Miscellaneous. 



180 



[March 1907. 



tobacco, growers of the local leaf should find a home market for their produce to the 

 value of at least one huudered thousand dollars. A valuable export trade would 

 no doubt also attend the production of a cigar possessing superior and characteristic 

 qualities. 



Taken as a whole the statistics which are to hand show a marked develop- 

 ment of our island industries and indicate that in the near future a greatly increased 

 production will be attained. With sisal and canned fruits already taking a place 

 among our exports, and with rubber, tobacco and fresh fruits promising to establish 

 themselves in the near future, the material prosperity of an increasing number of 

 small producers will be advanced to the immense benefit of the Territory. 



The report of the British Consul at San Juan, Porto Rico, upon the trade and 

 industry of the island during the past year, has recently been issued. The most 

 important development of the year has been made in the sugar industry which has 

 been stimulated by the free market of the United States. Much capital is being 

 attracted and many new plantations are in process of construction. The average 

 sugar production is about two tons per acre, which could be greatly increased by 

 fertilization and modern methods of cultivation and extraction. The total value of 

 sugar exported, including molasses, was valued at $13,433,000, an increase of nearly 

 four million dollars. 



About 7,000 acres are devoted to citrus cultivation, seventy per cent, of 

 which is planted in oranges, twenty-five with grape fruit and five with lemons. 

 Few of the citrus plantations have arrived at full yield, but the fruit is of good 

 quality and has obtained high prices in New York. The freight on a box of oranges 

 to New York is about 28 cents, as compared with 72 cents from Florida and 98 

 from California. Cuba pays 35 cents freight in addition to 56 cents duty per box. 



The tobacco industry is rapidly improving the quality of its production. 

 The main crop is exported as cigars to the United States and the inferior grades 

 as raw tobacco to Germany and the Netherlands. The coffee production showed 

 little advance on last year's depression. Before the great hurricane in 1899 coffee 

 was the principal product of Porto Rico. In 1898 the crop was valued at nearly 

 eight million dollars, while in 1905 it amounted to approximately two millions. 



Canning factories are working successfully in two parts of the island, and 

 more will be erected as soon as a good supply of fruit is assured.— The Hawaiian 

 Forester and Agriculturist. 



A WHITEWASH THAT WILL NOT RUB OFF. 

 A first-class whitewash is made by dissolving 2 lb. of ordinary glue in 7 pints 

 of water, and when all is dissolved, adding 6 oz, of bichromate of potassium, dissolved 

 in a pint of hot water. Stir the mixture up well and then add sufficient whiting to 

 make it up to the usual consistency, and apply with a brush in the ordinary manner 

 as quickly as possible. This dries in a very short time, and by the action of light 

 becomes converted into a perfectly insoluble waterproof substance, which does not 

 wash off even with hot water, and at the same time does not give rise to mould 

 growth, as whitewash made up with size often does. It may be coloured to any 

 desired shade by the use of a trace of any aniline dye or powdered colouring, while 

 by the addition of a small proportion of calcic sulphite its antiseptic power is much 

 increased.— Queensland Agricultural Journal, 



