THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. i, 1895. 
PLANTING IN NORTH BORNEO. 
(From the liiitislt Xortli Bwnao lie mid. .Ian I.) 
Tea grows well in North Borneo and plants can 
be seen at Kudat, Sandakan, Ac, but its cultr. 
has not yet received attention owing to the want of 
labour cheap enough to compete with Ceylon and 
India, but with the introduction of Hakka families 
from China this want may be supplied. 
Coffee. — The plantings made in 1892 are beginning 
to yield a little crop and in 1895 a few hundred picnlfl 
will probably be exported. An addition of 10 oeres 
has been made to the Borneo Coffee Company's Estate 
in Marudu Bay who propose to make target exten- 
tions during the next few months. The suitability 
of the climate, for the growth of Arabian Cod., af 
a low elevation has long been proved on the 
West Coast and at Taritipan Estate a small 
planting made in December 1892 is looking fery 
healthy and yielded a small crop in October. This 
patch is at an elevation of 300 feet and the Company 
proposes to make a planting at about 800 feet. The 
present coffee shows no signs of any disease and is 
remarkably luxuriant tor the age. 
Sago. — The exports from the West Coast continue 
on a large scale and although prices have fallen the 
exports from Mempakol to Labuan in 1894 will pro- 
bably be more than in 1893. The total value in 
1893 was $144,000 while the value exported at the 
end of the 3rd quarter of 1894 was $109,764. 
Coconut Planting has come into favour and a 
large number of nuts have been planted during the 
past year by Europeans, Chinese, and Natives. The 
imports of coconuts from Cagayan 800I00 and other 
islands to Sandakan has been larger than hitherto 
owing to purchases of nuts made by the Sandakan 
traders for converting into copra. The price early in 
the year was $12 per 1,000 nuts which gradually rose 
until as much as $21 was paid before the end of Novem- 
ber when the dry season ended and the trade closed; 
we note also that the Cagayan boats do not visit 
Sandakan during December, January and February 
when the North East winds are strong. Now that 
this trade has been fairly started we look for a great 
extension of coconut planting for which our climate 
is very suitable, 
Manila hemp continue to be cultivated aiid 011 a 
larger scale and a cleaning machine by Death has 
been tried and is reported to work economically. 
The quality of the Abie is highly spoken of. 
GOVERNOR SIR W, F. HELY-HUTCH INSON 
AND GRENADA. 
In what will evidently he a deeply in- 
teresting volume on " Travel* in Tropical 
Land," — now passing through the press, — Mr. 
Arthur Sinclair lias a passage referring to 
Grenada and its recent ruler (now Governor 
of Natal) son-in-law of Major-General Justice, 
which we cannot help quoting from the advance 
proof-sheets which have reached us : — 
- George Town, the beautiful little capital of Gre- 
nada, was our next port of call. I shall not readily 
forget the dawn of that first of January (1892). A 
harbour like glass, a lovely little toy township nest- 
ling amongst the sweetest of flowering shrubs, noble 
magnolias, and quivering palms, the picturesque su- 
burbs rising step by step, completes a picture such 
as I never expect to see surpassed on earth. Perhaps 
the hospitality of our reception has something to do 
with the pleasant recollections of this sweet spot. Tt 
certainly was very delightful on that balmy morning 
to find the luxurious carriage of the Governor await- 
' ing our arrival on the wharf, enabling us to make the 
most of our time, and particularly to pa}- a pleasant 
visit to Government House, upon the steps of w : hich 
the Governor, Sir W. F. Hely-Hutchison — to whom 
we bad letters of introduction— received us very 
warmly. Sir Walter evidently takes a keen interest 
in the affairs of his islands — for he rules over several 
smaller isles, the Grenadines— and altogether, ac- 
cording to common repute, makes a mbst conscientious 
Governor. Having been trained under that Nestor 
of successful administrators, Sir Hercules liobinson. 
to whom he ucted .is private secretary, we had some- 
thing congenial to hay about old Ceylon uud its 
greatest Governor 01 e uc passed on to the products 
of Grenada. These comprise cocoa, nutmegs, sugar, 
cotton, coffee, and various minor industiies. Although 
the total acreage in cultivation is only SU.ilB the 
exports of cocoa alone is four times that of Ceylon, 
or over 8,000.000 lb. The pet product of the Governor 
is, however, the nutmeg, and the picture he gave us 
of the beauty of these plantations, the pleasant, easy 
life, and profitable returns, made our mouths water. 
He ridiculed the pessimism of Mr. Fronde, mid hud 
figures at his finger-ends to show how a caieful man 
might soon have an income of ten shilling* jx i luc 
from nutmegs, to say nothing of other products. 
Indeed, every tropical plant worth gi owing seems 
to thrive on this favoured isle. 
One curious difficulty has cropped up with regard 
to nutmeg planting. The number of tiees of the male 
sex are found to be too numerous, and as the propor- 
tion of male to female trees should not exceed one 
in thiity, planters have had to cut down a consider- 
able number of the male sex, though one would think 
that building or grafting might answer the purpose. 
The nutmeg requires a considerable depth of good 
soil. In Ceylon, owing to the experiments having 
been made in poor, shallow soil, the industry has 
proved a failure. Under favourable circumstances, 
the tree conies into bearing in seven yeais. The 
rugged nature of this island has been its salvation ; 
preventing its being monopolised by the sugar-cane. 
The eggs are in different baskets, but, if anything, 
the cocoa basket is rather heavy in proportion. The 
value of cocoa shipped last ' year was £300,267 ; 
of spices, £12.598, 
Altogether, we found the Governor very sanguine 
as to future prospects, and so enthusiastically fond 
of his bcuutiful isle that he sent a message to the 
captain, asking him if he would kindly take his 
steamer close inshore, and move aloug leisurely for 
the first few miles, so as to show us as much as 
possible Of the plantations and scenery. 
On leaving Government House we w ere met by some 
of the leading planters, with whom we adjourned to 
their very pretty little club, and drank success to 
Grenada — the gem of the West Indies ! 
The captain most obligingly adopted the suggestion 
of the Governor, and the water being deep, took us 
so close along the shore that we could almost see 
the ipomtru in flower. The thriving plantations were 
a very interesting sight, and the whole scene such 
as words are useless to describe. The near mountains 
rise to over 2,000 feet in height, covered with a varied 
vegetation to the very summit. In the foreground stands 
the extensive stone forts, from which, happily, the 
last soldier has long since been withdrawn. In keep- 
ing with this, there is in the background an extinct 
volcano, in the ancient crater of which, we are told, 
is the Great Etang : a deep lake thirteen acres 
in extent. 
This will give a slight foretaste of an ex- 
tremely well-written, interesting volume. 
HINTS TO PLANTERS. 
(From Staining Inskipp <l- Co.'* Indian and 
CeylonTea Men-let Review/or I894.) 
Loss in Wr.1c.1rr. — Much dissatisfaction has arisen 
from time to time on this point. The gross weight 
of the package should always be a few ounces — say 
four or five, over an even number of pounds. 
The empty package complete, with lead, nails, 
hands, fee.-, should he, on -the contrary, jnst hritic 
an even number of pounds — say by about four 
ounces; in weighing here the gross weight is reduced 
to the even number of pounds, whilst the tare is 
incriascd to an even number of pounds. 
With regard to garden bulked teas, it is imper- 
atively necessary to put an equal quantity into each 
package of the break, and this quantity should be 
$0fF or fjve ounces, over the 4©sjred weight of coft. 
