THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [January 2, 1888 
COFFEE, SUGAR, CINCHONA, IN MANILA- 
( Translated for the Straits Times. J 
The Comercio calU attention to the steady fall 
in the imports into Manila, compared with last year 
as evidenced by the unfailing test of the customs re- 
turns. They point unmistakably to the unpleasant 
fact that from January to September last, the de- 
crease aggregated no less an amount than $387,000. 
It is only one phase of the crisis which the Philippines 
are passing through. Any change for the better de- 
pends upon the speedy discovery of a remedy. 
Another matter of great moment to the Philippine 
mercantile community is the critical state of the sugar 
trade. The sugar produced in the islands turns out 
to be of such superior quality, that it is believed 
locally to be the only one that can withstand com- 
petition with the beet root article. In spite of this 
advantage, the low price ruling is proving ruinous to 
the unfortunate growers. Their main difficulty lies in 
the impossibility of materially curtailing the cost of 
production. 
Another produce article, coffee, shows no sign of 
falling off in value. On the 24th October, the price 
at Manila reached $40 per picul. The coming crop 
promises to be so much more abundant than that for 
the present year, that contracts for delivery in Janu- 
ary next have been concluded at the rate of $25 to 30 
per picul. This hopeful prospect brings prominently 
into notice a piece of official folly. Some years ago 
the then Governor General proved wiser than the 
ordinary run of individuals there, who happen to be 
clothed with a little brief authority in that high 
position. He ordered the provincial authorities wher- 
ever circumstances favoured to direct the natives under 
their control to set to work, planting coffee. This was 
done far and wide. But the Governor-General's de- 
parture proved fatal to the success of the scheme. 
When his eye was no longer upon the provincial 
authorities, the newly laid out coffee plantations were 
neglected. Their wreck and ruin soon followed. The 
far seeing policy which started them has only now re- 
ceived adequate recognition. Had these plantations 
been now in existence, they would be in bearing by this 
time, and would have become a productive source of 
revenue. 
Though the mountain ranges offer facilities for the 
cultivation of cinchona, that branch of planting enter- 
prise is ignored in the Philippines. It is indeed sur- 
prising that considering the increasing consumption of 
quinine throughout the world, its cultivation in those 
islands has never been taken in hand. Tue main diffi- 
culty in the way of plantation enterprise lies in the 
obstructiveness of the land regulations. The Home 
Government shows signs of amending them, but its 
good intentions have so far borne no fruit. 
TEOPICAL PEODUGE TRADE REPORT. 
42 Cannon Street, E. 0., Nov. 3rd. 
Annatto. — Twenty-four baskets good bright fresh 
Para roll are offering at Is 6d per lb. Half-cwt 
bright powder from Java was bought in today at Is 6d 
per lb nominally. Nine bags fairly bright Ceylon seed 
sold at 3d per lb. The article shows no alteration. 
CitOTON Seed.— Our market is burdened with a stock 
far above its assimilating power, and at today's auc- 
tions the already very low rates experienced a further 
heavy decline, 12s per cwt. being accepted for fair 
pale seed, and 9s for dull mixed. Dark seed is held 
at 8s per cwt., but found no buyer even at that 
figure. 
OuuEiis. — At Amsterdam a parcel of 17 bales bold 
berries of mixed colour was offered for sale by tonder 
last week. Six bales sold at a price which has not 
been made public, but is stated to have been under 
251 per cwt. On our market the article remains ex- 
tremely scarce. Two bags grey and brown mixed 
berries, rather stalky, were bought in at 25i per cwt. 
Kola Nurs fetched good prices, 8J,rl per lb for good 
new Jamaica, 8Ad to O^d. per lb for small bright 
Grenada. 
Oils (Essentia!.). — Cinnamon oil has been shipped 
from Ocylou during the season 1886-7 to the extent 
of 62,668 oz, the smallest shipments 6ince 1880. Last 
season the exports were 139,094 oz and in 1884-5 
117,023 oz. Good oil may be had at Is 6d per oz Cin- 
namon leaf dull at ljd per oz. The total exports of 
citronella oil from Oeylon during the feason which 
closed on October 1st have been 8,371,426 oz, against 
6,461,278 oz in 1885-6,5,721,112 oz in 1884-5, and only 
1,760,677 oz in 1880-1. The article remains neglected 
at Jd to 15-16 for native brands. Cloves 6s 3d to 6e 6d 
per lb. For oil of cubebs higher prices rule, owing to 
the increased value of the drug. Lemonyrass quiet, at; 
lgd to 2d per oz. Oil of limes sold at 2s 3d per lb ; 
more is obtainable at that price. Fisher's Patcho"ly 
oil bought in at 3s 3d per oz nominally, 
Patchouly Leaves.— A shipment of 58 bales has just 
been received, and was offered at the auctions today. 
Although the article is so scarce no bids were made, 
and the whole was bought in ; good-flavoured brown 
leaves, sifted and without stalk, at Is to Is Id per lb ; 
stalky, partly damaged, at 9d per lb ; one case dull brown 
leaves, rather damp, sold at 9jd per lb. 
Wax (Bees') steady and in fair demand. Jamaica ■ 
Good orange, 5/ I2s 6d ; red, 51 7s 6d ; chocolate and 
brown, 51 2s 6d to 51 5s ; dark 5/ ; Ceylon : Dull grey, 
82s 6d. — Chemist 8c Druyyist. 
+ 
Successful Silage Experiments. — A paper re- 
ceived from the Madras Government records the 
result of a trial of ensilage by W. Dumergue, Esq, 
Acting Sub-Collector of Salem. 
For the purposes of the experiment a spot was se- 
lected in an open elevated place in a Government tope 
near Hosur and a pit measuring 30' x 12' x 6' was 
excavated in the end of August. The sides of the pit 
were made perpendicular and no lining of mortar or any 
of the substance was applied to them or to the bottom of 
the pit, nor was the pit dried artificially. Filling com- 
menced as soon as the pit was ready and was carried 
on for twenty-one days until the grass stood about 5 
feet above the level of the top of the pit. It was then 
left for three days to allow of sinkage, and next, in 
order to ensure equality of pressure, split bamboos 
with stones placed on them were laid along and athwart 
the grass. Half the amount of earth excavated from 
the pit was then thrown on, and the silo was finally 
closed the next day with the remainder of the earth. 
Some days were allowed for the subsidence of the mass, 
and lastly the mound of earth, which were about 2 feet 
above the level of the ground, was made slopely and 
extended a foot beyond the margin of the pit on all 
four sides. Thus the time occupied in filling the silo 
extended to twenty-three days. The cost of digging 
the pit amounted to R5 and that of cutting grass, fill- 
ing and cleaning the pit to R35, making a total of 
R40. I regret that I had no means of weighing the 
grass, as it was put into the pit ; but, as will be seen 
below, an account has been kept of the number of pounds 
af silage taken out. The silo was opened on 23rd March 
bnd emitted a strong smell not unlike that of a tannery, 
out this smell evaporated with a few hours' exposure to 
the sun and the silage then had a faint odour of hay. 
Details of the quantities of silage issued will be found 
in the accompanying form B, from which it will be seen 
that 14,350 lb. have been used. There still remain about 
650 lb. with which I am feeding castrated ponies. It 
may at once be stated that the results of the experi- 
ment have been most satisfactory, and I had from ryots 
more applications for silage than I could comply with. 
One ryot (No. 1 in the list) after feeding a pair of bul- 
locks on it for thirty-one days came and asked me if he 
might sell them as they had come into such good con- 
dition that he would get a good price for them. An- 
other (No. 2) worked his pair of bullocks from morning 
tonight for twenty-eight days without intermission, 
and when I saw them at the end of the time one was 
certainly in much better condition than at the begin- 
ning. The other showed no difference, but, consider- 
ing its extreme age, the fact that it was living and work- 
ing was surprising. I myself fed two milch cows on 
silage and their yield, of milk certainly diminished when 
silage, was discontinued, 
