Dec. 1, 1898,] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICrLTURIST. 
383 
it must be remembered that they are distant from 
British Central Africa fcom 30 degrees of latitude. 
Last season's out-put amouated to 11,463 tons valued 
at £310,380. ^ , r, 1 „„ 
In many localities the trees are attacked by an 
insect of the genus " dactylopius " known m some 
parts as the '-mealy bug," which does not seem to 
have raised much alarm amongst planters, in some 
places the diseased trees are simply cut down ana 
replaced by others, while a few planters destroy the 
insect by syringing with petroleum and soap, it 
seems that this disease is vrorst in wet seasons ana 
has been known to cause considerable local loss. 
It spreads from tree to tree, and threatens, if neg- 
lected, to become someday a matter for serious con- 
sideration. ^ . „ ^ ., „ 
Brazil.— The coffee production of Brazil would 
require a separate notice. I can only mention here 
that the total output for last season was 7,330,b0b 
bags, i.e. inchiding both Rio and Santos. Ihere 
is a general complaint from Rio of the fall m prices. 
The farmers have gone in for coffee cultivation 
alone, and their output is so enormous that they 
have affected the r.niversal rate. They still realise 
80 per cent on the cost of production, and if this 
return is not adequate to the requirements of the 
planters, the cause must be found in the maladmi- 
nistration of the estates, few of which are person- 
ally superintended by their owners. It has been 
argued that the recent low prices will eventually 
be a blessing rather than a misfortune, masmucli 
as the greater cheapness of coffee, by bringing it 
within the purchasing power of even the poorest 
classes, will tend to make it an article of general 
consumption, by which the demand will be exten- 
sively and permanently increased. 
There is one thing we might learn from the lesson 
of Brazil, viz, that coffee planters shDuld not go la 
for the exclusive cultivation of any one crop. By 
30 doin" the supply is increased, and this has a 
tendency to lower the price, the demand remaining 
the same ; whereas the advent of disease would be 
utter ruin to many. Farther, you become dependent 
on the outside world for almost everything else. 
For instance, we import tobacco into British Central 
Africa, although British Central Africa is the na- 
tural home of the Tobacco plant and could grow 
enough tobacco to supply half Europe. The same 
could be said of sugar, wheat, and many other crops. 
Honolulu.— The amount of coffee exported is fall- 
ing off, and last season's output very little exceeded 
120,000 lbs. , • . 1 .q 
Samoa.— A new coffee Company has ]ust leased 
some of the best coffee land in Samoa, but it is 
feared that the cleariug, and keeping clear, will 
prove too costly. , , , 
PoBTO Rico.— The value of last season s crop 
amounted to £2,382,608. Of the total export Spam 
took 5,568 tons. . . ^y. n ee 
Mexico.— The sudden development of the Oottee 
industry in Mexico is ascribable to the coincidence 
of the increase in the price of coffee in the United 
States with the decrease in the cost of labour in 
Mexico, consequent on the depreciation of the silver 
dollar which called the attention of investors to the 
larae profics to be made by its cultivation. The 
export for last season was 334,059 cwts, valued in 
the returns at £1:3:9 per cwt. Nine-tenths of the 
whole export went to the United Svates. 
Mautinique.— I have received nothing later than 
the report for 1896. The export then was 3,124 kilos, 
just the same as on several previous occasious. The 
"Liberian" and " Mocha are extensively cultivated, 
I'EUU.— Reports from Callao state that the cuUi- 
vation of coffee is on the increase there, and that 
it bids to become one of Peru's staple articles. The 
latest figures available show that the export for 
1896 was about 1,066 tons. 
rvs-AMA.— Tlie co£f>^e exported during 1896 was 
valued at £987,192. Growers felt a certain degree 
of uneasiness on ac.-ount of the depression in pi-ices 
which has been experienced since the early part of 
last year. Tliis depression is attributed to the en- 
ormous amount of coffee exported from tho Brazils. 
Colombia. — The estimated export of coffee last sea- 
son was just under 37,000 tons. This is a vast yield 
of coffee and considering the distance of the estates 
from the sea, some 8u0 miles from the seaport 
Savanilla, credit is due to the enterprising 
planters. 
The River Magdalena, with several of its contri- 
butaries, afford to a large extent the means of transport 
to Honda, the produce is carried by mules from 
the mountain slopes to the river, thence in rafts 
down the current to Honda, from 3 to 5 days' journey. 
From Honda, whence also is shipped the produce 
from the great coffee — growing province of Cundina- 
marca, the coffee is conveyed by steamers, and two 
short railway routes, to the sea— 600 miles. Inde- 
pendently of the Upper Magdalena and its contri- 
butaries, many thousands of mule-loads of coffee 
are annually brought to Honda, partly from Tolima, 
but chiefly from Cundinamarca, thus from 3 to 5 dayb' 
journey to Honda only. The cost of transport from 
the plantation to the coast amounts in English money 
from £9. 66-. %d. to £1-1. per ton, a very heavy item. 
In this connection it may also be mentioned that from 
several of the large growing coffee provinces of the 
Republic the cost of transport is still higher. 
Notwithstanding the great diflicalties appertain- 
ing to distance fr om the sea, and the consequent 
cast of transport, the Tolima planters are quite able 
to complete with planters in far more favourably 
situated countries, which are in a position to trans- 
port coffee to their seaports at a comparatively tri- 
fling cost. Magnificent land abounds on the colossal 
Andes most admirably adapted for the cultivation. 
Well cultivated plantations on these Cordilleras are 
unsurpassed by these of any other country, and this 
observation applies not only to the quality of the 
produce, but also to the quantity. Land is obtain, 
able, in general, at a nominal cost; and it is avail- 
able to a large extent though, it may be mentioned, 
in the adjoining department of Cundinamarca, where 
great enthusiasm prevails relative to coffee cultiva- 
tion, and where it is being much more extensively 
planted than in Tolima, the price of the more con- 
veniently located sites for plantations has augmented 
very materially; indeed, as much as 40 and oOdol. 
(paper currency ), says £2. 13s., to £3. Is., at exchange 
now ruling ofl5 dol. to £1. per hectare (2i acres) 
is now paid. 
The extension of this cultivation in Tolima, and 
this applies to the whole country, is in general con- 
fined to districts accessible to settlements or villages. 
More remotely removed from populated districts 
widely extending mountain slopes, eminently fitted 
for coffee, remain in a state of nature. It may also 
be noted that the quality of the labour itself is 
satisfactory, for it is on the whole industrious and 
intelligent 80 c. (about Is.) per day Colombian cur- 
rency, are the average wages for peons, and for 
women about 50 c. (about 8fL). 
As regards the productive capabilities of these 
Cordilleras, coupled with the labour resources, i. e. 
where it is sufficiently abundant it may be stated 
that the cost of coft'ee production at the plantation 
ranges from 30 to 35 dol. per mule-load of 250 lb., 
or from 12 to li dol., Colombian currency, per 
100 lb. ^Vith the rate of exchance which has pre- 
vailed during several years (Idol, ruling rather less 
than 2s.), this shows that planters are acquiring 
enormous profits. With money at par the nominal 
cost of production would be about the same, although 
in reality the price measured in gold would have 
much more than doubled. It should, therefore, be 
remembered that the depreciation of Colombian 
currency must be attributed in a great measure to the 
rapid expansion of the coflee industry . At the same 
time exoeplioually high prices for the article have 
ruled during recent years, a result partly due to the 
abolition of slavery, in coffee-growing countries, and 
partly to the revolutionary movements iu Brazil, 
where coffee is grown on a gigantic scale. Now 
that coffee has become a stable industry of Colombia 
there cau.be no doubt that the country is able to 
maintain "a prominent position among all rivals. 
