TROPICAL AGRICULTURE IN CEYLON : I ens over which Dr. Thwaites so long presided and “ LOVVCOUNTRY PRODUCTS. ” where Dr. Trimen now reigns. Economic rather than aesthetic principles guiding the choice of situation, an No. I. exceptionally rich piece of forest ground was chosen, A “ p e o p l e ’s PARK ” WANTED FOR COLOMJSO— HENARATGODA not at Colombo or near it, unfortunately, but within GARDENS. half-an-hour's drive or walk from the Henaratgoda “ Kew Point, ” in Colombo, still preserves the me station, sixteen miles from Colombo, on the line to mory of the first Botanic Gardens established during Kandy. Here can be seen a rich grove of indigenous the British period in Ceylon, and, much as we ap forest, alive with clouds of the great frugiverous brt preciate the taste with which the police quarters in called in popular parlance “ the flying-fox and the Slave Island have been built and the "grounds around visitor might ask the intelligent Sinhalese in charge them laid out, we yet could wish, for the sake of whether he has observed any cases, such as undoubtedly residents in the capital of the island, as well as that occurred at Madras when trees the resort of those of the multiplied visitors we may soon expect, that curious animals were denuded of leaves, of deaths something more than the name and a few noble trees amongst the big ba’s from sun-stroke ! But the visitor had come down to us of this generation from the will need the time between 8 a. m., when his train ar Ceylon namesake of the great and justly celebrated rives from Colombo, and 10, when the down train Kew Gardens. It is true that others, besides Prince from Kandy passes Henaratgoda, to examine the Soltykoff, have characterized Colombo as one great varieties of Liberian, (so-called) “ Arabian,” West botanical garden ; and no doubt numerous and varied Indian and other varieties of coffee ; of cocoa from Car- drives over excellent roads lined with elegant coconut raccas and Trinidad, with fruits ranging from deep palms, and through richest green foliage of bread red sprinkled with gold to palest white ; also card fruit, jak, cadju, bamboo, mango, cinnamon and amons, indiarubber trees of several species, and other luxuriant trees and plants, brightened and many other interesting plants. As the garden is rendered doubly cheerful by the primrose-coloured bounded on one side by a swamp, some of our aquatic pisonia, the crimson “ shoe flower,” and in its plants can be examined, and just outside the garden season the truly grand “ flamboyant tree” of Mada is one of the noblest objects in the vegetable kngdom, gascar, are “ beautiful exceedingly.” Still we cannot a talipot tree in flower. A good look at this tree help wishing that here, in Colombo, we could shew in its dying glory of a pyamid of primrose-coloured in a special garden or park, such as visitors to Cal blossom surmounting a massive column and springing cutta, Bombay and Madras and the other leading immediately from amidst leaves of deepest green and cities of India at once seek, collections in a con of vast proportions will well reward a visit to “ The veniently limited space of all the leading plants of Henaratgoda Tropical Gardens.” the tropics, with the additional attraction of a select In travelling to Kandy by the railway line and zoological family, ranging from the gigantic elephant without the trouble of alighting, if only a good look to the mimina deer, from the eagle to the sun-bird, out is observed areas cultivated with “ new products” and from the thirty-feet long alligator down to the may be noticed. Cinnamon does not, of cours >, come three-inch green lizard: not forgetting “ the praying under this category, and strictly we cannot include mantis ” and the stick and leaf insects. We trust the manioc or cassava plant, with which experiments that one speedy result of the concentration here of have been tried since the days of Bennett, ,if not practically the whole steam navigation of Ceylon and from an earlier period. If only the markets for cin much of that of the Eastern world will be to free namon and tapioca could be extended, Ceylon could Colombo from the reproach of possessing nothing more grow any quantity of both products. But the new pro closely approaching a “ People's Park ” than the pretty ducts to which we specially wish to attract the atten but, as yet, scautily furnished expanse in the Cin tion of our traveller are the gigantic coffee of W est Africa namon Gardens, of which the really handsome Gre “ Liberian coffee,” and the cacao (cocoa) of Central and gory Museum is the central object. Until recently, South America and the West Indies. Both are rapidly, a visitor who wished to see a systematic collec making for themselves new homes in Ceylon, and a glance tion of plants, indigenous and introduced, had per can be obtained of very fine specimens of both on force to travel to Peradeniya, seventy miles upcountry, “ Liberia” estate, a few miles on the left hand go Doubtless the traveller would find his reward in roam ing up beyond the station of Polgahawela (the Coco- ing amidst the contrasted culture and wilderness, nut Tree Plain), where the trains meet, and which bounded by a noble river, of the “ Royal Botanical is 45 miles distant from Colombo. “ Liberia” is and Gardens of Ceylon,” with its medium climate. If a always will be notable as the scene of the first attempt sight of sub-alpine forms and a view of some of the on an extensive scale to cultivate the coffee of Liberia grandest and most beautiful scenery in the world in Ceylon. About two years ago Mr. W. Eorbes Laurie were desiderated, the journey had, as it still has, to the enterprising proprietor, organized a party, of which be prolonged to Nuwara Eliya and Hakgala, the latter Dr. Trimen, then only just arrived, formed one, to looking out and d iwn on the forested mountains, the visit this splendid property, and a full account of the prairie hills and the rice-terraced valleys of Uva. visit and of what was then observed on this splendid With the attention paid to such “ lowcountry and most promising estate appeared in the Observer products ” in late years as Liberian coffee, at the time. On that occasion the party was numer cacao, cardamoms, caoutchouc trees, &c., came ous enough to induce the railway authorities to attach the demand for a stiictly tropical branch of the Gard- a passenger carriage to a goods train which dropped 186 ihe visitors opposite the es’afa, those bound for Kandy fect flat, the rice swamps being diversified only by or returning to Colombo being picked up by the low laterite knolls, on which the habitations of. the afternoon trains. Isolated visitors would have to face natives are placed, but in such dense groves of a long and hot walk along the line from Polgaha- coconut, areka and talipot palm, with jak, bread wela, or a ride which, in either case, could not be fruit, cadju and other trees, that only a few of the accomplished under at least a couple of hours, and houses can be observed from the line. While the as the return to the station would occupy about the vegetation generally presents an air of rich luxuriance, same time, very little time or energy would be left the amount of low undergrowth, in the shape of for looking at the estate with its splendid blossom, guava, lantana, &c., in the immediate neighbourhood and fruit-laden coffee bushes, interspersed with cacao of houses, suggests the idea of untidiness, and the trees with their long leaves and large pods. Owing to European traveller feels inclined to ask : “ Why do this disadvantage of position with reference to a rail the people not clear and keep clear the space about way station, visits to this the first Liberian coffee their houses ? ” The Sinhalese cottagers would reply estate, in Ceylon, must be much more “ like angel- that, besides not seeing any advantage in unnecess visits, few and far between,” than the spirited and ary labour, they know that to clear and keep cleared hospital.de owner could wish. Much more manageable, of subsidiary growth the spaces near their houses in the interval between the arrival of the morning would simply deprive them of a readily available store train from Colombo at Polgahawela, about past 9 of small timber for firewood and other purposes. a. ni., and the passing down of the afternoon train The intermixture of palms and trees of ordinary from Kandy, about 4 p. m., is a visit to the younger leafage on the knolls, contrasting with the sheets of but equally successful plantation of U d a p o l l a , which water, the emerald green expanses of rice, or those can be easily reached in a bullock hackery drive of half-an which, as is the case now, are yellow for the harvest, hour or less from the station. For most part of the is often very picturesque, and long before the great way the journey is over the main road to Kurune- bulk of the Allagala mountain looms out beyond Pol- gala, and the road opened to connect the estate with gahawela all feeling of monotony is dissipated by the ap this highway and so with the railway, is short and pearance of the lower ranges of hills rising over the easy, its terminus revealing a scene, well worth seeing Mahaoya. The perfectly flat “ paddy ” fields for by those who believe in Liberian coffee or cocoa ; about forty miles along the railway beyond Colombo but still more worthy of attention by those who are form a great contrast to the terraced rice fields seen sceptical because either of absolute ignorance of what in Java en route from Batavia to Buitenzorg ; while has been accomplished, or of an exaggerated idea of the the pretty terraces in the Dekanda valley form just effect of preliminary difficulties, some of which were a minute specimen of the vast terraced hill-valleys and are formidable enough, but which intelligent per between Buitenzorg and Bandong, the latter the capital severance, observation, experience and skill have in of the Preanger Kegency. Some of the walls of the this case conquered as they will in others. Our in Java terraces are seven, ten and more feet high, cut troductory matter has taken up so much space, that in soft, greasy, brown volcanic soil which is as rich we must defer'until tomorrow the details of our pleasant in the sub-strata as on the top. We have no such and profitable visit to the Messrs. Leechman’s soil to shew in Ceylon, but neither have we to combat, in the case of fallows, such a fearful array Liberian coffee and cocoa estate- U d a p o l l a , on the possession of which they are to be congratulated, and of alang-alang. “ Alang ” is the Malay form of our the nourishing condition of which we consider of good Ceylon word Hub, and the doubling of the name is augury to enterprize in Ceylon. For the present we in accordance with "the genius of the Malay language would simply add that, amongst the sights to be seen when an intensified form of good or evil, size, preval in travelling along the line, the traveller to Kandy ence, or luxuriance, has to be expressed. If we possess should not by any means, mi-s a good look at the not the fertile volcanic soil of Java, neither does successful experiment by Messrs. Leecliman & Co. in our soil produce such expanses of a grass so difficult pi- nting up a portion of an old Arabian coffee estate to extirpate as the “ alang-alang,” nor is a village in * ;ih Liberian plants. Those plan's, fresh, flourishing, Ceylon likely, with its 100 inhabitants, to be suddenly and most promising, can be seen as the train emerges overwhelmed by a mud avalanche, as happened in the from the darkness of the long Moragala tunnel, on Dutch colony, the other day on the side of Merapi—the the right hard side of the line, just before the Mountain of Fire. Oar predominant element is watpr, carriages cross the rocks of Wyrley Grove and run and there is plenty of it for the husbandman's buffa almost sheer over the celebrated Kadugannawa Pass loes to luxuriate in. Amongst the strange sights in road. The constructors of the road and ever, those Java, apart from the spectacle of a Malay or Javan who made the railway had no idea that Liberian ese ploughman sitting on his plough to give it a better coffee and cacao would rank, as they certainly will, hold of the earth (a thing we never saw done in the amongst the important and profitable products of soft mud fields of Ceylon), one of the most peculiar is Ceylon. the prevalent flesh-colour of the buffaloes. On first seeing the animals we experienced somewhat of the No. II. same revulsion of feeling produced by the appearance CULTIVATION BETWEEN COLOMBO AND POLGAHAWELA— of a white man in a state of nudity, in a country where CEYLON COMPARED W ITH JAVA. it is the custom of the dark-coloured races to walk The country through which the railway runs be* about almost clotheless. We really felt as if the tween Colombo and Polagahawela is almost a per pink-skinned buffaloes had left home without their apparel, and after laughing ourselves out of this idea, we may as well dispose in advance of our Java reminis came to the conclusion that they were albinos. But not cences of these new products. We had the advant only were their eyes, like their frames, perfect in age of the guidance of Dr. Treub, who is in charge strength,—the pink-skinned animals were by no means of the Culture Gardens as well as the Botanical exceptional, “ few and far between,” but almost Gardens at Buitenzorg, in our visit to a large as numerous as their dark-coloured congeners. Our private plantation of cocoa,* as well as to the Govern good friend Mr. Moens told us that the light-coloured ment Culture Gardens, where, besides coffees of all buffaloes were, if anything, the stronger. But the possible species and varieties (including some with most curious fact of all is that animals of both copper-coloured leaves), w-e were shewn fruit-bearing colours are produced whether the parents be both Liberian coffee trees under sftade and in the open and dark ; both light ; or one dark and the other light. also extensive nurseries of this plant. Dr. Treub, in The question then is how was it that such a de view of a controversy which had raged as to the parture from typical colour originated and how is question of shade for the African coffee (the rule in it perpetuated in Java (which once was joined to the Java, for Arabian coffee having been shade, even up Himalayas), while in Ceylon, and we believe in to considerable elevations), requested our special at India, a pink buffalo is as rare as a white ele tention to the comparative or contrasted appearance phant. If any reader can tell us where this pheno- of the Liberian trees in the open and those grown nenon has been discussed and solved we shall feel in under shade, both as to leafage and fruit. Although debted to him. But there are much greater diverg we fully share the orthodox Ceylon belief that shade ences from Ceylon conditions in Java, although the is unnecessary, we felt compelled to say that not one island is just about as far south of the equator only were the trees under shade in this case superior as the other lies north of “ the line.” We brought in both respects to those in the open, but that never acorns from Java which for size amazed beholders in Ceylon had we seen finer Liberian coffee trees. here, and no doubt the four indigenous oaks of Dr. Treub seemed very much gratified at this latter which Java can boast, while Ceylon has not one trxie concessiou, and, as regarded the shade question, he oak, are sylvan memorials of the far-back geological proceeded to state that the then head of the Culture period of union with the Himalayas. But why is Department, who had succeeded van Gorkom, had it that Java with a climate as tropical as ours, is thrown the authoritative weight of his opinion able to breed not only a race of ponies famous for against shade in the cultivation of the new coffee. bottom and speed (we can see them rushing over “ The result has been,” said Dr. Treub, “ that mil Marshal Daendel’s mountain roads, three abreast, lions,” and thtm correcting himself he substituted and sending the sand flying into the traveller’s face !) “ hundreds of thousands of plants were lost, before but elegant and fleet blood-horses. Attached to Mr. shade was resorted to for this as for the old coff-e.” Kerkhoven’s large tea estate at Sinagar are stables All we could say was ti at evidently, notwithstanding accommodating a couple score of as fine racers and almost equal conditions of latitude, there was some saddle horses as could be seen anywhere, the thing in the climate of Java which rendered it essenti manure (which is most carefully conserved) paying ally different from that of Ceylon, and that the much of the cost of keep. The rich sod, no doubt, planters in each colony must act on the results of produces rich grasses, and equally certain it is that their own experience. On the mature Liberian coffee the “ paddy ” grown in the rich volcanic soil is pro trees, as well as those of the other varieties, we had portionally rich in nitrogenous properties. Travellers to loc k carefully before we could detect a single trace along the railway line can now see the rice fields of the fearful fungus, llemileia vastalrix, but the being regularly reaped by means of sickles. Possi case was very differ, nt when we came to examine ibly owing to a government regulation, forbidding the young Liberian plants in the nurseries. Thev were the removal of the straw from the soil, in the paddy closely planted in the rows (one possible condition of fields of Java, which probably cover as large an comparative debility and liability to disea e), the area in the Preanger Regency as the whole rice foliage w is close to the ground, and the soil, as well as cultivation of Ceylon, sickles are not used, only sharp the plants, was copiously watered at least once a day : knives by means of which a few inches of the straw perhaps m >re frequently, for there had been a three below the head are cut off. The women perform months’ drought. Our readers will see that h. re were this operation, as well as the subsequent one of tying all the conditions favourable for the vivificatmn and the heads together in equal sized bundles, with fem virulent action of the spores of Ilernilein, if they were inine neatness and dispatch. Two bundles are slung, present. Present they were with a vengeance, for, on one on each side of a pingo, and in this way cooly turning up the leaves of the nursery plants at Bui enzorg, loads of paddy are carried to market or store, the we had a repetition of what we saw eleven years grain adhering so closely to the stalk, that but little ago 011 an estate in Ctylon, the owner of which, after is lost. In travelling, our driver, when he wanted thirty-four years’ residei ce in the island, invested all to feed his ponies, purchased a couple of these his life’s savings in coffee culture, only to comm, nee bundles, from a travelling cooly or at a wayside a deadly struggle with “ luaf-disease,” the result of boutique, and the animals ate grain and straw, with * Correctly written cacao ; but sometime ago w-e in out pounding or preparation, finishing off with a timated in the Observer that, for the sake of uni draft of water, and then recommencing their gallop. At formity, we should adopt “ cocoa” (the almost universal pronunciation in Ceylon) for cacao ; spelling -the name this rate we shall not get to Udapolla today, and, as of the palm, by way of distinction, “ coco.” This form we are going to tee Liberian coffee and cacao, we has been adopted in our Directoiy. which has been that in the ten years only one really this yield would pay exceedingly well, but the whole good crop has been harvested : 2,200 bushels being or more is likely to be gathered at U d a p o l l a . The the substitute for 8,000 due under old conditions, in the mucilaginous matter is more in proportion than in season now closed. Having previously seen Arabian the small coffees, so that from 100 bushels of Liberian coifee trees in Java about three to four years old, “ cherries” is obtained only 25 bushels of “ parch in a plantation about 1,500 feet above sea level, shaded ment.” That quantity of parchment, however, yields by trees of A Ibizzia MolLuccana, rather badly affected cwt. 5-1 of clean coffee.—But here we must stop for with leaf-disease, we feel justified in saying that today. Hemileia vastatrix is as certainly present in the Dutch colony as in Ceylon; and If it never acts with such No. III. fatal virulence in Java as it has done here, the cult THE KBRUNEGALA ROAD UDAPOLLA ESTATE— LIBERIAN ivators will owe their comparative immunity, first to COFFEE. favourable conditions of soil and possibly of climate In proceeding from the Polgahawela railway sta (the atmosphere being in many places so permeated tion to U d a p o l l a estate, the traveller cannot but be by sulphurous gases that our silver watch turned struck by the luxuiiant growth of the coconut and bla :k during our travels) ; and second, to the diligent areka palms and the jak and other trees which line ami intelligent use of the plenteous stores of sulphur and shade the road to Kurunegala. A village is at i heir command, and the lime which can also be passed through, the inhabitants of which looked well obtained. Shelter will be more or less given by the and cheerful. In certain years and at certain sea shade trees. The great merits of the Albizzia for sons, however, they, like most of the dwellers in the shade is its rapid growth into a grand tree, “ its region at the foot of our mountain ranges,— the “ Terai” leaves turning down at night, so as to permit a free of Ceylon,—suffer a good deal from “ jungle fever.” fall of dew.” We are using the words of a Dutch No doubt liability to this depressing affection is one frieud. The chief demerit of the tree is its brittle of the most formidable obstacles to extended cultiv ness, so that great branches sometimes do not need ation over large tracts of fertile soil in the lowlands wind or anything beyond their own weight to send of Ceylon,—along the banks and on the deltas of them crashing down, destroying the coffee or the such rivers as the Mahaoya. So strongly did this cocoa below. Of this peculiarity of the tree we had objection offer itself to a planter of whom we once full proof when we visited the cocoa plantation at enquired why he did not try an experiment with Buitenzorg, in company with Dr. Treub, whom it was lowcountry cultivation, that he emphatically said he then our turn to question as to the comparative effects would have nothing lo do with a pursuit so risky to of shade and full sunlight on cocoa pods. We felt the health and life of Europeans, not to speak of the regret and depression to see so many thousands of native labourers. If such a principle were generally pods, which ought to have been beautifully red, acted on, much of the world, fiotably Africa, would presenting a funereally black appearance from the action never be opened to culture, commerce, civilization and of a species of blight, of fungoid origin, we believe. Christianity. Not only are there large areas of healthy We attracted Dr. Treub’s attention to the fact, land in the lowcountry of Ceylon, but even in the which he could not deny, that in spaces to which Seven Korales and along the banks of the Maha full light had been admitted by the fall either of oya a fair degree of immunity from sickness can whole trees or large branches of the shade trees the be secured by the adoption of sanitary measures and proportion of healthy pods was far greater. He ad the taking of occasional charges. On U d a p o l l a mitted that this cocoa blight was a serions visitation, salubrity has been secured by shifting the bungalow so early in the history of the young industry, and site from a low situation to a breezy knoll, and Mr. stated that the Government had arranged for con Jartiine, the able and intelligent superintendent, looked siderable importations of Cacao alba, which was be hale and hearty, as he conducted our parly round the lieved to be blight proof. Specimens of the red and estate, pointed out the varieties of trees, and dwelt white varieties, in a perfectly healthy condition, we on the ascertained characteristics of each. He con saw in the hot open (it can be hot there) at U d a firmed what our own experience had previously taught p o l l a , and, although Liberian coffee has not been us, that imported seed had given not one or two equally fortunate, yet the badly affected trees were but about a score of types of African coffee. Some but rare exceptions to the rule of an undulating ex are as objectionable as others are superior. On the panse of trees rich in daik-green foliage and laden latter, dense and dark in foliage, unaffected by the with fruit. Out of a great variety, certain trees, the fungus, with the primaries springing from the stem seed of which is specially selected for sale and pro close above the ground and every branch and twigs pagation, seem able almost entirely to resist the fungus, as well as the stem, covered with fruit in all stages while their yield is exceptionally good in number as and shewing blossom, flags were being placed, so well as size of cherries. Of the latter we brought that the fruit of such selected trees might be separ a few with us to Colombo, and a dozen, in a pretty ately gathered and prepared for the nurseries or for dry state, weighed 3J ounces ; while a single speci sale. VVe have, spoken advisedly of fruit on the stems men measured round 3J inches by 2J. If trees of this and branches, for, in the case of the Liberian coffee, planted 700 to an acre, yielded only an aver coffee, clusters of blossom and fruit appear on the age of 2,000 cherries, and single trees have given bark, after the fashion seen on jak and bilimbi trees. from 5,000 to 6,000 (enough to till a bushel), the re It is also, as yet, impossible to say how frequently sult would be 14 cwt- per acre of clean coffee. Half the same wood will bear fruit, so that pruning is more sparingly resorted to than even was the case objection to this new product. But not only were in former years in Haputale, where the same wood we assured that the fruits are perfectly ripe when bore three times in succession. As our readers are only of a pale yellow line ; we had the convincing aware, the general rule with Arabian coffee in Ceylon proof of the pulper in action. Apparatus and ap is that when secondaries have borne a full crop they pliances, for the preparation of this exceptionally must be removed by the pruning knife to make room large coffee, being ns yet somewhat imperfect, it is for their successors. Not only is there no pruning of true that children were employed to recover about the Liberian coffee trees, but even handling is con 2 per cent of the parchment beans from the mass of fined to the removal of one shoot, when two start cherry skins ; but this was not due to any want of from the same “ eye,” The eccentric mode of growth, ripeness in the cherries. As to the quality of the towards the stem, of the secondaries of this species of coffee, all we can say is th a t we have seldom drunk coffee, was a trouble to the owners of this estate as a better flavoured infusion than that contained in it has been to others, and as it was felt that the the cup served to us at U d a p o l l a . A gentleman knife, if too freely used, would simply result in de high in local society has told us that twice were hie nudation of the trees, Mr. Jardine, was allowed carte guests served with Liberian coffee w ithout its origin blanche in the treatment of the errant twigs. He being revealed, and that they were loud in its praise ; has successfully adopted the expedient of tying the and we know that more chan one critic, who was secondaries with strings of unravelled gunny, on the fond of protesting that he could, under any circum principle of stance, detect the alleged coarser flavour of this •‘Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” coffee, mistook the beverage when supplied and imbibed No doubt this system of altering the natural direction for the product of best Arabian. So strong is pre of growth involves time and trouble, but the number judice or tradition that the Messrs. Leechman have of trees per acre is not so great as in the case of actually been compelled to prepare this coffee specially Arabian coffee, nor are the shoots so numerous, and for the American market, so that it may have, in fruit is borne so copiously by all ripe wood, that the stead of the greenish bine hue of well ripened and trouble and expense are amply repaid. At the com properly prepared beans, the dirty yellow colour, mencement of the Liberian coffee enterprize, not only which the unripe and badly prepared coffee originally was shade deemed absolutely necessary, even after received from Liberia had accustomed consumers to the trees had grown up, but such preposterous dis expect; just as the same yellow colour is desiderated tances apart as 12 X 10 and even 12 X 12 were re in “ best Mocha ” coffee. Our friends are doing their commended and the advice acted on. Experience on best to imitate the outward signs of badness, but U d a f o l l a , extending now in the case of the oldest they warn their correspondents in America that, if trees to three years and eight months, has led to the sourness is the result, the preparers must not be decision that the best distance apart is secured by blamed. We feel confident that well ripened and well 7x8. On an estate so planted, at least 700 good prepared Liberian coffee will, ere long, assert a position trees may be expected to give an average of 2.000 on its own merits, just as Indian tea has done. cherries each, the result being 2 cwt. o f clean coffee The mistake of too wide planting having been dis from each 100 trees, or 14 cwt. per acre, as we have covered, its correction here, as elsewhere, has been already stated. That such calculations are justified effected by quincunxiug as well as planting between experience proves. At the commencement of the present every two trees in the rows in which they are widest season, Mr. Jardine, determined to be on the right apart. Of course, all these trees will not be permitted side, estimated only 1,100 bushels from U d a p o l l a . finally to crowd each other. The inferior trees_ That quantity had actually been gathered before our those which send up long stems before they think of visit, so that to that, extent,, we saw this splendid pro primaries, and others which, although dug about and perty at a disadvantage. The estimate of the season’s manured, shew a special predisposition to leaf-discase yield had been raised to 2,000 bushels, but a gen and a “ shuck ” condition—will be rooted out. Over tleman who took part in the visit, a planter of long a considerable surface, however, cocoa trees, equi experience and the head of one of the leading Colombo valent to 70 acres if planted apart, are interspersed firms, declared that in his opinion there were 2,000 amongst the Liberian coffee and look exceedingly well, bushels then on the trees. He meant of this season's As yet these plants are perfectly free from any trace fruit, apart from that at all stages, which would con of disease, and a few are bearing at a rate which stitute next season’s crop, and which closely covered gives promise of most profitable returns. It is now the younger wood and the ends of branches and evident that, so luxuriant is the growth of the cocoa twigs. I t is a peculiarity of the Liberian coffee that trees, they will require considerably more space than although it is affected by seasons, in one of which the Liberian coffee: 12 x 10 or even 12 x 12 being, it has generally three “ big blossoms,” yet it is al in their case, probably not too wide apart. Those in most always, like the orange tree, shewing blossoms terested in the estate say : “ Even if leaf-disease and fruit in all stages. This characteristic and the affects the Liberian coffee as disastrously as it has fact th at the cherries of this species of coffee do not, acted on the Arabian, we can fall back on the cocoa.” in many cases, put on the rich ruby red which dis But although leaf-disease is attempting its “ level tinguishes the mature “ palam” of the Arabian best ” against the big-leaved coffee, and has been coffee, have led many to doubt if the fruit would successful in shaking and denuding a few weakly properly ripen : indeed the belief that it would not trees, the vast majority of those we saw covering the and could not ripen has been advanced as a fatal undulations of U d a po l la [from 200 to 500 It. above sea level, with glorious views of the plains of Seven can be put out in any weather, only a few ferns Koralea and of the hills and mountain ranges from being required in periods of drought. A plant was Belgoda to Kirigalpotta and Totapela) were vigorous taken out of its hole and put down again to shew and fresh and evidently able to resist the attacks of us the modus operandi. The hollow cylinder of the the insidious fungus. A more beautiful sight can transplanter was put down over the plant and pushed rarely be witnessed than this fine plantation of by the handle to a depth of fully four inches. The Liberian coffee, interspersed with cocoa trees, kept instrument was then drawn up, and the plant came clear of weeds, no easy task in the hot lowcountry with it in the centre of a cylinder of earth. That (with a rainfall of about 90 inches), by means of portion of the earth taken up was carefully cut away fortnightly weedings. When these were insisted on, with a sharp knife. The earth and plant were then the contractors, who ' received R1 25 per acre per pushed up by a wooden peg, over which the instru mensem, grumbled ; but now that they see the advantage ment was placed and pressed. The cylinder of earth, of keeping the weeds down by preventing them from if carried any distance with the plant, would now seeding, they are more than reconciled to the fre be liable to break away and leave the roots ex quent weeding. The most prevalent weed here and posed. Of course Mr. Owen’s expedient of old news the most difficult to eradicate, we were surprised to papers converted into funnels might be at this stage learn, was a soft, succulent spreading plant, which the adopted ; but what was actually used, as safer and natives convert into curries. Europeans who have more effectual, was an elastic tin shield, open on one partaken of it so cooked declare it to be very nice. side, so as to enable the operator to make it clasp The native names are : Sinhalese, kiri ; Tamil, “ koli the earth. As soon as this was done, a tin kurumban.” We have heard of much worse weeds cup was put on underneath, and the plant and earth than this, which surely ought to be utilized by being could be carried any distance. Hundreds of thousands sent to market? Having asked about the “ topping” °f plants have thus been put out with scarcely any of these Liberian coffee trees, we were told by Mr. appreciable loss. Porter that the best average height was 5 to 5§ feet, but that the altitude varied from 4£ feet in situations No. IV . much exposed to wind, to 6 feet extreme in rich soil VABIOUS PRODUCTS ON UDAPOLLA— INSECT PESTS. and good shelter. If the trees were allowed to grow A visitor whose eye has been educated into an ideal higher than 6 feet, the pickers would need the aid ef coffee by the characteristics of the Arabian (properly of ladders, which arc actually put in requisition in Abyssinian) species will be struck Hot merely by the Java in the case of Arabian trees, allowed to grow at •omparatively enormous size of the foliage, generally, their own sweet will, and to become the hosts of of the Liberian species, but by the robust stems and luxuriant mosses, ferns, and orchids. We brought a branches even of young trees, the exterior of the bark dendrobium to Ceylon which we saw in full blossom being much rougher than is the case with the ordinary at a height of 12 feet high in an old coffee tree which coffee. Some excellent varieties of the new coffee, was at least 20 feet high and as thick in the stem however, are distinguished by comparatively small and as a man’s thigh. We do not recommend the Java pointed leaves. All coffee blossom is beautiful, although mode of cultivation, but we hope some planter will evanescent, but there is a positive grandeur about spare a few exceptional trees, in order that the ex both the blossom and the cherries of the gigantic treme height Liberian coffee can attain to may be species. The period for the two or three great blossoms is settled. In very hot low districts, like that in which between December and May. Although there is more or Udapolla is situated, rapid growth upwards is not likely less blossom and fruit all the year round, yet the period to be so much the rule as in moist climates such as between July and November is comparatively quiescent : prevail at Kalutara and towards the Adam’s Peak the resting time of a coffee which sleeps w ith its eyes ranges. At Kalutara it has been already proved that open. As may naturally be supposed, the Liberian trees the growth of secondary wood is more luxuriant than grown at low, hot elevations, like that of U d a p o l l a , in the Seven Korales districts. Here at Udapolla come into bearing at an early stage; but it is as yet the real danger will be that of trees exhausting them impossible to fix the limit of altitude for the profit selves by enormous crops of fruit. Supplies of good able cultivation of this extraordinary plant. A gen manure will constitute the remedy, which indeed has tleman who accompanied us on our visit stated that already been applied with good effect. The con he had grown plants at Pussellawa (at from 2,500 to tiguity of the railway station is a great advantage for 3,000 feet elevation), which, at the same age, were the carriage of artificial manures from Colombo, taller and bore more cherries per tree than any of the while a good deal of old well-rotted cow-dung has U d a p o l l a trees, fruitful as these were. He referred been obtained from the natives. The manner in to a few isolated plants, however, which had probably which the manured trees have responded to the ap received special attention. We have attempted, with plication is most encouraging, as shewing that strength out success, to acclimatize the Liberian coffee in a of tree and luxuriance of foliage can be preserved valley 4,900 feet above sea-level in Dimbula : the while large crops of fruit are gathered. We heard plants live but refuse to grow. About 2J years ago, most encouraging accounts here of the great success however, we gave a New Galway planter a couple of of Scowen’s transplanter, supplemented by a tin shield plants for trial which were about a year old at the and cup, which effectually prevent the breaking of time. They were recently reported to have blossomed the cylinder of earth taken up around the plant, and matured fruit at an elevation of 4,300 feet ! while en route to the field, By this means plants This, we suppose, is the extreme height yet in Ceylon at which the coffee of Liberia has flourished and fruited, Dutch Colonial Government in all branches of agricult and we should be glad to receive full information as ure and the importance they attach to “ new pro to shelter, exposure to morning sun, mean and extremes ducts” as well as old staples. We hope, shortly, to of temperature, &c. Our readers will remember that be able, by means of translations, to give our readers Dr. Thwaites put his ban on any attempts to obtain the benefit of some of the imformation which the a hybrid between the Arabian and the African coffees, learned and able Dutchman has collected re such as has proved so valuable in the case of tea cult garding cultures so diverse as cassava and coffee; ure in India— the hybrid between the large indigenous sugar and indigo; rice and cinchona. And this Assam tea and the small China being superior to the reminds us of what we were told at U d a native Assam in robustness and to the China in size p o l l a , that, in the Kalutara district, calisaya of leaf and strength of liquor. Why a process which ledgeriana plants are flourishing at so low an has resulted favorably in the case of tea should be elevation as 200 feet (on Geekianakande estate), objectionable in that of coffee, we have forgotten if the refuse of the citronella grass from which the we ever had the reasons explained to us. Amongst essential oil has been extracted being used as manure the notes of our visit to U d a p o l l a , we find the re for the cinchona plants. We shall be curious to learn mark, with reference to the doubts expressed as to the subsequent history of those plants and especially the cherries ripening, that no difficulty was experienced the results obtained by analysis of the low-grown in pulping even after the heat of May and June. bark. We were struck with the different growth on As those are the months when cinnamon grown near U d a p o l l a of seedling Cearfi rubber trees and those Colombo is peeled, because of the south-west monsoon grown from cuttings. The former shot up about a rains and the consequent flow of juice between stem dozen feet, before commencing to form “ heads” ;, the and bark, we take it for granted that at 45 miles latter sent out primaries close to the ground, and the north-east from Colombo there is a perceptible dif whole habit was bushy and squat. A large number ference of season and climate. In going to the estate of m riya trees (TMespezia populnea), which had been almost at right angles to the railway, the 47th mile grown along the paths, we found uprooted. It was stone from Colombo by road via Ambepussa and explained to us that the trees failed to grow straight Alawwa, and the 11th from Kurunegala, will be noticed, and injured the coffee near them. Trees which had and attention will be attracted to the nice wicker been spared in one portion of the grounds, where granaiies by the roadside, erectei over pedestals, and shelter from wind was required for a separate patch of the lower portions of the wicker work plastered cocoa-trees, shewed the same tendency to early blossom with clay. Here the paddy growers store their grain. ing and seeding in this forcing climate as did the And this reminds us that in Java the women not other plants grown. The timber of the suriya is so only reap the grain but perform the operation of valuable for coach-building and other purposes, that planting, which in the Dutch colony is most scienti we suspect a regular plantation of the trees would, fically and carefully regulated. The seed is germinated in from the fifth to the fifteenth year, yield a large thickly in nurseries at corners of fields, and when return to the planter. Trees grown from seed are the men, with their buffaloes, cattle and ploughs, doubtless superior, and plenty of seed can be have prepared the earth for the young plants, cotn- obtained. By close planting a straight habit in the pinies of women make their appearance to conduct trees could be secured. Cassia Jlorida, the wd of the planting. Each removes a bundle of plants the Sinhalese, yields excellent firewood for railway about 4 to 6 inches in height from the nurseries, purposes in four years from planting out; and this arranges the roots straight together, and chops and perhaps some other trees could be combined with a off from 2 to 3 inches of the tops of the plantation of suriyas. We were amused at the details young blades. The plants are thus uniform in of an experiment which Mr. Jardine had tried with size and start fair, in the rows in which they are a' fast-growing shade tree (Jonah’s “ gourd”), Palma placed, those rows being as straight and as equi Christi, the castor oil plant. All was -serene until distant, while the spaces between the plants in the one morning in the course of his rounds the super rows are as regular, as is the case in the most care intendent was horrified to see almost bare stems, ex ful coffee planting. In Java, the Government have an cept that they were covered with multitudes of important Culture Department presided over by a high caterpillars which had already eaten up the leaves. civil servant, every young gentleman who joins the We suggested that the “ poochies ” had been pro service spending the first six months of his resid duced by the tusser silk moth, but our friend said he ence in the colony at the Culture Gardens at Buiten- was too anxious to exterminate the creatures, with zorg, not only reading books on agriculture and listen the plants which had attracted them, to glean any ing to frequent lectures, but taking part in the practi information as to their identity. Happily none of cal work of growing sugar, coffee, cocoa, cassava, them seem to have shewn an inclination to taste rice, &c. The peasantry are not only taught but the foliage of the coffee and cocoa plants. I t is imposs we believe compelled to adopt what is deemed the ible, however, to predict what enemies introduced pro best method in cultivating the great staple article of ducts may have to encounter. Not only have the cock food, rice, as well as other products, indigenous and chafers of Ceylon discovered that the tender root exotic. The two large volumes which Mr. Van lets of coffee are preferable to those of the patana Gorkom, the late director of the Agricultural De grasses, as food for the grubs; but suddenly and partment, has just published (in Dutch, we regret to mysteriously a fungus, previously so latent that even say) are proof of the great interest taken by the science was ignorant of its existence, discovered that the leaves of the coffee plant were good for food senses are all stooped), it is not possible to conceive or and to be desired, and we all know the fearful understand how the egg-laying Day-moth could have gained such knowledge of the properties of the vine as would result. Oldium and phylloxera may have been in induce it to abandon the natural food (not of itself, bnt) troduced to Australia with the vines which were im of its larvge, and fo put its trust in a foreign plant of which ported from all vine-growing portions of the earth.: one might suppose it could know nothing. from the forests of the western world as well as There are two or three broods in the year, the first brood of larva: appearing about the end of October, or from the sunny plains of France, the slopes of the Swi=s when the vines begin to come into leaf, and after a few mounta:ns, and the banks of the Rhine and Moselle. weeks enter the pupa state, about the beginning of December, But purely indigenous was the plague of locust the moth coming out about the end of December, while the larvie figured, descended into the earth, formed their like grasshoppers which we found so prevalent 011 the earthen cocoons beneath the surface at the end of March, largest vineyard in Victoria, perhaps in the world, and the perfect imago came out on the 18th of May. that opened in the valley of the Y arra by an enter I cannot understand Lewin’s statement and figure of a light prising Swiss, Mr. de Castella, and named “ St. cocoon of thin silk attached to twigs of trees for this species, for in this colony it invariably forms a slight cocoon of Hubert” after his patron saint. The St. Hubert wines earth below the surface of the ground. and the names of Castella and Rowan are now The in jury done to the vines in the extensive vineyards of known all over the world, the Emperor of Germany’s Victoria by the larvie of this species is enormous, and seems to be increasing. Their numbers are altogether too great special prize at the Melbourne Exhibition having been to be dealt with by any other means but hand-picking, and awarded to them by the German Commissioner, who there arc not hands enough in the country yet for that ranked the Australasian light wines with those of his as the children by law must attend school. The acclimatis ation Society acclimatized the Indian Minaji in the hope that, own country. But over the 2 5 0 acres of vines, which besides destroying the grasshoppers and locusts (which they (with cellars, presses, &c.) had cost, we were told, do admirably), they might diminish this pest also; but they A '80,000, the grasshoppers were devouring. The in have unfortunately developed a taste for eatnig the grapes, sects were so numerous that we could not walk through and do not seem to like the larvie of the Agarista. Before the new school law, children used to be employed thin the vines without treading on them ; 200 turkeys ning the numbers of the larvie in an unpleasant but which Mr. de Castella had just turned in were making effective manner, by cutting each one across with a pair but slight impression on the enemy, and we were act of scissors as they walked along the rows of plants, in ually told that the insectivorous shrikes known locally stead of delaying to pick them off. Even this sharp and decisive proceeding is too tedious to keep down their as “ magpies” were dying from the irritating effects numbers, and, to add to the difficulty, the fowls even of the serrated wings and legs of the grasshoppers will not ea them, nor anv other creature as far as 1 they had swallowed. The visitation was reckoned know. The onlv suggestion I can make is to employ hand-pickers, at the time of the approach of the first brood a very serious one ; but probably creatures wlrch we of cateri lllars, when the vines come first into leaf. Each saw swarming in the fervent heat of January may one killed then prevents the formation of multitudes, as have been killed off by the wintry frosts of July. In well as Sives strength to the plant by their present re any case, it is not only coffee planters who have to moval. 1 he next object of attention should be to kill all the moths < f the first brood found on the wing, the figure contend with insect and fungoid plagues. In Victoria here given rendering the right one easy of recognition, the heroic but we fear ineffective remedy is being and this for each one killed will destroy myriads of eggs tried of eradicating all the vines in the Geelong dis which would form the second brood. trict, because phylloxera has there appeared. We The above extract proves that “ there are more things have noticed the discovery made by the cockchafer in heaven and earth” (and in the insect world) “ than beetles of Ceylon th at the rich rootlets of coffee are as arc dreamt of in our philosophy" ; and that we are not food preferable for the nurture of their larvie to the alone in suffering from the attacks on our enterprize of roots or stems of poor, innutritions grasses. But Pro enemies, minute and yet so formidable as almost to set man’s industry and skill at defiance. Bnt as we fessor MacCoy, the Professor of Natural Science in Mel do not believe that, fungi or insects will destroy the bourne University and Director of one of the best filled young vine industry of Australia, so neither do we and most interesting Museums out of Europe, has in believe it to be the settled design of a benevolent his Prodromus of the Natural History of Victoria Providence that the leading and long established en recorded a case still more singular. Noticing a plate of Agarista Glycine, the Vine Day Moth, he wrote :— terprise of Ceylon should succumb to the attacks of Ilemileia vastatrix and grubs. The pests have had This species received its specific name from Lewin ob serving that in New South Wales the larva: fed on the their cycle, and we again look for “a good time coming." leaves of the leguminose plant the Glycine himaeidata. In Before closing these discursive notes, we cannot help this colony, however, is is generally called the vine-moth, attracting the attention of travellers along the rail from one of the mo t extraordinarv changes of habit ever way line to the very large flocks of the small stork recorded in any insect. In the early days of this colony, before the introduction of the vine, the larvae of this insect (paddy-bird of the English and “ k&kiI”—from the note fed on the Gnaphalium luteoalhion, which is a very com it utters when rising,—of the Sinhalese) now to be seen mon weed, but since the planting of vineyards the Agarista feeding on Darwin’s most recent heroes, the earth glycine has increased enormously in numbers, and has totally abandoned its original food to devour the leaves of the worms, in the newly-ploughed rice-fields. We have grape vine, never now touching the former, but thriving and seldom, if evei, seen so many “ kukfis” together before. multiplying beyond measure on the foliage of so totally Then about five miles on the left, before reaching dissimilar a plant, that it the perfect female Day-moth be
an amount of motive power is lost equal to that em M a n o r ia l E x p e r im e n t s w it h S a l t p e t r e on W h e a t , ployed during the night. In order to utilize this power B a r l e y , a n d O a t s . —Horatio Chancellor.—Saltpetre is I have devised means of working the dynamo-machine most beneficial in dry seasons, and ehould be applied also during the daytime and of transmitting the electric in successive doses.—Chemical News. energy thus produced hy means of wires to different M a n o r ia l A c t io n o f G y p s u m o n L u c e r n e .—V. points of the farm where such operations as chaff- Nanquette, Prof. Medicus, and M. Schell.—Gypsum cutting, swede-slicing, timber-sawing, and water-pumping has proved useful in the cultivation of lucerne, even have to be performed. These objects are accomplished by on decidedly calcareous soils. (This agrees with the means of small dynamo-machines, placed at the points view of Prof. Ville.)—Ibid. where power is required for these various purposes, and C o m p a r a t iv e M a n o r ia l E x p e r i m e n t s . —C. M erger.— which are in metallic connection with the current- In the experiments tried, a manuring, containing generating dynamo-machine near the engine. The con otherwise all the constituents of the crop (barley), necting wires employed consists each of a naked strand but deficient in silica, gave the poorest results, being of copper wire, supported on wooden poles, or on trees, on a level with a plot totally unmanured.—Ibid. without the use of insulators, while the return circuit M a n o r i a l G a r d e n E x p e r im e n t s . —W. Lauche and is effected through the park railing or wire fencing of Prof. A. Orth.—The highest results were obtained the place, which is connected with both transmitting and with farmyard manure plus ammonium and potas working machines, by means of short pieces of con sium sulphates and superphosphate. The crop was necting wire. In order to insure the metallic continuity the sugar-beet. —Ibid. of the wire fencing, care has to be taken wherever I n f l u e n c e o f A t m o s p h e r ic E l e c t r ic it y on G r o w t h there are gates to solder a piece of wire buried below the o f t h e V i n e .—Dr. J. Macagno.—The vines experi gate to the wire fencing on either side. As regards mented on yielded grapes richer in grape-sugar pumping the water, a tliree-horse-power steam-engine and poorer in acid than those growing under natural was originally used, working two force-pumps, of 3 4 -inch conditions. —Ibid. diameter, making 36 double strokes per minute. The R e s e a r c h e s o n t h e H e a t o f t h e G r o u n d . —Dr. von same pumps are still employed, now being worked by a Liebenberg.—All air-dry soils at equal temperatures dynamo-machine weighing 4 cwt. When the cisterns radiate heat equally. The author insists strongly on at the house, the gardens, and the farm require filling, the injurious effect of any agency that lowers the the pumps are started by simply turning the commu temperature of the ground in spring, as reducing both tator at the engine station, and in like manner the the quantity and quality of the crop.—Ibid. mechanical operations of the farm already referred to N e w R e s e a r c h e s o n t h e P a s s a g e o f R a i n -w a t e r s arc accomplished by one and the same prime mover. t h r o u g h A r a b l e S o il s . —A. Audoynaud and B. It would be difficult in this instance to state accurately Chauzit.—The chief loss of nitrogen is in the form the percentage of power actually received at the dis of nitrates. Sulphuric acid is removed in considerable tant station, but in trying the same machines under quantity ; phosphoric acid only in traces. The loss similar circumstances of resistance with the aid of dyna of potash and sodium chloride is great.—Ibid. mometers as much as 60 per cent has been realized. M a n u r ia l E x p e r im e n t s o n F r u i t T r e e s . —Dr. P. In conclusion, I have pleasure to state that the work Sorauer.—If liquid manures are too much diluted, ing of the electric light and transmission of power for the trees are injured by being compelled in seeking the various operations just named are entirely under nourishment to take up more water than they need. the charge of my head gardener, Mr. Buchanan, assisted On the other hand, too concentrated solutions oc by the ordinary staff of under-gardeners and field casion a decay of the roots.—Biedermann's Centralblatl. labourers, who probably never before heard of the ' E x p e r im e n t s on M a n u r in g B e e t s .—MM. Champon- power of electricity. Electric transmission of power nois and Pellet.—The authors have tried two manures, may eventually be applied also to thrashing, reaping, one based on Ville’s manure and the other on the and ploughing. These objects are at the present time residue of the refuse from refining beet-sugar on accomplished to a large extent by means of portable Porion’s process. The latter was richer in potash, steam engines, a class of engine which has attained a and of course in organic matter, and gave heavier high degree of perfection, but the electric moter pre crops.—Chemical News. sents the great advantage of lightness, its weight per C h a n g e s in F a r m -y a r d M a n u r e on P r o l o n g e d K e e p horse-power being only 2 cwt., while the weight of a in g . —Prof. Birner and Dr. Brimmer.—The loss of nitro portable engine with its boiler filled with water may be gen is considerable, but almost disappears if the manure taken at 15 cwt. per horse-power. Moreover, the port is protected against moisture. On the addition of 1 able engine requires a continuous supply of water and per cent kainite and 1 per cent magnesium sulphate, fuel, and involves skilled labour in the field, while the the nitrogen is increased by absorption from the at electrical engine receives its food through the wTire (for mosphere. —Ibid. a light rail upon which it may be made to move about) A N e w M e t h o d o f D e t e r m i n i n g t h e A b s o r p t iv e from the central station, where power can be produced P o w e r o f t h e S o il . —R. Zalomanoff.—The author re at a cheaper rate of expenditure for fuel and labour commends the filtration method. He concludes that than in the field. The use of secondary batteries may the results obtained by agitation in a flask are con also be resorted to with advantage to store electrical clusive ; that Liebig’s opinion on the identity of energy when it cannot be utilized. In thus accom drainage-water and ground-water is erroneous, and plishing the w'ork of a farm from a central power that compounds existing in solution and separated station, considerable savings of plant and labour may on passing through pulverised bodies or through capil be effected, the engine power will be chiefly required lary tubes assume another molecular condition—Ibid. for day work, and its night w'ork, for the purposes of T h e V a l u e o f D if f e r e n t F orm s o f R e v e r t e d P h o s electro-horticulture, will be a secondary utilization of the p h o r ic A c id co m pa red w it h t h e S o l u b l e P h o s p h o r ic establishment involving little extra expense. At the same A c id o f S uperphosphates , —Prof. M. Maercker.—In time the means are provided of lighting the hall and general, precipitated phosphate of lime appears of equal shrubberies in the most perfect manner, and of producing value with superphosphates with an equal quantity effects in landscape gardening that are strikingly beauti of soluble phosphoric acid. Root crops form an ex ful. ception, as in them soluble phosphoric acid gives a somewhat better return. In light soils the precipit C u l t iv a t io n o f H ors.—M . Miintz.—The author con ated phosphate was found much superior. Precipit cludes that hop manures should be especially rich in ated aluminium phosphate is as the same value as nitrogen.— Chemical News. the calcium phosphate,—Ibid. Lands to be G ranted in South A frica.— In 1880 I n f l u e n c e o f S u p e r f i c i a l D e s ic c a t io n o f t h e S o il the total area of lands granted by the Crown in Cape u p o n i t s H y g r o s c o p ic a n d T hermometric E e l a t io n s . Colony was 340,850 acres, while 2,635,588 acres were —Prof. E. Wollny.—The evaporation of water and sold. The total are of the Colony is about 131,711,600 the escape of heat are reduced by superficial drying.— acres, of which 56,900,930 acres still remain unalienated. Chemical News. — Colonies and India. U t il is a t io n o f C e r t a in A r t ic l e s o f F ood in H um an M a n it o b a .—Mr. Staveley Hill, M.P., is on a visit D ig e s t io n . —Max Riibner.—The proportion of matter to Winnipeg, and contemplates a tour through Manitoba assimilated from different kinds of food varies greatly. and the North-West, with the view of laying the Of the nitrogenous matter in fresh meat and eggs result of his observations before his constituency in only 2'5 to 27 per cent is rejected ; in milk 7 to W est Staffordshire on his return. Two Cabinet Ministers, 12 per cent; in peas, beans, &c., 10'5 per cent. Messrs. Atkins and Bowell, were also visiting the capital. The author maintains that a healthy body can scarcely A large number of permanent settlers were arriving. be formed and upheld with vegetable matter alone.— —Ibid. Ibid. Q u a n t it y o f P l a n t -fo od in t h e R e f u s e o f D if f e r e n t N e w Z e a l a n d . —Another very valuable industry is T o w n s. —Dr. M. Fleischer.—The Groningen compost likely soon to be established amongst us—the growth contains on the average :—Nitrogen 0 6, potash 0'24, and manufacture of tobacco. It is proposed to reduce and phosphoric acid 0'5 per cent. The Bremen com the duty on the locally-grown article from 3s. 6d. to post (pail-system):—Nitrogen 0'52, potash 0"26, phos Is. per lb., and with such a stimulus the lands in phoric acid O'ol. The author taking the value of the Colony known to be suitable to the growth of nitrogen at £60 per ton, that of potash at £11, and this plant will probably soon be abundantly productive. that of phosphoric acid at £15, values the excre- — Ibid. mentitious matter of Groningen at £240 per 1,000 in N e w F r u it s f r o m C a n a d a . —The Liverpool Journal habitants, and that of Bremen at £150.—Ibid. o f Commerce states that a very interesting consignment S t a t e o f C o m b in a t io n o f P h o s p h e r ic A c id in t h e of fresh fruit—tomatoes, cantaloups, and other kinds A gricultural S o il .— P. P. Deherain and Kayser.— of melons—has just been landed from the Allan Royal The authors mention that phosphoric acid introduced Mail steamer Parisian, consigned to Messrs. Woodall into the soil in the state of animal charcoal soon & Co., fruit merchants, North John Street, Liverpool. passed into combination with alumina and ferric oxide, These were shipped under a process newly planted by In cases where the addition of snperphosphate was Mr. G. A. Cochrane, of Montreal. The results are found unremunerative, a considerable part of the stated by the trade to be in every way satisfactory, total phosphoric acid was found as calcium phosphate. and shipments of peaches and other perishable fruits The mud of the Nile was found to contain 2 30 are to follow. Mr. Cochrane’s patent can be applied grms. phosphoric acid per kilo. If as much as 0 4 to a number of other commodities, and it is believed per cent of phosphoric acid is present in the soil, to be possible that the trade carried on on in preserved phosphatic manures are useless.—Ibid. and canned fruits may be completely revolutionised. F r u i t s .—The consumption of lumber by legitimate —Ibid. enterprise is something enormous, and from published T h e d e s i r e f o r C o l o n ia l P o s s e s s io n s is a growing statistics we gather the following :—To make shoe-pegs feeling among Continental nations. The German papers enough for American use consumes annually, 100,000 describe the movement in favour of acquiring Colonies feet of the best pine are required every year. Last for Germany as furnishing a prominent electioneering and boot-trees take 500,000 cords of birch, b-ech or cry. An organisation has been formed in that country, maple, and the handles of tools, 500,000 more. The calling itself the “ Society of Commercial Geography,” baking of our brick consumes 2,000,000 cords of wood, and is engaged in actively circulating papers advising or what would cover with forest about 50,000 acres voters to withhold their support from any candidates of land. Telegraph poles already up represent 800,000 who are not disposed to support measures for securing trees, and their annual repair consumes about 300,000 to the German Empire suitable Colonial possessions. more. The ties of our railroads consume annually thirty It is difficult to see what measures are to be taken years’ growth of 75,000 acres. Our packing bores cost for this purpose; but it is to be hoped that they will 12,000,000 dols., while the timber used each year in be of a more commendable character than those adopted making waggons and agricultural implements is valued by France, and that the Germans may be more successful at more than 100,000,000 dols.—Souilf American Journal. in their Colonial undertakings than their neighbours M a n u r ia l E x p e r i m e n t s w i t h P h o s p h o r ic A c id have been.—Ibid. i n D i f f e r e n t F o r m s o f C o m b in a t io n .—Dr. Fittbogen, P l a n t s f o r P a p e r -m a k in g — Earnest efforts are Prof. Dietrich, F. Oldenburg, Dr. Birner.—The authors made, too, to introduce from South America, le m ati. have compared the manurial action of superphosphates It it made of the leaves of the ilex paraguayensis, made from Mejillones Guano and from Lahn phos which are singed over a fire made with several sorts phorite with precipitated “ Kladno-pbosphate” (an of aromatic wood, next dried by a flame (which has aluminium phosphate) and with iron phosphate. The no smoke) of other spices of aromatic wood, then these proportionate results for grain were :—Mejillones leaves are pounded, afterwards sifted, next pounded, superphosphate 32, Lahu do. 12, precipitated phosphate then sifted and re-sifted until a very fine powder is 8, Kladno-phosphate 9, iron phosphate 10, whilst a obtained, which is le mati. When used, it is boiled check experiment without phosphoric acid gave 9. in water for two minutes, may be boiled seven or On doubling the doses, the yield was approximately eight times (if care be taken never to let the leaves doubled in case of the Mejillones and the Lahn super- cool between each of these boilings), and the last de phosphate, whilst with precipitated calcium phos coction will be the best. This decoction is a darkish phate, with kladno aud iron phosphate, there was liquid, less fragrant than good tea, less bitter than little difference. The authors conclude that in sandy coffee, containing the same principles as coffee, and soils, such as were used in their experiments, only may be used instead of coffee. I t produces neither that part of the phosphoric acid which is soluble in sleeplessness nor palpitations of the heart, enables the. water utilized. Plants cannot, by the mere action of drinker to do without food, costs Id. a pound, and their roots, and without the cooperation of ground each pound easily furnishes t v ■ 11ty quarts of good waters containing cirbolic acid, extract auy phos strong m a ti; it does not require sugar.—Stationery phoric acid from the insoluble phosphates.—Chemical Trades Journal. News. T r a d e i n F u n g u s.— Auckland, August 16.— A N e w P r o d u c t s a t A v is a w e l l a , (C e y l o n ). —We are steadily increasing trade in fungus is being carried on having remarkably fine growing weather now for our between the northern part of New Zealand and China, last year’s clearings. The Liberian are beginning to and last year 165 tons, valued at rather more than throw out the large light yellowish leaves, which is £6,000 were exported. During the nine yeas from a sure sign the roots are all right beneath. Cocoa 1872 to 1880 inclusive, no less than 1,132 tons, valued is coming on very, well, but goes out mysteriously at £47,651, were exported. Very little attention has in small patches, although each month’s growth been paid to this branch of industry until recently. enables it to fight through its various enemies The New Zealand fungus is found upon various kinds with greater chance of success. Cardamoms are bearing of decayed timber in the North Island. It mostly well after eighteen months’ growth, they grow to almost favours damp localities, and is very plentiful on the any height in that time. Para Rubber wont grow east co ist south of the East Cape. Children and Maoris anywhere here, I heard of the last tree in the place collect it, and after being sold to the dealers, it is having died lately. Ceara comes on wonderfully fast packed in bales and forwarded to China by way of and is a healthy fine looking tree. Will it, or will Sydney and San Francisco. The Chinese use it as it not ultimately, pay ? Ours is getting a large and an article of food.— Colonies and India. a most interesting district to anyone wishing to see low growing products. There are also five large en D etermination o f P o ta sh in A gricultural S u b gines sawing timber. It is interesting to watch the sta n c es b y m ea n s o f P e r c h l o r ic A c id . —Armand Bar- elephants working at these mills and the systematic trand.—In the first place it is necessary to examine way in which the great saws are worked and the if the substance in question contains an ammoniacal timber transported through miles of jungle cart roads. salt. If this is the case, the ammonia must be ex —G. Times. pelled by boiling with a little caustic lime. It is N e w Z e a l a n d : B e e t r o o t . —Efforts are being made necessary that the substance should be perfectly clear. to secure the establishment of a beet-root sugar manu The filtered solution of the sample is evaporated on factory in the Waikato, and to induce the settlers to the water-bath in a small procelain capsule with cultiva'e the beet. At a meeting of settlers last week, 5 c c. of perchloric acid at 45° B. until the volume it was announced that the Hamburg Company were of the liquid is reduced to about 10 c.c. The cap willing to furnish seed of the best quality for the sule is taken off the water-bath, alcohol at 95 per cultivation of 500 tons of beet, send out a plant cent is added ; it is let cool, and the potassium per capable of manufacturing 10,000 tons per annum, and chlorate is collected upon a small filter. The preci skilled labour to work it, and to take about 6,0001 pitate is washed with alcohol at 95 per cent con money interest in the undertaking, if the settlers would taining 10 per cent by volume of perchloric acid, grow that quantity of beet and provide the remaining until the liquid running through no longer show's capital required—some 24,0001. The n e tt profit for the reactions of sulphuric and phosphoric acids. The the working of a plant of this kind was expected to washing is then completed with alcohol at 95 per be not less than 30 per cent per annum on the paid- cent without the admixture of perchloric acid. It is up capital. Notwithstanding the fact that the soil then dried in the stove. At the end of twenty to and climate in Waikato are very suitable for the growth thirty minutes the precipitate is detached from the filter and spread out in a tared watch-glass. It is of beet-root, the settlers appeared indisposed to under take its cultivation ; but in order to prevent a failure weighed t-'ice, to be certain that the desiccation is of the scheme, Mr. J. C. Firth, a wealthy landowner, complete, and the weight of the potassium perchlorate and the possessor of many thousands of fertile acres thus obtained is noted. On the other hand, as there at Matamata, has undertaken to grow from 500 to always remains a little perchlorate adhering to the 700 acres of beet-root per annum for a long term of filler, instead of using a tared filter, the author years. Should the necessary capital be found, therefore, considers it more expeditious to operate as follows :— sugar may form one of the principal articles of export During the desiccation of the perchlorate in the from Auckland ere long — Colonies and, India. watch-glass the filter is burnt in a platinum capsule fitted with a lid. The potassium chloride resulting U s e f u l A n t s . —We are told that “ many of the lead from the calcination is washed into a glass, and the ing orchard proprietors in Northern Italy and Southern chlorine is determined with a centinormal silver solu Germany are cultivators of the common black ant, tion. A multiplication indicates the perchlorate to be which insect they hold in high esteem as the fruit added to that which has been weighed. This pro grower’s best, friend. They establish ant-hills in their cess gives accurate results in presence of lime, mag orchards, and leave the police service of their fruit nesia, soda, baryta, iron, alumina, and sulphuric or trees entirely to the tiny colonists, which pass all phosphoric acids, free or combined. The author pre their time in climbing up the stems of the fruit trees, pares his perchloric acid as follows :—He dissolves cleansing their boughs and leaves of malefactors, mature purified barium chlorate in luke-warm water, and as well as embryotic, and descend laden with spoils precipitates with dilute suphuric acid. He lets settle, to the ground, when they comfortably consnme or draws off the clear liquid with a syphon, and washes prudently store away their booty. They never meddle the precipitate of barium sulphate. The solution of with sound fruit, but only invade such apples, pears, chloric acid is evaporated in a porcelain capsule and plums as have already been penetrated by the over a naked fire until the concentrated liquid be canker, which they remorselessly pursue to its fast comes yellow aud emits a peculiar sound if heated nesses within the very heart of the fruit. Nowhere further. It is then divided in capsules of 19 centi are apple and pear trees so free from blight and metres in diameter, each capable of containing about destructive insects as in the immediate neighbourhood 700 c.c., and the evaporation is continued until the of a large ant-hill five or six years old. The favourite liquid is completely colourless, and emits dense white food of ants would be the larval and pupae of those fumes. In order to diminish the inevitable loss of creatures which spend the whole of their brief ex perchloric acid, a little water may be added from istence in devouring the tender shoots and juvenile time to time during the concentration. Four parts leaves of fruit trees.” We have a large variety of of barium chlorate yield in general 1 part of per carnivorous ants in Australia, some of which, perhaps, chloric acid at 45° B. The colourless liquid is distilled might be turned to account as a military force against in a retort heated on the sind bath. A long-necked some ot our insect plagues. Perhaps some entomolo tubulated receiver is adapted to the retort without gist may find it worth while to give some attention the use of a cork.— Chemical Hews. to this matter.—Australasian. ORANGE-GROWING- NEAR WANGARATTA. instantaneously. Gth.—No “ getting up heat ” required- Mr. Bi-ien had been engaged in the orange plant In fifteen minutes after beginning to light the fire> ations in New South Wales, and in choosing his the apparatus is ready for work. 7lh.—Requires no site his practised eye discovered a small nook in a troublesome cleaning out. 8th.—Quantity. The gorge at the foot of the ranges that gave every pro apparatus is capable of drying at least 40 lb. an mise of being suitable to the growth of the orange, hour, and has frequently dried over 50 lb. 9th. — lie cleared off the timber, and having procured some Quality of tea is equal to that obtained by any process young orange trees from Sydney, made his first hitherto introduced.— Indian Tea Gazette. experiment, which answered so well that he was in duced to plant an extensive orange grove. As it was JACKSON’S NEW SELF-ACTING TEA DRYER. risky and somewhat, expensive to import the young trees from Sydney, he adopted the plan of raising Messrs. W. & J. Jackson have invented a new young plants by layering the old ones. The orange apparatus that will deal with the Tea itself through trees raised by this process are said never to make out the drying process, and thus, they submit, secure well-shaped or vigorous trees. This has not been a perfection in the dessication of the leaf not hitherto the case in Mr. Brien’s experience, for the most vigor obtained. The objects arrived at by the new invention ous and shapely trees in his plantation are those are as follows :—1st.—After the leaf is fed into the raised from layers. machine it requires no more attention until it is dis The soil in which the "plantation has been formed charged dry. 2nd.—Every individual leaf is simul is a patch of deep kindly vegetable soil, a taneously exposed in precisely a similar manner to the little over seven acres in extent. It is completely action of the heated air, thus producing an unvaried and perfectly even dried leaf. 3rd.—The Tea is steadily sheltered by the range on three sides, and lies open but very slowly kept in motion, thereby dispensing only to the east. The trees receive but little manure, and scarcely any water, and yet no trees could be with the tedious and tiring watchfulness of attendants, hitherto required in Tea drying on the tray system. more healthy or bear heavier crops. The patch of good soil on which the trees are planted is very 4<7t.—There are no trays about the machine to handle, clearly defined, and a yard or so out of a certain and it is, therefore, thoroughly durable and cannot boundary the trees show by their dwarfed and sickly get out of order. In operating with the machine, a look that the soil is unsuitable to their growth. boy or attendant has simply to spread the leaf on a slowly-moving feeding web or band, which carries it Most of the trees on the border of the good soil have been removed and lemons planted in their forward and places it in the machine, where it is place; they thrive well, and there is a constant steadily but inactively kept in motion, and in due demand for their fruit. Citrons and shaddocks also course is discharged dry and crisp from a shoot at grow well and bear freely. The varieties of orange the delivery end; so long therefore as the attendant grown are St. Michael, blood, navel, Parramatta seed continues to supply the machine with leaf, it will ling, Emperor, and thorny mandarins and cumquats. steadily dry and discharge it, and should he have Mr. Brieu is strongly of opinion that fine-flavoured occasion to leave the machine at any time, no injury oranges can only be grown on the hills, and that can take place to the leaf in the apparatus, as it must there are very few localities indeed in which they pass on and be discharged. The leaf is continuously, can be grown to leave a profit.—Australasian, but very slowly, turned over, disentangled and in dividually presented to the action of the heated air by a peculiar combination of concentric cylinders, TEA DRYING: ROBERTSON’S TYPHOON. thus ensuring not only the most uniform fermentation, Mr. J. M. Robertson, manager of the Arcuttipore Tea but the drying of each leaf being simultaneously effected Company’s Gardens, has invented a new tea-drying ap alike, must produce an unvaried briskness, and quality paratus which he has named the “Typhoon.” A number of liquor not obtainable from any of the methods of of the planters of his district met at his garden, by drying at present known. The machine will dry about invitation, to test the merits of his machine. We 40 maunds of green leaf per day, and it will be quote the verdict recorded by them in their own approximately 9 ft. long, 3 ft. 6 in. wide, by about words, and also append the Brokers’ report on the 8 ft. high. The apparatus will take very little driving, teas which were manufactured in their presence during which can either be effected by steam or hand power. the trial. The “ Typhoon” is a simple and inexpensive It is very simple, easily erected and self-contained. construction of brick and iron, which can be erected It will be especially suitable for the final drying of without skilled labor. The heating material used is Tea, as the chests can be placed under the delivery coke, and the quantity of coke required for a maund shoot to be filled and closed up whilst the Tea is of tea is stated to be one-quarter of a manud. The hot and crisp.— Indian Tea Gazette. out-turn from the “ Typhoon” we found to be at the rate of one-half maund of thoroughly dried Tea per THE TOBACCO TRADE OF INDIA. hour, and the manner in which the work was done was to our entire satisfaction, some of us thinking The total value of exports of Tobacco from India that the apparatus was capable of doing more. The las increased in the past five years about 58 p er inventor leads us to understand that the entire cost ent in value. The export figures are— of construction and material will not be over R300, R. and we do not see that this sum need be exceeded. 1876-77 ...... 891,398 We are unanimously of opinion that unless the dryers 1880-81 ...... 1,408,310 at present in use are very materially reduced in price, that they will be beaten off the field by the “ Typhoon. ” Difference more... 516,912 The following are some of the chief features and advantages of this machine:—1st.—The low cost. 2nd. Last year’s exports were, in quantity, as follows : —Durabdity, there being nothing except the trays that lb. can suffer from wear and tear. 3rd.-—The small quantity Unmanufactured leaf ... 13,167,325 of fuel required—about £ maund of coke for kutcha Cigars ...... 207,005 tiring I maund of Tea. 4tli.—Ease in stoking, the Other manufactured Tjbacco 198,811 furnace not requiring attention ottener than once every 1£ to 2 hours. 5th.—Absolute and immediate control Total exports ... 13,673,141 over the temperature, which can be raised or lowered 191 The following ate the percentages of the Cigar during the frosts of winter, this mixture may be exports :— applied at the rate of eight, ten, or twelve cart To the Straits ... 50 per cent. loads per acre, according to the quautity of the soil United Kingdom ... 25 ,, available for covering the acreage that needs to be Ceylon 13 ,, dressed. To mix lime, and soil, and earth in this O ther places ... 12 ,, way has a twofold advantage when applied to pastures. In the abovenamed export total of unmanufactured The lime makes soluble or dissolves some of the Tobacco, the following is an approximate distribu mineral constituents of the soil with which it is tion :— mixed, which act in combination with the lime as lb. food for the most nutritious grasses, while the lime Bengal, exports ... 7,866,363 is there at the same time with all its power to Bombay ...... 4,628,078 neutralise the free acid which fed the sorrel and Other places ... 772,884 kingscup, and allowed them to flourish.— English Agricultural Gazette. Total ... 13,267,325
The exports were to the following places HINTS ON OSTRICH FARMING IN NATAL. The information published from time to time in lb. these columns shows that ostrich farming in Natal United Kingdom 4,176,080 will probably before long become an important indus France 1,314,642 try. The experience gained by ostrich breeders in the Italy 907,528 Cape Colony will be of great assistance in guiding in Egypt 924,134 tending “ feather growers ” in the adjoining Colony, Mauritius ... 692,938 and prevent many of the losses which the pioneers Aden • 4,233,401 of the industry had to undergo. The N atal Witness Arabia 398,225 publishes a sketch of the experiences of a successful Straits 347,338 ostrich breeder—Mr. Noyce, of Uitenhage—the prin Other Countries 273,139 cipal features of which will be interesting to many Colonists, or intending Colonists, who are proposing Total .. 13,267,325 to take up the pursuit of ostrich farming. Some eight or nine years ago, it is stated, Mr. Noyce started The absence of the colonies from this list, may sheep-farming on the north-western verge of the Uiten possibly strike some enterprising shippers of a really hage province, where all his operations since have been superior leaf and make.—Indian Daily Neus. carried on. For about three years he carried on his sheep-farming as successfully as he could expect, but there came a drought, and he lost the greater part LIME. of his flock. Persevering, however, he gave sheep- In «ome parts of the low-lying districts of the country farming another trial, and again was very successful (EgnLnd) there are spots which grow but little besides in it, until in 1877 another drought resulted in nearly sorrel and semi-aquatic weeds. This occurs on peaty the entire destruction of his flock. He then came or what are more commonly termed fen soils. In to the conclusion to give up sheep in favour of ostrich this lies an instructive lesson for application in the farming. Previously to this he had bought a few case in question. If a portion of this peaty soil, ostriches, but lacking experience in their management, which produces the plants indicated be put into a and having no sources of information in regard thereto, flower-pot and “ digested,” as some chemists say, they did not prove a very profitable investment. All with a little lime, and then a mixture of sorrel, of them, with the exception of one pair, were ultim kingcup, and grass seeds be sown, the two former, ately exchanged for sheep. The one pair retained which can and do feed on a free acid, will not grow. proved afterwards to be most valuable birds. Nearly, This is because the lime neutralised the free acid if not quite, ruined by his second failure with his by again being partially restored to a state of carbon sheep, Mr. Noyce fortunately managed to get some ate of lime. But while this chemical transformation young ostriches on credit The birds turned out well, has been fatal to . the sorrel and kingcup, it has and their owner was able by selling some of them, made the peaty soil into a condition for seeds of when they were older, to realise more than sufficient gr .s Charlotte Rothschild and British over for gold mining purposes. In the Salem district Queen. the number of plantations is given at 323, the acreage P. L. Simmonds, iu “ Tropical Agriculture,” says planted with mature plants 3,932; with immature that in 1873 the canned fruit shipped from the Baha 1,662, and the acreage taken up but not planted 5,073 ; mas was valued at over £14,000. Considering that total land taken up for coffee 10,667 acres ; approxi their pines are, though much larger in size, consider mate yield of coffee 983,000 lb. The cultivation of ably inferior to Jamaica Pines in flavour, it furnishes coffee on the Shevaroy Hills is being pushed on steadily a fact worthy7 of emulation by Jamaica cultivators. by the owners of estates, but there is just now not The cultivation of this fruit in Jamaica is known to that desire to launch out capital in the enterprise as pay, and an instance is known to the writer in which was the case fifteen or twenty years ago. In many the return, clear of expenses, for one acre has ex cases, the estates have brought their owner large returns and, as in all other matters, a great deal ceeded £80 per annum. depends on personal supervision, and where this is It is not intended by these specific instructions to properly exercised, success is secured. The present convey the idea that the writer’s method is the only year has not been a very favorable one for coffee on one by which successful cultivation can be carried on, the Shcvaroys; the rains have been late, but notwith as no particular method of cultivation can, under all standing some of the esiates have given pretty fair circumstances, bo relied upon, and much must there returns. The Malabar district which includes the fore depend upon the care and energy with which Wynaad, has a total of 31,061 acres under mature the industry is developed, and all failures, successes, coffee, the land taken up for cultivation being returned and other experiences turned to account. Planting at 62,128 acres, and the yield given at 6,114,8261b. on the flat, without any ridge, may be found in many In Cochin about 7,795 acres have been taken up for cases to have not a few points to recommend it, but coffee, of which only 1,436 have been planted ; in the writer’s method, as before described, is one which Travancore, the extent of land planted with mature may be depended upon as supplying to the uninformed and immature plants is 16,775 acres against 37,067 the main points which lead to success in the pro taken up. For the entire presidency, the figures are duction of large and well-flavoured fruit.—J o h n H a r t , as follows : mature plants 78,822 acres ; immature Superintendent of King’s House Gardens, Jamaica.— plants 13,463 acres ; not planted out 83,925 acres ; Journal of Applied Science. total land taken up for coffee 176,210 acres ; approxi mate yield of coffee 21,492,682 lb. The Travancore estates give an average of 175 lb. of coffee per acre of m ature plants against 323 lb. in Cochin and 197 lb. COFFEE AND TEA IN SOUTHERN INDIA. in the Wynaad. The returns of tea cultivation are very small, but A return has been submitted to the Madras Govern the success that has so far attended the efforts of m ent showing the number of coffee and tea estates enterprising people, has induced many to take to it. in the different growing tracts in this presidency, the Tea is grown in three districts of the presidency, number of existing plantations, the yield of coffee and namely in Madura, Malabar and the Nilgiris—in the tea, and the cost, of cultivation. The progress which two firstnamed districts there are only five plantations, these industries have lately made and the large amount but on the Nilgiris there are 79. The total acreage of capital invested in them have induced the Govern of land under tea is retuined at 2,573 acres against ment, for the purposes of preparing the necessary 9,123 acres of land taken up ; the acreage of land with statistics, to obtain these returns which however are immature plants is returned at 1,705. The approximate not quite what are wanted. The column showing the yield of tea of all the estates is returned at 649,460 lb., number of plantations is misleading. Is it to be in the cost of cultivation varying from R50 to R200 per ferred that there are so many coffee estates iu the acre.—Madras Times. AGRI-HORTICULTURE SOCIETY OF INDIA. as clearly demonstrated by my experience with this
T u b e r s o f “ C h v f f a , ” C y p e r u s E s c u l e n t u s . season’s crop. Neither wet nor dry weather materially interferes with the quantity or quality of the yield.” The Secretary placed on the table some tubers of the above grass recently received in response to his B a e l F r u i t . application from the Directer of the Botanic Garden, Mr. Ii A. Stendale submitted an extraordinary Adelaide, wbo thus writes respecting it in a recent cluster of Bael Fruit, nine in number, with the fol report :—“ Clmffa or Earth Almond, The American lowing particulars :— papers praise it, and say that for a few years after “ Baboo Hem Chunder Mookerjee, of Jonai, a well- its introduction nothing was heard of it, except here known Zemindar of these parts, has just brought and there as a curiosity; but within the past year me the accompanying very curious cluster of Ba 1 or two the interest in the plant has revived, and the Fruit which I send over to the Society as a rarity. Southern papers are advocating its culture, It is said The bunch consisted originally of ten Baels, but that an acre of chuffas will produce more pork than one got knocked off. On the same tree, but almost an acre or corn. The yield is said to be about 200 out of reach, is a similar bunch, but larger. Baels, bushels to the acre. It is also still extensively grown as a rule, grow singly or occasionally in pairs. I in modern Egypt. The clmffa dies down during winter. have never seen a cluster like this before, it resem It is planted in rows two and a half feet apart, and bles a bunch of gigantic green grapes.” two tubers should be planted two feet apart, and two inches deep. It does not seem to do so well with us as in America.” BANANA CULTIVATION IN JAMAICA. It is also alluded to by Dr. Royle in his Himalayan In 1876, when the Irrigation W orks came into Botany as follows:—“ The aromatic principle being operation, the writer thought that with irrigation the absent in the tubers of some species, while fecula is light and friable land lying south and east of Spanish secreted in large proportion, they are employed as Town, which had hitherto only been used for grazing food, as those of Cyperus esculentus, a native of the pens, might be used for some more profitable cultiv South of Europe and of the North of Africa, and ation, and, therefore, in the month of September of supposed to be the Malinothalis of Theophrastus. In that year, he, as an experiment planted 10 acres with addition to fecula these roots contain a fixed oil bananas. It was not without some misgiving that the which enables them to be formed into palatable emul experiment was made as the banana had not previously sions, which, with the addition of sugar, have been been grown on the plains of St. Catherine, but, after employed as a substitute for coffee and cocoa.” four years’ experience, the writer has the satisfaction The Secretary added he had also applid to Dr. of bearing testimony to its complete success. Others Schomburgh and received from him sonle seed of the have been induced to follow his example, so that there “ Egyptian Pearl Millet,” which is apparently our are at present upwards of 300 acres in bananas, the “ bajra” (Panicum spicatum.) A portion of the clmffa writer’s 10 acres having been increased in that time tubers had been sown in the Society’s garden ; the to 100 acres. From a monetary point of view the remainder (a very small quantity) is now available to results have been highly satisfactory, and, from his members. own personal experience, the writer is of opinion that J a p a n P e a . in a fairly good soil, with the command of water for Read a letter from Captain J. F. Pogson, forward irrigation and under careful and intelligent manage ing an extract from an American paper (Missisippi ment, the net return per acre may safely be estimated Patron) respecting a prolific pea raised in Japan, and at £15 per annum ; so that any industrious man, with suggesting that steps be taken towards obtaining a sufficient capital to establish 10 acres in a proper quantity of this variety for trial in India, which manner, may be considered fairly started in life. was agreed to. Without irrigation, banana cultivation would be im The following is the extract alluded to :— possible on such an arid plain, and even with irriga “ Mr. T. E. Martin and Mr. R. T. Rutlege, both tion close supervision is necessary to ensure satisfactory American progressive farmers, state that the ‘Japan results. With water at hand for irrigating, the capital pea’ is the most productive, as well as good food required to establish any given acreage can be cal that they have ever grown for all kinds of stock; culated almost exactly, and such being the case, this horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs, will eat the peas, cultivation gives perhaps less cause for anxiety than stems, and leaves if harvested before fully matured that of any other crop. No return should be counted aud cured like other hay, with as much relish as on for the first 12 months, and the yield will of course they do corn. Then there is no pea for the table, vary considerably according to the nature of the soil, it is soaked in water the night before cooking, that which should be of a loamy open nature. The writer has a more exquisite flavour. They grow on a stout had one field of 10 acres which gave in the second bushy stalk from two or three feet high, somewhat year a return of £240 net, whilst another field of 18 resembling the cotton plant. The main stalk, as well acres only gave a return of £70 net. He considers, as the branches of the limbs, are literally loaded however, that this disparity is not only due to original with small pea pods, filled with little yellow peas, difference of soil, but also to the fact that the larger similar in colour, size, and flavour to the English field had been cultivated by the peasantry for twelve garden pea.” successive years. Much has been said obout auxiliary As regards cultivation they state :—“ But the way crops, and, as the bananas have to be planted at least to get the greatest yield is to plant in hills two and ten feet apart, it would at first sight appear advis a half feet each way, allowing but one stock to the able to utilize the intermediate spaces while the hill to remain after the first working. That will bananas are small, but any quickly ma'uring crop, give you 6,9(50 stalks to the acre, and on ordinary such as Indian corn, cassava and pease speedily over land cultivated the same as corn, will average at the tops or chokes the bananas, which are thereby retarded lowest estimate a pint of shelled peas to the stalk, in their growth and often permanently injured, so or a fraction over 10SJ bushels per acre. I doubt that the auxiliary crops can never be really profitable. not that with high cultivation and good soil it The following general suggestions, based on ex would be an easy matter to double that yield, be perience, may be found useful:—It is of the first sides there is no other crops that will yield more importance to seclect a suitable soil which should be hay to the acre. In fact I know of no crop so re friable and light, but not so sandy as to allow the munerative as the Japan pea. It is a sure cropper, too rapid escape of the water. It may be accepted asa fact that any attempt to grow bananas on these of information is available. A careful persual of this plains on a stiff clay soil will prove a failure, and it document shows conclusively why some companies should be borne in mind that unices the slope of the are paying dividends and others are working at a laud be uniform, the cost of irrigating will be materi loss. The table gives details for each company ; we ally increased. Before incurring any expense, it will shall here deal with the averages of the eleven be prudent to obtain the advice of some competent companies :— person as to the best way of taking and applying the 1879. 1880. water, for the inexperienced in such matters would Gross price of tea per lb. be likely to make some costly mistake. After the including all receipts ... d. 17-37 14-41 land has been cleared and stumped, the irrigation Cost of making per lb. trenches should be laid out and dug before any plant including all charges .. d. 16-03 14-18 ing is done, for the suckers should be irrigated imme Profit per lb. of tea .. d. 1-34 0-23 diately after being planted. The writer thinks it best Dividends paid % 4-77 3 07 to plant banana suckers at a distance of 10 feet apart Yield of tea per acre .. . lb. —. 349 in every direction, which gives about 435 plants to Capital employed per acrei £ — 87 the acre. Some people however think a freer admission Capital per maund of ten of light and air are necessary for the growth of large maunds ... £ — 21 bunches, and, as the smaller ones are not marketable, To any one who has studied the financing of tea they recommend that the suckers should be planted concerns, this table speaks in language not to be at a distance of 1GJ feet, from north to south, and mistaken. Here we have an average cost per pouud of 8J feet, from east to west. When so planted, the for making for the two years of 15 "10c?., while the price cost .pf- tremshing and irrigating is less than when realised averages only 15’89d., leaving a profit of only they are planted in squares of ten feet. Good healthy ■79d. per lb. The cost of making in individual gardens suckers should b1 selected to plant, and they should, runs from 1225d. to. 17'6?d.; the prices realised were from the time they are planted, be irrigated, regard from 9'12d., to 19 ',"17'/ , and the results per lb. from— less of whatever rain may fall, at regular intervals 4T2d. to+'25 to 5 l2d. Now we can understand with of not more than fourteen days. The nature of the out much difficulty why two gardens making an soil has so much to do with the quantity of water equal quality and having an equal outturn of net required at one time for irrigating, that it would be profit, should pay different dividends, as those depend impossible to lay down a hard-and-fast rule, but it on the amount of capital invested : but after allowing may be accepted that at least 1 cubic yard per hour, for local peculiarities in the way of expense, we are per acre, wdrich is equal to about 68 inches rainfall at a lose to understand why there should be such vast per annum, is necessary. The plants must be kept differences in the cost of manufacture. It is no doubt free of weeds and creepers, and this may necessitate true that a large garden can be worked cheaper per lb. eight cleanings per annum. They arrive at maturity or per acre than a small one, many of the items being in a period varying from twelve to eighteen months. constant, but these gardens under notice are all pretty After the first bearing, the smallest suckers which large concerns. We also know that a garden yielding can be used for planting should be removed, and the 470 lb. of tea per acre, costs less relatively than one one which has borne should be cut up and spread yielding only 1921b. These latter figures depend, round the root, after which the plant should be care then, on management, and by management we do not fully moulded up. In most cases this simple process, use the term in its narrow meaning as referring to added to the manurial properties of the water, will the garden management. We do not think the garden be found sufficient, but in others it may be necessary management is so often at fault, as there is an esprit to use other manures after the third year of cropping. de corps which impels managers to try their very The cost of planting and cultivating 1 acre of bananas best. By management, we use the term in the sense was found by the writer to be as follows : — of control. If gardens were, first of all, carefully Cleaning laud, if in wood or ruinate £1 10. provided with good managers, the proper plan would Irrigation trenches, &c, 1 10 be to give these gentlemen reasonable discretionary 400 suckers at 6 b. 1 4 powers, and allow them to do their best, without Planting 400 suckers at 2s. ... 0 8 being hampered by instructions from directors or 8 cleanings at 10s...... 4 0 managing agents, who may be good business men, Irrigation Water ...... 1 0 but who, in many instances, have little practical ex Contingencies .. 0 18 perience of tea planting and manufacture. The difference between the selling prices of 1879 Total per acre £10 10 and 1880, viz., 2 96d. per lb., is accouuted for by the extremely low market ruling in the latter year. The yield of marketable bunches of fruit will probably The minimum should be lSd. or say 12 annas, and in be about 25 per cent less than the number of suckers 1879 it nearly rose to that. On the other hand, a planted. useful lesson is learned by looking into the difference The cost of cutting and delivering the fruit in between the cost of making in the two years, which Kingston does not exceed 4d. per bunch. amounted to 1 '85d.‘ On this head 8 annas or V2d. The demand for bananas in the United States will ought to suffice, and a little more economy rxettsed probably increase, and it is at present so great that in the direction of office charges would reduce the there is no likelihood of the market being overstocked. price to that figure. The column containing dividends Steamers run every week from Kingston to New is slightly misleading; it does not contain dividends York, so that banana growers in St. Catherine are earned, but dividends paid, and as some are guaranteed perhaps more favourably situated than those in any the column does not give a true idea of the profits other part of the Island.—S e p t i m u s F e u r t a d o , made. Perhaps the fairest mode of estimating this is Jam aica.—Journal o f Applied Science. to- work out the profit made per acre. We hold that by proper management and control a fairly worked garden should give II100 profit per acre per annum. TEA COMPANIES IN INDIA. The Borelli, one on the list before us, made 170 lb. A return has recently been issued by the “ Planters' of tea, and made a profit of 5'125d. per lb. This at Stores and Agency Company, Limited,” of the results par is exactly £10-0-8| per acre, and, given an ordinary of the working of eleven tea companies having their good market, we see no reason why this should not offices in London, from which a considerable amount be the rule, rather than the exception. Let us now look at the capital account of those 1 Pedro Plains or Piratee country.* The prevailing soil eleven gardens. The figures are given in pounds sterling : of the plains is composed of red marl, with here and per acre, a very good method for purposes of comparison. | there a deposit of gravel and alluvium. The district These range from £27 (Jorehaut Co.) to £160(Eastern i generally is hot and arid, the mean annual rainfall Assam Co.), the average being £87. Now we have j being about 50 inches, while the temperature is seldom got reasons for the opinion that £50 is amply sufitment j under 80° Fahr. This is the home of Sab il umbraculifera. to bring a garden to paying point. How then have | The Palm is known locally as the “ Big Thatch,” some gardens been made for £27, while others have ; or “ Bull Thatch,” and also as the “ Palmetto Royal.” cost £160 per acre ? In the early days of the Industry, j A recent visit to these comparatively unfrequented there was no thought of economy ; where a speculation ! Pedro Plains ga-e me an opportunity of seeing this was popularly supposed to yield 300 per cent, there magnificient Palm in its native country. On the au was no incentive to saving. Money was recklessly thority of Purdie, Grisebach (Flor. Bril. 1 Vest Indian thrown away on land and on establishment, while Islands, 1864, p. 514) rightly notes this Palm as indi promoters made fabulous sums. The crisis of 1866 genous to Jamaica, and mentions “ Black River savan brought all this to an end. Some companies struggled nah” as its habitat. Although sparingly distributed through and are still existing, but being burdened along the plains from Alligator Pond to the westward, with their original enormous cost, can never hope to even as far as Savanna-la-Mar, it is evident that its pay reasonable dividends; while others succumbed, true home is confined within the limits of the Pedro and new proprietors bought them for a tithe of their Plains, and its abundance and magnificence there very cost. Those gardens weighted with excess capital clearly to my mind establish its indigenous character. should have this written off. When dividends on the It would appear, however, that before Purdie’s visit, reduced capital could be made, shareholders could the original source of this noble Palm was involved not lose by striking off half of their capital and ac in some obscurity. For instance, in Dr. Seemann’s cepting one share for two or three, as the dividends Popular History of Palms, 1856, p. 337, published a would remain the same absolutely. Another mode of few years before the Flora of the British West Indian overcoming the difficulty is to pay no dividends, but Islands, we find the following remarks, quoted on the utilse all profits in extending. t
P a p a v a fruit makes (unripe) a good curry superior to HARVESTING CINCHONA BARK. cucumber and most pumpkins.—Vor. We are glad to be informed, by a gentleman just A p p l e s . —Apples (says a correspondent of the Graphic) returned from Helbodde, that Mr. John de Caen, the are of more value as food than is generally supposed. They are nearly as nourishing as bread, enterprizing manager of that estate, has invented a and far more so than potatoes. In 1801 there was machine for removing the bark off cinchona a great scarcity of meat, so apples, instead of being twigs and branches from tho smallest size made into cider, were sold to the poor, and some of to branches about 1J in. diameter, which, for cheap the Cornish workmen asserted that they could sus tain work on baked apples far better than on potatoes. ness and simplicity, bids fair to supersede all other means of accomplishing this object. U m b r e l l a s a n d P im e n t o . —The Umbrella trade, ac cording to the Scientific American, threatens the exist The machine consists of two smooth rollers worked ence of the Pimento (Pepper) plantations of Jamaica. with a small cog-wheel, and driving-wheel, in the It was shown by an official estimate made at Kingston, pattern of a mangle, but, differing in this respect, that last autumn, that more than half a million umbrella- the rollers taper towards one end for the purpose of sticks were then awaiting export to England and the admitting twigs of various dimensions. These rollers United States. These sticks were almost without exception Pimento, and it is not surprizing that owners are 3| to 4 feet in length, and are fixed to two and lessees of Pimento walks are becoming alarmed at common wooden standards, about 4 ft. high, the feet ! the growth of trade which threatens to uproot in a few of which are splayed and weighted. j years all the young trees. The export returns for With one man (to turn the wheel) and four women the last five y< ars show an average of 2,000 bundles or boys, the machine turns out 600 lb. of wet | of sticks sent out from Jamaica annually, and the bark per day, averaging 120 lb. per cooly. Whereas ; returns for I he first three quarters of 1881 show an export of over 4,500 bundles, valued at 15,000 dollars. even by the means, commonly known as ‘ ‘ the bottle Each bundle contains from 500 to 800 sticks each trick,” no more than 60 lb. has ever been got off per of which represents a young, bearing Pimento tree._ band, N a t ure. t THE COFFEE TRADE OF BRAZIL. for the past three years. We find our estimate of an export of 7 millions of cwt. of coffee from Brazil, and We have now received Messrs. Kem, Hayn & Co.’s o b i' belief in a specially large increase in the case of annual review, and from this interesting and important Santos, fully justified, thus :—■ document we hope to quote largely tomorrow. Mean 1S79. 1880. 1881. time, we may say that the tendency of the report is Rio ... 206,327 tons 202,124 tons 258,313 tons to shew that over-production and lowered prices (the S a n to s ... 67,972 ,, 62,615 ,, 80,146 „ latter falling from 16 to 25 per cent during the year) had told so hardly on the planters that they are now T o t a l ... 274,299 „ 264,739 „ 338,459 „ demanding Government aid, not only in such legitimate The equivalents in cwt. of the enormous export of last directions as reduction or abolition of export duties and year a re :— reduction of railway freights, but by the establishment R i o ...... 5,166,260 cici. ■ S antos ...... 1,602,920 ,, of a R ural M ortgage Bank which should advance money against security at low interest to the planters. The T o t a l h 6,769,180 ,, latter proposal is truly characteristic. It means that minor ports making up the round 7 millions. As Santos on “ block ” security, which may not only be reduced coffee is that which mainly competes with Ceylon plant greatly in value, but become absolutely a burden on ation kinds, it is of interest to our planters to learn those holding it, the Bank should be compelled to lend that all the increase in this kind went to Europe, the its funds and at a low rate of usance: that, in fact, exports from Santos to the United States, indeed, hav money should lie lent on the principles of high risk ing fallen from 12,113 tons in 1879 to 11,123 in 1881. and low interest. That is not sound finance:—not fair But even Rio has far more affected the markets of to the owners of the money; but Messrs. Kern, Hayn Europe than it has those of the United States, for, & Co. express the hope that this concession as well while only 65,622 tons went from Rio to Europe in as the others will be granted! They do not seem to 1879, and 83,065 in 1880, no less than 109,268 went see the force of their own statement, that in the case to lower prices in the markets of Europe in 1881. To of estates far inland present prices of coffee will not the United States the shipments from Rio were actually pay cost of carriage to the sea-borde. Persons dealing less than in 1879, the figures being with their own money would certainly hesitate to lend 187 9 ...... 131,900 tons. on sueli properties, and most decidedly would never lend 188 0 ...... 105,993 „ 011 them at low interest. But, as the great landholders 188 1...... 130,682 „ can influence the Government in Brazil, we should not Let us, however, be thankful that the United States be in the least surprized to see Government money (if are able to take half the great crop of Brazil, now, European capitalists would lend it to the Government) and that the certainty is that, amongst their people, used for the purpose indicated. Committed as the Im consumption will rapidly increase. Increased consump perial and Provincial Governments are to an immense tion in Europe null depend on war being averted, and number of railway schemes, for the construction or also on stringent action being taken to put a stop to guaranteeing of which they calculate on the heavy ex the nefarious practice of mixing chicory and worse with port duties, it is impossible to see how these can be coffee and selling ground dates and other rubbish as remitted or even reduced. substitutes. Why the adulterators of tea should be pun As regards railway fares, their reduction by private ished, and those who not merely mix coffee but super companies which have been guaranteed would, in many sede it should be encouraged, is a great mystery. cases, simply mean that the Government, that is the Our readers may be interested in seeing the names of general community, would have to make up what was the Rio firms which shipped over 80,000 bags in 1881. They are thus given:— reduced in favour of a particular interest. It is clear Ed. Johnston & C. ... 383,362 Bags that, by the wild rush into coffee in the past four years, Phipps Brothers & C. ... 306,361 the planters of Brazil have brought a great crisis on J. Bradshaw k (J. ... 299,717 themselves as well as on their competitors who did not Hard, Rand & C. ... 252,948 "Wright & C. ... 230,344 work with slave labour. It is an obvious case of direct Norton, Megaw kC . ... 224,552 retribution on the greedy wrong-doers, but involving, F. Sauwen k O. ... 219,448 alas ! the suffering of the innocent as well as the guilty. Me. Kinnell & C. ... 212,931 Messrs. Kem, Hayn & Co. take, of course, the sensible Ed. Pecher k C. ... 193,395 Berla, Cotrim &C. ... 183,039 view, that big crops will now be the rule for some Trinks, Munch & C. ... 171,026 years to come. E x p o r t s , however, null depend on im Kern, Hayn & C. ... 160,827 proved prices, and for these the brokers look to the Arbuckle Brothers ... 136,261 Wm. Ford&C. ... 101,361 effect of present low prices in increasing consumption. Wille, Schmilinsky & C...... 92,345 But such increase cannot come all at once, or in pro O. Me. Culloch, Beecher k C. ■ ... 84,833 , portion to the enormously increased production result As 17 bags make up a ton, Messrs. Ed. Johnston & Co., ing from the practical concentration of the whole slave it will be seen, shipped more than 22,500 tons, or labour of Brazil on coffee-growing. To add to the troubles 450,000 cwt., not far short of a Ceylon crop. But mere of the Brazil planters, Messrs. Kem, Hayn & Co. anti bigness is not in itself an admirable quality. Brazil has cipate pressure from the abolitionists, while no satis the advantage of vast areas of fertile soil. To take factory progress in the direction of immigration has been advantage of that circumstance was perfectly legitimate. made. Messrs. Kem, Hayn & Co. adhere to then- figures But the soil has been tilled mainly by bondsmen, whose for exports from Rio, and they now give those of Santos cry at being robbed of their freedom and of the just 193 wages of their labour will reach the ears of the Lord AGRICULTURE ON THE CONTINENT OF of Sabaoth and will be heard and answered. EUROPE. We call the special attention of our merchants and (Special letter.) planters to the review of a pamphlet by the great BEET-SUGAB— VACCINATION OF LIVE-STOCK— POULTRY AND Dutch Coffee House of Schroffer & Co. in another RABBIT REARING. column: it is specially encouraging. P a r i s , 28th January. Farmers have taken stock of 1881, and appear on the whole not to be dissatisfied with the results. The price COFFEE “MIXTURES.” of wheat, which may be taken as the standard of profits, has been more advantageous, without affecting seriously The following draft memorial is in circulation : — the pockets of the consumers. The vintage has been To t h e L o r d s C ommissioners o f H. M. T r e a s u r y . better, despite phylloxera and frost; the wine industry London, 6th Feb. 1882. * of the country is not compromised: new vineyards are coming into existence, and, if proprietors cannot extirp The attention of your memorialists has been drawn to a ate the phylloxera, they can at least protect themselves minute of Treasury dated 20th January 1882, which directs against its ravages. Live stock has left not a little to H. M. Board of Customs to permit the importation, under be desired; this is due to short supplies of food: the a duty of 2d per lb., of coffee or chicory, roasted and price for fat stock was high, but then a deficiency of ground, mixed, without reference to the proportion of the fodder made it difficult to prepare cattle for the butcher. mixture; and the permission to extend to any other veget To protect the beet sugar interest, so-called free-trade able matter applciable to the use of chicory or coffee. fanners demand that the duty of fs. 20 per cwt. be main Your memorialists beg to submit to the consideration of tained on colonial sugars, and the home tax reduced to your Lordships the following objections to the above 2£ francs per ton of beet delivered at the factory. Agri order •— culture has been endowed with a special minister since 1st.—That it is most unwise to give such sanction to over ten months, but how long that business-like arrange practices which tend to deteriorate so valuable and whole ment may be continued is uncertain. some a beverage, so well fitted to advance temperate In the north of France, sugar beet is viewed by agri habits among the people. culturists as a cornucopia. It possesses the advantage 2nd.—That the legislator has been most desirous of feeding stock, cheaply under conditions where high of protecting the food of the people from adulterations, farming is practised; the products from beet-sugar, mo and that the order just issued by the Treasury is in contra lasses, alcohol, repay in a great measure the expenses diction with the letter and the spirit of the Acts of of production, while the pulp, varying in price from fs. 10 Parliament 33 and 39 Victoria, chap. 63, clauses 6 and 8. to 15 per ton, following not so much quality, as locality, 3rd.—That the substances, which it is proposed to admit feeds working bullocks, then fats them off, in addition in a mixed state with coffee, would of themselves find no to supporting sheep and cows. The value of the manure favour, being of comparatively small value ; and it is only must not be omitted. In the department of the Nord, because they assume the name of coffee, or are found in 25 per cent of the arabl6 soil is under beet, which real association with this name, that they become saleable. izes on an average fs. 20 per ton. About 2J tons of pulp 4th.—That no good reason can be shown why coffee are viewed as equal to one ton of ordinary hay. At should not deserve as fair a treatment as other articles of Roye, Messrs. Pluchet and Frisard cultivate 1,500 acres Indian or Colonial produce, such as tea for instance where of sugar beet, less 25 in meadow; the rotation is tri regulations prohibit the sale of the pure article, with ennial : beet, wheat or rye, oats and clover. They employ any mixture whatsoever, and even with “ exhausted tea.” 160 bullocks, 30 horses, and a steam plough. The sugar 5th.—That the chief reason why coffee has fallen into beet worked up during the season is 150 tons per day. disfavor in this country is the systematic way in which This establishment was the first to employ the ex it has been adulterated, and the consequent difficulty ex traction of beet juice by the process of diffusion, now perienced by the great mass of population in obtaining so general, and. which has superseded the old method of not merely a pure article, but a wholesome and palatable pressing the pulp in sacks in hydraulic machines. The beverage suitable to their means. The poor classes pur principle of diffusion reposes on osmose and exosmose, chasing coffee in small quantities will always ask for it the same laws which regulate the flow of sap in plants. ready ground. If on a glass of water a little wine be carefully poured, 6.—That coffee is grown in the British Possessions in and the air kept perfectly still, the wine, being lighter, India, Ceylon, Jamaica, and other Colonies, at the cost of will float, but in time will he found to have gradually many millions of English capital, its cultivation and pre become mixed, layers-like, in the water. Or, if a bladder paration giving employment to many thousands of British containing a solution of sugar be hermetically fastened subjects : that Ceylon in 1877 exported 105,000,< 00 lb. of coffee and British India about 50,000,000. lb. that by far and suspended, not a drop of the contents will escape. the larger of those crops used to find their way to this But if the bladder be placed in a vase of water, the country, which consumes chiefly Ceylon and Indian coffee j solution will exude through the pores of the membrane, that London is gradually losing a portion of its trade, as the water also passing inwards at the same time rapidly. the crops are shipped now more and more to the con The liquids exchange places. This is the process of tinent direct, to the detriment of British shipping, and difiusion. The beet is cut up into little slices, placed of English importers, dealers, brokers and others interested in an iron cylinder, and hot water added, as the change in this article. thus provoked is more rapid. The cellules of the beet 7th.—That the consumption of coffee in this country, act the role of the membrane of the bladder; they empty which, in 1847, with a duty nearly three times as heavy their sugar and salts into the water when the solution as the present one, was 37,472,153 lb. or about 2 lb. per is duly drained off, and the pulp taken out and pressed head of population, has now declined in 1881 to 31,913,4001b. to obtain all the liquid. Under the ancient press method or less than 1 lb. per head, nothwithstanding the large from 4 to 6 per cent of useful substances were lost; increase of population, and they believe thatjthe consump by the diffusion process only about a half. In other tion, if it bad not been checked by unfair legislation, words 6J per cent of sugar is now obtained, against o£ would probably exceed now 60.000,000 lb. formerly, which on 15,000 tons of roots means 1,000 For those reasons your memorialists deem the effect sacks more of sugar. The labour too is less. The pulp otthis treasury order to be of such injury to the con from the beet treated by the diffusion plan contains from sumption of coffee, and the well-being of the community, 10 to 15 per cent more water, hence, less esteemed by that they feel constrained to urge its withdrawal. | fanners, but then it costs fs. 10 less per ton, and when mixed with cut fodder, linseed or cotton seed cake, fat of cinchonas to hybridize. Apart from the judgment tens animals well in four months. Chemists allege that of strictly scientific men, like Dr. Trimen and Mr. no great advantage is gained by having a pulp rich in sugar, for when the pulp is placed in the trench for Moens, confirmed by so-called practical planters (who, conservation, the sugar becomes rapidly changed into if educated and observant men, are eminently scientific), alcohol, and next into acetic acid. The scums from the our own experience, as recently related, of the pro defecation of the juice make excellent manure, being rich in nitrogen; as a top dressing for meadows it is invalu geny of seed from calisayas grown within reach of able, and ploughed in after a flax crop, is considered as saccirubras, has been conclusive. We ought to say an excellent preparation for stolen crops of turnips. On beet farms the ratio of stock kept is 10 sheep or pigs, that we never doubted the ability of a scientific or one head of black cattle, per 3$ acres. horticulturist, like the late Mr. Mclvor, to produce M. Pasteur has lost no time in practically applying hybrids by the methods usually practised to obtain his important discoveries connected with the vaccination of live stock as a preservative against charbon and other new varieties of plants. What we were long sceptical maladies. He prepares the vaccine and forwards it in about was hybridization by natural agencies, such as bottles, sufficient for 50, 100, to 300 sheep: the doses currents of wind or insects. We had two very strong for cows and horses are larger. There are first and second vaccines to be employed at an interval of a fortnight, apologies for our sceptical attitude of mind. In the and injected under the skin by a Pravaz syringe. In first place, we pinned our faith to the dicta of such the case of sheep they are vaccinated inside the thigh, eminent botanists as Drs. Hooker and Thompson, who, cows behind the shoulder, and horses on the neck, where in their Flora Indica, strongly insisted that hybridity the collar cannot rub. The syringe employed must be in nature was exceedingly rare, and, artificially, often carefully washed after each day’s use ; the vaccine must be kept in a cool place in a cellar, and a bottle once very difficult. In the second place, our personal ob opened must be used. After being operated upon, cattle servation of G. officinalis had convinced us of the exhibit no tremor; sheep do, and horses largely so; no almost illimitable faculty of ** sporting ” into the most treatment is required for the pustules. An extensive diverse sizes, shapes and other characteristics of foli agriculturist asserts he preserves his stock from peri age, possessed by the plants. We may add that we pneumonia, by hanging in the sheds planks coated twice a week, not with coal, but Norwegian tar; giving attached much importance to a concession made by common salt and garlic liberally with the food, purging the greatest, living quinologist, Mr, John Eliot Howard, with castor-oil, and employing lotions of camphored spirits. that, although real hybridization of the cinchonas in M. Lemoine, an extensive poultry breeder, considers their natural habitat was not probable (and to that the droppings of fowls, if allowed to accumulate, as detri position he adheres), yet the various species growing mental to the health of the birds and the profits they ought to yield. His poultry-yard consists of several in close contiguity might affect each other to an ex well-sanded, low-wired over alleys, planted with fruit trees, tent short of hybridization. Mr. Broughton wrote terminating in a small paddock. The mortality of the to Mr. Howard that, as regarded the Crown barks, fowls is 20 per cent less, and the eggs one-fourth more C. officinalis,— Uritusinga, Loxa, Condamirma, Bon- numerous by the new installation. Farmers are urged plcndiana, or by whatever other names the varieties to domesticate the Cabiai of South America as ranking next to the pig and sheep. It is commonly known as might be distinguished, those varieties were numerous the water pig, and resembles the squirrel in point of and extreme, from trees of robust habit, with large cleanliness and food. In three years it becomes as large and glabrous foliage, down to the shrubby C. angusti- as an ordinary pig; it eats little and sleeps much. The folia, with its small, pointed, peach-like leaves. Mr. head is large, the ears small, it has two terrible cutting Broughton, however, found seedlings -which he was teeth, but no tail. When carefully fed, the flesh loses compelled to recognize as hybrids, under trees of C. its objectionable oily taste. A M. Georges proposes, that since meteorology cannot succirubra and C. officinalis, which had ripened and predict the weather for months in advance, and since the dropped seeds. The seedlings were neither succirubra telegraph can, for 48 hours, farmers ought to club among nor officinalis, but manifest hybrids, although some themselves during the active seasons, to receive weather inclined more to one parent and some to the other. telegrams from the Observatory. Broughton’s grand error was the assertion, which Nothing to record relative to the phylloxera: the battle between the invader and the invaded goes bravely on. Mclvor said discouraged him and for a time inter Much interest has of late been displayed to discover the rupted his experiments, that the hybrids possessed winter eggs of the insect. In the meantime, several vine the bad qualities of both parents and the good pro yards which had been destroyed by the ravages of thephyl- perties of neither. What Mclvor did and what loxera, are being replanted by American stocks, so that in nature seems also to have done, was to produce, five or six years the vines will be flourishing like bay trees. It has been said that a man could make his fortune by amongst hybrids of no value, at least a couple (or rabbit rearing. M. Bouvyer, of Chatellerault, near Tours, perhaps only one, leaning in some specimens to one cultivates mushrooms in old quarries: manure and labor, parent and in some to the olher) superior in good fs. 1,100 per month; receipts, fs. 8,000; profits, properties to either parent. Those taking after the red fs. 7,900; he gathers about 150 lb. of mushrooms per bark parent have been distinguished as pubiscent; those day; the beds, composed of horse dung, after being bearing the impress of the crown bark f.Iiage, robust ; sown with spawn from rabbits’ excrements, send up the esculent in three months; it ripens on the third day and, as a name which both sides to the controversy of its being overground. can at once adopt, Dr. Trimen suggests C. robusta for what lie believes, and his opinion has been con THE “ HYBRIDITY OE CINCHONAS” firmed by the authorities at Kevv, is a hybrid, * b u t CONTROVERSY. * Dr. Trimen cautiously says it may turn out to be a We personally feel that there can be no further distinct species ; but his opinion, that it is a hybrid, is clear controversy as to the liability or even the tendency enough. of so valuable a character that it deserves the special the hair stand on end on the bark of G. pubescens. attention of cultivators. Col. Beddome was just Belief in natural hybridity was an impeachment of the as favourably impress :d with the new cinchona, but wisdom of providence ! and as to our illustration of the under the influence of a foregone conclusion against care gardeners took of their cabbage seed plants, the the hybridization theory and deference to the opinion brassicas were too innately pure to entertain, much less of Mr. Cross, the able Conservator of Forests (no act out, an idea so abhorrent. Moens was a maunderer; mean botanist) rejected the idea and the name of a fig for Forbes Laurie ; while Dr. Trimen was as hybrid, and accepted the assertion of the ci-devant much blasphemed as could possibly be the case bark collector that the tree was that known in South where actual swearing was not resorted to ! What America as Pdtd de Oalinazo. Dr. Trimen has the eloquent advocate of puris naturalibus in the shewn that this is a mere bark-collector’s cinchona species will say to the able letter which, name and that it includes six different kinds. after delay which we regret, we this day insert, aud We have no prejudice in favour of the aristocracy of which is signed “ New Products,” but to which the science as against the democracy. For a “ gardener ” like name of the author might as well have been affixed, the late Mr. Mclvor we entertained the highest we can only wonder. The case of the practical planter respect. In his battle with the Doctors,—men of such seems to us as impregnable as that of the eminent mark as Drs. Anderson, Macpherson and Bidie—he scientist, and if our anti-hybrid friend is wise he will may have been self-opinionated aud somewhat emphatic. “ keep a calm sough ” on the subject henceforth and But experience has proved that as regarded plant forever. He is more likely, however, in triumphant ing cinchonas in the open, and barking instead of tones to quote Mr. Howard’s commentary on a cinchona coppicing the trees, he was right and the learned grown in Jamaica (see reports and analyses in today’s Doctors wrong. Mr. Moens, after visiting the Nilgiri issue), which Mr. D. Morris (a botanist and plantations, very greatly astonished Mr. Cornish of well acquainted with cinchona") as well as his pre Madras, by insisting as Col. Beddome did and as most decessors had always described as a hybrid. Mr. candid persons now do that the barking process was not Howard recognized the great merits of the plant, murdering the trees. We should equally respect and but could see no signs of hybrid origin in the support the gardener, Mr. Cross, if we saw any bark. Howard, however, had not seen the leaves and evidence in favour of not merely his egotistic self- flowers ; so this case will not largely help the sceptics. assertion but his offensive impeachment of the veracity That Mr. Thompson, with no previous experience of his former master, Dr. Spruce, and the judgment of cinchonas, should, on the other hand, have ad of the leading scientists of our day. Even Col. Beddome, opted a hybrid as true calisaya, while the real who accepted Mr. Cross’s name for what he (Mr C.) Simon Pures were ranked as officinalis, amounts to deemed a distinct species, complained, in his report, to nothing in the controversy. Mr. Thompson, like the Indian Government of the contradictory opinions the rest of us, had to learn by making occasional which Mr. Cross had given of this very plant. And mistakes. But the marvellous thing is that tiue then, although Col. Beddome is, as we have admitted, calisayas should in Jamaica, flourish specially on bare, a botanist of no mean mark, if it becomes a question windy slopes ! That certainly is contrary to Indian between him and such an authority as Dr. Trimen and Ceylon experience. The bark of such calisayas on a point of vegetable physiology, such as the effect was pronounced even at 5 or ti years old to be worth of dimorphic flowers, with reference to resisting or 8s per lb. ; while what Mr. Morris, following the offering facilities to the hybridization process, we sup brokers, called a hybrid gave an analysis equivalent pose the almost unanimous judgment of the scientific to 14s per lb. ! In Mr. Howard’s opinion the special world would confirm the opinion of the learned Direct kinds under cultivation in Jamaica compare favour or of the Royal Botanical Hardens of Peradeniya. Col. ably with those in India, Ceylon and South Beddome adduced the fact of the male organ being America, but our readers will note that many of the prominent in some blossoms, and the female equally trees were so old as 19 years, and that quality seems prominent in others, as militating against the idea of to have increased with age, instead of deteriorating natural hybridity. Dr. Trimen holds, rightly beyond after the tenth year as Mr. Broughton inferred. doubt, that this very peculiarity in the flower organs Most of the trees, it will also be noted, grew favours the proce s. Mr. Moons shewed us, on the at 5,000 feet elevation and upwards. Java plantations, the butterfly and the bee, which Just in time to be added to these remarks, comes a lie looked upon as the great agents of a process which letter from the veteran quinologist, Mr. John Eliot experience had led him to dread so much as con Howard, dealing with the still undecided question, taminating his best Ledgerianas by the pollen of C. as Mr. Howard deems it, of the place and name of Jovephiana, Scltuhkrafl, Javanica &c., that he had the robust cinchona. The quotation “ infallibility” is advised aud obtained authority for the extirpation of the a good-humoured reference to a correspondence be inferior kinds ; all but a few plants which, in positions tween Mr. Howard and the senior editor of this securing them from doing harm, are to be retained for paper. The latter (in his days of ignorance) had purposes of a series of experiments in hybridizition. But the temerity to break a lance with Mr. Howard on to shew how men, especally Scotchmen, adhere to their the question of hybridity, going the length of stating opinions as tenaciously as a limpet sticks to a rock, we that he no more believed that Mr. Howard was infalli may mention that, when we announced to a leading local ble than was the old gentleman (Pio Nono) he (the planter our conversion to the hybrid theory, he poured editor) had seen at Rome. Mr. Howard, whose religious cut a torrent of objurgatory eloquence enough to make stand-point is at the antipodes of ecclesiastical hier archies and human pretensions to authority, while 2. This collection was forwarded in June last to John he is a decided Christian and a liberal supporter of Eliot Howard, K-quire, F. R. S., Tottenham, near Christian work, was intensely amused at his being London, who is believed to b" the highest authority on cinchona and cinchona barks in the world. 1 asked compared to the Pope. Though not a sadder, we Mr. Howard to be so good as to compare the botanical are a wiser and we trust a more modest man than characters of the specimens sent from Jamaica with when we ventured, even in opposition to such an those in his large collections from S. America, Indiaand authority as Howard, to refer all variations of type Ceylon ; and as he had kindly offered to help me in in cinchonas (of the crown bark species) to their in every possible manner, I ventured to ask him to obtain for me a quantitative analysis, with the probable market veterate tendency to sport. In this case, however, value of the various samples of bark which accompanied it is Mr. Howard and not E d . C. 0 . who doubts them. hybridity. The bent of his mind is, apparently, 3. I have now the pleasure to forward, herewith, a quite in the opposite direction to that in which Dr. summary of the information which Mr. Howard has Trimen leans. Hut, with the modesty of true science, been good enough to send me, and I doubt not that this each waits for “ more light.” The light from Badulla, authoritative and exhaustive report will prove of the greatest service to those interested in the cultivation which Mr. Howard asks for, will, we feel sure, be of cinchona in this island. readily supplied. This is what Mr. Howard writes 4. It will be noted, in the first place, that, although “ I want your help in reference to a letter from the late Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens (Mr. your correspondent * B. G., Badulla, 30th November Thompson) adopted a “ hybrid” variety for the true 1881.’ Can you obtain from this gentleman speci yellow bark. Cinchona Calisaya, and had continued to mens of the leaves, flowers, and fruit of his C. treat and write of it in his reports as such, there were coccinea trees ? I should be very much obliged for a number of true Calisaya trees already on the plant these and in return would tell him something as to ations, which were included among the Crown bark trees their value. C. Officinalis. “ Pray do not let him say that Dr. Spruce and 5. After a careful inspection of the plantations on I have ‘determined’ anything about the l’htk de my arrival here, I came to the conclusion that these Gallinazo. ‘B. G.’ has, perhaps, in his hands in trees were not C. officinalis, and 1 took steps to formation that would help towards this point. keep the seeds separate, and to propagate them for “ If the Pata de Gallinazo grows in the red bark dis- supplying steep and windy slopes, for which they ap trict, (which seems now certain), it cannot be a hybrid, pear to be admirably adapted. In references under since the 0. officinalis does not grow anywhere n e a r No. 2 iu the accompanying report, it will be noticed that part of b. America. that I asked Mr. Howard whether these trees were “ It may be and probably is ‘an intermediate f o r m Calisaya vera, var. Josephiana ? or certain forms of between C. Succirubra and C. officinalis' unnamed as “ C. officinalis ” ? His analysis and report shew that yet. Such, at all events, is the present state of my they are true Calisaya, and that the bark even opinion, about this very important sort. at 5 to 6 years old is worth about eight shillings “ Yon will see, in the account which I gave of per pound. Mr. Howard, therefore, naturally ex this pubescent sort to the Brit. Pharm. Conference, I presses an opinon that the Calisaya trees “ form a attached a query (?) to the supposed identification by valuable portion of the Plantations.” Spruce of this sort with the C. coccinea, Pavon. See 6. With regard to Mr. Howard’s remarks on the the Year Book 1881 p. £01. “ hybrid ” variety, No, 4, I may mention that although “ You can tell your readers, who are kind enough in single specimens of leaves, flowers, etc., it is almost to interest themselves in my ‘fallibility,’ that the impossible to decide its hybridity,yet on the Plantations above (?) has become (??). where all gradations may be distinguished among these “ When I am quite sure what the (C. pubescens trees, from almost the pure Succirubra type to the pure Howard?) really is I hope to let you know.’’ Officinalis type, there can be no doubt of their origin1 Again, when seed of this kind was sent to Kew, the seedlings and plants were pronounced of a decidedly RESULTS OF ANALYSES OF JAMAICA-GROWN “ hybrid” character; and, lastly, although following BARKS BY JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, E sq , Mr. Thompson’s classification, 1 sent the bark at first to the Loudon Market as “ Calisaya (?) ” the brokers F. R. S. in their report drew my attention to it, and remarked (From the Jamaica Gazette, 27th Oct. 1881.) “ it is not pure yellow bark, but supposed to be a Colonial Secretary’s Office, 20th Oct 1881. hybrid with Succirubra." The Governor directs the publication, for general 7. It is, nevertheless, gratifying to find that this information, of the following letter from the Director “ hybrid” is of so valuable a character, and, as it is of Public Gardens and Plantations forwarding a memor a tree grower at low elevations steps are being taken andum embodying information supplied by Mr. John to propagate it for general distribution. According Eliot Howard, F. R. S., in regard to certain speci to the analysis of the specimen bark sent to Mr. How mens of leaves, flowers aud fruit of cinchona plants, ard, its market value would not fall far short of fourteen and samples of cinchona bark from the Government shillings per pound- plantations.—B y command, Edward Newton, 8. The other analyses and remarks do not call for spe Colonial Secretary. cial mention. It will be noticed, however, that, in nearly every case, the character of the bark and Botanical Hept., Gordon Town, Jamaica, Oct. 13th 1881. the special kinds under cultivation here compare No. 2030. favourably in Mr. Howard’s opinion, not only with S ir ,—I have the honor to report that with the view those from India and Ceylon but also with all the of accurately determining the botanical classification, best forms from South America. This is generally as well as the value of the batk yielded by the different confirmatory of the results of our late sales. kinds of cinchona trees under cultivation in Jamaica, 9. When I shall have obtained a careful analysis I made a complete collection containing eight sets of of a sample of cinchona bark grown in Manchester specimens of leaves, flowers, fruit, as well as one pound by Mr. Swaby, at an elevation of 2,400 feet, we by weight of cinchona bark, from every distinct form shall have then an authoritative opinion as to the or variety which had hitherto come under my notice. comparative value of most of the different kinds of cinchona baik at all elevations at which the trees many observations, as the price per pound agrees are likely to be cultivated in Jamaica. with the appearance of the bark, and wiih the ana 10. I t may be added th a t it is to Mr. Howard we are lysis, in shewing that it is good G. Officinalis quality, indebted for three very fine growing plants of Cinchona perhaps of slightly varying forms.” Calisaya, var. Ledgeriana, which were sent out from Kew . CINCHONA HYBRID. last year ; and I am glad to report that Mr. Howard has 1 No. 4. Specimens of what is supposed to be a still further contributed to the success of our plant hybrid form between C. Succirubra and C. Officinalis. ations by presenting us with several other valuable I Up to 1879 it was considered to be C. Calisaya. cinchona plants, which are expected from Kew by the j Average price per pound on all qualities, viz., root, next mail, under the care of Messrs. Harris and El stem and branch bark, obtained during the past year liott.—I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient 6s. lgd. : highest price realized 7s. 9d. per pound servant, D. M o r r is , : for trunk bark ; lowest 4s. 6d. per pound, also for Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. trunk bark. The specimen of bark taken from trees The Honorable The Colonial Secretary, Kingston. 8—10 years old, growing at an elevation of 5,300 feet. Analysis of Trunk Bark. References to Specimens of leaves, Fruit, Floweis, as well as Specimens of Cinchona Bark forwarded Quinine Quinine from the Government Plantations, Jamaica, to John I Sulphate. Alkaloid. Cinchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine. Eliot Howard, F. R. S., Tottenham, near London :— 8-00 6-00 0-73 0-10 0 03 C in c h o n a C a l is a y a . Mr. Howard adds :—“ What proof is there that this No. 1. Small trees, about 9 to 10 feet high, 5 to 6 is a hybrid? What connection with the Calisaya? I t years old, growing at Belle Vue Plantation, 5,400 feet, 1 is an excellent bark, resembles true C. Officinalis var. hitherto classed with C. Officinalis, but leaves narrower, uritusinga.” In another communication, Mr. Howard slightly tinted underneath; scrobicules abundant; flower ; remarks: —“ It is very evident that the so called buds swollen at the apex ; flowers whitish ; capsules ‘hybrid,’ No. 4, if only it is a free grower, must be about short ovoid. , the most valuable of all the sorts. The price obtained Analysis of Trunk Sark, in commerce does not seem proportional to its value, * Quinine. Quinine. I but possibly, as remarked before, it may be an excepti Sulp. Aik. Cinchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine. onally fine specimen. So far as I can judge by the \ botanical specimens it is a true form of C. officinalis. + 2.73 2.04 0.70 .65 .07 CINCHONA SUCCIRUBRA^ No. 2. Small trees, very similar to above, habit more 1 robust, leaves broader. Are these trees (Nos. 1 & 2) No 5.—Specimens of common type of C. succirubra Calisaya vera, var. Josephiana, or merely forms of of Jamaica plantations. Average price per pound on C. Officinalis ? Their compact hardy habit and their all qualities, viz. :—root, stem, and branch bark, ob early maturation render them very suitable for our tained during the past year = 4s nearly ; highest 5s steeper slopes, and it is very desirable to learn their 7d for root bark ; lowest Is 3d per pound for twig value as compared with C. Officinalis. bark. Specimens of bark sent from trees 9 years old, An analysis of the bark desired. growing at an elevation of 5,000 ft. Mr. Howard re- i ports on this bark as follows:—“ Very good and true Analysis of Trunk Bark. I C. succirubra, agreeing well with my specimens from Quinine. Quinine. Cinchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine ! South America. It is the sub-pubescent form.” Sulp. Aik. CINCHONA OFFICINALIS— WHITFIELD HALL. 4.93 3.70 0.60 .35 .05 No. 6. Specimens of trunk bark only from C. Offic- In addition to supplying the above analysis Mr. How ' inalis trees 13 years old, the remains of a nursery ard reports as follows:—“ No. 1 and No. 2 appear to planted at Whitfield Hall in 1867. probably some of the me to be true to the Calisaya type, and torm a : first C. Officinalis trees established in the Island. The valuable portion of the plantation. I should not think trees were 13 years old when barked ; they bad been that they belong to either of the Josephiana or to the i totally uncared for, and surrounded by dense forest for Ledgeriana form, but that the exact variety is, perhaps, ' the last nine years (see Report on Public Gardens and not yet published. In the meantime, it might be well Plantations, 1879-80, p. 7). The analysis desired in to call them C. Calisaya simply. order to test whether the bark had improved with age “ There is no appearance of hybridity, nor any re as compared with No. 3 (see above), or whether the want semblance to the Loxa (C. Officinalis) barks.” of cultivation and lower elevation had exerted any in fluence upon it. C in c h o n a O f f ic in a l is . Analysis of Trunk Bark. No. 4. Specimens of the typical Cinchona Officinalis of Quinine. Quinine. the Jamaica plantations. Average price per pound of all Sulphate. Alkaloid. Cinchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine. quantities, viz:—root stem and branch bark obtained during the past year = 6s 7d; highest price realized j 5.00 3.75 0.40 .12 .16 10s Id per pound for root bark : lowest 2s 3d per I Mr. Howardadds :—“ Very good C. Officinalis, not of the pound for twig bark. The tree from which the speci ! uritusinga form, but of another which is also represented men of bark was taken was about 9 years old and j in my specimens from Mr. Molvor (Southern India growing at an elevation of 5,500 feet. : plantations) and abundantly in specimens of bark from Analysis of Trunk Bark. S. America, even in old specimens of mine from the Quinine Quinine College of Physicians. This is the Coloradade Loxa of Sulphate. Alkaloid. Cinchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine. i the Spanish commerce. 1 “ The botanical specimens sent with barks No. 4 and 6.95 5.18 0.22 0.01 0.15 No. 6 agree exactly with both of those sorts from Mr. Mr. Howard adds ;—“ This (No. 3) does not require Mclvor in my collection. “ The evident improvement by age corresponds with * The value of cinchona bark for quinine manufacturers’ a like improvement in specimens of the iiritusinga purposes may be estimated by taking tho unit of per- j form recently sent home by Mr. R.'C. Cross from Ootaca- centage of sulphate of quinine at Is 9d; hence, if a bark j m und.” yielded 5 per cent sulphate of quinine its approximate : market value would be about 8s 9d per pound. D. M. I t See remarks in Par. 6 of attache! letters.—D. it. C in c h o n a S u c c ir u b r a —C o ld S p r in g . the Planter’s Association positive evidence on this point, No. 7. Samples of bark only ; from one of the first the correctness of which has not, and, to the best of my trees of C. Sticcirubra planted at Cold Spring Coffee knowledge, cannot, be questioned. But still men will Plantation (near Newcastle) by Mr. Wilson in 1862- obstinately hold to some such theory. I recognize of 63. The tree was about 19 years old when barked and course that Qie responsibility of unreservedly agree measured nearly fifty feet in high. ing with my conclusions would be very great, in Analysis of bark desired in order to test whether the case of leading men, and they have need to be cauti cinchona bark grown at an elevation of 3,400 feet has ous. But still witli a great many, it is, I am afraid, improved or deteriorated with age as compared with a case of ‘convince a man against his will.’ No. 5, or whether the lower elevation had exerted any “ There are even some who will speak of the re influence upon it. appearance of leaf disease at Gangapitiya as greatly, if Analysis of Trunk Bark. not entirely, qualifying the success claimed. And among these are by no means wanting men, whose opinion is Quinine Quinine Sulphate. Alkaloid. Ciuchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine. considered valuable and carries weight. But these very men confess, when pressed, that they really had no time 2.40 1.80 1.30 3.20 trace. to yead even a portion of the papers on the subject. Mr. Howard adds :—“This (No. 7) shews a kind of “ I find there are very few in the island who have bark (<7. Succirubra) superior to a good deal that is really taken the trouble to make themselves thoroughly grown in India. It is evident that the more markedly red conversant with what has been established by the re the substance of the bark is the worse the alkaloids sults of my experiments. become. This is much less red aud the alkaloids much “ Of course it is rightly said, that volumes of foolscap better than some I have just examined from Ootacamund may hide a failure, but are unnecessary to prove a suc (Southern India Plantations).” cess. But it should not be forgotten that we bad to feel our way during last year ; that we had to carefully Cin c h o n a N i i i d a —C o ld S p r in g . examine whether the failures were failures absolute, or No. 8. samples of bark only ; from Cinchona Niiida but so many steps to success, and w hether apparent trees planted at Cold Spring in 1862-63. The trees success was not really a failure. This has necesssit- were 19 years old when barked and growing at an ated a good deal of writing, which ought not to be elevation of 3,400 feet. Analysis of bark desired in necessary in the future, now that we know how best order to test the general character of the bark and to deal with the fungus, and can lay down hard whether worthy of cultivation. and fast rules.” Analysis of Trunk Bark. Quinine Quinine Sulphate. Alkaloid. Oinchonidine. Cinchonine. Quinidine. TRAVANCORE PLANTERS’ ASSOCIATION. The Travancore planters held the annual meeting 0.00 trace 0.00 trace 2.10 3.30 0.00 of their Association on the 8th February. The address Mr. Howard adds :—“ This (No. 8) is very character of the Chairman (Mr. Bourdillon) was a thoroughly istic ‘ Grey bark’ and suitable for druggists’ consump practical one with a number of suggestions well wor tion. At the same time I could not recommend its cultivation, except on a limited scale.” thy the attention of his brother-planters. He advo cates the establishment of experimental stations to COFFEE LEAF DISEASE EXPERIMENTS. test manures on private properties, careful notes being kept of the results byindividual planters, which notes Mr. Scbrottky writes to us:—“ Illustrating the enorm ous extent to which the spores of Hemileia are dissemin could be compared and utilized after a. time. What is ated and the rapidity with which areas are likely to said about the extreme range of the prices secured of become re infected, if these spores are allowed to recent years for coffee from one and the same plantation, successfully germinate and establish themselves in and of the same crop, is very striking ; but, surely, the tissue of the leaf, is the fact that since the un the great difference of quality is to be attributed avoidable discontinuance of the carbolic acid treat ment at Gangapitiya, leaf disease has been gaining to the effects of leaf disease in preventing the there, slowly but surely. Be it noted at a, for this trees maturing all their crop. No less worthy of estate, most unusual time of the year for a first attack. note is the Chairman’s anticipation that another “Such experience demonstrates with greater force than rise to high prices may be looked for by coffee volumes of argument what absolute necessity there planters as the natural result of the present extremely is, for such an uninterrupted continuancy of the treat ment as forms part of my programme for operations adverse swing of the pendulum. The inclination is, during next season, of course, to swing to the other extreme when in “ I have, at an early period of my work, compared the creased consumption and restricted production, in fungus to a weed, and the treatment I adopted last duced by low prices, begin to tell. There is no doubt year, to a periodical weeding. The reappearance of “ a good time coming ” for those who can hold on weeds after weeding, if stopped for say a con pie of and work through the present dark days of depression. months, would ordinarily be expected by a practical planter ; and so ought the re-appearance of leaf disease MANURES— PRICES FOR COFFEE— NEW PRODUCTS. after discontinuance of the treatment. *■ The former fact proves to the practical planting Extract from the Chairman's address :— mind the necessity and meiit of constant weed G tntlem en,—I rise to open the m eeting of 1882. ing. I am afraid it will take a little more time As the report will shortly be read you will have an before the latter part is considered in the same light. opportunity of hearing what has been done by the As “ It was suggested by some practical men that the sociation in the past year, and I will not therefore almost absolute immunity from leaf disease during dwell upon the different subjects treated on. I should the time of treatment, i. e., May to January (Sept like, however, to say a few words on one or two of ember and December having for the last six years the more pre-eminent topics. Chief among these is been the month- during which the estate was most the question of experimental etc!ions. During the past severely attacked) might be greatly due to some year an attempt was made to start them, but owing exceptional climatic circumstances. I have laid before to the defection of the chief owners of property in South Travancore, it was found impossible to carry out the present low prices ruling for coffee. Those of the scheme, and tbe recent rapid fall of prices com you who have an opportunity of seeing the different pels us in strict economy to abstain from any ex prices obtained for different soris of coffee, not merely penditure that will not be immediately remunerative. the average published in the daily papers cannot fail Now, gentlemen, there seems to be a gregt diversity to be astonished at the extreme range of prices be of opinion on the subject, and a great many sug tween the better and poorer sorts, and not only that, gestions have been properly discussed. The ori but in a glutted market the burthen of the song is ginal idea was to have one analysis made of the always the same; “a fair demand for coloury, the soil in the Northern districts, and that manures paler sorts much depressed” ; your coloury coffee, should be sent out for experiment with the hope therefore, fetches firmer rates in a fluctuating market, of forcing a crop. But a little consideration wdl as well as higher rates always. Now, gentlemen, there show you that, however suitable nitrogenous man must be something radically wrong, if we send home ures may be for wheat and other annuals, it is a most coffee that fetches 112s and 62s, at the same time. dangerous thing in our forcing climate to apply stimul If we can produce the better kind, why cannot we ating manures, even if they are afterwards to be produce it and nothing else? We are all agreed that supplemented with suppoiting manures. We know the same trets produce both, for in a bad crop, the how coffee in Ceylon and nutmegs in the Spice Islands sample is always much larger and finer than in a good have been killed out by the indiscriminate use of one : it therefore appears certain that inattention to so highly forcing a manure as guano, and we know the coffee trees themselves produces this great variety from our own experience that, if coffee is in good of coffee and I quite believe it possible to get 70 per h^art in November, we are pretty sure to get a cent, or 80 per cent of the very best kinds, and fair good crop from it next year. The inference is ob crops, too, did we only know how. Here then is some vious, that what we require is to keep our trees from thing for you to find out : if it is a question of soil or overbearing year by year rather than to force them. manure, or, if of curing, the remedy is equally in your Now, gentlemen, though we cannot atlord to go in for hands. I feel confident that if yon will give your the experimental stations as originally intended, we minds to this subject, Travancore coffee will, in a few can do a great deal among ourselves in experiment years, obtain the highest averages of any country in ing with manures cheaply obtainable in the country. the world. But, gentlemen, there is a silver lining So eminent an authority as Mr. Ville tells us that to evury cloud, and though prices are so low at pre analyses of soils are of little value, because, though sent we may hope that in a few years they w7ill be the chemist can tell us exactly what the soil contains, very high. If you will look at the yearly average he cannot place himself in the position of the plant of prices extending over a long period, I think you and say what it can take up at once and what it will find that the lowest prices have always been oannot, and he recommends that experiments should followed in a very few years by very good prices, be tried with different combinations of manures with and the reason is sufficiently obvious, for low prices the object of returning to the soil what has been increase the demand while they check the supply, I or is being abstracted by crop. Hitherto it has been may also, I think, congratulate you on the prospect the custom to apply manures containing scarcely any of being able to grow the very best, variety of cinchona thing but nitrogen, which certainly have a great effect with profit. both on foliage and crop, but leave the trees in an exhausted condition afterwards. Now7, if we could INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA IN MELBOURNE, arrange among ourselves to carry out Mr. Ville’s idea, I believe it would be more effectual and much less ( From our Correspondent )
expensive than the idea suggested by Mr. Macdonald C h e a t S a l e o f I n d i a n T e a . Cameron. It is not of much use, one or two persons experimenting, as their results would only answer for Melbourne, lo th Febuary 1882. their particular soils and climates; what I should like One of the best Indian tea sales yet held took is, for all of us, to try simultaneously some three or place on the 9th February, when 4,639 half-chests of four combinations and keep very accurate notes of Darjeeling, Assam, Cachar Doons and Dehra Boon the results. 1 now7 pass on to another subject, that teas were sold at prices ranging from ll£d to 2s. 4d. of leaf-disease, an attempt was made in August last per lb. in bond. to get up a discussion on it, but the time chosen was The attendance was very large ; all eager buyers, unfortunate, and in consequence of the short notice the competition for some ot' the lots being very brisk. no recorded observations were announced to the meet When the present state of our market is considered, ing, since then Mr. Ward’s pamphlet has appeared, this clearly shews that Indian teas are getting a strong and though we must all regret that he was not a hold on the public taste. Our present stocks in practical planter, yet there is no doubt that the re bond of all kinds of tea stand at 7,000,000 lb. weight port is most valuable. There can be no longer any as against at the same time last year 4,000,000 lb. doubt that leaf disease will remain permanently with weight or an excess of three million pounds for the pre us ready to attack sickly plants as potato disease is sent time. As a result, prices of China teas are unrea an ever present scourge at home. It is a great thing sonably low, even taking into account their inferior to know7 something of the laws that regulate the quality this year, and yet in the face of this and growth of this mysterious fungu«, and if we know that the large quantity of tea offered, (the heaviest sale it will certainly begin to attack our coffee at a part yet by 1,300 packages) Indian teas advanced fully Id. icular time and will spoil a percentage of the crop, per lb. on the rates obtained at the previous sale we must accept the inevitable, and by removing early of 24th November, or, in other, words every sale what would certainly be lost and supporting the trees of the five public sales held this season, has shown to ripen what is left, make leaf-disease do as little a slight advance on its predecessor. harm as possible. But we require to know a great The enclosed catalogue will give you full particulars, deal yet, how much crop leaf-disease will allow to but which may be summarized as follows :— ripen ; what kinds of trees stand its effects best; what Assam sold at 11/J to 2/4 per lb. in box. soils are the least favourable for its production, and Darjeeling ,, 1/2 „ 2/34 ,, ,, what manures most effectual in checking its ravages ; Cachar ,, 11/j ,, 1/9 „ ,, all these subjects and many others I Commend to your Dehra Doons ,, 1/2 ,, 1/4^ ,, ,, careful consideration for the coming year. Any ad Indian Teas ,, 1/J ,, 1/84 >> >> dress would be incomplete without some reference to Darjeelings as usual in great request. A donkey has assumed the lion’s skin, but getting in round numbers, 20 millions of pounds of tea, and frightened, the bray soon found out the fraud. On the the United States and Canada together about 100 2nd February a catalogue was issued by -Messrs. millions. For South Africa we have not got the Fr.ser & Co for a shipment of Japan teas under instructions from Messrs. Akita & Co., agents for the figures at hand. In the aggregate here are markets Japan Black Tea Company, connected with the Japan which approach even that of Great Britain in im ese Government and the Board of Agriculture, Japan. portance. To change the taste of a whole people, even With such a long string, people naturally imagined that though the taste is a perverted one in favor of burnt the vendors would sell and introduce their goods to teas, as in America, or weak, “ fusionless ” stuff on the people of Victoria, but nothing of the sort oc the one hand and black “ post anil rail ” tea on the curred and after closely imitating the Calcutta tea syndicate’s style, as you will see by the en other, as in Australia, is no easy task. But it is being closed catalogue. When it came to the point, attempted and will be successful, notwithstanding the they would only sell 162 packages at 5d to Is 3Jd misrepresentation instead of support which those en per lb. This is the joke of the month. The Japan gaged in the arduous work receive from the “ or teas are well made, hut lack strength and flavour. gan of the teaplanters ” (?) and others in India as Our old friends, the Javanese, have also tried this market again, but only to sell 200 packages at 7Jd to well as the abuse of interested parties in Australia. Is lid . Altogether Melbourne teamen have had a lively time P l a n t in g in N atal —W e believe th at coffee has so of it and since the 1st Jany. about 44,000 packages far been a failure in Natal, and that a Commission was of all kinds of tea have been sold publicly by auction. recently appointed to take all the evidence tnai could be No Ceylon tea has been sold at auction lately, but gathered on the spot, with a view to deciding whether the the laet mail steamer brings a small lot down, which experiment was worth continuing. The failure of coffee no doubt will be offered in a few days. seemed to be due to the presence of the borer, and the A large parcel of coconut oil has reached this from insufficiency of the rainfall. Most of the experimental Mauritius, but our market cannot take off the quantity plantations are within easy distance of the eea-coast and it will probably be shipped home. as are the sugar-cane gardens. Tea is also pro Coffee shows signs of improvements but the m arket nounced a failure in Natal. Large sums of money is still veil stocked. have been sunk in trying to grow it, but the climate Coir yarn and fibre have small sale, but rope is seems to be against it. The new Indian emigrant almost a drug at the moment. coolies are not favorably received by the European laborers on the spot, the wages for which are unduly lowered. Those interested in the emigration experi OPERATIONS OF THE CALCUTTA TEA SYNDI ment are divided as to its success, one party holding CATE : INDIAN TEA IN AUSTRALIA, THE that it has been completely successful, while the other UNITED STATES AND CANADA, believes it to be detrimental to the prospects of the colony.—South of India Observer. [The same contro AND SOUTH AFRICA. versy rages in Queensland and all over the Australian The Calcutta Tea Syndicate, aided by Messrs. James colonies. The question is a different one, but if cheap Henty & Co. in Australia and Mr. Sibthorp in the human labour cannot be obtained for sugar and other United States and Canada, are pushing Indian teas to tropical cultuie, machinery must be multiplied and so in the end, dear white labour will be largely the front, and the South African markets are to be superseded. There is outdoor and field-work in tried. We give today, from the Calcutta D aily News, the tropics which whites cannot perform and live.—Ed.] the letter in which Mr. Magor, as Honorary Secret J o r e h a u t T e a C o m p a n y .— The managing director ary of the Syndicate, announces the wise decision of the Jorehaut Tea Company (Limited) has issued that the Syndicate shoul I continue its operations. a circular to the shareholders in which he says that the crop of 1881 has amounted to 1,029,600 lb. of tea It appears that only 700,000 lb. of Indian teas had being an increase of 36,560 lb. over th at of 1880. been shipped to A ustralia between May 1881 and It was estimated that the crop would amount to about January 1882, while Messrs. Henty & Co., who have 1,138,400 lb. should favourable weather be experienced done so much to introduce Indian tea, state that and no blights occur to check the growth of flushes. air. ady the demand is equal to 1 mill.on or 1£ million The decrease in the quantity manufactured may be ascribed to unseasonable weather during a portion of pounds in a year. This is certainly a good beginning, the year, to the plants on some of the plantations considering that the brokers and dealers in I he China having been checked in their productiveness by insect teas whereby they made their large profits, had it all blights, and to the removal of the leaves from the their own way until October 1880, when “ the tea of plants at an earlier period than usual in order to the future” was able to asseit its superior merits, in produce finer teas. So far, the sales of the crop the face of prejudice most bigotted and bitter. It is in have amounted to 480,958 lb., at an average price of Is. 6.961 per lb., which is about 4Jd. per lb. over spite of interested opposition and of China tea (much the average price realized for a similar quantity of of which is such unwholesome rubbish that a special the crop of 1880. In consequence, however, of a fall law has had to be passed), that Indian tea is making in the market value of pekoes and the finer descrip way in Australia. It has to thank its own merits tions of Indian teas since November la-t, this average and the brave efforts of Mr. J. O. Moody in Mel price will be reduced by the sale of i he remainder of the crop at the rates now prevailing. Takinp, bourne and Mr. Jas. Inglis in Sydney. Our readers hewever, a low valuation for the balanc : of the teas, will notice that teas in tins, though objected to it may be reasonably expected I hat the average price at first, sold well in Melbourne, and that small of the whole crop will yield a profit equivalent to neatly made up and decorated packages are de a dividend of up,varus of 12 per cent. The uncert siderated in America. Besides what Messrs. Doane ainty as to the prices which will be realized for the large portion of the crop yet to be disp ,scd of, & Co. of Chicago say, there is an elaborate letter from and the small am mot of reserve fund at present in Mr. Sibthorp, which, with suitable comments, we hand, preclude ttie directors from recommendin'/ the shall give in a future issue. Australia now consumes, payment of an interim dividend.— Overland Mail. 194 CALCUTTA TEA SYNDICATE. Extract from Messrs. James Henty & Co.’s letter, (Circular.) dated Melbourne, 5th December 1881 :— Calcutta, 26th January 1882. “ On the 24th ultimo we tried our entire stock of Indian teas by public auction, say :— D e a r S i r s , —With reference to my circular letter of the 10th ultimo, pointing out for your special consider ation the extensive demand which has been established for Indian tea in Melbourne, by the operations of the Syndicate, I am desired by the Committee to state that © HW in their opinion the time has hardly yet arrived ... 515 ...... Ex “ Mongolia,” Account Syndicate. when the Syndicate should withdraw from the field 12 25 ...... Ditto. do. J. H. & Co. ... 1,162 108 ... Ex “ Khedive,” Account Syndicate. and give place to private enterprize. ... 1,445 The effect of the above letter has been to induce 59 32 ’‘Carlisle Castle,” Account J.H.&Co. further parcels of tea to be entrusted to the Syndicate 12 3,147 167 32 for shipment, but it is probable that the exports during “ The attendance was large, biddings brisk, and the the next three months will be insufficient to provide for whole quantity sold without any difficulty. the present demand, which our Melbourne Agents es “ Assams show, on the whole, a decided advance ; timate at the rate of 1 to 1J millions lb. per annum. Pekoes Id. to 2d. higher than last sale, Pekoe Sou The shipments of the Syndicate to Melbourne during chongs will average higher rates, whilst prices are well the season, which commenced in May last, up to the maintained for broken teas. Medium Pekoe Souchongs 31st ultimo, have been 375,452 lb., and the total ship in tins show a decline—tins as a package being evidently ments to Australia and New Zealand during the same over-supplied. period have been about, 700,000 lb., from which it appears that more than half the total export is due to “ Cachars realized fully up to the rate obtained at the operations of the Syndicate, and there is still a the previous sale, with broken teas and Pekoes showing large deficiency of about 500,000 lb. required to meet rather better result. the above estimated yearly demand in Melbourne alone. “ Darjeelings sold at an advance of Jd. to ljd. on The shipments of the Syndicate to America have been Pekoe Souchongs, but fine Pekoes are 2d. to 3d. lower. only 156,454 lb., and of this quantity only the first “ The Dooars teas being in tins suffered in the same despatch of 29,552 lb. to Chicago has arrived at its way as Assam medium Pekoe Souchong in tins, and destination. By a telegram dated the 12th instant, sold at cheap prices. from Mr. Sibthorp, at New York, we learn that these “ Dehra Doons, though very pretty in appearance, teas were selling well at Chicago, and that more were did not realize so much as expected, expect for Broken required. It is therefore to be hoped that the intro Pekoe, which commanded full prices. duction of our Indian teas into the United States will “ As the next six weeks are generally given up to meet with the same measure of success that has attended holiday-making, we do not anticipate selling any more our operations with Australia. Owing to ill-health Mr. Indian teas before the end of January or early in Sibthorp has unfortunately been incapacilated from February. work for some weeks, and has therefore been unable to '■ The high prices ruling on your side and our endeav furnish the detailed report he has been asked for, upon ours to force our market up correspondingly on this his tour through the States and Canada, but it is hoped have resulted in curtaling the number of our buyers and that this important communication will not be much throwing more business into the hands of the wholesale longer delayed. packers and blenders. We have fewer buyers at The attention of the Committee has been drawn to present high rates, but larger purchasers. What we the advantage of opening up a further market at the should like to see, and it would be safer for us in Cape, and letters have been received from houses at the future, would be more general buyers and larger Natal and Port Elizabeth, giving useful information area for the sale and disposal of Indian teas. regarding the tea trade in those places. “ In the analysis of the Dehra Doon teas, you will Under all these circumstances the Committee of the notice they show a large percentage of mineral ash Syndicate are of the unanimous opinion that it would with a small percentage of soluble salts in proportion. be premature to bring their work to a close at present, This brings them below the chemist’s standard for and they accordingly propose that the Syndicate Indian teas, shall continue to undertake the despatch of tea to the “ The ‘ Connaught Banger ’ has arrived, and the several markets named, in such manner as shippers samples are just coming in. may desire, and upon the same terms as have been “ One of our largest China tea-dealers is preparing in force during the season now closing. to go fully into the Indian tea trade, and is inclined I am further desired to hand you an extract from to purchase the whole of the ‘ Connaught Banger’s ’ our Melbourne Agents’ letter of the 5th ultimo, refer shipment. We will try and do business with him ring to the sale of the shipments per steamer “ Mon after the mail has left. We hear that the buyer of golia” and “ Khedive,” in September last, together most of the tea in tins at auction has just resold wiih particulars of these shipments, showing the Cal the whole of his purchases at a profit. We therefore cutta valuations at time of despatch and the prices advise you to send some more of these packages.” realized. Copy of Messrs. J. W. Doane & Co.’s letter, dated Since the foregoing was written an interesling letter, Chicago, December 13th, 1881 :— dated 13th December, has been received from Messrs. Your favors of the 3rd and 10th Sept. are at hand, and J. VV. Doane and Co., the Agents of the Syndicate at contents have our careful attention. The shipment per Chicago, a copy of which also accompanies this com S. S. “ Compta” is just arriving here, and while we munication. The Committee, having due regard to have little or no encouragement to offer yet, in the way the telegram referred to above, intend that their next of sales, we hope soon to able to do so. We shall despatch to America shall he sent to Chicago, and not commence advertizing the goods until after the they trust that the opening up of that market may holidays; as business is always very quiet with ns lead to an extensive demand for our Indian teas at this time, and, in addition to this, the advertise throughout the Western States of America. ments of holiday goods, which fill our papers at present, I am, dear sirs, Yours, faithfully, attract all the attention. It, B. Mag o r , Honorary Secretary. As you are probably aware, but very little Souchong and Congou teas are need in the United States as compared to other kinds, and we cannot hope to cult FUNGUS PESTS AND LIBERIAN COFFEE. ivate the consumer’s taste for Indian teas to any Whether the Liberian coffee is or is not really marked extent, for some time to come ; for, while we proof against the destructive fungus or “ leaf-disease,” might readily succeed in turning our trade for China which affects the ordinary varieties of coffee, not only Congous on to Indian teas (as has been the case iu in Ceylon but also in Fiji, Java, the Straits Settle England and Australia) you must remember that, in ments, Brazil, and other coffee-growing countries, is the countries named, the consumption of China Sou a disputed point. One planter at least in Fiji asserts chong and Congou teas was far in excess of all other that it is not, and planters in Ceylon are not fully kind ; while in the U.S., out of a total consumption agreed that the tree possesses the immunity from this of, say, 72,000,000 lb. yearly, only 5 to 6 per cent, disease, which was one of its principal claims to notice are Souchong and Congou teas, while 73 per cent are when it first attracted attention. It is evident, how Green and Japan teas. * ever, that the tree is subject to the attacks of another We are fully alive to the actual merit of Indian kind of fungoid growth, similar to that which is teas over the other descriptions that are so popular found in badly-cultivated cocoa and sugar plantations here (Greens and Japans), but it will not be an easy in the West Indies. The experimental plantations of matter to change the taste that has been educated on Liberian coffee in the Botanical Gardens in Trinidad such teas to a tea so entirely different in every part are, accordingto Mr. Prestoe, the Government Botanist, icular as those produced in your country. liable to this parasitic growth. Most of the trees are Again, the larger portion of Souchong and Congou in perfect health, but about six years ago a large teas sold here are comparatively low-priced teas Tonga bean-tree, in the prime of life, suddenly died, under 40c. running as low as 16c. per pound, and owing to the attack of the fungoid growth at the roots; at this latter price a great many are placed. Indian and since then several of the Liberian coffee trees teas do not run as low as this, and the trade will have been seriously affected, two being killed outright. therefore be forced to buy China teas for their cheap This pest is liable to work its ravages for a long grades, even if they use Indian teas for the higher time unnoticed, but sometimes makes known its exist grades. Handling so few Congous as compared to ence by developing huge spore-bearing plates of great other kinds, our jobbers and retailers have come to thickness and solidity. Fortunately the pest has not regard them as rather an outside article; and con the fecundity of the Hemileia vastatrix, and it is easily sequently they charge excessive profits on same, so much detected in the seed-bearing state; but, if measures so, that teas of this kind, going from the hands of the for its destruction are not promptly taken whenever importer at 40 cents per lb. usually cost con-sumer $1-00. found, it may easily increase and multiply, and, when We have written the foregoing not for the purpose once it has established itself in a locality, it is diffic of discouraging the introduction of Indian teas in ult to get rid of it. The Trinidadians are, however, this country, but simply to show you a few of the alive to the necessity of allowing the enemy no quarter, obstacles to be overcome before the teas can begin for, although Mr. Prestoe has long wished to obtain to be called ‘' popular,” as, in reading over your reports a specimen containing fully matured eeed to send to and circulars, we feel that your expectations in regard Kew for identification, he has been unable to do so, ow ing to the American trade can hardly be fulfilled, as to the fact that the pulbic take good care to destroy promptly as you anticipate, to say the least. We do the growth whenever it is found.— Colonies and India. not know what the nature of your advices are from your other agents in the U. S., but, from our knowledge of the trade here, we think creating a demand for Indian COTTON CULTIVATION OF THE MADRAS teas will be a slow process, requiring a great deal of time and attention before the end sought for can be attained. PRESIDENCY. If the additional cost of so doing is not too great The Madras Board of Revenue, in their report to (say 3 cents per lb., or less) we think it would be well Government on the cultivation of, and trade in, cotton to pack a few cases in your next shipment, say half for Fasli 1,290, state that “ in most of the important the invfice—4 tins of 201b. net each, in a case, and cotton-producing districts, the season was unfavor say 8 tins of 101b. each in a case. We have had a able for cotton cultivation. In Tinnevelly and Kistua, few teas from Calcutta packed in this way, and they the rains were insufficient and untimely; in Kurnool, have proved quite attractive. they were excessive in some taluks and scanty in In regard to the value of your shipment per “Compta,” others; and in Bellary, the season though favorable on this market, we do not feel competent to say what at the outset, proved adverse in the end owing to these teas will bring, as we have never had an estab excessive rains. The crop in this district suffered also lished market for this description of tea. We must from blight. In all other districts, the season was therefore feel our way as to prices, until1- we find at favorable.” The report also says that “ the cultiv what figure the trade will take them, hoping to be ation in the year under report is in excess of that in able to increase their value, as we can stimulate the the preceding year by 141,329 acres. The increase is demand. We have made one or two sales as follows:— chiefly in the districts of Kurnool, Cuddapah, Madura 15 Pkgs. Break No. 4 45 cents, and Bellary, and is due to expectations founded on 5 „ „ „ 11 37 „ the large profits obtained in Fasli 1289, and in some 14 ,, ,, ,, 5 50 ,, cases to a favorable season. The only districts in We do not offer this as any standard of value, and which there is a decrease in the cultivation are Tri- in fact we think No 4, for instance, is really worth chinopoly, Tan j ore and South Canara. The decrease more money; but the purchasers do a large distribut in the last-mentioned district is trifling and that in ing trade, and we sold the goods more to get them the other two districts is due to a heavy storm which started than with an idea of obtaining what seems occurred in November.” As to the species cultivated to us to be their real value. We are as yet unable to the report says :—“ The cotton grown in this Presid tell you what descriptions are going to suit our market ency is generally raised from the ordinary country best, but later on we hope to be able to report intel seed. A small area in Bellary was cultivated with ligently on this point. Bourbon cotton, but without success. The soil is stated to be unsnited to the crop, and the season was un * Balance probably Oolongs. favorable. In Coimbatore also the acclimatized Bour S. d . fDewal, Kangra, Pekoe Souchong, valued in Cal. @ 1 6j bon and American species were cultivated, but the Narencherra Cachar, Pekoe Souchong „ „ 1 3 collector does not state to what extent and with Dewal, Kangra, Pekoe Souchong ,, „ 1 9 what effect.” From the estimated outturn of cleaned cotton in each district it seems that the total yield in been sold in London at high figures, but pi ices are at Fasli 1290 was more than that in Fasli 1289, but, present lower; a lot hasbeen sent to Marseilles. Uf other owing to the fall in prices, the value of the cotton descriptions no comment is necessary ; little has been done produced was less. The average yield per acre for the on the Continent E b o n y .—Several transactions have taken place during the whole Presidency was 41 lb. which is less than the year in Madagascar, at prices satisfactory to importers. average of the two preceding years by one lb. The On the Continent demand has not been so bri-k for o her exports of cotton by sea to places beyond the sorts, although a comparatively fair trade has been done. Presidency amounted to 365,887 cwts. valued at A few parcels of Macass r have been negociated. Of the R92,19,371, against 509,889 cwts. worth Rl,34,81,870, large imports from Calabar, a great portion lias been in Fasli 1289. The exports in every district have sold, to arrive for Havre. fallen off considerably as compared with the preceding L ig n u m V it .e .— During the greater portion of the year, year. The decrease is due to the failure of the crop good thin sap wTood of certain dimensions was in great in some districts owing to an unfavorable season, to request at extreme prices. This fact induced importers a reduction of the price of cotton in the European to send forward supplies in large quantities, and their markets, to diminished demand from foreign coun shipments, arriving almost simultaneously, have floo'ed almost every market. Superior wood of large sizes is in tries, which are stated to have drawn supplies to a universal request at good rates. great extent from Africa, and to the increased re T e a k w o o d .—A fair business has been done for Belgium. quirements of the local mills. The collector of Madras T u i .i p w u OD.— Little has been done during the year. Fine says that it is also due to Bellary cotton being sent wood is in verv good demand in France, Bullet Tree, to Bombay instead of to Madras for shipment. The Cocus Wo< d, Cocobola Wood, Beef Woo 1, Myall Wood, export to Ceylon in Fasli 1290 was 41 lb., valued at Letter Wood, Olive Wood. King Wood, Zebra Wood, RIO, as against 1 cwt. in Fasli 1289, valued at R46. Zericote Wood, Persimmon Wood, Cornelian Wood, Mexican The report further states that “ the imports of cotton Ebony or Hard Wood. by sea were trifling. There is no accurate inform ation in regard .to the exportation and importation of “ THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. ” cotton by land from and to this Presidency.” We make some further extracts from the report:—“ The (Communicated.) number of weavers as reported by collectors was The numbers issued month by month increase in 340,401 against 413,271 in Fasli 1289.” “ The three usefulness. In the January number we have our quotum cotton mills referred to in last year’s report con re our chief productions as well as suggestions for tinued to work throughout the fasli under review. the products which are yet to play a prominent part The total quantity of cotton consumed by them in Ceylon. A most interesting notice appears on Mr. amounted to 5,452,889 lb, or 338,334 lb. more than Darwin re earth-worms and soil, and of still greater in last year. These mills turn out only twists of interest to a large proportion of planters are the Count No. 20 and lower numbers. The collector re reports of Colonel Beddome on cinchona planting in India ports that a Spinning Company is in process of form and Ceylon. Far too much p»»ins is spent in bewildering ation at Bellary.” “ On the Saidapet Government the planter with words of perplexity. All we want Farm about 16 acres of land were cultivated with and all the world requires for keeping in check its New Orleans cotton in 1879-80, and the crop was various fevers is a febrifuge. There has been and will harvested in 1880 81. The yield per acre varied from be a still greater diversity of opinion re what is 363 lb. down to 159 lb. qf seed cotton, but this was Ledger and P&ta de Gallinazo and a whole host of in addition to a cereal crop produced on the same others yet unnamed. In many cases the offspring of land in lines between the rows of cotton plants. well-known trees are adapting themselves more and Some modifications were introduced in the method of more to the soil and climatic conditions and depart cropping land with cotton and a cereal crop, which ing in many respects from the parent plants, this are likely to lead to good results, chiefly by enabling coupled in some cases with hybridization, that to the land under cotton to be kept more thoroughly judge of a plant by its appearance as to the tilled.” yield of alkaloid is nearly the same thing as judg ing the character of a man by his outward appear CABINET AND OTHER HARD WOODS. ance. Perfectly matterless the name : we want well- known cinchona trees, adapted to various altitudes, We have motived Mesers. F. Latinne & Fils’ Circular, which are good quinine yieldevs, which have been fuhy dated Pjiris, 1st Jauy. 1882, which states that “ the past established, and propagate that. If it is over a 3 year has been one of considerable falling-off in supplies per cent bark all well and good, if it become* 10 per throughout Europe. The principal English markets cent so much the better. Ceylon has yet much to do have been irregularly supplied with the necessary staple in the way yf cinchona bark. Let us hope that before for consumers of cabinet and other hard woods, whilst long the curing, shipping and agents’ cliarg's will he the continental marts, when taken together, denote a utilized in Colombo for making the -quium^- and other palpable insufficiency, and only in walnut has there alkaloids. been a marked advance in supply.” They also say On p. 604 an article occurs on tanning. There are that “ importers are not, as yeti showing sufficient numerous plants already in Ceylon which could be attention to the requirements of some of these centres turned to account, such, for instance, as the patana of consumption in the disposal of their ventures.” oak, and further we have Inrge districts now treelesst We quote the following regarding special kinds of where a little forestry might be turned to account. woods :— If it pays in Britain (see article on 629), surely it. S a tinw ood.—Arrivals of good large and medium sized ought to pay here. logs, good quality St. Domingo, have been extraordinarily On 622 we have a notice re Mr K arslake’s pro scarce throughout the year, and, for the small imports of cess of barking cinchona trees. It would be a great anything approaching this category, very high prices were benefit if the matter was set at rest as to whether slips commanded. The supply in Havre has been of generally left upon trees have not deteriorated in value. This part interior wood from St. Domingo and Porto Plata, rnd one concludes with further notices on Hemilna vastatrix. lot fr m l e\lon. Figured and sound plain wood obtained remarkably go» d prices, while poor wood is difficult to real In the February number we are again reminded ize. Elsewhere on the Continent direct shipments have of the Forestry branch, and suggestions are given been comparatively nil; a few logs arrived in Marseilles for the introduction of a useful timber, the toon tree and Hamburg, The British markets have had several small for tea boxes, a large number of which will soon be lots sold at good prices, Some parcels of East India have required, considering the good sales effected in Aus tralia and the greater energy which is being shown tions. The first quarter, of 160 acres, is granted to in its cultivation and especially in its curing, which is him free. When he has built a homestead and placed the all-important item in the matter. the greater part of the land under cultivation, he can A traveller lately returned from Madagascar gives purchase the second quarter with the power of pre an interesting account of the small islands situated emption, and the remaining 320 acres at the market between Madagascar and Zanzibar, referring to it value of $1 per aero or thereabouts, depending on its especially as a planting region. distance from the commercial centre. In each town Gems and gold mining rights are given on p; 662. ship a section is set apart for the church, another A very sensible letter appears entitled “ Shall We for the school, and another for the Hudson Bay Com Abandon Pruning, Manuring and Weeding in Coffee.’ pany—the vendors of the land to the Government,— We should say certainly not the first two, but while throughout the country there are reserves for weeding in many cases is carried to excess. If the Halfbreeds, Indians, French Canadians and Memnonites. tall weeds were kept down it becomes a question In the days of the Red River settlements, the land as to whether a short grass would not greatly benefit adjacent to the Red River and Assiniboreie was all ap the coffee when it is so often in a leafless condition, portioned out in long narrow farms having a front for a soil takes much more harm by having nothing age on the river of 12 chains and stretching back to growing upon it than where weeds of any description a distance of 4 miles, with the right to cut hay for are. Several items appear oh new products. With a further distance of 2 miles.” regard to Rubber, if the yield is as favorable as the The farms between Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg growth is, will pay well. We want now to know the are thus described :— average yield per tree of a given age. As to nutmegs, The farms are mostly worked by the owners them a useful account of its culture in Bencoolen is given. selves and their sons. Hired labour is scarce in In Ceylon, the nutmeg grows well and yields well, summer, and in winter there is no demand for it. and is well flavoured ; the great drawback is the time The owners are mostly Ontario men who have only before the trees begin to bear. Has no one ventured been in the country a few years. They all seem to to try the grafting or budding of well-known trees like the country and are well satisfied with their upon the stocks of wild nutmegs, so plentiful in pome change. This year, however, they, like the home farmer, of the jungles, say of the Myristica lancifolia (S. have their grumble, and it is that the s- ason has been malboda) or of M. Horsjieldii (S. rukgaha)? If apples very wet and consequently crop is very late, and all of fine quality grow well on crab stocks, &c., there that is not ripe now will never ripen, but will have is not, much reason to fear in this case, and then there to be cut green for fodder. Among the farmers there would be no doubt regarding the s^xes of trees, for, are few capitalists. The class who would seem to be if you plant seed you know not what sex will spring must fitted for the country are men with say from from it. In fact, you might have an acre of trees £400 to £1.000, well used to practical work, and hav of one sex only. A long account re cinchona plant ing a thorough practical knowledge of farming in all ing on the Nilgiris is given by Col, Beddome and Mr. its details, and who are content to do without any Cross—these reports in full, land the energetic Mr. home* comforts and even many of the necessaries of Schrottky supplies further information as to the effects life, and to live all the year round on bread, butter of his treatment of leaf-disease. and pork. Building material of all kinds is costly ; wood is scarce, and stone and lime still more so. Only an Englishman w uld think of putting up a frame NEW FIELDS FOR ENTERPRIZE. house or a fr>me barn with a s one foundation. A A correspondent sends us a copy of Camp's Emi Canadian of equal means would be content to live in grants' Guide for 25th April 1881, published at Kansas a p^or log hut, and for his bar-i and cowsheds he city, Mo., and containing a good deal of information would rig up a couple of fences 6 or 7 ft. high and regarding land for sale m that part, as well as stat as broad, and would roof them with branches and thatch, istics of agriculture. On the last page is given a map thus leaving the greater part of his capital available of Kansas and S. W. Missouri, showing different lines for cultivating purposes. As I said above, labour is of railways, and localities where lauds are for sale. scarce. One often sees the owner, a gentleman, draw It would seem that not only wheat and other cereals ing his own reapers while his 3 or 4 suns laid up the but a variety of products grow well in Kansas, and grain into stocks behind him. Consequently machines labor-saving appliances can be used to advantage. The for saving labour are very desirable. These, of course, soil is said to be rich, water, coal, and limestone are enormously expensive ; so the farmers of a district abundant, and timber fairly so, and slieep and cattle go share' in a thrashing machine and the more costly seem to thrive. Besides numbers of farms for sale, implements necces?ary to the working of a farm ; while land can be had at $3'20 per acre cash. The Neosho perhaps, an enterprizing outsider will make himself Val.ey Laud Agency seems to be one of the chief the “ boss” of a steam plough and go from farm to agencies for the s.tle of land. farm hiring out its services. The Winnipeg market A Ceylon planter sends us a long description of a far farming implements has, up till now, been sup journey taken by him from Georgian Bay to Manitoba plied by American firms, who excel in this line and in the latter part of 1880. We can find room for only whose machines have always given great satisfaction some extracts With regard to land in the neigh and are thoroughly sound. Lately, however, the bourhood ot Winnipeg, our correspondent says : — an idian Government has so raised the tariff on “ Manitoba, which is the original Red River settle American articles imported as almost to exclude them ment and 1 300 square miles in extent, and the Great altogether. Consequently the farmer has now to con Nort West Territory are surveyed out into town tent himself with Canadian waggons, ploughs, &c , which ships each six miles square. Each township has 36 are cheaper but badly made and constantly getting sections one 89 miles in area or 640 acres, each of out of repair, I remember a day or two ago, coming which section square milt's sub-divided into quarters of upon a party of immigrants who had come to grief 160 acres. The whole country is divided in o broad far out in ti e prairie. They had invested in a gaudy belts A BC D lying parallel to, and on each side of much painted waggon of Canadian make before setting the proposed route of the Canada Pacific Railway. 1 he our from Winnipeg, and here they were stuck iu the sections ot the townships are numbe< ed from 1 t > 36. first mud hole and up to the hubs of the wheels in Ewry odd section is held by the Government as mire, with the fine looking ole snapped in two security for the railway bondholders, while every Iven like a match. In time no doubt, good enough articles section is given to settlers under the following condi will be turned out iu Winnipeg itself, but at present the material is very scarce. There are fine forests to emigrate to that country who is advanced in life. The away to the east from Winnipeg to Lake Superior, which change of habits, of scenery, and climate would be too contain abundance of good wood, but there are no severe. But for a young man willing to work and deter means of transit. For a few years to come the farmers mined to make his way, I do not think that there are will have a good home market of their grain. Winni much better chances in any field of emigration than there peg and Portage farmers have been sending their are in Manitoba. grain away west to the still unopened country about I think I cannot point out the advantages of the coun try in a better way than by stating the objections that Rapid City and other places for the highly remunerative have been brought to it, and giving the answers, which I price of from seven to eight dollars the bushel. myself received to the many anxious inquiries I made on As to the climate, we read,— the subject. During the winter months the weather is pleasant, The chief objections to the climate of Manitoba are fine, clear and dry, but the temperature often goes stated to be (1) the winter cold, (2) the summer heat, (3) down to 40 deg. below zero indicating a cold of 72 deg. the blizzards in winter, (4) the thunder storms in summer Then frozen noses and ears are common, but, when (5) the plague of grasshoppers, and ^6) droughts. one keeps the circulation going well, they say such Mr. Littlejohn then shows that on each of these extreme cold is not felt more than if it were only a points there has been a good deal of exaggeration. few degrees below zero. In fact, it is very healthy Another drawback he mentions, viz. mosquitoes, and invigorating, provided woollen clothing an inch which seem to trouble the cattle somewhat. As to or two thick all round is worn. settling in Manitoba the writer says :— In a recent number of Colonies and India, the results In choosing land the preference is to be given to the of Mr. John Macoun's researches into the physical rolling prairie ; but no one should settle in that or any phenomena of Manitoba and the North-west Territory other new country without first obtaining some personal are given, from which we quote the following :— experience, and the advice of natives well acquainted with In 1879 Mr. Macoun’s attention was chiefly directed to the character of the soil. As a rule, in choosing land the an investigation of the causes of the supp sed aiidity ot soil that bears luxuriant crops of prairie grass and wild the district l)ing to the south. He found a parched sur flowers is the finest land, and it is always observed that face, dried and withered grasses, and, in short, every ap the wild prairie sun flower is larger or smaller in propor pearance of such ardity; but closer examination showed tion to the richness or poverty of the soil. * * * that these indications were illusory. At the point—Black- A practical man in Manitoba would not buy land affected foot Crossing in lat. 50° 43’—where the consequences of with alkali. Grain does not come up at all alkaline spots. aridity appeared the strongest,Mr.Macuun came upon ground, The strength of it kills the seed. The presence of alkali broken up in the spring, hearing excellent crops of all is indicated on the prairie by the poorness of the vegeta kinds, oats being 4 feet high, while on the land outside tion. The level prairie has alkaline spots, many of them the fence the grass was burnt up and all other vegetation in unexpected places so that you may find a fine farm, withered. From this he argued that the rainfall of the and close to it alkaline ground where nothing will grow district was evidently ample, but that until, the baked crust * * * In regard to settling in Manitoba, I would like was broken, it could not precolate the ground m s rapidly to make it very clear that small parcels of land cannot as it fell; so a gr-at portion was evaporated by the dry be profitably cultivated except by a farmer working with atmosphere and lost. Thus the apparent aridity vanished his own hands, though large pieces of land of 1,000 to before the first efforts of husbandry. 10,000 acres can, I understand, be profitably used as grain- Having next discussed the questions of temperature and growing land under a manager. I do not consider this humidity in some detail, Mr. Macoun summarizes the pro part of Manitoba suitable for raising cattle on a large gress ot the seasm s and the lab urs of the husbandman. scale, as it would be too expensive to shelter and feed Early in April the hot sun clears away from the earth the them in winter. For cattle-raising purposes Bow River or last remaining m i o w , thaws and at the same time dries Peace River is the most suitable locality, the chinvok winds the ground sufficiently to fit it for the plough, and almost or warm breezes from the Pacific blowing over the lower simultaneously for sowing. Germination quickly follows, ranges of the Rocky Mountains into these countries, and and the young roots, moistened by the thawing of rendering the climate more equable than that of any other the subsoil, follow the pores opened out by the dia.ntegrating district in the North-West. This fits these districts for power of the frosts, and penetrate to a depth inconceiv cattle-raising, as there the cattle can be fed out all winter able to those who have not tested the matt-r practically. without shelter. By the time that rains come in May and June the roots I made inquiry as to the capital required for a farm have a fir hold of the ground, and ever thing grows with 160 acres under cultivation and 160 lying idle. Of in an extraordinary manner, while the July and early August course, price depends upon distance from the town ; but rains nourish and swell the ripening ears of wheat, &c. I assume the distance to be 12 to 14 miles. A farm of this Towards the end of August the winds change, and the kind can be got—fair dry prairie land, witli about 40 to almost rainless period sets in and continues throughout 60 acres hay land—at from $7-50 to $10 per acre. This, the winter; and the crops are therefore gathered in the say at $10, would amount to $3200. Breaking costs on best possible condition, and there is no necess'ty even to 160 acres are $3-50 per acre, or $560; fencing ICO acres thatch the stacks for the winter. The advantages offered costs $350: ploughing and seed, $720; horses, harness, to the stock-breeders in this country are equally great. ploughs, waggons, and agricultural implements, $1320 ; the Storms of sleet or wet snow are unknown on th • western house for the owner costs $1500; for the men $500, praries. Mich snow as does fall is always dry and light; stables, bams &c.. $1000; altogether, $9150. De‘ hence
Europe...... 23,426 rjH 38,073 give a full reply would be difficult, but one cause
United States... 8,307 odct 6,084 is strongly suspected by the trade, and that is, that | | coffee does not get fair play. It is obvious to all Total... 31,733 34,160 44,157 who look into the shop windows, that it seems to In our printed report of 1st July 1881, we be considered a recommendation to offer any sort of estimated the 1881-82 crop to be about ...3,200,000 bags and calculating that of former crops there re ‘^mixture ” or “ substitute” in the place of pure mained in the Interior and in Rio de Janeiro coffee. The value of th at beverage consists in the at that date about ... 1,500,000 „ gentle nerve-stimulant which it contains, and it would surely be unfair to it to offer in its name the most the available quantity would be about.. ...4,700,090 bags meritorious of compounds, consisting of valuably though inexpensive, charred roots or stalks, or of of which we expected that about 4,400,000 „ roasted peas, or other seeds or fruits—with the ad would come for export during the 12 months, from 1st July dition of only a sm «11 portion of the substance with 1881 to 30th June 1882. the title of which it is labelled. The extraneous sub As stated already in our report of 1st December 1881, we stances may possess every virtue under the sun; they are still of the opinion that these figures will prove cor may be dietetic or aperient, or stimulate the liver or rect, provided, of cour>e, that the weather will permit to bring the total of the available quantity of coffee to shipment other organs, as is said to be the case with some up td* 30th Jun» a. c. of them but the trade naturally object to their being According to the above table, there were shipped from 1st labelled coffee, for which, however, they do not go July to 3lst December 1881, 138,396 tons, equal to about so far as to claim medicinal virtues. To what ex 2,372,500 bags, and in order to reach the above-mentioned tent these admixtures are carried it is difficult to figure of 4 400,000 bags, there are still somewhat above say, but it has been held by the magistrates that a 2,000,0 0 bags of coffee wanting. compound of 80 and 90 per cent of foreign substance Several of our neighbours, who had put down the 1881-82 and 20 or 10 per cent, of coffee, may be legally sold crop to amount to only about 3 millions of bags, have— under the name of the latter, so long as the fact that as far as has come to our knowledge—heightened their other substances are mixed is declared at the time of estimates to about 3£ to 4 millions of bags, and others who sale. This state of things is considered by the coffee had estimated the stock of old coffee on 1st July 1881, in the interior to be only about £ million of bags, have trade to be altogether unjust to themselves. Such a corrected this figure into a higher one, so that more or less compound, whatevT its medicinal or other virtues, all exporters agree that we shall see an export from 1st would be altogether wanting in the essential constit July 1881 to 30th June 1882 of about 4£—4| millions of uents of coffee, and the public would soon insensibly bags of coffee. find this out. The craving among every race of man With regard to the coming crop (1882-83) it is as yet for some non-intoxicating nerve stimulant, either in tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, mat tobacco, the kava bowl, I LIBERIAN COFFEE IN CEYLON: SIZE OF the betel nut, or other similar substances, is evidently I BEANS; “ PERPETUAL PICKING ” : THE a natural one, and the system after a lime would find that the so-called “ coffee” does not impart what it UDAGAMA AND GALLE ESTATES. expects, and tea would be taken in its place. If the To some it is a conclusive objection against Liberian public simply want a warm drink, why should they uot coffee th at the beans are not large in proportion to take diluted pea or lentil soup, which would cost far less than Is. per pound for the raw material, and would the size of the cherries. The question was being dis be nutritious as well as hot. The practice of mixing cussed on board a recently-arrived mail-steamer, is reaching such an extent, that there is a feeling grow when a Dutch passenger, proceeding to visit his estates ing among the coffee trade th at these admixtures should in Java, intervened with an emphatic condemnation be treated under the Adulteration Acts, unless the of the new coffee on this very ground of large cherries quantity of coffee they contain be clearly declared by word of mouth or by label at time of sale. Further, but small beans. The objection seems as valid as the long-suffering trade appear to think that no that of the Irishman to the guinea which he saw substance ought to he allowed to be labelled coffee at lying on the road. “ By jabers !” said Paddy, “ I’m all, even with a declaration of admixture, unless the not going to be chated again : I lost two shillings preponderating ingredient be coffee, and th at in any by the last one I found.” This was because for a case the name of the substance admixed ought to be worn coin he had received only nineteen shillings in stated. It may be mentioned that the latest ‘ ‘substit ute” discovered for coffee consists of charred cabbage change, instead of twenty-one. There are, no doubt, stalks, the precise value of w'hich, as an article of diet, varieties of Liberian coffee which give small beans, is uot mentioned in the ordinary sci«ntific handbooks. but surely no one will have the temerity to assert Not even the coffee trade would desire to detract that on the average the beans from a Liberian coffee from the dietetic merits of burnt cabbage stalks, and plantation do not considerably exceed in size average all they ask is that they should be offered under their own name, so that they may owe the large sale to beans of Arabian coffee. Certain we are that the which they may attain, to their own merits, and beans from selected bushes on U d a p o l l a are larger uot to the name of coffee.— Produce Markets’ Review. than the largest which can be gathered from the old kind. Perhaps those interested will institute a com parison between a pound of select Liberian beans and TROPICAL PRODUCE IN AUSTRALIA. a pound of largest sized plantation, counting the number (From Qreig & Murray’s Circular.) of beans which go to each pound. [Since the above was written, we had the opportunity of referring the M e l b o u r n e , 15th February 1882. question to so competent an authority as Mr. R. S u g a b .—W e have to report a large business in this staple during the month, transactions covering 4,000 tons. Not Porter, who writes :— withstanding the heavy shipments that have come forward “ You will perhaps be surprized to hear that, in the m rrket has shown wonderful elasticity, and nearly all last year’s U d a p o l l a crops there were 43 per cent of the cargoes to hand have passed to the trade. extra large beans above No. 1 size, against 6 to 6J Q u eensland S ugar.—The principal feature has been the per cent m very fine high-grown Arabian coffee. sale of 140 tons brewing crystals at £33 to £34. The “ It is quite true that there are many Liberian quality shews great improvement, and is fast approaching beans not larger than Arabian beans, but the above Mauritius production. figures show that a very large percentage are much F i j i S u g a r .— 50 tons, ex “ Suva,” principally from the larger.”] Stmlake Lee Refining Company, sold at £31/10 to £32 for If the objection were th a t so large a portion of theener- yellows. The quality is improved. gies of the tree were thrown]into the task of elaborating I n d ia n T e a .—Another extensive sale was held on the masses of mucilaginous matter, wecould easier;understand 9th instant, when 4,650 halfchests, selected by the Calcnt ta Syndicate, was oft'ered. As no auction of any importance it ; although the obvious answer would be that none lias been held since last November, the trade were well of the pulp is removed from the soil, but is restored prepared to purchase, and, as was fully expected, the cata to it, when properly treated as manure. logue, consisting of 143 lots, was run through in a very A very intelligent German gentleman, Mr. Mhor, short space of time. Owing to the prices going at full valuations many of the traders were not. able to fully com the advantage of whose company we had on a recent plete their anticipated purchases. A great deal of difficulty voyage from Java to Singapore, he being era route to is expert need in placing saleable valuations on these teas, his properties at Deli, in Sumatra, offered a more consequently the biddings were in many in-tances started at prices much under which they ultimately fetched; this valid objection by adducing the number of trees which was very noticeable in broken orange pekoes, which must grew up tall and slim, without sending out primaries. be quoted at a good advance on late rates. Choicest Oar- There can be no doubt that from imported seed a jeelings were not offered in any quantities. Samples that we have seen, representing sales made in London, too certain proportion of these objectionable plants re plainly show that this District’s teas cannot be procured, sult , but, after all, they are only exceptions, and pro unless at better prices than we are able to give. In one bably their habit could be altered were they cut down or two instances doubt has been expressed as to the truth to within a loot or six inches of the ground and fulness of the marking of this Lvored tea on the packages; it is to be hoped that such a shortsighted policy will not allowed to grow up again. We should be glad to be of frequent occurrence; the Syndicate brand should he know if any experiments in this direction have been a guarantee as to the genuineness < f their t. as. tried. A gentleman, who has gone extensively into J apa n s.—A bold attempt of the Japanese merchants, aided the culture of the new coffee in the Southern Province, by their Government, to introduce on a large scale their black leaf Congous was tried on the 2nd instant, when and who deems the experiment successful, writes to a shipment comprizing a variety of qualities, aggregating us :— 2,390 lialfchests, were submitted to auction. The teas how “ My experience with stumps does not agree with ever did not seem to please, and the whole had to be passed yours. I had two hundred plants, most of them three with the exception of a few small lots. feet high and more, sent out. They had been sen from Liberia to London in ordinary packing casts, Meantime, we trust our correspondent will forgive and were forwarded to me without any covering and us, if wo extract, for the benefit of our readers, in the original cares. I have got 195 of them growing, information which is probably as new to most of over 2J years old now.” them as it is new and gratifying to us. Those south This is reassuring as to the ability of well-grown plants, ern estates are believed to be the first where nut to bear “ stumping,” and also long carriage. The gentle megs and pepper have ever been regularly cultivated man from whom we have quoted, writes further :— in the island by Europeans, as they are in the Straits. “ I send you the daily memoranda sent me by There are already 87 acres planted with nutmegs and 72 M r .------fro m ------. Picking is still going on with pepper, which acreage will be doubled iu both pro at the same rate, and 1 dou’t know when it is likely to stop. We are picking off 30 acres, three years ducts this year. Besides this, there are 310 acres of Li old last November and December. (The first plant berian coffee planted, some of which is in bearing, and was put in the ground on the 21st October). There 238 acres being planted this year. The small acreage in is another 22 acres about eight months younger, from tea promises exceedingly well, and the land and which we are picking too. The plants are 10x10 climate appear well suited to it. There is any ex apart. So far as one can judge the thing is a success.” tent of jungle in the district suitable and available for Our friend m ight safely use less qualified language. On the above products. Cinchona Calisaya and Ledgeriana looking over the daily memoranda, which extend from are both growing well. From seed put into the nursery iu 12th Jany. to 2nd March, we find that, besides 774 April, there are plants 2 feet high : will they, it is asked, bushels dry coffee despatched, 141 were drying on have any quinine? They look very healthy. The Liberian 12th Jany., while 10 were picked on that day. Then coffee has had one small, and one very fine blossom, came 12 picked on the 13th, and so on until the and another is in spike. Malabar cardamoms, 18 17th, when 23 bushels were gathered and the remark months old, are commencing to shew signs of blos made, “ Crop is again ripening on new clearings.’ som, and their growth is equal to any ever seen in On the 18th the picking was 25 bushels ; 19th, 27 ; 20th the island. Government have given the district a 16 ; (only J day at work, owing to rain) 21st, 27 ; and so post office and are thinking of providing a bridle on, until 25th Jany., when the report is “ Agood blossom path, as a short cut to Galle. Any amount of Sin out this morning : picking stopped.” Nevertheless 14 halese labour is available, and as much Tamil as the bushels were picked on the 26th ; 20 on the 27th until 26 planters want. About 400 mangosteen plants have were picked on 3rd February and 27 on the 4th; been put out in each estate, and they are coming on the same figure being attained on the 6th ; 28 on the well. The distance from Galle is 26 miles, 24 of 7th and so on until on 11th February 32 were obtained. which is by cart road. A traveller can, by leaving Up to 20th February 883 bushels had been picked Galle at 6 a.m., get there to breakfast. All the land and a small blossom was out on that day. The total in the district is felled only in the hollows, leaving picked from the commencement of the year to 2nd all prominent ridges in jungle; so that it is hoped March—a period of two months was—945 bushels; while to have no bad patches on any of the estates. There there were no signs of cessation, but rather of steady are 1,000 acres now under cultivation on 6 estates. increase. As, in this case, the cherries seem to be dried All this is very cheering in the midst of depi ession on the estate and then sent to Galle for preparation, from the position of our old staple. We trust that, we should be much obliged if our courteous corre besides the main product of Liberian coffee, nutmegs spondent would afford us information as to the mode and pepper may be successful, and also that the adopted to clean the beans, and their quality as com prince of all tropical fruits, the mangosteen, may at pared with others pulped on the place of growth. length be naturalized in Ceylon. Mangosteens were Are the cherries soaked, or are they “ hulled,” as the in full season—plentiful, cheap and delicious when Americans have have it, in their dry state ? We sup we were in Java In Singapore the season was over, pose the latter, and, although the beans may not be but we took special note of the fact that the most quite so free of “ silver skin” as those regularly flourishing mangosteen orchards were in semi-swampy pulped, we have no doubt of their fine flavour. Ac flats. cording to Laborie, the French planters of San Domingo always dried Ihe coffee intended for their own use, in Before this goes to press, a planter, who ought to the cherry, and kept it so for several years. By these know more about “ New Products ” and especially means, Laborie alleged, a superior flavoured coffee was Liberian coffee than any other man in the island, obtained. AVhnt is the result of experience here on writes to us in this strain :— this point? “ From all the industries I have seen since my re All the information which reaches us regarding turn to the island, I think Liberian coffee looks the Liberian coffee leads us to believe that, although this new most prosperous. Cocoa is very encouraging, and will in time bear well, but it does not give a return as product is not entirely exempt from attacks of insects soon as Liberian. in its early stages and fungus later on, it remains true to its comparatively robust character, its rapid growth “ I do not know how it is in the rest of Ceylon, but here, north of Kandy, we are having far more and its exceptional bearing properties. We are, than our share of rain. therefore, sanguine of its ultimate success. “ Returning to Liberian coffee, we have upon Liberia After we had written the above, we received a estate every expecta ion of picking 400 cwt., which, communication stating that the estates at Udugama, owing to the estate having first been planted 12 x 12 in the Southern Province, are well worthy of a visit, is off really few more than half the right number of which we trust we may soon find time to pay. trees—say 60 acres.” SPECIMENS OF GOLD-BEARING QUARTZ collection we think it probable Government will place in the Economic Museum, we now append :— FROM VICTORIA AND THF GOLD PROSPECTS N o t e s o n A u r i f e r o u s Q u a r t z S p e c i m e n s f r o m
IN CEYLON. B a l l a r a t . Apart from the fact that prospecting for gold is going This is a representative collection of quartz, more or less auriferous, presented by the Ballarat School of on in our island, the Ceylon Commissioner to the Mel Mines to the representative of the Ceylon Court. These bourne Exhibition would have considered it part of his specimens show the mode of occurrence of gold and duty to have obtained for the colony he represented its associated minerals from the district around Ballarat. representative specimens of gold-bearing quartz and They are well worthy the attention of all in pyrites. As mere geological and minerological illust terested in gold in Ceylon. Ballarat is situated in the colony of Victoria, one of the richest gold-pro rations, as indications of the prevailing characters and ducing districts of Australia. The geological formation constituents of gold-bearing strata, the collection would is chiefly metamorphic schist or slates of Silurian age. be interesting to scientific men. But the possibility of Our Ceylon rocks are metamorphic, in several parts a paying gold-field occurring in Ceylon adds a fresh chistose and no doubt of Palaeozoic age. interest to the contents of the little box, which the In Victoria gold was first obtained from alluvium and then followed its extraction from ybe quartz Commissioner owed to the courtesy of Mr. Barnard, rock. From this colony from 1851-65, no less than F. G. S., Registrar of the Ballarat School of Mines, a 30,422,591,oz, were exported to the value off 121,690,363. most valuable institution, where, for very moderate This passed through the Custom house, and it has been fees, pupils, including working miners, are taught the estimated that nearly 4,000,000 oz. were sent away whole circle of the sciences, ranging from Mathematics, otherwise. From 1868-78 the gold extracted from alluvium was Drawing and Surveying, Geology and Botany, Magnet over 6 million ounces, while that from quartz was ism and Telegraphy (female pupils taught) down to over 64 million oz. There has been a steady decrease Chemistry, Engine-driving, and under-ground mining. from the alluvial deposits; and from the quartz, the As the latter pursuit involves constant liability to ac amount has not increased since 1877. cident, the pupils who are qualifying themselves for One nugget found at Ballarat weighed 184 lb and was valued at £8,376 10s 6d. taking charge of shafts and mines receive a thorough and practical training, not only in Materia Medica and SPECIMENS. Physiology, but in the treatment of wounds and fract No. 1, 2, 3.—This is a milky white quartz veined ures. We are not likely to forget our night visit over with mispickel (arseno-pyrites). Free gold is visible as granules and as plates amongst mispickel. This to the School at Ballarat, when the enthusiastic surgi quartz contains 7 oz. to the ton. The reef is in meta cal lecturer, Dr. Ussher, imprisoned us in his elass-room- morphic schist 200 feet from the surface and 1,400 feet until we had seen a tall, strong young fellow bound above the sea level. Locality, Owen’s river. In No. 2, and bandaged and pinioned, so that he resembled a the gold is more distinctly visible than in No. 1, and mummy ! No language of ours can be too strong to in 2 and 3 it is visible but sparingly. [Mispickel (arsenical-iron-pyrites) is of a tin or silver express the sense we feel of the advantages enjoyed white colour inclining to steel grey, crystallizing in by the youth of Victoria, in being able, after com rhombic prisms. Its composition is bisulphide and mon school age (15) to receive at slight expense a arsenide of iron. Generally from 30 to 36 % iron; 41 very high scientific and praatical training at either to 45 % arsenic and 18 to 21 % sulphur.] the Mining School at Ballarat or the sister institu No. 4.—This is a milky white quartz very com tion at Sandhurst. The life and soul of the latter pact and less veined with mispickel than the preced ing. Gold is distinctly visible. The yield of this is is Mr. Alex. Bayne, to whom, as to Mr. Barnard, 1 oz. to the ton and the reef occurs in metamorphic aud also Mr. Cosmo Newberry of the Melbourne schist. Depth 1,120 feet at 293 feet below sea level. Technological Museum, the Ceylon Commissioner was Locality, Stawell. indebted for great courtesy and much information of No. 5.—Dirty white quartz of great specific gravity, a very valuable kind. We heard and discussed many full of iron pyrites which crystallizes in cubic form and faces often striated and of a pale brass yellow theories, as probable solutions of the questions we color. Note the difference between this pyrite and the were ever asking. “ How came the gold to form in former mispickel. No gold is visible. It yields 15 dwt. the rocks and especially how came the particles to to the ton taken from a depth of 300 feet at an eleva aggregate?’’ Our inclination is to believe that gold, tion of 1,600 feet above sea level. Locality Gordon. like quartz, was deposited from water, but that goes No. 6.—A quartz of very loose texture, somewhat resembling a breccia of a reddish colour, due to iron. but a small way to clear up the mystery. Before It is highly ferruginous with most brilliant irrides- handing over the collection of auriferous quartz cent hues, due to the films of iron oxide. One or from the Ballarat Museum to Mr. Bruce, to two specks of gold are visible with a magnifying be by him placed at the disposal of Government, glass. It has a felspathic external surface. It yields vie sought and obtained permission to place the lOdwt. to the ton. Depth 250 feet; above sea-level box at the disposal of our local geologist and 1,140 f t ; locality, Sebastopol, Ballarat. No. 7.—A dense flaky quartz, somewhat ferruginous mineralogist, Mr. Alex. Dixon, for inspection and with a considerable quantity of metal viz. argen report, the report to be published in the Observer. tiferous galena and auriferous pyrites. Note the peculiar We at the same time sent Mr. Dixon our private shade of pyrite differing from the brassy iron one. collection of specimens, of rocks, metals and roasted This specimen was taken from a depth of 60 feet at and crushed pyrites. On the latter Mr. Dixon will 90 ft. above sea-level. Locality St. Arnand. [Galena crystallizes in the cubic form with a per have something to say in due time. His report on fect cleavage. Its color is a lead grey with metallic the collection intended for Government, and which lustre, Composition is sulphide of lead and a little sulphide of silver. If the silver is in sufficient quantity three samples of auriferous pyrites were operated to be worth extracting it is termed argentiferous.] upon not long ago. No. 8.—A dirty white quartz, compact in texture, (а) From Siberia which contained 100 grams to the ton. full of cavities with crystalline quartz. A little (б) Venezuela ,, 300 „ mispicked occurs.No gold is visible to the naked eye but ’ (c) California ,, 150 ,, slight specks show with the aid of a magnifying glass. 1 The first yielded all its gold by amalgamation. The Yield 60z to ton. Depth 240 ft.; above sea-level j two others, both in the raw state and after roasting, 1080 ; locality Ballarat. yielded only insignificant quantities. From further ex No. 9.—A whitish looking quartz, somewhat glassy, 1 periment, it was inferred that the presence of antimony with auriferous pyrites, a few specks of miepickel and arsenic prevent amalgamation. occur. Gold is not visible. Yields 18 dwt. to the ton The tailings of old mines are now being re-worked by and was taken from a depth of 1,200 feet at 200 ft. the “ Chlorine process ” or by the still better method de above sea-level. Locality, Clunes. vised by Mr. W. A. Dixon. See “ Directions for extract No. 10 A white quartz stained reddish by iron. | ing gold, silver, and other metals from pyrites. Pro A little chlorite is present. It has a curious mamimi- j ceedings o f the. Royal Society, vol. 20. ” lated quartz surface on one side with an iron casing Ceylon quartz is rather too g assy in appearance below. There is a peculiar tinge of iron which is very and from many localities is destitute of metal of common in Ceylon quartz. Gold is distinctly visible, j any kind, or having caverns either empty or filled Depth 60 ft. at 2080 above sea-level. Locality Daylesford. i with earthy matter. The pyrites are of too brassy a No. 11.—Quartz of a milky white character with a nature. However, we have quartz partaking of the slate-wall. Gold is distinctly visible on this slaiy-wall character of Nos. 6 and 16 in Hewaheta and Kamboda. along with a little auriferous pyrite. Depth 600 ft. at A somewhat sim lar quartz to 10 and 15 occurs in 1,200 ft. above sea-level. Locality, Blackwood. ' Balangoda and the district around. No. 12.—Dirty white quartz with a beautiful mass ' In the Nawalapitiya district, we have a quartz of rock crystal, the crystals being a double hexagonal ; partaking of the nature of 11, 12, 13, but no metal pyramid. A little arseno-pyrite is present but gold ■ is visible. The mineral galena, mispickel and blende is not distinctly visible. Depth 300 feet at 1,150 above | have not been recorded up to the present time as sea-level. Locality, Ballarat. ! occurring iu this island. Nos. 13 and 14.—Beautiful, white, milky qusrlz with j Mr. Dixon, we know, has judged rightly in stating auriferous pyrites, blende and galena Free gold is very j that the mere colour of quartz is no certain criterion distinctly visible in both specimens along with the blende. (14 is a very rich specimen). Depth 450 feet of its value. We took with us to Melbourne a at 400 above sea-level.—Locality Maldon. ! specimen of gold-bearing quartz from the Alpha Mine [Blende or black jack crystallizes mostly in dodeca- j in Southern India, and, judging by what we had seen hedrons ; it is usually black or brown. Composition is j in Dewalah, we expected to find the specimens of sulphide of zinc.] Australian gold-bearing quartz sent to the Melbourne No. 15.—A whitish quartz much stained with iron, i causing it to look reddish. Gold is distinctly visible on Exhibition full of pyrites and rusty coloured. Some the iron ore studded all over its weathered face. Depth j such quartz we did find exhibited, but the leading 80 feet at 1,400 above sea level.—Locality Ballarat. specimens (some of them immense blocks) were pure No. 16.—A bluish glassy quartz; very cavernous. Gold white, shading away to grey. A person acquainted is distinctly visible in the caverns and on other parts. with only the surface quartz of Devalah would Depth 900 feet at 60 below sea-level. Locality Stawell. certainly never have suspected the existence of gold in pure white and occasionally crystalline quartz. The uneducated eye, therefore, is here at Chief points noticeable in collection :— fault, but the merest tyro soon learns the value 1. The great density of the quartz. ( 2. The compactness of the quartz except in 6 and 7 ! of “ Black Jack,” or blende as an indication of the which show that compactness is not a necessary j presence of gold, equally with mundic (iron or ar characteristic. senical pyrites) and galena. Blende, Mr. Dixon ex 3. The general association with other metals. ] plains, is a sulphide of zinc, while galena is com 4. The colour of quartz is nil in determining gold. \ posed mainly of sulphide of lead ; sometimes rich in If need not look warm, as has often been stated, for ' 11, 12 and 13, as far as general appearance goes are cold ' sulphide of silver. We suspect that neither “ black and decidedly hungry, destitute of caverns and destitute Jack” nor galena exist in Ceylon, any more than of other minerals. White is the prevalent color in this the special “ Lower Silurian ” slate formations so collection, stained variously with iron. strongly insisted on in Victoria. But “ mispickel,” 5. The quartz being in crystalline condition is not which Mr. Dixon describes as arsenical iron pyrites, a sign of its containing no gold. See No. 12. 6. The visibility of gold is worth nil for Nos. 1, 5 ought surely to exist. The first great revolution in and 8, are rich in gold. It has recently been stated the search for gold was the discovery that hundreds that assayers are of no use. We are told we must be and even thousands of feet below the alluvials of able to see and judge by the eye as to whether a quartz Mount Alexander, Bendigo, Ballarat, Arrarat, and reef will pay and that it is a poor tale to have it other once rich but entirely or partially exhausted gold tested. However such statements are not worth much. If we see the gold and know that it extends in the fields, and underlying enormous masses of the basaltic quartz, we then know without assay that it w ill pay rock known locally as “ blue stone,” vast stores of and its extraction may be at once begun with. the precious metal lay hidden. It is found either in Assaying of fair samples is very necessary. There is situ in the old quartz and slate formations, or washed not sufficient sight-evidence in many varieties of into the channels of ancient rivers, sent underground, quartz to warrant gold being therein paying quantity. “ where Alph the sacred river ran, ” by volcanic Even the rough amalgamation process, so commonly convulsions. Gold has been certainly found down to used by the miner is unreliable where the gold occurs with pyrites. Nor can the amalgamation process be 2,000 feet, and, as a shaft at Stawell has penetrated successfully used for its extraction iu such cases, e.g., to 3,000 feet and will probably go deeper, it is im« possible yet to fix the lowest limit of underground : his family. The scene was soon changed, as will be finds. What with powerful rock borers aud especially seen by the following details taken from Sutherland’s by means of the wonderful diamond drills capable of “ Tales of the Gold Fields” :— piercing at all angles, while cores are taken up aud Deeson plied his pick in some hard bricklike clay examined at every few feet of progress, shaft-sink around the roots of an old tree, breaking up fresh earth ing and gold mining generally is fast passing from a and tearing away the grass from the surface of the ground. He aimed a blow at a clear space between precarious lottery to a steadily profitable pursuit. The two branches of the root; and the pick, instead of value and probable effect of the diamond drills can sinking into the ground, rebounded, as if it had struck not possibly be exaggerated. The next great revolu upon quartz or granite. “ Confound it! ” he exclaimed; tion was the discovery that pyrites, which had been “ I’ve broken my pick. I wish I had broken it, if it rejected as worthless, could, to a large extent, be had only been over some nugget.” A minute afterwards he called out to Oates, and told him to “ come and utilized with great profit. Accordingly every important see what this was.” It was a mass of gold cropping gold mine has now appliances for roasting and crushing several inches out of the ground like a boulder on a pyrites. Through the courtesy of Mr. Thompson, the hill. As each successive portion of the nugget wras dis able manager of the Walhalla mine in Gippslatid, prob closed to view, the men were lost in amazement at its ably the richest gold mine in the world, we were enormous size. It was over a foot in length, and nearly the same in breadth. The weight was so great that it able to bring, amongst other specimens, a sample of was difficult for the two men to move it. However, by pounded pyrites ready for the amalgamating process. dint of great exertion, they succeeded in carrying it down On this Mr. Dixon will, doubtless, have something the hill to Deeson’s cottage, where they commenced to to say'. The difficulty of dealing with pyrites is the inspect their wonderful treasure. It was so completely large quantity of deadly fumes of arsenic evolved in covered with black earth, and so tarnished in colour, that an inexperienced person might have supposed it to the process of roasting. Tall chimneys, to carry those be merely a mass of auriferous earth or stone. But its fumes for dispersal in the higher atmosphere, must weight at once dispelled all doubt on that point, for it be erected under heavy penalties, and the effect of was more than twice as heavy as a piece of iron of the fumes on vegetation were very apparent on the the same size. side of a steep mountain, close to which rose the Great was the rejoicing among Deeson’s family. The wife piled up a huge fire, and Deeson placed the nugget chimney of the great mine at Walhalla. Trees aud on the top, while the rest of the family stood around grasses, within the influence of the fumes from the watching the operation of reducing the mass to the flue, were withered or dead. The W alhalla Valley, semblance of gold. All through the Friday night Dee- rich not in alluvial gold but in gold-bearing rocks, soon sat up before the fire, burning the quartz which differs essentially from the valleys between or at the adhered to the nugget, and picking off all the dirt and foot of low, rounded, water-worn hills at Castlemaine, debris. This was so rich that, on being washed in the puddling machine, it yielded ten pounds’ weight of gold. Sandhurst, Ballarat aud other places, where scores of Meanwhile Oates had procured a dray to convey the miles of alluvial soil have been torn and turned over nugget to town, and on the Saturday morning the two after a fashion whieh excites the astonishment of the men set off for Dunolly. It was a ten-mile walk; but traveller. We could not help asking if any approxim many of the neighbours, having heard the news, fol ate estimate had ever bien attempted of the num lowed the dray into the township. * » * They stopped the dray at the door of the London ber of cubic feet of earthwork involved in all the Chartered Bank, while the crowd grew larger and larger. digging and re-digging by Europeans, and the re-re Deeson now stepped into the bank, and, having re digging by Chinese over the gold fields of Victoria. quested to see the manager, he proceeded to open Our friends oidy looked aghast at the idea of so negotiations with him by asking, “ How much do you utterly hopeless an attempt. Our own belief is think you would give for a lump of gold as big as that a girdle of railway round the globe would your head ? ” The manager, thinking the digger was drunk, ordered him away, and requested his clerk to not be more than the equivalent. Next to the skeletons see him to the door. But catching sight of the crowd of a burnt forest in Australia, the most awfully outside, he stepped out and looked into the cart. The desolate of scenes, is m de up of the grave-like tone of the negotiation was altered at once, and the mounds scattered as thickly as leaves of Vallambrosa two diggers were politely requested to enter. over a deserted gold-field. As the mountains stood When the nugget had been deposited on the floor of round about Jerusalem, so do they stand round the banker’s room, it was weighed, and the amount of pure gold was ascertained to be 2,268J ounces, or the gold valley of Walhalla—real mountains nearly two hundredweight. Thus, being nearly 100 ounces and not water-worn hills such as are seen near the heavier than the Welcome nugget of Ballarat, it was alluvial gold-fields which first made Victoria famous. probably the largest piece of native gold ever found. From first to last 50 millions of ounces of gold have Various accounts have been given of a still larger nug been taken out of the soil, worth 200 millions sterling. get having been discovered in Brazil over a hundred years ago. But this story rests on no good founda No wonder if at Ballarat and Sandhurst great towns tion, and even if it is based on fact, it has evidently arose, and a vast city on the shores of Hobson’s bay, been exaggerated. All the best authorities on the sub with the rapidity which is more a characteristic ject, therefore, set down the Welcome Stranger as the of dream and romance than of real life. Itr. Dixon largest mass of gold ever discovered. notices that one nugget was found at Ballarat, which We doubt if any such mass of gold exists in the weighed 184 lb., and for which over £8,006 were paid. soil of Ceylon, if indeed “ payable quartz” for stamp We do not know if he refers to “ the Welcome ing exists. No better aids to the solution of this Stranger,” found (at Dunolly, however,) by two Cornish question can possibly exist than the specimens from miners, just when one of them had been refused Ballarat with Mr. Dixon’s notes on them. fredit for a bag of flour and feared starvation for J We have, on this occasion, merely glanced at a few salient points on the characteristics and history of a point of view. There is a practical aspect of the substance and a pursuit, round which cluster more question: that of the artificial production of of romance and vicissitude than is connected with gold. The transmutation theories of the dark agee any other material substance or human enterprize. were deservedly laughed at, because they were not The subject is practically inexhaustible, and we hope founded on a knowledge of the true laws of matter to return to it in future issues. and the right application of those laws. But, look Since writing so far we have seen a letter ad ing at the advances made in the manufacture of rubies and even the diamond, he would be a bold dressed to the Australasian on “ G old a n d w h e r e to f in d it , ” by Mr. C. F. Nicholls, an educated man who ventured to assert that science may not and observant writer, who has been a practical gold yet discover an effectual and cheap mode of compelling miner. It commences thus :— the earth to release her stores of diffused gold, as well as inducing the sea to give up her wealth of Fascinating as all inquiries are into the origin of things, none are more so than the investigation of the origin of silver. At present the problem is how to discover metals, more especially that of gold. Writing from memory, aggregations of gold in other minerals or rocks, in and therefore not giving quotations, I may say that there such quantities and conditions as to yield appreci is good authority for affirming that gold is as widel disseminated over the world as any other metal, if not more able returns for the labour and cost of mining, crush so. I have seen as fine and rich quartz specimens from ing, amalgamating, etc.. Mr. Nicholls points out that Wales as any in Victoria. Gold has been found in the but a small proportion of practical miners are able Wicklow mountains, Ireland, on the Duke of Sutherland’s to give much help in soloving the problems at issue. estate in Scotland; and Hungary, Austria, Spain, Russia, Mexico, California, and several other countries, not to speak Mr. Nicholls seems justified in his blame of the of Africa, have or have had their gold-fields. Silver can be Victorian Government for undervaluing their own extracted from the ocean, and gold has been found iu the great staple. He writes roots of the violet and the vine, and sometimes traces have been found of it under such conditions as lead to the A reference to the Intercolonial Exhibition essay on conclusion that it must have been in the form or condition of mining and mineral statistics, 1866 and 1867, is worth any vapour. one’s reading, who is interested in the subject, as it brings all the known information up to date under review, and When attention was drawn to gold about a quarter suggests one great defect of the late Exhibition which, so of a century ago by the operations of Australian far as it was possible in an essentially gold-mining country, diggers in the sands of tho Maha Oya, at Nuwara kept that industry in the background, and did in no way help to add to the mining and mineral statistics of 1866-67. Eliya and elsewhere, we republished a pamphlet by The mighty intellects occupied in turning us into a nation Professor Hopkins of Cambridge, in which the theory of farmers without capital and manufacturers without coal was propounded, not that gold was found in th e could afford to despise an industry that had made Vic roots of trees, but that the precious metals toria what it is, and employed and sustained, directly and indirectly, 60,000 or 70,000 families, producing four millions’ aggregated round the roots of trees and finally worth of raw material, of which three millions was distri took the place of the roots, as particles of ordinary buted in wages and payment for tools and machinery, and mineral matter replace wood in the so-called “petri the balance in dividends. The essay referred to will show that there are many modes of the occurrence of gold that faction” process. This aggregation and replacement were not generally accepted, and, when we remember that must be regarded as processes subsequent to the geologists differ greatly on many points—take, for instance deposition of both .quartz and gold from water (should the doubts about granite; is it a primary rock or not ? is it the production of water or fire ? take basalt, agreeing that it that theory be tenable,) and subsequently also, per is volcanic, was it mud, and did it crystallize, or was it molten haps, to the tearing, disintegrating and finally aggregative lava ?—who knowns ? Evan Hopkins says mud, recognized effects of floods. But we are now dealing with authorities say molten lava. It does not matter much, phenomena of comparatively moderen dates in geologi as either way it flowed out of the bowels of the earth and spread over plain and valley, thousands, cal history and action. The mention by Mr. Nicholls probably millions of years ago, filling in the ancient of gold in a state of vapour reminds us of the creeks and rivers, covering table-land and mountain, theory of what we may call original deposition on and concealing from us of today the leads, and gutters, and golden lodes of not only a time before our globe, and which recommends itself to our reception. history began, but probably before man was. The We are justified by analogy in supposing that this immensity of time is one of the puzzles, the slowness of planet was once what the sun seems to be now, the processes, the difficulty of comprehension. Sir J. a mass of gases gradually cooling and solidifying. Lubbock tells us geologists must recast their theories, and base them on a solid world, and the latest theory of vol The gase<, hi the case of our earth as of the sun, canic hills is that the bed rock is not thrust up, making included those of the heaviest metals, gold amongst a hill, but that the ashes and lava from the rent in the them. As the cooling and solidifying processes went earth’s surface are gradually piled up and rounded as we see here in many cases. But, as in most other things, on, it is to be presumed that the various metals nature does not work in one way only, and whilst in agglomerated and settled in masses or strata, Mouut Greenock we have a hill ,of that character referred according to certain laws of affinity, attraction, to, so in AVombat-hill, Daylesford we probably have an instance of where the bed rock was raised, and the column mngnetiMn, heat and pressure. The question then arises of lava burst through the golden lead, and puzzled the how much of the gold on the surface of our globe is miners for many a long day before they picked up the in situ, as deposited during the cooling process, per continuation on the opposite side of the solid pipe or haps millions of ages back in time ; or whether the column of basalt that had been the outflow of molten lava or overwhelming mud. Spring-hill, Creswick,may be another whole of it has not been displaced by forces of tire instance of the thrusting up of the bed rock, whilst and water : volcanic action and furious water floods; Moorookyle and others on the Smeaton Plains may have again to form and aggregate under the influence of the deep leads underneath them undisturbed. These facts or supposed facts lead to the inference that when we find magnetic and metamorphie agencies? The enquiry is quartz pebbles on or near these basaltic hills, as at Mount not only curious in itself and in a purely scientific IHollowback, in the Dowling Forest estate, the volcanic forces have burst through quartz drifts and thrown those two in width carrying a good deal of gold. Here were pebbles out with the ashes, leading to the inference of three distinct deposits of gold all within a few the existence of probably auriferous leads in the im feet of each other. Is there any theory that mediate neighbourhood, aud where we do not find these accounts for the facts ? I have taken out of the rounded quartz or any other, to the existence of deep bed of the saltwater river at Gisborne and other ground under the hills. places large flat pebbles that have in a single pebble contained a perfect miniature system of the five Clunes The notice of volcanic forces bursting through quartz quartz reefs, and other pebbles showing in miniature drifts and throwing pebbles out with volcanic ashes, quartz reefs of mony different kinds. What are we to understand by this? Some of my scientific friends may reminds us of what we observed, during a journey with explain it. I can only record the facts. At Creswick and a gentleman who owns large possessions on the banks Ararat, with all the enormous amount of alluvial gold taken of the Goulburn river (a great wheat region) beyond out I hardly know of a qarrtz reef that is paying ex Echuca, a Victorian border town on the great rive Mur- penses. As Artmus Ward might say, Why is this thus? What we do know amounts to this. So far as quartz ray. After driving over wbat appeared to be almost reefs are concened, they may last to any depth and they interminable park-like plains, on which timber enough may run out at any depth, both quartz and gold, or the was scattered to give pleasaut shelter, we came at last quartz may continue and the gold give out, but when the quartz runs out the gold never continues. Some quartz to a rising ground, the manifest result/>f ancient volcanic reefs run with the strata and some across the combs of action. After admiring the extensive view, which the bed rock. Some thin out at all sorts ot depths, and included a lake of waters collected in a volcanic depres gome make again and some do not- Some con sion, our attention was arrested by the curious mix tinue well define*! to great depths, but the gold runs out. They all vary in yield, but some continue to pay and some ture of bright fragments of quartz with the dark d<> not In the upper silurian bed rocks we have, as a lavas. We said to our friend, who was talking of rule, small but rich reefs, with some notable exceptions, building a house on the eminence : “ We are probably like the long Tunnel Beef, NValhalla; and in the lower silurian, as on Ballarat, the main body of the stone is standing over a formation of quartz rich in gold.” ‘‘Oh ! poor and the spurs from it are rich, and so on ad infinitum, for goodness’ sake” exclaimed the fortunate possessor of which to some extent justifies the practical miner, who says 38,000 acres of fine, fre ehold property, “don’t say a word of gold, “Where it is there it is, and you have to work to get it,” but we may do so with all the lights of ascer about gold, or slioals of people will come in and tear my tained fact, ergo groping about here and anywhere in a beautiful place into holes and heaps!” Our friend felt costly and expensive bewilderment. he had enough and he did not quite see with us that He goes on to say that the unknown may be infer it was his duty to the colony to give it the benefit of red from the known ; that there are belts of ascert such wealth as might be hidden in bis soil. Those ained auriferous country and the richest and longest who know what the presence of miners on land continued lines run north and south. Mr. Nicholl involves, will not wonder at the objection of the gen states :— tleman in question. Mr. Nicbolls takes the position Whether gold travels far or not I think depends upon the that although, quartz is always associated with gold, forces brought to bear upon it, If the forces are strong enough to i ouge out the bed rock the fine gold wilt tra there are many quartz reefs barren of gold. He w rites:— vel with the clay and debris as long as that force continues. We have more barren quartz reefs than auriferous reefs, I have seem a flood at Clunes that carried a twenty pound and as far as we know more quartz reefs that pay lump of basalt rof,k half a mile, and ihat washed away a handsomely at shallow depths than at great depths. At heap of puddled washdirt, but did not c rry the gold fifty present it seems as if about a thousand feet from grass yai'i s. As to alluvial deposits, I have found payable gold is our limit to in most instances payable stone, and yet in the grass and black soil, and no payable quartz reel in there is no sufficient reason given to prove that depth has the neighbourhood; I have seen gold in the black clay in anything to do with the presence of gold in paying Melbrurne on the top of the basalt, but wbat we know is quantities or not, and if quartz is the matrix of gold, why that the east and west runs of gold pay out; that the north should it not continue if our quartz reefs do, as is well and south runs of gold continue apparently so long as they known that they do in several districts, to un twist and turn within the urea of one or more belts of known depths ? Gold has been found in granite, in auriferous country, as the Golden Point lead did and as the diorite, sandstone, in slate, and in basalt. May it not Creswick, Kingston, and Smeaton leads are now doing. be true that our silurian rocks are impregnated with Wherever gold is found, the lines north and south gold more or less, and that though under special circumstances there is an accumulation of the metal in of it should be followed. The conclusion is startling, occasional quartz reefs and dykes (as at Wood’s Point), and will, we suppose, be disputed. It runsthii' :— the denudation of immense areas of bed rock for count In conclusion, permit me to say that all reports based less ages may have had much to do with the formation upon the yield of gold per ton are illusive unless the cost of our alluvial leads, helped by the breaking down of rich of obtaining the gold is stated. Returns from Anderson’s quartz reefs, but not entirely dependent upon them. The Creek, Diamond Lreek, Uipps Land,and Reedy Creek would processes of nature are not only varied but repeated over surpass anything from the neighbouring colonies if com an extension of time we cannot realize, and under the piled in the same way, but “ distance lends enchantment to same as well as different conditions; hence the many puzzl the vie «■.” _ There is one test that may fairly be applied as ing facts that no one theory accounts for. I have seen between Victoria and any other colony. Let the investor nuggets taken from the Hard-hills, Buninyong, without a ascertain how many dividend-paying companies there are particle of quartz, looking as if they had been poured in Tasmania and New South Wales, or (what is the same out of a ladle in a molten state on to the bed rock. ithing) the percentage of profit on the total investment, in The last gold I obtained was a working miner at the head each colony, and I do not hesitate to say that whilst in of Cobbler’s Gully, Cresick, consisted of a run of coarse Victoria we can show a profit of sixty per cent, upon our gold and nuggets, looking as if they had undergone enor- total expenditure for 1881, that the neighbouring colonies can ous pressure and grindin force, found on the shoulder of not show any profit whatever on the total expenditure for the bedrock, and a few feet deeper, packed against a quartz the past year. reef that we could see uo gold in. was 3ft. of washdirt Our own opinion is that, in the other Australian containing nothing but fine gold, as if it had dropped colonies as well as the golden colony, p a r rxeellencey out of a quartz reef a few days before we discovered it. The coarse gold came from a yellow bed rock, the other Victoria, the use of the diamond drills will dcvelnpe rested on a white pipeclay7 gutter, and crossing this gutter mineral wealth rich beyond experience or ewn were several bands of hard greasy pipeclay of an inch or imagination. As regards Ceylon, the question is: have leads of D iscriminating C h a r g e in h e U n it e d S ta te s auriferous quartz yet been discovered, rich enough to o n C eylon a n d E a st I n d ia Co f f e e .—Although coffee justify the introduction and use of machinery, for is admitted into the United States free of duty, the sinking shaf s, including not only ordinary borers, present tariff laws impose 10 per cent upon all Ceylon but that true “divining rod,” the diamond drill? or East Indian coffee if shipped from any country The presence of one in Ceylon might give the country west of the Cape of Good Hope.—Rio News. Artesian wells, where water is wanted, even if payable “F ib e r .”—Mr. John C. Branner, who has been gold reef* failed to be discovered. collecting specimente of vegetable fiber in Brazil for the Edison electric light during the past year, left Par£ for New York on the 10th ultimo. Mr. Branner A r t if ic ia l I n c r ea se o f Q u in in e . —W e call a tte n had travelled over a very large portion of the country tion to the advertisement in our daily paper, in and had made extensive and valuable collections of which Mr. Scbrottky expresses his readiness to in fiber. As the value of these can ordy be determined crease, artificially, the value of cinchona bark about by long and careful experiment, it will probably be to be cut down. We understand that the chemical sometime before the results of this exploration are inoculation of the living bark (on succirubra trees) published.— Rio News. [It is surely a new idea that has, in some of the experiments, raised the analysis vast stores of “ fiber” (which we English still spell by from 25 to 50 per cent of the previously existing fibre) should be required for the electric light. percentage of quinine. W hy ?—E d . C. O.J E conomic P rod ucts in I n d ia . —We have to acknow F l o r id a .—M r . H a m il t o n D iss t o n , of Philadelphia, ledge the receipt, from the Director of the Depart has sold 2,000,000 of the 4,000,000 acres of land be pur ment of Agriculture and Commerce, N. W. P. and chased in Florida about a year ago. The negotiations Oudh, of a copy of Part V of “ Notes on the Economic began last summer, when an agent was sent to Europe Products of the North-western Provinces,” by Mr. E. to find a market for the lands. Sir Edward J. Reed, T. Atkinson, B. A , F. K. G. S., of the Bengal C. S. member of Parliament, who is a representative of the This part treats of gourds ; vegetables ; spices and purchasers, is a wealthy Englishman who has large in condiments ; greens ; fruits, cultivated and wild ; and terests in America, and who is engaged in building the uncultivated edible products. Prefixed are a general Atlantic and Gulf Coast and West India Transit rail index, a botanical index, and an index of Hindi terms. way, which runs from Fernandina to Cedar Keys in D e Ca e n 's P a t e n t C in ch o n a B r a n c h a n d T w ig Florida This route has branches from Waldo running M a c h in e . —Messrs. J. Walker & Co., of Kandy, wrote south to Osceola, and is being rapidly pushed to Tama to us on the 3rd instant “ We have tried a sample Bay and Charlotte harbor. Its course is through a great machine at our works today and find ir works ad portion of the Disston purchase, and it must eventually mirably. The machine is simple, portable and very add largely to the value of the land. Sir Edward J. strong ; it is capable of turning out more than 400 lb. Reed was Mr. Disston’s competitor for the land at the of wet bark per day under favourable circumstances, time of the original purchase. Sir Edward has associated but we give 4001b. as a fair average. There are no with himself Dr. Jacobus Wertheim, of Amsterdam, and knives, but tapering rollers are employed to suit the other capitalists of Hol’and, who were interested in the various thickness of twig and branch. The machine bond of the Florida ra'lroads and other American secu promises to be a most valuable invention, rendering rities of like nature, and a syndicate was thus formed the harvesting of both possible and profitable .” to buy half of Mr. Diss ton’s purchase. The lands of C a j u W i n e .—In a notice of the recent exhibition Mr. Disston, which he reserves the right to select from of Brazil “ Nacional ” manufactures, we find the fol the whole, and also those of the European capitalists, lowing notice, and we should like to know if wine will now be offered for sale to immigrants. from the “ kaju pulan ” has ever been made in Ceylon : I n sec t P e st s .—A planter in Kurunegala writes:— —“ Of caju and other wines from native fruits there “ I enclose a few specimens of a poochi which has are several agreeable samples which would lead to killed several cocoa trees on this estate and appears the belief that a large trade might be done in them, to be spreading. I should be very much obliged if but the unaccountably high price, considering the you could tell me what it is, and suggest a remedy. cheapness and abundance of the fruit, must militate At present I have men on, killing them by hand, strongly against the generalization of an article credited but am not very hopeful of catching them all.” The rightly or wrongly with valuable medicinal properties.” specimens enclosed are the larvae of a small moth —Brazil and River Plate Mail. belonging to the family Tineidae. Westwood, in his J a f f n a . —Our trade in tobacco with the Galle “ Modern Classification of Insects,” vol. ii, page 409, market is large, and extensive, Traders always seek says:—“ In their preparatory states, these insects are tbe service of the steamers to have a good supply variable in their habits ; but their larvae are generally sent there periodically, but, during the last two months, naked or slightly hairy, many residing in portable there is a stand still in the trade. People can hardly cases [as those received from Kurunegala], formed of realize the money that is invested in the trade. The various materials, in which they undergo their trans tobacco now in hand, both here and at Galle, is rot formations.” Another correspondent wrote early last ting in store for want of purchasers. It is hoped that month:—“ I am sending by today’s tappal, under the trade will renew when the new season’s tobacco separate cover, a piece of cinchona stem with a fungus comes into the market in April or May next. We are of some kind or other growing out of it. I hope it glad to find that we have a good market for the sur will reach you intact, and I should be glad to have plus produce of this commodity at Colombo, Galle and your opinion as to how it got there. The plant it was Battiealoa. A large consignment for Batticaloa shipped on was about 3 feet high, and the fungus was situated last time was overcarried, the “ Serendib” not being about 6 in. from the top. The leaves of the plant able to discharge cargo at Batticaloa owing to bad were all drooping, but whether from the effects of weather. Chilly, instead of being left to rot for want the fungus or canker (which it appeared to have) I of buyers, or being sold almost for a song, fetches cannot say.” The cinchona stem was sent to Dr. now a good price, and is being shipped daily to Trimen about three weeks ago, but he did not get it ( olombo. We presume that Tuticorio, from which until last week. He writes:—“ I do not know what place Colombo generally receives large supplies, has the dried-up object on the cinchona twig may be* failed this year to supply that market.—Cor. “ Jaffna but I scarcely think a fungus; one cannot now decide.’ P a trio t,” Our correspondent should send us a fresh specimen, 196 as the law provides. Each province and each district ®ottt|i3sponcU3nc0. I decides as to the manumi-sions according to the quota disposable from the emancipation fund. 2o the Editor of the Ceylon ObsetTer. Class I, Families have precedence of Class II. Individuals. SLAVERY IN BRAZIL:-No. IV. Families are arranged in the following order :— Dollar, N. B., 19th Jany. 1882. 1st—Married people, slaves of different masters. G en tle m en ,—I said the decrease by the law of 1871 2nd—Married persons, who have children born under was 2$ per cent. I mean 2J per annum for the last ten this law and under eight years. years, during which time there has been only two distri 3rd—Married persons who have children under 21 years. butions of the Emancipation Fund, in 1875 and 1880 4th—Married persons who have children minors The amount set apart for these was 8 128*6128309— and slaves. say £800,000 English money—in ten years 5th—Mothers having children minors and slaves. Before we go more into figures let us see what this 6th—Married persons without children. law is. Let us make ourselves acquainted with the For individuals the orders are :— provisions of the law before we decide to abuse the 1st—A mother or father with free children. administrators of it. Here then is a rough summary 2nd—Those from 12 to 50 years of age. commencing of law, No. 2040 of 28th Sept. 1871 at the youngest in the feminine sex and the oldest in A rt 1. Children of slave mother born after date of law the masculine sex. to be free. Master has to rear the children and he can In the order of emancipation of both families and avail himself of their services until the minors are 21 individuals, those will be peferred years old. If the master likes, he can hand over the First : who can either himself or through some one child at eight years of age to Government and receive else enter with a quota towards his liberation ; a bond for 8600 (£60) bearing interest at 6 per cent per Second: those who, in the opinion of their masters annum to become extinct in thirty years, (In either case the minor is a slave and lives and works among are most deserving. If the conditions are equal, it will slaves until he is twenty-one years). be decided by lot do. 2. Government may deliver overthe minors—whom We thus see that, as far as the frame-work of the law slave owners do not care to keep after they are eight stands, no objection can be offered to it. years—to authorized Associations to use their services The emancipation fund, if it were large enough, could until they (the minors) are twenty-one years old. do a great deal ; but it is small and is not distributed do. 3. An emancipation fund is to be formed and so annually, as intended by the law. Moreover a quarter of many slaves are to be liberated annually. it has been kept from th*- special object of emancipation do. 4. A slave can save money and call it his own, and placed to the credit of the general revenue on the pal can receive gifts, legacies and inheritances ; and his try excuse that the Government has to provide establish^ master can consent to his receiving money for work ments for the children of slave-mothers. Two) ears have done to a tlfird party (such as working for some one elapsed, during which the slave-owners could have on Sunday or any time his master may not require him). sent the children they did not wish to retain and use do. 5. Emancipation Societies may be f irmed, but the service of during their minority, but nome were must be under the Judge of Orphans. offered to the Government. In the present state of do. 6. Declares free slaves belonging to the crown slaves the labour market, fourteen years’ work of a slave belonging to intestate estates, slaves abandoned by is of more value to a coffee and sugar planter than their masters, slaves liberated under this law; but all a payment of a paltry seventy-two shillings a year for to be under Government inspection for five years. thirty years. do. 7. A slave may open a case in court for his li berty. The total slave population, according to the census The process will be summary, and an ex officio $«p- of 1st August 1872, one year after the pass peal made to higher court, if the decision is againts liberty. (This is rather an impossible contingency.) ing of the t-lave law, was given at 1,510,806. Several do. 8. Enforces registration of name, sex, condition, parishes had not given in their returns, and altogether * aptitude for labour, and lineage, if known. this general registration was considered defective. The law, however, provided for a special registration up do. 9. Government may impose fines and simple im to 30th Sept. 1873, and all shm s w ho were not re prisonment in the carrying out of these regulations. gistered before that date were declared free. These 10. do. All dispositions to thecontrary hereby revoked. Regulations were made for carrying out the provisions returns were given as complete from all the provinces except four—Para, Pernambuco, Miras Geraes, and of the law and an imperial decree issued for their en Goyaz. The total registered at that date—Sept. 1873 forcement. It will be seen that next in importance to the de —are given 1,431,300. This is, no doubt, very d fective, but, if the law is properly carried out, those not included claring free the child of the slave-mother, after he is in this number must be free. As we have not beard twenty one y^avs, is that referring to the liberation of the freeing of any of those illegally held as slaves of so many slaves each year by means of an emancipa under the law of 1831 and other laws confirming it, tion fund. The emancipation fund shall be derived : — we need not look for the rigid enforcing of this law. 1. From a tax cn slaves. Several attempts have been made since then to get 2. From taxes on the transfer of slave property. a proper census taken, and a return was got in 1878 3 From the pr< c^eds of six annual lotteries, to be from eight of the provinces and the capital. Twelve drawn in the capital of the Empire, and a tenth part provinces gave incompb-te returns, or gave numbers of all lotteries conceded by the Government. calculated from the returns of 1875 and 1876. From 4. From fines imposed under this 1 >w. these the slave population was set down at 1,419,168 5. From funds set apart in the General Provincial to end of 1878, or only 12,000, less than th at given and Municipal budgets. to Sept. 1873. Fr-nn twelve of the provinces and the 6. From subscriptions, gifts, and legacies for this capital that had recenely sent complete returns, we p irpose. The rules laid down for the distribution of find the changes in the slave population from 1873 t le fund are a little complicated, which has made it to 1878—five years—registered :—Sept. 18 3 683,497 quite impossible to arrive at the exact number of peo Slave population Dec. 1878 611,057 ple benefited by the fund by the two distributions. Remark that there have been only tv)o instead of ten, Relative decrease 72,440 But the a .thority from which I take these gives are few, and the cocoa beans won’t keep wet in the emancip -ted .. ... 24,651 cistern for days (?) like parchment coffee : or with l)ie:l ...... 60,996 only the water dried off 111 heaps turned over fre quently in the store. And the certain consequence Absolute decrease ... 85,647 of failure to dry thoroughly after washing is m il d e w , The diffi rence between relative and absolute decrease which is simply fatal to the sample—if a paying price is shown thus : — is looked for I How is cocoa to be dried in wvt Registered arrivals ... 86,274 weather is the important question. Registered departures ... 73,067 Pallikelle has settled that by the alteration of a coffee store into a “ clerihew” with heated air if Difference .. 13,207 requisite (and it probably is requisite when the air is The relative annual decrea-e, counting 5i years, is surcharged with moisture) worked by the steam-engine only 2 per cent, and the absolute annual decrease is already on the spot. Others can utilize the water- 2^ per cent. wheel used in olden days to pulp coffee. Dea1 h emancipates nearly three times as many as Yet the expense of a “ clerihew” store : the air the emancipati n fund, but for all that the death-rate tight chamber, fans, belts, stove and water-wheel (or is low, only 17 per thousand per ani.um. At the above steam engine or turbine) is considerable, and would rate the benefits of the emancipation fund can reach be needed on a new cocoa estate, i. e., one not form only 7 per thousand annually. ing part of an old coffee estate. And some of these A. SCO IT-BLACK LAW. items even on an old coffee estate, where the “ cleri hew ” process was not employed, which it rarely was LIBERIAN COFFEE IN NEW GALWAY. at the elevation at which cocoa can be grown. New Galway, Feb. 27th, 1882. Is there any way to lessen this pretty heavy out lay ? I am inclined to think that there is, and I hat D ear Sir ,—With reference to your notice of the a modification, if modification be needed, of the Liberian coffee in this district aud request for fur ‘‘ Sirocco ” tea drying stove, and trays, will ther particulars, I may state that four of the six give us exactly what we want. Perhaps, Mr. Shand plants given by you to Mr. Cotton aie doing fairly would be kind enough to cure a bag or two of cocoa well. One of them produced several blossoms about pro bon0 publico, and give us the result ? five months ago, but, of the resulting “pingee,” only With a “ Sirocco,” to be used only in damp weather one bids fair to arrive at maturity, the rest having as a substitute for IJ or 2 days sun drying, there been knocked off, or probably rotted, during the ab is only the cost of the stove itself, say R800, and normally wet weather we have had during the past providing a supply of fuel, which could be secured five or six mouths. during the interval between the crops. In fact, where The four surviving plants all look well, but have a steam engine is employed to drive a “ clerihew ” not made very rapid growth, being now only about fan, the supply of fuel would be much larger, I believe, 3 feet high, though, perhaps, the fact of their being to say nothing of what was required iSr the cleri suri ounded hy Arabian coffee may, in some measure, hew stove. be accountable for their slowness of growth. They A lower temperature for a longer time would have to are in a comparatively sheltered hollow amongst the be substituted, in the case of cocoa, for the brisk limestone rocks, which, as you are aware, are very heat to which the tea in its last stage must be sub plentiful in this locality, and get all the benefit of jected ; but that, I presume, having never seen the the morning sun. I cannot speak with certainty as ‘ Sirocco ” at work, is an easily managed affair and a to the elevation, but, judging from the Wilson's Itun- mere matter of supply of fuel and regulating the alow resthouse, distant by the road about three miles, draft.—Yours, etc., KAKAO. should say it is fully 4,300 feet. Particulars as to ftemperature and rainfall I regret being unable to furnish, as no record has been kept. CINCHONA HYBRIDITY “ PUBESCENS.” I tried several cocoa plants in the same vicinity, NEW PRODUCTS :—Cera Rubber. but none of them succeeded. Can you give me in formation about the wax-yielding tree of Brazil I)kar Sir, —I have been very much interested in the seed of which was lately advertized ? [See Observer various subjects before the Ceylon planting pul die of of 27th t ebruary—Ed. C. 0.] I would suggest late, more especially what has been recently written that Government be a.-ked lo open an experimental relating to Cinchona Pubescens. The subject of hybridity nursery in the low-lying land between Fort Mc among cinchonas is surely far too much a settled Donald and Wilson’s Bungalow. A few acres under question among practical men to require any further the supervision of the Hakgalla superintendent would doubts or comments upon the fact that it does hybridize. suffice and need not oust much. This is the more If any one be a doubter still, it would be well for him desirable, as the elevation and position of the present to reserve his opinion until he l as tried a very simple gardens render them unsuitable for such experiments. experiment. All that is ri quisito is simply to personally —Yours faithfully, ARTHUR J. KKLLOW. gather some seed from succirubra trees out of a field where this variety grows alone, and to personally gather another quantity from a field where officinalis and succi COCOA (CACAO) CURING FOR MARKET. rubra are growing interspersed with each other. From Matale, Feb. 28th. one he will obtain few or no hybrids; from the other D e a r S ir,—The first stage of cocoa curing has 1* a large number—indeed a very large percentage. I already been fully described, (see pape 810, where feel so confident of this conclusion, founded as it is the process described is that observed on Pallakelly on my own experiments and from my experience in estate, Dumbara,) and all who have carried out Mr. many ways; and, among other facts, I may say I have Vollar’s instructions are, I believe, satisfied with the often been able to distinguish from plants growing result. from their external character the source from whence The second, and not less im portant is the drying. the sc d was obtained, I know of clearings of Succi In bright clear weather, that is, of course, a simple rubra in Ceylon with few hybrids upon them, and matter ; and I have adopted Mr. Vollar’s recommend of others with a large number, and, upon visiting the ation of 1 4 to 2 days’ exposure to the sun, on mats parent plants, I have found that invariably the hyorids immediately after washing, with success. have resulted, or otherwise, always according to the But the bright sunny days, take all the year round, proximity of officinalis to the parent succirubra trees and vice versa. Mr. Moens referring to Mr. Cross was quite Ion I saw Ceara rubber growing well in Colombo right in saying that the opinion of a cinchona grower cabook soil and. rushing up vigorously in Ran- in this, and many other respects, was of far more value gala, at an altitude of 4,000 feet above the sea. The than of a cinchona collector. In my own mind I seed will grow if sowed at stake, if the precaution have proved the question beyond doubt by the above has been taken to soak it and file or grind its edges experiments, and, if these are not conclusive, 1 main before sowing. A better plan is to raise it in baskets, tain that no observation of the plant in nature, or a the plants being put out when six inches high, which casual though careful inspection ef it cultivated, can they reach in about a month’s time. After this it lead to more convincing evidence. One has naturally will rapidly b come a tree ; so that, if planted from 15 a very great respect for science and for scientific men, to 20 feet apart, it can take full care of itself irrespective but they are very likely to be wrong, especially if of weeding, after ii is 4 months old. What a diffe-e occupied with any of the natural sciences in their ence Kadugannawa would present now had this tree wider relations, when they suddenly express their been planted in the declining coffee, for it appears opinions on plants removed from their natural con to grow well in very indifferent and exhausted soil. ditions and placed under the modelling hand of man, in The time too is not far di-tant when rubber will whose hmds most of our cultivated plants have become be in very great demand, for the trees from which like the clay in the hands of the potter: still more supplies are now being derived are being destroyed so, when the habits of these plants have become almost by the ruthless manner of collection. the sole study and care of the cultivator himself and NEW PRODUCTS. his daily bread depended upon their successful growth. Nov do I see any reason why, if steadily persisted in, CHAMPION RED BARK CINCHONA TREES the knowledge of the cultivator should not become IN CEYLON, 14 YEARS’ OLD, ON GLEN CAIRN, as scientific and his observation just as keen and DIKOYA, G IV ING 112 LB. D RY BARK. accurate as those of the so-called scientist. Kandy, 6th March 1882. There has also been much comment upon the relative merits of succirubra, pubescens, Uritusinga, and officinalis, D ear Si r ,—What will M r. Campbell of Kelburne and much confusing discussion on nomenclature ; and and M r. La vie of Gleualpine say to the following? upon this latter even the wise men differ largely. Mr. Fowke, of Glencairn estate in Dikoya, uprooted I care not for the specific name as it accords a succirubra tree about three weeks ago. and gives the with collectors, except simply as an identifica subjo ned particulars of its dimensions and the quantity tion of the various useful kinds meant, any more of bark harvested. I may mention that the tree was than I do of the contradictory statements of the early probably 13 or 14 years old and had a single stem only. fathers on church government, and look for just as Height, 42 feet. much unanimity in the one as the other. Most planters, Girth at lowest part of stem, 4 feet 6 inches ; girth who have given much time to cinchona, have six feet above ground, 3 feet 3 inches. noticed the intermediate character of pubescens between Wet bark. D ry bark. succirubra and officinalis, aud many will have noticed Stem quill 1421b. ... 70 lb. the result of seed from unmixed and mixed clearings, Root 921b. ... 30 lb. and will form their own opinion on hybridity and Branch 40 lb. ... 12 lb. whether pubescens be a hybrid or not. To return to the practical and useful: I have fre 274 lb. 112 lb. quently had pubescens bark analyzed, and generally E. S. G. have sent some sutcirubra bark along with it gathered [Some of the pieces ought to make splendid show bark from adjacent trees, for my aim has always been re for druggists, for which, perhaps, as much as 7s to 10s lative, which, in my mind, appears the only practical per lb. may be paid.—Ed .] way. I,—Without exception the quantity of Quinine ' CASTOR OIL PLANTS AND INSECTS. Sulphas has always been one hundred per cent greater Dimbula, 6th M aich 1882. in pubescens than in succ rubra aud rarely inferior to D e a r S ir ,—The paragraph, in a recent issue of the ordinary crown bark. II,—The yield of bark per Ceylon Observer, contained informal ion which, as re tree of pubescens has also always been equal to succi gal ds Ceylon, was certainly not accurate. The cutting rubra aud consequently much greater than crown bark. taken from a French paper has, perhaps, been wrongly I am now having more analyses made, and, as they translated. are to represent the average quality of bark from So far from the castor oil plant being “ an ex several of each kind of cinchona I possess, taken from cellent remedy against flies,” I find it peculiarly many trees of the same species, so as to shew what subject to the attacks of insects. I know of four may be expected from a whole field rather than kinds of larva: that feed on its leaves ; many species a tree, I look to rather conclusive resul's, and the particulars I shall be glad to send you later on. of dipttra may be found (uninjured) on its flowers, and 1 have had more than 2,000 castor o'I plants of It is very satisfactory to read that Messrs. W. both varieties, entirely destroyed by aphides.—Yours Smith, Christy and others have true Ledgers in flower faithfully, B. and seed, of which it is well to know that at last we [The paragraph was quoted from an English paper and have some accurate data to go upon ; for I maintain we are not responsible for the translation.—E d.] irrespective of the names of the varieties that analysis is the only true test of what is valuable from a THE VALUE OF SULPHATE OF QUININE:— planter’s standpoint. Mr. Eliot Howard has very kindly shewn me over A CORRECTION. his exceedingly valuable collections, and has given March 7th, 1882. me important information and advice on the depos D e a r S i r , — In your issue of 4th instant,in the article ition of the akaloids, which was quite new to me in on Jamaica Barks by Howard, there is a footnote signed connection with this interesting plant, of which I shall D . M., stating that value per unit of sulphate of quin write more anon. I ine is 1/9. This is not correct, aud is misleading to people From the wide extension of cinchona cultivation valuing their bark. all over the world, I should strongly advise Ceylon The cost of manufacture must be taken into ac men not to run that to death as they previously did count, and this is about 30/ per lb.; so that the ap coffee, b u t to seek for other useful plants for their proximate value at present price, of quinine sulphate ^poorer ridges and exhausted lands. Before I left Cey- is aboqt 1/3 per unit.—Yours faithfully, Q. THE HYBRIDITY OF CINCHONAS. T h e I m p o r t a t io n of Ch ic o r y a n d C o f f e e . —In Roehampton, Haputale, March 7th. connection with a question asked in the House of Commons last session by Mr. Barran, M-P., that gen Dear Sir ,—I read with great interest “ New Pro tleman has received from the Board of Trade a com duct’s" letter, and your article ou “ The Hybridity munication stating that the Government have now of Cinchonas,” in your issue of the 4th instant; and, decided to allow the importation of coffee mixed with as I consider it every planter’s duty to add to the chicory, which was formerly forbidden. The con accumulation of facts, in reference to tropical agri ditions under whicli the same mixture may be exported culture, whenever any crop up, during his daily search have now been extended.—Daily News. for cause or effect, I place the following facts at your C i n c h o n a .—In March, 1866, General Morin sent out disposal. seeds furnished by Sir J. Hooker, Kew, to Dr. Vinson On this estate there are “ Succirubra” trees, “ C. and his son at. Reunion, and in August, 1879, there Condaminea” approaching “ C. U ritusinga” and “ C. were 5,000 plants of 1 to 6 metres in height and 25,000 Officinalis” about medium “Bonplandiana” growing side “ bontures ” fit for transplanting. In view of the large by side, about 11 years of age. These trees were planted quantity of quinine required in France, it is intended to along the edge of the coffee about a chain apart, essay the cultivation in Algeria. In 1878 nearly 3} forming a kind of boundary there are only some 300 million pounds of quinine, valued at over £35,600, was or 400 of them : there not hybrids amongst them, at imported into France. There are in Algeria, in the least not of the Robusta variety. region of the Sahel, certain territories which appear to I have taken seed from the succirubra trees and be favourable to the culture of the cinchonas. Tlio sown it, and the result has been, on every occasion, success which has attended the English and Dutch efforts succirubra plants. in the East appear to give encouragement to the at I have sold some 40 lb. of succirubra seed. I never tempts.-—Journal of Applied Science. heard of its turning out anything but succirubra plants. A gricultural E x p e r im e n t in t h e B e l l a r y D is On the other hand, the seed from the Condaminea t r ic t .—Mr. A. Sabapathy Mudaliyar, writes to us from and Bonplandiana varieties has never produced plants Bellary :—“ With reference to Dr. Cornish’s letter, pub like the trees from which the seed was taken, but lished in your issue of the 29th ultimo, regarding my produced hybrids, the greater majoriiy being Pata experiments in cotton planting after ploughing with de Galinazo, a few having a somewhat Succirubra European ploughs and manuring with poudrette, I appearance. enclose you copy of a letter addressed to the Collec There are some young, self-grown “ Robusta” grow tor of Bellary for such notice as you may think necess ing amongst the Succirubra and Condaminea trees, ary. The letter will give you some notion of what and I have only noticed seed on one, for the first I have done, and what I am proposing to do. It will time this year. My experience as regards the seeds aPo show you how little help the Board of Revenue spoken of above commenced in 1878.—I am, d°ar sir, are disposed to afford persons willing to enter upon yours faithfully, H. >. MARG ARY. agricultural pursuits with improved implements and a more rational system of culture than exists at present. The result of my venture so far has been very en F l o r id a N otes o n S o r g h u m .—The amber is too couraging. During my inspection last week and this small to be of any value for syrup, growing only I found the cotton crons on my lands in very fine five or six feet high and very slender, but it makes condition, in spite of a deficiency of rainfall. I think excellent forage, producing three crops of full size I may fairly estimate the outturn of my crops in one season from one planting The Chinese is at 200 per cent more than the probable outturn of much larger, growing from eight to ten feet high the lands that have not been ploughed with the and producing more and better seed than either of English plough, nor manured.”—M adras Weekly Mail. the other varieties, but it is not equal to Honduras Q u e e n s l a n d T im b e r . —In the jungles on the east for syrup. The Honduras is a very large and late coast of Cape York Peninsula much valuable timber variety of sorghum. On rich land it will grow from exists, especially the highly prized red cedar (Cedrela fifteen feet high. It not only makes more syrup to AustraHs, Mueller) and bands of lumberers penetrate the acre than the other varieties, but syrup of a their gloomy recesses for the purpose of felling the better quality.—Florida Agriculturist. trees and rafting the logs for export. It is calculated Give Trees Room.—A Petaluma man tells the that from two of the rivers, known as the Mossman Courier: ‘' When I first set out my orchard I set and Daintree, four million feet of cedar had been ex my trees 16J feet apart each way. After the trees ported between Novemb r, 1874, and April, 1878, came to maturity, the fruit b- gan to deteriorate ; it and that three million feet were at the last named was not so good nor abundant and the trees became date lying ready for shipment, besides another lot of more or less diseased. Five years ago I began to half-a million feet at 'he Juhnsio: e river. The market thin my apple orchard by taking out one-half of the value of c dar in the log is from 35s. to 40s. per 100 trees alternate in the rows so as to give them a space feet in Melbourne. The market value in Brisbane was of 33 by 28 feet. The first year after making the stated at the Queensland Exhibition of 1878 to be change I did not perceive any difference, but the £7 10s. to £8 10s. per 1,000 superficial feet. The second year I got more than double the quantity of value of this minor industry therefore can easily be fruit that I formerly had from the same ground cilculated. This tree is a mere variety of the with all the trees standing, and of better quality. Singapore cedar (Cedrela Taona, Roxburgh), which It is my judgment that standard pear and apple ascends the Himalayas to 8,000 feet. It attains a trees should not stand nearer than 33 feet apart each height of 200 feet and the foliage is deciduous. The way after they get to be 15 years old. Other kinds Rev. Dr. Woolls noted in New South Wales trees so of fruit trees should be planted from 20 to 30 feet large as to yield 30,000 superficial feet of timber. apart. I had about the same experience with my This light, beautiful wood, easily worked and suscepti vineyard. I first set out my vines 6 feet apart each ble of high polish, is much in request for furniture, way. After the vines became about 12 years old for the manufacture of pianofortes, for boat building the fruit was of inferior quality and the yield small. and a variety of other work. The timber from the I then commenced thinning them by digging up junction of the branches with the stem furnishes the every third row; finally I dug up three-fourths of choicest veneers. The bark contains a considerable them until I made them stand 18 by 6 feet ap art.”— quantity of tannin which produces a purplish leather# Australasian, —Journal of Applied Science. PLANTATION COMPANIES IN MAURITIUS. erally with prospect of a fan' average outturn, except in We need not remind the Ceylon public how some places where they suffered from previous want of rain; sugarcane is being cut and pressed with a good out twenty years ago the name and credit of Mauritius and turn ; ploughing for autumn crops is in fan- progress; its plantations were at the lowest ebb, and how it was sporadic cases of cholera and small-pox continue to be sought to bolster up enterprize in that island by a Com reported in some places ; cholera is spreading in almost pany which should bear in its title the name only of all the sub-divisions of Nuddea; cattle disease reported the then prosperous Coffee Colony. Times are changed in places in the Orissa and Chota Nagpore Divisions. N.-W. Provinces and Oudli.—Light rain has fallen in to some purpose; for while here we are suffering from Gorakhpur and Moradabad; the crops are being cut, and short crops, depression and scarcity of capital for most prospects are on the whole good; although in Benares promising undertakings in new products, in Mauritius the outturn of wheat and barley is poor, and there has we read in the papers received today (13th March) of been some further injury from insects in Agra; prices Plantation Companies declaring dividends of from 14 to have risen slightly in Gorakhpur and Lucknow, hut have fallen in Allahabad and Kumaon, while in other districts 18 per cent per annum 1 These Companies were formed they are stationary; cholera still lingers in Allahabad iu the time of depression to buy and work estates, and and South Gorakhpur, and small-pox m Moradabad and now that the dark cloud has passed awray, they are pro Kumaon, but the general health continues good; there fiting by the foresight of their directors. There is a is still some cattle disease in Kumaon. lesson in this for capitalists who are watching the pre Punjab.—Harvest prospects favourable ; health good ; sent period of depression in Ceylon: the swing of the prices fluctuating. pendulum will assuredly be found before long to tend in Central Provinces.—Weather wanner ; rabi crops being the opposite direction, and returns of 14 per cent and reaped, fair outturn expected; small-pox reported from over will then be as freely experienced here as in Mau a few districts; cholera fast disappearing; public health ritius. good; prices remain stationary.—Madras Mail. RETAIL AUCTIONS OF IN01 AN TEA. MR. STORCK’S REMEDY FOR COFFEE LEAF Mincing-lane may be amused to learn that some of DISEASE, NEARLY IDENTICAL WITH the Calcutta pap rs have been writing in favour of a THAT OF MR. SCHROTTKY. Company it is proposed to form for the sale by auc The above is, we believe, the opinion which will tion. in all the chief towns in the United Kingdom, of Indian tea in packets to suit all pockets. It is not be arrived at after reading Mr. Storck’s paper in likely that these auctions would have the mixed the Gardener's Chronicle .—only it must be remem attendance and support the promoters expect, but bered that Mr. Schrottky began his experiments they may rely on a pretty big crowd of idlers and with carbolic acid vapour on an extensive scale loafers every Saturday night, and among them a long before we had heard of Mr. Storck. To sprinkling of those decent folks who always attend sales in the hope of securing bargains. The venture the local experimentalist undoubtedly belongs all the would not. we believe, further the sale of Indian tea, credit of priority, and the fact that he has, through nor repay the Company for their labour and outlay.—H. a very little good, and a great deal of evil report and 0. Mail. patiently persevered in his work among our planters constitutes a strong claim on the esteem of this com THE RICE CROPS AND SEASON IN INDIA. munity. Not long ago an old planter, Mr. Wm. (For the Week ending 7th March.) Sabonadiere, called for a special Government grant There has been slight rain during the week in a few districts of Madras and Bengal, in two districts of the of money and a monopoly by patent to encourage North-Western Provinces and Oudh, in three districts Mr. Storck to visit and apply his remedy in Ceylon. of the Punjab, and generally in Assam. General pro The only reason why Mr. Schrottky has not got a spects continue much the same as in the preceding week. patent a year old now, for his carbolic acid vapour The spring crops promise a favourable harvest in the process, is that after receiving the usual formal Punjab, and are being reaped in the Central Provinces and Bengal with a fair average outturn, excepting in a application and deposit of fees, the Government of few places in the latter Province. In the North-West Sir James Longden (while retaining the R350 paid ern Provinces and Oudh the yield on unirrigated lands iu stamps and fees ! !) threw out the application as in the central tract will probably be light. In the Bom inadmissible. We well remember the decisive way bay Presidency the rabi harvest has been completed in in which Mr. Schrottky after his return from Dolos some districts and is still progressing in others, as well bage at an early stage of his experiments, said if as in Berar. In the Madras Presidency standing crops are in need of water in some parts. In Mysore the ever a practical cure for leaf disease is to be found sugar-cane and vaisakh paddy, the only standing crops it must be in the vapour of carbolic acid, and he of importance, are suffering from scarcity of water, but has most consistently adhered to that belief, in the prospects are reported to be generally fair, prices being face of much adverse scientific criticism and no little steady and pasturage sufficient. No ren arks seem necess ary regarding other Provinces, and the Native States, ridicule from planters and merchants. Mr. Schrottky except that scarcity of water is felt in the Nizam’s is now more than ever convinced that the leaf fungus Territories. must be dealt with as a noxious weed—a persistent Madras.—No rain except in Ganjam, Tanjore, Madura, and much injurious “ white weed” which can be and Travancore; general prospects good. successfully combatted by continuous treatment all the Bombay.—Rabi harvest completed in some districts, year through, more particularly if the attack is begun in progress in others ; scarcity of drinking water in parts in the dry s ason. In this opinion, Mr. Storck, if he of Dharwar continues; fever and cattle disease disap w re acquainted with the conditions of climate and pearing ; prices generally steady. of the planting enterprise in Ceylon, would no doubt Bengal.—The hot weather has now set in ; the late fully agree, so far as we can judge from his paper rain has generally much improved prospects; rain is to the Chronicle which is as follows :— still much wanted in Rajshahye and Cuttack; harvest [We have received a lengthy communication from Mr. ing of the rabi and tobacco crops has commenced, gen Storck (now resident in Fiji, and who was assistant to th§ late Dr. Seeman in his mission to these islands) on the inverted saucers upon three or four short sticks stuck closely means for combating the leaf-disease Hemileia. Mr. Storck round the rim of the cups, I left a clear space of about 1 reviews the previous attempts that have been made, and inch in depth between the rim of the cup and the cover. then details his own method, which he claims to be effect They were then charged with a dilution of 3 per cent., and ual, and the principle of which is the diffusion through the effects noticeable after a few days were most startling. the plantations of carbolic acid vapour, injurious to the The ripe spores with which the plants,then some nine months fungus. It is obvious that the success of the plant depends old, were fairly recking, began to change colour from the well- upon very many circumstances, which should induce known bright orange to a dull ochre, until they subse cautious experiment on a small scale before embark quently turned into dirty yellow and then greyish-white. ing 011 a large one, such as the depth to which the fun They all, instead of as usual dispersing, remained in a manner gus penetrates, the state of the weather, the condition of glued to the leaves, and afterwards dropped with them, the coffee-plant, the influence of the poisonous vapour dead, harmless, incapable of propagation. As time went on, upon it, &c. Should Mr. Storck’s experiments prove in other all rust which came out began to look dull in colour and hands as successful as according to his statements, sup- sickly, quite different from a healthy crop of spores. By orted by other testimony before us, they are in his own, degrees pale rings round the rust patches began to show, e will prove a veritable benefactor, and should receive the indicating the circumference of the mycelia and where reward of his public-spirited endeavours to remove a great their farther development had been arrested. In the third scourge. It is obvious that the principle is applicable month a large proportion of the spots appeared pale green, mutatis mutandis to the treatment of other plants affected whitish round the edges, and as if drying up in the middle; with superficial moulds.—Bn.] some pushed out a few sickly spores, but very frequently My own method of application, says Mr. Storck, is purely none at all. The spots turned into dry tissue, and most of atmospherical, and for the benefit of the countries and those leaves, unless too severely attached, remained on the planters suffering from the ravages of Hemileia vastatrix trees. Thenceforth a little dirty-looking rust still continued 1 will now give a description of it. In doing this I rely, to appear, but the presence of the disease, up to its com as regards my rights of priority and proprietorship in an plete disappearance, was chiefly indicated by dead and dy invention of great importance, upon that spirit of justice ing mycelia. From what I have witnessed, bare contact and fair play so generally obtaining in the scientific and with the vapourised atmosphere seems, if not immediately planting world. to kill the spores,to effectually incapacitate them froiu germi An acre of coffee land contains thirty-six centres of vapori nation. From moving round in the nursery, examining the sation formed by tin vessels to be mounted upon short sticks, effects of the treatment, as I frequently did, I would often and covered in a peculiar manner, to protect the contents go in among healthy trees, handle their leaves, pull suckers from rain and rubbish, thereby preventing waste and un and the like, but not a single instance of further infection desirable dilution by rain of the fluid contents of the vessel. took place among those trees, Liberian and Arabian, which They consist of a mixture of carbolic acid and water in the were healthy when the process was started. With grown proportion of from 3 to 10 per cent, of Calvert’s best No. 5 trees, having leaves of denser texture and more uniform acid, at the option of the operator. Any strength not ex age than nursery plants, which are almost always grow ceeding 25 per cent, may be used, since nothing touches the ing, the effects, although apparently slower at the begin plants or the soil, nor injures the tenderest young leaf or ning, are in the end still more pronounced. They lose flower-bud. In starting the treatment I would recommend a a greater proportion of leaves at the start, but all disease upon first charge of 1» per cent. (5 per cent, is sufficient), and them and in them is dead before the fall, at once neutralising then a weekly supply of a density of 5 per cent., which will a fruitful source of re-infection. In the case of fairly keep the strength of the fluid up to 3 per cent, for many vigorous trees a new coat of clean foliage, never again to months. An average labourer can in this manner attend be soiled by the devastating parasite, will have formed by to at least 50 acres per week. The first season’s outlay per the time the last spore has disappeared. acre, including the first establishment of the system over an My method of permanent vaporisation is specially adapted estate, will not reach £2 10s. per acre, and for any subse for a country like Ceylon, for instance, where self-sown quent year it will not exceed £l. The present model of the coffee in the forest and native garden patches present a vessel has an evaporating surface of 4 inches, but I am standing menace of re-infection, which will defy any other contemplating an improvement in it, which will better re treatment. With the permanent atmospherical treatment gulate evaporation, and do away with weekly supplies, while any spore of Hemileia vastatrix which comes in any way a farther reduction in the item of labour will be effected. whatever within the radius of its influence must die. As The vessels, holding rather over half a pint, can be manu I have asserted elsewhere—“Any one employing my pro factured wholesale at 4d. each, and are so modelled as to cess will reap the full benefit of his outlay, even though allow of the closest packing, the two parts separately ; they his neighbour’s field next adjoining or just across the road will last for many years. may be reeking with disease for want of treatment. No After eleven months of immunity from leaf disease enjoyed live spore can be carried out of the area under treatment by the trees treated and cured by me, and of a new nursery —nothing carried in can live, and re-infection becomes I had made in the meantime, a gang of labourers from the impossible.” Upper Rewa carried infection back to the place. Among the For the guidance of any planters who may wish to give subjects infected were two Liberian coffee trees, one among my system a trial, I will here give the following direc a cluster of five, and another some short distance off in a tions :—Before my treatment comes into general use, so as small plantation of forty, all just in full spike, and to my to induce the wholesale manufacture of the specified tin dismay I also found the nursery badly infected. As soon as vessel, plauters will have to make shift as I did, with I could get the materials I started my system of vaporisa cups and saucers, which must be so placed that they will tion (July 4th last). The two Liberian trees I simply fur not be overturned or buried by stormwater coming down nished with a small bottle each, partly filled with my mix the hillside, which contingency is avoided with the tin- ture of only 3 per cent., hung into the angle of the lowest vessel mounted on a stick. Presuming the distance be branches. Both trees have now been perfectly free of the tween the rows and in the rows of coffee trees to be as fungus for some weeks, and not a single one of tbeir close usual (6 feet), commence at the corner of the fields, say neighbours has been infected. They prove to have been working from right- to left, start with the third tree iu completely isolated by the treatment, not a single spore living third row, then follow the base line, placing a vessel in to reach and infect the others, although in some instances every sixth row between the third and fourth tree. When almost touching. With the nursery, covering about three- the base line is thus marked off, start at right angles quarters of an acre, I proceeded in the following manner:— along the rows, count six and place your vessels between Judging that with so small an area as the above I should the sixth and seventh trees in a line with the trees, so be working at a disadvantage through the gas escaping a* not to obstruct work and passage; put down your cups, beyond the limits of the area and going to waste in every drive three to four short pegs immediately round the cups direction, I arranged my centres of vaporisation a little so as to steady them, aud let the inverted saucer rest on closer than would be necessary on a large field, and put them the top of the pegs. They must be of even height and 8 yards apart eacli way. The receptacles of the fluid and long enough to allow the spout of a watering-pot or other their covers were represented by ordinary cups and saucers, feeding vessel to pass through under the roof to save the pressing the cups slightly into the ground and mounting the trouble of lifting it every time—but they should not be so high as to allow rain and rubbish to be blown in by the of the fine old coffte is now of little good, but other wind; and then place a stone up to the size of a fist to places look as fit as they were years ago and I must make all more secure. This done you may go on charging say in far better order than they were when I knew your vessels with a density of at least 5 per cent., but, as them first. I can’t but think that large doses of said above, X would for the first charge recommend a den forcing manure have caused some of the “ red braes” sity of 10 per cent. The effects of the first week’s dense you see in the old district. You will there see the vapour will amply repay the extra outlay in striking a deathblow, not only against the rust in full developement advantage of Somhreorum iu "he zigzags of old Kataboola. hut—which is the greatest triumph of my system—against Ambagamuwa and Lower Dikoya I found looking fairly the mycelium of the fungus. This first blow will under well The former shows well up in tea, and, if it con- these circumstances save a large proportion of the foliage timtes to grow as well as it is doing, it will certainly unless too far gone, by instantly arresting the develop take the shine out of all the tea I have hitherto seen. ment of the fungus, and killing all that may be still alive The coffee in the latter district is certainly not so on the dead and dying leaves strewing the ground. If good as it ought to be, or as it, was a few years the disease is not visibly present, all the b etter; the car ago ; the cause is no* far to seek: want of cultivation bolic vapour will in a short time force it to show itself, and Colombo management. To prove I am correct chiefly in the character of dying mycelia, and save still take Abe’rgeldie estate as an instance. I t lo -ks as well more or all of the foliage which would have gone iu the as it did five years ago, and I am led to believe is next attack of disease. The treatment may be started at giving fair returns even in these bad seasons, and it any time with equal advantage. One week’s ordinary weather will be found to evaporate about one-third of the looks to me as if it was to do well this coming crop. contents of the cups, and thenceforth weekly supplies of There is no denting the fact that‘cultivation checks 5 per cent, will be quite sufficient. Should at any time leaf-disease ; any one can see that in the abovemen during a spell of wet cool weather so little water have tioned estate. In my last I spoke about seeing the evaporated (evaporation of the acid goes on continually) future Ceylon in the lowcountry. Don’t for a mo that there is not room in the cups to receive the or ment conclude that ihe new di'tricts are not to play dinary quantity of diluted acid, raise the density of 15 a good part for years and years. Only give us seasons per cent, or more, or only give a few drops of undiluted and fair cultivation, and coffee will come down to acid. All this is easily calculated, and must be left to the you as of yore. The fine fields of coffee are still to discretion of the operator. the fore. I will challenge any one to say otherwise If planters are disinclined to make larger experiments, than that coffee is now as fine in Dimbula as ever it they may try my system with as few as 10 acres, and th^y was, barring a few places that are said to have been will soon see the contrast between them and the untreated portions of the field. One acre with another will only take eaten with grub, but still they will improve. 1 saw thirty vessels. Six months after starting the process those one place last year like a new clearing; this year it 10 acres and a considerable margin all round will be in full is a fine cover of coffee. Anyone th a t doubts coffee foliage and crop, when the area outside the limit of effective being again king let him go through Dikoya and then vaporisation may be standing without a leaf, and the crop go to the too of Dimbula, the Agras, XVallaha and shrivelling and starving for want of shelter and food con Kattagaloya Valley. Coffee there is as fine as it was ductors. Choose your trial patch right in the centre of a six years ago. The other part of Dimbula I have not good 100-acre field, and the experiment, conducted with seen for some months, but, from what I hear of the ordinary intelligence and regularity, will in a few months crops it has given, I conclude it is in as good fig as convince the most sceptical of the value of my method. the places I have mentioned. I also did Maskeliya The chief merits of my method of permanent vaporisa and I was glad to see that the places that were done tion may be# summarised in the following:— up with the grub are improving and look quite 1. Undeniable simplicity. another thing to what they were some months ago. 2. Economy of material and labour. 3. The most perfect control. Maskeliya is a district that is very much run down ; 4. Complet isolation of material from soil and plants. the reason I don’t know. I think the blame lies in the 5. Complete and unconditional immunity from leaf disease. style of management. If the managers would let a little I could bring the evidence of several neighbours who have more light into their trees, coffee would again do as witnessed the conditions of the nursery and the few solitary well as it- has done in days gone by. I wis told by a trees, and the effects of my process, but as it could serve visiting agent that it was “ want of cash and too much no practical purpose I abstain from doing so. lawn tennis” that was the reason many of the estates Some months ago I applied to the Fijian Government were in such a matted state. All I know is that the for protection of my invention, and was refused on the estates in that valley don't look so well managed strength of the reading of the local Patent Ordinance, which as they are in the ^other two districts. I was glad to only partly covers the subject of my discovery, and only eee cinchonas were promising so well in all the dis applies t*> inventions of a purely mechanical nature. My process has to be exhibited for many months in the open field, tricts I went through, but there is no doubt that the and cannot be kept under lock and key like a new machine Agras are head and shoulder to the front boat in not to mention paltry matters patented every day. There coffee and cinchona. I find the estates there are fore I commend myself and my interests once more to managed, or mostly so, by the residents, and not from the good-will and love of justice of the public. Jacob P. Colombo offices. Another fact I learned in m> travels Sti'ock, Belmont Estatne, Re tea River, Fiji h i amis, November was that all the estates that have given a decent crop 25th 1881, and are promising to give another are so managed by Mr. StorckN mode of application may have some th managers on the places. Strange but neverthe advantages over that of Mr. Schrottky. less true. So the conclusion I have come to is that coffee, if fairly dealt with, will again pay the planters Ceylon Cloves.—W e call attention to the inter quite as well as it did four or five years ago. Crops esting report in another column from Messrs. Brookes may not be so heavy, but then the tlesson planters 6 Faith 1 on a pircel of locally produced cloves : have had in cheaper working will compensate for a it is satisfactory once more to see that whatever we year or two of less heavy bearing. As I have already grow and ship from Ceylon is sure to be about the said, don’t blame the coffee. We still have the trees; bad b-st of its kind. We wish the pione rs in cloves all I seasons and bail management had to account for our SIV-C'SS. ; short crops. If proprietors and agents think they can Stray Notes, 5th M arch.— Before settling down to j get crop from place* that only shew an expenditure of work, mv friend and I continued our rambles through ! H30 p r acre and places that have not been we'ded or the districts that have their outlet via Nawala- I suckered for four or five months, they are certainly mis pitiya. We found old Kotmale in the same spot as j taken. It is after treating places in the way I have men it was when I knew it first, but I regret to say some ! tioned th at theory has goo up coffee is doomed.—B ,W ,