A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW 



OF THE 



IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. 



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Our 



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4.\,c 



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Vol. X\^I. Xo. 434 



BARBADOS. DECEMBER 14, 191». 



Price Id. 



CONTENTS. 



FKAXt'[.S \VAri'8, K.C.M.G., the 

 Imperial C'i>iiiini.s-<i"iier uf Agriculture for 

 ~r^Z the West Indies, on a recent visit to 

 Antigna, delivereil an addres.s to the Agricultural and 

 Commercial Societ}- of that island, much of which, 

 being of general interest, especially in view of these 

 times of reconstruction on which we are now enter- 

 ing, is reproduced below. 



There is no doubt that ttie West Indies, as a 

 whole, have benefited, so far as their agriculture is 

 concerned, from the disturbed conditions of the past 

 four years, and this in common with agriculture in the 

 I'nted Kingdom, in Canada, and America. The terri- 

 ble struggle from which we are just emerging has 

 mrvdf it evident that the welfare of a nation depends un 



its agriculture as much as, or possibly even more than 

 nn its manufactures, for the food supply is fundamental 

 and of the first consideration. As the outcoine of this 

 it seems probable that agricultural matters both iti 

 the United Kingdom and in the colonies will have more 

 consideration than they have had in the past, and thafc 

 brighter times are in view for farmers and planters. 



In all this, however, there is some danger lest we 

 be disappointed in matters pertaining to high prices. 

 High prices may be misleading and disappointitig 

 if they are iiniver.<al and af*'ect all commodities and 

 conditions for this alone would leave individuals just 

 in their loinjer cm.dition: ihey woidd receive nnire 

 money, but 'hey woitld have to sj^end it all, as before, 

 in satisfying their needs. 



With the era of high prices to which we look tor- 

 ward there will still con.e keen coinpetition, and 

 success, in the form of profits, will onl_v be secured by 

 competent indiviiiuais With high prices will come 

 increased cost of production, and the margins of profit 

 may remain as before, or may even be less Relief can 

 only come from efficiency in production, and so we find 

 ourselves back in the old, familiar position, when we 

 had to face the effects of competition in an era of low 

 prices. It is true that we may hope for some relief 

 from some of the pectdiar disabilities which affected 

 agricultural interests, and West Indian agricultural 

 interests in particular. But still the fact remains that 

 Siifety lies in increased efficiencj" in production. 



Increased etticier.cy in production meai\s making 

 the best use of met:, material, land, and machinery, and 

 so covers the widest possible ^cope. What can be^t be 

 done to accelerate progress along the desired fines .' 



