538 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [December i, 1881. 
lnei'ly also furnished to the world's trade a good deal 
of ivory, but elephants are gradually becoming extinct 
in the southwestern forests. 
Coffee is and remains the chief product, and its yield 
has increased as follows: — 
Export. — tons. 
1836 3,015 
1846 8,695 
1851 . . : 16,987 
1856 22,310 
1861 29,695 
1865 43,805 
1867 41,862 
1878 31,600 
If since 1865-67 there have been years of less abund- 
ant yield, this has been due to a disease of the tree 
which attacks the leaves and affects the productiveness 
of the plant. But for this drawback production would 
probably have gone on expanding all along, for none of 
the elements for its doing so are wanting: climate, 
soil, labor, capital, and an unrivalled geographical posi- 
tion, especially since the Suez Canal is at the disposal 
of Ceylonese trade, and the large steamers from the 
extreme East on their way to Europe or America touch 
there. 
Barring the disturbing influence of occasional short 
crop from some cause or another connected with the 
plant itself, coffee cultivation in Ceylon has therefore a 
brilliant and secure future before it, there being no 
apprehensions of interruptions of a political or servile 
nature, as they may happen elsewhere in the future in 
coffee growing countries. 
Ceylon's production is important enough to require 
being taken into consideration in making estimates of 
the world's annual coffee supply. 
COFFEE PROPAGANDA IN BRAZIL. 
(Mario de Santos, 7th August 1881.) 
The propaganda in favor of augmenting the actual 
zones and of obtaining new ones for the consumption of 
Brazilian coflee, continues in the city of Rio de Janeiro. 
The government, the society " Centro da Lavoura e do 
Commercio," and the Commercial Association, each accord- 
ing to the extent of their powers, are endeavouring to 
assist this movement, it having already been resolved 
to open an exposition in the beginning of November 
next. As we have said before, we have but little con- 
fidence in the practical result of an exposition without 
the express condition that the exhibitor of any sample 
must declare the quantity he can supply and the time 
within which he can do so, binding himself to make a 
contract of sale if there should be a buyer and at a price 
to be determined between the parties. Without this we 
shall always have pompous and luxurious samples with- 
out any practical value. This exposition measure being 
once resolved, the government should at least take the 
greatest possible advantage of it, installing a jury or 
congress in which the elements of agriculture and com- 
merce predominate ; in short, an assembly of practical 
men who, without much pompous phraseology and 
application of theories, should give their opinion on im- 
portant questions of economy which at present occupy 
the attention of all, such as: the question of the sub- 
stitution of agricultural labor, the amplification of the 
rural credit system, the question of export duties, and 
transportation tariffs. There is no doubt that our pro- 
vince will take a conspicuous place in this exposition, 
and it is highly desirable that her representation in the 
jury be in harmony with her importance, for though 
all the coffee will be Brazilian, yet it is certain that in 
various points the position of our coffee production 
diverges from that of Rio. Whereas the good qualities 
of Rio are perfectly known as such, and even preferred 
in the United States, ours have up to this time not 
met with great approbation there ; but it happens that 
in Europe where, with the exception of washed, very 
little "superior" and "good Rio" goes, the discredit 
of Brazilian coffee is in a great measure owing to that 
source. It is well known to all who are versed in the 
coffee trade that the higher class of consumers in a 
large part of Europe much appreciate our brands of 
" superiors " and " good " on account of their good 
taste, so much so that a great portion passes as Java, 
Laguayra, Haiti, etc., whose agriculture, of much older 
existence, knew how to establish a reputation for the 
fine products which it brings to market. If we persisted 
only during a few years in improving and perfecting our 
coffee, we would in our turn obtain the same renown, 
and the new producing countries would certainly in 
their turn be obliged to make use of our name for the 
sale of their products. The quality of our coffees diverges 
in general fomi that of Rio, so much so that old Rio 
merchants, perfect judges of the qualities there, do not 
understand the judicious classification of a Santos lot, 
and, as their customers are different from our, they 
generally ignore the exigences of the consumers of our 
qualities. It would, therefore, be desirable that in due 
time the necessary steps should be taken that the judging 
of coffees from the province of Sao Paulo be done by 
competent persons. It should be a conjimction of planters, 
dealers and exporters from our province. 
BRAZIL COFFEE EXPOSITION. 
(Bio News, 15th August 1881.) 
The continued agitation of the coffee exposition project 
leaves no doubt as to its realization at no distant day ; 
but it resolves none of the doubts as to the practical 
results to be obtained through such an enterprise. The 
early appeals for aid in this industry, and all that is 
written and said in its favor now, are devoted chiefly 
to the imaginary necessity of enlarging present consum- 
ing markets and opening up new ones. Among the 
latter have been mentioned the vast empires of Russia 
and China. If this desire to extend and enlarge con- 
suming jmarkets be the chief object of these exposi- 
tions — and we have heard none other mentioned — then 
why is it that they are to be held down here in Rio 
de Janeiro? Is it to be supposed that a coffee exposi- 
tion at the Typographia Nacional, in this city, will 
make the Russian acquainted with the good properties 
of this beverage, or that it will make John Chinaman 
discard Ms tea for Brazilian coffee ? Does any one 
think that a display of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro 
coffee in this city will prove to Englishmen, French- 
men, or Americans, that it is equal to Java, Mocha, 
or Laguayra? Is it anticipated that the coflee buyers 
and coffee drinkers of the world are coming down here 
to look at some parcels of samples ? And if no one believes 
these things, then what is it all for? No one urges 
the necessity of improving the quality of the jjroduct 
and lowering the cost of production ; every one 
seems to be possessed with the desire to find new con- 
sumers. The increase of consumption must therefore be 
the main object ! Now how is this to be effected by 
an exposition in Rio de Janeiro ? And how is it to be 
effected any where by the mere display of samples ? 
What assurance is offered that the crop will correspond 
accurately to the samples ? And if it does not, with 
whom rests the responsibility? Besides, who can estim- 
ate the supply corresponding to any particular sample, 
and who can determine prices, as compared with other 
coffees, for any future time? And still further, will 
these samples, if sent abroad, represent general grades, 
or the product of certain planters? To be plain, the 
whole scheme is visionary and impracticable in the 
highest degree. If the object were to improve the pro- 
duct and lessen its cost, then there would be the best 
of reasons for holding annual competitive expositions. 
Or, if it were proposed to hold an international exposi- 
