.14 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



.1 INI \ky 30, 1915. 



required. The application of manures too, particularly 

 of those that are likely to have long-lasting i ffects.and 



work in connexion with sanitation of the caca -chards, 



such as the prophylactic spraying against fungoid 

 diseases, ma) qow have more consideration than has been 

 expedient when prices showed a downward tendency. 

 All such improvements as are possible now are calcu- 

 lated to strengthen the industry, and to enable the plan- 

 - to face with greater confidence the increased 

 competition that ma) assuredly belooked for. 



As another instance whqre the products have risen 

 in price in consequence of present disturbances, refer- 

 ence ma) bemade to the lime industry. There is good 

 reason to expect that those concerned with this will 

 take advantage of the enhanced prices to improve their 

 tories,and the methods of preparing their products for 

 export, as for instance b\ the introduction of steam 

 boiling and mechanical strainers, or of appliances for 

 making citrate of lime. And. as in the rase of cacao, 

 increased attention may be given to the improvement 

 of the cultivation of their lime orchards, especially 

 with regard to restoring the fertility ofthe soil by means 

 of manures. 



When we c • to consider those industries which 



re faced with a tall in the price of their product, the 

 matter is more serious and urgent; the means of liveli- 

 hood may be disappearing, and with them the means 

 of adopting measures of protection. Inmost cases 

 there is the possibility that the depression is hut tem- 

 porary, and that with a return to normal conditions 

 the industry may fully revives In pursuing a policy of 

 waiting, however, the danger of overproduction should 

 not be lost sight of: for, in the event of a commodity, 

 such for instance as Sea Island cotton, being produced 

 in considerable excess, and stored, there may result, a 

 depression in price that may he permanent, or at any 

 rate extend over a very considerable number of years. 



In such cases the temporary production of some 

 readily grown and easily consumed crop will attract 

 attention, a crop that ma\ perhaps be set aside when 

 a normal condition of things returns: or it may be 



found that the new crop has bei ie permanently 



established from the result of exertions made under 

 pressure of abnormal circumstances. 



(in the other hand, this pressure may induce 

 planters to turn their attention to the establish- 

 ed of what they hope may prove perm nt indus- 

 tries of a kind not hitherto developed in their districts; 

 nd ber igain the pressure of hard times naaj appl) 

 a stimulus that may prove of lasting benefit. 



The West Indian industry thai presents the most 

 obvious instance of temporary depression of price is 

 that of the production of Sea Island cotton. Commun- 

 ities dependent on this are turning their attention 

 to the production of food crops, with the double 

 object of cheapening their own food supplies, and of 



having other com lities to dispose of. These efforts 



are resulting in much attention being paid to corn, which 



fulfils both ofthesefunct s, and it is anticipated that 



oi her food grams will. receive similar attention. Vario s 

 kinds of peas and beans maj be instanced as crops that 

 may well have consideration at such a time as this; 

 and the experience of local planters and Experiment 

 Station worker-, will be had recourse to in order to 

 furnish information for immediate application. Thes< 

 grains presenl the advantage that, with suitable pre- 

 cautions, the) made be stored tor long periods; tl 

 may therefore be used for home consumption, or ma\ 

 l>e exported, as circumstances dictate. 



Much attention is likely to be given in the co 

 munities referred to with n gard to the production of 

 root crops as well as grains. These for the most pa 

 labour under the disadvantage of not keeping for any 

 considerable length of t ime, but in man) instances they 

 would Hud a remunerative market at no great distance 



This disability of root crops in the matter of keep- 

 ing leads to the consideration ofthe question of con- 

 verting them into meal. The host example, perhaps, of 

 this is the conversion of cassava into 'farine', a useful 

 food, well known in those West Indian islands that have 



i ie extensivel) under French influence. Much work 



has been done in efforts to produce such commodities 

 as banana meal and sweet potato meal, but neither of 

 these has \ et found an extensive market. 



The introduction of new industries likely to he of 

 a permanent character usually presents difficulties on 

 account of want both of know ledge and experience, alike 

 in the case of those directing the enterprise, and of the 

 work people who have to carry out details, and also on 

 account of the difficulty in attracting capital, which in 

 ordinary circumstances will be required to be locked up 

 for some considerable time In ■for, • a remunerative return 

 is derived. The stress of unusual circumstances may 

 however, lead to the exploitation of new industries l>y 

 means of the moderate amounts of capital that will have 

 be* ii accumulated during the prosecution of a si ccess- 

 ful industry, as exemplified by cotton. 



In somi districts attention is being drawn 

 more to fibre production. This is no new story in the 

 West [ndies, and will be received in man) quarters in 



