October, 1911.] 



347 



Miscellaneous. 



As a result of the tour of inspection, 

 it is estimated that the number of cacao 

 trees and plants now growing on the 

 estates in good or fair condition is fully 

 60,000, the larger portion of course being 

 young plants. 



The total amount of cacao produced 

 at the present time on each estate has 

 been carefully estimated with the 

 following results :— 



Number 



of bags 



Estate. of cacao 



produced. 



Linley Valley estates ... 30 



Cumberland Valley estates ... 15 



Clare Valley and Questelles... — 



Richmond Hill ... ... 3-4 



Park Hill 3 



New Adelphi ... ... H 



Total ... ... ... 52 2 -53| 



It will be observed that the total esti- 

 mated output of cacao is from 522-53^ 

 bags. With the exception of Clare 

 Valley and Questelles, a progressive 

 annual increase in yield is to be looked 

 for from now onwards. 



The area of the small holdings varies 

 from 1 acre to 1\ acres. The number 

 occupied at the end of the year was 584. 

 Cacao-planting has been attempted on 

 portions of no lesss than 369 with vary- 

 ing success. Some of the people have 

 put in just a few plants and others a 

 considerable number. 



In order that an idea may be formed 

 of the progress, or otherwise, made on 

 the estate, a brief summary of each has 

 been worked out. The condition of the 

 trees and plants has been classed under 

 three heads as follows : — 



' Improved ' means that the trees are 

 making good progress, are well cared 

 for, and that in most cases the cultiv- 

 tion has been extended. 



' Fair ' means that there is in the cultiv- 

 ation approximately the same number 

 of trees as in 1904 when the census was 

 taken, and that they are not making 

 much progress. 



• Poor ' means that the trees are in poor 

 condition through being planted in un- 

 favourable situations or not well cared 

 for. 



The numbers in the summary are based 

 on the figures given in 1904, as no later 

 census has been taken. 



General Summary Regarding all 

 the Land Settlement Estates. 





No. of 



No. of 



No. of 





cacao 



cacao 



cacao 



Estate. 



plants 



plants 



plants 





improved, fair. 



poor. 



Park Hill 



,t 2,180 



2,616 



1,074 



New Adelphi 



2,793 



1,784 



961 



Richmond Hill 



3,475 



698 



1,014 



Clare Valley and Questelles. 



3.4>.2 



875 



2,164 

 6,147 



Cumberland Valley estate .. 



9,437 



3,026 



Linley Valley estates 



. 16,465 



4,873 



8,976 



Total 



36,402 



13,272 



20,436 



The total number of plants in an 

 ' improved ' and ' fair ' condition on all 

 the estates, as shown in the list, is 49,674 

 as against 20,436 ' poor.' In proportion 

 to the total number of plants growing 

 Park Hill and New Adelphi show the 

 best record of progress, although estates 

 such as Rosebank and Belmont in the 

 Linley Valley group would show a still 

 better record if taken separately. 



The progress made with the planting 

 of permanent economic plants during 

 the past few years has been consider- 

 able, notwithstanding that at the outset 

 many difficulties were experienced. 



Since 1906 work has been continued on 

 much the same lines, and it is estimated 

 that the quantity of cacao now produced 

 annually is nearly double of that grown 

 in 1906. The chief increases in yield 

 have been obtained in the Linley Valley 

 and at Park Hill; here there are some 

 excellent cultivations giving satisfactory 

 returns ; on all the estates, however, 

 with the exception of Clare Valley- 

 Questelles, fair progress has been made. 



The following table shows the number 

 of economic plants raised and distributed 

 by the Agricultural Department free to 

 small holders during the past ten years : — 



Economic plants 

 Year. distributed. 



1900 ... ... 5,660 



1901 ... ... 7,679 



1902- 3 ... ... 402* 



1903- 4 ... ... 5,325 



1904- 5 ... ... 15,424 



ly05-6 ... ... 11,770 



1906- 7 ... ... 6,209 



1907- 8 ... ... 3,325 



1908- 9 ... ... 4,321 



1909- 10 ... ... 3,804 



Total ... ... 63,919 



Of the above total, no less than 53,000 

 were cacao plants. 



With seed of good types of cacao now 

 available on all the estates, small holders 

 are able to raise their own plants, so 

 that it has not been found necessary to 

 continue the maintenance of nurseries 



* Year of eruption of Soufriere. 



