RiL 1892.J 
1HF TftOPiCAL AQRIOULTURIST, 
777 
befo»o next rnnil-day comes round ; and if I am 
favoured with an early copy I will take oars you 
have the benelit. 
Meantime, undoubtedly Mr. Clark deserves 
credit for his greut effort, and 1 am only 
sorry that for his own sake, and that of 
tbe Peruvian Corporation, who can only want to 
set forth evorylhing correctly, he should have gone 
into print with an incorrect designation, and with- 
out due notice of his superiors, the Comtnissioners, 
and due acknowledgment of all ha owed to, and 
learned from them. 
■ ' % — ' 
A 'Jexi-Book or AaBioonTuaE. — The Royal Agti- 
cultural Society announce that the text-book on 
the " Elements o( ABriculturo " which has been I 
prepared by Dr. W. Pream, in conjunction with a 
sub-committee of its oounoil, will bo issued on the 
let of January. This work, whioh wrll consist of 
450 pages, with 300 illustrationa, should prove 
one of the most valuable works on agriculture that 
wa have. It is not intended to be— as most tfxt- 
books are— something to oram from for examina- 
tions, but a olcar and definite expoaiton of the 
prinoiploa which underlie the art of agriculture tn 
its relation to tbe toil, the plant, and the animal, 
and the various sections have been carefully re- 
vised by Fuch sound end eminent authorities as 
Sir John Lawoa, Sir John Thorold, Sir Jacob 
Wilson, Mr. Alfred Ashworth. Mr. Thomas Bell, 
Mr. Bowen-Jonca, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mias E. 
A. Ormerod, Mr, D. Pidgeon, Mr. Martin J. Sutton, 
Mr. Charles Whitehead, Dr. Voeloker, and others. 
— Chemical Trade Journal. 
Cultivation and Aoriccltukai. .Statistics 
roll Maoras PnESiPENCY. — The net area cropped in 
the several district.s of the Madras Presidency during 
the official year was 33,702, 2S0 acres, but the 
acreage under crops was 2ti,095,.')18 acres, whioh is duo 
to 2,393,238 acres Imving been cropped more than 
once. Of the grains, Arc., cultivated, rice conies first 
with an acreage of (1,159,(528 acres ; choluni or jowar 
(millet) 4,429,(184 acres ; cumbu 2,74(1,812 acres ; ragi 
1,639,109 acres; grain 137,650 acres; maize 42,040 
acres ; wheat 18,258 acres ; barley 8,534 acres ; and 
other food grains 5,358,810 acres. The lands cultivated 
with oil-soeds were 1,918,705 acres in extent ; of this 
751,986 acres were under gingelly, and 26,065 acres 
under linseed. Condiments and spices took up 375,629 
acres ; sugarcane .56,870 acres, and other sugar pro- 
duces 33,942 acres. The extent umJer cotton was 
1,737,722 acres, and under other textile fibres 91,370 
osires. Indigo was cultivated on 255,511 acres, and 
other dyes on 8,349 acres. Opium is but sparsely 
cultivated in this Presidency, and occupied only 181 
(Veres, of which 177 was in tho Kistna district, 2 in 
Anantapur and 2 in Coimbatore. Indian hemp took 
up 105 acres in Nelloro, Kuruool, North Arcot nud 
isaiem. Coffee was cultivated on 70,219 acres; cin- 
chona 13,407 acres ; tea 89,989 acres ; and tobaocu 
89,989 acres, and other drugs and n.arcotios on 12,.381 
acres. I' odder crops occupied 24,895 acres, and miscel- 
laneous food crops I8,(;3i acres. According to statis- 
tics prepared by tho Agricultui-al Department tho 
total number of bulls and bullocks in the Presidency 
during 1890-91 was 4,226,332; cows 3,888,481; mala 
buffaloes 900,036: cow buffaloes 1,497,5.30; calves and 
buffalo calves 4,458,434 ; sheep and goats 12,560,076 ; 
horsos and potiios 46,106 ; mules and donkeys 127,302 ; 
camels 12 ; ploughs 2,536,167 aud carts 443,549. — 
Madma Timts. 
The G 0 VEUN.MENT AND Auricultuke. — T lio 
Singapore Free Trees of March let, writes ; — 
It 18 to be supposed that tho Govornmont are in 
earnest in issuing, to district officers and tho British 
Residents in tho Native States, their recent circular 
relating to tho eiiconragemeut of padi cultivation. 
In connection with the Forests Department, and also 
ith the local agricultural shows at Malacisa, Jasin, 
0 ., the introduction of some systematic encourage- 
eut ol agriculturo by Governmout has been strongly 
advocated by ns, and wo also suggested that local 
committees and district officers should bo made the 
agencies for carrying the schemes recommended by 
a central board in Singapore. Something should be 
(lone, and Mr. Ridley has only to be invited to out- 
line a scheme for tho idea, so long mooted, to lake 
practical shape. The district shows, in addition to 
their social uses in bringing the people of tho district 
together and also affording much useful instruction 
by the opportunity given of examining and compar. 
ing products, display the Government in a pleasant 
paternal way, as the giver of rewards rathor than as 
a collector of revenue. That relation between Gov- 
ernment and the people cannot be too frequently 
exhibited, and with this view we would suggest that 
to fit Civil Service cadets as the district ornoera of 
tlio future they should be retained longer in Singa- 
pore and bo required to go through a course of 
instruction in economic products and agriculture 
under Mr. Ilidloy’s direction. Ceylon is far ahead 
of the Straits in the fostering of agriculture, and wo 
now extract a few passages from the report of tho 
prize distribution, presided over by the Governor, at 
the Coylou School of Agriculture. 
Extracts are then given from the speeches of Mr. 
Drirberg, Mr. Call, and Sic Arthur Havelock ; and 
our oontemporary oontinues : — 
W'ith all the natural advantages possessed by tho 
countries of the Malay PeniuauTa for the cultivation 
of many valuable products it is surely tho bnsinoss 
of Government to take upon itself tho duty of foster- 
ing and enoonragiiig agriculture in a systematic 
manner. In turning the minds of the people to tho 
cultivation of many useful products with which at 
present they may not be ivcqnainted, or to the im- 
provement of tlieir present agricultural methods, it 
should not be lost sight of that by thus importing 
fresh matters of interest into thoir life, not only are 
tho cultivators benefited materially, but influenoes 
are brought to boar of a distinctly educative and 
civilising value. And this indirect aspect of theGov- 
ernment fostering of agriculture and planting among 
tho native populations is by no means to be under-rated. 
Tropical Aoriculture in Gosta Rica is 
noticed in the following letter to our addroBS ; — 
Han Jose de Costa Rica, C. A., .Ian. 23, 1893. 
I have recently beooiuo very much interested in 
tropical agriculture by residence hero and connection 
with tho banana business. 
We ship over a million bunches yearly of what 
is known commercially as tho ‘patriota banana,’ 
a third of which comes from our own estates. Our 
• suckers ' were obtained eight or nine years ago from 
Colon. 
Nothing has been done yot by way of cultivation ex- 
cept clearing the hush twice a year and planting tho 
trees 1 5 to 20 foe t apart. We are paying grower 40c paper, 
say 25o gold, for bunches having over ten hands at 
which they make a fair profit as estates on good land 
aro supposed to pay for themselves in five years. 
Having tho general management of tho estates 
of my uncle, M. C. Keith, Esq., am anxious to try 
the improvement of the fruit by inter-crossing and 
such cultivation as tho scarcity of labor and tho 
value of the product will nerrait. Am therefore ool- 
looting all tho data possible relating to the banana 
plant, but ns yet have failed to collect anytliiug of 
practical value. No botanical work that I possess con- 
tains much more than the mere mention of the plant. 
Hhould you know of ilfty literature on the subject 
or could direct me to anyone Umt could give luc 
information I would be extremely grateful.* 
'J'ho coffee crop this year is much smaller than 
usual, and there is much uneasiness on tho part of 
tho growers and shippers over tho expected ‘drop.’ 
Money is very tight and exchange is ‘ booming.’ 
Many of tho loading men are expecting a crisis soon. 
Fortunately wo have been sparctl the ‘ loaf disease ’ 
bo far it exists only on old places that have been 
nogloctod and planted too cIoso.”t 
• Our correspondent will, wo thinkT~find~whanie 
wants 111 AVatt’s Dictionary of Indian Plants — En T A 
t B coff^ disease, but not the deadly Bemiitia, 
Eh. T, .1. 
