Notes on the Society's Work in 1897-1918. lxv. 



cultivation of limes. The growth attained by trees planted on the light 

 lands of the lower reaches of the Essequibo river fully justifies an exten- 

 sive cultivation of lime trees in that district. 



The heaviest crops of limes are obtained on the loose friable alluvial 

 coast and river soils but the trees grow and bear well on the lateritic 

 soils of the interior of the colony. The trees do not grow so well nor 

 yield such satisfactory crops of fruit on heavy clay lands either on the 

 coastlands or in the in terior. Would-be growers of limes should use 

 great care in the selection of soils for that purpose. Lime-growing is an 

 industry peculiarly well suited to the smaller Jand owners and the 

 peasantry of the colony especially for those residing on the lower reaches 

 and in the islands near the estuaries of the great rivers. Having this in 

 mind the Government has established a lime juice concentration factory 

 at Onderneeming where excellent results are being obtained. In the 

 county of Berbica Messrs. Davson & Sons have established a factory for 

 the production of citrate of lime and of concentrated lime juice, whilst a 

 large and exceptionally well-equipped factory has been erected and is at 

 work at Agatash, Essequibo Eiver. 



The records of the exportation of lime products during the past three 

 years are as follows : — 



Lime juice, ordinary, gals. . 

 Lime Juice, cone, gals. 

 Citrate of Limes, csvts. 

 Essential oil of Limes, gins. . 



In British Guiana on suitable soils the lime trees — when well tended 

 — are generally free from disease and insect pests ; the limes produced are 

 large and juicy fruit, and their acid and essential oil content is very satis- 

 factory, whilst the progress made during the latter part of the period under 

 review indicates that the Colony should become one of the most impor- 

 tant producers of limes and lime-products in the world. 



Bananas. 



In 1907 I spoke as follows : 



" Probably the most promising of the colony's agricultural resources 

 '•'is the cultivation of bananas. There can be few, if any, places better 

 " suited from soil and meteorological conditions, and from the topography 

 " of the land with its everywhere-prevailing system of natural and 

 " artificial waterways, than the coastlands of British Guiana for the 

 " cultivation of this fruit. The bananas grown in this colony are of large 

 " size and of excellent flavour, far superior in fact to the majority of the 

 " more or less miserable specimens of the fruit now seen in London, 

 " Manchester, and other large towns. 



" If facilities are provided for the rapid transport of the fruit from 

 " the colony and for placing them on the market, there ctn be little 



