558 
rm TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [February i, 1890 
incontestably shown to lead to better results. They 
have, for example, to be taught the advantages accruing 
from the interchange between different parts of the 
country of the best selected seeds for grains, fruit, and 
vegetables ; and they have to be taught what mixtures 
they have recourse to in cultivation to protect them- 
selves in seasons of drought and famine, and to save 
themselves from the caprices of the season or the 
continuance of bad seasons. The fullest information 
might also be given regarding the diseases of crops 
and the remedies therefor, as well as regard- 
ing the animals and parasites to whose ravages 
crops are subject. Dr. Voelcker will no doubt utilise 
his time in India by drawing up a compendium of 
instructions for the improvement of Indian agricul- 
ture, suitable more or less to all parts of the country. 
An ensilage experiment at Poona seems to have 
proved completely successful. Ajowari crop, 68,0001b. 
in weight, was cut flowering at the end of September, 
1888, and placed in the silo pit the following day. 
The filling process took fifteen days, the silo was filled 
a foot above the brim, and the top layer was covered 
with a four inch layer of weeds. When the tempera- 
ture rose to 120 degrees F., the top was plastered over 
with a layer of clay two inches thick, and the 
whole was weighed down by a layer of moorum 
a foot thick. After five months the silo was opened, 
when the silage was found to have 6unk two feet 
below the brim. It was, however, almost as fresh as 
when put in, and was greedily eaten by the farm 
cattle as green food throughout the hot season. 
■ — * — 
NORTH-BOBNEO : PBOGBESS 
DURING 1889. 
Political. — A British Protectorate over British 
North-Borneo became an established fact during last 
year, the Protectorate also being extended to Sarawak 
and Labuan. In addition to this the Court at the re- 
quest of H. M.'s Government have agreed to administer 
the Colony of Labuan, and as this number of the Herald 
is published, the ceremony of installing His Excellency 
C. V. Creagh as G overnor of that Oo^ny is proceeding. 
For the first time in the annals of the State a Durbar 
has been held at Sandakan. It took place on May 
2Sth last at Government House, when chiefs from all 
parts of the territory met His Excellency Governor 
Creagh. The event has made a fixed and lasting im- 
pression and will greatly help to extend the influence 
of the Government over the more remote tribes of the 
interior, and greatly improve the relations between the 
people and their rulers. 
Territory.— By the successful conclusion of the 
little war with Pangeran Sliahbander in Feb- 
ruary last, the independent state of Padas Damit 
has been incorporated in the Company's Territory, 
and now forms an integral part of Province Dent. 
The war was brought to a successful termination 
by the capture of the Fort Galila, and the submission 
of Pangeran Shabbander, who had also to accede to 
the oft repeated demand of our Government that Patek 
should be surrendered to undergo his trial at Brunei 
for the murder of one of our subjects, who was also 
in the employ of the Government. This gives us a 
large additional area of capital Sago land, and there 
are parts of the district where it is stated tobacco 
can be planted. Independently again of this addi- 
tion to our agricultural lands, a long standing 
nuisance has been swept away. We are rid once 
and for all of the constantly outcropping questiou 
on the subject of boundaries, and the country 
in the neighbourhood has now every chance of peace. 
In old days Padas Damit was as far as we were con- 
corned a sort of Alsatia where murderers, robbers, and 
crimiuals took refuge to avoid the just punishment of 
crime committed in the Company's Territories. It was 
always also a mutter of suspicion that conspiracies 
against our Govornment were fomented there, while 
arms, ammunition and other contraband of war were 
smuggled into the district from Labuan and other 
places. Now wo have changed all that. We be- 
lieve ;,lso that in addition to this we shall shortly 
bo able to announce the acquisition by purohaso 
of the Inmam, Membakut, and other rivers the native 
chiefs of which are willing to come under the Com« 
pany's rule. Government being desirous of avoidiug 
any further troubles with the Brunei Chiefs have 
offered liberal terms for all these rivers within the 
Company's boundaries, and the Government proposals 
are being considered by the Sultan of Brunei with 
whom the settlement of this long vexed question 
now rests. 
Planting.— As in the year 1£88 so in the past year 
tobacco has made greater strides. Two new estates 
have been opened in the Kinabataogan, a new 
estate has opened on the Liibuk another on the 
Tungud a tributary of the Labuk. The Sugut 
is also progressing and all the estates in Darvel 
Bay are looking well. The Segaliud estates in San- 
dakan Bay are also very hinhly spoken of. Experts 
who have been visiting the various estates during the 
year are loud in praise of the samples inspected by them 
on the Darvel Bay plantations, and on Mr. Vander Hoe- 
ven's estate on the Labuk river. Rauow in Marudu Bay 
as usual is still to the front as also the other estates in 
Marudu Bay. A crop from Banguey island sold at an all 
round price of 2/5 per lb. in the Home Market, the pur- 
chaser reselling two days later for 2s ll|d per pound. 
On the strength of this the German Company open 
100 new fields this year. Some tobaccos have realised 
up to 5s 6d per pound. The Sungei Koyah estate in 
theKinabataDgau has produced lobnco of an excellent 
quality v- hich is most highly spoken of. On this river 
there are five estates at woik and two more to open 
shortly. Tobacco land has been raised to $6 per acre 
and applications comiDg in. The Deli CouraM, the 
organ of the Sumatra planters, stated the other 
day in a recent issue, on the authority of an 
expert (a disappointed one evidently,) who had 
visited this country, that British North Borneo 
did " not contain an acre of laud suitable for tobacco 
planting." This is curious coming as it did simul- 
taneously with the news from home of the famous 
quality of our tobacco and the prices fetched in the 
Home markets. Our planters already see their way 
well on to success, and are not likely to be discouraged 
by anythiug they may read in the paper in question. 
Mr. Christian's coffee estate at Kudat realized the very 
satisfactory price of 00s in the cherry and 80s clean. 
This estate is to be formed into a company, the 
capital increased, and works carried on on a much 
larger scale. 
Tibiber. — Next to Tobacco, Tirrber naturally takes 
the second place in our list of products. This indus- 
try has greatly increased during the year. First and 
foremost the China Borneo Company have erected 
and nearly completed an extensive Saw Mill about 
half a mile from the B. B. T. and P. Oo.'s mill. 
Communication by telephone is laid on from the 
Mill to the Company's Office on the Praya, and 
also at the residence of the Managing Di- 
rector of the Co. Mr. E. E. Abrahamson. A 
full description of the engines, appliances &c, of 
this mill was given in our last number. Part of the 
machinery is now at work and we hear treating some 
24 logs daily. The China Borneo Co. have this year 
sent away sixteen ships containing 5,000 tons of 
Bilian and other timbers to the Hongkong and China 
Markets. The B. B. T. and P. Co. sent away the 
full rigged American ship O. C. " Chapman " with 
a cargo of 700 tons during November. We antici- 
pate a very large output of Timber from the China 
Borneo Company's Mill during this year. 
Immigration. — Large numbers of coolies, Chinese 
and others have arrived in the Colony during the past 
year, principally Immigrants from Singapore and 
China, and several coolies have arrived from Java. 
These coolies have naturally been mainly absorbed by 
the Tobacco Companies in Sandakan, and Marudu and 
Darvel Bays. Sandakan and Kinabatangan Labuk 
and Sugut rivers have taken some 4,000 alone, an equal 
number being divided between Darvel Bay and Marudu 
Bay. Several free labourers have arrived in both 
Sandakan and Kudat and have started as Carpenters, 
Agriculturists, Shopkeepers &c. The price of Labour 
however has not been much reduced and work being 
always to be had there is room for more to come. In 
