624 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March 2, 1903. 
COCOA IN TRINIDAD. 
(By W J S Tucker.) 
Weather. — The weather during the greater 
part of the past fortnight has been rather too 
wet for this period of the season but for the past 
two or three days there has been a change for the 
better, and, witli a continuance of dry weather, 
it is expected that Sugar making will begin about 
the middle of present month. 
Cocoa. — The wet weather mentioned above has 
interfered somewhat with drying operations, and 
this will probably affect receipts for the early 
part of present month, but we look for large re- 
ceipts from that date onwards. We quote prices 
today at $12.50 for Ordinary and $12.75 to $13.10 
for Estates. 
My artificial Cocoa Dryer is used on several 
estates in the island and thoroughly removed all 
trouble in drying the cocoa during heavy rainy 
weather. 
PRODUCE SHIPPED TO 30TH DECEMBER 1902. 
Cocoa. 
Coffee. 
Coconuts. 
Years. 
lb. 
lb. 
Number. 
1899 
... 24,743,860 
10,880 
11.545,880 
1900 
... 29,465,752 
7,220 
8,316,2.56 
1901 
.. 2ia.?7,3C4 
20,880 
11,265,876 
1902 
... 32,123,540 
39,900 
11,902,156 
PROGRESS IN BRITISH GUIANA IN 1902. 
The Report on British Guiana in 1901-1902 was 
issued on Wednesday in the annual series of 
colonial reports as a Parliamentary paper [CJ. 
1,388-2]. In the general review ot the condition of 
the colony, perhaps the most interesting observa- 
tions are those on the position of its sugar industry. 
Towards the end of 1901 the price of sugar reached 
the lowest point ever recorded, but the conclusion 
of the Brussels Convention lias done much to 
relieve the feeling well nigh of despair that had 
come to those interested directly or indirectly in 
the industry.' The crisis is by no means over and 
a period of struggle must still be looked forward to, 
but it is confidently hoped that the Sugar Conven- 
tion will in time restore public confidence in the 
industry and secure for it the capital which it so 
much needs. Meanwhile, a scheme of experimental 
cane cultivation is being worked out and is in pro- 
cess of extension over the sugar estates, where over 
6,000 acres are now being utilised for cultivating 
new varieties. The general area under cane 
increased from, 67,884 acres in 1900 1901 to 72,148 
in 1901-1902. 'The Government of the colony re- 
cognizes fully the need of encouraging agriculture 
of every kind, anl a Board of Agriculture has 
been constituted with the object of promoting the 
cultivation of the many tropical, agricultural, and 
horti-agricultural products which can be prown in 
British Guiana, the spread of agricultural know- 
ledge, and the improvement of the breeds of live 
stock in the colony. There has been a steady 
development of the rice industry since it was first 
seriously taken up about seven years ago. While 
the local consumption of rice remains the same, 
the quantity of imported rice has decreased notably, 
and the colonial industry seems to have established 
its position. The cultivation of products other 
than sugar cane has been greatly furthered by the 
more liberal land legislation begun in 1890, which 
has enabled the people to settle on the down 
lands of the colony and take up largely increased 
areas for development. This desirable movement 
is still going on, The output of gold during the 
vear — all of which was produced by alluvial work- 
ing-fell to 101, 332oz. from 114,l62oz., the figure 
for 1900 1901. The decrease is atti'ibuted partly 
to the diversion of activity towards diamond seek- 
ing and partly to the more or less continued heavy 
weather. Diamonds to the total weight of 8,227 
carats were found during the year, 91,206 stones 
being registered. In the previous year 4.981 stones 
only, weighing 740 carats, were registered as 
found. Maps, accompanied by short explanatory 
pamphlets prepared by the Government geologist, 
have been published, and illustrate the general 
structure of the cSiiet gold and diamond fields of 
British Guiana. The work of demarcating the 
boundary with Venezuela was continued during 
the year. Some 300 miles remain before Mount 
Roiaima, the terminal point, is reached, but as the 
country now to be traversed is less difficult future 
progress should be more rapid. The most friendly 
relations were maintained between the Commis- 
sioners of the colony and those of the republic. — 
London Times, Jan. 16. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
The Supply of Balata— in sight is said to be 
so great that no fears of a shortage need be en- 
tertained for years to come, if the business is 
properly and intelligently handled. Experts report 
that there is not a tributary to the Amazon 
which does not show forests of this tree upon its 
banks. The importance of this new industry in 
Brazil may be realised when it is known that 
the market price of balata is equal to that of the 
best rubber and the cost of production is less 
than one-tenth that of rubber. Balata has another 
advantage in that it does not necessitate the risk 
of life attendant upon the gathering of rubber, 
The balata grows upon high ground, as 
well as on the margins of the swampy streams, 
where the fevers lurk. It is a common saying in 
Para that every ton of rubber from the upper 
river costs two lives. This can never be said of 
balata, for men work at this industry with no 
greater risk than usually attends any labour in 
the Tropics; and four men will gather as many 
kilograms of balata per day as thirty men can 
obtain of borach a.— /nc?2a Rubber Journal, Jan, 5. 
Fruit and Alcohol.— The more fruit you eat 
the less alcohol you will need. In the first place, 
the amount of water in fruit is considerable. In 
water melons it is no less than 93 per cent ; in 
grapes, SO per cent ; in oranges, 86 per cent ; in 
lemons, 90 per cent ; in peaches, 88 per cent ; 
in apples, 82 per cent ; in pears, 84 per cent ; 
in plums, 80 per cent ; and in strawberries, £0 
per cent ; not a fruit in the whole category con- 
taining less than 80 per cent, The irresistible 
conclusion, considering these facts, is that fruit 
plays an important part in diet as a thirst 
quencher. Certainly when fruits are freely repre- 
sented in the diet less fluid requires to be 
consumed ; and fruit.s would appear to be endowed 
with a subtle inimitable flavour which is ample 
inducement to imbibe fluid in this most wholesome 
form. The question so prominent in most people's 
,thoughls as to what to drink might therefore, on 
sound physiological reasoning, be answered : eat 
sound, ripe, juioy fruit. It is noticeable thai) as 
fruit enters into the diet the indulgence in 
alcoholic drinks is undoubtedly very pnuch 
diminished. — Exchange. 
