346 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Nov. I, 1897. 
Banana Flouh. — A new industry, the preparation 
of banana flour, has been inaugurated on a trial 
scale by one of the European coHee planters. G-ood 
quotations have been given in England for small 
samples, and hopes are entertained of the success 
of the experiment. 
Mr. F. D, Osborne presented samples of some 
particularly wtll-oured Liberian coffee, grown near 
Gopeug, in the Kinta District, as to which the Curator 
writes, “this coffee has been fetching a better price 
in Singapore thair any other produced in the Straits. 
The high value placed on it has been due to its 
colour and not to any superiority of the bean.’’ He 
continues, “ the Liberian coffee grown on the hill at 
Waterloo Estate apiparently has a finer bean than 
any from the plains. Some trees planted by Mr. Cecil 
Wray in 1880-81 are well-grown, vigorous bushes, 
in full bearing, while trees of tour years old, planted 
by Sir Graeme Elphinstone, on the same estate, on 
land cleared twelve years previously, compare most 
favourably with bushes of the same age on the low 
lands, planted on newly cleared forest land.” 
Exports for the years 1895 and 1896. 
Article. 
Total 1895. 
Total 1896. 
Agricultural I’roduce. 
Betelnnta . . 
9,019 
23,806 
Tamarind 
— 
60 
Cotton .. 
— 
32 
Fruits . . 
— 
9,162 
Patchouli . . 
— 
1,831 
Tapioca 
— 
60 
Coconuts . . 
— 
3,354 
Copra . . 
— 
5,001 
Indigo 
13,377 
— 
Coffee 
80,759 
80,112 
Pad! 
32,443 
267,136 
Sugar, Brown . . 
593,329 
546,196 
188,357 
,, White 
205,263 
,, Cane and Tops 
Tobacco 
2,187 
27 
— 
— 
Pepper 
14,836 
14,032 
SALT IN AGRICULTURE. 
A planting correspondent write.s : — “You have 
placed agriculturi.sts of all classes under a great 
obligation by the handy compilation you have 
iust issued Irom the Observer Press, Oi.e great 
obstacle to ellective and persistent agitation on 
any matter, is the diflicnlty of bringing the in- 
formation hearing on it, ami scattered in diverse 
ephemeral publications, into a focus. In respect 
of the value of salt for agricultural purposes, 
of the restrictions ]>laced on its sale for other 
than culinary pnipose.s through the Government 
inonoiioly, and of tire manner in which .similar 
obstructions have been overcome in Germany, 
admittedly one of the most progressive and scien- 
tilic countries in the world, we have ail the in- 
formation now collected in a handy fo;minthe 
little booklet, which is cheap at fO cents. Its 
pnhlicaiioii slioiild not only s-trengtlien the hands 
of those who are agitating for a redaxation of 
the stringency of the conditions under which 
salt is now' sold, but it should also stimulate 
inquiry on the part of planters of all products, 
so that they might test the utility of salt in 
the cultivation of different products. The value 
of salt for stock is beyond all question, and is 
admitted and recognised in all countries.” 
RUBRER cultivation in CEYLON. 
We give below the papers embodied in 
Sessional Rajier compiled in answer to 
Mr Cliamiierlain’s Inief desiialcli giving cover to 
a letter from Kew. Neither Mr. Rroun and his 
able assistant, Mr. F. Lewis, nor Mr. Willis 
add much to our practical knowledge on the 
subject, although Mr. Willis’s estimate of 750 
acres being now planted with rubber in Ceylon is a 
safe one. Our latest Directory compilation gave 
631 acres and we should hope the returns we are 
just about to call for, in order to make up a fresh 
Directory estimate, will show an increase of at 
least lilty per cent in area. The e.\[)eriments 
in “tapping” promised by IMr. WiUis will he 
looked for with much interest. 
The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., to Governor 
the Eight Hon. Sir J. West Eidgeway, k.c.b., k.c.s.i. 
Downing street, Apiil 23, 1897. 
Sir, — I have the honour to enclose, for such action 
as you may think lit to take, a copy of a letter from 
the Director of the Eoj al Botanic Gardens, Kew, 
calling attention to a report on the cultivation of 
rubber-producing trees in Mexico, and suegesting that 
the subject should be entertained by your Government 
I have, Ac., J. CHAMBEELAIN 
The Director-, Eoyal Garden^', Kew, to the L’nder 
Secretary of State, Colonial Office. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, April 20, 1897. 
Sir, — You have no doubt observed that the employ- 
ment of indiarubher in the industrial arts has of 
late enormously increased. This substance is ob- 
tained in the tropical and warmer parts of the 
world from trees occurring spontaneously, and which 
have to no appreciable extent at present been sub- 
jected to cultivation. Apprehensions have there- 
fore been expressed that the supply at no distant 
date may be very much restricted. 
2. On this point without accurate information 
it is difficult to give a positive opinion, but 
it must be admitted to be extremely probable. It 
is therefore not surprisiug that projects have been 
formed to grow plantations of rubber-producing trees 
artificially. I am anxious to draw the attention of 
the Secretary of State to the account of an enter- 
prise of this kind given in the accompanying report 
by Her Majesty’s Minister in Mexico. 
3. Twenty years ago the Secietaiy of State for 
India in Council invoked the aid of this establish- 
ment to introduce the species yielding indi-aiubber in 
South America into India. The operation was suc- 
cesfully accomplished at considerable cost. Three 
species were established in Ceylon, where they have 
since produced seed, which is available for aistribu- 
tiou. As far as I am aware, no practical result has 
followed . Yet it oaniiot be doubted that there must 
be many spots in our Eastern Colonial Po. sessions 
where rubber cultivation might be prosecuted suo- 
cesslully. I venture to thiuk that the matter is one 
to which the attention of the Governments of Ceylon 
and of the Straits Settlements might be properly 
drawn. Probably if a memorandum were issued by 
the botanical officers of these colonies pointing out 
the culture, conditions suitable to each species and 
the source from which seed could be obtained, 
planters would engage in the enterprise. 
4. In 'recent years a tree (Kickxia africana) has 
been discovered in West Africa which yields a rubber 
of excellent quality, and this has become the basis 
of a trade of great magnitude. Seeds of this tree 
have been sent from Kew to rhe Botanioal Depart- 
ments of Ceylon and of the Straits Settlements. 
— 1 am, Ac., ' W. T. Thiselton-Dyer. 
The Conservator of Forests to the Hon. the Colonial 
Secretary. 
Office of the Conservator of Forests, Colombo, May 
20th, 1897. 
Sir, — With reference to your letter No, 195 of 18th 
instant I have the honour to state that the pamphlet 
enclosed therein deals with tlie Casliiloa rubber. 
2. Tlie late Dr. Trimen recommended tlie planta- 
ion, not of Castilloa, hut of Para rubber plantations, 
and in consequence the Forest Department planta- 
tions have been made with the latter species, 
