478 



THE TROPICAL AGRlCtSttVtliBT, fjAN i, iSBf, 



it is grown in plantations or gardt^ns known as " pimea- 

 to walk-." Tne coin o-rciai artic]'-: c )nsi*ts of the 

 dried berries, wliicli were exp •rted frotu Jarnaioa to 

 the valu-! of 53,8G7'.in 1885 It is very largelj' used 

 as a spice as vreil as m au'dicine, qu aucuunt of its 

 aromatic and stimulant properties. The fruits contain 

 a quantity of oil, which is obtained by distillation, 

 and is used in perfumery and for similar purposes 

 to which clove-oil is put. Piinento-sticliH are amongst 

 the strongest and best for walking-sticks and umbrella- 

 handles, on account of their strength, rigidity, and 

 non-liability to crack. The pimento-tree is of low 

 growth, and is known to botanists as Piiii.enta ofjiciwdis. 



In this Court were shown .some remarkably fine 

 ■amples of Annatto seeds (Bixa OieUana), noted for 

 their plumpness, as well as for their bright colour, 

 the waxy coating of tho seeds being highly valued 

 as a red colouriug-matter. A large and interesting 

 collection of fruits preserved in a salt-solution were 

 here shown; amongst others the following will attract 

 attention: — Sfar-Hpple {^Chrysophi/Unm Ccdnito), Cocaa- 

 plum (Chrijsobalamis Icaco), Blimbing {Averrhoa 

 Silimhi), Akee (Ctipania (didis, better known, ptrhips, 

 as BligliJa sapida). Many of these are the produce 

 of introduced plants, and the fruits are for the most 

 part fine examples. Amongst a number of specimens 

 of essential oils from well-known plants, most of 

 which are apparently of excellent quality, are some 

 that are but very little known, such, for instance, as 

 those from the Bermuda Cedar {Janiperv.s lenni'.diana), 

 the Mountain Cigar Bush [Hedi/osmum nutans). Moun- 

 tain Thyme (Jfioomeria ohovata), Cigar Bash ( Critoiiea 

 dalea), and the Sand Box-tree [Hura crepitans). 



Barbados. — The exhibits from this island consisted 

 largely of similar produce to the islands alreadj' 

 referred to. As illustrating the extent of land 

 occupied by sugar cultivation, it is stated in the 

 introductory notice of Barbados in the Official Hand- 

 book, by the Hon. 0. 0. Kuoliys, that "out of a 

 total acreage of 106,470 acres, an area of 100,000 

 acres is devoted to canes.'' Tobacco is recommended 

 for extended cultivation, and root-crops such as 

 arrowroot and cassava give heavy returns. 



British Hoaduras. — We take this dependency in this 

 order, as it occupied a position in the Exhibition next 

 that of Barbados. The importance of timber in the 

 produce of British Honduras is seen by a simple glance 

 at the exhibits, and to the future development of these 

 timber resources lies in a very great measure the future 

 prosperity of the colony. In the introductory notes to 

 these exhibits the following paragraph occurs: — "To its 

 timber and dye-woods the colony of British Honduras 

 owes its existence, and whatever measure of progress 

 and advancement it may have attained. To the 

 discovery, first of logwood, and subsequ'^ntly of 

 mahogany, its origiaal settlement must be ascribed.'' 



Notwithstanding the importance of the forest produce, 

 very few of the tim'>ers are yet known either to 

 commerce or to science, but many of them nre of 

 exceptional hardness and beauty. Mahogany is, of 

 course, the most important wood in the colony, and, 

 next to it, the cedar {Cedreli adorati), which is not 

 only exported to a very lage extent, but is also used 

 in the colony for light indoor work— cigar-boses, 

 trunks, packing-CHses, and for dug-oat canoes, several 

 of which were exhibited. Amongst a cjI lection of 

 lianes, or chmbing-plant.s. is a specimen if the chew- 

 Btick {Gouania domi>if/e)iesis),vfith the singular inform- 

 ation, besides that of its use as a tooth-brush and 

 tooth-powder, that " it is used in pla-ie of yeast to 

 Start fermentation in making ginger a-id spruce-beer, 

 &c." Probably the most striking object in this Court 

 is a large and beautifully figured slab of mihogany; 

 the dark wavy cross-markings are extreme'y beautiful 

 and very remarkable in this wood ; tha plank is 

 moreover, without a fliw. 



Dominica. — The spice occupied by this island, as 

 well as by the remaining colonies, was small ; the 

 exhibits on the whole, however, were interesting, and 

 6ome were worth noting, such, for instance, as tho 

 husks or sheila of the Liberim codee, which are said 

 to be worth from 1 to 2 cents per pound in the 



United State?, the fruits of Acacia Farnesi<^na, stated 



to be used in tanning, and bark of Guava, the 

 Psidiuin Gaayava, which is rich in tannin, and is 

 used as an astringent. Raw lime-juice is exported 

 from Dominica in increasing quantities, but the greater 

 part of the juice i.? boiled down until ten or twelre 

 gallons are reduced to one, and is ihipped in thig 

 concentrated form to England and the United States . 

 for the manufacture of citric acid. 



Montserrat. — Sugar and lime-juice are the principil 

 staples of this island, and these were the most 

 prominent exhibits. 



St. Kitts and the Virgin Islands. — From these islands 

 the exhibits were but small, and without special 

 interest. 



Antigua. — The chief product of this colony is sugar, 

 the average crop of which for the last twenty years is 

 stated to have been about 12,'tOO hogsheads. Yams, 

 potatoes, and Guinea corn are also grown in large 

 quantities for native consumption. The exhibits were 

 for the most part such as were shown in other 

 West Indian Courts. 



Grenada. — Cocoa is the most important article grown 

 here, and some very fine fruits of good colour were 

 shown, as well as nutmeg (3Ii/'ristica frayrans) 

 custard apples, or bullock's heart {Anona reticulata), 

 papaws (Cu-'cn Papaya) Kola nuts (Cola acuminata). 

 These latter were remarkably fine specimens. A good 

 deal of attention, we are glad to see, has recently 

 beeu paid to its cultivation. The tree exists in all 

 parts of the island, and was introduced in years 

 past by the African slaves, who used to regard it as 

 a specific against intoxication 



Tobago. — The productive resources of this small 

 islaud are varied, and were well exemplified in the 

 collection of fruits, seeds, fibres, &c. The collection 

 of preserved native fruits in syrup, and jellies prepared 

 from them, was a special feature in this Court, a 

 sample of preserved or candied papaw [Qarica Papaya) 

 being especially good. 



St. Lucia. — Sugar, rum, and molasses are the chief 

 products; cocoa and log wood are also produced in 

 quantities, though the latter is stated to be at the 

 present time a drug in the market. Tobacco, it is 

 stated, has been tried in one district with most satis- 

 factory results, so that it is purposed to extend its 

 cultivation. Neither the individual exhibits in this 

 Court, nor in the remaining oue of St. Vincent, call 

 for any special remark. We cannot conclude our 

 notice of the West Indian exhibits without a reference 

 to the series of over 100 water-colour drawings, by 

 Mrs. Blake, illustrative of the flora of the West 

 Indian Islands. — Jihn R. Jacksox, Museum, Koyal 

 Gardens, Kew. — NaXure. 



Openings for Capital in Ceylon: the 0. B. C. 

 Estates. — The long advertisement in local papers 

 of estates offered for safe in connection with 

 the 0. B. C. liquidation must have attracted 

 general attention. At first sight, we thought the 

 new Estates Company was parting with some 

 portion of the list of properties transferred to them 

 by the Liquidator. But ibis is not the case. 

 The Oriental Estates Company or whatever the 

 title is to be, bought altogether 20 estates from 

 the Liquidator, comprising about 11,000 acres, and 

 the Directors have no intention of selling any 

 of them. But it appears the Bank Liquidator 

 has still the properties advertised on hand, and 

 it must be acknowledged that some of these are 

 exceptionally desirable with reference to more than 

 one branch of cultivation in Ceylon. We would 

 instance Mahabiriatenne, Attabagie, Moorootie and 

 Ancoombra. The lirst-named, we are told, is 

 likely to give a profit this year of R20,000. 

 There is therefore much encouragement for capital- 

 ists looking after these properties, carefully 

 availing themselves of the advice of practicil men 

 of established local reputation in reference to the 

 values to be placed on them, 



