672 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[May  t,  1693. 
The  Hawaiian  Islands  are  now  six  days  sail  from 
San  Francisoo,  out  oould  be  reached  in  five  days 
by  fast  steamers.  As  a plaoe  of  call  for  ships,  and 
a naval  station,  they  will  be  of  great  value  to  the 
United  States,  as  they  possess  a good  harbour  in  the 
Bay  of  Honolulu.  They  have  this  advantage  over 
Samoa  and  the  more  southern  islands  of  the 
Pacific,  that  their  varied  climate  enables  most 
forms  of  vegetation  to  flourish,  and  an  American 
scientific  paper  points  out  that  a botanic  garden 
unique  in  the  history  of  the  world  might  be 
established  there.— Globe. 
Decrease  op  Arable  Land.— During  the  last 
twenty  years  England  alone  appears,  from  the  official 
agricultural  returns,  to  have  diminished  the  area 
of  land  under  the  plough  by  very  nearly  two 
millions  of  aores,  or  over  14  per  cent.  The  amount 
of  arable  land  in  Wales  has  dwindled  during  the 
same  period  by  a trifle  more  than  one  fourth  of  that 
amount,  or  21  per  cent.  Scotland,  on  the  contrary, 
returns  78,000  aores  more  than  before.  This,  it  is 
thought,  may  be  partly  explained  by  the  marked 
characteristic  of  the  agricultural  system  of  North 
Britain  in  contrast  with  that  of  England,  which 
appears  in  the  relatively  large  area  retained  under 
clover  and  rotation  grasses.  Nearly  one-third  of 
the  whole  cultivated  surface  of  Scotland  remains 
in  this  oategory,  while  in  England  the  proportion 
of  the  cultivated  area  so  occupied  is  very  little 
more  than  a tenth  of  the  whole. — Public  Opinion. 
The  Mango  Crop  in  Southern  Queensland  is  now 
ripr,  and  in  such  situations  aB  have  not  suffered 
from  the  floods  a good  harvest  is  being  reaped.  Mr. 
A.  Williams,  of  the  Green  Hill  Nursery,  Eight  mile 
Plains,  is  one  of  the  fortunate  growers  who  were 
above  high  water  mark,  and  some  samples  of  his 
produce  which  have  reached  us  show  that  the  un- 
usually wet  season  has  not  adversely  affected  the 
flavour  of  the  fruit.  The  samples  comprised  two 
varieties,  the  Maldo  and  the  Kysapatie,  and  all  were 
of  very  large  size  and  of  excellent  flavour.  The 
former  especially  is  notable  for  a refreshing  tartness 
which  is  not  present  in  most  other  varieties.  Judging 
by  some  of  the  fruit  the  peaoh  fly  has  iuoluded  the 
mango  in  the  list  of  its  hatching  grounds  this  season 
which  is  a matter  for  regret,  as  this  is  one  of  the 
few  fruits  that  have  hitherto  esoaped  the  attention 
of  this  troublesome  insect  pest- — Queenslander. 
Natal:  Agricultural  and  Industrial  Progress. — 
The  year  under  report  has  been  a fairly  prosperous 
one  for  stock  farmers,  and  good  prices  have  been 
generelly  realized.  SLeep  tanning  is  increasing,  but 
the  abnormally  low  price  of  wool  has  had  a depres6i' ly 
effect.  According  to  the  returns  the  yield  of  sugar 
for  the  year  was  very  good,  and  a large  increase  upon 
that  for  the  preceding  year.  A large  proportion  of  the 
sugar  manufactured  is  consumed  in  the  oolouy  or  sent 
acres  1 the  inland  borders.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
export  by  sea  for  1891-2  wis  11,705  cwt,  as  against 
21,9(52  cwt  for  1890-1  ; 251,940  proof  gallons  of  rum 
were  distiiled,  as  compared  with  153,300  gallons  in 
1890-1. — Tea  continues  to  be  largely  grown  in  the 
coast  districts,  chiettv  in  Victoria  County  and 
the  Lower  Umzimkulu  Division.  The  area  under  cul- 
tivation may  be  put  down  at  about  2,200  acres-  The 
crop  for  the  past  season  was  about  350,000  lb,  and 
thatfor  the  ensuing  season  is  expected  to  reach  500,000 
lb.  The  quantity  of  tea  exported  by  sea  during  the 
year  was  43,633  lb.  Coffee  cultivation  is  successfully 
carried  on  in  the  coast  district?,  though  no;  to  a 
large  ix'ent.  Cjffee  does  not  figure  conspicuously 
among  the  colony’s  export?,  the  local  demand  being 
greater  than  the  supply.  The  planting  of  trees  is 
extending,  and  attention  is  being  more  particu  arly 
given  to  the  cultivation  of  the  acaoia  mo'lissima,  the 
bark  of  which  is  a valuable  tanD’ng  produot.— British 
Assistant  Colonial  Secretary  at  Pietermantzburg,  Oot. 
8th,  1892. 
American  Rubber  Notes. — The  Joseph  Dixon 
Crucible  Co.  (extensive  lead  pencil  manufacturers), 
give  notice  that  they  will  henceforth  make  their  own 
rubber  tips.  The  demand  for  the  best  Para  by  the 
cyole  factories  is  enormous,  and  constantly  in- 
creasing.— India-Rubber  Journal. 
Coffee  in  the  Shevarots.— Yercand,  March  17. — 
We  are  having  the  most  extraordinary  weather  up 
here,  such  as  the  very  oldest  inhabitant  cannot  re- 
member the  likes  of.  On  22nd  ultimo,  we  had  a few 
cents  of  rain,  followed  by  over  half  an  inch  on  25th 
end  2 to  3 inches  on  27th  idem.  From  1st  to  I6th 
March  we  have  had  rain  on  7 days,  and  the  fall  has 
amounted  to  about  2jinohes,  making  5J  inches  more 
or  less  (the  fall  varies  a good  deal  and  I can  only 
take  what  1 register  here,  thongh  I invariably  hear 
that  some  have  got  more  and  some  less  rain  than  1) 
in  the  last  3 we  ks!  And  not  merely  is  the  amount 
extraordinary,  but  the  manner  of  its  fall  is  equally  so. 
When  we  do  get  rain  at  this  time  of  the  year,  it  is 
generally  in  short  heavy  thunder  showers,  but  this 
yeur  we  might  be  at  the  beginning  of  the  monsoon  is 
far  as  appearance  goes.  Crops  are  all  practically  in 
now,  and  those  not  sent  to  England  are  all  sold.  I 
am  glad  to  6ay  things  are  even  better  then  I antici- 
pated ; almost  every  estate  up  here  has  not  only  had 
a good  crop,  but  a crop  considerably  over  the  esti- 
mate, and  prices  have  been  rqually  abnormal;  high 
as  they  have  been  of  late  years,  this  year  they  are 
higher  than  ever. — J ladras  Times. 
Planting  in  Klang. — On  the  9!h  Maroli  the  Resi- 
dent paid  a visit  to  Klatjg,  and  drove  three  mile* 
along  the  Melegum  Road,  and  was  much  interested  in 
the  very  flourishing  native  cultivation  ou  each  side. 
There  are  said  to  be  476  acres  under  Liberian  coffee, 
346  under  cococuts  and  301  nnder  areca-nuts.  The 
road  was  originally  and  commenced  by  the  Datu  Dagang 
was  taken  over  aud  extended  by  the  Government  ; it 
is  now  being  gravelled  at  a cost  of  §1,200  a mile. 
The  resident  then  drove  to  the  Tremelbye  estate, 
which  affords  a good  example  of  what  can  be  made 
of  lallang-oovered  ground.  The  estate  comprises  500 
acres,  and  there  are  35  acres  under  pepper  in  bearing 
and  66  under  Liberian  coffee,  all  looking  very  well. 
The  following  day  the  Resident  visited  the  native 
gardens  along  the  Telok  Pulai  Road,  where  are 
looated  81  Javanese.  35  Malays  and  25  Chinese 
engaged  in  the  cultiva’ion  of  67  acres  of  Liberian 
coffee,  248  acres  of  coconut,  and  34  acres  of  areca-nut. 
The  Headman  of  the  Javanese  is  Ha]i  Latip,  who 
came  over  to  Selangor  from  Samarang  about  28  years 
ago,  and  has  been  settled  at  Klang  for  the  last  10 
years.  The  Resident  had  not  time  to  visit  the  other 
European  Estates  in  the  District — Bevcrlao,  Enter- 
prise, and  Glenmarie. — Selangor  Journal. 
Blue-Gum  Oil.— The  Government  Quinologist  has 
addressed  the  looal  Government  strongly  recom- 
mending that  all  the  blue-gum  oil  required  for  the 
Medioal  Store  Department  may  be  obtained  from 
Mr.  S.  G.  Wallace’s  Drug  Manufactory,  Nilgiris. 
Euoalyptus  globulus  oil  manufactured  by  Mr.  S.  G. 
Wallace  has  been  carefully  examined  on  several 
oooasions,  and  it  has  been  reported  to  be  absolutely 
pure,  being  identical  with  that  made  in  the  Go- 
vernment Gardens  in  its  speoifio  gravity  and  optioal 
properties.  Mr.  Wallace  has  reoently  Etarted  a 
laboratory  for  the  manufacture  of  several  drugs.  He 
is  said  to  be  an  expert  and  deserves  the  encourage- 
ment that  can  be  given  him  by  Government.  As 
may  be  seen  from  the  annual  reports  of  the  Botani- 
cal Gardens  for  many  years  baok,  it  has  been  the 
objeot  of  Government  to  induce  private  persons  to 
take  up  the  manufaoture  of  blue-gum  oil  on  a large 
scale,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  see  that  this  is  being 
at  last  aceomplished.  The  prioe  of  blue-gum  oil 
sold  to  the  Medical  Store  Department  by  the  Go- 
vernment Gardens  has,  it  is  observed,  fluctuated 
enormously  since  1887.  Mr.  W.  Wallace’s  offer  to 
deliver  it  at  R2-8-0  per  pound  free  of  all  oharges  in 
Madras  may  therefore  be  deemed  reasonable, — 
Madras  Mail, 
