March  2,  1896.]  TIIK  TROPIC \l.  AORICULTPRIST, 
593 
SRAWKKI). 
Wo  sliouU  Ijo  jilail  tu  kti')\v  if  tiierc  arc  any 
anitm;f  uiir  rojulers  wliuso  oxjioi'iouoj  would  cun- 
linn  Of  the  reverse,  a statement  made  to  us 
tliat  seaweeds  will  not  ,i>row  upon  coral.  Per- 
liaips  that  statement  shouKl  be  (|ualilied  by  say  in, 
that  it  was  intended  to  apply  in  a limited  sense 
only,  and  that  it  is  admitted  that  certain  of 
the'  liner  seaweeds  attach  themselves  to  coral, 
hut  that  the  formation  is  delicient  as  aH'ordinp; 
a Indding  for  tliose  luxuriant  growths  such  as 
are  everywhere  seen  iilong  the  sliorcs  of  <«rcat 
Hfitain  and  turnish  such  a valuible  siipjily  of 
manure.  It  cannot  be  disputed,  we  believe,  that 
around  the  coast  of  Ceylon  there  is  a singular 
deticiency  of  seaweed.  It  is  to  be  found,  but 
only  in'  certain  localities,  and  there  only  in 
lim'itcd  (juantity.  Undoubtedly  this  is  a lo.s.s  to 
agriculturists  near  our  sea-shore,  and  we  liave  been 
askeil  if  we  can  explain  the  deliciency.  It  will 
be  easy  to  allord  this  explanation,  if  it  be  correct 
that  tiie  coral  of  which  so  large  a proportion  of 
our  marine  barriers  consist  does  not  give  the  re- 
nuired  foothold  for  the  largei  and  stronger  growths. 
We  fancy  that  tlje  same  cause  operates  that  we 
assigned  as  the  reason  for  the  sjiarseness  of  shingle 
on  our  maritime  beaches  when  discussing  that  sul)- 
ject  some  years  back.  Rock  formations  are  scarce 
upon  our  coiAst  lines.  Were  these  more  common,  we 
believe  not  only  slungle  but  .seaweed  would  be  both 
more  abundan't  tiian  they  are.  We  know  that 
the  line  rocky  headland  uiion  which  Fort  Frederick 
stands  at  Trincomalce  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  seaweed.  The  Galle  harbour,  too,  where 
there  is  a good  deal  of  rock  “between  wind  and 
tide,''  furnishes  a considerable  amount.  \Ve 
have  always  understoo<l  that  large  .seaweeds  will 
only  grow  when  the  above  condition  exists. 
They  niust  be  exposed  to  the  air  between_  high 
anil  low  tides.  If  we  are  right  as  to  this,  it 
must  follow  that  the  very  limited  range  of  our 
tides  would  largely  recount  for  the  scarcity  (hat 
is  .so  strongly  noticeable  along  our  coasts.  If 
to  this  cause  may  be  added  that  asserted  lo 
be  due  to  the  unsuitability  of  coral  for  the  iiro- 
motion  of  growth,  we  can 'have  no  dillic.ulty  in 
giving  the  explanation  asked  of  us.  Hut  it 
Tvould  be  a satisfaction  to  know  if  the  state- 
ment as  to  that  unsuitability  can  be  confirmed, 
or  if  it  is  known  if  rocks  of  granite  type  ex- 
hibit in  any  localities  the  same  absence  of  sea- 
weed growth  as  is  noticeable  in  the  case  of  coral. 
VENEZUELA. 
Everything  connected  with  Venezuela  has  at 
the  present  time  considerable  interest  for  all 
Emdish  readers  A lengthy  article  appeared  in 
77m  Tinir.n  this  week  dealing  with  the  con- 
dition of  affairs  in  that  South  American  re]iublic., 
and  the  extract  from  this  that  follows  will  have 
a special  interest  for  Ceylon  as  still  a colVee- 
iiroducini^  rmuntry.  It  cannot  be  all  bcei  ami 
skittles  to  conduct  jilanting  operations  under  the 
conditions  mentioned  in  this  extract : — 
Coffic,  is  the  main  staple  of  Venezuelan  wealth, 
the  cultivation  extending  in  more  or  less  degree  to 
all  districts  of  the  Republic  where  sod  and  climate 
are  suitable.  The  port  of  Maracaybo  ships  annually 
some  30,000  tons  from  the  Andine  States  adjoining 
Colombia,  Puerto  Cabello  about  7,000  tons  from  the 
country  round  about  Valencia,  and  La  Guana  froin 
12,000  lo  13,000  tons  from  the  districts  within  reach 
of  Caracas.  Venezuelan  coffee  deservedly  bears  a 
hi'i'h  reputation,  and  would  gain  still  moie  in  favour 
if  'greater  attention  was  paid  t0|  the  method  of  culti- 
vation and  preparation  for  the  market.  The  total 
area  under  coffee  is  estimated  at  from  lsi',0W  to 
75 
■luuyinO  acres,  und  the  avorago  yield  at  a little  under 
.'>  cwt.  per  acre.  The  plantations  have  a neglected 
appearance  generally — knee  decji  with  weeds  and  the 
trees  impnuiel  and  uacared  for.  The  coffee  is  grown 
under  shade  trees,  forming  a strong  protection  from 
tlie  hot  Eiin.  The  total  cost  of  cnltivatioii  and  other 
charges  up  to  the  time  of  the  delivery  of  the 
bean  in  a iiiarkotable  state  in  Caracas  or  clso- 
wliero  is  calculated  at  about  35s  per  cwt.,  thus 
leaving  a considerable  profit  to  the  grower  at  present 
values.  Hut  many  drawbacks  exist  to  deter  Fluro- 
jieaiis  from  emb.-ukiiig  in  the  enterprise.  A revo- 
lution breaks  out,  and  the  male  labourers  arc  rei|ui- 
sitioned  to  serve  as  soldier.s  on  one  side  or  the  other. 
Other  diffu-ulties  incidental  to  these  South  Aiiierieaii 
countries  are  always  liable  to  crop  up.  In  the  sitting 
room  of  Mr.  Middleton,  her  Alajesty's  former  Minis- 
ter Kesidoiit  to  this  country,  are  two  large  water- 
colours. The  one  represents  a coffee  plantation  at 
8 a.  m.  everybody  smiling  and  happy,  and  the  rou- 
tine work  in  full  swing  ; the  other  shows  the  same 
place  at  5pm..  with  dead  end  wounded  men  on  all 
sides,  and  and  fierce  tiring  going  on  between  the 
Government  troops  and  the  insmgents.  I know  of 
no  better  example  of  the  rislcs  to  \vhich  the  owner  of 
a coffee  estate  is  constantly  lialilc.  All  those  dangers 
arc  equally  present  to  tlie  grower  of  cocoa,  and,  in- 
deed, to  any  undertaking  necessitating  the  employ- 
ment of  large  numbers  of  labourers.  Under  such 
circumstances  it  is  not  a matter  for  wonder  that 
merchants  or  others  making  advances  against  crops 
should  ask  and  obtain  unusually  hi^h  rates  of  in- 
terest. The  coffee  or  cocoa,  once  ready  for  the 
market,  is  despatched  on  the  backs  of  donkeys  or 
mules  to  the  nearest  commercial  centre,  and  there 
bought  for  shipment  to  Europe  or  the  United  States. 
— London  ('or. 
FLANTING  I'RIHIUESS  IN  HHITISII 
NORTH  RORNEO  IN  IS‘i.5. 
Tlie  North  ISornro  lirm/i/,  of.laii  I says: 
— During  the  year  eon>.iderahlc  progress  h.as  been 
made  in  the  cullivalion  of  geiuTal  piodncts. 
We  subjoin  notices  of  llir  [n im'ipal  items  : — 
CoFi'T.K  has  been  started  in  one  or  two  new  loca- 
lities, as,  for  instance,  at  the  seventh  mile  stone 
outside  Sandakan,  on  the  Beaufort  road,  where  a 
(,’hiuaman  has  planted  some  50  acres,  while  most  of 
the  existing  estates  has'c  been  enlarged.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  monthly  crop  of  coffee  in  parchment  since 
June  last  from  the  Byte  Estate,  which  is  estimated 
to  be  about  170  acres,  and  the  average  age  about  2 
years  10  months  in  July,  to  3 years  3 months  in 
December. 
.Tuly  ..  pels.  23.58  October  ..  pels.  65.02 
August  ..  ,,  33.36  November..  ,,  84.22 
September  ,,  44.73  | December  ,, 
The  monthly  advance  shown  by  these  figures  can- 
not be  considered  as  otherwise  than  very  satisfactory. 
The  crop  is  delivered  in  Sandakan  on  about  the  30th  of 
e.ach  month  where  it  is  at  once  sold,  and  the  money  sent 
up  to  the  estate  in  time  to  pay  the  wages  on  the  1st. 
Byte  clean  coffee  has  been  sold  in  Singapore  at  ^)i42’75 
per  picul  for  the  whole  parcel,  the  outside  quotation 
then  being  |-13 ; and  the  better  lines  of  a shipment 
from  Taratipan  fetched  81)s  per  cwt  on  the  London 
market. 
The  end  of  the  year  sees  coffee  coming  in  from 
Byte,  Kabeli,  Loong  Piasow,  Segaliud,  Western  Jarvis, 
Sebuga,  Taratipan  and  Kudat ; the  price  in  Singapore 
is  f;45-60  per  picul— higher  than  it  has  ever  been  before  ; 
and  at  the  Byte,  Taratipan,  Kinabataugan  Buluno  and 
other  places  further  fresh  clearings  are  in  progress  for 
immediate  planting. 
GAMun’.R. — This  cultivation  is  extending  steadily 
at  Meliuao ; three  boiling  houses  are  at  work  and 
two  more  will  be  erected  by  .June  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  the  young  plants  now  some  months  in  the 
ground,  and  it  is  anticipated  that  the  monthly  output 
will  then  be  180  piculs.  The  gambier  producea  is 
of  the  best  quality  and  finds  a ready  local  sale  at 
full  prices.  Felling  for  fresh  gardens  is  in  progress. 
