Vol. III. No. -57. 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



201 



West Indian Sugar in Canada. 



We publish on p. 200 a report by Mr. J. Russell 

 Murray, of Montreal, in wliich attention is drawn to 

 the disadvantage at which the better grades of sugar 

 are placed in the Canadian market under existing 

 condition.s. 



It will be seen that Mr. Murray advocates a 

 polarization test instead of one based on colour. In 

 his opinion such a change would bring about a greatly 

 increased demand for tine yellow syrup sugars and 

 yellow and white crystals, which art.- practically debarred 

 from entering the Doniiniiju under present conditions, 

 since, on account of the high rate of duty it is 

 practically impossible for them to compete with the 

 syriijj sugars produced there. 



These sugars, grading bc3'ond the 10 Dutch 

 Standard, have to pay an extra duty of 43c. per 100 tb., 

 over and above the duties levied on sugars below 

 16 D.S. 



Diseases of Guinea Corn in Madras. 



Bidldlii No. 49 of the Madras Agricultural 

 Department is devoted to the diseases of guinea corn 

 {Sorghum rahjarc) in the presidency. This is a 

 staple of first importance, as it is estimated that 

 0,000,000 acres are devoted to its cultivation. 



The sorghum fields are subject to a variety of 

 diseases — insect and fungoid — some of which have an 

 evident and disastrous effect on the crop. 



One of the principal eiiseases is the 'smut,' and 

 considerable losses occur annually from smutted grain. 



There is also a fungoid disease causing a redden- 

 ing of the leaves, which is probably identical with that 

 attacking canes in the West Indies. 



There are also a number of animal parasites of 

 sorghum, and these include borers, plant lice, etc., 

 while much damage is caused by the presence of 

 weevils in stored grain. 



Camphor and the Camphor Industry. 



As mentioned by Mr. J. R. Jackson in his monthly 

 reports on the London Drug and spice market, the war 

 in the Far East has already caused a I'ise in the price 

 of camphor, and considerable unrest is felt in the 

 markets with regard to this product. 



Interesting notes on camphor cultivation were 

 recently given in the Gardeners' CJirotiiclc. The 

 principal source of camphor is Cin nu mon am CumpJiora, 

 a native of China and Japan. This tree is verj' plenti- 

 ful in the interior of the island of Formosa, as well as 

 in Japan and Central China. 



In obtaining camphor the trunks and larger 

 branches are usually cut into chips : these are 

 boiled in large vessels o\'er which are inverted 

 earthenware pots. Into these the rising steam carries 

 the camphor which is deposited in ciystals around the 

 sides of the })ot. These are afterwards scraped off and 

 placed in chests lined with lead or tinned iron. The 

 camphor is exported in this form to England, where it 

 undergoes a refining jjroces.s. 



Plantain Fibre and Manila Hemp. 



A brief reference was made in the Ayricidtaral 

 News (Vol. II, p. 268) to a bulletin issued by the 

 Madras Agricultural Department, containing notes on 

 ' Simple Machines for extracting Plantain Fibre.' It is 

 stated that the object of this bulletin is ' to draw 

 attention to the common plantain as a latent source of 

 fibre, and to furnish information about the two t^^pes 

 of primitive machines which are believed to be in 

 common use by the peasants in the Philippine Islands 

 for extracting Manila hemp.' 



It should be mentioned that these machines do 

 not ajipear to be used on a commercial scale, and that, 

 while they may prove of some value in India, where 

 labour is cheajJ, they are not likely to be suited for 

 conditions in the West Indies. Further, plantain fibre 

 is not likely, in any case, to compete with Manila 

 hemp. 



Attempts to grow the Manila hemp plant outside 

 the Philiijpine Islands have not proved successful for 

 the reason that the two essential conditions for its 

 successful cultivation are (1) virgin land and (2) an 

 almost continuous rainfall. Even in the island of 

 Luzon, where J\lanila heiup is principally grown, it is 

 found that this plant thrives only on one side of the 

 island: on the other side, the conditions mentioned are 

 not present. 



Vegetable Products of Liberia. 



In the Consular Report on Liberia, for 1903, 

 Mr. Consul Mac Donell states that the resources of that 

 country appear to be little known : a list of the 

 principal natural products is therefore given. The 

 following brief summary' is likel}' to be of interest : — 



Cotton is indigenous, and the wild cotton is used 

 in the manufacture of native cloth. Thei-e is no doubt 

 that cotton would grow well, if properly cultivated : but 

 the difficulties in the way of starting a successful 

 industry are the cost of labour, the necessity for care 

 and attention, and the expense of clearing the virgin 

 forest. 



There are, no doubt, great possibilities for a rubber 

 industry, but it will be necessary to teach the natives 

 the proper methods of tapping and extraction. 



The timbers of Liberia should prove a consider- 

 able source of wealth, when the forests are opened up. 



There is an export trade in piassava, the price for 

 this fibre ranging during the year from £9 to £33 Ids. 

 Piassava is obtained from the raphia jialm, which, on 

 being cut down, is allowed to rot, and the fibre 

 extracted. 



The value of coffee has fallen so low that farmers 

 scarcely ever trouble to harvest their crops, although 

 formerly this was the principal export of the country. 

 Liberian coffee is of ver}' good quality, and would 

 undoubtedlj' obtain high prices, if better known. 



Attention has recently been given to the cultiva- 

 tion of ginger. Considerable quantities of palm oil 

 and palm kernels are also shipped. 



Other products of Liberia, which are, however, 

 cultivated only for home consumption, are chillies, 

 Calabar beans, kola nuts, cacao, annatto, etc. 



