Vol. III. No. 70. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



403 



The total production of sugar in Germany (calculated as 

 raw .sugar) was from 



Sept. 1, 190;?, to June 30, 1904, 1,896,644 metric tons. 

 Aug. 1, 1902, to June 30, 1903, 1,733,660 „ 

 Aug. 1, 1901, to June 30, 1902, 2,269,896 



The reduction of home prices, consequent upon the 

 considerable abatement of the inhmd tax and the import 

 dut)', has increased the consumption neariy 50 per cent. 



ARBOR DAY. 



Jamaica. 



In the last issue of the Ayricvlinral Knvs we 

 published a short note on the prospects of the sugar 

 industry of Jamaica. That there is a more hopeful 

 outlook for this industry in that island appears to be 

 confirmed by the following extract from the Annual 

 Report of the Collector General. Special reference is 

 made to the progress of cane farming : — 



The injury caused by the storm to this industry was 

 comparatively slight, owing to the fact that the main sugar 

 districts were out of the area visited by the storm, but 

 this crop has nevertheless suffered much by drought, and 

 a shrinkage has to be recorded in the year's transactions. 

 This is unfortunate, especially' when it is remembered what 

 a struggling industry this has been, but much is hoped from 

 the abolition of the bounties in restoring the value of this 

 industry, an industrj' that once placed Jamaica on the 

 list of wealthy places. Possessing a soil suitable to 

 the growing of the sugar-cane, Jamaica should be able to 

 hold her own in the sugar markets of the world. The old 

 troublesome proljlem of sufficient labour is one, however, 

 still to be solved. Possibly the difficulty will be overcome 

 ill the near future by the peasantry taking seriously to cane 

 farming, and in this connexion it may be interesting to 

 note, that in Westmoreland the peasantry are planting canes 

 for the purjjose of supplying estates wherever land is avail- 

 able, and the canes so grown find a ready sale at 8s. per ton. 

 One estate bought during the year 2,400 tons of small- 

 settlers' canes, while in another instance, 50 tons were 

 jjurchased. There is also promise in St. Elizabeth and 

 Clarendon of an increasing trade between the peasant cane 

 farmer and the estate. 



The ipiestion of finding new markets for our sugar 

 is also one that must be faced sooner or later, in view 

 of the reciprocity treaty recently entered into between 

 of America and Cuba. Canada offers 

 to British cane sugar entering the 

 and the preference amounting to about 

 by that country on British cane sugar 

 should draw this jiroduct to the Canadian markets ; the sugar 

 planters to secure this advantage would, however, be required 

 to make such arrangements in obtaining a direct entrance 

 into that market that would prevent the Canadian refiners 

 from uniting to secure the preference to themselves. 



The effect of the removal of the beet bounties is already 

 showing itself in the increase in the consumptive capacity of 

 Europe and America, and it is estimated that the world's con- 

 sumption of sugar during the current year will .^how an increase 

 of as much as 700,000 tons. Tliis growing demand for 

 a larger supply of sugar promises a ready market at better 

 prices and may be taken as the silver lining to the cloud of 

 depression that has long hung over this industry. These 

 changed circumstances should put a check to the abandon- 

 ment of sugar estates which has been going on year after 

 year, and induce proprietors to replace antiquated plants by 

 modern machinery and thus enable our sugar to be produced 

 ■at a price that will not hamper competition. 



the United States 

 special advantages 

 Canadian markets 

 XI a ton allowed 



Montserrat. 



Mr. A. J. Jordan, Curator of the Botanic Station, 

 has forwarded tlie following brief report on Arbor Day 

 colebi-ations in Montserrat : — ■ 



Owing to local circumstances, it was found advisable to 

 celebrate Arbor Day on different dates in the diff'erent 

 districts. In Plymouth, November 7 was observed, and the 

 children from the three schools assembled at the Court 

 House at 10 a.m., and after addresses by his Honour the 

 Commissioner and the Inspector of Schools on the objects of 

 the observance of Arbor Daj', they marched to the 

 Windward Uoad leading from the town, and there planted 

 young trees of locust and Acacia arabica. They then 

 marched to ' The Hill ' and planted mangos, seeded bread 

 fruits {Artocarjms incim, var. seminifira), and avocado 

 pears. 



On November 18 trees were planted at Harris Village 

 by the children of St. George's school. Addresses were given 

 by his Honour the Commissioner and the Insi)ector of 

 Schools, and the trees were planted on a plot of land used as 

 a playground for the school. The trees planted were Casua- 

 rina, mahogany, locust. Acacia arabica, and Spanish oak. 

 A label, with the names of the children who planted it, and 

 the date of planting, is being placed by the Manager of the 

 .school, before each tree to retain the interest of the children. 



On November 21, Arbor Day was celebrated at Kinsale 

 and St Patrick's. The children from Kinsale school marched 

 to Fairfield Eoad and planted locust, Acacia arahica, 

 Casuarina, and galba. At St. Patrick's the trees were 

 planted on a piece of land adjoining the school. Addresses 

 were given as on previous occasions. The trees vised were 

 date palms, mahogany, locust, Gliricidia inaculata, Lagos 

 silk rubber, Sesbania, Acacia arabica, and Casuarina. The 

 Curator and staff of the Agricultural Department assisted in 

 each district. 



Trees were also planted at Cavalla Hill and Bethel 

 schools, and also by several of the adult inhabitants upon 

 their own land. Altogether 220 trees were distributed from 

 Grove Station for the purpose of Arbor Day celebration. 



Dominica. 



The following is a brief account, forwarded by 

 Mr. A. J. Brooks, Acting Curator of the Botanic 

 Station, of celebrations in the country districts of 

 Dominica. The celebrations in Roseau were referred 

 to in our last issue (p. 390) : — 



Arbor Day was celebrated in the country districts on 

 December 1. Every school in the island took part in the 

 movement. The planters in each district co-operated with 

 the schools on this occasion. 



In some cases the planters provided the plants for their 

 own district. This was the case at Belvedere where Mr. P. 

 Cox siqiplied plants of Casiil/oa elastica for planting along 

 the public road. 



The following plants were used on this occasion and 

 distributed by the Botanic Station :^ 



Castilloa elastica and Funtumia elastica, mahogany 

 t^Swietenia Ifahngoni), Eucalyptus 2nm,ctata, saman (Pitlie- 

 colobiwn Saman), locust {Hymenaea Courbaril), Cassia 

 Fistida, Cassia siamea, almonds {Terminalia Catajipa), 

 and palms {Areca Cateckv), 



