Vol. XVI. Xo. 39*. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



1G9 



amended and the amount available for export assessed. 

 As yet the amount of the surplus is problematical and 

 depends on how the season continues, although, the 

 Journal observes, 'at the time of writing everything 

 points to an extremely good crop.' 



Regret i."? expressed that the Imperial Government 

 did not discriminate by a difference of price between 

 grades 1 or 2. This, it is suggested, is doubtless owing 

 to their being no occasion for such distinction, in view of 

 the uses to which the maize is likeh' to be put for milit- 

 ary purposes. Moreover, it is also possible thar, the Imper 

 ial Government might use grades 1 and 2 for different 

 purposes and so introduce the Rhodesian maize to new 

 markets — an advertisement which would stand the 

 Colony in good stead in years to come. Rhodesia pro- 

 duces maize of ver}- exceptional quality, and it seems 

 right that they should emphasize and make the most of 

 its special merits. 



A further benefit accruing to the Colony from this 

 agreement, it is stated, is the advertisement thus obtain- 

 ed of its ability to produce maize, and a recognition of 

 Rhodesia as a source of supply, which will prove of 

 lasting value to them in the worlds markets when 

 normal conditions i-eturn. 



The British Guiana Lime Juice Factory 



The working of the (iovernment Lime Juice Factory 

 at Underneeming, for the half-year, July to December 

 191(3, is described by Mr. S. H. Bayley in a recent 

 report. The factory is modelled after the St. Lucia 

 one, which has now been working for several years, 

 and from the report under notice it would appear that 

 its operation will be accompanied by similar success 

 to that which has attended the St. Lucia factory. 



For an account of the St. Lucia factory reference 

 should be made to the Reports on the Agricultural 

 Department, St. Lucia, 1913-14, 1914-15 and 191.5-l(i. 

 A statement regarding the results for 191.'5-l(i, appears 

 in the AgricultaraL Neivs, Vol. XV, No. 375, pp. 294-5 

 (September 9, 1916). 



The total capital outlay on the Onderneeming 

 factory has been S3,093. The -transactions for the 

 half-year show a profit of ^6(j5 on a turn-over of S2,980, 

 which is over 20 per cent. The high price of £30 per 

 pipe was obtained for the concentrated juice. The juice 

 was reported on b}' the factory's London Agents as 

 'Special Quality . 



The limes purchased by the factory amounted to 

 1.605 bags (of 160 tb.) for which $1,154 was paid. 

 There appears to be no system of deferred payment in 

 this Onderneeming factory as there is in the St. Lucia 

 one. 



As to the working of the Onderneeming factory, the 

 following points may be of interest: Juice extraction. — 

 This was at the rate of 782 gallons per barrel compared 

 with 8 gallons per barrel in St. Lueia. Concentration. — 

 This ranged from 9(S to 1108 oz. per gallon compared 

 with an average of 107 in St. Lucia. Sediment was 

 li cc. in 50. (St. Lucia, 2i-3 in 100, second seasons 

 working.) Distilled oil. — This was 56 oz. per 100 gallons 

 of juice compared with 80 oz. per 100 gallons of juice in 

 St. Lucia. • ' 



It is stated that the reason for the somewhat low 

 results is to be found in the quality of the fruit, which 

 was rather inferior. Not only were the fruit in many 

 cases totally unripe, but the pi-esence of scale insects- 

 and .sooty mould showed that the trees had been much, 

 neglected. Growers should bear in mind that the- 

 success of the factory must ultimately depend upon the 

 regularity and quality of the supply of fruit. 



The report under notice shows, however, beyond 

 all dispute, that the St, Lucia type of lime juice factory 

 with Its improved milling and steam-coil concentration 

 can be relied upon to turn out first-grade lime products 

 efficiently and cheaply, while serving at the same 

 time a highly useful purpose from the growers' point of 

 view. 



Jamaica Sugar Industry Development. 



The following extract is from the Minutes of the 

 Legislative Council of Jamaica, under date April 5, 

 1917, recording the Council's thanks for, and apprecia- 

 tion of the services of the Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture in connexion with his recent visit to 

 Jamaica for the purpose of advising the Government 

 in the matter of developing a sugar industry in the 

 Colony: — 'Mr. Simpson moved, seconded by Mr. Stedman, 

 the following resolution which was carried unani- 

 mously: — 



'This Council hereby records its smcere thanks for, 

 and grateful appreciation of the untiring efforts of 

 Sir Francis Watts. K.C'.M.G., Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture for the West Indies, to place before the 

 Government of this island a sound, workable and 

 business scheme for the re-establishment and support 

 of our sugar industry, and for his proposals as placed 

 before this House; And that a copy of this resolution, 

 be forwarded to Sir Francis Watts. 



The Production of Onion Seed. 



The production of onion seed is a matter of interest 

 in the West Indies where, so far, it has not been possi- 

 ble to effect. In Rhodesia, however, as in most sub- 

 tropical countries, there is no difficultv experienced, 

 and according to the Rhodesia Agricultural Journal 

 for February 1917, the following is the method employ- 

 ed: — 



'Practically all the onion seed used in this country 

 is imported, and prices vary from 16s. to 33*.'. per lb. 

 The question of growing our own seed is worth}^ of 

 attention. This can be done as follows: A number of 

 the cured bulbs are kept over for planting in December. 

 Furrows are made about 5 inches deep and from 1 J to 2 

 feet apart, in which the bulbs are planted every 6 inches. 



As the seed ripens the seed pods and the ends of 

 the stalks turn yellow, and very frequently the pods 

 burst open. When this occurs, the heads should be cut 

 off and allowed to dry. If the ripening is uneven, the 

 seed heads must be picked over several times. The 

 seeds, after being thoroughly dried, are then cleaned 

 and winnowed. The final cleaning may be done by 

 immersing in water, when the light, useless seed will 

 float on the surface and can be removed. The heavy 

 plump seed should again be thoroughly dried before 

 being bagged for the market.' 



