18 



could be picked out in this way and propagated. The larger the estate the greater the chance of finding 

 such bud- variations. With a small mill as shown by Messrs. Duncan Stewart of Glasgow, or the Chat- 

 anoogaCo. at the Exhibit ion, the juice of a single cane could be extracted, and then tested with the proper 

 instruments to ascertain the quality of the juice. Manures will enable the planter to grow a greater 

 weight of cane per acre, but they do not cause any increase in the richness of the juice. This very 

 desirable end has to be attained by selection of individual canes. Much is hoped for from the demon- 

 stration by Messrs. Harrison and Bovell at Barbados, that seedlings can be raised. But it is doubtful 

 whether as much can be done in this way as by selection from bud-varieties. There are very few 

 seeds to a large quantity of arrow, and the seedlings are so extremely delicate that they require con- 

 stant attention in a seedling shed. The percentage of varieties richer than the original stock is not 

 likely to be greater than that obtainable from bud-variation in the fields. To attain any great success 

 in this direction would require the devotion of the owner of a large estate for several years to this 

 single object. There is no reason why the richness of the cane in sugar should not be increased as it 

 has been in beet, but it demands, in this case also, the expenditure not only of years of labour, but of 

 a considerable amount of money. 



The total acreage in canes is about the same as last year. 



Two mills were shown at the Exhibition suitable for small settlers. Both are driven by mule- 

 power, and are a great improvement on the old " John Crow" mill in efficiency and ease of working. 

 One of these mills manufactured by the Chatanooga Plow Co.. grinds, on an average, about 30 o-allons 

 per hour, yielding from 55 to 63 per cent, of juice : the cost is £10 10s. The other by Messrs. Dun- 

 can Stewart, is a most admirable small mill, costing about £30. 



Various other Economic Plants. 



Tobacco. — The area cultivated is steadily increasing, but it is not as great yet as it was in 1881-82J 

 Seed from good Havanna tobacco growing in Jamaica, kindly supplied by Mr. Quesada of Kingston 

 and by Mr. Antonio Leon of Temple Hall, has been distributed amongst settlers with the hope that it 

 will )ield a superior leaf. Sir J. D. Hooker, writing lately with reference to Jamaica cigars, says, 

 "they are a very great improvement on even the best that I have previously had. They have an ex- 

 cellent flavour and burn well. I do hope that by selection even finer qualities will be raised in 

 Jamaica. It only wants judicious measures for a few years on the part of some grower who will givo 

 his whole mind to it : choosing different sites, soils and seeds." That Jamaica tobacco is of a superior 

 quality is testified by the fact that Jamaica divided the prize for the best tobacco grown in British 

 Colonies, given by the London Chamber of Commerce. But it must not only be carefully cultivated, 

 it must also be properly cured. Information on the whole subject will be found in Bulletin No. 13 in 

 Mr. Espin's Treatise. If a settler will earnestly devote himself to the culture and cure of tobacco he 

 will find that it is very remunerative. For instance, there are some 20 acres cultivated by an intelli- 

 gent Cuban at an annual cost of £300. The yield is 10,0001bs., which sells if of good quality, at £7 

 per IGOlbs. ; that is, he nets £20 per acre. 



Coffee. — The area under cultivation is increasing, being higher than in my year since 1882. Tha 

 high price given for coffee has induced planters in other West Indian Islands to recommence the cul- 

 tivation, and our Blue Mountain Coffee has obtained su«h a name that applications for seed have been 

 received not only from the West Indies but from Fiji, West and South Africa and the East Indies. 



Nutmegs. — The demand for plants is increasing and I anticipate that at least 20,000 seedlings 

 will be required during next year Arrangements have been made to grow plants in the Gardens 

 from the very finest seed procurable from the best estates in the West indies. The plants will be 

 sold at cost price. 



Banana. — During the first half year of this period, there were 1,554,904 bunches exported, of the 

 value of £142,532 17 4. During the succeeding 12 months, there were 4,847,659 bunches exported 

 valued at £444,368 14 10 which is nearh three limes the amount exported 5 years ago. The culti- 

 vation is increasing rapidly. Careful attention is given on large estates to ploughing, draining, &c., 

 and small settlers are beginning to perceive the advantage to be derived from keeping their lands 

 clean. In many cases, cocoa and nutmegs are planted under the shade of the bananas with the antici- 

 pation that, even if bananas fail in a few years' time to be a paying crop, there will be a permanent 

 crop ready to take its place. This wise forethought should be more widely followed. 



Herbarium. 



The Herbarium has been increased by collections made in the Island, and by contributions made 

 by the Director of Kew Gardens of duplicate ferns and other plants, collected in Cuba by Baron 

 Eggers ; in St. Vincent, Dominica and St. Lucia, by the collectors for the Royal Society's Committee for 

 the investigation of the fauna and flora of the lesser West India Islands ; in Porto Rico by Sintenis, and in 

 loupe by Maze - ; in Demerara by Mr. Jenman. 



All the plants sent trom Kew were named there, and are therefore authoritative, and will be of the 

 greatest service in working out the flora of Jamaica and comparing it with the floras of the other West 

 Indian Islands. These specimens have all been mounted on sheets of paper and put in their proper 

 places in the Cabinets. The Cabinets are quite full, and it is necessary to provide another set. 



I regret very much that I have had almost no time at all for work in the Herbarium. To carry 

 on the work to the greatest advantage, it is important that the help of some one who has made some 

 progress in botanical science should be obtained. I would like to have the opportunity of issuing in 

 the '* Bulletin" from time to time descriptions of Jamaica plants for the benefit of those who are in- 

 terested in collecting and who wish to learn their names. Grisebach's " Flora of the West Indies" is 

 expensive, and out of the reach of many. It is moreover not altogether suited for those whom I most 



