ioo 
THE TROPICAL AGRiCULTtJillST. [Aug. i, 1901 
kept. From the breeding point of view the experi- 
ment has been successful, and the cross of the 
Delft .vith the Arab lias produced a very much 
improved young stock, which is now coming on 
for sale. After another year all the young stock 
will be either half-bred Arab or half-bred Indian. 
The only drawback has been an excessive mortalitj , 
which has arisen in two ways :—(!) Anseniia and 
' poverty " among the young foals on Delft arising 
from "tics"; (2) the mortality on. Iranativu 
among apparently lieaUhy fat horses, tlie cause 
of which we have been unable to ascertain. 
During the months from August to October we 
have lost about twenty-five per cent of the stock, 
(1) This has, I think, now been controlled. By 
tbe advice of Mr Sturgess, Government Veteri- 
nary Surgeon, the foals have been rubbed fort- 
nightly with an oil mixture, and since 1899 very 
few foals bave died from preventible causes. It is 
now proposed to build a bath and drive the foals 
through a solution in the manner nsed in Australia 
and South Africa, for hand rubbing is impracti- 
cable where a large number have to be dealt with, 
I am indebted to General Olivier for some valuable 
suggestions as to the methods used in South 
Africa. 
(2) The mortality at Iranativu is still un- 
explained. Last year Mr. Sturgess found the 
ponies suffered internally from parasitic worms, 
and we attributed the death to this cause. The 
disease disappeared by treatment, but, although 
the water-holes were carefully cleaned and 
fenced, the same mortality occurred at the same 
time. One of the finest colts was seen, apparently 
C[uite well, in the morning by the Stock Inspector, 
who was on the island, and was found rolling 
on the ground in the evenins;, and died before 
any treatment could be applied. Unfortunately 
the intestines were too far gone for post-mortem 
purposes of examination by Mr. Sturgess. 
The occurrence of some poisonous plant at this 
time of year seems to be indicated, and a 
botanical examination of the island becomes 
very necessary. I shall be srlad to have the help 
of a botanical expert, v/hose researches might be 
able to throw light on this hitherto obscure cause 
of mortality. It is noticeable that there is no 
mortality among the cattle, sheep, or goats, which 
graze freely over the island at this time, nor does 
it appear in Delft. If the mortality could be 
controlled, the profits would be very largely 
increased, as well as the supi)ly for the public, 
which at present falls short of the applications. 
I have written at length on this subject, which, 
though a trivial one in administration and 
revenue, is of great interest and real value to 
persons who have need of such animals. The 
experiment has proved a success, and it may be 
extended now, with satisfactory results. I was 
unwilling to ask for any considerable expenditure 
until I could show that the business was on a 
sound basis, and for this experiment was neces- 
sary. I have now no hesitation in recommending 
that Government should take up the business in 
earnest, and, if carried on upon the lines that 
experiment has proved to be successful and with 
regard to economy, I believe the Islands will be 
a source of both revenue and public advantage. 
Indeed, if this establishment pays its way with- 
out profit, it would be sulficient. But I must admit 
I ijrefer to conduct it on " business principles." 
I observe that country and Indian ' tat ' ponies 
jtre now being advertised as ' Delft ' ponies. No 
ponies under 13 hands are now sent out for sale ; 
most of them run to 1.3'2 to 13'3 hands, and 
they are not ' cow-hocked ' like ' tats. ' It can 
therefore be easily seen whether the description is 
correct. 
CATTLE BKEEDING. 
I am very anxious to improve the cattle in Delft. 
As cattle disease never occurs there, it is quite an 
ideal place for raising a good breed. But from 
over-numbers the cattle have greatly deteriorated 
in the last fifty years, and the Island cannot sup- 
port the 14 100 heads which are at present on it. 
The peopl are very ignorant and suspicious, but 
I hope bf, means of village rules for limiting 
numbers and castration or sale of poor-quality 
animalsj and the introduction of Scinde bulls, to 
show bhe people that they can get more profit from 
even half the number. During the year (^1901) 
831 i jiimals are reported to have died on the island 
f jm insufficient grass and water. Such (preven- 
tible) mortality is shocking. I have received good 
accounts of the Scinde bulls placed at Mannar, 
Vavuniya, and Iranativu. At the end of the year 
I placed two Scinde bulls on ' Delft.' This breed 
is excellent for milk produce, but the bulls are 
rather too small in height. I think we should try 
some other, possibly South Indian breed. The 
difficulty about these, however, is that they 
deteriorate unless highly fed. 
« 
TOBACCO IN BRITISH CENTRAL 
AFRICA. 
A correspondent in Nyassaland writing to us in 
April last, says : — In the early days of this Pro- 
tectorate tobacco was cultivated for consumption 
within the Protectorate by Messrs. Buchanan Bros. 
Subsequently it has been grown by Messrs. Hynde 
& Stark, and by Mr Henry Brown of Mlanje. 
At the present moment, perhaps, the largest 
cultivators of this produce are Blantyre and East 
Africa, Ltd., and Mr. Brown. Considering that 
we have no experts in curing tobacco, no market 
has been found for it in Loudon, and with the 
exception of a small quantity sent to South 
Africa the remainder is consumed locally, as cut 
tobacco and cigars. It is thought that in the 
event of our joining the South African (Customs 
Union, we shall be able to trade in this article to 
better advantage. 
Taking this country as a whole, the land suit- 
able for tobacco cultivation is almost unlimited. 
By planting the young seedling tobacco plants 
early in the wet season three or four cuttings or 
crops may be secured in the year. In the 
" Journal of the Society of Arts," for January 
31st, 1902, is a note on " Tobacco ' Culture in 
Hayti," in which the length of leaf is given as 20 
in. Here we can grow it fully .30 in. and broad in 
proportion without blemish. So that it is nob 
want of proper material, but the correct method 
of curing which is our desideratum. Havana 
tobacco is the variety most in cultivation, though 
this year our Scientific Department distributed 
to planters seed of a number of the best varieties. 
Nowhere in B.C. A. is tobacco found growing in 
a wild state, but, as a remarkable instance of 
the longevity of tobacco seed, it is worthy of note 
that after a coffee plantation is first cultivated 
there are sometimes- numerous kitchen middens 
exposed, and almost exclusively composed of wood 
ashes ; on these, particularly in the Namasi dis- 
trict, tobacco plants grow spontaneously. At 
