338 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



XOVEMBER 3, 1906. 



Canada takes about one-fourth, or nine million 

 dollais worth, of the total exports of the West Indies, 

 the princijjal articles being sugar, molasses, and rum, of 

 which .^8,259,002 worth were imported into Canada 

 last year. The importation of these products is 

 increasing enormously. Canada also takes cacao, 

 cocoa-nuts, fresh fruits, and hides in large quantities. 



On the other hand, Canada's exports to the West 

 Indies amount in value to nearly four million dollars, 

 being chiefly bread-stuffs, fish and fish products, and 

 other provisions. The trade in these products could 

 he largely increased, especially if the requirements of 

 these islands were more closely studied. Sir Daniel 

 Morris instanced the flour trade, and suggested that 

 the exporters should put up this product in the manner 

 in which the people of the West Indies desired it. 



In conclusion. Sir Daniel urged the adoption of 

 more scientific methods in the promotion of trade, and 

 suggested that a delegation of business men be sent 

 next winter to the West Indies to meet repi-esentatives 

 of the mercantile communities for a discussion, with 

 a view to the mutual exchange of their several commodi- 

 ties. As stated in an editorial on this subject in the 

 Barbados Advocate, of October 17, 'business relations 

 are always promoted by personal acquaintance, and 

 these delegates would be able to form a better idea of 

 the value of the trade that could be done, and more 

 •easily perceive the obstacles that may be in the way of 

 its development and the best means of removing them.' 



In connexion with this subject of the improvement 

 of trade relations between Canada and the West Indies, 

 it Tiiay be of interest to refer to a recent report by the 

 Canadian Commercial Agent in Trinidad (llr. Edgar 

 Tripp), published in the Monthly Report of the Dejsart- 

 nient of Trade and Commerce of Canada, for June 

 1906. Mr. Tripp states that the exports of produce to 

 Canada during the past three years were as follows : 

 1903-4, £31,829 ; 1904-5, £247,-585 ; 1905-6, £219,029 ; 

 the percentage of the total value of produce exported 

 last year being 12 5. 



Last year Canada took only 1,200 bags of Trinidad 

 cacao, and Mr. Tripp asks : ' Should there not be an 

 opening for a thoroughly up-to-date chocolate manufac- 

 tory in the Dominion?' One thousand five hundred 

 tons of asphalt were included in the year's shipments 

 to British North America, but no raanjak. There is 

 also apparently no demand in Canada for balata. 



In view of the large exports of molasses from the 



West Indies to Canada, interest is attached to the 



memorandum, published on this page, relative to the 

 Canadian tariff in so far as it affects this article. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Molasses in Canada. 



The following memorandum, dated September 15, 

 1906, from the Commissioner of Customs at Ottawa, 

 contains the conditions under which muscovado molasses 

 and 'fancy' molasses are at present allowed to be imported 

 into the Dominion of Canada. 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture has been 

 informed by the Minister and Commissioner of Customs 

 that a revision of the tariff"is likely to take place at the 

 close of the current year, but that it is improbable that 

 any change will be made in regard to muscovado 

 molasses and 'fancy' molasses : — 



Muscovado mola.sses and 'fancy' molasses, on importation 

 into Canada, are tested by polariscope by Clerget's method. 



At present all raolasses (including 'fancy' molasses) 

 testing not over 52° (Clerget) by polariscope, are admitted 

 into Canada free of duty from British West Indies. 



Genuine muscovado molasses is also admitted although 

 testing over 52 '. 



' Fancy ' molasses testing over 52 ' and not over 75 " by 

 polariscope is subject to duty at the rate of 40c. per 100 lb., 

 less one-third rebate, under the Preferential Tariff, from 

 British West Indies. 



Varieties of Sugar-cane in Hawaii. 



Bulletin No. 17 of the Division of Agriculture and 

 Chemistry of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association 

 contains information respecting the sugar jdelds and 

 the quality of the juices of the different varieties 

 of sugar-cane under experiment. In addition, tabulated 

 data, with reference to a number of recently introduced 

 Demerara and Barbados seedlings, are given. The 

 following table shows the yields of cane and of sugar 

 per acre for the first six seedlings in the list : — 



These seedlings show estimated yields far above all the 

 other varieties tested, with the exception of the ' Dark 

 Coloured Brtmboo,' which gave 230,868 lb. of cane and 

 37,678 Dj. of sugar per acre. 



Experiments have also been conducted to obtain informa- 

 tion ' concerning the relative check to growth which the 

 various canes experienced during the winter season, and also 

 the relative rapidity in v.hieh they reassiimed a normal 

 development with the advent of more favourable weather.' 

 It is thought that the results .should afford some indication 

 of the relative value of the different varieties for planting ia 

 the lower temperatures of the higher altitudes. 



