July i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
2 3 
quality and fetches in the London market lOd. a 
pound, and the root of the yangona or kava (piper 
mi ilujsi icvm) so much esteemed by the natives. This 
plant, the yangona, is indigenous to the islands ; 
but will only grow under certain conditions, and is 
used on all ceremonious and festive occasions. It is 
prepared for use in the presence of the assembly by 
servants who chew up the root to pulp, which is then 
mixed up with water in a kava bowl and the liquor 
after being strained is drunk off. The taste is some- 
thing like an aromatic, but not very pleasant com- 
pound known as Gregory's mixture : the effect is slightly 
exhilarating if much is drunk; but it affects the legs and 
not the senses, and the effect soon goes off. It is said to 
have considerable recuperative powers on the system 
after any over-exertion. The natives are very fond of it, 
and many Europeans make a practice of drinking it. The 
root has found its way into the London market, and is 
used medicinally. At Levuka, it fetches 2s. Gd. a pound. 
Mr. Home, F.L.8., who visited the islands in 1878, is of 
opinion that cocoa (Thiol) row it, cocoa) would do well 
there, and that, roughly estimated, there are a hun- 
dred square miles on which tea and cinchona could be 
successfully cultivated. Tobacco certainly answers, 
and some good leaf and fairly well manufactured and 
flavoured cigars (quite as good as anything from 
India) were sent over to the Melbourne Exhibition. 
Tapioca, ginger, pepper, and spices of all sorts, cam- 
phor and vanilla would also be a success in the hands 
of persons acquainted with the cultivation and manu- 
facture of tropical produce. It will be seen that in 
the Fijis there, is ample scope for fortune-making but 
there as elsewhere, money is necessary. — Pioneer. 
" DATE COFFEE, " CUSTOMS DUTY, AND 
THE ACTION OF THE BKIT1SH GOVERNMENT. 
A Ceylon merchant, now at home, writes to us by 
this mail : — " Kent, 4th May. — With reference to the 
compound called Date Coffee, which is now being forced 
into notice by dint of hard advertising, and the de- 
scription printed on the labels that it is a mixture 
of ' Date Coffee ' mixed with a portion of best coffee, 
much has been said about the iniquity of calling burnt 
date powder Date Collee, but it does not seem to 
be generally known that the fraud is in a manner 
countenanced by the English Government, in admit- 
ting the importation of date powder, before it is 
mixed with coffee, on payment of 2d a lb., the duty 
to which genuine coffee is liable. 
"I gather that this is the case from what was stated 
at one of the meetings of the Company, on which 
occasion ihe exremely plausible chairman said, that 
an eminent firm of Mincing Lane had undertaken to 
buy all the powder landed by the Company, at 5d 
per lb., and that the firm would have to pay 2d per 
lb. import duty, which would make the cost 7d per 
lb. Be it remembered that this is the pure date 
powder before it is mixed with the fourth part of 
eoffet . The Government, for some reason of its own, 
would not allow the mixture to be effected out of 
the United Kingdom. 
" Now. it may be asked whal mi earth is the mcau- 
ing of paying 2d per lb. on dates when the customs I 
tariff does not exact such a duty on that fruit? Sim- 
ply, I imagine, to make the public believe that the 
powdei is n kind of coffee. Does the Government I 
impose a dut\ of - _'d to protcc' growers of coffee, or 
to help in swelling the revenue? Of course, such a tax 1 
Would not amount to much, but ' every little helps,' ; 
and .Mr. Obtdstone's great aim seems to be to 
have a surplus revenue. It does seem extraordinary 
that an article is allowed to be imported into England 
under a lieti'iniis name, ami that, a duly is collected 
upon it, as if it was the genuine article. 
'• fhe imposition of i he duty in, perhaps, some pro- 
tection to coffee planters, but it seems nevertheless a 
singular proceeding on the part of the English Go- 
vernment. 
'•Any other vile imitations of other articles of com- 
merce might be introduced in the same way, under 
the high sanction of the crown, for the delectation of 
a gullible public." 
[Not a day .should be lost in protesting against i his 
official scandal and we are glad to think that our 
planters and merchants are preparing to memorialize. — 
Ed ] 
COFFEE AND SILK. 
(Straits Times, May 19.) 
The authorities in Acheen have takeu in hand the 
encouragement of Silk culture and coffee cultivation, 
with results thus officially set forth in the Daily 
Times. 
'•The controller stationed in the XXII Mukims re- 
ports that silk worms recently procured from Japan 
through the Consul General for the Netherlands in 
the Straits Settlements, had been received with great 
satisfaction, and that in all respects they had proved 
a success in the Mukims styled Sibrew, L'aid and 
Indrapuri, and Lamgarung. Two parcels of cocoons 
had been sent by this official to the Assistant Re- 
sident of Acheen Proper. With these, experiments 
were being made in the IV. Mukims. The interest 
taken by the people in silk culture is very great. 
Persons from elsewhere are continually coming to the 
campongs where the experimental culture is carried 
on, to ask for cocoons. Probably, ere long, these will 
be supplied to applicants on a larger scale. Ihese 
Japanese silk worms have thriven wherever tried in 
almost every instance. The number of white ones 
was relatively the smallest. At Campong Riki in 
Indrapuri where, after distribution of cocoons to 
neighbouring campongs for the extension of the cul- 
ture, a quantity of them remained, silk was reeled 
off from these cocoons which proved far superior in 
fineuess to the Achiheee product. The Government 
intends to pay unremitting attention to silk culture 
in order to enable to flourish anew this branch of 
productive native industry which of late years had 
been falling off in Acheen Proper." 
"The reports received concerning the Liberiau coffee 
planted here and there in Acheen Proper, are generally 
speaking very satisfactory. In this culture too great 
interest from the first has been taken by the people. 
As the soil and climate of Acheen Proper seem to be 
eminently suitable for the cultivation of Liberia coffee, 
it may be expected that it will succeed very well here, 
and as hedge and village coffee, become a source of 
wealth to the people. The necessary measures have 
been taken to forward one thousand Liberian coffee 
beans of good quality to Acheen." 
"The method of drying coffee invented by Mr. Van 
Mannen has of late undergone considerable improve- 
ments, so that, at a temperature of only GO 3 C. and 
in 20 hours' time, coffee can b wholly dried by this 
process. Shortly, we understand a commission of 
experts will repair to the Kredjo estate to inquire 
thoroughly into the value of the process. One official 
will be one of the commission." 
A F U HE TRADE UNION BETWEEN ENGLAND 
A'ND THE COLONIES. 
The Conference of Delegates. Convened by the 
Dominion Board <>f Trade of Canada from the various 
Colonies and Chambers of C merce. t> consider the 
subject of Inter-Colonial Trade Tar i fife, has held, several 
meetings, at which the following Resoluti* ns were 
unanimously passed : — 
"That in the opinion of this Conference it is a 
matter of the utmost importance for the promotion 
of the Commercial interests of the British F.mpirc, 
