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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[May i, 1885. 



The late Mr. Cameron I kuow was not in favour of 

 this plan, and I have spoken to several Indian planters 

 who did nut practise it. In fact Mr. P. R. Shaud of 

 Strathellie is the only planter I ever heard of trim- 

 ming his tea plants in the way described, and that was 

 some years ago. Of course all straggling branches 

 with a downward tendency should be cut off. —Yours 

 truly, EXPERIENCE. 



CACAO INSECTS. 



Uva, 15th April 1885. 

 Dear Sir, — I should be much obliged if you would 

 Inform me if the insects which accompany this 

 letter nre Jlelopeltis Antoriii or not, If they are not, 

 they are at least as destructive as the genuine article can 

 be ; for they have done and are doing a great 

 amount of injury on several places in this district 

 where cacao is cultivated. They operate on the 

 pod} in su;h a way as to render the latter per- 

 fectly woithless, and the cacao trees themselves are 

 also severely ; lleeted by these insects. — Yours truly, 



E. X. Z. 

 [Our entomological referee writes : — " Examined 

 and found to be the true Heloptltis Anlonii." — Ed.] 



BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 

 (Prom the North Borneo Herald, March 1st.) 

 The Borneo Trading Syndicate. — Under the above 

 title a Syndicate was formed in Melbourne in the 

 latter end of November last, having for its object 

 the inauguration of a regular trade between Nortli 

 Borneo, Loudon and Melbourne in the products of this 

 colony. Tlie chief aim at present is the export of 

 indiarubber, guttapercha and dammar, to be supple- 

 mented with ivory, tortoise-shell, vegetable tallow, 

 pearl shell, seed pearls, &c. The President is Mr. 

 John Myth of Messrs. Blyth & Co., London and 

 .Melbourne, who is President of the Melbourne Chamber 

 of Commerce. The expedition is in the hands of Capt, 

 R. D. Beeston, late of the Bengal Army, who our 

 readers will remember was here some eighteen months 

 back on behalf of the Australian Borneo Company. 

 Ho is accompanied by Mr. E. \V. Thomas, a gentle- 

 man of considerable experience in New Zealand. Since 

 his arrival, Capt. Beeston has been by no means 

 idle, and has already secured a shipment of india- 

 rubber and dammar, which will shortly leave for 

 Loudon. Capt. Beeston has formed a very high estim- 

 ate of the products of the country and the ample 

 scope for trade that is opened up to his syndicate, 

 and has already reported most favourably to Mel- 

 bourne. He is also paying close attention to the 

 hardwood limbers of North Borneo, more especially 

 :is regards billion, balow aud russok, and feels sanguine 

 as to the p'ospects of open'ng up a large trade in 

 hardwood umber with Melbourne, to be used more 

 especially for sleepers, piles, and wharf timbers. He 

 is of opinion that the capabilities of billion for the 

 above mentioned purposes are unsurpassed, and is send- 

 ing samples to Melbourne, which will be seen and 

 tested by practical gentlemen interested in the timber 

 trade there. 



A COUNTRY WITH A FUTUEE. 



The well-known African traveller, Mr. H. M. Stanley, 

 has contributed to the Standard a very interesting state- 

 ment as to the prospects of commerce in the Congo region ; 

 which he has done so much, in connection with the 

 International Association, to open up to the influences 

 of civilization. The boundaries of the Free State, which 

 has beon created by the recent Berlin Conference, com 

 prises about 000,01)0 square miles, and is, therefore, about- 

 four aud a-half times as large as France. Of this vast 

 area 600,000 square miles are, says Mr. -Stanley, of un- 



surpassed fertility, and the remainder less valuable, but 

 still of excellent quality. The territory includes over 

 41,000 square miles of lakes, besides nearly 4,000 miles 

 of navigable rivers. The only important interruptions to 

 free passage are the Stanley and Lubelash Falls, aud 

 to obviate all obstacles presented by the river it is pro- 

 posed to construct a railway 147 miles long, of which 

 52 will run between Vivi and Isanglia, aud 95 between 

 Manyanga and Leopold ville. In the first year after the 

 opening, Mr. Stanley believes the railway will pay 20 

 per cent. It will open up a region containing not less 

 than 30,000,000 of inhabitants. Of the commercial future 

 of the Free State, Mr. Stanley speaks in glowing term« 

 On the coast line, from Gambia to St. l'aul de Loundo, 

 every place which offered any promise of trade has been 

 made the settlement of factories, which carry on a trade 

 to the extent of £32,000,000 yearly. The iuterior must 

 of necessity offer a far larger field. Palm oil, rubber, 

 gums, coffee, copper— already smelted by the natives- 

 ivory, camwood and orchella weed, both valuable for 

 dyeing purposes, palm fibre, and hides are amongst a 

 few of the chief articles of nativo trade. There aro be- 

 sides vast areas covered with the most valuable timber, 

 such as ebony, mahogany, lignum vitaa, teak, and red- 

 wood. All kinds of European vegetables, as well as wheat 

 aud rice, will grow luxuriantly, and both sugar and 

 cotton are indigenous to many parts of the country. The 

 railway will bring the interior and its wealth into direct 

 communication with the sea. At first it was almost im- 

 possible to get the natives to work for the settlers on 

 any terms. But now, having found that they will be 

 fairly paid and well treated, they are eager to offer their 

 services or to sell their ivory.— Christian World. 



The Robber cleared iu the Becebedoria at Para 

 during last year reached 9,860,157 kilos., of which 

 835,703 was Peruvian. The exports for December 

 were 64u\000 kilos, for the United States and 

 723,000 kilos, for Europe; stocks on December 31st 

 was 891,000 kilos.— South American Journal. 



Agricultural and Horticultural Society oe 

 India.— From Captain F. Pogson, forwarding for ex. 

 animation aud report a rope mado from the bark of 

 the Maul Dhun creeper, which grows abundantly 

 aud to a considerable size in the forest. The rope 

 is very stroug aud is used for tethering cattle, the 

 leaves are used by the Bunnias and Halwais for 

 packing purposes, and are large aud tough. Captain 

 Pogson goes on: "it appears to me, that under cult- 

 ure the young bark would be of considerable value 

 for numerous purposes, including the manufacture of 

 sacking and canvas, while the refuse would answer 

 very well for paper." The plant has been identified 

 as the Bauhiuia Vahlii, well-known for the strength 

 of its fibrous bark, ropes constructed of which aro 

 used in suspension bridges by the natives. Captain 

 Pogson has been asked to obtain some of the seed 

 for tlie Society.— Indian Agriculturist. 



Malacca.— Unfortunately,' the drought still continues. 

 No inhabitant can remember a dry season of this descrip- 

 tion. Nearly all the wells iu the place are empty, except 

 a few of those situated at Bukit China. Wells that have 

 never been known to fail, in the memory of the living, arc 

 now dry. and it is necessary to purchase water both for 

 bathing and drinking purposes. The hospital is no excep- 

 tion, and considerable expense is being incurred iu provid- 

 ing the necessary supply of water. A very large proportion 

 of fruit trees, both iu town and country, have been scorched 

 up, and they have the appearance of having been burnt by 

 fire. The loss occasioned by the withering of fruit trees 

 will amount to some thousands of dollars, which will 

 chiefly fall on poor people. We should bo very thankful 

 that the place continues to be healthy. The authorities 

 have taken the preeautiou of frequently putting linn- into 

 the drains, and flushing them. The rain-clouds have frcqu- 

 ently collected over our heads during the past fortnight, 

 bit the rain cometb not. Singapore also appears to be 

 suffering from drought, but the only inconvenience you 

 appear to be put to is having the water supply cut off two 

 hours per diem.— Singapore Fret Press, March 28th. 



