August  i,  1892  ] THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
14? 
topping,  priming,  degree  of  ripeness  at  which  the 
tobacco  should  he  cut,  mode  of  harvesting,  cfec., 
that  have  to  be  learnt;  which  although  simple  in 
themselves,  are  of  the  greatest  importance ; and, 
I may  add,  that  the  manner  in  which  these  are 
performed,  and  the  objects  aimed  at,  are  at  total 
variance  with  the  principles  observed  in  Sumatra 
&c.,  and  produce  totally  different  results.  It  is  in 
the  curing  and  preparation  of  the  leaf  for  the 
market,  that  the  most  enormous  mistakes  and 
omissions  occur.  The  whole  system  as  now  em- 
ployed in  Fiji,  is  utterly  and  ‘wholly  opposed  to 
the  approved  systems  practised  in  Sumatra,  the 
Philippine  Islands,  Cuba  cfec. : and  it  is  undoubtedly 
chiefly  to  this  cause,  the  produce  placed  on  the 
local  markets  owes  its  demerits,  and  fails  to  find 
any  favour  in  wider  commercial  circles.  Although 
the  different  methods  employed  in  regard  to  culti- 
vation and  curing  in  varous  countries,  embrace 
principles  closely  allied,  or  that  are  nearly 
identical  with  each  other;  and  the  various  classes 
of  tobacco  only  demand  slight  modifications  in 
culture  and  preparation,  yet  these  ramifications, 
however  simple  they  may  be,  produce  results  that 
give  the  tobacco  a definite  character.  It  therefore 
remains  for  the  Fiji  planter,  after  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  what  these  modifications  consist,  to 
adopt  such  as  may  be  applicable  to  his  requirements. 
Until  earnest  attention  is  given  to  the  matters  I 
have  referred  to,  and  an  improving  spirit  sets  in,  I 
can,  with  safety,  positively  and  emphatically  assert, 
no  improvement  in  the  quality  or  value  of  Fiji  tobacco 
can  possibly  be  expected,  and  it  must  remain  a 
comparatively  useless  and  valueless  article. 
I have  now  a little  to  say  about  Sumatra  and 
the  tobacco  industry  there.  Deli,  that  portion  of 
the  island  in  which  tobacco  is  grown,  is  about  4 
degrees  north  of  the  equator,  long,  98°  to  99°  east, 
is  composed  of  three  states.  Deli,  the  oldest,  is  in 
the  centre,  and  is  under  a Sultan ; Lang  Rat  to  the 
north  is  under  a Chief;  and  Serdang,  to  the  south,  is 
under  a Sultan.  The  whole  forms  part  of  the  Resi- 
dency of  Seak.  Beng  Ralis  further  down  the  coast, 
is  the  seat  of  Government.  The  Resident  for  the 
Bast  Coast,  has  his  quarters  here.  Locally,  the 
administration  is  carried  on  by  an  Assistant 
Resident  who  lives  at  Medan,  which  is  the  principal 
town  on  the  Deli  river.  The  Assistant  Resident  is 
assisted  by  Controllers,  stationed  as  follows : — one 
atBinji;  one  at  Clambia  (for  Upper  and  Lower  Lang 
Rat);  and  one  at  Rante  Panjong  for  Serdang. 
South  of  Serdang  are  the  districts  Bedagai  and 
Padang,  over  which  the  Suzerainty  is  claimed  by 
both  the  Sultan  of  Serdang  and  the  Sultan  of 
Deli.  The  two  last  districts  have  only  been  opened 
out  during  the  last  5 or  6 years.  The  districts  I 
have  referred  to  are  the  only  parts  in  which  to- 
bacco is  grown,  and  for  but  a very  small  portion 
of  the  island.  The  other  parts  are  said  to  be  un- 
suitable for  tobacco,  whilst  even  the  newer  of  those 
that  have  been  opened  are  far  inferior  to  the  older 
district  of  Deli  I have  already  referred  to  the 
inferiority  of  Serdang.  The  tobacco  districts  are 
not  far  from  the  coast,  and  in  some  instances  the 
estates  are  quite  close  to  the  sea — fully  enjo'  ing 
the  influence  of  the  sea  breeze  and  air.  Luxuriant 
coconut  trees  are  met  with  in  all  the  tobacco 
districts,  whilst  the  characteristics  of  vegetation 
— especially  in  Deli — are  in  many  respect  analogous 
to  those  of  Fiji.  Among  the  vegetable  growths  I 
recognised  were  vesi,  vaci,  vasa,  the  weed  called 
deni  orsi  by  the  Fijians,  and  many  other  trees, 
plants  and  shrubs  that  I do  not  know  the  Fiji 
natoes  for.  Among  the  latter  were  several  growths  of 
a soft,  quick-growing  nature,  that,  like  in  Fiji, 
spring  up  on  abandoned  land  which  has  been 
previously  cultivated.  In  connection  with  this  I 
may  state  that  this  species  of  growth  is  far  more 
rapid  in  Fiji  than  in  Sumatra;  but  in  the  case  of 
the  more  primitive  growth  the  trees  are  taller  and 
straighter,  and  show  less  inclination  to  lean  towards 
any  particular  direction  which  is  of  course  attributable 
to  the  absence  of  strong  winds  or  hurricanes.  There 
are  many  fine  species  of  timber  trees,  in  some  of  the 
other  parts  of  the  island.  Flowering  plants  and  shrubs 
are  numerous,  and  countless  parasites  garland  tha 
forest  trees  with  flowers  of  every  hue.  The  most 
curious  of  these  is  the  Rafflesia,  which,  clinging 
to  the  bark  of  large  trees,  spreads  out  the  largest 
known  flower,  with  a calyx  3 feet  in  diameter  and 
9 inches  deep.  The  fruits  are  numerous  and  very 
rich,  and  include  the  durian,  litchee,  mango,  mangos- 
teen,  rumbutam,  (fee,  &c,  &c.  The  elephant,  rhinoceros, 
tiger,  leopard,  black  bear,  tiger  cat,  wild  swine, 
tapirs,  antelopes,  deer,  monkeys,  (including  the 
ourang-outang),  ant-eaters  cfec.,  abound ; hippopotami 
and  crocodiles  frequent  the  rivers.  A large  quantity 
of  rice  is  produced  in  the  island.  A small  quantity 
of  coffee  is  grown  by  the  native;  also  pepper 
at  Acheen.  Acheen  i3  situated  at  the  extreme 
N.W.  end  of  the  island.  A large  body  of  troops 
are  stationed  here:  and  it  is  only  by  the  mainten- 
ance of  these  that  the  Dutch  are  enabled  to  levy 
taxes  or  exercise  any  control,  and  subdue  the 
frequent  outbreaks  that  are  constantly  occurring. 
The  interior  parts  of  the  island  are  inhabited  by 
a tribe  called  the  Battaks,  who,  fearing  that  the 
Europeans  may  still  further  encroach  upon  their 
lands,  openly  show  their  objection  to  his  presence, 
or,  any  protracted  sojourn,  by  hostile  intimidation. 
Thus,  the  Europeans  know  but  very  little  about 
the  interior  parts.  There  are  a few  Battaks  who 
work  on  the  estates.  These  are  generally  employed 
in  felling,  building  sheds,  &c. 
The  Battacks  are  of  the  usual  Malay  type.  The 
Lampongs,  who  live  in  the  Lampong  district,  are 
of  middle  stature,  well  formed,  of  pleasant  exterior, 
mild,  but  uncivilized  and  lazy.  Polygamy  obtains, 
the  wives  being  bought  from  their  relatives.  The 
horses  are  all  built  on  posts  of  iron  wood,  and 
several  families  live  under  the  same  roof.  The 
Acheenese  are  tall,  well  made,  active  and  intelligent, 
but  cunning,  proud,  treacherous,  and  blood-thirsty. 
They  live  simply,  but  are  total  slaves  to  opium. 
Only  about  a couple  of  years  ago,  they  captured 
a mercantile  steamer  off  Acheen,  and  demanded 
with  threats  of  violence,  ransom  for  the  crew. 
Sumatra  possesses  a soil  consisting  of  a vegetable 
mould  resting  on  a volcanic  base.  Although  the 
soil  in  Sumatra  is  fairly  good,  it  is  undoubtedly  far 
behind  that  of  Fiji.  I have  samples  of  Fiji  and 
Sumatra  soils  with  me,  and  intend  submitting  them 
for  a comparative  analysis.  The  presence  of  potash — 
so  essential  for  tobacco — is  not  nearly  so  strongly 
indicated  in  the  Sumatra  soil  as  in  that  of  Fiji. 
This  is  shown  by  the  greater  absence  of  tree  ferns, 
or  at  least  by  a very  much  smaller  growth.  Then 
again,  maize  and  other  crops,  that  have  much 
demand  on  this  ingredient,  and  are  easily  grown  in 
Fiji,  can  only  be  raised  in  Sumatra  on  a few  ex- 
ceptionally good  soils,  and  even  then  with  only  a 
small  degree  of  success.  The  climate  is  somewhat 
similar  to  that  of  Fiji,  somewhat  wet.  Occasional 
showers,  with  more  or  less  heavy  rain  at  times, 
in  the  wet  season;  and  moderate  spells  of  dry 
weather,  of  uncertain  duration,  in  the  dry ; a slight 
increase  of  temperature  takes  place  from  October  to 
March;  the  minimum  being  in  May.  The  ther- 
mometer ranges  from  70°  F.,  at  sunrise  to  94°  at  2 
p.m.  The  monsoons  are  irregular,  and  rain  falls 
during  all  the  months,  though  the  quantity  in  October 
and  December  is  double  that  in  February  and  June. 
Like  in  all  planting  communities,  the  Sumatra 
planters  are  generally  complaining  of  either  too 
much  rain  or  too  little.  The  nights  are  cool  but 
the  days  are  sometimes  very  warm,  although  very 
often  they  are  cloudy  and  pleasant.  Some  parts  of  Su- 
matra are  very  unhealthy,  and  fever  very  prevalent, 
especially  at  Serdang.  Deli  is  not  at  all  unhealthy. 
With  a proper  selection  of  season,  I believe  Fiji 
possesses  equally  as  favourable  a climate  for  tobacco 
cultivation  as  Sumatra. 
I presume  it  is  generally  known  in  Fiji  that  Suma- 
tra tobacco  owes  its  great  value  and  merits  to  its 
superior  adaptability  for  cigar  wrappers.  What 
chiefly  recommends  it  for  this  purpose  is  its  fine, 
soft,  silky,  and  elastic  texture,  suitable  conformation, 
glossy  appearance,  and  good  burning  qualities. 
These  qualities  are  developed  to  a very  large  extent 
by  the  mode  pf  culture  and  manipulation  followed 
