Vol. V. Xo. 118. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS. 



345 



St. Vincent Arrowroot. 



The St. Vincent Sentry again draws attention to 

 the necessity of combination among the producers of 

 arrowroot with a view to regulating the shipment of 

 this commodity. This matter was referred to in the 

 Agricultural Nevjs, Vol. Ill, p. 34.5, where it was 

 mentioned that, some three years previously, an agree- 

 ment had been entered into to limit the output and 

 demand a minimum price of 2d. per lb. in the English 

 market. The result was that the price of arrowroot 

 advanced very satisfactorily. On the expiration of the 

 agreement, which was for one year only, the planters 

 neglected to renew it. 



The Sentry suggests a combination on the lines of 

 the agreement entered into in 1901. 



Events have proved that the buyers are always 

 ready to pay more than '2d. per tb., whenever stocks 

 are reduced, while St. Vincent arrowroot has been 

 selling at l|cZ. and l^d. per lb. till recently. 



In spite of the bright prospects of the cotton 

 industry, St. Vincent cannot afford to bear depression 

 in the arrowroot market, as the greater portion of the 

 cultivated lands is still in arrowroot cultivation. This 

 is the principal industry of the island, its value being 

 about £20,000 annually. 



Rubber Planting in Jamaica. 



There are encouraging signs that planters in 

 Jamaica are turning their attention to the planting of 

 rubber trees. A considerable number of rubber plants 

 is being distributed every year from the Department 

 of Public Gardens and Plantations, and large orders 

 have been booked by the Department for next year's 

 planting. 



An interesting letter was communicated to the 

 London Daily Telegraph recently by Mr. Robert 

 El worthy, of Linstead, in which the writer makes out 

 a strong case for Jamaica as a promising field for rubber 

 cultivation. 



While some planters have trees oi Gastilloa elastica 

 which are now ready for tapping, Mr Elworthy states 

 that he planted his trees six years ago, and that he 

 expects to be able to start tapping in the course of the 

 next two years. He says : ' The growth, where soil and 

 shade conditions are favourable, is marvellous. A large 

 number of my trees are well above 30 feet high, and 

 are a yard in girth 2 feet from the ground. This girth 

 measurement is increasing at the rate of at least 

 3 inches annually.' 



Mr. Elworthy does not anticipate much trouble 

 from hurricanes, as a Castilloa tree is scarcely likely to 

 be uprooted, being very supple. The top might be 

 blown oft'; but this might take the place of pollarding, 

 and cause the trunk to develop a larger tapping area. 



In reference to this letter, the Jamaica Daily 

 Telegra])h mentions that the Agricultural Society has 

 recently appointed as an Agricultural Instructor 

 a gentleman who has had considerable experience, both 

 in Ceylon and in Central America, in connexion with 

 rubber planting. His knowledge of tapping operations 

 is likely to be of considerable service to rubber planters. 



Cacao Land in St. Lucia. 



The Voice of St. Lucia, of October 25, contains 

 notes on a visit paid to a large cacao district which is 

 being developed by the opening up of new land in the 

 Grand Cul-de-Sac and Roseau Valleys. 



There was a fair show of cacao at Deglos, Odsan, 

 and I'Abbeye ; some of it as good as possible, and some 

 showing the effects of lack of drainage and forking. 



The district comprising Sarrotte, Vanard, La 

 Treille, and Millet contains 1,000 to 1,500 acres of good 

 cacao land. To judge by the 400 to 500 acres in 

 actual cultivation, the district should be capable of 

 producing a crop of about 2,000 bags. 



With the laying out of new roads, a large area of 

 excellent cacao land could be brought into cultivation. 



Exports of Jamaica. 



According to the report of the Collector-General 

 for the year ended Blarch 31 last, there was an increase 

 of £406,455 in the total value of the exports of 

 Jamaica, as compared with the previous year. 



Of this amount fruit accounts for 55 per cent.; 

 minor products, 159 per cent.; coffee, 7'6 per cent.; 

 sugar, 6'9 per cent.; rum, 56 per cent.; d^-ewoods, 

 4'5 per cent. : and pimento, 45 per cent. 



Referring to the increase in the output of sugar, 

 Mr. Miles states that the industry has shown consider- 

 able improvement since the abolition of the bounties. 

 By the erection of better machinery and the closer 

 attention to manufacture, the cost of production has 

 been lessened. Appreciably higher prices were obtained 

 for rum, and the future of the Jataaica nmi industry is 

 promising. 



The fruit industry, of which the banana and the 

 orange form the principal items, still retains its first 

 place in the island's economics. It is suggested that 

 the increasing demand for the banana and the failure 

 of Jamaica to supply fruit of the best quality should 

 point a lesson to those interested in the cultivation of 

 this crop. In the orange industry there are great 

 possibilities, provided the most intelligent methods of 

 marketing are adopted. 



The figures as to minor industries during the 

 past three years show that a steady development is 

 taking place. This is attributed, largely, to the work 

 being carried on by the Agricultural Society. ' Capital 

 is also being invested in the development of minor 

 products. We have with us such promising ventures 

 as the Starch Factory and the Preserve Factories. The 

 manufacture of butter on a large scale has also been 

 undertaken, and the tea industry in St. Ann is 

 extending. The industry of dye extraction from our 

 native dyewoods is also expanding. An extensive 

 plant is now being laid down in St. Elizabeth in 

 connexion with this industry.' 



' The total exports of dyewoods for the last three 

 years were : 1903-4, £117,262 ; 1904-.5, £78,226 ; 1905-6, 

 £80,286. There is a promising future for this product; 

 the perfecting of the process of extracting locally the 

 dyes from these woods has added materially to their 

 value.' 



