Oct. i, 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
239 
CLIMATIC INFLUENCE OF FORESTS. 
Forests improve the eoil drainBga and modify 
miasmatic conditions. Trees, like green plants, 
assimilate carbon and purify lha air ; but it 13 not 
established that forests increase ozone. Tbey 
stop air current3 laden with dust particles and 
germs ; they prevent extremes of temperature, 
they inoroase humidity, precipitate rainfall and 
control wateiflow. These data are derived from 
large continental forests. How far do the effects 
appeal to ui in this island ? Dr. Nisbet Bays, 
' Where the rainfill is over 40 id. it is undesirable 
to increase the forests area." We have too many 
unfavourable wet years. Bui scientific sylviculture 
would reap a harvest from land unsuited to agri- 
culture, otherwise barren and waste, and therefore 
afforestation need not be prejudiced by increased 
local rainfall. — Pro. F. D, Balfour, before the 
British Association, Aug. 1894, 
JAMAICA GARDENS. 
The Hopr> Garden is situate at the foot of the 
Liguanea Hills, at an elevation of 650 feet. The 
mean tempeaturn is 77° F. and the average raiulall 
50 inches. It is proposed to make this gudcu 
the headquarters of the Botanical Department 
of Jamaica, and it is being 1 iid out in Geographi- 
cal Seotions, a separate division being allotted to 
the plants of each country. It covers a consider- 
able area, and when completed will be not only very 
beautiful bnt lu^hl/ interesting and instiuclive. A 
considerable number ot^ economic and oruaixeitat 
plants are raise 1 for sale, and large quantities are 
dispesed of to the varions planters in the L'land and 
to the residents of Kingston ami neighbourhood. The 
Nurseries aie well stocked with a great variety of 
economio and orn. mental plants, including Liberiau 
and Arub an Outfee, orange -, limes, nutmegs, and 
various kn ds of tropioal fruits, such as mmgoes, 
eapaddlos, shaddocks, guavas, &c. A hrge tract is 
pet apart as an expsnmental ground for seedling 
sugarcaues, a considerable number of which are being 
tested. At the time of my visit seme of the varieties 
were producing viry lar-e canes, hut whether they 
possess such qualifications as will ent tle them to 
be regarded as good sugar. producers remains yet to 
be eeen. I noticed in this garden mai y old trees 
both of spice*, 6uch as nutmegs, cloves, cinuamou 
and pimenta, and also of Cacao and Libii'iau coffee. 
I was much impressed with some of the cacao trees 
here which have been pruned by Mr. Cradw'ck. 
Their stems ard branches are clem, and they are 
well-opened and well-balanced trees, and b.sides their 
utility in producing large crops of fruit, they are au 
ornament to the garden. They are sple.ioid exaunp'es 
of what a well-grown cacao tree should be, and afford 
a striking illustration of what can be accompls'ied 
with tare and attention. An area of about 50 acres 
is devote! to the cultivation of Siaal Hemp (Agave 
rigida,va,x. sisalana.) There are about 28,000 plant , al 
of which are growing well and producing a large 
number of suckers. They are grown to afford materinl 
for experiments by machinery, and al-o to test the 
suitability of the soil for the growth of this cLss 
of plant.— Report of Mr. Crowther, Curator, Botanic 
Station, Gold Coast Colony. 
COTTON-SEED PRODUCTS. 
The rapidity with which the various produots 
prepared from the seeds of the oottcn bush have 
oomo into quite genoial use is remarkable. The 
cctton-seed n.dustiiea have attained 6uch a growth 
thut a recent estimate by the Chattanooga Trades- 
man plaoes the value of the products at more than 
S10,000,000 a year. The progress of the eeed fiom 
the bins in which it 's store 1 to the bottles of cotto- 
lone, firkins of oompouud lard b xes of caudles, or 
other familiar artioles, is iutcrestiug.— Br ad it reel's. 
30 
FLORIDA ORANGE CROP. 
Mr. Ives, Manager of the Florida Fruit Exchanae, 
who is on a visit here for a few days, siys, ho 
believes the F.orda orarge crop will not be as 
large this coming season hs list, when over 5,500,000 
foxes were shipped out of the State. — American 
Grocer, July 25. 
COFFEE PLANTS IN FLORIDA. 
In the grove of Mr. Sprague at Orescent City, 
Putman County, standing modestly apart is one tree 
twelve feet high, of bushy growth and narrow leaves of 
a bright green color, which is worthy of attention. 
It is a coffee tree. It is three years old, has grown 
well through winter and summer without the least 
protection or extra care, and affords every promise 
of abundant fruit next season. With coffee trees 
bearing fruit within three years, and continuing as 
long as these do in Brazil, a new source of wealth 
is opened to our people, and these who dislike the 
slower orange culture might mingle the coffee in their 
groves with both profit and pleasure. It is a most 
beautiful tree, the crop is abundant the third year, 
the harvest is simple and easy, the demand for the 
crop is steady and ample. With coffee plantations 
in Florida, dotting the clearing south of us, we 
cannot wish for the coal and iron of Alabama and 
will stand abreast with Georgia in 10 years. Who 
will try on a large scale the experiment that has 
been so successful in the hands of Mr. Sprague, 
of Crescent City ? — Plataka News. — Florida Agri- 
culture. 
EXPOETS OF TEA FROM CHINA, TO 
THE UNITED STATES, 1893. 
Official r ports for the year 1893, roak^ tha 
tot-d exports of tea from Ohini 1,087,136 picu's, 
or 144,951,540, pounds, of which to the United S at's, 
202,797 piculs, 27,039,600 ponnds of Black and 
139,490, or 18,587,718 pounds Green, divi ted as 
tol ows : — 
Black. 
Congou 
Oo'ong 
S juchong 
PuuchoL g 
Flowery Peke 
Orange Pekoe 
Seen*ed Capee 
Mixed 
Pounds. 
7,813,376 
19,175.466 
10,533 
727 
267 
31,763 
6,133 
1,335 
Total 27,039,600 
-American Grocer. 
Green. 
Youug Hyson 
Hyson 
Imperial 
Gunpowder 
Total 
Pounds. 
1,914.949 
3,027,810 
481,941 
13,174,023 
18,598,728 
PROGRESS AND COFFEE IN MEXICO. 
Many Americans are now turning their attention to 
Mexico, where many opportunities for making money 
await men of enterprise and capital. The poor man 
his no showiug unless he gees with a capitalist or 
s rong corporation as his patron. 
Coffee receives the greatest attention and is very 
remunera'ive at the present time. But many turn 
from coffee after careful investigation of the pro«- 
pects and enter some other line of production or 
trsde. 
Day labor is cheap ; one stroi g young fellow offered 
to work for me for four dollars per month and board 
himself ! Twenty-rive cents to a dollar a d»y are the 
usual wages paid — probably 36 ceDts a day being a 
fa r average. Lauds in large tracts can be bought 
as low as §1-25 per acre, and from that up to eeveril 
hun dred dollars per aore. 
Near Mexico City the cultivation of the Maguey 
plaut i8 doubtless of primary importance. Corn aud 
bean? sra also important orops in Mexico, and with 
red peppers, form the hulk of the food of the lower 
cUsies — to which threo-fourths of the population of 
ihu Rt-publio belong. 
Mexico is a land of strong c. ntrast ; the rich and 
the poor are farther apart ovon then in tho United 
