Dec. I, 1897.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
397 
Mr. Hunter informs us that the labour supply 
during the present year is a most gratifying feature 
to coffee planters, also the improvement in navigation 
on the Lower Shire river which has taken place in 
1896-97, now makes it possible to ship coffee home 
expeditiously and safely. 
Ihe Zambezi Industrial Mission. — Mr. Alexander 
Hamilton of the Z. I. M. has furnished us with the 
following notes regardiug the large coffee plantations 
belonging to this Mission. 
“ In the ‘ Notes ’ I do not see much said about 
Trenching.' I think this is one of the most neces- 
sary, because one of the most beneficial works, that 
can be carried on in connection with coffee culture, 
especially in this Land of Drought where the sky is 
unclouded for so many months in the year. 
“ Every plantation ought to have a systematic 
course of trenching every year. It should be gone 
over at intervals, say four or five times in the course 
of the year, during the dry season, as well as the wet. 
Those who have seen the good effect this has on 
the plants, will know the efficacy of it. 
As some information as to the planting industry 
of the Zambezi Industrial Mission was requested I 
will try to give it briefly. 
“ On the Michiru Estate we have four 
centres, viz : — 
(1) Mitsidi (Headstation) with 220 acres planted. 
(2) Ailsa Craig, with 125 acres. 
(3) Maliya, with 45 acres. 
(4) -Chilingani, with 15 acres. 
In South Angoniland we have four stations grow- 
ing coffee: — 
(1) Lisungwe. We do not count the acreage on 
this station, as it has not had a fair chance yet, to 
know whether it will do or not. 
(2) Ntonda, with 128^ acres. 
(3) Chiole, with 96 acres. 
(4) Dumbole, with G6| acres. 
“ The total for the Z I. M. is thus 696 acres. 
These are our returns for the year ending 31st March, 
1897. We expect at end of next planting season, 
to have fully one million plants growing in our com- 
bined plantations. 
“ As to the prospects of coffee being successfully 
grown in South Angoniland, I have very few doubts. 
I think Chiole Plantation, for instance, will compare 
favourably with any its own age in other parts of 
B. O. A. 
“ The first coffee planted by the Z. I. M. in South 
Angoniland was during the wet season of 1894-5 and 
amounted to 15 or 16 acres. This is now in full 
beating and is giving a heavy crop. So that this 
year, another part ofB. C.A. enters the market as 
a coffee producing district. The first sample which 
has been pulped shows a very good bean.” — B. C. 
Africa Gazette, Sept. 7. 
PLANTING, Labour, &c. in the FEDER- 
ATED MALAY STATES, STRAITS. 
In forwarding the Report of the Resident- 
General (Mr, Swettenham), Sir Charles Mitchell, 
as High Commissioner, said : — 
This account of the progress of the Federated 
Malay States, during their first half year, contains, 
I submit, a record of much good work done, and fully 
justifies the important step taken on the 1st July of 
federating these States. So far as I have seen, the 
chief drawback to the new system is that questions 
requiring my decision are sometimes a long while in 
reaching me, but this is inevitable, and will diminish 
with every advance in deve'oping the means of 
communication. 1 cannot apeak too highly of the tact 
and ability shewn by the Resident- General and by 
all the Residents in overcoming difficulties, diminish- 
ing friction, and generally promoting the success of 
the Federation. The expense has been a good deal 
grea ter than I anticipated, but thegreaterpartof it is of 
the nature of capital expenditure in providing quarters 
for various Federal Officers. The charge for the 
Regiment of Malay States Guides forms, of course, a 
large part of the Federal Expenditure, but, on the 
other hfind, the cost of the x>olioe in the Viirious States 
has been diminished by the removal of their charges 
from the States to the Federation. 
Mr. F A. Swettenham, in the course of his 
annual Report, says: — 
Since last June I have travelled close nx>ou 7,000 
miles, in and about the Malay States, and I have 
therefore had opportunities of seeing, not only the 
work being done under Government control, but also 
the operations of jrrivate individuals. I have been 
specially struck by two things ; European planting 
in the Negri Sembilan and European mining in 
Pahang. Planting, esx>ecially the cultivation of 
Liberian coffee by Europeans, Chinese, Malays and 
Tamils, has made great strides during the last two 
years. The evidences of this forward movement will 
be found in all the States, even in Pahang, but I 
think the progress is most notable, or it may be only 
noticeable, in the Negri Sembilan. I am personally 
very glad that this is so, because I do not myself regard 
the Negri Sembilan as a State rich in minerals, and it is 
therefore fortunate that it has attracted planters. 
It is equally satisfactory' to know that one must go 
to Pahang to find the greatest mining enterprises 
in the Peninsula. Pahang is the State where we want 
to see progress, for it is deeply in debt, it is back- 
ward in every respect, and fears have been expressed 
that it was likely to prove a millstone round the necks 
of its helpful sisters. I do not share those glooms 
forebodings. One of the best Chinese mining capitalisty 
in the Peninsula has very recently come to terms 
with the Government of Pahang, and proposes to 
begin extensive tin mining operations in the Bentong 
distric'-. If he carries out his present intensions and 
is successful (the prospects are encouraging) great 
advantages must result from this undertaking. But 
it is as a gold country that I think Pahang will 
presently become favourably known ; a country where 
companies with capital and skilful management will 
make considerable profit. 
With the extension of planting operations, the 
labour question has become one of such importance 
that, if the Governments of the Malay States really 
meant to encourage planters, it was evident that 
something must be done to help supply them with 
labour. It is not a new question, and the Malay 
States have never been backward in their desire to 
take a fair share of the cost of introducing immi- 
grants into countries which possess no sufficient or 
reliable labour supply of their own. But unfortunately 
the matter did not rest with them ; it was necessary 10 
secure (he sympathy and assistance of the Indian 
Government, as the source from which the best supply 
was hoped to be obtained. Whilst the question was 
discussed, year afier year, Government works, espe- 
cially roads and railways, could uot wait, and, so far, 
the Government, either departmentally or through con- 
tractors, has taken advantage not only of the free 
labour that came into the country ; but, I fear, to a 
coiis.derable extent, of the labour introduced by 
planters in the Colony and Malay States. Now, how- 
ever, there seems a prospect of better things, and 
the Federated States have this year undertaken to 
find a considerable sum of money to introduce Indian 
immigrants, to strengthen the force of labour avail- 
able for their own works and the needs of the com- 
munity. I trust no further difficulties will arise, for 
the number of large estates now being opened in 
Malaya increases so rapidly that the scarcity of 
labour is likely to be increasingly felt, and if, as not 
uncommonly happens, the price of x>roduoe falls, the 
present high rate of wages cannot bo maintained. 
New Industries. — The price of tin has fallen, and 
the price of Liberian coffee has fallen, and though 
miners in Malaya can produce tin, and planters can 
grow coffee, and make a profit at existing prices, it is 
distinctly advisable that we should increase the 
number of our productions, and uot rely on these alone. 
As regards mining, there is gold, and that will xirob- 
ably take care of itself ; but we have, had to en- 
courage agriculture, and it will probably xiay us to 
