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valuable crop, but it is only recently that the large ranche-owners have 

 begun to cultivate it extensively for the fattening of cattle and sheep 

 for export ; for instance, one estanciero recently put 6, 500 acres under 

 alfalfa for the purpose of supplying fat cattle and sheep regularly for 

 shipment to England. Five cuttings are said to be obtained from it in 

 a year, yielding 12 toris of hay per acre, without manure or irrigation,, 

 and it is calculated that fat cattle of 700 lbs. carcase weight, can be 

 delivered in England at £12 a head. The great drawback hitherot 

 has been the uncertainty of fattening cattle on the natural pastures, 

 which are liable to become short of food from drought. On other 

 farms an equal area is under alfalfa for the purpose of supplying hay ; 

 on one of them 1,500 bales are every day put up and compressed by 

 machinery. 



In dry districts like the plain of Liguanea, irrigation would doubtless 

 be necessary to ensure constant crops. It should succeed in the dis- 

 trict where water from the Rio Cobre Irrigation Canals can be utilised. 

 It would be valuable as hay to be given to horses and cattle through- 

 out the island, and especially in times of drought. Ensilage can only 

 be conveniently used on the place where it is made, but dry, compressed 

 hay can readily be carried long distances. 



Seed can be obtained from Messrs. Peter Henderson & Co., 35 Cort- 

 landt St., New York, at a cost of $16 per 100 lbs., freight not included. 

 About 12 lbs. per acre are necessary. 



Forestry. — It is encouraging to find that nearly 13,000 trees have 

 been distributed. Those who wish for any large number of trees 

 should give two or three years' notice. Attention is directed to the 

 value of Teak, which has succeeded admirably at Hope Gardens, and 

 has provided excellent gate posts for the entrance gates, though the 

 plantation is only 21 years old. 



(trapes. — The Vines planted by Mr. Thompson in the King's House 

 Gardens have been removed to Hope. They will be submitted to various 

 experiments in order to simplify as much as possible the cultivation in 

 the tropics. 



Kola or Bissy. — This is a product which has a great future for it. 

 It is a food like Cocoa, a stimulant like Tea, and has great value as a 

 therapeutic agent in affections of the nerves, heart, &c. More than six 

 thousand plants have been distributed, besides large quantities of seeds. 



Oranges. — Twelve hundred seedling orange plants have been distri- 

 buted. These have been grown from seed of fruit of the finest quality. 



Experiments in budding have been continued, and the boys of the 

 Hope Industrial School have been successful under the tuition of Mr. 

 Cradwick in budding a large number of plants. 



In order to supply probable demands in the future for budded stock, it 

 will be necessary to grow trees in a permanent orange garden for the 

 production of buds. This garden should be situated at an elevation 

 and locality where the finest fruit is produced, and where it can be 

 worked with the resources of the Department at present available. 



The best way to improve the quality of oranges exported, is to en- 

 courage cultivation, proper picking, selection, careful curing and pack- 

 ing, together with the placing of distinctive marks on the packages. 

 The value of the marks will soon be as well known on the markets as 



