Vol. I. No. 12. 



THE AGrJCULTURAL NEWS. 



181 



with 'lilack licart' disoase to sucli an extent that it is ^vorth- 

 Icss for .shipiiiiig. 



C/iKi-lottf J^ofhsc/ii/J : Tlie fruits of this variety are 

 large and perfect in sliape. If j)ines with a good appearance 

 are required in the markets, this vai'iety would stand iirst. 

 Compared with other kinds its flavour is poor. 



Slijis of all the varieties arc lieing grown in nursery 

 beds, and slioidd a demand arise for [plants the (larden will 

 be in a position to siqiply a quantity. 



At one of the meetings of the local Agricultui-al Society 

 a collection of seven varieties of pine-apples was .shown. The 

 weight t)f the collective exhibit was 3.5 tt). or an average of 

 5 Ih. [ler fruit. 



SHIPPING SWEET POTATOS. 



A well attended meeting of planters and othef.s 

 was held at the Planters' Hall, PJarbados, on September 

 C, his Excellency Sir Frederic M. Hodgson, K.C.M.G., 

 in the Chair. The object of the meeting was to place 

 before the pnblic the actual results of the ex])eriments 

 in shipping sweet potatos to England which have been 

 conducted (hiring the past year. 



Sir Frederic Hodgson, in the course of his intro- 

 ductory remarks suggested that the name ' Barbados 

 potato' be adopted for export jiurposes, adding 'wo 

 have the Jamaica banana, the Liberian cofi'ee, and we 

 ought to have the ' Barbados potato.' 



Dr. D. Morns, C.M.G., reviewed the efloits already 

 made. He pointed out that when the matter 

 was started last year an appeal was made to a few 

 planters only to join in the experiment. The most cordial 

 co-operation was at once received and dining the whole 

 of the period, fiom December to May, a certain number 

 of barrels of potatos was shipped by each mail to 

 appointed agents in England. The potatos were put 

 on the market and sold for whatever they would fetch. 

 The matter having passed successfully through this 

 preliminary stage, it was now intended to throw it 

 open to the whole island. Any jdanter wishing to 

 take part in the experiment slioiild send m his name 

 to Mr. J. R. Bovell, the Superintendent of the Botanic 

 Station, who wouhl arrange for the shipment of the 

 potatos to appointed agents. An account of the profits 

 arising from the trial shipments has already been given 

 (see p. !)!)). To this Dr. Morris was enabled to add 

 that, allowing £8 per acre as the cost of cultivation, 

 the net amount the planter should receive, according 

 to the available data, appeared to be about £9 to £10 

 per acre. Planters nuist, however, carefully bear in 

 mind that the exportation of sweet potatos still 

 demands careful organization. There is as yet only 

 a limited demand and any large and unexpected ship- 

 ment may easily swamp the market. It is essential 

 to have definitely appointed agents ready to receive 

 an arranged number of barrels of potatos, just 

 as many in fact as can be disposed of immediately 

 they arrive. What is wanted is a regular supply of 

 produce of good cpiality, and suitable size, delivered in 

 Bridgetown a day before the mail leaves. 



An interesting discu.ssion followed and finally the 

 following resolution was proposed and carried unani- 

 mously : — 



That it is advisable that Planters who are desirous of 

 assisting this movement should send in their names at an 

 early date to the Superintendent of tha lk>tanic Station 

 stating the quantities they are prepared to ship, and the 

 .special dates on which they are prejiared to ship them. That 

 all arrangements .should b' left in the hands of the Super- 

 intendent of the Botanic Station, and we pledge ourselves 

 to use our intiuence that no .shipments be made except 

 through him. 



DIlIECTloN'S Ki)H l'.\OKIX(l. 



For the guidance of intending shippers of the 

 ' Barbados Potato' the f )l!owing regulations ha\ e been 

 issued by the Superintendent of the Botanic Station, 

 through whom for the time being all shiiiments are to 

 be made: — 



Potatos intended f)r shipment to the English 

 market should be dug on the ^loiiday proceeding the 

 Saturday on which the Royal Blail Steam Packet 

 Company's steamers leave Barbados. They should be 

 then spread on the floor of a dry, well-ventilated room, 

 until the following Friday, when they are to be packed 

 in barrels and sent to Messrs. Gardiner Austin & Co.'s 

 store, Pier Head, Bridgetown. The barrels should 

 have about one dozen equi-distant, clean-cut holes of 

 1 1 inch diameter bored in the sides for ventilation. 

 The object of drying the potatos for a few days before 

 they are packed is to harden the skin and so prevent 

 its being easily bruised. 



Red jiotatus will be taken in preference to white 

 ones. 



The potatos should not bi' less than twelve nor 

 more than twenty ounces in weight. 



Bruised, over large, or improperly packed potatos 

 will be rejectefl. 



A deduction of .5 per cent, on the selling price 

 will be charged for receiving the potatos, shipping them, 

 receiving and distiibiiting tiie nmnev, etc. 



TORONTO EXHIBITION. 



The Timnito Ihiili/ Sfur for September 5, con- 

 tains the following ajipreciatory comments on the 

 West India Exhibit, (ireat credit appears to be due 

 to Messrs. Pickford and Black for their care in display- 

 ing the produce of these Colonies : — 



The display of British West Indies' product.? by Pickford 

 and Black of Halifax is one of the most neatly arranged in 

 the entire grounds, and to those who have never visited 

 these islands of pleasant breezes an in.spection of the Picktord 

 and Black exhibit is a revelation. 



The West Indies hold as native a tree called the green- 

 heart, and a sample cf this wood is on e.xhibition. It is 

 almost as liard as ironwooil, and yet its interior is composed 

 of pith, which is of considerable value commercially. 



The deftness of native fingers is shown in really 

 marvellous fancy work, made both from the bark of trees 

 and native gra.ss. .liiipi-.Jappa hats are also tributes to deft 

 Lands, and a close second to Panamas in looks and lightness. 



Gold-bearing minerals and diamonds add mute tribute 

 to the resourcefulness of the region. 



Then there are also seen cocoa-nuts bunched, and ripen- 

 ing ui)on a branch ; citrons, limes, lemons, oranges, calabashes 

 aloes, bitter aloes, and raw cotton. 



The display is new, and is one of the most artistically 

 arranged on the grounds. 



