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THE AGKICULTUIUL NEWS. 



Maech 17, 190G. 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



BARBADOS BANANAS. 



The following information with respect to bananas 

 in Barbados has been collected by the Agricultural 

 Superintendent, and forwarded to the Imperial Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture. As will be seen from the 

 tables, the results are from three estates, and deal with 

 a total of seventy-seven bunches : — 



As the figures given above arc averages, it may be 

 of interest to mention a few points in detail. The 

 following table shows the number of hands on each 

 bunch from the three estates : — ■ 



In addition to this, it may be stated that the number 

 of fingers in a hand Wiis as manj' as tliirtj'-two in one instance, 

 and frequently as many as thirty and thirty-one. The 

 highest number of fingers to a bunch on estate A, was 194 ; 

 on estate B, 212 ; and on estate C, 165. The lowest number 



of fingers per bunch on each estate was on A, 112 ; on 15, 138j 

 on t', 88. 



With regard to tlie weight of the bunches, the one con- 

 taining 212 fingers was the heaviest, having a net weight of 

 59 lb. The heaviest bunch from estate A, weighed 46 lb., 

 and the lightest 32 If). From estate B, the heaviest was 

 59 Iti., and the lightest 38 B)., and from estate C, the heaviest 

 was 10 111., and the lightest 25 lb. 



THE WAY TO PACK ORANGES. 



The Demerara Dally Chronldn for February 13, 190C, 

 states that the Hon. B. Howell Jones received, quite 

 recently, a bos of oranges as packed in Spain for the British 

 market. The box has been sent out by way of object-lessou 

 to those who might be induced to start an industry in 

 oranges and other similar citrus fruits between Demerara 

 and the United Kingdmi. The fruit, notwithstanding it-s 

 journey from Spain to London, and then to British Guiana, 

 is stated to have arrived in a thoroughly fresh and sound 

 condition. In the hope that the export trade in oranges 

 might be developed in other West Indian Colonies, as it is in 

 Jamaica, the following suggestions as to grading and ^Jacking 

 might prove beneficial : — 



The best season for the >hipment of oranges to the 

 b'nited Kingdom is as near the months of August and 

 September as possible. 



The points to be emphasized are, first, the most 

 delicate picking and handling of the fruit to ensure their 

 safe arrival at port : uniformity in the size of the fruit and 

 of the boxes — the latter should be sufficiently large to hold 

 150, 17.5, or 200 of the fruit ; and thirdly, uniformity iu 

 colour. The oranges selected for export should be fairly 

 large, a good firm fruit, and silky in skin. 



To build up a trade in oranges, it is evident that 

 a Constant and untiring supervision would have to be 

 exercised over the labour of the pickers and the packers ; 

 and there is no reason whj-, with a little instruction, the 

 indigenous labouring population in the several West Indian 

 Islands should not readily prove djual to the work requirefl 

 in the handling and packing of the fruit. 



The Curator of the Botanic Station, Tobago, writes that 

 two students at the Botanic Station have received positions 

 as assistants on est^ites in that island. Their places at the 

 Botanic Station were quickly filled from among the numerous 

 applicants, and it would seem that an interest is being 

 awakened among the young men of Tobago, in agricultural 

 work. 



