Vol. XTV. No. 332. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



1!) 



Leeward Island Presidency be represented in 



;i Windward [sland case. The particular exhibit to 

 which reference is here made is thai of cotton. The 

 exhibits of Sea [sland cotton appear as a whole to 

 food, especially the St. Lvitts samples. 



Commerciallj and educationally it is of the 

 gri itest importance thai there should be in the islands' 

 exhibitsa proper representation of developing industries. 

 One would like to see a much larger displaj of lime 

 products from Dominica, because the inadequate repre- 

 sentation of thai island's citrus industries leads to an 

 incorrect estimate of its position in this respect. 

 A better representation of the products of the bay 

 tree from Montserrat, where tin-- cultivation is likely 

 to assume important dimensions, is desirable. Hut 

 one Iris to remember the attendant difficulties in these 

 matters. Perishable samples of fruit products are not 

 easj to preserve in good condition, or to display where 

 space is very limited: and the exhibition authorities 

 rind difficulty in constant!) renewing samples of 

 produce which often quickly assume an industrial 

 status. Some useful representation of perishable 

 articles, like fruit, might well be made, as has been 

 suggested above with regard to Jamaica bananas, by 

 means of models. One thing is very certain, and that 

 is that the smaller colonies might utilize better the 

 wall space in the same manner as British Guiana has 

 done. This would he a convenient and inexpensive 

 way of demonstrating, by graphical methods, many of 

 the new hues of development. With regard to citric 

 products, more adequate exhibits should be presented 

 by islands, such as St. Lucia and < 'arriacou, where the 

 Inn industry is being energetically developed. It 

 must be remembered that most of the West Indian 

 lime products come to England, and are in great 

 demand in English manufactures, particularly in calico 

 printing. 



By devoting more attention to the matters out- 

 lined above, the West Indian section at the Imperial 

 Institute might be made a very valuable centre of 

 information. On the section being brought before 

 tin' public by means of the press, which should 

 undoubtedly assist in Imperial matters of this 

 kind, the number of enquiries would increase, and in 

 a general way greater interest in the West Indies 

 would be stimulated in London. Considering the. 

 di elopment of co-operative movements in tin- West 

 Indies, it would seem appropriate to exhibit models of 

 factories or appliances connected with the industries of 

 importance. The main idea is that the exhibits must 

 lie attractive, instructive, and up to date. Originality 



pays. Those who visited tin- recenl International 

 Exhibition lasl June will remember the stands al winch 

 two |:n|\ operators wen making cakes from St. Vlncenl 

 arrowroot; tins was suggestive of enterprise and orgin- 

 ality. Similar efforl on an educational, rather than on 

 a purely advertising basis, is what is needed in the 

 West Indian section at the Imperial Institute. 



PROSPECTS OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



IN ST. LUCIA. 



The following report, submitted to the Acting 

 Administrator of St. Lucia, by Mr. A. J. Brooks, the 

 Acting Agricultural Superintendent, and forwarded to 

 the Imperial (' rissioner of Agriculture, will doubt- 

 less be of general interest,: — 



Speaking generally, the sugar-cane cultivation in this 

 island is at the present moment in a flourishing condition. 



A certain amount of anxiety was felt in Vieuxfort district 

 a short time ago, due to the continued drought; heavy rains 

 have now fallen, and there is every prospect of a good crop 

 in April. 



I estimate our total crop lor the coming season to he as 

 follows; Sugar -vacuum pan, 5,000 tons: muscovado, L50 

 tons; molasses and syrup, 200,000 gallons. Not more than 

 8,000 gallons is likely to be exported, as the bulk is used 

 locally in the man ii fact are of rum, and the feeding of estate 

 cattle. 



The area available for the cultivation of the sugar cane 

 in St. Lucia is about 6,000 acres, i.e. — 



Dauphin Quarter Kill acres. 



Demiery and Praslin 1,000 „ 



Micoud (Troumassie and Canelles) 300 „ 



Vieuxfort 1,500 „ 



Laborie 100 „ 



Choiseul (Balembouche and River I)oree) 400 ,, 



Soufriere to and including Canaries 250 „ 



Coast lands from Canaries to Roseau I 50 „ 



Roseau and Cul-de-Sac 2,000 „ 



Castries to Gros Islet 200 



6,000 acres. 



This estimate includes the liest lands; but since 1883-4 

 cane has ceased to lie grown on a good ileal of this area, and 

 the machinery in many cases has been sold. Since 1884 the 

 market has been such that only the Central Factories with 

 their up-to-date machinery and improved methods have been 

 able to withstand the great drop in prices. The drop brought 

 about the ruin of almost every muscovado sugar planter in 

 tic island; and their factories have been allowed to crumble 

 away. Owing to these circumstances, it would not be safe 

 to rely upon more than f,000 acres for sugar, out of th( 

 Ii, OlHi mentioned. 



With an improved market, it is quite possible that this 

 area could lie quickly brought into cultivation, and from this 



an average crop of 8,000 tons could reasonably lie expected. 



It may lie of some service to record the fact that in the 

 year 1875 St. Lucia produced 13,300 hogsheads of sugar, 



2,473 puncl ns of molasses, and 36 puncheons oi rum; and 



this was at a time when imperfect mills were used. Losing 



anything from 1 ."i to •_'(» per cent. 



