REUNION 183 
that the density of the population is 217 to the square 
mile; some 65,000 of these are immigrant labourers. 
Let us pick out the most important products of the 
island, those which serve, so far as the remarkable eleva¬ 
tions of the ground permit, for the maintenance of this 
population, whether plants of specially tropical culture 
or cultivated plants of European origin. 
The most important plant of cultivation is the sugar¬ 
cane, which continually gained in extent after 1815, 
reaching its culminating point in the beginning of the 
sixties. Then (1862) there were 116 sugar refineries 
at work; their number has now diminished by one 
half. The export of sugar, which was not less than 
68,000 tons in i860, has diminished in a corresponding 
manner. 
Of cereals the cultivation of maize and of rice is to 
be mentioned; coffee culture is extensive, having as early 
as 1861 produced 412 tons. The culture of vanilla en¬ 
joys a great reputation; the export of vanilla pods has 
risen to more than 30 tons in the year. Of palatable 
fruits quite a superfluity prevails; the island produces 
pine-apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, melons, as well as 
bread-fruit for the Mulatto population. In the higher 
parts of the island the cultivation of vegetables is briskly 
carried on, to supply the markets in the towns. 
The coffee fungus has established itself among the 
natural enemies of cultivation, so that now the Liberia 
coffee, which withstands it better, is being introduced. 
The ''''Larve geographique'' very frequently gnaws to 
pieces the mesophyl of the coffee leaves. The caterpil 
lar of Papilio demoleus does great harm to the orange 
culture. The caterpillar of the “Borer” has installed 
itself in the sugar plantations; this gnaws the pith and 
so diminishes the produce. Cattle-raising is of little 
importance, and the rearing of pigs is only extensively 
carried on in the mountains of Salazie. 
