584 QUEENSLAND AGHICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Dec., 1899. 
NEW GUINEA RUBBER. 
Ir is encouraging to learn that a high value is placed in London on rubber 
from New Guinea, As much as 3s. 4d. per lb. has been realised for the article 
in the home market. The reason for this is said to be that adulteration, so 
much practised in other rubber-producing countries, New Guinea not excepted, 
has been promptly checked in the Possession. With the cessation of adultera- 
tion, prices have rapidly risen for the Papuan production. Let us hope that 
with the encouragement of quick sales and high prices the collection of rubber 
will become one of the steady industries of the island. 
The Northern Miner says on this subject: —“Messrs. McIlwraith, McEacharn, 
and Co. inform me (writes ‘City Man,’ in the British Australasian) that the 
rubber which they receive from New Guinea has been steadily advancing in 
value of late, owing to the improvement which is taking place in the preparation 
of the article. The gentle and unsophisticated nigger, in whatever part of the 
world he is, has a nasty knack of adulterating the rubber which he sells to the 
trader, and the Papuan is not an exception to the rule. But this propensity in 
his case has been firmly checked lately, with the result that New Guinea 
rubber has been selling in London up to 3s. 4d. per lb.” 
_COFFEE CULTURE IN QUEENSLAND. 
SEED SELECTION, PREPARATION, AND GERMINATION. 
By HOWARD NEWPORT, 
Instructor in Coffee Culture. 
1 
Tue necessity for the careful selection of seed for opening out a coffee planta- 
tion, in the first instance, does not seem to have been accorded by Queensland 
planters the attention it should have received. 
In going round among the farmers who are growing coffee on a small scale, 
or who wish to grow it, I find they exercise the greatest care in selecting and 
scrutinising the seed corn they use, or seed cane, but they seem to consider 
that seed from the most abandoned coffee-tree is as good as any, or, at any 
rate, good enough ! 
In the culture of coffee, it must be borne in mind that the whole life of the 
tree—its healthiness, size, strength, and bearing capabilities, all depend upon 
the start it has. Unlike many industries, in which a mistake in starting will 
teach one a lesson that can be benefited by the next season on the same plot, 
coffee, once planted, lasts for the greater part of a lifetime, and has to flourish 
or fail according to its fitness, determined very largely by its treatment when 
young. It will be clear, therefore, that it will pay growers to exercise care in 
the first instance—even more care than in the case of other plants, that one 
ploughs out in so many months and starts afresh with. I do not mean to imply 
that a bad start, through inexperience or want of information, is hopeless, but 
rather that care and discretion at first will pay, save many a disappointment, 
and go a long way towards success. 
Jn this article I purpose showing how those intending to start, may choose 
and select seed and plants, and how those now growing coffee may, in opening 
new blocks or even in supplying failures, obtain a fair start for their seedlings, 
and trust that such hints as I may give will be made use of. 
I am confident that not only will there be a saving of a very large 
percentage of the cost of present methods, but, at the same time, a marked 
‘improvement in the health, strength, and consequent profit in the planted areas 
will be observed by a careful following up of these notes. 
Selection of Seed.—In obtaining seed, in the first instance, go only to 
growers who, to your knowledge, cultivate their trees and keep their gardens 
clean. The better a tree is cultivated, the better the sample or quality of the 
product. A pruned tree will give an infinitely better sample than one allowed 
. 
