476 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Junn, 1902. 
than in any other part of the West Indies : e.g., in a dry district, where there are 
three dry years in ten, a sugar planter states that the cost is £3 14s. per acre, 
yielding an average of 18 tons. 
Much of the machinery is antiquated, involving great loss. On one estate 
it is estimated that a new mill costing £600 would make a difference of £1,000 
per annum. 
The Agricultural Instructor has been able in some cases to show that great 
improvement might be made in cultivation, and his suggestions have readily 
been acted on with excellent results. 
There is a large demand for new seedling canes, and tops to the number of 
15,617 have been distributed. , The reports as to the value of D. 95 and some 
others are very encouraging. An article in the ‘ Bulletin on Sugar-cane 
Seedlings,’ by Mr. T. J. Harris, gives such directions that planters may raise 
their own seedlings. 
Altogether it may be said that with better cultivation, improved machinery, 
and new canes, the prospects of sugar cultivation in this island are very much 
brighter than they have been for many years. 
We understand that it is proposed to follow the example of Queensland in 
the erection of central State-aided sugar-mills, and in a late issue of the 
journal of the Agricultural Society of thatisland the statistics as given in the 
Central Mill reports in Queensland are. published. Doubtless close inquiry 
will be made by the authorities in Jamaica into the working of the Central 
Mills in Queensland before the Government finally decides on the question of 
adopting the system there. 
Illustrations. 
A STEP IN ADVANCE. 
In this issue we present our readers with a view in an English village. 
The reproduction has been made under novel conditions, and speaks for itself _ 
as a most excellent piece of work, being made with the finest screen at present 
in the Commonwealth.. It is intended, to produce the future illustrations in 
the Journal in the same manner. 
