A^OL. III. No. 59. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



231 



YLANG-YLANG. 



In ;i previous issue of the Agrlrultural News 

 (Vol. Ill, p. 151) mention was made of the Ylang- 

 Ylang tree, the tlowers of which yield a valuable 

 perfume. In their recent Semi-annual Eeport, Messrs. 

 Schimmel & Co. state that the exceptional demand for 

 the oil has been continued, their sales for 1903 being- 

 much greater than those for 1902. The following 

 account of the cultivation of the tree is then given: — 



Flacourt, in Revue des Cultures Coloniahs (Vol. 13, 

 p. 366 ; Vol. U, p. 16), makes some interesting communica- 

 tions respecting the cultivation of ylang-ylang trees in 

 Reunion, which are based on practical experience, and there- 

 fore contain much useful instruction for those wlio are 

 interested in the subject. Both Unona latifolia and Unona 

 odorata* which have now for a long time been grown as 

 trees for avenues are suitable for the cultivation. But 

 absolute necessities therefor are a tropical tranquil climate, 

 and a porous soil containing a certain amount of moisture. 



In order to grow the trees from seed, the latter, taken 

 from the ripe fleshy berries, must be freed carefully, by 

 repeated washing, from all traces of ijulp, and immediately 

 after the last washing be i>laced in the seed-bed which may 

 be laid out in a rich, well-manured soil. The germ-plants 

 make their appearance after forty to sixty days and after one 

 to one and a half months are planted out in nurseries wliich 

 must be situated in a shady place. 



This planting out in nurseries is, in Reunion, generally 

 preceded by a process which consists of this : the young 

 germ-plants are placed singly in vessels of beaker-form, 

 so-called ' tentes,' which can be readily constructed from the 

 leaves of Pandaiius tttiiis. The plants, transposed in one or 

 other manner, require about two months to attain a height of 

 2.5 to 30 cm. and to develop sufficiently. 



At this stage the plants are best suited to the process 

 of transferring to the plantations. During the next two years 

 the latter must be tended with care, and yet yield nothing. 



From the third year onwards the trees begin to flower 

 and the crop can already be estimated at 1.50 to 200 francs 

 per hectare (2i acres). It is, however, necessary to see that 

 the trees do not grow to a greater height than 2-.5 to 3 metres. 

 This is done by cutting off the tops, which at the same time 

 causes a powerful development of the lateral branches and 

 an abundant formation of blossoms, so that the yield 

 becomes very remunerative. 



The flowering period of the ylang-ylang trees commences 

 in Reunion from January to February, but a regular forma- 

 tion of blossoms, giving the best yield, can only l)e reckoned 

 upon from Slay to August. Those blossoms which are 

 freshest when submitted to distillation yield oils of better 

 quality. Fifty to 64 kilos, of freshly gathered blossoms 

 produce 1 kilo, oil, that is, 1-56 to 2 per cent. The yield from 

 one hectare of plantation laid out according to Flacourt is 

 annually from 3 to 4 kilos, oil, giving a net profit from 1,116 

 to 1,616 francs. 



* The botanical name of tlie ylang-ylang tree is usually 

 "iven as Avfahofrys odoratisslmus. of which I'nvna odorafii-sihM 

 is a synijuym. [Ed. A. K.] 



AGRICULTURE IN THE BAHAMAS. 



The following extracts are taken from the General 

 Descriptive Report on the BuJiuvias Islands in which is 

 included the annual report to the Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies for 1902 :— 



The surface rock in all the Bahama Islands is exceedingly 

 hard, so much so that if struck sharply with a steel 

 instrument, si>arks are emitted, as in the case of flint : this 

 rock, however, is of very different texture beneath, and is 

 easily sawn into blocks, making an excellent building stone. 

 jSIoreover, if the rock is blown up and suftieiently pulverized, 

 it forms an admirable medium for the growth of a variety of 

 economical products, and is especially adapted to citrus 

 fruits. There can be no question also that cotton would 

 thrive in it, though, as I have pointed out elsewhere, the 

 drawback to this culture is the practically certain attacks of 

 formidable insect pests. . . . Unless the cultivator is [>repared 

 to deal with these pests scientifically, as is the case 

 in the southern States of America, it is hopeless to expect 

 to succeed with cotton. In these islands there is no such 

 thing as scientific culture. It is true that pine-apples 

 are grown on a large scale, especially in Eleuthera, and that 

 a considerable measure of success has been achieved by 

 certain growers, but it has been laid down as an axiom, that 

 the plant will only thrive in the red soil mentioned, and 

 when exhaustion of properties which render it a suitable food 

 takes place, fertilization is resorted to, and an American 

 mixture is used, whose com[)onent parts are entirely unknown 

 to the users of it. Recent experiments, however, have 

 proved that pine-apples will thrive elsewhere. At this moment 

 there are some small iilantations near the town, where the 

 pines are being grown in the interstices of the most unpromis- 

 ing-looking honejcomb rock ; there can be but a small deposit 

 of hunuis in these fissures, but nevertheless, up to the 

 present, the plants look healthy and vigorous. 



Almost all tropical fruits will thrive in Bahamas soil, 

 given sufficient depth, but many trees may be seen growing 

 out of interstices in the rocks, and this is especially the case 

 with the sapodilla which seems to grow under the most 

 adverse conditions, and produces excellent fruit. Several 

 groves of cocoa-nuts exist, but the conditions are not so 

 suitable to their growth as was considered to be the case 

 some years ago, when extensive experiments were made. 

 This palm thrives in some places near the sea, but I do not 

 think its culture could ever be made a paying speculation. 



So much has been written in regard to the 'sisal' plant, 

 that 1 need only say its cultivation is extending, and 

 undoubtedly it grows well, established in places where the 

 roots have room to sjtread. I see no reason why the 

 extraction of the fibre should not be a profitable industry in 

 these islands. Even taking into consideration adjacent 

 competition and natural fluctuation of the market, the plant 

 needs no special culture and is practically free from insect 

 pests, drought does nor affect it, and, on the other hand, it is 

 impervious to the torrential rain which generally occurs 

 during the summer months. The leaves can be readily 

 cleaned by hand, and there are good machines which do the 

 work in a more expeditious manner. The type generally used 

 here is the ' Todd ' machine, which I understand is as good as 

 any in the market. 



It is gratifying to be able to report that the Sisal Fibre 

 Company of Little Abaco continues its work with every 

 prospect of success. The company has about -5,000 acres 

 under cultivation and 145 tons of fibre were shipped at an 

 estimated value of £4,350. Additional machinery has been 

 placed upon the estate, and it is expected that during the 

 next year the output will approximate £15,000 in value. 



