306 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



October 7, 1905. 



The original idea was that the bananas were to be 

 largely used as shade and nurse plants for cacao and 

 other crops of a permanent character. It would be of 

 great advantage if cacao cultivation could receive still 

 further attention. The existing plantations should be 

 more carefully cultivated and the bananas upon theiu 

 gradually removed so as to leave the land well estab- 

 lished in cacao. Planters are also urged to consider the 

 desirability of planting Cast'dloa rubber trees among 

 their cacao, as has already been successfully done in 

 Tobago. In the latter island there are 90,000 rubber 

 trees already established on cacao and other estates. 



Of the principal industries suited to .Jamaica, 

 bananas, cacao, and rubber could be worked together; 

 sugar, rum, logwood, cotton, and cocoa-nuts would form 

 another group ; while tobacco, cassava, and pimento 

 might be placed in a third group, with pen keeping as 

 a separate industry in such parishes as St. Ann's, 

 St. James', and Hanover. In Jamaica the conditions 

 are more favourable for diversified industries than 

 probably in any other part of the West Indies. What 

 is necessary is for them to be carried on on thoroughly 

 systematic and practical lines so that every advantage 

 be taken of local conditions. 



E.«ellent work is being done by tlie Agricultuial 

 Instructors maintained by the Board of Agriculture 

 and the Agricultural Society. Their efficient services 

 afford the hope that the mass of the people will 

 steadily reach a higher standard of effort in agri- 

 cultural matters. 



Amongst other subjects that deserve to be 

 taken up on thoroughly enterprising lines is the 

 cultivation of tobacco. Jamaica cigars and cigarettes 

 have now become so widely known that tobacco 

 growing should be regarded as one of the most 

 prouiising industries and one that would well repay 

 the judicious outlay of capital in suitable localities. 

 Jamaica cigars are obtainable and are regularly 

 in use at all the best hotels and clubs in the West 

 Indies. The only difficulty is that they are not 

 produced in sufficiently large quantities to establish 

 a large trade also with the mother countr}'. 



It is a matter for regret that orange cultivation on 

 systematic lines has not been so successful as could be 

 wished. A mistake has been made in attempting to 

 establish orange groves in the lowlands and in unsuit- 

 able situations. The best oranges undoubtedly grow 

 at elevations of about 1,.500 feet to 2,000 feet. Orange 

 growing, in spite of past failures, may still be retrieved 

 if the conditions necessary to success are thoroughly 

 stmlied. The cultivation of pine-apples has also been 



of a disappointing character, chiefly owing to the 

 selection of unsuitable soils. 



So far, cotton planting has not made the progress 

 in Jamaica that was hoped for. There are, however, 

 some very promising cotton fields in the Vere district, 

 and it is likely that, when the requirements of the 

 plant are more fully understood, the area under 

 cultivation will steadily increase. Some excellent 

 cotton has been grown in Jamaica, and there is 

 no reason why the industry should not become 

 thoroughly established. The Commissioner was credibly 

 informed that in Vere there are probably 2,000 acres 

 of land, at present unoccupied, that would grow 

 excellent cotton. 



The advantages possessed by Jamaica in the 

 raisinsf of cattle and horse-kind are of a striking 

 character. Jamaica horses are greatly appreciated 

 everyv.here, and finer cattle could not be found 

 anywhere in the tropics. Good carriage horses are in 

 demand in British Guiana, Trinidad, and Barbados. 

 The difficulty is to obtain a sufficient number of 

 animals exactly suited to the requirements of these 

 colonies. 



There is abundant evidence of increased interest 

 in agricultural matters in Jamaica, and Sir Daniel 

 is satisfied that distinct progress has been made of 

 recent years. It is desirable, however, that still greater 

 efforts be made to educate and train the rising genera- 

 tion in sympathy with a careful and thorough cultiva- 

 tion of the soil, and that large tracts of fertile land, 

 within easy reach of roads and railways, now lying 

 waste, be taken up and established in crops suited 

 to the soil and climate, and capable of yielding 

 remunerative returns. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Naudet Process at Madeira. 



The following information in regard to the sugar 

 industry at Madeira is extracted from the Consular 

 Report for 190-4. It deals particularly with the Xaudet 

 diffusion process, which was first tested at Madeira : — • 



The sugar-cane crop for 190i was approximately the 

 .same as that of the previous year, and there have been no 

 complaints of di.sease in the cane, the season having in this 

 respect been a very good one. The most remarkable feature 

 of the crop has been the largely increased quantity of Yuba 

 cane now grown in the island. This would seem to point to 

 the fact that the grower obtains a larger quantity of cane 

 per acre with the Yuba than with other kinds, wliicli it will 

 probably supersede altogether in course of time. From the 

 refiner's point of view this is of no particular advantage, as 

 the cane gives little, if any, additional purity of juice, and is, 



