, 1912-01-17

~ D 10 w
fully worked out. When, 10 1900, Mr.. Max
well-Lefroy was appointed first entomolo-
gist on the staff of the Imperial Depart
mcnt of Agriculture, he was entrusted
with the task. He had come straight
from Cambridge and probably had never
seen or touched a sugar caue IN bis lie. In
these circumstances the prospect of success
might be regarded as not encouraging.
After q patient and exhaustive inquiry ex-
tending over nearly q year, Mr.. Maxwell
LEROY succeeded in fuding the moth borer
eggs deposited in a greenish cluster on the
back of the leaf of the sugar-cane. They
were so inconspicuous that they had escaped
the notice of successive generations of plan
ters, who had only realized the presence of
the moth borer by the injury it had done to
their canes. The result of Mr.. Maxwell
Leffoy's discovery was to place at once with
in reach of the planters the complete story
of the moth borer, together with simple and
effective means of controlling it. He also
found that a minute parasite attacked the
eggs, and If, in addition to collecting the
eggs the parasites were encouraged, the
moth borer might be largely kept in check
by natural means.
Next to sugar the cacao industry is the
most important of any in the West Indies.
Tie total value Of the exports amounts to
about q million and % half sterling. The dis
eases affecting cacao trees have received
careful attention, and planters have been
kept fully informed as to their character and
the treatment likely to produce the best re-
suits. Experiments in manuring cacao plan
tations have been carried on at Grenada, st.
Lucia and Dominica with very satisfactory
results. The grating of cacao in order to
establish trees yielding large crops OF the
best qualities has been successful on q mo-
derately large scale at Dominica. In st.
Lucia, as the result of the establishment of
experiment plots by the Department, it was
reported that the planters i'll that island
were now importing basic Stag and suIplrate
of ammonia, and pruning and forking had
for the first time become o reco 1nized part
of cacaO cultivation.
1t was recognized from the first that local
experiment stations distributed on the es-
tates and carried on with the corporation
of individual planters and the scientific offic-
ers of the Department were the best aud
most potent means of demonstrating the
lines on which science could be of service to
agriculture. This enabled the planters to
understand the value of scientific methods
of research, and, on the other hand, to bring
the scientific workers into sympathy with
difficulties and limitations of the practical
side.
As showing the possibility of develop
ments in new industries in the West Iudies,
the rice industry of British Guiana is de-
serving of notice. This is almost entirely i'll
the hands of East Indian immigrants. Dur
ing the last ten years the area under Guilt
walton has steadily increased. 1t is now
about $4,000 acres. While the larger portion
OF the rice is consumed locally, an export
trade has already been started. The pro-
gress of the industry will be realized from
the fact THAT, while in 1895 the importations
of rice were 34.OO 200 ID, of the value of
&142, 900, they were gradually reduced,
until in 1909 they were 100000 tb of the
value of $1,000. In addition to meeting
local requirements, the rice exported in 1909
to the other West Indian colonies amounted
to $500, 600, fb., of the value of $4,000.
The rice is reported to be of excellent quail
ty, and there is no reason why eventually
British Guiana should not supply all the
rice consumed in that part of the world.
Increased interest III being taken in tobac-
~co-growing in the West Indies, and espec-
ally in jamaica, where, in addition to- the
considerable local consumption, the exports
of tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes are of the
annual value of 100000. Experiments in