146 



THE AGRICULTURAL NF.'.VS. 



May 16, 1908 



Relations between the West Indies and Canada, lield 

 at Barbados in January last, and the considerable 

 interest that has been aroused on the subject, the 

 present is a favourable opportunity for making every 

 •effort to promote further commercial intercourse between 

 these two pdrtions of the Empire. 



The ap])ointment of a special Trades Conunissioner 

 •(Mr. E. H. -S. Flood) for the West Indies, indicates that 

 the Canadian Government has recognized the possibil- 

 ity of greater development in the trade relations 

 between the two countries, and is anxious to do all that 

 lies in its power to bring about this development. 



Intending exhibitors will therefore realize that 

 there is, this year, a special reason for all the West 

 Indies to join in sending representative collections of 

 produce, put up in an attractive and interesting 

 manner, so as to illustrate the commercial resources 

 •of the West Indies and British Guiana. 



As pointed out in previous years, the specimens 

 forwarded should consist of hnna fide commercial 

 samples, put u]) for the most part in bottles, or neat 

 wooden boxes with sliding glass tops. Articles such as 

 sugars, rum, molasses, preserves, honej'. cacao, arrowroot, 

 ■ cassava, starches, oils, etc., would be most suitably put up 

 in closely fitting glass jars and bottles. Samples of 

 •dried products may l)e forwarded with advantage 

 .in boxes with iiliding glass tops. When .shown \iiider 

 these conditions persons interested can readily and 

 fully examine and test the quality of the various articles 

 displayed. One of the first duties of the Permanent 

 Exhibition Committees, therefore, will be to arrange 

 for a suitable supply of bottles and boxes. The 

 samples forwarded sliould naturally be accomjianied 

 •with full particulars as to their origin, shipping marks, 

 and, as f;ir as pcssible, prices f.o.b. at the pnrt of ship- 

 ment. 



I'urthcr, as on pre\ious occasions, illustralcd Leaf- 

 lets ami I l:uiilh()(jks should be prepared beforehand and 

 forwanled to Messrs. Pickford lit Black before the 

 exhibitions open. Photographs are also useful in bring- 

 ing lieforc iiorthcni pcoitlo the conditions and circum- 

 stances under wliii-h tinpi(;al produce is grown and 

 prepared. 



In addition to the general exhibits there should 

 be sent a supply of decorative material, such as bamboo 

 items, dried leaves nf the cocoa-nut palm, bunches of 

 ■cocoa-nuts (strongly wired together) fresh sugar-canes, 

 etc. This material would be ultilized in making the 

 West Indian court attractive, ami fur the jjurpose of 



suggesting the iropical conditions under which the 

 crops are produced. 



As in past years, .Messrs. Pickfiu'd & Black have 

 kindly offered to onveyall exhibits from tin." Wesc 

 Indies free of chirge, as well as to unpack and arrange 

 them at the exhibitions. 'J'he latest steamer i hat can 

 take general exhibits will be the ' .Dnhouie,' leaving 

 British Guiana on July 20; Trinidad, July ■!'■'> : Barba- 

 dos, July 20 ; St. Vincent, July 2(j ; St. Lucia, July 27 : 

 Dominica, July 28 ; Montserrat, July 28 ; Antigua, July 

 29, and St. Kitt's, July 3L As the Canadian Line 

 steamers do not call at (Grenada, exhibits from that 

 island might be sent to meet the ' Dahomt' ' either at 

 Trinidad or Barbados as found convenient. 



The 'Dahome' is due to arrive at St. John's or 

 Halifax on August 8. The ' Ocamo ' wdiich leaves British 

 Guiana on August 1 and is due at Halifax on August 

 20, will accept fresh fruit intended for exhibition 

 from Dominica and other islands. The ' Ocamo ' 

 will call at each island twelve days later than the 

 ' Dahome ', e.g., it will be due at Dominica on August 

 0. Exhibits should be ready for shipment the day 

 before the steamers are due at each port. 



Glass jars and bottles after they are filled sliould 

 be I'arefully inspected before shipment in order 

 to detect any leakage. Since they are likely to be 

 knocked about in transit, each bottle should be carefully 

 isolated by being separately packed with straw, shavings, 

 or saw-dust. 



Fresh fruit and similar arti(;les to be displayed in 

 the gla.ss bottles, should be placed in a 4-per cent, 

 solution of formaldehyde. This can be made by adding 

 10 parts by weight of ordinary formalin to 100 parts of 

 water. 



It may be pointed out that labels descriptive of 

 the contents of each bottle should bo placed near the 

 bottom of the bottle, and not in the middle, in order 

 that the contents may be iully in view. It wculd be 

 useful too, if each exhibit- were numbered, and a list 

 made out and forwarded to Messrs. Pickford ^^i.'" Black 

 giving the nuudiers, together with the contents of the 

 corresponding jars and bottles, so that in the event of 

 the labels being damaged in transit, the name of the 

 exhiliil and other particulars could be attached at the 

 exhiliil idii. 



Jt is suggested that all correspondence on the 

 subject of the Canadian Exhibitions for 1908 should 

 be addressed to Messrs. Pickford & Black, Halifax, N.S, 

 or, until July l,ito Mr. Charles Pickford, Superintend- 

 ent ct the Pickford & Black Steamship Compan}-, 

 Jiarbailiis. 



