Vol. Vlir. No. 18-5. 



THE AGEICULTUEAL NEWS. 



175 



The 'red mangrove' (B/u'iu/ihorn Maix/le) and tlie 

 Milack mangrove' iArin-nnia iiiticlti) hoth grow in swamps, 

 and the wood in each case is valuable for piles, posts, etc. 



White cedar (TeroiiKi. /ciico.ri/lwi). This tree is common 

 at Antigua. The wood is used largely in hou.se-building, and 

 is valuable for piles, posts, and in making shingles. 



Li:)gwood (I/(i('m(it().ri/lo!i. camjn'chianuiii). This tree, 

 which seldom reaches more than 20 feet high, is also common 

 at Antigua. A very .serviceable hedge is formed by .setting 

 out the young plants closely in rov.'s. The wood is hard and 

 suitable for posts, and cabinet work. It is also of consider- 

 able value a.s a, dye-wood. 



L'ashaw {Fro.iopis jiiliii<ir<t). The eashaw grows to as 

 much as 30 feet in height, but its diameter is seldom more 

 than 1 foot. The timber is very strong and durable, suitable 

 for railway sleeper.s, fence posts, etc. The pods of the 

 eashaw, when dry, form a good article of fodder, and are 

 greedily eaten by stock of all kinds. The wood also makes 

 -excellent fuel. 



Ba.stard mahogany, walnut or angelin lAtulini iinrmix). 

 A large and handsome tree, .somewhat common in the south- 

 ern part of Antigua. It is of erect growth, and with 

 a trunk from 1 to 2 feet in diameter. The wood is stiong 

 and hard, lasts well in watei', and is suitable for turnery 

 purposes. 



Woman's tongue {AUiiy.iit Lthliek). The wood of this 

 tree is fairly durable, and polishes well. It is used in 

 making furniture, boat building, and for general purposes. 



Red cedar ((V/fY'A( oihn-aia). On good soil this tree 

 frequently attains a height of from 40 to 60 feet, with 

 a trunk diameter of from 3 to 4 feet. It is quick-growing, 

 the wood being open-grained, but soft and porous, (."edar 

 wood is in request for furniture making, especially ward- 

 robes, .shingles, interior house-work, etc. The drier parts of 

 Antigua would perhaps lie unsuitable for this tree. 



Caxii'iiiii'i c'/nisetito/iii. The Casuarina is a straight 

 and quick-growing tree, which yields good timber, that is 

 found especially useful in making cattle yokes. 



Locust {Hi/iiitnuiii Coiiflnn-il). This tree has a trunk 

 which reaches up to 5 feet in diameter. The wood is tough 

 and somewhat resembles mahogany, but is harder. It is 

 used for cabinet and furniture work. It is liable to rot in 

 -the ground. 



VAHiiie-wood (Tcruiinnlin JSwvrnx). The White-wnnd 

 is a large tree that yielils timber which is useful for a variety 

 of imipo.ses. This is one of the best woods for .shingles. It 

 is very durable in water. 



Other trees suitable for planting in Antigua, and 

 which yield wood of value, are the following: — 



Mahogany (Sirieteiiia M'ifi(i;/oni), Sapodilla {Ac/ii-n.t 

 Siijiiitii), Star apple (Chri/xdjihi/llinii Ciiiiiitu), Almond 

 (Tirnutinlia C'atii/>p<i), Torch wood ( yeco/zm .vta)i.<), and the 

 sea-side grape {Cod-oloba Hi'ifcm), which grows on indifferent 

 lands near the sea-shore. 



It may also be added that the woixl of the mango and 

 <ieacia makes excellent fuel. 



Forests and Soil Temperature, lieference was 



made in the last issue of this jnurnal to the relation.ship 

 between woodlands and water supply. It may also be 

 jwinted out that forests exercise a considerable influence 

 on soil temperature. The observations of a number fif 

 European forest stations .show that woods of various 

 species and ages depressed the mean annual temperature at 

 the surface of the groimd by about 2'6°F. 



RICE IN BRITISH GUIANA. 



Messrs. Sandbach, Parker ^-^ Go's, fortnightly 

 report, dated May 14 last, gives the following informa- 

 tiom in regard to present conditions and outlook of the 

 British LJuiana rice industry: — 



The w^eather during the past fortnight has continued 

 favourable for milling, and deliveries to town have been 

 large. .Several holders have displayed anxiety to sell, with 

 the result that the maiket has weakened, and sales are being 

 effected at from $4-30 to •'S4-40 per bag of 180 lb. net. 

 Stocks are not very large, however, and we fully expect to 

 see better prices later on in the year. The importation of 

 cheap grades of "Nagra' and 'Saigon' [East Indian] rice into 

 the markets of the West Indian islands has undoubtedly 

 art'ected the sales of the Demerara product, and is largely 

 responsible for the jiresent decline in price. 



Shipments to the West Indian islands during the fort- 

 night amount to aljout 3,000 bags, princq)ally for liarbado.s 

 and Trinidad. 



Prices for Demerara rice of good export quality, at date 

 of report, are — per bag of 180 lb. gros.s, IT.'i.. \Ohi. to 

 18.S. lOJrf.; and per bag of 164 ft. gro.ss, 16*-. Md. to 17.^. \},d. 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF 

 ECUADOR. 



The United States Consul at Guayaquil lately 

 reported as follows on the agricultural products of 

 Ecuador: — 



Cacao, which is tlie principal product of Ecuador, i.s 

 harvested or gathered during the months of February, ^Marcli, 

 April, and May. A small amount of cacao is gatlieretl and 

 brought to market during every month of the year, but it is 

 safe to say that at least three-fourths of this crop is gathered 

 during the months mentioned, and by the end of "june or 

 ■Tuly has already been placed on the market. During tl)e 

 year 1907, 43,348,369 Di. of . cacao were exported from 

 Ecuador, of which 7,653,7.56 lb. were sent to the United 

 States. 



The rice crop is principally harvested during the month 

 of May, and is generally placed on the market during the 

 m^mths of .lune and .luly. The estimated annual production 

 is 40,000,000 ft., which is not quite sufficient to supply the 

 home demand. A small quantity is imported every year 

 from various countries. 



The growing of sugar cane is of considerable importance 

 in this country. The cane is cut and taken to the plantation 

 mill during the months of .July, August, September, OctoW- 

 and November. Some plantations work up to the middle of 

 December to finish gathering the crop. Approximately, the 

 various plantations in Ecuador produce 160,000 bags (of 

 100 ft.) of sugar annually, which is about equal to the home 

 consumption, although a small amount of sugar is inqmrtcd 

 and exported every year. 



The crop of coft'ee raised in this country is almo.st 

 completely gathered during the months of August and 

 September, and as soon as possible is placed upon the market. 

 Xo statistics are to be had showing the annual production, 

 but it is estimated to be about 7,000,000 It. During the 

 year 1907. 2..")I5,368 ft. of coffee were exported from 

 Ecuador, of which only 72,989 ft. were sent to the rnited 

 States. 



Rubber is gathered and brought to market during all 

 the months of the year. The amount of rubber exported 

 from Ecuador in 1907 was 1,031, -510 ft., of which 8I6,6N4 ft. 

 were sent to the United States. 



