50 
been said that a total failure of 2 Bussorah crop would not raise 
the price of dates 25 per cent. if other dried fruits were an 
average crop. On the other hand the expenses connected with 
buying, packing, and shipping the dates to England are so large 
that, oe a certain price is obtained for them, loss must ensue. 
The e native growers for the last two years have demanded and 
received much higher prices for their dete, and they will be 
likely to hold out in future for equally high, if not higher, prices, 
on one pretext or another. Combinations of packers to limit the 
priee to be paid for the dates, or to limit the number of boxes to 
be shipped, or to abandon the custom of giving advances to the 
growers, seem to be impotent in effecting any good owing to the 
unreliableness and untrustworthiness of some ‘of their number. 
The practice of making considerable advances to small packers, 
who are thus enabled to swell the shipments far beyon 
requirements of the market, should be kept within very narrow 
limits, if not abolished altogether. Asa final observation, it may 
be said that probably the best thing for the date business in 
Bussorah, as regards the interests of the British firms, would be 
if the small packers were to suffer a severe blow which would 
drive them to an abandonment of i it. 
DC.—-BERMUDA ARROWROOT. 
A €— of urgens respecting the important arrowroot 
industry carried o island of St. Vincent was published 
in the Kap] Bulletin (1893, pp. 191-904 and p. 360). Queensland 
and ie ee arg se were discussed E the same volume 
(pp. 331-333), and South Australia arrowroot two years later 
(Kew Eat 1895, pp. 100—101). 
Hitherto no authentic account wes — sa of the inter- 
esting arrowroot industry carried o This colony 
does not export a large quantity (about "500 m 700" kegs yearly), 
but it is always admitted that the produce is of the finest quality. 
The prices, in 1893, ranged from 2s. 2d. to 1s. 3d. per pound, while 
good St. Jing only fetched 32d. to 6d. per pound. the 
present time St. Vincent arrowroot has fallen still lower, and 
ic 
It is evident that one reason for the mpor character of 
Bermuda arrowroot is the scrupulous care taken in every state 
of the M ias dicit Added to this, the water is Pole pure. 
The only particulars obtainable of the industry are contained in 
the Report of the Commissioner of Agr iculture, U.S.A., for the 
years 1881-1882, p. 226. As they may be of service to man y 
aokenien | where arrowroot is cultivated, they are reproduced 
below : 
“The island of Bermuda has the reputation of producing 
superior arrowroot. The mode of culture adopted is very similar 
to that practised in the culture of the common potato. The 
ground is well manured and ploughed deep. It isthen harrowed 
and laid out in drills about 6 inches in depth and 3 feet apart. 
In these drills the roots are set about 8 inches apart, covered 
