356 



THE AGRICULTLTtAL NEWS. 



November 5, 1904. 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



TOBAGO PINE-APPLES. 



The Trinidad BaUctln of Mtsrcllaneous Infor- 

 matlon contains the following notes on a collection of 

 local varieties of pine-apples sent from Tobago : — 



No. 1. Local name— 'Black Antigua.' True to name. 

 This variety is also known in England as Tdpley Queen,' 

 and there is a lighter-leaved variety, known as the ' White 

 IJipley,' beaiing fruit of the same class. When in good order 

 there are few pine-apples to beat this variety for flavour. 



No. 2. No name. A pine resembling the Smooth 

 Cayenne by its .smooth leaves only. The form and flavour 

 of the fruit differ. It is much nearer to a variety known in 

 Jamaica as ' Black Pine' or ' Black Jamaica,' but is not the 

 same. It is a desirable variety. 



No. 3. Local name— 'Grass Pine.' Eesenrbles very 

 much, if not identical with, the Jamaica ' Cowboy.' It is 

 an excellent pine of good flavour. 



No. 4. Local name — ' Sugar Loaf.' Not the 'Sugar Loaf 

 of Jamaica, but more like one called ' Bull Head,' but better 

 in fiavoiu'. A pine well worth growing. It appears to 

 resemble very closely the pine known in Trinidad as the 

 ' La Brea,' or Pitch Lake pine, but has not the form of 

 a sugar loaf. 



BANANAS AND PINE-APPLES IN PORTO 

 RICO. 



The following note on the prospects of the banana 

 and pine-apple industries in Porto Rico is taken from 

 the report by Professor F. S. Earle appended to the 

 Annual Report on the Agricultural E.xperiment 

 Station : — 



The horticultural crops now atti'acting most attention 

 in Porto Ilico are oranges and pine-ajiples. Bananas are 

 grown e.xtensivcly, but mostly in the interior, where difticul- 

 ties of trans}iortation wouM j)revent their becoming an article 

 of exjiort. Some of the lowlands near the coast are well 

 adapted to the culture of bananas, and there seems no reason 

 why they could not be grown there profitably for the United 

 States market. At present the subject seems to be receiving 

 no attention. To develop successfully this, or in fact any 

 other, branch of the fruit business, better transiiortation 

 facilities will l)e necessary. The present steiimer service is 

 poorly adapted for the transportation of perishable fruits. 



Pine-apples thrive in many parts of the island. The 

 finest ones seen were in the neighbourhood of Lajas, south- 

 east of Mayaguez. A number of acres are grown here for 

 the Mayaguez and Ponce markets. Some have been shipped 



to the States, but usually with unsatisfactory results, and 

 the impression prevails that Porto Pdcan pines do not ship 

 well. This is not remarkable when we remember that they 

 are hauled in bulk often 1-5 miles in ox carts over a very 

 rough road before Vieing packed for shiimient. Under these 

 conditions it would be indeed astonishing if any arrived in 

 good condition. The completion of the railroad now buildini' 

 between Mayaguez and Yauco will make it [lossiljle to deliver 

 these at the seaboard in good condition, when their shiiii>ing 

 (jualities can be fairly tested. There is now a considerable 

 planting of pines in the neighbourhood of San Juan. Some 

 shipments from this region are reported as proving satisfac- 

 tory and as carrying well. I see no reason why the growing 

 of pines should not become a large and profitalile industry. 

 .V small canning factory has been established at Mayaguez, 

 which, if successful, will lead to a largely increased home 

 market. Pine-apples seem very healthy in Porto Itico. No 

 diseases or serious insect pests were observed. 



SAMPLES OP CACAO. 



Excellent samples of the following kinds of com- 

 rnereial cacao have been received b\- the Imperial 

 Conimi-ssioner of Agriculture from Messrs. Rowntree 

 cV Co., Ltd., of York :— 



Common Unfermented Cacao: — 

 Accra. Jamaica. 



Average Quality Fermented Cacao : — 



Dominica. Grenada. 



Jamaica. Bahia. 



African. Congo. 



Trinidad :^ 



San Antonia. 

 Guayaquil : — 



Superior Summer Arriba. 

 Para :— 



Para Sertao. 

 Venezuela : — 



L'nclayed Caracas. 

 ( 'eylon : — 



Best Ceylon. 

 The samples of Dominica and .Jamaica were prepared by 

 ourselves, and were valued by a London Broker at bis. ^d., 

 the market price of Fine Grenada being 58.<.-.59s. at the 

 time. 



It may be mentioned that on August 17 last the 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture spent the day at 

 the works of Messrs. Rowntree and was kindly receiverl 

 and shown every detail in the manufacture of cocoa. 



Surinam. 

 Camaroon. 



Machala. 



Finest Puerto Cibello. 



