32f 
Nov. I, }8g7.] THE TROPICAL 
MR. NAFTEL’S REPORT ON DOMINICA. 
We have received botli from the Ceylon 
Secretariat (and from Mr. Naftcl direct) co[iies 
of the “Repoit of Mr. C. O. Naftel on the Forest 
Lands and Estates and A^ricnltnia.1 Capabilities 
of Dominica,” sent to ns at the reqnest of Mr. 
Templer, the Aflministrator of Dominica. The 
Report was printed after Mr. Naftel left Domi- 
nica, so that he had not the chance of seeing 
it through the press, wirioh accounts for certain 
aberrations in paragraphing. The Report itself 
is dealt with rather fully in certain of its aspects, 
hy onr London Con respondent on another page ;■ 
hut we may supplement v.’hat is there said. 
To the letterpre.‘s is preli.xel a. topographical 
maj) on which are indicated the several divisions 
with their elevation from 500 to 3,000 ft. above 
sea level ami the I'ainfall (from 67 to 190 inches) 
for which there are detailed tallies in an ajipen- 
dix. Mr. Naftel’s paper is laid out after a very 
elaborate and satisfactory fa.'hion, beginning witli 
“agenei'al description of the island” (Dominica 
is sliaped like a cacao pod) 29 hy 9 miles greatest 
length and width, the total area being 190,000 
acres — or about tlse total extent of the section of 
Ceylon between Nawalajjitiya, Adam's Peak, the 
BopatalawaPlains, Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya 
— but the highest peak in the West Indian island 
is only 4,747 feet. Roads are few and generally 
bad. Climate, temperature and rainfall are well 
reported of. So is health and .soil — the latter 
being of volcanic origin and rich. The census 
of 1891 showed a total of 26,841 persons of whom 
33.5 were white, 6,806 coloured, and 19,700 black. 
The females exceeded the males by 2,723. The 
“blacks” go to woik freely on estates — 9d to Is 
a day for men and 6d to 8d for women — task 
work preferred. Here is a typical extract : — 
I think I have now shown that, with its rich soil, 
good climaie and command of labour, Dominica 
fulfils all the conditions required for the prsfitable 
cultivation of moat tropical products. What these 
are I will show later on in this report but I propose 
first to give some attention to Arabian coffee, as it 
was at one time the principal export, and might, I 
believe, have continued to hold that position but 
that the high price of sugar led not only to che 
abandonment of the cirltivation but to the actual 
rooting out of the tv vs. it is the generally received 
opinion that the abandonment cf coffee cultivation 
here was due to the ravages of a blight; but, that this 
must be an exa,ggerated or erroneous idea, is shown 
by the fact that coffee trees are now found growing 
in the bush oir portions of estates vrhich have not been 
cultivated for 50 years or more, and that, wlien 
relieved of the jungle growth, the old tools threw up 
strong suckers w'hieh crop well as soon as they reach 
the hearing age. These remnants of the old culti 
vatioir are found in a'lncst every district in the 
Island and 'uoh vitality in so delicate a plant as 
Arabian coffee proves bo h the fertility of the soil 
and the suitability of tlie climate for its growth. 
The nearest approach_to systematic cultivation of 
01 ffee that sawv/as on Dr. W. Eee s Yv'iliiarus’s estates 
Bona Vista and Emelia. These are situated about 
five miles from Roseau cn the Leewind coast at an 
elevation of betw’eeu 1,000 to 9,0CG ft. above sea level. 
He has some of the verj’ old coffee thei'e, of v hich I 
have spoken, both of the Arabian and Mocha varieties 
and the very fair crojjs these old trees gave him led 
to his planting more. The land is said to have all 
been coffee in the old days and is general y veiy sleep 
and rocky. Its rocky nature has pie. ei ved much of 
the soil and much of it has reverted to fni,...- t or at 
any rate heavy bush. It has been opened in three 
or four small pieces, Ihs hugest of which does not, 
1 think, exceeii three acres. The oldest is about five 
years, and the youngest under two years old. Indi- 
vidual trees and small bits in the various fields are 
40 
AGRICULTURIST. 
good, but other patches, and generally there pre- 
dominate, are thin and we Aly. Some of the trees are 
evidently w'iud-blown and it is noticeable that all the 
trees that are fairly sheltered arc doing well. The 
fields have not beeir filled up with “provisions” as is 
usually done here but some bananas have keen put in 
for shade and there are a great many weeds. The 
most attention that they have ever received is, I 
uilderstand, five weedings a year. 
Of Liberian coffee, Mr. Naftel makes a good 
report : — 
This variety was introduced into the Island during 
the “ seventies ” by the late Dr. Imruy and a few trees 
were planted on his small experimental garden St. 
Aroment. They are now about 20 years old and are 
still bearing well though they have not been oared for 
as well as they w ould have been if there had been a 
large acreage under the cnltiva.tion. The Planters 
have only recently begun to give much attention to 
this coffee, many having kept to their old staple, sugar, 
in the hope (hat prosperity would retunr to it. 
Others, more enterprising, have taken to lime 
growing which in its early days gave very large profits 
and still pays well, though the price during the last 
few years has fallen. There is consequently as yet 
no extent of land under Liberian toffee, but it is now 
being seen that it will pay to grow and, I believe, the 
next year I r so will show a good increase in the acreage. 
There is hardly a place in the Island where it will not 
thrive and there are large tracts of virgin forest 
where it will flourish as well as anywhere in the world. 
The elevation best suited for Liberian Coffee here 
will be found to be from sea level up to 1,500 ft. but I 
am not prepared to say that it will not do well even 
higher than this. There is, however, no necessity to 
go into lands higher than 1,500 ft. for there are 
thousands of acres in the Island below this, the best 
being in the Northern district on the Lower Slopes of 
Morne Diablotin. 
We ireed not refer to what Mr. Naftel say.s 
about “ Possible Enemies of Coffee,” or on the 
“proper cultivation of coffee”; attd vve must 
postpone our notice of tea, coconuts (nuts sell 
for only .3s per lOO !), nutmegs, other spices, 
cardamoms, tobacco and limes (a prolitabU: iudusti y 
for lime juice). Tliere is much under these liead- 
iiigs to be quoted more sjrecially for our Tropical 
Aqviculturist. lAr the present we cannot do 
better thasi close with the .summary which Mr. 
Naftel affords of the various planting districts, 
into which he divides the little island, with refer- 
ence to furtlier .settlement, as follows 
I. — Extensive flat — sheltered from prevailing winds 
— well watered — suited for Arabian "coffee — 2,500 to 
3,000 ft. 
II, III, IV. — Long valleys running into No. 1 — 
suited for Liberian coffee, cocoa, kola, nutmegs, limes 
& oranges. — 800 to 1,200 ft. 
V. — Large plateau suited for same products as 
II, III, IV.— well watered an 'heltered.— 500 to 
1,500 ft. 
VI. — Slopes close under Morne Duiei tin sheltered 
—suited for Arabian coffee.— 2,000 to 3,000 ft. 
VII. — Undulating slopes North of Basin Will- 
heavy forest— very good soil— parts possibly good for 
tobacco — excellent tea land — sheltered aird well 
watered. — COO to 1,800 ft. 
VIII. Pagoua Valley — well watered and sheltered — 
heavy timber— tea land.— !)00 to 1,300 ft. 
IX. — Layon Flat — large extent of lint land— well 
watered and shelte ed— heavy timber.— 800 to 1.000 ft. 
X. Very fine U nd~ UHriicnlai ly suiled for Arabian 
coffee — well timbned and sheltered. — 2,000 to 3,000 ft. 
XI. Fine extent of t-'.ndul,i.ting land at foot of Trois 
Pioons Range sneitered and well suited for Arabian 
coff K —1 ,8' (I i.T 2,800 ft. 
M II.— Contiu atioii of No. IX.— well watered with 
ri i: .-^uil.— i.OOU to 2 000 ft. 
XIII. — Head (.f Roseau valley— very broken land 
hui parts are suited for cocoa and Libeiiair coffee 
1,000 to 1,500 ft. 
