ToL. IV. No. 76. 



THK AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



77 



£r^ 



THE JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, 

 VOL. I, FART I: Edited by II. H. Bitten, M.A., A. D. 

 Hall, M.A., T. H. Middleton, M.A., and T. B. Wood, ^l.K. 

 ■Cambrulge : the University Press. Price .5.5. 



This is the first issue of a new journal devoted to 

 Agricultural Science. It is explained in the editorial that, 

 in consequence of the establishment of a large number of 

 agricultural colleges in Great Britain and of the emploj'nient 

 of experts hy the County Councils, there are now a large 

 number of men engaged in scientific work of an agricultural 

 nature — not only in Great Britain, but also in India and the 

 Colonies — who possess no common outlet for the publication 

 of the results of their investigations. 



' The journal is thus mainly intended to circulate among 

 agricultural teachers and experts, farmers and land agents 

 having an interest in the scientific side of their profession, 

 agricultural analysts, seedsmen, millers, manure manufac- 

 turers, etc., in this and other English-speaking countries.' 



The high scientific standing of the members of the 

 editorial stafi:' is in itself an assurance that this journal will 

 contain material of a valuable character and of great interest 

 to workers in agricultural science. We notice that it is 

 proposed to include in its contents ' articles from Indian and 

 Colonial workers descriptive of soil, climate, and other 

 conditions under which agricultural oi)erations are carried on 

 in tropical and semi-tropical countries.' 



Among the contents of the first part are ' The inHuence 

 ■of Pollination on the development of the Hop,' by Albert 

 Howard ; ' ilendel's laws of Inheritance and Wheat Breed- 

 ing,' by II. H. Bitfen ; and ' The analysis of the Soil by 

 means of the Plant,' by A. D. Hall. 



JAMAICA TOBACCO INDUSTRY. 



The following correspondence relating to the 

 developnrent of the tobacco industry of Jamaica is 

 published for general information. It arises out of the 

 report by Mr. F. V. Chalmers which was published in 

 the Agricidtund Neias (Vol. Ill, p. 379): — 



Extract from a letter from Professor W. R. Duustan, 

 Director of the Imperial Institute — to the Under- 

 Secretary of State for the Colonies, 

 dated Becentber 20, 190^. 

 The trade report made by Mr. Chalmers on the tobacco 

 of -Jamaica is of considerable interest. 



The fact is already appreciated in this country that 

 Jamaica is able to produce cigars of excellent quality. The 

 quality does not, however, appear to be uniform. The 

 subject is so important that no effort should be spared to 

 take whatever steps are needed for the development of the 

 industry. If the recommendations made by 5Ir. Chalmers 

 in his report are to be followed, it would seem highly 

 desirable to obtain expert advice with reference to the 

 cultivation, picking, fermentation, and curing of tobacco 

 suitable for the manufacture of cigars. This assistance 



could best be obtained from Cuba, or from Sumatra or 

 Florida, where suitable varieties of tobacco are successfully 

 produced. 



This step has lieen recently taken in connexion with 

 the development of the tobacco industry in South Africa 

 and also in Ireland. 



Extract from a letter from the Board of Trade Commercial 

 Department {Intellir/ence Branch) — to the Colonial 



Secretary, Jamaica, dated December 7, 1904. 

 In the report from the expert, referred to above, 

 interesting information is (as you are aware) given, embody- 

 ing the results of his inquiries and investigations into the 

 growing of tobacco in your colony, and the possibility of the 

 establishment of a very lucrative industry in connexion 

 therewith, and there is no doubt that the particulars 

 contained in this report would be of considerable interest to 

 the representatives of the tobacco trade in this country. 

 The value, however, of the information given would be 

 materially enhanced if the report itself were accompanied 

 by samples of the various grades of tobacco produced, 

 and such sam)jles (if procured) could be exhibited at the 

 Oflices of this Branch in iUustration of Mr. Chalmer.s' 

 report, and could be retained here for examiuation by 

 tobacco importers in this country, and afterwards sent to 

 the Imperial Institute, or otherwise disposed of as might be 

 directed. 



I should bo glad, therefore, if arrangements could be 

 made for samples of such tobacco to be forwarded to this 

 Branch for the purpose indicated. 



Extract from Minute from the Director of Public Gardens 

 and Plantations — to the Colonial Secretary, Jamaica. 



Professor Dunstan states that Jamaica cigars are not of 

 uniform quality. This fact is due to the trade being at 

 present of only small dimensions, and there is no doubt that 

 the quality will gradually become uniform as larger stocks of 

 tobacco are used for an increased trade. 



Expert advice would be of great assistance, as Professor 

 Uunstan suggests, especially as to Sumatra tobacco, when it 

 is possible for the Government to spare the necessary money. 



The De]iartment has, llowe^•er, studied the problems of 

 cultivation and curing with the help of trained Cubans, and 

 has a practical school at Hope Gardens where any one is 

 welcome to come and learn, and where the apprentices are 

 taught during their time of service. The attached leaflets 

 are reprinted from the Bulletin, and may perhaps interest 

 Professor Dunstan. 



I have sent samples of tobacco to Mr. Worthington 

 [of the Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade], but 

 I do not think that it is possible to do much at present 

 in an export trade of leaf tobacco. The samples should 

 not, therefore, be put forward as soliciting orders, but only 

 as indicating what Jamaica can produce. All that is now 

 grown is required for the cigar business, which is gradually 

 growing, but large orders might lead again to a catastrophe in 

 our trade. We should aim rather at quality than quantity. 



Cotton Exports from the West Indies. During 



the quarter ended December 31, 1901, 31 bales of cotton 

 were exported from the British AVest Indies. The total 

 weight was 7,938 lb., and the estimated value £391. The 

 exports comprised 27 bales of Sea Island cotton and \ bales 

 of ^larie Galante. The shipments were all to the United 

 Kingdom. Particulars as to the exports of cotton for the 

 previous quarter were given in the Agricultural News^ 

 Vol. Ill, p. 428. 



