.Tan. 1, 1900.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
451 
and bad trees are all counted together at Machui 
but at Kizimbani the unproductive trees have been 
neglected. 
Still when all these deductions have been allowed 
for, the superiority of the Pemba trees remains very 
evident. They date from prehurrioane days and are 
therefore older and larger, and the soil at Weti is 
stronger, than at Machui. 
Canon Key concludes his report by some very in- 
teresting remarks which we append : — Clove culture. — 
The Arabs plants 6 or 7 trees together; the e often 
unite in a nanderful way and tiom one tree but 
knowing that several trees were planted together you 
can see how and where they join and the numerous 
branches, each "tree" having the same number as 
a single tree would have. In a shamba of young 
cloves that I bought I rooted out all except one with 
the result that the young trees have gained in 
strength. 
Pruning.— 1 have found that many trees have over- 
grown their strength, hence reducing their branches 
has added strength to the rest of the tree. We made 
a mistake in the first instance in cutting away the 
middle branches which of course cannot bear many 
cloves, but this divided the tree making it difficult 
to climb. Lateral branches are wanted in clove trees ; 
the upward growing branches should be cut ofi other- 
wise the tree in time will grow to wood and only 
bear on the sides and the top. 
My own shamba I cleaned once before last clove 
season. Leaves and grass were dug in for manure 
and the rain was able to soak into the ground in- 
stead of running iff the top. Nothing flourishes under 
cloves as the small roots spread out like a net on 
the top of the soil; the trees would probably be the 
better for their bemg cut. The shamba next to mine 
I foolishly offered to pick but the cloves were small 
and many dropped off before becoming mature, which 
made difficult work for the pickers. We made ElOO 
but lost more by being compelled to neglect our own 
Bhamba. Clove trees seem to die in some parts of 
the shamba from some cause I do not know. I 
have noticed that trees on the outside of a planta- 
tion suffer most [May not this be due to the out- 
side trees receiving the brunt of the sun's rays while 
the inside trees t-hade one another '? Ed.] Many 
too have died in the valley from want of drainage. 
But most trees have recovered in a wandeiful way. 
Arabs talk of the crop this year as half of that of 
last but I hope to make two thirds as our shamba 
is doing well," — Shamba. 
CHILEAN AGRICULTURE. 
About three-fourths of the persons engaged in agri- 
culture in Chile use machinery and ploughs of European 
or Arericau manufacture, the remainder using the 
same style of implements that were in vogue in 
Egypt 2,000 years ago. A pointed stick of hardwood 
with a singlj shaf stuck in the centre serves as a 
plough. For harrowing, a heavy beam of hard wood, 
with the additional weight of the ploughman standing 
on it, is dragged by a yoke of oxen over the rough- 
ploughed farms. The reaping, according to the United 
States Consul at Valparaiso, is done by hand, the 
threshing, by forming a deep circle in the open air 
witli straw, "similar to the ring of a circus, driving 
in from 30 to ^0 mares, posting as many men at 
regular intervals on tho outer part of the circle, and, 
by means of shouting, shrieking, and lashing, driving 
the animals fast and furiously round and round the 
circle, thus treading out the wheat from the ears. 
This is called la trilla, primitive, indeed, but highly 
satisfactory to the simple farmers who do it, as they 
make this the occasion for a general feast on the 
farm, winding up the business of the day with copious 
libations of chicha (sweet grape cider). On each farm 
live a number of inquiUnos, or farm labourers, who 
are allowed a house to live in, a small piece of 
ground sufficient to cultivate enough maize, pump- 
kins, potatoes, and onions for the use of their families, 
and whe^e they can keap a few hogs and fowls, 
grow grapes, oranges, peaches, quinces,'<fcc. Peichea 
grow almost wild, as do quinces. The valley of 
Aconcagua is celebrated for its fine quality of walnut 
honey, wax, potatoes, onions, &q.. About 3,000 tons 
of walnuts are gathered yearly in Chile, 2,000 tons 
of honey, and 300 tons of wax. The papa Colorado 
or red potato, is grown in quantities, not only suffi- 
cient to supply all the midland and northern pro- 
vinces, but to be largely exported to Peiu and Ecp- 
ador, and sometimes to Panama and intermediate 
ports. They hay grown in the valley is sufficient to 
supply all the northern provinces and nitrate i-egions 
and to expor' many thousands of bales to Peru and 
the Brazils. Ship loads have also been sent to England. 
'J'he same broad valley from Las Vegas to Los Andes 
is planted for many leagues, fas far as the eye can 
reach, north and south, with the vines of the black 
grape, from which is made dacha (cider) by boiling, 
sieving, and fermenting grapes together with tir« 
skins. It is estimated that 1,000, OOii gallons of good 
souiid wholesome claret could be made yearly from 
the grape crop of this valley. Don Guillermo Brown 
is the proprietor of a large vineyard, and produces 
great quantities of first-class claret. It is called " Vino 
escorial de Panquehue," the latter being the name 
of a village in the vicinity of the estate, near which 
is also the large estate of Errazuriz, producing ex- 
cellent wines similar to those of the Brown estate. 
Grape culture ext'inds also from Huasco to Cauqueces, 
or about 550 miles north and south. Delicious sweet 
muscatel wines are made in or near Huasco (north), 
and semi sweet wines are made in Tome and Cauquenea 
(south). There seems to be no limit to the produ- 
cing capacity of the soil, which is greatly favoured 
by the facilities offe-ed for irrigation by the numerous 
streams of melted snow which can be, and are, trained 
in any required direction as they rush towards the 
Pacific Ocean, fertilising the lands through which 
they pass in a constant stieam. This, of course, ia 
applicable only to the central and southern provinces. 
The northern portion of Atacama, and all of Auto- 
fagaata and Tarapaca are rainless regions. - ./ojtrjiu^ 
of the Shciety of Arts, 
USES OF TOBACCO JUICE IN FRANCE. 
All tobacco shops in France are compelled to keep a 
stockof what is calif 3 "tobacco juce, rich in nicotine 
and guaranteed." This is manufactured by the tobacco 
monopoly in Paris, The article, it is claimed possesses 
the following advantages:— (1) It is free from all matter 
susceptible of fermentation, and keeps for an indefinite 
period if in closed vessels. (2) It contains no resinous 
matter, and is almost transparent, therefore, it does 
not injure or clog the spraying machines, and does 
not stain plants or flowers or the wool of sheep. (3) 
It has a Government guarantee as to the proportion 
of nicotine it contains, which never varies. This 
product, it is also claimed, contains from five to six 
times the quantity of nicotine that may be found in 
ordinary tobacco juice, and that, therefore, one-fifth 
to one-sixth of the quantity will accomplish the object 
to which it is applied. For spraying purposes the 
product is employed in the proportion of one part 
of juice to one-hundred parts of water. It is stated 
that the spraying of plants should be done after 
Eunset, and that they should be sprinkled wit'i clean 
water ou the following day. For fumigating hot- 
houses the proportion is one par; of juice to five of water. 
The mixture is sprayed upon bricks or iron sheets 
heated to a temperature sufficiently high to produce 
rapid evaporation. It is claimed that insects and pra- 
saites are absolutely destroyed by this process. It is sair", 
further more, that the proportion is most efflcacious f, r 
the destruction of all insects in cattle, as well as 
being a preventative of all manner of parasite attacks. 
Eor these purposes the juice is mixed in the propor- 
tion of one part to twenty of water. It is recom- 
mended that the lotion be not used as a general bath 
but applied gradually on limited surfaces. It should 
not be brought in contact with sore or erosions of 
any kind. The benefits accruing from the use of 
