Vol XVI. No. 389. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



91 



DOMINICA HURRICANE LOSSES. 



Shortly after the hurricane of August 28, 1916, the 

 Adinini.strator of Dominica approved of the suggestion to 

 forward circulars to all planters in the island requesting 

 information under various heads in order that the aggregate 

 losses sustained by agricultural interests might be tabulated 

 and recorded. 



In all 120 circulars were sent out, and 9-5 answers 

 were received. The thanks of the Agricultural Department 

 are due to those planters who so kindly furnished the detailed 

 information required. 



Limes. — The figures show that the premier indus- 

 try suffered considerably. This is to be expected, as lime 

 trees are susceptible to overturning by wind, and even 

 a gale may at times account for some damage in this respect. 

 Fortunately the lime when blown over, exhibits, under 

 sound treatment, great powers of recovery, and the actual 

 loss by deaths owing to storms probably does not average 

 more than 2 or 3 per cent. In the present instance, the 

 high percentage of total loss in proportion to trees blown 

 over is due to floods and landslides, and to some extent, to 

 the effects of large forest trees falling upon the cultivations. 



The number of lime trees totally lost on estates is stated 

 in the returns to be 23,000, and those blown over, but likely 

 to recover in the course of two or three years, reach the 

 high figure of 83,000. The.se trees are planted at varying 

 distances apart, but if we take an average of 20(t per acre, 

 this means that 1 !•") acres of trees have been destroyed, and 

 415 acres blown down. 'I'he latter will recover in the course 

 of several years, but their productive capacity practically 

 ceases during that period. 



The loss of crop is stated to be 118,000 bairels of fruit. 

 Except in very sheltered positions, practically all the fruit, 

 mature and immature, on the trees was blown olf, and in turn 

 much of this was swtpt away by the rush of water through 

 the fields. Further iosse-- weie experienced inviiig to the 

 difficulty of obtaining labour in emergencies of this kind. In 

 spite of this huge figure, the crup of limes for 1916 only 

 showed a decrease of G.OQO barrels of fruit when compared 

 with the previous \.;a'> production. In this respect it wa> 

 fortunate that a lai^e proportion of the crop rijiened before 

 the end of August. As there has bten no advance in the lime 

 crop of Dominica during the past four years, observers 

 confidently expected an increase of crop of close upon 100,000 

 barrels. This expectation was not realized owing to the 

 hurricane. It is evident that a large increase of crop would 

 have been recorded but for the adverse weather conditions. 



Cacao. — The fact that much of the cacao cultivation on 

 estates is (.rown in sheltered positions accounts for the 

 comparatively light damage sustained. The number of trees 

 lost is placed at 10,(100, the damage in this instance being 

 caused chiefly by floods and landslides. In this connexion 

 several planters deplore the loss of wind-belts which are 

 essential in certain localities. In many instances -successful 

 cultivation cannot be carried on without this form of 

 protection. Many years must elapse before efficient wind- 

 belts can be restored. 



Minor Induxtrirs. — The loss in this ca.se is compara- 

 tively small, and is returned as numbering 1,026 coco-nut 

 trees, and 1,3()0 Para rubber trees. The set-back in neither 

 case is serious. 



Live Stock. — Under this head the returns show a small 

 loss of £303. 



Damagt to Agricultural tiuildingx. — The total loss is 

 returned at £2,047 10s. This comparatively slight loss 

 shows that the hurricane experienced, although so disastrous 



to lime cultivation, was by no means one of the highest 

 intensity, such as sometimes occur in the West Indian 

 islands. 



The above figures relate entirely to the losses on estates. 

 Planters were asked to furnish information in respect to 

 peasants' cultivation of limes and cacao in their immediate 

 vicinity, and although much information came to hand, it prov- 

 ed impossible to form even an approximate estimate of the 

 damage. That it has been considerable is undoubted, and if it 

 could be expressed in figures, would form an important 

 addition to the estate lo.sses given above. 



Peasants' gardens also suffered by rain, wash, and land- 

 slides but the root crops which are chiefly grown, are 

 fortunately not affected to any great extent by high winds. 

 That is, no permanent damage is done by the wind, the 

 plants only receiving a check in growth, from which there is 

 usually a quick recovery. Efforts are being made to assbt 

 this class by furnishing supplies of cane tops for planting. 

 Enquiries have shown that there is a sufficiency of propaga- 

 ting material of other garden crops in all the districts 



The hurricane of August 1916 exerted the greatest 

 intensity on a tract of country extending on the eastern 

 side of the island from St. Sauveur in the south to Hatton 

 Garden in the north, proceeding across the island, taking in 

 the north end of the Imperial Road, and out on the western 

 side between the Layou Valley in the south and Colihaut in 

 the north. Fortunately in this section, the proportion of 

 forest land to cultivated land is higher than in any other 

 district of the island. Within this area lime estates suffered 

 considerably, but north and south of this section the loss 

 sustained was chiefly in crops and I'Ot to any extent in loss 

 of trees. A point brought out in the two recent hurricanes 

 is the amount of protection afl'orded by the high mountains 

 and the yinantic ridges which buttress them. These are 

 formidable enough to deflect the wind, and many estates 

 escape practically undamaged in a hurricane owing to these 

 natural defences, while other cultivations more exposed 

 experience great damage. It would appear that nothing 

 like wholesale destruction by hurricanes can hajipen in 

 mountainous islands like Dominica, such as is known to 

 occur in countries with a comparatively flat surface. 



In Roseau, on both occasions, only a few heavy blasts of 

 wind were experienced from the north-east; then came the 

 calm period, lasting nearly half an hour. Following this the 

 wind blew continuously from the southwest for half 

 an hour, after which it came in powerful gusts, the 

 interval between the gusts gi owing longer, and the force 

 decreasing as the centre '<i the storm moved away. In 

 other words, lioseau, owing to protecting hills, only 

 experienced a little more than half of the force of the 

 hurricane. Had the full force been felt from both directions, 

 it is probable that properties in the district would have been 

 considerably affected instead of esctping with little damage. 

 The experience of the Chief Town in this connexio i is typical 

 of what happens in other districts. Generally speaking, the 

 damage at Windward was caused by the wind from the north- 

 east, and on the Leeward side, by the wind from the south- 

 west. 



Limes. Trees lost ' 23,100 



., Trees blown down 83,198 



Barrels of limes lost 117,881 



Cacao. Trees lost 10,180 



Coco nuts. Trees lost , L026 



Rubber. „ ., " 1,360 



Live Stock. Financial loss £303 



Damage to agricultural buildings £2,407 



