, 1884.] PLANTING ENTEBPBISEIN THE WEST INDIES. 347 



women 10|d. to Is. per day. The estimate of return is based on an 

 average of 2s. per pound being obtained for the bark of all ages, 

 which is practically only one-half of that actually realised by Jamaica- 

 grown bark during the last three years. 



In addition to the experimental cultivation and investigations 

 respecting cinchona plants, an attempt is being made to manufacture 

 cinchona febrifuge in the island for the purpose of placing this 

 valuable but cheap preparation within reach of Her Majesty's subjects 

 in the West Indies. This local utilisation of the Government 

 cinchona plantation, in Jamaica, is one which has long been kept in 

 view, and should cinchona febrifuge be successfully and economically 

 manufactured there, the plantation will be able to render an additional 

 service in supplying, on the spot, the means for combating sickness 

 and disease, and effectually coping with the scourges of fever which 

 occasionally visit it. 'This object, amongst others, has, I believe, been 

 always in contemplation by the Home Government in encouraging 

 cinchona planting in the Colonies ; and it is an aim so noble and 

 benevolent that it deserves the sympathy and support of all con- 

 cerned.' For, as one writer has well expressed it, ' To England, with 

 her numerous and extensive Colonial possessions, cinchona bark is 

 simply priceless ; and it is not tco much to say that if portions of 

 her tropical empire are upheld by the bayonet, the arm that wields 

 the weapon would be nerveless but for cinchona bark and its active 

 principles.' 



At the small but beautiful island of Montserrat, in the Leeward 

 Islands, which for a long time was in a languishing condition, new 

 life and energy has been infused by the successful issue of an 

 industry which a few years ago was confined to the desultory and 

 spasmodic efforts of a few negroes. I refer to the lime-juice plan- 

 tations and manufactory so ably and systematically established at 

 Montserrat by the Messrs. Sturge. And I would here add, that the 

 example of the Messrs. Sturge, not only in selecting and systematising 

 the cultivation of a minor West India product, but in conferring 

 great benefits upon the locality generally, deserves the warmest 

 commendation. It is a somewhat remarkable fact, that while, at the 

 time the Messrs. Sturge took up the cultivation of limes at Mont- 

 serrat, in 1868, * the whole of the northern portion of the island had 

 gone out of cultivation, and the export of sugar had gradually fallen 

 from some 2,700 hogsheads to 950 hogsheads, while the white 

 population had declined to about 240 persons, the effects jjroduced 

 by the energy and example of the Messrs. Sturge have infused new 

 life and energy to other industries. • For instance, the cultivation of 

 sugar has been greatly extended and improved of late years, and the 

 exports have been increased to some 2,500 hogsheads ; that is, 



