212 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



July 11, 1908. 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



GRAPE-FRUIT CULTIVATION. 



The fultivatiiin nf the grape-tVuit, with t'liUer 

 detail.s as to the most valuable varieties, forms the 

 subject of an article in tlie Jlay number of the (Jnha 

 Revieu'. The question is naturally discussed from the 

 point of view of the Cuban grower, biic some ot the 

 points mentioned are worthy of note by ^n-owers in the 

 British West Indies. 



( )\\ iiig to the ]iriiHtiracy aiiil long lite nf the trees, as 

 well as the excellent keeping ijualities of the fruit, growers 

 should get a better- return from grape-fruit than from oranges, 



and tree for tree a grape-fruit i)lantation slinuld yield i c 



lioxes of fruit than an orange plantation. 



( irapc.l'i uit trees are inyie \ igorous groweis than oi-ange 

 trees, ami tliey require an .abundant supply uf plant tmid in 

 order to give tht; best ■returns. Artiticial fei'tilizeis can 

 jirofitalily W: applied on a larger scale than in the case n<i ■ 

 other citrus frtiits. It is recomnicnded that grape-fruit liees 

 be planted alxait ilO feet apart, or forty-ciglit trees per aeii'. 

 ■Sour orange ami loagh lemon stocks are to In; preferred loi- 

 grafting purposes, the fornter for nmist, well drained lands, 

 and the latter for drier loCfilities. I'lantings shouhlnot_^ be 

 confined to a single variety. Two kinds at least Shoidd 'hei;. 

 planted, and if the time of fruiting of one kind is a little 

 later than llie other, the pt-iind during which a return may 

 be obtained is extended. i 



While the orange crop must he marketed early, the 

 grape-fruit will hang on the tree for months, if needful, and 

 the ijuality of the fruit, in the case of most vai'ieties, im'proves 

 with time. .Since tiie bullijof the Florida crop i-; placcil on 

 the Ain.'rican market in November, Decemlier, and .lanuary, 

 i.'uban growers -mv. advised ito grow late-maturing varieties, 

 which will be available in February, March, and April, wlien 

 they will liave the nionojjoly of the market. 



The number of vai'<ielies recommemleil is not great, 

 ].)uncan and .Mars^h Hoedliil.g being the chief. The' Duncan 

 tree is a low-spri;idiiig, vi.u'-irous grower, very prolilic, and 

 a regular bearer It beats larcc-sized frrdt, which matures 

 late, and has an excellent Havour. Marsh ■S>eedling resembh's 

 the Diuican in' its habit 'Ui growth. It also is a good 

 beai'er, the fruit being of ■ excellent i|nalitv and ripcnim.' 

 late. ->. ' «■■■■ 



Other varieties inentionel are Triumph, Wallers, ami 

 Hall's silver Cluster. The first-named is a vigorous, upright 

 gi-ower and produces very heavy crops which mature early. 

 The fruit, however, is liablo'to deteriorate if left on the tree 

 too lotig. Owing to the large number of fruits produced, 



too. the ciop should lie thinned, so as to allow the remaining 

 portion to develoj) to full size. 



Growers are A^lvised to cultivate only the larger-fruited 

 varieties since the fruit finds a more ready and remunerative 

 market, and also entails less expense in picking, packing and 

 marketing. Only 'the thin skinned, .smooth, hright, juicy 

 fruit .sliould be exfinrted. 

 t 



LIME CULTIVATION IN BRITISH 

 GUIANA. 



Efforts have for some time been in j)r-ogi,-ess-;lo ex- 

 tend the eultivation of limes in British • Gufana. and 

 the po.ssibilities <jif the industry are beginning to be 

 generally recoLjnized in the colony. It is stated, iiow- 

 evcr. ill the Dc^Jicraia Ar<josii, that more planting 

 would be ilone iffeeedlings could be i)rovided by the 

 Department of Science and Agrinukuro at a .somewhat 

 lower pricf. than that which is at present charged, viz. 

 .-<1'.50 per 100. 



ll is pointed lOUt that in 1 lominica lime ]i!an(s are 

 obtainable at l.<. peir 100, and at this jaice the seeilliiigs are 

 within^ the reach of pra<'tically everyone. Xo doubt when 

 suttieient time lia^ elapsed for a more plentiful siiiijily of 

 seedlings to becoiti'e available in British (iuiana the ]a'icc 

 will he proportionately reduced, and, as was the ca.se in 

 Dondnica, the f!overninent-\vill probahly find it worth while 

 to supply [ilantsat a chea]) rate in order to encourage plant- 

 ing, rianters,. too may ibid it worth while to start small 

 nurseries of their o fn, and raise seedlings. 



'file chief iilanjiny' in liriti.sh Guiana has been done by 

 the 



O'' 



hemerara 1 )eve|("pnieiil t'oin|)any, which has a plantation 

 of aliont'^2,('00 .se(illing limes at'Agatash, near liartica. The 

 c jiniiiiny, too, is ijiv.pared to purchase limes from other 

 growers at GOc. ]ierB>urrel. It lias, at present, a tem|inriry 

 factory at A4irora,|but the ullimate intenticm is to erect 

 a permanent faciorf in »he vicinity of La Penitence, with 

 liranch factories in Suitable districts el.sewliere. 



■ .Meetings ha veSif late been held at various centres of 

 liritish (iuiana tu interest the jicople in lime cidtivation 

 One of these took pjace at Anna Uegina, anil an address on 

 the metliods of lime culture, and the prospects of the industry, 

 was delivered l)y Mr. Ivohert Waul, Agricultural Assistant . 

 under the I )cpartiiiolit of Science and Agriculture. Tho.se 

 attending the meeting pas.sed a resolution at the close in 

 which they expres.sed their intention to start the planting of 

 limes. ' 



