, 1911-08-09

Is, that the fields have become so grassy that
they cannot perforp' IA task satisfactorily and
yet accomplish as much as woul eptitle
them to their ordinary rate Of wages.
The root-bOrer has again made It's appear
ance IN Christ Church in the same locality
where it did some dpmage last year. At
Speucers estate it IS observed in the corn
fields, and boys are employed to pick the
mature insects from the leaves, two lads
having gathered over 1000 in one day Of
last week. The Rev. n. b.. Watson, orr
local authority on Entomology, states that
he has observed one of the females of til 8
insect to Lag $50 eggs. The extent of the IN
jury which this pest is capable of doing in
the cane fields may therefore be easily esti-
mated. We are informed that it's habit is
to hibernate in the soil, whence it finds it's
way into the cane roots, which after a severe
attack, develop the root fungus, and this
means destruction to the canes affected. The
same authority tells us that, in his opinion,
this borer h&s been always with us, but for
generations 1T was kept in check by the
ground lizard, the crapaud and the black
bird, until the mongoose was domiciled and
destroyed muItitudes of these our best
friends.
VITA respect to the old crop, the black
soils may be SAID to have all completed their
reapiug There IS not a cane now standing
IN st, Philip nor IS any III Christ Church.
We believe the northern end ought to have
completed by this time, as there was but
little to be done at Harrison and Bromedald
a week ago In St. Michael, Lower Estate
is still grinding. st. George valley viii close
up the season, with the last canc5of Vino
sor, Carmichael and Walkers, ground at
Bulkely, perhaps tonight. But IN the rcd
soils Of northern St. George, ST Thomas, st.
John, at some places in St. Joseph, and on
the hills in ST. Peter there are altogether
perhaps a couple Of hundred acres yet out
Standing,
The factories, although on a small scale,
are Ju9tiIying their existence. Buckley is
now closing "A season Of somewhat under five
months, having manufactured about $500
tons of crystals, half Of which has been from
canes bought from the neighbouring estates
and from the thousands Of peasant growers
around. The success Of this proprietary
factory has been so satisfactory that it IS
planned to proceed Immediately to he addi-
ton Of another mill Of three rollers and of a
third vacuum pan (there are two alreudy)
and Of another set Of centrfu9als so as to
be IN a position to accomplish a larger
amount Of work in the next season. Car
llugton has turned out, We understand,
about 1900 tons. Locust Hall is doing a
good business in the purchase Of canes fl m
estates and peasants. Duuscombe has had
as much as she has been equal to from the
time she started, and is now taking many
tons Of canes from Y%aucluse. Pool has done
u good business in purchasing canes and is
now reapin8 some fields from Lemon
Albour.
At Buckley, plantations which freight
their own canes have been receiving during
lIe past month 14s. %. per ton, and peas
ants, whose canes have to be fDeighted by
lI> factory, have been paid lis. Sd. per ton
for tAsjr canes. The prces paid there are
usually taken as the standard ut other
places. OF course, whore the machinery is
distinctly less o|lfcc,iyc, the}price PAID ; less.
AT Waterford in St. Michqel, another pro-
prietary factory is being erected and will, It
is anticipated, be in readiness for the next
season. As it is the first in this parish, it
ought to prove a boon to the estates and
peasants around.
We regret to record q cane fire at Harri-
son in st. Lucy on the night of June 25,
when ! J acres Of ripe canes, 9 acres Of trash
and some cane tops we've burnt. 1t was
evidently the work of the incendiary.
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