284 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



August 27, 1904. 





GLEANINGS. 



Efiforts are being made to exteriiiiiiate tlie niungoose in 

 Trinidad. A reward of 5s. i.s being offered for each carcas.'< 

 of a female, and Is. for the male. 



The Agricultural Superintendent at St. Vincent i.s 

 prepared to receive apjjlications from parents or guardians of 

 boys desirous of entering the Agricultural Scliool. 



Tlie Antigua Slandnrd suggests that a remunerative 

 trade in pine-apples might be established by shipping to the 

 Danish West Indian Fruit Co. Ltd., of St. Thomas. 



A very dry year lias been experienced at the Botanic 

 Station at St. Kitt's, only 39'.54 inches being recorded. This 

 was 10 inches less than in 1902-3. 



We have received from Mr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., a fruit 

 of the Souari or butter-nut tree of Demerara {Caryocar 

 iniciferinii). This was from a tree grown in the Botanic 

 Gardens, Trinidad, from a seed imported fourteen years ago. 



It is estimated that the total area under cocoa-nut 

 cultivation in the Federated Malay States is 77,-500 acres. 

 In Ceylon the area under this cultivation amounts to over 

 S00,000 acres. {Board of Trade Journal.) 



In April last .some fields of sweet potatos at Dodd.s, 

 Barbados, were rather badly effected with thrips, which 

 caused t4ie plants to be defoliated. It was found, however, 

 that the jilants recovered without insecticidal treatment, and 

 that the yield was not seriously reduced. 



The Ikiard of Trade Journal gives the number of bales 

 of cotton imported into the United Kingdom from the 

 British colonies and po.sse.ssions during the three months 

 ended June 30, 1904, as follows : F.riti.sh India, 98,28>S ; 

 Briti-sh West Indies, 1,302 ; British West Africa, 372. 



In connexion with the recent Arbor Day celebration in 

 Jamaica, in ilay last, 6,870 plants were distributed free from 

 the Publio Ciardens to 448 aii[ilieants. The plants most 

 largely distributed were lignum vitae (929), palms (713), 

 kola(GGl), eucalyptus (638), mahogany (485), moringa (411), 

 and niahoe (389). 



During the fortnight ended July 28, 115 bales of West 

 Indian cotton were imj)orted into the United Kingdom. As 

 we go to press we learn that sales of St. Vincent Sea Island 

 cotton have been effected through the British Cotton 

 Crowing Association at 15.',</. i)er tl)., and Barbados Sea 

 Island at \(tld. per It). The latter is reported to lie very 

 fine. {West India, Committee Cireutar.) 



The .Jamaica Duil;/ Teiegrapli of July 30, referring to 

 anviouncenients that a quantity of new and iinjjroved 

 niachineiy has been obtained for two well-known sugar 

 estates, states that tliere are welcome signs of a revival of 

 the sugar industry in the island. 



A notice in the Demerara Anjosy of August 3, .states 

 that inquirie.' have been received for ' Carnauba wax, a 

 material prepared by extracting the moisture frf)ni lacerated 

 palm leaves.' The palm referred to is the sealing wax palm 

 of ISrazil {Copernicia eerifera), an account of ■\\liicli will he 

 found in the Agricxdtural Neivs (Vol. II, p. 307). 



Ill his annual report the Inspector of Schools, Trinidad, 

 states that the interest awakened some three or four years 

 ago in the teaching of agriculture shows no signs of 

 abatement. Of the 180 .schools e.xamined in this subject, 

 thirty obtained the highest award 'Very good,' while 104 

 were classified as 'Good.' 



An Agricultural Show was held at Lucea, .Jamaica, on 

 July 28. There was a good attendance in spite of bad 

 weather. The exhibits were not as numerous as at last year's 

 show, but a decided improvement in quality was noticeable, 

 especially in the case of cured cacao. His Excellency the 

 Acting Ciovernor opened the show. 



Generally sjieaking there ai)i)ears to have been a decrea.se 

 in the native cultivator's produce during last year, and an 

 increase in jungle produce, dup doubtless to the increasingly 

 careful administration of the Forest Deiiartnient. The 

 increase both of imports and exports in Pahang is interesting 

 as showing the steaily develojunent of that part of the country. 

 (Federated ^lalay States Affricultitral Bulletin.) 



The annual report of the Director of Agriculture, 

 published in the C//priis Journal for June, records that the 

 work of the Department in introducing machinery has met 

 with encouraging .success. The use of reaping machines, and 

 jiloughs is steadily increasing. The example of the Govern- 

 ment in importing a steam threshing machine has also been 

 followed. The native process of threshing is tedious, and the 

 c]Uality of the prepared grain poor. Cereal growing is the 

 principal agricultural industry in Cyprus. 



In a luemoranduni on the .Jamaica sugar experiment 

 .scheme (see Ayrieultural News, Vol. Ill, [i. 211), Mr. H. H. 

 Cousins refers as follows to seedling canes: 'There are 

 districts in the island where the seedling canes already at our 

 disposal are capable of giving a return of at lea.st 30 per cent, 

 more sugar per acre than the Jamaica cane. The seasonable 

 and irrigable areas should benefit with certainty from carefully 

 contriilled trials of tlie most promising seedling canes now in 

 cultivation. Estate trials of ten varieties specially selected for 

 local conditions have lieen arranged on twelve estates.' 



The Bulletin of M iseellaneoHs Information, Trinidad, 

 contains a report on logwood honey forwarded to the 

 Imperial Institute from the Experiment Station. It 

 is stated that honey is liable to considerable variation, but 

 in this instance the saniiile compares very favourably with 

 the recognized standard of genuine honey. The brokers to 

 whom the sample was submitted for valuation report that it 

 is of 'fair colour, clear, and would be worth about 20s. per 

 cwt. ill the London market.' For conn>arison with this 

 valuation, the following jirices of honey are given: Chili, 18s. 

 to 30s. ; California, 20s. to 40s. ; and Jamaica, 16s. to 27s. 



