Vol. IV. No. 8G. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



227 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Java. 



The following extract from the Consular Report 

 on the trade of Java for 1904 reviews the position of 

 the sugar industry in that island : — 



Tlie steady increase of sugar during the past years has 

 been well maintained, the total production amounting to 

 1,064,93.5 tons. Although this is attributable, to a certain 

 extent, to the favourable weather, the most important factors 

 have undoubtedly been the scientific application of artificial 

 manures to the older grounds and the careful selection of the 

 species of cane best adapted to the peculiarities of the 

 various soil.s, resulting from a long series of experiments at 

 the Experiment Stations at Pasoeroean and Pekalongan. 

 These institutions have proved their value to the industry 

 and are well supported by the planters. 



Several of the new .species of cane raised from seed in 

 the nurseries of the East Java Experiment Station at 

 Pasoeroean have been amongst the most productive. It is 

 worthy of notice tliat a few of these species which have been 

 reared from canes that have been in cultivation for more 

 than fifteen years, and have latterly been relegated to a minor 

 portion of the fields, have proved to be the most fertile. 

 This strengthens the faith placed in the seed-cane generally, 

 notwithstanding the disappointment some of the varieties have 

 caused. 



The process of cane selection still engrosses the attention 

 of planters, and in many quarters it is believed that in this 

 direction a means will be discovered further to enhance the 

 production. 



The following shows the production in each of the past 

 six ye irs: -1899, 730,842 tons; 1900, 710,1 -^O : 1901, 

 7i;(;,342; 1902,848,021: 190-3, 88.3,020:1904, 1,064,935. 



With regard to cane disea.ses, Mr. Acting Vice-Consnl 

 Rose reports as follows : — 



'The well-known cane diseases still continue, but .seem 

 to be lieUl in check by the measure now being rigorously and 

 uninterruptedly taken to extirpate them. The "yellow 

 .stripe" disease, however, is one for which planters have as 

 yet discovered no remedj'. It appears to be propagated or 

 retarded according to the weather conditions. At one period 

 of the year it threatened to work havoc among the young 

 canes, but fortunately an opportune change in the weather 

 effected a comi)lete recovery.' 



The profits of the past year's working are now in many 

 cases being expended on new machinery and in bringing the 

 mills up to date, by which means planters hope to reduce the 

 cost of production. 



The demand for nitrogenous manures shows a steady 

 increase during recent years. This is, to a certain extent, due 

 to the fact that a liberal use of fertilizers has been proved 

 not only to be of much benefit to the sugar-cane, but has in 

 no small degree tended to lessen the ravages of the 'sereh' 

 disease, which at one time threatened to devastate the cane 

 crops of the island. 



The exports of sugar of all kinds from Java and 

 Madura during the years 1902-4 have been as follows: 

 1902, 808,4.57 tons; 1903, 869,295 tons; 1904, 1,010,742 

 tons, ilore than 50 per cent, of the total exports of sugar 

 weut to the United States. 



GRENADA AT THE COLONIAL 

 EXHIBITION. 



Mr. Freeman's article in the last issue of the 

 West India Committee Circular deals with the 

 Grenada exhibit. After reference to the cacao exhibits, 

 he sa3-s : — ■ 



Spices rank next in importance to cacao among the 

 products of Grenada, the actual figures for 1903 being : 

 cacao, £230,957 ; spices, £31,594. Well-preserved nutmegs, 

 as they drop from the trees, are exhibited, showing the 

 fleshy, somewhat peach-like fruit burst open along one side, 

 displaying the nutmeg in its hard, brown case, partially 

 covered by the brilliant, orange-red mace. Nutmegs and 

 mace, in the familiar dry condition in which they come on 

 the market, are also shown. The other spices represented 

 include ginger and cardamoms. 



Cotton stands third in the list of Grenada exports The 

 value of cotton and cotton seed exported in 1903 was about 

 £5,300. Grenada for many years was apparently the last 

 stronghold of the former important cotton industry of the 

 We.st Indies, owing to cotton having remained throughout 

 a staple product of Carriacou, one of the dependencies of the 

 colony. Some samples of Sea Island cotton are exhibited, 

 but there is no information as to whether they were grown 

 in Grenada or in Carriacou. 



With cotton we come to the end of the chief products 

 of Grenada, no other, with the exception of live stock, 

 contributing more than a few hundred pounds towards the 

 total value of the island's exports. Although not exported 

 to any large extent, there is a small intercolonial trade in 

 fruit carried on between Grenada and some of the other 

 West India Islands, and the fame of Grenada oranges is by 

 no means confined to their place of production. 



Specimens of mangos, granadilla, cashew nuts, limes, 

 water melons, preserved so as to retain their fresh appearance, 

 and a large series of preserves, including some very nice- 

 looking fruit jellies, .sufficiently represent the capabilities, 

 actual and potential, of Grenada fruit [iroduction. Cocoa-nuts 

 are also exhibited. 



Cassava cakes alone represent the farinaceous products 

 of the island. Amongst other plant exhibits of minor 

 importance are ornamental seeds with pendants, charms, and 

 other objects, showing how they may be utilized, pickles, 

 palm-leaf duster-brushes, straw hats, a large wooden pestle 

 and mortar for pounding cassava, etc., and a nest of those 

 strong Carib baskets which can be put to so many uses in 

 the West Indies. 



A series of tanned skins is perhaps the most important 

 item to notice under the head of animal products. Of great 

 interest to many will be the stuffed specimens of mungoose, 

 the animal whose introduction, originally to serve a useful 

 purpose, has had such a baneful effect in many parts of the 

 West Indies. Corals, sea fans, fish, conch shells, stuffed 

 birds, sea urchins, and a monkey are of interest in exhibiting 

 some of the more characteristic forms of animal life of the 

 colony. A series of Carib implements brings us into touch 

 with the earlier inhabitants of Grenada. 



Undoubtedly the whole exhibit does great credit to 

 Mr. P. J. Dean, Chairman, and Mr. C. Falconer Anton, 

 Secretary of the local committee. Although comparatively 

 small, the Grenada exhibit should serve a useful purpose in 

 demonstrating the actual and possible .sources of prosperity 

 of one of the most flourishing of the West India Islands. 



