June 1, 1809.] 
THE mOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
831 
rifle range and the river was cutlassed, burnt and 
roots grabbed out, and about 4,000 feet of open 
drains was dug. It will take some time and ex- 
pense to bring tliis land into sound grazing. A 
piece of land at the rear of the range, about five 
acres, was also cleared of bush, fenced and had live 
hedging placed to the wires. Guinea grass and other 
grasses were planted, but the land is poor and will 
only aflbrd rough accommodation for oxen 
unci perliaps occasionally for horses. The calves' 
pasture received a dressing of bone ash 
two cwt. per acre. Tlie Euphorbia hedges were 
frimmed and looked exceedingly well. The only 
expenditure for the Farm fences will be the 
annual trimming of them. A lot of old standing 
grass was mown and had a little artificial feen 
added, this was fed to the oxen during tlie 
driest period, thev did not seem to relish it much, 
and beyond the good done by mowing the pasture 
it would not pay as a feed. Some of the old 
grass was burnt standing, but no good result 
appeared from this (a few ticks may have been 
destroyed) and if more expensive it is better to 
mow than burn. An additional acre of Guinea 
grass was planted to provide fodder for stabled 
hor.ses. The Guinea corn was also extended. I 
still find this a most useful fodder for young 
cattle. Guinea grass, the finest fodder in the 
West Indies, arows most luxuriantly in a wild 
uncultivated state. The analysis of a sample 
collected in the scrub is as follows :— 
Moisture ... .•• 
Albumenous Compounds ... 8-448 
Carbonaceous principles, woody fibre .58-752 
Mineral matter ... ... l.j*72 
IfW-OO 
A note accompanying the above from the act- 
ing Government Analyst remarked that : " From 
the analytical data guinea grass is infinitely 
superior "to ordinary pasture or Bahama grass, 
))ut had about the same value of manured pa.sture 
grass or English clover." 
Trinidad, like C^eylon, depends largely on a 
foreign supply of" meat; and we read: — 
Our meat supply comes from Venezuela and 
the market is worth £.50,000 per annum. A re- 
cent advance in price and the stoppage of ex- 
porting heifers indicates that their stock is run- 
ning low. This fact ought to be another induce- 
ment to invest in stock-raising in Tobago. A 
paper was submitted to the Agricultural Society, 
entitled " Breeding for Beef." This gave an 
account of the commencement of an experiment 
to test whether beasts suitaljle for the butcher 
can be reared on our natural pasture grasses 
within a rea.sonable length of time and of suffi- 
cient good size. Without repeating too much, 
three young bulls were selected, cross red Polls. 
No. 1 at 12 months weighed 570 lbs. No. t at 7 
months weighed lbs., and No. ;i at 14 months 
weighed 40.> lbs. Up to this age their daily gain 
equalled weights recoxded by the Smilhfielct Club. 
Until the time they were weaned they had the 
greater jiart of the "cow's milk, with Guinea grass 
and (iuinea corn fodder at night and were 
stabled. After weighing, Nos. 1 and 3 were 
turned out with the oxen to take their chance 
with them. No. 1 speedily ran down and became 
infe.'sted with ticks and had to be brought in 
for a couj)le oi weeks, he is now out again and 
doing well. No. :i has given no trouble. No. 2 
gets 21 arliticial feed per day. These bulls will 
be weighed when another year expires, and go 
to the butcher. Their carcasses will be examine<i 
to asi-ertaiii the (luality of the meat, &c. Some- 
thing delinite will then be ascertained as to the 
nrosnect and vahie of raising cattle for the 
Imtclier, and whellier under ordinary eonditioui^ 
we can compete with imported cattle, 
Finally, Ave come to " the stud " and here 
is a check to prosperity ; for Mr. Meadeu 
tells us :— 
The history of the stud for the year is not a 
plea.sant one to relate, on the two pri"ncipal points, 
viz., the demand for the stallion's services and 
the foaling ; failure and disappointment has to 
be recorded. A new depai'ture ^vas made in dis- 
posing of the horses, as indicated in last year's 
report, by offering at auction such as were for 
disposal. This bein^ the first attempt in this 
direction some anxiety was felt as to the re- 
sult, but what wei'e good realized satisfactory 
prices, and further the sale indicated the right 
class of liorse to breed and what would most 
likely find a demand. The three young mares 
realized £28 per head, about the current \alue 
for this class of hor.se. The price obtained for 
the seven young horses averaged £30 per head. 
The co.st to rear them to 3 6-12th montlis old 
amounted to £17 each, leaving a profit of £13, 
an excellent average as times go. From the time 
they -w ere weaned until commencement of break- 
ing they had a feed each morning consisting of 
two parts crushed oats, two part.s middlings, one 
part Indian corn, in all about 4 lb. costing 3d. 
per day. On this feed and always at pasture 
they have shown good growth, and the fact of 
their being dispo.s'ed of at so early an age is 
sufficient proof of this. An exercising and driving 
ground was laid out levelled and gravelled. A 
dog cart and harness ^^•as purchased. These are 
home made and show excellent work. The horse 
stock stood as follows on the 31st December 
One thorough bred Stallion, nine in-foal mares, 
one Gelding, five years old, eight rising three 
year old colts and fillies, 10 rising two year old 
colts and fillies, two yearling colts, and was 
valued at £1,100. 
We make no apology to our readers for the 
many extracts we make from Mr. Meaden's 
useful Report ; for what intelligent* family 
in Ceylon is not interested, more or less, iu 
the improvement of cattle and poultiy — in 
the snjjpy of hetter milk and beef : of less 
skinny fowls and hetter eggs 'i 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
The " Feke Bkeakfast Table." — This pretty ex- 
pression of political sentimeat is lost sioht of for the 
present, the increased national outlay lelegating it to 
the back grouud. Indeed, speculative opinion is en- 
gajjed just now in discussiug the prospect of a reim- 
position of duty in some oases, and an increase rather 
than a reduction on those articles of produce on which 
the duty is comparatively slight. Tobacco iinportera 
are preparing for a possible lise iu duty, and th« 
clearances of tobacco from bond have been eiiorinoua. 
The possibility of a tax on sugar is discussed iu some 
quarters, while the idea that tea so fur from being 
relieved of any of its present burden should be made to 
contribute a still higher sum to the Exchequer is 
not regarded as an altogether remote contingency. 
Chancellors have receptive minds, and if the consumer 
bears his burden patiently, it is very unlikely even in 
a tat year that the Chancellor of ihe Exchequer will 
do anything to lessen, aay, the duty on tea, so long as 
ho can \, ith coiilidcnce affirm that members of the tea 
trade arc not iu favour of any change. Tlie question 
is, do thoi»e who cxprees this view repiescut the real 
interest of the trade ? and upon this doubtless, there 
will be a consiilcrable difference of opinion also. 
A MECHANICAL Tea Bi'LKr.R.— Wo uotice that Afr. 
HJ Apjohn, chief engineer to the Port Coniniissioners 
at C:ilcuttn, recently gave a (demonstration of bii |iliin 
for iho mechanical bullung of tea and r.-packmg. 
Fiom the comiiifnts in the " Indian Plauters' Ga;:otto" 
we gather that the representatives of the tea indiistrv 
who \\(.ri- present were not very favourably inv ro^srcj. 
