450 
THE TROPICAL A.GRICULTUIIIST. Jan. 1, 1904,] 
ocean, many of the bottles ferment and the inocu- 
lating property of the material is lost. Therefore, 
for practical purposes, we would recommend the use 
of soils containing the germs required for the species 
of legume to be grown. 
A sufficient amount of soil inoculated with germs 
of the rarely grown legume may frequently be ob- 
tained from a neighbouring farmer, who has succeeded 
with one of these crops. In the event this is not 
practicable, buy a quart or so of seed of the legume 
to be grown, make a small area very rich by the 
use of stable manure, thoroughly prepare the soil, 
sow the seed at the proper time and in the proper 
manner. Keep the weeds down, so the plants will 
have t good chance to develop. If the tubercles do 
not appear the first year repeat the second or even 
third. In most cases the tubercles will develop 
either the first or second year, After the tubercles have 
appeared on the plants use the soil from this small plot 
to inoculate larger areas. 
EUBBER IN THE PHILLIPPINES. 
The United States Department of Agriculture has 
received from the Philippines several samples of low- 
grade gutta-percha, but no rubber, and it has not 
been supposed that native rubber trees exist in the 
islands. It has recently been announced, however, 
that a shipment of native rubber has been sent from 
Zamboanga, island of Middanao, to a S^.n Franciso 
firm. This rubber, according to the 1. 11. J ournal, is 
said to be derived from Ficus elastica, the Assam 
rubber tree of the East Indies. 
That the Ficus is confined to Mindanao is scarcely 
to ba expected, in view of the fact that it has been 
reported on Formosa, tar north of Luzon, It should 
accordingly be sought for on other islands of the group. 
The existence of what may prove to be another 
rubber plant is indicated by the following paraRraph 
from a reoent letter received by this department 
from Mr. Henry E. Neibett, an American teacher 
stationed at Jaro, on the Island of Leyte : — 
"There is a rubber plant indigenous to the soil here, 
the native name of which in the Binasaya dialect is 
quiliquili (pronounced ke-U-Jce li). Neither the natives 
nor the Spaniards seem to be aware of its commercial 
value, and have cut all easily accessible specimens at 
an early age. for the columns which support their 
houses. Because it is a prolific plant is the only 
reason that it still exists." 
POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF HUBBEK FROM CEYLON. 
It is not known that either Castilloa or Hevea has 
been introduced into the Phihppines. Seeds for ex- 
perimental planting can be secured more easily from 
Geylon or the Straits Settlements than from tropical 
America, but as soon as the superiority of any one 
or more of the Mexican or Central American varieties 
of Castilloa has been determined, a new supply of 
seed should be sent out, The suitability of some 
of the various soils and climatic conditions found in 
the Philippines for the culture of Castilloa is to 
be expected. The character of the natural vegetation 
would enable one conversant with the subject to 
select the most favourable localities for experimental 
plantings, but until these have given evidence of 
Buccesa extensive undertakings will not be justified. 
PLANTING AND OTHEE NOTES. 
Tea Cultivation in the Cadcausus,— The oultiva- 
tion of tea in Russia is reported as progressing satis- 
factorily, On the Crown estate, Tschakira, there 
were, according to recent reports, fifty-five dess- 
jatines of land under tea cultivation. The first 
harvest, in April and May last year, gave a yield 
of 76.323 1b. raw leaves. The second, in June, gave 
62,430 lb. ; the third, in September, 37,412 lb. ; and 
the fourth, in October, 116,165 lb. The aggregate 
output of dry tea was about 1,000 pood. The 
private tea growers delivered a smaller quantity 
of raw leaves to the Tschakira establishment. Of 
raw tea leaves, 4i lb. yield 1 lb. of tea. Aa the tea 
has met with a ready sale, and as the cultivation 
is comparatively low, great hopes are entertained 
by those interested about the future of this industry. 
Gold Coast Cocoa Industry,— The report on the 
Gold Coast for 1902 states that the value of cocoa 
exported during the year shows an increase of 
about 121 per cent, over that for 1901. This in- 
dustry was founded in 1879 by a native of Accra, 
who brought some cocoa plants and pods from 
Fernando Po, made a small plantation and, fonr 
years latter, sold the cocoa pods in the neighbour- 
ing villages. The first consignment of 121 lbs. of 
cocoa was shipped to England in 1895, and 
realised 6i!, Is. No more cocoa was shipped until 
1901, since when the industry, fostered by the 
Government, which distributed large quantities of 
cocoa seeds from the botanical station at Aburi 
and, at one period, shipped crops to England for 
the native growers, and also by the Basel Mission 
Stations, has advanced with rapid strides, fully 
6,000,000 plants having been planted in one district 
alone. The chief port of shipment is Accra, which 
is now connected with market towns in the dis- 
tricts in which the greater portion of the cocoa 
exported is grown, by excellent io&Ab.— Board of 
Trade Journal, 
EuBBEB in Malay States. — The Resident-General 
for the Federated Malay States in his Report for 
1902 says :— '' Export of Para rubber in quantity has 
not yet commenced, and we may have to wait a 
year or two longer for that consummation, but 
meanwhile we know that our samples realise high 
prices in .England, and that additional outside 
capital is coming in to extend the area of land under 
this cultivation," The chairman of the United Plan- 
ters' Association of the Federated Malay States 
writes in his official report for the year 1902 : — "Aa 
far as it is possible to judge at present, the Malay 
Peninsula appear to possess every factor neceasary 
to the successful cultivation of rubber. Climate, 
soil, transport facilities, the quality of the product, 
and the yield of the trees, leave little to be desired. 
As regards labour, this country is, at any rate, in- 
finitely better off than any other with which we will 
be brought into competition, excepting Ceylon and 
India itself, where, however, some of the other 
conditions are far less favourable. It may be con- 
tended that little is known of the yield over a large 
area, which is true, but, on the other hand, we do 
know what considerable numbers of indifferently cnl 
tivated individual trees have given, and there ia 
no reason whatever for fearing that our average 
yield will be less than that of any other country." 
The British Resident at Negri Sembilan writes that 
not much has been done in extending the cultivation 
of rubber from want of capital. Some old trees on 
Linsum Estate were tapped, and 133 lbs. of rubber 
sent to England realised 3s. lOd. per lbs,, although 
classed by the exporter as " number two quality." 
Publications Etc. Received. — Indian Museum, 
Notes, being the first number of Vol. VI. containing 
extensive entomological notes and four plates. The 
Indian Forester includes a chapter on the commercial 
value of Mhowra seed ; also the yield of Madraja 
forests, and fire-proteotion in the teak forests of 
Lower Burma. The Agricultural Gazette of New 
South Wales (November) contains much useful in- 
formation of Australian agriculturists ; there is a 
well-illustrated article on irrigation, and a chapter 
on locusts and grasshoppers with an excellently 
coloured plate. The j3.gr ieuUural Journal (Natal) is an 
interesting exchange. A critical review of Oossy- 
piums by Dr. A, Alcotta comea to hand from Italy, 
We have also to acknowledge a digest of researches 
and criticisms bearing on the revision of the British 
Pharmacopoeia from the Pharmacopoeia Committee. 
A neat little leather-bound booklet. Agenda Agricole 
and Viticole, has come to hand from Messrs. Vermorel, 
President of the Society of Agriculture and Viti- 
culture of Beaujolais, 
