BY A. O. GREEN. 53 



Pot at OPS. — Potato-growing has become another large 

 industry. During last year potatoes were exported to the 

 value of £325,000. Both potato and fruit culture need 

 only small capital, and small holdings, and the benefit from 

 them is very widespread, tending more to the general pros- 

 perity than industries in which only a few are benefited. 

 They also ai'e bringing other industries in their train, in the 

 canning, drying, preserving, and packing for distant markets. 



Canning and Drying. — These ti'ades of canning, pre- 

 serving, and drying are as yet in their infancy, but when 

 they are fully developed fluctuations and gluts in the 

 m.arkets wdll be largely done aw^ay wdth. There is very 

 little done in drying potatoes, for which there are splendid 

 opportunities. 



Starch. — There are no factories for making starch, 

 although conditions are favourable for this industry. On 

 some occasions, during recent years, large quantities of 

 potatoes that have missed the market have been spoilt, thus 

 causing great loss. 



Spirit. — The making of starch entails the making of 

 spirit, which would be another item of profit. 



Cider, — Cider also could be made very largely, and besides 

 being a source of profit in itself would help to steady the 

 fruit trade. Cider is made in a small way at present, with 

 very fair success, but not as a large business. In some of 

 the fruitgrowing districts in England, the cider press comes 

 round to the farmers just as the chaff cutter, threshino; 

 machine, and straw baler do here. 



Oats and Barley. — The northern parts of the Island are 

 especially suited for the cultivation of barley and oats, both 

 for the home market and for export. In 1902 about 

 £140,000 worth of oats were exported. 



