November i, 1890.] THE TROPICAL AQRIOULTURIiT. 383 
Planting in Central Africa. — An ex-Ceylon 
planter now in Queensland writes that a relative — a 
trained arboriculturist— has just gone to Mandala 
near Lake Nyassa under an engagement to the African 
Lakes Co , to conduct experiments in the growing of 
tropical j'roducts. Mandalla and Nyassaland have 
one of the finest climates in the world. •“ The Moirs ” 
have alre (ly a flourishing eoffee plantation there. 
Nutuecis. — The cultivation of nutmegs in New 
Guinea is described by one who has witnessed it 
as a very interesting progress. The aroma of the 
nutmeg is so penetrating as to make the country 
for a long distance delightfully fragrant- The 
trees grow luxuriously and the fruit resembles a 
pear. When it ripens it opens and displays the 
nut with its beautiful red coating of mace. At 
this stage the nuts are picked off and carried in 
baskets into the house, where they are husked and 
put on shelves. Then they are partially roasted 
over a slow fire until all the moisture is extracted. 
Afterwards they are cooled and carried to the village 
in nets to await the traders. The nutmeg grows 
in perfection in the West Indies and Brazil, and 
may some day prove to be a valued product of some 
sections of this country . — Madras Times. 
The Mutueajawella Paddy Fields.— M r. de Mel’s 
scheme to irrigate and successfully cultivate the fields at 
Muturajawella is now an accomplished fact. Harvest 
operations have already begun, and the work is now in 
full swing. A good quantity of tbe paddy has turned 
out Bol or devoid of saed. This was due to the want 
of raiu during the ripening season (July). The enter- 
prising and genial proprietor of the fields, it is to be 
regretted, is unable to be present at the spot during 
the harv st owing to illhealth. Mr. de Mel is still 
confined tohis room witli an attack of fever, which he 
contracted soon after his return from Rakwana, 
whither lie went in company with Mr. Obeysekore, as 
Directors of the Oeylon Gem Mining Company, Limi- 
ted, to report on some Gem lands. It appears that 
during tho journey both up and down the we.ither was 
very wet, and Mr. de Mel was considerably exposed 
to it. H( oaught a chill then, and is still suffering Irom 
its effects. Under Dr. Garvin’s able treatment, we 
trust Mr. de Mel will be quite well before long. — Cor., 
local “ Examiner.’ 
Oeient il Uoffeb Company. — T he fourteenth annual 
meet.ng of the shareholders of the above-named Com- 
pany 'was held on Thursday week at the offices, No. 32, 
Great St. Helens, B. C., under the presidency of Mr, 
John Young. The Chairman moved the adoption of the 
direotors’ report and statement of accounts. The 
board expressed regret that tho year’s working had 
proved le s favourable tlian was expected at that date 
of last nicetiug. The monsoon, then prevalent, proved 
abnormal y heavy, rain and gales having been experienced 
tor four mouths almost without intermission, doing 
muoh iuj iry to the crop, which turned out only 53 
tons 2 cwt. The defioienoy, however, was to some 
extent compensated by higher prices, the average 
reached being y2s 3d per cwt., against 86s 9i the 
previous year. The balance sheet showed a net profit 
tor Die year of £660 l6s 3d, and an available balance 
at the credit of profit and loss of £974 7s 6d, out of 
which the directors recommended the payment of a 
dividend of 2^ per cent, carrying forward £224 7s fid 
to ne.xt year’,s account. The recent rise in the price 
of silver and rates of exchange affected the result of 
tho year to soma extent, and would, so long as it 
lasteil, be very prejudicial to tho planting interest. 'The 
prospects of the coming year had unfortunately beeu 
much allVcted by the uunsual season above mentioned, 
rain having continued close up to picking time, and 
delayed it beyond the usual period, not giving the 
trees time to recover themselves before the blossom- 
ing seas u. The superintendent advised that be could 
hardly expect tho coffee crop to be better than the 
last, and m this respect the district would be more 
favoured ihau Wynaad, where the crops were the most 
disastrou.i ever known. So tar as could be judged at 
present, the prospect was in favour of higher prices 
than last year.— /io/ne and Colonial Jfail, Sept. 2(3tb, 
Bananas. — The Panama Star and Herald says : — 
“ We have rceivod from New York a tabulated 
statement of the banana trade during 1889 between 
Central American and West Indian ports and the 
United States, which is full of suggestive interest 
to all who are following the development of this 
trade. Taking the New York branch of the busi- 
ness, which is the largest, we find that the total 
imports for the year aggregated 3,639.593 bunches, 
to which Jamaica contributed about one-third, or 
1,340,062, whilst Colon only sent 216,528. The other 
shipments were as follows : — From Baraooa and 
Banes, 1,190,478 ; from Port Limon, 609,798 ; from 
Honduras, 276,727. The New Orleans banana trade 
for the same time was as follows From Honduras, 
1,867,429 ; from Blueflelds, 563,382 ; from Port 
Limon, 3'76,401; from Boea del Toro, 135,946 ; from 
Jamaica, 2,90 q total, 2,946,058. Boston received 
during the same time shipments from Jamaica and 
Baraooa amounting to 1,292,946 bunohes, whilst 
Philadelphia from these places and Blueflelds 
received 853,183 buRohes and Baltimore 358,294, 
making the entire aomial importation of bananas 
to the United States 9,090,074 bunohaq plus 
another 100,000 bunches estimated for other porta 
not specified in the statement ." — Colonies and India, 
Got. 1st. 
OEYLON EXPORTS AND DISTRIBUTION 1890 
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