Vol. V. No. 116. 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



309 



COCOA-NUTS IN SEYCHELLES. 



The following reference to the cocoa-nut industry 

 in Seychelles, where it has superseded the cultivation 

 of vanilla, is extracted from the Anniutl Report on 

 the colony for 190.5 • — i 



The cocoa-nut palm grows well un(jer almost any 

 conditions in the Seychelles islands, and the products of the 

 cocoa-nut palm constitute their permanent ■ staple products. 

 Vanilla has, for a season, brought greater wealth, and there 

 is no reason why rubber {Ilevea brasiliensis) should not be 

 equally remunerative ; but as a constant source of income, 

 with an illimitable market, the cocoa-nut is the safest of all. 

 Serious efforts have been made during 1905 to eradicate 

 disease, and to make clear to all proprietors the uses of 

 restoratives of the soil and the best methods of cultivation. 

 The estimated crop in 190.5 was 19 to 20 millions of nuts ; 

 but with better cultivation, the crop of 2,000 nuts an acre 

 might be increased by 50 per cent.; the average nuts can 

 similarly be increased in weight and oil-giving quantities, and 

 the area under cultivation might be largely extended. 



The results, however, for 1905 are already eminently 

 satisfactory, considering that the trees have suffered from 

 two seasons of drought, showing that the planters appreciate 

 the vital need of improving the cultivation of the cocoa-nut 

 palm. The crops for 1906 promise to give much higher 

 results. About four-fifths of the total crop is exported under 

 one form or another. The quantity of oil exported is equiv- 

 alent to about 20,000 cwt., at a price equivalent to about 

 X16 per ton. The cost of placing this oil on the London 

 market is at pre.sent increased by 68*-. per ton, the rate of 

 freight fixed by the Messageries Maritimes ; consequently, very 

 little goes direct to Europe. The average price shows a sub- 

 stantial improvementover the prices in 1903 and 1904,although 

 considerably less than the rate ruling from 1.S95 to 1899. 



The manufacture of soap has shown a large expansion ; 

 the production is about 6,564 cwt., selling at £21 per ton. 

 The quality of the soap is excellent, and needs only to be 

 better known to be in wide demand. The present markets 

 are Madagascar and the east coast of Africa. 



The export of cocoa-nuts is much lower than in any 

 previous year, but this is due to the absence of facilities for 

 cheap shipment to Mauritius. The declared value is given at 

 Rs. 22 [rupee = Is. id.] per 1,000 — a price which can be 

 considerably augmented by their conversion into copra or oil. 



The preparation of copra is a new industry, and at 

 present prices is the most lucrative form for export. The 

 principal difficulty in the way of this expansion is the cost 

 and uncertainty of freight to Europe. The volume is still 

 only 3,000 cwt., at an average price of between lis. 16 and 

 Rs. 17 per cwt., or £22 per ton ; but with cheaper freights 

 and some security against delay in shipment, the trade would 

 largely increase. 



There is, at present, no export of desiccated cocoa-nuts, 

 poonac, or coir (ro[ie, yarn, or fibre). A company has been 

 formed at Brussels, under the title of ' Bacova ' for the 

 desiccation of cocoa-nut, banana, vanilla, and manioc at 

 Seychelles, which will shortly commence operations. The 

 poonac is all consumed locally. The industry of fibre 

 manufacture was once attempted without success, and the 

 experiment has not been revived. The fibre is not now 

 utilized. 



The total volume of cocoa-nut exports is approximately 

 2,275 tons, of a declared value of Rs. 414,012 — a marked 

 advance on 1904, and better than any year since 1899. It is 

 probable that the exports for 1906 will prove the best on 

 record. 



TOBACCO INDUSTRY OF CUBA. 



The following note on the Cuban tobacco industry 

 is extracted from the U. S. ] Monthly Consular 

 -Re^jorte for February : — ; 



The past history of the tobacco-bowing industry records 

 no such general destruction of a tobacco crop as by the 

 torrential rains recently. Leading planters declare that not 

 more than from 30 to 35 per cent, of the regular harvest will 

 be reaped, and that the leaf marketed will be very deficient 

 in quality. The number of bales of tobacco in 1905 was 

 469,328, while the 1906 estimate is 160,000 bales. The 

 latter figure will be further reduced, because the acreage in 

 tobacco is not so large. That the 1906 crop will hardly 

 supply even local needs is evident by the fact that Havana 

 cigar factories alone require 100,000 bales yearly. The 

 American smoking public will first feel the effects of the 

 consequent higher prices because of the preference for the 

 'green cigar,' while European smokers value more the 

 'seasoned cigar.' The American preference therefore necessi- 

 tates fresher stocks by manufacturer and dealer. 



Appeals to the Cuban Government have come from all 

 parts of the afflicted districts. The remedy most in favour is 

 to render both direct and indirect aid to the devastated 

 districts. It is proposed to execute a system of public works 

 that will prevent a recurrence of the overflow of the rivers so 

 destructive in some districts, in addition to giving employ- 

 ment to many hands that usually find work in the tobacco 

 fields. The outlook is extremely gloomy, and the scarcity of 

 seedlings blights the last hope of the early recouping of the 

 losses suffered. 



Since the above was written, the Cuban tobacco 

 industry has suffered further disaster in consequence 

 of the outbreak of political disturbances. It was 

 pointed out in a recent issue of the Jamaica Daily 

 Telegraph that this offered an opportunity for extend- 

 ing the local tobacco industry. Referring to this 

 article, the Secretary of the Jamaica Agricultural 

 Society wrote as follows : — 



In your Saturday's issue you quoted an extract from the 

 Agricultural Journal referring to the fresh opportunity 

 Jamaica has of pushing her cigar-tobacco industry through 

 the interruption of the Cuban trade. You pointed out in 

 your exoelle;it leader other opportunities Jamaica had of 

 creating a trade in early vegetables. 



I wish, however, that you had dwelt more upon the 

 tobacco industry, because that we have established ; and we 

 have men who can grow Havana tobacco and cure it, who 

 are familiar with all the particulars of the industry, while we 

 have plenty of suitable land, in the same districts where 

 tobacco is grown at present, to grow more. 



In reply to Mr. Barclay, the Daily Telegrapli. 

 stated : — ■ 



There is no reason why .lamaica should, not be recognized 

 in England as one of the foremost tobacco-producing countries 

 in the world ; or rather, there is no reason why a large 

 percentage of the supplies of tobacco leaf for the English 

 market should not be drawn annually from this island. 

 Experience has proved that the soil of Jamaica is in no- 

 degree inferior to that of Cuba (with the possible exception, 

 of a far-famed valley near Havana) from the point of view of 

 tobacco production. The flavour and aroma of the Jamaica 

 leaf are quite as good as those of the tobacco grown in the 

 neighbouring island, and if all our cultivators were as expert 

 in the art of curing as most of the Cuban producers are, the 

 expansion of the industry would not only be a possibility but 

 an actuality. 



