256 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



cal college, and which will stand him in such 

 good stead in his every day experience as a 

 " planter." 



Neither great Britain nor the United States of 

 America can be said to have 



A TROPICAL DEPARTMENT, 



worthy by the name, attached to any of their 

 Agricultural Colleges. 



We gather from what has appeared in the Eng- 

 lish press and the West Indian Magazine that 

 Trinidad is beginning to be looked upon as the lo- 

 cale of the future Tropical College of Agriculture, 

 but surely it is not for a moment to be sup- 

 posed that a West Indian College will serve 

 the needs of the Eastern tropics? In many 

 points there is no coincidence between the 

 West and East Indies, and even if this fact 

 were disputed, is it to D9 imagined that one 

 institution will suffice for both hemispheres ? 



The selection of Trinidad need not affect the 

 question of a College of Tropical Agriculture for 

 the East and when we come to consider the 

 matter closely we must naturally 



ASSOCIATE CEYLON 



with such an institution. 



Already we are gettiug or with our equipment, 

 in respect of the necessary staff, which is at the 

 present moment perhaps more suitable to the 

 requirhments of tropical agriculture than ever 

 before. With a thoroughly practical agricultural 

 director, who strikes us as being as conscien- 

 tious as he is energetic, backed by an able staff 

 of specialists, both local and foreign, it is only a 

 question of development, and that iu turn is 

 only a question of means. 



Now that it has practically been decided by 

 Government to start an Agricultural College in 

 connection with 



THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



what is wanted is a tropical planting side 

 to this institution ; and at the present time, 

 when we are, so to sp«ak, riding on the crest of 

 agricultural and commercial prosperity, it is 

 surely only a matter of asking in order to receive 

 donations for such a department, where the 

 planting student will be able to obtain his train- 

 ing on the spot. We feel sure that the new 

 Director of Agriculture will not "omit the tide," 

 but will take advantage of the spirit of libera- 

 lity which is abroad, to appeal to those who can 

 help, to assist in the founding of an institution 

 which is calculated to foster the planting indus- 

 try and prolong the good fortune which its mem- 

 bers enjoy. 



AGRICULTURE IN PERAK IN 1911. 



The Perak Administration Report for 1911, 

 says the Para rubber export was more than 

 doubled, amounting to 40,880 pikuls, against 

 19,063 that left the State the previous year. 



11 The area under cultivation in coconuts was 

 73,120 acres as against 66,088 in 1910, practically 

 the whole delta between the Bernam and Perak 

 rivers has been alienated for this form of culti- 

 vation and is being opened rapidly. In a few 

 years, this vast plain, which was dense jungle 

 four years ago, will present an unbroken field of 

 coconut palms. 



Of the 262,487 acres of land alienated for the 

 cultivation of rubber at the end of the year, 

 124,681 acres reproted to be opened and 31,532 

 acres to be producing. The total erop for 

 the year was 6,041,763 1b. as against 2,962,218 

 in the previous year. Estates have been opened 

 in every district in the State, and the year 

 was characterised by steady development 

 and maintenance of opened areas after the 

 rush for new land and the promotion of com- 

 panies prevailing during 1910. The whole face 

 of the country, as seen from our main roads, has 

 been transformed from virgin forest, to the mono- 

 tony of miles of rubber trees, and a path of 

 jungle along our cart-roads will soon be the ex- 

 ception rather than the rule of less than ten 

 years ago. — Malay Mail, Sept. 4. 



SPANISH CUSTOMS DUTY ON TEA, 

 COFFEE, COCOA AND SPICES. 



Proposed Increase Next Yeah, 

 Art. 6 of Bill proposes to increase temporarily 

 by 10 pesetas par 100 kilogf, net weight (4s. Ofd. 

 per cwt ) the Customs duties on articles falliug 

 under the Nos. 635 to 643, both inclusive, of 

 the Customs Tariff. The following articles are 

 affected : — 



635 Cocoa in the bean, not roasted, and cocoa husks, 



if the produce of Fernando Po, and imported 

 directly therefrom. 



636 Ditto, ditto, of other or gin. 



637 Cocoa, roasted, ground, cocoa in paste, and 



cocoa butter. 



638 Coffee in the bean, not roasted, if the produce of 



Fernando Po, and imported directly therefrom. 

 839 Ditto, of other o igin. 



640 Coffee, roasted, ground ; chicory, roasted or not, 



and other similar products. 



641 Cinnamon of all kinds, and imitations thereof. 



642 Pepper, cloves and other spices, and imitations 



thereof. 



643 Tea and imitations thereof, and " yerba mate ' 



(Paraguay tea). 



This surtax is to be levied in gold at the same 

 time as the ordinary Customs duties. It is not 

 to be levied on the articles concerned which, 

 included in a manifest or under direct bill of 

 lading vise by a Spanish Consul, are despatched 

 to Spain before the 1st January, 1913.— Board of 

 Trade Journal, July 4. 



