Vol. IV. No. 83. 



i:he ageicultural news. 



191 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



Canada. 



The following report, dated Montreal, May 9, on 

 AVest Indian produce in tlie Canadian markets during 

 the month of April has been received from Mr. J. 

 Russell Murray : — 



The opening of navigation on tlie St. Lawrence on tlie 

 5rcl. in.st. marks the beginning of the more active months of 

 business of this year. All lines of business indicate prospects 

 for a good year. Immigration is very heavy this year both 

 from Europe and from tlio Westeni States to the North-AVest 

 Territories. Inquiry is fair for the general commodities, and 

 wholesale houses are now very busy delivering the spring 

 •orders. 



SUGAR. 



Since my last report, of April 9, the market for European 

 beets has undergone a collapse which completely stagnated 

 importing business. The beginning occurred about April 18, 

 and the oscillation continued for a week without any effect 

 on cane sugars, but the 1.5th. saw the break from 15s. Gd. 

 to 15s. 3d. for 96° centrifugals, and 15s. to 14.9. M. for 89° 

 muscovados. No change was experienced here until the 

 19th., when buyers turned down the existing otters of British 

 West Indian sugars. The beet market then showed further 

 signs of weakening, and on the SOth. 13s. 6|(i. was recorded, 

 and a decline in 96" centrifugals of 3(/. was again experienced. 

 Buyers retired and refiners refused all bids. The Easter 

 holidays added to the stagnation, and the 26th. saw beets 

 down to 12s. lO-ld, and the 29th. to 12s. G|(/., with 96" 

 centrifugals, 14s. 6d.; and 80° muscovados, 14s. A recovery 

 took place on May 1, to 12s. lOi-A, and 13s. 0|c?. followed on 

 the 2nd., but on the 5th. a break again took place to 

 lis. low., and 96° centrifugals broke to 14s. 3c?., and 

 muscovados 89° to 13.s. 6(/. At this date Barbados offerings 

 here at .$2 '50 for 89° muscovados were declined, as also all 

 ■offers made of 96° over §3'25, and no business seems likely 

 until the market settles. At date, beets have moved up to 

 12s. 3d., and if this holds business will be possible for British 

 West Indian sugars. Much bu.siness and money have been lost 

 to the British West Indies owing to inflated ideas on prices, 

 and it is not likely we shall see a return of the prices of 

 a month ago. Two steamers are due here shortly with sugar. 



M0L.\SSES. 



The wholesale trade of Montreal has bought very 

 little Barbados molasses this year, owing to the high prices 

 ruling, which placed them beyond the range of the buyers 

 who use them. The result has been that a fair quantity of 

 muscovado molasses has been sold at 26c. to 28c. per gallon. 

 The trade does not believe that the high prices have been 

 solely caused by scarcity, but by speculation, and the fall 

 in prices recently of 3c. per gallon is looked upon as 

 .speculators selling out, and encourages the idea of still 

 lower prices. Again, the islands are losing ground by 

 creating an opportunit}' for others to come into the market. 

 New Orleans is reported as shipping 3,000 puncheons to 

 Halifax, and no doubt much of this will find its way into 

 markets under various names. The adulteration of Barbados 

 molasses has been discussed by the trade, v,ho will loyally 

 support any action taken in the matter. 



COCOA-NUTS. 



This market remains steady, though the New York 

 market has seen a very heavy decline. Business continues 



moderate, though the approach of the summer weather 

 may check consumption. 



SPICKS. 



Demand for spot is good. Black and white pepper are in 

 moderate demand. Nutmegs are steady. Ginger, .lamaica 

 unbleached — we have several incjuiries for new crop, prices 

 steady. 



FRUIT. 



Pine-apples and bananas are again in prominence and 

 business is active. 



EDUCATIONAL 



Agricultural Education in St. Lucia. 



The report of the Magistrate of Districts II and III 

 of St. Lucia, for 1904, has the following i-eference to 

 agricultural education : — 



In my last report I referred to the good that would be 

 done by regular instruction in agriculture in all the village 

 schools. I am now inclined to suggest that the juvenile 

 boys' schools at Soufriere and Vieu.'i:-Fort should he from 

 first to last agricultural, industrial, and commercial ; the 

 masters should be selected by the Government and should be 

 men of much higher standard than the present. 



These schools need not be free. The infant schools 

 should bring boys up to the third standard free ; any higher 

 education would be obtained in the juvenile schools on the 

 payment of a small fee. 



The boys .should bo taught from their earliest years that 

 their future welfare depends upon their knowledge of 

 agriculture and commerce, and their ability to develop the 

 natural resources of their country, and not upon that which 

 is being taught them by their parents, the digging of gold 

 in the back woods of other countries where, as a rule, they 

 will acquire but little gold and a considerable amount of 

 vicious, dissolute principles. 



Proposed Agricultural School for Grenada. 



In the Agrieidtarul N'ews (Vol. IV, p. 1.58), in 

 discussing agricultural eiforts at Grenada, it was 

 stated : — 



In view of the large luunbcr of small proprietors 

 existing in the island (11,452 with holdings between 5 acres 

 and 50 acres each) what Grenada appears specially to 

 require is a good Agricultural School where j'ouths could 

 receive a sound practical training and thus be fitted for 

 taking chai'ge of numerous properties that are, at present, 

 in danger of being abandoned owing to careless and 

 ineffective methods of cultivation. 



In a letter addressed to the Governor by the 

 Secretary of State for the Colonies (Grenada, No. 28 

 of April 6, 190.5, published in the Government 

 Gazette of May 10, 1905) the fifth paragraph reads as 

 follows : — 



In my St. Vincent despatch No. 57 of November 

 8, 1904, 1 pressed upon you the desirability of establishing 

 an Agricultural School at Grenada. I hope that you will 

 have discussed the question with Sir Daniel Jlorris on the 

 occasion of his recent visit, and I should be glad to learn 

 that the Legislative Coumnl had agreed to make the 

 necessary provision. 



