November i, 1887,1 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
343 
making lacquer for brass work, and dyeing calico, silk, 
wool, skin, rugs, straw-plait, feathers, wood, ivory, bono, 
&c, and also as an auxiliary in giving a deeper shade to 
the simple yellows. 
Dyers also use tbo raw Flag Annatto very extensively 
for a reddish colour. It is not generally known that 
two colours can be obtained from Annatto, yellow 
and red. 
Notes on Articles Contrihated to the Museums of the 
Roijul Gardens Kew, from the Colonial and Indian 
Exhibition, 1886. 
FIJI ISLANDS. 
A large and interesting collection of vegetable 
products were exhibited from these islands, a fine 
series of which were obtained for the Museum of 
the Royal gardens, of which the following is a 
selection: — 
(J iKBA, the dried kernel of the coconut (Cocos 
nvrifcra). — This is the most generally useful of all 
the palms, not only on account of its wide distri- 
bution, being found in the low-lying coast lands of 
most tropical countries, as India, Ceylon, Malay 
Archipelago, Straits Settlements, the Islands of the 
Pacific, West Indies, &c, but also for the numerous 
uses to which the fruits, fibre, &c. are put. 
A considerable amount of attention has beeu given 
within the last 10 years to the cultivation of the 
coconut palm in the South Sea Islands, and a 
number of largo plantaions have heen made. 
The following notes are from the " Handbook to 
Fiji," issued in connexion with the Colonial and 
Indian Exhibition of last year: — "A cocouut has 
been known to flower in about four years, and others 
at longer periods, but a fair crop of fruit need not 
be expected before the tenth or twelfth year, after 
which the yield increases steadily for five or six 
years more, when the maximum should be arrived 
at; it then continues bearing heavy crops for 50 
and even 60 years." 
Taking tho produce of Fiji at 60 nuts per tree * per 
year, an acre would give, say, 4,200 nuts. This would 
make about two-thirds of n ton of Copra, the average 
value of which is about II . 1Q»., from which deduct the 
ex pi use of collecting ami manufacture, which is about 
2/. 10a, which leaves a profit of 51. per acre. It may 
bo added that Copra is shipped to Europe, where it 
gel's at from 16'. to 20/. per ton. 
As regards .the hunk fibre, it is stated that 
the bulk of the fibre prepared in Fiji has hitherto 
found a market in Australia and Now Zealand, but 
as the prodnction increases it will bo sent to other 
BOOTi tries, " The husks from 7,000 coconuts produce 
about one ton of fibre, which is of the value on tho 
ostate in Fiji of from .V. to 161. per ton, according to 
quality. Brush fibre or bristles is worth from 15/. to 
;io/. per ton, and yarn from 20/. to 30/ per ton in 
Fiji. The cost of labour to produce one ton of fibre, 
exolusivo of cost and wear of machinery, may be put 
down at from 51. to 10/." 
Beside* the three principal articles of commerce 
obtained from the coconut palm, copra, cocouut 
oil, and eoir. the kernel of the nut is eaten in large 
quantities when young and fresh, and the hard, bony 
shell is made into drinking vessels, and other useful and 
ornamental nrticles. It is estimated in Fiji, where 
tho oooonnt thrives so luxuriantly, that it will, ere 
long, compete with sugar, tea, and coiree, as a source 
of great wealth to the e dnny. 
NATAL. 
The specimens obtained from this Colony were 
of a varied chararte-, and interesting as showing 
the progress made since the International Exhibition 
ol I >il2. especially in tho case of tea and maize. 
9<n&e samples of tea of very good quality wore ob- 
tained for the Mnscum ; and it is interesting to 
know that the China tea exhibited by .Mr. Brick- 
I ill mi procured trim plants introduced from the 
Hoyal tianleiiH. Kew. 2" years ago. 
In com. i \i hi with tbi' tea industry in N'.ital the 
foll miii.; < \ t rm-t fru'ii tin' N it'll Olheial Handbook 
will be found imi fid :—" Tea is now looked upon 
• Too h go siu average by one-third.— Kv. 
as one of tho most promising industries of the coast. 
A few plants were introduced in the early days of 
the Colony from Kew, and seemed to do well. About 
1803 some attention was given to the subject, but 
from want of skill in management, the samples pro- 
duced did not find favour, and it was thought that 
the varioty of the plant was one which would not 
produce a good marketable artic'.e. It was not till 
the appareut failure of tho coffoe tree 6howed that 
something was wanted to take its place on small 
plantations that efforts were made for the import- 
ation of fresh seed: This was obtained through 
Calcutta in 1877, and the varieties imported were 
Assam hybrid and Assam indigenous. Since thea tho 
tea enterprise has made steady progress, and seems 
eminently adapted for small and well-managed estates 
on the coast belt, and may possibly yet be found 
prefitable further upcountry. The experience gained, 
not without cost and difficulty by the pioneers, is 
available for the benefit of the Colony. Tho climate 
evidently favours the plant. The yield is large, there 
is plenty of very suitable soil, and labour is not 
more costly than in many tea countries. Though 
struggling against local prejudice and custom, which 
still cling to Ohiua teas of intrinsically inferior 
quality, there are hopes that Nptal tea may be- 
come an important article of export as well as of 
local consumption. It possesses fine flavour and 
strength, and promises to make its way on its own 
merits in the London market. There are now 12 
growers, mostly in the l.'ugela division of Viotoria 
county, and the total acreage at present under toa 
is about 400 acres. About 200 additional acres wore 
prepared during the past year. The yield per acre 
has been very large, amounting in three years to 
200 lbs. of dry tea ; in four, to 400 Iba. ; in five, 
to GOO lbs. ; and in six to 800 lbs. Tea was ex- 
ported from Natal in 1883 to the value of 1,-19'Jl. 
CEYLON. 
The exhibits from Ceylon were very numerous and 
very varied ; specially prominent were the collections 
of woods and drugs. Neither of these, however, 
were available for the Museum of the Koyal Gardens ; 
nevertheless, a largw number of specimens, includiug 
foods, drugs, oils, &e., were presented by the commission, 
of which the following are some of tho most im- 
portant : — 
Cakda.moms, the fruits of Elettaria CardattOmum. — 
A perennial herb, native. -of Southern Iudia, and 
growing abundautly in rich humid elevated forests 
in North Oanara, Coorg, and Wynaad. The fruits 
are gathered and dried, an 1 then form the Cardamoms 
of commerce, which are valued for their agreeable 
aromatic character, and their carminative and stimulant 
properties. Besides being ustd in medicine, they inter 
into the composition of cuiry powder. 
Cinnamon (Cinnaiuoinuiit zeylunicum). — Somo fine 
bnndlep of this important and well known spice were 
exhibited. These bundles were remarkable for the 
smallness of the quills of which they were composed, 
as well as for their pale even colour and delicaUj 
flavour. One bundlo was obtained for the Museum. 
Vanilla.— The pod-like fruits of Vanilla plaiiifolia, 
a climbing Orchidaceous plant, native of Mexico, 
whero also now it is extensively cultivated, as well 
us in Mauritius, Bourbon, Madagascar, and Java. Tho 
pods after gathering are carefully dried by alternate 
exposure to the sun and air, and wrapping in woollen 
cloths sometimes steeped iu oil. The vanilla of 
Commerce is obtained from Mexico, Bourbon, Mauritius, 
Java, Honduras, Brazil, &c. 
Arkca Nuts (Jr'eba Catechu var. alia), — These arc 
the seeds of a graceful palm found throughout 
Peninsular India, Oeylpo, South China, the Phillipinos, 
and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. The Areca, 
or Betel Nut as it is mostly called, is usually about 
the size of a nutmeg, hut more spherical and flattened 
or depressed ; they are marked throughout their 
substance with a brown rumination ; they are astringent, 
and are largely used in the Ivist as a masticatory 
Tin- actual specimens here referred to ate nf tiuiiMi.il 
I size. 
Tho followiug samples () ( Ceylon XlA woro obtained 
for tho Museum :— Flowery ' Pekoe, Bokoc, Broke- 
