, 1894-06-02

plant Caledonian Queen" But in many re-
spects the Bourbon stands unequalled;and there
are numerous objections to the CaledOnian
Queen. 1t the first place there are fewer
canes TO the bunch and the question IF dis
tances apart has to be settled. The Juice is
much less in quantity. They all arrow to-
gether and Very freely. This not only makes
il necessary to use joints as plants; but the
cane appears to deteriorate il left after arrow
my, and it Is obviously impossible to leap all
the canes in one N nth.
The gradual Su, planting of the Bourbon
seems at present distinctly indicated but
it will need a very careful series Of expert
ments to determine by what. Very probably
different canes v III suit different localities
the Ca 5donian Queen, for instance, in St.
kits, is unsuited to the heavier and wetter
regions, although there is hardly an approach
to clay in that. island-and hence individual
experiments on the different estates are called
for.
The existence of experiments of this kind
and the general feeling Of interest in Seeding
Uanes and new varieties is a very useful
testimony to the important place which the
Dodds Experimental Station holds in the
planters eyes; and al the a time
1t is a striking tribute to the persistent energy
with which the originators Of that Institution
have carried OH their work in the face Of long
continued neglect.
What | have learnt in Barbados points
very strongly to the establishment Of a small
experimental station in each island where
sugar is the staple. While no diseases
are apparent, varieties and seedlings may be
Nbtained through the kindness Of larger es-
adjustments. 1t has. however, been consider.
ed necessary in jamaica, on account Of cane
diseases, to quarantine Natal 5. India. Ceyion,
Mauritius, Java and Fiji. 1t will certainly be
advisable for us to receive no cane plants from
Barbados and we are thus thrown upon our
own resources. St. Kits and Dominica have
the shot borer and cane killer respectively,
Antique must grow its own varieties and seed
lings and St. Kits must soon establish its
own experimental station.
My visit to Barbados was, officially to
investigate the fungus pests affecting the
canes. But during my stay | have gone into
a number of inter esting questions affecting
pastures, as far as my time would allow. Of
these | may be permitted to mention two as
particularly affecting Antigua. The appear
ance of the pastures in Barbados calls to mind
more than anything | can remember in the
Tropics, that of the English h~ayfields. The
grass ~ clean and bright in colour. 1t in
either grazed OF regularly cut, and made into
hay" for the cattle, or fed to them mixed
with q little molasses and oilmeal. The grass
univel sally used is the 'soulgraSs." | see no
reason why by similar treatment the Antigua
pastures might not be improved. Tie sour
grass will grow very readily, at any rate upon
the limestone districts Of the island, and it ap-
pears to be present in fair quantity in the
neighbourhood of Hodges and elsewhere. 1t
is being propagated continually at tile Botani-
cal Station at Glare Hall. The introduction
of this grass is by no means difficult; there
are some fine fields of it in Nevis, whittier
it was carried by the Hon. Joseph Briggs.
But the keeping of pastures cut at the right
time has far more wide reaching results. The
natural shelter of the tick is thus DESTROYED.
as | shall, | trust, have the means of demon
strating some day soon. For the keeping of
ticks off the cattle in Barbados various
are adopted. The cattle are cleaned
every morning. and rubbed with various herbs
to keep off insect attacks. Bur everywhere
IN the estatCs one meets with crowds of
black birds" These are credited with per
all sorts of useful Offices. They fol
low the cattle and are sometimes seen to pick
off the ticks from their backs and they
certainly appear to enjoy the morning clean
ng of the animals.
1 have been trying to obtain a few of these
birds for liberation in these islands, if His
I xtelI ncv the Governor annrovaS of cnob