Vol. V. No. 103. 



THE AGEICULTUEAL NEWS. 



105 



A.B.C. of Cotton Planting. 



An application has been received from the Govern- 

 ment of the French Cohmies for permission to translate 

 and pnbhsh ' A.B.C. of Cotton Planting,' the text-book 

 of the Imperial Department of Agricidture. It ma.y 

 be mentioned that a new and enlarged edition of this 

 nseful pamphlet is in course of preparation, and the 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture would be glad 

 of any hints and suggestions likely to render the work 

 still more useful to cotton growers in these islands. 



The Canadian Preference. 



Writing on the subject of the preferential tariff 

 between Canada and the West Indies, the Interna- 

 tional Sugar Journal, for March 190G, says : ' We are 

 glad to know that, for the present at any rate, the 

 Canadian refiners have agreed to renew the arrange- 

 ments under which the West Indian sugar producers 

 will once more come in for a share of the 33J per cent, 

 preference. The refiners have consented to purchase 

 West Indian sugars on their arrival, at rates equivalent 

 to those ruling in New York, plus 10c. per 100 lb. for 

 muscovado, and 12c. per 100 lb. for crystals. This new 

 agreement, shall not last longer than July 1, next, unless 

 renewed, but it is hoped that it will be continued 

 by fresh negotiation. It is only fair that the West 

 Indian producers should benefit from the reduction in 

 tariff accorded by the Canadian Government; but if 

 the refiners are allowed to have the whip-hand, they 

 will naturally do their best to pocket as much of this 

 rebate as they can. 



Barbados Fish-curing Factory. 



The Fi.sh-curing Factory started at Barbados in 

 1903 by the Imperial Department of Agi'iculture, is still 

 carrying on operations, but on a smaller scale than 

 was anticipated owing (according to Mr. Hunte) ' to the 

 catch during the last two years being only sufficient to 

 supply fresh fish to the local market.' This compara- 

 tive scarcity of flying-fish is confirmed from other 

 ■sources. Fish curing will pay only when the original 

 cost delivered at the factory ranges at about 10 cents, 

 per 100. 



During the season from May 1903 to July 1904, 

 1.52 barrels of flying-fish, and 1,270 lb of albacore, 

 dolphin, bill fish, and red snapper were cured. Of 

 these, lis barrels of flying-fish and the whole of the 

 other fish were disposed of at fairly good prices, leaving 

 3-i barrels on hand. 



During the season from May 1904 to July 1905, 

 341- barrels and 4 kegs of flj'ing-fish, and i barrel of 

 bill fish were cured and disposed of, in addition to what 

 was carried over from the previous year. In both 

 years, a small profit was earned on the working of the 

 factory. 



It is proposed to continue operations in the hope 

 that the suppl}' of fish may increase during the coming 

 season. The experience gained has been of a useful 

 character, and, if a sufficient quantity of fish could 

 be obtained, the industry would be successful. 



Agricultural Education. 



The following is taken from Britannia of 

 February 190(i, pp. 67-8:— 



' The West Indies were intended by nature to be 

 the fruit garden of America and Europe, and the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West 

 Indies, since its institution in 1X98, has been furthering 

 this intention, by training the young mind in agri- 

 cultural science in addition to the ordinarjr school 

 course. It is eminently desirable that, with the natural 

 advantages of soil and climate, the children, especially 

 the boys, should be trainer! in practical agriculture, 

 along with a solid grounding in the three R's, as it is 

 on agriculture that the future prosperity of the 

 colonies depends. In Barbados, in Trinidad, in Grenada, 

 in St. Vincent, in Dominica, and in the Leeward 

 Islands generallj^, agricidture is taught scientifically 

 and practically in the agricultural schools, and many 

 of the primary schools have plots devoted to practical 

 and experimental work. Substantial progress has been 

 made, and made, too, on the right lines, for it is inevi- 

 table that this early training will soon overcome the 

 innate aversion to manual labour common to the West 

 Indies, and help in the making of men who will be 

 worthy of their place within the Commonwealth.' 



West Indian Produce Association. 



The West India Committee Circular for March 2, 

 1906, contains an editorial on the formation of an 

 association for the purpose of developing the demand 

 for all kinds of West Indian produce in England. 

 The following is quoted : — 



'The newly-fledged West Indian Produce Associa- 

 tion has taken over, as going concerns, the old- 

 established businesses of James Philip & Co. and the 

 Pure Cane Sugar Company, which for nearly a quarter 

 of a century have been dealing successfully in all kinds 

 of West Indian commodities, and the more recently 

 formed Monocane Sugar Company, which for two years 

 past has mainly devoted itself to advertising the pure 

 cane sugars of the West Indies, which used to be so 

 popular in our childhood's days. It will thus be seen 

 that the organizers of this new movement have adopted 

 the policy of developing and extending existing 

 businesses, and we believe that thej- have been wise in 

 doing so. The success which attended the efforts made 

 during last summer at the Colonial Exhibition to 

 popularize West Indian produce, made it appear that 

 the moment was opportune for developing the latent 

 demand for it, the existence of which has for a consider- 

 able time past been recognized. The West Indian 

 Produce Association is to be conducted on a business 

 footing, and no attempt will be made to go behind 

 existing organizations dealing with West Indian 

 produce, but rather to help them, the Directors 

 believing that the possibilities of this movement are 

 so great that by advertising West Indian produce 

 and making it better known in this country generall}^ 

 they will not only be helping the West Indian 

 Colonies, but will also be acting in the interest of 

 existing firms who handle it, and who should, therefore, 

 also reap the benefit. 



