688 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April 2, 1888. 
pect the yield to be three-fold in a couple of years. 
Iu fact eveu at present one small portion of about five 
acres ba l over 150 nuts plucked per tree per annum 
for the last three years. 
The contrast between this property and the neigh- 
bouring one belonging to one of our millionaires is ap- 
parent at a glance, and Mr. Akbar, iu inaugurating the 
occasion of the completion of the works for which he 
so long planned and schemed, invited about a score of 
his friends to rejoice with him as it were. The bar, 
merchants, brokers, planters, agriculturists, and even an 
editor, were represented, and a sumptuous breakfast was 
given in a very handsome summer-house built on the. 
bank of the river. Half the party left in the afternoon, 
but the other half, the sporting lot having taken ad- 
vantage of coming over with a mixed pack of dogs, 
were determined to have some eport, and remained 
behind, and good luck to them say I. 
Among those present were, Hon. Mr. Ramanathan, 
Messrs. Dornhorst, James Van Laugenberg (Barrister) 
C. W. Ferdinands, P. Coomara Swamy, F. Beven, 
H. L. Daniel, F. L. Daniel, W. Beven, R. Bdley, Dada- 
bhoy, Akbar, W. B. Lamont, W. H. Wright, G. E. 
Poulier, &c, &c. 
The whole estate comprises 70'J acres, out of which 
600 are plauted, but only 240 acres have bearing trees, 
the annual yield of these is at present over a million 
nuts; what will it be when the full 600 acres are in 
bearing ? A competent authority valued the place at 
£40,000. 
{From " W. B. L.") 
10th March 1888.— The late Mr. Akbar, an intel- 
ligent and enterprizing worker in the great human 
hive, left to his family, as the material results of a 
laborious life, an oil mill at Negombo, and a large 
coconut estate at Katukenda. His eldest son, a youth 
of twenty, at his father's death took up the burden, 
and with a double portion of the family talent has 
made a broad mark, as engineer and agriculturist. 
He established on the Katukenda estate a very com- 
plete set of fibre cleaning aud packing machinery, 
which has been long iu full operation, and is probably 
paying well. 
The most recent of his now completed undertakings 
is a system of irrigation, by which an ample supply of 
water is drawn from the river and distributed over 700 
acres. The lower valley of the Mahaoya is well suited for 
the cultivation of its one staple coconuts, but for the 
annual dry season, which according to its duration 
detracts from the weight of produce from 25 to 40 
per cent. The estate in question was already the 
best cultivated in the valley, and more nearly ap- 
proached the standard average yield of 100 nuts per 
tree than any other in the district, but when the 
weight of copra per nut is reduced by lack of the 
necessary moisture from 7 to 5 ounces, it makes -a 
serious break in the profits, amounting on a million 
of nuts to R7,800 : nor is this all the gain from an 
abundant supply of water throughout the year, as 
it will add probably 20 per cent to the number of 
nuts produced. 
This day Mr. Akbar called around him about a 
score of his friends to rejoice with him in the suc- 
cessful inauguration of this great work, — great as 
the outcome of private enterprise and by a native 
gentleman. A considerable contingent of the 
guests left Colombo this morning, and returned 
by the last train. The bar was strongly represented 
by three advocates, three proctors, and the Tamil 
M. L. C. The press was represented by the editor 
of the " Examiner," and the coconut planters were 
in tolerable force. Breakfast was served in a pavil- 
ion overlooking the river, where lashings of grub and 
grog were consumed with great zest. The health of 
tin; Messrs. Akbr was proposed in suitable terms 
by Mr. Ramamithan and modestly and sensibly 
acknowedged by the elder brother; shortly after 
which the party began to disperse. The last inven- 
tion of Mr. A. is a' drying room for copra, by which 
he expects to turn out 60,000 nuts in a week perfectly 
clean and perfectly dry. The principle is a sound one, 
aud will no doubt turn out a success, 
SOME FIJIAN WOODS. 
Little atteutiou has yet been paid iu this country 
to the useful woods found in our Pacific Oolouy of 
Fiji. The following notes by Mr. C. (jr. AVamford 
Lock, in Industries embrace the most important 
kinds : — 
Bav.-loa, a euphorbiaceous tree, affords a har 1, 
heavy wood of great strength and durability. 
Bau-vudi, a member of the same family, has pome 
resemblance to Australian cedar, but it is tougher • 
its chief local application is for plauks in boat 
building. 
Bua-bua (Guettarda speciosa.) yields a light-yellow, 
hard heavy wood, having much the appearance of 
boxwood, and closely related to the handf-ome zebra- 
wood of the East Iudies ; locally it is chiefly valued 
for its durability, and is in request for housebuilding 
piles, but it is probably worthy of higher app'i- 
cations. 
Caukalon or Yaka is a kind of she-oak (Casuarind) 
several of which are utilised in Australia ; its wood 
is dark brown, with a very handsome grain, and it 
takes a high polish, fitting it for furniture aiid cabinet 
work. 
Dalcua (Dammara vitiensis) is a near ally of the 
well-known Kauri pine of New Zealand, and con- 
siderably exceeds it in size ; it constitutes the piaewood 
of the Colony, resembling it closely in quality and 
applications. The tree also affords a resinous exudation 
called makadre, which is in local use for illuminating 
purposes. 
Dakua-salusalu (Podoca/rpus vitiensis) is a member 
of the yew family, all remarkable for the durability of 
their wood ; the light brown wood of this tree has 
many uses, being especially consumed iu boit building ; 
as it takes a fine polish, it will dou'jtless find its way 
to more artistic ends. 
Damanu or Tamanu (Calopiiyllum burmanni) is a 
splendid tree, reiching 200 feet high and 20 feet dia- 
meter; its handsomely veined, light brown wood is not 
unlike mahogany in character, being very tough aud 
strong, and not difficult to work ; itisingreit request 
for house building, ship building, aud ornament il work, 
and is unfortunately becoming scarce. 
Dilo (Calophyllv.m inophyllum) affords a cabinet 
wood, of light brown colour, beautifully veined, and 
taking a high polish. 
Koka-damu (Bischoffia speciosa) is essentially a 
building timber ; it is of a dark red colour, hard and 
durable under exposure to the weather, hence it is 
much employed for pillars in house construction. 
Rosawa is an undetermined wood, extremely tough, 
sound, and durable, aud in demaud for oars, boat 
planks. 
Sandalwood (Santalum yasi) is a highly fragrant wood, 
once exported in quantities for the manufacture of 
perfumery, but now nearly exterminated. 
Sigali (Lumnitzera coccinea) inhabits the coast man- 
grove swamps ; being very hard, durable in water, and 
proof against the attacks of marine boring insects, it is 
esteemed for piles and foundations. 
Vai-vai (Serianthes vitiensis) is a li^ht, tough wood, 
well adapted for boat building. 
Vav, (Hibiscus tiliaceus) is another light, tough wood 
useful to the shipwright. 
Vesi (Afzelia hijuga), the most common and generally 
useful wood in the Islands, is of dark brown colour, 
hard, durable, heavy, strong, and of even grain ; it is 
much used in canoe and house building, and for all 
ordinary purposes. 
Yasi (Eugenia effusa), of which there are several 
varieties, gives medium wood for carpentry. 
Yavo or Tavu-tavu is a hard, heavy, very durable, 
undetermined wood, chiefly employed in piles for 
houses. — European Mail. 
* 
A Japanese, Sahashitta, has invented a glass paper. 
It is made from the fibres of a water-plant growing iu 
Japan. It is said to be very strong, and as transparent as 
glass itself,— Indian AgrkvlWisU 
