June i, 1883.J 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



945 



of rose-coloui-oil flowers, and the Gloriosa (Methonica) 

 suporba, coiniiiunly known as the climbing lily. 



During tlu! lattur part of the year there was a ileciiled 

 improvement apparent in the general health of the trees 

 with every promise of a good crop next year. 



'J'he JMoringa (Moriuga pterygosperma) plantation con- 

 sisting of abont 1,04S trees is in good order and coming 

 into bearing. 



Bath Garden, at the extreme end of the island, must 

 be near the mountains or in the track of the rain 

 clouds, for, although only 170 feet above sea-level 

 and with a mean temperature of 79"5°, the rainfall 

 is 9G inches, or more than twice that of King's 

 House Gardens at an altitude of 3S0 feet. In the 

 section headed " Cultivation and Distribution of 

 Kcononiio Plants," Mr. Jlorris writes : — • 



LiiiKiuAN Coffee. — Continued attention appears to be 

 devoted to this coffee in the moist lowlaud districtts of 

 the islanit, where it promises to become an established 

 industry. 



In suitable localities— .that i.s, at elevations not exceed- 

 ing 8011 feet, and with a mean annual rainfall not le.s.s 

 than SO inches — it appears to be a very robust and hardy 

 plant, possessing great yielding qualities. 



At the Castle'ou gardens, Mr. Syme reports that the 

 small phuitation established httle more than three years 

 ago is all that could be desired. The larger plants are 

 bearing heavily, and now (October) ripening their first crop 

 of cherries. 



At Plantain Garden Eiver estate, Mr. James Harrison, 

 the enterprizing manager, has a very promising plantation of 

 this large-beanr 1 rntl'eein full bearing. 



For pulping Liberiau coffee, I notice that a very useful 

 hand-iHili>er has been invented especially for this large- 

 beaned coft'ee by Messrs. John "Walker & Co., Colombo, Cey- 

 lon. It is said to pulp at the rate of ten bushels per hour, 

 and cost complete eighteen pounds. 



Another machine adapted for hulling this coffee in the 

 " cracknel" state, th.at is, after the cherries have been dried 

 in the sun (without pulping), is recommended by Mr. E. S. 

 Morris, of Philadelphia, who has taken a great personal in- 

 terest in the develojimeut of the coft'ee industry amongst 

 the negroes of the Liberian republic. 



C.VCAO. — There are very satisfactory indications that cacao 

 plauting is being generally taken up in .Jamaica, and especi- 

 ally in coujunction with that of bananas. 



I am unal>Ie to enumerate all the localities where cacao cult- 

 ivation is being tried, but the following instances will indic- 

 ate the chief centres of operation : — 



In "the Bath district, I am informed that Dr. Neylaud, 

 Mr. lloycs, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Thompson, and others have, 

 in the aggregate, " about 250 acres of cacao regularly 

 planted and highly cultivated ; but generally throughout 

 the district cacao grows with great hixuriance, and in al- 

 most a wild state around the houses of settlers,'* 



As already indicated in the liandbook on cacao cultiva- 

 atiun, " cacao to be successfully cultivated in Jamaica must 

 be confined for the most part to the moister valleys and hol- 

 lows. A\here the plains meet the hills, at elevations say 

 from sea-level up to 450 and 500 feet, and where there is 

 good shelter from prevailing winds, cacao should thrive well. 

 The rainfall should not be below an average of 60 inches per 

 annum, nor should the mean annual temperature fall below 

 76 I'ali.'' 



Again, "most of the cacao shipped, at present, from 

 Jamaica is grown by settlers or small proprietors who 

 are wholly uuacquainted with the 'sweating' and curing 

 processes : and hence the produce (simply washed and dried 

 in the sun) is shipped in an iuferior condition, and the 

 prices realized are only one-half of what they ought 

 to be." 



Since the publication of the handbook I am glad to find 

 that greater attention is given to the sweating and curing 

 of cacao ; and, as the cultivation is more generally taken 

 up by Europeans, the day is not far distant when Jamaica 

 cacio will greatly improve its position in the London 

 marl;ct. 



Caeuamom. — This valuable spice plant, allieil to, and 

 having nnich of the habit of, the wild-ginger of this 

 island, has lately been introduced to Jamaica v/ilh satis- 

 factory results. It is adapted for cultivation in moist 

 U9 



shady situations and at elevations ranging from 2,000 ft. 

 to y,500 ft. TTie plaiits may be put out at 5 ft. to 

 6 ft. apart and require little cultivation beyond keeping 

 the ground clear of rank-growing weeds. Thereturji, per 

 acre, at tlic end of tliree years is .safely estimated, in 

 Ceylon, at abont 170 pounds of cardamom seeds worth 4s per 

 pound. Several huutlred plants are now available for dis- 

 tribution from the Tidjlic gardens. 



Vanilla and Black Peppeh. — The cultivation of these 

 plants is being gradually extended ; but not nearly to the 

 extent to which they deserve. To encourage their more 

 general cultivation cuttings are now being supplied fnun 

 the Public gardens, by post, accompanied by full details 

 as to treatment and cultivation. 



NuT^rEli. — Continued attention is being given to the 

 cultivation of nutmegs ; and although every eft'ort is made 

 to keep ui) supphes of plants, in pots, at the Public 

 gardens, the stock is still inadequate to meet the steaily 

 demand for this valuable spico tree. I fear numerous 

 plants are lost in the island on account of want of atten- 

 tion to their requirements as regards climate and soil. 

 It cannot 1)6 too often repeated tliat nutmegs- require a 

 warm, moist climate at nearly sea-level : a deep, rich 

 alluvial soil in a sheltered position ; and these conditions 

 are much improved by the presence, in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, of a stream of fresh water- or a slow 

 flowing river. 



Cinxa.'MON". — The plant of the best variety of Ceylon 

 cinnamon, brought from Kew, in 1870, is now 7 feet 

 high and in excellent health at the Castleton gard- 

 ens. Several plants obtained by layering its branches 

 have been put out in the experimental garden. Be- 

 sides which a few are now established in pots ready 

 for distribution. The stock of plants of the ordinary 

 ' country" form of cinnamon is very extensive. 



Kola Nut. — This tree which has lately attracted consider- 

 able attention is common in many parts of the island under 

 the name of " Byssi" and seeds ca]i be obtained, in quantity, 

 if required for commercial purposes. Dr. Neish, of Port 

 Koyal, to whom I am indebted for a note on this product, re- 

 marks : " AVbat enhances the value' of kola nuts at the pres- 

 ent time is the fact that citrate of caffeine — a medicine now 

 much employed for the relief of sra-sickness, nu-griu, and 

 other nervous complaint.s — can be readily obtaiue<I from these 

 nuts, for the reason that the nuts cmtain more calfeine than 

 coffee berries ; and in the kola nut the caffeine is in the 

 tree or imeombined state. These nuts are likely t'l take 

 their place in the market as furnishing a uutritiveand stimu- 

 lant beverage. Kich in the active in-iuciple of collee, eou- 

 tainiug also a large proportion of Iheobromine, the active 

 principle of cacao, these nuts in addition contain three times 

 the percentage of starch contained i:i chocolate : and, more- 

 over, they also contain less fat, so that, in adilitiou to 

 stimulant and nutritive properties, there is the probability 

 that a chocolate prepared from them will more readily agree 

 with delicate stomachs." 



The suggestion made by Dr. Nei- b that a chocolate might 

 be prepared from the kola niit seems a very appropriate 

 one, for both the cacao and kola belong to the same natural 

 ord(.'r, Sterculiaceaj, and the habits ;md characteristics of the 

 two trees are very similar. They l?oth effect low warm situ- 

 ations and in view of the probable demand for kola nuts, at- 

 tention might very well be given to their cultivation. 



That portion of the report dealing with table fiui' 

 wc have already noticed, so that now we have onlj 

 to quote what is said respecting 



KliEBEU-YrELDiNO PLANTS.— Of the African rubber plants 

 there arc four species of Landol|ihias, viz., L. Kirkii, 

 L. Watsouii, L. Petersoniana ami L. florida at Castleton . 

 wjiich are growing well. They are sci'ambling twmers 

 which require bushes or low tri • s for supjiort. Of th' 

 Para rubber there is only a single specimen about 'ii 

 feet high at Castleton ; it is in good health and likcl\ . 

 before long, to give its first croji of seeds. 



The Ceaia rubber trees, of which there are several 

 specimens in excellent health, pr' luises in evei-y way to bi 

 suitable for cultivation in Jamaiia. The largest tree i.- 

 about '!') feet high, with a cii'cuniterence at 2feotfioni 

 tlic ground of :i(i inches. 



The Castilloa or Central Anuricau rubber was iutrr- 

 duced last year from Kew, ami there arc two plants 

 of which one is in good health. Being a member ol tj i 



