. May 2, 189 s.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
SCIENCE MANURING. 
Certainly, one of the most valuable con- 
tributions to the discusssion of this .subject that 
we have read for a long time us that printed 
elsewhere above Mr. A. Baur’s name. It is a 
letter that ought to be carefully considered by 
every Proprietary Planter and responsible Estate 
Manager in the island. Not simply is it well 
to understand the action of fertilisers aright ; 
but immensely more important is it to make 
sure that in spending money on certain costly 
ingredients, we are not doing the wrong thing 
— wasting our money in fact, or so using it 
that the return tor our investment cannot be 
reaped for many years to come. Mr. Baur 
shows how all this may happen, and so plainly 
that he who runs may read to understand. Bub 
we may be allowed to supplement what he write.s 
with the words of one of the most illustrious 
Agricultural Chemists of the day, who writes 
“In 2o or 30 years, Europe has exhausted the 
supply of Peruvian guano. It is now doing its best 
to use up the available supply of nituate of soda 
which is being brought over from the coast of Chili. 
By the replacement of gas by electricity another 
powerful agent of fertility — sulphate of ammonia- 
will soon disappear. What then shall become 
of us with the ever-increasing desire of increasing 
the fertility of our soils '! The prospect might 
be alarming, if it were not for the micro- 
organisms, whose existence we have so long 
i<inored and whose real importance ive only begin 
to understand. As a matter of fact we can look 
forward now without the least fear to the 
exhaustion of those artihcial sources of nitrogen, 
which we considered indispensable to ensure good 
crops. We can proclaim, not as a prophecy, but 
with certitude : the reign of the nitrogenous 
manures is finished and that of the bacterias 
commences." 
Still further, we may pub the matter after a 
more practical fasliion still, We understand that 
one of the most approved preparations of artilicial 
manures hitherto applied for tea in Ceylon 
consists of 7 to 8 per cent. Nitrogen, 2 to 3 
per cent Phosphoric Acid, and 4 or 5 
per cent of Potash Now let this be 
contrasted with what is formally recommended 
by the well-known Analytical Chemist Mr. John 
liu"hes, and the immense difference cannot fail 
to be realised ; — 
3 % Nitrogen ; 10 % Phos. Acid ; 1,5 % Potash, 
Still, there is nothing like a practical demonstra- 
tion, and we would therefore recommend a 
trial of each mixture on an acre or two of the 
same tea land -witli as nearly as possible the 
same conditions. 

COFFEE CULTURE IN HAWAII. 
Consul-General William Hayward, at Honolulu, 
has been studying the possibilities of coffee culture 
in the Hawaiian Islands. He has spent some time 
inspecting the different coffee plantations to find if 
coffee could be grown profitably and the amount of 
capital retiuired for its successful cultivation. The 
investi<rations was undertaken as a result of numerous 
inquiries from this country. The report is, therefore, 
very largely advisory in character. In part Mr. 
Hayward says : “ There is no doubt in my mind, and 
I think it has been demonstrated, that coffee will 
grow in many parts of the islands, and, if properly 
9-4 
751 
cultivated, will bear crops which will compare favor- 
ably with those produced in other countries. Still, 
the industry is so young that it is yet a question what 
per cent v/ill be realised on the investment. 
Estimates range from 12 to 75 per cent. In question- 
ing the planters on the subjects which had been 
decided, 1 found there was an unanimity of opinion, 
but no two men could, off hand, give the same estimate 
and support the opinion by facts. This year’s crop 
will furnish some information as to the value of 
Hawaiian coffee in the markets of the world. The 
production, heretofore, has been so small that the 
price which has been paid is no criterion of what the 
standard value will be. The prices received have 
probably been for perfect coffee, the broken berries 
being reserved for home consumption. I believe, 
however, that the planters will lose nothing by proper 
grading. The quality of the coffee raised here is 
of the best. I was shown a letter from a prominent 
coffee dealer in New York to whom had been sent 
several samples of Hawaiian coffee for appraisement. 
He thought after proper grading the best would bring 
the New York 22 cents per pound. 
“I do not think it advisable for anyone to come 
here with the sole object of raising coffee unless he 
has at least $5,000. It would be better if he had 
$!0,000 to $15,000, or even $20,000. With that 
amount of money, enough has already been accom- 
plished to demonstrate that coffee raising will be pro- 
fitable. One can eventually become a coffee planter on 
much less if he will raise other products on which he can 
quickly realize, only planting coffee as he means will 
permit. 
“ I visited a place where I saw as fine a lot of corn 
as ever grew. It was planted between one-year-old 
coffee trees. The owner told me that he got two 
crops a year, for which found a ready sale. The land 
produce each year $100 worth of corn per acre. Pota- 
toes would, I am sure, grow well on this land and 
command a good price. 1 had a conversation with a 
gentleman who is now engaged in raising fruit in 
California. He had just returned from Hawaii, 
having taken about the same trip I did. He told me 
he had bought a lot and intended to put it in fruit 
and coffee, as he felt confident that the fruit would be 
a success, even if the coffee was a failure. 
“There is a class of people in the United States 
with certain incomes who, for reasons of health, are 
compelled to leave their homes in winter for a milder 
climate. Coffee raising to them, I think, would be a 
good thing. Tlie climate is mild without being ener- 
vating. An investment of from $10,000 to $15,000 
would buy a place already started, which would pay 
enough to allow of the employment of a competent 
manager, the expenses of a winter’s residence on 
the place, and more than legal interest on the 
investment. 
“ To the man who has decided to embark as 
a coffee planter I have a few words of advice 
to offer. Do not under any circumstance commit 
yourself to the purchase of land until you have 
thoroughly gone over every foot of it, and do not 
do it then until you have visited all the coffee dis- 
tricts. While coffee, apparently, will grow in all the 
districts, you will be surprised to find how much 
they differ climatically. My advice would be to land 
at Honolulu and, after ascertaining all you can from 
the government and private parties as to land which 
is on the market, take a steamer for the island of 
Hawaii, buy a horse and employ some reliable person 
to pilot you around the island, visiting as many places 
as you can. You will be surprised to find how much 
you Will have learned. You will also see how the 
planters live and work, and will be better able to 
decide whether the life will be agreeable to you. I 
do not believe everyone is fitted to be a coffee planter, 
and many will foolishly plunge into the business only 
to realize, in a few months, when too late to recede, 
that ten hours, work every day in a clearing with, in 
some instances, your nearest neighbour a mile or two 
away, with no means of visiting him, save over a miser- 
able trail, is far different from life in a big city.’’— . 
A’ioiYewsjEeb. 23 . i . 
