148 VIEW OF THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE BRITISH 
he ascertains that the natural circumstances of the country allow 
of the taking of two full crops in two years: viz,, one of planted 
canes in fourteen months, and one of rattoons in ten months ; and 
neither the quality of the Sugar or Rum obtained from the canes 
will lessen the favorable opinion he may have formed ; for the sugar 
he will observe in the London price current classed with that from 
J amaica and obtaining in that market the same price, and the Rum 
his own judgment will place on an equality with that from the 
above named island, and no doubt would be equally valued in the 
home market if its sale for consumption there was allowed. Rut 
the foreign duty is charged on it which amounts to a prohibition. 
Singapore being thus circumstanced it ought not to appear extraor¬ 
dinary that sugar cultivation has not been progressive. 
Although Indigo is extensively used by the dyers of cotton fabrics 
here vet it is little cultivated in the island, where it might be pro- 
¥ 
duced extensively, for the seeds thrive luxuriantly and abundantly 
wherever sown. Three crops have been reaped in a small experi¬ 
mental field sown with Bengal seeds, and probably, with more atten¬ 
tion than the experiment received, four cuttings might have been had 
in the year. 
Singapore is celebrated for the great abundance and excellence of 
its pineapples which may be obtained during nearly the whole year, 
anti from which, if the accounts published from time to time of the 
value of the silky thread obtained from the leaves are to be depended 
upon, a valuable article of export might be gathered.* The small 
circumjacent Islands, are quite covered with fields of this plant; the 
fruit only is of any value to the Chinese cultivators, whilst hundreds of 
tons of the leaves are annually allowed to waste by slow decay on the 
ground. 
Some notice has already appeared in the Journal of Gutta Perchaf 
a new product from the Straits, which has attracted much attention 
and which daily becomes an article of greater commercial value. 
* A small quantity is annually prepared and exported to China, as \vc 
accidentally discovered some time ago. Some notes which we made on 
the subject will be given in the Journal.—E d. J. 1. A. 
-{• Ante vol. I. p. 22, 261. 
