130 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



May G, 1905. 



it is hoped to construct of siigiiv-cancs, which the 

 colonies Imve been asked to contribute.' It may also 

 be mentioned th.it the Department of Public Gardens 

 f id Plantations in Jamaica is supplying, for decorative 

 purposes, sixty tubs of growing plants in addition to 

 canes and bamboos. 



It is generally recognized that the value of these 

 exhibitions lies in the promotion of trade, and it is 

 mainlv with the view of promoting trade between the 

 AVest Indies and the Mother Country that exhibits 

 are being sent from the various colonies. Thus, the 

 larire exhibit froni Trinidad includes samples of the 

 principal industries of the colony, viz.. cacao, sugar, 

 and asplialt. In addition, there are exhibits of the 

 minor industries, such as honey .and \\ ax, walking sticks, 

 tobacco, local-made soaps, bay oil and bay rum, as well 

 as samples of the colony's mineral products (nianjak, 

 oils. etc.). 



With a view, also, of making West Indian products 

 better known in the United Kingdom, a rpiantity of 

 literature dealing with the colonies has been supplied 

 for distribution. The Committee appointed by the 

 Government of Barbados has issued a handbook (with 

 an ornamental cover designed by Lady Carter) com- 

 prising historical, agricultural, and general information 

 concerning the colony. It also contains a complete 

 catalogue of the exhibits from Barbados. 



From several colonies representatives have been 

 seiiL to take charge of the exhibits. I\rr. J. H. Hart. 

 F.L.S., the Superintendent of the Koyal Botanic 

 Gardens, is in charge of the Trinidad exhibits: 

 Mr. John Barclay, the Secretary of the Jamaica 

 Agricultural Society, and Mr. Frank Cundall, Secretary 

 of the Jamaica Institute, are acting in a similar 

 capacity for Jamaica, while the Hon. ForstcrM. Alleyne 

 ^\l\\ represent Barbados. 



The hearty manner in whifh this matter has lieen 

 taken up in the various i.slands is an indication of the 

 desire to promote the agricultural resources of the 

 West Indies, and the eft'orts made should have the 

 sympathetic approval of all who have the interests of 

 these islands at heart. It is a matter of general regret 

 that British (iuiana is the only important colony not 

 .•i(lec]uately represented at this Exhibition. 



The West Indies are to be congratidated upon the 

 interest that lias been taken in their welfare by th*:- 

 West India Coumiittee, to whom the thanks of these 

 colonies are due for the time and energy tli.it ha\e 

 been spent in promoting the objects of the Exhibition. 



Jn this connexion it is desirable to refer again to 

 the suggestion of the Secretary of the West India 

 Committee, that in all the West India Islands and in 

 British Guiana permanent exhibition committees 

 should be appointed with the view of securing adecpiate 

 representation at all exhibitions in Great Britain. 

 There is also the further suggestion that it might be 

 possible to arrange for a special court at the Crystal 

 Palace where a permanent exhibit could be placed. 

 This would be useful, also, in connexion with provincial 

 exhibitions for which supjjlies could be drawn from 

 the ])ermancnt exhibit. This is a matter which might 

 usefully be taken up and discussed by the Chambers 

 of Coumiercc, the Agriodtural Boards, and the 

 Agiicultural Societies in these colonies. There can be 

 no doubt that it is greatl}' to the advantage of the 

 West Indies that their products should be brought to 

 the notice of commercial men abroad and that their 

 resources should become better known. This can, to 

 a great measure, be secured by having selected exhibits 

 at all the principal exhibitions not only in the United 

 Kinirdoni but in the Dominion of Canada and elsewhere. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Limitations of the Naiidet Process. 



Tlie following is extracted from a report in the 

 Demerara Ihdii/ Citron ide of an interview with the 

 Hon. R. G. Duncan who recently visited Trinidad: — 



Speaking of the Xaudet process, which he saw at work 

 at Caroni, Jlr. Duncan was by no mean.s enthusiastic as to 

 the superiority claimed for it over ever}' other existing 

 method of sugar making. The plant at Caroni Ushie is 

 mulerstood to be the largest of the kind yet erected, and 

 Mr. Duncan admits that the process on full development 

 may prove highly successful. But the idea does not j"et 

 ajiiiear to have been perfected. Asked whether the new 

 plant was capable of giving a 99 per cent, extraction from 

 the cane, ilr. Duncan replieil that the statement was not 

 true. It gave no better results in this respect, he said, than 

 tii[)le crushing in ]_)emerara. Another dilticulty he referred 

 to was the successful and satisfactory carrying out of the 

 diffusion process. For this jjurpose a largo cpiantity of water 

 is required to pass through the megass, and the ditiiculty 

 consists in so preparing the megass that the water will come 

 into contact with all its cells. In the plant at Caroni, this 

 idea has not yet been developed to perfection. 



i\[r. I)uncan also contends that the diffusion proce.ss to 

 which th";' megass is subjected lessens the value of the latter 

 for fuelling jiurposes. At Caroni, the mega.ss does not 

 suffice for the furnaces, and some additional fuel is necessary. 

 Jn tljc case of the average Demerara sugar factory, 

 Ml JHuiCiUi considers that the need for a complementary 



