, 1888-06-13
BARBADOS NEWS.

Since our last summary the weather has
been more propitiOus for making,
both as regards wind and sun. The whole
of last week we had bright and glorious
crop days. During this week there have
been some shOwery days; but, on the whole,
good progress has been made in the CONVEX.
sion during the fortnight of the large guam
tity of canes still in the fields into sugar.
Some Of the estates in the black soils,
where reaping was begun comparatively
early, are within easy measurable distance
of the end. And it goes without the asking
that those concerned with such estates are
thankful that it il so. There are very
many estates, however, in all parts of the
Island, and eSpt cially on the high lands of
ST. Joseph and st. John, where the crop is
not more than half gathered in and this
backwardneSS is naturally causing, in the
closing days of May, great anxiety. From
all parts of the Island come the same
pathetic wailingS Of slow winds and of
want of fuel. The crop season Of the pre-
sent year has been without doubt, q most
abnormal one, and many Of our old plant.
ers say there has not been so wet and uu-
favourable q reaping season since 1861.
The yield of sugar from the fields is how
ever reported to be extremely good gene
rally throughout the Island, except on some
few estates where good tilIage and manure
were wanting. From the authentic reports
from the various Parishes the yield seems
to be from % to 3 hhds. per acre, inclusive
OF ratOOnS. On one estate in the Parish of
st. Philip, it is said that 1 hhdS. per acre
were made three weeks in succession; whilst
on another in the same Parish, 16 acres of
canes gave Il return of sc hldS. of sugar
made by the common process. The rain,
tall for the year up to date has been far
above the average for the last Is years, in
some places being tlCice and three times as
much and more than during the same period
last year. In the l0wlandS of st. Andrew
and st. Joseph, where rainy weather parti-
Cularly interferps with the process OF sugar
making, the outlook, we learn. is far from
encouraging. Few estates have reaped
halls their crops, and great fear is enter
tanned that q large portion OF the heavy
canes now outstanding will be lost. The
reports of the young cane crop throughout
the Island are most neutrality-suspicious.,
splendid, pretty, healthy, and looking we'll
being the terms freely applied to it. The
fault, if fault it be, is that it is too forward
for the time of the year,-indeed, as one
planter says, that it is "tOO gOOd'. The
pruning knife has had to be used pretty
freely, and this with the continuous Shove
ry weather has had the effect Of invigorat-
ing the suckerage. Owing to the backward
stage of the reaping of he old crop, trash
ing operations are also in a backward state.
Two days ago we saw this operation being
performed with some little difficulty, owing
to the very forward state OF the young
canes. The quantity of produce exported
to date has been 22,1O4 hhds. of sugar,
and 2O,l24 puus. of molasses, against
24,39o hhds. Of sugar and PLAT puns. of
mOlasses, at the corresponding period of
last year. Sugar Is quoted at s2.1O and
2.15 " 1DObs. and $500 for hid, molasses
at l2c. per gallon, and $500 for pun, and
rum at SOC. per gallon, in our local market.
We have read of many complaints as to
the supply Of labour. The operations of
the Water Supply Company, and the unu.
sual quantity of repairs to the roads made
necessary by the constant showers, and
heavy traAab Of taking produce to the City,