, 1874-08-05
CONTINUED from LIST page.l

seasons upon the coming crop is generally
delt and admitted, but not known With
ANY certainty. It is believed, writes an
experienced agriculturist, that any marked
excess of rain during the first six months
of the year is Injurious, both to the crop
which is being reaped and to that which
lie to follow. The caneplant during the
early stages of it's growth is very hardy,
and requires but little moisture; the small
early shoots are hard and 6brous, and very
different from the large succulent shoots
which are afterwards produced, and which
lengthen into the juicy reed whence the
crop is made. In ordinary and favourable
years, with light showers during the first
six months, the young canes make no mark
ed progress, but the roots are increasing IN
length and strength, and in the months OF
July and August the plant begins to sucker,
as it is called, and to put out the shoots
which form the canes, but these make no
great progress in length before the end of
August, and in September and October,
when the rains usually come to their aid at
the critical time. They then grow with
extreme rapidity, are extremely tender and
s~ucculent, and a short spell Of dry weather
at that time usually does serious mischief.
If however, the first six months OF the year
are wet, and the young canes are excited
to an abnormal rapidity of growth, they are
liable to be seriously affected by an inter-
val of dry weather in the middle OF the year.
Moreover, rainy weather in the reaping
season retards the manufacture, and espe-
cially in the black soils, which contain an
... 6:uo- .on;o,oIrv oopoISooI ~vI;hh
causes a great loss from the rotting of the
cane at the roots" Mr.. Rawson deserves
the thanks of all who are engaged in the
industry for his opportune and valuable
expositions.
The weather continues most favourable
for the growing crops. There was a rain
fall in June of from S toe inches, pretty
evenly distributed over the whole island,
and this month about the same. There
has not been any heavy downpour, but
showers at frequent intervals almost every
night for the last six weeks. The effect
has been to clothe the country with green,
and to give a vigorous growth to the young
canes, which are as forward now as they
were last year in October. Provisions -
potatoes, yams, Indian corn, have been
largely planted, and promise we'll too. So
far as agriculture is concerned, the planters
have nothing to complain of but the low
price of sugar, which sells at under 4 dol
lars for the best quality. Molasses fetches
a better price, but there cannot be much left
for sale. The shipments have been of Su-
gar 1876 hhds. and of Molasses, "a, 1865
puns., and 10 puns., 40 hhds. Rum
besides the cargoes Of the Candidate, Mary
Hardy, Lady Harewood, and Osbert, all tor
London, loading in the Bay, expected to
amount to over 1000 hhds. sugar, and a
smaller quantity remaining for the States
and British Provinces. It appears from
these figures tint the crop Of last year has
fully come up tothe quantity estimated for
shipment; and 10 respect Of molasses, the
shipment is greater than was expected.
The market continues we'll supplied with
American breadstufs and provisions.
On Wednesday (22nd) there was a meet
ting of the Directors and others interested
in the proposed Railway, from Bridgetown
to st, Andrews, Mr.. HAYNES. the. Chair
man Of the Directors presiding. The re-
port Of Mr.. FRASER the Engineer was read,
from which appears, the cost of construC-