46 



An attempt is being made to provide a depot for the purchase of 

 lots grown by small proprietors, as it is found that there is no 

 inconsiderable difficulty in disposing of small quantities. 



In Barbados, Sir D. Morris informs me that the local ginneries 

 buy " really fine well-picked Sea Island Cotton, as obtained from 

 the field, at 2d. per pound. This is seed cotton before it is ginned. 

 This is equal to 9d. per pound in Manchester for lint only. Inferior 

 sorts are bought at one penny per pound." - (7th March, 1904). 



604. BANANAS. 



Consequent upon the action of the Agricultural Society, the 

 -General Manager of the Government Railways, W. E. Smith, Esq., 

 was deputed to proceed to Jamaica to study the methods of transport 

 and shipping adopted in that Island, and this gentleman has furnished 

 the Society with an admirable report, which is here reproduced for the 

 information of readers of the Bulletin. 



The Fruit Industry of Jamaica. 



REPORT BY MR. W. E. SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER, TRINTDAD GOVERNMENT RAILWAY. 

 SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOCIETY". 



To the Secretary, Agricultural Society of Trinidad. 



" In compliance with the Resolution of your Board passed at its 

 meeting on the 13th October. 1903, and under the sanction of His 

 Excellency the Governor. I proceeded to Jamaica on the 5th January, 

 1904, for the purpose of inquiring into, and reporting upon the 

 methods of handling, transporting and shipment of Bananas and 

 Oranges as practised in that Colony. 



•" 1 returned to Port-of'-Spain on the 29th of the same month. 



•' 2. To have confined my investigations to the mere handling 

 and transporting of Fruit. I should have had a comparatively short 

 and easy task, for the reason principally that very few shipments 

 were being made during the time 1 was in Jamaica, in consequence of 

 the htu-ricane last year having retarded the crops in most of the big 

 banana districts. The opportunity was therefore afforded me of seeing 

 much else that was interesting and instructive, both with regard to 

 •he cultivation, and the general development of this remarkable 

 industry in our neighbouring Colony. I propose including in this 

 report a few out of the many such notes and observations I was 

 enabled to make, my object being to interesl those who are already 

 taking, or intending to take, some active share in the establishing of 

 such an industry here in Trinidad. 



"• •'!. The value of the Fruit exports of Jamaica exceeds one 

 million pounds sterling, annually, or over sixty per cent, of the total 

 exports of the Colony. Nearly seven-eights go to the United States, 

 and the remainder to the United Kingdom and other British posses- 

 sions. 



■• It is estimated thai 33,000 acres are under Banana cultivation, 

 comprising 240 Estates or thereabout, varying in acreage from twenty 



