Jan,  I,  1896] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
465 
oranges  which  ripen  in  Dominica  in  September  should 
supply  this  competition.  The  banana  is  another 
product  which  has  money  in  it.  ^I’he  tree  is  raised 
rora  a suck  er,  and  fifteen  months  after  planting 
produces  its  first  bunch  of  fruit.  It  is  also  useful 
in  acting  as  a shade  tree  for  the  young  cacao  plant ; 
but  it  will  grow  in  any  ‘out-of-the-way  part  of  the 
estate.  Mr.  Morris  refers  also  to  this  plant  in  his 
work  on  cacao,  and  shows  to  what  proportions  the 
trade  in  this  and  other  fruit  has  reached  in  Jamaica. 
The  annual  profits  on  banana  cultivation  are  esti- 
mated, he  says,  at  £15  per  acre,  but  as  much  as 
£■*20  or  £‘30  per  acre  are  realised  in  suitable  districts. 
The  banana  is  a perishable  fruit,  and  requires  a 
rapid  transit  to  foreign  markets  ; but  it  appears 
from  a pamphlet  published  in  1890  by  Dr.  Nicholls 
that  the  Government  of  Dominica  has  made  ar- 
rangements with  the  Quebec  Steamship  Company 
for  making  Dominica  the  last  port  of  call  on  the 
line  from  the  IVcst  Indies  to  New  York.  Dominica 
thus  appears  eminently  suited  to  take  a decided  lead 
in  the  new  commercial  activity  which  will  un- 
doubtedly, in  a few  years,  prevail  llnoughout  our 
West  Indian  possessions.  If  once  she  can  show  how  to 
respond  to  an  inflow  of  home  capital  there  will  be 
no  lack  of  money  forthcoming,  and  though  the  old 
West  Indian  nabob  can  never  be  resuscitated,  and 
it  is  hardly  expedient  that  he  should  be  there  is  no 
reason  why  these  new  and  valuable  industries  should 
not  bring  in  their  wake  a fresh  era  of  prosperity  to 
the  islands  and  a race  of  moderately  wealthy  and  com- 
fortable planters. — Fmmin'ni  Neirs. 
^ Diirc  UKToiir. 
(From  Clieiitl.i/  ami  !>•  H(/;ii.il .) 
London,  No\einI)cr 
Stea<ly.  The  general  (inotation  is  l!)s  per 
lb.,  but  for  lOU-lb  lots  18s,  it  is  said,  would  tie  ac- 
cepted. It  is  very  doidrtful,  however,  whether  tlie  last- 
named  figure  applies  to  “spot”  stuff.  For  Dcceinber- 
.lauuary  18s  is  ((noted. 
Quinine— There  has  been  no  busine.ss  of  any  importance 
this  week.  Second-hand  German  bulk  (juiiiine  otters  at 
Is  Ijd  per  oz. 
Essenti.vl  Oils— Lemongrass  Oil  is  firmly  held  at  2s 
per  07,  on  the  spot.  Oil  of  citronella  is  again  dearer.  Is 
.'id  per  lb  having  been  p.aid  on  the  S()ot  for  tin  oil, 
and  holders  being  now  disposed  to  ask  Is  Gd  for  that 
variety.  Tlie  last  imsiness  for  shipment  w.as  at  the  rate 
of  Is  4d  per  Ib  c i f,  and  it  is  lielieved  there  are  now  buyers 
at  Is  5d  per  lb  for  drums,  but  no  .sellers. 
^ 
TEA  IN-  MAUllITIUS  : GOOD  NEWS  FOR 
TEA  PLANTERS. 
There  is  nothing  like  living  under  a good  maternal 
Government,  for  the  enjoyment  of  protection  to  in- 
dustry and  encouragement  in  production.  The  Tea 
Farm  having  proved  a great  success,  and  tea  culti- 
vation being  likely  to  prove  a source  of  profit  to  the 
country,  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  Finan- 
cial Authorities  would  miss  an  opportunity  to  fritter 
away  a little  public  money,  and  prove  to  the  World 
at  large,  and  to  such  of  our  planters  in  paticular 
who  have  been  unwise  enough  to  invest  their  money 
in  Tea  Planting,  how  good  and  patriotic  Po  thing  it 
is,  to  endeavour  to  increase  the  resources  of  the 
Colony  by  any  new  euterprize.  Open  competition, 
no  doubt,  like  open  confession,  is  good  for  the  soul, 
and  is  the  very  breath  of  Trade,  and  when  Govern- 
ment happen-"  to  be  one  of  the  competitors,  and,  with 
the  true  instincts  of  maternity,  chooses  to  supply  the 
naughty  litJe  heathen  Chinese,  who  won't  buy 
nasty  rum,  with  nice  tea  at  a good  deal 
below  cost  price,  it  is  a capital  thing 
for  the  Colony  and  of  course.  Helps  out 
the  Auditor  General  in  the  budget  which  we  are 
given  to  understand  he  is  preparing. 
Mr.  Mayer,  Government  Vendue  Master,  has,  we 
are  informed,  sold  today  by  public  auction,  by  in- 
structions from  the  Storekeeper  General,  about 
2000  lb.  of  the  Farm  Tea  at  0.80  per  lb.  We  hope 
that  the  public  will  appreciate  the  fact,  and  be  duly 
grateful  to  a Government  which  provides  them  with 
the  cup  which  cheers  but  not  inebriates,  at  such  a 
moderate  price,  and  at  a sacrifice  of  so  little  common 
sense.  If  they  get  the  benefits — for  it  is  rumoured 
that  the  whole  lot  found  a ready  purchaser  in  an 
astute  ‘ reveiidedor  ’ who  finds  no  dilhculty  in  passing 
it  on  at  111.50.  The  Farm  Committee  are  naturally 
delighted— some  are  asleep — the  Chairman  is  on  a 
journey,  and  as  when  they  are  asked  for  their  opinion, 
and  give  it,  it  is  naturally  never  taken,  they  have 
ceased  to  bo  a necessary  factor  in  the  matter 
at  all. 
There  will  soon  bo  another  sale,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  price  realized  will  encourage  an  export 
trade.— J/erc/miifi'  and  Planters'  Ganette,  Nov.  6. 
BOILER  INSBECTION  IN  CEYLON  : 
AN  EXPERT’S  VIEWS. 
Connected  with  the  controversy  on  the 
in.s]iection  of  machinery  and  closely  allied  to  it  is 
a point,  which,  in  our  opinion,  has  been  to  .some 
extent  overlooked,  viz  : — the  inspection  of  steam 
boilers.  S|>eakers  at  the  recent  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce meeting  and  elsewhere  have  shown  that, 
beyond  the  danger  inherent  in  the  case  of  all 
machinery  in  motion  and  which  no  legislation 
can  avert,  in  tea  factories,  the  safety  of  those 
emjiloyed  is  in  no  way  jeopardised.  But  in  the 
case  of  steam  boilers  lies  a source  of  danger,  in 
the  generality  of  cases,  unapparent  to  those  in 
charge  and  which  under  unskilled  direction 
might  be  the  cause  of  a terrible  disaster.  With 
a view  of  determining  how  far  this  danger  exists 
our  representative  considered  the  best  means  of 
throwing  light  on  the  subject  Avas  to  call  on 
Mr.  Lamont  of  M<?ssrs.  Walker  and  Co.,  than 
whom,  probably,  no  one  in  the  island  is  better 
fpi.alilied  to  express  aii  opinion.  Mr.  Lamont  very 
courteously  expressed  his  Avillingness  to  submit 
to  the  jirocess  of  being  interviewed. 
.V  FACTOItV  ACT  SUPERFLUOU.S. 
You  Avant  to  know  Avliat  I think  of  the 
Or.linance  for  the  inspection  of  machinery? 
he  said.  Well  in  my  opinion  a Factory  Act  for 
Ceylon  is  (|uite  unnece.ssary. 
In  the  case  of  tea  factories  only  ? 
No,  I should  say  all  round. 
What  about  textile  factories  and  other  places 
in  Avhicli  women  and  children  may  be  employed  ? 
We  have  only  one  textile  factory  and  in  it 
so  far  as  I am  aware,  there  has  not  been  a 
single  accident.  We  have  several  coconut  desic- 
cating mills  but,  as  I have  never  been  inside,  I 
am  unable  to  say  Avliat  arrangements  are  made 
for  fencing  machinery.  In  tea  factories  least  of 
all,  do  I consider  tliere  is  any  nece.ssity  for 
Government  interference.  Tea-making  machinery 
generally  speaking,  involves  a minimum  of 
danger  to  the  persons  employed.  They  may  become 
carele.ss,  indeed  they  do,  often  laying  a.side  the 
brush  Avhicli  is  supplied  for  SAveeinim  in  the 
leaves  and  using  tlieir  hands.  The  Toss  of  a 
finger  or  a hand  may  be  the  result.  Such  acci- 
dents, hoAA'eA^er,  must  be  of  comparatiA'ely 
infrequent  occurrence,  as  one  never  lieare 
of  them.  No  legislation  can  put  a stop  to 
that.  I don’t  see  what  further  precautions  you 
can  take  than  to  fence  machinery  in  tea  factones, 
BOILER  IN.SPECTION  : LEGISLATION  NECE.SSARY. 
But  what  I want  chiefly  to  know  is  - Avhat  about 
the  steam  boilers  in  use  in  tea  factories  ? 
Ah!  that  is  a different  matter.  I am  krongly 
of  opinion  that  Ave  should  have  an  Ordinance 
rendering  the  inspection  of  boilers  compulsory 
All  boilers,  in  my  opinicin,  ought  to  be  inspectei’l 
at  least  once  a year,  either  by  a properly  quali- 
fied inspector  or  by  some  other  competent  person. 
You  consider  that  the  policy  of  laissez  faire  is 
conducive  to  danger  '> 
