TO  OUR 
READERS, 
1)1  dosing  the  Fifteenth  Volume  of  the  “ Tropical  Ag'ricultlirist,”  wo 
would  as  usual  direct  attention  to  the  large  amount  of  useful  information  afforded  and 
to  the  great  variety  of  topics  treated  in  the  several  numhers.  From  month  to  month,  wo 
have  endeavoured  to  embody  in  these  pages  the  latest  results  of  practical  experience  and 
scientific  teaching  in  all  that  concerns  tropical  agriculture ; and  our  ambition  has  been 
to  make  our  periodical  not  only  indispensable  to  the  planter,  but  of  service  to 
business  men  and  capitalists,  never  forgetting  that  agriculture  trenches  upon  every 
<lepartment  of  human  knowledge,  besides  being  the  basis  of  personal  and  communal 
'.vcalth. 
While  directing  our  attention  chiefly  to  the  products  prominently  mentioned  on 
our  title-page,  we  have  always  taken  care  to  notice  minor  industries  likely  to  fit  in  with 
sub-tropical  conditions : and  our  readers  have  an  ample  guarantee  in  the  pages  before 
them,  that,  in  the  future,  no  pains  will  be  spared  to  bring  together  all  available  infor- 
mation both  from  the  West  and  East,  the  same  being  examined  in  the  light  of  the 
teachings  of  common  sense  as  well  as  of  prolonged  tropical  experience  in  thi.s,  the 
loading  Crown  and  Planting  Colony  of  the  British  Empire. 
►Special  attention  has,  during  the  past  year,  been  given  to  the  extension  of  the 
fibre  industry  (rhea,  sisal,  &c.),  coffee  and  other  products  in  Nyassaland,  British  Central 
Africa  ; Liberian  coffee  and  other  products  in  Deli,  Sumatra,  the  Straits  Settlements ; 
and  to  other  new  developments  in  coffee  &c.  in  the  Malayan  Peninsula  and  North  Borneo. 
The  Tea-planting  Industry  has  sprung  into  so  much  importance  in  India  and 
Ceylon,  that  a considerable  amount  of  space  is  naturall}-  given  to  this  great  staple  ; 
and  we  think  it  will  be  admitted  by  impartial  judges  that  the  Tropical  Agriculturist 
should  be  filed,  for  ready  reference,  in  every  Tea  Factory  in  this  Island  and  India. 
A full  and  accurate  Index  affords  the  means  of  ready  reference  to  every  svxbject 
treated  in  this,  the  fifteenth  volume,  which  we  now  place  in  our  subscriber.s’  hand.s, 
in  the  full  confidence  that  it  will  be  received  with  an  amount  of  approval,  at  least 
ccjual  to  that  which  has  been  so  kindly  extended  to  its  predeces.sors. 
We  are  convinced  that  no  more  suitable  or  useful  gift  can  be  made  to  the  tropical 
planter  or  agriculturist,  whether  he  be  about  to  enter  on  his  career,  or  with  many  years 
of  experience  behind  him,  than  the  fifteen  volumes  of  our  periodical  which  we  have 
now  made  available.  They  are  full  of  information  bearing  on  every  department  and 
relating  to  nearly  every  product  within  the  scope  of  sub  tropical  industries. 
In  conclusion,  we  have  to  tender  our  thanks  to  readers  and  contributors,  and 
our  Avish  that  all  friends  may  continue  to  write  instructively  and  to  read  with  appro 
val;  for  then,  indeed,  must  the  “Tropical  AgricuUni’ist ” continue  to  do  well. 
J.  FERGUSON. 
Colombo,  Ceylon  ; 1st  July  1896. 
