!7(j 



THE AGHICULTUIIAL NEWS. 



Deckmbkk 20, 1902. 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



VANILLA AT DOMINICA. 



A g()(Kl croj) of Villi ilia pods is now being ivajicd 

 from the vanilla vines growing at the Botanic Station. 

 These are sent to the Agricultural Schoijl where 

 the boys are taught to cure the jxjcls uinler the 

 suj)ervision of the ()fticei--in-charge. Last voar, in 

 curing, each pod was wrajipcd with thread tn jire\ent 

 sjilitting and afterwards slowly <Irii'd by s\ui heat. This 

 year the pods are l>eing dipped in hot water of the 

 teuiperatnri' reconnncnded by Seyidielles planters, and 

 the usual after-treatraent is being followed. The 

 dipping pi-Qcess is very effective in jn-cventing the 

 \anilla from splitting. There is no doubt that those 

 who are experimenting with vanilla in the West Inilies 

 ^^(]uld ilo Well to closely f lUow the .Seyciu'lles methods, 

 already published in the Ayriciill n nil Xi'i's, (page (j7 

 '■t "''(J.) in cultivating the vine, in fertilizing the Howei's 

 and curing the poils. 



AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OP 

 BRITISH HONDURAS. 



'I"hc recently issued ('iiliininl lic/iur/ mi British 

 lliiiidurns lor l!t()l contains the iMllowing summary 

 of the present condition of agriculture in the colony: — 



'I'lic resources of this colony are .so coasitlenihic that it 

 is marvellous that iiuich greater (levcloinneiit luis not taken 

 place than is sliown Ity the returns. .Vt least four rivers 

 could he made navit,'alile foi- lij;lit <h-aug]it steamers for 

 cousiderahle tli.stiuiees iidand, and a dozen for canoes or 

 doreys. The Hondo, New Uiver, and Sarstoon aie alrciidy 

 heing used to some extent for navigation hy moderately large 

 craft, l)Ut tlieir utiUty might he increased. ihdioguny, 

 logwood, vanilla, cacao, ruhher (C'».</ ///'«; tliixticti), sapodilla 

 (fi'oni which 'chicle' or chewing gum is prepared), and 

 pimento oi- allspice are indigenous, and jiinc-trces and various 

 lianlwoods are jiresent in great ahunilance. The soil in many 

 large areas is peculiarly suitalile for the growth of the sugar 

 cane, and factories of very large size coidd he estahli.-lied 

 if cajiital were forthcoming. I'.ananas, oranges, ].ine apple, 

 lice and maize are only a few of tlie products wliicli grow 



Mi.xnriantly. The h(Hiuteou.sness of nature seems to have 

 made e.xistence so easy in the jiast that the inhahitants liave 

 iKjt heen spurred to exertion by nece.ssity, ami have lived 

 almost solely hy cutting mahogany and logwood, found in the 

 forests, which are then floated down the rivers. Attempts 

 have lieen made within recent years to cultivate h.inanas, hut 

 cultivation is hampeiel by want of agricultural knowledge on 

 tlie part <if the land owners and the diftiiadty of ohtaining 

 lalioureis accustomed to any other kind of laiiour than that 

 of wood-cutting. The cultivation of cacao is heing attempted, 

 hut has not yet expanded to any coasiderahle extent. I5efore 

 agriculture can he expected to become a thriving industry, it 

 will he neces.sary to facilitate transjiort hy improving the 

 navigation of the rivers and hy making good cart roads or 

 tramways leading to the livers on the sea coast ; this is 

 es|iecially neces.sary in the case of lianana cultivation, tlic 

 fruit heing jieri-shahle and needing great care in liandling. 

 t'ommunication hy telegrajili or telephone will also Ijc 

 necessary if a thriving husines.s, is to he carried on. Xo use is 

 at present heing made of the vanilla, pimento, or lumber 

 (other than inaliogany, cedar and logwood). Vanilla grows 

 so luxuriantly that freipiently when riding along the roads 

 tludugh the forests the rider has to lop otl' the overhanging 

 vines with his m.ichete in order to secure free passage. There 

 seems good reason to helieve that a lucrative industry could he 

 estahlished in the iiroduction of the bean if attention were 

 paid to the matter. Another natural product of the forest at 

 ]iresent almost entirely wasted is the cohune nut which yields 

 the finest oil for tahle and othjr purjioses, while the refuse 

 might he suitable for foo.l for stock. Immense (piantitie.s at 

 present go to waste. 



YARAQUE, A PRODUCT 07 CASSAVA. 



In the (!i(iijrnj)Jti((d .hmriutl for September 

 1!)02, is published a paper by Mr. E. Andre entitled 

 'The Caura Affluent of the Orinoco', giving an interest- 

 ing account (d' Mr. Andre's recent journey uj) the 

 (yaura river and the habits and occupations of the 

 inhabitants oi the surrounding villages. Among the 

 economic jilants cultivated in these regions is the 

 (rassava (Mdiiihot iitilitot'nnn) from which cassava 

 cakes and a fermented drink called Yaraqai aro 



