17 



of the essence were taken up, the juice could still be obtained, and it would doubtless lead to a large 

 increase in the export. 



Vegetables. — The cultivation of Onions has been treated of in No 18. Experiments have been 

 made in the different Gardens and in various localities throughout the Island with satisfactory results. 

 It was said that Onions would not bulb in the Island, but it has been proved that this is a mistake, if 

 suitable localities with a fair amount of rain, are chosen for the culture. 



Experiments in the growth of English Peas and Cabbage, suitable cultivations for ths cooler 

 parts of the Island, are detailed in No. 20. These experiments are being continued in the Hill Garden 

 at Cinchona, so as to determine the special varieties suited for our climate, and the best months in the 

 year for planting. It is not supposed that an export trade, at any rate of anv extent, coull be main- 

 tained, in English" vegetables ; but it is important to consider what can bi grown for home use. as 

 well as for export. 



Cocoa. — A rote on the cultivation of Cocoa is given in No. 20, supplementary to a previous ar- 

 ticle. The amount of Cocoa exported in the 12 months, ended 31st March, 1891, was 6,4l7cwts. 2qrs. 

 241bs., valued at £14,439 17s. 2d., which is nearly twice the amount exported 4 or 5 years ago While 

 the amount of the exports is increasing, tbe value per cwt. indicates that the curing of the bean is still 

 veiy faulty. Except on large estates, the beans are generally only washed and partially dried. In- 

 dividual growers cannot be blamed for this, as buyers pay rather for bulk than quality, and accord- 

 ingly they get unfermented, wettish beans, which weigh heavier, and fill more bags, than the well- 

 fermented, dry shrunken beans. If merchants would instruct their buyers in country districts to pay 

 a little more for properly cured beans, which they could keep separate, ihe growers would soon see 

 that it is to their individual advantage to take some trouble about curing, and the country generally 

 would be richer. His Excellency the Governor has arranged to provide instructors to g > amongst 

 the people, and show them how to prune their cocoa trees, and cure the beats. There will be, there- 

 fore, no excuse for ignorance. Another method by which the immense loss to the country might be 

 saved would be for buyers to purchase pods, and cure the beans themselves. 



Mice. — The amount of Rice imported during the 12 months was 6,985,9401bs. of the value of 

 £41,915 128. 9d. There is no reason why this food supply should not be supplied by our own soil, 

 and the £40,000 kept in this Island for the benefit of our own people. An article on the cultivation 

 appeared in No. 19. 



Dr. Calder, of Meylersfield Estate, has grown Rice on a large scale in Westmoreland to the ad- 

 vantage both of himself and his work people ; and he delivered an interesting Lecture on the whole 

 subject at the instance of the Jamaica Institute before a large audience at the Exhibition. The pub- 

 lication of his lecture is looked forward to with interest. 



Tanning Materials. — Strangers to Jamaica are always struck with the immense areas lying abso- 

 lutely waste, even in fertile parts of the Island. This state of things will, I hope, be improved from 

 year to year, until even our barren wastes are made to produce sometaing of value. 



One product, suited for soil where scarcely even gras9 will grow, and where as little rain as 20 

 inches falls in the year, is the Golden Wattle of Australia, yielding the richest tan-bark in the world. 

 Attention has been called to this tree in No. 19, and large extracts given from a pamphlet on the sub- 

 ject by Mr. J. H. Maiden, the Curator of the Technological Museum in Sydney. A large quantity of 

 seed was contributed from the Kew Gardens, and Mr. Maiden, at my request, has most kindly ob- 

 tained and supplied me with another large supply. The clear profit arising from the cultivation of .100 

 acres for 7 or 8 years, as Mr. Maiden shows, was stated before a Government Commission to be from 

 £1,000 to £3,00, . 



Another tanning material of quite a different type is Gambier, described in No. 20. This plant 

 will only grow in deep moist soil. The authorities at Kew after considerable trouble and with great 

 difficulty, obtained a supply of seedlings from Singapore for the West Indies. The consignment ar- 

 rived in such poor- condition that it was doubtful at the time whether any would survive. 



At the Exhibition a block of concentrated juice of Mangrove was shown. A sample was sent to 

 Kew, and submitted there to experts. The result was sj favourable that a request was sent out that 

 a ton of it might be prepared for experiment on a commercial scale. 



India Mubber. — A further Report on the Native India Rubber, in addition to the one in No. 10, 

 appears in No. 21. The London manufacturers stated the value to be 3s. 2d. per pound. 



Cinchona Bark — Reports from time to time have been published on the state of the Cinchona 

 Market. See Nos. 15 and 21. As far as can be judged from these Reports, the immediate future for 

 Cinchona is not reassuring. I have, however, bean assked by a London Firm to supply seeds of Cin- 

 chona succirubra to the value of £50 for growing on estates in Ceylon. 



Coca. — Articles on this plant which yields the well-know cocaine, are published in No. 15 and 16. 

 The coca shrub grows well in Jamaica, but unless grown on a large scale, it probably would scarcely 

 pay. 



Sugar Cant,. — A report on a disease in Sugar Canes was published in No. 15, and articles on seed- 

 lings appeared in >ob. 15 and 19. 



The demand for tops has been greater than the supply available at the Gardens Planters are 

 experimenting with the varieties grown — about 40— to ascertain whether any are better suited to the 

 soil and other conditions of their estates, than their present stock of plants. Mr. Jos ph Shearer of 

 Vale Royal, writes : ■' The Vulu-vulu, Grand Savanne, Poa-ole, Seete, and Otaheite are certainly 



worth preserving, and I am doing all I can to increase my planting of them Salangore 



and Elephant are not suited for our soil and climate here," i.e., Trelawny. This is a practical method 

 of increasing the output of sugar. It would be advantageous also to follow the cutters in the field 

 and note any variations from the usual type of cane. Many varieties giving a larger yield per acr' 



