June 2, 1890.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
853 
where he cultivated turnips on the newest methods. 
His crops were larger and finer than those of other 
farmers, yet at the close of the century none had 
followed his example. At the end of the 18th cen- 
tury Iri«h farmers still used sledges, still sowed their 
potatoes broadcast, still worked backwards before their 
teams striking them in the face, where they wished 
them to advance, still drew their ploughs and harrows 
by their horses' tails. An Act of Parliment was even 
at one time necessary in England " agaynst plowynge 
by the tail." 
« 
AGEICULTDEAL AND INDUSTEIAL 
EXHIBITION, SUVA. 
On Saturday last at noon the Governor arrived at 
the Exhibition; and the strains of the National Anthem 
played by the Good Templars' Band announced His 
Excellency's entrance into the building where the 
President and officers of the Association were in 
waiting to receive the Governor and Lady Thurston. 
The former welcomed His Excellency in terms which 
were too faintly uttered to reach any other ears than 
those to which they were immediately addressed, and 
as this journal has not been favored with a copy of 
the speech we are unable to record it. 
The Governor's address in reply was as follows: — 
Mr. President, it affords me pleasure to observe that 
notwithstanding the absence of encouragement and 
support which the Association you represent so worthily 
deserves, and in spite of many other difficulties and 
drawbacks, the year 1889 will not pass without a 
local Exhibition of those products upon which the 
prosperity of the Colony depends. 
It is also a pleasure to learn from you that the 
general character of the exhibits offer a market value 
over those of last year. We can, however, hardly hope 
to make any very rapid advancement in our produc- 
tion, whether in volume or value, so long as a de- 
pression in trade continues to bpset those older com- 
munities upon which we so largely rely for a market. 
But it is encouraging to note that there appears to 
be at least a small rift in the clouds that so long hung 
over those outside trading circles, and I must congra- 
tulate you upon the fact that we, though the subject 
not long since of dire forebodings, have as a com- 
munity not lost heart, nor has the Colony, if I may 
use a sailor's phase, lost steerage way. 
I most fully share the regrets, Mr. Mune, upon 
which you have lightly touched with regard to the 
want of support the Association receives from those 
whose prosperity is involved in the interests, it is 
your object to promote ; but I believe your Assosi- 
ation will yet receive the full encouragement of which 
it is so worthy. 
One of the anxieties constantly present in my 
mind is that Fiji may fall into that condition which 
is described in the expression "a one product Colony." 
Now if there is one factory more than another that 
should be potent in averting this unhappy fate, it is 
an Association, such as yours, which encourages diver- 
sity of effort: — that is to say diversity of production 
accompanied by unremitting and intelligent exertion. 
And perhaps you will allow me in this connexion 
to observe that, in the present hard struggle for 
existence, it is not enough to produce many things, 
or even to produce many things well, but we must 
learn to produce them better than our competitors. 
It is only by being a little superior to our neighbours 
in this respect that we can expect to survive ; or, as 
a matter of fact, that we shall do so. 
The majority of the exhibits collected here are des- 
tined, I understand, to do further service at New 
Znahmd, when I trust (hey will prove of intero't to 
the manufactures and others of that Colony. There 
is one point at least upon which those who may re- 
present Fijian exhibits at Putiedin can do some service. 
The point to which I refer is the fact that Fiji pro- 
duces the finest cotton in the world, whether it be 
that known as the Sea Island variety or the less 
valii!\l>]o Upland cotton. This latter variety can he 
cultivated here with much ease aud little or no risk. 
With the help of inexpensive machinery, it can be 
prepared upon the spot so as to be worth about £37 
per ton in the local market. You are aware, no doubt, 
that this cotton has brought in the English markets 
during the current year, one penny and a fraction 
per pound higher than a similar class of cotton re- 
ceived from other sources, and that it has been sold 
in London at the rate of £65 per ton. 
I think therefore that it might not be without advan- 
tage, Mr. Mune. if it could be made known that the 
culture of cotton is at least a^ profitable as that of 
New Zealand flax. And thst this Government has at 
its disposal a very considerable area of land, situated 
in various parts of the group, which it is prepared to 
lease upon long terms and a nominal rental conditioned 
upon (he occupation of hond fide settlers. 
With these few remarks, and the expression of my 
continued good wishes for the success of the Agri- 
cultural and Industrial Association of Fiji, I now 
declare the Exhibition to be open. 
The Gubernatorial partv then went through the show 
which was inconveniently crowded, and a detailed 
account of which we are unavoidably obliged to hold 
over for a future issue — l<iji Times, Nov. 13, 1889. 
EXPERIMENTS IN CEYLON WITH OOCO 
NUT LEAVES FOE GAS. 
( Communicated.) 
In your article on "Bye Products," (seepage 841) 
on 10th May you mention the uses to which the leaves 
of the palmyras and coconut trees may be applied, 
You may not be aware that at the request of the late 
Mr. David Wilson, Mr. Grinlinton tried experiments 
in making gas from the leaves of the coconut tree, 
and had some tons dplivered at the Gas Works for 
this purpose in 1873 and '74. The gas made 
from the leaves, as also from coconut shells, 
which latter were used on many occasions, was ex- 
cellent — infact of the purest quality : but Mr. Grinlin- 
ton could not get the shells in sufficient quantity to 
enable him to count on a permanent supply to 
an extent which would make the product a finan- 
cial success. 
The leaves burnt up so quickly in the retorts 
that 5 tons disappeared in such a short time that 
it would hardly have been possible to supply the 
quantity of gas required for one night, from all the 
surplus leaves which could be collected at Colombo 
and delivered at the Gas Works in a month. 
I mention these experiments to shew you that 
even in Ceylon we have not been slow in making 
experiments with our "Bye Products." 
You know the practical use to which Mr. Grin- 
linton applied the Ammoniacal Liquor, made at the 
Gas Works for several years, at his Manure Works 
and the success attained there. 
The use of coconut leaves and coconut shells 
in the manufacture of gas, I never thought would 
be a success financially, as there are no valuable 
residual products such as tar and coke such as we 
have from coal used in the manufacture of gas. 
♦ 
Tea-planting has made such strides in the Azores, 
and the picking of the leaf is expected to be so 
considerable this season, that the pioneer shipment 
will this year be made to the London market. 
It is affirmed that Madeira tea will, in point of 
flavour, beat the China leaf hollow. It was only 
a decade ago that the tea plant was first introduced 
into the Azores by the Governor of Maccao, who 
made several shipments of the plant from almost 
all the tea distriots of China. A few years after- 
wards hearing that the plant was already-acolima- 
tiscd in the islands, he sent a few Chinese tea- 
planters to Madeira, who taught the natives how 
to manipulate the leal. — Madras Mail, May 7th. 
