So 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[July i, 1884. 



thus it is worthy of consideration whether it would not 

 on the whole be au absolute economy to dry the berry in its 

 primitive state as plucked from the shrub, and thus deliver 

 it for domestic use, as is practised in Bolivia. In a dry 

 climate of dear labor and no machinery the expensive 

 process of " pulping " has been found to be unnecessary 

 and detrimental. Thus on the western coast of South 

 America, the Bolivian coffee " Cafe de Yungas " is always 

 sold in its primitive state unpulped and realizes as much 

 as four shillings per pouDd, and is not inferior to the finest 

 mocha, whereas the coffee of commerce is there only 

 worth one shilling per pound. As " unpulped " coffee re- 

 tains its essential flavor in contrast to the naked beau, 

 and consequently badly roasted, green, and raw-flavored 

 coffee of commerce, underdone in the centre of the berry 

 even when over-roasted outside, and for the following 

 reasons, thus well-flavored coffee should be heated through- 

 out to about 390 ° Faht., as then only it becomes soluble by 

 a fixed law, and by means of its external covering, de- 

 fending the interior from sudden heat, and ou becoming 

 carbonised, falls to the bottom of the earthen pipkin or 

 roaster used, and being a non-conducting substance, still 

 defends the now naked beau which should be well moved, 

 and when the powdered pulp attains the heat of 400 ° Faht., 

 a dull spark of fire is visible and is the signal that the 

 coffee is roasted. The ordinary rule with commercial coffee 

 in roasting being when " vapor arises," being the essential 

 oil escaping, and it will be found on this experiment being 

 practised in India that much more depends upon the 

 proper roasting of coffee than on the quality of the berry, 

 and for home consumption in India the idea cannot but 

 prove a luxury and economy. (Signed) G. O'Brien. 



London, W., 6th March 1884. 



To the Hon. the Under-Secretary of State for India. 



REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN, 



SILAM, IN THE TERRITORY OF NORTH 



BORNEO. 



Silam, 10th January 1884. 

 My last Report on the Garden was in May last, and 

 consequently a great change has, as would be expected, 

 taken place since that time, both as regards the extension 

 of land planted and also in the growth of those plants 

 already established, and which I will refer to below in 

 duo order. 



The Health of the Coolies, which, at the commence- 

 ment of the garden gave great trouble, is now most 

 satisfactory, cases of fever being few and far between. 

 I find the Malays are much hardier than Chinese, and have 

 therefore employed none but them; and find no difficulty 

 in getting as many as I require. 



The Survey of the garden, which was urgently required 

 was accomplished two months ago, and shows that there 

 are 83a. 3r. Sp. felled and 46 acres planted ; made up of five 

 small dealings (as per plan enclosed), with carefully left 

 jungle-belts between each, to keep the products protected 

 "from wind. 



Roads and Drains. — The whole garden has been 

 thoroughly roaded and drained, and where necessary 

 bridges have been built. 



Diseases, Pests, &c. — I have carefully looked for signs 

 of disease among the different products, and am glad to 

 say I can discover none ; while pigs alone give us a little 

 trouble. I consider the present cultivated acreage will 

 be sufficient for present requirements. Several products, 

 such as nutmegs, divi divi, &c, have to be planted some 

 distance apart, but allow space for some other product to 

 be planted between them, provided the produce is of small 

 dimensions. 



Clearing No. 1 . Extent 12a. 3r. 8p. — The greater por- 

 tion of this clearing consisted of cacao (yellow and red 

 variety) planted under shade, but it was soon apparent, 

 from the difference of the growth of that in the open, 

 compared to that under shade, that the latter method was 

 unsuitable, if not hurtful, to the growth of cacao, and so 

 I had the jungle all felled. 



Cardamoms. — About an acre is planted under shade with 

 this valuable spice, there being two varieties, viz., Malabar 

 and Burmese, both of which have fairly started and are 

 growing well. There are still a few more thousands in the 

 nursery and land ready for their reception, and they will 

 be planted out directly the weather is favourable. 



Coffee Arabica. — About an acre is planted with this 

 product, thi seed having come from plants (Bornean) 

 planted at Tampasuk by Mr. Dobree, and are growing 

 well. During the last month or so the plants have been 

 attempting to blossom prematurely, but the incessant rain 

 turned the blossom into wood, now, however, the weather 

 has changed, and a blossom will have every chance of 

 setting. 



Shade Trees. — The Allbizzia or Java shade tree, of 

 which we have several planted, have grown at an enor- 

 mous rate, and are, as would be expected, very brittle. 

 They are. however, handsome trees, and fulfil then- duty 

 as shade trees. 



I should like to see some of these planted along the roads 

 at the different stations, but until there is some respon- 

 sible person at each station to look after their welfare, it 

 cannot bi- accomplished. 



The Didap* is another and more sturdy shade tree, and 

 is very useful for growing pepper vines up. I have, 

 however, only a few plants, having been disappointed in 

 getting sued ; cuttings, however, I find strike easily. 



Ilang-Il.vng. — Of these plants only one survived trans- 

 planting and is now a healthy looking shrub. 



Clearing No. 2, in extent 12a Ob. 30p. is unplanted, 

 and for the present abandoned. 



Clearing No. 3. In extent 13a. 1r. 30p. — Half of this 

 clearing is planted with Liberian coffee, which could not 

 be thriving better ; the oldest trees are now eighteen 

 months old and have fruit on them in all stages, and are 

 in a perpetual state of blossoming, the wet weather not 

 having the same effect on this coffee as in the case of the 

 coffee Arabica. 



The height of the oldest trees is over "ft. 6in. I intend 

 shortly topping them at oft. Gin. 



It is the nature of this variety of coffee to bear very 

 heavily when young, but it is for its future welfare not 

 to allow it to do so, and accordingly to pick off the young 

 cherries, but in the present case, when there is every 

 chance of there being an early demand for seed, it would 

 perhaps, be found advisable to allow the trees to bear 

 their utmost, keeping only a few trees separate for ex- 

 periments and observations. On closely inspecting the 

 coffee I find we have two, if not more, varieties, one kind 

 sending its primaries out within a foot or so of the ground 

 while another kind often grows up to five feet before 

 branching out. The former kind will, I am sure, be found 

 the most serviceable, the ligher trees, besides i being top- 

 heavy and apt to suffer from any night breeze, are also 

 unhandy for picking and other works. It is at present 

 too early to ascertain if there is any difference in the pro- 

 duce of these two varieties, but I shall ascertain as soon 

 as possible. 



The remaining half of this clearing is planted with 

 cinnamon, Indian and Java coffee, nutmegs, cloves, pepper 

 citronella grass, sugar, (assorted) ginger, Ceylon cacao 

 and aloes, all thriving as well as could be desired. Along 

 the roads I have planted the African oil palm tree, which 

 will in time give this clearing a very pretty appearance, 

 while along the boundary the sapan hedge tree has been 

 planted, which yields the valuable red dye, and has al- 

 ready commenced to seed. 



In my last report I was able to write favorably of the 

 young cinchonas, but since then they have nearly all died 

 out, plainly showing that they are unsuitable for this low 

 elevation. I shall, however, watch with interest the few 

 remaining. All the cinchoua vacaucies have been planted 

 up with cinnamon. 



Clearing No. 4, in extent 0a. 3r. 20p. is in the course 

 of being planted with divi divi (which yields the valu- 

 able tanning materials) and gambier between the rows. 



Clearing No. .3, in extent 4a. Or. 14p. is planted with 

 ceara rubber and will, in the course of a day or so, be also 

 planted with nutmegs. 



Clearing No. 6. In Extent 14a. 2b. 2fip.— This is nearly 

 all planted with tea, (Assam Hybrid) the oldest planted 

 being 14 months old and growing luxuriantly ; the distance 

 apart is 4m 4, and so the clearing contains close on 

 30,000 plants, which will be sufficient for supplying seed and 

 also for experiments in tea manufacture. 



On a small flat cotton trees have been planted, 

 it being my iuteutiou to use them for growing pepper 



* In Java Dadap, Erythrum. — Ed. 



