57 * 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
[February 1892. 
Borneo and every part of the Bast and they have 
tapped Africa in different regions with the view of 
finoing a suitable soil and olimate. The latest enter- 
prise is Iho expedition of Sir Alfred Dent, organised 
in London, to explore the I'etuvian Andes with the 
same objeot, the Peruvian Governmoiit having given 
extensive tracts of land and conceisions on account of 
their failure to meet their engagements towards their 
bond-holders. In these wild regions, withont any 
roads or good Government, there is of rourse no 
labour, but that is no object where luch mighty 
interests are concerned. These enterpriziug planters 
droposo to introduce ChinFso. Should not this open 
our eyes to the bright future coffee offers ns in our 
fertile island (?) where we have a stable Government 
and labour in abundance ? 
Another very important consideration for coffee 
growers hero is the recent discovery ol rich phosphatic 
deposits (organic) at Gaspariilo. Some specimens 
recently examined have proved to contain no less 
than ao percent., and in its present condition (without 
being treated chemically) it has proved valuable as a 
mannre to garden vegetables. — Trinidad Agricultural 
Record. 
J. F. BCellf.u, of Lioking county, Ohio, in an 
article communioated to the ^fatiunal Stocktntin, 
correctly remarks that experience teaches that all 
farm crops are highly benetitted by being planted 
in a compact soil, though the degree of com- 
paction depends to some extent on the nature 
of the soil. Very heavy clay soils need loss 
compacting than some others of a lighter nature, 
as there is some danger of heavy soils becoming 
(in case of much rain) too hard if compacted 
to the extent that light soils will always require. 
On the writer's farm (which is clay loam) no 
crop is planted until the soil is first compacted 
by rolling once, and in some instances twice, 
with a heavy cast-iron roller . — Indian Agriculturist. 
Thk NU/Uibi Piantebs.— It has been a frequent 
source of annoyance to planters on the Nilgiris 
that they have been grouped with ordinary 
native ryats and land-holders, and made to pay 
their revenue or kistbandi in four equal instal- 
ments annually. The inconvenience of this system 
was often represented by the planters individually, 
and also by the Kotagiri Planters’ Association ; 
but their proposal to pay their revenue in one 
lump sum has hitherto not met with the approval 
of the Bevenue authorities. Their chief objection 
to broken payments were (a) that a single pay- 
ment in March was already sanctioned in the 
case of mixed pultabs ; and (6) that few planters 
kept any large amount of cash in hand, but 
drew funds from the Banks as occasion required, 
and therefore felt it inconvenient to pay the 
Government demand in small sums. As a rule, 
the payment of land revenue by instalments is 
utter^ unsuited to the conditions of planter life, 
and as planters are unable to adapt their financial 
arrangements to the kistbandi system, the repe- 
tition of small demands causes much irritation 
and friction- Taking these ciroumetances into 
consideration, and the almost general desire of 
all the European planters for a lump payment 
annually, it is under contemplation, as an ex- 
perimental measure, to allow pattahdars who 
pay a land revenue of not less than B50 per 
annum, to pay the amount of their kistbandi 
in one sum on the 10th March, the concession 
being liable to be withdrawn if default is made 
in any year,— ilf. A/ai(, Deo- 29- 
Tbe half-yearly meeting of the British North 
Borneo Company passed off with more unanimity 
than has been the case at similar gatherings during 
the last two years. As no criticisms were offered 
ppon the very complete and interesting statement 
which the Chairman made, it may be assumed that 
the shareholders were satisfied the directors bad 
done the best that was posFible in tbe circum- 
stances, and that their general policy meets with 
approval. The retirement of Sir Butherford Aloock 
from the chair for reasons of health was not the 
least important incident of tbe meeting, and we 
believe every one connected with tbe company will 
regret that Bir Butherford has been compelled 
through advancing years to vacate his position as 
Chairman at a time when it may be said tbe 
undertaking bo has devoted so much of his time 
and attention to has weathered tbe hard times 
a company of this nature has to contend with in 
its early days, but which has an assured future 
before it. Tbe expressions of regret with which 
Mr, Bichard B. Martin, his sucoeseor in the 
chair, accompanied his announcement of the 
fact met with a ready response on tbe part of all 
present. It will bo gathered from the report of 
the proceedings that the directors, while curtailing 
tbe expenditure as far as possible, are fully alive 
to the importance of pursuing a bold and pro- 
gressive policy in the administration of the com- 
pany's affairs. The Obaitman struck tbe right note 
when be deprecated a cbeese-paring policy which 
for tbe sake of securing a temporary profit might 
retard tbe proper development of tbe country. 
The advice, too, which he gave the shareholders 
to support, as far as was in their power, tbe 
subsidiary companies as likely to promote tbe sucoess 
of their own undertaking was practical, and will 
not, wo hope, have been given in vain. We are 
glad to note that amongst other projects tbs estab- 
lishment of a bank — long contemplated— is taking 
shape, and the Obaiiman was also in a position 
to announce that tbe railway matter is progressing 
well. The biggest cloud at tbe present time is, 
of course, the disturbance of the tobacco market. 
But there is every reason to think that the crisis 
is only temporary ; and, as it is now fully demon- 
strated the Borneo can grow tbe class of tobacco 
which is most in demand lor " covers,” when tbe 
American buyers come into tbe market again tbe 
prospects in this direction will undoubtedly 
improve — L. and C. Express, Dec. 18. 
Bib Samuel Davenpobt, k.c.m.u., gave an address 
on the “ Olive,” in tbe cultivation of which he has 
taken great pains, and in the value of which he is 
a great believer. The whole address was very 
interesting and instructivo. Ho said tbe wealth of 
a country depended on its produce of an exchange, 
able value. The natural home of the olive, ha said 
was the home of tbe vine, and (South Australia was 
peculiarly adapted (or its growth. He quoted figures 
to show bow welt olives had paid. In 1890 olives 
from 1000 tress weighed 26^ tons, about jj cwt. per 
tree. Some were young trees. The olives realised 
£212 9s, or 4 b 3d a tree. The total working expenses 
were £104 13 b lOd, the net return being £107 15 b 
2d. Planted 27fl. apart sixty trees could be put 
to the acre, and 100 would take sixteen and one- 
third acres, and the net profit would (be £6 12a per 
acre and 2s 2d per tree. The returns compared well 
with returns from French and Italian vineyards. 
South Australian oil brought more than any other 
because of its parity and richness, and gave an 
eight times better return than wheat. Olive 
cultivation was equally profitable to the growing of 
good vines. South Australian olive oil was the 
purest and richest obtainable. There were several 
excellent varieties of European olives cultivated in 
South Australia. He had thirty-four varieties. The 
olive required technical knowledge and care. Few 
countries were so well off as South Australia with 
regard to sun and natural richness of soil. More 
technical knowledge was wanted.— Z«cftan dgri- 
culturist, 
