Vol. VIII. No. 93. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[September, 1902.] 239 
THE CULTIVATION OF SUGAR AND OTHER ECONOMIC 
PLANTS IN TRINIDAD. 
A notice of the 14th annual report of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Trinidad was given 
in this Journal (Vol. vil., p. 210) ; Report No. 15 by Mr. J. H. Ilart, the Superintendent, 
has now been issued and covers from 1st April, 1901, to March 31, 1902. The experiments 
in connection with the raising of seedling sugar-canes have been continued ; many gave a 
high percentage of sugar and a good average weight per acre ; about 2 per cent, of the 
seedlings raised every year are selected for further trial. One of the canes when ten months 
old yielded over 20 per cent, of cane-sugar, and several others were nearly equal in value. A 
fine batch of young seedlings was planted out in March, 1902. There is every hope that 
some new and valuable seedling kinds will be eventually obtained by careful selection, but 
experience shows that it is inadvisable to recommend any one kind until it has had full field 
trials on a large scale. Several of the best seedlings have already been distributed to planters, 
and others will follow as they appear from primary experiments to be worthy of trial. 
92,000 cuttings were distributed. Analysis showed that there were many varieties yielding 
over 20 per cent, of cane-sugar, and one as high as 21-63 P er cent. If these figures are main- 
tained on further trial an important improvement in sugar production will have been effected. 
Some of the older canes have yielded on the poor soil at St. Clair 20 to 30 tons to the acre as 
1st ratoons, calculated on areas of not less than one-twentieth of an acre. 
In rubber cultivation Castilloa elastica, planted in 1898, is now over 25 feet in height, 
and some of the trees have stems 5 inches in diameter. It has been found that rubber fluids 
or latex from these young trees produce rubber inferior in quality to older trees ; only those 
eight or ten years old can be depended upon to furnish rubber of good quality. It was antici- 
pated that rubber material could have been extracted from one-year old trees, but this has 
proved illusory, for although chemically the rubber is there, it is not in such a condition as to 
make it of market value, and up to the present no chemical process has been devised which 
will change the soft and sticky material obtained from young trees into the hard and elastic 
produce afforded by mature trees. 
The Para rubber plants (Hevea bvusiliensis) put out in 189S at the same time as the 
Castilloa trees, fully equal the latter in height, but have not so large a stem circumference : 
they promise to thrive in the Trinidad climate. The trees of West African, “ Ire” or Lagos, 
“ Silk rubber ” ( Funtumia elastica ) made splendid growth during the year ; some, although 
not yet four years old, were over 20 feet in height with a stem diameter of four inches. From 
present appearances it is a tree that will stand probably more hardship than any of the other 
rubbers, as it can bear exposure to the sun, although it does not grow fast in such situations. 
Numerous other economic plants have been grown, and the results are recorded in the 
report. Some new varieties of coffee raised from home-grown seed of Coffea stenophytlla 
fruited in the year ; the berries were fairly large and differed much in this respect from the 
type, but had the same purple colour. The beans when cleaned were about the same size as 
ordinary C. Arabica. The berries had a thin skin and the interior parts were intermediate 
between C. Arabica and C. Siberica ; in fact they are probably natural hybrids between 
C. stenophylla and C. Siberica. Some' of the varieties are more fruitful than others, and it is 
intended to give the best varieties local names and propagate them by grafting. One has 
been named “Commissioner” coffee, and several successful grafts have been taken from 
this kind, the stock used being the strong growing Siberian. They ivere favourably reported 
on by Messrs. Woodhouse and by Messrs. Wilson, Smithett and Co. The value of the coffee 
from a grower’s point of view is that it grows faster and better and fruits earlier than any 
variety of C. Arabica, and does not require so much shade ; while it is not so tall growing as 
the Siberian ; and the varieties appear to promise a hardy and easily cultivated strain of con- 
siderable value. 
Both the West Indian and the Honduras varieties of mahogany ( Sweitenia mahogani ) 
have been grown and have been found to be quite distinct ; the Honduras variety having made 
over double the growth of the West Indian kind in exactly the same soil. It is strongly 
recommended that the Honduras variety should be planted wherever possible, as it has proved 
to be a tree ■well suited to the climate. 
The possibility of growing camphor ( Chvmmomum camphora, Nees) is now a matter of 
interest owing to certain monopolies in Formosa. In Trinidad it grows rapidly but never 
makes a large tree. The wood contains a fair amount of camphor and some camphor oil ; 
specimens of these were lately manufactured at St. Clair. The camphor was of good quality 
and the camphor oil was excellent ; more of the oil was produced from the young wood than 
from the older stems. It is intended to grow a plot with a view of testing the feasibility of 
growing it on a commercial scale. Trees planted three years ago are now ten feet in height ; 
it propagates readily by layers. 
CULTIVATION OF FRUIT IN FLORIDA. 
With a view to promoting the cultivation, on a large scale, of pineapples, oranges, etc., 
in Jamaica, Mr. Robert Thomson, late Superintendent of the Government Botanic Gardens 
of Jamaica, has recently investigated the methods employed in the fruit plantations of Florida. 
His report to the Jamaica Board of Agriculture discloses many interesting features in the 
cultivation of tropical fruit. For pineapples, which are grown in many districts, a 
system of shed culture has proved successful. Until about twelve years ago this fruit was 
grown in the open, but one or two severe frosts destroyed nearly the whole of the plants, and 
it was found necessary to afford them protection, both against frost and the tropical sunshine, 
The sheds are made of close boarding 7 to 8 feet high and partially covered with thin laths, 
openings being provided to admit the requisite light and air to the plants ; during the frosty 
nights canvas sheets are placed over the sheds as an extra protection. The plants flourish 
very well under these conditions, and 80 to 95 per cent, of them bear fruit ; about 200 acres of 
land are under cultivation, an average pinery consisting of five to twelve acres. The cost of 
erecting sheds, which last about seven years, averages $300 per acre, the canvas costing about 
the same ; the suckers, which are planted to the extent of 9,000 per acre, cost §900 and the 
fertilizers about §100 per acre annually. The first crop, which is taken within twenty 
months of planting, is calculated to pay all expenses ; the price obtained per crate of twelve to 
sixteen fruits is about $3 for the best varieties, and less for smaller fruit, a little difference in 
size making a considerable difference in the price. Some of the growers replant after each 
crop, some after two crops, very rarely at longer intervals. 
Jensen, on the Indian river, one of the southern districts, contains several thousand 
acres of pineapple plantations ; only a small proportion are under sheds, the growers relying, 
as a protection from frost which is much less prevalent, on the very close planting of the 
suckers (12,000 per acre), and on the greater hardihood of the varieties they cultivate. 
From this district 200,000 crates, containing about six million fruits, are shipped to the 
northern cities annually ; the yield of fruit per acre is about 8,000 to 9,000, and on 
occasions up to 15,000; the replanting is usually done every eight to ten years, but in 
Mr. Thomson’s opinion half that interval only should elapse. The food for the plants is 
furnished by fertilizers. In all the districts visited, the soil was found to consist of 96 to 9S 
per cent, of sand or silica, one analysis showing 99-4 per cent, of insoluble residue; the 
fertilizers are mixed by the grower to suit his own conditions of cultivation, they contain 
ammonia and potash and are thrown between the rows of plants and raked in to the top 
surface of soil. The average annual rainfall is from 50 to 60 inches. Jamaica at present 
exports annually about 65,000 fruits, the yield per acre being very low and capable of great 
improvement ; the soil is not sufficiently sandy and is too rich, but there are many parts of 
he island highly suitable and which are not under the slightest cultivation. 
Prior to 1895 the cultivation of oranges was the greatest industry in northern parts of 
Florida, but in that year a severe frost killed every tree and ruined several thousand growers, 
but at the present time many plantations are being cultivated further south ; before 1895 the 
annual export was about five million crates, but after the frost referred to it was 
100,000 crates, rising to 750,000 last year. Great care is given to the packing of the oranges, 
an important point to which insufficient attention appears to be paid in parts of Jamaica, 
which has now a much larger export of oranges than Florida. 
A growing industry in Orlando is the cultivation of cassava; this plant appears to grow 
well on the sandy soil, the annual yield per acre being about 9 tons. From the cassava tubers 
the production of starch and the manufacture of tapioca and dextrine is to be taken up. 
The cultivation will probably be successful, since there will be a considerable local demand for 
cassava as a cattle food, and it will furnish starch to the great cotton factories further north, 
and owing to its high content of starch (17 to 20 per cent.) and sugar (3 per cent.) and low- 
fibre value (1 ‘68 per cent.), it appears a more suitable material than corn from which to 
manufacture glucose. As a food for cattle cassava is stated to be better and cheaper than 
either cotton seed or corn, and it will grow under conditions unfavourable to other food- 
stuffs. In view of this Mr. Thomson recommends the extensive cultivation of cassava in 
Jamaica; it is very profitable, no fertilizers being needed, although a small quantity is required 
for its growth in Florida. 
CACAO CANKER. 
This disease, which has been in existence for ten or twelve years, has lately been fully 
investigated by Mr. J. B. Carruthers, the Government Mycologist in Ceylon. Its origin is a 
fungus belonging to the genus Nectria, which mainly attacks trees of three or four years of 
age, death occurring within a period of four months tot hree years, differences of soil, elevation, 
etc., having no effect on the vitality of the parasite, -which appears always to attack the 
branches and pods of the trees, and to be unable to exist on the leaves and roots. It consists 
of the mycelium — a reddish brown semi-liquid substance permeating the bark and stem, 
which prevents the passage of moisture and nutrition to the leaves ; — and pods which die 
and drop oft ; — the spores, minute seed-like bodies which appear in pinkish-white clusters 
on the mycelium ; and the ascospores, which are only found on dead or very much diseased 
cacao trees, and are small hollow' bodies containing sacs,” each of w'hich bears several spores. 
It was found possible to inoculate healthy trees with tissue impregnated with mycelium ; 
over So per cent, showed distinct symptoms of canker by the end of eight weeks. The infec- 
tion of the suckers proved much more difficult, owing probably to the smoothness of the bark 
and its freedom from wounds ; it was also found impossible to convey the disease to the roots 
and leaves. These facts show that suckers may be grown from old stumps after the diseased 
stems have been cut down, and that new trees may be planted beside the roots of cankered 
trees without fear of infection. The pods are readily infected with the disease, which develops 
rapidly and frequently spreads through the twigs to the stem of the tree. During the 
investigations another fungus ( Phytophthora species) was found to be almost invariably 
associated with the Nectria, from which it could not be freed, so that its behaviour could not 
be observed. 
The spread of the disease is due to the distribution of the spores by such agents as wind, 
rain, rivers, and small animals; many cases of infection had occurred, proving their propagative 
nature. 
Several methods of prevention have been devised and tested with good results ; for the 
first few months after a tree becomes infected the only indication is the discoloration due to 
the mycelium. The surest remedy is to cut the diseased patch out of the tree, a large margin 
(2 or3 inches) round the discoloured portion being removed as well, otherwise the canker 
will not have been completely eradicated. The average annual expense entailed by the 
inspection of the cacao, and the cutting out of the disease, varies from Rs. 15 (.£1), ona bad 
estate, to Rs. 3, per acre of plantation. Another effectual remedial method of treatment is to 
shave off the* surface of diseased bark and submit the exposed stem to direct sunlight or 
to artificial heat supplied by charcoal braziers, the effect being to dry up and kill the mycelium. 
Damage to the tree tissue sometimes results from this treatment. When the pods of the tree 
become infected the course of the disease is very rapid, lasting only a few days. At the least 
indication of fungus, they should be picked off and burnt or buried in quicklime, as they are 
of no value, even when only slightly cankered, and are a fruitful source of infection to other 
trees and pods. 
The effect of spraying the trees w-ith solutions of such agents as copper sulphate, lime, etc., 
has been tried, but in rainy seasons when the canker is prevalent the deterrent is rapidly 
washed off. Tar has also been used to cover over diseased patches, but cases frequently occur 
of the fungus vigorously spreading underneath it. Mr. Carruthers finds that healthy trees 
are just as liable to attack as weak ones, and he considers that most attention should be 
directed to cultivating by selection a variety of tree which will withstand the disease. I he 
pods of such should ripen during the dry hot season, they should be thick and smooth skinned, 
and the bark of the tree should have as smooth a surface as possible. At present some varieties 
have a very rough and broken surface — bark on which the spores readily lodge ; others have 
a smooth, even stem. The time at which the pods mature varies with different varieties. 
Considerable progress has been made in the extermination of the canker, and there is reason 
to hope that it may be completely eradicated. 
THE TARQUAY GOLDFIELD, GOLD COAST. 
A narrow gauge (3^ feet) railway which is being constructed from Sekondi on the coast to 
Koomasi passes through the goldfield, and is already open for traffic as far as Tarquay, which is 
situated about the centre of the south-eastern edge of the goldfield. The reefs in the goldfield 
are conglomerates occurring in a sandstone and quartzite formation. The latter vary from fine- 
grained rocks to grits, and often contain pebbles, but at a depth change to quartzites. Like the 
rocks of the Rand these reefs contain a large quantity of iron oxide, which mostly occurs in thin 
bands or veins and gives the sandstone or quartzite a striped appearance. Interbedded with 
these rocks are several beds of dolomite. The total thickness of the formation is estimated at 
between 4,000 and S,ooo feet. It is overlain by a clay-slate formation of probably 1,000 feet 
thickness. The enclosing formations are mostly basic igneous rocks, schists and slates. The 
goldfield has a tendency to a long syncline trending about 40 degrees north-east. South-west of 
Tarquay this syncline is perfect, and there is no doubt that the Tamsoo and Teberibi reefs 
which dip in opposite directions are one and the same, but at Detchikroom it is much 
disturbed. The south-eastern edge extends from Busumchi to Tamsoo, a distance of 
20 miles ; at the latter place a powerful disturbance appears to have thrown the whole 
formation north-westward about 9 miles. ’ In and around Tarquay the sandstone-quartzite 
formation has an area of over 100 square miles. At Tamsoo the reef is roughly 10 feet 
thick, consisting of alternate layers of striped sandstone and conglomerate. At the Wassail 
mine the reef has a very steep inclination near the surface, but decreases to 47 degrees at a 
depth of 700 feet from the surface. The reef in the Bishop’s shaft has a thickness of 12 inches 
with sandstone on either side. At Cinnamon Bippo it has a thickness of 3-j feet in one place, 
and 20 inches in another, and the dip varies from 38 to 50 degrees. The reefs in other 
parts of the field appear to be similar in dimensions, and dip, to those quoted, but increase at 
Teberibi mine to 50 feet. In many respects the formation resembles that of the Rand. The 
dykes occurring in the goldfields consist mostly of basic igneous rocks, which are either 
dolerites or diabases. Very little work is being done on the goldfield, except boring. 
There is no question as to the permanency of the conglomerate beds in depth. As to the 
value of the ore, not sufficient work has been done to form a correct estimate, but the beds 
differ in thickness, being considerably thicker at the south-western incline than at the north- 
eastern end, and the thicker they are the lower the grade. 
