126 
MADAGASCAR 
lagasy have already suffered severely from spirituous 
liquors, which they have great difficulty in resisting. 
The cultivation of cotton is still in its infancy. The 
cotton tree indeed grows everywhere without cultivation, 
but it has the disadvantage that the fibre it produces is 
short and coarse. From 1886 to 1888 attempts were 
made with American kinds, especially “sea island”, which 
decidedly promised to be a success. Sown in November, 
healthy plants were produced which bore ripe capsules 
after five months. After these were gathered, the cotton 
trees gave annual crops of a satisfactory character in 
the succeeding years. The produce attracted notice, and 
gained distinction in the agricultural exhibitions of Havre 
and Paris. 
Recently attempts have been made to cultivate tobacco, 
using the best kinds from Sumatra and Cuba. The 
produce, as might be expected from the fertility of the 
soil, was thoroughly satisfactory as regards quantity. The 
size and delicacy of the tobacco leaves were remarkable, 
but there was too large a percentage of nicotine, and, 
besides this, the Madagascar tobacco was found to burn 
very badly. 
This result does not sound very encouraging, but 
considering the importance of this article of trade, France 
might very well set about further attempts and endeavour 
to find soil of a more favourable character. 
The cultivation of the cacao-tree seems to promise better, 
though it has only been attempted in a few scattered spots. 
The young plants require very careful treatment for the 
first few years; they do not become productive till the 
seventh year, but after that they give excellent results. 
Vanilla, which is cultivated with so much skill by the 
Creoles of Reunion, ought to attain greater extension in 
the future on the east coast of Madagascar. Plantations 
are already laid out in Tamatave, which are in no way 
inferior to those of Reunion. 
