February i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
523 
four years— uevv bark has formed under tho moss, 
which gives as good yield of quiuiue as the original 
bark. 
The tree became so scarce that, the Dutch Govern- 
ment had a number of trees transplanted to Java, 
where the conditions wore favorable for the develop- 
ment of the bark. When these trees grew up, ana- 
lysis of the bark showed that very inferior tracs had 
been planted. However, better trees were planted 
and did well. About the same time the English Cuv- 
ernment took trees to the south of India, and they 
now have several millions of trees yielding good bark, 
and there are there many private plantations. 
It has been found that they thrive finely under 
Cultivation, and by "mossing" the trunks and using 
certain fertilizers, the yield of quinine from the bark 
is greater than in wild trees. Its cultivation is not 
yet tried iu the United States, but it is quite likely 
that suitable locations will be found where the tree 
may be raised. Then wo will get cheaper quinine. 
— A!tu 
4. 
PKPPEE GltOWING IN EAST SUMATRA. 
The starting of a company to cultivate pepper in 
the district of Langkat, noticed by us recently, be- 
tokens a change ot front in planting enterprise, upon 
which depends the permanence of European settle- 
ment there. So long as tobacco continues to be the 
only export crop under cultivation iD that quarter, 
there is little prospect of the productive resources of 
the country being fully turned to advantage. Hitherto, 
failure has dogged every effort to grow other pro- 
ducts than tobacco, which hears the repute of ex- 
huusting the soil too freely, no matter however hard 
individual planters may have tried to go in for variety 
iu cultivation. The compauy above mentioned is tin 
outcome of a fresh endeavour to meet this ackuow- 
ledged danger, by taking iu hand the growing not 
only of pepper but also of cubi bs, the attap palm, 
aud gutta percha. Tho lines on which the novel 
venture will be run, hear tho mark of effectiveness. 
Tne promoters of the undertaking turn out to be Mr. 
Kckels, owner of the Mabar estate iu Deli, and the 
.Baron Eapeyrie, a French civil engineer, who has 
spent years in this quarter of the world as agent far 
Dcctiuviilo'a portable railway. The Baron has gained 
a thorough knowledge of business planting prospects 
in fi.ingkat by -personal experience. These advantages 
at tint start do not however count materially, unless 
the Uoveiumeut aids the advancement of private en- 
terprise in this direction, by relieving planting industry 
ou the East Coast of Sumatra of a handicap in the 
shape of heavy export duties, which have been kept 
on in spite ot remonstrance on behalf of the ag- 
grieved 1. .tenet. The duties per 100 kilogrammes 
dome to BO guilders cents on white pepper, and 2 
guduers on bluck pepper. Every produce article hap- 
pens to In- taxed on export, Gutta percha comes off 
burdened with a duty of 8 guilders on every 100 
kilogrammes. It is evident that iu framing the ex- 
port t ar ilf i n f orct) on tne g Mt (j oast; 0 f Sumatra 
the immediate interests of tin. Treasury have been 
steadily kept in view. The consequences ot this selfish 
hue ot policy have not failed to manifest themselves, 
brag ago-, it was poiutod out that tho high export 
doty on nutmegs and mace would stop the further 
starting of nutmeg plantations iu Deli. Despite of 
■ ■v. ry warping, wrongheadncss had its way. The ex- 
poxl iniy i, itiu ,,„ t)„, statute book, with the result 
that nutmeg growing in Deli has become for good 
a thing of the pwt. The remunerative prices for 
pepp r now ruling may alter all render the export 
duty on that article eudurahle. The injustice of 
laying it ou at all, nevertheless, comes out strikingly, 
whmi account la taken of thu circumstance that, in' 
the neighbouring poppor producing countries such as 
th.i l.iinpoug district*, Rhio, and the Strnits Settle- 
menu, tie- e\p.,i-i of pepper takes plnco froo of duty. 
1'laiiL r» on tin. Hut co.ist nr.. not only handio»ppod 
by tin, loid, hut also by dilnculties in securing cheap 
lubjur. The advantage* sure to result to Deli from 
tho sucovsj of MeWf, LVkols mid Do Lapcyrie's uu- 
terprising venture, need not be further enlarged upon. 
The successful cultivation of other articles will spur 
on the planters to more energetic exertions in im- 
proving existing methods. Pepper growing by Kuro- 
peaus uuder judicious management and unfettered 
by official restrictions, will co-operate materially iu 
energising the industrial life of tho colony. At pre- 
sent, there is no sign of anything of the kind, owing 
to planters feeling the ground insecure under their 
feet. Nowadays there ia no security against any cultiv- 
ation once started being crippled by heavy taxation, 
so long as tho Government takes it into its head to 
look upon export duties as fair means of raising 
revenue ou the East Ooast of Sumatra. Tho Home 
authorities assert that they set developing tho re- 
sources of tho Netherlands East Indies far above re- 
venue considerations, and declare their anxiety to 
further planting enterprise in every way. They have 
now a fine opportunity for shewing that by these 
assurances, business is meant, by doing away alto- 
gether with the exceptional tariff of export dutie- 
levied on the East Coast of Sumatra. Starting peppes 
cultivation at all uuder such discouraging circumsUnces 
speaks volumes for the self-confidence aud doteimin 
atiou of the promoters of the company, who ne hope 
will find their enterprise rewarded with a liberal 
measure of success. — Straits Times. 
UBIQUITOUS RUBBER. 
Thero are two things connected with the manu- 
facture of Iudia-rubber, says the Hatter's Gazette, 
which cannot fail to produce reflection in the min.lu 
of the people who have givon the business a thought ; 
the one is the extraordinary number of requirements 
which our growing civilisation has produced of late 
years, aud the other is the manner in which the 
India-rubber trade has supplied tho new wants of the 
age ! It is rot a little interesting to observe how 
readily the India-rubber business has adapted itself 
to tho requirements of men iu the learned professions. 
For instance, I have before me a catalogue in which 
are tabulated a large number of surgical instruments, 
amongst which are four "ophthalmoscopes," four 
"laryngoscopes," eight "spray producers," o.'er twenty 
"abdominal belts," five "throat syringes," seven 
" hypodermic syringes," thirty-seven " ear trumpets," 
&c.,4cc., and over aud above these duplicated articles 
there are a large number of single instruments for 
various uses iu the profession. I have before me 
another catalogue, which embraces a much widor 
range of articles, both in the soft and hard goods 
manufacture than the above. The goods in this are 
specified under no loss than twenty-five classifications, 
many of which contain a large number of articles 
for different uses. 
Nos. 1 and 2 embrace piece goods, garments, and 
various articles of dress, both for men and women. 
Nos. 3 and 4 describe articles for " travelling, fishing, 
and sportsmen." In Nos. 5 and 6 wo have airproof 
articles, ranging from air pillows to "lifeboats "; No. 7, 
"domestic appliances," a numerous family; No. 10, 
"playing balls" for various games; No. 11 "Tobac- 
conists' articles," a large group ; No. 8, " hospital 
and surgical articles." The number of appliance! in 
this classification is both large aud exceedingly varied 
in character. No. 12 comprehends a vast assortment 
of elastic bands ; No. 9, gives a large and varied list 
of military and naval appliances, among which are 
a number of articles for the amelioration of human 
suffering; Nos. 13 and 1 I embrace " fine India-rubber 
sheeting" and oard cloth fabrics; No. 15 contains 
"printers' blankets" and various artich s therewith 
connected; Nos. 10 and 17 contain a very large number 
of mechauical and railway appliances. In X... IS, 
we havo any quantity of h. su pipe nud tubing, 
Xo. 10 embraces "hat pressing bag* " and " blocks." 
.No. 20 contains a large assortment of chemical aud 
hard articles iu rubber, moulded, and numerous 
ornamental articles ; No. 22, in this we have" ventilated 
tent»" and other appliances; No. 25 comprehends 
India-rubber mats, in gnat variety. I may her.' 
