Agricultur. — Horticultur. — Forstbotanik. 53 



Notes are given on the cotton factory which has been erected in 

 St. Vincent. 



Very careful returns are given, obtained from actual experience on 

 a number of estates in Barbados of the cost of production and the 

 returns from cotton cuitivation in that Colony. These are compared 

 with similar figures from the estate in the Sea Islands, and it is 

 shown that the cost of grovving cotton in Barbados compares very 

 favourably with the cost in the Sea Islands. 



vV. G. Freeman. 



Greig, W., TheCoco-nut industry of Trinidad. (West 

 Indian Bulletin. Vol. VI. p. 149—156. 1905.) 



The coco-nut industry is of much greater importance in Trinidad 

 than is revealed by the table of exports, in as much as there is a large 

 local consumption of both nuts and oil, due in particular to the presence 

 of a large population of East Indian immigrants. The local con- 

 sumption is estimated at about 40000000 nuts, whilst the exports of 

 nuts, copra (the dried „kerneis") and oil represent another 10000000 nuts. 

 In 1902 the area under this crop was about 14000 acres. 



Coco-nut cuitivation is carried on principally in the Cedros 

 district in the extreme Southwest of the Island. Up to ten years ago nuts 

 were almost the only export, but new drying houses have been erected 

 for the preparation of copra, and all imnortant plantations are now 

 equipped with hydraulic presses for the expression of coco-nut oil. In 

 former times this was prepared for local use only in primitive mills. It 

 is usual now to export the large nuts as such^ and to make copra of 

 the small ones, disposing of the latter as copra or oil according to 

 market prices. Methods of cuitivation in Trinidad and Ceylon are 

 briefly described, as also the preparation of copra and coco-nut oil. Con- 

 ditions are not favourable to the export of dessicated coco-nut which 

 requires a large supply of cheap labour. Nor of the coco-nut meal or 

 poonac for which there is a local demand. The preparation of coir fibre 

 is neglected in T r i n i d a d and the author is unable to assign any season 

 for this. 



Analyses are quoted of the composition of husk, shell, kernel and 

 milk of the coco-nut, of the more important soil ingredients removed by 

 1000 nuts, and of coconut meal or cake. The feeding value of coco-nut 

 meal is also touched upon. W. G. Freeman. 



Wright, H. and A.BRUCE, ParaRubber inCeylon. (Circu- 

 lars and Agricultural Journal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. 

 Vol. III. No. 6. p. 55—86. July 1905.) 



The Para Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis) was introduced into 

 Ceylon in 1896 and by June 1904 there were approximately 1000(1 acres 

 in rubber alone, and 26 000 acres of other crops chiefly tea, interplanted 

 with rubber. The actual area under rubber may be set down as about 

 25000 acres. 



The ciimate of Para, the home of the plant, is reviewed, and data 

 given of the elevation, rainfall, temperature and soils of the districts in 

 Ceylon at which it is cultivated. Above 2000 feet it has not yet ascer- 

 tained that the plant can be grown profitably in Ceylon, but experi- 

 mental work is being conducted at elevations from 2000 to 6000 feet. 

 The soils in which Para rubber is being grown are treated in great detail, 

 their chemical and mechanical analyses recorded, and notes offered as 

 to their treatment. 



The principal chemical constituents of fresh leaves and stalks, de- 

 cayed leaves and stalks, fallen leaves, leaf stalks, and wood and branches 

 are given. The rate of growth of the tree in various districts is indi- 

 cated by measurements of individual trees at H e v er at go d h a, Pera- 

 de niya, and near Ratnapura. For one tree the measurements are 

 continuous from 1898 to 1905. 



