, 1889-04-20

'1rnlC WAS quite up 10 the marx" 10 IL
lustrate the excellent keeping qualities of
this pine-the Black Antigua-the report
says q dozen were cut and packed rough.
~ iutO ~ small box and sent to England,
where they arrived in fine condition. The
pest most destructive TO the pinc.apples
in the Garden is said to be the mOngOOSe.
1t is the first time We nave heard the mon.
goose accused of destroying fruit; but
since reading Mr.. Elliotts report, we have
been assured by M experienced planter,
that the mOngOOSA is u great lover of fruit.
This animal, imported here about eight or
nine years ago for the destruction Of rats
on the cane plantations, has increased
with wonderful f cundity, and has lately
been extending its rayages to- poultry,
having, We suppose, pretty we'll exhausted
the rat-supply. Should it encounter much
difficulty in procuring poultry-as no
doubt it will, when peoples owning the
latter take proper precautions for their
safety-mAy it not extend its depre.
datiUn largely and seriously to ground
provisions and fruit? In that case, the)
mOngooSe would prove TO be- rs great IL
curse 10 us AS the rabbit has proved 10
be iu Australia and the sparrow i'll Amer.
lea. In view of the desire to estab.
liSh fruit ~cultivati on here on an extern
sive scale, early measures should DO tax
Ell hy; agriculturalists to check the increase
of The mongooSe. Every one of the per.
uicioGs tribe when encountered should, II
possible, he mercilesSly dest, Dyed, or our
planters in the future may have IL sorry
tale IL, tell, and occasion to anathe matiSe
the perSonS-Or their ShadoWS-who brought
the pest to our shores. '.: .,..,
A large number of coffee plants (50,OO0)
have been raised in the Garden for free
distribution. with the view of encouraging
the cultivation of that product in this is
land, but up to last month only $4,000 had
been applied for. The Curator thinks
That OWNERS Of mountain lands in partiC-
ular, should " emtark i'll this product,
AZ they possess soil " rem Irkably adapted
to It's successful cultiva,lon." In addition
to coffee, numerous other plants are III
stock ready for distributing, % list OF
which is published as an appendix tO the
report. Interesting and valuable extracts
from the Ken Bulletin, relating to ramie
or china grass, are given. The real DIM
Guilty in connection with ramle lies III the
want of proper machinery for decorticating
the stems. There are plenty of spots III
Grenada. the curator thinks, where ramIe
would grow &plendidly, but until the mode
of extracting the fibre is satlSiactor seton
tied, he would not advise its clutlv atlly.
Among the appendices to the report is
one containing observations "upon the
capabilities of the soil for the cultivation
"of the different tropical products in addi'
'tion 10 our staple, cocoa" We are una
Bile to afford further notice to this interest.
ing appendix to-day. t. .l
We have learnt, since writing the fore
going, that a committee to supervise the
working of The Garden has been appointed
by the Governor. The Committee consists
of the Ven. ArchieacOn Hutson, the Hons.
w. S. Commissioning, DR.. Orgias and Dr..
Macleod, and Messrs. j. c. Spooner and
Lavingtom Payne. The precise duties Of
this committee have not yet been annOunc.
ed. We have also heard that Mr.. Elliott,
having accepted "a post in another colony,
is shortly to resign the Office OF Curator.
If his be trne, We hope another aud a com.
petent person will speedily be appointed, &
and that the Garden will not be left for any
time to the tender mercies OF the commit.
tee. who, whatever may be their other
qualifications, are not scien tilc bOtanists,
nor are they acquainted with the require.
meuts of the various economic plants that
have been introduced into the Garden
st. Georges Chronicle, 18th March.