Vol. VIII. No. 94. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[October, 1902.] 263 
^165,000, and the latter of ^375,000. From British West Africa, the 
imports were valued at ^1,545,000, and the exports at ^380,000. 
Our usual table of exchanges follows : — 
29th July. 
28th Aug. 
29th Sept. 
Paris, cheques . 
. 25f. 16c. 
256 1 8c. 
25b 16-ic. 
Berlin, sight 
20m. 48pf, 
20m. 48^-pf, 
20m. 45|-fipf. 
Vienna, sight 
. 23kr. 96 |h. 
23kr, 96^ h. 
23k!-. 95b. 
Amsterdam, sight 
. I2fl. 12^ 
1 2 fl. 12J 
t afl. 13 
Madrid, sight 
. 34ps. 40 
34 ps. 46 
— 
Lisbon, sight 
. 41 |d. 
Urs-d- 
4i|d. 
St. Petersburg, 3 months 
. 941*. 10 
941*. 15 
93 r - 9 ° 
Bombay, T.T. 
. is. 3f|d. 
is. 3 Md. 
1 s 2— — d 
Calcutta, T.T. 
* is- 3 Twd- 
is. 3-Rfd. 
is. 3jfd. 
Hong Kong, T.T. 
. is. 8§d. 
is. SJ|d. 
is. 8 T Ld. 
Shanghai, T.T. . 
. 2s. 3£d. 
as. 4b. 
2s. 3§d. 

% 
AGRICULTURAL RETROSPECT. 
United Kingdom.' — The corn harvest of 1902 is described by the 
Times as the most protracted, troublesome, and expensive harvest of recent 
years. Everywhere a large proportion of the cut corn has been secured in 
a more or less damaged condition. The injury done to the grain varies 
greatly, as the rainfall has varied ; but very few bright and unsprouted 
samples of wheat have been shown in the markets at present. Oats, 
especially in the north of England and Scotland, were a heavy crop, but 
the damage done by the violence of winds and heavy rains has seriously 
diminished its value to the farmer. Barley has only been marketed in small 
quantities at present, but from the samples so far seen it is to be feared 
that what was a promising crop at the end of August will realise only 
second rate prices. An indication of the excellence, as regards quantity 
at any rate, of this year’s hay crop, is seen in the weekly returns of 
our imports of hay, which continue to show a decrease, as compared with 
the corresponding returns of last year. A fine crop of mangolds is assured, 
in fact a week or two of sunshine would make it a record one. The damage 
done by storms to hops in Kent is very great. The most striking feature in 
the appearance of the country at the present moment is the remarkable 
verdure of the grass lands, and in the absence of severe frosts the pastures 
will be of great value for a considerable time. The outlook for stockowners 
is very favourable, as there is an abundance of winter keep in sight both ip 
the fields and in the stack yards. It appears that the extent of land in 
Great Britain devoted to the cultivation of small fruit this year is, with one 
exception, the largest on record. It now amounts to 75,378 acres. Of this 
acreage Kent claims nearly one-third. The acreage of hops used to exceed 
that of small fruit, but this has not been the case during the last twelve 
years, and this year’s extent of hops is only 48,024 acres. 
Colonies. — The results of a series of experiments on the cold storage of 
fruit, which have been carried out at the Ontario Agricultural College, are of 
considerable practical interest. Apples and pears are found to keep best 
when wrapped singly in paper, and packed in a shallow box not larger than a 
bushel. They ship best when, in addition, they are packed in layers with 
“excelsior” between. Apples keep better at a temperature of 31 0 Fah. 
than at a higher temperature, but the experiments did not show what is the 
best temperature for pears. Cold storage cannot make bad fruit good, nor 
can it prevent bad fruit from becoming worse. Only good specimens will 
keep for any length of time in cold storage, or will pay for storage. Where 
long storage is desired, it pays to select the best fruit and to pack it in the 
best manner known. The extra labour and cost of material are more than 
repaid in the greater quantity and better quality of the fruit left at the 
end of the storage period. In the case of apples and pears — and probably of 
most kinds of fruit — the fruit should be picked and stored in advance of dead 
ripeness. The process of maturation goes on more slowly in cold storage 
than on the tree. The medium sizes of apple and pear keep longer than the 
largest, provided all are perfect specimens and picked at the same time. It 
is suggested to be an advantage, especially as regards pears and peaches, to 
pick the larger specimens first, and leave the smaller to mature later. Fruit, 
on removal from cold storage, should be allowed to warm gradually, and 
moisture should not be allowed to deposit upon it. If, however, the wetting 
cannot be prevented, the fruit should be spread out and dried as quickly as 
possible. For all kinds of fruit, there is a time limit, beyond which it is 
unprofitable to hold the fruit in cold storage or anywhere else. That limit 
for sound fruit is dead ripeness. Duchess pears can be kept profitably until 
late in December ; Fameuse, or Snow, apples, until March or April. The 
time limit has to be determined for each kind of fruit. Proper conditions 
being provided in the storage room, the most important points then to be 
observed are the selection of sound fruit, grading it into uniform sizes, one 
size only in a case, and care in packing. The results of these experiments 
can thus be made use of by the household, in preserving fresh fruit for its 
own future use ; by the fruit-grower, in securing better prices for good fruit 
later in the season, in the local markets ; and by the shipper, in enabling him 
to take advantage of the higher prices offered in foreign markets. 
A very useful addition to the good work he has already done for Canada, 
has been made by Mr. John Dyke, whose name is well known throughout 
the Dominion, in his successful efforts to induce Canadian farmers to improve 
the quality of their live stock. As an indication of how the leaven is working, 
it may be mentioned that up to the present date 467 head of British pedigree 
Shorthorns have been imported into Canada, as compared with 13 1 over the 
same period of last year. In the case of other breeds of live stock, results 
not less satisfactory have been obtained. Mr. Fisher, the Dominion Minister 
of Agriculture, is vigorously attempting the improvement of the horses of 
Canada, and the first report of the newly-appointed director of horse-breeding 
has just been issued. Dr. Rutherford, who advocates the use of suitable 
stallions of British breeds, is well known on this side of the Atlantic, he 
having been for some time veterinary examiner of pedigree stock for shipment 
to Canada. As a member of the Manitoba Parliament, he introduced 
several important measures relating to horse-breeding, and these are now 
being adopted by the older provinces. At the Western Canada agricultural 
fair recently held at Winnipeg, the transition that is taking place in the 
prairie province from wheat-growing to mixed farming was much in evidence 
The stock parade on that occasion was regarded as one of the most impressive 
ever made in Canada, a number of American exhibits being included. 
Mr. P. C. Cork, Colonial Secretary of British Honduras, includes the 
following observations on the agricultural prospects of the colony, in the 
latest report to the Colonial Office. The resources of British Honduras 
are so considerable that it is marvellous that much greater development 
has not taken place than is shown by the returns. At least four rivers 
could be made navigable for light draught steamers for considerable distances 
inland, and a dozen for canoes or doreys. The Hondo, New River, and 
Sarstoon, are already being used to some extent for navigation by moderately 
large craft, but their utility might be increased. Mahogany, logwood, vanilla, 
cacao, rubber {Casiilloa elastica ), sapodilla (from which “chicle” or chewing 
gum is prepared), and pimento or allspice are indigenous, and pine trees 
and various hardwoods are present in great abundance. The soil in many 
large areas is peculiarly suitable for the growth of the sugar cane, and 
factories of very large size could be established if capital were forthcoming. 
Bananas, oranges, pineapples, rice, and maize are only a few of the 
products which grow luxuriantly. The bounteousness of nature seems to 
have made existence so easy in the past that the inhabitants have not been 
stirred to exertion by necessity, and have lived almost solely by cutting 
mahogany and logwood found in the forests, which are floated down the 
rivers. Attempts have been made within recent years to cultivate bananas, 
but cultivation is hampered by want of agricultural knowledge on the part of 
the landowners and the difficulty of obtaining labourers accustomed to any 
other kind of labour than that of wood-cutting. The cultivation of cacao is 
being attempted, but has not yet expanded to any considerable extent. 
Before agriculture can be expected to become a thriving industry, it will be 
necessary to facilitate transport by improving the navigation of the rivers and 
by making good cart roads or tramways leading to the rivers or the sea-coast : 
this is especially necessary in the case of banana cultivation, the Iruit being 
perishable and needing great care in handling. Communication by telegraph 
or telephone will also be necessary if a thriving business is to be carried 
on. No use is at present being made of the vanilla, pimento, or lumber 
(other than mahogany, cedar and logwood). Vanilla grows luxuriantly in 
the forests. There seems good reason to believe that a lucrative industry 
could be established in the production of the bean if attention were paid to 
the matter. Another natural product of the forest at present almost entirely 
wasted is the cohune nut, which yields the finest oil for table and other 
purposes, while the refuse might be suitable for food for stock. Immense 
quantities at present go to waste. The intelligent expenditure of capital in 
this vast storehouse of natural wealth might be expected to yield very large 
profits, but it seems to be a rule that in countries where the climate is 
most rigorous and the conditions of life hardest, the necessities of the 
situation spur human beings to the greatest exertion and sharpen their wits to 
cope with their environment, while the opposite effect is produced when 
nature is bounteous. This, doubtless, accounts in a great measure for the 
prosperity of the British possessions in the north and the relative backward- 
ness of those towards the south on this Continent. 
The latest telegrams state that splendid rains have fallen in Victoria, 
and the wheat crop of the State has greatly benefited. A large area of wheat 
is reported to have been sown. The coastal districts of New South Wales 
have been favoured with sufficient rain for immediate requirements, but the 
condition of the wheat crop does not warrant the anticipation of a good yield 
from the area sown. In parts of Queensland there have been beneficial 
rains. South Australian prospects are said to be somewhat less unfor- 
tunate than those of the other States mentioned. 
India. — The latest telegrams report that good rain has fallen throughout 
the country, completely changing the outlook, and removing for the present 
all serious anxiety. No area is now suffering from drought, and the numbers 
on famine relief are diminishing everywhere. In character the monsoon 
resembles that of 1SS4, which was prolonged into the first week of October ; 
hence the prospects are exceptionally good. The area sown for the cotton crop 
was substantially in excess of the average in the United and Central Provinces, 
and elsewhere was either equal to the average or a little in excess of it. Sufficient 
rain has fallen to justify the anticipation of a satisfactory yield. The return 
obtained will, however, be measured by the adequacy and distribution of the 
rainfall up to the end of the monsoon. For the sugar-cane crop the season 
has been on the whole favourable, except in East Bengal and part of Behar. 
The normal area under cane is estimated at 740,200 acres, and the area 
