138 



the sun as to be unfit for cultivation. And this work of denuncia- 

 tion goes on from year to year, till eventually there will be no wood- 

 land left that can possibly be cleared and turned into provision 

 grounds, which are maintained only for so long as the virgin soil 

 yields a good return, and are then abandoned to rank bush, and a fresh 

 piece of forest or woodland is ruthlessly destroyed ; the hitherto 

 " never failing" springs diminish in volume, and frequently in dry 

 weather are quite dry, the atmosphere becomes hot and dry, vegeta- 

 tion languishes, the moisture-loving plants perish and in the end give 

 place, as already mentioned, to scrub and coarse grasses. 



An illustration of the manner in which trees intercept and precipi- 

 tate moisture has several times lately come under my observation. In 

 the hills we are often, especially in the afternoon, enshrouded in mist, 

 more or less dense. A few weeks ago, during one of these mists, my, 

 notice was attracted to a continual dripping from the foliage of some, 

 tall trees of Eucalyptus as if a shower of light rain had fallen on them 

 although there had been no rain. On examination I found that the 

 mist, which was moving along at a fair rate, there being a light wind 

 at the time, was intercepted by the foliage of the trees, condensed and 

 precipitated in large drops, and in about a quarter of an hour the 

 ground underneath the trees was as wet as if it had been sprinkled 

 with a garden hose, although the ground away from the trees was as 

 " dry as dust." 



I may add that plants of timber trees are distributed free to responsi- 

 ble persons, from the Public Gardens. Applicants must, however, bear 

 the cost of packing and transport. At the present time there is a large 

 number of West Indian Cedar and Mahogany plants available for dis- 

 tribution. Applications for these plants should be addressed to the 

 Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gtordon Town P.O. 



TV". Harris. 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF NICARAGUA. 



Attention has been called in the Bulletin to the extension of 

 coffee cultivation in Central America. The Journal of the Societv 

 of Arts says that the principal agricultural wealth of Nicaragua lies 

 in its coffee plantations, and although this industry is still in its in- 

 fancy every year witnesses its augmentation, and the Bureau of the 

 South American Eepublics states that the time is near at hand when 

 Nicaraguan coffee will take the prominent position to which it is 

 chiefly entitled. There are millions of acres in the country that are 

 especially adapted to its cultivation. Coffee grows well almost every- 

 where in Nicaragua, but best in the mountainous districts. The pro- 

 duction at a height of from 200 to 2,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea is generally at the rate of -Jib., and in some cases 1 lb. per tree. 

 At an elevation of 2,000 or 3,000 feet, the production fluctuates be- 

 tween 1, 2, 3, 4, and even 5 lbs. per tree, according to the quality of 

 the ground. At a higher altitude the production diminishes gradually 

 until it ceases entirely on account of the cold temperature. There are, 

 in Nicaragua, certain coffee regions offering the best possible advan- 

 tages for the cultivation of this plant. They are to be found in the 

 departments of Managua, Carazo, Matagalpa, Chontales, Jinotega, and 

 on the slopes of the hills and volcanoes of the other departments. 



