19 



" Preparation of Ginger. — "When taken out of the ground it is washed free from dii't, then experi- 

 enced hands peel between what are called the toes to avoid their being broken off, as the large branching, 

 or bold pieces bring the best price. It is then handed to less experienced hands to peel off the outer por- 

 tion of the skin. The knife used has a very narrow blade which is riveted into the handle and cannot 

 shut The blade cannot be too thin and narrow, as it has to cut between the toes which grow very close 

 to each other. "When peeling is finished, each piece is thrown into a bowl of clean water, and af erwards 

 thoroughly washed, then put on mats, i.e.. stands are made of crutch-sticks driven into the ground and of 

 even height ; strengthening pieces go in parallel lines. Mats made of thatch palm are then spread, and 

 dr3''ing commences The ginger must not get wet when once it begins to day, and is taken in every 

 evening. Some parties use lime-juice in washing, with a view to make the ginger white, and ensure a 

 better price. It is invariably found, when so treated that it mildews, thus injuring and considerably 

 reducing the value. No ginger is as good as that which is washed in pure clean water properly, and 

 thoroughly dried. 



Curing with boiling water. — I am glad to say is not resorted to on this side as far as I am aware. 



"In view of the constant demand for virgin soil for the production of fine ginger, its exhausting 

 effects on the soil, the wholesale destruction of valuable timber in forest land, fire being the only 

 agent for cleaning up for planting, one can only realise by a visit to the district the alarming destruc- 

 tion from year to year going on, the drying up of streams, the tens of thousands of pounds of valuable 

 timber lost in smoke, the now varying rainfall, the soil becoming so impoverished that only ferns 

 will grow on it afterwards, with other attendant evils. The conclusion arrived at, is, the sooner the 

 production of ginger is abandoned, the better. A howling wilderness of barrenness marks its progress 

 in every direction, and £20 worth of ginger is the outcome of ten times twenty pounds of destruc- 

 tion." 



Geo. Nash. 



Forestry. 



The subject of Forestry is continually coming up, and grows more important every year. 



Mr. Hooper in his Report of 1886 put forward recommendations for the consideration of owners 

 of land as well as of Government. 



He deals with the objection that it is not worth while to conserve timber that has no value, as it 

 is cheaper to employ lumber imported from America, by quoting instances that came under his own 

 observation of the sterling value of timber for strictly local purposes, and also by reference to !Sir 

 Joseph Hooker's opinion that the question is rather, whether in the future, forest timber will not acquire 

 a distinct valuo when population spreads and roads are opened up. 



I take every opportunity of trying to impress upon all those who have any land at all — whether 

 settlers or large owners, or public bodies, the prospective value of timber. It has been estimated by 

 authorities in forestry that the lumber forests of the United States will be practically exhausted in ten 

 years' time, and that as the small amount of replanting that is going on will make no very great differ- 

 ence in that time, liimber can only be obtained from Europe where forests are undfir a system of State 

 conservancy. The consequence will be that lumber will be so dear after a time that land covered with 

 suitable timber will be extremely valuable, probably more so than Logwood Estates are at the present 

 time. 



In consequence of notices published in the Bulletin and in the newspapers, nearly 1,700 Eucalyptus 

 seedlings have been distributed all over the Island, which have not only a hygienic value when planted 

 in quantity, in malarial districts, but besides, great value as timber. 



Besides the Eucalyptus plants, seedling trees have been given to the Kingston and Liguanea Water 

 Works, to plant at Rose Hill on the catchment area of the source of the Wag Water River which 

 supplies part of the Kingston supply. Probably about 3,000 trees have also been generally distributed. 

 These were the following : — 



Grevillea robusta ... 771 Mahoe ... 71 

 Naseberry Bully ... 125 Timber Sweet Wood ... 75 

 Fiddle Wood ... 736 Walnut ... 10 

 Sappan Wood ... 100 Cogwood ... 29 

 Lancewood ... 50 



r . . 1»960 

 Besides these, I obtained for the same purpose through the kindness of Mr. J. A. Stephens of Radnor 

 1,950 Naseberry Bully seedlings, but I understand that these unfortunately died through want of 

 proper treatment at Rose Hill. 



If owners of land, wishing to plant trees on their properties, will give timely notice, say a year 

 beforehand, of their intention to plant, and the kinds desired, every effort will be made to supply them 

 free of charges, except for the carriage and packing. I would also ask those who have useful trees 

 that seed, to send me seeds ; expenses for collecting and forwarding will be refunded. 



Mr Hooper goes into the question of the most useful trees and recommends as follows, with special 

 reference to Cashaw, Cedar, Mahogany, Logwood, Juniper. "As regirds export, I consider that for 

 years to come, even with rigid conservation, the Island will hardly be in a position, to supply in great 

 quantity, any species of hardwood timber that may come into common demand in Europe. Hitherto 

 shipments of fancy woods have been made mostly at a loss, ani there is little expectation of prices going 

 up. Still a moderate demand for close-grained small hardwoods for application to special uses could be 

 met at the present time with some profit, when the export of heavy large timber would not secure 

 any gain. 



" If the Island cannot supply an external demand for large hardwood timber at the present time 



