390 
THE  TROPIC \!.  AGRlCULrURlSr. 
[Dec.  I,  1896. 
of  James  Irvine  iK:  Co.,  of  Liverpool.  The  plants 
were  ilistributed  from  Kew  to  tropical  botanic  gar- 
dens throu*i;hont  tlie  Empire.”  Coll'ee  cultivation 
is  now  being  carried  on  under  European  supervisiun 
both  at  tlie  Gold  Coast  and  at  Lagos.  In  the  lat- 
ter colony  the  industry  lias  originated  in  tlie 
efforts  made  in  that  direction  at  tlie  botanic  sta- 
tion established  by  theGoverii.nent  at  ElmtejMetta. 
The  distribution  of  Liberian  coffee  and  other  plants 
from  this  station  have  been  as  high  as  Lf,ybU  per 
qu  li  ter,  or  at  the  rate  of  4.5,000  per  annum.  In 
1S9‘2  (although  a nominal  price  only  was  charged 
for  the  plants,  and  in  some  cases  many  distributed 
free  of  charge  to  natii  e chiefs)  the  total  receipts 
amounted  to  more  than 
In  1894  some  Arabian  coflee  in  parchment, 
grown  at  the  botanic  station  at  an  elevation  of 
only  2>ft.  above  the  sea,  was  valued  in  London 
at  94s  per  cwt.  It  has  been  shown,  however, 
that  the  more  permanent  sort  to  grow  in  the 
lowlands  is  the  Liberian  coffee,  and  samples  of 
this  were  recently  valued  at  nearly  the  same  [nice. 
The  curator,  Mr.  INIillen,  remarks  in  his  report 
for  the  quarter  ending  December  olst,  1894:  “There 
is  no  doubt  that  coffee  has  a gieat  future  before  it 
on  the  West  Coast.  If  [iroperly  cultivated  and  pre- 
pared it  should  be  aide  to  compete  with  any 
coffee-growing  country.” 
In  the  appendi.x  to  the  report  on  the  botanic 
station  for  the  quarter  ended  September  30th, 
1895,  the  following  further  particulars  are 
furnished  respecting  the  e.xtension  of  coffee  [danta- 
tions  in  the  colony  of  Lagos  : — 
It  will  probably  be  interesting  to  record  the 
advancement  made  in  coffe  [ilantations  in  this 
colony,  which  have  originated  through  the 
establishment  of  this  botanic  .station. 
When  returning  from  Abeokuta  His  E.vcel- 
lency  the  Acting-Governor  gave  me  permis.sion 
to  visit  two  plantations  situated  near  the  Ado 
River. 
The  first  one  I visited  was  at  Soto,  and  is 
owned  by  the  Haro  Estates  and  Plantations 
Company,  Limited  ; it  was  commenced  in  1892, 
and  is  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Punch,  a 
European,  who  took  me  round  and  kindly  gave 
me  quarters  for  the  night. 
Mr.  Punch  calculates  that  he  h.as  150  acres 
under  cultivation,  which  includes  50,000  [ilants 
of  coffee  liberica.  These  plants  are  in  different 
statfes  of  growth  ; 1,200  [ilants  are  three  years 
ohCs-ml  are  producing  a line  crop  of  large  bold 
berries  ; 5,000  trees  are  two  years  old,  and  are 
in  a healthy  and  flourishing  condition.  These 
also  are  producing  berries,  and  are  doing  remark- 
ably well  when  taking  into  consideration  that  a 
crop  is  not  exqiected  much  before  three  years  ; 
9 000  plants  were  [ilanted  out  last  year,  and 
30,000  during  the  present  yeai-. 
.\bout  f,0u0  of  coffee  arabica  are  [ilanted  out, 
and  iliese  have  [irodiicod  good  crops  of  berries  of 
good  size. 
('AC.\o  is  also  being  grown  ; 4,500  plants  have 
been  piaiited  out,  and"  their  appearance  is  every- 
thing tint  could  be  desired  for  young  jihints. 
1 next  visited  the  plantations,  the  pro|icrty 
of  A C.  Campbell  and  (Jo.,  situated  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river,  and  about  one  hour 
distant  from  the  town  of  Ajilete.  I visited  this 
plantation  in  the  early  part  of  1893,  and  reported 
on  it.  At  that  time  pre|iaralions  were  lieiiig 
made  for  planting  out  during  tlie  rains.  I could 
see  a marKed  iuipiovement  since  my  first  visit, 
and  considerable  work  bad  been  done. 
Mr.  Campbell  offered  me  every  facility,  and 
was  pleased  to  see  me  visiting  the  plantation. 
He  states  tliat  lie  has  109  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion, most  of  tlie-e  h 'ing  [ilanted  with  Liberian 
coffee,  numhering  (17,900  plants.  Tliey  are  repre- 
sented ill  three  stages  of  growth  : — 13,000  were 
[ilanted  out  out  iu  1893,  ami  are  in  mo.st  flour- 
ishing condition  ; tlic  berrie.s  are  well  matured, 
and  of  good  size.  In  1894,  22,000  were  [ilanted 
out  and  are  doing  well  ; while  32,OoO  have  been 
[ilanted  in  their  permanent  jilace  during  the 
present  year.  The  plants  are  looking  very  satis- 
factory for  the  time  of  j'ear. 
Here,  also,  are  a few  plants  of  Coffee  arabica. 
They  have  done  so  well  that  Mr.  Grtni[ibell  intends 
to  extend  the  [ilantationaiid  [ilants  nioreof  this  kind. 
NuitSKKiE.s. — Aliout  25,(J00  plants  of  Coffea 
liliericii  are  in  beds  large  enough  to  transplant. 
Vanii.a  (Vhuiilla  [ilanifolia). — Tliese  were  bo- 
tanic station,  ami  <rrown  in  a shady  and  cool 
place  on  the  [ilantatiou.  Here  they  have  made 
enormous  growth,  and  have  been  doing  so  well 
that  Mr.  (’amphell  aiiticqiates  [ilanting  out  an 
acre  with  tliis  valuable  [ilant. 
Kol.\  (Cola  acuminata). — About  600  of  these 
have  been  planted  under  the  shade  of  forest  trees. 
Cacao. — About  300  [ilants  of  cacao  liave  also 
been  planted  out,  to  ascertain  tlieir  suitability 
for  further  cultivation. 
The  [ilantatiou  is  kept  in  a clean  condition, 
free  from  weeds;  the  soil  is  rich  in  vegetable 
matter  ; it  is  pure  forest  land,  and  several  streams 
pas?  tliroiigli  the  plantation,  wliicli  are  very  use- 
ful in  watering  the  mnseries. 
'file  work  has  [irogressed  considerably  since 
my  [irevious  visit,  and  the  work  carried  out  by 
Mr.  Camiibcll  is  very  creditable  indeed.  This 
[ilaiitatiuii  is  worked  by  forty-five  labourers. — • 
II.  d-  V.  Mail,  Oct.  16. 
MARKET  EUR  TEA  SHARES. 
Thuusday  Evening,  October  15,  1896. 
A rather  steadier  tendency  has  characterised  the 
market  in  Tea  shares  for  the  past  week,  and  in 
some  cases  a notable  advance  has  taken  place  iti  the 
shares,  especially  of  the  best  known  old  companies. 
Mincing  L me  is  again  easier,  both  for  Indians  and 
also  tor  (Jeylons. 
FRESH  ISSUES. 
Consolidated  Teas  and  Lands,  alfclassesof  the  shares, 
are  rather  easier,  with  sellers  rather  than  buyers  at 
a little  below  last  price. — IF.  and  G.  Mail,  Oct.  16. 
.SALE  OE  (,»UININE  AND  CINCHONA. 
It  is  a fact  which  deserves  some  attention,  that 
in  spite  of  the  greatly  increased  quantities  of  quinine 
i I the  bark  offered  at  auction  in  Amsterdam,  almost 
the  whole  of  the  supplies  continue  to  find  buyers.  It 
is  true  that  the  prices  are  very  low,  but  unless  the 
deraiud  for  quinine  were  not  only  keeping  up,  but 
actualiy  advancing,  it  would  be  impossible  to  dispose 
at  any  price  the  enormous  quantities  that  are  now 
being  offered.  How  great  and  increasing  those  quan- 
tities arc  in,i,y  be  seen  fi-  ' i the  foliowiiig  compavi- 
soii  of  ine  bark  f.nd  quinine  ol'fcved  at  ilie  first  eight 
auctions  of  tlie  la.-t  four  years  lieUI  in  Anistcrriii’n  : — 
a 
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1896  48,968  4,528,277  ‘2U),:!09  5-i)5to5-8:i  262,126  38,183 
189.i  52,512  4, 636. 8.59  225,367  4 i;3to5  i7  141,314  84,0.53 
1894  39,9.51  3,443,031  161,6,19  IdlLtori  Tl  125,727  35,932 
1893  46,123  3, 930,5', U 172,982  4'23to5-02  97,679  75,303 
These  increased  sales  have  been  made  ill  the  face  of 
the  fact  that  it  is  well  known  to  all  buyers  tliat  the 
Java  supply  is  not  by  any  moans  exhausted. — Chemist 
and  Dnujgist,  Oct.  17. 
