Vol. III. No. 61. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



265 



Exports of Dutch India. 



In a report on ' American trade with Dutch India' 

 the United State.s Consul at Batavia, Java, gives an 

 account of the principal exports from his district during 

 1903. Thei'e was an increase of 12,044 tons in the 

 exports of coffee. It is .stated that Java coffee ranks 

 among the best coffee in the world, and regret is 

 expressed at the tendency of planters to substitute the 

 cultivation of the more easily cultivated, but lower 

 grade, Liberian coffee. The total value of kapok 

 exported during the year amounted to S492,342. The 

 cultivation of this article is greatly increasing in Java. 

 It is easily cultivated and requires little or no care. 

 A very good yield is about 4 to 5 ft. per tree. 



The outlook for sugar production for 1903 was 

 anything but encouraging. Tlie production of tea is 

 gradually increasing, the exports in 1903 being valued 

 at SI, 702,313. Other important exports were gum 

 dammar, spices, white wood oil, tapioca flour, and pearl 

 shells. 



Grenada Mang^os in New York. 



In July last his Excellency the Governor of the 

 Windward Islands forwarded two cases' of mangos 

 (Ceylon no. 1) to Messrs. H. Hicks & Sons, New York, 

 as an experiment to ascertain the value of such fruit 

 in the New York market. The mangos were shipped 

 in two cases, one going as ordinary freight and' the 

 other in the cold chamber. They arrived in excellent 

 ■ condition, those going in the cold chamber being in 

 rather better order and showing a higher cohjur. 



Jlessrs. Hicks & Sons report that there would 

 be a ready sale for these mangos in small quantities, as 

 they were undoubtedly the best that had ever been in 

 New York. As it would take some time to accustom 

 the people of the north to this fruit, the consumption 

 would not be likely to be rapid enough to warrant 

 large shipments, but they are of opinion that by 

 making small and regular shipments of fruit of the 

 same variety and quality, a trade might be increased. 

 It would be necessary to ship all such fruit in the cold 

 chamber. The price jxrid for these mangos was at the 

 rate of §1 per dozen; the price for excellent high- 

 coloured fruit from Florida being 20c. per dozen. 



Great care was taken in packing the fruit for 

 shipment. Each box had one layer of fruit only ; each 

 mango being wrapped in pajjer and placed closely 

 together on end in the boxes. Large holes were bored 

 in the boxes to admit of a free circulation of air. 



Agriculture in the Virgin Islands. 



A report by the Hon. Francis Watts on a recent 

 visit of inspection to the Virgin Islands gives an 

 interesting and encouraging account of agricultural 

 operations at Tortola. 



The cotton ginnery contains a Piatt's gin sent out 

 by the British Cotton Growing Association, which is to 

 be worked by an aermotor. Interest appears to have 

 been taken in cotton cultivation especially in Viro-in 

 Gorda and Anegada. ^ 



The cacao experiment plot at the station has 

 demonstrated the possibility of establishing a cacao 

 industry, and it is anticipated that the peasants 

 will not be slow to follow the example set at the 

 station. Dr. Watts points out that it is an industry 

 eminently suited to a peasant proprietary: no 

 machinery is required, and there should be no difficul- 

 ties in the matter of a labour supply. The necessity 

 for planting adequate shelter belts will have to be 

 strongly urged. 



In a memorandum on 'Reafforestation in the 

 Virgin Islands,' Dr. Watts discusses the possibility of 

 attacking this problem in an indirect manner, seeing 

 tliat the absence of largo landowners, of extensive 

 Crown Lands, and of available funds render it difficult 

 to see how direct reafforestation can be effected. It is 

 suggested that every effort be made to encourage the 

 planting of wind-breaks: as a starting point, the 

 beneficial effects of such planting should be demon- 

 strated at the station. 



The planting of trees might also be encouraged 

 by the experimental planting of rubber trees (notably 

 Castdloa and Fimtu/inia). A demonstration plot 

 might, It IS suggested, be started in a ravine, near the 

 station, on land in the possession of the Government. 



Exports of British Honduras. 



The Journal of the Briti-^h Hondaiv.^ Society of 

 Ajjricidtare and Commerce for July 1904 contain.? an 

 interesting review of the position of agriculture and 

 commerce in the colony as shown by statistics 

 published in the Blue Book for 1903. 



Both the imports and the exports show a decided 

 increase compared with those of the previous year. The 

 trade with the United States has greatly increased, 

 largely due to a brisk demand for timber. The exports' 

 of mahogany, which amounted in value to S492,.5,54, 

 have never been exceeded since 1846. Cedar also 

 shows an increase. 



The fruits exported include bananas, plantains, 

 and cocoa-nuts; the bananas and plantains were 

 exported in largely increased proportions, but the 

 number of cocoa-nuts decreased, while, owing to better 

 prices, the value increased from $36,865 in 1902 to 

 !?47,822 in 1903. It is a matter of congratulation that 

 the colony is ceasing to import cacao, and in addition 

 to providing for home consumption is exporting small 

 quantities. Cohune nuts now appear as a new item on 

 the list of exports. 



On the other hand, regret has to be expressed at 

 the great ftiUing off in the exports of logwood and 

 rubber. In 1896, when logwood was valued at £o per 

 ton, the^ exports amounted to 34,-539 tons valued at 

 S803,C36. Last year the value of logwood was about 

 £4 per ton, and only 14,20-5 tons were exported, valued 

 at S529,333. 



' The exports of rubber dropped from 30,338 lb, 

 valued at $114,163 in 1902 to 22,176 lb valued at 

 $13,002 in 1903. We fear that this decrease may, at 

 least in part, be due to injudicious bleeding of the 

 trees.' 



