May  i,  1S93.J 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
673 
TROPICAL  AGRICULTURE  IN  JAMAICA. 
The  Botanical  Department  of  Jamaica  would 
seem  to  be  do'ng  a good  work  in  advanoing 
the  agricultural  interests  of  the  Colony  and 
developing  its  resources  in  addition  to  its  legiti- 
mate botanioal  work.  The  department  supervises  six 
different  Experimental  Gardens,  at  which  the  work 
carried  on  is  of  a very  thorough  nature,  to  judge 
from  the  details  given  in  the  bulletin  issued  in 
January  last  by  the  Direotor  of  Publio  Gardens 
and  Plantations,  nevertheless,  we  have  no  doubt 
Dr.  Trimen  was  correct  in  his  s’atement  made 
before  the  British  Association,  that  “ no  other 
British  Colony  possesses  so  complete  a system 
of  botanioal  and  experimental  gardens  as  Ceylon.” 
The  Jamaica  report  of  the  botanical  work 
proper  does  not  possess  more  than  a local 
interest,  dealing  with  the  introduction  and  trial 
of  new  foliage  and  flowering  plants,  trees  of  eoo- 
nomio  value,  and  food  and  fodder  orops  ; but  the 
references  to  regular  cultivation  and  the  statistics 
connected  therewith  form  a specially  interesting 
and  valuable  reoord.  During  the  past  year  6,485  owt. 
161b.  of  cacao  were  exported,  valued  at  £12,349  lls. 
This  is  rather  less  than  in  the  previous  year,  but 
there  is  a tendency  to  a steady  inorease.  We 
quote  as  follows  : — 
The  question  of  curing’  properly  is  one  of  the  most 
serious  to  tbe  Island,  involving  in  Mr.  Morris's  opinion 
(see  Kew  Bulletin  No  23)  an  annutl  loss  of  £20,000  or 
£30,000.  If  settlers  fermented  their  0000a  they  would 
get  better  prices,  and  would  soon  plant  more  trees, 
and  inorease  the  amount  as  well  as  the  value.  Messrs. 
Wilson  Smithett  and  Co.  speak  of  Jamaica  0000a  in 
very  disparaging  terms. 
They  say  : — “ In  a small  proportion  of  Jamaica  cocoa 
imported  there  has  undergone  fermentation  to  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  but  the  bulk  is  of  very  ordinary 
quality,  the  only  West  Indian  Cocoa  taking  rank  below 
it  being  St:  Domingo  from  Jeremie,  whilst  that  from 
Samana  in  tbe  same  Island  is  superior  to  Jamaica. 
It  has,  however,  all  tbe  characteristics  of  good  oocoa 
—although  wanting  in  size,  and  if  properly  harvested, 
fermented  or  sweated,  snd  then  dried  in  the  sun 
until  tbe  bean  becomes  crisp  to  the  feel,  so  that  the 
shell  is  fairly  loose,  and  tbe  interior  dry  and  of  an 
even  chocolate  brown  tot  violet  brown,  when  brokeD, 
it  should  command  tbe  general  attention  of  tbe  trade. 
Great  care  should  be  taken  to  protect  it  from  rain 
whilst  curing.  It  must  be  noted  that  manufacturers 
cannot  pay  much  attention  to  small  parcels,  and  that 
to  insure  a ready  s>le  not  much  less  than  a ton 
weight  of  even  colour  and  quality  should  be  ehipped, 
the  larger  the  lot  the  better.”  The  words  11  small 
parcels  ” in  the  preceding  statement  point  to  the 
main  difficulty  that  lies  in  the  way  of  improvements. 
If  brokers  in  London  will  ODly  deal  with  shipments 
of  at  lca-t  a ton  in  weight,  merchants  in  Kingston 
must  m x all  the  small  prscels  brought  in  by  the 
buyers,  and  cannot  discriminate  between  good  and  had 
curing,  for  the  proportion  of  good  to  bad  must  be, 
for  some  time,  at  any  rate,  very  small  and  therefore 
cannot  have  any  great  effect  in  improving  the  quality 
of  the  whole.  If  the  same  price  is  then  paid  to  the 
people  for  their  cocoa,  whether  onred  or  only  washed, 
it  is  rot  to  be  wondered  at  if  they  refuse  to  take  trouble' 
that  is  not  paid  for.  It  would  appear  that  the  only 
way  cut  of  this  difficulty,  inasmuch  as  it  is  hopeless 
to  expect  a combination  amongst  shippers,  is  for  the 
Government  by  some  means  to  prevent  the  shipment 
of  inferior  quality.  The  same  remark  applies  to  oranges, 
logwoo &c. 
Of  coconuts  7,885,656  were  exported,  of  whioh  the 
value  was  £26  512  16s  9d.  The  export  was  greater 
during  1891—92  than  during  any  year  for  the  past 
10  years  in  spite  of  the  great  mortality  among  trees 
at  Mont  go  Bay.  86,926  cwt.  1 qr.  20  lb.  of  coffee 
were  eh  pped,  bringing  in  £336,839  18s.  Here  too 
tbe  prospect  is  good.  Of  baDanas  3,503,275  bunches 
valued  at  £262,745  12s  6d  were  exported.  This  is 
65 
nearly  £2,000,000  less  than  last  yesr  and  is  scoountad 
for  by  short  crops  owing  to  drought  and  the  large 
local  fruit  crop  in  America.  Of  other  fruits 
mangoes  brought  £203  2s  61,  oranges  £23,263  15s 
(less  than  half  of  last  year’s  value),  pirn-apples 
£1,286  16s  2d,  limes  £361  Is  61,  strawbfirties 
£3,607  2s  3d;  lime  juice  alone  was  exported 
to  the  value  of  £4,865'  4s  2d.  Among  Other  exports 
are  ebohy,  fustic,  ginger  (£40,682),  lahoewood 
spars,  lignum-vitrej  log-wood  £303,364),  nutmegs 
(£23,264),  pimento  (£50,984),  rum  (£256,000),  sugar 
£255,500),  tobacco  aDd  cigars  (£9,430)  and  jams. 
Anatto  (of  which  nearly  £4,000  worth  was  ex- 
ported)  is  recommended  as  a hedge  plant,  as 
cattle  do  not  browse  on  the  leaves.  More  care 
given  in  preparation  will  it  is  said  be  repaid. 
Arrowroot  on  the  ocher  hand  is  recommended  for 
men  of  capital  rather  than  the  peasants;  for 
unless  great  oare  and  skill  are  expended  in  the 
preparation  of  the  starch,  and  proper  appliances 
used,  the  price  will  be  scarcely  remunerative.  Only 
about  £8  value  was  exported.  The  cultivation 
of  oassava  or  manioc  by  small  settlers  is 
suggested,  for  preparing  staroh,  meal,  tapioca; 
cakes  and  cassare'-p.  Cinnamon  thbugh  growing  ■ 
freely  is  not  barked  ; but  cacao  growers  are 
strongly  advised  to  plant  kola  in  their  plantations) " 
The  cultivation  and  preparation  of  sisal  hemp'  is 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  most  important  among 
new  industries. 
The  principal  imports  consist  of  oorn,  which 
cannot  be  produced  as  cheaply  as  in  the  United  States, 
rice  and  pulses.  The  attention  of  planters  and 
small  renters  is  direoted  to  the  cultivation  of 
nutmegs  and  to  the  large  profits  to  be  made  in 
suitable  localities  ; and  it  is  noted  with  pleasure 
that  this  cultivation  is  being  entered  upon  with 
spirit  and  energy.  Liquoriae  is  another  plant 
reoommended  for  small  settlers  as  growing  in 
deep  soil  suoh  as  that  in  which  the  orange 
flourishes. 
In  one  of  the  Botanioal  Gardens  exists  an  In- 
dustrial Sohool  for  instruction  and  praotioe  in 
general  agricultural  operations.  Borne  of  the  boys 
work  in  the  Garden  for  two  or  three  hours  in 
the  morning,  and  another  set  in  the  afternoon. 
At  other  times  they  are  employed  in  pohool,  or 
at  work  round  the  school-house  under  a sohool- 
master.  Amorig  ether  things  the  boys  are  taught 
how  to  oultivate  and  cure  caoao. 
LETTERS  PROM  JAMAICA.— No.  35. 
{The  Editor,  “ Tropical  Agriculturist,”  Colombo,  Ceylon.) 
For  Packet  of  Feb.  7. 
Deaf  Sir,  —After  my  long  silence  caused  by  my 
having  really  nothing  special  to  write  about,  I am 
now  able  to  send  you  a letter  which  may  be  of  in- 
terest to  some  of  your  readers  as  it  gives  an  account  of 
MY  RECENT  VISIT  TO  MONTSERRAT, 
whither  I went  for  a short  holiday,  after  having  had 
no  change  out  of  the  island  for  about  nine  years. 
I left  Kingston  on  the  27th  Dec.  in  the  royal 
mail  steamer  “ Para,”  a most  comfortable  and  well- 
ordered  vessel  in  every  respect.  Our  first  port  of 
call  was  Jacmel  in  Hayti:  it  has  a very  picturesque 
appearance  from  the  ship,  but  I am  told  this  illusion 
is  dispelled  on  landing,  because  of  the  dirty  streets, 
and  bad  smells.  On  Saturday  morning  at  daylight 
we  had  arrived  at 
BARBADOS,  OR  “LITTLE  ENGLAND” 
as  I believe  it  is  often  oalled,  and  its  description 
had  not  been  belied,  for  it  is  an  island  thoroughly 
cultivated  with  sugar,  sweet  potatoes  and  native 
“grounds,”  there  are  only  a few  acres  of  forest  left 
in  the  Scotland  district,  the  highest  part  of  the  island 
which  touches  an  elevation  of  1,100  feet.  The  land 
