Vol. I. No. 18. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



279 



Cacao in West Africa. 



The Imperial In.-ititiUe for November 1902, 

 in reference to the cultivation of cacao in West 

 Africa says : — ■ 



An industry which has been spreading (hiring the 

 last few years in several parts of Africa, ami on some of 

 the islands round the coast, is the cultivation of cacao. 

 The chief source at present is the Portuguese island oi' 

 St. Thomas, and it appears that all the land suitable 

 for the ])urpose is already occupied ; at the same time 

 several islan<ls in the vicinity are being covered with 

 plantations. The German colon}' of the Cameroons, 

 on the Western coast of Africa, ranks ne.\t, but practi- 

 cally the whole jjrodnction is shipped to Hamburg. The 

 following figures show the out})ut during recent 

 j-ears : 



l«f»2. 180.5. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 

 Ba(js. 900. 2,(540. 5,400. 6,74.5. 9,047. 9,83:}. 



It is expected that Madagsiscar, which has not 

 completely recovered from the war with France, will 

 become one of the most important sources of caca(j, 

 the central jjortion and the eastern coast especially, from 

 Tamatave, being highly suited to the industr}'. Com- 

 j)laints have from time to time been made that the 

 (jierman planters improve the outside appearance of the 

 bean to the detriment of the ' break,' but that matter 

 Ciin be readily remedied. 



Diseases of Poultry. 



In this is.sue Mr. J. Barclay completes his account 

 of the diseases commonly affecting poultry in the West 

 Indies. The present article, together with those in the 

 preceding numbers of the Agriadtand Ne^rs furnish 

 poultry keepers with simple and practical means for 

 the prevention and cure of the ordinary ailments of 

 their bird.s. 



Peasants' Cacao Plots in St. Lucia. 



In the course of his Annual Rejwrt for 1901, 

 Mr. A. F. Palmer, the Magistrate for Districts II and 

 III of St. Lucia writes : — 



In the Second District there was a general deprL'ssion 

 during the last three months of the year owing to an 

 unprtrallelled shortness of the cacao crop. The se\'ere gust of 

 wind e.xiierienced in July and August did considerable 

 damage to the old trees, causing most of the young pods to 

 wither. 



Cacao growing as a peasant industry is not advancing ; 

 the emigration to Cayenne deprives the districts of nearly 

 all the able-bodied men, with the result that little or nothing 

 is being done in keei>ing up old, or starling new, plantations. 



There are new ventures by some possessing capital, and 

 large areas are being i)lanted in a few localities, but however 

 well these may succeed they will not create in the future 

 that general i>rnsperity which ^\■ould be secured by a large 

 number of small holdings. 



It should l)e the aim of all interested in the agricultural 

 development of the colony to promote and encourage the 

 establishment of small areas. Three acres of well kept 

 cacao would give a fair injome to a labourer and could easily 

 be maintained single handed. 



East Indian Bananas at Dominica. 



Among the varieties of East Indian bananas 

 received at the Botanic Station from Kew, the one 

 known as 'Guindy' deserves special mention. Recently 

 two very large bunches were ripened and proved to be 

 of fine flavour. It is well worth growing as a dessert 

 fruit. 



Another imported kind called ' Pisang Maas' proves 

 to be the same as the local variety well known under 

 the names of ' Figue Sucree' and 'Lady's Finger.' 



St. Vincent Crown Lands. 



It is encouraging to find that notwithstanding the 

 heavy dan)age sustained by the purchasers of Crown 

 Lands in St. Vincent, many of whom lost their entire 

 cultivation of cacao and other product.s, the peojjle are 

 still eager to extend planting operations during the 

 present .season. The Agricultural Instructor reports 

 having received applications for over 3,000 economic 

 plants of various kinds duiing his i-ecent visit to the 

 Adelphi and Park Hill settlements. 



West India Sugar in Canada. 



From the note on page 274 it will be seen that 

 the trade in sugar between the West Indies and Canada 

 is reported to have increased during the past season. 

 This is the more gratifying in view of the possible 

 changes which may be produced in the United States 

 market. Dependence on one market only is not a good 

 condition for any industry. 



Arrowroot in Barbados. 



The figures quoted on J)age 277 indicate that the 

 arrowroot industry of Barbados is more important than 

 mio-ht be supposed. Altogether about 33(i acres in the 

 northern parishes are under this crop, and the annual 

 value, at the low price of 9.s. per 100 It)., is as much as 

 £5,000. The produce finds a ready local sale. 



School Gardens. 



The article on School Gardens appearing on page 

 285 is the first of a series in which we propose to give 

 an account of what is actually being done in this direc- 

 tion in England. The plans of the gardens should be 

 useful to teachers in the West Indies, remembering of 

 course that various modifications will be necessary to 

 adapt the methods described to local conditions. 



