254 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



July 30, 1904. 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



New York. 



The following notes on \Ve.st Indian proilucts are 

 taken from the annual report of Consul-General Sir 

 Pei'cy Sandenson, K.C.M.G., on the trade and commerce 

 of New York and district for 1003 (Foreign OfWce: 

 Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 8,1.5!l): — 



Cacao showed an increase of about 10 jier cent, in botli 

 «juantity and value. 



Coffee decreased hotli in quautity and vidue. and the 

 imi>ort from the East and West Indies dinnnisliod by about 

 50 per cent. The price ruled lower till towards the end of 

 the year, when it rose soniewliat rai)idlj' owing to speculation. 



The importation of jute decreased by nvcr ."lO per cent, 

 in i|uantity and oid^- a little less in value. There was 

 a slight increase in (puuitity but a decrease in value in 

 manila, and an increase in both quantity and value in the 

 import of sisal. 



Crude India-ruljber showed an increase of about 10 pei' 

 cent, in quantitj- and .3S per cent, in value. 



There was a large increase in the quautity of cane sugar 

 imported, due probably to the treaty -with Cuba, but the 

 Value did not show a corresponding increase. 



The export of l^pland cotton shows an increase of about 

 Pi per cent, in quantity and over 25 per cent, in value as 

 compared with 1902 : a reduction of 7 per cent, in quantity, 

 but an increa.-e of over .36 per cent, in value a.s conqiared 

 with the average of the previous five years. The i>rice 

 increased enormously during the year, owing to .speculation. 

 In January it stood at 8'90c., from which point it gradu- 

 ally rose to 13'.j0c. towards the end of July ; during 

 August there was a jiartial reaction to 1l'-7-jc. and from 

 that point the price gradually fell till it reached 9'Gc. in 

 October; on reports, however, of a crop under 10,000,000 

 bales speculation was renewed, the price advanced to 13'7c. 

 in December, and was pushed far higher in January 1904. 

 The largest e.xport is to the United Kingdou), and the 

 quantity exported increased in 1903 as conqiared with the 

 lirevious 3'ear. 



From the figures given in the table of imports at 

 the end of the r-ejiort, we notice that the total value 

 of bananas imported into New York for 190:3 was 

 £324,000, being a decrease in value compared with 

 1902, of .£S,000. The rpiantities imjiorted are not 

 given in this report. 



The value of vanilla beans imported during tlje 

 year was £209.003 ; this was an increase of £127,000 

 compared with 1902. The quantities imported were : 

 1902, 201,000 ti>ns; 1903, 32(),000 tons. Mahogany, 

 to the value of ,£27().000, was imported in 1903, being 

 an increase of .£10,000 as compared with 1902. 



CIRCULAR TO EXHIBITORS AT SHOWS. 



The Jiiin-iiiil iif the Jirin((ica A<jrii-iiUiin(l 

 Socicfij for June ]iublishes the following 'Circular to 

 Exhibitors,' issued by the Port Koyal Jlountains Show 

 Committee, which, it is stated, is 'appropriate enough 

 to be put on permanent record as containing useful 

 hints for intending exhibitors at any show' : — 



Do not decide to enter exhibits at the last moment, but 

 several months before, if possible. This will allnw plenty of 



time for iiniiroving, .selecting, and preparing exhibits. First 

 read your ' prize list ' carefully and follow the regulations 

 given therein. If six varieties of vegetables are recjuired 

 .send si.r not eight or three, or some ot/in- innnber. IJy 

 a 'design' (of flowers for instance) is meant a design, not 

 a mere bunch and so on. If you do not quite understand 

 the prize list or regulation.s, get some one who does to 

 explain them to you. 



]!e particular at the show with your exhil)its. 



lie honest — do not show someone else's [iroducts as your 

 own. 



/)(■ .VDV that //our cj-hilut is r-nteml for tin- riijlit c/iiss, 

 and that tlie label is fully and correctly tilled up. If 

 jiossible see to this before the day of the show. The fact 

 that the authorities will do their best to prevent your 

 blundering does not in any degree relieve you of resiionsi- 

 bility. Jv\hil>itors must wait their turns a]id deliver 

 exhibits at the show ground to tlie member of the connnittee 

 arranging the class in which tliey are to be exhibited. They 

 must not lie dunqjcd dcjwn anywlierc. 



SELECTION AND I'liEP.MI.VTION OF MINOR PEODUCTS. 



Vegetables, breaddvind, fruit.s, etc., must be of good size, 

 well sliaped, good colour, nice flavour, and clean. They must 

 not be so o\er-grown or old as to 1.>e coarse, or bruised, mil- 

 dewed, rusty, or insect eaten. Pick all exhibits by hand, if 

 possible. Wash roots (such as coco.s, carrots, and turniiis) and 

 fruits, if necessary, with a soft cloth, don't scrape then). Cut 

 cabbages, lettuces, flowers, etc., early the morning of the 

 show or after sunset on the day before so that they may be 

 ipiitc fresh. 



P<jt Fiaiits. —Don't exhiliit these in such tliin.gs as old 

 tins or boxes, or at any rate pick out the neatest you can 

 find and paint them green or brown. Clean all pots. 

 Itemove insects and weeds. Prune the jilants to remove (a) 

 branches that spoil the shajie of the plant, (h) dead or in.sect- 

 eaten branches or leaves, (c) excess of buds. Put a layer of 

 damp moss about an inch deep above the soil in the pots. 

 Don't exhibit a pot or box too large or too small for the 

 l)laut. 



Pin-liiiij. — Everything connected with the [lacking of 

 exhibits must be, first of all, clean, and then of neat and 

 simple design. Wooden trays, painteil green, do well for 

 most exhibits. Oils, preserves, pickles, syru[is or liquids 

 nuist be put up in clean, white, glass bottles or jars. Don't 

 use coloured glass. If your exhibit is a novelt)', attach a 

 neat card with its name and what it can be u.sed for. Pack 

 exhibits very carefully for carrying to the show. Put soft 

 paper Ijetween fruit.s, etc., liable to bruise. Shade from sun 

 everything liable to wilt. 



Animals. — Oroom well morning of show, having done 

 so for months before, and afterwards a/irai/s continue this 

 good practice. Use neat haltei-s. Clean all the harness, 

 and the trap perfectly. See that live stock are quite 

 comfortable before you leave your exhibit. 



CONCLUSION. 



The judges' duty is to search for faults, make a note of 

 the faults in your exhibits, and correct for next show. Be 

 prepared for the judges differi)]g from you as to which 

 exhibit deserves the prize. Don't hang around to listen 

 when the judging is going on. If you have a good reason 

 for believing that your exhibit has been overlooked by 

 the judges make a jiolite apjieal at once to the secretary 

 and you will get justice. Do not be disorderl3- and risk 

 being sent a«ay. IJeniember your exhibit will have heljied 

 the success o' the show, even if not quite good enougli to 

 take the prize this year. Try again next time! 



