14 



The returns from these Liberian coffee estates are interesting as showing 

 that under favourable circumstances the yield is not showing any tendency 

 to decrease. Linsum and S'Lian, in Sungei Ujong, estates are surrounded 

 by forest, and the atmosphere there is generally laden with moisture (rain- 

 fall from 90" to 120") and rain falling on over 200 days in the year, with 

 heavier and more continuous rains in October, November, and the early 

 part of December. The older fields on these estates are manured yearly, 

 and weeds are allowed to grow and have been for many years for a large 

 poi'tion of the year. At certain times the estates are, for periods varying 

 from six weeks to three months, kept scrupulously clean. The cost of 

 cultivation is from $70 to $90 per acre per annnm. The soil is not parti- 

 cularly rich, but the climate, from the moisture makes the estates very 

 productive. The export duty of thirty (dollars) cents per picul produces 

 to the Government an equivalent of a quit- rent of $2 40 per acre, on the 

 land in full bearing. 



The younger fields on this estate are finer than the old coffee was at the 

 same age, they all having been planted from selected seed from fine trees, 

 thus getting a pedigree seed, some of the clearings being planted from the 

 4th generation of seed so selected, and the 5th generation of seed is now in 

 the nursery. 



Weld's Hill Estate is in Selangor, and owing to the growth of the town 

 of Qualla Sumpor and its surroundings is in an open plain, so that although 

 the rainfall is much the same, the evaporation is very much more rapid, 

 and the yield of crop is not so large. This may partially be accounted for 

 by the estate being more on the slopes of hills and therefore unsuitable for 

 the growth of weeds. The boundaries of this estate are now being planted 

 with Inga Saman, Albizzia moluccana, and other quick-growing trees to 

 alleviate this dry atmosphere as much as is possible. It suggests itself as 

 a matter of grave consideration for the Governments as to how much the 

 capital of these fertile countries is due to their humid climate produced by 

 the large area of forest, and how much to the soil. 



Batu Estate has not been manured until 1891, because the soil was so 

 much superior to that of the other estates as to render it theoretically 

 unnecessary to apply manure. In future the same system will be followed 

 as on the other estates. 



Kamming Estate. — The yield is very much decreased, owing to the 

 large number of vacancies in the fields, the full areas of which are given, 

 the supplies here are growing luxuriantly, and in a few years these fields 

 will be regular, and from the appearances of the original planted trees, 

 the climate and the soil, the yield should not be less than that on the 

 older estates. 



T. H. H. 



SUGAR CANE SEEDLINGS. 



In December, 1892, several Sugar Cane seedlings were received from 

 the Botanic Gardens of British Guiana. 



The following is a list with descriptions as supplied by Mr. Jenman. 

 The remarks in the last column refer to their growth subsequently in 

 Hope Gardens. 



The names mentioned are the parent canes. 



Tops of all these except numbers 41 and 100 are available for distri- 

 bution for one month, on application to Director of Public Gardens and 

 Plantations, Gordon Town P. O. 



