30 



THE AGfeiCULTURAL NEWS. 



January 23, 1909. 



RICE CROP IN BRITISH GUIANA. 



The fortnightly report, dated January 9, of 

 Messrs. Sandbach, Parker i: Co., of Georgotown, on the 

 present conditions of the rice industry in British 

 (luiana, contains the following notes : — 



The weather for the past fortnight has been drier, but 

 we have had several good showers, which should benefit the 

 young crop. Milling has been pretty general, and- cleaned 

 rice has come to hand in larger quantities. 



Prices continue firm, and some millers are holding tor 

 hitrhei' prices. Shipments to the AVest India islands, and Ut 

 French and Dutch (Uiiana during the past fortnight amount 

 to onlv 512 bai;s. 



RUM MANUFACTURE IN BRITISH 

 GUIANA. 



Tlie latest Excise Rcinni of the Comptroller of 

 Customs of British Guiana indicates that there has 

 recently been a considerable decline in the amount of 

 ruin manufactured in the colony. There has also been 

 a falling off in the number of distilleries at work. 



The total number of licensed distilleries in British 

 Guiana during 1907-8 was t'orty-two, while forty-eight were 

 in existence in 1006-7. The districts in which the reductions 

 liave taken place are South Essequibo (2), Essequibo Kiver 

 (2), Georgetown (1), West Coast, Berbice (1). 



The quantity of rum manufactured at the distilleries 

 last year amounted altogether to 1,99G,02.3 Inilk gallons and 

 2,966, -101 proof gallons, this being .j59,723 bulk gallons and 

 b09,821 proof gallons le.ss than the quantity made in 1906-7. 

 As compared with the average quantity manufactured in 

 the preceding four years, last year's figures are less by 

 457,978 bulk gallons and 6.")6,.303 proof gallon.s. 



The decrease in the outi>ut of rum lias been spread over 

 all the twelve Fiscal Districts, with the exception of North 

 Essequibo, which alone showed an advance in the quantity 

 manufactured. 



During the four years from 1903-4 to 1906-7 inclusive, 

 the largest quantity of rum was manufactured in the East 

 Coast of Demerara, where 697,823 proof gallons were turned 

 out in 1906-7. In 1907-8, however, the output in the East 

 <:loast District fell to 491,542 proof gallons, and the West 

 (.'oast District of Demerara took the leading [)lace, with 

 a total of 574,872 proof gallons. The smallest amount of 

 rum is made in the Esse(piibo iliver District. 



The relative outputs of rum in the three counties of the 

 colony in the past two j-ears have been as follows : Demerara, 

 2,538,473 proof gallons in 190()-7, and 1,987,646 jji-oof 

 gallons in 1907-8 ; Berbice, 87.'!, 130 jiroof gallons in 19(J6-7, 

 iind 649,463 proof gallons in 1907-1^: Es.se(|uibo, 364,618 

 in-oot gallons in 1906-7, and 329,292 prof>f gallons in 1907-8. 

 There has also naturally been a decline in the quantity 

 of rum exported from British (Juiana in the past few years. 

 While the amount .shipped abroad in 1905-6 was 3,556,7^4 

 proof gallons, valued at 6584, 3U0, the export in 1907-8 had 

 fallen to 2,640,988 proof gallons, worth !?464,928. Compared 

 with the average of the previous four years,, the rum exports 

 of 1907-8 show a decrease of 734,299 proof gallons in 

 quantity, and of !r8,859 in value. 



POULTHY NOTES. 



British Egg-laying Competition. 



An egg-laying competition, organized b\' the 

 Utility Poultry' Club, on somewhat similar lines to the 

 one carried out in Australia in 1907-8, the results of 

 which were reported in the A(jricultural Ifcws of 

 November 14 last (page 362) was lately completed in 

 England. It must be said, however, that, taking the 

 average returns, the Australian birds far surpassed in lay- 

 ing power those taking part in the British competition. 



The awards were made, not on the basis of results from 

 individual birds, but on the value of the eggs laid by pens of 

 six young birds of the same breed. Each pen had a .separate 

 house, together with an area of grass land on which they 

 could take necessary exercise. 



In feeding the birds, no attempt was made to obtain 

 high egg averages by forcing, and only such food was given 

 as every poultiy keeper is able to obtain. By conducting the 

 competition in this way, its value is increased, since the 

 ordinary jioultry-keeper is furnished with an object-lesson as 

 to the laying capacity of the difl:erent breeds under conditions 

 such as he can arrange on his own holding. The competition 

 extended over a year, and it may be mentioned that two 

 meals only were given during the summer weather. The 

 morning food consisted of biscuit meal, granulated meat, 

 barley meal, and pea and bean meal. It ■will be seen that 

 this is a very nutritious, but not too fattening a ration. In 

 the evening wheat or oats were fed. But little maize wa,«i 

 given, and this only in cold weather. On account of its 

 fattening jiroperties maize, if given in any but small quantity, 

 tends to diminish the yield of eggs. Flint grit and oyster 

 shell were always available. 



As already mentioned, the prizes were awarded on the 

 basis of the value of eggs laid. By this means only was it 

 possililr to ensure that the most profitable, and therefore tlie 

 most useful pen would win. Eggs under 2 oz. in weight 

 were lreate<l as second grade produce, and their value 

 reduced by 10 per cent. 



In the results, the AVhite AVyamlotte breed easily 

 distanceil all other competing breeds, pens of this variety 

 gaining the first live places, together with the eighth, tenth 

 and eleventh. The winning pen laid 994 eggs in the year, 

 valued at £A 19.<. 9(^, while the second i>en was ver)- little 

 behind, with 991 egg.s, worth £1 18.v. 47. In pen No. 3', 

 94(! eggs were laid, value £4 ll.v. b/., and the fourth set 

 of birds hiid 922 eggs, also worth £4 ll.<. Id. 



Other breeds which gave good evidence of their laying 

 power in this competition were Plymouth Bocks and 

 White lA'ghorns. 



If a laying; competition similar to the above were 

 organized by the Agricultural Societies of the several 

 islands, interesting and useful results as to the egg- 

 laying capacities of the different breeds under West 

 Indian conditions would probably be elicited. It should 

 throw some light, too, on the infiuence of West Indian 

 feeding stuffs on the rate of egg production. 



