1 Dec., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. ; 567 
such ridiculous things should happen in that island ought to make planters here 
extra careful to see what it is that is really sent to market. The small settler 
system in Jamaica appears to lead to strange results when the coffee is packed. 
Mr. de Mercado recently stated there, in public, that he had in his office a 
museum of foreign substances found in bags of coffee sent to his firm. Among 
them were such things as pumpkins, a pair of baby’s shoes, a chisel, a hammer- 
head, empty tins, several boots, and, in fact, pretty nearly every known article 
in the world. ‘his was the result of gross carelessness. The people who 
packed the bags at the country shops were not dishonest ; they simply let them 
lie about open, and when they emptied, say, a tin of condensed milk, it was the 
most natural thing in the world to throw it into the coffee bag, and perhaps the 
opener as well. ‘Things are so bad in Jamaica that Mr. de Mercado states that 
experience has taught him that he dare not send away coffee without repacking 
it, or the people with whom he did business abroad would think he was not qn 
honest man, and would write to tell him that when they wanted to buy hammers 
and chisels they would prefer to go to the hardware store. 
We have no fear of this sort of thing here, but have referred to the 
above in order to give force to an exhortation to coffee-planters in India to see 
that their crop is dealt with in a cleanly manner, from beginning to end. 
Absolute cleanliness is the first essential in handling a crop. Barbecues, store- 
house, packages—all must be kept scrupulously clean. The result will be that 
the expense of placing the coffee on the market will be reduced. Railage will 
not have to be paid on dirt. The curers will not have to handle a large 
percentage of ‘foreign matter” with the coffee. Moreover, if the curers 
constantly receive coffee in a very clean condition their own inclination towards 
doing clean work and sending forward bags of clean coffee will be encouraged ; 
and even the most enterprising firm is none the worse for receiving a little 
encouragement occasionally. What we have been urging is that planter and 
curer should both so work as to make the very best of the quality of coffee 
raised, so that the coffee may be put on the market in the best ate 
condition and the most attractive form, with a minimum percentage of extra- 
neous substances included in each bag. 
Another important point in the marketing of coffee is the cost of trans- 
port. Some little progress may be said to have been made, quite recently, 
towards a reduction of railage charges on coffee in Southern India; but a 
good deal remains to be done. In regard to steamer freights there is much 
greater room for improvement. Brazil gets a great advantage because of the 
immensity of her production and the fact that almost the whole crop is 
shipped at two ports. This concentration of cargo at two ports cheapens 
freights and expedites loading. In Southern India we cannot very well make 
up whole cargoes of coffee, and, as a result, a much higher rate of freight has 
to be paid. The matter is not one that can be put off, however. To a great 
extent the future of Indian coffee turns upon the solution of the problem of 
lowering the cost. Brazil has succeeded in lowering the cost; Mexico is pro- 
ducing at a very low cost. Everywhere there has been a downward tendency, 
and India must adapt herself to the situation. Rail and steamer freights 
should receive the closest possible attention, and every effort should be made 
to bring down to the very lowest point the cost of producing coffee and-placing 
it on the market. eae 
Ke wd 
SISAL HEMP ON THE DAINTREE, ay 
2 From Mr. T.Th. Pentzcke, of Hohenufer, Daintree River, we learn that four 
years ago he received nine Sisal suckers from the late Mr. Cowley, then manager 
of Kamerunga State Farm at Cairns. They were planted in October, and grew 
well until April, when a flood occurred, and the plants were under water for 
five days. The roots were destroyed, but the tops grew after being replanted. 
Twenty-four suckers were planted two years ago, and now Mr. Pentzcke has 
sufficient suckers to plant out 5 acres. The plants were grown on land which 
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