November i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
427 
West Indies, Dominica, 10th August. — The coffee 
crop is likely to a large one for the island, and the 
exports of cacao are expected to be above those of 
last year. The lime crop is late in consequence of the 
drought during the few fine months of the year, but 
the cultivation of the lime true is constantly being ex- 
tended, so the exports of juice, both raw and concent- 
rated, become larger every year, — Colonics and India. 
Australian Gums. — If evidence wire wanting of I he 
suitability of the soils on these Hills to the success- 
ful cultivation of Australian gum trees, we need go 
no further than Dav.i Shola. On Mr. Money's Cinchona 
Estate in this locality, the blue gum has lately been 
planted both as a break-wind and as standards for 
a liviui" fence probably to bo rendered impervious 
with wire. The gums were planted not more than 
twelve months ago, and now are over six feet in 
height, and two inches in diameter. The rapidity 
with which they grow, make3 them admirably adapted 
for shelter. The gum will probably be the great 
timber tree of the district, and take the place of the 
more valuable sorts of jungle wood now used by the 
natives for building purposes. — South of India Observer. 
Thb supply of Cinchona plants. — This season has 
not been equal to tho demand. Planters have enquired 
in all directions with only partially satisfactory results. 
In Ceylon stumps are in favor, and more than one 
correspondent of tho Observer recommends them as 
preferable to plants, which sometime die down in 
patches wholesale in tho most unaccouutablc way. 
The roots should be trimmed with a sharp knife, 
and the stumps cut oft' about 8 inches above the roots 
before planting. A planter in Wynaad has assured 
us that a device of his to supply a deficiency of 
plants has answered admirably. The plan was as 
follows : — He trimmed off the lateral shoots on the 
young planting of the previous year, and removing 
all but the two tenderest leaves at the tip, but in 
cuttings into the pits in some cases two to each 
and others three. The cuttings were put down be- 
fore the monsoon, and the following year he found 
that most of them had struck root and were in excel- 
lent condition. In somo cases both, and in many all 
three, cuttings had rooted. We commend tho plan to 
those who have failed to secure a supply of plants. — 
South of India Observer. 
Tea in Natal. — Tea cultivation in Ceylon is now 
attracting attention, and is making headway in the col- 
ony. We see no reason why it should not pay in Natal. 
It is already grown here, and succeeds on a small 
scale. We made a trial recently of the Natal product, 
and to our taste it is preferable to the Assam we 
are in tho habit of using. It is strong, and like all 
Indian teas, does not do to bo infused long. We to- 
day publish an article on the subject, by a practical 
Indian planter, who is confidnt that under efficient 
management tea growing in Natal is a branch of in- 
dustry that will yield a very good return on the 
cnpital that may be invested in it. Several parties 
are already growing a few plants, and they all agree 
that they are well suited for Natal, aud that they 
would porsoverc if only they could get leaf manu- 
factured. Heat and moisture, with soil that re- 
tains water are desirable. We commend our corre- 
spondent's remarks to tho attention of our readers, 
and our columns are freely open for discussion on the 
subject. With sugar an established success, were tea 
proved equally so, thero it no limit to coast industry, 
whilst abundance of suitable land is still procurable. 
Tho local, Cape, aud South African markets would 
consume for some time to come all that is likely to 
M fUMd hero at prices moru remunerative than fur 
export. Natal Inst year imported tea to tho value 
of £f..'J<M and the year previous £'.»,7'.tt, whilst the 
rctuniH from tho Capo Colony aggregated in 1S7S 
l,'J.VJ,S.">0 lb and in 1S?J 879,599.-— Natal Mercury. 
Tea Cultivation at MeSSINA.— We learn from the 
Indische Mercuur that during last year an Italian 
landed proprietor. Count Amajo, opened on his estate 
near Messina a large te^ plantation. It is growing 
excellently, and experts pronounce the leaves in no 
way inferior to the China variety. 
Jute, I think, would be a capital thing for thoCeylon 
natives, as it could take the place of their coffee in 
their defunct and non-yielding gardens. It is chiefly 
round their homesteads that the ryots and people of 
India grow it. How much is a Beegah 1—Cor. [A third 
of an acre. — Ed.] 
Agriculture is a recognized part of the University 
curriculum of many American, Scotch and German 
Universities (Cornell, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Edin- 
burgh, Halle, Gottingcn, Munich, Leipsic, Berliu, 
Bonn, Vienna, Eldena, Gicscn, Kiel) and distinct de- 
grees iu Agriculture are now granied in eome of them. 
Tobacco Cultivation in Ireland.— Among the 
Irish business to be brought before Parliament next 
session will be a bill to repeal tho Acts in force pro- 
hibiting the cultivation of tobacco in Ireland. During 
the recess arrangements have been made for the col- 
lection of information and .statistics on the adaptability 
of the Irish soil for the growth of the plant. It is not 
proposed — should the cultivation of tobacco be resumed 
in Ireland— to exempt it from duty. — Over la d Mail. 
Chicory. — " What is one mau's food is another man's 
poison " is an adage, it is to be feared, which will 
scarcely solace coffee- planters for the information given 
us by the Sydney Mail, that 50 lb. weight of chicory 
seed has been distributed among cultivators in the 
south-eastern district of South Australia, with the 
view of extending the growth of that plant. It is 
impossible to take up a journal published in our coffea- 
producing colonies without reading testimony to the 
general belief that their industry is seriously affected 
by the extensive adulteration of coffee by chicory, and 
consequent demands that efforts should be made to 
induce the Home Government to check it. There may 
be other uses to which chicory is applicable, but there 
is no doubt that the soft flavour imparted by it to 
coffee makes the adulteration of the latter more favour- 
ably regarded than it otherwise would be, aud therefore 
this effort in the direction of "new products" in South 
Australia will be certain to c.ill forth complaint in 
Ceylon, and other coffee-growing Colonies, which even 
now have difficulty enough to sustain the competition 
to which they are exposed with countries where labour 
is almost compulsory, such as the Brazils and Java. 
New Products in tiie Western Province of Ceylon. 
The cultivation of new products such as Liberian Coffee, 
Tea, Cocoa, aud India-rubber, has been largely ex- 
tended, and has been so successful that the enter- 
prise has attracted the attention of even the villagers, 
to whom every encouragement in such cultivation is 
being given. There are still large extents of Crown 
laud available for tho cultivation of new products in 
the Western Province, and there is no doubt that, 
when better means of transport are secured to the 
Districts selected, these lauds will be sold greatly to 
the advantage of Government as well as of the pur- 
chasers. In the development of these new resources 
new roads ure especially required. In tho Kalutara, 
Kcgalla, and Ratnapura Districts there is already a 
large and steadily increasing area uuder cultivation 
of some new product-, and the roads for which tho 
planters havo applied, if they can be Opened in an inex- 
pensive manner, will, I consider, bo reproductive to 
both planters ami the Government. A thorough recon- 
sideration of the Road Ordinance of 1861, and a more 
liberal adherence to its provisions in favour of miuor 
roads, is however necessary before much progress can be 
made in tho matter of district thoroughfares. — lion. 
r. R, 8atmdtri Administration Report for isso. 
