, 1891-06-10
BARBADOS NEWS.
Agricultural Reporter Nag 22,)

Ieaping Of the crop, which, we are glad
to hear, promises a larger return than
was anticipated a few months ago. The
canes are now yielding much better, giving
in some localities two and q half, and i'll
others, as much as three hhdS. to the
acre. Several estates have closed at con-
siderably below last years record. The
young canes are holding out wonder
fully we'll. The st. Phillip correspondent
of the Planters Gazette in his April report
says:-The young crop continues not only
to hold it's own, but to grow and sucker.
The young canes, as a whole, are remark
able for their regularity, uniformity and
general heaIthiness." The correspondent
in the southern district of the same parish
writes 1.-THE young canes are keeping as
green and healthy as can be expected, but
this cannot continue much longer with the
hot suns and high temperature we are
experiencing" The St. Georges cores
pondent a ys:-"The young crop is holding
on wonderfully we'll there may be, on
every estate a few spots, or perhaps a field
or two Of canes somewhat behind hand,
but there is nothing Speaking generality to
cause any serious anxiety as to next years
crop at present. OF course, the question
When is the rain coming ?-cannOt be an
swered, and a continuation Ofthe present
ulUuSDp " any ICiI5tH VI hilII' NOHiA Nv
duce a very different state OF things" The
st. Andrews correspondent writes THE
Young canes have borne the late dry Wea-
Their remarkably we'll, and with early rains
and favourable weather later on the future
may prove by no means as dark or dlScour-
aging as our present position"
The Rainfall last month in st. Phillip
was less than / inCh,-Only 81 parts. But,
writes Il correspondent owe are not worse
off at this date than we were at the Same
period of 1889, when we had Il very season
able year, showing a total OF some 90
inches
The Rainfall in st. Georges for April was
$50 the heaviest rain was - inches. The
Rainfall in St. Lucy was SO parts.
The Rainfall at MalIiaeuH, st. James for
the year is 10ins. II parts, and at OTtord,
ST. Joseph, s ms. Y parts.
This month, so far, there has scarcely
been any rain,-Only a few slight showers.
The average last week at the Police Sta
tions was only u parts. This week scarce
ly any is recorded.
dpropoS of the Rainfall, we find by an
old Almanac that in 1910 the island was
visited by a great drought which com
menced on the 18th October and lasted
upwards Of six months. The record runs
thus ;-"NO rain whatever in some Of the
parishes till the end of April and begin
ming of May the showers then again ccaS-
ed, and dry weather continued until the
beginning of July, with the exception of a
light shower or so within each 10 or y
days. During this time May and June,)
Indian Corn had been planted, most Of
which was entirely destroyed by worm. So
great was the drought that numbers of
horned cattle and sheep died for want of
food and water. Many wells in the parish
of Christ Church went dry. Sour grass
sold for 50 per 100 lbs, a thing never before
known in the island
During the past fortnight the price of
sugar fuctuated with a downward tenden-
cy until 1925 per 100 lbs was reached;
but to-day we are glad 10 report an upward
tendency, the price of Beet having adj
vanced in the English market Sd. per cwt,
Considering the large stock Of sugar III
America ION the 9th April it amounted,
in The four ports Of the United States, to
35.733 tons as against Ii, 705 tons at same
time last year, we are not surprised at
this. We can understand that, in the face
of the abolition of the duty, large quaint
ties would be forced into the American
market, but we nevertheless believe that
the lowest price has been touched and that
the upward tendency will be maintained.
In fact, to-day, $40 per 100lbS is freely
offered, with significant hints that even
higher rates will be paid ald, looking