March 1, 1902.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGEICULTUEIST. 
S99 
The prohability of larger quantities of pro- 
duce arriving at Chinde brought up the ques- 
tion of a direct line of steamships between this 
country and the East Coast of Africa. Mr. 
Sharrer states that it is the intention of the 
Shire Highlands Railway Co. to charter 
steamers in this country Avhich will run direct 
to Chinde to convey rails and other materials 
for i-ailway construction, and he thinks tliat 
this traffic may prove to be the nucleus of a 
direct line running between that coast and 
London or Liverpool. In any case, the pre- 
sence on that part of the coast of large quan- 
tities of produce brought down by the aid of 
the new line should be of assistance in further- 
ing the establishment of a line of direct 
steamers between this country and East Africa 
as much of the produce would be shipped for 
the English market. 
The construction of the line is to begin, we 
understand, early in the present year, and it is 
hoped that its 'M-Z miles of length will be com- 
pleted in about two years. The company have 
the concession for twenty-five years, and also 
the right to construct any branches of the line 
which may be necessary with a view to open- 
ing up adjoining districts, and especially to 
connect with the Portuguese railv/ay which 
is projected to run from Qnilliinane. 
With this enterprise another important step 
will be taken for the development of East and 
Central Africa. It can hardly fail to exercise 
a beneficial influence on our general trade 
with that district, inasmuch as it will open up 
one of the richest portions of the Continent, 
which by the development of its natural re- 
sources will be placed in the possession of 
means oi purchasing the numerous chisses 
of manufactured goods produced in Eng- 
land, especially many classes of agri- 
cultural implements and tools, machinery, 
engines, cotton manufactures, and hardware. 
Ultimately there will be a liviugavtery of com- 
merce from the Nile to the Shir(§ River dis- 
trict, which, according to the reports of 
travellers, is rich in coal and alluvial gold. 
It is reported that in the Mariambe and Cen- 
tral Angouiland districts, in the West Nyasa 
coast region, and in parts of the Shirc^ High- 
lands, agold-bearingquartz exists, and alluvial 
g«ld is reported on the Northern Angoni plateau 
in the West Nyasa district, and at the head 
waters of the river Bna, just within the Pro- 
tectorate. With such resources as these, and 
with a railway to render the whole accessible, 
the outlook in Nyasaiand, which has been well 
described as an " enterprising, steady going 
little Colony," is extremely bright, and indi- 
cates a region to which our manufacturers 
and planters may look for flourishing busi- 
ness. — British Trade Journal, Jan. 1. 
BRITISH TRADE IN 1901. 
The trade of the United Kingdom last year roached 
the grand total value of 870 millions sterling. Of 
this amount 522 millions were imports, 280 millions 
were exports, and 68 millions re-exports. Taking 
the figures collectively they show a decrease of 
11 milliocs compared with 1900. That year, however, 
was an exceedingly prosperous one throughout Europe, 
and a period of abnormally high prices. The year's 
imports were slightly below those of 1900— 
622,238,9862,, against 523,075,163?.— Our imports ot 
spices declined by 267,527Z.. due to lessened receipts 
of ginger, pepper, and unennmerated spices. In raw 
cocoa there was a decrease of 107,000/., and iu the 
prepared arcio.le au increase of 136.000/. The coffee 
import is at the same time higher by just half a 
million. The exports for the year show a total 
reduction of 10.693,000/., and it may at once be stated 
that 8,501,000/. of this was due to a faUiug-off in 
raw materials, which, in turn, is duo to the 
reduced price of coal. The next largest de- 
crease is that of nearly six millions in metals and 
metal manufactures. At all times the December 
report is one of the most interesting documents to 
the observnnt and studious Briternian — if we may use 
a word which we find iu Mr J Arthur Gibson's 
book on Consumption to designate the English, 
Scotch, or Irish man. Take, for example, the 
cotton account. In round figures we imported 
42 million pounds" worth of raw cotton li\st year, 
and 44 of cotton manufactures, and sent out of the 
country cotton piece-goods valued at 66 million 
pounds, besides 10 millions of other cotton manu- 
factures and 5 millions of the raw stuff ; in other 
words, we supplied cur own needs in cotton 
and returned to the world the original value 
and as much again, that being payment for the 
skill and labour put into it. A similar tale might 
be told about wood ; but we seem to use up all 
the raw jute we get for ourselves, as our exports of 
manufactured jute goods are just about equal to 
our imports of the same, while raw jute amounts 
to over four million pounds' worth. The linen trade 
is better, for while tbe imports of flax were valued 
at 2,60i3,565/, the exports of linen vavns, piece-goo.is, 
threads, &c., were valued at over five millions, The 
country rarely gets credit for its business in manu- 
factured articles. Yet three-fourths of the exports 
(or 230,000.000/.) are mauuiac'rured articles, and be- 
tween a fourth and a fifth (118,000,000/ ) only of the 
imports are maiiufactures, the rest (401,000,000/) 
being food, drinks, raw materials, and o^her natural 
produce. In short, every man, woman, and child in 
the United Kingdom spends 5= a week on imported 
produce, but only Is of that is on mannfactured 
goods. Tbe bullion and specie account is the smallest 
for many years. Our imports in 1001 were 32 millions, 
against 45 millions in 1899, and the txports for 
the same years 26 and 35 millions. We have to 
thank the Boer war for this, as in 1899 British 
South Africa sent ms 15 millions' worth of gold, but 
the value dwindled to 378,626/. in 190 and increased 
to 1,962,283/. last year. It is a pity the Board oi 
Trade ifoes not work out (he value of diamonds as 
well. — Chemist and Druggist, Jan. 18. 
POISONOUS ENGLISH PLANTS. 
In the Yenr Book published by that very, 
practical paper, Farm and Home, there is, 
among a mass of useful information, a chapter 
on the poisonous plants of this country. Some 
thirty names, among them those of whole families 
which are more or less noxious, appear in tliis 
list, besides the fungi which are known to have 
toxic properties in a high degree. Has the reader 
ever felt tlie physical and mental sensation of 
plant poisoning ? Expcrto erode. lb is most un- 
pleasant and idisconcerting to the last degree, 
even though the dose be not severe. The violent, 
rapid and automatic efforts of the swallowing or 
receptive parts of tiie body to get rid of the 
stuft, the doubt whether this will be acGomplished, 
the utter hopelessness of ordinary countervailing 
remedies, the feeling of nausea and exhaustion 
and the mental conviction of stupidity which 
must accompany accidents of this kind are no^ 
to be forgotten, 
