150 
THE TROPICAL AaRICtJLTURIST. 
[Sept. 1, 1902. 
now over 20 feet in height with a stem diameter of 
four inches though not yet four years old. Consi 
derab'e variation has been noticed in the form of the 
seed vessels amoDfj the trees of our plantation, but it 
may be, that is only normal seed variation, but at 
the same time there appears some reason to 
suspect that two or more species may be found to 
be present. One of the forms, has its follicles long, 
narrow, and pointed ; while the commoner form has 
follicles stout and thickened at the apex. The quality 
of the ftubber pfforded by each kind has not been, as 
yet, well tested ; but it appears on superficial exami- 
nation to be of equal value. Latter te=ts will decide 
this. The trees have given a fine crop of seed durii g 
the past season, and a large quantity of pi.mts hrive 
been raised. From present appearances it is a tree 
.that will stand, probably, more hardship than any of 
the other Rubbers, as it can bear exposure to the 
Bun although it does not grow fast in such situations, 
In my paper on Kubber Planting published in the 
■West Indian Bulletin (Dulau & Co., London, this 
.rubber is move fully discussed. A section of this 
rubber has been planted at three feet apart and in 
the full sun, in order to test its growth under the 
■conditions of close planting and growth without shade. 
Oeaea KuBBEit — " Manihot Gla«iovii." Our soil at 
the experiment Station apptara quite unsuitable 
for the growth of this tree, as it makes little progress. 
In some districts of the Colony however, it is reported 
to be growing well. 
Landolphia Spkcies — Landolphios give excellent 
lubber fluids which easily coagulate. At the experi- 
ment Station several species are growing well, planted 
•against trees of ' Pithecolobium Saman ' Several kinds 
are under cultivation, but it will be some time yet 
before any quantitative returns can be given, as is 
'the case with many tropical products. 
■ FiBRH PLANTS. — A stock of Fibre plants have been 
kept on hand. This includes " Agave rigida var, sisa- 
lana,' the " Sisal Hemp " which grows quickl;/ and 
well. This plant is established in Several Stations in 
.Trinidad and Tobago, but as yet, there is no output 
of, -Fibre. Several species of Sausevieria are a'so in 
cultivation. This affords the Bowstring hemp of Com- 
';merce " S. LongiHora is well acclimatized, and is now 
in some demand for planting. " Musa textillis or 
" Manilla Hemp ", is grown in small quantity onlv. 
' 'CiTRONELLA Grass. — " Andropogon Nardus." This 
, is seen to differ much from the common "Lemon 
, grass " "(Andropogon Schoenanthus)" usually found 
in the West Indies and its oil is also found to differ 
considerably from that obtained from the latter grass. 
Specimens of each were manufactured in illustration 
. of the paper read by the Superintendent at the 
Annual Conference, Bi^rbados, previously mentioned. 
■ The grass grows readily here, and flowers freely while 
the Common " Lemon grass," seldom produces flowers. 
Camphob. — Cinnaniomuiii Camphora, Ntes. — The 
interest arising in Camphor production, owing to 
certain monopolies in Formosa, has caused enquiry 
to be made, as to the possibility of growing Camphor 
on a commercial scale, in other places. In Tiiuidad 
it grows rapidly but never makes a large tree. The 
wood contains a fair amount of camphor, and 
some camphor oil, specimens of which were lately 
manufactured at St. Clair, an accouut of which was 
included in a paper read at the Annual Agricultural 
Conference held in Barb.'-.dos, January, 1902. The 
Camphor was of good quality, and the Camphor oil 
was excellent, more of the latter being produced from 
the young wood than from the older stems. The 
sample made, is probably the first on record of West 
Indian manufac'ure. It is intended to grow a plot, 
with a view of testing the feasibility of growing it on 
a commercial scale for camphor and for oil. Trees 
planted three years ago are now ten feet in height. It 
propagates readily by layers.* 
* A reeeid account o f Ceylon experiments appears to 
show reasonahle hops oj islaUishing a remwntfaii'je 
Indubii-y in Camiihor. 
Mulberry. -ilforws rithm.— This tree grows into 
bashes of several feet in diameter and ten or twelve 
feet in height. It may be of future importance, were 
silkworm culture tiken up in this island. 
Long Pepper. — Piper lonrjum. — This pepper grows 
well and rspidly covers the ground, coming into bear- 
ias very quickly. 
Black Pepper. — Fiper nigrum. — The section devoted 
to this plant has made fair progress, but the plants 
have not as yet reachei their fruiting stage. The 
small plaijt ition at the old gardens have however 
given annual crops, and the fresh seed has been in 
demand by JBuropeaii seedmen for raising plants 
intended for We t and Central African plantation. 
It is not readily obtainable elsewhere than in Trinidad 
where it was first fi uited, on this side of the world. 
Vanilla.. — Vanilla planifoUa. — The Vanilla - is 
planted to cover trees of Erylhrina Corallodendron a 
dwarf growing Immortel. It has made fair progress, 
but has" not ye*- le iched its flowering stage. 
Pimento. — Pimento officimli-<- — The plants of this 
spice tree, are over ten feet high, at three years old, 
and are evidently true. The seed was procured from 
Jamaica. The popular idea that seed will not grow 
unle=s first eaten by birds haa therefore been disproved. 
It is curious to note that while Pimento acris (the 
West Indian " Bay Tree") is common on the Island, 
the true Pimento appears to have been unknown 
here until the recent importation. The plants are 
doing we 1, and are very healthy and vigorous and 
may be expected to fruit in a year or two- 
Immortel. — Erythrina Sp. — A small and irregular 
section on the boundary of the Station has been devoted 
to the growth of the two species of Immortel which 
are used almost exclusively for shading Cacao 
estates. One is -knov^n as the, Anauca suitable for 
highlands, and the other as .the Bocare, suitable for 
low lands ; Botanically known as Etythrim umhrosn 
and Erythrina veluiina. Discussion has been current 
on the nitrogenous value of the flowers of this 
tree during the year, and the manurial value 
of the flowers has been placed by the Gov- 
ernment Analyst of Trinidad at the very high 
figure of 6%.* This has however not yet 
been confirmed by independent analysis. As shade 
trees there can be no possible doubt of the value of 
the Immortel for Ca-cao estates, and no apology ia 
needed for their use, but the fact remains, that good 
cacao is grown under other shade ; and moreover we 
constantly receive enquiries for substitutes that will 
give a remunerative return, as the wood of the Im 
mortel tree is useless even for fuel. The Soman or 
Zaman, a Central and South American tree, is coming 
gradually into use on some estates, as it is not so 
liable to fall and damage the cacao, The Nicaraguan 
tres—GHricidia maculata has been planted at the 
station, and grown after a certain plan,^ it forms an 
efficient shade for cacao, as may be seen ' from the re- 
sults obtained by its use. E. Corallodendron is in use 
as shade for Piper nigrum, and Vanilla, as mentioned 
in another paragraph. In a recent letter, a prominent 
planter regrets his inability to ni'tnure Cacao, shaded 
with Immoitel ; owing to the shade tree abstracting 
the value of the manure before the cacao tree has time 
to benefit by its application. 
Clove. — Caryoplisllus aromaticas L. — one tenth of 
an acre is devoted to the growth of Cloves. Tne same 
difficulty found with the Maiigosteen, is experienced 
with the Clove. They grow well when established, 
but are very difficult to rear through their juvenile 
stages. Our section has several plants growing fairly 
well, but it needs many supplies. 
Cinnamon. — Ginnamomum Zelanicnm Breyn. — The 
Cinnamon plot is now well established and the trees 
are growing freely. 
Tobacco. — Nicotiana Tahacum, L — Several varieties 
have been grown, but as the crop is now under- 
going fermentation, it is tea early to report on its 
quality. The leaves of some varieties are of good 
•Sia^e reduced to 4'C3 per cent. 
