154 



THE AGRICaLTLTRAL NEWS. 



May U, 1910. 



TRINIDAD: REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT 

 OF AGRICULTURE, I'MtH-U. 



This report, which was laid before the Legislative Coun- 

 cil of Trinidad, on ^.March 30, 1910, includes reports on the 

 Botanical Department, the Oovernmeut farms, the St. Augus- 

 tine estate and the Government Laboratory. 



In regard to the principal agricultural products of Trini- 

 dad, the report shows that the values of the chief exports 

 were as follows: cacao £1,1-52,285, sugar £46.',019, cocoa- 

 nuts £57,284, bitters £27,194 and copra £16,862. The 

 quantity of cacao exported was about equal to that of last 

 year which was the highest on record. The sugar crop was 

 below the average, on account of unfavourable climatic condi- 

 tions, and through the attacks of the frog-hop[ier and the large 

 cane borer (Casfnia Urns). Pleasures are being taken to deal 

 ■with these pests as well as with canker, which is the chief 

 disease on cacao estates. The progress made with cane-farming 

 shows that this is continually becoming more firmlyestablished. 

 The amount paid to farmers for canes was .|337,817; this 

 was at the rate of ■'I2-18 per ton. The quantity of cocoa-nuts 

 shipped was the greatest on record, being nearly 4 million in 

 excess of that of last year. The bud rot disease has been 

 effectively dealt with, and the area under cultivation is being 

 gradually extended. Cocoa-nut oil finds a high price locally, 

 and this keeps the consumption within the colony. 



In the matter of the chief fruits grown, namely bananas 

 and oranges, although large quantities are raised, only 

 a small proportion of these is expoited. The reason for this, 

 in the case of the bananas, is the high cost of handling and 

 freight, as well as the likelihood of the product been .spoiled 

 during the voyage to its destination. Oranges have a small 

 export only, on account of the unremunerative prices that are 

 obtained at times. 



Rice is grown, for local use, on an area of about 11,000 

 acres; this is increasing. In regard to rubber, information 

 shows that a large number of trees have been planted in 

 cultivations scattered through Trinidad and Tobago. Castilloa 

 is the chief kind grown, a-id a sutlicient number of trees 

 have reached an age for tapping on a fairly extensive scale. 



The exports of rubber from the colony have shown large 

 fluctuations; in 1908 9 they were 2,146 lb., as against 4,444 ft. 

 in 1907-8. The cotton industry in Tobago continues to 

 show progress; though the area of the crop is not large, its 

 quality is excellent. 



The useful effect of agricultural education, which was 

 introduce<l into the primary schools in 1900, and into the 

 secondary institutions in 1905, is already showing itself. It 

 is recognized, however, that the practical side of this 

 education is eminently important; and in accordance with 

 this, proposals are about to be submitted for schemes which 

 include home reading courses and the creation of labour- and 

 overseer-apprenticeships. Thirty teachers in elementary 

 schools received instruction in agriculture by means of 

 bi-weekly lectures; this subject is one of those which are 

 compulsory in the annual examination of such teachers. In 

 the secondary schools, each college takes agricultural science 



and chemistry for the Cambridge Seni.)r, and Junior, Local 

 Examination", respectively. In the former subject, in the 

 examination held in December 1908, fifteen out of thirty-one 

 candidates satisfied the examiners; one with thf? mark of 

 Distinction, eight with Good, and six with Moderately 

 Good. At the same time, in chemistry, eleven candidates 

 'lut of thirty-six passed. The percentage of success was 

 not greater, on account of the fact that for a pass it 

 is neces.sary to obtain a requisite nundjer of marks in both 

 the theoretical and tlio jiractical part of the examination, 

 so that several pupils, though they passed in one (lart of it, 

 did not appear on the list of successful candidates. 



The (Government Farm, which was instituted in 1879 

 for the primary purpose of ensuring a cheap supply of pure 

 milk to the Colonial Hospital, appears to have fuitilled this 

 object successfully. This is also the case with the subsidiary 

 object of the farm; that is the imi)rovement of the horned 

 stock of the colony. In this connexion, the best results 

 have been obtained in the matter of crosses between 

 the Zebu and the native cow, and in the introduction of the 

 bufi'alo as a draft animal. There are indications that the 

 milking qualities of the stock in the island should receive 

 special attention with a view to their improvement. At the 

 Tobago Farm, the best results that have been gained are in 

 breeding mules, pigs, and poultry, and it is estimated that 

 the value of the mnles born in Tobago is now about $10,000- 



The part of the report which deals with the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens shows that the crops of rubber and coffee 

 Have made fair progress during the vear. Gf the former plants, 

 Fvntdini/t rkisUca and I/erni lfn(.'<iUeiisi\% and of the latter, 

 Gofca yohasta, C. e.rrelsa and ('. stenophi/lla, are the chief 

 species that are grown. The demand and the distribution of 

 budded citrus and grafted mango plants have been large, and 

 arrangements are being made for the production of grafted 

 cacao. 



In Tobago, the cotton ginnery has done satisfactory 

 work, though an improvement miglit be effected by the sub- 

 stitution of an oil engine for producing power, in the place of 

 the present one At the Botanic Station, the work has been 

 carried on in accordance with the routine of former 3'ears. 

 The chief attention has b^en given to the encouragement of 

 the cultivation of useful plants, the production of" improved 

 varieties, the agricultural .show, the distribution of plants, 

 lectures of an educative nature, and aissistance with school 

 gardens. 



Rice in British Guiana. 



The last fortnightly report of Messrs. Sandbach, 

 Parker & Co., of Georgetown, on the rice industry of 

 Biitish Guiana, dated April 29, 1910, gives informa- 

 tion as follows : — 



The weather during the fortnight has been fairly dry, 

 and reaping of short crop paddy in most districts will be 

 finished by next week. Crop being reaped is reported light. 



Rice still continues to come to town pretty freely, but 

 another month should see most factories closed down. 



Prices remain firm, and Ave look for an increase in the 

 near future. 



Shipments to West Indian Islands duiing the fortnight 

 amounted to 5,673 bags. 



We quote to-daj', f.o.b. Demerara, for good export 

 quality: - 



Nominally 17s. to 18s. per bag of 180 lb. gross. 

 16s. to 17.S. „ „ „ 164 lb. „ 



