132 



Extract from a letter from Professor W. R. Dunstan, Director, Imperial 



Institute, to Director, Public Gardens and Plantations, Jamaica, dated 



30th March, 1905. 



I have received through the Colonial Office a copy of a memo- 

 randum prepared by you with reference to certain suggestions 

 made by me in a letter, dated the 20th December, 1904, to the 

 Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, as to the steps to be 

 taken to improve the quality of the tobacco produced in Jamaica. 



I also venture to suggest that it would be well if typical samples 

 of the tobacco grown in Jamaica, and of products such as cigars 

 or pipe tobaccos manufactured from them, could be sent here for 

 exhibition in the Jamaica Court of the Imperial Institute.* 



The samples should be accompanied by statistics of production 

 and export, and information as to the prices at which products of 

 similar quality could be delivered in this country, so that descrip- 

 tive labels for the exhibits may be prepared and that we may be 

 in a position to answer any enquiries received from merchants and 

 others to whose notice the exhibits will be brought. 



The Imperial Institute has paid special attention to the question 

 of tobacco cultivation and examination, and would be ready to 

 give any assistance in connection with this industry in Jamaica. 



STACK ENSILAGE.f 



By Alfred H. D'Costa. 



Plant three acres of guinea corn, red dhurra or native corn and 

 cultivate until the grains of corn are just soft enough to be crushed 

 between your fingers — The corn is then in the best stage to make 

 ensilage. 



Erect eight poles ten feet high to outline your stack and wattle 

 the sides to help even packing, A stack 16 feet by ten 



feet is a suitable size for three acres of corn. Leave [ 

 two openings in the sides of the stack one at either side 

 to be used as doors. 



Start cutting the corn early in the morning, one man 

 cutting, two men and two carts carting, and one man to 

 pack and you remaining in the stack to direct the pack- 

 ing and give a help with the handing up of the corn. 



Spread about a foot of grass on the ground and see that it is 

 quite level. 



With the first load of corn brought in by the carts start packing 

 and pack as tightly and as level as you can, be sure and pack the 

 sides tightly as the great object is to keep out the air and it is 

 more likely to get in from the sides than anywhere else. Pa«k 

 right up to the wattle and be sure that you leave no air spaces ; 



*The Director of Public Gardeng will be happy to receive saroples, and forward them 

 t© the Director of the Imperial Institute. 



t An article on this subject was published in tke Bulletin of ihe Botanical 

 Department, Jamaica, March, April, M»y 1900, Vol. VII page 35. 



