68a 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April i, 1890. 
The total cost of producing this valuable fibre reaches 
from £10 to £12 a ton, which shows at once the im- 
mense profits which are possible. The plant takes about 
three and a half years after planting before the leaves are 
ripe, but when that stage has been reached an annual 
crop can be obtained for about fifteen years from the 
same plant, without any cost but a small one for weed- 
ing. The Sisal grows best on hard, arid-looking ground 
which seems to forbid the thought of possible vegetation, 
and of course manure of any kind is to be avoided. 
When the leaves are cut, the process of stripping 
them and getting the fibre ready for shipment will 
not take more than 24 hours in a climate like that 
of the Bahamas, where sunshine is always the order 
of the day. Sir Ambrose Shea has been basiDg all 
his calculations on Yucatan experience, and cert inly 
the Bahamas are in no way behind that country in 
essential conditions. The planting began in the 
Bahamas in real earnest last May, but it has bean 
somewhat retarded through the want of plants, so 
that only 3,000 acres have so far been brought under 
cultivation. Considering the persecution which the 
Sisal had undergone in the islands, it is somewhat 
noteworthy that any plants were found at all, and 
but for its marvellous tenacity it must long since 
have disappeared. But the plants fructify fast, and, 
being now under a hospitable dispensation, their cul- 
tivation will of course increase rapidly. In 1892 the 
first substantial exports will begin, and then the increase 
of export will be a progressive one. The Colonists are 
beginning to talk of their future prospects as if they 
Were a present reality, but the whole economy partakes 
so much of the nature of an exact science that they 
are doubtless justified in their somewhat dogmatic pre- 
dictions. In looking at these glowing prognostications 
of future wealth and prosperity in the Bahamas, it is 
not unreasonable to inquire for a moment whether the 
Bahamians are making sufficient allowance for the influ- 
ences of the competition that maybe awakened by their 
example. From all we can learn on the subject, how- 
ever, there are but few places in the West Indies which 
possess the special conditions of soil and climate which 
belong to the Bahamas. Most of the other islands 
have too rich a soil, which would develop much leaf, but 
little fibre. This, at any rate, seems to be the opinion 
of Mr. D. Morris, of Kew Gardens, a gentleman who is 
peculiarly well informed on the fibre question.— Colonics 
and India. 
— » , 
CEYLON UPCOUNTEY PLANTING EEPOET 
Nutmeg Eapok Cinchona Bark. 
Nutmeg cultivation is getting more extended and 
more believed in. The days are passed when impa- 
tience at the slow growth of the tree led to its being 
pulled up; or when a man going to inspect an estate 
with the view to purchase, ignored thousands of nut- 
meg trees as having no value at all. Now they have 
not only a present but a prospective value, and 
a property with a decent number of nutmeg 
trees in bearing has a something which is inde- 
pendent of the fluctuations of the tea market, and 
would be a useful auxiliary in a time of stress. 
The manuring of one's nutmegs has led to a 
revolution of ideas in regard to that spice ; there 
is not now that weary waiting for growth, which 
wore out the patience and the interest as well. 
Then you heard of twelve and fifteen years as 
the time which might be expected to run before 
any return would appear. With these ideas current 
the European world almost as soon think of investing 
in a teak clearing, which is said to take eighty years 
to grow to full size, and fifty more to mature 
Now however you hear of nutmeg trees blossoming 
at five and fruit appearing at the sixth year. In 
the lowoountry shade has been found to be very 
desirable, a light checkered one : — but it is less 
called for higher up although in the early stages 
pf growth even there the shade is grateful, Manur- 
ing has worked wonders to the nutmeg, and has 
placed it on a firm basis, within the range of 
practical planting. 
Another somewhat despised product is " Kapok," 
and for this there are opening up extensive markets 
all over the world. Botterdam and Amsterdam 
are free to absorb of this produce a great deal more 
than Ceylon can at present supply, not to speak of 
London and the Australian Colonies. 
Lastly there is Cinchona Babe, which has 
been despised and rejected for many a day. 
Orders are now out from home to buy, but nothing 
rash has been done as yet : the intending buyers 
being evidently careful to avoid encouraging any- 
thing like enthusiasm or the belief that cinchona 
bark is worth anything at all. Peppebcoen. 
Java Coffee.— The reports from Java regarding 
the Government ooffee crop are very deplorable, 
owing to the late heavy rains and violent storms 
by which fearful damage was done to the trees. 
According to a telegram of the Governor-General 
dated Jan. 20th the estimation of the Government 
crop was 583,458 piculs, while on Feb. 7th the 
Governor telegraphed a quantity of 189,440 piculs. 
The difference caused a great surprise, and the Home 
Government wired to Java for information. A 
telegram received in reply confirms the small crop, 
and reports that the quantity mentioned on Jan. 
20th was that of the complete crop of 1889. With 
regard to the private crop the reports are all ex- 
tremely discouraging, the first estimate being one- 
third of the former production, but this seems now 
to be rather excessive. Under the circumstances 
the prospects for Java agriculture, of which coffee 
is one of the chief products, are very unsatisfactory, 
and very prejudicial to the Java banking and 
other institutions. The price of coffee is in fact 
very high, but the quantity to be harvested too 
small to compensate the loss. According to official 
figures the Governmeut crop of coffee in Java 
during the last five years was as follows: — 1889, 
583,458 piculs; 1888, 565,500 piculs ; 1887, 428 700 
piculs; 1886, 719,000 piculs ; and in 1885, 1,316,000 
piculs. The difference of the year 1885 compared 
with the estimation of 189,440 piculs for 1890 it will 
be seen is enormous.— L. and C. Express, Feb. 21st. 
Coffee. — There is as much difference between one 
kind of coffee and another as there is between chalk 
and cheese, though the uninitiated think coffee is coffee 
all the world over. The kind of plant that is finding 
most favour at the present time among those who are 
trying to push forward the industry, is the Coorg srecies, 
because it is a hardy plant, bears well acd is cul'ivited 
without much difficulty. Those who have kept to their 
first love, and stuck to the chick coffee have done so 
with great advantage to themselves and benefit to the 
district, and yet chick coffee is a caste that nobody now 
thinks of planting. There must be a reason for this. 
Experienced planters tell us that it has straight up. 
right branches, is a very sparse bearer, but that when it 
can be induced to give a crop it produces the berry 
which put Mysore coffee into the front rank in the 
London market. Cannon's high priced Mysore is from 
the old Mysore chick trees : and year after year the 
produce defies competition as to quality, and holds the 
first place. It requires thick, very thick, shade, with 
only a few openings to admit the rays of light and 
heat. It is not, however, found to pay, as when the 
trees are old, they bear only once in three or four 
years, so that the quality in a commercial sense does 
not make up for quantity. A tree well suited for shade 
for coffee is the silver oak, and it is a wonder it is not 
more largely used. It is easily cultivated, agrees with 
coffee, throws a considerable deposit of fertilising mat- 
ter, is a good barrier agaiust wind, and cattle will not 
destroy it. The latter consideration is a great point 
gained since cattle often do a deal of mischief,— 
Bangalore Spectator, 
