340 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



OCTOBBE 21, 1916. 



REPORT OF THE ANTIGUA ONION 

 GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, 1915-16. 



During the year under review, the operations of thi.s 

 Association have been carried on along exactly similar lines 

 to those followed during the previous season (see Agricultural 

 News. Vol. XIV, No. 351, p. 324). 



During the present sea.son's work, twenty-eight estates 

 sontributed onions to the undertaking, the total gross weight 

 of onions purchased in this way amounting to 301,818 B). 

 For the season 1914-1.5, the total weight of onions purchased 

 was 186,198 lb., so that the work of the season under review 

 represents an increase of 115,(i20 B). in the total amount 

 of produce handled, that is to say, the volume of the work 

 has increased by roughly 66 per cent. 



It became nece.ssai'y an acount of extension in volume of 

 work to enlarge the premises and to effect general repairs ; in 

 connexion with this there was an expenditure of £20 Os. 3d. 

 In relation to constructional charges, a further sum of £8 9s. 

 was refunded to the Government in coanexion with the 

 advance of £27 Os. id. made at the comsiencement of the 

 1914 crop. 



In relation to the purchase of onions, the total amount 

 expended on the first payment, at the rate of Ic. per B)., 

 amounted to £628 las. dd. 



The financing of the Association was arranged for by 

 advances through a local firm of merchants in accordance 

 with simular arrangements made last year ; for the redemption 

 of these advances £180 15s. 2d. was e.xpended. The charges 

 for labour amounted to £93 17s. lOd; expenditure for crates 

 amounted to £250 13s. i^d. 



After paying all expenses, the total sum of money 

 available to be distributed among growers amounted to 

 £555 14s. or at the rate of 88|c. per 100 lb. of onions 

 delivered; this is a considerable improvement on the results of 

 the previous season when the bonus paid amounted to 51 Jc. 

 per 100 lb. 



In relation to the financing of the Association, arrange- 

 Bients were concluded for drawing against shipments to New 

 York at the rate of 80c. per crate ."jhipped; in addition, prior 

 to the commencement of the season, a judicious advertizing 

 campaign on a small scale was inaugurated, whereby it was 

 rendered possible to dispose of a portion of the crop on a firm 

 order basis. In this way 37 1 crates were disposed of during 

 the past season. 



The total number of crates shipped amouated to 5,353. 

 Shipments were made to the following points; Martinique, 

 Trinidad, Barbados, Demerara, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, 

 Grenada, New York, Halifax, and St. John. The two largest 

 intercolonial markets are Trinidad and Barbados: the largest 

 proportion of the onions were shipped to New York. The 

 West Indian markets during the year proved decidedly renmn- 

 erative, but the New York market after opening very strongly 

 fell away badly early in March; this was due, it is under- 

 stood, to unseasonable weather and difficulty in handling 

 produce. 



The Association's Board regrets to report that consid- 

 erable difficulties have again been experienced in relation to 

 shipments to Canada; out of one shipment of 400 crates, 270 

 were washed overboard and lost during a storm; the remain- 

 ing 1 30 crates have not yet been accounted for by the party 

 to whom they were consigned. The Board is endeavouring to 

 get propter representation in Canada, and to effect insurances 

 on cargo carried to Canadian ports. In relation to shipments 

 to New York, it should be added (bat satisfactory arrange- 

 ments wert! made for insurance during the season. 



This led to the average price obtained per crate during 

 the .season being somewhat low, namely, §1'50. 



In relation to details of working, the entire season lasted 

 for ten weeks, namely, from February 12 to April 15. The 

 average number of hands employed, including two overseers 

 was fifty-five, the maximum in any one week being seventy- 

 one. 



The continued growth of the Association is a matter for 

 great satisfaction, aijd the effect of the work done is being 

 felt in the rapidly increasing orders for onion seed, in the 

 formation of similar associations in other places in the 

 Leeward Islands, and by information coming to the knowledge 

 of the Board from various sources that the Association's 

 work is becoming widely known and recognized in the various 

 ports to which shipments are made. A large amount of 

 credit is due to Dr. H. A. Tempany, Superintendent of 

 Agriculture for the Leeward Islands, and his staff who have 

 been responsible for the secretarial work and financial details; 

 also to Mr. T. Jackson for his personal supervision of the 

 onion house. The Executive Committee of the Association, 

 which met each week during crop, consisted of Messrs. A. P. 

 Cowley (Chairman), R. S. D. Goodwin, N. Scott-John.son, 

 T. Jackson, and H. A. Tempany. 



It is to be regretted that ill effects have been felt owing 

 to the existence of a few growers in Antigua who still 

 remain outside the Association; such competition merely has 

 the effect of being productive of loss to both sides. 



It may be added finally, that the system of fortnightly 

 cables regarding the onion markets in Barbados and Trinidad 

 has been maintained, and acknowledgement is due to the 

 Association's representatives in tho.se two colonies for the 

 assistance they have rendered. 



TORTOLA ONION GROWERS' 

 ASSOCIATION. 



A copy has been received of a similar report on the 

 Tortola (Virgin Islands) Association. The membership of 

 the Association is now 113 as againet twenty-nine at its 

 inauguration on September 23, 1915. Out of the total 

 membership, ninety-two sent in onions to the curing house. 

 The total quantity received was 11,633 8). This gave after 

 drying and curing 9, 11;8 lb., or a loss of about 216 per cent. 

 This loss is attributed, to a considerable proportion of the 

 onions being reaped before they were fully ripe. It is hoped 

 that this will be avoided in future. 



The expenses of curing, shipping, etc., amounted to 

 ■181-30, and the onions sold for §324'94. A first payment of 

 Ic. per ft), amounting to •$116'33 was made. A final payment 

 of Ic. per ft), will now be made, making the total payment to 

 members of .$23266. A balance of $1098 has been carried 

 over. 



The average price received per crate was .SI '89. This is 

 regarded as unsatisfactory, and can be attributed to the ship- 

 ment to the United States of 60 crates when the market was 

 unfortunately glutted. Better results can be looked for next 

 season as the West Indian markets will be more closely 

 followed; this will be facilitated by the intended affiliation 

 of the Tortola Association with other Leeward Islands 

 Associations. 



It is mentioned in the report that a great deal of disap- 

 pointment is felt by members over the small returns obtained 

 from their crops; it is pointed out, however, that yields can be 

 considerably increased by careful attention to cultivation, etc., 

 and after experience has been gained. In the Experiment 

 Station, ^-acre yielded 3,188 ft). of dried onions. At 2c. 

 per ft), this gives !563'76 or at the rate of .?I91-28 per acre. 

 From this it will be seeiji that under market garden conditions, 

 very handsome returns, can be obtained, which compare 



