Oct. 1, 1858.1 THE TROPICAL 
AGEICULTUKIST, 
239 
should be agaiu taken in hand next year, as it is 
doubtful whether better results would be ob ained 
by waiting longer. The measnreruenta of stool shoots 
appear elsewhere, the average hei^rht being 39 ft. 
6 in. and the average girth 3 ft. from the ground 7'26, 
in. The total expenditure on this plantation amounted 
to R169'94 for tne year. Th3 quarry situated in this 
plantation was handed over to the Public Works 
Department by order of Government. 
Ohiva Plantation-. — The damige caused to this 
plantation this year by the wind was very gre.it. 
Lwge numbers of trees in every field were either 
broken or destroyed eotiiely, espaoialiy so in thu field 
opposite the railway station, where numbers ^ f plants 
were broken down and others, especially Grevilleas, 
■were almost twisted out of the ground. The total 
number of trees that had to be coppiced owing to 
the damage were 2,748 Eucah/ptus rohusfa, 276 
GreVtllea?, 125 A. Mdannrylon and Toona. 
Some of our planting friends hive been accus- 
tomed to smile over tiie " plantation " efforts of 
the Forest Department : what have they to say to 
tiie above? We suppose Mr. Fisher has done the 
best he could with his material ; but surely an 
Acting Conservator withliberty totravel about could 
have inspected the plantations and given the 
Government and public his own general impres- 
sions of the same, in criticism or corroboration 
of the Assistants more immediately responsible? 
PLANTAIN MEAL OK FLOUR. 
From the Government Agent, Anuradhapura, to 
the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 
No. 199/74. 
Anuradhapura Kichoheri, July 11th, 1898. 
Sir, — In forwarding a sample of Plantain meal or 
flour prepared by my head clerk, Mr. Stouter, I have 
the honour to request that you will be good enough 
to obtain the opinion of an expert as to whether the 
flour as prepared will keep for any time, and whether 
it is fit for food, and bow it should be packed for 
transport to Colombo or beyond the island. 
Plantainp grow well in this Province, md I am 
anxious to know whether it would be as well to 
encourage the making of this flour or maal. — 
I anii &c., (Signed) E. M. Byrde, 
Government Agent. 
(Signed) T, R. E. Loftus, Office Assistant. 
Cop^l of Report referred to. 
No. 3.93. 
Since W. H. Stanley drew attention to banana 
.raeal as an article of diet, a good deal has been 
done to bring the fruit into convenient form for 
export. A Committee to inquire into this matter 
was some years ago appointed in Jamaica, with the 
Director of the Botanic Gardens as Chairman. I 
have not seen any report on the result of the inquiry, 
but have written for information to Jamaica and 
also to Trinidad. In a report on the Trinidad Experi- 
mental Farm reference is made to plantain meal. 
A sample sent from there to London was quoted 
at 6d per lb. The same report states that a 15-lb. 
bunch of plain plantains yielded 3 lb. of flour. Dr. 
Watt (Economic Reporter to the Indian Goverment) 
mentions that the fresh core should yield 40 per cent 
meal, and that an acre of average quantity will pro- 
duce 1 ton. In Australia it has been found parti- 
cable to prepare dried bananas and ship on board 
at a coat of 3d per lb., the fruit fetching 6d per lb. in 
London. 
■ All authorities agree that as a flour it is an ex- 
cellent food, and more nutritious than any of the 
ordinary starch flours in the market If properly 
dried it will kosp well for a long time. It is the 
opinion of some, however, that the dried fruit will 
koi;p better than the flour, and will probably find a 
better sale than the latter. As labour would be saved 
by simple dr^'iugj further information on this point 
is desirable. Drie3 fruit could be packed in boxes 
like figs, but the flour will need to be pus into sealed 
tins for transport. 
I have already given over one sample to be sent 
to America for an opinion as regards price and 
market, and another sample will go to London. I 
shall be glad if a similar quantify to that sent could 
be forwarded to me, as well as a specimen of 'he 
dried fruit. In sending these may I ask to be sup- 
plied with some figures ; e.q., wh it weignt of fresh 
fruit (say without stalk) will produce lib. ot flour; 
the cost of producing 1 lb. and delivering it in 
Golomb.i (vR,luation being placed on the fruit accord- 
ing to local market rates;; and the approximate 
quantity of flour that might be expected to be pro- 
duced (if the industry was taken up in the district) 
pet month.— I am, &c., (Signed) C. Drieberg, 
School of Agriculture, Superintendent. 
July 27, 1893. 
VANILLA AND PEPPEK. 
We have received some well-grown and well- 
prepared pods as a sample of his Vanilla from 
Air. Vandeipoorten. who has ijeen for many years 
paying attention to this product : his first sliii/ment 
having been made eleven years ago. Mr. Vander- 
poorten enquires if tiie present sample can be 
valued locally ; we fear not. Few, if any of our 
merchants have experience of Vanilla and the 
market in London and Europe generally is rather 
uncertain and changeable. But we should .say the 
sample is nearly as line as the Seychelles Vanilla 
which some time ago was selling at 20s per lb. 
and upwards. Still, it would not do to count 
on such a return for any quantity. If there is 
any deficiency in Air. Vanderpoorten's pods, it 
is the absence of the slight, frosted covering or 
appearance of the ])ods, to which some attach 
importance in the present day. Those interested 
in the culture will note that Air. Vanderpoorten 
advertises Vanilla cuttings for sale, and these 
ought t© be specially l eliable as being from properly- 
matured vines and supplied of a full length. 
It is encouraging to hear of the increased at- 
tention given to Vanilla : a Hangwella corre- 
spcndent says there is a demand for cuttings in 
his neighbourhood. 
We would next ask, what about Pepper?— a 
product that deserves very general attention all 
through the Kegalla and adjacent districts, in- 
eluding that of Kalutara. In the Areca Palm, 
Rubber, Nutmegs, Pepper and Vanilla, planters 
(Europeans and natives) have a choice of minor 
products to add to their tea or coconut gardens. 
GUATEMALA AND COFFEE. 
Guatemala is the largest of the independent Statei 
of Central America ; and, sitting astride of the con- 
tinent in a narrow part, it has a sea-board both on 
the Atlantic and on the Pacific. Beyond this, owing 
to the altitude above sea-level to which the interior 
of the Republic rises, it enjovs a remarkable vr.riety 
of climate and productions, with the result, as we are 
informed in the excellent report on the trade and 
finance of Guatemala duriug 1897, prepared by Air. 
Consal Trayner, that its agricultural capabilities are 
'•equal to any in the world," and that " every kind 
of crop, from those ot the tropical coast regions to 
those of the cold highlands, the latter having a climata 
corresponding with that of Northern Europe in 
summer, may be raised." Still Guatemala is lacking 
in many conditions essential to an Earthly Paradise; 
It knows not political Btability ; it is poor and in debt,' 
and of the plagues that vex it the incurable lazines* 
of its labouring populaiiou ia not the least. Of the 
19.) miles of line between the capital and Pnerto 
BaiTioB, on tli« Atlantic coast, only 131 piles have 
