Sept, i, 1897.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTORIST. 
183 
would probably in the first instance be much divergence 
from the ‘ vpe planted, but by duly excising all the 
trees of the poorest kitids, we should eventually obtain 
a first class strain, and once obtained, such a strain would 
be of the greatest possible value, for it assuredly 
will be suiced to our soil. Probably there are few 
planters who would be willing to carry out the 
measures v,!ii,-h are essentially necessary in a work 
of this kind. Some may say we have at present 
all we require. One answer to this should suffice, 
and this answer ie, that what can be done with 
one plant cmi be done with another. We have 
seen the yield of sugar in the beet, improved 
beyond all e.xpectation, and we have very promis- 
ing results in our seedling cane experiments, and 
we see daily in European countries that all 
varieties of agri-horticnltural produce o.re being 
improved and made more productive, and it 
cannot, I think, bo truly shown that it is 
impossible to improve West Indian cultures. 
If we do not look out and try and improve our 
produce in quality and quan'ity, we may wake up 
some fine morning and find that other countries 
are a ioug way ahead, and that the Cacao of 
Trinirlad ba’i lost its long held prestige. It is, 
however, fairly confessed that such work as the 
raising of improved kinds of Cacao, is work which 
is not suited to be carried out on private establish- 
ments, and can best be done in public institutions, 
which are not alone dependent upon what they rea- 
lize by produce IVliat private planter would be willing 
to sacrifice half th ' trees in a plantation, because they 
did not yield the exact qua.ntity, or quality, or grow 
with the desired vigo-r ? Yet this is one of the most 
essential of the operations which would have to be 
carried out, if we are to succeed in quickly raising 
standard types of the very highest class. Work of this 
kind faithfully an] properly carried on, is full justifi- 
C'tiou for the exisieuce of Public Establishments 
such as Botanic Gardens, Experimental Stations, 
Farms, or S.rhools, outside of the direct teaching 
they afford. Work of the same kind is done in 
Europe for the agricultural classes by the pro- 
fessional seed grower or raiser, who is well paid 
by the so.le of seeds of any new thing he may 
raise, but as there is little hope of such instit- 
utions being commenced here, owing to small area, 
it devolves upon public institutions to supply the want. 
If Trinidad Cacao is actually declining in quality, 
and if it is true that owing to the prominence of 
the bitter flavour, manufacturers are not able to use 
so much of it as formerly, it is high time that such 
work as the improvement of the quality of our 
produce should be commenced. There can, I think, 
be no doubt whateve-. .vsn from the few samples 
on the table, that Tunidad should grow generally 
a better quality of Cacao, and obtain a far better 
aver, age price for its produce. Some may say, can we 
do it? I answer, it can be done. How are racehorses 
raised ? How are Zebu, Shorthorn, Devon, and 
other breeds of cattle raised ? How are Dorkings, 
Game, Cochins, and other varieties of fowls 
produced ? How are new kinds of Tomatos. 
Peas, Corn, Cabljage. etc., raised? If not in 
the same way and under exactly the same prin- 
ciples; and there appears no good reason why 
we should not have high grade Cacao and pro- 
per cstabli Umeiits for producing it, and 
not to be defendent upon the irresponsible contractor 
for the kind of trees we grow and the sample 
we send to market. Improvements as a rule do 
rot come quickly, and many persons wolud 
probably wax impatient, but it is easy to point 
out that similar institutions in other lauds have fully 
proved their value, by the improvements effected in 
all classes of vegetable produce, and there does not 
(xist, in my opinicu, any good reason why ibey 
sh'.uld not be eqiiJly succes.sful in Trinidad. There 
are, I kiiov/. may points which might properly have 
been touclr. d upon in a paper of this kind, which 
I have been compelied to omit ; but I trust that in 
any discussion that may follow, these omissions may 
be brought forward, for it is but proper that every 
should one add his mite for the benefit of Trinidad. 
names of VAKIET1E3 EXHIBITED. 
No. 1. — Puerto-Cabello — No 
(clayed) No 
No. 2. — Maracaibo 
No. 3. — Venezuelan (clayed N j 
in Trinidad) 
No. 4. — Ariba 
No. 5. — San Antonio No. 
No. 6. — Para 1 t, No. 
No.7.-Para f 
No. 8, — Caracas No. 
No. 9. - African No. 
No. 10. — Ceylon 
No. 11. — Bahia (Ecuador) No. 
No. 12. — Guavaquil(Ecu idor) 
No. 13.— No. 2— » No. 
No. 14.— No. 3 — S Trinidad. No. 
No. 15. — No. 4 — ) No. 
No. Iti. — Grenada No. 
No. 17. — Grenada No. 
No. 18. — Dominica No 
No. 19. — No. 1 — ) No. 
No. 20.— No. 2— „ No. 
No. 21.— No. 3 - (Trinidad. 
No. 22. — No. 4— j No. 
No. 23. — Special Trinidad No. 
(R.B.G.) 
24. — Trinidad (Cadbury- 
. 25. — Afri..an — via Ham) 
burgh 
. 26. — Tiger Cacao (Theo- 
broma bicolor,) Nica- 
ragua 
27. — Nicaraguan Creole 
28- — Trinidad (blended) 
(R.B.G.) 
29. —Kola 
30. — Coffee (sample si? 
years old) 
31. — Coffee (sample of 
1896) 
32. — Mexican (R) 
33. — Java (R) 
34. — Cariipano (R) 
35. — Puerto Gabello (R) 
36. - -Guayaquil (R) 
37. — Bahia (R) 
38 —Trinidad (R) 
39. — (L.R.C.) Trinidad 
40. — Grenada (R) 
41. — Dominica (R) 
42. — Para (R) 
BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA ; NYASSA- 
TANGANYIKA PLATEAU : 
CULTIVATION AND PROGEES.8. 
This plateau, from KarongaonLake Nyassa toKituta 
on Lake Tanganyika, is 240 miles long, the greater 
part of which belongs to the British South Africa 
Company. The Company have five stations on the 
road, viz,, Nyala, Ikawa, Mambwe, Mpanga and Fort 
Abercorn, At each station there is a white man and 
twenty native police, armed with breechloaders. The 
plateau is from 4,000 to 5,000 feet above the sea- 
level, and is healthy enough for Europeans. I am 
living at Mambwe, having recently come here from 
Mpanga, eighteen miles off, where I have been since 
last .May. There is a good garden and orchard. 
Bananas, lemons, guavas, oranges, strawberries, etc., 
all do well. The soil is fertile ; anything almost 
will grow. All sorts of English vegetables do well, 
potatoes best of all. Wheat will grow well on the 
high ground. The London Mission grow a lot of 
wheat, and supply all the white people here with 
meal at 24d a lb. Everyone could grow his own, 
but there are no mills in the country. Labour is 
plentiful and cheap — eight yards of calico a month. 
This costs about 5d a yard or less, and the men 
feed themselves. Their chief food is a small grain 
like poppy seed, called malesi, pumpkins and mealies. 
The Trans-Continental Telegraph is being pushed on 
as quickly as possible itnder Major Forbes, who is 
Administrator for this part under the British South 
Africa Company. It is a huge undertaking, from 
Salisbury in Mashoiialand to Uganda. There is a weekly 
post both ways ; a letter'takes about two months to 
England, but delays often occur through the steamers 
on Lake Nyassa, and weather. I am glad to say we 
are to have horses up here soon. At present there is 
only one, and it has been here for over three years. 
I think hor,3es ought to do well.— B, B. D.^Natal 
Mercury, June 18. 
Plants and Their History.— The first 
volume of an interesting w'oi k by Professor 
Ch. Jorets on “Plants: their History, Usages, 
and Symholisiii in the Ancient ami Middle 
Ages,” has just been imhlisheil. It refers to the 
Oriental world, and especially to Asia and 
Egypt. The suhjecc is treated from the phaniia- 
centical, agriciiltnial, alimentary, ami other 
points of view in a very curious ami exhaus- 
tive manner . — Chemist and Druggist, dn\j \Q. 
