THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Januaet 3, 1914. 



its eyes ^r^ t.he T'nited States Governnieut, just as the 

 Jamaica b,.nana growers were anxiously watching in 

 the same direction. The new sugar taritif became law 

 in October, and the repeal of the Dutch colour standard 

 dHty came into force at once. What the effect of the 

 new tariff will be, hardly concerns us now, but the 

 publication of books on plantation white sugar manu- 

 facture must be regarded as at least an apposite 

 circumstance, which even at the present time is not 

 lacking in signiticance. 



A review of the cacao market, during 1912, 

 demonstrates that the prices ruling in New York and 

 London showed an improvemenc over those of the 

 previous year, and in spite of a certain amount of 

 grumbling, the average New York quotation for 

 Trinidad cacao was 14|c. as against about llic for 

 1912. It is true, however, that during Januarj- to 

 April prices kept very close on loc, but dropped to 14c. 

 in May. Of no little interest is the fact that the 

 supplies from the Gold Coast and other pi-xoes increased 

 greatly during the year, and not only was there an 

 increase in quantity of these exports but an improve- 

 ment also in value. 



We will turn now to the lime juice market, not 

 because lime cultivation constitutes, at present, the 

 next most important industry in the West Indies, but 

 because the market has been phenomenonly good. 

 Concentrated lime juice in London rose steadily from 

 £184 in .lannary, to as high as £33 in December. And 

 the benefit of this favourable state of the market does 

 not end with the sales of produce. At the present time 

 the extension of lime cultivation is being urged, and 

 the market must function as an important factor of 

 encouragement. It will be necessary, however, to keep 

 a w'atchful eye on Sicily, and also to remember that 

 the increased production which is taking place in the 

 West Indies tends to destroy the very thing it tries to 

 make the most of. Reduction in the cost of production, 

 therefore, should never be lost sight of, in view of the pos- 

 sibility of a depressed market in the future. The fresh 

 lime trade with New York has been equally satisfactory 

 as regards prices, but due care has not been exercised 

 in the shipment of uniform produce, and in its despatch 

 at the time when a demand exists to meet the supply. 

 It is believed, however, that several lessons have been 

 learnt in this respect, and the errors are not likely to be 

 repeated. 



A market which has given rise to considerable 

 discussion and anxiety during the year is that of 

 the Sea Island cotton. The Egyptian Sakellarides 



variety is principally responsible for the unrest. But 

 whereas in the case of the Carolina crop there is 

 undoubtedly foundation for fearing extermination as 

 a result of the competition of this Egyptian linL, in 

 the West Indies it is not so, provided the standard is 

 kept up. If there is any retrogression in cotton pro- 

 duction, then Sakellarides will step in; but if seed is 

 selected and wastiness is reduced to a minimum, West 

 Indian cotton will continue to constitute a special 

 class, and to hold its own in the world's market. 

 Reviewing the prices which have ruled, it is observed 

 that a steady rise took place during March, followed by 

 a fall towards the end of April and a steady decline 

 of general West Indian during May and June. 

 Superfine Sea Island remained very firm, and towards 

 the end of June some bales were sold at the high 

 rate of 30(/. per ft. About this time some medium 

 Sea Island dropped below the American Extra Fine 

 value. This, however, appears to have been the only 

 occasion when West Indian and American prices have 

 touched, and the occurrence is to be explained by 

 facts which depended upon abnormal ciicumstances, 

 The past West Indian cotton season has been distinctly 

 good, as will be seen by referring to a list of the exports 

 for 1912, published on another page of this issue. 

 Having referred to the subject of cotton exports, it 

 may be mentioned further that the importance of the 

 estate 'mark' has been the subject of official correspon- 

 dence during the year, as well as the question of early 

 sales and other matters connected with the market- 

 ing of cot Don from the West Indian Islands. 



A comparativeh' new industry in the West Indies 

 — at least along organized lines — is coco-nut cultivation. 

 The market for coco-nut products has been good both 

 in London and New York. At the commencement of 

 1912, selected coco-nuts were fetching about §33 in 

 New York. Prices began to rise about the beginning 

 of April, being then about .§35. Yalues rose sieadily 

 during the ensuing months to S42 in September, 

 Since that month there has been a slight fall in prices 

 but the market continues to remain firm. In London, 

 West Indian copra has been fetching £33 per ton 

 compared with about £20 at the beginning of the 

 year. Thus, as regards the markets, the coco-nut 

 growers' position has been eminently satisfactory. 



At the present time, the production of rubber in 

 the West Indies is hardly more than a minor cultiva- 

 tion, yet the violent reaction on the plantation rubber 

 market was so striking a feature of the past year that 

 it demands at least a brief reference in the present 

 article. Readers will remember that the topic has, 



