Analyses of Books. 
298 
[May, 
combination of beauty with neatness or “ tidiness” is one of the 
most difficult tasks that man or even woman can attempt. It is 
also found that a love for the beautiful is not common nor highly 
developed where ultra-tidiness is rampant. 
It must be remembered that a great part of the time and atten- 
tion of the author, Mr. H. Pascoe, the Government Botanist, is 
taken up with experiments on the acclimatisation of valuable 
trees and plants from other tropical or sub-tropical countries, and 
in improving and ennobling species which are either aboriginal 
or have been introduced some time ago. We learn that the nut- 
meg tree is fully naturalised, and proves exceedingly productive. 
The yield per tree is over 20 lbs. of nutmegs weighed as ready 
for the market, and worth, on an average, 2s. 2d. per lb. Allow- 
ing on thirty female trees per acre, this signified a return of £60 
yearly per acre. 
Concerning the Liberian coffee ( Cojfea liberica) we find some 
interesting particulars. There is much less uncertainty with it 
as regards the “ setting” of the fruit than occurs with Cojfea 
arabica, and the tree prospers at a lower altitude. On the other 
hand, the proportion of the hull and husk and of the “ parch- 
ment” is greater in the Liberian species. In flavour it appears 
inferior to the Arabian berry. The samples tested were distinctly 
wanting in the fine piquant aromatic flavour characteristic of 
Moka and the fine Trinidad Creole coffee. The comparative analysis 
of the two kinds, as given by Professor McCarthy, F.C,S., the 
Government Analyst, shows that, whilst the Arabian berry con- 
tains 1-65 per cent, of caffeine the Liberian has only 077. The 
latter kind is, however, valued for mixing. It may be remarked 
that in France, and to some extent in America, different growths 
of coffee are judiciously blended. The only “blending” we 
understand in England is smothering the aroma of coffee under 
loads of chicory. 
Attempts have been made to introduce into Trinidad the 
Litchee (N ephelium Litchee), and though the climate is too uni- 
formly hot, the fruits have been delicious, resembling a high 
class muscat grape in consistence and flavour. As may be con- 
cluded from Professor McCarthy’s analysis, these fruits, being 
rich in levulose and tartaric acid, seem likely to prove in China, 
Mauritius, Queensland, &c., a suitable material for wine. An 
efficient substitute for the grape is at present greatly to be 
desired. 
The Chinese wax-tree ( Stillingia sebifera ) lives in Trinidad, 
but does not reach full vigour. In a climate less completely 
tropical it will, doubtless, be worthy of extensive cultivation, as 
its wax is of fine quality and is produced in abundance. We 
regret that lack of space does not allow us to notice the reports 
on the improvement of the cacao-crop by selection of strain, by 
improved culture, and by greater care in curing the beans, as 
also the experiments on the introduction of the African oil-palm, 
