8U 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[June 1, 1904. 
cnltivation of this bark on as extensive soale in Java 
and Ceylon has sensibly diminished tlie price of 
qninine, this has been abandoned in favour of the 
Bhrab which produces the more expensive drug knoven 
as cocaine. There are still many cinchona planta 
tions which might be exploited, but their proprietors 
neglect them entirely; with reason, as the cost of 
transport to the coast would be greater than the pre- 
sent actual price of the product. 
THE COCA SHRUB, 
from the leaves of which cocaine is extracted, grows 
only in the districts of Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia 
bordering the Andes, In iiolivia, the shrub is cul- 
tivated mainly in the provinces of North and South 
Yungas, and on a much more limited scale in the 
province of Canpolican. The province of North' 
Yungas produces annually about 34,000 tons of coca, 
the greater quantity being consumed in Bolivia where 
the natives chew it, and find in it most invigorating 
qualities. 
According to Bolivian official figures the quantity of 
the coca exported during 1901 was 251 tons. It is not 
sent to Europe in such large quantities as the Peruvian 
variety, although richer in alkaloid than this latter. 
Coroico, Coripata, and Ohulumani form the centre 
of the coca culture of Bolivia, The plantations ex- 
tend from the summit to the base of the mountains. 
Coroico is situated 6,500 feet above the level of the 
sea ; this is the highest point in the country where 
coca is cultivated. All the harvest, with the ex- 
ception of the portion retained for local consumption 
is taken to La Paz. The only method of conveyance 
is by mules ; carriage costs from 4g. to 59. per 
quintal. Labour is scarce, the whole population of the 
two provinces being 27,000. In spite of the difficulties 
of transport and labour, the cultivation of coca 
proves lucrative ; a good plantation, bought at a 
normal price, should produce from 10 to 15 per cent 
on the capital invested. 
THE LABOUH QUESTION. 
The labour problem is most difflcnlt to solve. For 
white colonists to establish themselves in the country, 
it would be necessary to constitute a plantation 
worked entirely by whites, as these latter would 
never work with Indians. A trial on these lines 
might perhaps prove successful, but only on a small 
scale. 
The great need of these provinces is good 
means of communication. A railway would increase 
enormously the wealth of the country. At the present 
time half the population is employed in transport. 
A railway would release the ma jor portion of these ; 
they could be employed on plantations, and the 
production would soon be doubled. Other tropical 
products, besides - coca, could then receive due 
attention. 
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES. 
Cotton in BRrrisa Honduras. — About half a ton 
of cotton seed— Sea Island, Ejjyptian and Peruvian 
varieties— presented by the British Cotton Growing 
Association, has been distributed free to person.^ ex- 
pressing their willingness to plant cotton in British 
Honduras. Several planters have carried out experi- 
ments on a small scale, that is, on plots varying from 
one acre to seven acres. On the whole, these experi- 
ments have been successful, the cotton bearing well. 
Some trouble was experienced with the cotton worm, 
there being no Paris green at hand to use as a remedy. 
Experiments to test the euitability of diSerent varieties 
of cotton, carried out at the Corozal and Staun Creek 
Botanic Stations, do not; appear to have furnished any 
very definite results. The results of the whole experi- 
ments are, however, sufficiently promising to give 
encouragement to the planters, and it is anticipated 
that cotton will be planted somewhat extensively 
daring the next planting season especially in the 
DOitbern district of the colony. 
Tobacco Cultivation in Annam — The trials made 
in Annam for the acclimatisation of tobacco, have not 
produced any results at Phu-yen, Thank-hoa, or 
Quang-bingh : but this want of success must be attri- 
buted to the tardy season at which the planters 
received the seeds. Very eood samples of this 
tobacco have been sent by the Provinces of Quang- 
nam and Qaang-tri, by the planters of Hue and 
the surrounding districts, and from Tourane ; these 
samples have been submitted to the inspection of the 
Department of Agriculture, and some have been 
placed upon the German market. This tobacco is 
noticeable accordiog to information in the French 
"Fenille de Eenseignements " for its excellent aroroa, 
great suppleness and perfect combustibility. An 
Annam planter, of the Province of Quang-tri, has 
obtained, by means of a new manure, a product which 
appears to possess all the characteristics of a super- 
excellent tobacco. The natives willingly use the new 
tobacco, which they consider superior to their own. 
In order that the plantation trials might be as full as 
possible, the head of the Province of Qaang-tri had 
promised to indemnify the planters in case of failure, 
or to buy the crop, if it could not be disposed of in the 
ordinary way ; no indemnity has been claimed, and 
about 20 quintals of Alsatian tobacco, obtained in the 
province, have been purchased by Chinese. 
The Indian Mango Trade with England.— For 
some years Sir George Birdwood, late of the India 
Office, persistently sought to get regular supplies of 
these fine fruits upon the London markets. As early 
as 1864 he was Sheriff of Bombay, and therefore in a 
position to know something of the capacity of the 
mango trees of the Presidency. Yet despite the influ- 
ence of this gentleman, the result of his efforts to ensure 
large rmd regular imports was disappointing. Still, 
the industry is in abeyance, because it is risky work to 
attempt to export choice Bombay mangoes in quan- 
tity by ordinary steamer. On the voyage the fruit is 
generally placed too near the engine, and ripens before 
it reaches its destination. The Bombay mango is the 
finest fruit of its class that the world can produce. It 
is eagerly sought after in India, and commands good 
prices. Care, therefore, is needed in transit, especially 
when the journey is a long one. If fruit ships with 
cool chambers were available, we should at once ensure 
a free supply of Bombay mangoes in England. One of 
our Bombay correspondents, says a" home paper, not only 
agrees with our suggestion for the establishment of a 
fleet of boats engaged in fruit distribution alone, but 
is confident that it woiill do more than anything that 
can be proposed to bring about the cultivation of the 
best of the native fruits on scientific lines. Efficient 
distribution is the forerunner of efificrent production. 
Coffee in Colombia. — The value of Colombian 
coffee has been and is steadily on the decrease in the 
markets of Europe and the United States, Coffee can 
be grown in almost all parts of the country, where the 
temperature varies from 59° to 77° Fahr. A tree 
from four to eight years old will yield in small and 
well-cultivated plantations about one pound of coffee 
annually. In large and less cared-for plantations the 
yield is about one-half that amount. Of all the coffee 
produced anuually only aboat 25,000 bags remain in 
the country for home consumption. Owing to the 
revolution, exportation has until lately been impossi- 
ble. Colombian coffee will, therefore, lose favour, as 
some of that which is now being exported is three 
years old. On the other hand Brazilian coffee is 
gaining ground, and the Brazilians are cultivating 
more scientifically every year. The shade tree most 
used for coffee plantations in Colombia is the 
" Guamo " of the " luga " species. There are, however, 
many different variations of this species, and the only 
one approved by the coffee planters is that knojvn as 
"Guamo Kabo di Mice,'" so called from the resemblance 
of the pulp, which contains |the seed, to a monkey's 
tail. This tree owes its widespread popularity to 
its adaptability as regards both elevation and climate, 
The Jack tree of Ceylon is not used in the interior 
of Colombia, being too delicate to stand a long journey. 
