154 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



not to plant coffee in places which face the trade winds, and 

 receive its full force unbroken, and directly from the sea, 

 without well protecting the plants by dense plantations of 

 hardy trees and shrubs. Very nearly 2000 acres were under 

 coffee early in 1880. 



The soil and climate of some parts of Fiji are well fitted for 

 growing cocoa (Theobroma cacao). 



There were till recently very few plants of cocoa in Fiji, and 

 none of them have arrived at the fruit-bearing age. It will 

 most likely be some time before any extensive plantations of it 

 are made in Fiji. Mr. Thurston introduced into the colony 

 during the year 1878 over 1000 cacao trees, which were all 

 doing well when I last heard from Levuka. 



Cocoa is a subject demanding particular attention from the 

 Government of a country whose wealth lies solely in its agri- 

 cultural products. The more varied these are, the less will be 

 the danger of distress from a season of low prices or failure. 

 About fifty plants of each of the best varieties of the theobroma 

 cultivated in South America and the West Indies would in a 

 few years yield sufficient young plants to stock Fiji. These 

 young plants might be sold at a low price to pay expense of 

 rearing and introduction, and in a new colony like Fiji would 

 be of the greatest importance. The same might be said of 

 many other kinds of plants, the introduction of which would 

 be a benefit to the community. Experiments in cultivation 

 could be tried with advantage if a botanical garden were 

 established in the colony. 



Next in importance to a large introduction of theobroma 

 would be that of tea and cinchona. The soil and climate of 

 some parts of the interior of Viti Levu, more especially of the 

 mountains at the sources of the principal rivers, are well quali- 

 fied for the culture of these plants. Roughly estimated, the 



