, 1894-10-03
TRINIDAD.
Cane Disease.
agricultural Reporter, 28h Aug.

H0flCULtUTut n6pOTt6T, ZOtH aug
Agric1Ituralists in Trinidad are much ex-
ercised over the spread Of fungoid and insect
pests arnorg the canes and bananas IN that
coIonv,s 50 much so that, as will be seen below,
resolution was recently passed by a COM
mittee of the Agricultural Society urging
upon the Governor 10 secure the cooperation
Of other colonies similarly affected, Barbados
included. in obtaining the service OF a spe-
calls. to report on the matter. 50 far, how
ever. as we are concerned, there is nothing
new to be learnt on the subject. We have
had no end of reports upon 1t already, and
ii would IMPLY be a waste OF pubic money
to Join in the proposed movement. Some
time last year when our own Agricultural
Society had the question Of fungus disease
under consideration SOME such proposal was
made, but it fell through. Nothing has since
occurred to Justify its revival. The subJoInrd
extract is taken from the L ftct-Spa'H
GQsette:
GA a meeting of the Committee of the
Agricultural Society held on the 18th inst.
the following motion was introduced by MIR.
Fenwick and adopted-
That this Commit ee views with alarm the
serious spread cf Fungoid and Insect Pests
among Canes and Bananas reported as exist
ing not only in this Colony but also IL ia
maica, Barbados, Leeward Islands and Deme-
rara, and is Of opinion
l. That steps should be taken to ascertain
the exact nature and extent OF these
pests and that for this purpose the ser
vices of a specialist duly qualified for
The purpose are necessary, acting in
conjunction with the planting commu-
lity
. That the Colonies above mentioned
.ll H. ;,,;4,l AIS t.Eo uDita1 .ptioi,
in this matter, sharing the expenses.
which it is thought Will not exceed
5000, or say, Il sum of f120 for each
of the Colonies interested.
3 ThatIisExcellency the GovernorshonId
he requested to communicate with His
Lordship the Secretary Of State for the
Colonies in order to ascertain he views
of the Botanical Authorities at Kew,
and whether n suitable specialist could
he selected for the purpose this to be
done as early as possible so as 10 Tx
the date of enquiry before the next
crop season, preferably in November Or
December
And this Committee suggests that on
completion of q tour Of the principal islands,
the specialist should meet the botanical au-
thoritieS and one planting representative
from each of the colonies in conference, at
Barbados, so as to have at his disposition the
fullest information. together with the assist
ance of those competent to express opimlous
from \ scientific az we'll as a planters point
of view" Mr.. Fenwick explained that tire
necessity for some concerted action had
arisen from the fact that the disease was
spreading with disastrous results in many
of the neighbouring colonies. 1t WAS not
the borer of former years, but q varlety OF
fungus. He referred to the correspondence
on the subject which had appeared in the
Tsw Bulletin and the Sugar Cane and urged
the necessity of united "o1ion among the
sugar colonies to which the disease was like
" to spread. Mr.. Hart first called atten-
sion TO the existence at this fungus disease in
this colony % where cares were being destroyed
bv it for the past two or three years. In
Pointe,a- Pierre district it was very life in
deed, and two years ago his (Mr. Fenwlck's)
crop Suffe, ed damage to the extent Of nearly
thirty per cent. 1t was not so bad this year