-20 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Ja.nuaky 25, 1908. 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



FRUIT INDUSTRIES OF JAMAICA. 



In his latest repoi't, the special ngent of tlie 

 U. S. Department of Commerce and Labour gives 

 extensive details with regard to the various agricultural 

 industries of Jamaica. The chief ])artii-ulars relating 

 to the production and export of liMuanas, citrus 

 fruits, and cocoa-nuts, are here ii produced as 

 being of more special interest: — 



Brtiiimas are extensive!}' cultivated, f..niiing at present 

 the chief industry, and the leading i)ro(hH-t uf export. For 

 the successful culture of the hanana, heat, moisture, and rich 

 soil are necessary, all of which rec]ninnents are liberally afi'ord 

 ed the planter in .lauiaica. It is estimated that the cost of 

 planting an acre of bananas on hitherto uncultivated land 

 is about iJoT, and 339 .'^tocks are planted to the acre. The 

 pre.sent area under cultivation in this fruit is officially given 

 at 59,958 acres 



Oranges yield abundantly with little or no cultivation. 

 Ini|jrovcd niethod.s of sorting and packing are being adopted 

 and exports are gradually increasing. During the fiscal year 

 190fi, a considerable increase occurred in shii)ments to the 

 United Kingdom and Canada, while in the sliipnients to the 

 United States there was a decrease. Of the output for tlie 

 fiscal yi-ar 1907, 18,000,000 went to the United States, 

 ,50,000,000 to Englanil, and 10,000,000 to Canada. The 

 cultivation of grape-fruit, i)reviously gathered oidy from 

 wihl trees, received an impetus some years ago owing to tlir 

 demand of the United States market, although this is now 

 supplied by Floridian and Californian groves. The fruit has 

 become popular and exports for 190(1 >liiiw ;i valuation 

 of §4 1,324. 



Lime trees grow wild on tlie |i,islnrc lands and yield 

 fruit of good quality even on poor soil. As is the case of 

 pine-apples, the exjiorts, however, show a constant deia-ease 

 both of fruit and of lime juice : 188,9 17 gallons of lime juice 

 were exported in 1902, and in 19()() oidy 79,822 gallons 

 valued at .?15,374. 



Cocoa-nuts are grown in nearly eviay portion cii' tlio 

 island, the yield per tree being estimated at 100 nuts. The 

 hurricane of 1903 devastated the cocoa-nut plantations 

 greatly, the present yield being somewhat less than one-third 

 that of four years ago. Careful replantiuK has, however, 

 been done, and earnest efforts are being put forth to restore 

 and extend cocoa-nut cultivation. About 300,000 more 

 cocoa-iuUs were gathered last year than in the year jireced- 

 ing. The shipments are given at 7,092,298, the valuation 

 $138,044. Statistics for the fiscal year 1907 give the value 



of total exports of cocoa-nuts at 8215,000, <iivided as follows • 

 United States §150,000, United Kingdom -SlSjOOO, and 

 Canada .'^50,000. 



HINTS TO ORANGE GROWERS. 



The I'urti) liico Kvciew of December 7 last con- 

 tained an article which gave valuable advice to orange 

 growers of that island, as to the best methods lo be 

 followed in order to secure high prices for their produce. 

 Some of the hints are worthy of consideration by 

 growers outside of Porto Rico, and are rcprocfuced 

 herewith : — 



C rowers nuist work together and exert an active, united 

 intiuenc;e in promoting better methods of culture, transporta- 

 tion, packing, etc. 



They must establish certain grades for their fruit, and, 

 a.s fai- as possible, see that these are observed by everyone. 

 One man sending in poor fruit labelled ' Faney ' will cause 

 loss to all. 



The shii)|)ers must exercise more care in tlic [lacking and 

 handling of the fruit while in their hands. 



7'/«' 1/ rowers iiiiist iiidii'idnally exercise more care in t/ie 

 i/'it/nriiii/ of their fruit. At present the fruit is gathered far 

 too green, is pulled from the tree-s, and even gathered by 

 more violent methods. Fruit gathered at the proper time 

 for high (juality should be clipi)ed off with shears and laid 

 carefully into the receptacles. Careful gathering and hantl- 

 ling mean extra ex|)ense, but this extra e.xpense becomes 

 less and less as lietter preparation is made for the work 

 and the men beconie more skilful. Further, the 

 increase in market value of $1'00 to l|3'00 per bos will 

 more than [lay for thi.s extra cost. Then, too, the market of 

 the future must be prepaied tor. It has become axiomatic 

 that the certain as well as the best profits come to him who puts 

 a really fancy graile of fruit on the market. Xo matter 

 what are the riding prices, such a giower lias always 

 •I special market and obtains special price.s. 



( I rowers must i e ever on the alert to find new inarkel s and 

 create increased demands. Crowing and marketing are fast 

 being recognized as distinct branches of the fruit industry 

 each demanding its special ipialifications. The pLiii that 

 has sometimes been adopted of banding together and employ- 

 ing a special agent to attend to the marketing is well worthy 

 of consideration. The right kind of man in such a place can 

 keep in touch with all the markets, learn what the trade 

 demaiuls, and in many ways greatly promote the imitit as 

 well as the development of the industry. 



