Vol. Vir. No. 167. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



293 



INTERESTING ANIMALS AT THE 

 BARBADOS PLOUGHING MATCH. 



The accompanying illustrations represent two inter- 

 esting animals which were on view at the Ploughing 

 Match and Show of Stock held at Pnole plantation on 

 June 24 last (see A(/rlciiltari(l jWics of July 11, 

 page 217). 



Tlic Zrlm bull (Fi.u. 14) is. the |in>iiLTty (if Dr. (J. E. 



Fk;. 14. Pi:izE Zebu Bull at H.\iMi\i)os. 



Guodiiig, Stilling |il;iiitiition, and wa.s a>yarded a tirst prize at 

 tlie alxive show. Tlii.s animal i.s about ..five }'ear.s old, and 

 wa.s purcliased from Trinidad, being bred from parents reared 

 at the Government Stock Farm f.f that island. He is stated 

 to be quiet, and to work steadily in ]iliingli or eart. 



The Water Buftalo (Fig. 15', wiiirh was an nbject of 



Fn;. lo. \V.\TKK BUKK.\L<1 at r.,\Uli.\l)(lS. 



considerable interest at the Ploughing iiatch, ^\as exhibited 

 from Society estate. This animal is about five years old, and 

 was purchased from Surinam three year.s ago. 



The water butfahi is valuable on account of its great 

 hardiness and strength, and the hardness of its hoofs as 

 compared with the ordinary estate cattle is an additional 

 point in its favour. Two water bufiitlos are ecpial to four 

 ordinary oxen for working pur[)oses. These animals are not 

 particular as to diet, and will readily consume any food 

 given tliem. On this account they are easily kept in good 

 condition. 



There are but fciur water buttalos in Barbados, all fif these 

 having been brought from Surinam at the same time. 



Acknowledgements are due to Mrs. T. H. Bindley, of 

 Codrington College, wdio kindly supplied the photo- 

 graphs of the two animals, from which blocks for the 

 above pictures were prepared. 



COFFEE PREPARATION AND SHIPMENT. 



Messrs. Jlajor & Field, a \\ ell-known firm of 

 London brokers, have lately issue'd a leaflet containing 

 directions to coffee growers as to the methods which 

 should be followed in the preparation of their produce 

 for shipment, if this is to command the best price on 

 the market. 



Growers are reconuncnded to prepare their cottee by 

 what is known as the West Indian method, and to ship it in 

 ' parchment ' fonn. Uniformity of appearance and colour 

 are highly prized liy buyers, and to ensure these character- 

 istics only berries of xniiforni ripeness .-hciuld be gathered at 

 one time. Pulping should follow immediately after gather- 

 ing, and the cott'ee is then fermented and washed. During 

 the washing process the bean.s shouki be stirred, and all 

 light and imperfect beans, as well a.s leaves, sticks, etc., 

 which rise to the surface, should be removed. 



After washing, the beans must be carefully and 

 thoroughly dried, and the maimer in which this operation is 

 carried out largely detei-mines the market value of the prod- 

 uct. The cotfee is now in the ' parchment form,' and when 

 drying is completed, should be shipped without loss of time. 



It is claimed that growers derive many advantages by 

 forwarding their produce as 'parchment ' cott'ee, to be husked in 

 London. The parchment covering acts as a protection to the 

 bean in transit and preserves its colour. Further, planters 

 are enabled to market their produce earlier than if they 

 waited to husk it themselves, which means selling before the 

 market is glutted. 



Brokers recommend that cott'ee for transport to England 

 should be packed in stout Hessian bags, about 36 inches 

 long by 30 inches wide. These bags will contain about 104 lb. 

 of parchment cott'ee. 



PERSONAL NOTE. 



Mr. C. W. Jemmett, late of the Wye Agricultural 

 College. Kent, who has been appointed Govern- 

 ment Entomologist for Southern Nigeria, arrived at 

 Barbados from England on September 14, and will be 

 temporarily attached to the scientific staff of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture. Mr. Jemmett 

 will probably remain in the West Indies for several 

 months, and during this time will be engaged in 

 making himself acquainted, as far as possible, with the 

 circumstances and conditions of tropical agriculture 

 and entomology before proceeding to take up his duties 

 in Nigferia. 



