378 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Deo, 1, 1900. 
NEW COFFEE SEED FOR B. C. 
AFRICA. 
Mr. Ba'four Blair moved a resolution retjard- 
inff tlie necessity of {getting new Coffee seed for 
the country. Seconded and carried. The resolution 
was on tlie following lines : — 
Tins General Meetins; of the B. C. A. Chamber 
of Ac;riculture and (/Oiumerce is unanimonsly of 
opinion that the Coffee seed should be imported 
into the Protectorate by H. M. Administration 
for the following reasons : 
(1 The present seed has manifestly deterio- 
i-atel owing to continuous in breeding. Since the 
first Coffee plant was brought to the Protec- 
torate fn.in the Koyal Botanic Gardens, E'lin- 
bur^h, there have been very few importations of 
fresh seed ami most of the impurt-ations which 
were made were not greatly successful so that 
nearly all the plants in the Pro' e"toraie are 
fioin one plant and, as must infallibly happen 
in such case^, the stamina is steadily deterior- 
ating atid cannot be improved without the in- 
troduction of a new vigorous strain. 
(2) In consequence of this large amount of 
in-breeding and the failure of stamina there is 
very grave risk of new fungoid and scale diseases 
breaking out the poorer ; fields, or, shouki any 
disease be accidentally imported the recent plants 
would hiv'e no strong existing power and would 
sucou'iib readily to any pest which, in the present 
circumstances, would mean the ruin of the Coffee 
industry. 
(3) The deterioration of the present seed is 
noticeable in the number of sveak seedlings which 
are produced from the seed ; in the failure to 
throw sound berr> even in maiden crops ; and 
ill the failure of whole districts and estates to 
produce good and ."cjund crops. These failures 
are attributie l by many experienced planters to 
the deterioration of the seed. 
(4) Owing to the very strict Regulations 
awainst the introiiuction of seed from countries 
invested with HeinUeia vastatrix, it has been 
impossible for Planters to import seed from nine- 
tenths of the Coffee producing countries of the 
world and those countries which from their proxi- 
mity to this Protectorate would be most suitable 
for seed purposes, suck as India, Natal, et;e., are 
absolutely debarrail. This (.Chamber has alsvays 
loyally supported H. M. Administration in tlie 
Leaf Disease Regulations, but they cannot fail to 
point out that these Regulations, act as a practical 
bar to the importation of new seed by private 
planters and hence our reqoj^t that H. M. Admin- 
istration should undertake this work. The few 
private importations wliich have taken place have 
mostly been from Jamaica and owing to the long 
distance and the delays incidental to priv.ite 
importation (owing to" tihe F-ieaf Disease Regula- 
tions) these elVoris have in nia iy cases ended in 
failure as (Juffee seel loses its vitality in less 
than six months. This Chamber is therefore of 
opinion that the importation oould be undertaken 
mo-t f-ucce-is fully by Government and they pledge 
themselves to liear any expense which might be 
incurreil in introiluoing new seed. 
(5) This Oliauroei- would recommend that seed 
be imported by the Government iliieet from 
Jamaica (l>liie Mourit-dn C illee), Tiinidad, 
Brazil, Queensland, and any other places where 
H. M. (Government find that there is no risk from 
Leaf Disease, such as the South Sea Islands some 
of which grow Coffee. They would suggest that 
such seed should be sent direct to Zomba by the 
r£uickest possible route and distributed to Planters 
in conformity with their indents for which the 
necessary deposit money has been paid. 
(6) The Chamber recommend the above to the 
earnest consiiieration of H. M. Acting Commis- 
sioner as they are convinced that the matter is 
one of great importance and vital to tne progress 
of the Coffee Planting industry of the Protec- 
torate which is in danger of extinction unless 
new and vigorous seed is introduced at an early 
date as is done in other Coffee growing countries 
of the world. 
« 
PLANTING NOTES. 
J AM FOR South Africa.— The Imperial Govern- 
ment has arranged to obtain from New South 
Wales, for the u*e of troops in South Africa, 
300,000 lb. of Jam— peach and p\\im. —Agricultural 
Gazette N. S. Wales. 
Liquid Manurk f )R Tomatoes.— The follow- 
ing methoil of preparing liquid manure for toma- 
toes is recommended by a correspondent :— One 
peck of horse-dioppings and half-peek of soot 
siiould be placed together in a ba<;, which should 
be sunk in any ordinary barrel with the head out. 
The barrel is then to be filled up with clean water, 
aod the mixture may be used in the proportion ot 
one to four of clear w iter until the soil about the 
plants is moisl;. This manure is suitable, not only 
for tomatoes, but for nmst ot ler plants. In the 
case of tomatoes it would l)e an advantage to 
sprinkle a littie of one of the cheaper forms of 
potash about the roots previously. Tomatoes do 
not require feeding with liquid or any other manure 
until tlie fruit is set and swelling freely. As the 
liquid is used, the barrel may be filled up with 
clear water, and after this has been done once or 
twice the bag may be stirred round with a stick or 
spade. In a small gar len the manure will Kst for 
three or four months, but when it is evident that 
the liquid is getting weaker, the manure and soot 
must be renewed. — Ibid. 
DRE.SSING FOR TE VDER-SKI>^NED HoRSES. — 
Horses with delicate skins are specially feul>ject 
to saddle galls and sore shoulders, wlien worked 
to any extent in harness. Much may be done 
to render such animals le^s liable to injuries of 
this kind by the regular use of astringent 
applications calculated to harden the skin over 
their backs and shoulders. As dressings for this 
purpose, quite a number are employed by horse- 
owners in different parts of the. country. One 
of the most popular, and also one of the most; 
effective when properly prepared, is a home 
made decoction of oak bark. A brine made of 
common salt is also very extensively used, and 
u-^ually with good results. Another excellent 
dressing, and one wliich is much easier to prepare 
than the oak-bark decoction, is a lotion consist- 
ing of 2 diachnis each of alum and sulphuric 
acid in a quart of water. The parts which are 
liable to chafe should be freely sponged ovei." 
with one of these dressings two or three times 
a day. After a time, skins so treated will 
harden, or toughen to such an extent as co give 
no further trouble. — Wattle bark bioken up 
fine and stewel for several hours will make 
a good substitute for the oak-bark concoction. 
— Exchange, 
