I.IG 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



May 1-2, 1906. 



GLEANINGS. 



It is stated in the West India Committee Circtilar that 

 the consumption of cacao in thp United States has been as 

 follows durint; the last six years: 1901, 18,630; 1902, 

 21,922 ; 1903, 25,230 ; 1904,29,357 ; 1905, 33,125 tons. 



The J/'aritime Merchant (Montreal) of April 19 states: 

 ' There is a good inquiry for oranges, these being the only green 

 fruits that the trade can fall back upon at the moment. 

 Jamaicas, of course, are very choice for those who are willing 

 to pay the price.' Jamaicas are quoted at §7 '00 per barrel. 



It is stated in the Annual Report on St. Lucia for 1904: 

 that ' a fairly large number of boats is engaged in fishing 

 round the coast of the island, l)Ut solely for the purpose of 

 supplying the local market, and no attempt is made at 

 preserving for export puri)Oses.' 



A writer in the Compte-t Rendua, 1 905, No. t>, gives 

 a botanical descrijition of a new eofl'ee from Central Africa. 

 It is known as Coffca exceha, which grows 18 to GO feet high. 

 The product is said to be among the best sorts known at the 

 present time. 



The company which is erecting a logwood factory in the 

 parish of St. Elizabeth, Janiaicii, has, saj's the Jamaica 

 Gleaner, 'acquired a handscme little launch of 15 horse 

 power in order to take their products down the river to the 

 port.' 



The London Slanilard of January 1 1 last contains 

 a summary of a ))aper by Dr. Francis Watts in the Agri- 

 cultuial JS'eirs (Vol. IV, p. 395) on the subject of the 

 treatment of orchard soils, ' as his remarks are not without 

 interest to fruit growers in this country.' 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture is desirous of 

 obtaining co[iies of the WeH Indian Bulletin, Vol. IV, no. 3, 

 the supjily of which has run short. The sum of l.s. per clean 

 copy will be paid. Persons willing to dispose of copies 

 should communicate with the Agents of the Department or 

 direct to the Head Ottice, IJarbados. 



The Cotton Trade Journal's English letter, dated 

 Manchester, March 28, says : ' The demand for Sea Island 

 yarn is moderate with no great animation. Spinners of thread 

 yarns are busy, as are those who make yarns of very high 

 counts. The West Indian cotton is now coming in and is 

 fetching good prices. Last week 210 bales were sold at 

 14]rf. to 19(/.' 



At a meeting of the Legislative Council of Jamaica on 

 April 18, the Government introduced a bill to ensure that 

 all distilleries erected after that date, and all distilleries 

 which might be reconstructed after the passing of the law, 

 should be fitted with locked stills. The motion for second 

 reading was defeated. A report on the results of the 

 installation of a locked still at Denbigh estate as an 

 experiment has already appeared in the A ''/ri cultural News 

 (Vol. V, p. 37). 



During the fortnight ended April 12, 457 bales of West 

 Indian cotton were imported into the United Kingdom. 

 Medium fine is quoted in Liverpool at 6'75(/. per lb.: West 

 Indian Sea Island, medium fine, 13i(/. per lb.; fine, 14At/. per 

 It).: and extra fine, Ki'/. per tt). Prices paid — 9irf. to 18c/. 

 (West India Committee Circular, April 18, 1906.) 



Messrs. Eldeis it Fytfes (Ltd.) announce that for the 

 three months ended March 31 last the total importation of 

 bananas amounted to 1,182,200 bunches, as compared with 

 878,987 bunches during the same period in 1905, showing an 

 increase of 303,263 bunches. Of this increase Jamaica and 

 Costa Rica bananas accounted for 275,453 bunches, and 

 Canary bananas for 27,810. 



The Montreal Gazette of April 17 tells the story of 

 a supposed wonderful illustration of the indestructibility of life. 

 It is related that some beans were taken from the coffin of an 

 ancient Egyptian, being probably 2,000, to 3,000 years old. 

 One of these beans, on being planted, germinated and 

 produceil a jijant. It is doubtful if this story is any more 

 relialile than those connected with the germination of wheat 

 taken from the mummies 



A iianiphlet on the West Indian Fruit Industry, by 

 Mr. W. (.i. Freeman, A.R.C.S., B.Sc, F.L.S., Superintendent 

 of the Colonial Economic Collections at the Imperial 

 Institute, London, has been recently issued as a reprint from 

 the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society. The 

 substance of this paper was delivered by Mr. Freeman at the 

 Society's show of colonial-grown fruit in December 1904. 

 The pamphlet contains a number of excellent illustrations of 

 West Indian fruits. 



A number of eggs of Barred Plymouth Rock and 

 AVhite Leghorn Fowls are available at the Agricultural 

 School, St. Lucia, for hatching purposes at 3s. per dozen. 

 Chickens, either pure or first cro.sses, of these breeds are on 

 sale at from \s. to 2s. 6t/. each, according to age. Belgian 

 hares are sold for breeding purposes at 4k. 2d. per jiair. 

 Orders should be forwarded to the Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent. Packing will be charged for extra. 



Mankowski reports in the CentU. Bait, that a mite was 

 found infesting moscjuitos in Bessarabia. In a review of this 

 paper the Exjjcriineut Station Record states : ' From one to- 

 six parasites were found on each infested mosrjuito, and 

 about 30 [ler cent, of all mosquitos studied were infested. 

 The injportanee of this parasite appears to be quite great, 

 since the number of mosquitos and the extent of malaria 

 were con.siderably reduced during the year.' 



A well attended conference of cotton growers was held 

 at Barbados on Friday, May 4. The Imperial Commissioner 

 of Agriculture briefiy reviewed the position of the industry 

 at Barbados, mentioning some of the most important points 

 that required the attention of growers. A number of 

 gentlemen present took part in the discussion which followed. 

 On the suggestion of the Hon. Sir Daniel Morris, the meeting 

 was adjourned to the 11th. inst. to secure full and complete 

 discussion of the points raised. 



