Vol. XVI. No. 39.5. 



THL AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



181 



THE PACKING OF EGG-PLANTS. 



Although egg-plants Are not generally grown for export 

 in the British West Indies, it may jirove useful for other 

 reHSon.-< to give a few facts concerning the packing of this fruit, 

 which appear in the Cuban monthly review, Afjrjculture. 

 In this journal, which has only just recently maile its appear- 

 ance before the public.Mr R. S. Cunlitfe says that for packing, 

 the regular egg-plant crate is used, and that in the best pric- 

 tice this is lined with paper previous to packing the fruit. The 

 u^ual sizes are l.S, 24, 30, and 36 fiuits to the case, of which 

 the medium sizes 24 anil 30 are usually the best sellers, but 

 this is said to vary somewhat with the market. Only thor- 

 oughly sound fruit in proper condiiion should be packed: ever.v 

 damaged or imperfect fruit in a crate only serves as a source of 

 loss to the shipper out of all proportion to the value of the 

 individual fruit or package. 



i>uring the past year some experimental work was 

 carried out at the Cuban Experimental Station with the 

 object of arriving at suitable systems of packing different 

 sizes of egg-plant, and of correlating in some way the 

 different factors of weights and dimensions with the 

 corre.^ponding numbers and sizes of fruit required ti> make 

 a full pack. 



Mr. Cunliffe groups ,-arieties of egg-fruit into two 

 classes: the Florida High Bush (long type fruit); and the 

 New York Spineless (short type fruit). The first firoup vary 

 in size from ISj, inches in circumference to 13 inches, from 

 .5^' inches in diameter to 4 inches, and from 2.', B). in 

 weight to lib. This class is divided into four packing sizes 

 a^ already mentioned, namely, Nos. 18, 24, 30 and 36. The 

 New ^'ork Spineless is also classified into four packing sizes 

 ranging from 1^| inches in circumference down to 14 inches, 

 and in length from 6 J. inches down to hh inches. The 

 Fliirida High Bush (long type) range in length from 9 inches 

 ti' 6.', inches. In weight the short type fruit varies from 

 -l tb. down to 1 B). Thus the difference between the two 

 varieties from the point of view of packing is chiefly one of 

 length. 



The method of arranging these sizes in the boxes is 

 seen from the following: — 

 (i) Long Type fruit: 



Size 18 pack, 3 layers of 6 fruits each. 

 24 4 6 



II 30 ,, 5 ., .,0 ,, ,, 



(or) 30 „ 4 ,, (Island 3rd of 7 fruits each). 



(2nd and 4th of 8 fruits each), 

 (b) Short Type fruit: 



Size lis pack, 3 layers of 6 fruits each 

 „ 24 ,. 4 „ „ 6 „ 

 „ 30 „ .5 „ „ 6 „ 

 „ 36 „ 4 ., „ 9 ., 



At the conclusion of the article from which the above 

 facts have been taken are a number of plates .showing the 

 egg-plants packed in po.sition. 



TRAINING AT THE DOMINICA 

 GARDENS. 



So successful has the course of hurticultural training at 

 the Dominica Botanic Gardens provefl, that candidates who 

 fail to be selected are now showing a desire to pa^* for the 

 instruction themselves rather than go without the training. 

 Kven the year before last Mr. .loseph Jones the Curator, 

 wrote in his Annual Report: — 



There is quite a keen desire on the part of parents t» 

 have their sons trained at the Gardens and we are indebted 

 to the head teachers of the country schools who bring to the 

 notice of likely candidates the advantages of entering for 

 training. On an average, twelve candidates present themselves 

 at the competitive entrance examination annually Many of 

 these are hopelessly backward, and should not have been sent 

 up by their teachers; but as a rule four or five are fairly good 

 and three are finally selected. Preference is given to the 

 sons of peasant proprietors.' 



As to the ultimate destination of the pupils, Mr. Jone* 

 says: — 



'Having completed their two years of training the 

 majority of the pupils leave the Department to take up 

 positions on estates. The ideal position for such a boy 

 would be that of under overseer on a fairly big estate: such 

 a i>osition he should be able to fill satisfactorily It is too 

 much to expect these boys to be able to do the work of 

 a trained overseer, which involves considerable experience in 

 various directions, more particularly in the handling of 

 labour. This is probably the weakest, point of their training, 

 and the planter should regard them as material for making 

 efficient overseers and be prepared to train them accordingly. 



'The most promising boy of each year is usually retained 

 in the Department for another two years. During the first 

 year he is appointed clerical assistant to the Curator, and the 

 second year, if he continues to show promise is appointed 

 overseer in connexion with agricultural instruction, and in 

 that capacity is responsible for the field work of the other 

 agricultural pupils. These additionally trained young men 

 are naturally better e((uipped than the ordinary pupils, .ind 

 should give better satisfaction. 



'It is interesting to place on record the destination of 

 each pupil on leaving the Botanic Gardens, and though the 

 Department is not responsible for them after they get a fair 

 start on an estate, attempts have been made to trace the boys 

 at the present time. This information is now given: — 



'G. de Lachevotier: Old Agricultural School boy. First 

 overseer at the Botanic Gardens. Now overseer Agricultural 

 Depirtment, Northern Nigeria Alexaniler Thorpe: Old 

 Agricultural School boy, completed training as pupil, appoint- 

 ottice a.ssistant now in U.S.A. Harry Cuffy: Appointed over- 

 seer Canef.eld estate. Philip Denis: Appointed overseer 

 Malgretout estate. Paul Benjamin: Appointed overseer, 

 Somerset estate, last heard of in St. Lucia. Artley Frank: 

 Appointed clerical assistant, later overseer Agricultural 

 Department, now overseer Belfast estate. Wilfred Andrew: 

 Discharged for not making satisfactory progress. Vincent 

 Laionde: Appointed overseer Rosalie estate. Fadelle 

 Lawrence; Appointed overseer Castle Bruce estate, ."^tanley 

 Jules: Appointed overseer Goodwill estate. Emile Jo.-eph: 

 Appointed clerical assistant and now holds the post of over- 

 seer. Agricultural Department. George Anselm: Did not 

 complete training; now overseer Bagatelle estate. Gorvey 

 Cutty: Left after twelve months training; now overseer 

 Badineau estate. Musarave Edwards: Discharged for lack 

 of interest. William Hutton; Appointed clerical assistant, 

 Agricultural Department.' 



This useful educational work will sufter in the absence 

 of Mr. G. A. Jones, the Assistant Curator, now left for war 

 service, who was intimately associated with the work; but it is 

 hoped that every effort will be made to carry on as well as 

 possible. 



