io6 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Aug. 2, 1897. 
buted. On this point, as illustrating how much 
Botanic Oardeiis can do to help aericultural enter- 
prise, as has been early and earnestly recognised 
by our own Director, we quote as follows : — 
Although I am unable to report on the value of 
the canes grown during 1896 at the Gardens, still I 
am able, through the kindness of Messis. Jenman 
and Harrison, to mention that their best seedlings 
have again for the fifth time maintained their pre- 
eminenoy over the older kinds, in yield per acre raid 
in richness of 3 nice, so that planters in Trinidad 
may have the satisfaction of know iug that the canes 
distributed to them have been through long and care- 
fully conducted tests, both agriculturally and chemi- 
cally, for a series of years ; which should be a reliable 
guarantee of their character. I do not think, hov/- 
ever, that any^ cane should be recommenced to the 
planter as being of the highest class until it has been 
widely and largely cultivated in the field, and no 
one has been more careful in this than the Demerara 
growers. It is certainly the duty of the seedling 
growers to advise the very careful extension of the 
area under cultivation in new varieties, and therefore 
the extension of that area is a matter that must 
rest with the planter alone. While refraining, how- 
ever from recommending any particular cane, the 
planter’s attention shoTild be called to record of the 
yield of the several varieties on the trial fields, for, 
by knowing the character of these fields and the cul- 
tivation given, they should be able to select from the 
assortment offered that cane which will be most suit- 
able to their purpose, or best suited to the character 
of the land which they may have under cultivation. 
We have an example in the Burke Cane which is 
highly instructive. This cane, it appears, is one 
which, seen upon the field, is certainly one to make 
glad the heart of the planter, but when it comes to 
the factory it is found to yield a juice which is not 
equal to that obtained from the older varieties. The 
megass also — now used for fuel in all modern factories 
^ — is deficient in heating power, when compared with 
that of the older kinds. Notwithstanding these facts, 
there is not a little to be said in its favour. The 
cano has certainly a very vigorous constitution, and 
is but little subject to disease in comparison with 
some others, and it may moreover become especially 
useful as a parent plant for future seedlings, by giving 
a strong vitality to its progeny. 
Then follow remarks on pineapple seedlings, 
cacao (containing much of interest to local growers, 
part of which was reproduced in our Director’s 
Report), varieties of coffee (which is attracting 
the attention of planters in view of the fail 
in price of cacao), citron, oranges and other 
products, which tve cannot do more than 
mention here ; hut we are sure to reproduce most of 
the interesting paragraphs at length in our 
monthly periodical. A special interest attaches to 
the Report under notice, as it marks the comiffe- 
tion of a century of British rule in Trinidad, and the 
eightieth year of the existence of the Gardens on 
their present site — the oldest West Indian Botanic 
Gardens. Long may they llonrisli ! 
THE DISEASE AFFECTING CACAO TREES. 
in different ilistricts is tlrus' considered by a 
correspondent who has not, so far as we know, 
hitherto taken part in the discussion : — • 
The cocoa disease is most certainly not a 
root disease; there, Mr. Mnrtin is right — but the 
Pooohie is well known, and described in Mr. Vander 
Poorten’s letter to you some time back. 
Mr. Martin says It certainly is not a root disease 
as the tendency is to work upwards from a 
puncture, but if allowed to develope the sap becomes 
vitiated and the roots therefore become unhealthy. 
Here Mr. Martin is wrong, if the insect attacks the 
tree anywhere above the collar there is a strong chance 
of a healthy sucker growing and, forming a fine tree. 
I have seen dozens such now years old and believe 
them to be healthy today. 
A superintendent of a large estate in Dum- 
bera was heard to say, hardlv one tree ori- 
ginally planted now remains, but iu>ve bepn 
leplacea; on another not in Dumbera, figures were 
given me showing 33 % cut out m 18 months 
Can this be the place Mr. Martin refers to-wheie 
does profit come m. I went through an estate a 
few aays ago where in spite of trees being regularly 
cestroyed, tCe disease increases — why ? the Poochie^<t 
attack IS only discovered when the damage is done 
when one Qiscovers the bleeding (described bv 
Mr. i,Iai in) tlie only sure way is to cut the tree 
down and burn the part cut away, 
and seen treated hundreds of at- 
tacked trees wuh but poor results and have seen 
fields wnere supplies of the hardy kinds have refused 
to grow and on others they have come on well— the 
work done by the same man, A. Y. De P. 
I told a cocoa planter 18 mouths ago of this pest, he 
did not know of it then, but was confident he couldiover- 
come It should it attack A fs property it has done so 
and now he makes people believe ; he has no trouble for 
It only takes a certain time to replace the tree 
I saw the disease on an estate when ’ it first 
shovyed up there and counted 40 trees in a patch 
I saio they were doomed and they died; this place 
which had been a good one became the talk of the 
districi, and from being as cense as a forest, one 
could look all over the place. These are facts 1 
can give you names and places for all I state and 
are these 111 themselves not enough (as you say) to show 
that an Entomologist ought to have been at work 
long ago^ It is right down foolish to say w© in this 
or that distilct, have not much to complain of thus 
throwing cold water on a pressing need ; let them 
wait and m a very short time their turns may come. 
Dumbera first Kurunegala second, Wattegama third, 
why not Matale fourth, lou are.right, no time should 
too much has been lost. My idea is 
still that people holding cocoa property wish to hush 
up the fact that it is in a bad w'ay from various 
causes, but particularly the pooebie in question. 
THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIFIC BOARD. 
A shrewd, hut somewhat cynical, planting 
authority speaks out as follows 
“ The Covernmeiit has at last had its eves 
opened to tlie need of .scientific men being em- 
ployed to investigate pe.«ts affecting the agri- 
culture of the coimtry. The attitude of the late 
Chaiiinan of the Planters’ Association, the then 
P anting Member of Council and of Mr. T North 
Christie when Messrs. Gibbon and Cross agitated 
tor a Scientist, put hack the clock ; hut Air. T 
North Christie, like the wise man he is, saw- his 
eiroi and did liis best in advising the present 
Governor to liiirry up the .a])pointment of an 
mvestigator. However, planters, native and 
Euiopean will have to he on the alert, lest the 
piesent Hash in the ]ian dies out with the 
honorary appointment of Air. Green. Why don’t 
we have Honorary Colonial Secretaries, &c ’ 
Government will spend money on beautifying 
Nuwara Fliya or any place wJiere it is pleasant 
to pass the hot season ; but spending money on 
scientihc departments will not catch on iono- 
If sonie of the money spent on the tomfooleiw 
w. Gordon indulged in, when he multi- 
plied Government Agencies and so multiiilied Pro- 
vincial olhces and cost of buildings to repre- 
sent worthily the splendour of those new Pro- 
vincial Chiefs, had been devoted to providino- a 
deceim salary for a proper Railway Alanagertor 
salaries of scientific men to report on our Amd- 
wnn 7 ri a ^ l^lessing to Ceylon that 
would have been? 
“ Peg away therefore, till we have two Scientific 
Inyestigatois to ivatcii over the Agriculture of the 
Colony and have nothing to do with Honorary 
Appointments.” ^ 
