752 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST 
[MAY 1, 1901. 
subscribed, I would rather see tlie Committee, 
which will shortly be formed to exploit India, 
commence operations with a solid fund behind 
it such as the proposed cess would bring in. The 
industry has never risen beyond a lakli a year 
by voluntary effort. If you value the 5 million U) 
of tea above referred to (ihe cost of which it is 
thought will not be recovered) at -jlj- a lb, it 
will cost the industry over 3 lakhs, at -/2/- over 
6 lakhs and it is at least fair to infer that it 
will be difficult to get such a subscription re- 
sponded to after past experience. The Committee 
having to find ways and means will undoubtedly 
be greatly handicapped and any scheme they may 
decide to adopt will consequently be delayed to 
the detriment of practical work. 
To those who believe in advertisement and jet 
hesitate to support the cess, I suggest the above 
points. H. a. AsHTON. 
PLANTING AND LIFE IN DOMINICA. 
[We feel indebted to the gentleman who sends 
us tlie following correspondence for publication. 
Transferred to our Tropical Agriculturist, it 
will aways be available and useful for reierence, 
—Ed. T.A.] 
Government House, Dominica, 31st Dec, 1900. 
Dear Sir, — I must ^apologise for my delay in 
answering your letter of I6th October last. 
I have much pleasure in forwarding you here- 
with a series of answers to a number of questions 
that have been addressed to me by various corre- 
spondents on the subject of planting in Dominica. 
I hope these notes will give you some of the in- 
formation that you require. 
I may add that, as the distances are not long 
in Dominica, Crown land can be purchased for 
10s an acre, payable by instalment. There are 
one or two partly developed estates for sale, but 
a large price is being asked. Several English- 
men have come out during the last few weeks, 
and are taking up Crown land. The first comers 
■will naturally get the pick of the land that is 
being opened up by the new roads. 
Dominica has never suffered very severely from 
a hurricane, and the effects of a West Indian 
storm are frequently exaggerated for various 
reasons. 
Mr, Gordon Fowler, an ex-Ceylon planter, who 
started a coffee estate here about three years ago, 
is so satisfied with his results that he has in- 
creasea his holding, durinp the last year, from 
30O to 1,100 acres. His coffee is magnificent, and 
there is a complete absence of blight, — I remain, 
dear sir, yours faithfully, 
H HESKETH BELL, Administrator. 
W. Hardy, Esq., Gillardstown, Wattegama, 
Ceylon. 
NOTES ON DOMINICA FOR INTENDING 
PLANTERS. 
1. Best route from England. — By Royal Mail 
from Southampton. Leaves every fortnight. Pare £25 
single, £40 return, Voyage lasts 13 days. Can also 
go by Sorutton's line cheaper, but a good deal longer, 
also via New York. 
2. Hotels and their charges: — There is one Hotel 
in the town o£ Roseau, suitable for bachelors. Terms 
Si a day. 
3. Pensions OR Boarding Houses and their chabs- 
B8. — Several kept by ladies, very comfortable and 
moderate terms. Miss Pemberton'a and Miss Shew's 
specially recommended. 
4. House Rent. — Vacant houses are at present 
scarce. Rents vary from i.'30 to ftiO a year. 
5. Cost of Living. — A bachelor living on his own 
plaatition, of c.ireful habits, need not epeud more than 
Si's to 40d a week ou houselteepiQg. A great ma,ny 
spend much less, as they raise ttieir owu poultry, sheep 
pigs, ve,ietablea and fruit. Fish ia very cheap and 
plentiful. 
6. Servants' Wages. — Female Servants get from 
3s 6d to 5o a week, iilea trum 4s to 6a a week, aud are 
usually not boarded. 
7. Prices of Horses and Mules. — Ponies cost 
from £10 to £20. Males average £2U. Ojanaya 3Ji. 
8. Horse fliRE.— Six to eight shillings a day. 
9. Horse keep per Month.— Prom 30a to 40s. 
10. Can Harness and Saddlery be Obtained in 
THE Country ?— They can be obtained locally, but it ie 
better to get them from !^uglaiid. 
11. Is THERE an Y Shooting ? If so, where and of 
WHAT does it consist ? — Pigeous (Ramier) Dovea, 
Parrots, Opossum, Agouti and Wild Pig, are fairly 
plentiful, but shooting in Dominica is not sufficiently 
t^ojd to make it a special object of a visit. A week 
oaa iiowever be very pleasantly spent iu the forests 
with a guu. 
12. What is the best Rifle or gun for the 
Country ? — An ordinary fowling piece. 
13. Can Ammunition and 6poi!ting Requisites be 
Obtained in the iJountry, and wh^re ? — They caunot 
be obtained locally of good quality, but evdrythiug can 
be got from Barbadoes in a tew days. 
14. What is the Import Duty on Guns and Car- 
tridges, AND WHAT OTHEK RESTRICTIONS ARE THERE IN 
THE Import of Guns and Dog 3 '! — 10s a piece. No re- 
strictions on dogs. Long haired ones are not very 
suitable. Pox terriers thrive best. 
15. Is THERE ANY ANGLIN* ? If 60 ; WHAT KIND 
AND WHERE, AND WHAT BAITS ARE USED ? — The riVerS 
are well stocked with fisu, principally mullet. Local 
Grasshoppers make the best bait. 
16. Amusements, Clubs etc. — The Golf Links 9 
Holes, are very sporting, and are managed by a Olub. 
There is also a Tennis & Croquet Club. A Social 
Club House is about to be built. Cricket is also 
played. 
17. Are there good roads, and are any fit fob 
Cycling ? — Very large works are beicg undertaken on 
the Roads, and bridle paths are being turned into 
Cart Roads. There is a good road round the Island 
with branch tracks leading up the Valleys. The sum 
of £15,000 is now being expended iu making a central 
trunk Road, which is uileiiiled to opeu up the very 
fertile lands that lie behind the seaboard. The island 
is rather too mountainous for easy cycling bus, owing 
to the improvement in the roads now being carried 
on, several bicycles have recently been imported. 
18. Is THE CLIMATB HEALTHY, AND WHAT IS THE 
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE CouNTRY ? — The climate ia 
very healthy, especially iu the mountains. Tem- 
perature rarely excessive. Rainfall varies from 60 
inches to 200 inches per annum, according to locality 
and altitude. No special outfit is needed, ordinary 
English summer ciothing does very well. A Terai 
hat is useful, also strong leather boots. All ordin- 
ary articles can be purchased locally at moderate 
prices. The best season to visit the Island is from 
November to May ; but anyone intending to take up 
and plant Crown laud^-, that are covered with forest 
growth, should commence operations early in the 
year, so as to got a good " burn" during dry 
weather. 
19. Amount of Capital necessary. — An intending 
planter should not be supplied with less than £11000. 
With this Capital he might purchase a block of 
300 or 400 acres of Crown lands. He might clear 
and plant 20 or 25 acres the first year, and ten 
additional each succeeding year. A cottage suitable 
