Natal . —Coffee culture in this colony seems to be atruggling against adverse conditions, notably the disastrous spread of the bark disease, for which no cure has been found. This is the more to be regretted as the quality of the beans is very fair, and the demand for the article is always growing. The causes of the disease do not seem to have yet been sufficiently investigated, and without this there is little good in making suggestions as to shade, manuring, pruning, &e., as remedies. The evidence in favour of partial shade in many localities is strong; for this purpose, local varietiea of Erythrina might be used, as in Java, &c. One planter expresses himself very strongly on the subject of topping : he condemns the adoption of a universal standard of height, and recommende for the coast lands, a height of 6-8 ft.; and for the higher lands, ranging from Fields' Hill upwards, about 5 ft. Unlike Ceylon, elevation seems but little to affect the value of Natal estates ; but river-beds, and low, damp places, being liable to frost, must be avoided. Too little attention, perhaps, has been given to irrigation in the dry season. The best months for making seed-beds are September or February : when the former is chosen, the seedlings should be ready for the nursery at the time of the autumn rains (March) ; when the latter, the spring rains (September-October). A aafeguard against the young plants being seen:led is found in large caster-oil leaves ; they are cut with about 9 in. of stallr, and are stuck into the ground, between each plant and the sun, soon drooping, and forming. sun-shades. The plants are said to begin bearing in eighteen months after transplanting, the yield gradually increasing till the 7th or 8th year, when they should give full crops. A fair average crop is put down at 11b. a tree all round. Nearly all the crop is used in the colony or neighbouring republics, consequently the Customs returns only ehow a very small proportion of the annual yield ; it is impossible, however, that the entire yield of the colony has ever exceeded 20,000 cwt. The exports were, in 1874, 680 cwt.; 1875, 363 ; 1876, 179 ; 1877, 91.
Nicaragua.—A few coffee estates exist ; but the export is very trifling—some 400-500 lb. annually.
Pacific Islands.—Coffee has been successfully introduced into the Fiji and the Friendly Islands, and in the course of a few years it will probably form an important export. Trees raised from seed bear fimit in the fourth year. In the Sandwich Islands, the cultivation is also progresing, large plantations having been laid out with a view to supplying the markets of Sydney, California, and Chili. Almost the whole of the produce goes at present to the United States, the small remainder being ta.ken by China and Germany. The total export, in 1878, was 127,963 lb.
Peru.—Coffee grows luxuriantly on the mountain slopes, the crops often being so heavy as to necessitate artificial supports for the branohes. Nevertheless, the export from Mollendo, the second port of tbe republic, amounted only to about 140 cwt., in 1878.
Philippines, 4c.—Coffee thrives remarkably:in the Philippines, and the berry possesses a peculiar flavour which is highly esteemed on the Continent, so that though it is hy no means well prepared or nice looking, the worst brands fetch a higher price than Java growth, and the value on the spot far exceeds the current rate of the London markets. There are two kinds of coffee, viz.
"Manilla" and " Zamboanga." The former is grown in the islands of Batangas, Indan, Laguna, and Cavite ; its price in place, in 1878, vaxied between 19f dol. and 22 dol. (dol. -= 4s. 2d.) a picul (1391 lb.) ; the beans are medium-sized, and pale-green in colour. The latter valiety comes from Mindanao, and the southern islands generally. The beans are larger than the " Manilla," but yellewish-white in colour, and flabby in texture ; samples also always contain much rubbish ; local prices, in 1878, fluctuated from 171 to 21 dol. a picul. The exports of all kinds from Manilla woe, in 1877, 3843 tons, value 245,980/. ; and in 1878, 2306 tons, value 147,560/. The proportion sent to Great Britain, in the latter year, was only 160 tons, and to British Colonies, 212 tons ; the remainder was taken by Continental Europe. Shipment is effected in bags of 150 lb., or in cases of 200-300 lb. In the islands of Cebu and Bohol, the natives have planted patches of coffee, and small parcels of " parchment " were offered in 1878. The quality is excellent, and the price stood at 14-16 dol. a pkul. Small quantities, of inferior growth, from Yligan in Mindanao were offered at 12-13 dol. a picul. In Timor, the Portuguese are extending the cultivation among the natives ; the trees mature early, 11 cwt. of coffee being obtained from fifty trees in 4-5 years. In Amboyna, also, a number of trees have been planted.
Siam.—In the hilly districts of the East Coast of the Gulf of Siam, the cultivation is carried on to a limited extent. Some fine samples were abeam at the Exhibition of 1862.
Straits Settlements. —After a fair trial, it seems that coffee planting in Penang has not been a success. During the first 12-18 months, the plants grow well, and are strong ; but the effort of bearing fruit, under the influence of long-continued drought, weakeus them so that they lose foliage and fall a prey to disease. Under shade, on the plains, they stand better ; bat tbe crop is very light, and often fails altogether. On the Great Hill, the plants bear better ; but the planta tions are restricted to narrow limits. Liberian plants have been introduced into Singapore and Sarawak, and promise well.
Sumatra.—Araong the Eastern Archipelago, this island ranks next after Java in the quantity of its produce, the cultivation having been largely adopted by the natives. The quality of the berry varies much ; the dark-yellow or brown are the best, the black are inferior. The annual crop may perhaps reach 20 million lb.
Surinam.—A century ago, this colony produced 71 million kilo. of coffee ; this enormous quantity has gradually dwindled down to insignificance :—In 1875, the production was 37,357 kilo.; the export, 644 kilo. ; in 1876, the figures were 12,412, and 325 ; in 1867, 6179, and 159. In this last year, there was one estate planted with coffee aud cocoa, and four with coffee and plantains.