January i, 1892.] 
THE TROPICAL AQRICULTURT8T. 
5os 
^ 
To tht Editor, 
COFFEE CULTIVATION IN THE NEW 
HEBEIDBS. 
Sfinto, New Hebrides, Oot. 30tb. 
Sin, — As many old oofloo planters appear to be 
casting about for new soil and climate it might 
not be out of place to bring under their notice 
this island, which has upwards of 2,000 square 
miles of country, much of which is highly mineralized 
soil with any elevation up to 6,000 feet. 
We have the same minerals as are found in 
New Caledonia, but no open country as on that 
island. The highest peaks here are completely 
overgrown with vegetation. 
The timber is small and all soft wood. The 
banyan is the largest tree we have, and the ra- 
moindcr are aouoia, wild fruits, and mostly the 
bastard cotton tree. 
We have between ,'iO and 00 acres cleared, the 
cost of which baa been from 25s to 30s per acre, 
that is with native labourers who work freely for 
payment, of which the standard is one stick of 
tobacco per hour. We have an average of 60 
daily without intermission, but the number 
often roaches 160 and over : these are com- 
posed of different tribes who work in gangs. 
Of course no one would depend entirely upon native 
labour for any importaut work, but the facilities 
here for opening up the country and cutting 
roads by this means are worth consideration, as 
they thoroughly understand this part of the work and 
can work like demons at it for five or six hours. 
Any planter should bring a certain amount of labour 
with him, and with proper attention be can rely upon 
the natives for the bulk of the first year or two's hard 
Work, The rainfall is considerable here; a drought of 
10 days is an exceptional evint, and if anyone speaks 
against this island or the climate, it is most likely 
to bo the Fijians who would object to see it prosper. 
We have some acres of young Coffee Arabics 12 
months old, but at a low elevation owing to there 
being no roads to the hUIs which are only three 
miles from ns. Wo had 30,000 fine young seedlings 
coffee in the nursery from seed obtained from 
Ceylon, but on the recommendation of Mr, C. P. 
Atkinson, who was round here, we had them all 
completely destroyed for fear of the hemileia 
vattatrix being introduced in the seed; these we 
have replaced with seed from Calcutta and other 
places known to bo free from disease. Of course 
the drawback here just now is the want of 
some settled government, but this would follow 
immediately if any desire is shown by the 
planting community to make use of the land. 
At present the majority of settlers are composed of 
inexperienced English, French and Colonials (and 
the mission stations), all of which are likely to be 
i|?norod by the Home Government, but lot a bona 
nde intending planter come here and state his wants 
and he is sure to receive attention. 
We feel sure if some of your experienced planters 
saw this island and realized the position, compared 
With the interior of some oounlries where trans- 
port is difficult, they would never allow the French 
nation to have a say in the matter of annexation, 
and it is these northern islands that the French 
“lost desirous of securing, 
The object of the formation of the Australasian 
“^ln^idas Company some two years since was, 
1 believe, to encourage British settlement, as the 
rteneh settlors were likely at that time to predomi- 
61 
nate. We have a monthly steam serviee with 
Sydney running in connection with the boats to 
and from Fiji, but more trade is wanted, and the 
islands are well worthy of more notice. — Yours 
faithfully, POWELL BEOS. 
UNDULY NUMEEOUS BREAKS OF TEA. 
88, Mincing Lane, E. C. London, Nov. ISth. 
Sib, — In the interests of all connected with the 
Ceylon Tea Industry we would call serious atten< 
tion through your valuable columns, to what hap- 
pened last Tuesday, when abont 19,000 packages 
were catologued for sale, and buyers had to taste 
nearly 800 samples! With the result that the 
auctions lasted from 12 o'clock till 5; and as the 
Trade were unable physically to value a large 
proportion of the teas offered competition was very 
dull and prices were unduly depressed. 
We have frequently referred in our circulars to 
this vital question of the size of breaks — but the 
time has now come when something must be dona 
or the industry will suiler i proposals are being 
made to render tbe Ceylon sales on Thursdays 
Independent of tbe Indian— an advisable change — 
but he shall bo unable to combat this difficulty in the 
future unless we have the cordial co-operation of 
planters in reducing the number of samples by every 
means in their power. — Yours faithfully, 
W. JAS.* HY. THOMPSON. 
INFEEIOE CEYLON TEAS. 
13, Rood Lane, London, E. C., Nov, 20th, 
Dear Sib,— W e forward you by tonight's mail 
samples of extremely common Ceylon tea. The 
prices realised by these teas ruled between 3d and 
fid per lb. Some of the samples represent good 
sized breaks. 
Wo have sslected these to show yon tbe poor 
quality of soma teas now arriving from Ceylon, 
and we are sure that you will agree with us when 
we say that teas of this oharaoter are doing con- 
siderable harm to the Ceylon tea industry. 
Ceylon tea has obtained a name in this country 
(or good quality which is too valuable to be trifled 
with, and we would only ask that you will use 
your powerful influence in endeavouring to impress 
upon planters the necessity of not trifling with a 
name which is so good that many industries 
would be glad to possess it.- Yours faithfully, 
GOW, WILSON A STANTON. 
INADEQUATE SAMPLING OF TEA. 
Dbab Sib,— Seeing yonr editorial on this subject in 
touigbl’s Observer (p. 149), I am reminded of the paper 
sent herewith, which has been lying on my table 
nearly a fortnight ainoe it was written. With oot- 
reot data tbe pouoil figuring might be made interesting. 
—Touts PLANTEK. 
The Fbicb and Samplino of Tba. 
Is not the cause of low prices tbe utter confusion 
and disorganization of the London market 1 All the 
wholesale traders are able to snap np lot aitor lot 
of splendid tea at their own price, so that they by 
reason of the competition which ibis engenders — in 
order to make their turn-over largo— constantly 
** bear '* the market in order to sell cheap to the 
trade. The " trade " plays the same game with the 
coDHumors, so that tea of the best quality ia (or should 
be) now everywhere proonrable for a song, and the 
consumers will never care to give more. But what 
ia at the root of all this evil f What, but the eon- 
gestion in Mincing Lane, AH the tea produced (or 
