, 1888-09-22

wv nv my OAUIdCU IIOm Luo ldSU uuuUGT
of the Planters JOnrndl, anent St. Philips
Parish, will appropriately express the con-
dltion of things as to the closing of the
crop -
ut is very satisfactory to chronicle the
hnal close OF as tedious a reaping season
as has been experienced for nearly thirty
years. What with unripe canes, scarcity
OF megaSS, with coal at times understandable,
coupled with slack winds and continuous
~ shOwery weather, planters have had
an unusually anxious time of it. Added
to Their other troubles, there has been con-
siderable friction i'll some districts as to
price, and everywhere almost, it has been
difficult, partly in consequence of the sho-
VERY weather, but principally owing to
dlS!ncilnatlOn, to get the trash taken up
from the fields A noteworthy feature in
TINS seasons reaplng has been, that the
canes nave not only kept we'll, but it is
recorded, on one estate, at least, which I
nave heard OF, that the best yield per acre
was obtained during July, and ] have
nowhere heard OF any large quantity of
rotten canes, which shows pretty cOnclu.
SlYelY-(aS have, | think, mentioned be-
fore In these cOlumnS)-that heat, and not
wet, is the more frequent cause OF our
canes r0tting. In taking leave OF the old
canes, we have very much to be thankful
WY IA NllLC vi vi u ulIAlCulGlSS anu GEOu-
bles, for | am strongly Of opinion that the
sugar crop just reaped is the largest
which the parish has ever raised'.
The quantity OF produce shipped to date
has been 2 1852 hhds. of sugar, and 0 1903
puns. molasSeS, against GO, LOT hhds. sugar
and 42'26S punS. mOlasSeS at correspond
ing period last year. There is a large
quantity of sugar both in town and coun-
try yet unshipped. The crop of the Island
for 1887 was the largest ever shipped. 1t
is supposed that the crop for this year will
slightly exceed that for last year. And,
as our readers will perceive from what we
have written, there is all encouraging
prospect of a large crop next year. There
has been a slight upward tendency in the
price of our staple product since our last
Summary. To days quotations are Su.
gar 1886 per 100 lbs, Molasses 15cts., per
gallon.
The provision and fodder crops are look.
ing fairly well but these crops are by no
means as forward 3s they usually are at
this season of the year. We nave seen
some very fine yamS indeed, but these are
generally to be found in allOtments and
SINAI holdings. On the estates, the pre-
paratiOnS for this root were, from force of
circumstances, mad very late, and the
prospects OF a good turn out Of this whole
some food are not very bright. The finest
field of yams which we have noticed on
any estate is to be seen on CIGybwry, in st.
John. EddOes are coming up bravely,
though IL little late. Some good Indian
Corn has been reaped, but there are many
fields III which the ears are only first be-
ginning to harden Breadtruit are album
dant and cheap. The "WoOlly Pyroe"
has in some places uSurped the place of
guinea corn as fOdder-and a good sub
stitute it is-~cOnsequeDtly, the breadth
OF planting Of this old fashioned corn has
somewhat decreased. But i'll some locali-
ties, guinea corn still holds its own, and
where it has been planted it has done we'll.
We are very glad to find that the plan
tiers appear to be more and more awaken
ing to the acknowledgements to say, the
necessity-of paying more attention than
they used to do to the provision of young
cane seedlings. The time was when the
tOpmOst portion Of any sort of cane-with.
out regard to variety, condition, or health
ness-was made to edo duty as a
plants. Now, many planters have their
regular nurseries" which are carefully
looked after in every way. This is as it
ought to be. The first blow, it is said, is
half the battle. And the general sue
cess of a cane crop depends more upon
the constitution and variety of the young