Vol. IV. No. 95. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



381 



COPRA IN THE PHILIPPINES. 



The following note on the copra trade is extracted 

 from the Cvnsidar Report on the Philippines for 

 1904:— 



While other exports, witli the exception of hemp, show 

 a tendency to decline, that of copra has steadily increased 

 until now it ranks next to sugar in the average for tlie past 

 five years. The average value of tlie copra exported during 

 the five years ending 1889 was £15,350, for the period 

 ■ending 1894, X96,6G1, and for the past five years, £531,878. 

 The total quantity exported during 1903 was 181,117,084 tt)., 

 but it fell off during 1904 to 85,036,514 lb. The chief 

 consumer of this product is France which takes more than 

 two-thirds of the total ; the next largest consumer, Spain, 

 taking only a quarter as much. The following table shows 

 the leading countries to which this product is exported : — 



The production of this article appears to be steadily 

 increasing. In the demand for its deri\'atives a market seems 

 to be assured in which these islands should obtain a consider- 

 able share. Once the cocoa-nut trees begin to bear, their 

 limit of productiveness does not seem to be definitely known, 

 while the .slight degree of cultivation and attention involved, 

 and the simple methods required in the preparation of the 

 product for market, make it an industry specially suited to 

 this country. 



HINTS ON MILKING. 



The C'.(/|5V'u.s/o«7'aa^ for October 1905 contains the 

 following hints on milking : — 



]Milk is very easily affected by bad smells and it is one 

 of the best mediums for the development of germs. The 

 utmost care should therefore be taken that everything 

 connected with the dairy be kept scrupulously clean. If the 

 surroundings are dirty and give off evil smells, the milk is 

 certain to become quickly tainted. The udder of the animal 

 to be milked, whether cow, sheep, or goat, sliould, if dirty, be 

 washed, and, if clean, it should at least be wiped. If this 

 is omitted, dust and dirt fall into the bucket, and the milk 

 is necessarily affected. It is much better to milk with dry 

 hands. It is a mistake to commence milking into a bucket 

 already containing milk. After each cow, sheep, or goat is 

 milked, the milk should be poured into a large receptacle. 

 One reason for this is that if an animal happens to have 

 an injured udder causing garget, that is, slight mixture of 

 blood in the milk, a few drops of this, if added to other milk, 

 •would spoil the whole lot. By commencing with an empty 

 bucket the reddish colour is immediately noticed, and the 

 bad milk can be kept separate from the rest. 



A milker should always examine the first milk drawn 

 from each teat. 



Milk should be strained through a fine muslin or wire 

 sieve immediately it is drawn. Alilking utensils sliould be 

 first washed with cold or tepid water, then .scalded with 



boiling water or steamed, and then rinsed out. They should 

 then be drained, sunned and aired. Rusty milking utensils 

 should never be used. 



Milk should always be kept in the coldest place, which 

 should preferably always be dry. Persons engaged in milking 

 should always keep themselves clean and tidy. 



ARBOR DAY. 



St. Kitt's. 



Mr. F. R. Shepherd, Agricultural Superintendent 

 at St. Kitt's, has forwarded the following brief report 

 upon the celebration of Arbor Day in that island on 

 November 9 last : — 



I beg to inform you that Arbor Day was celebrated 

 here on Thursday November 9, by a public function at whi.ch 

 ninety mahogany trees were planted along the sides of the 

 road known as the Macknight Road, leading from the 

 Market westwards. 



His Honour the Acting Administrator was present and 

 delivered an interesting address on the objects of Arbor Day 

 observance. 



Trees were planted by the Acting Administrator, members 

 of council, leading men in the town, by the boys of the 

 grammar school, and the children of the primary schools of 

 the town. 



To enable the function to be held this year, I applied 

 to the Town Board for a small grant of money which was 

 spent in digging and preparing the holes and providing 

 proper tree-guards for protecting the young trees. 



Forty-eight trees of different kinds were also sent to 

 eleven schools in the country districts to be planted by the 

 pupils on Arbor Day. 



At the request of Dr. Mason, ilagistrate of Anguilla, 

 forty trees of different kinds were sent to Anguilla for 

 planting on Arbor Day. All these trees were raised at the 

 Botanic Station. 



Hawaii. 



The Facipc Commercial Advertiser, of October?, 

 has the following reference to the first Arbor Day in 

 Hawaii : — • 



The following programme for Arbor Day, which occurs 

 on the first Friday in November, is submitted to the teachers 

 in the public schools throughout the territory : — 



The purpose and history of Arbor Day in the United 



States Principal 



Song (about trees) Class 



Recitation (about trees) Class 



How trees should be planted and cared for Principal 



Tree planting Class 



Song (about trees) Class 



Recitation (about trees) Class 



Tree planting Class 



This programme is only suggestive. Schools having 

 a limited supply of water should act accordingly. Schools 

 having no fenced space are directed to plant in boxes, that 

 may be put indoors over night. 



This is the first time Arbor Day has ever been celebrated 

 in the Hawaiian Islands and it will be a brand new ceremony 

 in all the schools. All schools desiring trees may secure the 

 kinds suitable to their different localities from the govern- 

 ment nursery by addressing Mr. David !M. Haughs. Freight 

 and carriage on such trees will be paid by the department. 



