AtJG. h 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
98 
limbers here, but I regret I did not procure many 
botanical specimens of tliem, as the flowering 
season was over and the trees were all in fruit. 
We did the next best thing we could, and pro- 
cured specimens of the foliage, with the native 
names and uses to which the various timbers are 
put. We found paths through the thick under, 
wood, and examined the forest for a considerable 
way. We met with Landolphia rubber vines, 
but those on the outskirts had suffered much at 
the hands of the natives. When a tall monarch of 
the forest had been felled, as a matter of course, 
the whole of the surrounding vines and lianas, to 
which he gave support, were doomed to destruc- 
tion along with him, and this we found to be the 
rule, not the exception, with most of the choice 
trees. There is undoubtedly great wealth in these 
forests, and it may possibly be found practicable 
to float rafts of cut-up timber to the coast at 
Kipini, down the flooded rivers and lagoous in 
the wet season. 
We had a hearty welcome from the Germans, 
and were hospitably entertained by them. We 
were kiudly shown round the plantation, and were 
much struck with the perfect manner in which 
it was kept. Every product was planted with 
geometrical regularity, and the view down the 
long vistas of coconut palms was very tine. The 
trees had just come into bearing and a large return 
was expected this year. The sisal hemp plants 
were particularly healthy and luxuriant. Both 
coconut and fibre machinery are now imported, 
and large crops are expected this season. 
SNAKE BITES, 
Perhaps in no department of the ills which 
befall humanity, have cures been more indus- 
Iriously preferred, than in SnaKe Bites ; and yet 
in none has absolute confidence been placed by 
the scientific world. Some of the remedies are 
amusing, but they operate as faith-cures, or save 
life where it was never in danger !— the snake 
not being poisonous or a full dose of poison not 
having been injected. Here is one of the latest 
remedies. A correspondent writes to a Madras 
paper: — "Mr C Veerabhadra Row, of Ellore, 
writes to the Desopakari, a local vernacular 
weekly, that Calotropis gigantea is an unfailing 
remedy for snakebite, especially that of a cobra. 
One or two drops of the juice of the fresh leaves 
should be poured down the nostrils, immediatelj' 
after which the patient sneezes for two or three 
minutes, which is a sure indication of his recovery. 
This simple treatment will do for a cobra, but in the 
case of other snakes some additional treatment 
is necessary, which, however, he has not enlight- 
ened us upon. The late Karnam of Pedapadu 
village had tried this treatment with amazing 
success in many cases under the personal observa- 
tion of the writer, and not 1 in a 100 failed." 
Wonders will never cease ! Or is it, sneeze? 
A BIG BANANA AND COCOA 
PLANTATION. 
The Kingston (Jamaica) correspondent ot the 
Daily Telegraph states that an American syndicate 
is negotiating for the purchase of 74,000 acres of 
land on the north side of the island for the 
cultivation of bananas and cocoa, and is arranging 
a contract with a steamship line to New York to 
take the products to the United States. The 
scheme includes the construction of a light railway 
through the plantations to facilitate the rapid 
handling of the fruit. The syndicate will oppose 
the United Fruit Company in the American 
market. 
THE SEYCHELLES LSLAND 
is to be separated from Mauritius. All arrange- 
ments for the purpose have been made and Mr F 
Herchenroder, who came here to conclude the final 
treaty on the subject is to return to Seychelles by 
the mail of the 28th. Henceforth the Adminis- 
trator of Seychelles will be styled Governor and 
Mr F Herchenroder will be the Chief Justice,— 
Planters and Commercial Gazette, May 28. 
TROPICAL MEXICO'S BEST CROPS. 
James Maunder, well known as a skilled hoti- 
culturist, arrived in New York last month fiom 
England, where he spent his vacation. To a re- 
presentative of " Modern Mexico " Mr Maunder 
said : 
" Since my arrival in this city I have met a 
number of people who are making inquiries con- 
cerning Mexico, and more particularly about the 
tropical portions of that country and its produc- 
tions. Rubber is, of course, the largest crop that 
is being planted at the present time, with joffee a 
close second ; but tropical fruits of all kinds- 
bananas, oranges, lemons, grape fruit, pineapples, 
ginger, cocoa, nutmegs, cola, cardamom, camphor, 
cinnamon, pepper, and in fact, all known kinds of 
tropical products can be grown in paying com- 
mercial quantities. Corn is, of course, the best 
side crop for the planter, as he is always compelled 
to feed his labourers, and a small crop of beans 
should always be put in, and when ten or more 
acres of the 'atter are planted, a bean huUer 
should be purchased. To insure a good corn crop 
it is advisable to plant as soon after the rains 
begin in June as possible. After the land is burnt 
over and staked for rubber is the proper time to 
plant corn, provided, of course, the June rains 
have begun. Planting the rubber after the corn 
is planted will do the latter crop no damage. When 
corn IS planted with rubber, one weeding is saved 
as the corn keeps the weeds down, and the cost 
of that weeding so saved will pay for sowing and 
gathering tlie corn, hence it is called 'a catch 
crop,' and certainly it is a valuable ' ketch,' as 
from 35 to 50 bushels per acre can be harvested. 
A gentleman spoke of the cheapness of coffee as 
an argument against planting it. I asked whether 
the Western farmer left o&" planting wheat or 
coin because it was cheap. His reply was that wheat 
and corn were staple crops. If coflFee is not a staple 
crop and in universal demand I certainly do not 
know what is. Besides, nearly all the coffee 
estates in the far East have died out. Even in 
Ceylon they can produce only from 500 to 800 
pounds per acre, while in Mexico 1,500 pounds 
is the average crop.* Again, coffee can be planted 
under the rubber tree with the very best results 
thereby saving the cost of weeding, and as rubber 
takes from the soil hardly anything needed by 
coffee, it is easy to see that coffee can he grown 
very cheaply in Mexico. Nearly all the tropical 
products I have mentioned can be grown under 
the shade of the rubber tree, all except the banana. 
This is such a gross feeder I could not advise the 
planting of it with any other crop, except perhaps 
as for shade for very young cocoa. Pineapples- 
would be very much bsnefited by being planted 
