44^ 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST 
[Jan.  I,;  1897. 
Dear  Sir, — We  duly  received  your  favour  of  the  8th 
instant,  with  two  samples  of  Coliee  which  we  have 
carefully  examined,  and  beg  to  report  upon  the  same 
as  follows. 
The  sample  of  Liberiati  is  good,  both  in  size  and 
appearance,  but  it  has  not  been  dried  sufficiently 
the  berries  turning  out  very  soft  and  green. 
The  sample  marked  Aheokuta  is  however  smaller,  in 
size,  hard  and  very  coated,  and  has  the  usual 
growth  of  African  Oolfee. 
Most  of  the  berries  are  shaped  like  Liberian,  and 
only  a very  few  are  of  the  Arabic  kind. 
from  its  appearance  we  should  think  this  lot 
must  have  been  affected  by  drought  or  probably  the 
soil  is  not  moist  enough  which  would  account  for 
its  poor  appearance. 
Liberian  Coffee  can  be  cleaned  and  sized  here 
in  Loudon,  but  please  urge  thorough  drying  before 
shipment. 
For  low  lying  districts  the  Maragogipe  (Brazil) 
kinds  promise  well,  and  where  it  has  been  tried  it 
has  given  belter  results  than  liberian,  but  both 
samples  that  you  sent  would  find  a market,  especially 
if  better  cured. 
We  are,  Dear  Sir,  Yours  faithfully, 
LEWIS  A PEAT 
D.  Morris,  Esqr.,  Royal  Gardens,  Kew. 
It  is  a most  important  tiling  to  have  the  beans 
thoroughly  dried  as  will  be  seen  in  the  report; 
this  can  easily  be  carried  out. 
Abeokuta  Coffee  is  evidently  different  to  the 
Liberian  Coffee,  when  at  Abeokuta  I had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  a small  plot  of  these  two  varieties 
of  Coffee  growing  together,  and  one  could  at  once 
see  that  Abeokuta  was  very  different  to  Liberian 
in  growth  and  appearance. 
In  appendix  I.  1 give  a report  on  two  Coffee  planta- 
tions which  I visited  on  my  return  from  Abeokuta 
COFFEE  PLANTATIONS  IN  THE 
COLONY  OF  LAGOS. 
It  will  probably  be  interesting  to  record  the 
advancement  made  in  Coffee  plantations  in  this 
Colony,  which  have  originated  through  the  es- 
tablishment of  this  Botanical  Station, 
When  returning  from  Abeokuta  His  Excellency 
the  Acting  Governor  gave  me  permission  to  visit 
two  plantations  situated  near  the  Ado  river. 
The  first  one  1 visited  was  at  Soto,  and  is  owned 
bv  the  Haro  Estates  Plantations  Co.  Ltd,  it  was 
commenced  in  1892,  and  is  under  the  management 
of  a European.  The  manager  Mr.  Punch  took  me 
round  and  kindly  gave  me  quarters  for  the  night. 
Mr  Punch  calculates  that  he  has  150  acres 
under  cultivation  which  includes  50,u00  plants  of 
Coffea  liberica,  these  plants  are  in  different  stages 
of  growth,  1,200  plants  are  three  years  old  and 
are  nroducing  a fine  crop  of  large  bold  berries. 
5 000  trees  are  two  years  old  and  are  m a very 
h’ealtv  and  flourishing  condition,  these  also  are  pro- 
ducinc  berries,  these  are  doing  remarkably  well 
when  taking  into  consideration  that  a crop  is  ex- 
nected  much  before  three  years,  9,000  plants  were 
planted  out  last  year  and  3(3,000  during  the  present 
^^Aliout  1 000  Coffea  Arabica  are  planted  out,  these 
have  produced  good  crops  of  berries  which  are  of 
^°Cocoa^'s  also  being  grown  1500  plants  have  been 
planted  out  and  their  appearance  is  everything  that 
could  be  desire  ! for  young  plants. 
Rubber  (rces:— Ceara  rubber,  Maniliot  Glaziovii  are 
also  being  cultivated,  700  trees  have  been  planted 
out  and  are  doing  exceedingly  well,  a few  plants 
of  Ficus  elastica  have  made  considerable  growth. 
AViaVs— Pine  apples,  the  cultivated  varieties  of 
this  fruit,  are  grown  to  a small  extent,  and  pro- 
duce fruit  of  good  size  and  flavour. 
The  work  is  being  carried  out  systamatically, 
good  roads  cut,  shelter  belts  left,  and  planting  and 
holeing  being  attended  to,  and  carried  out  properly. 
The  ground  is  kept  free  from  weeds  as  much  as 
possible. 
Nurgerieti: — Seedling  plants  of  Coffee  in  bed® 
number  about  10,000  large  nurseries  are  being  made 
made  for  the  reception  of  seeds  for  supplying  plants  to 
further  extend  the  plantations,  Mr.  Punch  hopes 
to  raise  50,000  plants. 
The  plantations  are  worked  at  the  present  time 
by  about  70  Kroo  and  Native  labourers. 
Judging  from  the  healthy  appearance  of  the  plants, 
and  their  development  since  they  have  been  planted 
out,  the  soil  must  be  everything  that  could  be  de- 
sired, and  well  suited  to  the  cultivation  of  Coffee 
and  other  plants. 
The  work  is  very  creditable  to  Mr.  Punch  who 
takes  great  interest  in  his  work,  and  who  was 
pleased  to  see  me  to  obtain  information  on  many 
points. 
I next  visited  the  plantations  the  property  of 
A.  C.  Campbell  & Co.,  situated  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river  and  about  1 hour  distant  from  the 
town  of  Ajilete.  I visited  this  plantation  in  the 
early  part  of  1893,  and  reported  on  it,  then  pre- 
parations were  being  made  for  planting  out  during 
the  rains,  I could  see  a marked  improvement  since 
my  first  visit,  and  considerable  work  had  been 
done. 
Mr  Campbell  offered  me  every  facility  and  was 
pleased  to  see  me  visuing  the  plantation.  Mr. 
Campbell  states  that  he  has  160  acres  under 
cultivation  most  of  these  being  planted  with  li- 
berian Coffee,  which  number  about  67,000  plants, 
and  are  represented  in  three  stages  of  growth, 
13,000  of  these  plants  were  planted  out  in  1893  and 
are  in  a most  flourishing  condition  the  berries 
are  well  matured  and  of  good  size.  In  1894,  22,000 
Coffea  liberica  were  planted  out  and  are  doing 
well,  32,000  have  been  planted  in  their  jaermanent 
place  during  the  present  year,  the  plants  are  look- 
ing very  satisfactory  for  the  time  of  year. 
Here  also  are  a few  plants  of  Coffea  Arabica, 
they  have  done  so  well  that  Mr.  Campbell  intends 
to  extend  the  plantation  and  plant  more  of  this 
kind. 
Nurseries: — About  25,000  plants,  of  Coffea  liberica 
are  in  beds  large  enough  to  transplant. 
Vanilla: — Vanilla  planifolia,  these  were  obtained 
from  the  Batanic  Station  and  put  in  a shady  and 
cool  place  in  the  plantation,  here  they  have  made 
enormous  giowth,  and  have  been  doing  so  well 
that  Mr.  Campbell  anticipates  planting  out  an 
acre  with  this  valuable  plant. 
Kola  : — Kola  acuminata  about  600  of  these  have 
been  planted  under  the  shade  of  forest  trees. 
300  plants  of  Cocoa  have  also  been  planted  out 
to  ascertain  their  suitabilily  of  further  cuitivation. 
The  plantation  is  kept  in  a clean  condition  free 
from  weeds,  the  soil  here  too  is  rich  in  vegetable 
matter,  it  is  pure  forests  land,  and  several  streams 
pass  through  the  plantation,  which  are  very  useful 
in  watering  the  nuvseries. 
The  work  has  progressed  considerably  since  my 
previous  visit;  and  ihe  work  carried  out  by  Mr. 
Campbell  is  vrey  creditable  indeed.  This  i)lantation 
is  worked  by  45  labourers. 
Insects:  — To  a small  extent  these  exist  in  both 
plantations’  the  borer  is  the  most  destructive,  but 
there  are  very  few  plants  attacked  by  it,  on  its  first 
appearance  it  should  be  at  once  got  rid  of.  Mealy 
bug  and  scale  attacks  some  of  the  trees’  also  a 
peculiar  caterpillar  at  certain  season  of  the  year 
devour  the  leaves. 
H,  MILLEN, 
Curator,  Botanic  station 
Botanical  Station,  Ebute  iMetta  ,23rd  October,  1895. 
(To  be  continued.) 
