180 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



June S, 1912. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



THE KEEPING QUALITIES OF LIME JUICE. 



The following report by Mr. Ci. A. Jones, Assis- 

 tant Curator. Doiuinica, dealing with work conducted 

 by him for the purpose of invesigating the keeping 

 qualities of three grades of lime juice, stored in open 

 casks under conditions similar to those in lime factories 

 in the island, has been received through Mr. J. Jones, 

 Curator of the Dominica Botanic Station: — 



In November last it was decided to start observations to 

 determine the loss (if any) which occurs in the storing of lime 

 juice in open vats. 



These observations were made for a period of fifteen 

 ■weeks, and as this is considerably in excess of any time which 

 is likely to be required for the handling of raw juice on any 

 estate in Dominica, I think it advisable at this stage to 

 bring the observations to a close and to present a report on 

 the results. 



Three different strengths of juice were obtained, namely 

 strong (S), medium (M) and weak (W), the last being press 

 juice. Sixteen gallons of each were placed in a wooden cask, 

 and left exposed in a large, airy building. 



Samples of the juice were taken and tested at the com- 

 mencement, and at fairly definite intervals, with the following 

 results as given in the table: — 



Interval from 



first testing, — 2 4 6 8 10 12 1-5 



weeks. 



The dates of testing were November 4, 20; December 

 4, 18; 1911; and January 3, 15, 31; February 19; 1912. 



From these figures it will be seen that the weak juice 

 has deteriorated much more than the other two. In four 

 weeks 33 per cent, of the acid was lost, in six weeks 70 per 

 cent, and in fifteen weeks 93 per cent. 



A good average juice testing 12-3 oz. per gallon may, it 

 seems, be kept for a considerable time without any serious 

 loss of acid; when stored for six weeks it lost only 1'7 per cent. 

 On storing for twelve weeks, however, the loss became 

 rather heavy, namely 12 4 per cent., and in fifteen weeks 17-8 

 jier cent. 



The medium juice behaved as one would expect from the 

 above. The loss in six weeks amounted to 3 '6 per cent , in 

 twelve weeks 18 9 per cent., and in fourteen weeks 310 per 

 cent. 



The.se observations have shown: — 



(1) That k good average juice may be stored for a con- 

 siderable time without any serious loss of acid. 



(2) That the weaker juices, such as tho.se obtained 

 from presses, should be dealt with without delay. 



It is intended to carry on similar experiments with juice 

 stored in closed casks, and also to determine the effective- 

 ness of the various preservatives which may be in use. 



AGRICULTURE IN THE LEEWARD 

 ISLANDS, 1910-11. 



The year 1910-11 may, on the whole, be said to have 

 marked a period of considerable progress and activity in agri- 

 cultural matters. 



Sugar cultivation is the largest and most important of 

 the agricultural industries of the Colony and constitutes the 

 principal source of revenue in Antigua and St. Kitts. In 

 both Presidencies the year 1910-11 may be said to have beew 

 fairly propitious for sugar cultivation. 



The sugar export of Antigua during the year amounted 

 to 13,488 tons, of which 6,397 tons were 96° grey crystal 

 sugar and 7,091 tons muscovado. The central sugar fac- 

 tory at Gunthorpes manufactured 5,400 tons of crystals, 

 taking S'95 tons of cane to make one ton of sugar, while the 

 Bendals Factory was responsible for 1,015 tons of crystals. 



The export from St. Kitts amounted to 12,330 tons, 

 consisting almost entirely of muscovado sugar. 



At the present time, the sugar industry of Antigua is 

 somewhat severely handicapped by the wide-spread prevalence 

 of root disease of sugar-cane (Marasmius iacchari). The 

 disease is some-what difficult of recognition, especially as its 



