ISO 



coffee see J has been imported from Ceylon. Great 

 caution is required in this, lest in importing the seeds, 

 spores of the coffee fungus, which has so disastrously 

 affected the coffee plant in that island of late years 

 should he imported along with them. Indeed, for the 

 welfare of Fiji, an excess of caution in this matter 

 would he laudable. Government might pass an ordi- 

 nance that all coffee and other seeds, plants of all kinds, 

 soil and packages from Ceylon should he disinfected 

 or purified with sulphur before being landed.* The 

 introduction of this pest would be injurious to Fiji as 

 a coffee growing country. Several (three or four) other 

 plantations are in the course of formation on favourable 

 soil and at suitable situations, and as they are con- 

 ducted by men of experience in coffee planting, success 

 may be affirmed. 



Cotton was extensively grown in Fiji, and it lays 

 claim to producing the best cotton in the world. Fiji 

 is, however, too far from the markets of Europe for her 

 cotton competing in them with that grown in countries 

 more favourably situated. The value of the cotton 

 grown and exported in 1875 was 25,853/. ; in 1870, 

 1 2,022Z. ; and in 1877, 11,140/. During this last year 

 2,000/. worth of cotton seeds was exported to Europe. 

 It is still grown by some of the planters, but it will, 

 mosi likely, be displaced by the sugar cane. From 

 one-half to three-fourths of the cotton now exported 



* Since these word- were written I learn that such a law has been 

 passed ' j the Legislative Council in Fiji; and since this was printed, 

 I have learned with much regret thai the coffee fungus has been in- 

 troduced with coffee seed from Ceylon. The Government of Fiji is en- 

 deavouring to stamp it oul by using disinfectants, isolating the in- 

 fected estates, ami destroying tin- infected coffee plants. There are, 

 comparatively . nol manj coffee plants in Fiji, and it is to lie hoped that 

 the endeavour will be successful. Mauritius, 30th November 1880. 



