IBS TROPICAL AGmCTJLTtTPJST. [July 1, 1903. 
a collision. The Brazilians deny tliat the central 
Government ab Rio or the 8tate Governments of 
Amazonas and Matto Grosso have assisted the 
revolutionists of the Acre, But Brazil objects 
to the Bolivian Government's action in granting 
to a toreign syn^cate or company a concession 
which allows them to exercise sovereign rights 
over a territory in dispute. It is reported, how- 
ever, that in return for an amicable settlement of 
the dispute by a joint boundary commission 
Brazil is willing to settle in cash any claim which 
the Acre syndicate may have against Bolivia ; 
to lease the Custom house at Porto Alonso, which 
means to let Bolivia have all the revenue from 
the Acre district to which it is entitled ; and also 
what is perhaps the greatest advantage, to con- 
struct the Maifera Mamose railway. Surveys for 
this were made many years ago, and all tlie 
construction material taken to St, Antonio, the 
starting point of the railway, where it lay idle 
and rotted away. This will give Bolivia access 
to a part which can be reached by boats from the 
coast, and will be a compensation for the loss 
of access to the sea through the territory taken 
by Chili after the last war. The settlement would 
also be satisfactory to the ruliber-gatheiers. To 
have to pay both Bolivia and Brazil 23 per cent 
export taxes was a very serious matter to them, 
and they will have gained what they wanted 
when they have to pay one duty only. 
It is stated at Manaos that 
THE AMOUNT OP RUBBER GATHERED 
ready for delivery is eight or nine times larger 
than has been delivered in any prev'ious year, and 
that the accumulated stock is worth between 
£7,000,000 and £8,000,000 sterling. When Porto 
Acre surrendered, some 20 steamers and launches, 
with lighters, were waiting to go up to take 
cargoes of rubber. This explains why it was worth 
the while of the Manaos Government to buy out 
the leader of the late Republic of the Acre at 
so high a price, and why the syndicate are 
anxious to hold the Bolivians to their bargain. 
—Manchester Guardian, May 2. 
SPECIAL CACAO LEGISLATION. 
We have been reminded by the receipt 
of a pamphlet under this heading from 
the Planters' Asaociation that protection 
is wanted — and is much needed— by Cacao 
garden owners against the theft of their 
crops. Bat in our opinioti the time has 
equally come for the protection of the 
careful, canker-destroying planter against 
his neighbour who takes little or no 
trouble in regard to canker. One or 
more of cacf.o planters allowing the disease 
to have full play must prove a standing 
danger to the rest of the cacao in the island, 
and esfiecially to their near neighbours, We 
have heard of concrete cases in illustration 
of this fact. We could point to a neglected 
patch of cacao on a tea estate— the Superin- 
tendent not paying much attention to cacao 
— which got budly cankered and this canker 
spread to the adjacent estate where, how- 
ever, a look out was kept ; but on the 
piece adjoining the neglected garden, four 
or five tim.es the money had to be spent 
that waH required for the rest of the fields 
and the losses in trees was even then very 
considcra!)le. It is possibly the case that 
some of our planters get the notion that 
neither the Mycologist nor Eutoraologist do 
much good. But even if these scientists 
should preach in season and out of season, 
and try by every means in their power to 
show the evils of supineness in such sani- 
tary matters affecting crops ; ytt if the 
majority, or a large number, do nothing 
to carry the advice given into practice, 
diseases cannot be checked or stopped, and 
then, of course, it is easy (thoiigh unreason- 
able) to ask " what good has the Mycologist 
done "? There are, however, we are glad 
to think, a large number of planters— per- 
haps, COO to 600— who, every year, apply 
for advice and do act upon it to a more 
or less extent. And it is certainly very 
hopeful to find that on the " Experimental 
Station " — Gangaroowa, where cacao was as 
badly cankered as on any place on the 
island— the scientists hope to get rid of the 
disease entirely in three years or so, and 
to treble the crop. The crop h.as gone up 
20 per cent already, even though some 
50 per cent of the trees have been cut out. 
If this cure is cheaply and quickly done at 
Gangaroowa, surely such an object lesson 
will make everyone follow suit. If not, 
we say there will be nothing for it but 
special legislation— a compelling law. 
In the "Gardeners' Chronicle" of May 
16th, which we opened this morning, there 
is the following reference to proposed com- 
pulsory legislation in England, which shows 
how general is the feeling of approval :— 
COMPLlI-SOKY DliSTKUCTiON OF THK INSECT 
Pests of FRUIT-TKEKS.--Hpref(ird.-hire fruit- 
grower.«, who met »t the Mitre Hotel, Hereford, 
last week, discussed at length the Bill which has 
just been introduced in the Hou'se of Conunons 
by Sir James Rankin, M.P., dealing with the 
diseases of fruit-trees. It was resolved: "That 
this Association approves generally of Sir James 
Rankin's Bill for the eradication of disease and 
all injurious insects amongst fruit-trees in nur- 
sery gardens, and expres.'es the hope that it may 
be pusseil into law without delay; that Clause 15 
should be struck out, and ti>at tlie Bill should be 
made more universal in its scope." The Clause 
(15) objected to is to the fidlowing effect: "This 
Act shall not apply to oecu[iiers or owners of land 
engaged in friiji-growi»g who are Eot nursery- 
men, but who may desire to sell or exchange 
surplos trees or plants of their own i;rowing." 
MR ANDERSON TO EXPLOIT. 
We are very pleased to hear that the 
Pearl Fishery concession, formerly held by 
Mr. Rule, and which had lapsed, has fallen 
into the hands of Mr. W G Anderson, one 
of the most progressive of our town.smen. 
Mr. Anderson has gone to Wassein in 
connection with the business, taking with 
him two expert divers, the object being to 
obtain samples of the pearls to be found on 
this coast. Afterwards, we understand, Mr 
Anderson will proceed to Melindi and Lamu. 
There are three known banks of pearl 
oysters on the co'ist of British East Africa : 
at Lamu, Wassein, and Melindi — the best 
bank it is supposed being that near Lamu. 
We shall await with interest the results of 
of Mr. Anderson's experiments. — African 
Standard, April 28. 
