Vol. XIV. No. 356. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 







tons, and a i ne about 13A; while in 1913, the g 1 mill 



would ha i [uired some I 5 io over 16 j 



tons i jar. It is 1 



perience of those who ' 

 in Antigua during this period will fully confirm 

 cal :ulations. 



TJ I the change in the mi -li".l ol m 



isidered. For this purpose, we may take the 



lirly represi 

 cond On this basis the 



follow ing Ggures are calculated. 



I ble IV. 



' The gain in tons of sugar exported in each year is clearly 

 seen, while in the aggregate for the ten years, the gain has 

 been 1 < ; . : ; 7 s tons. It is interesting to note incidentally, that 

 tin- average tonnage of cane estimated to be taken to make 

 a ton of muscovado sugar during this period works out at. 

 14 tons. 



This gain in output constitutes a large accretion to the 

 wealth of the island. It must not be assumed, however, 

 that this gain is one which goes entirely to the estates 

 producing the canes: a considerable part of it is absorbed in 

 providing and working the factory. In addition to this 

 there is some off-set in the diminished value of the molasses 

 produced. Still, taking all the circumstances into consideration, 

 it is evident that the wealth of the island is materially 

 increased by the operation of the factory. 



GROUND NUTS FOR EXPORT. 



In April last, simp 



.1 in a shelled condition from Monl 31 rra to th< 

 Imperial Institute foi rej and valuation. The report h 



i ,1 In tiiis i; the samples 



of tlir varieties sent, na i \ i ginia Rum and 



ftufisque, i I ol fail appea - ""1 



Savour. The average weight of one kernel \ d from Q't 



gram, intl I, to 0-5 1 gram, in the case of 



'sample 3. As regards the' pel of oil, this likewi 



varied from 15'6 per cent, in sample 1 to 17'6 per cent, in 

 sample 2, sample '■• being intermediate in respect of oil 

 content. 



Coming to commercial valuation, the report goes on 

 say, 'The samples were submitted tor valuation to merchants 

 in London, who reported tint sample No. 1 consisted of bold 

 kernels of good marketable quality, similar in appearance ti 

 Chinese kernels and suitable lor tin' English edible trade, 

 whilst \o. :! consisted of smaller kernels than No. 1. but 

 was of good marketable quality and suitable for crushing. 

 The kernels of sample No 3 were described as of about the 

 same size as No. 2 but of mixed appearance; they were, 

 however, stated to be of fail- quality and suitable for crushing. 



The firm valued the three samples as follows: — 



Xo. I £15 10s. per ton c.i.f d/w London and Marseilles 

 No. 8 £14 10s. „ „ „ „ Marseilles 

 Xo. 3 £14 ., „ „ „ 



The Report continues: — 



•The importation of shelled ground nuts into the I'nited' 

 Kingdom for crushing purposes has not been taken up on 

 a large scale hitherto, but there is some evidence that it is 

 likely to .increase, and there seems to be no reason why- 

 kernels of the quality of the present samples should not 

 eventually be exported from Montserrat to the I'nited 

 Kingdom, and to France. The latter country has always been 

 the chief market for this product. 



The ground nut market is, however, in a very difficult 

 position at present owing to the war, and the present would 

 not be opportune for largely extending the cultivation of 

 ground nuts in the island.' 



Commenting on the above, Mr. Robson, Curator of the 

 Botanic Station, Montserrat, point- out that the prices quoted 

 would hardly be remunerative to growers in Montserrat. It 

 appears that there is more hope for developing a ground nut 

 trade with Canada and with the other West Indian islands 

 like Trinidad than with the I'nited Kingdom. Whatever the 

 conditions as regards the market are at present, there is no 

 doubt that it is desirable to maintain interest in Montserrat 

 in the cultivation of ground nuts, for in the future it is likely 

 that, a good export trade may eventually be established. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS 



The Imperial Cornmissioner of Agriculture re- 

 turned to Barbados 1>\ the C.R.M.S. ' Chignecto', on 

 December 15, from St. Vincenl ami Grenada, after 

 having paid an official vis the former Colonj 



extending to eleven days, and t hive days in t In • latt< r. 



Mr. 



II. A. Ballon M Sc Entomologist, ami Mi-. W. 

 Nowell, D. I. C, Mycologist to the Department, are 

 expected to leave Barbados on official visits to St. 

 Vincent on I (ecember 29. 



Some useful facts ing Indian corn are given in 



the Journal of the Jamaica' Agricultural Society fo] Oi 

 1915. It is stated that ordinary cultivation gives 25 bushels 

 per acre, whereas on fair land with good cultivation it should 

 not be less than 50 bushels per acre. In the Clarendon 

 competition the best yield C.t'.t 1 , bushels per acre) resulted from 

 planting 5 feet by I feet, with from i to 6 grains in the hole. 



In regard to depth of planting, it is -i iied that a- .1 general 

 rule, if com grains are covered with 1 inch depth of soil, 

 growth is quicker ami stronger than if they an- covered 



deeper. A great deal, coi Is on the conditions, 



of moisture at the time of planting. 



