Vol. III. No. 69. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



397 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



Canada. 



The following is Mr. J. Russell Murray's monthly 

 report, dated November 9, on West Indian' produce in 

 •Canada : — 



The past inontli Las iiroved, on tlio whole, a good month 

 for business, notwithstanding there \vas a general feeling 

 of unrest caused by the elections which took place on 

 November 3. 



Stiijar. — Dui-ing the past fortnight the European sugar 

 market has seen one of those uuex[)ected changes in prices 

 such as has not been experienced for very many j-ears, viz., 

 an advance of Is. 6(/., within the week ending November 3, 

 for 89° beet .sugar ; and during the following days to date 

 the movement upwards continues though less violent. 

 Offers of Demerara at $2-28 for New York were withdrawn 

 on the r)th. inst., and to-day's prices there indicate $2-75, 

 c. &f. for 96' centrifugals. The S.S. 'Etolia' from Demerara 

 with a cargo of sugar is shortly expected here, and the 

 S.S. ' Inishowen ' is due with a cargo of Belgian beet sugar 

 for one of the refineries. These will be the last sugar 

 steamers here, navigation closing about the 20th. inst. 



The Ontario beet crop reports indicate a better yield per 

 acre this year. The latest report states that 10,100 acres 

 were grown this year, with an estimated yield of 5,900 tons ; 

 last year 16,710 acres were idanted and yielded 6,710 tons, 

 but there is a large reduction in area. The refineries advancecl 

 prices 20c. during the last ten days for granulated. 



Molasses. — The market remains very firm, but little 

 business is being effected in Montreal. In Ontario and New 

 Brunswick the same conditions exist. 



Cocoa-nuts. — Prices have continued firm during the last 

 month. An advance of about $1-00 per 1,000 has been 

 obtained, but the near aiiproach of winter will cause a sharp 

 fall in consumption and a consequent weakening in prices. 

 iSpices. — A steady market, and without material change. 

 Advices from ports of origin indicate no advances, and 

 consequently our market remains unaltered. A parcel of 

 fair to bold Jamaica pimento realized 6c. per lb., but markets 

 having been well supplied during the last month at 5c. and 

 5ic. prevented a full value being realized. Ginger stocks 

 arc very heavy and flat. 



Fruit. — Jamaica oranges continue to arrive in fine 

 order at very low rates, last shipment being placed at •i?3-65 

 per barrel duty paid, making the rate §2-10, f.o.b. .Jamaica. 

 Dominica fruits have been arriving under verj' adverse 

 conditions. Barrels in my last three consignments have 

 shown 20 to 30 per cent, decay. Boxes have been 

 much better ; in several instances they arrived in perfect 

 order. Prices varying from .?r50 to i?l-75 per box duty 

 paid. Boxes containing 250's should not be sent to this 

 market; 156's to 216's are the best sizes. Unless of large 

 size, grape-fruit is unsaleable, 64"s to box is the best size. 

 Mexican oranges are due this week and are guaranteed 

 sound throughout; price for all .sizes $2-05 per box duty 

 paid, delivered to buyers. 



NOTES. 



Orrt^^e.?.— Shippers should shorten supplies by Decem- 

 ber 15. In October report prices should have been marked 



duty paid. [See Agricultural News, Vol. Ill, jx 383 



'^farket Reports.'] 



Cocoa-nuts. — Contracts for supplies will be made as 

 rfrom January 1. 



Banana Trade at Halifax. 



The U. S. Monilily Consular Reports for Sept- 

 ember 1904 has the following note, by 5Ir W R 

 Holloway, Consul-Gencral at Halifixx, on the banana 

 trade in that city : — 



There is a large and increasing trade at Halifax ia 

 ropical fruits which are largely supplied by Boston dealers, 

 tliougfi there are occasional importations direct from the 

 W est Indies. 



^ The Boston dealers are now proi)Osing to sell bananas. 

 wliicfi form a large percentage of the purchases, by weight 

 mstead ot by bunches as heretofore. Selling by weight will 

 necessitate increased handling of the fruit by the jobbers 

 thereby subjecting it to extra risk from bruising, and will 

 put them to the expense of installing overhead trolley scales 

 like those used by butchers for weighing whole carcasses, and 

 the buyer and seller will have to judge the quality, two or 

 three grades being established at different prices. The 

 business will be conducted on principle instead of by the 

 present rule-of-thumb method. In estimating, quality, size 

 colour, and firmness have to be taken into consideration! 

 The trade does not like what are called 'razorbacks,' or 

 skinny, seamy bananas. For nice, plump fruit the trade 

 would willingly pay one-fourth more, as the 'razorbacks' are 

 of poor flavour. 



The large dealers here have special buildings where green 

 bananas are hung and ripened by heat. The trade this 

 season has been very good. Prices are high and the supply 

 has been equal to the requirements, although at times orders 

 have been cut down. 



There has been some inquiry from the United States at 

 this consulate as to the market for banana flour, but it is not 

 known to the Halifax trade. 



WEST INDIAN AGRICULTURAL CON- 

 FERENCE. 



The following is a letter, dated October 28, 

 received by the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture 

 from the Hon. Hugh Clifford, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, 

 Trinidad, on the subejct of the West Indian Ao-ri- 

 cultural Conference, 1905: — ■ ° 



Referring to your letter of the 24th. inst. on the subject 

 of the next West Indian Agricultural Conference, which it is 

 proposed to hold in Trinidad in January next, I am 

 directed by the Governor to inform you that it affords his 

 Excellency pleasure to otter the use of the Council Chamber 

 for the meetings of the Conference. 



I am to add that his Excellency will be happy to be 

 present at the opening and to do anything in his power to 

 promote the object of the Conference. 



Free transit by the Government railways and by the 

 Gulf Steamers will also be allowed to the members of the 

 Conference. 



Several prominent agriculturists have already 

 signified their intention of being present at the 

 Conference and taking part in the discussions. The 

 Conference promises to be interesting and useful. 



An additional feature of interest in connexion 

 with this Conference is the proposed annual sale of 

 stock at the Trinidad Government Farm wdiich is 

 to take place on Wednesday, January II, 1905. It is 

 likely that the Conference will adjourn for the day to 

 admit of the representatives attending the sale and 

 seeing the class of stock produced at the farm. 



