Vol. XV. No. 382. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



407 



The average cost of production of peanuts is .*20 to .525 

 for a yield of 35 bushels per acre. At 70c. a bushel for the 

 peanuts and $12 a ton for the hay, the gross returns would 

 be 132-20. 



At 70c, a bushel for Spanish peanuts the oil must sell 

 for fiOc to 6.5c. per gallon in order V< make a profit, figured 

 on the basis of 80 gallons of oil per ton of peanuts. 



Peanut oil and peanut meal should be correctly labelled 

 and advertised for just what they are. 



SPONGE CULTIVATION. 



The method of cultivating sponges from cuttings, the 

 success that has attended this cultivation in the shallow 

 waters of Florida and the Turks Islands, and the desirability 

 of making experiments in the Lesser Antilles are matters 

 that were dealt with in some detail in the West Indian 

 Bulletin, Vol. XV, No. 2 (1915), and more briefly in the 

 Af/ricultural News, Vol. XIV, No. 356, p. 402. Since then 

 efforts have been made to institute experiments in these 

 islands, and the necessary official support required to effect 

 the transportation of living maierial in the ab.sence of 

 ordinary s-hipping facilities and other difficulties has been 

 secured, as well as suitable sites for planting the sponge. 



When the idea first arose in definite shape, there wis 

 some feeling of nncertxinty as to whether the tropical waters 

 of the Lesser Antilles would furnish the exact enviroiiinent 

 required for sponges that flourish farther north. This still 

 appears to be the only point of uncertainty remaining, for the 

 cultivation of sponges from cuttings not only in Florida and 

 in Turks Islands, but also more recently in the Bahamas, is 

 proving itself to be an unqualified success and extremely 

 remunerative. 



According to the information which follows (extracted 

 from a recent Colonial Report on the Bahamas), it is satisfac- 

 tory to find that the rate of growth is more rapid in the 

 warmer >.vaters of the Bahamas than in ihe waters of Florida 

 farther north, and also that the sponges maintain their high 

 quality. This would lead one to suppose that at all events 

 sponges would grow off the coral islands of the southern 

 West Indies at least as well as they do in Floridi, if not more 

 rapidly. Hence one can regard the prospects of success in 

 these waters as being extremely hopeful. 



It will be noted, in the course of the following extracts, 

 that the opinion is current in the Bahamas that experiments 

 are already in progress in the West Indies — an impression 

 derived no doubt from the con.->tant references to the subject 

 in this Journal. It is significant as regards final achievement 

 of the aim in view, that the supposed general spread of the 

 industry to these islands is viewed with alarm. As regards 

 demand, however, statistics show that the market for 

 sponges, partly on account of new uses and the partial 

 dislocation of the Mediterranean trade, is strong enough to 

 allow fresh competitors to enter the field without injury 

 to those who are already in possession. 



The information referred to consists chiefly in a portion 

 of a special report by the Inspector of the Bahamas Marine 

 Products Board. It is preceded by the following explanatory 

 note concerning the Boards experiment at Little Exuma: — 

 'The farm at The Ferry, Little Exuma, has passed the 

 experimental stage, as the Board has in its possession sponges 

 of merchantable size that were grown from slips set out in 

 March last (1915). These developed specimens are proof 

 beyond dispute that sponge slips, planted correctly, will survive 

 and produce perfect sponge. Another point of interest is that 



in our waters, growth ii far more rapid than in the waters of 

 Florida, our keenest rival in this new industry. In proof of 

 this the Board quotes from the report of the inspector who 

 visited the farm in February.' 



EEXTl;.\rl KI!0-M INSPEr rOK's KEI'OKT. 



'(Jn Wednesday I made a thorough inspection of the 

 colonies of sponge planted in The Ferry waters. I found all 

 the plants I examined in excellent condition. They apparently 

 were in perfect health, and showed no signs of suppression or 

 ■'stunt". I selected several .specimens for exhibition, all 

 planted in the present year (1915): — 



1. From those planted on coral in March 



2. From those planted on discs by myself in May. 



3. From those planted by the Commission in -luly. 



4. From tho.se planted in September. 



5. Size when planted. 



'The result of my inspection is so satisfactory that 

 I can claim with assurance that sponge farming is an 

 unqualified success, and that the Bahamas can easily make 

 up the deficiency of wool sponge by that me^ns. In three 

 years at most medium sponge (the most merchantable size) 

 can be produced and the quantity will be limited only by 

 the number planted. The rate of growth is far in excess of 

 that laid down by the American Wiologist, Dr. Moore, who 

 averages the increase at 8 inches per annum while the plant 

 is under five years old. I have no scientific means of 

 measurement, but from the citting I have brought from the 

 farm and the developed specimens, it will be readily seen 

 that the increase is far in excess of the doctor's calculation. 



'The Board also points out that sponge culture is spread- 

 ing throughout the islands of the Lesser Antilles, and if this 

 Colony is to maintain its place as the chief sponge market of 

 the world, it is imperative to enlarge our cultivation and 

 stimulate the production of .sponge plants. 



'The Board realizes that in their experimental operations 

 the a.ssistance of a biologist would prove a great benefit.' 



Revenue of Dominica.— According to the Bondnica 

 Chronicle for November 22, 1916, the total revenue for the 

 first quarter of the current financial year in Dominica was 

 £1 1,848, being an increase of £573 over the revenue of the 

 .same period in the preceding year. The customs yielded 

 £7,449, an increase of £1,055. The total expenditure was 

 £9,957, a decrea.se of £1,300 as compared with the previous 

 year. 



Incense Trees in the West Indies.— In the 



Perfumery and ICssential Oil fiecord Sot October 1916, appears 

 some fur-ther notes on Elemi ba.sedupon information obtained 

 from this Office. It appears that it is the resin of Dnrroiides 

 herandra, which is the one commonly sollected in the West 

 Indies and used for incense and for torches. For the latter 

 purpose, the incense is collected into masses on a stick, and 

 held in place by wrappers formed of a leaf sheath of the 

 cabbage palm. In an article in the Keii> Bidletm for 1898, 

 Bursera •iwiunifera is referred to as the tree which yields 

 West Indian resin, though it is pointed out that this species 

 is probably not the only source of supply. According to these 

 statements it would appear that there are two 'Gommier' or 

 incense trees, the coast species being liur^c.ya ij'vmnii.fera, L., 

 and the mountain and inland species Ddcruydea h'xandra, Gr. 



