Tropical agriculture. A treatise on the culture, preparation, commerce, and consumption of the principal products of the vegetable kingdom

Front matter

AgM:ulture

By:

p • L ' Simmonds

Preface To The Third Edition

of population, hence the period under notice shows large advances. A few instances of progress in the world's production in eleven years may be cited : —

18?6.

Sugar ....

tons

3,665,000

6,177,000

Tea

. . lbs.

1,290,037,000

1,444,000,000

Coffee ....

cwts.

11,500,000

14,000,000

Cacao ....

. . lbs.

60,000,000

82,500,000 tons

2,500,000

Maize ....

. bushels

1,300,000,000

2,000,000,000

Oilseeds . . .

cwts.

17,300,000

Palm oil . . . .

864,472

1,000,000

„ ternels .

tons

25,192

36,000

Coconut oil . . .

cwts.

250,000

318,454

Coffee planting in the British Colonies has retrograded owing to the immense production in Brazil and the decline in European consumption. Tea, on the contrary, is increasing in demand, and the planters of India and Ceylon have thrown themselves with such energy into the industry, that they already produce more than half the quantity required for the United Kingdom, and of a far superior quality to the Chinese tea.

The culture and commerce of many of the principal dye-stuffs of India have been almost annihilated by the coal-tar colours.

Some new products have come largely into commerce of late years, among which i^ay be mentioned the Cinchona barks, cardamoms, the kola nut, &c. The demand increases for the elastic gums, caoutchouc, and gutta-percha, and the same may be said of tobacco, the consumption of which largely progresses in all countries. The British imports are now : —

Caoutcliouo cwts. 220,350

Peruvian bark „ 144,820

Gutta-percha „ 22,483

Liquorice „ 34,831

Nuts for expressing oil .. .. tons 62,932

The failure of the wine crop in Europe a few years ago led to increased attention being given to the manufacture in Australia, Cyprus, and the Cape Colony, as well as in parts of North and South America. The fruit trade of our Colonies has also received more attention, so that shipments are now profitably made to Europe, and these are extending.

The great increase which has taken place in our imports in some of the principal commodities is shown by the following

PBEFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. T

comparative figures, although these are not all consumed in the United Kingdom : —

Articles of Food, etc.

Cacao lbs.

Coffee cwta.

Tea lbs.

Sugar cwts.

Brandy galls

Kum

"Wine

Maize cwts.

,> meal ,

Rice „

Sago

Unenumerated spices .. lbs.

Gringer cwts.

Pepper lbs.

Pimento cwts.

Currants, raisins, and figs „ Oranges and lemons .. bush.

Tobacco .. ' lbs.

Articles fob Manufactubes, etc.

Oil-seeds qrs.

Cotton-seed tons

Oil-seed cake ,

Coconut oil cwts.

Olive oil tuns

Palm oil cwts.

Manila bemp ,

Jute ,

Gambler and cutch . . tons

Indigo cwts.

Madder and garancine . . „ Safflower „

20,382,308

1,341,378

185,698,190

15,587,246

7,953,913

10,476,503

19,969,838

39,958,226

7,706

6,485,987

360,357

4,200,000

1,339,508

62,164

26,059,030

35,710

1,714,445

2,995,328

26,677 88,680 74,535

31,550,245

949,330

222,758,296

25,209,949

345,894

2,655,004

4,146,564

14,745,161

25,370,164

14,745

6,189,644

426,346

16,153,000

1,346,990

68,743

28,679,221

50,000

1,783,029

4,861,061

62,302,572

2,811,267

257,172

257,748

194,025

18,535

953,799

693,797

313,828

28,543

78,128

14,204

1,628

Although the title of 'Tropical Agriculture' has heen maintained for the book, yet it will be found to embrace incidental mention of a few extra-tropical cultures and productions, such as maize, madder, beetroot sugar, Paraguay tea, tobacco, &c., which are important in their nature, although many of them are carried on beyond the limits of the Tropics.

Since the body of this work was printed, I have received a copy of a pamphlet containing the recent official reports of the various American consuls on the production of Coffee in the States of Central and South America and the West Indies, and it will be interesting to place on record their estimates made on the spot, and therefore under special advantages.

VI PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

Lbs.

Tampioo 400,000

San Domingo 7,652,348

Martinique and I 6,500,000

1,230,229,770

If we add to the above figures the production of coffee in the Eastern hemisphere, we get at a pretty fair estimate of the production of the world : —

Lbs.

Sumatra and Celebes 40,500,000

Philippines .. 8,400,000

Africa and Arabia 15,232,000

Pacific Islands 33,000,000

335,347,487

This brings out a total of 1,566,577,257 lbs., or 700,000 tons, which approximates closely to the estimate of Messrs. Eucker & Co., given on page 30.

P. L. SIMMDNDS.

October, 1889.

Contents

PASS

SECTION I. — Plants tieldins Seeds, Leaves, and other Substances EMPLOTED IN DOMESTIC USE FOB THE PeEPABATION OP DIETETIC

Beveeages, &0.

Cacao. — Botanical deaoription and chemistry — Statistics of production in various countries— ^Statistics of imports and consumption in the United Kingdom — Consumption in Spain, Holland, and France — Large sales of Cacao butter — Culture in Trinidad — ^Varieties — Statistics of exports from Trinidad — Production in the other West Indian Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guadaloupe, and Martinique — French Guiana — Culture in Venezuela — Statistics of production and export in Venezuela, Ecuador, British Honduras, Brazil — Production and shipments — Culture in the East — The Philippines 1

GuAEANA. — Production in Brazil and other parts of South America — Chemical composition of 26

Kola Nuts. — Chemistry of, and commerce 27

CoPFEE. — Production in the world at different periods — Eange of prices — Statistics of consumption in the United Kingdom — In countries of Europe, the United States — Appreciation and determination of various coffees — Analysis of coffees — Commercial subdivisions — Varieties of the plant — Systems of cultivation in Java — Statistics — Sumatra — Celebes — Timor — The Philippines — Culture in Ceylon — ^Acreage under coffee — Plantation and native coffee — Statistics of production — Insect pests — Production in British IndiaA^Statistics of land under coffee and the crops — Mysore, Travancore and Coorg — ^Exports of Indian coffee — Production in the West India Islands — Martinique, Guadaloupe, Jamaica, Hayti, Cuba, Porto Eico, Trinidad, Dominica — Production in America — Central America, New Granada, British Honduras, Costa Kica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, British Guiana, French Guiana, Bolivia, Venezuela — Brazil — ^Varieties of coffee — Statistics of production and exports — Supply to the United States — Pacific Islands — Production in Java — ^Arabia — Reunion — Africa and its islands-^Liberia —Natal 28

Tea. — Genera] rernarks — Statistics of consumption in the United Kingdom— <xeneral production and consumption — ^Imports into the United Kingdom, showing the producing countries — Consumption of the world in 1886 — Imports into Europe — Culture in China — Process of manufacture and preparation of the leaf — ^American imports — Russian consumption — Shipments of tea from China — Sealed tea — Brick tea — Tea planting in India — Progress of culture — Statistics of India teaculture and exports — Prospects in Ceylon, climate, soil, labour, &o. — Statistics of exports— Straits Settlements— Java— First introduction of tea plant — Statistics of production and export — Japan — ^Production — Exports — ^Australia — Melbourne — Queensland — Jamaica — Trinidad — Brazil — ^North America — California — Instructions for manufacture — Fiji— Natal 87

■Vill I CONTENTS.

PAGE

Ybbba Mate, ob Paeaguat Tea.— Description of the tree— Mode of preparing the tea — Statistics of production and consumption m Paraguay, Brazil, and the Elver Plate States l-'O

SuGAB.— General remarks — Analyses — Estimate of the -world's production of all kinds of sugar— Value of the cane sugar exported from the principal British possessions in decennial periods— Statistics of sugar production in the West India Islands— Cane sugar production of the world in 1876 and 1886— Beetroot production of Europe in 18.-6 and 1886— Estimated aggregate and individual consumption of sugar in the world— Total consumption in the United Kingdom— From whence derived— Consumption in the United States — Molasses— The supplies we receive — Distillation of Eum and imports— "Varieties of the sugar-cane — Experimental culture in Trinidad — In Jamaica — Production of sugar, molasses, and rum in Bridsh Guiana — Mode of cultivation— French Ghiiana — Surinam, statistics of exports — Brazil, production and progress — British Honduras — Central America — Colomhia —Venezuela— Statistics of exports— Peru— Louisiana, progress made in production — Chemical results— India — Eude processes of culture and manufacture— Statistics of exports of sugar from British India hy sea and land — Goor or jaggery — Siam — China — Cochin China — Japan — Exports — Borneo — Mauritius— Varieties of cane grown — Improved manufacture — Chemical analyses — Statistics of exports — Eeunlon— Straits Settlements — Philippines — Statistics of exports— Java — Tahiti— Queensland — New South Wales— Victoria— Egypir--Statistics of exports of sugar from Egypt — Natal exports — Jamaica — Statistics of yield of crops and shipments of sugar and rum — Barbados crops — Tobago — Tortola — St. Kitts — Analyses of sugar-canes — ^Dominica— Statistics of exports of sugar, molasses, and rum — Montserrat — St. Lucia — Grenada — St. Vincent — Statistics of exports — Trinidad — — Statistics of exports — Martinique — Statistics of production — Account of the usines or central sugar factories on the island — Eeports on their working operations and financial results — Guadaloupe — St. Croix — Porto Eico — Shipments of sugar and molasses — Cuba — Crops and shipments — Hawaiian islands — Fiji, exports 130

Maple Sugae. — Description of the tree — Statistics of the sugar crop in the United States and Canada 211

Palm Subae. — Trees which yield it — General estimate of production of sugar — Details of yield and processes, &c., furnished under the section ofthe Useful Palms 213

Bbeteoot Sugae. — Statistics of production in Europe — Process of cultivation and manufacture — Production and consumption in Austro- Hungary — France — Belgium — Germany — Exports to different countries 214

Gltjcose, oe Staeoh Stigab. — Quantity made in Germany from potatoes ; ia the United States from maize ; in Japan from rice 216

SoBGHOM SuGAB. — Description of the plant — Cultivated in Australia, France, Algeria, and the United States 218

Maize Sugae. — ^Yield of from the stalks 221

SECTION II.— The Useful Palms and thbib Economio Peoducts

The Cocohut Palm. — Instructions for planting — Soils best suited for it — Growth of the tree^Its enemies — Produce— Cultivated varieties of this palm— Uses of the fruit — Its medicinal properties — Chemical analysis— Copra or copperah— Coconut oil— Its uses— Statistics of

CONTENTS, iX

imports into the United Kingdom— Particulars and cost of machinery

for_ making the oil — Uses of the coconut shells — Coconut fibre or coir

Shipments from India — Statistics of exports from Ceylon— Cost of machinery for preparing the fibre— Wide range of the coconut palm —

Production in Brazil and Malabar — Coconuts imported into Bengal

Statistics of products of the coconut palm exported from British India

Statistics of trees and produce in Ceylon — Exports— Details for Cochin China, Straits Settlements, and the Eastern Archipelago ; New Caledonia, Pacific Islands, Tahiti, Marquesas, Friendly Isles, Fiji and Tuamotus Archipelago ; the West Indies, Jamaica, and Trinidad — Florida .. 222

The African Oil Palw.— Description and distribution of the tree— Oil supply- Oil rivers— Mode of preparing the oil— Statistics of British trade in palm oil— Palm kernels — Value of the oil obtained from them — ^Analysis of the oilcake — Exports of palm kernels from Lagos, Gold Coast and Gambia — Imports at Rotterdam 248

The GoMUTi Palm.— Description of the tree— Its commercial products — Ejoo fibre— Toddy or sweet sap— Sugar— Sago— Meal— Fruit as sweetmeats 252

The Wild Date iPalm op India.— Different species of the Fhcenix— Sugar-yielding species— Fruit species- Extent of the culture in India — Tapping and extracting the juice— Processes of manufacturing the sugar— Native names for the kinds made : Khaur, Nimphool, Dulloah, Gurpatta, Jerunnee, Dobarah — Implements used in tapping the tree — Classification of the date trees — Kinds of goor made from the sap — Estimates of yield — Manufacture of sugar from goor — ^Analysis of the sugar 255

The Palmyba PALM.^Wide distribution — Acres under culture in Madras and Ceylon — Various uses of the palm — Its leaves — Toddy — Jaggery Timber — Kelingoes — Pnnatoo or pulp of the fruit 266

The Sago Palm. — Varieties of the tree — Its products — Farina — Fruit — Immense yield — Mode of collecting and preparing the sago — Statistics of exports from Borneo, Labuan, Celebes — Wide distribution of the tree over the Eastern Archipelago — Singapore the entrepSt of manufacture and export — Statistics of imports into the United Kingdom — Chief uses of sago 271

The Bastard Sago. — Products : Sugar and toddy, sago, kittool fibre for brush-making — Exports from Ceylon — Seeds used as beads — Sago from the Cycads 280

The Carjtatjba Palm op Brazil. — Its economic uses — Wax from the leaves — Its employment — Exports from Ceara and Aracati — Preparation of the wax — Fibre from the leaves — Its extensive employment — Applicable as a paper material — Wood useful 281

The Betelnut Palm. — Wide distribution — Extensive commerce carried on in the fruit — ^Average production — General use of the betelnut as a masticatory — Various native names for the palm — Statistics of exports fiom eastern ports — Quantity produced in various countries — Mode of preparation — Superior quality of the Mysore nut — Statistics of exports from Ceylon 286

The Betel Pepper Leap. — Its cultivation and use 290

The Date Palm. — Its wide distribution — Produce of the tree — Numerous distinct varieties of dates — Production in Northern Africa, and mode of preserving the &uit — Other useful products of the palm — Number of

X CONTENTS.

FAGB

date palms in Egypt and Tunis — Production in Bussorah — Vaiietiea and prices — Imports into India — Date cake — Analysis of dates — Consumption of dates in England 290

The Spiny Date oe Aeeioa. — Its products 296

The Wine or Bamboo Palm. — Its distribution — Use of the fibre of the leaves for mats, &c. — Sap for palm wine — Fruit for oil 296

The Doum Palm oe Egypt. — Fruit edible — ^Known as gingerbread tree — Kernel made into beads — Leaves for mats 297

The Dwarf Palm. — Its distribution in Africa — Use of the leaves for paper-making — " Grin vegetal " or curled fibre — Its preparation and uses — Statistics of exports from Algeria — Saw Palmetto and other palm leaves 297

SECTION III. — The Teopioal Cereals and STAECH-PEODUcrNG Plants

Indian Maize or Corn. — Wide distribution of the plant — Of American origin — Immense yield in the United States — The produce nearly equals the wheat crop of the whole earth — ^Prejudice against com meal — Its use, however, extending in Europe — Exports of maize in European countries — Large proportion of oil in maize — Chemical composition of different varieties — Broad divisions of maize into table maize and farm maize — Use of the stem and leaves for paper-making — Names of varieties grown — Statistics of crops in the United States and South America — Imports into the United Kingdom — Production in Australia — Description of the principal varieties of maize grown in India — Food preparations of maize — Various economic applications of the grain — Sugar from the saccharine sap— Chioa, or maize beer — Food for stock — Grain sometimes so plentiful as to be burned for fuel — Production in India, Natal, Fiji, France, Italy, Hungary, Greece and Algeria — ^Maize starch or corn flour 300

ElCE. — Most extensively diffused and useful of the grain crops — Commercial qualities — Statistics of imports into the United Kingdom

Exports from the East — Enumeration of botanical species and varieties of rice — ^Analyses and chemical composition of various rices — Growth of rice in Italy and exports — Area under rice and extensive culture in India — Three recognised classes of paddy in Bengal, with more than 4000 distinct varieties — Loss in husking paddy, one-third to half- Statistics of consumption in Bengal and Behar — Average yield- Comparative results of irrigation and dry crops — Comparative yield in various countries— Area under rice and millets— Rice trade of Eangoon — The Burmese recognise a hundred varieties of rice— Exports of rice

from India — Siam— China : System of culture — Growth in Formosa

Mode of husking or cleaning rice— Japan : Statistics of production— Eioe wine, or sakg— Java : Kinds of rice cultivated — Culture in Borneo and the Philippines— Statistics of production in the Eastern Archipelao-o in 1874— Growth in Afrioa^Rice grounds of Egypt, Brazil, United States ^_ __ giQ

The Millets, or Small-seeded Food-grains. — Our imports of these

A third part of the inhabitants of the globe feed on the millets

Various uses to which they are applied— Great confusion in their

botanical classification — Enumerated species by Professor Parlatore

Great Indian miUet, or Guinea com— The yellow Cholum, or Jowaree of India — Chemical composition of its grain and the plant — Useful aa a fodder plant— Acreage under millet in Madras — Bed Cholum Dhurra, or Dourah— Sorghum, known as Kafir corn in Natal— Acreage and produce ° ooo

CONTENTS. XI

PAGE

The SuoAR Millet 218,336

Bboom Ooen or Millet. — Grown in Italy and in the United States for its panicle, used in brush-making — Mode of cultiyation 336

The Panioums. — Several hundred species 337

Italian Millet. — Three varieties 337

Chena OB Indian Millet ; Veeagoo. — Grown in India and Sicily . . . . 338

Shamat, OB Little Millet 338

Sawa Millet 338

Cdmboo, OB Spiked Millet. — Mode of culture — Extensively grown in India — Oomposition of the grain 338

Kaggt, OB Eaggbe. — Of importance in Southern India 339

KoDA Millet AND Tepf 340

Staboh-pkoduoing Plants. — ^Varieties of starches and their distinctive characters — Statistics of imports into the United Kingdom 340

Aebowboot. — Cultivation and manufacture in Bermuda and Jamaica — Statistics of exports — St. Kitts — St. Vincent — Large progress in the production — Culture and manufacture in Natal — Statistics of exports — Production in India 341

AusTBALiAN Abboweoot. — Production in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland — Plants yielding the fecula 344

Taoca Plant oe the Pacific Islands 345

Manioc, oe Cassava Staboh. — ^Where grown — Soils best suited to the plant — Two defined species, but numerous varieties — Preparation of the meal and fecula for market — Culture in Brazil — Analysis of roots — Statistics of Tapioca exports from Brazil — Imports of Tapioca into the United Kingdom from the Straits Settlements — Culture in North Borneo 346

The Sweet Potato. — Culture in Brazil, United States, and New Zealand 350

TheTamTbibe 351

The Coco, ob Bddoe • ■ • 351

Japanese Stabohbs 352

Chatote ., 352

Potato Staboh and Maize Staeou 353

Indigo. — ^Various kinds produced— Statistics of imports into the United Kingdom, with re-exports— Variations in sources of supply— Plants yielding the dye-stuff- Modes of manufacture in India— Culture of the plant — Tests of good indigo — Exports from India — ^Money value of the crop— Extension of the culture— Land under indigo— Exports

:U CONTENTS.

PAGE

from India — Range of prices — Consumption in the United States — Costof cultivation— Cochin China, mode of production— Siam — China- Japan— Java— Statistics of exports and quality of the indigo— Indigotine — The Philippines — Africa — Guatemalan-Nicaragua— Central America — British imports from thence — Colombia — Venezuela .. .. 355

Maddbk. — History and production— Influence of the coal-tar dyes — Alizarine — Naples madder — French madder — Statistics of production — Garancine — Dutch madder, annual yield — Eussian madder .. .. 370

MtTNJEET. — Description of 373

Chat EooT. — Its growth and use 373

Saitlowee. — Its production and uses — European, Indian, and Chinese — Mode of culture and preparation — Use of the seeds — Exports from India — Supplanted by aniline dyes 373

Sattkon — Where grown— Its cultivation, preparation, and uses — Peculiar soil required— Analysis of it— Production in France, Spain, and SicOy — Imports into India 378

TuEMEEic. — Commercial varieties of — Its uses — Grown in India and China — Shipments from India 382

CuTOH. — Trees yielding it — ^Mode of preparation. Palm Cutch — Exports from India 384

Gambiee. — Plants producing it — Mode of manufacture — Exports from Singapore and Netherlands-India — Imports into the United Kingdom 386

Aiwotta. — Growth and preparation — Uses — Land under culture with it in the French colonies — Exports from Jamaica — Porto Eico 388

Henha. — Uses of the dye — Extent of the production — Plants which produce it 390

Alkahet EooT. — Its uses 392

SECTION V. — The Oil Seeds and Vegetable Oils of Commeece

The Olive. — Distribution of the tree — Statistics of exports of olive oil from the principal countries — Imports into the United Kingdom — Production in Italy — ^Varieties of the oil at Marseilles — Syria — Greece, exports — Cape Colony — France, five kinds of trees — Spain and the Balearic Islands — Algeria — Morocco — Tunis 393

Lmseed Oil. — Preparation and mode of expression, cold-drawn and heated — Quantity produced — Imports of flax seed into United Kingdom 400

The Geound-nut.' — Its production in different countries — Statistics of imports at Marseilles^Growth and exports of the ground-nut from the Gambia Coimtry, West Africa — Use of the oil — Analysis of ground-nut meal — Sold as peanuts in the United States — Quantities grown in America, in Senegal, India, and Mozambique 401

Cotton-seed Oil. — Immense quantity of seed available in various countries — Large export from Egypt — British imports of cotton seed — Oil-seed cake — Great varieties produced — Statistics of imports of foreign made — Exports from India — Oil-cake made at Marseilles . . 405

CONTENTS. Xlii

PAGB

The Castor Oil Plant. — ^Variety of species — ^Preparation of the oil — Three sorts met with in commerce — Analyses of — Cold-drawn and boiled — Use as a lubricating oil and in medicine 406

Eapb Seed. — Mode of culture in Prance— Extent of land under colza — Production of oil and oil seeds in France — Imports of rape seed into the United Kingdom 410

Mustard Seed. — Species cultivated — The mustard of commerce — Large quantity made in Prance— Acres under culture in Madras — Colza and ravison seeds imported into Marseilles — Species grown in India .. .. 412

Safflower Oil. — Its production and uses, called Curdee 413

Sesame Seed. — Its growth and employment — Different names given to it— Yield of oil — ^Large quantities received in Marseilles — Exports from Sierra Leone — Oil-oake made from it 413

Niger Seed. — Its uses — Production of oil in the United States — Immense trade in oil seeds at Marseilles — Statistics of oil seeds and oils shipped from India — Acreage under oil seeds — Imports at Marseilles 415

Goi-D OP Pleastire, or Camelina Seed. — Culture of the plant — Uses of the oil 418

StrNPLOWER-SEED OiL. — Culture and production — Yield and uses of the plant — Oil-cake — Extensive production in Eussia, and statistics . . . . 419

Candle Nuts. — Trees yielding them — Analysis of the nut and of the oil-oake — The oil obtained from it — Its uses 421

Japan Wax — Trees which produce it — Preparation and uses — Prices — Statistics of exports and of vegetable tallow 423

Poppt-seed Oil. — Growth and production in India — Exports 424

Melon Seed. — Statistics of production and oil obtained 425

Phttsio Nut. — Description of oil production in Cape Verde — ^Various names given to the seeds — Uses of the oil — Oil seeds received at Rotterdam 425

Croton Oil. — Preparation — ^Purgative quality 426

Chinese Oils. — Plants which yield them — Bean oil and bean-cake — Trade in them 426

Oil op Ben. — Description of 427

Essential Oils. — Statistics of 427

SECTION VI.— The Principal Fruits op Commerce

Vine Culture and the Grape. — Imports of grapes into the United Kingdom— Preparation of raisins and commerce in them — Quantity of wine consumed in the United Kingdom — Land under culture with the vine in various countries — Exports of wine from ditto — Statistics of production of wine in France— Culture of the vine in Algeria— In the United States— Production of wine in California— in Mexico— Brazil— Shipments of Cape wines— Statistics of wine production in the Cape Colony

XIV CONTENTS.

FAGB

— ^Australia, acreage under vines — History of wine mannfaotnre in South Australian-Production of currants and raisins— Vine culture in New South Wales— in Victoria— in Queensland— Tasmaniar-Cyprus 428

Deibd Feuit — CuEEANTS AND Eaisiits. — Sicily raisins — Sultanas — Smyrna raisisas- Varieties of muscatels or table raisins in Malaga — Exports of raisins from Spain— Imports of currants and raisins into the United Kingdom — Aggregate value 439

Pbodtjcts op the Oeangb Family. — ^Wide extent of culture — Statistics of imports of oranges and lemons into the United Kingdom — Sources of supply — Great number of species and varieties of the Orange family — Bescription of them — Essential oUs — Citron — Lemon — Trade in them — Lime juice — Statistics of production in Montserrat — Production of oranges in Algeria — in the Azores — Statistics of exports — Italy — New South Wales — Orange groves of Parramatta — Profits made — Mode of culture — Production in South Australia — ^in Florida — in California — in Jamaica — Culture and trade of the Bahamas — Shipments of oranges Irom Tahiti — Fruit trade and shipments of Italy — Collecting and packing the fruit — Average yield per tree — Mode of packing — Essence of lemon — Lemon juice and candied citron peel — Statistics of exports ^Oranges shipped from Spain — Fruit trade of Greece 441

The Pine- apple. — Its growth in England — ^Varieties cultivated — Extensive culture in the Bahamas — Large production of fruit for export — Season for shipment — Mode of packing — Extensive trade carried on in tinning the fruit — Mode of preparing — Statistics of pine-apples shipped to the United States — Prospects of increase of fruit trade in Jamaica — Profits on culture — Shipments from the Azores — Fine fruit, and mode of packing— Introduction of the pine-apple into India, Cochin China, and Ceylon — Pine-apple fibre, mode of preparation — Beautiful fine fabrics made of it in the Philippines — Manufacture in the Straits Settlements — Fibre of the Bromelias, or wild pine-apples — Extensive difi'Usion of these plants — Uses to which applied 452

The Plantain and Banana. — Importance and utility of the Musa tribe -;— The plantain as food — Extent of diffusion of the plantain — Acres under culture in Madras and Ceylon — The banana — Number of varieties— Chemical analysis of the fruit of the plantain — Large consumption in Trinidad — Geographical distribution of the species — Soil best suited for its culture — Establishing a plantain walk — Enormous return from — Mode of using and preserving the fruit — Some have been kept good sixteen years — Fibre from the stem — The trade in plantains from Panama to New York — Plantain meal, or Conquintay — Plantain starch — Various uses of the stalk — Properties of the sap — Plantains in New Caledonia — Machinery for preparing plantain fibre — Mode of preparation in Jamaica — Manila hemp of commerce — Description of the plantain which produces it— Grades of fibre obtained, and native

names — Fabrics made with it — Native name for the fibre "Abaca"

Tfield of fibre— Mode of preparing it— Machines proposed— Statistics of exports from the Philippines— Direct imports into the United Kingdom 46o

The Fig, its Ccltuee and Commebce, and otheb pbuits. — Great age the tree attains — Varieties of the fruit — Smyrna figs, Aidin, Ermeh and Eleme— The Trojan fig of Italy — Exports of Portugal, Italy' Greece, and Spain — Imports into the United Kingdom — French plums, other dried plums and prunes — Tamarinds, mode of preserving— Export fruit trade of Jamaioa^Natal — Tasmania — Fiji The

passion fruits, granadilla, &c. The mango — ^Large quantities eaten in Jamaica — Quantities exported — Number of varieties — Choice mangoes in India ^no

CONTENTS.

SECTION VII.— The Spices op Commbeob

Pepper. — Its uses — Commercial varieties — Exports of spices from India — Production of pepper in the Eastern Archipelago — ^Imports into China — Production in Siam — Cochin China — Statistics of imports at Marseilles— Exports from Netherlands-India and British India — Culture in Malabar and Travanoore — Growth and preparation — Culture in Sumatra — Statistics of imports and consumption of the United Kingdom 486

Chillies and Cayenne Peppeb. — Species of capsicum grown — Large consumption in India — Acres under culture in Madras — Our sources of supply — Exports of cayenne from Natal 493

GnTGEB. — Production and consumption of this spice — Varieties entering into commerce — Our sources of supply — Statistics of imports and value for the United Kingdom — Culture and preparation in Jamaica — Statistics of exports — Culture in India — Quantity exported — African ginger — Imports from West Africa — System of cultivation and preparation in India — Preserved ginger — Mode of preparation, and statistics of imports from China 495

Nutmegs and Mace. — ^Description of the tree — Statistics of imports of nutmegs into the United Kingdom — Production in the Banda Islands — Exports from Netherlands-India — Production in the Straits Settlements— Exports from Pinang — Production annihilated — Singapore an entrepot— Imports into Holland — Nutmegs in Jamaica — Shape and size — Wild nutmegs — Nutmeg butter or concrete oil — Mace, statistics of production and British imports 499