i86 
tHE TUOPiCAL 
AamctLTUBIST. [Dec. 1, 1902. 
CACAO IN ST. LUCIA. 
Mr Geo. S Hudson, the Agricultural Instructor, 
contributes tlie following interesting notes on cacao 
cultivation in St. Lucia :— The cacao crop promises 
fairly well. The first main crop pickings have 
already commenced, but the crop is a peculiar one. 
We have a small quantity of large ripening pods, 
and then an almost complete break in the crop, of 
a month or six weeks (corresponding with the very 
wet season experienced from May 24 to July 6), 
and then a large quantity of small pods, from July 
and August flowers, which will ripen mainly in 
December and January next. On the whole the 
crop promises somewhat better than it did this 
time last year. 
MANURING CACAO. 
At the September monthly meeting of the 
Soufri^re Agricultural Society a u eful paper was 
read by Mr Wm. M Smith, manager of Union 
Vale estate, on this subject, which it was decided 
to publish together with some notes by the writer 
on ' Artificial Manures for Cacao.' The concrete 
points argued in these papers are : — 
1. That stable or pen manure is best preserved 
(for about three months) in a covered pit 4 feet 
deep, with a good layer of straw at the bottom 
to absorb moisture, and alternate layers of manute, 
straw and dry earth, watered daily with urine 
and stable washings collected in a receptacle from 
stables floored with concrete. 
2. That such manure should be applied broad- 
cast over the whole surface of adult plantations and 
lightly forked in. 
3. That artificial manures have in many cases 
proved more efficacious and cheaper than natural 
manure. 
4. That basic slag at the rate of 5 to 10 cwt. 
per acre, applied in December or January, followed 
ijy 1 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia the following 
August or September has given the best results 
in St. Lucia and also Grenada, on the experiment 
plots worked by the Imperial Department of 
Agriculture. The cost of such applications would 
be from £2 10s to £5 per acre. The results in 
increased crops have justified the expenditure 
several times over. 
5. Nitrate of soda, 1 cwt. per acre, is clearly 
indicated in the attacks of Diplodia and other 
diseases where the foliage is first aflected. 
6. Bone meal, about ^ lb to each hole, is the 
most satisfactory application when young plants 
are being put out — Agricultural News, Oct. 11. 
LIMES IN GRENADA. 
The Grenada Federalist reports that at the 
recent meeting of the managing Committee of the 
Agricultural Society, the question of planting the 
Spout land in limes took place. * It was urged 
that the lime industry was likely to prove a 
valuable assistant to cacao and spices, and that an 
object lesson was necessary to enable peasant 
proprietors to have some idea of the method of 
cultivation and a knowledge of the value of the 
firoduct. Lime fruit had been recently selling 
ocallyfor export, at very good prices which were 
more remunerative than anything that cacao could 
bring, and it was urged that the systematic culti- 
vation of this plant, would, therefore, be of very 
great benefit to the community. A vote was 
agreed to for cultivating one acre of the Spout 
Janda ia limesi.'— 4fl'ncwWttr(tJ News, Oct. 11, 
COCONUT BEETLES. 
The following letter from the Inspector of Coconut 
Trees, to the Chairman of the United Planters' Associ- 
ation is interesting, 
Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that the Gov- 
ernment, through this office are taking immediate steps 
to see that the provisions under Enactment IV of 1898 
for the preservation of Coconut Trees, ia properly 
enforced. 
2. The staff which I bope shortly to have at my 
disposal will I believe prove sufficient to carry out the 
necessary measures for this purpose, and I trust that 
before long the disastrous effects caused by the present 
ravages of beetles may be minimised as much as 
possible. 
3. It must, however, especially in certain localities 
where the trees are seriously infected, take some con- 
siderable time before any really satisfactory improve- 
ment in many of the plantations can be looked for : 
meantime, I would ask your Association kindly to co- 
operate with me in the work and assist ma in making 
the best progress possible. 
4. In many of the coconut plantations, and this 
applies more particularly to native holdings where the 
ravages of beetles ace worst, it will 1 fear be necessary 
to take very stringent measures, but I would prefer 
using most pressure by persuasive means, pointing out 
to owners and tenants alike how much it is to their own 
advantage, if they will themselves help in getting rid 
of these pests. 
5. With regard to this a great deal of good can 
be done by their keeping their plantations clean and 
allowing no rubbish heaps, rotten stumps, or mounds 
of manure to accumulate, everything as far as possible 
should be burnt. 
6. Tour Association may therefore be able to afford 
me valuable assistance by using their influence with 
owners of plantations to take these ordinary precau- 
tions as far as it lies in their power. 
7. I am aware that it may happen that any owner 
or occupier may be considerably hampered from keep- 
ing their plantation's free from beetles owing to the 
trees in their immediate neighbourhood being neg- 
lected, and if this is so and reported to me I shall at 
once take measures to have this remedied. 
8. In conclusion, I have ouly to add that I shall 
appreciate any information on the subject which your 
Association may be able to give me, and any suggestion 
that may be made will receive my best consideration. 
—I have the honour to be, Sir, Yours, etc.. Inspector 
of Coconut Trees. FM.S.—Ferak Pioneer, Oct. 25. 
MALTA'S NEW INDUSTRY VINES. 
Baron Ugo Testaf errata, a member of the old 
Maltese nobility has established a new industry 
in Malta. After ten years' planting and experi- 
menting he has proved that the vine can flourish 
on Maltese soil, and is now able to produce 
10,000 gallons annually of excellent wine, with 
an alcoholic strength of 15 per cent., and main- 
taining an unaltered standard from vintage to 
vintage. This wine is in growing demand both 
in London and New York, and has been awarded 
a silver medal at an international wine exhibition 
at Tann.—Uail]/ Mail, Oct. 27. 
RUBBER COMBINE. 
New York, Friday. — Commercial Advertiser 
this morning says that the United States 
Rubber Company, acting with Sir Martin 
Conway, of London, is forming a large 
combine to control the Bolivian supply of 
rubber, King Leopold of Belgium, it is 
stated, is a stock-holder in the concern. It 
is estimated that the new company will 
produce twelve million pouqds of rubber 
mmaWYt—Centrdl iVw*, 
