July 1, 1901.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
I do nofc wish foi a momenb to say a word in 
favour of Mr- Johnston's followers, police, etc., 
but how many white men, let alone natives, are 
there who would undertake to leave a post of safety 
to hand a spare rifle to a man in a tree at the foot 
of which, or at least within a very few yards of 
which, were two infuriated lions, one unwounded, 
the other wounded ? Not many, I think. 
I fully concur in your strictures on 
THE SALE OF WORTHLESS AMMUNITION 
such as Mr, Johnston was too evidently using, and 
those who offer it for sale are deserving of the 
deepest censure. It would be interesting to as- 
certain from whom this ammunition was procured, 
so that those who have laid in a supply from the 
same source could hand it back with the request 
to be refunded the amount. A couple of years 
years ago I had occasion to buy in Blantyre, not 
without great misgivings, however, some soft-nosed 
bullets for my 'SOS. My misgivings were justified, 
for at least four out of six cartridges were mis- 
fires. One day I had five, in succession and there- 
fore laid my 'SOS aside until the arrival of reliable 
ammunition from my gunmakers. 
With regard to the fatal accident to Mr. 
Johnston, a native told me that the deceased 
gentleman had come across six lions. One came 
at him which Mr. Johnston wounded, but was 
killed by it. JThe police, he said, then accounted 
for the remaining five ! In conclusion it is always 
advisable to carry a small revolver — if one has 
such an article — fastened to the belt at the back. 
Had either Mr. Johnston, or Dr. McKaye of 
the Herald, or possibly many others who have 
been fatally mauled by lions or leopards, adopted 
this simple precaution, the majority would doubt- 
less be living now. Personally, however, I never, 
by any chance, think of burdening myself with 
either a revolver or a knife, but it is always "on 
the cards " that I may one day (but I trust, 
not before my book is completed) regret not 
having done so, As regards this bit of advice, 
it is a case of "Do as I say, but don't do as I 
do."— Yours, etc , POULETT Weatherley. 
— Central African Times, April 13. 
^ 
PROGRESS IN BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. 
From Mr. H Brown, a former Ceylon planter' 
we have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the 
Postal Guide of British Central Africa, which, from 
its up-to-date rules, bears evidence of the pro- 
gress made in British Central Africa. It contains 
all necessary information and should be carefully 
studied by all who have any correspondence wiyi 
the Colony. 
TOBACCO CULTURE. 
We have to acknowledge receipt, through Messrs, 
Freudenberg and Co., of a very useful little pamph- 
let (profusely and well illustrated) on this subject, 
published by the German Kali Works, 93, Nassau 
Street, New York City, by whom we are promised 
other publications, including " Potash in Agricul- 
ture," "i'otton Culture," " Principles of Profitable 
"Farming," and "Farmers' Guide" which we 
shall be very glad to notice. With regard to the 
present brochure we fully endorse what the Com- 
piler says : — 
It is believed that this will give the Tobacco 
grower meiny "suggestions" which may be of value 
in a practical way. Thus, there are described the 
various Plants. Soils and Manures, and how the suc- 
cessful Tobacco planter uses them in order to produce 
the" very best, as well as largest crops, for quality in 
Tobacco culture is a more important item than 
quantity. 
We notice that : — 
At present, more than 7,000,000 acres of land are 
planted each year in this country (U.S.) with Tobacco. 
According" to the Census report of 1890, the crop 
amounted to 488,255,896 pounds that year, valued at 
834,444,499. 
TROPICAL FRUIT IN NATAL. 
AN INTERVIEW WITH A GROWER. 
[By "Ergates" in Durban "Agricultural Journal." 
Prom Pinetown to Durban the railway passenger 
sees on either side farm after farm of sub-tropical 
fruit. These farms are small, and possibly gardens 
might be a more appropriate word. The laad is 
valuable, most of it within a mile of the railway 
stations being worth from £20 to £40 per acre. To 
get some information about this important district, 
I made inquiries as to a good authority and, by 
several who should be competent to judge, I was 
recommended to sea Mr. Vincent Seymour/ of Mal- 
vern. Mr Seymour wrote, saying he would be 
pleased to give me all the information I might 
ask for. Mr. Seymour comes from a family of gar- 
deners, one of his forbears having devised the plan 
in the middle of the eighteenth century of train- 
ing fruit trees on walls, and still known under the 
name of " Seymour's System of Wall Training" • 
see " Louden's Encyclopaedia of Gardening." The 
land now occupied by Mr Vincent Seymour was 
purchased by his father, the late Mr George Sey- 
mour, in 1881. 
" What are the fruits chiefly grown here ?" I 
asked. 
" Pines and bananas. The growing of these fruits 
is the most attractive to the Indian, and the In- 
<3ian is a large caltivator in these parts. For the 
most part he is only a tenant ; he pays £1 or 
so per acre per year, and tries to get the quickest 
return possible. It is only the white man who goes 
in for erohards, for the rearing of trees means 
capital lying, dormant." 
" One pound per acre rent is apparently tempting 
to landowners?" 
"It is; bat whether the policy is good I doubt. 
The Indian takes all he can out of the ground,' 
growing all together at the same time bananas] 
beans, ground nuts, tobacco, round potatoes, mealies' 
and so on. Rest is never given to the soil, and' 
nothing in the shape of manure is ever returaed 
to the land. Having worn out one plot of ground, 
he moves on to pastures new, and continues his' 
former programme. As a reviver for exhausted soils 
dhall is one of the most effective things that can 
be grown on the Coast lands. Some Indians are 
beginning to buy outright. 'Bombay' merchants 
advance them the money. A great many of the 
cottages dotted about belong to mechanics, and 
their owners often do a little bit of fruit cultiva'tion.' 
BANANAS. 
" Bananas," said Mr Seymour, "require good soil • 
bush land, if gefctable. In such soil they will last 
seven or eight years with help but in grass land they 
will be of no use in three years. In Durban County 
alone enough bananas are.grown to supply all South 
Africa, but I doubt, if you wanted 50 cases delivered 
today, whether you could get them owing to the last 
three years of drought. As with others of our fruits, 
it is glut or nothing. What is wanted is cool storage 
at the moderate charges of other Colonies. We look 
to getting about 12s per case, for the fruit only ; a 
packing case costs 3s, and a case signifies 800 of the 
fruit. When the Johannesburg market was closed by 
the 3d per lb prohibitive duty I was glad to get 48, 
though the price was utterly unremuuerative. On 
