Mahch 2, 1903.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
00." 
entirely due to import?, as the exports hive shown a 
conapiciious decline. The United Kin]:^dom olainitsd 73i 
per cent of the imports, and 45 per cent of exports • 
Germany lOi per cent of imports 26 per cent of exports 
and the United States 5J per cent of imports and four 
percent of exports. Rubber exports showed a marked 
decrease (224,126) in mOl, which was due in part to the 
low prices on the Fuiropoan marlcets and in part to 
wasteful handling of the rubber vines; wi'h care and 
attention there ia every hope that the rubber trade may 
revive and its values and quantities regain tlie standard 
of former years. Palm-oil and palm-kernels, the other 
two staple articles of export, also showed a decrease, 
and the trade in kola-nuts still manifests signs of 
having been severely affected by the Ashanti rebellion 
in 1900. Cocoa is the only article of export which 
showed an increase for 1901, and this amounted to 
£15,537 in value. A further increase is confidently 
expected for the current year. — London rimes, Jan. 1 
PLANTING IN DOMINICA. 
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "TIMES."] 
Sir, — Two years ago you were so good as to give 
publication to a letter from me in which I attempted 
to indicate the advantages offered by Iho islard of 
Dominica for the profitable investment of moderate 
capital. Thanks to the kind assistance thus given hy 
you, the island obtained an advertisement from which 
it has considerably benefited. Over 100 persons, 
possessing the requisite means, placed themselves in 
communication with me; and a good number of young 
men have since gone out to Dominica and have become 
planters there. I am happy to be able to state that 
with one exception, who •' threw up the spongp," they 
are all doing very well and appear to be entirely 
satisfied with their prospects. Several have taken up 
considerable blocks of the Crown lauds, and they are 
rapidly transforming areas of primeval forest into 
promising plantations of cocoa, limes, oranges, and 
rubber. They have alresdy got through the rough 
part of their work, and are settled in smart cottages 
and bungalows where the amenities of a decent mode 
of living are very apparent. 
THE NEW KOADS 
recently conetructed into the mountains and valleys 
the interior have opened up and rendered accessible 
many thousands of acres of splendid lands, and there 
is still room in Dominica for scores of the right 
kind of men. For the benefit of those who may not 
have seen the communication which appeared in your 
issue of September, 1900. I beg that yon will allow me 
to recapitulate, as concisely as I can, a few of the 
special advantages which are offered by the colony 
which we are now trying to develop. 
THIC CLIMATE IS EXCELLENT, 
and especially suited to persons who have a tendency 
towards pulmonary affections. Yellow fever is un- 
known and malaria very rare. The districts bordering 
on the leeward coa^t of the island are rather warm 
in summer, but in the mountains of the interior and 
on the windward coast the temperature all the year 
round is delightful. While it is exceedingly difficult 
to purchase a plantation already yielding crops of 
cocoa or limes, there are over a hundred thousand 
acres of very fertile land in the possession of ths Crown 
which can be purchased for 10s an acre with faci- 
lities for payment. There is, at present, no tax on 
land, and other imposts are very light. There is a 
good supply of labour at rates varying from 8d to Is 2J 
a day. and ihe populaliou is steadily increasing. The 
rainfall is nhnndiint and a great number of streams 
afford water power. 
THE F.\RE TO DOMIKICA 
by tho Eoyal 'Mail Company's boats costs £2.1, return 
ticket tiO and tlie journey takes 13 days. There are 
several other lines of stei'mers calling at the island 
and it has frequent commuuicatiou with thu United 
Kingdom and with America. There is an open 
market for all the local products, and the trade f 
Dominica has doubled itself in the last six years. Some 
idea of the recent extension of agriculture may be 
obtained from the fact that during last year over 
60,000 seedling plants of cocoa, limes, oranges, rubber, 
vanilla and other products were distributed to planters 
from the nurseries in the Botanic Station. All these 
plants were sold below the cost of production, and 
the Imperial Department of Agriculture is always 
ready to give advice and assistance to any planter 
requiring it. Tiie island is now in a sound financial 
condition, and means have been found to carry out a 
number of wirks of public utility. An excellent 
steamer plies constantly round the coasts ; new roads 
have been made in many directions, and the old ones 
put in fair order ; bridges are being built over the 
largest rivers, and telephone lines are being extended 
round the island. A good public library was built 
and opened last year as a memorial to her late 
Majesty, and a social club has just been established in 
Roseau. 
THE VALUE OF PROPERTY 
is increasing rapidly, and there is every prospect of 
further improvement. A long period of depression is 
being succeeded by an era of prosperity ; and, instead 
of that feeling of discouragement which exists in those 
West lodiin islands where sugar is the staple industry, 
we find in Dominica a cheery and sanguine spirit 
ready to give cordial encouragement to every scheme 
that gives promise of working for the good of the 
island. Owing to its excellent climate, abundant rain- 
fall, fertile soil, and other natural assets, Dominica 
offers adva.ntagea for tropical agriculture which are 
rarely found combined elsewhere. To men of inde- 
pendent spirit the life of a planter has many attrac- 
tions, and it is geneially conceded by all who know 
the place that, if its possi bilities were more gene rally 
known in England, all the unoccupied land now 
available would very quickly be taken up. To the 
tourist the island is a source of unalloyed plei9ure. 
It is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the Antilles. 
Considering the size of Dominica — about 300 square 
miles — the scenery is remarkably grand and impos- 
ing. The rivers .and streams are full of waterfalls and 
cascades ; the mountain sides are clothed with the 
richest vegetation ; luxuriant groves of tree ferng 
struggle with a variety of palms for the mastery of the 
soil ; and altogether tho island is a veritable mine of 
beauty. 
I may add that Dominica has been 
ADSOLUTELY UNAFFECTEH BY THE RECENT 
VOLCANIC DISTURBANCES 
in Martinique and St. Vincent ; and competent 
scientific authorities have recently expressed the 
opinion that little or no danger need be feared on this 
score. If any of your readers care to make further 
inquiries into the subject of Dominica with a view to 
becoming planters there, I shall be happy to reply 
to any inquiries that may be addressed to me, care of 
Messrs. Grindlay and Co., of 54, Parliament-street, 
S.W. I would not, however, advise any one to en- 
tertain the project of becoming a planter unless he 
can dispose of a minimum capital of £1,500- With 
many thauks for the space yoa have been good 
enough to accord me. — I am, 
H. HESKETH BELL, Administrator of Dominica. 
December 29. 
— London Timcf:, Jan. 3. 
♦ 
AN OIL BURNER. 
Spetiking of the oil burner patented by Mr. 
Allan Reiinj', of Penang, our northern con- 
temporary says : — 
Tiie (lue^tioii of oil fuel is one wlncii for a con- 
siderable period has occupied, and continues to 
occupy, the attention of locomotive and marine 
