14-2 
Suvvleriieni co the ' Tropical Agriculturist." 
[Aug. 1, 1901. 
AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS LN' ZANZIBAR. 
We have to acknowledge with thanks receipt of a 
copy of the Annual Report (dated '.he 24th Feby., 
]900) of the AgriciiltLiiiil Department of Zanzibar. 
Among the more important croii-s referred to are 
1. Cloves. — The year is reported to have been 
a bad one for this product, tlie ge leral crop of the 
island having been about Sj-tenths of last season. 
2. Coconuts.— At Dunga the average number 
' of nuts per tree is put down at 'A\ per annum ; the 
price varied between Rs. 18 and 25 per thousand. 
A new plaiitation of 1,579 trees is said to have 
been laid out in April and May, the palms being 
put 35 feet apart. Mr. Herbert Lister's report on 
Tundana plantation puts down the total yield at 
14,300 nuts, an average of 18 nuts per tree, show- 
ing an increase of 2,400 last year, and 4,400 over 
1897. The price at the end of the year was Rs, 24 
per thousand. 
'3. Coffee. — A small beginning has been 
made with both the Arabian and Liberian variety, 
both of which are reported to be doing well, 
particularly tlie latter. Snails seem to be the 
chief enemies. 
4. Tea has been grown experimentally, seed 
having been procured from Horagalla, Ceylon. 
The experiment has so far proved successful, and tlie 
opinion is expressed that Zanzibar should be able 
before long to meet all local demands, though 
there is not sufficient suitable land for an export 
trade. 
5. Cacao, — The verdict as to cacao is "Cacao 
is a most disheartening product to grow ; it is 
the most delicate of all the economics 
nearly every inseCj attacks it, &c." It is evident 
that the requisite conditions for cacao growing 
are wanting in Zanzibar. There are few plants 
more particular as regards its natural conditions, 
but given these conditions it will grow like a 
forest tree if not interfered with. The area under 
cacao is comparatively small owing to the un- 
suitability of the greater part of our planting 
areas to the growth of the plant ; and it is rather- 
misleading to read '' Cacoa does well down to sea- 
level in Ceylon," which, indeed, it does not do. 
As suitable shade — not referred to in the report — 
we might mention Erythrina indica and E. 
lithosjierma. 
6. RuBBEE. — The summing up of the experi- 
meiit in growing this product is that the experience 
has so far been unfavourable both in Zanzibar 
and Pemb£, 
7. Vanilla. — The plantation of Vanilla is 
favourably reported on. There is little to report 
regarding rhea which is only being grown on a 
" small plot.'' As regards chillies it is a surprise 
to read tliat " there is no doubt that in Zanzibar 
these do not pay to cultivate, except for the native 
to whom time is no object," As a "Catch crop" 
jt has given excellent results ou a large scale here. 
THE GOVERNMENT DAIRY FARM. 
This institution lias had a record year of success. 
It still continues under the good management of 
Mr. .1. A. G. Rodrigo, whose experience of dairy 
cattle and of breeding, gained during the eight 
years he has been in charge of the farm might be 
considered mature, and therefore particularly valu- 
able. The expenditure during the year on the 
dairy was Rs. •Jl,-201-62, and the receipts 
Rs. 26,838-86, so that the nett profits from the 
working oi tile institution as a milk dairy was 
Rs. 5,631 ■i4 (vide Statement A.). 
Two lots of cows were purchased and added to the 
dairy herd on 31st March and 22iid December. 
The tirst consisted of 15 Scinde cows which were 
imported with the help of Veterinary Surgeon Haji 
of Karachi, no special oflicer having been .'■entfrom 
here to effect the purchase. The second batch of 
animals was secured in Madras by Air. Rodrigo him- 
self, who was sent to India for tlie purpose, Mr. 
Wijenayaka acting for him in the dairy. These 
latter were principally of the Nellore breed, and 
the new departure of puichasing other than Scinde 
cows (which have proved so satisfactory) was 
necessitated by the great advance in the m irket 
value of our favourite breed, cliiefly owing to the 
losses resulting from famine in North-West India. 
The new animals are good of their kind, but cer- 
tainly not as good as our old stock, and the calves 
bred from them will, I fear, be of small value in 
the eyes of stock owners, among whom the young 
Scinde animals bred inthedairyare highly prized tor 
improviugtheir own herds. It is hoped that wt- shall 
be able to get future supplies of cows from Scinde, 
so as to preserve the uniformity of the dairy herd, 
which Certainly cannot be improved by the addi- 
tion 'of South Indian cattle, though the introduc- 
tion of a good English milking strain should prove 
an advantage. The first purchased batch cost 
the dairy Rs. 2, 375-99 and the second R~. 2,514-98. 
The sales weie held in the dairy on 30tli AI irch 
and 8th June. At these sales 10 co\v> and 27 
calves were dispo.sed of for Rs. l,955-&6. The 
average price per calf (taking both s iles into con- 
sideration) was Rs. -50 ; at the first sale of rat her 
old animals it was Rs. 62. As a result the Scinde 
breed is being introduced into the Western, Sourh- 
ern, and North-Western Provinces. No puldic 
sales were held at provincial centres as in past 
years, but three bull calves were sold to the 
Government Agent, Ratnapura, for Rs. 3-20 ; two 
to the Assistant Government Agent, Kf^g ill i, for 
Rs. 220; one to the Government Agent, North- 
Central Province, for Rs. 100 ; and one heifer to 
the Government Agent, Northern Province, for 
Rs. 60. These animals were the pick of tBe older 
lot of calves, and are intended for breeding pur- 
poses under Government auspices. The dairy has 
been most fortunate in the matter of casualties 
only one cow and one calf having died from 
ordinary ailments during the year. The calves 
suffered from a peculiar affection during the latter 
part of November and beginning of December. This 
disease, which attacked the most thrifty animals 
of about two years of age, was considered by the 
Government Veterinary Surgeon to be "quarter 
ill," which though as a rule very fatal in England 
did not cause the death of a single animal in the 
dairy herd. I have no doubt that Mr. Sturgess 
will refer fully to this outbreak in his report, so 
that 1 need not give any further particulars with 
regard to it. 
