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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[Fes. I, 1887. 



oped, after the primitive culture in the Serra abaixo, 

 which was generally abandoned on account of the fail- 

 ure in the production. 



In addition it may be remarked that this state of 

 things is not confined to Brazil, for the diminution of 

 the production in Oeylon must be in like manner at- 

 tributed to the same cause. 



These plantations, infected alike in Oeylon as well 

 as in Brazil, give undeniable proof that the Coffee 

 plant does i;ot bear fruit for an unlimited period and 

 that in this branch of cultivation after a certain period 

 has elapsed, the soil becomes worn out, and as the 

 plants become old and give a return continually dim- 

 inishing the planters find that they can no longer get 

 any result worth having, and are obliged to abandon 

 the plantations. 



In Java the production has also fallen off, a fact 

 which calls for similar comment, and we cannot but 

 believe that there also a like effect is being produced 

 by a similar cause. 



It is this also which should induce us to give due 

 consideration to the statistics respecting the produc- 

 tion of Coffee iu Asia, that i.s to say, in Java, Ceylon, 

 in Briti.sh East India, &c. 



In effect we see, on looking over these statistics, 

 that in Asia the average production which duiino- the 

 quinquennial period from 1872-73 to 1876-77 was 

 2,519,400 bags, had fallen to 2,383,000 bags during the 

 succeeding quiiiquenijial period — 1877-78 to 1881-82 — 

 preparatory to a further diminution during the trien- 

 nial period from 1882-83 to 1885-86, as regards which 

 the disastrous result of the last season leaves no doubt 

 whatever. 



The falling-off iu the production, as given by these 

 figures, is a fact beyond all dispute. The recurrence 

 of heavy crops in Brazil takes place about every 

 three years, whilst between these come crops of only 

 medium size. 



But in addition, there are also to be taken into ac- 

 count meteorological occurrenc- s, which, as regar Js the 

 plantations, may produci' coustr-queiic s of the highest 

 importance, and which are nearly always entirely un- 

 foreseen, as, for iustauce, rain, hail, frost, or drought. 



It is possible*, therefore, for any one acquainted with 

 the facts to determine in advance, with more or le'<s 

 exactness, what the crops will produce, and this even 

 before the period 01 flowering. 



It IS clear that unless there is a wish to hazard estim- 

 ates, at once capricious and badly supported, tliere 

 can be no great differences of opinion iu regard to 

 our crops; it is of course expedient to employ iu such 

 a matter very great prudence, and to watch the course 

 of events in oider thereby to modify iu case of need, 

 the opinion one may have formed. This is certainly 

 the course which we ourselves follow. 



Let us now examine the actual position of things, 

 and in order to illustrate by example what we have 

 previously stated, let us go back to what happened last 

 year. In 1885 the season of bk)st;oming was full of 

 promise, but the drought, which continued until the 

 autumn, spoilt everything. Nevertheless, in the pro- 

 vince of San Paulo, whose rich uplands are covered 

 with plantations of recent growth and considerably 

 exposed, where vegation is relatively more vigorous, 

 the fears which at first were entertained were only par- 

 tially realised. 



If then for this last crop the plants have had to 

 suffer from the drought, which was prolonged from 

 spring to autumn, and if this drought has exhausted 

 them to such an extent as to involve a partial failure 

 in the fructification ; if these plants, weakened already, 

 have been unable tei recover themselves iu the rigorous, 

 season which has followed, for indeed vegetation 

 suffers a period of suspension during winter, how can 

 it be maintained that we can have a good flower- 

 ing this year, and consequently a good crop. 



It is for these reasons, and after insprcting the 

 plantations, that all persons who are authorities on 

 this question of coffee cultivation in Brazil have ar- 

 rived at the conclusion that this year the croj) will 

 be email, and that this opinion, which is also our 

 own, is now shared by the ino8t influential and most 



experienced of the houses engaged in the export trade 

 from Brazil. 



In effect, in response toi ur inquiries on the same 

 subject, our friends in Brazil, Messrs. J, F. de 

 Lacerda and Co., have communicated to us the 

 following telegraphic reports, upon which comment 

 is needless. 



From Kio Janeiro : However favorable circumstances 

 may turn out, we do not think the crop can exceed 

 3,000,000 bags. 



From Santos : Advices iu regard to the crop are 

 generally unfavorable, the damage is serious, and we 

 estimate the coming crop at 1,500,000 bags. 



Summing up these arguments then, we may state 

 as a fact establishi-d very clearly now that the pro- 

 duction m Brazil, which sufficed to make up for 

 the deficiencies caused by the diminished produc- 

 tion in Asia, cannot any longer do this in view of 

 the bad seasons of 1885-G and 1886-7, which fact 

 indeed is rendered sufficently evident by the general 

 diminution in the stocks in the consuming countries. 

 In addition to this, the reduced volume of the next 

 crop will render the statistical position of the article 

 yet more favorable, by making clearer than ever 

 the progressive diminution already indicated in the 

 production of Coffee. 



It is therefore with very good reason that we re- 

 affirm our entire confidence, and maintain what we 

 stated in our recent circular, repeating strongly our 

 advice to our friends to make continued purchases 

 at the very fountain head, seeing that during this 

 season those who, up to the present, have made 

 direct importations of Brazil Coffees, cost and freight, 

 have done extremely well, and because, in the course 

 of next January, every one will have to admit the 

 force of our arguments, and the rise will be so rapid 

 that there will be little opportunity of making ready 

 for it. It is necessary therefore "that our own im- 

 mediate connection should take every precaution to 

 protect their interests, by making direct purchases, 

 cost and freight. 



In our judgment there is no reason to trouble our- 

 selves about speculative fluctuations; as we said re- 

 cently, we are convinced that the rise v,ill carry us to 

 the prices of 1873, 1874 and 1875. 



Bullock Geahi.ng for Tea Eollebs.— Hearing that 

 Mr. Alfred t?covell of Bitterne. Maskeliya, was .using 

 Bullock gearing for driving a Barber's Tea Roller, we 

 wrote to him asking for some information about it/i 

 and received the following reply : — " In ai>swer to your 

 enquiry, I have been working a Barber's roller (con- 

 verted Thompson'.s) by means of a cattle mill, during 

 the last few weeks, and quite successfully. " The mill 

 takes 8 cattle at a time, and I have been getting 

 through 250 lb. withered leaf per hour on an average, 

 and very good work at the same time ; revolutions of 

 the di-c-^ being about 35 per minute. ' No doubt on 

 estates where water and fuel are scarce, provided 

 fai;ilities fur keeping up a fairly good cattle estab- 

 lishment are pre^^ent, a cattle mill would prove to be 

 an economic motor. The bullocks require some train- 

 ing and must be shod," We are very pleased to find 

 ilr. Scovell has made .such progress in the training of 

 his bullocks as to enable him to obtain an outturn of 

 250 lb. per hour from liis machine. We should, how- 

 ever, like to know how many bullocks are used at game 

 time to drive the mil In India only two are worked 

 at one time, and after two hours' work they are re- 

 placed by others. Seeing the ver}' low cost of bullock 

 mills, we anticipate they will be more generally used 

 in Ceylon than at present, more particularly for 

 Barber's Boilers which require so little power to drive 

 them. For the guidance of Planters we give the fol- 

 lowing appioximate prices for bullock gearing in 

 Colombo : — 



Light one Bullock or horse gear with 



doubled speed ... ... E225'00 



Two bullocks gear, double speed ... 20000 



Two bullock gear extra strong ... 275-00 



Above arranged for three bullocks ... 300,00 



Four bullock gear, exceedingly strong .,. 476,00 

 — " Local Advertiser, 



