Nov. 1, 1902.] 
T[Ifi TROI'ICAL 
AGRrOULTURIST. 
323 
COFFEE— CACAO- IIUBBER, &j. 
In an arlicle from the pen of M Paul Dreyfus in 
" L'Economiste Franciiis", tlie future of llie African 
Republic of Liberia is dealt wibliin an interestiiia; 
luanner. Of late years more and more attention 
Ins be.^n direciad to West AEiica and to tlio com- 
mercial and industrial possibilities of Liberia. This 
Reptiblic is governed by natives repatriated for the 
Riost part from the Unite 1 States, anil its lej^isla- 
tion as well as the eharacter of its inhabitants is 
eomewliab antagonistic to Europeans and European 
trade ; but it will in the near future be impossible 
for Liberia to avoid close contact with forei(,'n 
capital and foreign manufactures, in view of the 
many European establishments already scattered 
throughout the neighbouring regions. 
Information as to the economic condition of 
Liberia is by no means easy to obtain, inasmuch 
as no official statistics exist. A sort of quarterly 
return of trade wioh interior is drawn ap by the 
Liberian Customs and transmicted to theTreasnry, 
but the latter department does not communicate 
these documents to the representatives of foreign 
Powers. The ports open to foreigner-i are Cape 
Mount (Robertspo.'t), Monrovia, Junk River (Mar- 
shall), Grand Bassa Buchanand), Edina Rive, 
(Grand Sestos), Since (Greuville), Setta Kroor 
Harper, and Cavally, No toreignar is allowed to 
become resident in the interior of the country, but 
there is a '* reform party " in the Liberian Congress, 
and it is believed that considerable modifications 
in the present legislation as to foreigners will 
shortly be proposed. There is no staple inilustry 
in Liberia, and agriculture is in a very primitive 
itage. There are, however, great possiblities for 
agriculture, if the legislation admitted the employ- 
ment of foreign capital in the country. Water is 
everywhere found in abundance in the R.epublic,and 
nearly all tropical products can be cultivated most 
advantageously. Liberian coffee is excellent, having 
a much appreciated flavour which cannot be found 
elsewhere. The present price of coffee in bulk is 
9d to lOd per English lb. The coffee plant grows 
in a wild state in the forest lands between the 
Mamal River and Cape Falnias, and in the interior 
as far as the Mandique plateau. The coffee plant 
commences to produce in the fourth year of its 
growth, but it would be necessary to improve the 
present method of decoration or barking, which 
does not present the berry in a very advantageons 
manner. Ginger, too, grows well, and palm trees 
are extremely abundant, especially in the Cape 
Falmas district (hence the name). Cotton also 
grows easily, but its culture is neglected. Arrow- 
root is also a product which can be grown with 
profit in Liberia. Cocoa is grown, but only to a 
small extent. Maize, pepper, rice, millet, yams, 
tapioca, orange trees, lemons, bananas, and guava, 
grow abundantly. The forests contain plenty of 
mahogany, yellow wood, gum trees and camwood. 
There are numerous India-rubber trees, but the 
Liberian Rubber Syndicate has obtained a mono- 
poly of the rubber concessions in Liberia. 
It i* believed that there arerichgold veins in the 
Republic and also extensive coalfields, but so far 
none of these have been prospected. England ex- 
ports to the country tissues, salts, soap, beer, 
salt beet, rice, whisky, condensed milk, potted 
meats, galvanised iron, tin, made up articles, 
vinegar, biscuits, &c. Germany does a good trade 
in wearing apparel, ironmongery, tools, petroleum, 
hat», both .straw and felt, food stuffs and galvanised 
iron, Franco does very Utitle, her commerce witU 
Liberia being limited to a few liquids and tinned 
foodstuffs via Liverpool. Monrovia, the Capital, is 
also the busi/icss centre. It contains about 5,000 
inhabitants, and is in frequent communication with 
Liverpool, Antwerp, Hamburg, Rotterdam and 
Marseilles. The population of Liberia has been 
rstimated at various figures between 2,000,000 and 
767,000. In 1894, the last year for which ligures 
are available the ex|)ondit.uie was $1,51,97:5 and the 
rcver.ne $1-58,801. The public debt in 1897 was 
£100,000 contracteil on a 7 per cent loan in 1871. 
There were in that year £164,000 arrears or in- 
terest. In 1893 an arrangement was made for the 
settlement of the debt a^ follows: The interest to 
be reduced to .3 per cent for three years, rising ^ 
per cent every three years to an maximum of 5 per 
cent. A. sinking,' fund of 1 per cent will commence 
to operate in October 1904. The interest has been 
regularly paid since the arrangement. There is no 
army, but two brigades of militia, which may be 
called up in time of war. There is no longer any navy. 
Such is the somewhat vague information 
Europeans possess about Liberia, but it is to be 
hoped that the measures now submitted to the 
Senate and the Chamber will open up this ap- 
parently naturally rich country to foreign enter- 
prise. — Financial Times. 
^ 
HOW TO M.AKE BARREN TREES FRUIT. 
AN OriNION FROM AMERICA. 
We receive many enquiries as to how to make 
barren fruit trees bear fruit. We have invariably 
recommended root-pruning and occasionally 
" ringing." The late Professor Goff of the Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin, USA, one of the highest 
authorities on fruit culture, and who made a 
special study of the root system of fruit trees, 
propounded the theory of renewal pruning or 
invigoration of fruit trees through the me- 
dium of what are called " water sprouts." 
These " water sprout " shoots are produced 
in the okl, age of the trees for the 
purpose of replacing the old and reproductive 
wood and thus extending the age and usefulness of 
the trees. They are due to extended root action 
and when they appear in young tree.s, should be 
removed at once, as they produce wood without 
fruit. Root-pruning will prevent i;his, and induce 
the trees to fruit. — Madras MaiZ, Oct. 9. 
THE OIL WELLS OF TRINIDXD. 
The current issue of the Board of Trade Jour- 
nal calls attention to the exploitation of the oil- 
wells of the Island of Trinidad. No great quan- 
tity has yet been brought to the surface, although 
expert opinion indicates a very large supply. 
Analytical reports, however, are highly favourable 
regarding the quality of the oil. The discovery is 
said to have great commercial importance in view 
of the approaching cutting of an Isthmian Canal, 
and the proximity of Trinidad to what will in ronse- 
quence be a great trade route. — Dailij Chronicle, 
Aug. 15. 
« — 
Rubber Prki^aration.— Says the Editoi' 
of the India Ritbberand Giitta Percha Trades" 
Journal, Sept. 1st:— a method of preparation 
on .1 par with scientific cultivation is eagerly 
desired. We take this occasion again of 
pointing out how emphatically useful will 
be the reseraches of Dr Weber who is at 
present investigating this very snb|ect. not 
in the Uboratoiy but on the spot m Paia,, 
