November r, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
297 
INDIAN EXPERIENCES. 
(Continual from paije 258.) 
With the object of counteracting the deplorablo 
state of thingH referred to iu my last letter, Tea 
and Chiuchona have beon planted to a considerable 
extent both on fresh laud and between the linos of 
the gradually perishing Ooiree trees. I have been 
recently informed on the best authority, that in this 
district of the Ouchterlony Valley and the neighbouring 
one of (ioodalore, from eight to ten millions of 
Ohinchona trees are being cultivated at the present 
time, mostly of the Succirubra and Oalisaya species, 
and large quantities of bark are now being forwarded 
to the Loudou markets. The revenue derived 
from this source will doubtless help to diminish the 
deficit caused by the (Jolfee crop failures, but it is 
highly problematical whether this source of revenue 
will long be maintained in the face of rapidly fall- 
ing prices for all kinds of barks in the markets of 
the world, owing to over-production iu India, Ceylon, 
and Java by artificial cultivation. The cultivation 
of Tea would appear to bo the planter's sheet 
anchor for the future, to which he is now turniug 
his attention. It has been amply demonstrated that 
Tea of excellent quality can be produced iu India 
at similar elevations to the Valley under notice, and 
that it fetches a fair price iu the home markets; 
and as the Tea shrub has been found to possess a 
much hardier constitution thau that of either Coffee 
or Chiuchona, it follows that its cultivation would be 
likely to prove of a more permanent nature than 
either of the last named plants. It is, therefore, to 
bo hoped that the land in the Ouchterlony Valley 
will nut be abandoned to the growth of noxious 
underwood, but that under the operation of intelligent 
and scientific cultivation, land that was once clothed 
with the fiuost Cotfeo plantations of the 6outh of 
India, may, ere many years havo passed, be occupied 
with the Tea shrub. 
I visited the Ouchterlony Valley on many occasions 
during my sojourn in India, and at each visit was 
more and more charmed with the appearance of the 
Coffee plantations and the wonderful beauty of tho 
snrrotiuding heights crowned with the everlasting 
verdure of the forests, from winch issued lovely and 
ample stream-, of the purest water, which intersected 
the Coffee estates iu their course to the river beyond, 
and turning many a water wheel on their way. 
Unhko many Coffee districts, there was ample water 
here ol the purest and best description for all purposes, 
and yet I never knew the planters turn it to account 
iu the way of irrigation, oveu in seasous of the 
greatest drought. 
Possessing a delightful cliniato equally enjoyable to 
the Englishman and the native of ludia — a soil, at 
ouco of the greatest depth and richest descrip ion, 
capable of producing not ouly Coffee of the fluest 
description, but also English vegetables of every kind 
in aiiundauce aud of excellent quality, as well as 
Apples, Peaches, Oranges, Loquuts, Limes, Shaddocks, 
Piun Apples, I 'oars, and other truiis, and numberless 
English (lowers — this delightful valley seemed to have 
been set apart by Nature either to be left alone for 
ever in iis pristine beauty of forest and stream, to 
be tho home of the elephant, the bison, tho tiger, 
and the innumerable wild animal* and birds that 
inhabited ik forests, or to be changed iuto a Garden 
ol I Men by the skill and industry of intelligent man, 
for the permanent benefit of his kind. Instead of that 
it has run imminent risk of being changed from its 
primitive grandeur into a pestilential wilderness by 
the hands of tho land speculator hastening to bo 
rich. No be tter traet of country could be conceive I 
lor the settlement ol small landholders, both European 
aud native, where by dint of highly cultivating the 
naturally iertilo soil, marvellous crops might have 
been raised, uot only of (Jolfee, but of many kinds 
of fruits nnd vegetables, for the wants of the cultivators 
aud for sale. In no part ol tho world, I imagine — certain- 
ly in no part of .Southern India— his the system of 
Speculative husbandry or Innd jobbing succeeded for 
auy great length of time, ll VJieveriiiiiont, instead ol 
countciMiKiug .my buch system, had trow the first 
88 
ostered and encouraged the settlement of small land- 
holders, both native and European, iu the various 
Coffee districts of the Presidency of Madras, it would 
not only have greatly benefited cultivators ol the land 
in general, but it would have been the means, most 
assuredly, of permanently upholding the land revenue 
of Government, and iustead of the thousands of acres 
in every district, once covered with Coffee, but now 
converted into noxious thorny scrub, we should h ive 
had well cultivated districts comprise! of small but 
highly cultivated and remunerative holdings, supporting 
a large population, where, at the present moment, not 
a soul exists. 
There are not wanting indications that the Oovcrn- 
mont of India are becoming alive to the very unsatis- 
factory state of agriculture in the country, especially 
with regard to the Coffee, Tea, aud Chiuchona indus- 
tries, undertaken to such a large extent by Europeans, 
and the time may not be far distant when facilities 
may be afforded settlers of small means to obtain 
small holdings, which would be almost certain by 
right cultivation to prove both remunerative to 
themselves and to the State. The idea that India 
is but ill adapted to the English constitution is, I 
think, exploded; at least it is my belief from an 
experience of seventeen years, that with due care the 
average Englishman is as likely to live as long and 
enjoy life quite as much on any of the hill tracts 
of South India as in any part of his native laud. — 
Pl.vntkk. — Journal of Horticulture. 
NEW ZEALAND. 
The geographical position of Auckland is latitude 
36° 5' south, aud longitude 174 Q 50' east. Situated 
as it is on two magnificent harbours the summer -heat 
is tempered with pleasant sea breezes, while the 
winters are very mild ; and, being subject to uo ex- 
tremes of heat or cold, the climate is, by almost uni- 
versal testimony, considered to be one of the best iu 
the world. 
Meteorological observations, oxtonding over a 
period of fifteen years, give the following average re- 
sults: — Mean barometer, 29939; mean temperature 
in shade, 59 s 0; total rainfall, 44'6'51. Number of 
days on which rain fell, 187. During the month (May), 
which corresponds with November in Great Britain, 
a good deal of cool wet weather was experienced. 
The stato of the woather to-day (May 21) is — baro- 
meter, 29 888; thermometer in complete shade, 68" '; 
under verandah, with roof subject to sun's rays, 58H. 
Vegetation makes very rapid growth when moisture 
is plentiful. The climate somewhat resembles that of 
Great Britain, though the mean annual temperature 
is some degrees higher, but more equable, and is 
very favourable for agricultuarl purposes. Instruction 
in agriculture and botany are subjects now taught iu 
the Auckland Uuiversity, and, considering the im- 
port unco of such instruction in a colony where so 
much depends upon agriculture aud fruit cultivation, 
it is highly probable that a considerable number of 
students will avail thomselves of tho instruction now 
offered, and in after life bo induced to engage iu 
agriculture or kindred pursuits. As an instance of 
the rapidity with which land may be brought under 
cultivation and crops obtaine I, I may mention that 
I have today seen some Potatoes, fine large tubers 
of the Hobart variety, which were grown by some 
new settlers at Hokianga, on land which iu the middle 
hi December last was c.ivered with hush. Pine Crops 
of Water Melons, Vegetable Marrows, and Pumpkins 
grown on the same block of land, have also been scut 
in to market. It is no uncommon thing here to sea 
Pumpkins of a variety named Iron Park, weighing 
from lot) to 115 lb.; aud Vegetable Marrows, -0 to 
21 inches iu length. 
AuoklandU well supplied with all kinds of European 
vegetables, the greater portion being grow i by ( hiuosu 
gut doner*, oi whom there are a g .od many locate 1 
in the district. A poll-tax of £10 per bead i- levied 
by the Government ou all Chiunmeu lauded iu th 
colony. 
for some mouths |> i ■ I have daily h» 1 an ; 
tuuity ut observing the progress andc by a put/ ol 
