Feb. 1, 1900. THE TEOPICAL AGElCtltTlJRIST. 
Si§ 
pice per tree ; the margin of profit, therefore, aa 
shown by Mr. Last's fignres is enormous. In addi- 
tion to digging and mulching with grass we scatter 
a little Latham island guano or lime around each 
tree. 
The coconut industry stands well with the European 
markets and seems, like rubber, to have an assured 
future. Coconuts form a staple article of food and 
common utility ; their cultivation must be confined 
to the tropical littoral, and cannot, like tea, coffee 
and cocoa be extended to the interiors of Africa and 
South America as these become opened up. I believe 
that the planting energies of this Island, seeking an 
outlet, could not be better directed than to the cul- 
tivation of this tree which is simple and inexpensive, 
while the profits are assured. 
"We have not as yet been able to make any definite 
experiments in copra drying. In consequence of the 
crude methods in vogue we have found it more profit- 
able to sell the nuts on the spot than to make 
eopra. We intend this year to utilise the new glass- 
roofed house for copra drying in the intervals of 
clove picking. 
CHILLIES. 
The small clearing on the coral of about 3 acres, 
which we planted two years ago, has gone through 
a second period of drought, and crops have been exceed- 
ingly light. All attempts to supply the gaps caused 
bv deaths have been unsuccessful. We thought of 
abandoning the plantation as having shown con- 
clusively that the cultivation of chillies will not pay 
here, but must be left to the Wahadimu ; but in 
consequence of the abnormal seasons being scarcely 
a fair trial, we decided to keep the clearing on 
another year. 
In August we submitted to Messrs. Gray Dawes 
& Co. some samples of chillies for report, and Mr. 
Hugh Garden wrote of them aa follows : — 
"I have received your letter of the 2nd inst. together 
with samples of chillies Such a sample for Zanzibar 
has never been shown in this market, and if coming 
in email parcels I think they will realize ten to fifteen 
shillings per cwt. over ordinary Zanzibar fair. You 
must not forget, however, that it is only for a limited 
quantity that this premium would be obtainable 
Japan chillies, for instance, were fetching, I imagine, 
twenty to twenty-five shillings per owt. more than 
Zanzibar at the time you were in London (1896). 
Last week Japans were sold as low »s thirty-one 
shillings and sixpence, or practically the same price aa 
the value of Zanzibar " fair," on account of increasing 
imports. " 
These chillies were dried in the ordinary way upon 
mats in the sun, but they were stalked an J kept 
clean. Any native who chose to take the trouble 
could do as well. Chillies are often shed from the 
trees before being gathered, in which case they will 
have been weathering upon the ground and lost colour. 
The stalks are left on, and, in drying, the chillies 
get mixed up with soil and leaves, and often come in 
for a drenching on their way to market. The infer- 
ence drawn from Mr. Hugh Garden's report is that 
it Zanzibar chillies received the ordinary care and 
attention that any white man would give them as a 
matter of course, they would command the highest 
price in the London market, instead of the lowest 
aa at present. 
♦ 
BANDA NUTMBGS AND MACE; 
By 0. KAMEKLINGH ONNES. 
{Concluded from page 
III. TEADE. 
■WAHESOtJSING AND AUCTIONS, 
When the nutmegs and mace reach the Amster- 
dam and Rotterdam markets by the steamers of 
the Dutch Steamship companies plying between 
Holland and the Indies, they are all warehoused 
n Bond, where they are gradually sorted by the 
yrorn Spicebrokers, 
Every case of nutmegs is opened, tha worm- 
eaten nuts, if anj% are thrown aside, whilst the 
contents are classified according to quality in 
Nutmegs : Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 o,nd " Separate." 
Each case of mace is equally opened, th* 
various qualities being designed Mace : E,, F., G,, 
"Separate" and "Broken." 
Sales. — Every three months public sales are 
held in Amsterdam and Botterdam, the first days 
of these sales alternating between the two 
markets. 
Samples. — Samples may be inspected in the 
bonded warehouses daily during 4 or 5 daya 
before sale. 
Conditions. — The conditions of sale are i bid« 
to be made in cents (Dutch) per | £g., delivery 
within a fortnight discount 1^ p.ct., or within 
three months without any discount. Bids are 
only accepted through the medium of sworn 
brokers, who are bound to state name of buyer. 
The large importers have lately sold their 
produce in public sale by auction, whilst a few 
others still adhere to the old system of selling 
under cover. 
For each parcel of nutmegs or mace a dock- 
warrant is handed to the owner of the goods, 
which entitles him to remove the parcel at once 
or to leave it in Bond on the condition of 16 
cents (Dutch) per 100 Kg. rent for warehousing, 
insurance included. 
All banks will advance money on these dock- 
warrants. 
IN THE FINANCIAL MABKET* 
As nutmeg and mace, well stored, are not 
subject to deterioration they lend themselre* 
. easily to speculation when prices are low. 
DELIVERY. 
The buyer has a right to have each parcel 
weighed over again, but he seldom avails him* 
self of this right. He is also entitled to haT* 
each case opened to inspect the contents, but 
it is customary to take the broker's description 
for granted. 
Every buyer packs the goods in his own styW 
and according to their destination. 
TBANSIT FREE. 
On leaving the bonded warehouses goodd in 
transit are free of duty, but on parcels for home 
consumption duty is payable, 
DUTY OFF I 
.. With regard to the latter it has been propoied 
to take ofE the duty, which would be advisable 
as the amount of duty received is relatively 
small, and as it would conduce to an easier 
movement of the market if the goods could be 
warehoused free anywhere. 
ADULTEBATIONS OF BANDA AND NUTMBOS 
AND MACS. 
Caution against Frauds. — The bad habit of our 
days of adulterating different articles of food, 
even when prices are low, has crept into the 
trade in nutmeg and mace far more than would 
be thought possible. Fraudulent Mixtures. — From 
the moment that the article was placed before the 
public in a ground state, under the pretext o{ 
