A VERY SUGGESTIVE CHAPTER. 155 



extent of country in which tea and cinchona could be success- 

 fully cultivated is not less than 100 square miles, and a joint- 

 stock company has just been started in Levuka for tea 

 cultivation on a somewhat extensive scale on the island of 

 Taviuni. 



Mr. Thurston recently also planted 800 cinnamon trees, 

 and some dozens of cloves and vanilla, while Pandanus utilis, 

 for making sugar-bags, was introduced in thousands, besides 

 mango, lychee, pomelo, and other fmit trees. 



Tobacco also grows well in Fiji ; but the want of knowledge 

 in the preparation of its leaves for the market is the main 

 reason why it is not more extensively planted. This difficulty 

 could easily be overcome. 



The above may be termed the principal articles of tropical 

 produce which will succeed in Fiji, and there remain only 

 those of secondary importance to be alluded to, viz., rice, 

 Indian corn, arrowroot, and tapioca. The arrowroot and 

 tapioca manufactured are of excellent quality. Rice no doubt 

 could be extensively grown in Fiji. Many places seem fitted 

 by nature for its cultivation. The clove, ginger, cinnamon, 

 nutmeg, allspice, pepper, camphor, and vanilla will also grow 

 successfully, but to cultivate them with any degree of success, 

 the cultivator should possess considerable experience. Many of 

 the settlers in Fiji have little or no knowledge of the culture 

 required by different sorts of tropical produce. Being the 

 first in the colony, they have been groping in the dark. To 

 say that all have succeeded in applying theories derived 

 from books would be incorrect ; nevertheless, some have 

 done so, and are now on a fair way to competency, if not to 

 fortune. 



Among fruits which would be likely to succeed in the parts 

 of this colony which enjoy a temperate climate, the peach and 



