May i, 1882.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 937 
THE NUTMEG IN TRINIDAD. 
The Nutmeg trees, always a striking and beautiful 
feature in the Gardens, have conspicuously benefitted 
by the mild character of the last dry season, and 
the younger trees planted in 1873 and 1874 developed 
rapidly into the fruiting stage. The yield per tree, 
nett in the market, of those in bearing, has again 
been over twenty pounds of prepared nuimegs, with 
an average price of two shillings and two pence per 
pound during the year. This gives a surprising return 
per acre per annum. For instance, trees at the 
(ultimate) distance of 30 feet, would stand 50 to the 
acre. Allowing only 30 of these to be female or 
fruiling trees, the value of the yield would be £60 
per acre per annum. It is sotuewhal. remarkable that 
there has not been any considerable fluctuation in 
price during the last 15 years, but on the whole, 
the price has risen. That the nutmeg tree is per- 
fectly at home in Trinidad needs no further con- 
firmation. It might ba desirable however for persons 
contemplating the planting of Nutmegs to examine 
the trees at the Gardens carefully, as also account- 
sales at my office. It might further be mentioned 
that a batch of young trees planted in August 1878— 
25 inches high — from bamboo pots, are now five feet 
high and stoutly branched. — Report Trinidad Garden*. 
THE COFFEE AND SUGAR PRODUCING 
COUNTRIES. 
Mexico. 
Coffee production in Mexico is at present confined 
to the mountain plateau, most of the plantations being 
■ituated in the valleys which stretch out around 
Orizaba and Cordova. It grows on volcanic soil, always 
the best for coffee so far at requisite flavor is concerned. 
Both in point of outward looks and superior quality, 
Mexican coffee from those localities need not shrink 
from comparison with Costa Rica. Production does 
not now exceed 20,000 tons, about one-third of which 
is exported, mostly to the United States, where it is 
very much liked. Should American capital ever take 
charge of this agricultural branch, even but to a 
moderate extent, tho-yield would soon be carried to 
five times what it is at piesent. And this is one of the 
possibilities, not to say probabilities. Indeed no better 
investment could, we believe, be made, provided always 
the revolutionary period is closed for good. 
The expense of transportation on mules' back, 
especially during the rainy season, was too heavy to 
foster agriculture and mining in most parts of the 
country with a view to export, except so far as vanilla, 
cochineal, indigo and rich argentiferous ore wore con- 
cerned. Even tor coffee the overland freights down 
to the const were excessive till the railorad from Vera 
Cruz to Mexico was built, which traverses the main 
coffee region. 
Our imports from Mexico Inst year amounted to 
$14,524,898, including $9, 1 15.824 worth of Bpeoiea, while 
we exported thither $6,069,315 worth of domestic goods. 
Coffee was re-eived from there to the extent of 4,400 
tons, being more than live times our import thence 
eiuht venrs ago; this certainly promises well. — Rio 
New*. 
NEW TANNING MATERIALS, 
TO THE EDITOR <>K "TH11 BRITISH TRADE JOURNAL. " 
Sin,— At a refult of the offer made through tho 
medium of 'our journal in .lime last, I have received 
n Rumple of the bark of a tree growing in the tipper 
provinces of Buenos Ayros, known by the nitivoa ns 
'ifumpoe. - ' Unfortunately the senderi" did not rnclo»e 
the bark whole, or ouy portion o' the wood, lest 
200 
some qualilied botanist might have passed judgment 
as to the family to which the tree may belong. Any 
other of your readers who may send similar specimens 
should forward the fruit, leaves, or wood of any plant, 
so that it may be readily identified with known species. 
Judging from the texture, colour, and tasto of the 
bark before me, my own opinion is that it is closely 
allied to the mimosa, and is probably an Acacia. It 
much resembles the Acacia Dealbata, of which large 
quantities reach us from Australia, the best mimosa 
giving 24 per cent of tannin. This new variety, if 
it be so, yields 13 55 per cent of tannin, and if found 
in sufficient quantity might be worth exporting to 
England. If roughly ground, to economise space, it 
would probably be worth 9/. or \Ql. per ton. 
I have also received from India specimens of the 
bark of the babool tree (Acacia Arabica), which gives 
a percentage of 18-95 of tannin. One fact worthy of 
notice with this bark is the .beautiful creamy white 
colour it gives when precipitated with gelatine, this 
being at present the only bark or tannin material 
that gives that colour. The babool is very abundant 
in India, and might be worth sending to England, 
were, for the best kind of work, it would probably 
be worth from 12/. to 141. per ton. 
Thanking you for the space accorded to this letter, 
I beg to remain, Yours truly, W. N. Evans. 
Tanners' Laboratory, 13, Canon Street, Taunton, 
FELLING TIMBER. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MADRAS MArL." 
Sir, — In a late issue of the Mail, there appeared 
a letter from a correspondent of your signing himself 
"Bob Sawyer," asking for information as to the 
proper time of felling timber, and as I have seen 
no answer to it, the following remarks may be use- 
ful : — The old received idea in Europe is that the 
winter, i.e., the time of inaction, when the sap is 
out of the tree, is the proper time for felling, be- 
cause then the wood having the miuimum of sap 
in it, and tbe drying of the wood being more gradual 
than in hot weather, it is less apt to crack badly 
in seasoning. It is therefore usual to fell in winter. 
But on the other hand, many proprietors fell in sum- 
mer, and assert that provided the tree is barked 
immediately on its being felled, the timber turns out 
better than that felhd in winter. "Bob Sawyer" 
will thus see that the question is not settled even 
in Europe, where there have been Forest Depart- 
ments for centuries ; to it is to be hoped he will 
not be very hard on the Indian Forest Department 
if it is not able to give him cut and dried rule., 
as it has not be>n going for us many decades. Nut 
being aware of any such rules I can merely give 
him my ideas on the subject. The old practice 
pursued in Europe will not apply out here. The 
hot weather is the dead season for most of our 
deciduous trees. The consequence of felling then 
would bo a too speedy drying under tho tierce heat 
of the sun, untempered by the foliage of the sur- 
rounding trees which haa then fallen. The timber 
would consequently crack ba'ily. It seems to ma 
then that the best time for Mliug is the monsoon 
and cold weather, when the drying goes on moro 
gradually, I would recommend too that tho bark und 
white wood bo cut off immediately after felling, by 
which means the portions charged with sap would 
be got of. JiMiLK Man. 
THE SAM AN TRKE IN TRINIDAD. 
The great Sam 1 " trees occurring in the ntvine, evir 
rxrendiug th^ir gigantio arms more widely .vid with 
tlcmer g*owtb, have rendered the l.tr^or part of tho 
