Report of Society's Meetings. 217 



To clear off moderate heavy forest and cultivate in the manner in- 

 dicated, costs about a hundred rupees an acre for the first two years. 

 In the 3rd year, when the coffee commences to bear, and heavy manur- 

 ing and trenching take place, the expenses rise to Rs, 120/ per acre, but 

 against this may be set the value of a crop of about 2^ cwts. to the 

 acre, neaily double that of the expenditure. 



After three years the expenses are the same, but the return per acre 

 is nearly doubled, being 4 cwts. In the 4th the trees produce about 7 

 cwts. and about 10 cwts. in the 5th and following years. 



(Sgd). ROBERT W. MITCHELL, C.M.G. 

 Minute by Mr. G. S. Jenman. 

 With regard to Mr. Mitchell's communication : — In forming an 

 opinion as to the adoption of any particular system of cultivation, much 

 depends naturally on the altitude, topography, chemical and physical 

 chara6ler of the land, the amount and distribution through the year of 

 rainfall, the adaption of the crop or crops to these conditions and cir- 

 cumstances, and of the manures employed (in kinds and quantities) to 

 both. The system of cultivation and manuring, if applied in this colony 

 as it is described in Mr. Mitchell's communication, would be alike ruinous 

 to crops and cultivations. However, in regard to the important nature 

 of the statement in the second paragraph of Mr. Mitchell's covering 

 letter, I would reapeftfully suggest that both letter and note be com- 

 municated to the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society, who will 

 no doubt discuss, and thus, through the press, widely disseminate their 

 contents. 



(Sgd.) G. S. JENMAN. 

 7th April, 1896. 



Mr. J. A. Coelho read the following paper on "India- 

 Rubber collection at Para."* 



A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Coelho, and the 

 discussion of his paper left over until the next meeting. 



Mr. Jacob Conrad asked that a letter on this subje6l, 

 read some time ago before the Society, be laid upon the 

 table when the matter came up. 



• See Page 87. 



EE 



