November, 1908.] 



435 



Edible Products. 



10. The lateral veins should neither 

 be spreading at a right angle nor at 

 too acute an angle from the midrib, and 

 they must be equidistant, li to 2 

 inches at the base on either side of the 

 midribs. A tapering leaf is not favour- 

 able for cover. 



The Sumatra leaf represents, so far, 

 the highest wrapper leaf grown, and 

 it will be understood that the grower 

 of such a high standard of tobacco can 

 leave nothing to chance in the selection 

 of his land, and that, from seed to 

 finish, his work must conform through- 

 out to a well-defined plan which ex- 

 perience has taught him to be the best 

 to achieve his purpose. How thorough 

 his methods are, I purpose to show 

 later on, but I first must refer to the 

 climate and soil and surroundings he 

 has to work with. 



A, B. C. OP LIME CULTIVATION. 



Preface 



One of the most promising of the 

 newer industries of the West Indies is 

 the cultivation of limes. Lime pro- 

 duets, at the present time, form the 

 principal exports from the Island of 

 Dominica, and are second only to cotton 

 in the island of Montserrat. Large 

 tracts of land have recently been taken 

 up in British Guiana for the cultivation 

 of lime trees, and progress is being made 

 at St. Lucia, Carriacou, and other 

 portions of these colonies. 



It is estimated, by calculating an 

 average yield per acre as \\ hogsheads 

 of concentrated juice, that there are 

 approximately 2,500 acres of full bearing 

 lime trees in Dominica at the present 

 time, and, in addition to the above, 

 there are from 1,000 to 1,200 acres of 

 young lime cultivation from one to six 

 years old. 



Lime fruits in a fresh couditon are 

 now being largely exported to New 

 York, London, and Manchester. They 

 can be used for every purpose to which 

 the lemon is put, and are esteemed as 

 being more economical and superior to 

 that fruit. Raw lime juice is exported 

 for making cordials ; while concentrated 

 lime juice forms one of the principal 

 sources of commercial citric acid. 



The manufacture of the citrate of 

 lime has recently been taken up with 

 success. Essential oil of limes and dis- 

 tilled oil are of value in Perfumery- 



With tlie view of extending and im- 

 proving the cultivation of lime trees in 

 the West Indies, the present pamphlet 

 has been issued. The manuscript, in the 

 first instance, was prepared by Mr. 

 Joseph Jones, the efficient Curator of 

 the Botanic Station at Dominica. It 

 was afterwards carefully revised by the 

 Hon. J.C. Macintyre, an experienced and 

 successful lime planter at Dominica, and 

 by the scientific officers on the staff of 

 this Department, 



The following pages should serve as a 

 popular guide in regard to the selection 

 of suitable land, and the various details 

 connected with the successful cultivation 

 of the trees and the preparation of the 

 various lime products for export. They 

 should also prove of interest to those 

 engaged as lime growers, and of especial 

 value to young settlers and others who 

 contemplate embarking in the industry. 



Lime trees may give a few fruits in 

 the third year after planting, but it is 

 thought that eight to ten years is neces- 

 sary to bring a lime plantation into full 

 bearing. The cost of establishing a 

 plantation, including the necessaiy 

 works and buildings is estimated at 

 between £30 and £40 per acre. A 

 planter, possessed of a capital at least 

 £2,000, unless he is familiar with local 

 conditions, could expect to make a com- 

 fortable living from 30 to 40 acres of 

 limes. 



To bring, say, 100 acres of forest land 

 into full-bearing, limes would need a 

 capital of between £3,500 and £4,000. 



In the Appendices will be found in- 

 formation obtained from manufactur- 

 ing chemists in London and New York 

 with reference to the future of citrate 

 of lime, particulars of the methods of 

 cultivation of lime?; as practised at 

 Monsterrat, details of the exports of 

 lime products from Dominica and 

 Monsterat, and a carefully prepared 

 bibliography of the literature readily 

 accessible in regard to the lime tree and 

 its numerous products. 



The thanks of the Department are due 

 to Mr. Joseph Jones, the Hon. J. C. 

 Macintyre and others for the trouble 

 and care they have devoted to the pre- 

 paration of this pamphlet. It is hoped 

 that its publication will serve a useful 

 purpose in assisting in the further 

 development of what may be regarded 

 as a distinctive West Indian industry. 



D. MORRIS, 



Commissioner of Agriculture 



for the West Indies. 



March 11th, 1908. 



