Vol. IV. No. 81. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



159 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



JAMAICA. ORANGE INDUSTRY. 



The following figures, extracted from the report of 

 the Collector General, show the present position of the 

 •orange and grape fruit industry in Jamaica. It will 

 be seen that the industry is of considerable value to 

 the colony : — 



EXPORTS OK ORANGES DURING TEN YEARS, 1895-1904. 



Number. Value. 



EXPORTS OF GRAPE FRUIT DL'P.ING FIVE YEARS, 1900-4. 



Packages. Value. 



The following references are made to the position 

 of the industry, especially in regard to the need for 

 greater care in selecting and packing the fruit, in the 

 Annual Reports for 1901-2 and 1902-.3:— 



In the years 1899 and 1900, when great quantities were 

 shipped, much liarni was done to the reputation of .Jamaica 

 oranges by wholesale consignments of undersized and 

 immature fruit and of other stuff rendered worthless by 

 careless picking and bad (lacking. The trade can, I believe, 

 by careful handling be made more valuable to the island 

 than it has ever yet been, but this can be effected oidy by 

 repairing and fostering the good name of .Jamaica fruit in 

 the markets of the United States and Great Britain. 

 A steadily increasing quantity of fine oranges of selected 

 varieties is now coming int(i the market from planted groves, 

 the produce from which, even if not in all cases superior to 

 the native ' wild ' fruit, is less lialile to be injured in picking, 

 and can he packed to greater advantage. 



The export of grape fruit, which shovi's little recent 

 advance in value, may be expected to increase before long 

 in like manner. 



Oranges showed an increase [in 1902-3] of nearly one- 

 fourth in amount and a decrease in value of £1,726, the 

 total value exported, however, being still of some considerable 

 amount, viz., £101,054. The decrease in value with an 

 increase in the volume of the trade bears out the remarks 

 made in last year's report as to the need for greater care in 

 the handling of this trade and restraint in the matter of the 

 shipment of poor and immature fi'uit. 



The other product of the citrus family, known as the 

 grape fruit, which finds much favour in the American 

 market, .showed an increase in value of £f,517, or about 

 one-fifth. 



Canada. 



Mr. J. Russell Murray has forwarded the tullowing 

 i-eport, dated April 13, 1905, on the position of West 

 Indian products on the Canadian market during the 

 month of March : — 



During the month of March a marked improvement for 

 import business took place, though not fulfilling the 

 anticijjated demand. General business continues cjuiet, 

 mainly kept in check by lack of transport in the country 

 during the present thaw and advancing spring. Immigration 

 is again on an increased scale from Europe. The opening of 

 navigation will take place within a fortnight. 



CANADIAN AND WEST INDIAN MAIL SERVICE. 



The time for the sending in of tenders has already 

 passed ; only one tender has been subndtted, but no decisicn 

 has yet been arrived at. 



An irregular and weakening market for beet sugar had 

 a lowering tendency for prices of cane grades, and Ifarch 

 saw lower quotations generally, though with very little 

 fluctuation. iluscovado sugars offered from the West 

 Indies had a jioor field in Montreal. Consignments from 

 the islands to Ilalifax are the sole cause for the low counter 

 bids ; 2|c. to 2^c. being the most recent figures of buyers, 

 and some .sales being actually made at these figures ; 96° 

 centrifugals were in a better position, there being very little 

 available on spot. Refiners have secured supplies from 

 Mauritius, Argentine, and Belgium, Argentines now being 

 delivered. This is mainly owing to the high prices recently 

 asked by the ^Vest India growers. Two steamers, however, 

 are expected early in May w^th sugar and molasses from the 

 islands and Demerara. 



MOLASSES. 



The rapidity of the advance in price of molasses in the 

 British West Indies has had a deterring effect on busine.ss 

 here, especially with regard to Barbados ; buyers being of the 

 oiiinion that lower prices will be reached as soon a.s 

 speculation has ceased. Holders here ask 38c. per imperial 

 gallon, ex wharf, which many buyers decline to pay. 

 New Orleans at 30c., Porto Kico at 38c., and Leeward 

 Islands at 28c. to 30c., last year's crop, are being offered 

 and some parcels are changing hands. A large amount of 

 blended molasses is likely to be in evidence this year. 



COCOA-NDTS. 



The market is fairly supplied and prices are steady. 

 The New York market has fallen sharply at $2-00 to !?5-00 

 according to the source of supply, but this has not affected 

 Canadian markets materially. Supplies from Caicos Islands 

 have not proved satisfactory, nor have recent Demerara 

 shipments. 



SPICES. 



The spot market i-emains very quiet. Pimento very 

 dull and small lots sold at 5|c. Ginger, quiet, 7^-c. to 10|c. 

 Nutmegs steady at late rates. 



COFFEE. 



General business very quiet. Jamaica grades steady at 

 10c. to lOlc Similar grades Maracaibo, lie; Bucuramanga, 

 12c. to 13c.; and Guatemala, llic. 



