March 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
585 
regrettable feature ia its small crown. Its warmest ad- 
mirers have to admit this one weak point. Could we but 
get the size, form and crown of the Cayenne, combined 
with the flavour of the Ripley, we should have the 
ideal, the perfect pine, and in this connexion I must 
express the deep interest I feel in the experiments in 
crossing these two varieties now being carried on at 
Hope. Seeds have been obtained from this cross and, 
the yonng seedlings were thriving when I last saw 
them. I sincerely trust that the hopes and expectations 
of the gentlemen who have devoted so much tinie and 
labour to this work may be amply rewarded in the 
results. 
MESSRS. LEWIS & NOYES' SPECIAL 
COCOA REPORT PGR 1903. 
List of the most known countries of production (with 
quantities expressed in bags) : — 
1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 
Guayaquil 
African 
Bahia 
Trinidad 
Grenada 
Jamaica 
St. Lucia 
Dominica 
Demerara 
Surinam 
Venezuela 
Hayti. &c. 
San Domingo, 
&c. 
Para 
Manaos 
Cuba 
Costa Rica 
African (British) 
Caueroous 
Congo ... 
Ceylon 
Java ... 
Samoa 
^lexico ... 
420,roo 
165,755 
123,702 
127,021 
53,441 
8,969 
5,545 
6,546 
496,800 
219,052 
137,935 
162,0.34 
52,141 
11,766 
5,600 
5,090 
26,707 38,460 
168,250 66,500 
23,750 23,760 
44,580 17,080 
42,610 90,450 
787 
2,980 
1 
36,932 
16,500 
7,920 
4,787 
3,510 
10 
42 745 
16,850 
27,250 20,648 
351,000 
200,149 
221,974 
153,747 
53,388 
11.223 
7,635 
6.095 
24,790 
177,980 
24,850 
74,874 
49,360 
1,.590 
20,910 
9,047 
3,614 
178 
33,476 
19,200 
30 
39,467 
451,600 
267,768 
232,000 
136,272 
53,H87 
13,132 
3,864 
5,747 
500 
30,600 
120,820 
23.530 
79,902 
32,820 
880 
26,520 
160 
16,170 
3,728 
88 
49,459 
22 100 
145 
35,859 
467,000 
297,504 
273,977 
168,788 
61,279 
17,620 
8,785 
*7,o00 
650 
21,871 
166 000 
21,650 
39,000 
49,840 
7,000 
35,870 
950 
47.900 
7,543 
317 
60,455 
11 000 
200 
' Estimated. 
With the growing tendency of recent years of opening 
up new sources of supply, and the important extensions 
in cultivation from the old sources, this article is be- 
coming more important every season, and, as we can- 
not but think that the time will arrive, if it has not 
already done so, when the price of one growth will 
have a more important influence on that of another 
than hilherto, we have compiled =i table, as shown 
above, of the output of all the chief known countries 
of production from the year 1898 to 1932 inclusive, ex- 
cept Mexico, whose returns are not yet complete for 
the latter year, but to assist in forming a general idea 
of the position, we may mention that Taabsco produced 
13,020 bags in that year, all of which went for local 
consupmtion. 
IMPORTANT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION. 
It will be observed that the general tendency has 
been an important increase in production. Those 
otherwise have been influenced by climatic condilions 
or revolutions. In Surinam the decline is attributable 
to the serious inroads of the '' Witch Broom " di=ease, 
resembling " Canker. " In .Java to bad climatic condi- 
tions, Hayti and San Domingo to local and general 
revolutionary disturbances. Ou the other bund the 
new countries of production have made consider- 
able head-,yay, notnbly that of our West African pos- 
sessions, where the industry is making great strides, 
and the number and extent of plantations have quite 
doubled, and greater care is exercised in its prepar- 
ation, and every encouragement and assistance is given 
by the authorities for its further development. In the 
Congo we almost see the birth of the industry, from 
the year 1898, with its production of one bag, and 
its gradually increased output. The present year 
will show a very important increase. Considerable 
areas in this district have been planted up for some 
years past, which iire now gradiially coming into bear- 
ii g, and further important extensions are being made 
yearly, eo tint, in the near future, these supplies will 
attain important dimensions, and become a regular 
and permanent source of production. 
Costa Rica is another new country of production' 
and where important developments have taken place> 
and the dmeroons show a yearly increased output. 
In Samoa the industry has been taken np by the 
Europeans to a large extent, and is increasing both in 
area and output, and the natives, who have for years 
past grown the article, are now taking it np more 
heartily. 
This growth has the characteristics of Ceylon and 
Java. The general trend is therefore towards a con- 
tinuous and abundant supply, with a yearly increase 
to meet any improvement in the world's consumption, 
and for inanufacturs generally to be less dependent 
upon any particular growth to satisfy their require- 
ments. The increase in nroduction in six years, 1897 
to 1902, is 50 per cent, in Guayaquil, 100 per cent, 
in B ihia, and 100 per cent in African. The world's 
production for 1902 is estimated to be about 135,000 
tons. 
CONSUMPTION STEADILY INCREASING. 
Consumption appears to be growing steadily and 
satisfactorily, and we see no reason why this healthy 
conditon should not continue, when we take into con- 
sideration its many forms of manufacture from the 
raw state, and its growing recognition as a nutritious 
article of diet both in this and other countiies. In six 
years 1897 to 1902, the increase in Germany proved to 
be about 33-J per cent., France about 14 per cent., Eng- 
land about 45 per cent., and United States about 113 
p-r cent. The following figures of consumption, we 
think will prove interesting : — 
1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 
bags 140,638 197,200 226,209 253,382 296,541 
tons 15,860 18.272 19,254 18,517 20,377 
,, 17,187 17,415 17,204 17,651 18,965 
,, 17,222 17,656 19,964 22,342 23,984 
„ 13,667 14,081 11,552 14,247 14,433 
5,121 6,393 4,670 5,841 5,966 
America 
(Germany 
France 
England 
Holland 
Spain 
Austria- 
Hungary 
1,264 
1,477 1,661 1,785 
1,445 
The consumption of the world is estimated to be, for 
19Mv', about 120,000 tons. 
The following are a tew comparative prices (years 1893 
and 1898 omitted.— Ed.) :- 
Guayaquil ... 
Trinidad 
Grenada 
African 
Bahia 
Dominica, 
.Jamaica, &o. 
Ceylon 
1900. 
s. s. d. 
70 to 80 0 
77 
70 
69 
70 
63 
66 
82 C 
73 6 
70 0 
71 0 
, 72 0 
,100 0 
1901. 
,s s.d. 
72 to 82 6 
67 „ 73 0 
67 , 
69 , 
68 , 
65 , 
53 , 
69 0 
70 0 
69 0 
, 67 0 
, 85 0 
1902. 
s. s 
63 to 82 
67 ., 75 
57 ,, 64 
5 9„ 61 
53 „ 61 
54 „ 58 
55 ,, 85 
1903. 
s. s. 
65 to 80 
64 „ 75 
51 „ 62 
52 „ 57 
54 „ 58 
50 „ 62 
50 91) 
Early F suiting of Ccconuts. — In the Colonial 
R' port ou the British Solomon Islands for 1902-31 
it is stated that the area under cultivation of coco- 
nuts at the Tulagi Station has been increased from 
105 to 135 acres Many yonng coconut trees, of from 
three and a half to four years old, are showing 
signs of blossom and nuts, and yonng trscs upwards 
of four years old are producing a return. The trees 
are pliuted 33 feet apart, giving forty to the acre. 
The growth has been so vigorous that in the older 
part of the plantation the leaves of adjoining trees 
overlap. 
