THE TECHNOLOGIST. [April 1, 1864. 



402 FRENCH COLONIAL PRODUCTS. 



it can only be need by mixing with one of the others. Numerous 

 storms have destroj r ed a considerable part of the coffee plantations 

 on this beautiful island — a reason why the reputation of Bourbon coffee 

 has lately much deteriorated. Most of the colonies produce large quanti- 

 ties of cacao, the seeds of Tlieobroma Cacao. Its use is generally known, 

 although we do not find it so extensively employed as it should be, for it 

 is very nutritious and savoury, and certainly, as a daily beverage, much 

 more, to be recommended than tea and coffee. The cacao of the Antilles 

 is considered of a very good quality. In Guiana 60,000 kilogrammes 

 of cacao are obtained annually, and two different methods of prepara- 

 tion are known in the colony. The first consists in drying the seeds in 

 the sun or by the wind, by which means the fine oils which they con- 

 tain rests intact. The Indian mode is to smoke the seeds, but it can 

 easily be seen that, by such a process, they lose much of their fine 

 flavour. It is surprising that the cacao of the Island of Bourbon, not- 

 withstanding its acknowledged excellent qualities, is considered the 

 least valuable ; but it is too little known in Europe to banish the mis- 

 trust which in commercial circles is generally entertained against it. 



Bourbon claims, however, as a compensation the first rank in sugar 

 production, especially since 1837, when the first improved machinery 

 was imported from Europe. Amongst all the European possessions in 

 both the Indies, I have been told that the Island of Bourbon makes 

 the finest raw sugar, being highly appreciated for its large crystals 

 and easy solubility. The raw sugar of the Antilles and Mayotte is, 

 perhaps, the next in value. In Guiana they cultivate a variety, the 

 " Creole cane," which closely resembles the yellow cane of Batavia. 

 The sugar cultivation in that colony is carried on without any regard 

 to manuring, but nevertheless each hectare of soil produces annually 

 3,000 kilogrammes of sugar. Guiana has at the present day, fifteen 

 large sugar factories, which employ upwards of 1,500 persons. 



I must necessarily omit all mention of the medicinal substances, the 

 farinaceous seeds, the varieties of tobacco, and the fine flavoured wines, as 

 well as the more scientific collections, as for instance several herbaria of the 

 colonies, but I would direct attention to forty well-executed oil paintings 

 representing the numerous tropical fruits of the Island of Bourbon. This 

 series of paintings deserves to be mentioned here as forming one of the 

 most important ornaments of the Exhibition. Those who take an interest 

 in tropical fruits will be highly gratified in viewing these fine representa- 

 tions ; and a very interesting and instructive paper by Dr. John Lindley 

 " On the Tropical Fruits likely to be worth Cultivating in England " 

 may be consulted as the best means of acquiring a further knowledge 

 of their beauty and value. 



I must not omit to mention my indebtedness to M. A. Dupuis, a 

 French professor of Natural History, for various statements contained 

 in this essay. 



The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, 

 March, 18G4. 



