Vol. IV. Xo. 94. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



367 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



VANILLA CULTIVATION IN MEXICO. 



Canada. 



Mr. J. Russell Murray h;is forwarded the tbilowing 

 review, dated October 18, 1905, of the position of West 

 Indian products on the Canadian market: — 



Considerable trade is being done at all points, deliveries 

 being pushed forward jirior to the early setting in of winter. 

 The wheat harvest and the fruit crops have fully reached 

 the estimates, while dairy products are commanding high 

 prices. These factors are now having their effect on the 

 general prosperity. 



A general quiet market exists with very little variation, 

 and offerings from the West Indies are meagre, and without 

 much inducement. The June Report of Trade and Commerce, 

 recently issued by the Canadian Government, gives some 

 interesting figures on the direction of trade : — 



vanilla cultivation in 

 N. Mvntlihj Voiisulur 



A considerable increase is apparent in the shipments 

 from Great Britain, these sugars being mainly refined sugars 

 made from sugars grown within the British Empire, and are 

 admitted into l.'anaJa under the preferential tariff. As the 

 West India and British Guiana sugars are available for 

 making these grades, an additional outlet is being created, 

 owing to the premium those sugars command for the 

 Canadian market, and hence the better prices paid in 

 Greenock, as against Canada and New York, during the last 

 fortnight. All pvices are noiiunal. 



MOL.^SSES. 



A very quiet trade is being done. Barbados are being 

 quoted at 31c., but there are no buyers. Stocks are being 

 distributed to outlying points, and a steady trade is being- 

 done by the wholesale trade. 



COCOA-XUTS. 



A considerable advance is now recorded in New York, 

 but the market here continues in a dull and uninteresting 

 condition ; no advance can be recorded. 



Or.AXilES. 



Supplies of Jamaica are coining in freely, and the 

 quality is fair, though greater sweetness is desirable. The 

 demand continues slow, and prices are very low ; in a few 

 week.s, however, a better market wili be experienced. 



SPICES. 



Pimento is slow in demand and prices remain the same. 

 .The new crop of ginger is being looked for. Nutmegs are 

 in fair demand. 



The following note on 

 Mexico appeared in the C 

 Re2)oHs for June last : — ■ 



This section of the state of A'era Cruz is the natural 

 habitat of the vanilla vine, which thrives in perfection and 

 forms a source of great profit to those engaged in its culture, 

 which is exceedingly simple. The land is cleared of under- 

 brush, and the vine cuttings, which should be about 18 inches 

 long, are planted beside suitable trees, left standing for the 

 purpose. As soon as the joints commence to sprout they 

 throw out tendrils, which cling tenaciously to the trees, and 

 soon form climbing vines, which after three to four years 

 commence to bear. In the fifth year the vine will be in full 

 bearing, and will produce from fifteen to forty beans, each 

 bean worth from 8c. to 10c. ^Mexican (3-82c. to 4-77c. 

 United States) ; in certain years the beans have been known 

 to sell as high as 18c. (8-.59c.) apiece. The cured beans 

 command a much higher price. It is only the experienced 

 curer who understands the process, which is a delicate one, 

 but easily acquired by practice and observation. 



It is estimated that a 5-acre vanilla plantation will 

 yield sufficient income to render its owner independent for 

 the remainder of his life. But in order to succeed it i.s 

 necessary to give the tender vines personal and constant 

 attention as they pass from stage to stage in their growth, 

 and to })rotect them from rough treatment, to which they 

 are usually exposed when left in charge of hired help. 

 Where one planter has succeeded hundreds have failed, 

 owing to lack of personal care. This is strikingly illustrated 

 by visiting the great vanilla districts, where it will be noticed 

 with what tender solicitude young vines are nursed by the 

 French and Italian colonists, who have made such a remark- 

 able success of their plantations and who have grown wealthy 

 following this pursuit. 



Vanilla cultivation is especially adapted to women or 

 jiorsons who cannot endure exposure or hardships. The 

 vine is interesting, and its culture is a seductive and profit- 

 able occupation. Along the Tuxpam River and for 50 to 60 

 miles inland south-west of this place there is an extensive 

 territory well suited to the cultivation of the vanilla ami 

 kindred tropical products. 



FRUIT TRADE OF BRITISH HONDURAS. 



The Annual Repoii on British Honduras for 

 1904 has the following reference to the colony's fruit 

 trade : — 



There is no country in Central America more favourably 

 situated for building up a fruit trade with the United States 

 than British Honduras, but the fruit-growing lands, owing to 

 the want of comnmnication, are as yet but very partially 

 developed. ]\Iost of the bananas grown in the colony are 

 produced in the Stann Creek district, and, during the last 

 two or three years, there has been a tendency to increase the 

 area of cultivation in that district. 



At present bananas are planted on the low-lying lands 

 along the banks of the rivers, which are subject to the 

 invasion of floods when the rivers rise above the normal level. 

 During 1904 such pkntations suffered considerably in 

 consequence of floods. As the rivers are the only means of 

 transport at present, planters are unable to establish them- 

 selves on the higher lands further inland. When these lands 

 are tapped by railways, there ■will be more security for 

 investing capital in the growing of fruit. 



The demand for cocoa-nuts during 1904 was exception- 

 ally good and high prices were paid. 



