Sept. 1, 1902.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTUEIST. 
195 
Bialo-Tseikew, belonginp; to Count Bismicki, which 
can vie with the most perfectly kept covers of other 
countries. As Russian people do not eat piueons 
as 11 rule, tliey are only bred by amateurs. There 
are, however, some national breeds, as lurtnan and 
Tchistj', and there exists also a sliarming little 
species with a top knot, known as the Bukhara 
pi<jeoi). In the last twenty years many bird-breed- 
ing rocieties, with wide ramihcations, have been 
formed, constituted principally by amateurs, who 
organise Shows and contribute to elevate the level 
of poultry breeling. But we can say that until 
then there was no scientific poultry breeding iu 
Russia. It occupied no place in rural economy, 
ami as its production was not expensive, people 
were satisfied if they had enough poultry and eggs 
for their daily use. Things are different now, and 
the tride in this line has reached vast dimensions. 
Unhappily, we do not possess exact statistic 
data about Russia's production and its home con- 
sflraption. We have, however, some indication 
about; poultry export. In 1897 the export was 
valued at 35,000,000 roubles, and in 1898 at 
40,000,000 roubles. Compared with other countries, 
Russian export occupies the first place. The prin- 
cipal item in the export is eggs. Of the 40,000,000 
roubles in 1898, 32,000,000 roubles were for eggs, 
and the remaining 8,000,000 roubles for poultry 
proper. Its production is increasing by leaps and 
bounds, and will presently assume gigantic pro- 
portions. As the Russian climate, with the ex- 
ception of the extreme north, is very favourable 
10 poultry breeding, we may suppose, as foreign 
demand is constantily increasing, that the pro- 
duction will rise and that commercial companies 
will be started to organise the export in the best 
possible way, — Russia, July 19. 
^OOD* FUEL. 
Mr D E Hutchins, whose valuable paper on ' Forestry, 
read on November, 22nd, 1899, will be in the remem- 
brance of those members who are interested in the 
subject raised in Nature, of the 10th July, a rather 
novel question in connection with the supply of timber. 
He suggests that it would be worth while to cultivate 
the wattle or eucalpytus vegetation in Australia or 
South Africa, with a view to its being used as fuel. 
He argues that eucalyptus planted on tropical moun- 
tains would produce wood fuel at the rate of 20 tons 
per acre per year in perpetuity, and points out that, 
by a calculation of Helmholtz, a eucalyptus plantation 
would store up about one per cent, of ttie solar energy 
received on the unit of area. Its dry timber, which 
weighs 60 pounds per cubic foot, as compai-ed with 
coal weighing from 50 to 52 pounds, is said to have aa 
equal or higher thermal power than coal. As these 
calculations were made from natural forests, Mr 
Hutchins argues that by selection and cultivation, 
even double the amount might be produced where there 
WM a powerful sun, a heavy rainfall, and a very rapid 
forced growth. Very large districts of the world would 
supply the requisite conditions, aud he looks forward 
to a yearly output of over 40,000 million tons, or even 
on an average forest yield of 20,000 million tons, the 
world's yearly output of coal being calculated as 663 
million tons. The suggestion is certainly a novel one, 
but its merits and its practicability must be left to 
be discussed by experts on the subject, — Journal of the 
Society of Arts July 25, 
Mining Exploitation in the Dun is likely to 
receive a stimulus from the fact that Messrs 
Bird and Company of Calcutta have obtained 
from the Government of the United Provinces a 
license to prospect for minerals over an extensive 
area in that locality. — Indian Agriculturiiti 
JOTTINGS FROM SUMATRA'S EAST 
COAST : 
( Coffee-planting by an ex-Ceylon Colonist.) 
" Hnrd times, alas ! are with us still 
Tiie coffee-planter's lot- 
Allowing him only juat enough 
To boil the dxily pot," 
— Ancient MS. 
'Tis a bfid sign in coffee here that some folks 
are beginning to reckon on 'next year,' that will- 
o'-the-wisp which deluded with false hopes so 
many Ceylon men in the sad years between the 
decline of coffee and the rise of tea. 
We have just had one of the most wonderful 
blossoms I have ever seen, so we are all right for 
' next year.' But from all I hear there are some 
quaking hearts wondering if they can hang on 
till then. Last; year, in addition to the plague of 
caterpillars, we had an abnormal and prolonged 
drought which was fatal to blossoming, and the 
consequent short crop which we are now taking 
in presses hardly on all. Twelve months ago 
we were working day and night with haud-pulpers 
to work off our coffee and sending our parchment 
to Singapore to be cured. Now we are all provided 
with grand establishments : put in the pig at 
one end, press the button and cured hams and 
sausages come out at the other. But pig vjon't 
get over the stile, and I tear me some of us 
shan't get home tonight. 
I've just had 
A RUN THROUGH THE DISTRICT, 
Serdang I mean, and I never saw coffee looking 
in better heart. Rich, dark-green foliage and 
plenty of good wood, but everywhere the same ; 
no crop, or only a very little. The caterpillar- 
stricken patches are different. They bear the 
mark of the beast most unmistakably, and it will 
be long before they recover their vigour. 
Most men seem to think that the damage done 
by the caterpillars is confined to the denudation 
of the tree of its leaves. I anj inclined to think 
that a further mischief is done by the caterpillar 
in imparting a poison to the sap of the trees. Of 
course, I can prove nothing ; but I am very 
strongly of this opinion. Anybody coming over 
here now with a view to speculative investment, 
in the event of Brazil cutting its own throat, 
could certainly pick up a bargain or two. The 
statistical position is appalling : and if Brazil 
goes on for another two or three years at its 
present rate of increasing production, and can 
stand the racket, the East Indian 
COFFEE PLANTER 
will be as extinct as the dodo. If on the other 
hand Brazil, as is stated, has overdone it and 
must reduce its output by more than one-third, 
there is a good time coming for us. We shall be 
able to pay our debts and drink champagne on 
birthdays ! 
However, in view of considerably over a 
quarter of a century's experience in tlie East, I 
make it a rule to keep a stiff upper lip and be 
prepared for the worst ; and when it comes, 
take it smiling: aud if you can't take it smiling, 
take it as smiling as you can. 
Shut up yoa Pessimist. 
Pessimist. — Go to the —inkpot you interfering—* 
It) is always pleasant foi; 
