado, Bull. 159; April 1910).— The stem blight 

 of Alfalfa is due to a rod-shaped mobile bacterium, Pseudomonas 

 medicaginis. The blight makes its appearance in the first half of May, 

 and if the attack is bad the first stand shrivels and dies about six 

 weeks before the first cutting. 



The disease is primarily a stem infection, but leaves may show the 

 characteristic watery looking areas independent of the stem. In bad 

 cases the roots also are affected. The stem has a watery semi-trans- 

 parent appearance in the early stages, is yellow, olive green in colour, 

 and excretes a viscid liquid which soon dries, forming a shiny, 



