3-5 i 
not asked for at the grocers by those fond of a good cup of coffee. 
The preparation of a really good cup of coffee is almost an un- 
known art in England. The introduction of East Indian sorts to 
the public would perhaps insure the saving of the East Indian 
Coffee culture, and the obtaining of a really good cup of coffee in 
England. — H. &. C. Mail . 
MANURING PARA RUBBER. 
Early in this year some experiments in the value of different 
kinds of manure on Para rubber seedlings were made in the Botanic 
Gardens. Six beds were dug in good low lying soil, and planted 
with seedlings, all approximately of the same age and size. One 
bed was not manured in any way, but it should be mentioned that 
later it was found that an old building of some kind had been on 
the ground and that there was a certain amount of mortar broken 
up in the soil. 
The other beds were manured respectively with Poudrette, from 
the night soil works ; Lime ; a mixture of burnt earth and decayed 
leaves ; burnt earth only and cow-dung. The yo.ung trees were 
measured on October 20th, and the following table shows the result 
in growth. 
It will be seen that in the bed manured with cowdung the plants 
made by far the most rapid growth and this was found also to be 
the case in previous experiments with plants in pots. Burnt earth 
alone was a little better than when mixed with leaf mould. Lime 
appears to be far from beneficial, the plants not only made but 
little growth but have a somewhat sickly appearance. Poudrette 
which suits certain plants very well, especially roses, seems to have 
been of no me to the Para-rubber trees. It would probably not be 
within the bounds of practical agriculture for planters to manure all 
their trees with cowdung, but it might be very beneficial to supply 
it, where possible, to the nursery beds with a view of increasing 
the growth and strength of the young plants before planting out. 
The effect of fertilisers on Para Rubber Trees 
in the Nursery. 
No. of 
Maximum 
Minimum 
Average 
trees. 
height. 
height. 
height. 
ft. 
in. 
tt. 
in. 
ft. 
in. 
Ordinary soil 
... 31 
3 
I 
I 
0 
2 
Oh 
Poudrette 
... 32 
4 
4 
I 
0 
2 
5 h 
Lime 
••• 33 
4 
7 
I 
7 
2 
Burnt earth 
and leaves J 
... 24 
6 
0 
2 
3 
3 
Burnt earth 
... 24 
5 
5 
2 
0 
3 
10 
Cowdung 
... 30 
8 
0 
3 
2 
4 
9 
Editor 
