452 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [November i, 1881. 
exports of beche-de-mere, candlenuts, maize, and copra. 
We (Australasian) share the surprise expressed by the 
chairman that the export of sugar was less in 1880 
than in 1879, but we are glad to learn that it is not 
likely to be permanent, but that, on the contrary, 
Fiji seems destined very early to take a high position 
as a sugar-producing colony. The Colonial Sugar Com- 
pany of Sydney are establishing works on the Rewa 
River, which, it is believed, will very shortly increase 
the export of sugar by one-half, and other extensive 
noiils are projected. It is highly satisfactory to learn 
that in 1880 nearly 15 times as much coffee was ex- 
ported as in the three previous years combined. On 
the whole, the chairman of the principal commercial 
body in the colony speaks most hopefully of the present 
and future prospects of the export trade. The imports 
for 1880 exceeded £185,000, an increase of over 30 
per cent on the previous year. These satisfactory sta- 
tistics indicate very clearly that the Fiji settlers are 
not deficient in energy or enterprise ; and if they accept 
the advice of their late Governor; and display equal 
moderation and good sense politically, a bright and 
prosperous future may be predicted for the Pearl of 
the Pacific." 
SOUTH COORG. 
20th September 1881. 
I have now to lhank you for the correction made 
with regard to Coorg trees, as also for the specimen 
numbers of the Tropical Agriculturist, which, to use a 
stereotyped phrase, " does supply a long felt want," 
and which ought to make the teeth of tbis Presid- 
ency editors water with sheer envy. Their hobbies 
Beem to be Service and Gold, both of which they seem 
to ride well. 
The monsoon has been most favourable for plant- 
ing operations during the whole of August, and till 
the present date. During 27 days on which rain fell in 
August, I registered 10 54 inches, which is 2-806 above 
the average of the past five years, and with the excep- 
tion of 1878 heavier than we have had since 1873, from 
which my record dates. For September, we have had 
rain on 15 days, giving a total of 3"19 inches and 
but very little sun — just the very weather we want for 
making up nurseries &c. 
Plants in old coffee and clearings are now looking 
well, excepting where choked with weeds; and but very 
few places are in that deplorable state just now, labour 
being very plentiful on almost every estate, and still 
coolies come trooping in. Fortunately for them crop 
will soon be on, when every one of them can be well 
accounted for. 
Leaf disease is showing up here and there on "chicks," 
but nothing to speak of, and I think our Nalkenaads 
will remain untouched. I think our mamoty diggings 
have a little to do with our freedom from disease, as well 
as our good caste trees. The whole of the Bamboo 
estates are now dug regularly and to a depth of from 
six to nine inches. It is found to be far more bene- 
ficial to the trees, and only a little more than our 
old weeding and burying used to cost. A clean estate 
can be dag by Canarese coolies at R4 per acre, and a 
dirty one about R4-12. If done by coast contractors 
the prices will be slightly higher, probably R5 and R7 
respectively. Our dread enemy, the borer, has not been 
80 bad this year as we expected, and now that we 
have become familiar with him, we take his little freaks 
as a sheer matter of course, and keep on supplying, and 
with the grand soil and forcing climate we have here, 
the raising of supplies is comparatively an easy work. 
In the Gbauts it is almost impossible to get a 
supply up, but the soil there is poor and the mon- 
aoon well worthy of its name. 
Cinchonas are doing well both in Ghaut and Bamboo 
land, the Ghaut having the advantage. With few ex- 
ceptions succiruhras have been the only sort tried. The 
only exception I know is a nice little field of Ledgeri- 
anas which were brought from the hills and planted 
out this season. They have been most successful so far. 
We find the succirubras do splendidly under our shade 
trees and bid fair to outgrow the figs and jacks. 
I could point out many over six feet high and only 
20 months from seed. How does this compare with 
Ceylon ? With regard to cinchona under shade, the 
hill planters gave as their opinion the reverse of what 
we have by experience proved to be a fact ; and, if 
I am not misinformed, Coorg planters having Ceylon 
experience gave the same dictum with regard to coffee, 
and now shade is considered by all to be a sine qua 
non for the latter, and any one holding the reverse 
would be considered a fit subject for a lunatic asylum 
in the Bamboo. 
SALES OF CEYLON AND INDIAN TEA IN 
MELBOURNE. 
Indian tea, season 1881-82. Ex " Eollo," from Calcutta. 
10 half-chests (each 40 1-lb packets) KaDgra 
Valley pekoe blackish even curled leaf, strong rich 
pungent, ripe delicate pekoe. j s 2\d % 
31 boxes Assam broken pekoe very handsome 
small wiry blaek leaf, full of golden tips very 
strong pungent, rich dark red liquor 2s Id 
44 cases (each 2 22-lb tins) Darjeeling Pekoe 
small even wiry black leaf choicest full rich mellow, 
Darjeeling pekoe flavour l s 7|d. 
50 half-chests Darjeeling pekoe handsome black 
small even wiry leaf extremely choice rich ripe 
liquor 2s Od. 
36 cases (each 2 22-lb tiDs) Darjeeling pekoe 
souchong greyish-black even wiry leaf very rich 
full ripe mellow, Darjeeling flavour Is 5Jd. 
50 half-chests Darjeeling Pekoe Souchong black " 
even wiry twisted leaf very choice full pungent 
mellow pekoe souchong \ 8 3d. 
48 half-chests Dehra Doon pekoe souchong hand- 
some even wiry curled leaf extremely rich, with 
most delicious fragrant fruity flavour Is l|d. 
25 half-chests Kangra Valley pekoe souchong 
even curled black leaf full fresh brisk malty 
flavour 0s 10£d 
9 half-chests Kangra Valley souchong black 
curled leaf full brisk malty souchong flavour 0s lljd. 
43 half-chests Darjeeling 1 ekoe handsome black 
small even wiry leaf extremely rich full ripe mel- 
low Pekoe flavour Is 5d. 
50 half-chests Darjeeling pekoe souchong greyish 
black even wiry twis<ed leaf choicest full rich de- 
licated, Darjeeling flavour lg 3d. 
41 half-chests Assam pekoe souchong black small 
wiry even leaf, pekoe tips very strong fine red 
hick liquor l s ljd. 
34 half-chests Darjeeling pekoe souchong Greyish 
black even twisted leaf very rich, very strong, full 
ripe mellow liqurr Is 3d. 
35 half-chests Dehra Doon pekoe souchong black 
even wiry curled leaf choicest, very rich ripe, de- 
licious mellow fragrant flavour Is l$g. 
40 half-chests Darjeeling pekoe souchong black 
even wiry twisted leaf very choice, rich mellow, 
delicate, > arjeeling flavour Is l|d. 
50 half-chests Darjeeling pekoe scouchong grey- 
ish-blackish even twisted leaf very strong hall rich 
ripe mellow, Darjeeling flavour ls 3Jd. 
50 half-chests Indian pekoe small even wiry black 
leaf, full tips very strong rch pungent dark-red 
liquor ls Jd. 
50 half-chests Indian pekce black small wiry 
handsome leaf, pekoe tips very strong powerful rich 
ripe malty pekoe ls 2£d' 
50 half-chests Indian pekoe souchong even 
twisted wiry black leaf strong full rich ripe, fresh 
flavour 0s lid. 
50 half-chests Indian pekoe souchong black even 
wiry twisted leaf very strong rich full pekoe 
flavour Os lLJd. 
