Vol. VIII-. No. 96, 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[December, 1902.] 319 
before the Imperial Chancellor. They consider that although the depression 
did not originate solely in the uncertainty with regard to commercial policy, 
that uncertainty has, nevertheless, contributed to intensify and prolong the 
crisis. A satisfactory state of things will not be restored until the element of 
stability and security has been introduced into the country’s commercial 
relations with foreign countries. For, notwithstanding the considerable 
export trade which is still conducted under the protection of the existing 
treaties of commerce, German industry, in its most productive branches, is 
suffering from want of employment in a high degree, from widespread want of 
work for those whom it employs, and from reduction of wages. The spirit of 
enterprise is practically extinct, new plant is hardly anywhere being acquired, 
and manufacturing premises are hardly anywhere being extended. Moreover, 
the efforts of employers at least to keep their works going have resulted, 
especially in the case of syndicated industries, in the exportation of large 
portions of their productions at unprecedentedly low prices — aprocedure which, 
if it were to last much longer, must inflict the gravest damage upon the 
German economic body, and entail consequences which would exercise a 
prejudicial influence for decades. 
According to the Times the condition of the iron trade in Russia is as 
critical as ever, if, indeed, it has not grown worse. A conference has been 
held of a hundred leading representatives of the industry to consider what 
measures could be taken to remedy this state of things. According to the 
Nome Vremya , the most remarkable feature of the conference was the 
contrast between the views of the Ministerial representative and those of 
the manufacturers. The Ministry of Finance adheres to its view that the 
only cure for the existing depression is the development of the home market, 
which the great ironworks, preferring to live on Government orders, have 
hitherto almost entirely neglected. The manufacturers, on the other hand, 
persist in the view which they expressed at last year’s conference, that the 
shortest way out of all their difficulties is the formation of a syndicate to 
regulate production and maintain prices. This they describe as a “ radical 
measure for putting an end to the present crisis.” The Novoe Vremya 
points out that such a syndicate has already been formed under the title 
“ Society for the sale of the products of Russian metal works,” and says 
that the industrialists are knocking at an open door. Their complaint 
appears to be that their syndicate is not powerful enough, as many firms 
have refused to join it. In particular, the Ural companies prefer to work 
independently, although they would be willing to join the syndicate if they 
had some security that the organization would not endeavour to keep up 
absurdly high prices in order to prevent the weaker and worse organized 
companies from going to the wall. The industrialists now seem to wish the 
Government to use its authority in order to smooth away these differences 
and to enable the syndicate to fulfil what in their opinion ought to be its 
proper purpose. The leading Russian organ protests against this, and says 
that the ironworkers seem completely to misunderstand the object for which 
the protective system has been established in Russia. Duties on foreign 
imports are not imposed for the benefit of a few large companies, but in 
order to secure a permanent supply of home-made products for the 
Russian markets, to the ultimate benefit of the Russian consumer. 
H. M. Minister at Bucharest forwards an extract on the subject of the 
State protection granted in Roumania to national industries. This extract 
states that this protection is of two kinds, viz., direct and indirect ; direct by 
the imposition of taxes on importation, and indirect by the concession of 
advantages such as exemption from Customs’ duties on raw materials, reduced 
railway rates for transportation, etc. There are three kinds of industries which 
benefit: (1) Timber cutting, petroleum boring, and such industries; 
(2) Industrial enterprises for which the raw material wholly or for the most 
partis produced by the soil of the country ; (3) Manufactories which use raw 
materials wholly or for the most part imported from abroad. Only two of 
these classes of industry deserve protection ; the other, namely, that which 
imports its raw material, has no chance of success in the country, and causes 
considerable loss to the State, owing to the fact that if it did not exist the 
products themselves would be imported from abroad, and the State would 
thereby benefit by the duty collected. In an article published in the Revista 
Romana on this subject, two typical instances are given, viz. : The manu- 
factories of coarse cloth and cordage, which import all their raw material 
from abroad. By means of detailed statistics it is shown that these industries 
cause a loss to the State of nearly ^1,480,000. The Journal adds that the 
idea is rapidly gaining favour that the State should cease its protection of 
those industries which are dependent on imported raw products, and that a 
distinction should be drawn between those industries which will thrive in 
Roumania and those which will not. In this way all State protection will be 
directed to those industries which have as basis agricultural and like 
products. 
1 6 ^ 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT 
OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. 
♦ 
NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE SEYCHELLES. 
The annual report on the administration of this Crown Colony contains an interesting 
appendix by the Curator of the colonial Botanic Station, dealing with soil, climate, and 
natural resources of the islands. 
The soil is composed principally of clay, varying from 97 to 25*1, and coarse sand 
41 "3 to 60*3 per cent, in the case of six samples recently examined by Mr. Boname, of the 
Station Agronomique de Mauritius. The nitrogen varied from *06 to ‘22 per cent., 
phosphoric acid from ‘03 to "21, potash from 'oi to ’05, lime o to ’14, and magnesia 0 to 
•05 per cent, in the same samples. It will be observed that there is a considerable deficiency 
of potash, lime, and phosphoric acid, in these soils ; the two latter constituents are, however, 
readily available in the islands in the form of immense deposits of guano, which are already 
drawn upon by neighbouring countries for the preparation of fertilizers ; the deficiency of 
potash is stated to be due to the native habit of clearing ground for plantations by burning 
the weeds and rubbish on the selected area, so converting the potash of these plants into a 
soluble form which is washed away and lost so far as agricultural operations are concerned. 
The climate of the country is well suited for planting operations, the average 
temperature being about 86°, and the rainfall 100 inches per annum. The chief difficulties 
in the way of the development of the colony are want of capital and the difficulty of 
obtaining labour ; the native endeavours to become a proprietor on a small scale, and is loth 
to accept the position of a hired labourer, so that it is difficult to obtain sufficient help to work 
large plantations. 
The principal foodstuffs cultivated are cassava, sweet potatoes, and bread fruit, which, 
together, constitute the staple food of the natives. Potatoes do not grow well except in the 
hilly districts, and even there they must be shaded from the sun by screens. Experiments 
have been made with the Jerusalem artichoke, the African potato ( Tuberosus coleus), yam 
bean (Dotichos tuberosus ), ground nut, the sago palm and arrowroot, all of which could be 
successfully grown and their products exported if cleanliness and care were exercised in 
their preparation. 
The Seychelles are particularly rich in spice-yielding plants, a species of the vanilla 
orchid (Vanilla phalcenopsis ), grows wild in the colony, and it is remarkable that the 
presence of this plant did not lead to the inauguration of vanilla planting earlier in its history. 
The plant cultivated is the true vanilla ( Vanilla plan (folia), which was introduced from 
Mauritius about 30 years ago. Experiments are now being carried out at the Station, with 
the object of finding a suitable manure for these plants, as it has been observed that the 
orchids yield pods of much finer quality when grown on well-manured Liberian coffee trees. 
The cacao plant, which was formerly much cultivated, has been recently rather neglected 
in favour of the more profitable vanilla, and at present only about 18,000 lb. are annually 
exported to Europe, although there are indications that this will be increased in the near 
future. Much harm is done to the cacao pods by the rats which infest these islands, in spite 
of the fact that the Government encourages the destruction of these pests by offering 
a bounty to rat-catchers. 
Pepper, nutmegs, cardamoms, and chillies, have been cultivated on a small scale, whilst 
cloves, which were introduced in 1771, and were formerly grown in immense quantities, are 
now never gathered on many estates, and the total export is usually only from 4,000 to 
6,000 lb. 
Although there are many localities in the islands suitable for the cultivation of coffee, 
but little of this article is produced, due principally to the primitive methods by which it is 
prepared for the market, and it is suggested that an improvement in the quality could be 
brought about by grafting other varieties, such as those of Java, on the Liberan coffees now 
in existence on the estates. Tobacco is grown to a small extent from a coarse-leaved Cuban 
plant recently introduced, but the product obtained is apt to contain too much nicotine. 
Other plants which it is suggested might be profitably introduced into the colony are 
cinchona, kola, cubebs, ipecacuanha, and camphor. The coca plant ( Erytkroxylm coca), has 
been grown on a small scale, and there are several indigenous species about wffiich nothing 
appears to be known, and the constituents of which ought to be investigated. Cinnamon 
has long been acclimatised in the Seychelles, but is at present only utilized as supports for 
vanilla orchids. 
Among oil-yielding plants the premier place is taken by the cocoa-nut palm, which, 
however, is here less productive than in most tropical countries ; the produce is at present 
all used locally, although attempts are now being made to cultivate an export trade in copra, 
samples of this material having been recently submitted to the Scientific and Technical 
Department of the Imperial Institute for valuation. The castor-oil plant grows wild in the 
islands, and small quantities of the oil are occasionally prepared for local use. The palm-oil 
tree ( Elaiis guineensis), grows well and the oil and kernels are exported on a small scale. 
Other oilseeds whose cultivation might be extended are the ground nut ( Arachis hypogea ), the 
candle nut (Aleurites triloba ), which occurs throughout the islands, and a species of 
Calqphyllum , which furnishes about 41 per cent, of oil. 
The mangrove tree flourishes in the Seychelles, as it does along the whole east coast of 
Africa ; its bark is employed, especially in Germany, as a tanning material, but has not found 
favour with English tanners owing to the red colour of mangrove-tanned leather. A species 
of divi-divi (Ccesalpinia pulchernma), has been experimentally grown at the Botanical 
Station, and a few plants are now available for distribution. Indigofera finctoria , the indigo 
plant, is indigenous to the colony, but no attempt is made to produce the dye-stuff, and in 
view of the severe competition of artificial indigo with the natural product the inauguration 
of indigo planting can hardly be recommended. 
The islands are rich, both in indigenous and introduced fibre-plants, such as sanseviera, 
fourcroya, originally imported from Mauritius, Hibiscus liliaceous, dianella, and sterculia, 
whilst kapok, now being largely imported into Australia and Germany from Java, pandanus, 
from which sugar-bags are made and exported to Mauritius, and others not at present 
utilized, are widely distributed. The climate would also probably be suitable for the 
cultivation of ramie, Manilla and sisal hemps. 
Experiments are at present being made in the cultivation of rubber and gutta-percha 
trees, specimens ofCeara rubber (Mam hot glazovii), and Assam rubber (Ficus elastica), 
having been introduced ; both varieties have thriven well but only the latter has afforded a 
satisfactory yield of latex, and specimens of rubber prepared from this are now being 
examined in the laboratories of the Scientific and Technical Department. Preparations are 
now being made for the experimental introduction of Castilloa elastica, Plevea Braziliensis , 
Funtumia elastica , which is common in Africa, and produces a rubber almost equal in value 
to Para rubber, and LandolpAias ; cuttings of these varieties will, in the near future, be 
placed at the disposal of planters. 
Fruit trees of all kinds occur in the Seychelles, but so far little has been done towards 
creating an export trade except in oranges and bananas. Attention is specially directed in 
