Vol. XVII. No. 413. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



.35 



SEYCHELLES: ANNUAL REPORT ON AGRI- 

 CULTURE AND CROWN LAND^, FOR THE YEAR 

 lUPJ. 



This report by Mr P. K. liuponf. (^'urator of the Botanic 

 Station in the island of Mahe, the chief island of the group, 

 contains most interesting details of agriculture in the colony, 

 and also of its other resources, especially those bearing upon 

 the agricultural interests. 



From the list of plants, either already established or 

 recently imported into the Botanic Station, it is easy to see 

 that the conditions are very siraihr in that group of islands 

 in the Indian Ocean to those obtidning in the wetter islands 

 of the West Indies, which impres.sir'n is borne out by the 

 meteorological return?, the tempi-rature ranging from S5'7° 

 maximum to 75o miniraum, the rainfall for the year being 

 99'29 inches, which however was •'!(• inches less than that of 

 the previous year. 



Among introduced plants, Mr. Dupont notes that the 

 'Gros Michel' banana flourishes since its introduction in 1912, 

 and produces bunches of enormous size. Papaw seeds from 

 Hawaii have been successfully grown, the seedlings fruiting 

 six months after planting, and producing fruits from the very 

 base of the stem, which strikes one accustomed only to 

 West Indian varieties, as a very unusual trait in a pipaw. 



A Iree, formerly very common in Mahe, is being reintro- 

 duced. About 3,000 plants, raised from seeds impored from 

 Madasascar, of 'he gum copal {'rnichi/hiliiuiu verntcasvin) 

 &.re being planted on Crown Lands. Besides yielding the 

 gum of commerce, this tree affords good timber and grows 

 I nickly on even poor soils. 



The extended cultivation of the oil-palm {Elaeis 

 C'lin-eehsL-:) is recommended as being ppecially suited to the 

 soil and climate of the Seychelles. A bunch of nuts weigh- 

 ing IS lb. has been taken from a tree growing at the 

 I'otanic Station. The palms also seem to begin to bear nuich 

 earlier than in most places where they are cultivated, plants 

 cnly two and a half years old producing nuts already. 

 Mr. Dupont says that he does not recommend substitut- 

 ing the oil-palm for the coco-nut, which is the staple industry 

 ;it preseDt, but considering that the latter palm is very 

 much attacked by many inseot pests in these islands, it 

 vould be worth while to cultivate the oil-palm as an 

 adjunct, on account of its suitability to the conditions, its 

 productiveness, and the value of its crop. In connexion with 

 the oil-palm, mention is made of the jjpgth of time which 

 its seeds often take to germinate, i^ds received from 

 Lagos in 1912 were still germinating in 1916. 



It would appear that in some of the uninhabited islands 

 of the group there are large and valuable deposits of guano, as 

 these islands are frequented by myriads of sea fowl. This 

 .source of increased fertility is being utilized to some extent, 

 but Mr. Dupont warmly advises a much more extended use 

 of it locally. It is also a source of revenue as an article of 

 export, 34,720 tons having been exported in 1913: although 

 the quantity fell to 9s0 tons in 191 Rowing to difficulties 

 of transport. 



An interesting series of experiments on manuring coco- 

 nuts is being carried on. The experimental plots are in 

 duplicate of a series of six, and are subjected to the 

 following treatment: tl) no manure, (2) green minuring 

 with velvet beans, (3) green manuring plus guano (800 fb. 

 per acre), (4) green manuring plus guano and coco-nut husk 

 ashes (i<00 R. per acre\ (5) green manuring plus guano, 

 ashes, and lime (1,270 lb. per acre), (6) fish guano (600 Db.) 

 plus fresh sea weed (3 tons per acre). The yield of nuts was 

 carefully ascertained for the year reported on, in order to take 

 into account the natural yield of each plot, and the yield for 

 1917 will also be treated as a natural yield, owing to the fact 

 that the embryo leaves ot the coco nut, together with the 

 subtended clusters of nuts, on which it is calculated that 

 the influence of the manures will make itself felt, take two 

 years and nine months to reach maturity. From the 

 table of yields appended it is evident that, as Mr. Dupont 

 points out, the productiveness of coco-nut trees in the 

 Seychelles leaves much to be desired one plot giving an 

 average of only eight nuts per annum; and although it is true- 

 that on another the averpge was thirty, that even i.s a bw 

 yield compared with the yield in most other places where 

 the palm is cultivated. The total crop of coco-nuts of the 

 colony for 1916 was estimated at 23,679,93.5, being about 

 2 million nuts less than that of 1915. The chief reason 

 of the reduction in this crop seems to have been the ravages 

 of insect pests. 



The vanilla industry, which was not so long ago very 

 nourishing in the colony, seems to have mucti decayed, due 

 apparently to want of careful cultivation, and also, Mr. 

 Dupont thinks, to the failure in vitality of the vines 

 which have been reproduced constantly for fifty years 

 by cuttings only. This renders them susceptible to a 

 fungus disease which is very prevalent. He suggests the 

 growing of seedlings to produce a fresh stock. He advocates- 

 the 'madre del cacao' {(rliricidia marulita) as the best tree 

 for props and shade for the vanilla. 



Owing to present high prices the rubber industry, which 

 had practically been i|uite neglected of late years, appears to- 

 have been stimulated, antl it would seem as if there were 

 possibilities of a verj' considerable increase in the cultivation, 

 especially if more care in plantin.^ the trees at propei: 

 distances is observed, and if tapping is conducted on the 

 best approved lines. 



Another industry which is steadily progressing is the 

 distillation of essential oils, especially cinnamon leaf oil, the 

 quantity produced of this in 1916 being 1-5,069 litres. This" 

 oil finds a ready market in England at remunerative prices. 

 Oil of cinnamon bark and oil of clove leave? are also produced 

 in largely increaseil .piantities. The residues from the 

 stills after distillation are employed as very valuable humus- 

 forming manure, e.s{)ecially on coco-nut estates. 



Another minor industry is mentioned in the report, that 

 is the manufacture of citrate of lime on one of the islands. 

 For this purpose the juice of the small bitter orange is used. 

 The report states, however, that this fruit is becoming much 

 lese common in the colony, the trees being infested with scale 

 insects. 



Mr. Dupont draws attention to the great waste of coco- 

 nut husk fibre that takes place, and advocates a large 

 extension of the manufacture of coir, as a means of utilizing 

 the fibre of the husks. 



Apart from agricultural products, the, inlands export 

 guano, which has already been noticed, and several fishery 

 products— whale oil, dried calipee. trep,<ng, and shark fins, 

 and a considerable quantity of salt fish. 



