, 1888-09-22
Extracts from shc Administrators
Address 90 the Legislative Assem-
bly, of Dominica.

1t appears to me very desirable to afford
means Of instruction to those who desire
To become good handicraftsmen, and [
propose to establish a system on the Pub
lie Works under which Young men willing
to learn a trade thoro ughly may have the
opportunity Of doing so from competent
instructors. | also ask your cooperation
i'll passing a measure TO support this
attempt to improve the technical skill Of
your people by enacting that while reserv-
ing all existing rights no person hereafter
should exercise q handiCraft until he had
properly learnt his trade.
now turn to another subject which is
equally important. | mean the develop,
ment Of the Fruit Trade. | have been
pndeavOnring to ascertain the terms on
which a steam service could be secured,
running once or twice a month on regular
dates between this Island and the United
States. | believe the scheme to be quite
practicable and Within our reach. 1t
would, however, be of great assistance to
the Government if those who wish to
obtain a market for their fruit would each
send III Il return to the Government Of the
quantity they would supply and the
approximate date at which they could ship
it, for the amount Of freight which would
w no. - ~ ltNlllf a man lOCUOl III
any calculation as to subsidy. | propose
by public notice to invite the public to
give this information and hope they will
readily respond, for it is in their interest
The information is required. 1t was
suggested to me 10y the honorable mem
Der for ROspau, Mr.. Davies, that it would
be advantageous to obtain a large supply
o. suckers Of the best kinds Of bananas,
and thinking the suggestion an excellent
one | have asked the Governor of Jamaica
if they can be supplied from there. If you
approve, these suckers might be distribut-
ed amongst those DESTROYS of engaging in
such cultivation and the payment OF the
cost deferred until the first crop be reaped.
While on this subject | may perhaps use
fully draw attention to some remarks in
the last report Of the Director OF Public
Gardens and Plantations III Jamaica. He
says
The area under cultivation Of Bananas
is increasing, but this will not help the
Island unless the problem is solved Of
producing the fruit out OF its proper sea
son, at a period when the largest price
would be given in the American Market.
The fruit is produced at the most f%avoura-
bic time for the market, if plants are put
in ut the right time Of the year, but the
RatoOnS bear fruit at their own proper
season. 1t would probably pay to plant
every year for the market and not allow
the plant to ratOon, at any rate more than
once. A Planter Of experience has sug-
geSted that a certain area under Bananas
might be marked off into squares like a
chess board and Ito continue the |illustra-
tion) the black squares be planted, say in
February 1888, to produce fruit for Janu-
AIRY 1899 to July 1890, the white squares
to be planted in February 1889, for fruit
the following January to July. In August
of each year the Bananas on those squares
from which fruit had been gathered would
be cut down, and pigs or cattle turned
in to feed on immature fruit and the
leaves, and to manure the ground. In the
December and January following those
squares might he ploughed and in January
or February planted again for the next
year. The ground would thus get the
benefit Of manure and rest"
The establishment Of Botanical Station
has not escaped attention, for have asked
the Governor of jamaica if he can send
It's an assistant to start the undertaking
and attend to the care and distribution
Of the plants and seeds, as the Jamaica
Government were good enough to offer
some years agO.-DOmiRiCGn.