Vol. III. No. -59. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



233 



Fish Oils from Dominica. 



Samples of two oils obtained from Dominica were 

 recently forwarded to experts by the Imperial Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture with a view to ascertaining 

 whether thoy possessed any commercial value. 



The first sample — one of shark-liver oil — has been 

 reported upon by Messrs Burgoyne, Burbidges & Co. 

 as follows: — 



' We have examined the sample of shark-liver oil 

 sent to us, and beg to say that it is of good qualitj-, and 

 fairly sweet, and we consider the value of same about 

 £1.5 to £1(3 per ton, landed, packages free, less 2i per 

 cent. There would be no use for this oil in medicine, 

 but it could perhaps be used for leather, etc' 



In regard to a sample of black fish oil, which is 

 produced in fair quantities in Dominica, Messrs. 

 Gillespie Bros. & Co., to whom the sample was sent, 

 write as follows : — - 



' Our brokers report that this is a nice, sweet oil 

 but rather thick. They value it here at £1.5 per ton 

 ex dock, less 2\ per cent., at which price it should 

 command a ready sale. This time last year the value 

 would have been from £17 to £18 per ton, but the low 

 price of linseed and other oils has depressed the market 

 for the time being. 



' Our brokers further suggest that shipment be 

 made in barrels or any other casks, and that care should 

 be taken that they are in good condition for the voyage. 

 Parcels of 10 tons and over would probably command 

 a better price than that obtained for small lots.' 



United States Tropical Experiment Stations. 



The report of the United States Secretary of 

 Agriculture for 1903 contains references to the work 

 that has been carried on in the Experiment Staticjns in 

 Hawaii and Porto Rico. 



In Hawaii experiments have been continued on 

 the tannia rot and potato rot. The former may be 

 prevented, it is stated, by proper attention to methods 

 of irrigation and the application of suitable fertilizers ; 

 the potato rot can be combated by the use of Bordeaux 

 mixture. 



It is hoped that the investigations in connexion 

 with corn cultivation will succeed in placing this 

 industry once more on a satisfiictory basis, several 

 introduced varieties having given excellent results. 



Preliminary operations have been performed at 

 the new Porto Rico Station. ' A beginning has been 

 made to establish nurseries of citrus fruits and rubber 

 and tea plants, as well as varieties of mangos, bananas, 

 and tropical fruits. Arrangements have been made 

 by which improved varieties of tropical fruits are being 

 secured from different portions of the West India 

 Islands through the courtesy of the Commissioner of 

 Agriculture for the British West Indies.' 



Experiments have been commenced to test various 

 fibre plants, leguminous crops for restoring the soil, etc. 



At the La Carmelita 23lantation 10 acres have 

 been placed at the disposal of the station for experi- 

 ments with coffee to test the different methods of 

 pruning, shading, fertilizing, etc. 



Hedge Plants. 



An interesting experiment has been carried out at 

 the Botanic Station, Montserrat, to ascertain the most 

 suitable plants for making hedge.s. This forms an 

 excellent demonstration plot, as one can see at a glance 

 which plants are likely to serve best for this purpose. 



The following plants have been grown : cushaw 

 (AciKia tortiuisa), logwood (Haematoxyinn campe- 

 chianmn), wild coffee (Clcrodemlron acideatum), 

 myrtle lime {Triphasia Aurantiola), and bread-and- 

 cheese {Inga Unguis-cati.). 



The Acacia, started from seed in 1903, has formed 

 a dense hedge, 4i feet high, and the prickly nature of 

 this plant should render it very suitable, since stock 

 would be unable to push through. The logwood hedge 

 is now 5 feet in height: the seeds were sown in 1902. 



Of this experiment, Mr. Jordan reports : ' It is 

 probable that cushaw and logwood will be found to 

 be the best plants for the purpose of hedges. Seeds 

 can readily be obtained from the wild plants in Slay. 

 As both plants are rapid growers, it is better to sow the 

 seeds in the position required than to transplant.' 



Mr. Jordan estimates that the cost of planting 

 such hedges would be about £2 per mile, with an 

 additional 6'J. per mile per annum for trimming and 

 supplying. 



I— t ^^— 



Exports of the Bahamas. 



We publish on p. 23] of this i.ssue extracts from 

 the recently published Descriptive Report on the 

 Bahamas Islands relating to agricultural industries. 

 A few notes on the principal exports from these islands 

 may also be of interest. 



The exports figuring most prominently, with their 

 values, included : sponges (£97,.584), Bahamas hemp 

 (£37,.574), pine-apples (£3G,957), canned fruits (£9,.515), 

 and turtle-shell (£<S,88C). Practically the whole of the 

 hemp was exported to the United States ; also a large 

 proportion of the sponge. On the other hand, the 

 United Kingdom received most of the turtle-shell. 



The agricultural industries are princii^ally the 

 growing of pine-apples and oranges, both of which go to 

 the United States. In the growing of oranges, Florida 

 has proved so keen a competitor that it scarcely pays 

 to ship them from the Bahamas, especially in the face 

 of the duty of Ic. per lb. levied in the United States on 

 foreign imports. The exports of this fruit have 

 declined in value from £3,148 in 1900 to £1,446 in 

 1902. It is suggested that grape fruit cultivation 

 would prove moi'e remunerative. 



It is reported that there is little attempt at 

 scientific culture, although there are signs of awakening 

 to the value of land. The islands ai-e handicapped in 

 their development by the scant soil and absence of 

 natural water supplies. 'Agriculture is practically 

 a neglected art. Soil culture is not easy, but, where it 

 is S3'stematically attempted, well rejjays effort. There 

 is, undoubtedly, a more cheering look-out for the sisal 

 industry, and those plantations which are worked on 

 proper lines are yielding good results. This cultivation 

 is extending and bids fair to be a permanent and 

 promising one for these islands.' 



